She bit her lip, her expression innocent. ‘I distract you?’
Shaking his head, he grimaced. ‘More like bewitch me. Since I met you in that café I haven’t been able to concentrate on anything. I’ve hardly done any work for months. If I wasn’t me, I’d fire myself.’
Glancing out of the window, with his words humming inside her head, she felt suddenly ridiculously happy—even though, she reminded herself quickly, Ram was really only talking about the sexual chemistry between them.
Two minutes later he shifted down a gear and turned into a driveway. Nola could see tennis courts and a rectangle of flawless green grass.
‘It’s a putting green,’ Ram said quietly. ‘Guy is a big golf fan.’
She nodded. Of course it was a putting green.
But then the putting green was forgotten, for suddenly she realised why Ram had taken her to his house first.
As he switched off the engine she breathed out slowly. ‘You thought all this would scare me, didn’t you? That’s why we went to Stanmore first.’
He shrugged, but the intensity of his gaze told her that she was right.
Reaching out, she touched his hand tentatively. ‘Thank you.’
He caught her fingers in his, his eyes gently mocking her. ‘I was a little concerned at how you might react. But, as you can see, I’m way richer than they are...’
She punched him lightly on the arm.
‘I can’t believe you said that.’
Leaning forward, he tipped her face up to his. ‘Can’t you?’ he said softly. ‘Then your opinion of me must be improving.’
For a moment time seemed to slow, and they gazed at one another in silence until finally she cleared her throat.
‘Do you think we should go in?’
‘Of course.’ He let go of her chin. ‘Let’s go and eat.’
Walking swiftly through the house, Ram felt as though his chest might burst. He couldn’t quite believe that he’d brought Nola here. One way or another it was asking for trouble—especially as his relationship with her was still at such a delicate stage. But avoiding his parents wasn’t an option either—not if he was serious about getting Nola to trust him.
Aware suddenly that she was struggling to keep up with him, he slowed his pace and gave her an apologetic smile. ‘Sorry. I think they must be in the garden room.’
The garden room! Was that some kind of conservatory? Nola wondered as she followed Ram’s broad back.
Yes, it was, she concluded a moment later as she walked into a light, exquisitely furnished room. But only in the same way that Ram’s rainforest hideaway was some kind of treehouse.
‘Finally! I was just about to ring you, Ramsay.’
Pulse racing, Nola swung round. The voice was high and clear, and surprisingly English-sounding. But not as surprising as the woman who was sashaying towards them.
Ram smiled coolly. ‘Hello, Mother.’
Nola gazed speechlessly at Pandora Walker. Tall, beautiful and blonde, wearing an expensive silk dress that showed off her slim arms and waist, she looked more like a model than a mother—certainly not one old enough to have a son Ram’s age.
‘You said one o’clock, and it’s two minutes past,’ Ram said without any hint of apology, leaning forward to kiss her on both cheeks.
‘Five by my watch.’ She gave him an indulgent smile. ‘I’m not fussing on my account, darling, it’s just that you know your father hates to be kept waiting.’
Glancing past them, she pursed her lips.
‘Not that he has any qualms about keeping everyone else hanging around. Or ruining the food.’
Nola stilled. Goosebumps were covering her arms. For a fraction of second it could have been her own mother speaking.
But that thought was quickly forgotten as, shaking his head, Ram turned towards Nola and said quietly, ‘The food will be perfect. It always is. Nola, this is my mother, Pandora. Mother, this is Nola Mason. She’s one of the consultants I hired to work on the launch.’
Smiling politely, Nola felt a jolt of recognition as she met Pandora’s eyes—for they were the exact same colour and shape as Ram’s. But where had he got that beautiful black hair?
‘Thank you so much for inviting me,’ she said quickly. ‘It’s really very kind of you.’
Pandora leaned forward and brushed her cheek lightly against Nola’s.
‘No, thank you for coming. I can’t tell you how delightful it is to meet you. Ram is usually so secretive. If I want to know anything at all about his private life I have to read about it in the papers. Ah, finally, here’s Guy. Darling, we’ve all been waiting...’
