Stolen Feelings. Margaret Mayo
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my breakfast at seven, as a matter of fact,’ she told him, ‘but I can easily get myself something. I’m feeling much better now.’ In fact she felt normal again and stood up.
But Cameron pushed her back down, and with a wry twist of his lips said, ‘I’d advise you to make the most of it. After this you’ll get no help from anyone.’
He disappeared into the tent and came back with a bread roll, a chunk of cheese and an apple, and a glass of orange juice. Julie ate ravenously, though she wasn’t too pleased with the fact that Cameron sat watching her.
‘When did you say you expect Ian back?’ she asked, taking a bite from the rosy apple.
He lifted his broad shoulders in an easy shrug. ‘Some time today, as soon as he’s fixed the engine, unless it’s not as simple as he first thought and I have to send out an engineer.’
‘And this man, Raul, will he do the cooking?’
‘Tonight, yes.’ His blue eyes were level on hers. ‘Also tomorrow, and then he’s taking a break.’
She felt better now she had eaten, not half so prickly, and she grinned. ‘I hope you’ve all got cast-iron stomachs, because I’m not promising anything.’
‘Have I been landed with a woman who cannot cook?’ he growled suspiciously.
‘Oh, yes, I can cook,’ she said, still smiling, ‘but I’ve never done it for the multitudes before. It’s the quantities that are worrying me. You’ll probably have either too little or too much until I get into the swing of it.’
He did not look amused, and as soon as she had finished eating he took her to the tent where all the records were kept. There were a couple of desks, a portable typewriter sitting on one of them, filing cabinets and an odd assortment of cupboards. ‘This is where you’ll be working for the time being.’
Julie looked at everything critically.
‘We’re way behind with the notes already,’ he told her. ‘They’re all here, handwritten, but I’d like them typed out. You can start whenever you like.’
She half suspected that he meant now. ‘Has your typist taken a break as well?’ she asked impishly.
He allowed himself a faint, dry smile. ‘We all try to do our own, but it can be a bit chaotic. We need someone to restore order. I trust you’re capable?’
‘I guess I can manage,’ she said. For six years she had been secretary to the managing director of a large manufacturing Company—until they had been taken over and her services were no longer required. She had always been praised for her efficiency.
‘I want things brought up to date before we leave for Vulcan,’ he announced, his tone crisp and businesslike.
It sounded as thought he had a lot of hard work lined up for her, thought Julie. ‘I’ll begin tomorrow,’ she said. ‘I’d like to rest now, if you don’t mind.’
The truth was she needed to get away from him. He was the most physical man she had ever met. Despite his less than welcoming attitude, he still somehow managed to excite her. Even with Roger she had not felt this instant attraction. It was unreal—and fatal!
He inclined his head. ‘Very well.’
After half an hour, though, Julie became restless. She was virtually hiding from Cameron Storm and that was stupid. Surely she could handle these emotions without betraying herself?
She emerged from the tent, and to her dismay he was out there, standing just a few yards away, not looking in her direction, seeming to be deep in thought, but as if he sensed her presence he turned, and their eyes met for a brief, tension-packed second.
‘I thought I’d take a walk into Puerto Ayora,’ she said, pasting a brilliant smile to her lips. ‘I shan’t have much time for shopping once I start work, and there are a couple of things I might need. Is it far?’
‘Too far to walk,’ he growled.
‘Then perhaps I could borrow the Jeep?’ she asked brightly.
But her smile didn’t charm him. Instead, he scowled ferociously and rasped, ‘The last thing I want is you getting lost. I’d better take you.’
It was clear he was offering out of a sense of duty, but Julie wanted to get away from him, not spend more time together. One of the reasons she had come out here was to get over a broken heart, not find herself attracted to someone else. It was a disaster waiting to happen and she had to stop it right here and now. ‘That’s not necessary,’ she protested firmly, ‘I’ll be perfectly all right by myself.’
But Cameron was insistent. ‘I happen to think it is. Come, let us go.’
His tone was sharp, and unhappily she dodged back into the tent for her bag before climbing into the Jeep beside him. To her consternation she felt his presence even more strongly than before, something invisible and intangible pulling her towards him. It caused an alien tightening in the pit of her stomach, a fractional quickening of her pulses. Even the masculine smell of him was like an aphrodisiac.
‘I don’t know what you are expecting to buy in Puerto Ayora.’ His deep voice broke the spell. ‘There are shops there, yes, but it’s not a busy cosmopolitan town.’ It was almost an accusation, as though he thought her only interest would be in expensive perfumes and designer clothes. Her fault, she supposed, for turning up in something that was far more suited to Paris then the beach.
‘I realise that,’ she said lightly, ‘but I thought I’d get some more sun-block, just in case.’ Although her hair was dark her skin was suprisingly fair. ‘I’m sure you wouldn’t like it if I got sunburnt and was unable to work.’
Her attempt at humour failed. ‘You’re absolutely right,’ he snarled.
‘And I presume there are no shops where we’re going?’
He gave a snarl of humourless laughter. ‘Vulcan is not even inhabited.’
Meaning it would be just the three of them; completely, totally alone! The thought sent a further shiver of apprehension down Julie’s spine.
The houses in Puerto Ayora were all flat-roofed and single-storeyed, well-built and painted either deep pink or white, although most of them looked as though they could do with another coat of paint. Conversely, there were the odd one or two quite pretty houses, well looked after, with lawns, and various shrubs and trees that were definitely not endemic to the islands.
There were actually all sorts of shops, far more than she had anticipated, selling everything from essential foodstuffs to cheap souvenirs. Cameron stopped outside one and picked up a straw hat which he perched on top of her head. ‘You’d better take that,’ he said drily.
Julie looked at herself in the tiny mirror provided and burst out laughing. ‘I don’t think so.’ But she tried on another, and even Cameron agreed it suited her much better.
She would have liked to linger longer, but sensed his impatience once her purchases were made, and it was really no fun in the circumstances. Why he was trailing around after her, she did not know. Why couldn’t he have stayed in the Jeep? Except that Cameron Storm did not strike her as the type of man who would sit around waiting for a woman.
Back in the vehicle, she again felt the pull of his powerful magnetism, but did not realise she was in grave danger of giving herself away until he told her to relax.
‘You’re sitting there with your hands clenched, looking as though you’re ready to do battle.’
‘I’m just not used to bumping around in a Jeep,’ she improvised quickly. He was again driving as though there were no tomorrow.
His lips twisted, as if he found her explanation less than credible, and she expected some further caustic comment. Surprisingly, though, he remained silent for the rest of the journey.
To her relief, Ian had returned in their