The Friendship Barrier Read online

  Following him down to his car, Stephanie tried to relax, knowing it was impossible. Inside his car, the familiar scents of leather and Jake’s cologne enveloped her. She leaned back in her seat, closing her eyes. Perhaps, if she couldn’t see him, she wouldn’t be so powerfully affected by his presence. Her eyes flew open as she felt his breath brush her face, her startled gaze meeting his tight one.

  ‘You forgot this,’ he told her, handing her the seat belt, ‘or had you forgotten it’s become law now?’

  Feeling like a fool, she fastened it quickly, hoping that Jake wouldn’t notice the dull flush of colour staining her skin. Normally, a good driver with whom she felt completely relaxed, tonight for some reason there was an unleased impatience about the way he handled the car, and she felt as though there were nothing he would like better than to give it its head.

  ‘Don’t look so worried,’ he drawled, misinterpreting the look she gave him. ‘I’m not about to carry you off to my bed.’ He turned away from her, and muttered something Stephanie couldn’t quite catch but that sounded like ‘much good it would do either of us,’ and she flushed again at the implication behind the words. Did he honestly believe she wasn’t woman enough to respond to his caresses and to give him the pleasure he was no doubt accustomed to sharing with women like Susy? Perhaps she wasn’t… perhaps love was not an adequate substitute for experience. Stephanie closed her eyes, knowing that if she didn’t she wouldn’t be able to stop herself from reaching out to touch him; from giving in to the fierce hunger that grew daily inside her.

  ‘You’re home, Stephanie.’ The dry words brought her back to reality with a start. She hadn’t even realised that Jake had stopped the car.

  ‘Did you manage to make all the arrangements for Florida?’ It was the first thing that came into her head, and his mouth tightened slightly as he listened to her.

  ‘I managed,’ he told her curtly. We leave at eight-thirty on Monday morning. You’d better spend Sunday evening at my place. We’ll go by taxi from there. There’s no need to look at me like that,’ he told her. ‘I’ve already said it once. If you want me to repeat it I will. The only way you’re going to get into my bed, Stephanie, is by begging me to take you there, which leaves your virtue pretty steel-clad, wouldn’t you say?’

  He drove off before she could retort, and it was only as she inserted her key in her lock that Stephanie realised that it was the first time he had ever brought her home at night and not seen her safely inside her flat, and somehow that made her want to cry more than all that had gone before.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  ‘COMFORTABLE?’

  Stephanie nodded her head as she fastened her seat belt for the long flight to Florida. After all her dread about staying at Jake’s apartment overnight, the evening had passed without incident. Jake had shut himself in his study almost from the moment they arrived at his apartment, and hadn’t emerged at eleven o’clock when Stephanie had decided to go to bed. She had lain there sleepless, listening to the alien night sounds around her, shivering slightly as she recalled his low-voiced comment to her that if she wanted to share his bed she would have to beg for permission to do so.

  Knowing that the flight would be a long one, Stephanie had brought with her a thick paperback epic she had been promising herself she would read for months, and in the airport Jake had bought her a large pile of glossy magazines. As soon as the take-off procedure was completed, and they were free to unfasten their seat belts, Jake opened his briefcase, and started work. Stephanie who had flown with him before had known what to expect, but on this occasion she felt a tiny flare of pain that he could block out her presence so easily, when she had to fight constantly against her awareness of him.

  Within an hour of take-off, the stewardesses were serving breakfast. Stephanie accepted only fruit juice and coffee, noticing that Jake did the same. Afterwards, he turned back to his work, leaving her to stare aimlessly through the window.

  ‘Bored?’

  She hadn’t realised he was watching her. ‘No… my book…’

  ‘Doesn’t seem to be holding your attention. I’ve got some contracts to check, would you do it with me?’

  Nodding her agreement, Stephanie took the sheaf of papers he held out, trying not to remember all those occasions in the past when they had worked together in amicable harmony Now, all that was gone. Suppressing a sigh, she tried to concentrate on the typed pages she was holding. The purpose of their visit to Florida was so that Jake could formally complete a partnership deal he was entering with an American real estate company, to sell and rent condo apartments and villas for holiday and retirement purposes.

