Dark Paradise (22 page)

'Kate.' His expression was sheepish. 'I want to apologise about last night. I'm sorry—I didn't mean to make trouble.'

He looked so downcast that she took pity on him. 'You didn't. It was all right.'

'He wasn't angry?' Carlos whistled. 'He must be very sure of you if he can find his woman in another man's arms and—shrug it off. I—I would not be able to control my temper.'

Kate could well imagine it, but she didn't say so. There couldn't be that much difference between her age and Carlos's, but she felt a million years older.

On the patio, the first person she saw was Matt. Casual in denim jeans and a matching shirt, its sleeves rolled back to the elbows, he was deep in conversation with Jethro Alvarez.

Kate felt her face freeze. How could he? she thought helplessly. He spent last night making love to his wife, using her in order to get to him.

'Ah, the little Kate.' Alvarez beckoned her to him. 'You slept well?'

'Like a log,' she said. A log caught in a strong river current, and heading for the rapids, she thought.

'You would like breakfast?' He gestured to a well-laden table in the shade. There are fresh rolls—fruit, but if you want Jakey will bring you eggs, or perhaps fish.'

Kate refused politely, saying mendaciously that she rarely ate at breakfast-time, but accepting another cup of coffee. She could feel Matt watching her, but she avoided his gaze.

'You look very beautiful this morning,' Alvarez went on. 'But a little overdressed, perhaps. Are you not going to swim?'

The thought of using the pool, of even being in its immediate environs after what she had witnessed there the previous night, made her feel sick, but she forced a smile to her lips.

'Not today. In fact I might keep out of the sun altogether. I think I've been overdoing it.'

Jakey arrived at that moment with fresh coffee, and as he was pouring it, Alvarez turned to speak to him, and Matt leaned forward, his hand covering hers where it lay on the arm of the chair.

He said in an undertone, 'Are you all right? You're not feeling ill?'

'I feel fine.' Her voice sounded higher-pitched than usual, 'I just had rather a disturbed night, that's all.' And make what you want of that, she thought savagely.

'I'm sorry to hear it,' he said quietly. 'Kate—I think we need to talk.'

'What a coincidence,' she said too brightly. 'I was thinking exactly the same. And when do you suggest we have this little tete-a-tete?'

Matt gave her a wary look, the blue eyes guarded. 'What the hell's got into you today?' he muttered.

Jealousy, she thought, unrequited love, a sense of despair—and a number of purely female emotions that you wouldn't understand in a thousand years, because to you women are bodies and nothing more.

'Good morning, everyone.' Leanne stepped smilingly out on to the patio. She glanced round and gave Kate a condescending nod. As she passed Matt's chair, she ruffled his hair. 'Did you sleep well,
querido
?' Her tone held open mockery. How could she be so blatant? Kate wondered numbly, staring down into the dark swirl of coffee in her cup. She risked a glance at Alvarez and saw his face was bland, giving nothing away. 'Doesn't he guess?' she wondered. 'Or doesn't he care?'

Leanne bent to give her husband a careless kiss on the cheek, before sinking into a chair and demanding food to be brought to her.

'What a wonderful morning!' She stretched luxuriously, the full breasts lifting under her thin dress as she did so. 'I am so hungry, I could eat a horse!'

Kate drank her coffee in a swift gulp, and stood up. 'I—I think I'll go for a walk.'

'I'll come with you.' Matt rose purposefully to his feet.

Leanne pouted. 'But you're all running away. Is it something I said?' Her eyes surveyed Kate mockingly.

Alvarez patted her hand. 'They wish to be alone, my dearest. I am sure that you can understand that. You can keep me company for a while.'

Leanne looked frankly sulky, but she subsided, and began to make inroads into the plates of food which Jakey had brought her.

Kate plunged blindly down the steps leading to the garden, pausing only for a moment to choose a path at the bottom which would lead away from the pool area. Matt caught up with her, his hand descending on her shoulder.

'If the heat's getting to you, then you shouldn't be dashing about,' he told her.

'It isn't the heat,' she said. 'It's this house, this whole situation. I've had enough. I want out—preferably today.'

He stopped abruptly, staring down into her face. 'Just like that? There could be problems.'

'What's new about that?' she demanded passionately. 'But you got me into this, so now you can get me out of it.'

