Authors: Sally Clements
Bound To Love (24 page)
On leaden legs, she walked slowly to the door, plastering her brightest, fakest smile in place. ‘I’m here!’ she announced as Skye opened her own front door.
Skye eyed her critically. ‘What’s the matter?’
‘Nothing.’
Just let it drop Skye. Please.
‘Nothing?’ Skye moved closer until she was mere inches away. ‘This is me you’re talking to. Your sister. You can’t come in here pretending nothing is the matter, I won’t believe you.’
‘Oh, Skye.’ It was too much. She was raw without him. ‘Just…just leave it alone.’
‘No.’ Skye led her sister to the table and pulled out a chair. ‘I’ve said nothing since he left, haven’t asked, haven’t pried, haven’t pestered, but when you walk in here looking so miserable…’
She put a plate of chocolate biscuits and the teapot down in front of her sister, and settled down next to her.
‘And your friend in Paris rings me to find out your ring size…’
Tempest stopped dead, the soggy, dunked biscuit half way from cup to mouth.
‘That’s when the time for silence is over, and the time for talking begins.’
****
Jake held the golden ring carefully in the centre of his hand, the colours of each precious stone reflected on his palm like sunlight reflects through the coloured panes of a stained glass window.
‘It’s beautiful, Angelique. I love it.’
‘And she will love it too. I know she will.’ Angel went up on tiptoe to kiss the tall, handsome man who has commissioned the ring a mere three days ago. ‘How is your grandfather?’
‘He’s back home. You’d never know he was in hospital less than a week ago.’
Jake glanced at his watch, and picked up his small, black case from the floor. ‘I’ve gotta go.’
‘Here, let me put that in a box.’ Angel took the ring from him and placed it inside a small blue velvet box. ‘I guess you don’t want it wrapped?’
‘You guess right.’ Jake slipped the box into his jacket pocket and bent down to kiss her on both cheeks. ‘
Salut
, Angelique. See you soon.’
Her gaze burned into his departing back until he stepped into the taxi.
The driver’s eyes met Jake’s in the rear view mirror, and his eyebrows rose in silent query.
‘The airport,’ Jake directed him, and the car sped through the early morning traffic.
****
Jake hadn’t told anyone he was coming. Angelique was the only one with any idea what was on his mind, and as he pulled up in a rented car in front of the house, Jake’s heart fell. Tempest might not even be home. A familiar figure rose from the flowerbed. Skye slid her secateurs into the toolbelt around her waist and walked to him.
‘Hi!’ She smiled as she reached him, her arms wide as she hugged him to her. ‘Long time no see; we were beginning to wonder what had happened to you.’
‘I had some things I needed to sort out.’ Jake didn’t feel ready for small talk, didn’t want or need it. ‘Is she here?’
‘She’s in her workshop, working on a new commission.’ Skye stepped back, eyes full of unspoken questions. ‘I guess I’ll see you later.’
He left her at the rose she was deadheading, his heart thumping hard as he glimpsed Tempest’s familiar form through the window of the workshop. The door was propped open, and the windows too, but that did little to dissipate the rolling waves of heat that met him as he walked into the tiny room.
With the heat of the day, and no air-conditioning, Tempest had grimaced at the very thought of the work that she had to do. The British Museum job was complete, and she was starting work on a replica Etruscan ear-stud to show to the Rome Museum. Vivienne had made the introduction to the museum’s curator, who wanted Tempest to come out for a visit before the month was out.
She puffed out a breath, and wiped her forehead with a damp cloth. Work was a great distraction, and today she needed it. The easiest way to sell something was to give the client what they want. She’d examined the magnified photographs in great detail and drawn up preliminary sketches of the ear-stud. Now, in this heat, she had to fire up the furnace and get to work. She was dressed in her usual summer work wear of old jeans, bikini top and huge gloves as she carefully edged the ingots out of their moulds.
She pulled the gloves off, running the back of her hand across her forehead.
God, it’s hot in here.
Her throat was parched. Goosebumps ran up her arms, each tiny hair follicle standing to attention. She turned slowly towards the door, eyes the last part of her to recognize Jake’s presence.
