Over the next week their relationship developed rapidly from that of employer and employee, although once he realised she was still a virgin Joel refrained from forcing a conclusion to the rapidly spiralling sexual tension that now existed between them. Lindsay kept waiting for the axe to fall on their relationship, knowing that Joel had never settled for less than a full physical commitment before. But he had brought to an end the tense frustration in a way she had never expected, by asking her to move into his apartment with him on a trial basis.
She knew he had never done anything like that before, preferring to remain at his apartment while his women stayed in theirs. A living together arrangement was far from what she wanted, but the mere fact that Joel had never lived with anyone before gave her hope that they would eventually have a permanent future together.
She should have known better! Joel always treated her well, never demanded anything of her, respected her independence from him at all times. And of course that was part of the trouble. A man in love would have wanted her to be a little more dependent on him than she had been.
Maybe she was back to where she had been six months ago, after all. Despite what she had told Joel she couldn’t continue to work for him. She only wished now that she hadn’t let herself be persuaded out of that decision last time!
CHAPTER TWO
‘GREAT,’ snapped Joel with sarcasm, waving Lindsay’s letter of resignation about in his hand. ‘Just great! Your loyalty when I’m tied up in this contract for Reader is incredible!’ He glared down at her.
Joel had been in his studio when she arrived at work half an hour ago, and the first thing she had done after checking the post had been to type out her letter of resignation, putting it in with the letters she had taken in to him a short time ago. His reaction was to be expected.
‘I thought you went to America to complete that contract,’ she frowned.
‘I did,’ he scowled, looking as if last night hadn’t agreed with him either, whether he had slept alone or not. ‘He liked the photographs so much he wants me to do the promotional shots on the new cosmetic range they have coming out,’ he told her grudgingly. ‘I’ve spent most of the last month trying to find the right model.’
Lindsay felt a flash of jealousy for all the beautiful women he would have seen the last month.
‘None of them were right for the cosmetics,’ he added mockingly as he saw her pensive expression.
‘Did you test them all personally?’ she heard herself ask waspishly.
‘Photographically?’ he drawled tauntingly, his eyebrows raised mockingly. ‘Yes.’
She mentally berated herself for showing her jealousy so plainly, knowing Joel was aware of exactly how she felt, that he was elated by it. Damn!
‘Regretting your decision, Lindsay?’ He sat on the edge of her desk, dangerously close, his tangy aftershave discernible to her. ‘It isn’t too late to change your mind, you know,’ he encouraged throatily.
‘My notice stands, thank you.’ She was deliberately obtuse, knowing that wasn’t the decision he was talking about.
His eyes darkened to tawny slits, and he stood up, pushing her letter into the hip pocket of his trousers. ‘Bring me in the file on all the models I’ve used the last five years,’ he instructed her curtly.
Her brows rose. ‘All of them?’
‘That’s what I said, didn’t I?’ he snapped.
‘Yes …’
‘Then do it,’ he rasped rudely. ‘And don’t keep me waiting all day!’ The door slammed after him as he went back into his studio.
‘Was that the bastard I know and love?’ drawled an amused voice from the doorway.
‘Cally!’ Lindsay cried excitedly, getting up to hug the newcomer enthusiastically. ‘When did you get back to town?’
‘Over the weekend,’ the other woman smiled. ‘I thought I’d look in on my tormentor of the last four years. How is he?’ she asked lightly.
Lindsay gave a rueful grimace at the firmly closed studio door. ‘As charming as usual!’ she said dryly. ‘But don’t let’s talk about Joel,’ she dismissed abruptly. ‘Tell me how you like married life.’
Cally Robin had been Joel’s top model until two months ago when she had met, and as quickly married, an up-and-coming Member of Parliament, much to the surprise of her friends, and much to the annoyance of Joel when she informed him she was giving up modelling to help her husband in his career. Joel and Cally had had an affair once, years ago, and Cally was one of the few women he now called friend. Lindsay had been a little jealous of their relationship to begin with, but as the warmth and friendliness of Cally soon overflowed to her too she had no reason to do so.
‘I love it,’ Cally answered, her blue eyes sparkling, her red hair a glowing cloud about her shoulders. ‘David has to be the most wonderful man in the world,’ she added dreamily.
