Bedded at His Convenience
Автор
Margaret Mayo
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CHAPTER ONE
‘I CAN’T GO to a party!’ declared Keisha firmly, glaring at her friend. ‘I have nothing to wear. Nor do I have any money. And I’m about to be thrown out of my house. Why are you asking me?’
‘Because it’s exactly what you need,’ insisted Gillian, her voice firm. ‘You’ve been out of the social circle for far too long.’
‘And I’m in no position to enter it again,’ countered Keisha, green eyes flashing her irritation that Gillian had even thought about asking her.
But Gillian ignored her friend’s denial. ‘You can borrow one of my dresses.’
At one time the other woman’s clothes wouldn’t have fitted her, but the pounds had dropped off Keisha during the last three years. Gone were her voluptuous curves, and instead she was painfully thin. With her pale complexion and long ash-blonde hair, Keisha sometimes thought that she looked like a wraith. ‘I still don’t want to go,’ she maintained, her lips pressed firmly together.
‘I’m relying on you,’ retorted Gillian. ‘No way am I going to sit in alone when there’s a party to go to. Come on, we haven’t been out together for ages. Please? Do it for me?’
Keisha smiled weakly, beginning to feel selfish. Gillian had been a good friend, and she had been looking forward to this party. Would it really hurt her to make the effort?
‘OK, I’ll go. But just for you!’
Arriving at the party later that evening, Keisha felt good for the first time in ages. Gillian had worked wonders with her appearance, styling her long blonde hair into a sophisticated chignon, and applying just the right amount of make-up to highlight Keisha’s amazing eyes. Gillian had also made sure that Keisha wore something that flattered her thin frame, instead of drawing attention to her weight loss.
Slowly Keisha began to relax, and to enjoy herself. The last three years had been hard, and this party was exactly what she needed—time to have a bit of fun!
But as Keisha stood assessing the many glamorous people present at the party she quickly realised she had made a huge mistake. Standing on the other side of the room was Hunter Donahue. The blood drained from Keisha’s face and she wanted to turn tail and run. But already it was too late. Narrowed eyes were fixed in her direction, and a frown was furrowing an already darkened brow. Keisha’s stomach curled into a tight knot.
She turned to her friend, but Gillian was talking to someone else. When Keisha looked back in Hunter’s direction she discovered, much to her relief, that he had disappeared.
Until a hand touched her shoulder!
She shivered, goosebumps standing out on her bare arms like corn stubble in a freshly harvested field.
‘What are you doing here?’
Oh, that voice! That beautiful deep voice! Why did it still have the power to send shivers of a very different kind through her? So many pleasures they had shared, so much excitement. But things had gone drastically wrong and she had fled their marriage three years ago. She hadn’t seen him since.
She tried not to think about the great sex they’d shared—which was hard with someone as physically gorgeous as Hunter—lifting her chin instead, and looking coolly into the blue depths of his eyes.
Still beautiful eyes, she couldn’t help thinking. Come-to-bed eyes. Eyes that had been used very much to his advantage! Oh, hell, why was she thinking like this when they were divorced?
‘Who are you with?’
He didn’t look too pleased to see her either, thought Keisha, although she couldn’t help wondering whether he felt any of the old sparks—or whether she was the only one who remembered how fantastic those first months of marriage had been.
‘Who is he?’ Hunter’s eyes scanned the crowded room as he persisted in finding out who her companion was.
The party was being held in one of London’s top hotels. Keisha remembered Gillian telling her what it was in aid of, but for the life of her she couldn’t remember why all these businessmen were gathered together.
‘It isn’t a he, it’s a she,’ Keisha answered. ‘Do you have a problem with me being here?’ She let her wide green eyes rest on his cool blue ones, her chin tilted as she looked up at him. He certainly didn’t look pleased. In fact he looked as though she was the last person on earth he wanted to see again.
And she could hardly blame him when she was the one who’d done the walking.
‘No, I don’t have a problem,’ he answered. ‘I’m shocked, I guess. You’ve changed, Keisha. You’ve lost weight. I hardly recognised you.’
She lifted her too-thin shoulders and let them drop again. ‘I’m sure it’s no concern of yours.’
Hunter, on the other hand, had put on a few pounds. Not too much, possibly all muscle—as though he still worked out on a daily basis. He looked good. Far too arresting for her peace of mind!
‘On the contrary,’ he said, much to her surprise, ‘it is very much my concern. I’m interested in what you’ve been doing since you—deserted me.’ He lifted her hand and made a show of studying it. ‘No ring, I see. So you haven’t married again?’
