'Right,' Jane averred briskly. 'I'll organise things—I think there's a bus leaving Hamilton around six on Sunday evenings. I'll find out for sure, anyway.'
Well, Jenny contemplated wryly, that should take care of that. A glance at her watch showed they had barely an hour before Bob and Zachary were due to arrive, and she simply had to be away before then..
Mrs. Meredith looked slightly baffled as she was hurried through her breakfast and practically bundled into Jenny's car in the space of a very short time. Sagely she sought not to question the whys and wherefores of her daughters' actions, not doubting for a minute that there must be good reason behind it all.
Jenny breathed a sigh of relief as she headed the car towards the Kaimai Ranges, thankful that they had managed to get away before Bob and Zachary could arrive.
As they left the township behind and reached relatively open country, Jenny began to feel more relaxed and took the opportunity of admiring the neatly fenced paddocks and the gently sloping green-grassed hills. The heat of the day had not yet begun to make itself felt, and the air was fresh and clean. How lovely it would be just to climb the grassy banks and sit high on a hill remote from the pressures and cares of an everyday world to view the tranquil stock grazing below and attempt to bring ease to her troubled mind.
She sensed rather than saw her mother's slightly nervous fingers grip the strap of her handbag, and heeding the gesture eased her foot off the accelerator so that the car was no longer hurtling along as if any number of demons were iii pursuit. She was grateful for her mother's silence, her instinctive perception that now was not the time to voice curiosity over their hurried departure.
Aunt Madge gave them an enthusiastic welcome, fussing over them both outrageously, and after a decent interval Jenny felt bound to escape outdoors, leaving the two sisters to gossip unashamedly.
Restlessly she wandered towards the white-painted wooden paling that separated the few acres on which the homestead stood from the considerable acreage of farming land stretching almost as far as the eye could see. Uncle Dan had spent many years moulding the farm into a showplace of which he was justly proud, putting money into only the best equipment and livestock. Jenny had fond memories of happy vacations here during her schooldays—wonderful carefree days when there seemed not an emotional cloud on the horizon.
In the distance several chains of poplar trees reached tall towards the azure sky, visually striking before the sun's bright rays. Jenny stood there for quite a time, savouring the sweet country air. It was so peaceful— possible almost to forget the hard strength of the arms that had held her not twelve hours before. She shivered and bit into the Soft fullness of her lip as the memory of his sensual expertise returned—moreover, the treacherous longing his touch evoked both frightened and bewildered her. With sudden irritation she moved away, stepping briskly back towards the house and the necessary oblivion from such thoughts as she determinedly assisted Aunt Madge in the kitchen.
The meal was a typical country Sunday midday dinner. Roast lamb with mint sauce, roasted golden-brown potatoes kumera and pumpkin, silverbeet and cauliflower, lavishly served with a rich-brown smooth thick gravy. Apple crumble with farm-fresh whipped cream followed, and Aunt Madge smiled in satisfaction as they sat back from the table fully replete.
Uncle Dan cast his wife a loving look as he complimented her cooking, his bright blue eyes alive and sparkling in. a weatherbeaten laughter-wrinkled face. He was a big man, tall, and to Jenny he had always been someone special and she loved him unashamedly. He smiled at her now, a slow curiously gentle smile, his eyes warm with affection.
'How goes it in Auckland, Jenny?'
'I like it,' answered honestly, her wide mouth curving upwards to show sparkling white teeth.
'We're due there at the end of the week. Might stay overnight—let Aunt Madge loose in all those shops,' he paused to shoot Aunt Madge a devilish grin. 'We'll take you to dinner, so make sure you write down your telephone number before you leave.'
'You're on!' Jenny laughed companionably, leaning forward to place both elbows on the table. 'Why don't you stay at the flat? It's big enough—really. Oh, please say that you will?' she encouraged them both, but they demurred kindly, explaining they preferred to stay in one of the inner city hotels. It saved Uncle Dan using the car, for he disliked city traffic with the usual country-man's wariness and found parking facilities impossible.
