Accepting a glass of champagne, he tried to concentrate on the Financial Times. But his mind kept wandering and eventually he turned and gazed unseeingly out of the window. He knew Mark Victorsen was surprised he was returning so soon, for his assistant had assured him there was no need to hurry back.
'Bonlam's still meeting other companies,' he had said over the telephone, 'and you might as well wait until a decision's imminent, before returning.'
But Kane had been too restless to remain in London and once the Welsh contract had been finalised, he had booked his flight. Normally he supervised a new operation for the first month or two, but he could not envisage any problems arising with this one. Anyway, if they did, he would return. But as of now, Sharon was his main concern, and the need to hold her, to make her respond to him, was uppermost in his mind.
Another forty-eight hours and he would know if he had built up his hopes too high. After all, she might be a total disaster sexually! He almost hoped she was, for it would be the best way of getting her out of his system. Sighing, he drained his drink, refused another, and lowered his chair into the sleep position, requesting the stewardess not to wake him up for any meals. If things went according to his hopes, he would need all the sleep he could get!
He was feeling refreshed and on top of the world when Mark met him at the airport next morning and filled him in on events of the past two days.
'Barchard Construction are here from Huston, and Pete Wilburg's heading a Japanese outfit. He's going to be our toughest competition. They all moved out to Pattaya yesterday,' the man added. 'That's where Bonlam's carrying on his negotiations, so we'll have to go there too.'
Kane was dismayed. Yet he could not admit it to Mark without disclosing feelings he had no desire to uncover. The contract had to come first. When he had won—or lost it—he would have time to pursue the girl who had brought him back here.
'You'd better fix our reservations then,' he said.
'I've already done so.'
'Good.' Kane hesitated, then lost the battle with himself. Til join you there tomorrow. You can hold the fort till then.' He paused. 'Your son should enjoy it better there. Most kids like the beach.'
'He and Angela have gone home. Terry had to start school.'
'Oh, right. Guess I'm not aufait with term times!'
The Avonmore came in sight and Kane's heart started pounding. He wondered what Sharon's reaction would be when she saw him. Pleasure or indifference? After all, he had been away more than five weeks. Still, one thing was sure; she would never pretend. She was too honest for that.
He leapt from the car as it stopped and hurried into the lobby, leaving Mark to handle the luggage. Going straight to Reception, he asked for her.
'Miss Kingston is no longer with us,' the clerk said.
'What?' Kane was thunderstruck. Don't say he had flown half-way across the world to find she was back in England! Or had the man who had made her wary of relationships—she had practically admitted she had been let down in love—suddenly realised what he was missing and come after her?
'When did she leave the company?' he asked.
'She hasn't left us, sir,' the clerk smiled. 'She's been transferred to our hotel in Pattaya.'
Relief—swift as a flash flood—encompassed Kane. It looked as though Fate was rooting for him after all! Striding across to Mark, he told him he had changed his mind and would go to Pattaya at once.
Used to his boss' lightning changes of mind, the older man signalled for the luggage to be returned to the car, and within minutes they were speeding towards the coast.
For the first part of the journey Kane listened to details about the negotiations, but half-way through he feigned fatigue and closed his eyes, wanting time to ponder his reaction when he had thought Sharon was no longer free.
In seconds he had ricocheted from disappointment to elation and then despair. Disappointment that he would not be seeing her, elation that he was saved from making a fool of himself over a girl, and despair at knowing he wanted to be a fool! God! what had she done to him? She had found a chink in his armour, penetrated his defences and wrapped herself around his heart. His desire for her had developed into 'I can't live without her', though he had not realised it until he had heard the clerk say she had gone. Mulling it over as the car ate up the miles to the coast, he wryly admitted that the biter had finally been bit. He was in love!
