The Bride of Santa Barbara

by Angela Devine

  Even worse was the high-handed way he was trying to turn her against Warren. All right, maybe Warren wasn’t perfect, but Beth was an adult and had an adult’s right to choose her own associates. How dared Daniel try and dictate to her about telling Warren to leave? And why was he doing it? Did he simply want to seduce her without any opposition? She cast him a tormented look.

  ‘But Warren helped design the collection!’ she protested. ‘You can’t just leave him out of the deal.’

  ‘I can and I will,’ retorted Daniel.

  The stormy glint in his eye and the aggressive angle of his chin didn’t invite argument, but Beth was naturally stubborn. Besides which, she had a strong sense of justice.

  ‘It wouldn’t be fair!’ she insisted. ‘Warren and I planned this collection together, so surely he’s entitled to some share in the profits?’

  ‘Maybe,’ muttered Daniel grudgingly. ‘Although I can’t say I ever saw him do any work. I’ll call my attorney and have him offer a generous payment for any designs Warren did. But that’s the last time I have any dealings with the guy. And the same rule will apply to you if you’re my employee. You’ll have nothing more to do with him. Is that clear, Beth?’

  She stared at him in outrage. ‘Do you mean professionally or privately?’ she demanded.

  ‘Both.’

  A gasp of indignation momentarily choked Beth. ‘You can’t control my private life!’ she exclaimed furiously.

  ‘Maybe not,’ conceded Daniel with regret. ‘But I sure as hell can control this company I plan to form. And Warren won’t be involved in it.’

  ‘Why not?’ Beth persisted.

  ‘Because he’s a parasite!’ growled Daniel. ‘And I don’t offer handouts to freeloaders. I’m satisfied that you’re a genuine worker, but Warren isn’t. If you let him get in on the act, he’ll only cause you trouble by throwing his weight around and not performing. That’s why I don’t want him.’

  ‘Th-that’s the only reason?’ stammered Beth, eyeing him intently.

  Daniel’s lips parted in a feral smile.

  ‘Sure. What other reason could there be? I know the guy thinks he’s your bodyguard and he’d like to knock my teeth out, but I’m not afraid of him. And I’m not offering you this contract because I want to make love to you.’

  Beth flinched. An uneasy emotion seeped through her which should have been relief, but which felt oddly like disappointment.

  ‘I see,’ she said with a small, tight smile.

  Daniel’s mocking dark eyes met hers and he leaned across the table towards her. An invisible current seemed to spark between them and Beth shrank.

  ‘Don’t misunderstand me,’ he added throatily. ‘I do want to make love to you, but the contract is a separate issue. It’s not dependent on that.’

  Beth felt a jolt of mingled shock and excitement at his frankness. Forgetting all about being sophisticated and worldly, she stared at him with a stunned expression.

  ‘What did you say?’ she whispered.

  ‘I said the contract is a separate issue,’ repeated Daniel slowly and deliberately.

  Colour flooded her cheeks.

  ‘Don’t make me play games,’ she implored. ‘I mean...the other thing you said.’

  Every line in his body seemed to radiate purpose and raw sensual energy. His dark eyebrows were drawn together, his eyes glittered and beneath the powerful, predatory curve of his nose his mouth was set in a determined line.

  ‘You know what I want from you,’ he said hoarsely. ‘You want the same from me—but you won’t admit it.’ His mouth hardened. ‘You may be damn good at your job, Beth, but in your private life you’re gutless, indecisive and cowardly.’

  Beth stared at him open-mouthed for several seconds, too angry for words. Then at last she found her voice.

  ‘How dare you?’ she demanded shakily.

  ‘You know I’m telling the truth! You only stay with Warren because someone once hurt you and you haven’t the courage to pick yourself up and risk being hurt again. That’s pretty spineless, isn’t it?’

  Beth’s indignation boiled over. She sprang to her feet. ‘I’m leaving,’ she said.

  Daniel seized her wrist and hauled her back into the chair. ‘Sit down,’ he ordered. ‘I haven’t finished with you.’

  ‘Well, I’ve finished with you!’ blazed Beth.

  ‘No, you haven’t,’ Daniel insisted, still holding her wrist. ‘You may think so but you’re wrong. Oh, you can take this contract away and show it to half a dozen agents, and I hope you will, but in the end you’ll sign it. I’m one hundred per cent sure of that.’

