The Billionaire's Defiant Wife

She squeezed his arm reassuringly. ‘I know, but give me some credit. I’m not going to fall for his line of charm. I came here to work, and that’s all,’ she reassured him. Last night was a mistake which wasn’t going to happen again.

Nick pulled a wry face and sighed. ‘Sorry. I’m just a bit over-protective. You work for me so I feel you’re my responsibility. I won’t have Jonas playing his games with you.’

Aimi was warmed by his caring, but he didn’t need to worry. ‘Don’t worry. Let’s go down to breakfast and afterwards you must show me the library.’ Working had always been a good way to distract her thoughts.

They followed in Jonas’s wake, entering the breakfast room together, to find it empty. Maisie Astin, the housekeeper, was just bringing in fresh coffee and hot croissants to set out on the sideboard.

‘Good morning!’ she greeted them brightly with a cheery smile. ‘Everyone has been eating outside today. Help yourselves, and let me know if you need anything else.’

‘Thanks, Maisie. What would you like, Aimi?’ Nick asked as he picked up a plate.

‘Some of Maisie’s melt-in-the-mouth croissants and coffee sounds perfect,’ she decided, exchanging smiles with the other woman, who disappeared back into the kitchen.

‘I’ll bring it out. You go find a shady spot,’ Nick ordered, leaving Aimi with nothing to do but wander outdoors.

Of course, then she wished she hadn’t because the only person at the table was Jonas. Had he not looked up, she just might have retreated indoors again, but, as if some invisible sensor had alerted him to her presence, his head came round and he looked directly at her.

‘Deciding whether it’s safe to join me or not?’ he challenged sardonically, and Aimi was compelled to walk forward.

‘Not at all,’ she denied blithely, smiling as if nothing had passed between them mere hours before. ‘I was just enjoying the view.’

His lips twitched. ‘Ditto,’ he responded, and the lazy meander his eyes took as they ran up and down her body told her his view had nothing to do with the garden. It caused her heart to skip a beat and her nerves to start tingling as if he had actually touched her.

Irritated by a reaction she currently seemed to have no control over, she favoured him with a long-suffering look. ‘You’re wasting your time, you know,’ she told him bluntly, keeping her voice down, not wanting Nick to hear. ‘I’m not going to take the bait, however attractive the lure.’

One eyebrow rose mockingly. ‘How many times did you have to tell yourself that last night?’ he taunted, and she drew in a sharp breath.

‘Once was enough. You’re not that irresistible,’ she shot back equally mockingly, and Jonas laughed appreciatively.

‘You know, you’re supposed to cross your fingers when you lie like that,’ he cautioned, never taking his eyes off her for a second as she approached. She was so conscious of it that breathing normally was no easy matter, and she wasn’t used to that.

Having reached the table, Aimi dropped on to a chair opposite him. ‘Contrary to what you might think, I’m not in the habit of telling lies,’ she corrected, feigning an ease she was far from feeling. Just being near him made her feel tense and unsettled.

Jonas raised that eyebrow again, to good effect. ‘Really? Now I would have said most women are natural born liars.’

‘That’s a huge sweeping statement. Your jaundiced view was caused by a bad experience, I presume,’ Aimi declared with heavy irony.

‘It’s a jungle out there,’ he returned with a wicked grin, and Aimi knew that she would never forget that particular look as long as she lived.

‘And men aren’t liars?’ she challenged scornfully, knowing she could name a dozen at least. ‘It would be easier to think the moon is made of cheese!’

Jonas relaxed back into his chair, crossing his legs at the ankles. ‘Now that sounds like the voice of experience talking. Is he the reason you dress the way you do?’

He was so far wide of the mark that Aimi almost laughed. ‘I dress to please myself, not a man,’ she was quick to point out.

He looked at her thoughtfully. ‘Is that so? Are you trying to tell me nobody ever gets to see the exotic lingerie you wear? That would be a crying shame!’

Memories of those moments in the kitchen last night made her wince inwardly. ‘My clothes are none of your business. I would not have gone downstairs had I known you were there.’

