Battle Lines. (4 page)

“No, it’s about control.” She flung at him.

“No, It’s about caring. Looking out for you.” He said.

“You… care?” Amanda gave a short laugh. “Yeah right. You mean control Jake. You want control. It has nothing to do with caring. It has always been about control.”

“If you really cared then you would have pick up the damn phone, just once would have been enough.” He paused briefly.

There was no disguising the hurt in his voice, in his eyes. But he quickly composed himself and soon he was back to cold hearted Jake. Which was just as well, she could handle that Jake.

“If I really cared?” She echoed as she pointed to herself. “Why should I care? Nobody cared about me.” She shouted, not even attempting to hide the hurt she felt.

“O don’t be so bloody ridiculous. Of course we care about you.” Jake sighed. “You don’t make it easy.”

“That’s right, it all my fault.” Who would have guessed.

“You always were…” He stopped.

“No go on. I was always what?” she challenged him.

“A redhead.” Jake said.

“How dare you.” She fumed.

“I dare.” He assured her.

“At least I’m not an overbearing egotistical power hungry maniac.” She flung at him.

“Amanda, you are… frustrating, it is you that doesn’t seem to care about anything or anyone. Just yourself. Dad spent everything he had trying to find his precious perfect little girl.” Jake scorned, spitting the words at her as though they had left a bad taste in his mouth. “He died a broken man. You…” He pointed at her, his voice dropping to barely a whisper.

“I was forced out.” She defended.

“Dad worried himself into an early grave. You did that. Proud of yourself?” he asked her raising an eyebrow at her.

“You are a nasty son of a bitch.” Amanda swallowed against the painful lump that had formed in her throat and blinked away the tears that were now stinging her eyes.

“So where have you been all this time? No doubt living it up someplace without a backward glance at the family you left behind.” He snapped angrily at her.

“Well isn’t that just typical of you Jake. You always did make assumptions. You always did jump to the wrong conclusions feet first. Perhaps you should learn to test the water first. One day you are going to jump in and you’ll be out of your depth. Now there is a novel idea Jake.” Amanda’s voice rose shrilly.

“Grow up for heaven sake.” Jake barked at her and Amanda jumped.

“I always knew that you disliked me. You hated having me around.”

“No, I never did.” Jake kept his voice down and even.

“Of course you did. You made your feelings very evident.” She threw at him.

“No, my darling… That was all you.” He pointed at her, his voice dropping low again.

“I was left out.” She shouted.

“Because you left yourself out.”

“No, it was you. You pushed me out of my own family.”

“Sweetheart you pushed yourself out.” Amanda shook her head vehemently to deny that fact.

“No. No. No. It was you.” She said as she stamped her foot. “You did not want me there, that much was obvious. You wanted my parents all to yourself.”

“Wow… you have a very bad memory.” Jake told her.

“No. You got greedy Jake. You couldn’t stand the thought of sharing my parents. Tell me did you always have that greedy nature? Is that why your parents dumped you?”

“You little…” Jake took a step toward her and she shrank back. She had made him angry, she could see that, and she had not meant what she had said.

She knew it wasn’t true. Knew that he had had a rough life before. His parents had walked out and left. Her parents had taken him in so that he was spared a life through the care system. She had been eight at the time and he had just had his thirteenth birthday.

“Jake…” She sighed heavily and shook her head, suddenly feeling tired. “I did us all a favour. I left and gave you what you wanted. I thought you of all people would have been happy to see the back of me. Ecstatically glad to get rid of me.”

She did not mean her cruel words, not really. Deep down she knew that, but whenever Jake was near her she could not help herself. It was a need deep down.

She had hurt for so long and she wanted him to feel some of that hurt.

“Don’t be so stupid. If you have a brain, and I know that you do, you should try actually using it.” He told her.

“How dare you.” She began but he cut her off.

“I dare because someone has to. I have never disliked you or hated you. That was… It was… We should… never mind what I felt… never mind what I wanted. It is all water under the bridge now. I am sure as adults we can put the past behind us, after all you are my sister.” He goaded her.

“I am not your… anything… Mr Michelson.” She told him hotly.

