“Don’t get huffy with me, Mary Katherine.”
“You haven’t begun to see huffy, trust me. What did you want to talk about, Jason?” She brought her torso upright to a seated position before grabbing her right ankle with both hands and lowering her nose to her leg.
“You have beautiful hair, Mary Katherine. Isn’t it inconvenient to keep it so long?”
“You didn’t barge in here at this hour to discuss my hair. What is on your mind? Speak up, then get out.” She repeated the process on the left leg. “Or just get out. At this point, I’d far prefer the latter.”
He sighed, then spoke, “How much money would it take to convince you to leave without a forwarding address?”
It took all of her strength of will not to al low her mouth to gape open. “I beg your pardon. I hope I didn’t hear what I thought I did.” Her friends would have recognized her all too quiet tone as a danger signal. In a fluid move, she rose to her feet before strapping on the wrist and ankle weights that lay on the desk.
“I can give you about one hundred thousand in cash by tomorrow morning at ten,” Jason offered. “That’s on the conditions that you sign a document relinquishing any claims to Harry’s estate and leave here immediately after receiving the money.”
“I can’t believe what I’m hearing. Let me get this straight, Jason. You’re offering me a bribe to leave this house?”
“I’d prefer to think of it as preventing Harry from being hurt,” Jason answered.
“I’m certain that you would,” Mary Kate replied pointedly as she sat down on the desk chair.
“One hundred thousand dollars is a lot of money.”
Mary Kate sighed. “Keep your money, Jason. He’s my father. All I want is to get to know him.”
“I can’t be sure of that. I believe that you believe you’re his daughter. But from what I remember about Nancy O’Brien, I can’t believe that she would have raised Harry’s daughter by herself without demanding that Harry bear his share of the responsibility. She wasn’t exactly the self-sacrificing sort.”
“I don’t want to hear even one more crack about my mother. From what I’ve seen of the residents of this house, none of you are half the person she was.”
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“I certainly hope not, at least where dishonesty is concerned.” “Get out, Jason, before I throw you out.” “I’m not going until I get the answer I want from you. Even if I have to stay here all night.” “I don’t believe this,” Mary Kate said in disgust. “You still believe I’m this Peter what’s-his-face’s
child. Even though the blood types aren’t compatible. It doesn’t make any sense.”
“So, you aren’t Peter’s bastard. Big deal. That doesn’t mean you’re Harry’s daughter. Your mother was unfaithful to Harry with one man. What makes you think there was only one? Nancy O’Brien left a string of broken hearts behind her.”
“I’m not going to sit here and listen to you malign my mother,” she warned as she stood.
“Save yourself a load of pain, Mary Katherine. Take the money. Leave Virginia. Go back to Illinois. Invest the money. Even bank interest on a hundred thousand would be a considerable supplement to a teaching salary.”
“You’re a real piece of work, aren’t you?” Mary Kate said her voice full of disbelief. “Think about it. One hundred thousand tax-free stake, properly placed in a diversified portfolio, could yield long term financial security for you.” “Forget it. I came out here to see my father and to get to know him. There is nothing on earth that could
convince me to leave just when I’ve begun.” “A quarter of a million. Tax free. Cash. Tomorrow by fifteen hundred hours. Take it or leave it.” “I’ll leave it,” she told him firmly, without hesitation. “Now, get out! We have nothing else to discuss.” “Harry is a very wealthy man. He won’t take kindly to being deceived,” Jason offered. “Think about
that before you have the blood tests run. If you’re not his daughter, and there is a good chance that you’re not, you will get nothing. Isn’t a quarter of a million enough? I could probably stretch it to three hundred thousand, but it would take me until the day after tomorrow to liquidate that much cash.”
