by Margaret Way
She saw him reach out to take her mother’s hand. She saw her mother reach up to kiss his cheek, a special kiss. ‘Lee, this is your daughter,’ Alicia said, tears falling gently from her eyes.
Leyland Richards looked down at that lovely, strained young face with its beautiful, haunted doe eyes, despairing that they could never find their lost time. But there was the future! He lifted his arms wide, not making the slightest attempt to hide the raw emotion in his eyes. Indeed his handsome face was suddenly ravaged by a mixture of joy and anguish. This was his daughter. He knew instantly and without doubt.
‘Caroline!’ he cried. ‘Oh, God!’ The very breath seemed to catch in his throat.
An enormous lightness seized her. Nothing could hold her back now. This was really her father. She had waited twenty-four years for this. Carrie went into those outstretched arms, feeling them close strongly around her. ‘That’s my beautiful girl!’ her father said.
CHAPTER NINE
I COULD lose her!
Two weeks went by before Clay started tormenting himself with that frightening prospect. Each day she sounded more and more as though a wonderful new world had been opened up for her. Which of course it had. Her father had done what he couldn’t. This was what he feared. She was happy living a life apart from him. And it could go on. Perhaps forever! Her biological father hadn’t had a moment’s hesitation in acknowledging her, she’d told him with enormous gladness in her voice. Clay loved her, so he was able to share in her happiness. But, Lord, he needed her as much as her father. More.
Miracles do happen, Clay!
He’d thought one had happened to him. But she was only going to keep him posted. She had been through bad experiences what with Harper, then Natasha and finally the man she had all her life called Father. He’d caught her at a vulnerable moment in time when she was emotionally fragile. That’s why she had come to him—actually putting it down on paper—that she would marry him. Maybe now she thought of her promise as just plain craziness.
It occurred to Clay in acknowledging her, her father stood to lose much of his unsullied reputation. He would have to know that. His was a household name. Caroline’s father was Senator Leyland Richards, leader of the Upper House. Clay, though not overly struck on politicians of any persuasion, had always admired the man. He was a handsome, distinguished, highly intelligent, highly articulate with a magnetic charm that drew people to him. Senator Richards had long had the reputation for being a man the people could trust. He was also a natural diplomat with an engaging wit that worked well for him in his televised interviews. Women loved him. He got their vote. In short he was just the sort of man Caroline should have had as a father right from the beginning.
Caroline had told him in confidence that Senator Richards intended to retire from politics at the end of the year when he would make his announcement. Who was I going to tell anyway? Clay thought. Bruce McNevin, who must be cursing the day he ever opened his mouth? Clay went over their conversations a hundred times in his head. All too often the line was bad. A lot of work was being done around Jimboorie so he could only take calls at night. Caroline had been gone such a short time, yet she had already met her half brother, Adrian and his wife and young family. The younger brother, Todd, who had won a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford, was overseas. They were well on the way to becoming one happy family.
Alicia, too, had been welcomed with open arms. Of course Alicia was a stunning woman. Clay was human enough to wonder if Caroline and her mother would have been received so magnanimously had both of them been ordinary people and plain to boot.
By the end of the third week Clay found himself going about his business grim-faced. He missed her unbearably. She may have found her real father, but she was in his blood, too. He prayed she’d remember that. Absence either made the heart grow fonder or the fond memories faded. Not that she didn’t always tell him how much she missed him when she called. But when was she coming home? And where was home? He was so lonely without her. He had never known such loneliness. He told himself repeatedly he could scarcely begrudge her this precious time with her father. He was just so worried she might want to stay close to him. Hell, was that so unusual?
Clay worked so hard in an effort to take his mind off his anxieties, he fell into bed each night exhausted to the bone.
