by Nancy Radke
“Well?” the woman demanded, indicating Ellen with a nod of her head.
“Angelique, this is Ellen Craig, my new office manager. Ellen, Angelique, the reporter I—”
“What happened to Donna?”
“She’s getting married Saturday. Her new husband lives in Friday Harbor—he runs a charter boat service.” He looked at Ellen as he added, “It took me a while to tumble to what was happening between her and Clyde. I’d sold him a new cruiser. Usually that’s the last I see of my customers, but he kept coming in to buy or exchange things. I thought I’d sold him a lemon until Donna cued me in.”
Angelique dismissed his account with a wave of her hand. “So you’re the new office manager?”
“Yes.”
“And on a first-name basis already,” the reporter observed. “How cozy.”
The woman had claws and did not mind digging. Ellen felt herself bristle. She straightened in her chair, temper flaring and only just in time remembered Jared saying that the woman would retaliate if he was too aggressive in trying to get rid of her. As long as they acted like they had nothing to hide, maybe she would go away.
Angelique pulled out one of the wooden chairs and sat on the edge. “You’ll be needing a new hostess for your parties. Or will that job fall to Ellen, too?”
Ellen swung a startled gaze at Jared. What else did he expect her to do?
“Yes, although I hadn’t mentioned it yet. Don’t worry,” he added to Ellen, “they’re completely catered. All you have to do is walk around and keep the conversation going.”
“Jared has these delightful parties when he’s finished one of his gorgeous boats. He invites the owner to take all his friends out for a short cruise on Lake Washington, followed by an evening at Jared’s home. At which time he pulls out the final contract. Have you ever failed to get anyone to sign?”
“No. But the contract is signed before the yacht is built. This is just a paper acknowledging that the sea trials are finished and everything is done to their satisfaction. The party encourages their friends to buy. It’s our best way to advertise.”
“How nice,” Angelique said with a purr.
Ellen nodded. “And Donna has been your hostess?”
“Yes.”
“And you’ll want me to do the same?”
“Of course. It comes with the job.”
As Ellen mulled this over, Angelique asked him, “Have you seen today’s column? I have some juicy news about Marlene.”
“I don’t take time to read it. Most of what you say is just conjecture—”
“Founded on facts. Here, have a copy.” She pulled a long, narrow piece of newspaper out of her purse and handed it to him. “What do you think about that?”
He barely glanced at it. “What am I supposed to think?”
“She got engaged awfully fast after you dropped her, darling.” In an aside, she stage-whispered to Ellen, “I wish you luck. Jared doesn’t keep his women around very long.”
“I am not one of his women,” Ellen snapped, knowing she looked as affronted by the statement as she felt.
“No?” Angelique’s brow arched in delicate study. “He’s never brought Donna here. That was a tender scene I interrupted just now. I suppose you were discussing sales?”
Jared cut in, his face stern. “Forget it, Angelique. You’re fishing in the wrong bay.”
The uncomfortable silence lasted but a second, as Angelique trilled an assured laugh across it. “You must forgive me. Jared knows I like to stroke fur backwards to make sparks for my column. It keeps my readership up. Well, what do you think of Marlene’s choice, Jared? Mr. Modeling Agency isn’t one-tenth the catch you are.”
“We’ll have to wait and see, won’t we?”
“No comment?”
“I know better than to express anything personal with you around. Unguarded words tend to end up in newsprint.”
“Be sure to read tomorrow’s then.”
“Why?” Ellen challenged. “What could you possibly write about... about this encounter?”
“Lot’s of things. Hints go a long ways to keep readership. I don’t actually have to say much.”
“That could be libel.”
“Not if all I do is ask questions. I’m an old hand at this.”
“Humph!” Ellen snapped, throwing caution to the winds. She was not the type to keep backing away from a woman such as this. “You must not keep many friends.”
“It’s not about friendship, dear. It’s about power.”
Having never heard anyone admit it before, Ellen paused, momentarily speechless.
“Don’t mind me,” Angelique said, tapping her red nails on the table top. “Jared and I go back a long way. We went to grade school together, if you can picture that. Even then, he was a handful. Gave the teachers fits. I think he refused to cooperate on general principles. He still does.”
“Sounds like a typical boy to me,” Ellen said. “Every student I’ve taught—” she stopped, aghast. What had she said?
“You’ve taught?” Angelique queried, instantly coming to the alert.
Ellen’s mind went blank. How was she going to cover for herself? She looked at Jared, horrified—and he came through.
“Ellen teaches Sunday school,” he said, rolling the lie off blandly. “She doesn’t admit it unless you probe.”
“Sunday school, huh? I see. She sounds more like a secretary-bird, Jared. Flying to your defense. Does she screen all your calls, too?”
“No,” he snapped, getting to his feet. “Come on, Ellen. I’ve had enough of the company here.”
Ellen would have liked dessert, but nodded, picking up her purse and joining him.
“See you around,” Angelique called after them.
