Pirate's Gold

by Lisa Jackson

  “Dear God, Maren,” he said, lifting his head to contemplate the enigma in her eyes. “You don’t know how long I’ve waited to hear those words.”

  She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he kissed her once again. A warmth, starting in the deepest region of her soul, began to spread slowly through her body. How many nights had she lain awake aching for this man? Now at last, he was hers.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  THE WEEK PASSED BY in a flourish and rush of activity. Maren spent every waking moment at the office, and she was so absorbed in the final editing of the Mirage video and planning for the celebration that was to take place that she had little time to notice anything else. It was Friday afternoon before she could catch her breath, and the party was scheduled for the next day.

  At four o’clock Jan came into the office carrying cold drinks from a nearby fast-food stand. “You’re an angel,” Maren said gratefully as she accepted the opaque paper cup and took a long drink.

  “You’ve called me a lot of things,” Jan remarked with a sad smile. “But that’s the first time you referred to me as an angel.”

  “An oversight on my part,” Maren thought aloud. “But it doesn’t matter. When all the dust has settled on the buyout, you should be getting a raise.”

  Jan’s smile quivered. “How did you arrange that?”

  “I’m in tight with the boss.” Maren laughed, giving Jan a broad wink and playful smile. She felt lighthearted and incredibly happy. There was a disturbed light in Jan’s large brown eyes, and Maren imagined that things weren’t going well for Jan. The secretary seemed nervous—as if she wanted to get something off her chest.

  “So tell me,” Maren prodded gently. “How’re things with you and the baby?”

  Jan perked up at the mention of her pregnancy. “As well as can be expected, I guess. I did have a little trouble last week, but it wasn’t anything serious.”

  Maren’s smile faded. “What kind of trouble?”

  Jan waved off the concern in her employer’s gaze. “Nothing really. Last Wednesday morning I bled—just a little.”

  “Why didn’t you stay home?” Maren asked, astounded. “You could have had the day off—or the rest of the week, for that matter.”

  Jan shook her head and bit her lower lip. “I had too much work to do…”

  “Cary could have handled your work. Look, I don’t want you jeopardizing your health or the baby’s…”

  “It’s no big deal…I saw the doctor, and he seems to think everything will be fine if I just take it easy…”

  “Are you?” Maren demanded, trying not to sound overly concerned. Jan’s worries about her pregnancy explained the secretary’s nervousness and anxiety. Jan was worried sick about losing the baby. It didn’t seem fair. First Jan had trouble with Jake…now this.

  Tears clouded Jan’s gaze, and she tried vainly to hide them by wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. “I wish you wouldn’t worry so much about me, Maren.” She bit at her lower lip. “There’s something you should know.”

  “What’s that?” Maren asked quietly.

  “Oh, God, Maren, I wish—” The telephone rang before Jan could finish her thought. Jan started to get up to answer it, but Maren waved the secretary back into her chair.

  “I’ll get it,” Maren said with a heartfelt smile. Jan looked tired and distraught. At least Maren understood her worries. Setting her soft drink aside, Maren picked up the receiver. “Festival Productions, Maren McClure speaking.”

  “What happened—did you get a demotion?” Brandon’s voice charged with a nervous laugh.

  “Not exactly.” Maren’s tone was frigid, and Jan knew immediately that her boss was involved in a private conversation. Ignoring Maren’s gestures for her to remain in the room, Jan hoisted herself out of the chair and waved at Maren, before silently mouthing her goodbye.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow,” Jan whispered as she left the room, smiled at Maren and shut the door thoughtfully behind her.

  “I hadn’t heard from you in a while and I thought I’d call to check up on you,” Brandon stated with a nervous laugh. “What’s new?”

  Maren’s spine stiffened. “I was going to call you, as a matter of fact,” she replied.

  “Oh?” Brandon’s voice was interested but wary. He could sense a difference in his ex-wife.

  “I wanted you to know that I’m planning to get married this summer.”

  There was a surprised gasp on the other end of the phone. “Anyone I know?” he asked, with just a hint of sarcasm.

