Flowers for My Love (15 page)

Davina went to her van like a sleepwalker. She had no reason to doubt the truth of what Juleen had said since the woman knew she could check later with Nick as to the truth of it. It was obvious to Davina that Nick had said nothing to Juleen or his brother about their broken engagement, which meant precisely nothing since Davina had no doubt about the break being final.

The week went by with no word from Nick. Davina wore herself out trying to find an antidote to her suffering in work. Her social life was nil. She had neither the heart for it nor the energy. Then one evening, Thursday, Juleen telephoned to ask her to come over for an hour or so. She was on her own and if they had nothing to talk about Davina could give her a lesson in flower arrangement.

Her first reaction was to refuse, but she recalled how kind Juleen had been to her in coming to the shop and recommending her to her friends. She had been at home most of the afternoon, since it was early closing day, doing the accounts, so it would be a welcome break. She put on a pale blue moth’s wing of a dress in billowing chiffon with a cape effect top and trod into silver sandals with ankle straps.

Cheryl, who was staying in to wash her hair and read a new favourite paperback, gave a mock exclamation of surprise.

‘You look lovely, my dear sister,’ she cried. ‘Your dress looks as if no mortal hand has touched it. What a pity it’s to be wasted on someone like Juleen. Wear my evening shawl with it—the one Rex brought me from Paris. You’ll look delicious.’

To Davina’s surprise Juleen came in her car to collect her. Cheryl heard it stop below the lounge window in the street. She surveyed the car with a hint of amusement in her eyes.

‘You’re going to Belcourt Mansions in style,’ she commented.

Davina felt somewhat diffident at meeting Juleen again, but there was no cause for apprehension. She gave Davina a warm smile and complimented her on her dress.

‘You look beautiful, my dear, and all for me,’ she said as Davina gathered up her skirts and slid into the car beside her. ‘You weren’t going anywhere, were you? I mean, I haven’t put you out at all?’

Davina shook her head. ‘No. I was free to come.’ As they went into the flat Juleen pushed Davina gently into the lounge.

‘Won’t be a moment. I left Jocelyn getting ready to go out. I must see if he’s gone or if he has time to take a drink with us.’

Davina slipped off her shawl and went to sit down on the comfortable settee, smoothing her full skirt neatly under her. Leaning her head back, she sighed contentedly. In the quietness of the room she thought about Nick. What was the use of pretending she had hoped he would keep away from anywhere she was likely to go?

It was possible for her to bump into him any time. Any day in which she did not see him was empty, completely barren. To Davina it had seemed like years since she had last seen him, but there were many such years ahead. If she must be miserable how much better to be miserable seeing him than not to see him.

Juleen came back full of apologies for keeping Davina waiting.

Jocelyn, her husband, was in tow.

‘Sorry, Davina, to leave you like that. Jocelyn, pour the drinks.’ Her smile at Davina was warm. ‘This is the best part of the day for me, these quiet precious few moments when Jocelyn and I relax over a drink in the evening at the end of the day. Cheers!’

She lifted her glass to Davina as Jocelyn passed round the drinks before sitting down in a chair to face his wife and Davina on the settee.

He enquired about Darren and admitted that he was very impressed by the boy. While it was a little early to give a sound judgment on Darren’s merits, he believed himself to be something of a psychologist and would say that he had a sound future in front of him.

Davina, of course, was delighted, and it made her evening when Jocelyn told her that he would help Darren in any way he could if he had any problems. Davina, listening to him, realised what a good father he would have made. He was not as attractive physically as Nick, but there was the same steadfastness of character. He was a man who had fought hard to get where he was but had fought cleanly, like Nick.

Nick! The very thought of him brought a lump to her throat, for Jocelyn brought him back so clearly by the lift of a brow and the same deep chuckle.

‘I’m afraid I must go,’ said Jocelyn, glancing at his watch before finishing his drink.

Juleen was on her feet, giving him her empty glass to put down on the low table with his own.

