The Man at Key West (15 page)

He had looked searchingly into her eyes before he had kissed her, and Sue surrendered. Ardent moments passed, then Jay looked at his wrist watch.

‘Darling,’ he exclaimed in dismay
. ‘I
forgot your parents—they’ll be here at any moment. Think you can manage on your injured ankle? I’ll help you to get ready.’

Amid much laughter and kisses they were ready just before Bill and Connie arrived. Jay was carrying Sue to the lounge when Tom went Jo greet them. It proved to be a very happy reunion, with Jay treating Connie warmly and teasingly. Meeting her stepmother as a married woman, Sue was surprised to see her through different eyes. They could meet each other on equal terms—a good omen for future relationships.

The evening meal was beautifully prepared with Tom, Jay’s man, coming in for lots of praise from Bill and Connie.

Jay said, ‘Our Tom enjoys cooking. I do myself on occasions. How about you, Bill?’

But Bill was looking at his daughter. He was over the moon because he had seen her settled with a man after his own heart. The evening ended with Jay insisting on Bill and Connie staying the night. After escorting them to their room to see that they were settled he returned to Sue waiting in the lounge.

‘How’s the ankle?’ he asked, going down on his knees to examine it. ‘Does it still pain you? The swelling seems to have gone.’

Sue shook her head, knowing that she would not even recognise pain with him so near.

‘Darling,’ she said helplessly, ‘I don’t suppose it’s occurred to you that my parents have no night clothes with them?’

His wicked smile made her heart lurch. ‘Is that bad? After all, Bill isn’t senile yet! They have their luggage with them and they’re going to stay for a while to sample Tom’s cooking. I have a man in mind for them who’s as good as Tom at being a handyman around the house. Let’s go to bed.’

Sue resisted as he rose to his feet to pick her up. ‘I can walk,’ she said firmly. ‘We have to talk about our future, Jay.’

He sat down beside her on the sofa and slid an arm around her.

‘Let’s get the honeymoon over firs
t.
The results from that could be anybody’s guess,’ he said lazily.

Sue stiffened as colour flooded her face. ‘Jay, be serious! What are you going to do?’

‘I might take up writing. How would you like me under your feet all day? It’s no idle boast. I have a book in the pipeline, a crime novel, which has been accepted.’

Sue’s eyes shone. ‘Jay, how wonderful! Tell me about it.’

‘I
’ll tell you about it on our honeymoon,’ he said, picking her up into his arms.

The bedcovers were still rumpled from where they had made love earlier on.

Of their perfect union, it was the feeling of contentment, the utter ecstasy of Jay’s beautiful body meeting hers and the wonderful naturalness of it all that lingered when afterwards she lay in his arms.

‘Darling?’ Sue’s husky whisper broke the utter silence of the night ‘You do mean to go on writing, don’t you? It isn’t just another of your ventures, is it?’

To Jay, kissing her neck as she lay in his arms, she was like a scared little girl. He wanted to laugh, but he did not because he knew how serious she was about his business life and its threat to their marriage.

‘Apart from our marriage it’s the most satisfying thing I’ve ever done,’ he said soberly. ‘As a matter of fact I was on my yacht for the purpose of carrying on with my second book for
w
hich I have already received a substantial amount.’

‘Oh, Jay!’ she sighed in utter bliss. ‘I love you.’

‘Oh, Sue!’ he mocked. ‘My sweet darling Sue.’ He pulled her down beneath the covers to claim her lips and in a voice deepening with passion, whispered against them, ‘I adore you.’