‘Not immediately, although it would become a problem soon, the way my savings are draining away now that I’m not earning a proper salary. The girl I share the flat with actually owns it. I just rent a room from her and now that she’s getting married she has given me notice to leave. I have until the end of the month to find somewhere else, although heaven knows where that will be. Flats are impossible to come by without decent employment references, not to mention a hefty deposit.’
‘Then what do you intend to do?’
She shrugged, brushing impatiently at the wisps of hair which tickled her cheek. In the dim light spilling through the window her hair gleamed like burnished gold, a stark contrast to her pale skin. ‘I’ve been trying to work it all out...what to do, where to go, but I keep going round in circles. That’s why I came tonight to see you.’
‘You want me to help you?’ There was a cynically hard note in his voice and she flinched, then felt the colour flood her face as she realised what interpretation he had put on her actions in coming here and telling him the whole sorry tale! She jumped to her feet, glaring down at him, hating him for imagining that.
‘I didn’t come here to ask you for money! I came because you were the only person I could think of who might spare the time to listen to my problems and maybe offer a few words of advice, but obviously I was mistaken!’
‘And obviously I was mistaken too. Sit down, Beth. Stop making a scene.’
‘I don’t want to sit down. I’m leaving before you accuse me of anything else!’
‘And where do you intend to go? Back to the flat you are going to have to vacate in a few weeks’ time? Hurt pride is a luxury you can ill afford at present.’
‘Pride is the only thing I have left!’
Anger shone in her hazel eyes and she heard him sigh roughly. He set the glass down with a thud, then stood up and walked over to the window. ‘Pride won’t pay the bills, Beth, nor will it put a roof over your head.’
The words were blunt, but to Beth’s sensitive ears they sounded as though they held the faintest hint of an apology, and that more than anything stopped her from walking out as she’d intended. She stared at his broad back, feeling the heat of her anger fading. Was it any wonder that he had imagined the worst, after all? They were strangers, nothing more, nothing less. The realisation was suddenly strangely depressing.
‘I didn’t come here to ask you for money, David. Please believe that.’
He turned to face her, stern and remote in his dark suit and white shirt. Although he was leanly built there was an unmistakable strength about the wide shoulders and broad, flatly muscled chest which tapered to narrow hips and long powerful legs, and Beth felt an unexpected quiver of awareness at his maleness which she ruthlessly suppressed.
‘I do. You seem to be in a real predicament. Have you made any plans at all?’
‘I wish I could, but it all seems such a muddle. That’s why I came, to talk things through and hope that a solution would magically present itself, but that doesn’t seem about to happen.’ She smiled tightly, her eyes over-bright. ‘It’s going to take more than a chat to sort this out.’
‘Perhaps.’ He paused and she had the feeling that he was weighing up his words before he continued quietly, ‘I think I may have a solution if you’d care to hear it.’
‘You have?’
‘Yes, although I don’t know how you will feel about it.’ He stared calmly at her and Beth felt a shiver of anticipation run along her veins.
‘Then perhaps you’d better tell me what it is.’
‘I do a great deal of my work here at the flat and for some time now I’ve been toying with the idea of employing a secretary part-time to help me out. It seems to me that you would fit the bill perfectly, Beth.’
‘Me? But...’ She stopped abruptly, the words drying up under the heat from the sudden surge of hope, and he continued smoothly as though she’d never spoken.
‘Obviously your qualifications are just what I require, so my suggestion is that you take the job and, in view of your housing difficulties, that you come and live here. I would pay you a modest salary plus your board and lodgings. Once you’re back on your feet and find somewhere else then we can review the situation, but it seems the ideal solution all around from where I’m standing. A sensible one, in fact.’
Sensible? No, it was crazy, totally and utterly crazy, and she should have rejected the idea at once. So why did she find herself hesitating? Why did she find herself staring into those cool grey eyes and searching for any reason under the sun why she should accept it? It didn’t make any sense at all.
He interpreted her continued silence in a way she had never intended, smiling thinly as he walked to the desk and picked up a pen and started writing. ‘I can understand your reluctance, Beth. Obviously you must be wary about coming here to live in my flat when you know nothing at all about me apart from my name and the fact that I like opera.’ He held the paper out to her, his face impassive as he studied her. ‘Here is a list of people for you to contact who will supply references about me. Please feel free to check them out. No sensible woman would commit herself to such a decision without ensuring she wasn’t making a huge mistake. I’m no wild axe murderer, Beth, nor a white slave trafficker, and these highly respectable people will attest to that!’
She took the paper from him, barely glancing at the short list of names and addresses before she looked back at David with puzzlement in her eyes. ‘But why, David? Why should you want to do so much for me? Oh, I know you say that you need help, but to offer me somewhere to live...’ She shook her head. ‘That can’t be the only reason, needing help. You could chose anyone for that position, women who wouldn’t impose on you by having to live in your home. Why are you doing this for me, David?’
‘I’ve told you why, Beth. There are no strings attached. It’s a genuine offer which would solve both our problems.’ He set the pen back down, but not before she’d seen a flicker cross his face, a fleeting echo of old pain. She wished she had the courage to ask what had caused it, but events had taken their toll.
