He shrugged. ‘I’m saying they could do, and that perhaps it would be as well if they did.’

  ‘Oh no!’ she shook her head. ‘I couldn’t bear it.’

  ‘You would rather everyone knew Forbes tried to rape you?’ he demanded harshly.

  ‘No! But I—I can’t let them think that you and I—that we—’

  ‘Why not? Surely that’s preferable to the truth? Or don’t you think so? Would you prefer everyone to know the truth rather than have them think you slept with me?’

  He was angry, cold chilling anger that she couldn’t mistake. ‘I didn’t mean that,’ she pleaded for his understanding.

  ‘Then get yourself ready,’ he snapped.

  ‘Jake, are you—why are you so angry with me?’

  His blue eyes narrowed. ‘You were flirting with Brad in my absence.’ He didn’t attempt to deny the emotion.

  She gasped. ‘I wasn’t.’

  ‘Yes, you damn well were! And only minutes after being in my arms.’

  ‘I wasn’t, Jake. Honestly. He was kind to me, that’s all.’ And he had told her the truth about Jake’s marital status, something she would always feel grateful to him for.

  ‘And if I’m kind to you will you smile at me as you did him?’ He moved forward to grasp her forearms in a painful grip, pressing into her already bruised flesh. ‘Will you, Stacy?’ he demanded.

  ‘You’re hurting me!’ She squirmed in his grasp.

  ‘I’ll do more than that if I ever see you smile at any other man like that again,’ he told her grimly.

  Stacy looked up at him with startled green eyes, her red hair tumbling down her back. ‘What do you mean?’ she asked tremulously.

  Jake thrust her away from him. ‘Forget I said it,’ he ordered fiercely. ‘I’ll meet you downstairs in ten minutes.’

  She hurried to her room, not wanting to anger him any more. He had changed from the curiously gentle man to a man racked by jealousy. It gave her hope for their future relationship, although how she could possibly show him how attracted she was to him when he could become so distant from her she didn’t know.

  He had expressed a desire for her and his reaction to her this morning had more than proved he still felt the same way, but he had the wrong idea about her morals. She realised she was to blame for that, she had told him she had lived with Matthew for a time, and she had behaved shamefully by spending the evening with Paul Forbes the night before.

  If Jake knew just how attracted she was to him he might expect her to enter into an affair with him, and although she knew people in her profession were supposed to be promiscuous she had never found that to be the case. And it certainly wasn’t true of her. She might have been brought up in an orphanage, but they had taught her to have a moral code, one she had stuck to. Her wedding night would be the first time she knew a man in the full sense of the word.

  It took her longer than Jake’s stated ten minutes to make herself presentable. She couldn’t help but feel shocked by the state of her mouth and arms. It had taken quite a lot of make-up to hide the dark marks on her skin, and her mouth still looked swollen, as if she had been kissed with great passion, as Jake had suggested. Although it was a hot day she had to change into a long-sleeved dress to cover up the purple bruises on her arms.

  Jake was scowling by the time she met him downstairs, his gaze passing mockingly over the lip-colour that partly hid the discoloured skin beneath. ‘That’s quite a good repair job,’ he taunted, taking hold of her arm to lead her outside to the sports car.

  ‘I did my best,’ she retorted sharply.

  ‘Like I said, you did a good job.’

  ‘It was the way you said it, almost as if I invited that attack.’

  ‘I see your temper has returned with your composure,’ he mocked arrogantly.

  ‘Do you think I invited what happened last night?’ she demanded.

  ‘Did you?’ He quirked an eyebrow.

  ‘Jake!’

  ‘Then don’t ask such damned stupid questions,’ he returned coldly.

  There were plenty of people about to witness their arrival when they reached the cove that was being used for filming, and the two of them received more than their fair share of curious glances.

  Stacy clung to Jake’s hand as if it were a lifeline, never feeling quite so conspicuous in her life before. By the time they reached Martin Payne’s side she felt as if her face was permanently red.

  They were shooting some of the scenes with Juliet and were obviously having a little trouble, Martin Payne losing his temper with his male star. ‘For God’s sake, Paul, you’re supposed to be making love to the girl! You’re moving about like a wooden doll!’

