A Most Determined Bachelor

Restlessly, he left the table and began to pace about the room. ‘Normally I don’t talk about it...and now I’m wondering why I’m telling you,’ he said, in a tone that betrayed irritation with himself.

‘Sometimes it’s good to talk,’ she pointed out gently. ‘Please come back to the table and finish your meal.’ Then, considering him thoughtfully, she went on, ‘You must have spent time in Christchurch to be so well acquainted with Mrs Simmons—and Verna.’

Her reference to Verna was ignored as he returned to the table, where he said, ‘My mother and Hilda Simmons were schoolfriends who always kept in touch with each other. In fact Mother was Hilda’s bridesmaid when she married Hugh Simmons. He died a few years ago. During my own schooldays Mother used to take me to stay with the Simmonses. Then Hilda rang me recently and demanded that I return the compliment by giving young Robin a period beside the sea in a warmer climate. I thought I could manage, with Kate Coster’s help, but you saw what happened with the boy.’

‘You agreed to do it for Verna’s sake?’ Judy asked with insight.

‘Yes—I suppose you could put it that way,’ he admitted gruffly, then his lip twisted as he added almost accusingly, ‘I can’t believe the dragon omitted to tell you there was a time when Verna and I were fairly close.’

‘But obviously it ended,’ Judy observed, while avoiding a direct answer.

‘By mutual consent,’ he muttered in a low growL

She looked at him reflectively. ‘I think it’s possible you still have feelings for Venla...otherwise Robin wouldn’t be here.’

‘One doesn’t forget old friends,’ he retorted tersely. ‘Now then—do you mind if we get off this subject?’

‘Gladly,’ she responded with a smile, while realising that he hadn’t told her what she really wanted to know. Not that his feelings for Verna were her concern, she admitted to herself. In an effort to break the awkward silence that had fallen between them, she said, ‘Would you like to finish the last bit of casserole?’

‘Might as well,’ he said, but before she could serve it on to his plate they were startled by cries of distress that floated along the passage from Robin’s bedroom.

‘Judy...Judy...Judy...!’

She dropped the spoon and sprang to her feet, then raced along the passage to find the little boy sitting up in bed with tears streaming down his face. His body was shaking with sobs, and as she clasped him to her she pressed his head against her shoulder. ‘It’s all right, darling—I’m here,’ she assured him, with motherly love and tenderness. ‘Did you think I’d gone away? You must’ve been dreaming.’

‘I...I thought Uncle Ryan had sent you away,’ he gasped, while clinging to her as fresh tears fell.

‘In that case you were definitely dreaming,’ Ryan said from the doorway, where he stood watching Judy’s efforts to console the distressed boy.

‘Have you forgotten I promised I wouldn’t leave you?’ Judy asked soothingly as she reached for tissues from the bedside table. ‘Now settle down and go to sleep.’ Gently she mopped his face, then gave him an affectionate hug before pressing him back against the pillow.

Robin turned appealing eyes to Ryan. ‘Please, Uncle Ryan...promise you won’t send Judy away?’

Ryan came further into the room to stand beside Judy. ‘I wouldn’t even think of it, old chap,’ he assured Robin, in a voice that was slightly husky, then, unexpectedly, he placed his arm about Judy’s waist and drew her against his side. ‘Judy and I are the best of friends now. Isn’t that so?’ He grinned down at her while uttering the last words.

Judy felt herself go scarlet as, for the sake of the boy, she stammered, ‘Y-yes...I...I suppose so...’

Robin sat up abruptly, his hazel eyes sparkling with interest as they stared at Ryan. ‘Are you Judy’s boyfriend now...’stead of Uncle Alan?’

Judy gave a small gasp. ‘I did ask you not to mention him!’

‘Sorry, Judy...’ Robin looked contrite.

Ryan chuckled as he looked down into her face again. ‘So he was Alan—was he?’ Then he turned to the boy again and said with what sounded like sincerity, ‘Don’t worry, yon and I both know we can’t do without Judy.’

But Judy knew better than to take any notice of his words, although she was more than conscious of the disturbing influence his touch was having upon her. Apart from sending tingles through her body, it had made her blood race, and as the pressure of his arm about her waist increased she began to tremble.

Noticing it, he said, ‘What’s the matter? You’re like a fluttering bird.’

She groped in her mind for a reason, then gave a nervous laugh. ‘You can put it down to not being accustomed to having the responsibility of a small child put upon me.’