  The negotiations had been protracted and slow-moving. Jake was anxious to protect the interests of potential buyers and had required certain guarantees and sub-clauses to be inserted in the contract, which had delayed its completion. Now the contract was ready for signature, and the first villas and condo block built by the American company were finished. The plan was for a small, self-contained complex to be built along the coast, complete with swimming pools, a small shopping centre and library, and of course the mandatory American sports complex. Because the part of Florida Keys where the construction was taking place was remote, Jake had been concerned for its desirability for those people who might buy the villas as potential holiday homes, and this had involved the construction of a new road to link up with the main highway.

  ‘You managed to get them to agree to free membership for the golf club, then?’ Stephanie commented, so immersed in the contract that, for a moment, she forgot the atmosphere between them.

  Jake, too, seemed willing to overlook it as he explained.

  ‘Yes, for many of the older people, living on a fixed income, the golf course is more important than the sports complex, and the fact that they might have to pay inflated fees to join could put them off buying. I’ve deliberately delayed this visit because I wanted to see for myself just what standard the dwellings have been finished to. That’s why I’ve arranged for us to stay in one of the villas,’ he added calmly.

  ‘We’re staying in one of the villas?’ Stephanie couldn’t prevent the panic from creeping up into her voice. ‘But I thought you’d booked us into one of the hotels in Miami.’

  ‘It wouldn’t have been practical. We’d have had to travel out to the site almost every day to check on progress. I decided we could judge the site far better if we actually stayed there. The sports complex is finished, and so is the larger swimming pool. I intend to test them all out. The shopping arcade isn’t finished yet, and as we’ll have to be self-sufficient, I’ve arranged a hire car so that you can go into town to pick up whatever supplies we need. It’s the best way of testing the viability of the site. I’ve also set up a meeting with Brice Challoner who’s going to handle the PR side of things and act generally as our representative at the Florida end.

  ‘Brice Challoner?’

  ‘He’s a partner in Challoner and Hearst, the real estate agents we’ve dealt with before in Florida, and he also has connections with Hearst Meadows, the PR company we’re using.’

  ‘Yes, of course, I recognise his name,’ Stephanie murmured, turning her attention back to the contract, a cold shaft of fear touching her heart. Once Jake would have discussed all these arrangements with her before making them… but, of course, now that she had handed in her notice… Blinking away betraying tears she tried to concentrate.

  They were served lunch, which Stephanie barely touched; watched a film, and were served another meal, and then, just as Stephanie began to feel tiredness claiming her, they began to descend.

  Even travelling first class, there was the inevitable hassle collecting their luggage and, by the time they eventually left the airport building, she was feeling totally disorientated, both by the long flight and the time change, so much so, that she almost lost Jake when he abruptly veered off, heading for a man standing searching the crowd, his deep tan and wheat-blond hair making him distinctive even amongst the bronzed c
rowds of holidaymakers in the airport terminal.

  ‘Hi, you must be Jake,’ he announced breezily, shaking Jake’s hand, his eyes riveted on Stephanie, ‘and this?’

  ‘My secretary, Stephanie Walters,’ Jake introduced curtly. ‘Thanks for meeting us.’

  ‘No problem. Hi, Stephanie. I’m Brice Challoner.’

  ‘Nice to meet you Mr Challoner,’ Stephanie returned formally, holding out her hand. It was almost lost in the tanned breadth of his, blue eyes twinkling as he grinned down at her.

  ‘No “Misters” here, honey… we don’t go in for that sort of thing, and besides, I hate to hear a beautiful girl, calling me “Mister”; it kinda makes me feel old.’

  He was somewhere about Jake’s age, in his early thirties, Stephanie guessed, but with a breezy, good-natured manner that made him seem younger.

  ‘The car’s out back. I’ve hired one for you and it’s down at the complex. Anything you want whilst you’re here, just give me a call. Right now, I expect you folks are feeling pretty tired. We’ve got a fair drive ahead of us, but the traffic shouldn’t be so bad.’

