An Outback Affair, page 7
They laughed at Sam’s antics and sensing he had the adults full attention, he said, “I love cake the bestest in the world.” He sucked in his lower lip and screwed his forehead down in a thoughtful gesture. “Except for McDonald’s,” he added seriously, and the adults laughed louder.
“Well, seeing it’s your best love in the world, and we haven’t got a McDonald’s for miles and miles, then first thing in the morning I’ll make some of my famous lamingtons.”
“Lamingtons?” Sam said, as if he hadn’t heard the word before.
“You know, Sam,” Berta said. “Chocolate-covered sponge cake sprinkled with coconut. Want to help me?”
“Can I lick the icing bowl?”
“What else would I do with the bowl?” She glanced at Cassie. “I’m up early in the mornings. How about you have a lay-in and I’ll get the boy up and dressed and ready for the day?”
Fear flashed through Cassie at this wonderful gesture. Would Sam want to stay at Oriole rather than come home with her? A sleep-in sounded tempting. And she was so tired she could sleep a day away. “Are you sure, Berta? He’ll drive you crazy with questions.”
“I reckon I can handle that.”
“Thanks, I’d appreciate it.”
Sam yelled with glee as a yellow Labrador, a Springer spaniel and a Blue Heeler rushed to greet them. There were shouts of welcome from men passing the house. The dogs were yelping and jumping around Joel’s feet. His housekeeper was chatting to Joel as if he was a long-lost friend. Everyone and everything at Oriole seemed to love Joel, even Sam — no, especially Sam.
Could she be wrong in her judgment of Joel Caine? Could it be that he was a caring, responsible man? He’d offered no explanation and no apology to her on behalf of his brother’s treachery to her sister. There was nothing between them but Sam. Sam was Joel’s only interest.
Yet she sensed if anyone here were in trouble, Joel would be the person they would go to. She tried to drag her eyes away from his powerful figure, the way he stood with his hands firmly on his hips, legs apart. How familiar his face was to her now as if she’d known him for years. Stupid, really.
Her deepening feelings for Joel startled her. No way could she allow any connection between them except for Sam. That would be too dangerous for her because she couldn’t take a chance on him. His brother had played too harshly with women’s hearts; made love to them, promised them the world and then crushed them under his boot. Joel had displayed a ruthless streak when he’d threatened her with court proceedings over Sam’s custody. She feared that same ruthlessness could be echoed in his treatment of women — just like his brother.
So she’d ignore the fact that he made her breathless. That her heart raced at the sound of his husky voice. That when he’d kissed her she’d been transported to the stars, and she had wanted so much more.
Oh no, she didn’t intend to become one of Joel Caine’s conquests that he’d earmark with a knife on the side of his saddle.
Sam was rolling in the grass with the dogs, and Cassie’s heart sang with joy at the wonderful scene. She knew for sure now that she’d made the right decision in bringing Sam to Oriole. Raised in an apartment, Sam had never experienced the true freedom of having his own space. This was all so wonderful for him.
“What’s their names, Uncle Joel?” he cried. Stopping his frolicking he knelt beside the Labrador, his arm loosely wrapped around the big dog’s neck.
“This big guy,” Joel explained, scratching behind the dog’s ear, “is called Jacko. He’s pretty old and needs lots of loving. The young spaniel is Ralph, and he needs someone to play with him, and Cracker is an old heeler sheep dog who’s too tired to work these days.”
“Can I play with Ralph, Uncle Joel? And I can love Jacko and Cracker, too?”
Looking at his nephew, Joel’s eyes had softened to a misty blue; strange how much Joel had come to love Sam in such a short time.
“I think you could just about do that, Tiger.” He ruffled Sam’s hair. “Now off you go with Berta and have a sandwich and a glass of milk.”
