Storm Cycle

by Margaret Pargeter

  'No, I am not!' Abruptly he caught hold of her, his hands hurting. 'Do you believe I think of nothing else? Even you must see how impossible it was to find a suitable excuse for not taking Carol Vintis out to dinner. Between you and me she's one very spoiled young woman, and I can't yet afford to pass up an order for two new boats. If only for the sake of the yard and the men, I'm willing to go along with her this once.'

  Twisting under his hands, she felt her nerves begin tightening again. Unable to leave well alone, she taunted, 'Really, Macadam, you could be ruining your reputation. Ursula last night, Miss Vintis tonight and me tomorrow—three women in one week! As my grandfather is always saying—what will people think?'

  'Nothing to what I'm going to say if you don't be quiet and get out of my sight!' he exclaimed. 'And Zoe,'he spoke more softly, his hands dropping back to his sides after giving her a final shake, 'don't forget to tell Graham you aren't available. Not tomorrow evening,' he added, like an after-thought.

  Zoe worked hard for the rest of the day, not putting the cover on her typewriter until after six. Macadam had been down in the yard all afternoon and it be­wildered her that she had found herself stealing to the office window several times to watch him. She had to admit he was very attractive, but she couldn't under­stand why this hadn't impinged itself on her con­sciousness before. While she had always been aware that he was a good-looking man, she was beginning to notice in detail a lot of little things about him. The way his hair grew thick and dark, inclined to be unruly. The breadth of his shoulders, the proud angle of his head. The way he sometimes used his hands to em­phasise a point while he was talking. Was it surprising that women liked him? Zoe thought wretchedly as she shrugged into her coat.

  Outside she paused beside him to say goodnight. Most of the men had gone home, but he was still busy, his jacket off, sleeves rolled up, despite the cold. He was lean and tough, his powerful body making her very aware of his undoubted masculinity. He was like the seas, ruthless and free, curiously detached. He might easily sweep a girl off her feet and destroy her, Zoe decided, given half a chance.

  Trying not to look at him, she told him she had locked up. He had his own set of keys but needn't bother now to go back to the office unless he wanted to. 'Don't be late for your date,' she said coolly, as she left him.

  He had arranged to pick her up at eight-thirty the following evening, and he didn't keep her waiting.

  'We ought to be back by midnight,' he assured Janet and Taggart, 'but if it's a little later, don't worry.

  'Was your grandfather very upset about Thursday night?' he asked, as they drove away.

  'A little,' she smiled ruefully. 'I'd almost forgotten.'

  'I lost my temper. I'm sorry.'

  'Was that what made you say what you did?'

  Macadam was driving through the town. On one side was the sea and promenade, on the other the big hotels and shops and some offices. The promenade was empty at this time of year, but the road was fairly busy. He appeared to be concentrating. 'What did I say?' he murmured absently.

  'Never mind,' Zoe replied briefly, leaving him to negotiate the traffic in peace. Of course Macadam didn't want to be reminded of something he had probably said on impulse and now regretted.

  She glanced through the car window. The sea looked wild and cold tonight, the sky dark and overcast. It would be dark early, already lights were being switched on in houses and she saw people in front of their windows, drawing their curtains. Soon they arrived at the Findlay residence, and, as they did so, Zoe frowned. She had expected to see the drive lined with cars, but both the drive and the street were empty.

  'We must be the first here!' she exclaimed in dismay.

  'Strange.' Macadam parked the car and sat for a moment glancing round. 'Well, someone has to be. Come on.'

  They got out and she followed him reluctantly to the door. When she would have hung back he put his hand firmly under her arm. He didn't speak as he rang the bell. It echoed eerily inside the house. The whole place seemed deserted. Although she couldn't think why, Zoe shivered.

  Macadam rang again, this time impatiently, then the door opened. Ursula Findlay stood before them, clad only in a very transparent neglige. Zoe recognizedimmediately that nothing quite like it could be pur­chased in this part of the world. Old Miss Bruce, who stocked the smartest underwear in town, would have fainted clean away at the sight of it.

