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Tim grinned. ‘She doesn’t. This is an old friend, someone she’s known for years. Whenever he’s in town she drops everything to go out with him.’
He must be something to affect the supremely confident and hardened Claire in this way. Eden felt a burning curiosity about the man who could make Claire forget her job. She herself liked Claire, had tremendous respect for her, but given the same choice, a career or marriage, Eden felt sure she would choose quite differently. But then Claire was nothing like her.
‘Have I ever met him?’ she asked now.
He shook his head. ‘It must be six months since he was last here. But don’t worry, you’ll like him, most women do. Although I don’t want you to like him too much,’ he added hurriedly. ‘And don’t be bowled over by his charm.’
‘Is that likely?’
‘Oh yes.’
Eden could feel herself starting to relax, the tension starting to leave her body. She laughed huskily, back on a footing with Tim she could cope with. ‘Could I make you jealous, Tim?’ she teased.
‘All too easily. Although I wouldn’t recommend it tonight, Claire is likely to do you an injury if you attempt to steal him away from her.’
‘She likes him that much?’
‘And the rest. She would marry him tomorrow if he asked her.’
‘And will he?’ So there was someone Claire considered more important than her career!
‘Not in a million years,’ Tim said with brutal honesty.
‘Does Claire know that?’
‘Oh, sure. But where he’s concerned she isn’t too proud to accept any crumbs he cares to give her.’
‘You mean…’
Tim laughed softly at her expression. ‘Poor Eden, this is your night for shocks. Yes, I mean they’re lovers.’
‘And yet it’s six months since she last saw him?’ She was dumbfounded.
He nodded. ‘But it could be six years and she’d still go running when he snapped his fingers.’
It didn’t sound like the Claire she knew, the Claire who could handle the advances of any man with chilling hauteur. ‘Doesn’t it bother you?’ she asked.
‘Why should it bother me? Claire’s a big girl, she makes her own decisions.’
‘Yes, but——’
‘I’m not her keeper, Eden. If she chooses to make a fool of herself every time the guy comes to town that’s up to her. She wouldn’t thank me for interfering.’
She could well imagine she wouldn’t. ‘Perhaps not, but——’
‘Wait until you’ve met him, Eden, and see for yourself how she changes in his company. No one could fight that.’
‘You like this man, don’t you,’ she stated with certainty, noting a certain respect when he spoke of the other man.
‘Sure I like him.’ Tim parked the car, turning in his seat to look at her. ‘Have you been put off the Channing family by these blunt revelations? Has it shocked you too much?’
She was a little less sure of her feelings towards him, but she wasn’t going to admit that to him, to show her naïveté any more clearly than she already had. She smiled brightly. ‘Of course not.’
He caressed one of her creamy cheeks with long gentle fingers. ‘I’m glad about that, because I do care for you, Eden, more than for any other girl I’ve ever dated. I wouldn’t like you to think I’d frightened you off me.’
He had a little, but she wasn’t going to tell him that. ‘I’m not easily frightened,’ she said jokingly. ‘Now, shall we go in?’
Tim straightened in his seat before getting out to come round and open her car door for her. He wrapped her jacket more firmly about her by pulling the lapels close together, bending to kiss her lightly on the nose. ‘Don’t go away,’ he ordered huskily, moving to lock the car before coming back to her side, his arm about her shoulders as he held her to his side. ‘I wish Claire wasn’t joining us now, we could have ducked out and gone somewhere to be alone.’
‘With what in mind?’ Her golden eyes were guarded.
‘Now, Eden,’ he rebuked gently. ‘Haven’t I always behaved perfectly with you?’
‘Perfectly,’ she agreed.
‘And I’m not going to behave any differently now. I respect and like you too much. Okay?’
‘Thank you,’ she smiled at him shyly.
‘Mm, now forget the conversation we had in the car. I’m a nice guy, remember?’
‘I remember,’ she laughed.
And she did try to keep that thought in mind during the next hour, tried to get back on the mildly flirtatious footing they had always been on. But something had changed between them, a new awareness there that hadn’t been in their relationship before. But she hid her uncertainty with him well, joining in with his lighthearted bantering with a gaiety she hoped only she knew was forced.
His admission of experience shouldn’t have had this effect on her, she had been out with other boys who she knew had an equal experience. And yet she had been getting very fond of Tim, more than fond, and she didn’t like to think there had been other girls in his life who had shared an intimate knowledge with him.
