Flowers for My Love (11 page)

Davina saw him to the door. With his arms around her he looked down hungrily into her face.

‘How I hate this having to say goodnight to you instead of us spending our nights together,’ he groaned against her lips. ‘Our marriage can’t come soon enough for me.’

Davina laughed on breath regained. ‘You aren’t trying to put through one of your international deals, darling, and we haven’t got to get married, as it were.’

‘I wouldn’t swear to that,’ he said darkly. ‘The longer we remain apart the more we’re tempting providence.’

The next weekend that Darren came home was one when Davina was out for the day with Nick. Cheryl was at home because Rex was in Paris for the weekend selling a picture.

Davina had accompanied Nick to see a client who wanted a loan to buy a mansion in the country. The drive down to it took all of two hours through the most beautiful country.

The days were warming up to early summer weather and Davina had been asked to take her swimsuit. Nick was describing the house as he drove on the fast lane of the motorway.

‘I’d like a place on similar lines. Nice and roomy for a family.’

‘How much of a family? A football team?’ she teased.

As many as you like. I’m not fussy. I would like at least two,’

he said, and she heard the smile in his voice. ‘You like children, don’t you, my sweet?’

‘Love them,’ she answered. ‘Are you planning on giving these people the loan?’

‘I’m reserving my judgment until I’ve seen through the place.

I’ve had good reports as to the condition of the house and I believe the gardens have been kept in a good state of repair. However, there are lots of things to be taken into consideration and we can’t afford to make mistakes.’

The grounds surrounding Hibernia House were

indeed very impressive, the lawns of green velvet lending an elegant aura to the square mellowed stone building. Over the stone walls and the pergolas spanning the paths masses of flowers of every hue cascaded down in glorious profusion.

Davina murmured, ‘There has to be paddocks for horses in a place like this.’

Nick said sardonically, ‘This job is not really in my line, but the loan required is a large one. Though this man Smith appears to be genuine.’

‘You have doubts?’

‘Sort of.’

Mrs. Smith greeted them on arrival. She was a very attractive person with auburn hair and deep brown eyes, a tall, slender girl with a gorgeous figure who could not have been more than twenty or so.

‘Thanks for coming,’ she said as Nick introduced Davina. ‘It’s fun being in the country, but my poor Jay is wondering if it will be too quiet for me.’ James Smith joined them, a man in his sixties who gave the impression that he had a grown-up family tucked away somewhere in his past.

‘Lovely figure, Mrs. Smith,’ Davina whispered in an aside to Nick.

‘No nicer than yours, my sweet,’ Nick replied. They were the only two guests for Sunday lunch, which passed off very pleasantly. The Smiths had been lucky to procure the services of an elderly couple as resident housekeepers. The meal was excellently prepared and served.

There were to be more guests after lunch and it proved to be a happy informal day. Nick had time to make a detailed tour of the house before the guests arrived.

There were about twenty guests in all ranging from young couples in their twenties to couples nearing middle age. The sun was out in force and most of them had come prepared to enjoy the afternoon at the marble outdoor swimming pool in the grounds.

A building containing cubicles where they could undress was nearby and Davina, in her brief swimsuit, found herself watching Nick as he strode towards her. He moved with an easy grace and she was aware of the rippling muscles beneath a skin of bronze satin, the thick cap of fair curls gleaming in the sun.

Placing a long careless arm around her slim shoulders, he said teasingly, ‘Water too cold for you, my sweet?’

‘I was waiting for you. Race you to the other end of the pool!’

He won although he had given her a start. Following her from the water, he slid his hands up the sides of her figure to cup her small firm bust warmly.

Davina leapt the rest of the stone steps to the side of the pool as if jet-propelled, making for the bath towel she had dropped before entering the water.

His smile was a pleasant taunt. ‘Most girls with a figure like yours would be showing it off, not hiding it.’

Defensively, she cried, ‘I’m not hiding it! I feel more comfortable in the towel.’

