The Princess and the Pauper (27 page)

Jesse found April and Jordan staring into each other’s eyes. He could see the back of April’s shoulders, her black hair shimmering like a soft veil, her hands within Jordan’s. The look on his brother’s face made him go cold.

That feeling was instantly displaced by a wave of resentment and anger – which propelled him to their table.

Jordan glanced up and blinked in surprise. “Jesse!”

April’s reaction made him die a little inside. She jerked back, a frightened look in her blue-green eyes. “How did you find us?” she asked.

“Martha told me.” Jesse was terse. He’d expected to find Jordan alone.

“Well, then you can join the celebration,” Jordan said magnanimously. “April and I are celebrating our new relationship.”

Jesse’s throat grew tight. He gazed down at April’s bent head. She wouldn’t meet his eyes.

“Sit down,” Jordan told him, gesturing to the side of the booth where April sat. Jesse caught the daggers of fury April’s eyes were shooting at Jordan, but his brother merely lifted his brows in all innocence. April scooted way over to the edge of the booth, and sighing inwardly, Jesse sat down beside her.

Her skirt brushed his hip. With a small tug she pulled it back, creating more havoc when her efforts caused it to flip upward, exposing her thigh. Jesse caught a glimpse of taut skin in silk stockings before he jerked his gaze away. His reaction was immediate and infuriating, and he just hoped she wouldn’t notice. He gritted his teeth.

“April has been released from duty at Hollis’s,” Jordan explained a bit thickly.

“What does that mean?” Jesse swung his attention to April.

She sipped carefully from the frothy concoction with the fruity banana scent, as if it were a task that required intense concentration. Her hand was trembling. “What?”

“What does that mean? You’ve been released from duty?”

“I’m not working for my father anymore. I’m working for Jordan.”

Jesse was incredulous – and suffused with overwhelming relief. “Is that your new relationship?” he asked his brother dryly.

“As a matter of fact.” Jordan seemed to be enjoying having the upper hand.

“What happened?” Jesse asked.

April finished her drink, setting it down with the slight unsteadiness of someone who had a bit too much to drink and was trying to prove she was still sober. “I’m not really sure whether I quit, or he demanded my resignation. I do recall talk of being cut out of my inheritance.”

Jesse went utterly still. “Why, April?”

She slid him a defiant look. “You know why.”

“Because of me?”

“Did you really think I could continue on as if nothing had happened, after what he said to you?” April was incensed. She looked to Jordan for support, but he merely gazed at Jesse as if he were being incredibly dense.

Jesse was stunned. April had chosen him over her father’s objections? He could scarcely believe it.

“Come on, big brother,” Jordan said affably, snapping his fingers for the waiter. “I’ll get you a drink. You look like you could use one.”

By the time the three of them left the bar, Jordan was in no shape to drive. Jesse, who had gulped a first drink, then sipped a second, was feeling remarkably sober. His thoughts were clear and sharp. He called Jordan a taxi, then offered to drive April home himself.

“Are you able?” she asked him cautiously.

“Mmm.” he cupped her elbow with one hand and led her into the soft, May night.

“I could call a taxi, too.”

“Where’s your car?” When she motioned in the general direction, Jesse, who had first-hand experience with this area of town, frowned. “You shouldn’t park that far away from Touché. It’s not safe here.”

“It’s the only car park around,” April said airily, frowning at him for acting so proprietary. Then she stumbled, her hand connecting with his board-hard stomach. Jesse swept in a breath. When his arm encircled her narrow waist, the warm scent of her skin assailed his nostrils.

Jesse was silent on the drive back to her house. He was astounded by the knowledge that she’d walked out on her father, and even more amazed that it had been over him. For the first time he wondered if his initial assessment of her character had been warranted. There was more to April Hollis than he let himself believe – than he’d
wanted
to believe.

She was fishing through her purse for her keys, and Jesse had to hold them in front of her nose. “Oh,” she said with a breathless little laugh. “I forgot you had them.”

He followed her inside, amused at how she tried to pull herself together and appear in control for the babysitter. When April offered to drive the girl home, she shook her head and said it was only a short distance.

Jesse watched the girl hurry down the footpath that curved alongside the roadway; in this exclusive neighborhood there was probably little chance of something happening to her. Still, he kept his eye on her until he saw her run up the steps of the home at the far end of the block.

April had taken off her shoes and was standing on the stairway, one hand on the rail, peering down at him. “I guess you’ll have to take my car to get home,” she said.

“I guess so.”

“Mom?”

They both turned at the sleepy voice from the top of the stairs. Eden was weaving back and forth on bare feet, rubbing her eyes. April climbed the rest of the stairs, and Jesse followed at a more leisurely pace. He stood back a few steps, enjoying the sight of his child.

His child.

“I’m home, sweetheart,” April said, bending to give Eden a hug and kiss.

Eden squinted at Jesse. “Thank you for the necklace,” she said. To his amazement she held out her arms to him for a hug and after a moment’s stunned immobility, Jesse pulled her into an embrace. He was overwhelmed by her sweet child’s scent and the soft limbs that wound around his neck so unselfconsciously. A moment later she released him, heading back to bed much as a sleepwalker would.

April was staring at him. She seemed as surprised as he was. “You know I would never keep her from you,” she said. Before he could answer, she hurried after Eden.