  'Why Reece darling!' Ursula's thickly mascaraed lashes fluttered heavily. 'This is a pleasant surprise.' Then she saw Zoe and her vivid red mouth fell open. 'What's she doing here?'

  Reece frowned. 'I understood you were giving a party?'

  Ursula was breathing deeply, her shapely breast rose and fell. Zoe wondered how anyone dared wear any­thing so revealing as a froth of pink lace to answer the door in.

  'A party?' Ursula's eyes widened in apparent be­wilderment. 'Why, so we are—next week.'

  Reece's lips tightened. 'You rang Zoe.'

  'Of course.' Ursula managed to look tearfully ap­pealing. 'I was nervous after you were so cross. I would have insisted on speaking to you, if I'd been sure of my reception, but I was clear about the date.'

  'You said this evening!' Zoe, almost spluttering with indignation, was unable to keep quiet any longer.

  'I told you you ought to get a new secretary, Reece,' Ursula smiled at him sweetly while her neglige slipped lower. 'This girl,' she slung a contemptuous glance at Zoe, 'can't even take a simple message properly.'

  'Apparently not.'

  Macadam's steely fingers were nearly taking Zoe's elbow apart and she winced with pain. But before she could say anything more in her own defence, Ursula cut in again.

  'And I certainly never invited her to any party, this week or any time. I expect she told you I did?'

  'Obviously a mistake,' Macadam shrugged, his glance clinging to her half-naked form intently.

  'I won't make a fuss.' Ursula almost purred at theattention she was receiving. Zoe could see her confi­dence growing as Macadam's eyes ate her up. She felt disgusted with both of them as Ursula continued.

  'Why not send Miss Kerr home, Reece darling? Mummy and Daddy are away this weekend and Meg has the night off. There's no one here but me and I'm feeling terribly lonely. I'm sure we can find lots of things to—er—talk about. If you come in while I ring a taxi for Miss Kerr, she can wait for it outside.'

  'I'm sorry, Ursula,' Reece sighed, looking for all the world as if he meant it, 'I'm afraid I must take Zoe home myself. I promised her grandfather I would, and you know what he is.'

  'I'm afraid I don't.' Ursula's brows rose supercili­ously. 'But if you must take her home you can always come back.'

  'Some other time, perhaps, Ursula,' Macadam replied smoothly, turning Zoe away.

  'I can find my own way home!' Zoe cried, feeling inexplicably hurt by the condemnation she thought she read in his eyes.

  'No, you can't.'

  'How could she! How could you both?' Zoe stam­mered, as Macadam drew her adamantly back to the car.

  'Please be more explicit,' he snapped, reversing savagely out of the drive.

  'She was lying, and you believed her!'

  'Who said I believed her? But you could have made a mistake.'

  'No, I did not!'

  'We're all human,' he said curtly. 'Ian had just kissed you, you were still dizzy with delight. You were think­ing of him, not your work. If I needed proof of that, the coffee was cold. And one Saturday, to a girl in love, is very much like another.'

  'I don't happen to be in love with Ian,' she retorted heatedly, 'nor was I dizzy with delight or anything else when he kissed me. And I might say,' she added scath­ingly, 'there's nothing in a kiss to make a girl forget what she's doing.''Before you're very much older,' he threatened, 'I might just set out to prove how wrong you are.'

  Zoe felt her heart miss a beat, but refused to be side­tracked. 'If you can't see how Ursula must have deliberately planned the whole thing, then nothing I can say is goin
g to convince you. It was obvious she had it all thought out, even down to that ridiculous neglige . . .'

  'Actually,' he grinned, 'I thought the neglige was rather fetching.'