  Beth’s blue eyes blazed.

  ‘Give me one good reason why I should!’ she challenged.

  A secretive, triumphant smile flickered around the edges of Daniel’s mouth.

  ‘Because you’re not the only one who’ll suffer if you don’t. You’ve made commitments to other people. And you can’t let them down, can you? What about your poor mother who gave you money she could ill afford to let you come over here?’

  ‘You’d actually use that kind of emotional blackmail?’ demanded Beth contemptuously.

  ‘I’d use anything I had to in order to convince you,’ he retorted. ‘But it’s in your own best interests, Beth. I don’t want you to miss an opportunity that won’t come your way again in a hurry.’

  ‘I’ll bet,’ muttered Beth stormily.

  ‘Look,’ said Daniel, pointing his forefinger at her as if it were a loaded gun, ‘you’ve got a lot of talent and it would be a hell of shame if you wasted it. It’s my job to see that you don’t.’

  ‘So you’re just going to organise my life for me from now on, are you?’

  ‘That’s right. And if you had any brains you’d be grateful. I’ve often been told I bring out the best in people.’

  Beth ground her teeth.

  ‘Does bringing out the best in people include making them commit murder with a table-knife?’ she demanded.

  Daniel raised one eyebrow lazily.

  ‘I don’t think you’d go that far,’ he said. ‘But at least I’d be dying in a good cause. Come on, Beth. Accept my offer.’

  ‘I’ll think about it,’ muttered Beth ungraciously.

  ‘Good,’ said Daniel suavely.

  Up until this moment he had radiated an explosive, threatening energy, as if he were passionately involved in Beth’s decision. Yet now, with a rapidity that baffled her, his intensity evaporated. He rose to his feet as genially as if this were nothing more than a routine business discussion. ‘You don’t have to decide right now about the contract. Call your agent and talk to her about it. If you’re interested, I’ll drive you up to the farm tomorrow afternoon so you can see the place for yourself. What do you say?’

  ‘All right,’ said Beth uncertainly. ‘Thank you.’

  All the way home in the car she sat in silence, but her feelings were in turmoil. She couldn’t deny being strongly tempted by Daniel’s business offer, however much he infuriated her. The chance to stay on in America and market her fashion designs was almost too good to be true. Yet a perverse sense of pride urged her to refuse it. She didn’t relish the idea of being under an obligation to a man like Daniel Pryor, a man who not only radiated a sensuality that was deeply unsettling, but also told her quite frankly that he wanted to make love to her. The whole situation was disturbing and yet shockingly enticing. Still, if she only had herself to consider, she would certainly opt for safety and run for her life. But Daniel had shrewdly targeted her greatest weakness—her loyalty to others. How could she ever explain to her mother that she had passed up an opportunity like this? It was unthinkable! Besides, she had no real proof that Daniel was a casual womaniser, cynically using his charms to seduce any girl that took his fancy. Even his apparent flirtation with Sunny Martino this morning might have been no more than a product of Beth’s overheated imagination. Perhaps he was really quite safe after all? Yet when they reached the apartment building Beth had another shock
. Daniel pulled up outside the front door and handed her a key.

  ‘I’m not likely to be home tonight,’ he explained. ‘I have some business affairs to see to. So just help yourself to anything you need in the apartment. I’ll pick you up tomorrow afternoon around two to take you to the farm.’

  ‘Just as you like.’

  Beth’s lips set in a cynical, quivering line as she strode past the doorman into the building. Business affairs, she thought bitterly as she rode up in the lift. I’ll bet! Business with Sunny Martino, I suppose.

  Her hands were shaking as she unlocked the door to the apartment, but she tried fiercely to regain control of herself. After all, what did it have to do with her if Daniel spent the night with his girlfriend? She would do much better to try and figure out where her own relationship with Warren was headed. Yet try as she might, her tired brain refused to handle the subject sensibly. Whenever she tried to think of Warren, her imagination kept winging back to Daniel and she found it strangely difficult to remember how much she disapproved of him. All she could think of was the deep, pulsating excitement of his kisses and the agonised sense of betrayal she had felt on seeing him with Sunny. And when she reminded herself that she had spent three years with Warren, that she felt safe as his fiancée, that he had always sworn he would actually marry her one of these days, she could only remember one thing: how he had gone away and left her when she was in difficulties. ‘Men are such swine!’ she groaned, thumping the pillow. ‘I don’t want to have anything to do with either of them!’

