by Janet Dailey
“She eloped with Charles Manning,” Colin corrected bleakly. “You see, Ian Montgomery, Vera's father and Rian's grandfather, saw through Manning's guise of adoration for his daughter as a means to the family fortune and refused to let Vera see him. I've often wondered if he hadn't been so dictatorial whether Vera would have seen what kind of man Charles was. As matter of fact, I've always thought that Ian Montgomery could have bought him off, but he wasn't man to be blackmailed."
“What happened after they eloped? Did her father disinherit her?"
“No, Ian was a man with a great sense of family loyalty, and in his old-fashioned way of thinking, Vera was a beautiful woman without the sense to realize what a mistake she'd made. Once the damage had been done and the marriage was a reality, Ian tried to put Charles to work in the family business. From what I understand the first few years of their marriage, Charles made a concerted effort to be the family man and business executive he was expected to be. But my father says he was a born philanderer. Before anybody realized what was happening he was having an affair with his secretary. Vera always took the blame for his straying because she couldn't have children. She turned a blind eye to every new mistress and the rest of the family had no choice but to do the same."
“Poor Vera!” The lump in her throat was hard to swallow. Such a life would have broken the spirit of a lesser woman.
“Everyone turned a blind eye except Rian,” Colin continued. “I told you that after his parents were killed, he went to live with Vera and Charles who were staying here in Ian Montgomery's house. Rian was fourteen or fifteen at the time. Yet he never attempted to hide his loathing and contempt for Charles Manning. He never understood Vera's constant assertions that she loved Charles despite his less than perfect ways. He must have been a terrible thorn in Charles's side, always taunting him about his mistresses, never caring who was there, even Vera."
“That must have made it difficult for everyone,” Laurie commented, while partially admiring Rian for daring to bring things out in the open.
“If Ian hadn't died, it's hard to say how long Charles would have continued with his discreet affairs. Rian was twenty-five at the time, a young age to be handed the reins of a sprawling conglomerate. Perhaps it was the absence of Rian and the death of his grandfather that made Charles so reckless. He began appearing at public places with his women and no longer attempted to pretend his marriage to Vera was sailing along smoothly. In fact he was rarely home, and usually only when Rian was expected.” Colin paused, staring off into the quiet countryside before bringing his grim gaze back to Laurie. “One day, a few months after Ian's death, Vera met Rian for lunch. They went to one of the more exclusive restaurants in town, only to find Charles at one of the secluded tables with a young blonde. Vera would have walked on past without acknowledging his presence, but Rian walked right up to the table and grabbed Charles by the collar. Rian damned near beat him to death before they were able to drag him away."
Laurie's gasp of surprise brought a sympathetic glance from Colin.
“The intervention of the Judge, Charles's failure to press charges, and the power of the Montgomery name kept it out of the papers, but the tongues of the gossips had a field day with it. Vera filed for separation papers, although her religious principles wouldn't allow her to divorce Charles. She rarely ventured out of the house for two years. Then, when she was beginning to take part in some of the social activities again, Charles was killed in a car crash in the company of a married woman. And the whole scandal was revived again."
“No wonder she never discussed any of this with me. It's a pity that the past can't truly be buried,” Laurie sighed. “Vera is too loving a woman to have to carry that burden the rest of her life."
“My father agrees with you,” Colin smiled. “And he's a patient and persistent man."
“You would really like to see them get married, wouldn't you?"
“I don't remember my own mother. She died when I was two. Vera is the only maternal figure I've known.” His gold-flecked eyes glanced at the youthfully trim woman riding beside his father. “Besides, I'm a sucker for a happy ending. And the Judge has been in love with her too many years for me not to want to see that love fulfilled."
“I think perhaps Vera is afraid to fall in love again,” Laurie commented.
“I think she was more afraid that Rian wouldn't marry.” A frown creased Colin's otherwise unlined forehead. “The Judge believes that once you and Rian are safely married Vera might be more susceptible to his persuasions."
