Trust in Summer Madness

by Carole Mortimer

  ‘And rich,’ Arlette drawled mockingly.

  Her eyes widened at the other woman’s perception of her thoughts. Jarrett was rich, rich enough to provide this woman with all the jewellery she wanted, and his wealth was obviously part of the attraction for Arlette.

  ‘And a wonderful lover,’ Arlette added softly.

  And that was the other part! Once again Jarrett was using sex and money to keep something he wanted. And Arlette would be something he wanted to keep, the other woman’s sensuality a physical force, more than able to match his own.

  ‘Isn’t he, Sian?’ she prompted hardly.

  ‘I believe so,’ she evaded. ‘You’ll have to excuse me, Mrs King—’

  ‘Please, call me Arlette.’

  ‘Arlette,’ she amended awkwardly. ‘I have to get back, I have a date tonight.’

  ‘With Jarrett?’

  ‘No—with my fiancé,’ Sian replied confidently.

  The shrewd blue eyes levelled on the solitaire diamond ring on Sian’s left hand. ‘You’re engaged?’ she said slowly.

  ‘Yes. I shall be getting married next month.’

  To her surprise Arlette gave a softly triumphant laugh. ‘Poor Jarrett,’ she explained her humour. ‘How frustrating for him! He intended to resume your relationship, you know,’ she answered Sian’s questioning look. ‘Or didn’t you know?’

  Sian avoided the other woman’s gaze. ‘I—’

  ‘You did,’ Arlette said with conviction. ‘Don’t look so concerned, honey. Jarrett’s little affairs mean nothing to me. As long as he continues to pay the bills I couldn’t give a damn what he does.’

  Sian was pale with shock. ‘I’m not one of Jarrett’s affairs,’ she said tautly. ‘And the—arrangement you have with Jarrett is nothing to do with me.’ She stood up. ‘If you’ll excuse me, I really do have to get back.’

  Arlette gave an unconcerned shrug. ‘It’s been nice meeting you. I intend being here some time, so I’ll probably see you again.’

  ‘No doubt,’ Sian acknowledged tightly.

  She kept her head held high as she left the bar, ignoring Ida’s smug expression, her own expression bland until she got outside, then she couldn’t hold back the agony any longer, and tears of pain and disillusionment flooded her eyes. She had almost let Jarrett do it a second time, had almost allowed him to ruin her life once again.

  Now he had no lever left to pressurise her with. Even Bethany couldn’t continue to claim his innocence when presented with his wife! Her sister was going to be hurt, but not as badly as she could have been.

  Unless she and Jarrett had already left for London! She should have thought of that, shouldn’t have wasted so much time talking to Arlette King. Sian could still be too late for Bethany!

  There was no black Porsche parked outside the house when she got there, and her heart sank when she entered the lounge to find her father alone.

  ‘Bethany has already gone?’ she queried dully.

  ‘Yes,’ her father confirmed grimly.

  ‘Oh.’ Sian chewed on her inner lip.

  ‘But not to London,’ he added tautly.

  Her eyes widened, more green than brown. ‘Not to London?’

  ‘No,’ he said forcefully. ‘To think that a daughter of mine would go off to London with a man like that!’ he shook his head disgustedly.

  ‘Bethany changed her mind, then?’

  ‘No, I changed Jarrett’s for him,’ he told her.

  ‘How?’ she frowned.

  ‘By talking some sense into him,’ her father said impatiently. ‘What does he think it’s going to do to Bethany’s reputation if it’s known she stayed overnight with him in London!’

  Sian very much doubted anything her father had to say had changed Jarrett’s mind, not when he had been so determined to hurt her. Maybe Jarrett had relented in this plan for revenge.

  ‘He asked about you,’ her father revealed reluctantly.

  She stiffened, her tone wary. ‘He did?’

  ‘Yes,’ he sighed. ‘I told him you were out for a drive. Although what it has to do with him I just don’t know. The man simply can’t let go, damn him.’

  Yes, damn him. She had been right about Jarrett not changing his mind because of what her father had said to him. Jarrett had guessed the reason for her drive, knew she had been going to see him. He was astute enough to know what her reaction would be to his taking Bethany away for the weekend. How disappointed he must have been that he had left the hotel before she arrived to plead with him. But he had given her her-answer to her pleading by his intention to bring Bethany home tonight after all, thought he had finally won. What a nasty shock for him when he got back tonight and found his wife had arrived to spoil everything for him!

