Tempestuous

By Susan Garod

Six seconds of eye contact between Catalina Braganza and Quinn Hunter was what it took. Catalina Braganza, one of four sisters, was home to spend two weeks over the Christmas holidays with her parents. Brothers, Quinn and Jared Hunter, who had recently bought the spice company owned by her parents, were invited to spend the holidays with the Braganza family. Her parents often invited people to visit. But none of their previous guests caused Catalina’s heart to hammer and wits to scatter over something as simple as short collision of gazes. Quinn wasn’t expecting Catalina Braganza, in any way or form. He knew exactly what he wanted in a wife, which is why he’d given a dating agency a description of the qualities he sought. Catalina Braganza exhibited none of those qualities but his head and heart were navigating a path far from expected, with a woman who did not fit his dating criteria, let alone meet the credentials needed to be his wife.
This is the first in a series of four stories about four sisters.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Susan Garod
• Release date: May 13, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463597361

Susan Garod

reviewsI don't know about other readers but for me it's not just the happy ending. The journey has to be fraught with obstacles and difficulties to make the happy ending worth it. The thing I love best about any of your work is that no matter the obstacle you always find a way for the couple to overcome it and it's not some unrealistic magic fix. Love takes work and you show that. Your characters are also not perfect, they have their strengths and weaknesses clearly on display for readers to really get into the characters heads. At least thats how it is for me. (sweet_candy89, 21/1/2018)If you love reading about strong women and the real men that love them, then Susan Garod never disappoints! The characters are complex with intriguing, interconnected story arcs, which continue in each series with their multiple characters and side stories and makes them such a pleasure to read. Joshua's Grace is the perfect starting point if you haven't read any of Susan's books, and follow the Carvalho sisters into the Moonlight series, Spice Sisters and the Heartbeat series. You See Me elicited the same response as all the preceding books by Susan Garod - I loved it!(Karen, June, 10, 2017)I absolutely LOVE Susan Garod's books, think I have every one of them, so when I seen this was available for my kindle I was ecstatic. Now it is a little different than her other writings, but it is just as good if not better. Laura has found out she has a grandmother, goes to see her but runs into her neighbor who thinks that Laura is there just to get something from the grandmother. There are many trials and tribulations going back and forth between the 2. I really did enjoy this book and if you have read any of Susan's other books you will love this one as well (Lori Costa, July, 28, 2016)

Book preview

Tempestuous

Susan Garod

Published by Susan Garod

Distributed by Smashwords

Copyright 2018 Susan Garod

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Tempestuous

Chapter 1

Catalina Braganza savoured her victory. Albeit silently. But if that was the price she had to pay, she was happy to pay it. She banked her triumphant smile and took her own sweet time to exit the hired car, knowing that the driver, Quinn Hunter, had no such hesitation.

As soon as the car came to a standstill in her parent’s driveway he unsnapped his seatbelt, flung open the door and all but fled: As if the devils from hell were after him. Which, Catalina admitted with a smug secret grin, was probably close to the truth, given the last few hours and her part in creating his hell. She was more than pleased with her efforts. The man was insufferable.

As Catalina watched Quinn with now open amusement, her lips curved in a smile that spoke volumes. She was delighted with herself! Quinn Hunter was an arrogant pompous ass, albeit good-looking arrogant pompous ass, she thought as she deftly used her index finger to smooth the line of one perfectly arched jet-black eyebrow. Then she flipped the sunshade down to use the mirror on the inner flap to check on the state of her make up.

Her reflection did not materialise in the mirror. Instead she saw his silver-blue eyes as her brain replayed the scenes when their eyes met in the rear view mirror during the drive down to her childhood home. That annoyed her. Obviously the man had made a lasting impression. She gave herself a mental shake to dismiss the scene replays. But his image remained. At some point she was going to have to consider the impact of that eye contact on her pulse rate. Even now she felt goose bumps develop on the back of her neck as adrenalin kicked in when she remembered the point at which their gazes locked.

