Enjoy Reading --Moon Witch -Complete- Pg..17 - Page 5

" We rarely discuss you ,' she retorted ,' And before you find out some other way ---I have got a sports car !'

He grinned quite openly now .' Oh, really ! What ?'

" A Trimuph . But I'm just learning to drive at the moment , so you won't see me dashing around the countryside just yet !'

"What a pity ! And what a sharp tongue you are getting . A couple of weeks ago , you wouldn't have dared to speak to me like this !'

Shanaya felt the tell-tale flush rising up her cheeks ,much to her annoyance.' Wouldn't I ?' she parried and he shrugged , and put his cigar between his teeth , unfastening the top button of his shirt , and loosening his tie a little. As usual his clothes were sleek and expensive . She wondered if Lauren Maxwell knew he was home , and whether she would be dashing over to spend the evening with him . The idea annoyed her somewhat , and she thought with a sense of dismay that although she saw so little of him, she was becoming absorbed with him tensely.

He flung himself into an easy chair opposite her and said : " Has J.K. been buying you clothes ,too?' and when she nodded her head , he continued : That dress suits you . I like it .'

The dress was honey- colored crepe and clung to her body , leaving a length of shapely legs bare . The neckline was high and cuffed , and had green embroidery on it to match the sleeve cuffs.

Shanaya studied her fingernails , overwhelming conscious of his presence near her , and finally looked up to find his eyes closed . She silently got to hr feet , intending to go and bathe and tidy her hair , but his eyes opened as she passed his chair , and he said :' Running away?'

" No, Not at all . Will you excuse me ? I want to bathe and change .'

He shrugged.' I guess so . I'll see you at dinner .'

" You will be in ?' Her eyes widened.

" Shouldn't I be?'

" Will Miss Maxwell be coming ?'

" Not unless you have invited her prior to my coming .' he remarked lazily .

" No, of course not I haven't .' Shanaya chewed her lip.

" Good , put on a pretty dress , and after dinner I'll take you to a party !'

" A party !' Shanaya's heart thumped .

Yes , a party . You know - where we all play games and win forfeits !'

" That's not the kind of party you will attend ,' she retorted hotly ,' And you know it !'

" No.' He sat up smiling .' I agree . It's not . But I promise you this party will be as innocuous as that .Right "'

' I don't know . What about J.K.?'

Jarron got to his feet indolently . " Shanaya , you're my ward whether you like it or not , and if I say you are coming to a party , you will come .'

" Will I ?' Shanaya's eyes flashed little in her flushed face .

His eyes narrowed ." Well, won't you ?'

Shanaya shivered , then turned and walked out of the room .

She bathed in the luxurious warmth of the bathroom , filling the bath with scented water and soaking herself thoroughly . She washed her hair and dried it with hair dryer . She was excited for the thought of the evening ahead . It was ridiculous to get so disturbed about something like this , she thought , but she could not help herself .

Afterwards she studied the contents of her wardrobe with more interest than she had hitherto shown. All thoughts of Mrs. Mason banished and she told herself this was why she was feeling so grateful to Jarron Kyle .

At last she chose a dress made of rose-colored chiffon. It had round neckline and long sleeves and the skirt that fell from a clip was full and floating . It was long and elegant , and the style was not particularly girlish . There was nothing she could do with her hair , short of putting it up , and she did not think she would suit that just yet , so she brushed it till it shone like silk , and fell smoothly to her shoulders. Finally she studied her reflection in the mirror and was pleased what she saw.

J.K. and Jarron were both in the small lounge , when she went downstairs , for she could hear their voices . They were discussing the business. Jarron had been in London working and Shanaya wished she did not have to make an obvious an entrance. However , J.K. glimpsed her hovering uncertainly in the hall , and came out to meet her .

" Heavens, child , you look delightful !' he exclaimed in surprise .' I have never seen you wearing this dress before !'

Shanaya smiled uncomfortably , and J.K. drew her into the lounge, where Jarron , looking serious and enigmatic , awaited them . Tonight in dark clothes , he looked very handsome . He handed Shanaya a tall glass of some pale liquid which she handled nervously .

" Don't be alarmed .' said J.K. .' It's only Dubonnet with lemonade. Quite pleasant drink for a young girl like yourself , I should think .' Then he smiled With those clothes , you ought to be going somewhere exciting !'

Shanaya cast a puzzled look in Jarron's direction, and he bowed his head sardonically .' She is going somewhere , J.K.,' he remarked lazily.' To a party .' He hesitated for a moment .' With me !'

J.K.'s brows drew together in a frown .' What do you mean- you are taking her to a party ?'

" Exactly what I say ,' replied Jarron, swallowing half of his dry Martini.' These are very good , J.K. Very dry !'

"Never mind the drinks ,' muttered J.K. looking frowningy at Shanaya .' What do you mean by suggesting that you should take out this child ? She's far too young to go to any of the places you go !'

Jarron was beginning to look bored , shanaya thought with a sinking heart ,' I'm taking her to Howard's twenty first birthday party .' he said resignedly ,' You may recall I promised to go several months ago .'

" You promised to take Lauren to the Hunt Ball but that didn't worry you !' snapped his father .

" No, it didn't .' retorted Jarron coldly ,' If you must know , I didn't want to take Lauren to Hunt Ball.'

" So you went to Monte Carlo with Tracy instead !'

Shanaya moved uncomfortably . She hated these family quarrels .

