Caribbean Cocktail

by Jane Corrie

Cassy blinked hastily and tried to arouse some of the resentment she had felt before at the way he took so much for granted where she was concerned. whether it was due to the wine or not, she only knew a sense of wellbeing, and more than that—an inner glow of happiness that they would be together again the following

  day. Even if it was the wine that had mellowed her outlook, she really did not care, she felt so happy and warm inside—and wanted.

  She swallowed on this last thought; she had known what it felt like to be wanted purely for her expertise in arranging dinners, hence her uncle's bid to keep her in the household. But this was a different kind of feeling, and her whole being glowed when she recalled the way Justin had said that he had wanted to take her out to dinner.

  She was so immersed in her thoughts that she did not notice that they had not gone back to the hotel but had moved away from the city, and the car was now steadily climbing up a winding coastal road.

  Cassy sat up straight as the knowledge hit her, and all her previous fears returned leaving her feeling cheated and very let down. Where was he taking her? What did she know of this man, anyway? And come to that, what did Sylvia know of him? She swallowed. He was just an aquaintance she had made in the hotel who appeared to be a charming, helpful man—but was he? She gulped quickly—it appeared she was on the point of finding out—and felt extremely frightened.

  Whatever happened, she told herself, trying to calm her heartbeats that were beating a staccato not unlike the music she had been enjoying a short while before, she had to stay in the car. She would be safer that way, she told herself as they glided to a halt on a kind of plateau.

  When Justin suggested they get out and admire the view, she hoped she did not sound as frightened as she felt as she feigned a yawn and said she would

  rather stay where she was, and yes, it was a wonderful view, but could they get back to the hotel, for she really was tired and had meant to have an early night that night.

  `It won't take a minute,' he said mildly. 'I promise to take you back directly. You can't possibly see as much from the car seat. Come on,' and he gently pulled her out of her seat.

  If Justin had been a known murderer, Cassy would still have found herself holding his hand and walking to the edge of the plateau. Such was his strange magnetic hold over her, and she weakly told herself that she had tried, hadn't she?

  Even in her slightly stupefied state, she was able to appreciate the magnificent view from the plateau that looked over a bay that was full of twinkling lights, and these, she assumed, would be the various craft at anchor in the bay.

  From her position she could now see that there were several cars drawn up a little further away from them, ostensibly to admire the view, but were probably lovers, and this thought made her feel immensely sad, too sad to even make up for the relief she felt when foolishshe realised that they were not alone. She now felt

  ,, and very mean in condemning what had turned out to be yet another thoughtful action on Justin's behalf.

  `It's wonderful,' she said softly, as her eyes skimmed the brilliant sky whose stars seemed enormous and somehow closer than the ones at. home. If he wanted to kiss her, she told herself, she would make no demur, in fact she rather hoped he did, it was the least she could do after her misjudgment of him.

  To her chagrin, however, he made no such demand on her and, slightly put out, Cassy gave a quick nod when he asked, 'Ready?' and followed him back to the car.

  On the journey back to the hotel, Cassy spent most of the time wondering if he had noticed her earlier turmoil, and worse still, the thoughts that had gone through her mind. It was all she could do not to tell him to stop the car and have everything out with him before they reached her hotel, where he would, no doubt, politely escort her to the lift as before, and after telling her what time he would pick her up the following morning, wish her good night.

  Her heart skipped a beat on the thought that he might decide to back out of the previous arrangement, and she conceded miserably that she really couldn't - blame him if he did.

  They reached the hotel, and as presumed by Cassy, Justin stood beside her while they waited for the lift.

  Nine-thirty too early for you?' he asked casually.

  The relief Cassy felt far outweighed her earlier disappointment in his exemplary behaviour on the plateau, and she didn't know it, but her happiness glowed in her lovely eyes as she answered breathlessly, 'Of course not. I'll be ready.'

