‘Very nice.’ Alex appeared behind her.
Spinning around, a broad smile lighting her face, she bobbed a curtsey. ‘Thank you, kind sir.’ Her eyes roamed over him; dressed in black trousers and a black knit polo shirt he looked so vibrantly masculine she wanted to reach out and touch him, and he knew it.
His brown eyes darkened. ‘I could give golf a miss and we could, perhaps, find something more interesting to do. Does the notion appeal?’
Any other day Lisa would have said yes, but not today. She was meeting Jed in London and they only had three hours together—not much for five years of friendship.
‘Jake would never forgive you standing him up, and I have to meet my friend in London,’ she said with a rueful smile.
‘Forget I asked,’ Alex drawled lightly. But his eyes glittered hard as they flicked over her. ‘How are you getting there? I don’t want you driving into London on your own. Get Bert to take you.’
‘There’s no need. I’m driving to the station and taking the train.’
‘So be it,’ he said curtly, and left.
What had rattled his cage? she wondered with a frown as she followed him downstairs a few moments later. Alex had been angry last week when he’d returned from golf. This week he was mad before he started! For a sport that was supposed to be relaxing it didn’t seem to do much for Alex. Still, it was not her problem, though she winced as she heard the screech of tyres on the gravel drive…
The taxi stopped outside a large building, left over from the era of the grand London townhouses. This one had been converted into a modest hotel. Paying the driver, Lisa leapt out of the cab and ran up the steps. She walked between the two massive columns that supported the portico and into the hotel’s foyer, and glanced around with interest. To one side was the reception desk, and in front a grand staircase, a couple of sofas and a table with a few magazines on display, across the wide hall an arch opened into a lounge bar. She still couldn’t quite believe she was going to meet Jed in the flesh. She had his photo, and all his confidences, but meeting him after so long was a thrill.
Excited anticipation put a spring in her step as she walked into the lounge bar and glanced around. Apart from the barman, it was empty.
‘Lisa, is that you?’ a deep voice enquired, with a noticeable American drawl.
She turned, and a broad grin split her face. ‘Jed!’ She recognised him immediately—looking older than in his photo, and totally out of place next to the shabby but comfortable very English décor. He was tall, long-legged and narrow-hipped, his faded blue jeans fitting him like a second skin and his half-unbuttoned shirt seemed to be straining the remaining buttons over his massive muscular chest. His attractive face was tanned a deep golden brown, and was in sharp contrast to his sun-streaked blond hair. But it was his eyes that really captured Lisa’s attention. Deep sapphire-blue, with a light of such piercing brilliance in their depths, they reflected a tenderness that could not be disguised.
For long moments they simply stared at each other.
‘Damn, but you’re beautiful enough to make a man change his mind, Lisa.’ A deep tide of red surged up Jed’s face. ‘Sorry for the language.’
Lisa chuckled. Though a year older than her, it was good to know Jed could still blush. ‘No apology needed,’ she said, with a broad smile that illuminated her whole face. ‘And you look like a cowboy,’ she added, having noticed his boots.
Two great arms curved around her and swung her off her feet, and a deep chuckle rumbled from the bottom of his chest.
She clasped his neck and he gave her a great bear hug, before setting her back on her feet. ‘A part-time cowboy, as you know.’ He grinned down into her face, still holding her. Staring into each other’s eyes, a look of complete understanding passed between the two of them.
‘You have no idea how much your friendship means to me,’ Lisa said, suddenly serious, her blue eyes filling with tears of joy.
His blond head bent and he pressed the lightest of kisses on the curve of her cheek. ‘It works both ways. Without your support and understanding, I would never have got this far.’
Neither of them saw the tall, dark man standing in the archway observing the tender scene, but suddenly all hell broke loose.
Lisa stood rooted to the spot as Jed’s arms fell from her waist and he went flying backwards in a blur of movement, to land flat on his back a few feet away. Caught off balance, he’d had no chance. Lisa stared in horror, at Jed’s assailant: Alex! His dark eyes gleamed like the coals of Hades in the blank mask of his face as he stood over the floored Jed.
