The Man at Key West (2 page)

A dark giant of a man sporting a G-string and a fabulous tan was smiling down at her.

‘How are you feeling?’ he enquired with a lift of a dark eyebrow, while keeping a sharp eye on the lifeguard as he slunk away. ‘Unpleasant character, that. It isn’t the first time I’ve witnessed his beastly behaviour.’

‘I ... I ... er ... I’m very grateful to you,’ she stammered in a small voice which did little to her confidence. ‘But
—
where did you come from?’ ‘From the yacht out there. I saw you through my binoculars and swam across.’

He lowered himself down on the sand beside her, looking extremely attractive with tiny jewels of water clinging to his wide, well-developed shoulders.

Sue’s tawny eyes widened in dismay and her beautifully manicured hand flew to her mouth in her embarrassment.

‘Oh, goodness!’ she gasped as a figure in a speedboat loomed between them with herself putting a rude thumb to her nose as she had skimmed by his yacht. ‘You ...?’

‘That’s right,’ he drawled. ‘That rude gesture probably saved you from being raped by our friend the lifeguard. You intrigued me, and I’ve been looking for you ever since. Life becomes boring sometimes, though not often in my case—I see to that. You see, when I see a spot of excitement I usually follow it. I liked your set-up.’

He had narrowed his eyes, very blue between thick dark lashes, and deliberately looked her over. He smiled, revealing perfect white teeth and laughter lines around those very attractive blue eyes.

Sue, drowning in them, nearly lost the cool quickly descending upon her as she gained a normal heartbeat. Now her heart was taking off again in a mixture of fright and a strange warning.

‘I must apologise for my rudeness in the boat,’ she said with a smile. ‘You looked so tantalisingly arrogant leaning there against the fa
c
ade of your elegant yacht that I couldn’t resist jolting you.’

He murmured softly, ‘You’d already jolted me by suddenly skimming across my horizon like a nymph from the sea. I wanted to meet you again.’ Sue readjusted her camera around her neck, aware that he had been eying her through his binoculars for some time. The cheek of the man!
—
and yet he had saved her from a terrible experience. For that she was grateful.

‘Well, we have met again,’ she said, and was about to rise to her feet when he stretched forth a detaining hand.

‘Not yet,’ he said firmly. ‘I can’t let you go with the memory of that villain’s kisses on your lips. Allow me.’

Before she knew where she was Sue found herself lying on her back with his dark head blotting out the sky. His mouth was cool, firm and sweet on her own. When he finally released her she felt she had been submerged in some miraculous underwater cavern where brilliant colours of absolute bliss had floated before her closed eyes.

‘Oh no!’ she cried. ‘I haven’t changed one pair of masculine arms for another!’ She paused to regain her breath and eyed him accusingly. ‘You men are all the same, with your one-track minds!’ He had heaved himself away from her to rest on a stalwart elbow.

‘But what a beautiful track,’ he murmured, caressing her face, her shoulders and her soft breast. ‘We wouldn’t have it any other way.’

‘I bet you wouldn’t—but not with me!’

Sue sprang to her feet, still breathing heavily, for he had upset her more than she would admit. His fingers curled around her ankle.

‘Sit down,’ he commanded. ‘We’re about to have company.’

Sue followed the direction of his eyes to see a speedboat running up on to the sandy beach. A man in shorts and vest top secured the boat high on the sand and taking a wicker basket along with other things from the locker he stepped ashore.

While her rescuer climbed into white shorts, leaving his magnificent torso bare, the man mixed drinks clinking invitingly with ice. Sue had sunk down again on to the soft sand with the feeling that what was happening could not be true. She refused to be impressed by her rescuer’s fine physique, yet she found herself watching him; aware of rippling muscles beneath a skin of bronze satin and the strong curly tendrils of hair clustering into the wave the sea had washed in his hair.

‘Thanks, Tom,’ he said to the man who had arrived in the boat so timely. Then as the man left he handed Sue, a long glass and took a similar one for himself.

His deep voice was soothing, caressing her back to good humour and a sense of security.