She felt a certain amount of relief therefore when he announced the arrival of his sister and her escort. He stood up. ‘Try not to show your disapproval,’ he bent down to whisper in her ear.
‘Oh, I wouldn’t!’ she told him indignantly.
He grinned down at her. ‘I know it.’
She acknowledged his teasing with a smile before turning to look at the approaching couple. What she saw made her gasp, and her face pale. Pushing her way through the crowds of people was Tim’s sister Claire, looking breathtakingly beautiful as usual, her long sun-bleached blond hair waving glowingly down her back, her perfect face alight with pleasure, the deep red halter-necked dress she wore moulded to her slender curves.
But it wasn’t Tim’s sister who made her gasp, it was her escort. Looking arrogantly confident, his hand resting lightly on Claire’s elbow as he guided her towards their table, was Jason Earle! And by the look on his face as he recognised Eden he was no more pleased to see her here than she was him.
CHAPTER TWO
EDEN stared at him with open-mouthed amazement. Not because he had lied when he said he had a business dinner, she couldn’t give a damn about that; she was amazed because of what Tim had said about his sister and this man. If what Tim said was true, and she had no reason to doubt it, then the fact that this man was also involved with Isobel Morton put no restrictions on him at all.
The two men were shaking hands. ‘Good to see you again, Jason.’ Tim’s pleasure in meeting the other man again was obvious.
‘Tim,’ Jason Earle nodded his greeting.
‘Let me introduce you to Eden,’ Tim said with pride. ‘Eden, this is Jason Earle. Jason, my girl-friend, Eden Shaw.’
‘Miss Shaw,’ Jason Earle’s handshake was very formal, although the mocking enquiry in those steely grey eyes was not.
‘Mr Earle,’ she returned equally formally.
Claire sat down in the chair Jason pulled out for her, smiling goodhumouredly. ‘I hope you two are going to drop this Mr and Miss bit,’ she laughed. ‘Eden and Jason would be so much more friendly.’
Eden was well aware of that, which was why she intended to continue calling him Mr Earle. She had no wish to be friendly with him now or at any other time. How could he turn up here with Claire when according to her mother he was supposed to be escorting Isobel Morton? Didn’t he care if the other woman found out about Claire? Obviously not, by his behaviour in meeting Claire openly. He was probably as sure of Isobel Morton’s feelings towards him as he was of Claire’s.
He sat between Claire and herself, very much the man in control as he ordered drinks for them all. He turned to Claire. ‘Miss Shaw and I are not friends, and so unless she asks me to I couldn’t possibly call her by her first name.’
‘Oh, don’t be so chilling, Jason,’ Claire glowed up at him, looking much younger than her thirty years. ‘Forget your stiff English manners for once.’
He smiled at her. ‘It isn’t a question of my stiff English manners,’ he told her smoothly. ‘Miss Shaw may prefer me to be formal.’ He turned to look at her, those cold grey eyes seeming to read her thoughts.
‘Eden doesn’t mind, do you, honey?’ Tim put in.
Her eyes flashed her dislike as those steely grey eyes continued to look at her. Jason Earle had deliberately put her in this position, his quiet mockery telling her he knew exactly what she had intended doing. She looked away from him with a tightening of her mouth, sipping her drink before answering. ‘No, I don’t mind,’ she said finally. ‘Why should I?’
Jason Earle bowed his head in mock acknowledgement. ‘Thank you—Eden.’
She gave him a brittle smile. ‘That’s perfectly all right—Jason.’
‘Good, that’s settled then,’ Claire settled more comfortably in her seat, her hand reaching out to entwine with Jason’s. ‘We’ve just had a lovely meal, haven’t we, darling?’
‘It was—enjoyable,’ he agreed.
Claire laughed. ‘How you English love to understate things! But perhaps it wasn’t the meal that was so enjoyable, perhaps it was the company.’
‘You flatter me, my dear.’
Eden looked away, sickened by the adoration Claire made no effort to hide. It probably wouldn’t have been so bad if Claire wasn’t normally such a levelheaded person, but to see her so captivated by this man was completely out of character. And Jason Earle accepted her adoration as his due, played with her emotions like a master fiddler.
Eden’s contempt for the man grew as the evening progressed, and a couple of times she had to actually bite her tongue to stop herself being openly rude to him. She stood up with a certain amount of relief when Tim once again asked her to dance.
Jason Earle stood up too. ‘Would you mind if I had this dance with Eden?’ His request was directed at Tim.
Tim raised surprised eyebrows, giving his sister a quick look. He shrugged. ‘I suppose not. Eden?’
