Savage Interlude

by Carole Mortimer

  The flat was in chaos when she let them in a few moments later. Josie came bursting out of the bedroom, frantically pulling rollers out of her hair. ‘Oh, Kate,’ she cried, ‘everything’s gone wrong! My hair wouldn’t dry, I smudged my nail-varnish, and somehow my dress has got all creased along the bottom. I’ll never be ready!’

  ‘Calm down, Josie,’ Kate said soothingly. ‘I thought you were the one who was all organised.’

  ‘So did I,’ Josie groaned.

  ‘Okay, well just calm yourself. You brush out your hair and re-do your nails, and I’ll go and iron your dress. It’s that stupid wardrobe, of course, it simply isn’t tall enough.’

  Josie began to look less panic-stricken. ‘Oh, thanks, Kate. You’re a love!’

  Kate removed the jacket to her suit, pinning back her own hair with a wooden slide. ‘I won’t be two minutes,’ she promised.

  ‘Kate?’

  She looked up with a start at the sound of that soft drawl and Josie looked no less surprised. Damien was watching the two of them through narrowed green eyes and Kate couldn’t imagine how she had ever forgotten he was here. Probably because she had been trying to.

  ‘Oh, Damien. Look, I—I won’t be a minute. Josie has to go out in a couple of minutes and—well, as you see, she isn’t ready.’ She moved her shoulders helplessly.

  ‘Yes, I can see,’ he drawled. ‘I just wondered who Josie was.’

  ‘Josie’s my flatmate,’ she told him shortly. ‘Josie, this is Damien Savage. Damien, Josie Walker.’

  He put out his hand politely. ‘Nice to meet you, Josie.’ He looked down at her slender hand. ‘And your nail-varnish looks fine to me.’

  Josie was obviously bowled over by his charm, for the moment forgetting her need for speed, her face lighting up with excitement as she looked at him. ‘Gosh, Damien Savage! It’s very exciting sharing with Kate, I’m getting to meet a lot of famous people.’

  Damien’s eyes clearly mocked as he turned to look at Kate. ‘I’m sure you do, Josie, I’m sure you do. Kate’s a popular girl.’

  ‘Yes. She—’

  ‘I’m just going to iron your dress, Josie,’ Kate interrupted. ‘I should get your hair done or you’ll be late.’

  ‘Goodness, yes! Excuse me, Mr Savage.’

  ‘Go right ahead. And please, call me Damien.’ He settled himself down in an armchair. ‘I have a feeling you’ll be seeing me here quite a lot in future.’

  Within ten minutes Josie had left the flat in a whirlwind of perfume and glossy black curls. She had glowed as Damien complimented her on her appearance, finally dashing out of the flat at the sound of the doorbell.

  Damien smiled his amusement. ‘I like your friend, she’s cute.’

  ‘I’ll tell her you said so,’ Kate snapped. ‘I’m sure she’ll be overjoyed.’

  His mouth tightened. ‘I’m just wondering where she fits into things. Does James have himself a harem going here? Is Josie another one of his women?’

  Kate could have laughed at his outrageousness. ‘You’re really something! You say you like Josie and then in the next breath you insult her.’

  ‘Well, is she?’

  ‘Josie just happens to be the girl I share this flat with, nothing else. She has an important date this evening with her boss. She wanted to look her best for him.’

  ‘If he has any sense he’ll marry her. There aren’t many fresh-faced kids like her about any more.’

  ‘I’m sure Paul feels the same way,’ she told him dryly. ‘Or at least he will by the end of the evening.’

  ‘She’s out to get him, I gather?’

  She looked annoyed. ‘Do you always have to mock everything? Josie happens to love Paul, and that’s the only reason she would like to marry him.’

  ‘Like I said, she’s a cute kid. Why can’t you be more like her?’

  ‘I am like her, you just don’t want to see it.’

  ‘Oh, but I do. There’s nothing I would like better than to find you’re as innocent as you pretend to be, if that were the case I’d probably lose interest. I don’t prey on innocents. But you’re something else completely, you like to play at being innocent. I guess I’m getting a little tired of that game now. I’ve come clean with you, I’ve admitted that I still want you like hell—do you need to wring any more admissions from me? What else does it take to get you to give in?’

