The Wayward Son (5 page)

“Let’s go, then.”

“Back to the vineyard?”

“To get your things, yes, and then to take you into the city.”

“The city?”

“To a hotel. It may surprise you, but funnily enough, I don’t want you around my family right now. My mother’s been through quite enough over the years without adding the insult of your presence.”

She flinched beneath his words, her face paling even more.

“Fine,” she replied tightly. “When will you let me know your decision about Charles?”

“In good time. You aren’t due to return to Auckland for another few days, is that correct?”

“Yes, on Friday morning.”

“I’ll let you know by then.”

Anna paced the terrace of her hotel room, her cell phone to her ear.

“I’m sorry, Charles. I screwed up. I should have just done what you told me to do.”

Charles was surprisingly philosophical.

“What’s done is done. It’s certainly no worse or better than what’s gone on before this. Let’s just hope he comes to his senses and comes home before it’s too late.”

Before it’s too late.
Her heart squeezed. It wasn’t like Charles to be melodramatic. She knew he was deteriorating, but had he kept something from her? Was his health worse than even she suspected?

“I still can’t believe you’re prepared to go to those lengths to bring him home.”

“It’s his birthright, Anna. You know that as much as I do.”

“But what about Nicole? Have you talked to her about this yet?”

“I wasn’t going to say anything to her until he’s back and we know for certain he’s mine. Until then, it’s a moot point. And you’re not to say a word, either. You promised me, Anna.”

She sighed. “Yes, I know. I won’t say a word, but keeping the truth away from her is only going to hurt all of us.”

“Let me be the judge of that.”

“And the house, Charles. Why the house, too? You’re talking about taking Nicole’s home right out from under her feet.”

“Yours, too,” he reminded her with a surprisingly curt note in his voice. “But I will have to trust him to do the right thing and to continue to provide the two of you with a roof over your heads. If I don’t do that, if I don’t prove to him that I’m prepared to accept him fully, it will never work. Besides, he grew up with the Masters—I know how they feel about the house. Judd is already running their company, so offering him mine might not be enough of a draw. But no one else can give him that house.”

“What makes you so sure you have to take such drastic steps?”

“Because that’s what it would take to lure me back if someone had done the same thing to me.”

If Nicole ever spoke to her again after this it would be a miracle. Anna felt a chill run the length of her spine. She stepped inside her hotel room and slid the glass door closed, but even so, she continued to feel cold. What Charles was doing was wrong, she knew it to the soles of her feet. But it was too late now. The offer had been made. She could only hope against hope that Judd would be man enough to turn it down. That he’d accept his father for who he was without the added enticement of half of Wilson Wines and the home that Charles had built for Cynthia all those years ago.

“So you’re not going to give her any prior warning. You’re just going to present her with a brother and say this is how it’s going to be from now on?”

“They are my children, it’s my company and my home, so this is my decision. Don’t overstep your boundaries, Anna.”

His words stung.

“Of course,” she said in reply, even as other more impassioned words filled her mind.

“He said he’ll give you his decision by Friday?”

“Yes, he did.”

“Let’s hope it’s the right one. Let me know as soon as you’ve spoken to him.”

“I will.”

“Good. I’ll look forward to it.”

His business done, the call was over, leaving Anna alone to stare at the darkening hills in the distance and to wonder just how all of this was going to end.

Five

“I
told you I was right.” Cynthia’s eyes gleamed triumphantly.

Judd merely nodded. He’d spent the latter part of the afternoon locked in his office, looking at his schedule and seeing where, and to whom, he could apportion his workload. It was one advantage of having several cousins all working within the same family business, he conceded. There were plenty of people just as invested as he was in making sure The Masters’ continued to run smoothly. Between his cousins and the well-trained staff they also employed, Judd felt confident he could leave the company in good hands.

Once he had everything worked out to his satisfaction, he asked his mother for a private meeting. Her delight at the enticement Charles was offering was palpable. He hadn’t seen her this animated, ever.

“When will you let them know your decision?” his mother pressed.

“On Friday morning. I’ll be too busy tomorrow bringing everyone up to speed with their additional duties to be talking to Anna Garrick.”

As soon as he said her name he felt the now-familiar tug of desire. He’d made some inquiries. She lived with Charles Wilson, which confirmed she was indeed far, far more than simply his father’s P.A. Stealing her away from him, right under the old man’s roof, was undeniably appealing but something he’d have to approach very carefully.

“Do you know how long the DNA testing will take?”

“I believe establishing paternity is a relatively simple process. A few days to a week for the results.”

“You know, I cannot believe he would stoop to that. He only needs to look at you to know I never betrayed him.”

She injected a note of pathos in her voice, but Judd had heard it all before. When she didn’t elicit the response from her son that she obviously wanted, she continued.

