Mistress of Deception

'Not according to most of the models I've come across. One hint of pregnancy and they're off for a termination before you can say Jack

Robinson.'

'I do not believe in abortion,' she stated categorically.

'Not till it's you who's pregnant, you mean,' he jeered.

Again, her eyes speared icy daggers his way. 'I would never have an abortion. Not in normal circumstances. Other women can do as they please, but I wouldn't feel right about it. That is my belief and nothing and no one would ever sway me.'

Alan stared deep into her eyes and knew that what she said was true. He felt a grudging admiration for her. If there was one thing admirable about Ebony it was the implacable nature of her spirit. She had emotional strength. He would give her that. Too bad she often used that strength in battle against him. He would much rather she had a softer, more pliable nature.

Or would he?

A slow, sardonic smile creased his mouth. No... Much as her stubborn pride and outright defiance infuriated him at times, he would not trade her fighting ways for anything. There was nothing more pleasurable than his triumph after finally subduing her sexually, or the intense satisfaction he gained when his physically stronger body eventually gained the upper hand.

'You find something amusing in what I said?' she challenged icily.

'Oh, dear,' Deirdre broke in, her voice worried. 'Please don't you two get into an argument. You were both going along splendidly there for a while.

Look, let's forget all about babies and talk about something else.'

'By all means,' Alan agreed curtly. 'I never brought them up in the first place.'

The loud banging of a door and noisily approaching footsteps brought all their attention to the archway that led from the dining-room back into the main living area.

Ebony, for one, was glad of the distraction. She'd been about to murder Alan, the insensitive swine. But she supposed he could never have guessed that the most treasured dream she'd ever had was to marry him and have his babies.

'Vicki!' Deirdre exclaimed when the unexpected visitor marched into the room. 'Whatever are you doing here at this hour?'

Vicki was an attractive but not beautiful woman. She was tall, with brown hair and blue eyes, like her brother; confident and assertive, like her brother; unconsciously selfish, like her brother.

'I've had it with Alistair!' she announced and, dragging out an empty chair, plopped herself down at the dining-table. 'He's the most stupid man it's ever been my misfortune to live with.'

'Then why keep living with him?' Alan remarked drily.

Vicki pouted, then laughed. 'Because he's good in bed?'

'Vicki!' her mother protested. 'We have company!'

'Ebony's not company,' Vicki retorted. 'She's family, aren't you, sweetie?'

Ebony could not help but notice that Alan looked momentarily uncomfortable at this remark. So he did feel some measure of guilt over her. Good!

She gave his sister a sickly smile. 'How nice of you to say so.'

'Nonsense. It's not nice at all. It's true. You've been a better daughter to Mum here than I've ever been. Too bad you had to get on your high horse and leave like you did. Not necessary, you know. My old money-bags of a brother didn't miss a few thousand dollars. He probably gives more to charity every year than he ever spent on you, honeybun. Still, I suppose a gal has to have her pride, which is why I walked out on Alistair tonight.'

'You mean you've come home to live?' her mother gasped.

Vicki suddenly looked crestfallen. Her chin began to quiver. They all stared at her. Alan's sister never ever cried.

'I... I guess so.' Gathering herself, she lifted her chin defiantly. 'Alistair needs to be taught a lesson!'

'In what?' her brother asked a touch warily.

'In understanding what a woman wants.'

'Which is?' Alan probed.

'Love. Romance. Consideration And she promptly burst into tears.

Her mother was up and mothering in one second flat, quite in her element as she made excuses and carted Vicki off to her old bedroom.

When Ebony had gone to stand up to see if she could help, Deirdre Carstairs had waved her back down again. 'You stay and keep Alan company,' she'd whispered across Vicki's bowed, weeping head.

'Poor thing,' Ebony murmured once the other two women were out of earshot.