The Man at Key West (3 page)

‘You don’t want to stay?’

‘I don’t want to intrude, and you made it quite plain yourself that you didn’t want me here.’ Connie had the grace to blush. ‘Perhaps I spoke a little hastily. We need your help.’

‘My help?’ Sue froze. ‘Is Daddy in some kind of trouble?’

‘Let’s say that he’s in an awkward spot at the moment. That was why we went out yesterday to see some friends of his and mine. We were after a loan until some of the money we have tied up is freed.’

‘And did you get what you were after?’

‘No.’

‘I don’t understand.’ Sue made a futile gesture with her hands. ‘You say “we”. Surely the money is Daddy’s, the business as well?’

Connie drew herself up and tried to look dignified. ‘We’re partners, have been for some time. Everything is in a joint account. One has to safeguard one’s interests.’

‘I can well imagine that,’ Sue commented dryly. ‘Daddy always was a softie. I hope you’ve been advising him wisely? He’s never been self-sufficient. However, he’s always believed in honest dealing. Is this loan very important?’

‘Very.’ The blue eyes were as hard as agates. ‘Has Jay mentioned anything to you about your father’s business?’

Sue frowned, not liking the way the conversation was going. She hated repeating anything that had been said to her personally.

Reluctantly, she admitted, ‘He has asked me if I know anything about it. I told him everything was out of my hands now that Daddy is married again—which is true.’

Connie nodded. ‘If Jay asks you anything else about your father will you promise to let him think that all is well?’

‘Why?’ Sue lifted her chin and gave her stepmother a frank open look. It was that lady’s turn to move uncomfortably.

‘I can’t tell you any more at the moment. Just do as I ask.’

Sue bridled at the superior tone. ‘I don’t have to, you know.’

The blue eyes were deadly. ‘You will when you know that your father’s life is at stake,’ Connie said ominously.

Sue was shattered. ‘What on earth do you mean?’ she asked huskily.

‘Your father hasn’t been so well lately and the doctor diagnosed a strained heart. Your father doesn’t know that he has to take things easy, and I don’t want to worry him. You will do as I ask. If he wants to keep you here with him that’s all right with me for the present. When this little matter of a loan is settled then there’s no reason why my husband should not improve in health.’

‘I appreciate that, but I would like to ask you one question,’ Sue said rather unsteadily. ‘Are you thinking of seeking a loan from Jay Denver?’

‘Anything is possible,’ was the evasive reply. ‘Which means that you are. If Daddy is in trouble I have money put by
...’

‘You have?’ The blue eyes sparkled with a greedy light. ‘Now isn’t that just fine?’ Connie gurgled. ‘Of course, your father would never hear of it. He
wouldn’t touch a penny of your money, even
though it was his in the first place.’

Sue moistened dry lips. ‘The money came from my mother. It has nothing to do with my father’s estate. It came originally from her family, in stocks and bonds.’ She felt suddenly sick inside. ‘Of course, if you want something towards my keep while I’m here, you’re quite welcome.’

‘Well ... er
...’
Connie simpered. ‘Perhaps a small cheque would be very welcome. Things cost so much these days, and food is a very big item, isn’t it?’

Sue jumped to her feet, only too ready to escape what to her had been a very unpleasant interview. Going to her room, she ran into her father on the way to his study.

‘Hello, Daddy,’ she smiled, and tiptoed to kiss his cheek. Were the grey wings of hair at his temples more pronounced, or was it wishful thinking that Connie had brought them there?

He placed a gentle hand on her tawny hair. ‘How did the pictures go?’ he asked with a smile. ‘If Jay Denver can fix it you’re in.’

‘I have to see one of his editors,’ she answered, and tried not to appear anxious. ‘Not needing a loan, are you?’

He laughed. ‘Because I’m bulldozing you into a job? Of course not! If working makes you happy I’m content. How are you off for funds?’

He put a hand to his inside pocket for his wallet,
and Sue felt a lump in her throat. She could warrant that he had little to spare, if what Connie said was true, yet he was willing to give her what she wanted.

‘I’m fine,’ she answered. ‘I don’t need anything, thanks. Don’t work too hard, will you?’