'Calm down!' he snapped. 'Admittedly you can't wander about at will, but conditions here aren't that intolerable. And I can't pull out now. Alvarez is just on the point of changing his mind about giving this interview. I know he is.'

'I'm quite sure of it,' she said bitterly. 'It's all working out beautifully, isn't it? You'll have to forgive me if I find that your methods leave a lot to be desired. Or is all fair in love and journalism?'

Matt said wearily, i wish I knew what the hell you were talking about. I also wish you'd stay. Alvarez likes you. You could be of immense help.'

'Playing the phoney girl-friend?' she flung at him scornfully, it never had much appeal as a role, but now the very idea is disgusting!'

Matt's face was grim. 'I'm sorry you think so, but the fact remains we had a bargain.'

'Had is right,' she said bitterly, i think under the circumstances the terms are forfeit.'

'What circumstances?' he demanded impatiently. 'What the hell are you getting at?'

She said unevenly, 'I'm talking about you—and Leanne Alvarez, you hypocrite! That's why you want me to stay, isn't it? Because with a live-in girl-friend on the premises, Alvarez won't be looking too closely at your relationship with his wife. No matter how indulgent he is with her, I doubt if he'd take kindly to a resumption of your affair under his own roof.'

'I doubt it too,' Matt said drily. 'And what makes you think that I'd be happy about it either?'

Kate said wretchedly, 'Because I saw you. I woke up last night and you—weren't in your room. And when I went out on the balcony, you were with her, beside the pool.' She moistened her lips with the tip of tier tongue. 'You—you should have remembered that the room overlooked it.' She looked at him, noting unhappily his stillness, the pallor beneath his tan. 'Aren't you going to say something?'

'You appear to have said it all.' His mouth twisted. 'Kate, I wish I could explain to you, but at the moment it's impossible. You said you trusted me. Can't you go on doing so for a little while longer?'

'No!' The word came almost explosively. 'You sicken me—both of you, and I won't act as cover any more. You can't expect me to.' She paused. 'And if you don't arrange for me to get out of here, then I shall go to Alvarez and tell him the whole story—and then see if Leanne can persuade him to give you your interview,' she added bitterly. She glared at him fiercely. 'Do you understand me?'

His voice was sardonic. 'I'd say you'd made the position more than clear. Perhaps I should thank you for warning me. If you'd simply gone straight to Alvarez, things could have become—difficult.'

'I'm sure they could,' she said. She wanted to burst into tears, but she hung on to her self-control. 'So you'll do as I ask?'

Matt shrugged. 'I'll try, but the final decision is up to Alvarez. You must realise that.' His tone hardened. 'After all, you're the bright lady. You're the one with all the answers.'

Kate said in a stifled voice, 'I seem to be. And I'd rather go on with this walk on my own.'

His face was hard. 'I won't argue, Kate.' He swung on his heel and walked away from her.

Her lips parted. She knew an aching desire to call him back, but she was aware that for her own peace of mind, she had to resist. Everything that needed to be said had already been uttered. All that remained was 'Goodbye'.

She was in her room, endlessly packing and re-packing her case, when Jakey tapped on the door and told her that the Señor wished to speak to her.

'Oh.' She got up nervously. 'I'll come at once.'

She was expecting him to conduct her downstairs, and was surprised when he led her past the stairs and along the wide gallery to a door at the far end. He knocked, and stood aside for her to go past him into the room.

Her first impression was that the room was all glass, because there were windows on three sides looking straight towards the ocean. Her second, that there were flowers everywhere.

'Orchids,' Alvarez greeted her. He was lying on a sofa in the middle of the room wearing a flamboyantly patterned silk dressing gown. Matt was lounging in a chair nearby. 'My little hobby.' He gestured round.

'They're fantastic!' Kate stared round in amazement. Fantastic was the right word, she thought, because many of the blooms were almost too exotic for real beauty, looking rather as if they had been constructed from silk and velvet than from a living entity.

'You will forgive my informality,' Alvarez went on. 'I have been enjoying a massage, and I like to rest for a while afterwards.' He paused, and the shrewd eyes surveyed her, lingering, she thought selfconsciously, on the shadows beneath her eyes. 'Matthew tells me you wish to leave us,
querida
. I hope it isn't true?'