He spoke casually. ‘I can help. We’ll take care of him together.’

‘Thank you.’ There was that word again. Together.

Staring at them wide-eyed, Robin appeared to be satisfied by the sight of them standing so close to each other. He blew his nose on more tissues, then settled down beneath the bedclothes. Judy moved from Ryan to tuck him in. Robin’s lids fluttered and he appeared to be asleep before they had left the room.

When they returned to the dining alcove Ryan said, ‘I’ll make coffee.’

Judy watched through the archway as he became busy in the kitchen, then was unable to resist a reprimand. ‘You shouldn’t have lied to Robin,’ she said in a serious tone. ‘You know perfectly well that I’m not your girlfriend.’

He carried the steaming mugs to the table. ‘I didn’t lie to the boy,’ he said, while placing one before her. ‘At the moment you’re the best girl I know. I couldn’t have handled him without you. I’m now well aware of that fact.’

His words sent a warm glow through her, although she felt the need to repeat her words. ‘But I’m not your girlfriend .’

‘Perhaps not in the sense you mean, but I’m hoping we can start again and at least be friends. That’s if you’re willing to make the effort, of course.’

She stared into her coffee cup, well aware that she was more than willing to meet him halfway, yet she felt reluctant to reveal the fact. This intriguing man—this land baron whose appearance and apparent wealth probably drew women from all sides—needn’t know she was ready to join the queue of ardent admirers who were willing to swoon at his feel

His voice came reflectively. ‘In any case, I dare say Robin is too young to know anything about girlfriends.’

Judy laughed. ‘Don’t you believe it. At the ripe old age of six Robin has his own special girlfriend. Her name is Sally and she lives nearby. She’s in his class at school, and on most days she feeds him cookies at playtime, having taken one for Robin as well as for herself. It proves that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.’

Her words lightened the atmosphere between them, but did not remove the thoughtful expression from Ryan’s face. Regarding her intently, he said, ‘Tell me about Uncle Alan—whoever he is. I take it he no longer exists in your world?’

‘Correct.’ The word was snapped out.

He lifted her left hand, then held it nearer for clearer scrutiny. ‘Do I-detect a pale mark on your third finger—as though a ring has been removed?’

She snatched her hand away. ‘Yes. It’s been returned to Alan—’ She broke off, biting back further words and feeling infuriated with herself. Why couldn’t she keep her stupid mouth shut?

His eyes held a spark of interest. ‘Does this mean you’re footloose and fancy-free?’

‘Yes, it does—and I intend to stay that way,’ she declared firmly. ‘As for Alan Draper, I’m trying to forget him—therefore I have no intention of discussing what proved to be a most painful experience.’

He grinned. ‘Excuse me—are you the same person who recently said that sometimes it’s good to talk?’

‘It depends upon the subject,’ she reasoned, and at the same time she warned herself against revealing any more—because to speak of finding her fiancé locked in the arms of another woman would be too embarrassing for words.

Thinking of it now, she wondered if she’d ever get the memory of that night out of her mind. They had been at a birthday party, but had been there for only an hour when Alan had appeared to be missing from the crowded room. Judy had felt concerned for him, because she’d known he’d been drinking. However, she had not made a fuss. Instead, she’d checked through the house, and had just completed the task when the host had handed her a torch and told her to look in the cars parked along the drive.

In the back seat of one of them she’d found Alan with a redhead named Carol Reed. Judy had shone the torch in their startled faces. She had taken one glance at the dishevelled state of their clothes, then, snatching the car door open, she’d slipped the engagement ring from her finger and had thrown it at Alan. After that she’d run home, gasping and sobbing through the dimly lit streets.

Within a short time everyone who had been at the party knew what had happened, and soon the news of it had filtered through to the rest of her friends. But when these people had rung to offer sympathy they’d merely filled her with a desire to get away and hide. And then, out of the blue, had come the request to take Robin to Napier.

Judy had discussed the matter with her parents, who considered it had come as a godsend. It would give her something else to think about, and if she decided to find herself a job in that North Island city they would quite understand. In fact, it might give her a new lease of life.

Dragging her mind back to the present, she became aware that Ryan was observing her face through narrowed lids. She feared he was reading her expression, and this became evident by his next words.

“This painful experience—I have a suspicion you’re living it all over again?’ he suggested, with a hint of unexpected sympathy. ‘I also suspect that whatever happened still hurts.’

