Dancer in the Shadows (3 page)

"Because I am a fool." He quickly released her and pushed her into the car.

The silence was heavy during the drive back to Valerie's house. Sean shut off the engine, staring straight ahead.

"Will I see you tomorrow?" she asked softly.

"I don't think so, Val." His voice was bleak.

"The—the next day, then?" She feared his answer.

"No, Val."

The final ring to his words struck her heart with a chill.

"A-are you going away?" Valerie could barely whisper because of the lump in her throat.

"It isn't wise for us to see each other anymore." Sean's voice was painfully gentle. "You need to be with younger men. A girl as beautiful as you shouldn't have any problem finding someone."

Valerie bit her lower lip to still its trembling.

"You're a sweet kid. I don't want to hurt you," he said heavily, turning to place his fingertips against her cheek.

Childishly, she slapped his hand away, her eyes bright with unshed tears. "I suppose I should be grateful that you've been so kind to a child like me," Valerie said bitterly. "And now your good deed is done. I'm sure you'll understand why I can't be polite

right now like the good little girl I am and thank you for a nice time."

"Val!" She ignored him as she flung herself out of the car and ran for the front door, thankful to find it unlocked. Once inside, she flipped the latch and leaned against the door, breathing heavily. It seemed ages before the car's powerful engine sprang to life, revving up more than necessary before roaring away.

When she finally slipped into bed that night, the tears still refused to fall.

As the days passed, Valerie's misery became more evident. Even Shelly, her closest friend, couldn't bring her back to life. "Considering the short time you knew him, you fell awfully hard," she ventured one day.

"At least I didn't break any bones," Valerie said wryly. "With luck, the scars won't even show."

"A group of us are going up to the Napa Valley tomorrow. Come with us," Shelly urged.

"No, thanks." She smiled faintly, shaking her head. "I'll be fine, Shel. Honest."

Chapter Two

The next day, Valerie found the silence, of the house unbearable. She finally escaped outside to walk along the beach.

After walking a short distance, she dropped down to build a sand castle. During her task, she had the uneasy feeling of being watched, but quick glances around the beach and at a large house sitting on the cliff proved fruitless. Turning back to her lopsided castle, she squashed it down with her hands before looking up to stare out over the water.

"Val?" The deep voice from behind caused her to stiffren.

"Go away," she managed to choke out, keeping her eyes straight ahead.

"Val, talk to me." His voice was more insistent than coaxing.

"You didn't want to see me anymore," she said stubbornly, refusing to look up at him.

Sean walked around her and squatted on his heels to face her. Still refusing to look at him, she concentrated on a point over his left shoulder.

"You can't look out there all day, infant." His voice was caressing.

She tipped her head slightly to let a curtain of hair fall, hiding her face from his eyes. "It's a public beach," she muttered. "Just go away."

A lean brown hand shot out, jerking her head around to face him fully. Green eyes full of confusion and hurt faced brown eyes, seeing gold glints dance in anger.

"You're acting like a spoiled brat who needs a good spanking," Sean said tightly. "And, as you said, it's a public beach."

"You didn't want to see me anymore," she whispered. "And I don't want to see you. So you can just go back to where you came from-"

"Do you mean that?" His face appeared carved from stone.

"Yes." Valerie choked out the word.

Sean studied her set face for several moments before suddenly releasing her chin. He slowly rose to his feet and walked up the beach without a backward glance. Valerie turned wide-eyed, fighting the tears threatening to overflow. Sean, clad only in a pair of jeans cut off above the knees, walked sure-footedly in the soft sand toward a wooden stairway winding upward to the house sitting on the cliff.

"No, please don't go, Sean," she cried under her breath, then raised her voice. "Sean!"

He slowly turned around, but the stony look on his rugged features told her that she would have to make the first move. Valerie chewed her lower lip, fighting an inner battle with her pride. She rose slowly, tears streaming down her face.

"You told me to leave you alone," he said harshly, his hands on his hips.

"Only because you said it would be better if I saw other men. You practically called me a child." Her pride lost out to her emotions as she walked slowly toward him. Curiosity soon got the best of her. "Why are you here?"