Cassie’s mind whirled as she followed Joel into a sitting room that would rival a ballroom in size. And she was grateful for the rush of cool air. She faced a sprawling area of relaxation and ease. There wasn’t much evidence of a woman’s touch. Oh, it was spotlessly clean and tidy, too much so, perhaps, and it missed out on things such as vases of fresh flowers scattered around the room, family photographs, a box of knitting or sewing and the joyful mess of a young child. Maybe it was because of his mother’s grave illness. What the house looked like she was sure wouldn’t be on the top of Mrs. Caine’s priority list.
Cassie continued her examination of the room. A crowded bookcase, an eclectic collection of art works, a state-of-the-arts electronic console comprising the latest TV, DVD, and recording facilities, a roll-top desk cluttered with papers and legal-looking documents, and giant-sized furnishings.
There was an almost physical feeling of peacefulness beneath the lofty cathedral ceiling, and the cantilevered timber staircase, which, she imagined, led to the bedrooms above.
Everything reeked of luxury and wealth.
“Joel, it’s simply beautiful,” she said. “It’s like something out of a magazine.”
“Thanks.” His smile broadened with pride. “It took much time and effort but it was well worth it.”
“I wasn’t expecting this.”
He laughed as if sincerely amused. “Were you expecting a log cabin in the hills?”
She returned his laugh. “Of course not, but I wasn’t expecting such luxury.”
“Would you like to sit down?” he asked motioning to the armchair.
Gladly, she sank into a soft peach-colored leather armchair. She gave a small sigh. “Now this I could become accustomed to.”
With intense eyes and a tiny hint of a smile on his sensual lips, his gaze riveted to her face then moved slowly down over her body. Her heart slammed hard against her chest. Oh no, here I go again.
“I want you to be completely at home while you’re at Oriole. If you need anything or want anything, just ask Berta or me.”
You are not attracted to him, she told herself, but her heart said differently. Her heart told her that he was a man that any woman would want to call her own. Tall, strong, funny, and tender, that’s what she had learned about Joel since he’d first knocked on her door.
Oh, add stubborn and determined to have his way — a man in every sense of the word. Never in her life had she met anyone remotely resembling Joel. Sexy, and as hot as bubbling lava — and twice as dangerous. Stupid heart. “I can’t imagine needing anything more than this.” She glanced over at the stairs, anything, and anywhere to avoid his penetrating gaze. “Where’s your mother?”
“Upstairs resting, I should imagine. These days she spends more time in her room.”
“Does she need full-time care?”
“Berta’s a trained nurse.”
He hunkered down beside her chair, his face inches from hers. One finger caressed the top of her shoulder. She tried to ignore the strange yearning pulsating deep down inside her. That need, desire that only he could satisfy and an image of them in bed flashed into her mind. Hmm, nice. Her cheeks heated.
Sex, it was all about sex … well, the lack of it. She was sexually attracted to him, and who wouldn’t be? Her hormones were dancing a tango, that’s all it was.
Please God, let me get out of here still sane, and while you’re at it God, an extra heavy dose of self-control so I can resist him.
“We’ll go and see her when you and Sam feel more settled.”
A worried look crossed his features.
She felt a surge of sympathy for him. He was concerned about his mother and how she may take having Cassie stay. There was the matter of her youngest son’s adulterous affair, his untimely death, and now the knowledge that there was a child from the union. How did she truly feel about having a constant reminder of her son’s infidelity in her home? Would her welcome be cool but polite?
She glanced at Joel. Did he feel the same way? Did he resent her invasion into his life? What were his true motives bringing her and Sam to Oriole? Did he truly mean it as a short visit or had he more nefarious plans? She worried again that he meant to keep Sam here with him. Fear clutched her belly. How could she fight him here in this vast country? This was his territory and she the intruder.
With an effort she fought back the fear that threatened to take control. Foolish woman. It was, as he’d said, a chance for Sam to get to know his father’s family.
As if sensing her discomfort, he stood and moved away from her. “This must be awkward for you?”
“A little.”
“I can imagine how strange you must be feeling.”
