The Forever Dream (21 page)

"Kevin said he had a totally innovative mind," she murmured thoughtfully. "If that's true, he wouldn't be able to tolerate the bureaucratic squabbling you're speaking about."

"Well, he'd better get used to it," Corbett said grimly. "That's the reality of our social system."

"As it stands now," she said softly.

There was a flicker of emotion on his face that was

curiously enigmatic. "As it stands now," he agreed smoothly, standing and placing his cup and saucer on the bedside table. "That's all we have to work with at the moment. I hope with your help I'll be able to convince him to give me an extension on that time limit. I'm going to need all the support I can get. Jared can be a very determined man."

"My help?" Tania's eyes widened in surprise. "I have nothing to do with this, and I certainly have no influence over Jared Ryker."

"I'm not at all sure about that," he answered. "Naturally, I'm aware that you're not on terms of physical intimacy."

Everyone at the chateau seemed to be aware of that fact, she thought crossly. Were there hidden cameras in the bedrooms, for goodness' sake?

"Nevertheless," Corbett continued, "Jared has displayed an unusually strong interest and concern in regard to you." His look was openly speculative. "It might be that you already hold a position of influence with him."

"A position of influence?" she repeated with a distasteful moue. "What an abominable phrase. It reminds me of the courtesans in the royal courts. No, thank you, Senator Corbett, I have no desire to attain that kind of 'position of influence' with any man."

"Don't be too hasty in rejecting the idea. Being the 'courtesan' of one of the most powerful men in the world could be very rewarding," he said quietly. "There isn't anything you couldn't have, just for the asking. Power radiates a golden aura. Wouldn't you enjoy having kings and heads of state begging you for favors?"

"No, I wouldn't," she said bluntly. Then her gaze narrowed on his face, which once more held that element of excitement. "Would you, Senator?"

"What?" The question seemed to have caught him

off-guard. Then that charming smile was firmly fixed on his face once more. "I'm only too human, I'm afraid," he said ruefully. "A little power can be very heady to us politicians, Miss Orlinov. I'll enjoy the hell out of sharing Ryker's glory." He sighed. "But that's in the future. At the moment, we have-a few thousand problems to solve. I won't ask for any commitment of support from you, Miss Orlinov. I realize that it will take time to absorb the implications of what we've discussed. I just hope that when you've thought about it, you'll come to realize that all of us need one another's help on this project." His hazel gaze sharpened to razor keenness. "I can be a very good friend to have. You might remember that."

"I'll remember," she said coolly. He made her vaguely uneasy. "But you're quite right—it's far too early for me to comprehend fully all you've said. Perhaps we can have another discussion at a later date."

"Yes, of course," he said briskly. "Now, I really must go and let you get some rest." He grinned with winning boyishness. "Jared will have my head if I've exhausted you. I'll give orders that you're to be served breakfast in an hour, so that you can nap a little before then." He turned and said over his shoulder as he headed for the door, "That will give me time to talk to Jared before I fly back to Washington. Otherwise he'll be camping in your bedroom like a mother hen." He paused at the door to give her one last flashing grin. "It's been a pleasure meeting you, Miss Orlinov. I hope this will be the beginning of a very promising relationship for both of us." The door closed softly behind him.

Betz was waiting patiently in the foyer when Sam Corbett reached the bottom of the stairs, a worried frown on his usually impassive face. "You can see the woman is recovering, Senator. You needn't have put yourself to the trouble of flying up here. We took care of everything, just as I assured you we would."

"You mean you bungled everything." Corbett's usually mellow voice was a whiplash. "You've not only involved me in a criminal act, in kidnapping and shooting Tania Orlinov, but you've succeeded in antagonizing Ryker in the process. I told you he was to be handled with kid gloves, damn it."

Annoyance flickered for an instant in the depths of Betz's brown eyes before they resumed their doglike passivity. "You told me to protect him," he said steadily. "I did what was necessary."

"And I may find it necessary' to replace you, if you continue to botch things," Corbett said, his lips tight. "I have enough on my plate without handling your end too."

"Do you want me to take her back to New York?"

