Conditional Surrender Page 8

  How wrong he was, though! What security could there be in

  a desire which could wane as astonishingly quickly as it had risen? However tempted she was by his proposal, and deep down inside her a voice cried out against her more practical decision, Kate was no gambler. So she attempted to reason with him.

  `What about you, Greg? You don't really want to marry me, do you?'

  `No,' he agreed with unflattering placidity. 'Although I have to admit it does have its attractions.' The predatory glint in his eye did not need clarification. Kate drew back physically, even as her body wilfully responded to the message he was sending. But it is, I think, the only way out of this impasse. I'd be rather loath to lose your father's respect. He's a fine man, and too principled to look the other way when we become lovers.'

  `Why is his respect so important to you?' Kate could not help her curiosity. 'You don't normally care what people think of you.' His face closed against her, but she persisted, some inner sense telling her it was important. 'Is it because of that man you said Dad reminded you of? Was it . . . your own father?'

  A muscle worked in his jaw, but at least the brows stayed at half-mast! He exhaled on a long, hissing breath.

  `Yes,' he admitted tightly, his reluctance plain to see. 'He died when I was twelve. Save your pity, Kate,' he added harshly at her indrawn gasp. 'It was a long time ago. And he had ceased to be my father a long time before that.'

  `And your mother?' she probed gently, her soft heart going out to the lonely child he must have been.

  `What's this, Kate? Psychoanalysis time?' Greg snapped, layers of ice frosting his eyes.

  `No,' Kate retorted mildly, for she knew he was hurting. `It's the reason I can't marry you. You only want to share a bed, Greg. To me, marriage means sharing a life.'

  `Then what's your solution, Kate?' he asked, not attempting to deny her claim.

  She looked at him sharply, bewildered, her temper again having drained her of the ability to think straight.

  `What?'

  `You've rejected an affair, and marriage. What do you

  propose we do?'

  She swallowed hard. 'We forget it. Stop it now. It's the only way, Greg! You must see that!' she implored, almost begged his understanding, her previous anger giving way to distress out of all proportion to the logical arguments she had thought out all week.

  `And how do you stop this, Kate?' He was before her in the blink of an eye, lifting her head to meet his lowering mouth.

  `No . . .' was all she had a chance to say before her words were captured by his lips, his tongue. She sagged fully against him, feeling the magic she had longed for begin to rise again, the woodsy flavour of his aftershave dulling her survival instincts.

  `And this . . .' his teeth captured her earlobe, nipping with exquisite sensitivity. 'How do you propose to stop this, Kate?' His hands refused to still, roaming up and down, over and around her until she could not stop the moan of desire which brought his mouth back to hers.

  `If you know of a way to stop this craving, then tell me now, before I lose my sanity completely!' He held her at arm's length. 'There's only one way I know, Kate. Is that what you want?'

  She stared at him wordlessly, not even questioning any more his power to reduce her to such a state of trembling anticipation. When he held her, touched her, all she knew was that she did not want him to stop. Ever!

  `I could take you now, Kate, here, on the office floor where anyone could walk in at any time, and you wouldn't be able to lift a finger to stop me!' He shook her slightly, his fingers biting into her upper arms. 'Would you, Kate?' he demanded thickly, his pupils so dilated she caught her own spellbound reflection in them.

  She tried to shake her head in denial of his challenge, but she knew, deep down, that he spoke no less than the truth.

  She turned away from him in shame, rebuttoning her blouse with trembling fingers, but even that simple task proved to be beyond her. With a muttered imprecation, Greg pushed her hands aside and completed the task. Kate did not have the time to wonder at the satisfaction she felt as she saw his

  fingers, too, begin to shake as they inadvertently brushed the soft mound of her breast.

  `I've tried every alternative over the past two years, Kate. They don't work.' His voice was harsh, a note of resentment telling her that he didn't like the situation any more than she did, but his hands dropped to her shoulders, gently kneading away the rigidity in her body. 'Are you really so innocent that you believe we can continue working together with this—obsession unresolved?' His lips moved in the semblance of a smile. 'I had a bad enough time before I tasted your sweetness, Kate, but now . . . now I know you feel the same . . .' his eyes roamed possessively over her.

  `Then I'll have to leave.'

  `No! If you're thinking of taking Walsh's offer seriously, you can forget it!'

  It was crazy. He was crazy. And he was infecting her with the same insanity. She could feel herself weakening under his seductive touch, his words stirring her, destroying her well thought out arguments against becoming further involved with him.

  He didn't really want marriage; he had made that plain enough And whatever it was that had made him so cynical towards marriage had certainly not vanished in the few days he had been away. No, what he wanted was a legalised affair. Some way to be able to sleep with her while retaining the respect of her father.

  Marriage, to Kate, was something sacred, something she felt needed total commitment from both parties, if it was to stand the test of time. And she had no intention of becoming just another statistic in the divorce court.

  She did not trouble to refute his earlier comment. In all honesty, she couldn't. However much it shamed her to admit it, if only to herself, Greg could probably make love to her in a public park. When he touched her the outside world ceased to exist. And it was getting worse. He had chosen the right word—obsession.

