‘Not if I don’t want you to,’ she snapped.
‘How about if I threaten to tell Donald Jones of the affair I’ve had with his wife?’ Roddy asked calmly.
Megan gasped. ‘You wouldn’t!’
His stance was challenging. ‘Try me.’
CHAPTER EIGHT
HER second caller that night wasn’t so much angry as upset. Patsy had tears streaming down her cheeks, her distress was obvious.
‘Oh, Megan!’ she collapsed into her arms, stumbling into the house. ‘Oh God, I don’t know what I’m going to do,’ she sobbed.
Megan guided her over to a chair and seated herself on the arm. ‘The first thing you’re going to do is calm down,’ she soothed. ‘Come on, Patsy, whatever it is it can’t be as bad as you think it is.’ Although she very much had the feeling that it was worse, much worse.
‘It’s Roddy,’ Patsy confirmed her fears. ‘I thought about what you said, and then I—I told him that I thought it better if we didn’t meet any more. He was furious, but then I expected that. Then he became very calm, very understanding all of a sudden. I was just so relieved I didn’t question his reaction. Then a little while ago he telephoned me,’ she began to tremble. ‘He was vile, Megan!’ she shuddered. ‘I don’t know how I could ever have been attracted to him.’
‘Go on,’ Megan encouraged.
‘Well, at first I was stunned. He called me right there at Donald’s parents’ house. Tarn answered the phone,’ she revealed shakily. ‘I told him it was my brother, although I’m not sure he believed me.’
‘What did Roddy have to say?’ Megan prompted.
Patsy frowned. ‘Lots of things, but the main thing was that he intends telling Donald about us.’
Megan chewed on her bottom lip. ‘Do you think Donald will believe him?’
The other girl flushed. ‘Yes.’
Megan gave her a sharp look. ‘How can you be so sure?’
‘Donald and I—we haven’t been getting on too well lately. I—well, I told you what it was like there! I just can’t respond to Donald in that house.’ She blushed. ‘Donald’s been teasing me the last few weeks, saying that maybe I have another man and that’s why I’m not interested in him.’
‘I see,’ Megan sighed. This was getting worse, not better. ‘But you did say it was only teasing, I’m sure Donald didn’t mean it.’
‘Of course he didn’t. But he’s been worried about me. He even made me stop work at The Towers because he said it was too much for me. I was furious at the time, but I’m glad of it now. If I’d stayed on there I would probably have—well, I would have more to regret now than I actually do,’ Patsy admitted blushingly.
‘Why did you come to see me, Patsy?’
‘Because you’re the only person I can turn to, the only person I can talk to. If Roddy tells Donald it won’t matter that nothing—physical happened between us. Donald will look at the facts, and after he’s beaten Roddy up he’ll throw me out. I may have been stupid, Megan, but I don’t want to lose Donald.’
‘You aren’t going to lose him,’ Megan told her firmly. ‘I’ll talk to Roddy for you.’
‘Oh, would you?’ Patsy’s expression brightened.
‘Yes. I’m sure I can make him see reason. He’s probably just feeling bitter at your change of mind,’ Megan excused, knowing that he was nothing of the sort, still trembling from her own encounter with him. ‘He’ll come round,’ she soothed.
‘Do you really think so?’ Patsy was eager to be reassured now.
‘Yes, I do. Now you tidy yourself up and get back home. There’s no point in arousing Donald’s suspicions at this late stage. Go through to the bathroom and wash your face,’ Megan invited.
Damn Roddy Meyers! When she had taken up his challenge earlier she hadn’t for one moment thought he would do something like this. He had her trapped, well and truly trapped.
‘Better?’ she asked Patsy brightly when she returned.
‘Much,’ the other girl smiled. ‘Thanks, Megan. You’ve been really nice about all this.’
‘Maybe you can do the same for me one day. Not really,’ Megan laughed at Patsy’s expression. ‘And don’t worry any more about Roddy. I’ll deal with him.’
‘Donald and I are going back to our own cottage tomorrow. Tarn’s a lot better, so Donald has agreed to leave.’
Megan squeezed her hand. ‘I hope it all works out for you. And, Patsy,’ she halted her exit, ‘no more Roddy Meyers, hmm?’
