"Okay here we go… so, this is it, I've been having intense, passionate sex every day with my tennis coach for over a month now.""Jesus, what? are you out of your mind?" Helena exclaimed, looking shocked as she gazed across the drawing room at her friend Emma. The two women were finalising the décor of the country home Emma would soon share with Byron after their Christmas wedding in a week. As an interior designer, Helena had spent the last month assisting Byron and Emma in selecting the furniture and décor for the spacious house, which they hoped would one day be filled with their children.‘Hang on a minute.’ Helena's eyes narrowed with suspicion. ‘You don’t have a tennis coach, Emma.’‘True.’ Emma, a beautiful English, laughed at Helena's frowning expression. ‘But it caught your attention, didn’t it?’ She smiled wryly. ‘I’ve been talking to you for the last ten minutes, girl, and I’m pretty sure you haven’t heard a word I’ve said!’‘Sorry, Emma,’ Helena apologised with a grimace.
Helena remembered only too well Bryan’s visit to England five years ago. And the fury in the accusing look he’d shot in her direction when he’d arrived and seen what Emma had done to her normally rich brown hair…‘And I’ve always been envious of your amazing green eyes,’ Emma continued longingly. ‘Plus, you’ve become one of the most successful interior designers in London.’‘Mainly due to you and other mutual friends employing me,’ Helena pointed out dryly.‘That’s irrelevant,’ Emma said firmly. ‘Your grandfather should be proud of you and your achievements!’Helena couldn’t help smiling at her friend’s chagrin on her behalf. ‘The thing is, my mother couldn’t have any more children after me, so that pretty well took care of there ever being a male heir.’‘Your grandfather is only a land-owner, for goodness’ sake, not nobility!’ Emma scoffed.And, being descended from nobility herself, Emma was in a position to know the difference!Helena smiled wistfully. ‘Same thing as far as Grandfa
Bryan Smith was thirty-seven now, to Helena's almost twenty-four, and the crush Helena had once had on the arrogant English had—as Emma so rightly pointed out—developed into antagonism on both sides. Out of dislike and disapproval on Bryan’s side—especially after Helena's brief marriage and divorce—and out of pure self-defence on hers.She gave a dismissive shrug. ‘We just don’t like each other.’‘But why don’t you?’ Emma pressed, frustrated. ‘I know I’m his sister, but you have to admit that Bryan is the epitome of “tall, dark, and handsome”, and he has such a dangerous sexual aura about him that he should come with a public health warning. And you’re absolutely gorgeous—’‘So you already said,’ Helena teased. ‘None of which alters the fact that your brother makes me break out in a rash every time I see him, and that I seem to have the same effect on him.’‘It’s a total mystery to me,’ Emma continued. ‘Bryan is usually so stiffly correct, so—so English, that I simply don’t understand
His mouth tightened. Ten years ago, he had not approved of or understood Emma’s affection and friendship for the gawky English girl she had only known for less than a year and had absolutely refused to allow his sister to complete her education in England so that she could remain in England with her new friend. Emma had eventually complied with his decision, of course, and instead continued the friendship by telephone and letter.Then, at the age of eighteen, a much more stubbornly determined Emma informed him that she intended to attend an English university, and she had instantly met up with Helena Bosch again. If anything, the friendship between the two women had become all the stronger as they had matured.Admittedly, Helena had grown into a confident woman of passable beauty, and Emma reported that she was very successful as an interior designer, but Bryan still did not approve of her as a friend for his young sister. Even less so after Helena's brief marria
‘You aren’t supposed to know it’s me.’ Helena frowned behind her mask.‘We discussed these dresses once—don’t you remember?’ her friend said as Helena moved to kiss a Duke-of-Wellington-costumed Byron.As it happened, Helena did remember the time she and Emma had lain under an oak tree in the school grounds, waxing lyrical about how romantic it must have been to live in the seventeenth century with all those manly heroes from the historical novels they’d devoured. Until they had remembered that there had been no plumbing for instant hot baths in those times, nor the convenience of the telephone!But like Emma, Helena hadn’t been able to resist wearing a beautiful gown in the style of that century this evening.‘You both look very beautiful,’ Byron told them gallantly.He was nothing like those dark, almost satanic heroes Helena and Emma had once drooled over, with his hair a golden blond and his eyes blue, but there was no doubting the happiness of Emma and Byron’s marriage, which Hel
Hayden Landon felt great, and he had every reason to. This September, he would begin his final year of college, and he already had a full-time job in his area. There weren't many jobs available in his specialty (American History, Museum Studies), but he found one with respectable beginning pay and opportunities for promotion. His baseball season was going well. Even though he wasn't going anywhere professionally, he enjoyed doing well in the summer league. Aside from after college, it's most likely the beer and pretzel softball league. Hayden smiled as he drove along the interstate. Yes, everything was going fine.One other thing: Hayden was in love. Not that brief moment of intense feeling or that line used by every guy who wanted to get laid. No, this was the real thing. On this hot July 4th weekend, he was going to make his feelings known.Hayden had met Abigail during their sophomore year. They were taking the same US history course. As an education major, she had to, and he did b
Joey offered Hayden a beer, and they walked towards the cooler. They found as they walked that they shared a common love, baseball, and so got quite involved in a discussion of it. They walked around the grounds, talking, and ended up at the horseshoe game. It seemed to draw quite a crowd. Abigail's dad and some other guy were trash talking as they beat all the challengers.Hayden asked, "Who's that?""That's Ranger. He just became a lawyer and is an up-and-coming guy in politics. One of dad's favorites," Joey replied with an air of disgust. "Dated Abigail in high school even though he's older than her. I think more for a connection than anything else. If Dad had his way, he would still be dating her."With that comment, Hayden said, "Whaaat! You can't be serious?""I am. Watch out. He's a real asshole!"The game just ended with another win by Ranger and Dad."All right, who's next for a beatdown? "yelled Ranger. "Come on, candy-asses!"All the good old boys laughed, but no one steppe
Hayden was speechless. Suddenly, he couldn't find the words to express the way he felt. Emelyn sensed his uneasiness and changed the subject. "Are you staying the night? It is a long ride for you to go home, isn't it? How long is it?""It's 4 hours, and I wasn't planning on staying," replied Hayden."Nonsense! You'll stay the night. We'll fix up the extra room. No arguments."Jessica came by just as the decision was made. She was saying her good-byes. Her daughter Lindsay was getting tired, and they wanted to get home. Jessica had heard that they had just issued a severe thunderstorm warning, and she didn't want to get caught in it. Off to the west, you see thunderstorm clouds building.Hayden rose to say good-bye. "Sorry, I didn't meet your husband. Was he here?"Emelyn stifled a cough. "He never comes," replied Jessica. "She doesn't like big gatherings and is too busy with work." With that, she gave Hayden a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. "I have never seen Abigail so happy. You'r