Rachel Lindsay - Rough Diamond Lover

by Rachel Lindsay

  "Hardly a society. I started it myself last year and it caught on like wildfire."

  Laura looked accusingly at Robert. "Why didn't you tell me about it?"

  "I never knew it existed," he protested.

  "I'll let you know when we're holding our next session," Beth intervened. "It's generally here, but some times we go to other members' homes. There's potholing too, if you like that sort of thing."

  "I've never tried. But I'd love to have a go." Laura regarded Robert with suspicion.

  "I knew about the potholing," he confessed, "but I never dreamed you'd like it!"

  Tossing her head, Laura looked at Beth. "Please let me know when you go on an expedition."

  "Delighted."

  "Mind if I break up the conversation?" Jake was standing beside them again, Elaine at his side. "How about this dance, Miss Winters?"

  About to refuse, the sight of malevolent green eyes made her change her mind. "What a lovely idea!" Gracefully she moved into his arms, not pulling away from him until they were hidden by a press of people.

  "Oh no, you don't," he said, drawing her back into his hold. "I'm not going to let you escape as easily as that!"

  "I wasn't trying to escape," she said coldly. "Merely to dance in a civilized fashion."

  "A yard away from me? You're in the wrong civilization, lass. Nowadays we dance like this." He lowered his head until his chin rested on her hair, his arms tight around her body and his breath warm on her ear.

  Knowing he was deliberately baiting her, she refused to rise to it. Yet never before had she been so physically conscious of a man as she was of this one. Why did her dislike of him make her tremble to his touch, make her aware of every movement of his body?

  "So your curls aren't made of steel," he whispered, his lips against the dark red waves. "They feel like hen's feathers."

  Unable to stop herself, she laughed. "You could at least have said swan's down!"

  "And have you accuse me of being a romantic!"

  "I could accuse you of many things, Mr. Andrews, but never that."

  "And I could accuse you of being old-fashioned. My name's Jake."

  "I loathe the way people call each other by their first name the moment they meet."

  "You can hardly say we've just met. It's been several months." His voice grew deeper. "Laura. It's a beautiful name. Calm and peaceful."

  "Like my personality?" she mocked.

  "I reckon it could be, if you'd a mind to it. Trouble is you're always on the defensive with me."

  "Your attitude warrants it."

  "Don't you feel you're a bit to blame?" She was silent and he gave her a slight shake. "Come, lass, it's Christmas. Show me a bit of goodwill."

  Knowing it was churlish to refuse—and also because she did not want to—she smiled up at him.

  "You should do that more often," he said softly.

  Before she could reply,'the music ended, and as they drew to a stop they were directly behind Robert and Elaine.

  "I'm not letting you go anymore this evening," the girl said to Jake reproachfully. "You've done more than enough duty dances. This is a Christmas party, not an office dance!"

  Laura gasped at the rudeness and waited expectantly for Jake to make some cutting retort. But he merely looked amused and, stepping over to Elaine, gave her a gentle slap on her bottom.

  "One day I'll put my hands 'round your pretty little neck and wring it!" he commented.

  "I don't care where you hold me just as long as you do!"

  The music began again and Laura moved close to Robert. "I think we're de trop, darling."

  Not looking at Jake, she allowed Robert to guide her away, but: she followed his steps automatically, conscious only that for a few moments she had come dangerously close to liking a man of whom instinct had warned her to beware.

  Learning about his past had softened her attitude toward him. There was nothing like a rags to riches saga to melt a feminine heart. And the story of the young boy working to support his mother and never leaving her, no matter how great the temptation, had been enough to do the trick twice over. Small wonder she had been taken in by his show of friendliness, not guessing it to have been prompted by duty toward his able and competent canteen supervisor!

  She was still dancing with Robert when the lights— already dim—grew considerably dimmer, and amid ribald remarks and the sound of some high-pitched giggling, the music became slow and languorous.

  "This is more like it," Robert said, and bent his head, his mouth searching for hers.

