The Marriage Solution

by Helen Brooks

  Perhaps she ought to leave him to Jennifer after all? she thought numbly even as something in her repudiated the thought of her sister in an intimate embrace with Carlton Reef. He was the sort of man who could well want a particular form of thanks for his assistance. She felt a little shiver of excitement flicker down her spine and despised herself for it. All this was sending her crazy.

  The ringing of the phone downstairs interrupted her thoughts abruptly and a few moments later Mrs Jenkins popped her head round the door. 'Jennifer said you were awake,' she said cheerily as she placed a cup of tea on the bedside cabinet. 'And Mr Reef is on the phone—wants to speak to you and you alone.' The housekeeper's face twisted in a rueful grimace. 'That didn't go down well with your sister.'

  'No, no, it wouldn't.' Katie's stomach had performed a violent cartwheel and she took a deep breath before lifting up the bedroom extension at her elbow. He was going Ho be mad, so mad. Was he going to make her crawl for help?

  'Katie?' It was the deep, impatient voice she would have known, anywhere and again that subtle little shiver trembled down her spine. 'Are you free this morning to go over those papers?'

  'The papers?' She must sound like a complete idiot, she thought desperately as she struggled to compose herself. 'Oh, the papers. Yes, this morning would be fine.'

  'I'll be over about eleven.' He hesitated for a split-second and she expected a few caustic words of admonition. 'And I'm taking you out to lunch. No argument, please; you need to relax a little.'

  'Lunch?' Please help me to stop repeating the last word of every sentence, she prayed desperately. 'But the hospital—'

  'Let Jennifer do a turn.' This time the dark voice held a definite bite. 'And you can call in this evening, can't you?'

  'I…' It was an olive-branch and, in the circumstances, more than generous, she thought rapidly. She couldn't refuse. But to suggest that lunch with Carlton Reef could be relaxing? 'Thank you,' she said jerkily. 'Lunch would be lovely.'

  'Good try, Katie.' The words were said with surface amusement but she sensed something underneath. 'For a polite acceptance, that is, but I'm well aware that you loathe the very ground I walk on. I'll see you at eleven and please have all the necessary correspondence ready.' And as the receiver was replaced at the other end she found herself still holding the phone, with her mouth wide open and her cheeks burning.

  Jennifer managed still to be around when Carlton called at eleven, and was first to the door, almost pushing Mrs Jenkins over in her rush to get there. 'Hi there.' She smiled up at him as Katie appeared in the doorway of her father's study. 'Thought any more about that interview?'

  'Couldn't think of anything else,' Carlton said mordantly as he raised a hand of acknowledgement to Katie, who was in the background.

  'And?' Jennifer asked hopefully, pouting her lips beguilingly.

  'It seems an even worse idea on reflection than it did last night' Carlton's eyes were cool as he stared down at the lovely blonde. I've seen what papers like yours do to interviews, Jennifer.'

  'Perhaps in the normal run of things,' Jennifer admitted reluctantly, 'but you know me, Carlton; you're a friend of the family. I wouldn't dream—'

  'Jennifer, I don't know you from Adam,' Carlton said cynically as he moved inside the house, forcing Jennifer to back unwillingly to one side. 'And as for 'a friend of the family'…?' He caught Katie's eye and the expression in his smoky grey eyes became positively derisive. 'Hardly.'

  'But—'

  'Now go and visit your father,' Carlton said drily as he walked towards the study without a backward glance. 'That is what you came down for, isn't it?' he added as he turned in the doorway and glanced at Jennifer's mutinous face. 'How long are you here for anyway?'

  'Oh, whenever…' Jennifer murmured airily.

  'Well, I'm sure we'll meet again.' Carlton smiled dismissively as he shut the study door very firmly and turned to Katie, watching her silently.

  She stared back, acutely uncomfortable but determined that she wouldn't be the first to break the silence. Now that he was here, in the flesh, the sheer intimidating, sensual power of the man reached out to subdue and master her and the conciliatory feelings she had been experiencing all morning since his phone call took flight She had never met anyone, her father included, who could challenge her with such absolute arrogance without uttering a word, she thought dazedly as the silence lengthened.

