Memories Of The Past. Carole Mortimer

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СКАЧАТЬ you, Helen,’ her father advised softly.

      Colour warmed her cheeks at this gentle reminder of her youthful folly.

      She had been extremely vulnerable when she’d first moved to London, had kept herself very much to herself during those first few years, so that by the time she’d taken up her position as a junior accountant in one of the larger firms she had been ripe for the attentions of a more senior accountant with the company.

      It had taken her several months to realise that, while Daniel’s personal investments weren’t exactly illegal, they were at the very least unorthodox. And she had only found that out because by this time he had believed them to be close enough for her to be taken partly into his confidence, to suggest that she might like to supplement her own income in the same way.

      It had been the end of what she had believed to be a promising relationship, and also the last time she had dated anyone in her own profession. The last time she had dated anyone at all, her father would have accused, but that wasn’t strictly accurate; she did occasionally go out to dinner or the theatre if she met anyone she thought might be interesting to spend an evening with. But she had to admit those times were few and far between, and she rarely repeated the experience.

      ‘I haven’t, Daddy,’ she assured him softly. ‘I just find more satisfaction from my career than I do in a relationship with a man.’

      ‘That’s simply because you haven’t met the right man yet,’ he insisted.

      ‘And have no interest in doing so for some time. If ever!’

      ‘Then you should at least be interested in this position with Cal,’ he reasoned.

      Professionally she knew that she should, that she was, but personally she knew she would never be able to work for Caleb Jones. And besides, she hadn’t just been making excuses when she’d said it was too big a leap for her professionally; Caleb Jones would need a very senior accountant indeed to handle the job he was talking of.

      ‘It would have meant you could move back here,’ her father put in pointedly.

      And he would have no reason to sell Cherry Trees; she had already realised that. But she knew, even if her father didn’t, that that had to be the last thing Caleb Jones wanted. Which meant her chances of getting the job were nil before she even started. She wouldn’t humiliate herself by even trying!

      ‘I enjoy my work in London, Daddy,’ she told him firmly. ‘I have no intention of leaving it.’

      ‘I see,’ he said flatly.

      Helen sighed. ‘No, you don’t, but then you don’t want to.’

      ‘I just want——Oh, never mind what I want,’ he dismissed irritably. ‘I can see I’m just wasting my breath.’

      ‘Playing the martyr doesn’t suit you, Daddy,’ she told him drily.

      An unaccustomed flash of anger darkened his eyes. ‘You are the most stubborn, annoying—I can’t believe you’re a child of mine!’

      She chuckled as she stood up. ‘Strange—everyone, including you, has always said I’m exactly like you.’

      He gave her a glowering look. ‘Don’t be so damned facetious!’

      She grinned at him, her eyes glowing deeply green in her amusement. ‘And I’m too old for that to work any more either!’

      ‘More’s the pity,’ he mumbled, disgruntled.

      Helen gave a leisurely stretch. ‘Why don’t we talk about all this again in the morning? It’s been a long day and it’s late.’

      ‘And nothing will have changed by tomorrow,’ he said ruefully. ‘But I see your point about the time.’ He stood up with a sigh. ‘I’m feeling a little tired myself.’

      In truth he did look slightly strained; he had lines about his eyes and mouth that she hadn’t noticed earlier. Could it be that her father was finally beginning to show his years? Or was it something more than that? She felt pangs of guilt for not noticing the subtle changes earlier. And were they changes that Caleb Jones had seen and recognised? If they were he was being doubly underhand!

      She looked at her father with concern. ‘Are you feeling all right, Daddy?’

      His ready smile erased the lines of strain, making Helen wonder if she could have merely imagined they were there at all. Her father was probably just tired after all.

      ‘Never felt better,’ he assured her. ‘I always feel more cheerful when you come home for the weekend.’

      ‘Daddy!’ she reproved ruefully. Would he never give up?

      He grinned. ‘I’ve never claimed to be anything but a devious old devil.’

      No, he hadn’t, Helen mused as she prepared for bed. But he had overstepped his limitations this time. There was no way she was going to give up her job in London and come back down here to live. Maybe she was being selfish, but it was no use pretending she felt any differently.

      She certainly wouldn’t want to live permanently anywhere near Caleb Jones!

      ‘Restful, isn’t it?’

      Helen turned sharply at the sound of that softly spoken voice.

      Her father had gone off into town on some errand or other, and she had taken the opportunity to stroll along the beach near the estate; it had once been a place she had spent many soothing and calming hours.

      And it had, in recent years, always been somewhere she had come to alone…

      Caleb Jones standing several feet away, his bare feet planted firmly in the golden sand, bronzed legs revealed by the white shorts, a pale blue short-sleeved shirt completely unbuttoned down the front showing a chest that was just as tanned, was not a welcome intrusion into her solitude.

      Far from it!

      ‘I always thought so,’ she replied pointedly.

      In fact she had been immensely enjoying the gentle lap of the waves on the sand, her feet bare as she enjoyed the latter’s coolness near the water’s edge.

      The local people from the village rarely used this beach, a much more popular one, with a few amenities like a small café, situated just around the bay. It shouldn’t have surprised her in the least that Caleb Jones had discovered and invaded this quiet stretch of water; he seemed to have intruded on several other important parts of her life too!

      His mouth quirked into a half-smile, and Helen was sure he knew exactly what she was thinking. His next words confirmed it. ‘I always come here when I feel like being alone,’ he drawled.

      ‘No Sam today?’ she challenged.

      Caleb shrugged. ‘He’s taking a nap. His idea of the start of day is daybreak, so by this time he’s ready for a sleep. So am I, come to that,’ he added self-derisively.

      ‘Don’t you have him trained not to wake you yet?’ Helen couldn’t help her curiosity about the child she had met so precipitately.

      He СКАЧАТЬ