The school, an ex-cottage-hospital that had been converted for the purpose, was strangely deserted, with the pupils at home enjoying their festive holidays, and yet the big old house that was Penny's and Simon's home looked beautiful with its blanket of snow in the garden and on the roof of the house itself. Cathy felt a flow of warmth as they all got out of the car.
'Anything to avoid spending Christmas with me, I see,' drawled a mocking voice.
Cathy spun around with a glad cry, launching herself into David's arms.
David was Simon's younger brother by a few years, and they both had those beautiful dark blue eyes, were both tall, but David's hair was much thicker and darker than Simon's, and the pain David had known at the death of his wife several years ago had etched marks in the handsome face that shouldn't have been there in a man so young. This was to have been the first Christmas they had all spent together for a very long time, David having chosen to distance himself from the family, and anything else that reminded him of losing Sara, since she had died. But all that had changed now, and Cathy could see the happiness shining in his eyes. She couldn't have been more happy for him herself.
'As you can see,' she laughed up at him, 'I'm not pleased to see you!'
He grinned down at her, his arms still about her. 'Oh, yes, I can definitely see that.'
'Where have you hidden Jade?' She looked around questioningly.
'She's taken the terrible twosome for a walk in the snow to wear off some of the excess energy they've been storing up the last few days.' He grimaced, his eyes widening as he looked past her and saw Dominic, his arm tightening about her shoulders as he faced the other man. 'You decided to come down after all, then?' His eyes were narrowed challengingly.
'If I'm not intruding,' Dominic nodded, giving away nothing of his own thoughts from his expression.
'Of course you aren't,' Penny took over briskly. 'We've already been through this conversation twice, David, once with me and once with Simon.' She frowned at him reprovingly.
'Sorry!' David held up his hand defensively before holding it out to Dominic. 'Reynolds.'
'Kendrick.' He returned the gesture coldly.
'David and Dominic,' Penny insisted, a little crossly. 'Now, let's all go into the house and stop freezing out here!'
David's arm about her shoulders made it impossible for Cathy to do anything other than go into the house at his side, leaving Dominic and Simon to bring in the luggage, Penny directing them which bedrooms to take it up to.
'Well?' David prompted softly as they entered the warmth of the lounge.
'Hm?' She looked up at him with questioning innocence, shrugging off her coat to stand in front of the fire. The house was filled with the aroma of a turkey roasting; dear Penny, she had even saved the Christmas lunch until she could be with them!
David gave a rueful smile. 'Not going to tell me, hm?'
She held her hands out to the warmth of the fire. 'There's nothing to tell.'
He winced pointedly. 'You make a terrible liar, Cathy.'
She returned his gaze steadily. 'Do I?'
'Jade will want to know all the wicked details,' he warned with relish.
'Jade might get to hear all the details.' She deliberately omitted the word 'wicked'.
'She'll tell me,' David challenged teasingly.
'Not if I ask her not to,' Cathy answered with certainty.
David grimaced. 'True,' he sighed. 'This "old girls" brigade is a bit unfair to us poor males. I don't suppose I could persuade it out of you?' he cajoled.
She smiled at his deceptive 'little boy' air. 'I don't suppose you could.'
He pursed his lips thoughtfully. 'I seem to remember you were always very ticklish…!'
'No, David.' She backed away from him as he advanced on her threateningly. 'That wouldn't be fair!' she squeaked as he began to tickle her, squirming away from him.
'Men and women never play fair,' he grinned as she choked with laughter. 'Now, do tell,' he encouraged conspiratorially.
'No!' She fought ineffectually at his tormenting hands.
'Come on, Cathy,' he persisted mercilessly. 'I want to know what—oh, hello, Dominic' He glanced past her to the doorway. 'Just bringing a little masculine pressure to bear,' he explained in a mocking voice.
Cathy had spun around as soon as Dominic's name was mentioned, moving awkwardly away from David as Dominic watched them with narrowed green eyes. She hadn't done anything wrong, and yet the way he was looking at them made her feel somehow guilty!
