Paradise Wild Page 4

  "Corinne!"

  "Well, it's true. In fact, I thoroughly intend to have dis­creet love affairs. I feel there's nothing wrong with that since I know full well that every married man does the same."

  "Not every man."

  "But most of them. So why shouldn't I?"

  Lauren shook her head sadly. "You have such a cold outlook on life, Corinne."

  "No, I'm realistic. I know what to expect from a mar­riage, and I know the way I want it to be. And what I don't want is a man who will try to assert his will over mine."

  "Would that really be so bad?" Lauren asked. She just couldn't understand her cousin's need to rule in her mar­riage.

  "For me it would, yes. Now help me with this necklace, -will you?"

  Lauren came over to fasten a tear-drop choker of rubies and gold about Corinne's neck. A matching bracelet was added, and Corinne chose a small ruby ring instead of her large one. She didn't like to overdo it. The older matrons all wore many eye-catching rings at once. Corinne liked to wear only one at a time, though she had many to choose from. She decided against ruby earrings. The glittering pins that held her long dark gold hair in place were enough.

  "Who will be here tonight?" Lauren asked, nervous again now that they were ready to go downstairs.

  "Just the usual crowd, though Edward and John Man­ning will be here with their father," Corinne said absently. "And Adrian Rankin."

  Lauren smiled. These handsome young men were part of Corinne's crowd of intellectuals and artists. "What about this man your father is giving the party for? Is he young?"

  "The party is for me," Corinne reminded her. "Father just decided to combine business with pleasure. But about Mr. Burk, I have no idea. But he probably isn't young."

  Lauren's face changed to a look of-excitement. "Did you say Burk?"

  "Yes, I think Father said Jared Burk."

  "Why, that's the man everyone is talking about. Haven't you heard about him?"

  "No, I haven't been attending the daily social functions lately."

  If Lauren only knew why I haven't, she thought. Corinne hardly ever went out in the day anymore. She spent her days sleeping because she sneaked out each night to meet Russell and a few other friends at their favorite gambling house. Her father probably knew, but he hadn't come right out and forbidden her to gamble, not even when the last club she attended asked him to pay off her debts.

  Her luck had changed recently. Why, just last week she had won a considerable amount. But it was nothing com­pared to what she would win if she could just play in a no-limits game. Corinne's greatest desire was not to have to worry about I.O.U's that might reach her father, to be able to risk a thousand, two thousand, even fifty thousand on the turn of a card. But that day wouldn't come until she married, or until she reached twenty-one. And she was too impatient to wait.

  "I overheard our fathers talking about Mr. Burk,"" Lauren was saying. "And my mother's friends have been gossiping about nothing else."

  Corinne's interest was aroused. "What is so intriguing about this Mr. Burk?"

  "That's just it. No one knows anything about him except that he's terribly rich. They don't even know where he comes from. People say he's from somewhere out West, but nobody knows for sure."

  "Is that all?" Corinne was disappointed. "Just that he's rich and from somewhere out West?"

  "Well, it's been rumored that he's here to invest a few of his millions."

  "That would explain why my father is interested in him. What other rumors have you heard?"

  "Only that he throws money around as though he had it to burn. It must be nice to be that rich."

  "I wouldn't know," Corinne remarked bitterly. Someday she would have money to burn, but it wasn't fair that she had to wait.

  They left Corinne's bedroom and stopped at the top of the stairs to view the brightly lit hall below. The room was filled with richly dressed people of all ages. Most had drinks in their hands, and had formed small groups. As usual, the matrons had taken to the padded benches against the walls to watch the younger people and to gossip with­out being overheard.

  The attractive tall stranger in white evening attire stood out. "Do you think that's him?" Lauren asked.

  "I don't know," Corinne admitted. "I can't see Ms face." "Well, who do you know who is that tall?"

  "I guess you're right. Who is he talking to?"

  Lauren moved off to the left. "It's Cynthia Hamill," she called softly, returning to Corinne's side. "You should see her face. She's positively glowing."

  "You know Cynthia," Corinne said drily. "She's at her most charming whenever she meets a new man."

