One Night of Misbehavior

CHAPTER Five



The unexpected business trip to Australia couldn’t have come at a worse time. Charlotte’s cell phone appeared out of order, and his calls went through to a recording stating the number was no longer in use. In the end he’d left a message every night at the McDougal house, and whichever stepsister he’d spoken to had promised to give Charlotte his messages. That was one week ago.

He checked his watch and silently urged the taxi driver to go faster, impatient to walk into the office and catch a glimpse of Charlotte at work, even if he couldn’t talk to her. They left Auckland airport at a crawl—school holidays and rush-hour traffic combining to make a nasty stop-start snarl. Brief glimpses of green pastures gave way to a cityscape, and if anything, the traffic grew worse. He pulled his cell phone out to ring the office and request that Charlotte stay behind before changing his mind. While he didn’t give a damn about gossip—the magazines wrote what they wanted anyhow—he knew rumors about them appearing in print would upset Charlotte. She was skittish enough without the added pressure.

He shook his head as he acknowledged the truth. Charlotte had wriggled past his reserve the first moment she’d grinned at him in her direct unprincesslike way across the dance floor of the ballroom. They were good together, and he didn’t intend to let her push him away without a fight.

Half an hour later, he stalked into the office.

“Good, you’re back,” his vice president said. “A few things have come with the Shafeur account.”

Ash nodded without looking at him, glancing at the large open space where his employees worked. At twenty to six, many of them were packing up to leave for the day. He couldn’t see Charlotte among them. “How is the new girl working out?”

“Didn’t Laura tell you? She rang on Monday morning and turned down the job.”

“No. What reason did she give for refusing the job?”

“Family. Her grandmother is dying.”

“Damn.” He’d expected as much and wished he’d been wrong.

John sent him a strange look, pulling Ash to his senses. “I’ve met her grandmother. She’s a character.”

“Laura and I took a look at the other applicants. In the end we hired the next two on our final list. With the amount of work we’re attracting, we can do with the extra talent coming through. Train them to our methods.”

Ash nodded, even as disappointment seared his gut. Maybe this way was better. He could ask Charlotte out without worrying about gossip. “John, now that the problems are sorted out in Sydney I don’t have much on. Is there a new job I could sink my teeth into? Something small, maybe from a new client, a job I can work on between my other responsibilities.”

“There’s a bakery that wants us to take on their account. I was going to turn them down, but if you’ve got time, I’ll give them the go ahead.”

“Email me the details. Is there anything else I need to look at tonight?”

John laughed. “Nothing that can’t wait until tomorrow. Go home. You look knackered.”

“I am tired,” Ash confessed.

“Too many nights out on the town with beautiful ladies.”

The words struck like a jab in the guts with a rusty knife. The papers had reported his nights out and taken photographs of him dancing with different women. What they hadn’t mentioned was that their husbands were present or that he’d returned to his hotel suite alone. He shrugged, the inference by both John and the press irking him. “I think I’ll head home.” He turned to leave and halted. “Who did we employ?”

“Scott Chandler and today we decided on the other applicant who already worked for us on the admin side—Jenny McDougal.”

Ash nodded, rolling the info around his mind. He recalled both applicants, and of course, he’d met Jenny. Coincidences happened, but they always made the hair at the back of his neck bristle. He could be wrong, but in this case he suspected how some of the cards had fallen—pushed with the help of Charlotte’s stepmother and stepsisters. “See you tomorrow, John.”

Outside the office, he hailed another cab to take him home. He had the beginnings of a plan, but he needed to mull it over to make sure he covered every angle. If what he suspected was true, he intended to make sure the culprits didn’t get everything their way.




* * * * *

“Would you like to listen to music or read tonight, Gran?” Charlotte didn’t think Gran would manage to hold a book given her current weakness, but she pretended otherwise.

“Can you to read me more of the historical romance? We’re almost at the dirty bits.”

“Aw, Gran,” Charlotte complained because she knew it could make Gran chortle. “The erotic ones always make me blush.”

“Good for blood circulation,” Gran said with a flicker of the old gleam in her eyes.

Charlotte suppressed her grin and huffed out a put-upon sigh. She reached for the e-reader, and turned it on to begin reading.

