by Kay Thorpe
‘Didn’t have time to think about it,’ he admitted. His expression altered as he looked at her. ‘I take it you’re protected?’
Gina choked back the instinctive denial, closing heart and mind to the possible consequences. ‘Of course.’
‘That’s OK, then.’ He dropped a swift kiss on her lips, then rolled away from her to sit up. ‘I’ll be back. We’ve all night to come yet. The next couple of days, too, for that matter. We’re going across to the island tomorrow. I’ve rented a house for the weekend.’
He was taking it for granted that she was as ready as he obviously was to take whatever pleasure was to be had from the affair, but she was past the point of no return. Whatever the eventual cost, it would be worth it, she told herself.
CHAPTER SEVEN
IT WAS raining when they left the mainland, a warm, soft gentle rain that petered out as they passed beneath Lion’s Gate Bridge. Mountains reared to either side of the Straight, white-capped and breathtaking. As they neared the island, the coastline broke into coves and inlets, and stretches of beach. Above and beyond lay the dark mass of forest.
They docked at Nanaimo, heading out onto the Island Highway running up the east coast in the car Ross had commandeered from the hotel. The scenery was magnificent, a wilderness barely touched by man.
‘Have you been here before?’ Gina asked, taking it all in.
‘Once,’ Ross acknowledged. ‘Years ago.’
‘Alone?’
‘No.’ His tone was easy. ‘With a couple of college friends. We lived rough, camping out, fishing and hunting for food. Male bonding, it’s called these days. Back then, it was just three guys with a yen to experience life in the raw for a while. Always meant to come back some time. Just never got round to it.’
Gina glanced his way, appraising the hard-edged profile outlined against the backcloth of forest; trying to visualise the younger image. She wished she could have known him then—except that she would have been about ten at the time he was speaking of.
The house he’d rented lay in a small private bay reached by a narrow dirt road. Built like an oversized log cabin, it overlooked the Straight, with superb views from the wide rear veranda to the mainland mountain ranges. Inside lay three en suite bedrooms, along with huge lounging and dining areas and a kitchen fitted with every aid to modern living.
‘I left it to the agency to arrange a delivery,’ said Ross when Gina opened the refrigerator door to discover it packed with food. ‘They’ll have tried to cover all tastes. There’s a hot tub out back. Be a good place to share a nightcap, don’t you think?’
‘Can’t think of a better,’ she said, closing out any dissenting voices. ‘Did you arrange all this yesterday?’
‘Among other things.’ He drew her to him, leaning his back against a work surface as he used both hands to smooth the hair back from her face, scrutinising every feature in much the same way he’d done the night before. The look in his eyes sent her pulse rate soaring. ‘You’re beautiful!’
‘Hardly on a par with some I could mention,’ she returned lightly, trying to stay on top of her emotions.
‘If you’re talking about the general LA line-up, you’re streets ahead of most,’ he said. ‘You don’t need to pile on the make-up to look good.’
His kiss was no let-down. She put everything she knew into answering it. They made love lying on a bearskin rug in front of a flaming log fire—both fakes, but realistic enough to add atmosphere. Confident in their isolation, Gina relinquished all inhibitions, answering every call made on her with a passion to match.
‘Whoever it was that said all English women were frigid obviously chose the wrong samples,’ Ross observed at one point, taking a moment or two to recover.
‘Either that, or he was useless at it himself,’ she returned, not really caring either way. ‘That’s something you’ll never need to worry about.’
He laughed softly. ‘Not this side of seventy, at any rate, I hope!’
‘Only seventy?’ she teased. ‘Charlie Chaplin was still fathering babies in his seventies.’
She’d managed to forget about last night’s neglect until now. The reminder of what it might possibly have achieved sent her spirits suddenly plunging. What she would do if it did happen, she couldn’t begin to think.
Best not to go down that road at all unless forced, she told herself resolutely. It was only a chance.