  ‘How will people arriving to spend holidays in the villas get there?’ Stephanie asked, thinking of their long flight and the inevitable muzziness and exhaustion at the end of it. A long drive to their final destination would be daunting to parents arriving with small families, and might put them off using the villas.

  ‘Good point,’ Jake broke in.

  ‘Well, most of them will probably organise hire cars, but we can work something out. Arrange a welcoming service, if you like. It shouldn’t be too difficult.’ He grinned at Stephanie. ‘Beautiful and efficient. Now that’s a combination I like. If you ever decide you’d like to work in the States, I could use a good secretary, especially one with an accent like yours. English secretaries are something of a status symbol around here.’

  Was he serious, Stephanie wondered with a thudding heart? If so, his offer might be the ideal solution to her dilemma. Even if she could find another job as good as the one she had with Jake in London, living there would be a constant torment and reminder of what she had lost. She had good qualifications and, although working abroad had never particularly appealed to her, there might be something to be said for putting the width of the Atlantic Ocean between them. She glanced up at Jake, almost automatically, and wished she hadn’t when she saw the grim look tensing his mouth.

  ‘If you’re thinking what I think you’re thinking,’ he gritted at her as Brice walked ahead to unlock the doors of a gleaming Mercedes, ‘then don’t. For one thing, I wouldn’t give you a good enough reference.’

  ‘Perhaps he’ll take me without,’ Stephanie replied flippantly ‘… on the strength of his own judgement.’

  ‘Right now, the only level his judgement’s working on is how good you’d be in bed,’ Jake told her brutally.

  Their proximity to Brice’s car prevented Stephanie from making any further response. She was careful to take the back seat of the car, leaving the front free for Jake but, to her surprise, he elected to slide in beside her, his thigh brushing against hers as he subsided into the seat.

  ‘You gave us all a surprise when you said you’d stay at the villa,’ Brice remarked, as they drew out of the parking lot. ‘We thought you’d stay in Miami.’

  ‘If I’m going to recommend and sell the complex to my clients, I want to be sure of what they’re getting,’ Jake responded briskly. ‘American and British ideas as to what takes priority sometimes differ.’

  ‘Yeah, well, of course, you know that the maid service isn’t functional yet—only half a dozen or so villas have been completed. We’ve put you in a two-bedroomed one.’ In the driving mirror, Stephanie saw his eyes meet Jake’s in silent query, and her cheeks burned at the implications in the look they exchanged.

  ‘That’s fine,’ Jake responded easily. ‘Am I right in thinking that the villas so far completed form a semi-village concept around their own pool?’

  ‘That’s right. All these villas are of the smaller design—the larger ones have their own pools. We thought they would be suitable for retired couples. They’ve been designed for easy running, and they’re all within easy reach of all the facilities.’

  As the two men continued to chat, Stephanie wondered why Jake hadn’t taken the front passenger seat. Her eyelids felt heavy and she was longing to sleep. Reluctantly she let them close. Perhaps, if she just rested them for a few minutes…

  ‘Stephanie…’

  Reluctantly, she forced her eyes open. They felt as though iron weights were attached to their lids. She felt warm and comfortable, protected in a way she hadn’t felt, oh… for longer than she could remember. Beneath her cheek was something warm and reassuringly solid. Something firm held her round her waist, and she didn’t really want to move.

  ‘Stephanie, wake up. We’re here.’

  Jake! She was with Jake! As she struggled into a sitting position, Stephanie realised that she had been sleeping in his arms with her head on his shoulder. Trying to appear calm and unflustered, she glanced in the driving mirror. Brice Challoner was watching her speculatively.

  ‘I’m sorry I fell asleep on you, like that,’ she apologised to Jake. ‘The long flight…’

  Jake flexed his arm, and grimaced faintly, as though it were numb, as Brice turned off the main road and the car bumped over an unmade-up track that seemed to meander without purpose through the chaos of the construction site.

  ‘You aren’t seeing it at its best,’ he warned them. ‘You’ll have to exercise your imagination to see all this lot lawned and planted with trees. You’ve seen the site plans?’

  This last question was addressed to Jake, who nodded his head.

