Yesterday's Bride Read online

  Of white frame with black shutters, the house had obviously started out, many years ago, as a classically balanced dwelling, its severity softened by huge old boxwoods and masses of flowers. Several additions had been made, not wings exactly but rambling extensions, linked together by a long, shaded porch. Rather than hodgepodge, as one would expect, each addition added character to the house and the total effect was charming.

  Jason brought the car to a halt near the front door and before Leigh could climb out tossed a small box in her lap, saying casually, "Better wear those. Folks around here are conventional."

  Leigh lifted the lid to reveal her wedding and engagement rings which she awkwardly pushed onto her finger.

  As they stepped onto the porch, Leigh shaking the wrinkles from her green knit dress, the front door opened and a tall, angular woman in bright pink stepped out. Quirking her lips into what seemed to be a smile, she spoke to Jason tartly. "It's time you were back. Took long enough."

  Then she looked Leigh over, strong disapproval in her eyes. "This must be your wife."

  Jason introduced Leigh to his cousin, Mary Smith, or Smitty as he said everyone called her.

  The woman's answer was an inelegant "humph." She ignored Leigh's greeting and led the way inside the shining oak-floored hall, telling Jason over her shoulder that she would fetch the child.

  Before she could reach the curving staircase, he had halted her with a hand on her arm. "What about some coffee first, Smitty? We've had a long drive."

  Smitty turned around and disappeared through a door at the back of the hall.

  "I gather she's upset because I'm here," Leigh commented.

  Not bothering to deny her guess, Jason directed Leigh toward the double doors on the right side of the hall. Entering the living room she gazed around in wonder. Done in shades of green and gold, the room looked both elegant and comfortable, not a usual combination. And much-used, Leigh thought, noticing that the couch and several deep armchairs were arranged around a table scattered with magazines, and that a book lay open on the stool of the grand piano in the corner.

  Jason was watching as she sank into the depths of the gold velvet couch. "The room suits you," he declared surprisingly.

  Embarrassed and ill at ease, Leigh was glad when Smitty appeared with a loaded tray.

  As they sipped their coffee, the silence lengthened.

  "Do you live here alone?" Leigh asked abruptly in an attempt to relieve the tension she felt.

  Jason raised black eyebrows. "Curious about my domestic arrangements, Leigh?" he drawled.

  Choking on the hot coffee, she spluttered, "I was just trying to make civil conversation and you know it."

  There was a slight pause before Jason replied. "Yes, I live here alone, except when Bob and Clare are between assignments." He added coolly, "My nights aren't lonely, though, if that's what you wanted to know."

  Leigh's cup clattered into the saucer just as Jason rose from his chair. "We'll get some air while we wait for Smitty," he said, taking Leigh's elbow to guide her to the door.

  Leigh pulled violently away from him. His touch was disturbing. "Keep your hands off me, Jason," she hissed.

  "With pleasure, my dear," he said smoothly and led the way to the back of the house, through a pleasantly cluttered sun-room, and outside to a slate patio.

  It was a lovely spot. Flowering pink and white dogwood trees were clustered around the patio and beyond it, visible through the trees, a kidney-shaped pool was under construction, being built from the same stone as the patio. Before Leigh had had more than a cursory glance around, Smitty was calling them to come inside the house.

  In the hall Smitty was holding the hand of a plump little girl dressed in a blue pinafore, her shining brown hair pulled into a fat sausage curl on top of her head.

  When she caught sight of Jason she ran to him, reaching up her arms to be held. He swung her up in his arms for a few seconds before depositing her again on her own two feet.

  "Jody, I want you to meet your Aunt Leigh," he said. "She's going to be taking care of you for a while."

  Jody turned a serious round face to Leigh, held out her hand, and said hello. Kneeling down until she was Jody's height, Leigh took the outstretched hand and as solemnly greeted the little girl. She didn't really know what to say to the child.

  Suddenly Jody gave her a mischievous grin that reminded Leigh forcibly of Jason. If she's like her uncle, thought Leigh, her heart skipping a beat, then I'm in for more trouble.

