Bestseller Collection 2010

by Carole Mortimer

  ‘TWICE in as many days,’ Hugh murmured speculatively. ‘Anyone would think you were in love, Nick!’

  Gemini had been aware of the salon door opening, had also known by the sudden tingling sensation down the length of her spine that the person who had opened that door was Nick.

  But she hadn’t turned from what she was doing, was continuing to drape lilac silk around the mannequin. Although her hands trembled and her breathing suddenly felt constricted.

  Jessica had green eyes!

  Gemini had been horrified earlier when Rachel James had pointed that fact out to her, had come to only one conclusion. And that conclusion, following on from the night she had just spent in Nick’s arms, was totally unacceptable to her.

  Nick was Jessica’s father!

  It just had to be. Admittedly Jemima had been involved with Danny for a short time, but he had brown eyes…! It was too much of a coincidence that Nick and Gemini had once been engaged to marry each other—that Nick still seemed to be in contact with Jemima—and that Jemima’s baby had Nick’s green eyes.

  No wonder Jemima had felt no qualms about sending her baby here; she probably felt that looking after Jessica for just a few days was the least Nick could do, in the circumstances! Except that it also brought Gemini in contact with the baby…

  Gemini had felt sick earlier at that realisation, putting the baby down as quickly as she was able to without drawing Mrs James’s attention to the fact that just holding Jessica made Gemini feel ill!

  She had had to get out of the house, away from her own memories of what had happened between herself and Nick the previous night. So she’d come to the salon, often her refuge in the past, but today she was hoping that it would be her salvation.

  But even that had proved a little awkward when she’d first arrived. Hugh had been worried in case he might only have aggravated the situation last night by going to see Nick at his office, to explain things to him, rather than actually helping Gemini as he had intended doing. It had taken Gemini some time to assure Hugh that his visit to Nick hadn’t caused a problem between Nick and herself!

  After this morning she wasn’t sure anything would be able to make matters worse between herself and Nick!

  The last thing she wanted, or needed, was for Nick to follow her here!

  What was he doing here? Admittedly, as Hugh had just pointed out, it was about the same time Nick had arrived the day before, intent on taking her out to lunch, but that couldn’t be the reason he was here again today—could it?

  But why couldn’t it? she asked self-derisively. The only thing that had changed for Nick since yesterday was that the two of them had spent the night together; he was totally unaware of the fact that she was now also aware that Jessica must be his daughter!

  Bastard! Swine! Adulterer!

  Gemini wasn’t too sure whether the last one had applied to Nick when their own marriage had been a paper one only—but it applied now!

  She wanted to scream and shout, to hit something—preferably Nick!

  But what she actually did was to calmly put down her tin of pins before turning, her expression cool as she looked enquiringly across the room at Nick.

  Which wasn’t easy to do when she could clearly remember the intimacies they had shared the night before! She felt sick inside as she recalled the way she had given herself to Nick so freely, making love to him in the same way. And all the time—!

  ‘What can I do for you, Nick?’ she rasped harshly, blue eyes flashing with her resentment.

  His own eyes narrowed at her aggression. Green eyes…!

  ‘As you can see, I’m very busy.’ She indicated the mannequin she and Hugh had been working on until Nick had interrupted them seconds ago.

  Nick’s gaze narrowed even more, studying her assessingly, his mouth tightening grimly as he obviously didn’t like what he found. ‘I didn’t expect you to come in to work today,’ he murmured distractedly.

  What had he expected? That she would wait languorously in bed for his return, when they could continue where they had left off the previous night? The sad fact of the matter was that if her earlier conversation with Mrs James had never taken place that was probably exactly what she would have done!

  She cringed now as she remembered her satiated dreaminess this morning, her conviction that she and Nick could really make a success of their marriage. And all the time he was Jessica’s father! She was sure of it.

  The one thing Gemini wasn’t sure of was whether or not Nick himself was actually aware of the fact…

  She had come to know Nick this last year, didn’t believe him to be the sort of man who would shirk the responsibility of fatherhood—but she hadn’t believed him to be the sort of man who had an affair with one woman while married to another, either!