‘I’ll come to see you off, dear,’ she said with another apologetic smile at Davina. ‘Don’t you think, Jocelyn, you might fill Davina’s glass?’

They were on the point of leaving the room when Juleen exclaimed,

‘Nick! Just in time. You can entertain Davina while I’m gone.’

Nick’s deep tones struck Davina’s heart like a gong.

‘Thanks for doing this for me,’ he replied. ‘I’m very grateful.’

‘Not in the least.’ Joceyln’s voice this time. ‘I hope we shall be seeing you again soon. We don’t see half enough of you these days.’

‘Not too soon, I’m sorry to say. I’m off again soon to Brussels for a few days. But I’ll be back.’

‘So you’re not deserting us after all? I’m so glad.’ Juleen tiptoed to kiss his tanned cheek. ‘See you soon, Nick.’

Nick moved from the door to allow them to pass him, and conscious of him closing it and coming towards her, Davina, who had willed herself to keep cool, found her heart thudding loud enough for him to hear.

‘Hello, Davina.’ Nick was standing in front of her and as she looked up he bent to take the glass from her trembling hand. ‘Here, let me take that before you spill it.’

‘Now let me look at you.’ He had put down the glass and had bent down once more to take her hands in his and pull her to her feet. As he gripped her small hands he saw the slightly tilted eyes widen and the pink colour rush beneath her clear skin.

‘Well, darling? Aren’t you pleased to see me?’ he demanded audaciously with an endearing grin. ‘It seems like years since we met and you have no right to look so desirable, and lovely. You should be pining away with love for me.’

But all Davina could do was to stare and go on staring at someone she had longed to see again with all her being. What chance had she against a delightful person who had charm, wit, good looks and the most enchanting voice in the world?

‘Nick?’ she whispered breathlessly. ‘Oh, Nick!’

Those minutes in one’s life that are spent in a delirium of bliss are always far too short. As that long kiss ended, Davina drew back to look up into his lean arrogant face.

How she loved him, and in her love she saw him for the first time through tender eyes. She saw the slightly anxious look behind the devilment in his grey eyes and knew that though he might have taken his fun where he found it, he had also collected quite a few hard knocks on the way.

If only she could have seen him like this at their first meeting! But the regret that it could not possibly have been so was added to another pain.

‘You said you’re going away again?’

‘I have to, my darling. But I can’t wait to get it over because then I have lots of leave coming to me.’

‘Oh!’ Davina was incapable of saying anything more. It was too heavenly to give in to his nearness and dearness. Later, when all the magic had dimmed, the whole unhappy situation would maybe torture her again. At this precious moment of time she could only think that tomorrow he might be gone.

He said, ‘When I come back we’re going to see Cheryl and Darren and tell them we’re going to be married. Then they can tell us if they approve or not.’

She looked at him in amazement, shaken at his uncanny knack of striking at the heart of the situation.

‘But what made you suggest that?’ she asked.

‘Because, my sweet, you’ll discover how little it will matter to them.

I have a great opinion of their common sense.’

‘Nick!’ she protested. ‘I know Cheryl will be all for us marrying, but Darren is another matter. He’ll see the real outcome of it.’

‘And what’s that? That he’ll acquire an older brother who’ll become a welcome buffer between him and two lovely sisters who adore him but who are smothering him with kindness.’

‘But we’re not!’ she wailed. ‘Which shows how little you understand the situation. Please, let’s not talk about it now.’

‘Very well.’ Nick’s arms tightened around her, and he bent his head.

Ardent moments ticked by and when he raised his head, he said a little thickly, ‘Let’s go to my place. I want you all to myself and I have a meal all laid on.’

Breathlessly, she said, ‘But what about Juleen? I came to keep her company.’

She searched his face with wide eyes and saw the answer in his tender smile.

‘You mean she lured me here in order to meet you?’ she gasped.

She disengaged herself with a blank look of disbelief on her face.

‘Don’t look at me like that,’ he said harshly. ‘I had to do something to get you back.’

