'I can make you feel that way again, Rachel,' he said, his voice thickening. 'I can make you feel even better.'
'No, you can't,' she began, wanting to tell him that loving him was what made her feel this way, but he silenced her with a kiss.
'I can,' he insisted.
Within seconds, she knew he had told her the truth.
CHAPTER NINE
'WHO'S my big boy?' laughed Rachel, swinging Jamie up into her arms.
The child's delighted shrieks filled the hall. 'Mel' he crowed, wrapping his arms around her neck. 'Me, Mama!'
'And who's going to let Emma give him his dinner and a nice bath, hmm?'
'No 'Nemma,' the boy said. 'You, Mama.'
Rachel gave him a quick hug and handed him into the housekeeper's waiting arms. 'Emma will let you play with your boats if you eat all your supper tonight, won't you, Emma?'
The woman smiled. 'I certainly will. How's that sound, lovey?' She shifted the child on her hip and nodded at Rachel. 'He'll be fine, Miss Cooper. You just go on and get yourself ready. It's almost five o'clock.'
Rachel looked at her watch in surprise. 'Already? Where did the day go? Mr Griffin said he'd be home by now.'
'You'd better get started, then, if you want to leave by half past,' Emma said briskly.
Rachel nodded. 'You're right. Go on now, Jamie. Emma will make you a jam omelette. How does that sound? And I'll be in to kiss you goodnight before I leave.'
'G'night,' Jamie sang happily, 'g'night, g'night...'
Rachel waved as Emma trundled him down the hall towards the kitchen. How had she let the hours fly away? she thought, hurrying to her room. And tonight was special. David was taking her to a dinner in New York. Rachel had missed most of what he'd said. She was too excited at the prospect of going out with him for the evening. It would be the first time, unless you counted the night they'd gone to a movie in town.
'Is it going to be formal?' she'd asked, mentally running through the contents of her closet.
David had laughed. 'Terribly,' he'd said. 'Get Barton to take you shopping. Buy something gorgeous—I want every man in the room to envy me!'
She kicked off her shoes and looked at her new dress lying across the bed. It was long-sleeved and high-necked, a lush fall of burgundy velvet that looked very demure until she put it on. Then the soft fabric clung to her breasts and hips like a second skin. The saleswoman at Saks had said she looked wonderful in it, but nothing would convince her until David told her the same thing.
Rachel pulled off her clothes and padded barefoot into the bathroom. No wonder the day had gone so quickly! She had spent it shopping, going from one expensive store to another, searching first for a gown and then for bathing suits and sun dresses and outrageously high-heeled sandals. She stepped into the shower and turned her face up to the spray. She had never bought summer clothing in the middle of winter before. It had seemed like a decadent luxury, but David had insisted. They were flying off to Majorca tomorrow—he'd dropped that bit of news on the phone when he'd called that morning.
'Majorca?' She laughed in disbelief. 'I'm not even sure where Majorca is, David!'
'For shame!' he'd teased. 'It's just off the coast of Spain. We're going there tomorrow.'
'Just like that?'
'Just like that,' he'd laughed. 'Don't you like the idea of getting away from all this grey December weather?
'Well, yes, but it's so sudden—and what about Jamie?'
'Emma will take care of him.'
'And I haven't got any summer things, David, I...'
'Buy some.'
'But...'
'Rachel, I'm due back at a meeting. Stop arguing and do as I say. Believe me, after tonight we'll need a few days in some quiet hideaway.'
Rachel had shaken her head. 'David, I don't understand.'
His voice had dropped to a whisper. 'We'll have our own private beach, Rachel. Can you imagine how the heat of the sun will feel on your skin as we make love?'
Even over the long-distance wire, his murmured words had made her weak with desire. They had been inseparable the last weeks, .although she wouldn't share his bedroom as he had asked her to.
'Emma will know,' she'd protested, and David had laughed. But he came to her each night. His arms sheltered her through the long hours of darkness, and his mouth kissed her to wakefulness each morning.
'Are you sure you aren't bored, living all the way out here?' he had asked her once, and she shook her head.
'I love it here, David. I have Jamie all day.'
His eyes had darkened. 'And at night?' he'd whispered.
