Love Is A Risk

Blurb:

Prologue

Prologue

"Stop it Jamie! You had a very nasty accident and this is not doing you any you good. Be still."

I give a hysterical laugh tears flooding into my eyes.

"Let go of me! "I said making myself tight and hostile but he simply ran his hand down my back warm against my skin, until I gasped and looked at him with more pleading than outrage.

"Not yet," he murmured. "I am back for good Jamie."

"And I am an easy tart."

It hurt real bad. I knew all about his women. I knew a long time back but he had always been my friend until those last few days.

"Why not?' You are conveniently close by and in any case I thought you everything you know and your brothers have already told me to take charge of your life and make you more beautiful and perfect. You were always hooked to me Jamie and you can't compare me to Brett as I you know better than me that you cannot compare me to him.

Yes, there is no comparison at all. I thought and tried to look away from him.

He cupped my face and kissed me aggressively I was falling, spilling like a leaf my breathing shallow, inadequate and still, he held me impeccably his mouth moving over mine searching for more and more response until my leg just gave away and I signed completely against him.

"Please Blake!" when he lifted his head a little I begged and he look down at me mockingly holding me still tightly against him.

"You said that before to but you weren't pleading to be free." He said huskily.

It brought back all the humiliation, great deep shame and I pulled free forcing my trembling legs to hold me up right.

I hate you!

"No you don't," he said seductively." I am an addiction for you Jamie. I've always been right from your childhood to this day, you are still hooked to me, quite obviously mine. But you don't trust me because I went away from you, so be it. But since I was the one who guided you all the way long. I will be the last one to finish it so that you can get over me forever."

As I drove along the smooth roads, ahead of my car the land fell away in a green wooded valley and then rose quickly to high, rolling hills, the great sweep of land as far as the eye could see. The land belonged to my grandfather Lawrence Collins and Angus Edwards, the great estate of Collins &Edwards.

Once we had owned more, but after my parents died in the car crash it was taken over by the Edwards's. But because of our grandfather's friendship, they had kept the estate's name intact.

It is a legacy that has been passed on by our grandparents. They were best friends but stood for each other like brothers and so were my parents.

My brothers and I grew up in this estate which is 10000 kilometers away from the city. The estate was divided into two parts. One of it had more lands than us which belonged to the Edwards's and the land surrounded by the lake was ours.

The Edwards's owned a big company named Edwards&sons. They dealt with all kinds of businesses.

My brother Richard owned an editorial office, which was under Edwards&sons. He was helped by his best friend Blake Edwards who was a shareholder in the company. They were childhood buddies and would often bully me as a child.

I really am not in the mood to talk about him. I have another older brother whose name is Nick and he is younger than Richard. He is an actor and has done quite a lot of good movies and is always busy traveling around the world. He is my best friend.

I am always happy when I drive down-home as it gives me a great sense of peace and happiness because I have been a part of this beautiful land, the family, the magnificent lake with big pine trees surrounding the house. It is my home and I loved it fiercely. As I drove down and entered the estate I stopped my car and looked around.

Everything was beautiful but now there was trouble and it was here to stay because I know for sure that nothing would be able to dislodge Serena Williams: Frank Edwards was going to marry her. A disturbing and selfish element that has disrupted the lives of both the family. Already there was uneasiness, polite discord. I wanted to barge right in and put things right but it was not my place, I was merely an outsider but loved them completely.

I lived in wellington which is the most beautiful city in New Zealand. But my ancestral home is in Nothing Hill which is two hours drive from Wellington. I traveled back today as my brother had come back and another occasion being the engagement ceremony of Frank Edwards. Which I couldn't avoid, as Frank was like a brother to me and Jackie Edwards my childhood friend and Frank's sister had warned me that if I don't show up she will disown me.

Suddenly someone started honking the car from behind and I knew that the irritating person could only be her, as she was very melodramatic and I loved her.

I turned and saw her coming out of the car.

Then just in a Ziff, I saw her falling on the sidewalk, I started laughing. Jackie had always been clumsy and when I looked at her closely laughing away, I came to know the cause of her fall.

She was wearing heels, which she rarely used to wear but recently she had acquired this mindset that she needs to be more sophisticated as Nick, my elder brother was home and Jackie had been foolishly in love with him since kindergarten but never had the guts to tell him.

Jamie you witch! She shouted at me.

I ran and gave her my hand, but couldn't control my laughter as she was so adorable and my brother was really foolish not to notice her.

I pulled her up and she started tickling me which I hated and I started screaming.

"Jackie stop it!" I screamed.

