Promise of Paradise

by Rosemary Hammond

  “Yes,” she replied, impressed that he had remembered.

  When he was gone she had to wonder what had possessed her to agree to come here with him. She didn’t want any involvement at all, but especially not with a man like Luke Fury. What she should do is get up and walk out, now, before it was too lathe.

  But by then it was too late. He was already on his way back, his large form blocking the aisle between the tables. He set the drinks down and slid into the seat across from her. “Here’s to you, Jessica,” he said, raising his glass and taking a long swallow.

  “Thank you,” she murmured, sipping at her own drink.

  “Now,” he said, setting his glass down and placing his elbows on top of the table. “Will you please tell me what’s going on?”

  “There really isn’t anything to tell,” she hedged.

  “Come on, Jessica. I asked nicely.” He leaned closer. “You intrigue me, lady,” he went on in a low voice. “When I first met you I had you all pegged for a snob, the lady of the manor dealing with the scruffy hired help.” She opened her mouth to protest, but he held up a hand, stopping her. “Then,” he went on firmly, “I give you a piece of news about your husband that would have sent a lesser woman into hysterics, but you took it like a real trooper, and my respect for you went up several notches.” He shrugged. “But that remote, touch-me-not air you have about you still put me off, and I figured you only spelled trouble for me.” His eyes narrowed. “In spite of the fact that I was very attracted to you.”

  Jessica didn’t know what to say. She’d suspected, of course, that he’d been coming on to her by his actions, the way he touched her, the innuendo in his voice, but figured it was all part of his act, nothing genuine about it. In her eyes, Luke Fury was a man who was well aware of his attraction for women and used it to make trophies out of them. Now she wasn’t so sure.

  “Well?” he said at last. “I’ve been open and honest with you about the way I feel. No tricks, no obfuscation.”

  She frowned down at her drink for a few moments, then looked up to find that glittering green gaze still boring into her. He looked so serious, even a little unsure of himself, as though he was out of his depth for a change, and didn’t like it one bit.

  Finally she gave him a tentative smile. “I’m not sure what it is you want from me, Luke,” she said quietly.

  “Well, for a start, you might tell me what the hell you’re doing in Florida working at a menial job you surely don’t need.”

  She had to laugh. “As a matter of fact, I do need the job. Aside from Paul’s insurance, I have no money.”

  His eyes flew open, then narrowed in an expression of sheer disbelief. “Oh, please,” he said with the hint of a sneer in his voice. “Give me a break. You’ve got to be putting me on.”

  “No,” she assured him hastily. “I’m not. I’m telling you the pure unvarnished truth.”

  He leaned even closer, his face only inches away from hers now. “Do you mean to tell me,” he began, his tone dead serious now, “that with all the Trent millions behind you, plus God knows how much more in your own family, you’re reduced to working in the hospital cafeteria as a cashier just to pay the bills?”

  She nodded, enjoying herself now. “That’s right.”

  He slumped back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest. “Why?” he said at last.

  She shrugged. “It’s hard to explain. I just got tired of living off other people. Oh, don’t imagine for a minute that I’m not well aware of what I’ve given up. It hasn’t been any picnic for me to have to scrimp and save just to exist. But I have to tell you that I feel better about myself now than I have in a long time.”

  “Well, I’ll be damned,” he muttered softly. He shook his head. “You’re an amazing woman, Jessica. There aren’t many of you around with that kind of integrity.”

  She thought about Millie. “Oh, don’t kid yourself,” she said earnestly. “There are plenty of heroic women out there struggling to make it on their own, raising children by themselves, taking whatever job comes along.” She took one last sip of her drink, then rose to her feet. “Now, I really must go.”

  He jumped up beside her. “I’ll walk you home.” “Oh, no need for that.”

