Yesterday's Bride (9 page)

Her expression hardening slightly, Paula walked over to her desk and picked up the phone.

After Leigh and Jody had freshened up in the bathroom, they left the office for the hardware store to retrieve Leigh's packages. Then Jason headed the car toward the outskirts of town.

"We're going to one of my favorite spots," he told Leigh.

Before long he turned into a parking lot opposite a rambling wooden building that shone pristine white in the sunshine. A sign hanging from a post designated it The Coach and Four.

The building was obviously old, as was the tall boxwood hedge that surrounded it. Aware of Leigh's interested gaze, Jason related that in the eighteenth century it had been an inn, a stopover for tobacco planters on their way from their backcountry estates to the market in Raleigh.

"Local legend maintains that before and during the Revolutionary War it was a hotbed of rebel spies. Some famous battles were fought relatively near here, you know, the Battles of Alamance and Guilford Courthouse."

He got out of the car and walked with an easy stride around it to open the door for Leigh and Jody. Taking Leigh's arm in a firm grip and catching Jody by the hand, he guided them into the building.

"What do you think of it?"

"It's charming." Leigh looked around in wonder. She might have been transported back in time to the eighteenth century. Jason had drawn her into a room that had been used during coaching days as a parlor. The furniture grouped around the cavernous fireplace, he told her, was a replica of that used in colonial times. The gracefully curved sofa and chairs and delicate mahogany tables had been imported from Europe by the wealthy planters.

Across the hall, the public tavern had cruder furnishings, rough homemade benches and trestle tables.

"Don't worry," Jason told Leigh as he escorted them to the large dining room down a narrow hall, "the food is twentieth century."

Despite Jason's words, Leigh noticed as she studied the menu that some attempts had been made to offer colonial fare. With mischief brightening her eyes, she told Jason she thought he should try the jugged hare and Indian pudding.

"No way. I'm a steak and potatoes man. But you go ahead. Do you know what Indian pudding is, by the way?" Assured that she did not, he told her that it was a mixture of corn meal and molasses.

In the end, Leigh decided to have a steak, too.

When Jason gave their order to the long-gowned, mob-capped waitress, he added a bottle of wine, saying that it was not every day he could dine with two such lovely ladies.

Leigh was just dipping into her sweet potato pie, a concession to the colonial atmosphere, when Jason seemed to notice her dress for the first time. It was a warm spring day and the restaurant was not air-conditioned, conditions which had led Leigh unthinkingly to push up the long sleeves of her jersey dress.

"Isn't that dress too heavy for a day like this?" Jason was frowning at her.

Leigh put down her fork. "Yes, it probably is."

"Then why the devil are you wearing it?"

"Because it's all I have," she answered sweetly. "When I packed to come to Raleigh, I brought only a few things with me since I mistakenly thought I'd be there for just a few days. That was until you came into the picture, of course," she added tartly.

"Why didn't you say something?" Jason's scowl was bringing his black eyebrows together in a fierce line.

Holding on to her temper, Leigh answered, "I've been managing quite well at the cottage, and I intended to pick up a few things at the first opportunity." How like the arrogant Jason to bark at her like this over something that was none of his business anyway!

He shoved back his chair and picked up the check lying on the table.

"Come on. We're going shopping."

With single-minded determination, Jason propelled Leigh through the doors of an exclusive-looking boutique, Jody trotting along between them.

In an effort to avoid what she knew would be a harrowing experience of shopping with Jason looking on, Leigh sought a way out.

"It's time for Jody's nap," she protested, pulling her arm out of his ironlike grip. "Couldn't we put this off until I can come into town at a more convenient time. There's really no rush."

"It isn't going to hurt Jody to miss one nap. You can just put her to bed early tonight," was the inexorable reply.

"All right, then." Leigh summoned a bright smile. "I'll pick up a few things and then Jody and I can walk along to your office. There's absolutely no need for you to wait. You'll be bored. Besides, I know how busy you are," she prodded sweetly.

"Who says I'll be bored?"

With great charm, Jason smiled at the tall, gray-haired woman who stood hovering at his elbow and introduced her to Leigh.

"Take your time, Leigh. Jody and I will wait over here."

Leigh turned to the discreet displays of dresses, but watched out of the corner of her eye as Jason and Jody sat down on fragile-looking Louis XIV chairs, obviously there for just such a purpose. Jody, who considered that she had waited long enough, eagerly dived into the bag clutched in her hand, pulled out the tiny doll and carriage, and settled down contentedly to play.

Leigh selected a pretty pastel cotton dress, several skirts with tops to match and a lightweight pair of slacks. As an afterthought, she added a pair of shorts. It could get fairly hot here in the spring, Leigh remembered, and she might as well be prepared.