  Kate turned away from the desire in his eyes, looked away from the warmth in his devilish green eyes for her. He was too sophisticated, too lethal for her peace of mind. ‘I don’t give in to anyone,’ she told him quietly.

  Damien stood up, his movements impatient. ‘Look, you move in with James—’

  ‘That was purely innocent. I had my own room,’ she insisted. ‘And James never entered it.’

  ‘Okay, okay,’ he silenced her abruptly. ‘But if you moved in with him what’s to stop you moving in with me?’

  She gave a harsh laugh. ‘I think you know the answer to that.’

  ‘What the hell are you scared of?’ Damien demanded angrily. ‘Has some man frightened you in the past, forced you into some sort of situation you didn’t want to be in? Why the aversion to men? I’m sure it must be a recent acquisition.’

  Kate shook her head. ‘You’re wrong. It isn’t recent at all. I learnt at an early age of the immorality of men. Do you have any idea what your sort of relationships lead to, the heartache it can cause?’

  ‘You would know the score from the beginning, that it would never lead to the love and marriage bit.’ His eyes narrowed as he looked at her.

  She gave him a pitying look. ‘And you think that knowledge prevents those feelings developing?’ She shook her head. ‘If you think that then you don’t know women as well as you think you do. We don’t think with our bodies but with our hearts. And our heart has to be involved to a certain degree for a physical relationship to take place—at least, mine does.’

  ‘You want me too, Kate, so stop blinding yourself with words. If you want to move in with me for a few weeks, no strings attached, then I’m agreeable to that. I wouldn’t ask anything of you.’

  The offer was so tempting, but she knew it wouldn’t work, that she wouldn’t be able to trust herself. And sooner or later Damien would want to share her bed. ‘You wouldn’t need to,’ she admitted. ‘I think you know why.’

  ‘Because you want me!’ he said angrily. ‘I don’t know what else I can offer you, what else you want of me.’ His face had darkened ominously with his anger. ‘I don’t aim to marry anyone just to get a body I desire.’

  ‘That’s all it is to you, all it can ever be to you!’ Kate snapped. ‘Have you ever thought what could happen from such an alliance? Did it ever occur to you that an unwanted child could be born through your desire?’

  ‘There are ways of preventing such things,’ he scorned.

  ‘And when they fail?’ she asked shrilly, the subject too dear to her own heart for her to remain objective about it. ‘It isn’t you or I that would suffer, it would be the child. I know—my mother wasn’t married to my father. I haven’t forgotten what it was like at school, or how my stepfather thrust that knowledge down both my mother’s and my throat at every opportunity. Now do you realise why I won’t ever enter into an affair, why you’ll never get me to live with you? I wouldn’t wish my childhood on anyone!’

  ‘Oh, God!’ Damien groaned, moving closer to her. ‘Come here, Kate. This seems to be the only way I have of reaching you.’ He bent his head to claim her lips in a kiss that reduced all her arguments to nothing.

  He was right: this was the only way they communicated, when words no longer seemed to matter between them. Her mouth moved below his in passionate longing, her arms up about his neck as she strained him closer to her.

  He used the whole of his experience to inflame her, her body against his, the hard length of his thighs firmly imprinted against hers. The heavy rise and fall of his chest made her aware of his own heightened senses, the pounding of his heart as fast a
s her own.

  Damien teased her lips apart to better claim her sweetness, his hands sure and firm as they moved across her back. One hand moved round to cup her breast, her whole body sensitive to his touch. And her own hands weren’t idle, smoothing the muscled skin of his back beneath his jacket.

  ‘Oh, Kate,’ he sighed against her lips. ‘You can be so sweet. Why do you have to fight me?’

  ‘I already told you that.’ She rested her forehead on his chin. ‘I won’t let that happen to me.’

  ‘I wouldn’t let it, honey,’ he said gently.

  ‘I wasn’t planned, Damien.’ She shook her head. ‘I’m sorry, but you’ll have to find someone else for that sort of fun.’

  He was touching her hair with strong tanned hands, smoothing the silken tresses down her back. ‘And if I don’t want anyone else?’

  ‘Then I’m sorry.’