Jenny took her leave shortly after three o'clock, driving swiftly towards Auckland, and as she reached the outer townships prior to the southern motorway the traffic began to build up considerably. Surprisingly it was almost six o'clock before she turned into the driveway leading to her flat, and after a quick cup of coffee and a sandwich she cleaned and tidied with a will, pleased with the result before falling into bed pleasantly exhausted.
Monday was entirely uneventful despite Jenny's premonition that she was bound to catch sight of Zachary Benedict at some stage during the day, and it was with relief that she placed her key into the front door of the flat that evening without having caught so much as a glimpse of him. Paradoxically she was disappointed, although any thought of a confrontation between them tended to set her pulse racing and her stomach to cud rather alarmingly.
Jenny was half-way through eating scrambled eggs on toast when the telephone rang, and her surprise was very real as Jane's voice greeted her cheerfully.
'Jane? Good heavens, is something wrong?' she queried anxiously.
'Not a thing, Jenny,' her sister answered blithely. 'I just thought I'd let you know that Bob is coming to Auckland tomorrow on business and will be at a loose end during the evening. I suggested he contact you, and perhaps the two of you could go out somewhere.'
There was silence for a few seconds as Jane waited for Jenny to answer.
'Jenny ? You don't mind, do you?' 'No, of course not. In fact, I'd be delighted,' Jenny managed kindly. 'He can ring me at the office sometime during the day. Just a minute, and I'll check the number,' Jenny instructed, reaching for the telephone book in the drawer beside the phone. Flipping through the pages, she found the number and repeated it to Jane.
'Okay, I've got that down. He's catching the early morning flight, Jenny, so he could ring you from the Airport. Oh, and by the way, I didn't get a chance to tell you over the weekend, but I've got my airline ticket for Australia? We fly out to Sydney in just over three weeks, but I'll be in Auckland for a few days before that as I have some shopping to do. I'll stay with you, of course, and Bob is going to bring Mother up the day before we leave. I don't suppose you could manage to put Sue and Emma up for the .night as well? They were planning on staying at a motel, but it would be so much easier if we were all together. Would it be too much, do you think?'
Jenny grinned to herself—trust Jane to have everything organised! 'That's fine, just let me know when,' she answered happily, then voiced the question that had been at the back of her mind for the past few minutes. 'Did you all have an enjoyable day yesterday?'
Jane chuckled, her voice bubbling with laughter as she answered. 'I thought you'd never ask! Yes, we did as a matter of fact. Zachary Benedict enquired where you were and subjected me to an unwavering stare as I answered him. I felt as if I was under oath on the witness stand! Actually, I rather think he fancies you. He very cleverly managed to charm me into talking about the family, and I'm afraid I did mention a bit about you and Max.' Jane's voice faltered, and Jenny drew breath sharply, feeling unaccountably annoyed.
'Jane! You didn't!' she exclaimed angrily.
'Oh, Jenny, he could just as easily have found out by questioning Bob or any one of Bob's family,' Jane answered defensively. 'Anyway, I can't see why you're so het up about it!'
Jenny sighed heavily. 'All right, Jane. It's done now.'
'Look, I must go, Jenny. I'm off to the cinema with Sue and Emma. Mother sends her love. Enjoy yourself tomorrow night with Bob. 'Bye,' Jane finished quickly, hanging up before Jenny had a chance to say anything further.
In spite of working through her lunch-hour with barely ten minutes' break for a sandwich and coffee, Jenny didn't finish at the office until just after six that evening. Consequently when Bob arrived she was still dressing, and of necessity he had to wait almost ten minutes before she emerged into the lounge somewhat flustered and hungry. Her dismay was evident when she found he had come by taxi and had kept it waiting without telling her! Heavens, it will cost him a fortune, she thought crossly, feeling uncharitable because she hadn't had time to eat so much as a slice of bread to assuage her appetite.
