Chapter 4

He had just wandered out to the balcony when he saw her. It had been a tormenting week since he rudely ignored her greeting at the charity ball - a week in which he had replayed how he had behaved.

The papers had made fun of it - there was a picture of him walking past her as she smiled at him with the reporter speculating why ‘cruise shipping magnate, Rylan Braithwaite was so rude to newly returned international model Celeste Coleman.'

One had even dared to allege that it had to do with the color of her skin. His mother had been furious and had mentioned that they should let their lawyers deal with it.

"And add more sensationalism to the nonsense?" He had snapped. "It will blow over soon."

He had no idea she would be at the club or - Or what? he wondered, watching as she surfaced from the stunningly blue water of the pool. Did she have any idea how she looked with the water pouring off her practically naked body?

She was wearing a white two-piece swimsuit, and even from where he was, he noticed the startling white against her skin. Her hips flared gently, and her small breasts rose proudly against the material, the nipples clearly outlined.

He watched as she lifted her hands to brush the water from her hair, the pose so alluring he felt his knees going weak.

She was beautiful. At fourteen, she was adorable and cute. At fifteen, she had blossomed into a stunning beauty that had the boys in the exclusive high school rushing after her. But she had eyes only for him and he had been proud that he had been the one she chose.

They had become inseparable and had been nicknamed the ‘beautiful couple.' Their love had flared into something so strong that they could not stay away from each other.He had found innovative ways to be with her as long as possible.

She was not allowed to date at fourteen, but her parents had been overindulgent, and he was Rylan Braithwaite, so it was allowed. He was also allowed to go to her room in the guise of studying, which should have been forbidden, considering that he was sixteen and she was just fourteen.

But he had managed to wait until she turned fifteen. They had kissed and fondled until it became so unbearable that he had to force himself to stop. On her fifteenth birthday, they had gone for a drive in his brand-new Corvette.

Her birthday was in April, and it was spring break. Instead of going to the South of France like the rest of his friends, he had opted to stay behind.

They had driven to the ice cream place where he had bought her double mint chocolate, teasing her that she would get fat. Afterward, they drove up to the top of the hill, where privacy was ensured. And it was in the backseat of his car, with a blanket spread over the leather; they had both had sex for the first time.

Right there, they had pledged their undying love for each other and swore to be together for eternity. His mouth twisted cynically as he continued to watch her. Eternity had not lasted very long. She had chosen her career over him and broken him into pieces.

He was about to turn away and go to join the rest of his party in the card room when he stopped. It had to be dealt with. He had to get ahead of this thing. He had to close the wound once and for all.

With that in mind, he descended the steps to take him to the pool area.

"Jeremy, you are becoming a nuisance and blocking the sun. I-" Her voice trailed off as she opened her eyes to see the tall, golden-haired man standing before her. "Rylan. I thought-"

"That I was the unfortunate Jeremy."

"He was here bothering me earlier, and I-" Taking a deep breath, she sat up and quickly tied the string of her bathing suit around her neck. "Could you hand me the towel?"

He did so wordlessly and sat on the adjoining chaise as she wrapped the towel around her shoulders.

"I had no idea you were here."

"Why are you?"

Her fingers clutched the fringes of the towel, and she could feel her heart pounding unsteadily. "I had a meeting with some of the girls and decided to make a weekend of it."

"I am surprised to see you here all by yourself."

"I wanted to have a moment alone."

"I am also surprised that you are not with someone. Where is the guy?"

"Oh. You mean Jacques?"

"Was that his name?" He congratulated himself that he could have a normal conversation with her. Even though he was trying not to notice how flawless her complexion was and the tiny mole next to her left nostril that he had often teased her about when they were younger.

"It's a blight on an otherwise perfect face."

"It's cute." She had countered.

"Nothing cute about a black mark next to your nostril. It's hideous."

"Yes. I- we broke up."

"What? Was he getting in the way of your career?" His voice reeked with sarcasm and contempt.

"No." She responded quietly, her eyes begging him to understand. "It just did not work out. I don't want to go into details-"

"You don't have to," he said swiftly. "It's none of my business, and I had no right to say what I did. Speaking of which, he rose lithely with the intention of leaving. I would like to apologize for the way I behaved before. It was inexcusable."

"Apology accepted."

With a nod, he turned to leave, stopping when she called his name.

"I should be the one apologizing," she whispered. "I hurt you-"

"It's all in the past. It would be ridiculous to hang onto something that happened so many years ago. Nice to see you, Celeste." With that, he was gone, his long legs eating up the ground.

She watched him until he disappeared inside the building and felt the tears at the back of her eyes. He seemed distant and aloof as if he had decided to put it all behind him and be done with it. Colin had remarked on his behavior that night and hinted that he still loved her. But what she saw just now was anything but love.

That first night had been an explosive reaction to seeing her again after what she had done to him. But now, after getting used to her being here, he was composed and in control. Colin was wrong. There was no way Rylan could be in love with her after what she had done to him.

