‘We passed it a few times while horse riding,’ he grunted. ‘We’ll give you your privacy and stay the night at Wuthering Heights,’ he said, his eyes returning to me. I couldn’t get out of the pool, I was naked!
Isabella pouted. ‘I was so looking forward to staying home. Can’t we crash the party?’
Edgar rolled his eyes at her. ‘You heard what the man said, get out of here.’
‘Fine,’ she said, with a flick of her hair. ‘But lets at least have a drink together. It’s cocktail hour,’ she proclaimed. She had no idea of the oppressive tension in the air, or if she did, she was enjoying it.
‘Heath, will you have a beer if I grab a few?’ Edgar asked.
I cleared my throat.
‘Ah-hem, towel please!’ I said. Edgar turned to me and laughed.
‘Sorry babe, I forgot.’
Babe. Oh, that will please Heath.
‘I’ve got this,’ Isabella said, ‘you boys go and get drinks and snacks for the ladies.’
Heath, who never did what he was told, slipped on his white T-shirt and with an invitation from Edgar to help with the drinks, followed him in. Isabella brought a towel to the edge of the pool and dangled it.
‘Thanks,’ I said, grabbing it. I turned my back to her and walked up the pool steps, covering myself as I surfaced.
‘Well,’ she said, and laughed, ‘this is cosy, and Heath was just telling me that he never saw you anymore and had no interest in doing so. Reunion time!’
I was taken aback by her comments; I think my mouth fell open. Why would she say that? Isabella and I had hardly spoken to each other and when we had it was at least polite.
She continued. ‘I probably should tell you, we’re moving in together, so you two should sort out who owns what soon.’
‘That so?’ I said, and smiled, and didn’t bite. Must have been disappointing for her.
She shifted uncomfortably, twirling a strand of blonde hair in her fingers and turning away from me. Then for all her beauty, I realised she was threatened by me. I had her brother and her lover, and her strength was her beauty, but it wasn’t working for her probably for the first time in her whole adored life.
The truth was that I might be dating her brother but I didn’t care if Isabella liked me or not. I did feel a bit sorry for her; it wasn’t fair if Heath was just playing her for career purposes or to get back at me. I’m sure he enjoyed having the beautiful Isabella in his bed, but I know him, her lifestyle would never hold his interest. It was revenge. Cold, pure and simple.
I sighed.‘Be careful, Isabella,’ I warned, ‘Heath has a dark side.’
She laughed. ‘I know, that’s one of his most attractive features.’
She didn’t get it. Heath was intense and focused. He hated the social spotlight and he wasn’t one for crowds or parties. Isabella and Heath were polar opposites so if she really knew him, it wouldn’t take much to work out that he had a motive or that this ‘fling’ was just for sport.
‘He has a lot of interesting traits,’ she said, in a sexual way and laughed.
Really?I lost patience.
‘You can’t seriously believe he is into you, Isabella. He’s just doing his best to put the knife in me. Your company is superfluous.’
She physically stepped back as if I had hit her, her eyes widened and then she laughed, reasserting that she was the one in charge of this scenario – her house, her guy.
‘Wow, Cathy,’ she proclaimed. ‘Look at me and look at you, which do you think he’d prefer?’
Ouch. I nodded.‘I deserve that,’ I said, and she looked a little taken aback and embarrassed by her comment. I needed to rise above this; I was, after all, dating her brother. ‘You think I’m speaking from selfishness, and I’m sorry it probably came out the wrong way.’ I reached for my wrap and placed it over the towel. It was see-through so the towel had to stay on. I sighed. ‘It’s just that I know him, Isabella. I know him – he’s my stepbrother.’
‘You don’t know him as I do,’ she said and gave a smile that implied something was going on between them that I didn’t know about.
Heath and Edgar entered as she spoke the words and she moved towards him and draped herself over him, accepting the glass of champagne he held for her.
‘Can I share our news, Heath darling?’ she asked, and didn’t wait for his answer. ‘We’re engaged!’