of disbelief. ‘You aren’t telling me that you’re practically stranded out here, miles from anywhere——?’
‘So what if I am?’ Bethany responded swiftly. ‘That’s no business of yours, is it? Anyway,’ she continued, ‘I couldn’t just turn around and go back without at least trying to do something! Pretend I’d never seen anything? What sort of a person would that make me?’
Chad raised a dark brow and threw her a derisive look. ‘A sensible one, perhaps?’
Theo tittered stupidly in the corner and Bethany turned with furious exasperation towards the door. ‘That’s it!’ she cried. ‘I didn’t come here to be insulted and made a fool of! Don’t let me disturb your...your activities a moment longer. I’ll let myself out.’
‘Through the pantry window, I suppose.’
Bethany turned, tight-lipped, towards Chad. ‘Yes, if you must know,’ she gritted. ‘The same way as you so obviously got in.’
‘She thinks I climbed through a grubby window in this dress!’ Theo gurgled, looking down at her sleek designer label. ‘Oh, Chad! The girl is priceless! Where did you find her?’
‘Actually, Bethany, we used the front door,’ Chad informed her evenly, ignoring the high-pitched laughter from behind. ‘Perhaps you’d like to do the same.’
Bethany frowned. ‘The front...? But it’s locked securely. How did you...?’
‘Ever heard of keys?’ Theo called over, giggling. ‘You know, those little metal things. They’re a new invention, actually quite useful——’
‘That’s. enough!’ Chad’s voice was sharp, immediately silencing Theo’s sarcastic voice. ‘Bethany’s not an idiot.’
Oh, I am! Bethany thought desperately as the pieces of the puzzle began to fit themselves together. I am!
‘You own this place?’ Her voice was flat. She wondered why she hadn’t thought of it before.
‘Yes, that’s right,’ Chad replied. His mouth curled into an amused smile. The deep brown eyes glinted ominously. ‘The final arrangements came through last week. You and I are neighbours now, Bethany. How do you feel about that?’
CHAPTER THREE
‘I’LL accompany you back.’
‘There’s no need.’ Bethany turned away. Her head ached with tension; the strain of keeping herself together in front of Chad was beginning to tell badly. This man was her neighbour? ‘I’m...I’m perfectly capable of returning on my own, thank you,’ she added with a halfhearted attempt at coolness.
‘I’m sure you are,’ Chad replied curtly. ‘But it’s not a particularly hospitable night; the wind has risen badly and the path back to your place is rather too near the cliff-edge for my liking. I’m taking you back to the cabin, whether you like it or not.’
‘Oh, Chad, she’ll be all right!’ Theo interposed irritably. ‘Just look at her! She’s dressed for all weathers, isn’t she? And she was the one who ventured out in the stupid dark anyway! What’s the problem about letting her go back on her own if that’s what she wants?’
‘Be quiet, Theo!’ Chad drawled carelessly. ‘I’ll drive Bethany back in the car—it won’t take more than a few minutes. You can clear this place up. It’s time we were getting back to the hotel anyway.’
‘Getting back!’ Theo rose swiftly and came over, draping her arms around Chad’s neck. ‘But Chad, darling, we were...’ She hesitated and glanced furiously across at Bethany. ‘We were having a pretty good time until she came along and ruined it. There’s no need for either of us to go anywhere.’
‘Look, I’m tired.’ Chad kissed Theo abstractedly on the cheek and unwound her arms from his neck. ‘It’s been a long day and you told me yourself that you’ve got to get back to London early in the morning. Now just give me the keys——’
‘Like hell!’ Theo’s shrill voice held an inordinate amount of outrage as she flounced back across the room. ‘There is no way I’m staying here while——’
‘Theo, don’t start!’ Chad cut in witheringly. ‘Save your theatrical outbursts for the camera in the morning.’ He held out his hand. ‘Now, you are quite welcome to accompany Bethany and me back along the track to her cabin if you’re afraid of being left alone here——’
“Well, how incredibly gallant of you!’ Theo burst out angrily. ‘You don’t expect me to waste my time travelling to some shack on the side of a cliff-top do you—with her? What kind of a fool do you take me for?’ Her eyes narrowed with sudden suspicion. ‘You forget I know you from old, Chad Alington! It wouldn’t surprise me if you’ve already made some kind of a move on her! She’s your type, isn’t she? A leggy blonde? Haven’t you had more of those in your bed than any other——?’
‘That’s enough!’ Chad’s mouth tightened ominously. ‘You’re making a spectacle of yourself! Now, you may do as you like, Theo, stay or come with us, but either way I’m taking Bethany back home. Are you going to hand over the keys or not?’
Theo wasn’t sure what to do. Bethany, disturbed by the venomous accusations, watched in embarrassed fascination as indecision crossed her carefully painted features. ‘Damn you!’ she gritted shakily. ‘If you’re so keen to waste your time on this...this country bumpkin, then do it! But it’s my car—we elected to leave yours back at the hotel, remember?—and I’ll be damned if I’ll let you use it to transport another of your conquests about!’ She tossed her raven-black head dramatically. ‘I won’t be treated like this! I’m going back to the hotel!’
If Theo had expected some kind of emotional response, she was going to be sorely disappointed, Bethany thought. Chad’s gaze rested indifferently on Theo’s face. ‘OK, if that’s how you want it,’ he drawled, unaffected by her scowl of animosity. He shrugged and watched impassively as she marched over to the door in her impossibly high heels. ‘I’ll see you when I see you, Theo,’ he called as she thumped down the stairs. ‘Don’t drive too fast, will you?’
‘If you expect me to be in any way impressed——’ Bethany began frostily, as Chad followed her down the staircase a moment after they had heard the predictable screech of burning rubber on the lane outside. ‘You shouldn’t let her drive, she’s been drinking——’
‘No, she hasn’t.’ Chad’s voice held a hint of amusement.
‘Oh, come on!’ Bethany spun around to face him, her green eyes narrowing with dislike. ‘It’s not in the least bit funny! I saw the bottles of wine. Heard what she said. I’m not a fool, whatever you may think!’
‘Meaning, I suppose,’ Chad drawled, ‘that you think I plied dear, innocent Theo with drink just so I could get my wicked way with her!’
Bethany’s lips pursed grimly. ‘You said it!’
‘Yes, and you thought it!’ Chad shot back. ‘Your opinion of me isn’t particularly high, is it?’
Unconsciously her mind swung back to the cabin, the rug, the pressure of Chad’s mouth as it scorched her lips... the scene—a prelude
