Michelle drew in her breath sharply, trying to banish the erotic vision. It was difficult when he was only inches away—here and now—promising more pleasure than she’d ever known. When his lips touched hers, she didn’t draw away.
Jonathan kissed her gently, then raised his head to gaze at her luminous face. Unaccountably, he was the one who moved away and turned on the engine.
“Now that we understand each other, would you like to stop somewhere for a drink?” he asked, as though they’d been having a normal conversation.
Michelle was totally confused. A man as experienced as Jonathan had to realize the effect he’d had on her. He must have known her resistance was weakened. Wasn’t that his purpose? He’d been relentlessly pursuing her all week, so why had he drawn back when success was entirely possible?
Was he really an honorable man, as he claimed? Could she have misjudged him that badly? It was possible. She wasn’t exactly a good judge of men, Michelle reminded herself.
Excitement rose inside her like bubbles of champagne as she considered the possibility of a relationship between them. But the bubbles burst as suddenly as they’d surfaced. She’d be more than willing to give Jonathan the benefit of a doubt, if she was the only one who could get hurt. But taking a chance with her mother’s entire future was unacceptable.
Michelle sighed deeply, wondering how she was going to make it until Sunday. That was when Evelyn’s week was up. Michelle realized her own life would seem drab and uneventful after Jonathan, but at least she wouldn’t be in this constant state of turmoil.
He glanced over at her and squeezed her hand. “Your problem is, you worry too much. Everything is going to turn out fine, angel face. Trust me.”
Michelle decided to take the first part of Jonathan’s advice and simply enjoy her last two days at Shorehaven. She hadn’t changed her mother’s opinion of Lucky, but it didn’t really matter. She was fairly certain that Evelyn had been astute enough to have second thoughts about investing with him. Maybe their argument had done some good after all. Her mother would remember Lucky fondly after she went home, and then he’d be just a few snapshots in an album.
Michelle was completely relaxed that last Saturday night at Shorehaven. It had been a fun two days and she was inclined to be gracious in victory.
Glancing around the dinner table she said to the men, “You’ve both made this a very enjoyable week for Mother and me. I hate to go home.”
“Then don’t go,” Lucky said. “I heard they’re having another snowstorm in New York.”
Michelle groaned. “That means the airports will be jammed and we’ll have trouble getting a taxi.”
“It sounds most unappealing. I’m glad Evie decided to stay longer,” Lucky added casually.
“What?” Michelle looked at her mother in dismay. “That’s not true, is it? You didn’t say anything to me.”
“I’ve been thinking about staying on, but I hadn’t really made up my mind,” Evelyn said evasively. “I was going to tell you tonight.”
“Then it’s definite? How long are you planning to stay here?” Michelle’s heart sank at the prospect of remaining longer. Besides all the other trauma involved, she couldn’t really afford it. But how could she leave her mother here alone?
“Well, actually I’m not staying on at Shorehaven,” Evelyn said. “Lucky kindly invited me to visit him in Miami and I accepted.”
“How could you do a thing like that?” Michelle exclaimed. “You hardly know the man! You have no idea what you’d be letting. yourself in for.”
“You’re being impolite.” Evelyn’s voice had a steely quality. “Lucky is a fine gentleman and he’s my friend. Kindly treat him as such.”
“She’s just concerned about you, which is understandable,” Lucky said placatingly.
“I’m a mature woman,” Evelyn replied. “I’m perfectly capable of making my own decisions.”
“I never doubted that! I just want you to come home with me,” Michelle wheedled. “You’ve been gone for two weeks already. I miss you when you’re so far away.”
“May I suggest a solution?” Lucky intervened. “Why don’t you come for a visit, too? I have plenty of room for both of you.”
“I can’t do that,” Michelle protested. “I have a job to get back to.”
“Have you used up all of your vacation time?”
“Well, no, but I was saving some of it for this summer.”
“You’re entitled to four weeks and you’ve only taken one of them so far,” her mother stated. “There’s no reason for you to go back unless you want to.”
