He frowned. ‘What the—’
‘Go in,’ she urged harshly.
He gave her a glittering look before entering the apartment, looking about uninterestedly before turning back to her. ‘I don’t—’
‘Through there.’ She nodded towards the door to his right, hanging back herself as he pushed open the door with barely concealed impatience, coming to an abrupt halt just inside the room, the smell of new paint very strong.
For a moment he just stood in stunned silence, then he turned to her with blazing eyes. ‘Your bedroom is where?’ he demanded gruffly.
‘Through the back of this room,’ she replied shakily, her own curiosity getting the better of her as she looked into what had once been her comfortably furnished lounge.
The room was empty except for a couple of ladders and some pots of paint, the elegant blue carpet that had once graced the floors taken out along with all the other things that had been burnt in the fire. Some of the wallpaper had been stripped off the walls but the rest of it remained, burnt and scorched, hanging down damply in places where the fire had been put out, the ceiling having black smoke marks streaked across it where the flames had licked against it.
Aaron strode across the room to fling open the door to her bedroom, no sign of the fire in there that had almost taken her life. He closed the door again softly, looking down at the cigarette in his hand before closing his fingers around it and crushing it to ashes.
‘Aaron, no—!’
He looked up at her with dark eyes. ‘Let’s get out of here,’ he rasped, grasping her arm to drag her outside and back down to Matt’s apartment, closing the door firmly behind them.
‘Did you burn your hand just now?’ She frowned at him dazedly, stunned by his action.
‘You almost died in there and yet you’re worried about a little burn on my hand!’ he snapped impatiently. ‘When do you move back in?’ His eyes were narrowed.
‘The decorators optimistically claim the weekend,’ she answered dully.
He nodded. ‘Why don’t you move to another apartment building altogether; the thought of going back there obviously disturbs you!’
‘I’m surprised you noticed!’ she snapped.
‘You would be more than surprised if you knew my thoughts most of the time,’ he said grimly.
Her mouth tightened. ‘I’m moving back to that apartment because it happens to be my home.’
‘And what about the house you intend buying so that you can be near Matt?’ he accused.
She had thought he was annoyed earlier because she was meeting Matt tomorrow, it seemed it was more than that. ‘What house?’ she frowned.
‘The one that’s “completely suitable” and "convenient”, and not too far from the house Matt shares with Molly so that he can continue to have the “best of both worlds”.’ He revealed just how much of her conversation with Matt he had overheard—and misunderstood.
‘You don’t understand—’
‘You’re wrong, I do understand,’ he scorned. ‘Only too well. You dislike marriage and the commitment of such a relationship so much that it doesn’t bother you in the least that the man you want is a married man. You don’t even want him to give up that marriage, are quite content to keep your independence and him as well. I suppose the intention is for Matt to spend his time between the two households.’
‘You know Matt, he’s your best friend, do you think he would agree to that?’ she dismissed scornfully.
‘He seemd to be trying to fight his attraction for you—without much success,’ Aaron rasped. ‘He’s meeting you there tomorrow, isn’t he?’
‘Aaron—’
‘Isn’t he?’ he demanded she answer him.
Her eyes flashed. ‘I’m not going to be brow-beaten into admitting something that isn’t true.’
‘But you are meeting Matt tomorrow?’ he prompted softly.
‘Yes. But—’
‘At a house you’re purchasing so that you can be together?’
‘No!’
‘I heard you, Charly,’ he sighed. ‘And I don’t want you meeting him there tomorrow or any other time.’
‘Do you really think this is any of your business?’ she demanded impatiently.
He nodded. ‘It has been since Molly first telephoned me. What do you think this would do to her if she ever found out the truth?’
‘I know exactly what it would do to her,’ she said bitterly. ‘Which is why I agreed to this false engagement to you. But it’s all a lie, and this latest idea you have that I intend to set up a little love-nest that Matt can fly to whenever he has a spare moment is ridiculous!’ She glared at him. ‘I thought I had made it clear that I will never be any man’s convenience.’
