My Forbidden Mentor (28 page)

John stood there, flabbergasted. “What has happened to you?”

“You happened to me, John. I want to be a constant in your life,” Vanessa told him, her tone softening.

John had a need for air. “So you purposely bedded my father to get with child?”

“Yes.” Her reply was as direct as the glare of her icy blue eyes.

“And he doesn’t know anything about this, does he? No, he wouldn’t stand for it if he did, especially if he knew the reason why you were doing it.”

“He will find out soon enough.” Vanessa pretended to be preoccupied, like she was bored all of a sudden. “Very soon I will be increasing and it will be noticeable. I’ve waited to ensure he will believe me. The timing will be accurate.”

“What’s going on in that insane mind of yours Vanessa?”

She chuckled at his astonished behavior. “Becoming your stepmother, John. Won’t that be something?”

His anger returned full force. “Hell no, you won’t. I admit my father was asinine enough to bed you, but he doesn’t deserve to be a part of your manipulative games Vanessa.”

She hid the fear he aroused in her. “Good luck trying to stop me John. I have my ways, you know, and we both know that you and your father are not on the best of terms.”

He got in her face to make himself understood. “You will not get away with this. Plan on being a single mother, unless you can persuade one of your other lovers to take pity on you,” and he turned and walked away.

“I will be your stepmother before this babe is born,” Vanessa called out after him. “And work my way back into your bed, Lord Blackburn. Count on it,” she whispered to herself.

Robert rolled off of Rose, exhausted. She cuddled next to him and his arm went to her back, sliding down her side, pulling her secure against him. They had been visiting for a couple of hours now and their excess energy was spent for the time being. They were in Robert’s bed. He’d visit her at Sally’s but only to talk. When they made love, it was always at his house. He had accepted her lifestyle for the time being, but every day it ate at him.

Her plan to save enough money on her own by selling her body seemed preposterous to him.

She had started her career before meeting him. In the beginning, when she had stood up to him, proud and determined, he had given in and accepted her temporary money making strategy, but as their relationship blossomed and his feelings for her grew, he sensed in himself an ultimatum about to be disbursed. His love for her had kept his sanity but her obstinate pride at times drove him mad.

Tonight he could tell there was something bothering her, as she seemed tense. “What is it, love? Is there something you want to tell me?”

Rose had been contemplating telling Robert her concerns regarding Vanessa. She didn’t want to be premature about her suspicions, as she needed valid proof. “I wanted to be sure first, but I think Vanessa’s up to something,” she revealed.

Robert wondered what could be going on for Rose to notice, but with Vanessa, anything was possible. “What do you mean?” he asked.

He listened to her interpretation from beginning to end of the conversation she’d overheard between Vanessa and Sally and how she had a feeling John was connected somehow. Vanessa’s recent activities of late served her suspicions.

Robert thought it was better to be cautious than not since he knew even more than Rose did at this point. Earlier, before Rose had awakened this morning, John had summoned Robert from his warm bed to discuss the private issue of Vanessa and John’s father.

Robert’s reaction was as shocked as John’s. Sworn to secrecy, he couldn’t tell Rose about it just yet, but this new, interesting information was a call to be on guard. How much more could Vanessa be up to? It wasn’t worth ignoring.

Robert had gotten the “virgin’s” name from Rose and proceeded to plan the rest of the day investigating. Before leaving for Sheffield he wanted to be prepared whether or not Rose’s assumptions were feasible and then he would get John’s opinion about the whole scenario, but at the moment Rose, lying next to him in her natural state of beauty, was too appealing to resist. They made love one more time before preparing to go their separate ways.

Sheffield

Melissa’s stage arrived late the next morning. Her driver this time was younger and much more attractive than the first driver, but that still didn’t excuse his being late. “Did you get lost?” Melissa asked, unaware her tone was so impertinent.

Jack responded with the appropriate courtesy, wondering how difficult this trip would be. When he was initially approached by Vanessa to escort Miss Howard home he’d been reluctant. He thought that surely Vanessa worried too much about her childhood friend, but Vanessa had successfully imposed a frantic concern for her friend Melissa’s welfare, emphatically expressing Miss Howard’s need for an escort to ward off the stalking Lord Blackburn.

Jack’s vibrant blue eyes sharpened as they assessed Miss Howard’s piqued features. “This is a new route for me, Miss Howard. My apologies,” Jack told her while stepping down from the stage. Standing before her, he introduced himself before gathering her luggage. “Jack McGuire at your service.” His hand came out to shake hers.

His kindness changed her mood. Perhaps she may have been a little extreme, always expecting everyone to be as precise about time as she. Her moods did seem radical of late. Still, she blamed the extremity on a certain male lover of hers. Lifting her hand to meet Jack’s, her usual smile appeared. “Forgive me, Mr. McGuire. You’re here now and that’s all that matters. Please, I hate formalities, call me Melissa,” she offered, taking her hand back from his light grip.

His lips curved into a gracious grin as his hands clutched her luggage. “All right and Jack will be fine with me.” Jack continued loading the stage while Melissa said goodbye one more time.

