Tempestuous Affair

by Carole Mortimer

  Lindsay understood that Joel’s anger against her was making him irresponsible to his career, that he was forgetting he was an employee too at the moment, just as she was. ‘Malcolm is your client—’

  ‘And clients can be dropped—’

  ‘Joel, he’s an important man—’

  ‘I don’t give a damn who or what he is,’ he rasped. ‘Everyone is expendable in this world.’

  ‘Even you,’ she said softly.

  ‘Even me,’ he nodded tautly. ‘I’m not forcing Reader to stay with me.’

  ‘But if you get the reputation of being temperamental—’

  ‘I’m sure I already have one,’ his mouth twisted with derision. ‘It doesn’t stop the work pouring in.’

  Lindsay tried one last time to reason with him, knowing that his anger was making him reckless—and cruelly hurtful. She was well aware that the comment about everyone being expendable was directed at her as much as Malcolm Reader. ‘Joel, you can’t upset an important client like him—’

  ‘Watch me!’ he ground out.

  ‘Would it be so bad to use Marilyn Mills?’ she persisted gently.

  ‘Yes, it would be bad.’ He was breathing heavily in his agitation. ‘You don’t know how bad!’

  She felt inward pain that the other woman could still hurt him so badly. ‘Would you like to talk to me about her—’

  ‘No!’ He moved back as if she burnt him. ‘Don’t try and psychoanalyse me, Lindsay,’ he added tauntingly. ‘The part of my life that once involved Marilyn is a closed book to you and everyone else. Understood?’

  ‘Understood,’ she nodded, blinking back the tears so that he shouldn’t see them.

  ‘As long as it is,’ he grated.

  ‘Do you still want me to leave your employment today?’ she halted him at the door.

  He turned slowly. ‘That’s entirely up to you.’ He looked at her emotionlessly. ‘How does your confidentiality stand?’

  ‘The way that it’s always stood,’ she told him between stiff lips. ‘With you.’

  ‘Then there’s no problem, is there?’ he shrugged dismissively, as if he hadn’t just hurt her unbearably.

  ‘I wish you would just let me explain how Malcolm came to see that folder—’

  ‘I don’t want you to explain anything about Malcolm to me,’ he told her abruptly. ‘Just make sure your relationship with him stays out of my studio in future.’

  ‘I don’t have a relationship with him,’ she protested. ‘I like him, but I’m not going out with him.’

  ‘It’s really none of my business what you do in your own time,’ Joel dismissed uninterestedly.

  ‘No,’ she acknowledged softly. ‘What do you want me to do about Miss Mills?’

  ‘I don’t want you to do anything,’ he bit out forcefully. ‘I intend dealing with the matter myself!’

  Lindsay tidied her desk without really knowing she was doing it, not knowing when Joel said he would ‘deal’ with it if he meant he would tell Malcolm that the idea of using Marilyn Mills was unthinkable to him, or if he meant he would contact the other woman himself. Jealousy ripped through her at the thought of it being the latter.

  * * *

  ‘How have you been this week?’ Judi looked at her closely, concern in her eyes.

  ‘Busy,’ she evaded. The two of them had just returned to her flat from her meeting Judi at the station, the most recent argument with Joel before she had left for the weekend still fresh in her mind.

  ‘And Joel?’

  ‘He’s also busy,’ she continued to avoid the real subject. ‘But I leave in three weeks.’

  Judi frowned at this news. ‘I thought you said you were going to stay on?’

  Lindsay shrugged with a nonchalance she was far from feeling. ‘It was a mutual conclusion that I leave after all.’

  ‘How mutual?’ her sister asked dryly, guessing the real circumstances.

  Lindsay sighed. ‘It was an impossible situation. I still love him, but I can’t have him on anything but his terms.’

  ‘He would still take you back?’

  ‘I’m not sure he would now,’ she answered slowly. ‘Things have changed drastically between us this last week.’ She went on to explain about Malcolm Reader, and also Marilyn Mills. ‘He blames me for the whole thing,’ she added dully. ‘Thinks I deliberately set out to hurt him.’

  ‘And is he hurt?’ Judi prompted softly.

  ‘Well, he certainly isn’t the same man who came to my flat a week ago demanding that I went back to him. Then he was defeated but still arrogant. Now he’s just angry at everyone and everything.’