‘Drink,’ he said. ‘It will cool you down and make you feel much better. And don’t confuse me with that heel who manhandled you just now. I have no ulterior motives. It was simply a matter of when you fall from a horse it’s very wise to mount again right away.’

Sue took a long drink and felt more normal. She said sweetly, ‘You mean, in other words don’t think that all men are the same. Aren’t they?’ 

His blue eyes were fiercely contradictory. ‘You know damn well they’re not! I’ve never taken a woman against her will. I usually get my own way in the end. It’s what I want.’

He took another swallow of his drink to put more power to what he added.

‘It counts every time. I always get my way,’ he assured her coolly.

From beneath strongly marked brows his blue eyes bored into hers as he stood gazing down at her, holding her wide startled look with masculine arrogance. Under the thin covering of her clothes Sue’s heart was beating in uneven strokes as if she had been jogging. She had the curious feeling that the rest of their surroundings was blotted out by this wide-shouldered, dominant stranger who had touched on her life for the second time with disturbing consequences.

‘Congratulations,’ she said, getting a grip on herself again. It was ridiculous to allow a stranger to upset her like this, and—judging from the cool way he was regarding her, and the memory of his stare on his yacht—an arrogant, impertinent stranger. He obviously regarded himself as God’s gift to women.

Suddenly Sue felt as cool as he looked, as one does when instead of fear of a warning the real danger is there. Sue even managed a smile as she looked up into the handsome, inscrutable face above her.

‘You’ve made yourself perfectly clear. I’m indebted to you for your help in putting me right. I don’t know which type of man I despise most, the ruffian who’s just molested me or you with your subtle approach. Thanks all the same.’

She finished her drink and handed him the glass. He said slowly, ‘I’ve never met
the woman yet who cannot be bought.’

‘You’ve met her now,’ Sue told him coldly as she got to her feet. ‘Goodbye.’

‘Just a moment.’ He tossed off the rest of his drink and bent down to return the glasses to the picnic basket, then straightened on a shake of the head. ‘How young you are to still nurture youth’s illusions.’

‘At twenty-five? You must be joking,’ she scoffed.

“At thirty-two I never joke about things that matter.’

‘Things that matter being yours truly. As selfish as they come, aren’t you?’

His eyes between the absurdly thick lashes were blue ice.

‘I do pay for my pleasures with money I’ve
l
earned. I find nothing wrong in that. Will you have dinner with me this evening?’

‘This evening?’ Sue gasped as she played for ' time. ‘I’m sorry, I shall be packing. I’m leaving tomorrow. Goodbye.’

‘Goodbye, sea nymph,’ he replied, and Sue felt his eyes on her back as she plodded along the sand and, as she thought, out of his life. Her heart was pounding in the most unnatural fashion, giving her the feeling that she was escaping from something dangerous yet vaguely exciting.

She was late arriving back at the Villa Repose, but her father was already dressed for the evening. He was going to his study, a small room which used to be a second sitting room but which Connie had given to him. His face lighted up at the sight of his daughter.

‘Enjoy your day, my dear?’ he asked with a fond smile.

‘Yes, Daddy,’ Sue answered, and wondered how she could begin telling him of her planned departure for the next day.

‘Come into the study,’ he said. ‘Connie will be some time dressing and I know you can dress in half the time.’

Sue linked his arm affectionately as they entered the male sanctum with a picture window opening on a verandah looking over the sea.

‘Nice place,’ she remarked, making herself comfortable on the arm of her father’s chair as he sat down. ‘I’m glad Connie has money of her own. At least she didn’t marry you for money.’

She kissed the top of his head and he chuckled. ‘I bought this place when it came on the market lock, stock and barrel. Yes, there were several other men who wanted to marry her. She’s a very beautiful woman.’

‘Yes, she is. Are you happy, Daddy?’

Sue stroked the iron-grey hair lightly. Was it her imagination or had his hair lost some of its springiness and colour recently?

‘With two beautiful women in my life? Of course I’m happy. What about you, my dear? Connie wants to invite some young men for you to meet. It’s time you were married, you know.’ He patted the hand resting on his shoulder. ‘I want you to have everything in life worth having, and marriage is one of those beautiful things.’

