Free Wild Melody by Sara Craven Page B

tomorrow?'
    'Aren't you forgetting? Lovemaking is no way to pay a debt,' she flung at
    him almost wildly, shocked at her own reactions. Had she forgotten who he
    was and his utter ruthlessness in getting what he wanted? Besides, she still
    loved Jeremy, she told herself desperately, so why this sudden traitorous
    longing to feel Jason's body hard with desire against hers, his mouth
    irrevocably dissolving her shyness away?
    He released her hand abruptly, and she flinched from the anger in his eyes.
    'I thought we'd agreed the debt was paid,' he said. 'Don't worry, Catriona. I
    won't ask you to pay again.'
    The intercom sounded and Diane's voice said, 'The studio have rung down,
    Mr Lord.'
    'Fine.' He switched the machine off, and turned to Catriona. 'That was
    Hugo's all-clear. We can go up now.'
    'Are you going to watch the run-through too?'
    'Why, yes,' he said coolly. 'I too have an interest in this play, you know.'
    Catriona supposed he meant Moira Dane. The actress had made it clear in
    the restaurant that there had been more than mere friendship between them.
    Well, Catriona thought bitterly, she would not add to the lists of his
    conquests, no matter what tricks his experience with other women had
    taught him.

    'Well, come on,' Jason said impatiently, his hand on the doorhandle. 'This is
    what you came here for after all, isn't it?'
    But as she followed him to the lift, Catriona found herself wondering if that
    was now altogether true.

    Somewhat to her surprise, she thoroughly enjoyed the rehearsal that
    followed:- She sat with Jason but not near him in the producer's box. Hugo
    and his assistants sat at a control panel in front of a bank of television
    screens, communicating with the cast and floor manager through
    microphones.
    In spite of her instinctive dislike of Moira, Catriona had to admit she was a
    fine actress. She was playing a basically unsympathetic character, but she
    managed to invest it with a kind of pathetic dignity at the end. Sally's role as
    the younger girl could have been insipid by contrast, but was saved by the
    excellence of the writing, Catriona realised, as well as Sally's very good
    performance. She was sorry when the play reached its ironic climax and
    Hugo called for a break.
    He came over to her and smiled kindly. 'Enjoy it?' he asked, and she nodded
    mutely.
    'If you want to pop up to the canteen for a coffee, now's your chance. Sally
    has to go along to Wardrobe to get something done about that damn silly
    train they've given her and I want to run through a few things again. Can you
    manage to find your way up there on your own?'
    Catriona assured him that she could. For one heart- stopping moment, she
    was afraid that Jason would accompany her. He held the studio door open
    for her as she left, but to her relief went off in the opposite direction without
    a word.
    Catriona decided to use the cafeteria this time. She collected a coffee and a
    portion of gateau and carried them to an empty table. Unlike the restaurant,

    this part of the room was furnished with tables covered in a teak laminate
    with comfortable bench seats on each side.
    The cafeteria was barely half full, and Catriona amused herself by seeing
    how many people she could recognise fromher brief acquaintance with
    television. She was trying to place one short fair man whom she associated
    with a panel game of some kind when Moira's voice said, 'May we join you?'
    Catriona looked up, startled. Moira had a young man with her this time. His
    light brown hair was even longer than Jason's and he wore a rather
    Victorian-looking moustache. His suit was a pale coffee colour, and his shirt
    was brown and gold with a matching tie.
    'This is Roger Hunt,' Moira said carelessly as they sat down. 'He's a
    columnist with the Evening Globe.'
    This meant little to Catriona, but she smiled politely and shook hands with
    him, a little confused by the openly admiring look he gave her. But his
    manner was pleasant and after a few moments