To Deceive Is To Love (Romantic suspense) (25 page)

Removing her apron, Chantelle kept her eyes lowered. “David’s been pretty secretive and I hate to say it, but untruthful at times. It came as quite a shock when I found out what he actually does.”

“Journalists are secretive and they always have such a bad reputation. I guess David thought it might put you off. Still, I should say foreign correspondent. It sounds much better and he’s always on assignment abroad. I’ve yet to read an article of his. He claims he writes under several pseudonyms. Goodness knows what story he’s involved with now. It looks like he’s upset someone important.”

Chantelle wanted to blurt out that Jenny had it all wrong, that it was much more serious than that and David wasn’t a journalist, but a bloody secret agent. Instead, she looked away, relieved by Tony’s interruption.

Tony’s balding head appeared around the door. “I hope you two haven’t forgotten dinner with all your gossiping.”

Jenny picked up a tea cloth and threw it at him. “It’s all cooking very nicely, thank you. Us hardworking women would appreciate some sherry, wouldn’t we?” She raised her eyebrows at Chantelle, who gave a nod of agreement.

They followed Tony back into the hallway and encountered David, talking rather loudly on the phone.

“I know you said no more home visits after that last time, but this is different. Chantelle was with me and I certainly didn’t go looking for it. Now, are you coming to check this leg out or not?” His voice rose, but without anger. He let out a hefty sigh. “All right, all right, save the lecture. I’ll give you Tony’s address and come incognito. Don’t worry; I’ll triple your doctor on-call rate.”

He replaced the receiver and looked over at the three of them. “Simon’s going to come and check this leg of mine. Tony’s suggestion, since I wasn’t of this world when that French quack stitched me up.”

At Jenny’s questioning look, he added, “My plane came down in France and a piece of metal went into my thigh. Didn’t Tony tell you? I had an assignment for a French magazine and Chantelle was along for the ride, only we never made it.”

“Yes, he did explain why you were limping. Surely you went to hospital?”

Shouting came from the lounge area, causing Jenny to rush in and sort the children’s fracas out. Chantelle’s narrowed glare remained on David, revealing her discomfort at the lie she had unwillingly been dragged into.

Simon arrived late in the afternoon, looking grim. “I thought you would have been on your way to Canada by now and gone from my life for good.” He noticed Chantelle and a friendly smile appeared.

“Good to see you, too.” David was lying back on the bed in the guest bedroom minus his trousers while Chantelle stood in the doorway watching Simon inspect the leg.

“The wound is doing well. No infection that I can see.” Simon felt under the thigh where the bullet had exited. “Someone must have taken good care of you initially.” He looked over at Chantelle.

“Yes, she was an excellent nurse. So, tell me. How long will it take for the muscle to heal properly? It hurts like hell when I put any weight on it.”

“You won’t be running any marathons for a while. The thigh itself will heal soon enough; it’s not like anything was broken. Going by the stitching, it must have been pretty messy. Plane shrapnel, you say.” He raised his eyebrows and let out a small sigh. “You are one hell of a lucky guy, David, or just damn foolish.” He snapped his bag shut and moved toward the door. “And this time, I mean it.”

“Don’t worry. Even I wouldn’t expect you to do house calls in Canada.” David’s wry smile finally brought light relief into Simon’s tense features.

“I’ve heard that before, so forgive me for not giving you another hug goodbye. Just send the postcard as soon as you arrive.”

Chantelle led Simon out of the bedroom and down the stairs.

Pausing at the doorway, he lifted a hand and touched the fading bruise on her cheek. “Some men never settle down, they thrive on danger and fear. They have to get that adrenaline buzz no matter what the consequences. It’s their fix to help them feel alive. David is one of them.”

“What are you trying to say, Simon?”

“Don’t get dragged into his world. Men like him don’t come with happy endings.”

Chantelle’s emotions were doing summersaults, her head dizzy with conflicting feelings. One minute she was distrustful and angry with David, the next she couldn’t get enough of his touch, his mouth upon hers, warmth and longing rising through her body. She snuggled back under the fresh smelling quilt cover, the memory lingering of David’s arms wrapped around her, his mouth gently exploring hers, his hands traveling no farther than the small of her back. She glided her tongue upon swollen lips, wanting to keep tasting him. Water was running in the en-suite bathroom and a smile of regret returned as she thought of his words when he finally broke away.

“I’m going to take a cold shower before I abuse Tony and Jenny’s hospitality and make wild, passionate love to you.”