  If she continued working with him they would become lovers with the same inevitability as night followed day. The only sane solution was for her to resign.

  `Greg, it's the only way.'

  He let go of her so abruptly she almost fell.

  `You can't leave,' he told her flatly, his brows as low as she had ever seen them. But she was unconcerned with his moods now. She had to make him see reason. For if the time ever came that they did make love, she was very afraid she would become addicted in a way he would never allow.

  `I don't want to, Greg.' Her expression was earnest. 'I love working here—with you. But you're right, we can't carry on like this.' It would be hard to leave. It would be even harder to find another job like this, but, even at a lower salary, it had to be better than facing this temptation day in, day out.

  `The ink's not even dry on the contract you've just signed, Kate.'

  He took her totally unawares. The harsh, cold words took a while to sink in, but once they did, she looked at him mutely, waiting for him to tell her that he didn't mean what she thought. But he said nothing, just watched her through those cold, dissecting eyes and waited for her to react. She took a deep wavering breath to alleviate her growing unease.

  `What are you saying?'

  Greg gestured towards the papers sitting with such assumed innocence on his desktop—a contract Kate had indeed signed less than an hour ago. It had all been straightforward enough when he had explained it to her. She had agreed to stay in his employment for the next two years, or until such time as Callum was in a position to begin repaying the loan Greg had given him It had seemed a reasonable enough precaution considering the amount of money involved, and Kate had had no qualms about signing it.

  But now, with his eyes boring into hers with such cold intent, she knew she had very possibly made the biggest mistake of her life. He lost no time in confirming it.

  `You, more than anyone, should know how I feel about contracts, Kate.'

  Yes, she knew. Contracts had to be carried out to the letter. Kate was visited by the sudden memory of a well-known fir
m who had reneged on a contract with Courtney's. Greg had taken them to court, spending far more on lawyers' fees than

  the contract was actually worth. And he had won. Kate's head bowed with the weight of comprehension.

  `You're not going to let me go, are you?' It was a statement rather than a question. How could she have so quickly forgotten his capacity for ruthlessness, how swiftly he pounced when his mind was made up? She could have been a new company he was proposing to draw into his empire for all the emotion he was displaying, but, in a strange moment's empathy with him, Kate sensed he hated having to coerce her in this fashion—but not enough to make him desist. It was almost as if he wanted her to dislike him!

  Watching him now, catching the steely determination written plainly on his face, she knew she had been adroitly manipulated into this position. And he was not about to allow her to escape.

  It was then, with a clawing of horror in the pit of her stomach, that she remembered what else had been in that contract. Her home!

  `So that's why . . .' she breathed deeply to offset the numbing resignation stealing over her as comprehension dawned. White-faced, she challenged him. 'That's why you talked Dad into taking the loan!' Greg stiffened at the bleak accusation and opened his mouth to speak, then abruptly changed his mind and remained silent. 'You want to know the really funny part, Greg?' Her voice began to shake. 'I'm the one who told Dad to trust you. Told him that I'd never met a more honourable man with whom to do business.' She took a perverse pleasure in the way he flinched. 'So. Either I come to your bed or you take our home away, is that it?'

  `I don't much care why you come to my bed, Kate, just so long as you do. And there's no need to play the bloody martyr. You can't deny you want me too!'

  `I haven't.'

  `No. But then you haven't been aware of it for as long as I have. It eats away at you, Kate, until you'll do practically anything to satisfy the craving.'

  Kate retreated inside herself, fearful that he was telling her no more than the truth, but too proud, too accountable to herself to give in.

  `You wouldn't go that far . .

  He smiled tightly. 'Have you ever known me to bluff, Kate?' `No.' Any hope she had left swiftly died. No—your threats are carried out as dutifully as your promises.'

  If she were to leave, Greg would be free to demand repayment immediately. His only reason for postponing payments—that Kate should not be distracted from her duties by money worries—would have ceased to exist.

  `Am Ito take it that my respect means nothing to you?'

  He eyed her quizzically. 'I rather thought I'd already lost that.' His shrugging acceptance of her hard contempt showed her just how little he cared. 'Yes, it means something. But not so much as the other things you offer so—enticingly.'

  Her stubborn chin lifted. 'If I keep to the letter of that contract there's nothing you can do.'

  `You can try.' She heard the taunting note in his clipped voice. So he thought he was so bloody irresistible that she wouldn't be able to help herself, huh? She would show him!

  `I don't like being manipulated, Greg. I'll be in my office if you want . . . need anything.'

  The brief movement of his lips indicated that he had noticed her slip, but thankfully he did not take advantage.

  Kate gathered the remains of her dignity around her like a cloak, and left. The thought of continuing to work for Gregory Courtney in these circumstances was likely to have her escorted, frothing at the mouth, to the nearest psychiatric institution before the end of the month—let alone two years! But she would do it.

  Anything rather than surrender so unconditionally to his underhand scheming.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  SHEER rage was enough to sustain Kate through the next few hours. She raced through a mountain of paperwork at breakneck speed, work which would normally have taken at least a couple of days if done with her usual meticulousness. But, as always when she was in the grip of temper, her mind concentrated so fiercely on the task in hand, nothing was allowed to impinge, nothing could battle through the invisible shield she had erected.

