Exclusive Love (British Billionaires Series) (10 page)

‘The suffragettes would applaud your staunch sense of feminism. It was a throwaway remark, but I understand your annoyance. It is rich on my part to complain incessantly about your gender’s main interest in mine being related to big bank balances only to refer to women as nothing more than a fashionable item to make an impression on the big boys.’

‘Oscar, it’s as if your starting to figure out that there is in fact a mental process between thought and word. Analyzing your thoughts before airing them can be beneficial. Perhaps if I keep working hard, you’ll make use of the filter between brain and mouth.’

‘Katy, you are welcome to work on me for as long and as hard as you want to. I bow to your feminine insight.’

‘Are you a beast looking to be tamed?’

‘I’m an old lone wolf on the outskirts, hoping the tigress may let me run wild with her.’

‘You are so cheesy at times.’

‘Cheesy I’ll concede, but a realist as well.’

His hands smoothly turned the wheel of the car. Parking at the cabin abruptly ended the conversation.

‘It’s gone half five. Am I pushing my luck asking you to be ready by quarter past seven?’

‘Given suffragettes were hurling themselves under horses to get women to vote, I think I’d be doing them a huge injustice if I were to complain that under two hours to prepare for a charity barbeque wasn’t ample time to prepare.’

As they walked towards the steps to enter the house from below, Oscar went ahead carrying their towels, wraps, sun glasses and various lotions.

‘You could always stay in that bikini.’

Katy simpered at his persistence. Dragging her aching legs up the stairs, she hoped a hot soak would ease away the strenuous activities of the day to give her a boost to survive the evening.

Chapter Twelve

Three evening dresses were laid out on Katy’s king-size bed. She immediately ruled out the gown. Its suitability was restricted to ballroom dancing or royal weddings. The elegant black cocktail dress was not over the top, but was it too formal for the event? Instinct drew her to the pink cotton-candy colored dress courtesy of Donna Karan.

Simple in style; the asymmetrical cut from below the knee to the floor and layers of light, cascading flowing fabrics gave the dress a dimension of sexy summer fun. It’s length, color and cut was princess-like, but it could easily transition to various types of Hampton functions giving Katy the confidence to fit in wherever she was. It certainly wasn’t a standard sun-dress for a barbeque.

No matter how casual Oscar insisted it would be, Katy knew to survive her foray with the wealthy people inhabiting the exclusive Hamptons playground, feeling comfortable in her outfit was a must.

It was one three letter word, but it was all Katy needed to hear to stand upright, shoulders back and confident in her four inch cork wedges.

‘Wow!’

‘It’s not too much?’

‘It’s perfect. You’ve literally taken my breath away.’

‘Wonderful. I can embrace the peace and quiet on the drive there.’

It was a joke, but truthfully, Katy didn’t want to engage in conversation with Oscar. Running through potential scenarios she might find herself in and planning witty banter or informed opinions on topical conversations would be a more productive use of time.
If they talk about the rising price of Havana cigars I’m going to be a failure of epic proportions,
thought Katy.

Arriving, Katy was forced to snap out of her mood and acknowledge Oscar and the impending party. She noted his forest green Hudson Oxford shorts had been replaced by khaki cotton stretch twill trousers and a short sleeved, navy gingham button up shirt. Her hand traced the laurel wreath emblem on the breast pocket.

‘You don’t know it?’

She shook her head.

‘It’s Fred Perry. He was a famous tennis player. Did our country proud winning many grand slams in the 1930s.’

‘Is it a popular label in the UK?’

Stepping back, to catch her eyes he tilted his head to one side.

‘Do you like it?’

‘I do, very much.’

‘Then that, Katy, is really all that matters.’

‘It should be, but look at the clothes horses here.’

Focusing his attention on Katy, Oscar hadn’t assessed the evening’s participants. A lot of the women were dressed in the year’s recent collections. The affair was as casual as it could get, but the females were out to impress.’

