Storm's End Page 6

  Blaise moved close beside Julie and, surprisingly, he draped an arm across her shoulders. Julie tensed at his action but the tightening of his hand on her shoulder warned her to be still.

  "I called Dad this afternoon to tell him the surgery was over and he asked me to tell you that if you'll promise to get well in record time, he'll give you a mink coat for Christmas." It was such a frivolous message that Julie was sure it would leave her mother totally unmoved, but, instead, a second smile touched her lips. Then Blaise added, "Bobby sends his love and Dad says Mrs. Landry has already gotten him spoiled so you'd better hurry home to take charge before he's a hopeless case." He removed his arm from around Julie and leaned down to kiss Ruth's pale cheek. "I'm looking after Julie for you here, so there's nothing at all for you to worry about except getting your strength back." He straightened and looked at Julie. "I'll wait for you out in the hall. Remember, the nurse said only a minute."

  Julie stayed until a nurse came to chase her out and even then she only went with extreme reluctance. It was such a relief that the operation was over, and though she knew that for the next few weeks her mother would still be in an extremely serious condition, just the fact that she was here, her blue eyes open and that faint smile on her lips, was the greatest encouragement. Following Blaise's example, she bent to kiss her mother's cheek before leaving and she added, "I'll be in to see you again tomorrow, first thing!"

  It was still bright daylight when they left the hospital again. When they reached the car and Blaise unlocked the door, he said, "It's early yet. Care to take in a movie?" There was only friendliness in his voice now, giving no hint whatever of the anger between them earlier and Julie nodded, suddenly happy for the first time in weeks. The burden of worry about her mother was not entirely gone, could not be until the day she was finally declared totally healthy once more, but surely the worst of it was already over and for the moment, at least, Blaise was disposed to be amicable in an undemanding sort of way.

  Perhaps sensing her need even better than she did herself, Blaise chose the movie, a silly comedy that was so absurd and mindless that it took Julie out of herself and her problems entirely. He bought a huge bucket of buttered popcorn and two large cokes and they chuckled and laughed through the show like a couple of kids.

  And later, when he reached over and took her hand firmly into his, Julie not only did not object, she found that she liked it… liked it very much. It gave her a warm, breathless feeling that she enjoyed and she did not attempt to ruin it by analyzing it.

  Julie felt totally relaxed as they drove back to the apartment through the silky warmth of the night. They did not speak as Blaise drove, but Julie felt no need for words. It was a comfortable silence that lay between them and it spread a quiet happiness upon her heart. Forgotten was the ugly little scene between them earlier. Now there was only peace and satisfaction. It was enough that Blaise had come here to give her the support she had so badly needed this day and she knew that she would always be grateful to him for his thoughtfulness.

  Blaise carried her suitcases up to the apartment and when they entered the living room, Julie said, "Just put them in one of the bedrooms. Would you like some coffee?"

  He nodded. "That sounds fine. While you're making it, I'll call the hospital to check on your mother's condition."

  Julie actually found herself humming in the kitchen as she scooped coffee grounds into the paper liner in the coffeemaker and set out cups and saucers. She was glad that Blaise was staying for a little while longer. Tired and drained as she was, she was still reluctant to be left alone. While Blaise was with her, she had the sense of a problem halved, a feeling that, when shared, no burden could be quite so bad as shouldering it alone.

  Blaise came into the kitchen and leaned against the counter, watching her. He had shed his jacket and now his tanned arms gleamed darkly against the light blue short-sleeved shirt. "The hospital says Ruth is asleep and resting comfortably and that she's suffered no setbacks whatever."

  Julie's face lit up. "Thank God for that!" she exclaimed.

  Blaise nodded and sat down at the small dining table as Julie poured coffee into the cups. Then he yawned and stretched his arms above his head. "It's a good thing coffee doesn't keep me awake," he said. "I'm bushed. How about you?"

  Julie sat down across from him. "It doesn't keep me awake, either." This time she yawned and, catching his glance, she gave a little laugh. "It's your fault," she told him. "Yawning is contagious."

