by Janet Dailey
“How about a stroll along the beach, Laurie?” Rian was on his feet, looking down at her with a mocking glint in his eyes.
A second ago she had craved his attention, but with his invitation hanging in the air, Laurie hesitated to accept. Any time spent alone with Rian Montgomery was dangerous to her peace of mind. A brown hand stretched out to take hold of hers and she found herself placing her hand in it as he helped her to her feet without a word of agreement being spoken.
“I believe they would prefer to be alone,” Rian commented with a half smile after he and Laurie had traversed several yards.
“I thought you didn't approve of ... Vera and the Judge?” Confusion marred the clearness of her eyes.
“Vera is old enough to make her own mistakes. I couldn't consider interfering,” he replied indifferently before casting her a mocking glance. “Besides, there's probably something to be said for companionship in your old age. I should have listed that as one of the considerations for marriage."
“You certainly aren't old.” Her cheeks were flushing for no apparent reason.
“I'm older than you by several years."
“So is Colin.” The instant Laurie said that, she wanted to take it back. She had meant to show her indifference to age and not wave a red flag to start another argument between her and Rian. “I'm sorry,” she apologized quickly, not daring to meet his eyes. “I only meant that someone is bound to be older than someone else."
There was a moment of silence before Rian replied, “I accept your apology."
An undefinable truce had been declared. The snow white beach stretched out as endlessly as the sea on the horizon and Laurie felt she could walk forever. There was no need for conversation. There was only the insatiable thirst to drink in the magic of these moments walking side by side with Rian, knowing his strides were shortened to match companionably with hers. They didn't touch, not even their hands, but Laurie felt closer to him than she ever had before. They were as one with the earth and sky and sea.
“We've lost sight of Vera and the Judge,” Laurie murmured, unwilling to break the silence, yet not being able to believe that Rian was content as she.
“We wouldn't make very good beachcombers.” Rian's steps had slowed to a halt as he turned a whimsical smile towards her. “We can't lose touch with reality and keep going."
“Think how bored you would become with the monotony of a beachcomber's life,” she remarked idly, tilting her head sideways to study his bland expression. “You enjoy the challenge of the business world, organizing companies and watching them grow."
A sudden puff of wind from the Gulf whipped her blue-black hair across her face. Before her own hand could brush it back, Rian's was there gently lifting it from her face and tucking it behind her ear, then leaving his hand to cup her cheek.
“I've never found the company of a tantalizing female to be soothing before now.” The velvet softness of his voice reached out to stroke her already purring heart.
“Rian.” His name was a husky sound born in her aching need for his warmth. For an instant his hand tightened, promising to erase the space that separated them, then a rueful smile tilted a corner of his mouth, followed by a little sigh.
“We must go back,” he said firmly, dropping his hand from her cheek and leaving her with a cold feeling that wouldn't go away even when the sun touched it.
“Yes,” Laurie breathed in reluctant agreement before chiding herself for that reluctance. It was just as well that she was removed from his compelling influence. Too much time spent in his company was a dangerous thing.
The walk back took too little time. So did the drive to Vera's house. Almost the instant they set foot in the door, Rian excused himself, saying he had work to be done. Laurie watched him striding towards the study, a sense of loss stealing over her.
Almost an hour later Laurie saw Rian from her bedroom window as he crawled into the white Continental and left. Restlessly, she prowled her room, eventually wandering downstairs in search of Vera, only to find she had gone over to the Hartford house. The blue of the swimming pool gleamed invitingly in the late afternoon sun, but Laurie wasn't in the mood. Finally she settled in one of the emerald green sofas in the living room and leafed through a magazine. The telephone jingled on a nearby stand. Laurie waited, expecting E. J. to pick up the extension in the study, but the telephone kept ringing. Hesitantly Laurie picked up the receiver.
“Is Rian Montgomery there?” a woman's voice asked.
“Not right now,” Laurie replied. “He should be back later. May I ask him to call back?"
“Is that his aunt?"
