Authors: Katrina Britt
His smile was cynical.
‘
You mean you suspected I had ulterior motives? I
’
m not blaming you, it shows you aren
’
t just a pretty face. But while we
’
re on the subject I don
’
t usually have to kidnap the girls I fancy. They always come willingly enough.
’
Nora lifted her glance again to his briefly, and felt the colour rush to her face. She had no idea why she should feel so tense, unless it was a kind of a sense of loss culminating into a pain at his subtle admission that he did not want her on his boat particularly.
Her throat was dry. She said offhandedly,
‘
I
’
m very grateful for your hospitality.
’
‘
No trouble.
’
That careless nonchalance was back again in full force, Nora thought—if he had ever lost it. His frank open way of looking her in the eye, his humorous expression from time to time lifting the corners of his well-cut mouth, all added to any physical attractions he possessed, and these were considerable. It was easy to believe that the girls came running, and just as easy to imagine them getting their comeuppance. As far as Nora was concerned he certainly brightened the landscape. It occurred to her in that moment that the light coming through the windows lighting up the interior of the boat was not so bright.
‘
More coffee?
’
he asked.
‘
No, thanks. You did say you were putting my wet things to dry on the deck?
’
‘
That
’
s right.
’
He had risen to his feet after putting the cups and plates they had used on the tray.
‘
Well, I ... I don
’
t suppose they
’
ll be dry for a long time. That is if the sun isn
’
t out.
’
‘
Right again,
’
he answered laconically, surveying her with a look she could not read.
She waited until it became obvious that he was not going to help her out, although he must have known what she was getting at.
‘T
hat being so ... er
...’ she f
loundered on,
‘
I think I
’
d better make my way back to the flat like this. No one will notice me particularly. I
’
ve noticed that Ramsey isn
’
t overrun with visitors to the pier or the beach in this particular corner.
’
He raised a dark brow and picked up the tray.
‘
If that
’
s what you want. You could stay for lunch if you want—you
’
re welcome to. Please yourself.
’
Nora rose to her feet to follow him into the galley.
‘
I think it
’
s best. My clothes really want the sea water washing out of them. You don
’
t mind me going in your clothes? I
’
ll return them to you.
’
‘
If that
’
s what you want I
’
ll take you ashore in the dinghy. I can land you right opposite to your flat.
’
She laughed, a sweet husky sound, and he raised a provocative brow as she regarded him curiously.
‘
Why didn
’
t you take me ashore in the first place
instead of bringing me to the boat?
’
she asked frankly.
His firm mouth curved upwards endearingly and her heart played tricks. He was having a strange effect upon her. Steady now! she told herself. The man is a born charmer. He can also tie you into knots.
He said coolly,
‘
I wanted you to get out of those wet things quickly. Besides, how was I to know you would make yourself a warm drink left on your own?
’
For some reason Nora felt wildly happy.
‘
You
’
re going to make some girl a wonderful husband one day.
’
He shook his head with a devilish grin.
‘
I know when I
’
m lucky. I
’
d hate to kiss the same face at breakfast every morning. Sure you won
’
t change your mind about dining with me this evening?
’
Nora shook her head, but he asked her again as he helped her from the boat after taking her ashore.
‘
No, thanks. Where shall I send your clothes?
’
He handed her the plastic bag containing her wet things and took his time looking at her windblown hair and her dainty
f
igure swallowed up in his sweater and slacks. Then he said slowly,
‘
Keep them until I collect them, although I
’
m not sure I want them back. They
’
ll enjoy hugging you much better.
’
That evening, washing out her clothes, Nora knew why she had refused Juan Cregeen
’
s invitation out that night, knew why she had refused him when she wanted to accept. There was no way of putting into words exactly why she had to run away and go on running from a disturbing presence that had affected her like no other had ever done.
She was in danger of falling in love for the first time in her life. Not that she had never been in
love. But this was different. And there was nothing worse than falling in love with a man who had openly confessed to her that he had no intention of marrying ever. Even so, Nora had the feeling that she would never run fast enough or far enough to get away from him, and there was not a thing she could do about it. Running away from Juan Cregeen would make no difference at all to her feelings for him.