  Jason took Jody's hand and led her toward the front door. "Come on, Leigh, we'd better get going."

  "Get going where?" Leigh asked, not moving. "I was under the impression that this is your house."

  Jason turned to her, his voice silky. "Didn't I tell you? We won't be staying here. I'm having some remodeling done, a noisy business."

  Leigh didn't trust him an inch. "From what I saw, the pool is far enough from the house for the workmen not to make too big a disturbance."

  "Ah, but the pool is only the beginning. Next come the upstairs rooms. Hammering, sawing, clutter and dust. It would be too unsettling for a hothouse flower like you, my dear. Now Smitty here is tough as old shoe leather. Nothing bothers her, but you and Jody will be better off away from all the upheaval."

  He raised a hand to ward off the protests she was struggling to make. "I've got just the place for us. Exactly what you need, Leigh, a quiet, little cottage. Come on." And with that he firmly herded Leigh and the child out to the car.

  After Jody's luggage was stowed in the trunk, the child was installed in the back seat and Leigh in front and Jason drove swiftly down a road that curved around the house and its outbuildings. He passed two cottages standing close together and motioned to them without slowing.

  "A couple of my tenant farmers live there," he volunteered. "You'll be able to walk down to visit them from our place."

  Another mile or so and Jason pulled into the driveway of a small, square house, similar to the ones they had passed except that this one did not have the well cared for appearance of the other two. It badly needed painting and the yard was unkempt, filled with weeds and more bald spots than grass. Jason helped Leigh out of the car and swept her a mocking bow.

  "Welcome to your new home."

  Chapter Three

  Leigh was speechless.

  "What's the matter, my dear? Not grand enough for you?" Jason asked with a harsh laugh.

  Suddenly Leigh was beginning to comprehend just what he had in mind for her.

  Jason took her elbow, his touch sending a tingle along her nerve ends. "Come along. I'm sure you can't wait to see the rest of it."

  The interior of the house looked just like the outside, neglected and unkempt. As Jason ushered her in, Leigh stifled a wild impulse to turn around and run as fast as she could in the opposite direction.

  Holding Jody by the hand, Jason showed her around, carelessly explaining that the house until recently had been occupied by one of his farm workers who had since moved on. "A bachelor, who didn't much care about housework," he added unnecessarily.

  The front door opened directly into a large room which ran the width of the house. It was apparently used for a dining room as well as a living room, as evidenced by a round oak table and four high-backed chairs pushed into a corner. The rest of the furnishings were sparse: a sofa and chair that had seen better days, several small tables and an empty bookcase. The once-varnished pine floor was partially covered by a worn brown rug that somehow fit in with the mottled walls.

  Aware that Jason was watching closely for her reaction, Leigh carefully kept her face devoid of expression.

  Down a short hallway that opened off one end of the room were two bedrooms with a bath in between.

  "Mine," Jason said succinctly, indicating the first door. Walking to the second one, he pushed it open and pointed to the single bed and crib that the room contained.

  "You and Jody will share in here." His well-cut mouth quirked at one corner. "It
seemed the best arrangement."

  Jody dived for a doll propped up against a box of blocks in the corner. Jason explained that Jody's clothes had been transferred, along with the toys, from the other house.

  Twisting the strap of her tan leather shoulder bag, Leigh hesitantly voiced her thoughts. "There's really no need for you to stay here, Jason. Jody and I will manage, I'm sure," she asserted with more confidence than she felt.

  He gave her a cold look. "I'm sure that you could, Leigh, but that's not the point of my staying here. This cottage is rather isolated, there are no neighbors within shouting distance and there is no telephone. Jody was left in my care, and I intend to see to it that no harm comes to her. I won't be around much if that's what's bothering you."

  Leigh shivered at the ice in his tones.

  He motioned her into the kitchen just across the hall, leaving Jody happily cuddling her doll. Rather hurriedly, Jason gave her a general idea of the kitchen layout and mentioned that Smitty had stocked up on food for them.