“No, this is Laurie Evans.’ Reluctant to voice her tenuous relationship to Rian.
“Are you Rian's fiancée? He mentioned that you were staying with Vera."
The woman's swift recognition of her surprised Laurie. Her acknowledging ‘yes’ was hesitant as she wondered who the melodic voice belonged to on the other end of the line and how the woman was associated with Rian.
“I'm so glad I have this chance to talk to you!” the woman exclaimed. “You're a very lucky girl to have someone like Rian."
“Yes, thank you,” Laurie stumbled, finding any other reply unsuitable.
“How silly of me! I haven't even introduced myself,” the woman laughed. “I'm Liz Trevors. My husband Arnold works for Rian. Or at least, he has been working for him. That's what I was calling to tell Rian—that the doctors have said he can go back to work in a month. They're releasing him from hospital tomorrow."
“I'm glad to hear that,” Laurie replied, wondering if LaRaine had known the Trevors, hence she should.
“I doubt that Rian mentioned it to you. He isn't one to bring his work home. My husband was injured in an automobile accident some three months ago and has been hospitalized ever since. Rian has been our guardian angel, making sure I had transportation to and from the hospital, seeing to it that the children were looked after, taking care of the hospital bills. And he's been a tremendous boost to my husband's morale by keeping Arnold up to date with the company's transactions and assuring him that the position would be open whenever Arnold was able to come back. That's not even mentioning the fact that Rian kept him on the payroll all the while he was in hospital. Every time we try to thank him, Rian just shrugs it off. I'm so glad I'm able to tell you how grateful we are for all your fiancé has done."
The picture Mrs. Trevor painted of Rian as a thoughtful and considerate employer didn't match Laurie's image of a domineering and ruthless man whose charm was laced with cruelty and a desire to gain his own ends.
She was still mulling over this discovery when she replaced the receiver and heard E. J. walk in the front door. He waved a greeting to her as he walked past the arched doorway.
“A Mrs. Trevors just called for Rian,” Laurie told him, walking into the hallway to follow E. J.
“Arnold Trevors’ wife?” he asked, adjusting the black-rimmed glasses on his nose.
“Yes, she wanted to let Rian know that her husband is being released from the hospital tomorrow and should be back to work in a month."
“That's a relief,” raising his eyebrows in an expressive gesture. “Heaven knows, Rian and I couldn't keep doing the work of a third person for much longer."
“Does Mr. Trevors have an important position?” Laurie asked curiously.
“He was handling the South American deal until the accident when Rian had to take over. That was about the time Rian met LaRaine.” As soon as Laurie's cousin's name was out of his mouth, E. J. cast her an apologetic look.
“Yes, well—” Laurie breathed in deeply, not wanting to go into any details regarding the abrupt change brought on by her masquerade as LaRaine, so she sought the quickest excuse to end the conversation. “You will pass Mrs. Trevors’ message on to Rian when he returns, won't you?"
“Of course."
Rian didn't return for the evening meal and Vera and Laurie ate alone while E. J. had sandwiches served for himself in the stu
dy. Not until nearly ten o'clock when Laurie was mounting the stairs to her room did Rian return. He glanced briefly at his watch and bade her an absent “good night” before continuing on to the study where E. J. was still working.
Laurie turned and tossed in her bed, dozing off, then awakening, unconsciously listening for the sound of Rian's footsteps in the hall. After awakening from another fitful doze, she glanced at the jewelled clock on the night stand. The luminous dial illuminated the time as three o'clock. Rising from the bed, she slipped on her ivory satin dressing robe and walked quietly into the hallway, deciding that a glass of warm milk might chase away her sleeplessness.
At the bottom of the stairs she could see a light shining from the study door. Rian couldn't possibly be working this late, Laurie thought idly as she tiptoed towards the door. But when she glanced in, she saw Rian sitting behind the desk, his suit coat tossed over a chair with his tie, and his white shirt unbuttoned at the throat. He was wearily rubbing his hand across his forehead while holding the telephone receiver to his ear. Some infinitesimal sound betrayed her presence and caused him to glance up.
