‘That much has been obvious,’ she scorned.
‘How could we have any idea—’
‘How could you not?’ she snapped, her eyes flashing. ‘He was a wonderful man, a man with principles—how could you believe him capable of living with a girl of my age? How could you believe I would live with a man old enough to be my father, Logan—unless, as I now know, the love you once professed for me was a lie.’
‘That’s a lie!’ he ground out. ‘I still love you. Even when I believed you were my uncle’s mistress I still loved you, still love you.’
The quiet intensity of his voice made her spin round. ‘You don’t know the meaning of the word!’
‘I know I love you enough to want to marry you.’ He met her angry gaze steadily.
‘Me—and the Spencer shares,’ she rasped, a bitter twist to her mouth.
‘Damn the shares—’
‘Damn them, Logan?’ she scorned. ‘When you were willing to go to such lengths to get them? Oh no, Logan, we won’t damn them—at least, I won’t. If it weren’t for them I may never have met you. And if I hadn’t met you I would never have known the disillusionment of trusting you with my love—’
‘Callie—’
‘Would you please leave,’ she told him stiltedly. ‘I never want to see you again.’
For a moment Logan looked as if he would continue the argument, then he sighed. ‘All right, Callie, I’ll go. But I’ll be back, I promise you that.’
‘If that means as much as the other promises you made me then I know I’ll never see you again,’ she scoffed, to hide the pain he wouldn’t let die.
His eyes’ darkened. ‘This promise is as sincere as the others I made you.’ He pulled her into his arms, kissing her with unreserved passion, a dark flush to his cheeks when he at last released her. ‘I love you, Callie. I hope one day I’ll be able to make you believe that.’
‘Maybe if you gave up your shares in Spencer Plastics,’ she taunted.
‘Or you gave up yours,’ he said softly. ‘Think about that, Callie.’
It took her several minutes after his departure to regain her composure, knowing that Marilyn would have heard Logan leave and would be curious about his reason for being here.
Bill was already home when she returned next door, looking none the worse for his talks with Sir Charles.
‘How did it go?’ she smiled.
‘How do you think?’ he said dryly. ‘Sir Charles was absolutely furious about the way you voted. He seemed to think he could have expected more loyalty from his future daughter-in-law,’ he added teasingly.
‘He doesn’t still believe that?’ she gasped.
‘He does,’ Bill grinned. ‘Some men never know when to accept defeat.’
‘No…’ Marilyn looked questioningly at Callie. ‘Has Mr Carrington gone?’
Bill’s eyes widened. ‘He’s been here?’
‘Just now,’ his wife nodded.
‘I had a feeling he’d followed you, Callie.’ He grimaced. ‘Would I be speaking out of turn if I say I liked him?’
‘Yes!’
‘No,’ Callie smiled at her friend’s vehemence. ‘He’s a very likeable man.’
More than likeable, but she hoped she wouldn’t have to see him again. Much as she hated to admit it, she had once again responded to his kisses.
She had a completely unexpected guest the next day—Cicely Carrington. Callie couldn’t conceal her puzzlement when she saw the woman. Surely Logan hadn’t involved his mother? Then she noticed the bandage on Cicely Carrington’s left ankle. ‘Logan didn’t tell me you’d hurt your ankle,’ she sighed her consternation. ‘Please come in and sit down,’ she invited without hesitation. Whatever reason the other woman had for being here, she liked her. ‘Would you like a cup of tea?’ she offered.