She said, ‘I’ve been putting your camera to good use and taking some pictures. I plan on going back home to London and doing the round of the news-mag offices to have them published. If I can establish some kind of a rapport with an editor I shall have the time of my life going around the world taking photographs, unusual ones.’

He looked up at her in a sideways glance. ‘But you were fed up with travelling at one time. You told me so. You’re a home bird,’ with a smile.

Sue managed a smile. ‘Daddy, you gave me a very expensive camera and now I’m hooked on it. Besides, you don’t want me hanging around playing gooseberry.’

His smile vanished and he gave her a pained look. ‘Don’t ever say that again! You come first with me always, but I do want you to like Connie. You do, don’t you?’

Sue hugged him. ‘Darling, what a question to ask! Why should I like the woman who’s taken you for her own? I’ll do my best, but don’t expect me to make my home with you.’

He shook his head sadly. ‘You ought to have come here to meet Connie sooner instead of leaving it for so long.’

‘But I couldn’t, Daddy. We lost a beloved housekeeper and I had to help in settling her estate. I was her sole executor and ... and there were other things, like selling the house.’

Sue tried to keep the pain out of her voice and failed miserably.

‘Did you mind so much, my dear?’

Sue bit hard on her lip. How could she tell him that it had been like cutting her heart out? She kissed the top of his head.

‘It’s all right, Daddy. I can get a flat. You were quite right—we didn’t need the house when there would have been no one there to take care of it,’ she said huskily.

‘I’m sorry I’m not a very domesticated man. Your mother took care of that side and I was quite lost without her. She had an excellent business brain,’ he said heavily.

‘But Connie is a great help, isn’t she?’

Her father lifted weary shoulders. ‘In a way
—b
ut why talk about me? I know an editor here who’ll look at your work and give you his unbiassed opinion right here. I don’t want you to go back home yet, my dear.’

Sue placed a comforting arm around the bowed shoulders.

‘Why not?’ she answered lightly. ‘Let’s give it a whirl.’

CHAPTER
TWO

After an early morning swim in the outdoor pool Sue was still debating the wisdom of allowing her father to persuade her to stay a little bit longer at the Villa. The poker-faced Vera brought her a breakfast tray on the terrace overlooking the pool and she sat down to a bowl filled with fresh pineapple, an enormous portion of melon, a bunch of black grapes with the dew still on them, papaya and a covering of strawberries.

Later, in the room, Sue put on white cotton shorts and a boat-necked sleeveless top in gold which did something magic to the tawny colour of her eyes and hair. The sound of a car braking somewhere close brought her to the window and she peeped out just as tall, bronzed dark-haired man was unfolding himself from a sleek scarlet M.G.

In no time a
t tall he had entered the Villa with a long economical stride. Sue caught her breath as she recognised the man from the yacht who had rescued her from the lifeguard. What could he be doing here at the Villa so early? Did he know her father? It occurred to Sue then that she did not know even know his name. At the time of meeting him she had not bothered about it because it would have meant telling him hers, a thing not necessary over a casual acquaintance.

But was he more than a casual acquaintance? Sue applied a becoming gloss to her lips and decided that she would not make her presence in the Villa known to the unknown man.

The tap came on the door as she was ready to go out. It was Vera to say that her father wanted to see her in his study. Sue peeped from the window to see the M.G. still there and bit hard on her lip. Was Sir Galahad with her father or had he come to see Connie? She could not imagine Connie was up yet, so he must be with her father.

Sue went to the study, preparing herself to meet the man who had never been out of her thoughts since she had met him. At the door she fortified her ego with the thought that she was only here on a visit and whatever happened would have no bearing on her future.

He was standing at the window, square-shouldered and dynamic against the brilliant light outdoors. His trousers were an immaculate ream and the matching silk shirt had a paisley cravat tucked in at the firm brown throat. Against the neutral colour of his clothes his tan was startling.