‘Never!’ Patsy vowed. ‘I’ll only be that kind of fool once.’ She looked a little happier as she left.
Megan was beginning to realise that she had been all kinds of a fool where Roddy was concerned. She had underestimated him, hadn’t realised just how cunning and cruel he could be.
When the telephone began ringing shortly before ten o’clock she knew it had to be him, calling to gloat. ‘Yes?’ she snapped into the receiver.
‘Who’s upset you?’ drawled a caressingly familiar voice.
‘Rome!’ she cried her relief.
‘Megan …’ he groaned. ‘God, why can’t you say my name like that when we’re together, and not wait until we’re miles apart and I can’t touch you!’
She had been so relieved to hear his voice, her emotions were unguarded as her love for him clamoured for release. ‘How are things going?’ she asked huskily, longing for his return.
‘Deadlock,’ he sighed. ‘A bit like our own relationship, really.’
She blushed, although of course he couldn’t see that. ‘The negotiations aren’t going well?’ She ignored his personal reference.
Rome gave a husky laugh, well aware of her omission. ‘They aren’t going at all. They tell me what they want, I tell them what they can have, then we both retreat to our corners and come out fighting.’
‘So it looks like being a long struggle?’ she asked with dismay.
‘Dare I hope that you’re missing me?’
More than he would ever know! ‘I could be,’ she evaded.
‘I see you’ve retreated to your corner too,’ he derided. ‘I’ve only just got back from a meeting that’s been going on all day, a meeting that turned out to be a complete waste of time, so I would be grateful if I didn’t get the same cold front from you.’
‘What do these men want?’
‘What they usually want,’ he sighed. ‘Money.’
‘Can’t you give it to them?’ He seemed rich enough.
‘If I give in this time they’ll expect me to give in every time they decide they want a raise. I’ve offered them ten per cent, they’ve asked for twenty, we both know we’ll settle somewhere in between.’
He sounded very tired, and Megan’s heart went out to him. ‘Well, if you both know that why don’t you settle now?’
‘It’s easy to tell you’ve never been in business! It just isn’t done that way.’
‘But why isn’t it?’
‘Don’t ask me,’ he sighed. ‘Ask them. All I can say is that it’s happened at a very inconvenient time for me. I can’t begin to concentrate on these negotiations when I have you so much on my mind. Have you thought any more about this weekend?’
She hadn’t had the time! Not that she really needed it, she already knew her answer. ‘I’ve thought about it,’ she told him.
‘You aren’t coming, are you?’ Rome said heavily.
‘No.’
‘Then I’ll come back to The Towers.’
‘No!’
‘What do you mean, no?’ he rasped. ‘Before I left—’
‘I was dazzled by your lovemaking,’ Megan admitted frankly. ‘What woman wouldn’t be? You’re an expert, Jerome, and I’m as susceptible as the next woman.’
‘More so than most,’ he muttered.
Pain like a knife thrust shot through her. ‘Exactly,’ she agreed dully, knowing she had to alienate the man she loved. ‘I’ve decided I can’t be a one-man woman, not even for the short time you would want me.’
‘I didn’t say i
t would be for a short time,’ he snapped.
‘Well, I certainly couldn’t last out a year like Stella did.’ Megan was deliberately flippant. ‘It just isn’t my idea of fun.’
‘And you like to have fun, don’t you?’ His voice was harsh.
‘Who doesn’t?’ She gave a light laugh. ‘Maybe you can still get Stella back if you hurry.’
There was a long angry silence. ‘I don’t want Stella!’ he finally exploded.
‘Didn’t your mother ever tell you that you can’t have everything you want?’ she taunted.
‘She may have mentioned it.’
‘Then you should know it isn’t good for you to have your own way all the time. Now if you’ll excuse me, I think I hear someone at the door,’ she invented.
‘This time of night?’
‘It’s still early yet.’
‘And will it be Donald, Roddy, or Paul?’ Jerome rasped.
‘Oh, definitely Roddy.’
‘Roddy! But you said—-’
‘It’s a woman’s prerogative to change her mind,’ she cut in. ‘Roddy can be quite—entertaining.’
