Chapter 11
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Tell me about Jennifer Stone," said Alice after they had been shown to a secluded table at the small but respectable nightclub just outside the city. "What would you like to know?" "Was her husband a farmer in South West?" "He was in a diamond industry," That figures, "she laughed softly. "Were you ever in love with her?" "Certainly not!" he exploded. "And he's obviously made her a very wealthy widow…darling," she added, mimicking Jennifer Stone's voice to perfection. "You little minx, " he smiled, his hand gripping hers with unexpected firmness across the table. "You'd better watch out, Shane, I have a feeling that you're going to be chased," she teased lightly. "To be chased by a woman had never appealed to me, he replied. "Would you like to dance?" she nodded and drawn her feet and led through the tables towards the space cleared for dancing. "You have enjoyed the evening, haven't you? "he asked softly just above her ear as he steered her expertly amongst the others on the floor. "Yes, she whispered back. "It was silly of me to be so angry. I'm sorry. "If I'd extended the invitation in the usual manner, would you have accepted ?" "Probably not, "she replied. "Are Bruce and I forgiven, then ? "Yes". His arm tightened about her waist, drawing her against the lean hardness of his body. "Are you in the mood to say yes to all my suggestions this evening?" "That depends." "On what?" he asked, his warm breath stirring through the fine hair. "It depends on the suggestions you make, naturally." He drew his head back slightly. "You look so beautiful fragile this evening, as if you would melt in my arms. His glance lingered on her lips where a tiny nerve pulsed at the corner of her mouth. "I want to kiss you." "No here !" she protested swiftly, her cheeks suffused with colour when the strange glitter in his eyes made her realise what she had said. "I mean---" "At my hotel? " he suggested. "No". "Where, then?" he demanded softly, his glance teasing. "Shane---" she got no further, for he laughed softly, lowering his head until the hardness of his chin was pressed against her temple. I'm in a crazy mood tonight, sweetie. Let's pretend, just for this one night, that we find each other attractive, and that we're enjoying each other's company." "And then?" she asked softly. "Then, my beautiful honey, we just let nature take its course and see where it leads." "Can I trust you not to take advantage of me?" "You can trust me, honey to do nothing you wouldn't want me to do ! he promised, dropping a kiss on her silky hair. "Are we partners in this crazy game of mine?" "You're very persuasive, and I am tempted, "she replied with honesty. "Be a devil just this once," he challenged. Just this once I'm going to be as crazy as you are, and say….yes." "Wonderful !" he exclaimed softly, almost lifting her off the floor as he swung her round in his arms. They laughed and talked and danced until well after midnight. During back to her flat eventually, Shane pulled off the side of the quiet road and switched off the engine before he drew her into his arms. His kisses were warm and deeply disturbing, and she found herself caught under the spell of the evening as she kissed him back. In the lift, as it swept them up to Bruce's flat, he kissed her again, then in the flat, with the door closed and shutting them off from the outside world, she found herself in his arms once more. She pulled away from him, using her brother as an excuse, but Shane caught her close once more. "Bruce is at a party with some of his friends and if I remember my own university days, it won't end until the early hours of the morning." His mouth found the vulnerable pulse in the soft hollow of her throat. "We had plenty of time." "Shane, it's been a memorable evening, Let's not spoil it, she pleaded breathlessly, her hands against his chest toward him off. "Could we ---could we talk? "Must we talk now?" he asked, as incredulous smile about his lips as he slid his hands down the length of her arms to her wrists. "I think so, Shane," she nodded slowly. "We're both quite calm at the moment." "I wouldn't say that I'm calm," he remarked as he raised her hand and slipped it inside his jacket where she could feel the heavy beat of his heart beneath the silk of his shirt. "Would my heart beat like that if I were calm?" "Shane?" she pleaded, the warmth of his body beneath her hand almost too much to bear. He released her. "All right, let's talk if that's what you want." "Well?" he demanded softly. "Won't you please reconsider and give me a divorce?" He eventually said "If you give me a very good reason why I should, that I might consider starting divorce proceedings. "I want to make a life for myself somewhere without the past entangling me in its clutches, and I want to continue with my nursing career," she replied . There a long silence before Shane spoke, "Is your freedom so important to you? "he asked. "Yes, it is," she lied. "Very important." "And…. If I give you this divorce you want so badly…where will you go?" "Somewhere quiet, " she announced. "I hope, to a place similar to Willowmead." His eyebrows rose. "you wouldn't stay on at the clinic ?" she shook her head. "If would be better if we don't see each other so often." "You would allow me to visit you occasionally ? " he asked. "Occasionally, yes. If you felt like doing so." A tense silence hovered between them, then Shane sighed. "Very well, Alice…I'll make the necessary arrangements, Alice forced a smile and whispered, "Thank you, Shane." "Don't thank me," he said. "Thank the mood I'm in. Tomorrow I shall quite probably want to kick myself." "I trust you not to go back on your word." "I trusted you…once. "She lowered her glance swiftly to hide the pain in her eyes. "I know…and I let you down." "Yes, and…no." She glanced up quickly. "You did let me down, but somehow you never let nana down. She was happy about us--right up to the end. " "Yes," she managed. He leaned forward in his chair, his knees almost touching hers. "Did you give her the idea that you wanted our marriage to become a real one?" "Your--your nana has guessed the truth about our marriage almost before I had a opportunity to tell her, and I --I didn't deny it." "My God !" he muttered, using to his feet and walking away from her. "How you must hate me for what happened afterwards!"
