by Jane Corrie
Her flashing eyes said more than words, and this seemed to amuse Justin who waited patiently for an answer. 'I don't see that that's any of your business, do you?' she said baldly, and at the look of reproach she
received for this she felt immediately contrite, and hastened to soften her reply by adding, 'I ought to have written it soon after my arrival,' purposely not answering his earlier query.
'Sylvia's father,' he said, more in the nature of a statement than a question. 'What will you tell him?' he asked blandly. 'That she refuses to return?'
Cassy took a deep breath. She could go back to her earlier reply by telling him to mind his own business, yet he had plainly made it his business purely out of kindness for Sylvia—or had he? Or was he hoping for monetary returns for his assistance? Cassy sighed inwardly—if only she really knew ! Her heart told her that he was incapable of such mercenary machinations, but she could not trust her heart, not when the man concerned was as attractive as Justin Pride was !
`I shall tell him no such thing!' she said, taking a hold on her emotions. 'Because I think she will return, when she's good and ready, and this I will tell him.' She looked beyond Justin to the view behind his shoulder. 'She's just making a gesture,' she added slowly. 'Oh, I admit the island's wonderful, but she knows she doesn't belong here any more than I do. It's just a nice place to make a stand. I'd give her no more than three months, and she'll be homeward bound. Are you going to see that she gets a job?' she asked bluntly.
Justin's eyebrows lifted at this. 'I don't see that that's necessary now, do you?' he asked mildly. 'Aren't you forgetting something?'
Cassy frowned at the query, then enlightenment came and she gave him a sardonic smile. 'I suppose you're referring to Greg. Well, for all I know it might
be just a holiday romance. Sylvia is rather apt to go in at the deep end,' she said a little primly, 'I've seen it before. I'll believe it when it happens—the real thing, I mean.'
Justin sat watching her for a second or two, then said musingly, 'There would be no such dalliances for you, of course, and I wonder why. Frightened to commit yourself—or just frightened of emotion? Is that why you settled for an old man?'
Cassy gasped at the way an ordinary conversation had suddenly turned to such personal issues. 'We were discussing Sylvia,' she replied hotly, 'not me—and Sylvia's father is not an old man,' she added for good measure, visualising her uncle's outraged reaction to this epitaph.
`Forty-five, fifty?' went on Justin in the same musing manner, 'an old man as against your youth. Why don't you stay too? I would look after you. If the idea appealed to you, we could team up.' His eyes pierced Cassy's shocked wide-open eyes. 'Now that does shake you, doesn't it?' he said with a trace of amusement in his voice. 'Are you so used to feeling unwanted that you don't realise just how attractive you are?' His eyes held hers. 'Write that letter,' he said in a soft yet firm voice, 'and tell him to find someone of his own age.'
Cassy felt like shaking her head to clear the fog that had suddenly descended upon her unsuspecting head. She couldn't think straight, yet she had to ! Had Justin Pride proposed to her or not? Her befuddled senses tried to reconstruct his words and she couldn't recall anything being said about marriage, apart from a reference to teaming up with him.
Her eyes opened yet wider as a certain implication
made itself felt on her bemused mind. Did he want her to work with him as his accomplice—on whatever dubious schemes he might or might not have in mind? Surely the very meaning of 'team' meant some kind of partnership, and not the matrimonial one she had almost mistaken it for.
She blinked quickly as a surge of bitterness rushed over her. Justin didn't know it, but his reference to her feeling unwanted had touched a chord deep in her heart. Something she had kept locked away in the inner recesses of her being, not wanting to acknowledge it lest it colour her outlook on life. It was only because she had made herself useful that she had been wanted, in any sense. There 'had been a total lack of affection in her life since she had lost her parents, and until this moment Cassy had refused to remember how bleak those first few months had been in her uncle's home, and how it was the kennels that had lifted her out of her abject misery—and still would, she thought, as she swallowed the lump in her throat and turned her attention to the man watching her so closely, and waiting for her answer to what now appeared to be a very dubious proposal.
