'And what will Alex Hammond have to say to that?'
She turned away. Alex would agree to her bringing Courtney to America on only one condition, she knew that. 'He—I think he'll be agreeable.'
The work schedule was such over the next week that Morgan hardly had time to sleep, let alone dwell on the unconscious decision she had made concerning Alex's proposal. She continued to see Sam when their work schedules would allow it, and on the eve of her departure back to England they had dinner together at his beach-house.
'When will you be back this time?" he queried casually.
She smiled, lazing on the warm golden sand in the last of the evening's sunshine. 'Jerry has given me only a couple of days this time—no more than that,' she successfully mimicked the director's voice. 'Then it's back for the last two weeks of filming,' she spoke in her own voice.
'And after that?'
She chewed on her bottom lip. 'I was hoping you wouldn't ask me that.'
He looked at her steadily, very bronzed in his dark swimming trunks. 'Why not?'
'Because I—I don't think I'm coming back after that.'
He couldn't hide his start of surprise. 'I don't understand," he frowned. 'You don't mean to stay in England indefinitely?'
'I—could.' She gave an indecisive shrug. 'I'm really not sure yet.'
'Is there anything I can do to persuade you to stay? Since Joanie died I've been very lonely,' he told her softly. 'The last few months you've helped fill that loneliness.'
She squeezed his hand as it lay on the sand beside her. 'I'm glad of that. You're a wonderful man, Sam. You deserve to be happy.'
'But not with you?' His gaze was intent.
She gave a rueful shake of her head. 'I don't think so. I've enjoyed being with you, in fact, I've loved every moment of it. But perhaps that's half the trouble,' she realised thoughtfully. 'Love isn't all joy—Glenna's marriage showed me that. What do they call it in books, the agony and the ecstasy?'
'It was like that with Joanie,' he admitted huskily.
'And me?' she prompted softly, knowing that she hadn't reached either the high or the low with Sam, that enjoying his company just wasn't enough. Alex had shown her the ecstasy at least.
'Well. I---- '
'I know it wasn't, Sam,' she said gently. TMot for you or for me. We've had fun, let's leave it at that.'
'Did you meet the man here or in England? England, of course,' he answered his own question. 'Otherwise you wouldn't be going to stay there.' Morgan frowned. 'What man?' 'The one who showed you the agony and the ecstasy, the man you're in love with.'
Colour flooded her cheeks. 'I don't love him!' Alex Hammond wasn't a lovable man. He was desirable, extremely so, but he wasn't lovable. 'No?' Sam asked sceptically. No,' she insisted firmly.
No, she didn't love Alex, but she was going to marry him. This last week without Courtney had shown her that he was as much a part of her as if she had actually brought him into the world. And her physical reaction to Alex couldn't be dismissed either; she had longed to know that pleasure again since she had been away from him. And then there was her father. She couldn't bear the recrimination in his eyes if she should ever lose Courtney to Alex in a legal battle. Marriage was the only answer, but with a few changes to the arrangements Alex had suggested. She wondered how he was going to react to them.
CHAPTER FIVE
HER nervousness grew as the plane touched down at Heathrow, and she felt herself become even more tense as she took a cab from the airport to the Hammond home. No doubt Alex would have either sent a car or come for her himself if he had known when she was arriving. But she hadn't told him, preferring to arrive in her own time, at her own pace, not intending to relinquish one particle of her independence even when she was his wife.
Symonds was no more welcoming than the last time, informing her that Rita Hammond was at her daughter's for the evening, and that Alex hadn't arrived home from his office yet. Well, at least with Rita out of the house she was going to be able to meet and talk to Alex in privacy.
The butler showed her into the same bedroom as before, informing her that dinner would be served in one hour. That suited Morgan perfectly, as she wanted to see Courtney before she showered and changed for dinner.
The baby was as adorable as ever, and she spent so much time with him, amazed at how much he had changed in just that one week, that she almost forgot to change for dinner. In the end she needn't have made the effort.
'Mr Alex telephoned several minutes ago, Miss McKay,' Symonds told her haughtily. 'He was intending to stay in London overnight, but when I told him you had arrived unexpectedly he changed his plans. He told me to inform you he will be home some time this evening, although a business meeting could delay him."
