No Longer a Dream

by Carole Mortimer

Why did everything this man said sound like a threat? 'Very well,' she accepted coolly. 'I—er— thank you,' she added awkwardly, because she didn't know what else to say.

  Amusement glittered in his eyes. 'You're very welcome,' he drawled.

  'I meant for arranging for me to see your father,' she snapped irritably.

  He raised innocent brows. 'Of course.'

  Damn the man. What did he think she meant!

  'It isn't funny,' she chided Vikki indignantly as her friend couldn't seem to stop laughing.

  'Of course it is,' Vikki chuckled. 'He actually made love to you there, in his office? And you said thank you!'

  Her cheeks blushed fiery red. 'I wish I'd never told you about it now,' she said irritably. But she had had to talk to someone about what had happened, and Vikki was her closest friend.

  'I'm not laughing at you, Cat,' her friend soothed. 'I just can't imagine the man I met acting that way. He seemed so—-controlled,' she explained.

  'He is,' she sighed. 'He's just decided I'm to be his next victim.'

  'He doesn't sound like a rapist or a murderer, to me,' Vikki laughed.

  'You know what I meant,' she said impatiently.

  'Yes,' her friend still smiled. 'And if you're so anxious to avoid seeing him again why are you going ahead with this meeting with his father?'

  'Because Caleb isn't going to be there!'

  'Did he say he wasn't?'

  'No. But—'

  'You should try reading the gossip columns for a change, Cat,' Vikki teased. 'Apparently he flies himself all over the world. You did say you were flying to this meeting, didn't you?' She raised questioning eyebrows.

  'But he wouldn't—' she broke off, frowning.

  Caleb hadn't said he would be present during her meeting with his father, but then again he hadn't said he wouldn't be either! She sighed her frustration. 'I'm going to telephone him right now and ask,' she decided determinedly.

  Vikki frowned. 'Do you really think he would tell you if he wants you that badly?'

  Remembering his aversion to any form of artifice she nodded, sure Caleb wouldn't lie even if it might mean she changed her mind about the weekend.

  Caleb was no longer in his office, and his secretary wasn't expecting him back until late next week.

  Cat was satisfied with that, safe in the knowledge that Caleb was back in America.

  Although, in some ways, she wished he were at her side the next evening when she arrived at the airport. She had no idea who was meeting her, where they were going? or how Lucien Steele would receive her when they did arrive.

  'Miss Howard,' greeted a familiar voice.

  She turned, colour heightening her cheeks as she looked at the man she knew only as Norm, remembering that on the last occasion she had met him she had been at a distinct disadvantage. Obviously he remembered it too!'

  Sympathy for her predicament gleamed in his eyes. 'I'm sure that, whatever did happen that night, Caleb met his match,' he said, taking her luggage easily into his hand.

  'Yes.' A smile curved her lips as she relaxed a little.

  'Is this all you have with you?' He indicated the single small suitcase of hers that he held.

  'What more could I need for a weekend— wherever?' she dismissed.

  'True.' He grinned at her effort at appearing nonchalant in the face of flying off into the blue with a complete stranger.

  'Norm—'

  His smile faded. 'I have instructions not to, Cat,' he interrupted regretfully.

  She nodded. 'And you always do what Caleb tells you to do.'

  Amusement gleamed in his eyes once again. 'Within reason,' he drawled.

  She liked this man, Cat decided. He must feel as awkward about this situation as she did, and yet he could still maintain his sense of humour.

  'I'm sorry,' she smiled. 'That was unfair of me.'

  'A little.' Blue eyes twinkled. 'But it was worth a try, hm?'

  'Yes,' she laughed. 'I'm glad you're the one to meet me; I was feeling a little nervous.'

  'I would never have guessed that,' he teased.

  She ruefully acknowledged the truth of his mockery, knew her eyes were too deep a green, her movements too jerky, her usual good humour replaced by sharp suspicion. It just served to confirm what she had always known: she would have made a lousy investigative reporter! But the mystery surrounding this meeting with Lucien Steele certainly had her adrenalin pumping—and her nerves jumping. Which Norm had lightly acknowledged with his mockery. . 'Maybe we should introduce ourselves properly?' he suggested gently. 'Our last meeting wasn't exactly conducive to polite introductions,' he recognised ruefully. 'I'm Norman Bruce, Norm to my friends, which I hope you will be. I'm also Caleb's personal assistant.'

