The Reluctant Lark

by Iris Johansen

  As the door closed behind him, Sheena sat up on the bed and zipped up her robe. She’d just swung her legs off the bed when there was a cursory knock and the door opened.

  “I saw Thad leave, and I thought that we could have a little chat,” Donna Scott said brightly, as she entered the room and closed the door behind her. She leaned against the door, looking enchantingly feminine in the pink satin wrapper that lovingly outlined her generous curves. “I got a little bored waiting for Rand.” She made a little moue. “He has a habit of forgetting everything when business raises its ugly head.” Her violet eyes darkened dreamily. “I don’t really mind, I suppose. He always makes up for it when he does remember me.”

  Sheena felt a thrust of pain that nearly took her breath away. “I don’t know what we have to discuss, Miss Scott,” Sheena said quietly, feeling a twinge of nervous tension in the pit of her stomach. “And I really must go down and help Laura with the washing up.”

  “That will wait.” Donna Scott moved toward the window seat and settled herself gracefully. “There’s something I want to ask you.”

  Sheena sighed as she rose and crossed to lean against the brown easy chair. “Then I suppose you might as well go ahead with it.” There was no chance the blond wouldn’t do that anyway, she thought bitterly. She could see now why Rand compared her tactics to that of a steamroller. Not that the realization of her character had prevented him from inviting her to roll right over him.

  Donna Scott crossed one lovely leg over the other and smiled sweetly. “I think you know why I’m here. I was Rand’s mistress for over six months, and I intend to have him back. I want you to help me.”

  Sheena’s lips dropped open in surprise. “Me?” she asked faintly, “You want me to help you?”

  Donna Scott nodded eagerly. “I know you’ll want to help Rand and me with our reconciliation after he’s been so kind to you. He told me how he brought you here to recuperate after you became ill.” Her lovely pansy eyes appraised Sheena’s fragile form and frowned. “You’re still dreadfully thin, aren’t you?” Then her face cleared. “But Thad did say you were much better.”

  “Yes, much better,” Sheena echoed numbly. So that was the excuse Challon had given his mistress for her presence in the cabin. She felt a knife-thrust of pain, and then a slow burning anger began to kindle.

  “Then I’m sure you won’t mind leaving a little earlier than you’d planned,” Donna said complacently. When she caught Sheena’s stunned expression, she rushed on. “Not that Rand and I wouldn’t be happy to have you stay with us at some later time. Rand explained how close your two families have been over the years. It’s just that right now we have a few differences to straighten out, and we need a little time alone together.”

  “I see,” Sheena said, over the lump in her throat. “And have you discussed this with Rand?”

  Donna shook her head. “Not yet, but I’m sure he’ll agree.” She smiled dreamily. “You saw the way he behaved at lunch. I’m sure he’s missed me as much as I’ve missed him.” Her face clouded with puzzlement. “I can’t understand why he’s been acting so peculiar lately. He knows how good we are together.” Then she shrugged as if dismissing the subject. “Oh, well, he’s obviously come to his senses at last.” She rose gracefully to her feet and smiled entreatingly at Sheena. “Can I count on you, Sheena?”

  “I’ll think about it,” Sheena said, forcing the words through lips that felt parched.

  “Nassau would be a much healthier place for you to recuperate, don’t you think?” Donna Scott said coaxingly. “I have some friends who have a lovely villa there. I’m sure they’d love to have you stay until you’re really well.”

  “I said that I’d think about it,” Sheena said between her teeth, her fists clenching at her sides. Oh, God, let her go away before I decide to strangle her. Physical action would probably be the only thing she would understand.

  Donna Scott was absolutely incredible! Sheena had never seen anyone so blatantly self-centered and obstinate in her entire life. Yet she was convinced that Donna honestly believed that her demand was perfectly just and reasonable. What vanity and sunny denseness!

