by Amii Lorin
Wanting to look away but unable to unfasten her eyes from his broad back, a second shiver followed the first when Jud arched his spine and flexed his shoulders. During the morning, while they had been deep into the work, he had shrugged out of his jacket, loosened his tie, and opened the top button of his shirt. Now, the play of muscles under the fine material of his shirt as he stretched, one hand going to massage the back of his neck, sent a shaft of feeling through Anne so intense it robbed her of her breath.
Jerking her eyes away, she forced herself to finish her soup and reach for a piece of sandwich she didn't want.
"Why don't you get up and walk around awhile, Anne?"
Concentrating on eating the unwanted food Anne hadn’t Jud move away from the window and his voice, so close beside her, made her jump.
Impatience laced his tone as he snapped, "For God's sake, will you relax? From the look on your face, anyone walking in right now would think I had hit you."
Anne glanced up as he moved around the desk, his face and body taut with anger. He filled the mugs with coffee, picked up the cream, and raised his brows in question, his hands pausing over the mugs. She nodded as she stood up. "I'm sorry. You startled me, I thought you were still at the window." He handed her one of the mugs without speaking, his eyes, hard and cold, searching her face. Unable to withstand his intent gaze, Anne took the mug with a murmured "thank you" and turned away to retrace his steps to the window.
Anne gulped her coffee, tears stinging her eyes when the hot liquid scorched her mouth. What have I let myself in for? She thought frantically. How can I work with him if every move he makes, every word he utters unnerves me like this?
Jud moved to stand behind her, making deliberate noises as he walked across the room. Even so, when his fingers lightly touched her arm she could not repress a small shiver. He sighed softly, then said quietly, "Anne, look at me."
Anne stiffened, then forcing her unseeing eyes from the parking lot in front of the large factory building, she turned to face him.
"We're never going to be able to work together if you tighten up like this every time I come near you, Anne." Jud's tone was still soft, but a definite firmness underlined his words. "I realize this isn't easy for you, especially after my behavior earlier. But if you intend to stick to your word and stay, you are going to have to push your dislike of me to the back of your mind at least here in the office."
"Jud—" Anne began, but he raised his hand and interrupted, all softness gone now.
"Let me finish. I'm going to be under a lot of pressure during the next few months. Besides the work here I have a number of things on the fire in connection with my clothing business. I'm probably not going to be the easiest man in the world to get along with and I can't have you around if you're going to be this uptight all the time. I've admitted I need your help here, so I'll leave it up to you. If you can't handle it, tell me. If you're going to stay, you'll have to bury your resentment." He paused, his cool eyes raking her face. Then he snapped, "What is it going to be, Anne, go or stay?"
"I told you before I'd stay, Jud. I haven't changed my mind," Anne answered steadily.
"Good." His right hand was held out as he added, "Peace?"
Anne hesitated, then placed her hand in his, felt a tiny shock run up her arm as his hard fingers clasped hers, but managed a calm, "All right, Jud, peace."
The afternoon flew by even faster than the morning had and when Jud's phone buzzed around four thirty Anne was grateful for the opportunity to stretch while Jud answered it. She heard him say, "Who is it, Lorna?" then, "Okay, put it through." Then he held the receiver out to Anne. She gave him a surprised glance, but he didn't say anything, just smiled—mockingly, she thought.
"Hello?" She spoke uncertainly.
"Anne? Is that you, darling?" Andrew's voice came warm over the wire.
"Yes, Andrew. When did you get home?" Somehow Anne infused some warmth of her own into her tone, wondering why it should be so difficult.
"Just now, who answered your phone?"
"Jud's secretary." Anne said without thinking.
"Jud?" Andrew's voice had sharpened. "Jud Cammeron? When did he get back and what's he doing in your office?"
Anne sighed. Of course Andrew wouldn't know about the will and, by the way Jud's face was tightening in anger at the interruption, she couldn't tell Andrew now. Hurriedly she said, "He's not in my office, I'm in his," and looked up to see one white brow arch arrogantly. "I can't talk now, as we're very busy. I'll explain tonight. You are coming for dinner?"
