The Man at Key West (5 page)

CHAPTER FOUR

Jay had changed into an oyster silk shirt and cream slacks. He looked teasing and vital as he seated Sue at the table to a meal of conch fritters followed by succulent barbecued prawns covered by a special sauce which Sue thought absolutely delicious. She relaxed and prepared herself to enjoy her meal.

The wine was nicely chilled and Jay teased her into eating her share of the meal. Later he took her round the villa and the grounds to stroll at their leisure. With his arm loosely around her shoulders he told her how he had left home at eighteen after giving up his studies to make his way round the world as part of his growing up.

He had done all kinds of jobs, truck driver, skin diving, lumberjack, jackaroo and cook on a cargo vessel. He had been on an oil rig when he decided to try the world of finance. He had saved a bit of money and he decided to make it work. He did, and went from strength to strength, buying up bankrupt business and making a go of them.

‘The trouble with people today is that they won’t work for what they want,’ he said bluntly.

Returning to the house, Jay found a shady corner near to the pool beneath some pine trees where it was cool. They each had an iced drink and they sipped it to the scent of tropical flowers and the tang of the water from the pool.

He had been looking at Sue for some time before she became aware of it. She had been thinking of what he had told her about himself. So he had travelled like her, but unlike her Sue knew that he did not hanker after a permanent home and a family. Marrying anyone like Jay would be like having her life with her father all over again.

‘How are you liking life out here?’

His deep voice roused her from her thoughts and she smiled at him with the frosty drink like dew on her lips. He looked at them, and the expression in his eyes reminded her of that iron will of his that from an early age had carved out his own destiny just as he would carve out anyone he happened to marry.

‘Not bad,’ she said.

‘Have you a darkroom to develop your photographs?’

She laughed. ‘I’ve rigged up my bathroom. I get along. I’m looking forward to my job.’

He tossed down the rest of his drink. ‘I was a journalist for two years out East. I took some pictures out there. I’ll show them to you some time.’ He looked down thoughtfully into his glass. ‘You could move in here if you want to.’

Sue teetered and stared at him. It was an effort playing for time and getting used to the unexpected when Jay was around.

‘Thanks, but I like to be independent,’ she said as airily as she could with those dark eyes upon her. ‘The reason I’ve taken the job is because Daddy wants me near him for a while. Not that I shall intrude. He’s married now, but I think he would be concerned about me if I went back home.’

Jay rose to his feet and went to the supply of drinks on a small table.

‘Another drink?’ he asked as he filled his glass.

Sue glanced down at her half filled glass. ‘No, thanks. I have to be getting back.’

‘Oh, come on,’ he said, ‘drink up.’ He came for her glass and smiled down at her mockingly. ‘I thought you weren’t going to intrude upon your father’s home life? Give them a break!’

She tossed off her drink and handed it to him. ‘I wasn’t intending to intrude,’ she told him crossly. ‘I have to look out some more photographs for
Mr.
Lilley, my editor.’

He poured her a second drink and handed it to her before taking his own and dropping down beside her.

‘I envy you just starting out on a new career,’ he said, lazily stretching out long legs and tasting his drink. ‘You’re young and enthusiastic like I was once.’

‘You aren’t exactly in a bathchair yourself,’ she retorted, ‘I’m twenty-five.’

‘I’m thirty-two—not all that much older in years, but I feel a million years old when I look at you.’ Sue laughed and ignored the dark eyes roving over her shapely limbs.

‘Why?’

‘Because you look and act so darned young.’ Sue swallowed on her drink. ‘Excuse me while I get more experience, sir. What would you have me do? Sleep around? Smoke pot or something?’

He laughed, and his teeth were white against the deep tan of his face.

‘How do I know that you haven’t?’ he mocked, and she could have hit him.

‘Just because you’ve done things I haven’t done you set yourself up as something great! I suppose you regard women as mindless imbeciles. Real chauvinist, aren’t you? I could do most of the things you’ve done, but it wouldn’t make me any better than anyone else.’ Sue stopped for breath as he regarded her lazily with raised eyebrows. ‘You want to try wearing a hat before your head gets too big for comfort!’