  ‘He sounds a complex man—I’d like to meet him,’ Judi told her thoughtfully.

  ‘Oh, you will be,’ Lindsay assured her innocently.

  Her sister’s hazel eyes widened in surprise. ‘You mean he’s coming here this weekend?’

  ‘Hardly,’ she shook her head, smiling slightly. ‘You’re going to a dinner party tomorrow night, you’ll meet him then. Don’t worry,’ her smile widened at her sister’s concern, ‘I shall be there too.’

  Judi was frowning now. ‘You didn’t mention any of this when we spoke on the telephone.’

  ‘Because if I had you would have had time to make up an excuse not to come,’ said Lindsay knowingly.

  Judi blushed at her correct assessment of the situation. ‘You know I don’t like these London parties—’

  ‘To my knowledge you’ve never been to any!’

  ‘No. Well,’ she looked disconcerted, ‘I still think it was a dirty trick not to have told me sooner.’

  ‘I need you here this weekend, Judi,’ Lindsay told her softly. ‘Maybe it’s selfish of me, but I need you.’

  Judi instantly looked contrite. ‘Of course I’ll come to the dinner party with you—I was just being silly. I’m sure I’ll enjoy myself once I get there,’ she added doubtfully.

  Lindsay laughed ruefully. ‘I wish you didn’t sound quite so much as if you were being put on the rack!’

  ‘Did I?’ Her sister looked chagrined. ‘Well, I didn’t mean to.’ She tried to shake off some of her despondency. ‘But I hope you have something I can wear, because I certainly didn’t come prepared for a party.’

  ‘Relax, Judi, the one thing your “notorious” sister has plenty of is clothes. I always had to dress the part when I was seen out in public with Joel,’ Lindsay added dully.

  ‘And you’ll dress the part tomorrow too,’ her sister said firmly. ‘We’ll show Joel Sutherland that you might be down for the moment but you’re far from defeated either!’

  Lindsay hugged her gratefully. ‘I knew I could rely on you to cheer me up!’

  But as they prepared for the dinner party the next evening she could tell how nervous Judi really was. Her sister had socialised very little since Jonathan’s death, and so this London dinner party must be doubly difficult for her. Lindsay helped her all she could, the two of them going to a hair salon that afternoon, Judi having her hair restyled silkily to her shoulders in soft waves, the silky turquoise gown she and Lindsay had decided she should wear suiting her fragile beauty perfectly, bringing out the depth of her hazel eyes.

  Lindsay had decided on a sophisticated black dress for herself, the demure style of the fitted bodice a startling contrast to the back that dipped to the base of her spine, the black material flowing freely to her ankles. It was a dramatic gown, one that allowed for little to be worn beneath it, a fact that was perfectly obvious as she moved.

  ‘Well, if that doesn’t make Joel Sutherland sit up and take notice, nothing will!’ Judi looked at her with raised brows, obviously taken aback at what little there appeared to be of the dress when viewed from the back.

  ‘I don’t want him to take notice.’ Lindsay crossly secured the short straight swathe of her hair behind one ear with a silver-studded black comb. ‘I want him to leave me alone.’

  ‘In that dress?’ Judi looked sceptical.

  She turned from her reflection in t
he mirror. ‘For your information, this is one of Joel’s least favourite dresses.’ Her voice was brittle with the memory. ‘The one and only other time I wore it he ordered me to take it off.’ She blushed at Judi’s teasing look. ‘And put something else on instead.’

  ‘Oh.’

  ‘Well, don’t look so disappointed,’ Lindsay said impatiently. ‘Contrary to what everyone says about affairs, Joel and I did not spend all of our time together hopping into bed.’ Only most of it! She remembered achingly.

  ‘You didn’t have an affair,’ Judi told her softly.

  ‘You simply lived with the man you loved. And that’s no crime.’

  ‘To some people it is.’ Lindsay picked up her bag ready to go.

  ‘Are you all right, Lindsay?’ Judi was concerned at the reckless glitter in her eyes. ‘We don’t have to go—’

  ‘Oh yes, we do,’ her sister set her shoulders determinedly. ‘Our hostess told me that if I didn’t put in an appearance it would look as if I was afraid to. And she’s right. So let’s go.’