That impact was unacceptable. She could not possibly fancy that pompous ass. She wasn’t that stupid or that desperate. Tiredness, that’s what it was, she was just tired. Work had been beyond hectic in the last few weeks, mainly because she was taking a break, and partly because it was just that time of the year. The sporting calendar seemed to coalesce at that time of the year. But even as she accepted the fact that she was tired, she knew that her response to that arrogant, albeit gorgeous man, was not down to tiredness. There was just something about him that had Catalina’s heart fluttering. The dilemma she faced was explaining why when she was usually much more adept at dealing with temporary aberrations, had she experienced such difficulty in dealing one conceited idiot?

Catalina knew her make-up was intact, but she needed the ploy to buy her some time. She took critical note of the green haze eye shadow, the kohl eyeliner and mascara that highlighted the feline shape of her eyes. The combination gave eyes that were already naturally blessed with instant impact more effect. An effect she hoped Quinn felt. That brought the grin back. So she took her time before she emerged from the car. She needed to hide her smug grin from her mother’s watchful gaze, as that would no doubt result in a scolding. Which would be a bad outcome for two reasons. It would devalue what Catalina considered to be a rather successful venture: one sanctimonious male sorted. More importantly, a parent scolding a daughter who just happened to be in her late twenties, when the arrogant male in question was still within hearing range, would be embarrassing.

Taking her own sweet time, Catalina flipped the sunshade back up, and with grace that came naturally she swung her designer jean clad long legs out of the car and stepped onto the loose gravel. Catalina took her time. She ran her hands down the side of her jeans, then checked on the state of her jacket and noted it was only slightly crushed. She knew she was still playing for time. Still trying to bank her smirk. She wondered if her mother would accept thwarting a giant as a good excuse for long-term smirking. Probably not.

Claire, her mother, appeared as if just thinking about her made her materialise. Hot on her heels was Tony, Catalina’s father. Pretending to be concerned about the state of her attire was instantly forgotten when Catalina saw her parents smile broadly as they made their way toward their daughters. A reciprocal smile lit Catalina’s face. Her two sisters, Bianca and Daniella, having exited the car without stalling for time, were several steps ahead of Catalina. As Catalina tracked her sisters and parents, her own smile grew. Despite complaining bitterly when she’d been ‘instructed’ to come home for two weeks, she was pleased to be home.

Work was demanding and she was close to burning out. But even knowing she was heading for exhaustion had not slowed her down, until she’d received her parent’s command. Her work kept her on her toes, literally, as she travelled from one venue to the next, covering and reporting on the various interstate and Trans Tasman Netball games. Unfortunately what had started out as exhilarating was now wearing her down. It wasn’t the game. Catalina loved Netball. But two years in the limelight, constantly being on the road, having limited time with family, living out of a suitcase, staying in hotel rooms and having a superficial social life was starting to take its toll. She’d recently made a big decision, one she hoped to share with her family later. Much later.

Catalina took a long slow intake of breath. Sea air. Home. This is what home smelt like, she thought as childhood memories returned. She looked across at her sisters and her parents. Her smug grin was replaced with a smile of genuine delight. This is what family was about, she mulled as she carefully upped her pace to reach the huddle of parents and sisters. Her strappy sandals with totally impractical four-inch heels forced her to slowly and carefully pick her way across the loose shingle. Sashaying across the gravel gave her time to study her family.

Like two of her sisters, Catalina was a tall, long legged woman with blue-black hair and whisky coloured eyes. A striking combination she’d been told often enough. All four daughters were blessed with a golden skin, a consequence of their father’s Goan and their mother’s Kiwi ancestry. However that was where the similarities between the sisters ended. Alaina, who had yet to make an appearance in the welcoming party, had their father’s ebony eyes and their mother’s brown hair that Alaina usually wore pixie short. The fraternal triplets had genes with a difference. Apart from their hair and eyes, their features were different. It was easy to tell them apart. But nature and nurture had conspired further and assigned them dissimilar characters.

Character accurately reflected by hairstyle. Bianca’s long jet-black hair curled in chaotic abandon, leaving her constantly battling to tame her tresses, usually with limited success. Catalina’s hair was styled to within an inch and worn in a trademark sleek chin length bob that required a great deal of maintenance to tame the unruly wave in her hair. Daniella’s shoulder length ebony black hair was up in her standard, very tidy, and utterly practical chignon.