But her expression turned to one of horror. ‘You mean Jocelyn and Juleen were in it with you, and all that Jocelyn said about my brother Darren was all spoken with you in mind? All that talk about Darren having a wonderful future and Jocelyn being his friend for life was engineered to put my mind at rest about marrying you?’

He caught her shoulders and Davina thought he was going to shake her.

‘Stop saying things that aren’t true!’ he snapped angrily. ‘And calm down. Why must you have to make an issue out of everything? Juleen and Jocelyn don’t even know that we quarrelled. They think I engineered your visit here as a surprise after my being away. Come on, let’s go to my place. My brother and his wife have gone out together.’

The rest of that evening passed as in a dream. The meal had been left ready for them and Davina helped Nick to bring in the dishes from the kitchen. Nick’s flat with his identity stamped all over it as a bachelor’s domain set up all kinds of vibrations inside her.

The lobster cocktail, cold chicken accompanied by a fresh salad, and a tall frosty bottle of Rhine wine and the bowl of fruit which followed left little room for the cheeses and biscuits which rounded off the meal.

Nick teased her during the meal about her heightened colour and saw that she ate a good meal, then they sat together on the settee for coffee which he made.

With his arm around her and her head against his chest they listened to records until it was quite late.

‘I hate to see you go,’ he groaned. ‘The time I’m away will be like years. What shall I do without you?’

He kissed the glossy brown cap of hair, moved down to her mouth, then he was kissing the warm hollow of her throat. She pushed her fingers through the tight curls on his well-shaped head. With her heart hammering there was no other thought in her mind except to enjoy the blissful ecstasy of his kisses, his nearness. That was until her own desires flared into life.

She was aware of his arms tightening around her, of her own body crying out for fulfilment, and she began to struggle. But as his arms only tightened still more, she remained held tight against him, neither surrendering nor resisting until he felt her stiffen against the warmth and ardour of his longing.

She said, ‘Please, Nick, I must go. It’s getting late and I’ve enjoyed this evening. It’s been wonderful.’

‘But the time we’ve wasted! We have a lot to make up for, darling.’

His hands were on her shoulders, holding her so hard that they hurt.

‘You’re going to marry me, so you’d better get used to the idea while I’m away. Because when I come back it won’t be long before you’re Mrs. Nick Tabor, and I shan’t take no for an answer.’

Davina framed his dark, stern face tenderly with her hands.

‘Darling Nick! I want to marry you as much as you want to marry me, but don’t you see it’s because I love you so much that I couldn’t bear the thought of something happening with Darren tearing my loyalties between you. You’re so self-sufficient, and very much a man, whereas Darren isn’t mature yet. He could go the wrong way so easily if he thought nobody cared.’

Nick kissed the palms of her hands. ‘What am I to do with you?’ he asked on a crooked smile. ‘While your concern for your brother makes me love you all the more it also sends prickles running down my spine at the way you’re going about it. He has to grow up, and quickly. Your mother spoiled him, now you’re doing the same. I’ve never been one to compromise. In my book it’s a sign of weakness and I don’t intend to do it now.’

‘But you expect me to. Oh, Nick!’

He smiled crookedly. ‘I’ve never met a more obstinate woman in my life.’

‘Not obstinate, only wanting desperately to do the right thing by my own family.’

His fingers curled around hers and he drew her arms around his neck.

‘Don’t look so unhappy about it,’ he urged, seeing no answering twinkle in the wide eyes meeting his. ‘All I want is your happiness, so I would hardly go against your wishes unless,’ a grin, ‘I had to.’

He spoke the last three words against her lips. Once again her very bones appeared to be melting at his touch. He knew that she longed desperately to give way to him, but she was physically and mentally tired, and the tug-of-war with her conscience was goading her almost to breaking point.

‘I want to go home, please,’ she said.

Nick set the car off swiftly through the night. The sky was gloriously tinted in rose and gold and stars were faintly twinkling in the summer sky.