Millionaire's Society Mistress (7 page)

Fiona had slept little that night, hearing several hours later as he had moved into his own room, her heart beating wildly as he had passed her locked door, confused when he had not stopped she had felt a strange disappointment. As the daylight had peeked through curtains, she had finally given up on sleep moving to the en-suite bathroom to shower before moving silently downstairs. Pulling the door open she had heard the soft laugh behind her, gritting her teeth as she had turned to face a fully dressed Craig.

“Sneaking out?”

Fiona raising her chin defiantly, her eyes flashing angrily at him

“No, I don’t SNEAK out…why you are up?”

With a knowing smile he had lifted the coffee cup he held, taking a sip before answering slowly

“I have a meeting. One which I can’t avoid…what about you?”

She had grasped the handle tightly trying not to show how flustered she felt.

“This is the last day before the Factory closes down for the holidays. There is a lot to do, and I wanted to have breakfast with Scott before he goes down to Glasgow”

Inclining his head, his smile had been full of mockery.

“Well give him my best…what time is the party?”

The question had taken her aback as she had stuttered softly

“It…it officially starts at eight…but nobody will really be there until nine”

Craig nodding softly

“Well I’ll be back in plenty of time…so I will see you then”

Turning he had moved back down the hallway towards the kitchen, not once commenting on what had happened the previous evening, Fiona stunned that he seemed to have completely forgotten the incident.

The day had passed in a blur as Scott and Fiona had ensured that the Business had wound down smoothly. At lunchtime as was traditional, the staff had all congregated at one of the local hotels for lunch, the wine flowing freely as they had celebrated both the holidays and also the knowledge that the Company was not going to be broken up.

The two siblings however, both having plans for that evening had not drank but greatly enjoyed the celebrations. As the party had wound down they had hugged their employees, before moving out together. Standing at her car Scott had looked carefully at his sister.

“Is everything OK Fiona?” he had asked gently, seeing the way she had hesitated before giving a bright smile.

“Fine…nothing I can’t handle”

Scott pausing to look carefully down at her

“Hmmm, and what exactly is it that you might need to handle?”

Fiona fidgeting nervously as she had wrapped her arms around herself shivering slightly in the cold air

“Let’s just say you might be right about Craig Thompson”

Her brother’s expression had become angry as he had bitten out

“Did he do anything…if …”

Fiona shaking her head, knowing that it was best he not know the events of the previous evening

“No…but he did make it clear that he … well he wanted more”

With a frown Scott had seemed uncomfortable

“Fiona…perhaps it would be better if you didn’t stay at his house. Maybe just meet him for meals and parties. Craig Thompson, is I believe a man of honour but he is also a man used to getting what he wants”

Giving a small note of disdain she had looked back proudly at her brother

“We both know that would not work, people already know I’m staying at his place, if I move out now then the gossip will kill us. Don’t worry Scott I can handle him, and men like Craig need to get used to not always getting everything they want”

Giving a small laugh Scott had pulled her into his arms.

“Be careful Fiona…you are playing with fire” giving a laugh

“Although he does have my sympathy if he thinks that you are going to be a pushover”

Giving him a playful smack she had pulled back

“Well…don’t worry about me…just make sure that you bring Nat and those kids home with you where they belong”

Her brother nodding as he had opened the car

“I will do my best…my very best. You have my phone number - use it”

Fiona nodding as she had waved him goodbye as his car had moved from the car park. Looking at her watch she had given a small gasp, not having realised how late it was the time being well after seven.

Arriving at his estate nearly twenty minutes later, she had been met by an angry looking Craig, his mouth set firmly.

“Where the hell have you been?”

Fiona bristling at his tone as she had breezed past him, moving up the stairs as he had glowered at her from the landing.

“I will be ready in ten minutes” she had cried, hearing the note of disbelief from him as she had closed the door behind her.

