Man From Half Moon Bay: A Loveswept Classic Romance

by Iris Johansen

  Man From Half Moon Bay is a work of fiction. Names, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

  2013 Loveswept eBook Edition

  Copyright © 1988 by Iris Johansen.

  All rights reserved.

  Published in the United States of America by Loveswept, an imprint of Random House, a division of Random House LLC, a Penguin Random House Company, New York.

  LOVESWEPT is a registered trademark and the LOVESWEPT colophon is a trademark of Random House LLC.

  eBook ISBN 978-0-345-54623-4

  Originally published in the United States by Loveswept, an imprint of Random House, a division of Random House LLC, in 1988.

  www.readloveswept.com

  v3.1

  Contents

  Cover

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Editor’s Corner

  One

  The man couldn’t have been Jordan.

  Sara’s grip tightened on the delicate china cup in her hand, her gaze searching the fog-shrouded sidewalk beyond the mullioned windows of the tearoom. It was foolish of her to be so nervous. She had caught only the most fleeting glimpse of a tall man wearing jeans and a white fisherman’s sweater before he had disappeared into the fog. She wasn’t even sure his hair had been as dark as Jordan’s. Yet there had been something about the way he moved.… No one had a walk like Jordan’s. He moved in a way that was so deceptive at first glance, for it looked lazy, but quite quickly that impression gave way to the truth: He was full of fierce energy … leashed. She had watched him stride naked across the room toward her so many times, his muscular thighs rippling with power.…

  “What’s wrong?” Penny Lassiter was frowning at Sara. “You haven’t heard a word I’ve said for the last five minutes.”

  Sara forced her grasp to loosen on the cup and smiled with an effort. “Sorry. I thought I saw someone I knew.” It had to have been her imagination. Sausalito was half a world away from Half Moon Bay and the life she had lived there.

  Penny’s eyes widened in alarm as her gaze followed Sara’s to the window. “Kemp?”

  Sara shook her head as she lifted the cup to her lips. “Not Kemp. You’re jumping at shadows. Julian Kemp is in New York and no threat to me. It’s over, Penny.”

  “The hell it is.” Penny’s brown eyes met Sara’s as she lit a cigarette. “You were a material witness at Kemp’s trial and that slimeball isn’t going to forget you. He made threats on your life, dammit.”

  “That was four months ago and the New York police told us he hasn’t given any sign of planning to leave their jurisdiction since Judge Brenlaw declared a mistrial.” Sara reached across the table and gave her editor’s hand an affectionate squeeze. “I’m not so stupid that I’m not worried, but I can’t lock myself in my apartment and never go out. I couldn’t live like that. Kemp knows he’s being watched by the police around the clock and he’d be a fool to make a move on me.”

  “Or crazy,” Penny said. “And we both know the man is unbalanced. He killed four women, and I’m not going to let you become number five. I’ve been thinking about it and I’ve about decided to reassign you to the South Pacific bureau.”

  “No!” Sara said. “You can’t do that. You’re overreacting, Penny.”

  Penny’s lips tightened. “I was the one who sent you to New York to cover the finish of that investigation on Kemp, and it’s my fault that you were on the spot to witnesss Kemp’s attack on the woman. So don’t tell me what I can or can’t do, Sara.”

  There was the touch of steel in Penny’s voice that broadcast the message she was speaking now as Sara’s boss not her friend. Sara experienced a swift rush of panic. No one knew better than she how tough Penny could be when she chose. Penny Lassiter hadn’t become the editor of the most prestigious news magazine in the United States at the age of thirty-one by being easily swayed by anything or anyone. Dynamic, intelligent, and charismatic, Penny could also be obstinate as the devil when she made up her mind. But perhaps she hadn’t quite made up her mind yet, Sara thought. “I don’t want to go back to Sydney.”

  Penny’s expression softened. “Who said anything about Australia? I was thinking about Honolulu. Wouldn’t you like to spend six months in the paradise of the Pacific?”