  Lauren replied with distaste, "If you ask me, she's a bit too flighty. And she flirts outrageously."

  "There's nothing wrong with that, as long as you know what you're doing. It's fun. After all, it doesn't go any further than a few innocent kisses."

  "Really, Corinne!"

  Corinne smiled. She didn't really like Cynthia, either.

  "Give yourself another year or two, Cousin, and you'll see there's nothing wrong with a little flirting."

  But Lauren wasn't listening anymore. "Look! He's turn­ing around." And then she added breathlessly, "Good heav­ens! Have you ever seen such a good-looking man?"

  Corinne was equally surprised, not by the stranger's striking handsomeness, but by his youth. "If you like that rugged, outdoor type, I suppose not. He's younger than I,. imagined he would be."

  "Yes. Young and rich and gorgeous!"

  "Lauren, honestly! He's just another man."

  Lauren couldn't take her eyes off the stranger. "Look how dark he is. He must have spent most of his life under a hot sun to get that dark."

  "Not necessarily. Maybe he's a foreigner."

  "A rancher, probably. They have lots of cattle ranches out West. Or maybe he's a ship's captain, or even—even a pirate! He does look like a pirate, doesn't he?"

  Corinne was getting annoyed. The stranger wasn't her type. She had found that all men with superb, powerful bodies generally had strong wills to match. You couldn't dominate such a man.

  "Why don't you go ask him, Lauren. Then you can stop guessing and—"

  Corinne stopped abruptly and caught her breath. The stranger was looking directly up at her. His stare was mag­netic, and Corinne felt a chill race down her back. His eyes penetrated hers as if he were reading her thoughts, and for a moment she couldn't move, couldn't breathe.

  She finally managed to turn away. What on earth was the matter with her? She signaled to Lauren that it was time to join the party.

  Jared watched with keen observation as the two young women moved languidly down the stairs in the manner of a grand entrance. The smaller, brown-haired girl with the pink complexion was pretty, but too young. Obviously shy, she kept her eyes downcast. The dark blonde was exquisite, though, an outstanding beauty. She seemed quite self-as­sured. Tall and stately, she was superbly proportioned, more perfect than a finely chiseled statue. Had he ever seen such ethereal beauty before? But he had to doubt such perfection, and wondered if" corsets were responsible for the ideal figure.

  There was something extremely compelling about this girl, and it wasn't only her beauty. There was haughtiness about her, an arrogance unusual in a woman. It would be a challenge to make this one purr!

  Could she possibly be Corinne Barrows? He frowned. Ned Dougherty's report had said that she was extremely beautiful. The more he looked at this young woman, the more he thought how well she would fit in his arms. Jared fervently hoped she was not Miss Barrows, for that young woman was as much his enemy as her father was.

  Corinne noted the changing expressions on the stranger's face as he watched her approach. She had seen appreciation in his eyes, even desire, but something else as well. It was as if he liked what he saw, but didn't want to. This amused Corinne. Was he married?

  "It's good you could come, Cynthia," Corinne smiled as she and Lauren reached the couple. "This party was so sudden I was afraid you m
ight have had other plans and couldn't make it."

  "I almost didn't make it," Cynthia replied. "Burthen Father told me who the guest of honor was going to be and, Well—I just had to meet him."

  Cynthia was a small woman with a baby-doll prettiness. Corinne imagined that she would have fit perfectly in the Old South. But Cynthia was also very vain and did nothing to hide her vanity.

  "And have you met him?"

  Cynthia laughed, a tinkling sound that grated on Co-

  rinne's nerves. "You're teasing, of course. Really, Corinne, I don't know why you didn't tell me he was such a hand­some and charming gentleman."

  "Is this by any chance the gentleman, we're discussing?" Corinne coolly nodded to Jared.

  "You know it is."

  "Well, you see, I haven't yet met Mr. Burk."

  She was stunned by the icy gray eyes. He seemed to dis­like her, yet he had never even seen her before. He quickly masked his feelings and, with a fixed smile, bowed to her.

  "I don't think introductions are necessary," Jared Burk said in a deep voice. "We know each other's names."

  "That is hardly proper, Mr. Burk."