  'And I'm Catherine Howard—Caleb's thorn in his side!'

  He chuckled softly. 'I had noticed he's been going around like a wounded lion the last few weeks.'

  Colour darkened her cheeks as she remembered that Caleb had said she had been constantly on his mind since that morning in his bedroom. 'I don't have the figure to be Daniel!' she returned sharply.

  'I don't think you're that sort of thorn,' Norm mocked.

  She doubted that Caleb Was the sort of man to discuss personal problems with anyone, but it was obvious he had been in enough of an uncharacteristic mood for Norman Bruce to have realised something was bothering him, that the other man had also been astute enough to realise she was the problem. Caleb really was serious about wanting her!

  'Hey, this is really none of my business,' Norm encouraged, seeing her frowning countenance.

  Cat followed him across the tarmac to the waiting plane. 'I just don't want you to think I'm—'

  'I know exactly what you are, Cat,' he cut in firmly. 'You're the writer that wants to meet Lucien—if you were anything else Caleb wouldn't be growling so loudly,' he teased.

  Cat had almost stumbled up the plane's steps before she realised what she was doing. This sleek silver machine wasn't the commercial jet running a domestic flight that she had been expecting, and the Steele Film Studio logo was vividly emblazoned on the tail.

  She clutched at Norm's arm. 'Caleb's plane?' It was difficult to make herself heard in this noisy part of the airport, planes constantly coming and going, the silver jet ready for take-off, just waiting for its passenger—her!

  'Of course.' Norm seemed surprised that she should need to question that.

  She made no effort to climb up the stairway to the interior. 'Who's flying it?'

  A frown darkened his brow. 'The pilot,' he derided drily.

  Cat looked up at the cockpit, but she couldn't make out any faces, only movement. 'Caleb—'

  'Is not flying the plane,' Norm assured her mockingly.

  'He isn't on board?' Somehow she trusted this man to tell her the truth.

  'He isn't even in the country,' he drawled.

  She smiled her relief, hurriedly preceding him on to the plane, glad she had dressed warmly now; the wind was icy.

  The interior of the plane had obviously been fitted out to Caleb's personal needs, the eight luxurious seats arranged in such a way that they were positioned about two tables, probably so that people could work during the flight. Another larger area had been made into a small lounge. They were certainly going to travel in comfort!

  Cat had never flown before, the honeymoon she and Harry had intended taking in Greece the closest she had ever come to an air trip. She had felt no interest in travel since that time. She found that she liked it, could feel the excitement building within her, meeting Norm's indulgent look with gleaming eyes.

  'Your first flight,' he guessed wryly.

  'But not my last,' she assured him enthusiastically. 'This is wonderful!' She had had a wonderful view of the capital's lights as they took off, and they were even now cruising above the clouds as she and Norm sipped the drinks the attendant had brought them, the sky blue-black up here. Strangely, it reminded Cat of Caleb's eyes.

  'Short flights are fin
e,' Norm nodded. 'It's the ones to the States that are killers.'

  Her expression became dreamy. 'I'd love to see America!'

  'Who knows?' He watched her closely. 'Maybe you will one day.'

  'No, I—no,' she said again more forcefully as she realized what he meant. 'I have no wish to go anywhere with your employer!'

  He stood up to stretch his long legs. 'I get the impression there are a lot of things he would like to show you,' he mocked.

  Cat turned away, staring fixedly out of the window, looking straight at the sky that reminded her of blue-black eyes.

  He hadn't come to her last night.

  She had lain in bed re-living those moments in his office, fighting the sleep that wanted to claim her, not wanting his arms about her again, his kisses as he brought her to fulfilment. But she hadn't been able to push back the realms of sleep.

  And nothing had happened.

  She had begun to search for him in the dark corners of her mind, could even now recall her nightgown-clad body running frantically about in the darkness, a pale ethereal figure with despair etched into her face. She had woken sobbing.

