'I'm sure you cook as well as you look,' Ben said gallantly.
Jonathan gave a pained look. 'Does this approach usually work for you, Ben?' he taunted the older man affectionately.
'How should I know?' Ben gave a helpless shrug. 'It's years since I even tried! Does it work, Marilyn?' He looked at her with playful blue eyes.
She reached over and lightly touched his hand, her deeper blue eyes dancing with shared humour as she straightened. 'I have no idea, Benjamin—it's years since I tried, too! But I do find your compliments charming,' she told him warmly.
Gaye sat back and watched the older couple as they continued to talk; it was years since her mother had tried to be charming herself, because she had been able to beguile all around her since she was in her cradle! But Gaye had to admit it was wonderful to see her mother enjoying herself again. And she obviously was revelling in Ben's company, laughing huskily at several of his remarks, her face glowing with an inner beauty Gaye hadn't seen since—She hadn't seen her mother this happy and responsive to a man since her father was alive!
Now there was a complication neither she nor Jonathan had even thought of. . .!
Were patients allowed to fall in love with their psychiatrist? An occupational hazard, if she remembered her training correctly. But from the way Ben was staring spellbound at her mother—! Was the psychiatrist supposed to fall in love with his patient. . .!
The rapport between the older couple seemed to continue during the meal too, with Ben very slowly drawing her mother out to talk about her acting career. She related several amusing anecdotes, all of which included Gaye's father. Terence Royal, it quickly became obvious, was still very much alive to Marilyn. . .
'They seem to be getting along very well,' Jonathan said with satisfaction, having offered to go with Gaye to the kitchen to collect the cheese, which was always served before dessert in the Palmer-Royal household.
'Yes,' Gaye answered distractedly, putting the used plates from their main course into the dishwasher, to clear away as you went along was another unwritten rule in their household. A very sensible one, Gaye thought: there would be nothing worse than having to come down in the morning and clear all this away before she went to work.
Jonathan put out a hand and lifted her chin, looking down into her face, his head tilted quizzically. 'You don't seem too happy about that? Surely it's important that the two of them actually like each other?'
'Yes, of course it is. I just— They— Is Ben married?'
'What?' Jonathan released her chin, stepping back a pace.
'Don't look at me in that way, Jonathan,' Gaye protested. "The man is halfway in love with my mother already—I think it perfectly reasonable that I want to know whether or not he's married!'
'You don't think—You aren't suggesting—'
'Jonathan, how old are you?' Gaye looked at him scathingly. 'Ben is a man—very much so, as you told me earlier today. And my mother is a very beautiful woman—'
'A woman who, in her mind at least, is still married,' he reminded her steadily.
Gaye didn't even pretend to understand the human mind, let alone explain how her mother could possibly believe her father was still alive. That wasn't a field of nursing she had chosen to specialise in, and without that specialist knowledge it could be very hard to cope with on a day-to-day basis.
'I don't think my mother's state of mind is in question, Jonathan.' She gave a sad shake of her head. 'But, from all accounts, men have been falling in love with my mother since she reached puberty. But once Mummy met and fell in love with my father she never gave any of those men so much as a second glance; they were totally, completely in love with each other. But that has never stopped others falling in love with her. . .' she concluded pointedly.
Jonathan looked stunned for a minute or two, scowling as her meaning sank in. Then he made a firmly dismissive gesture with his hand. 'I'm sure Ben is far too professional to allow that to happen,' he answered with certainty.
Gaye wished she could feel as sure. But Jonathan's words also confirmed that he had never fallen in love himself; it wasn't a question of allowing anything; it just happened. As her own love for him had happened. . .
Ben had been like a man entranced since the moment he set eyes on her mother, and while normally it wouldn't have been important. . . 'Is he married, Jonathan?' The last thing any of them needed was for Ben and Marilyn's attraction to cause emotional complications in a third party's life. . ..'
Jonathan's mouth firmed. 'He was married once. He also had a son.'
'Had?' she echoed softly.