"You didn't seem to want to know a few moments ago," Sean said roughly.

Valerie childishly wiped her damp face with the back of her hand as she stopped in front of his rigid figure.

"Do you want me to go away?" he demanded.

"No." Her voice trembled.

His eyes softened as his fingertips touched the salty dampness below her eyes. His hand curled around the nape of her neck, drawing her closer to him. Valerie stiffened at his touch.

"Don't fight me, Val," Sean said huskily, touching her trembling lips with his firm, warm ones with fleeting pressure.

"But you said—" she choked, still unable to stop her tears.

"The devil with what I said." He pulled her hard against him, stilling her tearful protests with his mouth, rough against hers.

Valerie's mind whirled as Sean's mouth moved sensually over hers, demanding a response she freely gave. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she arched her body against his, wanting to be as close to him as possible. She moaned softly in protest when he lifted his head a fraction. Although her senses were still swimming from his masterful kiss, a small part of her mind was still puzzled by his sudden appearance.

"Why did you come here?" she asked breathlessly.

"We need to talk," he said firmly, pulling her back against him.

"Is that what we did the last time?" Bitterness tinged her voice.

"Come on," Sean said impatiently, pulling her up the stairs.

Valerie's eyes lifted upward. "You live up there?" Her voice ended in a surprised squeak.

"I have the loan of it," he said briefly, tugging on her hand. "Are you coming?"

The tremulous smile on her face was her answer as she followed him up the stairs.

Once inside the large, sunlit living room, Valerie looked around with interest at the clever blending of earth tones brightened by touches of orange.

"I'll put some steaks on the barbecue if you want to throw together a salad or whatever," Sean suggested, steering her toward the kitchen. "You can cook, can't you?"

"Of course I can!" she said indignantly before she realized he was teasing.

Valerie enjoyed rummaging through the compact kitchen as she found the makings for a tossed green salad and garlic bread. She started as arms encircled her waist, pulling her back against a hard, bare chest.

"I think I'd rather eat you for dinner," Sean muttered against her neck. "I want to lock you away and keep you all to myself." He turned her around in his arms and pressed a lingering kiss on her lips. "However, I'd better get back to the steaks." He was reluctant to release her.

Valerie watched him leave with a confused look in her eyes. She picked up plates and silverware to set the table as the phone rang.

"Val, would you answer that, please?" Sean called over his shoulder. "If I leave these steaks now, they'll burn for sure."

She hurried over to a dark brown telephone sitting on a table near the couch. "Hunter residence," she said crisply.

"Jay? Hi, it's Anne. I heard that Sean's back in town." A very feminine, husky voice purred in her ear. "When did the darling arrive?"

"This isn't Jay," Valerie said stiffly, a cold knot developing in her stomach. "Would you like to speak to Sean?"

"Oh, he's there?" The voice sounded surprised at first, then turned to light amusement. "Yes, actually, I would."

Valerie set the receiver down and walked woodenly out to the terrace. "Someone named Anne would like to speak to you." She tried to make her voice sound casual.

"Tell her I can't—" Sean looked up, spying her set facial expression. "Okay, I'll talk to her." He hurriedly piled the cooked meat on a platter, pushing it into her hands. "Want to put this on the table for me?" He walked over to the phone and picked up the receiver.

"Hi, Anne." Was it her imagination, or did his voice sound irritated? "Oh, about six weeks ago...No, she's still in Spain...Friday night? I don't think so." Sean bent down, picking up a cigarette pack and extracting one before picking up a table lighter. He exhaled the smoke slowly through his nostrils. "No, really I don't—" He sighed heavily. "Well, I'll let you know. Goodbye, Anne."

While he had been on the phone, Valerie had seated herself at the table, her face a mask of indifference. Sean left the room for a moment and returned wearing a dark gold knit shirt that accented the breadth of his shoulders. Casting a lazy grin at her, he picked up his plate and silverware, which had been set across from her, and placed them on her right. "Too far away. And I forgot something."