  Blaise grinned. "I think the sooner we hit the hay the better off we'll be. Neither of us had much sleep last night, what with having to get to the hospital so early this morning."

  "You're right." Julie's hand went up to rub her stiff neck. "Are you staying near here?"

  Blaise stared at her in bafflement. "Near here?" he repeated. "Of course not. I'm staying here."

  Now it was her turn to stare. "Here? With me?" She shook her head vigorously. "Don't be ridiculous! You're not staying here!"

  Blaise merely laughed at her. "What?" He asked mockingly. "Have you forgotten so soon that we're married?"

  Once again, she had. It was so difficult to associate this man she scarcely knew with her husband, but she was not about to admit it. "It doesn't matter," she said firmly. "It's not a real marriage and you're not staying here tonight or any other night."

  "I'm certainly not about to go out at this hour and hunt up a room somewhere else," he contradicted, "especially when there's plenty of room here for the both of us." Now his dark gaze raked across her face and down to linger on her breasts and a sneer curled his lips. "You don't need to worry, though," he added in a cruelly taunting voice. "You're quite safe with me. Even though we are married, I have absolutely no desire for you. Physically, you're very appealing, even sexy in a virginal sort of way, but," now the eyes returned to her face and there was a coldness in them that chilled Julie as he continued, "you're far too hard-boiled and bitter to be my type. I like my women soft and cuddly and friendly and you, my dear wife, simply don't have what it takes!"

  Chapter Four

  "Will you hurry up in there?" The bathroom door vibrated beneath fierce pounding. "I'd like to brush my teeth and shave some time before next summer!"

  "Oh, cute!" Julie paused in the act of toweling herself dry after her shower and stuck her tongue out toward the door. "Go away!" she shouted. "I'll be out when I'm ready and not before!"

  There was no response from the other side of the door, so Julie assumed Blaise was no longer there. She smiled grimly to herself as she liberally dusted herself with perfumed powder and then stepped into a pair of sheer bikini panties. It was a good thing there was a lock on the door. She wouldn't have put it past Blaise to simply barge right in if it suited him. He was very forceful about getting his way concerning most things.

  Like staying here, for instance, she mused as she slipped on her bra and hooked it. He had stated categorically that he was staying and so he had and there had been nothing she could do to prevent it.

  That had been over a week ago and annoyance at the memory brought her delicately feathered eyebrows down low over her eyes in a frown. He had been devastatingly insulting in his comments about her. Didn't have what it took, indeed! The words still rankled and now as she whirled around to the mirror to brush her hair she wondered what it did take to meet Blaise Richard's stiff requirements for a woman who appealed to him. Oh, sure, she remembered well what he had said… soft and cuddly and friendly. Now she sneered at her reflection in the mirror. If that was indeed what it took, then she would be extremely careful never to be any of those things.

  Now she studied her face critically. As far as she could tell it looked soft enough with its smooth, delicately golden skin over gently molded bones. Her lips most certainly could be classified as soft, supple and rounded as they were, especially the lower lip. There wasn't much fault with her figure either, she decided as she eyed it first from one side to the other and then from the front. Her breasts were full and well-
developed, her waist an ego-boosting small one from which her hips gradually flared into a sensuous curve. She also had nicely shaped long legs that tapered down to slender ankles and, altogether, she could not see why any man would not consider her soft or cuddly. But the fact remained that Blaise did not.

  Sighing, Julie lifted her arm and began stroking her hair with the brush. Blaise had meant attitude, not physical attributes, and she knew it. He had even said as much, but was she really the hard-boiled, bitter person he considered her to be? She had never thought of herself before in those terms and it was not a pleasant label to have. But even so, she had to admit that she might perhaps lean in that direction just the teensiest bit when it came to her grandfather. The very thought of him seemed to bring out the worst in her, but she had never before harbored such a deep-rooted resentment toward anyone else in her entire life. And her attitude toward him would be perfectly understandable to any rational person, she consoled herself now.

