by Anne Mather
Dee-Dee wasn’t giving up and, realising she’d have to tell her something, Lily decided on at least a part of the truth.
‘If you must know, I think Oliveira’s been having an affair with Laura,’ she declared tersely, choosing the least provocative option. ‘Now, I’ve got to get dressed.’
‘And you upset?’
Dee-Dee was sympathetic and Lily sighed. ‘Yes, I’m upset,’ she admitted. ‘I know you warned me he was dangerous. And now I feel like a fool.’
‘Why? You been seeing him yourself?’
Lily shrugged. She was loath to admit it to anyone, least of all Dee-Dee.
Dee-Dee’s dark brows drew together as if she didn’t need any confirmation. ‘Who told you they was having an affair?’ she demanded. ‘Was it the Mathews girl?’ And Lily was glad she could deny that at least. ‘Don’t tell me you believe anything Ray Myers says.’
‘If you must know, Daddy implied as much,’ said Lily wearily, refusing to mention Oliveira’s ex-wife. ‘Look, I really do have to get ready for work.’
‘That man!’ Dee-Dee snorted, referring to Lily’s father. ‘I don’t know where he gets his ideas from. Oliveira ain’t sleeping with anyone. Least of all Laura Mathews. Not that she’d turn him away if he came knocking.’
Lily, who’d been on the point of getting up from the bed, flopped back onto the mattress. ‘How do you know there’s not someone else?’
Dee-Dee tapped her head with a conspiratorial finger. ‘How does Dee-Dee know anything?’ she retorted. ‘I got my sources up here. Far as I know, Oliveira ain’t sharing his bed and that’s a fact.’
Lily stared at her. ‘Are you sure?’
‘Sure I’m sure,’ exclaimed the West Indian woman knowledgeably. ‘As far as the Mathews girl is concerned, her father’s got her running out to Orchid Point every chance he gets, trying to persuade Oliveira to rescue his sorry ass, that’s all.’
‘Whose sorry ass?’
Dee-Dee clicked her tongue impatiently. ‘Grant Mathews’s sorry ass,’ she exclaimed. ‘Everybody knows that man’s a gambler. Since he lost all that money in Las Vegas, he’s only living here thanks to Oliveira’s charity.’
‘I didn’t know that.’ Lily shook her head disbelievingly. ‘I knew he’d lost a lot of money to the man.’
‘The way I heard it, he didn’t lose the money to Oliveira,’ said Dee-Dee confusingly. Then she explained. ‘The guy who took Mathews down didn’t want no share in a Caribbean island. He wanted cash, see, and Oliveira bought him out.’
Lily got unsteadily to her feet. ‘So that’s why he came to the island.’
‘Yeah. The house, the plantation, the cottages at Coral Key—not to mention Orchid Point. Pretty much everything belongs to him,’ agreed Dee-Dee comfortably. ‘Didn’t your daddy tell you about it?’
Lily’s jaw dropped. ‘You mean Dad knows?’
‘I’d say so.’ Dee-Dee started tugging back the covers on the bed, removing the sheets for washing. ‘Oliveira came to see your Daddy. Likely he wanted his blessing, so to speak. Or so your Daddy would have us believe.
‘But me, I think he wanted the Reverend’s advice about how this gonna go down with the people who live here. I guess he didn’t realise that Grant Mathews never won no popularity contests and, from what I hear, Oliveira’s doing okay.’
* * *
Lily felt hurt that her father hadn’t bothered to tell her. But then, would he think it was something she needed to know?
Probably not.
Of course there was still the fact that Oliveira had walked out on her the previous afternoon to deal with. She was tempted to ask Dee-Dee her opinion about that.
Which caused another troublesome thought to stir inside her. What if Rafe hadn’t been lying to her about his relationship with his ex-wife?
And, if that was so, what was she going to do about it?
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
THE NEXT FEW days passed without incident. If Lily could discount the fact that Ray was in a black mood for most of that time and barely spoke to her at all, that was.
A lot of his annoyance stemmed from the fact that Lily refused to tell him where she’d gone the afternoon she hadn’t returned to the agency.