  Justin's eyes narrowed slightly as he took in her slight flush, and he gave a satisfied nod, then gave her a slow heart-stopping smile, and there was almost a caress in his, 'See you,' as the lift doors opened and Cassy had to leave him.

  The way she felt, it was a wonder she was able to recall what floor to ask for when the question was put to her by the smiling lift attendant, but she answered

  in a dazed way and sank back into her dreams again, coming out of them for a short space of time when her floor was reached, and the slightly amused attendant had to repeat the number twice before she realised it was her floor. With a feeling that she was walking on air, she drifted out of the lift and down the corridor to her room.

  Cassy was irrevocably in love, but she didn't know it. She only knew that she was exceedingly happy, and after what seemed a disastrous start to the holiday she had been forced to take, she was now going to enjoy herself for the first time for years. Sylvia was happy too, she told herself. She too had found someone to enjoy her holiday with, and everything was wonderful!

  Apart from these thoughts, Cassy did not probe further, and would have been surprised if someone had told her the real cause of her jubilation, and she would have instantly rejected the mere idea that she had fallen in love with Justin Pride.

  The following morning she prepared herself for the day out with Justin in an aura of happy expectation, and wouldn't allow any other thoughts to intrude on her happiness. She wouldn't be here for all that long, so she might as well enjoy herself while she could. All too soon she would be back home, working out where to put the annual overflow of animals, and seriously thinking of enlarging the whole site. There was ample room for this, she knew, but Mrs Peel had never got down to it, and had been content to just manage for the extra month or so while the holiday rush was on.

  Those thoughts occupied her mind while she took her time over her toilet, making sure that she looked her best, but with her glowing eyes and soft peach-

  tinted complexion, she would have looked good in whatever she wore, such was the difference love made.

  Her soft pink sleeveless dress with flared skirt suited the occasion, she thought, as she gave herself a critical last-minute look in the mirror before going down to await Justin's arrival, allowing herself a good five minutes before the appointed time so that she would be ready and waiting when he made his appearance.

  CHAPTER SIX

  THERE was a lot of activity in the hotel reception area as Cassy sat down in one of the chairs to await Justin's arrival. While she waited, she amused herself watching the guests gathering in various groups according to what tour they were taking, and smiled as a harassed-looking mother ordered her son stay by her side and not wander away as they would be leaving for the tour any moment now.

  The arrival of the tour operators caused more flurry, and the lists were checked to ascertain that everyone was present. However, on one of the tours there appeared to be one person missing, a Miss someone or other, and Cassy, sitting quietly on her own taking all the activity in, felt herself come under a hard stare from the operator who was one short, and she shook her head at him, smilingly answering the unspoken question. He would have to direct his enquiries elsewhere if he wanted to track down his missing client.

  A glance at her watch told her it was just past the half hour, and she directed her attention to the entrance to the hotel. At any moment now Justin should be arriving, she told herself happily.

  When there was no sign of him a quarter of an hour later, Cassy began to wonder what the hold-
up was, and when her name was paged she got up to answer the summons with a feeling of relief. He was going to be late, something had held him up, but it didn't matter

  she told herself as she picked up the telephone from the booth the receptionist had indicated; she would be here, she would wait all morning if necessary.

  'Cassy?' Sylvia' s voice came floating down the line to her, giving her a slight shock followed by an instant worry that something had happened to Justin. 'I ought to have rung you before, but you know I'm a late riser,' she went on, and Cassy wanted to shout out at her the burning question in her mind. 'Justin left a message for me to ring you before nine-thirty, to say he couldn't make it today. Something's turned up and he's had to go over to one of the out islands, but he hopes to be back in time to take you to dinner. I'm sorry, dear, I felt awful when I found this message waiting—still,' she went on, now sounding a little amused, 'I don't suppose the news will cause you any heartache, do you? More in the nature of a let-off, I'd say. How do you fancy watching a game of golf?' she ended gaily.

