Stormy Relationship

by Margaret Mayo

  ‘I think,’ said Hannah, keeping her voice level with great difficulty, ‘that what Jordan does is up to him. But if it will please you, I doubt whether he’ll ask me out again.’

  Riva’s bright red lips drew back in a cat-like smile. ‘I’m not surprised you failed to please him. You’re really not his type. I wonder he wasted his time on you.’

  Her tone hurt, but Hannah allowed the glimmer of a smile. What would the blonde say if she knew that she had been the one to do the rejecting? ‘I’ll tell Mr Quest you’re here,’ she said.

  His deep, resonant voice barked into the phone when Hannah rang through, but despite his treatment of her it still had the power to quiver along her nerves.

  ‘Miss March is here,’ she said coolly.

  ‘Send her in, Mrs Carpenter, and bring along two coffees as well.’

  The ‘Mrs Carpenter’ hurt, and when she took in their drinks a little while later it hurt still more to see Riva March withdrawing from his arms, a ‘cat who’d stolen the cream’ smile on her face.

  ‘Thank you, Mrs Carpenter, just put them down there, and see to it that I’m not disturbed for the next hour,’ Jordan ordered.

  Hannah clenched her teeth, and although she did not want to look at him their eyes somehow met. She felt a tingle start from the top of her spine and run all the way down her back. There was challenge in his eyes-it was as if he was testing her, trying to see what effect his relationship with Riva had on her. For a stormy few seconds she held his gaze, but was determined not to give anything away. She eyed him quite coolly and calmly, then swung on her heel and left the room.

  It was well over an hour before his door opened again, and during that time Hannah immersed herself in her work, trying not to think about Jordan, trying to concentrate totally on the job in hand. It was almost impossible. She kept wondering what they were doing. Although it was lunchtime she had no appetite for her own sandwiches, and it was most unusual for Jordan not to go out, or at least send for some sandwiches himself. It was obvious he was having lunch of an entirely different kind.

  Hannah’s eyes followed them across the room, then she wished she hadn’t been watching when Riva put her arms around his neck and gave him a lingering goodbye kiss. ‘I’ll see you tonight, Jordan darling,’ she purred.

  His reply was too low for Hannah to hear, but there was a pleased smile on his face when he made his way back into his own office.

  Half-past four could not come quickly enough for Hannah. Why, when she did not want Jordan herself, was she fuelled with jealousy because he was seeing another woman? It did not make sense. Her thoughts were still full of Jordan and Riva when she walked out of the building, and she did not see the man standing outside until she almost cannoned into him. ‘Drew!’ she exclaimed in surprise. ‘What are you doing here?’

  ‘Waiting for you,’ came the startling reply.

  ‘Me?’ she frowned. ‘What do you want with me?’

  He grinned. ‘I want to take you out. I don’t see why my brother should have all the fun.’

  ‘Oh, Drew, I can’t,’ she said sorrowfully. ‘I have my son to look after.’

  ‘You managed to find someone to watch him when you went out with Jordan,’ he pointed out.

  ‘Yes,’ she admitted ruefully, ‘but―well, I can’t do that too often.’

  ‘Can’t or won’t?’ he asked. ‘Come on, Hannah, you’re not being fair. Find yourself a baby-sitter and we’ll paint the town red.’

  His irrepressible grin was very much in evidence, and Hannah could not help smiling at his enthusiasm. Actually she thought she might like to go out with him. He was good fun, he made her laugh and feel carefree. She did not feel any pressures as she did with Jordan. ‘Perhaps one day,’ she agreed.

  But ‘one day’ was not good enough for Drew. ‘How about tomorrow? Come on, Hannah, be a sport. We’ll go to Shady’s nightclub. You’ll like it there. They have a casino where we can—’

  ‘No, Drew,’ interrupted Hannah firmly. ‘I don’t have money to throwaway―and nor do you now you’re out of work.’

  He grinned cheekily. ‘I will have soon.’

  ‘You’ve got another job?’ she asked, pleased.

  ‘No, I haven’t, and I don’t need one,’ he told her grandly. ‘I’m about to inherit a fortune. I’m going to be a rich man, Hannah. I need never work again. So how about it-are you going to come out with me tomorrow night?’

  Still she shook her head. ‘I don’t think so. A casino isn’t the sort of place I’d enjoy.’

  ‘Then what do you enjoy? I’ll take you for a meal, anything, so long as you’ll come out with me. You’re surely not waiting for Jordan to ask you again? He’s hardly likely to do that, he spends most of his spare time with Riva March―you must have met her?’

  Hannah nodded. ‘We’ve met,’ she answered crisply.

  ‘And you’re no more enamoured of her than I am,’ he concluded. ‘But my dear brother thinks very differently. He’s been going out with her for simply ages. I wouldn’t be surprised if a wedding wasn’t on the cards.’

  Hannah felt her heart stop and miss a beat. It was as she had thought. But why had Jordan lied? ‘He told me he didn’t think very much of her,’ she said.

  ‘He’s always saying that,’ Drew told her easily, ‘but he still goes on seeing her. Have you changed your mind now? Will you let me take you out?’

