Secret Heirs And A Forever Family

Matt caught her arm as she swung past him and brought her round to face him. ‘So what do you want now?’ he demanded, and she trembled in the grip of emotions too long denied.

‘I—I want you, Matt,’ she said, her voice low and defensive, and, with a muffled oath, Matt’s resistance collapsed.

With a groan of defeat, he reached for her, pulling her into his arms and covering her trembling lips with his. It was what he’d wanted to do, God knew, since he’d gathered her up out of the water. He’d been kidding himself that he could control the needs she aroused in him.

Joanna didn’t know how her legs continued to support her. The savage pressure of his mouth on hers had her clutching the waistband of his shorts with both hands. She clung to him helplessly, desperate to redeem herself. Anything to avoid subsiding like a sack of potatoes at his feet.

A reluctant shiver of anticipation made its way down her spine as he continued to kiss her. Her heart beat with a slow, heavy resonance, almost deafening to her ears. The beat thudded against his chest so that she was sure he must be able to feel it. And her skin, which moments before had felt damp and chilled, was now turning her blood to fire.

Matt lifted his head, his eyes meeting hers, an unwilling hunger in their depths. Then he bent his head again and took one burgeoning nipple into his mouth. His tongue circled the tender tip, so that it hardened instinctively. The thin fabric of her tank top was no barrier to his searching mouth.

With a low moan, she slipped the straps off her shoulders, exposing her breasts to his possessive gaze. She watched him as he ran his knuckles back and forth across the sensitive peaks, enjoying his quickening breathing, and saw the words of protest die unspoken on his lips.

‘So beautiful,’ he whispered.

She swallowed convulsively before saying weakly, ‘Are you sure this is what you want?’

‘I thought it was what you wanted,’ he responded roughly, and Joanna sucked in a breath.

‘You know it is,’ she said, unable to deny it, and with an oath of submission Matt picked her up and carried her into the shade of the trees.

Her towel made a makeshift couch and he laid her on it.

‘God, should I be doing this?’ he muttered. ‘I don’t know anything about these things. Will I hurt you?’

‘Don’t worry,’ she breathed, gazing eagerly up at him. ‘Believe me, I’m not made of glass.’

Without another word, he dropped his own shorts onto the sand and then stripped the panties of her swimsuit from her. When he was lying naked between her legs, she pulled his face down to hers to trace his lips with her tongue. Time spiralled; she was hardly aware of where she was any more. All she knew for certain was that this was where she’d longed to be.

His kisses grew harder, more passionate, until she was practically mindless with delight. Her hands slid down his chest to take his erection between her palms, her fingers threading through the nest of rough dark hair at his groin. She caressed him and whispered, ‘You used to like me to do this,’ and Matt’s answering groan was muffled against her throat.

Somehow, he dragged her hands away and parted her thighs with an unsteady hand. ‘God, Jo,’ he said. ‘You make me crazy. This is crazy, but I don’t want it to end.’

Her breath hitched with excitement as he bent towards her and then he was burying his face in the moist curls at the junction of her legs. He had barely to touch her, and she climaxed. Then his tongue stroked the tiny nub of her sex and she lost control again.

His fingers parted her, and she arched beneath him. She craved the feel of his hands, the hungry pressure of his mouth. ‘Please,’ she said, clutching his hair and dragging his lips up to hers. ‘I can’t wait any longer. I want you; I want you inside me. Now.’

Her voice was thick with emotion, and with a muffled oath he gave in to her demands. ‘Do you think I don’t want to be inside you?’ he asked, licking his lips, tasting her essence. ‘I’ve thought of little else since you came here.’

Joanna found that incredibly hard to believe. But Matt was leaning over her now, trying not to hurt her or the baby, and she was so wet and ready for him, he couldn’t hold back. With a feeling of total indulgence, he let his erection tentatively ease inside her. And as her muscles stretched to accommodate him, he pushed himself deeply into her slick sheath.

God, it was good. So good. Familiar, yet unfamiliar, and all the better for the months they’d been apart. The velvety feel of her muscles closing around him was incredible. She was tight, so tight, he was sure no other man had touched her. She’d been a virgin the first time he’d made love to her, and he felt as if he were making love to a virgin again.