She’d apologised for her absence, had admitted she should have rung him and warned him she might not be back. But, aside from that, she’d remained silent. She had no intention of discussing Rafe with him or giving Ray the opportunity to ask her to intercede with the man on his behalf.
Lily had no idea what Rafe’s decision regarding the agency might be. She knew Ray had managed to squeeze a loan from the bank to cover his immediate expenses. Which meant the group from Boston had returned home without the threat of a lawsuit hanging over Ray’s head.
But he was still in debt. Goodness knew what might happen now.
Unless Rafe Oliveira came through...
But that seemed less and less likely as the days went by. She told herself she wasn’t responsible if Rafe chose to withdraw any interest from the company—that he’d already decided Ray was a poor risk before she’d got involved.
Yet, the truth was, she did feel some responsibility for the worsening situation. It seemed she’d offended everybody and she didn’t know what to do.
Her relationship with her father had deteriorated too. William Fielding had not taken kindly to her accusation that he’d deliberately kept the reasons for Oliveira’s visit from her.
‘It’s nothing to do with us,’ he’d maintained, when she’d tackled him about it. ‘Just because Oliveira consulted me about the situation did not give me leave to discuss his affairs with all and sundry.’
‘Dee-Dee knew,’ Lily had muttered sulkily, but her father was adamant.
‘Whether she did or not isn’t important. My integrity is. Besides, if this has driven a wedge between you and Oliveira, so much the better.’
Lily had wanted to ask how he knew that a wedge had been driven between her and Rafe, but she was afraid she knew.
It seemed Dee-Dee had no compunction about spilling the beans.
A couple of days later, Ray returned from lunch looking considerably more cheerful. As he spent most lunchtimes in Mac’s Bar these days, Lily wasn’t altogether surprised.
But on this occasion his good humour lasted longer than it took for him to sit down at his desk and examine the schedules. Lily sensed he was hoping she would ask why he seemed so upbeat all of a sudden but, having taken several knock-backs in the past few days, she was determined not to give him a chance to criticise her again.
Eventually, Ray was forced to speak first. ‘You’ll never guess who I’ve been having a drink with,’ he remarked casually, and Lily’s stomach tightened automatically.
She was sure she could guess what was to come and when she didn’t make any response he went on smugly, ‘Rafe Oliveira.’ He paused. ‘You might want to congratulate me. I’ve just secured your job for the next couple of years.’
Lily expelled a trembling breath. ‘How...how did you do that?’ she asked, knowing he expected it, wondering why the relief she felt was mingled with despair.
‘How do you think?’ Ray smirked. ‘I’ve persuaded him to invest in the business.’ He paused for a moment and then continued a little less brashly, ‘Well, he’s my new partner, actually. The Oliveira Corporation is taking a nominal share in the company.’
Lily swallowed. ‘How nominal?’
‘Does it matter?’ Ray scowled. ‘Be thankful that he’s prepared to invest at all.’
* * *
‘You’ve done what?’ Steve Bellamy stared at the man sitting at the other side of the desk with incredulous eyes. ‘I thought you told me the business had debts it couldn’t cover, that it was heading down the drain?’
‘It does. It is. Or rather it was.’ Rafe lay back in his chair regarding the other man through narrowed eyes. ‘So what do you want me to say? That I have got more money than sense?’
‘That would be a start.’
Steve grimaced and then, meeting Rafe’s gaze, he moved his shoulders in a defensive gesture. ‘Hey, it’s your decision. I’m only an employee.’ He paused. ‘It wouldn’t have anything to do with a certain Ms Fielding, would it? You’re not bailing Myers out to help her?’
‘No.’
Rafe’s response was crisp and sharp and he swung forward in his chair, signalling the end of that discussion. He took a deep breath, calming himself.
‘As a matter of fact, I am thinking of taking a trip. It is a while since I visited Miami. Mi padre—my father—he is of the opinion that I have forgotten all about him.’
Steve frowned. ‘You could always invite your father to come here for a visit.’
‘While there is a chance that Sarah might turn up and create havoc?’ suggested Rafe drily. ‘I do not think so. In any case, I will enjoy a change of scene.’
