Be Mine Read online

  She’d stood hidden away, leaning against a tree when he’d sneaked up behind her.

  “Hello, my lovely,” he purred. “Pretty little thing like you shouldn’t be alone. I’ll sort that.”

  Then he clamped a rough hand around her throat and pushed her back against the tree with the force of his bigger body, while his other hand crept up her thigh, reaching beneath her dress. He was young and tall, mousy-haired and disheveled, a complete stranger.

  She opened her mouth to scream, but he took it as an invitation, swooping down on her. Squeezing her eyes shut, she twisted her face away just in time so that his alcohol-reeking mouth landed on her cheek instead. Catching her breath, she was ready to scream again when suddenly the man’s weight was pulled off her. A dull thud, and she opened her eyes to see the man sprawled on the grass, unconscious. Nathan stood over him, fists clenched, mouth an unforgiving line. He looked at her and his silver eyes blazed with fury. Trembling, she could only stare back. Then in two strides, he was before her, grabbing her bare upper arms with such force she thought he was going to shake her to death. But he pulled her to him and slammed his mouth down on hers in a punishing kiss. Tears sprang to her eyes, but she kissed him back with all the longing of years, and when he suddenly released his grip to circle his hands around her waist, she wrapped her arms around his neck, and pressed against him. His movements gentled then, his lips becoming soft, his tongue caressing hers, seeking her sweetness as he clasped her tight, and with a small moan she all but melted into him.

  Then suddenly he pulled away and stood staring down at her, his breathing ragged and confusion in his gaze. She gawped back at him, her eyes-wide, her lips tender, and her mind in another dimension.

  Disdain entered his eyes and releasing her, he took an abrupt step back. “You’re no better than your mother. Look at you, dressed like a slut, ready to collar yourself a rich man whatever the consequences.”

  She shook her head, desperate to deny it. “No, I—”

  But he was already striding away.

  Her first kiss, and it had ripped out her heart.

  She never saw him again after that, and she’d never wanted to be kissed again after that.

  “Hey, I’m not saying this for Bill’s benefit, but you’re young, Aura.” Lisa’s voice brought Aura back to the present. “And if you don’t live your life now, then when will you?”

  Aura stroked a hand over the soft black material of the dress. “I suppose, I am letting go. One step at a time.”

  “That’s why you finally said yes to Bill, isn’t it?”

  Aura glanced at her and nodded.

  “Oh, love.” Lisa’s voice throbbed with pity. “My brother’s a catch. I won’t deny it. But I don’t think he has any chance of making you forget Mr Hot, Wonderful, and Doesn’t-Care-You’re-Alive.”

  “But I’ve got to do this. Like you said, if not now, when?”

  “Hah! You should have done this a long time ago. In fact, you should have done this last year when he took up with that bleached-blonde, celebrity stylist girlfriend of his.”

  Aura glanced away. She’d avidly followed Nathan’s progress as he’d climbed the ladder to the heights he was at now. She wasn’t proud of her desperate behaviour, and had toned it down once he’d started dating Oksana Petrova. The woman was, from the looks of it, his dream come true. He’d never been with another girlfriend that long. Oksana was everything Nathan wanted, and everything Aura wasn’t—tall, blonde, classy, and with a career Aura could only dream of.

  Envy bit her. Honestly… if those breasts were real, then Aura was a nanny goat. “I read some news about them getting married soon,” she muttered with a frown.

  “Jeez, Aura! Are you still stalking him in the gossip rags?” Lisa plonked her hands on her hips and scowled at her. “What am I going to do with you?” She grimaced and ran a hand through her blonde hair. “I have to break this Nathan addiction of yours. Don’t know how… Actually, if he just would go and get married, it might cure you.”

  Aura bit her lip. “He’s coming here.”

  “Please tell me you don’t mean Nathan is coming here.”

  “Yes.”

  Lisa’s mouth dropped open. “Why on earth? I thought Langley was the bog-pit of the world as far as he was concerned.”