By the end of the month he decided to take action. He didn’t have to watch every dollar anymore. He would take a trip to Melbourne. He would buy a decent suit and go calling, courting, whatever. Caroline and her mother had moved out of their hotel into the Richards’s residence. He had the telephone number and the address. He was hurting so badly he just had to see her. If she wanted to remain in Melbourne with her new family he had to face the appalling fact there was nothing he could do about it. The very thought made him flinch. Without Caroline, all his plans for the future would be smashed.
They were all over him in the department store where he went to buy some smart city clothes. There was no question it would be extremely easy for a bush bachelor to find plenty of female company in the city but getting a one of them to leave the city for the lonely isolated Outback was another story.
In the end he bought much more than he needed, but the staff seemed hell-bent on outfitting him in a way they considered appropriate. He might have been a sporting icon—they made such a fuss.
You have the most wonderful physique, Mr. Cunningham. Those shoulders!
Thank you, ma’am.
A male staff member, scarcely less flattering, gave him the name of a top hairdresser and how to find the salon. Okay, his hair was too long and too thick!
He didn’t know himself. He stared in the full-length hotel mirror wondering if he hadn’t gone too far. What a change an Italian suit made. Was it really worth an arm and a leg? Where would he ever wear it again? But never mind. He had to look right for Caroline. They hadn’t cut all that much off his hair. Just trimmed it and somehow shaped it so it followed the line of his skull. All those people trying to take care of him! He was glad he’d been able to frame his sincere thank yous.
In the hotel foyer he had to be aware he was turning women’s heads. He could have laughed aloud. He was no sex symbol. He doubted if they would have looked at him in his usual gear of bush shirt, jeans and high boots. He didn’t get the truth of it. He was a stunning-looking man, but he never saw himself that way.
His longing for Caroline was like a hand stretched out to guide him. He had decided on surprising her, not sure she would be at home, but willing to take the chance. She’d told him the Senator was always extremely busy sorting out his affairs but he always managed to make it home for dinner. Why not, with two beautiful women waiting for him! Maybe the Senator and Alicia would revive their doomed romance. They must have loved one another at one time though it would have been a sad thing to break up a marriage, especially when small children were involved.
He took a taxi to the Richards’s residence, pausing a moment on the street to look up at the Italianate mansion, four storeys high. The lot would have fitted neatly inside Jimboorie House, he thought, with a surge of pride for the old historic homestead. The workmen he had hired had been going at the renovations hell for leather. It was astonishing what they had already achieved though there was a great deal still to be done. It would all take time and money. With Caroline by his side he had looked on it as a glorious challenge.
A sweet faced maid called Loretta answered the door, telling him Miss Carrie was relaxing by the swimming pool at the rear of the house. She stepped back smilingly to allow him to enter the house. He returned the smile, telling her he didn’t wish to be announced. It was a surprise visit. He would walk around the side of the house to the pool, coming on Caroline that way. Loretta grinned at him like a coconspirator.
Following her directions he took the paved path on the western side of the house. A lot of the plants growing to either side were unknown to him. The character of the front and side gardens seemed very classical to his eyes. It was all ve
ry beautiful, very orderly, but the only splash of colour was white. Even the flowering agapanthus were white. Clay rounded the end of the rear terrace looking towards a spectacular turquoise swimming pool. The smooth surface was flashing a million sequinned lights. The pool was edged by towering royal palm trees and plushly upholstered chaise longues. A short distance back was a large open living area shaded by a terra-cotta roof with a deep overhang supported by substantial columns. The space was luxuriously furnished with circular tables, rattan armchairs and long rattan divans, again upholstered in an expensive looking fabric.
Sitting on one of the divans, their heads close together, were Caroline and a good-looking young guy, dark haired, bronze tan, wearing blue swim shorts. Clay took a deep calming breath. Then another. Caroline was wearing a brief swimsuit as well with a little bit of nothing over it. Her beautiful hair tumbled down her back. Her skin glowed honey-gold. Her lovely limbs looked wonderfully sleek.