The jade green skirt of polyester crepe flowed in generous folds to her sandalled feet, and as the evenings were still cool in mid-November she had chosen to wear a white short-sleeved skinny-rib knit jumper with three jade green buttons at the centre, of the scooped neckline and at .the sleeves, draping about her shoulders a lacy white shawl for added warmth. There had been little time to do much with her hair other than brush it vigorously and twist it into a french knot at her nape, and her make-up was barely minimal with just a touch of eyeshadow and eye-liner, a quick upward swirl of the mascara brush to her eyelashes and a light smear of lipstick to her lips. Jenny had an aversion to heavy make-up, but preferred more than a rushed five minutes to apply what cosmetics she did use!
The taxi let them off in front of the cinema entrance in Queen Street, and they were seated with few minutes to spare before the curtain rose. Ten minutes went by before Jenny become aware that the seat next to her on the aisle was still empty. It was unusual, for the film was a particularly good one and at a casual glance the cinema appeared seated to capacity. At that precise moment she caught sight of a tall dark-suited figure moving unobtrusively towards them, and seconds later fold a lengthy frame into the seat at her side.
'My apologies for being late,' a deep voice murmured close to her ear and, startled, Jenny turned to meet Zachary Benedict's complacent gaze.
Jenny felt her colour deepening and was glad of the darkened cinema. 'I wasn't aware that you were coming,' she managed calmly, sensibly trying to ignore the curling sensation deep inside her at his nearness.
'Judging by your voice,' he stated in a dry undertone, 'perhaps it's just as well.'
With commendable restraint Jenny refrained from offering any comment, and sat stiffly with her eyes fixed to the screen. Try as she might she could not concentrate, and much of the dialogue escaped her. Every nerve-end tingled and she found great difficulty in controlling her breathing. With every passing minute she became more certain the entire evening had been a conspiracy against her, and inwardly she began to seethe at the arrogance of the man. As the lights flickered on at the interval she readily stood to her feet at the suggestion that she might prefer to join both men as they smoked in the foyer.
The steady stream of slowly moving patrons gradually filled the foyer, and soon the smoke-filled air hung heavily in the confined space. Jenny began to feel decidedly lightheaded and tiny beads of sweat began to prick her upper lip. Rather desperately she took a deep breath and willed herself not to faint just as a jostling figure caught her off balance and thrust her sideways. The last thing she remembered was Zachary's startled exclamation and the saving grip of his hands on her upper arms barely a second before she fell. Her eyes lifted and met his ,dark incredibly anxious gaze before sliding away as she struggled to free herself from his hold.
'Stay still for a few minutes. You look ready to black out,' Zachary bade her curtly, forcibly restraining her as his eyes raked her features mercilessly. 'Dinner—you obviously missed out on that meal. Why?'
Jenny shook her head, feeling slightly dazed. 'There wasn't time,' she murmured indistinctly, conscious of a feeling of unreality.
'Lunch?' he queried relentlessly, his face an implacable mask.
'Lise was away. There was so much to do that I worked through until after six. I had coffee and a sandwich, and I did have breakfast.'
Zachary made an unintelligible comment, then commented dryly, 'It's little girls like you who need protection from themselves.'
Jenny smiled, faintly bemused. 'I thought that was meant to be—"little girls like you ought to be at home tucked safely in bed".'
'That, too, Jenny Meredith,' he drawled, and his dark eyes gleamed with devilish laughter. A blush coloured her cheeks, tinging them a delicate rose-pink as she struggled to free herself.
'Stay there,' he instructed firmly. 'In a few minutes the foyer will empty and I'll take you to a nearby restaurant, and,' he raised a hand in admonishment, his expression compelling, 'if you so much as demur, I will carry you there, is that understood?'
He would too, Jenny thought wryly, with an arrogance that would quail all who might look askance of his action. In all ways he was a law unto himself!
'Bob?' Zachary quirked an enquiring eyebrow towards the younger man, and Jenny cast Bob a pleading glance as she silently begged him to accompany them.
