Time to Trust

by Rosemary Badger

  Her eyes widened in amazement. Sophisticated computers lined one wall, green, red and yellow lights flashing wildly. A Telex machine was in the process of delivering a message, the white paper folding into Gerard Hunter's large brown hands. He had discarded his jacket and rolled up the sleeves of his white shirt, his deeply tanned arms in startling contrast to the snowy white of the fabric. His black hair was in wild disarray as though each strand had been personally dealt with by those long, tapering fingers. A deep flush stained his high cheekbones, adding even more colour to the dark hue of his skin. Blue-black eyes blazed down at the message he was reading. The telephone call he had received earlier had obviously been the catalyst which had sparked him into a human dynamo.

  He ripped the message from the machine and Kate watched, fascinated, as his long brown fingers moved rapidly over the keyboard typing out a reply. Kate stepped into the office and softly closed the door behind her. He glanced up and saw her, startled, and she smiled. He straightened and dragged a weary hand through his hair and down to his neck, kneading the stiff muscles there.

  'Ah, Kate, I'm sorry, I got waylaid.' With incredible ease he dropped out of his commercial world and slipped into his domestic one. 'How's Matthew? In bed and asleep, I hope?'

  She loved the way he had somehow turned her plain-sounding name into one of sophisticated charm. Her beautiful mouth lifted in a smile. 'Yes, Matthew is asleep.'

  Black brows arched in surprise. 'So soon? You must have a magic touch.'

  'It is after nine o'clock,' she reminded him gently.

  Gerard glanced at his watch. 'So it is.' Blue eyes swept over her and she felt that now familiar surge of warmth coursing through her body. His eyes took on a dangerous quality. 'You must think me a bore,' he rebuked himself, placing a warm hand under her chin to lift her face. 'I invited you for drinks and then left you to care for my son.'

  Kate stared helplessly into his eyes. 'No, I don't think that,' she heard herself say. Her eyes moved down to his mouth. 'I enjoyed putting Matthew to bed.'

  His hand swept around to the nape of her neck, his fingers splaying through her hair. He drew her closer.

  'Did you?' he whispered hoarsely.

  'Y-yes,' she whispered back, and for the life of her she couldn't remember what they were talking about. All she knew was that her body was on fire and that her heart seemed to be everywhere at once. Gerard's dark head slowly descended, his mouth hovering above hers until only a whisper separated them. Their lips touched in a fiery explosion. Gerard withdrew immediately, looked her fully in the face with eyes darkened by desire and then pulled her to him, his hands moulding her against the hard contours of his body while his mouth covered hers.

  Suddenly Kate knew this was what she had been waiting for, what she had wanted since the first time she had laid eyes on Gerard Hunter. He held her to him, drinking in her sweetness like a man who had tasted only bitterness and wanted to rid himself of the taste.

  She felt his hands against her, holding her to him, and a thrill shot through her. His kiss became deeper and Kate wrapped her arms around his neck, her fingers brushing through the thickness of his hair, holding on to him as if she could never let him go.

  Gerard's mouth left hers to burn a fiery trail across her jaw, her neck, nibbling gently at her earlobe until she was quivering. She bent her head back, her hands on the sides of his face as his mouth moved slowly down to her bare shoulders.

  'Kate!' he groaned feverishly, raising his head to look into her flushed face, her lids lowered in smoky passion. 'I'm sorry.' He set her away from him, dragging a rueful hand through his hair. 'I don't know what got into me. I don't usually ravish young ladies.'

  He was visibly shaken by what had happened, but Kate managed to appear quite calm. She should have known it would be like this between them. After all, her body had given her plenty of warning. He only had to look at her and it sparked off the fire within her. Even now, if he touched her, she felt she would become a willing slave in his arms. She was totally defenceless against him. Their body chemistries were dangerous. She could still feel the tiny explosions in every part of her being, the lingering fires burning in her veins.

  'I'm twenty-six years old,' she reminded him, her voice sounding breathless. 'I've been working and living on my own for years. Does that still qualify me as a young lady?'

  His blue eyes widened at her words and then hardened visibly. 'You're offering yourself to me, is that it? You want me to know you're a woman of the world?'

