Caitlin hung back but her awkward feeling was momentarily swamped by curiosity as she watched James walk quickly up to his mother and envelop her in a huge hug. In a second he’d turned back to her to introduce her to his parents and to his other brother, Jack.
Irene, James’ mother, was petite, immaculately presented and had a beautiful, genuine smile.
‘It’s so nice of you to welcome me here. I know it was unexpected,’ Caitlin said, wishing she weren’t blushing.
Or that James was so obviously amused by her blush.
‘It’s a pleasure to have a friend of the boys,’ said Irene.
Caitlin bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself laughing at the woman’s reference to James, George and Jack as ‘the boys’. They were giants next to her.
George winked at her. ‘How’re you finding New York?’
‘Amazing. Thank you so much.’ She smiled at him.
He nodded easily. ‘When I left London Hannah had disappeared off the scene—buried in her manuscript research. I’ve never met a more “method” actress.’
Yeah, Hannah preferred to live her characters’ lives. ‘She gets very absorbed in her work,’ Caitlin said, refusing to let anything other than pride and enthusiasm sound in her answer. She was aware of James’ eyes on her as she answered. The disapproval she sensed from him about her lack of relationship with her sister was nothing short of ironic.
‘Your sister’s an actress?’ Irene asked with a bright smile. ‘You didn’t want to act too?’
‘I did do some acting work for a while,’ Caitlin fudged. ‘But I really don’t have the talent or the drive. I’m happier backstage.’
‘Oh? What do you do?’
Caitlin fixed a smile to her face and answered the kindly meant questions, all the while thinking of the dynamics. The polite welcome mat was fully unrolled for her, but there was no hiding the absolute joy in Irene’s eyes as she’d watched James walk up to her. No hiding the way she’d hugged him as if it had been forever since she’d been able to.
Just how long had it been? And why? Was it really only work that kept James from coming home more often?
‘I didn’t know you were still here,’ James said quietly to his twin as he watched Caitlin walk into the house with his mother. Jack had already gone ahead with his father, talking business no doubt.
‘I didn’t know you were bringing Caitlin,’ George replied.
‘She seemed lonely,’ James said blandly. ‘I thought she might enjoy a change of scene.’
‘Nice to see you being social.’ George’s brows knitted together. ‘How are the two of you rubbing along in the condo if most of the rooms are out of action?’
‘We figured it out.’ At George’s sly smile, James rolled his eyes. ‘You know how capable we are of bunking down when necessary.’
‘When necessary.’
There was no fooling his twin. Not in many things.
‘You haven’t been here in a while,’ George added.
‘Mmm,’ James mumbled a non-answer. ‘How’re you getting on in London?’
‘Nearly done. I’ll be glad to get home.’
‘You’re not enjoying that party lifestyle you appear to be living?’
George chuckled. ‘I’m jaded, brother. All the pretty women blur together after a while.’ He sent him a glance. ‘Whereas I assume you’re still doing the celibate monk thing?’
‘Hard to find playmates the places I go to.’
‘But you’re in New York for a few nights now, right? Easy pickings.’ George’s gaze wandered to Caitlin again. ‘Hard when you’ve got a roommate cramping your style though I guess.’
‘Guess so.’
‘But then she’s a very pretty roommate.’
James wasn’t biting. He refused to bite.
‘I’ve always thought she was the prettier of the two,’ George added.
‘You of all people should know it’s not nice to compare. Especially siblings.’
George laughed. ‘Good deflection, but don’t think I don’t have eyes.’
James tensed. ‘Look all you want.’
‘But don’t touch?’
James turned to face his brother head on. George wasn’t the right guy for Caitlin. Then again, nor was James. ‘Don’t,’ he said softly. ‘Don’t say anything, don’t do anything...just leave her.’ Leave her to me.
George mock-punched his shoulder. ‘I’m your brother. Sometimes it seems like you forget that.’
James looked into the eyes almost as dark as his own. ‘I never forget.’
‘Then don’t be such a stranger.’
* * *
Caitlin luxuriated in the shower, washing off the travel in the massive en suite. In fact the whole house was massive. The beachfront mansion had a small movie theatre, a bar, a spa and pool that overlooked their own private stretch of beach. It was unbelievably beautiful. But it wasn’t all perfect show home. It was warm, with pictures of the family all around, and as she’d been given the tour by his mother Caitlin couldn’t help but wonder why on earth James didn’t want to be here.
She’d requested some time to take a shower before dinner, deliberately giving James some space to have time alone with his family. At the knock on her door, she wondered if she’d taken too long. But it was him—telling her that dinner would be in another half-hour.
‘What have you been doing?’ She stared at him. He was covered with a sheen of sweat and had that edgy gleam in his eye.
‘Playing tennis,’ he answered briefly, pacing away from her already. ‘Half an hour ’til dinner, okay?’
She watched him walk down the hall, all popping muscles and curled-up fingers. What was with the hard-out tennis tournament within ten minutes of arriving? Wasn’t this a place to relax and catch up with his family? But he seemed to be as restless as he’d been in those first couple of days in New York—until he’d calmed down a touch and managed to actually sit still for a few minutes at a time. Then again, maybe that was how he and his brothers bonded? With their own mini-Olympics.
But if that was the case, why did he still look bothered?
‘We eat outside in summer, Caitlin.’ James’ mum smiled at her when she arrived in the lounge. ‘You don’t mind?’
James knew Caitlin wasn’t going to mind. The wooden deck overlooked the pool and the beach—an unlimited view to the horizon. And Caitlin did like a nice view.
At dinner James focused on his food, but his appetite had taken a hike hours ago—the second he’d pulled into the driveway. He regretted coming here already. He felt Caitlin glance at him, knew she noticed his silence. But he wasn’t the only quiet one: Jack was abnormally preoccupied tonight. James had seen him sneaking way too many looks at his mobile phone even for a workaholic like Jack. Something was on—the business, most likely.
‘This is your first time to New York?’ James’ dad asked Caitlin.
James glanced at her as she admitted it was.
‘What’s been your favourite thing so far?’
‘Oh, now that’s impossible, I’ve seen so many amazing things,’ she answered