The Marriage Merger (5 page)

Jenna drew in a deep breath. Jeff may have
placed her in an awkward situation, but he’d done it with the best
of intentions. “I’ll try.”

“Good for you, Sis. Oh, by the way, don’t
tell Braden I planned this, will you? He might not appreciate me
meddling in his private affairs, and I rather like my job.”

The temptation was too much. “I’ll think
about it,” Jenna replied archly, and hung up. Let him stew on that,
she thought.

The next day Jenna and Caitlin had two
sessions in the pool. That night another phone call from Braden
informed them he would not be returning that evening.

Late Wednesday afternoon they were starting a
new exercise when Jenna looked up to see Braden standing in the
courtyard, his face like thunder, hands rigid at his sides.

CHAPTER FOUR

“Caitlin, honey, pop inside and have a shower
and get dressed.” Braden's tone was deceptively soft.

She looked questioningly up at Jenna. The
anger was back in Braden’s steely eyes and set jaw as Jenna looked
at him. She realised then it was directed at her. What had she
done? Surely it couldn’t be because of what she was doing with
Caitlin?

“Do what your Uncle Braden says, Possum. We
don’t want you getting sunburnt, do we,” she smiled. Caitlin gave
her a puzzled look. After all, Jenna had been careful to coat them
both liberally in sun-screen lotion and the shade cover stopped all
but the most slanting of the suns rays, but she obediently made her
way out of the pool. Braden lovingly mussed her hair as she passed
him, but his voice dripped with ice when he turned back to
Jenna.

“Just what the hell do you think you’re
doing?”

Jenna walked slowly out of the pool, absently
noting Braden’s quick intake of breath as his gaze travelled over
her bikini-clad figure. She picked up her towel from a patio chair,
aware that Braden’s face had paled slightly as the gesture provided
him with a deep view of her full breasts.

“I’m doing my job,” she replied.

He turned and looked out over the river, but
his voice was harsh. “Your job is to keep an eye on Caitlin, not
risk causing further damage to her leg by cavorting her about in
the pool!”

“Did it ever occur to you, Braden, that what
I was doing with Caitlin just might be beneficial?”

He whirled back to face her, but before he
could reply she spoke softly. “Jeff obviously didn’t bother to tell
you when he was relating his humorous tales of my youth, but I have
a degree in Occupational Therapy and for the past five years I’ve
been working with children with injuries and disabilities.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I thought you knew. Or did Jeff only bother
to relate my lesser accomplishments?” she replied tartly, then
wished she hadn't. Why was she trying to antagonise him? Was she
trying to get back at him for what he so obviously thought of her
when she’d first arrived? It really wasn’t his fault that Jeff had
given him the impression she was incompetent. But he hadn't had the
courtesy to ask her occupation, and her professional pride was
piqued. She wanted his respect.

“When you’re dressed I’d like to see you in
my study so you can give me full details of your qualifications.”
He strode back into the penthouse.

Braden had removed his suit coat and tie, and
was busy making notations on a report he was reading when Jenna
knocked on the open study door. He hurriedly scribbled another
comment, then glanced up to catch Jenna gazing at the dark curls
visible through his opened shirt. Their eyes met, and his skin
tightened and heat rushed through his body at the blush that
coloured her cheeks.

He was acutely aware of the good fortune
which had brought her to them. For a reason he still couldn’t
fathom, Caitlin had obviously decided she could trust Jenna
implicitly. After the trauma of the past few months it was a
miracle he wasn’t about to toss away. He realised his anger had
been unjustified, and he had to admit to himself it had been partly
fuelled by a spark of jealousy at the way the child had swiftly
encompassed Jenna in her affections. And another part of the anger
had been caused by the sudden surge of desire he’d felt when he’d
seen Jenna again.

When she’d stepped from the pool his body had
reacted so outrageously he’d had to turn away for fear that she
would see the evidence. Before she came into the office he managed
to convince himself that it was because of the stress and worry of
the past months that his body was looking for a release. Any
attractive woman would have had the same effect. But now he knew it
wasn’t true.