'Indeed?' Dominic moved further into the room. 'Concerning what?'
Cathy could feel the tension between the two men, and she concentrated on smoothing her trouser-leg as a way of avoiding looking at either of them. They were grown men; whatever problem there was between them, they could work it out for themselves. She didn't need any more tension of her own.
David grinned mischievously. 'Concerning the two of you alone in that cottage for two days and two nights,' he challenged blatantly, making Cathy gasp.
Dominic didn't even glance in her direction, holding the other man's gaze. 'We were only alone for one of those days and nights,' he rasped. 'And we were hardly there by choice!'
'Oh, I realise that,' taunted David, unabashed. 'But once you were there…'
Dominic did give Cathy a sharp look at that, although the expression on her face must have told him all he needed to know about her own reticence concerning their time at the cottage.
He turned back to the other man. 'Once we were there,' he told David coldly, 'we were too busy worrying about being rescued to think of anything else.'
'All the time?' the other man derided. 'That sounds decidedly single-minded to me.'
'I am single-minded,' Dominic said curtly, obviously seething with anger beneath the surface, his eyes glittering angrily.
'Hm, so you are.' David looked disappointed. 'I don't suppose—ah, I think I hear Jade now.' His face lit up at the thought of the woman he loved, the front door having banged shut, to be followed by the murmur of voices. 'I'll go and tell her you're here.' He strode quickly out of the room, obviously eager to be with Jade again.
Cathy gazed after him wistfully, envious of the love David and Jade had found in each other. If only things could have worked out for Dominic and herself.
'Jade,' Dominic echoed softly. 'I don't think I know her, do I?'
Cathy shrugged. 'Possibly not. There's really no reason why you should, although I would say she's the best friend I have.'
His mouth tightened. 'I've always been interested in your friends, Cathy.'
That was news to her, but there was really no point in dwelling on the past, or indeed on the last couple of days. It was all over, and all she had to do now was get through this last time together as best she could.
'That wasn't meant as any sort of criticism,' she sighed.
'It sounded as if it was,' he bit out.
'Well, it wasn't,' she added irritably, the sound of voices coming nearer now. 'Jade and David will be getting married soon,' she supplied vaguely, eager to see her friend once again.
'What?'
She gave Dominic a startled glance. What on earth was so disturbing about Jade and David getting married?
And Dominic did look disturbed.
CHAPTER TEN
'WHAT an absolutely fascinating man,' Jade remarked thoughtfully.
Fascinating? Maybe Dominic was that, but he was also puzzlingly enigmatic, if not downright unfathomable. From the way he had reacted when Cathy had told him about Jade and David, one would have thought she had just announced that David was to marry some two-headed monster instead of the lovely green-eyed, auburn-haired woman who was Jade.
Her own conversation with Dominic had been put aside in the excitement of seeing her friend again, and Cathy had put the incident from her mind as they all went in to have lunch.
It was only later that afternoon, when Jade had offered to help her unpack, that the co
nversation had come back to her. Not that the time-lapse helped at all; she still didn't understand what had disturbed Dominic so much about the announcement.
And she was no more sure she could confide in Jade about the last few days than she could earlier in David. It was all so raw and painful still that she didn't really want to talk about it. To anyone.
Her mouth twisted. 'That's one way of putting it.'
Jade raised questioning brows at her derision. 'David obviously admires him very much.'
Yes, he obviously did hold the other man in great respect, but that wasn't the same as liking him. 'As a businessman I'm sure he does, yes,' she nodded.
Her friend shrugged. 'From the little he's said about him the last few days, I don't think he knows a lot more about him than the business side. He gave me the impression that there weren't many people who do.'
Cathy's face shadowed over as she paused in the act of putting silky underwear into a drawer. Penny and Simon's house was big enough to accommodate any number of guests in comfort.
