And in the meantime there was Marc. Five years younger than Reed, at thirty, he was also much less intense; their dates were always fun and entertaining, Marc accepting the way she occasionally forgot things with a casualness that spoke of tolerant affection. She hoped it wasn’t more than that, because Reed occupied all of her heart.
‘Where are we going?’ she asked with suspicion as Marc kept turning to grin at her as he drove.
‘My apartment.’
‘Your apartment!’ Her eyes were wide.
‘Yes,’ he confirmed with relish. ‘I’m going to throw you down on the bed and have my wicked way with you!’
‘Marc…?’
‘You should see your face!’ He laughed at her nervousness. The open-necked brown shirt and fitted trousers he wore were casual but smart. ‘You’re so easy to tease,’ he chuckled. ‘I can assure you I don’t intend having an audience the first time I make love to you.’
‘Audience? But—First time you make love to me…?’ she repeated in a squeaky voice, as the second part of his statement was absorbed.
This time he gave a shout of laughter. ‘Fun to be with, too,’ he told her warmly. ‘After spending the day with women who take their clothes off for me as soon as they get in the door, your naïveté is totally refreshing!’
She knew that a lot of the work Marc did was for magazines and advertising, that very often it involved scantily clad women parading about his studio most of the day. In fact, the first time she had taken some papers down to Marc’s studio from Reed, a model wearing only a pair of bikini briefs had answered the door! She had run back upstairs to tell Reed she thought his photographic partner was making blue movies on the side! Reed had found that very funny, accompanying her back down to the studio, to be greeted by the same model as Reed explained Marc was doing a publicity layout for the briefs. No one had explained—and she hadn’t liked to ask—why the model wasn’t wearing a bra!
She did know that Reed had been very friendly with the model, that he was on the same terms with a lot of the models Marc used, hence his nickname of Reed the Rake. Reed did seem to be an advocate of ‘safety in numbers’, dating no woman exclusively in the almost seven months Darcy had known him.
‘Marc, if this is your surprise—’
‘You would rather pass,’ he mocked self-derisively. ‘No wonder Reed finds you easy to have around; you’re probably the only woman in his near vicinity that he hasn’t been to bed with!’
Darcy flushed, the statement evoking her own fantasies of being in bed with Reed, fantasies that she knew would never come true. ‘My relationship with Reed is purely business, you know that,’ she said stiffly. ‘We work well together.’ Usually!
‘Hey, I’m not complaining.’ He punched her playfully on the chin. ‘Reed would be a difficult man to follow. In fact, I don’t think I’d even try!’
Not for the first time she wondered why it couldn’t have been this man she fell in love with. He was so much less complicated than Reed, had a wickedly attractive sense of humour, was handsome enough to have been one of his own male models. And he took care of her with an easy familiarity she hadn’t known since she left home. But all she could feel for him was liking, or the love of a friend, a good friend.
‘Then why are we going to your apartment?’ she persisted.
‘Wait and see, birthday girl.’ He drove the car into the underground car park beneath his apartment building. ‘But try and look a little less like I’m kidnapping you!’
She was still badly shaken from the events of this morning, and wasn’t being very good company for Marc; she forced a bright smile to her lips. Whatever Marc’s surprise was, it couldn’t be that bad!
At least Marc had had the decency to warn her to look her best, although after ten minutes of meeting people she barely knew Darcy decided she hated surprise parties, especially ones given for her. She had met most of the people before because she knew Marc, but even so none of them were actually good friends of hers. But Marc, at least, seemed pleased with his surprise.
‘Can we expect an announcement tonight or is Marc going to wait until you get to the church before telling you about that, too?’
Darcy turned sharply at the sound of that mocking voice, forgetting the drink she held in her hand as it slopped precariously over the side of the glass, only narrowly missing the front of Reed’s pale green silk shirt as he stepped back out of its way.
She swallowed hard, hadn’t realised he was here until this moment. ‘Your mother?’ she croaked incongruously.