His heart began thudding like Lightning Boy’s hooves. He stood perfectly still, watching. Why wouldn’t she attract eligible young men? God, hadn’t he been struck by her allure, quite apart from her beauty, right off. Why wouldn’t this guy who was staring into her face with what seemed to Clay tremendous intensity want her? They were, in fact, closely regarding each other.
Clay’s stomach tightened into a tight knot. He braced himself as the guy placed a hand on her shoulder. He’d fallen in love with her. Of course he had. And Caroline was mightily interested in him. He felt lacerated by that.
I’ll be damned if I’m going to let him take her away from me!
They were so close to each other. Too close. The guy said something that made Caroline laugh; a silvery, carefree peal of laughter.
Clay’s built up feelings of anticipation evaporated like creek water in a drought. He was tempted to confront them, find out who this guy was, but he had the dismal idea he might finish up throwing the poor man in the pool. He’d rather die than act the jealous fool.
Clay turned on his heel and walked away. There was no longer any excitement. No longer the sheer magic of seeing her.
Barely ten minutes later Carrie, having had enough sun, was making her way back into the house when she met Loretta coming out onto the terrace.
‘Enjoy your swim?’ Loretta asked with a coy smile.
‘It was lovely!’ Carrie said, shaking back her hair.
Loretta’s gaze went past her to the pool. ‘The gentleman didn’t stay long,’ she said in a disappointed voice. ‘I was just coming down to see if you’d like refreshments.’
‘Gentleman? What gentleman?’ Carrie frowned.
‘Why the young man who came to see you,’ Loretta said, eyes wide. ‘He was gorgeous!’ she added.
‘Did he give a name?’ There was puzzlement on Carrie’s face.
‘Sure!’ Loretta nodded. ‘Couldn’t forget it. A nice name. Suited him. Clay Cunningham. Didn’t want me to announce him. Said it was a surprise. I directed him—’
Carrie’s voice overlapped the maid’s. ‘What time was this, Loretta?’ she asked, urgency in her manner.
Loretta considered, head to the side. ‘Not more than ten minutes ago. He was walking around the side of the house to the pool.’
‘Well, he never arrived.’ He saw us, Carrie thought.
She waited not a moment longer. ‘Loretta, tell my mother when she comes home I’ve gone into town,’ she called over her shoulder. ‘Tell her I’ll try to make it back for dinner.’
It took Carrie under twenty minutes to track down the hotel where Clay was staying, shower, dress and call a cab to take her into the city. Lee had made a car available to her but she didn’t want to waste precious time trying to find a parking spot. When she arrived at the hotel she was told by reception Mr. Cunningham wasn’t in his room. He had been seen going out perhaps an hour or so before. He hadn’t returned.
Carrie retreated to a lounge setting in the spacious foyer ordering a cold drink. Where had he gone? What time was he coming back? Whatever time it was, she was prepared to wait. She was so consumed by her thoughts she almost missed Clay’s arrival maybe a half hour later. What alerted her was the ribald comment of one of two young women sitting across from her, sipping highly coloured and decorated cocktails.
‘Strewth, would you look at the guy who just walked in?’ the one in the sequinned top gasped, putting down her glass and sitting bolt upright. ‘Wouldn’t I love to wrap my legs around him!’
‘We have a Ten!’ the other squealed, holding up all her digits.
Carrie’s heart catapulted into her throat. She followed the focus of their gaze although it would have been difficult indeed to miss him. It was Clay. He looked absolutely stunning in his city clothes, his marvellous hair barbered to perfection. He had meant to surprise her. Instead, apparently, she had shocked him into leaving.
When the girls saw her staring so avidly, the one with the sequinned top called to her. ‘Bet your life someone has already high-jacked him. Wanna come over and join us?’
Carrie stood up quickly, grabbing her handbag. ‘Love to, but I can’t, sorry. I have to catch up to my fiancé.’
‘You mean that drop-dead dreamy hunk of a guy is your man?’ the one with the scarlet hair asked.
‘Sure is,’ Carrie confirmed proudly.
‘You’re one lucky lady,’ Scarlet Hair told her with a wicked grin.