Galvanised into action, Lisa dropped to her knees beside her friend and tenderly brushed the hair from his brow. ‘Are you okay? I’m sorry, so sorry.’
‘Hush.’ Jed managed a grin, and, leaning up on his elbows he added ‘I’m fine.’
‘How touching,’ Alex grated, his lips drawn back against his teeth in a malevolent sneer. ‘My wife and her boyfriend in a seedy hotel for a seedy affair.’ He took a step forward, towards Jed.
Lisa, shaking with fury, leapt to her feet and grabbed Alex’s arm, terrified he was going to grab Jed again. ‘You great brute!’ She didn’t know how Alex had got here, or why. And she didn’t care. ‘Are you mad?’ she demanded, her blue eyes flashing fire.
‘Look, buddy you’ve got it all wrong. Let me explain,’ Jed said, trying to cool the situation.
Alex turned to look down at the younger man, his black eyes pitiless. ‘You want her, you’re welcome to her.’ And, turning on his heel, he walked out.
The colour drained from Lisa’s face. She could not believe what had just happened. She closed her eyes and shook her head.
She felt the warmth of a protective arm around her shoulders and sagged against Jed, who was now back on his feet. ‘Are you okay, Lisa?’ Jed’s husky tones got through to her.
Lisa turned her head to look up into his face and gasped, lifting her hand to stroke along his cheekbone, where the swelling was already evident. ‘I should be asking you that. I can’t begin to apologise.’ She shuddered again at the image of Alex grabbing hold of Jed.
‘Shh. It’s okay. It takes more than that to anger me. My brothers have tried for years to get me going and failed.’
Lisa’s lips quirked in a tiny smile; she knew what Jed meant.
‘I guess that was your husband. Pity you didn’t have time to introduce me; he seems quite a man,’ Jed observed laconically.
‘More beast,’ Lisa answered, a desolation in her voice that she could not hide as the full horror of what had happened sank into her mind.
‘Don’t be too harsh on the guy. He loves you; that much is obvious,’ Jed sighed. ‘I guess this is the end of our meeting. You better go after him.’
‘Go after him? Never,’ Lisa said adamantly, her shock giving way to righteous anger. ‘He had no right to follow me, and no right to call me names, and he most definitely had no right to grab you, the savage swine that he is.’
‘He was jealous, Lisa, give the guy a break. It’s not all his fault. Did you tell him you were meeting me?’ Jed asked quietly.
‘I told him I was meeting a friend in London.’ The more Lisa thought about it, the angrier she got.
‘Anger is a waste of emotion, Lisa. And, be honest, did you actually tell him you were meeting a man?’
‘Since when did you become my conscience, Jed?’ she queried with a wry grin.
He grinned back, but didn’t answer the question. ‘He’s your husband. Go after him and explain.’
She looked up into Jed’s handsome face, so open and honest. ‘No, Jed, this afternoon is for us. I don’t know why or how Alex appeared like he did. But he is not going to spoil our afternoon together.’ And, clasping his hand in hers, she added, ‘It’s a glorious day. We are going to have our walk in Hyde Park, sit in the Italian Gardens and take a boat on the Serpentine; everything I promised you.’
‘If you’re sure, Lisa.’ The expression on Jed’s young face was incredibly
grave. ‘But promise me when you get home you will explain to your husband the truth—that we’re friends, nothing more.’
Lisa felt overwhelmingly protective of this man she had met for the first time today. She knew Jed had not a cynical or nasty thought in his head, money didn’t interest him, only people, and he would never understand a ruthless predator of a man like Alex.
‘Of course I will, Jed, and don’t worry. Alex and I will be laughing about this by dinnertime.’ Forcing a brilliant smile to her lips, she tightened her fingers around his calloused palm. ‘Now, come on, cowboy, you can watch the horse riders on Rotten Row and tell me how they compare to Montana.’
At six in the evening, Jed helped her onto the train. She turned and leant out of the window, and brushed a gentle kiss on his tanned brow. ‘Till the next time, Jed.’
