Lost : The Little Sisters Book One Read online

  “Wait here,” said Jace, and before Lucy could say anything, he was gone, disappearing into the crowd. Lucy shifted uncomfortably, feeling less than inconspicuous as several stares were levelled in her direction. Singing here had not been a good idea. But then Jace was back.

  “Here, I got you this. Drink up.”

  Lucy reached out a shaky hand to grasp the cold, crystal glass. The chills that ran from that contact went a long way in soothing her heated skin. She took a ferocious gulp and choked on her efforts as the liquid stung as only alcohol could.

  She felt someone thump her back and then lifted watery eyes at Jace, “What was that? “

  “Cocktail, luv. The best kind there is. I believe it’s called a Pantyripper,” he murmured provocatively.

  Lucy only scowled back, not appreciating his humour. “There’s no way you’re getting anywhere near my panties after that,” said Lucy admonishingly, already feeling the tension-draining effects of the drink.

  “Aw, Lucy,” cried out Jace playfully. “Don’t be like that.” His smirk was swift and wicked as he leered down at her teasingly. Lucy lifted a heavy limb to swat uselessly at his chest. His chuckle rang out softly before he leaned in to tuck her back into his arms and brush his lips against her forehead.

  “Let’s grab a bite to eat, then we can go mingle,” he suggested, and began to lead the way through the throng to where the food could be found.

  Lucy tentatively dodged elbow blows and stomping heels as she made her way after him, fixing her concentration on Jace’s bobbing head as he swerved in and out of the crowd, pausing along the way to greet many of his friends. Lucy was grateful for his frequent stops for it gave her a chance to catch up.

  “Over here,” Richard called out, just as they neared the door to buffet room. Jace spun towards that direction and Lucy had no recourse but to follow, muffling her groan of useless protest as she went. ‘Over here’ appeared to be the family room, as she recognised Richard’s parents and Celine, who looked beyond sexy in a drop-dead red number. But there were other famous personalities from the business world as well as some from the entertainment industry. Was that Ian Somerhalder talking to some stuffy old dude? What was he doing here in Australia? But more importantly, could she wrangle an autograph? A photo? A kiss? She didn’t think she would at all mind doing Richard’s bidding and tossing Jace over for him.

  Catching the direction of Lucy’s heated gaze, Jace chuckled again before shooting her a warning look. “Behave yourself, Lucy. You belong to me.”

  Lucy threw him a fulminated look at that. She belonged to no one but herself.

  Conscious of Richard beside her, Lucy tried to ignore the effects of watching Jace go ahead and embrace Celine. She resolutely kept a beaming smile on her face as she inched closer to Jace, wanting to be near him and away from Richard at the same time.

  That was when it happened. It was so quick that Lucy didn’t really realise what happened even as she let out a gasp of alarm. The hook to her halter top must have snapped off for the top fell forward to reveal the flesh it concealed.

  Immediately, a shadow moved across in front of her. Lucy looked up to see that Richard had stepped in front of her to block her from any onlookers.

  His back to her, Richard uttered loudly, “Celine, why don’t you take Jace to go check on the girls. I have a feeling they would be up to some mischief by now,” he stated tightly, and Lucy was grateful for the distraction.

  She clutched at her straps and fumbled, trying to tie it back up, but it was a struggle. Lucy must have made some mewling sounds of distress as Richard spun around to say, “Hold it up and follow me.”

  Lucy did as bid, her hands holding up her dress as she stumbled closely after him in blind panic. But Richard led the way with calm efficiency, and some stairs and a couple of doors later, Lucy found herself in his private en-suite, peering at her drained reflection in the mirror.

  “Are you okay?”

  It was a reasonable question. Lucy knew she looked about to pass out from sheer shock. How could her halter top simply snap? But then she reminded herself that wardrobe malfunctions were not all that uncommon. The red carpet was certainly littered with them. She looked up into the mirror to the concerned eyes of Richard who stood behind her, and felt colour flood back into her cheeks.