  “But I want to.” He took her by the arm and started toward the front entrance. “Don’t worry, I won’t ask again to come in. You made it pretty plain you’re not having any of that,”

  They were out on the pavement now, the street that was so crowded earlier now virtually empty. The soft evening air was balmy and redolent of the tang of salt water carried on the gentle breeze off the Gulf, and the tall palm trees that seemed to grow everywhere were swaying high above them.

  When they came to her building, she turned to say good-night and thank him for the drink, but he was already moving forward, opening the door to the entrance.

  “I’ll just see you to your door,” he announced.

  “All right,” she said, after a moment’s hesitation. “I live on the second floor.”

  When they reached her apartment, she got out her key then turned back to him. “I’ll say good-night now, Luke,” she said with a smile. “And thank you for the drink. It was very pleasant.”

  Since the lights in the upstairs corridor hadn’t yet been turned on, his face was cast in shadows, and she couldn’t quite make out his expression. For a moment he neither spoke nor moved. Then, suddenly, one arm shot out and he put his hand flat against the wall behind her, virtually pinning her.

  His other hand came to rest against her cheek, and he said in a low voice, “When can I see you again?”

  She bit her lip and stared down at the floor, her feelings warring within her. She did want to see him again. In spite of his maddening self-assurancae, she was very attracted to him. She found the few fleeting glimpses of a gentler side, a vulnerability that he kept well-hidden, even from himself, quite endearing.

  But as strong as that attraction was, there was also something frightening about him. He himself made no bones about his life-style. He was a man on the prowl, a rolling stone that had no intention of tying himself to anyone or anything, going where he pleased, taking love where he found it, then leaving when it suited him. Could she afford to become involved with a man like that? Especially so soon after Paul’s death?

  She had just opened her mouth to turn him down, when one finger of the hand on her cheek came to press lightly against her lips. “Don’t,” he murmured softly. “Don’t say no.”

  “I just don’t think it would be a very good idea, Luke,” she said in a low troubled voice.

  “Why not?”

  She looked up at him. “We’re very different, you and I. You don’t really approve of my background, and I can’t even begin to understand yours. What could we possibly have in common?”

  He gave her a slow smile. “I can think of one thing,” he said, and before she could grasp his intention, his head had dipped down, and his mouth was brushing softly against hers.

  It was as though a flame had suddenly been ignited within her. There was nothing remotely seductive or demanding about his kiss. His arm had come around her shoulders, drawing her gently up against the tall lean length of his hard body, but he wasn’t clutching at her or pawing her, and in the next moment, he had raised his head and stepped back a pace from her.

  “Well? How about it?” He grinned at her. “If you’re worried about my making a pest of myself, I should tell you that I’ll be leaving soon anyway.”

  “Oh, really?” she asked in a faltering voice, still stunned by the impact of that kiss. “Why is that?”

  He shrugged. “The job here won’t take long. I’m only waiting for the situation in Japan to get settled, then I’m off again.”

  “I see,” she said carefully. “Then why bother?”

  “Why not?” he rejoined instantly. “I like you. You intrigue me. I think we could have some good times together. And I’ll most likely be wandering back this way eventually.”

>   Still she hesitated, possibly even more reluctant now that he’d made it absolutely clear it was only “good times” he was after. She thought about Sandra, and wondered if she’d have to take a place in line behind her. And how many others?

  She was just about to refuse him again, but he forestalled her. “Never mind,” he said curtly. “I can see I’m wasting my time with you. You’ll never get free of that high and mighty background of yours, and I’ll always be the hired help. Forget it, lady. I don’t need that kind of...”

  “Oh, stop it!” she broke in angrily. “You know darned good and well it’s not that.”

  “Do I?” he asked with a sneer. “Prove it.”

  “I don’t have to prove anything to you,” she retorted hotly.

  Suddenly he smiled. “So,” he said in a tone of intense satisfaction. “It is possible to get a rise out of you.”

  Still grinning, he gave her a mock salute, turned on his heel, and stalked off down the hall away from her. Just at that moment the hall lights went on, one of them striking him as he passed beneath it, catching the golden streaks in his dark hair.