Keisha shook her head, snatching her hand free, alarmed at the flurry of feelings that his touch had triggered. Feelings that she had thought were dead. And had now learned were very much alive. Hunter, she was discovering, was not a man who could be dismissed easily.
If ever!
Keisha told herself that she was being ridiculous. Why couldn’t she dismiss him? Their marriage had failed. They were divorced. He meant nothing to her any more.
‘I don’t suppose I can flatter myself that your loss of weight has anything to do with me?’
His devastating blue eyes looked deeply into hers and her throat tightened, pulses beginning to pound. She had run away because he’d neglected her, because he’d worked too hard and she’d rarely seen him—and because he had been seeing another woman.
Not because she had fallen out of love.
Three years was a long time. She ought to be over him. She had thought she was. And now she was shattered to discover that some of those feelings were still alive.
Keisha couldn’t help wondering whether Hunter was experiencing any similar feelings. Lord help her if he was, because if he turned his fatal charm on her she wouldn’t be able to resist. It had taken her but a few seconds to discover that.
Her only consolation was that she was older and wiser. She tossed her head and flashed her green eyes magnificently. ‘As if!’ And she took a step backwards.
Over Hunter’s shoulder she saw Gillian glance in her direction. What she wouldn’t give to call her friend over and suggest that they leave. But to do so would alert him to her unease, and that was the last thing she wanted. She needed to remain cool and aloof, and not let him see by even the flicker of an eyelash that he could still stir her senses.
Even though she’d always sworn as a young girl that she would never get married—her father had come and gone, finally disappearing into the ether when she was only nine, so her lasting impression of men was that they were never there when they were needed—she’d been totally bowled over by this man, by his softly spoken words and his eyes full of promise.
Keisha had left school at eighteen—there had been no money for university or higher education; she’d needed to earn a living. Her mother had suffered from bouts of depression ever since her husband had left and had never worked. Therefore Keisha had felt it her duty to get a job—even though she would have liked nothing better than to join her friends at university.
She’d found employment as an office junior at Hunter’s advertising agency. Every female had been in love with the boss; even the guys had admired him. He’d had jet-black hair and dancing blue eyes, and the looks of a film star. Not that he’d seemed aware of it; he hadn’t been big-headed or vain. Just totally at ease with himself.
When Keisha had dropped a folder full of papers he had helped her pick them up and she had been flattered. But when their eyes had locked momentarily she’d felt a thrill of something unexpected. And when, a couple of days later, he’d asked her out on a date she’d been overcome.
Of course she hadn’t refused him; who would have? Even though she’d felt that he was out of her league! She had thought that it would be a one-off date, that he would quickly realise how young and immature she was. But it hadn’t worked out like that. One date had followed another, followed swiftly by a proposal, and three months later, just after her nineteenth birthday, they’d been married.
It hadn’t been a big flamboyant wedding, just a quiet ceremony in their local church. Her mother had bought herself a new outfit, and Keisha had worn a white satin dress that had fitted her like a dream. It had been a beautiful day from start to finish, the best in her life, and Keisha knew that she would remember it for ever. She would tell her children about it—and her grandchildren.
In the headiness of new-found love she had forgotten all about her promise to herself never to get married, never to trust the opposite sex. This was the man for her; of that she had been very sure. He would never let her down the way her father had her mother. And she had got swept along by the excitement of the occasion.
It had been the talk of the office. Love at first sight and a whirlwind affair. The other girls had been green with envy, but most of the men had been relieved because, as they’d jokingly said, they no longer needed to keep an eye on their girlfriends or wives.
‘So what is it that has caused you to fade away like a wispy cloud?’
Hunter’s voice broke into her thoughts, and she was grateful because she didn’t want to think about what might have been. It had been a fairytale love affair, a fairytale wedding, and then poof! Gone! Exploded like a firework. Nothing left except memories.
‘I doubt you’d be interested,’ she said, deliberately keeping her chin high and her tone cool.
‘Believe me, I would.’ His head was bent towards her, his voice a low rumble in his throat.
His voice had urged her on so many times into the most wonderful and magical love sessions. It was deep and sexy; he had mastered the art of turning bones into jelly and blood into water. His voice had made her his prisoner. When he’d spoken to her like that she would have done anything for him.
Even now she could feel the fine threads of his web closing around her.
‘I owe you nothing,’ she said firmly. ‘And I’d really like you to go away and leave me to enjoy myself.’
Hunter had no intention of leaving Keisha’s side. When he’d seen her enter the room he had been unable to believe his eyes. Her disappearing act had been so final that he had thought never to see her again.