  But, aware of being Jessica’s father or not, Nick did know he had continued his relationship with Jemima after marrying Gemini—and for that Gemini would never be able to forgive him.

  ‘Why not?’ she returned challengingly. ‘You did.’

  He shrugged, still standing over by the door he had closed behind him. ‘I had a couple of things to deal with in the office before I could be free for the day,’ he dismissed, still looking at her questioningly. ‘I was surprised when I got back to the house and found only Mrs James there taking care of Jessica.’

  Gemini had left the baby with Mrs James because she hadn’t felt able to deal with Jessica at that moment. There was no doubting that she loved the baby, that out of all of them Jessica was completely innocent in all of this, but Gemini just couldn’t look at the baby now without seeing those green eyes…!

  ‘Jessica would only have been in the way today.’ She shot Hugh an apologetic grimace as he made a protesting sound at this statement. ‘As I’ve already said.’ Gemini turned back to Nick. ‘I’m very busy.’

  ‘Too busy to eat lunch?’ he invited softly.

  In a word—yes! Oh, not because she really was busy—but because there was no way she could eat anything, and certainly not in Nick’s company!

  ‘I’m afraid so,’ she answered dismissively. ‘But don’t let us keep you from your meal,’ she added contemptuously.

  Nick’s mouth tightened as he easily picked up on that tone. ‘I’m not particularly hungry myself,’ he drawled lightly, making no effort to leave.

  ‘Well, I am.’ Hugh had obviously had enough of this guarded conversation. ‘If you’ll excuse me, Gemini.’ He shot her a teasing grin as she looked at him sharply. ‘I gave Alan a broad hint last night that he hasn’t taken me out to lunch for yonks, so he suggested taking me today. I, of course, accepted!’ He turned to pick up his jacket. ‘Have fun!’ he called out as he let himself out of the salon.

  Coward, Gemini inwardly fumed. She didn’t doubt that Hugh did have a luncheon engagement today, but she’d also been aware of the wide-eyed looks he’d given both Nick and herself as their conversation had ping-ponged sharply across the room; it was a look that had clearly said, I have no idea what’s going on, but I definitely feel in the way—and I’m out of here!

  His fast exit left behind a tension that was impossible not to be aware of. Nick had moved aside to let the other man leave, but otherwise he kept up his defensive stance in front of the door.

  Hours ago, Gemini had been filled with euphoria, sure that last night had been a turning point in her marriage to Nick; he’d made love to her as if he cared about her at least, even if he wasn’t in love with her. This morning Gemini had been filled with shy excitement at the thought of seeing him again. Now all she felt was a sickness in the pit of her stomach…!

  ‘I only went in to my office today so I could clear my diary, in the belief the two of us would be spending the day together.’ Nick spoke softly, questioningly.

  Because he didn’t know, couldn’t know, her heart was breaking!

  She forced a dismissive shrug. ‘Wouldn’t you have been better consulting me first before you did something like that?’

  ‘Gemini�
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  ‘Nick?’ she returned—much as she had done last night. Except there was no husky invitation in her voice this time!

  ‘I don’t understand this!’ Nick exploded impatiently, moving forcefully into the room. ‘What the hell is going on Gemini? Last night—’

  ‘Was very pleasant, Nick,’ she cut in smoothly. ‘I thought you had enjoyed it as much as I did?’

  ‘Of course I enjoyed it, damn it—’

  ‘Then stop making a federal case out of it,’ Gemini interrupted lightly, turning away from the pale grimness of his face, picking up her pin tin once again to pin the lilac silk in place.

  Totally haphazardly!

  The silk was going to be ruined, and Hugh would probably have one of his not infrequent fits of hysteria, but she had to do something, was no longer able to look at Nick. How could he actually manage to look hurt by her coldness? It just wasn’t fair!

  The first she knew of Nick having crossed over to where she made a pretence of working was when her arm was grasped in his iron-like grip as he swung her round to face him. Her head went back as she looked up at him, her chin jutting out defiantly as she forced herself to meet his furious gaze.

  That clash of gazes went on for what seemed like for ever to Gemini, but she wouldn’t allow herself to be the first to look away, forcing herself to continue looking Nick straight in the eyes.