He laughed again as he put down his glass on the ground beside him.

‘That should have got the adrenalin going,’ he murmured as his hand shot out to grip her wrist. The next moment he had hauled her on his knee. Sue was aware of the strength of his thighs through her thin covering and she struggled violently.

‘Let me go!’ she cried. ‘You aren’t in lumberjack country now. We’re civilised here.’

‘Are we?’ he murmured, subduing her with little effort by his superior strength. ‘Tell me more.’

He had her helpless across his knees and Sue looked daggers at him. There were devilish depths in his dark eyes which made her shudder inwardly. Her heart was beating heavily and she was sure he could hear it. By an enormous effort she kept her voice steady.

‘Will you please let me go and stop playing the fool? I don’t know why you’re behaving like this with me.’

‘Don’t you?’

He was kissing her neck and moving his lips up to her mouth. Sue closed her eyes, holding out on him as long as she could. When she stopped resisting, his lips became urgent yet gentle, a deadlier ploy on his part, and she knew it. Slowly his hands moved over her pliant form in caressing movements, and she was lost.

When he released her she was trembling and bemused, with no breath left for speaking the bitter protest in her mind.

Jay said softly, ‘I don’t know which image of you I prefer—the one I’m looking at now, all dewy -eyed and subdued, or the angry one of sparkling tawny eyes and glowing cheeks.’

She said viciously, ‘Let me know when you’ve made up your mind. In the meantime do me a favour and get lost!’

‘That’s an idea. I could take you with me.’

He was grinning at her, and suddenly Sue had to laugh.

‘Being provocative will get you nowhere,’ she said, ‘and I don’t care for caveman tactics either.’ ‘Take care—you’re putting ideas into my head. Do you know of a nice cave anywhere?’

Sue could not be serious after that. He allowed her to wriggle free of him, and she stood up breathlessly, wanting to run away.

‘I’d like to go home, if it’s all the same with you,’ she said with as much dignity as the situation would allow.

‘Come and finish your drink first. So you’re not moving in with me?’ he said, bending down to take up his drink where he had put it on the ground.

‘So you keep asking, and I’ll keep saying no, thanks.’

Sue dropped down again beside him and finished her drink. Her emotions were all mixed up and she could not think clearly. For one thing, Jay was much too near for her comfort. Once she was in his arms all her good intentions would vanish in the bliss of the moment.

She had to hand it to him, he certainly knew how to charm. With Jay Sue knew that his charm was congenital and as natural as his easy grace of movement. He had everything a girl could wish for, good looks, a charming manner and the ability to
please. Add that to his wealth and experience and what girl would resist him?

Sue knew that she could not, but she had to if she was not to be hurt. She was not the kind to play around like Jay did. He was too much man, and the playing would become too dangerous for her.

She was aware of Jay emptying his glass and consulting his watch, so she finished her drink. He took both glasses and with loose-limbed grace rose to his feet and put them on the table.

Sue was on her feet when he turned towards her again. He placed his hands on her shoulders and looked down at her whimsically.

‘I have some business to attend to before this evening and I’d like to take you out afterwards to dine,’ he said with the hint of a smile. ‘Pretty persistent, aren’t I?’

She smiled, loving the little boy look of tousled hair and thinking how thick his eyelashes were for a man. She was vanquished.

She said demurely, ‘I trust you won’t take this as a climb-down. I’ll accept. After all, Daddy might want me to celebrate with him, and Connie and I don’t care to play gooseberry.’

‘You were never meant to play gooseberry,’ Jay murmured. ‘It would be such a waste. Let’s go a little farther and suggest us spending tomorrow together as well. I’ll tell you about it later. Come on, I’ll take you home.’

Arriving at the Villa Repose, Jay brushed her lips lightly with his.

