Jennifer Taylor - Chase a Dream

It might have been a desire to find out which or a feeling of compassion for Jessica which made her carry on with the unsettling conversation; Stephanie didn’t really know. ‘Why are you telling me all this? Why have you come?’

He seemed to hesitate, studying her in silence. ‘Because I believe that we can help one another. What exactly did you lose last night?’

Stephanie sighed, not understanding what he wanted with her, yet prepared to go along with him a while longer. ‘Money, obviously, plus my passport, credit cards, bank cards... all those things. They were all in my bag.’

‘So what do you intend to do now?’

‘I was just trying to work that out when you arrived.’ She sank down on the chair, worry shadowing her face. ‘I can probably get an emergency passport issued via the Consul, but that’s the least of my worries when I don’t have the money now to pay for a ticket home.’

‘Your credit card company can cover that. They should issue you with another card within a couple of days.’

‘I’m sure they will, but, seeing as I have reached my credit limit, it won’t help. And I doubt if they will be keen to extend it, in view of the fact that I don’t have a job at present.’

‘How about friends, family? Can they wire you some money? The Consul can arrange that too.’

Stephanie rubbed her aching temples as she went back over ground she’d covered time and again since she’d got up. ‘I don’t have family. My mother died when I was a child, and my father a few years ago. There’s a cousin in London and another in Manchester, but...’ She trailed off with a defeated sigh. ‘The two close friends I went away with are in no better position financially than I am, even allowing for the fact that Rachel has quite enough to worry about at present and that Laura is still in Spain.’ She glanced at Logan in near despair. ‘There’s no one I feel I can turn to for help!’

‘Apart from me.’ He smiled coolly when he saw the shock on her face, leaning against the edge of the table as he watched her.

‘You? But why should you give me money?’

‘Not give, Stephanie. Pay. I am willing to let you earn what you need to pay your bill here and to buy a ticket home.’

‘Earn? But how? By doing what?’ The words were barely out of her mouth when a sudden thought struck her and she shot to her feet. ‘Now look here, if you mean what I think you ’

He straightened to stare down at her, big and arrogant-looking as his eyes met hers with such coldness that she felt a sudden chill. ‘I doubt it. If I were you I would keep that very active imagination under control. My offer is quite straightforward; in return for agreeing to look after Jessica for the next five weeks until she goes back to school, I shall meet your expenses and provide you with board and lodging.’

‘I... I don’t know what to say. Why me? You don’t know anything about me!’

‘You’d be surprised at what I do know, Stephanie.’ He stared calmly back at her. ‘Stephanie Anne Jacobs, aged twenty-five, born in Manchester, occupation, when not travelling, schoolteacher.’

‘How did you find that out?’ There was no hiding her surprise, and she saw him smile with a faint cynicism.

‘It isn’t difficult with the right connections-and enough money, of course. However, none of that would make a scrap of difference to me if it weren’t for the fact that Jessica seems to have taken an immediate liking to you. It was “Stephanie this” and “Stephanie that” all last night, and again this morning. She’s been through a lot in the past few months, more than any child her age should have to cope with. She’s also very worried that you will suffer because of her, with losing your bag. This will solve everyone’s problems. All I need now is your answer—yes or no?’

‘But you can’t expect me to give it to you here and now.’

He smiled meaningfully, then felt in the pocket of his trousers, pulled out a thin sheet of paper, and laid it down on the table beside the money. ‘I appreciate that you must want to know more about me, in view of the fact that you’ll be staying in my house. I’ve written out a list of people who will provide references for me. Feel free to call any or all of them to check.’ He glanced at the heavy watch strapped to his broad wrist, then walked smoothly to the door.

‘Wait a moment! Is that it?’ She hurried after him, stopping just a few feet away.

‘I don’t think there’s anything left to say. I’ve told you what I’m prepared to offer you, and explained what you would be expected to do. Now it’s up to you. I shall expect to hear your decision by five o’clock this afternoon. The details of my hotel are on that paper.’

He opened the door, but she stopped him with a slim hand on his arm. ‘Why are you doing this for me?’

He shook his head, his face devoid of all expression. ‘I am not doing it for you. Jessica needs someone to take care of her through the holidays while I’m busy at work. I had someone lined up for the job, but unfortunately it fell through, leaving me with the problem of finding a replacement at short notice. She likes you and you seem well qualified for the position. There is nothing personal about my offer, so don’t make the mistake of thinking that there is.’ He smiled slowly, with a contempt that made her ache for some strange reason. ‘I would be the first to admit that women have their uses, but rest assured that your role will be purely that of caring for my daughter.’

Her hand slid from his arm and she stepped back, trying to control the shudder that ran through her at such a cynical assertion. What a strangely disturbing man he was, fire on the outside and ice straight through to the core!

She closed the door as he left and leant back against it as she caught her breath, but it was hard to shake off the disturbing sensations he’d left behind. She closed her eyes, hearing again the harshness in his voice as he’d spoken about Jessica’s mother, and she felt a sudden surge of compassion for the dead woman.

To give one’s heart to a man like Logan Ford would be an incredible act of folly that no woman should ever commit.

CHAPTER THREE

THE day crawled past until the hands on Stephanie’s watch touched four, and then the minutes flew.

For the hundredth time she picked up the phone to call Logan Ford and tell him that she couldn’t accept his offer than found herself putting it down again without making the call. The whole idea was crazy, totally unacceptable, so why did she find it so difficult to tell him that?

She got up and walked over to the window, watching the other guests splashing in the pool, hearing the faint sounds of their laughter carrying on the hot afternoon air. They were all enjoying themselves while here she was trying to find a solution to a problem that wouldn’t be solved. She had to find enough money to pay her bill here and buy her ticket back home to England, but how? Apart from Logan there was just no one she could turn to!

The loud knock at the door brought her spinning round and she hurried across the room, half expecting to find the tall red-haired man outside the door, but it wasn’t him.

‘Miss Jacobs?’ At her nod of agreement the man continued, a trace of discomfort on his face as he held an envelope out to her. ‘The manager has asked me to give you this, ma’am.’

‘What is it?’ She took it from him, studying the unmarked white envelope in confusion.

‘Your bill. It’s made up until today and we shall be grateful if you could arrange to pay it as soon as possible.’

‘My bill? But I’m not due to leave until the day after tomorrow. What is this all about?’

The man ran a finger round the collar of his spotless white shirt, his discomfort even more in evidence now. ‘I’m afraid there seems to have been a mix-up in the bookings. We shall have to ask you to vacate this room tomorrow by ten a.m. at the latest. I’m very sorry.’