There was only one way to tackle this sort of situation, and Cassy took it. 'And lose everything when I'm so close to obtaining my goal?' she asked in a light matter-of-fact voice, and gave the watching Justin a clear direct look. 'Come now, you didn't really expect me to take you up on your offer, did you?' she asked sardonically.
Justin's watching eyes narrowed at her casual rejection, then passed slowly over her slim figure in the close-fitting jeans and open-necked white blouse that
she had chosen to wear that day. 'I wonder what you'd do if I made a dead set at you,' he said, adopting the same light tone of voice that Cassy had used.
`I wouldn't advise it,' answered Cassy, feeling her pulse rate soar at the thought. 'You'd only be wasting your time. Mine, too, come to that,' she added coldly.
`That's what I can't fathom about you,' he said quietly. `I'd swear you're not an old man's darling; unless,' he added in a slow ruminating voice, 'you've had a hard time of it. You are related to Sylvia, aren't you? Sort of second cousin, I think she said.'
Cassy did not reply straight away, but just looked at him with one eyebrow slightly raised, wondering what else he was going to say. He was certainly tenacious ! If it helped him to understand her then she would encourage that line of thought; that way she could keep her distance. 'Well, I suppose that's near enough,' she replied slowly, 'and you're right—I did have a hard time of it, and it's not been easy. Why shouldn't I grab what I can?' she said challengingly. 'They owe me that much,' she tacked on fervently, for she was thinking of the kennels, and how she had been at the beck and call of the Mellar family for all those years without anyone realising that she had a right to a life of her own.
Justin's lips tightened as he surveyed her flushed cheeks and bright periwinkle eyes, the blue more emphasised by her emotion, an emotion that highlighted her high cheekbones, giving her features an elfin-like beauty. 'I'll still say you could do better for yourself,' he observed meaningly.
Cassy's heart was now thumping against her rib cage; she was in dangerous waters. 'Oh, I don't think
so,' she replied airily. 'Rather the devil you know, as the saying goes,' she quoted lightly, feeling a stab of panic at the look of fury now apparent in his eyes.
`Turning me down, are you?' he asked in a low but perfectly controlled voice that made Cassy wonder if he was testing her out for his own amusement.
The thought gave her the necessary courage to answer him. 'If you put it like that, I suppose I am,' she replied with a glint in her eye. 'As for "doing better" as you've just suggested, I might say the same of you,' she parried in an acid-sweet voice. 'I'm a hanger-on too, remember. All I have is what I manage to salvage for myself, and as attractive as your offer is, I'm not passing up this chance.'
If she had been uncertain of his feelings before, she was now in no doubt that he was absolutely furious. His blazing eyes looked as if they were on fire, and she absently noted the way a small muscle twitched at the side of his firmly moulded mouth as he attempted to get a hold on himself, but his feelings were too strong to contain and he made a swift lunge at her and pulled her into his arms.
Although she tried to release herself, no amount of struggling caused him to relax the iron hold he had on her, and in the end she had to submit weakly to his enforced embrace.
When all the fight had gone out of her, Justin caught the hair at the back of her head, and she found herself jerked back to accept his punishing lips.
It was not a kiss that she enjoyed in any way; she had never been kissed before, but always thought it would be a nice experience providing you wanted
to be kissed. It had never occurred to her that it could be a
degrading one, but that was the only way she could describe the kiss Justin was subjecting her to. His lips roamed her wide forehead when he had finished pounding her full and now very sore lips.
The kiss had been shattering enough, but when his free hand that held her clamped tight against his body now gently caressed her back, sending tremors through her body, the feelings this deliberate action evoked frightened her far more than his earlier assault had.
She was released without warning, and Justin stood surveying her with hooded lids. 'You'll have to learn to be more compliant,' he ground out between clenched teeth. 'You wouldn't want to disappoint your sugar daddy, would you?' he queried savagely.