Several hours ago Bianca had applied a token coat of mascara to her lashes and a nude lip-gloss to her full lips. How her sister could wear so little makeup and still look sensational was beyond Catalina. In contrast, Catalina was dressed to the nines, albeit casual in terms of her usual attire. Earlier that morning she’d opted for a low cut, long sleeved white silk t-shirt that draped just past her slim hips and made the most of the fact that she was willow trim. Her ritzy designer label jeans had a dragon motif design on the front of one leg and she had a lightweight blazer for travelling purposes. She was high maintenance from the roots of her sleek blue-black hair to the siren red nail varnish currently sported on toenails that peeked through her sandals and on the fingernails that smoothed her sleek curtain of jet-black hair into place. Her make up was flawless, and applied with experience gained from watching the make up artists who worked on her before she went on air. Unlike Bianca and Daniella, Catalina’s lips were still sporting the lipstick she’d applied at the start of their journey, some several hours ago. Daniella rarely bothered with make up and she’d only grudgingly applied lip-gloss, because Catalina reminded her that they would be photographed at some point during their journey home, given they were travelling with Catalina. Daniella had applied the new raspberry-gloss sample that Catalina gave her and grumbled about the fuss caused whenever Catalina was around.

Catalina watched with interest as Quinn stepped forward to greet her parents. She smothered another smirk as she watched her father shake Quinn’s hand. She’d taken down a giant! Quinn was a big man. He was a good head taller than her father. Broad shouldered. Lean hipped. Tall. He was from the traditionally handsome school of more-than-fit-guys. His clothes were expensive, but conservative. Why she found him even faintly interesting was puzzling. In reality, she figured he’d be Daniella’s type. Conservative. Restrained. Confident. But even now, as Catalina stood and watched him engage with her father, she felt her pulse quicken and those goose bumps develop on the back of her neck. Which was maddening.

The man currently charming her parents rubbed her up the wrong way from the moment he’d spoken to her and her sisters at Melbourne airport. Catalina kept her sigh silent as she watched her father bestow a hearty welcome on the idiot man. Catalina knew she’d behaved badly over the last few hours. He’d made a mistake at the outset, failed to apologise and the result was a verbal mauling by Cat. Strangely she’d enjoyed sharpening her claws on him, much to the amusement of her sisters. For Catalina rarely got cross, but when she did, the show was worth watching, for Catalina had it down to a fine art. No hysterics, no loud voice, no physical contact, but the impact was all the more potent for those facts.

Daniella studying her elder sister, by all of a couple of minutes, wanted to laugh at the smug expression on Catalina’s face. Catalina had tortured the poor man. The flight and the drive from the airport to the family home was no doubt Quinn’s worst nightmare. Given Catalina’s expression, Catalina had enjoyed creating his nightmare. Daniella banked her laugh as her brain replayed a few scenes from the last few hours. She’d enjoyed watching her sister take this man down. The Braganza women were truly perilous to arrogant men!

Catalina flicked a silent questioning look at her sister, when she caught Daniella’s grin. Daniella shrugged with insouciance, said nothing and sauntered off to search for their oldest sister, Alaina. Catalina’s returned her attention to Quinn interacting with her parents.

Quinn Hunter was an attractive man. But in her line of work, as a sports journalist, Catalina encountered attractive men on a daily basis and she was immune to them. Quinn was conservatively dressed, outwardly reserved and singularly composed. Nothing to salivate over according to her head, but something about the man had her heart ignoring the caution warnings her brain flagged up. Caution should have been Quinn Hunter’s middle name, Catalina thought, not for the first time as she watched him with more than superficial interest.

Quinn oblivious to Catalina’s thoughts was trying to forget the impact she had on him. He was a man who had shouldered responsibility from a young age. He was used to dictating terms and managing his circumstances. But over the last few hours he’d managed to hold onto just the vestiges of control as his circumstances blew a hole in his standard demeanour. He usually left nothing to chance. But Catalina hadn’t given him any chance, certainly no chance to take evasive measures. She’d steamrollered right on through his carefully constructed life. Not surprisingly the last few hours were trying to say the least.