‘Ah, here she is.’ Her father beamed and came from behind his desk to kiss her. ‘My daughter Sue. Sue, this is Jay Denver.’

Sue felt her colour rise as she waited for him to say that they had already met. The appeal in her tawny eyes as they his intent ones was mocking yet intrigued. She hoped he would get the message, since any mention of her unpleasant experience with the lifeguard would upset her father.

‘Delighted to meet you, Miss Blake,’ Jay Denver said as he took her hand. ‘I have an idea we’ve met before.’

His eyes twinkled devilishly and Sue held her breath as he narrowed his eyes and looked thoughtful.

‘I think we passed each other rather swiftly the
other day,’ he drawled, and Sue could have hit him.

‘Really?’ she shrugged, determined to deny all knowledge of having met him before. ‘I ... er ... do I make a guess as to where this was?’

She had to lower her gaze from the gleam in his eyes as she waited for his reply. The brute, to keep her on tenterhooks!

‘Evidently I was more impressed than you were ... Sue. I may call you Sue?’

‘By all means,’ cut in her father, whose smile included them both.

She said shortly, ‘It seems that you already have.’

Jay Denver raised a dark brow and grimaced. ‘It seems that your daughter is not amused, Bill. She certainly gathered a few admiring glances as she skimmed over the water the other day.’

‘
Mr.
Denver should know, Daddy,’ she said. ‘He spends most of his time looking through his binoculars while he’s lazing on his yacht.’

Unperturbed, Jay Denver said smoothly, ‘You should try it some time, Bill. It’s quite an education. It’s surprising what some folks get up to.’ Her father laughed. ‘It’s nice to know that you do relax sometimes, Jay. You must be indefatigable. You have an interest in so many things—I don’t know how you manage to cover all your commitments.’ He gestured to a chair. ‘Sit down, Sue. I suppose you’re wondering why I asked you to come to see me.’

Sue sat down while Jay Denver moved again with his back to the window, where he had a full view of her but put his own face in the shadow.

‘I
w
as, actually,’ she answered finding Jay’s presence overwhelming for so early in the morning.

‘The fact is, Jay owns several magazines and newspapers,’ her father said with a smile as he seated himself in his chair behind his desk.
‘Needless to say this is only a sideline, along with his other interests.’

Sue tried to appear cool, calm and collected beneath the intentness of Jay Denver’s look. He and her father were evidently well acquainted, but she was determined not to be impressed.

‘Good for him,’ she answered carelessly. ‘But what has this to do with me?’

She looked down at her long, slender, honey
-
coloured legs, uncomfortably aware that Jay was sharing in the same pastime. The trouble with shorts, she thought waspishly, was that they exposed one’s limbs and there was nothing one could do about it.

‘I’ve told him about your photographs.’ Bill turned to the tall silent Jay. ‘Sue has the best camera that money can buy, but I know that is nothing to go by unless the owner is out on the same wavelength. My daughter is an exceptionally good photographer, Jay. I know you came to see me on more important business, but I couldn’t let the opportunity go by.’

Sue went cold as she realised that her father was using his influence in trying to get her photographs printed in one of his visitor’s beastly magazines.

‘Daddy, please! I don’t want any favours. I want my talents to be recognised for what they are, not for whom I know. My pictures might not meet the requirements of some magazines.’

Bill Blake looked unhappy. ‘I want to keep you here with me, my dear. Actually you’ll be doing a favour to whoever accepts your photographs,’ he said quickly.’ Go and fetch some of your pictures to show Jay.’

Sue stayed put and eyed her father sadly. ‘I’m sorry, Daddy, but I want to make my own way with no special favours from any of your friends.’

‘You certainly won’t get any favours where I’m concerned,’ Jay put in coolly. ‘I run my business ventures to make a profit, not to satisfy the wants of my friends.’

Sue stiffened and eyed his shadowy form scornfully. She was equally cool.

‘I’m well aware of that, as I’m sure Daddy is too. Don’t worry,
Mr.
Denver, I shan’t trespass on your good nature. I would hate to be beholden to anyone, as Daddy well knows. Now, I mustn’t waste any more of your time,’ she added scathingly. She rose to her feet as she finished speaking.