They reached Pattaya at three. Kane had first come here as a guest of the Minister, which was when he had met Tassy, and he had spent several soul- searching hours debating whether to ask her to marry him. But even at the height of her attraction for him, something had told him it would not work. Now he knew why. Though he had wanted her physically, she had aroused no tenderness in him. Funny, when she was so tiny and fragile. Yet Sharon, tall, stately Sharon of the voluptuous body and shy eyes, filled him with a desire to protect.
The Avonmore gleamed white ahead of him, and as the car drew to a stop, Kane jumped out and made straight for Reception. Abruptly he asked where Miss Kingston was, uncaring what anyone thought of his impatience to see her.
'She's at the pool,' the clerk said in answer to his question. 'Shall I page her for you?'
'No. On second thoughts I think I'll go to my room first and shower. I've had a long flight.'
He was delighted Mark had managed to fix him up with a penthouse suite here too, and within a short space of time he had unpacked and was stepping into the glass-cubicled shower. He was glad he' had not gone rushing after Sharon. He needed time to compose himself, not go rushing after her like a lovesick schoolboy. But even as he told himself this, he found his hands shaking, and he was in and out of the shower in sixty seconds flat. So much for his determination not to rush!
Female heads turned as he walked across the terrace and down the steps to the pool. It was huge and free form, and there seemed to be hundreds of lounging chairs and gaily coloured mattresses ranged around it, most of them occupied. But he could not see Sharon anywhere.
Slowly he circled the perimeter, wending his way between tables and striped umbrellas, where guests sat drinking and nibbling titbits. Then suddenly his eye was caught by some striped mattresses half-hidden by a clump of flowering bushes, and he heard soft, warm laughter. Careful not to intrude, he moved away. The laughter came again, and something about it made him step closer and part the leaves.
Sharon, in a miniscule green sundress, was lounging on one of the mattresses, her back towards him, her corn gold hair catching the sun. A man lay beside her on another mattress, and as Kane watched, he pulled her sharply to him and kissed her full on the mouth.
Kane was not aware of making a sound. Yet he must have done, for she quickly turned her head in his direction. The sun was in her eyes and for an instant she did not see who it was, then recognition dawned, followed by a look of amazement.
Murmuring something to the man, she jumped up and came towards him. 'Hello, Kane. I didn't know you were coming back.'
He forced himself to return her smile. 'I settled my affairs quicker than I thought.' He glanced at the other man, hiding the swift fury he felt as he recognised him. 'Hello, Wilburg. So we're competitors again!'
'For the contract or for Sharon?' Pete drawled.
'I'm not up for bids,' Sharon interposed sweetly. 'I consider myself priceless!'
'All lovely women are,' Kane said smoothly, delighted to find he was in control of himself. 'Maybe we'll have a drink later. You're busy now, I see.'
Not giving her a chance to reply, he walked on. Disappointment and anger stiffened his throat and he swallowed hard. He had only himself to blame, going in search of her like a love-crazed adolescent. He should have played it cool, pretended to be surprised when he met her inside. At least then he'd have been spared the sight of her flirting with another man. He swore under his breath. She was no better than any other woman!
Mark was waiting for him in his suite, relaxing in a cane chair on the patio overlooking the sea, and sipp
ing a Scotch and soda.
'Seen any of the other delegates yet?'
'Only Pete Wilburg. He was with Sharon Kingston, the girl from the Avonmore in Bangkok.'
'I forgot to mention she was here.' The older man's expression was cautious.
'Why should you?' Kane said off-handedly. 'Hotel staff are always shunted around.'
'Trust Wilburg to cotton on to the prettiest girl here,' Mark added. 'He's a smooth operator. Almost your match!'
Kane shrugged. 'I can't see any of us having much time for women down here. Does Bonlam know I'm back?'
'Sure. I told——- ' Mark broke off as the phone rang.
He picked it up and spoke into it, then held it out. 'For you,' he said.
Kane knew instantly who it was, and kept his tone casual as he spoke Sharon's name.
'I th-thought that—that if you were free,' she stammered, 'I—er—I'd come up to see you.'
