* * *
‘I’ve ordered breakfast to be served in here,’ Mark told her when she emerged from her bedroom into the lounge the next morning. ‘I thought you would prefer it,’ he added with a grimace.
As Mark had probably guessed, it hadn’t been a good night. Her sleep, when she’d finally managed to drift off, had been filled with the nightmares that had once occurred with sickening regularity but which were now a rarity. At first, when she’d still been in hospital, the dreams had been about the accident, but later, once she was home again, those dreams had been about Adam—an Adam who seemed never to be at home, who always seemed distant and preoccupied when he was.
She smiled at Mark gratefully as she sat down to pour them both a cup of coffee. ‘Good idea,’ she said brightly, not wanting him to see just how disturbed a night she had really had. ‘What are the plans for today?’ She helped herself to some toast she didn’t really want, lightly buttering it as she looked at Mark questioningly.
‘I thought perhaps you should rest today—’
‘But I rested yesterday, Mark. And the day before that,’ she recalled ruefully. ‘We haven’t seen anything of the area yet,’ she reminded him.
‘The forecast is for rain today.’ He frowned, drinking his own coffee.
‘That shouldn’t bother us too much in the car.’ Maggi smiled. They had driven up several days ago in Maggi’s BMW, deciding they would prefer the freedom of having their own transport during their stay; she was surprised Mark now seemed reluctant to take advantage of it. She looked at him closely. ‘Has something happened, Mark?’ He hadn’t actually looked at her since she’d come into the room, and he seemed to be having trouble meeting her gaze now.
He looked startled. ‘What do you mean?’ he said sharply. ‘What could have possibly happened? I told you, I just thought you might like breakfast in here.’
Maggi was more convinced than ever that there was something wrong; Mark was one of the most amiable, even-tempered people she knew, and yet at the moment he was definitely agitated about something. There was only one person who was guaranteed to make him feel that way!
‘Have you heard something else from Adam? Is that it?’ she prompted ruefully. ‘You really shouldn’t let him get to you, Mark,’ she dismissed, with more self-confidence than she actually felt; Adam had always been a force to be reckoned with. ‘We—’
‘I don’t give a damn about Adam,’ Mark told her as he stood up abruptly. ‘Except that his mere presence here seems to create the usual problems.’ He scowled darkly.
She shrugged. ‘Maybe he’s gone now; we certainly made ourselves more than clear last night!’
‘I doubt it!’ Mark grimaced. ‘But it’s really irrelevant now whether he’s gone or not.’ He gave an impatient shake of his head.
Maggi frowned up at him. ‘Why now? Mark, what’s happened?’ She demanded to know this time, knowing that something certainly had.
He gave a heavy sigh. ‘I was hoping you wouldn’t have to know about this. I was going to shield you from it as best I could, but the situation seems to be spiralling out of control, and—’
‘Mark, you still aren’t making much sense.’ Her frown deepened to one of puzzlement. ‘If it isn’t Adam, what situation are you talking about?’
‘It isn’t Adam himself, but of course he’s involved in it. Up to his neck—as usual!’ Mark’s expression blackened. ‘I’ve had to stop all telephone calls coming into the suite, and the hotel management delivered a message a short time ago to inform us that members of the Press are starting to arrive here at the hotel. They have managed to put the reporters off so far by claiming you aren’t registered—which is basically true, because the suite is booked in my name.’ He was talking almost to himself now. ‘But I somehow doubt that’s going to stop them for long—’
‘Mark, what is this all about?’ Maggi stood up too now, her agitation evident. He gave another heavy sigh, reaching down behind the sofa. ‘A newspaper was delivered with breakfast. I took one look at it and sent down to Reception for the rest of this morning’s publications. I wish to God I hadn’t, because they just got progressively worse!’ he groaned.
Maggi’s hand shook slightly as she reached for the newspapers, the colour leaving her face as she saw the first headline. FENNELL AND CARMICHAEL RECONCILED IN MORE THAN MUSIC? She picked up another newspaper, swallowing hard at the more personal leader of this one. MAGGI AND ADAM BACK TOGETHER? And the last one she looked at had her swaying on her feet. HAVE MAGGI AND ADAM SECRETLY RECONCILED?