  ‘No, you’re not. I think you enjoy torturing me. Am I being paid back for the mistake your father made?’

  He thwarted all her efforts to move out of his arms. ‘Let me go, Damien! How can you say such things to me? I’m not paying anyone back for anything.’

  Damien held her firmly against him. ‘Oh yes, you are, honey. You like to give the come-on and then say no. Your hair,’ he murmured softly. ‘Do you always wear it loose now?’

  ‘Not always, no,’ she answered resentfully. ‘I—It—’

  ‘You know I prefer it loose. You wear it like this to please me.’

  This time she did wrench out of his arms, moving a safe distance away from him, as safe as she could be when still in the same room as him. Her anger was all the stronger because he was right. He was always right about her. Always.

  ‘I wear it like this to please myself, no one else.’

  ‘You’re lying. You told me you didn’t like it loose.’

  ‘Do you have to remember everything I’ve said so clearly?’ she snapped. ‘Someone told me it suited me like this.’

  ‘That’s right—I did.’

  ‘No, not you.’

  Those green eyes darkened and his lips snapped together angrily. ‘Who else have you been out with the last couple of months?’

  ‘Why should I tell you that? It has nothing to do with you, nothing!’

  ‘All right, that’s it! I’ve had it with you. I’ll grovel to no woman. I want you, but I’m not going to beg you for anything.’ Damien’s face was contorted with rage. ‘Maybe one day I’ll meet someone I feel that strongly about, but it won’t be made through blackmail!’

  ‘Oh, but I’m not—’

  ‘Yes, you damn well are!’ he ground out. ‘Maybe I’ll see you around—but I wouldn’t count on it. I intend avoiding you at every opportunity.’

  ‘Damien, I’m sorry. I—’

  ‘Don’t add insult to injury! Just get your claws into some other poor guy who’ll find your elusiveness entertaining. I’ve gone past that stage with you now.’ He walked over to the door. ‘Way past. If I don’t get out of here I’m going to do something we’ll both regret.’

  The whole room seemed to shake as he slammed the door after him. Kate sank weakly into a chair, the trauma of the last few hours almost too much for her. So much had happened today, not least of all Louise St Just’s unwarranted attack on her. James would have been furious if he had known the extent of his mother’s nastiness.

  But Damien walking out on her in that way had just about finished her off. But what else could she expect? The situation between them was explosive, positively lethal. Where would it all end, if it hadn’t already ended? She must make sure that this was the end, before things got out of hand. If they hadn’t already!

  She was still sitting in the chair when Josie returned at midnight, James’ telephone call previously the only interruption into her loneliness. Josie came quietly into the room and switched on the small side-lamps. She looked taken aback as she spotted Kate. ‘I thought you would either be out or fast asleep in bed.’ She slipped off her coat and came to sit down.

  ‘I must have fallen asleep,’ Kate lied, having been staring thoughtfully into the darkness for the last few hours since James’ call.

  Josie looked at her concernedly. ‘Have you eaten?’

  ‘I wasn’t hungry,’ she said dully.

  ‘Weddings are always an anti-climax, aren’t they,’ Josie chattered on. ‘I always feel thoroughly deflated.’

  Kate summoned up a smile. ‘Never mind, it’ll be your turn soon. How did your evening go, by the way? As if I need to ask!’ Josie was glowing and it didn’t need two guesses why.

  ‘The evening was—fantastic. He’s taking me out for a picnic tomorrow.’

  ‘That should be nice.’

  ‘And you—how did your evening go?’

  Kate looked away. ‘I’ve been home all evening.’

  ‘Oh, did Mr Savage have to leave?’

  ‘Yes,’ she answered shortly.

  ‘Are you seeing him again? He’s really lovely looking,’ Josie enthused.

  Kate shook her head. ‘I won’t be seeing him again. I’m sure of it.’ And she didn’t know if she was pleased or sad about it. Sad, she thought, although things had become too strained between them. But it was over now, over! If it had ever really begun.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  ‘GOD, I’m tired!’ James slumped down into an armchair. ‘Sorry I’m so late, but Damien is working like a demon—and expects everyone else to do the same.’

