Read Online No Greater Joy by Rosemary Carter - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Rosemary Carter
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for her delay, and thanking Alison for having helped Clint out in her place.
Almost immediately Alison knew that if she was to have a special friend at the camp it would be Mary. Red curls flying, guitar strung across her shoulder, mischievous smile lighting up a merry face, it was Mary who said to Alison, 'Hello! Clint said we're neighbours. Do you mind the dulcet sounds of a guitar at all hours of the night?'
Alison laughed. 'Just as long as they're dulcet!' She'd been wondering what it would be like to be the new member of a group which had worked together a few years. Now she knew that she need not have worried.
'The fair Virginia made her appearance already?' Mary asked.
'Not yet.'
'She will, never fear.'
Virginia made her appearance an hour later in a fancy little red sports car, apparently new since the previous year, and which had Brian and Gary drooling. But Virginia barely acknowledged the envy of the young male counsellors. As she left the car, she had eyes only for one person.
'Clint!' She went straight to him, lifting her arms and her mouth for his kiss.
An embrace which a cheerful Clint did nothing to discourage, Alison noted grimly.
'You look wonderful!' Virginia was enthusing.
'You're looking pretty good yourself,' he grinned down at her.
She did look good—stunning, in fact. Tall, and with a superb figure, Virginia was a beautiful woman. With her sleek, blonde hair parted in the middle and resting on either side of her forehead in classic waves, she could easily have been a model. She was older than the other staffers, late twenties, Alison guessed, and unlike the casual jeans of the others she wore an emerald trouser suit that looked as if it had been lifted straight from the pages of Vogue.
'Does she always dress like that?' Alison asked Mary softly.
'Not when she's working. Then she goes in for safari suits, very tailored, very expensive, always stylish. There's no competing with her.'
Mary was right, Alison decided. It would be a remarkable man who would not be fascinated by Virginia.
She found herself having to try surprisingly hard to force a smile when Clint made the introductions.
'I'm very pleased to meet you, Alison. I hope you'll enjoy working at Bushveld.' Virginia's voice was low and husky, as sexy as her appearance.
'Thank you, Virginia, I'm sure I will.'
'Clint tells me you came down with him a few days ago.'
'Yes. There was quite a bit of paperwork to be done.'
'He kept you working all the time, did he?' This was said with a flirtatious look at Clint.
'Not all the time,' Alison said smoothly.
Virginia's blue eyes regarded her coldly. Then the camp director turned to Clint, and now her mouth was curved in a charming smile. 'You should have let me know. I would have come to help you if I'd known there was a problem.'
Later in the day a meeting was held in the games room. Clint officially welcomed the counsellors and made a short speech that was laced with good humour and friendly informality.
Then Virginia took over. The camp director's words were strictly to the point: a short run-through of the different camp activities, a list of objectives which Virginia expected both campers and counsellors to achieve. Everything precise, well thought out, well organised.
She addressed herself to each counsellor in turn, outlining his or her duties. When she came to Alison, her words were crisper, her voice cooler.
She doesn't like me, Alison realised. I wonder why. She can't possibly think that I'm competition for her.
Only when Virginia addressed Clint did her manner change. A deepening huskiness came into her voice when she spoke to him. Flirtatiousness was in her smile.
Alison watched Virginia and Clint standing together at the front of the room. There was an ease between them that spoke of long familiarity. Even if Jenny had not told her about Virginia, Alison would have guessed that they knew each other well.
Well—and so what? It really didn't concern her one way or
Almost immediately Alison knew that if she was to have a special friend at the camp it would be Mary. Red curls flying, guitar strung across her shoulder, mischievous smile lighting up a merry face, it was Mary who said to Alison, 'Hello! Clint said we're neighbours. Do you mind the dulcet sounds of a guitar at all hours of the night?'
Alison laughed. 'Just as long as they're dulcet!' She'd been wondering what it would be like to be the new member of a group which had worked together a few years. Now she knew that she need not have worried.
'The fair Virginia made her appearance already?' Mary asked.
'Not yet.'
'She will, never fear.'
Virginia made her appearance an hour later in a fancy little red sports car, apparently new since the previous year, and which had Brian and Gary drooling. But Virginia barely acknowledged the envy of the young male counsellors. As she left the car, she had eyes only for one person.
'Clint!' She went straight to him, lifting her arms and her mouth for his kiss.
An embrace which a cheerful Clint did nothing to discourage, Alison noted grimly.
'You look wonderful!' Virginia was enthusing.
'You're looking pretty good yourself,' he grinned down at her.
She did look good—stunning, in fact. Tall, and with a superb figure, Virginia was a beautiful woman. With her sleek, blonde hair parted in the middle and resting on either side of her forehead in classic waves, she could easily have been a model. She was older than the other staffers, late twenties, Alison guessed, and unlike the casual jeans of the others she wore an emerald trouser suit that looked as if it had been lifted straight from the pages of Vogue.
'Does she always dress like that?' Alison asked Mary softly.
'Not when she's working. Then she goes in for safari suits, very tailored, very expensive, always stylish. There's no competing with her.'
Mary was right, Alison decided. It would be a remarkable man who would not be fascinated by Virginia.
She found herself having to try surprisingly hard to force a smile when Clint made the introductions.
'I'm very pleased to meet you, Alison. I hope you'll enjoy working at Bushveld.' Virginia's voice was low and husky, as sexy as her appearance.
'Thank you, Virginia, I'm sure I will.'
'Clint tells me you came down with him a few days ago.'
'Yes. There was quite a bit of paperwork to be done.'
'He kept you working all the time, did he?' This was said with a flirtatious look at Clint.
'Not all the time,' Alison said smoothly.
Virginia's blue eyes regarded her coldly. Then the camp director turned to Clint, and now her mouth was curved in a charming smile. 'You should have let me know. I would have come to help you if I'd known there was a problem.'
Later in the day a meeting was held in the games room. Clint officially welcomed the counsellors and made a short speech that was laced with good humour and friendly informality.
Then Virginia took over. The camp director's words were strictly to the point: a short run-through of the different camp activities, a list of objectives which Virginia expected both campers and counsellors to achieve. Everything precise, well thought out, well organised.
She addressed herself to each counsellor in turn, outlining his or her duties. When she came to Alison, her words were crisper, her voice cooler.
She doesn't like me, Alison realised. I wonder why. She can't possibly think that I'm competition for her.
Only when Virginia addressed Clint did her manner change. A deepening huskiness came into her voice when she spoke to him. Flirtatiousness was in her smile.
Alison watched Virginia and Clint standing together at the front of the room. There was an ease between them that spoke of long familiarity. Even if Jenny had not told her about Virginia, Alison would have guessed that they knew each other well.
Well—and so what? It really didn't concern her one way or
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