‘I thought he was rather handsome when I met him at the wedding,’ Lindsay smiled teasingly.
‘Keep your hands off,’ Cally warned jokingly. ‘I have enough trouble fighting off all his female constituents, without having to worry about you too! So what’s wong with Joel?’ she sobered. ‘He sounded as if he was being a bear.’
Lindsay shrugged. ‘He’s no worse than usual,’ she prevaricated, knowing that Joel hadn’t been like this with her since before she moved in with him.
‘And heaven knows that’s bad enough!’ Cally grimaced. ‘What—or should I say who—has upset him?’
Lindsay sighed. ‘I have a feeling it was me.’
‘Yes?’ Blue eyes widened in surprise. ‘Are you telling me he still rants and raves at you?’
Lindsay stiffened, her expression uncertain. ‘Still?’ she enquired softly.
Cally patted her hand understandingly. ‘You mustn’t mind that I know the two of you are living together—Joel just happened to let it slip one day,’ she explained gently.
‘Oh,’ said Lindsay dully. ‘Then perhaps I should tell you that we aren’t, not any longer.’
Cally frowned at this. ‘Since when?’
‘Since I moved out.’
‘You did?’ The other woman was obviously surprised that she had been the one to end the relationship. ‘That must have been a surprise for poor Joel,’ she added questioningly.
‘You could say that,’ Lindsay grimaced.
‘Oh, I do,’ Cally nodded, looking thoughtful. ‘The way he was talking it was a permanent arrangement.’
‘As permanent as anything can be with a man like Joel,’ Lindsay derided.
‘No, I mean it,’ Cally said, perfectly seriously. ‘I really thought this was “it” for him.’
‘If you mean love, Cally, then you should know him better than that,’ said Lindsay flatly.
‘He still has that problem, hmm?’ Cally nodded shrewdly.
Lindsay gave her a sharp, probing look. ‘What problem?’
‘He doesn’t know how to accept or give love.’
Her expression was dejected. ‘How can you accept or give something you don’t know exists!’
‘Oh, Lindsay,’ Cally was all sympathy. ‘Don’t—’
‘What the hell is delaying you, Lindsay?’ Joel suddenly appeared in the studio doorway, his eyes narrowing as he saw Cally perched provocatively on the side of Lindsay’s desk. ‘I might have known you had something to do with it,’ he snapped. ‘What’s wrong, has married life begun to pall already?’ he taunted.
Cally stood up, smoothing down the skirt of her dress with deliberate slowness before walking over to kiss him lingeringly on the mouth, seeming immune to his glowing displeasure. ‘Married life is wonderful,’ she gave him a mocking sideways glance. ‘I would highly recommend it.’
His mouth twisted. ‘Then you must be one of the few people who do,’ he derided. ‘And after only two months I don’t think you’ve had time to really speak with any authority.’
‘Cynic!’ she said goodnaturedly, used to his bad humour.
‘Realist.’ He shot Lindsay a tell
ing glance. ‘I simply don’t have stars in my eyes about an institution that’s been failing for years. I’d rather get myself certified!’
Lindsay blanched, knowing the last was being said for her benefit, that Joel was making it clear once again that he would never contemplate marriage, to anyone. And that wasn’t fair, because she had never mentioned marriage to him.
‘Keep on the way you are,’ Cally drawled mockingly, ‘and I might just do it for you.’
He looked down at her with narrowed tawny eyes. ‘What do you mean?’ he bit out.
‘Lindsay tells me you’re no longer living together,’ she provoked. ‘You have to be insane to have let her escape.’
‘Cally—’
‘It was Lindsay’s decision to leave,’ Joel forcefully cut in on her dismayed response to Cally’s taunting.
‘Well, no one could think her insane for leaving you, darling,’ Cally mocked. ‘You’re virtually impossible to work with, let alone be with twenty-four hours a day.’
‘I take it this is what friends are for?’ he rasped. ‘To insult you?’
‘To tell you the truth when necessary, sweetie,’ she touched his cheek affectionately.
‘Well, today I can do without it,’ he dismissed harshly. ‘Come through to the studio if you want to talk to me, if you don’t then stop keeping my employees from their work,’ he added coldly.