'This is Ben's personal life, Gaye,' Jonathan told her hardly. 'Ben's son Sam was my best friend, but so is Ben. I won't betray his confidence,' he said with apology. 'It will be a different matter if he ever chooses to tell you about his wife and son himself. . .'
Gaye was still stunned to learn that Ben's son, and Jonathan's friend, was dead. How awful for the child to die before the parent.
She blinked back the tears. 'There's so much sadness in the world. Sometimes I understand why my mother has chosen the path she has—'
'Understand it, by all means, Gaye.' Jonathan moved, his arms curving about her waist as he drew her close to him. 'But don't ever wish you could do the same thing! It's only being half alive, Gaye—that prison Ben referred to earlier—and you, more than anyone else, must realise how awful that is for someone as vivacious as your mother!'
'She seems happy enough,' Gaye responded, her senses starting to swim.
She leant against Jonathan as if that was where she was meant to be, her head resting under his chin, the curves of her body fitting smoothly against his.
'Rubbish,' Jonathan dismissed briskly. 'She's a bright, bubbly personality who ought to be out there in the world, warming her own and other people's lives with her charm and vitality. I realised that yesterday evening, when you came out to meet me, was probably the first time you had been out socially in a very long time. But how long is it since Marilyn went out for an evening, met friends?'
He was right; of course he was. After all, wasn't that why they were all here?
'You're right,' she agreed, allowing herself the sheer luxury of being held close to him for a few more seconds before forcing herself to move away. 'Let's take in the cheese—before they send out a search party for us! Maybe I was overreacting just now concerning Ben's friendliness towards my mother. It would have been awful if he were rude to her and she ended up hating him!'
Although she didn't feel quite as confident a few minutes later when they rejoined the other couple in the dining room and her mother happily announced that Ben had invited her out to dinner—and she had accepted!
CHAPTER TEN
'I'm sure you know what you're doing, Ben.' Jonathan glanced at the man seated beside him in the car as he drove the two of them home from dinner. 'But I'm damned if I do,' he added grimly.
He had felt such a fool, convincing Gaye in the kitchen that Ben was a complete professional when it came to his work, only to return to the dining room and be greeted with the fact that the other couple intended going out to dinner together. And that feeling wasn't lessened by Gaye's 'I told you so' look!
Ben barely glanced at him, completely relaxed in the passenger seat. 'You'll just have to trust me, Jonathan, that I know exactly what I'm doing. God, but she's a beautiful woman, isn't she?' he said admiringly.
Much as Jonathan considered Gaye the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, he knew very well his friend wasn't talking about her!
'I've seen every one of her films, you know,' Ben continued warmly. 'And she's electric on stage!'
'I know,' Jonathan acknowledged dryly. 'I've seen her several times myself. I couldn't believe it when I actually met her last night. But Gaye is—concerned—'
'Hmm—Gaye,' Ben echoed slowly, turning to give Jonathan a considering look. 'When we talked last night you didn't mention that the two of you are—'
'Because we're not!' Jonathan cut in flatly, picking up a
ll too easily on the implication in the other man's tone.
'Keep working on it, Jonathan,' Ben chuckled. 'And you will be!'
He stiffened in his seat, his hands tightening on the steering-wheel. Something else that had gone slightly wrong with this evening was that when he'd offered to drive Ben to dinner he hadn't taken into account that he would also have to drive the other man home again, totally preventing himself from spending any time alone with Gaye to say goodnight. He had had to be satisfied with those few moments they had spent together in the kitchen when he had at least managed to hold her, having no choice but to merely kiss her and her mother on the cheek before leaving a few minutes ago.
'I would rather not discuss Gaye in those terms,' he bit out abruptly, his expression grim.
'Oh?' Ben raised snowy white brows.
'Yes—oh,' Jonathan confirmed tightly.
Ben settled himself more comfortably in his seat. 'Does this mean I'm shortly to be invited to another Hunter wedding?' he drawled teasingly. 'After years of bachelorhood, you're starting to drop like flies—'
'I am not going to marry Gaye,' Jonathan finally managed to interrupt tautly, having briefly—very briefly— been rendered speechless at the mention of the word 'wedding'!