‘Sit down!’

The command came like a pistol shot and Sue stared at the silhouette by the window.

‘I beg your pardon?’ she said angrily.

‘I said sit down.’

Sue looked with astonishment at her father, who sat back in his chair to give her a wink. It was only too obvious that he was not going to take her part. She fell down in her chair rather than resume her seat in her astonishment.

‘I
...’
she began.

‘Shut up!’ Jay Denver was actually grinning as he came forward to perch on a corner of the solidly carved desk table. ‘I admire your performance, Sue. If your pictures are anywhere near as good or as explosive as your temper
...’
he put up a mean finger as Sue opened her mouth to say something scathingly, ‘you might have a chance of getting them published. I have some very intelligent editors. I suggest you come to a social gathering with
me to meet some of them.’

He was much too near for her comfort. Amid a faint pleasant aroma of aftershave and good grooming she was hypnotised by the gleam of his teeth, his well-cut mouth and firm jaw. He exuded an air of careless arrogance. The expensive watch on his brown, hirsute wrist, the easy grace accompanying each deceptively lazy movement, set her teeth on edge.

‘I’m honoured,’ she said with hate in her eyes.
‘I’
m sorry therefore to refuse your kind invitation. The answer is no,
Mr.
Denver.’

‘Jay,’ he insisted, unperturbed.

‘Jay,’ she echoed with a distasteful emphasis, and made for the door.

‘Sue!’ exclaimed her father. ‘Don’t go until we’ve had a talk about it.’

But Sue kept right on to march out of the room in high dudgeon. In her room she gave herself time to cool down. The arrogant creature! Who did he think he was? What her father was doing with such a man she had no idea. Probably Connie, with an eye for a fabulous male, had roped him in.

In order to give the visitor time to go in case she met him again Sue concentrated on her photographs, giving particular attention to the ones she had developed the previous evening. She had rigged up a darkroom in the bathroom and she went through them with a critical eye.

The one she had taken of the low formation of flying pelicans was remarkably good and the close
-
up of the toddler watching them open-mouthed was very sweet and appealing.

She could try going round the offices to ask their opinion. She put them down with a sigh. Somehow today did not seem the time for it. All she could
think of was the way Jay Denver’s eyes insisted upon capturing her gaze and holding it. Drat the man! The sound of a car roaring away from the Villa was sudden music to her ears and she ran outdoors with her beach bag.

At first the bright sunlight blinded her eyes, but the red she saw in front of her as she emerged from the front entrance was not the red of her eyelids against the sun. It was the M.G., with Jay standing nonchalantly against it.

Sue ignored both of them and put on her sunglasses which in her hurry she had forgotten.

‘I thought you were never coming out,’ Jay drawled, and opened the car door.

She gave him a cold look. ‘Goodbye,
Mr.
Denver. I’m sure Connie would have seen you out if you were in need of a feminine send-off.’

His look cut her down to size. ‘Your parents have just gone out,’ he volunteered. ‘No doubt you heard their car. Is there a chance that you thought it was mine?’

Sue’s face went a dusky pink. She gave him a withering look and turned to go, but instantly his hand shot out to grip her slender wrist.

‘I’ll take you wherever you’re going,’ he said firmly. ‘Hop in.’

Sue looked mutinous. ‘Will you please let go of my wrist? I’m not going anywhere with you.’

His jaw set. ‘You will get into the car. We have to chat. I shall put you in if you don’t.’

Sue lifted a militant chin. ‘Who do you think you are?’ she snapped indignantly. ‘How dare you...?’

The next moment she was scooped up into strong arms and deposited in the front seat of the M.G. She was still recovering her breath when Jay slid in beside her in the driving seat to set the car in motion.

As he set up speed several joggers came into view, a small red-faced man who looked as if he was doing it for a bet, followed by a great hunk of rather well developed muscles. Later came a very pretty girl with her fair hair flowing behind her in the breeze. Sue envied her the fantastic tan.