Fiona knew how seriously Claire took her parties, and had spent time putting on makeup to really show off her large eyes, gloss making her lips shine. She had pulled her hair into a loose knot, pulling bits free at the side giving a sexier tousled look, before donning her costume. Seeing the skimpy top which showed off her midriff she had frowned not sure if she was comfortable displaying so much flesh. With a sigh she had regretted allowing the girl in the store to choose a costume for her having no time to spend searching herself.

The skirt, a red fake leather material was also mini, sitting high above her knees clearly showing the black stockings which showed off her long perfect legs. Pulling on a pair of stilettos she had stood before the mirror savaging her lip. Damn that sales girl, she was sure she had asked for a costume not too revealing…this was certainly not it her eyes looking nervously at her reflection, regretting not having checked it the previous evening knowing that the events of that night had pushed the thought of trying on the outfit from her mind.

Taking a deep breath she had known that there was no way that she could get out of the party. Craig needed to speak with Bob MacKenzie and the sooner he had dealt with whatever business had been so important he had gone to so much bother, the quicker he would leave and be out of her hair.

Ten minutes after moving up the stairs she was ready, and grabbing her jacket and bag she had stepped out of her room moving carefully down the steps to meet him. In the hallway Craig had stood his attention on a phone call, Fiona surprised to hear him talking in fluent French. As she had moved to meet him the call had ended and with a smile he had turned to face her.

“Wow…ten minutes it can be…” his voice stalling as he had finally seen her, the smile melting slowly from his face as he had looked at the woman before him. Gone was the neat primly presented Fiona Campbell and instead stood a sexy siren. His eyes had travelled down her resting on the smooth toned stomach, her back perfectly arched with the skirt accentuating her bottom. She was stunning and he had bitten down the small groan turning quickly from her with a nervous laugh.

“Now I think that you are just trying to tempt a man of the cloth young lady” aware that his hands had started to shake slightly with the overwhelming desire to push her against the wall and kiss her making both of them miss the party, once more reminded of the way she had kissed him back the previous evening.

He had heard her soft moan as she had moved with him to the car

“God, I swear that the sales girl is an idiot. I specifically asked for a more…reserved costume…how on earth could she think this was…sorry”

Craig firing up the car trying not to look at the way her long legs had filled the passenger side, his body tightening with awareness.

“Don’t be sorry…It’s not exactly hard on the eye”

Fiona, again feeling the flush rise on her cheeks at his comment had prayed that he did not take it as any way encouraging his behaviour of the previous evening.

On the hour long journey to the party she had told him about the MacKenzie family, Craig noting that she did not add what had happened between herself and Donald MacKenzie, not pushing her for information sensing that it was something she did not want to talk about.

As the drive had progressed Fiona had relaxed, Craig not making any reference to the previous evening, and soon the two were joking happily together. The party had been held in the MacKenzie’s large castle home, Craig whistling as they had driven up the long driveway.

“Now that is impressive” he had smiled, taking in the turrets and imposing stone building.

Nodding Fiona had grinned

“Yes, I believe that it was gifted to one of the MacKenzies by the king himself in the times of James the sixth” giving him a small smile

“That would be James the first for England”

Craig looking at her inquisitively

“Is there a difference?” looking in surprise at her as she had laughed.

“Oh yes…huge difference….I will tell you the story sometime if you like” seeing as he had flashed her another of those heart stopping smiles which once more had seen her stomach flip disconcertingly.

“I would like that…very much”

Pulling into the area which had been cordoned off for the guests parking the two had moved to knock on the door, answered by a tall bubbly woman who had screamed on seeing Fiona stood, throwing her arms around her hugging her tightly

“Oh my God Fiona…it has been so long. I’ve missed you” chuckling, Fiona had hugged her back

“I missed you too Claire” her eyes full of honesty, the two women grinning at each other, before Claire had turned to look up at Craig stood just behind, her mouth opening in stunned surprise.

“OK … definitely going to miss you if you are going to bring hunks like this with you” her hand pushed out as she had smiled seductively at him.