  They were in the bathroom adjoining his bedroom and Lucy could not help thinking back to his advances on the balcony. Despite what he had said and what he had done, Richard had come to her rescue. Lucy could not help but let her own animosity towards him thaw a little. A sudden silence spread between them, despite the din from the party that was loud even in here.

  Lucy clutched tight at her broken straps, embarrassed that he had seen her… exposed, and yet thankful at the same time that he had stepped in when he did to protect her from all other prying eyes. Thanks to Richard, Lucy didn’t think anyone else noticed.

  “I’m fine,” Lucy said awkwardly, as she just stood there uncomfortably, not knowing what to do.

  “Do you want me to take a look? “ Richard asked seriously. Her evasive gaze dashed back to his but then she blushed furiously at her overreaction as his meaning caught on.

  “Yes, please,” she said simply, and moved to shift her recalcitrant straps into his hold. Richard stepped up close behind her, his fingers brushing hers as he took hold of her straps. Lucy shivered at the contact, feeling vulnerable, now that he was the only one who held her dress up.

  There was nothing to stop him from simply relinquishing his hold and letting the dress slide off uselessly to pool at her feet. Lucy drew in a ragged breath and held it, feeling his cold finger brush the side of her nape as he leaned in to better study the clasp.

  “The hook is broken. Did someone tug at it?” Richard asked, his warm gaze suddenly stern, taking on a hardened intensity that made her pity anyone on the receiving end. But at that moment that person was her.

  “No… no. Not that I could recall,” she muttered hesitantly.

  “Think back carefully. Hooks like this don’t just snap unless it’s been forced. It would have had to be recent too for the straps to fall when they did. It was almost perfectly timed.” Lucy could see his expression darken with each word he uttered and she was suddenly concerned about what he was about to do.

  “It doesn’t matter. No harm was done. You shielded me. I am sure no one saw… besides you, that is,” Lucy finished lamely, and flushed red once more, before adding almost under her breath, “Um… thank you.”

  She watched his eyes narrow unpleasantly and knew he would not let this go, but before she could say more he changed the topic, “So what do I do with these?” He yanked at her straps to indicate they were broken and therefore useless.

  “Could you tie them? Or do you have safety pins?” Lucy asked hopefully.

  “Safety pins?” Richard shook his head sarcastically, and Lucy got his point. He was a billionaire, and those didn’t run around with safety pins. But then he was whipping out his cell phone and muttering rapid instructions into it.

  They stood there in the bathroom and waited. It was oddly not an uncomfortable silence, mostly because Richard had this serious but preoccupied look about him. He stared right into the mirror but did not seem to be looking at anything.

  Finally, there came a tap on the door and then Richard was opening it and ushering Jace in.

  “I got the safety pin,” muttered Jace, taking the straps from Richard. He then proceeded to fumble before getting it on. They all heaved a massive sigh of relief.

  “Since I have you both here, and some privacy in which to discuss matters, I’d like to issue an invitation to you both to spend the coming weekend with us at the farmhouse. I don’t expect a response just yet, but let me know your answer when you have decided,” said Richard, before stepping out of the bathroom.

  As soon as the door shut, leaving Jace alone with Lucy, Jace whirled around and had her wrapped up in his arms. Lucy held back the tears that threatened as the shock of wh
at could have happened caught up with her. Jace rained kisses over her face and whispered a comforting litany of, “Hush baby, darling. I’m here babe. It’s alright now.”

  Lucy closed her eyes and simply melted in his arms letting his affection wash over her.

  Chapter 9

  “Do we really have to go?” Lucy asked, and not for the first time.

  This evening was their last together and then she would be back home with her parents, and Jace with his. Lucy was a little nervous about their parting. Jace would get busy with work and Lucy would revert to whiling away her time trying to decide on her future. She worried about her parents’ reaction to she and Jace as a couple. But she knew the twins could not be bribed for their silence. She’d already tried.

  Lucy snuggled up against Jace and tried to rest her troubled mind and get some sleep. She was worried about Richard Reeves. What did he mean by his invite? What did he intend for her? She rested her head on Jace’s naked chest and watched it rise and fall as he took in a great sigh.

