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Although Nick wouldn’t be too pleased to see her either. He was the one who rubbed shoulders with millionaires. She was the wage slave back in England.
But that had been her own choice, she reminded herself restlessly. He’d offered a generous financial settlement in return for her compliance. She need never have worked again. But she’d refused his money.
All through those bitter days she’d kept repeating to herself like a personal mantra, I want nothing from him. Nothing.
When she’d reluctantly accepted the job at Harrington Holdings she’d done so at a reduced salary. After all, she was no longer living in London with its enormous rents. Her parents had wanted her to move back into the vast family home, as her brother Toby had done with his wife, but instead she’d found a small one-bedroomed cottage in a neighbouring village, feeling that at least a measure of independence was preferable.
And she’d managed to do some freelance magazine work, keeping the door open for her eventual return.
It had been a seriously difficult year in so many ways, she reflected. Quite apart from her personal wretchedness, her work with the company had been more like damage limitation than public relations. Since Toby had taken over the running of the organisation, following her father’s illness, there had been nothing but problems, it seemed. And as for that stupid girl he’d married …
She stopped right there. She was the last person in the world entitled to sneer at anyone’s choice of marriage partner after the mess she’d made of her own life.
An incoming wave splashed gently round her bare feet and she shivered slightly. But the chill of the water was nothing in comparison to the ice within her.
She felt blank—numb. But she had to think—decide what to say just in case Nick decided not to keep his distance. She supposed he was a passenger on Alain Froyat’s yacht. But he wouldn’t be there simply for enjoyment, in spite of the pretty blonde he’d been wearing as a scarf. Without doubt there was some big finance deal going down. Something that would make the Maitland Destry bank ever more profitable, and send Nick’s personal wealth soaring even higher.
Not that it was any business of hers, she reminded herself tautly. Neither Nick’s financial standing or his latest girlfriend could be allowed to concern her even marginally.
She’d kept her side of the bargain, and now she wanted the whole sorry charade brought to a conclusion.
Closure, she thought, on a marriage that should never have taken place. I must have been out of my mind to lend myself to such a farce.
Her footsteps slowed. It was time she was getting back to the restaurant. She would tell Angie she had a headache and wanted to go back to Les Roches. She certainly didn’t want Brad coming to find her and being carried away by the whisper of the waves, the moonlight falling across the water. He might even think she’d gone out on to the beach to lure him on.
She hadn’t heard him coming, but then he’d always had the ability to move like a cat.
Yet when she turned he was there, just as she’d known—she’d feared—he would be. Blocking her way. Bringing her to a breathless, tingling halt in front of him. With no means of escape.
He said softly, in that mocking drawl she hated, ‘Good evening, Mrs Destry. Or should I say, “Ill met by moonlight, proud Titania”?’ And he began to laugh.
CHAPTER TWO (#uad64d712-34ce-5a01-953b-0694f9827d43)
PAIGE stood motionless, hands balled into fists at her sides. Inside she was trembling. On the surface she stared back at him, her chin lifting in unmistakable hostility.
She said coldly, ‘Is quoting nonsense at me the best you can do?’
Nick tutted. ‘Shakespeare is hardly nonsense, darling. And it seemed quite appropriate, in view of what comes next from Titania herself,’ he added reflectively. ‘“Fairies skip hence. I have foresworn his bed and company.”’
She felt hot colour rush into her face, and was glad of the sheltering darkness. She could feel anger starting to build in her. She wanted to scream at him—You dare accuse me of that? You—of all people? But that was a path she could not afford to tread, she thought, taking a deep, calming breath.
She said, ‘What are you doing here, Nick?’
‘What a coincidence,’ he said cordially. ‘I was going to ask you exactly the same question. I hope you’re here to promote Harrington Holdings for the island development programme. I see you’re here tonight with one of the chief movers and shakers,’ he added. ‘Is your relationship with him business or personal?’
‘I don’t think you have the slightest right to ask that.’
‘Ah, but I have,’ Nick said softly. ‘For all kinds of reasons. And the fact that I’m your husband is only the least of them.’ He paused to allow that to sink in. ‘So, please, tell me why you’re here.’
‘As a matter of fact I’m on holiday.’ She controlled her voice with an effort. ‘I presume I’m allowed the occasional break.’
‘And Brad Coulter?’
‘I met him socially. He’s a friend.’
‘Ah,’ he said. ‘And would it be indiscreet to enquire how long this—friendship has had to ripen?’