  Yet in spite of that resolution she woke the following morning with a sense of anticipation. While she ate breakfast, her thoughts kept straying back to Daniel’s business proposition, and at last she gave in and decided to phone her agent. Hesitantly she read out the letter and explained the terms of the contract.

  ‘Beth, you’d be crazy not to accept that,’ insisted Leonie forcefully. ‘It’s the chance of a lifetime. Grab it with both hands.’

  ‘Are you sure?’ asked Beth.

  ‘Yes, I’m sure,’ said Leonie. ‘Do it now.’

  Beth’s next phone call was even harder to make. Although she still felt tormented and confused, she was sure of one thing: that she needed time off from her relationship with Warren to work out where she was going and what she really wanted in life. Hesitating with the receiver in her hand, she ran through the arguments which had been buzzing in her head all night. Do I still want to marry Warren, even supposing I could get him to marry me? She tried to tell herself she did. Yet deep down she knew it was no longer true, although once it had been. She could remember furious arguments on the subject. Tears, cajoling, pleading on her part. Sulking and evasion on Warren’s. But now for the first time she admitted to herself what she had always known, deep down. He just doesn’t think I’m good enough for him. And if he’s not going to marry me, do I want to go on having a relationship with him at all?

  Her answer to that was much clearer, rising like a cry from the depths of her heart. No! In some strange way she knew it was a result of Daniel’s having kissed her, although she couldn’t explain why. But now the thought of Warren touching her seemed horrifying. Like a violation. And, quite apart from her own irrational feelings on the subject, wasn’t it unfair to Warren to expect him to stay with her when she was so obsessed by Daniel? So what was the point of continuing the relationship at all? No, the only sensible thing to do was to end it. Warren would be offended, of course; he had a violent temper and a poisonous tongue when he was enraged, but she would simply have to face that. And oddly the thought didn’t frighten her as much as she expected, perhaps because some of Daniel’s abrasive readiness to jump in and attack problems had rubbed off on her. Whatever the reason, she felt a strange new courage that allowed her to tackle the unthinkable.

  Taking a deep breath, she made up her mind. With jerky, anxious movements she picked up the telephone and punched in the numbers of the motel where Warren was staying.

  ‘Hello, Starlight Motel.’

  ‘May I speak to Mr Warren Clark, please?’

  ‘One moment, madam. I’ll put you through.’

  A girl’s voice answered the phone, sleepy and rather slurred. ‘Hi, who is it?’

  ‘I’m sorry,’ said Beth hastily. ‘They must have put me through to the wrong room. I wanted Mr Warren Clark.’

  There was a muffled yawn. ‘Oh, he’s here, just a minute.’

  An incredible suspicion flashed through Beth’s mind and a moment later Warren came on the line, his voice wary.

  ‘Hello, Warren Clark speaking.’

  ‘Warren, it’s Beth.’

  Silence. It should have been a heartbroken, agonised silence. After all, even an imbecile could guess what was going on, and yet Beth was surprised to find that, apart from a faint bitter sense of betrayal, her main emotion was one of relief. He’s found someone else, she thought in amazement, so I don’t have to feel guilty or afraid that I’m hurting him.

  Then Warren spoke.

  ‘Oh, hi, Beth,’ he said with false heartiness. ‘Look, don’t go jumping to any wrong conclusions, will you? I can explain—’

  Beth cut him off short.

  ‘Please don’t bother, Warren,’ she said in a rapid, staccato voice. ‘I’m just ringing to tell you that I think we should end our relationship. It’s obviously not going anywhere and I need time to sort out what I want.’

  ‘Beth, wait!’ shouted Warren. ‘Look, just because of some one-night stand that doesn’t mean a damn thing, you don’t have to go destroying an entire relationship!’

  ‘It’s not because of that,’ insisted Beth hastily. ‘I’d already made up my mind! It’s because I don’t really love you, Warren. I thought I did, but I was wrong and I don’t believe that you love me either. It’s over. Don’t you see? Over.’

  ‘No, I don’t,’ said Warren hotly. ‘Beth—’

  ‘Don’t make this any harder for both of us,’ she begged. ‘I hope it works out for you with this girl, I really do. And that you enjoy the trade shows in New York. I won’t be going myself, so I’ll say goodbye now.’