Three years ago he’d been captivated by her youthful innocence, by her lovely heart-shaped face and her infinitely kissable lips. He had been unable to get her out of his mind, and when she’d accepted his proposal he’d been the happiest man alive.
It hadn’t occurred to him that she wasn’t yet ready to be bound by the confines of marriage. That jealousy and insecurity would be their downfall. All he’d known was that he loved her and wanted her by his side for the rest of his life.
At his insistence Keisha had given up her job and moved into his apartment in the City. A few months later they’d moved into a beautiful house in Surrey, and he’d been happier than he’d ever been in his life. So when, just after their first wedding anniversary, Keisha had walked out on him, he’d been gutted.
He’d known she wasn’t happy with the long hours he worked. Maybe it had been wrong to insist that she give up her job—but how could he have kept his attention on his work with his beautiful, sexy wife within arm’s reach?
When she’d complained that she had nothing to do, when she’d declared that there were only so many times she could visit her mother or trail around the shops, he had suggested she find herself a hobby.
What he hadn’t expected was for her to join a gym, and it had worried him when he overheard her on the phone to her friend Gillian, saying how sexy the men there were. And more especially when she’d mentioned one man in particular. But when he’d questioned her she had declared that he was no more than a friend. That he was in fact happily married.
‘Why don’t you join too, then you can meet him?’ she’d suggested. ‘His name’s Marc Collins. He’s actually a friend of someone I went to school with.’
But he had declined the offer, accepting that if she was prepared for them to meet then he had nothing to worry about.
Conversely, he had known that Keisha harboured ideas that he was seeing another woman—they’d had enough arguments about it. But he’d thought she’d accepted that there was no one else.
How wrong he had been!
He had returned home one evening at about a quarter to midnight, after working solidly on a new advertising campaign, and she had dropped her bombshell. She had told him that she was leaving. And her eyes had been so cold and distant that he’d found it hard to believe she was the same girl who had been so passionately in love with him.
He had looked at her in total disbelief. ‘Keisha, tell me you’re joking.’
But she hadn’t been. They’d talked long into the night and he’d used all his powers of persuasion before he had finally made her promise that she would stay. That night they’d had the best sex ever—their love life had always been amazing, but that had been something different. It had felt as though they were renewing their vows, and he’d gone to work the next day feeling ten feet tall, fully confident that they had resolved their differences.
But that evening when he’d got home she’d gone.
He’d phoned her mother. He’d phoned everyone who might know where she was. Without result. At first he’d been worried, and he’d thought about calling the police. Until he’d realised that she couldn’t exactly be classed as a missing person. She’d walked out because she wasn’t happy.
She had fooled him into feeling safe.
Gradually his concern had turned to anger. How could she do this to him? Why? He had thought their love was indestructible.
Then he’d found out that it had nothing to do with the long hours he kept, or her delusions about other women. She’d used that as an excuse. She was the one who’d been having an adulterous affair. She’d said that her male friend was just that—a friend, a married friend—and he’d believed her. But he’d spotted her out on the street with her arms locked around his neck—at least he’d presumed it was the same guy. Even if it wasn’t, she’d clearly been infatuated with whoever it was.
She had been blatantly kissing him! In broad daylight!
Blood had fizzed in front of his eyes; he’d felt both revulsion and humiliation. She’d lied to him. His fury had known no bounds. He’d wanted to march up to her and wring her neck. And he’d wanted to knock the living daylights out of the guy embracing her. But he hadn’t. What would have been the point in causing a scene when their marriage was over? He had more dignity than that.
Instead he had watched as they’d walked off, hand in hand.
It was the hardest thing he’d ever done. Hurt had sliced into his heart as fiercely as if she’d stabbed him with a knife. And with hurt had come guilt. Maybe it was his fault? Maybe if he’d spent more time with her she wouldn’t have gone off with someone else? She wouldn’t have felt the need for male company.
There had been so many maybes and so much heartache that his head had spun. For days he’d done nothing but blame himself, until finally he’d grown convinced that it was not all his fault. It took two to break up a marriage. Keisha was as much to blame as he was. She had lied about her platonic relationship. She had accused him of two-timing her. And yet she had been doing exactly the same thing.
He had wondered how long her affair had been going on. He’d tried to pinpoint the time their marriage had started to go downhill. It certainly hadn’t been smooth going. They’d had many arguments about his long hours, and she’d become totally convinced he was seeing another woman. He’d tried to convince her that she was wrong, but clearly he’d failed. Perhaps she’d thought that what was good enough for the goose was good enough for the gander?
Except that he’d never cheated on her. Which made her defection doubly hard to bear.