Paige said defensively, ‘What do you mean?’
‘I’m asking when you arrived on this little unspoiled paradise.’
She bit her lip. ‘About three weeks ago.’
He whistled. ‘And all on your salary from Harringtons. Or are you being subsidised—in the name of friendship?’
Paige was startled. Somehow—already—he’d found out that Jack and Angie had offered her cut-price, rock-bottom rates. How the hell had he managed that? she wondered, humiliated. Or was it an educated guess?
She said sharply, ‘And if I am? What concern is it of yours?’
‘You’ll find I’m concerned about a great many things.’ He was silent for a moment. ‘So you’re really not here to drum up trade for the family business?’
‘Harringtons don’t tender for overseas contracts—particularly ones that are halfway round the world. You should know that.’
He said slowly, ‘Well, that’s something they may have to reconsider. Tell me, have you been in touch with the office during this extended vacation of yours? Have any faxes or e-mails come thundering across the ocean at you?’
‘No,’ she said defiantly. ‘And I wouldn’t expect them to—not when this is my first holiday since …’ She hesitated, then said quickly, ‘In over a year.’
‘Since our honeymoon,’ he said. ‘Isn’t that what you were going to say?’
‘Since the trip we were obliged to take after the wedding,’ she said brusquely. ‘Why call it a ridiculous name?’
‘Maybe I’m just a stickler for convention,’ he drawled. There was another pause, then, ‘You really haven’t had any communication with the company?’
‘None at all. I decided I wanted a real vacation.’ Firmly, she put out of her mind the memory of that last row with Toby, and her decision not to let him know where she was while he considered the ultimatum she’d given him.
‘I’d say you’d achieved it. Even down to a little holiday romance.’
‘Thank you,’ she said tautly. ‘You appear to be having a good time yourself.’
‘Ah,’ Nick said softly. ‘But appearances can be deceptive—don’t you find?’
Like you deceived me? she thought. When you made me think—just for a brief moment—one night long ago—that maybe this mismatch between us might work after all. That perhaps it could be more than just a business arrangement …
‘I think,’ she said, ‘that what you see is generally what you get.’ She moved restively, feeling at a disadvantage, standing there barefoot, with her sandals dangling from her hand. ‘Will you excuse me, please? My friends will be wondering where I am. And I’m sure your party will be missing you, too,’ she added pointedly.
‘You’re all consideration.’ He sounded amused, as if her inference wasn’t lost on him. ‘But we really do have things to talk about.’
‘Nothing that can’t wait a few months,’ she said. ‘I’ll get my lawyer to contact yours.’
‘Caribbean holidays and a divorce,’ he said meditatively. ‘You’re going to have an expensive time.’
Suddenly her antennae were alert and sounding an alarm. Because that—almost—sounded like a threat. Didn’t it?
Maybe it was something she needed to find out, she thought, her senses tingling. This confrontation might be galling, but she couldn’t end it quite yet.
She paused, choosing her words carefully. ‘A quick, no-fault ending of our arrangement? With no property settlement or maintenance involved? Surely not.’
‘You don’t count the shattering of hopes and dreams?’ His tone was mocking. ‘The laceration of one’s finest feelings?’
Her mouth tightened. ‘They weren’t included in the deal.’ And if there was any lacerating done, I’m the one left with the scars.
He said slowly, ‘Perhaps I’m looking to renegotiate.’
That insidious trembling had started up again, deep in her gut.
She said quickly and coldly, ‘No chance. The original contract stands, and even that isn’t for much longer. I want out, Nick, so don’t start playing games. I’m not impressed.’
He laughed. ‘Tough talk, honey, but talk is cheap. Are you really prepared for a fight?’
‘That wasn’t part of the arrangement either.’ Her heart was beating fiercely, erratically again. The chain round her throat seemed to be tightening, and she put up a hand and tugged at it mechanically, feeling the delicate links biting into her fingers.
He said laconically, ‘Call it an afterthought.’
She said huskily, ‘Then I recommend you think again.’
His gaze fastened on the nervous movement of her hand. ‘I see,’ he said, ‘that you’ve taken off your wedding ring.’
‘I’m not a hypocrite,’ she said. ‘I won’t—pretend.’
‘No,’ he said, and his voice was suddenly bleak. ‘I’ll grant you that.’
There was a brief uneasy silence, then she said, ‘Nick, there’s no need for this. Our marriage has never existed in any real sense—just on paper. Why make difficulties about ending it?’