  Kate's cheeks flushed a fiery red. She hadn't imagined such a typically male response would come from his lips. She smothered a sigh.

  'I'm not in the habit of offering myself to anyone, Gerard,' she stated calmly. 'Do I look like a sacrificial lamb to you?'

  The hard look disappeared as he studied her. Her head was thrown back, the pert chin thrust forward and there was a wisdom in those large hazel eyes which left no doubt that Kate Chalmers was indeed her own person. His body relaxed, the hard lines in his face softened and to her astonishment he actually grinned. Kate felt her heart expand in her chest and then somersault to her throat. Her mouth went dry and she swallowed convulsively.

  'You look . . .' Gerard shoved his hands into his trouser pockets. 'Never mind how you look!' he growled, and turned away.

  The Telex machine came to life again, claiming his full attention. Twenty minutes passed as he received and sent out messages.

  'What is all this?' Kate asked as soon as the room became quiet.

  'My work,' he replied nonchalantly. 'I have an oil firm and this is its nerve centre. We're drilling on the north-west coast. Messages come in here and I relay them to my branches in Brisbane and Melbourne.' He gave her a crooked smile. 'But enough about that. I haven't forgotten I promised you a drink.' He placed a warm hand on the small of her back and led her from the room, closing the door on the flashing lights and the clattering machines.

  'What will it be?' he asked as they entered the lounge.

  'Sherry will be fine,' Kate answered. She watched as he poured the drinks, sherry for her and Scotch for himself, before they settled themselves on one of the soft leather sofas. A small frown puckered her smooth brow as she wondered how she should tell him about Matthew.

  'You will be pleased to know I've decided against a six-foot fence,' he surprised Kate by saying. 'So you can wipe that worried frown from your face. It spoils your beauty.'

  Kate leaned against the back of the sofa. She closed her eyes, her long golden-tipped lashes brushing against her cheeks. The fence had lost its importance compared to what she had to say! Gerard moved closer beside her and she felt his thigh brushing against hers, the contact spreading a delicious warmth throughout her body. Her eyes flew open, when he touched her cheek, to be arrested immediately by his own midnight-blue orbs. His breath fanned her cheeks smelling faintly of the expensive Scotch. Her eyes swayed down to the dark sensuous mouth and she trembled as his lips lightly brushed her own.

  'Why would I put up a fence to keep you out?' he said huskily, and Kate knew he was asking the question of himself and not of her. His hand traced the outline of her breast.

  'You're so very beautiful, Kate,' he murmured, and she gasped with pleasure as his mouth caressed her skin.

  'Gerard!' Her voice sounded strangled and he raised his head in genuine surprise. She slipped away from him, her cheeks crimson as she bowed her head, and struggled to gain composure. It was all happening too fast.

  His own face fused with colour, dangerous glints showing beneath lowered lids. 'What's wrong?' he growled suspiciously. 'How can you just switch off like that?'

  'I'm not, I. . .' Kate gazed at him helplessly.

  Her body was clamouring for his touch, her fingertips ached for the feel of him, her lips longed for his.

  'Don't bother explaining,' he said harshly, springing to his feet to glare down at her. 'I should have held out a little longer about the fence!' He reached for her hand and yanked her to her feet. 'You got what y
ou came for.' He pulled her roughly towards him. 'If there's anything else you want, let me know.' His hands slid down to her hips, pinning her against his hard body. 'We'll negotiate,' he muttered thickly, releasing her.

  Kate backed away from him, her hand against her mouth. 'Gerard, please, please don't look at me like that!' He thought she had betrayed him, that she had used her body to get her way with the fence. 'I . . . I -' Kate took a deep breath. 'Gerard, please sit down,' and she again took her place on the sofa and patted the cushion beside her. A loud snort filled the room as he looked at her with scorn. She quickly pulled her hand from the cushion and clasped it with the other on her lap.

  'Matthew spoke to me tonight,' she said quietly.

  The softly spoken words seemed to echo in the large room, hitting Gerard with such force that his breath was knocked out of him in a shuddering sigh. The sound went straight to Kate's heart.