‘I don’t know what to say. I never expected...’ She tailed off and took a shuddery little breath. ‘Whatever I decide to do, I want you to know how grateful I am for the offer. You’ve been more than kind.’
‘Kindness has nothing to do with it. I need help here, Beth, and you would fit the bill perfectly without my having to go through all the hassle of advertising the post and then interviewing the applicants.’
‘You don’t even know if I can type properly!’ She gave a faint little smile, feeling warmed when he smiled slowly back at her.
‘Can you?’
‘Yes. Top speeds in college.’
‘Well, then, there’s no problem. Look, Beth, this offer is open to you for as long as you want it to be, even after you have the baby. There’s room enough in the flat for both of you, but if you just want to take it for a few months to tide you over then that’s fine with me. Just think about it...promise?’
She smiled at that, her face lighting up. ‘You said that last time we met, made me promise to come to you if I needed help, and look where that’s got you now!’
He laughed, taking her hand, his fingers hard and cool against her skin. ‘I remember. I don’t say things I don’t mean. This plan would solve all your immediate problems and give you breathing space plus help me out.’
‘It will probably give you problems you never even thought about!’ She reached up to kiss him quickly on the cheek, her lips barely brushing his skin before she drew back. ‘I shall think about it, David, long and hard, but only if you promise to do the same, and if you change your mind then I shall understand.’
‘That won’t happen. You can be assured of that.’
There was such steely certainty in his tone that for the first time in days Beth felt some of the gloom lift. The temptation to say yes there and then was great, but she stopped herself. It wouldn’t be fair to accept then have him suddenly regret
his offer after he’d had time to think it through.
‘I’m tempted, David...very tempted, but...’ She broke off, suddenly overwhelmed by his kindness. ‘I shall be in touch and let you know what I decide.’ She turned to hurry from the room, pausing in the doorway, the words of thanks dying on her lips as she saw him standing by the desk holding a framed photograph in his hands, his face set into rigid lines.
Beth crept from the room, trying to reconcile that grim-faced stranger with the man who had just offered her a job and a home. Which one was the real David Kane? She wished she knew. She glanced down at the sheet of paper he’d given her, skimming over the list of names and addresses of people who would testify as to his suitability as her employer and benefactor. Would any of them be able to tell her who exactly the real David Kane was? Somehow she doubted it. It was going to be something she would have to find out herself and suddenly, surprisingly, the idea of discovering the true nature of the man was intriguing.
CHAPTER THREE
‘NO, THIS is the right number. David is in the shower at present. Can I take a message or ask him to call you back when—?’ Beth winced as the phone was slammed down, and set the receiver back with a wry grimace. She’d been at the flat just a couple of weeks and, although things were working remarkably well between her and David, she did seem to be having a disastrous effect on his social life. He was going to have some explaining to do from the sound of it...yet again!
‘That for me?’ He came down the hall, his blond hair still wet from the shower, his shirt hanging open over a pair of dark grey trousers, and Beth felt the little shiver of awareness she always felt when she saw him. He was so blatantly male that a woman would have to be blind not to appreciate his appeal.
‘It was indeed. One very irate lady who was none too pleased to hear me answering the phone at this time of the morning.’ She steeled herself, knowing what had to be said, yet dreading it. ‘Look, David, I know my being here is making life difficult for you, so if you want me to find somewhere else then just say the word.’
He tossed the wet towel aside and came towards her, his face impassive as he watched her. ‘Do you want to leave, Beth?’
‘No! But neither do I want to cause you any upset. Your...your friends seem to have entirely the wrong idea why I’m here and it must be making life awkward for you.’ Her face was flushed when she’d finished, but he seemed remarkably unperturbed by the idea.
‘It’s their problem what they think. I’m a free agent, Beth. I’m not accountable to anyone for my actions. Forget about it. Now is that coffee I can smell?’
Beth sighed, realising it was pointless to argue. One thing she had learned these past weeks was David’s determination to have things his own way. Both in his business and private life he was cool and decisive, rarely displaying any emotion as he dealt with problems. She had come to admire the firm way he took control, the razor-sharp intelligence he displayed which cut through to the heart of a problem, even while she silently warned herself not to start relying on him too much to solve her problems. David wouldn’t always be around to help her.
‘I’ve just made a fresh pot. Would you like some toast to go with it?’
‘You don’t have to act as unpaid housekeeper as well, Beth. That wasn’t why I asked you to stay here.’
There was an edge to his deep voice which irritated her. ‘I know that! But making a slice or two of toast is hardly a union issue. I want to do my share around the flat, David.’
‘Fair enough, but understand that it’s your choice. I don’t expect anything more from you than you are already doing. Frankly, your work has been of such a high standard that I feel I’m taking advantage of you by paying you so small a salary.’