' Correction,' Jarron was saying harshly .' I went to Monte Carlo with her father .'

'And Tracy didn't go ?'

" No.' Jarron strode over to the tray of drinks , pouring himself another .' What do you want to hear , J.K.? Do you want me to describe what I did that night so that Shanaya will have second thoughts about trusting herself to me , is that it ?' he swallowed the drink at a gulp .' Okay, okay I went to Monte Carlo , we went to Casino and gambled all night ! I didn't get drunk and went to sleep . He swung abruptly , banging the glass down on the tray .

Shanya felt hot and cold in turns and J.K. gruntled something unintelligibly and said : "So, you're going to Howard's place , Are you ?'

Jarron swung round again .' If shanaya still want to go !' He looked at Shanaya questioningly.' Do you think it's safe , Shanaya ?'

Shanaya shrugged her slim shoulders .' Are you quite sure you want to go ?'

He gave a mirthless laugh ." What do you mean by that ? That I couldn't possibly enjoy myself at something so tame as twenty- first party ?'

'Shanaya didn't say that .' growled J.K.

' No , but it was trembling on her tongue .' Jarron sighed heavily .' My God , J.K. , do you imagine I'm taking Shanaya to this party to- well , because I'm interested in her now ? I mean !'

J.K. shrugged .' No, I guess not !'

" Okay . Now that's the truth ! I'm not ! So let's hear no more about it ! She is my ward , and I am entitled to spend some time with her , aren't I ?'

" Of course .' J.K. was disgruntled .' All right , Jarron , I'll shut up . But remember , you will be driving home !'

" Oh lord !' Jarron looked incredulous ,' I'm fully capable , you know .'

'At the moment .' retorted his father .

' At anytime ,' muttered Jarron harshly , and strode out of the room .

After he had gone , J.K. looked anxiously at Shanaya Do you really want to go with him ,Shanaya ?' he asked gently .

Shanaya bent her head .' Well- I did .' she said awkwardly .

J.K. smote his fist into the palm of his other hand .' Well, for God's sake , remember who he is and how old he is ! You're an impressionable child , and I don't want you to get hurt .'

Shanaya sighed now .' But you heard what he said- he treats me like his kid sister , or even his daughter !' ( Ha ha ha )

" I know , I know . May be I'm suspicious old fool , bot I know how attractive Jarron is to women , and I also know that he's only human . If something was offered to him on a plate , he might not be able to refuse !'

" Oh, J.K.!' Now shanya was horrified ." I'm not like that ! Besides , I've no intention of behaving like an idiot . But I'm looking forward to going out . It'll be a change .'

' Have you been bored here ?' asked J.K. anxiously .

Shanaya smiled .' No, of course not . It's not that . It's just the excitement of getting ready . Oh , you know how it is !'

' Yes ,' said J.K. thoughtfully and shanaya hoped he would not think she was ungrateful.

Shanaya was glad when dinner was over . Jarron hardly spoke anything during the dinner . He rose immediately to his feet and said : Well , Shanaya ! Do you still want to come ?'

Shanaya rose too.' Of course ,' she said looking appealingly at J.K. , You don't mind , do you J.K."'

He shook his head and patted her head when she placed it on his shoulder . Shanaya left to get her coat . She decided to put on her Swedish Lamb , as it was bitterly cold and the fur was wonderfully warm . It was thigh length , with an enormous collar. A grayish color ,it suite her creamy coloring , and she tucked her hair inside .

Jarron was waiting for her , the astrakhan coat loose over his lounge suit . He opened the front door and ushered her outside , closing it behind him . The Ferrari waited at the foot of the steps and a faint covering of snow warned of the state of the weather . When they both were inside the car and Jarron was starting the car , Shanaya said a trifle breathlessly :' Is it far?'

Jarron compressed his lips for a moment .' A couple of miles ,' he replied shortly ,' Have you changed your mind again ?'

" No , of course not . I just wondered, that's all .'

Jarron Shrugged and car started smoothly roaring its way down the drive with expert ease . He was a fast , but expert driver . She could relax with him even more than Potter . It was snowing .

The lawsons' house was outside another town . and already drive was lined with cars and lights and the music heralded the party that was in full swing . Jarron saw her nervous face reflected in the lights from the house as he halted the car and said : Don't worry , honey . You look good enough to eat . All the boys will make a beeline for you !'

Inside Jarron was welcomed like a long lost cousin , and Gina, Howard's sister , took Shanaya's coat . Gina was small and about a year older than Shanaya . I say ,' she exclaimed in a friendly way .' You've found yourself the proverbial fairy godfather , haven't you ? Lord , I'd adore to have Jarron as my guardian!'

Shanays smiled and made some light reply , and then they went out again into the hall again to join the rest of the party . Shanaya was introduced to family and then so many people in the course of next half hour , but most of the names went over her head . The fact that she had come with Jarron seemed to act as a charm . She found girls were eyeing her with jealousy . There was place for dancing in the lounge which was stretched from front to back . Gina seeing that Shanaya was looking about said :' Come on . We'll go and dance . Jarron appears to have disappeared .'

In the lounge several couples were dancing to music but Jarron was not there .' I think he considers himself too old for this kind of music .' confide Gina , smilingly ,' That's why we invited Lauren . She'll look after him .'

Lauren Maxwell!' Shanaya sounded slightly shocked and Gina nodded .