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‘And his mother?’
‘Just that he doesn’t have one.’
‘Well, that’s half true... Robert Hastings married a woman named Catherine Evans and they had Alex. Robert needed an heir, but Catherine was indifferent. When Alex was born she hated being a mother, had no maternal feelings or even any love for him, and one day she just left.’
Emma listened, horrified that his mother could have done that. It was common knowledge that her mother favoured Maddison, but at least she had been there for Emma in the past, and in a lot of ways still was.
‘The thing is, she never left high society. She likes the life. Robert had a reputation as a difficult man in the business world, and Catherine perpetuated rumours that he was the same, if not worse, in private. It was easily believed, so she wasn’t cast out. But it isn’t the truth. Robert is a hard man to please because of who he is, but he is a good man. So Alex has grown up knowing who his mother is, but she’s a complete stranger to him. He’s never actually met her.’
‘Oh, my God!’ Emma covered her mouth. ‘That’s awful. And cruel.’ She uncrossed her legs and got off the couch, moving to stand at the massive window. ‘Everything he’s said makes so much sense now.’
‘What did he say?’ Matt asked.
Emma turned around and leaned her back against the large pane of glass. ‘He told me he doesn’t want the title. He said it leads you to make mistakes and trust the wrong people.’
‘That sounds like him. He doesn’t ever trust people.’
‘But he trusted me,’ Emma said softly.
He had shown her as much when he’d spoken to her about his reluctance to accept the legacy that awaited him, and when he’d brought her to his home. The key in her pocket suddenly became an immensely heavy weight.
‘He did. Make sure you don’t lose that trust. You’ll never get it back.’
Matt picked up his coffee and took a long sip. Emma was silent. Reeling from his revelations. It was a clear warning from Matt, but Emma was determined to be what Alex needed, just as he had been for her, for as long as she could.
She couldn’t stop thinking about everything Matt had said. It played over and over in her mind like a broken record and, despite wanting to spend another night with Alex, she knew she shouldn’t let herself forget exactly what this relationship was. Spending the night here with Matt around would feel like a lot more than either of them wanted. So she stole a moment alone with Alex just as he was about to leave his study.
She pushed him back in and closed the door behind her. He clearly knew what she was after. Pressing her back against the door, his hands on either side of her head, Alex kissed her with a ferocity that promised so much pleasure. The air was sucked out from around them and all that was left was a vacuum, thick with desire.
When she plunged her hands under his shirt Alex groaned, pressing his hardness against her. Making her whimper. But Emma broke the kiss.
‘I have to go.’
‘Tease.’
The smile she gave him was nothing short of wicked.
Alex let her leave, cursing himself as he did so, because all he really wanted right now was to take her to bed. He stood at the rail of his rooftop terrace, with the sea air cooling his overheated face and helping him find some sort of equilibrium after that kiss.
Matt came up beside him, leaning on his elbows, taking in the spectacular sight of night-time in Melbourne at the water’s edge. ‘What’s going on, Alex?’
‘With what?’
‘You and Emma.’
Alex snapped his gaze to his friend, but Matt’s face was a blank mask. There was neither hope nor judgement. It was just a simple question from the person who knew him better than anyone else.
‘Nothing is going on. We’ve agreed to have some fun.’
‘Alex, you know I love you, right? But you’re an idiot.’
Alex couldn’t help the smile that broke through. He’d missed Matt’s particular brand of caring.
‘Bloody hell, mate... You feel something for her.’
Alex couldn’t lie to Matt. He did care for Emma. But that didn’t mean he would change the course of his life for her. He had made it perfectly clear what he was looking for, and he felt no guilt because Emma wanted the same. It was possible that she was as jaded as he was—except he wasn’t going to tell Matt that. Emma’s secrets were his to keep.
‘I’m not in it for the long haul, Matt.’
