His After-Hours Mistress: The Rich Man's Reluctant Mistress

скачать книгу бесплатно


And what had he done? Hurt her beyond measure. How could he even look her in the face again? His only consolation was that she hadn’t stopped him. It must mean that she still felt something. When they were on the island she had often instigated their lovemaking, making him believe that she was as happy with the situation as he was.

Why then, now that they were back here in London, had she completely changed? Was it the location that had turned her into a sultry seductress? Was she not normally like that? He didn’t know what to think any more. All he knew was that he couldn’t get her out of his head. Unlike other girls he’d slept with, Lucinda had left a lasting impression.

At the hospital Helen looked so very much worse than the last time he had seen her and he could understand why Lucinda had railed against him. If Helen didn’t improve then it looked very much as though he would have to take Tim on full-time. Who, though, would he get to look after him?

A full-time nanny—or a wife? This was something he had never contemplated before. Didn’t want to contemplate. On the other hand, he couldn’t let Tim down. He was such an engaging little boy. If he ever had children, heaven forbid, he would like them to be just like Tim.

Lucinda spent the rest of the afternoon at her desk. She had heard Zane and Tim go out and couldn’t begin to describe the relief she felt. How could she have let Zane make love to her again? Her brain must have fried out there in the Caribbean. She was no more over him than she had been during those magical days.

Love came in many guises and hers had crept up on her unawares and unhappily refused to go away. She was so afraid that Zane would see how she felt and that he would take advantage. Today had proven how weak she was and if he had any idea her life wouldn’t be her own any more.

And the cruellest part of all would be when he dumped her at the end, when he’d tired of her, as he most probably would. Zane’s type never committed. It really had been the biggest mistake of her life coming here. Zane had her in his clutches—again; maybe that was even what he’d had in mind. Maybe it wasn’t for Tim’s sake.

Lucinda’s anger grew and when they returned she made a fuss of Tim but totally ignored Zane. She pretended not to notice his frown, the way he kept looking at her and asking silent questions.

She played with Tim, she gave him his tea, she bathed him and put him to bed and all the time she said not one single word to Zane.

But she might have known that she couldn’t go through the rest of the night like that. As soon as he had her to himself Zane demanded to know what was wrong.

‘Nothing,’ she answered coolly, averting her eyes because she knew that if she looked into his she would weaken. They mesmerised her. They were like pools of silky smooth water that she could dive into—and then drown in a sea of passion.

‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ he snarled. ‘You’ve ignored me completely for the last few hours. I’m not a fool, Lucinda.’

‘And nor am I,’ she tossed back furiously. ‘So don’t take me for one.’

Zane frowned. ‘I don’t understand.’

‘Don’t ever,’ she spat, ‘ever take advantage of me again.’

‘So that’s it, is it?’ he asked, enlightenment in his eyes. ‘Forgive me if I’m wrong, but you didn’t complain at the time.’

‘Maybe,’ she snapped, ‘but I’ve changed my mind. ‘It was a foolish mistake, one that I’m not likely to make again.’

‘Even though your body still craves mine?’

‘Who’s saying it does?’ Lucinda’s eyes flashed a furious green.

Zane smiled, slowly and confidently. It crinkled the corners of his eyes and made him look boyish and charming and Lucinda felt an unwanted quickening of her pulses, which added to her annoyance.

‘I’m saying it does,’ announced Zane. ‘Words are easy, Lucinda. It’s body language that counts. And, believe me, I can read your body language any day.’

Lucinda felt like slapping him. ‘You’re talking nonsense,’ she responded haughtily, ‘and I have no wish to continue such a conversation.’

‘Very well,’ he agreed, much to her surprise. ‘The next item on the agenda is dinner. I thought I’d take you out.’

‘Then you thought wrong,’ she snapped. ‘Besides, aren’t I supposed to be looking after Tim?’

‘Mrs Burton can do that tonight,’ he said carelessly. ‘Besides, he very rarely wakes.’

‘The answer’s still no,’ she retorted, fighting a whole host of inflammatory sensations. It had to be no. For ever no! For her own peace of mind!

Zane drew in a deep breath, his chest rising and his height increasing. She had angered him but she didn’t care. Why should he think that he had only to click his fingers and she’d do as he asked? She was her own woman; hadn’t he found that out yet?

‘Maybe you’ll condescend to dine with me here, then?’ he growled.

Lucinda wanted to say no but she didn’t think that she could face any more of Zane’s wrath. So she inclined her head. ‘That would be nice.’

‘And before then? Can I expect the honour of your company?’

His voice was dry and sarcastic and Lucinda shook her head. ‘I still have work to do.’

Zane frowned and glanced at his watch ‘It’s nearly seven.’

‘And I spent much of the day playing with Tim,’ she reminded him. ‘I can’t afford to let my business go.’

Her remark hit home and his eyes shot daggers. ‘Then I’ll see you at eight.’ And with that he whirled on his heel and left the room.

They were halfway through their meal when the phone was brought in to Zane. ‘The hospital,’ said his housekeeper gravely.

Zane listened for a moment or two and then shot up from his chair. ‘I have to go,’ he said apologetically. ‘Helen’s taken a turn for the worse.’