"Yes, but—" he began, but Anne cut him off. "I have to go now, Andrew, see you at the house. Goodbye." Before he could reply, she hung up, sat down at the desk, and picked up the folder she and Jud had been working on.
"So the legal eagle is back," Jud chided smoothly, the very smoothness of his tone irritating. "How nice for you. Now, do you think we could finish this folder before you have to rush home to get ready for him?"
"Jud, really—" Anne began warningly.
"Anne, really," Jud cut in sarcastically but his tone softened. "Okay, I'm sorry for the dig. Tell you what. I promise to be on my best behavior tonight at dinner, if you will."
"What do you mean, if I will?"
"Just what I said. I'll be polite and charming to Andrew, if you'll reciprocate with Lorna."
"Lorna?" Anne repeated, stunned. "Lorna is coming to dinner tonight?"
"Yes."
"But—"
"But nothing," Jud said icily. "I called Margaret this morning and told her. She understood, even if you don't."
Oh, I understand perfectly, Anne thought scathingly, trying to ignore the sudden twist of pain that shot through her chest. What's to understand? A man brings his mistress to town, what else does he do but invite her home to dinner! Oh, God, I feel sick. Why? Before she had to face an answer to that qestion, she rushed into speech.
"Of course I'll be polite to her. Why shouldn't I be?" She hesitated before adding, "She's a very beautiful woman."
"Yes, she is." Hard finality in his tone, cold and flat as his eyes. Unable to maintain that intent stare, Anne turned back to the work on the desk, shocked at the way her fingers were trembling.
* * * *
Sinking into the scented bathwater, Anne sighed wearily. She was tired. It had been a long, emotionally charged day, with Jud not letting up until almost six o'clock. Now, little less than an hour later, Anne wished for nothing more than to lie back in the tub and forget the evening ahead. She couldn't, of course. In fact, she should be downstairs at this moment as Andrew would be arriving any minute.
Sighing again, Anne finished her bath, stepped out of the tub, gave herself a quick, vigorous rub with a large bath towel, and swung around to lift her robe from the hook on the bathroom door. A flashing reflection made her pause, then stop completely to contemplate the nude young woman gazing back at her from the full-length mirror on the door.
Beginning at the top of her head, Anne's eyes critically evaluated the image before her. Her hair, dark and sleek, was cut close to her head on the top and sides, a natural wave giving it a sculptured look. The back was a little longer, turning in softly to caress her neck. The face, to Anne's eyes, though pleasing, held a sad, somewhat wistful look, too thin, too pale, and the eyes seemed enormous, with a vaguely lost expression. Her small frame was slender, too slender. Although Anne admitted it was well formed—the small breasts high and rounded, the waist tiny, the hips and legs smooth and supple, ankles narrow.
Anne's sigh this time was deeper, almost painful. Her head and shoulders sagged and she closed her eyes to shut out the vision before her. The girl in the mirror was pleasing, yes, but hardly competition for the tall, willowy, exquisitely beautiful redhead who would be joining them for dinner.
The thought jerked her upright and eyes wide and incredulous stared back at her. Competition? Why had she thought that? She was in no way in any kind of competition with Lorna or any other woman in connection with Jud, Jud wa
s everything she disliked in a man. Arrogant, ruthless, probably even conceited. Also, probably not above using his blatant good looks to get what he wanted.
A picture of him formed in her mind. She could see him as he'd been at times that afternoon when her answers had not quite satisfied him. He had pushed back his chair impatiently and prowled—prowled, exactly like the lions she had gone to see at the zoo in Philadelphia as a little girl—back and forth, as if trying to wear out the carpet. She had felt breathless and strangely excited by his powerful, masculine, overtly sexy look. Even now, hours later, the memory brought a shallowness to her breathing, a tight ache to the pit of her stomach.
In self-disgust Anne pulled open the bathroom door and hurried along the hall to her bedroom. Quickly, but carefully, she dressed and applied a light makeup, all the while telling herself that Jud Cammeron meant nothing to her. He was a force to be reckoned with, but that was all.