Nola felt another shiver run over her skin. Pandora was still smiling, but there was an edge of coolness to her voice as a tall, handsome man with blond hair and light brown eyes strolled into the room.
‘Ramsay, your mother and I were so sure you’d forget I booked to have lunch with Ted Shaw at the club. Just had to ring and cancel.’ He turned towards Nola. ‘Guy Walker—and you must be Nola.’
‘It’s lovely to meet you, Mr Walker.’
He smiled—a long, curling smile that reached his eyes.
‘Call me Guy, please, and the pleasure is all mine.’
Ram might get his grey eyes from his mother, Nola thought as she followed Pandora out of the room to lunch, but he’d clearly inherited his charm from his father.
To her relief, she quickly discovered that Ram had been telling the truth about his parents. They were the perfect hosts: beautiful, charming and entertaining. And the food was both delicious and exquisitely presented. And yet somehow she couldn’t shift the feeling that there was an undercurrent of tension weaving unseen beneath the charm and the smooth flow of conversation.
‘So what is it you did, then, Nola? For RWI, I mean?’ Leaning forward, Guy poured himself another glass of wine.
‘I’m a cyber architect. I designed and installed the new security system.’
He frowned. ‘That’s a thing now, is it?’
Nola opened her mouth, but before she could reply Ram said quietly, ‘It’s been a “thing” for a long time now. All businesses have cyber security teams. They have to. Big, global companies like RWI even more so. They’re a prime target for hackers, and if we get hacked we lose money.’
Guy lifted his glass. ‘By we you mean you.’ He smiled conspiratorially at Nola. ‘I might have given him my name but it’s not a family business.’
She blinked. Taken at face value, Guy’s comment was innocuous enough: a simple, statement of fact about who owned RWI. So why did his words feel like a shark’s fin cutting through the surface of a swimming pool?
‘Actually, I think what Ram is trying to say is that hacking is like any other kind of theft,’ she said hurriedly. ‘Like shoplifting or insurance fraud. In the end the costs get passed on to the consumers so everyone loses out.’
Feeling Ram’s gaze on the side of her face, she turned and gave him a quick, tight smile. He nodded, not smiling exactly, but his eyes softened so that for a fraction of a second she almost felt as if they were alone.
Watching the faint flush of colour creep over Nola’s cheeks, Ram felt his throat tighten.
He couldn’t help but admire her. She was nervous—he could hear it in her voice. But she had defended him, and the fact that she cared enough to do that made his head spin, for nobody had ever taken his side. He’d learnt early in life to rely on no one but himself. Some days it felt as though his whole life had been one long, lonely battle.
Not that he’d cared.
Until now.
Until Nola.
But spending time with her over the last few days had been a revelation. Having never cohabited before, he’d expected to find it difficult—boring, even. But he’d enjoyed her company. She was beautiful, smart, funny, and she challenged him. And now she had gone into battle for him, so that the solitude and independence he had once valued so highly seemed suddenly less important. Unnecessary, unwelcome even.
&n
bsp; ‘I’ll have to take your word for it.’ Guy laughed. ‘Like I said, I might be a Walker but I’m not a hotshot businessman like my son.’
Draining his glass, he leaned forward towards Nola.
‘A long time ago I used to be an actor—quite a good one, actually. Right now, though, I’m just a party planner!’
Nola stared at him confusedly. ‘You plan parties?’
‘Ignore him, Nola, he’s just being silly.’ Pandora frowned at her husband, her lips tightening. ‘We’re having a party for our thirtieth wedding anniversary, and Guy’s been helping with some of the arrangements.’
‘Thirty years!’ Nola smiled. ‘That’s wonderful.’
And it was. Only as Ram reached out and adjusted his water glass she felt her smile stiffen, for how did that make him feel? Hearing her sound so enthusiastic about his parents’ thirtieth wedding anniversary when she’d been so fiercely against marrying him.
