Fugitive Wife

by Miranda Lee

  'Oh, Gareth!' she cried, and threw her arms around his neck. 'I do,' she sobbed. 'I can see that now. I love you so much it's like an ache deep inside me that never seems to be satisfied. I love you so much it...it frightens me.'

  'Don't let it, darling,' he soothed, easing her back down onto the duvet and smoothing a few strands of hair back from her flushed face. 'I feel the same way about you. Believe me when I say all I want is to love you, and look after you.'

  'Yes, yes, I do believe you. You'd never do what your brother did. You'd never lie to me, or try to con me. Why, there's not a bad bone in your whole body!' And she snuggled into him, kissing his chest, his throat, his chin.

  'Leah...'

  'Yes, my darling?' She glanced up, smiling, and saw his serious face. Her alarm was instant, making her stomach chum. 'What is it? What's the matter?'

  He didn't say a word, his eyes darkly troubled. Leah just knew he was thinking about Gerard. He'd said he wasn't worried about his brother but she knew he was. She resolved then and there to do something about Gerard herself. He was her problem, after all.

  'Don't think of Gerard tonight, Gareth,' she advised, her heart full of love for this man. 'He'll only spoil things, like you said. We'll worry about him later.'.

  'Later,' he repeated, still looking anxious. 'The trouble is, Leah, later always comes. And sometimes later is not better.'

  'Do you want us to both go down and tell Gerard straight away?'

  He actually shuddered. Leah reached up and kissed him on the mouth.

  'Like you said,' she whispered, 'I've been missing for six months. A little longer isn't going to make any difference to Gerard.' But already she was making plans to put an end to her supposed disappearance, to put an end to her sham of a marriage.

  Gareth sighed. 'I guess you're right. A little longer won't make much difference now. It's just that—' He broke off and Leah glanced up again.

  'Just what?'

  'You do realise we haven't used protection tonight, Leah. I can assure you I haven't given you any dreadful disease, but have you given pregnancy a thought?'

  'Yes. It did cross my mind. Briefly. But it's not very likely. My period only finished a couple of days ago.'

  'You're not on the pill, then?'

  'No. I used to take it, but I stopped when I left Gerard. He didn't want to have children yet, you see,' she said bitterly, thinking how he'd said he wanted her all to himself for a while. Wanted more time to brainwash her totally to his wants and needs, more like it!

  'Well, I want children with you, Leah,' Gareth assured her. 'And as soon as possible.'

  'You don't want to wait till we can be married?'

  'No,' he said abruptly.

  'A baby,' she mused, a warm, squishy feeling in her stomach. She would so love having Gareth's baby. 'But it's highly unlikely a baby will come from tonight. In a few days, maybe?' she said, looking up at him with love and hope in her face.

  He stroked a possessive hand down her throat and over her still erect nipples. 'Then in a few days we'll make love all night every night,' he promised thickly. 'But for now, just kiss me again, Leah. Kiss me everywhere. Take me away to that perfect place where nothing exists in this world but you and me, together.'

  She did kiss him everywhere. With relish and at length, till he was groaning again.

  'God, but I adore you doing that,' he rasped, his hand shaky in her hair. 'I can't tell you how it makes me feel. You do love me, don't you? Oh God... Don't stop... Don't ever stop...'

  She did. Eventually. But only to take him inside herself, to take them both to that perfect world where nothing existed in the world but the two of them, together.

  And it was perfect. Exquisitely so.

  Leah remembered what Alan had said about knowing by morning which man she preferred, both in bed and out There was no longer any doubt in her mind. It was Gareth she loved. He was the reality, her feelings for Gerard the illusion. That had just been an infatuation, a naive young girl falling victim to a dominating and wickedly attractive man.

  But he would not have the power over her now he'd once had. She was sure of it. Now she was truly in love, with Gareth, who had all of Gerard's physical attractions and none of his flaws.

  She stared down at him as she rode him, enthralled by the glazed passion in his face, enthralled by her own passion. She felt the pleasure concentrate within her once more, felt it gather, rise, twist, then shatter into a million pieces, her climax even more intense than any she'd experienced before.