  Because Arlette King’s arrival had freed her; Bethany would stop seeing Jarrett now that she knew he was married, and she—she would marry Chris as planned! Her summer madness was over, Jarrett finally out of her system. It was as if a heavy weight had been lifted, and her love and affection for Chris started to flow again. Jarrett was far out of her reach now, his marriage to Arlette making him so.

  She ran over to impulsively kiss her father, laughing as his eyes widened in surprise. ‘Poor Dad, no one warned you of the trauma bringing up two daughters could be, did they?’ she teased.

  ‘No,’ he acknowledged ruefully. ‘Although it’s had its moments.’

  ‘I can’t think when,’ she laughed, giving him another hug. ‘Chris should be here any minute, I have to go and change.’

  ‘Sian?’

  Her father stopped her at the door, and she turned slowly. ‘Yes?’ she frowned.

  ‘Chris is the better man,’ he told her gruffly.

  ‘I know it,’ she nodded.

  ‘But we don’t always want the things that are “better” for us, do we?’

  She shook her head. ‘I really do have to go upstairs, Dad,’ she murmured softly.

  Her father knew! No matter what she told him, how she acted, her father knew that she was once again in love with Jarrett King, that the love she felt for Chris in no way matched the fiery passion she had for Jarrett. It might be wild and destructive, totally unlike the gentler love she felt for Chris, but a part of her would always belong to Jarrett.

  It was wonderful to be with Chris that night, more like they had been before Jarrett came back, and when Chris suggested they go to his parents after their meal she readily agreed.

  ‘Feel like talking about the cake now?’ Sara asked dryly. ‘Sian was too busy to stop this afternoon,’ she explained to Chris.

  ‘Were you, darling?’ he frowned. ‘But I thought you were free all afternoon?’

  ‘I—I was a little late getting here,’ she excused, shooting her future mother-in-law a probing glance. Sara was far from stupid, probably knew exactly who the black Porsche belonged to, and no doubt it had made her suspicious.

  Sara Newman had always been of the opinion that no woman was good enough for her son, and she made no secret of the fact, which probably accounted for his bachelor state at the age of thirty; Sara had scared off all the eligible females in his life. And she objected strongly to Sian, probably because she had heard of the old scandal, although in that Sian should have been blameless.

  But Chris had remained adamant about seeing Sian, being far from a mother-dominated figure, and finally Sara had been forced to accept the situation, and once the engagement became a fait accompli she had set to with a willingness. But that wasn’t to say she wouldn’t enjoy having it called off, even at this late stage in the preparations.

  ‘Were you delayed with Mr King, dear?’ Sara asked casually.

  ‘King?’ Chris echoed sharply. ‘Did you see King this afternoon, Sian?’

  ‘I—met him quite by chance, in town,’ she invented. ‘He wanted me to see the spot where he’s going to have his house built.’

  Chris scowled. ‘He’s staying on here?’

  ‘Yes,’ she answered flatly, all the enjoyment going out
of the evening. ‘Some of the time, anyway.’

  ‘What do you mean by that, dear?’ Sara put in sharply.

  Sian looked at her with cool hazel eyes, knowing the other woman had deliberately introduced the subject of Jarrett into the conversation. ‘I doubt his wife will want to stay here all the time,’ in fact she doubted the sophisticated Arlette would last the week!

  ‘He’s getting married?’ Gerald Newman seemed to be having trouble keeping up with the conversation.

  ‘Not—Bethany?’ Chris asked.

  ‘No,’ Sian frowned. ‘He isn’t getting married, he already is married. His wife is at the Swan now.’

  ‘Well, I’ll be damned,’ her fiancé said slowly.

  ‘He probably will be,’ Sian replied bitterly.

  ‘Where is he going to build his house, Sian?’ Sara questioned pointedly.

  ‘Near the river, at Dane’s Hill.’

  ‘He’ll probably rename it King Hill,’ Chris muttered. ‘Does Bethany know all this?’

  ‘She knows about the house, because she told me about it—’

  ‘I meant that he’s married,’ Chris snapped.