  'Last night was not one of my better moves,' he said softly when the quietness reached screaming-point, 'but the only mitigation of what you would consider an act of gross boorishness was that it wasn't planned.'

  It was the very last thing in the world that she had expected him to say and all coherent thought left her head as she stared dumbly back, quite unable to utter a sound.

  'How mad are you?' he asked flatly, after a long moment.

  'I—' She stopped abruptly as a feeling of utter bewilderment swept over her. She had flown at him, albeit vocally, in front of two other people and caused a scene, which was something she had never imagined herself doing in her wildest dreams. He had handled it with cool aplomb and amazing control in the circumstances, she reflected weakly, and even the kiss hadn't been unpleasant.

  Far from it in fact, she thought silently as she turned and walked over to the desk where she had spread out all the relevant papers a few minutes before. He might have meant it as chastisement for her ill-chosen accusations, a lesson in discipline, but it had had quite a different effect on her nervous system.

  'I'm not mad,' she said quietly after a long pause. 'I was way out of line, I know that The important thing is that you're here now and prepared to try and help and I appreciate that.' She turned as she spoke and surprised an expression on the dark face that was gone an instant before she could catch it Relief, hunger, a strange kind of vulnerability? But then he spoke, his voice cold and constrained, and the illusion was shattered.

  'Good.' He joined her at the desk, careful to avoid the merest chance of any physical contact. 'Perhaps you wouldn't mind organising a cup of coffee while I glance through some of these?' He didn't look up as he spoke, his attention seemingly concentrated on the pieces of paper under his hands. 'And once I decide what's relevant we'll take them with us and photocopy them after lunch.'

  'That's not necessary,' she said uncomfortably. 'If you just return them when you're done—'

  'We'll photocopy them after lunch,' he repeated quietly as he raised his head and looked her hard in the face before resuming his perusal of the papers.

  Jennifer was quite right, she reflected silently as she walked quickly from the room—those dark grey eyes of his were incredible. In fact, he was altogether too attractive for his own good and she had no doubt at all that he knew it She could just imagine the women who must be after him and any man would get a swollen ego with all that he had going for him. Still…

  She reached the kitchen and paused before she opened the door, her hazel eyes uncharacteristically hard. She had seen him in action that first day and knew what he was really like, and no amount of physical attraction could make her fall for a man who was the epitome of all the things she disliked most in a male. And she wasn't stupid. Even if Jennifer hadn't told her of his reputation she would have known his love life was busy. That one kiss had spoken volumes.

  They left the house at twelve, stepping into a frosty, snow-covered world where the air was pure and bitingly cold and the sky a white-gold contrast against the bare black trees. 'Oh, how beautiful.' Katie stood for a moment on the top step and gazed across the drive. 'It doesn't seem real.'

  'No, it doesn't.' His voice was thick and low and she turned as he spoke to see his eyes fixed on her face, their depths unreadable. He moved in the next instant, walking down to the car and opening her door as he continued the conversation. 'The roads are pretty hazardous, though,' he said expressionlessly.

  'Are they?' That look had unnerved her but she fought for normality as she slid into the car, taking a deep, calming breath as he walked
round the bonnet to join her. She had to remember last night as a warning and keep her distance mentally and physically from this man, she thought, because somehow, in spite of his cold authority and distant coolness, he had a fascinating aura about him that was frighteningly compelling. But it was just an illusion. She almost nodded to herself and caught the action just in time.

  'So…' As he manoeuvred the powerful car out of the drive he glanced at her swiftly before concentrating on the road ahead. 'Tell me a little about yourself.'

  'Me?' She shrugged deprecatingly. 'Not much to tell really. I'm twenty-three years old; I've worked as a teacher for the last two years.'

  'Which school?' he asked quietly.

  'Sandstone.' She didn't expect him to know it but mere was a brief pause before he nodded slowly.

  'The special school?'

