Stormy Vows/Tempest at Sea (24 page)

IT WAS A LITTLE AFTER NOON WHEN THE
taxi pulled up before the Rialto theater, and the driver politely came around to open the passenger door. Brenna got out, payed the amount on the meter, and headed for the stage door with a hurried stride. It was her last step in her flight from Donovan, this meeting with Charles Wilkes, and she was anxious to get it over with.

It seemed incredible that less than eight hours ago she had been in Michael's arms, and now she was seeking Charles' help in removing her from his world permanently. The silent, almost furtive escape from Twin Pines with only an overnight case and a sleeping Randy, and the long drive to the airport in Portland seemed years, not hours ago., She had been in luck. After parking the Mercedes, and leaving the keys in an envelope addressed to Michael at the ticket counter, she had been able to get a flight down to Los Angeles within thirty minutes. She only had time to phone a very concerned and puzzled Charles Wilkes, and arrange to meet him at the theater at noon, before the flight was called.

Brenna was reluctant to ask for Wilkes' help, but she saw no other alternative. She had frighteningly little money after she
had paid for the plane tickets and the taxi to Vivian Barlow's apartment to drop Randy off. She desperately needed a job and a place to stay, and it could not be in Los Angeles. She had broken her commitment to Michael, and she knew how determined and ruthless he would be in claiming what was due him. Charles had contacts with repertory troupes throughout California, as well as ties with several universities and academic establishments. If anyone could get her to a safe haven, it was her former mentor.

The stage door was open, as she expected, and she stopped a moment to smooth her hair, and tuck the melon silk blouse into her camel slacks. There was no sense in looking more disheveled and desperate than necessary. Charles was going to be concerned enough, when she asked for his help to escape from Michael. He had been almost childishly pleased when he had learned of their marriage.

She walked quickly down the shabby, dimly lit hall to Wilkes' small office. The door was slightly ajar, and she could see a small pool of light from the metallic desk lamp on the ancient pine desk. She pushed open the door.

“Come in, Brenna.”

The blood drained from her face, as she stared transfixed at the red-haired man, who rose lazily to his feet at her entrance. Donovan was casually dressed, as always, in rust corduroy jeans and a cream cotton shirt that was left carelessly unbuttoned almost to his waist. He had rolled his sleeves up to the elbow.

“Michael!” Brenna said, stunned. She took an instinctive step backward, as panic urged her to flee.

“Don't even think about it,” Donovan said, his voice hard as steel. “I'd catch you before you reached the stage door.” His blue eyes were cold and razor sharp. “You're going to come in, and we are going to have a few words before we go on to my apartment. Do you understand?”

Brenna shook her head sadly, as the shock of his appearance dissipated. “No, Michael, I'm not coming back to you,” she said quietly.

“You will,” he said arrogantly. “I don't know what this is all about, but I intend to get to the bottom of it.”

Brenna came a few steps into the room, her brown eyes pleading. “All the discussion in the world won't change my mind. Let me go, Michael.”

A muscle twisted in Michael's jaw. “The hell I will.” Brenna sighed tiredly. After all the pain and agony of leaving him, she would have to do it all again. “Where is Charles?” she asked despondently. “Did he call you?”

Donovan shook his head. “I called him about thirty minutes after you did. When I discovered you were gone, I knew you'd run to either him or Vivian Barlow. I told him we'd had a little marital spat, and that I'd meet you in his place.” His mouth twisted cynically. “He was delighted to oblige. Charles loves a happy ending.”

“I'm sorry you've gone to such trouble,” she said, not looking at him. “I'm afraid it was a waste of your time. Good-bye, Michael.” She turned to go, but he was around the desk in seconds and grasping her arm in a clasp of steel.

“No way, Brenna,” he said silkily. “You're coming with me, and we're going to talk. Because if you walk out of my life, you're going to do it alone. You're not taking Randy with you.”

Her eyes flew to him incredulously. “What are you talking about? Randy's mine!”

“Possession is nine tenths of the law,” he quoted ruthlessly. “And I have possession. He's on board the Lear jet right now en-route to Twin Pines with Doris Charles. Monty picked him up from Vivian's apartment five minutes after your taxi pulled away from the curb.”