“It isn’t that. I just...it’s inventory time at the store and I should be there.” Even to Michelle’s own ears that sounded like a weak excuse, especially when she knew her assistant could easily fill in for her. But it was the best one she could come up with.
“That’s unfortunate,” Evelyn said. “It would have been lovely to have you along, but we’ll keep in touch by phone.”
Jonathan hadn’t taken part in the dispute, but his expression was compassionate as he watched Michelle’s growing distress. Finally he said, “Why don’t you come to Miami for a couple of days? Surely you can spare that small amount of time. You might go home reassured.”
“You knew about this, didn’t you?” she asked in outrage. Michelle suddenly remembered Jonathan’s secret smile when she’d confidently mentioned taking her mother home. “You knew Lucky was going to invite Mother to visit!”
“He mentioned it to me,” Jonathan admitted.
Or was it your idea, Michelle wondered silently? How naive she’d been to think Jonathan had given up. He’d merely gone to Plan B. So much for trusting him, she thought bitterly.
“Are you sure you won’t take me up on my offer?” Lucky coaxed. “Miami is an easy drive from here. We can leave in the afternoon tomorrow and be at my place in time for a late dinner. You’re welcome to stay as long as you like, but if you only want to stay overnight, I’ll drive you to the airport in the morning. It would be a lot more convenient for you. You can get a direct flight out of Miami.”
“That makes sense, doesn’t it?” Evelyn asked her placatingly.
Michelle forced herself not to say what she really thought. What good would it do? Her mother had already decided to go. Any further criticism of Lucky—either implied or overt—could tip the balance in his favor.
“Will we have the pleasure of your company?” he asked gallantly.
Michelle managed a smile and gave in—because she didn’t have any other choice. The situation, here had been bad enough. It would be even more dangerous to leave her mother alone with Lucky on his own turf. And Michelle knew that her boss would be very understanding when she phoned to extend her leave.
“I’ll be happy to accept your kind invitation,” she said.
It was a good thing she avoided glancing over at Jonathan. The look of satisfaction on his face might have snapped the fragile hold she had on her temper.
The two couples left Shorehaven separately on Sunday afternoon, since Jonathan and Lucky had each driven their own cars to the resort. That was another source of irritation to Michelle. She’d be a captive audience if Jonathan decided to gloat.
He didn’t seem inclined to. He made small talk as they drove along the coast, unruffled by the fact that she replied in monosyllables.
Gradually, however, Michelle became so interested in the scenery that she forgot her resentment. The lightly traveled road took them through a series of picturesque small towns. Majestic trees had gray beards of Spanish moss drooping from their branches, and quaint houses with wide, screened verandas and old-fashioned porch swings could be seen from the road.
“These small towns are charming,” she remarked. “It’s such a change from the hustle and bustle of the big cities.”
“I thought you might enjoy it,” Jonathan answered. “That’s why I took the coastal route instead of the expressway. It’s a little longer, but you get to see more.”
She turned
her head to stare at his chiseled profile. “That was very thoughtful of you.”
“I keep telling you I’m not such a bad fellow. Maybe you’re starting to believe me.”
“I wouldn’t go that far. You could have told me what Lucky was planning.”
“It would only have spoiled your last couple of days there, and you wouldn’t have changed Evelyn’s mind, anyway. The result would have been a rift between you and your mother, which I’m sure you want to avoid.”
“Of course I do! Why can’t she see that I only want what’s best for her?” Michelle exclaimed in frustration.
“That’s a decision you make for a child, not an adult.” He reached over and squeezed her hand. “Why don’t you just relax and enjoy the ride? You might find you’ve been worrying over nothing.”
She didn’t share his optimism, but the scenery was certainly intriguing. “I wonder what it would be like to live in a town this small,” she mused as they drove through a sleepy little village with a main street that was only three blocks long.
“I imagine it’s very peaceful,” Jonathan said.