  ‘I guess when I drop you off, you’ll both want to catch up on your sleep. How about if I give you a call tomorrow morning?’

  ‘Fine,’ Jake agreed, as the car turned the corner, and Stephanie saw the villas in front of them.

  Built in a Mexican-cum-Spanish style, they presented curiously blank fronts, which Brice explained would eventually be softened by climbing plants. ‘The architects’ idea was to create a sort of enclosed, almost Moorish effect, which you can judge best from inside. All the villas have their own backyards and keys that let them into the completely private pool area beyond. It’s quite effective, but I won’t come in with you now. I’ll leave you to explore for yourselves.’ He had stopped the car and turned to smile at Stephanie.

  ‘Sorry about falling asleep like that,’ she apologised, flushing slightly beneath his wryly amused regard.

  ‘Think nothing of it, honey,’ he told her. ‘I only wish a beautiful girl like you would turn into my arms like a homing pigeon coming to roost. No wonder you chose to sit in the back seat, Jake,’ he chuckled.

  He was only teasing them, Stephanie knew, and there was as little reason for her to feel so acutely embarrassed as there was for the look of intense anger that glittered briefly in Jake’s eyes.

  ‘Car’s in the garage. Here are the keys.’ Brice tossed a bunch of keys to Jake. ‘See you folks tomorrow.’

  Jake lifted their cases out of the car’s deep trunk and then Brice reversed away, leaving them alone.

  ‘Shall we go in?’

  The small close had a raw, unfinished air to it, and Stephanie shivered slightly. ‘They had to get the villa furnished for us to occupy it, so Heaven knows what it will be like,’ Jake told her, putting the key in the door, ‘but if American efficiency is all it’s supposed to be, we should find it quite liveable in.’

  Following him inside, Stephanie stared around with appreciation. They were in a large living-room-cum-hall, with the stairs rising out of it. At the opposite end of the room, patio windows opened out on to what Brice had described as the ‘yard’ but what was, in effect, a very attractive and good-sized garden.

  ‘Kitchen and dining room should be through there,’ Jake said, indicating two doors. ‘Do you want to go and investigate while I take our cases up? I wouldn’t m
ind a cup of coffee if you could rustle one up…’

  The kitchen seemed to possess every electrical gadget known, plus an enticing selection of fresh and frozen food.

  ‘There’s enough stuff here to feed an army,’ Stephanie couldn’t resist muttering to herself as she found a percolator and opened a can of coffee. Jake preferred his made from fresh beans, and she made a mental note to buy some if she got the chance.

  ‘How is it?’

  She hadn’t heard him come downstairs and tensed, glancing hesitantly towards him.

  ‘Everything’s fine. The kitchen seems to be a housewife’s paradise.’

  ‘Or a househusband’s,’ Jake drawled. ‘Don’t forget you’re in the States now, where they take sexual equality very seriously. Coffee ready?’

  ‘Your chauvinism is showing,’ Stephanie teased him, pouring him a cup, forgetting for a moment the gulf that now lay between them. ‘I’ll try and get some fresh beans tomorrow,’ she added grinning at his wry expression as he took a sip. ‘How does the villa measure up so far?’

  ‘On the face of it, quite well. Both bedrooms are a good size, and both have fully equipped bathrooms. I’m going to take a look outside. Why don’t you try and catch up on your sleep?’

  Hurt that he didn’t invite her to accompany him, Stephanie busied herself pouring herself a cup of coffee.

  ‘Will we be eating in?’

  ‘I think so. With the flight and the time difference, we’re both totally disorientated. No doubt Brice will want to take us out to dinner tomorrow. You definitely made a hit there, but don’t get too excited about that job offer he made you. Something tells me that sharing an office wasn’t all he had in mind, and we both know how you’d feel about sharing his bed.’

  ‘Do we?’ Suddenly, Stephanie was angry. ‘What makes you think that, Jake? For all you know, I could be quite happy about the prospect. After all, he’s an extremely attractive man.’ She brushed past him before he could say anything. Let him go and explore their surroundings on his own if that’s what he wanted!