Joanna wound her arms around him, the scent of her arousal enfolding him in a haze of passion. His mouth sought hers again, delighting in the sensuous battle of their tongues. Her breath was sweet, her words of pleasure erotic. They were like heaven to his ears, and he lost himself in sensual need.

He cupped the rounded curves of her bottom, lifting her to accommodate his throbbing shaft. Pressing forward, he filled her again and again, pleasure uncoiling inside him. She was so tight, so wet, and he wanted to share it with her; to share the satisfying sense of atonement that nothing else could replace.

His release was uncontrollable. As soon as he felt her body clenching around his shaft, he was forced to let go. His last coherent thought was the need to roll onto his side so he didn’t crush her. Before the irresistible pull of exhaustion dragged his tired eyelids closed.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

MATT REALISED HE must have slept for a few minutes because when he opened his eyes, Joanna was on her feet, her swimsuit restored, bending over him.

She had evidently been shaking him, and when his eyes opened, she murmured softly, ‘Someone’s calling you. You’d better get dressed.’

Matt was inclined to say he didn’t much care, but it was obvious Joanna didn’t want the embarrassment of one of his staff finding him in the nude.

‘Who is it?’ he asked, pushing himself up into a sitting position and reaching for his shorts. ‘Henry?’

‘No, I think it’s Teresa,’ replied Joanna in a low voice. ‘She’s probably wondering where you’ve gone.’

He pulled on his shorts and picked up his discarded polo shirt, which Joanna must have collected from further down the beach. The fabric clung to his still damp body, and Joanna thought it was as sexy in its way as his bare skin.

Her tongue circling her upper lip, she said nervously, ‘Are you all right?’

‘I guess so. Are you?’

It was a simple question, but Joanna didn’t have an answer. Yes, she was okay; yes, she’d loved making love with him; but God knew where they went from here.

‘I think so,’ she said finally, reaching for her wrap and draping it about her shoulders. ‘I suppose I should be getting back to the cottage.’

Matt shrugged, but his face had tightened, and she couldn’t help feeling anxious. Was he already regretting what they’d done? Whatever she was feeling, it wasn’t regret, she acknowledged honestly. But she had never felt more apprehensive in her life.

Before Matt could say anything more, however, Teresa appeared on the jetty. Her dark face was concerned, but when she saw Joanna and Matt together, her lips parted in a wide smile.

‘Oh, there you are, Mrs Novak,’ she exclaimed with evident relief. ‘We were so worried about you, weren’t we, Mr Matt? My granddaughter didn’t know where you’d gone.’

‘I’m sorry—’ began Joanna, but before she could continue, Matt intervened.

‘Mrs Novak decided to take a swim,’ he said, making no mention of his part in bringing her back to shore. ‘Perhaps you’d apologise to Callie. I’m sure my—Joanna—regrets not informing you what she was planning to do.’

Matt wasn’t looking at her and she smiled at the housekeeper instead. ‘That’s right,’ she said. ‘It was a little foolish.’ It was easier to admit her mistake. ‘But it was such a lovely morning and I haven’t had a swim since I arrived.’

Teresa frowned. ‘You could always use the pool,’ she said, looking at Matt, but he didn’t say anything. ‘Oh, well,’ she continued, purposely cheerful. ‘No harm done.’

Her eyes lingered for a moment on Joanna’s belly, and Joanna assured herself that Teresa couldn’t possibly know what had been going on. She was sure her hair was mussed and there was probably sand coating her thighs. But hopefully the housekeeper would assume she’d been sitting on the beach after her swim and not indulging in hot, sweaty sex.

Now, Teresa glanced back towards the villa, and said, ‘Anyway, I’d better get back to my kitchen. With visitors coming this afternoon—’ She pulled a wry face. ‘There’s still quite a lot to do.’

Offering another polite smile, she hurried away, and Joanna bent to pick up her towel. Shaking it free of sand, she said curiously, ‘Visitors? I didn’t know you were expecting company.’

Matt shrugged. ‘I doubt if you’ll be pleased to hear who it is.’

Joanna waited for him to go on, but he didn’t. She thought she could guess the identity of his visitors after what he’d just said, but it was hard not to feel excluded from his life.

Gathering her belongings, she avoided his eyes as she said, ‘Well, give your parents my best, won’t you? Particularly your father. Tell him he’s welcome to come to the cottage any time.’