‘Again,’ Aaron put in softly.
She gave him a sharp look. ‘I beg your pardon?’
‘From your attitude towards men and marriage I can only assume I was wrong about your marriage to James Hart being convenient for you, that it was he who found the marriage convenient. I take it there was another woman involved?’
‘Several,’ she acknowledged hardly.
‘One of them perhaps serious enough to want to keep him,’ Aaron guessed shrewdly.
She nodded. ‘Which is why I don’t want Molly to get the wrong idea about Matt and me.’
‘Because you have no intention of keeping him!’ Aaron derided scornfully.
‘There is nothing between Matt and me except friendship,’ she insisted impatiently.
‘Then why was it his apartment you moved into after the fire?’
‘Because he only uses the apartment occasionally,’ she explained exasperatedly. ‘And because he offered.’
‘You must have been pretty good friends for him to have made the offer.’
‘We knew each other, yes,’ she confirmed guardedly, not willing to go into the reasons of their meeting with this man.
‘Before or since your widowhood?’ Aaron derided.
‘Since,’ she snapped. ‘Look, I’m not on trial here, and I don’t have to answer any more of your impertinent questions. It’s late, and quite frankly, I have had enough for one day.’
‘You’re asking me to leave?’
‘Telling would be a better description.’ She looked at him unflinchingly.
He shook his head, his gaze admiring. ‘Small chubby blondes may not be in fashion,’ he drawled. ‘But one small chubby blonde interests me.’
‘You can take your interest and—’
‘Now, now, Charly.’ He took her in his arms, one hand beneath her chin as he lifted her face up to his, taking his time about kissing her. ‘Remember, you’re a lady,’ he taunted. ‘A real lady.’
His kiss contained all the sensuality of the one they had shared earlier—and more. He coaxed and teased and tempted, until she stood on tiptoe to deepen the caress, groaning low in her throat as his tongue dipped enticingly into her mouth, slowly withdrawing before thrusting inside once again.
His eyes were dark as he looked down at her. ‘I have a feeling,’ he murmured, ‘that you and I are going to be lovers one day.’
She recoiled from the statement, her eyes wide. ‘No!’
His mouth twisted as he thrust his hands into his trouser pockets. ‘I’m no more thrilled with the idea than you are,’ he bit out. ‘But I know it’s going to happen.’
‘Not if it isn’t what either of us wants,’ she told him determinedly.
‘Sometimes we have no control over these things,’ he shrugged. ‘And maybe if it does happen Matt will see what a fool he’s making of himself over you,’ he added thoughtfully.
Charly gave him a scornful look. ‘I’m surprised you didn’t make love to me for that reason alone!’
His eyes narrowed. ‘Maybe I would have done if I’d thought of it. But I know it’s going to happen anyway.’
Long after he had left Charly sat alone in the lounge with the lights off. Aaron Grantley threatened to destroy the very existence she had made for herself
the last year.
CHAPTER FOUR
SHE watched Matt’s face as they looked around the house, seeing the excitement in his eyes that he was trying so hard to contain. The house was perfect, she had known it was the moment she first saw it!
‘These old places always need a lot of work doing to them,’ he murmured. ‘The mere fact that there’s no heating is going to cause tremendous problems—’
‘I’ve already had the place surveyed and all the estimates for the work that needs doing,’ she cut in firmly. ‘It’s well within the budget I estimated would be necessary.’
He sighed heavily. ‘It’s a tremendous opportunity, Charly, and don’t think I’m not grateful—’
‘But?’ she prompted softly, sensing the refusal in his voice.
His blue eyes deepened compassionately. ‘But I can’t accept such a generous gift. I didn’t save Stephanie—’
‘You tried.’ She put her hand on his arm. ‘That’s all anyone could have asked of you.’
She and Matt had first met just over a year ago across the bed of her unconscious daughter, Matt the one to tell her Stephanie had received serious head injuries, that even if she did regain consciousness she might never recover completely, but if by some miracle she did recover it would be a long, slow process, months spent in hospital.