  “Thank you, Sheena,” she said. “I knew you would want to do the right thing, once you knew all the circumstances.” She tightened the tie at the waist of her satin robe, and her luscious lips parted in a smile of satisfaction. “And now I’m going to go back to Rand’s room and wait for him to come to me.” She moved lithely toward the door, then paused to add, “I really wouldn’t expect us for dinner. We’re planning on being very occupied.”

  The door closed behind her with a definite click, and Sheena made a sound somewhere between a moan of pain and a growl of rage. Rushing to the window seat, she snatched up a tartan cushion and threw it at the closed door. Then she turned and threw herself on the bed, her fists beating the pillows in a furious tattoo. She had never felt so positively savage as when she had stood confronting that sweet, smiling witch. It would have taken just one more word to sweep aside her last inhibitions and provoke her to physically attack the model like a cave woman protecting her mate. The picture that her last words had evoked had nearly sent her berserk. How dare that woman think she could just crawl into Rand’s bed and resume where they had left off four months ago! Rand Challon was hers, damn it! There was no way she was going to let that sex-crazed slut within a mile of him.

  She jumped up from the bed and dressed quickly, then tore out of the room and down the stairs. She marched down the hall and was about to knock stridently on the closed study door when Laura Bradford came out of the kitchen and leaned against the doorjamb, her brandy-colored eyes appraising Sheena’s distraught appearance thoughtfully.

  “I wouldn’t go in there right now,” the older woman said quietly. “He’s with Dr. Knowleton, and he said he didn’t want to be disturbed.” She smiled wryly. “If you’re going to have a rhubarb, it’s always best to do it in privacy. Why don’t you come in and have a cup of coffee with me? It will give you a chance to get your thoughts together before you light into the boy. I can assure you that you’re probably going to need it. He’s tough as rawhide, and he learned his battle tactics in the corporate boardroom.”

  Sheena’s hand slowly fell to her side, and she turned away from the closed door. Laura was right. She wanted no witnesses to her confrontation with Challon. She could wait until he was through with Knowleton. In all truth, she had no idea what she was going to say to Rand. She had been driven by a wild anger and jealousy that had completely banished logic from her mental processes. She had been so confused by the sudden riot of emotions that had been generated by Donna Scott that her only conscious thought had been to run to him and find some way of keeping him from going to his mistress.

  She shook her head as if to clear it. What had she been thinking? She had no claim to Challon, nor did she wish to have. No, that was not true. She had felt such a fierce, primitive possessiveness at the thought of Rand in bed with that beautiful slut that they might have been married for a dozen years. Why should she feel like that if she wasn’t emotionally involved with the man?

  She ran a hand distractedly through her dark tangle of curls. “Yes, perhaps you’re right.” She turned to walk slowly toward the waiting Laura Bradford. “I don’t seem to be thinking any too clearly at the moment.”

  Laura Bradford gave her a surprisingly gentle smile. “It goes with the territory, I understand,” she said, turning and preceding Sheena back into the kitchen. “You’re entitled, after what Rand put you through this morning.”

  Laura took two cups and saucers from the cabinet and grabbed the glass pot of coffee from the heating element of the coffeemaker. “Go sit down by the fire,” she ordered briskly, shaking her head as Sheena offered to take the cups from her. “I wouldn’t trust you to carry a feather pillow in the state you’re in.”

  Sheena obediently sat down at the maple dining table in front of the fire. Laura Bradford sat down across from her and silently poured the coff
ee, then leaned forward to study Sheena’s face in the firelight. “You’re as wild-eyed and nervous as a newborn colt,” she said gruffly. “I don’t think Rand imagined that his playacting was going to upset you this much.” Her brandy brown eyes narrowed consideringly. “Or maybe he did. He might have thought shaking you up a little might be to his advantage.”

  “Playacting?” Sheena asked bitterly. “I think you’re mistaken, Laura. There was no reason for Rand to be anything but perfectly frank with me. He owes me nothing but my freedom.” She looked down blindly at the coffee in her cup. “It’s clear that he’s merely realized that he’s made a mistake where I’m concerned. Miss Scott has apparently managed to stir up the embers of their affair to quite a respectable blaze in an amazingly short time.”