"Hell, no, I can't afford to have her making waves at the moment. Matters are delicate enough without that." Corbett frowned. "Besides, I may be able to make use of her if things escalate the way I hope. She definitely stays here."

"Whatever you say. The shooting may have been a mistake, but it still may discourage her from further escape attempts."

"Perhaps. Where is Ryker now?"

"He's in the gymnasium, working out with Mr. McCord. Would you like me to tell him you want to see him?"

Corbett shook his head. "You have all the finesse of a bull in a china shop," he said caustically. "You don't send for a man like Ryker and expect him to come running. I'll go to him." He was already moving across the foyer. "Go tell the helicopter pilot I'll be ready to leave in forty-five minutes."

When he opened the door of the gymnasium, it was to see both men in the traditional loose pants and tunic top of karate gi engaged in a workout that was both intricate and potentially deadly. He stood quietly watching for a moment until McCord noticed he was there and backed quickly away from Ryker.

He threw up his arms, a broad grin on his face. "You've come to save me, Senator? You couldn't be more welcome. I think I was about to receive the coup de grace."

"You seemed to be holding your own very well, Kevin," Corbett said genially. "I had no idea you were so good."

"He gets better every session," Ryker said as he stooped to pick up his towel from the floor. "He's a remarkable man."

McCord shrugged. "I learn from experience." His blue eyes twinkled. "And battling Jared is definitely an experience."

"I'm sorry to interrupt you, but I've got to fly back to Washington at once, Jared. I wonder if I could have a word with you before I leave."

"I think that's my signal to head for the showers," McCord said, starting to turn away.

"They're getting the 'copter ready now," Corbett said. "I hoped I could persuade you to walk me out to the pad."

"Why not?" Ryker asked laconically, his dark face impassive. "I have a few things to discuss with you as well." He strode over to the side of the gym and thrust his feet into a pair of thongs. "You don't mind if I stop in the hall to get a jacket?"

"Of course not. We wouldn't want you on the sick list, too."

"No, you certainly wouldn't want that. It's been brought to my attention that my continuing good health is of primary importance around here, even to the point of shooting down a helpless woman." He slung a towel around his neck and strolled over to Corbett, standing by the door.

The senator allowed Ryker to precede him. "I thought my famous charm had succeeded in pacifying you a bit." He fell into step with him. "It appears I'll have to redouble my efforts in the brief time I have left."

"Don't bother," Ryker said tersely. "I'm a little short on time myself. I should be getting back to Tania, if you've finished trying to make excuses for the inexcusable."

"You needn't run right back. When I left her, Miss Orlinov was just settling down for a nap. And in the short interval I was with her, the lady impressed me as being anything but a helpless female. I think she can survive without your presence for the next thirty minutes or so."

They had reached the foyer, and Ryker opened the closet door and pulled out his dark blue jacket and slipped into it. "Can she?" he asked bitterly. "She seems to need all the protection I can give her here at the chateau." He paused. "I want her sent back to New York."

"You know that isn't possible," Corbett said softly.

"The hell it's not! You can surround her with an army of security men and she's bound to be safer than she's been here."

"That's possible," Corbett admitted as he opened the front door. "But I'm afraid that's not the point, Jared. We can't allow anyone with knowledge of your work to have access to anyone who isn't involved in the project. It wouldn't be safe for you."

"What the devil are you talking about?" Ryker's eyes narrowed. "She doesn't know anything about my work. I've made damn sure of it."

Corbett glanced away, obviously uncomfortable. "She does now. I felt it only fair to fill her in, after all she's been through. How was I to know you'd want to send her away?"

A gust of chilly wind lifted the dark lock of hair on Ryker's forehead, but it was no colder than the glance he shot at the other man. "I think you knew that might well be my reaction. You're an extremely perceptive man, Corbett," he said slowly. "I find it very interesting that you immediately took the only action that would make sending Tania away completely unfeasible."

Corbett's brisk pace across the courtyard slowed, and his forehead knotted with a frown. "Nonsense. What possible purpose could I have in keeping her here?"

