Jed Hunter's Reluctant Bride

by James, Susanne

  He stared across at her, his black eyes boring into her gentle green ones. She needn’t have confessed to her ignorance of the finer things in life, he thought. Could have pretended that dining in a place like the Laurels was not a new experience. Her simplicity of nature touched him again. No other woman he’d ever been with had had this effect on him. She was undemanding and unpretentious, yet no shrinking violet either, and some of her comments last night had made him laugh out loud. His usual women-friends weren’t generally known for their sense of humour… By mid afternoon they were on their way back to town, and when he drew up outside her front gate he turned briefly to look at her, wondering what was going through her head. She had been very quiet today, he thought, all the easy familiarity of last night completely gone, her quick-witted remarks non-existent.

  ‘Are you okay, Cryssie?’ he asked casually.

  ‘I’m perfectly okay, thank you—Jeremy,’ she replied. ‘And don’t worry—I’ll remember to call you Mr. Hunter from now on.’

  A sudden look of realisation crossed his features for a second, and he gripped her wrist roughly. ‘If you’re referring to my suggestion that we should be discreet about last night,’ he said curtly, ‘I can assure you that it was for your sake, not mine!’

  ‘Of course it was, Jeremy,’ she said sweetly.

  And with that she opened her door and got out before he could help her, or say another word.

  The following day it was business as usual, and as soon as Cryssie got to work she saw that Jed had already arrived. Parking her car a long way away from the silver Porsche, she ran up the stairs to the office, where Rose was booting up the computers.

  ‘Hi, Rose,’ she said breathlessly, taking off her coat. ‘Did you have a good New Year’s Eve?’

  ‘Oh—so-so,’ the woman replied. ‘You?’

  ‘Oh…yes, as usual,’ Cryssie replied vaguely, crossing her fingers as she did so. She couldn’t describe her New Year’s Eve as so-so! ‘Have you seen Mr Hunter yet? His car’s here.’

  ‘Yes,’ Rose replied. ‘He put his head around the door a few minutes ago. Wants to see us all one by one. He’s instructed me to bring him the relevant files,’ she added importantly.

  As they got on with their work, Rose said, ‘What do you think of our new boss, then, Cryssie? Do you think our jobs really are safe—for the time being at least? Or will he start making changes that’ll force us to resign? Or maybe we’ll be chucked out!’

  Cryssie kept her eyes on her computer. ‘Why ask me, Rose?’

  ‘Oh…only that you have met him before, haven’t you? I just thought you might have some inside knowledge, that’s all.’

  ‘Our acquaintance was just a passing encounter in Latimer’s,’ Cryssie said. ‘I was a customer—and I sort of complained about something—and he just happened to be around at the time.’

  ‘Well, you have to agree that he’s a looker,’ Rose said, sighing briefly. ‘I don’t think any of us would throw him out of bed, do you?’

  ‘Probably not,’ Cryssie replied, turning her face away, aware that it was burning.

  ‘I wonder whether sir likes coffee at eleven o’clock,’ Rose said as she took another batch of files from the cabinet. ‘And whether he likes milk, and one lump or two?’

  ‘Oh, he—’ Cryssie almost said that he liked it black with no sugar, but stopped herself just in time! ‘Just put everything on the tray and let him help himself,’ she said quickly.

  Presently Rose left the room with the things that Jed wanted, and Cryssie sat back for a moment. She hadn’t dropped any bricks so far, she thought, but it was hard to try and eradicate her recent experiences from her mind. To say the whole business was unreal, not to say surreal, was an understatement! And the mental picture of her employer lying on the bed, naked apart from his boxers, still made her senses rush. She admitted to herself for the first time, and reluctantly, how close she might have come to lying beside him, to allowing those long, sensitive fingers to caress her body. And now she was expected to forget everything and pretend it had never happened. It was simply an impossibility. Nothing about Jeremy Hunter was unforgettable!