In a voice husky with self control he asked
her to sit down and explain her qualifications.

She told him how, after gaining her degree
and working for two years with athletes with injuries she had
started work in a children’s hospital, and it was there she had
realised this was where her true vocation lay.

"I've always tried to incorporate swimming
and water exercises into therapy as much as possible. The buoyancy
of the water means no weight bearing down on joints, so it
alleviates a lot of the pain otherwise involved in moving an
injured limb. Once children realise they're able to move without
pain, they relax into the programme and gradually build up stronger
muscles and better flexibility."

She smiled, her joy in her work dispelling
the guarded look she'd worn since he'd asked her to tell him about
her job. "I let the kids have some fun in the pool, too. It helps
lessen the pressure to achieve they sometimes feel they're
under."

Fun was something Braden hadn't considered in
years, but the thought of having fun with Jenna was definitely
appealing.

She told him of the various jobs she'd had in
Australia and overseas in the past two years, particularly working
in camps for children with injuries and disabilities.

Braden watched her eyes sparkle and her
colour heighten as her enthusiasm for her work shone through. He
was accustomed to determined, hard-headed business people whose
only enthusiasm was for profits achieved, and Jenna's eagerness and
warmth were a revelation. An emotion so long forgotten he couldn’t
put a name to it stirred in his gut.

He watched the animation in her shining green
eyes as she spoke of children who arrived at the camps with their
self-image more mutilated than their bodies; how they were amazed
to find that there was always another child worse off than they
were; how the counsellors and therapists detected the children’s
abilities and taught them to use those abilities to help one
another.

He watched her lips as she spoke, fascinated
by the softness, the perfect shape, of them. She wore no make-up,
her complexion flawless cream lightly tinged with pink. He wondered
idly how long she had spent in England’s cool climate and how long
before Australia’s heat would dust freckles across her pert nose.
He thought of the silky loveliness of her long slim limbs and body
and how smooth her skin would feel under his touch ...

“Don’t you agree, Braden?”

He wrenched his brain back to the
conversation. “I’m sorry, I missed that. I was a bit preoccupied
with a business problem,” he lied.

“I would have thought Caitlin would be
occupying your mind right now,” she chided. “I was saying that I
thought it would be a good idea if Caitlin didn’t know that I’m a
therapist. She’s responding well at the moment because she sees me
as a friend. If we tell her the true purpose behind the exercises
she might refuse to continue them.”

“You certainly seemed to have gained her
trust. So I’ll bow to your judgement in this regard.” He saw the
flush of pleasure on her cheeks at his words. “I’ll be working here
for the next few days, so if you need my help at all I’ll be only
too pleased to assist.”

He rose and walked around the desk and half
sat on the corner nearest her chair. A smile twisted the corners of
his mouth. “I do care about Caitlin, you know.”

The blood surged in his veins when Jenna
placed her soft, smooth hand on his and said, “I know you do.”

Her gaze flew to his and he knew she felt the
tingling jolts that flowed between them. Her palm was cool, but it
fired his blood and hot desire flashed in his groin. A spark of
triumph exploded in his brain when he saw that desire reciprocated
in her eyes, then the moment passed as she abruptly pulled her hand
away.

“It’s getting late. I’d better start cooking
dinner.” She walked quickly to the door.

He wanted to grab her, feel her silky smooth
skin again, but only used his voice to stop her.

“Do you always wear bikinis when you’re
working, Jenna?”

She stared back at him, as though his neutral
tone held some hidden meaning. Compared to a lot of bikinis, he
knew hers were quite modest, but he couldn't help the little spark
of irrational jealousy in wondering if her colleagues had been
privy to the sight of her glorious figure.

“I normally wear one-piece swimsuits in my
work, but I’d sent them along with my winter clothes straight to
Sydney to be held until my arrival. I thought I’d be spending a
week here with Jeff having a holiday.”

“I’ll do my best to find a replacement for
you as soon as possible so you can have your holiday,” he said
coldly, rebuked by her words, but she shook her head.

