Tall, Dark & Scandalous: Jordan St Claire: Dark and Dangerous. Carole Mortimer

you not continuing to live the life of a nun!’

      ‘According to Rosalind Newman, I don’t.’

      ‘She’s just a vindictive woman!’ The scowl could be heard in Joey’s voice.

      Stephanie sighed. ‘How are things going with the divorce case?’

      ‘Nothing new, I’m afraid.’ Her sister became her usual businesslike self. ‘Rosalind Newman is still insisting you had an affair with her husband, and Richard Newman is doing nothing to help the situation. It could get very messy, I’m afraid, Stephs,’ she added regretfully.

      Exactly what Stephanie was trying to avoid. ‘Perhaps if we all met up and talked about it?’

      ‘Not a good idea,’ Joey advised. ‘Even if all three lawyers were there representing their clients, it would still likely end up in a slanging match.’

      On a practical level Stephanie already knew that. She just didn’t know what else she could do to convince Rosalind Newman that she was being delusional about Stephanie’s personal involvement with her husband. It was complicated by the fact that Stephanie was convinced Richard Newman’s lack of support was because he was involved in an affair with another woman, and he’d rather Stephanie’s name was blackened than his actual mistress’s.

      ‘Just do your best to keep my name out of it, Joey,’ Stephanie said heavily.

      ‘And you try and come up with something more interesting to tell me the next time you call,’ her sister encouraged teasingly.

      ‘By “interesting” I take it you mean sexual?’ Stephanie came back dryly.

      ‘You’re with Jordan Simpson, sis,’ Joey said impatiently. ‘The man you’ve lusted after for years!’

      The man she still lusted after, Stephanie thought. ‘He isn’t at all like I imagined he would be.’ He was so much more than she had expected, she admitted privately—a man who was drawing on every ounce of strength he had to get him through the worst moments of what she knew were excruciating agony.

      ‘In what way?’ Joey prompted curiously. ‘Surely you aren’t holding it against him because he’s behaving less like a movie star and more like a man who fell off the top of a building six months ago? Because if you are, then I hate to tell you this, Stephs, but the man did fall off a building six months ago!’

      ‘No, I’m not holding that against him.’ Stephanie chuckled wryly; she could always rely on Joey to make her laugh. ‘Joey…’ She deliberately lowered her voice. ‘You know those interviews he gives, where he mentions his parents’ divorce as being the reason he’s never married?’

      ‘Yes…’

      ‘Well, he’s really serious about it.’ She drew in a ragged breath. ‘Which means—’

      ‘He wouldn’t be too happy if he were to learn that the physiotherapist his brother hired is up to her ears in another couple’s divorce?’ Joey finished, with her usual bluntness.

      Especially considering what they’d done together yesterday evening in his study! Stephanie thought. ‘Perhaps I should try talking to Richard again?’

      ‘No, I’ll try,’ her sister insisted. ‘The man is definitely hiding something—or should I say someone?—but he seems more than happy to let you take the flak.’

      Yes, Stephanie believed that too. If only the man weren’t so obnoxious then maybe they could have persuaded him into telling the truth. As it was…

      ‘Just call Richard and ask him if he will speak to me,’ Stephanie pressed.

      ‘Will do.’ Her sister rang off with her usual abruptness.

      ‘Care to explain who Richard is?’

      Stephanie drew in her breath with a sharp hiss as she turned and saw that Jordan had come quietly back into the sitting room and now stood near the door, looking across at her with icily narrowed eyes. She stood up slowly to run her damp palms down her denim-clad thighs. ‘Didn’t you know that it’s rude to listen to other people’s telephone conversations?’

      ‘If I did then I obviously forgot,’ Jordan said unapologetically as he stepped further into the room.

      The hours spent convincing his mother that he was well on the road to recovery had been just as much of a strain as Jordan had thought they might be. So much so that he was now exhausted. He had come back to his suite hoping for a rest before he had to go through the whole charade all over again at dinner. He certainly didn’t appreciate coming back into his suite of rooms and overhearing the end of Stephanie’s telephone conversation concerning some man called Richard that she was obviously desperate to get in touch with!

      He eyed Stephanie coldly. ‘Well?’

      ‘I don’t see that this has anything to do with you—’

      ‘You told me you weren’t involved with anyone,’ he reminded her harshly.

      ‘I told you I wasn’t married or engaged,’ she corrected. ‘Which I’m not.’

      ‘But you obviously are involved with someone. Or at least you were!’

      ‘I—Are you okay, Jordan?’ Stephanie exclaimed as she saw how pale he was.

      ‘Do I look okay?’ he snapped scathingly as he swayed slightly on his feet.

      ‘No.’ She could clearly see the grey cast to his skin, and dark shadows under his eyes, deep lines grooved beside his mouth. ‘You need to take some painkillers and then lie down until they start to take effect. I’ll help you into your bedroom—’

      ‘I don’t need any help!’ He glared across at her.

      She flinched at the vehemence in Jordan’s tone. ‘You obviously need to go to bed—’

      ‘Is that an invitation, Stephanie?’ he cut in. ‘If it is then I think I should warn you I’m really not up to making love to you right now, and I’m not exactly in the mood, either.’ Those gold eyes glittered down at her with cold satisfaction as Stephanie gave a pained gasp.

      ‘That’s enough, Jordan!’

      Stephanie spun sharply round to find Lucan St Claire standing in the doorway, his austerely handsome face set in disapproving lines as he looked coldly across at his youngest brother.

      The fact that the critical gaze wasn’t levelled at her made absolutely no difference to Stephanie; Jordan’s scornful remarks had made it more than obvious that he had made love to her before today!

      Tears of mortification welled in her eyes. ‘If you will both excuse me?’ she choked emotionally, before hurrying into the bedroom she’d as yet had no opportunity to tell Jordan she couldn’t sleep in—tonight or any other night.

      ‘Well, that was pretty nasty even for you,’ Lucan said with disapproval as he closed the door behind him before striding further into the room.

      ‘I don’t remember asking for your opinion on my behaviour, Lucan,’ he muttered wearily.

      His brother frowned. ‘It was possible to hear your raised voice all the way down the hallway.’

      His mouth twisted derisively. ‘How utterly shocking!’

      Lucan raised dark brows. ‘Exactly what is your relationship with Stephanie McKinley?’

      ‘You were the one who hired her.’ Jordan turned away abruptly and began walking painfully towards his bedroom.

      ‘That wasn’t what I asked.’

      ‘It’s all you’re going to get!’ Jordan snapped, as each step he took caused him excruciating agony.

      ‘Have you been to bed with her?’

      Jordan came