“We’ll finally have back what should have been ours all along,” she said, her voice now stronger, showing her true mettle.

“The house?”

He should have known that would be the most important thing to her. He had to admit to a certain curiosity himself to go back to the place that had been his home for the first six years of his life. But where his mother seemed to want to reclaim the building, Judd was far more inclined to go after it with a wrecking ball…just as he planned to do with Wilson Wines. He’d take his father’s legacy apart bit by bit, and when he was done, he’d be back here at The Masters’, picking up the reins of his job once again. At that point, his mother could have the darn house for all he cared.

“I’ll have to redecorate it, you know. Restore it to its former glory.”

“How do you know it’s not perfect just the way it is?”

She rolled her eyes at him. “Judd, darling, it’s been twenty-five years since I’ve set foot in there. There will be work to do, I’m sure. I poured my heart into that house—no one loved it more than I did.”

“Let’s not put the cart before the horse, hmm?”

“Of course. We have to satisfy your father’s ridiculous demands first. How long do you think you’ll be away?”

“I don’t see this taking more than a month.”

“That long?”

He thought of his plans for the delectable Miss Garrick. A month? Maybe longer would be better. He wanted to savor this victory.

“Maybe longer. We’ll see how it pans out.”

After his mother left his office, he sat back in his leather chair and stared out the window at the vineyard and winery that occupied his immediate view. He enjoyed his work here, there was no doubt about that, and he was good at it. But he had become bored in recent months, feeling stifled by the lack of opportunity to make changes. Now, perhaps, even if only for a short time, he’d have the chance to really stretch his mind as he implemented his plans. Plans to dismantle his father’s empire and steal his mistress right out from under his nose.

Anna woke on Friday morning in a state of nerves and automatically reached for her cell phone, as she had several times throughout last night. Still nothing from Judd Wilson. Just how fine was he going to cut this? She looked at the time on her phone and raced for the bathroom—the broken night’s rest having made her sleep past the time she’d wanted to rise. A car was coming to pick her up and take her to the airport for her flight in about half an hour. She’d already packed her things the night before. All she needed to do was shower and dress in the clothes she’d left out for the journey home.

She was down in the lobby of the hotel and signing off her hotel account when a trickle of awareness filtered through the parting words of the hotel receptionist. He was here. Did that mean she’d succeeded? Was he accompanying her back to New Zealand, or maybe he was merely here to tell her in person that her quest on Charles’s behalf had failed.

She knew she had to turn around. Had to face him. It took every ounce of strength in her body to paste a smile on her face and turn away from the reception desk. The moment her eyes lighted upon him she felt the excruciating pull of attraction. How could she still be so drawn to him when he’d been so awful to her? She’d asked herself that question over and over the past two nights, especially each time she’d woken from yet another tormented dream explicitly featuring the man standing directly opposite her.

He’d be a formidable poker player, she thought irrationally. He let nothing show in his expression as to what he was thinking, or whatever decision he’d reached.

“Are you ready?” he said coolly.

“What? No good morning?” she said, unable to keep the acerbity from her voice.

He merely raised one dark brow. Anna grabbed the handle of her wheeled suitcase and headed for the front door.

“Let me take that for you,” Judd said, blocking her way and collapsing the extended handle and swinging the case up in one hand.

She’d packed for only three and a half days, and she hadn’t packed light, yet he carried the bag as if it weighed nothing. Realizing he was headed for the automatic opening doors and to the dark limousine outside, she propelled herself after him.

“Wait, I’ve ordered a taxi.”

“And I’ve canceled it. We’ll travel together to the airport.”

“And then?” she asked, suddenly tired of the game.

Was he coming back to Auckland with her or not? The not knowing was playing havoc with her stomach.

“And then we’ll check in to our flight.”

“So you’re accepting Charles’s offer?”

He handed her case to the waiting driver and then opened the rear door, gesturing for her to be seated inside the dark, leather-filled interior. She halted at the door, not wanting to get inside until she knew exactly where things stood.

“I’ve consented to undergoing the tests and when my father is satisfied, yes, I will be accepting his offer.”

Anna didn’t know whether to feel elated or devastated. A hollow emptiness filled her heart. Unable to speak, she nodded in acknowledgment of his words and settled herself in the car. She was grateful when Judd took the passenger seat in the front of the vehicle. She needed some time to gather her thoughts, to prepare herself for what was to come.

The journey to the airport was short, and before she alighted she asked for a moment to call Charles.

“That won’t be necessary,” Judd said smoothly, offering her his hand to help her from the car.

“Why not?” she asked, reluctantly putting her hand in his and bracing herself for the jolt of electricity she knew would come next.