“Caitlin needs me. I’ll stay until Mrs
Jenkins returns. I still have a little over five weeks before I
start my new job and she'll be back before then.”

“Thank you,” he muttered. “I appreciate you
giving up your holiday for Caitlin.”

A deep, warm smile lit up her face. She
turned and left the room.

Her voice had held such sincerity, and her
eyes so much caring he had felt instantly ashamed. Had he been a
cynic so long he’d forgotten genuine people still existed? Apart
from Alicia and Caitlin, he could think of no-one he knew who
exhibited the tenderness and caring that seemed part of Jenna’s
nature.

The cold wall of protection he had built
around his heart seemed to constrict even tighter. He tasted the
salt of fear. Never again. If you cared about someone you ran the
risk of being hurt.

“Well, that’s another one of your talents
Jeff forgot to mention.” Braden eased away from the table with a
satisfied smile.

“Pardon?” Jenna asked.

“Jeff never said you were such a good cook.”
Tiny lines crinkled the corners of Braden’s eyes. He had changed
into tee-shirt and jeans that moulded to the lean muscular length
of him so well she had had trouble concentrating on the cooking
skills he praised. He admired the animal biscuits Caitlin had
offered, and although she hadn’t smiled Jenna had seen the pleasure
in her eyes. The roast lamb, baked potatoes and vegetables were
cooked to perfection. But when he watched Jenna making the gravy
she became so nervous she ordered him out of the kitchen, then
hurriedly removed the lumps that had formed.

He refused dessert, then changed his mind at
the sight of the fresh fruit salad, chunky with tropical fruits.
Caitlin ate quietly but steadily, and now her eyes were heavy with
tiredness. Jenna tenderly brushed strands of dark hair across the
small forehead and lifted the little girl in her arms.

“You’re not such a big girl that I can’t
carry you in to bed, are you Possum?” she asked. The small head
sagged against her shoulder and as the little arms crept around her
Jenna’s heart swelled with affection. Caitlin was such an easy
child to love, and her need for acceptance and security triggered
Jenna’s protective instinct. She was determined that somehow she
would find a way to heal Caitlin’s psychological injuries as well
as her physical ones. She knew it was possible for Caitlin’s hip
and leg to recover completely, and she had seen some miraculous
progress in other children similarly afflicted.

The wounds to Caitlin’s psyche were another
matter. The physical scars, although permanent, would fade in time,
but to Caitlin they represented the reason for her mother’s
rejection of her. Jenna hoped that if Alicia could see Caitlin
walking normally again she might be able to come to terms with her
guilt and accept Caitlin as she was now.

After she watched Caitlin brush her teeth she
tucked her into bed. For the past two nights Jenna had left a lamp
on in the far corner of the room so Caitlin wouldn’t be completely
in the dark. As she’d left the room she’d been puzzled by the taut
line of Caitlin’s body under the covers and the look in her eyes.
It was almost but not quite a plea, an entreaty that Jenna stay
because there was something else to do. It had gnawed at the back
of Jenna’s mind. Now she sat on the side of the bed.

She watched Caitlin’s little fingers linked
together and suddenly realised that what she had surmised was the
child’s distress at fearing sleep for the dreams it would bring was
actually the clasp of hands in prayer. She covered the small hands
with her own.

“Dear God,” she prayed aloud, “please look
after Caitlin’s Mum and help her to get better, and keep her Daddy
safe with you in Heaven.”

Caitlin’s tense look started to relax, and
Jenna went to lift her hands away. The tension returned and Jenna
realised she was meant to continue. “And please look after Uncle
Braden and keep him safe.” With this addition Caitlin’s breath
released in a satisfied sigh. She lifted her arms and her hug gave
Jenna time to blink back the tears she could feel threatening to
spill.

She turned to leave and saw Braden shadowed
in the hallway. He walked to the bed and bent down as Caitlin
opened her arms to him. The tender smile on his face transformed
the hard lines and Jenna realised with a thudding heart how deeply
she was attracted to that face and the man behind it.