  “It’s… He needs to get away from things for a few days.”

  “Yeah, he would. He’s been all over the news lately, hasn’t he?”

  “His company has been doing well, so…”

  Lisa smirked. “And you would know. But enough of your stalking, girl. When is Mr Hot due to descend on you?”

  “Tomorrow, I think.”

  “Oh, crud.”

  “I didn’t know this when I agreed to go out with Bill.” Aura looked at her guiltily. “I should cancel with Bill, shouldn’t I? The more I think about it now, the more I realize it’s not fair on him. But he’s been so looking forward to our date, and I don’t want to upset him…”

  “Of course he’s looking forward to your date. Do you know how many years he’s waited for you to say yes?” Lisa stalked up and down the room. “But, maybe… maybe we can use this.” She turned back to Aura, excitement in her eyes. “I think, we’re going to turn the tables a bit here.”

  “Oh, you have a plan.” Aura said with a frown. “I’m not sure I like it when you have a plan.”

  3

  Lisa cocked her head. “Ooh, thanks for the vote of confidence, Miss Obsessed, but I may be the one person who actually gets you out of your current sticky dilemma.”

  “Fine. I’m listening.” Aura said, going and sitting on the window seat.

  “So Nathan is going to be here for a while.” Lisa came and sat beside her. “And there’s the two of you nicely tripping over each other’s feet, and your mum’s not here to chaperone. The perfect soup for all your adolescent dreams.” She waggled her eyebrows suggestively.

  “It’s nothing like that.” Aura said with a groan. “He hates my guts, and even on the tiny millionth of a chance that he made a move, I don’t think I’d have the guts to… you know.”

  “Exactly! You’re all dream and no substance, and I, Lisa, the great mystic, can predict precisely what’s going to happen. He’s going to hole himself up in his room as always, and you’re going to wander around like a lovesick spook, creeping him out and making a complete ass of yourself.”

  Aura winced, but Lisa was right. Wasn’t that what she’d always done around Nathan? All dream and no substance, indeed. He’d been the source of all her hot, wet dreams and solo sessions, even that one furious kiss giving her enough fuel for a lifetime, but she’d never be able to look him in the eye and tell him exactly what she wanted.

  Lisa smiled knowingly. “But don’t worry. You’re going to do things a little different this time. You’re going to fall in love with Bill.”

  Aura gaped at her. “What? I mean… I like Bill… but love? I can’t just—”

  “I know. I know. And yes, I am setting up my own brother. Truth be told, I’d be the happiest person on earth if you would just fall for Bill. We’d be real sisters. But right now, Bill hanging around can be a golden opportunity for you.”

  “In what way? Because I won’t use him.”

  “No, of course not. Just spend more time with him. He’ll be over the moon, and you’ll get someone who knows how to really treat a woman. Compare that to your stuck-up Nathan and I guarantee you’ll get over your addiction double quick. Trust me, you’ll want more from a man than what someone like Nathan has to offer.”

  “But I don’t want to make Bill any promises I can’t keep.”

  “You won’t. But you’ll really brighten his days, and who knows how these things play out, eh? At the very least, you’ll come to your senses and dump Nathan’s figment-of-your-imagination ass from your head.”

  Aura laughed. “You may be right, or I sincerely hope you are.”

  “I’m always right.” Lisa’s expression was smug. “Pretend Bill is
your boyfriend in front of Nathan and voila, you’ve nixed your little problem.”

  Aura nodded. Bill did sound like the perfect distraction for her heart while Nathan was here, at least until her stupid heart got the message loud and clear to stop hankering after someone miles out of her league.

  * * *

  The muted vibration of the plane as it became airborne came through his seat and Nathan leaned back against the headrest, stretching his legs out in front of him.

  “You okay there, bud?” Andy’s voice came from the seat opposite.

  “I’m fine, and that’s about the millionth time you’ve asked.”