'I'd like that very much, but not now I'm afraid. I'm in conference.'
'Later then?'
'I may be tied up all day. But I'll be in touch.'
How easy it was to feign indifference! He was almost convincing himself; and Sharon too from the tone of her voice as she said goodbye. Yet she had only herself to blame. If she chose to flirt with Wilburg, he'd leave her to it.
'You were rather off-hand,' Mark remarked. 'I thought you fancied her.'
'No more than any other pretty girl. Which reminds me, is Tassy in Pattaya?'
'Yes. Do you want me to call her for you?'
'I'll do it myself. I'll meet you up here in an hour. I need a chance to relax.'
The man departed and a few seconds later Kane was speaking to Tassy. Yes, she would be free to dine with him that evening, and was delighted he was back.
'And that puts "finis" to you, Sharon Kingston,' Kane said as he replaced the receiver. 'It's not only a woman who can wash someone out of her hair!'
CHAPTER TEN
Sharon put down the receiver, overwhelmingly depressed. It had been foolish of her to ring Kane, but she had not anticipated such a curt response from him, even though he had found her with another man. At least he should have given her the chance to explain Pete was an old friend and did not mean anything to her now.
Dejectedly she wandered back to the pool and rejoined him.
'Everything okay?' he asked.
'Fine,' she lied, sinking on to her mattress. 'I had to finalise the arrangements for tonight's dinner- dance.'
He rolled on to his back and put his hands beneath his head. 'I thought you said you hardly knew Kane Morgan?'
'You thought right.'
'I didn't get that impression from the look on his face.'
'Maybe he didn't expect to find a hotel employee in the arms of a guest!'
Pete chuckled. 'One day someone's going to deflower you!'
'May I ask the relevance of that comment?'
'Simply that I've a feeling Kane Morgan would like it to be him.'
'You've a king-sized imagination,' she replied, and rose to move away.
Lithely he followed her and she glanced at him. His skin was more bronzed than when they had met skiing, and his fair hair longer. It gave him a rakish look that was infinitely attractive, yet he still left her cold.
'You used to accuse me of having no imagination,' he commented, keeping pace with her.
'I still do, when it comes to people!'
'Always smart with the answer, aren't you?' he grimaced. 'That's what I like about you. You keep me on my toes.'
'I thought it was the opposite. That you'd run a mile from a female who forced you to think!'
'Did I say that? Stupid the things one says in the heat of the moment.'
'Or the reasons one gives for making a quick getaway!'
He had no answer to that and stared straight ahead till they reached the outdoor bar leading into the hotel.
'This is where I leave you, Pete,' she said.
'Join me for a drink first.'
'I've still some things to check over.'
'You mean you aren't dashing up to see Morgan?'
'You do go on about him, don't you?'
'Because I think he's my rival. In business, and with you.' His hand was warm on her arm. 'How about dinner tonight?'
She hesitated. She did not particularly want to see Pete again, yet Kane had been so off-hand, she decided to accept the offer. 'I should be free by seven. I'll meet you here.'
That evening she took special care with her appearance, eventually choosing a dress made for her by a seamstress in the village. Simple in cut—a slim tube that merely hinted at the figure it concealed—it relied for effect on the fabric, the apricot silk giving golden lustre to her hair, which in turn emphasised the blue of her eyes.
She knew she was dressing for Kane, though the admiration on Pete's face when he saw her was balm to her wounded pride. He could not take his eyes off her, and as she smiled up at him she wished Kane was here to see her. A quick glance round the outdoor bar told her he wasn't, and it was an effort for her to keep the smile on her face. Not that Pete was aware of it; he saw only a beautiful girl whom he was lucky enough to have as his dinner companion.
'What's happened to you?' he asked as he toasted her with his Pimms. 'You look positively glowing. You in love or something?'
'Well, I love being in Pattaya,' she teased. 'But maybe it's the tan I've acquired. A little sunshine can work wonders.'