Charly had seen a lot of Matt during the next two months as he often spent an hour or so with her during the long night hours she sat with her daughter, a bed having been made up for her in the same room as Stephanie. They had talked of everything during those times, had become firm friends, and it had been during that time that Charly had decided she would give this man the hospital he needed to be able to specialise in patients like Stephanie. Not even her daughter’s death had changed her mind about that.
Shevton House did need a lot of work and alterations to make it into the relaxed and welcoming atmosphere Matt wanted to work with these long-term patients, but the extensive grounds and secluded cove made it ideal for the therapy activities he had in mind. She knew Matt was aware of that too.
‘I can’t accept this, Charly,’ he told her again stubbornly. ‘I was only doing my job.’
‘And I want you to continue doing it,’ she insisted. ‘With the best equipment available.’
‘It would cost you millions.’ He shook his head.
Charly gave a sad smile. ‘I have millions, and no one to spend them on. I’ll buy the house even without your agreement,’ she added stubbornly. ‘I’m sure someone would like to use the facilities I intend providing.’
He looked around the beautiful old house that could be made functional as well as comfortable. ‘I haven’t even discussed it with Molly yet,’ he murmured.
‘Then do so,’ she urged, sensing he was weakening, ‘Tell her next weekend while you’re away.’
He frowned, indecision still in his face. ‘It’s a big step to take,’ he grimaced. ‘Working for a hospital is one thing, going out on my own is something else.’
‘When we talked you told me this was your dream in life,’ she reminded.
Matt gave a rueful shrug. ‘Having a dream and then having you buy it for me are two different things.’
Charly turned angrily to face him. ‘In other words it was all just talk, you didn’t really want—’
‘No, that isn’t true,’ he shook his head emphatically. ‘Dare I say “this is so sudden, Mrs Hart"?’ he derided.
Her mouth quirked. ‘No, you daren’t.’
‘Because it isn’t,’ he acknowledged. ‘But I have to admit I didn’t think you would come through with your offer.’
Charly frowned at this admission. ‘But I said I would.’
‘I know,’ he sighed. ‘But people tend to—I won’t say forget, because that wouldn’t be true,’ Matt frowned. ‘But once a patient has left my care, or—or died,’ he added regretfully, ‘then relatives tend to want to put out of their minds anyone and anything that reminds them of that time.’
She nodded. ‘It was a traumatic time, but I promised you the hospital, and I’m going to make sure you get it. I know you weren’t able to save Stephanie, but that wasn’t your fault,’ she told him earnestly. ‘And with the facilities I want to provide for you here you’ll be able to run one of the best hospitals for injuries of that kind possibly in the world.’
‘Staffing it would definitely be no problem,’ Matt acknowledged ruefully.
She looked up at him with anxious grey eyes. ‘Then you will seriously consider accepting it as a gift?’
He grimaced. ‘I’d be a fool to turn it down.’
‘I think so, yes,’ she confirmed mockingly.
He laughed softly. ‘But as most people who know me would tell you, I have been known to be a fool on occasions,’ he said dryly.
‘And this time?’
‘I really don’t know, Charly,’ he told her truthfully. ‘It’s a wonderful opportunity, but I do have to talk it over with Molly first, see how it will affect her. You saw what she was like last night, I have to know she could cope with it before I accepted your offer,’ he frowned. ‘I know that must sound ungrateful—’
‘Not at all,’ she assured him warmly. ‘It sounds exactly like one half of a happy marriage should react. It’s good to hear.’
‘How is the situation with Aaron going?’ he asked casually—too casually!
She stiffened. ‘He’s bossy, overbearing, totally impossible to reason with—’
‘And he’s very attracted to you,’ Matt finished dryly.
She gave him a sharp look, her eyes narrowed. ‘He told you?’
‘He didn’t have to,’ his friend derided. ‘I’ve known him long enough to recognise the signs.’
‘You mean he’s often attracted to women who can’t stand him!’ Charly scorned.
