by Annie West
Caro blinked, feeling the hot glaze at the backs of her eyes but refusing to shed more tears.
‘Ariane’s father died before she was born.’
Jake stilled, a frown descending. Then he shook his head. ‘You’re after sympathy?’
‘No!’ She looked down at her hands, twisting in her lap. ‘All I want is for you to hear me out.’ She’d hoped to skate over some details but Jake already knew so much and had put the worst interpretation on those. She had to make him understand. ‘Can you do that?’
For answer he crossed his ankles and leaned back in his seat, his silvery gaze fixed on her like a steely skewer.
For all his sprawling arrogance Caro had the crazy urge to get up and kiss him full on the lips till he lost that haughty attitude and scooped her close. Because, bizarre to admit it, she’d found not just carnal satisfaction with him but something more. Something that had, for a fleeting time, felt strong and real and good.
How many times could she fool herself into believing what she wanted to believe? Surely Mike had cured her of that.
Shifting her gaze to the small landscape painting on the wall beyond Jake, Caro cleared her throat. ‘After school I was allowed to study in the USA. It was the first time I’d lived outside the palace.’
‘And you kicked over the traces, of course.’
Her gaze slewed back to his. ‘There’s no of course about it. I was nervous but excited. To have the freedom to make my own friends, not the ones approved by my father...’ Looking at Jake’s stony face, she gave up trying to explain.
‘I spent a lot of my time studying. Art history mainly. I’d hoped eventually to work in a gallery or museum.’ That dream was long gone. She frowned, dragging herself back to the point. ‘When I was there I met Mike, another student. He was everything I wasn’t. Confident, outgoing, charming—’
‘You do yourself a disservice.’ Jake’s drawl interrupted her. ‘You were all those things at the ball tonight.’
Her eyes darted to his then away. ‘Learned skills. In Mike it was innate. He was...’ She shrugged. ‘Actually, he wasn’t the man I thought he was. But I fell for him. We became lovers and I was as happy as I’d ever been.’ The change had been amazing after her dour family situation with her perpetually disapproving father and a stepmother who saw her as an encumbrance.
‘We did go to parties and some of them got out of hand, but I usually left early. I wasn’t into drugs.’ Which was why she hadn’t realised the signs that Mike was. She’d truly been naïve. ‘Then I found out I was pregnant. I suspect Mike tampered with the condoms.’
‘Another bit of embroidery, Caro? Young guys aren’t generally eager for parenthood.’
‘Mike wasn’t like most guys. I discovered later that he saw me as a ticket to wealth and privilege. Getting me pregnant was his insurance policy.’ She met Jake’s narrowed eyes and hurried on. ‘At first it was so romantic. He proposed and I accepted. I thought we were in love and we’d have a wonderful future. Until I came home early one day to find him in bed with another woman.’
Jake leaned closer, his disbelief replaced by anger. He muttered something savage that, though it couldn’t change the past, made Caro feel better.
‘I was devastated.’ Looking back now, she’d had a lucky escape. Cold iced her bones as she imagined not discovering Mike’s true colours till after the wedding. She rubbed her hands up her arms.
‘I dumped him and when I refused to take him back he turned nasty. He wouldn’t give up. His moods became erratic, possibly because of the drugs he was taking.’ Caro shivered, remembering how he’d frightened her.
‘He threatened you?’ Jake’s gaze darkened.
‘It doesn’t matter now. What matters is that he contacted the palace. He told my father I was pregnant, hoping my father would force me into marriage. He’s very strict and wouldn’t abide me bringing up an illegitimate child.’ Caro grimaced, remembering.
‘But you didn’t marry.’
‘No. My father paid him for his silence.’
So much for the undying love Mike had professed. Even after all this time that had the power to wound. All her life she’d longed for love. She had only the vaguest recollection of her mother’s warmth. ‘With Mike’s help the press got hold of stories of me partying wildly. My father used that to explain my return to St Ancilla.’