Really? chided a small, amused voice at the very edge of her consciousness. Then why does the mere thought of going down those stairs and entering the living room set your heart thumping into your throat? Swallowing painfully, Anne hesitated, her hand pausing in the act of opening her door.Because, she told that tiny voice, because I'm afraid of him. He is a dangerous adversary who holds my brothers 'futures in the palms of his strong, capable hands. Without warning, he could close those hands into a tight fist and crush all their hopes and plans.
And possibly your spirit as well? the small unrepentant voice asked slyly.
As if fleeing a demon, Anne tore out of the room and down the stairs, forcing herself to slow down as she reached the entrance to the living room.
Andrew was there, and yet the first person her eyes went to was Jud. Good Lord, he was devastating in close-fitting brown corduroys and a tan linen shirt. The clothes, combined with his hair and skin coloring, lent an all-over tawny appearance. A tawny gold man, Anne thought crazily, fighting to control the jumbled sensations eating away at her poise.
"There you are, darling." Andrew's voice, as he came across the room to her, helped restore some of her equilibrium. "I was beginning to think you must have fallen asleep." His tone was light, teasing and as he bent to kiss her he added softly, "I've missed you. Was it very bad? And what's the story with Jud? Your mother seems almost afraid of him."
Anne managed a strained smile and whispered, "I'll explain later, when we're alone. I missed you too."
Thankful for the support of Andrew's hand at her waist, Anne moved into the room, a shaft of dismay sliding through her as her eyes encountered Jud's secretary. The red hair that had been drawn back neatly into a twist at the back of her head during the day had been set free to become a loose, glowing flame around her beautiful face. The tall, sleek body was encased in a hot-pink sheath that gave proof to all of her perfect figure.
With the urge to turn and run crawling up her spine, Anne was amazed at the cool composure of her voice as she acknowledged Jud's formal introduction.
"In my haste to get started this morning I'm afraid I forgot to introduce you two," Jud lied smoothly. Then his voice seemed, to Anne's ears, to change to a warm caress as he drew Lorna toward her. "Lorna, I'd like you to meet my"— he paused—"stepsister, Anne Moore, Anne, my secretary, Lorna Havers."
Cool fingers touched Anne's equally cool ones as Lorna murmured throatily, "I'm pleased to meet you, at last, Miss Moore."
Anne barely had time to reply, "Call me Anne, please, Lorna," when Jud informed, "I have already introduced Lorna to Andrew and your mother, Anne." His voice went hard before he added, "The twins haven't put in an appearance as yet."
He couldn't have said anything more calculated to inject steel into her spine if he had tried. Anne opened her mouth to fly to her brothers' defense, when they strolled into the room, completely unaware of the tension within. As a single unit they stopped dead in their tracks, eyes widening as they caught sight of Lorna.
A small smile of amusement tugging at her mouth, Anne turned to Andrew, and the smile and amusement vanished. Andrew's eyes reflected the admiration evident in Troy's and Todd's, and along with it was an expression Anne could only interpret as calculating speculation. Turning away quickly, Anne felt a small flicker of alarm, for Jud stood watching the tableau, a cool, mocking gleam in his amber eyes, the familiar sardonic twist on his mouth. And what caused Anne's alarm was the fact that Jud was observing Andrew closely.
With relief Anne heard Mrs. Davis announce dinner. Her relief was short-lived for after they were all seated, all the conversation except for the occasional remark tossed to her mother and herself centered on Lorna. And through it all Jud sat, the same amused expression on his face, watching— watching.
Watching for what? Anne asked herself irritably, pushing the food around on her plate. Watching for those three fools to make complete asses of themselves over his secretary-mistress? Unable to decipher the expression Jud wore, Anne had to admit she didn't know what he was watching for, and she hastened to assure herself that she didn't really care.
What an unbelievably long night, Anne thought tiredly some four hours later, as she slid between her sheets. Long and not too good for her ego. As dinner had begun, so had the evening progressed—all the men's attention on Lorna. Her mother had retreated shortly after dinner, leaving Anne to her own devices, of which she had few. And to top it off she had not had that private talk with Andrew. She had so longed for the chance to tell him all that had happened, ask his advice. Now she was almost glad the chance had not come her way. The wish to confide in him had curiously vanished.