  Sian frowned at how upset he was. But then Bethany had been like a little sister to him this last year, would soon be his sister-in-law. He was bound to feel a sense of responsibility for her. ‘Not yet,’ she soothed. ‘I thought I’d tell her later tonight.’

  ‘The sooner the better,’ he scowled. ‘He has some nerve!’

  ‘But why did he follow you here, Sian?’ Sara hadn’t finished stirring up trouble yet, and was determined to make an issue out of it.

  ‘Follow you?’ Chris echoed suspiciously, giving Sian a probing look. ‘Did he, Sian?’

  ‘No, of course he didn’t,’ she dismissed lightly. ‘He was coming back to town, he must have followed me thinking he could get there this way.’ Even to her own ears it sounded feeble. Damn Sara for stirring up all this just when it looked as if it had all been settled!

  ‘He used to live in Swannell—’

  ‘But only for a couple of years,’ Sian insisted stubbornly at Sara’s persistence. ‘And there has been some new building done since he left. This road never used to be a cul-de-sac,’ she added triumphantly. ‘Not until they built the new housing estate over the back.’

  Sara bit back her annoyance with effort, admitting defeat by the shrug of her shoulders. ‘That’s true.’

  Chris still looked annoyed, his handsome face flushed. ‘If they hadn’t built that estate we wouldn’t need a new shopping centre, and then King wouldn’t have come back here.’

  ‘Seems like a lot of ifs and buts to me, son,’ Gerald said slowly, eyeing him curiously, surprised at this show of jealousy from his usually calm son.

  ‘Yes.’ Chris still sounded disgruntled.

  ‘The cake, Sian?’ Sara reminded her of the reason for the conversation in the first place.

  ‘Of course.’ She stood up, forcing down her anger with the other woman. She was only protecting her son’s interest, after all. ‘I brought the bride and groom for the top with me,’ she was telling Sara as they went out to the kitchen.

  For the next ten minutes they discussed the decoration wanted on the cake, Sara making a lot of the local wedding cakes, her skill known; Sian had no doubt this one would be beautiful.

  ‘I hope you aren’t having second thoughts, Sian.’

  She looked up into Sara’s probing glance. ‘And third and fourth ones,’ she laughingly dismissed. ‘I’m sure all brides have them.’

  ‘You should know!’

  The fact that she had been engaged to be married before had been a constant thorn in Sara’s side, but Sian could see no benefits to arguing with the other woman about it. She had no doubt Sara would accept her completely once the wedding had taken place; she would have no choice! ‘I’m sure Chris has had a few doubts of his own. It’s only natural.’

  ‘Is it?’

  She was determined not to let Sara’s sour mood ruin anything for her, especially her new-found resolve. ‘Yes.’

  ‘If you say so,’ the other woman said moodily.

  Sian could see no further need for discussion—about the cake or anything else. ‘Shall we rejoin the men?’

  ‘Of course,’ Sara agreed abruptly.

  Sian deliberately kept the mood light for the rest of the evening, although she felt some relief when Chris at last offered to drive her home. Sara’s mood had been as friendly as her own, and yet she was aware there was still some resentment there; and she had always thought it was the men who had mother-in-law trouble!

  The light was on in her father’s bedroom when they arrived at her home, and she soon knew the reason her father had gone to bed so early on this Saturday night. The black Porsche was parked in the driveway!

  ‘Damn,’ Chris muttered as they got out of the car. ‘He and Bethany have been out again, I gather?’

  ‘Yes.’ Sian frowned. Obviously Jarrett hadn’t been back to his hotel yet. She would enjoy being the one to tell him his wife was here!

  Chris sighed. ‘It has to stop, you know.’

  ‘I’m sure it will,’ she told him confidently.

  ‘Bethany could get hurt.’ He scowled. ‘Do you think we’ll be breaking anything up by going in now?’

  She shrugged as he locked the car doors. ‘I don’t think so.’ Jarrett would be basking in his would-be success, would expect her to be meek and submissive, would have little interest in seducing Bethany. He had probably wished the evening over before it had even begun, believing her to be ready to give in to him, to agree to his conditions.

  She knew as soon as they walked into the lounge that she was right, saw the flare of triumph in the gleaming green eyes, the mocking quirk to his mouth, although the latter faded somewhat as he saw Chris’s arm casually draped about her shoulders.