He saw Tony Braganza’s invitation to spend the Christmas holidays with the Braganza family for what it was. The invitation had nothing to do with celebrating or discussing the business transfer, but everything to do with Tony Braganza wanting the business to retain a personal connection: A relationship between one of the Hunter brothers and the Braganza daughters. That, as far as Quinn was concerned, was simply not going to happen. Of course they were beautiful women. He’d seen photographs and he’d seen Catalina on the television often. So he knew they were beautiful women. But what he hadn’t anticipated is his response to a woman who took delight in taking him down several pegs. Even now, while he stood and conducted a pretty standard conversation with her parents, he could feel her gaze on him. And that, for some ridiculous reason had his pulse racing. Self-preservation his head told his heart. After all she had spent the last few hours using him for target practice, it was a wonder he had any skin left, given the verbal flaying he’d received from her.

Catalina turned back to focus on the man whose arrogance was what had set her off. Her reaction to his conservatism is what had her flummoxed. Despite everything she’d thrown at him, he hadn’t retaliated. He hadn’t said a word to contest her statements, nor had he done anything to get even. No riposte, no snide remarks, nothing. He had remained calm and silent. Though, clearly given his quick exit from the car, he was at the end of his tether. She wasn’t the type to spend hours rehashing what might have been, yet as she continued to watch Quinn, she wondered whether their interactions might have been different had he not been obnoxious from the outset.

Claire Braganza gave Quinn a kiss on both cheeks and smiled at something Quinn said to her. Obviously both her parents liked the idiot. Catalina wondered about their sanity. But then, from where she was standing he’d just had a Jekyll and Hyde transformation. Clearly he could do charm. If he could do charm, so effortlessly, why was he a pompous ass when they met some eight hours ago. Why had she allowed his initial discourteous statement to trigger an impolite response? She lived in the public eye. She knew how to maintain her composure and deal with thoughtless twits. Had he shown a little courtesy, or even a smidgeon of common diplomacy, she might just have been a tad nicer to him over the last few hours.

Catalina banked her smile. Two adults behaving like spoilt, tantrum-throwing kids. It was only now, when she had a few moments to reflect that she realized that her normal charming, sociable, public persona, had all but vanished. That brought her to a standstill. In the last two years, since she’d made the transition from national netball player to sports commentator her natural charm had been honed and refined to create and maintain a genial front. She was amiable. It was difficult to unnerve her. She kept her cool. She was informed. Everyone liked the gracious, stunning beauty. She drew on netball statistics with ease and could relax the most reluctant of interviewees into talking without inhibition. Yet, over the last few hours she was hardly gracious or friendly and had done little to help Quinn relax.

Claire stood with a warm smile on her lips as she watched her daughters with obvious delight. She was soon surrounded by the three girls who were chattering all at once, as if they were still teenagers rather than grown women. The small huddle made their way, blindly, down the gravel pathway to the front door. Tony watched the women for a second, and sighed happily. It was good to have them all home. After a second he turned and headed for the car. Automatically Quinn followed Tony to the car.

Can I give you a hand? Quinn asked, albeit rhetorically. He needed time out. A few years would be good. Sufficient time for him to figure out how he was going to deal with Catalina Braganza. Quinn had not anticipated the impact Catalina could have on his ultra controlled, methodically conservative life. As a woman with a significant fan base he was expecting her to exude charm and poise. He might have seen that side of her, but for a six second collision of gazes that rattled him into announcing he was not interested in a marriage of convenience especially as they did not meet his criteria! Hardly the behaviour of a well-heeled gentleman.

A marriage of convenience was not up for consideration, but he was leaving nothing to chance. The fact he’d spoken his mind, had done him no favours. Catalina Braganza had taken umbrage, and he’d borne the brunt of it.

Tony nodded and smiled at the man he had come to respect. Thanks.

Quinn knew that the women, like him, were each travelling with one case for their two-week stay. As the sisters had disappeared into the house, Quinn assumed Tony was expected to bring in the cases. So much for equality and women’s rights, he mused as he leaned in to help Tony retrieve the cases from the hired car’s boot.

But as if Tony could read his mind, Tony said with a broad grin, The girls will be back when they remember they have luggage! With Quinn’s help Tony hefted the four suitcases and put them beside the car. Ten seconds, mark my words.

Taking a case in each hand, the two men started for the house. Quinn led the way.

