Читать книгу Principles And Pleasures - Margaret Allison, Margaret Allison - Страница 8

The dining room table was at least thirty feet long, big enough to seat forty people. Meredith sat at the head of the table, across from her mother. Carly sat in the middle, exactly halfway in between.

Meredith did not like this table, nor did she care for the room. It was too ostentatious and showy. But her mother had grown up dining in this room. And although there were no longer servants to tend to the fire in the fireplace or to bring out steaming plates of food, her mother still insisted that they all drink their morning coffee beneath a one hundred and fifty pound chandelier.

Meredith glanced at her mother who had just finished telling the story of how the decorated Christmas tree in the living room had crashed to the ground, causing havoc and tearing the Ritter sisters’ gowns.

“It’s those men who installed it,” Viera said. “I told them they weren’t putting the trees in the stands correctly, but they didn’t listen.” She sighed deeply and dramatically as she focused her attention on the newspaper spread out in front of her. “It’s so hard to find a man you can trust.”

“Speaking of men you can trust,” Carly interrupted, turning toward Meredith. “You’re going to make me ask, aren’t you?”

“What do you mean?” Meredith asked, sipping her coffee.

“What happened with Josh? Did you talk to him?”

“Yes.”

“And?” Viera asked as she pushed her bifocals lower on her nose so that she could see Meredith.

“And nothing.” She shrugged and took another sip.

Carly and Viera glanced at each other. “You were certainly gone a long time,” Viera said. “I didn’t see you all night.”

“Well, I wasn’t with Josh,” Meredith said, setting down her cup. “I came back and went to bed.”

“Why is he back in Aspen?” Carly asked.

“I don’t know. But I think it has something to do with you.” Meredith felt a slight ping of jealousy. Ignore it, she told herself. And it will go away.

“With me?”

Meredith nodded. “He said he wanted to see you. In fact, he said he would see you today.”

“Really?” Carly smiled and sighed dreamily. “He looked so handsome, didn’t he?”

“I didn’t notice,” Meredith said quickly.

“There’s just something about him. A charisma. It’s like a sexual fire or something.”

“Sexual fire?” Meredith asked.

“A spark. The way his eyes twinkle.”

Meredith paused, remembering the eyes that had stared so deeply at her. She agreed with her sister. Josh’s eyes were the kind that seemed to bore right through you.

“And the way he smells. It’s so woodsy and manly-like.”

Meredith remembered how she had awoken from her night with Josh, how she had felt surrounded by his musky scent. She was surprised that her sister would mention something so personal about Josh. Carly was speaking like his lover, not like his friend.

“And he’s so confident and self-assured—”

“Have you heard from Mark?” Meredith interrupted.

“I guess,” Carly said.

“What do you mean, you guess?” Viera asked. “Either you have or you haven’t.”

“What difference does it make? All I can think about is Josh.”

Meredith leaned forward, certain that she had misunderstood. This was her horrible imagination playing tricks on her.

Her mother glared at Carly. “I’ve got four hundred people coming to your wedding in two weeks. I suggest you stop thinking about Josh and start focusing on your future husband.”

“I can’t stop thinking about him.” Carly glanced away. “I have to see Josh.”

“What would Mark say if he heard you talking like this?” Viera exclaimed.

Carly shrugged. “I think he would think the same thing I’m thinking. If I’m so tempted by another man, then maybe we shouldn’t get married.”

“That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard!” her mother practically screeched.

“Mother—” Meredith began, trying to calm Viera.

“If,” her mother interrupted, looking at Carly, “you care nothing for me, think about your sister. What’s going to happen to the deal with the Durans if you break their son’s heart? Your sister could lose her job.”

On the assumption that Meredith would be purchasing Durasnow, her company’s stock had been rising. And so had the board’s confidence in her. If this deal fell through, the company might still survive, but Meredith’s tenure as CEO would be over.

“You’re right, Mother.” Carly sighed deeply. “What’s wrong with me?”

Meredith couldn’t speak. What was wrong with her?

Josh’s obvious charm aside, Meredith couldn’t understand why Carly would want to jeopardize what she had with Mark. They seemed so happy together. Meredith had often wished she would be so lucky as to find someone who cared about her as much as Mark cared about Carly.

Carly put her head in her hands. “It’s the curse,” she cried. “I finally meet a good guy, a guy that I love and who loves me. It’s all going to be ruined. Just because of Josh.”

Perhaps her sister was right, Meredith thought. Perhaps it was just the Cartwright women’s knack for romantic self-destruction that was leading her astray.

Carly focused her wet, blue eyes on Meredith and said, “You’re the only one who can help me.”

“Me?” Meredith asked, surprised. “What can I do?”

“Keep him away from me.” Carly threw her head in her hands, her long, curly blond hair falling forward.

Meredith thought back to the previous evening when she had offered Josh money to leave Carly alone. The defiant fire in his eyes had been unmistakable. Meredith shook her head. “I can’t keep him away. If you don’t want to see him, you have to tell him yourself.”

“I can’t. I’m afraid if I see him…if I’m alone with him…well…”

“You’ll pick up where you left off?” It was Viera who spoke.

Meredith held her breath, waiting for her sister’s answer. She had always assumed that nothing romantic had ever transpired between Carly and Josh. But then again, would Carly have told her if it had?

