resolved to try to get as much normalcy
into Caitlin’s life as possible. Staying in the penthouse all the
time and being isolated from other people, especially other
children, certainly wasn’t a normal existence.
The isolation was starting to chafe with
Jenna herself. Braden had arranged for the local stores to deliver
whatever she wanted and send the accounts to him, so she hadn’t
even needed to walk to the store for a carton of milk. She would
ask Braden how close they were to the Sunshine Plaza. She had seen
the giant shopping complex advertised on television. The Lion King
was showing again in one of the complex’s six theatres and she had
seen the interest on Caitlin’s face as they’d watched the
preview.
Just then she heard Braden call to Caitlin
that he was leaving. She turned to ask him, and the words caught in
her throat. He was wearing a dinner suit, its impeccable cut
emphasizing the breadth of his shoulders, his flat stomach, his
strong thighs. His black hair was brushed back but one stray lock
escaped onto his forehead in an appealing curl, breaking the hard
straight angles of his face.
He picked Caitlin up and swung her around. As
he spun his eyes locked with Jenna’s and he slowed to a stop. The
blue flecks in his grey eyes deepened, glittered. He walked slowly
towards her, powerful, dangerous, challenging. She knew he was
throwing down the gauntlet of his sexuality with each lithe swing
of his legs but she couldn’t break from his gaze.
Her bones were gradually dissolving, melting
into one great molten longing to blend her body with his and
experience all the delights she was sure it would give. She knew
her desire was showing in her face but she could do little to
disguise it.
Her hands reached behind her for the support
of the bench as he stopped in front of her. She felt her breath
leaving her body in a great sigh and saw the triumphant gleam in
his eyes. He held Caitlin out to her, and as her arms weakly
reached out and took the child he turned on his heel and walked
out.
After she put Caitlin to bed Jenna paced the
loungeroom like a caged tiger.
How could she have reacted to him like that?
He must have laughed to himself all the way to Veronica’s place.
Her imagination ran riot as she thought of him still laughing as he
kissed Veronica. But maybe he wasn’t kissing Veronica. Perhaps he
didn’t see Veronica like that. He had, after all, described her as
a business associate. But what sort of business associate? Jenna
had known medical professionals who had affairs with their
colleagues. Perhaps Braden enjoyed mixing business with
pleasure.
Finally she spent an hour swimming out her
frustrations before going to bed. But not to sleep. It was two a.m.
when Braden’s footsteps echoed in the hallway, and she punched her
pillow into a lumpy mess before sleep finally claimed her.
Jenna pushed a spoon into the coffee jar and
sighed. The day outside was sunny and fresh, a beautiful warm day
alive with salt tang from the ocean. But her mood was far from
receptive to the weather’s enticements.
The coffee was hot and strong and almost
burnt her mouth but it cleared a few cobwebs from her brain.
Braden and Caitlin were sitting out in the
courtyard eating breakfast. Jenna made some toast, added a liberal
helping of marmalade, and carried the plate and coffee mug out to
join them. Braden greeted her with a smile. He looked refreshed and
relaxed as though he had enjoyed a full night’s sleep. If she
really tried she was sure she could hate him.
“Unusual for you to sleep in, Jenna,” he
commented, his smile broadening. “Didn’t you sleep well?”
“I slept like a log,” she lied. One that
rolled down hills all night.
Caitlin frowned at Jenna’s tone and Jenna
felt guilty. At all costs it was imperative not to cause any
friction that might set back the progress Caitlin had made.
“And did you have a good evening?” she asked
Braden nicely.
“Yes. It was very ...
into Caitlin’s life as possible. Staying in the penthouse all the
time and being isolated from other people, especially other
children, certainly wasn’t a normal existence.
The isolation was starting to chafe with
Jenna herself. Braden had arranged for the local stores to deliver
whatever she wanted and send the accounts to him, so she hadn’t
even needed to walk to the store for a carton of milk. She would
ask Braden how close they were to the Sunshine Plaza. She had seen
the giant shopping complex advertised on television. The Lion King
was showing again in one of the complex’s six theatres and she had
seen the interest on Caitlin’s face as they’d watched the
preview.
Just then she heard Braden call to Caitlin
that he was leaving. She turned to ask him, and the words caught in
her throat. He was wearing a dinner suit, its impeccable cut
emphasizing the breadth of his shoulders, his flat stomach, his
strong thighs. His black hair was brushed back but one stray lock
escaped onto his forehead in an appealing curl, breaking the hard
straight angles of his face.
He picked Caitlin up and swung her around. As
he spun his eyes locked with Jenna’s and he slowed to a stop. The
blue flecks in his grey eyes deepened, glittered. He walked slowly
towards her, powerful, dangerous, challenging. She knew he was
throwing down the gauntlet of his sexuality with each lithe swing
of his legs but she couldn’t break from his gaze.
Her bones were gradually dissolving, melting
into one great molten longing to blend her body with his and
experience all the delights she was sure it would give. She knew
her desire was showing in her face but she could do little to
disguise it.
Her hands reached behind her for the support
of the bench as he stopped in front of her. She felt her breath
leaving her body in a great sigh and saw the triumphant gleam in
his eyes. He held Caitlin out to her, and as her arms weakly
reached out and took the child he turned on his heel and walked
out.
After she put Caitlin to bed Jenna paced the
loungeroom like a caged tiger.
How could she have reacted to him like that?
He must have laughed to himself all the way to Veronica’s place.
Her imagination ran riot as she thought of him still laughing as he
kissed Veronica. But maybe he wasn’t kissing Veronica. Perhaps he
didn’t see Veronica like that. He had, after all, described her as
a business associate. But what sort of business associate? Jenna
had known medical professionals who had affairs with their
colleagues. Perhaps Braden enjoyed mixing business with
pleasure.
Finally she spent an hour swimming out her
frustrations before going to bed. But not to sleep. It was two a.m.
when Braden’s footsteps echoed in the hallway, and she punched her
pillow into a lumpy mess before sleep finally claimed her.
Jenna pushed a spoon into the coffee jar and
sighed. The day outside was sunny and fresh, a beautiful warm day
alive with salt tang from the ocean. But her mood was far from
receptive to the weather’s enticements.
The coffee was hot and strong and almost
burnt her mouth but it cleared a few cobwebs from her brain.
Braden and Caitlin were sitting out in the
courtyard eating breakfast. Jenna made some toast, added a liberal
helping of marmalade, and carried the plate and coffee mug out to
join them. Braden greeted her with a smile. He looked refreshed and
relaxed as though he had enjoyed a full night’s sleep. If she
really tried she was sure she could hate him.
“Unusual for you to sleep in, Jenna,” he
commented, his smile broadening. “Didn’t you sleep well?”
“I slept like a log,” she lied. One that
rolled down hills all night.
Caitlin frowned at Jenna’s tone and Jenna
felt guilty. At all costs it was imperative not to cause any
friction that might set back the progress Caitlin had made.
“And did you have a good evening?” she asked
Braden nicely.
“Yes. It was very ...
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