  It was Blaise, not herself, who was being irrational. Why, even he, for all his defenses otherwise, was resentful toward his stepfather for forcing them into this marriage, so why couldn't he see that she had a double reason to dislike the man? And besides, when you got right down to it, what did her feelings toward her grandfather have to do with her sex appeal as a woman, anyway?

  She put the brush down on the counter with a little thud, slipped her arms into the lightweight cotton robe, knotted its tie belt securely and went to open the door.

  Her way out was blocked by a solid shape. Blaise stood in front of her, bare-chested, arms crossed and looking about as moveable as a mountain.

  "It's about time," he grumbled. "What in God's name do women do all day long in a bathroom?"

  Julie gave a careless shrug to her slim shoulders. "Stop exaggerating," she told him. "I wasn't that long and you know it. How about moving out of the way so I can go get dressed? And don't take long in here yourself," she added warningly. "I didn't have time to put on any makeup, what with you yelling and beating on the door."

  Instead of stepping aside, Blaise slowly unwound his arms, stretched them out and with his hands, propped them on either side of the doorframe, effectively cutting off Julie's exit and bringing his face close to hers as his body thrust forward.

  "You know," he said with a disagreeable smile, "for the first time, I almost feel married. That's what married people quarrel about, isn't it… silly little things like who's turn it is to have the bathroom?"

  Julie's breathing processes were suddenly adversely affected. She was acutely conscious of how scantily dressed she was beneath the thin robe, of how even more scantily dressed Blaise was. Her gaze was drawn like a magnet to the bare expanse of his chest which was centered with dark, crisply curled hair. As closely as he was standing, she could even feel heat emanating from his body.

  "I… I wouldn't know," she stammered nervously.

  "And would you like to find out?" he asked in a low, suggestive voice. "Other ways than the quarreling, I mean?"

  Her eyelashes swept up and she discovered that his face, shadowy with morning beard was only a fraction of an inch away from hers. There was a devilish glitter in his eyes as he watched her intensely, his gaze lowering thoughtfully to her vulnerable lips.

  A liquid warmth slowly spread through Julie's body, rendering it weak and almost numb and she could feel her heart beginning to flutter erratically. If either of them moved just the slightest degree toward the other, their lips would inevitably meet and…

  "No!" She gasped hoarsely. Julie lowered her head and in a flash, had ducked beneath his arm to the freedom of the hallway beyond him.

  Blaise slowly straightened himself and half turned toward her. There was a mocking grin on lips that suddenly appeared hard as though gouged from rock. "Go put some clothes on, little girl," he ordered curtly. "And if you don't want any more scenes like that which you can't handle, stay fully dressed when you're around me."

  In her bedroom, Julie's eyes smarted with tears of anger and frustration. She had behaved like a frightened juvenile instead of a mature woman and she hated Blaise for having placed her in such a position. What was she supposed to have done… fallen into his arms? No way, she told herself fiercely as she stripped off her robe and pulled on a blouse and pair of white slacks. Blaise had made his feelings about her unmistakable the other night and just because this morning he decided he'd like to play games didn't mean she had to go along with it just for his amusement.

  He was probably bored stiff, she thought angrily as her fingers fumbled with buttons on her blouse. He had spent the last few days exclusively in her company and the dullness of it must be getting to be too much for him. Once or twice during his numerous long-distance phone calls recently, she had overheard him speak with someone that had left her in no doubt it had been his girlfriend back in Louisiana.

  Not, she told herself now in all fairness, that she had any real gripes about that. So long as their marriage remained a secret she did not care a whit if he kept up his relationship with her. In fact, it suited her fine because as long as he did, he would certainly not bother her… at least not once they were back in Louisiana and in the other woman's vicinity.