He shrugged. ‘Let’s just say I dislike unfinished business.’
She thought wretchedly, How can you finish something that never began …?
Aloud, she said, ‘But you got what you wanted—a seat on the Harrington board.’
‘Ah, yes,’ he said. ‘Courtesy of that incestuous little family arrangement that should have been legally challenged and wound up years ago.’ There was an odd, almost angry note in his voice.
She said defensively, ‘It’s worked perfectly well, up to now.’
‘Then why did you have to come to me for finance?’ Nick demanded derisively. ‘Because your credit had run out elsewhere, my dear wife, and you know it. Harringtons may have been started by a giant, but there are only pygmies left now.’
She said hotly, ‘How dare you insult my family?’
‘Sometimes the truth hurts, Paige.’ He paused. ‘So does a bad investment.’
She drew a steadying breath. ‘I suggest you take this up with your fellow board members. I’m an employee now, and I really don’t want to discuss it any further. As for our non-marriage—that’s over. And nothing you can say or do will make the slightest difference.’
‘But that’s where you’re wrong,’ Nick said softly. ‘Because I haven’t finished with you, baby. Not by a long chalk. In fact—’ his voice deepened ‘—I haven’t even begun yet.’
They were both standing still, but the space between them seemed to have diminished in some strange way. She could almost feel the warmth of his breath on her cheek. The brush of his body against hers.
Paige made a small inarticulate sound in her throat, then she moved, skirting round him, keeping him at arm’s length or more, walking fast, trying not to run.
Trying to maintain a safe distance between them—if there could be such a thing, she thought crazily as she went up the beach, stumbling a little, despising her own clumsiness. Hating him for being its cause.
She didn’t look back, but then she didn’t have to. She could feel his eyes on her back, burning like ice. Branding her.
Except that she was no possession of his—and she never would be.
‘So there you are,’ Brad greeted her jovially. ‘We were just going to send out a search party.’
‘It’s a pretty straight beach,’ Paige returned as lightly as possible. ‘Not many places to get lost.’ Except in some hell of my own making.
‘What’s going on?’ Angie hissed as Paige took her seat beside her. ‘One minute you’re dancing with Brad, the next you’re out beachcombing.’
‘I needed some air,’ Paige whispered back. ‘I’ve got a headache.’
‘What lousy luck.’ Angie was instantly sympathetic. ‘Do you want to call it a day?’
‘It might be better. I have to finish packing, and I’ve got a long flight tomorrow.’ Out of the corner of her eye, Paige saw Nick come up from the beach. For a moment she thought he was going to come over to their table, and tensed, but he walked straight past without giving any of them a glance. And Angie’s attention was fortunately centred on her.
I’m not getting out completely unscathed, Paige thought. But it could be very much worse.
On her way out, a few minutes later, she risked a brief look at Nick’s table to see if her departure had been witnessed, but he appeared to be completely engrossed in his blonde.
Which, Paige told herself vehemently, could only be a relief.
Brad held her hand for a moment longer than necessary as they said goodnight. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow,’ he promised, and she smiled and tried to feel interested and grateful.
But it was impossible. Her mind was in turmoil. Jack and Angie chatted quietly to each other in the front of the car, out of consideration for her headache, and she sat alone in the darkness almost obsessively going over and over the scene on the beach. Asking herself what he could possibly have meant and receiving no answer. At least none that satisfied her, or even offered a modicum of comfort.
But then Nick had always been an enigma, she told herself restively.
She wrapped her arms round her body, shivering. She was shaking inside, aware of a feeling of faint nausea. Of disorientation.
Shock, she thought. That was what it was. He was the last person she’d expected—or wanted—to see. And it was one of life’s terrible ironies that they should be on the same small island, in the same nightclub, at the same time.
If they’d spent the evening anywhere else she’d have avoided him, as she’d been doing so successfully all these months. Checking the schedule of his visits to London, or to the company headquarters, and quietly arranging to be elsewhere. Ensuring work took her far away, to the other end of the country, on the infrequent occasions when he was due to stay at the house.
‘You could make more of an effort,’ Toby had grumbled on the last occasion. ‘It means Denise has to entertain him, and he scares her witless.’
That, Paige thought scathingly, mentally reviewing her sister-in-law’s vacant blue eyes and pouting ever-present smile, would not incur a great deal of effort on Nick’s part.
She had said crisply, ‘She’s the wife of the managing director, Toby. It comes with the territory.’