Sure enough, the merest touch of his fingers was enough to set her heart beating faster. Arousal flared deep inside. Not the type she was used to—the slow, gentle warming of mutual attraction. No, this was far more primal than that. Sharper, more instinctive, and it made her body ache in response. She pulled her hand from his, but the sensation still lingered.

“Because I’ve already spoken with him.”

“You spoke with him?” Anna fought to keep the incredulity from her voice.

“Is that so strange?”

“Well, yes. Especially considering your reaction to his letter.”

“As you said on Wednesday, the past
is
past.”

She looked at him in disbelief, hardly daring to believe that he actually meant it. A man like Judd Wilson was too intense, too driven to simply put the past in a time capsule and lock it away. He had to have an ulterior motive.

“What? No comment?” Judd gently goaded.

“How was he?”

“He sounded fine. Surprised to hear from me, but I’d say he’s cautiously optimistic.”

So this thing would play out after all, Anna thought as the driver hefted their cases from the trunk of the car and went to procure a luggage cart. Not waiting for the man to return, she pulled the handle up on her case and headed for the departure check-in area, but within seconds Judd walked at her side, pushing his own much larger cases on the cart in front of him. Basically, everything was out of her hands from here on in. She could only hope that Nicole would forgive her for her part in the machinations of her father. But somehow Anna doubted any of what was to come would be that easy.

Charles’s driver and handyman, Patrick Evans, collected them from Auckland International Airport. They were nearly home. Evans drove slowly and inexorably toward the massive gothic mansion Charles had built from the original plans of Masters’ Rise—the headlights of the car sweeping the camellia-lined driveway in Auckland’s premier suburb of Remuera. Anna had to admit she was relieved to see the house.

Back in Australia, it had shocked her to see the ruins on the hill overlooking the vineyard. Suddenly the home that had always provided her with security didn’t seem so permanent after all. Of course, bushfires were nonexistent in the city, virtually nonexistent in New Zealand, really, and nowadays Charles had a state-of-the-art fire detection and sprinkler system throughout the house. But there were plenty of things other than bushfires that could tear a house—and a family—apart.

With the time distance between Adelaide and Auckland, and the flight time in between, it was already dark as they pulled up in front of the house, but clever external lighting showed the property off to its glorious advantage. Anna observed Judd, sitting opposite her in the limousine, and watched his reaction.

“So that’s what it looked like,” he said solemnly, his eyes raking the two-storied, pinkish-red brick building. “My memories from before we left were…incomplete.”

“Apparently it’s very true to the original, with extensive modernization, of course. Despite its size, it’s still very much a home.”

The car rolled to a stop outside the front portico, prominently marked by an ivy-covered, three-storied turret complete with a green-aged copper cupola.

“It’s your home.”

He made it a statement, rather than a question. A statement she chose to ignore as she stepped from the car and assisted Patrick in removing the luggage from the spacious trunk of the limousine.

The front doors opened and Anna turned, expecting to see Charles, but instead it was Nicole who stood there. Elegant and tall in her well-cut black suit and with her long dark hair pulled back into a ponytail that exposed her pale face, Nicole stared at the man who was her brother.

“I didn’t believe him when he told me you were coming,” she said, her voice flat—devoid of emotion.

Instantly Anna’s defensive instincts went on full alert. Nicole was usually very outgoing, impulsive and generous to a fault. This frozen pale facsimile of her best friend was something she’d never seen before.

Nicole came down the steps and halted near Anna.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

Even as Anna flinched at the question, she found herself internally debating what Nicole was really asking. There was no way to know how much Charles had told her. Had he only announced that Judd was coming back to them—or had he explained all the rest of it, too, all the things Charles had promised to bring his son home?

Either way, her answer was the same. “He asked me not to.”

“And your loyalty to him is greater than to me?” Nicole said softly, the hurt in her words flaying Anna like cold winter rain.

“That’s not fair, Nicole.”

“No, you’re right. But there’s a lot that’s not fair about all this, isn’t there?”

Pain reflected in her friend’s large brown eyes. Anna put a hand on Nicole’s arm and squeezed gently.

“You know I would have spoken to you if I could.”

Nicole nodded and turned back to Judd, who’d remained silent as a statue.

“So, brother, I suppose I should welcome you home.”

She held out her arms and to Anna’s surprise he stepped into her embrace, holding her gently before releasing her and stepping back.

Judd was shocked at the depth of emotion he felt when he saw his sister at the top of the stairs to the house. She’d been a year old when he’d left, and in his mind he’d never imagined her fully grown. Another mark against his father, he thought savagely. All those years wasted.

“We have some catching up to do,” he said.

To his surprise, Nicole laughed. “Well, if that’s not the understatement of the century. Come inside. Dad’s waiting for you.”

Judd turned to Anna, who’d watched his reunion with his sister with a solemn expression on her face. “Are you coming?”