‘Okay.’ Matt blew out a breath. ‘I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.’

‘Will you have time for me, now that you’ve got visitors?’ Joanna asked, aware that she sounded resentful. ‘I doubt if your mother will want to see me again.’

Matt heaved a sigh. ‘My mother coming here has nothing to do with us. What happened, happened, Jo. You know it and I know it. You wanted me, and you’re pretty good at getting your own way.’

Joanna felt sick. ‘Well, at least I know where I stand,’ she said stiffly, bundling the towel about her. ‘I know I don’t look very appealing at the moment, but I could do without you making me feel like a desperate housewife!’

That hadn’t been his intention, and now Matt felt guilty. ‘It wasn’t a criticism,’ he muttered gruffly. ‘But for pity’s sake, Jo, you need to decide what it is you want from me.’

With an effort, Joanna managed to stem the tears that burned behind her eyes. ‘Go and get ready for your guests. I’m sure they’ll be better company than I am.’

‘I doubt it.’ Matt’s tone was gentler now. ‘My mother thought the trip would give my father something to think about besides his health.’

‘Oh—’ Joanna pressed a hand to her throat. ‘But they do know I’m staying here?’

‘They know,’ agreed Matt, picking up her wrap and removing the towel to drape the silk shawl over her shoulders. He was tempted to bend his head and kiss the soft curve of her nape, but he restrained himself. His eyes darkened with some concern. ‘You are okay? I mean with what just happened. I didn’t hurt you?’

‘No, you didn’t hurt me,’ she replied, although the ache in her heart told a different tale, but she couldn’t let him see how she really felt.

Matt heaved a breath and glanced back towards the villa. He wasn’t proud of what he’d done, particularly after he’d promised himself this wouldn’t happen again. Yet here he was, having just enjoyed the most delightful sex of his life and he was looking for reasons to blame her for his weakness.

Dammit, why did Joanna have to be so sexy? Even in her present condition, he’d never wanted any other woman. Was that why his attraction to her was so addictive? Because his feelings towards her couldn’t be replaced? He had the feeling he wouldn’t like the answer. It had always been that way with her.

‘So,’ he said, trying to defuse the situation. ‘So long as you’re okay, I’d better be getting back.’ He glanced down at his legs, which, like hers, were coated with sand. ‘I need a shower and I’m sure you do, too.’ He paused. ‘If Henry’s home, I’ll get him to drive you back to the cottage. It will save you walking so far in this heat.’

‘I’d prefer to walk,’ declared Joanna at once, even though her legs still felt like jelly. Her lips twisted. ‘Give your mother my regards, won’t you? I’m sure she’ll appreciate the irony.’

‘Jo!’

But she didn’t stop, and Matt decided it wouldn’t be wise to go after her. He needed time—hell, they both needed time—to come to terms with what came next.

When she got back to the cottage, the first thing Joanna did was run herself a bath.

Her legs were covered in sand, yes, and she didn’t like the gritty feeling on her skin. But despite what she’d told Matt, her back was aching, and she felt a warm bath might ease the stiffness in her bones.

Callie knocked on the door as Joanna was drying herself. ‘Would you like an iced tea, Mrs Novak?’ she asked, with a certain amount of diffidence. She was evidently feeling guilty for causing such a panic over Joanna’s disappearance.

Joanna sighed, wrapping the huge bath towel around her and opening the door. ‘That sounds good,’ she said, earning a relieved smile from the young woman waiting outside. ‘Sorry if I worried you earlier. I’ll be out in about ten minutes.’

Deciding it was too warm, even for shorts, Joanna slipped a loose cotton caftan over her head. The ankle-length dress, patterned in shades of green and apricot, was cool and comfortable. She’d bought it at a boutique on one of her trips to town. Typical tourist wear.

She’d washed her hair, too, and she left it loose about her shoulders. She didn’t expect to see anyone, other than the two women who worked at the cottage. She was sure Matt would have his hands full if his parents were coming to stay.

It was a day for relaxing, she decided, as though most days didn’t fall into that category anyway. Maybe it would be a good day to check up on what was happening in the rest of the world.