He swept a mocking glance over the gathering, the beautiful men and women standing around talking in relaxed groups, the drink flowing freely as loud music blared from the new stereo unit Marc was so fond of. ‘I don’t think she would quite fit in here, do you?’ he drawled softly, his gaze returning to her.
‘No,’ she acknowledged ruefully, knowing she didn’t exactly ‘fit in’ either.
Reed frowned at the slightly lost look that had come over her face. ‘If you don’t stand up for yourself now, Darcy, you aren’t going to stand a chance after you become his wife!’
She blinked up at him owlishly. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’
‘Marc,’ he said abruptly.
She glanced over to where Marc was standing, four women making up the rest of his group, all of them hanging on his every word. She shrugged. ‘He’s enjoying himself.’
‘Darcy, he—Never mind,’ he dismissed violently. ‘Each to his—or her—own.’
‘Marc isn’t mine. And I certainly don’t intend marrying him.’ She shook her head. ‘I don’t know whatever gave you the impression I was. Marc is just a friend.’
‘Like we’re friends?’ Reed scorned.
Colour darkened her cheeks. Until today she had believed she and Reed were at least that, although there was so much more on her side. ‘No, not like we’re friends,’ she acknowledged. ‘But—’
‘I didn’t think so,’ he derided. ‘He’ll walk all over you if you give him half a chance!’
Her mouth tightened resentfully. ‘That won’t be anything new!’ She gave a small gasp of dismay as she realised what she had said. ‘I meant—’
‘I know what you meant, Darcy.’ He sighed heavily. ‘And I realise I was rough on you earlier, but this is different. Marc is not husband material. Not for you anyway.’
‘I really don’t know what business it is of yours, but I have no intention of marrying him.’
‘No?’
‘No!’
‘He isn’t going to object if I whisk you off to Florida on Sunday?’
Her eyes widened. ‘Florida?’ She knew his family had lived in Orlando the last twenty-five years, that he occasionally visited them. But he had never taken her with him before.
‘Don’t look so surprised, Darcy,’ he taunted. ‘I do have business dealings in the States, you know.’
‘I do know, but—it’s a bit sudden, isn’t it?’ Even for him! He hadn’t mentioned anything about it earlier today.
His mouth thinned, his eyes narrowed. ‘Something has come up. Are you willing to come with me or not?’
‘Of course I’m willing.’ She frowned. ‘There’s nothing wrong, is there?’
‘Nothing I can’t handle,’ he bit out in a voice that boded ill for someone.
‘Reed!’ Marc joined them, slapping the other man on the back in greeting. ‘I know I invited you, but after your mother’s arrival this morning I didn’t expect to see you tonight.’
‘My mother has gone to bed,’ he drawled. ‘And she assured me that she wanted me to go out and enjoy myself.’
‘And are you?’ Marc challenged, his arm about Darcy’s shoulders.
Reed met that challenge. ‘Not particularly. Don’t you think it might have been a little—kinder, to have warned Darcy about all these people being here?’
‘Then it wouldn’t have been the surprise it was intended to be,’ Marc scorned.
‘Darcy doesn’t li
ke surprises; haven’t you noticed that?’ he rasped.
He made her sound about as interesting as yesterday’s bath water! OK, so she liked her private life ordered and repetitious, but things were less likely to get forgotten that way! Besides, she had enough excitement in her life just being his secretary.
‘She liked this one,’ Marc claimed stubbornly. ‘But if you aren’t enjoying the party you can always leave.’
‘I think I will,’ Reed snapped, pulling Darcy’s hand up from her side to slap a small parcel into it. ‘Happy Birthday. I’ll give you a call tomorrow about Sunday,’ he added abruptly, striding over to the door, to be waylaid by a beautiful red-head as he pulled it open. He murmured something in her ear; the woman’s throaty laugh floated in the air as they left together.
‘I wonder what—or who—has upset him?’ Marc mused a little dazedly, the two men usually being good friends away from the office.
‘His mother,’ she said wearily, slowly unwrapping the present Reed had given her.
Marc pulled a surprised face. ‘She seemed rather sweet to me.’