She drew a ragged breath, her annoyance deepening at the challenge she could read in Jason Earle’s expression. ‘I have no objection,’ she accepted coolly.
He guided her to a space on the dance floor, pulling her into his arms to move slowly to the rhythm of the music. The top of her head on a level with his chin, Eden was very aware of the tangy smell of his aftershave and the less tangible smell of his body, a completely male smell that wasn’t unpleasant, in fact, the opposite.
The group on the stage was one she particularly liked, their music soft and romantic, and she had to stop herself from relaxing against the taut hardness of this man’s body, to resist the temptation to yield against the arms clasped about her waist. She had been surprised by the way he had made no effort to dance more formally, holding her lightly to him, his warm breath softly fanning the hair at her temple.
The tension between them was unmistakable and finally Eden could stand it no longer, throwing back her head to look at him. ‘Your business dinner turned out to be more enjoyable than you anticipated,’ she said sarcastically.
‘Not at all,’ he returned smoothly, meeting her gaze unflinchingly. ‘I always enjoy my dinners with Claire.’
Her mouth turned back sneeringly. ‘So Tim has been telling me.’
He smiled, a completely natural smile that made her breath catch in her throat. He really was a most attractive individual, and perhaps Claire’s infatuation with him wasn’t so difficult to accept after all. ‘I’m sure he has,’ he acknowledged softly.
Eden looked away from that smiling mouth, determined not to be affected by the charm he could display when he chose to. ‘You really had no need to lie about your dinner date being a business one,’ she told him. ‘We didn’t particularly want you to stay anyway.’
Jason laughed softly. ‘Leash your claws, little girl,’ he advised softly. ‘My dinner with Claire was exactly what I said it was—business.’
‘Oh yes?’ she scorned, her golden eyes disbelieving.
‘Yes,’ he nodded. ‘Claire works for me.’
Her eyes widened. ‘For you?’
‘I own the magazine she runs.’
‘Oh!’ She couldn’t deny that this information had taken her by surprise, but really she ought to have made the connection herself. ‘I see. But would Isobel Morton see your—dinner in the same light?’ she enquired sweetly.
His mouth tightened into a thin line. ‘Meaning?’
‘Oh, I’m sure you know what I mean, Mr Earle.’
‘No, you tell me.’
Eden shrugged. ‘It’s public knowledge that you’re going to marry my father’s widow.’
‘Is it now?’ he queried softly.
‘Oh yes. Do you think she would approve of you seeing Claire?’
‘Do you intend telling her?’
‘Me?’ She couldn’t hide her surprise. ‘Why should I tell her, I’ve never met her and already I dislike her. She broke up my parents’ marriage, she and my grandfather. Besides, it’s nothing to do with me.’
‘I couldn’t agree more,’ he said grimly, his arms tightening painfully about her waist and so pulling her closer to the hard strength of his body. ‘I consider my private life none of your business.’
‘But you do intend marrying Isobel Morton?’ She wished he would let her go. The music had changed twice since they had come on to the dance floor and she could see Tim giving them anxious looks. And as for Claire…!
‘I may be,’ he agreed tightly.
‘Does Claire know about that?’
He raised dark eyebrows. ‘Are you by any chance threatening me?’
Eden opened wide innocent eyes. ‘Threatening you? I have no idea what you mean, Mr Earle.’
‘Oh, I think you do, Eden,’ his voice was icy. ‘I don’t react well to threats.’
Her laugh wasn’t quite as confident as she would have liked it to be. ‘I think you’ve misunderstood me, Mr Earle. I merely wondered if Claire knew you were shortly to be married.’
‘I’m well aware of what you wondered,’ he snapped. ‘And although I may have been a friend of Isobel’s for some time now there’ve been no definite wedding plans made, no matter what may or may not be public knowledge,’ he added mockingly. ‘Tell me, why didn’t you just come right out and tell Tim and Claire that you know me?’
‘Why didn’t you?’
He shrugged. ‘I took my cue from you. You didn’t seem to want them to know.’
‘I didn’t see the point, as I have no intention of going to see my grandfather. But don’t worry, Mr Earle, I won’t tell Claire about your other—friend.’
‘Claire knows about Isobel,’ he told her coldly. ‘I’ve never made her any promises concerning our own relationship.’
‘I don’t suppose you need to—the poor woman worships you,’ she said disgustedly. ‘I find it quite nauseating to watch.’
‘Then don’t,’ he advised abruptly.
