“You need a rest,” Gaelan said gently. “We’ll get a hotel room nearby. We can come back in the morning.”
Chloe nodded into his shirt and let him help her into her coat.
The nearby hotel was undergoing renovations in preparation for the tourist season, and with the exception of the honeymoon suite the other available rooms were booked. Gaelan took the suite. Chloe felt herself blush, suddenly shy at the idea of being in the honeymoon suite with Gaelan. But at the same time she felt the hot rush of excitement at the thought of being alone with him. She wondered at his motivation for taking her into his arms in the hospital. Was it simply a show of concern, a show of compassion for someone who had been through a difficult time? Or was it more?
She knew she wanted it to be more. She thought back to her first night at Widow’s Cliff. That night she’d been willing to risk everything for one night with him. She felt that way now and knew if he should offer to share his bed with her, she would. Without hesitation. For her the doubts about him were gone. To love him before meant to love a man she thought had no feelings for his own daughter, but she had seen him tonight and knew beneath the dark surface this was a man who could love - deeply and gently. She would go to him gladly.
The room was as a honeymoon suite should be. There was a heart-shaped hot tub, a heart-shaped bed, a gas fireplace, and on a table a bottle of champagne on ice. The hotel was one of the tallest buildings in St. John’s, and below them the lights of the city sparkled. Beyond lay the dark expanse of the ocean.
Wordlessly, Gaelan helped her out of her coat and hung it in the armoire beside his own.
Chloe stood where he left her, feeling awkward in this room that was so obviously for making love.
“Champagne?” he asked, spotting the bottle on the table. “We may not be on our honeymoon, but we can toast the fact you and Sophia are safe.”
Chloe nodded her approval as the cork popped out of the bottle. Perhaps a drink would make her feel less awkward. She wished she could think of some conversation, but other than confessing her meeting with Bowen, she could not. And she didn’t want to explain that. Not now. She would explain later, and she would make him understand.
But then suddenly she knew she had to confess. If anything should happen between them tonight, she could not let this stand between them. She wanted the air to be free so she could give herself wholly and completely, no secrets.
“Gaelan, there’s something I should tell you about the accident,” she said, taking a glass.
“Not now,” he said softly. “You and Sophia are safe. That's all that matters to me.”
He clinked his glass against hers and Chloe sipped her champagne, conscious of his dark eyes on hers and the closeness of his body. It was going to be okay. It was going to be wonderful.
“I think I’ll take a shower,” she said. She was aware of the dirt on her clothes from the accident, and she wanted to feel clean again, to wash away the scent of Bowen’s car and the smell of the hospital.
Gaelan had a mischievous glint in his dark eyes. “Are you sure you don’t want to try out the hot tub?” he asked slyly.
She blushed, and as fast as it had appeared, the mischievous glint was gone from his eyes and he was looking at her with a hungry intensity. He touched her face, his strong fingers tracing the outline of her lips like a kiss, and she trembled under his touch.
“Take your shower then,” he said in a low voice. “I’ll be here.” He moved away and went to the window. Chloe went to the bathroom and stripped off her clothes with shaking hands. She stood under the hot needles of water and felt purified, ready, and nearly crazy with desire.
She stepped from the shower and without drying the water from her body wrapped herself in the white silk bathrobe that hung on the back of the door.
He was standing by the fireplace when she came out of the bathroom and walked toward him on trembling legs. “God, you’re beautiful,” he murmured as he looked at her with dark eyes that could see into her soul.
She remembered how rough and greedy his kisses had been that first night. But this was different. His mouth savoured hers in deep warm kisses that said we have all night....
His hands explored the planes of her face and the curve of her throat. Tracing the neckline of the silk robe with enticing slowness, his fingers found the rise of her breast before moving to follow the line of her spine, the curve of her back...
“I want to make love to you all night,” he murmured into her ear. “Is that okay?”
“Yes,” she breathed against his chest.
“You won’t slap me across the face then?” he whispered teasingly.
In response, Chloe put her arms around his neck and, burying her fingers in his thick hair, brought his mouth back to her own, her kisses demanding fulfilment.
He pulled her against himself, and she felt his hardness against her. He moaned, a soft sound of desire breathed against her lips.
She found the buttons on his shirt and unfastened them, wanting this barrier removed from between them. Her hands found his warm skin and the hard muscles of his abdomen. She had never felt like this with Shawn or any other of her so-called lovers. She had never felt this level of need or hunger for another man’s body, nor had another man ever desired her so much. She could feel it in his touch. There was an urgency in his body, but there was also restraint, and Chloe knew that before the night was over she would go to heaven and back.