  “Kyle Sterling.” Why was she so reluctant to give Brandon that bit of information?

  “The Kyle Sterling? Jesus Christ, Maren!”

  Maren broke the uneasy silence that had settled over the stilted conversation. “So, I’ve been giving some thought to you.”

  “Nice of ya,” he retorted angrily.

  “I’ve decided to give you ownership of the condominium, Brandon. Since I don’t use it, I don’t really need it, and the couple who rent it are planning to move at the end of their lease, which is in about six weeks. I’ve already had the papers drawn up. You can pick them up from Elise Conrad, at her office.” Once again there was weighty silence as Brandon considered Maren’s offer. She silently prayed that he would accept the condominium they had shared when they were married. It held too many memories of the wasted marriage, and Maren never had the heart to live in it. As it was, she had rented it and used the income to pay for Brandon’s medical needs. She would only be too glad for him to accept that piece of real estate, which still reminded her of the painful divorce.

  “Is this the kiss-off?” Brandon asked.

  “I think it’s time we went our separate ways.”

  “Easy for you to say. You’re marrying into big bucks, so you don’t want to bother with a cripple!”

  “Brandon, you’re not a cripple. I’ve talked with your doctors and your physical therapists. They all seem to think that you’re fine. And your career counselor says he can put you into a job as soon as you’re willing. I think…” she paused, wondering just how to handle him, and then decided that honesty was what he needed. “…I think it’s time you decided what you want to do with your life.”

  “And what would you say if I told you I wanted you?” he asked softly.

  “I’d say that you’re wrong. We tried, Brandon. It didn’t work. You’re the one who decided that.” When he didn’t immediately respond, she concluded: “It’s up to you whether you want the condo or not. Just give Elise a call. Goodbye.” With finality, she replaced the receiver. “Thank God it’s over,” she murmured as she pulled herself upright and hurried out of her office to look for Jan. Maren had been left with the uncanny feeling that Jan had had something she wanted to discuss with her before the conversation was cut off by Brandon’s untimely telephone call.

  When Maren entered the reception area, she realized that Jan must have left for the weekend. The clutter on Jan’s desk had been cleared and there was no sign of the blond secretary. Whatever it was that Jan had wanted to say would just have to keep.

  Within a few minutes Ted, from production, stopped in with the finished product of the Mirage video.

  “Better late than never,” Maren quipped as she accepted the cassette. “How does it look?”

  “See for yourself,” Ted suggested with a smile and a weary raking of his fingers through thinning blond hair. There was a satisfied look in his eyes.

  “That good, is it?” Maren asked as she placed the cassette into the recorder and watched as J. D. Price and the rest of Mirage sang and acted out the lyrics of “Yesterday’s Heart.” A pleased grin stole over Maren’s lips. “It’s a winner,” she thought aloud.

  “You bet it is,” Ted agreed.

  “Now we’ll really have something to celebrate tomorrow,” she replied, rewinding the tape and watching the video a second time.

  “It should be a big day,” Ted surmised, lighting a cigarette.

  “It will be int
eresting to see Mirage’s reaction to this tape,” she said, mentally noting that Kyle’s reaction would be just as worthwhile.

  “I think J.D. will be pleased.”

  “Let’s hope so,” Maren murmured as she took the cassette from the recorder and locked the black cartridge in the file cabinet. “We’ll find out tomorrow night, won’t we?”

  “We’ll knock ’em dead,” Ted predicted as he turned to go. “And let me tell you, it’s been a long time coming. After that unscheduled blowup with the fireworks, I was ready to throw in the towel.”

  “Good thing you didn’t.”

  “I guess so. See ya tomorrow.” He ambled out of the office leaving Maren to turn out the lights and lock the door.

  SATURDAY DAWNED PERFECT for sailing. The party, which was primarily to celebrate the buyout of Festival Productions by Sterling Records, was to be held on Kyle’s yacht, at his insistence. After an afternoon of sailing around Santa Catalina Island, the yacht would return to her private berth near Long Beach. At that time, Maren planned to unveil the Mirage tape, hoping that everyone involved with the making of the video would get to see it.