Catalina was the first to return and was half way down the pathway, when she spotted Quinn and her father carrying their suitcases. She smiled broadly, called a casual ‘thanks’ and sauntered back toward the house. Quinn gritted his teeth. Why that woman in particular was able to destabilise his usual equilibrium was something he’d consider later. Right now, he just needed to stay calm. He was pretty sure he’d all but ground his teeth to the gumline.

Daniella and Bianca were on Catalina’s heels, but when they saw Quinn helping their father, they smiled, gave him a thumbs-up, called their ‘thanks’ before they too followed Catalina back toward the house. Tony nearly laughed at Quinn’s expression. The man was clearly not used to dealing with Tony’s daughters. They might be strong, independent women, but that never stopped them from accepting help when they felt like it!

The men’s longer strides saw them catch up with the women as they neared the front door.

No sign of Jared’s car. Which was odd. Quinn glanced back at Tony Braganza, his voice pensive as he asked with more than a trace of anxiety, Has Jared arrived?

Tony nodded, and again appeared to be a mind reader, His car is in the garage.

Quinn shifted the unexpectedly heavy case. He was sure he’d inadvertently picked up Catalina’s suitcase. Typical he thought silently even out of sight the woman was still making his life difficult. How he had survived the journey without ejecting the woman from a moving car was a testament to his self-control, though automatic door locking and the lack of an ejector seat aided her cause.

Then his mind returned to the issue of his brother. He had expected to see Jared with the welcoming party. But there was no sign of Jared or the other sister, Alaina. Perhaps Jared, like Quinn, had had enough, but unlike Quinn who was tempted but wasn’t able to follow through, if his brother was lucky he might have left Alaina at Wellington airport.

For a man used to managing his circumstances, the last few hours were testing to say the least. The only benefit was that now he knew he could hold onto his self-control even in the most trying of situations. Though he was pretty sure that one plane journey and one car journey was about his limit where Catalina Braganza was concerned.

How the woman had an adoring fan base was beyond him. She was catty in person, which was odd given her job spec probably called for personable and charming. All he’d got for the duration was obnoxious and acerbic. A tiny voice reminded him that he was instrumental in triggering that disposition.

Tony and Quinn were right behind the triplets as they reached the door. As they stepped into the house Tony smiled and announced happily, Jared and Alaina are getting on famously. His eyes twinkled as he made the announcement. Quinn’s eyes cooled instantly.

He was too late. Typical, he’d dealt with the triplets, and put up with the infuriating Catalina, all in vain, for the oldest sister already had her claws into Jared. His younger brother was far too gullible where women were concerned. That’s why Quinn had agreed to spend Christmas with the Braganza family as soon as he heard Jared accept the invitation. But it would appear that despite his best efforts to protect his brother from this arrangement, he was too late to prevent the missing Alaina from sinking her fangs into his brother. Quinn was tempted to grind his teeth again, as frustration and annoyance coursed through his veins.

Tony glanced away before Quinn could see the laughter in his eyes. Encountering the Braganza posse had rattled Quinn’s composure. Not surprising really. Tony knew that all four of his daughters were formidable, if riled. Tony figured Quinn had riled at least one of his daughters. For Tony knew his daughters well, and Catalina looked particularly smug when she’d eventually emerged from the car.

In any case, Tony thought Quinn’s life needed rattling. Quinn epitomized reserve and restraint. But he was loyal to family, which in his case meant Jared. Being here was a prime example. Tony was sure that this was the last place Quinn wanted to spend Christmas. But he was here because he wanted to be with Jared at Christmas.

During the business transfer, Claire and Tony discovered that Quinn had from an early age assumed responsibility for the wellbeing of his brother, Jared. That early responsibility made Quinn the man he was today. Everything in Quinn’s world was ordered. He led a predictable, manageable and logical life. Quinn was the type of man who decided on a course of action and then stuck with it. No surprises. No unanticipated activity on his action plan. Until now.

Tony sold them Braganza Spice, but in the process he introduced unanticipated activity. That in itself should have sent out warning bells, but Quinn had been slow to spot how Jared was falling under the Braganza spell. The last thing Quinn expected was to meet the Braganza daughters. And nothing had prepared him for Catalina Braganza. Cat not only had claws, she knew how to use them to shred his restraint and cut through his reserve with remarkable ease.

