FORGOTTEN LOVER, Carole Mortimer [chrysanthemum read aloud TXT] 📗

‘Does he ever?’ Simon laughed.

‘Oh dear,’ she sighed worriedly. ‘What’s he done?’

‘Nothing too serious. He tried to eat the cat’s food—’

‘Ugh!’ she grimaced.

‘Quite,’ he agreed dryly. ‘The only thing was he tried to eat it at the same time as the cat did. You can imagine what happened!’

‘I’m trying not to.’ Simon and Janice had a huge grey tabby, a placid creature, until it came to her food, that she would defend with her life. ‘What happened?’

‘Tiger turned round and swiped him one. That’s when Tony grabbed her tail and wouldn’t let go.’

Velvet was laughing so much she had tears streaming down her face—or could they be due to the fact that she was missing her son so much? ‘Who won in the end?’

‘I think they called it a draw. Tony had a scratched hand, and Tiger slunk off into a corner to wash her tail. They’re friends again now, though, they’ve been playing together for the last hour. Now, how’s the work going?’

‘Quite well. But it’s so hot. You know me, I can’t stand the heat. Also—No,’ Velvet bit her lip, reluctant to tell her brother about the strange man she had just met. ‘It doesn’t matter,’ she dismissed.

‘What is it, Velvet?’ he asked sharply, always having been the one she ran to with her problems.

‘There was this man—’

‘Looking the way you do there was bound to be,’ he derided.

‘No, it wasn’t like that, Simon. He—he was so strange.’ She went on to describe her meeting with the man called Jerard.

‘Did he upset you?’ her brother wanted to know.

‘Not really,’ she frowned. ‘He disturbed me more than anything.’

‘Good-looking, was he?’ Simon teased.

‘I didn’t mean that sort of disturbed,’ she told him crossly, in a way glad that he hadn’t taken the incident seriously; it made her feel she didn’t have to either.

‘I don’t see why not—it’s some time since Anthony died. You’re too young and beautiful to be alone for ever,’ he said gently. ‘Besides, Tony needs a father.’

‘Simon!’ she spluttered her indignation. ‘This man definitely wasn’t father material, not at all,’ she added with certainty. ‘And even if he were I’m not interested. He was weird,’ she shivered, the memory of his fierce blue eyes burning into hers still very much with her.

‘Then you make sure you stay away from him,’ her brother warned. ‘I’d better let you go now, this call must be costing a fortune.’

‘Okay. Give Tony a hug for me, and a hug and a kiss for you and Janice.’

‘See you soon, love.’

She felt quite dejected once she had rung off, feeling a need to get out of her room and be among people. But she didn’t feel like walking back over to the beach, opting to use the hotel pool instead. She just hoped she wouldn’t run into that hateful man again!

It seemed her luck was in; there was no sign of the man, and the pool was mainly deserted in favour of the beach. The pool was gloriously cool, and she swam for half an hour or more before getting out to lie on one of the loungers scattered about its edge.

‘You swim well,’ remarked someone at her side.

Her eyes flickered open to meet warm blue ones; a tall blond American was standing beside her, his tan a golden bronze. But Velvet didn’t welcome a pick-up twice in one day. ‘Thank you,’ she said uninterestedly, closing her eyes again.

‘You’re one of the models staying here, aren’t you?’

Another persistent one! She opened her eyes to find he had sat down on the lounger next to hers. Velvet sat up, the anger in her clear brown eyes shielded by the huge round sun-glasses she wore. ‘How did you know that?’ she wanted to know.

‘I’m the assistant manager here,’ he grinned at her, very handsome in a golden sort of way, rather like one of the Greek gods the romantics were always talking about.

Her mouth twitched into an unwilling smile, finally smiling openly. ‘That’s cheating!’

‘I know,’ he smiled. ‘One of the perks of the job.’

‘Chatting up girls?’ she teased, knowing this man was someone she could handle.

‘You’re my first model.’ His gaze was appreciative of her slender beauty.

‘I’m flattered!’ she laughed at his directness. She liked his candidness, although he was nowhere near as excitingly attractive as the man called Jerard.

Just to think of the other man gave her a shiver down her spine—and it wasn’t one of fear. That surprised her, she hadn’t thought herself that attracted to him. He was the first man she had found remotely interesting since Anthony had died, and she felt a certain amount of resentment towards him for kindling that interest.

‘I hope that scowl isn’t for me,’ the man at her side interrupted her disturbing thoughts.

‘I—No,’ she gave him a dazzling smile. ‘I was thinking of something else.’

‘That isn’t allowed when you’re with me. I’m Greg Boyd, by the way.’

‘And I’m Velvet Dale.’

‘Oh, I know that,’ he grinned. ‘I always know the names of the beautiful women staying at the hotel.’

‘That must be difficult,’ she teased. ‘They all look beautiful.’

Greg shook his head. ‘Pretty, not beautiful. There’s a difference. You’re beautiful.’

‘Thank you,’ she accepted the compliment for what it was.

‘Care to join me in a drink?’ he invited.

‘I—’ She gave a brief glance at her wrist-watch. It was already five-thirty, time she went back to her room to prepare for the evening ahead. ‘No, thanks. I have to go now.’

He watched as she stood up and pulled on her wrap. ‘Was it something I said?’ He looked crestfallen.

‘No,’ Velvet laughed at his woebegone expression. ‘I just have an appointment this evening, and I think I should go and get ready.’

‘Just my luck,’ Greg grimaced. ‘It’s my evening off,’ he explained. ‘And I’d been hoping you might join me for dinner.’

‘Maybe another night.’ She picked up her towel and sun-tan oil.

‘I don’t have another night off this week.’

She gave a lightly teasing smile. ‘Then might I suggest another girl?’

He burst out laughing, and stood up too. ‘You’re