‘And your lover?’
Caro tilted her head, surveying Jake. Why the curiosity when he knew Mike was dead?
‘He used the money to indulge himself. He died of an overdose months after I left.’
‘I see.’ Jake scowled and Caro wondered what it was he saw. ‘So you came back here, to your family.’
Her mouth twisted in a smile that held no humour. ‘Not to the palace. Nor to my family.’ She drew a sustaining breath, remembering how frightening it had been, hustled from the airport by a team of anonymous men who wouldn’t even speak to her, much less tell her where she was going. ‘I was taken from a private airport to a convent on the other end of the island. I was kept on the estate there till after the birth. My only contact with my family was a note from my father saying he’d see me after my little problem was resolved.’
‘And you agreed.’ Was Jake’s anger directed at her or her father? Suddenly tired, Caro didn’t care.
‘Of course not. I walked out several times. When that didn’t work I tried to sneak away. I didn’t get far. His security team had the place under surveillance and they were very...efficient.’ Even now the sight of her father’s minders made her feel sick in the stomach. ‘I had no phone or computer and my friends didn’t know where I was. My father said nothing but I discovered later that “sources close to the royal family” hinted I was recuperating from an unspecified health condition.’
Caro saw the flash of confirmation in Jake’s expression and knew he’d read those rumours that she’d been in rehab or recovering from a breakdown.
Sitting, recounting those days was too much. She got to her feet and paced to the window, clutching the curtain as she looked across the royal gardens, lit with thousands of lights for tonight’s party. Her father would be furious at the scandal she’d caused. Already gossip would be in full swing.
But now the prospect of his temper didn’t make her cringe. She wouldn’t give in to his bullying any longer now she had something to fight for. Ariane.
‘I gave birth there.’ It was easier speaking about it with her back to Jake. Despite her father’s wishes, Caro had resolved to raise her baby, even if it meant leaving St Ancilla with nothing. But she’d underestimated her father and her weakness after the birth.
‘It was long and difficult.’ She’d lost a lot of blood and drifted in and out of consciousness. ‘I never heard the baby cry. I didn’t see her, just the midwife’s back, taking her away. They told me she was stillborn.’
Caro swallowed and unlocked her stiff fingers from their death grip on the curtain. She pressed her hands to her stomach, remembering the terrible anguish of that night, fighting the urge to bow her shoulders and curl in on herself.
She focused on the garden illumination and the strains of music in the distance.
‘It took a while to recover. Afterwards I refused to return here, except for official events. I made my home at the far end of the island, working with children.’ Caro cleared her throat, striving for a lighter tone. No need to explain that after losing her baby, she’d been driven to connect with other children.
‘Recently I was contacted by the younger of the two midwives who’d been at the birth. She’d just had her first child and...’ Caro faltered then made herself continue. ‘She said she’d always felt guilty about what happened that night. But it was only when her daughter was born that she knew she had to tell me the truth. She said my baby was alive. That it was taken away, she assumed for adoption.’
Caro forced down the tangle of d
istress choking her throat.
She’d have to do better than this when she confronted her father. The knowledge gave her the energy to turn and look at Jake.
To her surprise he was no longer sitting, but stood mere paces away, on the other side of the window. His expression was unreadable yet he radiated tension. It hummed from him, making the hairs on her arms stand up.
‘You know the rest.’
His hooded gaze raked her. ‘I have the resources to check your story.’
Because even now he didn’t believe her? The knowledge sent adrenaline buzzing through her, as if she’d taken a shot of spirits. A laugh emerged from her dry mouth. ‘Is that a warning? Go ahead. The more corroborating evidence, the stronger my claim to Ariane.’
It was the wrong thing to say. That half-lidded stare turned laser bright and, despite her resolve, trepidation scuttered down her backbone.
But Caro was done with giving in to bossy men. She wanted her daughter and no one was going to stop her. She met Jake’s narrowed eyes with determination.