‘It’s irrelevant. You are by far and away the most gorgeous woman here tonight and I know you won’t believe it but you have the eyes of everyone attending this party on you. You’re in vintage designer—classier and striking. They can’t compete.’

How on Earth could Oscar know the fashion industry so well? Defensive and determined to fit in, Katy wanted to cry over her old designer labels even though she knew he’d complimented her. Standing out from the crowd wasn’t her intention—blending in and feeling at ease was.

Doing the rounds of the important people related to the charity, Oscar introduced Katy. going out of his way to include her in conversations. Social obligations fulfilled, he suggested they tuck into the barbeque. However delicious it was, however enormous her appetite after a day of sports, Katy refused. Oscar couldn’t disguise his shock.

‘Are you kidding? After all that pizza you pigged out on, you’re now claiming not to be hungry. Why? You said you loved the outdoors today and barbeque ribs were top of your menu. Why the change of heart?’

His rattling set her nerves on edge.

‘Oscar,’ she whispered in his ear, ‘If I hit the grill like a hog, it’s likely I’ll be bloated and tired. I’d rather save my energy for when we get home. I’ve always preferred desserts to mains anyway.’

It was a complete lie, but he took the line. Heaping his plate, Oscar surreptitiously told Katy he was consuming calories to burn off and expend some serious energy later.

Mingling effortlessly, the women were overly familiar as Hampton regulars. None of them ate. All were concerned about their figures and more so that an extra dollop of ketchup falling from a bun might spoil an outfit. Networking, the men stopped to introduce themselves to Oscar. Remaining friendly he made it clear he was off duty.

Oscar insisting on a toilet break before driving home, left Katy alone in the crowd of well meaning, flush charity supporters. As she inched towards the women, whether deliberate or not, they broke into cliques. Groups of two or three, with body language preventing anyone new from entering the conversations.

She hadn’t realized how stiff she was, until Oscar’s arm snaked round her hip.

‘Are you sure you’re okay? You don’t have a migraine? Your skin feels cold even though it’s warm.’

The frost off the army of ice queens had affected Katy.

‘No. I’m fine. I just want to be at home with you.’

That wasn’t a line to shut him up. It was exactly what she wanted and needed.

Traveling home was as silent as it had been driving over. Katy almost snorted at the irony that she’d been petrified of saying the wrong thing or clumsy in conversation with the deepest pockets and fattest wallets of the Hamptons. In reality at no point did a situation requiring her to converse solo with the attendants present itself.

Not for the want of trying. As she dissected the evening she realized,
whatever label, whatever acting skills, money can’t buy you class
. Everyone saw through her. It was only Oscar with his rose-colored spectacles who was unable to out Katy for what he already knew she was.

‘I hate seeing you in this state,’ whispered Oscar.

‘What state?’

Parking underneath the cabin, Katy stared straight ahead to prevent her eyes welling.

‘Hurt. Disappointed.’

‘Life can be like that sometimes. It’s a hard lesson to learn.’

‘It’s a hard to hear that from the mouth of someone who’s only twenty-three.’

‘Being young doesn’t mean I’m incapable of perceiving how society works, where we all sit or what our roles are. Fight it. Rail against it. You’ll never be able to remove the label placed on you at birth. No matter if you work hard and strive to get ahead, there will always be someone to remind you who and what you really are and where your place is.’

‘Did someone say something to you while I was in the bathroom?’

‘No. It was strange. I don’t know if you were ever bullied at school,’ began Katy stepping out of the car.

Oscar hadn’t been. His intellect, humor and love of sports had only ever ingratiated himself with his fellow boarding school pupils at Eton. There was no need to interrupt to confirm her correct implication that his school life was prosperous.

‘When you are bullied or clash with a particular gang or type of student, the teachers tell you the world will change when you leave school. They’ll tell you people grow up and you won’t be subject to bullying because you’ll be living in a shiny new mature world, totally different from the school yard. It’s a load of baloney. No one said anything to me while you were in the bathroom and that was the problem.