“Louisa gasped at the sensual bite and play of his teeth, the hard suction of his lips and the tug that echoed in her p-ssy. She yanked on his hair, her hips moving against him in silent insistence. Laughing quietly, he switched his mouth to her other breast and repeated the treatment, a delicious combo of wet mouth and hard pulls. She ran her fingers through his long hair, tugging strands from his queue. When he lifted his head, she arched upward to meet his kiss, tasting the brandy on his lips.”

“This is a good historical,” Gran said. “I want you to help me buy some more online tomorrow. We can choose them together.”

“Sure. Do you want me to keep reading?” Please, let me stop reading. This reminded her of Ash and everything they’d done together in the hotel room after the ball and in the alley.

“You’ve haven’t read a page yet.” Gran’s eyes narrowed then glee echoed in her full smile. “You don’t want to read the naughty words.”

Charlotte grinned to hide her discomfort, took a deep breath and plunged into the rest of the scene.

“‘I hate being apart from you. I hate seeing you with her.’ She pressed her lips to his throat and flicked out her tongue, savoring the faint saltiness of his skin.

“‘Louisa, you know I don’t love her,’ he said. ‘Not the same way I love you.’

“Beneath her hand his heart beat a rapid tattoo, and the passion burning in his eyes increased the desperate hunger inside her.

“‘Kiss me,’ she begged. ‘F*ck me. Show me how much you need me.’

“‘I do need you, my sweet.’ He kissed her neck, sucked a bite from the curve of one breast while he teased and tormented the nipple of her other. Liquid heat bloomed in her, and when he glanced at her, she caught the flare of desire in his eyes. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders as he rose over her, caught her breath when he pushed inside her damp heat. He plunged deep—”

A sharp snore broke the flow of the love scene. Gran’s mouth had dropped open and her glasses were askew. Relieved she could stop reading, but with a heavy heart, Charlotte set the e-reader aside and leaned over to remove Gran’s glasses. She picked up the dinner tray, most of the meal uneaten and retreated to the kitchen.

“That’s wonderful news, Jenny.” Elizabeth stopped talking when Charlotte appeared in the doorway. “How’s Mum?”

“She fell asleep while I was reading to her.”

Rachel stood. “Jenny and I are going out for a few drinks. You won’t mind doing the dishes, will you?”

Of course she minded. Charlotte started to clear the dishes off the table, noted the empty plates. “You guys ate everything? You didn’t leave me anything?” Fatigue loosened the control she usually kept on her tongue. “I’ve looked after Gran all day, cooked meals and I’m tired and hungry.” She slammed down a heap of dishes on the counter so hard a fork shot off the top plate and bounced on the floor. “Rachel, since you and Jenny ate the food, you can do the dishes tonight.”

Elizabeth’s mouth tightened. “Where are you going?”

“I’m going for a walk.”

“What about Mum?”

“Surely you can look after her if she wakes and needs anything,” Charlotte said, attempting to sound reasonable when she wanted to shriek like a mythical banshee. She paused a second, saw Elizabeth’s curt acceptance and left before her stepsisters started bitching.

Outside the air was fresh and it was almost dark. Street lights illuminated the pavement, and her shoes slapped the path with each quick step, temper still burning through her. She’d agreed to look after Gran and had time to make meals, but that didn’t mean they should treat her as a slave. She kept walking, resentment marching through her mind.

Ash hadn’t called. She’d thought he would ring at the house, but she hadn’t heard from him since he’d taken her for dinner. Maybe he was angry because she’d turned down the job. Heck, she’d hated having to make the phone call, had struggled to get out the words. Anger still choked her, a hint of bitterness, yet she couldn’t regret spending time with Gran. A knot formed in her throat, the burn of tears stinging her eyes.

She kept walking, pushing her speed to outrun her thoughts. Ash popped into her mind again. “Damn the man!”

Perhaps it had been about sex. He’d had her twice and intended to move on, the ultimate playboy as portrayed in the magazines. Yeah, maybe he was one of those men who delighted in the chase and lost interest once he’d caught his prey. Heck, she hadn’t even made the pursuit difficult. God, she had to stop thinking about him. No, instead of Ash she had to consider her future and what she’d do after Gran…

Her throat worked in a swallow. She didn’t know what she’d do. An empty bank account meant a lack of opportunity, and she doubted Elizabeth would help her, even if she begged. No wiser, but feeling calmer at least, she rounded the corner into her street.

