One-Click Buy: November Harlequin Presents (124 page)

Jed glanced at her, realising the thoughts which must be teeming through her mind. After all, what he'd just put to her had come as a complete shock—she had never had any designs on him, or his wealth, which was something he'd had to battle with from
other
females for most of his life. Thinking briefly of his ex-wife, he curled his lip dismissively. Ella and the woman standing so close to him were like chalk and cheese!

The afternoon started to slip by, and presently it seemed to Cryssie that this was just another meeting that he'd called. They sat apart, not touching now, and Jed broached one or two other topics relating to work—which calmed Cryssie down and made her feel less uneasy. But she knew that he would expect her to make a decision, and that he didn't like being kept waiting!

But he wasn't going to get her answer that quickly! He'd presented her with the biggest crisis she'd ever had to face, and she needed time to think it out. And who could she ask for advice? she thought miserably. Certainly not Polly. For the first time in a long while Cryssie felt lonely and insecure. The future which had seemed so straightforward now appeared fraught with impossible upheaval and drama. Jed Hunter's input had seen to that!

As if reading her thoughts, he said, ‘I'm going to be out of the office tomorrow, and part of next week, so that'll give you some time to yourself—to make up your mind.' He smiled darkly at her troubled features. ‘Just take a step back, Cryssie, and relax. Look at the whole picture. You'll begin to see that I'm right about this. About us.'

Of course Mr Always Right was never wrong, she thought, staring up at him, at the strong mouth and determined jaw. But if she did agree—and it was a big if—what would everyone think? And did that matter any more?

Suddenly he said cheerfully, ‘I'm going to take you out for dinner tonight—we'll eat early so as not to be late getting back. Are you hungry?'

‘No,' Cryssie replied promptly, completely robbed of any appetite.

‘Well, that's too bad,' he said. ‘Because after any important discussions I'm always starving!' He glanced at his watch. ‘Go and tidy up, and I'll book a table somewhere rather special that I know.' When she didn't move, he pulled her roughly to her feet. ‘Come on—I promise you that you won't be able to resist what's on offer. And it'll be a small celebration to mark the next important step which I hope you'll be taking!'

T
HE
following Wednesday evening, sitting in the room which he used as his office at Shepherd's Keep, Jed stared at his computer with blank eyes. The several meetings he'd attended over the previous few days had been productive enough, but throughout his time away from the area his main and overriding thought had been his proposal of marriage to Cryssie—and her refusal! That was not going to be the last word on the matter—even though he knew he had some way to go to make her see the validity of his plans. But…he'd succeed. Oh, yes, he'd succeed.

He got up and moved across to stare out of the window. The gardens looked equally lovely at night-time, he thought briefly, etched out as they were by beams from the spot lights. He knew Cryssie would love seeing it like this…her child-like reaction would be spontaneous. Here would be the perfect setting to make her change her mind, he mused.

His jaw clenched at his own situation—a situation he'd never imagined he'd find himself in. Trying to convince a female that he was good marriage material! Women had always found him attractive—he'd known that since his teens—and he'd enjoyed every minute of the attention he'd got. He was also aware that wealth—for which he had to thank his parents—was a powerful aphrodisiac. But the big downside was that those two advantages brought their own problems, and meeting so many members of the opposite sex had made him realise that it would never be easy to choose one woman whom he could trust—and tolerate—and who would be useful to him. And who didn't have her eye on the main chance. He admitted that he'd thought Ella would fit all his criteria when they'd first got together, but no one could have guessed how
that
would turn out!

He turned away, annoyed that his ex-wife had crept into his thoughts. It was Cryssie whom he had to win over, and getting to her through her family seemed the way to do it. Because he knew that they would always come first. He shrugged. He didn't care which route he used, just so long as he got there in the end.

His mobile rang suddenly, interrupting his reverie.

‘Jed? I want to speak to you…I must speak to you…' Cryssie said, and hearing her voice made him smile.

‘Of course…When?'

‘Now—tonight. I need to speak to you…in private.' There was a pause. ‘It's important.'

He grinned to himself. Of course it was!

‘I'll pick you up in about forty minutes.' He hesitated, thinking quickly. ‘There's a country pub I know. Where we won't be disturbed,' he added.

