The Tycoon's Scandalous Proposition

CHAPTER THREE

OH-OH.

Disappointment swamped Blake as he caught sight of Kate again, her face having been obscured by the bride turning to collect her bouquet. Gone was her lovely smile, and in its place her former bleak expression.

What the hell had happened in the last few seconds? What had the Barbie doll said to her? Something not very nice, judging by the unhappiness in Kate’s eyes.

Blake knew from first-hand experience that siblings were not always the best of friends—especially those of the same sex. Rivalry and jealousy often raised their ugly heads, making true friendship impossible. His own brother was a case in point. James had always been jealous of him, despite there being absolutely no need. James was the firstborn son, after all, and his parents’ favourite—especially since he’d followed in his mother and father’s footsteps to become a doctor, like them.

On the other hand Blake had been regarded as the black sheep of the family since he hadn’t even gone to university, since he’d done something considered very left field by embracing the entertainment world—first as a DJ, then shooting music videos for a couple of years before finally plunging full-time into making low-budget independent movies.

Both his parents and his brother had given him dire warnings about his future. And Blake found it telling that now he’d made it big they were all hurtfully silent on the subject of his success. Blake had used to let it bother him, but he no longer cared. Or so he told himself. They all had small minds, in his opinion, James the smallest of them all.

Blake rarely saw his family these days, only visiting at Christmas and on special occasions. Now that he’d moved to Los Angeles to live and work he suspected he might not even do that. Just send the occasional card. He no longer kept in contact through social media or email, nor with phone calls, having resolved not to give them any further opportunity to deliver snide remarks about his lifestyle or his movies. Which they did, if given the opportunity.

Blake had no evidence that Kate’s sister had just made some kind of nasty remark to her except for the look on her face. But that wasn’t jealousy he was seeing in her expressive blue eyes. It was hurt. And dismay.

Why her unhappiness bothered him so much he could not fathom. He’d never been a particularly empathetic soul. Perhaps it was because he found her attractive and didn’t like the idea of there being some hidden impediment which would hinder his pursuing his interest in her. Whatever the reason, Blake resolved not to rest until he’d solved the mystery of that unhappiness.

And it was a mystery. Because on the surface of things Kate had nothing to be unhappy about. She was gorgeous! Okay, she didn’t have the in-your-face blonde beauty of her sister. But she was still highly desirable.

Of course being physically attractive was no guarantee of happiness. Maybe she was unhappy because she was still unmarried, despite being the older sister. Though not much older, surely. Blake knew Lachlan’s bride was only twenty-three, which made Kate what? Twenty-five? Twenty-six, maybe? Hardly a marital use-by date in this day and age.

‘Get with the programme, Blake,’ Lachlan said, grabbing his nearest elbow. ‘We have to sign the marriage certificate.’

As the groom ushered him over to where the paperwork had been set up on a side table Blake cast a surreptitious glance back at Kate. She seemed to have gathered herself, and her expression was not wretched any longer. It was, however, utterly devoid of emotion once more—a totally blank mask. How on earth did she manage that? When he was upset everyone knew about it. He didn’t throw tantrums, exactly, but his face always reflected his feelings—as did his voice.

He watched her watching the happy couple sign the register, but her eyes betrayed nothing now. Which was telling in itself.

When it was their turn to step forward as witnesses, he waved for her to go first. After throwing him a closed look, she picked up one of the provided pens and signed quickly, with only the slightest tremor in her hand. He glanced at her signature before he signed his own name.

Kate Holiday, he read, and realised that until that moment he hadn’t known the bride’s surname. So of course he hadn’t known Kate’s. He’d never met the bride’s parents either, or anyone else in her family. Strange, really, given he was the best man.

Blake wondered all of a sudden why Lachlan had asked him to be his best man. He would have thought a young Aussie male with his looks and personality would have had at least one best mate—a pal he’d gone to school with or studied at NIDA with.

Obviously not. Either that or he preferred someone famous to stand by his side at his wedding. A celebrity. Lachlan was very much into celebrity.

It hadn’t occurred to Blake until that moment that he was being used—that this wedding was little more than a publicity stunt, with a trophy bride, a glamorous Sydney setting and a rich and famous best man. Lachlan was no better than Claudia, really.

Whilst the thought did bring a sour note to the proceedings Blake knew he would have the last laugh. Because in actual fact Lachlan wasn’t so great an actor, and his range was decidedly limited. Once he was seduced by the big boys in Hollywood and started making movies that weren’t tailored to his specific brand of looks and charm his career might very well sink like a stone. Major studios were very unforgiving once the box office results rolled in. Lachlan’s past successes in Blake’s movies would not carry him for ever.

