Bride at Briar's Ridge Page 7

  ‘I think you know the answer to that,’ he said. ‘Shall we go through the other bedrooms?’

  ‘Yes, of course.’

  Whatever was between them, it was happening fast.

  As soon as Lilli arrived home she went in search of her older sister. She was much closer to Violette than she was to Rose, who in any case was at work at the Radcliffe Estates Winery.

  It rather amused the family that Rose was holding down a job. They were all in agreement that it was because it enabled her to come into daily contact with the young man she had long fancied herself in love with—Simon Radcliffe, Guy’s cousin. That fact of his name alone ensured Simon was looked on favourably by the family. Simon had a dragon of a mother, but little butter-wouldn’t-melt-in-her-mouth Rose seemed to be handling her surprisingly well.

  Rose and Simon had been going steady for some time, and the family supposed they would soon announce their engagement. But Lilli and Violette were not getting any younger, and were no closer to finding suitable husbands. Both of them had had relationships, and Violette had seriously believed Guy would eventually get around to asking her to marry him—heritage families stuck together—but that had never happened. Alana had scooped the prize. Now Guy’s friend, Linc Mastermann, had moved into the valley. Both she and Violette had been instantly attracted. This was one sexy guy. Better yet, on their social level.

  She just knew Linc was going places. He had that air about him. Just as she knew that close sisters both being attracted to the same man might cause trouble. Privately she considered Linc had found her the more appealing. The last thing she had expected was to find someone else who might be ahead of them. She needed to alert Vi before a situation developed…

  Violette was in her bedroom, trying on a new evening dress in her favourite shade of electric blue.

  ‘What do you think?’ Violette twirled for her sister’s inspection.

  ‘Gorgeous! You’ll definitely score in that one.’

  ‘And I know exactly who I have my eye on,’ Violette chortled, running her hands caressingly down over her ultra slim hips.

  ‘I have to tell you someone else has her eye on him,’ she said bluntly, flopping down in an armchair.

  ‘Who are we talking about, exactly?’ Violette unzipped herself, at the same time aiming a piercing glance at her sister.

  ‘Well, we’re both keen on Linc…’

  Violette gave a little inelegant snort. ‘Darling, you should be so lucky! We both know he fancies me.’

  ‘I don’t know that at all.’ Petulantly, Lilli swung a slender leg. Violette never let her forget who the big sister was.

  ‘Yeah, well, I need to get married before you,’ Violette reminded her. ‘And Linc Mastermann is the only one I’d consider after Guy. He’s drop-dead sexy.’

  ‘Dreamy!’ Lilli agreed. ‘Only that Italian chick—the one from the bistro—thinks so, too.’

  Violette looked dumbstruck. ‘Italian chick? Should that mean something to me?’

  Lilli gave a sly smirk. ‘Ah, come off it! You know—the bellissima one at the wedding. Alana’s latest friend.’

  ‘Hell!’ Violette pitched her evening gown onto her four-poster before swivelling towards her sister. ‘How do you know? Anyway, isn’t she a chef or something?’ She made it sound like a kennel maid.

  ‘She must be the only chef around who doesn’t like food,’ Lilli lamented. She and Violette had to work very hard to keep their admittedly great figures, while Miss Italy, who just had to be sampling what she turned out, was a perfect pocket Venus.

  Violette pulled a white tank top down over her head, sounding thoroughly rattled. ‘What would be the point of her getting interested in Linc when she’s only here to see her family? She’ll be back in London before we know it.’

  ‘I don’t know about that,’ Lilli muttered doubtfully. ‘I think she’s a teeny weeny bit in love with him already. That could make a huge difference.’

  ‘In love with him?’ Violette questioned grimly.

  ‘Are you going to repeat everything after me?’ Lilli asked, quite crossly. ‘Look, I don’t know…but you know what Dad says: forewarned is forearmed. I was just passing Briar’s Ridge—’

  ‘You were passing Briar’s Ridge?’ Violette cried scornfully. ‘You mean you went right out of your way. You’ve got to put a stop to going behind my back, Lilli,’ she warned wrathfully.

