ALASKAN FIRE

by Alaskan Fire (NCP) (lit)

  “No, Jess, don’t,” he said softly. “Don’t ice up on me again. Everything is going to be all right, I promise. Just let me handle things for the moment. In another few days, we will be out of the country and by the time we get back all of this will have settled down,” he continued and then broke off as the intercom buzzed, sounding loud in the quiet room.

  “Mrs. Seymour on the line, Sam,” Angela’s voice came over the speaker.

  Jess started. “My mother! She’s heard about us,” she whispered.

  Sam reached for the phone. “I’ll take it, Angela.”

  Jess watched fascinated as Sam calmly chatted to her mother, his deep voice oozing charm.

  “Hello Mrs. Seymour, this is Sam Armstrong.”

  Jess listened, only able to hear Sam’s side of the conversation.

  “Well, the media are prone to exaggerate things,” he said. “But, yes, Jess and I have formed a relationship. Yes, she is living with me and I can assure you and your husband we are very happy together.”

  Jess jumped up, her face aghast.

  “Yes, she is an extremely clever and beautiful girl. I know. Jessica is here now, you can talk to her yourself…thank you, Mrs. Seymour and I look forward to meeting you also.”

  Jess glared at Sam as he laughed at something her mother had said, the corner of his eyes crinkling attractively. How could he charm her mother in this way and tell her these terrible lies!

  Sam protected the mouthpiece with his hand and his expression changed as he gave Jess a warning look. “Play along, Jess. Your mother is fine about us but I don’t think she will be very happy if you tell her you’re being stalked by your ex-boyfriend,” he said, handing the receiver to her.

  Jess shakily took the phone and realized immediately her mother had been impressed with Sam and thrilled to hear about their supposed affair. She glossed over the details but did explain about her trip to Alaska. As she chatted she watched Sam gather some scripts from his desk and with a brief nod left her alone in the office. Jess promised to phone her mother again before she left for overseas and breathed a sigh of relief as she replaced the receiver.

  “I’ve got some messages from Sam, Jessica.” Angela’s voice broke into her thoughts and Jess turned to face her wondering whatever Angela must think, but she showed no sign of curiosity. “Sam’s gone to Studio Two for his shoot and he said would you begin the research for the overseas stories and get Molly to help you. He said he won’t be finished until about eight o’clock and you can either go to him in one of the editing suites or he will come and find you but.... Sam emphasized don’t go outside the building or take any phone calls from anyone but him. Finally, he asked me to give your flat key to security. He’s arranged for his housekeeper and security to fetch the rest of your things.”

  Jess' mouth tightened as Angela paused for breath. She was still upset with Sam but realized he had arranged no more than they had discussed and Angela’s message from him was eminently sensible under the circumstances.

  She picked up her bag. “Thanks, Angela. I’m sorry to cause you this hassle.” Angela put a friendly arm around Jess' shoulders.

  “Don’t worry, Jess,” she whispered kindly. “Everything will work out and I know Sam would never let anything happen to one of his staff. He’s very concerned about these threats against your lives.”

  As Jess listened to the outpouring from Angela in Sam’s support she instantly felt guilty. Of course, she’d placed Sam’s life in danger as well, she thought. If Tom did react emotionally as she knew he was capable, he may try to harm Sam, rather than her. Jess' vivid imagination pictured Tom shooting Sam and his bloodied, dead body lying in her arms

  She sank down in a chair, her heart pounding. Tom was serious. He was unhinged and now he wanted to kill Sam. Oh God! What had she done getting Sam involved and endangering his life as well as her own?

  "Are you okay?" Angela's worried voice broke into her gruesome thoughts. 'You look very pale."

  Jess got up, pulling herself together with difficulty. "I'm fine," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "Thanks Angela. Once again, I'm sorry about this."

  She felt a lot better when she’d showered in the toilet block and changed into clean underwear and dark blue jumper with matching slacks rescued from the overnight bag she had left at her desk.

