Anything, Any Time, Any Place Read online

  “Jack! Phone!” A tall, thin man was coming around the side of the pool, waving to him.

  “Thanks, Sam!” Jack gave them a friendly salute and moved off.

  “Sam Masefield,” the man declared, holding out his hand. “I’m Jack’s father.” He sat down beside them, stretched his arms and took deep breaths. “Perfect weather for action.”

  “What kind of action?” Bertie asked.

  “Boating, hang gliding. I’m taking out a jet ski today. We sell them, and I test them out to make sure they’re ‘safe for all ages.’ That’s our marketing slogan.”

  “Sports goods!” Kaye said suddenly. “Of course! Masefield & Masefield.”

  “That’s us,” Sam declared.

  M&M dominated the world of sports and leisure. Their stores were everywhere, selling excellent merchandise at reasonable prices.

  “Did you say jet ski?” Bertie asked, his eyes gleaming.

  “Ever tried one?”

  “Nope.”

  “Want to?”

  “Yup.”

  “Half an hour. See you on the beach.”

  Kaye went to the beach with Bertie at the allotted time and saw him mount a jet ski under Sam’s dubious protection. Her anguished plea, “Do be careful, Grandpa,” was answered with a lofty “Silence, woman!” before he bounced away on his machine, clinging on for dear life.

  She strolled back to the hotel’s shopping mall, trying to get her bearings in a new world. Only an hour ago she hadn’t met Jack Masefield, but now nothing would ever be the same again. His splendid frame, his dancing eyes and infectious smile were all a part of her, as completely as if she’d known him forever.

  The bikini she chose showed off her delicate contours in a way that made her blush. Jack had come back and was talking to friends when she returned to the pool. Kaye stretched out in the sun, her fingers crossed, and at last her patience was rewarded.

  “Georgy wants to say something to you,” he said, drawing his daughter forward.

  “I’m sorry for being cheeky,” Georgy said reluctantly. She gave Kaye a smile that was just like her father’s. “And you look smashing in that bikini.”

  “She’s right about that,” Jack confirmed, adding a soft, admiring whistle. Kaye was in seventh heaven.

  When Georgy dropped her airs she was delightful. Kaye had a gift for getting on with children, and in a few minutes they were chatting easily while Jack looked on with pleasure. After Georgy had dashed off to play with some other children he said, “I don’t know how to thank you. I haven’t seen her so happy since we started this vacation. I pinned so many hopes on it, but so far it hasn’t worked out. I guess I don’t know her well enough.”

  “You don’t see her very often?” Kaye asked cautiously.

  “Since our divorce Elsie and I mostly live in different countries. I see Georgy whenever I can, but she’s a shrewd little monkey, and knows my weak spots.”

  “And you haven’t—I mean, she doesn’t have a stepmother to help you out?” Kaye asked, trying to sound casual, and hoping she wasn’t blushing.

  “No, I never married again,” Jack said, and Kaye’s world became brighter. “Too selfish, I guess. I like having my own way too much.”

  “I think you’d always manage to get your own way,” Kaye said, trying to sound worldly-wise. “You’re that kind of man.”

  He grinned. “That’s just a highfalutin way of saying selfish. And I’ve already admitted that.”

  “I don’t believe you’re selfish,” she said impulsively. Then, fearful that she’d sounded too fervent, she added in a teasing voice, “Self-indulgent, perhaps.”

  “Heaven help me! A woman who understands me!” he said in comic dismay. “Yes, I plead guilty to self-indulgence. And Georgy’s my daughter. She didn’t get it all from her mom.”

  “Poor little thing,” Kaye murmured.

  “Hey, I’m the one you should feel sorry for. She’s in control, not me.”

  “Then she isn’t happy. No child is happy being in control. Different countries! She doesn’t know whether she’s coming or going.”

  “Well, you’ve sure gotten on her right side. You handle her as well as Valerie. She’s Georgy’s nanny, a nice, reliable woman who gives the poor kid some stability. I thought she’d be coming on this trip, but at the last minute she decided to visit her sister instead. So I’m left to cope alone, and I’m floundering. Thank heavens for you! Look, would you and your grandfather have dinner with us tonight?”