  This was not the first time she’d brought up her reluctance to visit Richard Reeves. She had slipped it into their conversation several times on the way back to the Neils’ beach cottage. The party had finished late, and being one of the last to arrive, Jace had felt duty bound to remain to the end. That had worried Lucy for all of two minutes because Jace had spent every moment there on the dance floor with Lucy secure in his arms.

  Lucy was still undecided whether to mention Richard and his bizarre hand fetish. Her breath caught, recalling his affinity to her hand. She’d never known she could be made to feel so much from so little. Richard was certainly skilled in lovemaking. But Lucy was still uncomfortable with her reactions to having his lips pressed against her hand. She shivered in remembrance. But then the comfortable warm bedding she was resting on shifted and moved.

  “Honey, we can discuss this tomorrow. You need to sleep,” Jace murmured softly. His words almost a slur as sleep began to overpower him. Lucy was moved and shifted again before she found herself on her back and Jace was hovering over her.

  “You shouldn’t worry so much,” he leaned down to kiss at the corner of her mouth to nibble teasingly at her pout. Lucy pressed her lips to his but he pulled back, “Uh-uh you have to earn your right to a proper kiss.” That brought her pout back full on.

  His chuckle rumbled over her, “You are so adorable.”

  And, the pout progressed into a scowl. “Yes, let’s get some sleep,” she said and made to shove at his steely chest..

  With a little growl that brought out a squeal of excitement in her, Jace nuzzled his face against the soft mounds of her chest. Lucy clutched him closer at first before she remembered to shove him away.

  “Baby, don’t be like that,” he whispered huskily, raining kisses down her chest where the fabric of her pyjama top miraculously unbuttoned to give him access to more of her flesh. His lips dropped greedily to close in on her heaving breast, drawing in tight and suckling hungrily. Lucy couldn’t and didn’t hold back on the moan that emerged through her clenched teeth.

  Bam! Bam!

  They jerked apart. The hammering sound had come from the adjoining room. Jace’s parents must have heard them. Intimacies of any kind were out of the question with his parents bunked in the room right next to them. Lucy flushed beet red, embarrassed that they knew just what she had been up to. Knew it and didn’t approve. They didn’t want poor Lucy for their son.

  “Shhh, luv. It’s okay,” Jace comforted her in a loving hug, but Lucy could see the red flush to his skin and heard the pounding of his heart and knew he was similarly affected. So, she wound a comforting arm about him and cuddled him close before reaching out to snap the lights off.

  The next morning was a rush of packing before everyone loaded up their respective cars and began the long drive back. The beach house had always been fun, but these few days had been overwhelmingly different. Lucy sat beside Jace, her hand gripping his for most of the long drive back while the twins sat at the back mostly quiet themselves. With Em having nodded off, Cat spent most of the time with her nose stuck between the pages of a book.

  It all seemed quite normal in the back seat of Jace’s car, but Lucy was feeling shaken by all that had happened. It was a bittersweet long weekend for her. With moments of rapturous pleasure tossed in the mix with hurt and regret. She didn’t quite know what to make of it.

  And the drive back seemed all the shorter for it. Too soon and they were back, with the twins calling out their thanks and farewells before rushing back indoors and Lucy left to stare tearfully at Jace. The kiss he wouldn’t yet let her have was taunting her into wanting to simply drag his head down close to hers and trap his lips against the heated assault of her own. But she knew better than to try. Jace was on guard, reading her tempestuous nature correctly.

  He was standing his ground determinedly, waiting for what, Lucy didn’t know or understand. But then thoughts of Richard intervened and the tingle in Lucy’s hands had her taking an uncertain step back. Jace sighed before bending to brush his lips against her cheek, and then he was gone.

  Lucy felt the pain stabbing right in the centre of her heart. It was as if a limb had been torn right off her and left behind. Only in this case, the limb travelled on without her. Lucy waved until the Evoque drove out of sight, her hand absently rubbing at the sudden hollow in her chest as she resolutely blinked away unexpected tears.