But then Ram only wanted to marry her because he felt he should, she thought defensively. His parents, on the other hand, had clearly loved each other from the start, and they were still in love now, thirty years later.
‘Oh, you’re so sweet.’ Pandora gave her a pouting pink smile. ‘It’s going to be a wonderful evening, but there’s still so much to sort out. Only apparently my input is not required.’
So that was why she and Guy were so on edge.
Glancing over to see Guy was pouring himself another glass of wine, Nola felt a rush of relief at having finally found an explanation for the tensions around the table.
Guy scowled. ‘You’re right—it’s not.’ He picked up his glass. ‘Doesn’t stop you giving it, though. Which is one of the reasons why there’s still so much to sort out.’
For perhaps a fraction of a second Pandora’s beautiful face hardened, and then almost immediately she was smiling again.
‘I know, darling. But at least we have one less thing to worry about now.’ As Guy gazed at her blankly, she shook her head. ‘Ram’s guest. You are bringing Nola to the party, aren’t you, Ramsay?’
There was a tiny suspended silence.
Nola froze. That aspect of the party hadn’t even occurred to her. But obviously Ram would be going. Her heartbeat resonated in her throat as he turned towards her.
‘Of course.’
Breath pummelled her lungs as he held her gaze, his cool, grey eyes silencing her confusion and shock.
‘She’s looking forward to it—aren’t you, sweetheart?’
She gazed at him in silence, too stunned to reply. Over the last few days she had spent some of the most intense and demanding hours of her life with Ram. She had revealed more to him about herself than to any other person, and she had seen a side to him that few people knew existed.
But his parents’ party was going to be big news, and although it was unlikely anyone would be interested in her on her own, as one half of a couple with Ram...
Her pulse fluttered.
She knew enough about his private life to know that it wasn’t private at all, and that as soon she stepped out in public with him there would be a feeding frenzy—and that wasn’t what she wanted at all.
Or was it?
Suddenly she was fighting her own heartbeat. Definitely she didn’t want the feeding frenzy part, but she would be lying if she said that she didn’t want the chance to walk into a room on his arm. And not just because he was so heart-stoppingly handsome and sexy.
She liked him.
A lot.
And the more she got to know him the more she liked him.
Looking up, she met his gaze, and nodded slowly. ‘Yes, I’m really excited.’
Pandora clapped her hands together. ‘Wonderful,’ she purred. ‘In that case I must give you the number of my stylist...’
* * *
After lunch, they returned to Stanmore.
Ram worked while Nola sat watching the boats in the harbour. After a light supper he excused himself, claiming work again, and she went upstairs to shower and get ready for bed.
Standing beneath the warm water, she closed her eyes and let her mind drift.
The drive home had been quiet—supper too. But then both of them had a lot to think about. Introducing her to his parents had probably been about as a big deal for Ram as meeting them had been for her.
Turning off the shower, she wrapped a towel around herself. And then, of course, there was the party. Her heart began to thump loudly inside her chest. Was that why he’d been so quiet? Was he regretting letting himself be chivvied into taking her as his guest?
But as she walked back into the bedroom that question went unanswered, for there, sitting on her bed, was Ram.
She stopped, eyes widening with surprise. ‘I thought you were going to do some work?’
Glancing past her, he shrugged. ‘I was worried about you. You seemed...’ He hesitated, frowning. ‘Distracted.’
There was an edge to his voice that she couldn’t quite pinpoint.
‘I’m just tired.’
His eyes on hers were dark and filled with intent. ‘That’s all? Just tired?’
For a moment she considered leaving it there. It had been a long day, but for the first time they seemed to be edging towards a calm she was reluctant to disturb. Although if she didn’t tell him what she was really thinking, what would that achieve? Okay, it might just be one night in their lives, but if it was bothering her...bothering him...
She took a deep breath. ‘I just want you to know that you don’t have to take me to the party,’ she said quickly.
His eyes narrowed. ‘I know I don’t. But I want to.’ He studied her face. ‘Is that really what this is about? What I want. Or is it about what you want?’