He was right, of course. Having only one guestroom had already caused an embarrassed Jenny to suggest the children be moved into one room so Chantelle could have her daughter’s room. Hearing David remark that wasn’t necessary unless Jenny felt it more appropriate for the children’s sake was confirmation their relationship wasn’t a platonic one. Jenny had placed them both in the guest room, whispering in David’s ear to lock the door in case the children came barging in. She had also provided Chantelle with a cotton nightgown and a dressing gown. Both were still draped over the chair.

David emerged from the bathroom with a white towel wrapped around his waist, his hair and bare chest glistening with droplets of water and his face clean shaven. “It’s damn hard trying to take a shower standing on one leg while trying to prevent the other from getting wet. I had to wrap a towel around the bandage.”

“You only needed to ask and I would have soaked you down.” She threw him a playful look. Rising from the bed, she reached for the dressing gown, but David got there first and held it away from her.

His free arm snaked around her naked waist and pulled her to him, causing a giggle to escape her lips. Her naked breasts were pushed up against his damp chest, the desire in him hard against her pubic bone. Bringing her hand down, she pulled the towel away and placed her hands on his buttocks, her finger tips caressing one of his finest attributes.

“You are incorrigibly naughty and such a bloody turn on.” His lips plundered hers and then he lifted her onto the bed and nearly fell upon her, his good knee supporting his weight.

There was no need for foreplay as he entered her, their bodies desperate to be one, her pleasurable gasp muffled by his mouth. It was fast, almost animalistic as his pulsating manhood drove in, withdrew slightly and then delved farther in as if entering her very core. Their eyes locked.

Chantelle had never felt such an abundance of intimacy in one look; it was as if he was reaching out for her soul. She knew in that moment what it felt to be loved. He didn’t even need to follow it up with words.

Her eyelids fluttered, her body shuddering uncontrollably as wave upon wave swept over her. David’s mouth savored her cries before succumbing to his own release.

He rolled off her and stared up at the ceiling, his voice breathless. “You’ve made me fall in love with you, Chantelle Duvall.”

Chantelle turned over on her side before David could see the tears well up. “Don’t sound so disturbed, David Bishop. Love doesn’t need to be a curse.”

She had so yearned to hear those words from him, knowing if he said them, he would mean it and there would be no more lies. Instead of feeling overjoyed, she felt anxious, afraid of what this admission meant.

Her mother had once quoted that lovers came and went, but a soul mate only came once in a lifetime. Chantelle had found her soul mate, but what would happen now, should she lose him?

****

Breakfast was a noisy affair with seven of them crowded around the long, pine breakfast table. Jenny argued with the children over what cereals they were having while Chantelle helped by pouring the tea and putting endless rounds of bread into the toaster. Finally, the children were ushered upstairs to get ready for school, leaving the four of them to enjoy the sudden peace. Jenny finished her tea and announced she had better get ready herself, as it was her turn to do the school run.

When Jenny was out of earshot Tony turned to David. “I was thinking, this barrister friend I have who I taught to fly and play golf with regularly, he has some pretty powerful contacts in government. How about I give him a call?”

“When the time comes for me to get a lawyer, I’ll let you know. For now, the law is the least of my problems. Thanks, anyway.”

“What exactly do you plan to do, or shouldn’t I even ask?” Tony’s voice had risen, revealing both his concern and frustration at David’s attitude.

Tony and Chantelle were now glaring at him, forcing David to try and lighten the tension. “Look, I’m not about to do anything foolish. I still have a few contacts left who are not close buddies with Hendersson. Hopefully, they’ll be able to help.”

“In what way?” Tony demanded. “You said yourself it’s Hendersson’s word against yours and by now, he must have invented quite a story. Look, Chantelle is a witness. Let me call this friend and get you both proper protection and it won’t be from anyone connected to the Intelligence Service.”

David wiped his mouth with a napkin, delaying his response. He wasn’t happy with Tony’s suggestions, but didn’t want to start an argument. Taking a small swallow, he allowed the lie to come out. “Before I turn myself in, I need to track down Abdul, my original contact, and get him to talk.”

He tried to convince himself that it was for them he disguised the truth. He knew for certain if Abdul was still alive, he’d gone to ground by now. If by some miracle, David could find his whereabouts, reaching him and getting him to talk would be impossible.

No, what he had to do was force Hendersson out in the open by using greed as an enticement. He had the diamonds. All he needed was to set the trap.

He felt Chantelle’s suspicions without her saying a word. She wasn’t as easy to convince as Tony, who seemed quite agreeable to David’s plans. Luckily, Jenny came back into the room, silencing any further debate. The children said their goodbyes, then all headed out the door, duffel coats done tightly up and satchels swinging by their sides.

“Oh!” Jenny poked her head back around the door and looked at Chantelle. “Treat my wardrobe as your own. Unfortunately, I haven’t quite got your slim figure so belts are in the top drawer next to the dresser. And David, get Tony to dig out a pair of jeans for you. Anything is better than those dungarees.”

