The Passion Price

by Miranda Lee

  ‘Come on, kids,’ the father said to his son and daughter, who looked about eight and ten respectively. ‘Let’s go and find our cossies. That pool sure looks good after our long drive. Thanks, miss.’

  ‘Angelina,’ she told him, pointing to her name tag.

  ‘Angelina. Pretty name.’

  ‘Pretty girl,’ the wife said, but without a trace of spite, or jealousy. Angelina decided she liked her very much.

  ‘OK, kids. Back into the car.’

  Angelina had tried to keep her cool during the five minutes it had taken to go through her resort spiel. But all the time, she’d been watching Jake out of the corner of her eye.

  No sooner had the navy sedan moved off than he was out of the car and striding towards the reception room.

  Angelina’s gaze raked over him admiringly as he approached. It was the first time she had seen him in a suit, and my, he did look well in one. He looked well in any clothes, she conceded. And even better in nothing.

  Angelina groaned and dropped her own eyes to the desk. She’d accused Jake of having a one-track mind last Sunday, but she was no better where he was concerned. One glimpse, and she was aching to rip his clothes off.

  The small bell on the door tinkled as he pushed it open, Angelina pretending not to have noticed his arrival till that moment.

  ‘Jake!’ she said on looking up. ‘Goodness, what are you doing here?’

  He eyed her quite coldly.

  ‘Cut the crap, Angelina. You saw me drive up. I know you did. I suggest you get someone else to take over here,’ he commanded in a peremptory fashion. ‘We need to talk.’

  Angelina felt as if he’d punched her in the stomach. What was going on here? And who did he think he was, talking to her like that?

  ‘I…I can’t,’ she replied, flustered by his rudeness. There is no one else. Not till five.’ Barbara would take over at five for the night shift.

  They both glanced at their watches. Five o’clock was fourteen minutes away.

  ‘Is your place open?’ he asked abruptly. ‘I’ll wait for you in there.’

  Angelina hesitated to let him go into her home by himself. He might start looking around.

  Though why would he…unless he’d found out something…?

  The arrival of another car outside Reception forced her to make up her mind.

  ‘Yes, it’s open. Go on round and I’ll be with you shortly. But what is this all about, Jake? You seem upset.’

  ‘Upset,’ he repeated, as though considering the word. ‘No, I’m not upset. I’m bloody furious!’ With that, he marched out, leaving Angelina to stare after him.

  Has he found out about Alex? came the immediate question. But if so, how so? Had Arnold let something slip in his negotiations with Dorothy?

  Angelina knew that the sale of Arnold’s property was going ahead at a great rate. Money had been no object and Dorothy had had her lawyers rush through the searches. Contracts were being exchanged next week and she was going to move in a fortnight later.

  Fortunately, Barbara arrived ten minutes early for work, Angelina relieved to let her take over so that she could bolt round and see what Jake wanted. Unfortunately, even in that short space of time, her nervous tension had reached dangerous proportions.

  She hurried in to find Jake in her kitchen, making himself some coffee and looking as if he’d lost his case this week, instead of winning it.

  ‘I’m here,’ she said, unnecessarily, since she was standing in the same room, not ten feet from him.

  His head turned and those icy blue eyes of his cut through her like knives.

  ‘How long,’ he ground out, ‘did you intend to keep our son a secret from me?’

  Angelina sagged against the kitchen sink. He knew.

  ‘How…how did you find out?’ she choked out, then slowly shook her head. ‘Arnold, I suppose. He must have let it slip to Dorothy.’ Alex was right. Arnold could be a bit of an old fool.

  ‘Alex told me himself, in my office, just over four hours ago.’

  Angelina gaped at him. This she had not expected. Oh, Alex…

  ‘Naturally, when I was first told I had a visitor named Alex,’ Jake ground out, ‘I assumed he was your ex-lover. Imagine my surprise when I encountered a schoolboy. But I won’t go into that, or even try to understand your sick reasons for letting me think such a thing. I am here because of the real person, the real Alex. Our son. Seems he saw me on TV last night and realised that I was the Jake Winters his mother had said was his father. No doubt because we look exactly like each other!’

