"Mmm, perhaps I'm having second thoughts. It's certainly a tempting prospect: you, me, the sun and the sea."

"Quite the romantic, isn't he?" Jeremy sneered. An animosity had developed between the two men, brought on, Kelly was sure, by Jeremy's fury because she had out manoeuvred him by bringing Jake with her. That at least had been the right decision and made everything else worth while. Sue looked a good deal more cheerful this morning, and Kelly shuddered to think what might have happened if she hadn't had Jake to keep Jeremy at bay.

"Oh, please say you will," Sue implored, 'and it needn't be too expensive. Daddy is letting us have the villa rent free. "

"Sounds terrific," Jake responded with a smile.

No doubt it did to him, Kelly thought sourly, all her previous doubts re-surfacing. Why was he encouraging Sue? To make sure he got a free holiday? What had been behind his behaviour last night? Her heart started to thump uncomfortably. She was a rich woman and a lonely one.

Only she knew how close she had come last night to giving in to the most basic impulse of all human beings; the need to be close to another of their own kind. But what if Jake had sensed her need? He was a man who quite patently had expensive tastes and equally obviously did not have the means to indulge them. His clothes were expensive; surely he couldn't afford them out of the wages he earned from the agency? If he was an actor he wasn't a very well-known one; perhaps he had grown tired of waiting for the big break of playing the polished escort to rich women. Perhaps he had decided it was time he cashed in on his undoubted attractions? Why should she find the thought so disturbing?

"So you will come?" Sue sounded excited and Kelly dragged her mind back to the present.

"Of course we will, won't we, darling?"

"We will what?" she asked Jake suspiciously. He hadn't touched her this morning--at least not physically--he undressed her mentally every time he looked at her, and she seethed with bitter indignation as she watched him doing so.

"We will join Sue at Easter? We could both do with the break."

"You may do, but I..."

"You do too," Jake said firmly.

"After all, I could hardly go without you."

Too true, she thought ironically. How could he afford it?

"I'm not sure. Sue," she began, suppressing a gasp of pain as Jake gripped her fingers painfully, warning her not to go on.

"What was all that for?" she demanded angrily when they were alone.

"I.

don't have the slightest intention of going to Corfu with you and you know it! "

"Why not? Do you prefer to remain in England--with Jeremy?"

"Jeremy!" Funny, but she had almost forgotten him; forgotten the reason she had hired Jake in the first place.

"Yes, Jeremy," Jake mocked.

"Sue's husband. Surely you haven't forgotten him already? If you stay behind, he's bound to jump to the conclusion that you've done so because of him."

It was true, and Kelly couldn't deny it. If she remained in London Jeremy would invent some excuse to come and see her.

"I don't know what you're trying to achieve by this," she told him angrily, 'unless it's a free holiday! " .

She had expected him to be angry, but instead he merely laughed.

"That helps," he admitted, 'but there are other considerations. "

"Such as the fact that you're getting tired of being a paid companion," Kelly hazarded wildly.

"Well, if you think..."

"How would you know what I think?" he goaded softly.

"And, Kelly--' She turned to glare at him.

"Try backing out of this," he said softly, 'and I'll see that Sue gets to know the truth about her husband. "

Kelly paled.

"You wouldn't!"

"Try me," he advised grimly.

"You're despicable, do you know that?"

"Then that makes two of us, doesn't it?" he said quietly.

"Or doesn't what you did last night come into that cla.s.s in your book? Never mind," he told her grimly, 'it does in mine. "

"You don't understand..."

"Then tell me," he invited levelly, but Kelly couldn't say a word; couldn't betray to him now, in the cold light of day, the fact that she had withdrawn through fear and remembered pain. Only a virgin, he had said, and she wasn't that. but he was wrong, she was! And she was beginning to think she was destined to remain so for the rest of her life. Last night she had wanted him, this morning she was bewildered by the emotions he aroused in her.

Easter was less than a month away. Sue talked excitedly all through lunch of the holiday, while Jeremy sulked.

"That's right," he goaded Sue.

"Go off and leave me while you enjoy yourself."

"Why don't you come with us?" Jake interposed smoothly.

"Surely you could manage a few days?"

"Oh yes, darling, do," Sue breathed.

"I might," Jeremy muttered.

Less than an hour later they were on their way back to London. Kelly hunched furiously in her seat as she seethed inwardly at the way in which Jake had manipulated her.

"Sulking?" he asked trenchantly as they neared London.

"You had no right to accept Sue's invitation. Why did you?"

"Oh, I have my reasons," he told her lazily, 'and like I said, don't try backing out, Kelly," he warned her, 'or you know what will happen."