‘How long have you been standing there?’
Jake walked across the room to her. ‘Long enough.’ His hot gaze slid over her overheated skin. ‘Do you always dress like this when you’re working?’
‘It’s hot,’ she whispered.
‘Damn right,’ he murmured huskily, his eyes roaming over her body.
‘I don’t always dress like this when I’m working, but I have the furnace running, melting gold. Sometimes I don’t bother with the jeans.’ She grinned. ‘I was wondering when you were going to show up.’
She couldn’t resist, he looked so sexy standing there in his black T-shirt and jeans, she reached for the hem of his shirt and started to roll it up over his flat stomach. ‘You must be hot too.’
His voice was a deep rumble. ‘I am.’
He took over, peeling his T-shirt off quickly, pulling her close and lowering his mouth to hers. The heat in the room was intense, but the heat burning within was hotter. She ran her hands into his hair as his lips moved down her neck and groaned aloud. Her eyes flickered open in surprise as he caught her wrists with one tanned hand and pulled back from her.
‘I want to talk.’ He took a step back, releasing her hands.
‘Let’s get something to drink, then,’ Tempest said, leading the way into her kitchen. ‘Lemonade in the fridge, and ice in the freezer, I’ll be back in a second.’
She ducked into the bathroom, catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror. She was hot, flushed and sweaty, and her bikini top was not doing a good job of concealing anything. She rooted around in the pile of laundry in her airing cupboard, pulling out a short-sleeved teal shirt and a mini skirt. When she strolled back into the kitchen ten minutes later Jake was nowhere to be seen, and her buoyant mood burst like an over-inflated balloon.
‘I’m out here!’ he called from the hammock suspended between two trees.
Jake swung long legs out and down and stood up, draining his lemonade in one long, sensuous swallow.
His gaze swept her head to toe, and the heat in his eyes made her shiver. ‘You look cooler.’
‘Are you ever going to give me my pendant back?’ The little gold ball lay on his chest.
His mouth curved in a wicked grin. ‘Nope.’
‘Why didn’t you call me?’ It was out, the question that burned for the past three days, and now she wanted, no, needed an answer.
‘I wasn’t ready.’ He smiled, the dimple breaking out on his cheek as her heart stuttered. He loved her, but apparently he wasn’t aware of that yet. ‘But I am now.’
He turned her face to his and kissed her gently.
‘I was busy. I’ve seen my grandfather, who sends you his love, by the way. I’ve rented an apartment in London, so I don’t have to sleep above the shop, or stay with my mother, and I’ve put my New York apartment on the market. I’m moving to London permanently, Red, and I wanted to get that all sorted out before saw you. I knew if I called you I wouldn’t be able to stay away, I’d abandon everything to come back and be with you, and I needed to do these things before I came back. I’ve really missed you.’
I missed you too.
Tempest swallowed. ‘I’m glad you’re back, and I’m glad you’re going to be within dating distance.’
‘I’m going to be a lot closer than that.’ He fingered the golden ball around his neck. ‘This is so beautiful because you put something of yourself into it. You created it using your unique skills and expertise, and the metal is soft and golden, just like you.’
He ran his hands over the tiny bumps on the orbs surface.
‘But the end result is more than that, greater than the sum of its parts. You used your heart when you made it, in the same way as you bring your heart into everything that you do, and everything that you make.’
He reached out and clasped her fingers.
‘It took me a long time to understand that, but when Paul took you it was as though he pulled my heart right out of my chest. This,’ he fingered the orb, ‘was my link to you, a way of keeping you close. When I saw you trussed up in the boat, my heart stopped.’
He reached out to caress her cheek, tilting her mouth up and kissing her gently. ‘I’ve brought something for you.’ He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet covered box.
‘For me?’ She took it and opened it slowly.
‘You own my heart. I want you to always know that.’
She slipped the ring that Angelique had made for her out of its nest of silky satin. ‘Hessonite, Emerald, Amethyst – ‘
‘Rhodolite and Tourmaline,’ he finished. ‘Will you marry me, Red?’
‘Yes, she whispered, as he slid the ring onto her finger. ‘I will.’