'No?' Ben said sceptically.
'Despite Jarrett's marriage, not all the Hunter brothers have taken leave of their senses,' he dismissed scornfully. 'You're as likely to marry Marilyn Palmer as I am to marry her daughter!'
'You're well aware of my views on marriage, boy,' Ben replied.
'Exactly,' Jonathan acknowledged with satisfaction. 'More or less a match for my own!'
'Nevertheless,' Ben said slowly, 'Gaye is a very lovely young woman.'
Jonathan stiffened. 'There are millions of lovely young women in the world, Ben,' he said.
'Probably,' the older man conceded dryly. 'But very few of them have that unique combination of beauty, vulnerability and fierce independence that Gaye possesses. Do you know who she reminds me of. . . ?'
'I thought you said she was unique?' Jonathan was deliberately challenging, sure he wasn't going to like the answer to Ben's question.
Ben nodded. 'Oh, but she is. As unique as Abbie. . .' he decided.
Jonathan's mouth clamped shut, his teeth grinding together. He knew exactly what Ben was doing. He and Jordan both thought the world of Abbie, couldn't have loved her more if she had really been their sister, both of them answering any teasing about their own unmarried state with the reply that they would only marry if they could find someone as beautiful and caring as Abbie!
Ben was right; Gaye was all of those things. . .
Jonathan knew he was quiet during lunch the next day. Also knew that Gaye was aware of it, as she listened attentively to what Ben had to say about her mother.
Jonathan told himself he was staying out of the conversation because Gaye only had an hour for lunch, and what Ben had to say to her was more important than anything he might have been able to add to the conversation.
He told himself that, but he knew he was lying. . .
As much as he wished he could deny it, he knew that what Ben had said to him the previous evening had struck a raw nerve. Was he falling in love with Gaye? Or was it already too late, and he was in love with her?
He watched her now as she listened so intently to Ben, those beautiful deep green eyes glowing with interest, her mouth curving almost into a smile, the lower lip full and sensuous. And her hair—! She was wearing it loose about her shoulders again today, and Jonathan wanted nothing more than to bury his hands in its silkiness while he took possession of that invitingly sensual mouth!
Was it too late?
She had interested him from the first, challenged him, aroused him—and she still did! But he didn't want to fall in love with any woman, couldn't—
' —up to you and Jonathan?' Ben looked at the two of them enquiringly, drawing Jonathan back into the conversation—a conversation he hadn't been listening to!
Gaye looked at him too, anxiously, and Jonathan wondered exactly what it was he had missed. This wasn't like him, his mind always able to function on several levels at the same time. But not, it seemed, when Gaye was around. . .
Pull yourself together, man, he inwardly chided himself. 'Sorry?' He looked at the other man questioningly.
'I think the answer to that has to be no, Ben,' Gaye told the psychiatrist, deliberately, Jonathan felt, not meeting his own gaze. 'It isn't necessary for me to play chaperon when you and my mother go out tomorrow evening,' she said. 'And I've already taken up far too much of Jonathan's time with my family business,' she finished distantly.
What he had missed, it now became apparent to Jonathan, was Ben's suggestion that he and Gaye accompany the older couple tomorrow evening when they went out to dinner. And he had shown so much enthusiasm for the idea, he hadn't even heard the suggestion! No wonder Gaye had chosen to turn down the idea for both of them!
Or was it something else that had made her turn down the invitation? Had she heard from Craven again? He had been far too busy these last thirty-six hours to contact the man himself, but he had made a mental note to do so at the earliest opportunity, probably later this afternoon; Jarrett was taking Abbie and the baby home today, and Jordan was more than capable of holding the Hunter fort alone. . .
'Dinner tomorrow evening sounds a good idea to me,' he told Ben harshly, golden gaze defiant as he looked at Gaye. If she said she had other plans—
'I'll book the table for four,' Ben put in smoothly before Gaye could say anything, glancing at his slim gold watch. 'Now I believe it's time for you to go back to work, young lady,' he told Gaye lightly. 'I could drive you—'
'I have something else I need to discuss with Gaye,' Jonathan cut in. 'And we can do that on the drive back to the clinic,' he added firmly, watching as Gaye obviously had an inner struggle as to whether or not this was one of those fights that needed fighting! He couldn't exactly blame her; he was behaving extremely arrogantiy. 'Please,' he added tautly, having had the definite feeling that Gaye was about to lose this particular struggle.