Somehow he’d picked up the pieces of his life; working harder than ever, trying to forget her, not even letting her petition for a quick divorce disturb him. And he’d thought he had succeeded.
But now, seeing her again, feeling her betrayal all over again, he knew that somehow—he didn’t know how yet—he wanted to hurt her as she had hurt him. He didn’t love her any more—how could he when she’d turned to another man? But he was determined that she would get her comeuppance. One way or another!
‘I have no intention of going away, Keisha,’ he said on a rough growl, trying to hide the anger that was building up inside him. ‘As a matter of fact I’d like to dance with you.’ The band had struck up and was playing a slow waltz, and without giving her time to refuse Hunter took her hand and pulled her on to the tiny square of polished floor.
At first, as fierce memories lingered, he held her more tightly than perhaps he should have done. But gradually he relaxed, and so did Keisha, and as they swayed to the music, as he deliberately talked about anything except themselves, he discovered that she wasn’t entirely immune to him. Deep down inside something was still there.
Not love; he doubted now whether she ever had loved him. Probably the glamour of marrying the boss had seduced her. But there was definitely something physical happening—it had been a big part of their relationship, a massive part.
And it could work to his advantage!
Keisha was disappointed with the way her body was behaving. How could she feel anything for Hunter after all this time? It didn’t make sense. When the music stopped she headed swiftly away from him.
But not fast enough. Hunter caught her hand. ‘What’s the hurry? The evening’s only just beginning.’
‘Maybe for you, but not for me,’ she retorted, wrenching free. Gillian would get an earful; that was for sure. The last man in the world she had wanted to meet again was her ex husband.
Their marriage had been a huge mistake. She’d been far too young and inexperienced for the likes of Hunter. In actual fact he had been married to his work, and for light relief he’d chosen far more sophisticated women than herself. She had come a sad second best. She had wished for the moon and got only the stars. And, although she’d now discovered that she still had feelings for him, she didn’t want to be caught in his trap again.
Hunter, however, was totally unmoved; he was even smiling, though she observed that it didn’t quite reach his eyes. ‘Tell me—who is the good lady instrumental in us meeting again?’
‘It’s Gillian, actually. Do you remember her?’ asked Keisha. ‘But I wish she’d never persuaded me to come.’
‘That’s a pity,’ he said pleasantly. ‘I’m of the opposite opinion myself.’
Keisha looked into his intense blue eyes. They were quite the most magnificent eyes she had ever seen on a man. They had been part of his attraction in the first place, long-lashed and beautifully shaped, eyes that had made her feel very special.
And still could!
Damn him!
She looked around for Gillian, but her friend was nowhere in sight.
‘Are you saying that you are pleased to see me?’ she asked, looking frowningly up at him
Hunter was tall, six feet four, while she was twelve inches shorter. She had loved the difference in their heights. Loved it when he’d picked her up and twirled her around. When he’d hugged her to him, resting his chin on her head.
‘Surprised and pleased,’ he answered. ‘I want to know what you’ve been doing this last three years.’ Suddenly his face darkened, and long, strong fingers gripped her upper arms. ‘Exactly what you’ve been doing.’
Keisha felt sudden fear. This was a side of Hunter she’d not seen before. ‘Let me go,’ she protested. ‘What are you doing? You’re hurting me.’
‘I’m taking you somewhere quiet,’ he growled. ‘Where we can talk undisturbed.’
His words were soft, but they were laced with steel, and Keisha felt a shiver of apprehension. If only Gillian were in sight she could rush over to her and insist they go home. But her friend had disappeared, and Keisha couldn’t help wondering whether she had seen her with Hunter and made a tactful exit.
Gillian knew all about her divorce, of course; they had been friends for years. Gillian, however, thought Hunter was the bee’s knees, and couldn’t understand why Keisha would want to live without him. She had often urged her to get in touch and try to patch things up.
But Keisha had been adamant that it wouldn’t work.
With her elbow held in a vice-like grip, Hunter guided her through the laughing, talking crowd to a secluded corner. When he pushed her down onto a chair she looked mutinously into his face. ‘This is a complete waste of time,’ she declared.
‘I don’t think so.’ He took a couple of glasses of champagne from a hovering waiter and pushed one across a low table towards her.
Keisha didn’t want the drink, but something made her pick it up and down the whole lot in one swallow.
Hunter gave a satisfied little smile.
In three years he had matured quite dramatically. His glossy black hair, which had been almost shoulder length, was now brutally short. It showed no sign of receding, but there were a few distinguishing grey hairs at his temples.
He’d used to have twinkling eyes, but now they were serious. His thick level brows hadn’t changed, but his mouth no longer smiled in that mysterious way that had churned her insides. She had used to think that he looked like a dashing highwayman. Now he was a coolly contained businessman, very much in control of himself and all those around him.