A slight smirk curved his top lip as he put his signature to the marriage certificate. It was still there when he put the pen down and turned to face his intriguing partner.

‘So, Kate Holiday,’ he said, doing his best to hide his underlying irritation, ‘we haven’t been properly introduced. But I dare say you know who I am.’

‘Yes, of course I do,’ Kate said. ‘Lachlan has spoken of you a lot.’

‘Well, you have one up on me, then—because he’s told me nothing about you.’

She seemed quite taken aback. ‘You mean he’s never mentioned that we were students together at NIDA? We were in the same class,’ she went on, obviously peeved. ‘We graduated together last year.’

‘Sorry. He’s never mentioned it,’ he told her, doing his best to get his head around this news.

Kate was an actress! Who would have believed it? Still, it went some way to explaining her ability to hide her emotions. Though she wasn’t hiding them at the moment. She was looking decidedly upset. On his part, he was just perplexed.

Why hadn’t Lachlan told him that his future sister-in-law had been at NIDA with him? He knew Blake held an enormous respect for their graduates. On top of that, he was always on the lookout for fresh talent—especially actors with Kate’s unique and very interesting face.

He wondered if Lachlan was jealous of her acting talent. That would be just like him. He would hate anyone to steal his thunder. Narcissistic devil!

‘All I know is that you’re Maddie’s older sister,’ he admitted. ‘I don’t even know how much older.’

‘I’m twenty-five,’ she confessed, almost as if it was a crime.

Twenty-five was a good age for an actress, he thought. And for other things...

Finding out that Kate was an actress didn’t dampen his desire for her in any way. If anything, it increased it—along with his sudden resolve to help her career in any way he could. Blake suspected it might not have taken off, since he’d never heard of Kate Holiday. And he would have if she’d done anything of note. Blake had his finger on the pulse where rising stars were concerned.

Just then they were shepherded outside by the photographer—a rather officious fellow who was very full of himself.

‘So, what have you been in lately?’ he asked her as they trailed past the huge marquee which had been set up in the gorgeous grounds of Byron’s home. ‘Anything I might have seen?’

‘I doubt it,’ she said. ‘I was in a play earlier this year, but it closed rather quickly. I was brilliant, of course,’ Kate added, throwing a self-deprecating smile his way. ‘But not brilliant enough, apparently. One of the reviews said I was “very decorative”.’

Blake laughed. ‘Which you are,’ he said. ‘Very.’

She looked startled, her high cheekbones pinkening a little. Acting? he wondered. Or was she genuinely taken aback by his compliment? Blake decided he didn’t care either way. She enchanted him. And intrigued him. He was going to enjoy finding out more about her this evening, and at the same time putting a spoke in Lachlan’s ego by giving her career a boost.

He would offer her a part in one of his upcoming movies. Nothing too large. She was an unknown, after all.

Of course Blake anticipated that his offer to help her out would come with the bonus of taking her to bed in the foreseeable future. Which he very much wanted to do. More so than he had in a long while. Whilst sex was something he enjoyed, he wasn’t a sex addict. He could do without—especially when he was working long hours. Which he had been for several weeks now, finishing up Lachlan’s latest movie and getting it ready for distribution.

Possibly this longish stint of celibacy was responsible for the rather urgent wave of desire he was currently experiencing. Hopefully there wasn’t any extraneous reason why Kate shouldn’t respond to his pursuit. The only hurdle he could think of was a boyfriend in the wings. Or, worse, a fiancé.

A swift glance at her left hand detected a total absence of rings.

Good. A boyfriend he could handle, but a fiancé was another matter entirely.

‘I am so going to hate these photographs,’ Kate muttered when the photographer started giving them orders.

‘I don’t know why,’ he commented as they were forcefully arranged in a group in the well-lit gazebo, with the harbour and the bridge in the background. ‘With your bone structure I bet you’re very photogenic.’

Even if she wasn’t the best actress in the world, she would look good on screen. Blake felt confident that the camera would love her.

‘It’s very nice of you to say so.’

‘Not at all. It’s the truth. I never say things just to be nice.’

Not until tonight, that is. For some weird and wonderful reason Blake felt uncharacteristically compelled to be nice to Kate. Very nice. And it wasn’t just because he wanted to have sex with her. Right from the first moment he’d set eyes on her sad-looking self she’d brought out the gallant in him. Which was unusual. Because a white knight with women Blake was not—especially since Claudia’s betrayal.