His brilliant blue eyes glistened with something remarkably like tears. ‘I’ve had a wonderful afternoon, Lisa. Never mind the rocky start. Know that I will always be there for you.’ The guard sounded his whistle and the train moved off… Lisa waved until the platform was out of sight.
CHAPTER TEN
LISA stepped reluctantly out of her BMW just as the heavens opened. She walked up the stone steps to the front door to her home and got thoroughly soaked in the process. Great! Just great… That was all she needed.
It was only her promise to Jed to explain their relationship to Alex that had brought her back to Stoneborough tonight. Was she destined to be a fool all her life where Alex was concerned? She had forgiven his escapades with Margot and Nigel. She had even convinced herself he loved her. But his behaviour with Jed had finally shown her the truth. Alex did not love her.
How and why he had followed her today, she had no idea. But he was not talking his way out of this latest episode, she vowed silently. Much as she loved him, she had no intention of being a doormat for any man. Her pride would not let her. With her dress plastered to her body by the rain, she pushed open the front door and walked into the hall. She didn’t see Alex until he spoke.
‘I’m amazed you had the nerve to come back. Like living dangerously, do you?’
Her head lifted, he was striding towards her, wearing the same black pants and shirt he had donned for golf that morning. He looked incredibly sexy, and a wayward leap of her pulse told her she was not immune to him. But whatever game Alex had been playing today it certainly had not been golf…
Dropping her purse on the hall table, she shrugged. ‘I live here, and I need to change.’ A confrontation with Alex was inevitable, but not yet. Because she knew if she did confront him now, her anger would get the better of her and she would say something she might regret. Brushing past him, she headed for the stairs, but he was faster than her and blocked her way.
‘Don’t you walk away from me!’ he bit.
That was the last straw for Lisa. No way was any man going to talk to her like that, especially not an arrogant devil like Alex. She flung her head back, her blue eyes spitting fury. ‘Get out of my way, you great brute, you Neanderthal numbskull,’ she raged, swiping at him but missing, as he caught her flailing hand.
‘A Neanderthal? A brute, am I? You dare to call me names?’ An expression of cold derision tautened his handsome face. ‘This from a woman who has spent the afternoon in the arms of her toyboy.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous! Jed is not a toyboy; he’s a year older than me,’ she snapped.
‘And that makes your betrayal all right?’ Alex enquired silkily.
‘Betrayal?’ she threw back, her eyes warring angrily with his. ‘That’s rich, coming from you. I went to meet an old friend, and what happens? You appear like some demented dervish, knock him flat, and whirl off. And I am in the wrong? Oh please…’
‘What kind of fool do you take me for?’ Alex rasped.
‘The kind of sneaky, devious fool who spies on his wife because he thinks everyone’s morals are as low as his own,’ Lisa shot back hotly. ‘The kind who conveniently forgets to retrieve the key of his apartment from his mistress.’ She was on a roll and could not stop; she was so incensed by the injustice of Alex’s attitude. ‘The kind of man who thinks the only relationship between a man and a woman must be carnal.’
His hand released hers to snake around her waist and bend her back over his arm before she had a chance to move. He captured her mouth in a ravishing kiss. His mouth searched, teased and tormented with a devastating thoroughness, until she whimpered in despair at her own frailty and lifted her hands to cling to his broad shoulders.
‘What happened Lisa?’ he demanded softly, his mouth close to her lips and brushing sensuously over their swollen fullness. ‘Tell me?’ He kissed her eyelids and the small curve of her ear, and her hands with a will of their own slid from his shoulders to his nape, twining in his silky black hair. His kiss, his caresses plunged her into a sensual sea of need, which overrode all her good intentions.
His dark head lifted. ‘No answer?’ Lisa stared up at him in frustrated desire, not able to trust herself to respond.
‘After cyber sex with your boyfriend, the physical reality a bit of a letdown was it?’ Alex demanded mockingly. ‘The young man not quite as experienced in the flesh, as you would have liked?’