Nola looked at him uncertainly. ‘What do you mean?’
He cleared his throat. ‘Are you saying you don’t want to go with me?’
She shook her head. ‘No, but you only—I mean, your mother—’
He interrupted her, his voice suddenly blazing with an emotion she didn’t recognise.
‘Let me get one thing clear, Nola. I want you to be there with me. And my mother has got nothing to do with that decision.’
She nodded—for what else could she do? She could hardly demand proof. And she wanted to believe him. Of course she did. Besides, if they were going to work even at the simplest level, wasn’t it time to move on? To put all the doubt and suspicion and drama behind them and start to trust one another?
Drawing in a deep breath, she lifted her chin and looked into his eyes.
‘Thank you for telling me that,’ she said simply. ‘And thank you for taking me to lunch. It was lovely.’ Remembering the strange tension around the table, those odd pointed remarks, she hesitated. ‘What about you? Did you enjoy yourself?’
Ram stared at her in silence. Her question was simple enough but it stunned him, for he couldn’t remember anyone ever asking him that before.
‘I suppose,’ he said finally. ‘Although they were a little tense. But there’s a lot going on—I mean, with the party coming up—’
She nodded slowly. ‘Thirty years together is an amazing achievement.’
‘Yes, it is.’
He watched her bite her lip, glance up, try to speak, then look away. Finally she said quietly, ‘I get that it’s why you wanted me to meet them.’
His heart seemed to still in his chest. ‘You do?’
She nodded. ‘You wanted me to understand why you want us to marry. And I do understand. I know you want what they have.’
Her blue eyes were fixed on his face, and he stared back at her, his breath vibrating inside his chest.
You want what they have...
He tried to nod his head, tried to smile, to do what his mother had always required of him.
But he couldn’t. Not anymore. Not with Nola.
Slowly he shook his head. ‘Actually, what they have is why I’ve always been so against marriage.’
He watched her eyes widen with incomprehension, a
nd it made him feel cruel—shattering her illusions, betraying his mother’s confidences. But he was so tired of lying and feeling angry. His chest tightened. Nola deserved more than lies, more than his anger—she deserved the truth.
He cleared his throat. ‘You see, Guy has a mistress.’
Confusion and shock spread out from her pupils like shock waves across a sea.
There was a thick, pulsing silence.
‘But he can’t have—’ Nola bit her lip, stopped, tried again. ‘Does your mother know?’
As she watched him nod slowly the room seemed to swim in front of her eyes.
There was another, shorter silence.
‘I’m so sorry, Ram,’ she whispered at last. ‘That must have been such a shock.’
He stared past her, his eyes narrowing as though he was weighing something up.
‘Yes, it was,’ he said quietly. ‘The first time it happened.’
The first time?
‘I—I don’t understand,’ she said slowly. ‘Isn’t this the first time?’
His mouth twisted. ‘Sadly not. That honour went to an actress called Francesca. Not that I knew or cared that she was an actress.’ An ache of misery was spreading inside him. ‘I was only six. To me, she was just some woman in my mother’s bed.’
Nola flinched. Six! Still just a child.
Watching her reaction, Ram smiled stiffly. ‘Guy told me it would upset my mother if I said anything. So I didn’t.’
He was speaking precisely, owning each word in a way that made her feel sick.
‘I thought if I kept quiet, then it would stop,’ he continued. ‘And it did with Francesca. Only then there was Tessa, and then Carrie. I stopped learning their names after that. It was the only way I could face my mother.’
‘But you weren’t responsible!’ Nola stared up him, her eyes and her throat burning. ‘You hadn’t done anything.’
His skin was tight over his cheekbones.
‘You’re wrong. It was my fault. All of it.’
She shook her head. Her heart felt as if it was about to burst. ‘You were a little boy. Your father should never have put you in that position.’
He was looking past her, his eyes dull with pain. ‘You don’t understand. I’m the reason they had to marry.’
She shivered. ‘What do you mean?’
Kidnapped for the Tycoon's Baby Page 13
