THE VIRGIN'S SEDUCTION

by Anne Mather

  Which wasn't easy on an island as small as San Felipe.

  Jake had actually seen her several times, but always from a distance. He didn't want to admit it, but even after all that had happened she was seldom out of his thoughts, and seeing her, even from fifty yards away, was becoming as necessary to him as breathing.

  That was why he'd prevailed upon the good-natured head teacher of the school to offer her the job in the first place. In actual fact there'd been no job as such, although according to Mrs Rodrigues Eve was proving a definite asset. Her arrival had enabled class sizes to be reduced, and, having worked in an English school, she was able to offer the most up-to-date methods of teaching.

  'Jake! Are you there?'

  His mother's voice called from above, and after bestowing an apologetic look in Dan Cassidy's direction,

  Jake moved to the foot of the stairs.

  'Yeah, I'm here,' he said, and, realising she wouldn't be happy conducting a conversation from this distance, he gripped the rail and started up. 'Is everything okay?' 'Yes. Why wouldn't it be?' To his relief, she'd taken

  off her shoes in deference to the white-painted deck and was presently seated in the pilothouse, her legs raised to rest comfortably on the dark blue leather seats. 'So this is the new addition to the fleet?'

  'It is.' Jake reached the open doorway, propped a shoulder against the frame and folded his arms. 'Do you like it?'

  His mother shrugged her shoulders in a careless gesture.

  Despite being brought up in Massachusetts, where sailing was practically a way of life, she'd never been interested in boats. Her trim five-feet-two-inch frame was more at home on the golf course, or at the wheel of her Mercedes coupe, which was why Jake was surprised to see her here, apparently showing some interest in his job.

  'It's very nice,' she said, and Jake pulled a wry face at the unenthusiastic description.

  'Damned with faint praise,' he said drily. 'Okay. So that's not why you're here.'

  'Well, no.' Lucy Romero swung her legs to the floor and smoothed the skirt of her cream silk suit over her

  knees. Then she smiled up at him. 'We haven't seen you for some time. I was wondering if you were all right, actually.'

  Jake managed a forced laugh. 'You're kidding, right? I see Dad practically every day.'

  'At the office or here,' she said dismissively. 'You haven't been over for dinner in weeks.'

  Jake shrugged. 'I've been busy.'

  'Doing what, exactly? Your father tells me you spend most of your evenings on your own. When was the last time you accepted an invitation to a party? How long is it since you've seen your brother and his wife? I'll tell you—months!'

  'I didn't realise you were keeping tabs on my movements,' said Jake a little tersely, straightening from his

  lounging position and walking towards the bank of instruments at the front of the cabin. 'I'm not twenty-one

  any more. Mom.'

  'What's that supposed to mean?'

  'Think about it. The last time you got involved in my affairs I ended up married to Holly Bernstein.' He glanced at her over his shoulder. 'Enough said?'

  'Holly was a lovely girl.'

  'But not for me,' said Jake flatly. 'No matter how much you and her mother tried to keep us together. Holly was an airhead, Mom. I've got no time for women like that.'

  'Haven't you?' His mother sounded snappish now.

  'Well, perhaps not recently, no. But from what I hear they used to be the only women you did have time for.'

  Jake sighed. 'Perhaps that's because they don't expect more than I'm prepared to give them?' He shook his head.

  'Leave it, Mom. I'm happy the way I am.'

  'Are you?' She looked doubtful. Then, her eyes dropping the length of his lean frame, she added, 'You've lost weight.'

  Jake groaned. 'Mom!'

  'Well, all your father and 1 want is for you to be happy.'

  'Then leave me alone.'

  'I can't do that.' She caught her lower lip between her teeth. 'Come for dinner tomorrow evening. Please, Jake. I'll get Rosa to make your favourite meringue dessert.' He turned to rest against the chart desk. 'You don't give up, do you?'

  'Would you want me to?'

  Jake gave her a wry smile. 'I guess not.'

  'So you'll come?'

  'Do I have a choice?'

  'Oh, good.' His mother got up from the banquette and came to give him a hug. 'Shall we say—seven o'clock?'