  Stacy caught Jake’s grin of satisfaction and turned hurriedly away before her own humour began to show too.

  Paul Forbes turned a furious face on the director. ‘I’m sick and tired of doing this damned scene, that’s why.’

  ‘Then you should have got it right the first time,’ Martin Payne rebuked. ‘All right, all right, let’s take a break. Five minutes only,’ he added warningly, turning to look at Jake. ‘I don’t know what you’ve done to him, but Paul has been damned impossible to work with today.’

  ‘Isn’t he every day?’ Jake returned dryly.

  The director sighed. ‘Most days,’ he admitted. ‘But he can usually act, today he can’t even do that. He’s supposed to be making love, instead he holds the girl as if he’s frightened to get near her.’

  Jake grinned. ‘That’s probably because he is. It can’t be all that comfortable when your ribs feel as if they’re broken in a dozen different places.’

  ‘My God, you didn’t actually hit him?’

  Jake’s grin widened. ‘And enjoyed every moment of it.’

  ‘Why the hell didn’t he just say so? We could have shot something else today, instead of which I’ve wasted a whole morning.’

  ‘The circumstances behind my hitting him probably aren’t something he wants to talk about.’ Jake looked down at Stacy as she squeezed his hand warningly. He was right, she would prefer people to think they were lovers rather than that Paul Forbes had tried to make love to her against her will. ‘All right, honey?’ Jake’s voice lowered intimately.

  ‘Yes, I’m fine. I—er—I’ll just go and have a word with Juliet,’ she said awkwardly.

  ‘Okay,’ he nodded. ‘I’ll look for you when I’m ready to leave.’

  She escaped as he and the director became deeply engrossed in discussing one of the scenes, slowly making her way over to where she could see Juliet in conversation with one of the other girls. She was almost there when she looked up and met the hate-filled eyes of Paul Forbes. She stopped in her tracks as he walked towards her with purposeful strides, his mouth turned back in a sneer.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  STACY wanted to move, to walk away, but she was rooted to the spot by her own fear. Last night this man had tried to rape her, and although she knew he couldn’t hurt her in front of all these people, verbally he could rip her to shreds.

  His fingers curled painfully about her wrist, the smile on his face in no way matching the venom in his eyes. ‘Smile, Stacy,’ he ordered, the pressure of his fingers increasing almost to breaking point. ‘We wouldn’t want anyone to guess that we aren’t the best of friends, now would we?’ The smile remained fixed on his face.

  ‘I couldn’t give a damn what people think,’ she said fiercely. ‘You’re despicable, and everyone should know it.’

  ‘Know what, Stacy? That I tried to take you against your will?’ He shook his head mockingly. ‘I don’t think so, Stacy. You see, I would just have to tell them that you’re a young girl who became infatuated with me, and like any red-blooded man I lost my head a little.’

  ‘And these bruises?’ she sneered.

  ‘A little too much passion,’ he returned calmly, unwittingly using Jake’s excuse. ‘I think that in your case I would be the one to be believed. You see, Stacy, you’ve been a little too friendly with too many men of late.’

  She gasped. ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘I mean Saturday night at dinner with Day, the evening spent with Weston, the next day with the same man, surprisingly, and then dinner with me yesterday evening. And now today you’re with Weston again. Not a pretty picture, is it?’ he taunted.

  The way he put it it did look pretty damning. ‘But I—’

  ‘You what?’ he scorned. ‘Tried us all out and found Weston the best in bed?’ He shrugged. ‘I don’t see how anyone would imagine anything else.’

  Neither could she! And for a girl who usually steered well clear of any sort of emotional entanglements she seemed to have well and truly blackened her name over the last two days. ‘But Jake knows the truth,’ she insisted. ‘He—’

  ‘Ah yes, Jake.’ Paul looked at the other man as he talked to Martin Payne, apparently unaware of their conversation. There was pure hate in the look. ‘He may think he knows the truth.’

  Stacy gave him a sharp look. ‘What are you saying now?’

  ‘I’m wondering how Jake would like to hear what really happened last night.’

  ‘But he already knows.’ She frowned her puzzlement.

  ‘The truth as you tell it.’

