It was like drowning, slowly sinking through soft translucent waters, making her aware of a strange feeling of helplessness, and in the need to catch hold of something tangible she clutched his arms for support.
Almost of its own volition her traitorous body robbed her of the will to think, melting against him as if it recognised some magnetic elusory pull that had everything to do with the senses.
His mouth created its own erotic havoc with a practised mastery that afterwards made her burn with mortification in the knowledge that she could be made to feel so weak. Not only to feel, but to subside into a state of such mindlessness so as to be totally unaware of anything but the moment.
When he finally released her, she stood perfectly still, bemused, and unable to utter so much as a word.
'Hmm,' Jake drawled musingly. 'You see? It won't be so hard, after all.'
The sound of his voice, laced with the inevitable mocking cynicism, acted like a douche of cold water.
Slowly her head lifted until she met his narrowed gaze, and her eyes were remarkably clear. 'You're a very—sensual man, with a high degree of expertise,' she managed evenly, while inwardly her heart was racing with the aftermath of an emotion so tumultuous it was frightening. 'But if you think I'll fall in with your plans, willy-nilly, you're sadly mistaken.'
His smile held an edge of cruelty. 'My dear Stephanie, I don't plan on giving you any choice.'
'You can't coerce me—I won't let you!'
Sardonic amusement gave his dark eyes a devilish gleam. 'I was thinking more along the lines of gentle persuasion.'
'I see. Imagining I couldn't fail to find it anything but a pleasurable experience, I suppose,' she said heavily. 'If you want to make it appear convincing, you'll need some co-operation—and I'm not prepared to give it.'
His gaze penetrated the barriers she had erected in defence against him, and after timeless seconds she lowered her lashes and moved away from him, attempting to bring some sanity to the situation.
'It's almost time to open the clinic' She began clearing the table, and he let her escape. A slight shiver shook her slim frame. He resembled a sleek panther about to stalk an unsuspecting prey; assuming a certain indolence that was misleading for the unwary, but leaving no doubt that he would eventually pounce.
Somehow Stephanie managed to get through the day with the minimum of effort. The morning was devoted to surgical cases,' and she dealt with several incoming calls from anxious owners, took appointments, and brought a number of files up to date prior to taking an early lunch. An emergency call ensured Jake's absence for much of the afternoon, and he still hadn't returned when Michael left shortly after five. Taking a check on the animals destined to stay overnight, Stephanie took time to murmur reassuringly to the three cats and two dogs as she placed clean newspaper in each holding cage, ensured that they had fresh drinking water, then moved back to the waiting room with the intention of locking up.
It came as a shock to see a male form standing near the doorway; even more of a surprise as he turned and she recognised who it was.
'Ian! What are you doing here?'
'I wanted to see you.'
Stephanie eyed him warily, unsure of his intention. 'I don't think that's a good idea.'
'Look, Stephanie—I've lifted the phone several times to try and explain—'
'Your actions were explicit enough,' she said dryly, and he had the grace to look ashamed.
'Look, I'm sorry about that,' he began awkwardly.
'I have to lock up, and get back to the house.'
'Stephanie, please—'
'Ian, there's no point in pursuing this conversation.'
'I don't want to give you up,' he insisted stoically. 'We've been friends for a long time.'
'We were,' she corrected with soft emphasis.
'You can't mean that!'
Her gaze was particularly level. 'I do.'
'I acted on impulse,' he began desperately. 'I was angry.'
. She didn't bother making any comment, and after a few minutes he looked away, a slow tide, of red creeping up from his neck to cover his face.
'There's nothing I can do or say to make you change your mind?'
'No.'
'I—I've even thought of leaving home,' he burst out. 'I've had the offer of a good flat. It would be ideal if you would share it with me.'
'Is that a proposal or a proposition?' It was cruel of her to proffer the taunt, but her conscience urged that he deserved it.
'We could give it a try,' Ian said eagerly, his smile fading as he glimpsed her refusal.