  Angelina groaned. So that was what had precipitated their son’s actions. If only she’d thought of something like this happening. She herself had seen Jake on the news. What an idiot she was! But, of course, her mind had been on other things since last weekend. Her son had ceased to be her top priority for once.

  Her remorse was acute.

  But once she saw Jake’s body language, the mother tiger in her came back with a vengeance. ‘If you acted like this with him, Jake,’ she bit out, her eyes narrowing, ‘I won’t ever forgive you.’

  Jake’s nostrils flared. ‘Do you honestly think, after what I went through as a child, that I would do anything remotely hurtful to my son?’

  Angelina was taken aback by the possessiveness in his voice. And the sheer emotional power.

  This was not a man who was repulsed by the discovery that he was a father. Sure, he was shocked. And yes, he was angry. But only with her.

  She smiled. She couldn’t help it. ‘He’s wonderful, isn’t he?’

  ‘Bloody hell, Angelina, how can you smile at me after what you’ve done? Look, I understand why you didn’t tell me about Alex when he was born, and during the years since. Aside from your father’s natural hostility towards me, why would you? If I’d been in your boots I wouldn’t have told me, either. But after we ran into each other again the way we did and you saw that I wasn’t some kind of deadbeat, you should have told me then. Why, in God’s name, didn’t you? Especially when Alex was already pestering you to find me. Oh, yes, he told me all about that. Not one to hold back, is Alex. Unlike his mother,’ Jake bit out.

  Angelina remained guiltily silent.

  ‘I asked you a question, Angelina. I expect an answer. Why didn’t you tell me on that first Saturday? You had every opportunity, especially when I came back a second time.’

  ‘I guess I was afraid to.’

  ‘Afraid! Afraid of what?’

  ‘Of your not wanting Alex!’ she burst forth. ‘You said you didn’t ever want children.’

  ‘Alex is a fait accompli,’ he muttered. ‘That’s a different matter entirely.’

  Angelina winced. He was right. She should have told him. ‘You…you didn’t tell him about us, did you?’ she asked plaintively.

  ‘What do you take me for, a complete fool? No, of course I didn’t tell him about us. You have nothing to worry about. I made all the right noises. Did a better imitation of a father thrilled to discover he had a fifteen-year-old son than you’d see in a Hollywood movie. I also told him that I would come up and see you personally and smooth things over. He was worried sick how you would react when you found out he’d looked me up, since you had a deal to wait till Easter. Though might I add he seemed chuffed to find out I wasn’t the jailbird you’d told him I was sure to be. He said he told you I wouldn’t be, but you didn’t seem to have the same blind faith in my character.’

  She flushed, but lifted her chin defiantly. ‘You have to appreciate it was a one-in-a-million chance that you’d turn out to be any good.’

  ‘I’m not blaming you for that judgement call. You did exactly what I would have done in your position. I suppose I could even forgive you for not telling me about Alex straight away. What I find unforgivable is that you didn’t tell me the truth by the end of last weekend. What could you possibly have been afraid of by then?’

  ‘Well, I…I…’ How could she tell him that she was afraid he’d stop wanting to make love t
o her? It sounded so…selfish.

  His sudden paling had her panicking.

  He’s guessed the truth. And he’s totally appalled.

  ‘It was that incident with the kid, wasn’t it?’ he said, startling her. ‘And my telling you about my childhood. That’s why you went all quiet on me. You were worried I might hit Alex like my mother hit me.’

  ‘No! No, nothing like that at all! I’m sure you wouldn’t do any such thing!’

  ‘What, then?’

  There was nothing for it now but to tell him the truth. In a fashion. ‘I…I wanted to tell you. Really, I did. But I was afraid that it would change things between us. I thought…’ She bit her lip and tried to find the right words.

  ‘What did you think?’

  ‘All kinds of things. At first, when I agreed to have lunch with you, I just wanted to find out what you were like, what kind of man you were, before I told you about Alex. You have to appreciate it was a terrible shock to me, Jake, when you turned up in my life, and when I found myself as attracted to you as I was when I was just a girl. I thought I could control how I felt about you. But of course, I couldn’t. Then, when the sex was so fabulous between us, I didn’t want it to end. I wanted you to keep looking at me the same way. And making love to me. It was selfish of me, I know, but I…I’ve never felt anything like I do when I’m with you.’ Tears pricked at her eyes. ‘I’m sorry, Jake. Truly. I didn’t mean to hurt you.’

