“You’re kidding me, surely? You mean to say you actually live in a place like that?”’ She was a good mimic and each line held a perfect imitation of the various voices that had uttered the phrases over the past eighteen months. ‘Everyone thinks the same,’ she informed him briskly. ‘So you may as well come right out and say what you’re thinking, like all the rest!’
She began striding towards her tumble-down home, regretting the loss of her well-worn and much loved sandals, that had disappeared into the sea along with the rest of her sunbathing equipment, as her soles came into contact with the rough, hard-baked earth of the mud track.
‘Is it a hovel?’
‘I don’t think so.’ He had fallen into step alongside. Bethany had hoped desperately that this far too attractive, far too controlled man would somehow just disappear and leave her in peace; she didn’t want strangers upsetting her equilibrium, she didn’t want this man from another world making her feel self-conscious and inadequate all over again. She had been through that once and it had not been a pleasurable experience.
Bethany threw Chad a glance that bristled animosity. ‘I think it’s perfectly habitable.’
‘You live here permanently?’
They were through the gate now, crossing Bethany’s intensively worked front garden with its neat rows of vegetables. ‘Does it look like a holiday cottage?’ she asked waspishly, turning to face him. ‘Look, I’m damp and I’m chilly. Would you mind?’
‘Would I mind what?’ Chad crossed his arms across his damp, sculptured, bronzed chest and surveyed Bethany with a casual gaze.
‘Leaving!’ Bethany enunciated clearly, knowing full well his density was deliberate. ‘If you don’t mind!’
‘So this is the thanks I get for saving your life, is it?’ he enquired, a faint smile touching his lips. ‘You’re not a very grateful girl, are you?’
A frisson of something approaching fear scorched its way up her spine. ‘What...what do you mean?’ Bethany’s voice was taut suddenly. It had been eighteen months since she had heard that phrase. Eighteen long months. She stiffened, unaware of what Chad was saying any more, gripping the heavy knob of the cabin door until her knuckles whitened, remembering... Grateful! How many times had Philip cursed her for not being grateful? A hundred? A thousand times? She was his wife and there were certain wifely duties that were expected. How dared she refuse him? How dared she cower in the corner looking frightened! And after all that he had done for her too! Didn’t she have a lifestyle that a thousand women would die for? Didn’t she want for nothing?
‘P-please...!’ There was a faint note of desperation in Bethany’s voice. Stupid, stupid memories! She shouldn’t be thinking about all that now. She raised her face and implored, with wide, luminous green eyes, ‘Don’t... don’t talk like that...’
‘What’s the matter?’ The deep voice was sharp, but not like Philip’s; his had been higher, the vowels twisted in that strange manner that signified someone from the upper classes. When he had shouted her nerves had jangled at the sound of irate instability, her body trembling because she could anticipate only too well what would be coming next...
Bethany felt the firm grip of Chad’s hands on her shoulders. ‘Hey! Are you with me? What is it? Don’t you feel well?’
She shook her head and tried to drag her thoughts back from the past. This voice was strong and resonant. It wasn’t Philip. She must not think of him; that part of her life was all gone...gone. He couldn’t hurt her any more...
Bethany inhaled a deep breath and looked up into Chad’s face. She was acting like a fool...The first man to come anywhere near her since moving out here and she was acting like a complete idiot! ‘If you would just... just go!’ She thought she had regained control but, to her shame, hot tears stung her eyes and with a small, strangled sob she wrenched herself from Chad’s grasp, fumbled with the door-catch and flung herself inside the cabin.
‘I can’t leave you like this.’ He moved into the clean, spartan room, practically filling the small space with his tall, broad frame, and looked at Bethany’s tense face, a perplexed frown creasing his forehead. ‘Was it something I said?’
Bethany shook her head and brushed the tears wildly from her cheeks with the back of her hand. It was, of course, but if she said as much, tried to explain... ‘Look, please...!’ She gulped back a sob and placed a trembling hand over her eyes. ‘It’s not you...please just go... I’ll be fine...fine...’ Her voice trailed away as a vision, sharp and real enough to make her frown, flew into her head. Philip with his hand raised in anger. Philip with that alcoholic leer that always, always made her cringe... Why was she allowing the thoughts to invade now? Why?
‘You look far from fine to me!’ Chad commented, surveying her huddled form with a critical eye. He moved towards her, his gaze narrowing sharply as Bethany shrank back from his outstretched hands. ‘Hey, come on!’ His voice was as reassuring as the hand that gently stroked the fine damp strands of hair away from Bethany’s face. ‘There’s nothing to be afraid of! I’m not going to hurt you, for heaven’s sake.’ Bethany opened her mouth to speak but there were no words. She closed her eyes, her body rigid with confusion and shaky mistrust. ‘Don’t make me feel bad,’ Chad murmured, ‘I’m not always such a swine.’
‘It...it doesn’t matter.’ Bethany pressed a clenched fist to her mouth and worked hard at preventing an embarrassing flood of tears from flowing down her cheeks.
‘But it does.’ Chad placed firm hands on Bethany’s arms and turned her gently towards his strong, magnificent torso. ‘You really must not pay any heed to my rough, brusque outer shell. My name comes from the Welsh, meaning battle—maybe that’s why I come on so strong sometimes. Beneath it all I’m as weak and gentle as a kitten—honestly! Ah! That’s better!’ He tilted Bethany’s face towards his and looked approvingly at the small half-smile that had sprung automatically to her lips. ‘Does that mean I’m forgiven?’ he enquired smoothly, shockingly slipping his arms around her waist, drawing her close towards the rugged physique. ‘Can I leave you with my conscience absolutely clear?’
Bethany nodded, staring up into the compelling face in silence. She felt strange. She wasn’t sure what was happening, but the thought of this man leaving her alone left her with an empty, hollow feeling inside.
‘You...saved my life.’ Bethany struggled to breathe, searching frantically through her mind for something else to say, something trivial and mundane that would break this...this ridiculous spell. ‘I haven’t even thanked you.’
‘Don’t mention it.’ His voice, when it finally came, was slightly rough, husky suddenly. Dark eyes glimmered down at her, transfixing Bethany with their magnetic force. ‘This is all the thanks I need...’ He lowered his head and his mouth brushed hers without warning, moving slowly and surely over her parted lips in a kiss that was pure expert seduction. ‘I didn’t mean to make you cry,’ he murmured gently, raising his head after a moment, looking down into Bethany’s stunned face. ‘I was angry when I rescued you from the sea. A foolish argument with someone else. I shouldn’t have taken it out on you.’
‘It...it doesn’t matter...’ Her voice was barely audible as she gazed into the stunningly handsome face. She swallowed, amazement stalling her expression. ‘You...you kissed me.’
His mouth curved into an attractive smile at the sheer wonderment in Bethany’s voice. ‘I’m glad you noticed. Would you like me to do it again?’
It