His hands slid through her hair and his mouth came down on hers in a demanding plunder that set her whole body alight. She pressed closer, wanting him with a fierce urgency.
‘God, I’ve missed you.’ Her hands ran frantically over his back. ‘It’s been torture not seeing you.’
His breathing was uneven, and his eyes were like dark pools when he pulled back. ‘We should go and find your family, and tell them. I don’t want anyone coming down here to say hello.’
His thumb caressed her bottom lip, and she barely held back a groan. He was right. Skye knew he was here, and the others would be down to find out what was going on. Being disturbed in bed would break the mood for sure.
She pouted. ‘I guess you’re right.’
And the sooner they told everyone, the sooner they could get back here, be alone together.
‘OK.’ He pulled her to her feet, and grabbed his T-shirt from the hammock where he’d abandoned it. ‘Let’s go.’
‘Mum’s here, she’ll make a big fuss. Don’t you think it’s a better idea to keep our news to ourselves for a few days? Get used to it?’
‘Heck, no.’ Jake pulled the shirt over his head and jerked her close. ‘I want you to marry me as quickly as we can manage it. I don’t want a long engagement, I just want you.’
The torment over the long days waiting evaporated as happiness swelled in Tempest’s heart.
Jake tilted her face up, searching her eyes. There was concern in his earnest gaze. ‘Am I moving too fast?’
‘No.’ Tempest smiled. ‘I’d marry you tonight if we could. I just thought you might need longer.’
‘All I need, Red, is you.’
With a little sigh of delight, Tempest pulled Jake down and kissed him, exactly as she had dreamt of kissing him for days. His arms came around her, and her heart beat so fast, her head swam. Jake loved her. And now they were together, her heart knew they would never be parted again.
THE END
Be sure to check out these other great romances also by Sally Clements.
New Beginnings – Short stories
To contact Sally Clements, or to be placed on a mailing list to receive updates about new releases, click the ‘contact me’ link on my blog.
http://www.sallyclements.blogspot.com
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If you enjoyed Bound to Love, read chapter one of my new book—Marrying Cade, below!
Chapter One
The last thing Cade West felt like doing was mingling with a bunch of bright young party guests. His eyes stung at the unaccustomed Tuscan sunlight, and his body ached from contorting his long frame into a plane seat. The irony of hating long distance flights wasn’t lost on him. After all, he spent most of his life jetting between hotels. But he wasn’t made for an airline seat. Even a first class one.
This week was going to be all about love and happy-ever-afters. A forced break from his regular routine which, if he were honest, he could well do with. He was exhausted after the tedious routine of back-to-back meetings and on-site consultations. People thought his life as owner of The West Group was glamorous, but the day-to-day reality was anything but. His managers were paid way over the odds; they could handle things for a couple of weeks. For the first time in over a year he was on holiday.
“They’re sending a car.”
Cade cracked open a sleep-weighted eyelid. “Great.”
His best friend Adam was getting married. Moving to Isola dei Fiori, working for his father-in-law, and putting his life and hope of happiness in Rosa Bellucci’s hands. There wasn’t a woman alive Cade would change his life for. Getting married meant staying in one place, settling down, putting down roots. He’d had roots once, snaking through the earth of his native Texas, gripping firmly in the land that had been his family’s for generations. Cade rubbed the side of his face with the back of his knuckles.
No point going there.
“C’mon, man, I’m getting married!” Adam gulped a mouthful of Bellucci Red, pushed back the light wicker chair, and strode across the gravel to the Fiori Hotel’s entrance. “I’ll get us some antipasti while we’re waiting.”
Cade tilted his head up toward the blazing sun, feeling its warmth heat his skin. Adam had called the Bellucci villa the moment their helicopter landed, and they’d checked in to Isola dei Fiori’s only hotel. Traditionally, the bride and groom didn’t catch a glimpse of each other on the wedding morning, so Cade and Adam had been billeted at the hotel to prevent any “accidental sightings.” Cade longed for some shuteye, but that wasn’t going to happen. Adam was totally focused on being with his bride, and as best man, Cade had to give Adam what he wanted.
