understand,’ she protested with her usual protective zeal. ‘Her need was greater than mine. She really was ill,’ Hayley explained quickly, distrusting the look on his hard face. She felt herself grow more irritated by his attitude. Even though he was a total stranger, Hayley did not want him thinking badly of Melissa. Too many other people had done that in the past and it always upset Hayley.
‘I think I understand very well,’ he answered, his voice betraying nothing of what he was truly thinking, though Hayley sensed his disapproval. His manner was that of someone who assumed he was rarely wrong and his expression one of distant supremacy. Hayley felt such vexation that she turned her head from him to look out of the window. There was something about him that bothered her; he seemed to be as sharp as a needle, and there was a darkness about him too.
‘Do you always resent criticism of your sister so much?’ he teased, his warm breath stroking the side of Hayley’s face. She flung round, her eyes angry, as much with her own body’s reaction to him as with his haunting words.
‘You simply don’t understand. I took care of my sister with very little help when I was still no more than a child myself. It was hard work, and yes, no doubt I did make errors—even the most experienced parents do—but at least we stayed together!’ she snapped, proud of her achievement, even if it was so little in his view.
‘There was no other family who would have taken you in?’ he asked, his expression sceptical.
‘None—well, none who could have coped. There was only one grandparent alive and she was too frail. She couldn’t possibly have coped with nebulisers and spin inhalers, no.’ Hayley shook her head. It would have been too much to ask.
‘But you managed?’
‘I had no alternative. The social services offered foster care, explaining that once you reach teenage years you’re less attractive to potential adopters.’ She saw his eyebrows rise in surprise and continued, ‘Not that I ever even considered care as an option. I wanted us to stay together, as a family.’ Hayley became lost in her own thoughts, her expression softening at the thought of her sister. Melissa had been but a child of twelve when her parents had tragically died, and Hayley had loved her deeply. She shook her head as she thought of all the sacrifices she herself had made over the years, even abandoning her desire to go to art college in order to look after Melissa. She had tried so hard to give Melissa all she wanted, but she had begun herself to wonder about the wisdom of her decisions. Though Melissa had a heart of gold and was generous and loving, she was a little spoilt, though Hayley was con-vinced she would grow out of it.
‘A penny for them?’ he asked, breaking into her thoughts.
‘I won’t rob you of your penny; they’re not worth that much.’ She tried to smile.
‘I think I can afford to chance one penny.’ He gave a low, deep rumble of a laugh, and Hayley felt her smile broaden.
‘I was just thinking that, when I was eighteen, I wanted to go to art college. Sally, a good friend then, was also going—we had it all planned. The first year we would live on campus, and the following year get a flat or bedsit together. Somewhere cheap and nasty that we would miraculously transform with our natural artistic skills.’ Hayley giggled at the memory; it seemed so long ago, as if she were talking about another person, not herself.
‘Instead, you now work in a gallery.’ He sounded kind, but Hayley immediately bristled—she hated pity.
‘I love my work in the gallery. I have a good eye for talent and now, thank goodness, realise I don’t have what it takes to become a household name.’
‘And Sally?’ he asked, a glacier light forming in his eyes, as he realised he had touched a nerve.
‘I grew up when my parents died. Sally was still a schoolgirl. It was inevitable that we drift apart.’ Hayley tried to sound matter-of-fact, but her hurt feelings did not go unchallenged.
‘True friends remain together, no matter what,’ he insisted.
‘Then perhaps she wasn’t as close a friend as I had imagined,’ Hayley snapped. She turned away from him so he could not see her pain—but he already had.
‘Here, take this.’ The man’s voice seemed to vibrate through her thoughts, shattering them to pieces.
Hayley turned round to face a cup of steaming hot coffee, brought by the stewardess. The rich aroma made her suddenly aware how thirsty she was. She thanked the girl gratefully. The man studied her reaction with unconcealed interest, and Hayley could feel his intensity. She kept her head lowered, unable to face him.
‘Aren’t you going to drink it?’ he asked.
‘It’s too hot,’ she answered briefly.
‘Too hot?’ he queried, noticing that the drink hadn’t even touched her lips.
‘Afraid so. I’m having trouble with a tooth at the moment; a hot drink will really hurt,’ she admitted with a grimace. His brow furrowed at her explanation.
‘You do not have a dentist?’ he said abruptly.
Hayley half turned to look out of the window. She hated to admit it, but dentists terrified her. She thought desperately for a few moments, then said, ‘I didn’t have time to go. It’s been a bit of a rush the last few days.’
He nodded with a fleeting look of concern. ‘You have been busy the last few days?’ he then asked casually, stretching out his long legs in front of him. Hayley nodded simply and gave a half-smile.
‘It was quite sudden, this arrangement,’ she told him, aware of the careful way in which he seemed to question her, yet she knew nothing of him and was almost afraid to ask him anything.
‘I see,’ he said, and Hayley thought to herself that no one could possibly imagine the reason for her journey. The whole concept of a marriage being disapproved of was archaic! She picked up her coffee-cup with care, sipping the hot fluid with trepidation. She knew he was still watching her, his vision fixed on her like a cat watching a trapped bird, enjoying the teasing torment. She felt foolish, so she replaced the cup.
‘It’s still too hot,’ she explained, keeping her head lowered. She didn’t want to look at him, to have him pierce through to her soul, making her feel raw and oddly vulnerable. The safe wall she had so carefully erected all those years ago was obviously wearing thin. She gave a shiver; she had had only one experience with a man. It had not been pleasant and had come shortly after her parents’ death. After that, she had had no time to embark on a romantic life of her own. She knew she could not afford the luxury of falling in love; no young man would have welcomed a growing teenager into his marital home.
‘Then I shall get you more cream; the stewardess will only be too delighted.’ He was right of course; the air hostess probably would jump from the aircraft if he asked, Hayley thought bitterly, as the girl fawned over him, flirting outrageously.
‘There now, is that to madame‘s satisfaction?’ he asked, as he added more cream till the coffee was the palest of colours.
‘Thank you,’ she muttered, half under her breath.
Hayley knew she sounded rude—her curt reply was meant to. She had the distinct impression he was toying with her as a game on the long flight and she had no desire to be part of it.
‘There is a choice of menu at lunchtime—perhaps you should like to see?’ He proffered her the smart, neat card and Hayley felt obliged to take it. She read and re-read the menu, as every dish sounded so delicious it was hard to choose. This was a far cry from the synthetic packaged meals one was usually served by airlines.
‘The choice is difficult, no?’ he asked, giving her an enigmatic grin, which was full of humour yet sexy and provocative. Hayley, despite the warnings of her own instincts, found herself returning it. How she wished she were more attractive and more experienced with men. Then she, too, could flirt away the journey, instead of blushing uncomfortably like a naïve schoolgirl when confronted with an undeniably attractive man.