Ahead of the two men, the triplets overheard their father’s rather baffling comment about their sister. The three sisters looked at each other in disbelief. All three upped their pace, wanting to see what counted as getting on famously if it involved Alaina and the brother of the giant they brought with them. They knew Alaina would not do anything risqué. Between Alaina and Daniella, their family had conventional and circumspect covered. Alaina would see that the man had a polite reception and a hospitable welcome, but that would be it. Getting on famously implied more.

There you are! You lazy toad! Bianca announced when she stepped into the room and spied her older sister. Bianca bounded forward with a smile on her lips and in her whisky coloured eyes, and noted that Alaina’s dark brown eyes held a flash of anxiety that was quickly smothered. Bianca caught a glimpse of the other brother just before she hugged her eldest sister. You didn’t bother to come out to meet us! Not nice! Bianca chided her sister, but there was no real heat in the statement.

Jared watched as the sisters slid easily into familiar territory. He recognised the triplets, having seen various photographs. Those whisky coloured eyes were startling, and together with the jet-black hair, the combination took the women from pretty to stunning. Photos hinted at the potency of the combination. Reality packed impact.

While Catalina waited in line for her hug, she took surreptitious note of the man in the room. He was tall, like Quinn. Broad, like Quinn. Handsome, like Quinn. But he did nothing for her. Her heart remained steady. Her hands remained dry. Her thought processes remained in tact. Her reaction to Quinn was altogether different to her reaction to his brother, despite the fact the two men looked remarkably similar. That was both disconcerting and more than a bit of a worry. For the last thing Catalina needed was complications. Quinn Hunter was complicated. That much was for sure.

Alaina beamed at Bianca, in an attempt to hide her anxiety. Why? You know the way in!

Catalina was smiling with what Alaina recognized as pseudo self-assurance as she waited in turn for her hug. Alaina threw Catalina a speculative look as she stepped past Bianca and headed for Catalina who stood behind Bianca. Catalina rolled her eyes, in the hope that they wouldn’t give away too many of her secrets. The trouble with older sisters is that they knew everything. Alaina could always read Catalina. The last few hours were bewildering and Catalina was sure that Alaina would sense Catalina’s nervous tension.

To throw Alaina a bit of a curve, Catalina gave Alaina a blatant once over and said with sincerity, Looking good!

Thanks. Alaina hugged tight. I need a hair cut. The last time they’d caught up was when Catalina was covering a Netball game in Christchurch. Though both sisters booked into the same hotel to get some time together, they’d only managed to fit in breakfast and one dinner given Catalina’s work commitments. They both left saying they needed to catch up more often for longer. That was six months ago. Time simply got away from them.

Oh. Catalina whispered and glanced meaningfully at Jared. There was a frisson in the air, and Catalina was pretty sure that the spark was between Jared and Alaina. For a special occasion?

Alaina ignored Catalina’s non-too-subtle question. She figured Catalina was simply being mischievious. Which was par for the course for Cat. Alaina stepped back and gave her sister a more thorough appraisal, and said with more than a trace of concern, You’ve lost more weight. Frowning at her sister she admonished, Not good Cat. Cat could ill afford to loose weight, she was reed thin as it was, for as Cat claimed, television put pounds on you.

Nag, nag. Catalina stepped away, hoping Alaina did not make an issue of her weight loss. It was not intentional. She’d just had a hectic few months, and her eating habits were somewhat hit and miss as she made do with grabbing something to eat in between travel to locations and reporting on games.

Daniella smiled as she waited her turn patiently, taking note of Alaina’s comment about Catalina’s weight loss then Daniella asked Alaina as she was hugged, When did you get in? And, Bianca and I have already had words with Cat about not eating properly.

In many ways, she and Alaina were the most similar in temperament. They shied away from the limelight, quite content to be working away in the background. People who did not know them mistakenly assumed they were placid. Their father described them as steel hands in velvet gloves.

Arrived yesterday. Alaina kept her arm around Daniella’s waist but turned to include Jared, Got picked up at the airport. She tipped her head toward Jared. With a smile on his lips and speculation in his eyes, Jared stepped forward. He’d wondered if she would introduce him, or whether she’d leave it to her father. Alaina made the informal introductions, gesturing at each individual as she mentioned their name. Jared Hunter, my sisters, Bianca, Catalina and Daniella.