'You know what I want at night,' she'd said shamelessly. 'You.'
His kisses had assured her that he felt he same way. She loved him—she knew that with an absolute certainty. And he loved her. He hadn't said so in as many words, but she knew. She was his safe haven, he said, his source of comfort at the end of a day in the trenches.
Rachel sat down at her dressing-table and looked at herself in the mirror. The man, the David her stepsister had described, had never existed, except in Cassie's imagination. David Griffin was good and decent. It amazed her that the man the newspapers characterised as 'the Hawk' could be happy with someone like her. But the tabloids didn't know that the Hawk liked to sit beside the fire with her hand in his, and spend hours in the falconry showing her his rare old volumes about hawking. She was even learning to feel comfortable in the mews, watching while he handled Isis and the other birds. There was a new falcon there now. A peregrine, David had told her, explaining that it was rare. A boy from town had brought it to him after finding it on the road, one wing dragging in the dust. Rachel had watched while the vet splinted it.
'A clean break, Mr Griffin,' he'd said. 'With luck, maybe this guy will fly again.'
The peregrine had hissed threateningly whenever David approached it the first few days, but he had persisted, speaking in soothing whispers, offering it bits of raw meat. He was 'manning' it, he told her, teaching it to accept him, and to her amazement, the beautiful creature was doing just that. Only yesterday the falcon had finally accepted food from David's hand and let him stroke its brown and white breast.
'I can't believe it,' Rachel had murmured, watching while the fierce creature fluffed its feathers in contentment. i never thought he'd let you do that.'
David's golden eyes had met hers. 'It takes patience,' he'd said softly, stroking the bird all the while. 'But it's worth it, Rachel. Taming a wild thing is a special pleasure.'
'I thought I was your special pleasure,' she'd said, her teasing immodesty making the colour rise to her cheeks.
David had grinned. 'Same thing,' he'd said. 'You're both my captives.'
Rachel had uttered a threat that they both knew she couldn't keep. He'd spoken the truth, she thought now, brushing mascara on her lashes. He had made her his own. She could be happy here for ever. A shiver of joy trembled within her. Tonight had to be important. He was going to introduce her to his friends. For such a private man, such an action spoke volumes.
She looked up as the door swung open and a smile lit her face. 'David,' she said softly. 'Welcome home.'
He smiled at her as he closed the door behind him. 'Hello, love.'
'I'm sorry I'm not ready yet, but I'll just be another few minutes. I was playing with Jamie and...'
'I like you just the way you are,' he murmured, bending to kiss her upturned face. 'You're just what a weary traveller should come home to.'
Rachel gasped as his hand slipped into the open neckline of her robe. 'David,' she whispered, 'what are you doing?'
He laughed softly. 'What do you think I'm doing?' His hand closed possessively around her breast. 'I'm saying hello to your mouth and your breasts and...'
She caught his hand as it moved downward. 'Stop that,' she warned, 'or I'll never be ready! You said we had to leave here by five-thirty, and it's past that now.'
He kissed the top of her head and straightened up. 'Spoilsport! All right, I'l
l behave. Give me five minutes to shower and change and I'll be back.' His glance fell on the burgundy gown, lying across her bed. 'Is that what you're wearing tonight?' .
She nodded. 'Yes. Is it all right? The saleswoman said...'
He touched the velvet lightly and then held his hand out to her. 'It's perfect. I can hardly wait to see you in it.'
Rachel smiled as he drew her to her feet. 'I hope... I just want your friends to like me tonight, David. I'm so nervous.'
'Don't be,' he said quickly.
'I can't help it, David. I keep wondering what they'll think of me. I...'
He smiled and put his arms around her. 'They'll think what I think, Rachel—that you're beautiful and that I'm lucky as hell. I told you I wanted every man in the room to envy me when they see you.'
She laughed softly. 'That's very primitive, Mr Griffin!.'
He brushed his lips against hers. 'And very satisfying. Their imaginations are going to work overtime. They...' There was a knock at the door and he frowned. 'Yes? What is it?'
'I'm sorry to bother you, sir,' called Emma, 'but Miss Walters is here. She's in the library.'
Rachel stiffened in David's arms. 'Vanessa's here?'