He ruffled
h
er hair. ‘Be off with you—and good luck with your editor,’ he said.

Connie was waiting for her cheque when Sue returned, and her plucked eyebrows lifted at the generous amount.

‘Thanks. I’ll let you have it back, of course,’ she said with some satisfaction. ‘By the way,’ she added, carefully keeping all encouragement from her voice, ‘Jay has invited us to spend this evening at his place. He invited us when he was here yesterday morning, so I accepted for you too.’

CHAPTER
THREE

Sue dressed for dinner that evening in a lace gown with almost invisible shoulder straps. It accentuated her shapely figure, with the neckline giving a teasing hint of her softly rising breasts. She let her hair flow loosely on to her shoulders, darkened the tips of her eyelashes and put a becoming peach gloss to her lips.

Connie sparkled in blue silk and hardly glanced at Sue when they went to the car. Sue thought her father looked a little tired, but his smile at her was bright enough.

Jay’s villa was on an island offshore, small and private, and they went by launch, leaving the car to pick it up later on their return. The villa was visible among exotic trees as the man who had brought them across tied up the launch by a palm -shaded pier. It was a Colonial-style long rambling white building with a fabulous swimming pool surrounded by white garden furniture and loungers.

Jay was there, greeting his guests with a smile which could mean a lot or a little. His white evening jacket gave his tan a bronze glow as he greeted them charmingly. Sue was introduced to what were obviously business friends of Jay, for after the meal some of them went with her father and Jay to another room.

While the dinner had been everything one could wish for, including the wine and coffee, Sue was not aware half the time of what she was eating or drinking. Her father sat next to her with Connie, but throughout the meal Sue had been conscious almost exclusively of Jay. Before she went home she knew that she had to ask questions about her father. While she knew that Jay was not the kind to give away any personal business to outsiders, she had got to find out what Connie had meant about letting Jay think that all was well.

Some of the guests must have been local, for Connie was in conversation with several who appeared to know her well. Looking at her with misgiving, Sue hoped that everything would come right for her father.

‘You’re looking rather downcast,’ said a deep voice in her ear, and she gave a start to find Jay smiling down at her.

She said anxiously, ‘Is there anywhere that we can go where we shan’t be interrupted? I want to talk to you about my father. You never did tell me about him the other evening.’

He looked at her thoughtfully. ‘We could go along to my office—and don’t look so worried!’ They went through to a male sanctum of leather chairs and filing cabinets where Jay motioned her to a seat. He did not sit down but stood gazing down at her.

‘What is it you want to talk about?’ he began. ‘Is my father in trouble?’ she asked.

He smiled. ‘I wouldn’t say seeking a loan is exactly trouble. Has he said anything to you?’

Sue looked alarmed. ‘Goodness, no! It was just something Connie said that made me wonder, and he looked kind of harassed.’

He laughed. ‘He’s married. Lots of married men look as if they’re harassed.’

She said impatiently, ‘You’re putting me off. There is somet
h
ing, isn’t there?’

He frowned. ‘What can there be? Your father hasn’t been in any trouble before, has he?’

She looked at him indignantly. ‘Of course not! Daddy has always been honest in everything he’s done,’ she said heatedly.

‘Then there’s nothing for me to say, is there?’ He paused. ‘There isn’t anything you want to tell me, is there?’ Dumbly Sue shook her head. ‘Sure?’ he insisted, then lifted her chin with a firm finger. ‘Don’t look so downcast.’

Brushing her lips with his own, Jay suddenly pulled her to her feet and into his arms. Taken by surprise, Sue was a few seconds in pulling her wits together, but her small gesture of resistance was completely ineffectual against the strong arms holding her suffocatingly tight.

The magic got through to her protesting senses and her arms went around his neck of their own volition. Their mouths fused together, and when his lips moved away to kiss her neck Sue cupped his face in her hands to bring his mouth to hers. When his kisses ravished her mouth with a bruising force she only pressed herself closer to his hard body and returned them with an equal urgency.

Bemusedly, Sue knew that she ought to resist the all too persuasive hands caressing her so shatteringly. But a delightful feeling of pliancy beneath his touch had robbed her of the power to resist. No man had ever affected her in this way before, as warning bells alerted her to the danger such evocative caresses and kisses were leading to.