She nodded, finding it impossible to speak as the memories continued to jab at her.

‘This man—do you think he’ll follow you to Napier if he happens to learn where you ace?’

‘I hope not. I don’t want to see him again—ever.’ The last word was spat with vehemence.

Ryan regarded her with concern. ‘In that case you’ll have to take care you’re not caught on the rebound,’ he warned. ‘If a handsome stranger comes along and is particularly nice to you—you might fall flat at his feet. Metaphorically speaking, of course,’ he added with a twinkle in his eye.

‘That’s most unlikely,’ she retorted coldly. ‘Just as you appear to be allergic to women, I’m in a similar frame of mind concerning men. At the moment I look upon them as being anything but trustworthy.’

‘Thank you very much,’ he growled. ‘Not even present company excepted, I notice.’

She decided to be frank. ‘I just feared you might be referring to yourself as the handsome stranger,’ she said, while giving a light laugh to soften her words. At the same time she hoped he’d feel assured she had no intention of setting her sights on himself.

His face remained inscrutable as he said, ‘I can see your hurt has gone very deeply indeed. It puts you into the dangerous state of being thoroughly vulnerable—so I’m warning you again to watch your step.’

‘I’ll do that,’ she informed him gravely. ‘Thank you for your concern, even if it is only your imagination that tells you so much about me.’

‘It’s not imagination,’ he told her quietly. ‘I’ve watched you with the boy, not only in the airport lounge, when you were unaware of it, but also since you’ve been here. It’s been revealing. It’s easy to see you’re an affectionate and caring person, but you’re also one who needs to be loved in return. That’s what will make you easy prey, or—as I said—vulnerable.’

She looked at him thoughtfully, then dared to ask, ‘What about you, Ryan? Are you so emotionally under control that you prefer to live entirely without female company?’

He gave a faint snort. ‘Who says I live entirely without female company?’

‘It’s the impression you’ve given me.’

‘Then allow me to correct it. When I need a woman I can always call on Cynthia.’ The statement came out casually.

Her eyes widened. ‘Cynthia...?’ Hearing him mention the name of a woman had given her a shock.

‘Cynthia Birch. She’s a friend who lives at Te Pohue on the road to Lake Taupo. When I go fishing at Taupo, or skiing on Mount Ruapehu, I usually call in and have coffee with her. She’s inclined to rely on me for advice concerning her financial affairs.’

‘She’s fortunate in having someone such as yourself to guide her.’

‘Well—it’s only been since her divorce.’

‘I see.’ She stared down at her empty plate.

‘Are you sure about that? Is there anything else you’d like to know?’ he drawled, while watching her from behind hooded lids.

‘Not particularly,’ she returned in an offhand manner, at the same time knowing this to be a lie. In fact there were several points now jumping about to arouse her curiosity, but they were not questions she felt could be asked—at least not on such short acquaintance. They’d be sure to bring forth a snub strong enough to ruin the delicate amicability that had sprung up between them.

Exactly how deep was his friendship with this woman? she wondered. And then there was the question of Vema. Did he still have any depth of feeling left for her? ‘One doesn’t forget old friends’, he’d said, and Judy wished she knew what had come between them to end their romance.

And then another question that had often simmered in Judy’s mind returned to niggle at her. It concerned the identity of Robin’s father. Did Ryan know of his whereabouts? She had never set eyes on the elusive Mr Bryant, nor was his name ever mentioned. Not that it was any business of hers, of course, although she had often wondered if Verna, as a single parent, was using a fictitious name for the sake of appearances. But now that Robin was going to school he’d soon be asking questions for himself, especially on sports days and at break-up time, when the other boys produced their fathers. Where was his father? he’d soon be wanting to know.

Even as she pondered this question Judy looked at the man sitting at the table. The rays from the nearby standard lamp fell on his thick auburn hair, highlighting the gleam of red in it, and she was reminded of similar glints of red in Robin’s hair. Startled, she was forced to wonder if Ryan could be the boy’s father—was this why Hilda Simmons had sent the boy to Napier? Did she hope that father and son would find a mutual bond, so that when Verna arrived matters could be brought to a successful conclusion?

The thoughts swam about in Judy’s mind until suddenly she told herself she was being stupid. She was jumping to conclusions and assuming a situation which probably didn’t exist. If Ryan was Robin’s father she felt sure he would have acknowledged him years ago—although why she had such faith in his integrity she was unable to say. It was just that he seemed to be an honest person who meant what he said—someone who was totally different from Alan Draper.

