‘How are you, love?’ her brother asked once Tony had gone off quite happily with his aunt.

  ‘I’m fine,’ she told him huskily. ‘Is Tony behaving himself?’

  ‘Does he ever?’ Simon laughed.

  ‘Oh dear,’ she sighed worriedly. ‘What’s he done?’

  ‘Nothing too serious. He tried to eat the cat’s food—’

  ‘Ugh!’ she grimaced.

  ‘Quite,’ he agreed dryly. ‘The only thing was he tried to eat it at the same time as the cat did. You can imagine what happened!’

  ‘I’m trying not to.’ Simon and Janice had a huge grey tabby, a placid creature, until it came to her food, that she would defend with her life. ‘What happened?’

  ‘Tiger turned round and swiped him one. That’s when Tony grabbed her tail and wouldn’t let go.’

  Velvet was laughing so much she had tears streaming down her face—or could they be due to the fact that she was missing her son so much? ‘Who won in the end?’

  ‘I think they called it a draw. Tony had a scratched hand, and Tiger slunk off into a corner to wash her tail. They’re friends again now, though, they’ve been playing together for the last hour. Now, how’s the work going?’

  ‘Quite well. But it’s so hot. You know me, I can’t stand the heat. Also—No,’ Velvet bit her lip, reluctant to tell her brother about the strange man she had just met. ‘It doesn’t matter,’ she dismissed.

  ‘What is it, Velvet?’ he asked sharply, always having been the one she ran to with her problems.

  ‘There was this man—’

  ‘Looking the way you do there was bound to be,’ he derided.

  ‘No, it wasn’t like that, Simon. He—he was so strange.’ She went on to describe her meeting with the man called Jerard.

  ‘Did he upset you?’ her brother wanted to know.

  ‘Not really,’ she frowned. ‘He disturbed me more than anything.’

  ‘Good-looking, was he?’ Simon teased.

  ‘I didn’t mean that sort of disturbed,’ she told him crossly, in a way glad that he hadn’t taken the incident seriously; it made her feel she didn’t have to either.

  ‘I don’t see why not—it’s some time since Anthony died. You’re too young and beautiful to be alone for ever,’ he said gently. ‘Besides, Tony needs a father.’

  ‘Simon!’ she spluttered her indignation. ‘This man definitely wasn’t father material, not at all,’ she added with certainty. ‘And even if he were I’m not interested. He was weird,’ she shivered, the memory of his fierce blue eyes burning into hers still very much with her.

  ‘Then you make sure you stay away from him,’ her brother warned. ‘I’d better let you go now, this call must be costing a fortune.’

  ‘Okay. Give Tony a hug for me, and a hug and a kiss for you and Janice.’

  ‘See you soon, love.’

  She felt quite dejected once she had rung off, feeling a need to get out of her room and be among people. But she didn’t feel like walking back over to the beach, opting to use the hotel pool instead. She just hoped she wouldn’t run into that hateful man again!

  It seemed her luck was in; there was no sign of the man, and the pool was mainly deserted in favour of the beach. The pool was gloriously cool, and she swam for half an hour or more before getting out to lie on one of the loungers scattered about its edge.

  ‘You swim well,’ remarked someone at her side.

  Her eyes flickered open to meet warm blue ones; a tall blond American was standing beside her, his tan a golden bronze. But Velvet didn’t welcome a pick-up twice in one day. ‘Thank you,’ she said uninterestedly, closing her eyes again.

  ‘You’re one of the models staying here, aren’t you?’

  Another persistent one! She opened her eyes to find he had sat down on the lounger next to hers. Velvet sat up, the anger in her clear brown eyes shielded by the huge round sun-glasses she wore. ‘How did you know that?’ she wanted to know.

  ‘I’m the assistant manager here,’ he grinned at her, very handsome in a golden sort of way, rather like one of the Greek gods the romantics were always talking about.

  Her mouth twitched into an unwilling smile, finally smiling openly. ‘That’s cheating!’

  ‘I know,’ he smiled. ‘One of the perks of the job.’

  ‘Chatting up girls?’ she teased, knowing this man was someone she could handle.

  ‘You’re my first model.’ His gaze was appreciative of her slender beauty.