With that purpose in mind, she carried the worn leather case containing her father’s old laptop out onto the veranda, where Callie had left her a tray of iced tea and a dish of newly baked muffins. She was going to be horribly fat when this was over, she thought ruefully, taking one of the muffins and biting into the rich fruity filling. She doubted David would appreciate his new partner looking like a blimp.

Thinking of David reminded her that after the baby was born, she’d be going back to London. It was no longer an appealing prospect, but after today she was only fooling herself if she thought that Matt was going to change his mind about her. She could feel the baby moving energetically inside her. A particularly sharp kick, just below her ribcage, had her wincing at the unexpected blow. Was Matt’s son exacting the revenge his father was denied?

Finishing her muffin, Joanna drank some of the iced tea and then set her glass aside. Pulling the laptop towards her, she unzipped the case and pulled out the old computer. She didn’t know why she bothered putting it in its case really. It was hardly in pristine condition.

The last time she’d used it, she’d scanned some of her father’s old emails. She’d hoped she might find something about the accident and what his reaction had been. But Angus had evidently kept his business correspondence in an encrypted folder, and she didn’t have the password, or there was nothing about the case to find.

The only anomaly, which she’d just read the evening before, was an email from a betting website. It was a demand for money, informing her father that he was several hundred pounds in the red. Obviously, whoever had sent the email didn’t know Angus had died, and, knowing what her father had always thought about gambling, she ignored it. She had intended to mention it to Matt the next time she saw him. But after this morning’s episode, that might be some distance in the future.

She pulled the computer out of its case, as usual, but this time a worn scrap of paper fell to the floor. Bending to pick it up, she saw it was a letter. And judging by its shabby appearance, it was probably older than the computer itself.

Frowning, she unfolded the page, wondering how long it had been there. It must have been lodged in one of the compartments, and because there were so many tears in the paper it was written on, it hadn’t dropped out straight away. Back in London, she used the computer at the gallery to do her work, and it was only since she’d been here that it had been of any use.

The letter she’d rescued was dated June 1980, and Joanna whistled through her teeth. Goodness—that was almost forty years ago. Why on earth would her father keep a letter that long? Surely it must have been written while he was still at university?

Was the letter from her mother? It started Darling Angus and that was a very intimate form of address. Turning the page, Joanna looked for her mother’s signature. But instead it read Much love, Adrienne.

Adrienne!

The address was Girton College, Cambridge. Girton! Her mother had attended one of the London universities. Had her father been involved with this woman before he and Glenys had got together? Had her mother known about this other woman in her father’s life?

Joanna frowned, turning back to the front of the letter and reading the address again. Whoever had written it had been a student at Girton College. Her father had been at Trinity College, Cambridge, but that was all she knew.

She felt a little guilty, reading a letter that had so obviously been addressed to her father. But, as with the emails, it couldn’t hurt him now. Besides, she was only human. And she was curious.

Reading on, she frowned in concentration.

Darling Angus,

It isn’t easy for me to write this letter, my dear, but I’m afraid I can’t see you again. We’ve had some wonderful times together, and I’m going to miss you, terribly. But you must have realised, as I did, that it couldn’t go on for ever, I’m going back to the States to marry Oliver—

Joanna broke off, her jaw dropping. Oliver! Was this letter from Adrienne Novak? she wondered incredulously. Although of course, Adrienne’s surname hadn’t been Novak in those days.

She read on.

It will make all the difference to my family. He’s promised to help Daddy financially, and you know I could never live on a shoestring, my dear. I’m returning to New York at the end of the week. But before I left I wanted to wish you every happiness for the future. I’m sure you and Glenys—

Joanna’s jaw dropped. She couldn’t help it. It was one thing to speculate if her father had had an affair and quite another to have it confirmed.

—will get married as you originally intended. I don’t think either of us took our relationship seriously. I know I didn’t. We’re two different people, Angus. It’s been fun while it lasted, but like all good things it must sadly come to an end.

Much love…

Joanna was stunned. The tone of the letter really irritated her. She wondered if her father and mother had been engaged at the time. If they had, this was such a betrayal. She doubted her mother knew anything about it, and it certainly showed Angus’s outrage at his wife’s departure for the hypocrisy it had been.