We looked at each other and started laughing.

We had grown up but we still behaved like kids.

"It's good that you are back Jamie now together we can throw that bitch out of Nothing hill," Jamie said very seriously.

I shook my head and told her it was not that easy.

But Jackie was not listening to me as she had her own plans. We chatted for a long time then we got into our cars and went towards our house. Jackie waved goodbye to me as she passed by my house and I saw Nick coming out of the house. He looked at me then at the speeding car which just left.

He then ran towards me, my handsome green-eyed brother. He is breaking so many hearts around the world with his acting skills, yet he is still unattached. Though we hear a lot of rumors around we don't believe it, as he tells us everything.

He swooped me up and started twirling me around, he still thinks I am still a toddler, I sighed and gave him a big hug when he let me down.

"Thank god you lost weight Jamie, see how easily I can carry you now or I would think twice to lift you." Nick teased.

I made my face and walked inside the house.

As I entered I could smell the baking going on at home.

Nick had followed me and was telling me that our sister-in-law Lisa Collins had prepared homecoming cake for him, so I shouldn't feel jealous.

I really miss Nick when he is not around but his teasing habits are really bad.

I started hitting him with the cushion and he was laughing.

"There! there, you grown-up kids stop fighting." Lisa had come outside the kitchen and was watching them lovingly.

I went and hugged her it's been a month since I had last seen her. Though we live in the same city, I hardly get time to meet her because of my outdoor job.

I am a professional photographer by the way and I freelance my work and I am not dependent on anyone.

"It's so good that you took out time to come home Jamie your brother was very worried since you have not shown us your face for the past one month," Lisa said lovingly.

"Oh! Richard has his own assumptions; he is like a dad, always trying to protect me. I am a grown-up woman he should stop treating me like I am a teenager." I complained.

I could see Lisa looking towards her bedroom and smiling.

I turned and saw my brother clearing his throat.

I ran towards him and hugged him.

"No matter how old you become Jamie you will always be my little bunny and I have every right to be worried about you," Richard complained.

I wiped his eyes and told him I missed him a lot but because of my work, I couldn't come to see him.

Then Lisa started ringing the gong bell as it was a signal for us to make peace.

We looked at her and raised our hands. I raised our hands to surrender and started laughing as Lisa rolled her eyes. She looked so damn adorable.

Lisa has been married to Richard for the past three years. And they were my ideal couple. Truly madly in love with each other and Richard was very protective of her. We lost our parents at a very young age, I was in sixth grade since then both my brothers have been taking care of me. Lisa has adjusted to our family quite well. She is from London. She fell in love with my brother during one of his trips there and immediately they got married. We had all gone down to attend their wedding. She is a great cook and I am hoping she has made some delicious food today. As I missed her cooking.

She told us dinner was ready.

I had to freshen up, so I excused myself and went upstairs to my room.

It's always good to be back and it has been cleaned and made ready for me. We always call the cleaning agency to come and clean up the house whenever we are here.

After a while, I came down and could hear them laughing. I smiled and was about to walk in when I recognized another voice I stood there and listened again.

No, it cant be it was Blake Edwards, he is back. How come no one told me!

Jackie that little witch, even she did not mention that her brother was back.

I was in a dilemma whether I should go inside or not as I did not know how to face him after all these years. I hate him to the core of my heart.

I stood there in a daze trying to control my emotions listening to what they were talking about.

No, it cant be it was Blake Edwards, he is back. How come no one told me!

Jackie that little witch, even she did not mention that her brother was back.

I was in a dilemma whether I should go inside or not as I did not know how to face him after all these years. I hate him to the core of my heart.

I stood there in a daze trying to control my emotions and listening to what they were talking about.

"Where is Jamie? I thought she was coming down for the engagement. Is she out with another project"? Blake questioned Lisa.

Lisa smiled at her husband's best friend and shook her head, they were sharing the dinner prepared by her.

"No, not this weekend, Blake." She informed him.

"She just arrived a while and has gone to freshen up," she added in further explanation as he raised a questioning eyebrow. "She went to the airport to say goodbye to Brett so she was late."

"Saying goodbye! So the big romance is over huh?" Blake said sarcastically.

"Not exactly. Brett has gone to London for two months for some work. Jamie was hoping that he would propose before leaving but nothing happened."

"Her hopes are very high but she will never get herself a man if she keeps herself busy with all these projects and behave like a tomboy. Brett Gage is a very sophisticated young man and his taste is quite different. I was shocked when I came to know that he was dating Jamie." Richard said angrily.