  Jake frowned. 'That rounds awfully formal. This isn't a dinner party, is it?'

  'Just one or two friends,' said Lucy innocently. 'Now, you can't back out, Jake. You've said you'll come and

  I'm holding you to it.'

  Eve heaved a deep breath and surveyed her appearance in the bathroom mirror without enthusiasm. The little black dress that her grandmother had bought her, which had looked so good back in England, had looked totally out of place here. Which was why she'd been obliged to splash out on an alternative. But now that she had no choice except to wear what she'd bought, she was definitely having misgivings. What did one wear to a dinner party in San Felipe? Particularly one where Jake Romero might be present?

  She shivered. She'd gone with the simple ivory silk jersey that the salesgirl in town had assured her was perfect for the occasion, but now she wasn't so sure. It seemed too low cut, it showed too much of her arms, of her body, and it was definitely too short. The only thing she liked was the gold chain-link belt that circled her hips. It might divert attention from the rounded curve of her bottom, but she doubted it. She should have stuck with the long-sleeved grey sheath she'd chosen to begin with.

  She sighed. She wasn't sure about her hairstyle either. Despite Isabel's assurances that long hair simply wasn't practical in this climate, having it cut at all had been a stretch. It was still long enough to put in a ponytail for school, but tonight she'd left it loose, and it was odd having its heavy weight swinging against her cheeks.

  Still, Isabel had been enthusiastic, and as she and Mrs Rodrigues' daughter had become friends in recent weeks Eve hadn't liked to disappoint her by voicing her doubts.

  And there was no question that it was cooler this way.

  She just wished she'd never been offered an invitation to the Romeros' villa in the first place.

  It wasn't as if Jake had anything to do with it. She hadn't laid eyes on him since the evening she'd arrived

  on the island, and from gossip she'd heard around school he'd been keeping a very low profile in recent weeks. She knew he'd been away for part of the time. She'd heard that from one of the workmen who'd arrived to paint and decorate the cottage. On his orders, apparently.

  Evidently he hadn't liked it the way it was.

  No, the reason she was attending this dinner party was because of Mrs Rodrigues. The head teacher and her

  daughter had both been invited, but Mrs Rodrigues had developed a severe cold the day before, and she had prevailed upon Eve to accompany Isabel in her place.

  'I've spoken to Lucy Romero—that's Jake's mother, you know—and she's quite happy for you to join them,'

  Mrs Rodrigues had explained comfortably. 'Besides, you'll enjoy it far more than 1 would.'

  Eve had wanted to say that she wouldn't enjoy it at all, but she couldn't do that. It simply wouldn't be true. She told herself it was because she didn't want to disappoint Mrs Rodrigues or Isabel, but if she was totally honest with herself she'd admit that she was aching to see Jake again.

  Which was ridiculous, of course, but it did account for all the soul-searching she was suffering now.

  A perfunctory knock, followed by Isabel calling her name, heralded her friend's arrival. Eve cast one last look at herself before going out to meet her, determined to find some excuse not to go if Isabel showed any doubts about her appearance.

  But in fact Isabel looked stunned when she saw her.

  Her dark eyes widened with amazement as she took in Eve's appearance, and her, 'Oh—you look nice,' was said in the m
ost half-hearted of tones.

  Eve blew out a breath. 'Do you think so?' she asked anxiously, suddenly realising that, despite what the other girl had said, Isabel's hair was fairly long. She usually wore it coiled in a chignon at her nape, so Eve hadn't realised how long it actually was. But this evening it was loose, an ebony cape over one shoulder, threaded with silver beads to match her long gown.

  'Well, you certainly look different,' Isabel declared now, and Eve wondered if she was only imagining the

  tartness in her voice. 'You're a dark horse, Eve. I'd never have recognised you. Compared to the way you dress for school...'

  'It's not suitable?' Despite a sudden wariness about Isabel's attitude, Eve didn't have the confidence to trust

  her own judgement.

  'I didn't say that.' There was no mistaking the terseness now. Isabel glanced at the jewelled watch on her wrist and clicked her tongue. 'In any case, we've got to go. I don't want to be late.'