‘Reed can’t stand it when someone isn’t as organised as he is,’ she murmured, tears filling her eyes as she looked at the gold necklace nestled in the velvet box, a gold unicorn threaded on its length. A fantasy animal for a woman who lived in a dream world sixty per cent of the time!
* * *
‘Dear, are you sure you’re going the right way?’ Maud Hunter fretted. ‘I’m sure that sign back there said—’
‘Mother,’ Reed interrupted patiently. ‘As you always read a road map upside down because it “makes more sense", I don’t think you’re in a position to judge signposts!’
Maud turned to give Darcy a vague smile as she sat in the back of the Mercedes, and Darcy sighed softly as she was once again left to her silent perusal of the countryside on the way to Southampton, feeling as if Maud had made her a conspirator to her vagueness with that smile.
Reed had telephoned her early that morning and asked her if she would like to accompany them to Southampton, saying that his mother would like it if she did. Darcy had still been a little befuddled from waking up, otherwise she might have found an excuse not to come.
The party had dragged on until almost three in the morning, and as it was supposed to be for her she hadn’t been able to leave until everyone else had without offending Marc, then had insisted on helping him tidy the apartment, refusing his invitation to stay the night, despite his assertion that he would sleep on the sofa. Considering the early hour of Reed’s call she had a feeling he had expected either to have Marc answer the call or for her to still be at the other man’s home.
She was also sure that Reed would rather she hadn’t come today, despite his mother’s obvious pleasure in having her here. After all, he had two of them to keep in line now!
She wished it could have been different, wished she could have been as cool and self-assured as the women who had occasionally called for him at the office. But she doubted she would ever be any different now, had trained herself too well. As long as she continued her efficiency in the office she could continue seeing Reed; she would be the one to hand in her resignation if she thought her work was below the standard he demanded. But it was going to be a long time before he forgot what had happened yesterday.
She held the unicorn aloft in the palm of her hand as it hung suspended about her neck. It was a beautiful piece of jewellery, and she knew she would always wear it simply because Reed had been the one to give it to her. But it represented how Reed felt about her, a woman who lived in a world that wasn’t quite real, as the unicorn wasn’t. He could have no idea how close she had come to living completely in that shadow world, how much more attractive it could look than the starkness of reality. But she never talked to anyone about that twilight world except Rupert. And she knew her secret was safe with him.
‘… continue on, Darcy?’
She looked up guiltily as she realised Reed’s mother had been talking to her, paling a little as she saw the fierce glitter in Reed’s eyes as she met his gaze in the driving-mirror. It wasn’t fair! Yesterday had knocked her confidence in her abilities for six! She wouldn’t normally be so nervous about a little lapse in concentration.
She sat forward in the seat, giving Maud a dazzling smile. ‘I’m sorry, I was miles away,’ she admitted honestly, challenge in her eyes as she met the mockery in Reed’s.
‘I know how you feel, dear.’ Maud nodded without chagrin. ‘I’d forgotten just how beautiful England was,’ she added wistfully. ‘It’s so green and—and lush.’
‘And damp and cold in the winter,’ her son drawled unromantically.
Maud gave him an impatient look. ‘You needn’t try and put me off; I have no intention of intruding on the cosy life you’ve made for yourself here away from the rest of the family. I was just stating that I had forgotten how lovely England is.’
Reed scowled. ‘You’re more than welcome to move in with me any time you want to, you know that.’
Green eyes that were so much kinder than her son’s could ever be twinkled merrily at Darcy before she winked conspiratorially. ‘I’d drive you to distraction in a week!’ she mocked without rancour. ‘Your father always said I was the reason you were such a good athlete; you were trying to run away from home!’
Darcy held back her own smile with difficulty. Although she didn’t really know what she had to smile about: Maud Hunter had just confirmed what she had already guessed, that Reed would run a mile from falling in love with a woman even remotely like his mother.
‘You know that isn’t true—’
‘I know it is true,’ his mother chuckled, turning to Darcy. ‘And I was just asking you if you would like to stop for lunch or continue on?’
She shrugged, glancing at Reed. ‘Whatever the two of you would prefer.’