'Let's see what starlight can do,' he laughed, and leaned forward to squeeze her arm.
Sharon knew it would take more than starlight and Pete to revive her spirits. Indeed a foggy day with a plain man—if one loved him—could be heaven. Quickly she drained her drink, hoping the alcohol would lessen the sharp edge of the pain Kane had inflicted. It was hurt pride, nothing more, and it served her right for thinking anything, meaningful could exist between them. She had told herself this the day he had returned to England, but seeing him by the pool so unexpectedly this afternoon had foolishly made her believe he had come back because he had missed her as much as she missed him. Which only went to show what an idiot she was.
'Dinner, I think.' Pete broke into her thoughts. 'I don't know about you, but I'm famished.'
'So am I,' she lied, wondering how she would force down the food.
They left the bar and moved to their table by the poolside. It was a scene of fairy-tale splendour. Soft lights illumined the trees and cast a gentle glow over the tables, where candle lamps added their own shimmer. Flowers were strewn between the plates, scenting the air, which was already filled with the soft strains of violins played by a group of musicians hidden by the trees.
As Pete set his drink on the table, he moved Sharon's bag to one side. 'What on earth do you have in it?' he laughed, weighing it in his hand. 'The Crown Jewels?'
'Something nearly as valuable,' she said. 'The hotel keys.'
'Good Lord! For all the rooms?'
'Except the strong room and kitchens. It's only four master keys, not four hundred!' she explained, seeing his astonishment. 'But Bud Cameron's away for two days, and I'm in charge.'
'Where's his assistant?'
'Gone with him.'
Peter looked impressed. 'So you're top dog now? You're certainly climbing the Avonmore ladder.'
'That's my ambition,' she admitted, knowing it was only partly true. She also wanted a husband and family, and that put Kane right out of the running, for he was the type who would either want his wife to follow him around like a lap dog, or else be content to stay in the background, bringing up the children.
The waiter set the menus before them, and as she picked hers up, she saw Kane a few tables away. In a beige suit, with paler silk shirt, he was far and away the most handsome man here. He also looked the most irritable, if the perfunctory nod he gave his waiter was anything to go by. Did he regret his behaviour to her earlier this afternoon? Hoping so, she gave Pete a brilliant smile. Let Kane put that in his pipe and smoke it!
; 'May the best company win,' she said, toasting him.
'Then it'll be us,' Pete retorted. 'We're honest, efficient, and as competitive as Morgan Construction. Incidentally, he's sitting not five yards from us, and Tassy Bonlam's just joined him.'
Sharon carefully set her glass on the table, glad she hadn't spilled any of the liquid.
'She's a beautiful girl,' she murmured.
Pete nodded. 'Clever too.'
'You know her?'
'Vaguely. I had dealings with her father last time I was here. We did a good job for the government and he was delighted.'
'How come this new contract wasn't automatically given to you then?'
'It's too big to be awarded without competitive tenders being allowed. My spies tell me Morgan's offering rock-bottom prices.'
'Spies?' Sharon was amused. 'You have spies?'
'Not seriously.' Pete flashed her a smile. 'But a lot of information gets passed along the grape-vine, and if you keep your ears open when the delegates have had a few drinks… Someone told me last night that Morgan's on to a new type of concrete that'll cut his costs by half. Naturally everyone wants to know what it is. If——- ' The wine waiter paused by their table and
Pete broke off to consult with him.
He half-turned away from her as he did so, and Sharon was afforded a full view of Kane and Tassy. As always, the girl was exquisitely dressed, but tonight her usual discreet jewellery had been abandoned for a chunky gold necklace and long, swaying earrings which gave her an exotic air more normally associated with Thai bar girls. Which only went to show, Sharon thought cynically, that in every woman lies the harlot!
'Let's go over to the buffet before the crush,' she suggested to Pete, pushing back her chair as soon as the wine waiter had left.
Roberta Leigh - No Time For Marriage Page 10