She met the provoking glint in his grey gaze. Her own eyes were wide, very green, her skin glowed like a sun-warmed peach.

‘Because of me, you mean? I know what you’re thinking. Or do I? You don’t have to run away from me. You’re perfectly safe.’

He pulled out a canvas chair by a small table on the side of the pool, seated her and slid on to the opposite chair.

Mrs. Smith came to offer them an iced drink. She wore a brief swimsuit that revealed a perfect figure. Nick had an iced beer and Davina an iced Martini.

‘Cheers!’ Nick held up his glass and Davina touched it with hers.

‘I’m sorry, Nick,’ she said after a welcome drink. ‘I know we’re engaged, but ...’

‘You can’t bear me to touch you?’ His smile was one of exasperation. ‘What do you expect me to do—treat you like a sister?’

Davina laughed. ‘Of course I don’t. I can see that our engagement is going to be tempestuous and decidedly dangerous.

I’ll have to be on my toes.’

‘I could tell you something that would be much more exciting and wonderful. Our marriage. Why don’t we get married?’ His eyes glinted as though at some private thought. ‘You don’t know what you’re missing.’

‘It’s something to look forward to.’ Davina lowered her eyes at the expression in his. It was going to be very hard to resist him. She loved him so much. Had she set herself an impossible task?

Upon arriving back at the flat Davina found Darren about to go to bed in order to catch an early train back to medical school.

‘Sorry I missed you, Darren,’ she said.

‘You look all starry-eyed and kissed,’ he said, and went to his room.

Cheryl smiled, ‘Take no notice of him. He’s jealous because someone else has your affection. He missed you when he arrived, but I made a nice dinner and he’s enjoyed himself sunbathing on the roof all afternoon. I wouldn’t be surprised if he isn’t up half the night unable to sleep because of sunburn.’

She was right. Davina, going in his room before she went to bed, found him tossing and turning with no top bedcover and wearing only his pyjama trousers. His back was an angry red where the sun had scorched it.

Tenderly Davina smoothed calomine over the sore skin.

Lying on his stomach, Darren squinted up at her. ‘I’m sorry I was so rude,’ he said. ‘But I was disappointed to find you out for the day.’

She felt guilty, and rather selfish. ‘I understand. If I’d known you were coming I wouldn’t have gone out.’

Later, lying in bed, Davina thought of Nick in an agony of longing and frustration that brought tears to her eyes. She was not too troubled to appreciate Darren’s hurt and disappointment, but what was she to do? Torn between giving her brother some measure of security in his home life and wanting Nick with his mouth upon hers, the first a sense of duty and love, the second a fierce desire that cried out to be assuaged.

Nick called for her the following Thursday. In between he had sent her chocolates, candies, flowers, and paperbacks which he thought would interest her. The latter were crime stories written by a new woman author, but every time Davina tried to read one Nick’s face would come between her and the printed page.

Davina looked at him hungrily as he strode towards her wearing his brilliant delighted smile. His embrace was enchanting, his face cool with a ruddy bronze laid on by endless trips abroad, his lips on hers warm and eager.

‘Miss me?’ he asked, and her heart wept bitter tears.

They drove out into the country for lunch. They were at the coffee stage when Davina said, ‘About the loan for the Smiths’

house? Did they get it?’

He was wearing a light grey summer weight suit with an arrogance that made everything he wore appear correct. He was willing her to look at him across the table in a way which shut out the rest of the world so that nothing else existed but a relentless magnetism that drew her eyes to his.

‘I’m considering it,’ he admitted at last. ‘I have to go back to the city when we’ve finished lunch. There are one or two important calls coming for me from abroad and I have to be there.’

Davina quashed a sense of deep disappointment, not that there was not plenty to do at the flower shop even if it was half day closing.

‘You’re coming with me, of course,’ he stated rather than asked.

‘Oh!’ Her surprised look gave way to a flickering smile.

‘Where exactly are we going?’

‘To my flat. Where else?’ His grin teased. ‘Afraid?’

‘Why should I be?’