“I have never even attempted to deceive anyone,” Mary Kate replied, her eyes flashing out her anger. “Sure, that’s why you were under investigation when Edward Hastings was indicted.” “How many times do I have to say this? I was never charged with anything. I wasn’t guilty of anything
except falling in love unwisely,” Mary Kate bit out. “The only guilt was by association.” “That’s your claim. We’ll see about that when the transcripts of the trial come.” “Yes, you will. And for your information, I don’t believe the insinuations that have been made about
my mother’s morals. I lived with her all my life. I knew who she was. And Jason, she wasn’t a floozy!” Jason sighed and shook his head sadly. “Floozy? That’s quite a term coming from a woman like you, Miss Mary Katherine, don’t you think?”
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Mary Kate balled her fists tightly, revealing her agitation. “Get out of here. I don’t need your continuing allegations about me, my morals, and my mother. I really don’t. Now get out of here before I slap you silly.”
“You think you’re capable of that?”
“Just leave, Jason! Before you find out exactly what I am capable of.”
“I don’t want to see Harry hurt any more by this situation. Your leaving now would hurt him, but not as much as his building his hopes up, only to discover that you aren’t really his daughter,” he explained as he rose from his seat.
“Get out of here, Jason! One more word and I may completely lose my temper. If my mother said Harry is my father, then Harry is my father.”
Except, a voice challenged in the back of her mind, your mother never said Harry was your father. She never spoke his name, ever.
“Fine. We’ve tried to do this civilly.”
“You don’t know the meaning of the word,” she charged with heat in her voice.
He continued, ignoring her comments, “But I’m warning you. If you try to milk Harry out of anything, and I mean anything, even something as simple as a paper clip, you’ll pay for it many times over. I guarantee you. I don’t want Harry hurt. And I won’t stand still to watch him being taken advantage of economically or emotionally. I hope I’ve made myself clear.”
“Crystal. There aren’t enough foul words in the English language to use to describe what I think of your insulting offer and pitiful threat, you pompous, arrogant, self-righteous, ass!”
Jason smiled and laughed boldly.
“I’d like to wipe that smirk right off your face.”
“You’re welcome to try.”
“I don’t think so. I don’t trust myself not to hurt you, very badly.”
Jason laughed, clearly not believing her. “Just remember, you’ve been warned, and I will be watching you carefully. I won’t let you hurt Harry.”
“Watch away! I have nothing to hide.”
Jason smiled as he looked at her. There was no warmth in his expression as his eyes raked over her, but there was plenty of heat. “Not much, at any rate, in that outfit. I’d say that leotard is all but guaranteed to show off your best assets.”
“I should have added ‘sexist’ to the list.”
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Jason came to stand only inches from her. “You think I don’t know how attracted you are to me. You don’t want to be attracted to me. I don’t want to be attracted to you, either. But, here we are, two adult people with raging hormones calling out to one another. What are we going to do about it?”
She knew what she’d like to do about it. But this man didn’t even like her. Nor did she like him. That she couldn’t stop wondering how he’d kiss, what it would be like to be in his arms, was insanity. She had no intention of indulging in the fantasies she’d been building about him. “I’d suggest that you start with a long, ice cold, shower. With a line like that, it’s a small wonder that yo
u can find any woman to see socially,” Mary Kate replied the disdain thick in her voice as she stepped away from him. “Or is that the upshot here? You’re so lonely that you have to hit on a ‘thief’?”
“I don’t like what I feel for you any more than you like what you feel for me,” he told her. “But we both feel the attraction. Tell me that you don’t. I dare you.”
“Get out of my rooms!” she demanded, not trusting herself to address the question, afraid that she’d show him just how accurate his assessment was.
“Chasing me off won’t help, Mary Katherine,” he said. “The attraction between us isn’t going to go away.”
She walked to the door. “Maybe it won’t, but it’s well past time for YOU to go away.”
“Not yet,” he said as he stepped towards her.
Mary Kate read the intention in his eyes. “No,” she warned in a less strong tone than she intended to use. She stepped backwards, coming to rest against the door.