Fear was now replaced by fury; Cassy had been made to feel degraded and used, simply because this bullying character had felt the urge to prove his manhood to an inexperienced girl—and what was worse, he now knew she was inexperienced, and in his eyes a rather pathetic go-getter who was trading her innocence for a pot of gold. She ought not to have let things get this far; in a way she had asked for what she had got. Her eyes filled with tears of frustration, and she so badly wanted to hit back at this man who was only playing with her anyway.
won't be disappointed,' she managed to get out furiously. 'Do you think I'm stupid enough to play your sort of game? What do you live on anyway? You're only a b-beach Romeo, if the t-truth be known!' she flung out at him, not really realising what she was saying, but only intent on hitting back at him for making her feel cheap.
Justin's narrowed eyes half widened in shock at her
words, and his lean tanned features looked leaner as he drew in a sharp breath. 'Beach Romeo,' he said softly. 'So that's how you see me, is it?'
Cassy looked away quickly from those searching eyes of his, feeling immediately ashamed of herself. Even if she had thought he was a waster, she ought not to have said so—and she wouldn't have done, she told herself miserably, if she hadn't been so upset, but it was too late now, the damage had been done—she knew that much from the look in his eyes.
`So in that case, I've nothing to lose, have I?' he went on in that same soft, yet deadly voice. 'It wouldn't be fair not to pass some of my vast experience on to you. You'll probably thank me later—at least you'll know what to expect on your wedding night,' he added grimly, as he caught her to him again.
Sheer terror made Cassy open her mouth to scream, but the sound never left her lips as Justin's ruthless ones smothered it effectively.
This time the kiss was gentle and even more effective for its seductive quality, and Cassy felt herself go pliant, and to her utter consternation, her arms seemed to act of their own volition and crept up around his neck. From that moment on, Cassy was lost, her whole being offering itself to the man who had so completely mastered her. She no longer felt cheap and used, but very much desired, and had the world at her feet, given her by this man she so desperately loved.
The rosy aura that so completely enfolded her while she was in his arms was shattered in a flash when he threw her away from him, and as she staggered back from the unsuspected move of his, she saw the mockery and triumph in his eyes as he coolly sur-
veyed her, breathless and partially dazed. 'Taking a leaf out of Reggie's book,' he said sardonically. 'You know where to find me if you're at a loose end,' and he walked out of the room.
Cassy stood staring at the door, and drew in a ragged breath. Should she be foolish enough to take him up on his offer, she knew only too well that he would not be available. His cold eyes had told her that, and more besides, she thought as she swallowed a lump in her throat.
With legs that threatened to collapse under her, she walked over to the chair by the window and sat down. Her eyes were blind to the view in front of her as she willed herself to remain calm. So she had made an all-time fool of herself, so what? She wouldn't be the last woman to suffer such an indignity, particularly at the hands of such an old hand at the game as Justin Pride. Her eyes travelled slowly over her trembling hands and she clenched them together in an effort to stop the trembling.
When Cassy had got over the initial shock of her devastating encounter with Justin, her first instinct was to search out the pushing Reginald Germaine and ingratiate herself back into his good books again. She knew she could do it; it would be a sop to his pride that he would willingly accept, and she could rely on Sylvia to innocently pass the news on to Justin. The thought of his reaction gave her a much needed shot in the arm, for in his way he was just as vulnerable as the other man, particularly as she had turned him down.
However appealing this idea was, after a few moments' reflection it appeared not quite so desirable. Why should she suffer another such evening in the
company of that puffed-up specimen, just to get her own back on the autocratic Justin? She drew in a deep breath; he wasn't worth it ! Besides that, he was extremely astute. Cassy did not know how much of her conversation with Reginald Germaine he had overheard, but it must have been obvious that she was handing out what was popularly labelled as the 'brush-off'.
The phone in her room rang, shrilly piercing through her troubled musings, and she stared at it malevolently. She didn't want to talk to anyone. It was probably Sylvia, and she didn't feel up to listening to her rapturous comments on how she was enjoying life at the. present moment. Perhaps it would stop if she just sat tight, but it did not, and the persistent buzzing forced her reluctantly to answer it
It was not Sylvia, but her father, and Cassy gave a sigh of exasperation as his high-pitched complaining voice came over the line to her; she could have done without his bullying reminder of why she was there.
