‘And just what do you think you’re doing?’ Becca wanted to know in an Arctic tone.
She’d just about reached her limit and all she wanted to do was to have a nice big self indulgent pity party.
Lucas tossed a couple of pillows on the floor, scooted her on her left side and spooned her, stroking a lazy hand down her hip as he nuzzled the soft spot under her ear.
His deep voice rumbled in his chest, vibrating deliciously through her system.
‘I am cuddling. Doctor and scary nurse’s orders.’
Becca sighed and gave in. She’d get angry with him, in a minute.
‘She’s not scary. She’s lovely. Did you just smell my hair?’
‘It smells wonderful.’
‘Don’t you have work to do?’
‘Si, but I can work from home. I delegate. Do not wiggle your bottom like that, querida.’
‘Sorry.’
‘Try not to sleep.’
She wrinkled her nose, already feeling a lovely warm lethargy overtaking her.
‘I think you mean try to sleep,’ she said drowsily.
‘No. If you try to sleep it never happens. If you try not to sleep it happens naturally.’
‘Reverse psychology,’ she mumbled.
After five minutes she was out like a light.
‘Works every time,’ Lucas said to himself.
Lying in her bed with Becca in his arms was sheer heaven and sheer hell.
Lucas knew it was important to keep her as stress free as possible. She didn’t want to talk about marriage. Fair enough. But his father was going to be an issue. He loved him and the thought of hurting him didn’t sit well with Lucas, but Becca’s needs and the babies’ needs came first.
And that meant his business would need to take a back seat too. Consecutive meetings were planned in New York for next week. He’d need to cancel those. He’d need to prime Tobin on recent developments to discuss which of his Vice Presidents were ready to take on a heavier burden. It would be tricky, but nothing worthwhile in life was ever easy.
He frowned as he remembered how Becca was still determined to move to France. He’d never want anything to happen to her or his children, but every cloud had a silver lining. She was going nowhere and that meant the gift of time to woo her. To show her she could trust him.
He’d tried very hard not to over think his feelings for Becca but Lucas knew he was fighting a losing battle.
She’d captured his heart from the moment he saw her in the club and taken her to his bed. The way she’d fit against him as he’d held her in his arms, her responses to him had blown him away. He knew now what people meant when they said they ‘clicked’ with a person. His feelings for her were natural and they felt good. She’d been inhibited that night. She’d held nothing back. He clenched his jaw as he suppressed a sigh. He wanted those feelings and those sensations back. He wanted that woman in his life as his lover, the mother of his children and his friend.
Inhaling the heady scent of her hair, Lucas soothed himself by stroking the soft silky skin of her hip and thigh and knew without a shadow of a doubt that he was truly, madly, deeply in love with Becca Wainwright and didn’t have a clue what to do about it.
CHAPTER TWENTY
‘Hey, this is some place!’
The next day, looking long and lean in black jeans and a polo neck sweater of black cashmere, Justin Cope gave Becca a quick peck on the cheek and plonked himself in a leather chair next to her bed.
Becca’s fingers plucked at the smooth cotton sheet, she was still stunned that her dance partner and former best friend was actually sitting in front of her as large as life and looking as if he didn’t have a care in the world.
When he’d finally returned her call, she’d reluctantly agreed to his plan to come and see her on the condition that Lucas wouldn’t be there. She told him what she’d discovered and omitted any mention of Burt Lindstrom or Lucas. Although she suspected by Justin’s sneer that he had his suspicions. She also explained their partnership was over and why.
‘What were you thinking, Justin? Why did you do it?’
Hazel eyes hooded now, he listened without saying a word.
In response he merely shrugged.
‘So you’re not going to France?’ he wanted to know, totally ignoring her questions.
‘No.’
‘You’re in love with Del Garda?’
Was she? ‘That is none of your business.’
And Justin didn’t like that she saw quite clearly as those brooding eyes narrowed and his mouth went into a thin hard line.
She stared at him now wondering if she’d ever really known him.
In a lightening change of mood he beamed a too bright triumphant smile which didn’t reach his cold eyes.
‘Don’t worry about everything, sweetie. It’s not the end of the world. And it’s up to you whether or not you put yourself through all this bloody drama. It’s not like you don’t have a choice is it? I’ve already talked to Tabitha Hersheson and she’s pretty keen to team up.’
Stunned, Becca simply stared at him wondering if she’d heard him correctly. He couldn’t possibly have meant that she should terminate her pregnancy, did he?
And Tabitha was the new big thing. She was young, seriously hip and a creative choreographer. They’d be good together, Becca knew. She was amazed that she had the ability to feel relief that he was going to be absolutely fine after he’d stolen from her. But even worse than theft was the deep hurt he’d moved on so fast after all the years they’d spent together.
Justin was still talking she realised and tuned back in.
‘I hope you know what you’ve got yourself into. You’ve always been gullible, Becca. Lucas Del Garda’s a tom-cat. Willow’s devastated by the way he treated her. Willow’s agent wants to represent Tabitha and me. We had drinks with him at the club last night and his stories about Lucas would make your hair curl. He’s a complete bastard.’
