Modern Romance Collection: January Books 5 - 8. Jane Porter

      ‘I’m not so sure about that.’ Max inhaled deeply and looked away from his brother. He didn’t want to see that smug smile of satisfaction on his face.

      ‘You can’t shut it out for ever,’ Raul said as he clapped a hand on his back. ‘Now if you will excuse me, my new wife is in need of a dance partner.’

      Max watched Raul go, watched as he took Lydia’s hand and led her onto the already crowded dance floor. He knew exactly what his brother was referring to but he was wrong. Very wrong. Love wasn’t shut out of his life, it was completely obliterated—for ever. Wiped out by the actions of his father, a man who hadn’t even known the meaning of the word.

      * * *

      Lisa’s attention was captured as Raul, leading Lydia by the hand, made his way to the dance floor. A pang of envy rushed through her and she clutched her elderflower cocktail a little tighter. He was as commanding as Max and she didn’t miss the guarded glances from men and the longing looks sent his way by women. Most of the guests here might not have known of him until the story in the newspapers, but they would certainly remember him now.

      She turned her attention elsewhere, not wanting to intrude on the lovers, and there was no doubt they were in love. Slowly she ambled through the throng of guests, the laughter and excitement of the evening contagious even though it had been the last place she’d wanted to be this evening, especially after Max told her he wanted a divorce. It just made her feel physically sick, but the prospect of going back to her flat and being alone with her mother’s words ringing in her head was far worse.

      Across the other side of the room, she saw Max talking to some of his team players and their partners. They all looked very glamorous. The women looked sassy and exciting in their cocktail dresses and the men handsome in their tuxedos, but Max stood out. Like the lion who led the pride, there was no doubt he was the ultimate alpha male. Maybe that was her problem. He could never allow her into his heart because he kept it so well hidden in his pursuit of complete dominance and superiority.

      ‘Penny for them?’ A cheeky female voice at her side stopped that train of thought dead.

      ‘Angelina.’ Max’s sister had changed since she’d last seen her, over six months ago. She looked at the tall, willowy young woman, whose hair was even darker than Max’s, she realised how much she’d missed her. From the greeting she’d been treated to, it was a mutual feeling. ‘It’s so good to see you. Happy birthday.’

      Angelina held her champagne glass in one hand, and tilted her head to the side, a big smile on her face. ‘So is it true?’

      ‘What?’ Lisa smiled with a frown, wondering what was coming next, because if there was one thing you could guarantee with Angelina it was complete honesty.

      ‘You and Max are back together.’ Before Lisa could say another word, Angelina hugged her with one arm, holding the flute of champagne at a precarious angle. ‘I knew it.’

      ‘We spent Christmas together.’ Lisa sketched around the truth, avoiding the reason that had brought her and Angelina’s brother back together. While Angelina would have to know her brother was going to make her an aunt, it was up to him to tell her. Just as it was up to him to say he was the one who now wanted to go through with the divorce.

      ‘And I hear congratulations are in order. That you are expecting.’ Angelina raised her brows at the elderflower cocktail and stood back, smiling at Lisa, then her expression turned more serious. ‘How’s Max taking it?’

      ‘Max? Taking it?’ Lisa couldn’t work out what Angelina meant, but she was going to find out. ‘What do you mean precisely?’

      ‘You don’t know, do you?’ Shock filled Angelina’s face, the light and fun mood of moments ago slipped away as if they’d walked out of the party, and if Lisa wasn’t mistaken there was pity in her eyes too.

      ‘No, but you are going to tell me right now,’ Lisa demanded. She’d get the truth from Angelina, but would she really want to hear it?

      Angelina finished her champagne, deposited the flute on a nearby table and took Lisa’s arm and guided her away from the fun and laughter of the party. She stopped when they reached a long and very grand corridor. The noise of the party was subdued as the doors closed behind them and Lisa wondered what it was that was coming next that needed such drastic action. She looked at Angelina as nerves took flight in her stomach, bringing back the nausea she’d been struggling to keep at bay since she’d got up this morning.

      ‘My mother, Max’s mother, died when I was two years old,’ Angelina began, but Lisa’s patience was wearing thin.

      ‘I’m aware of that.’

      ‘Has he also told you that she was diagnosed with cancer while she was carrying me and that she delayed treatment, for me?’ Angelina swallowed and Lisa knew this was affecting her far more than she was letting on. That she too hid behind a mask of being the bubbly life and soul of the party to hide her pain and that she was telling her this most guarded secret because it affected Max, affected her.

      ‘I’m so sorry.’ She reached out and touched the young woman’s arm and for a moment the two of them were lost in their own world. ‘That must be hard on you.’

      ‘It is, yes. Mostly because it made Max into a dominating brother, always insistent that I do things his way. The arguments he and my father had over everything from what school I should attend to what I should eat or wear were impossible.’

      ‘I have an older stepbrother who doesn’t care one jot for me.’ Lisa couldn’t help confiding in her.

      ‘I’d much rather that.’ Angelina laughed, lightening the mood. ‘Please don’t let on that I told you. I just thought you would already know.’

      ‘I won’t.’ Already the cloud of doubt was hanging over Lisa. Why hadn’t he told her? Was it that he didn’t trust her or didn’t care enough to tell her? Either way, it rocked the foundations of all the good the last few days had created. Now she knew the only option for them was to go their separate ways. They couldn’t hope to remain married, just for the baby. He didn’t trust her and certainly wouldn’t ever love her. It was over.

      ‘I’ve been looking for you everywhere.’ Max’s voice was raised over the noise of the party as he pushed open the doors and stood glaring first at his sister, then at her. ‘Are you feeling unwell?’

      ‘She’s fine,’ Angelina injected as she stood a little closer to her. ‘We were just having a catch up.’

      ‘You are required by your guests,’ Max said curtly, and a spark of mutiny slipped over Lisa. What would he do if she just walked out now, dropped the act of togetherness? She was on the verge of doing just than when she thought of Angelina. This was her party. She didn’t want to give Max the satisfaction of making her spoil it, especially after such a heartfelt admission.

      Angelina looked from her to her brother. ‘I shall leave you two to it, then.’

      ‘What is that supposed to mean?’ Max watched his sister as she slipped back into the party and Lisa bristled with indignation. He didn’t trust her and was trying to control her just as he’d done with his sister. From the things Angelina had just said, Lisa guessed that she wasn’t the only person Max couldn’t open up to. Not that it made any difference. They were finished. She might have felt love for him, but it had only ever been lust in his world and lust would not hold them together any longer.

      ‘She was only congratulating me.’ Lisa glared up at him and when he turned and frowned at her, that annoyance increased. Had he dismissed his child from his thoughts already? ‘The baby.’

      * * *

      The baby. Those two words dripped through him, heightening his anger, his irritation. He hadn’t given any thought to the fact that Angelina might want to be involved in his child’s life. Of course she would. As always, she would want to do anything she could to annoy him, anything that he didn’t want her to do.

      He