concern for Cindy is just that-an investment.'
'You're determined to think the worst of me, aren't you?'
'You make it easy,' she said after a moment, and turned away from him.
They were both relieved when the awkward meeting was over. Adrian parted reluctantly from Kendall, promising fervently to be at the next practice.
'As long as you don't neglect your schoolwork,' Garth said. 'You've got a career to think of.'
Adrian became absorbed in Barker, and didn't reply. It was Kendall who said quietly, 'Surely he's a bit young to be deciding his career! If he wants to be a sportsman why not let him dream his dreams and believe he can do anything?'
'Because the world is a tough place, and a man has no time for dreams in case he falls behind,' Garth snapped. 'And I'll thank you not to interfere in my son's upbringing.'
'Hey, come on! I was only-'
'I know damned well what you were only doing. And you'll do it over my dead body.'
Luckily Faye had gone ahead and didn't hear this exchange. Garth was able to conceal his unsettled state of mind on the journey home. They'd meant to go to a restaurant but, since Barker refused to be left behind, this was abandoned in favour of a Chinese takeaway.
Later that night, when Garth had gone in to say goodnight to Cindy, she heaved a sigh of delight. 'Oh, Daddy, wasn't Adrian simply superT
'He was pretty good,' Garth agreed.
'He was more than good,' Cindy said fervently. 'He was the very, very best. I wish I could do something as well as that.'
Garth brushed her cheek with a finger. 'Don't put yourself down. There must be things you do well.'
'Not as good as Adrian. I'm going to clean the boots he played in this afternoon,' she added in tones of ecstasy. 'He says I can.'
Neither his best friends nor his worst enemies would have called Garth a New Man, but this moved him to protest. 'Let him clean his own boots. You're not his skivvy.'
'But I want to.'
Garth gave up. His daughter's eyes were shining with hero-worship. He wasn't deeply perceptive where feelings were concerned, but he guessed that the need to idolize was a part of her character.
That was dangerous, he thought. A girl who worshipped blindly was vulnerable to the wrong man. She would have to be protected…
Another pair of adoring eyes came into his mind. That was how Faye had looked at him once. She'd loved keeping house for him, ironing his shirts with the same pride as Cindy showed at cleaning her brother's boots. He remembered how her single-minded, vulnerable adoration had been there on her face for all to see. When had she changed into the stranger who kept her thoughts aloof from him?
'Go to sleep, now,' he said abruptly.
'Goodnight, Daddy. Thank you for the best birthday ever.' Her arms were tight around his neck.
'Was it really the best birthday ever?' he asked with rare humility.
'Oh, yes, because you came back for it.'
'Of course I did,' he said, hoping she couldn't see his sudden awkwardness. 'I'm still your Daddy. Nothing can ever change that.'
'No,' she said happily. 'Nothing, ever.'
'Goodnight, darling.' He kissed the top of her head and went out, thoughtful.
As soon as he arrived at his office on Monday, he instructed his secretary to get him a book on dog care, with special reference to St Bernards. She provided an impressive-looking volume by lunchtime, and over a quick sandwich he flicked through it.
By the end of the day Garth was feeling hard-pressed and out of sorts. A supplier had let him down on delivery dates, one client had backed out of negotiations at the last minute, and another one was trying to wriggle out of payment on a flimsy excuse.
But none of this had annoyed him half so much as discovering that the dog book contained a chapter by Kendall Haines.
CHAPTER FOUR
Gradually they settled into an uneasy truce. Faye couldn't live at such close quarters and not be aware of Garth. The sheer animal force that had made him supreme in his world was reflected in every move he made. About the house she tried to avoid all physical contact, knowing that it wouldn't be safe.
One evening he asked casually, 'Do anything interesting today?'
'Yes, I went to see Kendall.'
'Was that really necessary?'
'Why shouldn't I visit my fiance, Garth?'
His lips tightened but he said no more, and Faye didn't offer any further explanation.
In fact, her visit to Kendall hadn't been the comfort she'd hoped. She'd poured out her worries, hoping to find understanding, but Kendall had frowned and said lightly, 'Must you spoil our few moments together by talking about your husband all the time?'
'I'm sorry,' she'd said stiffly. 'I didn't mean to be a bore.'
He'd apologized nicely, but the fact remained Kendall liked her whole attention, and was irked because he no longer had it. Was that what had made him suggest that she move back to Elm Ridge, as Garth wanted?
'It might help get him out of your system again,' he'd pointed out, adding in an undervoice, 'something needs to.'
'That's not fair. It's all over between Garth and me.'
'Well, I certainly hope so, because I'm beginning to find him a very boring third in our relationship. I think a spell in your old home might remind you of what made you leave him.' He grinned. 'Then maybe you'd have eyes for me again.'
'Kendall, I love you. You know I do.'
'Do you?' he asked coolly. 'Or are you just running away from Garth? I want all or nothing from you, Faye. Being your refuge from Garth Clayton just isn't good enough.'
'But you're not. I do love you,' she protested.
'Then we have nothing to fear.'
But she knew there was something to fear, even though, on the surface, she and Garth were managing to get by well enough. She was glad to see that he made an effort to be with Cindy and Adrian. Even so, he often spent Saturday in his office and arrived home with a briefcase full of work. Faye and the children would take Barker for a romp in the fields behind the house and get back to find Garth there, poring over his computer.
She had been briefly afraid that he would try to take over her own computer, but after one glance at it he'd roared with laughter. She understood why when she saw his machine, a sleek, state-of-the-art beauty that made her green with envy.
Kendall's assumption that there was nothing to fear troubled her. Despite their mutual hostility, Garth still affected her dangerously. That might seem an argument for going to Elm Ridge, where there was more room, but she knew such a move would be even less safe. Garth would assume he'd won the battle to get her back, and she would never let him think that.
In the end it was Barker who settled the matter in an unexpected way. His idea of fun was to chase madly through the little house, pursued by Adrian, Cindy and herself. Garth never joined in these games, preferring to enjoy the spectacle from the sidelines.
One Saturday afternoon Barker varied the game by raiding the laundry basket. Seeing him trailing clothes, Faye launched herself onto him in a frantic rugby tackle. The children tumbled after her, and the four of them rolled on the floor. It was at this point that Kelly arrived for her check-up visit.
'When I let you have Barker I hadn't realized just how small this place was,' she said worriedly, over a cup of