  And Caleb hadn't come to her.

  What was he doing to her! For nights she had wished him gone from her dreams, had felt ashamed of her wanton thoughts about him. And this morning she had cried because he had gone!

  'Cat? Are you all right?' Norm's concerned voice cut in on her tortuous thoughts.

  She opened her eyes, blinking, realising as she did so that her lashes were damp with fresh tears. 'I'm fine,' she dismissed abruptly. 'Are we nearly there?'

  'About another twenty minutes,' he replied vaguely, frowning at her. 'Are you feeling airsick?'

  If only it were as simple as that! She didn't know what was wrong with her, had been in one state of turmoil or another since the moment she had met Caleb Steele. And it wasn't getting any better!

  'Not at all,' she dismissed briskly. 'Will Mr Steele have any other guests this weekend?' she asked interestedly.

  'Mr Steele never has guests,' Norm informed her bluntly. 'I have a feeling that the only reason he agreed to see you was because of what Luke told him.'

  She frowned. 'I know that he told his grandfather I wanted to meet him, but I can't see anything odd in that,' she said warily.

  He shrugged. I'm not speaking out of line when I say Luke has a penchant for making mischief…'

  'No,' she acknowledged, already very familiar with that side of that young man.

  'And you can bet on it that, whatever did happen the night of his birthday party, he's embellished it enough to make his grandfather interested in meeting the lady involved.'

  'Oh no!' All the colour drained from her cheeks, humiliation washing over her at the thought of the famous author knowing of the embarrassing events of that night. 'If I were a man I'd punch Luke Steele on the mouth,' she snapped with feeling.

  'If you were a man the situation wouldn't have arisen,' Norm derided.

  If she had been a man in his bed that night Caleb Steele would have done the punching—and it wouldn't have been his son at the receiving end of it!

  But he must have been aware of what Luke had told his grandfather. How could he have put her in this embarrassing position! Quite easily, a little voice mocked, he had some debts of his own to repay.

  'I thought Lucien Steele just wanted to meet me because he approved of what I want to write.' She groaned at her naiveté.

  'Maybe he does,' Norm shrugged. 'But forewarned is forearmed, as the saying goes.'

  She wanted to tell him to instruct the pilot to turn the plane around and take her back home, but she was damned if she would give Luke or Caleb Steele that satisfaction.

  'What does it matter why he's agreed to see me?' she grated. 'As long as he does.'

  Admiration gleamed in pale blue eyes, and Norm smiled his approval, glancing up as a light flashed on at the front of the plane. 'Fasten your seatbelt, Cat, we'll be landing very shortly.'

  That sounded very final, giving her no choice. She would meet Lucien Steele no matter what Luke had told him! And she would get her interview. Damn Caleb for doing this to her!

  'Landings aren't much worse than taking off,' Norm squeezed her hand reassuringly, mistaking the reason for her tension.

  No sooner had the plane touched down than the door was opened, she was ushered down the steps by a now brisk Norman Bruce, the chauffeur opening the door for her to climb into the back of the waiting limousine while Norm supervised their luggage being put into the boot.

  They weren't running any risk of her finding out which airport this was. She actually wouldn't put it past Caleb to have done what he said and had her flown around in circles!

  But it soon became obvious that they were nowhere near London, hardly any time passing at all before they were out of the built-up area and out into open road, the skyline hilly and becoming mountainous. She turned excitedly to Norm, silenced by the rueful rise of his brows. He was right, it wasn't fair to press him for their whereabouts.

  The inside of the car was lovely and warm, which was more than could be said for outside. Heavy snow already lay on the ground, and it was just starting to fall again softly. Scotland or Wales was Cat's guess. She didn't really care which anyway; had no interest in exposing Lucien Steele's hideaway even if she should discover where it was.

  They were driving up a tree-lined driveway now, heavy snow reflected in the headlights, Cat gasping as she saw what lay at the end of that driveway. It looked like a medieval castle!

  She stood and gazed at it in silent awe while Norm and the chauffeur organised the luggage.