'Have you seen Sylvia?' he demanded in that impatient voice of his. was expecting to hear from you before now,' he complained sourly.
'Yes, I've seen her,' she answered wearily. 'And I think she needs a little more time to think things over.'
'Think what over?' he asked aggressively. 'Did you tell her she'll get no more money from me until she returns ?' he demanded.
I think she knows that,' returned the exasperated Cassy, then remembering Greg, she added slowly, 'but there's a little more to it now.'
knew it!' he said in a triumphant voice. 'She's got herself mixed up with someone, hasn't she? Some thoroughly undesirable type. What's his name?'
`Greg Storn,' replied Cassy, having a hard time holding on to her temper, 'and he's not an undesirable type. Quite presentable, as a matter of fact. A golfer, and very highly thought of in the States. If you don't believe me, you could check him out,' knowing that that was exactly what he would do.
mph !' was her uncle's only response while he thought about this. Not too sure that I ought not to make the trip out myself,' he grumbled, now slightly more placated. 'Think it's serious, do you?' he barked out at Cassy.
How could she answer this? she thought sardonically. Sylvia thought so. She hedged a little. 'According to Sylvia, yes,' she said carefully.
Her uncle caught the hesitation in her voice and pounced on it. 'But you're not convinced?' he shot out at her. 'I think I'd better make that trip out, after all,' he threatened.
Cassy took a deep sigh. To be honest, she wouldn't have minded in the least if he did just that; she had been on the receiving end for long enough. It would also, she thought with a justifiable spurt of malice, clear the air all round, and the clever Mr Pride would have to eat a certain amount of humble pie after he had had a few stern words with Sylvia. 'That's entirely up to you,' she said calmly.
`Well, we'll see,' muttered her uncle. 'Couldn't have come at a worse time,' he grumbled. 'Having some trouble with some shareholders who think we ought to amalgamate with a Swedish firm.'
Cassy listened, but did not take much notice of the remarks. Business did not interest her, that was her uncle's domain. She knew what he meant by his 'We'll
see,' though. He would check on Greg, and if satisfied of his bona fides, then he would sit on the fence and awai
t results, and rely on Cassy to keep an eye on the situation.
`I'll get her to write to you,' she said, now with a weary note in her voice as her fond vision of his appearance in the very near future faded into oblivion.
`Yes, you do that,' answered her uncle, a note of relief in his voice. 'I can rely on you, you're a good girl,' he ended in a placatory tone, and put his receiver down before she could answer.
Cassy replaced her receiver slowly. He hadn't once asked if she was enjoying herself, and though this omission would not have caused her any heartache previously, as she was well used to such treatment, it now touched a raw spot in her heart. As her eyes misted over, she had to admit that she had become vulnerable. Vulnerable to what she had carefully armoured herself against all these years, getting used to being called a 'good girl' through her usefulness to her uncle, but no loving hug for her, or genuine anxiety to see to her happiness. She was just part of the furniture, serving a purpose and pushed aside when she had served that purpose—or at least she would have been had it not been for the kennels.
The kennels ! she thought with a spurt of exasperation. Her uncle hadn't said one word about the purchase, and wasn't that just like him! She bit her soft lip on the thought that it was typical of her uncle to conveniently forget any other business but his own, but not typical of her. There had been plenty of time for her to have made the enquiry as to how things were progressing and whether he had made the transaction.
She walked over to the bed and sat down on it shakily. What had happened to her? How could she have let such an opportunity pass? It was as if she had passed into another dimension of time, and what had gone before had no significance for her. She shook her head blindly; was this what happened when one fell in love? she wondered in a daze. Had Justin Pride so filled her being that she was oblivious to all else? And what of the future? Cassy thought with a quick inward breath that turned into a raw sob as she envisaged the bleakness ahead of her, she had no future! Not now, only an existence, and if Sylvia married Greg —She got up from the bed abruptly; she wouldn't think about that. But she did think about it, and found herself fervently hoping that no such alliance would come about. Selfish or nog she couldn't help her feelings on this, for their happiness would be a constant reminder of her unhappiness and what might have been.