“Perhaps you’d better not count on me,” Michelle said. “I don’t know what time I’ll be back.”
Lucky raised an eyebrow, but his only comment was “I see.”
They were all staring at her speculatively. Michelle didn’t want anyone to jump to the wrong conclusion, so she explained reluctantly. “We’re going to Nassau. Carter said there’s lots to see, which is why I don’t know how long we’ll be there.”
“Perhaps he’ll suggest staying for a day or two;” Jonathan remarked without expression. “There are some nice resorts on the island.”
He was pushing her into Carter’s bed! Michelle lifted her chin to hide the pain that caused. “What a good idea. Maybe we’ll do that.”
“You haven’t even seen Miami yet,” Evelyn said sharply. “Besides, you’re a guest here. I don’t think it would be polite to go running off somewhere.”
“I’m sure Lucky wouldn’t mind,” Michelle said. She forced a smile. “I’m just in the way around here, anyhow.”
“Not at all, my dear,” Lucky said. “You’re free to do anything you like, naturally, but it would be nice if you could join the rest of us for dinner tonight.”
Jonathan stood abruptly. “You’d better make your plans without me, too. I might be busy, also.”
When the doorbell rang, Michelle said a hasty goodbye. But Jonathan seemed determined to make her life miserable.
“I’ll walk out with you and say hello to Carter,” he said.
“Phone me if you change your mind about tonight,” Lucky said to his nephew.
“I will, but I doubt it very seriously,” Jonathan replied.
As they went down the hall together, Michelle said waspishly, “You just saw Carter last night and you didn’t seem overly fond of him then. Why this sudden urge to say hello?”
“Is there any reason. you don’t want me to?”
“Why would there be?” she countered.
“You’d know that better than I. But you have nothing to worry about. Carter is a lot of things, but I’ve never known him to be indiscreet.”
Michelle’s eyes flashed blue fire. “Exactly what are you implying? That I slept with him last night?”
A muscle twitched in Jonathan’s square jaw. “Did you?”
“It’s none of your damn business!” She flung open the door and gave Carter a dazzling smile.
After kissing her cheek, he looked at the two of them quizzically. “I didn’t get my dates mixed, did I?”
“Not at all,” Michelle assured him. “Jonathan just happened to be leaving at the same time I was.”
“That’s good. I would have been very disappointed. I have our day all planned.”
“I’m sure you could have found someone else to share it with you,” Jonathan said, in what was supposed to be a joking tone. “This guy has a Rolodex full of names a sheik would pay a fortune for,” he told Michelle.
“Don’t be bitter, Johnny,” Carter drawled. “You had your chance and you blew it.”
Jonathan’s eyes were somber as he watched them drive away. How could he have behaved like such a jerk? Was he trying to drive Michelle into Carter’s arms? If she was wavering before, he’d given her a reason not to.
Michelle was seething after Jonathan’s accusation. He, of all people, should know she didn’t just fall into bed with anyone. She would have attributed it to jealousy if she didn’t know better. For some reason, Jonathan’s feelings toward her had changed. Maybe he thought she was freeloading off Lucky. If that was the case, he needn’t worry. She couldn’t get out of Miami fast enough!
Michelle regretted accepting this date with Carter, but as they flew to Nassau on his private plane, she changed her mind. Sitting in the cockpit next to him was exciting. The Atlantic Ocean was spread out below, dotted with groups of little islands, like small bits of confetti flung by a careless giant into the brilliant blue water.
“Bimini is that tiny cay over to the left, all by itself.” Carter indicated an island much smaller than the rest. “Ernest Hemingway considered Bimini one of his homes away from home.”
Michelle stared out at the small dot surrounded by sparkling water. “You’d think he would have preferred Nassau. It’s supposed to have gambling and nightlife.”
“It does. People like Howard Hughes and the former Shah of Iran spent a lot of time on New Providence Island. That’s where we’re going.”