  An awful silence filled the room. Kate watched in horror as Gerard seemed to crumple in front of her. The proud broad shoulders stooped, the ramrod-straight back bent and his head fell forward. He thrust trembling hands into his pockets.

  'Gerard,' Kate whispered hoarsely. 'Please, Gerard. Sit down and I'll tell you about it.'

  Bleak eyes found her own. 'Gloat about it is what you mean, isn't it?'

  Shocked, Kate shook her head. 'I would never gloat about a thing like that, Gerard.'

  Slowly he sat down beside her, shoulders and back stooped forward, hands and arms dangling between his legs. She longed to comfort him, to hold him in her arms the way she had done to Matthew, but she knew this was not the moment. Her words had hurt him terribly, when she had prayed they would make him glad, fill him with relief, make him want to rejoice.

  'He spoke about old Mr Kit-Kat and he asked if I could be his friend,' Kate continued quietly, fighting back tears at the look of anguish in Gerard's eyes.

  He turned slowly and her heart cried in protest at the naked misery in his face.

  'My son hates me, did you know that?' he whispered hoarsely.

  'No!' Kate grabbed his hands. 'You mustn't think that, you mustn't believe it!'

  His laugh was bitter. 'It's the truth.' He looked down at her small hands holding his. 'I knew Matthew liked you,' he sighed. 'He was always trying to get over to your place and I must admit I resented the fact that he preferred your company to mine.' Gerard turned her hands around, his thumbs lightly caressing her moist palms. 'I guess I was jealous.' He smiled sheepishly, a deep hurt lingering in his eyes. 'I lived for the moment when he would give me a hug and call me Dad. It seems so long since I've heard him say that,' he finished brokenly.

  Kate felt shattered. Gerard's hurt ran deeper than she had imagined. He was grieving, actually grieving for his son. Matthew was barely more than a baby. How could a baby wound his father so deeply, destroy so thoroughly? Only Gerard could answer this, and she hoped that when he was ready he would unburden himself to her. In the meantime she had earned their trust, and it was more than she had counted on. She would be content with this, and when Gerard lifted her hands to his lips she sighed. Whatever the storm, she would face it with them.

  Gerard suddenly stiffened and Kate followed his glance to the lounge entrance. Matthew stood there, his silent glare focused on his father. Kate tried to pull her hands from Gerard's, but he only tightened his grip.

  'Be still,' he warned in a low voice. 'Let me handle this.' He smiled across to his son. 'What is it, Matt? Can't sleep?'

  Matthew stepped into the room, his glance going from his father to Kate, finally settling on Kate. Kate held her breath. His small face was pinched in anger.

  'You're supposed to be my friend, my best friend!' he shrieked. 'Why are you sitting so close to him?'

  'That's enough, Matthew,' his father warned. 'Kate is your friend, she told me so.' He rose to his feet and crossed the room to his son. Matthew glared up at him, a small figure of fury. 'Kate and I are friends, too,' Gerard added gently.

  'No, you're not!' Matthew wailed. 'You want to take her away from me!'

  Kate watched, horrified, as Matthew started kicking Gerard in the shins, his small bare feet lashing out while tiny fists flailed against Gerard's thighs. Gerard picked Matthew up and slung him over his shoulder, the child kicking and screaming all the way up the stairs. Kate covered her ears with her hands, but Matthew's agonised screams penetrated to the very core of her being. She heard a door slam upstairs and then all was quiet.

  When Gerard returned Kate was still sitting exactly where he had left her. Her eyes seemed huge in her pale face.

  'Thank you for waiting,' he said quietly, dragging a weary hand through his thick black hair. 'He's finally asleep.'

  Kate sat motionless, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. 'Will he be all right?' she asked worriedly.

  'Eventually,' he said flatly, and Kate knew he was emotionally spent. He didn't join her on the sofa, standing instead by the fireplace, his back facing her, his hands spread across the mantelpiece. Slowly he turned, his eyes filled with agony. 'You have a right to know what this . . . that . . . was all about.'

  Kate shook her head in protest, but he silenced her with an impatient wave of his hand. 'You wanted to get involved, so you may as well know what you're up against.' She was shaken by his tone but knew he was right. She had done her utmost to get involved.