  Laura Bradford snorted derisively. “Don’t be stupid. Rand doesn’t give a damn about Donna Scott. He’s a man, and she was available. He’s a very virile man, for God’s sake. There have been more woman than I can count in Rand’s bed over the years, and Donna Scott doesn’t mean any more than the rest of them. After a month he can barely recall their names.”

  “I imagine he finds their anatomies a trifle more memorable,” Sheena said tartly, stung by the thought of that parade of faceless women.

  “Perhaps.” Laura Bradford chuckled, her brown eyes twinkling. “But to my knowledge, he’s never kept a photo of any one of them to remind him.”

  “Some people collect stamps. Rand collects pictures of Irish folksingers.” Sheena’s dark eyes turned stormy once again. “I was foolish to believe him when he said they meant something special to him. Probably next year he’ll have a roomful of photos of that blond bombshell upstairs.”

  “You’re wrong,” the older woman said. “But I can see that Rand has you wound up so tight that you can’t see straight.” She took a sip of coffee and sat back, her plain, freckled face serene. “Well, perhaps it’s better if you thrash it out with him. It’s obviously what he wants, and it might clear the air.”

  “Why should I give him anything that he wants? It seems to me that Rand Challon has had his own way entirely too much in our relationship. Perhaps it’s time I made a few decisions.” She pushed away the coffee cup.

  “For instance?” Laura Bradford asked, her eyes on the mutinous curve of Sheena’s lips.

  “It appears that this little hideaway is getting a bit crowded,” Sheena said. “I think it’s time I moved on and let Donna Scott have her turn at your irresistible charge. I’m sure that she’d be more than happy to arrange my departure.”

  “Don’t do it, Sheena. Rand very seldom loses his temper, but you wouldn’t want to be around when he does.”

  Sheena looked up, poignant pain mixed with the defiance in her dark eyes. “Why should he be angry? He’ll probably be grateful to me for removing an awkward obstacle in his path. I’ve heard there’s nothing so cold as the ashes of a dead love affair.” Her lips twisted. “And in our case, there isn’t even that to regret. Yes, I think I’ll have a little talk with Miss Scott later tonight.” She pushed back her chair and stood up.

  “I don’t suppose you’ll believe me if I tell you that you’re making a serious mistake?” Laura asked. Then as Sheena shook her head stubbornly, Laura gave a resigned sigh. “I didn’t think so. I should have saved my breath.” She watched with troubled eyes as Sheena strode belligerently toward the door. “Where are you going?”

  “I’m going out for a long walk,” Sheena said over her shoulder, her dark eyes feverishly restless in her white face. “Don’t wait dinner for me, Laura.” Her lips curved in a bitter smile. “You needn’t make my excuses to Rand. His mistress assured me that they’d be too busy for dinner tonight.”

  Six

  It was almost dark when Sheena made her reluctant way back to the cabin through the dense forest. She had put off her return as long as possible, but when twilight covered the pine forest with its frigid blanket, she knew it would be foolish to delay any longer. It would be very easy to lose her way when darkness obscured the landmarks she had become familiar with in her walks with Challon. All she needed was to have Rand forced to call out a search party to find her. He would find it most inconvenient if he had to interrupt his rendezvous with that luscious blond amazon, she thought gloomily.

  Sheena pushed that distasteful thought away hurriedly as she had all similar ones on her lone tramp through the woods. It seemed that she had walked endlessly, setting a brisk pace in the hope that the activity would help to keep her from thinking. She had purposely avoided the fallen pine tree at the head of the lake, for she knew it would bring back far too many memories. They had made a habit of stopping to rest there after that first day. Rand would scoop her up and settle her in his lap and they would talk lazily and contentedly until Sheena was recovered enough to resume their walk. Now that memory was as agonizing as the hundreds of others that they had shared. How could so few days build so many memories? she wondered miserably.

  “So you finally decided to come back.” Rand’s voice whipped through the still forest like the crack of a lariat.