She was so lost in her thoughts she almost jumped when Ryan raised his hand to run a long tanned forefinger down her cheek. His touch sent a tremor through her body and her face flushed.

His eyes glinted as he observed her reaction, then his voice became a low murmur as he asked, ‘Is something worrying you?’

She forced herself to meet his gaze. ‘Why do you ask?’

‘Because you’ve been silent for several long minutes and I’ve been watching the changing expressions on your face. They’ve made me wonder if you’re concerned for your safety in this house.’

She caught her breath. ‘You mean from you? No...it hadn’t even occurred to me.’

His dark brows drew together. ‘Does that mean you consider me to be a sexless wimp?’

She gave a faint smile, while allowing her eyes to rest upon his sensuous mouth and strong jaw. This man, a sexless wimp? Not in a thousand years would he qualify. Then she said, ‘No...I feel quite safe because I suspect you’ve no wish for me to rush screaming to Miss Coster. Besides, you need me here to take care of Robin.’

He spoke gruffly, ‘Well, there’s a lock to your bedroom door in case you begin to feel jittery about my intentions.’

Later, when she went to bed, she didn’t even bother to turn the key. There was no need, she assured herself. She held no attraction for him—nor did he hold any attraction for her. Well, maybe that wasn’t quite true, but she’d fight against it because she was finished with men and had no intention of looking at another for a long, long time. As for being caught on the rebound—huh! That would be the day! He must think she was a complete idiot.

CHAPTER THREE

NEXT morning Judy was awakened by the sound of Robin’s high-pitched voice coming from the kitchen. She sprang out of bed and shrugged herself into a wrap, made a quick visit to the en suite bathroom, and, having raked a comb through her blonde hair, hurried to the kitchen where she found Robin enjoying a plate of porridge.

Standing beneath the archway, and hardly able to believe her eyes, she exclaimed, ‘Porridge—my goodness, wonders will never cease.’

Ryan said, ‘I didn’t have any cereal that snapped, crackled or popped, which I’m told he usually demands.’

Robin licked his spoon. ‘This is good. It’s better than that stuff Gran makes. Uncle Ryan says if I eat porridge every morning I’ll grow up to be just like him.’

Just like him. The words clicked in Judy’s mind, seeming to confirm her thoughts of the previous evening.

Ryan sent her a wink while spooning marmalade on to buttered toast. ‘The secret lies in raw sugar and creamy milk. Would you like to try some? It takes only three minutes in the microwave.’

‘No, thank you. Tea and toast is all I ever have for breakfast.’ Then, suddenly conscious of her appearance, she added hastily, ‘I’d better go and get dressed.’

Ryan spoke quickly. ‘No... don’t go. I like you as you are. There’s something homely about a girl in a wrap and slippers.’ He poured a cup of tea for her, then moved to put two slices of bread in the toaster. ‘We didn’t wait for you,’ he went on. ‘We thought it possible you needed the extra sleep.’

We, she noticed. It was almost as though he was beginning to acknowledge Robin and himself as a unit. Strangely, it gave her an intangible feeling of being left out, but she brushed it aside and spoke casually. ‘To be honest I was glad of the extra sleep. Yesterday had its stressful moments.’

Ryan frowned as he demanded dryly, ‘Are you referring to the welcome I gave you—or rather the lack of it?’

‘Oh, my troubles had begun before that,’ she admitted.

Robin sent her a morose look that also held apprehension and guilt. ‘I suppose you’re going to tell Uncle Ryan about me being naughty on the plane?’ he queried sulkily.

Ryan assumed a shocked expression. ‘You were naughty? What did you do? Or was it something you wouldn’t do?’ he asked with perception.

Robin hung his head. ‘I wouldn’t stay in my seat when Judy told me to. I kept running between the seats,’ he admitted contritely.

‘Up and down the aisle like a young fiend,’ Judy put in.

‘He was over-excited by being on a plane for the first time.’

Robin became defensive. ‘I was trying to make the plane go faster,’ he explained. ‘It didn’t seem to be going very fast.’

Ryan was amused. ‘No doubt it got up speed with the help of your efforts?’

Robin looked at him blankly. ‘I don’t know. A man put his arm out and stopped me. He pulled me into an empty seat beside him and we talked until the lady in uniform told me to go back to my own seat and fasten my seat belt.’