  She longed to evade him but, knowing that to do so would hurt him, suffered his kiss in silence. It was not the first time he had kissed her and she had always been able to show some feeling—a warmth arising from the liking she felt for him which, though it had not held the passion he desired, had at least served to satisfy him. But this time she could not instill any feelings into her response, and she knew her lack of emotion had hurt him. Angry with herself, she wondered why she had found it so difficult to pretend; after all, tonight was no different from any other.

  A husky laugh close by gave the lie to this belief; tonight was quite different, if only because Jake Andrews was there and she had been forced to see him in another light. Again there came a husky laugh and, half turning her head, she saw the faint gleam of a blond one and a pale, upturned face that, as she watched it, was covered by a darker, tanned one.

  Her feet stumbled and Robert momentarily stopped dancing. "Anything wrong?"

  "No. Why do you ask?"

  "You seem edgy. And, when I kissed you, I had the feeling you were miles away."

  " I'm sorry. I was… I was thinking of Tim.''

  It was the first excuse that came into her head, and she was pleased when Robert accepted it without question.

  "I should have guessed," he said, his manner becoming less strained. "For a while I thought you were fed up with me."

  "I wouldn't have come herewith you tonight, if I were. We're friends, Robert, and I'm very fond of you."

  "Is there no chance of—"

  "No," she cut in. "My feelings haven't changed in that respect."

  "Okay." He braced his shoulders, as though facing an unpalatable fact, and then changed the subject. "Why are you worried about your brother?"

  "I'm not sure. Maybe it's because we're twins. When he lived at home with us I knew his friends and where he went. But now his whole life seems a secret and—"

  "He's not a baby, you know. He has a good job, you said so yourself, and he's not short of money. That's one sure way of guaranteeing he won't get into trouble."

  "Tim's always short of money," she said shortly. "Sometimes I think the only reason he comes to see me is so he can borrow from me!"

  "Laura!"

  There was such shock in Robert's voice that she instantly regretted her disloyalty to her brother. Darn Jake Andrews. It was because of him she was in such a strange, disquieting mood and, because of it, talking too much.

  "Don't take any notice of me," she murmured. "I shouldn't have said it."

  Anxious to stop his questions, she moved closer to him. Instantly he rested his cheek against hers. His skin was smooth and she marveled at how easily a man could be swayed by the purely physical. As Jake was…

  The tempo of the music changed again, growing louder and faster as the lights came fully on again. Laura drew away from Robert's hold and turned to move off the floor. Unaccustomed to the brightness, she bumped into a figure, catching her breath with annoyance as she recognized the feel of the steel-hard fingers that closed on her arms. -

  "Are the stars in your eyes preventing you from seeing me?"

  She looked up into Jake's face, her annoyance increasing as she saw the scarlet stain of Elaine's lipstick across his mouth.

  "I can see well enough to know you look a sight!"

  His thick eyebrows rose. "How come?"

  "Wipe your mouth," she said tersely.

  Nonchalantly he took out his handkerchief
and did so. "Women like to leave their mark on a man." His voice was amused. "You're as guilty of it as Elaine."

  Laura swung around, mortified to see a smear of color on Robert's lips. "Wipe your mouth, too," she said crossly.

  The two men looked at each other and laughed, the joint sound making it appear they were sharing a joke against the female of the species.

  "Beats me why women want to cover themselves with goo," Jake said.

  "Because it adds to our charm." 'Elaine was by his side, her hands possessively clutching him.

  "You've more than enough charm already."

  "Darling." The heart-shaped face tilted toward him and the full mouth curved invitingly.

  Jake shook his head, a slight smile marking his own wide mouth."Enough'senough, baby."

  Laura caught Robert's smile. To see Jake with his face covered in lipstick was bad enough, but to have to listen to his smug, self-satisfied conversation was more than she could tolerate. "It's late, Robert. We must go."

  "The party's just beginning," Elaine protested.

  "I'm tired." Laura felt bound to make some apology.

  "Don't tell me you were busy cooking the turkey!"

  "As a matter of fact, I was."

  The girl giggled. "How wonderfully domesticated you are! You make me feel so useless."