  They were far from the first to arrive at Cally and David’s London apartment; nevertheless Joel wasn’t one of the guests already there, something for which Lindsay was grateful. She would be able to handle the situation so much better if she were firmly established among the crowd when Joel arrived with his girl-friend.

  ‘I’m so glad you could both come,’ Cally greeted them enthusiastically. ‘And surely your sister has to be the model in the family!’ She looked appreciatively at the blushing Judi.

  ‘Now don’t try and dazzle Judi,’ Lindsay laughed. ‘She’s a self-respecting secretary to a local lawyer back home. And no more interested in modelling than I am.’

  Cally looked disappointedly at Judi. ‘No?’

  ‘No,’ Judi confirmed shyly.

  ‘That’s a pity.’ Cally drew them both further into the room. ‘Still, I’m sure none of my male guests will complain at the two beautiful girls in their midst, no matter what their professions. Now come and meet your dining companions for the evening.’

  Lindsay instantly hung back. ‘Cally—’

  ‘You said I would cope,’ the other woman was unrepentant. ‘And I did—I invited two men to even up the numbers.’

  Lindsay frowned. ‘I wish you hadn’t.’

  ‘You haven’t met them yet,’ Cally chided lightly.

  And she didn’t want to either. It hadn’t occurred to her that Cally would put them in such an awkward position. And it should have done. It should have done!

  Her worst fears were realised as Cally guided them across the room and she saw Malcolm’s triumphant grin. But he didn’t look any more self-satisfied than Cally did. Damn the other girl and her matchmaking!

  Standing next to Malcolm was another American Cally introduced as Glen Shumann, Malcolm’s assistant, a tall loose-limbed man with sandy-blond hair, dark blue eyes, and a boyishly handsome face.

  ‘I’ll leave you all to get acquainted,’ Cally told them brightly after she had made the introductions. ‘Enjoy yourselves,’ was her parting shot.

  ‘Do you think we will?’ Malcolm taunted Lindsay softly as she watched their hostess with angry eyes as she moved like a glittering butterfly among her guests in the yellow and silver dress.

  Lindsay gave him an impatient glare. ‘You knew all the time that you would be seeing me here tonight—’

  ‘Not true,’ he defended lightly. ‘Cally didn’t call me until yesterday. You’re the one who should be reprimanded.’

  Her eyes widened indignantly. ‘What did I do?’

  ‘You didn’t tell me you had a sister, let alone that she’s so beautiful.’

  She had noticed from the start the way Malcolm hadn’t been able to take his eyes off Judi, and her sister didn’t seem altogether immune to his charms either, blushing like a teenager as she tried to meet his admiring gaze challengingly. Lindsay couldn’t remember the last time she had seen Judi look this coy.

  But her attention was diverted from this strange phenomenon by a slight stirring of attention towards the door. And she soon saw the reason why. Joel had just arrived, and clinging to his arm like a limpet was Joanne Honeyville, the most popular and successful model of this year.

  Joel stood dark and remote as Cally and Joanne chatted together, his evening suit fitting the wide perfection of his shoulders and chest, down to his narrow waist and tapered thighs. He and the tall model made a striking couple, Joanne’s dark, almost Oriental colouring perfectly suited to the gold clinging gown she wore. No wonder all eyes were turned towards them!

  But if he was aware of the sensation he and Joanne had caused at their entrance he gave no indication of it, his expression one of boredom as his gaze roamed lazily about the room. But all that changed as his gaze passed and then sharply returned to Lindsay, his eyes narrowing as he took in the dress she wore. The last time she had worn it had been the one and only time Joel had shown a hint of possessiveness where she was concerned, declaring it indecent, the perfection of her body clearly shown against its soft material.

  But he didn’t look possessive tonight, his contemptuous gaze passing from her to Malcolm and then back again, his eyes calling her a liar when she had told him she didn’t have a relationship with Malcolm.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  DAMN him, what right did he have to judge or condemn her even if she were seeing Malcolm! It was none of his business what she did any more, in fact it never had been, Joel always making a point of letting her know he had no claims on her. And he had no claims now either, emotional or otherwise, not when he could arrive with Joanne Honeyville clinging to him as if they were already lovers. Maybe they were; Joel had certainly been spending his time with a woman—or women—this last week.