Jay turned a jaundiced eye. ‘Are you a jogger, Sue?’ he asked, tongue in cheek.

‘Does it matter?’ she said sharply.

‘It will to your future husband,’ he replied.

She was interested in spite of herself. ‘How do you make that out?’

‘Take that girl just now—beautiful figure all going to be tough muscles and sinews. What man wants that?’

Sue shrugged. ‘She’ll still be easy on the eye.’

‘But hardly a comfortable bedfellow.’

‘That’s all you men think about, isn’t it?’ she cried scathingly.

Jay swung the car round a comer and Sue looked towards the beach where the boat hirers were putting out small catamarans and surfriders. Farther along a pretty girl with most of her tanned limbs on view was arranging colourful rows of suntan lotion under a thatched roof.

‘What are you thinking about?
’
he asked mockingly.

Sue started guiltily. She had been thinking how well he fitted in with his surroundings and
w
hat a very attractive man he was despite her disapproval of him.

‘Oh—er—I was thinking about the hotels here. They do say that if you spent one night in each
hotel bedroom it would take well over eighty years to go round them all,’ she stammered.

He grinned. ‘Not thinking of trying it, are you? Let me know if you are. I’ll come with you.’

‘Very funny,’ she rasped. ‘Don’t you ever think of anything else except bed and women?’

He gave an exaggerated sigh. ‘Lord, yes, but you brought the subject up, not I.’

‘But you forced me to come with you,’ she argued, ‘and I would like to know why.’

‘Do you want to take up photography as a career?’

Sue blinked. ‘I suppose so. Why?’

‘Because you’ll never get anywhere by splitting straws. There’s no way of getting away from the fact that we live in a highly competitive world and you don’t have to be too choosy about who you begin with.’

‘Don’t tell me you’re interested?’

‘Not in you taking a career. You’re the kind who ought to be married. Tell me, what do you know about your father’s business interests?’

Sue tossed him a look of surprise. ‘I did know quite a lot, but nothing these last twelve months. Why?’

Jay shrugged wide shoulders. ‘I was wondering if your word carried any weight with him.’

Sue could hear alarm bells ringing ominously in her ears.

‘Why?’ she repeated with changing colour. ‘Because he’s heading for a fall if he listens to Connie, which he appears to be doing. I take it that your mother was the big brains of the outfit before she died?’

‘Yes, then her sister took over before I moved in, but I was just a kind of secretary
...’

‘A general dogsbody, eh?’ he cut in without turning his head.

Sue bristled. ‘What do you know about it? After all, Daddy has been wonderful to me, given me a good education and taken me everywhere with him.’

‘Cool down,’ he said. ‘I didn’t mean anything disparaging. Didn’t it occur to you that at twenty
-
five you should have been having a little fun on your own account?’

Suddenly Sue felt she had had enough. ‘Look, what is this? An inquisition?’

‘I just wanted to find out what makes you tick,’ he told her ca
r
elessly.

‘You mean how far I’ll go?’

He tossed her a glance fraught with razor blades. ‘I ought to punish you for that,’ he said dangerously.

Sue gazed at the capable tanned hands on the car wheel and wondered how gentle they could be when making love. The next moment she pulled herself up sharply. Her thoughts, like her emotions, were getting out of hand, and all because she was sitting beside the most exasperatingly handsome man it had been her luck to meet.

‘What you said just now about Daddy’s affairs
—
is he in trouble financially?’ she asked with a worried frown.

It was a few seconds before he answered. ‘Why not come out with me this evening for a meal? We can talk then.’

But Sue was really worried by now. ‘What’s wrong with now?’ she insisted.

‘I have a business appointment in ten minutes from now. Think it over and let me know. Your father has my telephone number.’

Sue could have hit him for his coolness. Damn it, didn’t he know he was talking about her father? ‘I’ll come,’ she said.

‘Good girl! I’ll pick you up around eight. I shall be busy until then.’

She hesitated. Her heart was beating in a most breathtaking way, knowing that she was about to begin something which she might not have the stamina nor the inclination to stop. Jay Denver was
no boy to play around with. He was too much I man, and she would have to watch every step.
‘I’ll be ready,’ she promised.