She washed her sea-soaked clothes, then washed her hair and had a bath. As she towelled herself dry misery tore a jagged edge through her emotions. The feeling was all too familiar since losing her parents, a kind of self-pity. It was a state of mind she had to shake herself out of.
Lying in bed, accommodating her slight figure to the comfort of fresh silky sheets and the soft caress of her gossamer nightdress on her limbs, Nora tried to empty her mind of the day
’
s happenings. Pushing back her hair, baby-soft from washing, she closed her eyes until the soft wash of the tide outside her window lulled her to sleep.
CHAPTER TWO
Nora
had strolled out for the morning newspaper and was surprised to find a small packet on the floor of the tiny hall on her return. Someone had obviously dropped it through her letter box while she had been out.
Inside were the keys to a car which was in garage number three on the ground floor below the flats. There was a note enclosed by her lawyer along with the keys, explaining that the new car went with the flat and was the personal bequest of Jed Kelly. It was hers without reservations.
Nora had her breakfast and prepared to go out. Unlocking the garage, she found herself gazing at a gleaming cream Morris car with seat upholstered in pri
mr
ose.
The car was cheerful, it was merry, and Nora viewed it with delight. She liked the standard radio, the tinted glass, the fog lights, and the alloy wheels. The interior was just as pleasing, with plenty of stowage place and a carpet-lined spacious trunk.
‘
Very nice!
’
She swung round to see Juan Cregeen strolling towards her. She was aware of his glance sliding over her slim shoulders, trim waist and long legs in green slacks. Then the dark eyes were on her face, mocking her rising colour as they studied the cut of her delicate nose before lingering on her pink lips.
There was a young untouched look about her stressed by the crisp cotton top she wore. He liked the proud tilt to her chin, the way her brows arched and straightened upwards emphasising the high cheekbones.
‘
Glad you like it,
’
she answered pointedly.
‘
Who wouldn
’
t?
’
His grin was unabashed.
‘
I like the chassis.
’
The soft colour sped under her clear skin and she lowered her lashes.
‘
A present from my benefactor,
’
she said coolly, feeling anything but.
‘
I suppose you
’
ve come for your clothes. I have them ready.
’
He stuck his hands in his pockets.
‘
Do I look the kind of guy who
’
s short of a sweater and pants?
’
His mouth twisted in a sardonic smile.
‘
Go easy on the roads, won
’
t you, we have quite a few blind corners on the island.
’
She said frankly,
‘
That
’
s what I
’
m afraid of. I
’
d like to have someone with me for an outing or two, until I get the feel of the road.
’
He shrugged.
‘
You
’
ll soon get into it, since you
’
ll practically be going over the same road many times. You can
’
t go wrong if you read the signs. Done much driving?
’
‘
Oh yes. I can find my way about everywhere in England. But this is a strange island.
’
‘
Don
’
t look so nervous,
’
he teased,
‘
or I
’
m going to hate meeting you on the highway.
’
Nora was silent for a few moments, the sunlight on her face. Then she said,
‘
I don
’
t suppose you
’
d care to come out with me for a trial run?
’
His keen eyes flashed over her face before looking the car over.
‘
If that
’
s what you want,
’
he answered.
‘
You want to go now, right away?
’
‘
Yes, please,
’
was Nora
’
s instant and enthusiastic reply.
He grinned at her and opened the door of the car.
‘
Hop in,
’
he invited.
She paused and gazed at him.
‘
You mean I
’
m going to drive?
’
‘
That is the intention. You
’
re going to be fine.
’
Nora set the car moving easily, backing out of the garage and waiting while Juan closed the garage door.
‘
Turn right,
’
he ordered as he slipped into the seat beside her.
‘
You mean take the coast road to Douglas?
’
‘
That
’
s right. We can go as far as Laxey and come back on the mountain road.
’
Juan settled himself back in his seat comfortably.
‘
Quite a car. Take it nice and gentle on the corners, won
’
t you? I
’
d use second gear for a while until you get the feel of them.
’
Nora found the car responding to her touch in a way that gave her confidence. As they climbed upwards out of Ramsey she began to enjoy it.
She said after a while,
‘
I hope I
’
m not taking you away from something important. It
’
s very kind of you to come with me.
’
He said easily.
‘
There
’
s nothing that can
’
t wait.
’
He turned sideways to look at her profile.
