Free Back in the Lion's Den by Elizabeth Power Page A

everything—was, ‘He was my
son.
’
    Despite everything, Sienna’s heart went out to her, her lungs locking tight with emotion.
    She didn’t want to be discussing this—raking up the past. Her memories of that time, and of the situations she had been put into, which had helped condemn her in this family’s eyes, still made her smart with the injustice of it all. And there had been none more condemning or unjust than Conan’s scorching censure. But then what would
anyone
have thought of amother who’d left her sick baby to go out partying? Without even bothering to ring up and check?
    No, it was worse than that. Who had deliberately switched off her phone!
    She could still see the condemnation in those green-gold eyes as he’d marched her away from that party. Still remember her desperation and panic over what might be wrong with Daisy, her futile attempts to make Niall’s brother believe that her little girl had been fine when she’d left the house. To try and explain.
    He hadn’t listened, of course. Who would have? There had been far too much evidence against her.
    Sick with self-remorse, she hadn’t even been able to convince herself that she hadn’t been that negligent. Not until later. Not until after her name had been reduced to mud in the Ryder family’s eyes and they had notched up yet another black mark against her …
    ‘If you’d been Conan’s wife he would never have indulged you in the same way my younger son seemed to want to. He might be a very wealthy man, but he’s not weak-willed and easily swayed like his brother was. I’m afraid if it had been Conan you’d chosen he’d soon have pulled you into line.’
    No, he wouldn’t! Sienna fumed silently. Because there had been no ‘pulling into line’ that had needed to be done. She was surprised though to hear Avril describe her younger son as weak. ‘Then I must thank my lucky stars that that’s one union you’re never going to see,’ she said with a forced little laugh.
    ‘Am I missing something?’ Conan’s deep warm voice caused goose bumps to break out over Sienna’s skin.
    She hadn’t seen him since he’d left to attend some business meeting that morning. Now, as he crossed the terrace to where they were sitting, wearing an impeccably cut silver grey suit, white shirt and silver tie, he looked so vital and dynamic against the backdrop of his luxury residence that the very sight of him took Sienna’s breath away.
    ‘What have you two been talking about?’ he enquired smoothly.
    Her nostrils dilated at the elusive spice of his aftershave lotion as he moved into their sphere, her senses filling with him, her body tingling as his gaze ran over her camisole and her feminine skirt. In spite of her fluttering pulse, and motivated by her memories of his insensitivity and by this frighteningly lethal power he seemed to have over her, she looked up into those rugged features to say pointedly, ‘You.’
    He was aware of the contention in her voice. It was evident in the way his mouth twisted in mocking amusement.
    ‘For heaven’s sake, Conan, take her away and do something with her!’ Avril suggested, with more strength than she’d seemed capable of. ‘Or she’ll be having me jogging round the cape and back before I know where I am.’
    ‘Well, that wouldn’t be a bad thing, would it?’ he expressed surprisingly with a wry smile at his mother—a smile that changed to one of heart-stopping sensuality as it came to rest on Sienna. ‘It seems my mother’s given me licence to do whatever I want with you …’ The innuendo was unmistakable, and the light that flickered in the Celtic gold of his eyes as he offered her his hand burned with sensual mockery. ‘So we’d better not disappoint her, had we?’

CHAPTER FIVE
    I MPELLED by something stronger than her own will, she took the hand he was holding out to her. It was warm and strong and incredibly stimulating, sending a sharp
frisson
through her racing blood.
    ‘Where