  But Hannah’s answer was still no. She wanted neither of these Quest brothers to become a part of her life.

  ‘At least let me take you home,’ he said.

  Drew met her from the office the following two afternoons. Always he asked her to go out with him, and always she refused. Although she was tempted she had a feeling he might get serious, and that was the last thing she wanted.

  Yvonne Howard was intrigued by yet another man in her neighbour’s life, and did not altogether believe Hannah when she told her that Drew was nothing more than a friend. She had tried to pump her about what had gone wrong with Jordan, but Hannah had kept silent. She was never one to discuss her problems with other people, preferring to keep her private affairs private.

  Jordan still continued to treat her like a robot never letting her know by even the blink of an eyelid what his feelings were. Until Thursday! Without Hannah being aware of it he left the office building a few seconds after her, and when he saw her stepping into his brother’s car, her face wreathed in smiles, his expression turned to one of fury. He yanked the door open and caught hold of her arm.

  ‘What the hell is all this about?’ he demanded loudly.

  ‘I’m giving Hannah a lift home, that’s what,’ answered Drew. ‘And it’s none of your business.’

  Jordan’s frown was deep and livid. ‘How long has this been going on?’ And still he did not let Hannah go.

  ‘There’s nothing going on, old boy,’ retorted Drew. ‘I feel sorry for Hannah having to walk, it’s as simple as that. If you weren’t so busy making your millions you’d probably have seen for yourself that she has no car.’

  ‘Less of the lip, Drew,’ snarled Jordan, and to Hannah, ‘Get out, I’ll take you.’

  She felt like a mouse being fought over by two birds of prey, not knowing which way to turn.

  ‘I said, get out!’ he rasped when she hesitated, and without more ado he hauled her wholesale out of the car. ‘Now get going,’ he rapped at Drew, ‘and I don’t want you pestering Hannah again. Is that clear?’

  ‘He wasn’t pestering me,’ protested Hannah. ‘He was simply being kind.’

  ‘Shut up!’ Jordan thrust savagely.

  Drew frowned and began to get out of his car to defend her, but Hannah said quickly, ‘Please, Drew, it’s all right.You’d better go.’

  ‘If he so much as lays a finger on you, I'll—’

  ‘Jordan won’t hurt me,’ she said softly, hoping it was true.

  ‘Now,’ said Jordan, marching her to his car, ‘I think you have some explaining to do.’

  ‘I don’t
think so,’ she said tightly, sliding reluctantly inside as he opened the door. ‘What I do is none of your business.’

  ‘It’s very much my business when it concerns you and my brother,’ he retorted. He slammed the door and strode round to the other side, leaping in and starting the engine. ‘Charming he might be, but he’s far too weak for someone like you.’ He let in the clutch and the car shot forward. ‘How long has this been going on?’

  Hannah shrugged. ‘Just this week.’

  A muscle tensed in his jaw. ‘And knowing Drew I can’t believe he’d settle for something as simple as giving you a lift home. How much time do you spend together?’

  ‘None!’ exclaimed Hannah.

  ‘I don’t believe you.’

  She lifted her shoulders. ‘It’s true, whether you believe it or not. He has asked me out, I’ll admit that, but I’ve never gone. You know how I feel about leaving Daniel.’

  ‘You mean that if it wasn’t for your son you might have accepted his invitation?’ His thick brows beetled over eyes that were thunderously dark and angrily suspicious. ‘Are my first misgivings confirmed? Do you prefer him to me?’

  ‘I prefer no one,’ she protested. ‘I admit I find Drew very easy to get on with. He accepts me as I am and doesn’t want anything that I’m not prepared to give. But I’m not ready for another relationship, not with Drew, you or anyone. Why don’t you believe me?’

  She stole a glance at his grim profile as he negotiated an island, his gear-changes quick and jerky, nothing at all like his normal smooth, relaxed style of driving. The taut angles of his face made her shiver, yet she did not see why he should be so viciously angry. He was acting like a jealous man, which did not entirely add up when all he wanted from her was her body.

  ‘Because that’s not the way it looks.’ He finally answered her question. ‘When you’re with me you hold something back, but with my brother you’re a different person. I asked you this before, is he the type you prefer?’

  Hannah shook her head, her lips twisted in exasperation. ‘There is no type. I’m happy the way I am, just me and Danny.’

  ‘And your memories,’ he thrust caustically.

  She shrugged. ‘Is that a sin?’

  ‘It’s unhealthy.’

  ‘I’m very loyal to the man I love.’ She wished he would understand, wished he would accept that she was fighting a hard battle. When you belonged body and soul to a man it was difficult to let go of the memories.

  Jordan slammed the brakes on so suddenly outside the flats that she was jerked forward, but there was no hint of an apology, and Hannah quickly unfastened her seatbelt and scrambled out.

  Her legs were trembling as she made her way upstairs and she prayed Yvonne had not noticed Jordan’s car. She did not want to have to answer questions about the two brothers. But her prayers were in vain.

  ‘Wasn’t that Jordan who dropped you off?’ asked her neighbour at once.

  Hannah nodded.

  ‘So what’s going on? Honestly, Hannah, I’m dying of curiosity, and you never tell me a thing!’