‘Well,’ he said, ‘until this evening.’

The touch of his lips set all manner of emotions inside her. But Sue managed to give him a cool little smile before waving him off.

The villa seemed very quiet as she went to her room. It was four-thirty and Connie usually ordered tea for four o’clock for her father. Sue paused, wondering whether to go along to the lounge, then decided against it in case her father was resting. She sighed as she continued on her way to her room.

It was amazing what a difference another woman made to her life with her father. Normally she would have been able to run in to him wherever he was to see if he had had his tea which he loved. Now it was some other woman’s place to look to his needs. Sue wished she could feel happier about his marriage. If only Connie had been different! Somehow Sue felt that her father had made a mistake in choosing a woman who was not of his world at all.

She found the other photographs and put them in a large envelope to take to Bob Lilley. She hoped he would like them. Impulsively, she decided to telephone him and ask what kind of pictures he had in mind for her next assignment.

‘Do a feature of some kind,’ he told her. ‘You’re new to the locality so I can expect some really good shots. Now what have you there in pictures?’

She told him and he seemed pleased. ‘Drop them off tomorrow, I can use them. Damned good camera you have there.’

Sue dressed for dinner with Jay that evening with a lighthearted feeling that she had not had for a long time. Her dress was a camisole top of exquisite lace in deep cream with a long slinky skirt. She brushed her bright hair into a glittering mass and let it fall naturally on her creamy shoulders.

With a hip jacket of matching material trimmed with nylon fur and a little evening bag in the same
lace as the top, Sue went in search of her father.

Connie met her at the door of their sitting room. ‘Bill is dressing,’ she said with a half-smile. ‘You’re looking very nice. Have you got a date?’

Sue nodded. ‘With Jay.’

Connie gave a secretive smile. ‘Good work,’ she commented. ‘Bill says you’ve landed a job on a magazine. Good for you!’

Sue sensed a withdrawal and tried to keep an open mind about her lukewarm attitude.

She said warily, ‘I don’t know how it will go. I have to see what happens.’

‘You’re thinking of settling down here, then?’ Connie asked, walking to a drinks cabinet and pouring herself out a drink.

‘Not exactly. I’ve just told you.’ Sue gripped her evening purse, wishing her father would show up. She knew now with dreadful certainty that Connie did not want her.

Connie sat down with her drink and crossed her knees in her elegant beaded evening gown which to Sue breathed money. But it was nothing to do with her. What bothered her was the responsibility of her father to pay the bills which Connie seemed fond of running up. Her beringed hands, the earrings and bracelets she wore were mostly new.

‘Hello there!’

Bill came through the comunicating doorway still fingering his bow tie. Sue’s heart softened and she thought how nice he always looked in evening dress; she went forward to help him.

‘Let me do your tie,’ she said. ‘Are you going out?’

He nodded not very enthusiastically. ‘Some business friends of Connie’s. I must be getting old, because I don’t feel the same excitement I used to
whenever there was any business to be discussed.’ Connie put in, ‘He needs a holiday. We shall have to take a trip away.’

‘There you are.’ Sue stood back to admire her handiwork. ‘It’s a good idea to have a holiday,’ she said with a warm smile.

But as she spoke she had never felt so lonely in her life. Only now did she realise how very much on her own she was. The last twelve months selling the house in the London suburbs and looking after the housekeeper, who had been more like a second mother to her, had taken up most of her time and thoughts.

There had not been much time to dwell upon her father and his new wife. Looking at the situation coolly and with common sense, she realised that she had to make a life of her own away from family ties. The photographic assignment was a godsend, and she had to make a go of it.

‘Thanks. You’re looking very nice, my dear.’

Her father had his hands on her shoulders and was looking with approval at the very pretty evening dress and the tawny hair around her eloquent face.

Connie’s voice suddenly grated. ‘We must celebrate your new job, Sue. We must give a party.’ Her smile was for Bill. ‘Sue’s going out with Jay Denver. I told you she’d probably have a date for this evening. The young people of today have no time for their parents. They prefer people of their own generation.’