  “Got to make sure. You’ve been rather quiet since we left the hospital.”

  “Yeah? Try walking around with your eyes strapped shut like you’re headed for your own execution and we’ll see how chatty even you get.”

  Andy meant well. He was just watching out for him, same as Nathan would have done had their situations been reversed, but being out of control wasn’t a feeling that sat easy with Nathan.

  “It’s not all bad,” Andy said. “Maybe once Dr Johnson’s had a good look at you tonight, you’ll be able to take the bandages off. You don’t still have a headache, do you?”

  “No, but if you keep insisting on dragging me around all these doctors, I can feel one coming on pretty soon.”

  The plane levelled off as it reached its height, and the indicator pinged overhead to let them know it was safe to remove their seat belts. Nathan fumbled with his, feeling out the catch and releasing it to free himself from the lap strap. He settled back in his seat. It was comfortable, wide, exactly what he’d expect from a private plane. It was just him and Andy traveling back to London tonight, with their chauffeur waiting to pick them up at the airport as soon as they landed.

  Irritation shot through him, a restlessness that hadn’t left him since he’d spoken to Andy in the hospital. “What time is it?”

  “Nearly nine. Don’t worry, we’ll be there in an hour or so.”

  Andy’s tone was cheerful and Nathan scowled. “This Johnson guy, where did you find him?”

  “Not under a rock, if that’s what you mean. Jesus, Nathan, he’s only the best neurosurgeon in the country. Do you have any idea the amount of begging I had to do to get him to see you privately this close to midnight? Don’t you go and jump down his throat when we get there.”

  Nathan snorted. “Money moves everything and everyone, Andy. Even Mother Teresa in her grave.”

  “Sure, but sometimes it also takes a fair pinch of grovelling thrown in. Egos need stroking man, though that’s never been your forte.”

  “That’s why we work so well together. I say it as it is, and you’re so bloody happy all the time, you drown them in treacle. From the sounds of it, though, I’m probably the less lethal of the two of us.”

  Andy guffawed. “I swear, you’re turning into an old sourpuss well ahead of your time. I could have hoped that bang on the noggin had knocked some joy into you, but maybe these next few days out of the office will do that.”

  “If you think I’m going to sit in Yorkshire twiddling my thumbs with the meeting so close, you’re—”

  A knockout breeze of perfume, a cacophony of clashing fragrance notes, stopped him mid-sentence.

  “Is there anything I can get you, Mr Smith?”

  She was French, and very close, as if she’d bent down to be right in front of his face. Nathan recoiled into his chair, inching back from her overpowering scent cloud. “No… thank you.”

  Who the hell was Mr Smith?

  Andy chirped up. “He doesn’t want anything… um… Camille. But I’ll have sparkling mineral water.”

  The floral scent eased off, and Nathan waited until he was sure the stewardess was out of earshot before raising his eyebrows at Andy. “Mr Smith?”

  “Yeah, we’re flying incognito.” Andy’s tone was sly. “You’re Mr Smith and I’m Mr Churchill.”

  Nathan grinned and shook his head. Typical Andy, always looking for the game in everything.

  “What?” Andy sounded pained. “Besides, Andrew Churchill has a far better ring to it than Andrew Taylor, don’t you think?”

  “You’re having way too much fun.”

  “Hey, some of us have to take whatever pleasures we can get, but I don’t expect a chick-magnet like you to understand that.” Andy’s voice dropped. “Since you missed it, that stewardess was hot. You know, blonde, tits, ass, just as you prefer them. And the way she bent over you with that cleavage on full show, I think she was hoping you had x-ray vision or something.”

  “Now you’re reading too much into things.”

  “Hardly. You’re all bandaged up and you’re still pulling. She didn’t even know I was alive over here, and she’s forgotten my water.”

  “You’re married, Andy. You don’t get to pull anymore. You signed that little piece of freedom away, remember?”