  Until Greg reminded her that he had been invited to her home for the evening. She had forgotten. Had kept a firm hold on her anger, knowing she could not afford to let it drain away until she was out of his orbit. She could not hold it any longer. Normally it only lasted the few seconds necessary for her to get the words off her chest and was gone the next instant. She accepted his offer of a lift home with abnormally bad grace which only served to fuel his diabolical sense of humour.

  It was during the journey home that Kate realised just how hard a task she had set for herself.

  In the close confines of his car, she found his proximity overpowering, the sure movement of his hands on the steering wheel a sharp reminder of how those same hands had touched her skin with the same sure skill.

  How could she have misjudged him so badly? She had thought him so honourable—and not without cause. Countless times she had witnessed business associates shake his hand in the sure knowledge that they could trust his word. Even now, she could not imagine him treating anyone else in the same manner he had her. Oh, he had always been hard, blunt, but totally straightforward. He gave his word and kept it, no matter what. But then he had always used all available information to forge the best deal possible for

  Courtney's.

  It was no wonder he had been so insistent for her to confide in him. And, like the naive idiot she was, she had poured all her troubles into his lap. He must have thought it was his birthday! He certainly didn't waste a second in following through!

  Even on their last evening together, reeling from his lovemaking, she had felt grateful that he had the decency not to lure her into his bed by using the charm she knew he possessed. How he must have laughed when she told him she appreciated his honesty! But she had.

  Had he gone about her seduction in the normal manner, it was perfectly possible she would have fallen in love with him. It was difficult enough to remain aloof as it was. All the ingredients were certainly present—the undoubted physical attraction which had always been in the back of her mind, her warmer feelings towards him after that awful scene with Toby Marchant, her gratitude on behalf of her family, her respect for him personally.

  Why, why did he have the integrity to warn her against falling in love with him when that could only be to his benefit, then immediately scheme in such a manner to prevent her taking the only practical steps to stop any such catastrophe happening? And why her, for heaven's sake?

  Why should anyone go to such lengths to obtain something so freely available elsewhere? Kate would not have been human had she not realised her looks appealed to a great many men. But she was also the first to admit that they weren't outstanding enough to inspire a grand passion. Surely a man of Greg's stature would have no difficulty in attracting the very best that womanhood could offer?

  And she did not, for one moment, think he had been nurturing a secret unrequited love for her these past two years. He had been very frank on that score!

  He was so totally out of her orbit in every way. Socially, financially, his whole concept of relationships was alien to her.

  And she still wanted him.

  It was beyond her tired brain to decipher all the whys and

  wherefores. She only knew Greg would not give up. And she could not give in. Stalemate.

  At least she knew if it came to a last resort, she could count on her family's support. Even if it meant losing their home, everything they had worked for all their lives, they would give it up immediately rather than see her suffer. She prayed it would not come to that.

  Watching her father that evening, Kate knew it would be the hardest thing she would ever be called upon to do. Greg caught that thought—and the bitterness which accompanied it. It was there in the lowering of his brows, the thinning of his lips—and in his eyes, another message was plain. They would become lovers!

  Alissa had gone to town on the celebration, as only s
he could. The dining-table was groaning under the weight of the food Kate's young brothers were eyeing with undisguised hunger.

  Terry, fortunately, provided a buffer. He knew better than to bring one of his blonde playmates to Callum McNaught's home. Kate's father was not exactly Victorian in his attitude to sex—more like puritanical! While he would not dream of interfering in Terry's private life, neither would he tolerate any 'goings-on' under his roof.

  Greg, who should have stood out like a sore thumb as being outside the family circle, endeared himself at once by presenting a case of wine to Alissa and a crate of beer to Callum. 'To help the party along,' he said. Then he sat talking computer language to Ian and Andy and became the hero of the hour when he discreetly presented the two boys with a special pass to Edgbaston cricket ground. How he had discovered the two were cricket fanatics, Kate did not know. But she was no longer capable of being surprised at anything he did.

  Yet again the conversation in the McNaught household looked like being centred on Gregory Courtney.

  For one chagrined moment, as their eyes met across the room, Kate took the time to wonder how her family would react if she were to produce one of her infamous tantrums. Stamping her feet and howling her eyes out at full volume

  held a particular appeal. Unfortunately this was not the time to regress to childhood. She was going to need all her wits about her to emerge from this fiasco unscathed. And no doubt Greg would interpret such a proceeding as an indication of surrender. If he even noticed! But just then Callum was issuing his inevitable open-handed invitation to `drop in any time you're passing, son.'

  Kate already knew there would be no escaping Greg's presence. At work, at home—he would be wherever she was. He had the perfect excuse of consulting Callum and Terry about the new business.

  Worse was to come.

  About halfway through the evening's festivities, Kate noticed her mother slip unobtrusively from the room. With a feeling of apprehension, Kate quietly followed her a few minutes later. She could not have said why she was concerned, but there had been something in Alissa's manner which did not quite ring true.