  ‘Beth, wait! Why aren’t you going to New York? What the hell’s going on? You can’t just dump me like this after three years! Why don’t we—?’

  ‘Goodbye, Warren,’ she repeated hoarsely. ‘Please don’t try to contact me.’

  And with a swift convulsive movement she replaced the receiver. At first an absurd sense of betrayal and anticlimax filled her entire body, and yet, when she had showered and dressed, she found that she did not feel as bad as she had expected. Perhaps it was only the inevitable pain of admitting that she had made a mistake and finding the courage for a new beginning. Beth’s smile twisted wryly. Well, this time she was determined about one thing. Finding out about Warren’s sly affair simply confirmed her low opinion of men. So from now on she wasn’t going to take any more risks. No other man was going to entice her into a love-affair, however attractive he might be.

  As he had promised, Daniel arrived back shortly after two p.m. the following afternoon to drive her to the farm. Beth had spent several difficult hours trying to puzzle out what her attitude towards him should be. After all, if she did decide to work for him, there was no future in outright antagonism. Nor could she allow too much intimacy to develop. In the end she resolved that an attitude of aloof friendliness was best.

  Unfortunately her resolve was tested from the very first moment. As Daniel strode whistling into the apartment, she noticed that he had changed out of his dinner suit of the previous evening into a pair of shorts and striped polo-shirt, and a pang of resentment shot through her. No doubt he kept a suitable supply of clothes on hand at Sunny Martino’s home! Well, it was nothing to do with her, she reminded herself. Daniel might have lured her into a momentary madness once, but never again. From now on the relationship between them would be strictly business.

  It was just after four o’clock in the afternoon when they reached Daniel’s farm in the Santa Ynez Valley just
outside Buellton. The sky was an intense, cloudless blue and the tawny hills with their sun-bleached grass and scattering of eucalypt trees reminded Beth of Australia. As Daniel turned the Jaguar into a gravelled driveway she had a vivid impression of coming home. A white Spanish-style gateway with a huge black bell set in the centre of it loomed up ahead of them and Daniel pressed a button, causing the gate to swing open in front of them.

  Rolling down the window, Beth put her head out and looked eagerly around her. There was a red rambling rose hanging over the gateway and the warm perfume of its flowers mingled with the scent of newly mown grass. Turning her head a little, she saw that a teenage boy was mowing the grass strip which divided the driveway into two. He paused at their approach, grinned and waved a hand in greeting.

  ‘That’s Jake Kronborg, the manager’s son,’ explained Daniel.

  Beth nodded, looking around her with interest.

  ‘Are all these horses yours?’ she asked in awe.

  On either side of the road were large, fenced pastures thick and lush with grass. And in these horses were grazing peacefully or standing in the shade of the spreading trees.

  ‘Most of them,’ agreed Daniel. ‘About a hundred and fifty are mine. The others I agist for various people.’

  ‘And was it all set up like this when you bought it?’ asked Beth, waving her hand at the luxuriant pastures, the tree-lined driveway and the cluster of cream stuccoed buildings that was just coming into view at the end of the drive. Daniel smiled briefly.

  ‘No, it was all just tomato fields and flower fields back then,’ he replied. ‘Not even a tree in sight. And no buildings apart from an old barn and a ruined farmhouse. A lot of back-breaking work went into making the place the way you see it today.’

  On either side of the driveway was an avenue of huge deodar trees and as the car glided over the gravel they passed through an alternating pattern of light and shade until at last they came out into a huge turning circle in front of the house. In the centre of this was a signpost with signs pointing in various directions—’Office’, ‘Training Center’, ‘Breeding Barn’, ‘Visitors’ Car Park’—but Daniel ignored these and drove right up to the house itself. Climbing out, Beth gazed around her with reluctant fascination. Secretly she was half hoping for something to be hopelessly wrong with Daniel’s business proposal so that she could escape from the whole situation. Of course, she would rather walk barefoot over hot coals than tell him the true reason for her misgivings: that she found the sexual tension between them unbearable. Yet if there were some practical problem with the whole project she could still back out with her pride intact. If only the building were in ruins or labour impossible to hire or deliveries too difficult, what a relief it would be! But, to Beth’s despair, the place seemed absolutely perfect.