  "Since when are you proper, Corinne?" Cynthia laughed, getting a stabbing look in return. Cynthia recovered quick­ly. "You don't know Corinne's cousin, Mr. Burk. This is Lauren Ashburn."

  "A pleasure, Miss Ashburn." Jared smiled at her, but she was too tongue-tied to answer and just stared at him.

  A maid passed with a tray of drinks and Corinne took one. It wasn't like her to feel so ill at ease, but Jared Burk kept staring at her. Though his eyes held only interest now, she couldn't help but remember the cold look he had given her before. She was still stunned by it, and piqued that he had deprived her of a proper introduction.

  "Are you aware of the rumors making the rounds about you, Mr. Burk?" Corinne asked him pointedly.

  "If there are rumors, they are undoubtedly exaggerated," he replied smoothly.

  "The good ones or the bad ones?" When he did not an­swer immediately, Corinne grinned slyly. "Have I embar­rassed you, Mr. Burk?"

  Cynthia was annoyed by Corinne's obvious attack, sens­ing Jared's discomfort. "Corinne, what's gotten into you?"

  "I'm just trying to get at a few facts," Corinne replied innocently. "I only just heard about Mr. Burk today, but undoubtedly what I heard is only rumor and speculation."

  "I assure you there is no great mystery about me, Miss Barrows," Jared said in a congenial tone.

  "Then you won't mind answering a few questions?" Co­rinne ventured, no longer keeping the sharpness from her voice. "After all, you are a guest in my house, yet I know nothing about you."

  "Not at all—if you will be equally frank," he countered

  Cynthia moved between them before more was said. "I haven't seen Russell yet. Isnt he coming?"

  "Yes, he's coming."

  "Russell Draytoh is Corinne's unofficial fiance'," Cynthia offered for Jared's benefit, then beamed at Corinne. "Mr. Burk isn't married yet, either."

  "Are you one of those confirmed bachelors, Mr. Burk?" Corinne questioned. "Or have you come to Boston in search of a wif e—among other things?"

  "I'm here on business, Miss Barrows."

  "Not looking for a wife? That's too bad, isn't it, Cynthia? Why, we have some of the most refined, intelligent, sophis­ticated women in the world here in Boston."

  "If I didn't know better, I would swear you just de­scribed yourself, Corinne," Cynthia said. "Haven't you obligations to attend to—like seeing to the rest of your guests? We would not want to detain you."

  "Yes, of course. We will talk again, I'm sure, Mr. Burk. I see Russell and I really must go and greet him," Corinne said smoothly. She couldn't resist adding, "You know, Cyn­thia, you really shouldn't be so obvious. You might make Mr. Burk nervous. He might not be used to aggressive women like you and me."

  Corinne left Cynthia blushing and heard her say, "I am not! My God, she can be rude when she chooses."

  Corinne smiled and moved to the front of the hall. She greeted Russell with exaggerated pleasure and kissed him lingeringly before everyone, which embarrassed him con­siderably.

  "Was that exhibition necessary?" he whispered as they walked arm in arm to join the other guests.

  "It was for my father's benefit, though I doubt he was around to see it."

  "He saw it, all right," Russell said tightly, looking di­rectly at Samuel Barrows' disapproving stare.

  "So there you are, Father," Corinne greeted him. "Where have you been hiding? I didn't see you earlier."

  Samuel's arm slipped possessively around his daughter's waist "There was some trouble at the shipyard. Nothing serious, but it did require my attention. I didn't think it would take so long, though."

  "Well, at least you're back before dinner," Corinne teased lightly. "I wouldn't have forgiven you if I had had to act as both host and hostess."

  "You would have managed superbly."

  "I know, but you would never have heard the end of it," she smiled.

  Samuel nodded stiffly to Russell, then ignored him. "Have you met Jared Burk yet, Cori?"

  "Yes, though I can't say I like him."

  "Oh? Did he say something to upset you?"

  "No, it's just a feeling. I can't explain it, but the man seems—well, dangerous."

  "Come now, Cori," Samuel laughed. "He's interesting, but I wouldn't say dangerous."

  "Why have you taken such a liking to him, Father? You can't know very much about him."