Brenna shook her head dazedly. “No,” she said desperately. “You're lying. Vivian wouldn't give Randy to a stranger.”

“You've forgotten how persuasive Monty can be,” he said coolly. “And after all, he was your husband's representative.” He reached behind him, and lifting the phone receiver punched a number rapidly. “Speak to her yourself,” he said mockingly, offering her the receiver. Two minutes later Brenna handed the receiver back to him, her face white. “It's virtually kidnapping, you know,” she said numbly. “You're as bad as Paul Chadeaux.”

His face was rigid with anger, and the blue eyes flickered dangerously. “I'll let that pass for now,” he said coldly. “But don't push your luck, Brenna. I'm not feeling particularly tame at the moment.”

Neither was she. The shock and numbness was melting rapidly under mounting rage and indignation. How dare even Donovan pull something this arrogant and cruel?

“So what's the next move, Michael?” she said bitterly, her brown eyes flashing angrily. “What ransom are you asking to give me back my son?”

“At the moment, only that you accompany me to my apartment,” he said. “As I said, we have some talking to do.” He gestured to the door. “Shall we go?”

The taxi ride to the high-rise apartment complex was made in complete silence. Brenna's anger rose steadily as she had time to dwell on the sheer audacity of Donovan's move. It was not enough that he had all but wrecked her life and the chance of happiness with any other man, but he had to take from her the only other person she loved as well. By the time they had ridden the elevator up to the penthouse apartment, and Donovan had unlocked the door, she was almost fuming.

She swept angrily into the apartment and stomped down the thickly carpeted stairs to the sunken living room. She threw her purse on the rust modular couch, and looked around distastefully, noting the air of lush affluence. Cream carpet, expensive contemporary furnishings, and a beveled mirrored bar, all bespoke unlimited luxury and power.

“Very impressive!” she said scornfully, whirling to face him. “Rather like a set—‘movie mogul's penthouse apartment.’”

“I'll give my decorator your compliments,” Donovan said, strolling toward her, narrowed blue eyes on her defiant face. “Those were my instructions exactly. I use this apartment chiefly for business meetings. I find a little healthy intimidation very beneficial.”

“Is that why you brought me here?” Brenna asked bitterly. “Am I to be intimidated by the great Michael Donovan?”

Donovan's mouth tightened. “I brought you here so that you can explain why you broke your word to me and ran away. If I have to intimidate you to get an answer, then so be it.” His eyes darkened broodingly. “We shared something pretty special last night, and I woke up this morning to find you'd left me, presumably for good. I want to know why? Was it Melanie St. James?”

Brenna shook her head impatiently. Her anger was inexplicably seeping away, replaced by the treacherous yearning that always beset her in Donovan's presence. “No, it wasn't Melanie,” she said wearily. “I just couldn't stay any longer. Please try to understand.”

Donovan's hands closed on her shoulders, his face white and set. “I
don't
understand, and I
won't
accept it! I know damn well you haven't been unhappy these last few months. Tell me why!”

Suddenly she couldn't stand it any longer. It was sheer torture being so catechized when her emotions were raw and bleeding. “What difference does it make whether it's now or later,” she cried. “It was only a matter of time, anyway.”

“It was time that I needed,” he said grimly. “I think I know what happened. With your background, I realize how difficult it must be for you to trust yourself to a commitment to any man. I thought I was making progress, but this little incident with Melanie blew the whole thing up in my face.” His mouth firmed determinedly. “Well, we'll just have to start again.”

His words only added to her distress and confusion. “By holding my son hostage for my good behavior? How long do you think you can get away with that?”

His blue eyes met hers with implacable determination. “I can use it today and perhaps tomorrow. The next day I'll find another lever to keep you with me. And the next day I'll find another. I'll keep on until there are no more tomorrows.”

“Why?” she whispered, her gaze clinging to his, while an impossible hope stirred to life.

“Because I love you, you stupid woman,” he grated between his teeth. “Because I damn well can't live without you.”

Her mouth flew open, and her eyes grew round. For a moment she was unable to respond due to the sheer stunning impact of what he had said.

“I know you don't want any permanent relationship with me,” he said raggedly, shaking her a little. “But dammit, I know I can make you love me in time, and I'm going to buy that time any way I can!”

