Falling for Alexander (Corkscrew Bay #2) (13 page)

“
You’re making me crazy.” The tendons at his throat bulged.

“
If you leave me like this…” Her voice shook from need and longing.

“
Cazzo.
” He lifted her up against him, his hands cupped around her backside.

There wasn
’t an ounce of restraint in his manner as he carried her through to the inner office and took her then and there, on the boardroom table. Her skirt hitched around her waist, her panties strapping her ankles, his jeans yanked down to his knees, her arms flung back over the table, her hands pinned down by his.

A wild rush of total abandon almost pushed her over the edge before he
’d even entered her and then each thrust came hard and fast, driving her higher than the last. Riveting her with a throbbing mess that was want, ache, fire and need.

Throughout, his gaze held hers, his eyes speaking the words that filled her heart.

They belonged.

They completed
each other.

In this world of theirs that had seemed so impossible a week ago, letting go wasn
’t an option. If this was crazy, then they’d claim the chaos. She was as necessary to him as breathing. He was the oxygen for her soul. There was nothing, nothing that couldn’t be done, couldn’t be fixed, to make this work.

The promise was there, in his eyes, in the warmth of his hands folded over hers. In the orgasm that shattered over them and brought him down, stretched over her, his breath ragged and the forei
gn words he whispered against her cheek thick with emotion.

When he was getting ready to leave a short while later, Kate pulled herself up, watching him with a smile that came straight from her heart. He was leaving, but she didn
’t feel abandoned. She felt cherished. And absolutely replete.

“
Dinner tomorrow night?” he said, leaning in for a goodbye kiss.

“
I thought you’re busy.”

“
I am, but I can free up a couple of hours.” His kiss feathered down the side of her face and into the crease of her jaw. “I believe I made a deal to wine and dine you.”

Her skin tingling, she wound her fingers in his sweater and brought him a little closer. “
I can wait until the weekend.”

“
I can’t,
cara
.” His tongue swept over her lips, then slipped inside for a thorough kiss. “I’ll pick you up at seven-thirty, okay? It’ll give us a chance to talk. I missed you, not just…
this
.”

“
You really don’t have—”

“
I want to.” He pulled back after one last tantalising, thorough kiss. “You choose the restaurant.”

She gave him a droll look. “
You don’t know any local places, do you?”

He grinned with good humour. “
You caught me out.”

“
How do you live in a place for three years and never go out locally?” If she’d seen him out and about, she would certainly have remembered.

“
I don’t spend much time here.” He shrugged. “Except for the first six months when I first moved in, I’m usually only here for a couple of weeks at a time and then, mostly when I’m looking forward to a break from the rush of L.A. or London.”

“
So,” she said, mostly teasing, “I’m just a break, then?”

“
A very long, extended break,” he drawled in that voice that numbed her brain and curled her toes. His gaze held hers, smoky grey and intense. “I said I don’t usually spend much time in Darrock,
cara
, not that I can’t or I won’t.”

Her brea
th caught and held until he’d walked out the office, then released with a whoosh.

She was so not ready to be wined and dined by Alexander Gerardo, not in Corkscrew Bay anyway, where she
’d have to keep her hands to herself all night or the news would spread faster than the wind could blow. Actually, she didn’t think he was ready for small town dating either. He was so busy making amends for sex-on-the-run, he wasn’t thinking straight.

She supposed she could find a place further along the coast, maybe even in
Wherrytown. But she had a better idea. If their time was going to be so limited this week, she wanted to make the most of every single minute.

At seven o
’clock the following evening, she sent Alexander a text message. She’d dithered between arriving unannounced with her picnic basket, but some men didn’t react well to surprises. Besides, they might miss each other on the road.

Picnic by your lake. On my way and I
’m bringing the food, wine and entertainment. Ti adoro.

The message didn
’t really require a response, so she wasn’t too concerned that he hadn’t replied by the time her Jeep rolled up to the massive gates. She checked her phone one last time before climbing out to walk to the intercom. It was a few minutes before seven-thirty. If he hadn’t gotten her text, surely she would have passed him on the valley drive?

She buzzed, smiling up into the camera. When the static sound indicated the handset had been lifted on the other side, she said, “
Hi, it’s me.”

“
Who’s me?” The distinctly female voice, distinctly not Mrs. Pinnings despite the distorted echo, froze her smile.

“
Kate.” The reply was automatic and came a second before her head caught up to the situation.

Crap.
Her heart pounded as the pieces click, click, clicked into place. He’d just returned from a recording studio in L.A. The musicians and singers he collaborated with were regular visitors at Darrock. He was busy this week, too busy to spend much time with her.