Jared was doing a slow simmer all the way out of the restaurant, his mouth tightly clenched. “Whatever possessed you to say a thing like that?” he demanded, once they were in the parking lot.
“It just came out—”
He stopped and Ellen stopped with him. “Angelique’s even more suspicious now.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t think—”
“I thought reading made one smart.”
“It does.”
“Then why didn’t you—”
“Smart in some things,” she snapped back. “Only to a limited extent. Being able to read does not necessarily translate into being wise. There is a difference. I believe you’ve learned more about people than I ever will. Out of necessity. You’ve survived, and that’s the name of the game.”
“Yes, I’ve survived. And only just. So you don’t need to leap to my defense like a mother bear.”
“I wasn’t—”
“Of course you were! What else would you call it?” He scowled, paced in a circle and stopped again, facing her. “I don’t need protecting. Back off a little. And don’t ever screen my calls.”
Ellen looked downward, uncertain what to say. It was true. She had become very protective of Jared. She was even acquiring some of his paranoia... checking to see if she was being followed when she drove to his home, watching that she did not inadvertently reveal that she was a tutor. Or at least trying to. She was not as adept as he in hiding things.
He was still upset. “You must understand; for a man to be a man, he must protect the woman... not the other way around. I am not a child, even if I read like one.”
Pride. She could hear it in his voice, feel it in his pain. She must be very careful not to wound it, for his pride was very delicate, very vulnerable.
“You’re right, Jared. I’ve taught so many children, I am beginning to act like a schoolteacher... even towards you. I’m sorry.”
“You’re ashamed of me?” he demanded imperiously, his head lifted, body braced for her answer.
“No.”
“Then you’re sorry for me,” he accused.
“No!” Head up, she faced him squarely, emphasizing her words as she spoke. “You have overcome tremendous obstacles. How can anyone have
anything but admiration for you?”
“Bah!” he scoffed. “It sounds good. You might even believe what you say. But in your heart—”
“I know I’m right. I admire you very much. You’re quite gifted.” Why wouldn’t he believe her? Why couldn’t he see it?
“Almost... you almost make me believe you.”
“Someday you will.”
“Then tell me, smart lady, why do you spring to my defense?”
“Because... because—”
“See, no answer.” He tossed the statement out with disdain—which heightened her anger and her awareness of how vibrantly interested she was in him.
“Don’t rush me!” She put her hands over her face and closed her eyes. How had she felt? As if being personally attacked. “I’m not sure, but I think when one person teaches another, a... a bond is made. Like I became part of you; so that when she attacked you, it felt like she was attacking me. Now, I’m not sure if that is right. I’ve never felt this way before.”
“No?” He was still skeptical.
“No. But then I’ve never spent more than two hours at a time with any one I’ve tutored.”
He turned to stare out over the lake, the harsh planes of his face carved from marble... alone and too remote to ever reach.
Ellen longed to smooth the deep lines away. “I’m sorry.”
“Stop babying me!”
“I’m not... I don’t mean too. I mean—”
“Forget it. I’ll see you at the wedding,” he growled, turning further away so that his back was to her.
Furious, hurt, Ellen walked slowly over to her car. She got in, hoping he would call her back. He didn’t, so she drove away. His back was still turned when she entered the main flow of traffic.
Defiantly, she swiped at the tears threatening to fall. Other students had been ultra-sensitive; fighting her every step of the way. She never cried over them. But none of them had the ability to hurt her like Jared did.
He demanded the best of her, put her through the ringer, gave her flowers, then bawled her out. Being with him was like walking through a mine field in a bog. Each step was shaky enough to begin with, but one false step and the world blew up.
The tears refused to stop and she finally let them flow freely down her cheeks. Reaching over, she opened hit the button to start her CD player.
Wrong choice. The song was about misguided love and did not help her at all.
It hurt to have him accuse her of treating him like a kid. She did not think of him as such, but her protective instincts made her act that way.
The tears flowed harder as she crossed the floating bridge, so she moved to the right to drive more slowly. Once across, she pulled over into the wide area where the toll booths had been, and stopped her car. She had let him get too close. She had not had a crying jag like this for years.
It had been a mistake to go to the restaurant; she had made a big muddle of everything. From now on she was going to be strictly the teacher and the secretary, and that was it. The memory of Jared turning his back on her would serve as a strong brake on any romantic notions she might have in the future.
It took a full minute before she got herself under control and able to drive. When she arrived home, she went to bed early, but awoke tired after a sleepless night.
Examining the dark circles under her eyes, Ellen hoped they would disappear soon. Jared would know by looking at her that something was wrong, and would want to know what. She had no explanation. None handy anyway.
The roses he had given her drooped on their stems. Ellen dumped out the green water and threw them in the garbage. So much for Elenora’s theories. Jared was only interested in her help, not in her as a person.
As she pulled out some eggs for breakfast, the phone rang. Her heart skittered, then sped up in anticipation. It was early for her family to call. “Hello?”
“Ellen?”
It was her mother, sounding excited, and Ellen tensed, ready to ward off another request. Today was the day of their family picnic, but she had already told her that she was going to Donna’s wedding first. “Yes.”