‘
Tell me, why didn
’
t you ask Jony to take you around?
’
‘
He
’
s a farmer, isn
’
t he? Besides, he isn
’
t as easy to talk to as you,
’
she replied, keeping her eyes on the road.
‘
I don
’
t think he has much to do with women.
’
He laughed at this, a deep masculine laugh, and she turned her head to see the flash of white teeth in his tanned face.
‘
What
’
s so funny?
’
she cried indignantly.
‘
That is. Jony has had a girl for the last ten years.
’
His mouth twisted in a sardonic smile.
‘
Everybody stopped asking him when he
’
s going to marry ages ago.
’
Nora said firmly,
‘
If a man expected me to wait
that long I
’
m afraid I
’
d be gone well before we reached the ten-year mark. What about you?
’
Juan laughed.
‘
I
’
m easy. I enjoy my life, which is more than can be said for lots of people.
’
‘
Don
’
t you want to settle down?
’
‘
Never had the urge to. I
’
d have to meet someone I could feel a real hunger for.
’
‘
Don
’
t you believe in love?
’
she asked.
‘
Do you?
’
‘
Every girl does. And I don
’
t like cynics. They
’
re usually more romantic than the rest of us.
’
He said lazily,
‘
You mean this love at first sight stuf
f
?
’
He was teasing her and she knew it, so it was up to her whether or not she fell for it.
‘
It has happened,
’
she shrugged.
‘
If you go looking for it.
’
His voice was so mocking that she cast him an indignant glance.
‘
You know,
’
she said with spirit,
‘
I
’
m beginning to think I misjudged Jony. At least, he
’
s human
!
’
‘
Steady on now,
’
he warned.
‘
This is a nasty corner. Take it easy.
’
Nora took the corner beautifully.
‘
You needn
’
t be scared,
’
she said with dignity.
‘
I
’
ve been well trained in the U.K. in all the congested areas.
’
He smiled.
‘
I
’
m not criticising your driving. I only think it
’
s most important to look where you
’
re going.
’
‘
I usually do when I
’
m driving,
’
she answered sweetly.
‘
I take it that your last remark relates to other things like getting married? Like most men, you fight shy of
i
t.
’
‘
We Celts are a cautious race. You don
’
t have to know a girl to want her. There
’
s a kind of rapport between you at first meeting. Your eyes collide and are fused together in a kind of electric shock. To
anyone like you this is what you
’
ve been looking for. You recognise it as being the real thing, a kind of conviction that you
’
re just right for each other when that might not be the case at all.
’
Nora coloured up to the soft fair hair clustering around her blue-veined temples.
‘
Goodness, you are a cynic, aren
’
t you?
’
she said on an odd little note.
‘
Why?
’
he challenged unabashed.
‘
Because having looked into someone
’
s eyes in passing I then continue on my way? I
’
ve lived to tell the tale.
’
‘
What tale? There
’
s none to tell, is there? You didn
’
t even kiss and run,
’
she cried scornfully.
‘
Should I have done? It
’
s an idea.
’
He reacted to the stiffness in her tone. She knew he was watching her intently, but there was nothing alarming in his scrutiny. He spoke with absolute gentleness.
‘
I shouldn
’
t advise you to do that. Most men are good at running after someone who takes their fancy.
’
And you
’
ve taken mine, she thought, seeing without looking the wide forehead, hair squared at the temples balanced by a firm determined jawline, nose slightly beaked with sensitive nostrils and a mobile mouth which was in the habit of lifting at the corners. All this with the square-shouldered vigour of muscled arms had floored her as no man had.
She said,
‘
Do you work for a living or do you just laze around?
’
‘
I work. Something to do with boats,
’
Juan answered laconically.
‘
What do you do?
’
‘
I
’
m an estate agent, among other things.
’
He laughed softly.
‘
A care
e
r girl? Any good at it?
’
‘
I have a partner, and we
’
re doing fine, thank you.
’
‘
Congratulations!
’
She shot him a swift glance.
‘
You sound disappointed?
’
‘
Surprised is more like it.
’
He looked lazily over her slim figure.
‘
You don
’
t look like a career girl for a start. Certainly not one of the clever ones.
’
‘
I didn
’
t say I was clever.
’