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of aggression. 'And you won't agree to my adopting Courtney?' she asked softly.
    TMo.'
    'Why?'
    'I
don't believe it would be in his best interests.'
    "Don't
talk down to me, Alex Hammond!' she snapped, 'just say what you mean. You don't
think a "fun-loving young actress with no morals" a suitable mother
for him, that's it, isn't it?'
    He
sighed heavily. 'I wish I'd never made that remark. I suppose I'm to have it
thrown up at me periodically during our association?'
    'That
won't be for long! I'm returning to Los Angeles as soon as possible.
    'Without
Courtney.'
    'With him.'
    'No,'
he shook his head. 'Not unless I agree. And I don't. Don't you think this is a
little soon to start arguing about Courtney's future?'
    •With
you I have a feeling it's never too soon to start arguing!'
    To
her surprise the austere features broke into a smile, and Alex instantly looked
younger, incredibly handsome, the grooves in his cheeks ones of humour this
time, unfamiliar grooves, as if he smiled little. Morgan had a feeling that he
didn't, and she wondered at the reason for his harshness. A woman in the past,
perhaps? That was usually the reason a man with Alex's intelligence retreated
into himself. Perhaps he hadn't been able to take rejection. Whatever the
reason, his humour now was totally unexpected. She gave him a questioning look.
    His
mouth quirked. 'You're the only one who does argue with me,' he drawled.
'Really?' She smiled too now. 'Really,' he nodded. 'That's incredible. •Yes.'
    'And
that's arrogant!'
    'No,'
he smiled again. 'It's quite exhilarating, actually.'
    Now
why on earth should she blush like a schoolgirl at the thought of Alex Hammond
finding something about her exhilarating? Maybe it was because he was a
challenge, the original ice man.
    But
she wasn't here to find him a challenge, she was here to get Courtney and
return home. And she mould do it.
    It
needed all her self-confidence to enter the Hammond house with him a short time
later; she was wary about meeting Rita Hammond again. They hadn't exactly taken
to each other when they met two years ago, and she had no reason to think the
other woman would be any more kindly disposed towards her. The opposite if she
also believed in the part of Mary-Beth being Morgan's own nature!
    If
Rita Hammond had been sedated the day before there was no sign of it today. The
woman was tall, almost as tall as her son, her iron-grey hair perfectly
coffered, her make-up impeccable despite her sixty years, her taste in clothes
sophisticated and flattering to her slender figure.
          She looked at Morgan with
flinty blue eyes, not surprised to see her, but not welcoming her either. Veil,
that suited Morgan, she wasn't glad to be here either! 'Miss McKay,' the other
woman greeted regally. 'Mrs Hammond,' Morgan returned as frostily. 'You parents
are well?' Morgan's eyes widened. What was wrong with this family? This
woman's son and daughter-in-law had been tragically killed and she was asking
innocuous questions about Morgan's family! These people were emotionless.    She   need   look   no   farther   than    Rita Hammond for her son's lack
of emotion; these people obviously didn't know the meaning of the word love.
'Could I please go to my room?' she asked jerkily. 'I'm feeling—tired,
after the journey.'
    Rita
Hammond instantly rang for Symonds, in structing him to take Morgan up to the 'lemon' room. 'We'll talk
later,' Alex told her softly as she walked pan him to follow Symonds upstairs.
    She
turned to smile at him, beginning to feel as if he was the only stability in a
suddenly shaky world- 'You look tired,' she told him huskily. 'Why don't you
rest too?'
    Grey
eyes widened—and then narrowed, almost as if he suspected her motives.
'Not yet,' he answered abruptly. 'I have things to do.' "But soon, hum?'
she prompted. 'Perhaps,' he nodded distantly. 'Go with Symonds.' She felt
suitably dismissed, regretting the politeness of her   concern.   This
man obviously