Cryssie's knees trembled as she put down the receiver. How was he going to take this! She knew very well that he didn't like having his plans overturned but—well, for once in his life he was going to have to accept it. And what about her? she asked herself, her shoulders drooping for a second. Was she really letting this opportunity slip away for ever? And—much, much more vital—could she close the door on a relationship that she had never dreamed would ever come her way? Every time they had been close, and he had touched her, had left an indelible mark on her consciousness, her memory. She swallowed hard on the lump in her throat.

She made her excuses to Polly, who glanced at her anxiously.

‘Are you going to see Jed?' she asked.

‘Umm…yes, I think so,' Cryssie replied vaguely, hating the way she was always having to be evasive to Polly—and to everyone else. Well, that was all going to stop! If she could gather up all her strength to face her employer with the unpleasant facts, she might be able to return to the straightforward and uncomplicated life she'd lived before she'd met him.

Presently, as they drove into the countryside, he glanced across at her. ‘I'm very flattered that you seem so anxious to see me, Cryssie,' he said. ‘I hope you've been doing a lot of thinking!'

Cryssie closed her eyes for a minute, to stop the tears she felt from actually materialising. And why was she about to cry? she asked herself. Was it for Jed, or Milo, or Polly…or for herself? She was honest enough to admit that this time her tears were purely selfish.

Jed drew up outside a small pub almost at the end of a narrow country road. It was well-lit and inviting, and as he went in before her Cryssie wished that time would stop, and that there wouldn't be any need for her to inform him of the drastic step she was about to take. Not just because she knew he would be absolutely furious, but because she was practically being ripped to pieces by her divided loyalties. To her colleagues, to her family, but mostly to him!

He found a quiet corner table for them in the lounge bar, and looked down at her curiously as he pulled out a chair for her to sit down. ‘Would you like a glass of champagne?' He smiled at her mischievously. ‘I hope this is to be a celebration!'

She didn't look up. ‘You choose,' she said dully, and he turned at once to go to the bar.

Presently he returned, with a glass of champagne for her and an orange juice for him. Cryssie immediately took a gulp of her drink before glancing up and looking at him for the first time. Those intense windows of his soul had their usual impact, and she blurted it out before losing her will-power. ‘I cannot work for you, Jed. Nor marry you. I'm sorry. Something has happened which makes it impossible. It's over between us. Please don't say anything to make me change my mind. Please!'

Now the tears began to flow, and he let her weep silently for several seconds. ‘You will give me the privilege of an explanation, I hope, Cryssie?' he said flatly.

Taking another clean tissue from her bag, she dabbed at her eyes and nose, realising that she must look a complete mess. She hadn't even put a comb through her hair since she'd come home from work. She looked up, her eyes red and swimming, and suddenly the words poured out while he listened.

‘A few days ago,' she began, ‘Dave and Joe—two of the senior members of staff—called us all together with a serious proposal. They want to start a co-operative and for us to continue trading under another name—“New Hydebound”. Dave's got a relative who'll let us use a restored barn on his land where we can set everything up. There's good dry storage space for supplies, and a sort of office space for the computers.' She paused to drink some more wine before adding quickly, ‘And they seem to have done their homework. They're getting a loan from the bank and putting up their houses as collateral.'

She paused, biting her lip until it hurt. ‘And I'm forced to go with them—because it would be almost impossible without Rose and me. Between us we've always done the cataloguing, ordering, invoicing—all the technical stuff a newcomer would take months to grasp. And the accounts have always been my job.' She didn't dare look him in the eye. ‘So how could I say, well, you all carry on, because I've got a super job lined up with the Hunter group—I don't need New Hydebound?' She shook her head helplessly. ‘If I did that, the whole idea would almost certainly stall.' She gulped, closing her eyes briefly. ‘As for your other…offer—well, that's irrelevant now, isn't it? I've simply got to throw my lot in with this idea, help to make it work.'

Jed gave a snort of angry derision. ‘And what makes you think you can succeed where the Lewises so dismally failed?' he began.

‘It'll take time,' she said quickly. ‘But we've got a sound customer base, and everyone likes to support something new, support the underdog.' She looked away. ‘I think it was when Frank, who's in charge of stock control, shed tears because all is not lost after all that my mind was made up.'

‘Very touching,' Jed remarked dryly.