And besides, it had happened when they were still so young. What had they known about love? Yes, it had been intense, the sex sizzling and powerful, but it was just teenage emotions raging out of control. They would have been miserable if they had done the stupid thing by running off to get married.

He would have resented her for ruining his dreams of taking over his company. She had done the right thing. Then why does it feel like her heart was breaking again? she wondered dismally as she tried drying her hair. Why does seeing him make her want to walk into his arms and lose herself in his scent?

There was something unresolved between them, and she felt it. And no matter his attitude just now, she knew he realized it, too. His little apology just now was just covering the gunshot wound with a tiny bandage, expecting and hoping that it would stop the flow of blood or cauterize the hole.

It would not work, and it would continue to fester until they hash it out, shouting and screaming at each other. And she would continue to have this ache and hollow feeling inside her that had been there for the last twelve years.

*****

He could not concentrate on the damn card game. Finally, he folded his hand and declared that he was out.

"If I stay longer, I will be entirely cleaned out." He told the other men jokingly as he pushed back his chair. "I will just go and drown my sorrows at the bar."

Amidst several good-natured jokes about him being off his game, he left the room and went straight to the bar in one of the restaurants. It was a lovely spring evening, which meant that most of the members were outside involved in one activity or the other.

Rylan was happy about that, as he wanted to be alone. He had contemplated just heading home, but he was committed to staying for the spring gala that was planned for tonight.

He also belatedly realized that he should have brought Madeline with him.

He needed the buffer. He could pretend that the civility he had portrayed at the poolside for Celeste's benefit had worked, but privately, he could not deny that it was just a facade and that he had tried too hard.

His mind was still on the woman he had left on that chaise lounge. It had taken a supreme effort on his part not to go back out and compel her to tell him why she had broken his heart—why she had chosen her career over him.

Cradling his drink, he stared into the amber liquid moodily. She had broken up with the guy, but that did not mean anything to him. After he realized she was gone for good, he started going out with other girls.

Finding someone had never been a problem where he was concerned. So, he had taken advantage and used them to satisfy his physical needs. His heart had not been in the act, and trying to get her out of his head had proven futile.

After a while, he had stopped trying, and eventually, the pain had receded into a dull ache that he could handle. He could no longer pretend that he was over her. He had not been with Madeline since that night and knew she had questions.

Perhaps he can move on with his life if he gets her out of his system. He had to try.

*****

Celeste was not looking forward to the evening, and she was beginning to think that she should not have come at all. After her time at the pool, she joined some of the others in a game of tennis and then returned to her room to take a nap that had done nothing to settle her nerves.

Now, she was getting ready for the night. When she finished the game and was coming back into the building, she caught a glimpse of Rylan. But apart from giving her a brief glance, he ignored her completely.

The dress she had brought with her was perfect for the occasion, but she wondered what he would think of the thin straps and the fact that it dipped so far in the back that there was no way she could put on any form of underwear at all.

The electric blue was stunning against her skin and molded her curves like a glove. She had forgotten to bring her blow dryer and had not found one in the elegant peaches and cream bathroom. The towel had dried it to a point, but it was still damp, even after being in the sun for several hours. As a result, the curls were more pronounced.

Staring in the mirror, she contemplated how to style it and left it loose around her face. Hopefully, the air inside the ballroom where the function was being held would do the trick.

Leaning forward, she coated her lips with the cranberry crush and was ready.

Taking a deep breath, she grabbed her jacket and beaded purse and left the room, closing the door behind her.

"I have been looking everywhere for you." Jeremy Hinds, her most persistent admirer, popped up right before her as she entered the vast ballroom.

"And now you found me." Keeping the irritation out of her voice was proving to be a task.

"How about I escort you to the bar?" He asked hopefully. He was a sweetheart eager to please, but she was not in the mood.

"It so happens that I can walk over there on my own. And look! Leesa Kelly and the rest are right next to it. Perfect." Without waiting for him to respond, she wound her way over to her friends.

"I need a very strong drink." She declared, dumping her things on a padded seat.

"Jeremy is still trying?" Leesa asked in amusement.

"He wanted to escort me over here. Tequila, please, Anthony." She gave him her dazzling smile, which made him fumble.

"And I see Rylan is staring over here as if trying to decide the best approach," Kelly said teasingly.

"He is avoiding me." Celeste picked up her shot glass and downed it in one gulp. "Now that hits the spot." With a careless smile, she looked at her friends. "I am going to party like there is no tomorrow and forget about Rylan Braithwaite."

And she did her best to keep that pledge. She accepted invitations from several men and even made Jeremy's night by dancing with him twice. In between, she drank, switching from champagne to the hard stuff and barely eating the finger food floating around.

Across the room, Rylan stood with his friends, his anger almost bubbling over as he watched her flaunting herself and becoming the center of attention. Jeremy, the bastard! He was holding her too tight, his hand splayed over the small of her back and touching bare skin.

