The Passionate Lover

by Carole Mortimer

  It was incongruous that they should be talking about such a subject when they hadn't seen each other for over a week, at which time they had parted so oddly. 'Your aunt…?'

  'Is not feeling well,' he ran a hand around the back of his tired nape.

  'Kenny…?'

  His mouth twisted. 'Yes—Kenny,' he rasped with distaste. 'I take it you want to know where the errant bridegroom is too?'

  She flinched at his sarcasm, wondering if she could possibly have dreamt his gentleness the night they had made love; he seemed made out of tempered steel now, his clean-shaven jaw rigid. 'He isn't with you, I take it,' she dismissed coolly.

  'No, he isn't,' Kyle rasped. 'And if you want to know more about that I'm afraid you'll have to wait until I've at least showered and changed. I've been travelling most of the day, and I'm damned tired.'

  'But—'

  'I said later, Shelby,' he repeated, his eyes hardened to icy chips.

  Her mouth set stubbornly at his dismissal of her. 'And your aunt?'

  He shrugged uninterestedly. 'She's downstairs somewhere,' he sighed.

  With a contemptuous glance in his direction Shelby brushed past him and went down the stairs, conscious of his gaze on her for several seconds before he turned sharply and went to his room. Shelby was more concerned about Helen Whitney at the moment, and what Kyle could possibly have said to her to have upset her enough to cause her to slam doors; Helen certainly didn't strike her as the sort of woman to become emotionally upset over nothing. She respected the fact that Kyle was tired, knew he must be to have admitted such a thing, but surely he didn't have to come home and upset his aunt more than she already was.

  Helen was in the kitchen, sitting at the table sobbing her heart out, and Shelby's heart instantly went out to her. 'What is it?' she moved to put her arm about the older woman. 'Helen, tell me what's wrong? Kenny isn't hurt, is he?' she added concernedly.

  Helen shook her head, making some effort to mop up her tears. 'In some ways it might be better if he were!'

  'He's coming home?'

  'In a few days,' his mother nodded. 'Although Kyle will never forgive him for this.'

  Kyle again. Why should everyone in this household be so intent on pleasing Kyle? Well here was one person who wasn't impressed by his arrogance. 'Why don't you go up to your room and lie down for a while, Helen,' she suggested softly.

  'Kyle's dinner—'

  Her mouth tightened. 'I'm sure I can manage to cook for him for this one night. After all,' she added lightly as the other woman didn't look convinced as to the wisdom of this suggestion, 'I cooked for him at the cabin for several days, and he managed to survive that.'

  Helen gave a wan smile at her attempt to joke. 'Maybe I will go and lie down. You'll find some steaks in the refrigerator, and—'

  'I'll cope,' Shelby assured her as she helped her towards the door. 'You just go and rest.'

  As soon as she knew Helen was safely in her room she went back upstairs herself, not to her own bedroom but straight to Kyle's. He may be tired, but he wasn't the only one, and it was time he told her what was going on.

  Her knock on his bedroom door elicited no answer, and after a brief impatient pause she opened the door and went in. Clothes were strewn about the room, his half-emptied suitcase standing open on the bed. But there was no sign of Kyle. Perhaps he had taken pity on his aunt after all and had gone to comfort her.

  She was just in the process of turning to leave when the adjoining bathroom door opened and Kyle stood in the doorway, his only covering a towel draped lightly about his hips.

  The insolently appraising look he gave her was meant to cause embarrassment at being caught in his room in this way, but for once Shelby refused to be embarrassed by this man, her gaze cool as she looked straight back at him. 'I wanted to talk to you,' she told him firmly.

  'Obviously,' he drawled, putting down the second towel he had been using to dry his hair. 'But couldn't it have waited until I came downstairs?'

  She gave him a disparaging look, stung by his condescending attitude. 'I'm not seeing anything now that I haven't seen before. In fact,' she raised mocking brows, 'I've seen much more of you than this—remember?'

  For a moment he looked stunned by her bluntly spoken words, and then he smiled, a relaxed and humorous smile. 'So you have,' he acknowledged. 'Although I'm a little surprised at your mentioning it,' he had to admit.