  "I'll get your bags," he said on his way through the door. "There should be something warming in the oven for lunch."

  Leigh made a face at the retreating back. "I guess that means I'm supposed to dish it up," she murmured to herself as she gave the room a closer inspection than Jason's disturbing presence had heretofore allowed her. If anything, it was worse than the main room. Here the walls had gone beyond being mottled. What had once been a flowered wallpaper was now peeling in places. The floor seemed to be covered with some sort of linoleum, long since faded to an indiscriminate grayish tone.

  Obviously Jason intended to make her stay here as uncomfortable as possible as some sort of perverted retribution for the blow she had dealt his pride. Well, she had given her word, so she was stuck here, but she wasn't going to give Jason the satisfaction of moaning about it, Leigh decided with spirit as she bent to peek in the oven.

  He probably expected the luxury-loving fashion model to bolt at the first sight of this place, Leigh told herself, grinning. Oh, if he only knew. She got good commissions for her modeling jobs now that she was sought after by the top magazines, but it hadn't always been that way. In fact, when she was just starting out, she had had quite a struggle, a hand-to-mouth existence for a while. She had refused financial help from her grandfather, determined to make it on her own, and she had. Her present apartment was quite cozy, but the first one that she could manage, without a roommate, had been one room with a hotplate for a kitchen and the bathroom down the hall.

  Opening a few cupboards to find dishes and cutlery, Leigh quickly set the formica-topped table for three, noting that someone had brought a booster seat for Jody. She was just putting a steaming chicken casserole on a mat in the center of the table when Jason came in, carrying a giggling Jody piggyback. He had discarded his gray suit for a plaid shirt and well-worn jeans, which closely molded his lean form. Not a spare ounce of flesh on him, Leigh thought as she watched the powerful shoulders flex when he swung Jody into her chair.

  Not wanting to be caught observing him, Leigh turned to the counter to slice the loaf of bread Smitty had provided.

  During lunch, Jason briefed her on Jody's routine and Leigh listened carefully. Never having taken care of a child before, she felt she needed all the pointers she could get.

  "How do you like the cottage?" Jason asked slyly, suddenly changing the subject.

  "Oh, it's not too bad," Leigh answered cheerfully.

  A look of ill-concealed surprise flitted across Jason's strong features. Clearly her response was not what he had expected.

  "It reminds me of my first apartment on my own," she continued, a gleam of mischief in the clear gray eyes. "Of course," she tilted her head consideringly, "this cottage is much larger than my place was."

  His only answer was a skeptical glance, the black eyebrows raised in disbelief.

  Leigh couldn't help adding with wide-eyed innocence. "I'm pretty handy with a paintbrush and a needle. Maybe you'd like me to fix the cottage up a bit for your next tenant while I'm here."

  With a frown, Jason pushed back his chair and stood up.

  "I have work to do. If you need help for any reason while I'm away, there's a bell hanging on a pole by the back door. Ring it. Around here, that signals emergency."

  He went to give Jody a kiss, telling her to be a good girl for her Auntie Leigh. Watching him, Leigh marveled at the tender expression on his usually cold face.

  "I should be back around dinnertime," was his farewell to her as he disappeared from view.

  Rather unsure of herself, Leigh approached Jody who was staring solemnly back at her, and tentatively held out a hand to help the child down from the table.

  "Uncle Jason says you have a nap after lunch, Jody. Would you like me to read you a story first?" she offered.

  The little girl nodded and led the way into the bedroom they were to share. In no time at all, Leigh had her tucked in, her teddy bear caught tightly under her arm.

  Poor little tyke, Leigh thought as she made her way back to the kitchen. It must be unsettling to be thrust into the care of a complete stranger.

  After the dishes were done, Leigh tiptoed back into the bedroom to check on the child. She was sleeping peacefully, the rather scruffy-looking bear still clutched to her. What an angel, Leigh thought at the sight of the brown curls tumbled on the pillow and the fat little cheeks rosy with sleep. Maybe these weeks wouldn't be so bad after all, with Jody as compensation.