  She enjoyed telling Molly about the research for the coming trip but smilingly ignoring Molly’s questions about herself and Sam. Once they had settled to their tasks, the time sped by. They shared lunch in the small office cafeteria and during the afternoon Jess worked in the reference library pulling out huge amounts of information on Todd Carmichael from the Internet and rolling snatches of tapes from his various acting roles while Molly went to Sydney’s main public library.

  Jess worked on, stopping briefly for a coffee at five o’clock when Molly called in to say she was going home. She had gathered armfuls of reference books that Jess had requested.

  Danger forgotten Jess was totally engrossed in her work but jumped violently when a hand touched her shoulder. She looked up somehow expecting to see Tom, but instead met the unnerving scrutiny of Sam’s green gaze.

  “It’s eight thirty. Didn’t you wonder where I was?” he asked, casually dropping into the seat beside her, his eyes skimming over the information on the monitor in front of her.

  She could feel her heart pounding as her eyes drank in the handsome, chiseled profile. His face looked drawn, she noted and his eyes had dark shadows beneath them as he turned to stare at her.

  “You look tired.” He said giving her a lazy, sweet smile.

  “So do you,” she smiled shyly in return, her eyes holding his for long, breathless moments.

  Sam stood up, breaking the contact between them and Jess lowered her lashes, the heat rise under her skin. Help! After all she had said about humiliating and teasing her about their 'affair' and here she was encouraging him. She turned away, gathering up her books.

  “Marty phoned about Tom,” Sam said as he waited for her to turn off the computer. “He let him off with a warning this time but I gather Tom didn’t seem very concerned.”

  Jess looked up sharply. “Why not?” she said, unable to keep the anxiety from her voice.

  Sam picked up some of her books looking idly through the titles. “It seems Tom thinks you’re infatuated with me and when you get over it, you’ll go back to him. Marty believes Tom is walking a fine line and we should remain very careful.”

  Sam sat on the edge of the desk and Jess sensed the sudden tension in his body.

  “Is it true, Jess?” he asked quietly.

  “What?”

  “Are you infatuated with me?”

  CHAPTER SIX

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” Jess blurted out angrily picking up the books and pushing past Sam as she walked quickly to the door.

  Sam followed her.

  “Why is that so ridiculous?” He raised one dark eyebrow.

  Jess shifted the books to rest more comfortably in her arms. “Sam, please open the door and let’s go,” she pleaded, deliberately trying to change the mood. “I’ve told you how it happened. You appeared at the right time. I had no idea it was going to get out of hand in this way.”

  Sam took the books and opened the door. “Okay, we’ll let it go for now. Although I’m surprised you haven’t refuted the accusation,” he said, stepping aside so she could go ahead.

  “You can think what you like,” Jess replied sweetly, as she waited for the lift to the main office.

  Sam faced her in the lift, his eyes gleaming. “You know, I think there is one hell of a fire inside you. As I said before, beneath the classy facade is a raging inferno. You may not like me very much, Jess, but physically you want me and I would call that a form of infatuation, wouldn’t you?”

  Jess stepped out of the lift. Silently counting to ten, she turned to Sam as they walked to the main offices and through the door leading to the private car park. “Sam, I’m grateful for your pr
otection and the fact that you are willing to play along with this crazy situation, but I can assure you I have no wish to be bedded by you no matter how attractive you may consider yourself to the opposite sex.”

  Sam laughed, pushing their bags and Jess' books into the boot of the car and opening the car door. “Another quaint expression--bedded. In fact, you’re rather quaint altogether, Jessica,” he said, as they drove out of the park.

  Jess looked nervously around wondering whether Tom was waiting for them to leave so he could follow them. She noticed Sam was quietly watching the road in the rear vision mirror. She shivered with apprehension and was surprised when Sam’s hand rested gently on her knee. She let his hand stay there, wondering why she didn't fling it away and yet strangely appreciating Sam's warmth and comfort. He is the enigma, not me, she thought. So sure of himself and his sexuality. He knew only too well that she had been bluffing about her feelings for him. Damn it! She really hated him at this moment and couldn't understand how she could still want him. At least she was retaining some sense of pride.