“I thought we were going to Nassau,” Michelle said. “Isn’t it an island?”
“No, it’s a city, the capital of the Bahamas, located on New Providence. And across a bridge is Paradise Island where a lot of famous people used to hang out, and some still do. We’ll drive to Paradise for lunch.”
“It sounds so glamorous,” she commented.
“That’s what the developers thought when they changed the name from Hog Island.” Carter laughed.
A car was waiting for them when they landed at the airstrip. Michelle couldn’t help enjoying all the V.I.P. treatment. Carter was even more privileged than Jonathan. She quickly suppressed the thought of him before it could ruin her day.
There was so much to see and do that Jonathan was only a vague ache in the back of her mind. He was never completely absent from her thoughts, but Carter was a diverting companion.
He told her about the notorious pirates that once made the islands a lawless place of plundering and drunken revelry. “The notorious Blackbeard, Henry Morgan, Captain Kidd and Anne Bonney all worked these waters.”
“There was a woman pirate?” Michelle asked.
“One of the fiercest,” Carter assured her. “Anne was a hot-blooded beauty, conceived in Ireland on the wrong side of the quilt, as it was delicately called. She was born in South Carolina where her parents went to get married and start a new life on his plantation.”
“She should have turned out to be a southern belle rather than a pirate,” Michelle observed.
“Southern gentlemen were too tame for Anne. She was one of the first liberated women.She decided she could do anything a man could do, and she did it even better.”
Carter continued to tell her interesting stories about the Bahamas as they drove along the scenic road.
Nassau was a gracious city with Victorian mansions and a fort complete with a moat and dungeons. Michelle was charmed by the pastel buildings in the square, and especially by the Queen’s Staircase. She wanted to climb the sixty-six steps to the top where the view had to be fantastic. But Carter said they had a lot more to see.
“You can’t cover New Providence in a few hours. Perhaps we should stay over for a day or two,” he suggested casually as they drove across the bridge to Paradise Island.
“Do you think you could get two hotel rooms on such short notice?” she asked innocently.
He laughed. “I’ve never been turned down so creatively.”
“I didn’t want the day to be spoiled by hurt feelings.”
“You needn’t worry. I don’t sulk if I strike out.”
“Because it doesn’t mean that much to you,” Michelle said matter-of-factly.
“You don’t have a very high opinion of me, do you?”
“On the contrary. I’ve never met anyone like you,” she answered evasively.
“Is that good or bad?”
“Do you have to ask? I’m here with you, having a wonderful time.”
He turned his head to glance at her. “You wouldn’t rather be with Johnny?”
“What a silly question.” She changed the subject adroitly. “Are we going to have lunch soon? I’m famished.”
“That’s good, because the food at the Tropical Palms is terrific. It’s one of the nicer resorts on the island.”
“Nice” wasn’t a strong enough description. The grounds could have been pictured in a travel brochure. Brilliant flowers made extravagant splashes of color, contrasting with the clipped green lawn. The glassed-in dining room looked out over azure blue water decorated with sailboats, and the hotel was surrounded by little
thatched huts.
“Those are private bungalows,” Carter explained. “Some of them have two bedrooms. Care to change your mind?”
“Do you promise not to walk in your sleep?”
“That’s a promise I’d find hard to keep.” He took her hand and squeezed it.
Michelle knew Carter wasn’t serious about her. He just happened to like women—all kinds of women. But his admiration was just what she needed after Jonathan’s rejection. Her eyes were somber with remembrance as she stared down at her plate.
“Don’t you like your salad?” Carter asked.
“Oh, yes, it’s delicious,” she said, picking up her fork. “I’ve never had conch before.”
“The natives pronounce it conk. I thought you’d prefer it to land crab. That’s very tasty, too, but a lot of people feel squeamish when they find out they’ve eaten the same kind of crab they see skittering across the road at night.”
She wrinkled her nose. “I might have been more than just squeamish. I’ve always thought the first person to eat a crab must have been very brave.”