Until the last few days she hadn't known enough about Dominic's past life to be of any personal help to him, and now it was too late, their relationship having changed too much for her ever to be able to approach the subject of his past with any degree of detachment. And emotional pleadings just wouldn't reach him, she knew that only too well.
'No.' She sighed acknowledgement of that sad fact, returning to her unpacking.
'But you love him.'
Cathy gave her friend a startled look, not because it wasn't perfectly obvious to anyone who really knew her how she felt about Dominic, but because it wasn't like Jade to be so blunt. Shy and retiring Jade never intruded, had always been the best friend anyone could ever hope for.
Jade made a face at her obvious surprise. 'David is already a terrible influence on me.'
She smiled. 'Oh, I wouldn't go that far.'
'Neither would I, really.' Her friend gave a coy smile. 'But I only had to take one look at you and Dominic together,' she sobered, 'to realise how you felt about him.'
Cathy sighed at the truth of that. 'And how do you think he feels about me?' she prompted, without any illusions.
Jade gave a rueful shrug. 'It's very difficult to tell. He certainly doesn't give much away by his behaviour.'
'Exactly!' She sat down heavily on the bed, giving up all pretence of unpacking; they both knew it had only been an excuse in front of the others so that they could slip away for a quiet chat.
Jade sat down beside her. 'What did happen during the last couple of days?' she encouraged gently.
'Everything! And nothing,' Cathy amended shakily, her eyes brimful with tears as she looked up at her friend. 'Does that make any sense to you?' Her cheeks were fiery red with what she knew she had revealed to Jade.
'I think so,' her friend said slowly, her face full of compassion.
'But it's no good,' Cathy choked. 'Whatever happened—happened, as far as Dominic is concerned. And now it's over.'
'Are you sure?'
'Oh, yes,' Cathy dismissed self-derisively.
'It's difficult with a man like that to tell what he feels,' Jade frowned.
Cathy shook her head. 'Believe me, that— part of our relationship is over. And as I no longer work for him, either—'
'That's a new development, isn't it?' Her friend looked concerned.
'Very,' she confirmed drily. 'Although it's since before this Christmas fiasco.'
Jade looked more puzzled than ever. 'Then why did he—?'
'Don't ask.' Cathy grimaced. 'I haven't been able to work out for myself yet why he should choose to drive me down here, let alone feel I can explain it to anyone else!'
'Hm. It's very curious, though,' Jade said with slow thoughtfulness.
'Don't read too much into it,' Cathy dismissed disgustedly. 'Dominic is merely a law unto himself and, if he chooses to do something, he doesn't believe anyone should question it.'
'I can tell that,' her friend said, still very thoughtful. 'Bat it is—curious.'
She shook her head. 'I wouldn't dwell on it too much. Over the years I've come to realise Dominic is simply unfathomable.' She stood up briskly. 'Now, let's finish off this unpacking before David gets too lonely and sends out a search-party,' she attempted to tease. 'I get the feeling he suffers from withdrawal symptoms if you're away from him for too long!'
Jade blushed prettily. 'The feeling is mutual,' she admitted shyly. 'But are you really sure you're going to be all right?' She looked at Cathy searchingly.
'No,' she admitted in all honesty. 'But I'll cope.'
'Sure?'
'No,' she admitted again. 'But I don't really have any choice other than to at least try.'
'Just call on me if you need help,' Jade offered warmly. 'And David will leap to the rescue if he feels you need it, I'm sure.'
Cathy raised her eyes heavenwards. 'I have a feeling that fiancé of yours would like to cause trouble, given the chance!'
'But David is extremely fond of you,' her friend protested.
'As I am of him,' she smiled. 'But he's always been a terrible tease!'
'Yes,' Jade agreed with a light laugh. 'But I will try to make him behave, I promise.'
Cathy grimaced. 'From what I know of David I have a feeling that trying to make him behave just won't be enough.'