  “Don't worry, Jess. I don’t think he’ll bother you anymore, particularly after the storm which hit the media today about us.”

  “I didn’t realize there had been such a fuss!”

  “You’d better believe it! The switchboard had such a bad time I ended up issuing a media statement.”

  “What did you say?”

  “You know the old adage, Jess. You never say ‘no comment’ to the media. I explained you were World Watch’s brilliant new journalist and yes, we were having an affair. In fact, it was love at first sight.”

  Jess groaned. “How could you say that? I shall never live this down,” she said in despair.

  “Don’t let’s go back over it. For the moment we are pretend lovers and you are living with me and....with a bit of luck, your boyfriend will return from whence he came.”

  Jess contemplated Sam’s logic. Perhaps the time had come to accept the situation. Besides, she had completed one good story and had the potential to follow up with two more, with Sam’s help. And when she returned from their trip, she would find another flat, people would forget and life would go on.

  “Why are you bringing all those books home?” Sam asked, effectively changing the subject.

  “They’re reference books for our stories. I’m studying tonight and at the weekend. I’ve already a lot of material on Todd Carmichael,” Jess replied, relieved to talk about something else.

  “Tomorrow’s Friday, why don’t you stay home? You’ll probably get a lot more work done and you can use my computer. It links into the studio reference system.”

  Jess hesitated, suddenly afraid of being alone.

  “No one can get in. You will be quite safe. I have a silent phone number only a few trusted people have…and besides, I’ll put the answering machine on,” he said, as if he had read her mind.

  “Yes, I’ll do that,” she agreed. “Which day do we leave for L.A.?”

  “Wednesday. We are on the late flight. We’ll have to spend Tuesday going through everything and making sure we’re prepared. I have technical gear to get ready and you had better make a check list.”

  Jess gripped her hands together as excitement flowed through her. This was her big opportunity to show Sam what a good journalist she really was. To Sam it may be old-hat but to Jess it was a chance in a lifetime.

  They arrived home without incident and Sam explained that his housekeeper Mrs. Palmer would have left dinner for them in the fridge. “She comes in daily and keeps thinks ticking” he explained, with a smile reflecting his affection for her.

  Jess heated the chicken casserole in the microwave and they sat down to eat without exchanging a word. Sam seemed miles away as he absentmindedly handed her a coffee as they finished their meal.

  He spoke at last. “I suppose I had better let you know there is a bit of a show here on Saturday night,” he said casually.

  “What sort of show?” Jess was instantly wary.

  “I think it is a buffet dinner. I don’t quite know how many people are coming,” Sam sounded disinterested.

  “But it’s in your house. Why don’t you know what it’s about?” Jess felt bewildered and a little exasperated.

  “Well, Pauline has made the arrangements. My ex-wife Tanya will be here as well. It’s to celebrate my thirty-fifth birthday.”

  Sam gave an elegant shrug as Jess digested this information. What a terrible situation. Sam’s three women in the same house at the same time, let alone any other members of his harem. She pulled herself up abruptly. She wasn’t Sam’s woman...even if everyone thought she was.

  She looked up to find Sam studying with interest the various expressions flitting across her face. “Forgive me, but I don’t think I’ll go to your party, Sam. I’ll stay in my room or in the study,” she said quickly.

  “Uh - Uh,” he said, shaking his head. “This won’t do, Jess. You’re my lady, albeit for the moment, so where else would you be but at your lover’s side?” Sam’s mouth quirked with amusement.

  “I really don’t want to be ridiculed by your ex-lovers and friends,” she replied, tossing her serviette on the table and rising to her feet.

  “We’ll see,” was the only reply.

  “I’m going to unpack and then go to bed,” she said as she rinsed the dishes and stacked them in the dishwasher.

  “Jess.... you don’t still have feelings for Tom, do you?” The question hung in the air as she turned to face Sam, now leaning nonchalantly against the kitchen bench. She hesitated, realizing there was a great deal more behind the question than Sam was letting on.

  Her eyes darkened into violet pools of emotion as she thought about Tom and how she feared and loathed him, but her reply was non-committal. “I would prefer not to talk about it, Sam.”

