Firth

by Vaso

  'Poor little rich boy,' Vanessa teased him.

  'I can see I'll have my work cut out^to get any sympathy out of you.' But he was laughing as he said it.

  The sweets trolley appeared by their side as if by magic and Vanessa debated at length, unable to make up her mind which delectable gateau to choose.

  'The lady will have some of each.' Daniel made the decision for her, taking cheese and biscuits for himself. 'You're a baby, Vanessa, did anyone ever tell you that? You looked like a kid in a candy store just now.'

  'I amuse you, do I?' She affected offended dignity. 'You may be used to all this, Daniel Jensen, but I'm not. Struggling actresses don't live your kind of life.'

  'Tell me how the other half live,' he invited.

  'You wouldn't be interested.'

  'Try me and see.'

  She gave him a brief sketch of her career to date, recalling humorous incidents that had happened to her and to other people and making light of the hard times

  that had come in between. He was shrewd enough to fill in the gaps, she sensed that.

  'You've enjoyed it so far? You're glad you chose it?' he asked.

  'Yes. I wouldn't want to do anything else.'

  'Marriage? A family?'

  'Oh, in the dim and distant future. But I've no plans for that as yet.'

  'Then there's some hope for me?'

  'If you play your cards right, we'll see,' she teased him, not taking him too seriously.

  'And there's no sign of a job on the horizon at the moment?'

  'Not even a glimmer of one. I rang my agent this morning. He says it's a slack time of year, but that's a standard excuse.'

  'I could help you, you know, if you'd let me,' offered Daniel.

  'No,' she said abruptly, the smile vanishing from her face. She remembered her manners and added hastily, 'That is, thanks, but no, thanks. I'll manage on my own, if you don't mind.'

  He looked taken aback. 'What's the matter?' Then his face cleared. 'You think I'm part of the deal, is that it? It's all right, Vanessa. I wasn't expecting any favours in return.'

  She frowned. 'No, I don't think you were.'

  'Then what's the problem? I'd like to help, believe me.' He reached across the table and took her hand reassuringly.'Can't you trust me?'

  'Yes, but it's not as simple as that,' she began. 'You

  ________>

  'Max has offered to do something, has he? I reckon he's got a lot of clout in the theatre world, if he chooses to use it.'

  'He doesn't,' she said baldly. 'At least, not for me.'

  'Did you ask him to?' Daniel sounded intrigued.

  'I wouldn't ask Max Anderson the time of day,' she told him indignantly. Tm sorry to have to say that about someone who's a friend of yours, but that's the way I feel and there's no point trying to hide it.'

  'You're not going to stop there, I hope?' Daniel signalled to the waiter to bring them coffee and, when they had been served, returned to the subject. 'Well, what's Max done to get across you?'

  'It's a long, rather boring story and I won't weary you with the details. But, as a result, he thinks I'm a scheming little bitch who considers no sacrifice too great in order to get a part, including offering my sexual favours to men who revolt me,' she said bitterly.

  'I can't imagine how he got that impression.'

  'Then you don't agree with him?' Vanessa asked. It was a relief to find that Daniel was capable of making up his own mind about her and had come to a different conclusion.

  Td hardly be sitting here with you if I did. Don't worry about that. I know the type. I should do, I've met enough of them over the years. And you're not like that, I can tell. And if he's got any sense at all in that head of his, Max ought to be able of spotting the difference too. But if he can't, that's his hard luck.'

  Thank you,' she said simply. 'It's nice to have a vote of confidence.'

  He squeezed her hand. 'I could go on to tell you any number of nice things that I've noticed about you, but I've a strong suspicion you wouldn't believe me.'

  'You'd be right too,' Vanessa told him.

  'You're a hard girl to please. I can see I'll have to try a different approach with you, if I'm to get anywhere.'

  She laughed, relaxing again. 'You're nice, Daniel. Has anyone ever told you that?'

  'Frequently,' he grinned. 'But I never get tired ot hearing it.'

  She aimed a mock blow at him across the table. 'You're also a smooth-talking con man where women are concerned.'

  'Reform me,' he suggested wickedly.

  'I haven't got time. It would be a life's work.'