And what an understatement that was, he thought broodingly. Since being with Lily, he hadn’t been able to concentrate on anything else.
Also, he didn’t like the fact that Steve had seen through his reasons for investing in Cartagena Charters so easily. Lily probably wouldn’t welcome his involvement in the company either.
Yet, despite all the promises he’d made to himself when he’d left the rectory, he was still infatuated with her. However pathetic it was, this would give him a legitimate excuse for seeing her again.
‘You don’t fancy flying up to Newport to bring the yacht back to the island?’ Steve suggested hopefully, but Rafe shook his head.
‘If you want the yacht, you go and fetch it,’ remarked Rafe carelessly, and wasn’t totally surprised when Steve objected.
‘And leave you here on your own with that psycho on the loose?’ he exclaimed. ‘Not gonna happen.’
Rafe sighed. ‘So, okay. We will go to Miami instead.’ He shuffled the papers in front of him. ‘We will leave at the end of the week.’
‘Okay.’ Steve was forced to give in. ‘But you be careful until we leave, right? I’m still not convinced I was mistaken about you-know-who.’
‘Nor am I.’ Rafe sighed. ‘But you did check that no one of that name had arrived on the island.’
‘Like she’s gonna use her own name,’ retorted Steve drily. ‘Come on, she’s not that dumb.’
‘No.’ Rafe shook his head. ‘You could be right.’
‘So don’t go out alone again,’ said Steve severely. ‘Humour me until we’re sure she’s not here.’
* * *
It was lunchtime again and Lily was alone in the agency. Ray had left about five minutes ago to make his regular trip to the bar, and Lily was using the time to sort out the contents of his desk.
Along with candy wrappers and empty fast food cartons, the drawers were filled with unpaid bills and old bank statements, none of which made very happy reading.
Still, she thought, once Rafe’s accountants took a hand she wouldn’t have to worry about angry debtors storming in the door.
And all the charter craft would as like as not get a thorough overhaul. She doubted the Oliveira Corporation would risk its reputation by not doing its homework.
She heard the outer door open and close and frowned in annoyance. Wasn’t it just like Ray to come back early when she was riffling through his desk? But so what? she thought impatiently. She’d rather that Rafe’s money men didn’t think that she didn’t know how to do her job.
Footsteps approached the screen, lighter footsteps than Ray’s, and Lily looked up in surprise. A woman was standing in the opening that separated the two parts of the agency. A tall attractive woman with blonde hair and unusually intense blue eyes.
She was wearing a cream slip dress, which clung to her generous curves, and perilously high heels. A beige clutch bag was tucked beneath her arm. An unusual outfit, Lily thought, for someone who apparently wanted to charter a yacht. The customers she was used to dealing with wore shorts, or jeans and deck shoes.
‘Hi,’ Lily said, closing the drawer and getting up from Ray’s desk and coming towards her. ‘Can I help you?’
A smile played about the woman’s lips. ‘I hope so,’ she said, and Lily was aware that she was giving her a thorough once-over.
Well, okay, she thought. In a navy patterned shirt, tied at the waist, and shorts, she didn’t look much like your typical office worker. But she was efficient. As this woman would find out if she’d tell her what she had in mind.
‘Are you looking for a charter?’ she asked politely, ignoring the appraisal, and the woman cupped one elbow in her free hand and allowed her fingers to play against her lips.
‘I may be,’ she said at last. She gestured behind her. ‘Those boats in the slips: do they all belong to the agency?’
‘Um...some of them,’ said Lily, not wanting to admit how many of their craft were idle at this time. ‘How big a boat were you interested in hiring?’
The woman’s brows drew together. ‘I’m not sure,’ she said, after a moment. ‘Perhaps you could show me what you have?’
‘Oh, well...’ Lily hesitated. ‘As a matter of fact, I don’t handle that side of the business. Mr Myers does.’
‘But Mr Myers is not here,’ said the woman pointedly. She glanced all about her. ‘Unless he is hiding in the filing cabinet.’ Her eyes returned to Lily’s. ‘Are you saying you can’t deal with me yourself?’
Lily pursed her lips. Wasn’t this just typical? she thought. A whole morning without a customer and just when Ray was absent a possible client turned up.
