Free Wild Melody by Sara Craven

rehearsal gets under way. In you go.'
    He pushed open a door and Catriona glared helplessly at him for a moment
    before entering the room.
    It was not a large room and the main item was a desk, seething in papers.
    There was a portable typewriter, pushed to one side, jostling with several
    telephones and an intercom system. A shelf overflowed with books, mostly
    of a reference nature, she noticed, and two filing cabinets stood in gleaming
    splendour against one wall. An expensive leather coat was flung over the
    only spare chair—a low black leather and chrome affair. Jason picked up the
    coat and slung it casually in the general direction of an empty coat-stand in
    the corner.

    'Take a seat,' he invited, and flicked a switch on the intercom. 'Two coffees,
    Diane.'
    'Not for me,' Catriona protested immediately.
    'Oh, stop arguing. You spilled most of yours and you could do with some
    kind of stimulant. You look like a ghost,' he observed a little cruelly. 'It
    seems to be my fate to be around you at moments of crisis. I'd hoped to meet
    you in a relaxed mood today.'
    'You hoped to meet me?' She stared at him in frank disbelief.
    'Why not?' He glanced at her, his brows raised, then came to sit on the edge
    of the desk. 'You're very attractive, Miss Muir, as I'm sure you know. I'm
    also sure you have hidden charms as well—if ever you allow anyone close
    enough to discover them.'
    'I consider you've been quite close enough,' she said, her voice shaking a
    little.
    'Oh?' He stubbed out his cigarette in a huge onyx ash tray. 'Because I once
    kissed you and removed your dress— not simultaneously?'
    Catriona stared at him, her face crimson. 'I wonder you're not ashamed to
    remember that.'
    'Shame has never featured very high among my emotions,' he told her drily,
    as the door opened and a tall dark girl wearing huge tinted glasse s cane in
    carrying a tray of coffee. There was silence a- Catri::. heiped herself to
    sugar, and refused the biscuits that were provided with a shake of her head.
    Then Diane let: the room -Tier a quiet word of thanks from Jason.
    It was Jason who spoke first once they were alone again.
    'I like your outfit.'

    It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him she'd had no thought of him when
    she put it on, but then she remembered what she had been thinking when she
    arrived that morning and bit back the retort with a slightly raised colour.
    'You blush delightfully too,' he went on smoothly. 'I confess I'd forgotten
    girls still could at your age. How old did you say you were?'
    'I didn't say,' she said curtly. 'But I'm twenty.'
    'You look younger,' he said briefly, swallowing some coffee. 'Especially
    when you sulk.'
    'I am not sulking--' Catriona began indignantly, then stopped, realising how
    ridiculous such an argument could only become.
    'All right,' he held up a mocking hand. 'We'll call a truce. I don't want to
    figure as the villain of the piece on your day out. Are you enjoying it, and
    have you seen everything that you wanted?'
    'I'm looking forward to seeing the play later on,' she admitted. 'It's a good
    story, and I think Sally is going to be tremendous.'
    'I think so too. I've a lot of time for young Sal,' he said. 'You two get on all
    right?'
    'Isn't it obvious?'
    'Obvious conclusions aren't always the correct ones,' he returned.
    'Yes, I like her very much.'
    'I'm pleased,' Jason said coolly. 'After all, you have a lot in common, or
    haven't you confided in each other to that extent yet?' Catriona stared at him
    wide-eyed and he nodded. 'That's right, darling—Jeremy, of course.
    Although Sal managed to get out heart-whole,' he added.
    'I had no idea,' Catriona said numbly.

    'Does it make any difference?' he asked. 'It certainly hasn't to Sally. She's
    fairly shrewd and she soon saw through Jeremy. I thought perhaps if you
    discussed things with her, you might end up feeling a little less sorry for
    yourself.'
    'I haven't discussed it with anyone. It's not something I'm