  Sara quickly lowered her lashes to hide the relief she felt. Jordan owned a luxury hotel in Honolulu, but he seldom visited it. His brother, Cam, had always handled their properties outside of Australia. “It’s better than Sydney, but I’d probably be bored stiff in your island paradise. I’d rather stay here.”

  Penny looked down into the amber depths of the tea in her cup. She had been afraid Sara was going to be difficult about this. She had known Sara O’Rourke for more than five years, had been her close friend for about four of those years. She had learned to read Sara pretty well. Not that Sara was difficult to read. She had never tried to be anything but open and honest with everyone.

  When Penny had hired her fresh out of college she’d had serious reservations about two of Sara’s chief characteristics: her sensitivity and glowing warmth. In Penny’s experience, a reporter’s sensitivity soon turned to cynicism and warmth to wariness as the years passed. She had thought it likely Sara would become either embittered or so disillusioned she wouldn’t last more than six months at World Report.

  She had been delighted to find herself wrong about Sara, who had gained confidence and strength but never lost her tender qualities. And, indeed, her sensitivity and warmth made her interviews one of the magazine’s top features. “Six months will be tolerable. You may even learn how to hula.” She crushed her cigarette out in the crystal ashtray on the table. “Maybe by that time the N.Y.P.D. will have enough evidence to file charges on one of the other cases against Kemp on their books.”

  “But it’s not necessary,” Sara said urgently. “I don’t want to leave San Franscisco. I like it here and I’ve made several good friends. I’ve just finished decorating and moving into my new apartment and I—”

  “Honolulu is a long way from Half Moon Bay, Sara,” Penny interrupted. “It’s not as if I’m sending you into the lion’s den. The chances of your running across your ex-husband in Honolulu are extremely slim. If I had a choice, I’d send you to the Paris bureau, but there’s no opening there now.”

  “Jordon has nothing to do with my not wanting to leave San Francisco.” Sara met her friend’s skeptical gaze and made a face. “All right, I’m not telling the truth. I don’t want to see Jordan again. Not yet.”

  “It’s been eighteen months since you left Half Moon Bay,” Penny said gently. “You’ve never flinched at facing up to anything or anyone before, Sara. I think perhaps you’ve let the image of Jordan Bandor grow too large in your memory. He’s only a man.”

  “Is he?” Sara smiled crookedly. “You’ve never met him. Jordan is definitely larger than life.”

  Penny’s gaze narrowed on her face. “Are you afraid of him?”

  “Of course not. It’s just that Jordan …” Sara moistened her lips. “I’m not ready to encounter him again. Not yet. Jordan always managed to turn me inside out. He’s—” she paused, searching for words—“overpowering.”

  The description coincided with what Penny had heard of Jordan Bandor. The Australian hotelier had the reputation of being both ruthless and har
d as nails in his business as well as in his personal life. It was a mystery to her that sensible Sara could have been swept off her feet by the man. Of course, Jordan Bandor was fabulously wealthy and Half Moon Bay was reputed to be one of the most beautiful estates in the world, but she doubted that his money would have influenced Sara. Sara had known Jordan only one week before he had managed to persuade her to give up her job with World Report and marry him. Nine months later Sara had walked into Penny’s office in San Francisco, announced her marriage was over, she was resuming her maiden name, and wanted her old job back. She had never mentioned Jordan Bandor again. Until now.

  “Damn, you’re actually intimidated by the man and you’re no doormat.” Penny frowned. “Why?”

  “I’m not intimidated. I’m probably giving you the wrong impression. Jordan is brilliant and he can be very charming. You might even admire him. He’s just … very intense. Probably the most intense man I’ve ever known.”

  “Unstable?”

  Sara shook her head. “Steady as a rock.”

  Penny scowled. “I still don’t think I’d care for your charming ex-husband.”

  Sara’s gaze returned to the window. “He’s not my ex-husband yet, there’s some sort of legal delay.”

  Penny gave a low whistle. “I thought the divorce had gone through.”

