The British Billionaire Bachelor, Act Three (5 page)

The willful child was planting her feet and holding her breath, and Joseph could see the desire to do what he asked being overwhelmed by her lifetime of stubborn
I dare you
behavior; she needed a push.

He began to roll up his shirt sleeve, an act so simple, yet so threatening, it was all she needed to break the spell.

“Fine!” she blurted out, and unbuckling her seat belt she darted from her seat, retrieved the bottle, and returned, banging it on the table top. “There, happy now?”

“Thank you,” he smiled, unrolling his shirt sleeve and buttoning the wrist.

“You can leave,” she declared, flopping into her seat.

“I’ll leave when I’ve finished my orange juice, and not before,” he smiled.

Needing something to do that would fill the awkward, uncomfortable space, and to somehow control the strange churning in her stomach, she grabbed her bag and began delving through its contents. She was so overcome by his threat it didn’t occur to her to move to another seat, until he downed the last of his drink and stood up to leave.

“We’ll be landing in a couple of hours. You should probably try to get some more sleep if you can,” he suggested, and strolled away.

Lucinda stared after him, furious that she’d allowed herself to be the one who’d been left. She did the leaving, she did the rejecting, she chose to end conversations or start them, but as he closed the door behind him, she wished he hadn’t gone, and her stomach was still doing odd back flips. Gobbling one of the caviar appetizers, she washed it down with her champagne and headed back to her bed

Pulling off her robe she climbed between the sheets, all too aware that Joseph Cardinelli was just on the other side of the door. She had found him intriguing when he’d driven her around after her arrival in Los Angeles, but he was just a driver, and as far as she was concerned, he couldn’t hold a candle to the hot young actors she was meeting. Once he’d fulfilled his obligation she’d almost forgotten about him, but not only was he back, he was back with a vengeance, and possessed a polish she’d not noticed before.

Closing her eyes she could still feel the strong grip of his fingers around her arms when she’d stumbled. He’d moved so quickly to catch her he’d been like Superman, and when he’d held her on the floor during the turbulence, she’d felt incredibly protected, almost as if he could have saved her had the plane gone down.

As her anger faded she began to drift off, and she unexpectedly found herself wondering how it would feel to be held down by him, his cock ready to impale her. Spreading her legs, her hand slipped under her nightie and dropped against her sex, and in her half-sleepy state, she was surprised at the hot wetness she discovered. Circling her clit she allowed her mind to take over, and she could see him standing over her, shaking his finger, scolding her…

I warned you, now you’re going to get spanked.

Her eyes flew open.

Shit, why is this turning me on?

The stomach churning had started anew, and her thighs were tensing in hot need.

Oooh, I need to do this, I don’t care why, I just do…

Her finger rubbed aggressively, the image of him towering over her, his large hand rolling up that sleeve…

The sharp, abrupt orgasm rattled through her, jolting her as the plane had jolted her, violent and startlingly quick, leaving her breathless.

What the hell? So he’s super cute, and he’s an ex-marine, yeah, that’s a turn on, but…

Rolling on her side she took long, deep breaths, and as sleep began to wash over her, his threatening words echoed in her head.

If I take you back there, I will spank you hard. You’ll have to spend the rest of this flight laying on your side or standing up.

S
imon ensured the paparazzi knew of Lucinda’s arrival in London, along with all the details about her visit; her bodyguard was a handsome ex-marine named Joseph Cardinelli and the pair would be staying at his home in Belgravia. He had also arranged for a story about her to run in some Fleet Street papers, and the photographers and reporters had gathered early outside Simon’s door, awaiting Hollywood’s brightest and newest star. When the Rolls finally cruised down the street, the press began to do what they do, snap pictures, call out questions, and generally create havoc. Watching from the front reception room window, Belle crossed her arms and leaned into Simon.

“She’ll be loving this,” she sighed. “She’ll bounce in here like Cleopatra.”

“I didn’t know Cleopatra bounced. Didn’t she glide?” Simon chuckled.

“Lucinda will do both, she’ll bounce, then she’ll glide,” Belle replied. “I wish she’d just come in through the garage.”

“No, it has to be this way. Joseph’s picture has to be plastered in all the papers.”

“I know, I know, and I do feel better since last night,” she remarked, turning to face him, “though my ass is scratchy.”

“Happy to oblige,” he grinned. “Look, here they come.”