  ‘I’m flattered!’ she laughed at his directness. She liked his candidness, although he was nowhere near as excitingly attractive as the man called Jerard.

  Just to think of the other man gave her a shiver down her spine—and it wasn’t one of fear. That surprised her, she hadn’t thought herself that attracted to him. He was the first man she had found remotely interesting since Anthony had died, and she felt a certain amount of resentment towards him for kindling that interest.

  ‘I hope that scowl isn’t for me,’ the man at her side interrupted her disturbing thoughts.

  ‘I—No,’ she gave him a dazzling smile. ‘I was thinking of something else.’

  ‘That isn’t allowed when you’re with me. I’m Greg Boyd, by the way.’

  ‘And I’m Velvet Dale.’

  ‘Oh, I know that,’ he grinned. ‘I always know the names of the beautiful women staying at the hotel.’

  ‘That must be difficult,’ she teased. ‘They all look beautiful.’

  Greg shook his head. ‘Pretty, not beautiful. There’s a difference. You’re beautiful.’

  ‘Thank you,’ she accepted the compliment for what it was.

  ‘Care to join me in a drink?’ he invited.

  ‘I—’ She gave a brief glance at her wrist-watch. It was already five-thirty, time she went back to her room to prepare for the evening ahead. ‘No, thanks. I have to go now.’

  He watched as she stood up and pulled on her wrap. ‘Was it something I said?’ He looked crestfallen.

  ‘No,’ Velvet laughed at his woebegone expression. ‘I just have an appointment this evening, and I think I should go and get ready.’

  ‘Just my luck,’ Greg grimaced. ‘It’s my evening off,’ he explained. ‘And I’d been hoping you might join me for dinner.’

  ‘Maybe another night.’ She picked up her towel and sun-tan oil.

  ‘I don’t have another night off this week.’

  She gave a lightly teasing smile. ‘Then might I suggest another girl?’

  He burst out laughing, and stood up too. ‘You’re a little unusual, aren’t you?’ He fell into step beside her as they entered the hotel.

  ‘Am I?’ she quirked an eyebrow at him.

  ‘You sure are. I like you, Velvet Dale.’

  ‘Mrs Velvet Dale,’ she said pointedly.

  Greg frowned. ‘You’re married?’

  ‘Widowed.’

  ‘At your age?’

  She shrugged. ‘It happens. Besides, twenty-two isn’t young any more.’

  He pulled a face. ‘What does that make me at thirty?’

  ‘Ancient!’ She laughed, the laugh dying in her throat as she became aware of piercing blue eyes watching her.

  The man called Jerard was walking in the direction of the lift, his fierce gaze fixed savagely on her as she talked to Greg. And he looked furious, so much so that Velvet stayed talking to Greg while the other man got into the lift. She daren’t get in there with him, there was no telling what he would do if she did.

  It took ages for the lift to come back down again, but luckily it was now empty. She hoped that man’s room wouldn’t be anywhere near hers.

  She hadn’t really brought many evening dresses with her, not realising she would be dining with their important client. She wouldn’t wear anything too daring, at his age she might give him a heart attack. Charles Daniels must be at least seventy by now. No wonder Paul had warned against the black gown—it really was too seductively daring.

  The brown one was ideal, attractive without being too revealing. Her hair was newly washed and gleaming, her make-up light and unobtrusive. She looked beautiful enough to make an impression but not to raise the poor man’s blood pressure.

  ‘Perfect,’ Paul told her when they called for her.

  He was looking very distinguished himself in a black evening suit and white shirt, Carly as beautiful as usual in a clinging black gown.

  ‘How was Ocean World?’ Velvet asked them in the lift on the way up to the penthouse suite.

  ‘Well?’ Carly looked at Paul for the answer.

  ‘It was—it was good, very good,’ he admitted grudgingly. ‘Okay, okay,’ he sighed at Carly’s triumphant look, ‘so I enjoyed myself.’

  ‘You’ll have to go. Velvet,’ the other girl said enthusiastically. ‘If Grouchy here liked it then you know it was good.’

  Velvet nodded. ‘I’ll see if I can get there some time tomorrow. I wanted to call my brother this afternoon.’