  'Oh. Gareth,' she cried, their bodies spasming as one. 'My love...'

  He gathered her down to him, holding her close while his seed pumped deep into her empty womb.

  She thought about how, in a few days' times, that womb would not be so empty. Hopefully, a tiny egg would be waiting for him, waiting to burst into a new life.

  Such thinking reinforced her resolve to have done with Gerard by then, to have severed that tie once and for all. She wanted to conceive Gareth's child with nothing hanging over her head, or his, wanted him to be as sure of her love as she was of his.

  'I love you,' she murmured, and embraced him back. 'Love you,' she repeated endlessly, till she fell asleep in his arms.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  'SUCCESSFUL night last night, I presume?' Alan said when he picked her up the following afternoon for work. He'd been discretion itself when he'd arrived at the boat that morning and ferried them both to shore. None of that 'wink-wink, nudge-nudge, say no more' stuff which Leah had been dreading.

  'Pretty good,' Leah understated.

  Alan chuckled. 'You're a cool one, Leah, I'll give you that. But, looking at that poor wrecked man this morning, I'd say it was more than 'pretty good'. Are you seeing him again tonight?'

  'Yes.'

  'Well, I hope you gave him the opportunity to catch up on some shut-eye today. We chaps do have a limit, you know, especially once we're over thirty. Not like these randy young bucks who can oblige every ten minutes.'

  'Alan!' she protested, trying to look shocked through laughing eyes. Little did he know it, but Gareth would have given any young buck a run for his money last night. But he had looked a little weary by the dawn, and after dropping her home had gone back to his apartment for a long sleep. She'd tried to do the same, but had woken after only a couple of hours, her mind already racing with her plans for the following day.

  'I hope you're being careful,' Alan said suddenly, and Leah's heart leapt.

  'Careful? What do you mean?'

  'Well, you don't really know this Gareth guy, 'do you? I mean...you only know what he's told you about himself. That's the way when you meet someone on holiday. Believe me when I tell you I've met some seemingly nice ladies in my day who spin you the most incredible yarns just because they're away from home.'

  'Gareth would never lie to me,' she said firmly.

  'What makes you so sure of that?'

  'I just know it.'

  Alan shrugged. 'Don't say I didn't warn you.'

  'I won't have to.'

  'Some women never learn,' he muttered under his breath.

  'That's not fair. Gareth is nothing like Gerard. You yourself said I would learn a lot from spending the night with him. And I did. I know now what love is. I know what I want in life, and in men. I've been running away from both and it's got to stop. Which leads me to ask a favour of you, Alan.'

  'Oh? What kind of favour?' he asked warily.

  'I'm going to tell Gareth that you've got a day cruise booked for tomorrow and you'll be picking me up for work at nine-thirty.'

  'Why? Where will you really be?'

  'In Brisbane, asking Gerard for a divorce.'

  'Without telling his brother?'

  'Yes.'

  Alan shook his head. 'Nothing good comes of lies, Leah.'

  'It's not a bad lie.'

  'There's no such thing.'

  Her face hardened. Alan just didn't understand. 'Will you do it for me, or won't you?'

 
'What exactly do I have to do? I don't quite understand my part. After all, you can tell Gareth whatever you like. We're not likely to run into each other.'

  'You might.'

  'So you want me to make myself scarce for the day, is that it?'

  'Yes. And could you possibly drive me to the airport?' The plane fares and a night in a Brisbane motel would take every cent she had in her bank account.

  'At nine-thirty?'

  'Yes.'

  'Okay.'

  'Oh, Alan, you're a doll!'

  'More like an idiot. When will you be back?'

  'In time for the cruise the following night.'

  'You'd better be.'

  'I will. I promise.'

  Guilt consumed Leah the moment the lie was out of her mouth. She was in bed with Gareth at his apartment, her body still humming from his impassioned lovemaking when she braved the issue of where she would be the following day.

  'You'll be gone all day?' Gareth said, disappointment in his voice.

  'I'm afraid so.'

  'What about tomorrow night? Will you be free for dinner?'