Reconciled… Yes, she and Adam were still married, had made vows to each other in church—vows Adam had broken all too easily when it had suited him to do so.
There had been speculation about them in the Press for months after their separation three years ago, but it had eventually died down, leaving Maggi to apply quietly to Adam for a divorce. It was an application he’d chosen to ignore; the papers had never been returned to her, signed or otherwise.
Maggi had believed it best that they quietly break their ties with each other, but obviously this hadn’t suited Adam at all. Perhaps his marriage to her had become a good safeguard against any other woman expecting a commitment from him! Whatever his reasons, she was still married to him.
Now the speculation about the two of them had begun all over again… Although she didn’t think even Adam himself could have realised those repercussions that he had discussed would involve such personal speculation about the two of them. Or perhaps he had…? No, she was being ridiculous now. God, surely some part of her didn’t still hope those nightmarish three years without Adam had all been just that—a nightmare? That would be madness itself!
CHAPTER FIVE
‘WE HAVE to get out of here, Maggi,’ Mark told her distractedly. “The management aren’t going to be able to hold them off for ever. I—’ He broke off as a sharp knock sounded on the door. ‘Oh, damn!’ He suddenly looked as hunted as Maggi felt.
Understandably so. There was no back way out of this suite, and if the Press had—
‘Open the damned door!’ rasped an all too recognisable voice from the other side. ‘Before someone sees me out here, puts two and two together—and comes up with five!’
‘Adam!’ Mark muttered. ‘I should have known he wouldn’t stay away.’
‘I think we should open the door, Mark.’ Maggi stood up. ‘Adam’s right. If he’s seen—!’ She moved swiftly to the door, unlocking it, moving sharply back as Adam instantly pushed his way into the room, closing the door firmly behind him.
He looked somehow older in the harsh light of day, flecks of grey more visible in the darkness of his hair, those lines Maggi had noticed the night before, beside his nose and mouth, more deeply grooved. He was thinner than he used to be as well, his denims resting low down on his hips, his pale blue shirt tucked in at the waistband. But his eyes were still the same, she noticed with shocked reaction, stepping back—cold and grey, like an arctic sea…
Those icy eyes took in the breakfast tray and the scattered newspapers before he turned his attention back to Maggi. ‘You can’t stay here—you do realise that?’ he rasped harshly. ‘If you do you’ll become a prisoner in this suite, unable to—’
‘And whose damned fault is that?’ Mark attacked angrily, glaring at Adam. ‘If you hadn’t turned up in the way you did last night, none of this—’
‘Give it a rest, Mark,’ Adam advised wearily. ‘Life is full of ifs, buts and maybes—and at the end of the day they don’t make a damn bit of difference! The fact of the matter today is that the media are on the scent of what they think is a good story, and they aren’t going to give up until they corner at least one of us.’
‘So you thought you would just come here and add fuel to the fire!’ Mark said disgustedly.
Adam looked at him contemptuously. ‘Give me credit for a little sense! I—’
‘I don’t have to give you credit for anything, Adam,’ Mark scorned. ‘You’re just a selfish bastard wh
o—’
‘I don’t think this is helping the situation, Mark,’ Maggi cut in gently, lightly touching his arm.
‘It’s a situation he created—’
‘Mark.’ She shook her head, her smile full of understanding for his anger; she was none too pleased by all this herself. But arguing amongst themselves wasn’t going to help the situation. ‘Mark and I were just about to leave,’ she told Adam calmly.
‘And just how did you intend doing that?’ he returned scornfully. ‘Members of the Press are swarming all over this hotel looking for your room even as we speak. The management have succeeded in holding them off so far—’ he shrugged ‘—but it’s really only a matter of time.’ His mouth twisted. ‘I suppose it’s something to be grateful for that the two of you didn’t register as Mr and Mrs Smith; that would have been a complete giveaway!’ he added disgustedly. ‘The name Forbes—’ he looked pointedly at Mark ‘—is confusing them at the moment.’
