All The King's Horses: A Tale Of Eternal Love (6 page)

“You really are a remarkable man, Mr. London. I’m having difficulty believing that some woman hasn’t snapped you up long ago.”

“Ah, well that’s a complicated story.”

Her interest was piqued. “It didn’t work out?”

“Yes and no.”

“That’s a very cagey answer.”

“Jocelyn and I got on very well. So that’s where the yes comes in. Jocelyn and I didn’t stay together, that’s where the no comes in.”

“That all sounds very confusing from where I’m standing.”

“We loved each other,” he said plainly. “But Jocelyn wanted me to give up my boat and the sea and become a landlubber.”

“She wanted you to give up your dream?”

“Yes, she did. But I refused, and so she left me. I’ve never really been sure if I did the right thing in letting her go,” he said sadly.

“And it’s too late to do anything about it now? After all, if you’re going to lose the boat you’re going to be forced into being a landlubber anyway.”

“She got married a while back to a successful property developer.”

“Was money her thing?”

“No,” he put in quickly, not wanting her to think badly of the woman he had loved. “She wasn’t like that. She was quite lovely really, probably far too good for likes of me.”

She quietly took in what he had just revealed. He was probably still in love with this Jocelyn, even though he might not be prepared to admit it. It was a shame that she hadn’t accepted the sea was in his blood.

Christy knew she would rather share a man like Kent with the sea than not have him at all. She suspected this Jocelyn woman was regretting her decision now. Well, it would serve the silly cow right. What woman would give up a Kent London for some wimpy property developer who hadn’t got his hands dirty in his life?

She looked across at him now, looking magnificent as the captain of his little ship, tall, handsome, and totally in command. Normally, this was only the way she felt about a man when she had downed a few too many glasses of wine. But she didn’t need wine to sing Kent London’s praises. He was the real deal.

“Here we are,” he said, cutting the throttle back as they approached the marina. “We’ll soon have you home and out of this night chill.”

“Was it cold? She hadn’t noticed. She had been too busy basking in the afterglow of a wonderful day spent with an even more wonderful man. What was the cold night air to her when she was with him?

After the boat was safely docked he helped her onto the jetty, and she pretended she couldn’t find her way to the car in the dark so he would be obliged to slip his arm through hers and guide her.

They drove back to her place in silence. She sad that the evening was about to end, and imagining his silence was due to a long tiring day. When they pulled up outside her house he killed the engine and turned to her for the first time. “Thanks for coming out with me today, I haven’t enjoyed someone’s company so much in years.”

“Oh, Kent,” was all she could manage before she pulled his head towards hers and found his lips.

“I wasn’t expecting that,” he said quietly, when they had separated.

“I know. But you can’t be the man that you are and not expect to get that kind of response from a woman.”

He looked at her blankly, and she could tell he was still stunned by the passion she had put into that kiss. “You will come to dinner on Saturday to meet Daddy won’t you?”

“Of course, I’m looking forward to it.”

She unlocked her seatbelt and opened the car door. “Thank you for a very special day,” she said softly. “I will never forget it.” Then she was gone, walking briskly up the path to the house before he could see the tears that had flooded her eyes.

CHAPTER SEVEN

“That’s the last of my stuff,” Jack said, cramming a couple of shirts into a chest of drawers.

“I don’t know how you find any of your clothes when you stuff them into drawers like that, Daddy.” Christy was watching him disapprovingly from where she was sitting on the windowsill.

“It’s alright for you, Baby Girl; you inherited your mother’s tidiness gene. But I’m afraid I was born with the messy one.”

“Daddy, it’s got nothing to do with genes and you know it. When it comes to putting things away neatly you’re just bone lazy.”

“No, it’s the genes, Darling, it’s the genes. They’re the ones to blame for my problem.”

She sighed. He was impossible.

“What’s the name of this young feller of yours that’s coming to dinner tonight?”

“I’ve already told you about six times.”

“Well run it by me again. You know what I’m like with names.”

“His name is Kent.”

“Kent…unusual name that.” He grinned at her. “I’ll never remember it you know. I’m terrible at names.”

“You’ll have to practice it before he gets here. I don’t want you making him feel uncomfortable.”

“I know what I’ll do. I’ll use word association. That usually works for me.”