  Invited guests streamed onto the yacht under the brilliant Southern California sun. Some of the guests were dressed casually in beachwear, while others stepped onto the deck in glamorous gowns and dripping in jewels. When the eclectic group seemed complete, the gleaming white vessel set sail for the short trip.

  Maren was in a festive mood. She was dressed casually and felt as carefree as the wind. Mingling with the guests, she accepted congratulations on the sale of the production company. And for the first time in several years, she felt unburdened with thoughts of her ex-husband. She was free to love again, and she was hopelessly in love with Kyle.

  Sunbathers crowded the polished wood deck, while other guests clustered in the main salon, drinking champagne and sampling a lavish display of hors d’oeuvres. Liveried waiters were prompt to refill a glass or offer the trays of appetizers. Champagne flowed from a fountain near an extraordinary seafood buffet.

  “You really know how to throw a party,” Maren teased when Kyle made his way over to her. A flash of white teeth warmed his tanned face.

  “Thank you.” He placed a possessive arm around her waist and leaned over the railing to watch the prow of the yacht knife through the clear blue-green water.

  “Who’re you trying to impress?” Maren asked, her eyes twinkling mischievously.

  “Just one lady,” he admitted with a devilish grin.

  “You didn’t have to host a party to impress me,” she sighed. The wind caught in her hair and pulled it free of her chignon. Salt sea spray caressed her face. “I was already interested.”

  He leaned with his back to the railing, and his gray eyes roved over the crowd milling on the deck. His smile broadened as his eyes rested on his daughter. She and her friend were sunning themselves while sitting in lounge chairs. “I’ve got some good news,” Kyle announced, letting his eyes linger on Holly.

  “Oh?”

  “Well, actually, it’s good news for me, but it might be a difficult adjustment for Holly.” His lips drew into a contemplative frown. “Rose called this morning.”

  At the mention of Kyle’s ex-wife, Maren’s stomach knotted. “She wanted to talk to Holly?”

  “That’s the surprising part. She didn’t want to speak to Holly at all. As a matter of fact, she didn’t want Holly to know about the conversation until she’d worked out a deal with me.”

  Maren was instantly on guard. “What kind of a deal?” she asked anxiously.

  The waiter interrupted Kyle’s response by offering slightly unsteady glasses of champagne from a silver tray. Kyle accepted one for himself and handed another to Maren. When the slim steward disappeared into the crowd, Kyle continued. “It seems that Rose has finally seen the light.”

  Maren took a drink of her champagne. “What do you mean?”

  “Rose has taken up with some singer in the movie. He’s not playing the lead, but that’s beside the point.”

  “What is the point?” Maren asked, raising her brows in anticipation.

  “Rose assured me that the new man in her life is not just a casual fling. But there is a problem. She wants to cut a record with him, and she’s going to move in with him. He lives somewhere near Dallas and the last thing he wants is Holly.”

  Maren raised her eyes to meet Kyle’s angry gaze. “So Rose is going to give you custody of Holly after all—just because this guy doesn’t like kids.” Maren couldn’t hide her surprise. Her heart bled for Holly.

  “That’s about the size of it,” Kyle admitted grimly.

  Maren disguised her disgust. “Good. Holly deserves to be with you.”

  “With us,” Kyle amended. “She’ll be with us.”

  “And I’m thrilled about it,” Maren said honestly, with tears shining in her eyes. “I can’t think of anything that would make me happier than living with you and your daughter.”

  Relief flooded Kyle’s ruggedly handsome features. “You’re a very special woman, Maren McClure,” he stated, taking her into his arms and kissing her softly on the lips. “Do you think that I could persuade you to drive to Las Vegas with me tonight so that we can quit talking about getting married and just do it?”

  “What about Holly?”

  “She’s staying the weekend with Sara. We’d be alone until Monday.”