  “We’d love to,” she said, her heart doing somersaults. “That is, if I ever see Grandpa again. Your father’s taking him jet skiing.”

  “Don’t worry. I always send a boat out after Sam at a discreet distance. If anything happens my captain has instructions to scoop him up.”

  “I think your father’s wonderful,” she said sincerely.

  “Sam’s great, isn’t he? He spends his life doing things that turn my hair white.”

  “You seem to have inherited the gene. You’re always in the papers, breaking speed or endurance records.”

  “Well, I can’t let the old man have it all his own way. Besides, life gets dull behind a desk. What are your interests?”

  “I swim a bit.”

  “Come and swim with me now.” He held out his hand, and she took it eagerly.

  He began to run through the trees to the nearby beach, drawing her with him. Ever afterward, that was one of her most poignant memories, her hand clasped safely in Jack’s while she followed him gladly to a wonderful new world. He could light up the sky for everyone he met. Or perhaps she just thought so because she’d already fallen in love with him.

  Jack had the whole top floor of the hotel, which accommodated not only Georgy and himself but Mrs. Mary Harris, his secretary, and Sam. Kaye soon learned that he traveled in a crowd wherever he went, taking with him an atmosphere of cheerful unconcern that was belied by the vision and drive with which he ran his empire.

  He needed to be active, and enjoyed testing new equipment himself. He was funding the invention of a new kind of hot air balloon, supposed to rise higher and travel faster than any balloon before it. Jack had accompanied the inventor on its maiden flight, and their spectacular crash into the sea had made world headlines.

  The hotel had an outdoor nightclub on the beach, and here Jack had a table large enough to accommodate his party. Kaye met Mary Harris and liked her at once. She was middle-aged, shrewd and outspoken. She shook Kaye’s hand, taking in her appearance. Kaye was sure Mary knew she’d bought the brightly colored dress specially that afternoon, and that her long hair had been done up for the occasion. And from the kindly smile in the secretary’s eye, she guessed that she was just one in a long line of young women competing for Jack’s attention.

  To her disappointment, she wasn’t sitting beside him, but she had a good view of him across the table. On one side of her was Georgy, and on the other side was a young man called Colin, who seemed bent on paying her a lot of attention, until she began to feel uncomfortable. Later he kept asking her to dance. She was too inexperienced to get rid of him, until Jack came to the rescue and edged him firmly out of the picture.

  “Thank you,” Kaye said with relief. “He kept asking questions about Bertie’s business until I didn’t know where to look.”

  “He was checking your finances. He needs a rich wife to save his father’s firm.”

  “Jack, I’ve got to tell you. Grandpa isn’t a tycoon, the way he implied. He won this vacation in a competition. We haven’t got a bean.”

  Jack laughed so loud that several people turned to stare. He took her arm and drew her into the shadows. “What a wonderful old boy!” he exclaimed. “Good for him!”

  “But we’re frauds,” she said.

  “So be a fraud, and enjoy it. Life’s too short to worry. Besides, everyone here is a fraud in one way or another. Some of them are about to go under, but they spend like mad to stop the world finding out.”

  “Oh, dear, there’s
Colin looking for me again. Do you think I should tell him the truth?”

  “No need. I know a simpler way.” Jack slipped an arm about her shoulders and drew her close. Colin read the message in that possessive gesture, and turned away.

  “Now he’ll think you’re looking for a rich wife,” Kaye said, laughing to cover the delicious tremors that were going through her.

  “Don’t worry. They all know me too well to think that,” he said with a simplicity that went beyond arrogance. The next moment he caught sight of his daughter. “It’s time you were in bed.”

  “Another half hour,” she pleaded.

  “You said that an hour ago. Scoot.”

  Seeing a storm about to break, Kaye took swift action. “Jack, would you mind if I borrowed Georgy for a while? I saw some scarves in the shop this afternoon and I’d like her opinion before I buy anything.”

  Georgy was ready to accept this compromise. Jack said, “And then you go to bed, okay?”