“
You must be here for Alex.”

To her horror, the gates started to swing open.

“No,” Kate said quickly, horrified at the thought of intruding after Alexander’s lecture about his guests enjoying their privacy. “I mean, yes, but it’s really not important. I’ll come back another time.”

“
Alex is here and I’m sure he wouldn’t want to miss you.”

K
ate was just as sure he wouldn’t welcome her mixing it up with his guest. She wasn’t entirely happy about it, but she understood. Some celebrities were exceedingly possessive about their privacy.

“
I really have to go,” she told the woman.

“
Don’t do that.”

“
I’m afraid I must.” This particular star didn’t seem too distressed about meeting a stranger. In fact, she was making it difficult for Kate to decline, but Alexander clearly felt otherwise. If he’d wanted her here, he wouldn’t have been so vague about his commitments this week.

She turned from the speaker, already reaching for her phone to call Alexander, when the woman
’s bizarre plea stopped her dead.

“
Kate, I’ve really been wanting to meet you. I’m on my way out right now. Please come in.”

Kate stood th
ere, her puzzled scowl deepening as she heard the static cut off. The gates weren’t closing again. She should just go home and wait there for Alexander to pick her up for their date. This had been a stupid idea.

She climbed back into the Jeep, her fingers
drumming on the steering wheel.

I
’ve really been wanting to meet you.

What did that mean? Had Alexander mentioned her in passing? What had he said? Why would some mega superstar or even some rising unknown singer want to meet her?

She put her foot down and the Jeep lurched forward. She kept going, through the gates, down the packed dirt path that cut through the wooded copse before opening into a gravel driveway that circled in front of the castle.

The woman hadn
’t been kidding. She was standing by the gargoyle fountain, her hands tucked into the back pockets of her jeans and her head tilted as she watched Kate pull up. She was beautiful, possibly the same age as Kate or a few years older. Black, glossy hair fell straight to a couple of inches below her shoulders. Her smile was wide, welcoming.

Not a mega star then, someone Kate might recognise. Which made more sense, but only slightly.

When she approached the Jeep, reaching the driver’s side just as Kate stepped down, the same friendliness warmed the woman’s eyes to shades of sun-baked stone.

“
I’m really glad you didn’t leave,” she said, her voice melodic with broad American strokes. “I thought I’d chased you away.”

Kate took the hand she offered for a brief shake. She still didn
’t recognise the woman, but there was something about her, something that made Kate feel as if she should. “I don’t mean to be rude, but…have we met?”

“
I’m Helena and no, we haven’t met, but I really wanted to.” The woman chuckled softly. “I’m Alex’s sister.”

“
Alex’s sister?” Kate repeated dully. Alexander had a sister?

“
I’m only here until Saturday and I was—”

“
You returned with him from the States?” This was his busy complication she wasn’t supposed to involve herself in this week? Fine if he didn’t want her at his family reunion, but a small mention of the fact wouldn’t have hurt!

Kate took a deep breath. Her gaze went to the side gate of the orchard, the entrance Alexander seemed to prefer. “
Is he inside?”

Helena nodded.

Kate started forward, then checked herself. Another deep breath before she turned back to Helena. “You seem very nice and I’m happy to meet you. It might not feel like it, but, well…” She shrugged. “Sorry, okay?”

“
Sorry for what?” Helena asked, her smile finally fading.

“
For what’s about to happen.” Kate turned again and strode up to the castle.

She couldn
’t believe…how could…the bastard!

There were no black holes threatening to suck her in this time. This time, she knew exactly what to say, what to think, what to feel.

Chapter Fifteen

Alexander rubbed his hair dry, then threw the towel over the chair and pulled on a pair of black casual trousers and a plain T-shirt. It was just gone seven-thirty when he grabbed his jacket on the way out of his bedroom. He slipped his phone from the jacket pocket to let Kate know he was he was running late and that’s when he saw her message.

He muttered a curse, checking what time it had been sent as he increased his pace down the stairs.
Dio.
He had a feeling this wasn’t going to end well.

“
Helena,” he called out when he reached the bottom. “Helena?”

Where was she?

His sister had been at a loose end when he’d arrived in L.A. and she’d spent the week with him at the apartment. She’d been doing great for the last two years, even more so after getting engaged, but he still worried. Especially with her fiancé at some financial conference in London. She’d been due to meet up with him at the weekend before they flew out to Austria for a week’s vacation.

I should fly out earlier and spend a couple of days with you at Darrock. God knows
I could do with the peace and tranquillity.

