Summer Mahogany

Gina’s face grew pale with shock.  It couldn’t be Rhyder.  Not after all these years.  But there was no mistaking the tall, darkly tanned figure moving menacingly nearer.  Like a child, a young, naïve Gina had once worshipped Rhyder Owens.  But her desire for him, even then, had been like a woman’s.  Gina was older now, an intelligent, sophisticated lawyer.  Yet she felt the waves of panic rising inside her.  “ Why did you have to come back to Maine?” she protested in angry despair.  “I don’t want you here.  All I want to do is forget.”  Rhyder’s narrowed blue eyes raked her body chillingly.  “You couldn’t possibly have forgotten that you are my wife!”

“Are you taking me to a hotel?”  Rhyder answered Gina’s question shortly.  “It’s our wedding night, Mrs. Owens.  Have you forgotten?”  Behind the dryness, there was a hint of a jeer.  “Your grandfather wanted you to have a proper honeymoon.  He arranged this marriage.”  “Grandfather wanted to save my reputation.  It was for his sake that I agreed to marry you.”  Despair made Gin’s voice bitter.  “It doesn’t seem fair.”  “Nothing in life is fair; a fact you’ll discover when you grow up.”  His words aroused her anger.  “Will you stop referring to me as if I was an infant!” she snapped.  “I happen to be your wife!”  But, suddenly, as if her words had brought full awareness, Gina was afraid.  She didn’t really know anything about this man…