When she let herself inside, she found Elizabeth in the lounge watching television.

“Did you have a nice walk?”

“Yes, thank you.” Charlotte eyed her stepmother with trepidation.

“Mum is still sleeping.”

Charlotte nodded. “I’m tired. I’ll check on her before I go to bed.”

“I cleaned the kitchen for you.”

Charlotte froze in the doorway. Did her stepmother want a medal? She ended up giving a curt nod and turned to leave, but Elizabeth wasn’t finished with her.

“Wait. I wanted to tell you about Jenny’s new job.”

“I didn’t realize she was interviewing for a new job.”

“She received a promotion at Marlborough Media.” Elizabeth’s voice was calm, even, but Charlotte heard the underpinning of glee.

Forewarning to steel herself against the verbal thrust about to strike. She stared at Elizabeth, waiting, knowing better than to hurry her stepmother. The silence lengthened to a point shy of uncomfortable.

After the long pause, Elizabeth finally spoke. “Jenny was offered a position in the design department.”

“But that’s—”

“The job she interviewed for last Tuesday.” Elizabeth’s smile held the warmth of a winter frost.

“Why do you hate me so much?”

“I don’t hate you, Charlotte. For that I’d have to care.” Elizabeth stood and brushed past. Her heels clip-clopped as she ascended the stairs and disappeared from sight.

On tottering legs, Charlotte managed to walk to a seat and drop onto it, shock and fury combining to a thunderous roar in her ears.

Jenny had stolen her job.




* * * * *

After a patchy night of sleep, Ash parked down the road from the McDougal house. His plan—he’d wait until Elizabeth, Jenny and Rachel left for work and pray Charlotte would let him into the house. Hell, he’d use blackmail if he had to, tell her he’d come to see Ivy. There had to be a reason for her ignoring his calls.

Elizabeth left first, driving a late-model sedan. Rachel sped from the house ten minutes later in a red convertible and Jenny departed last in a blue SUV. Ash checked his watch again. It was just before nine. Deciding to give Charlotte a little breathing space first, he left to get coffee and a treat for Ivy. An excuse for visiting.

Half an hour later, he pulled up in the Remuera driveway. With three coffees—he’d made an educated guess as to type—plus a cyclamen plant with delicate red flowers and a bunch of glossy magazines, he pressed the doorbell.

The door opened and Charlotte stood in front of him, fiery red hair loose around her shoulders, distinct shadows under her eyes. Her mouth tightened on seeing him. They stared at each other for a long moment—a clash of resentment and confusion.

Ash blinked, unaccountably nervous. “Why didn’t you return my calls?” Hell, not what he’d planned to say.

“What calls?”

“I rang you every night this week, and I called before I left for the emergency meeting in Sydney. One of your sisters promised they’d pass on my messages.”

Some of the stiffness eased out of Charlotte’s shoulders, and Ash relaxed a fraction too.

“Every night?”

“I can show you my cell phone records. I tried your cell phone first and kept getting a disconnected message.” The panic inhabiting his stomach lifted. “How is Ivy?”

“Not too good.”

“Is she awake now? Could I visit? I’ve brought coffee.”

Charlotte stood aside, silently indicating he should enter.

“You look tired.” Unable to resist, he pressed a kiss to her temple, breathing in the delicate floral scent of her hair. “I’ve missed you.”

“Let me take the coffees.”

She hadn’t returned the sentiment, but she’d let him inside. He’d take the victory and go from there. Small talk. Yeah. That should work, help her relax and repair the damage her sisters had done to their budding relationship. “I got plain lattes without sugar. I figured you’d have sugar if you needed it.”

She nodded. “Gran’s room is up the stairs, second on the right. You’d better knock before you go inside. I’ll get the sugar.”

He followed her instructions, rapping his knuckles on the open door. “Are you decent?” he called. “Can I come in?”

“Ash.” Ivy tugged the blankets up, appearing small in the queen-size bed. “How delightful. Come in.”

The bedroom was a large one, with sun streaming through two large garden-facing windows. The furniture was heavy and old-fashioned, reminding him of his grandmother’s room, right down to the crocheted doilies on the dresser and the faint scent of lavender in the air.