Ben grinned as he stood up to leave, obviously enjoying Jonathan's discomfort, even going so far as to wink across at him. 'My mother always told me that you catch more with honey than with vinegar, Jonathan,' he taunted.
Jonathan glowered up at Ben. 'Your mother was a—'
'Charming and lovely woman,' Ben finished for him. 'And I won't have a word said against her. I'll look forward to seeing you again tomorrow evening, my dear.' He bent and gave Gaye a perfunctory kiss on the cheek, openly laughing as he looked across at Jonathan. 'Would you like to drive tomorrow evening, or shall I?'
Damn the man; he even knew of Jonathan's inner frustration about last night! 'I suggest we both drive. I'm sure Gaye and I have no wish to cramp your style,' he responded with soft derision.
'Or I yours,' Ben returned unabashedly, lifting a hand in parting, wending his way easily between the tables, despite his considerable size.
He left complete silence behind him. Gaye, Jonathan was sure, still hadn't completely won her inward struggle, and he knew that struggle was his fault; he had behaved boorishly, so it was no wonder Gaye didn't want to spend tomorrow evening in his company too!
'Sorry,' he sighed apologetically. 'I haven't been very good company today,' he continued at her questioning look, knowing it was his behaviour that had also put that pained look in those beautiful green eyes. He reached over and lightly clasped her hand as it rested on the table-top. 'It started out with me leaving you and Ben to discuss what needed to be discussed, and then—well, I just lost it. I was miles away in thought when the suggestion for dinner came up. I—'
'You're a busy man, Jonathan,' Gaye said quietly, looking down to where his hand clasped hers rather than into his face. 'I'm very grateful for the time you've already given to this. I don't want to take up—'
'This sounds suspiciously like a dismissal to me,' he cut in.
'Of course
not,' she protested, her startled gaze rising to meet his. 'I just don't want to be responsible for taking advantage of your kindness—'
'I'll let you know when you've taken advantage, Gaye,' he assured her. He should be so lucky! 'Tomorrow night is all settled. Now let's go and sort out a provisional driving licence for you.' He pulled her to her feet, keeping hold of her hand as they made their way out of the restaurant.
Gaye looked up at him once they were outside on the pavement. 'Was that the something else you wanted to talk to me about?'
From the relief he could read in that candid green gaze, he had a feeling she had thought it was something else entirely that he had wanted to talk to her about! But what? From the guard that suddenly fell over her eyes he knew she wasn't about to tell him.
'It was.' He nodded in confirmation.
She looked embarrassed now, moistening her lips with the tip of her tongue. 'I—' She swallowed hard. 'I've already taken care of it,' she admitted reluctantly. 'Well, you did offer to teach me,' she rushed on as he raised surprised brows. 'And so I—'
'It's all right, Gaye.' He cut her off by giving her a hug, suddenly feeling light-hearted, as if a heavy weight had been lifted off his shoulders.
Gaye wasn't reluctant to see him again; in fact she had taken a step that would ensure that she did. And he was glad. So pleased he could have shouted his pleasure out loud.
But what sense this made of his terror during lunch, when he had considered the possibility of falling in love with this woman, he didn't know. However, for the moment, he didn't care!
'Of course I'll teach you to drive. Now I had better get you back to the clinic' He held her arm lightly as he opened the car door for her, grinning as she gave him a confused glance before slowly getting into the passenger seat.
She was confused?
She should try being inside his head!
Jonathan looked at Richard Craven with unconcealed dislike. The other man was still good-looking, still powerfully built, but in the cold light of afternoon those lines of dissipation were more evident, and without the charm of his smile his face possessed a definite arrogance. Arrogance he attempted to use to full effect as he returned Jonathan's scathing stare with one of venomous dislike.
To Be a Husband Page 10