  She stood there staring after him until he disappeared from view down the stairs. He never once looked back.

  In the days that followed, Jessica did her best to put thoughts of Luke Fury out of her mind. She’d been right to refuse him. He only meant trouble for her. She didn’t need entanglements of any kind at this stage of her life, and especially not with that disturbing man.

  By Thursday evening she also deeply regretted agreeing to have dinner with Greg Palmerston, the doctor from the base hospital.

  “Men!” she said aloud to her bedroom mirror as she put the finishing touches on her makeup. It was almost seven o’clock, and she had a feeling Greg was the kind of man to show up on time.

  At least he was safe, she thought as she brushed a stray wisp of dark hair back from her forehead. They came from the same kind of background. She understood what made him tick. Not like Luke Fury, who seemed hellbent on maneuvering her into a corner every time they met. She hadn’t even seen him at the base since the night he’d driven her home, and that’s the way she wanted to keep it.

  She was just clipping on a pair of pearl earrings when the doorbell rang. She glanced at her watch. Seven o’clock on the dot! Somehow, she found that fact depressing. That kind of man was so predictable. One thing you could say for Luke, he made life a little more interesting, added a spark of zest to what was becoming a rather humdrum existence.

  “Hello,” she said, opening the door. “Right on time.”

  He grinned at her. “Oh, my mother always taught me that being late was one of the cardinal sins.”

  She nodded. “I know what you mean.”

  He flicked a quick glance over her. “I see you had the same kind of mother. You look as though you’re all ready to go—and very lovely, too, in your blue dress. I like the color on you.”

  “Thank you, sir,” she said prettily.

  “Well, then, shall we go?”

  His car was pretty much what she’d expected, a silver gray Mercedes, sleek and polished, just like Greg himself. Well-mannered man that he was, he held the door open for her and made sure she was seated before going around to his own side.

  “I made reservations at the Paradise,” he said as he pulled out into the traffic.

  She gave him a quick sideways glance, not at all sure she liked that idea. There was too great a risk of running into Luke at the Paradise, since he seemed to stay there whenever he was in the area, and for a moment she didn’t respond.

  “I hope that’s all right,” Greg went on. “It’s really the best place around to dine.”

  “That’s fine,” she replied with a quick smile. “I’ve eaten there before, and I agree with you.”

  As it turned out, the dining room was so crowded she wouldn’t have noticed Luke even if he had been there. As usual, the food was delicious, the service excellent, and by the middle of her meal of fat juicy sweet and sour prawns, caught locally that day, she was feeling more relaxed than she had in months.

  Greg was an attentive escort, and seemed genuinely interested in her as a person, quizzing her about her background, her family, her plans for the future. They even had several acquaintances in common, and it was good to catch up on the current news about them.

  They had just finished dinner and ordered coffee when from across the room a woman’s voice rang out. “Luke Fury! When did you get back? And why haven’t you called me?”

  Jessica’s heart started to pound and she could feel her face going up in flame. Without thinking, she raised her head to scan the crowd. Eventually she spotted the red-haired Sandra, just rising from her stool at the bar and looking toward the entrance.

  Then Jessica saw him. He was standing there, obviously just arrived, and she watched, transfixed, as Sandra ran over and threw her arms around him.

  She suddenly realized that Greg had spoken to her. “I’m sorry, Greg,” she said, turning back to him. “What did you say?”

  But he had already swivelled his head toward the door. “Quite a display they’re putting on,” he remarked dryly. “Do you know him?”

  “Only slightly,” she said. “Do you?”

  “Oh, yes,” was the rather tart reply. “He has quite a reputation around the base. And I see he’s living up to it tonight.”

  For some reason, Greg’s rather sneering tone raised Jessica’s hackles, but she covered it quickly. “She’s very lovely,” she said lightly “Do you know her?”

