Grant looked very impressive in a black evening suit, the snowy white of his shirt emphasising his rugged tan, his eyes appearing greener than ever. He really was a magnificent specimen of manhood, and in his dinner suit he took Ryan’s breath away. How much more lethal he would be if he were actually charming too!
The woman at his side seemed to read her thoughts; her hand was possessive on his arm, her eyes narrowing suspiciously. ‘Introduce us, darling,’ she said throatily.
He did so smoothly. ‘Valerie Chatham, Ryan Shelton.’
‘I’m so pleased to meet you.’ Valerie’s voice lacked sincerity, and she made no effort to offer her hand. ‘You didn’t bring Mark with you?’ Her arched eyebrows rose censoriously.
‘He’s busy. In London,’ Ryan replied abruptly.
‘Isn’t he always?’ the other woman taunted. ‘Shall we go in to dinner now, Grant darling? I’m sure that, like most young people, Miss Shelton is starving.’
Ryan bit her tongue to stop the caustic comment she had been going to make back, and looked up to meet Mandy’s amused hazel eyes, a certain sympathy for her in their depths. Maybe against the beautiful Valerie they could be allies?
The older woman certainly went out of her way to be condescending during dinner. And she made sure that Ryan was no longer under any misapprehension as to who she was; her claim on Grant was made time and time again, both physically and verbally. Grant’s expression remained bland as he smoothly played the part of perfect host, and Ryan used the word ‘played’ in her mind deliberately. Grant gave every impression of being lazily relaxed, and yet his gaze, whenever she happened to encounter it, was rapier-sharp. Nothing escaped his attention, not even her nervousness when she dropped her napkin, nor the way her hand on her wineglass shook slightly as his gaze lingered on her longer than usual.
She blushed as that same enigmatic gaze lingered on her once they all returned to the drawing-room, and she wondered at his thoughts behind those shuttered green eyes.
Valerie’s expression hardened as she intercepted that look. ‘Shouldn’t we be going now, darling?’ she prompted Grant. ‘We did tell Giles and Anna we’d put in an appearance after their dinner party.’
He looked away from Ryan with effort. ‘Of course.’ He rose slowly to his feet. ‘Perhaps Ryan and Mandy would like to come too?’ he looked at them both enquiringly.
She liked the way he said her name; she had been startled the first time he had called her it during dinner, but somehow it sounded right in his deep gravelly voice. Somehow she found it hard to use the same informality with him, and did not call him anything.
‘I doubt it.’ Valerie’s harsh voice interrupted her thoughts. ‘The company would be a little—old for their tastes, darling.’
‘Of course,’ he nodded abruptly. ‘If you’ll excuse us, girls?’
Mandy managed to keep a straight face for as long as it took the other couple to leave the room, then she burst out laughing. ‘Poor Grant,’ she giggled. ‘Valerie likes to give him the impression he’s as old as Methuselah,’ she explained, suddenly sobering. ‘The only trouble is, he’s beginning to fall for it!’
The air of sophistication was gone from the other girl now, and Ryan found she liked her better without it.
Mandy grimaced. ‘She’s trying to convince him that he should get married, before he’s too old.’
‘But he isn’t old,’ Ryan frowned.
‘I keep telling him that, but he won’t listen. I can’t imagine anything worse than having Valerie as a sister-in-law—unless it’s having you as one!’ she added insultingly before leaving the room.
Ryan’s gasp was for her own benefit only, as she was suddenly left alone. That last shot had been totally unexpected, and it had had all the more effect because of it. Mandy knew exactly when and where to throw her little poison arrows. So much for liking her!
With a shrug of resignation Ryan made her way to her bedroom, feeling suddenly weary. And yet so much had happened, her mind was still so active, that she was still awake when Grant returned shortly after twelve.
What a strange man he was, enigmatic and remote, a very deep man indeed. Although he made no effort to hide his opinion of artists!
She could hear him walking up the stairs now, a door opening some distance away, and then the sound of a shower being run. Did he and the beautiful Valerie sleep together? She wouldn’t be surprised, Valerie’s possessiveness seemed to stem from experience of an intimate relationship. And yet she hadn’t persuaded him into marriage yet. Ryan wondered why she hadn’t.