"You tell me," Ryker asked. "I do know that you never do anything without a purpose. I studied you a long time before I selected you, Corbett."

"You make me sound like a choice cut of sirloin. I think I deserve more than that from you, Jared. If you don't trust me, how do you expect me to protect you?"

"I trust you." A faint, cynical smile touched his lips. "Within certain limits. And I have no objection to accepting your protection, as long as it's also kept within bounds. I'm well able to look after myself in the general course of events."

"I think McCord would testify to that," Corbett agreed. "However, a black belt in karate wouldn't help if you were overpowered and taken. Can't you see how stupid it is not to furnish us with written information? As long as you have sole knowledge, you're a walking target." His voice deepened persuasively. "There are drugs that can make a man tell everything he ever knew, Jared. They'd empty your mind before six hours were up"

"I think not," Ryker said grimly. "I'm a chemist, remember? Do you think I'd be fool enough not to fortify my body against the use of those particular kinds of drugs?" His lips twisted mockingly. "And self-hypnotism

can be a very valuable tool for shutting out pain, so I think torture would be equally ineffective. I made sure that I wasn't completely vulnerable before I left the island."

"So it would appear." Corbett was silent for several seconds. "I suppose it's useless to try to make you see reason. The only thing I can do is to take every precaution to protect you." They stopped several yards from the helicopter pad on the lonely promontory at the rear of the chateau. Still, the wash of the propellers ruffled their hair and clothing. Corbett turned to Ryker and thrust out his hand. "I'll be in touch, Jared," he shouted over the roar of the helicopter's engine. "Lord knows I'm doing everything I can to keep that blasted deadline you gave me."

Ryker's handshake was perfunctory. "I'll be waiting to hear from you." He stepped back and watched quietly as Corbett walked to the chopper and climbed into the passenger seat.

The yellow helicopter kicked up a miniature cyclone as it lifted from the pad like an awkward hummingbird. Corbett waved at Ryker, who stood watching his departure, an aloof, perhaps disdainful expression on his face. The senator felt a sudden surge of annoyance. The strong wind whipped Ryker's clothes, and dust swirled around his body, yet he still emanated an aura of power and control. There was no reason for that, Corbett thought. No reason at all.

The door had no sooner closed behind Corbett than Tania tossed the covers aside, sat up, and swung her feet to the floor. She reached over and put her nearly full cup on the bedside table, ignoring the sudden wave of dizziness the movement brought. She wasn't about to lie back tamely and take the nap the senator had prescribed. It was obvious the man was accustomed to having people bend to his will. It would probably surprise him, she thought, to discover she hadn't followed his directions.

She sat on the edge of the bed for a moment more, gathering strength and waiting for that slight dizziness to pass. The dizziness wasn't all physical, she realized. Her mind and emotions were whirling from Corbett's revelations of the last half hour. She couldn't begin to sort all the implications, but one thing was shining brightly through the chaotic haze: Jared was terribly, achingly alone. What must it be like to bear such a responsibility and be able to trust only yourself? Throughout those last moments before Corbett had left the room, she'd scarcely been able to restrain her impatience. She had wanted to run to Jared, touch him, speak to him, anything to alleviate his loneliness.

The urgency of that desire was still with her, but her body wasn't responding to the directives of her heart and mind. Jared had said the wound was just a scratch, yet her shoulder was so sore it was agony even to move it. When she tried to get to her feet, she found her legs were rebelling against her will. They had all the firmness of wet spaghetti, she thought disgustedly as she tottered toward the bathroom. Her limbs were scarcely in better shape when she returned to the bedroom wrapped in a towel. She'd had only the strength for a brief wash and the brushing of her teeth, but not for fixing her hair. It would just have to remain in its braid until her shoulder had healed enough for her to brush and arrange it.

She sank onto the bed and leaned back against the headboard, her breath coming in harsh gasps. There was light perspiration dewing her forehead, she realized indignantly. Good Lord, five hours of straight practice had never produced such a debilitating effect! She mustn't give in to it or she'd probably collapse back on that inviting pillow and take the nap Corbett had ordered. She had to see Jared.