  Andy sighed happily. “Yeah, and I wouldn’t lose a moment of being with my Jasmine. But… I can still look to my little heart’s content.”

  Nathan smiled. Andy was far gone over Jasmine. His whole life revolved around her, and now their baby girl too. And in turn, Jasmine doted on him.

  What must it be like to have someone love you that much? He already knew what it was like to love and need someone and have them walk away. It hurt, tore out your very soul, and left you dead inside. That had been the night his father walked out on his mother and him for another woman. It was etched into his brain. All his childhood, he’d struggled to live up to his father’s impossible ideals and be the perfect son. But that night, he’d been sixteen and his boyish yearning for his father’s love had died a terrible death. He’d learned his lesson.

  Now, as long as he didn’t let anyone too close, as long as he kept control, he wouldn’t be hurt. No demands, and no expectations for feelings he couldn’t give. Andy could keep his family. He, Nathan, was always better off alone.

  He leaned back in his seat again, wanting to laugh at the irony of his current situation. Here he was, about to become dependant on the questionable heart of the woman who’d torn his family apart. He could still call this whole bloody thing off. Andy would just have to roll with it. But in truth, he couldn’t care less about Cathy. It was Aura he wanted.

  Excitement mounted in him and this time he let it build, not bothering to slam down on it like he always had in the past.

  The last time he’d seen her, she’d been in a red scrap of a dress that barely covered her luscious curves. It had been practically falling off her, and the sight had been enough to make his blood burn. He’d wanted to drag her into a corner somewhere, rip the damn thing off, and take her as his. He’d spent most of that wedding raging at himself for thinking about her that way, and then he’d caught her allowing some faceless lech to paw her. He’d seen bloody murder and beaten the man flat, but he’d also lost control with her and he wasn’t proud of it. It had become one more reason to stay away from his father afterwards.

  But he no longer needed to hold back. He was going to satisfy this niggling lust for her quickly and move on with his life.

  The stifling floral scent returned as the stewardess brought Andy his water.

  “Are you sure you want nothing, Mr Smith?” Her tone was suggestive.

  Nathan shook his head, a frown drawing his brows together.

  Andy chuckled after the woman left. “Don’t look so worried, bud. I promise to stay right by your side and fight off all the hot dames who want to jump your blindfolded and helpless body.”

  * * *

  Aura glanced up at Bill as they stood on the lit porch outside her townhouse. He was golden-blond like his sister, but tall, at least six-foot-four, with a rugged handsome face, and the sort of solid muscular body that gave people the confidence that here was a fireman who could single-handedly break down doors and sling anyone over his shoulder and carry them off to safety.

  Their dinner date had been wonderful. They’d gone to a sma
ll Italian restaurant in Langley, and Bill had made her laugh, made her feel wanted. The night had been everything she could ask for, but now, standing here at half-past-ten, she wasn’t sure she wanted to ask him in.

  Her mother wouldn’t mind. She was probably asleep.

  God! Why was life so unfair? It had her trembling at the mere mention of Nathan’s name, while Bill, in all his full suited and polished glory couldn’t raise even a blip in her idiotic heart. What she felt for him had always bordered closer to brotherly than steamy, but that wasn’t the message in his eyes right now.

  “You look lovely, Aura.”

  He’d been saying that the entire night, and it had only made her feel worse as the hours ticked by.

  But she smiled. “Thank you. I have to make an effort if I’m going to grace your arm, Bill.”

  A man like him was hot property in their little town. Many a woman would no doubt give her right arm to be standing where she was now.

  He shook his head. “You don’t need to make an effort for anyone, Aura. You’re perfect just as you are.” He traced a gentle finger over her cheek, and her breath faltered. His gaze dropped to her lips, the look in his blue eyes hungry.

  Aura stared at him. They were going to kiss. Did she want to kiss Bill? Yes. Yes, she did. Lisa was right. Nathan didn’t get to hijack her mind anymore, not with someone as wonderful as Bill around. She wanted to kiss Bill.