He braked.
‘
This place all right to drop you off?’ She looked around at the beach teaming with
colourful figures and nodded. For some reason she
could not look at him.

‘So long,’ he said, and put a firm finger beneath
her chin. The cool lips resting on her own were
charged with dynamite.

‘Watch out for lifeguards,’ he said as she was
leaving the car.

‘I will,’ she answered, slamming the car door. ‘Maybe you’ll teach me judo?’

His grin was white against his tan. ‘I’ll teach you more than that if you’ll let me,’ he said wickedly.

‘I’m sure you will,’ she replied, and fluttered her fingers in farewell.

‘Phew!’ she muttered to herself as he shot away after a mocking salute. ‘What have I let myself in for?’

She was asking the same question later that evening when Jay came to pick her up. Her dress, a pale lavender silk, caressed her legs as she walked in delicate sandals of the same colour, and her rich tawny mane cascaded down on to her shoulders.

Jay lifted a dark brow and helped her into his
car. His white evening jacket and bow tie were very attractive against his tan, and Sue felt her heart lurch.

‘Where are we going?’ she asked as he started the car.

‘To a party,’ laconically.

The villa they arrived at was already teeming with guests. They spilled out of french windows and terraces and around the outdoor swimming pool. The weather was ideal for eating out of doors. Trestle tables were set up on the lawns containing mounds of food and drink.

There seemed to be a lot of men around talking in groups with a drink in their hands. Eyebrows shot up as Jay introduced Sue to them. An amiable
-
looking man whose hair was going thin on top and who viewed the world through dark-rimmed glasses smiled on her paternally.

‘So you take pictures?’ he said as Jay went in search of drinks.

Sue fortified her ego by telling herself that she was as good as any man present. After all, a person’s opinion of you was usually one that you had given to them in the first place.

‘That’s true,’ she answered. ‘I’ve got one or two magazines in mind who could like them very much.’

He put out a hand. ‘The name, in case you didn’t catch it, is Bob Lilley. Bring some of your pictures to my office. Here’s my card.’

Sue had put the card in her purse when Jay came with drinks. There were more drinks, then
food. Dancing followed, and it was in the early hours when Jay drove Sue back to the Villa Repose.

He stopped the car on a rise and Sue looked out to a blue-black ocean. A cruise liner ablaze with lights lit up the horizon and Jay said dreamily,

‘In another hour those soft low-lying clouds in the distance will turn to red and gold, then the sun will pop up like a golden butterball. Do you have to go in yet?’

He turned to her and touched her face with the back of his hand. Sue had no idea how desirable she looked with her cheeks all flushed and her hair a richly flowing halo around her head.

‘It’s late,’ she said, drowning in his dark-eyed regard.

He drew her to him. ‘How did you go on with the editors? Did you try any of them out?’

His lips were in the side of her neck and Sue caught her breath in her throat.

‘Kind of. I’ll let you know the result.’

‘Do that,’ he murmured.

Sue closed her eyes as his mouth took her own. She had been kissed many times, but never like this. She was not even aware of him scooping her up and laying her along his knees. Her fingers threaded through his dark crisp hair and when her hands caressed the back of his neck his kisses grew more passionate, parting her lips with a sudden urgency.

Sue was beginning to feel very strange as an unfamiliar shock of sensual delight shot through her. Her arms tightened now around his neck, pulling him closer, and his mouth bruised her lips. The kisses she had known before had never been remotely like this. They seemed to tingle through her entire body, setting it aflame with need. She knew a half-frightened delight when his lips moved down to the soft rise between her breasts and his hand moved slowly over the contour of her slender hip down to her thigh.

Dimly, in a bemused way, Sue knew that this was the time to pull away, but every fibre in her body willed her to stay. Then his lips captured hers again in a devastating passion and she answered with a passion to equal his own.

At last he lifted his head to draw breath and she opened her eyes, to be blinded by the passion in his.

‘You’re pretty explosive,’ he murmured. ‘Let’s stay ... until the sunrise.’