“Hi…I’m Claire, and am badly in need of some one-to-one counselling Vicar”

Fiona laughing loudly as she had smacked the younger woman playfully

“Down girl…you have not changed Claire”

Taking her coat Craig had asked where they could leave them, moving in the direction Claire had pointed.

As he had moved off the taller woman had become more serious as she had pulled Fiona to the side

“Do you know about Donald?”

Fiona frowning softly as she had shaken her head

“No…Donald and I have been over for a years’ now Claire. We don’t communicate”

Claire nodding softly

“He and Sarah split up”

Fiona had frowned softly a look of concern filling her lovely features

“I’m sorry…really sorry…what about their son?”

Claire giving a soft sigh “She is crazy Fiona and he is fighting for custody”.

Fidgeting uncomfortably Fiona had not wanted to hear any more as she had looked around for Craig seeing as he had watched her from close by, wondering if he had heard what had been said, his face unreadable.

Giving a shaky smile she had squeezed Claire’s hands

“I hope that they work it out Claire I really do…Scott is going through something similar himself. I should go…”

Claire holding onto her hand, flicking a look around not seeing Craig

“He wants to see you Fiona…he told me he does, but he just doesn’t know how after….”

Shaking her head firmly, Fiona had looked back.

“No Claire. It was over a long time ago between Donald and me. Please drop it…I have to see Craig”

Claire had sighed sadly as she had let the other woman go, her eyes pleading

“Think about it Fiona…he really has changed…grown up…he needs a friend right now he can trust…just someone to talk to”

Nervously she had agreed to think about it before moving to meet the man waiting patiently for her, seeing as he had already attracted a great deal of interest from the many young women, many already trying to catch his eyes.

“Wow…it looks like the room tilted” she had laughed softly having to push through several woman to get to his side, Craig giving a lopsided grin back

“Yeah, better let them know that I’m not alone”

Chuckling she had opened her mouth

“And how are you going…” the words interrupted as he had pulled her in closer to himself and dropped a kiss on her mouth, Fiona caught off guard as she had fallen in against him, her hands holding onto the lapels of his jacket

Pulling back he had seen the fire that had sprung into her eyes, his eyes holding hers as she had groaned softly a small blush rising to her cheeks.

“Erm…yes…stupid question” still feeling as he continued to hold her against him.

Trying not to show the way just being in his arms affected her, she had given a nervous laugh falling back on humour as she had pushed herself from his hold.

“Please Vicar….I’m a working girl…no freebies”

Craig laughing softly leaning in to whisper sensually against her ear

“Well we will have to see about that Miss Campbell, might have to put you on the payroll” his eyes flashing wickedly as she had not known what to say, looking around for anything to focus on. With relief her eyes had fallen on Bob MacKenzie, her tone becoming more officious as she had pointed to where the imposing man stood, holding a whiskey in his hand as he had watched the party, his expression bored.

Moving out of the reach of the man bringing such disruption to her, she had led him over to the gruff man.

Bob MacKenzie’s face had lit up as Fiona had greeted him, pulling her in for a large hug.

“Fiona…you are truly a sight for old eyes” his voice full of honesty, as she had smiled warmly back at him

“It is nice to see you Sir” she had replied, as he had waved away the formality.

“Since when did you call me that young lady…Bob…to you always Bob”

She had nodded, feeling warmth fill her at the sincerity of his welcome as she had moved to introduce Craig.

“Bob…I would like you to meet my boyfriend, Craig Thompson”

Seeing the surprise on his face his eyes becoming harder had rested on the American by her side, surprise on his voice.

“Your …boyfriend? I was under the assumption that Mr Thompson was…” his eyes more steely “the enemy”.

Craig had pushed out his hand to the older man.

“Ex-enemy Sir Robert” he had replied his tone even, as the insult had washed over him taking the peers hand in a firm shake.

“I see” Bob Mackenzie’s eyes flitting to Fiona who had given a small smile.