“Do you think so?” A whimsical expression played over her face as for the first time Laurie hoped that Rian and LaRaine's marriage would take place soon.
“To tell the truth, when I first heard Rian was engaged, I thought he might be doing it to please Vera and to have children to carry on the family name. You must remember,” Colin said with a half-smile. “I hadn't met you yet and I couldn't picture Rian marrying for love. Now I can't see how anyone could help falling in love with you."
The need to dim the ardent glow in his eyes brought an instant protest from Laurie. “Colin, please, I—"
“Don't say it,” he interrupted swiftly, a bitter curl to his mouth. “I know you're in love with Rian and are going to marry him. I admit I'm half infatuated with you already, but it will go no farther. Friends it will be."
Even if she wanted it to be more, like Colin she would have to be satisfied with a brief friendship.
“Shall we catch up with Vera and your father?” she suggested.
Colin nodded, nudging his roan into a canter, and Laurie followed suit.
CHAPTER FOUR
The salty tang of the breeze borne over the Gulf of Mexico mingled with the strong scent of chlorine from the swimming pool. The fiery yellow glow in the afternoon sky was turning the red-brown cobblestones into burning rocks, as Laurie climbed out of the pool. Her long black hair was plaited into one long braid down her back where it glistened wetly like highly polished ebony. She turned to watch Colin on the diving board. He looked more than ever like a golden god with his burnished blond hair and the even tan of his body contrasting with the white of his swimming trunks. Expertly he jackknifed off the board, slicing into the water with barely a sound. Traversing the length of the pool underwater, Colin surfaced beside the ladder.
“Aren't you coming back in?” he asked, his hazel eyes flicking over her bikini in its design of large yellow daisies against a background of bright blue.
“I think I'll rest awhile,” Laurie replied, a bit out of breath from her exertions in the water. She ignored the large bathing towel lying on the umbrellaed redwood table, choosing to let the sun evaporate the water and cool her skin. “Vera will be out in a minute anyway, and I want to make sure the Judge will be over for dinner tonight,” she added as she stretched out on the cushioned redwood chaise-lounge.
“You're a veritable matchmaker,” Colin laughed, shaking off the excess water as he climbed the pool's ladder to join her in the cooling shade of the trees. “These last couple of days you've come up with an amazing number of invitations for my father."
“All of which Vera has endorsed heartily,” Laurie grinned. “I've heard the sound of wedding bells is contagious."
“I have to admit I never thought anyone would be able to persuade her to attend that parade yesterday afternoon. But the Judge was able to find a secluded balcony to view it from, so her abhorrence of crowds couldn't be used as an excuse."
“She did seem to enjoy it."
“So did you,” Colin commented, towelling himself off briskly before slumping into a chair beside her.
“The evening parade tomorrow night might be a bit more difficult. I was thinking,” Laurie said with a conspiratorial twinkle in her eyes, “that we could all go out to dinner tomorrow night, then when it was time to go to the parade, you and I could suggest that they stay behind ... alone together."
“That's a stroke of genius!” Colin chuckled as he rose to his feet. “Which calls fo
r an innocuous celebration drink.” Laurie laughed gaily as he took her hand, made a mockingly gallant bow over it before bringing it to his lips. “You're a remarkable woman,” he averred.
“Thank you, noble sir,” Laurie teased back.
Colin sent a jaunty salute in her direction before ambling towards the house. Laurie leaned back against the bright cushions, a contented smile on her face. The days had passed much swifter since Colin had related the story of Vera's unfortunate marriage. Laurie had become so involved with finding ways of bringing Vera and the Judge together that her apprehension about masquerading as Rian's fiancée had retreated to the background. It seemed so very important that something good should come out of her visit that she devoted nearly all of her attention to that end. Even Colin admitted she had been successful.
The slight breeze had increased. Now that she was out of the direct sunlight, a shiver danced over her skin. As much as she hated to move from the relaxing comfort of the lounge chair, Laurie rose to her feet, walking over to the redwood table to retrieve the flowered wrap-around skirt that matched her swimsuit. The hem tickled the top of her leather thongs to transform her bikini into a haltered hostess gown.
