Secret Son, Convenient Wife(57)

She was surprised that Tate didn’t seem more upset about it all. Oh, he had that small tightness around his mouth telling her he wasn’t happy having Drake here, but he still didn’t seem to be accusing her of anything. And that was gratifying, if somewhat confusing.

The opening of the study door broke into her thoughts. The sound of the party rushed in as she saw a tall figure step inside and close the door behind him.

This time she didn’t get the man wrong.

Drake.

A sense of déjà vu washed over her.

“So this is where you’re hiding?” he mocked, remaining in front of the door, barring her escape.

“This is a private room, Drake,” she said, trying not to look like she was frozen in her chair.

He started toward her, “All the better.”

“What do you mean?” Her stomach churned. She knew there was a door leading out to the terrace, but the heavy drapes had been pulled across it, and she doubted she’d get to it before him. If only the telephone would ring.

It remained silent.

“You didn’t think I would give up, did you?”

“Give up what?”

He stopped right in front of the desk. “You.”

Her brain stumbled then righted. Was he going to take her at any price? She couldn’t let him. Everything she had, everything she loved, was at risk here. She couldn’t let him take it all away. Not again.

Somehow she managed to get to her feet and pull back her shoulders, making herself taller, though she wasn’t foolish enough to move from behind the desk. If she did, he would attack.

“Why are you doing this, Drake?” she said as calmly as she could. “I never encouraged you.”

His eyes narrowed. “Maybe that’s the attraction.”

In that split second she realized he was used to intimidating her. He wasn’t used to her fighting back. She might have disagreed with him on the telephone every time he’d called, but there hadn’t been a chance to stand up to him in person. Why, even at the awards dinner last night she’d pleaded with him to let her go.

No more.

“You knew I thought it was Tate I was kissing two years ago,” she said, determined to make him accountable.

“Oh, yeah, I knew, Gem.”

He was a bully. “Yet you’re Tate’s best friend. Why would you risk your friendship like this?”

“Am I risking it? I don’t think so.” He paused, his confidence returning. “You know, it’s a pity about your upcoming divorce. Your marriage really was over so quickly. But hey, that’s the way with these high-profile marriages.”

Inside she gasped, outside she didn’t flinch. “What do you mean?”

“Once I make you mine, I’ll have to tell Tate how you finally succeeded in seducing me.”

She held her ground. “He won’t believe you.”#p#分页标题#e#

He rubbed his chin, cocky and obnoxious. “Oh, I think he will.”

“Actually, Drake, I know I won’t,” Tate growled, pushing the drapes aside and stepping in from the doorway to the terrace.

This time Gemma did gasp out loud.

And so did Drake Fulton.





Twelve




Looking across the room at the other man, Tate had never felt a deeper sense of cold triumph. How had he ever thought Drake was a man of his word?

“What is this?” Drake demanded, recovering quickly.

Tate moved farther into the room. “I set you up, you son of a bitch.”

“And I helped him,” Helen Chandler said, stepping in from the terrace.

Drake winced.

Anger rolled through Tate. “All I want to know is why, Drake?”

Masking his face now, the other man gave a careless shrug. “You took my girlfriend all those years ago, so I decided to take yours.”

Tate blinked, then blinked again in disbelief. “Good Lord! You mean Rachel? That was back at university.” He shook his head. “And she made a play for me, not the other way around. You said it didn’t matter anyway.”

Drake’s face turned rigid. “I lied. She mattered to me, Tate. Just like Gemma mattered to you. I could tell that, you see. It made my vengeance all the sweeter.”

Tate glanced at Gemma and their eyes collided. His heart raced as he saw hope flare in those blue depths. She wanted him to care for her.

He did, he promised in return.

His gaze returned to Drake. “You’re right about that, Drake. Gemma does matter to me,” he said out loud. “More than you know.” He heard her make a soft sound, but it was Drake’s harsher rasp that kept his attention fully focused on the man.

Like a spoiled child, Drake burst out, “I was behind the internet pictures and the newspaper story about her being pregnant.”