She hugged both children with intensity, knowing it would be a while until she saw them again, then carefully embraced Cecilia with her new babe cradled in her arms. Cecilia mentioned a final time, “Please write me and let me know how you’re doing. All right?” Both smiled and Melissa agreed.

“Yes, I will. Thank you for everything,” and in saying so, she hugged her one more time. Leaving a dainty kiss upon the newborn’s delicate forehead, she boarded the stage. She had said her goodbyes to George last night as he always rose before dawn for work, and George had thanked her, feeling indebted for her help. Melissa waved goodbye as the carriage left down the path toward home.

Arriving in Sheffield, they searched for a hotel in town, and conveniently they found one near the track. After acquiring two rooms, Melissa informed Jack that she was retiring for the night. For someone who usually had an extended amount of energy, all Melissa could think about was sleeping. She changed for bed, then climbed in and settled herself beneath linen bedding that warmed her. The idea of being pregnant surfaced again and dwelled with unanswered questions. If I am with child, should I tell John about it? Would he care? How would he react? Would he think I was trying to trap him?

The agonizing fact that her menses was running late hadn’t offered any comfort. She’d been late before when her mother had passed away, and by hanging onto that assumption, she could deny what seemed so plain and clear. She was about to become a mother and John, a father.

She lay upon the soft packed mattress, her head sinking into a feathered pillow, her eyes shutting, taking in the physical sensations of rest. She had missed solitary time for herself. Relaxed now, she half inclined to clutch the heavy covers at her feet and pulled them over her tired body. Turning on her side, feeling snug under the weighted coverlet, her eyes closed once more. As her body drifted into a restful state, thoughts of John came into her mind, imagining him holding her as he did when her father had passed away and remembering the tenderness and comfort he gave. Her wandering thoughts raced to the future and she wondered what he was doing at this moment.

While Melissa pondered about John, John pondered about Melissa as he sat in a local pub only a few buildings down from her hotel. Sipping brandy and never escaping the abundance of female attention, he’d lost count of the many propositions he’d been offered tonight. The muscles in his cheeks ached from smiling so much. The perfect gentlemen he was, behaving cordially to the desiring women. Their painted faces showed disappointment when he declined, but they held no interest for him.

The only offer he had even considered accepting was from one of his past favorites who happened to be conveniently married, Lady Ginger, a tall, full-figured woman from London. Married to some boring workaholic, she took leisurely times of pleasure for herself, although they were few and far between. Always a satisfying lover, she still paled in comparison to the intensity Melissa enticed in him. When she approached him tonight, asking him to escort her to the ball in town, his response was out of courtesy, telling her he’d think about it and let her know the following day. Just three months ago hesitation wouldn’t have entered his entangled mind, but that was before meeting a country lass named Melissa Howard.

He poured more of the amber liquid from the bottle into his glass. Staring into the liquid swirling from the motion of his hand, he wanted his business in Sheffield to be over soon. He needed to be back home for Melissa’s arrival.

Bloody hell Vanessa had managed to supremely tangle up his life. Now he needed to protect his father, a task he never thought he would encounter.

Taking in the fumes of brandy, his hand raised the glass to his lips, swallowing the welcomed flavor. Lifting from the barstool, he clutched the bottle of remaining brandy. Slipping it beneath his wool coat to an inside pocket he strode from the bar to outside, walking the brisk distance to his hotel room.

Melissa woke feeling fresh and revived until a slight wave of nausea hit as she arose from the bed. Ignoring her stomach for the moment she dressed in a hurry, leaving the room in order to find food. She ran into Jack on the stairway, grateful to see him carrying a tray full of appetizing food.

He smiled when looking up to avoid bumping into her. “I thought you might be hungry,” he told her, not realizing how hungry.

His timing was perfect, she thought, and she let him know how thankful she was. “You’re a lifesaver, Jack. I’m famished. I’m so hungry I feel sick,” she explained, striding alongside him to her room.

Jack watched in disbelief as Melissa gobbled down the varieties of subsistence. He couldn’t help wondering how a young lady so thin and lithe could eat so much.

Arriving early at the racetrack, Melissa snatched a choice seat, high enough to see most of the action and near enough to the finish line. Although it was closer to the entrance gate than she preferred, she wasn’t about to complain.

Jack accompanied her, having nothing better to do. It was his duty, after all, to keep an eye on Melissa at Vanessa’s request, though Melissa was unaware.

Jack offered to fetch her something to drink and Melissa was obliging. She watched Jack trail away, appreciative of his generosity. As he disappeared into a group of people, Melissa scanned the filling stands. Her view of blending heads of people seemed infinite until a tall, handsome figure caught her attention.

He stood just inside the entrance, standing well above the men around him. His inherent profile was unmistakable. It couldn’t be, she thought. Her heart started to pound fast and hard and her throat went dry. It had been almost a full month since seeing him last and she couldn’t tear her eyes away. Out of all the racecourses in England why did he have to be at this one? She had figured her chances were high of not seeing him here, but then this was his business.

