Chapter 5

Everybody chases and some will deal.
Never play a chance tho' none are for real.
Everything falls between the cracks of
Love and attraction

Stephanie glanced in the gilt edged mirror, her tongue absently running over her teeth as she checked the reflection staring back at her. It actually wasn't bad and a vast improvement from the hot sweaty mess she'd been all morning. Her freshly washed hair sat straight and soft over shoulders and there was a glow to her skin thanks to her lightly applied makeup. It concealed the dark circles under her tired eyes and her lips shimmered with her very berry lip gloss. It was a perfect match for the red halter-neck she wore and the floating material complimented the curves of her body.

Smoothing her hands over the bottom hem, Stephanie sighed softly and turned to the side. Not that it really mattered what the top complimented. The truth of the matter was no one gave a damn what she looked like and at times that even included herself. In fact, sometimes she would even go days without touching a stick of makeup. After all, it wasn't like she had a husband to impress or make the effort for. John didn't care what she looked like and quite frankly, she didn't care either. It made her wonder why the hell she'd wasted her time tonight.

But as Stephanie moved away from the mirror, she felt that now familiar fluttering in her stomach and she knew exactly the reason why. She just wasn't going to admit it to herself because admitting it would mean admitting that she was attracted to him. That she felt something for him and of course, that was just impossible. After all, the guy was nothing more than a pain in the ass; a giant pain in the ass that liked to annoy her and get under her skin. In actual fact, she was pretty sure she loathed him. But if that was the case, why couldn't she stop thinking about him or seeing that haunted expression in those incredible brown eyes of his.

Rolling her lips together thoughtfully, Stephanie wandered across to her window and her fingers pulled back the heavy drape as she looked out over the garden. Paul wasn't there. He wasn't in the house either. In fact, he'd been gone all afternoon and she hadn't seen him since she'd left him standing on the landing. It had shaken her up a little bit to know they shared something in common and their pain over watching a loved one suffer connected them in some way.

God, she could still hear his voice now telling her about his mom. Paul had sounded so sad and so desolate and her heart had gone out to him. It's why she had searched for him after her mother had fallen asleep. For some reason she needed him to know he wasn't alone and if he wanted someone to talk to, she was there for him. There was just something in his words and his eyes that made her want to reach out to him. His pain had still seemed so fresh and so raw despite the years that had passed making her sense that Paul had been bottling everything up inside. And she didn't know why but she hated thinking he had no one he could turn to. Unfortunately loneliness was an emotion she could identify with and it was all too familiar to her.

Sighing once more, Stephanie stepped back from the window. Tucking a few strands behind her left ear, she made her way downstairs deciding to make a start to dinner. At least it would keep her mind occupied and thoughts of Paul would be kept to a minimum if she was lucky. If that didn't work, she would casually remind herself of every barbed comment and insult he had made to her since his arrival. That would definitely stop this ridiculous notion that she suddenly cared about him or even the more ridiculous one that she was attracted to him.

But as Stephanie got to the bottom of the staircase, she heard a noise in the direction of the kitchen and her heart flipped in her chest. It was him. Paul was home.

She let out a slow calming breath mentally scolding herself for her reaction. She really needed to get a grip. This was bordering on insane. So he was hot and he had a sexy ass. He was still an arrogant pig and more importantly than that, he was John's son. Her supposed step-son! Christ!

Lightly shaking her head, Stephanie glanced down at the polished floor biting down on the inside of her lip as she walked into the kitchen.

"Hey."

Paul's deep tone startled her despite knowing he was there and as her head shot up in his direction, she felt her mouth go dry as she met the pair of soft brown eyes in front of her. His lips were curved into a smile and she felt her knees go weak as he watched her. Damn him. What the hell was wrong with her? She'd never been like this in her life before. She was usually calm and in control. Maybe she'd let her sympathy for him mess with her head. Or maybe it was some bizarre hormonal meltdown caused by the heat or even the lack of sex in her life. Wait a second. No. She couldn't think about sex. Not now. Not with Paul standing there looking like that and damn, she was sure her mouth was hanging wide open.