All evening—as Jud had watched all of them—Anne had observed Andrew in growing disbelief. Quiet, calm, clearheaded Andrew was as bowled over by Lorna as the immature, lighthearted Troy and Todd. What had happened to the almost pompous seriousness of the man she was engaged to?
A few years younger than Jud, Anne had known Andrew most of her life. Their mothers had been friends for years, although he hadn't seemed aware of Anne at all until a few years ago.
Twisting Andrew's ring around her finger, Anne compared the smiling, eager, handsome man who had danced attendance on Lorna all evening with the coolly reserved, sharp-minded Andrew she had become engaged to. She had never heard him laugh so much, had never seen him so animated. Strangely the most surprising thing he'd done all evening was rake his fingers through his hair, ruffling its usual dark smoothness. Anne had never seen him with a hair out of place. Even she would not have dared to bring disorder to that neatness, and oddly, she had never had the urge to do so.
She had always felt safe and secure with Andrew. Now that security was shaken. Disturbed and confused by the events of the last few days, Anne felt alone and vulnerable, and more than a little afraid.
Chapter 5
Jud kept Anne so busy during the following weeks, she barely noticed the last dying gasp of winter or the slow, inexorable advance of spring. He set a grueling pace for himself and, in determination, she strove to keep up with him. She fell into bed exhausted every night and grew even more alive in her life. Jud seemed to charge everything and everyone around him with electricity, and his energy seemed endless. Unfortunately his temper had a much shorter span and Anne had felt or witnessed the sharp edge of his tongue too often for comfort. No one, from top management to the night watchman, escaped his notice, be it to administer a rebuke or praise. What amazed Anne was that, by April, when Todd and Troy came home for the spring break, the majority of the employees looked on Jud as a kind of god.
Anne herself had mixed feelings about him. Honesty made her admit he had a brilliant business mind. He missed nothing, however small and seemingly unimportant, and had succeeded, more than once, hi making Anne feel incompetent. Grudgingly she admitted to herself he did not do it on purpose. She ached with the need to find fault with his handling of the company, and with growing frustration realized that need would not be assuaged.
She had moved into her own office at the end of the first week, then wondered why Jud h
ad even bothered to have it made ready for her, as the connecting door between the two rooms was always left open and his barked "Anne come in here" had her running back and forth as if she were a yo-yo at the end of a string he had tied around his finger.
By the end of her second week, to her surprise, Lorna returned to his New York office, having trained a replacement in a few days' time. Jud's new secretary—a Mrs. Donna Kramer—was a highly qualified, thirty-eight-year-old widow, with three teenage sons. An attractive, friendly woman, Anne liked her at first meeting and despite their age difference a warm friendship was developing. More surprising still was the fact that Jud hardly seemed to notice Lorna's absence, even though he had been out of the office until after lunch on the day her plane left.
To Anne Jud was an enigma, never quite behaving as she would expect. She had not expected him to spend much tune at home, so, of course, he was there most evenings. Even though he did close himself in the library, he was home. She had expected him to treat her mother with cool reserve, so, contrarily, he was all warm consideration toward her. The reserve he saved for Anne, who had expected mockery and sarcasm.
And as if she didn't have enough on her mind keeping up with Jud, Andrew baffled Anne. He seemed to be changing somehow, and Anne found herself wondering if she really knew him as well as she had thought she did.
On the Saturday night after Jud's return, he took her out for dinner and his choice of restaurant was in itself unusual. The inn, on the outskirts of Philadelphia, though expensive, was quiet and secluded. As a rule he chose a restaurant closer to home and always a place where he could see, and would be seen by his friends and colleagues. From the beginning of their relationship Anne had been aware of the fact that Andrew was very ambitious. He intended to move up in the legal profession, not only in their own small community some fifteen miles outside of Philadelphia, but in Philadelphia itself. He had never confided to Anne how he planned to do this, but that his plans were rigidly laid out in his own mind had always been evident.