‘It was as if the minute you left the room I became invisible. No, it was worse than that, I became unwanted. Your accessory was only dazzling when attached to you. Without Oscar Woodruff to show me off, I was another piece of jewelry sitting on display. A product that only becomes useful or attractive when placed on someone of importance. The women broke into cliques. I know tonight was important to you.

‘Standing there as a moody cow, wasn’t our united image. Each time I took a step closer, desperately hoping someone would see me alone and gather me in for a friendly chat, the circle of close-knit friends tightened, barricading me from attempting contact. The rejection was embarrassing. Even worse; I embarrassed you.’

Oscar remained seated in the car, his knuckles whitening as he tightened his grip on the locked steering wheel to calm himself.

‘Those uppity Hampton whores have probably spent every summer here since birth. They are as thick of thieves and I wouldn’t dream of suggesting delusion or paranoia on your part. What I would say,’ he said opening his door to sit next to Katy on the bonnet, ‘is don’t think your exclusion had anything to do with your age or the fact that you aren’t a regular holiday-maker.

Probably you won’t believe me, but when we worked the room tonight in tandem we were did it with panache. Your composure, the way you conduct yourself, the fact you actively listen and show a genuine interest in people are assets those women will never possess. How could you embarrass me? I was and am proud to be with you.

‘Threatened by your age, your beauty and even worse, your natural ability to seamlessly enter a room and hold court, keeping everyone entertained with your wit and vast knowledge is something they can never compete with or ever come close to achieving. Don’t let some bitches who cling to their high school popularity ruin what has been an amazing day.’

Was that how Katy was? Had she flowed and participated actively in the intense onslaught of networking Oscar was forced to undertake as they entered the marquee? She thought she’d been stilted, mumbling wall flower. Was her view of herself so marred she was unable to realistically gauge her impact and presence in public?

‘You’re sweet, but I’m not sure whether you’re saying that to cheer me up and think it’s what I want to hear or if you genuinely mean what you say.

‘Katy, don’t you understand yet?’ he asked softly.

Curious, much as she preferred staring at the ground she was drawn to the blue eyes gazing intently at her.

‘I’ve no reason to lie or make things up. I see you. The real you. The person you are. It’s all I can do to contain the feelings that want to burst from my heart.’

Closing his eyes, he kissed Katy. His words drew blood in her heart, but she pushed all thoughts of undercover investigative journalism, to the back of her mind, letting herself bathe in the abundance of love Oscar conveyed through the gentlest kiss. She didn’t deserve this from him. He deserved better than her, but there and then they only wanted each other. Katy’s flesh was weak to the demands of her morally forthright mind.

One kiss led to another, each becoming deeper and longer. Katy’s tongue slipped in his mouth to taste the warm breath so needy for her body. The minute her tongue danced lightly over his, Oscar rose from the car bonnet to stand in front of Katy. A hand behind her neck, gave him the support to intensify the fevered kisses till Katy was desperate for air. Inhaling and exhaling to fill her lungs, as if on a mission of their own her hands reached out for Oscar’s shirt.

Her fingers nimbly undid the buttons, revealing the ripped the torso of the British billionaire. Besotted by his masculinity her fingers traced from the base of his neck, down the center of the chest. The index finger from each hand veered to trace the outline of the prominent pectoral muscles in his chest. Pushing gently, the resistance proved how muscular and toned he was.

Unable to control her body which was desperate to unite with Oscar’s, Katy observed each ripple of his six pack as her fingers continued to trace further down his stomach.

Unable to stop, her hands opened his belt buckle easily. Unbuttoning and unzipping his trousers was executed in the same fashion. She reached her right hand into the waist band of his boxers, inhaling to control the delight she felt as the back of her hand skimmed over his pubic hair till she reached the base of his cock. Gripping it firmly, Oscar closed his eyes in pleasure enjoying Katy’s hand moving his shaft up and down.