  'That's what everyone says,' he lamented.

  They sat for another hour, laughing and joking, before Vanessa, mindful of work the next day, suggested that it was time to go. 'It's been tremendous fun, but I have to be slaving over a typewriter tomorrow and you've got a long flight ahead of you.'

  'Such concern for my welfare,' he mocked her. 'Or are you just worried about the beating Max will give you if you fall asleep at your desk in the morning?'

  'You've guessed it.'

  He laughed and called for the bill. 'Right. Shall we go?' He helped her on with her wrap and guided her towards the door, his arm protectively round her. 'Next time we'll go somewhere quieter,' he said as they threaded their way through the noisy crowds of after-theatre diners who had just filled the restaurant. 'There's a place I know out at Windsor that I'm sure you'd like.'

  'So there's to be a next time, is there?'

  'If you'd like that, VanessaV

  'Very much,' she told him. 'I've enjoyed myself tonight.'

  'That's good news.' His arm tightened a fraction round her.

  She was concentrating on Daniel rather than where she was going when she stumbled into the back of a chair that was slightly out from its table. Tm sorry,' she apologised hastily to its occupant for jarring him.

  He turned. 'That's quite all right, Vanessa,' he said coldly.

  It was like a douche of icy water in her face. Fortunately Daniel took the initiative. 'Max! I didn't see you come in. Why didn't you come over?'

  'You seemed to be fairly engrossed, and I didn't want to intrude.' The words were polite, but there was an edge to them that both she and Daniel registered.

  'Darling? Aren't you going to introduce me to your friends?' Max's companion put her oar in, apparently unaware that anything could be wrong. She was an attractive enough girl with shoulder-length copper hair, wearing a tightly fitting dress that looked as if it was held up by will power and nothing else. One slender, red-taloned hand clutched Max's arm in an effort to attract his attention.

  He made brief introductions and they exchanged smiles. As if he sensed the tension in Vanessa Daniel made a move away. 'We were just leaving,' he said, stating the obvious.

  'I won't keep you, then. I'm sure you'd rather be on your own.' Max made the remark faintly offensive.

  'Do you blame me?' Daniel turned it into a joke. 'It's not every day that I meet someone like Vanessa.'

  'That's true enough,' Max agreed, the derision in his voice all too evident.

  They said goodbye and left. Out on the pavement Vanessa gulped in the cool night air with relief while Daniel left her to find a taxi. He was back in a moment.

  'There's the test of a good escort—finding a cab in thirty seconds flat!'

  She managed a weak smile. 'Yes. Look, Daniel, there's no need for you to escort me all the way home. I'll be fine, really I will.'

  He gave her a keen look. 'You'd rather be on your own.' It was a statement, not a question.

  'Yes.'

  'O.K., if that's what you want. But, Vanessa——'

  'Yes?' She paused with her hand on the door of the cab, her face turned enquiringly towards him.

  'Don't let the last five minutes spoil the rest of the evening for you.'

  She warmed to him for his understanding. Daniel Jensen was no fool, she realised, when it came to human relationships. She reached up and kissed h
im, and the touch of his lips against hers was strangely comforting. 'I won't,' she promised. Then she got quickly in the cab and was driven away.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  VANESSA had thought that she would spend a sleepless night worrying about Max and his reaction to her outing with his friend. After all, he had as good as warned her off Daniel. In the event, however, she fell asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow, and, if her dreams were filled with her employer's avenging figure, she was not aware of it. She woke early next morning and lay for a moment, luxuriating in the bright sunshine that streamed through the window. Last night had been fun. She wondered if Daniel would really want to repeat the experience. He had seemed to enjoy it, but she was under no illusions about his attitude to women. If someone else came along, she had an idea she would be ditched pretty quickly.

  The phone rang shrilly, shattering the early morning silence. As she roused herself to get up and answer it she heard the pad of her sister's feet outside and sank back with relief.

  'Vanessa! It's for you. Daniel, I think,' Jill shouted, and thumped on the door. Galvanised into sudden activity, Vanessa grabbed her dressing gown and ran to the living room to take the call.

  'Were you sleeping the sleep of the innocent?' he asked her wickedly. 'I was afraid you might be.'