  'You know it?' she asked in surprise and he nodded again. 'My father wasn't too pleased when I took a job there,' she said tightly; the subject was still painful to her. 'He thought—'

  She stopped abruptly and then continued quickly as she realised that Carlton would probably have felt exactly the same. 'He thought it showed a lamentable lack of ambition,' she said flatly. 'I had a good degree and he thought I should use it in other areas, like Jennifer. But I'd always wanted to work with children and the fact mat this school was so close was an added advantage. It all seemed right.'

  'Does it continue to seem right?' he asked expressionlessly, and she glanced at him quickly but could read nothing from the hard profile.

  'Yes.' Her tone was both defensive and guarded.

  'Then you clearly made the right decision,' he said coolly.

  'I know.' She glanced at him again. 'I suppose you think like my father? That I should have gone on to do a PhD?'

  'Then you suppose wrong.' He overtook a small family saloon before, he spoke again. 'What sort of degree have you got anyway?'

  'Joint maths and chemistry—a first,' she said quietly.

  'I'm impressed.' He smiled slightly. 'But I'm more impressed that you followed your own star and did what you felt was right for you and I've no doubt at all that the kids in your charge feel exactly the same.'

  He had taken the wind right out of her sails and she stared at him in consternation before transferring her gaze straight ahead. What was this? Some sort of trick, a game? He must be a fiercely ambitious man to have got to where he was so young. Had he really meant what he just said—?

  'Why the frown?'

  'What?' She jumped as the dark voice sounded in her ear.

  'You're frowning as though I'd just said something out of order.' He swore softly as a large thrush suddenly flew out of the hedge bordering the narrow road and skimmed the bonnet of the car, missing it by a hair's breadth. 'Stupid bird's got a death wish.'

  'Well, in spite of being on the outskirts of London this is still in the country,' she said quickly, glad of the change of conversation. 'My father—'

  'You haven't answered my question.'

  'What question?' she prevaricated weakly.

  'Why were you frowning?' he persisted quietly but with an intentness that told her he wouldn't be deflected.

  She thought about lying for a moment, passing the incident off with a light, amusing reply, and then found herself speaking exactly what she had thought. 'I can't believe a man like you would approve of my actions,' she said flatly.

  'Why? Because your father didn't?' he asked softly.

  'Partly.' She licked her lips which had suddenly gone dry. 'And also…you are very successful and ambitious; I would have thought you would have approved-of my going on to do more important work.'

  'You don't think handicapped children are important?' he asked expressionlessly, his tone fooling her into thinking the conversation hadn't affected him.

  'I do,' she answered hotly before she had time to think. 'I just didn't—' She stopped abruptly.

  'You didn't think I did?' he finished for her. 'Charming. What exactly have you heard about me that you dislike me so strongly?' he asked grimly, his voice icy.

  'Nothing,' she answered quickly, 'and I don't dislike you, not really. It's just that…'

  'Just that?' he asked coldly.

  'Just that your world is so different,' she said weakly. 'I didn't mean anything personal.'

  'The hell you didn't.' He glanced at her once and she saw that the grey eyes were deadly. 'Well, in spite of what you may think, I consider your work very important, Katie, and I've just decided where we're going for lunch.' He had spoken as though the two things were synonymous and she stared at him, utterly bewildered, as he put his foot down on the accelerator, his face grim.

  They drove for nearly half an hour in absolute silence and as the car ate up the miles she began to feel distinctly panicky. Where on earth was he taking her? she thought helplessly as the butterflies in her stomach began to do cartwheels. She glanced at him from under her eyelashes, intending to ask, and then bit her lip hard before she could form the words. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction but if he tried anything like last night again she would have the mental armour firmly in place.

  She had seen her father in action too many times not to recognise that Carlton Reef was dangerous; men of their ilk regarded any show of compassion or tenderness as weakness and would capitalise on such vulnerability without the slightest stirring of conscience. It would seem that he was prepared to help her for the moment but she didn't doubt for a minute that he had reasons for doing so that she knew nothing about, or that he would be quite prepared to throw them to the wolves if it suited his purpose.