She rolled her eyes at him. “You know what happened last time you tried that trick.”

He looked thoughtfully at her for a moment. “No, what happened?”

“Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten?”

He stared off into space as if trying to drag the memory to the front of his brain. “Nope,” he said eventually, “can’t recall.”

“Shelly Stanbury?”

“Oh…that’s right.” He grinned impishly. “Wasn’t that a funny business?”

“It wasn’t funny for me, I can assure you. I was completely embarrassed and she was mortified.”

“But it worked though, didn’t it?”

“If you consider calling her ‘Smelly Shelley’ in the middle of dinner ‘working,’ then yes, I guess it did.”

“Smelly Shelley with the great big belly,” he chuckled at the memory. “You know, it worked so well I just couldn’t get it out of my head.”

“Just don’t mess up tonight.”

“I won’t, Darling.” One eyebrow shot up. “What’s his name again?”

“Oh, Daddy, you’re impossible.” Slipping off the windowsill she walked over and tapped her finger on his forehead. “It’s Kent…Kent…got it?”

“Okay…let’s see how I can do this. I’ve got it. Help me with the tent, Kent. Or maybe, that’s money well spent, Kent?”

She shook her head at him. “You’re going to stuff this up aren’t you? I just know that you are.”

♥

Christy bounded excitedly over to the door within seconds of it ringing. “Hello,” she said sweetly, holding the door open for Kent to step inside.

Jack was close behind, a hand extended in greeting. “Pleased to meet you, Brent,” he said warmly.

Christy groaned. “It’s Kent, Daddy.”

“Ah,” Jack muttered, releasing his grip. “Sorry about that. But I’m terrible with names.”

“That’s alright, Jock,” Kent said with a straight face, “I totally understand.”

Jack looked at him. “It’s Jack,” he said, then noticed the grin break out on Kent’s face. “Ah, you got me,” he said, returning the grin. “I like this guy,” he whispered to Christy as she ushered them into the lounge.

“So what line of business are you in…ah…how’s the tent,” Jack muttered to himself, “No that’s not it. Money well spent…, he looked to Christy for support.

“Kent, Daddy.”

“That’s the one.”

“I was until very recently a charter boat skipper. But the bank recalled my loan is in the process of taking my boat off me.”

“The lousy pack of money grubbing wolves,” Jack commiserated. “They made my life a living hell when I was a young feller too. It’s a miracle I ever got anywhere.”

“Well, I haven’t got anywhere I’m afraid, Jack.”

“Never mind, you can’t keep a good man done I always like to say, and I’m betting you’re a good man.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence. I guess something will come along sooner or later to put me back on track.”

“That’s the spirit.” He turned to Christy. “When’s dinner ready, Sweetheart, I starving? And I bet …ah…he is too,” he said, nodding in Kent’s direction.

“I’m just about to serve it,” she said, getting up and making a move towards the kitchen. “And it’s Kent,” she whispered as she brushed past him.

“You must be very proud of your daughter, Jack” Kent said, after Christy had left the room.

“Yes…yes I am,” Jack answered. “She’s a tough little cookie that one, been through a lot these past few years but keeps battling on.”

“I think it’s only right to tell you that I’m very taken with her,” Kent admitted. “I haven’t felt this way about a woman in a very long time.”

“Her mother had that very same effect on me,” Jack confided. “Christy is very much like her mum in a lot of ways. She has the same sweet caring nature.”

“Any tips on how I should proceed?”

“Gently, Lad, very gently, she’s fragile and getting more so with each passing month.”

Kent wondered what he meant. Christy didn’t appear to be fragile to him. But possibly he meant emotionally. After all, she had lost her mother and husband in pretty short order. “Yes, I can promise you I’ll be gentle with her,” Kent assured him.

“Good man. I must say I admire you for taking her on in her state. Most men wouldn’t.”

Now that was an odd thing to say. Her emotional state hadn’t seemed to be that finely balanced. And why wouldn’t most men take on a beauty like her who had suffered a string of misfortunes?

“Dinner’s ready,” Christy said, poking her head through the door.

Kent made his way to the dining table and sat down. If the smells assaulting his nostrils were to be trusted then this lady could cook too.

“We don’t stand on ceremony around here,” Jack informed Kent. “Just dig into whatever takes your fancy and dump it on your plate.”

