The Bride of Santa Barbara Read online

  ‘Well, are you feeling proud?’ he asked. ‘You ought to be.’

  Beth pulled a face at him. Some of the euphoria had already worn off and she was beginning to worry that the applause was mere courtesy.

  ‘Do you really think it was a success?’ she asked anxiously.

  ‘It was dynamite,’ insisted Daniel. ‘You’re going to find yourself a very busy and very wealthy woman before too much longer. Now that you’re over the first hurdle, you’d better get ready for the second one. It’s crucial for you to shine at this lunch too. The social side of doing business is important anywhere, but it’s vital in Los Angeles.’

  Beth heaved a sigh.

  ‘I hate that sort of thing,’ she said. ‘I’ve always been shy and I’m just not good at it. Besides, I’ve no idea where Warren has got to. I looked everywhere for him before the parade ended, but I couldn’t find him.’

  ‘Never mind about Warren,’ snapped Daniel impatiently. ‘You can sort out your personal problems any time. But there are moments when your work has to come first and this is one of them. Agreed?’

  ‘I suppose so,’ muttered Beth.

  ‘Good. Well, come on.’

  Five minutes later a silently gliding lift disgorged them on to a rooftop terrace on the fifth floor of the building. Beth stopped dead in amazement at the sight that met her eyes. The terrace must have been eighty feet long and nearly as wide, but the entire perimeter of it had been enclosed in screens of white silk. Against this background were tubs containing orange and lemon trees, their foliage green and glossy against the pale background. Smaller terracotta urns were bright with cascades of red geraniums and blue lobelias and in the centre of the terrace a string quartet of musicians dressed in white clothes were playing a Vivaldi sonata. Arranged in a circle around the central plaza were round tables with shady white umbrellas, but nobody was sitting at these yet. Instead a huge crowd of people was milling around on the red-brick paving, laughing and chattering and uttering shrill squeals of excitement. Somewhere a champagne cork popped loudly and Beth heard the chime of crystal glasses and the clatter of silver. She hesitated, feeling decidedly intimidated by the hum of noisy conversation, the white glare of photographers’ flashes and the glimpse of several internationally famous celebrities.

  ‘What do we do now?’ she whispered, unconsciously shrinking closer to Daniel.

  ‘Stop acting like a clinging vine for a start,’ replied Daniel under his breath. Adroitly he shrugged her off, so that a good two feet of brick paving lay between them. ‘You don’t need me for support, do you?’

  It was brutal, but effective. For a split second Beth stared at him with a look of frozen shock and dismay on her face. Then her chin came up, her shoulders squared and her eyes flashed blue fire.

  ‘No, I certainly don’t!’ she hissed angrily. ‘In fact, why don’t you just take yourself off? I can manage perfectly well without you.’

  Daniel smiled lazily.

  ‘Oh, there’s no need for that,’ he murmured. ‘You forget that we have business interests in common. So we’ll circulate fashionably together. But just remember that I don’t want you all over me like a rash.’

  Beth felt her shyness being shrivelled up by a fierce, scorching anger.

  ‘I wish I were all over you like a rash!’ she muttered. ‘Smallpox, for preference!’

  But Daniel seemed indifferent to her sarcasm.

  ‘Come on,’ he urged, plunging into the crowd. ‘Let’s get something to eat and then we’ll circulate.’

  Beth followed him sulkily, feeling as if she could plunge a knife into the back of his smart beige summer suit. Her first instinctive reaction to Daniel Pryor had been one of wary mistrust, but a lot had happened in the few days since the boating accident. And, in spite of their quarrel about Warren she had found herself increasingly drawn to Daniel. Besides, he hadn’t seemed entirely indifferent to her. So why was he behaving like this now? Just when she was beginning to trust him and feel grateful to him, he was slamming the door in her face. It made her feel hurt and puzzled. And very, very annoyed.

  The buffet was arranged at the far end of the terrace with a squadron of black-uniformed waiters around it. Following Daniel’s example, Beth picked up a Wedgwood plate and chose some succulent king prawns with a dipping sauce of Tabasco and thousand island dressing, a small square of hot savoury cheese in filo pastry and a few cherry tomatoes.