  ‘But you know it’s right! I wouldn’t—’

  Paul laughed, an unpleasant sound without humour. ‘Wouldn’t sleep with me,’ he jeered. ‘Is that what you told Weston?’ He laughed again. ‘I only have to tell him a different story to put the seeds of doubt in his mind, in fact I already made a start on that last night.’

  She swallowed hard. ‘You—you did?’

  ‘Sort of. I implied that it might not have been all onesided, that you liked a man to be rough with you. He didn’t appear to take too much notice of me at the time, but I think I could persuade him that that’s the way it happened if I cared to.’

  Stacy was very pale and she felt sick at the malevolence of this man. ‘Why should you want to do that?’

  ‘Why?’ Furious anger burst in his pale blue eyes. ‘Because I don’t take kindly to being beaten up by someone I consider no better than me, and because you cheated on me. And I could make him believe it too, Stacy. A very jealous man, is Jake Weston. I could tell him how you led me on and then—’

  ‘I didn’t lead you on,’ she burst out indignantly. ‘I had no intention of—of—’

  ‘Perhaps you didn’t, but before I’m finished I’ll make sure Weston thinks you did.’

  ‘You’re sick! You have to be to want to do something like this. One dinner with you doesn’t mean I have to sleep with you.’

  ‘But you slept with Weston. Don’t deny it, Stacy, I know it’s true. Your friend Juliet unknowingly told me you hadn’t stayed in your room last night,’ he smiled. ‘She was under the impression you’d been with me.’

  Stacy bit her lip. ‘I see,’ she muttered. ‘And why are you telling me all this?’

  ‘I’ve had time to think of a suitable revenge on Weston for these bruised ribs he gave me—’

  ‘And what about my bruises?’ she interrupted angrily. ‘You were like a savage animal last night!’

  ‘Probably because that’s what I felt like. I’m the star around here, girl, and I don’t like kids like you thinking they can hog the limelight. As I was saying, I’ll get my revenge on Weston, and I’ll get it through you. He’s a lot like me in some ways, he likes women but not marriage, but while a woman interests him she gets all his attention. Once his desire evaporates it’s a different story—but then I don’t intend waiting that long.’

  ‘Waiting for what?’

  He smiled with malice. ‘I’m going to wait until he’s reached the peak of his interest in you and then I’m going to tell him I’ve already had you.’

  ‘But you haven’t!’

  ‘He won’t know that. You should know by now, Stacy, I tell a very convincing story.’

  ‘You would do a thing like that just because I turned you down?’

  ‘I’ve done worse with less provocation.’

  ‘You’re evil!’ she said with feeling. ‘Evil and sick! You’ve started believing all the flattering things the press have to say about you, and when that happens you lose your own identity, as you’re doing. I find it hard to imagine you were ever a nice person, but I suppose you might have been once. Do your worst, Mr Forbes,’ she flicked her head back in a haughty gesture. ‘I couldn’t give a damn what you do,’ she lied.

  ‘We’ll see,’ he taunted.

  Stacy stumbled away from him, feeling almost dazed by the hate he had managed to convey to her while the rest of the people standing about them seemed totally oblivious of the tension between them. At last she reached Juliet’s side, she and another girl breaking off their conversation as Stacy joined them.

  ‘I wish I knew how you did it,’ teased Anna.

  ‘Did what?’ Stacy asked lightly.

  ‘Managed to captivate the two best-looking men here. I haven’t even met Mr Weston yet, he looks absolutely fascinating.’ She turned to Juliet. ‘I’ll see you later.’

  ‘Well!’ Juliet grinned at Stacy. ‘You’re turning out to be the centre of attention.’

  ‘Things aren’t always what they seem,’ she mumbled in reply.

  ‘Have you seen Matthew yet?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘He’s back at the hotel somewhere. And you haven’t seen him?’ Juliet frowned worriedly.

  ‘No.’

  Juliet whistled through her teeth. ‘Maybe it’s as well. He was hopping mad last night, I don’t know if he’s calmed down yet.’

  Stacy frowned too now. ‘What’s the matter with him?’

  Juliet gave a shout of laughter. ‘What’s the matter with him! As if you don’t know,’ she chided.

  ‘But I don’t.’

  ‘Come with me to the caravan while I change,’ Juliet suggested. ‘For some reason Paul Forbes keeps muffing this scene, so they’ve decided to scrap it for today. I may as well get back to the hotel. Come on.’