As Laurie was securing the tie, a pair of dark-sleeved arms circled her waist, crossing themselves to cup her breasts. Instinctively she stiffened, gasping with surprise as she was drawn back against a hard muscular chest. Warm breath fanned her neck while a pair of lips explored the sensitive cord, sending a fiery trail of tingling awareness through her entire body.
“So that's what you've been doing while I've been away-twisting poor Colin around your finger,” a masculine voice uttered huskily near her throat.
A cold shaft of fear was plunged into Laurie's insides as she recognized Rian Montgomery's voice. It wasn't possible, she told herself. He couldn't be here. He was supposed to be in South America for another week or more. But even as her heart cried that it couldn't be true, her mind acknowledged that it was.
With a sob of panic she turned in his arms, trying to use her body as a wedge to halt his searching caress. He allowed the turn, his head raising slightly to claim her lips possessively. Her hands pushed ineffectively against his chest, fighting the whirling sensation that was going on in her head as he forced her unyielding body to mould to the hard contours of his thighs and chest. The sensual mastery of his kiss was gradually turning her limbs into molten lava until her fingers curled around the lapel of his jacket for support been away
When his dark head jerked away from hers, flames of fear and embarrassment consumed her face as her rounded blue eyes stared into the cold fury building in his dark gaze. Her left hand was seized roughly, twisting her wrist to confirm the presence of the sapphire ring on her finger before his accusing gaze mercilessly raked her face.
“Who are you?” Rian rasped out viciously, not relinquishing his iron grip on her wrist that kept her pressed against the muscular outline of his body.
“Laurie,” she whispered weakly, trembling at the violent expression in his ruthlessly carved face and the havoc he had made of her senses.
“The tractable little cousin,” he hissed sarcastically, the recognition and remembrance of her existence glimmering briefly in the dark fires of his black eyes. “What are you doing here? Where's LaRaine?” he demanded, cruelly twisting her wrist farther until she cried out in pain.
“Please!” Her deep blue eyes pleaded with him. “I can explain."
A muscle twitched near his mouth as he stared down at her contemptuously. She was left in little doubt that no matter what she said it would have little effect on him. With derisive amusement Rian noted the swift rise and fall of her breasts that revealed her inner agitation and panic.
“Isn't this a wonderful surprise, Laurie?” Vera's voice cut the heavy silence that had descended between Rian and Laurie. Rian's wide shoulders effectively prevented his aunt from seeing Laurie's terror-stricken expression.
“You'll never know how much of a surprise it was to her,” Rian replied calmly.
His cynical gaze scornfully surveyed her pleading eyes and trembling lips. He released his hold on her wrist, letting his hand move to her shoulders. His dark head bent down to her neck in what probably looked like an affectionate caress from Vera's vantage point, but it was only a ruse so Rian could make sure his command was for Laurie's ears only.
“I'll handle this. Say nothing,” he murmured harshly.
His glittering eyes examined her face, noting her silently obedient expression before his arm circled her shoulders and he turned to face his aunt.
“Dear Laurie,” Rian put ridiculing emphasis on her correct name, “is overwhelmed to find me here."
“I'm not surprised,” Vera smiled widely, mistaking the shimmering sparkle of tears in the blue eyes for tears of happiness. “You were so adamant about not being able to return in time for Mardi Gras when we talked to you on the telephone."
The numbed shock was beginning to subside. Her limbs were still trembling and the firm grip of his arm around her bare shoulders burned her skin. Yet Laurie couldn't understand why Rian hadn't denounced her as a fraud. He surely wasn't going to condone the masquerade and let her go unpunished. Unpunished? Her wrist was throbbing painfully already and Laurie knew there would be marks where his fingers had dug into her skin. Her lips retained the sensation of his scorching kiss. It was not something she was likely to forget very soon.