‘Then I would have had to spend the night down by the pool, and never have got to see you in that mind-blowing confection of silk and lace. It’s imprinted on my memory even now.’ Jonas shifted, bringing one leg up to prop his ankle over the other knee. ‘Seems to me, I know something about you that no other man does. Under that starchy exterior you like to wear satin and silk. What other secrets do you have, I wonder?’

‘None that you will ever know!’ Aimi shot back curtly but, instead of responding, Jonas merely smiled as he watched her.

‘What happened to your hair last night? You weren’t wearing it up in the kitchen,’ he observed, and her nerves gave a giant leap.

‘I don’t sleep with my hair pinned up,’ she explained calmly, only to see his smile broaden.

‘You know what I think, Aimi Carteret?’

‘Your thoughts couldn’t interest me less!’ she retorted witheringly, making him laugh.

‘I think you practice to deceive.’

That was too close to the truth for comfort. ‘Like I said, your thoughts are of no interest to me. You are of no interest to me!’

‘Whilst you are of considerable interest to me,’ Jonas countered smoothly. ‘I find myself thinking about you all the time.’

‘How boring for you!’ Aimi said, and he laughed—a sensual sound that sent goose-bumps down her spine.

‘Oh, I have the feeling that you will never bore me, darling Aimi.’

The unexpected endearment sent a shockwave through her system, and her breathing went awry. ‘I am not your darling.’

‘Not yet, I agree,’ he conceded, but his assertion didn’t make her feel any better.

Goaded, her temper rose. ‘Never!’

He looked her directly in the eyes before speaking. ‘Ah, you should never say never. I discovered that myself last night. I would have bet good money that I would never find it hard to sleep in my old bed, but last night proved me wrong. I was terribly restless,’ he explained with a wicked grin, mayhem in his eyes.

‘You can’t possibly blame me for that,’ Aimi argued, as her nerves responded with a now familiar skitter. It was as if her defences had totally vanished, leaving her open to react to everything he said or did. She didn’t understand how they could have abandoned her now, when she needed them most.

‘Can I not?’ Jonas countered, lips twitching with barely concealed humour. ‘You were the one who raised my blood pressure,’ he remarked sardonically, taking another mouthful of coffee from the cup on the table.

Somehow Aimi contrived to maintain her cool expression. ‘My blood pressure didn’t need lowering. I went to bed and slept dreamlessly,’ she added for good measure, mentally crossing her fingers at the lie.

‘Hmm,’ he murmured doubtfully, running his hand over his chin. ‘There’s more to you than meets the eye.’ Aimi merely raised her eyebrows. After a moment Jonas continued, ‘Did you know I was supposed to be in America this weekend? Fortunately, the meeting was called off at the last minute.’

‘Much to everyone’s delight,’ she remarked dryly, and something flashed in the recesses of his eyes.

He laughed. ‘Nicely done, Aimi. Very tactful. It’s no wonder Nick speaks so highly of you.’

‘I do my best,’ she replied smoothly, not bothered that he recognised what she was doing, just grateful she had the skill to draw upon.

‘Ah, here comes the cavalry,’ Jonas declared dryly, and Aimi glanced round to see that Nick had appeared with their breakfast. ‘Not a moment too soon, eh?’

Nick had overheard that remark and, as he placed her cup and plate before Aimi, he glanced at his brother. ‘What’s not too soon?’ he queried, frowning, and Jonas grinned at him.

‘Your arrival with the food. Aimi was getting ready to eat the table.’

‘Sorry I took so long,’ Nick apologised, and she shot Jonas a warning look.

‘You didn’t. Jonas is pulling your leg.’

‘He has a habit of doing that,’ Nick confirmed wryly.

Jonas’s lips twitched and he sat up straighter. ‘Actually, I was flirting with Aimi, and she was giving me a hard time.’

‘Good for you, Aimi!’ Nick encouraged her, giving her a wink. ‘There are too many women who fall into his arms at a click of his fingers already!’ He took the chair next to her and started to wolf down his breakfast. Aimi followed suit, and silence fell over the table.

