Jed Hunter's Reluctant Bride

by James, Susanne

  Afterwards, she couldn’t remember how long they must have stood there in complete silence, but finally as she turned to leave the room, he said, ‘We have plenty of things to discuss, Cryssie. I’m sure you will agree that there are some important details still to be sorted and, since there’s no time like the present, perhaps you’d allow me to buy you dinner tonight?’

  ‘No—I’m sorry…I’m not free tonight,’ Cryssie said firmly. ‘Some other time.’ The only thing she wanted to do was to stay at home, shut the doors and hide under the bed! she thought. The thought of spending about four hours in close proximity to Jeremy Hunter discussing ‘important’ details was the most unattractive prospect she could envisage!

  ‘Tomorrow night, then,’ he said. ‘I’ll book a table at the Laurels—you enjoyed it last time, didn’t you?’

  Later that evening, after she’d put Milo to bed, Cryssie sat down opposite Polly, who was idly flicking through a magazine. Glancing at her sister, Cryssie envied her the ability she seemed to have of switching off her troubles—she’d not referred to the matter of the stolen scarf since the evening she’d poured out her heart to Cryssie, though each time Jed’s name came up her features did express a fleeting anxiety. But that was just like Polly, Cryssie thought, she always did brush any fears under the carpet, out of sight, hoping they’d go away—or hoping that Cryssie would make them go away.

  But the one that didn’t go away was fast asleep upstairs, and Cryssie smiled to herself. Sometimes a nightmare could turn into the sweetest of dreams, she thought. Then her brow furrowed. She herself had been living between those two scenarios ever since Jed Hunter had entered her life—and it wasn’t over yet! Yes, she still had her job—and, yes, all her colleagues and friends at Hydebound had theirs. The reaction to the news that afternoon, when Jed had explained what he intended doing, had been one hundred per cent in favour. The relief had naturally been spontaneous and genuine, and Cryssie had joined in with the general surprise and gratitude, being careful not to look at Jed, because she’d known what she’d see in those penetrating black eyes. Total smug satisfaction! But in spite of all the positives, the mountain she still had to climb was her decision about his proposal of marriage. That was something that would not go away—not something that could be brushed under the carpet—because she knew he wouldn’t give up until he’d beaten her into submission. The thought made her want to scream, because it went against all her natural instincts of survival. And it was a quandary she’d never had to face before.

  ‘I had an important meeting with Jed today,’ Cryssie said now, and Polly looked up from what she was reading. ‘Hydebound is going to re-open at Latimer’s,’ Cryssie said briefly, ‘so the other idea I told you about is out of the window. It’s not going to happen.’

  ‘Well, that’s a relief all round, isn’t it?’ Polly faltered, her colour rising at the mere name of the shop, which she’d kept well clear of lately. ‘So we won’t have to worry about money, will we, Cryssie? I mean, if things hadn’t worked out we could have ended up penniless!’

  Money. That was the bottom line in Polly’s book, Cryssie thought. And in someone else’s she could mention! Well, somehow she was going to have to keep her job and keep him at bay at the same time. Because she was more convinced than ever that she could not marry a man who was so obsessed with getting his own way that he would allow nothing to obstruct his plans.

  Much later, after Polly had gone to bed, the phone rang and Cryssie’s heart leapt. That had to be Jed—no one else would ring at this hour!

  ‘Cryssie? I’m at the General Hospital…’

  ‘Why…? What is it…? Are you hurt…?’ Her mouth went dry. He’d had an accident! ‘Are you…all right…?’

  ‘Yes, yes, it’s okay—I’m all right. It’s my father…he’s had a heart attack.’ There was a pause. ‘He’s in a pretty bad way, I’m afraid…’

  ‘Oh, Jed! I’m so sorry!’ Cryssie’s mind immediately conjured up a vision of that handsome silver-haired man lying helpless in a hospital bed. ‘What…when did this happen?’