Quite frankly he could be a bit of a bastard where the opposite sex was concerned. Especially if the girl was an ambitious young actress who made it obvious when they met that she was his for the taking—not because of a genuine attraction but because sleeping with him would further her career.

Kate was different, though. A different sort of girl. A different sort of actress.

He’d given her every opportunity to flirt with him. And flatter him. But she’d done neither. He liked that. He liked that a lot.

‘Would the bridesmaid please smile?’ the photographer snapped impatiently. ‘This is a wedding, not a funeral.’

CHAPTER FOUR

BUT IT IS a funeral, Kate wanted to wail. It was the death of her dream to marry Lachlan herself one day.

A stupid dream, really. Stupid and futile—especially once he’d met Maddie.

Of course she should never have taken him home. But she’d honestly thought it would be safe, with Maddie practically engaged. How had she been supposed to know that they would take one look at each other and fall head over heels in love?

Well, you should have known, you idiot!

Not that it would have made any difference.

Get real, you fool. Even before he met Maddie Lachlan had three years to notice you in that way. But he didn’t and he never would have! You’re not his type—which is blonde and beautiful, with buckets of self-esteem and a sense of self-entitlement to rival royalty. Somehow that description doesn’t fit you, dear heart. Not even remotely.

A very strong male arm suddenly wound around her waist, pulling her firmly against his side and propelling Kate out of her self-pitying thoughts. Glancing up at Blake, she encountered narrowed blue eyes giving her a warning look.

‘If you don’t start smiling properly,’ he whispered into her ear, ‘I’ll start thinking you can’t act your way out of a paper bag.’

Kate blinked, then swallowed and straightened her spine—after which she rewarded him with a beaming smile. Because no way did she want Blake Randall thinking she couldn’t act. Hadn’t she resolved earlier to try to use the opportunity of meeting him to her advantage? It would be utterly foolish to ignore a man of his influence and contacts. If she couldn’t have Lachlan’s love, then at least she could have a career.

‘That’s better,’ he said, smiling down at her.

Her spirits lifted again, as they had earlier when he’d smiled at her. Kate couldn’t quite understand why he was as interested in her as he seemed to be—but who was she to look a gift horse in the mouth?

The photos were still a trial—especially when she and Blake mostly had to stand to one side and witness Maddie and Lachlan having endless shots taken of just the two of them in all sorts of romantic poses and clinches.

Maddie had confessed to Kate that morning that they’d already sold their wedding photos to a well-known tabloid—which wasn’t surprising. Her sister was very money-hungry. Celebrity-hungry, too. They were certainly a well-matched couple in that regard; Kate was well aware of Lachlan’s love of fame.

She winced as she watched him kiss his blushing bride for the umpteenth time.

If she’d been alone with Blake, Kate might have been able to distract herself by chatting about movies. But, no, fate wasn’t going to be that kind. Her parents were now hurrying over to them, demanding to be introduced, and gushing like mad over the bride and groom.

After what felt like for ever, but was probably only a few minutes, Blake suddenly took her arm and said, ‘You must excuse us, folks, but we really have to speak to Byron ASAP.’

He didn’t explain further, just swept a relieved Kate away.

‘Are they always like that?’ he growled as he snatched two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter, pressing one into Kate’s hand.

‘Like what?’

‘Raving about your sister like she’s a bloody princess. They never said a word about how gorgeous you look. It was all about Maddie—Little Miss Perfect and oh, so clever to have snared herself a husband like Lachlan.’ He snorted at that. ‘They won’t be saying that in a couple of years’ time.’

‘What do you mean?’ she asked, a little flustered by his saying she looked gorgeous.

‘Damn it,’ he said, gulping his glass of champagne before giving her a slightly sheepish look. ‘I probably shouldn’t be saying this. Though maybe you already suspect?’

‘Suspect what?’

‘That where the opposite sex is concerned Lachlan is a rat. No, more of a cat. A tom cat. He can’t keep it in his pants for long. Trust me when I say that being married won’t stop him from sleeping around. I walked in on him having sex with a make-up girl just a few weeks ago. Long after his engagement to your sister.’

Possibly Kate shouldn’t have been shocked—Lachlan had garnered quite a reputation during his years at NIDA—but she was.

‘Poor Maddie,’ she said, and downed half of her glass of champagne.

‘I agree with you. If she truly loves Lachlan then she’s in for a bumpy road.’