"What are you looking for? It can't just be a free holiday."

"Not just," he agreed, smiling mockingly at her.

"Don't worry, Kelly," he drawled as he manoeuvred the powerful car into another lane, "I'm not Jeremy, and I have no intention of forcing myself on you."

No, but he wouldn't need to use force, Kelly admitted, s.h.i.+vering a little. Had he guessed how much he had aroused her? She was rich and she was vulnerable--too vulnerable, and she only wished she knew what was in his mind.

He stopped the car an hour later outside her block of apartments, getting out and retrieving her case.

"I'll park this and then see you up," he told her easily, not giving her the opportunity to refuse.

He was back within minutes, his hand under her elbow, as he guided her towards the lift.

"I'm perfectly capable of managing on my own," she told him stiffly.

"Ah, but I must do the job properly."

He saw her to her door, turning the key in the lock for her.

"The bill," she began hesitantly. Would they invoice her, or did she pay now, or. "Leave it until we get back from Corfu," Jake advised her carelessly.

"Still," he added thoughtfully, "I don't suppose there's any harm in my taking a little something on account."

He bent his head, his lips brus.h.i.+ng hers lightly, mocking her startled expression.

"Why did you do that?" Kelly demanded when he had finished.

"You said..."

"I know what I said," he agreed hardly, 'but perhaps I've decided to give you a second chance. See you at Heathrow. "

He was gone before she could respond. What did he mean? she seethed, as she walked into her apartment. He had decided to give her a second chance? A second chance of what?

She returned to her office on Monday morning, fully determined to put a call through to the agency and cancel the trip to Corfu, but when she reached the office it was to find that she had to fly out to New York urgently to discuss a new contract. It was ten days before she was back. She tried the agency several times but without getting an answer, resolving that she would just have to keep on trying until she did get through.

CHAPTER FIVE.

job, I'm so looking forward to getting away," Sue murmured, easing off her shoes.

"Aren't you?"

She had rung up the previous day to tell Kelly that she was coming up to London to shop and they had arranged to have lunch together.

"Jeremy is coming with us after all," Sue continued without waiting for an answer.

"Kelly..."

Kelly's heart sank. There was a note in Sue's voice that warned her of what was to come.

"Kelly, I know you'll think I'm being stupid," Sue got out in a rush, 'but I'm so worried. Jeremy's been so . so different since I lost the baby. " She produced a watery smile.

"I'd even got to the stage of wondering if there was someone else!"

"Then you're a fool," Kelly told her firmly, mentally adding to herself. Who would be stupid enough to want Jeremy?

"Look, love," she told Sue.

"Things have been difficult for you both lately. I know how much it hurt you--losing the baby..."

"Jeremy too Sue broke in loyally.

"Oh, I know he doesn't show it much, but he was looking forward to being a father..."

Kelly didn't know what to say. To murmur that there would be other babies seemed so cra.s.s somehow.

"I'm sorry, I told myself I wasn't going to moan on to you. How's Jake?" Sue asked, determinedly changing the subject.

"I like him, Kelly. He's so right for you somehow."

Kelly smiled noncommittally. She had already decided to tell Sue that her 'romance' with Jake was off. Then she was going to telephone the agency and cancel the arrangements for Corfu. So Jake thought he could blackmail her into providing him with a free holiday, did he? He was in for a big shock!

"Oh, here's Jeremy," Sue exclaimed, her face breaking into a smile.

"He said he'd try to join us if he could."

Jeremy greeted his wife, and Kelly tried to conceal her distaste as he turned to kiss her, making sure it was her cheek that received the moistly unpleasant touch of his lips and not her mouth.

Jeremy ordered fresh tea for himself and Sue excused herself to go to the ladies', leaving Kelly alone with Jeremy.

"All set for Corfu, then?" he asked, leering at her faintly.

"How's the great romance? Shouldn't have thought he was your type, Kelly.

Doesn't exactly strike me as the faithful sort either. Never mind," he told her with another leer, his hand finding its way to her knee, " I'm always ready to make sure you don't get too lonely. You've only got to say the word. " He was eyeing her speculatively, and Kelly felt sickened by the expression in his eyes. Were all men like this?

l.u.s.ting after every woman who caught their eye with no thought of loyalty or respect?

"Pity he's coming to Corfu with us," Jeremy added, his eyes narrowing as he watched her.

"So the ice-lady isn't quite as cold as she pretended to be. How did he do it, Kelly?"

Kelly was thankful that Sue returned before she had to answer. Jeremy sickened her, but he was still Sue's husband. She gritted her teeth, knowing now that it would be impossible to cancel the coming holiday.