'Thank you,' she accepted dully, although not by the flicker of an eyelid did she show her disappointment as she ate her dinner alone. She had expected to talk to Alex this evening, had prepared herself for it, now she doubted they would be able to say more than goodnight to each other!
As it turned out they didn't even get to do that! After the delicious meal she was given, and the wine Symonds had insisted had to be served with it, she became very drowsy, the jet-lag catching up with her with a vengeance. By ten-thirty Alex hadn't returned from London—and Morgan was safely tucked up in bed, fast asleep!
'Why are you here?' Rita Hammond demanded of her the next morning, once again only the two of them in the dining-room for breakfast.
'You knew I was coming back,' she shrugged, wondering where Alex was, and not wanting to get into an argument with this woman.
'Oh I knew, I just don't understand why. Rita Hammond looked at her with open dislike. 'Why don't you just leave Courtney with us, and stop trying to pull him in two? He'll hate you for it in the end, you know.'
She did know; it had been another of the deciding factors in her decision, that and the attraction she and Alex undoubtedly had for each other. 'Has Alex eaten already?' she changed the subject.
'He isn't here, the other woman took great delight in telling her. 'He hasn't been here all night. 'His business appointment must have kept him very late,' Morgan frowned.
'Business appointment? Is that what Symonds told you it was?' Rita scorned. 'Well, no doubt that's what Alex told him to say,' she gave a derisive smile. 'Alex does not stay in London overnight on business,' she added pointedly.
Morgan stood up jerkily. 'If you'll excuse me, she said tautly, 'I still have some unpacking to do.'
Rita Hammond watched her contemptuously. 'How long do you intend honouring us with your presence this time?'
'Only until tomorrow,' she snapped, her eyes flashing deeply green.
'I'm sure Alex will return before you leave. Let's hope we will have seen the last of the McKay family then,' she added with dislike.
'I don't wish to discuss that with you,' Morgan dismissed.
'My son has been giving me the same reply all week,' the other woman bit out. 'I suppose that when he's ready he'll speak to me about whatever is troubling him.'
'I'm sure he will,' Morgan evaded, and made good ber escape.
She spent the morning with Courtney, all the time waiting for Alex's return. His mother's pointed hints had told her that Alex had been with a woman last night and not on business at all, and she felt jealousy rip through her at the thought of another woman knowing his caresses, his drugging kisses. She knew it was ridiculous of her, unreasonable, and yet she couldn't fight her feelings of jealousy. She didn't even love the man, and she felt jealousy of his making love to another woman!
She heard the Mercedes in the driveway mid-afternoon, and looked down from her bedroom to see Alex swinging agilely out from behind the wheel of the car, dark and forceful in a navy blue suit, the grey in his hair more noticeable as the light breeze ruffled it into disorder.
For a disconcerting moment she felt an urge to run down to him and throw herself in his arms! But she didn't. She heard his mother greet him and then thesound of a door slamming. He must know she was here, and yet he had made no effort to see her! Had he changed his mind about wanting to marry her after all?
She turned sharply as a knock sounded lightly on her bedroom door, and called out for the person to come in. Her breath caught in her throat as Alex came into the room; the person slamming the door must have been his mother.
'I—How are you?' Morgan suddenly felt shy— which was ridiculous for a twenty-six-year-old woman! None of her friends in Los Angeles would believe how Alex affected her, how just to look at him made her knees weak.
'I'm fine.' He came in and closed the door, feeling no awkwardness himself. 'You've seen Courtney?'
'I've spent the morning with him,' she nodded.
'Evading my mother,' he derided.
'Partly,' she admitted, tall and elegant in a navy blue blouse and white skirt. 'But mainly because I just wanted to be with him.'
Alex nodded. 'I'm sorry I didn't get back last night. I had an important meeting that went on until after twelve, and when I telephoned the house Svmonds said you'd been in bed for two hours. I decided it would be simpler to drive down today.'
'Of course.' She evaded his gaze.
Grey eyes narrowed. 'You were told I was delayed, weren't you?'
'I'm afraid I fell asleep last night, as Symonds told you. Your mother told me this morning that you hadn't come back yet.'
'Then--- ' he broke off, heaving a deep sigh. 'Let's
forget about that. Shall we talk now or later?'
The directness of his question unnerved her, all her carefully rehearsed speeches were forgotten. 'Er— later, I think,' she heard herself say. 'I'm sure you'd much rather freshen up now.'