Jesse was glad of the reprieve. He drew in a sharp breath and felt a moment of keen frustration. He’d missed a lot, he realized. He’d wasted years of his life fighting different foes, trying to right all the wrongs. Had it all been an excuse to battle the aspects of his own character he couldn’t stand?

April returned, her footsteps silent on the thick, luxurious carpet. She, too, weaved a bit on her feet, although her condition was the result of alcohol consumption rather than sleep.

She’d never looked more beautiful to him. The light from her bedroom shaded her face, deepening the hollows, softening the curves. She seemed at a loss for what to say.

“I think I’ve had too much to drink,” she finally remarked.

“Let me help you.”

Uninvited, he followed her into her bedroom. April curled up on the satin coverlet with a soft sigh, her skirt swirling around her hips. He had so many questions to ask her, and hardly knew where to begin. “April,” he said huskily, sinking beside her, his hand involuntarily following the curve of her calf.

“You thought I was involved with Jordan, didn’t you? Just for a minute,” she said, drawing her lips into a slow smile.

“I didn’t want to think it, but you two were pretty chummy.”

“Why didn’t you want to think it?”

“You know why,” he said.

“Do I?” Her eyes, which had been half-closed, now opened wider, regarding him somberly. “The last I heard, you hated me.”

With a moan of frustration, Jesse gathered her into his arms. “What do you do to me, Princess?” he asked rhetorically, kissing her forehead, her temples, her eyes.

Her breath escaped on a soft sigh. “You don’t even like me, remember?”

“Oh, I like you all right.” His tone was self-deprecating.

“Then why do you push me away?”

For an answer he cupped her face in his hands and kissed her sweetly parted mouth. April’s arms slid around him. Impatiently he released her arms to yank the blouse over her head. Her bra followed, then her skirt, stockings and undergarments. When she was completely nude, he lay her down and gazed at her. Her hair fanned out black and mysterious, her aquamarine eyes sleepy.

“Do you know what you’re doing?” he asked hoarsely. “I don’t want to be accused of taking advantage of you when you were drunk.”

“Drunk.” She sniffed her disdain. “I’m not drunk. And I know what I’m doing.”

“Good,” he said with satisfaction. He pulled her to him, letting his hands slide over the small of her back and the rounded curve of her buttocks. He groaned with desire when she shifted to look down into his eyes.

“You’ve been wrong about me,” she said.

His lips twisted. “I think I’m beginning to realize that.”

“I’ve loved you a long time.”

Jesse didn’t try to stop her admission. Instead he looked at her as if seeing her for the first time. “April…” he began uncertainly.

“Shh.” She laid a finger on his lips. “You don’t have to love me back.”

He would have liked to argue the point, but she had wrapped her legs around his, and it was creating havoc with his senses. He was certain she was well aware of the hardness stirring against her thigh, but since he was fully clothed, there wasn’t a lot he could do about it. Yet.

With a swift twist he had her on her back and was stripping off his jacket. The tears he saw glimmering in her eyes brought him up short. “April, what is it?”

“I can’t make love to you,” she sighed unhappily.

“Oh?” Some of his earlier suspicions returned.

“It’s not safe.”

“What do you mean, not safe?” he asked testily.

“I mean I’m not protected.”

He stared at her. Not protected? His mind quickly made another connection. “What about last time?” he asked swiftly.

“It wasn’t a time I could get pregnant. I’m not exactly ready with birth control, as you well know.”

He was amazed that she would even take the chance. He was even more amazed that the possible consequences hadn’t even occurred to him. “What have you done in the past?”

“The past?” April blinked foggily, drawing her brows together.

“With other men,” Jesse said harshly.

“Other men…” She choked on a burst of laughter, deflating his ego, and then astounded him once again by admitting, “Other men? Jesse, there’s been no one but you!”

He stared at her in disbelief.

“I’ve never been involved with anyone else. After our time in Rock Springs I was pregnant. I wasn’t exactly in a position to meet other men!”

“But what about later?” he demanded tersely.

“I went out on some dates, but I wasn’t interested. I never wanted to be physically close to anyone else. Besides which,” she added ruefully, “I was too busy earning a living for Eden and me, and trying to get through college, to boot.”

Jesse was stunned. “What do you mean?” he asked blankly. “What about your father? Your family?”

For an answer April brought his mouth down to hers, tasting his lips. He could feel her smile against him. “My father and I only made up about a year ago.”

“April!” Jesse twisted away from her, his eyes disbelieving.

She levered herself up on one elbow. “So… I’m not as awful as you thought, huh?” she asked, amused.

It was the liquor, Jesse realized, that was making her bold enough to divulge the truth. She’d told him often enough that he knew nothing about her.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” he demanded.

“Because you wanted to believe the worst. I have some pride, too, you know,” she added, flushing. “The way you reacted over Eden showed me just what you thought of me.”

“Then why are you telling me this now?”

“I don’t know,” she admitted. “Maybe because I’m sick of all the deceptions.”

Jesse tried to get to his feet, but April hand, grabbing his sleeve, stopped him. “Don’t leave,” she begged.

“April…”

“Stay with me for a little while. Please.”

Her soft entreaty was impossible to resist. With a groan of pure frustration he lay down beside her, gritting his teeth when she curled her spine against the flatness of his stomach. Her rounded bottom fitted tightly against his pelvis.

All that saved Jesse from taking her was that she’d given him a lot to think about. Unfortunately, each time she moved, his chivalry was sorely put to the test.