“I can’t picture you in a small town.”
“You think I spend all my time in nightclubs and fancy restaurants?”
“Yes,” she said frankly.
“I don’t know where you got the impression that I’m a playboy,” he complained. “You’d be surprised at the amount of nights I spend working late at the office. I’ll bet you go out more than I do.”
“You’d lose that bet,” she answered curtly.
He slanted a quick glance at her. “You can’t let one lemon sour you on the entire male population. We aren’t all bad.”
“How did you—” She stopped abruptly. “I don’t care to discuss my personal life.”
“You just told me you didn’t have one,” he teased.
“Then there’s nothing to talk about.” She turned her head to look out the window. “Aren’t those hibiscus beautiful? I wish we could grow them up north.”
“Okay, honey, I won’t try to break down that wall you’ve built around yourself,” Jonathan said as they left the village behind and drove down the two-lane, winding country road. “Not now, anyway,” he added.
As he slowed for a hairpin curve, a car came from the opposite direction. Suddenly another car overtook it and tried to pass on the blind curve. The second car was filled with young people who were shouting to each other over a blaring radio. Some of them started to scream when they realized their car was headed straight for Jonathan’s.
A horrendous collision seemed inevitable, but Jonathan reacted with lightning speed. He turned the wheel sharply and their car left the road and crashed through a palmetto grove. Michelle held her breath as the convertible at first seemed about to flip over, then came to a jarring halt against the trunk of a tall tree.
The silence seemed eerie after the horror of the past few minutes. The car that almost caused the accident had left the scene swiftly. Only the sound of startled birds filled the air.
Jonathan released his seat belt and turned anxiously to Michelle. “Are you all right?”
“Yes, just a little shaken up. How could anybody be stupid enough to try to pass on a blind curve?”
He shrugged. “They probably live around here and know this road isn’t used much. Not that it’s any excuse. I’m just glad you weren’t hurt.”
“Thanks to you,” she said gratefully. “You’re magnificent in a crisis, Jonathan.”
A smile lightened the concern on his face. “I never expected to hear words of praise from you. It was almost worth it.” He opened his door and came around to her side of the car. “Get out and move around. I want to be sure you’re all right.”
“I’m in better shape than your car is,” she said. One fender was crumpled against the tree, and something was dripping audibly from the engine. “Do you think it can be repaired?”
“I suppose so, but it will undoubtedly take some time. We’ll have to leave it at a shop in that town we just passed and rent a car to take us the rest of the way.”
“How much farther is it to Miami?”
“Unfortunately we’re only halfway there because I took the scenic route instead of the throughway,” he said ruefully.
“It wasn’t your fault. You meant well. Besides, we’re in no hurry. We’ll just call Lucky and tell them to have dinner without us.”
“I guess that would be best. Can you make it back to town, or do you want to wait here and I’ll come back for you?”
“No, I’ll come with you. I have on flat shoes.” She’d worn white pants and a red-and-white striped T-shirt for the trip.
It was a pleasant walk back to the village. Their close brush with death, or at least serious injury, left them both glad to be alive. When Jonathan took her hand, Michelle smiled contentedly at him.
Their thankfulness was diluted somewhat after they reached the little town. The one gas station was closing, and the owner said he couldn’t tow the car until morning.
“My wife gets real put out if I’m not home on time for supper,” he explained.
After trying, and failing, to convince him that this was an emergency, Jonathan was forced to give up. “All right.” He sighed. “We don’t want to wait around till it’s repaired, anyway. I’ll just leave you the keys and you can call me in Miami and tell me what the damage is. We’re going to rent a car to finish the trip.”
“Where are you gonna do that?”
Jonathan frowned. “Do what?”
“Where you gonna rent a car? The nearest place would be in one of the big towns up the coast.”
Jonathan gave Michelle a resigned look. “Do you mind taking a bus? I could call Lucky to come and get us, but it would take him the same amount of time to get here as it would take us to get there on the bus.”