  Stacy followed her over to the caravan that some of the lesser known actors and actresses occasionally used to change their clothes in.

  ‘So,’ Juliet encouraged. ‘Tell me all about it?’

  Stacy sighed. ‘What do you want to know?’

  ‘All of it—as long as you don’t think I’ll be too shocked.’ Juliet laughed. ‘You’ve shocked poor Matthew out of his tiny mind. Personally,’ she added confidingly, ‘I think he’s just piqued because he didn’t have the same luck.’

  ‘As who?’

  ‘That’s what I want to know,’ Juliet said impatiently. ‘You left the ballroom last night with Paul Forbes and yet you turned up here with Jake Weston. The mind boggles!’

  ‘Well, it needn’t,’ Stacy sighed. ‘Neither of them had any luck with me.’

  ‘You have to be joking!’

  Stacy shook her head. ‘If Matthew’s annoyed because he imagines I’ve slept with either of those men he can calm down, because I haven’t.’

  Juliet looked disappointed if anything. ‘You mean he spent the best part of the night sitting in our room chainsmoking for nothing?’

  ‘If that’s what he did, yes.’

  ‘I don’t believe it!’

  ‘It’s the truth, Juliet. I’ve already told you I don’t go in for those sort of affairs.’

  ‘I don’t mean I don’t believe you, I just meant I find it incredible. But if you say it’s so then it’s so.’

  ‘I wish everyone had your faith,’ Stacy said dryly.

  Juliet shrugged. ‘You’re bound to get a bit of jealous maliciousness. After all, as Anna said, you seem to have captivated the two dishiest men here.’

  ‘Forgive me if I disagree with you about the last statement.’

  ‘About the two dishiest men?’ Juliet raised her dark eyebrows. ‘What one doesn’t fit the description?’

  ‘Guess?’

  Juliet laughed. ‘Well, as you came here with Mr Weston I suppose Paul Forbes must be the one out of favour?’

  ‘He’s never been in favour as far as I’m concerned,’ Stacy declared vehemently.

  By this time Juliet had changed out of her costume and into her denims and sun-top. She sat down opposite Stacy. ‘You were with him last night.’

  ‘The biggest mistake I ever made in my life.’ Remembering his threats of a few minutes ago, Stacy thought it just had to be. ‘For a few brief, stupid minutes I thought I may have made a mistake about how awful he is.’ She grimaced. ‘I hadn’t.’

  ‘So where were you last night?’

  Stacy blushed. ‘I don’t know how to tell you that without giving you the wrong impression of what actually happened.’

  ‘I’m not here to pass judgment on anything you did,’ Juliet grinned. ‘Goodness knows I haven’t lived a life of complete innocence.’

  Stacy couldn’t meet her eyes. ‘I stayed in Jake Weston’s suite.’ She went on to tell Juliet of the events of the night before.

  There were bright spots of angry colour in Juliet’s cheeks by the time Stacy had finished. ‘Good for Mr Weston! I hope he hurt him.’

  ‘He did.’

  ‘Good,’ she said with satisfaction. ‘I just hope I see Matthew before you do, though. I don’t think he’ll hold back long enough to hear what really happened.’

  ‘You see what I mean about his brotherly protection.’

  Juliet nodded. ‘I’m beginning to. He wasn’t exactly jealous, just angry.’

  Stacy stood up. ‘So will Jake be if I don’t soon make an appearance. Oh, by the way,’ she said as an afterthought, ‘he isn’t married.’

  Juliet shrugged. ‘I told you I could be wrong.’

  She would never know how glad Stacy was that she had been! ‘I’d better get out there or he’ll think I’ve been attacked again.’

  ‘Are you going to introduce me? I’d love to meet him.’

  ‘Come on, then,’ Stacy chuckled. ‘Although don’t blame me if he snaps your head off. He alternates between being tauntingly flirtatious to cuttingly sarcastic.’

  ‘Let’s hope I catch him at a good moment. I’d quite like to be flirted with by him.’

  It appeared they had caught him at the right moment because within seconds of being introduced to her Jake had Juliet giggling coyly at some of his remarks. Stacy felt herself bridling with unreasonable jealousy.