“Or very hungry. Although I suppose it isn’t any different than eating a lobster. Those wouldn’t win any beauty contests, either.”
He told her about other Bahamian cuisine, and after lunch they drove around the island. Carter pointed out the limestone caves that might still contain a fortune in pirate gold.
“Isn’t that just a myth?” Michelle asked.
“No, it’s true. Henry Morgan was the most famous pirate whose treasure has never been found, but there were others. The Bahamas are spread out over 100,000 square miles of the Atlantic Ocean, and there are thousands of islands, some just little dots of land. So it’s entirely possible that a fortune lies buried on more than one of them.”
The day sped by enjoyably, but by late afternoon Michelle was ready to go home. She’d seen all she could absorb at one time. Each beautiful vista began to look like all the others.
When she mentioned it to Carter, he grinned. “I was waiting for you to feel that way. Okay, we’ve done the obligatory tourist bit. Now it’s time for something more sophisticated.”
The casino he took her to was brightly lit and pulsed with excitement. Well-dressed people crowded around green felt tables, shooting dice, playing blackjack or watching a little white ball rattle around a big roulette wheel.
Carter bought her a large stack of chips and suggested that she try her luck.
Michelle was a little surprised when he started to leave her. “What are you going to play?” she asked.
“I thought I’d try a few hands of chemin de fer.”
“I’ve only seen it played in the movies,” she said. “I think I’ll watch for a while.”
Only a handful of people were seated at the chemin de fer table, which was separated from the other gaming tables by a velvet rope. It was a complicated game where each person only received three cards. The players watched with expressionless faces as the croupier dealt the cards and moved stacks of chips around. Michelle had a feeling the stakes were very high.
Carter’s former attentiveness to her was switched to the card table. Michelle watched for a while, but it seemed to be a very complicated game. When she wandered away, he didn’t even notice.
He did notice the pretty cocktail waitress who brought him a drink, Michelle observed cynically. The seductive look he gave her was the same one he’d worn off and on all day with her.
Michelle didn’t mind. She’d been under no illusions about Carter, nor were her emotions involved. He’d simply come along at a time when she needed him.
Eventually Carter came looking for her and Michelle thought he was ready to go home. But he wouldn’t hear of it.
Ignoring her protests he said, “You can’t leave without having dinner at the Coral Room. It’s world famous.”
“Then why haven’t I heard of it?”
“Because you’ve led a sheltered life. Their rock lobster is a gastronomical adventure.”
The Coral Room also had a floor show. When it was over and Carter suggested going to a club on the other side of the island, Michelle stated flatly that she wanted to go home. He was a little sulky at first, but it wasn’t his nature to linger over minor disappointments.
It was almost midnight by the time they got back to Lucky’s house. Michelle wanted to avoid a heated good-night, so she took the initiative. When Carter walked her to the door she kissed him lightly, then before he could reach for her, she took out her key.
“I had a really smashing time,” she said brightly. “Thanks for everything.”
He accepted her unspoken rejection. “I enjoyed it, too, although I could have made it even more fun for both of us.” He grinned.
After they’d said good-night and she went inside, Michelle’s polite smile faded. No wonder she couldn’t forget Jonathan. He’d told her he wanted to make love to her. Carter merely talked about having “fun.”
The memories she’d suppressed all day came rushing back. She thought of Jonathan’s compelling magnetism and his tenderness toward her. What had happened to change all that? She sighed heavily.
The house was quiet, so Michelle tiptoed across the marble floor. Before she reached the staircase, a door off the hall opened, flooding the entry with light. She was rooted to the spot as Jonathan appeared. Was he just a vision conjured up by her deep longing?
“Did you have a good time?” he asked, dispelling the notion.
“What are you doing here?” she whispered.
“I came to discuss some business matters with Lucky. He and Evelyn went out and I’ve been working in the den.” When she continued to stare at him, he said, “I’m through now. Would you care to have a drink?”