  "I'm sure you have lots of other qualities."

  The slanting green eyes slid to Jake. "Have I,darling?"

  "One or two," he replied. "But it wouldn't come amiss if you could cook as well. Then you'd be the perfect woman!"

  With a murmur of delight Elaine gave him a sudden hug, and from the shelter of his arms stared at Laura. "Perhaps you could give me some lessons."

  "I assume you mean in cooking?"

  There was a second's silence, broken by Jake stifling a laugh. "I warned you not to do battle with Laura."

  "I didn't realize we were having a battle." Elaine's voice was brittle. "What do Miss Winters and I have to fight about?"

  "Do two beautiful women need a reason to spit and claw?"

  Knowing she had already played into his hands and determined not to do so any more, Laura smiled widely at Elaine. "I think we should use our claws on the men, don't you? You concentrate on Jake and I'll concentrate on Robert."

  Momentarily taken aback by Laura's change of attitude, Elaine quickly reacted to it by planting a lingering kiss on Jake's mouth.

  "Now you're branded," she said huskily. "All I have to do is rope you in!"

  "What about my branding?" Robert asked, catching Laura around the waist.

  "I work better in privacy!" Aware of Jake's watching .her, she linked her arm with Robert's and gave him a look that rivaled Elaine's for provocativeness.

  "What are we waiting for, then?" Robert did a standing trot. "Let's get going. I'll be the easiest steer you've ever had to rope in!"

  Keeping a smile of amusement on her face, Laura murmured her thanks for the party and followed Robert from the room. In the corridor her gaiety dropped from her like a blanket. The man at her side did not notice and she wondered wearily what sort of scene she had let herself in for. Not that she would have acted any differently if she had the chance again. At least she had made it clear to Jake how little she cared what he did with his private life.

  "Wait in the hall while I fetch the car," Robert said. "I don't want you to catch cold."

  Nodding agreement, she went in search of her coat. It was on a rack in the large cloakroom, cheek by jowl with minks and sables. Idly she stroked her hand over a gleaming dark pelt, the fur like velvet against her skin.

  "Try it on."

  Beth spoke behind her and Laura turned to see the woman framed in the doorway.

  "It'll probably swamp you but at least it will give you some idea of what sable is like to wear!"

  "I'll stick to my suede, thanks."

  "Are you anti fur coajts? Lots of people are."

  "I haven't thought about it. If I say I am, it might sound like sour grapes!"

  "Not coming from you," Beth responded thoughtfully. "You don't strike me as being envious."

  "You don't know me." "

  "Call it feminine intuition. The same intuition that told me you didn't like Jake."

  Laura avoided the brown eyes. "Was that why you told me about him?"

  "Partly. At lot of folk are apt to misunderstand him. And he doesn't go out of his way to make himself liked."

  "He doesn't care what people think of him."

  "He cares too much," Beth corrected. "I thought you were a sufficient judge of character to know that."

  Laura hesitated, then said impulsively, "He and I started off on the wrong foot. And once that happened…"

  "Perhaps it will be better after tonight."

  "I doubt it. Anyway, I only see him when he wants to complain about something!"

  Together they walked into the hall where Robert was waiting by the front door.

  "I couldn't bring the car right up to the steps," he apologized. "Too many Rolls' in the way! But I've parked a few yards down."

  Laura held out her hand to Beth. "Don't forget to let me know about the next musical evening."

  "I won't. And the potholing, too."

  Holding on to Robert's arm, Laura walked down the slippery pavement. As they turned a curve, a small red sports car skidded around a bend in the driveway and shot past them, skidding slightly and missing Laura's legs by inches.

  With a shout of fear Robert pushed her hard, sending .her sprawling to the ground but safe. In front of them the car screeched to a stop, its front end resting in the shrubbery.

  "Where do you think you're driving?" Robert burst out furiously. "The Monte Carlo Rally?"

  Some five or six people tumbled from the car in a flurry of fur coats and leather jackets, their voices loud in the clear air.