  “Not really,” he replied with a shrug. “Not personally, that is. I do happen to know she’s the daughter of an important general.”

  Jessica’s eyes widened. “Oh, really? Not exactly a tramp, then, is she?”

  Her sarcasm was lost on Greg, who only replied, “Hardly. I’ll give Fury that much. He has pretty high standards when it comes to women. And,” he added grudgingly, “from what I hear he’s very good at his job.” He reached across the table and put a hand over hers. “But enough about Luke Fury. I can think of several more interesting subjects to discuss with you.”

  Jessica smiled politely and gently withdrew her hand. Somehow the pleasant evening was spoiled for her, and her one thought now was to avoid having to speak to Luke.

  From time to time, however, almost against her will, her eyes would dart toward the bar, where he and Sandra were still sitting, their heads close together, but he never once looked her way.

  When Greg finished his coffee, he rose to his feet. “Excuse me for a moment, Jessica. I’ll be right back.”

  As soon as he left, she turned to gaze out the window. It was quite dark out, with a crescent moon riding high in the night sky, the tall branches of the palm trees black against it. The surf shone with a phosphorescent glow as it broke on the gleaming white sand.

  “Well,” came a familiar voice. “Fancy meeting you here.”

  She turned her head to see Luke standing beside the table, his eyes hooded, a sardonic smile curling on his lips. Hiding her dismay, she managed to give him a thin smile.

  “Hello, Luke,” she said. “How are you?”

  “Quite well, thank you. How are you?”

  She frowned at the mocking tone in his voice. She should have known that simple good manners would be wasted on him. Now how was she going to get rid of him before Greg returned? She was about to put on her best lady of the manor air and ask him to leave, when Sandra appeared beside him.

  “Oh, hello,” she said with a smile. “It’s Jessica, isn’t it?”

  Jessica nodded. “That’s right. How are you, Sandra?”

  “Oh, I couldn’t be better.” She turned to Luke. “We’d better leave if we’re going to the Mitchells’ party.”

  “Right,” he replied briskly. He gave Jessica a curt nod. “Nice to have seen you again.”

  Sandra grasped him firmly by the arm and they turned and walked off together. Jessica knew she should be relieved, but as she watched him go, she co
uldn’t help noticing that several other feminine glances were directed his way as he passed by, and she had to admit he was really a fine figure of a man, by far the most attractive one in the room.

  Then why had she turned him down? It all seemed rather pointless now. She was attracted to him, and he to her. At least he had been. Now he’d found another playmate, and seemed to be quite reconciled to her refusal to see him again. And in spite of her best intentions, that fact rankled.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  IN THE NEXT few days, Jessica’s feeling grew that she’d made a really stupid mistake in turning Luke away. It also stung that he obviously still considered her the worst kind of snob.

  Now he wasn’t even interested, and she couldn’t really blame him. There was no use crying now over what was already done. Still, a light seemed to have gone out of her life. He had brought a little excitement into her rather drab existence, and she’d been a fool to be scared off so easily.

  She kept looking for signs of him at the base, but every time she thought she recognized the dark head, the tall form with the broad shoulders and narrow hips, it turned out to be someone else.

  When she finally did run into him, the following Saturday evening, it was under the worst possible conditions. She was just leaving the hospital after work when the black clouds that had been hovering / overhead since noon suddenly burst into a heavy downpour.

  She stood under the covered porch of the hospital gazing out with growing dismay at the steady torrent, hesitating. Hard to believe now, but the sun had been shining that morning. She simply had no choice. She’d have to go out in it, without an umbrella, or even a scarf. In fact, if she didn’t hurry she’d miss her bus and have to stand out in the pelting rain for another half hour.

  Finally, taking a deep breath, she plunged down the steps, covering her head with her handbag as well as she could, and started sprinting toward her stop. When she arrived, panting, she could just see, through the heavy curtain of rain, the taillights of her bus as it splashed its way down the street without her.