Anne Mather - Forbidden Seductions - His Forbidden Passion / Craving the Forbidden / Girls' Guide to Flirting with Danger

Then, sinking down into his chair again, he allowed himself a moment’s respite. But he knew his grandfather too well to imagine that the old man would leave it there.

‘They blame her, don’t they?’ Jacob said, making no attempt to drink his coffee. ‘Those idiots blame her for what her parents did.’ He thumped his cane on the floor. ‘Dammit, Dom, it’s unreasonable. It wasn’t her fault.’

‘I know.’ Dominic replaced his cup in its saucer. ‘And, in time, people will begin to see her for the—the attractive young woman she is.’

‘As you do?’ Jacob was sardonic. ‘Or are you like them, Dom? Was the way you treated Cleo this morning an example of how you really feel about her?’

Cleo was standing beside the pool looking down into the blue water, when her grandfather came to join her.

It was the morning after that disastrous encounter with Dominic on the beach, and she was relieved she hadn’t seen him since.

The previous day, she’d had only Serena and Lily for company. Dominic had evidently left before breakfast, and when she’d ventured downstairs again it was to find she had the morning room to herself.

Not that she’d been hungry. Some orange juice, a cup of coffee and a fresh nectarine satisfied her, and she was grateful not to have to explain herself to anyone else.

Lunch had been a different affair.

Both Serena and Lily had joined her at the table, Serena taking the time to inform her that her grandfather had gone into town.

‘He’s gone to the office to see Dominic,’ she’d said tersely, in answer to her sister-in-law’s query. ‘But he should be resting, Lily, not risking his health over something he can do nothing about.’

Or someone, Cleo had reflected uneasily, when Lily cast a speculative glance her way. But she didn’t see how she could be held responsible for her grandfather’s behaviour. She hadn’t even spoken to him since last night.

‘Jacob always was a stubborn man,’ Lily had declared carelessly. ‘But Dominic won’t let him do anything silly. Whatever ideas may have been put into his head.’

Cleo had caught her breath at this.

‘I hope you’re not implying that I had anything to do with Jacob’s going into town!’ she’d exclaimed defensively. And even Serena had been taken aback by the fierceness of her tone.

‘Why, no.’

For once, Lily had seemed at a loss for words, and Cleo pressed on.

‘But you were implying that I might have had some ulterior motive for coming here, weren’t you? Do you think I want Jacob’s money, Mrs Montoya? Do you honestly believe that any amount of money could compensate me for everything I’ve lost?’

Lily had swallowed a little nervously. ‘That’s easy to say, Ms Novak—’

‘No, it’s not easy to say, Mrs Montoya.’

Cleo had had enough of being the silent victim, and although she’d been fighting back tears, she’d had to speak out.

‘I was happy in England, believe it or not. Six months ago, I hadn’t a care in the world.’

Well, that hadn’t been precisely true. But everyone had problems, even a wealthy woman like Lily, who must have been as devastated by her husband’s betrayal as Cleo herself.

‘I—I had a good home,’ she’d continued, a little huskily. ‘A loving family; a job I like.’ She paused. ‘When my parents—the only parents I’d ever known—were killed, I was shattered. I didn’t think anything worse could happen to me. And then—and then Serena turned up and told me that my whole life up until that point had been a lie.’

‘I’m sure Lily didn’t mean to offend you, Cleo,’ Serena had broken in anxiously, evidently aware of the bigger picture here. She’d known Jacob wouldn’t be at all pleased if he thought the other women in his household had been upsetting his granddaughter.

‘Is that true?’

Cleo had held Dominic’s mother’s gaze, her own eyes dark and sparkling with unshed tears. And, with a little shrug, Lily had given a little ground.

‘Perhaps I have been a little hasty in judging you, Ms Novak,’ she’d conceded, tracing the rim of her plate with a purple-tipped nail. Her shoulders lifted again. ‘We shall see.’

Her reluctance to admit anything had been apparent, but to avoid any further unpleasantness, Cleo had let it go. Besides, how could she sustain her animosity towards a woman who had been as innocent a victim as herself?

In any case, Serena had smoothed the waters with a comment about the lobster pâté she’d been spreading on wafer-thin biscuits. Dominic’s mother had seemed equally eager to change the subject and that was that.

Not that Lily had spoken directly to Cleo throughout the rest of the meal, though she had considered her from time to time from behind the shelter of her wine glass. What had she really been thinking? Cleo had wondered. Did Lily still believe she’d wanted to come here?

The rest of the day had been something of an anticlimax. Serena had offered to take her shopping in San Clemente, but Cleo had politely refused her invitation. She was fairly sure the offer had only been made as a kind of sweetener, and she had no desire to impose her company on anyone else.

Instead, she’d spent some time by the pool before returning to her room and flaking out for a couple of hours. Her sleepless night had caught up with her, and it was nearing dinner time when she’d gone downstairs again.

Only to find there was just to be Serena and herself for the evening meal.

‘My father sends his apologies,’ Serena had said. ‘But that trip into town has worn him out. He tries to do too much and his body betrays him.’ She’d forced a smile. ‘He’ll be all right tomorrow.’

‘You’re sure?’

Cleo had found she was really concerned, and Serena had given her a reassuring look.

‘Oh, yes,’ she’d said. ‘He wants you to join him for breakfast. Believe me, nothing will stop him from spending as much time with you as he can.’

And now, as proof of that statement, Jacob took Cleo’s arm.

‘Come along,’ he said. ‘We can talk over breakfast. I thought you might like to try Luella’s maple pancakes. They’re Dominic’s favourites.’ He gave her a calculating sideways glance. ‘It’s a pity he’s not here.’

Cleo permitted herself a slight smile of acquiescence, but she didn’t say anything. If her grandfather had known what had been going on, he might not have been so generous towards the younger man.

She contemplated for a moment what Jacob might say if she told him. But she’d never been a sneak and she wouldn’t start now.

They ate in the morning room, as they had two days ago, and Cleo did her best to do justice to the pancakes Luella had supplied. They were delicious, but once again she wasn’t hungry. She thought ruefully that if she stayed here long, she’d soon be as thin as Serena.

‘I thought I’d take you into San Clemente today,’ Jacob said, pouring himself more coffee. ‘We’ll have lunch with Dom. On the yacht, I think. It’s time you learned a little more about the Montoya Corporation.’

‘Oh…’ Cleo’s throat dried. The last thing she wanted to do was spend time in Dominic’s company. ‘Um—will your grandson’s girlfriend be joining us, too?’

Jacob pulled a wry face. ‘Do you mean Sarah?’ he asked. ‘No, I shouldn’t think so. Why?’ His brows ascended. ‘Did you and she get along?’

Cleo bent her head over her plate. ‘I only spoke to her very briefly,’ she murmured, and her grandfather gave a mocking snort.

‘I didn’t think you two had much in common,’ he said, and, glancing up, Cleo found him grinning. ‘’Cept maybe Dom himself, hmm? How about that?’

‘What do you mean?’

The words were out before she could prevent them, and Jacob arched a sardonic brow.