  They stepped out of the lift. ‘How’s Tony?’ Paul enquired.

  ‘Wrecking the place, as usual,’ she laughed, looking around her appreciatively. ‘This is something, hmm?’

  Paul nodded, their surroundings luxurious in the extreme. ‘Wait until you meet our host, he’s more than just something.’

  Velvet laughed. ‘Seventy-year-old men don’t really appeal to me.’ Paul frowned. ‘Seventy-year-old—? He isn’t seventy, Velvet.’

  ‘But Charles Daniels—’

  ‘Died two years ago. His son’s been in charge ever since.’

  She blinked. ‘His son?’

  ‘Yes, Velvet,’ a man appeared from a room to the left of them, a man with startlingly familiar fierce blue eyes. ‘I took over from my father,’ he confirmed his identity as Charles Daniels’ son.

  She went pale. This man was the man who had stopped her in reception earlier, the man who claimed to know her—he was Jerard Daniels! Paul was right, he was more than just something, he was overpowering in the white dinner jacket and black trousers, every inch the powerful businessman he undoubtedly was.

  He came forward to take her hand, the intensity of his gaze not allowing for the other couple in the room. ‘We meet again, Velvet,’ he said huskily.

  She was mesmerised, held immobile by the intimacy of his expression. ‘I—Yes,’ she confirmed stupidly.

  ‘The two of you have met before?’ Paul sounded puzzled.

  ‘I—’

  ‘A couple of years ago,’ Jerard Daniels answered for her. ‘Although Velvet chooses not to remember that,’ he added harshly.

  ‘I don’t choose to, Mr Daniels,’ she snapped. ‘It happens to be the truth.’

  ‘But I remember you—vividly.’

  She blushed at the familiarity in his eyes, her smile strained. ‘I’m sorry,’ she shook her head, ‘but I really have no recollection …’

  ‘Never mind,’ he put her hand in the crook of his arm, smiling at the other couple. ‘Shall we go through and have a drink before dinner?’

  For the next fifteen minutes he was everything the polite host should be, although he didn’t let Velvet leave his side, his hand snaking out to grasp her wrist if she should attempt to do so.

  He frightened her. There was about him an air of suppressed violence, a dangerous quality to him that disturbed her.

  ‘Have you lived in Florida long, Mr Daniels?’ Carly asked him as they ate their dinner, Velvet placed opposite him at the long table.

  ‘Jerard,’ he put in smoothly. ‘And I don’t live here, Carly. I’m only here at all because Velvet is.’

  ‘Oh.’ Carly sounded unsure of his direct answer.

  Colour blazed in Velvet’s cheeks at the puzzled glances Paul and Carly kept shooting her. This man was embarrassing her, was giving her friends the impression that they had a relationship. ‘Is your wife with you, Mr Daniels?’ she asked waspishly.

  His expression darkened, his gaze rapier-sharp as he looked at her. ‘My wife is dead, Velvet,’ he rasped.

  ‘Oh!’ She moved uncomfortably. ‘I—I’m sorry.’

  ‘She isn’t,’ he said abruptly. ‘To die from heart disease isn’t very pleasant.’

  ‘Oh.’

  His eyes narrowed. ‘And your husband is dead too.’

  She blinked at him, bewildered by his knowledge of her when she knew absolutely nothing about him. ‘He died in a flying accident,’ she supplied.

  ‘I know that too—you were a passenger. You were carrying his child at the time.’

  She swallowed hard. ‘I—Yes.’

  In that moment Jerard Daniels looked satanic, as if he would like to hit out and hurt someone. He seemed to control this urge with effort. ‘You have a son,’ he said in a curious flat voice.

  ‘Tony, yes.’

  ‘Named after his father.’

  ‘I—yes. You see, Anthony never saw him. He was born on the day Anthony died.’ She didn’t know why she was explaining herself to this man, her life with Anthony had nothing whatsoever to do with him.

  ‘I have a daughter,’ Jerard Daniels told her.

  ‘You do?’ she asked interestedly, her assumption that this man wasn’t father material instantly contradicted.

  He was watching her closely. ‘She’s eight years old.’

  ‘Is she here with you?’ Carly wanted to know, obviously feeling that she and Paul had been excluded from the conversation long enough.