Lindsay was still pale from his last dig at her. This last one made her flinch, something Joel seemed as immune to as he was every other emotion. She didn’t know how she could ever have fooled herself into thinking he would one day love her!
‘Here’s the file you wanted.’ She handed it to him, taking care not to touch him, a fact he seemed well aware of as his mouth twisted derisively.
He nodded acknowledgement of the file, turning to Cally. ‘Are you staying or going?’
‘Much as I hate to turn down your gracious invitation,’ she mocked him, her eyes gleaming with mischief, ‘I have to meet David in a few minutes, so I can’t stay long. I actually came round to invite you both to dinner at the weekend. Although in the circumstances perhaps I should say invite you both and your respective partners.’ She looked at them with feigned innocence.
Joel’s scowl deepened, and Lindsay wondered, not for the first time, how Cally dared to antagonise him when he was in this mood. She always steered clear of him at such times, although perhaps Cally felt that their past association allowed her to. goad him in this way.
‘Suits me,’ he snapped. ‘Just tell me what time and day, and I’ll be there.’
‘Saturday, eight o’clock.’ She looked enquiringly at Lindsay. ‘Is that okay for you?’
Any evening and time suited her at the moment, they were all free. But she had no idea who she could take as her ‘partner’ for the evening. ‘Fine,’ she agreed lightly, ignoring the way Joel’s eyes narrowed speculatively. No doubt he would have no trouble at all finding someone to accompany him!
‘Now, Joel,’ Cally put her arm through the crook of his arm, walking into the studio with him, ‘I just have time for you to tell me all about …’
The rest of the conversation was cut off as Joel firmly closed the door behind them. Lindsay put up a shaking hand to her temple, as she sat down behind her desk. The next month, while she worked her notice, was going to seem a very long time indeed.
‘Hey, are you all right?’ asked a concerned voice, the accent distinctly American. ‘You look a little pale.’
Lindsay looked up into the attractive face of the man leaning over her desk, a man of about forty, possibly a little younger, with dark hair heavily tinged with grey at his temples, and pale blue eyes that could also look grey in certain lights or moods. Even leaning over as he was she could see he was tall, his tailored suit fitting him well, his lean body containing a liquid grace that spoke of training of movement.
‘I’m fine.’ She sat up straighter in her chair, a little unnerved by the way he kept staring at her with warm blue eyes. ‘And I’m afraid the agency who sent you must have made a mistake—Mr Sutherland doesn’t photograph male models.’
The man looked amused by the assumption, and straightened slightly, the blue eyes twinkling merrily. ‘I’m flattered you should think me young enough or attractive enough to be a male model,’ he drawled softly. ‘But isn’t forty-one a little old for all that?’ He raised dark brows.
‘It really depends what line of modelling you’re interested in,’ she shrugged.
‘I really shouldn’t be teasing you in this way,’ he smiled, laughter lines fanning out from his eyes in the tanned face. ‘Malcolm Reader,’ and he put out his hand in friendly greeting.
Lindsay gave a start of surprise. This was the famous Malcolm Reader, the man who had made millions in the cosmetic business? He didn’t seem old enough or ruthless enough, although she sensed a certain steel in his nature beneath the easy charm. But she hadn’t realised he was in England. Did Joel?
‘Lindsay Pope.’ She put her hand into his, finding it lost in his much bigger grip, his hand surprisingly firm and calloused considering he must spend most of his time seated behind a desk.
‘Rope burn,’ he seemed to guess her thoughts. ‘I spend most of my weekends sailing. And I know exactly who you are, Joel spoke of you often when he was in New York.’
‘Oh yes?’ she asked warily, aware that he had forgotten to release her hand, and extricating it herself.
Blue eyes looked at her steadily. ‘Yes.’
Delicate colour darkened her cheeks. ‘I can’t imagine what he said,’ she evaded.
‘Can’t you?’
‘No!’
‘Well, he didn’t tell me how beautiful you are, for one thing,’ his teasing manner was back. ‘You wouldn’t take pity on a visitor to London and have dinner with me one evening, would you?’ He looked at her encouragingly.
