The Secret Father

These confidences gave Lindy food for thought. She had assumed that Sam had a privileged background, but this information made it very clear that wasn’t the case. She hoped she was reading the signals right and he really was as serious as she was, because the more he let her see of the real Sam Rourke, the deeper she was falling! The old Rosalind would have cut her losses and run to save herself from possible heartache. The new Rosalind was going to see it through to the bitter end, no matter what the outcome!

Sam made her wear a safety harness on the journey back. It was a good habit to get into, he said, when you sailed solo. Lindy might be a novice but Sam’s manoeuvres in the rapidly worsening conditions, to avoid the sand bar just visible under the wild white spray, looked impressive.

Lindy slept for most of the hour’s car journey back to Hope’s cottage. She woke up as they negotiated the rough track leading up to the small scatter of houses, and was still rubbing her eyes when Sam’s exclamation of anger brought her fully awake.

She peered out of the window to see what had brought the thunderous expression to his face. The rough parking area outside the cottage was crammed with vehicles and a mill of people, some bearing camera and sound equipment, were jostling to reach the crowded veranda.

‘Stay here!’ Sam’s expression was grim as he pulled the four-wheel drive up behind a startlingly flashy red limousine. He banged the car with his hand. ‘Dallas! I might have guessed!’

Lindy didn’t even consider following this peremptory order. There had been none of the gentle lover left in his brief glance. Sam had already donned his professional director persona.

She might easily have been invisible for all the notice anyone took of her, but Sam’s presence created an immediate impression.

‘Sam—Sam Rourke—did you know about Lacey and Lloyd? How long has it been going on?’

‘Sam, have you been covering for the lovers? Are you personally involved with Lacey?’

‘Is it true you and Lloyd have been living with Lacey?’

‘Is it true Lloyd only put up the money for your venture on the understanding Lacey got the lead?’

Sam shouldered his way through the pressed figures and ignored the cries from all sides. He disregarded the microphones shoved in his face with the ease of long practice. Lindy followed in his broad-shouldered wake before the bodies closed in behind him.

For the first time Lindy appreciated the extent of Hope’s acting ability. Her sister stood, a still, calm figure, smiling benignly at the chaos around her. Her face was free of make-up and, wearing a white tee shirt and bleached denims, she was a stark contrast to the female who stood opposite. The glowing natural appearance versus the painted, sexy siren look. Which one did men prefer? Lindy mused, staring at the tableau before her. Who could tell with men? Which did Sam favour?

‘Sam!’ The dramatic rich contralto tones alerted anyone who hadn’t known that he was there. The bosom which overflowed from the laced red velvet heaved effectively. ‘I can’t believe you’re part of this conspiracy.’

Sam took a comprehensive assessment of the situation in one swift glance. ‘Hello, Dallas,’ he said drily. ‘Travelling light today, I see.’

Lindy, caught up in the press of bodies, couldn’t catch the words but it was obvious from their body language that these two knew one another.

The brown eyes of the singer narrowed in amused appreciation, none of which was apparent when she spoke. ‘I want the world to know what a cold-hearted, conniving little bitch this husband-stealer is!’ Her contemptuous glance flicked over Lacey.

Lindy gave a gasp of anger and watched incredulously as her sister remained totally impassive. She’d expected to see the sexy siren laid out cold, but no, Hope just stood there with that sphinx-like smile on her lips.

‘I think they’ve got the idea now,’ Sam said. The glint of anger in his eyes was a warning. ‘When’s the new album out, Dallas?’ he asked, in a soft aside none of the listening ears could catch. ‘I think you’ve had enough free publicity for one day, don’t you?’

Dallas laughed, throwing back her head and shaking back her mane of unexpectedly red hair. ‘Dear Sam, don’t worry, I’m about done here. I think she owes me this. I like to be the one to walk away from a man.’

There was genuine vitriol in her glance as she looked towards Hope. ‘I almost feel sorry for you, you talentless clothes-horse.’ Her trained voice reached every ear which had been trying, with seething frustration, to hear what the two stars were saying. ‘There are thousands of little tramps out there who can act flat on their backs, honey. In a few years’ time you’ll be yesterday’s news and I’ll still have my voice. Don’t expect Lloyd to be around to dry your tears because you haven’t got what it takes to hold his interest.’