  She stopped abruptly in the center of the path, her eyes widening in surprise. She had almost reached the edge of the forest, and Challon was standing in the path before her, looming ominously large in the quickly darkening woods. She could not see his features, but there was a tightly coiled tension in his stance that sent a shiver of fear through her.

  “You needn’t have come to find me,” Sheena said, glaring at him defiantly. “I know these woods fairly well now, and I was quite safe. There was no reason for you to have left Miss Scott.”

  Challon swore under his breath. “Sheena, if you say one more word, I won’t wait until I get you back to the cabin to teach you a lesson you won’t forget!” He had reached her now, and his hand clamped onto her wrist with steely strength. “I don’t think you’d find a bed of pine needles in zero weather even a little bit titillating.” He was pulling her swiftly after him, and she had to trot to keep up. “While I probably wouldn’t even know the difference. You’ve got me so damn hot, both mentally and physically, that I’d probably burn the woods down!”

  “You’re not making sense,” she protested breathlessly, as he pulled her up the hill toward the cabin. “And I don’t appreciate your acting like some macho caveman just because I interrupted your tête à tête with Miss Scott.” She struggled vainly to release her wrist. “It’s not my fault that you decided to come after me. I told Laura that I didn’t want any dinner.”

  “That’s good,” he said grimly. “Because I doubt if either one of us will get anything to eat tonight. I plan on keeping you very busy.”

  They had reached the sundeck now, and Sheena noticed bewilderedly that the cabin was strangely dim and deserted looking. Darkness had fallen now, and Challon opened the door and pushed her inside, flicking on the light as he did so.

  “Where is everybody?” Sheena asked, confused.

  “Gone,” He pulled her toward the fireplace, where a blaze was burning fitfully. Shrugging out of his sheepskin jacket, he tossed it carelessly on the beige couch, then turned to unbutton her coat.

  “Gone where?” Sheena asked blankly, as he pushed the coat down her arms and then threw it beside his own on the couch.

  “Houston,” he said succinctly. He rubbed her cold hands briskly between his own. “You’re half frozen. You’ll be lucky if you don’t end up back in your sickbed. Sit down, and I’ll get you a brandy.” He moved swiftly across the room to the small portable bar in the corner.

  “Houston!” Sheena echoed blankly. “But why? I thought the plan was for them to leave later tonight. And why did Laura leave? She wasn’t planning on going with them at all.”

  “She changed her mind.” Challon returned to stand before her, the brandy glass in his hand. “Or perhaps I should say that I changed it for her. I decided that I’d had enough of chaperons to last me a lifetime. It was time we got back to a one-to-one basis as I planned originally.”

  Shee
na ignored the brandy he held out to her and moved to stand before the fire, her hands outstretched to the flames. “May I ask where your gorgeous Miss Scott has gone? Have you arranged another little hideaway to stash her in? You’re going to be a very busy man, aren’t you?”

  He followed her to the fireplace and put the brandy glass to her lips. “Drink this!” he ordered harshly. “I’m in no mood to listen to that asp’s tongue without retaliation. So I’d advise you just to keep still.”

  She was forced to drink the brandy or have it dribble ignominiously down her chin as he tilted the glass. The brandy was hot going down, and she realized grudgingly that she had been chilled. However, the acknowledgment didn’t lessen the resentment she was feeling.

  “Satisfied?” she asked defiantly, as he took the empty glass away from her lips.

  “Not by a long shot,” he said. “But it’s the tip of the iceberg. You just might get there yet.” He put the glass down on the coffee table before the couch. Then he took her hand and began pulling her across the living room toward the staircase. “Let’s go to bed.”

  She struggled futilely to free her arm as she stumbled after him. Her temper was rising with every step. “Will you let me go! Your mistress may like this sort of treatment, but I find it as revolting as I do you. I’m not some type of chattel for you to order about at will.”

  “For your information, Donna hasn’t been my mistress for almost four months.” Challon started up the stairs dragging her behind him. “But you might well wish that she had been before the night’s over. I haven’t touched another woman since I went to your first concert in Houston, and I’m damn near wild.”