  She shrugged, pleased now that she had chosen to bring up the subject rather than wait for him to do so, knowing that this way she had put him at a disadvantage rather than the other way around. 'Are we supposed to pretend it didn't happen?'

  His mouth twisted. 'That would be impossible, wouldn't it?'

  'I think so,' she nodded, knowing she would never forget the experience.

  His eyes hardened. 'Although I hardly think that one night entitles you to walk into my bedroom whenever you feel so inclined,' he bit out.

  This time she couldn't prevent the blush that rushed to her pale cheeks. 'I knocked, you just didn't hear me because you were in the shower.'

  'In that case it's customary to wait outside until you are heard.' He threw off the towel and began to dress, untroubled by her presence in the room.

  Shelby knew that he was now trying to reassert his authority by putting her at the disadvantage she had denied him earlier. And she wasn't going to fall into that trap, could meet him on an equal footing away from the cabin, where he had obviously had the upper hand. 'I think you've lost weight,' she remarked softly, deliberately personal.

  His head snapped up, his eyes narrowing at her assessing gaze on the leanness of his body. 'Maybe,' he rasped. 'And now perhaps you wouldn't mind telling me what you wanted to talk to me about?'

  'Your aunt is very upset—'

  'Understandable, in the circumstances, wouldn't you say?' He pulled on a navy blue sweater to contrast with the light grey trousers he wore, before moving to comb back the thickness of his hair.

  Shelby watched him, her senses heightened from having watched him dress, her body tingling slightly now as she remembered running her fingers through that thick dark hair. 'That's just the problem,' she dragged her gaze back to his hard face. 'I don't know the circumstances.'

  'Helen didn't tell you?'

  'She seemed very distraught, I didn't like to pressure her into telling me anything.'

  'Where is she now?' he asked resignedly.

  'In her room, resting.'

  He nodded. 'I think that's the best place for her.' He looked at her with narrowed eyes. 'How are you at taking shocking news?'

  She swallowed hard. 'I can take it.' She could take anything after the last week of trauma and uncertainty.

  Kyle shrugged. 'Okay, then. I finally tracked Kenny and Wendy down in Las Vegas.'

  'Las Vegas?' she repeated incredulously, wondering what on earth the other couple had been doing there.

  'Nevada,' Kyle nodded, looking at her expectantly.

  Shelby shook her head. 'Why would they want to go there? Kenny doesn't have a secret gambling habit, does he?' she asked with suspicion.

  His mouth twisted into a humourless smile. 'If he does it's news to me, but then so have a lot of other things about that young man been lately,' he added grimly. 'No, the reason they were in Las Vegas is quite simple, in the state of Nevada you can get married with no delay.'

  'Married…?'

  'Kenny and Wendy were married a week ago,' he confirmed harshly.

  Kyle had said it would be a shocking announcement, but thinking about it she wasn't altogether sure that it was so surprising. Why else would the other couple have run off together if they didn't intend staying together? After all, this was Montana not London, and the very fact that Kenny and Wendy had gone away together had caused a tremendous scandal in the area.

  'Shelby?'

  She looked up at Kyle, attempting a relaxed smile, knowing she succeeded in part when she saw the admiration in his eyes. 'It's as well I cancelled all of the plans fo
r my marriage to Kenny,' she dismissed.

  'You did?'

  'Yes. Don't look so worried, Kyle,' she mocked his grim expression. 'After all, this is what you wanted.'

  'I'll admit I didn't want you to marry Kenny, but I didn't want it to end this way either.'

  'Better now than later,' she shrugged.

  'Maybe it wouldn't have ended later.'

  She gave a bitter laugh. 'Believe me, it would.' She thought of the real reason Kenny had decided not to marry her, knowing now that whenever he had found out about that would have been the time their relationship ended. Thank God she had told him before they were married!

  'I hope you don't mean because of what happened between us at the cabin?' Kyle probed.

  She gave him a sharp look. 'No, of course I don't. Although you have to admit I could hardly have married your cousin with a clear conscience after that!'

  His jaw set rigidly. 'If I had still believed there was any chance of your marrying Kenny it would never have been allowed to happen.'

  She raised auburn brows at his arrogance. 'You sound very sure of that.'

  'I am.'