Suddenly a soulful noise broke the stillness of the night, a sound she had already heard once today. It was Ragtag howling again!
Oh dear, he was going to wake the whole household if she didn’t stop him!
CHAPTER THREE
RYAN thrust her feet into her slippers and ran down the stairs in an effort to get down quickly and stop Ragtag making that terrible noise.
What on earth had upset him now? He had seemed all right when she had taken out his second bowl of food earlier, had been settling down for a sleep when she had left him. There was more to being a dog-owner than she had realised!
There was a bright moon tonight, and once her eyes became accustomed to the light she could see clearly. Ragtag sat in the open stable doorway, stopping his howling to give her a sorrowful look as she reached his side.
‘It’s no good looking at me like that,’ she scolded. ‘You’re disturbing everyone!’ Including the horses, by the sound of it, she could hear them snorting and shuffling about in their stalls. ‘Now what’s the matter?’ she pretended anger, although really her heart had softened as soon as he licked her hand. ‘Why don’t you go to sleep?’ she added pleadingly. ‘I’m feeling tired, even if you aren’t.’
He seemed calm enough now that she was down here with him. But as soon as she turned to leave he set up the howling again.
She hurried back to his side. ‘Stop it, Ragtag!’ she instructed crossly. ‘I can’t stay down here with you all night,’ she murmured into his fur as she bent down to cuddle him after her show of anger. He had looked so hurt! ‘Unless you would like me to sleep in the stable too?’ she sighed.
‘It might keep the dog quiet,’ drawled the familiar voice of Grant Montgomery, ‘but I don’t think it’s a good idea.’
Ryan spun round, almost falling over in her haste. And it was embarrassing enough already without that!
She hadn’t thought she would see anyone, had thought everyone else was in bed, and her cotton nightgown was hardly adequate clothing to be wearing in front of a man she had only met this afternoon. Not that he could see through the white material, and the style was very demure, it just put her at a complete disadvantage—besides making her feel utterly ridiculous!
She stood up slowly, quietening Ragtag as he began to growl. Whenever Grant put in an appearance he began to growl, and although she might feel like doing the same herself on occasion, it was still embarrassing that he only did it to this man.
She gave Grant a nervy smile. ‘I was only joking.’
His mouth twisted. ‘I should hope so!’
He might have gone to his room several minutes ago, but he was still wearing the black trousers to his dinner suit, the jacket had been discarded, his tie had gone too, and several buttons on his shirt were undone. He had probably been undressing for his shower when he heard Ragtag.
‘What’s wrong with him?’ He looked down at the now quiet dog.
‘I—He doesn’t seem to like sleeping on his own.’
‘Do any of us?’ he drawled huskily.
Ryan blushed deeply red. It was as if Grant had picked up the intimacy of the situation from her; his whole manner was different from the way he had behaved earlier today, reminding her of those probing glances he had been giving her all through dinner. She had later dismissed those looks as just her imagination, now she wasn’t so sure.
But surely Valerie Chatham could more than satisfy him physically. He
had taken the other woman out over two hours ago, but that didn’t mean they had been at the party all that time. His remark about not sleeping alone seemed to confirm her belief that he and Valerie were lovers. Then why was he looking at her like this?
‘Ryan?’ he prompted softly at her lengthy silence.
‘I—I don’t know what to do with him,’ she stumbled over her words, feelings decidedly uncomfortable now. The nightgown might be a modest one, but she, at least, was aware that she was naked beneath it. She had a feeling Grant knew she was too.
‘He won’t sleep down here?’
She grimaced. ‘It doesn’t look like it.’
‘Then take him to your room,’ he shrugged.
Her eyes widened. ‘Rex and Riba,’ she reminded him. Having met the two dogs earlier, a beautiful pair of Golden Labradors, she could quite understand their disgust with the disreputable Ragtag.
‘They won’t even know he’s in the house if you keep him in your room,’ Grant answered.
‘But he’s dirty—’
‘Do you want to take him into the house or don’t you?’ he snapped his impatience.