CHAPTER TEN (#ulink_c1050370-831c-5f7a-bd79-22d3302728a9)

LUCINDA waited on tenterhooks to hear about Helen. Her main thoughts were with Tim. He’d lost both his parents and now it looked as though he might lose his grandmother too. How shocking would that be for him, poor little soul? How upsetting?

It was almost midnight when Zane returned home. Lucinda had waited up for him and she met him in the hallway. He shook his head, his lips clamped tightly together, his eyes sad.

‘She’s gone?’

‘I’m afraid so,’ he answered quietly.

‘How are you going to tell Tim? He idolised her.’

Zane heaved a sigh and nodded. ‘It won’t be easy.’

Nor was it.

The following morning when Tim awoke Zane took him to one side. Lucinda watched from a distance, saw the disbelief on the boy’s face, saw it crumple, and then he ran from the room.

‘I’ll see to him,’ said Lucinda.

She found Tim in his bedroom, curled up in bed, sucking a corner of the cover. He turned away when she went in. Lucinda sat beside him quietly for a few moments, not saying anything, and gradually his hand found hers. ‘Why has Nanna left me?’ he whimpered.

‘Because she was very poorly, sweetheart! Because she was in a lot of pain and couldn’t stand it any longer! She’s gone to your mummy and daddy in the sky.’

‘I want her, though.’

‘I know, my darling.’

‘Who’ll look after me?’

‘Uncle Zane, of course.’ Lucinda mentally crossed her fingers as she said this. It couldn’t be counted on, that was for sure.

‘And you?’ He looked trustingly into her face.

Lucinda felt tears prick the backs of her eyelids too. ‘I don’t know about that, Tim. But I will come and see you often, I promise.’

He turned his face away from her and buried it in the pillow and at that moment Zane entered the room.

They stood there hand in hand and looked down at the little boy. It was a moment of togetherness that was totally different from anything else she had shared with Zane. There weren’t the two of them this time—there were three. And her heart went out to both of them.

‘You will help Tim through this?’ asked Zane that evening after his nephew had been put to bed. It had been a long sad day and, although Timothy had perked up as the day had worn on, they both knew how much damage it could do to him.

He needed constant love now; he needed to know that he still had a home and someone to care for him. At one point, after his parents had died, the authorities had mooted foster parents, but Tim’s Nanna would have none of it and Zane had declared that he felt the same.

‘He is my responsibility now,’ he said firmly. ‘I know I won’t be the best of fathers, but I’ll do what I can. I’ll employ a full-time nanny—unless you—’ He looked questioningly at Lucinda, but she shook her head. It would be wrong to let herself get sucked into a situation that in the end would cause nothing but heartache.

‘I thought not,’ he said, ‘but you will come and see Tim sometimes? He’s really taken to you.’

‘Of course I will,’ she said. Though she wasn’t sure whether even that was a good idea.

The funeral came and went and even then Zane did nothing about finding another nanny. Helen’s wishes had been that he became Tim’s legal guardian and he had agreed to do this, and somehow Lucinda was managing to run her business and look after Tim at the same time. She hated herself for being weak, for letting Zane take advantage of her, and in defiance she refused to share his bed again.

‘I’ve had an idea,’ he said one evening over dinner. ‘It’s not ideal for you, running two offices. Why not set up shop here? Bring Amanda and all the rest of your stuff. You can have another room; you can have as many rooms as you like.’

‘So long as I continue to look after Tim for you?’ asked Lucinda, appalled by his nerve, but congratulating him at the same time. ‘What happened about finding another nanny?’

‘I would have done,’ he apologised, ‘but Tim’s had enough upsets for the time being. And I thought this would be a good compromise.’

Lucinda’s eyes flashed. ‘It’s nothing to do with you wanting me here? It’s just Tim you’re thinking of?’

‘Of course,’ he answered, but Lucinda knew he was lying. She knew that he still wanted her in his bed; she had seen it in his eyes when he thought she wasn’t looking. And if he had her here permanently…

The trouble was the longer Lucinda lived here the deeper her feelings grew and the less disposed she was to move back to her stepfather’s house. She cursed the day she had ever set eyes on Zane Alexander. There was no other man for her now.

And yet all he wanted was a good time! She was sadly aware of that fact. Marriage was definitely not on Zane’s agenda. Never had been, never would be.

‘I might regret it,’ she said slowly now, ‘but yes, it sounds like a good idea for the time being. I am planning to buy a place of my own, you do realise that? This won’t be a permanent arrangement.’

Zane nodded. ‘Of course.’

And so she moved in. Her stepfather didn’t have a good word to say about it. ‘You’re making a big mistake, you know. Zane Alexander’s using you. He wants you as a built in babysitter as well as a stable mate; you won’t have a chance to do any work. Not that I ever expected you to succeed.’

But her mother was all for it. ‘Darling, that’s wonderful news. I did wonder what was going on between you two. I didn’t believe all that stuff about looking after his nephew. Will I be hearing wedding bells soon? He’s such a catch.’

‘Mother!’ exclaimed Lucinda. ‘It’s nothing like that. It’s a business proposition.’

‘Of course,’ said her mother, but Lucinda could see that she didn’t believe her.

Once settled in her new suite of offices, with Amanda on hand to deal with all the day-to-day problems, Lucinda found little time to worry about her mother or stepfather. Her hands were full juggling her job and minding Tim.