Velvet had been racked with jealousy at the sight of that picture, even more so of the photographs that followed—Jerard and Tina on holiday, Jerard holding Vicki as a baby, Jerard playing with Vicki as she grew through the different stages of babyhood.
She had left Sarah’s house feeling very depressed that evening, resenting any life Jerard had had before she had known him.
And she was just as depressed this evening as she drove off with a casual wave of her hand. She couldn’t understand Jerard at all. They hadn’t seen each other all week, and this morning he had treated her almost like a stranger, this evening his mood had turned around completely, teasingly flirtatious. He was a complex man, and it would take a lifetime to know him. But she didn’t have a lifetime; she might not have any time at all.
Saturday was spent with Janice and Simon, the latter very curious as to who ‘Bicki’ was.
‘Vicki Daniels,’ Velvet supplied reluctantly.
His eyebrows rose. ‘Any relation to Jerard Daniels?’
‘His daughter.’
‘Oh.’
‘Don’t say “oh” like that!’ she flashed. ‘I’ve just been looking after her until her father can find a replacement nanny for her.’ Not strictly true, but she was sure Jerard would eventually replace Faye Rogers.
‘Tony obviously likes her,’ Simon observed dryly.
‘Yes.’
‘And do you still like her father?’
‘Simon—’
‘You didn’t mention that he would be coming back to England.’
‘I didn’t know myself,’ she defended. ‘He—he just arrived on the doorstep.’
‘With his daughter.’
‘Well—no. But I saw her later.’
Simon began to laugh at her discomfort ‘Purely platonic, is it?’
‘It isn’t funny,’ Velvet snapped. ‘I’m involved, and I’m not sure it’s what I want.’
‘You don’t?’
‘Not just as another playmate for Vicki, no.’
His mouth quirked. ‘You would rather be a playmate for the father, hmm?’
‘Simon—’
‘Calm down,’ he chuckled. ‘And stop taking a man’s simple pleasures from him. I like teasing you.’ ‘Simple is right,’ she scorned. ‘"Simple Simon"! No, Simon,’ she backed away as he got up from his lounger chair in the garden and started coming threateningly towards her, ‘I didn’t mean it!’ she screamed as he threw her over his shoulder and marched her over to the hedgerow. ‘Traitor!’ she accused Tony as he chuckled uproariously. ‘Simon, put me down,’ she pleaded. ‘My dress has ridden right up my legs! Simon, please!’
‘All right.’ He began to lower her down into the hedge.
‘No, Simon!’ she begged, clutching him tightly around the waist from behind. ‘Simon, I’m starting to go dizzy,’ she warned, as the upside-down world started to spin.
‘That’s why I’m putting you down.’
‘Not in the hedge! I’m sorry,’ she cried frantically. ‘I’m sorry!’
‘Need any help?’ offered a familiar voice.
The world suddenly spun back into focus, and even upside-down she recognised Jerard with Janice. ‘Put me down, Simon,’ she begged in a fierce whisper, pulling ineffectually at her dress. ‘Simon!’ She would die of embarrassment in a moment.
‘My husband Simon, Mr Daniels,’ Janice introduced. ‘And of course you know Velvet,’ she added with amusement.
To Velvet’s everlasting shame Simon shook hands with Jerard with her still thrown over his shoulder, the long expanse of her bare legs clearly visible. ‘Nice to meet you, Mr Daniels,’ he greeted goodnaturedly.
‘Simon!’ she groaned her dismay.
‘Did you want something?’ She wasn’t able to see the wink he shot at Janice and Jerard.
‘If you don’t put me down I’ll—I’ll—’
‘Yes?’
‘Please put me down,’ she choked.
‘You only had to ask nicely.’ He swung her back to the ground, a huge grin on his face.
She straightened her dress, too embarrassed to look up, sure that her pink lacy panties must have been visible as well. ‘I’d been doing that for the last five minutes,’ she muttered.
‘Funny, I didn’t hear you,’ her brother said with feigned innocence.
She glared at him before looking awkwardly at Jerard. To make matters worse his grin was as wide as Simon’s, convincing her that she had been right about her panties showing. ‘Did you want something, Jerard?’ she snapped.
‘Not particularly,’ came his infuriating reply.
She only just stopped herself from asking what he was doing here then. ‘Is Vicki all right?’ She couldn’t keep the anxiety out of her voice.
‘Fine,’ he nodded, his faded denims and navy blue shirt casual in the extreme.
‘Your mother?’
‘Is also fine.’
‘Oh.’ She frowned her consternation. What was he doing here?
‘I’m fine too, in case you’re interested,’ he drawled mockingly.
‘Come inside and have a beer,’ Simon invited.
‘Thanks,’ Jerard accepted, much to Velvet’s chagrin.
She didn’t even question how he had known where Simon lived, just as she hadn’t questioned how he had known her address and telephone number. Men like Jerard, rich and powerful, could always find out what they wanted to know. But why was he here?
‘Nice,’ Janice smiled once Simon and Jerard had disappeared into the house to get their beers.
‘Yes.’ Velvet still frowned.
‘Is he staying to lunch?’
‘No!’ her voice was sharp. ‘And don’t you dare ask him.’
She tensed as the two men emerged from the house once again, Tony clinging to Jerard’s hand. She hadn’t even realised her son had followed them! It gave her a curious lump in her throat to see how fond he was of Jerard.
‘I’ve asked Jerard to lunch,’ Simon told them happily.
‘That will be nice,’ Velvet said in a stilted voice. She would kill her brother later, but right now she would have to make the best of the situation.
Jerard’s mocking blue eyes over the top of his beer can seemed to tell her that he knew exactly what she was thinking. And he probably did! The man seemed to be able to read her mind most of the time.
‘But I can’t stay,’ he drawled, his eyes taunting her now. ‘I have to collect Vicki from my mother’s.’
‘That’s a shame,’ Simon said with genuine regret. ‘Perhaps another time?’
‘I hope so,’ Jerard nodded. He finished his beer in one thirsty swallow. ‘I’d better be going now.’
‘Come again, any time,’ Janice invited.
‘I’d like to.’ He gave her a warm smile before going down on his haunches to Tony. ‘I have to go now, Buster,’ he told him gently, holding