Matt laughed softly. ‘Usually you can’t keep the woman away from him.’
‘I can see how quite a lot of them would want to do him physical harm!’
‘That wasn’t quite what I meant,’ he chuckled.
‘Matt.’ She looked at him sternly. ‘I hope you don’t intend matchmaking between Aaron and me—’
‘Good heavens, no,’ he dismissed. ‘Aaron never has any trouble doing his own attracting.’
‘He’s out of luck this time,’ she scowled.
‘He can be quite good fun to be with if you let him,’ Matt told her softly.
‘I’m not letting him,’ she stated firmly. ‘Not with me.’
‘Hm,’ Matt considered. ‘Obstinacy on the part of the woman has been known to make him more determined.’
‘And giving in to him isn’t part of my plans,’ she drawled. ‘I’d rather be obstinate. And in the meantime I would prefer it if you didn’t mention anything about this house or the hospital to him.’
‘Why?’ Matt was obviously puzzled by the request.
‘Because I—I have a competitor for the sale of this house.’ She avoided his probing gaze. ‘And the less people that know about the deal the better.’
‘Aaron can be the soul of discretion.’
Her mouth twisted. ‘I have yet to witness that! He still doesn’t believe I only moved into your apartment because of the fire in mine, and he’s also implied I married James to get control of Hartall Industries,’ she recalled hardly.
‘Aaron can be a lot of things,’ Matt muttered, ‘but I’ve never known him to be this much of an idiot before!’
She gave a derisive smile. ‘He seems to have a blind spot where I’m concerned, prefers to believe the worst.’
‘He wouldn’t if you explained it all to him—’
‘No,’ she stated firmly. ‘Let him go on thinking what he likes about me. I do not want any publicity about my part in the acquisition of this property,’ she told him determinedly. ‘The press would take delight in splashing a story like this across the front pages of their newspapers. I can almost see the headlines now,’ she said bitterly. “‘Allenby-Hart Heiress Buys Hospital for her Dead Daugh
ter’s Doctor”. I couldn’t bear that, Matt,’ she shuddered with loathing.
‘But it’s the truth,’ he put in gently.
‘Not the way they would write it,’ she grimaced. ‘I’ve been the subject of publicity too many times not to know how the press would deal with that information. They could take it two ways, either making it into something sickeningly sentimental, or imply so much into our relationship that no matter how we both denied it, or how much she loves you, Molly would have to wonder if there weren’t some truth to the story. The acquisition of this house is to be a private deal, and as soon as possible I will be deeding it over to you. Hopefully no one will ever need to know I was involved,’ she dismissed.
‘I had thought of calling it the Stephanie Hart Hospital.’ Matt looked at her anxiously.
Charly swallowed hard, blinking back the tears. ‘I—I’m grateful for the sentiment,’ she spoke huskily, ‘but I’d rather you didn’t.’
‘No, perhaps not,’ he agreed heavily. ‘But I’m sure Aaron would respect the confidence.’
And she was equally sure that if Aaron Grantley knew the reason she was buying Shevton House, that she intended giving it to Matt for his hospital, that he would completely misinterpret the gesture, as he had misinterpreted everything else about the two of them. He did indeed seem to have a blind spot where she was concerned!
‘I’d prefer that you didn’t tell him,’ Charly said with quiet forcefulness. ‘Not until something definite has been decided, at least.’
‘I can understand that,’ Matt nodded. ‘And I will talk to Molly about it next weekend.’
She gave an inclination of her head. ‘I would be grateful if you would; I really do need an answer as soon as possible.’
She was already confident of what Matt’s answer would be, knew Molly was the sort of wife who encouraged her husband’s advancement in his career. She was also well aware of what Aaron Grantley would think of her buying Shevton House for Matt; he would think she was trying to buy the other man!
* * *
The decorators had finished by the Thursday evening, as they had promised they would, the carpet and new furniture delivered and put in on the Friday, and all that she had to do now was move her things back upstairs. And that was something she was reluctant to do.
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