'Well, perhaps I should,' Bob began hesitantly, shooting Jenny an apologetic look, 'I feel all kinds of a heel for not asking whether you'd had dinner or not. I just assumed—'
'Obviously,' Zachary interrupted dryly. 'For future reference, never assume anything with regard to women —they're a contrary species at best,' he concluded enigmatically.
The cool night air outside the cinema was blessedly refreshing, and Jenny enjoyed the short walk to the restaurant. The firm clasping arm about her waist was solely a protective gesture on Zachary's part—at least that was what Jenny sternly sought to convince herself. To lend it any other reason was something she didn't want to even think about!
In an incredibly short time a meal was placed before Jenny, and it was accompanied by a bottle of wine—-a light rose. Lovely! Much to her relief, Zachary chose to exclude her from the conversation and she was able to devote all her attention to the food on her plate. There was a cabaret and a very small dance-floor, but the ,two men seemed disinclined to dance, and Jenny felt the pangs of disappointment stir idly inside her. Contrarily she blamed the wine she had consumed for the strange longing to be held close in Zachary's arms.
A little of what she was feeling must have been apparent, for as she removed her gaze from the guest singer her eyes met the subject of her thoughts, and for a startled moment their eyes locked and held. There was a warmth in his, a momentary flaring of something she daren't define, for it seemed so incredible she thought she must have imagined it. She felt inordinately vulnerable, as if he must surely have read her thoughts, and miserably she fancied his amusement that yet another female had succumbed to his, magnetic charm.
Her plight was further enhanced a few moments later when a young attractive woman approached their table and greeted Zachary with all the effusiveness of a very close friend. That there was a certain amount of affection reciprocated caused Jenny pangs of jealousy such as she had never before experienced. She sat there, quiet and rather withdrawn, wishing with all her heart that she had never met Zachary Lucien Benedict, and hating the, weakness of allowing herself to think that he could possibly possess any affection for her. How absurd! She simply would not be an addition to his number of female conquests.
They left shortly before midnight, and much to Jenny's consternation Zachary chose to drop Bob off at his motel before delivering her home. She had her door-key ready and a few polite words on the tip of her tongue as soon as the car crunched to a halt in her driveway, but she had no chance to utter them.
'What now?' Zachary questioned inexorably, his fingers snapping off the ignition with every pretence of suppressed anger.
/> Jenny stared straight ahead, resolutely determined not to look at him and tried to ignore the tension knotting in her stomach. 'I haven't the slightest idea of what you mean,' she said stiffly.
'No? You surprise me,' he drawled wryly, shifting position so that he leaned towards her.
'You seem to derive a certain amount of sadistic pleasure in deliberately baiting me, Mr. Benedict,' Jenny snapped crossly. 'I can only suppose it's due to my not being one of the worshipping female herd who hang on to your every word.'
There was a tense silence during which she unconsciously held her breath, and she bit her lip seconds later in startled surprise when she. realized that the key she held had absentmindedly been rubbing against her finger and had scratched the surface skin.
'You make it sound as if I'm some kind of feudal Sheik with a large harem,' he mocked, and there was a dangerous glint in the depths of his dark eyes.
'From all accounts that would be comparable,' she answered coldly.
Zachary appeared to smile rather grimly, and Jenny caught a quick flash of white teeth as he spoke;
'Ah, I wondered if the secretarial grapevine hadn't been overly industrious of late,' he commented cynically. 'And having recently escaped from one apparently disastrous affair you're extremely wary of emerging out from that protective shell in which you've hidden your- . self.'
Jenny clenched her fists angrily and longed to lash out at him physically. 'That's a cruel thing to say,' she managed at last in a tight, cold little voice.
'An unwanted truth is invariably cruel,' he assented mildly.
At that moment Jenny hated him. 'I'm totally immune to your so-called charm, Mr. Benedict, and I have no intention of becoming yet another scalp in your transitory collection.'
'My, my,' Zachary drawled sardonically. 'You're a perverse little baggage, Jenny Meredith. Did—what was his name—Max? Did Max never tell you that you loss like an angel ? Or perhaps he was too young and foolish to recognize a warm and wonderfully feminine female when he saw one?'
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