“What’s this I see about you and Jared Steel?”
“Why, nothing, Mom.” How had she found out about Jared? Although mentioning a job, Ellen had never said his name. “What do you mean?”
“This says you’re his very, very personal secretary. Your father has a hundred questions, but I thought it might not be you.”
“Ah...uh....” Angelique. Had to be her column. What had she said?
*16*
As her mother’s voice rang in her ear, Ellen’s thoughts careened from side to side, bouncing off excuses like water in a sizzling pan. She had to keep her tutoring of Jared a secret. Her father would tell everyone within listening distance that his daughter was working with Jared Steel, thus boosting his image among his cronies.
She was positive he had already told them she was a reading tutor. What if one of them put it all together?
She could not let that happen. She gripped the phone tighter. “Ah... what... uh, where did you hear this?”
“In the morning paper. Our local edition. Haven’t you seen it?”
“No. I don’t subscribe.”
“It describes you perfectly, honey. Red hair and all. Even that little alligator wristwatch you wear.”
“Well... I....” Ellen had put it on yesterday when her regular watch had gone dead. The kids loved to be timed by the animal’s little hands. She looked down at the alligator with its toothy grin. If it hadn’t been for that, she might’ve been able to deny everything.
“How long have you been working for him?”
“A couple of weeks, that’s all. There’s nothing—”
“You’re not trained as an office manager. Why does this article claim you are?”
“I... ah... needed extra money. Ah... I wasn’t earning enough with my part-time tutoring jobs.”
“Why didn’t you tell us? Your father and I could have given you a hand if you were short.”
Ellen heard her dad, close by, saying, “Let me talk to her. I never thought she’d make it, just tutoring.”
“Okay. Here’s your father, Ellen.”
“Hi, Dad.”
“Hi. You’ve been working for Jared Steel and never told me?” He sounded astonished and a little put out, that she would do such a thing.
“I don’t have that much to do with him, Dad.”
“That’s not how this column puts it. It sounds like you two are practically engaged.”
“That’s a trick for writing interesting copy. A lot of questions and innuendoes. That’s how it was written, wasn’t it?”
“Well... maybe. Are you tutoring his child?”
“No. He’s not married.”
“But you were having dinner together.”
“Sort of. We both ended up at the same restaurant, that’s all. Don’t mention it to anyone, Dad.”
“Why not?” He sounded indignant.
“Because... uh... this is just a short, summer job while his current office manager is gone. I don’t want to get rumors started if I’m going to teach school this fall. It might cause a lot of bother.”
“What would my talking about it hurt? Your name’s already all over the local papers.”
“Yes. But I don’t want that reporter coming to my school or anything.” She was running out of excuses and afraid to invent any, since her imagination tended to run wild. “Please, Dad. Just forget it.”
“Well... all right. I still don’t see why.”
“Thanks.”
“Tell me, is he as sharp as he seems on TV?”
“Sharper.”
“I’d like to meet him. Could that be arranged?”
“I don’t think so; but... uh, I’ll ask, okay?”
“You do that. I sure would like to meet him. Thanks honey.”
Ellen hung up, relieved at ending the conversation. Despite the way she and Jared had parted, she looked forward to s
eeing him at the wedding.
Slipping on a pale lime-green cotton sun dress, Ellen left early, allowing herself time to hunt down a copy of the local paper. The article contained mainly innuendoes, making Ellen seem like Jared’s new love interest. Someone at Donna’s wedding was bound to mention it to him; he needed to know what was in it so as to be able to fend off any questions.
The day had turned out perfect, neither too hot nor too cool; just right for an outdoor ceremony at Lincoln Park. Small signs had been placed to indicate directions and Ellen followed them until she spotted the wedding party.
The park made a beautiful setting at this time of year, its centuries old trees forming a green cathedral ceiling over the happy couple. A gentle breeze coming off Puget Sound moved through the leaves, creating patterns of light more intricate than any stage designer could imagine. Large pottery jars filled with ivy, fuchsia, irises and delphiniums stood at each side of the entrance, and similar jars flanked the area where the ceremony was to take place.
Ellen stopped at the entrance. The photographer was still taking pictures and she wanted to stay out of the way. She looked for Jared, searching for him and him alone, at first not recognizing him in his black tuxedo. It accentuated his dark good looks, making him more handsome than ever, and her heart tripped over itself. There was something about a tux that made any man look wonderful—and Jared was not in need of any help.
She felt free to admire him from the distance, feasting upon his lithe figure. Others deferred to his judgment, calling out for his opinion. Ellen watched with pride as he directed the placement of the arch so that at the appropriate moment the couple would be bathed in sunshine while the rest of the area was in shade.
Spotting Ellen, he waved for the men to continue and hurried past the rows of chairs to where she was standing.
“You made it. I’m glad.”
She smiled, his simple words making her unexpectedly happy. He was the reason she was here.
“Come up front with me,” he said. “I’ll introduce you.”