The Marriage Solution

'I have a photocopier in my study at home, Miss White,' he said coolly, the use of her surname a distinct put-down. 'Would you like to accompany me there tonight so you can keep the originals in your possession?' It was a definite challenge and one, in view of her father's comments, that he didn't expect her to take up.

She stared at him for a few moments, her natural politeness and gentleness waning with the feeling that possessed her where this man was concerned. 'Yes, I would,' she said quietly, hearing David's exasperated indrawn breath with a resigned sense of the inevitable. He would disapprove of her actions in dealing with Carlton Reef in the same way he disapproved of everything but she wouldn't have been able to sleep tonight if she hadn't followed through on her instinct.

She knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that the astute, intelligent mind ticking away behind those hard grey eyes was several paces in front of theirs. Quite what he had in view she wasn't sure, but if she had had to answer the old 'friend or foe?' question there would have been no hesitation. Carlton Reef was no friend of theirs.

For the rest of the visit Katie sat quietly listening to the two men talk. Carlton didn't broach the business difficulties again, concentrating on light, witty conversation that kept David amused without him having to make any effort himself.

Carlton Reef was a formidable adversary, she thought silently as the minutes sped by. She had never met a man who generated such an air of easy authority, who seemed so totally sure of himself. And she was forced to recognise, after nearly an hour had passed, that, in spite of her distrust and dislike for the man, there was something compellingly attractive about him that was both fascinating and frightening.

She remembered the feel of being in his arms and that light kiss as he had left her a few days before and shivered in spite of the over-hot room. This was ridiculous, she told herself sternly. She needed to keep all her wits razor-sharp around him and thoughts of this nature were definitely out of order.

The smoky eyes turned to her as the round, clinical dock on the wall ticked to seven o'clock. 'Would you like a few minutes alone with your father, Katie?' he asked quietly. She noticed that he hadn't asked David and surmised that he had gleaned enough about their relationship to know what her father's reply would have been.

'Thank you.' She smiled stiffly. 'I won't be long.'

'There's really no need…' The older man's protest was lost as Carlton rose and leant across the bed to shake him by the hand, making his goodbyes as he did so.

'It'll probably take a few days to sift through the correspondence, David,' he said easily as he walked to the door after replacing the chair near the wall, 'but if there's anything I'll call you immediately after the solicitors have checked it out OK?'

'Fine, fine.' Her father was beaming as the door closed and for a moment, as Katie glanced at him, she knew a dart of intense irritation. 'What's the matter?' As his eyes switched to her face she tried to relax her features but it was too late. 'You don't like him, do you? Why?' he asked disapprovingly.

'I don't know him,' she prevaricated quickly.

'He tells me you went to see him on the day I was brought in here,' he said quietly, 'after he'd phoned the house. That took some guts, Katie, but why didn't you tell me?'

'There was no need.' She forced a bright smile to her face as she wondered where the conversation was leading.

'Katie…' Her father hesitated and then leant back against the pillows, his face more drawn now that Carlton's stimulating company had left. 'The situation can't get worse than it is, now can it? If there's the faintest chance he can pull it round, even if it means we're left with the house and nothing else, it's worth a try. I got greedy, girl…'

She stared at him in absolute amazement for the second time in an hour, aware that they were having the first real conversation of their lives.

'I'd always planned to leave the house to you, you know. Jennifer would have been looked after with an equal financial payment but I've always seen my grandchildren being raised in the old home, somehow. I know that's what your mother would have liked. She was always so upset she hadn't produced a son to carry on the White name that she didn't realise all I wanted was her—'

He stopped abruptly and there was a moment of deep silence before he continued. 'I don't know why I mortgaged the house-—it was a crazy thing to do—but I thought I was going to make a killing.' He smiled grimly. 'And there was a killing all right.'

'Don't think about it now, Dad.' She stood up quickly; the expression on his face was too painful to watch. 'You've got to concentrate on getting better.'

'I didn't want to before Carlton came today,' he said thoughtfully, his expression introspective, 'but if

there is a chance…' He looked up, his face touchingly hopeful. 'You do see we have to take it?'

'Of course.' She bent to kiss him goodbye and he turned his cheek to her as normal, the gesture as aloof as always. On the rare occasions in the past when she had gathered her courage and tried to hug or kiss him the response had always been the same—this formal offering of his cheek for a brief caress. 'Goodnight, Dad,' she said quietly, her voice bleak. Nothing had altered, not really. No wonder he liked Carlton so much. They were two of a kind—cold, reserved men who gave nothing of themselves and wanted no one.

Carlton was waiting for her just down the corridor, deep in conversation with one of the doctors. 'Katie?' He looked up as she carefully closed the door, and beckoned her to them. 'There's a chance that your father might be allowed home some time next week.'

'I understand you have a live-in housekeeper, Miss White,' the young doctor said quietly. 'So he would have someone with him at all times?'

'Yes.' She stared at him anxiously. 'You think he might have another attack?'

'We hope not' She received the standard reassuring smile. 'But obviously he will take some time to recover from this one, you do understand that?'

'Of course.'

'And rest and quiet are essential,' he continued briskly. 'So, we'll think again after the weekend and give you a day or so's warning before he comes home.'

'Thank you.' As Carlton took her arm the doctor smiled and left them, to enter the main ward on their right.

'Encouraging news?' Carlton said softly as they walked towards the lift, his fingers burning her flesh as she strove to remain calm and cool. She was vitally aware of him, his touch, the timbre of his voice, and she allowed her head to fall slightly forward so that the thick, silky fall of her hair hid her face from his gaze.