  By the time she was fully dressed, Julie had pulled herself together enough to be able to face Blaise again with equanimity. Until today, he had behaved toward her with perfect propriety, just as though they were brother and sister instead of husband and wife and, so long as she did nothing to provoke him, in all likelihood he would leave her alone in the future. Besides, it was only for a few more days at the most. Just as soon as the doctors took her mother off the serious list, Blaise would be returning home to his work… and that other girl.

  She left her room and went to the kitchen where she began preparing their breakfast, and by the time she had it ready Blaise had finished his shower. He came into the kitchen wearing a pair of navy blue slacks with a navy and white pullover knit shirt and his hair still gleamed with droplets of water.

  "Did you wrap your gift for Bobby yet?" he asked as he sat down.

  Julie nodded. "Yes. I'd like to mail it this morning before we go to the hospital." In a few days it would be Bobby's birthday and yesterday she had purchased a Houston Astro's shirt for him.

  "Fine. I've got a couple of calls to make before we leave," Blaise said, "but I'll be ready by the time you are."

  Everyday talk. Common talk. Marriage talk. Blaise had been right about that, Julie thought now as she buttered a piece of toast. They could have been married for years the way they shared all the trivial everyday things people talked about or quarrelled about in day to day living. There was only one thing that didn't make it a marriage in reality, as he had so aptly pointed out. Now, as Julie glanced at him across the table, she was doubly determined that it would never happen. Deep inside she had to acknowledge that there was something about Blaise that attracted her, call it animal magnetism or whatever, and the fact that they were married could make it the easiest thing in the world to allow herself to give in to that sexual appeal, but she would never do so. Blaise loved someone else and their marriage was but a temporary formality and she would do well to remember it and save herself a lot of pain in the future. She had been hurt enough by Duane dropping her so precipitously when the going got rough and she had no intention of ever allowing herself to be crushed that way again by any man.

  A surprise greeted them when they arrived at the hospital in midmorning. Ruth was no longer in the intensive care unit. She had been transferred to a private room.

  "Mom!" Julie exclaimed with exuberant delight once they located the room and found her mother propped up in bed, prettily got up in her own sky-blue night-gown, her hair obviously freshly washed and gently waved around her face and a beaming smile on her lips. "This is marvelous! Did you know about this yesterday?"

  Ruth's blue eyes sparkled as she nodded. "I knew it was a probability but I didn't want to tell you about it until it actually happened. I feel that now I've officia
lly rejoined the ranks of the living. For a while I thought all I was was a machine that had to be constantly watched and tended lest it break down completely."

  Blaise laughed at her. "You're looking grand, Ruth," he complimented her. "There's a bit of color to your cheeks today."

  "Rouge," Ruth said cryptically. "The nurse did it for me to help me celebrate."

  "Looks as though someone else is helping you celebrate, too," Julie commented as she walked over to the window ledge where two enormous bouquets of flowers rested, one crimson red roses, the other lovely spring daisies in a basket. As long as her mother had been in intensive care neither she nor Blaise had ordered any flowers because there was simply no place to put them in that tiny room and now she looked curiously at the bright arrangements.

  "Yes," her mother answered. "Those arrived a few minutes ago. One is from Andrew and the other is from Bobby."

  "How did they know a celebration was due?" Blaise asked with mock sternness, "when we were being kept in the dark?"

  Ruth giggled. "Well, Andrew telephoned last night and we had a relay conversation through Maggie, you know, the head night nurse in intensive care, and I told her to tell him. He was so pleased, he not only wired flowers, he called me a few minutes ago." She indicated the bedside telephone with her right hand.

  "Hmmph, all kinds of socializing going on and we weren't even invited," Blaise complained.

  "That's right," Julie agreed solemnly. "You know," she said to Blaise, "I think in our case familiarity breeds contempt. She's tired of us."

  "Don't be silly," Ruth laughed, "You both know I couldn't have made it through the past few days without you. But I did want to surprise you today."

  "Well, you certainly did that," Julie smiled and bent down to kiss her mother's forehead. "And it's the nicest surprise possible. Surely the doctors wouldn't have allowed you to move in here unless they were positive you're really and truly on the mend."