She shook her head dazedly. “This doesn't make any sense,” she said, bewildered. “You made it very plain that our marriage was only temporary.”

“I was afraid I'd scare you off,” he said bluntly. “I knew damn well what I wanted from the moment I saw you, but after I found out about your distrust of men, I knew I'd have to play down any hint of commitment.” He shrugged, his expression belligerent. “Well, it's too late for that now. I intend that this particular commitment will last the rest of our lives. So get used to it, Brenna!”

Her eyes dropped, as a wave of unbelievable joy rushed through her.
Michael loved her
. Michael Donovan loved and wanted her, not for just the present but forever.

He must have misunderstood her silence for that of despondency, for his hands moved to cradle her face tenderly. “God!
Give me a chance, sweetheart,” he pleaded hoarsely. “I can make you happy. Just give me a chance.”

Her eyes lifted to his, and all the radiance in the universe was shining from her eyes. “And you call me stupid, Michael Donovan,” she said, trembling. “You're the one who is supposed to be experienced with women. Can't you tell when one green girl is mad about you?”

She flowed into his arms, and pulled his face down to hers. Michael's eyes were blank with shock, and his body was stiff and still as he looked down at her. Then her lips touched his, and he crushed her to him in a convulsive embrace that left them both glowing and breathless. Her hands moved down from his shoulders to caress the hair-roughened muscles of his chest as she spread a multitude of joyous little kisses over his jaw and chin. “Oh, Michael, I do love you so much!” she breathed. “I'll love you forever and ever, do you know that?”

A deep chuckle rumbled from the chest under her hands. “If you don't stop that, you're going to be asked to prove it,” he said dryly, his blue eyes twinkling. “And as much as I lust after that luscious young body of yours, I still think we need to talk.” He drew her down on the couch, and pulled her around so that she was half-sitting, half-lying in his arms. He kissed her lingeringly.

“Do we really have to talk?” Brenna asked yearningly, one finger lazily tracing the well-defined curve of his upper lip. He caught her hand and held it firmly.

“We do,” he said with determination, his mouth twisting. “I want everything clear, all cards on the table. We're not going to have any more problems due to misconceptions. We've wasted too much time already.”

She sighed deeply, and his gaze was drawn irresistibly to the delicious curve of her breast under the melon silk shirt. His hand reached out, as if to caress those tempting mounds before he stopped with an effort.

“I think we'd better talk very quickly,” he said huskily. “Who'd
ever have guessed you'd turn out to be such a passionate little witch. You're a constant temptation to me, love.”

She smiled, her eyes embracing him with such a dazzling wealth of love that he caught his breath. “Only for you,” she whispered. “I only want you, Michael.”

“It had better stay that way,” he threatened jokingly, his hand tenderly stroking her hair. “I've been wild with jealousy since the moment we met. That actor at the theater, Paul Chadeaux, even Jake.”

“Not Jake,” she said unbelievingly. “You know Jake would never violate your friendship.”

“With my mind, maybe, but my emotions were another matter. I know, better than most, what a rake he can be, and women fall for that devil's face of his like a ton of bricks. You wouldn't be the first to develop a passion for him without Jake even making the effort.”

“Yes, he is utterly devastating,” Brenna agreed teasingly. “I can't think why I prefer ugly, bad-tempered Irishmen.”

“Shall I tell you,” he asked mischievously, and bent to whisper in her ear.

A blush crept over her, but she met his eyes challengingly. “Promises, promises,” she taunted.

“Exactly,” he said succinctly, and she flushed again, her fingers playing with a button on his shirt as she avoided his eyes.

“Did you really know you loved me that first day?” she asked curiously.

He nodded, his face suddenly serious. “It was as if the roof fell in. I didn't know what hit me. At first, I thought it was just lust, but before you left that day I knew it was a hell of a lot more than that.” He closed his eyes, and said slowly, “It was tenderness, and passion, and a crazy kind of nostalgia.” He opened his eyes, and they were dark with feeling. “A longing for home, and you were that home. I wanted to cherish and protect you till the day you died.”

Her eyes were brimming with tears. “Yet when you offered me our bargain, you said it would only last until you grew bored and told me to go,” she said.