Stormy Vows - Iris Johansen [145]
“Jake!” she exclaimed, shocked, her eyes widening. He broke into irrepressible laughter, his face suddenly as young and mischievous as a boy's.
Jane was about to take him to task when she suddenly became aware of the jerky throb of a distant engine. She forgot what she was about to say when she saw a gold and white helicopter approaching from the east and progressing unmistakably in their direction.
Jake's laughing eyes followed her startled gaze, and he muttered an impatient imprecation as he caught sight of the helicopter. “What abominably bad timing,” he said grimly. The deck was suddenly filled with scurrying, bustling seamen.
“What is happening?” Jane asked blankly, as the helicopter hovered directly overhead, the rotors causing a small tornado of wind and noise.
“A little gift for you,” he replied casually. The side doors of the helicopter slid open, and Jane caught a brief glimpse of an olive-uniformed Mexican and then an enormous box and several smaller ones were lowered by net to the surface of the deck below.
“What on earth is it, a refrigerator?” she asked faintly, while the seaman briskly closed in on the net to remove the packages.
Lola Torres joined them, towel-drying her sleek wet head, before slipping on her scarlet beach coat. Jane had been vaguely aware of Lola's return to the deck at the approach of the helicopter. The other woman's face was frankly curious as she eyed the bundles that had now been freed from the net.
In answer to Lola's inquiring look, Jane said with a grin, “Jake's bought me a present. I haven't yet decided whether it's a refrigerator or a washing machine.”
Lola examined one of the smaller packages lying on the deck. “I imagine Dior would be most outraged by your flippancy,” she said dryly. She picked up another box. “Ditto Balenciaga.”
“Jane's luggage was unfortunately left ashore in Miami,” Jake put in smoothly “I took the liberty of ordering a replacement wardrobe for her.”
Lola gave a little gurgle of laughter. “How simply divine!” Turning to Jane, she said gaily, “A ‘present’ like this deserves a party. We'll have to arrange something really splendid to celebrate, and I know just the nightclub in Cozumel to do it in!” She turned to Jake and ordered imperiously, “Tell them to hold dinner at least an hour. Jane will need that long just to open the packages.”
An hour later, Jane sat dazed on the edge of the bed, staring in amazement at the boxes surrounding her. When she'd opened the huge crate, she had found that it contained two enormous steamer trunks filled with designer clothes of every description along with a shoe wardrobe to match every outfit. The loose packages were principally accessories and lingerie, with the exception of two of the larger boxes. One of these contained a full-length sable coat, and the other an ermine wrap. It was impossible not to be a trifle overwhelmed by the extravagance of Jake's gift. It was every woman's dream to receive a wardrobe of such classic elegance.
Yet how could she accept it and still maintain her self-respect and independence while living with Jake?
“Well, redhead, have you discovered anything that I've missed?” Jake Dominic stood in the open doorway, dressed for dinner in a white tropical jacket and black tie.
Jane didn't answer, and Jake sauntered forward. “You'll notice that I omitted any little baubles from Tiffany's. I prefer Van Cleef and Arpels,” he said lazily. “I'll let you choose your own jewelry on our first trip over.”
“I won't accept any jewelry, Jake,” Jane said slowly, her cheeks pale. “I'll take the clothes because I realize that it might cause you some embarrassment if I didn't maintain a certain appearance, but I won't accept anything else from you.”
“I suppose I should have expected something like this from you,” Jake answered, his expression darkening ominously. “For your