  She turned away, a sickening feeling grabbing her stomach. Surely it couldn’t be right to hate someone so much and be so afraid. Jess murmured goodnight, but as she passed Sam, he caught her arm. His tiger-like eyes bore through her and her skin tingled with electrifying sensations.

  “If you were mine, Jess, I would never let you go either,” he said huskily, his fingers massaging her upper arm.

  “Then you’re no better than Tom.” Jess pulled away from him. She almost ran from the kitchen, blindly making her way upstairs to the refuge of her room. She flung herself on the bed burying her head in the pillow. “Oh, Sam!” she whispered. “If I belonged to you I would never leave you. I would love you until the day I die.”

  * * * *

  After sleeping fitfully, Jess rose early. The luxury of having her own en-suite was wonderful, she thought, showering and dressing casually in blue jeans and loose jumper. The feeling of safety and comfort made her relaxed and she looked forward to her day alone with the research books and no outside world intruding. After searching the fridge for ingredients, she cooked a passable bacon and cheese omelet and was pleased when Sam timed it perfectly coming into the kitchen as she served it. Sam was elegant in a tailored navy suit with pale blue shirt and toning tie. He explained he was flying to Canberra to interview the Prime Minister for a World Watch exclusive.

  “I’ll be back about seven and we’ll eat here,” he said, rising to his feet as he gulped his coffee. “Mrs. Palmer comes by about ten o’clock and will let herself in.”

  Jess thought how handsome Sam looked as he adjusted his jacket and grabbed his briefcase. “I expect I can manage to heat up something without spoiling it,” she murmured, her voice unexpectedly tight.

  “Remember, don’t answer the buzzer and if you’re worried about anything, phone security at the office or Marty Fields at police headquarters. They’ll be here in no time.”

  Jess nodded. She gave him what she hoped was a confidant smile before lowering her eyes to hide her returning apprehension. Now Sam was actually leaving she was nervous. This was stupid!

  Sam lifted her chin, his lips lightly touched her forehead in a gentle kiss and then he was
gone.

  Sitting quietly, waiting for her heartbeat to settle down, the situation became very clear. "Sam you are right," she said aloud. “I’m totally infatuated with you. I’m a raving, besotted idiot!

  She sipped her coffee and pondered Sam’s party and the invasion of his ex-wife and the daunting Pauline Marshall. She would stick to her guns and keep well out of the way, she decided. The last thing she wanted was to give the two women, and Sam’s friends, the opportunity to poke fun at her and she wasn’t sure that Sam would protect her against any disparaging remarks. In fact, she wasn’t sure about Sam at all! He seemed to alternate between a cynic at this sudden turn of events and being extraordinarily kind and gentle. And when he was tender with her…Jessica could feel herself melting on the spot. She sensed his passion simmering below the surface, as it had been yesterday in the car park when they had both fought for control. If he had kissed her then, she swore she would have gone up in flames!

  She put down her coffee cup with a clatter, her mind in turmoil knowing that if Sam wanted her, she would be his.

  As the morning progressed Jess forgot about the party. She spent an hour tidying her room, hanging her clothes and placing her precious belongings into drawers and cupboards. She refrained from putting her favorite knick-knacks around the room. That would mean she expected to stay here for sometime and she was determined to leave as soon as they returned from Alaska. She must make the grade on her own, or her career would be blighted. The media and the public generally, would always believe she had slept her way to the top but she couldn’t help that.

  She settled for a photograph of her parents and brother placed by the bedside. She put her toiletries in the bathroom, carefully packing the ones Sam had given her in the back of the bathroom cabinet. Then she contacted her landlord. From his coarse innuendoes, he had obviously read about Sam and herself in the press and rather than involve Sam in a further dispute, Jess agreed to forfeit her bond and pay a month’s rent in lieu of notice, even though this would make her desperately short of money until the next pay day. Events beyond her control were taking over her life. For a moment, a sense of defeat threatened to overwhelm her. But she weighed up her advantages and decided that her skills were her greatest strengths and started working on the research.