Unbreak My Heart (Childhood Sweethearts Reunited) (10 page)

He frowned at her. "You
are
a successful designer. You're talented, Kat. I trust you to rebrand the Caspian. We're not making that up. All we've done is change your image so these people see what they expect to see when I introduce you as my fiancée. That's not because there's anything wrong with you. We're just pandering to their prejudices."

Pandering to their prejudices
? Did that mean Andre liked her as she was before the image change? She needed to think about what he'd said, but now was not the time.

Andre indicated an elderly man sitting in a large peacock-backed wicker chair beside the pool. Dressed immaculately in a burgundy brocade jacket and cream slacks, the man cradled a balloon glass in his hands. "Our host. My mentor and good friend, Edmund Delacroix."

As they approached, Edmund returned his glass to the table and holding out both hands he gripped Andre's with affection. "Good evening, Andre. It is a pleasure to see you."

"The pleasure is mine. I hope you're feeling better, old friend." The genuine fondness in Andre's smile reminded Kate of the way he used to look at his grandfather. Edmund had obviously filled the gap left in his life when the old man died. She was relieved somebody had stood by him and helped him. Andre rested a hand on her back and drew her closer. "Edmund, I'd like you to meet my fiancée, Kate Frost."

Edmund's smile faltered for an instant, then his thin lips stretched in welcome. He held out his hand and she took it, surprised by the strength of his handshake. "I'm delighted to meet you, Kate. You seem to have popped up out of nowhere. How long have you and Andre been acquainted?"

Kate opened her mouth and closed it again. What would Andre want her to say?

"Since she was a few weeks old," Andre said, coming to her rescue. "We were childhood sweethearts who lost each other then found each other again."

Their host nodded slowly, his gaze darting between them, following Andre's hand as he touched Kate's arm. He might be old, but Kate was certain he didn't miss a thing. "Then I'm pleased you have found each other again. I hope you'll be very happy together."

The sincerity in Edmund's voice left Kate feeling uncomfortable. He seemed like a nice old guy and she hated deceiving him. Edmund's gaze alighted on the engagement ring. "You've given her the London diamond, I see. Quite appropriate under the circumstances. The ring too was lost and found, Kate."

A man arrived with two wicker chairs and set them down at Edmund's side. Once Kate was settled between Edmund and Andre, their host fixed his intelligent blue gaze on her. "Has Andre told you the story about your engagement ring?"

She shook her head, growing more uncomfortable by the moment.

"Andre's grandmother nearly didn't receive that ring. My good friend, George Le Court, bought it as a surprise gift to celebrate the birth of Andre's father. Then the dopey old bugger fell asleep on the train from London and forgot the Harrods' bag. Nearly six months passed before George got a call from lost property at Waterloo station." Edmund leaned forward and slapped his hands on his knees. "Would you believe some fellow handed it in!" He shook his head. "What happened to the ring in those six months? It's a mystery, don't you think? Andre's grandmother called the ring her lucky charm. I hope it proves lucky for you two, as well."

Kate spread her hand on her lap and examined the beautiful diamond and tiny seed pearls again, her chest tight and achy. This ring was far more than just a pretty trinket. It had a history that meant something to Andre. Why had he risked using the ring for this charade when it might get damaged or lost?

Someone brought a snifter of brandy for Andre and a small white wine for Kate. Edmund raised his glass, touched it to Kate's and then to Andre's. "Congratulations. May your union be blessed with many children."

Immediately Keiko came to mind and Kate yearned to cuddle and kiss her baby, to know she was safe. How long did they have to stay here? She glanced at Andre and found him watching her. He gave her a gentle, reassuring smile and squeezed her hand as if to say he understood.

"So, what's this Liz tells me about Kate taking over the Caspian project?" Edmund asked.

"I'm sorry to disappoint Liz, but now that Kate's here it makes sense for her to work on my rebranding strategy," Andre said. "She knows the Caspian as well as I do and understands what I'm looking for."