  She didn’t cry. Not over anything as puny as a boyfriend. Certainly not over Jace, of all people, but a stubborn tear rolled down her cheek regardless. Impatiently brushing it aside, Lucy went inside. She was no lovesick fool to pine over a boyfriend she would see again within the week. They would be going to Richard’s farmhouse in the country. That would be soon enough. Just three days away.

  With a wrenching heart, which she refused to acknowledge, Lucy withdrew to her room to curl into a ball, lick her wounds, and suffer her heartaches in silence. Slamming her bedroom door shut behind her, Lucy threw herself on the bed to bury her face into her pillow and howl mightily. The sound remained muted within the soft pillow and Lucy’s heart remained clenched in unexpected pain. If this was what it meant to have a boyfriend, Lucy didn’t know why anyone bothered.

  The feeling was unpleasant at best, and plain hurtful otherwise. How was she expected to go on without Jace attached to her side every moment of the day? With a muffled groan, Lucy lifted her head to draw in a breath and glare at nothing in particular. Kicking her feet up behind her, Lucy lifted her gaze to stare out her window. Clutching her pillow to her chest, she pondered the monumental changes the long weekend had wrought in her. She couldn’t believe she was feeling this strongly for Jace. Just a few days with him and her whole world had changed. It left her shaken. And what was worse, her head was not at all contemplating what it should.

  The return of her long-lost brother that would now not eventuate, her aunt who was responsible for his abduction, her birth father and what he thought of this latest development. Did he still want her to visit, knowing his son was still missing? Knowing her aunt was responsible for all his pain? Lucy didn’t know and, for the moment, she didn’t care. All she saw in her mind’s eye were the brightest blue eyes and a lovely head of unruly blond locks. Jace.

  Lucy groaned audibly and buried her face into her pillow once more. She was thankful Mum and Dad were not yet home from work. Mum had her own hair salon and dad brought home the bacon. Lucy realised then that life was going to be tough with the two people she loved most in the world being unhappy with her and her choice of a boyfriend. There was no way Daniel Neil would not have informed Patrick Little of what he thought about their children being together together. She was bound to get an earful when they got home. And with Jace gone back to his world, there was no other option but to face the fireworks on her own.

  Just then her mobile rang.

  “Missing me yet?”

  The husky voice sent shivers of anticipation all over her as it whispered out of th
e phone. Lucy nearly cried.

  “No,” she moaned pitifully, “of course not.”

  The rich chuckle that burst out at that lifted her foolish heart and buoyed her sullen spirits like magic.

  “Want to meet up tonight?” he asked.

  Lucy stared at the phone stupidly. He was a good hour’s drive away in Toorak, where all the rich lived in their drool-worthy-mansions, and Lucy couldn’t go anywhere on her first evening back. Her mum and dad would kill her. No two ways about it. Grounded for life probably. Didn’t matter if she was over eighteen. They were old-fashioned that way. Lucy wouldn’t even know how to go about it. Emily was their family’s social schemer. She was the one to draw up schemes of climbing out windows to attend all-night raves. With Lucy for company and Jace for protection, there had been many such hair-raising schemes in the past. But Lucy, for the life of her, couldn’t think one up now. She would need advice from Emily on this.

  “How?” Lucy asked desperately.

  “Leave that to me,” he said soothingly,” Just tell me you want to see me.”

  “I want you!” Lucy exclaimed excitedly.

  “Not quite the same thing,” Jace chuckled over the phone, “But it’ll do. Consider it done, luv. Mwah!”

  Lucy made the appropriate kissy sounds to return, secretly aghast that she had been reduced to noisy air kisses over the phone. What was she turning into? But her heart thudded in her chest sluggishly, overwhelming her into doing stupid lovey-dovey things. A few more heated murmurs and Lucy reluctantly hung up. He was driving and didn’t need the distraction. She sunk back into bed and covered up in gloom, counting the ticking clock until her parents returned.

  It could have been minutes, if not hours later, when the squeals from Emily marked her parents’ return. Lucy knew she didn’t have long to wait. Tightening her jaw with her inherent stubbornness, she listened for the cue.