COUNTERPOINT
An original romantic serialFrom Alina Adams the author of "When a Man Loves a Woman" (DELL 4/00), "Annie's Wild Ride" (AVON 8/98), "Inside Figure Skating" (METROBOOKS 11/00 & 9/99), "Thieves at Heart" (AVON 12/95) and "The Fictitious Marquis" (AVON 6/95)
Available weekly by e-mail from http://www.AlinaAdams.com
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CHAPTER ELEVEN
Victoria had no more idea of why or where to Robin Cooper had disappeared this time, then she had immediately after the Elizabeth Fund Gala. The closest thing she had to contact from him, besides the letter, was Gabriel's telling her that an unidentified man had called San Francisco General Hospital to ask about Dustin's mother. As was the hospital policy, he received no information, outside of the fact that she was still alive. The next day, a cashier's check -- no traceable name -- appeared at the hospital by messenger, with a note instructing it to be used for the woman's care.
When Victoria pointed out that Robin's actions, no matter how cryptic, were hardly the deeds of a devil incarnate, Gabriel only shrugged and guessed, "Maybe he's lining her up for his harem."
Victoria sincerely doubted it.
Frankly, she couldn't help feeling vindicated. Even if he did have a curious way of carrying it out, Robin's altruism proved that her faith in him, groundless as it seemed, was nonetheless valid.
Douglas Cooper, however, had an entirely different take on the situation. He said, "My son is doing what he does best. Creating chaos, then running away from the responsibility of fixing it. He got himself into a jam, railing against the clinic for no grounds save it was the mood he was in at the time. Then, he met you, he saw how important the project was, and he changed his mind. But, he couldn't very well be a civil human being and admit he'd made a mistake. Not after the tantrum he'd thrown about closing it. So, Robin being Robin, he took off, throwing money blindly behind him to placate any hurt feelings. Believe me, Miss Morgan, there is nothing new going on here."
Most days, Victoria liked Douglas Cooper. He seemed a decent man. Fair. Reasonable. Except when it came to his son. When it came to Robin, every word out of Douglas' mouth spewed tainted with double layers of meaning. And a bitterness the roots of which she still had no clue where to begin unraveling.
Victoria tried to thrust the entire situation out of her mind. After all, the solitary reason she'd approached Robin Cooper in the first place was so she could rescue Gabriel's clinic, and now that was settled. So, really, she had no incentive to see him again -- outside of work. And yet, Victoria couldn't help feeling that, in taking off so abruptly, he'd left something incomplete. Something unfinished. Something unanswered.
Granted, Victoria told herself, some questions were better off left unanswered. And the sensations that flared between her and Robin Cooper were probably right at the top of that list. But, it was unfair just the same. She had spent so much time debating what she should do if the interaction between them ever evolved past the harmless flirtation stage, Victoria judged it unfair that she never got the chance to put her theories into practice.
Still, an end to temptation meant no chance of her failing the ultimate test. Which, most certainly, was for the best. Sardonic grin, devastating eyes, and bewitching heart aside, the last thing Victoria needed was to wake up one morning as part of a harem.
She was grateful for her work. It gave her something to hide in when speculations about Robin threatened to overload Victoria's senses. A week after he'd disappeared for the second time, she was in the middle of a meeting with Douglas, plus seven of the Fund's biggest contributors. She was explaining, dollar by dollar, where every cent of their money was being spent this year, when Douglas' secretary stumbled through the door, mouth open, eyes wide, and no concept as to where she should begin. Behind her, stood Robin. In Robin's right hand, were reins. Attached to the reins, was a full-grown, living, breathing horse.
Robin smiled and raised one arm, his left, in a half-wave to his father. He said, "I brought Miss Morgan a present."
Eight heads turned to stare at Victoria. She returned their dumbfounded stare with one of her own.
"R-Robin?" Victoria's voice sounded strange to her ears, and her subsequent question sounded even stranger. But, it was all she could think of to ask. "What do you think you're doing?"
He said, "I owe you a debt of gratitude. For opening my eyes about the clinic. It's exactly the sort of project Elizabeth Fund should be supporting. I would have made a mistake closing it, and you saved me from that. So, since I have you to thank for it," he indicated the horse. "I have you to thank for it. You did say you liked riding, didn't you?"
"Well, yes...."
"And you don't already have a horse, do you?"
"No, I don't, but -- "
"Excellent. This is for you, then."
"Robin!" Her senses were slowly returning to her. "In case you haven't noticed, I'm in the middle of something."
Douglas Cooper pointed to the door. "Get out, Robin, and take your animal with you."
"It's not my animal. It's Miss Morgan's."
"Robin, please..." She was drowning in a deep, deep wave of discomfort. This catastrophe was all her fault, and it was up to her to rectify it. "Please, go."
"On one condition?"
"For God's sake, what?"
"Have dinner with me. Tonight."
"Fine." She waved him away. "Just go."
Robin turned to leave, hesitating in the doorway to ask. "Do you like French food, Miss Morgan?"
"No." All she wanted now was for him to depart, and quickly. The last thing Victoria needed was to extend their conversation.
"Italian?"
"No."
"Chinese?"
"No."
Refusing to take her reply for an answer, Robin persisted, "So what kind of food do you like?"
"Canadian." Victoria wondered whether, if she closed her eyes he would disappear. For good this time. As added incentive, she promised not even to speculate about where he went.
But, no such luck. Robin only nodded his head in response to her obviously sarcastic retort. "Canadian," he said. "Very good."
When he came to pick her up after work, Robin drove Victoria to the airport, where he led her onboard the Cooper jet and asked, "How does dinner in Victoria, British Columbia sound to you?"