"And I doubt she'll charge you!" Edmund added with a wry smile.

Andre laughed. "We haven't discussed fees. If I
ply
her with champagne and chocolates she might let me off lightly."

"Do remember that if Kate needs help or a second opinion, my
Lizzy
is eager to help."

"That's great. Thank you," Kate said, trying to sound enthusiastic.

"Tell me, Kate, have you worked on anything high profile I might remember?"

Kate's mind went as blank as an untouched canvas. She hated talking about her creative work with anyone outside the industry. Her gaze flew to Andre's face. The warm glow of encouragement in his eyes calmed her, and she focused her thoughts. "Do you remember a television ad that ran a couple of years ago where a sports car on a beach raced waves that turned into horses? That was my idea. It was nominated for an award. We didn't get it, but it was close."

"I have to admit, I'm not a great television watcher." Edmund gave her a self-deprecating smile. "Apart from golf, that is. But I do recall your commercial. I believe it was on around the time they were showing an irritating commercial where a large orange house exploded."

Kate nodded. "That's the ad that won the award."

"Well, my dear, take heart. Yours had far more class. I'm sure the Caspian's image is safe in your hands."

Elizabeth returned and helped Edmund stand. "I'm afraid I must do my duty and circulate now," he said. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Kate."

As soon as Edmund was a safe distance away, Kate relaxed and sighed with relief.

"I thought that went rather well," Andre said.

"It was okay for you. I felt as though I was being interviewed by a Mafia godfather. One wrong word, and I'd be wearing cement boots at the bottom of St.
Brelade's
Bay."

"Metaphorically speaking, of course," he said with a grin.

Probably not if it were up to Elizabeth
.

Andre stood and picked up her wine glass. "I'll get rid of this and bring you some soda. I won't be long."

He weaved his way through the crowd, stopping now and then to exchange a few words with other guests. When he disappeared from sight, Kate rose and wandered beside the swimming pool where it was deserted. The heels of her sandals tapped her retreat on the smoky marble tiles.

Lit from below, the water glowed bright turquoise. Tendrils of steam rose from the surface. Kate crouched and dipped her fingers in the warm water. How she wished she and Andre were alone and could take a private swim. Crazy after how he'd hurt her, but she still wanted him.

She wandered back along the opposite side of the pool, her attention captured by the spectacular nighttime view across St.
Aubin's
Bay to the lights of St. Helier.

"Well, well, it's Frosty Kate." The man's voice sent a shiver through her. For a horrible moment she thought it was Jerry Markham. The obnoxious reporter called her by the same nickname she'd loathed at school. But as she surveyed the man, she realized he was far worse than any reporter. Eric Tierman, one of her nastiest childhood tormentors, stood a short distance away. Light illuminated his short fair hair like a halo, but Kate knew from bitter experience he was certainly no angel.

She backed up a couple of steps, her heart pounding with remembered fear. He looked different, smartly dressed, his hair fashionably cut and gelled, a goatee beard making him appear even more intimidating than before.

His gaze swept up and down her body. "You're the last person I expected to see here. I thought you left the island." He sucked in his cheeks in a familiar gesture that chilled her.

She pulled her shoulders back and straightened her spine. No way would she give him the satisfaction of seeing he still scared her. He took a step closer and she forced her feet not to retreat. "I didn't expect to see you either so I guess we're even. Anyway, I'd better get back. Edmund will wonder where I've gone."

"You know Edmund Delacroix?" At his obvious surprise, satisfaction rushed through her.

"Of course," she bluffed. "Don't you?"

"Are you one of Liz's friends? She's never mentioned you. Does she know that fashion photographer guy on TV you're going out with? Is that why you're here?"

The reassuring pressure of Andre's warm hand steadied Kate's back. "I think you must have the wrong end of the stick, Tierman. Kate's my fiancée."