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Alice, returned from canteen and entered the building through the reception hall, coming almost face to face with Shane and Jennifer. "What they doing her?" she wondered. She heard, Jen ask Shane, where the little nurse saw with just over a week ago." she purred beside Shane, but the eyes that met Alice's were cold and hard. "Will you be taking care of me while I'm here? " Bewildered, Alice started at her for a moment before casting a swift, questioning glance at Shane. "She is in the threatre, Jen, he answered. Shane took her arm and ushered Jennifer down the wide passage. Stunned and puzzled, Alice glance at the girl behind the reception desk. "Is Mrs Stone going to be a patient here in the clinic?" "Yes," the dark -hair girl nodded.
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"My personal feeling don't come into it." He explained the evening when he arrived unexpectedly at Alice flat." "How long will she be staying?" Alice asked, avoiding his glance with care. "She probably return home tomorrow, but knowing Jennifer, she'll most make an occasion out of her stay at the clinic. He snorted angrily. Alice swallowed nervously. "You mean she's going to stretch out her stay here for as long as possible?" "Heavens, but I'm tired tonight!" Alice observed him closely for a moment, seeing for the first time the tiredness so deeply in his features, he leaned back in his chair. I’m make you something to drink, then I suggest you go home to bed, "she said as she went through the kitchen to switch on the kettle. Some minutes later when she returned to the lounge with their coffee, she found his jacket dropped across the arm of the chair he has been seated in, but Shane was nowhere in sight and placing the cups on the low table, she made her way toward her room. Shane lay across her bed, and it gave her the strangest feeling to see him there in her room with his arms flung out to his sides and his features relaxed in sleep. He looked almost boyish, she thought, her hungry glance dwelling on his thick lashes and his hair which lay across his broad forehead. Her hand went out automatically to brush it back, and she drew back sharply without touching him. Alice did not have the heart to wake him and covering him lightly with a rug. She returned quietly to the lounge to drink her coffee. It was after ten before she returned to her room with a fresh cup of coffee in her hand to awaken him. "Shane," she whispered, touching his arm gently. "Honey," he murmured, opening his eyes and throwing aside the rug as he swung his long legs off the side of the bed. "I've brought you a fresh cup of coffee, then you must go home, "she said. "Did I fall asleep? "Yes," she gestured towards the clock on the bedside table. "It's after ten." A smile touched his lips. "How unsosiable of me!" "You wore tired, "she reminded him. "So you let me sleeping here on your bed. "His hand fastened on to the nape of her neck, while the other lay warm against her waist as he pushed her over backwards on to the bed. "It 's a very comfortable bed, too." He stilled her protests with his lips, systematically breaking down her resistance until she allowed him to coax her lips apart with his own. The hands she had raised with which to ward him off, relaxed against his muscular shoulders, making little caressing movements as he continued to arouse her emotions with an expertise that left her weak and trembling in his arms. "Shane, it's late, "she pleaded, her voice sounding choked as his lips trailed a path of destruction along her neck at her shoulder. "You wouldn't consider letting me stay?" "What do you think people would say when news gets around that your car was packed outside my flat all night?" "I could always wave our marriage certificate under their noses," he announced mockingly before his lips met hers in another soul-destroying kiss. "Do I stay?" "No, Shane," she insisted. I'm not interested in that kind of relationship with you." "What kind of relationship are you interested in? " he mocked, his eyes dark and searching as they met hers. "A platonic relationship that allows a few kisses, a little bit of potting, but definitely no sex?" "Shane!" she gasped, her cheeks suffused with colour as she fought against him, but his arms tightened mercilessly about her. "There have been occasions, my little ice-maiden, when I could have sworn that you wanted me as much as I wanted you, and this is one of