  It wasn't the most auspicious way to start the evening, and Eve fretted about what she was doing all the way to the Romero house. Fortunately Isabel had agreed to drive them in her sports car—with the hood up this time, to protect them from the breeze—which meant she had to concentrate on the road instead of her companion. Which suited Eve very well.

  Although Eve had never been to Jake's parents' house, of course, she knew roughly where it was. It occupied a beautiful peninsula of land a couple of miles south of San Felipe. It was set back from the road, behind a hedge of flowering hibiscus, and according to one of the other teachers it was quite a showplace.

  The marina, where the Romeros' charter company had its headquarters, was in town, and Eve had wandered

  along the quay there, admiring the many beautiful yachts at their moorings. She'd worn dark glasses, of course, just in case she'd seen Jake, but she'd never glimpsed anyone who remotely resembled him.

  'Here we are.'

  Isabel was braking hard now, throwing Eve forward as they swept between open wrought-iron gates. A short drive along an avenue of palm trees strung with lights brought them to a forecourt, with an illuminated fountain.

  One or two cars were already parked to one side of the forecourt, in front of a row of garages, and Isabel parked beside them and pulled her keys out of the ignition.

  In other circumstances Eve might have been intimidated, but she was so busy admiring the sprawling

  two-storey villa that she forgot to be alarmed. A wraparound balcony on the first floor would give a

  wonderful view of the sea that lapped at both sides of the peninsula, she thought, and the warm sandstone walls were liberally covered with bougainvillaea and other climbing tropical plants.

  'Impressive, isn't it?' Although Isabel had barely spoken on the journey, she now seemed to remember her

  manners. 'Jake's grandfather built this place just after the first World War.'

  'It's beautiful,' said Eve, getting out of the car and looking about her. Apprehension was gripping her, however.

  'Um—I suppose you know the Romeros very well?'

  'I've known them all my life,' said Isabel, which wasn't quite an answer. But then a white-jacketed steward appeared and she grasped Eve's arm. 'Come along. We're expected.'

  As they climbed shallow stone steps to the entry, Eve wondered if that was true. Isabel was expected, certainly, but who had Mrs Rodrigues said she was sending in her place?

  Whatever, she had no time to worry about that now.

  Even as her eyes were drawn to a lamplit terrace, where a handful of scarlet-cushioned lounge chairs were set amongst a forest of greenery, a dainty blonde-haired woman came out of the double doors to greet them.

  'Isabel!' she exclaimed, reaching for the young woman's hands and drawing her in for an air-kiss beside

  each cheek. 'How lovely to see you again. What a pity your mother couldn't join us, too. I hope she'll feel better soon.'

  'I'm sure she will, Mrs Romero.' Isabel was warmly affable now, no trace of her earlier irritation in her beaming face. 'Oh, and let me introduce you to one of my mother's teachers, Eve Robertson. She came out from England just a few weeks ago.'

  'Ah, yes. I believe I've heard of Miss Robertson.' Eve was taken aback when Jake's mother took her hand and gazed up at her with shrewd, assessing eyes. 'I think my son was instrumental in your being offered the post, Miss Robertson.' She paused. 'Am I right in thinking you got to know one another while he was in London?'

  '1—that's right.' Eve decided there was no point in complicating matters by describing how they'd really met.

  'It was kind of you to invite me, Mrs Romero.' She moistened her dry lips. 'You have a beautiful home.'

  "Thank you. We like it.' Jake mother seemed genuinely pleased with the compliment. 'Well, come and meet the rest of the family. Jake's not here yet, but I'm expecting him to join us very shortly.'

  Grateful for small mercies, Eve followed Isabel and their hostess into a large reception hall that was lit by a

  huge crystal chandelier. Perhaps a dozen other people were standing about in groups, enjoying the Romeros' hospitality. There was music and laughter, and a buzz of small talk that died down significantly when Jake's mother appeared with the two young women.

  A grey-haired man, who had to be Jake's father, joined them, and it was he who introduced Eve to Jake's brother, Michael, and his wife, Julie. Julie was heavily pregnant, but she still looked elegant in a form-fitting satin sheath that skimmed her knees. To Eve's relief, she saw most of the women were wearing short dresses, the men less formal in casual shirts and trousers.