She knew she was right when they rejoined the others in the lounge. David was sitting in an armchair beside Dominic's, and was looking so obviously frustrated that both women knew he had been pumping the other man for information while they were out of the room—and obviously getting absolutely nowhere! It would have been quite funny if Cathy couldn't tell by the coldness of Dominic's expression that he didn't in the least appreciate the intrusion.
Cathy and Jade looked at each other knowingly, but it was left to the huskily spoken Jade to try and pour oil on troubled waters as she joined the two men, sitting on the carpet at David's feet to rest back against his knees.
Jade might be quiet and shy, but she also had the ability to put people at their ease, and Cathy could see Dominic begin to thaw after only a few minutes in her company. She herself joined her two nephews on the floor as they revelled in playing with the toys they had finally unwrapped a short time ago.
Cathy turned her full attention on them. 'I must say I think you're very good to have waited until today to open your presents.'
Peter, the oldest by only a year, grinned up at her. 'It wouldn't have been Christmas this year without you.'
Considering how long it had been since she had actually been free to spend Christmas with them, Cathy was touched by her nephew's remark, and she swallowed hard, frowning as she glanced up and saw the strange look that had come over Dominic's face. It was an unreadable look, almost too fleeting to have been there at all, and yet she knew she hadn't imagined that almost—lost—yes, lost look on Dominic's face for the briefest moment.
It had been as if he had come up against something he didn't understand, something he couldn't control, at least. And that was almost impossible to believe.
Although, on reflection, maybe it wasn't so unbelievable after all. A family would be difficult for him to cope with or understand. A family that had remained close despite prolonged absences must be incomprehensible to him.
But her family liked Dominic, she could tell that from their open warmth towards him. Which was possibly just as much of a puzzle to him! Poor Dominic.
'Toys have changed a lot since we were their age,' Simon was saying to him, watching his sons indulgently as they set up an elaborate space-station and its accompanying space vessels.
Cathy watched Dominic's reaction warily; if she was right in her suspicions he would have been about the boys' age when his own life had changed so drastically. From the little he had said in the past about the maiden aunt who had brought him up after his parents' death, there had been little cheer in her house, either at Christmas or any other time of the year.
But she needn't have been worried; he just looked slightly bemused as he too watched the boys playing with their mound of toys. 'They certainly have,' he murmured appreciatively.
'Come and help us,' James invited a little shyly, still slightly in awe of Dominic. Although Cathy knew from experience that that wasn't likely to last very long.
Dominic looked slightly uncomfortable at suddenly being the focus of attention, although to Cathy's surprise he didn't refuse the invitation but came down awkwardly on the carpeted floor beside them.
'As long as your Aunt Cathy stays too,' he said lightly.
She had no intention of going anywhere, although his request for her company surprised her. Although, on reflection, he probably thought she would help act as a buffer between him and the boys, knowing it would look rude to refuse to play with his host's children. But to Cathy's knowledge he had never got down on the floor and played with any children before. To her knowledge he had never come into such close contact with any before!
'Very domesticated,' David drawled mockingly as she helped Penny with the tea later.
Cathy turned to give him a derisive smile. 'I can be as domesticated as the next woman.'
'Oh, I didn't mean you,' he taunted. 'When I left the living-room just now Dominic was stretched out on the floor with Peter, setting up his train-set.'
'And why shouldn't he?' she defended, a flush to her cheeks.
David's mouth twitched. 'When was the last time you saw Dominic playing with a train-set?'
'David—'
'Brought tears to your eyes, didn't it?' He quirked mocking brows. 'Very touching.'
'David!' she sighed, glancing across at Penny as she briefly returned to the kitchen after taking some of the food out into the dining-room.
'It was like trying to get blood out of a stone earlier,' he mused thoughtfully. 'Dominic was quite the gentleman.'
'Some men are,' she said pointedly.
David grinned. 'I find all this too interesting to be a gentleman about it.'
'You—'
'Come on, you two,' Penny scolded, unable to avoid hearing their conversation. 'Everyone else is waiting to eat. You can talk later, if you must,' she added in a disgruntled voice, implying that she found their behaviour very rude.
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