  The shops in the mall stayed open until two in the morning. Kaye and Georgy spent a cheerful half hour going through the stock, before Kaye settled on something that was just within her budget.

  “And that one,” Georgy said, pointing at a luxurious scarf Kaye had admired. “Put it on my dad’s card.”

  When they reached her room Georgy wrapped the scarf around Kaye’s shoulders. “It’s for you.”

  “Georgy, I can’t take this! It’s much too expensive.”

  Hastily she explained about the competition. Like her father, Georgy was entertained. “No problem. Dad’ll pay.”

  “No way. What will he say if I let you buy me expensive gifts and simply charge them to him?”

  “He’ll say it’s no big deal. I get what I like at that shop. Anyway, I want to give you something. You’re okay. Dad treats me like a little girl, but you can handle him.”

  Kaye was left bereft of words. Having hinted at the bargain she expected, Georgy went to bed without further trouble, leaving Kaye to return to the beach with the silk scarf tied around her shoulders.

  Jack was dancing. His partner was dark haired, lavishly beautiful and well endowed. Soon her place was taken by another woman out of the same mold. Jack danced cheek-to-cheek, whispering words that made his partners laugh or meet his eyes significantly. The sight made Kaye’s heart ache, but she couldn’t tear her gaze away.

  At last he noticed her and stretched out his hand. Now, she thought, he would hold her close, but the band was playing a swinging calypso, in which they twisted and whirled and seldom touched.

  Afterward she hastily explained about the scarf. As Georgy had predicted, he was relaxed. “You got that little monkey’s mind off her tantrum and I’m grateful. She’s got good taste, hasn’t she? Those soft colors are perfect with your gray eyes.”

  “You can’t see my eyes in this light,” she protested.

  “I saw them earlier. I remember them.”

  As flirtations went it was the mildest possible remark, but she blushed all over, glad of the darkness that hid her gaucheness.

  The last dance was a waltz, and to her joy he danced it with her. It was disappointing that he didn’t hold her close against him, but at least she was in his arms, savoring the warmth from his big body, looking up eagerly to meet his smile.

  “You shouldn’t look at a man like that,” he teased.

  “It’s dangerous.”

  She tried to think of a sophisticated reply, but the music was coming to an end. The most glorious day of her life was over.

  “I’ll walk you back,” he said, slipping an arm about her shoulders.

  The walk through the trees was magic. He didn’t try to kiss her, but she was close to him, and for the moment that was all she asked. Heaven seemed very close that night.

  The days that followed were the happiest she’d ever known. The two families joined forces, with Sam and Bertie indulging in riotous living, and Kaye gladly spending her time with Georgy. She liked the little girl, and besides, that way she could be with Jack.

  The child adored her father and enjoyed nothing better than being with him. Kaye noted approvingly that he gave her all his attention—or as much as the constantly ringing telephone would allow.

  Father and daughter loved each other, but they didn’t understand each other, and Kaye created a bridge between them. Once he said, “I shouldn’t take over your vacation like this.”

  “I’m fine,” she said airily. “I’m going to be an infant teacher, so I’m practicing on Georgy.”

  “You’ll be a great teacher,” he said.

  Jack might have been selfish, as he claimed, and he was certainly used to taking his pleasures as he pleased. But he wasn’t self-centered. He made Kaye talk about herself, and listened with every sign of interest. Sam and Georgy joined in, asking questions, and it was clear that Jack’s charm was a family trait, since all three generations of Masefields had it by the wagonload. Encouraged, Kaye brought out her family snapshots, which were mostly of Paul. He was fourteen then, free of the spots that plagued his contemporaries, and already showing astonishing good looks.

  “Wow!” Georgy said, taking the picture. “He’s real cute.”

  “What did you say?” Jack demanded sharply.

  “I’m glad you admire him,” Kaye said, frowning at Jack.

  He relapsed into fulminating silence until Georgy had gone off to play with some friends, then said explosively, “Cute! She thinks a boy is cute! She’s eight years old, for Pete’s sake!”