Ross had made no reply to the sally. It was only when she turned her head to look at him that she realised he’d actually dozed off. She lay quietly studying the incisive features, feeling the warm, possessive weight of his hand at her breast. A month ago she hadn’t even known he existed. From that to this was difficult to believe.
She was in love with him, she finally admitted. She’d fallen hook, line and sinker that very first week. Walking away then would have been hard, but nowhere near as hard as it was going to be when the time eventually came. The old saying about making one’s bed and lying in it was more than apt.
But that wasn’t now. Giving way to the need coursing through her again, she ran feather-light fingers down the arm stretched across her, and on down the length of his body, feeling muscle ripple beneath the taut, bronzed skin. His eyes opened as she found him, his response instant, the slow smile a stimulant in itself. Not that she needed any stimulation.
The afternoon was drawing to a close when they reluctantly decided enough was enough for the present. They took showers, then cooked steaks on the barbecue outside.
Gina made a salad and opened a bottle of wine, vowing to keep her own consumption to the one glass. She wanted to be in full awareness of every minute of this weekend together. For Ross it might just be sex; for her it was everything she had ever imagined lovemaking could be with the right person.
Apart from the occasional vessel passing through the Straight, there were few lights to be seen. Vancouver could be a million miles away. The night air was cool, but the hot tub more than compensated. Head back against the side-cushion, limbs relaxed in the delicious, bubbling warmth, memory on a back burner for the moment, Gina felt at peace with the world.
‘I could stay here for ever,’ she murmured dreamily.
‘I know the feeling,’ Ross rejoined. ‘Life can be a bit too demanding at times.’
‘It’s what you wanted, though, isn’t it?’ she said. ‘The company, I mean.’
‘Sure,’ he agreed. ‘But it isn’t everything. Oliver recognised that much himself—especially in the last few years. He took time out to be with my mother whenever he could. They did a lot of travelling together. Buena Vista isn’t their only home. There are other properties in Barbados, and the Bahamas. I don’t imagine she’ll want to keep them on now though.’
‘You wouldn’t consider taking them over yourself?’ Gina ventured.
‘I might the Barbados one, if she has no objection. I had a hand in designing the place. You’d enjoy Barbados,’ he added. ‘It’s a very laid-back island. Beautiful too. We could honeymoon there, if you like.’
She gave a brittle laugh. ‘Oh, sure!’
‘Why not?’ he said. ‘Don’t you fancy a couple of weeks of this kind of thing?’
She looked at him in startled realisation. ‘You’re serious, aren’t you?’
‘Never more. We’re going to need some rest and recuperation after the wedding, believe me. Not that I’d anticipate too much resting,’ he added on a note that set the fires burning all over again.
Making love in a hot tub was an experience outside anything she could ever have imagined, though she doubted if it was new to Ross. Wrapped in the thick towelling robe he fetched from the house afterwards, wine glass in hand, his arm about her shoulders, she felt the closest she’d ever been to heaven. If only it could be like this for real, she thought yearningly.
‘Have you seen anything of Roxanne since the will-reading?’ she asked, bringing herself down to earth again.
‘No,’ he said. ‘She’s done a disappearing act.’
‘Aren
’t you worried about her?’
Broad shoulders lifted. ‘She can take care of herself.’
‘What did she do to turn you against her?’ Gina queried tentatively. ‘Was it to do with money?’
Ross looked down at her, gaze sharpened. ‘Has she approached you for any?’
‘Yes,’ she admitted. ‘She needed to repay a loan.’
‘You didn’t give it to her?’
‘The will had only just been read. I didn’t have it to give. In any case…’
‘In any case?’ he prompted as she let the words trail away.
‘It was rather a large amount.’
‘How large?’
‘Three hundred thousand.’
He said something harsh under his breath. ‘I should have known!’
Gina would have happily left the whole subject alone at that point, but if Roxanne was to become her sister-in-law, for however short a time, it needed to be aired.
‘Known what?’ she asked.
‘That she was still up to the same old tricks. She drove Gary into bankruptcy before leaving him. Ruined his life, and his health. I tried to warn him what she was like before he married her, but he wouldn’t listen. He worshipped her.’
