The Secret Love-Child

Maybe not a virgin, but close. The way she’d frozen when he’d dared touch her hair. The way she’d bolted out of his place, probably in fear that he might do more.

And he’d wanted to. Oh, yes. Being that close to her—actually touching her—had turned him on something rotten. When her bag had hit him as she’d hurried out, he’d just managed not to visibly wince. Luckily, she hadn’t stopped and looked down at where her bag had hit him, or she’d have been in for one big fright!

That was another reason why he hadn’t run out into the street after her just now. Looking a fool was not his favourite occupation.

Hopefully, by the time Isabel realised she’d left her phone and turned round to come back, he’d have himself under control again.

And then what, Rafe? What is the point of this exercise? Is it some form of sexual masochism?

Even if you were the kind of man who seduced other men’s fiancées—which you’re not, usually—you haven’t one chance in Hades of defrosting this one.

So, if and when she does come back, have the damned phone handy near the front door, give it to the lady and send her on her merry way.

His decision made, Rafe dropped the metallic-blue cellphone on the hall table and headed upstairs for some breakfast. After that, he came back downstairs to his darkroom, where he set about developing the rolls of film he’d shot last night at Orsini’s summer fashion parade, and at the after-parade party, which had gone well into the wee small hours of the morning. The women’s magazines would be ringing first thing Monday morning, wanting to see the best of them.

Two hours later, Rafe was still in his darkroom, going through the motions, but his mind simply wasn’t on the job. The object of his distraction hadn’t come back, and he simply could not put her out of his head.

The truth was, she intrigued him. Not just sexually, but as a person. He wanted to know more about her.

In the end, Rafe stopped trying to put her out his mind. He abandoned his work, pulled the business card she’d left him out of his pocket, went back upstairs, picked up his phone and punched in the number she’d written down.

The line rang and rang at the other end, with Rafe about to hang up when someone finally picked up.

‘Hello there.’

Rafe frowned. It was a woman, but he wasn’t sure if it was Isabel. She sounded…odd. ‘Isabel?’

‘Yep? To whom do I have the pleasure of speaking?’

Rafe couldn’t believe his ears. She was drunk!

‘It’s Rafe. Rafe Saint Vincent. The photographer.’

Dead silence. Though he could hear her breathing.

‘You left your mobile phone at my place.’

More silence.

‘I thought you might be worried about it.’

She actually laughed.

‘Isabel,’ he said with concern in his voice. ‘Have you been drinking?’

‘Mmm. You might say that.’

‘I am saying it.’

‘So what?’

Rafe was taken aback. This wasn’t the woman he’d met today. This was someone else. ‘You said you didn’t drink,’ he reminded her.

She laughed again. ‘I lied.’

His eyes widened with shock, then narrowed with worry. ‘Isabel, what’s wrong? What’s happened?’

‘I guess there’s no point in not telling you. You’ll have to know some time, anyway. The wedding’s off.’

He couldn’t have been more taken aback, both by the news and her manner. ‘Why?’ he asked.

‘Luke’s left me for someone else.’

Rafe experienced a small secret thrill at this news, but his overriding emotion was sympathy. He knew what it was like to be left for someone else, and he wouldn’t wish the experience on a dog.

‘I’m so sorry, Isabel,’ he said with genuine feeling. ‘You must be feeling rotten.’

‘I was, till I downed my third whisky. Now, I actually don’t feel too bad.’

He had to smile. That was exactly what he’d done the day Liz had left him. Hit the bottle. ‘You should never drink alone, you know,’ he warned softly.

‘Oh, I’m not drunk,’ she denied, even though her voice was slurring a little. ‘Just tipsy enough so that my pain is pleasantly anaesthetised. Why, you offering to drink with me, lover?’

Rafe’s smile widened. It seemed Isabel’s ice-princess act melted considerably under the influence of three glasses of Scotch.

‘I think you’ve had enough for one day.’

‘That’s not for you to say,’ she huffed.

‘Maybe not, but I’m still saying it.’

‘Did anyone ever tell you that you are the bossiest person alive?’

‘Yeah. My mother. She threw a party the day I left home.’