He cupped a hand over the receiver. “What are you doing up?"
“I couldn't sleep,” Laurie answered softly, clutching the robe fighter around her throat. “I was going to get some warm milk."
“Make it cocoa and I'll have a cup,” Rian ordered, taking his hand from the receiver to speak into it while Laurie retreated quietly towards the kitchen.
Rian was no longer on the telephone when Laurie came back carrying two steaming mugs of cocoa on a small circular serving tray. Raking his fingers through the blackness of his hair, he rose from the desk chair.
“Set it down over by the sofa,” he instructed.
Obediently Laurie walked to the brown leather sofa and placed the tray on the oak coffee table in front of it. Uncertain whether she was to stay or go, she remained standing, removing her mug from the tray. Rian sank down into the leathery cushions, glancing up at her erect figure in surprise that soon turned to bemusement.
“Don't stand there like a rabbit about to take flight. Sit down and keep me company."
She chose a large armchair in matching brown leather, folding her fingers around the warm cup to still their trembling. Rian looked so tired, leaning forward as though to relax against the back of the sofa would bring instant sleep.
“Do you have to work so late?” she murmured.
“Late?” One corner of his mouth tilted in a humourless smile. “It may be three o'clock here, but it's nine o'clock in the morning in London."
“Is that where you were calling?” Laurie asked, watching the lean hands as they lifted the mug to his mouth.
“Mmmm, yes,” he replied, replacing the cup on the tray to press his fingers against the centre of his forehead.
“Do you have a headache?"
“Tension more than anything,” Rian shrugged.
Laurie hesitated, longing to offer to massage his neck and ease those lines of fatigue around his eyes and mouth but afraid he would misconstrue her interest. Finally she gathered the courage.
“Would you like me to rub your neck?” she asked.
A dark eyebrow arched at her with mocking inquiry before Rian obligingly moved towards the end of the sofa, stretching his long legs out on the cushioned seat. Her hands trembled as she tentatively touched the taut cords of his neck. Then gently she began massaging the skin, enjoying the sensation of unrestricted touch. As her nervousness went away and her touch became more firm, she felt Rian relaxing, the stiffness leaving his neck. When her hands moved to his temples, he moved slightly in surprise, then settled deeper in the cushions to rest his head against the arm of the sofa. The lids were closed over his dark eyes so he couldn't see her studying the harsh lines of his face and watching them soften.
Her fingers were beginning to ache when she noticed his even breathing and knew Rian had fallen asleep. Laurie smiled down at him, thinking how much younger and gentler he seemed. Very quietly she moved to the far end of the room where a gold and brown afghan lay folded on a table. For a moment Laurie held it against her breast, staring down on the masculine form lying on the couch. A warm glow spread happily through her, filling her with a burning tenderness as she realized she had fallen in love with Rian Montgomery. Perceptively she knew she had been in love with him for a long time, but had refused to admit it.
A tiny sigh broke from her lips. It was a futile love, one that Rian didn't return, although admittedly he wanted her in a carnal way. So as the acknowledgement of her love for Rian stole over her, a bitter taste mingled with the sweet.
Unfolding the afghan, Laurie gently draped it over Rian's still form, wishing she could curl up in his arms and nestle her head against his chest. As she reached out to bring the coverlet over his white shirt, she saw his eyelids flutter open.
“Are you tucking me in for the night?” he asked lazily.
Laurie caught her breath, knowing how vulnerable she was at that moment with the blackness of his eyes studying the pink in her cheeks. If Rian should learn of her love for him, it would give him unlimited power over her. She hadn't decided yet whether she wanted to marry a man who didn't love her even though she was deeply in love with him.
“Yes,” she answered briskly, lowering her gaze so he couldn't read her thoughts as he usually did.
His hand closed lightly over her wrist. “Are you going to kiss me good night, too?"