The helpful clerk showed her into a good-sized dressing room equipped with a floor-to-ceiling mirror, and Leigh quickly tried on the things she had selected, not wanting to waste too much of Jason's time. She was just tying the belt of a denim wrap skirt around her slender waist when the clerk appeared, carrying two long dresses over her arm.

"Mr. Randall sent these," she said in an approving voice. "He felt they would suit you."

The woman carefully hung the dresses up, smoothing them out as she did so. "Mr. Randall asked if you would please come out when you have them on so that he can see how they look on you," she said as she turned to go.

Leigh was fuming.
Model these dresses, indeed
. Just what was Jason up to? He didn't care what she wore.

She had to admit, however, that the gowns were beautiful. She tried on the first one. Of the finest silk, it was a pure, frosty white, a color that interacted with Leigh's silver hair to create a dazzling effect. Leigh blinked at herself in the mirror as the soft silk caressed her skin. She had never thought to wear this color. In fact, she wore white only occasionally, and then a more creamy, eggshell color. The gown's softly gathered bodice had a halter neckline that dipped low in the back, almost to the tight waist, and an A-line skirt that fell in graceful folds to her feet.

Jason has good taste, I'll give him that, Leigh told herself as she walked across for his inspection. She stopped in front of him, and not even her professional model's detachment helped to quell her nervousness.

He observed her closely, his expression bland.

"You look more like an ice maiden than ever," was his only comment.

Leigh fingered the delicate fabric. "Jason, this is a gorgeous gown, but I can't really see that I would have an opportunity to wear it," she said hesitantly, not wanting him to think she did not like his choice.

"You never can tell. Be sure to pick out anything you need to go with it—shoes, whatever." His words were an order.

As Leigh turned to go, he caught her arm and leaned forward. "I'm going to miss those tight jeans of yours," he whispered.

Embarrassed, Leigh pulled away and hurried back to the safety of the dressing room.

She put on the other gown, a cobwebby black lace affair with a peach satin underslip, and returned to the shop to find Jason wandering restlessly around a rack of swimwear. When he caught sight of Leigh in the sophisticated dress, he gave her the full blast of his piercing stare.

He nodded carelessly and handed her the wisps of material he had in his hand. "Try that on for me," he directed.

When Leigh held the scraps up by the strings attached to them, they took the shape of a bikini.

"Now, look here, Jason," she began, "I might agree to parade around in front of you in those dresses, but you can think again if you expect me to model this." She shook the offending objects at him.

"Just be a good girl, Leigh, and do as you're told."

She gasped at the patronizing words as the shimmer in her eyes fueled into a blaze.

"No. I do not need a swimsuit," she said firmly. If the saleswoman had not been standing a few feet away, she would take a punch at his arrogant face, Leigh told herself heatedly.

Jason was amused. "Then what do you plan to wear when the pool is finished, as it soon will be? I don't imagine that anything will keep Jody out of the water and it's your job to look after her."

"Well, then, I'd prefer to choose my own swim-wear, if you don't mind," Leigh said haughtily, reaching out a hand toward the rack.

Her wrist was caught in a punishing grip.

"But I do mind," he returned smoothly. "Now go ahead or I'll come and put that suit on you myself."

Aware of the glint of determination in the night dark eyes, Leigh knew better than to push her luck. She did not doubt that he would do as he said. Without another word she returned to the dressing room.

The bikini was of the very scanty variety, the three lime green triangles that composed it just covering her. Leigh looked in the mirror and shuddered at the expanse of golden skin the slinky fabric exposed. She was tugging at the halter and wishing for a wrap when she heard Jason's mocking voice outside the door.

"Need any help?"

"No thank you," she said, attempting firmness.

The door opened and there he stood. His eyes measured her, lingering on the swell of her breasts and the curve of her softly rounded thigh. Leigh blushed all over at his prolonged scrutiny. It was as if he were touching her without reaching out a hand.

"Not bad," he said finally, breaking the electric silence between them.

"Of course," he drawled, "you're a little skinny for my taste." With a mocking grin, he turned to go.

"I've just about had it from you, Jason Randall!" She picked up the article that was nearest at hand, which turned out to be a blouse, and flung it at his retreating back. She'd like to toss everything in this room into that smug face! He was having a fine time at her expense.

He wasn't through with her yet.

When Leigh went over to the counter where the saleswoman was folding her purchases neatly into elegant maroon boxes, she found Jason there, his wallet open.

"I'll pay for my own clothes," she whispered. "I have enough money and I'd prefer not to accept anything from you."

He ignored her and counted out a pile of bills.

"Jason," she hissed, too aware of the interested saleswoman nearby, "I said I'm paying." She reached into the depths of her large handbag, but he forestalled her as he casually threw an arm across her shoulders to draw her a few feet away.

"I buy my wife's clothes, Leigh. Don't continue with this or you'll be very sorry." The words were a threat, menace clear in his low voice.