  Jerard Daniels smiled at her, a completely charming smile. ‘Not at the moment, no. She’ll be joining me soon.’

  ‘That will be nice for you,’ Carly responded to that smile, instantly captivated.

  ‘Very nice,’ he nodded. ‘How’s the photography going, Paul?’ He suddenly seemed to be remembering his manners.

  Velvet relaxed for the first time since she had entered the apartment and discovered Jerard Daniels was their host, his attention at last removed from her. How did he know all those things about her life? And why did he maintain that they had met before when she knew they hadn’t?

  She listened to his conversation, sensing that he knew almost as much about photography as Paul did. He was a man who would have a knowledge of many things—and she seemed to be one of them!

  Carly was giving her a frowning look, as if to say ‘What’s with you two?’ She wished she knew that herself? She shrugged at the other girl, knowing that Carly was curious about the past relationship Jerard kept insisting they had had. Well, she was curious about it herself!

  She wanted to excuse herself after dinner was over, but the two men were still discussing photography, making it highly unlikely that Paul would want to leave just yet. And she could hardly leave without him and Carly, not without making a scene.

  So she sat in one of the armchairs, a polite smile of interest fixed falsely on her face as she tried desperately to remember if she and Jerard Daniels had ever met before. He was so adamant that they had, and he didn’t seem the type to lie about something like that. Besides, he was very attractive, having charmed Carly until she was starry-eyed, so he didn’t need to go to such extremes to get a woman.

  She watched him as he talked to Paul. He really was very attractive, in a harsh sort of way. Still, it sounded as if life had dealt him a series of hard blows lately, first of all his wife dying of heart disease and then his father dying too. But she really couldn’t say she knew him.

  Maybe she reminded him of his wife or something? She could come up with any number of excuses for his mistake in thinking he knew her, but she had no way of knowing if any of them were right.

  When Paul finally suggested they leave she stood hurriedly to her feet, eager to be gone.

  Once again Jerard Daniels took hold of her arm, holding her easily at his side. ‘You two go ahead,’ he said politely to Paul and Carly. ‘I just want to have a private word with Velvet.’

  She swallowed hard. ‘It’s late, Mr Daniels,’ she told him sharply. ‘Perhaps we can talk in the morning?’

  ‘Tonight,’ he insisted in a hard voice that brooked no argument. ‘Now.’

  ‘I—’

  ‘We’ll see you in the morning, Velvet,’ said Paul before he and Carly stepped into the lift.

  ‘How dare you!’ Velvet turned angrily on Jerard Daniels once they were alone, forgetting for the moment that he was employing her, remembering only that he had embarrassed her. ‘You know what they’re thinking!’

  He raised one dark eyebrow. ‘And what would that be?’

  ‘That I’m spending the night up here with you!’ she snapped, two bright spots of angry colour in her cheeks.

  He looked unconcerned. ‘So?’

  ‘So I want to leave now. Look, I’m sorry if I don’t remember meeting you before, but I meet such a lot of people in my profession. If we were friends—’

  ‘We were a little more than that, Velvet,’ he revealed tightly, his features set in harsh lines.

  She looked at him dazedly, licking her lips nervously. ‘You mean …?’

  He gave an arrogant inclination of his head. ‘I mean we were lovers, Velvet.’

  CHAPTER TWO

  SHE pulled out of his grasp. ‘I don’t believe you!’ she gasped.

  His eyes were narrowed to icy slits. ‘It’s the truth, I can assure you. I loved you, I thought you loved me too. It seems I was just the first man in your life,’ he rasped.

  Her eyes were wide with shock. ‘The first …’

  ‘I was your first lover, Velvet. You were a virgin when we made love.’ His mouth twisted bitterly.

  ‘I—I—Oh God!’ She turned away, shaking with reaction. ‘This can’t be happening to me,’ she groaned.

  Jerard walked past her into the lounge, poured out two brandies and handed her one. ‘Drink it,’ he ordered, swallowing his own in one gulp, unmoved by the fiery liquid.

  Velvet took a tenative sip, grimacing at the unaccustomed alcohol. She never drank alcohol, had always had an aversion to it.