“Mother, we are going to be late,” a small voice called out.

“Must dash, see you later.”

Tony stood. “I’d better get dressed and off to the airfield, I have a meeting booked for ten. David, feel free to use my study and anything else you need.” He left the kitchen.

Chantelle started clearing the crockery and placing it in the dishwasher. “I was thinking of giving Paul a ring. He’s looking after Chat and must be worried by now that he hasn’t heard from me and if he’s tried to contact my mother…”

David shook his head to her every word, annoyed more than he should have been that she was thinking of Paul right now. Reaching for the teapot, he poured himself a cup of lukewarm tea. “Too risky.”

“Why? Don’t you think you’re being a little paranoid? Paul’s no threat. They don’t know he’s looking after my cat and if they did, they would hardly be putting him under surveillance. The cat, I mean.” She smiled, but it froze at the scowl he gave her. “I owe it to Paul. He’s doing me a favor,” she stated firmly.

“What if someone has already been around? We crashed in a plane in France, remember? Your mother, I can understand, and Pascal promised to get word to her. But Paul? While we’re on the subject, just what is the relationship between the two of you?” He couldn’t help the accusation in his voice.

Chantelle’s repressed smile turned into a giggle. “You’re jealous.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I know there’s nothing going on, at least from you. It’s what he’s after, I’d like to know. He’s one hell of a friendly neighbor.”

Her laughter increased, causing David to slam down his cup. “What’s so damn funny?”

David abruptly stood up. “I’m off to Tony’s study to make a few phone calls.”

“To find out the whereabouts of Abdul?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Chantelle marched after him. “I’ll tell you what my relationship with Paul is; we’re honest with each other. The way you should be with someone you trust.”

“What do you mean by that?” His hand paused on the door handle to Tony’s study as he turned to face her.

“You know what I mean. Abdul’s probably dead by now, you said so yourself. Or he’s disappeared into Algeria or wherever. It’s not him you’re going after, is it?”

David grabbed hold of her wrist and pulled her with him into the study, slamming the door behind them.

Immediately after, Tony called out that he was off now and asked if everything was okay.

David released her wrist and called back, “Yeah, fine.”

“Don’t forget, help yourself. You know how to reach me; I’ll be on my mobile.”

“See you later.” David waited until the door closed before turning his attention back to Chantelle. “Now, are you going to tell me what’s gotten into you?”

“Honesty! I want you to stop hiding the truth from me. After all that has transpired between us, what I’ve been through, you still don’t trust me with the truth. What are you afraid of? That I can’t handle it or that I might just tell you how crazy you really are?”

Seating himself behind the desk, he leaned back in Tony’s leather chair and emitted a small sigh. “Look, I’m going to try and get Hendersson out in the open. Knowing the creep like I do, his own arrogance will have him confessing all, hopefully in earshot of some uninvited guests of my own.”

“And I suppose he will simply agree to meet with you, not worry you’re setting him up. Are you going to get him to sign a confession at the same time, then have him arrested?” Sarcasm dripped from every word.

“Perhaps, if you would allow me to continue and not let that tongue of yours get carried away; you might understand how I plan to carry it out.”

Leaning up against the door, Chantelle folded her arms across her chest.

David explained that he would try and get word to Hendersson that he wanted to do a deal. A new identity with a passport, release of his assets which he knew would have been frozen by now, and enough cash to disappear. All in exchange for the diamonds.

“I’m a desperate man, remember, with no friends and a lot of enemies. Of course, Hendersson will try and double-cross me again, but this time I’ll be prepared.”

Chantelle shook her head. “It can’t work, David. From what you’ve told me about Hendersson, he isn’t easily fooled.”

“Listen, he knows the diamonds are useless to me. I need the cash and besides, he can’t risk me going elsewhere. Greed and his own indestructible way of thinking will be his downfall.”

“And yours, too,” Chantelle snapped. Moving away from the door, she went around the desk and stood in front of him, her eyes pleading with him now. “Please, David, don’t do this. Take Tony’s suggestion. Once you’re in protective custody, someone has to listen. You have the diamonds and I’m a witness. I was kidnapped. They’ll know you didn’t plan it.”

He reached out and gently gripped her waist, pulling her body between his legs as a tear slowly slid down her cheek. “I’m sorry.” His hands fell away from her and she stepped back.

“You don’t care what I think. This isn’t about clearing your name. This is revenge, isn’t it?”

He lowered his eyes, confirming the truth.

“David, please listen. Jenny told me a little about your past, how you were forced out of the RAF on a trumped up charge, how you became bitter and self-destructive. Don’t let Hendersson do it to you again.”