Jase looked at his friend, “You’ve asked her about me?”
“It would be a match made in Heaven, or at least in Wall Street. It would do a good deal to consolidate your base of power at Devlin. As though you need to consolidate your power base.”
“Mind your own business, madam journalist,” Jase said as Mary Kate won game, set, and match without giving up even a single point to Steve. Jase couldn’t remember the last time that Steve had been skunked so thoroughly. It was painfully obvious that neither Steve nor Mary Kate had played at less than their personal best.
“Well,” Alice stated, “Janet is here. We’ve got the court next. At least with Janet, I stand a chance of winning. Unlike with Harry’s daughter. If you think she skunked Steve, you should’ve seen us play. I’ve never been so outmatched in my life.”
“I believe it. I haven’t played her either. Now, I’m almost afraid to.”
“Be afraid, be very afraid,” Alice teased.
“Have a good match with Janet,” Jase replied easily. “Do you have dinner plans?”
“No. Not really.”
“How about having dinner with me?”
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“That would be nice. See you after the match.”
Steve, with a towel slung over his sweaty neck, came off the court. “Jase, that stepsister of yours is a tigress.”
“She’s got the Devlin ruthlessness.”
“Whew... more matches like that, and I’ll lose my reputation as a good tennis player,” Steve admitted, his tone the only dry thing about him, as sweat poured off of him. “God, she’s devastating.”
“She’s younger than you are, and she’s always been a jock,” Jase dismissed.
“Talking about me again?” Mary Kate asked as she joined them.
“Naturally. Steve was bemoaning the loss of his reputation.”
Mary Kate chuckled. “Well, I owed him a small dose of humiliation, after the time he rescued me from Emily Chase’s dobie,” Mary Kate teased. “The next time we play I won’t be quite as out for blood.”
“You mean you’ll let me win?” Steve asked with a laugh.
“I don’t think I’d go that far. I do hate to lose, at anything...Speaking of losing, it seems that you owe me a steak dinner, and you better make it a big one. I worked up quite an appetite out there.”
Steve smiled. “Did you? Good. Maybe the way to your heart is through feeding you? Why don’t you go make yourself even more gorgeous? No, that isn’t possible. You’re already incredibly beautiful. I’ll meet you in the dining room at the club house in half an hour?”
Mary Kate smiled. “Make it forty-five minutes. I need a little time to recuperate in the hot tub, and it will take a while to do something presentable with my hair.”
Steve touched her face tenderly. “I shouldn’t have pushed you so hard.”
She shook her head. “It’s no problem. You gave me one of the best matches I’ve had in recent years. I really had a good time. Thank you.”
“That was entirely your pleasure, Mary Kate,” Steve replied mischievously. “Forty-five minutes.”
“Yeah, forty-five minutes,” Mary Kate replied as she gathered her things in preparation for heading to the locker room. “See you later, Jase.”
Jase nodded. “It was a good match, Mary Kate.”
“It was. One of these days, you and I will have to play.”
“So you can wipe the court with me, too?”
“Can’t think of anything I’d like more. I owe you as well,” she told him with a smile and a wink just before she walked away.
Jase looked at Steve. “You watch your step with her, buddy.”
Steve smiled. “Mary Kate is a wonderful woman, Jase.”
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“She’s had a hard life. I don’t intend to see her hurt any further, by anyone. That includes you,” Jase warned. “Don’t break her heart.”
“I’ve asked her to marry me.”
Jase looked at Steve for the longest moment. “You’ve what?”
“You heard me. I asked Mary Kate to be my wife.”
“You’re not serious,” Jase said in amazement.
“Completely. I’ve started looking at houses for us.”
“I didn’t even know you had been seeing each other.”
“We haven’t.”
“You’re crazy, Steve.”
“I know. It’s a surprise to me, too. I never thought I could feel this way about any woman, not after Gwen...”
“The question is how Mary Kate feels about you.”
“Yeah,” Steve admitted. “That’s the question. Has she said anything to you?”
Jase grimaced slightly. He sighed. “She said she wasn’t taking you at face value, even though your face was quite appealing, and the rest of you wasn’t exactly gruesome either.”