'I really must ask you to leave,' Stephanie insisted quietly, and saw his eyes narrow.
'What if I don't want to?'
'Oh, I think you'd be advised to do as the lady says,' a familiar voice drawled from behind, and she went completely still.
'How long have you been there?' Ian demanded with a trace of belligerence as he turned to face the older man.
'Long enough,' Jake declared bluntly, his gaze razor-sharp as it raked her pale features.
'I came to see Stephanie.'
'It would appear she doesn't want to see you,' Jake asserted, levering his tall frame away from the aperture. His movements appeared deliberately lazy, yet. only a fool would fail to see the dangerous glint in his eyes or not recognise the anger beneath the surface of his control.
'Are you ordering me to go?'
Jake's gaze moved slowly until it settled on Stephanie, and after a measurable silence she ventured quietly, 'I think it would be best.' Her hand lifted in an unconscious movement, then fell again. She wasn't the type who revelled in arguments, or attempting to set one man against another. Even as she considered the latter, a light bubble of hysterical laughter rose in her throat. To imagine anyone but Jake emerging the victor was ludicrous!
'We have a lot to discuss,' Ian said meaningfully, totally ignoring Jake, and she shook her head.
'No.'
'I'll ring you,' he insisted doggedly.
'Please don't.'
'You can't mean that?'
'She does,' Jake intervened smoothly, taking the few steps necessary to bring him to her side. His expression assumed wry mockery as he arched an eyebrow at the younger man. 'Do I need to elaborate?'
Ian looked as if he was about to choke. 'Then it is true! Mother was right—'
'I won't share,' Jake told him with sardonic cynicism, and Stephanie could only stand in shocked silence as he draped an arm about her shoulders.
'You stupid little bitch!' Ian bit out, raking her from head to toe and back again. 'He'll only use you, then where will you be? Don't think I'll have you back!'
. She longed to scream that it was all a farce, that she wouldn't turn to him for anything, much less consider resuming a friendship, except that Jake's fingers were exerting a warning force over her delicate bones, issuing a silent threat she didn't care to ignore.
'You've said enough, Bryant.' His voice was dangerously soft, and she shivered, hating them both equally at that moment.
'I'll go,' Ian declared vehemently, his features dark with anger. 'I just hope you know what you're letting yourself in for, that's all!'
Seconds later the door crashed shut, and Stephanie momentarily slumped with relief, then straightened as anger replaced apathy.
'You had no right—' she began, wrenching away from his grasp.
'That's a matter of opinion.'
She rounded oh him in fury. 'How dare you! Sounding just like some—feudal autocrat—'
'So indignant,' he mocked musingly.
'Yes—yes, damn you!'
'All I intended was a little support. In your father's absence, I owe it to him to show some responsibility.'
'You have to be joking!', she gasped incredulously. 'I refuse to believe Dad asked anything of you. Edith James, maybe. But not you.'
One eyebrow slanted with wry amusement. 'Why not?' he drawled sardonically. 'I'm far better equipped to keep the wolves from the door.'
Laughter gleamed from his eyes, and his mouth took on a wry twist. 'Rest assured you have nothing to fear from me.'
No, she didn't suppose she had, she decided wearily. A little light dalliance to serve his purpose, but nothing more. He was too cynical and much too world-weary to enter into an affair—least of all with her. Oh God, what was she thinking of! Yet she could, all too easily. The knowledge was damning and in direct contrast to her moralistic beliefs. Incredible to imagine she was so strong, so in command of her own emotions, when all it took was for Jake to project sufficient charm and she was lost.
'No comment?'
Stephanie made herself meet that mocking glance, and her voice was quite steady. 'Why endorse the obvious?' She moved towards the door. 'I've checked the post-surgery animals.'
The kitchen bore the redolent tantalising aroma of a roast cooking in the oven, and she read the scrawled note Mrs Anderson had left. An apple pie cooling on the bench-top, she perceived, and only the saucepan containing freshly-cut beans to be switched on.