His mouth still on hers, Gaelan lifted Chloe in his arms and carried her to the ludicrous heart-shaped bed. Tearing back the satin cover, he laid her on the cool satin sheets, seating himself on the edge of the bed. He broke off the kiss and untied her robe, opening it slowly, his breathing heavy with expectation. “You are so beautiful,” he repeated. His voice, barely a whisper, was full of awe and delight, and Chloe had never felt so beautiful in her life. He touched her reverently, his hands and eyes exploring her body with an amazement she knew would last all night.
He stopped and removed his shirt, and she lifted a hand from the sheets to touch the hard muscles of his chest, longing to feel his weight on hers. Her body arched towards his in anticipation.
She cringed when the phone in the pocket of his shirt, now lying on the floor, rang, intruding on their lovemaking with its insistent demand to be paid attention to. Gaelan looked at it as if he might throw it through the window, then he swore.
“Damn, it's Windy. I forgot to phone her and tell her Sophia was doing better. The poor woman has probably been sitting by the phone worrying herself sick.” He dug the phone out of the pocket and kissed Chloe on the lips. “I’m sorry. Remind me after where I was.” He glanced at the phone display, confirming it was Windy before lifting it to his cheek.
“Windy, I’m so sorry,” he said. “She’s fine. She’s going to be alright.”
There was a pause. Chloe could not hear Windy’s voice. “Yes," Gaelan said, "I’m with Chloe. We're staying in St. John’s for the night. We’re going back to the hospital first thing in the morning.” Gaelan looked into Chloe’s face and smiled - the first time he had smiled at her - and Chloe knew she could not bear a life that wasn’t rewarded with Gaelan’s smile.
But suddenly the smile was gone. Gaelen rose sharply from the edge of the bed and turning his back to Chloe strode to the window. He raised his fist, and for a moment Chloe thought he might put it through the window. He did bring it against the window but in a controlled anger that knew its strength, his fist landing noiselessly against the glass. Chloe felt frightened and twisted her body into a sitting position, unconsciously pulling up the covers to conceal her nakedness.
Gaelan wheeled around to face her, his eyes full of anger and disgust. He threw his cell into an arm chair, and Chloe wondered for a moment if Gaelan was capable of physical violence after all.
“Bowen!” He nearly spat out the word at her. “Does that name mean anything to you?”
Chapter 6
Chloe looked at Gaelan, and her heart fell. �
��I...,” she stammered, wondering how she could prove her innocence and knowing that it was useless. His eyes that had been so tender only moments before were now hard and cold.
“Oh, don’t bother. Windy said the police reported Bowen as driving the car.” He strode over to the bed. Afraid, Chloe scrambled to the other side, still holding the covers over her body.
He leaned over and scooped up his shirt from the carpet. He straightened and put it on, his eyes never leaving Chloe. “I guess I should congratulate you. You’re pretty good. Not only did you have me convinced, you fooled Marcus too. When I think of how many things could have gone wrong with your plan up until now - well it’s pretty remarkable you got this far.” He did the buttons of his shirt and tucked it in, then picked up his cell from the chair and dropped it in his pocket. “So who are you really, Chloe Winters? One of Bowen’s acting friends?”
With the blankets pulled up over her nakedness, Chloe felt exposed, vulnerable, and very, very confused. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she protested. “I never even heard of Bowen until today.”
“Look, Chloe, the game’s over - give it up. I just can’t believe I fell for the same scheme twice. First Colleen and now you. What was the plan? Marry me and then divorce me for half? Live happily ever after with my brother? Or was it strictly a business deal, with you two splitting the proceeds?” He ran his fingers through his hair. “Well, why not? It almost worked with Colleen, didn’t it?”
“Gaelan, please,” she begged. “I don’t know what you’re talking about! I took Sophia to her class in Puffin’s Cove, and Bowen was in the restaurant I went to for a cup of coffee. I thought it was you.”
“Forget it,” he said. “Don’t even try. It’s too pathetic.” He went to the closet and pulled out his coat. Putting it on, he went to the door. Despite her misery, Chloe noted the contrast his dark anger made against the frilliness of the room. I will always remember him, she thought, silhouetted against the fog at Widow's Cliff, the wind in his hair, a faraway look in his eyes. That thought was followed by the feeling of utter desolation. She couldn’t let it happen. She let the covers drop and grabbed the robe that he had only moments before so tenderly removed.
Pulling it around her, she ran to him and clutched the wool of his sleeves. “You can’t go!” she pleaded. “I tried to tell you, but you said the only thing that mattered was that Sophia and I were safe.” Was there a flash of doubt in those angry eyes? He looked away quickly, and Chloe grabbed at the opening, fighting for happiness itself.