  'It must be wonderful to have such control,' she scorned. 'Unfortunately, I couldn't have guaranteed the same,' she derided with sarcasm.

  'I wasn't even sure you would remember it had happened,' Kyle bit out. 'You were burning up with a fever pretty badly the following day.'

  'Oh I remember it very well,' she mocked. 'I'm certainly not going to hide behind my illness.'

  'No, you aren't, are you?' Grudging respect again entered his icy grey eyes. 'A lot of women would have done so.'

  'Not me.'

  'No.'

  'Don't look so surprised, Kyle.' She moved towards the door. 'I'm an adult, and as such I take full responsibility for my actions, whether they be right or wrong.'

  'I wonder which you consider that night to be,' he said dryly. 'Don't worry,' he derided, 'I'm not about to ask for an answer.'

  Perhaps that was as well, because her answer could have embarrassed both of them! She didn't look at him as they walked down the wide staircase together. 'I'd like to leave here before Kenny and Wendy get back.' She sensed his critical gaze on her as she moved down the stairs with difficulty, her ankle still troubling her. 'I'm perfectly well enough to travel now,' she said with more confidence than she felt.

  'The nurse told me you should rest your ankle for at least another few days.'

  Her eyes widened. 'When did you speak to Amy?'

  'Before I left, and she was pretty emphatic about how long you should rest.' He gave her a stern look. 'It's only been a week now, and already you look as if you've been doing too much.'

  She knew that she still looked pale, but there was no need for him to point out that fact. 'I'd rather not see Kenny again now that I know he's married,' she said stubbornly.

  'You aren't going anywhere until your ankle is completely better,' he told her with arrogance. 'And you have only just got over the 'flu.'

  'Nevertheless, I'd rather leave.'

  'No.'

  She looked at him with astounded eyes. 'What do you mean, no? I wasn't asking your permission, Kyle, I was just informing you of my immediate plans.'

  'And I said no.'

  'You can hardly stop me if I decide to go,' she scorned.

  'Someone would have to drive you down to the airport,' he reminded. 'And without my say-so no one on the ranch is going to do that.'

  She knew Kyle would be as good as his word, that if so instructed none of the employees here would lift a finger to help her leave the ranch. 'This is rather a turn-around, isn't it, Kyle?' she scorned angrily. 'From the first day I arrived here you've wanted me to leave.' And she didn't fool herself now that his change of mind had anything to do with the fact that they had made love together.

  His mouth was grim. 'It's because I feel that you've been given a raw deal that I don't intend to let you leave here now, when you obviously aren't well enough.'

  Shelby felt frustrated by his cool arrogance. 'I believe I'm the best judge of that,' she snapped.

  'You're still limping badly despite the help of that stick,' he pointed out bluntly. 'And I doubt your strength has completely returned after you were so ill.'

  'Your solicitude is welcome,' she drawled, 'if a little suspect. Are you sure you don't just want me to be here when Kenny returns with his wife so that you can witness my final humiliation?' She looked at him with questioning eyes.

  His expression was glacial as he looked back at her. 'Think what the hell you please,' he rasped. 'But you aren't leaving here until I'm completely satisfied you're well enough to do so without collapsing at some airport along the way.'

  'And just what sort of test do you intend to give me to ascertain that?' her eyes flashed like emeralds. 'We've already proved that I can function in bed even with a strained ankle!'

  The pulse jerking in his jaw was the only sign he gave that his anger had increased. 'At least your sharp tongue hasn't suffered this last week,' was the only comment he finally made, further evidence of his intense control. 'Now how about dinner, am I cooking or are you?' he abruptly changed the subject.

  But Shelby wasn't so easily distracted, still angry at his high-handed attitude to her leaving. 'Are you sure you wouldn't rather go over to Mrs Judd's for dinner? I believe she's telephoned several times.' That was an understatement, she knew for a fact that Sylvia Judd had telephoned daily for any news of Kyle.

  'I know about her calls,' Kyle was obviously aware of her sarcasm. 'I'll talk to her later,' he dismissed.

  'That isn't nice,' she taunted. 'Not when she's been so concerned about you.'

  'Don't be bitchy, Shelby,' he advised wearily. 'I've told you Sylvia is only a friend.'