‘You’ve given me more than enough...a home and a job. Not many people would have done what you have.’ She led the way along the hall into the kitchen and picked up the pot to pour the coffee then set it down again with a clatter. ‘If anyone is being taken advantage of it’s you! And why? Because I was too stupid to read the signs!’ She slammed her hand down on the counter, fury shining in her eyes. Her emotions had run the gamut, moving from shock, despair and sorrow to this red-hot anger at what Andrew had done to her. ‘I can’t believe that I was stupid enough to be taken in like that! I should have realised there was something fishy about the way he acted, but I swallowed everything he told me, all that rot about how he couldn’t see me of a weekend because his parents were elderly and they expected him to visit them, how he couldn’t invite me back to where he lived because the chap he shared with left it looking like a pigsty! Do you realise that I actually admired him for it?’ She spun round, glaring at David across the room, yet unaware that she was doing so because her thoughts were all turned inwards, plagued by the memories of how she’d been duped. ‘I actually admired his devotion to his parents, his consideration of my feelings! I even admired him for the fact that he limited the number of nights we met so that he could work late at the office in the hope of getting promotion. How could any woman fall for that, the oldest story in the book, and not suspect a thing?’
Her face was flushed with temper, but he just watched her calmly. ‘It’s easy to be wise after the event. Now you can add it all up and see the pattern of his deceit, but then...’ He shrugged. ‘What does amaze me is your determination not to ask him for help. Why shouldn’t he pay for what he’s done, Beth?’
‘You know why! I’ve explained it before. Why keep on asking the same question!’
‘Because hopefully it will jolt you into seeing sense!’ He started to button his shirt and tuck it into his trousers, his face set with a cold cynicism. ‘You may rant and rail against what Andrew did, but how do you really feel about him? I think you are still in love with him and that’s why you won’t do anything that might harm him.’
‘No! You’re wrong. I hate him for what he has done. Do you hear me—hate him!’ She rounded on him in fury, but he met her angry gaze levelly.
‘I doubt that, otherwise you’d see the sense of what I’m trying to tell you. Why is it, Beth, that women are so blinded by their love that they can’t see what fools they’re being?’
‘And why is it that men see love as a means to an end?’ Her voice filled with bitterness. ‘You try answering me that, David Kane, then I’ll try answering your question!’
‘You’re not talking about love, though, Beth. You’re talking about sexual desire, a powerful weapon in the wrong hands.’ He sipped the coffee, his eyes like steel. ‘Don’t ever confuse the two. Men can be just as foolish under the influence of love, believe me.’
‘That sounds like experience talking.’ Beth picked up her own cup, chilled by the starkness on his face.
‘It would be unlikely that I could reach the age of thirty without being stung by Cupid’s arrow at some time.’ He drank his coffee, faint amusement on his face, but Beth wasn’t fooled. It would be easy to typecast David as the typical bachelor with a string of eager willing women at his disposal. Heaven knew she’d taken enough phone calls these past weeks to back that theory to the hilt. But every so often she would catch a glimpse of something in his face and realise that wasn’t the case at all. What had happened in David’s past? She wished she knew and yet, contrarily, hoped that she would never find out. She couldn’t afford to get involved in his affairs when she had so many problems of her own.
She got up, suddenly anxious to change the subject. ‘I imagine you’re right. It would be strange. I’ll make that toast now so how many slices do you want?’
‘Just one, if you’re sure you don’t mind. I don’t want to get too used to having you waiting on me, otherwise it will come as a nasty shock when you leave.’
Was that a subtle hint despite what he’d said? Her hands trembled as she cut slices off the loaf, but she tried her hardest to keep the fear from her voice. ‘I have been looking for somewhere else to live, David, but so far I’ve not found anywhere suitable. Either they’re too expensive or too run-down, but I am
really trying, I assure you.’
‘I didn’t mean that! Dammit, Beth, have I asked you to find somewhere else? Well, have I? You know very well that I told you that you could stay here as long as you wanted to.’
He sounded so angry that her voice wavered. ‘I...I know that but I thought maybe...well, that maybe you had decided it wasn’t working out.’
‘It’s working just fine. Better than I could have anticipated. And the last thing I expect is that you should go traipsing the streets in your condition.’ His eyes dropped to the faint swell of her stomach and Beth felt heat warm her cheeks as she became immediately conscious of the button at the top of her trousers which she’d had to leave unfastened to accommodate her increasing waistline.
She turned away, busying herself with putting the bread into the toaster. She still hadn’t come to terms completely with her pregnancy, still hadn’t fully accepted that she was carrying a child. She could see the gradual changes in her body—the thickening of her waistline, the increased fullness of her breasts—and they embarrassed her. Maybe it would have been different if Andrew had been free to marry her. Then she would have felt proud that their love had created this child, but all she could feel as yet was a sense of guilt.
‘Let’s have no more talk about you looking for a flat, eh? You are welcome here for as long as you choose to stay. Understand?’
She nodded, keeping her face averted. ‘Yes. Thank you, but it still doesn’t seem fair that you should be inconvenienced because of my stupid mistake.’
‘Leave me to worry about being inconvenienced or not. And as for it being your mistake...’ He broke off, obviously trying to curb an uncharacteristic flash of anger. ‘From where I’m standing it seems that Andrew is the one who made the biggest mistake by lying to you, and I’m damned sure he hasn’t lost a night’s sleep over it all!’
Promise Me Love (Harlequin Treasury 1990's) Page 3