  'What else would I be doing at'—Vanessa consulted the clock on the table beside her—'at six-thirty in the morning?'

  'I could make a few suggestions, but I won't.'

  'Stop teasing me,' she commanded him. 'Where are you? You sound very bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.'

  'At the airport. I'll be taking off in half an hour. I rang to thank you for a very pleasant evening, although perhaps you're wishing I hadn't got you out of bed to do so.'

  She laughed. 'I'll survive the experience. I enjoyed

  last night too.'

  'I'll be back again next week. Perhaps we can get together again?'

  'Perhaps,' she agreed cautiously. It wouldn't do to sound too eager. That only put men off in her limited experience.

  They spoke for a little longer and then Daniel rang off. Thoroughly awake now, Vanessa wandered into the kitchen to make a cup of tea and took a cup in to Jill. 'When's the wedding?' her sister asked jokingly. 'You could do worse than supply me with a millionaire for a brother-in-law. Especially if he's as nice as Daniel seemed to be.'

  Til warn you you'll wait a long time if you're hoping for that to happen. Daniel's just amusing himself. He's not serious. I'd be a fool to think that he was.'

  But if Daniel was only playing with her, he certainly knew how to make a girl feel wanted, she decided. A large bouquet arrived for her just as she was leaving Jill's flat and another was reposing in Max's living room when she arrived there.

  'Your admirer seems to have something to thank you for.' Max indicated the card that was attached to the

  flowers.

  She ignored the innuendo in his voice, burying her head in the roses and taking a deep breath of their heady perfume. 'My favourite flowers. I wonder how he knew?'

  'Red roses for true love,' Max sneered. 'I believe they're what Daniel usually sends his women. While the affair lasts, of course.'

  She refused to let herself get upset by his cynical tone. 'I expect he does,' she agreed. 'But it's a nice gesture.'

  'Don't take it too seriously, that's all.'

  'Don't tell me you're trying to save me some heartache? I wouldn't have thought you were capable of that sort of generous action.'

  'I'm not,' he said curtly. 'Anyway, as you haven't a heart to break, it's superfluous advice, isn't it?'

  He was looking rather less than his usual immaculate self this morning as if he had gone to bed with the whisky bottle for company and had passed a restless night as a consequence. She wondered if nis companion of last night had decided that she. had had enough of his bad temper. In the mood that she and Daniel had left him in, Vanessa could hardly blame her.

  He was dressed in black cords and a T-shirt, but the dark hair was rumpled as if it hadn't seen a comb yet this morning and he hadn't shaved. The rough, dark stubble on his cheeks gave him a vaguely piratical air, Vanessa thought. Alert and freshly groomed, he spelt attraction to a woman, but now he exuded a brooding sensuality that stirred her senses even as she recognised its danger for her.

  Til make some coffee for you,' she said briskly, deliberately dispelling the mood, and went to the kitchen, taking the roses with her to put in some water until she could take them home.

  He followed her and stood leaning against the door-jamb, watching her as she worked, his eyes narrowed and expressionless. She wondered what he was thinking. It was probably better that she didn't know.

  'So Daniel gave you a good time last night?' he asked her with heavy emphasis.

  'Yes, thank you.' She wouldn't rise to the bait. Let him imagine whatever he liked; it was no concern of hers.

  'You got on with him?' he persisted.

  'Yes. Is that so surprising?'

  'He's a friend of mine.'

  'Fortunately not all your friends share your personality,' she snapped. 'Daniel's not like you.'

  'No, not at all. And he's an attractive man by your standards, isn't he? His pockets are very well lined, which compensates for a deal of faults. He knows how to spend it too. But I expect you've already discovered that.'

  He was needling her deliberately, she suspected. She shrugged. 'I suppose there's no point denying it.'

  'Not much. I know what you're like.'

  She laughed in his face. 'You may think you do. I'd say otherwise myself.'

  'I know all I need to know, let's put it like that.'

  'Scared?' she taunted him. 'Are you afraid I'll get my money-digging claws into you when I've finished with Daniel?'

  'You'd find you'd met your match if you did anything of the kind.'