‘What time are the hordes descending?’ Jonas asked some time later.

‘Midday onwards. Then it’s the same old drill. Dad will be doing his usual cremation job on the bangers and burgers!’

Jonas grinned and glanced at Aimi. ‘Have you been to one of our beanfeasts before?’

She couldn’t help smiling at their amusement. ‘No, this is my first,’ she admitted. She was a little nervous about meeting the family. Finding herself amidst a group of strangers had been commonplace once, and she had thrown herself into the party mood with enthusiasm. Since that awful day, though, the thought of laughing and having fun had seemed wrong. How could she ever do that again, as if nothing had happened, when she was the one at fault? She couldn’t and live with herself, so she had avoided parties, and her so-called friends had slowly drifted away. These days she preferred small, intimate dinners with people she knew well.

‘Then you’re in for quite an experience!’ Jonas told her with droll humour, breaking her introspective mood.

Nick clicked his fingers. ‘Hey, do you remember when…’

Aimi tuned out as the brothers took a humorous trip down memory lane. Sitting back in her seat and slowly eating her last croissant, she watched them both closely. They were very much alike. Both were handsome men, but Nick’s face had softer lines. His hair was dark brown, whilst Jonas’s was black. Nick exuded warmth, gentleness and caring, yet it was Jonas’s more rugged lines that drew her attention.

Quite unexpectedly, Aimi found herself wanting to reach out and trace the lines of his face, to commit them to memory. Which was a ridiculous thing to be thinking. She did not want to remember him. The sooner they parted company, the better. Yet, as soon as the thought entered her head, one small part of her suddenly felt lost. She looked down at her coffee cup, frowning in yet more confusion. What was it about him that touched her? Good Lord, he only wanted one thing from her. Yet…there was just something about him.

The sound of laughter made her tune back in and she looked up to see Nick doubled up with mirth and Jonas grinning from ear to ear. It brought a smile to her own lips and an odd twist to her heart.

A piercing whistle cut into the laughter and made all three look round. Michael Berkeley stood at the end of the terrace, beckoning to them.

‘Come along, you two! I need some muscle to set up tables. Get a move on!’

With wry looks at each other, the two brothers got to their feet obediently.

‘Dad likes marshalling his troops,’ Nick remarked fondly.

Aimi grinned at his expression. ‘Have fun!’ she teased and, as he walked away, caught Jonas’s eye. The mocking look was back. As her stomach lurched, she raised an eyebrow questioningly. ‘Was there something else?’

‘Just this,’ he said and, walking round the table, bent to drop a swift kiss on Aimi’s cheek before she could prevent it.

‘Hey!’ she exclaimed, whilst her pulse did a skittish pitter-pat. The feel of the brush of his lips on her skin took her breath away, it was so stunning.

Jonas was unrepentant. ‘I have to have some fun. Consider that a little something on account!’ he riposted neatly and followed his brother, leaving Aimi speechless.

She was left watching his rear view, and quite a view it was. Damn the man, he was just about perfect to look at. Broad-shouldered, with slim hips and long, powerful legs. There was no point trying to pretend otherwise, few men could compete with him. Of course, she immediately berated herself for noticing, when she was trying to keep these wanton wayward thoughts about him out of her mind.

She would have to try harder. Much, much harder. Bad enough that he was occupying her thoughts; she could not allow him to tempt her into breaking the solemn promise she had made. She had to resist.

CHAPTER THREE

IN AN effort to do that very thing, Aimi quickly finished her breakfast, then went indoors to find the library. It was a wonderful room, full of shelves of leather-bound books that called to her. For the next few hours she happily browsed, making notes of the books she wanted to dip into for the information Nick required. Finding a diary written by Nick’s great-grandfather, she took it to a chair where she tucked her feet up under her and was soon lost in another world.

Nick found her there much later. ‘There you are!’ he exclaimed as he entered the room, and Aimi looked up in surprise. She had been so lost in the writing she hadn’t heard anything.