‘So what did you talk about?’ Ryan asked with undisguised curiosity.

‘We talked about Judy,’ Robin admitted with childish candour.

‘Me...?’ Judy demanded indignantly. ‘What did he want to know about me? I’d never seen the man before.’

‘He wanted to know your name,’ Robin informed her. ‘He said he thought you were very pretty.’

‘Nothing wrong with his eyesight,’ Ryan remarked in a droll tone.

A flush crept into Judy’s cheeks but she said nothing. ‘Don’t allow him to talk to any strange men,’ Hilda Simmons had warned. Obviously she was right, but in this case there was little Judy could have done to prevent it. Then she felt herself shrink as Robin gave out more information.

‘I told him you were taking me to stay with Uncle Ryan. He asked if Uncle Ryan was your boyfriend.’

Judy’s cheeks became even more pink. ‘He had a darned nerve,’ she snapped, while avoiding Ryan’s eye.

The latter chuckled as he spoke to Robin. ‘So what did you say?’

‘I said that Uncle Alan was her boyfriend, but that perhaps she might swap him for Uncle Ryan.’

A gasp of fury escaped Judy. ‘You said what?’ she exploded.

Ryan held up a hand to soothe her. ‘Simmer down and let him go on.’ Then he turned to Robin. ‘So, what else did you tell this man?’

The boy thought for a few minutes then admitted, ‘I told him that I had a girlfriend and that her name was Sally and where she lives—and guess what? He said he knew her, and that Sally’s mother is his cousin.’

Ryan spoke doubtfully. ‘This is beginning to sound a little too far-fetched.’ He fixed Judy with a stern eye and demanded, ‘Did you speak to this man who was obviously trying to pick you up?’

His last words made her feel angrier than she already felt. ‘Of course I spoke to him. Before disembarking I thanked him for bringing Robin’s racing along the aisle to a halt. Believe me, with the fear of a tantrum hanging in the air I was more than grateful for his help.’ She paused to draw a deep breath, then went on, ‘Nor do I think it’s too far-fetched for Sally’s mother to be his cousin. In a country where the entire population is little more than three million people, cousins are not usually difficult to find.’

Robin’s shrill voice piped up, ‘What are cousins? Have I got any cousins?’

Judy smiled at him. ‘I’ll leave Uncle Ryan to explain while I shower and dress. He’s known your mother for a long time—so he should be able to tell you all sorts of things.’ The glance she flicked at Ryan was full of significance.

Ryan turned to regard her with a penetrating stare. She knew he was about to ask what sort of things she had in mind, but before he could do so she hurried away to her room.

A few minutes later, as she stood beneath the soothing waters of the en suite shower, she recalled Ryan’s care and attention to Robin at the breakfast table. Fatherly was the word that sprang into her mind, and then the boy’s own words leapt to join it. ‘Uncle Ryan says if I eat porridge every morning I’ll grow up to be just like him.’

‘Is that a fact?’ Judy murmured her thoughts aloud. ‘So how does Uncle Ryan know you’ll be just like him? Surely the answer is clear. It’s because he’s your father, m’lad. That’s why your grandmother has sent you here to await your mother’s arrival...and then...?’

Judy turned off the taps and began to towel herself vigorously. Again she warned herself that there was too much guesswork going on in her mind, and if she had any sense she’d just take each day as it came. She’d enjoy Ryan’s company while she could, and when Verna arrived she’d leave, with the hope that Robin had found his father.

When she returned to the kitchen she discovered that Ryan had cleared the table and tidied the worktop. And, although she waited for him to pursue the subject of why she expected him to have knowledge of Robin’s relatives, he failed to do so. Instead she became aware of his interest focusing upon her own appearance, his eyes resting on her blonde hair before lowering to gaze at the rounded mounds of breasts beneath her dark red jumper.

‘I suppose you know you’re looking most attractive,’ he remarked in a low voice. ‘The men will be goggle-eyed.’

‘Thank you.’ She savoured the compliment while hoping her inner pleasure didn’t show too much. ‘They’ll be here for a meeting?’

‘No. They’re pruning apple trees at one of the orchards. It happens during winter between leaf-fall and bud-burst. I’m taking Robin with me while I check their progress. You’ll come with us to keep an eye on him,’ he stated firmly. ‘I hope you won’t be too bored.’