Jake raised one sardonic eyebrow at her. An amused expression tugging at his features. Tugging at the hardened lines making them smoother, warmer.

He looked inviting now. She could easily have forgotten herself and wrapped herself up in his arms. She dismissed her train of thought instantly and fought hard to stop the shiver run down her spine.

“Perhaps… I could give you a lift.” He asked her and Amanda felt her heart beating furiously in her chest. That was not a good idea at all she decided.

“No, I am fine.” She told him firmly. “Thank you anyway.”

“Or I could call you a cab, Miss Michelson.” He said mimicking her earlier tone.

The smug bastard. She experienced that overwhelming need to wipe that look clean off his face. Her palms itched at the thought and she squeezed her fingers tight into a ball to stop herself from doing just that.

“I can get my own cab. And it is Miss Garvie now.” Her chin shot up defiantly. So there, make out of that what you want. She thought childishly.

“You changed your name.” he stated reflectively. He sounded hurt by that, though she could not understand why. After all, Michelson wasn’t his original last name either. “Pity.” There was a pause as he slowly looked her up and down and Amanda fought hard not to squirm at the intense scrutiny. “Miss Michelson suited you so well. I’ll give you a lift.” He informed her now.

“No… I” she tried.

“My car is this way.” And he strode off in the direction of his car leaving her to follow on behind him.

Chapter 4.

He really was the most arrogant, conceited, egotistical swine she had ever had the misfortune of meeting, and she had met a few.

Did he really think that she was just going to follow him? That she would just fall into his plans. Never in a million years. Hell would freeze over, after pigs flew past a blue moon, in a month of Sundays.

She watched Jake striding across the lawn in brisk long sure confident strides. Something erotic and familiar uncurled itself in the pit of her stomach and she had to hold her breath for a moment to try and steady herself. That walk was… stop it, she chastised herself.

She could feel the heat in her face. It swept over her in a giant humiliating wave. Thank heavens it was dark and Jake was already across the lawn so that he could not see.

Jake had almost made it to the other side of the lawn before he stopped and turned around slowly to regard her. She had not moved from the spot he had left her, he noted. They stared at one another in silence.

Jake watched in amusement as Amanda put one hand on her hip and she straightened her back as her chin jutted out in an act of defiance that even from this distance between them Jake could quite clearly see.

Fighting the urge to smile he sighed heavily and began to pace towards her in long strides. If that’s the way she wanted it. That was fine by him.

Amanda should have seen it coming. She should have seen the intent in his eyes and made a run for it before he could have reached her. She had been so caught up in her own thoughts that by the time she realised, it was far too late to do anything.

He reached her quickly. She stepped back and even managed to bring up her hands in front of her. But that was all she was able to do.

In one fluid motion and with a lightning speed Amanda thought only a cheetah could possibly possess and which knocked the breath right out of her sails. Jake leaned forward, grabbed her round her thighs and lifted her off the ground so that she was draped over his shoulder. Amanda gasped and cried out in alarm.

“Put me down.” She screamed at him, instantly beating her fists on his back and kicking her legs trying to dislodge herself. “You can’t manhandle me like this… put me down.”

She hammered on his back with her fists, and her clutch bag, as hard as she could in a bid to free herself from this wretched man. But it was no use he was holding her tight and she was not going anywhere.

Jake said nothing and he did not even break his stride. “Are you listening to me,” she shouted at him. “Put me down this instant. You big overgrown, barbaric, bully.” She pounded harder on his back again.

She tried straightening her back so that she could shift her position. But it was too difficult to manage. “Your mistresses may appreciate your cave man tactics in the bedroom but I certainly do not.”

He was still not listening to her. The only response she got from him was his fingers biting harder and harder into the soft flesh of her thighs as he worked hard to stop her from falling from his shoulders. “There are laws in this country you know. They are supposed to protect people like me from people like you.”

“And why don’t you tell me what type of person I am.” Jake asked her as he continued striding towards his car.

“You are an overgrown brute.” She shouted at him as she slapped his back again.

“Is that the best you’ve got?” Jake ribbed her.

“You are an arrogant swine.”

“Come on, you can do better than that surely.” Jake told her.