“You don’t stand on ceremony you mean, Daddy. The rest of us are a little more cultured.”

Jack waved the comment away. “Life’s too short for all that la de da stuff. Two, four, six, eight, dig in don’t wait, I always say.”

Christy shook her head. “He’s impossible,” she said, directing her comment to Kent.

Kent grinned. “Don’t knock him; I’m pretty sure he’s the one you got your sense of humor from.”

She feigned shock. “I’ll have you know my sense of humor is way more refined thank you very much.”

As they ate and talked well into the night Kent lost all track of the time until he happened to glance up at the clock on the wall. “Wow, is that the time? I really must be going, I’m off job hunting tomorrow.”

They walked him to the door.

“Well goodnight,” Jack said amiably, “and it was a pleasure to meet you…ah…”

“Kent, Daddy. You really are terrible.”

“Sorry,” Jack said to Kent, “but I really am bad at names.”

“There’s nothing to apologize for, Jake.”

Jack’s eyes flicked up to make contact with Kent’s grin. “Ah, you got me again you young scoundrel.”

Kent chuckled. “I hope we see each other again, Jack.” He gripped the older man’s hand tightly.

“Likewise,” Jack looked at his daughter. “In fact I’m sure we will.” He turned to go. “I’ll leave you two alone to say your goodbyes.”

Christy ushered Kent out onto the verandah.

“Thanks for a great meal,” he said, “I sure enjoyed…”

“Shhh…” she cut him short. Placing one palm on his chest and resting the other behind his neck she pulled his face down to hers. She held nothing back this time, and he was left in no doubt as to her feelings towards him.

“Wow that was out of this world.”

She rested her head on his chest and waited for him to envelop her in his arms. “There’s plenty more where that came from,” she assured him.

“So was that your way of telling me you want to step this up from a friendship to something much more?”

She looked up at him. “I think that rather depends on you. I’ve let you know where I stand.”

He stepped back from her and blew the air out from between his cheeks. “This has come at a really bad time for me. I really like you, Christy, but I’m no better than a pauper at the moment. No job, I lose the house in a couple of days. I’ll be living in a primitive tin shack after that.”

“Something will come up for you.”

“Maybe, but I’m never going to amount to much. I’ve left my run too late.”

Her eyes glistened in the verandah light. “You have already amounted to something. You’re kind and caring.”

“I think the world expects more from a man than that, Christy.”

“But I don’t. And I’m the one asking for a relationship. I just want you as you are. I don’t care about your job prospects.”

“But I do. I can’t support you if we decided to get married, and I certainly wouldn’t sit back and let you support me.”

“Why are you men all so proud? If it was you who had money and me with no job would it make any difference to you?”

“No probably not.”

“Then why this attitude…?”

“Because it’s the way of the world, Christy, “It’s what’s expected of a man.”

She stepped back and stood sulkily in the doorway. “I’m disappointed in you, Kent. I thought you were stronger than that. I certainly wouldn’t let what others think dictate whom I fell in love with.”

“I think this might be my cue to head off home,” he said quietly. “I’ll phone you tomorrow.”

She didn’t answer him, just remained staring off into the darkness with her arms folded across her chest.

Kent sighed, and stepping off the verandah walked along the path to his car.

“He’s a nice young feller,” Jack commented, when she was back in the house. “I take my hat off to him for taking you on when he knows about your condition.” He noticed how she immediately turned away from him and the awful truth struck him. “You haven’t told him have you?”

She remained silent.

“Oh, Christy, you can’t do that to him, Sweetheart.”

“Don’t bother me with it now, Daddy,” she snapped, and then immediately relented. “I’m sorry,” she sobbed. “I’ve never met anyone like him before, and I just want to be happy before I die.”

He wrapped her tightly in his arms. “I know, Darling, but he has a right to know. You must tell him.”

“I’m scared he won’t want me if I tell him.” Her sobs were coming quicker now.

“That’s a very real possibility. But even so, you owe it to him to tell him the truth. After all, you wouldn’t like it if someone deceived you like that would you?”

“I will tell him, I just need a little time.”

Jack frowned. “Don’t leave it too much longer. That young man is clearly falling for you. He needs to know exactly what he’s up against.”