* * *
Jake gritted his teeth, refusing to argue. Time, and the best investigators and lawyers, would give him the ammunition he needed. No matter what had happened in the past, Ariane was his niece and she needed him. He’d protect her with his life.
Yet Caro Rivage muddied the waters with her story. He’d felt anger and sympathy stir. Dangerous undercurrents when this woman was his rival for Ariane.
She was challenging, dangerous. Around her his emotions became stronger, more unwieldy.
Through her story he’d felt horror, sympathy and outrage but even now he didn’t know whether she’d manipulated him. Her story was far-fetched and he wanted to dismiss it as fantasy. Except no one was that good an actor. He’d not only seen but felt her distress and pain.
There was a chance her story was true.
When she’d talked of her lying scum boyfriend her expression had revealed bitter betrayal and Jake had felt the urge to smash the guy’s face. His skin crawled at the idea of her father keeping her captive, cut off from friends.
As for stealing her baby... Surely no father would do that!
Yet Jake knew that simply having children didn’t make someone a caring parent. His mother was a case in point.
Had Caro given him a sob story to win him over while she found a way to get Ariane? Watching that challenging stare, he was torn between doubt and the desire to believe.
And desire of a different kind, for carnal pleasure. Their quick coupling hadn’t eradicated it. Instead it was as if one taste of her no-holds-barred passion left him addicted.
It was appallingly difficult to focus on the past.
Had she abandoned Ariane or had her daughter been stolen? That was the crux of the matter. If she was lying she was the best liar he’d ever met. His gut told him she spoke the truth. Yet he needed evidence.
‘I’ll reserve judgement till I have proof you didn’t give her away.’
Instead of her being downcast at his words, her expression lightened. ‘I’ll arrange a meeting with the midwife.’
She looked almost excited. The contrast with her earlier vulnerability was almost painful to observe. Surely that meant he could trust her.
Except people could be bought, stories altered.
‘You do that.’
Jake wouldn’t easily be convinced. He clenched his jaw against the wild see-saw of emotions. He was used to assessing situations quickly, trusting his instinct and taking decisive action. This uncertainty, the conflict between his desire to believe and the knowledge he couldn’t, yet, was maddening.
‘Well...’ for the first time since she’d stormed out of the gala she looked uncertain ‘... I suppose it’s time you returned to the ball. Do you need me to show you the way?’
Jake frowned. ‘I’m not interested in the ball. I only came here to see you.’
The words echoed with a profound resonance. It was truer than he’d thought. Even now, when he knew he’d get no further proof tonight, he was magnetised by her. He didn’t want to leave.
Whether it was the sexily mussed look of her ripe lips, untidy hair and crumpled dress, or the deeper thread of sympathy stirred by her story, Jake didn’t know. But he felt...connected, drawn to her. Though he couldn’t allow himself to trust her.
His voice must have revealed his doubt. He saw her react, her pupils dilate and her body sway infinitesimally nearer, till she jerked back.
‘It’s late. There’s no proof I can give you tonight.’
* * *
‘You want me to go?’
Caro felt her eyes widen as Jake’s low voice rumbled through her.
She opened her mouth to say of course she wanted him to leave. He’d been brutally insulting. He’d made her feel like dirt.
Right before he’d made her feel as if she’d found heaven.
A squiggle of arousal stirred deep inside and she rubbed her damp palms down her skirt. Jake’s eyes tracked the movement. To her dismay her nipples budded against her silk bodice while between her legs that slow circling ache of want started up anew.
Caro swallowed. She tried to summon a convenient lie. Yes, I want you to go. But her tongue didn’t cooperate.
‘Caro?’ That gravel-wrapped-in-velvet voice reminded her of the night she’d kissed him and he’d held her while she cried. It was rough yet tender and strangely reassuring. It shouldn’t be. They were on opposing sides.