A sudden tap on the door drenched them with the present and Jay drew away to release her slowly with a breathy laugh.

‘You know, my sweet Sue, this has happened several hours too soon. It seems that duty calls,’ he
whispered in her ear.

His smile, both mocking and amused, held a gentleness in its depths that took her breath away still more. In that moment it occurred to her what a devastatingly handsome man he was.

Bemusedly Sue was aware of him talking urgently. ‘I have to go—see you later. You can leave the room after I’ve gone. Your hair is ruffled and you look thoroughly kissed.’

With a swift kiss on her hair Jay left the room, speaking as he opened the door to the person who had come in search of him. Sue replenished her make-up with fumbling fingers and ran a comb through her hair from her little evening bag, but it was a long time before she could bring herself to leave the room and return to the company of others.

The trouble was that being with Jay was all too satisfying. Steady now, cried the prevailing common sense. Remember what you said about becoming involved with a person who did a demanding job similar to that of your father.

Marriage to such a man was only heading for disaster. However, Jay was not the marrying kind; he preferred an affair sooner than be tied down. And why not? Sue knew that together they could produce the chemical ingredients for a sizzling affair. Was that what she wanted? After all, that was the trend of the present day.

Sue thought of her photography. It was the safest bet where she was concerned. She had not the stamina for an affair. She bruised too easily and she had a conscience. The photography won. To her relief her father and Connie decided to leave around eleven o’clock, and Sue left with them.

If she had been looking for an excuse to stay on
at the party Jay himself provided it.

‘The fun is only just beginning,’ he murmured. ‘If you want to stay, Sue, I’ll run you home afterwards.’

‘No, thanks,’ she replied. ‘I want to be up early in the morning to advertise my wares.’

He raised a dark brow. ‘Ah,’ he said mockingly, ‘the photographs? Perhaps you’re wise. I wish you luck. Let me know if I can help at all.’

‘You have an influential friend there,’ her father remarked when they were in the launch returning to the car.

He looked brighter, and Sue smiled at him across Connie’s look of warning. If only that was all he was, Sue thought despairingly. The trouble was, he was more, much, much more. Sue looked up Bob Lilley the following day armed with a selection of her photographs. Outside his office she slipped into a doorway to evade the man who had just pulled up in an M.G.—Jay. Sue’s breath caught in her throat as she saw him unfold his long length from the car and stride across the intervening space into the offices.

She waited for a long time for him to reappear, but as he did not she sailed in to attack the outer office leading to Bob Lilley’s inner sanctum. One of the typists at hand asked if she had an appointment and Sue nodded, deciding to be brash.

The typist smiled and told her to take a seat as Mr. Lilley was already engaged, but she would tell him of her arrival in due course.

Sue noticed as she sat down that the typists, four in all, all kept a north eye on the editor’s door.

‘Great, isn’t he?’ a pert little blonde cooed above the noise of tapping typewriters. ‘Jay Denver! Even his name sends prickles down your spine.’ Her deep sigh was almost like a groan. ‘What wouldn’t I give
f
or one night with him!’

‘He eats little typists like you for breakfast,’ chipped in an older firmer voice as an elderly woman entered, smartly dressed in a navy linen suit with white accessories. ‘You would have to be a Britt Ekland to get that one.’ She smiled at Sue, and in that moment the editor’s door opened and Jay strode out.

Without looking to left or right, Jay took the intervening space in long economical strides and was gone. Sue turned after watching him go to see Bob Lilley crooking a finger at her from the doorway of his office.

‘Oh, Bob—just a minute,’ said the woman in the smart suit. ‘Have we got those pictures yet of the park?’

Bob’s shrewd eyes looked down at Sue. ‘I’m hoping to produce them quite soon, Viv. You’re about to meet the latest offer in lifelines, Sue Blake.’

Sue was ushered into the editor’s office and sat down nervously while he began to look through the photographs she had brought. After what seemed like hours he looked up smiling.