As soon as the beans were simmering she replaced the lid, lowered the element heat, then went upstairs to change. The house was pleasantly warm, thanks to central heating, and after taking a quick shower she pulled on tailored slacks and a jumper, ran a brush through her tumbled curls, then made her way downstairs to the kitchen.
'Fancy going out for a few hours?'
Stephanie glanced up from spooning the last mouthful of dessert from her plate, and was unable to contain her surprise. 'Why me?'
'Why not?'
She savoured the delectable tang of apple and homemade pastry, and gave every appearance of considering a reply. 'What do you have in mind?' she said at last, and heard his sardonic drawl in response.
'I'm the stranger in town. The choice is yours.'
'The movies, nightclub, the pub,' she outlined with a shrug. 'We don't run to a variety of cultural pursuits—unless you're inclined towards a local theatre production?'
'The pub sounds fine. Neither of us will need to change,' Jake declared wryly. 'I'll help with the dishes, then we'll get away.'
Stephanie stood to her feet and began stacking plates prior to clearing the table. If I decline, you'll probably overrule me.'
'Are we discussing the dishes?'
Oh, he was impossible! 'Both,' she declared succinctly, and could have hit him with considerable relish as he began to laugh.
Ten minutes later she was seated in the luxurious confines of the Lamborghini as it growled—there seemed no other appropriate descriptive for the engine's sustained muted roar— down the driveway. The instrument panel looked far too complex for an ordinary mortal to decipher, and after casting it an appreciative glance Stephanie simply leaned back, determined to enjoy what must surely be a superb experience in high-powered motoring.
'Did you bring the car over from Canada?'
Jake didn't take his eyes from the road. 'Genuine interest, or polite conversation?'
Stephanie drew a deep steadying breath, then said tightly, 'If you're going to resort to sarcasm every time I open my mouth you can turn this monster round and take me home.'
'I bought it in Melbourne from a friend who no longer had need of it,' he drawled. 'Does that satisfy your curiosity?'
'I'm not a gossipy busybody intent on ferreting out information!' She felt indignant, even angry, and clenched her hands in an effort to control her temper.
'Did I suggest you were?'
Stephanie declined to answer, electing to remain silent during the short time it took them to reach the centre of town.
Within seconds Jake slid the powerful vehicle into the kerb, then switched off the engine and doused the headlights.
'Are you going to sit there and sulk, or are you coming?'
She shot him a dark look, then reached for the doorclasp, sliding from the car with fluid grace.
The outside air was cold, the atmosphere heavy with moisture, and Stephanie shivered after the warmth of the car, slipping her arms into the sleeves of her coat and belting it firmly at her waist.
A quick sideways glance revealed that Jake had copied her actions, and she gestured to her left. The hotel is in the next block.'
They walked together, and she was supremely conscious of his height and breadth, the sheer animal magnetism he exuded. He was a striking man; one who drew glances from almost every female they passed, some circumspect and others openly speculative.
Inside the cosy warmth of the hotel's lounge it was even worse, and summoning a sense of humour seemed the only way to deal with the strong pang of antipathy that closed round her heart. Something she refused to acknowledge as remotely resembling jealousy. To experience that unenviable feeling one had to love, and she didn't—she couldn't be falling in love with him. That would be tantamount to traversing a one-way road all the way down to Hell. Yet somehow fate was pushing them together, contriving circumstances that seemed beyond their control. She'd managed to survive the past ten days. With effort she could surely manage the remaining twenty until he left.
'You're not very communicative,' drawled Jake, his eyes darkly speculative as they roved her expressive features.
'I didn't realise you required scintillating conversation,' she essayed with a slight smile, then had to mask her surprise as he leant out a hand and trailed his fingers down her cheek.
'Are you real, Stephanie?' he mocked, the edges of his lips lifting slightly to form a slow teasing smile.
'What you see is what you get,' she quipped, faltering as she glimpsed the brooding cynicism evident.