“It’s true I saw Bowen for the first time in the restaurant today. I thought it was you - I had no idea you had a twin brother.” She spoke quickly, desperately, the words pouring out in a torrent. “He told me you didn’t speak to each other, that it was because of Colleen. He said you stole her from him, but that she wasn’t happy.” She took a breath. “He said you might have had something to do with her death.”
Gaelan took hold of her wrists and tried to pull her free, but she hung on as if her life depended on it. “It’s true,” she said. “He seemed so nice, and I believed him.” Gaelan looked back at her sharply but said nothing. “I know it was because I was lonely, and I was upset with you for going to Montreal without even saying goodbye.”
Gaelan pulled her hands free and held her wrists in a firm grip. Chloe knew she had only moments left to explain before he would be gone and she would be left without him forever. “He said he’d like to see me again, and I said yes. But then the Jeep didn’t start, and he offered Sophia and me a ride home. After the accident,” she swallowed hard at the memory, “he took off after the police and the ambulance came. I don’t know where he is.”
“Are you done?” he said. There was no compassion or understanding in his voice, and Chloe knew he didn’t believe her.
“The Jeep’s in Puffin’s Cove on the main street. Go see it! Then you’ll see it doesn’t work! Surely that would prove I’m not lying.”
“I don’t know what it would prove,” he said coldly. “Except maybe your deviousness.”
Chloe felt the tears overflow her eyes and run down her cheeks. It was hopeless. He was determined not to believe her.
“Stop crying!” he said harshly. He released her wrists, and, turning away from her, pulled open the door. "Do you know the worst part of your little scheme?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “That the two of you almost killed Sophia in the process.”
Chloe tried to protest her innocence, but the door had already slammed behind him, the echoes reverberating through the room.
* * *
Gaelan left the hotel and found the nearest pub. He didn’t want to think about what had just happened and so decided that drowning himself in scotch was the best method of forgetting. In the dark interior, a local Celtic rock band belted out tunes on the stage, and the audience cheered out their approval. It was Friday night in St. John’s, and it seemed everyone was out celebrating.
Gaelan sat at the crowded bar and ordered a double scotch, neat. It came with ice anyway, but he didn’t complain. He threw it back and ordered a second.
He was sipping the second drink when the woman next to him spoke. She introduced herself as Karen, a graduate student at Memorial University. “Rough day?” she asked. He noted she was tall with long brown hair. Attractive too. He started to contemplate another method of forgetting.
“You might say that,” he said evasively.
“You want some company?” she said, her bright red lips suddenly close to his ear, her right breast pressed against his arm. He felt the pressure of her long leg against his thigh. He thought about it. Why not? It was becoming more and more apparent he would never have a real relationship. Why not just series of one-night stands? Anonymous encounters to quench the desire, no strings attached.
But then the image of Chloe flashed before his eyes, the perfection of her body against the satin sheets, the taste of her mouth on his, and he knew he wouldn’t go through with it. That as much as he wanted to forget Chloe, he’d never do it having sex with this woman. Or any other woman at that. It wasn’t in him.
“Sorry, I don’t think I’d be very exciting tonight,” he said, draining his glass. He put some bills on the bar for the bartender.
“That’s okay, just looking at you is all the excitement I need,” she said.
“Sorry,” he repeated, getting up from his stool. “Goodnight.”
Her own goodnight was lost in the cacophonous racket of the bar as he pushed his way through the crowds and toward the door. But once outside, he stood on the sidewalk, not knowing where he was going or what he was doing. He thought of Sophia, but they would never allow him in at this time of the night, and so he wandered the streets, the evening's events replaying in his mind until he thought he’d go insane.
By five a.m., he'd begun to hope that Chloe could be telling the truth. He didn’t know whether it was wishful thinking, but he couldn’t bear the thought that she was another Colleen, another scam by his brother. He thought back to the first time he’d seen Chloe, caught like a deer in the headlights of his car. That night, he’d assumed if she wasn’t already there for his money, she soon would be. Certain she was just another gold digger, he’d compared her to Colleen from the beginning. And now, when it looked almost sure he’d been right to be suspicious, his mind was working overtime to find her innocent.
He took a taxi to an all-night car rental. Chloe had said to check the Jeep. He didn’t know what it would prove, but he found himself doing it anyway. It took him an hour to drive to Puffin’s Cove, only to find the street where Chloe had said he’d find the car empty. No doubt it had been towed. If it had been there at all. He drove out to the police station on the edge of town, stopping first at a donut shop for a cup of coffee.
The Billionaire's Secrets Page 10