  Thick, greystone walls, feet thick, she would guess, lights burning in several of the small diamond-shaped windows, illuminating the beauty of the long sprawling building. It was magnificent!

  'Welcome to my home, Cat,' a softly familiar voice greeted.

  She wrenched her gaze around in the direction of that voice. Caleb!

  CHAPTER FIVE

  She barely gave herself time to register how darkly satanic he looked as he stood in the doorway, dressed in a thick black jumper and black trousers, before turning her accusing gaze on Norm.

  He sighed as he knew the reason for that accusation. 'He isn't a guest, Cat; this is Caleb's house.'

  And he hadn't lied when he said Caleb was out of the country either; both Wales and Scotland counted as countries in their own right as far as the inhabitants were concerned.

  'Come inside out of the snow, Cat,' Caleb prompted. 'You can berate Norm later for any erroneous impressions he may have given you.' He gave the other man an amused look.

  Cat didn't move. 'I think I would like to be taken back to London,' she bit out tautly.

  The amusement instantly faded from black eyes. 'Why?'

  'It's obvious you had me brought here under false pretences, and I—'

  'Excuse us, Norm, Hector,' Caleb grated at the same time as he moved to grasp Cat's arm, pulling her inside the house, across the wide reception area and into a warmly comfortable lounge, the log fire burning in the huge grate mainly responsible for that. The room was big and airy, scatter rugs on the wooden floor, the old and comfortable furniture fitting in exactly with the starkness of stone-grey walls and the huge wooden chandelier hanging from the high ceiling.

  'Let—me—go.' Cat pulled out of his grasp. '

  'I don't need to trick a woman into spending the weekend with me, Catherine Howard,' Caleb told her forcefully. 'They're all too damned willing!'

  She blinked in the face of his vicious anger. 'You—you mean your father really is here?'

  'Yes,' he rasped.

  'But—'

  'It's my house but my father has made it his home,' he cut in coldly. 'You haven't been brought here to amuse me for the weekend!'

  Colour darkened her cheeks. 'There's no need to mock—'

  'If I don't I'm likely to take your pretty neck between my hands and squeeze the life out of you instead!' Black eyes glittered coldly.
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  She could see that she really had infuriated him, frowning her confusion. 'You did make sure that both your office and Norm gave me the impression you had gone to America,' she accused. 'And you deliberately omitted to tell me you intended being here.' She looked at him challengingly.

  'I'm here at my father's request,' he snapped. 'He's out of the practice of entertaining guests, especially young ladies.'

  Her mouth tightened. 'You do realise that he thinks we're—that we're—'

  'Lovers,' he gave a mocking inclination of his head. 'Five minutes in your company and he'll know that isn't true!' he derided.

  She bristled indignantly at his dismissive tone. 'What do you mean?'

  Caleb's mouth twisted. 'Lovers don't act the way we do,' he rasped.

  She swallowed hard. 'And how—how do we act?' she frowned.

  'I act as if I want you.' His eyes were narrowed. 'And you act as if you hate that want. My father is an astute man, he'll soon realise Luke was lying in his insinuations.'

  But would he? If Lucien Steele were that astute would he see the memory of her dreams in her eyes? No, of course he wouldn't; people couldn't see dreams in your eyes!

  She shook her head. 'I can't stay here now.'

  'Why the hell not?' he demanded impatiently.

  She flinched at his anger. 'This whole thing was ridiculous from the first—'

  'And yet you agreed to it,' he reminded curtly.

  'I thought I would spend a pleasant weekend talking to your father, get my information, and go home.' She sighed at her naiveté. She should have known Caleb would do something like this.

  'You can still do that,' he bit Out.

  'No,' she shook her head. 'I want to return to London.'

  'Not tonight,' he told her with finality.

  'Why not?' she asked suspiciously.

  'Because it's nine-thirty at night,' he answered with barely restrained impatience.

  'I don't—'

  'And my plane flew straight back to London,' he finished bluntly.

  Her eyes widened. 'Oh.'

  Caleb sighed. 'You were right that night when you said you're something of a novelty, Cat,' he drawled. 'No other woman I know has wanted to escape my company as desperately as you do.'