He smiled and began to kiss her flushed cheeks, but her arms slackened from his neck. It was just getting through to her what it would mean if she stayed with him for a couple of hours until the sun came up.

Drawing in breath regained, she fought with her treacherous heart and its overwhelming desire to surrender.

‘No ... no,’ she gasped. ‘I’m sorry, Jay. I enjoyed your kisses, but..
.’

She tried to loosen his hold on her in an effort to push herself up on his knees, but he held her in a vice.

‘There’s nothing to be afraid of,’ he murmured, kissing her throat. ‘If you’ve enjoyed my kisses you’ll enjoy my lovemaking.’

‘No, Jay. I’m ... I’m sorry. I ... got carried away...’

His arms fell away from her and she eased herself backwards into her seat. He made no attempt to assist her but sat still and silent.

Sue bit hard on her lip, wanting to tell him she had had no chance of making any decision on such a step. She was not the kind of girl who treated her body as a gift to give to any man at the drop of a hat. It was not a clean way of living and it only led
to heartbreak, in her opinion.

‘I’
m sorry, Jay. Will you please take me back to the Villa Repose?’

His implacability did nothing to steady her emotions. In silence he started the car and soon he was depositing her at the door of the Villa. Sue’s cheeks were burning at the thought of how she had responded so wantonly to his lovemaking. There was no excuse for the way she had led him on. She was old enough to know that she had been playing with fire.

Murmuring a farewell, she went indoors on trembling legs and heard the car roar away immediately. Putting her key back in her purse, she hurried to her room, but not to sleep. Jay Denver
was someone she had to do without. He was much too experienced for her, and far too dangerous. There were lots of men about like him, handsome and arrogant, used to getting their own way both in business and pleasure.

After a late breakfast Sue sat flicking over the pictures she had taken with the indecision of a
person tormented by doubts. Yesterday her spirits had risen at the thought of taking up photography as a career and she had been so happy to receive
an invitation from Bob Lilley to take her work for
him to see. But what had happened between her and Jay made it almost impossible for her to remain
near to where he circulated.

A sharp tap on her door startled her as Vera
popped her head round to tell her that Connie wanted to see her in her sitting room. She had not seen her father or Connie since they had left the Villa so suddenly the previous morning when she
had thought that it had been Jay leaving.

A talk with her father was now imperative, but
she could easily do without a talk with Connie. Connie sat waiting for her, arrayed in a cream silk housecoat with embroidery across one shoulder and down the front. For once she did not appear to be her usual calm and collected self. Her cool blue eyes flicked calculatingly over Sue’s slenderness in white shorts and a blue and white sailor top.

‘Sit down, Sue,’ she said, and indicated a chair near to where she was sitting on the settee. Her beringed hands were twitching in her lap and she curled them together as Sue looked at her calmly.

It occurred to Sue that her stepmother looked suddenly old and that the interview was not to her liking. The woman looked vulnerable, and Sue shuddered with apprehension.

‘Is anything the matter?’ she asked. ‘Daddy is all right, isn’t he?’

‘Well, he’s a little worried.’

Sue’s heart churned. ‘What about?’ she demanded shakily.

Connie lowered her heavily made-up lashes on a secretive look.

‘Business isn’t going as well as it might. Property is an unknown quantity these days. How did you get on with Jay yesterday when we left?’ she asked silkily.

‘In what way?’

Connie looked directly at the wide tawny eyes and sighed impatiently.

‘Well, did he take you out? He’s interested in you—I know he is,’ impatiently.

‘He took me to a party last night to introduce me to some of his newspaper friends.’

Connie nodded comprehendingly. ‘Your father was telling me about your photography. How did it go?’

Sue shrugged. ‘So-so. It might not be what I want after all.’

Connie looked blank. ‘But we ... I thought you liked it. Your father says you have a gift for it.’

Sue moved uncomfortably. ‘Well, he would, wouldn’t he? I’m his daughter.’ She decided to be frank. ‘He wants me to stay here for a while, so he’ll fasten on to anything which might do just that.’