  “That’s how they talk at eight these days,” Kaye said.

  “When I was eight I practically didn’t know girls were a different sex,” Jack said, aghast.

  “Well, you’ve sure made up for it since!” Sam said ribaldly. “Kaye’s right. Keep quiet and don’t let Georgy see she can wind you up.”

  Kaye was enchanted at Jack’s streak of puritanism regarding his daughter, which contrasted sharply with the hedonism of his own life. Wherever he went women’s eyes followed him, and he wasn’t shy about enjoying what was freely offered.

  One extravagantly built lady tried to commandeer his attention during the day. Jack was happy for her to join the family party but earned Kaye’s respect by resisting the siren’s attempts to detach him from Georgy. After a while the beauty flounced off. In this way, it happened that Kaye spent more time with Jack than any other woman.

  One day he said, “I want to buy you a present to thank you for all you’ve done for Georgy, and to remember me by.”

  I’ll remember you always, she thought. There won’t be a moment when you don’t live with me, just as you are now. I’ll keep every word, every smile, and I’ll cherish them in my heart until the day I die.

  Aloud she said, “I don’t want presents, Jack.”

  “What’s the matter?” he asked, struck by a constraint in her tone. “Have I offended you? I didn’t mean to. It’s just that I owe you so much, and I like to pay my debts.”

  He was a scrupulous man who dealt fairly with everyone, and then forgot them. She too would be forgotten when he’d settled his accounts. The urge to make him remember her was overwhelming.

  “Take me to the Serenita,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to eat there.”

  “I’ve never heard of it.”

  “It’s a restaurant half a mile along the beach. It’s only a tiny place. The others wouldn’t like it, but I think I’d enjoy a meal there.”

  She dressed carefully that evening, choosing a silk chiffon dress that he’d once casually admired, and her eyes were bright with anticipation.

  Although it was early, darkness had already fallen as they strolled along the beach together. The little restaurant stood at the edge of the sand, with tables under the stars. Colored lights hung from the palm trees, and the air was heavy with the scent of flowers.

  Jack was the perfect dinner companion, making her laugh, giving her all his attention. He’d seen her shopping in the arcade that afternoon, loading herself up with gaudy shirts.
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  “They’re for Paul,” she explained when he asked.

  “You’ll have nothing left if you blow all your money on him.”

  “But he was so disappointed when Grandpa brought me instead of him. I wanted to get him something nice.”

  “You really love your brother, don’t you?”

  “Oh, yes. More than anyone in the world, except Grandpa, of course.”

  “Are they the only men you love?” he asked quizzically. “What about a boyfriend?”

  She managed to say lightly, “Oh, I’m playing the field,” but she was sure she was blushing all over.

  “Wise woman,” Jack said. “Never make big decisions before you’re twenty-five.”

  “You did,” she said impulsively.

  “That’s right, I married at twenty-one,” he said. “Which is a crazy age for a man to marry. And I made another fool mistake. I threw my whole heart into it.”

  “But you have to, or it couldn’t work,” she said, puzzled.

  “It didn’t work anyway. It was too one-sided. But I learned my lesson. Always keep something back.”

  “That’s a terrible lesson,” she said earnestly. “I hope I never learn that. If you love someone it would have to be with your whole heart and soul, because if you don’t give absolutely everything you’re—you’re simply not entitled to anything back.”

  The smile he gave her was full of tenderness. “How young you are,” he said softly. “Only someone very young could have said that.”

  “No, Jack, honestly, it’s got nothing to do with being young. It’s what I truly believe. I couldn’t live any other way.”

  “You couldn’t,” he agreed. “But I haven’t got your generous nature.”

  “Why, how silly! You’re the most generous person I know. You’re always giving things to people.”

  “Is that generosity?” he mused. “I wonder sometimes if giving people things isn’t really a way of giving them nothing.”

  “I don’t know what you mean.”

  “I’m glad. I hope you never know. I’m not good news, Kaye. Not really.”

  She was so overwhelmed with emotion that she almost made him a declaration of love right then and there. Before she could do so he made a small, disgruntled sound.