Clearing her throat, Stephanie pressed her lips together and mentally gave herself a shake. "Hey." she eventually replied, her arms crossing over her chest as she glanced around the room. "So we probably have to stop meeting like this."

Paul raised his brow quizzically and she lifted her shoulder in a shrug.

"The kitchen? But as you can see, I can come in peace. Look. There's not a single vase in sight."

As she held out her hands, Stephanie saw the flicker of amusement on his face and she cursed herself for her nervous rambling. What was it about this guy that caused her to fall apart inside?

"I'm glad to hear it although you do know the vase was never really an issue for me." he replied, his brown eyes twinkling as he leant back against the counter crossing one foot over the other.

"Oh really?"

"Really. I mean, not to burst your bubble or anything toots but I reckon I've got at least a hundred pounds on you."

Stephanie snorted at his calculation. "Actually I'd say it was more like a hundred and twenty. Maybe even one twenty five."

"Of course you would." he smirked.

"And what's that supposed to mean?"

Paul quickly shook his head, his blonde strands shifting over his massive shoulders. "Nothing. Nothing at all."

Narrowing her eyes suspiciously in his direction, Stephanie wandered over to the coffee maker and reached for the washed mug sitting on the drainer.

"So, I haven't seen you all afternoon. Where have you been?" she asked as she began to pour the coffee.

"What are you? My mother?"

As Stephanie glared back at him, Paul grinned cockily.

"Oh wait, you are."

"God you're such an asshole!" she cried as she banged down the mug and violently tugged open the refrigerator door unaware that Paul was watching her intently. His smile faded as he swallowed thickly, his brown eyes helplessly admiring her short denim skirt and the long slender legs that accompanied it. He swore the woman was trying to kill him especially leaning slightly forward like she was doing now. And then of course there was the top she wore and the little red pendant that dangled temptingly between her breasts. How the hell was he supposed to ignore this damn attraction he had for her when she was openly teasing him like this. All afternoon he'd told himself to keep his distance from Stephanie. She was bad for him and he couldn't let himself get pulled in yet here he was unable to draw his eyes away while he should be making a run for it and getting away from her as far as possible. What he felt was impossible and wrong and it totally didn't make any sense. Yet he knew while Stephanie was here, within a hundred feet of him, he wasn't going anywhere. And judging by the way his heart was pounding in his chest, nor were these inexplicable feelings he had suddenly developed for her.

Sighing softly, Paul looked away just as Stephanie emerged from the refrigerator. He didn't dare even glance in her direction in case she could see what was probably written all over his face. He was falling for her and he was completely powerless to stop it.

Sitting on the beach this afternoon, he'd finally let himself admit it. All the barbed comments, the needling, the getting under her skin, they had all been for one reason and one reason only. They had been his lame attempt at denying how he felt about her or at least he had tried to deny it. But there was no doubt about it. There had been something there from the moment she had walked out the shadows and into his life. It had been a purely physical attraction but there had been something else too. Something he had been able to push aside with the knowledge Stephanie was cold and driven by his father's money and not her heart.

Of course all that had changed the second he had found out about her mother. Now it was like the floodgates had opened and all these emotions were rushing at him fast and furious. Stephanie's sacrifice for her mother had touched him but more than that it had cut him open and somehow she was creeping into his heart. God help him, he couldn't let her in. He had to find some way to shut her out and leaving the day after tomorrow would be a good start. In the meantime, he'd just have to try and find a way to keep his distance. He had to stay away from her.

His mouth set in determination, Paul pushed himself off the counter. He had only taken a couple of steps when the familiar icy tone stopped him in his tracks.

"Paul."

He swallowed hard and lifted his head to see a pair of hard, expressionless eyes staring back at him.

"Dad." he replied simply.