'A pretty little girl as cute as Mom's apple pie,' he murmured, subjecting her to a deliberate analytical appraisal. 'Giving every appearance of being well-mannered, nice, and definitely the sort one takes home to meet the family.'
'You sound almost resentful,' Stephanie managed evenly, inwardly hating him. If he wanted to be a perfect brute, he was more than halfway there.
'Perhaps I am,' he said deliberately.
With the utmost care she finished her drink, then stood to her feet. 'I'll get a taxi home.'
'No.' For so softly a spoken word, it held terrible menace. 'You'll stay until I'm ready to take you.'
'I'd like to know why you brought me,' she-said unsteadily, sinking down into her chair.
'Jake darling—you came!'
For one horrible moment Stephanie thought she was hearing things, then she slowly turned to discover that the apparition in human form belonged to none other than Alana Stanton. Jake, to give him credit, didn't move so much as a muscle to register surprise—or any other emotion, for that matter, she thought grimly. It seemed too much of a coincidence not to be contrived, and the anger welled up inside her, threatening to explode with the realisation she had been used as a pawn by a master player. It wasn't a feeling she enjoyed, and it took every ounce of restraint not to get up and walk out.
'I don't recall making an arrangement to meet you,' Jake drawled, his features deliberately expressionless, and Alana made a teasing moue.
'But darling, you knew I was staying in town.'
'Did I?'
'I told you—on the phone, when I rang this morning.'
'You're wasting your time—and mine.'
'I can't believe that.' Eyes welled with tears and she clutched hold of his shoulder. 'Jake, please— don't do this to me!'
With calm deliberate movements he removed her scarlet-tipped fingers.
'I love you!' Alana whispered, distraught, and Stephanie thought she would die at the cold remoteness in his eyes.
'You're incapable of giving that emotion to anyone but yourself.'
'Oh, Jake, how can you say that?'
Stephanie couldn't stand it any longer, and glancing from one to the other she rose to her feet. 'If you'll excuse me?'
Jake's eyes narrowed thoughtfully, and for one crazy moment she thought he meant to detain h
er.
'The ladies' room,' she elaborated, daring him to say so much as a word.
'I'll keep him amused while you're gone,' Alana husked, her eyes hungrily searching his face. She didn't even bother to glance in Stephanie's direction, and offering a tight-lipped smile Stephanie moved towards the foyer.
From there she stepped quickly through the main entrance and turned towards the taxi-rank, seeing with a sinking heart that there were none in sight.
Damn! She couldn't afford to wait too long in case Jake elected to investigate her absence. Inevitably there would be a scene, but at the moment she was too consumed with anger to care.
Five minutes passed, and still the rank remained empty. With a heavy sigh she determined there was nothing else for it but to begin walking. Four kilometres wasn't top great a distance, and besides, she needed the cool sharp air to help clear her senses and the exercise would do wonders in working off a vast amount of inner rage.
She set out briskly, glad of the sensible shoes she had chosen to wear, even more thankful she hadn't changed into a dress. At least in trousers, a thick jumper beneath her coat, she was well protected against the elements.
A few cars sped past, and she quickened her step as the risks involved suddenly penetrated. The road was hardly isolated, being the main thoroughfare in a westerly direction from town, and there were houses—although as she gradually left the township itself they grew sparser. There was no real cause for concern, she assured herself mentally, beginning to wish she hadn't acted so rashly.
It began to rain, a soft dampening drizzle which soon became whipped by a steadily driving wind, and she cursed afresh, thrusting her hands deep into the capacious pockets of her coat. Within minutes it was raining in earnest, soaking through her trousers until they became sodden, and water trickled down her nape to find its way beneath the turned-up collar of her coat. The illuminating, glow of approaching headlights precipitated her to move off the road on to the bordering gravel, giving the car plenty of room to pass, and her stomach gave a sickening lurch as she heard it slow down, then come to a halt abreast of her.
Sweet Tempest Page 8