  'I'm not sure. We don't have a sunset cruise on The Zephyr on Mondays, so day cruises on Mondays sometimes linger on into the evening. I...I'd better not promise anything. Look, I'll ring you when we get back, okay?' She was planning on ringing him anyway, from Brisbane, after she'd seen Gerard. She would have to if he wasn't going to worry, since she wouldn't be back in Broome till Tuesday.

  'I guess that'll have to do,' he said disgruntledly.

  Leah's guilt increased. It was awful deceiving the person you loved, but she was determined. It would be all for the best in the long run.

  'Why don't you book one of the day tours around Broome?' she suggested. 'They're very good. If you ring down to Reception they'll book it for you. Oh, maybe not. It's a bit late.'

  The wall clock said nine-thirty. Gareth had brought her back here to his place supposedly to cook her dinner—a thought which had intrigued her—but they'd ended up in bed before a single bite had passed their lips.

  'I wouldn't want to do that, anyway,' he said. 'Group tours are not really my thing. I'll just potter around by myself, look at the scenery, check out the dinosaur prints.'

  'Oh, those! Well, I think I should warn you that the ones you can see are not real ones, you know. They're duplicates. The real ones are out under the water line. I think you can occasionally glimpse them at low tide.'

  'No matter. I just want to see how big they are. Fancy something to eat yet?'

  'You can really cook?'

  He grinned. 'Do you doubt it?'

  Her own smile was sheepish. 'Er...I haven't had much experience of men cooking.'

  'You mean Gerard, I suppose,' he said drily.

  'Not just him. My brothers didn't cook, either.'

  'I'm no great shakes, but I can grill a steak and throw a salad together.'

  The telephone ringing out in the living room brought a scowl to Gareth's face and a frown to Leah's.

  'Who could be ringing you?' she asked.

  'Lord only knows.'

  'Do you want me to answer it?' she offered. 'I have to go 'to the bathroom anyway.'

  'No, no, I'll do it.' He threw back the sheet and jumped out of bed, striding over to yank open the double sliding doors which separated the bedroom from the living area.

  Leah frowned as she watched his irritated body language. He wasn't quite as laid-back a person as she'd first thought, though not nearly as short-tempered as Gerard. Still, she supposed his passion had to come from somewhere.

  He swept up the receiver, his back to her, his shoulders a little tense. 'Yes?' he snapped, then just listened for a while.

  'Yes, it's very nice up here,' he went on briskly at last. 'No... No, I won't be back for a while... Look, I'll call you next week and give you a definite date... Yes, yes I do know that... Goodbye.'

  He put the phone down slowly, thoughtfully.

  'Who was that?'

  'What?'

  'I said, who was that?'

  'My secretary. She wanted to know when I'd be back in Brisbane. I'd rung her, you see, saying I might be extending my stay.'

  'Are you needed back at work?'

  'They can cope without me. I have good staff.' He walked back to the bed, sitting down on the edge and resting a gentle hand against her cheek.

  'Now that I've found the love of my life, I don't want to risk it by rushing back to Brisbane. I want you all to myself for a while.'

  Leah found it ironic that he should say the identical words she suddenly remembered Gerard had said to her once, but with such a different intention.

  'You just want to get me pregnant, don't you?' she said, covering his hand with hers and smiling up at him.

  'Do you mind?'

  'Heavens, no. It's what I've always wanted, to be a mother. I'm no career girl, I'm afraid.'

  'You'll make a wonderful mother.'

  Her heart turned over at the love and admiration which shone from his eyes. She drew his hand round to her mouth and kissed it softly. 'And you, my dearest,' she murmured, 'will make a wonderful father.'

  'I hope so,' he said. 'God, I sincerely hope so.'

  Alan's warning about her not really knowing Gareth slipped into her mind. 'There...there's no reason why you shouldn't be, is there, Gareth?' she asked a little worriedly.

  'Not really. No. Dad was a very good father, so I have a good example to follow. I was more thinking about our chances of conceiving a child together. Not everyone has a baby just because they want one.'