She knew it was pure spite and gossip but his words dripped poison into her psyche.
However, she decided Justin wasn’t going to get away with it or ignoring her questions either.
‘Did you tip-off the press I was at the cemetery and about my relationship with Lucas?’
The sly look in his eye made her feel physically ill.
Those slitted eyes watching her now reminded her of a basking crocodile.
‘Did you really think I’d do nothing after you stole my notes?’ he queried in a silky voice dripping with utter fury.
She blinked. ‘I found the contract with the producers. I think you’ve got that backwards.’
He gave a single jerk of his broad shoulders.
‘I needed the money and didn’t think you’d mind. After all I’m the one who’s carried you the last couple of years. I deserve it.’
Her heart pounded so hard in her chest, Becca found it hard to catch her breath.
Justin was totally delusional she realised.
He truly believed every single word he said as he continued,
‘Anyway, you’ve got yourself knocked up by a dick swinging playboy.’
Temper and outrage burned a path into Becca’s throat.
She didn’t attempt to hide her own anger or the edge to her tone.
‘You’re a guest in his house, Justin. I take as I find and from my experience Lucas has been absolutely wonderful to me.’
‘Yeah, that’s because he’s managed to get inside your panties. But he gets bored easily, always has done. The best thing you can do is to get a wedding ring on your finger ASAP. At least that way you won’t be left holding the baby. Anyway, you’ll never have to work again, the guy’s loaded.’
Becca looked at the ugly sneer that marred his good looking face, seeing him for the first time. The mask was off now and the real man revealed. How often had she heard other dancers say that Justin was an unpleasant user but she’d refused to believe it? Her own mother had told her repeatedly but Becca had been constant in her sup
port of him.
How blindly stupid had she been?
Looking absolutely delighted with himself, Justin rose and shrugged on an expensive leather flying jacket of butter soft leather the colour of ripe hazelnuts.
The malice was clear to read in his eyes now and the oily tilt in her stomach made the room spin.
‘Don’t look so devastated, sweetie. You made your choice to behave like a slapper. And now look at you, all banged up with nowhere to go. You’re what, twelve weeks pregnant? I don’t know what all the fuss is about. If it’s making you that unwell you have plenty of time to get your life and your career back. I just hope you don’t live to regret it.’
She didn’t attempt to hide her utter disgust. ‘Get out.’
Justin walked out without looking back.
Becca sat there staring at the door and still couldn’t believe it.
Words did more than hurt she discovered as a cold sweat beaded her brow and her frantic heart felt bloody and broken.
The man had been the main part of her life for so many years. They’d shared everything. He’d been there for her when her world imploded. How could he possibly be so cruel? He’d spoken to her as if he truly hated her.
She didn’t deserve it.
His disappointment she could understand and she knew he had a tendency to lash out when his will was thwarted, but she’d never have believed in a million years that a person she loved could behave like that or say such vile things to her.
He’d destroyed their relationship by quite deliberately making it impossible for them to ever work together or to be friends in the future. But why on earth would he do that? It simply didn’t make sense.
Head pounding so bad it made her whimper Becca stumbled to the bathroom and just made it before she was so violently sick the world went dark.
Lucas found her sitting on the floor, hugging her knees to her chest, in the corner of the shower with water pounding down on her head staring unblinkingly into space.
Expletives flowed in rapid Spanish as he yelled for Moira and slapped off the cold water.
Quickly and efficiently he stripped her of her sodden vest and panties, before wrapping her in a warm towel and carrying her back to sit her on the edge of her bed. Winding a towel around her hair like a turban, he wiped her face and stared into big blue eyes filled with shock and pain.
‘What happened?’
She started to shake uncontrollably and he roared like a bull for his housekeeper.
And he thanked God when the sound of footsteps running down the corridor came closer.
‘What on earth is the matter?’ demanded Moira as she burst through the door.
Lucas turned on her. ‘What the hell happened here this afternoon?’
Wringing her hands, she stared at Becca in dismay. ‘Justin was here. He didn’t stay long so I assumed Becca was asleep. Look at the state of her.’
A brisk knock on the bedroom door heralded the arrival of Sinead.
One look at Becca told her all she needed to know.
‘Right, everybody out.’
Lucas didn’t budge. ‘I found her on the floor in the shower. Apparently she had a visitor this afternoon. Her dance partner, Justin. He’s been causing problems.’
‘Okay, thank you for that.’
He opened his mouth but Sinead simply raised a brow so he closed it again and followed Moira from the room.
Then parked himself in the hall determined to remain outside the door.
Becca realised someone was brushing her hair in a lovely soothing motion.
‘Ah, you’re back with us now. Would you like a cup of tea the lovely Moira has left us?’
‘Thank you,’ Becca said her voice hoarse.
Sinead handed her a biscuit, poured her a cup.
‘Is your head banging?’
‘It was, but it’s not so bad now.’
Sinead perched on the bed and put an arm around her.
‘Want to tell me what happened?’
In hot fast spurts it all tumbled out of Becca.
‘God, I can’t stop crying.’