“No, thanks.” She finally pulled herself together. “I’ve had every kind of drink imaginable.”
“Yes, I suppose Carter wined and dined you royally. Some coffee, then?”
“No, nothing.” She turned away, afraid her emotions might show. Jonathan was very perceptive. “It’s late. I’m going to bed.”
“I don’t blame you for being angry at me,” he said quietly. “My behavior this morning was inexcusable. I’d like to apologize.”
“Apology accepted,” she said wearily, because it was easiest.
He looked dissatisfied. “You don’t really mean that.”
“It’s late, Jonathan, and I’m tired. Can’t we just leave it at that?”
“I can’t. I’ve been miserable all day. I didn’t come here to talk business. with Lucky. That was the excuse I used, but he and your mother have been gone all evening. I’ve been waiting here for you to come home.”
“Were you sure I would?” Michelle asked sarcastically.
“I hoped you would.” He hesitated for a moment. “Did you enjoy Nassau?”
“More than Carter did.” She couldn’t help smiling. “Sight-seeing isn’t really his thing, but it was nice of him to put up with it for me.”
“I didn’t realize there was so much to see at night,” Jonathan remarked casually.
“It would be difficult to see much in the dark. If you want to know what we were doing until this time of night, just come out and ask me,” she said sharply.
“I don’t have that right. You told me so this morning.”
“I was angry. You were really out of line.”
“You’re absolutely correct. If I promise it will never happen again, can we at least be friends?”
“We’ve tried, but it never seems to work out.” She sighed. “Sometimes the things we argue about aren’t even important. There seems to be this constant tension between us.”
“Why do you think that is?” he asked softly.
She knew perfectly well what he meant, but passion wasn’t enough for her. Especially passion he shared with Ashleigh! Pretending not to understand, she gave him a crooked smile. “Maybe we just don’t like each other.”
“I’m sure that isn’t the answer. We’ve had some great times together.”
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“Yes, those are the ones I’d like to remember,” she said wistfully.
“We can add to them,” he coaxed.
She shook her head, knowing whatever was wrong between them hadn’t been resolved. “There isn’t time,” she told him.
“You’re leaving? Evelyn didn’t mention it.”
“I haven’t had a chance to tell her yet. Every time I start to, something happens. I’m going to talk to her first thing in the morning.”
Jonathan stared at her moodily. “I suppose there’s nothing I can say to change your mind.” A hint of a smile lightened his gloom for a moment. “I haven’t had much luck in the past.”
Before she could answer, the door opened and Lucky and Evelyn came in. “I thought you’d have left long ago, Jonathan,” he exclaimed. “Is anything wrong?”
“No, after you went out I continued to work on those contracts. I didn’t realize how late it had gotten,” Jonathan said. “I was just leaving when Michelle came home.”
“This late? You must have had a good time,” Evelyn commented. “How did you like the Bahamas?”
“Why are we all standing around in the hall?” Lucky asked. “Let’s go into the den and have a nightcap.”
This was her chance to tell both of them she was leaving, Michelle thought. Why was she so reluctant to make it definite? Maybe she could have found an opportunity before this if she’d really wanted to. Her chin firmed as she was tempted to postpone her announcement until the next day. No, it wouldn’t get any easier.
She didn’t have an immediate chance. When the four of them were settled in the den, Lucky took a bottle of wine out of the refrigerator in the bar.
“Let’s all have a glass of champagne,” he said. “I’m in a festive mood.”
“I’m glad somebody is,” Jonathan muttered under his breath. “Thanks, but I’ll pass,” he told his uncle.
“You have to take at least a sip. I’m going to propose a toast.” Lucky smiled broadly at Evelyn. “Do you want to tell them, or shall I?”
She returned his smile indulgently, saying, “You can do the honors, darling.”
“Evie and I are getting married,” he said. “I hope you’ll both be as happy about it as we are.”
Lucky In Love (Harlequin Special Edition) Page 16