Steve laughed. “That sounds like Mary Kate’s phrasing.”
“It’s an almost exact quote,” Jase told him. “She also told Harry that she isn’t interested in getting serious, that settling down isn’t on her agenda.”
Steve sighed. “Well, I’ll just have to change her mind, won’t I?”
Jase sighed. “Changing Mary Kate’s mind is like demolishing a brick wall with a teaspoon. It can be done, maybe, but the effort required is absolutely outrageous.”
Steve laughed boldly.
“She’s been seriously burnt once, Steve. She’s awfully gun shy.”
“I figured as much.”
“I don’t want to see you get hurt, either. You’ve been my friend since grammar school,” Jase admitted. “I’m in a very uncomfortable position here. She’s Harry’s daughter. You’re my friend. You don’t exactly have the best recent history with ladies. And her past isn’t lily white. That’s not something you may be able to live with, considering your political ambitions. And I don’t want to see either of you hurt. One way or the other, one of you may end up hurt, if this relationship develops between you.”
“That’s life.”
“I know.”
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“When Mary Kate says ‘yes’, I want you to stand with me as my best man.” Jase nodded slightly. “If she agrees, I’d be honored.” “Gotta go change. Promised Mary Kate dinner and dancing.” “Don’t keep her out too late.” “That sounds like a big brother speaking.” “Doesn’t it, just?” Jase watched as his friend walked away. It might have sounded like a big brother, but as Alice had seen,
Jase realized that his own feelings for Mary Kate were anything but brotherly. But he was damned if he knew what to do about it.
Jase and Alice sat across the dining room from Steve and Mary Kate. The other couple had danced while waiting for their dinner. Jase didn’t like the feeling of jealousy that had come over him as he had watched Steve hold Mary Kate closely on the dance floor. He didn’t like it at all, but he recognized it for what it was -- an attack of the green eyed monster.
He couldn’t ever remember feeling jealous over any woman. And he didn’t like the fact that he was jealous over Mary Kate. Jealousy would mean it was serious. Could he be serious about Harry’s daughter?
The two of them, Steve and Mary Kate, looked very good together. He knew how Steve felt about Mary Kate. And from how closely she was letting Steve hold her, it was obvious that she felt something for him, in spite of her statements to the contrary. Jase couldn’t imagine her letting anyone take ungranted liberties with her.
“Jase,” Alice said as they were served dessert, “do me a favor. Don’t ask me to share dinner with you
when your mind is elsewhere. You’ve been horrible company tonight.” “At least the food has been good.” “And how would you know that? You could have been eating cardboard for all you knew. Your steak
came well done and you know you like it medium. You’ve been somewhere else all evening.” “Alice. I’m sorry. Harry asked me to keep an eye on Mary Katherine. I’ve just been pre-occupied.” Alice nodded. “If we weren’t such old friends, I might be offended
. But I read you like a book. And I
have to say it’s about time. I can see the way you look at her. You’d like nothing better than to take her to bed.” Jase shook his head. “She’s an attractive woman. But she’s Harry’s daughter. And she’s, obviously, involved elsewhere.” “Oh, Jase. I used to wish that someday, some woman would tie you up in knots the way you do to half
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“You’ve got your wish.”
“Somehow, it isn’t nearly as satisfying as I thought it would be.”
Jase smiled. “Would you like to dance, Alice?”
“For old times sake?”
“No, just for friendship.”
“Sure.”
From across the room, Gil Jermon watched. He was having dinner with a client. But he hadn’t missed the way that Jase Wilton was watching Mary Kate. There was something there, something that he could use if he had to.
“Will you marry me, Mary Katherine Devlin?” Steve asked as they danced.
“Usually, it’s the woman who wants to know where the relationship is going.”
“Look, Mary Kate, I’ve been approached by some people wanting to know if I would be interested in a run for the Senate in the next election,” Steve explained. “I need a wife by my side, someone from a good Virginia family. Could you live a political life?”
“Steve, is politics what you really want out of life?”