“I hate you. You’re a horrible bully. A tyrant. Put me the hell down now, do you hear me.”

“I’m not deaf I can hear you. You are screaming at me like a wailing banshee.” He replied.

“Jake, I am warning you. Put me down this instant or…”

“Or what?” he challenged her, his voice sounding amused now. “You’ll slap me. Scratch my eyes out. Run and tell mummy.” So now he was going to have a good laugh at her expense was he? That was just typical of the kind of man Jake was.

“Put me down now.” She screamed again and pounded painfully on his back. But her attempts were futile at best.

“Settle down up there.” He told her as he patted the side of one of her thighs.

He was the most frustrating, irritating, annoying man she had ever met. Even that did not come anywhere near close to accurately describing this despicable man.

Jake stopped and she heard the rattle of metal and then a click before a car door opening. Her feet suddenly hit the ground as quickly as they had left it. “Get in.” He ordered severely.

“I will not.” She folded her arms protectively around herself.

“Get… in.” Jake took a step closer to her.

“You can’t make me do anything Jake.” She lifted her chin defiantly.

“I could put you across my knee. Perhaps you need a good old fashioned spanking.” He warned her.

“How dare you.” She bristled. “You would probably enjoy that a little too much, wouldn’t you Jake.” She sneered scornfully at him. “It would appeal to your deviant side.”

“Oh trust me. I would enjoy it immensely. But not for the reasons you believe.” Jake promised her. Amanda felt a shiver run through her and she was suddenly painfully aware that she was alone with him.

“You are a disgustingly vile creature.” She told him.

“No I am a man. A man who does love that defiant air you cloud yourself in. you should be careful, that along with that dress and that hair… it is a lethal combination. I might easily forget that I am your stepbrother and just take you where you stand.”

“Jake.” Amanda shrieked the word at him as she felt the heat on her skin. That type of conversation with Jake was just plain wrong on so many levels.

“Get in the bloody car.” His voice never rising, but she could tell that he was getting very angry.

“You don’t intimidate me anymore Jake. You do not even know me anymore. That stupid pathetic girl I once was no longer exists.” Her eyes shot venomous darts of anger and hate at him.

“Amanda… you are beginning to sound like a broken record. Look, either you get in or I will put you in the boot. Trust me that passenger seat is much more comfortable than lying next to the spare wheel. But if you want then I will be more than happy to oblige you.” He stared at her awaiting her response. He would do it too, the brute.

Amanda sighed and resigned herself to the knowledge that she would have to get into the car. What else could she do?

Reluctantly Amanda slumped her shoulders in defeat and then slowly got into the car and slid herself down into the seat. “And you were never pathetic… or stupid.”

Jake slammed the door shut the moment she had sat down. It rocked the car and did nothing to slow down her heartbeat. She watched him walk around to the driver’s side in agitated strides.

The door opened and he eased himself into the seat, put on his belt and then started up the engine. “Where am I driving to?” he asked her.

Great, why hadn’t she thought of that? If she gave him her address he would hound her day and night. There would be no escape. Her one refuge would be gone. She could not allow that. So what was she going to do? “Well.” He barked.

“The… umm. The golden maple.” She told him. Then congratulated herself on a job well done. The golden maple hotel was a ten-minute walk from where she lived. She could wait in their foyer until she was sure he was gone and then walk home. Problem solved.

Jake pulled out of the car park and onto the road. Amanda sat still in her seat, her arms around her in a protective gesture as the silence stretched out endlessly between them.

“So” Jake began and Amanda jumped at the unexpectedness of his voice in the profound silence of the car. “What brings you back this way? Back home. I know it wasn’t your family.”

“Business.” Amanda replied tersely. She wasn’t going to acknowledge the last sniping remark he had made. She decided that it was beneath her.

“Business? What do you do?” He asked her politely.

“I buy and sell antiques.” She answered tonelessly. He didn’t really care what she did for a living and she knew it.

“That sounds interesting. What made you decide that line of work?” was he for real. He was talking to her as if they were actually friends. No, she was not going to play that game. Whatever game it was that he was playing. She must not let her guard down even for a minute.