‘I do—of course I do,’ she blushed.
‘Then do so.’ He turned on his heel and walked off.
Ryan watched him go in dismay. He had been attempting to be friendly, and she had bungled it. ‘Come on, Ragtag,’ she said dejectedly, ‘let’s get to bed.’
He seemed quite happy now he was to come into the house, making her wonder at the ease with which he had got his own way. He might be scruffy to look at, but it didn’t prevent him achieving his objective. Although she had to admit to being slightly surprised at the way Grant Montgomery had given in. After his earlier attitude she had thought he wished both Ragtag and herself far away from here.
She was even more surprised when she went into the kitchen to find him in there.
‘Coffee,’ he explained as he turned from the percolator, and his eyes narrowed as he looked at her in the full light. ‘I think you could do with some too,’ he derided her chattering teeth. ‘It might be April, Ryan, but it’s hardly warm enough at night to walk about like that.’
She had realised that as soon as she entered the warm kitchen; the cold seemed to have entered her bones. ‘I was in a hurry to stop Ragtag,’ she blushed.
‘Well, now you can relax. Sit down.’
‘Oh no! I—I’m not dressed.’
Mockery deepened the deep green of his eyes. ‘I don’t mind if you don’t,’ he drawled, putting the two cups of coffee on the kitchen table.
It smelt delicious, and she did need warming up. But she couldn’t sit down with him like this. What if someone should come in? Mandy, for example. What construction would she put on the situation? ‘I’ll go and put my housecoat on,’ she decided firmly.
‘Please yourself,’ Grant shrugged, sitting down to drink his own coffee. ‘Or take it with you if you want to.’
She didn’t particularly want to. Her tiredness of earlier had passed, and besides, it seemed churlish of her after he had allowed Ragtag in the house. ‘I’ll only be a moment,’ she said softly.
He seemed not to hear her, his hands cupping the mug as he slowly sipped the hot drink, his thoughts inwards. Ryan had an impression of loneliness in that moment, which was ridiculous in the circumstances. Grant had numerous servants, a brother and sister who loved him, and Valerie, who certainly wanted to marry him. He didn’t need her sympathy!
Ragtag lost no time in jumping on to the bottom of her bed once they reached her room, resisting all her efforts to push him off. ‘That bedspread is pink, you silly dog!’ she groaned, knowing that it wouldn’t be pink much longer. ‘Get off,’ she ordered firmly, having to witness the indignity of the dog falling asleep even as she spoke to him. ‘Having Grant Montgomery see me like this was all your fault, and you have the nerve to go to sleep!’ She might as well have saved her breath, for the dog didn’t even twitch an ear. ‘I’ll remember this next feeding time!’ she warned him as she left, adequately covered by her housecoat now.
Grant had moved to pour himself another cup of coffee, the mockery still in his eyes as he took in the navy blue robe. ‘Feel better?’ he taunted.
‘Yes, thank you.’ She avoided his gaze, stirring sugar into her cooling coffee.
‘Where’s the dog?’ He sat down opposite her.
‘Asleep upstairs,’ she grimaced.
‘He likes his creature comforts.’ His mouth quirked.
‘Yes.’
‘So, how long have you known Mark?’ The question was casually put, and yet the green eyes had norrowed intently.
‘About eighteen months,’ she replied as casually.
‘Strange, he’s never mentioned you before.’
Ryan withstood his steely look with a calm that was only a veneer. Grant’s politeness was only as skin-deep as Mandy’s had been, he liked her no better than his sister did. ‘Maybe I wasn’t important enough,’ she shrugged.
‘Perhaps,’ he nodded. ‘Although that doesn’t appear to be the case now.’
She put her cup down, sighing. ‘Look, maybe I should tell you, Mark is—’
‘You don’t owe me any explanations, Ryan,’ he interrupted. ‘If there are any to be made Mark will make them.’ His tone was inflexible, there was a hard anger in his face.
That he was annoyed with his young brother she could tell, and she could probably even give part of the reason why! Herself. ‘I think I’ll go to bed now. Thank you for the—Oh!’ she gasped as his hand came out to grasp her about the wrist. ‘Grant?’ she frowned down at him.