  ‘Champagne?’ asked Daniel.

  Beth shook her head.

  ‘I’ll just have an orange juice, please,’ she replied coldly.

  She had thought she was too nervous to eat, but the food was delicious and the orange juice was freshly squeezed and clinking with cubes of ice. As they stood juggling plates and glasses, Daniel casually roped in a couple of guests who wandered by and introduced them to Beth. For a moment her usual shyness threatened to paralyse her, but then the memory of Daniel’s cutting remark flashed back. Fighting down her urge to shrink and stammer, she forced herself to smile and chat intelligently. Before long she found herself at the centre of a friendly, laughing group and she began to relax a little. Deftly Daniel took her empty plate and glass and set them on a nearby table.

  ‘Well, if you’ll excuse us, we’re going to mingle,’ he said.

  And mingle they did. Within the next fifteen minutes Beth found herself introduced to half a dozen buyers from both east- and west-coast stores, five film stars and several agents. By the time they sat down at a shady table to eat their main course she was rather enjoying herself. Conscious of Daniel’s mocking gaze as they did their rounds, she had dredged up a courage that astonished her. It might be pure bravado, but she had waded in and tackled buyers with charm and determination. Now she had several important new contracts under her belt and a glowing sense of confidence to go with them. As a waiter set a plate of sizzling charcoal-grill beef steak in front of her accompanied by a gigantic jacket potato lavishly filled with sour cream and chives and a plate of green salad, she shot Daniel a look of triumph.

  ‘Well,’ she said challengingly. ‘Are you convinced? I’m not such a hopeless wimp after all, am I?’

  His dark eyes held hers with a look that baffled her. Was it amusement, contempt or something else?

  ‘Oh, I suppose you’re doing all right for a beginner,’ he replied, in dampening tones. ‘But the day’s not over yet.’

  The lack of enthusiasm in his voice made Beth smoulder inwardly. She felt a simmering indignation bubble up inside her and, along with it, a fierce determination to make Daniel sit up and take notice. However hard she had to work, she wouldn’t leave until she had enough orders to pay him back twice over for the money he had spent. That would show him!

  The main course was followed by a luscious array of desserts, but Beth waved away the hazelnut gateau and strawberry shortcake in favour of a small bowl of tropical fruit. Once the fragrant black coffee and chocolate truffles appeared, people began to circulate again, moving casually from table to table to chat with friends or business acquaintances. Beth was just about rise to her feet and join the fray when she heard a husky laugh behind her. Swinging around with an enquiring look, she saw that a deeply tanned brunette with a voluptuous figure, curly black hair and huge brown eyes had just materialised in the narrow gap between her chair and Daniel’s. The newcomer was only about five feet two inches tall and her red and white dress was obviously very expensive. Before Beth had the chance to notice anything else, the brunette slung one arm around Daniel’s shoulders and leaned forward, enfolding him in a cloud of perfume and a generous display of warm cleavage. Beth felt a stab of anger so sharp that it startled her. After all, what did it matter to her if some centrefold pin-up girl chose to drape herself all over Daniel? She didn’t care. Did she?

  ‘Well, hi, Daniel,’ cooed the brunette rapturously. ‘Now don’t say I never do anything for you. I turned up to the show just the way you asked!’

  Just the way you asked... So Daniel had invited this purring sex kitten
to the show, had he? No wonder he hadn’t wanted Beth hanging around him! A shock of resentment seared through her as Daniel’s gaze flickered lazily from her to the brunette. He’s comparing us! thought Beth indignantly. How dare he? I suppose he’s working out which one gives the best kisses! She felt even more indignant when she realised that Daniel’s eyes were lingering on the other woman with unabashed admiration.

  ‘Sunny, I’d like you to meet Beth Saxon,’ said Daniel. ‘Beth’s a fashion designer just getting established. And this is Sunny Martino. She’s one of our finest Hollywood actresses.’

  Sunny wriggled joyously at the compliment.

  ‘Well, thank you, sir,’ she cried, laying one hand on Daniel’s shoulder and batting her enormous eyelashes seductively. Then she gave a little shriek of laughter.