“It’s the only thing that I found I was any good at.” She told him flippantly.

“I doubt that is the… only… thing… you are good at.” Amanda’s heart skipped a beat in alarm. Did Jake’s voice just drop an octave? Did it become sultry? Hidden with double meaning. Or did she imagine it?

“Well, I did work as a secretary for a while, in public relations.” She admitted.

“What happened? Didn’t you like it?”

“I couldn’t type.” She lied. How easily that had come to her tonight. She was going to go straight to hell, no passing go, or collecting her two hundred. She didn’t even own a get out of hell free card.

Jake chuckled then, it sounded just as she remembered it. Rich and warm with deep sensual overtones.

“So, where have you been hiding yourself away all these years?” Aah, there it was. The probing question that would certainly mean that she would let something inadvertently slip and Jake would be able to use that to be able to track her down whenever he wanted.

“Well.” She licked her dry lips and gathered her thoughts carefully before answering. Going over the answer in her head before she spoke the words aloud. “You know how it is.” She shrugged one shoulder in what she hoped was a non-chalont manner. “No place very special. I do try not to stay in one place for very long. I find it becomes very boring and tedious.” Yet more lies.

“I’m so sorry.” Jakes voice dropped and he sounded genuinely sorry.

“What’s that supposed to mean.” Amanda demanded hotly as anger boiled in her blood instantly. Her constraint on her tongue temporarily forgotten.

“I am just sorry that you seem to have had such an unsettled way of life. It is not easy always on the move with no one you can call a real friend. It must have been very lonely.”

Damn the man. Was he actually being nice to her? Absolutely not. She dismissed vehemently. The little warning voice told her not to be taken in by his act of kindness and sympathy. And that was exactly what it was, an act. There was not a kind considerate sympathetic bone in the man’s body.

“My life has been just fine thank you. I certainly do not need any sympathy from you. I am a free spirit and I am happy. So why don’t you save your little hearts and flowers routine for someone who will fall for it.”

“I was just trying to be helpful, polite even.” He cast an innocent look her way but she wasn’t about to give in. where Jake was concerned she could always read between the lines and what she read there was never any good.

“No you weren’t.” She told him flatly.

“Why do you always assume the worst in me? I am trying to be nice. It would be nice if you could find it in yourself to return the sentiment. It might help to show me that you have finally grown up a bit.”

“Nice… you… huh.” Amanda fumed. “There is always an ulterior motive for everything you say and do. You do not say or do anything unless you have considered the most important thing, what’s in it for you. Look after number one and conveniently forget the rest of the chumps, that’s your motto isn’t it Jake?” Amanda heard Jake wince audibly as he glided the car smoothly around a corner.

Thank god they were nearly there and she could get out of the claustrophobic confines of Jake’s car. It was filled with his scent and it was making her head spin. Even the heat from his body was invading her limbs. She could even smell the soap he had used. He was far too close he could easily touch her but he made no move to.

She felt something inside, disappointment, she pushed it away. Of course she wasn’t disappointed, she was tired that’s all it was. The come down from the adrenaline rush of coming face to face with Jake after ten years.

“Well.” Jake paused and Amanda sent a sideways glance at him. He was gritting his teeth and she could see the tension along his jaw line.  It looked as hard as stone right now and Amanda’s hand moved towards him for the briefest second before she caught herself and placed both hands firmly in her lap.              

What did she think she was doing? “I’m not sure how to respond to that.” He told her. “You do have a low opinion of me, don’t you?” Amanda thought she could hear a chord of hurt in his voice and suddenly she felt ashamed of herself but she brushed it away. She wasn’t going to let him wriggle under her skin.

“You gave me that opinion of you Jake.” Amanda accused him through clenched teeth.

“Why don’t you tell me how I managed to do that?” He asked her.

“Just by being you.” Came her terse reply.

“Ah.” It wasn’t even a word, but it conveyed so much. And, it had the desired effect. She felt bad and, worse than that, childish. She opened her mouth to apologise but then she stopped herself. She would only give him another weapon to use against her.

Amanda felt close to tears by the time Jake pulled up outside the hotel. The rest of the ride had been in a thick oppressive silence.