  Actually, Leigh hadn't had a break from her job in several years. Every time she decided to take a few weeks off, some big assignment would come her way and Dan, her agent, would insist that she take it and defer the vacation.

  As quietly as possible, so she wouldn't disturb Jody, Leigh changed her tailored green dress for jeans and a yellow T-shirt. The jeans were old and tight, left over from Leigh's school days, but they were the only ones she had with her so they would have to do. Coming to Raleigh at a moment's notice to attend the funeral, Leigh hadn't brought much in the way of clothes with her. She unpacked the meager wardrobe, hanging the dresses in the closet and putting the small supply of underclothes in a dresser drawer. Maybe she would be able to buy a few necessities in the nearest town.

  Peering into the mirror atop the dresser, Leigh pulled her blond hair tightly back into a high ponytail and grimaced at the reflection that looked back at her. What she did not realize was that the severity of the style suited her, emphasizing her high cheekbones and revealing what her softly swinging shoulder-length tresses often hid, a rounded but very determined chin.

  Leigh spent the time until Jody awoke wandering around the cottage, trying to determine what she could do to make it more habitable. It would serve Jason right if she left everything as it was, but with Jody living here, she would clean the place up. The one room she didn't go into was Jason's. Just the realization that she had to see him every day and go on seeing him made her nervous enough without dwelling on their enforced intimacy in the small cottage. She had loved him, but she had gotten over him. In New York, as time passed, she was able to banish him from her mind. Here, it was going to be much more difficult. One thing she hadn't forgotten was the physical response he had aroused in her, a burning passion she had never since felt for any other man. If he ever touched her again, she promised herself she would scream the house down. Not that there was much likelihood. He had made it crystal clear what he thought of her.

  Leigh's chaotic thoughts were disturbed by a small cry that had her rushing into Jody's room. The child was in the process of climbing over the rails of the crib. Leigh went to give her a hand and led her off to the bathroom.

  Jody seemed to be a reserved, quiet child. Although Leigh admittedly didn't know much about children and what made them tick, she had a lot of common sense and realized she should take things slowly with Jody. She was the stranger, the newcomer in Jody's life, and she would have to be patient until Jody was ready to accept her.

  The rest of the afternoon went we
ll. They took a companionable walk in the woods behind the cottage, stopping frequently to examine budding flowers or to pick up interesting rocks and bits of moss. Jody was more vocal than she had been before and ran about uninhibitedly, especially when a brightly colored butterfly teased her to chase it. On the way back to the cottage she slipped her hand shyly into Leigh's.

  After the walk, Leigh suggested a bath and Jody agreed, albeit reluctantly, and then proceeded to enjoy herself thoroughly. She splashed so much that by the time Leigh lifted her out of the tub, Leigh was half-soaked, the yellow T-shirt clinging to her like a second skin.

  She was enfolding Jody in a big, soft towel when she noticed Jason leaning negligently in the doorway, making the small room seem much smaller.

  "Which one of you had the bath?"

  "Very funny," muttered Leigh, self-conscious in the revealing shirt and tight jeans, aware of how Jason's eyes were moving over her.

  He offered to dress Jody in the pajamas lying ready on a bathroom shelf, and Leigh escaped to the bedroom to change back into the green dress. Its tailored simplicity molded her willowy form, and the almond color was reflected in her eyes, deepening them. She was just brushing out her hair when Jason tapped lightly on the door before walking in.

  He took in the green dress and lifted a mocking eyebrow. "Are you more comfortable now?"

  Leigh was far from comfortable in his disturbing presence. "More presentable, at least," she answered.

  Leisurely he looked her up and down. "Oh, I wouldn't say that," he drawled. "I rather liked you as you were."

  Annoyed at his baiting, Leigh brushed past and went into the kitchen.

  There, she rummaged in the refrigerator to find the two thick steaks she had spotted earlier. She seasoned them lightly and put them under the broiler. Uncertain about what Jody would eat, she boiled two eggs and got out a box of cornflakes, just in case. By the time she had assembled a salad and set the table, everything was ready.