Of course she could turn the woman away. She could make the excuse—which Ray himself had made many times in the past—that he didn’t like to close the agency, even over a lunchtime.
But she was very much afraid that if she did, the woman would find an alternative agency. And, at the present time, any customer was welcome.
‘I suppose I could show you what we have,’ she said at last, shoving her own bag into the cupboard below her desk and picking up Ray’s keys. ‘But I can’t close the agency for long.’
‘No problem,’ said the woman, who had a distinctly North American accent. ‘I’m Sally Frances, by the way. And you’re—?’
‘Lily. Lily Fielding,’ she said quickly but, as the woman moved back to allow her to pass into the front of the agency, she felt a sudden sense of unease.
There was something wrong here, she thought. The woman didn’t look like a customer. She didn’t even act like any customer Lily had dealt with. She apparently didn’t know how big a boat she was looking for or say how many people it was to accommodate.
She was polite and well-dressed, yet there was something odd about her. And those eyes! Lily shivered. They wore an expression she’d never seen before.
They stepped out onto the street and Lily locked the door behind them. Then she looked about her. There was no sign of Ray, but that wasn’t unexpected.
Nevertheless, she was tempted to excuse herself and run to the bar and fetch him. Or leave him a note, telling him where she’d gone.
Only her pride kept her from doing either of those things. She’d had enough criticism in the past few days. And heavens, she assured herself, what did she think the woman was going to do? It was broad daylight. There were plenty of people about.
But there weren’t plenty of people about when they entered the marina. The yachts that weren’t on charter were just rocking at their moorings, and the chief sounds were of fenders bumping against the jetty and the sucking of the water around the hulls. Even the repair sheds were deserted, most of the men taking a liquid lunch.
Realising the woman was waiting for her to extol the virtues of the various types of vessel, Lily glanced back over her shoulder. And was reassured when she saw that Sally Frances was struggling to avoid her heels from slipping between the wooden slats of the pier.
It made the fact that she was between Lily and the exit seem less daunting. Lily was fairly sure that if the woman tried anything she could push her into the harbour.
Which was a
ridiculous thought to have. Dismissing it, she pointed to the first yacht that belonged to the agency. It was a fairly new ketch, with aluminium masts and twin diesel engines. Hoping she sounded more knowledgeable than she felt, she said, ‘This one sleeps six and does an average of fourteen knots.’
That strange smile tugged at the woman’s mouth again. ‘Let’s go a little further,’ she said, moving forward, forcing Lily to back along the gangway. ‘What are these yachts doing? Are they all waiting to be chartered?’
‘Some,’ said Lily vaguely, still hedging. ‘If I knew what you were looking for—’
‘I’ll know it when I see it,’ said Sally Frances lightly. ‘Let’s see: how about that one?’
She was pointing to the boat that they’d had such a problem with. The Santa Lucia had limped back from Jamaica the previous day and for once Ray had taken his engineer’s advice and booked it in for a complete overhaul.
‘Oh, I’m sorry—’ Lily began, turning back to explain that that particular yacht was out of service. ‘If you could choose another...’
‘I want to see this boat,’ the woman said, indicating that she wanted to get on board. ‘Or do you want me to tell your employer that you refused my request?’
Lily was tempted to say she didn’t care what Sally Frances told her employer. But the thought of how stupid it would make her look if she told Ray she’d been nervous about getting on the boat with the woman because she was on her own made her lift her shoulders in defeat.
‘Okay,’ she said, grasping the mooring line to steady herself as she stepped on board.
She turned to offer Sally Frances her hand, but the woman had kicked off her high heels and jumped agilely over the gunwale to land on the deck beside her.
Too close, thought Lily, swallowing convulsively. Would anyone hear her if she cried for help?
Unfortunately, the slips seemed deserted. It was lunchtime, as she’d acknowledged earlier, and not a particularly busy time of year. Besides, she was worrying unnecessarily. What on earth did she expect the woman to do?
‘I’d like to see the cabin.’
The woman had followed her as she’d tried to put some space between them. Without her high heels, Sally Frances had no trouble keeping her balance as she’d done before.