  “Soon. It can’t take much longer. I’m sure it’s just international red tape.” Sara glanced at her wristwatch. “I’d better get going. It’s almost four and I have an interview at five with Michael Donovan. He promised me an exclusive about his new science fiction movie.” She stood up. “This has been nice, hasn’t it? There’s something very soothing and old world about taking afternoon tea. If you weren’t such a busy lady, I’d suggest we make it a standing date every week.” She leaned across the small table and brushed Penny’s cheek with her lips. “I’ll see you at the office tomorrow.”

  “Yes, you will.” Penny smiled sweetly. “And then we’ll sit down and discuss travel arrangements.”

  She should have realized Penny wouldn’t let herself be sidetracked, Sara thought ruefully. “Okay, we’ll talk about the possibility of a reassignment.”

  “Arrangements,” Penny repeated firmly. “And remember Mac Devlin’s bash tomorrow night. He needs all the support he can get when he tries to wheedle more money out of World Report’s board members.”

  “Mac Devlin needs support like I need that assignment in Honolulu. He’ll have them eating out of his hand.”

  “Maybe, but show up anyway. You don’t say no to the publisher, Sara.”

  “No problem. I’ll be there. I like parties.” Sara gave her an affectionate smile and walked quickly out of the tearoom.

  The fog was becoming worse, wreathing the streets of Sausalito in a blanket of white mist. It was going to be the very devil driving back to the downtown San Francisco hotel where she was to meet the producer. She’d be lucky if she didn’t blunder off the blasted bridge.

  Sara unlocked the door of her beige Honda and paused a moment to look down the street toward the pier where the man in the white fisherman’s sweater had vanished in the mist. Strange what tricks the mind could play. This Kemp business had strained her nerves to the point that it was triggering all sorts of disturbing hallucinations. She smiled ruefully as she remembered that last week she had been sure someone was following her and had called Lieutenant Blaise in a panic to make certain Kemp was still in New York. He had been very patient and reassuring, and even made a special call to the New York police to verify that Kemp was still there. She had felt like a complete idiot.

  And thinking that she had caught a glimpse of Jordan had to be her imagination also. He had so dominated her life and her thoughts in the brief period they’d been together that it was probably natural for a stray tendril of memory to creep into her consciousness now and then. But she had neither heard from nor seen Jordan since she had left Half Moon Bay eighteen months ago.

  No, it couldn’t have been Jordan Bandor who had been standing on the sidewalk outside the tearoom.

  • • •

  Sara drove into the concrete-paved warehouse, parked her Honda, and stepped out of the car. As she slammed the car door, the metallic thud echoed in the empty cavern and caused a shiver to run down her spine. Her footsteps quickened as she hurried toward the freight elevator. Lord, it was dark! Her landlord kept promising he’d install a floodlight, but the single naked bulb hanging over the entrance to the elevator was still the only light. She never liked coming home to this darkness, and tonight it appeared more menacing than usual. The shadows even appeared to move.…

  “Hello, luv. How’s tricks?”

  Sara jumped, her gaze leaping to the deep shadows on either side of the freight elevator. Then she relaxed as she recognized the teasing voice. “Cam?”

  Cameron Bandor ambled toward her. The light shone on him with cold cruelty as he came within its perimeter. However, it could reveal few flaws in Cam’s stunning good looks. It would have been difficult to fault the perfection of classic features, thick tobacco-colored hair with just a hint of a curl, and the loose-limbed grace with which he wore his elegant navy blue suit.

  “Lord, Sara, I couldn’t believe it when I checked out this address. A warehouse, for heaven’s sake?” He grimaced as he stopped before her. “I should have known you wouldn’t live anywhere that was decently civilized.”

  “This is civilized. In fact, it’s very fashionable to have a loft in a warehouse.” She hurled herself into his arms and hugged him with all her strength. “Oh, Cam, it’s good to see you. I’ve missed you so.”