  Lilli cleared her throat. ‘As far as I’m concerned, it’s every man for himself. You know what they say, Vi. All’s fair in love and war.’

  ‘You get between me and Linc and I’ll squeeze the life out of you,’ Violette said, making strangling motions with her long-fingered hands.

  Lilli groaned in disgust. ‘We’re sisters, remember. Family!’

  ‘To hell with that! You’re not trying to tell me she was there?’

  Lilli shrugged. ‘I arrived first. They arrived about ten minutes later. He’d brought her out to show her around the place. He took us both on a tour.’

  ‘Only he invited her,’ said Violette, bitterly sarcastic. ‘You invited yourself.’

  ‘Unfair, isn’t it?’ Lilli sighed. ‘And I have to say she looks really high class. I just thought I should let you know.’

  ‘And maybe I’ll get around to thanking you one of these days. No way I’m going to take this lying down.’ Violette turned to stare at herself in a mirror, almost blinded by her own beauty. She was definitely the pick of the three beautiful Denby sisters.

  ‘Maybe he thinks flirting is just a bit of a game?’ Lilli suggested. ‘At the wedding he seemed taken with both of us. Then again, maybe we were the ones doing the flirting. And he was just playing up to us. That’s the trouble with sexy guys. They play up to us girls.’

  Violette turned away from her self-adoration. She had already considered her move. ‘What do you say we call in on this outsider at her place of business? Do lunch one day? Her aim is way off if she thinks she’s got a chance of bagging Linc Mastermann.’

  ‘If anyone can put her in her place, Vi, it’s you,’ Lilli said loyally, even though she had some private doubts.

  ‘Easy-peasy.’ Violette nodded a petulant agreement. ‘And I think you mean Violette.’

  CHAPTER FIVE

  IN THE car, he was aware her lovely body was tense beside him. Tree branches above them loomed over the car like a shadowy canopy. Both of them had got under each other’s skin. It was exciting, but not the most relaxed feeling in the world.

  She looked sideways at him. ‘Thank you, Carl, for asking me. I enjoyed that.’

  ‘Then maybe you’ll enjoy having dinner with me tonight?’ he said, briefly pinning her dark gaze. ‘And don’t tell me you have to work, because I know you don’t. I have your grandfather on side.’

  ‘It would seem so,’ she admitted wryly. ‘But haven’t we seen enough of each other for one day?’

  He was quiet a while. ‘You want to fight the attraction?’

  ‘You’re certain there is one?’ There was a soft little ache in her voice.

  ‘You are, too.’

  By now she was resigned to it. ‘But neither of us are relaxed about it.’

  ‘No.’ He answered without looking at her. He didn’t feel he could absorb much more of her beauty before he stopped the car and reached for her. Could never get enough of her.

  ‘Have you ever been in love? I mean really in love?’ she asked, sounding to Linc’s ears as though she actually cared. ‘Putting someone above yourself?’

  He took a moment to consider. ‘Desire flares up suddenly, and often just as suddenly dies down. I’ve had some very pleasant relationships—and I certainly hope I haven’t done any woman any harm—but I haven’t had a relationship serious enough to study it in any depth.’ Usually he deliberately shied away from getting serious, but he didn’t tell her that. ‘As a boy I was lost without my mother. I could never understand why such a beautiful, giving person should die so young. There was so much anger and grief trapped inside me s
ometimes I think I can still never get rid of it. Falling in love is delicious enough. Loving is something else again. Losing can be truly ruinous.’

  She felt the truth of that. ‘I just don’t accept you haven’t had women in love with you.’ Take Lilli Denby, for instance. She also thought of her sister, Violette. Both of them were definitely looking forward to getting to know more of Linc Mastermann.

  ‘That disturbs you?’ he asked, exhilarated to think it might.

  ‘The short answer? What I think about you is dangerous.’ And dazzling.

  ‘Perhaps I feel the same way,’ he returned with a short laugh.

  ‘I came home for a holiday.’

  ‘Know what I think, Daniela?’ He glanced at her sideways. Her beautiful hair was a halo around her honey-skinned face. ‘You came home for some kind of respite. Maybe even to hide away.’

  ‘Carry on, Herr Freud. That’s very melodramatic.’