And why was she noticing all this when she didn’t even want to be here? Damn! He was too much under her skin; she had never really forgotten him, especially the exciting times they’d spent together in bed. She wondered whether there was any other man in this whole world who could stir her senses so gloriously.
But marriage wasn’t just about sex. A couple needed to be friends and companions as well. And most importantly of all there needed to be trust. Which was something that had been sadly lacking in their relationship.
‘More champagne?’
Keisha nodded, and Hunter hailed another waiter.
‘Do you like what you see?’
She instantly averted her eyes, uneasy that she had been openly studying him, but more embarrassed that he had noticed. ‘You have a few grey hairs,’ she announced.
‘I guess it’s because I’ve been working hard. My business has grown dramatically. I have offices in Europe now, and I’m hoping to open one in New York next year. I’m hardly ever at home.’
‘Why don’t I find that surprising?’ she asked drily.
Hunter hissed sudden anger. ‘You knew that I had no choice if I wanted to get ahead. Really, Keisha, your attitude’s not changed one iota. Maybe I had a merciful release? You’re not cut out to be an executive’s wife.’
Keisha said nothing, picking up her glass and taking a sip of the sparkling wine. Then she twirled the crystal flute between her fingers and stared down at the tiny bubbles.
‘So it’s not the fact you’ve been missing me that’s caused you to lose so much weight?’ he asked, his blue eyes intent upon hers. ‘It’s someone else who’s done this to you?’
Wouldn’t it be good if she could disappear as quickly and completely as the bubbles in her glass, thought Keisha. Pop—they had gone! No more fear that they would be swallowed whole and live the rest of their lives swimming through miles of tubes—just as she was now swimming through years of revived memories.
Ignoring his question, she said, ‘Actually, I’m pleased for you. You deserve success.’ Yet even to her own ears she did not sound sincere.
‘For that I thank you,’ he acknowledged quietly, inclining his head. ‘So, now that you know what I’ve been doing, tell me what you’ve been up to. Your mother told me you’d moved away.’
Keisha’s eyes widened in stunned disbelief. ‘You spoke to my mother?’
‘What did you think?’ he asked, both brows rising this time, his eyes very wide and questioning. ‘That I wouldn’t come looking for you?’
‘She never told me.’ Keisha could hardly believe that her parent had kept secret the fact that Hunter had been searching for her. And the worst part was that now she could never thank her.
‘She wouldn’t tell me where you were either,’ he responded. ‘She said that if I tried to find you I’d have her to deal with. She’s a tough cookie, your mother. Lord knows what sort of tale you spun her. She spoke to me as though I were some sort of perverted idiot.’
Keisha was amazed that her mother had stood up for her like that. Not that it would have stopped Hunter if he’d been really determined. She compressed her lips and tears threatened. ‘My mother died recently.’
‘Oh!’ he said. ‘I didn’t know. I’m sorry to hear that.’
And he looked it. Compassion softened his face and she had the feeling that he wanted to pull her into his arms. She hoped he wouldn’t. She didn’t want to experience the warmth of his body, his steady heartbeat, or the pleasure it could give her. Thinking about her mother made her vulnerable. She wished he hadn’t brought the subject up.
‘Don’t be,’ she said sharply. ‘She was very ill towards the end. It was a merciful release.’
‘You must miss her.’
Keisha nodded.
‘So where are you living now?’
‘In my mother’s house,’ answered Keisha reluctantly. Though for how much longer was one of the things worrying her.
‘And is there a man in your life?’
It was Keisha’s turn to lift a brow, and she noticed that he was watching her face closely. She hoped he wasn’t thinking of suggesting she move back in with him, that they try again. Heaven help her! ‘I hardly think it’s any business of yours.’
His brows lifted again, but he didn’t pursue the subject. Though she had a feeling she hadn’t heard the last of it.
There had been no man in her life since Hunter. For the first twelve months she had been too fragile, and since then she had nursed her sick mother and had had no time for boyfriends.
And she didn’t want any more of these personal questions.
‘I’m getting out of here,’ she declared, scrambling to her feet. ‘I’ll call a taxi. If you see Gillian tell her I’ve gone.’
But Hunter stopped her. ‘If you insist on going then I will take you myself,’ he said, in that deep, sexy voice that impinged on her nerve-ends every time she heard it. It was low and persuasive at this moment, snaring her, and when he caught her wrist and held on to it while he too rose from his chair Keisha knew she was lost.
He had a stranglehold on both her body and her senses.
There was no escape.