‘It’s a little hard not to.’ She moved out of his arms. ‘Shall we go back to the table, Mr Earle, now that you’ve assured yourself that I don’t intend making things awkward for you?’
‘You can make things as awkward as you want, Eden, or attempt to. I don’t think Claire would be particularly bothered by anything you have to say. But I do think we should return to the table, we’ve said all we want to say to each other—for the moment.’
‘Does that mean I can be excused having dinner with you tomorrow?’
Jason’s mouth thinned angrily. ‘You make it sound as if I forced you into the arrangement.’
‘And didn’t you?’ she challenged.
‘I don’t think so,’ he met that challenge unflinchingly. ‘I think you’re under a misapprehension concerning this proposed visit to your grandfather. Quite frankly I couldn’t give a damn whether you go to England or not. I promised your grandfather that I would see you and suggest it to you, as far as I’m concerned I’ve done that.’
‘So you feel your obligation to my grandfather is fulfilled?’
‘I’m not under obligation to your grandfather! I was coming to New York on business and so I——’
‘Decided to do an old man a favour,’ she finished.
‘Yes.’ He took her arm and almost dragged her back to the table.
‘I thought you were never coming back.’ Tim leant forward to kiss her lightly on the nose as Eden sat down next to him.
She raised her face for his kiss, ignoring the mockery clearly visible in watching grey eyes. ‘Mr Earle thought it best to get all our duty dances over in one go,’ she said rudely, hitting out at the man who unnerved her with just a look.
Tim looked surprised by her outburst. ‘I——’
Eden laughed lightly at his expression. ‘Only teasing, Tim. Mr Earle and I were talking and forgot the passing of the time.’
‘Yes.’ Jason relaxed back in his chair, his arm thrown casually across Claire’s shoulders. ‘We were discussing the fact that Eden is David’s granddaughter.’
Claire frowned. ‘David Morton?’
‘Mm,’ he nodded.
‘Then she’s——’
‘Graham Morton’s child by his first marriage.’
‘I see,’ Claire said tightly.
Eden wished she did. She hadn’t for one moment thought Jason Earle would blatantly admit to them knowing each other, although perhaps she should have realised what he would do—hadn’t his eyes promised punishment earlier tonight when she had been disparaging about his age? That Claire knew who David Morton, and consequently Isobel Morton, were, was obvious, although Tim looked a little puzzled by the conversation.
‘I don’t understand.’ He looked at the two of them. ‘Did you know each other before today?’
‘Not before today, no,’ Jason answered.
‘How strange that you should meet through Tim and me,’ Claire said softly.
‘But we didn’t,’ once again Jason answered for them both. ‘I called on Eden and her parents earlier this evening.’
Claire’s blue eyes passed calculatingly over the two of them, the dreamy glow she had had all evening slowly evaporating. ‘Why didn’t you tell us that when Tim introduced you?’
Jason shrugged. ‘There was nothing to tell.’
Tim still looked puzzled. ‘I still don’t understand the relationship. I thought Drew was your father.’
‘Stepfather,’ Eden corrected him. ‘Don’t look so surprised, Tim,’ she gave a light laugh. ‘Divorce and remarriage are quite common nowadays.’
‘But I—I didn’t know. I always thought Drew…’
‘He’s the only father I’ve ever known or wanted,’ she said harshly. ‘I don’t go about broadcasting the fact that my real father was a weak man who was ruled by his own father, that he——’
‘That’s enough, Eden,’ Jason cut in. ‘It isn’t necessary to go into all the details of your parents’ breakdown of marriage.’
‘No! Because if I did that your precious Isobel might come under fire.’
‘I believe we’ve already dealt with my relationship to Isobel,’ he warned harshly.
‘Well,’ Tim broke the awkward silence, ‘this is a—a——’
‘Surprise?’ Eden finished sweetly. ‘Yes, isn’t it? Mr Earle and I were quite bowled over by the surprise of it all. He was the last person I expected to see here this evening.’ Especially with Claire Channing.
‘Let’s dance, Jason,’ Claire suggested, almost sighing her relief when he complied.
Eden studied the bottom of her glass until they were safely away from the table. The last thing she had wanted was to have an argument with Jason Earle in front of the Channings, but he had put her in an awkward position by mentioning her grandfather, forcing her into explanations she would rather not have given, to Tim or anyone else.
‘Why didn’t you tell me you knew Jason?’ Tim hissed angrily. ‘I felt a damned fool just now when he told us.’
‘How could I tell you? I didn’t know he was Claire’s mysterious lover.’