‘I—’
‘Malcolm!’ Joel greeted harshly behind them, looking accusingly at Lindsay. ‘Why didn’t you tell me Mr Reader was here?’ he rasped.
‘I’ve only just arrived,’ the other man exaggerated, moving forward to shake his outstretched hand. ‘Your secretary was taking very good care of me. And who is this beautiful young lady?’ He looked appreciatively at Cally.
Lindsay took the opportunity while they made the introductions of fading into the background. Whatever Joel had told the other man about her he couldn’t have told him they were living together, Malcolm Reader would hardly have been likely to invite her out if he had! She felt grateful for the fact that she hadn’t had to make any reply to his invitation, not wanting to upset a man who was so important to Joel, but still feeling too raw from her break-up with Joel to contemplate seeing another man.
‘Handsome devil,’ Cally remarked thoughtfully, the two men being ensconced in the inner office now. ‘He’s worth cultivating, Lindsay,’ she added softly.
‘Whatever do you mean by cultivate, Cally?’ asked Lindsay, tongue-in-cheek.
Deep blue eyes glowed with amusement. ‘You know very well what I mean. And he was attracted to you too, I could tell.’
‘Really?’ she said uninterestedly. Tall, dark, handsome men were not on her list of favourite things at the moment.
‘Really,’ Cally insisted forcefully. ‘Has it ever occurred to you that all Joel needs is a little old-fashioned jealousy to make him realise what he’s giving up?’
‘He doesn’t even know the meaning of the word,’ Lindsay dismissed with bitterness.
‘Don’t you believe it,’ the other woman said with certainty. ‘Just because he doesn’t show it it doesn’t mean he doesn’t feel it. He’s just adept at hiding what he really feels.’
Lindsay sighed. ‘I know you mean well, Cally,’ she said softly. ‘But it’s over between Joel and me. I think six months is long enough for anyone to realise they’re banging their head rather painfully against a brick wall. Right now I just want to get my life back in order, and then get on with it. And none of that involves Joel.
’
‘I see,’ Cally sighed with regret. ‘It’s a shame—I really thought that with you he was getting it all together. He’s seemed more relaxed since you lived with him, less inclined to retreat inside his emotions. Still, if you say it’s over then it’s over,’ she shrugged.
‘It is,’ Lindsay nodded. ‘I’ve also given in my notice today.’
‘So he told me. Well, I’ll see you Saturday, then?’ Gaily quirked auburn brows.
‘I’m not sure—’
‘Oh, you have to come,’ the other woman encouraged. ‘Joel is sure to, and if you don’t turn up he’ll know it was because you couldn’t face him on a social level.’
‘I don’t think I can,’ Lindsay admitted huskily.
‘Of course you can,’ Cally told her firmly. ‘And bring along some handsome man just to prove it.’
Lindsay’s mouth twisted. ‘I don’t know any handsome men.’
‘What about Malcolm Reader?’
That idea had fleetingly entered her own mind, but she had as quickly dismissed it. He was a pleasant enough man, seemed very nice, was undoubtedly handsome, but he was also a very important client of Joel’s, convincing her that she shouldn’t become involved with him on a social level. Joel would certainly never forgive her if she upset the other man in any way!
‘He’s business,’ she shrugged. ‘So he doesn’t count.’
‘He looked as if he counted to me,’ Cally teased.
‘He’s probably married with half a dozen children!’
Cally shook her head. ‘He’s one of America’s most eligible bachelors.’
‘Then what is his problem?’ Lindsay frowned.
The other woman laughed. ‘He doesn’t have one, except maybe that he just hasn’t met the right woman yet. You could be her, Lindsay. Just think what a blow that would be to Joel’s pride!’
‘I’m not out to hurt anyone, Cally,’ Lindsay said wearily. ‘I just want to forget any of this ever happened.’
‘Do you think you can?’
‘No.’
‘I’m beginning to feel guilty because I’m so happy,’ Cally grimaced, kissing Lindsay on the cheek by way of departure. ‘You’ll never get over the selfish swine completely,’ she said huskily. ‘But once the love stops being so intense it doesn’t hurt so much. Take my word for it,’ she added ruefully.
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