  ‘A couple of hours ago. I was working in the office at Shepherd’s Keep—my mother is away staying with friends—and I heard a crash. He’d collapsed in the hallway. The ambulance came pretty quickly, but—’

  ‘I’m coming over,’ Cryssie said at once. ‘It’ll take me about forty-five minutes from here.’

  ‘Oh…are you sure, Cryssie…Would you mind? It’s late.’

  ‘I’m coming over.’

  Driving as fast as her ancient car would allow, Cryssie made for the local General Hospital, feeling as anxious and fearful as if this was someone of her own. Henry was a big, powerful man…Who could begin to imagine those black, twinkling eyes closed perhaps for ever? And Jed’s voice on the phone…Strong as ever, but tonight it had seemed different. He clearly wanted someone there with him. Alice was obviously too far away to get there quickly—so he’d rung Cryssie! A surprising warmth ran through her body as she thought about it. At this moment Jeremy Hunter’s need had nothing to do with business, or profit and loss. What he was experiencing now was a natural human desire to be close to someone he trusted, who could support him as he watched his father lie seriously ill.

  By the time she arrived Henry had been moved into a small side ward where Jed was standing, staring out of the window. He turned quickly to see her. And, without the slightest thought that it wasn’t the thing to do, Cryssie ran across and put her arms around his waist, holding him so tightly they could have been one person. And he didn’t let her go as she buried her face in his neck, a tiny sob escaping her lips.

  It didn’t take much for her to remember those other times she’d visited hospitals…holding Great-Aunt Josie’s hand as she and Polly had whispered goodbye to their parents, losing their battle to live after the accident, and then seeing Josie, who’d been so strong for them, lying inert after a fatal stroke. She and Polly had had each other to cling to then—but who did Jed have at this precise moment? No one, she thought fleetingly. He’d had to ring his PA to support him in this very human moment.

  Eventually she slid away from his embrace, and together they went across to the bed where Henry lay quite still, being kept alive by wires and bubbling sachets of liquid. Still holding his hand, Cryssie looked up into Jed’s troubled face. The strong features had suddenly taken on a haggard look, she thought, and dark stubble was already forming on the line of his jaw.

  ‘What do they say, Jed? What have they told you?’ she whispered.

  ‘Not much,’ he replied quietly. ‘The next forty-eight hours are crucial, apparently. My mother is in Edinburgh, so there’s no way she can get here at this time of night. I’ve made arrangements for a flight for her in the morning—she’ll know about it at first light—and I’ve ordered a car ready to pick her up at the airport and bring her straight here. I’ve left messages with her hosts.’ He looked away for a second. ‘I…apologise…for ringing you, Cryssie,’ he said. ‘But I didn’t—’

  ‘You don’t need to apologise,’ Cryssie said quickly. ‘I’m glad…I’m pleased you felt you could,’ she added softly.

  He gazed down at her then, for a long moment, and his eyes seemed to melt into pools of melted dark chocolate…soft, liquid, and appealing. He was appealing for warmth, compassion and understanding. And in Cryssie he’d come to the right person!

  The sister came in then, to check on her patient, and she smiled at Cryssie, who was still standing close to the bed, holding Jed’s hand. She took in the girl’s appearance at a glance, taking pity on the frail figure, pale face and anxious green eyes. ‘Try not to worry too much, Mrs Hunter,’ the woman said kindly. ‘Your father-in-law is in good hands.’ She paused. ‘Would you like some tea—or coffee? I’ll get a nurse to bring you some.’

  ‘A cup of tea would be lovely,’ Cryssie said—almost adding, ‘And my husband would like black coffee.’ But she stopped herself in time! The sister had clearly put two and two together and come up with five. B
ut somehow it hadn’t come as the nasty shock Cryssie might have expected!

  ‘Black coffee, please,’ Jed said, and the moment passed—but not before he’d caught her eye and winked, just slightly. Perhaps he hoped that the natural mistake the woman had made would set the seal on his requirements? Cryssie thought. But now was not the time to go into all that. This present trauma was a matter of life and death—and there wasn’t anything that her control freak of a boss could do about either.