She wasn’t surprised to hear the receiver slam down at the other end. She slumped down into a chair, sobs racking her body. Jerome would surely hate her now. It was what she had wanted, but it didn’t make it any easier to bear.
Her face was red and blotchy by the time her tears had ceased, and even cold water didn’t improve it. She decided to go for a walk, maybe the fresh air would clear her head. Besides, she had to see Roddy as soon as possible, and as she doubted he would have gone to bed yet, now seemed as good a time as any.
She was right about him not having gone to bed. He was in the lounge of The Towers listening to records, and showed no surprise when she walked into the room.
‘Sit down,’ he invited, almost as if he had been expecting her.
‘I’d rather stand,’ she refused stiffly.
‘Sit down!’
With a rebellious glare in his direction she sat. ‘You know why I’m here,’ she snapped.
His mouth twisted. ‘It doesn’t take much imagination.’
Her eyes flashed her dislike as he sat facing her so calmly. ‘You really are a swine,’ she accused.
‘Yes.’
‘My God, you’re proud of it!’
Roddy smiled. ‘Power is a heady emotion,’ he drawled. ‘You should try it some time.’
‘Have you forgotten the fact that I can still tell your brother about what happened at the hospital?’
He shook his head. ‘I haven’t forgotten at all. But in the light of your recent behaviour do you think Rome is any more likely to believe you than the hospital authorities were?’
She flushed. ‘And what about your behaviour?’
‘I would say we’re ideally suited,’ he smiled.
She shivered, hating the comparison. ‘I suppose you realise you’ve scared Patsy half to death?’
‘She deserved it,’ he scowled. ‘She kept me at arm’s length for months.’
‘She didn’t keep you at arm’s length, she didn’t intend the relationship progressing any further than it had.’
‘What do you know about it?’ Roddy snapped.
‘All of it,’ Megan told him tightly. ‘Now what do you want from me?’
‘I don’t want anything from you, I just want you.’
She flushed. ‘Go to hell!’
Roddy gave a soft laugh. ‘You really shouldn’t make your dislike of me so obvious,’ he taunted. ‘You see, I like you very much. Besides, Rome wants you.’
Her eyes widened. ‘And you don’t want him to have me?’
‘No! He has everything else,’ he said viciously. ‘He isn’t going to get the one thing I really want.’
‘Me?’ she squeaked.
His eyes burnt like twin coals. ‘Yes, you! Rome has all the rest, but you’re mine. You see, I’m just the younger brother, the one who has to rely on Rome for every penny I spend.’
‘You could always get a job.’
‘Why the hell should I? Rome has millions.’
‘Exactly. Rome has it, it isn’t your money.’
‘It will be when he dies.’
Megan went white. ‘He’s only a young man.’
Roddy shrugged. ‘I can wait. If I have you the waiting won’t be so bad.’
She swallowed hard. ‘What if he marries, has children?’
He stood up to pour himself a drink. ‘He won’t.’ He drank the whisky down in one gulp. ‘Rome doesn’t believe in marriage.’
Megan frowned. ‘You don’t even like him, do you?’
‘Of course I like him, he’s my brother! But I’m not letting him have you.’ His expression was wild.
Megan was frightened. Roddy wasn’t merely vindictive and cruel, he was sick. She felt sure Jerome had no idea of the finely balanced edge bis brother was on, of the resentment he had stored up towards him. But she could see it, and it terrified her. If Roddy should ever hurt Jerome … It would be her fault if he did, she could see that. Roddy was obsessed with claiming her for himself, and if Jerome tried to come in between them he would do something desperate.
But surely she must be mistaken, was seeing this situation all out of proportion. Of course Roddy wouldn’t hurt his own brother.
Roddy eyed her suspiciously. ‘What are you thinking now?’
‘Nothing. So what happens now, do I just go out with you?’
‘Isn’t that enough?’
‘God, yes!’
His mouth tightened. ‘I’ll take you out to dinner tomorrow. You never know, you could learn to like me. And stay away from my brother. He may want you, but he isn’t going to get you.’
She sighed. ‘He already knows that. I’ll leave now. And you’ll leave Patsy and Donald alone?’