  Swallowing hard, she reached for the bottle of water she kept by her side and sipped. She must keep reminding herself that so far as the man was concerned the evening had been inconsequential, unimportant. It must be obvious to him that she could never compete with all the women he had bedded in his lifetime, and from a sexual point of view she had nothing that would satisfy him. She knew that. And she cringed again as she remembered his almost curt directive that their evening and night together must remain a closely guarded secret. The thought of her name being linked with his in any other way than business would hardly add to his professional or personal standing! However much he’d tried to excuse his directive! Well, as she had assured him, her lips were sealed.

  Almost at the end of the day, the internal buzzer sounded and Cryssie was summoned to enter the office so recently vacated by the Lewis brothers. She couldn’t help feeling a tinge of sadness to see their place taken by someone else—even if it was by the rich and gorgeous Mr J. Hunter!

  He stood up as she came in, indicating the chair at the other side of the desk where he was sitting. In spite of herself Cryssie felt her mouth dry up as she looked at him squarely. Even someone like Rose—well on in years and happily married—had made it clear that she would find a night alone with the man appealing! And today, in this dusty office, he was certainly that. He was well turned out, as always, but his dark hair seemed to fall more carelessly over his forehead than usual, and it made Cryssie want to put out her hand and smooth it gently. Stop! she told herself. That night is history! Any such familiar thoughts were out of order! And, as well as that, these teenage feelings were not part of her agenda—they had been buried long ago. But she realised with growing concern that he was filling more of her thoughts than was good for her—for either of them. She must keep her eye firmly fixed on the goal ahead—which was to constantly improve her prospects so that she need never feel afraid for Milo and his future.

  ‘Sit down, Cryssie,’ he said formally, and their eyes locked for a second as he looked across at her. ‘I take it that your family were not unduly alarmed at your delay in returning home from the Laurels?’ he added quietly.

  ‘They weren’t alarmed at all, thank you,’ Cryssie answered—which was true. Polly had barely expressed any interest in what the ‘meeting’ had been about, her only reaction being amusement in seeing Cryssie turning up still dressed in her long frock. But Milo had rushed into her arms and showered her with kisses, demanding that she must come and play with him.

  Jed didn’t even bother to open the file with her name on it, but leaned back and glanced up at her from beneath his dark eyebrows, his expression cool. Cryssie would have loved to be able to read his thoughts…Did they match her own? she wondered. The memory of their time together would be impinged for ever on her consciousness!

  ‘I have very little to discuss with you,’ he said casually. ‘I think we know each other reasonably well, and you’ve told me most of what I need to know.’ He paused. ‘The Lewises have given you a very good recommendation, saying that your figures were always in order and everyone got paid on time.’ Cryssie said nothing, so he continued. ‘Also that you are very popular with the rest of the staff. Relationships are important,’ he added, shooting her a quick glance.

  ‘In a close-knit environment that’s certainly true,’ Cryssie ventured. ‘But the staff are really happy here—happy with their lot.’

  She hoped he was getting her message: that he shouldn’t start making a clean sweep through the firm, upsetting everything and everybody.

  ‘Our previous discussions have made my meeting now with you unnecessary,’ he went on coolly, ‘but I thought it might look strange not to ask you to come in as everyone else has done.’

  But of course, Cryssie thought—don’t let’s forget our big secret!

  He looked up then, and added, ‘S
o that will be all, for the moment.’

  Looking at her, as she sat with her hands clasped anxiously in her lap, suddenly made him want to say something to reassure her. But instead he got up abruptly, indicating that the meeting was over.

  Cryssie waited for a second before throwing discretion to the winds. ‘I…we…are all very anxious to know what your plans are, Mr Hunter. No one feels safe. Will we all have our jobs next year?’ She swallowed. Why was she bothering to ask him? she thought. Wasn’t he just the sort of employer she’d vowed never to work for ever again? But for the moment she couldn’t afford to be choosy! She needed the money!

  He moved across towards her and looked down into her upturned face. ‘We do, naturally, have plans for the company,’ he said smoothly, ‘but at this stage it would be unwise to say anything.’ He placed a hand briefly on her arm, feeling her tremble perceptibly. ‘Hydebound must change course—must develop and move on. Every company must, or die. You should know that. Something has to happen here. The firm cannot linger on, getting more and more into debt.’ He paused. ‘But try not to worry too much. You will all be informed in plenty of time as to if and when you are likely to be affected.’

