that case, I’ll just have to come along and protect you,’ she sighed. ‘It’s a dreadful responsibility, but I guess I’ll manage.’
‘I knew you wouldn’t fail me. The wedding’s in London in two weeks’ time. It’ll be a civil ceremony held at the Gloriana Hotel, and that’s where the reception will be too, so I’ll book us in there. You’ll be my guest, of course, but we’ll have separate rooms, so don’t worry. Every propriety will be observed.’
Propriety. There was that word again. How often it cropped up in her mind with regard to this man, always implying the opposite.
Don’t go, said a warning voice in her mind. To him this is a matter of friendship, but can you keep it as mere friendship? You don’t even know the answer, and oh, how you wish you did! Stay here, keep yourself safe.
‘I’d love to come,’ she said.
OVER the next few days Harriet made her preparations, arranging extra hours for her assistant, notifying the lifeboat station that she would be away so that they could arrange a substitute to be on call. Her neighbour would look after Phantom, and she explained her coming absence to him with many caresses. He accepted these politely but seemed far more interested in the box of bones that had been delivered from Giant’s Beacon.
On the last day before their departure Harriet and Darius went for a final swim, frolicking like children, splashing each other, laughing fit to bust.
Harriet knew that at the back of her mind there was an unfamiliar aspect to her happiness. Part of her had been so sure that their friendship was over, but then he’d drawn her back in, seeking her help and her warmth again, and it was like a balm to her spirit. Suddenly all she wanted to do was laugh and dance.
As they raced up the beach she stopped suddenly and looked around.
‘My towel’s vanished. Where—? Phantom.’
In the distance they could see him tearing along the sand, her towel in his jaws, deaf to her cries.
‘He’ll be back in his own good time,’ Darius said.
‘But what do I do in the meantime?’
‘Let me dry you.’ In a moment he’d flung his towel around her, drawing it close in front, and began to rub her down. She shrieked with laughter and tried to wriggle away but he held her a prisoner while his hands moved over her.
‘You wretch,’ she cried, pummelling him. ‘Let me go.’
But it was no use. He had ten times her strength, as she was beginning to understand. And there was something else she understood. She’d been mad to engage in this struggle that drew her near-naked body so close to his. The pleasure that was pervading her now was more than laughter with a dear friend. His flesh against hers, his face close to her own, the meeting of their eyes; she should have avoided these things like the plague. Except that he hadn’t given her the chance.
Caution, she’d promised herself, but where was caution now? And did she really care?
‘Let me go,’ she repeated.
But now his arms had enfolded her completely, allowing no movement.
‘Make me,’ he challenged.
She made a half-hearted attempt to kick him but only ended up with her leg trapped between his.
‘Do you call that making me?’ he demanded.
‘Will you stop this?’
‘Nope.’
It shocked her to realise how disappointed she would have been if his answer had been any different.
‘What do you think you’re doing?’ she cried.
‘I just thought it was time you learned who was boss around here.’
‘OK, you’re boss. Now let me go.’
‘Only if you pay the ransom.’
‘And what’s that?’
‘This,’ he said, dropping his head.
It wasn’t a major kiss, no big deal, she told herself, trying not to respond to the gentle pressure of his lips. But it was precisely that light touch that was her undoing, making her want to lean forward, demanding that he kiss her more deeply, and more deeply still, threatening her with her own desires. And with that threat came fear.
‘No,’ she whispered. ‘No.’
‘I wonder if you really mean that.’
She too wondered, but now she gathered all her strength together and said more firmly, ‘No!’
He drew back a little, frowning.
‘You promised this wouldn’t happen,’ she reminded him.
‘I didn’t exactly—’
‘Every propriety observed, you said.’
‘Does that mean I can’t even kiss you?’
‘It means you can’t kiss me now, just when we’re about to embark on this idea of yours, pretending to be together when we aren’t really.’
Slowly he released her and she took the chance to step back.
‘Isn’t this something we have to work out as we go along?’ he asked.
‘You’re a businessman, Darius. I’m sure you know that when exploring new territory it’s wise to have a plan.’
‘And is that your plan?’ he demanded. ‘To turn away from all human desire?’
‘I have to. Can’t you try to understand? I’m not sure that I can ever…I don’t know, I don’t know.’
‘But how long? For the rest of your life? Was he really that perfect?’
She took a step back and her face was distraught. ‘Leave me alone. Just leave me alone.’
He sighed. ‘Yes, all right. I’m sorry, Harriet. I should have known better. You have to pick your own time. I can’t pick it for you. I shouldn’t have—it’s just that I’ve wanted to do that for some time and…well, I guess you don’t want to know that.’
‘I’d rather not,’ she agreed.
‘Just try to forgive me, please.’
‘There’s nothing to forgive,’ she said calmly. ‘It didn’t happen. Now, I think it’s time we went and started to get ready. We have a long day tomorrow.’
Harriet left him without a backward glance, followed by Phantom, dragging her towel.
After