‘As long as you continue to go out with me.’
Megan walked slowly through the darkness, going automatically to her favourite place and sitting down on the bowed tree-trunk beside the fast-flowing river. It was very cold this time of year, and yet she needed this time here alone. What a mess!—Jerome wanting her, she wanting Jerome, and Roddy determined to make sure he got her. Once again that shiver of apprehension shot down her spine.
It was well after twelve as she made her way back to the farm, when the blazing headlights of the car coming towards her forced her to leap on to the grass verge for safety. There was a screech of brakes before the car started to reverse back towards her.
The passenger door to the Jaguar was thrust open. ‘Get in!’ Jerome ordered grimly.
She did so, looking at him dazedly. ‘What are you doing here?’
He gave her a scathing look. ‘Isn’t it obvious?’
Megan started to thaw out a little as the warmth of the Jaguar invaded her frozen limbs. ‘You should be in London,’ she frowned her puzzlement.
He nodded. ‘I should be at another meeting, but I had to ask my deputy to take over. I had a hell of a job getting away.’
‘But why are you here?’
‘Don’t be stupid, Megan. You know damn well I had to see you.’
What she did know was they they were driving away from both her home and The Towers. ‘Where are we going?’
‘Somewhere we can talk,’ he said grimly.
To Megan’s surprise he drove to the spot by the river she had just left, although this time she was infinitely warmer. Jerome switched off the engine, although the heat remained. They sat for long minutes in the darkness, neither of them talking.
‘What did Roddy want?’ Jerome rasped suddenly.
‘Roddy?’ she looked puzzled. ‘Oh, Roddy,’ she remembered her lie of earlier. ‘What do you think he wanted?’ she asked suggestively.
Jerome’s hands clenched around the steering-wheel, his arms rigid as he stared straight ahead of him. ‘You don’t like him, I’d swear you don’t.’
She shrugged. ‘You said yourself, I don’t have to like the man involved.’
Even
in the darkness she could see the glitter of his eyes. ‘You’re lying, Megan. Roddy isn’t trying to force you into anything, is he?’
She was glad he couldn’t see how pale she had gone. ‘What do you mean? I can assure you,’ she regained some of her composure, ‘that no man has a sexual hold over me.’
‘I didn’t mean that.’ His gaze ran over her with fevered intensity. ‘Can’t you wait for me?’ he asked impatiently. ‘I’ll only be gone a few weeks. And God knows I want you!’ He pulled her into his arms, parting her lips with his own, his kiss at once arousing her.
It was as if she had been in a limbo since Jerome had left her this morning, as if she had been waiting for his touch for the inferno to ignite once again. Her arms went up about his neck, and her body arched against him as she returned the fierce pressure of his mouth.
Jerome gently nibbled her mouth, running the tip of his tongue over her sensitive inner lip. Megan quivered, longing to touch him as he had touched her in the past, straining even closer to him.
‘Let’s get in the back,’ Jerome suggested huskily, not waiting for her answer but getting out of the car and taking her with him.
There was much more room on the back seat. Jerome pushed her down before half lying across her. How long they remained there she had no idea, but it wasn’t long before she had unbuttoned his shirt, running her fingers over the hard muscle of him.
‘Darling Megan,’ his mouth was at her breast, her sweater no barrier to his questing hands. ‘I want to love you,’ he moaned into her throat. ‘The perfume of you, your very essence has invaded every particle of me.’ He bit her earlobe, his tongue exploring her shell-like ear and the deep hollows of her throat, shooting spasms of ecstasy through her at every caress. ‘Come back to London with me?’ he pleaded.
‘I—I can’t,’ her denial was weak. ‘It just isn’t possible, Rome.’
‘Anything is possible if you want it badly enough, and I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anything else in my life.’ He placed light fevered kisses on every feature of her face. ‘I like the feel of you, the taste of you. God, you taste so good!’
Their lips met, and an explosion of passion took them along on a tide, the darkness that surrounded them like a blanket against the rest of the world. Megan felt that they could do anything right now and it wouldn’t matter. It would be a dream, their own secret happening. No one else need ever know. They could—cold reality intruded. Of all things it was the muted buzz of a telephone that interrupted them!
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