“Left off?” Her sister appeared startled by the question. “We’ve never even dated. We were always just friends. I mean, I’ve dated some cads, but Josh was almost too much of one even for me. I knew so many girls that were hurt by him.”

Meredith exhaled. At least Carly had not slept with him.

“And this is the man with whom you can’t stand to be alone?” Viera asked slowly, as if she was also having trouble grasping the problem.

Carly’s eyes settled on Meredith. “Distract him, Meredith. Just until Mark gets back.”

“What? How?”

“Hire him to give you skiing lessons. Ask him to take you to Bear Mountain. That’s at least a solid day. By the time you get back, Mark should be home. I’ll be safe.”

“You better be ‘safe,’” Viera said, making quotation marks in the air with her fingers. “We’ve got five hundred people with invitations and gifts expecting a wedding.”

Meredith raised her eyebrow. “A minute ago there were four hundred.”

“Replies are coming in as we speak,” Viera said defensively. “It’s the event of the season.”

Meredith shook her head. “I don’t know.” She sighed. “If Carly is having so many second thoughts then maybe…” Maybe she shouldn’t get married. As much as she hated the idea of losing the contract with Durasnow, she couldn’t stand the thought of her sister being in a loveless marriage. “Maybe…” Meredith began. Just say it. She glanced at her sister. “Maybe your marriage to Mark is not meant to be…”

“It is meant to be,” Carly said.

“Excuse me?”

“I just need a little help avoiding the curse.”

Meredith shook her head, not convinced. “What if you get married and start feeling this way about someone else…”

“I won’t. It’s just Josh. I think he could tempt any woman to misbehave.”

Meredith sighed. She couldn’t argue with that.

“Sometimes matters of the heart don’t make sense, Meredith,” her mother added, glancing at Carly.

The doorbell rang, its chime echoing through the empty house. Carly stood and moved to the window to peek out. She ran back to Meredith and clutched her arm. “It’s Josh,” she said. “Ask him to take you to Bear Mountain or something. Please.”

But Meredith couldn’t bear the thought of seeing Josh again, not to mention asking him on a trip. “I have to work. I’m supposed to go to New York today.”

Viera stood and said, “If your sister is seen with Josh, you may not have a job to worry about.”

“Just for a day or so. Until Mark gets back.”

“Carly—” Meredith began.

Carly interrupted. “If you won’t do it for me, do it for your…”

“Country?” Viera suggested.

“I was going to say company,” Carly said, “but whatever works.”

Meredith hesitated.

“A day, Meredith,” Carly said. “Please?”

“All right,” she said, standing. “One day.” She walked away, certain she had just made a deal with the devil. No good would come of this. No good at all.

Josh stood with his back to the Cartwright door, admiring the view of the mountains. At times he missed those long days with nothing better to do than ski. He had gone from one extreme to the other. From ski bum to corporate entrepreneur. There has to be, he thought, a happy alternative.

Hearing the door open, he turned, expecting to see one of the Cartwright servants. Instead, Meredith stood in front of him, her thick, dark hair loose around her shoulders. She was dressed casually, in a tight-fitting turtleneck and jeans. He couldn’t help but notice the outfit clung to her like a second skin.

He felt a warmth stir inside him. The once uncertain girl had become a captivating swan who was not only aware of, but also relished the change.

She looked at him and nodded.

Josh had long prided himself on his ability to recognize his opponent’s strengths and weaknesses. He had an innate sense of people. So far, at least, his instincts had not led him astray.

And his instincts told him one thing. Whatever was about to come out of her mouth would be interesting.

Meredith focused her bewitching brown eyes on him and smiled. “Please come in. Carly is waiting for you.”

He heard Carly gasp from the other room. “I’m sick, Meredith!”

“Don’t be ridiculous. It’s just Josh. He just wants to say hello.” Meredith turned back toward him. “I’m sure she’s well enough to welcome an old friend…”

Carly burst past them, covering her mouth. Viera followed close behind.

“I’m afraid Carly is sick with the stomach flu,” Mrs. Cartwright said, hurrying after Carly but pausing at the base of the stairs to flash Josh her famous, white-toothed smile. “Josh,” she said, as if she suddenly had all the time in the world. “Carly’s obviously not in any shape to entertain an old friend. You’ll have to settle for Meredith.”

Viera nodded toward her daughter. “Why don’t you invite Josh in? There’s coffee in the dining room,” she added as she made her way up the stairs.

“What was that?” he asked.

Meredith shrugged her delicate shoulders. He thought he could see the hint of a smile. “I guess Carly’s not as well as I thought.” She paused and focused her oval eyes on him. He had the feeling she was summing him up, deciding what to do with him. “I’m afraid this flu is a nasty one.”

“Perhaps I should come back later.” He caught her eyes and held them. Was this a ploy to keep him from speaking to Carly about her fiancé’s company?

No. He had seen Carly with his own eyes. She may not have the flu but she was obviously ill. Still, he couldn’t help but tease Meredith. If she thought so little of him that she believed he had returned to seduce her sister, especially after what he and Meredith had shared, then so be it. “As you know,” he continued, “I’m very anxious to see her.”

“Of course,” she said.

If he was annoying her, she didn’t show it. He shrugged. “Perhaps tomorrow. I’m free all day so—”

“You’re free all day?” she interrupted.

“All day.”

She hesitated, and glanced once more at the top of the stairs, as if waiting for Carly to appear. Finally she said, “Good.”

“Good?”

“I was hoping you’d be free.”