He was thirty-two, in his prime, with a lurking devil in his eyes and a sensual quirk to his mouth that was worth any amount of good looks, except that he had them as well.
But as for him being hers? Had he ever really been hers? She’d been his in every possible way, but she’d never felt, in her heart, that she’d been vital to him. Nor had she ‘let him go’. She’d merely faced the fact that in all important ways he’d gone already.
Marianne murmured, ‘You really don’t mind if I try my luck?’
‘You’re welcome to him,’ Kelly said firmly. Oh, it felt good to be able to say that; not to have to watch jealously. ‘Come on, I’ll introduce you.’
As they weaved their way through the throng of guests Kelly tried to calm down. The sight of Jake had given her a shock because she wasn’t expecting him, but that was all. She was a little annoyed with him for gate-crashing, but apart from that she was cool. A few feet away from him she waved gaily.
‘Jake, how nice to see you,’ she carolled.
He gave her his practised smile. ‘I’m sorry, have we m-? Kelly?’
The sheer blank astonishment in his eyes gave her heart a lift. That had knocked him off his feet. Yes!
‘Let me introduce you to Marianne,’ she said. ‘Marianne-my ex.’
‘If he was mine he’d never be allowed to be an ex,’ Marianne laughed, taking the hand Jake offered her.
‘Kelly just discarded me,’ he sighed. ‘Tossed aside like an old shoe when I’d outlived my usefulness.’ He was looking warmly into Marianne’s eyes.
‘Oh, really, Jake!’ Kelly said in disgust. ‘You can think of a better line than that.’
‘No probs,’ Marianne said hurriedly. ‘That one will do just fine. Jake, why don’t you come and cry on my shoulder…?’
They drifted off together. Kelly grinned unwillingly. She might have known Jake’s poise couldn’t be shaken for more than a moment. Whatever the place, the time, the circumstances, he could simply walk in, be instantly at home, and everyone would act as though they’d been waiting just for him. Right now, for instance, he was the only one at this party not dressed up. He wore the battered denim jeans and jacket over a black vest that he kept for travelling. Far from making him look out of place, the effect was to make everyone else seem overdressed.
His hair was shaggy and unkempt, and his skin lightly tanned. In fact he looked as if he’d just got off a plane after a long flight. Exhausting too, probably, with plenty of turbulence, which tensed him up inside, although only Kelly had ever known that. But, hey, nothing a stiff drink wouldn’t put right! That was Jake for you.
Marianne had corralled him into a corner, fending off all-comers, and after only five minutes they seemed to be getting on very, very well. Kelly started to turn away, but then resolutely looked back. What he did could no longer hurt her. Besides, she had some serious flirting of her own to do, and a plentiful supply of men to help her do it.
She concentrated hard on enjoying herself, and it was an hour before she encountered Jake again, at the drinks table.
‘Just what do you think you’re doing here?’ she demanded.
‘You said it was nice to see me.’
‘I was lying.’
‘Oh, great!’ he complained. ‘I took an early plane back to join the party, and look at the welcome I get.’
‘It wasn’t a welcome. You weren’t invited. You ought to be shot for just marching in like this. I don’t want you here.’
‘Why not? It’s my divorce too.’ He sounded put out.
‘It’s a house-warming party. This is my new place.’
‘Oh, yeah? You’ve been here three months.’
‘It’s taken time to do it up,’ Kelly improvised. ‘And it’s a sort of Christmas party too-’
‘Christmas is next month. But our divorce became final today.’
‘Fancy you remembering.’
‘I didn’t,’ he said in swift chagrin. ‘I thought it wasn’t until next week, and I-never mind! Admit it. You’re celebrating getting rid of me, aren’t you?’
‘Yes!’
He gave her a crooked grin. ‘No need to do it this way. You could have said, “Jake-vanish!”’
‘I did.’
But it was useless. He’d gone into clowning mode, which he often did when something had affected him more than he wanted to show, although she couldn’t think why he was bothered about this. He’d gained the freedom from her that he’d always secretly wanted.
‘You should have dropped me a hint, sweetheart,’ he went on. ‘I could have jumped off a bridge, vanished into the jungle-instant disappearances are my speciality.’
‘You’re impossible!’ she said, exasperated.
‘Of course I am. That’s why you divorced me.’
‘That and other reasons.’
‘It’s also why you married me.’
‘Let’s draw a line under that.’
‘Some lines aren’t so easily drawn.’ For some reason there was real anger in his voice.
‘You stop that,’ she said swiftly. ‘You messed up my life once before, but I escaped and you’re not going to do it again.’
‘Is that all our marriage was to you? Messing up your life? And our divorce-an escape?’
‘As much for you as for me,’ she said, recovering herself. ‘Think how you’ll enjoy your freedom now when the luscious ladies crowd around.’
‘But I always came home to you,’ he observed quietly.
‘Eventually-yes. And I was supposed to be grateful.’
‘That’s not-’
He broke off, exasperated as some new arrivals interrupted them. A young woman threw her arms around Kelly and pressed a gift on her.
‘This is from Harry. He’s terribly sorry he couldn’t get back in time, but he sends you this, and says he’ll call in a few days. He misses you terribly.’
‘I miss him,’ Kelly said, unwrapping the gift which turned out to be a small alabaster figure, exquisite and costly. ‘This is so lovely.’
More arrivals. A man said, ‘Miss Harmon-’
‘Kelly, please.’
‘Kelly, I’m sorry to be so late-’
She said the right things and took charge of the newcomers. Jake drained his glass and the next Kelly saw he was dancing smoochily with Marianne. She gave him only the briefest glance. The days when she sat on the sideline watching Jake work the room were over.
In the early hours the party began to break up. Carl was collecting plates and glasses, taking them to the kitchen, where Frank was busily stacking the sink.
‘Push off!’ Carl told him. ‘I’ve appointed myself to washing-up duty.’
‘Nobody needs you,’ Frank objected. ‘Go home, there’s a good fellow, and leave everything to me.’
‘Leave Kelly alone with a predator like you?’ Carl demanded.
‘So who isn’t a predator?’ Kelly challenged, much entertained. ‘You?’
At once he slipped an arm around her waist. ‘I can be anything you want me to be,’ he said throatily.
‘Well, right now I need a kitchen maid.’
‘Great. You’ve got me. Tell him to go. We’ll do the most ecstatic washing-up the world has ever known, and afterwards-’
As he spoke he was gently pushing her backwards over his arm in a theatrical simulation of passion. He was about to drop his lips on her throat when Frank seized him by the back of the neck, howling, ‘Git outta here. She’s mine!’
‘Don’t stop him,’ Kelly begged. ‘I can’t wait to hear about afterwards.’
But Frank grasped her by the waist, pulling her free so firmly that she staggered and had to be saved from falling by both of them.
‘My afterwards is more interesting than his afterwards,’ he said.
‘Don’t listen to him,’ Carl demanded.
‘You pair of maniacs,’ she said, chuckling.
They stood holding her, one on each side, exchanging glares.