  'We're here.' They were well into the heart of London now but in the last few minutes had turned off into a richly opulent area of the city where large, elegant detached houses stood impassively behind high walls surrounded by tree-filled grounds.

  'Where's here?' she asked warily as he drove the car between two huge wrought-iron gates in a high stone wall and on to a small drive that finished in front of a particularly imposing residence in red brick.

  'My house.' He cut the engine and settled back in his seat to survey her coldly through narrowed grey eyes.

  'Your house?' she echoed in surprise. 'But I thought—' She stopped abruptly. 'Oh, are we photocopying the papers first, then?'

  'Damn the papers.' He gave her one last long look before opening the door and walking round to the passenger side, his face grim. 'Come on.' He opened her door and offered her his hand.

  'I don't think I want to come in,' she said warily as she glanced at his cold face. 'I'll just wait here.'

  'You damn well won't.' He reached down and jerked her out of the car, his voice harsh. 'And frankly I couldn't care less what you want at the moment, Katie. I've never met a woman—' He stopped sharply. 'like you,' he finished more quietly as he seemed to take hold of his temper.

  She knew he had been going to say something more caustic and glanced at him once as he led her, still with his hand holding her arm, up to the wide semicircular area of concrete leading in a gradual slope to the front door. He bent down to insert the key in the lock and she noticed that the keyhole was exceptionally low but still the two things hadn't registered with any importance in her mind as the door swung open and they stepped into the hall.

  'Carlton?' As the door directly facing them opened and a young man in a wheelchair appeared in the opening she froze. 'You're back sooner than I expected Anything wrong?'

  'Not at all,' Carlton responded easily as he drew her stiff body fully into the hall and shut the door quietly. 'I've just brought Katie home to meet you; anything wrong in that?' Her surprise was so great that she still couldn't formulate the right words in a mind that had suddenly gone blank. 'Katie, this is Joseph, my baby brother,' he added with a grin at the young man looking at them so interestedly. 'Joe, Katie.'

  'Hi.' As the wheelchair scudded over to them Katie's wits returned in time with her heartbeat. 'Nice to meet you, Katie.'

  'Likewise.' She smiled quite naturally, her eyes w
arm as she glanced down into a face that looked like a younger version of Carlton's but altogether more soft and gentle. 'Carlton didn't tell me he had a brother,' she added as she shook the hand held up to her.

  'Then I'm way in front of you,' Joseph responded with a wry grin. 'I've heard quite a lot about a certain Katie White in the last week or so.'

  'Have you?' Katie stared at him, her face expressing her incredulity as she tried to get her thoughts in order.

  'I share all my business problems with Joe,' Carlton said smoothly as he took her arm again, leading her towards the room that Joseph had just left. 'And naturally the loss of a good deal of money was bound to come up.'

  'Of course,' she answered quickly, missing the glance of warning that Carlton sent the younger man, who responded with a wicked grin and quick shrug of his broad shoulders.

  'I'll go and organise some lunch.' Instead of following them into the room Joseph turned the wheelchair down the passageway to the left of the front door. 'I take it you are staying for lunch?' he asked Katie directly as she turned in the doorway to what was obviously the drawing-room.

  'I don't know.' She glanced up at Carlton who was looking down at her, his face impassive. 'Are we?'

  'If you'd like to,' he said quietly.

  She looked at Joseph and nodded quickly, her warm smile in evidence again as her eyes met those of the younger man 'I'd love to, thanks.'

  'Right, I'll let Maisie know.' He nodded at his brother cheerfully. 'And you can pour me a beer. By the way, Fin not going out again today.'

  'I thought you were visiting that site in Kent later?' Carl-ton said.

  'Under a foot of snow.' The wheelchair turned and fairly flew down the passageway as Joseph's voice trailed back. 'Meeting cancelled.'

  'Joe's an architect,' Carlton said in explanation as he followed Katie into the room, shutting the door behind him before walking across to a well-stocked drinks cabinet in one corner. 'Doing very well for himself, too.'