When Helena spoke of needing peace and tranquillity, Alexander listened.

He rounded the corner into the kitchen and almost collided with Kate. His sister was right behind her.

“
Difficult?” Blue eyes glared white-hot icicles up at him. “My sister’s staying over for a few days, Kate. How difficult is that?” She jabbed a finger at his chest. “Busy?” Another jab. “I don’t see my sister often, Kate, so I won’t have much time for you this week. Complicated? That’s a breeze.” Her eyes were shimmering now, the icicles melting with the heat of her anger. “My sister’s over from the States, Kate, and I’m not ready for you to meet any of my family.”

His hands went to her shoulders. “
Kate, I can explain.”

She shrugged away from
him. One brow arched high above that shimmering glare. She was waiting, and he could explain, but a quick glance at his sister held him back.

They were a family that kept their baggage to themselves.

“Yeah, I thought so,” Kate dragged out through her teeth.

Helena pushed forward, putting herself beside Kate. “
I’m the one who wasn’t ready,” she said softly, her eyes lifting to him. “That’s it, right? I told you I needed some downtime. I didn’t realise you’d think the worst.”

“
You insisted I didn’t leave,” Kate blurted at her.

“
I didn’t think the worst,” Alexander assured his sister. “We all need space now and then.” His gaze went to Kate. “I wanted to keep her visit simple.”

Castle Darrock had been his sister
’s sanctuary first and foremost. And yes, it did matter that Kate was a journalist. He trusted her, completely. He wasn’t sure that he should, but he did. And maybe Helena would too, given the chance. But Helena’s breakdown had been exacerbated by the press and her resulting suicide attempt had been too damn close to successful for him to ever forget. Even if Kate was to be trusted, he’d decided not to put that strain on Helena. It was a decision made without regrets, a decision he’d make again.

Helena put a hand on Kate
’s arm. “I wanted to meet you,” she said. “But my brother has his reasons for believing otherwise. It’s complicated.”

“
There’s that word again.” Kate looked from Helena to him, then turned around and stormed out the kitchen door.

Alexander strode into the orchard after her. He didn
’t chase, planting himself against a tree trunk, arms folded.

“
Kate,” he called out, watching as she yanked open the side gate. “Let’s talk about this,
cara.
”

She stilled, her hand on the handle.

When she didn’t turn, he started speaking. “You approach life with an open heart, Kate. I admire that, but we are different and I have no wish to change. I don’t want to change myself, and I wouldn’t want to change you.”

She turned to look at him, not coming closer, saying nothing.

“With you, I imagine one gets your friends, your family, the whole town,” he said, smiling to show her this wasn’t a criticism. “With me, you get only me.”

The choices he
’d made in his life dictated that. After what had happened with his parents, he should have been the last person to seek a career that could put him in the limelight. And yet he hadn’t been able to keep away. Not only writing songs, composing music, which he could still have done and kept to himself. With the fortune he’d inherited from his parents, he didn’t need the money.

“
I’ve always wanted it all,” he continued. “I want to write for singers who have the talent to turn my lyrics into magic. I love it when my songs hit the charts and I know I’ve reached millions of people. I like scouting in the downtown bars for struggling, talented artists and know I have the ability and power to help make them. I’ve never been in the limelight, but I skirt it all the time. It’s a risk I’m prepared to take for my music.”

He should never have become involved with a reporter, bringing the press or
anyone related into his home. It was a risk he wasn’t prepared to shy away from, for his heart. Kate had grabbed him from the very beginning and he refused to give her up.

But Helena had already suffered once from his choices.

As much as he trusted Kate, he couldn’t shift the feeling that he was tempting disaster. He’d lived with other fallouts from the media too long to snap his fingers and pretend what he felt for Kate instantly wiped it all away. He didn’t care. He still wanted her. More than he’d ever wanted—ever needed—anyone or anything.

Kate started walking toward him. Slow hesitant steps, but at least they were in the right direction.

“As much as you don’t want to hear the word again,
cara
, my family has a complicated history with the media—”

“—
and I’m not just a reporter,” she cut in, her voice low and smooth, too even. “I own the local newspaper.”

He
’d go to hell and back for Kate.

But he wouldn
’t, couldn’t send his sister there again.

“
This is more about me than you,” he said. “You’d never hurt me or anyone of mine. I know that.”

“
I’m beginning to understand. It’s complicated and you wanted to keep it simple. That’s fine.” She stopped a good couple of feet from him. “But you shouldn’t have lied to me, Alex.”

“
I didn’t lie,
cara.
” A small omission, perhaps, but he’d just substantiated everything he’d told her.