His strong arms swept her to him, and before she could protest again, his mouth claimed hers with masterly persuasion. Her initial reluctance faded away under his skilled sensual coaxing. Passion stirred within her, in spite of herself. She had never been kissed with such tender passion. That was her undoing. The small corner of her mind that was still functioning screamed a warning at her, “He doesn’t even like you!” His mouth left hers, beginning to graze upwards towards her temple.
“So beautiful,” he told her, his voice thick, as his hands moved to caress her breasts.
The shock of his touch brought her to her senses. She grabbed the middle finger of his hand and pulled it backwards. Ducking under his arm, she held onto his finger keeping the pressure on until she had his arm twisted behind him and locked into place. She pushed him, face first into the oak door.
“Listen to me, and listen well. I will not be manhandled by you or anyone else. I will not take any more of your insults, either verbal or physical. This time, I’m letting you get away. But, the next time you try to touch me without my express permission, I will break your arm. No one assaults me without paying for it. Got it?” She asked as she increased the pressure on his finger and tightened her hold.
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“Yeah. I got it,” Jason responded, pain in his voice.
“Good. Now leave,” she said as she released him and stepped backwards. He turned around to face her. Something flickered in his eyes for a moment. It could have been respect, or fear. Either would have been an improvement over the attitude he had previously displayed.
“Sleep well, Mary Katherine,” he said, his voice gentle. “Goodbye, Jason. Don’t let the door hit you in the rump as you leave.” After Jason left, she locked the door securely and wedged the chair under the doorknob. She put the
tape in her small tape player, strapped it to her waist, then placed the earphones in her ears, before she began the routine that she often used on days that she couldn’t run. After today, she needed the release of working out hard. Even at that, she wasn’t sure that it was going to be enough to let her sleep.
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Chapter Five
“I could strangle Harry with my bare hands,” an angry female voice said over the telephone late that night. “I really could.”
Gilbert Jermon, Harry’s attorney, leaned back in his bed listening to the woman. “I wouldn’t recommend it, sweetheart. But I understand the sentiment.”
“I just can’t believe it. I really can’t. Harry talked that brat into staying here. She was all set to make this a flying visit, and he talked her into staying. More than that, he talked her into staying in this house. She could have conveniently disappeared from a hotel. I don’t need this aggravation right now. Not when we are less than a month away from the next stage. She’s a monkeywrench in the works.”
“Take it easy. You aren’t helping the cause by getting upset about this. We’ll deal with her.”
“I can’t take it easy. She’s going to dig. I know it. She’s got the Devlin disposition. Lord, Gil, you should have seen her at dinner. That brat is Harry’s daughter, through and through. There’s no doubt in my mind. Just like Harry, she won’t let this go until she’s satisfied.”
“Do you trust me?”
“Of course, I trust you,” the woman replied in a tone full of hurt. “How can you even think otherwise? But this is our necks on the line.”
“There is really nothing to worry about. All the girl will be able to discover from the public records is that Peter died from drowning in the lake behind the house after having been beaten, and that Nancy was implicated in his death. That isn’t likely to be something that she is going to want to look into further.”
“What are we going to do?” the distraught female voice questioned over the telephone line.
“Just take it easy, sweetheart. There is no sense in worrying about the girl until she gives us cause,” Gil replied into the telephone receiver. “As I believe I’ve said before.”
“By then, it may be too late, and you know it.”
“Look, love,” Gil said after he drew on his cigar while he leaned back on the bed pillows. “If the girl starts asking too many questions, then we’ll take care of her. We’re so close to getting everything that we’ve always wanted, I don’t believe we can afford to take chances which aren’t absolutely necessary.”
“How close, Gil? How close?”
“Another six months, love. Maybe seven. By the middle of January at the latest. I promise. It would have been a lot sooner if Nancy hadn’t been so greedy and demanding.”
“Can it really be that close?”
“Yes, just a few more months until everything falls into place.”