  ‘There’s nothing to tell.’ Hannah shrugged. ‘Jordan was coming this way and gave me a lift, that’s all.’

  ‘That’s all?’ There was a knowing smile on the older woman’s face. ‘You must have patched up your differences―I’m so pleased. He’s perfect for you.’

  Hannah shook her head. ‘Yvonne, you know as well as I do that I don’t want another man in my life. Jordan’s my boss and that’s all there is to it. Besides, he has a girlfriend. Come on, Danny, we must let Mrs Howard go to work.’

  Yvonne looked disappointed, but wisely kept silent. Daniel, however, had no such compunction. ‘Why didn’t you ask Mr Quest to come in, Mummy? He could play with my trains. It’s been ages since I saw him.’

  ‘Mr Quest is a very busy man, Danny, I’ve told you that before.’

  ‘I think you don’t like him any more.’

  Hannah was astounded that he had reached such a decision.

  ‘You won’t let me talk about him,’ Daniel went on. ‘You always start talking about something else.’

  ‘That’s true, Danny,’ she said quietly, ‘but it’s not because I don’t like him, it’s because he has no part to play in our lives. I don’t want you getting too fond of him.’

  ‘Won’t he ever take us out again?’

  ‘No, I don’t think so.’

  ‘That’s not fair! I love him, I want him to come and play with me. He’s lots of fun. Don’t you love him, Mummy?’

  Hannah felt a surge of warmth go through her at so candid a question. Her feelings for Jordan were certainly not love, but she did not know what they were. A strong liking perhaps, a physical attraction, but that was about all.

  ‘Of course I don’t love him,’ she said. ‘I love your daddy.’

  ‘But Daddy’s not here any more.’ A tear traced a course down his cheek. ‘How can you love him when he’s not here? I want a new daddy, I want Mr Quest to be my daddy!’

  She gathered Daniel into her arms. ‘Darling, that’s not possible and you know it. Please don’t cry. Perhaps one day I’ll find another man to love, but not yet. I still love your daddy too much.’

  He struggled free and ran into his room, and Hannah knew it was best to leave him. She did not like to see him upset, but there was little or nothing she could do about it. She could not love Jordan Quest to order. And besides, he didn’t love her, it was all a game he was playing. Any sort of union had to be a two-way affair.

  The next morning Jordan called her into his office the moment she arrived. ‘I’ve been talking to Drew,’ he said without preamble. ‘He told me that he can’t get anywhere with you―even though he’s tried.’ These last words were hissed through closed teeth.

  She eyed him coolly. ‘You’ll accept his word though you wouldn’t accept mine? Is that what you’re trying to tell me? I don’t find that very flattering.’

  ‘He’s nearer your age, he’s good-looking, he’s easygoing―what was I to think?’

  ‘Who knows what goes on in a mind like yours?’ she retaliated sharply.

  ‘He also mentioned that he’s told you about his inheritance.’

  She nodded.

  ‘That was an unwise thing for him to do.’

  ‘Why?’ she frowned. ‘Because you think I might find him more interesting now that he’s wealthy in his own right?’ It was just the sort of conclusion he would draw.

  Jordan snorted derisively. ‘I don’t think you’d be that foolish, but it’s wrong of Drew to go around telling people something that’s not strictly true.’

  ‘You mean there is no inheritance?’ queried Hannah.

  ‘Oh, yes,’ he confirmed, ‘but it’s not money as Drew presumes, it’s property―a whole estate, in fact. And if he thinks he can sell it to make money so that he won’t have to work again, he’s mistaken.’

  There was a toughness to his tone that made Hannah look at him in surprise. ‘Can you stop him?’ she asked.

  ‘I’m his trustee until he’s thirty―although he doesn’t know that yet. The will is being read tomorrow. My aunt loved him dearly despite his reckless ways, and I think she hoped the responsibility would be the making of him. I personally have my doubts.’

  The phone rang at that moment, making further conversation impossible, and Hannah returned to her own office. She could not help wondering what Drew would say when he discovered that Jordan was his trustee and there was no actual money.

  They were so different, these two brothers, their outlook on life at complete odds to one another. Drew would make a good friend, she knew that, a cheerful companion to lift her out of herself and make her laugh. Jordan, on the other hand, was beginning to get through to both the emotional and physical side of her. There were times when she found herself thinking about him and not Roger, and she felt very guilty when she did so. It still seemed far too soon to show an interest in another man. She had never thought that she would, had never wanted to; it was
happening against her will.

  Saturday was the same as any other Saturday: shopping, washing, cleaning, ironing. Hannah always tried to do all her work in one day so that she could devote the whole ‘of Sunday to Daniel. They usually managed to go out somewhere, even if it was only a bus ride to a local beauty spot. But on Sunday morning he awoke complaining of a sore throat and he seemed to be running a temperature, so she gave him some aspirin and kept him in bed.

  On Monday he was no better, and she sent for the doctor, who diagnosed tonsillitis and prescribed a course of antibiotics. She telephoned Jordan and told him that she would not be at work until he was better. It was the first time she had ever needed to take time off.