The import of his words hit her like blows to the heart. She could not believe he could be so cruel. She stared at him. His dark eyes were as cold and hard as a block of ice. Her hands fell from his shoulders, her fingers curling into her palms, her nails digging into her flesh as she fought to control the agony of frustrated desire. What was it about him that made him irresistible to her? While she was tormented by aching passion, he was as contained and remote as Antarctica. A frozen waste—a very apt description of their marriage.
‘You’re disgusting,’ Lisa said in a raw voice, but, worse, she disgusted herself.
His arm fell from her waist and he stepped back. ‘Liar.’ His smile mocked her, his narrow-eyed gaze triumphant. ‘I could take you now…’
Lisa went red, then white. It was one insult too many. She stared at him with bitter, hostile eyes. Tall, dark and strikingly handsome, but she must have been mad to imagine she had loved him. He didn’t deserve to be loved.
‘You’re a stunningly sexy woman, Lisa, but I have never taken another man’s leavings and I am not going to start now. I may have married you, but that is easily remedied.’ He cast her one long, derisory glance. ‘Pack your bags. I want you out of here within the hour. Anything you leave can be sent on to Stratford. My lawyer will be in touch next week. Personally, I never want to set eyes on you again.’ Spinning on his heel, he crossed the hall into his study, slamming the door behind him.
Shock held her rigid. She squeezed her eyes tightly closed. Alex was throwing her out. The arrogance, the sheer hypocrisy of the man took the breath from her body. For a second rage engulfed her. She took a step towards the study, and then stopped. Alex was not about to listen to anything she had to say, and, in all honesty, she no longer had any desire to explain about Jed.
Alex did not love her, and never would. He was not capable of the emotion. Let him think she had betrayed him with Jed. He would anyway. This way at least she kept her pride. He would never know how much she loved him.
Several weeks later Lisa sat at her desk, fingering the pile of mail the office junior had just delivered. The recent past had taken its toll on her fresh-faced beauty: Her golden tan had faded, and deep purple shadows framed her large blue eyes.
Lisa picked up the first letter, a bill, and dropped it in her in tray. Opening the next letter, she scanned it, her eyes widening in horror. As a major shareholder in Lawson Designer Glass she was requested to attend an extraordinary board meeting called by Xela Properties—in the other words, Alex—on Friday the twenty-third of September. The subject for discussion was the future direction the company should take. The meeting was scheduled for twelve noon in a private suite at a local hotel.
Lisa read the name and blanched. The same hotel in which her wedding reception had
been held. She dropped the document on the desk and let her head fall back on the slender column of her neck, closing her eyes. Why was she surprised? She had been waiting for the axe to fall for weeks. Though she would not have believed one man could be so unrelentingly vindictive.
Moisture glazed her eyes, and she blinked hard. She was not shedding another tear for Alex Solomos. When he had thrown her out she had returned to live with Harold. The first night her anger had kept her going—but by the next she had cried herself to sleep. On the following Tuesday she had swallowed her pride and telephoned Alex at Stoneborough, only to be told by Mrs Blaydon he did not wish to speak to her, and all further communication between them must be conducted through his lawyer, Mr Niarchos.
Lisa had heard nothing more until a week later, when she had received divorce papers in the post. But once she’d read the divorce petition, she’d seen red… Any last lingering hope of reconciliation had vanished from her mind. All her old feisty spirit had returned… No way was she letting Alex get away with naming Jed Gallagher as the co-respondent in their divorce. If he wanted to play dirty, Lisa vowed she would do the same. She had instructed Mr Wilkinson to cross-petition, citing Margot. There had been an ominous silence ever since.
Wearily, Lisa brushed a few stray strands of hair from her brow, and looked once more at the document in front of her. Even knowing it was only a matter of time before Alex would make a move to dismiss her and put his own plan into action, it had still come as a shock. Alex had won. But then she had been naive to think she’d had a chance against the man. He was an arrogant, merciless adversary, a powerful man who always got what he wanted, and she should have recognised it the night she met him.
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