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“Very well. I won’t do anything rash.” “Promise me!” “I promise,” the woman assured him. “Thank you.” “Can I see you tomorrow night?” “Sorry. I’m entertaining the Anderson widow tomorrow night.” “I wish that you didn’t have to do that.” “It’s only for a little while. The Anderson estate is ripe for the plucking. Amalie Anderson won’t know
what hit her by the time that probate closes.” “I still can’t help wishing that you didn’t have to ingratiate yourself with her.” “Jealous, love?” Gil demanded. “Yes.” “You know you don’t have any cause to be jealous. You’re the only woman who has ever meant
anything to me.” “Oh, Gil...” “Come to me, love. We could spend the night together. Then you would know you have no reason to
be jealous.” “You know how protective Harry is about the women under his roof. He would know I’ve gone, then
there would be the devil to pay.” “Probably.” “I’m so sick of this sneaking around. Of being scared all the time. We’ve played this game for years. I
want some sort of normal life, Gil.” “Trust me. We will have our freedom soon. I promise you.” “I want to believe you.” “Then do. Can you get free tomorrow afternoon?” “Yes.” “Come to the cottage at one. My calendar is clear between noon and 4:30.” “I’ll come at noon. I don’t want to waste even one minute of time that we can be alone. Our time
together is far too valuable to me.” “I wish you would reconsider about tonight.” “Harry would want to know where I had gone. He’s always been very protective about the females
under his roof.”
“That’s true,” Gil admitted dryly. “Besides, you know that it has never been easy for me to lie to his face. “Ah, love, I think you’re underestimating your considerable skills.” “I’ll see you at the cottage when you get there. Don’t be late.” Gil laughed. “I do love you.” “You’d better.”
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Chapter Six
Early the next morning, Mary Kate set out for a long run. Normally, she ran ten miles each morning, but that was at home where she had long since laid out the route. It would take some time until she had a good route established here. The only question in her mind was whether she would be here long enough to bother with exploring various routes for the best roads.
The early morning light was soft. Charlie, the day man on the security gate, had been whistling when he had let her out of the gate and wished her a good run. It was the kind of morning that made her glad to be alive. She certainly needed the uplift to her spirits after yesterday, and particularly after last night.
Jase disturbed her drastically. She would like to believe that he was simply looking out for Harry. Somehow, she rather doubted that Harry Devlin needed to have anyone look after his interests. Her father was a strong man.
Yet, a strong man was also a good description for Jase Wilton. She would hate to have to face him over a negotiating table.
He has a ruthless streak in him a mile wide, Mary Kate thought. In that, he and I are all too similar.
The sun was warm as she ran on. Warm. Somehow, that was a word she had always attached to family life. Yet this group of people whom she had met last night could hardly be called warm. Perhaps, she allowed mentally as she continued to run, it was simply that they were as nervous around her as she was around them. Maybe that was stretching the point.
Partially because of the warmth, or rather the lack thereof, of her newly found family, she was now glad to be out running in the early morning sunshine. Maybe the exercise would clear away the cobwebs and dark shadows from her mind.
Mary Kate had dreamed last night, or rather early this morning, about being lost in a horrifying maze. In her dream, she had been compelled by curiosity to enter the maze. At the end of the maze was a wonderful reward. If she made it through, she would be given the reward. If she didn’t, she would die. There was no way to backtrack through the maze. She couldn’t return to her starting point. Those had been the rules under which she had, in her dream, entered the maze. Mirrors like those in fun-houses distorted her image. She ran into dead ends. Sections of floors gave way as she started to cross them, leaving her to scramble to safety. Then there were the pits of hungry lions she had to leap over with only the aid of frayed ropes. The maze, as she went deeper into it, became darker until the only thing she could see were dark shades of gray, illuminated only by the weak, badly focused, beam of the battery-powered light on her miner’s hard hat. Even that small amount of light was swallowed up by the darkness as she went deeper into the maze. Then there had been blinding flashes
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