‘Very diplomatic,’ he drawled, his mouth twisted. ‘Mother would like to stop, I would like to go on.’
No wonder they had asked her; now she was in the position to upset one of them. But the rumblings of her stomach told her she had missed breakfast and that it would be grateful if she didn’t give lunch a miss too. ‘It might be nice for your mother if we stopped for a pub lunch,’ she suggested blandly. ‘But, of course, if you would prefer not to bother…’
Maud laughed softly. ‘I like your secretary, Reed,’ she smiled.
‘I get the feeling she likes you, too,’ he muttered, looking around for a pub that served lunches.
Darcy had never seen him quite this caustic before; obviously his mother had a strange effect on him. He definitely wasn’t his usual charming self.
The pub that Reed finally chose had a formal restaurant at the back overlooking the gently flowing stream that was populated by several swans and ducks, the pub itself looking centuries old with its thatched roof and beamed ceilings. But for all the notice Reed took of its rustic charm he might have been sitting in a bus shelter! He really was in a bad humour today.
‘Just ignore him, dear,’ Maud advised her after they had ordered their meal. ‘He’s always been the same until he’s eaten. Even as a baby—’
‘I’m sure Darcy isn’t interested in that, Mother,’ he snapped impatiently.
‘I wonder why it is that men don’t like to admit they were ever drooling babies that needed their nappies changed just like other people?’ Maud mused.
‘Mother!’ Reed threatened in a thunderous voice, Darcy having difficulty holding back her amusement as he shifted uncomfortably on his seat.
‘Well, until you bring a nice girl home for me to tell all your childhood anecdotes to Darcy will do just fine,’ his mother dismissed. ‘Besides, I’m sure she is interested in learning you’re as human as the rest of us.’
Darcy gave the older woman a sharp questioning look, blushing a little at the warm understanding she found in Maud’s eyes. The other woman knew she was in love with her son!
She did enjoy hearing more about Reed’s childhood, s
o different from her own in that the family had moved between England and America for several years before finally settling in America, all four of the children adapting well to the move. Reed scowled all through the telling of it, but like every other woman in love Darcy loved hearing about his childhood. And if Reed were even more distant by the time they left the restaurant it couldn’t be helped; she could have listened to Maud talking about him all day. And most of all she enjoyed hearing the pride in Maud’s voice when she spoke of her son’s achievements. She would have liked to have known Lloyd Hunter, the two men sounding very much alike, the father having given every encouragement to Reed to succeed, even though he would have preferred his son to take up the sporting career he hadn’t ever been good enough to enter himself.
Once they reached Southampton docks it all became rather a rush, stopping for lunch having made them late—Darcy was sure Reed must be biting his tongue to stop himself saying ‘I told you so!’—and so they barely had time to see Maud settled into her suite on the gleaming white cruise-ship before the signal for visitors to leave was sounding.
‘The Mediterranean for a month.’ Darcy sighed enviously as they lingered to wave goodbye to Maud as she stood up on the deck, turning to give Reed a rueful look as he made no reply. ‘I know,’ she grimaced, ‘knowing my luck I’d probably be seasick the whole time!’
His face relaxed into a smile for the first time that day. ‘If my mother can survive I’m sure you could.’
She turned away so that he shouldn’t see the hurt in her eyes. ‘Thank you for the necklace, by the way,’ she told him woodenly, waving enthusiastically to Maud.
‘I saw it in a shop window and it seemed appropriate,’ he dismissed.
She nodded. ‘It’s lovely.’
‘I thought so.’ His eyes were narrowed on the paleness of her face, the intensity of his gaze causing Darcy to look away. ‘Darcy?’ He frowned, his hand under her chin as he tilted her face up to his. ‘What’s wrong?’
‘Wrong?’ she evaded.
‘For a moment you looked—’ He broke off, shrugging. ‘Lost, somehow.’
She gave him an overbright smile. ‘Don’t you wish you were going on the cruise?’ She looked up blindly to where she knew hundreds of happy faces were smiling in anticipation of the trip ahead, her inability to see them having nothing to do with not wearing her contact lenses.
Glass Slippers and Unicorns Page 3