  Cryssie shook her head forlornly. ‘It’s not a good season of the year to have this kind of upheaval,’ she said, rather stupidly. ‘I for one can do without it.’

  ‘I’m sorry about that,’ he said dryly. ‘I can see that I must improve on my timing.’

  And that was that. Cryssie went back to her office no wiser. It was possible that some of them would be retained—but what of the rest?

  Cryssie found it hard to stop her eyes filling with tears. But was that surprising? She was tired and confused…but mostly confused…at the rollercoaster of her emotions.

  Rose, who was packing up to go home, looked at her curiously. ‘What’s up with you?’ she asked. ‘He wasn’t unpleasant, was he?’ She picked up her bag. ‘I found him very charming—though not particularly forthcoming. Meeting us all was a mere formality, wasn’t it?’

  ‘No, he wasn’t unpleasant,’ Cryssie said. ‘But I feel sure something’s afoot that’s not going to suit everyone.’

  ‘Why—what’s he been saying?’

  ‘Only that all companies must move on. I don’t know what he actually meant by that, but I’m pretty certain that where he’s concerned there’s no sentiment in business.’ She turned off her computer and turned to the older woman. ‘Oh, Rose, I just wish that the Lewises were still here and that everything was back to normal! And I really, really, really wish that Jeremy Hunter didn’t exist at all!’ she added emphatically.

  ‘Hark at you,’ Rose said. ‘Never mind—he’ll probably keep us on. Especially if we keep on the right side of him. Men like him enjoy having submissive females around to massage their massive egos.’

  ‘Well, as far as I’m concerned he’d better not hold his breath,’ Cryssie said, switching off the light.

  Meanwhile, as he stared moodily out of the window, his hands thrust in his pockets, Jed Hunter’s mind was working overtime. The woman had made the point only too well that disruptions to her life were unwelcome—well, she’d better get used to it, he thought. But there was one important detail to be sorted first…He had to find out just what kind of female she really was. Was she as impervious to male attentions as she appeared? Or was her coolness, her deliberate coolness with him, an act? His eyes narrowed as his mind went back over the events at the Laurels. Then his lip curled ever so slightly. He’d find out—sooner rather than later!

  Chapter 5

  If she’d thought that her life was going to resume some sort of normality, Cryssie was in for a shock. A few weeks later Jed called her into his office, barely looking up as she sat down.

  He finished what he was writing, glancing at her covertly from beneath his dark eyebrows. He couldn’t stop himself remembering the night that she’d lain in that big double bed, so fast asleep, with her lashes—surprisingly long, as he’d taken the time to notice—fluttering now and again as she breathed and dreamed. He was beginning to feel irritable with himself at the number of times she was creeping into his thoughts—and not always in a business sense either!

  Now, he flipped his pen down on the desk. ‘Cryssie, things are going to move faster than I thought,’ he began. ‘I wanted you to be the first to know about it.’

  Cryssie swallowed, trying to stem the ripple of anxiety that ran through her. The tone he was using didn’t sound as if the news was good. He came straight to the point.

  ‘I…we…intend winding Hydebound up,’ he said flatly. ‘The building is to be demolished to make way for a big hotel.’ He waited for her to say something, but when she just stared at him unbelievingly he went on quickly. ‘I wanted you to know first,’ he said again, ‘before all the rumours and chit-chat begin—which they undoubtedly will, because the planning application has already gone in to the Council. I shall call a meeting tomorrow to tell the rest of the staff.’

  ‘Do you mean that the firm…that Hydebound…will cease to exist…will die?’ Cryssie’s voice was no more than a horrified whisper, and in spite of himself Jed felt a pang of discomfort. Then he pulled himself together. This was business. He was a businessman!

  ‘I realise this is not going to be pleasant for everyone,’ he said calmly. ‘But it can’t be helped. We shall therefore not be accepting any more orders, but will naturally honour those already in hand.’