He said mockingly, ‘Why should you be? Maybe I’m the one who should worry in case I’m not strong enough to resist you.’

He paused, aware of her tenseness, and added tersely, ‘Forget it.

Let’s go.’

On the way back he drove along a little used side road to stop the car in a layby with full view of the fields beyond. He had let down the car windows to allow the sweet summer air in.

Davina lifted her head, taking in deep satisfying breaths of it.

Dreamily, she murmured, ‘The summer is beautiful, isn’t it. So miraculous how everything springs back into life after even an extra gruel winter.’

‘Keep quiet and look,’ he whispered. ‘Over there at the far end of the field. See them?’

Davina followed his gaze to see two rabbits appear and playfully start to box each other. A tiny black one with a white powder puff tail took a ringside seat.

Davina giggled. ‘Aren’t they delicious? I don’t know how anyone can shoot them.’

He placed an arm around her shoulders. ‘Hares,’ he said. ‘I saw them the other day when I was up this way. I sometimes come to places like this for the peace and quiet I need sometimes in making certain decisions.’

‘You mean you came to meditate about us, you and me?’

‘Among other things. I was thinking that a wife could help.’

She was aware of his arm around her, sending wild vibrations through her body. She had to be strong.

On the edge of laughter, she cried, ‘That’s a tall story. Nick Tabor is sufficient unto himself. You wouldn’t let a wife into your business life. Why, you won’t even tell me what you’ve decided for the Smiths. You know very well what you’re going to do about them.’

‘Clever girl,’ he whispered as he bent his head.

His mouth found hers casually, experimentally, and lingered no more than a second. Gradually his arms tightened and when he kissed her again the pounding of her blood made her panic.

‘Didn’t you say something about a telephone call?’ she gasped on breath regained.

Nick’s expression remained inscrutable. He was puzzled by her behaviour, she could tell. Nevertheless, he started the car and drove towards the city. His flat was in a quiet square shaded by trees, four-storied town houses converted into professional establishments for doctors, lawyers, writers and bankers and so on.

The wide oak front door had a highly polished knocker and shining letterbox. His flat was on the second floor. Inside he drew her along a corridor to a room at the end.

‘The bathroom where you can freshen up,’ he said into the curve of her neck at the back.

Davina turned swiftly in his arms. ‘Thank you, darling, for showing me the rabbits. I loved them.’

‘Hares,’ he said laconically.

Her arms slid around his neck and when he released her he spoke unevenly.

‘What I said about needing a wife is now beautifully illustrated by the clinch between us. I can now go to make my telephone calls with the happy anticipation of something to look forward to ...

later,’ he said darkly.

Davina slid from his arms. ‘Nick?’ she asked thoughtfully. ‘Are we here alone?’

His chuckle was deep and tantalising. ‘Afraid?’ He made a playful feint beneath her chin. ‘Now I have you guessing.’

She looked around at the deep pile carpet, the immaculate panelled walls, the well polished wide doors leading to the rooms in the corridor, the lovely flower arrangement in a window at the far end. A woman’s touch if ever she saw one.

‘A housekeeper?’ she asked.

‘A couple named Flowers in the basement.’

‘Flowers?’ Davina choked on the word, laughing quietly and helplessly.

‘Awful, isn’t it? I’m knee deep in them. Thank goodness you’ll be giving up the shop when we’re married.’

‘But, Nick ...’

‘See you later. I think I can hear the telephone in my study. The lounge is two doors down the corridor from the front door.’

He strode along the corridor to open a door and disappear inside leaving Davina staring after him helplessly.

The bathroom, in pale blue, sparkled with chrome fittings and well polished mirrors. Davina plunged her face in cold water and patted it dry, meeting wide troubled eyes in the mirror over the wash basin as she did so.

In the lounge she walked slowly to look out over the square where birds were flitting joyfully among the trees. So Nick expected her to give up the shop just as he would expect her to do anything else that he decreed. That was what he thought. He was in for a surprise if he thought he would have a docile wife.