  Their drinks arrived, and they sat down on two hard-backed chairs.

  ‘I can’t really believe this is happening.’ Jed shook his head. ‘My father has been so well. He’s obviously on medication all the time, but this is totally unexpected…’

  ‘No one ever expects the worst to happen,’ Cryssie said slowly. ‘And when it does we’re never prepared for it. How could we be? We’re not gods…none of us…we’re just poor human beings, trying to make the best of everything, of every day. Whatever it may bring.’

  Jed looked at her as if seeing her properly for the first time. Why was it that he didn’t want to take his eyes off the woman? he asked himself. As usual, there was nothing special about her appearance—she was dressed anonymously, as she normally was, her hair hanging loose around her face. Yet there was this thing about her…her simplicity, her vulnerability, her amazing stoicism and bravery. Suddenly he began to feel ashamed at the deck of cards that fate had handed him.

  They drank in silence for a few moments, and, glancing across at him, Cryssie had an almost insane desire to clutch him to her and smother his face with kisses—as she did when Milo had fallen down and hurt himself. She wanted to tell Jed that it would be okay…that it would be better tomorrow…And those sudden thoughts shocked her momentarily. Had Jed been right when he’d accused her of only wanting to nurture everyone, to look after people? Was that what her instincts were really all about? But then she remembered how she’d felt when he’d enveloped her in an almost overpowering embrace! That had been her need for passionate loving from the most achingly handsome man she was ever likely to meet!

  She looked up and saw him staring at her.

  ‘Come back from wherever you are,’ he said. ‘You were miles away. What are you thinking?’

  Their eyes met in a long, lingering gaze, and for a while neither spoke, both lost in the private world of their own thoughts. A pretty blush rose in Cryssie’s cheeks at what she’d been dwelling on a few seconds before! Imagine if she said, Well, Jed, I was actually thinking how good it would feel if you were to make love to me!

  ‘I wasn’t really thinking about anything,’ she lied. ‘Only that time seems to stand still in these places.’

  And as for Jed, his own interpretation of what had been going on behind her captivating green eyes was that she probably wished she was safely home in bed, listening out for Milo. Yet he knew that wasn’t true. She’d insisted on being here with him. And there was no one in the world he’d rather have near him than this unlikely woman who seemed to have invaded every part of his consciousness since the day they’d met.

  The minutes ticked by, with various comings and goings from the staff, and presently Jed said, ‘You must be worn out, Cryssie. But I don’t want you to go home yet…I mean, not now, in the middle of the night. Can you stay another couple of hours—until daylight? I’d feel happier you driving home then.’

  ‘Of course I can stay,’ Cryssie said at once. ‘And I don’t feel tired. I seldom do in emergencies.’

  Jed nodded, pleased. Going out into the main ward, he brought back two soft chairs and put them together. ‘Here—no one’s going to need these until tomorrow,’ he said. ‘At least you can lie down for a bit. There’s even two cushions.’

  Obediently Cryssie lay down, as instructed, and had to admit that it felt good to rest her back. It had been another long, long day, and in the silence of the room her eyes began to droop and her mind drifted briefly into a semi-doze.

  Sitting there, Jed swept his gaze from his elderly father to the woman who hadn’t hesitated to drive a distance at night to be at his side His eyes softened as he watched her breathing gently, with one small hand tucked beneath her chin.

  And, even in his present anxiety and concern, his overriding thought was that he was now more determined than ever that Cryssie should never escape his plan—for both their futures!

  Chapter 13

  During the following days there was obviously a lot of discussion going on at Hydebound, as to whether the move to Latimer’s would now take place, given the traumatic time the Hunter family was going through. But one day Jed came into the office, unsmiling and businesslike as usual, to assure everyone that nothing had changed.