Though she pursued him as fast as her high heels would allow, Carrie saw him disappear into a waiting elevator. She took the next available, glad she knew which floor and which room he was in. Even then he beat her inside his door.
He came at the third knock.
‘I missed you at the house,’ Carrie said brightly, devouring him with her eyes.
He didn’t respond, but stood looking down at her.
‘Aren’t you going to ask me in?’ She had to duck under his arm to get into the room. ‘What happened? Why did you leave?’ She turned to face him.
He shut the door, leaned against it. ‘One’s the right answer and the other one isn’t,’ he said crisply.
‘Fire away,’ she invited, throwing her handbag down onto the bed.
‘Right. One, I was running late for an appointment. Two, I thought I’d give that guy you were being so sweet to some swimming lessons.’
‘You were jealous!’ Carrie gave a little crow of disbelief.
He came away from the door abruptly, all six foot three of him, emanating radiant energy. ‘What the hell did you expect me to be?’ Despite himself Clay suddenly exploded. ‘But, hey, I probably had no right. I mean it’s not as though we’re an old married couple or anything.’
‘No,’ she agreed, though her heart was fluttering. ‘Why don’t you try kissing me?’ She threw it down like a challenge, moving right up to him and staring into his tense face.
‘Why don’t I?’ He hauled her to him with one arm. ‘I’m not enough for you, am I, Caroline?’ His blue eyes were so full of emotion they blazed.
‘I can’t tell until you kiss me again,’ she said.
He stared at her with those burning eyes, a frown between his brows. ‘Do I look like a guy you can manipulate?’
‘Manipulate?’ She pretended to try the word out on her tongue. ‘I don’t know what that means!’ She knew she was deliberately provoking him but excitement was running at the rate of knots. She was just so thrilled to see him and he didn’t even know it.
‘Of course you know what it means,’ he countered harshly. ‘Every beautiful woman knows that. I didn’t aim for your love right off, Caroline. I hoped love would come. But I thought I had your promise. That little letter you wrote me. It said you wanted to be my wife.’
‘Well, you didn’t take it seriously, did you?’ she flashed back. ‘You haven’t seen me for a month yet you can’t even get around to kissing me.’
She actually sounded aggrieved.
Clay’s strong arms trembled. He’d had enough of her mockery, sarcasm, whatever it was. This wasn’t his Carol
ine—what had happened to her?—but he still wanted this Caroline. Madly. Badly. He couldn’t look at her without wanting her. He couldn’t inhale her fragrance. Clay gathered her up, unprotesting, and carried her back to the deep armchair where he settled her in his lap.
‘Go on, kiss me,’ she urged, her beautiful dark eyes staring into his, her long blond hair spilling over his arm.
His face tightened into a bronze mask. He wanted to pay her back. Yes, he did. But he could never hurt her. Instead he let his mouth move over hers, not punishingly, but letting it convey his deep need of her. His hands moulded her to him. He couldn’t make sense of anything. He didn’t try. It was the same old magic all over again. Magic that had the power to drain him of his bitter disappointment and anger.
When he finally lifted his head, he saw radiance on her face, though her eyes remained shut. ‘Caroline?’ Surely she couldn’t kiss him like that and not love him?
‘All right, you’ve kissed me,’ she whispered, opening her dark eyes. ‘Now tell me you love me.’
He was moved to reveal his heart. ‘I love you,’ he said, his voice a deep well of emotion. ‘I want you to have my children. I’ll love you until the day I die.’
Carrie was trying her hardest not to cry. She sat up a little, holding his face between her hands. ‘So why didn’t you trust me?’ she reproached him.
He shook his head with regret. ‘I will from now on, I swear! But God, Caroline, it was understandable, don’t you think? I came on the woman I love staring into another man’s eyes like he had the answer to all life’s problems. A young good-looking guy who had his hand on your shoulder. We’ll forget the fact both of you weren’t wearing a lot of clothes.’
