how the game was supposed to be played,
dropping his cards, putting down cards that were obviously not
pairs so that Caitlin had to pull on his arm and point this out to
him. He feigned bewilderment so well that Caitlin patiently sorted
through the cards in his hand to find the right pair. Then he
thanked her with a kiss to her hand and told her how clever she
was.
It was a side to his personality that Jenna
was sure few people would get to see. The Braden Fleetwood Jeff had
written about was a tough, hard-headed businessman. The Braden she
was seeing now had a sensitivity and warmth that she found even
more attractive than his good looks and athletic physique.
When the intercom buzzed Braden walked over
and answered it. A cultured female voice gave her name and Braden
immediately pressed the button to unlock the entrance door
downstairs. A few minutes later he opened the door to one of the
most striking and beautiful women Jenna had ever seen.
An inch or two shorter than Jenna, model slim
and elegant, skin the colour of pale honey and a sleek cap of
shining blonde hair that swished gently with every movement of her
head, she was dressed in white slacks, matching sleeveless blouse
with large gold belt accentuating her tiny waist, gold sandals and
shoulder bag. The gold chain necklace and expensive rings declared
rather than suggested wealth.
She smiled delightedly up at Braden and
kissed him on the cheek.
“Braden, darling, you should have let me know
you were up here. I would have had you over to dinner.”
More like have him for dinner came unbidden
to Jenna’s thoughts.
“Your office said you’d been here nearly two
weeks already.” The voice matched its owner, sleek and elegant,
almost purring in delight. “I can’t believe you haven’t come to see
me.”
“I’ve had a lot to get organised, Veronica.”
As Braden walked over to the dining room table where Jenna and
Caitlin sat, the woman had slipped her arm around his and smiled up
at him.
The smile fluttered briefly as her eyes
darted over Jenna, then she was hurrying towards Caitlin. She
placed two slim hands on Caitlin’s face and tilted it up to
hers.
“Caitlin, you poor little thing. How is your
dear mother? They must let her out of that horrible place
soon.”
Caitlin cringed, her body shrinking back into
the chair. Braden placed his hand lightly on Veronica’s arm.
“Veronica, I’d like you to meet Jenna Martin.
Jenna is my ... housekeeper ... while Mrs Jenkins is looking after
her sick daughter. Jenna, this is Veronica Lloyd, a business
associate of mine.”
Pale blue eyes took in Jenna’s cotton shirt,
denim shorts and lack of make-up in one dismissive sweep. Lips that
were just a shade too thin but skillfully disguised with lipliner
murmured in brief acknowledgment before turning back to Braden in a
brilliant smile.
“I have so much to discuss with you, Braden.
Perhaps we could go into your study? I don’t really wish to intrude
on such a ... domestic ... scene.”
Veronica swayed up the hallway with Braden
close behind.
When she had first seen Veronica Jenna had
felt all her old ‘ugly duckling’ perceptions of herself rise up
from some deep recess in her memory. Even as she sat there she
could feel her limbs starting to take on the gawky, awkward traits
that had marred her teenage years. Then when Veronica’s glance had
dismissed her as nothing more than ‘the housekeeper’ a flood of
anger had swept away all the doubts in her self-confidence. She
knew her worth and no superficial society swan was going to treat
her like a lowly kitchenhand.
One glance at Caitlin’s face and all thoughts
of herself left her mind. Tears were shimmering in Caitlin’s eyes
and distress was clearly etched in her rigid demeanour. Jenna’s
anger surged again. How could Veronica not realize what her
thoughtless words would do to the child? Jenna stood up. “Caitlin,
I’m feeling very warm so I’m going to have a swim to cool down. Do
you
dropping his cards, putting down cards that were obviously not
pairs so that Caitlin had to pull on his arm and point this out to
him. He feigned bewilderment so well that Caitlin patiently sorted
through the cards in his hand to find the right pair. Then he
thanked her with a kiss to her hand and told her how clever she
was.
It was a side to his personality that Jenna
was sure few people would get to see. The Braden Fleetwood Jeff had
written about was a tough, hard-headed businessman. The Braden she
was seeing now had a sensitivity and warmth that she found even
more attractive than his good looks and athletic physique.
When the intercom buzzed Braden walked over
and answered it. A cultured female voice gave her name and Braden
immediately pressed the button to unlock the entrance door
downstairs. A few minutes later he opened the door to one of the
most striking and beautiful women Jenna had ever seen.
An inch or two shorter than Jenna, model slim
and elegant, skin the colour of pale honey and a sleek cap of
shining blonde hair that swished gently with every movement of her
head, she was dressed in white slacks, matching sleeveless blouse
with large gold belt accentuating her tiny waist, gold sandals and
shoulder bag. The gold chain necklace and expensive rings declared
rather than suggested wealth.
She smiled delightedly up at Braden and
kissed him on the cheek.
“Braden, darling, you should have let me know
you were up here. I would have had you over to dinner.”
More like have him for dinner came unbidden
to Jenna’s thoughts.
“Your office said you’d been here nearly two
weeks already.” The voice matched its owner, sleek and elegant,
almost purring in delight. “I can’t believe you haven’t come to see
me.”
“I’ve had a lot to get organised, Veronica.”
As Braden walked over to the dining room table where Jenna and
Caitlin sat, the woman had slipped her arm around his and smiled up
at him.
The smile fluttered briefly as her eyes
darted over Jenna, then she was hurrying towards Caitlin. She
placed two slim hands on Caitlin’s face and tilted it up to
hers.
“Caitlin, you poor little thing. How is your
dear mother? They must let her out of that horrible place
soon.”
Caitlin cringed, her body shrinking back into
the chair. Braden placed his hand lightly on Veronica’s arm.
“Veronica, I’d like you to meet Jenna Martin.
Jenna is my ... housekeeper ... while Mrs Jenkins is looking after
her sick daughter. Jenna, this is Veronica Lloyd, a business
associate of mine.”
Pale blue eyes took in Jenna’s cotton shirt,
denim shorts and lack of make-up in one dismissive sweep. Lips that
were just a shade too thin but skillfully disguised with lipliner
murmured in brief acknowledgment before turning back to Braden in a
brilliant smile.
“I have so much to discuss with you, Braden.
Perhaps we could go into your study? I don’t really wish to intrude
on such a ... domestic ... scene.”
Veronica swayed up the hallway with Braden
close behind.
When she had first seen Veronica Jenna had
felt all her old ‘ugly duckling’ perceptions of herself rise up
from some deep recess in her memory. Even as she sat there she
could feel her limbs starting to take on the gawky, awkward traits
that had marred her teenage years. Then when Veronica’s glance had
dismissed her as nothing more than ‘the housekeeper’ a flood of
anger had swept away all the doubts in her self-confidence. She
knew her worth and no superficial society swan was going to treat
her like a lowly kitchenhand.
One glance at Caitlin’s face and all thoughts
of herself left her mind. Tears were shimmering in Caitlin’s eyes
and distress was clearly etched in her rigid demeanour. Jenna’s
anger surged again. How could Veronica not realize what her
thoughtless words would do to the child? Jenna stood up. “Caitlin,
I’m feeling very warm so I’m going to have a swim to cool down. Do
you
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