Laurie knew that if she didn't take the initiative in complying to his mocking question, Rian was quite capable of forcing her to kiss him. Bending over, she lightly brushed his lips with hers and moved away.
Rian chuckled softly and released her wrist. “If I weren't so tired, I'd make you do better than that.” A crooked smile curved his mouth as he closed his eyes. “Good night, Laurie."
She doubted whether Rian heard her wish him good night before he was asleep again.
CHAPTER NINE
A CLICK of heels on the cobblestoned sun-deck made Laurie open her eyes. Behind her owl-shaped sunglasses she saw Vera approaching, looking refreshingly like a spring day in a cotton dress of mint green.
“Rian said he thought you were here by the pool,” the older woman greeted. “There was a phone call for you, but I couldn't find you."
“Who was it?"
“Colin. He said he would call back later."
Guiltily Laurie remembered that she had forgotten to ask Rian about the Mardi Gras Ball being held that evening. Too many things had happened since Colin had last inquired about it, although she had had several opportunities to do so. But, since the tour yesterday of Dauphin Island and the moments spent with Rian last night or rather this morning, the ball had been the last thing on her mind.
“Is Rian busy?” Laurie asked.
“He was on the telephone,” Vera nodded. “I'm going into town to do some shopping. Would you like to go along? I'll be back by four o'clock and I doubt if Colin will call before then."
“No, I don't think so,” Laurie refused politely. “I'd rather laze in the sun,” and think, she added to herself.
“I don't blame you. It's a beautiful afternoon,” Vera laughed, lifting her hand in good-bye. “I'll see you later."
As soon as Vera was gone, Laurie settled deeper in the wide chaise-lounge, adjusting her wide-brimmed white hat to keep the sun from her face. It was blissfully warm and peaceful with the gentle rays playing over her skin, bare except for the scanty covering of her yellow and blue bikini. The silence was only broken by the melodic call of the birds flitting about the outlying trees.
When Laurie had gone up to her room after leaving Rian, she had thought she would lie awake, mulling over the complications falling in love with Rian would bring into her life, but she had been asleep almost the instant her head had touched the pillow.
Before she saw him alone again, she knew she would have to decide whether she wanted to take a chance on a loveless marriage in the hope that some day Rian would grow to c
are for her. He had made it plain several times that he wanted a wife, implying that he would force her to marry him. More than anything else Laurie wanted to become his wife in the true sense of the word. But there was the bitter, sinking feeling that if she married him, she would become one of his possessions, something he remembered when it suited him.
Yet he wasn't completely without heart, she argued. Look at how he had helped the Trevors family. Even logic could reason that away. If Mr. Trevors was an integral part of his company, Rian would afford to do double work and pay the additional costs as long as he was certain that Arnold Trevors would recover and be back on the job in a matter of months. Gratitude had obviously made Mrs. Trevors effusive in her praise, and Laurie was quite cognizant of the chasm Rian could wield when he wanted to.
No, her feelings for him would probably only amuse him or arouse his contempt for her weakness. Any declaration of how much she cared for him would be a mistake. It would never do for Rian to discover any more than that she was attracted to him as he professed to be attracted to her. But if they were married would she be able to keep her love a secret? Somehow Laurie doubted that she could. She was never one to be able to hide her feelings, especially something as searing and emotionally shaking as love.
The sound of a diver slicing into the water of the pool drew her sharply out of her reverie. A swarm of butterflies attacked her stomach, their wings beating against its walls as Laurie recognized the black-haired swimmer surfacing in the middle of the pool she watched the sinewy muscles of his darkly tanned arms as they cleaved the water with the expert strokes of an accomplished swimmer. After traversing several lengths of the pool, Rian halted at the side nearest Laurie, his teeth flashing in a wide, mocking smile as he hauled himself on to the cobblestoned edge.
The sun glinted off his wet skin, making him appear like a highly polished bronze statue. “And Lorelei sits on the rock, luring men to their destruction,” he intoned cynically as he reached for the large towel on the table to wipe himself dry. “Is that what you are, Laurie? One of the sirens?"
