‘It was only a polite attempt at conversation, Velvet,’ he interrupted coldly.
‘Oh,’ her flush deepened. ‘I—I didn’t realise.’
‘No,’ he sighed. ‘Vicki hasn’t been too much trouble to you this week?’
‘No,’ she replied tautly. ‘I’ve enjoyed having her with me. Have you done anything about replacing Miss Rogers?’ He had kept his word and sacked the other girl.
‘Not yet. But if Vicki is too much for you—’
‘She isn’t. I told you, I enjoy having her with me. And so does Tony.’ She looked down to where the children were already playing together on the carpet at their feet.
He nodded. ‘Then you must allow me to repay your kindness,’ his tone was stiff, totally lacking in warmth. ‘Perhaps you and Tony would like to spend the day with us on Sunday?’
‘I—Well, I—’
‘Just say if it isn’t convenient,’ he cut in coolly. ‘I’m sure Vicki and I will manage if you can’t make it.’
Her mouth set angrily. ‘We can make it,’ she told him through gritted teeth.
‘Good. I’ll call for you both at ten.’ He turned to kiss his mother on the cheek. ‘See you later, Velvet,’ he nodded distantly.
‘Jerard,’ she returned that nod.
She watched him as he kissed Vicki goodbye, absently bending to ruffle Tony’s curls before leaving. She breathed easier once he had left, colour flooding her cheeks as she realised Sarah was watching her with open amusement.
‘He may be my son,’ Sarah chuckled, ‘but he’s a devil.’
‘Yes,’ Velvet agreed with feeling.
Sarah continued to smile. ‘Shouldn’t you be leaving yourself now?’
‘Heavens, yes!’ She made a hurried departure, surprised to find Jerard’s car still parked outside.
His car window slowly wound down. ‘How are you, Velvet?’ he asked softly.
She frowned at his change of mood. ‘I—I’m well.’
‘Do you have to work today?’
‘Of course. Why?’
He shrugged. ‘I thought we could play truant together. But if you have to work …’ He turned in his seat to start up the engine.
‘I—’ Velvet bit her lip, tempted beyond endurance. She wanted to go with Jerard, wanted desperately to be with him, but she had never not turned up for a booking. When Tony had been born she had been aware of the favour a lot of people did her by still giving her work, and she had repaid that kindness by never letting anyone down. ‘Yes, I do have to work,’ she said regretfully. ‘I—I’m sorry.’
‘It wasn’t important.’ Jerard’s expression was remote. ‘I’ll see you on Sunday.’
Not important, he had said. Well, it was important to her, the reason behind the invitation even more so. ‘Why, Jerard?’ she asked huskily. ‘Why did you want to take me out?’
‘Your guess is as good as mine,’ he dismissed harshly, pressing the button to close the window, and the car moved off with hardly a sound.
Velvet was cloaked in depression all day, having none of her usual zest for work, so much so that Joyce finally called a halt to the photographing.
You’re supposed to look sexy, Velvet,’ she compained. ‘That bra is supposed to drive men wild—although personally I think any red-blooded man would prefer you without it,’ she added dryly. ‘Still, ours not to reason why. Think sexy, Velvet. Think of some dishy man you’d like to go to bed with.’
Jerard instantly sprang to mind, her expression unknowingly becoming provocative, her eyes love-drugged as she thought of being made love to by him. He said they had been good in bed together, that their love had been special, that she had haunted his days and invaded his nights for two years. Oh, how she ached for that closeness to him she couldn’t even remember!
‘Beautiful!’ Joyce lowered her camera. ‘That was fantastic, Velvet. You just sizzled!’
Colour stained her cheeks. ‘I—You took the pictures?’
‘Mm,’ Joyce nodded. ‘He must be some man.’
‘He is,’ Velvet admitted huskily.
‘But you’re keeping him hidden, hmm?’ Joyce teased.
Velvet looked at the other woman. Would Jerard find Joyce attractive? A lot of men did, she was beautiful enough to have been a model herself with her long black hair and flashing blue eyes, but she preferred to be behind the camera rather than in front of it. Yes, Jerard would probably find her very attractive, and jealousy shot through her just at the thought of it.
She didn’t know whether she was pleased or upset when she saw the Jaguar parked outside Sarah Daniels’ house. Jerard was here! She wasn’t late, it was only four-thirty, so he must be early. And after the thoughts she had had of him earlier she felt embarrassed about facing him. Not that he could possibly know about them, but she did, and it still made her blush.
She forgot all about it with the sight that met her eyes when she went into the lounge. Jerard was lying on his back on the carpeted floor, Tony lying on his chest, chuckling so hard Velvet thought he was going to burst with merriment. Vicki lay on the floor next to her father, enjoying this game as much as Tony was.
‘Good evening, Velvet,’ Sarah smiled at the antics going on on the floor.
‘Hello,’ Velvet smiled too.
Jerard stood up, Tony still beaming in his arms. ‘You look tired.’ His eyes were narrowed.
‘Mum—Mum!’ Tony reached out his arms towards her, burrowing into her throat as she cuddled him to her.
‘Thank you, darling,’ she smiled tremulously at her son. ‘At least you know how to say hello nicely.’ She flashed a look of dislike in Jerard’s direction.
His mouth twisted into a mocking smile. ‘I know how to say hello nicely too,’ he drawled, his hand coming out behind her nape to pull her towards him before he kissed her hard on the mouth.
‘Oh!’ she gasped, her face bright red as she looked pointedly at his mother.
Tony struggled to go down at that moment, so at least she was able to bend down and hide some of her embarrassment. Why had Jerard done that, especially in front of his family!
Jerard turned to his mother, dabbing at his mouth with a snowy white handkerchief. ‘What do