  Vanessa didn't doubt it. He would be a formidable opponent. 'As I've told you before, I'm not interested. So you can count your blessings, can't you?' She poured a mug of strong black coffee for him and banged it down on the table "There's your coffee. You look as if you need it.'

  He strolled into the room and took it, the capable brown hands cradling it as if savouring its warmth. 'Are you trying to manage me, Vanessa?' he asked softly.

  'I don't think I'd get very far if I did.'

  'There's an admission of defeat.'

  'If you like.'

  'You're very accommodating this morning. What's wrong with you?' He took a gulp of coffee and studied her narrowly over the rim of the mug. 'Have I Daniel to thank for this new biddable quality in you?'

  'Perhaps I'm determined not to argue with you. Anyway,' she said dismissively, 'you hardly look up to dealing with me just at the moment. I'll let you gather your strength again.'

  'I don't think I need to do that.' Max put the coffee

  mug down. 'Come here.'

  'No.' She backed away.

  'Playing games again?'

  She registered a sudden flicker of devilment in his eyes. 'Leave me alone,' she said.

  'There's one lesson that you haven't learned yet,

  Vanessa.' 'And what's that?'

  'Never to underestimate the strength of your opponent,' he told her as he closed the distance between them in a couple of strides. He cornered her by the window and pinned her mercilessly against its frame. 'Max! People will see us,' she protested. 'Let them,' he said carelessly, and kissed her. The harshness of his bristled cheeks grazed hers as his lips sought and found her mouth, delighting her with his touch as he explored its moist sweetness. Instinct told her to melt against him, to abandon herself to the kind of mindless rapture that had taken hold of her when he had kissed her before. It would be all too easy

  to give in.

  But that was what he wanted her to do. Some remnants of sanity remained and struggled for control. Max was only proving a point; that was all the embrace meant to him. He wanted her to submit so that he could demonstrate the power that he had over
her. Just as he had demonstrated^ to hundreds of women before her.

  The thoughts whirled round in her head while the insistent pressure of his lips argued in another direction entirely.

  For once the magic wasn't going to work, she told herself. But it was hard to resist as his mouth left hers and burnt a tantalising trail of kisses to her ear. The feel of him nibbling gently at the lobe was almost more than she could bear, and the urge to respond took hold of her, weakening her resistance and drugging her senses.

  'No!' She made a sudden supreme effort and surprised him, wrenching herself free and facing him with flushed cheeks and heaving breasts. 'I don't want you.'

  He took a step towards her. Til make you want me.'

  'No. Oh, you can subdue me physically, I'll grant you.

  ~ You're strong enough to rape me here on the kitchen

  floor if it suits you. Is that what you .want?' she asked

  contemptuously. 'I thought you only liked willing

  women?'

  'You go too far sometimes, Vanessa,' he said, his face dark with anger. 'I've told you that before.for all the notice you've taken of it.'

  'And so do you,' she retorted. 'A good deal too far. What's the matter, Max? Can't you bear the thought of Daniel succeeding where you've failed?'

  His fists clenched with rage and she felt a sudden frisson of fear snake down her spine. Perhaps she had gone too far. But she had no intention of apologising, come what might.

  He checked his temper with obvious effort. 'Let's leave it at that, shall we? Otherwise I might do something we may both regret.'

  He slammed out of the flat ten minutes later. Vanessa didn't know where he was going and she didn't much care. She applied herself to work with superhuman dedication. The sooner the wretched play script was finished the better as far as she was concerned. She tookout the worst of her fury on her typewriter keys, achieving a neatness and accuracy that normally escaped her. The rest of the week passed without incident. Max's manners to her were impeccable, if rather chilly and distant. He was obviously steering clear of trouble. Vanessa acknowledged a faint feeling of disappointment at his attitude. At least their battles brought a little spice to an otherwise fairly uneventful life. She pestered Jonathan for news of work, but he told her that he had nothing for her. In a sudden burst of enthusiasm she had some more photographs taken of herself and sent them, with details of her career to date, to everyone that she thought might have a part to offer her. She might just as well not have bothered. She received only one acknowledgment that promised to 'bear in mind' that she was free for engagements.