  She stiffened. 'It's really none of my business what your relationship with her is.'

  'Isn't it?' he shrugged. 'I'm not so sure about that. Doesn't it interest you to know that I didn't already have a mistress when we went to bed together?'

  'Why should it?' she dismissed tightly. 'You made it obvious that you considered me unworthy of any man's attention for more than one night!'

  'Shelby—'

  'Let's have dinner,' she said abruptly, not wanting to discuss that night any longer. 'I'm cooking.'

  He continued to look at her undecidedly for several long timeless seconds, and then he shrugged resignedly. 'We'll do it together,' he finally said.

  'There's no need—'

  'Don't let's argue about that too, Shelby,' he interrupted, his patience—what there was of it— wearing a little thin. 'I seem to remember we called a truce once.'

  'And I seem to remember it didn't last very long!'

  He gave a rueful grin. 'Then we'll try harder. At least this time if I become too overbearing you can leave the room if you want to.'

  'That's true,' she acknowledged dryly.

  In the end they didn't work together too badly, cooking the meal companionably, eating silently as they both seemed lost in thought, although Shelby insisted on clearing away, noticing how strained Kyle was looking by that time.

  'Thanks,' he took the cup of coffee she brought him through to the lounge. 'I've been putting it off,' he sighed, 'but I suppose I'll have to call Ben Seymore.'

  Her eyes widened as she sat down in a chair across the room from him, crossing one slender leg over the other. 'You haven't done that yet?'

  'Obviously not,' he bit out. 'It isn't easy telling a man his only offspring has eloped!'

  'No,' she acknowledged softly. 'Maybe you should just leave it until Kenny and Wendy get back and let them go over and explain to her father.'

  'I said it wouldn't be easy, Shelby,' Kyle rasped. 'I didn't say I wouldn't do it.'

  She shrugged, used to his terseness by now. 'In that case I'll go and check on your aunt while you make your call.'

  'You don't have to leave, this conversation isn't private,' he dismissed.

  Shelby stood up, smoothing down her blouse before picking
up her stick. 'I want to check on her anyway.'

  'Please yourself,' he snapped his displeasure at her determination. 'Although going up and down those stairs isn't going to help your ankle in the least.'

  She gave him a sweetly sarcastic smile. 'I'll live with it,' she scorned.

  Kyle gave her an impatient look before lifting up the telephone receiver and beginning to dial, effectively dismissing her from the room and his mind.

  Shelby made her way slowly up the stairs, wondering if she and Kyle would ever be able to meet without resorting to arguing. She very much doubted it.

  Her soft knock on Helen's door received no response, and so she quietly opened it, finding the other woman sleeping quietly on the bed, the exhaustion and worry eased from her face as she slept. It was probably the best thing she could be doing at the moment, things never seemed so black in the clear light of day after a good night's sleep.

  Kyle was gone from the lounge when she got back downstairs a few minutes later, and so she cleared away their empty coffee cups, just returning from the kitchen when Kyle came out of his study, his expression preoccupied.

  'How did Mr Seymore take the news?' she asked as he seemed disinclined to speak.

  'As you might expect—angrily,' Kyle grimaced. 'But he'll get over it eventually.'

  She nodded. 'Most fathers find it difficult at first to accept that their daughter has found a man she loves more than him.'

  'Did yours?'

  'My father died years ago, a long time before I was married,' she answered vaguely, watching as he put on his heavy jacket. 'Are you going out?' she frowned.

  He gave a rueful shrug. 'I telephoned Sylvia after I had spoken to Ben, she would like to see me.'

  Shelby stiffened at his mention of the beautiful widow, sure that the other woman wanted more than just to see him. 'Does it have to be tonight, I thought you were tired?'

  'I am.' He looked no less strained than he had earlier. 'But she said it was urgent.'

  'In that case I mustn't delay you any longer, must I?' her voice was brittle.

  'Shelby—'

  'Have a good time,' she told him lightly, sure that the only emergency Sylvia Judd had was that she hadn't seen Kyle for over a week. . He looked as if he would like to say more, then he swore softly under his breath before striding over to the door. 'Why don't you have an early night,' he suggested harshly, making it more of an order than anything else. 'You're looking pale. And tomorrow promises to be a long day.'