them. If we weren't marriage, I would have understood your reluctance, but we are marriage, and I have made love to you once before. "In one hell of a way, Yes! "she cried out, anger coming to her rescue. "I was unforgivably angry that night," he said. "Let's me show you that making love can be pleasurable as well." "No!" "I'm not going to hurt you," he murmured, his voice thick with passion, his breath warm against her throat. "Let me go!" she begged, her heart hammering wildly beneath his hands as she tried to twist herself free of him, but he released her suddenly and she jumped to her feet. "Sit down beside me while I drink my coffee. "I'm not going to bite you." He instructed, gripping her waist and pulling her down beside him again. He rose without a word and went through to the lounge to collect his jacket, and Alice followed more slowly, her legs trembling. "Thank you for your hospitality, "he said. "Perhaps it wasn't such a good idea to come here this evening after all." "Shane," she managed to find her voice as he reached the door. "Perhaps what we both need is our freedom. His lips tightened. "I'm beginning to think you're right. "The front door slammed behind him with such force. She remained where she was until she could no longer hear it, then reaction set in and the tears made their way silently down her cheeks.
The following day, she was about to go to lunch the phone rang. She lifted the receiver, "When you have a free moment, Sister Tan, come along to ward 422." Sister Dawson's voice came over the line. "Mrs Stone wished to speak to you quite urgently. "I'm come at once, sister, "Alice replied. "What the problem?" Alice asked, pulling a face when Alice mentioned Jennifer Stone's name. "She's had the staff running round in circles ever since her arrival two days ago, I believe. Is she a special friend of Shane Filan from Westlife ? "I don't know, "Alice replied as she prepared to leave her office. "Rumour has it that there might be wedding bells in the near future," Joey persisted, and Alice heart lurched uncomfortable. "You shouldn't listen to gossip, Joey, she said sharply. "And most important of all, you shouldn't repeat what you hear." Ignoring Joey's surprised glance, she turned on her heel and left the room, making her way along the wide passages to Jennifer Stone's ward. "So you came at last," Jennifer husky voice accused when Alice entered her ward. "I've been trying to contact you all day". "I've been in the theatre most of the morning, Mrs Stone". Suddenly she asked Alice- "What is there between yourself and Shane?" Alice stared at her in bewilderment. "I beg your pardon?" "You heard me," Jennifer snapped. "Really, Mrs Stone," Alice remarked coldly. "Was this why you asked me to come and see you ? "Answer my question, What is there between the two of you?" Alice clenched her hands tightly behind her back as she fought to keep her anger in cheek. "There's nothing between Shane and myself. "What is this hold that you have over him, then?" Are you his mistress?" Alice stared hard at the woman who reclined so elegantly in the high hospital bed, I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about." Those smile, but it never reached Jennifer eyes. "I know men well enough, considering that you spent the weekend together in Cape Town, you must have some hold over him." "I did not spend the weekend with Shane, "I------" "I want him, Sister Tan, "Jennifer stared quite firmly. And I don't intend that there should be any opposition, so name your price." "My--- price?" "Yes," the gray eyes studied her. "Would two thousand rand be enough to make you stay away from him ?" "Two Thousand?" Alice gasped, suppressing the hysteria that rose to the surface within her. It was unbelievable ! Jennifer Stone was offering her money to leave Shane alone, to leave her own husband alone. "Mrs Stone, I think you're making a mistake, I----" "Five Thousand, then?" Jennifer pushed her price. "I should have known that a slut like yourself wouldn’t be satisfied with less. "Alice paled visible, her eyes dark of anger as she forced the words. "Mrs Stone, it this was all you asked me to come here for, then you must excuse me. I have work to do. "Jennifer Stone sat up in bed. "I demand an answer !" "You are not in a position of demand anything of me, Mrs Stone," Alice said coldly. "I don't want your money, and neither do I intend answering your outrageous questions."
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