  “And I’ve missed you.” He returned her affectionate hug, brushing her temple with his lips before pushing her away to look down at her. His dark gaze narrowed on the delicate bones of her face and then traveled down to the graceful line of her throat. “You look as gorgeous as ever. Maybe a little too thin—”

  “That’s fashionable too.” She unlocked the gate of the freight elevator. “Come upstairs and have dinner with me. I’ll send out for Chinese and we’ll talk. Are you going to be in San Francisco for long?”

  He followed her into the elevator. “I don’t think so. I just flew in from Tahiti this afternoon. It depends on—” He broke off as the freight elevator gave a drunken lurch before slowly beginning its ascent. “What if this ancient monstrosity shorted out? You could starve to death before anyone discovered you were in trouble in this deserted warehouse.”

  “This elevator works fine, Cam. It’s just a little cantankerous.” The elevator stopped and Sara opened the gate. “My landlord plans to renovate another area near mine into a nice big apartment. As soon as he finds the financing he’ll start, and then I’ll have neighbors.” She crossed the hall, unlocked and swung open a heavy wooden door, and flipped on the overhead lights. “It’s worth putting up with a few inconveniences to have this much space. Do you know how much apartments this size rent for in San Francisco? Rents are out of sight.”

  “I’ve heard rumors to that effect.” Cam stepped over the threshold and his gaze ran admiringly over the large open expanse decorated in shades of cream, beige, and yellow before lifting to the large skylight overhead. “Nice, Sara. Very nice. It looks like you. All sunlight and warmth.”

  She gave him a mock curtsy as she closed the door. “I decorated it myself. It took me months to find just the right shade of yellow for the drapes.” She strode briskly past the conversation area encircling the prefab fireplace as she headed toward the kitchen area at the far end of the loft. “I’ll put on a pot of coffee. Sit down.”

  “Sara …” Cam had followed her and now stood directly behind her at the entranceway to the kitchen. “I can’t stay.”

  She turned to look at him. “You can’t?” Her green eyes were suddenly twinkling. “A date so soon?” Cam’s list of female conquests was legendary. “It must be one of the flight attendants right? You haven’t had time to break out your little black book yet.”

  “A man of exp
erience always plans ahead,” he murmured. “But it’s not a date.”

  “Then why can’t you stay?”

  “Jordan sent me.”

  A ripple of shock went through her. She looked away quickly, then back at Cam, and tried to smile. “Since when have you been running errands for Jordan?”

  “You know better than that.” Cam shrugged. “But he asked me to come and I can’t remember a time when Jordan has ever asked me for anything. How the hell could I refuse?”

  “He’s a hard man to refuse. We both—” She stopped, trying to keep her voice steady. “I think I’ll make that coffee anyway. I could use it. This damp fog always creeps into my bones.” She took the coffee canister from the shelf. “Is it something to do with the divorce? More papers I have to sign?”

  “No.”

  “I’ve been expecting to hear any day that—”

  “He wants you back, Sara.”

  She froze in the act of spooning the coffee into the coffeemaker. “What did you say?”

  “He wants you to come home with me. He says to tell you things will be … different.”

  She resumed spooning the coffee. Her hands were shaking as she carefully put the scoop down on the counter. She didn’t dare pick up the glass coffee carafe yet. In a minute she would have herself fully under control, but she couldn’t risk it now. “Is this some kind of joke, Cam?”

  “I wish it was.” He made a face. “Because I feel awkward as hell doing this. This isn’t my kind of scene.”

  “Then why are you here?”

  “I love him,” Cam said simply. “Just as you do, Sara.”

  “I don’t—” She stopped and drew a deep breath. “Jordan doesn’t understand love. He knows about possession, but he has no conception of any other emotion.”

  “You don’t know him.”

  She whirled to face Cam, her eyes glittering with tears. “You’re right, I don’t know him. And he wouldn’t let me get to know him if I lived with him for another hundred years. Well, I opted out and I’m staying out. Sex was all Jordan was willing to give me.”