Maggi looked at him angrily. ‘We have no reason to book in as “Mr and Mrs Smith”,’ she told him contemptuously. ‘We leave that sort of subterfuge to you!’
A nerve pulsed in Adam’s rigidly clenched jaw, the only indication that he was holding back a caustic reply. ‘Could we just cut the petty squabbling and get out of here?’ he said impatiently. ‘I have my car parked at the side entrance,’ he continued before either of them could reply. ‘And your departure has already been cleared with the management. If the truth be known, they will probably be pleased to see the back of you!’
Maggi could appreciate that this quiet, backwater hotel, albeit one of a larger chain worldwide, was far from used to having to deal with situations like the one that had been created here this morning. It would be much easier for the management if she and Mark really were no longer around. But to leave with Adam…!
‘What do you mean “cleared with the management”…?’ She frowned.
‘I mean exactly what I say, Magdalena—cleared,’ Adam bit out tersely. ‘Now get your things together and let’s go, before my car is discovered.’
He was right; there would be time once they were away from here to argue the point of paying their hotel bill. But argue it she would; she didn’t want to be beholden to Adam for anything.
She moved to her bedroom without further comment, throwing the few things she had brought with her into her suitcase, hoping that Mark was doing the same, instead of squabbling with Adam. She couldn’t hear any raised voices, so hopefully Mark was packing too.
‘Separate bedrooms, hmm?’ Adam remarked thoughtfully from the open doorway. ‘Interesting…’
Maggi’s face was flushed as she looked up at him. She hoped he would put it down to the exertion of packing, but wished, nonetheless, that Adam hadn’t realised she and Mark were still just friends. If Mark wasn’t the man in her life, then it would only lead to speculation on Adam’s part as to who was…
‘I’ve preferred to sleep alone since my accident,’ she told him distantly. ‘It’s more comfortable for me.’
He raised dark brows. ‘You mean the two of you make love and then Mark is banished to his own bedroom?’ he enquired.
Maggi stiffened resentfully; she should have known he would jump to a conclusion like that. ‘Our sleeping arrangements really are none of your business, Adam,’ she snapped. ‘You aren’t here by invitation and have caused nothing but trouble since you got here. I certainly don’t owe you any explanations.’
‘You’re my wife—’
‘You were my husband, too,’ she returned tautly. ‘But you don’t hear me asking you what you’ve been doing with your life since we parted. Or who you’ve been doing it with. Quite frankly, we don’t have that much time,’ she added tartly.
His mouth quirked. ‘You never used to be bitchy, Magdalena,’ he drawled.
Her face flushed anew. ‘I never used to be a lot of things, but survival teaches you it’s exactly that: survive or go under! Now, shall we get out of here? You seemed to think it was of the utmost urgency five minutes ago!’
‘Leave the suitcase,’ he instructed as she went to swing it to the ground in preparation for carrying it outside. ‘I realise you’re recovered, Magdalena, but I still doubt you’re supposed to carry heavy things like cases.’ He took the bag from her resisting fingers.
Maggi snatched her hand away as if she had been burnt, her skin tingling where it had briefly come into contact with his. Physically he had always had the strangest effect on her, right from the beginning, so much so that she had always melted at his slightest touch. She hadn’t thought he would still have the same influence now, not after all that had happened between them…
He was right about the suitcase, though; she wasn’t supposed to carry things that were too heavy. Her recovery had been nothing short of miraculous, and there was no way Maggi ever wanted to endanger that; she could still remember all too well how useless she had felt in her wheelchair. And how she had mourned all that she had lost. She was just starting to regain some of that, and had no intention of putting it at risk.
‘Thank you,’ she muttered with a distinct lack of graciousness. Well, what did Adam expect? He was the last person she wanted to accept help from!
‘You’re welcome,’ he returned. ‘Do—?’
‘Shall we get out of here?’ A harassed-looking Mark stood in the doorway. ‘One of the maids just came to the suite to say several of the reporters are on their way up!’