She didn’t want his pity and she resented his condescension. This wasn’t a holiday for her; she was here to protect Sam; make sure nothing scared or upset him. This would be the first and definitely the last time she’d come to Oriole, and with a bit of restraint, a strong mental attitude, she’d forget Joel Caine ever existed. Suppressing an ironical snort, she acknowledged that forgetting him might well be impossible, but she could sweep him back into the dark regions of her mind and only bring him forth when and if she had to speak to him about Sam.
She relaxed a little. No need for her to be so uptight. She could handle Joel Caine with one hand tied behind her back. After all, he was only a man.
“No more than you and your mother must feel,” she said more tightly than intended.
A muscle quivered at his jaw. “What do you mean by that crack?”
She wanted him to talk about the past. She wanted him to admit how wrongly Luke had treated Claudia. She supposed she wanted him to apologize on behalf of his brother. Was that too much to ask? “The guilt you must feel about how your brother treated my sister.”
His dark eyes flashed fire. “That’s in the past and better forgotten.”
Knowing she had to share Sam forever with these people, her trepidation at meeting Joel’s mother, and being here in the vast outback and relying on Joel’s kindness rushed up to grip her in frustration and bewilderment, which, because she couldn’t handle the situation, turned into hostility at Joel’s smugness and his refusal to acknowledge his brother’s treachery. “How convenient for you. Well, I don’t want to forget it,” she snapped. “I want to remember how badly your brother treated Claudia and how she suffered from his blatant disregard of her feelings.”
“I don’t think you want to talk about this, Cassie.”
Was that a warning tone in his voice? How dare he bully her? A caveman was more sensitive and had more manners than this outback cowboy.
“Are you so guilty that you refuse to talk about it? Can’t you admit what a swine your brother was? You must have known what was going on. Yet you and your mother shut your eyes to the truth. It makes me wonder what sort of woman would teach such low morals to her sons.”
He was angry. She could see it in the tug of his mouth, in his eyes, in the tenseness of his body.
He held up one hand. “Don’t push this, Cassie.”
Her anger responded to his. “Push what? That the Caine family has no principles? That they treat people the way they see fit?”
His fists clenched. “Is that what you think of me?”
“Yes, yes, yes. You have no values, Joel; you were raised thinking the world owes you.”
“My brother wanted to be with your sister, but couldn’t.”
She flattened her palms against the sofa. “Because he was married to another woman.”
Talk yourself out of that one. Her statement was righteous; she was, at last, defending her poor misused sister; demanding at least an apology for crimes committed against her.
His jaw thrust forward and his eyes, as blue as the Adriatic Sea, flashed lightning strikes. Battle lines drawn. City girl at odds with outback man.
“Luke believed that Claudia would marry him. He wanted to make his life with her.”
“And what did he intend to do with his wife?” Her laugh was mordant. “Or did he envisage a threesome?” Cassie leaned forward. “Luke was married, Joel.” Each word hyphenated. “He knew this and yet began an affair with my sister.”
“Luke’s marriage was over long before he met Claudia.” His voice was calm. His gaze was steady.
All the air burst out of her self-righteous balloon. “What?” Her mouth dropped open; she shut it with a clunk.
His mouth twisted wryly. “They’d been divorced for more than a year.”
Shock trundled through her. “Are you suggesting — ” she swallowed harshly, “Claudia lied to me?”
His expression was a mask of stone. “Yes, she did. I’m sorry.”
The weight of the world descended on her. This was so awful. She studied his face and had no cause to doubt him, but resentment, as old as time itself, grated her. She didn’t want to believe that Luke was innocent and it was Claudia who’d lied and cheated. Lied to her about Luke being married and cheated him out of the knowledge of his baby.
“He wanted to see her one more time,” Joel explained. “And nothing I could say or do would dissuade him.” He gave a small cough. “He didn’t make it. His plane came down, and he didn’t survive.”
Tears stung her eyes. “You liar. You damn liar.”