Still beautiful, she observed, and still breathtaking. Then a tall pretty woman approached him, her hand grasping his shoulder. She whispered something in his ear and he smiled while she talked to him. Melissa’s heart began shredding. Her belly started to ache from the sinking sensation forming there and from seeing a woman standing so close to him, making him smile like that. It confirmed his libertine ways. Still charming, her silent thoughts were clarifying. The more shattering the view, the less she could ignore him.

Then it happened. As John tilted his head near the woman’s ear his eyes scanned the perimeter of people awaiting the beginning of the race. Once again he looked back toward his acquaintance but within seconds his bold gaze captured Melissa’s. His mouth stopped moving, his expression stunned and possibly pleased at the same time, confirming he’d seen her.

Melissa quickly averted her gaze, shifting in her seat to look in the opposite direction. Wrapping her arms across her hurting stomach she prayed he wouldn’t come to see her, but his focused gray eyes told her differently.

John had seen her and she couldn’t hide from him. He would notice her in a crowd of even the most beautiful women of England. He was well aware by her astounded expression of her accusing thoughts of him. John excused himself from Ginger’s company, giving her his final answer regarding the ball. A friend of Ginger’s steered her attention away as John glided through the crowd of spectators to reach Melissa. He thought about the last time they had conversed, not exactly on the best of terms. He’d been angry with her but over time his anger had dispersed by her absence. He wondered if she was still angry as he closed in on her.

Arriving at the row she sat in, John took an additional three to four strides to reach her. The wooden bench was empty on both sides of her and her position hadn’t changed. Taking the liberty to sit next to her he angled forward, his face almost drowning in her hair. His hand took hold of her arm in a lightened grasp. “Melissa.”

Her whole body shivered when he touched her and spoke her name. Feeling shaky, her clasped arms gripped tighter to stop her trembling body when she turned toward him. He was so close, so near that he could probably hear the thudding of her heart. Her eyes focused on her folded arms before lifting to his. “Hello John.”

Her eyes searched his features. She longed to forget the turmoil between them and start over again. Only good memories were surfacing as she gazed into the familiar face of the man she used to know so well. She wanted his strong arms around her again, wanted him to sweep her away into their very own private, blissful world. She yearned for the attentions of her long lost protector.

His first glimpse into her misty eyes caused a shudder of sensations to flow through his body. Recognizing the immense affect she had on him, he swallowed once to withstand the powerful surges. When she spoke his daze was interrupted, though he continued to study her reactions as he responded. “How are you? I didn’t expect to see you here,” he said in that incredibly deep voice of his.

She wanted to tell him “that’s obvious”, but instead took a more amiable approach. With a glance toward the woman who had whispered sweet nothings in his ear she replied, “Since I had to travel through Sheffield anyway, I couldn’t resist,” she said, giving him her normal endearing smile. “Are you here on business?” she asked, knowing more than likely that he was.

She surprised him with her response, but he knew her well enough by now despite the tone of her cream-filled voice and her confirming glance toward Ginger. “Yes, of course. It’s rare that I travel just for the hell of it.” His hand left her arm, clasping together with his opposite hand upon his lap.

Melissa reclined into the back of her seat, switching her crossed legs. “Yes, I know.” Her hands clasped together as well. “John, you really should take a holiday. You work too much.” She sounded serious and then she realized that she sounded like a wife.

Her relaxed attitude astonished him, which induced his next reply, “My work is pleasurable to me, you know that.” Their eyes engaged in brief contemplation. “If you were to join me for a holiday, I’d take one.” Apprehension was not apparent in his tone. He was serious as well, damn serious as his lustful eyes displayed smoldering desire that spoke of reestablishment.

Melissa’s breath caught in her throat, wondering how to answer him. His gaze on her was very unnerving and was not helping her at all. Their focus was intent on each other, proving that the passion between them still existed.

Melissa forgot all about Jack until a movement coming toward her got her attention. Carrying two cups of tea, Jack’s features turned curious. The knot in her stomach returned, concerned with John’s possessive reaction. She’d dealt with his jealousy far too much not to think about it.

John saw Melissa’s expression change and turned to look right up at Jack. John obliged, thinking the young gentleman had a seat further down. “Do you need to get by lad?” he asked as he slid his booted feet underneath the bench.

Jack smiled while responding, “Thank you,” taking the three steps needed to sit on the other side of Melissa.

John took note of the young lad’s boldness as he sat next to Melissa and a defensive glare appeared across his face. John was about to say a few select words when Melissa spoke up.

Being literally in the middle of what could become a disastrous confrontation she spoke the truth, trying to play peacemaker. “John, he’s with me,” she said, giving him a stern look that told him to ease off.

Jack, unaware of John’s temper regarding Melissa, nonchalantly handed Melissa her tea. “It’s hot, be careful,” he warned before his blue eyes caught John’s stormy glare.

Melissa turned toward Jack to thank him but out of the corner of her eye she saw John’s hands balling into fists. Her free hand reached over to his and placed a warning grip upon them, at the same time saying, “Thank you, Jack, for the tea.”