  Beth’s mouth tightened disapprovingly. Featherbrained idiot! she thought. And then Sunny’s melting brown eyes skimmed from her to Daniel with a shrewd, speculative look that was anything but featherbrained. For a moment she wondered whether she was underestimating the actress. Then Sunny pouted provocatively.

  ‘Don’t you have a place for me to sit down?’ she complained.

  ‘Let me get you a chair, Sunny,’ offered Daniel.

  He pulled out a chair for Sunny and moved along one space himself so that the actress was now seated between him and Beth. Sunny smiled mechanically at Beth and then leaned across at Daniel.

  ‘Honey, I’ve been wanting to talk to you,’ she murmured huskily. ‘I’ve got a big problem with AYZ Studios and I need your advice. You see, my contract—’

  At that moment there was an interruption as three photographers who had spotted Sunny appeared on the opposite side of the table and flashbulbs blazed rapidly. With only the faintest of sighs, Sunny lounged back into her chair, thrusting forward the magnificent cleavage and smiled winningly. A reporter appeared beside them, whipped out a notebook and pencil and began asking Sunny some questions. She was still babbling engagingly when another figure hovered into sight.

  ‘Warren!’ exclaimed Beth. ‘So you came! Did you see the collection?’

  Over the past few days she had been feelingly increasingly annoyed with Warren for leaving her in the lurch in Santa Barbara, but now her resentment was tempered with relief. The worry that Warren might have left permanently had been haunting her and, in some obscure way, she felt that his presence would protect her against Daniel. And, with Daniel making eyes at Sunny Martino, it gave Beth’s pride a boost to have another male come in search of her. Particularly one as good-looking as Warren. Ushering him into a seat, she flashed him a welcoming smile and was gratified to see Daniel scowl.

  ‘Hi, Beth,’ said Warren, sitting down at the table with nothing in his manner to suggest that they had ever quarrelled. ‘Sure, I saw it. We did a pretty good job, didn’t we?’

  ‘Yes, didn’t we?’ agreed Beth rather coolly. She might be pleased to see Warren, but that was going just a little too far. How like him to want to claim the credit when he hadn’t done any of the work!

  The reporter paused with his pencil in mid-air, sensing a story.

  ‘Hey, are you guys the people behind Warbeth designs?’ he asked. ‘The collection that was such a smash hit today?’

  ‘That’s right,’ agreed Warren.

  The reporter darted a quick look at Sunny.

  ‘Well, look, can you stick around?’ he asked. ‘Maybe when Miss Martino and I have finished—’

  Sunny dissolved into giggles.

  ‘Oh, we’ve finished now!’ she cried and blew the reporter a kiss. ‘I know you’ll say all the right things about me. So go ahead and interview these people while Daniel and I have our coffee.’

  But the interview wasn’t a complete success. For one thing, Beth was irrationally annoyed by Sunny’s apparent inability to spoon sugar or stir coffee without help from Daniel. And, for another, Warren simply elbowed her out of the discussion. He had always had the kind of personality that loved the limelight and he was quick to jump in and field the reporter’s questions before Beth had a chance to answer. Before long her relief at his return gave way to a growing irritation. She resented the way he took credit for most of the designs and for all of the business side of putting the collection together. He also kept turning the conversation round to the subject of his parents’ chain of clothing stores in Australia. But the most distressing moment of all for Beth came when one of the reporters asked a completely routine question.

  ‘So did you have any problems getting your designs here safely from Australia?’ he asked.

  Warren laughed boyishly.

  ‘No, we didn’t have any trouble on the way here!’ he exclaimed. ‘But we certainly did have some trouble in Santa Barbara. We were taking some fashion photos on a launch on the harbour when—’

  Indignation and dismay rose in Beth. Without even knowing why, she felt passionately certain that she did not want the details of the accident and its aftermath splashed all over the newspapers for other people to gape at.

  ‘—when we had a rather unpleasant accident,’ finished Warren dramatically.

  ‘That sounds interesting,’ said one of the reporters. ‘Would you like to tell us about it?’

  ‘Sure,’ began Warren.

  But he was foiled by Daniel’s lazy interruption.