'It's quite true.' Kate sat down on the chair he had indicated. 'I'm a working girl,
señor
, and I need to get back to work.'

'And you cannot spare even a few days out of this busy life?' Alvarez spread his hands in a reproachful gesture.

'I've already spared all the time that's available.' She managed to make her faint smile regretful. 'Coming on this trip in the first place-—was an indulgence.'

'But you found our friend here irresistible.' Alvarez chuckled richly. 'Ah, Matthew, if I were a younger man, I could be jealous of you. Can't you use your charm on her, man—persuade her to stay?'

Matt shrugged cynically. 'Kate is very much her own lady,' he said. 'If she feels she must leave, then I won't stand in her way.'

'Then I must agree.' Alvarez sighed deeply. 'Perhaps it is for the best—safer in every way if she leaves us now.' His eyes met Matt's and they exchanged a long look. He turned back to Kate, shedding his almost reflective air like a skin. There was a suddenly harsh note in his voice. 'So—tomorrow you will leave us. Carlos will escort you to St Lucia and see you on your way. And you will say nothing—nothing, you understand, about what you have seen or heard here.' He looked at her sharply. 'If you—forget, I shall be angry, and it is best that does not happen, especially for Matthew here, who remains with me for a while. Remember that if you are ever tempted to be indiscreet.'

Kate swallowed. 'I'll remember,' she said faintly. 'But—but can't I leave today? I'm quite ready.'

Alvarez' lips thinned with displeasure. 'I said tomorrow, and that is what I mean. You have rejected my hospitality, Miss Marston. Take care you do not compound your fault.' He waved a regal hand. 'Now, you may go. You also, Matthew, but we will talk again later.'

When they were outside, Kate said shakily, 'My God, he can be formidable!'

'Santa Claus he's not,' Matt agreed flatly. 'I hope you don't intend to flog your amazing story to half Fleet Street, otherwise the consequences for me could be unpleasant. He really wasn't fooling.'

She stared up into his face. 'Then why stay and risk his anger?' she asked shakily.

He shrugged. 'Because it's what I have to do. While there's a chance of that interview, I'm not leaving.' He glanced at her, his face hardening. 'So make what you want of that, my little scandalmonger.'

'At least I'm not a hypocrite like you!' she flung back at him.

'Can I have that in writing?' he came back at her savagely. They were back at her room, and before she could say anything, he had opened the door and pushed her inside. She stumbled slightly, glaring at him.

'Take your hands off me, Matt Lincoln!'

'You have a nice line in cliches, Kate,' he said insolently. 'And you're going to need them all!'

He pulled her into his arms, crushing her mouth with his. She gasped, trying to release herself, pummelling his chest with clenched fists, but the only effect of her resistance was the tightening of his arms round her and the deepening of his kiss.

The slow intimate movement of his lips against her was a bewilderment against which she could not remain proof for long. She could feel the anger draining out of her to be replaced by a deep, bitter-sweet yearning. Her hands locked at the back of his neck, and her lips parted in surrender as she returned his kiss.

Her body trembled as she clung to him. He lifted a hand and stroked her face, her throat, his fingers moving to the nape of her neck to loosen the confining ribbon and allow her hair to tumble over her shoulders. He lifted his mouth from hers, and drew her gently forward so that her body rested totally against his. She turned her head blindly, her lips seeking the warm skin inside the open shirt with a kind of fever.

All her life, it seemed, she had been running scared, hiding behind manufactured defences, choosing the safety of the emotional shallows. The tide of yearning sweeping her away now might mean disaster, but she no longer cared. She was in his arms, and that was all that mattered. If these few brief moments were all that she could have of him, then she would keep them in her heart for ever.

She heard him murmur her name on a long shaken sigh, then his mouth closed on hers again with a deep sensual urgency, and she responded with a fierceness that matched his own, her body moving against his in restless abandon.

She felt the zip slide at the back of her dress, felt the brush of the material against her skin as he slipped it from her shoulders. Her head fell back helplessly as his lips explored the long, sweet line of her throat. His hands cradled her bared breasts, caressing them as if they were flowers, brought to bloom for his private delight. Her body shivered with pleasure at his touch. Her hands slid inside his shirt, stroking the long hard line of his shoulders, the muscular wall of his chest, exploring him with equal frankness, and hearing him groan softly in response.