Before she could voice an opinion, the man said, “There’s no bus to Miami from here. You have to go up the road quite a piece to Parkersville. And then the bus don’t run but twice a week.” Having delivered his bad news, the station owner went to lock his gas pumps for the night.
“Well, that settles it,” Jonathan said. “I’ll have to call Lucky.”
“It’s too bad, but I don’t see any other solution,” Michelle agreed.
Lucky’s houseman, Manuel, answered the phone. Lucky wasn’t home yet, but he’d left a message. He intended to stop along the road for an early dinner, so Jonathan and Michelle should make their own plans. Lucky didn’t know when he and Evelyn would get home.
“But he told me you’re bringing a lady to stay. Her room is ready for her,” Manuel assured him.
“Great!” Jonathan muttered as he hung up. “Now what? I guess we’ll just have to go to a hotel. Tomorrow I’ll call around and find someplace that will deliver a rental car. I know better than to expect them to be open tonight,” he added sardonically.
“Will they deliver this far?” Michelle asked.
“I’ll make it worth their while.” As the station owner rejoined them, Jonathan said, “Where is the nearest hotel?”
“We don’t have one.”
“There must be a hotel in town!” Jonathan insisted.
“Nope. We don’t have any use for one.”
“Where do visitors stay?” Michelle asked.
“We don’t get any tourists here.”
“How about a rooming house?” she persisted. “We’re not fussy. Just direct us to someplace that will put us up for the night.”
“I guess you might try the widow Dancy. She’s pretty hard up since her husband died and left her with the two kids.”
“That sounds fine,” Jonathan said. “How do we get there?”
“I’ll give you a lift,” the man offered. “It’s on my way home.”
Michelle was expecting the worst after all their other mishaps, but Caroline Dancy’s house was surprisingly nice. The small yellow bungalow was neat and clean, and Caroline was soothingly sympathetic toward their problems.
&nbs
p; “I’ll just bet it was that Billy Bob Jenkins that ran you off the road. They ought to take away his license. It’s the Lord’s grace that you’re both still alive!”
“And we’re properly grateful.” Jonathan smiled. “Unfortunately my car was badly damaged and there doesn’t seem to be a hotel in town. We would appreciate it greatly , if you’d rent us a couple of rooms for the night. We’ll be out of here first thing in the morning.”
Caroline looked at him doubtfully. “I only have two bedrooms, but you’re welcome to the girls’ room. Sue Ellen can bunk in with me, and Maybelle can sleep on the couch.”
Michelle gave Jonathan a dismayed look. “We wouldn’t think of putting you out like that,” she told the woman.
“What else can we do?” he asked her helplessly.
“The mister is right,” Caroline said. “The girls won’t mind a bit, and you and your husband won’t be any trouble at all.”
“But we’re not—” Jonathan clamped his hand around Michelle’s wrist before she could finish the sentence.
“Since you put it that way, we’ll be happy to accept your kind offer,” he said smoothly.
Her two young daughters had been watching them with lively curiosity, although Maybelle’s interest was mostly focused on Jonathan. She was a pretty girl, just barely in her teens, but she was clearly dazzled by him.
“You girls go and change the beds in your room,” Caroline directed.
“Beds?” Michelle looked at her hopefully. “There’s more than one?”
“The bedroom is kinda small, so Joe built bunk beds, figuring they’d take up less room. Joe was my husband, may he rest in peace.”
“They’re real neat beds,” Sue Ellen, the younger girl, told Jonathan.
“The girls love them. I just hope they won’t be too narrow for the mister.” Caroline looked admiringly at his broad-shouldered frame.
“Please call me Jonathan. And I’m sure the beds will be perfect.”
“Well, if you’ll excuse me, I have to pop into the kitchen for a minute and take a look at our supper.”
When they were alone, Michelle said to Jonathan, “Why didn’t you let me tell her we aren’t married?”
Lucky In Love (Harlequin Special Edition) Page 10