‘Where is he now?’ Gina ventured.
‘Dead.’ The tone was hard. ‘He got into difficulties while swimming in the sea apparently. His body was never recovered.’
She drew in a breath. ‘You don’t think…’
‘Who knows? Whichever way, he’s gone. We were at Yale together.’
‘He was here with you on that camping trip?’
‘Yes.’ Ross removed the arm from her shoulders, putting his glass down on the table. ‘You called your parents yesterday, I take it?’
She shook her head, seeing impatience spring suddenly in his eyes.
‘What are you waiting for?’ he demanded.
‘Courage,’ she admitted. ‘They’re going to be badly hurt. Especially my mother. She’s already feeling pushed out.’
‘There’s no reason why she should. Anyway, they have to know some time. It’s Sunday tomorrow. A good day to find them both at home.’
He was right, of course. It was more than time she let them know what was going on. ‘I’ll do it first thing,’ she promised.
‘I’ll make sure of it this time,’ he said hardly. ‘You’re not backing out on me, Gina. There’s too much at stake.’
‘I’ve no intention of backing out,’ she retorted, resenting his tone. ‘Do you really think I’d turn down millions?’
Cynicism overtook impatience as he surveyed her. ‘No, I guess not. Let’s get to bed.’
It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him he’d be spending the night on his own, but that would be as much deprivation to her as to him. She was turning into the kind of person she would have decried not so very long ago, she acknowledged wryly.
She made the phone call straight after breakfast. Her father, it turned out, was playing golf, but her mother made no secret of their disappointment in her for leaving it so long to get in touch.
She received the news about the will badly enough. The wedding plans left her too disturbed to speak at all for several seconds.
‘How can you possibly marry someone you only met such a short time ago?’ she got out. ‘You can’t even have got to know him properly!’
She’d certainly got to know him improperly over the last twenty-four hours, Gina reflected.
‘I really do know what I’m doing, Mom,’ she said, feeling a total fraud.
Ross took the receiver from her, startling her because she hadn’t realised he was that close.
‘Hello, Mrs Saxton,’ he said. ‘I can understand how you must be feeling, but I can assure you Gina is going to be well taken care of. You’ve done a wonderful job bringing her up. She’s a credit to you. I’m looking forward to meeting you and your husband. My mother too. She’ll be speaking to you herself shortly, to make arrangements.’ He listened for a moment or two, expression unrevealing. ‘That really wouldn’t be practical, I’m afraid.’
He handed the instrument back to Gina. ‘She wants to speak to you again.’
‘I was saying that if you’re going to be married at all, it should be here,’ her mother said. ‘What did he mean by it not being practical?’
Gina sought some diplomatic explanation. ‘Just that there’d be far too many people who wouldn’t be able to make it,’ she managed. ‘A whole lot easier for you to come over here. You will come, won’t you?’ she added anxiously.
‘As if we’d think of refusing.’ Jean Saxton sounded resigned, though far from happy about it. ‘It’s going to be a shock for your father.’
‘I know.’ It was all Gina could say. ‘I’ll ring you again tomorrow.’
She replaced the receiver, hating herself. Hating Ross too at present.
‘That’s the rottenest thing I’ve ever done!’ she burst out.
Ross slid his hands about her slender waist, drawing her closer to put his lips first to her temple then slowly down her cheek to probe the very tip of his tongue into the hollow just behind her earlobe, sending shivers chasing the length of her spine.
‘Come on back to bed,’ he said softly.
‘Is sex all you can think about?’ she accused, drawing a smile as he shifted his gaze from her flushed bare face under the tousled blonde hair down to the soft swelling curves revealed by the robe that had slipped back over her shoulders.
‘Right now, yes,’ he said.
They landed back in LA early on the Monday afternoon, driving straight to Buena Vista. Elinor welcomed them eagerly.