  He paused, noting that her hands trembled slightly, and that a deep, rosy blush had begun to sweep over her features. But her green eyes were bright and candid, and she returned his gaze unflinchingly.

  ‘I think that the orders should be finalised by March or April, and I envisage a complete shutdown by June. All the staff will be paid up to then, with final redundancy bonuses added at the end.’ His tone was clipped and formal. ‘In the meantime, everyone will be entitled to look around for other employment. And there will be some opportunities in the new place. I’ll help where I can.’

  He picked up his pen again and twirled it between his fingers.

  ‘I’m relying on the co-operation and goodwill of the staff—yours, too, Cryssie. You’re obviously a very popular member of the team, so perhaps you can help there. Pour oil on troubled waters.’

  Huh! So he thought she’d try and make things easy for him, did he? Bail him out! Cryssie felt almost frozen to the spot, but she finally found her voice again. ‘So. We’re all finished, then. Redundant. And you’re going to kill off a family firm that’s traded happily for almost half a century.’

  He nodded. ‘That’s about it,’ he said, unperturbed. ‘And I can assure you that the new enterprise will be very good for the town. Good for the local economy.’

  For a long, timeless moment complete silence reigned.

  ‘You unspeakable pig,’ she said, her voice deadly quiet.

  ‘I beg your pardon?’ His tone was equally deadly, and there was no hint of warmth in those dangerously seductive eyes as he returned her gaze.

  ‘What an absolutely vile, horrible thing to do! To wipe us off the face of the earth to satisfy your materialistic lust! Who says the town needs another hotel? There are two already!’

  ‘Yes, and they’re as out-of-date as Hydebound is,’ he replied curtly. ‘Visitors are always complaining that there’s nowhere decent to stay. So I’ll put that right. It’ll be upmarket, with a swimming pool and other leisure facilities. In just the right place—here, on the outskirts of town, with plenty of space for car parking, countryside all around. It couldn’t be better!’

  ‘Oh, yes—for you, perhaps!’ Cryssie almost shouted at him. ‘But do you realise how many lives you’re affecting—what this will mean to us?’

  ‘Don’t be so dramatic, Cryssie,’ he said firmly. ‘Those young enough and able enough will find other work—and, as I said, I’ll do all I can to help. There will be hotel jobs going when the time comes—and that’ll be sooner than you think.’

  ‘But many of the st
aff here are craftsmen—not hotel workers! What sort of a deal would that be to them?’

  ‘In today’s world we must all be flexible,’ he countered. ‘And if they apply to Latimer’s I’ll see they’re given every consideration. People can’t expect to have a job for life, for heaven’s sake!’

  Cryssie was finding difficulty keeping herself under control. Any liking she might have had for the man had completely disappeared.

  ‘People have mortgages to pay!’ she flared, her eyes bright with indignation. ‘How dare you take it upon yourself to decide whether they might or might not be able to keep roofs over their heads! They are expert at their jobs, and—’

  ‘So why, then, has Hydebound been running at considerable loss for years?’ He paused, and looked down at her for a second or two. ‘No firm can sustain itself on good workmanship alone. Many other things have to be considered. Just look at the distance from town, for a start…there’s no passing trade, and passing trade is vital. Yes, there is a certain client base, but that’s diminishing rapidly because everyone, everyone, likes a bargain. People are shopping where it’s cheaper. And don’t forget the mail-order problem…just another headache for retailers.’ He ran a hand through his hair. ‘I know that this has been a wonderful family firm, and has done well in its day, but that day has passed. You can’t survive on love, luck and thin air. Which has been what the Lewises have done for too long. Business is business, Cryssie. Dog eats dog in this world, and profit is what the world exists on!’

  By now he was nearly as worked up as Cryssie, his voice rising sharply, and he turned away from her, irritated at her angry response and his own reaction to it. Of course he’d known from their very first encounter that she was intensely loyal to Hydebound, and to her colleagues, but if she thought that anything she said now would make him change his mind, she was fooling herself. When he set out to get his way he always succeeded, and nothing and no one would change that!