Sue said quietly, ‘Daddy and I have always been close. We always will be. I
...’
She broke off as the sound of a car arriving struck the clear air. ‘That will be Jay,’ she said, with a sigh of inward relief.

Connie was on her feet. Putting down her glass, she made her way
to the door.

‘We must ask him in for a drink,’ she called over her shoulder as she left the room.

She returned, linking Jay’s arm. ‘Here he is,’ she cooed. ‘What will you have to drink, Jay? Bill will get the drinks, won’t you, darling?’ She pulled her companion to a settee and sat down beside him.

Jay stretched out his long legs, radiating waves that were all male, and smiled across at Sue, who was still standing by her father. Their eyes met, Sue looked hastily away and followed her father to hand out the drinks.

‘I believe you’re going to Henry Cassells’ party, Bill,’ said Jay as Sue handed him a drink.

‘Yes, we are,’ cut in Connie, taking her drink from Sue and studiously ignoring her. ‘It’s quite an honour to be invited. The Cassells only mix with the cream of society.’

Jay gave a grimace. ‘Cheers,’ he said lifting his drink.

Bill sat down in a comfortable chair with Sue perching on the arm with her drink.

Jay said sardonically, ‘It’s one thing to be the creme de la creme of society; it’s quite another to seek it. Be careful, Bill. Henry Cassells is known as a hot potato. He needs careful handling. Any man who seeks to gatecrash the elite usually does.’

Bill was astonished. ‘I’m surprised. I thought he was on the level.’ He looked at his wife with a frown. ‘How is it that you’ve never said anything about this, Connie?’

Connie laughed. ‘There’s nothing to say. After all, Jay is probably going on rumour. All wealthy people have enemies, and Henry Cassells is no exception.’

‘Henry Cassells has enemies all right,’ Jay replied firmly. ‘Enemies he’s made himself with his double dealing. Steer clear of him, Bill, if you want to avoid trouble. I think it’s time we went,’ he added.

Sue was in the car with Jay. ‘What’s this about one of Connie’s friends?’ she asked curiously. ‘And who’s Henry Cassells?’

Jay looked straight ahead as he steered the car out on to the highway.

‘No one you ought to bother your pretty head about,’ he answered carelessly.

‘But I do bother about anything that concerns Daddy,’ she said indignantly. ‘What’s Connie up to? I want to know.’

‘That’s enough,’ Jay said firmly. ‘We’re going out to enjoy ourselves. I think you can leave it to your father to deal with his own affairs. He’s no fool.’

‘But Connie has a lot of influence over him—I know she has.’ Sue was clearly distressed. ‘I hope she isn’t going to get Daddy into any trouble. He isn’t a wealthy man. If Mummy had been alive he just might be by now. On his own he lacks the drive he had with her. He isn’t so strong-willed on his own initiative.’

‘Now look here, my sweet
...’
Jay swung the car into a layby and turned to face her with his arm on the wheel. For a moment his face was grim, then a smile curved his well-cut lips and he drew her into his arms. ‘There’s only one way of silencing a woman,’ he murmured, and bent his head.

‘Jay!’ she whispered breathlessly. That was all she was allowed to say for a very long time, and her heart began to pound as he drew her closer.

‘Jay!’ she tried again on breath regained as he released her enough to look down into her face.

‘Don’t talk. Relax,’ he murmured against her mouth, and Sue gave herself up to the ecstacy of being in his arms.

Ardent minutes passed, then Jay reluctantly moved away at last.

‘No more worrying about other people,’ he said, kissing the tip of her nose before releasing her. ‘And that goes for
the rest of the evening.’

Seated beside Jay later in a nightclub with expensively dressed women decorating a sea of immaculate tables, Sue had to admit that not only was Jay fun to be with, he knew how to take a girl out for the evening in the best of places. The food was delicious, the service impeccable, and they danced to low seductive music, close and silent.