David sighed. 'Yes, she's going with us—I'm sorry, Rachel. Things are getting a bit pressured and she thought it best if she came along tonight.'
'Pressured? But I didn't think this dinner had anything to do with business. You said these people were friends of yours.'
'They are. But they're more than just friends.' He raked his hand through his hair and glanced at his watch. 'Look, we can talk tomorrow. This dinner—sometimes there are things you just have to do.'
Rachel laughed softly. 'I think you're suffering from jet-lag,' she teased. 'What you need is a cold shower.' She gave him a gentle shove. 'Go and get dressed. Now that I know Vanessa's going with us, I'll need an extra five minutes to get ready. She always looks so beautiful.'
'Not half as beautiful as you,' he whispered. 'No one is, Rachel.'
An hour and a half later Rachel and Vanessa stood in the foyer of the Helmsley Palace Hotel waiting for David to finish checking in their coats. Rachel repeated his words to herself like a talisman. But it wasn't working;
she had been intimidated the second she had come downstairs and found Vanessa waiting for her in a simple black silk gown that dipped as low in the back as it did in the front. And the women streaming past her into the ballroom were no comfort. They were, for the most part, older than she and obviously comfortable in these opulent surroundings. Jewels glittered in their ears and at their throats, and gowns that she had seen sketched in Vogue and Elle adorned their slenderly chic bodies. Her burgundy gown, so seductive at Saks, felt all wrong. And her hair—heavens, what had made her think she could simply wash it and brush it dry? It hung to her shoulders in dark waves. She probably looked like a gypsy, she thought unhappily, with her loose hair and her red dress. Unconsciously, her hand went to her head and she smoothed several errant curls back from her face. Vanessa glanced at her and smiled.
'Nervous, Rachel?' she asked softly.
Rachel nodded. 'Yes, a little. I... I've never been to a dinner like this before. Will David be making a speech? I forgot to ask him.'
'Oh, yes,' the woman said. 'Thanks for reminding me. I've outlined a little something for him, just in case he's not prepared.'
Rachel was barely listening. Her eyes scanned the crowded foyer; she let out her breath when David finally appeared.
'There he is,' she whispered, smoothing down her skirt. 'Who's that man he's talking to?'
Vanessa gave her an amused smile. 'He's the senior Senator from New York, Rachel. Don't tell me you don't recognise him.'
Rachel flushed. 'Yes, yes, of course, now that you... well, I mean, I've only seen him on television before.' She swallowed drily. 'Isn't that the Mayor? I didn't realise all these important people were going to be here. Why are you looking at me that way, Vanessa?'
Vanessa smiled. For the first time since Rachel had known her, the look in her eyes was friendly.
'Didn't David tell you anything about tonight, Rachel?'
Rachel shook her head. 'No, not really. Well, just that some people were giving this dinner for him.'
Vanessa stepped closer to her. 'I see,' she purred. 'I guess he thought he'd surprise you.' She smiled and laid a reassuring hand on her arm. 'Don't worry,' she said pleasantly. 'Everything will be fine.'
Amazing, Rachel thought. Life was filled with surprises. Even Vanessa Walters had a heart. Perhaps she'd simply misjudged the woman. David had said she was a top-flight assistant. And now, tonight, when Rachel most needed one, she was turning into a friend. Rachel managed a tense smile.
'I hope so,' she breathed. 'I don't want to embarrass him.'
'I tell you what, Rachel—why don't you and I make a stop at the ladies' room? Your hair's a bit dishevelled— I can fix it for you with some spray and... Ah, David, you're back. We saw you chatting with the Senator.'
David ran his hand through his hair and Rachel looked at him in surprise. My God, she thought, he's nervous too.
'What did you tell him, Vanessa?' His voice was low and irritated.
Vanessa shrugged her shoulders. 'Not a thing.'
His eyes flashed coldly. 'Don't push me, Vanessa.'
'I'm not pushing you, David. I'm advising you.'
'When I want your advice, I'll ask for it.' His voice reminded Rachel of talons cutting into a gloved fist.
David's face had darkened as he spoke. Rachel moved closer to him and cleared her throat.
'David?' she said anxiously. 'Is something wrong?'