“I concluded my business much sooner than I expected,” Rian was saying, turning his head to look down on Laurie's raven hair. “The thought of my beloved waiting so impatiently for my return probably had a great deal to do with it."
The jeer in his voice flooded her cheeks with a flame-pink hue. He must have found her humiliation amusing, as he added with a biting chuckle, “Isn't it touching, Vera? My desire to be at her side embarrasses her."
“Rian—” Laurie began her pleading protest with his first name, so accustomed to referring to him that way that she momentarily forgot she had no right to be so familiar. But as she met his glittering gaze, like black obsidian, it promptly and arrogantly reminded her. Her own gaze faltered under the glare of his and she was unable to voice her request for him to reveal her true identity.
Vera seemed to sense Laurie's unease. “Darling, I think Laurie would like to freshen up a bit. Here you've caught her completely unaware, without a smidgen of make-up and in a wet swimsuit,” she laughed. “It puts a woman at a disadvantage."
“That's the way I would like to keep her,” Rian replied, unwillingly removing his arm from around her shoulders. She took a quick step away, freed at last from the power of his touch. His head tilted arrogantly towards her as he gave her permission to leave. “Run along to your room, Laurie, and put on your shield. We'll see how adequate your defences are later."
Laurie could only smile weakly at Vera as she retreated hastily towards the house. The hot tears that had been burning her eyes flowed with abandon as she swung open the back door and entered the cool hallway. Her blurred vision didn't see Colin approaching with a tray of drinks until he called out to her.
“Laurie, you're crying!” he exclaimed with genuine concern. “What's wrong? What happened?"
“Rian's back,” she sobbed, then throttled her voice with her own hand. Rian had ordered her to say nothing. Undoubtedly he wanted to do the unmasking. Besides, Laurie couldn't bear to see the withdrawn expression come into Colin's face when he learned she was an impostor.
“I know,” he smiled with relief, guessing as Vera had that she was crying from happiness. “I'm bringing out a tray of drinks to celebrate. Where are you going?"
She wiped the tears from one cheek. “I need to freshen up,” she said, using the lie that Vera had offered.
“Lucky Rian!” Colin grimaced playfully as Laurie slipped hurriedly past him to the staircase.
There was really nothing she could say in her defence, she realized as she reached the safety of her room. Nothing that would be an adequate enough reason f
or deceiving Vera, Colin and the Judge for these past days. They had believed her to be what she said, offered her their affection and their hospitality, and she had taken it, knowing all along that she was not Rian's fiancée. How could they not look at her with disgust when they discovered her sham as they surely would?
Only five more days, Laurie told herself bitterly, as she entered the gold and white bathroom off her bedroom and turned on the cold tap. Five more days and she would have been back in Los Angeles with no one the wiser except herself and LaRaine. She pressed a cold cloth compress against her eyes to stem the redness that was marring their blue depths. No, the sin wasn't in being caught, Laurie corrected her thoughts, it was agreeing to the masquerade in the first place. She had known it was wrong, but she had allowed herself to be persuaded into agreeing. She was just as much to blame as LaRaine.
The cold water had the desired effect of clearing her eyes and bolstering her badly shaken poise. Removing the clasp that held her hair in place, Laurie shook it free from the braid. Deliberately she turned the shower on, stepping under the stinging spray to shampoo the scent of chlorine from her hair and skin while hoping the pelting water would banish the memory of the rough material of Rian's blazer where it had bruised her skin. In truth, Laurie was attempting to postpone to the last possible moment the expected confrontation with Rian Montgomery.
As Laurie towelled herself dry a few minutes later, she realized there was slim consolation in the fact that Rian didn't reveal her impersonation of LaRaine the instant he saw her. After rubbing her long hair nearly dry, she took heart that perhaps Rian wanted to hear the explanation of her being there before he condemned her completely. Why else had he not denounced her on the spot? Her comb made slow methodical rows through her silken hair as she pondered that possibility, finally deciding it was the only thing that made sense.