  ‘They make a startling couple, don’t they?’ Malcolm spoke softly close to her ear.

  Lindsay turned sharply, thankfully noting that Judi and Glen weren’t also watching her reaction to Joel’s arrival, the other couple making light conversation together. ‘Very,’ she agreed brittlely, her smile bright and meaningless. ‘You can always rely on Joel to be with the most beautiful woman in the room.’

  ‘I think that last statement is highly debatable,’ he said wolfishly. ‘But she’s certainly very attractive. I also think I’ve been acting like a prize fool this last week,’ he grimaced.

  She frowned, her expression suddenly wary. ‘Sorry?’

  His smile was gentle. ‘I’ve been walking around with my eyes closed, haven’t I?’

  Lindsay shook her head. ‘I’m sorry, but I still don’t understand—’

  ‘It’s Joel, isn’t it,’ he stated softly.

  She felt her face drain of all colour, and was grateful for the supporting arm Malcolm slipped about her waist, his hand comforting against her bare back. ‘Would you like to sit down?’ she suggested breathlessly. ‘It’s a little warm in here.’

  ‘Sure,’ he agreed instantly, nodding their excuses to Judi and Glen, directing her towards the open balcony doors.

  Lindsay turned to him laughingly. ‘This isn’t quite what I had in mind!’

  Malcolm guided her to the lounge chair that stood beneath the brightly coloured sun-umbrella; the evening was just beginning to darken to dusk. ‘I know that,’ he sat down opposite her, ‘but I thought we could take these few minutes’ respite to cool off.’

  ‘Don’t you mean down?’

  ‘I know what I mean,’ he said dryly. ‘I feel such an ass!’

  ‘I don’t know why.’ She avoided his gaze.

  He sighed. ‘It was right there for me to see all the time, and yet I didn’t notice a damned thing.’

  She shrugged. ‘There’s been nothing there for you to see since you arrived.’

  ‘But there was,’ he grimaced. ‘Joel talked about you so warmly when he was in New York, seemed anxious to return to England all the time he was away—’

  ‘I’m sure that anxiety had nothing to do with me,’ Lindsay interrupted sharply.

  ‘
Oh, I think it did,’ Malcolm nodded. ‘I made a joking remark about his need to rush back to the special woman in his life and he almost exploded at me!’

  ‘You see?’ she sighed. ‘I told you it had nothing to do with me.’

  ‘If it didn’t he would have laughed it off,’ Malcolm reasoned. ‘What happened to break the two of you up?’

  She looked at him resentfully. ‘You seem pretty sure there was something to break up?’

  ‘And wasn’t there?’ he prompted softly.

  ‘Only in my mind,’ she said bitterly.

  ‘Joel doesn’t act like a man who’s immune to you,’ he derided Joel’s behaviour of the last week.

  Lindsay blushed slightly. ‘I didn’t say he doesn’t desire me, I know that he does—or did,’ she amended softly.

  ‘Does,’ Malcolm said firmly.

  She shrugged. ‘Maybe he still does,’ she sighed agreement. ‘But it makes no difference.’

  ‘To what?’

  ‘To the fact that we aren’t compatible!’

  Malcolm smiled slightly. ‘How many people are, when it really comes down to it?’ he dismissed. ‘I’m afraid love has no discrimination, it just is, and there isn’t a thing any of us can do about it.’

  She knew that, had known from the first that Joel was a hard and insensitive man, that he could be cruel when it came to protecting his own feelings. And yet knowing that hadn’t stopped her loving him. ‘There was no love involved in our relationship,’ she told Malcolm abruptly. ‘We just lived together for six months, and now it’s over.’

  ‘Ah,’ he said thoughtfully.

  ‘What do you mean, “ah"?’ she demanded impatiently.

  ‘You and Joel lived together?’ he answered her question with one of his own.

  ‘Shocking, isn’t it?’ she said with self-derisive bitterness. ‘A well brought up young lady like me “living in sin” with a man!’

  ‘And was it? Sinful, I mean?’ Malcolm teased.

  ‘Incredibly,’ she revealed longingly, remembering the long languorous nights of passion she had spent in Joel’s arms.

  ‘He was your first lover?’

  Lindsay stiffened at how personal he had become. ‘Really, Malcolm, I don’t think—’