  “It sounds like heaven,” Maren murmured, closing her eyes. She didn’t realize how tired she was. The last six weeks had been frantic and she couldn’t think of anything more perfect than spending a quiet weekend alone with Kyle.

  “Consider it,” Kyle suggested, just as Grace, his secretary, approached them and offered her congratulations. The plump woman seemed genuinely pleased. “This one,” she pointed accusingly at Kyle, “needs a woman looking after him.”

  Maren laughed aloud. “I’d say you’ve done a pretty good job of that.”

  “At the office, yes. But he needs more than that. Good luck to the both of you,” Grace said with a satisfied smile as she turned back toward the refreshment table.

  “You’ve been spreading rumors about us,” Maren accused with a merry laugh. “And I love you for it.”

  “Guilty as charged,” Kyle replied, finishing his glass of champagne. “But the only people I told our little secret to were Grace, Lydia and Holly.”

  ‘So she did know about it! That little stinker. When Holly boarded the yacht, I thought she looked like the cat who ate the canary, feathers and all!” Maren looked deeply into Kyle’s amused gray eyes. “So tell me, how did your daughter take the news?”

  “Very well. As a matter of fact, I think that she and Lydia had a little wager about it.”

  Maren’s dark brows arched elegantly. “Is that so. Did Lydia give up on Spanish and start teaching Holly the techniques of gambling?”

  “Why don’t you ask Holly,” Kyle said with a laugh. The sound of his laughter was rich and managed to touch the darkest corners of Maren’s heart. When he tightened his arms around her waist, Maren imagined she could die in the warmth of his gentle embrace. How was it possible to love one man so desperately?

  Holly strode up to Maren and her father. “So when are you going to make the official announcement?” she asked.

  “Any day now,” Kyle replied.

  “I’m so happy for you,” Holly said, looking at Maren. “This old guy needs someone to keep him in line.”

  “Old?” Kyle repeated with a vexed look crossing his face.

  Holly ignored his mock anger. She threw her small arms around Maren’s neck and hugged her. “It’s wonderful,” the girl whispered to Maren, and Maren had difficulty holding back her tears. She felt as if her heart would burst with happiness.

  The white vessel rounded Santa Catalina Island just as the sun sank into the horizon. By the time the yacht was docked back at Long Beach, it was dark and all of the guests had wandered into the main salon. The room was thick with cigarette smoke as ever
yone waited to witness the first showing of “Yesterday’s Heart.” A crowd huddled around the screen in a tight semicircle. All five members of Mirage had their eyes riveted on the screen.

  Maren slipped the tape into the recorder. In a flood of sound and visual effects, the throbbing music of Mirage dominated the room and the screen offered an image of a spurned lover singing angry lyrics while walking down an empty street during the Depression. The editing was perfect, and J.D.’s charisma blended with the pouty disdain in Janie Krypton’s intriguing eyes.

  When the tape had ended, there were roars of approval from the crowd: “Let’s see it again!” “That was great!” “What an inspired idea!” All of the comments were enthusiastic, and Maren felt as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders. The room was filled with smiles and the popping of champagne bottles being uncorked until Holly Sterling turned her confused eyes on her father.

  “What’s the big deal?” she asked, aware that members of Mirage were eyeing her warily.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I’ve already seen that video,” Holly stated weakly.

  Kyle’s smile fell from his face. The clatter of voices hushed. “I don’t understand.”

  “I saw that video yesterday at Jill’s house,” she said, her round eyes searching for Maren.

  “Are you sure?” Kyle asked as the cold hand of suspicion climbed up his spine.

  “Daddy, I told you. I saw ‘Yesterday’s Heart’!” Holly repeated.

  “What’s going on here?” J. D. Price thundered. “You told me you wouldn’t release the video until I approved!”

  “And I meant it,” Kyle said evenly.

  Price stopped dead in his tracks, his thick brown brows pulled into an angry frown. “What are you trying to tell me, Sterling. If you haven’t released it, how did she see the video?” Price’s brilliant blue eyes sparked with vengeful fire. “What the hell are you saying—that the tape’s been pirated?”