  ‘Well, I am hurt, Angelina. Do you have any idea what it was like, finding out we had a fifteen-year-old son like that?’

  ‘I’m sure it was a shock.’

  ‘That’s an understatement.’

  ‘I…I don’t know what to say.’

  ‘There’s nothing you can say. The damage has been done.’

  Angelina’s heart sank. But then defiance kicked in. And resentment. Had what she’d done been that wicked, or seriously unforgivable?

  Hardly.

  ‘Well, I happen to think there is a lot I can say,’ she threw at him. ‘I’ve stood here, like a typically pathetic female, humbly listening to your poor-little-me tale. I’ve even been feeling sorry for you. But you know what? I think I’m all sorried out. Where is your sympathy for me? Do you have any idea what my life has been like? How hard it’s been for me?’

  ‘I have some idea. Alex told me. In fact, he told me more about you in the two hours I spent with him today than you have in two weeks. I know the sacrifices you’ve made for him. I know you’ve been a good mother. I know you never laid a hand on him, no matter how naughty he was. I know he thinks the world of you. I also know you don’t date. Ever.’ He glowered at her. ‘It seems you’ve become a master at deception in a lot of things.’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘You keep secrets from everyone, not just me. I know you’ve had lovers. You told me so. Yet your teenage son says there’s never been another man in your life after me. He thinks you’re a cross between the Virgin Mary and Mother Teresa. He even has this romantic idea that when you and I meet up again this time, we’ll fall in love once more and get married.’

  ‘Oh…’ It wasn’t so far removed from the romantic notions she’d been stupidly harbouring this last week.

  ‘Yes, oh,’ Jake said drily. ‘Our son has to receive a reward for optimism, doesn’t he?’

  ‘He certainly does, considering who his father is. But for your information, Mr Smarty Pants, I have not had lovers. And I never said I had. You just jumped to that conclusion, probably because you couldn’t conceive of anyone choosing to lead a celibate lifestyle. Which I did. For our son’s sake. Don’t think I didn’t have offers. I’ve had plenty. So Alex was right. There’s only been the one man in my life.

  You!’

  Now that she’d blurted out the whole truth, Angelina rather enjoyed the shocked look on Jake’s face.

  ‘You can’t seriously expect me to believe you haven’t had sex in sixteen years?’

  ‘No, I wouldn’t expect you to believe that. Not you, a man who has a different girlfriend every other month and who can’t even roll over in bed without reaching for another condom. But perhaps if you think about it a little more, you’ll see I’m telling the truth. Why do you think I couldn’t get enough last weekend? Because I was so frustrated, that’s why.’

  Jake stared at her. ‘Frustrated.’

  ‘Yes. Frustrated!’ Her hands found her hips. ‘I deserved a break after being such a goody-two-shoes for so long, don’t you think? I could do with a few more, too. But I guess that’s out of the question now. I always knew that as soon as you found out about Alex, everything would change between us. I’m no longer lover material, I’m the mother of your child. The single mother of your child. And, as such, to be treated with suspicion. It wouldn’t take a genius to know that the invitation to come to your place this weekend is off.’

  He looked stunned. ‘Well, I…I need some time to think.’

  Her smile was laced with bitterness. ‘How come I’m not surprised? You can run but you can’t hide, Jake. Alex has found you now, and if I know my son he won’t let go. You’re his father. Get used to it.’

  ‘It’s only been half a day, Angelina. Give me a break, will you?’

  She laughed. ‘You were right. You are going to be a pretty rotten father. Oh, I don’t doubt you’ll give lip-service to the role, but you just don’t have what it takes in here…’ She patted her hand over her heart, that heart which was breaking inside.

  But be damned if she was going to show it.

  ‘Alex’s inter-school swimming carnival is on this Saturday,’ she announced. ‘It starts at one. Can I tell him you’ll be there when I call him tonight? Or do you want time to think about that too?’

  ‘I’ve already told him I’ll be there.’

  ‘No kidding. You’ve surprised me.’

  ‘I surprised myself,’ he muttered. ‘Look, I’m doing my best, all right? I don’t really know the boy. And I see now that I don’t really know you.’