  "Old fogey! "one of them called. "Don't you know it's Christmas?"

  "And likely to be your last if you go careering around like madmen!" Robert shouted back.

  There was a burst of jeering laughter, and Laura, struggling to her feet, saw Robert about to lunge forward.

  "Don't, "she pleaded. "There are too many of them."

  "They're drunk. I can at least give a couple of them the pasting they deserve."

  "Just you try it," a swaying young man called across the darkness.

  Despite the slurred voice Laura knew a stab of recognition. Slowly she moved forward until she was level with the speaker, her anger rising as her suspicions were confirmed and she recognized the dark red hair and finely chiseled features of her twin.

  "How dare you talk like that?" Her voice was low with disgust. "Haven't you even got the decency to apologize, or don't you care that you might have killed someone? "

  "Laura!" Tim swayed in front of her. "I didn't know it was you."

  "What difference does that make? You're driving a car when you're too drunk even to stand up straight!"

  "I just took the bend too fasht. Too fast," he corrected himself solemnly.

  "And too drunk," she repeated. "Whose car is it?"

  "Mine,"a girl answered. "Tim always drives it."

  Turning to the speaker, Laura saw someone who could almost have been a carbon copy of Elaine Simpson; not as pretty perhaps, but with the same air of money and insolence.

  "Then you should have had more sense, too," she said angrily. "Neither of you is fit to be in a pram, let alone a car!"

  "Stuff it, will you?" Tim said angrily. "No one was hurt."

  "Someone could have been hurt—killed even."

  With an incoherent mutter he swung to the girl by his side. "Meet my twin sister—three minutes older than me and that makes her my keeper!"

  "How right you are," Laura said, catching his arm. "The best thing you can do is to come home with me. Robert's car is over there and—"

  "Stuff it!" Tim said rudely. "I'm not going home with anybody yet."

  As he spoke, the girl by his side draped herself around his should
ers. "Come on, Timmy. We're missing the party."

  "Don't," Laura burst out. "Come home with me, Tim."

  "Go 'way," he said angrily.

  "Leave him alone, Laura." Robert was standing beside her, his expression mirroring her own distress.

  "That's right,"Tim grinned drunkenly. "Do what the boyfriend says. Boss him instead." Giving her a slight push, he turned and staggered toward the house.

  Laura took a step forward but was restrained by Robert.

  "Ifyou go after him now he'll turn ugly."

  "He's ugly already," she said bitterly and, blinded by tears, allowed herself to be led over to the car.

  CHAPTER SIX

  In the following weeks Tim diplomatically stayed way from Eddlestone. Laura wondered if her father would remark on his absence, but he said nothing and gave no outward sign of being worried by it.

  True to his word, Harold Simpson made the first overture to his old friend, calling at the house one evening without even bothering to telephone.

  "I knew if I called you, you'd find some excuse for putting me off," he explained, laughing at the sight of John Winters's discomfiture. "You always were proud and obstinate."

  "Not too proud to welcome a friend."

  "That's good to hear. Once you get brass, you start wondering who your real friends are. I don't have that sort of problem with you."

  From then on the two men saw each other regularly, and Laura was particularly pleased when her father went to visit Harold Simpson, for it forced him into some social life instead of the continual round of engineer's workshop and home.

  From Beth she heard nothing, and as the weeks passed, she wondered if the woman had forgotten her promise. Then one lunchtime, during her busiest hour in the canteen, she received a telephone call from her.

  "Sorry about not getting in touch with you," Beth apologized, "but I've been rushed off my feet at the hospital. Half our nurses have been down with flu."

  "We've had the same problem here."

  "Then you must be terribly rushed. I won't keep you. I just wanted to let you know we're going caving this Saturday."

  "Saturday," Laura echoed. "That would suit me fine. I need some exercise to blow the cobwebs away!"

  Jotting down the time and place of rendezvous on the pad in front of her, she straightened to see Jake standing beside the cash desk, a loaded tray in his hands. Quickly she tore the sheet of paper off the pad and put it into her pocket, at the same time adding up the price of his meal.