A warm buzz filled Kate at the flash of discomfort on Eric Tierman's face. "Andre, hi," he said, hesitantly. "I didn't realize you were here."

Andre slipped his arm around Kate's waist and eased her closer. "Edmund's a good friend of mine. I'm surprised to see you, though. A little out of your league, aren't you?"

"My firm won the contract to remodel Liz's new office. She suggested I come along tonight to network." Eric reached inside his jacket, pulled out a business card and offered it to Andre.

Kate glanced from one man to the other, remembering the day Eric had pushed her off her bike and Andre had fought him. Eric had been bigger than Andre and beaten him badly. Eric was still stockier, but Andre now had at least three inches on him.

Andre made no move to take the business card and Eric withdrew it, his cheeks flushing. "I hear you might be planning building work on the Caspian Manor. I'd be interested in giving you a quote. Tierman & Son are very competitive on price."

"My first concern is quality, Eric. The Caspian Manor is a top class establishment, and I'm a firm believer that you get what you pay for in life." Andre dropped a quick kiss on Kate's temple. "I want the best in all things. I don't tolerate cut-rate workmanship."

"That's not what I meant. We do a good job." Eric held out his card again. "Just think about it."

Without making a conscious decision to do so, Kate reached out. Andre's fingers tightened on her waist, and strength radiated through her from his touch. She met Eric's surprised look as she grasped the business card and pulled it from his hand. "If you think Andre or I would dream of employing your firm after the way you bullied me, you're mad." Kate crumpled the small white rectangle and flicked it back at him. He stared at her mutely as it bounced off his chest and landed in the pool.

"I think that's a ‘no,’ Tierman," Andre said cheerfully. Eric narrowed his eyes and glared at them for a couple of beats, then shouldered past Andre and vanished into the crowd.

Energy surged through Kate, leaving her lightheaded with a sense of power, as though a weight she'd been carrying for years had dissolved. She flashed Andre a smile. "I bet he regrets breaking your arm now."

***

With a growing sense of admiration, Andre watched Kate perform with savoir-faire. Cool and confident, she talked and laughed with the other guests, fielding questions about their engagement, smiling up at him as she flashed the ring. Whatever impulse had spurred her to take Tierman's card had been an inspiration. It was as if she had also taken back the confidence the bully had stolen from her. Deep inside, Andre felt a sense of rightness, a sense that fate had pulled the threads of the past full circle and restored Kate to her rightful place—at his side.

He needed to touch her, to be connected. He pressed his hand against her back, her skin warm beneath the green silk of her dress, and urged her off to the side of the gathering where they could talk privately. "How are you feeling?"

She blinked at him, her gaze bright, her cheeks flushed. "Tired. The party isn't as bad as I expected, but I'd like to go now. I'll need to feed Keiko soon. You know, I feel guilty because I'm enjoying myself without her."

"You're entitled to some time to yourself." Time with me, he added silently.

"I guess." She stared, distractedly toward the house. Her lips parted and the tip of her tongue flicked across them. A flash of something hot and reckless clutched Andre's gut, closely followed by an image of her spread across his bed in the green underwear.

He jammed the brakes on his feelings. His must take things slowly and remember the engagement ring on her finger was not for real. Yet. "I think we can go. We've achieved what we came for. Edmund has given us his blessing, so I don't have to worry about Liz any more. Now we can get on with work on the Caspian."

They said their goodbyes and walked back toward the car. As they passed through the gate, Jerry Markham loomed out of the darkness. A shock of apprehension gripped Andre. If Jerry mentioned their conversation from earlier that day at the Court Royal, it would undermine the newfound trust Andre and Kate were forging. Worse still, it would hurt her. He circled his arm protectively around her shoulders and aimed a warning glare at the reporter. "You must be here for Edmund Delacroix's party. How did you wangle an invitation?"

Jerry Markham tilted one corner of his mouth into a sardonic smile. "Now that's where we differ, Andre. I'm not burdened by social conventions like you."