Lucinda was glowing, soaking up the attention like a sponge soaking up water, and with his hand firmly around her elbow, Joseph was moving her through the throng and up to the front door.

The weather was chilly, but fortunately dry, and Lucinda had chosen black leggings tucked into knee-high, spike-heeled, black patent leather boots, and a bright red sweater that could be glimpsed under a faux fur, zebra patterned coat. Crimson lipstick against her pale skin completed the glamorous ensemble, and she looked every bit the starlet.

“Wow, she knows how to make an entrance,” Simon remarked.

“You haven’t seen anything,” Belle declared, and looping her arm through his, started moving into the foyer to greet her sister.

As they walked into the vast entry, Henry was opening the door with aplomb, and a moment later Lucinda swept in, stopped, turned in the door frame and waved.

“Marvelous to meet you all. I’ll see you again soon, I’m sure,” she called, then moved past Henry and over to Belle, Joseph following closely behind.

“Big sis,” she smiled. “What an amazing place, thanks for having me here, and you must be the rich and handsome Simon,” she gushed, kissing him on the cheek. “Very cool, oops, how silly of me, I’ve left a big blotch of lipstick on your cheek.”

Belle felt herself bristle, but forced herself to stay calm in the face of the obvious flirtation.

“Hello, Lucinda, we’re happy to have you,” Simon artfully replied. “I hope you’ll be happy here. We’ve arranged a suite of rooms for you and Joseph. You’ll have all the privacy you want, and a staff at your service.”

“How great. I’m so excited. Belle you have to show me every room of this amazing house, and all the sights here in London. When we lived here as kids I was so busy with auditions and performances and school and everything, I didn’t even get to see the Tower of London, can you believe it? Oh, and Harry’s Bar, I want to eat at Harry’s Bar. Can you arrange that, Simon? Speaking of eating, I’m dying for some crumpets. The crumpets in the States aren’t crumpets at all, are they Belle?”

“Crumpets it is,” Simon smiled.
Belle wasn’t joking, this girl is strung tighter than a Stradivarius.
“First, though, I’m sure you’ll wish to unpack and freshen up, then we can have tea and some of those crumpets in the back salon, overlooking the garden,” Simon suggested.

“That works,” Lucinda beamed. “Um, where are the bags?”

Henry, who had been standing a few feet away, coughed discreetly.

“If Madame would care to follow me, I believe your bags will already be in your rooms.”

“Lucinda, Joseph, this is Henry Chambers, my butler,” Simon explained.

“Oh. Great. Nice to meet you, Henry,” Lucinda smiled.

“Delighted,” he replied.

“Hello, Henry, I’m sure you have your hands full here,” Joseph smiled,
and if you don’t, you soon will.

“There is a great deal one must see to if the house is to run smoothly,” Henry politely nodded.

“So, Lucinda,” said Belle, finally speaking, “why don’t you follow Henry, and we’ll meet you in the salon in about twenty minutes.”

“Sounds great, and Belle, so good to see you,” Lucinda smiled, making it appear almost like an afterthought. “You look really, um, British.”

“Thanks, Lucinda. Happily, that’s just how I feel, and you look so, um, Hollywood,” Belle retorted, unable to help herself. “Seems you’ve got the whole, ditzy starlet thing down pat.”

“Let’s go, Lucinda,” Joseph quickly suggested, stepping forward before Lucinda could respond, and Belle felt Simon shift very slightly behind her, his hand discreetly brushing her bottom.

Her heels clipping on the polished floor, Joseph beside her, Lucinda followed Henry to the elevator, and as they disappeared, Belle let out a groan.

“Oh, she is soooo, what’s the word, Simon?”

“I think there are many words,” Simon replied, “beginning with self-involved.”

“You need to keep me away from her,” Belle remarked softly, shaking her head.

“Come into my study,” he said gently, and taking her hand, walked briskly across the foyer.

Closing the door, he sat on the edge of his desk, immediately pulling her into him, hugging her warmly.

“Your sister is very unhappy, and I suspect she feels empty and unloved,” Simon declared softly.

“No, that’s doesn’t make sense,” Belle argued, pulling back and staring up at him. “Our mother has absolutely doted on her since the moment she was born. I know, I was there.”

“But the attention wasn’t balanced with discipline. I’m not a psychiatrist, and I could be completely off-base, but would I be right in saying that Lucinda is as smart as she is beautiful?”