  'Yes, that's true. But we're both healthy. And I'm young. They say girls are more fertile when they're young.'

  'Yes...yes, that's true.'

  'And there's no real rush, is there? It won't matter if we don't make a baby straight away. I mean...I do love you, Gareth, don't get me wrong, but we have only just met. I know it seems like we've known each other for ever. At least, that's how I feel about you. But the truth is we haven't. A few days ago I didn't even know you existed. And vice versa.'

  'No,' he denied, his eyes boring into hers. 'That's not true. I did know you existed, Leah.'

  The blood began draining from her face. 'What...what do you mean?'

  For a moment, one terrible moment, she thought he was going to say something which would spoil all their happiness, their love for each other. She knew she could not have borne that. Not after what Gerard had done to her. 'Nothing bad,' he insisted, his eyes pained as he took both her hands in his, his ringers caressing upon her. 'I just meant I always knew a girl like you existed for me somewhere. That's why I waited, why I never wanted anyone else as my wife, or as the mother of my children. I was waiting for you, Leah. Always you.'

  'Oh, how sweet!' she cried, tears flooding her eyes as relief flooded her heart.

  'No, it's you who are sweet, my darling,' he murmured, cupping her face and kissing her mouth. 'I love you so much. Always, remember that. Always, always remember that.'

  He kissed her again, and it was the sweetest, most loving kiss in the world. It soothed her soul while arousing her body. Suddenly she needed him as she had never needed him before, needed him to show her his love for her, to wipe any lingering doubts from her mind that he was the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with.

  They didn't get round to eating that steak and salad till much, much later.

  Gareth dropped Leah home at eight-thirty the next morning, giving her enough time to be showered, changed and ready for' Alan's pick-up at nine-thirty. He was dead on time and she was at the airport in minutes, with plenty of time to check in for her flight. She managed to control her nerves pretty well till she had her boarding pass in her hands and the trip to Brisbane suddenly became a ghastly reality. A vicious attack of butterflies claimed Leah's stomach and she almost turned and ran. The thought of actually coming face to face with Gerard once more was both horrifying and undermining to her resolve. A steadying cup of coffee made no difference. She was petrified. On
ly by reminding herself over and over that this would never get any easier did she propel herself onto that plane.

  When it landed in Darwin and her connecting flight to Brisbane was delayed for forty minutes, Leah almost backed out again. It would be late afternoon by the time she reached Eagle Farm airport. Five at least by the time a taxi deposited her at Sunshine Enterprises.

  Not that Gerard would have left the office by then. He wasn't a nine-to-five person at the best of time. He'd never arrived home on a Monday till eight at least. Monday was his day for getting on top of things in the office. His letter, fax and phone day—catching up on everyone after the weekend and putting into motion things discussed with his sales and marketing team on the Friday.

  Leah used to feel sorry for Enid on a Monday. She'd had to stay back even after Gerard left to finish what he'd dictated.

  Workaholic slave-driver, she thought as she sat there in the terminal, waiting impatiently for the announcement to board.

  As she waited, her eyes slid to the public phones dotted around and an awful thought intruded. What if for some reason Gerard wasn't in his office? What if his routine had changed during the last six months?

  Suddenly Leah had to find out. Perhaps she was looking for an out, a reason not to go, an excuse not to face Gerard. No matter. She just had to know.

  Jumping up from her seat, she hurried over to the nearest empty phone cubicle. She only had three dollars forty in change and hoped that would be enough.

  Luckily, Enid answered her phone fairly quickly.

  'Enid, this is Leah,' she said swiftly, her heart hammering away like a jackhammer. 'I can't talk for long. I don't have much money. Just tell me if Gerard will be in the office around five.'

  'Yes. Yes, I see no reason why he shouldn't be. Why, Leah?'

  'Because I'm going to be there around then. Maybe a little later. Only please don't tell him that. Promise!'

  'I promise.'

  'Thanks, Enid. I knew I could rely on you. Have to go. My money's running out.'

  Leah hung up, her hands shaking.

  She felt sick.

  He was there.

  She had no excuse not to go.

  Oh, God...

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN