The Other Brother

by Jessica Steele

  'Oh, Nate!' she moaned in ecstasy as his hands at the base of her spine pressed her against his lean hardness.

  'Kathryn,' he breathed back, then claimed her mouth with his again, words unnecessary as his hands moved from her spine upwards, pressing her to him, crushing her breasts against him moments before bis hands came to soothe away any slight pain his crushing might have inflicted.

  The feel of his hands on her breasts over the top of her dress had her wanting to shed her clothes so she could feel his hands on her skin, her body his, no thought in her head

  of holding back. She loved him, wanted to be a part of him.

  Only some inner shyness, some unwanted reserve saved her from undoing her zip herself, her need to show him she was his and wanted it to be so uppermost, as wild emotions sent all rational thoughts fleeing.

  But it was at that moment that his hands on her body stilled. That moment that his arms about her slackened, and his mouth left hers.

  Bewildered, for this was new territory for her, Kathryn had only instinct to guide her as to what happened now—for all every instinct in her was saying they should be moving to a more intimate, even closer embrace, not letting daylight come between their two bodies the way Nate was allowing, she knew herself lost.

  She looked up into his face, still wearing that warm look for her, then into his eyes. And she knew then from the detached light coming to those blue eyes that Nate wasn't going to allow their lovemaking to go any further.

  'Don't look like that, Kathryn,' he said, and she could have sworn there was mockery there as he added, 'as though someone has stolen your favourite toy.'

  She could still feel the heat of his body, and swiftly dropped her arms, needing to grasp at whatever sanity she had left.

  'You apologise so—so overwhelmingly, Nate,' she managed to drag from she knew not where, 'I couldn't help showing you how fully I forgive you.' She had to give a choky cough before she could continue. 'But you're right, of course. We both have a hard day at the office tomorrow. And—and you have that drive back to Surrey in front of you, haven't you?'

  She stepped out of his loose hold. She knew her colour was high and wanted only for him to be gone. For while he was still here she had the most wanton longing to be back in

  his arms. Even so, she struggled and found exacdy the right light note to enquire:

  'Would you like coffee before you go?' and just had to hope he would refuse.

  He did. But she felt glad she had asked when she saw the admiration in his eyes, reluctant though it appeared to be at the way she was handling this turn of events.

  T think not,' he declined. 'As you say, I have to drive to Surrey.'

  She went to the door with him, still trying to appear as though her emotions had not received the biggest shake-up in her hfe, as though she was back on an even keel, which was very far from the truth.

  "Thank you for a lovely evening, Nate,' she said, adopting a friendly attitude, for surely that was the way sophisticated people acted in this situation, and hoping that only she knew he had only to take her in his arms again for that passion, new to her, to flare out of control again.

  'Thank you, Kathryn,' he said, his mouth curving in a smile. And it didn't seem at all strange when minutes before he hadn't looked at all as though he would be sleeping anywhere but in her bed, he took hold of her hand, raised it to his hps, gently kissed the back of it, and said before going smartly down the stairs, 'I'll see you tomorrow.'

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Any ideas Kathryn had had on working flat out to show Nate what a brilliant secretary he would be losing, had been done away with when she awakened the next morning. She had spent a considerable amount of time in thought after he had gone last night and was still of the same opinion she had come to then. It would be better all round if she left when her three months was up.

  Though how she was ever to face him again after the wanton way she had been his for the taking, she didn't know, for all their parting had been amicable.

  It made her curl up inside to recall the way she had wrapped her arms around him, the way she had pressed her body up against his, for all it had been Nate who had started it. She had an inner conviction that he would have ceased making love to her long before he had, had she made the smallest protest. But she hadn't protested. She had clung to him with nothing in her response to indicate the virgin she was. Who could blame him if he thought he would be just one of a string of lovers? From Rex's remarks to him he was already certain his brother had been her iover.

  And remembering Rex, Kathryn had the answer to why Nate had called a halt to their lovemaking. He too must have remembered his brother. She could think of nothing more guaranteed to kill his ardour than to realise that the girl he held in his arms was the girl his loved brother had very nearly killed himself over.

  - She sighed as she bathed and got ready to go to the office. Rex would always be there to kill any relationship between

  her and Nate before it got started. She might as well give up dreaming now that one day Nate might come to care for her. Nate just would not let that happen.

  For the first time in the weeks she had been working for him, she arrived at the office before him. Crazy, frightening thoughts of—had he had an accident?—panicked her for the five minutes, for he had always been in first and done an hour's work before she got in. But when five minutes later he breezed in, she was so relieved she forgot about the nerves that had beset her about how was she ever to face him again, and actually found she was grinning inanely when he remarked as he passed through:

  'Don't tell anybody—I overslept.'

  The innocent 'You should have gone to bed earlier' so very nearly left her that she blushed just as Nate turned back to pick up the post from her desk that hadn't yet been started on.

  For a fleeting second a warm look showed in his eyes as he observed her blush, and her blush deepened as she realised he was thinking it was on account of the way they had been locked in each other's arms last night. That scorching memory in no way helped her colour to fade, and then she felt even more confused as Nate bent and placed a kiss on the end of her nose.

  But as he straightened she saw that any warmth in his expression had left him. 'There's a time and a place for everything,' he remarked gruffly, and marched into his office.

  Kathryn knew herself puzzled by his attitude. It almost seemed as though he felt affronted that he had so spontaneously dropped that fight kiss on her nose, she thought, a. frown puckering her brow.

  But her confusion departed as reason came to tell her she had Rex Kingersby to thank that any spontaneous gesture Nate showed her that had nothing to do with business would

  always have him feeling disloyal to Rex at some part in the proceedings.

  But she was not left to feel unhappy about it for very long. Nate hadn't got very far in reading his post before he was calling her through, saying:

  'Come and give me a hand here, Kathryn.'

  She was in and out of his office most of that day. And she happened to be there when a call came in from Sandra.

  'Take it in here,' said Nate, not appearing unduly put out by the interruption to what they were doing.

  Kathryn smiled her thanks, then turned her attention to what Sandra was saying, a much more cheerful Sandra this time than she had been the last time she had telephoned her at the office. She started off by saying she and Vic had had a real heart-to-heart talk last night, and that to her amazement she had learned that the reason he so often went off the rails was because he was jealous of the time she devoted to their two daughters.

  'Jealous?' Kathryn couldn't help the exclamation, not ready to believe it, even if Sandra did sound convinced.

  'I was staggered too,' Sandra went on-happily. T know I do tend to fuss around them, but I never dreamt Vic thought I was shutting him out. I'm forever telling him I love him, even when he's been—a bit naughty.'

  Kathryn could have wept for her gullibility. Had Sandra forgotten
his track record? But since her sister was bubbling over in the belief that her husband would stray no longer now she had discovered the root cause for his appalling behaviour, she just couldn't knock her down by telling her she didn't believe it for a minute.

  'So things are going to be different in future?' she queried.

  'Yes,' Sandra said enthusiastically. 'That's why I'm ringing you. There's a baby-sitting circle locally, worked out

  on a points system where mothers sit in while other mothers have a night out. I haven't got it all sorted out yet, but with Vic saying he wants to take me out tomorrow night and with him thinking I always put the girls first, I said yes. But now...'

  'But now you're short of a baby-sitter until you get things organised,' Kathryn put in, unable to remember the last time Sandra had left the girls to go out and enjoy herself. 'Of course I'll come,' she said, adding swiftly, 'I'll come after work tomorrow—don't bother cooking for me, I'll have a knife and fork lunch.'

  Sandra was so happy she would have gone on chatting all day. But, aware of Nate's eyes on her, that she was using up his time as well as her own since they had been checking something together, Kathryn cut short her thanks by saying they would have a chat tomorrow.

  'Sorry about that,' she apologised, ready to get back to where they had been before the call.

  'Do you often baby-sit with your sister's children, as well as dash to hold her hand at the drop of a hat?' Nate enquired, not pretending he hadn't been listening.

  'No,' she answered, about to say, but that's what families are for, but changing her mind. She didn't want him to be reminded of his family, of the close ties that bound them. 'And from the way Sandra was talking she won't be calling on me to hold her hand in future.'

  'Husband turned over a new leaf, has he?'

  Knowing what it would do to Sandra if he hadn't, Kathryn dearly wanted to believe he had. 'I hope so,' she said fervently, and left it at that.

  Nate was out with business associates for most of Friday, so Kathryn saw little of him until he came in just after four. And that hour remaining until five was much too short. She took no pleasure in anticipating the coming weekend. The way the two whole days before she would see him again

  stretched endlessly in front of her served to endorse just how hard she had fallen for him.

  He went straight to his desk, the expression on his face as he looked at that accumulation of paper work saying he'd be lucky to get through by midnight, she noted as she followed him in to acquaint him with the telephone messages she had taken in his absence. And it grieved her that because she had to drive to Reading, even if he did ask her to stay late to help him, she wouldn't be able to.

  He didn't ask her to work overtime, but his expression was wry as he looked up from the additions to his work in the shape of what had arrived by second post and remarked:

  'Who'd be a company chairman!'

  'You love it,' Kathryn returned, having seen for herself the way he thrived on the work involved.

  Nate leaned back in his chair surveying her through slightly narrowed eyes, taking in her shapeliness, her long length of leg in her neatly fitting charcoal grey trouser suit—and suddenly setting her heart madly pounding by drawling softly:

  'It's brought me into closer contact with you, Kathryn,' just as though he loved that, too about the job, and doing nothing for her erratically beating heart by adding equally slowly, deliberately, 'But what's the good of that if it leaves me little time to get to know you better?'

  'Get to know me better?' she queried, her voice husky as a faint pink coloured her cheeks.

  'I had been hoping to ask you to dine with me tomorrow evening,' he revealed, every word music in her ears. 'I have to visit Rex tonight.' It was the first time Rex's name had been mentioned between them without a hint of frost coming into the air, which had the music still playing for her. 'Which means I shall have to take this little lot home to add to the mountain of work already awaiting my atten-tion in my study.'

  'You intend working all over the weekend?' she asked, careful not to let the disappointment that had just come to her show. It was unbelievable that Nate had wanted to take her out again, and she started to hate that the work they both enjoyed should come between his stated wish to get to know her better.

  'I must,' he said, and to her surprise, because she was sure he was too confident of his ability ever to defer to anyone, 'I want that five-year plan I told you about completed ready to show my uncle when he comes back.' And clearing up for her his reasons for wanting to consult George, 'He's still on the board, as you know, and I should hate him to think I'd come in and taken over without needing his advice.'

  What a close knit-family they are, she thought, not for the first time—then knew herself concerned that Nate should work so hard. He had relaxed last Saturday at the Atkins' dinner party. He had taken her out on Wednesday— would she ever forget it?—but she didn't like at all to think that he would be slogging away all over the weekend without anyone there to help him.

  'You'll make yourself ill,' she blurted out, her concern for him loosening her tongue.

  'I don't know about that,' he answered, that half smile emerging, 'but I could certainly do with an extra pair of hands.'

  'I could come and help.'

  It was out before she could stop it. And aghast at what she had said—the last thing she wanted him to know was the extent of her caring, apart from the fact that she just knew he wouldn't want her within a mile of his home—she couldn't look at him. She expected any second to have him bluntly turning her offer down, but as the silence that had greeted her offer went agonisingly on, in the end she just had to look at him. Then she saw, incredulously, her heart

  going haywire, that Nate actually seemed to be considering her offer.

  'We'd certainly get it done quicker with two of us at it,' he said slowly, sending her spirits soaring, then having that yo-yo effect on her again as he added, 'But I don't know, Kathryn.' And it had nothing at all to do with him not wanting her in his home, she saw, her heart starting to thunder, her spirits rocketing upwards when at last he said, 'From your point of view I don't know that it's such a good idea. You must have some idea of the way in which I regard you.'

  'Er-' she began, struggling to see if what he meant was

  what she thought he meant. 'You—er—like me a little ?' she suggested shyly, and saw he wasn't smiling at all as with his face almost stern he told her:

  'I thought I'd shown you more clearly the effect you have on me.'

  Kathryn feared heart failure at any moment, for as she remembered the way he had begun to make love to her on Wednesday, she thought, surely he could only be saying that he—more than liked her? He had said he wanted to get to know her better. Could she hope—and recalling too the way he had said a man could lose his head over her—dared she hope that he was saying he was starting to fall in love with her? Feeling dizzy from the hopes of her thoughts, she was afraid to ask, held back by that reserve that said any declaration of whatever his feelings for her were, -that declaration must come voluntarily, uninvited, from him. But even so, she just couldn't risk not seeing him again for two whole days.

  'Er—then why isn't it such a good idea that I come to do some work for you tomorrow?' she queried huskily.

  His blue eyes studied her warm colour for several seconds before he answered. And then he was laying it on the line so that she shouldn't be under any misapprehension.

  'Because, Kathryn my dear,' he said, his endearment thrilling her, 'I have an idea that even with two of us at it, the work I want to get through might well run into Sunday. And knowing the sweetness of you, I can't be sure I would refuse if you volunteered to stay with me until the work has been completed.'

  Kathryn knew then what it meant when she'd read of women fighting for the men they wanted. 'Does it matter if I stay overnight?' she asked, and couldn't help that she crimsoned again. 'I mean—well, you said you intended asking me out on Saturday night. There's l
ittle difference, is there? I mean, the only difference will be that—if I do stay—er—overnight, you won't have a long drive after you've seen me home.'

  'As I said, you're very sweet,' Nate said softly. 'But I must tell you, Kathryn, that as I've only just moved in, what with my new job and visiting Rex, not only is my home not yet completely furnished, but I haven't got round yet to finding myself a housekeeper.'

  'You're saying we would be in the house—alone,' she choked, loving the idea, but hoping he was thinking it bothered her just a little. She didn't want him thinking her forward, for all her feelings for him were far from reserved.

  'That's exactly what I am saying,' he told her. 'Though if you're worried I could promise you I have sufficient of the rooms furnished for you to have your own bedroom.'

  Her cheeks burning, not seeing after last Wednesday how he could think she was some shy retiring female, but hoping he would think her high colour was because she had never doubted she would have her own room, Kathryn forced a smile.

  'Well then,' she said, 'what's the problem?'

  'None at all, by the look of it,' said Nate, and from the satisfied look on his face, she just knew he was as pleased as she was that it looked as though they were not going to have

  to wait until Monday to see each other again.

  It was in a state of elation that instead of driving directly to Reading as she had planned, Kathryn sped hurriedly back to her flat after she left the office, exchanging her overnight bag for a weekend case, intending now to drive straight from Reading in the morning to Nate's home. For any thoughts Nate had had on the wisdom of her working with him at his home had been negated for no other reason than that it was what they both wanted. And he had not pretended otherwise, as straightaway he had gone into details of the exact location of his house.