  'You would!' she retorted scornfully. 'I'd rather be seen dead than wearing anything like it!' Without giving him time to reply, she rushed on, 'Why didn't you tell Miss Findlay that it was you who invited me to her party? You never said a word when she accused me of inviting myself.'

  'It seemed a bit pointless to say anything,' he glanced at her impatiently. 'I thought the less said the better— why do you think I hurried you away? I certainly wasn't going to please her by arguing over anything as irrelevant as that.'

  'So my feelings don't count?' Zoe said bitterly.

  'I'll let you work that out for yourself,' he replied enigmatically. 'Now, before we come to blows, we have to decide how we're going to spend the rest of the evening.'

  The rest of the evening? Wasn't he taking her home? 'Would you like to come in and talk to my grand­father?' she suggested.

  'No, thank you,' Macadam declined dryly. 'I'm not keen to be read another lecture on how not to com­promise his granddaughter. I was thinking of going on somewhere. Have you had dinner?'

  ‘Supper?' She nodded. 'We have dinner in the middle of the day, but when I don't get home for it, when we're busy, Gran makes something more sub­stantial in the evenings. Soup and omelettes, a chop for Grandfather and steamed jam roll with custard, that kind of thing.'

  Macadam groaned. 'You're making my mouth water! I've had dinner, but I feel hungry again. Let's find somewhere to eat and have a drink. Somewhere where we can dance for a while as well.'

  As Zoe hesitated, for some unknown reason, terribly apprehensive, he took one look at her uncertain face and said softly, 'I suppose I could go back and talk to Ursula, if you really want to go straight home to bed.'

  Glancing at him in quick dismay, Zoe swallowed painfully. Why couldn't she bear to think of him doing that? She wasn't absolutely convinced he would, but there was always the possibility. And she refused to spend a restless night wondering.

  'I'd love to go anywhere you like,' she smiled, and was startled when she heard him catch his breath and saw the dark look in his eyes.

  CHAPTER THREE

  As they drove out of town, following the road as it wound inland through numerous glens, Zoe sat back, letting a warm, excited feeling steal over her. It was the first time she had been out like this with Macadam and she was suddenly determined to make the most of it. She would forget Ursula and try and make sure Macadam did as well.

  Sometimes, of course, she and Macadam went sailing together. And at sea they were compatible to a degree which never ceased to surprise Zoe whenever she thought of it. When they were out Macadam always took command, but he seldom needed to give an order, because Zoe seemed able to anticipate what he wanted almost before he spoke. He might not say so, but she sensed he enjoyed sailing with her, while for her it had become a kind of secret enchantment. A long day spent crewing for Macadam could tire her but never failed to give intense satisfaction.

  On dry land, she realised, they didn't get on nearly so well. In the office and boatyard there was all too often a hint of antagonism between them that could flare readily from a few short words into something little short of a battle. Usually Zoe got the worst of it, for when Macadam really turned on her she was no match for him. If lately he appeared to be humouring her a little, she had no idea why. Maybe it was only her imagination. Certainly during the past few days he had been anything but kind.

  'How far are we going?' she asked at last, as the miles sped by.

  'Not far now.' He turned his head to glance at her. 'Wail and see.'

  Minutes later,he turned into the forecourt of a large hold. Never having been here before, Zoe didn't recognise it. 'Are they open?' she exclaimed.

  'All the year round,' he replied with a quirk. 'There'd be little sense in coming here if they weren't.'

  'Ask a silly question,' she muttered, flushing.

  'Quite,' he agreed dryly.

  It didn't seem a very auspicious beginning. Zoe sighed as she glanced around. There were lots of large cars outside and fur-clad people. 'It looks terribly smart,' she said doubtfully.

  'So do you.' Macadam's mouth tightened, then relaxed in a wry grin, 'I'm sure you won't disgrace me.'

  Her soft mouth drooping, she sighed glumly, 'I hopenot .'

  'Oh, for God's sake!' he snapped, 'don't tell me you've suddenly developed an inferiority complex? I might suffer your sharp little tongue, but never that.'