She swallowed back the tears. Deep down, where it counted, she knew the truth. Claudia had tired of the affair and dumped him. Then, when she discovered she was pregnant, came to Cassie for help. Knowing that she would insist Claudia tell Luke about the baby, she said he was a married man and refused to leave his wife. Needing to gain Cassie’s full sympathy and support, the way Cassie had always done.
She’d never forgive Joel for ruining her memories of her sister. “You know nothing of my sister. You only have your brother’s story.”
He raked his fingers through his hair. “Why dig up the past. What happened between Luke and Claudia had nothing to do with what’s happening now.”
“Because I won’t have her memory tainted by sordid lies,” she cried. She turned away hiding the tears.
The silence between them became unbearable. She turned and faced him. Their eyes met, locked. Winner, loser? A flare of satisfaction blazed as he turned from her, and walked toward a well stocked bar. “Care for a wine?”
She’d die of thirst rather than take a sip of water with Joel Caine. “No thanks.”
“Something lighter? A glass of fruit juice, or a mineral water perhaps?”
What hurt the most was that Joel had made her face the truth. Claudia had lied horribly and in so doing had destroyed lives. Cassie remembered her sister’s insatiable lust for life. Remembering now the way she’d pout until she got what she wanted. Her ability to twist people around to get her own way. Her beautiful, indulged sister. Her heart ached. All these years she’d harbored hate against a family she didn’t know. Blamed the Caines for her sister’s heartache and all the time it had been the reverse.
Claudia, oh, Claudia. Tears scalded her throat. She had to get out of this room. Away from Joel. She needed time to think. “I’d like to bathe Sam,” she said coming to her feet, “then meet your mother, and put him to bed. He’s had a long and very exciting day.”
“Of course.” He moved away from the bar. “He’ll have eaten a light meal now with Berta. Is that enough for him? Will I have Berta make him a more substantial meal?”
She was feeling better now. More in control. “I’m sure that’ll do him until morning. Best not to overload him after all that travelling.”
“You know best,” he conceded.
Sam raced into the room, the dogs close at heel barking and leaping as each one endeavored to get close to the boy. “It seems Sam has won their hearts.”
“I think this is only the beginning,” he agreed. “He’ll have everyone and everything spinning on its axis.”
“He’s hard to resist.” She smiled and held out a hand. “Come on, Sam. Bath time.”
Joel moved to join them. “I’ll come with you and show you the way.”
“Do you think we’ll get lost?”
He gave a soft laugh. “Could do.”
“This house seems large enough for six families,” she said again glancing around the room.
“I need space.” He swung the child high on to his shoulder. “I’d like to help bathe him, and then read him a story.” He wriggled Sam’s legs. “Would you like that, Tiger?”
“Yes,” Sam piped.
Cassie followed him upstairs and into a spacious bedroom ideal for a child.
“This is your room, Sam,” he said lowering the boy on to the floor. He crouched down before his nephew. “What would you like on the walls?” He swept out his arm. “Spaceships? What about a bed shaped like a star ship?”
Sam clapped his hands in delight. “Maybe we can have big elephants on the walls, Uncle Joel?”
“Elephants sound good.”
“Or maybe we can have tigers, lions, and bears,” Cassie said.
“Or maybe,” Sam giggled, “we could have a zoo with all the animals.”
Joel caught on to their game quickly. “And maybe we could have the whole jungle.”
“Yes, Uncle Joel,” he cried out with delight. “With crocodiles and rhinuses.”
Standing erect, his hands on his lean hips, Joel laughed heartily. “All the animals you can think of, Sam and especially rhinuses.”
His gaze connected with hers. She smiled and when he grinned back, her heart grew wings and fluttered wildly somewhere in her chest. Oh no, she couldn’t allow her feelings for this man to go sky high. She couldn’t trust him, wasn’t sure about his true intent with Sam. And, if she faced the truth, how could Joel trust her after what her sister did to his brother? What an unholy mess.