  He was away a lot of the time after that, and Cryssie was glad of the respite it gave her—from seeing him, from thinking of how she was going to be strong enough to withstand his persistence. Because she knew he was not going to give up. Part of her so badly wanted to accept his proposal of marriage—yet there was a more than niggling doubt that she’d be doing the right thing. Her past would keep rearing its ugly head, filling her with misgivings, and Jed’s obvious motives just did not fit in with her own ideas of what made a successful marriage—one that would stand the test of time.

  He had rung her several times with progress reports on his father’s condition, and for a long time it didn’t look good for Henry. Jed and Alice spent most of this time at his bedside, and Cryssie wished with all her heart that she could do something to help. But what could she do that they couldn’t afford to pay for? she asked herself.

  One thing they could not buy was the ‘Get Well’ card which Milo made for the invalid. It showed a picture of a house with smoke coming from the chimney, and a garden with flowers, and two matchstick people playing football. And right around the four sides the little boy had added brightly coloured kisses, with the words ‘With love from Milo’ in his own childish writing added at the end.

  Jed rang specially to speak to Milo, and the two held a long and serious conversation which Cryssie could only half-hear as she listened. But Milo’s face was wreathed in smiles as he heard what Jed was saying.

  ‘Well, what was all that about?’ she asked.

  ‘Not telling. It’s a secret,’ the child replied, running off.

  Eventually, the call Cryssie most wanted to hear came, on a Saturday morning just as she was filling the machine with all their week’s washing.

  ‘Hi, Cryssie…I thought you’d like to know that my father came out of hospital yesterday, and—’

  ‘Oh, Jed! That’s terrific news! You said last week that they were a lot more optimistic. This is so good to hear!’

  ‘Yes, I think we’re out of the woods at last,’ Jed said. ‘But I’m afraid I do have a request. Henry wants to see you—he’d love you to come over, if you could spare us a couple of hours.’

  ‘Of course I can!’ Cryssie said at once. ‘When were you thinking of?’

  ‘Now—today—if possible. I know it’s your day for doing things, and taking Milo somewhere, but—’

  ‘That doesn’t matter—it’s okay,’ Cryssie said, thinking that those were trivial considerations compared with spending a short time with someone who had so recently cheated death. ‘I could leave in about half an hour or so—and I won’t stay long, because I don’t want to tire Henry out. I’m sure he’ll need a lot of rest for a while.’

  ‘I could come over and fetch you—’ Jed began, but she interrupted.

  ‘No—no, there’s no need. I know exactly how to get to you, and it would be silly, you having to make four trips.’ If she drove herself, it also meant that she could leave when she wanted to, Cryssie thought. Without waiting for Jed to make up his mind about when he would bring her back.

  ‘It’ll be good to see you, Cryssie,’ Jed said slowly. ‘I’ve missed you,’ he added. ‘And I’ve actually missed going to work each day. I’ve decided that I don’t much care for illness and hospitals.’

  ‘I’ve never met
anyone yet who does,’ Cryssie replied dryly. ‘But you were right to stay there, with Alice and Henry. We must all be aware of where our priorities lie.’

  They rang off just as Polly and Milo came downstairs, and Cryssie told them where she was going.

  ‘Can I come too, Cryssie?’ Milo asked eagerly.

  ‘Oh—don’t you want to go to the park after all, darling?’ Polly asked hopefully.

  ‘No. I want to go to Jed’s house. Please, Cryssie…can I?’

  Cryssie poured some cereal into a dish for the little boy, and he clambered up into his seat at the kitchen table. ‘I’m sorry, sweetheart. You know that Jed’s father has been very ill, don’t you? You made him that lovely card, didn’t you? Well, he’s getting better, but he has to keep very quiet for a little while, so not many visitors are allowed, I’m afraid.’

  ‘But I wouldn’t make a noise,’ Milo persisted, picking up his spoon.

  ‘No, I know you wouldn’t,’ Cryssie said gently. ‘But, look, if you go with Mummy to the park this morning, I promise that I’ll take you to Jed’s house soon.’ Cryssie paused, wondering when that might be. ‘And I shan’t be late back. We’ll do something special then, okay?’