Jared was aware of the three sisters’ covert scrutiny as they’d waited in turn to be hugged by Alaina. Now they turned the full force of their feline whisky hued eyes on him. A lesser man would have squirmed.

In silence, Catalina drew comparisons between Jared and his brother. Both were of a similar build, had blonde hair and had similar eyes, an interesting blue-grey. But Jared’s gaze did not give her goose bumps. Jared also did not share his brother’s personality traits. Obviously Quinn inherited the full stock of pride and reserve genes, while his brother inherited relaxed confidence genes. As Catalina took stock she wondered who was older. The brothers looked about the same age. She’d ask her father for details later. In the meantime she needed to confirm her view about Jared and Alaina.

Jared reached the first of the triplets. He shook hands and leaned in to kiss her on each cheek. Then he headed for the next and then the third. Alaina thought she’d done a good job feigning serenity as she watched Jared kiss her sisters. But she hadn’t counted on Catalina’s scrutiny. Catalina was surprised to see Alaina trying not to look anxious as she watched the man interact with her sisters. Catalina greeted Jared and then turned to face Alaina to make a flippant comment but saw Alaina’s attention was elsewhere.

You must be Quinn. Alaina said softly. She tried to tamp down her reaction to seeing Jared kiss her sisters, by focussing on the other brother. With her hand outstretched she took a step forward to greet Quinn. Though from his reaction he did not appear happy to see her. That was puzzling, for Alaina was pretty sure they’d never met before. But the man was more than unenthusiastic, and his eyes were doing little to hide the fact he was far from pleased.

Catalina’s mouth went into overdrive. That was one of her flaws. When she was annoyed she spoke first and thought later. Oh, yes, Quinny darling met us at the airport. Catalina purred deliberately, not at all surprised to see Quinn all but grit his teeth. Adding the y was a nice touch she thought as she mutilated his name.

He threw her a frosty glare. She loved the way his eyes glinted. Heat. Passion. Temper. Storm grey now. Her purring seemed to really get to him. Given the way he was drawing himself to his full height, a glorious five inches taller than her, she felt inclined to cut him down to size. She stepped closer to Quinn and Alaina as they shook hands.

Isn’t he gorgeous. Catalina aimed for seductive tones. Quinn’s eyes narrowed in warning. A waste of time really for Catalina was not finished with the man. She sidled closer, threaded an arm through his, and noticed he straightened abruptly at the very contact. That did not deter her from rubbing her cheek on his sleeve, like a contented cat.

This was the problem, Quinn’s inner voice berated. On the outside he presented forbidding indifference and it had no impact on Catalina. He’d never had to deal with a woman who ignored boundaries and cut through his defences so easily. It was as if the decades of self-determined discipline could be torn apart as if it was no more than tissue paper. Most of the women in his life knew and respected his boundaries. In contrast, Catalina did not seem to understand the concept of good manners, let alone understand his cool, conservative stance warranted distance and deference.

Catalina marvelled at his height and loved the feel of the muscles in his arms that had bunched when she had cuddled up to him. But it was his height that she was particularly keen on. As a Netball player, she was fairly tall, just over five ten. So coming across anyone, male or female, off the Netball court, taller than her was a bonus as far as she was concerned. However, marvelling at his physique was one thing, forgiving him was another. She couldn’t understand why she hadn’t simply pressed her public-be-nice-to obnoxious-man button. She had the skills and experience to deal with all sorts of difficult people and trying situations. But this man was different. Her reaction to him was different. And she was handling it badly.

With absolutely no hesitation whatsoever, Catalina leaned closer, resting her cheek on his shoulder and once again started nestling as if she was a contented little feline. He was, she realized, much to her secret delight, too much of a gentleman to create a scene, particularly with people he’d only just met, especially with her parents close by. Which gave her licence to keep ridiculing him.

Plus Catalina did not want Alaina to be fooled by Quinn’s newly found charm. With even more impudence, Catalina threaded an arm around his back and inched closer. She looked at Alaina and stated outrageously, I’ve put first dibs on him.