‘Did you want me?’ she asked, hastily sitting up, swinging her legs down and slipping her feet back into her shoes.

‘Yes, the rest of the family have arrived. We’ll be eating soon,’ he told her as she stood up, and Aimi’s heart sank.

‘Honestly, Nick, your family don’t want a stranger in their midst. I’ll be much more use to you here.’

‘The books can wait,’ he said, removing the diary from her fingers and setting it down on a table. ‘I want you to have some fun this weekend, too.’

He would not be gainsaid and, without further protest, Aimi allowed herself to be ushered out of the house and into the garden. The barbecue had been set up by the pool, and that was where the family had congregated. Nick introduced Aimi to the various groups around the tables. Everyone made her feel welcome and were genuinely fascinated about the book she was helping Nick to research. In a very short time, Aimi was able to relax and, instead of going through the motions of acting as if she were enjoying herself, was actually doing that very thing. She said as much to Nick when they had a brief moment to themselves.

‘My family are good people. I’m glad they’ve made you feel comfortable.’

Aimi glanced around her, seeing the large group of laughing, happy people through new eyes. It had taken a long time, but today she was discovering that she could actually enjoy herself without feeling guilty. The sky hadn’t fallen in, nor the world come to an end. She didn’t know why today had proved to be different from all the other days, but for the first time in aeons she had been able to put her burden aside for a few hours and simply live for the moment.

‘Thank you for insisting I join you,’ she responded with a smile, and Nick gave a tiny bow.

‘You’re very welcome, I’m sure,’ he quipped and, as they moved on, Aimi’s heart felt that tiniest bit lighter. Of course it wouldn’t last. Later, reality would return, but for now she accepted this strange new sense of freedom without question.

It was while they were chatting to one of his cousins that Nick’s beeper sounded. Though it was his weekend off, as a specialist surgeon he was often on call for emergencies.

‘It’s the hospital,’ Nick informed her, recognising the number of the caller. ‘I’d better take it inside. I won’t be long.’ He gave her a rueful look before striding away.

Aimi remained where she was, chatting until the conversation turned to a subject she knew nothing about, and then her attention wandered. She was watching the antics of two of the children when a movement drew her gaze. Her heart skipped a beat when she realised she was looking at Jonas, who was strolling along talking to a much older man.

She knew she ought not to look, but somehow she just couldn’t tear her eyes away. He appeared totally at ease, laughing at something the other man said, and the sheer pleasure on his face made her catch her breath.

‘That’s Great-Uncle Jack,’ one of the women at the table said, almost making Aimi jump. She looked round immediately.

‘Sorry?’

‘With Jonas. He used to be a sailor, and has loads of old yarns about his adventures. The children love him,’ the woman explained with a friendly smile.

‘Ah, yes,’ Aimi murmured faintly, deeply relieved the woman had mistaken the source of her interest. ‘I don’t think I’ve met him yet.’

‘Then you’re in for a treat. Look, we’re going to get something to eat. Are you coming?’ the woman invited, but Aimi shook her head.

‘I’ll wait for Nick. He shouldn’t be too much longer.’

The others wandered off to join the mêlée for food, leaving Aimi alone for the moment. Of course, she immediately looked for Jonas where she had last seen him, but the two men were no longer there. No amount of searching brought him into her view again, and her heart sank. That was when she asked herself just what she thought she was doing. Had she gone completely insane? This won’t do, Aimi. It really won’t do, she castigated herself.

She stood up, deciding to go and join the queue after all. Anything to take her mind off the wretched man. Yet, as she turned, she found herself looking straight at him over a sea of seated people. Before she could move, and as if he could feel her eyes on him, Jonas glanced round. Their eyes locked and once more the intensity of the connection staggered her. This time, though, there was an added extra. It was a physical pull which silently urged her to close the distance between them. That blue gaze seemed to be saying, I know where you want to be, and all you have to do is come to me. Her lips parted on a sharply indrawn breath, and she saw the upward curve of his lips as he smiled faintly.

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