She wondered why her father had kept the letter for so many years. Had he had some intention of using it for his own ends? Why else would he have kept it, unless he’d had some ulterior motive for doing so? Which undoubtedly cast a shadow over other things he’d done.

Was that why Adrienne had always hated her? Had she been afraid that Angus might tell Oliver about their affair? It must have been a bitter irony that her son should have fallen in love with Angus’s daughter. No wonder she’d tried her best to keep them apart.

Did it also explain why her father had been so willing to merge his company with NovCo? And why, initially, he hadn’t opposed her marriage to Matt? The accident had brought things to a head, of course, and he’d involved her in it. But could the accusations Angus had made against Matt and his father now be seen in a different light?

CHAPTER TWENTY

JOANNA WAS IN the kitchen, talking to Rowena, when Callie came to tell her she had a visitor. ‘It’s Mr Novak,’ she said in a hushed voice. ‘My grandfather brought him over.’

Mr Novak? For a moment Joanna couldn’t think what she meant. And then she realised: it must be Matt’s father. Dared she hope his wife hadn’t come with him?

Although the Novaks had arrived a couple of days ago, Joanna hadn’t seen them. She’d heard from Callie that Mr Matt’s father spent most of his days in a wheelchair, but she’d also said he was cheerful enough, and obviously pleased to be here.

With a hasty examination of her appearance, Joanna followed the girl into the parlour. But both Oliver Novak and Henry Powell were waiting for her on the veranda; Oliver in his electric wheelchair and Henry standing proudly beside him.

‘Here she is,’ said Oliver at once, only the faint slur in his speech revealing the lingering effects of his stroke. ‘It’s a pleasure to see you again, Jo. Come and give an old man a kiss.’

Joanna smiled and went to hug Matt’s father warmly. ‘It’s great to see you, too,’ she said, regarding him with real affection. ‘It must be nearly two years since we last met.’

‘At least,’ agreed Oliver, glancing up at the man at his side. Then he said, ‘You go and visit with your granddaughter, Henry. I’ll let you know when I want to leave.’

‘Yes, sir, Mr Novak.’

Callie had already gone back to her duties, and as Henry was about to follow her Joanna said, ‘Perhaps you’d ask Rowena to bring us some iced tea? I’m sure Mr Novak is ready for a drink.’

‘A beer would be better,’ muttered Oliver, but both Joanna and Henry pretended not to hear him. It was too early in the day to start drinking alcohol.

After Henry had gone, Joanna seated herself on one of the chairs beside the bamboo table where she often did her work.

Then, with another smile for her visitor, she said, ‘How are you? I know Matt’s been worried about you.’

‘Has he?’ Oliver didn’t sound as if he believed that, but he leant across to pat Joanna’s arm with his right hand. ‘More to the point, how are you? I couldn’t believe my ears when Matt told me you were having a baby.’

Joanna felt a deepening of colour in her cheeks. ‘I couldn’t believe it either. Not at first,’ she admitted honestly. ‘After all those false alarms.’

‘But you’re pleased about it?’

‘Oh, yes. I’m delighted.’

‘Even though Matt’s the father?’

Especially because Matt’s the father, thought Joanna ruefully, but she kept that to herself.

‘We’re working things out,’ she said instead, and Oliver regarded her with thoughtful eyes.

‘I was sorry to hear about your father,’ he said suddenly. ‘Even though he was no friend of mine, I wouldn’t have wished him ill.’

‘Thank you.’

‘But I have to say, he caused a lot of unhappiness for you and Matt, and I’m hoping that this baby will go some way to healing the wounds between you.’

Joanna sighed. ‘Oh, Oliver—’

She would have said more, but Rowena arrived at that moment with a jug of iced tea.

In all honesty, Joanna was glad of the diversion. She had the feeling that Matt’s father hadn’t just come here to say hello. Pouring the iced tea gave her time to absorb what he was saying, but she was still not prepared for what was to come.

Setting his tea aside, Oliver regarded her intently. ‘I know you and Matt are not back together,’ he said quietly, ‘but I’m here to tell you that your father was not the innocent he claimed to be.’ He sighed. ‘There were things Matt didn’t tell you. Things he was fool enough to keep to himself. And then, when he did try to explain the situation, you wouldn’t listen to him.’

Joanna shifted a little uncomfortably. ‘Oliver—’