‘Nothing wrong with a good cry. With everything that you’ve had to deal with I’m surprised it’s taken this long for you to break. Sounds to me as if you’re well rid of him.’
‘It hurts,’ Becca said, blowing her nose.
Sinead simply stared at her in amazement.
‘Of course it hurts. That’s why he did it. To cause maximum damage. He knows you very well. He knows where your insecurities are. He has the power to hurt. You need to take that power back. The question you need to ask yourself is are you going to let him win or are you going to look after yourself and those babies and talk about your feelings rather than letting them rule you. Because I bet after talking to me you feel better, don’t you?’
Becca nodded. ‘I do. I thought my head was going to explode.’
‘Okay. Now go and pee in the pot.’
She did as she was told while Sinead did the stick dipping thing and Becca went back to bed feeling so raw and emotional it was as if her brain had been scrubbed with a steel brush. Becca knew pregnant women were at the mercy of their hormones, but she didn’t have to like it.
When the blood pressure cuff was puffed up really tight, Becca winced. The measurement was probably through the roof.
‘Well, there you go. It’s down a wee bit, a miracle after what went on here today. This is what happens when you release your anxieties, your feelings and the way to do that is to deal with them and talk about them.’
After that little homily, Sinead left and found Lucas lounging against the wall with a look on his face that would curdle cream.
‘You heard that?’
‘Si, every word. She hasn’t wanted to talk about Justin and I didn’t want to upset her by forcing the issue, and other things.’
The nurse shook her head.
‘You cannot protect a person from the stresses and strains of everyday life. Shit happens. It’s how we deal with it that matters. That girl needs to get it all out. Every bit of what’s eating away at her deep inside.’ She looked at him through narrowed eyes. ‘And I bet you’re just the boy to do it.’
It felt bizarre to be called ‘the boy’ from a woman so much younger than he was.
‘Si, communication is my business.’
‘For it to work it needs to be honest.’
Lucas nodded. ‘Si, gracias, Sinead. Can she get up for dinner?’
‘Sure she can. Tomorrow we’ll talk about how to keep her amused and stop her losing her tiny mind. She’s not someone who’s used to lazing around and it’s going to be hard for her if this turns out to be a long-term thing.’
Lucas recognised that in thinking ahead he’d thought of how the situation affected him and his extended family. Now Becca and the babies’ needs must take priority.
‘Could it be a long-term thing?’
Intelligent green eyes met his and for once they were serious.
‘Let’s not assume anything. But I always believe in being prepared.’
After seeing Sinead safely out Lucas strolled through the house looking for his deeply upset housekeeper.
At least he’d managed to call off the paps hanging around his front door.
But Lucas was under no illusions, they had the scent of blood and Justin had made it clear he was a bad enemy. He’d underestimated the man’s capacity to inflict a mortal wound.
Lucas didn’t believe in just getting angry. In business and in life, he believed in getting fucking even.
Moira was chopping vegetables with a lethal looking knife and by the expression on her face and the speed she was dissecting a red pepper, Justin Cope’s balls were in the forefront of her mind.
Lucas put his arm around her shoulder and the woman who was as dear to him as a mother rested her head on his arm.
‘I’m so sorry I let him in. He was so charming... He....’ Her voice broke.
‘It is not your fault. He is a clever man a
nd I underestimated him. It will not happen again.’
Anxious eyes met his. ‘Is she all right?’
‘Blood pressure has dropped a little.’
A hard light entered her eyes now. ‘You can’t let him get away with this, Lucas.’
He gave her a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.
‘Have you heard of Karma?’
‘Of course. But in my experience it tends to take its own sweet time.’
‘In this particular case Karma is already on its way.’
Later, in his office, Lucas sat at his desk doodling with a ball point pen on his blotting pad.
His hair was still wet from the shower and he wore his habitual soft jeans, a sweater of grey cashmere and his feet were bare. His brother was exactly the same. As soon as he was relaxed and at home off came shoes and socks. Although Jacob had sent him email support when his father had gone ballistic, it had been a while since he’d spoken to his brother and he was long overdue for a catch-up.
He’d left Becca sound asleep. Ideally he needed to get her out of town, but knew his hands were tied until her condition improved. And he wondered how she would react if she ever found out what he was about to do. Justin Cope had crossed not just one line, but many lines with him. He frowned. By his behaviour he wondered if the man was in fact quite stable. Justin appeared to believe he could do whatever the hell he liked and never be held to account for his actions.
A court case for slander and loss of earnings would be protracted and ugly. Becca didn’t need the stress. And although the idea of Justin getting off with what he’d done stuck in Lucas’s throat, Becca’s needs must come first. However, he wasn’t about to let the bastard walk away unscathed especially after the wound he’d inflicted this afternoon.
To be ruled by anger and emotion was a weakness Lucas could not afford. He used his fury, channelled it and thought long and hard of the possible consequences of his actions. One of which might be that Becca may leave him, never forgive him for the damage he was about to inflict upon her former partner and former best friend. If there was one thing he admired about Becca it was her loyalty. He’d give anything for her to believe in him as much as she had believed in Justin.
A Stormy Spring Page 20