Maggi had been so caught up in her conversation with Adam that she hadn’t even realised anyone had come to the suite. This was a mess—
‘Just like old times!’ Adam grinned, grabbing hold of Maggi’s hand and pulling her towards the door.
She knew exactly what Adam meant. At the height of their popularity they had often had to escape from over-enthusiastic reporters, sometimes with hilarious results. But the whole point of resuming a solo career was that she didn’t want it to be like old times; she had been trying to make a fresh start for herself. But Mark was right; there just wasn’t the time right now to discuss any of these points. The important thing was to get away before any of the reporters saw them. Especially with Adam in tow!
And she could certainly do without Adam holding her hand!
There was a barely perceptible tightening of his fingers about hers as she tried to release herself, just enough pressure to prevent her escape. Maggi glared at him, pulling even harder to release her hand from his much larger one.
‘Careful,’ he warned softly as the three of them went out into the corridor. ‘You’ll hurt yourself.’
Hadn’t she been hurt enough by this man? ‘I can manage on my own, Adam,’ she told him through gritted teeth.
He didn’t even turn to look at her, surveying the carpeted corridor to make sure they could still make their escape unmolested, then leading the way towards the side entrance where his car was parked. ‘I’m sure you can,’ he accepted dismissively. ‘I happen to like holding your hand,’ he announced with all of his old arrogance.
That just made Maggi want to pull away all the more, but by this time they had reached the fire-exit. They escaped outside, the coolness of the autumn air making Maggi wish she hadn’t packed her jacket inside her suitcase along with the rest of her clothes.
‘We’ll be warm inside the car in a couple of minutes,’ Adam reassured her smoothly.
Maggi looked up at him frowningly; how had he known she was feeling the cold?
He shrugged as he strode purposefully towards a black Range Rover. ‘As I said last night, you always did like your creature comforts—and warmth was one of them!’ He released her hand—finally!—to put down the suitcase and unlock the vehicle.
Maggi moved away gratefully, although she could still feel the imprint of his flesh against hers, clasping her two hands together in an effort to stop the tingling sensation.
‘You get in the back, Mark,’ he tersely told the other man as they stowed the two suitcases and Maggi’s guitar in the boot of the car.
‘I—’
‘I don’t want you cramped in the back.’ Adam cut in on her protest, going round to get in behind the wheel.
Maggi very much doubted that even Adam himself, for all his height, would be cramped in the back of his Range Rover. It appeared to have been built for luxury and comfort, the side windows tinted black, the seats made of beige leather. Adam reached over and pointedly opened the passenger door beside him, looking at her expectantly.
‘Now isn’t the time to dither, Maggi,’ Mark advised. ‘Let’s just go and then we can sort out what we’re going to do.’
He was right—she knew he was—but that still didn’t stop part of her balking at the idea of Adam having his own way all the time. He always had in the past, and she had vowed that if they should ever meet again Adam would learn she was an individual, with a mind of her own.
‘Get in the front, Mark,’ she told him determinedly, moving around him to climb into the back, keeping her gaze firmly forward as she sensed Adam turning to look at her with amused grey eyes.
‘You always were the stubbornest female I ever knew!’ he muttered as he turned to switch on the ignition.
‘Good to know some things don’t change,’ Maggi returned tartly.
Adam paused, turning to look at her. ‘Actually, yes, it is,’ he finally said huskily.
She swallowed hard, willing him to turn his attention back to driving, just wanting to get away from here and then Adam as quickly as possible. She certainly didn’t want to have time to stop and think about what he could possibly have meant by that last remark! Whatever it was, she told herself, she wasn’t interested.
‘Can we just drive, Adam?’ Mark was the one to prompt impatiently. ‘Or do you intend to just sit here until the reporters find us?’
Adam didn’t even bother to answer, putting the car into gear before accelerating away from the hotel.
Sitting in the back, Maggi had a chance to look at him unobserved. The last three years really hadn’t dealt with him kindly. Those lines on his face were clearly evident in the bright light of day, as were the flecks of grey she’d already noticed in the darkness of his hair. He looked older than his thirty-eight years, appeared almost grim.
A Marriage to Remember Page 4