Free His Last Gamble by Maxine Barry Page B

Don’t you think it’s a fabulous idea?’ she asked quickly, trying to distract him. ‘Not only have we got the beach and the lush tropics on our doorstep, we’ve got the Palace as well. I thought you’d be pleased we came.’
    â€˜Oh I am,’ Jo-Jo said. ‘Don’t get me wrong. But you’ve never before dictated the location of a shoot. Usually I have to all but browbeat you into asserting your rights as half-owner of
Jonniee.
Now, all of a sudden, you’re like a dynamo.’
    â€˜Oh, don’t exaggerate,’ Charmaine laughed uneasily. ‘I just felt like a change, that’s all.’
    Outside Payne Lacey, eavesdropping without shame, frowned.
    Charmaine Reece was a half-owner of the fashion house? And, by the sound of it, its main designer to boot? It made no sense. And exactly what famous family did she belong to? The more he learned about this dangerous, wonderfully alluring woman, the less he seemed to know her.
    â€˜I’m not exaggerating sweetheart. The changes in you are there for anyone to see. Just a few months ago, you were the epitome of the country mouse, solitary and wary. Now, all of a sudden, you’re like a tiger. Even Jinx is beginning to get nervous. For the first time, she’s got serious competition. She was certainly spitting fire after that little kiss you and our gorgeous casino-owner exchanged at the roulette table last night.’
    Charmaine flushed. So everyone had noticed.
    â€˜Come on, Jo-Jo. Nobody competes with Jinx,’ she said awkwardly. ‘She rules!’
    Jo-Jo snorted inelegantly and rolled his eyes theatrically. ‘Not over Payne Lacey she doesn’t. And she knows it. Oh, he tolerates her, and plays up to her. But everyone knows it’s you he wants.’
    Charmaine felt her world lurch around her.
    â€˜He does?’ she whispered.
    â€˜Of course he does. Isn’t that what you want?’ Jo-Jo demanded. And outside, their unsuspected eavesdropper echoed the sentiment.
    Payne smiled, a wide, wolfish, confident smile.
Yes, Charmaine. Wasn’t it what you wanted?
    â€˜I think,’ Charmaine took a deep, shaken breath, ‘I think this is all nonsense. Now, if you don’t mind, the girls will be returning soon for the changes. And I still have to model the green taffeta.’
    Jo-Jo took the hint, and when he opened the door, the passageway was empty. But at the door, he turned and looked at his friend, his eyes darkening. ‘Be careful, Charmaine, yes?’ he said softly. She was so young and innocent. ‘Payne Lacey plays in the big leagues.’
    Charmaine smiled a grim, hard smile, that was so totally unlike her. ‘Oh, don’t worry Jo-Jo,’ she said softly, almost sadly. ‘I know what I’m doing.’
    But when he was gone, and she was pulling on the rich and voluminous elegance of the green taffeta evening dress, Charmaine wondered if she was trying to convince herself, as much as her friend.
    * * *
    The next day was a day off, as Phil and his assistants were scouting around for a ‘jungle’ interior shot, for the day-wear outfits.
    With this in mind, Charmaine was glad to slip into a pair of plain white shorts and a pale blue T-shirt, and head for the interior herself.
    Downstairs, in the lobby, she picked up a few leaflets, deciding on a visit to the Flower Forest and perhaps, after that Harrisons Cave. It was time she did a bit of sight-seeing.
    She took the bus to the east coast, using a few of the Barbados Dollars she’d got from the bank. The bus was crowded with cheerful locals and excited holiday makers who kept eyeing the beautiful passenger with welcoming smiles.
    At the plantation, the gardens were so big that, even though there were plenty of visitors, it felt as if she had her own tropical paradise to herself. For a few hours she wandered around, lost in the verdant greens of the tropical land. Bright scarlet flowers,