  Julie seemed to take an instant liking to Eve, and when her father-in-law would have moved on, she said, 'I suppose you find island life a little confining, Miss Robertson?' She tucked a strand of dark red hair behind

  her ear as she spoke. 'I know I did when I first came here.'

  'It's—different,' began Eve, but before she could continue Isabel intervened.

  'That's because you're not an islander,' she said dispassionately. 'And if you don't like it you can always go

  back to England.'

  Was that a suggestion or a warning? Eve wondered, as Julie rolled her eyes behind the other woman's back. 'We all know you love San Felipe, Isabel,' she remarked, taking a sip of the mineral water she was drinking. 'But, you know, you're the one who should consider spreading her wings.'

  Isabel's lips tightened, but Jake's brother chose to lighten the mood. 'Do you find teaching a rewarding occupation, Miss Robertson?' he enquired easily. 'I can't imagine having the patience to handle one infant, let alone a handful.'

  'You'd better get used to it,' declared his wife at once, and everyone laughed.

  'Please, call me Eve.' Eve could feel herself relaxing.

  Michael was like his brother in so many ways, but without the sexual edge.

  And then, as Jake's father was handing her the cocktail she'd chosen, she was suddenly aware that someone else had entered the room. She had no reason for the feeling.

  It wasn't as if someone had announced his arrival. But long before she heard Michael greeting his brother she knew that Jake was there.

  She couldn't resist looking over her shoulder at him. It seemed a lifetime since she'd seen him, and knowing he was just across the room brought back all the feelings she'd tried to convince herself she could control.

  She knew at once that she'd been wasting her time. She wasn't going to get Jake Romero out of her system by ignoring him, or by pretending that what had been between them meant nothing to her. She was very much afraid it had gone beyond a mere attraction; she was fallingin love with him. Even the thought of sharing him with another woman was more bearable than never seeing him, never touching him again.

  She caught her breath when their eyes met, and she saw the shock of recognition in his gaze. Obviously his mother hadn't shared her guest list with him, and she wondered if he resented the fact that she was here, in his parents' home.

  She closed her eyes fo
r a moment, taking a deep breath, praying for her palpitating heart to subside. It felt as if a whole river of perspiration was flowing down between her breasts, and her dress was clinging wetly to her spine. Which was ridiculous, considering the room was air-conditioned, but her body seemed to be reacting independently of her brain. Even behind her lids she could see him, so lean and dark and attractive. And so incredibly male.

  She was jolted out of her introspection by hard fingers closing about her upper arm. Opening her eyes, she was hardly surprised to find he'd come to stand beside her, or that his eyes were cool and guarded as they thoroughly appraised her appearance.

  'I suppose this is where I'm supposed to say, What are you doing here?' he said roughly. 'Believe it or not, I

  didn't know you'd been invited. If I had I'd have made some excuse and stayed away.'

  Eve wondered how she was supposed to answer that.

  It would be easy enough to counter his claim with a similar one of her own. But she couldn't do it. 'I didn't know if you'd be here either,' she ventured in a low voice, aware that their conversation was being monitored by other members of the party. 'I—I actually hoped you might be. Do you mind?'

  Jake's fingers dug into her arm for a moment, and when she ventured a look at his face she saw his eyes were glittering with anger. Taking her glass from her unresisting fingers, he dumped it on a table. Then, after offering an apologetic word to those around them, he hustled Eve towards the sliding glass doors that led outside.

  She didn't know what he intended to do. Perhaps this was his way of forcibly ejecting her, she thought, wondering what his parents must be thinking of his behaviour.

  Certainly there was aggression in the way he slammed open the door and pushed her unceremoniously out onto the patio at the back of the house. Then, with the door closed securely behind them, he virtually frog marched her towards an unlit portion of the garden.

  Eve was wearing high heels, and her ankles were aching when he finally called a halt. With a trellis of

  night-flowering honeysuckle between them and any prying eyes that might be watching them from the salon, and only the moon for illumination, he swung her round to face him and said savagely, 'Do you enjoy making a fool of me?'