  Sian looked at him with challenge, unable to stop the leap of her senses at how handsome he looked, the brown velvet jacket emphasising the undoubted strength of his shoulders and chest, his shirt snowy white, the dark brown trousers moulded to the lean length of his legs and thighs. His hair was slightly windswept by the gentle breeze outside; Bethany’s lipgloss was perfect tonight, showing she had had nothing to do with the dishevelment of the golden hair.

  Sian put her handbag down on the wall unit. ‘Did you have a good evening?’ She decided to play this casual, aware that the green eyes narrowed questioningly.

  ‘Very good,’ Bethany smiled her reply. ‘Jarrett took me to this wonderful French restaurant. I even tried frogs’ legs!’ she revealed with an excited laugh.

  ‘And snails,’ Jarrett drawled as Chris seemed to go green.

  Bethany grimaced. ‘I didn’t like them, too garlicky. But the frogs’ legs weren’t too bad—a bit like chicken.’

  ‘It’s disgusting!’ Chris grimaced his distaste. ‘Barbaric!’

  Cool green eyes were turned on him. ‘Have you ever tried it?’

  ‘No,’ Chris answered defensively. ‘But I don’t need to to know I wouldn’t like it.’

  ‘You can’t possibly know that without trying it first,’ Jarrett derided. ‘Some things can become—addictive.’

  Sian knew that the last was directed at her, and decided it was time she put an end to Jarrett’s deadly game. ‘I think I’ll make us all some coffee,’ she offered brightly.

  ‘I’ll help you,’ Jarrett offered instantly.

  It was what she had known he would do, knowing he was as anxious to talk to her as she was to him, and privately. As soon as she had seen Bethany’s mood of excitement, her infatuation with Jarrett, she had known she couldn’t humiliate her sister by telling Jarrett of his wife’s arrival in front of everyone. She would derive just as much satisfaction from telling Jarrett privately, in fact more so; she would be able to tell him exactly what she thought of him at the same time!

  ‘Thank you,’ she accepted with a sugary smile.

  ‘My pleasure.’ His gaze was warm on her parted lips as he join
ed her at the door.

  ‘Oh, but—’

  ‘Tell me more about this meal, Bethany,’ Chris encouraged at her protest. ‘It sounds awful!’

  ‘No, it—’

  Their conversation drifted off into the background as Sian and Jarrett went into the kitchen. Sian could have kissed Chris for his thoughtfulness, knowing he wanted Bethany to be hurt as little as possible too.

  She wasn’t prepared for Jarrett taking her into his arms as soon as the kitchen door closed behind them, and she seemed to stop breathing as he ravaged her mouth with a thoroughness that left her weak and gasping.

  ‘You owed me that for this afternoon,’ he growled, his hands on her spine moulding her to him.

  She held her anger contained with effort. ‘I told you—’

  ‘That you were visiting your future mother-in-law,’ he finished grimly. ‘Only that’s no longer true, is it?’

  ‘What do you mean?’ she asked with feigned innocence.

  ‘You went to the hotel to see me tonight.’

  ‘Did I?’

  His mouth tightened, the warmth of his body scorching her skin, her throat and arms bare in the rose-coloured sun-dress. ‘You know damn well you did,’ he rasped.

  ‘I went for a drive,’ she told him in a puzzled voice. ‘And I may have called in at the Swan, but I certainly didn’t go there to see you.’

  ‘Sian—’

  She pulled out of his arms. ‘Yes, Jarrett?’ She met his gaze calmly, enjoying watching his puzzlement. Jarrett wasn’t usually at a loss, but this time he was. And he didn’t like the feeling.

  ‘You came to tell me I’d won, damn you,’ he rasped.

  Her mouth tightened. ‘Won what, Jarrett? Me?’ Her brows rose scathingly. ‘I was never “yours” to win,’ she told him hardly. ‘I was never any man’s prize,’ she bit out angrily.

  ‘And Bethany?’ he taunted.

  ‘Ah yes, Bethany,’ she drawled fearlessly. ‘I think she may change her mind about you soon. And even you might find it hard to take care of both her and your visitor!’

  His gaze sharpened, the green eyes speculative. ‘What visitor?’ he asked softly, almost warily.

  And he might well be wary! Sian just hoped he at least felt some guilt when he knew his wife was here. She couldn’t believe she had ever loved anyone this selfish.