“I brought you a plant and some magazines. I wasn’t sure which ones you’d prefer so I bought a mix of craft and ladies’ magazines.” He removed the plant from the carry bag and set it on a side table.

“Thank you. The cyclamen is beautiful. My favorite nail polish is that exact shade of reddish pink. And magazines are always acceptable. Charlotte and I have read our latest ones from cover to cover.” She glanced at the door then back at him. “Are you playing Charlotte?”

A startled laugh escaped him, but she didn’t look as if she were joking.

“Charlotte hasn’t said anything to me, but I know she was expecting a call.”

“I like Charlotte. A lot,” Ash said, past experience making him censor his words. “I rang every night this week. Whoever answered promised to pass on my messages. They didn’t.”

Ivy’s mouth firmed with disapproval. “You have proof?”

“Yes,” Ash snapped. Damn it, he wasn’t a liar.

“Why didn’t you ring her cell phone?”

“I did. The number is out of use.”

“Are you up to drinking a coffee, Gran?” Charlotte appeared in the doorway. She’d taken the time to brush her hair and confine it to a high ponytail.

“That’s strange. Is your cell phone not working?” Ivy asked.

Charlotte stilled, her gaze shooting to her bare feet. “Elizabeth said I didn’t need one. She canceled my account.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Ivy asked.

Color stung her cheeks, but she lifted her head. Ash could tell his presence embarrassed her. Too bad. He wasn’t leaving until he was good and ready.

“Charlotte?” Ivy might be ill, but her tongue still lashed with the strength of a whip.

“It wasn’t important in the scheme of things,” Charlotte said, and Ash knew she was picking her words with care. “I don’t need a phone.”

“You do need a phone,” Ivy said. “Ash, pass me my handbag please.”

Ash handed her the bag, and she rifled through the contents, pulling out a purse. She handed several notes to Charlotte. “Buy yourself a prepay phone.”

“I don’t need—”

“Ash, will you take her to buy a phone?”

“I will.”

“I can’t leave you alone, Gran.”

“I’m not going to pop my clogs today,” Ivy snapped. “Next week or the week after, but not today. I have things I want to take care of first. Besides, Esther is coming to visit and we can’t have a good gossip if you’re hanging around.”

“You want to talk about me,” Charlotte said.

“Of course I do, child.” She cast a sly glance at Ash.

“Oh, no,” he said. “You can leave me out of your conversation.”

“Pooh, you’re no fun,” Ivy said. “Where’s my coffee?”

“You turned down the job,” Ash said, once they were sipping their coffee.

“She said she wanted to spend the hours with me,” Ivy said gruffly. “I tried to talk sense into her.”

“Gran, it doesn’t matter,” Charlotte said. The glare she raked over him held a trace of temper.

“It’s not right,” Ivy said. “Elizabeth had no—”

“Gran,” Charlotte interrupted.

Ivy subsided, but her expression spoke of frustration.

“I might have a solution,” Ash said into the yawning silence.

“Do tell,” Ivy said.

Charlotte bit her bottom lip, worrying it until her mouth turned redder. Ash imagined doing the same thing and need gnawed at him. He stirred uneasily, his body taut with a rush of desire.

“I’m still here,” Ivy said, humor lacing her tone. “Although I have to say watching you two circle each other is better than a movie.”

“Gran.” Delicate color washed into Charlotte’s face again, and she refused to glance in his direction.

“You’re a troublemaker,” he said to Ivy.

Ivy chortled until an alarm clock went off.

Charlotte stood. “Time for your medication.” She walked over to a dressing table and took pills from various bottles. She left with an empty glass and came back a minute later with it full of water. “Here you go.”

“Start talking, young man. I want to hear your idea.” Although Ivy’s words were fighting, she slumped back against her pillows.

“I’ve taken charge of a new account, and I want Charlotte to help me. She can work from home, and I’ll drop in each day to offer advice and help with any problems. What do you say?”

“A real campaign?”

“She’d do it,” Gran said immediately.

“Do you have a laptop?” he asked.

“Yes, Gran bought me one for Christmas. Will I need any special programs?”