  ‘You’re that kind of woman.’ He shrugged. ‘Wherever you are, you’d be the centre of male attention Some men soak up a woman’s beauty like a sponge.’

  ‘You’re one of them,’ she pointed out.

  ‘I’d be the first to admit it,’ he said, silvery green eyes sparkling, clear as crystal.

  ‘Carl, I hardly know you. Surely some caution should prevail?’

  He looked across at her without a smile. ‘I understand your concerns. I share them in a way. But some things, like basic instincts, have a way of cutting through our best intentions. We could act conventionally, take months getting to know one another, but both of us are at a time in our lives when our instincts override caution. We’re attracted to one another?’

  ‘Yes.’ She turned her head away, but openly acknowledged it. Their attraction had sprung fully formed.

  ‘So, will you have dinner with me and forget your anxieties? I thought we could go to Guy’s restaurant and do a little harmless criticising of his chef.’

  That brought forth a real smile. ‘We’d have our work cut out doing that. Anyway, as I understand it, it’s always fully booked on a Saturday evening.’

  ‘Well, very recklessly I booked a table,’ he told her nonchalantly. ‘It helps to be Guy’s good friend. Please say you’ll come.’ He glanced at her, seeing how her long dark eyelashes were quivering against the golden bloom of her cheek. ‘You know you want to.’

  She nodded, but her expression was troubled. ‘What I’m wondering is what you really want?’ she said.

  He reached out with his left hand and grasped the tips of her fingers.

  It was like drowning in a sea of sensuality.

  He picked her up at seven on the dot, found her waiting outside the bistro, sitting at one of the al fresco tables. Inside it was packed, so tables and chairs had been set strategically outside to accommodate the overflow. When she saw his car she stood up, gathered her little evening bag, said goodnight to the other people at the table, then walked towards him.

  She looked a dream, he thought. Her beautiful dark blond hair, swinging free, caught all the light. He could feel ripple upon ripple of desire rush through his body. She wore a shade of green that suited her beautifully—apple-green, he thought. It was strapless, the bodice clinging to her delicate breasts, the skirt short and floaty. His eyes ran from her face down her body to her slender golden legs. She was wearing very high heels. That struck him as incredibly sexy.

  ‘You look wonderful,’ he said, taking her hand for a moment and carrying it to his lips. He was oblivious to the effect they were having on the couples at the tables until one guy gave a whistle so expressive it said it all. Devilment in his eyes, Linc returned the wave, before murmuring to Daniela, ‘Let’s go. It feels a bit like the red carpet out here.’ He opened the passenger door for her.

  A minute later they pulled away, to a few more appreciative cheers.

  ‘Next time we won’t make it so public,’ he said dryly.

  She smiled. ‘We can face that when it comes.’

  ‘You are staying with your family?’ He had taken that for granted.

  She glanced at his dark dynamic profile. If she had dressed up for him he had returned the compliment—or more probably he always dressed with style. Either way, he looked terrific.

  ‘Actually, I’m renting an apartment while I’m here. There’s not really enough room for me with the family, although everyone wanted me to stay. But I wasn’t going to crowd them. I’m close by. That’s the main thing.’

  He was taken by surprise. ‘So where’s close by? Or is that a big secret?’

  ‘View Point,’ she said.

  ‘I know it.’

  ‘I thought you might.’

  They drove down an avenue of palms, the headlights flickering over smooth green trunks and garden beds alight with tiny blossomed star jasmine used extensively as ground cover. Smoothly they turned into the car park. Cool with the air-conditioning flowing through the car, it proved much warmer out in the scented night air, redolent of flowers. With one hand barely grazing the smooth skin of her back he led her up the couple of stone steps to the restaurant. They could hear the humming of conversation even before they got inside.

  Everything reflected light and glitter—the silver fire of wall mirrors, huge silver chandeliers suspended in the air, appropriately elegant furnishings, luxuriant golden canes in polished brass pots, delicate orchids taking wing in the centre of candlelit tables, and floor-to-ceiling windows which by day gave a splendid view over the vineyards and by night showed a floodlit terrace, where antique garden carts overflowed with many varieties of colourful flowers, above them a sky full of stars.