  The smile faded from Kate’s lips at the mention of Damien. She tried to think of him as little as possible, but just occasionally someone mentioned him casually and the old heartache started up again. But this time she wouldn’t let it. She had Alan now, and she wouldn’t let thoughts of Damien ruin that for her.

  It was ten weeks since she had last seen him, and they were well into production with the film, hence James’ moans and groans. During that time she had met Alan Reed, a tall, well-built man of moderate good looks and a generous nature. Kate had liked him from the first and had gladly accepted his invitation to the theatre. The two of them had met at a party Josie had insisted on taking her to, and fortunately he had no connection with acting. She felt she needed a break from that type.

  ‘You aren’t late, James. Alan hasn’t arrived yet.’

  ‘It’s pretty decent of him to offer me a lift home.’

  ‘Well, he hasn’t exactly done that yet,’ she laughed. ‘But as we’re going to your party it seems only fair we should take you with us.’

  ‘Damned car, breaking down like that,’ he scowled. ‘I could have got a taxi, I suppose, but—’

  ‘It isn’t necessary,’ she interrupted. ‘Not when we’re going to your place anyway.’ She handed him a coffee.

  ‘Thanks.’ He drank some of it thirstily. ‘I’ve never worked as hard as I have this past few weeks. Damien’s insatiable when it comes to work.’

  ‘That’s how he got to be the best,’ she said stiffly, back to the subject she had hoped to avoid. ‘He’s a perfectionist.’

  ‘But this isn’t normal—everyone’s complaining.’

  ‘Never mind,’ she smiled. ‘You can all air your grievances together tonight and then go back to work tomorrow with fresh minds.’

  ‘Hardly.’ He visibly started to relax, the lines of tension starting to leave his mouth. ‘I don’t think Damien would appreciate the criticism, and he’s hell to work for already without that.’

  Kate looked at him sharply, a feeling of dread starting to invade her body. ‘Damien is going to be there tonight?’

  ‘We could hardly not invite him, everyone else to do with the film is coming.’

  ‘Matt Strange too?’

  ‘Mm,’ James grimaced. ‘He’s turning out to be just as obnoxious as I always thought he was. And he’s always surrounded by girls,’ he added with disgust.

  ‘Jealous?’ she teased.

  ‘No. I’m past the stage where I have to have girls clinging to me all day to prove how clever and handsome I am. Besides
,’ he grinned, ‘Sheri wouldn’t like it.’

  That marriage agreed with her brother was obvious; he and Sheri were positively glowing with love for each other when they returned from their honeymoon.

  ‘You’re right,’ she agreed, ‘she wouldn’t.’

  ‘No Josie tonight?’

  ‘She has a dinner date with Paul.’

  ‘Getting serious, isn’t it?’ he frowned.

  ‘Yes, I think so.’ She knew that the couple had already started talking of marriage.

  James sighed. ‘That’s all we need! Well, if Josie moves out you’re coming back home. I don’t like your living here.’

  ‘You aren’t going to like what I did today any better,’ she told him guiltily. ‘I enrolled into a secretarial course.’

  ‘You did what!’ His cup landed in the saucer with a clatter.

  ‘Now don’t get annoyed, James,’ she calmed him. ‘I’ve tried to find a job the last few weeks, with no success. The only way to get a job nowadays is to have some sort of training behind you, and I don’t have any.’

  ‘But a secretarial course!’

  Kate laughed at his undisguised disgust. ‘There’s nothing wrong with being a secretary.’

  ‘There is if you don’t need to work. Your allowance from our father makes all this unnecessary.’

  ‘I’ve simply had enough of lounging about poolsides. I need to do something, find myself a career.’ Her face was earnest. ‘I’m not the type to spend the rest of my fife doing nothing. I’ve had that for two years now, it’s time I did something useful.’

  ‘You could always take Damien up on his offer.’

  ‘What?’ she asked sharply.

  ‘Have that screen test,’ he explained. ‘I think you could be a success at it too.’

  Kate sighed her relief. She had wondered what offer he meant for a moment, almost giving herself away. ‘I’ve already told him I’m not interested in a screen test.’ Or anything else he had to offer!

  ‘You could change your mind.’

  ‘But I haven’t, I’m still not interested.’ She broke off as she heard the doorbell ring. ‘That will be Alan. Be nice to him, won’t you?’