  Cassy managed to answer in what she hoped sounded her natural voice, yet disappointment was flowing through her, clouding all else from her mind. `No, thank you, dear,' she said, `I'd be bored stiff. You go ahead. I hope Greg wins; Justin told me it was an important game.'

  `It's a semi-final,' replied Sylvia proudly, 'and I've a feeling he'll get through. But what will you do?' she asked solicitously.

  `Oh, I'll be okay,' replied Cassy with more brightness than she felt. 'I'll have another lazy day on the beach. I haven't got as long as you have to get myself a tan, have I?' she asked dryly.

  `Are you sure?' queried Sylvia, then went on to add, `Well, at least you'll have company tonight. I expect

  Justin will turn up. I only wish you liked him a bit more. He does like you, Cassy.'

  Cassy swallowed a lump in her throat. It looked like it, didn't it? The only full day he had arranged for them to have, and he had cancelled it to go traipsing about wherever it was that Sylvia had mentioned. She forced herself to give a hard chuckle. think it's mutual. He's only waiting to give me another lecture on your behalf. I think I'm going to be very busy this evening,' she hinted caustically, 'so would you leave him a message to that effect?' she asked. 'Tell him not to bother to make any arrangements for dinner. I'm sure he'll be tired anyway. I shall take one of the evening tours. I haven't made up my mind which yet, but one or two look interesting,' she lied stoutly.

  'Poor Justin,' said Sylvia softly. `I'm not convinced about his intentions where you're concerned, and you could be wrong, you know. Well, just give me a ring or leave a message at the desk if you get tired of your own company. See you,' and she rang off leaving a miserable Cassy to replace her receiver.

  And to think, she fumed as she headed back to her room, she could have taken the place of that missing tourist who was probably sleeping late and had not bothered to inform the desk that she would not be taking the morning tour. As for Sylvia— Why hadn't the wretched man phoned her himself? He must have left extremely early, too early to be able to contact her. She supposed that was the answer—had to be—but even so, he could have left a message at her hotel, couldn't he, and she wouldn't have had to sit like a zombie in the reception waiting for someone who wasn't going to turn up!

  In all honesty she had the answer to that one, too. Justin had wanted Sylvia to know that Cassy would be alone all that day, and would probably make arrangements to include her in whatever she and Greg had planned to do after the match.

  A twinge of conscience on his part? she wondered, as she got into the lift and gave her floor number to the waiting attendant. Well, he needn't worry about her, she hadn't wanted his company in the first place, had she? She bit her lower lip as the memory of the look he had given her as he had said, 'See you,' when she got into this selfsame lift last night. Not if I see you first! she vowed to herself fervently.

  The lift attendant, taking due note of her bleak expression, wisely did not comment on what a fine day it was, but kept his eyes fixed on the floor numbers. He'd seen it all before—one minute they were walking on air, the next down in the dumps, for he had been on duty the previous evening and had practically had to push this pretty girl out of the lift when her floor had been reached, so absorbed had she been in her world of dreams.

  Old Sam Brown sighed inwardly. There wasn't much he didn't know about folks, he had been doing the job for the past thirty years, and it was surprising how much you noticed, if you had eyes to see, of the glimpses of other folks' worlds, even in his restricted working area. That man who had seen the girl off last night—well, he knew him, in fact there wouldn't be many of the island's regular visitors that he didn't know. And if this pretty young thing had hopes there, he'd advise her to forget them. There were plenty of others looking in the same direction, but that man

  was nobody's fool, he'd had plenty of practice in avoiding the strategically laid nets to ensnare him in the past, he couldn't see this young innocent miss puffing off the coup of the year, which it would be, he ruminated slowly, if such a thing happened.

  Completely unaware of the thoughts going through the silent attendant's head, Cassy stepped out of the lift and made her way to her room, blissfully ignorant of the way his sad old eyes followed her stiff erect figure, and the good wishes he sent in her direction for a speedy recovery from her malady.