  The maître d’, smartly dressed in navy with a gold trim, greeted them like favoured customers, then led them to a window table.

  ‘I love it here,’ Daniela said when they were alone, her high cheekbones warmed with pleasure.

  Linc looked around him appreciatively. ‘Everything Guy does he does well. He’s not only one of the top wool producers in the country, he’s a wonderful businessman as well. He has a stake in lots of enterprises.’

  ‘I’d say he’ll make a wonderful husband, too,’ Daniela smiled, her beautiful mouth tilting upwards.

  ‘Would you give up your career to go off and get married?’ he asked, watching her face in the candle glow.

  She lifted her eyes to him. Her actual intention was, in time, to direct chefs working under her. ‘Couldn’t I have both?’

  He leaned back in his chair, studying the flawless planes of her face. ‘I don’t see why not. But it could get difficult when children arrived.’

  ‘Then I guess the career goes on hold for a while.’

  ‘So you do want to get married?’

  ‘Of course!’ She made a little expressive gesture with her hands. ‘What makes you think I wouldn’t want to?’

  He wanted to bombard her with lots of questions, though he knew he shouldn’t. Not now. He wanted her to relax and enjoy herself. For himself, it was almost impossible to unwind. He wanted her as he had never wanted a woman before in his life. Desire at that level could be a tyranny.

  ‘Just checking,’ he said, giving her a smile.

  The food, when it arrived, not only tasted wonderful, it looked like a work of art. Everything was perfect—the entrée of seafood, the roasted grain-fed lamb carved to perfection over creamed potatoes, with side dishes of perfect little baby vegetables so tender they melted in the mouth.

  Daniela wanted to try the green tea crêpes served with mandarin sauce and a dash of orange liqueur.

  ‘I’ll have that as well,’ Linc told the waiter, handing back the menus. ‘Our compliments to the chef. I haven’t eaten better.’

  ‘I won’t take that as an insult,’ Daniela joked a little later.

  ‘Well, you know what I mean.’ He shrugged. ‘One has to leave the chef feeling happy. Besides, as you told me yourself, I have yet to try your specialties. I can’t wait. Great food would cheer anyone up. It’ll be a very lucky man who wins your hand, Daniela.�
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  Later, when they were lingering over coffee, a tall, striking young woman, in an eye-catching cobalt-blue dress, threaded her way rather recklessly through the tables towards them.

  Daniela’s face must have revealed a shadow of her dismay. She had an idea Violette had had a little too much to drink. The very last thing she needed was some sort of confrontation—such as the Denbys exerting their territorial rights…

  ‘What is it?’ Linc asked, turning slightly to follow her gaze. ‘Oh-oh—it’s Violette.’

  Violette, swaying slightly, arrived at their table, smiling over her inner rage, blissfully unaware it was the smile of a tigress. She had spotted their arrival the minute they stood in the foyer, waiting for the maître d’ to show them to their table. She hadn’t been the only one interested. Any number of people—some with knife and fork halfway to their mouths—had broken off to stare politely. There was a trick to doing that. The only thing that had surprised her was that there hadn’t been a scattering of applause.

  She herself had broken into a sort of sarcastic quip about their entrance—she excelled at that kind of thing—but for once no one had paid attention. It had been bad enough suffering her cousin, Alana, but now there was this exotic Italian creature. For the umpteenth time in her life Violette had felt a flood of jealousy. It was that which had caused her to over-indulge with the wine.

  Linc rose to his impressive height at Violette’s approach. He was seeing the funny side of it. Lilli in the morning, Violette at night.

  ‘How are you, Violette?’ He looked down at her.

  For answer, she reached out and cupped one side of his face proprietorially with her hand. ‘Exhausted,’ she moaned. ‘I had a few days in Sydney with friends. They ran me ragged.’ She transferred her blue gaze to Daniela. ‘Hello, there. We met at the wedding, remember?’

  Daniela inclined her head gracefully. ‘You and Lilli made beautiful bridesmaids.’

  ‘Would you like to sit down for a moment, Violette?’ Linc asked. Violette was reasonably steady on her feet, but one never knew. He looked towards a waiter, who surged forward with an extra chair.