  ‘So it’s like that, is it?’ He was the one to finally break the icy tension between them, abruptly releasing her before stepping back, a nerve pulsing in his rigidly clenched jaw. ‘What happened to “no regrets”, Gemini?’ he challenged accusingly.

  She swallowed hard. ‘I don’t regret last night, Nick,’ she assured him coolly.

  And the effort to keep up that coolness in the face of his obviously bewildered fury was costing her dearly. What she really wanted to do was launch herself into his arms and forget all about that damning conversation she had had with Mrs James this morning. Except that she couldn’t forget it…

  Nick shook his head. ‘You certainly don’t have the look of a woman who wants to repeat it!’ he ground out savagely.

  She gave a humourless smile. ‘Well, not at this particular moment, no,’ she replied mockingly, indicating the mannequin she was working on.

  ‘Not at all, from the way you’ve behaved since I arrived!’ he muttered angrily. ‘Hell, Gemini, where do we go from here?’ he asked disgustedly.

  She knew where she would like to go. She would like to hide herself away somewhere until all of this was over and settled. Because she had a feeling it was all over between them; she just didn’t have the courage yet to hear either of them actually come out and say so…

  She gave him a scathing glance. ‘I don’t think my place of work is any more the place to discuss this than it is to repeat what happened last night.’

  ‘Is there a suitable place to talk about this?’ he cut in forcefully, running a hand through the dark thickness of his hair. ‘If you remember, I thought we should have talked last night—’

  ‘Oh, wonderful,’ she returned. ‘Blame what happened last night on me, Nick, why don’t you?’ She glared across at him, genuinely furious with him, but at the same time relieved to have somewhere to focus her seesaw emotions.

  He shook his head. ‘I didn’t say that,’ he said wearily. ‘No one is to blame for last night, God damn it,’ he rasped. ‘But what happened to liking and respecting me too much to ever hate me?’ He harshly reminded her of what she had said to him last night. ‘Because, let me tell you, you’re giving a damned good impression of hating me at this moment!’ he informed her grimly.

  Probably because a part of her did. But not because of last night. That was something that she’d wanted for a very long time, and at no time during last night had Nick made any hollow promises of love. No, no matter what happened, she’d already decided that she wouldn’t regret last night…

  ‘I think you’re imagining things, Nick,’ she dismissed lightly. ‘I certainly don’t hate you.’ Not for last night, anyway…!

  He stepped forward. ‘Gemini—’

  ‘No, I don’t hate you, Nick,’ she repeated, terrified in case he actually touched her again. Because her traitorous body had quivered with response seconds ago when he’d clasped her arm. ‘But neither do I intend acting like some lovesick teenager simply because we spent the night together,’ she added, rewarded by the dangerous narrowing of his eyes. ‘We aren’t either of us children, Nick, and last night was—enjoyable—’

  ‘It was fantastic, damn it!’ Nick cut in gratingly, his hands clenched at his sides.

  ‘Possibly,’ she agreed dryly. ‘I really wouldn’t know—probably because I have less experience to draw on for—comparison!’

  Nick was ten years older than her, for one thing, and those ten years had not been spent as a celibate bachelor. Beside, she had spent those same last ten years building up her fashion label, with little time for relationships. Except that brief time with Danny… ‘You had Danny,’ Nick reminded her, seeming to guess at least some of her thoughts. His expression was contemptuous, his gaze scornful as it swept over the slender curvaceousness of her body.

  Gemini raised dark brows. ‘You surely aren’t asking me for that comparison…?’ she challenged softly.

  ‘No, damn it, I’m not!’ That nerve was once again pulsing in his rigidly clenched jaw. ‘Danny is the last person I came here to talk about—’

  ‘You said you came to invite me out to lunch,’ she reminded him tautly, knowing she had pushed him too far, anxious now to just finish this conversation. Before she made a complete idiot of herself in front of Nick and began to cry! ‘I’ve explained I’m too busy today. Couldn’t we continue this conversation at home later this evening?’ When she might—just might—feel strong enough to deal with it!