“ It’s one of two courses. If I let it out that I was willing, I could have a place on the federal bench. That could lead to a seat on the Supreme Court. But politics, as in legislating, does appeal to me, far more than sitting on the bench. I wouldn’t mind at all being a Senator from Virginia, with the goal of becoming the President of the United States.”
She sighed. She couldn’t think of anything to which she was less suited than a high profile public life. “No. Steve. I won’t marry you. You’re going places that I’d hold you back from. It wouldn’t be fair to you.”
“I could strangle Edward Hastings with my bare hands for making you so cautious, for making you afraid to reach out and snatch up what’s being offered to you,” Steve replied fiercely in a voice which only Mary Kate could hear.
“It’s not Edward, Steve. I don’t want to hurt you. I simply don’t love you in the way that a woman should love the man she marries. I like you. I value what may turn out to be a close and abiding friendship between us. But I don’t love you. I like spending time with you. But the sight of you doesn’t make my heart go pitter-pat. I don’t find myself unable to concentrate when you’re near me. There’s no chemistry here on my part. That’s not going to change. You deserve better than a woman who doesn’t love you with all her heart.
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There’s a woman out there, somewhere for you. But I’m not her. I am sorry, Steve.” Steve brushed a light kiss across her temple. “I guess that’s final, huh?” “About as final as it gets. Can we still be friends?” “Just try to get rid of me.” “Frankly, I’d rather not. Friends, real friends, are too hard to come by.”
When Steve and Mary Kate had returned to their table, a distinguished looking older man came over to them. “Hello, Steven.” “General Greerson,” Steve acknowledged with respect in his voice. “Sir, may I present Miss Devlin.
Mary Kate, General Nathan Greerson.” The general pulled up a chair without being invited to do so. “Miss Devlin, may I call you Mary Kate?” “Of course.” “I’m in charge of Westfield Military Academy, as this young man will tell you. We’re in desperate need
of a tennis coach for the upcoming year. I saw you trounce this young man earlier tonight. Well done, Miss Devlin. You have my profound respect. We, at Westfield, also need a track and field coach. As well as a physical training instructor at the high school level. I’ve been given to understand that you have teaching credentials and experience in both areas of coaching as well as in general high school physical education. Any or all of those positions are yours for the upcoming school year, if you want them.”
Mary Kate smiled. “Thank you, General. Will you allow me a week to think it over?” “Certainly. Call out to the school one day, and we’ll see that you have a tour,” he invited. “You wouldn’t want to make the decision without seeing the facilities.” “No, I wouldn’t. I’ll certainly think it over, sir. And thank you for the offer.”
“That’s all I can ask,” the general replied. “Now, Steven, you’ve run her ragged on the tennis courts as she trounced you. And the hour has passed ten. Don’t you think it’s time you take her back to her father’s house?”
Steve laughed as he looked at Mary Kate. “You have to learn with this old man that his bite is much worse than his bark. When he phrases something like that, it’s an order, not a suggestion. And if you don’t fall in line, he’ll make life miserable for you.”
Mary Kate laughed. “Sounds like some other people I know. Thanks again for the job offer. I’ll keep it
in mind.” “Call me to arrange a visit to the school,” the general reminded her. “I will. Thank you.”
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“Swimming after the workout on the tennis courts?” he asked from the side of the pool. Mary Kate looked at him and shrugged. “Thought I’d take a sauna.” Jase pulled himself out of the pool. “That sounds like a good idea. I think I’ll join you, if you don’t
mind?” “It’s still a free country.”
The silence between them was companionable for several minutes as they sat inside the very hot redwood enclosure. Jase looked at her as she semireclined on the bench across the room from him. That blue one piece suit was about as modest as a swimsuit could get. Yet, his temperature was up several degrees, and it wasn’t from the superheated rocks or the steam. Her eyes were closed. He threw some water onto the superheated rocks. A cloud of steam rose with a hiss.