She looked at him, shadows crossing her eyes. “
Then why does it feel like one?”

“
In that case, I’m sorry.” He unfolded his arms, moving forward to reach for her.

She lurched backward. “
I have to go.”

A hard knot formed in his stomach. He couldn
’t lose her. Not like this. “I mean it, Kate. I’m sorry. I should have told you about Helena.”

Her chin nudged up. “
Yes, Alex, you should have.”

His jaw clenched. Every muscle within strained to go to her,
to fold her against him, to keep her from leaving. “Don’t leave me.”

“
I’m mad at you, absolutely furious!” She sighed, a gruff, frustrated sound. “I am leaving, Alex, but I’m not leaving you. I need to cool off and you should spend this time alone with your sister as you’d planned. I’ll see you on the weekend.”

His arms tightened around his chest as he watched her leave. She
’d said she wasn’t leaving him. That didn’t make him feel better at all. He’d screwed up. He knew it. He just didn’t know what to do about it. He was torn. Not between two choices, but straight down the middle from lack of any choice.

He trusted Kate…
he did.  Didn’t he?

He did.

Hell, the way his chest ached at the thought of losing her, he was probably in as deep as a man could get. But he didn’t come as a family package. He wouldn’t expose his sister to the life he lived, to the choices he made, ever again. Not even for Kate. Not even for himself.

When he returned inside, he was immediately accosted from the other front.

“That’s it?” demanded Helena, her eyes rounded in exasperation. “You let her just walk away?”

“
Not now, Helena.” He put a hand out as he strode past her.

“
You know what Aunt Maggie always told us,” she called after him. “Never go to bed angry.”

“
I’m not angry at anyone,” he stated.

“
Alexander!”

He stopped and turned, in no mood to indulge his little sister.

She ignored the grim look he gave her. “Go after her, Alex.”

“
Kate doesn’t want me to go after her,” he said harshly, then softened his tone when it struck him that Helena might be feeling responsible for the argument. “Kate and I are fine. She just needs a couple of days to cool off.”

“
That’s what you think?” scoffed Helena.

“
That’s what I know.” He wasn’t a fool. He knew things weren’t right between him and Kate, but he also knew she hadn’t walked out on him. “Kate’s okay with giving us space while you’re here.”

“
She said
that?
”

“
In as many words.”

“
Why are men so clueless? She doesn’t want to be left alone until I’m gone, you idiot. What she wants is to be validated in your relationship. To feel as if you’re drawing her into your life, not pushing her out.” Helena rolled her eyes at him. “Tell you what, invite her over for supper tomorrow night. I’ll even cook my lasagne.”

He shook his head.

“It makes no difference what she said.” Helena blew out a noisy breath. “She wants this.”

He didn
’t need Helena to tell him that he’d rejected Kate from a part of his life and, no matter what was said, she’d resent him for it.

The truth, however, remained. “
I don’t.”

“
I have a confession to make.” Helena came up to him, her gaze dropping to his chest. “I overheard you on the phone with Kate. I heard emotion in your voice that I’ve never heard before, not for any of the women you dangle on your arm.” Her gaze lifted to his. “I wanted to meet this woman who made your voice smile. That’s what brought me here. Not because I needed solitude or downtime. I’m strong, Alex, stronger than I’ve ever been. Mark has given me strength and happiness.”

They
’d been here before.

His thoughts must have
shown of his face, because she quickly added, “He didn’t lend me strength and happiness, Alex. He gave it to me. I don’t know how else to explain this. I love him. And even if I lose him, I think I might be able to hurt without breaking. You don’t have to worry about me.”

An enormous weight shifted from Alex
’s shoulders. “I’m pleased to hear that, but this is still your home, Helena. You should be able to relax here without intrusions.”

“
Kate isn’t an intrusion.”

The glint in her eyes reminded him of just
how stubborn his sister could be. He wasn’t going to get away with this.

“
Kate is a reporter,” he told her. “She owns the newspaper in town. The Corkscrew Weekly.”

Helena paled. “
I don’t understand.”

“
I won’t bring the media into your home, no matter how strong and happy you are.”

“
Yes…that I understand.” Her eyes closed as she swallowed. “What I don’t understand is why you would—what you’re—” She opened her eyes again, peering at him from beneath a creased brow. “What are you doing, Alex? Of anyone out there you could have, why—”

“
It’s Kate,” he said firmly, turning from her to walk away. He’d do whatever it took to protect his sister, he’d hurt Kate doing so, he’d hurt himself, but this was non-negotiable. “I want only Kate.”