“Yes, for sure,” Belle nodded.

“When she was younger I’ll bet she had both of your parents wrapped around her little finger, correct?”

“Oh, absolutely. I remember when she started throwing things, my mother said it was because she was special. I had this gorgeous porcelain dog and cat figure that I absolutely loved, and Lucinda was mad at me because I wouldn’t let her play dress-up with my clothes. She grabbed it and hurled it across the room, smashing it against the wall. All my mother could say was, ‘we have to understand her, she’s very talented and talented children are different.' I wanted to choke them both.”

“No wonder you despise her,” Simon sighed.

“It’s true, I do, was it that obvious? I don’t want to but I do, I despise her, that’s the perfect word, but I love her too. It’s very difficult, Simon. See? I’m already upset and she’s just arrived,” she declared. “Can we please get that lipstick off your face, it’s driving me crazy?”

“Of course,” he smiled, and pulling a white, linen handkerchief from his pocket, he wiped it across his cheek. “I have a suggestion,” he continued. “In a few minutes Joseph and Lucinda will be back down. I need to discuss some things with Joseph, and you’ll be alone with your sister, indulging in tea and crumpets.”

“Please, God, no,” Belle groaned.

“Just listen, and this isn’t a suggestion, it’s an instruction,” he said firmly.

“Why did that just make me feel better? I like it already,” Belle smiled.

“That’s a start,” Simon grinned. “Imagine she’s someone you’ve just met. Imagine she’s a tornado and you’re watching from a distance. When she speaks, regardless of what she says, listen as if you’re studying her, not listening with an emotional attachment.”

“That’s so weird,” Belle remarked. “That’s how I used to feel with Amaranth. I thought she was so weird and there was something so off about her, I would watch her when she spoke to me. Simon, you’re a genius, thank you.”

Leaning back against him, Belle sighed heavily, resting her head against his chest.

“You are the most wonderful man, I’m so lucky.”

“We both are,” he replied, hugging her tightly.

“Please be careful with this Darren Hardcastle. From everything I’ve read, he seems like a nasty character.”

“I will. Don’t worry, he’ll think he’s won, and when he finds out he hasn’t, it’ll appear I’m utterly blameless,”
assuming it all goes as it should.

A tepid knock at the door interrupted their conversation, and Belle stepped away.

“Come in,” Simon called.

Henry opened the door, and stood tall and straight, the epitome of the English butler.

“Miss Somers and Mr. Cardinelli are in the salon, Mr. Sinclair.”

“Ah, thank you, Henry. Belle? Shall we?” he winked.

“We shall,” she smiled.

As they walked past Henry, Belle a few steps ahead, she sensed Simon had stopped, and looking over her shoulder she saw him speaking quietly to his butler, but whatever the issue it only took a few seconds, and moments later they were moving through the foyer towards the salon.

Belle felt empowered, as though a dark spell cast by her younger sister had been magically broken. As they entered the elegant room, she found Lucinda seated in front of the glass top coffee table upon which the tea, crumpets and a plate of appetizing sweets had been laid out. Joseph was standing behind her, and for a moment, Belle thought they looked like a photograph.

“Joseph, I didn’t have the chance to say how good it is to see you,” she declared, walking quickly across to give him a welcome hug. “Your hair has grown, you look so good. Don’t go back to that buzz cut, please,” she begged.

“Thanks, Belle, I won’t, I promise,” Joseph chuckled. “You look terrific. London agrees with you.”

“Oh, my gosh, you have no idea, it really does,” she laughed, “especially the weather.”

“I guess if you like rain all the time,” Lucinda broke in.

Belle glanced across at Simon, and broke into a huge smile.

“Those crumpets look delicious,” Belle commented, ignoring Lucinda’s blatant jibe. “Joseph, are you joining us?”

“I believe Simon and I have some things we need to discuss,” Joseph replied, “but we won’t keep you lovely ladies waiting long.”

“Off you go then,” Belle grinned, pouring herself a cup of tea. “Lucinda and I can catch up.”

Settling into the welcoming armchair across from her sister, Belle watched the two men head out towards the foyer, and the thought that Joseph might be a good match for Lucinda flashed through her mind. He was tough, but in a kind way, and he was nobody’s fool. She couldn’t imagine him putting up with Lucinda’s short temper and willful behavior for a moment, and perhaps that’s what Lucinda needed, a man who’d stand up to her.