‘I will return all the money you've already paid me as soon as I can,' she said, swallowing hard as she spoke, and wondering when she was going to be able to do that!

‘And what are you all going to live on until these big orders start rolling in?' he asked sarcastically.

‘Well, the final bonuses you're paying will be sufficient for the time being,' she began, ‘and—'

‘Hmm. Perhaps I shouldn't have been so hasty or so generous,' he said, and Cryssie looked up at him sharply.

‘You did promise…'

‘Of course,' he agreed curtly.

‘I just cannot deny them this chance,' she said miserably. ‘I can't let everyone down.'

‘You're not so worried about letting
me
down!'

‘I am worried!' Cryssie protested, the tears threatening again.

‘And apparently not too upset about Milo and Polly's prospects either, are you?' he began, and she flared up at his words.

‘Don't you dare keep bringing them into this,' she said, so fiercely that one or two other drinkers looked up in surprise. ‘Anyway, somehow or other I'll make sure we have enough to get by!' She drained her glass. ‘I've never had to rely on anyone before. And as for you, Jed, and
your
needs—losing my services isn't the end of the world. You'll find someone else to do exactly as you want.'

‘I don't want someone else. I want you,' he said slowly. ‘And I can't believe your lack of logic, Cryssie. Go on—admit it. You know very well what's best—the step you should really be taking—yet you persist in clinging to your over-developed sense of loyalty to an out-dated organisation that'll be wallowing in debt again before you know it!'

Cryssie stood up, knowing that this wasn't going anywhere and that there was nothing more to say. She knew he was furious and upset, and she couldn't really blame him—because she'd well and truly scuppered his plans on all fronts! And Jeremy Hunter did not like that!

They drove home and he stopped outside her door, switching off the engine. She knew that he was angry with her, and that anger seared her flesh with a burning heat. What she most wanted in all the world was for him to hold her, to comfort her, to tell her that he understood the problem and that somehow it would all come right. But he didn't do any of those things, only waited for her to get out of the car and leave. And, with the tears starting again, that was what she did. And this time he didn't even bother to get out and open the door for her.

In the house, Cryssie sank down onto the sofa and buried her face in her hands. What had she ever done to deserve all this trauma? she asked herself.

A light hand on her shoulder brought Cryssie back down to earth, and she looked up quickly to see Polly standing there in her nightdress.

‘Cryss—whatever is the matter?' she asked gently, and for the first time in her memory Cryssie found herself in the unusual position of being comforted by her younger sister.

‘I haven't bothered to tell you this before, Poll, but Jeremy Hunter is dismantling Hydebound in favour of a new hotel he wants to build on the site.' She blew her nose for the hundredth time. ‘But the even more worrying thing is that the staff intend going it alone somewhere else. And I honestly don't know if it can work. But I must agree to go with them, even though Jed has offered me another position with him. But I can't take that, can I? I can't let the others down!'

‘Of course you can, Cryssie!' Polly said. ‘Leave them all to it and look out for yourself. If you've got the chance of something else you should grab it with both hands!' The girl's brow furrowed at the thought that their income might suddenly be threatened.

‘No, I can't be the only one to throw cold water on the idea. It could be a last-ditch stand for some of them.' Cryssie got up. ‘I must go to bed now—even if I don't manage to sleep. And don't worry, Poll. I'll make sure we don't starve!'

As he drove back to Shepherd's Keep, Jeremy Hunter's expression was dark. So, Crystal Rowe was quite prepared to ignore his requirements and her family's needs—plus the offer of a gilt-edged future—in favour of a daft lame-duck notion in order to satisfy her over-heightened sense of doing the right thing! By everyone but him! His eyes narrowed as he sped along the almost deserted roads. Whatever she said, he was determined to have her—on his own terms. But she was just as determined. He knew that. He and she were a pigeon pair, he thought grimly.

Then a slow smile spread across his masterful features, which were strongly outlined in the reflective light from the powerful instrument panel in front of him. All right then, he thought, with more than a hint of satisfaction. He had no intention of being thwarted at this stage of his life by a mere slip of a girl who didn't know what was good for her! Arriving home, he accelerated into the drive and crunched to a stop in front of the big oak doors. There were winners and losers in any skirmish, he thought, and he'd make damned sure which one he'd be! Whatever it took!