  "I don't, to tell the truth. But I do have it on good au­thority that he's here to invest a sizeable sum of money. His lawyer has been all over town making inquiries."

  "So? What has that to do with you?"

  "Will you excuse us, Mr. Drayton?" Samuel said curtly. "This conversation has become rather personal."

  "Father, really!" Corinne complained.

  "That's quite all right," Russell said. "I could use a drink, anyway."

  Corinne fumed as Russell walked away. "That was un­called for, Father."

  "I suppose so, but I'm not going to pretend I like Russell Drayton."

  "Obviously, but he's going to marry me, not you!" Co­rinne snapped furiously. "You don't have to like him—just approve of him."

  "I can't do that either, nor will I discuss it anymore. Now about Mr. Burk—"

  "To hell with Mr. Burk!" Corinne cut him off in fury and stalked away to find Russell.

  The party progressed successfully without much atten­tion from Corinne. Dinner, served in the formal dining room, was superb. There was roast chicken in a glazed orange sauce, and three varieties of beef, as well as a vari­ety of vegetables and sauces.

  Corinne, annoyed with her father, ignored him through­out the meal. Mr. Burk, however, she couldn't ignore. She often found him staring curiously at her, and despite her first reaction to him, her own gaze was drawn to him again and again. She began to feel guilty about her earlier behavior. After all, she really had no excuse for being so rude to him. She could have misinterpreted that look he gave her. And the more she thought about it, the more she was convinced that she must have been mistaken. It could have been any number of things unrelated to her that caused the venom in his eyes for that one moment.

  After dinner the guests gathered in the parlor to be en­tertained by a well-known singer, with Lauren accompa­nying at the piano. A few of Samuel Barrows' friends and Jared Burk were not present, however, having joined Sam­uel in his study. Corinne couldn't help wondering what her father was up to.

  Later, after all the guests except Russell had departed, Corinne, saw a chance to speak with her father again. She saw Russell to the door, endured his amorous embrace, then promised to meet him the next night at the club. The party preparations had kept her busy for most of the week and she was eager to try her luck again.

  Now with the hall quiet once again, Corinne crossed slowly to the closed door of her father's study. The light coming from beneath the door showed her he was still the
re. She supposed she owed him an apology. She was sorry she missed seeing Mr. Burk again before he left, for she owed him an apology too. She felt like a small child again, with all the misbehaving she had done in one evening.

  Just as Corinne reached for the doorknob, the door opened and her father and Jared Burk emerged from the room. Corinne was quite surprised, but glad to see she had not missed Burk after all.

  "Still up, Cori?" Samuel observed. "Good, you can see Mr. Burk out."

  "That is unnecessary," Jared said.

  Corinne shrugged aside his objection as her father went back into his study. "Come along, Mr. Burk. I had hoped for a few minutes alone with you. I'll just get your things from the cloak room."

  She returned in a moment with a satin-lined evening cloak and a tall silk hat. "These must be yours," she said, rubbing her fingers over the soft satin. "Very nice."

  He smiled at her as he threw the heavy cloak over his wide shoulders. "We are alone, Miss Barrows. What did you have in mind?"

  His tone of voice implied a great deal, but she let it pass and kept her temper.

  "I just wanted to let you know how sorry I am for my behavior earlier. There was no excuse for asking you ques­tions that were none of my business."

  "You did seem to attack me with a purpose in mind," he recalled. "Perhaps if I knew why?"

  She laughed and blushed at the same time. "I suppose it did seem that way."

  "And the reason?"

  "I'm afraid I took offence at the way you looked at me when I first joined you this evening—as if you wanted to throttle me. I don't usually get that kind of reaction from men."

  Jared frowned. "If I gave that impression, then it is I who must apologize to you. I had other things on my mind at the time."

  "Yes, after I thought about it, I realized that must have been the reason."

  "We've gotten off to a bad start, Miss Barrows," Jared said as he walked slowly to the entrance door. "Perhaps we should start again. Tomorrow, over lunch? That is, if your Mr. Drayton won't mind."

  He said it in the way of a challenge, and Corinne couldn't resist that. "Lunch would be nice. You can call for me around noon."