“So,” Jase asked, “have you and Steve set a wedding date?” She sat up as though he had shocked her. “No, and we aren’t going to. I told him that I wouldn’t marry
him,” Mary Kate replied. “How did you know that he’d asked me?” “Steve asked me to be his best man,” Jase replied. Mary Kate shook her head. “Oh, God... I’m sorry, Jase... I thought he’d have better sense than to go
making plans.” “Why did you refuse him, Mary Kate?” Jase questioned carefully. “He really cares about you.” “Excuse me,” she said as the timer rang. Jase followed her out of the sauna onto the patio. “Do you love Steve, Mary Kate?” She turned to face him as she toweled off. “What’s love got to do with anything?” she replied, a trace
of bitterness, and more than a trace of anger in her voice. “I don’t fit into the life he wants. Give me credit for being that practical. A dirty campaigner could smear Steve from here to Christmas just on my personal history. He’s got too much to give to let him be held back because of his association with me. He needs a woman who can be good for him, not one he’ll come to hate because she holds him back from what he wants.”
Jase looked at her for a long moment. She cares for him, a lot, Jase thought with a sinking heart. “For
what it’s worth, Mary Kate, I’m sorry.” “Yeah... Thanks...” she said as she pulled on her floor length terry robe and fastened the belt. “I’m going to make myself some tea. You want some?” He offered as he threw on his own robe. “I’m not very good company tonight, Jase. I’ll see you in the morning.”
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“Hey, if you need anything.” She nodded, dismissing his concern. “Thanks, Jase. But I’ll be fine.” “Missy and I have been invited to a party two days from now. One of our old friends is having a
birthday. Would you like to come?” Jase asked. “I don’t think so, Jase. I wouldn’t know anyone there.” “It’s high time you got to know people. Come on, Mary Kate. It’s just a big party at a friend’s house.
You’ll have a good time.” She smiled slightly. “I’ll come with you and Missy. But only if you clear it with the hosts.” “No problem. I was told to bring you. Alice is throwing the party for h
er brother, Luke.” “You aren’t trying to set me up with anyone, are you?”
Jase shook his head negatively. “No. I’m not trying to set you up with anyone.” Not anyone besides me, he added mentally. “It’s just a chance to get out and be with people. Alice’s parties are always a lot of fun. You’ll have a good time. Guaranteed.”
Mary Kate laughed . “And if I don’t, do I get the time back?” Jase smiled at her. “If only it were that simple... But Alice does give good parties. You will enjoy yourself.”
She looked at him for the longest moment. Personally, she couldn’t think of anything that she would enjoy less than seeing Jase and Alice together. Alice the woman Jase loves. Alice the woman who loves Jase. Alice, my friend, who would feel betrayed if she knew about the feelings that Jase stirs in me.
Then she asked hesitantly, “What do you know about Westfield Military Academy?” “I went there. It’s a good school. Why? I saw you and Steve talking with General Greerson.” “Yeah. The General offered me a job as tennis coach there.” “That’s something you would like to do, isn’t it?” “Yes. It’s what I’m trained for.” “Are you going to take it?” “I don’t know yet, Jase. I just don’t know. I don’t want to leave Dad in the lurch. There’s so much to
do at Devlin.” He nodded. “You have to make the decisions that will make you happiest. I know that Harry wants
you to be happy.” “Well, tomorrow’s going to be a long day. I had better get some rest.” “Sleep well,” he said as he touched her face lightly, tenderly. “I’m sorry about Steve, Mary Kate.” She raised her hand to his, sandwiching his hand between hers and her face, relishing his touch,
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however innocent. Their eyes met and held for the longest moment. There was nothing innocent in his eyes. He wanted her as badly as she wanted him.
Mary Kate warred with herself. It would be so easy to let them both have what they wanted so much. But she had promised herself that she wouldn’t make this mistake again. That the next time she was with a man, it would be within marriage. That had been what she had promised herself. Still, she wanted him. She had never wanted anyone the way she wanted him at this moment. It would be so easy to step into his arms and to take what she wanted from him, to give herself to him. But he wasn’t free, the klaxon in her mind sounded. Alice had a claim on him. Alice, your friend, has a claim on him. You can’t do this, Mary Kate. You can’t do this.
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