  ‘Men like you never know anyone, except themselves.’

  ‘That’s a bit harsh.’

  ‘Is it? I suggest you go home and have a good look in the mirror, Jake. If you can see past the shiny, successful, sexy surface, you just might not like what you find.’

  ‘Angelina, I—’

  ‘Oh, just go,’ she snapped, and, wrapping her arms around herself, she whirled away from him to stare steadfastly out of the kitchen window.

  She felt him staring at her. Felt his hesitation. But then he started walking. ‘See you on Saturday,’ he muttered, leaving his coffee untouched behind him on the counter.

  By the time Angelina heard the Ferrari growl into life, she was crying her eyes out.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  ‘I STILL find it hard to believe,’ Dorothy said during dessert.

  Jake, who always lost his appetite when he was stressed, or distressed, put down his dessert fork, his slice of lemon meringue pie still intact. ‘You and me both,’ he said with a weary sigh. ‘I didn’t sleep much last night. I kept seeing Alex’s face when he called me Dad. He made me feel like such a fraud. I’m no hero, Dorothy. I’m just a man.’

  ‘You’re not just a man, Jake. You’re an exceptional man. And you’ll make an exceptional father.’

  ‘How can you say that, knowing where I came from?’

  ‘Because I know you. There’s not a violent or a mean bone in your body. Angelina more or less said the same thing.’

  ‘Angelina! Don’t talk to me about Angelina!’

  ‘Why? Because you’re in love with her?’

  Jake stiffened in his chair. ‘I am not in love with her. I don’t fall in love with liars.’

  ‘She explained why she lied. And I, for one, understand her reasoning perfectly. So would you, if your male ego wasn’t involved. She’s a mother first and foremost. She was protecting her child.’

  ‘She deceived me.’

  ‘For the best of reasons. She wanted to get to know you f
irst.’

  ‘Yeah. In the biblical sense.’

  ‘Oh, for pity’s sake, will you get off your high horse? The girl obviously fancies you like crazy. She always did. You pack a powerful physical punch, Jake. She’s a healthy young woman whose hormones have never had a chance. I don’t blame her one bit if she wanted you.’

  ‘Dorothy!’

  ‘Goodness me, who do you think you’re talking to here? A nun? I’ll have you know I know exactly how Angelina must have felt last weekend. I was forty years old when I met Edward. OK, so I wasn’t a virgin but as good as. I went to bed with Edward the very first night and we didn’t sleep a wink. All night. Damn, but it was good.’

  Jake just stared. He would never understand women. They could look so soft and malleable on the surface, when all the while, inside, they were tough as teak. And so damned surprising.

  He hadn’t expected Angelina to stand up to him the way she had yesterday. He’d expected her to wilt under his anger and beg his forgiveness. Instead, she’d read him the Riot Act and given him his walking papers.

  She obviously didn’t fancy him that much. And she sure as hell hadn’t fallen in love with him last weekend as he’d foolishly hoped she had.

  His goal to marry her now seemed even further away than ever. Perverse, considering they shared a child. Which brought him to the problem of Alex. Not that Alex was a problem child. He wasn’t. He was a credit to Angelina. He was the problem. The father. The pathetic and panic-stricken parent.

  He didn’t know what to do or what to feel.

  ‘Just go to the swimming carnival, Jake,’ Dorothy advised, ‘and let nature take its course.’

  Jake shook his head. That was another thing about women. They were mind-readers. And weirdly perceptive. Look at how Sally had known Alex was his son at a glance. And then there was her knowing he was thinking of starting up his own business. How had she guessed that? Maybe the whole sex was in league with the devil.

  ‘Stop thinking about yourself and your feelings,’ Dorothy said sternly. ‘Think about Angelina for a change. And what she’s been through. Much more of a challenge than anything you’ve ever faced. Being solely responsible for looking after and bringing up a child is a massive job. She might have had her father for support but I doubt he was such a great help with the day-to-day problems of child-rearing. She did it all by herself, Jake. And she did a wonderful job by the sounds of things. The reason you’ve fallen in love with her is not just because she’s physically beautiful. You’ve had oodles of good-looking girls before. It’s because she’s a beautiful person, with character and spirit. And you know what? I think she loves you for the same reasons.’