‘I can well imagine.’

‘But she loves me all the same.’

‘I doubt other people would be so generous.’

Her alcohol-induced sarcasm amused him. ‘Did anyone ever tell you you’re a snooty bitch?’ he countered.

He liked it when she laughed. Being drunk suited her. No more Miss Prissy. How he wished he was with her now.

There again, perhaps it was wise that he wasn’t. When and if he took her to bed, he didn’t want her drunk. Or on the rebound. He wanted her wanting him for himself, and no other reason.

‘I guess you won’t be needing my services now,’ he said.

‘As a photographer, you mean?’

Rafe sucked in sharply. What a provocative reply! Perhaps she didn’t disapprove of him as much as he’d thought she had.

Or perhaps it was just the drink talking.

‘Actually, I’d still like to photograph you,’ he said, truthfully enough.

‘Really? Why?’

‘Why? Well, firstly, you are one seriously beautiful woman, and I have a penchant for photographing beautiful women. Secondly, I just want to see you again. I want to take you out to dinner somewhere.’

‘You mean…like…on a date?’

‘Yes. Exactly like that.’

‘You don’t waste much time, do you? I’ve only been dumped for two hours. And you’ve only known about it for two minutes! What if I said I was too broken up over Luke to date anyone for a while?’

‘Then I’d respect that. But I’d ask you out again next week. And the week after that.’

‘I should have guessed you’d be the determined type,’ she muttered.

‘Being determined is not a vice, Isabel.’

‘That depends. So why is it you don’t already have a girlfriend? Or do you? Don’t lie to me, now. I hate men who lie to me,’ she added, slurring her words.

‘I’m between girlfriends at the moment.’

‘Oh? What happened to the last one?’

‘She went overseas to work. I wasn’t inclined to follow her.’

‘Why?’

‘My career is here, in Australia.’

‘Ahh. Priority number one.’

‘What does that mean?’

‘It means no, thank you very much, Rafe. I’ve been down that road far too many times to travel it again.’

‘Now I’m confused. What road are you referring to?’

‘Dating men who want only one thing from me. You do only want one thing from me, don’t you, Rafe?’

Rafe considered that a loaded question.

‘I wouldn’t say that, exactly.’ He liked talking to her, too. ‘But I have to confess that marriage and kiddies are not on my list of must-do things in my life.’

‘Well, they’re on mine, Rafe. And sooner, rather than later. But I appreciate your telling me the truth. That’s a big improvement on some of the other men I’ve become involved with in the past.’

His eyebrows shot up. It sounded as if there had been scads. Any idea that she might almost be a virgin went out of the window. It just showed you first impressions weren’t always right.

‘Did your fiancé lie to you?’

‘Luke? Oh, no…no, Luke was no liar.’

‘But he was obviously two-timing you,’ he pointed out.

‘No. He wasn’t. Look, it’s rather difficult to explain.’

‘Try.’

So she did, explaining the circumstances which had led up to Luke’s meeting Celia.

‘So he hasn’t been two-timing me,’ she finished up. ‘He only met Celia yesterday.’

‘Perhaps, but he didn’t tell you the truth about why he was going up to his dad’s fishing cabin on Lake Macquarie in the first place, did he?’

‘No, but I can understand why. He’d been thrown for a loop when the solicitor told him his Dad wanted to leave his weekender to some strange woman.’

‘You make a lot of excuses for him, don’t you? He was still unfaithful to you. And he hurt you, Isabel.’

‘He didn’t mean to. Look, I’m sorry I told you about it now. It’s really none of your business. Thank you for ringing and for making me feel a little better, but I think we should leave it right there, don’t you? As I said, we want different things in life. I wonder…could you possibly post my phone back to me?’

‘I’d rather drop it off to you.’

‘And I’d rather you didn’t.’

‘You’re afraid of me,’ he said, startled by this realisation.

‘Don’t be ridiculous!’

Oh-oh. She was definitely sobering up. And returning to her former stroppy self.

‘Just tell me one thing.’

‘What?’

‘Did you love him?’

‘I was marrying him,’ she snapped. ‘What do you think?’

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