Authors: Shirley Wine
"Whoa there," he said on a chuckle. "Nice way to greet a man at the end of the day."
Plastered full length against his rock hard body, she suddenly found herself short of breath. Keir looked down at her, turbulent emotion shadowing his dark eyes.
Mesmerized, her eyes fastened on those mobile lips as he planted a quick kiss on Connor’s cheek and let him slide to the floor.
"Can you ask Mrs. T. to bring a tea tray in, son?" He ruffled a hand through the child’s hair but didn’t release his hold on Victoria.
As the little boy scampered off, Keir crushed her closer, lifted her chin and crushed her trembling lips beneath his. Her response was instantaneous.
Her lips parted and Keir plundered her mouth in a kiss that set her heart thundering.
Desire ricocheted through her, molten and intense. Trembling from head to toe, he pressed her as close as a second skin. Hunger, all-consuming had her burying her hands in his crisp sable hair, molding his scalp with sensitized fingertips.
This was what she’d missed.
The inchoate thought sent her almost over the edge. Keir splayed his hand across her back pressing her even closer to his hard male contours.
A slight sound had them pulling apart, but Keir didn’t release her immediately.
"Now that’s what I call a real welcome home," he whispered in her ear, the husky sound sending shivers of sensation up and down her spine.
Covered in confusion, she buried her face in his neck.
Mrs. Teague bustled in with the afternoon tea tray, Connor following in her wake carrying a plate of cupcakes, his little face screwed up as he concentrated on his task.
"Thanks Mrs. T," Keir murmured over the top of her head.
The kindly woman smiled at them as she left.
"She’s gone," he drawled wickedly. "You can come out of hiding now."
"Mrs. T let me carry the cakes, Mommy." Connor tugged at her skirt. "Did you see?"
She lifted her head, smiled at her boy then glanced up at Keir through her lashes. Gone was the dark brooding stranger replaced by a wicked, grinning devil, enjoying her confusion.
He released her, crossed to the tea tray and poured her a cup. She sat on the sofa unsure her legs would hold her.
"Thank you," she murmured, blushing as she met his slashing glance.
Keir poured himself a cup and walked across to the window before turning to face her. A frisson of nerves goose-stepped over her skin.
"Dad rang me this afternoon. The Cambridge Breeders Association is hosting a fund raising dinner tonight for the Riding for the Disabled."
"The RDA does fantastic work. I used to help them out as a teenager."
"All the more reason for us to support them now." He looked at her over the rim of his teacup. "The dinner is at the Cambridge Country Club. Dad is Patron of the Breeders Association and he suggested we join him and Muriel. Logan and Piper are also going and Dad thought a show of family solidarity would help us weather this storm. Are you up for it?"
"That is so like your father," she said warmly. "Do you think it will work?"
"It can’t hurt any. We certainly can’t remain holed up here forever, hostages to the press."
Then she remembered the destruction of her wardrobe. Such a dinner would be a classy affair. "What on earth can I wear?"
Keir had anticipated her need. "I recalled you mentioning your gown was from An’Ville at Easter and contacted her. She has your details on file and has sent over several gowns in your size for you to choose from."
His thoughtfulness was heart-warming. "What about Connor?"
"I’ll ask Mrs. T to baby sit for us. Are you happy with that arrangement?"
"Of course, she’s a darling." The Canadian woman was warm and motherly, and Victoria liked her very much.
"She’s been with me a long time." Keir put his cup and saucer back on the tray and took hers as well then sat beside her on the sofa. "And she needed very little persuasion to accompany me back to New Zealand. She has no family."
"She's certainly taken to Conner and he adores her."
"It's a winner all around. Another detail we’ve overlooked." He took a ring box from his suit coat pocket. "I bought this for you."
He snapped open the box lid to reveal a beautiful ring, its golden stone set in an intricate chased gold setting.
He caught her left hand and slipped the ring on her finger then lifted her hand and held it beside her eyes. "I thought I remembered the color correctly."
"It’s beautiful." She twisted her hand and the sunlight made the stone come alive. The simple setting suited her small hand. "What’s the stone?"
"A one and a half carat fancy orange-yellow diamond, the exact color of your eyes," he said softly. "Do you like it?"
"I’d have to be very hard to please not to like it."
"But—"
Victoria knew he would catch her ambivalence. Did he consider he had to buy her affection and complaisance?
"I’m happy to have an engagement ring and a new gown," she said quietly. "I don’t need or expect expensive gifts."
"I know," he averred softly, a dangerous expression glittering in his brown eyes. "And that’s probably the reason I enjoy giving you some."
Victoria mulled over his words as she dressed for dinner. The gowns were stunning. All of them suited her and all very much to her taste. Had Keir personally chosen them or had An’Ville selected what she’d considered suitable?
At last, she chose one in a muted pink and moss green abstract pattern and discovered it lifted her very mediocre looks to a new level.
She took considerable care and piled her hair in a coronet on her head, securing it with a beaten copper pin salvaged from her flat.
The style gave her much needed height.
Victoria shivered as she recalled Keir’s ferocious look when she’d told him he didn’t need to buy her.
She looked at the ring again, enchanted by its simple elegance. It was so different from the huge cold, glittering ring that had adorned Davina Strathmore’s hand.
She found it disturbing that Keir understood her on one level, yet still remained deeply suspicious on the level that counted most.
A knock at the door broke into her troubled thoughts.
"Coming." She opened the door to Keir.
His dark suit, white evening shirt and black bow tie gave him a sartorial elegance that set her pulses racing. He was so handsome, his sable hair gleamed in the overhead light. She found it a struggle to breathe.
Desire clawed at her and her knees went weak.
"You look stunning." His chocolate eyes glittered with appreciation. "I thought the color would suit you."
And that answered the niggling question as to who had chosen the gowns.
"So do you," she whispered, managing a shaken breath.
"Ready to face the curious?"
She trembled at the thought. Was she ready for what could be a terrifying ordeal? She glanced up at him and something in his expression steadied her shaken nerves.
She nodded and picked up a warm wrap.
Keir took it from her and placed it around her shoulders dropping a kiss on the back of her neck. Fire raced through her at the gossamer touch of those heated lips against her skin.
She caught sight of their reflection in the mirror.
They looked like the proverbial beautiful couple, and in her innermost heart she wished it was so, instead of this awful strained distance between them.
What would it take for Keir to trust her without reserve?
They were both silent on the drive to the Country Club.
Nerves twisted her insides in knots as Keir ushered her inside. The hush that settled over the gathering intensified her nervousness.
She was acutely conscious of being the cynosure of all eyes.
Keir leaned close whispering in her ear. "Smile, sweetheart, they don’t look like a lynch mob. And I can't see a noose."
That sally made her chuckle and she glanced up at him, and surprised a devilish twinkle in his eye. In that instant she knew he was enjoying the sensation they'd created by their unexpected presence.
He guided them through the room, greeting everyone that caught his eyes with a smile and a nod.
Victoria wished she possessed his confidence.
Caine came forward to greet them.
"Victoria, Keir." The men shook hands. "We’re so glad you could make it."
One look at Muriel and Victoria thought,
scratch that
. The woman was here under duress. Victoria didn’t offer Muriel her hand. It would be a rash move to risk a public snub.
For certain sure there would be a newshound buried in this gathering. And wouldn't they delight capturing such a telling moment and spreading it for the curious to gloat over.
Victoria glanced at Caine but his urbane control revealed nothing.
He gripped Victoria’s shoulders and kissed her warmly on both cheeks. "You look beautiful. And how’s my little grandson?"
"As full of fun and devilment as always," she said, smiling at him. "Mrs. T has his company tonight."
Relief and gratitude for his easy acceptance of both her and Connor had Victoria smiling and kissing his cheek in return.
Warm and genuine, Caine had visited Connor every day in the hospital, and unlike her father, didn't judge her over the past.
When she'd hesitantly tried to explain, he'd stopped her. "That's your business, Victoria. I'm just so grateful you're happy to allow me into Connor's life."
As they all walked across the room, whispers followed them.
It took a determined effort to keep her smile in place. The firm pressure of Keir’s hand on her elbow steadied her and gave her an outward semblance of serenity.
When they reached their table, Logan stood and gripped her hands giving them an encouraging squeeze and Piper leaned past him and winked at her.
The warm acceptance boosted her confidence still further.
For the first time, Victoria thought they may be able to emerge from this debacle with their dignity intact.
"Keir’s a lucky man," Logan whispered, winking as she sat in the chair Keir held.
Surrounded and shielded by Keir’s family, Victoria relaxed enough to enjoy the meal and the company.
After dinner and before the speeches, a dance band played. The lilting music had her tapping a toe to the rhythm.
Logan stood up. "Would you like to dance?" Seeing Keir's frown he added hastily, "For old times’ sake."
Victoria accepted and he escorted her onto the dance floor. As he twirled her in the dance, she was very conscious of Keir’s gaze.
Logan was ensuring them a few moments of privacy.
"Have you set up a meeting?"
He twirled her in a corner turn using the dance to lean close to her ear. "Can you slip away on Tuesday afternoon?"
"I’ll manage."
"Be at the Turf Bar in
The Wanderer’s Tavern
at one. He will meet you there."
Victoria nodded and Logan danced her around the floor, his brow creased in a frown. "I don’t like this. You haven’t told Keir?"
"No. And I don’t intend to." She managed a strained smile. "This is something I need to do, myself."
"That guy’s a real shady character. You be careful."
"Yes granddad," she mocked, laughing softly. "Believe me cautious is now my second name, besides he owes me a favor."
Logan studied her keenly and then nodded apparently satisfied and escorted her back to their table handing her back to Keir with a finesse she had to admire.
She schooled her face not wanting Keir to guess what she was plotting. She knew he’d pitch a fit and refuse to let her keep the assignation.
The evening passed uneventfully and she was pleased to have arranged that meeting and escaped Keir’s eagle eye.
"What were you and Logan discussing so earnestly on the dance floor?"
It took every ounce of self-control she possessed not to give a guilty start. She looked at Keir but his face was too shadowy in the dim interior to read his expression.
"Just catching up," she said with a slight shrug.
"He looked like he was grilling you? What about? Me?"
Relief made Victoria laugh, the sound easing the tension between them. "You guessed it. Logan and my father both suffer from a guilty conscience. It would never do to let them off the hook too easily."
Keir gave her one of those keen searching looks and some of the tension seeped out of him. "As long as that’s all you’re hatching, Victoria, I don’t want you taking any unnecessary risks until this situation resolves itself."
She leaned across and laid her hand over his on the steering wheel. "I’m quite capable of looking after myself, Keir. I’m not some hot-house flower you need to keep sheltered and protected."