  'I'm sure you'd manage,' she retorted bitterly, 'You usually give as good as 1 send.'

  'I hope not,' he said flintily. 'Sometimes I feel quite battered.'

  'Very funny!' she replied, without humour, wonder-ing if he had any idea the effect he had on her. Sometimes, when he let rip, she was certain she couldn't have felt worse if he had physically assaulted her. She shivered, her hand reaching out in a sudden blind panic lor the door.

  'Here, let me help.'

  As she fumbled, Macadam glanced at her anxiously and leant over to release the door catch. 'Don't forget your seat-belt,' he said, as she made to get out.

  'My ...? Oh, yes, of course.' She tried to laugh at her own stupidity, but her laughter seemed strangled in her throat.

  With a sigh, Macadam dealt with the belt, too, hooking it up above her head, an operation which, of necessity, brought him very close. 'What's wrong, Zoe?' he asked as she flinched. 'I'm not going to bite.' His fingers curved her small, rounded chin, turning her face towards him.

  'It was nothing.' She kept her lashes lowered, unable to look at him, the feelings which swept over her no more understandable than they had been before. She was aware of a potent, almost tangible attraction, something as yet nameless between, them which made her terribly apprehensive. Her thoughts fluttered wildly. Mentally she saw a keg of dynamite and a box of matches. If someone wasn't careful the whole thing could blow up.

  Suddenly Macadam lowered his head and kissed her quite gently on the mouth. Taking her face between his hands, he tipped it backwards, his fingers winding through her tumbled hair. His lips touched hers lightly and she could feel her heartbeats racing. The kiss deepened and they were pressing together, oblivious of place and time.

  Then abruptly she was free and he was saying tersely, 'Go on, Zoe, get out.'

  Panic rising in her, Zoe turned to obey, then as suddenly paused, catching a glimpse of his expression. Something glittered in his eyes, she didn't know what, but it made her tremble. 'Why did you kiss me like that?' she whispered.

  For a moment Macadam didn't reply, a faint red louching his hard cheeks. When he loooked at her again his face was quite blank. 'Perhaps I thought it would make a change from our continual bickering?'

  She continued to stare at him with puzzled, doubtful eyes, which still held something of the unawakened candour of a child. 'If you say so,' she muttered, feeling '' strangely dissatisfied.

  Impatiently, his eyes hardening, he sighed, 'You don't have to look like that, Zoe—as though you're investigating a crime. These things happen between a man andwoman; they're rarely planned—or explainable.'

  There was no logical way she could deny that, and while she might be flattered that he had referred to her as a woman, it didn't help that, at the moment, she felt more like a lost child. Emotions she neither recognised or knew how to deal with were rushing through her, and she sensed, with a surge of humiliation, that Macadam was aware of her inexperience as much as she was herself.

  'Let's go in, Zoe,' he said curtly, his eyes lingering repressively on her pale face. 'I don't feel like sitting here all night.'

  The hotel was surprisingly busy. The dining-room was just closing, but they were serving a variety of light suppers in the bar. Macadam ordered scampi and chips and a bottle of wine. Zoe was surprised to find how hungry she was and enjoyed the meal very much, something she hadn't expected to do, not after what had jus
t taken place.

  Macadam didn't talk much. He looked rather tired, she thought. Me had probably been out half the previous night with Carol Vintis. A sharp needle of jealousy pierced Zoe as she stared at his dark, attractive face. What had they talked about until the early hours, she wondered bleakly—or, more to the point, what had they done?

  Her cheeks coloured when he glanced up to catch her gazing at him. 'Now what?' he asked sardonically.

  'Nothing . . .' she stammered, finding his straight glance unnerving. 'Well,' again she hesitated, 'I was just thinking how tired you look.'

  'So I have to prove I'm not,' he said lazily, 'or you'll go on believing I didn't get Miss Vintis home until dawn.'