  ‘Say, have you guys heard that I’m thinking of making a new series of Destiny’s Favourite?’ he asked. ‘Naturally it’ll be starring Sunny Martino and some other big-name actors.’

  Beth and Warren were instantly forgotten amid a hubbub of excitement and the cameras began to flash again. Daniel and Sunny obligingly cuddled close together and flashed radiant smiles which made Beth suffer an obscure pang of annoyance. Warren began talking about the accident in Santa Barbara again, trying to arouse the reporters’ interest, but Daniel adroitly headed him off.

  ‘I’m also thinking of inviting Lane Galloway to play the male lead,’ he said. ‘I see he’s right over there at that other table. Maybe you guys would like to come and get a picture of us all together.’

  In a moment the table was abandoned in a hectic rush and Warren and Beth found themselves alone.

  ‘Pryor is such a ratbag,’ complained Warren. ‘What a publicity-hunter! Did you see how he had to turn the reporters’ attention on himself immediately? He couldn’t bear to see us in the limelight for one minute, could he?’

  Beth pulled a face. ‘I’m glad he couldn’t,’ she said with feeling. ‘I really didn’t want to talk about how it felt to be half drowned or to walk through the Yacht Club in a borrowed bathrobe. Personally I’d rather keep my private life private.’

  Warren sighed impatiently. ‘What’s so private about it?’ he demanded. ‘It would have been great publicity for the collection. And with the way things are beginning to take off, I think we should take advantage of every bit of help we can get.’

  ‘We?’ prompted Beth with renewed grievance. ‘I thought you didn’t want any more to do with it. You walked out rather than help to replace the collection, remember!’

  Warren reddened. His tanned, neatly manicured hands crept across the table and seized hers.

  ‘I’m sorry, Beth,’ he said coaxingly. ‘I was just so jealous when I found you staying with that creep. I couldn’t think straight. But I want you to know that from here on I’m with you all the way. It’s a full partnership as of now.’

  ‘Is it?’ asked Beth bitterly. ‘And what exactly does that mean?’

  Warren’s eyes widened in surprise.

  ‘Why, probably that we form some kind of company,’ he said. ‘The way things are going now I think we’re going to be a big hit as designers, you and I.’

  Beth withdrew her hand from his grip and pressed her lips together to stop them quivering.

  ‘I see,’ she replied evenly. ‘A business partnership. And what about the rest of our lives, Warren? What other kind of partnership did you have in mind?’

  Warren’s voice was suddenly warm, caressin
g.

  ‘We’ll go back to the way we were before,’ he murmured. ‘Silly Beth, did you really think I’d left you forever? There’s no need to look so tragic, darling, nothing is going to change between us.’

  ‘That’s exactly what I’m afraid of,’ snapped Beth. ‘Nothing ever does change, does it? You’re bright and cheerful during the good times, Warren, but, when the bad times hit, you don’t want to know me, do you? You just leave me to cope with it all on my own!’

  Warren stared at her in consternation. ‘Beth,’ he said in a reproving undertone. ‘People are looking at you.’

  She glanced around and saw that a couple of heads were turned in their direction. Embarrassment flooded through her and she rose to her feet. Coming hot on the heels of Daniel’s little tête-à-tête with Sunny, Warren’s calm assumption that nothing had changed between them was more than she could bear. Were all men nothing but selfish egotists? Did Daniel really think he could kiss her passionately one minute and waltz off with a glamorous actress the next? And did Warren honestly believe he could abandon her in a crisis and then come back a few days later as if nothing had happened? Beth had always thought of herself as calm, serious, reserved, but she was shocked by a sudden impulse to shout and weep and throw things. With a determined effort she regained control of herself.

  ‘You’re right,’ she admitted unsteadily. ‘We can’t talk about it here. And anyway, I’m too upset at the moment. Why don’t you phone me at Daniel’s apartment? It’s listed in the telephone directory.’

  And with that she turned and plunged blindly into the crowd. She had no clear idea of where she was going, but before she had advanced twelve paces she blundered straight into Daniel, who was standing with his arm around Sunny. He took one look at her troubled face and released his hold on Sunny.

  ‘Can we take a raincheck on this conversation?’ he asked the actress. ‘It’s time Beth and I were getting out of here.’