  Nick shook his head slowly. ‘As I see it, we have nothing else to say to each other—’

  ‘I didn’t say that,’ she interrupted quickly; their marriage might be over, but she needed to come to terms with that herself before it was made final! ‘Just not now, Nick, hmm?’ she added encouragingly.

  ‘”Not now, Nick”,’ he parroted furiously. ‘You sound like a woman that’s been married for twenty years, not one!’ he dismissed scathingly. ‘Okay, Gemini, we’ll do this your way; we’ll talk later, in the privacy of our own home.’ He strode purposefully over to the door, wrenching it open. ‘Just don’t expect to like any of what I have to say!’

  The salon seemed to reverberate with the slamming of the door behind him, and Gemini’s legs were feeling just as shaky as she gratefully lowered herself down into a chair.

  What was she going to do?

  One thing she had discovered in the last ten minutes: she still loved Nick!

  And it was all for nothing. Because she couldn’t continue being married to him now. Not because of last night. That was a beautiful memory that would probably haunt her for the rest of her life.

  But there was no way to get past the fact of Jessica…

  ’What’s going on, Gemini?’ Hugh frowned down at her, having returned from lunch to find her still collapsed in the chair she had sunk down onto after Nick’s furious departure. ‘And don’t tell me nothing,’ he added firmly as Gemini would have spoken. ‘I’ve known you too long, and Nick for over a year, to be foisted off with that answer!’

  She gave him a wan smile. ‘Why should you think that anything is going on, Hugh?’ she attempted to dismiss.

  ‘I don’t think it; I know it!’ He sat down next to her. ‘The two of you have been different this week—’

  ‘You mean Nick has,’ Gemini taunted dryly.

  Hugh shook his head. ‘I mean you both have. Look, you know I care for you, Gemini.’ He took one of her hands in his much larger ones. ‘And I want more than anything for you to be happy—and don’t say you are.’ He halted her speech once again, giving her a reproving look. ‘If this is happy, then I was happy for years and just didn’t realise it!�
� he added self-derisively.

  Gemini squeezed one of his hands. ‘Could we just leave it, Hugh? For now,’ she added pleadingly as he looked about to protest. ‘I will talk to you about it, I promise.’ It would be impossible not to, once she and Nick parted. ‘Just not now,’ she added chokingly.

  ‘You see.’ Hugh pounced frowningly. ‘Even this isn’t like you.’ He indicated the tears in her eyes. ‘I’ve never seen you cry before, and now you’ve done it twice in as many days.’ He shook his head. ‘You’ve always been so together, Gemini, so certain of where you were going—’

  ‘I think I’ve taken a wrong turning,’ she cut in emotionally, attempting a smile that didn’t quite come off.

  ‘Not in your marriage to Nick?’ Hugh’s frown deepened. ‘Because if that’s what you think, Gemini, you’re wrong. Nick’s the best thing that ever happened to you,’ he said with certainty. ‘Or does all of this have something to do with Danny Drummond?’ he added grimly.

  ‘Danny?’ She gaze a puzzled frown. Why on earth should Hugh think—?

  ‘He telephone here yesterday, Gemini,’ Hugh told her evenly.

  ‘Danny did?’ Her frown deepened.

  Hugh nodded. ‘While you were out to lunch with Nick. I have to admit, with looking after Jessica and the state you were in when you came back, I initially forgot to mention the call to you, but even when I did eventually remember I deliberately chose not to tell you,’ he admitted grimly. ‘I’m sorry, Gemini,’ he sighed as she looked across at him with wide eyes. ‘But you know I never liked the man.’

  No, Hugh had never liked Danny. And the dislike had been mutual. Danny hadn’t been able to get past the fact of Hugh’s sexuality, and it had shown in his behaviour towards the other man. Hugh, being the sensitive soul that he was, in spite of looking like a boxer or a rugby player, had been well aware of Danny’s attitude.

  Not that that was enough reason for Hugh to return the dislike; Hugh just hadn’t liked anything about Danny, either—not his lifestyle, his complete disregard for other people’s feelings, or the way he’d breezed in and out of Gemini’s life whenever he felt like it.