‘I—’
‘Because I don’t want to leave.’ His features took on a grim cast, the planes of his face stark and sheer.
‘What do you want?’ The words came this time, breathless and quick.
‘You.’ He didn’t move closer but it felt as if he did. As if he’d reached out and trailed his hand over her flesh, awakening dangerous longing. ‘Us. Together. Again.’
‘You despise me.’ She summoned her pride as a last defence against his appalling power to tempt her. He’d flayed her with his insults. She wouldn’t forget that soon.
He shook his head. ‘I did, before you told me what happened.’
‘You’re saying you believe me?’ It couldn’t be so easy.
She was right. ‘I told you, I’ll reserve judgement till I have proof.’
He drew a slow breath and for the first time she realised he was as tense as she. His big chest rose in a shudder and the muscles in his jaw worked as if he held himself back with difficulty. ‘But I still want you. More than ever.’
The words, delivered not in challenge but with devastating honesty, loosened her knees. Caro snatched in air to her overworked lungs but couldn’t fill them.
‘I’ve wanted you from the moment you sashayed into my office looking ridiculously sexy in that brown outfit. You made me feel like some Victorian reprobate, lusting after the staff.’
Caro stepped back in shock, straight into the window embrasure.
‘You were attracted then?’
The voice of self-preservation told her it didn’t matter. Nothing mattered but Ariane. Yet it wasn’t true. This—whatever it was between her and Jake—was so powerful she felt it at a visceral level. In his arms Caro felt renewed, happy, vibrantly alive.
It made her weak when she needed to be strong. But oh, what weakness!
Even angry, desperate sex with this man had felt profound.
Surely it was a catastrophic mistake to give in to it, yet it felt anything but wrong.
‘You couldn’t tell?’ He stepped close and she felt hot all over from that silvery stare. ‘I thought it was obvious.’ Another deep breath. This time that broad chest came within a hair’s breadth of her breasts and she had to fight not to lean into him.
Caro shook her head. ‘Sex would complicate things between us.’
Jake’s mouth rucked up at one side in a disarming smile that turned her insi
des molten. ‘A bit late to worry about, don’t you think?’ He paused. ‘Whatever the rights and wrongs, we find ourselves in a...fraught situation. Why not indulge in a little recreational pleasure to relieve the tension?’
He made it sound not only logical but laudable. This man was incredibly dangerous!
And yet... She wanted badly to put aside her hurt, even for a short time.
‘And afterwards? We part as enemies?’
He lifted his hand, feathering one finger down her cheek, then across to her mouth where her lips promptly opened for him. Heat drilled deep inside and she shuddered as she inhaled the citrus and male scent of his skin.
‘How about we call a truce?’ he purred. ‘Till the negotiations begin.’
It was absurd. Reckless and irresponsible.
Utterly tempting.
Caro shuddered, her senses on overdrive. She told herself to be sensible. She opened her mouth to spurn him and heard herself say, ‘Perhaps just once.’
The words were barely out when he scooped her into his arms. He carried her as easily as if he did it every day, leaving her hyper-aware of his strength and a sense of well-being. It was crazy but nevertheless real.
Then they were in the bedroom and he put her on her feet, reaching to flick on a bedside lamp. Caro waited for the frenzy of need, the urgent hands, hard on her body, that had so excited her before.
Instead, to her surprise, Jake lifted his hands to her hair. Gently, with deft patience, he drew out the pins that secured her tiara and kept her hair up. He wore a lazy half-smile as his fingers moved in her hair in a series of caresses that made her shiver all over.
Finally he removed the delicate tiara but instead of stopping, those hard hands massaged her scalp, turning her boneless. The exquisite sensations, the unhurried intent in those glittering eyes and the stroke of his breath on her skin turned it into the most amazing foreplay.
Caro’s head fell back, her hair cascading in waves around her shoulders. She clutched his upper arms as he kissed her jaw, her throat and down, down, down to the low-sitting line of her bodice.