  'My wife and I were divorced six months ago,' he began bitterly. 'I was given custody of Matthew mainly because Ria didn't want a four-year-old cramping her lifestyle. She promised to visit him regularly, to take him out -'

  He shook his dark head. 'Promises she had no intention of keeping.' Pity filled his eyes. 'Matthew kept finding excuses for her; she was sick, she was away. Every weekend he waited.'

  Gerard crossed the room to refill their glasses, placing Kate's beside her on the end table. The light from the lamp caught the hard planes of his face, outlining the strong jaw and high cheekbones. He glanced at her, his eyes seeming to go straight through her, and she wondered if it was another woman he was really seeing. A pain caught in her chest. Was Gerard still in love with his ex-wife?

  He sat down next to her on the wide plush sofa, long legs stretched out, the glass of Scotch held loosely in his tanned hands. His eyes were focused on the golden liquid as he continued talking. 'I decided to get Matt away from Melbourne. I remembered this place when I visited the Boyntons here several years ago. Matt and I flew up, checked it out and made arrangements for this house to be built. Matt was taken with the idea of living right on the beach, and I thought everything would be all right. The divorce had been rough on him . . .' Gerard leaned forward, clasping the glass so tightly in his strong hands, Kate feared it would shatter. 'I told Ria we were moving, she didn't object, but the day we were to leave she turned up, threw a tantrum and accused me of stealing her child.' Gerard cleared his throat and Kate placed her hand on his arm, her fingers pressing into his hard flesh. 'Matthew became hysterical,' he continued, his eyes tortured at the memory. 'For once in his young life he truly believed his mummy wanted him, that she had finally grown to love him.' Gerard buried his head in his hands and his shoulders shook. 'Ria knew I wouldn't tell him the truth.

  She didn't want him. It was her own misguided way of getting back at me.'

  Kate remained silent, horrified by what she was hearing. She had to swallow several times before she was able to speak.

  'Afterwards, when Ria had gone, was that when Matthew retreated into his silent world?'

  Gerard ran his hands roughly over his face. 'Yes. He seemed to go into a trance. I took him to a doctor.' He laughed bitterly. 'And he told me my four-year-old son was suffering from a nervous breakdown brought on by severe trauma!'

  Kate felt sick all over. 'I'm sorry,' she whispered, placing her head against Gerard's shoulder.

  Without warning Gerard sprang to his feet. Kate stared helplessly up at him while he glared down at her.

  'Sorry?' Again that horribly bitter laugh. 'Is our story too sordi
d for the aspiring reporter? Do you wish now you'd minded your own business? Did you think Matthew had been born a mute and that you'd somehow performed a major miracle?' he rasped.

  'Stop!' Kate jumped to her feet. 'Stop torturing yourself, Gerard, and for goodness' sake stop feeling sorry for yourself!'

  He stared at her in wild-eyed disbelief. 'I'm not -'

  'You are!' she broke in hurriedly. 'Your heart has been broken too. Oh, maybe not by your wife but by watching Matthew suffer and believing you weren't doing enough to help him.' Her voice became softer and she smiled up at him. 'But obviously you've done a great deal. Matthew is talking and screaming! Day by day, bit by bit you've managed to restore his faith in life.'

  Gerard shook his head and stuffed his hands into his pockets. 'I know what you're trying to do, Kate,' he smiled sadly, 'but it won't work. You heard him. He's even afraid I'll take you from him!'

  Kate reached up to place a tender hand on his cheek. 'Then we'll have to prove him wrong, won't we? We'll become the Three Musketeers. All for one and one for all.'

  Gerard pressed her hand to his mouth, his eyes lingering on her upturned face. Then almost savagely he brushed it away. 'I've been part of a threesome,' he ground out bitterly, 'and you've seen the results!'

  Kate shrank from the contempt in his eyes. Horrified, she realised she had her answer. Gerard had given everything just as she had suspected, but Ria, his ex-wife, hadn't finished with him yet!

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Kate awoke to the sounds of voices outside her bedroom windows. She cast a bleary eye to the little alarm clock on her bedside table. Seven o'clock. Yesterday that would have been late. She was usually down at the beach by this time. Today it meant she had very little sleep, having spent until the small hours of the morning going over the events of the night before.