  Once the door was closed behind her, Cassy's eyes brimmed over with unspilt tears, and she brushed them away impatiently. What a fool she was ! and what a wonderful let-off she had just been given. She ought to be rejoicing, there was nothing like the slap of a wet towel in the face to bring one to one's senses, and Justin's let-down had made her feel just like that. When she thought of her earlier feelings she felt her cheeks burn with shame. She had acted just like a teenager on a first crush, throwing sense and even propriety to the winds. Look how she had wanted him to kiss her on the plateau last night—and how frustrated she had felt when he had shown no sign of even wanting to !

  It wasn't a bit like her to act like that. In the past she had had no time for stolen kisses, or the giggling half-surrender tactics employed by other girls of her age. To her way of thinking, it had all been a stupid way of going on, and she had much better things to do with her time, such as helping to scrub out kennels ready for new occupants.

  A nasty thought then struck her. Was she making up

  for lost time now? And had she chosen Justin Pride to be the recipient of her affections? She gulped hastily —if so, she had had more of a let-off than she knew! Fate had smiled kindly on her before she made an all-time fool of herself, it seemed.

  Her small chin stuck out defiantly. Well, she would accept the timely warning, she told herself firmly, for there was no doubt that the man was extremely attractive. There was also no doubt that she had no control over her emotions where he was concerned. He made her feel just like a lump of plasticine ready to be moulded into whatever shape he wished to mould her.

  Her hands clenched into small fists on this thought. No one, but no one, would mould her into anything else but what she wanted to be! She was Cassy Aden, and master of her ship, and would always be. She had a bright, interesting future ahead of her, and was not likely to throw all that away on the whims of one man, simply because she found him devastatingly attractive. She might be inexperienced, but she could see a come-on when it was handed out to her—and that was just what that look of his had been when he had left her last night.

  She sat down wearily on the bed; all because he felt sorry for Sylvia. If she hadn't been as level-headed as she was, she would have fallen hook, line and sinker for his tactics in removing her interest—or so-called interest—from Sylvia's father to him—whereupon, she thought grimly, he would have dropped her like a hot brick and not had a mite of conscience about it. In his view she deserved all she got, for she hadn't forgotten the way he had said, 'Is it going to be worth it?' and

  something about hurting Sylvia. Oh no, he would
have no compunction whatsoever.

  Her eyes fell upon her hands now twisted together. Was this why he had arranged to meet her the following day after giving her the full treatment of his fatal charm, then cancelling the date at the last moment? Her soft lips twisted; of course it was ! He had known only too well of her feelings on the plateau; that he had only to reach for her and she would have melted in his arms. She drew in a ragged breath. It was cruel, but very effective. He would put in an appearance for dinner, he had got it all worked out, and it would not be the first time he had employed such tactics, she presumed shrewdly, by which time she was supposed to be so grateful for his charming company that she would have been like butter in his hand.

  At least, she told herself ironically, she was one step ahead of him. His plan had not worked, not on her anyway, but had had the reverse effect and had brought her to her senses. To think she had almost told him the truth last night! Actually longed to tell him—and had felt ashamed for the way Sylvia had hoodwinked him! Although there was a little more to it than that, she had to admit to herself honestly. She had wanted him to know that she was entirely innocent of the charge laid against her—and why? Because she had been fool enough to let her feelings get the better of her normally sensible outlook.

  Her hands clenched the cover on the bed. She had ten more days to go, and somehow she had to steer well clear of that man ! She would take all the tours going if necessary, evening ones as well! It no longer bothered her that the evening tours would consist of

  visits to night clubs. Even if she did run into Justin Pride at one of them, she would be with a group, and would have a good excuse for avoiding his company.

  With an urgency that was totally uncalled for, seeing that Justin was not even on the island, Cassy grabbed her brochures, and not even waiting for the lift, ran down the stairs to reception and spent the next quarter of an hour booking tours with the resident tour operators, and not until she had all the necessary tickets in her hand, and the times of assembly written down, did she feel utterly relaxed and able to look forward to the rest of the day.