“Mostly you need to brainstorm ideas and design a motif and slogan for the customer,” Ash said. “So you’re interested?”

“She is,” Ivy said. “She’ll take the job. How much do you pay?”

“No, I can’t accept a wage,” Charlotte said. “Because I can’t work set hours.”

Damn. He’d hope she’d accept a wage. Never mind, he’d get around that somehow.

“But I’ll take a reference,” she said. “If you think I deserve one.”

“Deal,” Ash said.

“Knock. Knock.” The loud voice floated up the stairs.

“Good. Esther is here. You can go and buy that phone now. Keep her out until at least three,” Ivy said.

“That’s a lot of gossip,” Ash said.

“But you might need me,” Charlotte protested. “Last time I went out you ended up in hospital.”

“Which wasn’t your fault. You need to get out in the fresh air,” Ivy said.

“But—”

“I need a break too,” Ivy said. “We’re not going to do anything silly. Esther will help me write letters to my friends, and we’ll talk about scrapbooking.”

When Charlotte looked about to protest again, Ash stood. He plucked a business card from his wallet and set it on the bedside drawer. “Here’s my card. Get Esther to ring me if you need Charlotte. Charlotte, if it’s okay with you, we’ll go back to my place after we’ve bought you a phone. My laptop is there and we can get started on the campaign. We’ll grab a sandwich or something.” He congratulated himself on the casual tone. Good job keeping the wicked wolf part of him buried. While he would do some work, he also intended to kiss Charlotte stupid at the first opportunity. More, if he could get away with it. “Is that all right with you?”

“Okay.” She hugged Esther when she entered the bedroom and ran through the medication, setting the alarm for the next round of pills. “Ring me if you need anything.”

Ash waited patiently, stooping to kiss Ivy on her wrinkled cheek.

“You look after her,” Ivy whispered, her fingernails digging into his arm to punctuate her order. “Or I’ll tell your grandmother when I write to her today.”

“I promise.” Aha! Proof of the great setup. He fought to restrain his grin.

“I’ll be back at three,” Charlotte told Esther.

Esther settled her ample frame on the chair beside Gran’s bed and whisked off her sunhat to reveal a helmet of black hair. She waved a bejeweled hand at Charlotte in dismissal. “You take your time, dear. We’ll be fine.”

“Give me five minutes to change,” Charlotte said.

“You’re fine as you are,” he said, his swift glance taking in her faded blue jeans and her tight-fitting T-shirt. “Grab your laptop, and we’ll head off.”

“Maybe I’ll get shoes,” she said.

Ash grinned. “Good idea.”

Ten minutes later, he pulled up outside a store specializing in phones, the purchase taking mere minutes since Charlotte knew what she wanted—a prepaid phone capable of doing the basics.

“No Facebook or Twitter?” he asked.

“I don’t have time,” she said. “Gran has a Facebook page to connect with her friends, and I helped her with that. Does your client have a website?”

“No, but they should get one. We can add that into our campaign ideas for them.”

Despite the desire pushing against his skin, he kept his hands to himself. Once they stepped inside his house all bets were off.

His house keys jingled as he pushed the right key into the lock. He ignored the betraying tell, merely pushing the door open and entering to turn off the security alarm.

“Come in,” he said, closing the door behind her. “We’ll work in the dining room.” He led the way, not willing to walk behind her in case his wavering control snapped. Just a few steps farther.

She placed her laptop on the gleaming top of the wooden table and gave his house—the parts she could see—a curious glance. “Nice,” she said, blinking when she turned to find him a hairbreadth away.

“God, I missed you.” Before she could respond, he grasped her shoulders pulling the weight of her body against him. His lips covered hers and he was lost, drowning in her taste and scent. He was vaguely aware of hands fluttering against him and settling into something resembling acceptance. Her soft breasts flattened against his chest, and she sighed. It was like coming home, and he knew he’d been right to persist, to give her more chances than he’d given any other woman in his life. She was his. She just didn’t know it yet.

“I thought we came here to work,” she said when they parted to take in oxygen.

“We did. We will, but I needed to kiss you.” He rubbed her back, his hand sliding up and down. The contact comforted him when it was meant to soothe her. “Of course, if I thought I could seduce you, entice you into my bed, that might be my next move.”