‘Sit down. Please,’ he added at her indignant gasp, releasing her as she slowly sat down again. ‘I just feel I should warn you that there’s also a girl called Diana in Mark’s life, a girl he sounds serious about.’
‘Yes?’ Ryan was wary now.
‘Yes. I wouldn’t want you to get hurt.’
‘No?’ Her tone was dry now.
His eyes narrowed, but her expression became deliberately bland. Wouldn’t want her to get hurt, indeed! What on earth was the matter with this family, didn’t they want Mark to be happy? First one of them warned her off Mark, then the other one did. Why did they keep trying to protect a fully grown man who was perfectly capable of taking care of himself?
‘Mark is–has been unreliable, in the past,’ Grant told her woodenly.
‘Really?’
‘Yes,’ he said tersely, sensing her scepticism. ‘I don’t think you’re taking me seriously, Ryan,’ he scowled at her across the table.
‘Oh yes, I am.’ She stood up, this time receiving no objection from him. ‘Mark is unreliable. And anyway, you think he has another woman. Isn’t that right so far?’ She eyed him mockingly.
‘You think I’m being over-cautious—’
‘I’m sure you are.’ There was a brittle hardness to her voice.
‘Mark has a reputation for falling in and out of love—’
‘And you don’t want me to be hurt!’ she scorned.
Grant’s breath entered his body with an angry hiss, the broad shoulders stiffened, his eyes were glacial. ‘Do you think you would be the first of his girl-friends to come crying on my shoulder when it’s over?’ he rasped. ‘First it was Suzy, then Gina, then Jane, then—’
‘All right, you’ve made your point,’ she said through gritted teeth. ‘Although why any of those girls should want to cry on your shoulder I have no idea! Why don’t you just have a little faith in your brother, maybe this time it will be different?’ It had better be, because if he hurt Diana she would personally throttle him!
‘Maybe,’ he agreed grimly. ‘Although I very much doubt it. Are you and Mark lovers, is that it?’
‘Certainly not!’ Ryan gasped. ‘How dare you?’
He ran a weary hand over his eyes. ‘I’m not sure. Perhaps it would be better if you forgot we had this little—chat.’
‘Don’t tell Mark, you mean?’ Her eyes flashed in a warning of her rising
temper.
‘I think that would be best,’ he nodded.
‘For whom? You, I think! Does Mark know you do this little warning off job? I doubt it,’ she scorned. ‘You see, Mark is basically a very honest person, he doesn’t believe in intrigue and lies.’
‘He will also be a very rich young man very soon, sooner if he marries,’ Grant ground out, as angry as she now.
‘How lucky for him, then,’ she almost shouted. ‘Because he intends marrying very soon!’
Now she knew the reason for the warning! Both Grant and Mandy believed her to be after Mark’s money. They weren’t concerned about her at all, they just didn’t want a gold-digger in the family! Poor Diana would have a fit if she were faced with the same opposition, her vulnerability where families were concerned was very fragile. Mark had known that, and suddenly his invitation for her to stay here no longer seemed quite so innocent. She would call him first thing tomorrow and find out what game he was playing—with her as the pawn!
‘Does he now?’ Grant towered to his feet. ‘He hasn’t mentioned it to me.’
‘Really?’ she snapped. ‘But then you aren’t exactly in Mark’s confidence, are you?’ she taunted, more angry than she had been for a long time.
His eyes glittered. ‘And you are?’
‘Oh yes,’ she told him with confidence, knowing that she was as close to Mark as any of the other students, more so because of his friendship with Diana. ‘Mark and I are very close,’ she added provocatively.
‘You think you’re very clever, don’t you, Ryan?’ Grant rasped furiously. ‘You think Mark will marry you, but I can assure you he won’t.’
So could she—if this man weren’t so darned arrogant. ‘We’ll just have to wait and see, won’t we?’ she challenged.
‘Yes,’ he bit out furiously, even the veneer of politeness gone now. ‘Perhaps this will help your waiting!’ He pulled her roughly against him to kiss her brutally on the mouth.
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