" It is not her fault, Richard ," Lisa scolded him gently. "You and Nick are to be blamed for it both of you hardly encouraged her to go on a date when she was a teenager and you always scared away the potential men-friends." She said pointedly.

"You mean to say that I was wrong in making it clear that if a man wants Jamie to share his bed then he should marry her then what's wrong with it?" Richard spoke raising his voice.

"There is nothing harm in the way you think but these days couples in order to check their compatibility stay together. As far as I seem to remember you had also insisted I move in with you before we got married, why should Jamie be an exceptional." Lisa added dryly.

When Richard did not say anything.

Lisa continued worriedly, "I hope this relationship with Brett works out for her. After all she is Twenty four now and not a teenager."

Nick broke in and said," Sister in law why don't you give her some pointers on dating men, as we really are of no help in that area."

" I have tried Nick but I think she needs someone who could give her the confidence to trust in her herself, when it comes to approaching men. She needs someone to show her that she is desirable." She gave a small shrug and looked towards Blake and said teasingly, " Someone like you Blake, Jamie had always looked up to you when she was growing up and you were her best friend, so I think she will listen to you."

"Blake?" Richard started laughing. "Blake would never look at Jamie in that way and besides he has just returned and has taken over the company and he doesn't have time for all these silly things."

He was proud of his baby sister as she is independent and beautiful in her own way but he was not happy with her profession as she travelled a lot and financially she was not that stable. But she never asked him.

"But to think about it Blake, perhaps you should give Jamie some pointers. . With your experience with women, you would be the best one to guide Jamie to get what she wants." Richard said laughingly.

"Perhaps I should," Jamie heard Blake agreeing thoughtfully.

I could not control my anger any longer and I barged in and said, "Shut up you two there is nothing you can teach me. I am smart, beautiful and independent and am happy the way I am." She glared at Richard .

"Don't challenge me Jamie, you know better than anyone else that its useless"

I looked at the man who said these words, he had not changed at all, still breathtakingly handsome and his eyes as devilish as ever.

" If I were you I would take him up on it. After all he is a man and the best one to learn from." She heard Richard advising her seriously.

"Is he really? Thank you very much for letting me know or I wouldn't have known." Jamie said sarcastically.

"But you don't know what a real man is, do you Jamie?" Blake pitched in and Jamie was about to explode and her face turned red with embarrassment.

Lisa intervened and scolded both of them and told them to stop teasing her. Then continued saying that she agreed with Richard that SHE should take Blake's advice, as Brett was away for two months and it would give her an ample lot of time to know if they were really compatible.

I looked at everyone, I was feeling like an outsider inside my own house as the people whom I loved were trying to throw me into Blakes's dungeon. My appetite was gone.

I excused myself saying I was tired and escaped from the kitchen and went directly to my room.

I reached my room and flung myself on the bed and punched my pillows helplessly. After I had calmed down. I went into the washroom and looked at myself in the mirror and thought, what is wrong with me? Why can't I make Brett see how good we'd be together. I am kind of pretty, I have a good figure as I do yoga every day. My breast are not too small not to big. In short I had a good cleavage line. I looked at my face in the mirror and decided whatever it is I will accept Blake's help which he had willingly offered and show him that I have grown up and am not the silly little teenager he used to know and it will also help me kill the demons I have inside me.

Well, it was over now, I am finally over him and I don't want to get involved with him. I will give my best and try to make Brett serious about our relationship and if it doesn't work. I still have the solace of my work.

I came out of the washroom and was shocked to see the person standing near my window and waiting for me.

"Blake, what are you doing in my room?" I asked furiously, I was not going to forgive him that easily for humiliating me at the dinner table.

He turned around and looked at me and then started walking towards me.

I panicked and walked in the opposite direction and accidentally bumped into the bed and was about to fall on the floor when Blake put his arms around me and saved me from falling.

We were too close, his touch was like an electric current. I have subdued all my desires for him but one touch from him and I started longing for more. I was biting my lips to control my urges.

Blake was looking at me and he started laughing and said, " That's all you have got Jamie, I am impressed you have improved in your seducing technique."

I pushed him away but he grabbed my hand and held me from behind.

And whispered in my ears, "You still don't have much experience with men , do you, Jamie?"

I was fuming with anger and turned towards him and said, " Blake its none of your business as I have a steady boyfriend. You have been away for five long years. You went away and I grew up. I am qualified efficient and independent. And ready to get married."

"Brett? Is he the one you are planning to get married?" He narrowed his eyes and asked.

"I am quite faithful, unlike some people." I said, thinking there was enough with one playboy around.