Valerie listened to him whistling in the kitchen and bit her lower lip to keep the tears back. She was aware that Sean was sexually attractive to women, and that he was man enough to accept whatever they offered him. But he was the first man to stir her emotionally and physically, and her heart didn't want to accept what her mind told her.

Sean returned to the table, carrying a bottle of red wine and two glasses. "I promise not to ask for your identification." He filled her glass partway.

If Sean noticed Valerie's stiff silence during the meal, he gave no indication. He applied himself to his steak and praised her culinary talents. She discovered that frequent sips of wine helped alleviate the pain she felt inside, especially when she poured herself a second glass.

"Is Jay your girlfriend?" she asked artlessly.

"Does it matter?" he asked huskily, a strange light in his eyes.

"Of course not. I was just curious." Valerie concentrated on her steak. "After all, it's no concern of mine if she lives here," she added recklessly, reaching for her wineglass only to find it empty. "May I have more wine, please?"

"I think you've had enough," Sean said lazily, moving the bottle out of her reach.

"I'm not a child," she said haughtily.

"In many ways you still are." His eyes swept over her flushed features.

Sean hadn't said that Jay "was his girlfriend, or that she lived here. Yet, from what she had seen of the house, there appeared to be more feminine touches than masculine. Valerie stood up quickly, gathering up the now-empty dishes. "I'll just wash these," she murmured.

"I'll help you." He rose to his feet.

"No, there aren't very many," Valerie protested, anxious to have something to do.

In the kitchen, she lingered over the task as long as she could. When she finally returned to the living room, Sean was seated on the couch, his long legs stretched out in front of him. "Come here." His expression was frankly sensual as he patted the cushion next to him.

She sat down, keeping plenty of distance between them. Sean arched a surprised eyebrow, but said nothing.

"I—uh—I probably should be getting back," she stammered nervously.

"Why?" Sean's eyes narrowed. "Why the sudden change, Val?"

"Please, Sean, I can't stay here," she pleaded. "I understand now why you didn't want to see me anymore. After all, if the girl who lives with you found out, there could be problems."

His puzzled features relaxed in comprehension. With one swift movement, he pulled Valerie onto his lap. "I think you and my sister would get along very well. You both enjoy jumping to the wrong conclusion," he murmured.

"Sister?"

"Janine, Jay for short. This is her house," he explained.

"You have a sister?" Valerie said faintly.

"That's what my parents told me when they brought her home from the hospital," he replied drily. "Feel better now?"

"It really didn't matter." She affected an indifferent shrug.

"Liar," Sean said huskily. "And I can prove it."

Her head reeled as his mouth descended on hers. He parted her lips with ease, exploring the softness slowly, as if savoring a dessert or a fine wine.

"All I dream about is a girl with hair dark and sleek as a seal's coat, and big green cat eyes," he said hoarsely. "A mouth that invites kissing and a body made to be loved. I'm thirty-two years old and should know better, but I'm caught in your witch's spell."

He bent her backward until his weight became a warm blanket on her pliant body, his hands molding her to his hard male outline. Her skin burned where his hands caressed her bare back under her T-shirt. Valerie had never imagined that a kiss could drown her in such deep, sensual feelings. She twined her arms around his neck, letting her fingers rake through his crisp, dark hair. His kiss deepened, sending her senses whirling. Suddenly, he lifted his head and moved away.

"Sean?" She felt hurt by his abrupt rejection.

"One of us is going to have to show some control, Val," he smiled wryly. "And I guess it'd better be me, no matter how it hurts. I think I'd better walk you home."

He rose to his feet, then pulled her upward. As her body swayed invitingly toward him, his hands rested on her shoulders.

"No, Val," Sean said firmly. "We'd better leave now while I still have some scruples."

A smile of contentment was on Valerie's face as they walked along the beach, Sean's arm thrown possessively around her waist.

"I've been invited to a party Friday night," he informed her. "Go with me."

"Is that a request or an order?" she teased.

A smile touched the corners of his mouth. "I'll pick you up at eight. I'm going to be busy at the base until then," he explained, "so I doubt I'll see you before Friday."