Alaina frowned at her sister’s unexpected behaviour and ridiculous statement. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen Catalina behave so badly with people who were for all intents and purposes, strangers. There was something very strange going on, given Catalina’s open derision and Quinn’s open disdain.

What are you? Ten? Alaina asked her sister drolly.

Catalina smirked with open delight, even though she felt the cold freeze of his gaze. Catalina also sensed the utter control the man had, as Quinn held himself tightly in check and fought down the urge to take the annoying woman to task. Bemused, Alaina glanced over at Bianca and Daniella, a question in her eyes, she waited, hoping they’d shed some light on the situation. Bianca rolled her eyes. Daniella shrugged.

Catalina rested the palm of her hand on Quinn’s chest, as she gave Quinn a pseudo gentle, feigned amicable pat, just above his heart. Then she announced as if she was simply passing the time of day, This prime specimen is mine.

A lesser man would have run screaming from the room. Quinn stood his ground, albeit gritting his teeth.

Alaina blinked at Catalina’s preposterous statement. She glanced across at the man who was now utterly devoid of any form of warmth in his expression. He looked angry, furious was closer to the mark, but he was clearly a man who considered absolute control to be a virtue. His cool disdain was a direct contrast to Catalina’s open amusement. Quinn’s jaw tensed, a muscle ticked furiously as control was held, just. He wanted at least a kilometre between him and the limpet on his arm. But apart from shoving her away, something he could not do under the current circumstances, there was little he could do about her, but grin and bear her atrocious behaviour. He had no intention of grinning. Bellowing, yes that was rapidly becoming an option. She had an arm around his waist, was practically plastered to his side and had petted him as if he was some prime pet breed.

Alaina was puzzled by Catalina’s behaviour. This wasn’t Catalina. At home Catalina was a charming brat and right now while there was lots of brat in evidence, there was little sign of her trademark charm. Alaina tipped her head slightly, nodding toward Quinn even as her eyes asked a silent question. Catalina’s chin tilted, which was all Alaina needed to know. Catalina had taken umbrage. Given the angle of her tilted chin, it was going to take a while for Catalina to cool down. Alaina wondered what Quinn had done to upset her sister this much. Catalina left Alaina in no further doubt.

Catalina had no qualms whatsoever about hanging Quinn out to dry, as she explained with open derision, Quinny has to marry into the family to get Braganza Spice, isn’t that what you said Quinny darling? Her eyes glowed with suppressed fury. Her sisters recognised the signs. Catalina was beyond furious and pretty close to loosing it.

Catalina knew Quinn had got it wrong. It was absurd. Her father would never force his daughters to marry for business purposes. But Quinn was sure he and his brother were here, to be auctioned off. Which Catalina might have found amusing, if he had not said, in that cool matter of fact way, that none of the sisters met his prerequisites! Catalina’s eyes ignited as she remembered that exact moment. For when he’d made his pronouncement, he was looking straight at her. Arrogant man. Idiot man.

The heat of temper he saw in those whisky hued eyes warned him not to push her. Where he was battling to keep his composure, she had no such compunction. Catalina clamped a hand on his upper arm and leaned coyly into Quinn. Her voice belied the fact that she was cross. That was some skill he thought, as he considered her voice, the cool flirty tone, while in her eyes there was noticeable irritation. Their gazes locked.

Quinn, for no reason whatsoever felt that golden look sear him to his very soul. Ok, this woman was dangerous. But he’d figured that out within seconds of meeting her. The impact was decisive and alarming. Cutting through barriers and scattering all logical thought. The years spent developing a barricade to protect him from an emotional battering, counted for nothing. This woman had dismantled the barricade, just by being. Even now, she was scrambling his brain. Which explained why he’d made the mistake of voicing his thoughts at the airport.

It was unexpected, meeting her for the first time and feeling his world shift in that very instant. He was two feet from them at the airport, when she’d looked up from signing a piece of paper and made eye contact with him. That was it, six seconds of eye contact. His wall of composure disintegrated. Shocked and staggered by his reaction, he panicked into speech. Making things infinitely worse by uttering words that were meant to shake him back into a state of normality, but not to be heard by others, let alone the woman in question.

When the two young girls