What the hell was she wearing? And what did he expect anyway? She was a model and was used to parading around half-naked. To hell with her! He decided as he plucked another glass of champagne from the passing waiter.

This was his third glass in the last five minutes, and he was thinking of walking over to the bar and having something stronger.

He hated her for making him feel so damned jealous. Because that's what it was. What he was feeling was the awful jealousy eating away at him.

Tossing back the champagne, he slammed the glass down and marched purposefully onto the dance floor. Touching Jeremy on the shoulder, he waited until the man had turned his head before he rasped. "Take a hike."

"I don't-"

"Now." The implacable tone had the man letting go of Celeste and hurrying away. Pulling her into his arms, he gazed at the exquisite face that haunted his dreams.

"You are drunk," he commented contemptuously.

"I am just tipsy." She wrapped her hands around his neck and stared up at him dreamily. You are so tall," she added, her fingers drifting over his neck and tangling with the hairs there. "I am wearing heels, and you are still taller than I am."

"Quite an observation." His icy tone was dulling, and he realized that he was no proof against her body pressing on his. "Why does it not surprise me that you are almost naked?"

"The dress would not—" She shook her head and tried again. "It could not—I am unable to wear anything under it."

"And it pleased you to have Hinds and the others pawing all over you?"

"Were they?" Her smile was whimsical. "Are you jealous, Rylan?"

"Don't flatter yourself." He tried to snap at her but could not quite pull it off. Her breasts were pressing against his chest, and the material was thin enough for him to feel the heat of her body mingling with the heat pumping through him.

"I was jealous when you were dancing with that bottle of bleach blonde with that exaggerated bosom, which I am certain she spent a lot of money on."

"And you have that on good authority?"

"I am a woman," she murmured, as if that should be a good enough reason. "And there is no way that chest was given to her by God."

"Perhaps he was in a ery generous mood."

She blinked at him and burst out laughing. "Yeah, right." She snorted, and for a few seconds, they were back twelve years ago. He bent his head to hers, the intimacy on his face evident. Celeste felt her heart pounding inside her chest and her nipples reacting to his unspoken passion.

"Rylan-"

Her voice broke the spell and shook him out of the euphoria stealing over him. The song had ended without them realizing it. Steeling himself to put her away, he stepped back, a cool mask coming over his face. With a curt nod, he turned and walked away, leaving her standing there.

*****

He went straight to the bar, ordered his bourbon, and decided that to get through the rest of the night, he was going to stay the hell away from her.

Plucking his phone out of his jacket pocket, he dialed Madeline's number.

"Hi."

"Hi." Forcing the warmth into his voice, he settled in for the conversation. "What are you up to?"

"I just got in, actually. As usual, Lydia was having a meltdown, so I agreed to have dinner with her. How is the party?"

He stared down into his liquor. "Tedious. I was planning to return tonight, but it's too late. I will be back in the morning."

"I am looking forward to it." She told him warmly. "I miss you, darling."

He wanted to say it back to her but knew it wouldn't be sincere.

"Good to be missed. We will talk as soon as I get back."

"I hope so. We have not done much of it over the past few weeks."

"It"s entirely my fault. That's going to change," he promised. "Anyway, I just called to check in."

"Thanks."

"Goodnight." Hanging up the phone, he finished his drink and called it a night. He had told her he would head out early in the morning and do just that.

*****

She had just removed her dress and slipped into a robe when she heard the pounding on the door.

"If that's Jeremy, I swear to God-" She yanked open the door, ready to blast him, her mouth dropping open as she stared at the man leaning against the door jamb.

"Rylan."

"Were you expecting someone else?" He drawled insolently, green eyes raking over the untidy curls piled on her head and the robe gaping open.

"I wasn't expecting anyone. What are you doing here?"

Brushing past her, he slammed the door shut and slid the lock in place. "I have been asking myself that same question since I visited your room.""How did you know which room I was staying in?" She asked the obvious question as he paced over to the window and back.

"I saw you came in earlier." He stopped in front of her. "I need to get you out of my head."

Her heart jolted.

"And you have decided to do that - how exactly?"

"What do you think?"

"You are drunk, and so am I."

"Oh, believe me, I am stone-cold sober. Unfortunately or fortunately, I don't know which, I can hold my liquor, and this lust- this yearning I have for you is not going away. So-" He shrugged.

"I decided that the logical thing to do is to come to the source. What do you say, darling? How about we get naked and spend the night together? In the cold light of day, we can go on about our business and lives and be done with it."

She felt the ache spreading inside her at his tone and the words. "Is it that easy for you?" She asked softly.

"What?" He laughed mirthlessly. "Are you expecting a desperate vow of love? Me on my knees begging for your affection with tears in my eyes? That's not going to happen. Do you want to screw or not?"

"I don't. Not like this."

"Well, fine."

He turned to walk away and was at the door when she hurried after him, her hand on his arm. "Don't go."