‘The formal announcement went in on Saturday,’ she said when they were seated on the terrace with drinks to hand. ‘The media are already vying for exclusives.’
‘No exclusives,’ Ross declared with finality. ‘Have you heard from Roxanne at all?’
‘Not a word,’ she confirmed. ‘I’ve called the apartment several times, but she’s never in. Not that it’s unusual, of course.’
‘I’ll take a run over and check,’ he said. ‘I’ve got the number of those friends of hers in Frisco somewhere, too. I can give them a try.’
‘Any particular reason why you’re so keen to get hold of her?’ his mother asked.
‘She wanted Gina to give her three hundred thousand to pay off a loan. I want to know who the debtor is.’
‘I should never have mentioned it,’ Gina said unhappily.
He shook his head. ‘I’m glad you did. There’s no way she could get her hands on that amount in a lump sum, so the debt must still be outstanding. Always providing she was telling you the truth to start with. She may just have been trying you out for a future soft touch.’
He got up again, leaving his drink untouched. ‘I’ll leave you two to talk weddings for now.’
Gina studied the glass in her hand as he headed back to the house, looking up to meet Elinor’s smile.
‘I’d say the weekend went well,’ she observed.
‘Apart from breaking the news to my parents.’
‘I was wondering when you were going to get round to it.’ Elinor was hesitant, obviously only too aware of the difficulties. ‘How did they take it?’
‘Not very well,’ Gina admitted. ‘Although I’ve only spoken to my mother up to now.’
‘It stands to reason it would be a shock for her, but I’m sure she’ll come round. Perhaps I could call her myself?’
‘Ross already spoke to her. I’m not sure whether it helped all that much, but they will be coming for the wedding.’
Elinor looked relieved. ‘I’ll speak to them later, then. They’ll be staying here, of course. What about your partner?’
Gina had totally forgotten about Barbara until this moment. Another phone call she still had to make. ‘She’ll be too busy with the shop,’ she said.
‘Of course. Especially now she’ll be running it on her own. Ross told me you were making over your share of the business to her.’
‘I’m hardly going to be in need of it.’ Gina gave a short laugh. ‘I sometimes feel I’m living in fantasy land!’
‘You’ll adjust,’ Elinor assured her. ‘A year from now, you’ll wonder how you lived any other kind of life.’
A year from now she may not even be here, Gina reflected. She didn’t really see herself hanging around after the divorce went through. It was a hollow thought.
‘I’m sorry for letting on about Roxanne wanting money,’ she said, looking for a change of subject.
Elinor sighed and shrugged. ‘It’s nothing new, believe me. She probably borrowed on the strength of her expectations. I should have warned her that Oliver lost faith in her after Gary died. Gary was her husband.’
‘I know. Ross told me.’ Gina hesitated, not sure she should say any more than that. On the other hand, having it all in the open could save a lot of bitten lips. ‘I suppose it was even harder for him to accept, Gary being such an old and close friend.’
‘The only son of one of Oliver’s oldest and closest friends too. Oliver blamed himself for giving her too much. She grew up expecting everything to be handed to her on a platter. Gary did his best to satisfy her, but it was never enough. She wouldn’t even contemplate a baby. Not that she’d have been anything of a mother, I’m afraid.’
Elinor made a dismissive gesture reminiscent of her son’s mannerism, briskening her tone. ‘Enough of that. You and I have a lot to get through. Tomorrow, we go dress-hunting. I’ve already seen one or two I’d personally consider suitable, but you’re the one who’ll be wearing it. The invitations are ready to go out too. I thought you might like to look through the list.’
Gina shook her head. ‘There’s really no point. I shan’t know anyone.’
‘Ross must see to it that you meet some of them beforehand, then. Now, about the reception. I thought burgundy, cream and lemon would be a bit different for the colour scheme. Of course, you might have your own ideas?’
Gina shook her head, happy to just go along. If nothing else, the wedding had given Elinor something to occupy her mind at a time when she so badly needed it. The fact that it was all of it meaningless was something she herself just had to live with.