‘Got any more like these, Miss Blake?’ he asked, tossing them on his desk. Sue nodded. ‘Good. Cigarette?’ He offered a box of cigarettes from his desk and when Sue refused he took one for himself and set a lighter to it.

‘Don’t you like these?’ she asked, watching him.

He blew out a line of tobacco smoke away from her. ‘Like them? They’re great! We can use them all, and more.’

Sue left the office on air. Even the M.G. waiting at the kerb did not register for a moment.

‘Jay!’ she exclaimed as he lunged forward from leaning against his car.

‘How did it go?’ he asked lazily. ‘Did you get the job?’

She stared up at him for a moment. ‘Now wait a minute,’ she said firmly. ‘I didn’t get it as a favour to you, did I?’

‘No. If your work hadn’t been up to standard you wouldn’t have been accepted.’ His face registered its usual mocking expression and the cynical look was there in his eyes. ‘What about going out with me this evening to celebrate?’

Sue looked up at him with a frown. ‘Were you waiting for me?’

He grinned. ‘I saw you dodge in that doorway there when I arrived,’ he told her, unabashed. ‘And I wasn’t here to see that you got the job—I didn’t know you were coming. My visit to the offices was purely business. So what about that date for this evening?’

‘I’m sure you have other engagements,’ she answered primly. ‘You know, I don’t think you and I have much in common. I’ve been skidding around all my life up to now trying to keep tags on a father who never stayed put two weeks together. You remind me too much of times I want to leave behind.’

He straightened from leaning negligently against the car to tower over her. His smile was mocking.

‘Very well, come out with me now for a celebration drink. What’s wrong with that? Come on. You’re young and over twenty-one. Start living before it’s too late.’

Sue lowered her gaze from his clean-shaven, well
-
shaped jaw-line. She felt a strong urge to run her fingers along it... to drown in the dark depths of his eyes. But for how long? Only until he had her in bed with him. She supposed there were men one could carry on an affair with and forget it when the passion had fizzled out, but not Jay Denver. He was too strong a character for one ever to forget him.

On the other hand, it was a bit mean not to have a drink with him, because he had been instrumental in her getting the post.

‘Very well,’ she agreed. ‘Only I want to get back to tell Daddy about the job. He’ll be pleased. I don’t know about Connie, though—not that I don’t understand how she feels about having a grown-up stepdaughter.’

Jay was putting her in the car as she spoke, and he slid into the seat beside her.

Lazily, he said, ‘Connie knew that you existed when she married your father. Are you independent of parents?’

Sue settled down in her seat. ‘If you mean financially, just about. My mother left me some bonds and shares. But money doesn’t bother me while I can earn it. I’ve seen what going after it means and what it has done to my father, and I would hate to marry a man in a similar position. In fact I wouldn’t even consider it.’

The car roared along the highway and he said mockingly,

‘So it’s no use my proposing to you? Ah well, I shall just have to bear it.’

‘I bet you’re breaking your heart,’ she scoffed. ‘And don’t be so damned nice! If you must know, I never really relax when I’m with you. You have this knack of throwing your masculinity around that’s positively indecent!’

He said coolly, ‘I wasn’t aware of exposing myself at any time. What would you have me do, assume a high-pitched voice and mince along on high-heeled shoes carrying a handbag?’

Sue laughed at the picture his words produced in her mind. Tears of mirth were like jewels on her eyelashes and he tossed her a smile.

She said, ‘You are a fool,’ and used a wisp of handkerchief to wipe her eyes.

‘And you’re a very attractive girl. I like you in a lighthearted mood. It makes your company more enjoyable. You should laugh more. Don’t you like men?’

Sue put her handkerchief away and closed her bag. ‘Some of them—Daddy for one.’

‘And his kind of life makes no difference to your loving him?’

‘Of course it doesn’t. He’s my father.’

‘You could say the same about a husband, couldn’t you?’

‘I suppose I could.’ Sue sat up and looked around with interest. ‘Where are we going?’

‘What about going to my place for lunch?’ Jay said casually.

Sue felt suddenly breathless. ‘I thought you were taking me out for a drink? That’s a long way to go, isn’t it? If you have no money with you, I’ll treat you. After all, we’re celebrating my new job.’