‘But later, when I introduced you,’ he insisted.
She slammed her glass down. ‘I was embarrassed, especially after what you’d told me about Claire and him.’
‘Hell, yes! I’m sorry,’ he reached for her hand, smoothing his thumb over her skin. ‘I had no idea he was almost related to you.’
Her head flicked back defiantly. ‘He isn’t,’ she snapped. ‘Isobel Morton is no relation of mine! And I hardly know Jason Earle. He just called briefly on my parents earlier.’
‘But everyone knows Jason Earle.’
‘Of him,’ she corrected. ‘Can we leave, Tim?’ She put a hand up to her temple. ‘I have a headache,’ she lied. ‘Besides, I’m not enjoying myself, not with him here.’
‘You should have explained to me earlier,’ he chided gently. ‘I know Jason is seeing Isobel Morton in England, and if you’d just told me the connection,’ he shrugged, ‘I would have understood and got you out of here.’
‘Can we leave now?’ she persisted.
‘We’ll make our excuses once they get back.’
‘They’ll probably be relieved to see me go.’ Eden attempted a smile.
The smile faded from her lips as she looked up to meet taunting grey eyes. Her mouth tightened resentfully as she met that gaze defiantly, although it was finally her gaze that dropped and turned away. There was something about Jason Earle that tied her up in knots and brought out the worst in her. But she didn’t know what it was.
Tim stood up. ‘I hope you don’t mind if we leave now,’ he said with a smile. ‘Eden has a headache.’
‘Really?’ Jason Earle obviously didn’t believe this for one minute. ‘Then perhaps we should all leave.’
‘Oh no—please,’ Eden protested sharply. ‘I don’t want to break up your evening. Tim is just going to drive me home.’
‘Oh, do let’s stay, Jason,’ Claire’s hand rested lightly on his thigh as he sat next to her. ‘We only have this evening together. I think it’s very mean of you to make a business appointment for tomorrow evening. No one works on a Sunday,’ she pouted.
Eden had looked at him sharply on hearing Claire’s words. So Jason had told her he had a business meeting tomorrow evening, had he? Now was her chance to hit back at him for his earlier disclosure. And yet one look at his face told her that was exactly what he expected her to do. Well, she wouldn’t give him that satisfaction!
‘I understand you’re only here for a couple of days, Mr Earle,’ she enquired politely.
He nodded distantly. ‘I leave Monday morning.’
She raised her eyebrows. ‘So soon?’
‘My business should be completed by then.’
‘But surely America has other—attractions?’
‘Possibly.’
Claire smiled up at him. ‘It holds me, doesn’t it, darling?’ she purred. Her hard blue eyes flashed to Eden. ‘I’m sure Mrs Morton would understand that I only borrow Jason occasionally.’
‘Would she?’ Eden returned softly.
‘Oh, I’m sure she would. I wouldn’t mind in her position.’
‘No, I don’t suppose you would.’ Eden didn’t like bitching with Claire. They had nothing in common, but they were usually polite to each other. It was Jason Earle again, causing unnecessary friction. ‘And I really couldn’t care whether Mrs Morton would mind or not. I don’t owe her any favours.’
‘Shall we go, honey?’ Tim lightly touched her arm.
She gave him a bright smile. Poor Tim, he thought she was going to get into another argument. ‘Yes, let’s. Goodnight, Claire, Mr Earle.’
‘Until tomorrow, Eden,’ came Jason Earle’s parting shot.
‘Goodnight,’ she repeated hurriedly, taking hold of Tim’s arm and pulling him away. She would meet Jason Earle for dinner tomorrow if only to tell him what she thought of him! He had taken malicious satisfaction in that last comment.
Tim hung back. ‘What did he mean by that?’ he demanded to know. ‘Are you seeing him tomorrow?’
She sighed. ‘Wait until we get outside, Tim.’
‘But——’
‘Outside, Tim,’ she pleaded.
He gave in reluctantly and she could see he was very annoyed. And she couldn’t blame him for feeling that way, she was angry herself.
‘Now,’ he turned to her in the warm confines of the car, ‘what did he mean?’
‘I’m having dinner with him tomorrow.’
‘With Jason?’
She couldn’t meet the accusation in his eyes. ‘Yes.’
‘But why?’ he frowned. ‘You aren’t dating him too, are you?’
‘Certainly not,’ she denied indignantly. ‘I would have thought it was obvious that I can’t stand the man. He wants to talk to me about my grandfather, try to persuade me to go and see him.’