'No,' he said quickly, slipping his arm about her waist, 'nothing you have to be concerned about, Rachel. I just want to clear some things up before we go in to dinner.'
'There's Secretary Pickering,' said Vanessa suddenly. 'You have to say hello to him, David. His office has been after us for weeks—he wants to talk to you about backing one of his projects.'
'Damn it, Vanessa—all right, all right, I guess I owe him the courtesy. Rachel, come with me.'
Rachel looked across the foyer at the famous face of the Cabinet Member and she shook her head. 'No,' she whispered, 'that's all right, David. You go on. I...I have to powder my nose.'
His eyes searched hers. 'You're not happy here, are you?'
'I'm fine,' she lied. 'Really, David, I'm just not good at this, that's all. I think you should have left me behind with Jamie.' She laughed nervously and leaned towards him. 'David, please—don't let me hold you back.'
'Listen to her, David,' said Vanessa. 'She makes sense.'
'I have to talk to you for a minute, Rachel.' His fingers bit into her arm as he drew her aside.
'What is it?' Rachel whispered, her eyes searching his face. 'David, I know something's the matter!'
'Rachel, look, I thought I could just let these people get a look at you tonight, but...' His fingers raked through his hair again and he sighed. 'You just have to get through tonight, and then everything will be OK. I...'
'David... David!' a rumbling male voice called across the room. 'Do you have a minute?'
Rachel took a deep breath. 'David, please—what are you talking about? Get through what? I don't understand.'
He touched his lips to her forehead. 'I'll explain tomorrow on the beach,' he said softly. 'When it's just you and me.'
'David...' Vanessa stepped between them, smiling brightly. 'I'm terribly sorry to interrupt, but the Secretary says he must see you before we go in to dinner.'
'Oh lord, Van...'
'You can't just ignore him, David. Don't worry about Rachel.' She smiled and patted his arm. 'I'll take good care of her.'
David looked from one woman to the other. 'Rachel?' he asked at last.
Nothing made sense. People were pooling around them, the women talking to each other in bird-like chirps, the men puffing cigar smoke into the air. She could hear some of them whispering David's name, feel their eyes bor
ing into her. A coldness clutched at her heart. She was suddenly afraid, but of what? There was nothing to fear but fear itself. Wasn't that what Grandma used to say? Rachel forced herself to smile.
'Go on,' she said. 'I'll be fine.'
'I'll probably have to introduce you,' he said. 'The damned place is loaded with reporters. I guess that was the Senator's idea—it wasn't yours, was it, Vanessa?'
Vanessa shook her head. 'No, of course not.'
'Yeah—well, the Senator's people will want to milk this for all the publicity they can get. Look, Rachel, I'll try to keep the reporters away from you, but if they ask you questions, just do the best you can. You don't have to answer them if you don't want to. I...'
A sea of dinner-jacketed men closed around him and he was gone. Rachel's heart was pounding with an unknown terror. She turned towards Vanessa and laid her hand lightly on the other woman's arm.
'Please,' she whispered, 'what's going on?'
'It's all terribly confusing, isn't it?' Vanessa said soothingly. 'I can't believe David didn't tell you what was going to happen tonight.'
Rachel shook her head. 'Why on earth would, reporters want to talk to me? Vanessa, do you know what this is all about?'
Vanessa slipped a comforting arm around Rachel's shoulders. 'Come on, dear, let's duck into the ladies'. I'll fix your hair and fill you in a bit.' She followed Rachel's frantic gaze towards the ballroom, filling now with people. 'It's all right,' she said softly. 'This will only take a minute. I promise.'
The two women hurried across the foyer and into the ladies' room. As the door swung shut behind them, Vanessa put her finger to her lips.
'One sec,' she said. Rachel watched in disbelief as she scurried through the room, peering into the empty cubicles. 'Right,' she said, 'we're alone.'
'Will you please tell me what's happening?'
Vanessa Walters sighed. 'This is so difficult, Rachel,' she said, staring at herself in the mirror. 'I hardly know how to tell you.'
Rachel came up behind her and stared at her reflection. 'Just tell me,' she said flatly.
Vanessa's eyes met hers. 'You're not going to like it,' she said softly.
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