What an odd thing to say, Kate thought. If she truly loves him. Of course Maddie truly loved him. Lachlan was the sort of man who inspired love. Every time Kate looked at him she felt that tightening in her stomach, that wave of longing. So nowadays she tried not to look at him. It was easier that way.

She did go and see his movies, though. Which was the worst form of masochism since they were all love stories and always had at least one sex scene. But she simply could not resist.

‘Is that why you were upset earlier?’ Byron asked her. ‘Because you’re worried about your sister’s future happiness?’

Kate stared up into his deeply set blue eyes, which held a surprisingly sympathetic expression at that moment. And there she’d been, believing he was some kind of ruthless bastard. Not so, it seemed.

‘Yes,’ she lied, for how could she tell him that it was her own future happiness that had been worrying her?

He reached out to touch her wrist lightly. ‘No point in worrying about other people’s marriages. What will be will be.’

Kate didn’t know what to think. Her thoughts were somewhat scattered. How could Lachlan do something like that? It had certainly tarnished her opinion of him. Not her love, however. That didn’t tarnish quite so easily.

Suddenly she frowned at Blake. ‘Why did you agree to be Lachlan’s best man when it’s obvious you don’t like him very much?’

He shrugged. ‘Don’t get me wrong. I don’t dislike Lachlan. He’s not a bad fellow. Just weak when it comes to women throwing themselves at him. Which they do. All the time. Look, he asked me to be his best man and I said yes. Call it a business move rather than a measure of close friendship. The publicity will be good for our next movie, which should be coming out in the New Year. Too late, unfortunately, to be up for any awards this year, but I couldn’t get it edited and distributed any earlier.’

‘I see. And is that also why you organised for the wedding to be held here? For the added publicity?’

‘No. I didn’t think of that at the time. When the other venue burnt down we still had a couple of weeks’ shooting to complete in Hawaii, and I couldn’t afford for my leading man to keep getting hysterical phone calls from his fiancée. So I stepped in and fixed things. Now, I think they’re waiting for us to go into the marquee for the reception. We’ll be on the same table, but I doubt we’re seated side by side—worst luck. Still, there’ll be a party and dancing afterwards. Then we can talk some more.’

He put a firm hand in the small of her back and gently pushed her towards the entrance to the marquee. It felt good, that hand. Very...reassuring. Also very intimate.

She sneaked a quick glance up into his deep blue eyes, startled when they bored back down into hers with the sort of lustful look men usually reserved for Maddie.

The realisation that Blake Randall lusted after her was flattering, but also very flustering. Her whole body tightened in response, which threw her. She couldn’t possibly lust after Blake Randall in return, could she? Surely not. She was just shocked, that was all.

And yet...

She glanced over at him again, this time focusing on his mouth and recalling how she’d wondered earlier in the proceedings what it would be like to kiss him.

Exciting, she decided, her heartbeat quickening. Exciting and risky. Very risky. Because he wouldn’t want to stop at kissing.

Kate knew in theory that love and lust didn’t have to reside together. But she’d never experienced one without the other. Which was why her very limited forays into sex had been such disasters—and why, for the last four years, she hadn’t had a proper boyfriend or been to bed with anyone. How could she after falling so deeply in love with Lachlan?

Yet as she stared at Blake Randall’s perversely sexy mouth she could not dismiss the notion that she just might enjoy going to bed with him despite not loving him. Not that she would. She wasn’t that sort of girl. She wasn’t like Maddie, who’d been jumping into men’s beds at the drop of a hat since she was sixteen.

Besides, you don’t really want to go to bed with him, Kate told herself firmly. You’re just flattered that he fancies you. That’s what this is all about. Not true lust. Just your poor pathetic ego, desperate for someone to show some interest in you. Now, stop ogling the man and get some perspective!

Just in time she wrenched her eyes away from his mouth. But it was too late. His lips were drawing back into a knowing smile. He’d already seen her staring at him.

‘First dance is mine,’ he said with a devilish twinkle in his eyes. ‘Don’t forget.’

Relief claimed Kate as the wedding planner bustled over to them, interrupting what was becoming an awkward situation.

Her name was Clare. She was about fifty, a sleekly attractive blonde with an air of self-importance somewhat like the photographer’s. They were in business together, Maddie’s mother having hired them because they were supposedly ‘the best’.

‘Do come along, Kate,’ the woman said, and glanced at her watch. ‘You too, Mr Randall. We are now running behind schedule.’

Blake rolled his eyes at Kate after Clare had departed to hurry up some of the other guests.