Stolen Feelings. Margaret Mayo
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a bikini. I might tempt the other men, he said. What the hell does he think I am? A sex siren?’
A deep voice came from behind. ‘I think you don’t know the power of your beautiful body.’
She whirled and met the mocking force of blue eyes.
‘I don’t think you realise the danger you could be putting yourself in,’ he said quietly, and then to Ian, ‘Your wife is too beautiful for her own good. I congratulate you, but I hadn’t foreseen it could be a problem.’
‘If I’m a problem to you I’ll go back home,’ Julie retorted at once, wondering if Ian had noticed his emphasis on the word wife, or whether she was imagining it because of her unease over the situation.
A muscle jerked in the big man’s jaw. ‘That won’t be necessary.’
And Ian added a frantic plea. ‘Of course not, Julie, it’s just a matter of being sensible. I’m proud of you, but I wouldn’t like it either if I thought the rest of the team were ogling you.’ His eyes pleaded with her to calm down.
But she hated him siding with Cameron, even though she knew he was right. ‘I’m to make myself as unattractive as possible, is that what you’re saying?’
Ian looked appalled, and it was clear he felt that she was putting his job in jeopardy. Cameron, on the other hand, laughed. ‘What a spitfire you’ve chosen for yourself, Ian. I’ll leave you to deal with her.’
When he had gone Ian looked at Julie wornedly. ‘How could you speak to Cameron Storm like that? Don’t you realise you could be jeopardising my whole future?’
She shook her head in angry frustration. ‘He just rubs me up the wrong way.’
‘Please,’ he pleaded, ‘try to get on with him, even if you don’t like him. For my sake.’
But Julie was still in high dudgeon. ‘I’ll try, but it will be mighty impossible. If he thinks he can dictate to me then he’s mistaken.’ And so saying, she flounced out of the tent.
To her dismay Cameron was standing right outside; she almost cannoned into him, would have done so if he hadn’t put out an arm to stop her. ‘What’s the rush?’ There was still a quirk to his lips, a faint light of amusement in his eyes.
She shook herself free, but not before she felt a dangerous tingle of electricity. ‘No rush,’ she told him, trying her hardest to maintain some degreee of dignity. After her disastrous affair with Roger she could not understand how or why this was happening. It revealed a vulnerability she hadn’t expected, and it was this very defencelessness that was making her snappy.
‘Are you saying that you always charge around like a bull in a china shop?’
Julie’s eyes flashed. ‘Only when I’m angry.’
Cameron Storm had generous bushy brows and they rose now, his deep blue thickly fringed eyes intent on her face. ‘You don’t take kindly to being told what to do, do you?’
‘Not when I think it’s unnecessary.’ She held his gaze, stood that little bit straighter, her chin defiantly high.
‘It’s for your own good—for your own protection, in fact.’
Aware that Ian could hear every word, Julie knew she had to be careful. ‘But I’m not a fool,’ she insisted. ‘I am aware that there are certain bounds of decency when there’s one woman among several men. You can be assured I will conduct myself with absolute decorum.’
His eyes held hers for several more long, spine-tingling seconds. ‘That is good to hear.’
Julie was the first to look away. She felt like scooting back to her tent, wanting time to free herself of these anguished feelings; instead she strolled unhurriedly towards the kitchen to see how Raul was getting on.
By the time the first of the men began to filter back the meal was almost ready. Ian introduced her to each one in turn, and judging by their admiring looks Julie could well understand both his and Cameron’s concern.
They were a mixed bunch, ranging in age from early twenties to mid-fifties. Cameron was the definite leader, although, to give him his due, he did not act as the big chief. He was at one with the men and they got on well together. It was easy to understand his misgivings when she had suddenly appeared in their midst.
Julie had never really thought of herself as being beautiful. She had good bone-structure, yes, but she had always considered her face pretty ordinary, her eyes a little too small, her mouth a little too wide. Her hair was her best feature. Thick and black and glossy, she wore it without a fringe, normally falling in a cascade of luxuriant waves down her back. Now, of course, it was scraped tightly and unbecomingly back and confined in a band.
As they sat down to eat she was aware of Cameron’s eyes on her. He was diagonally opposite, with Ian on her right and a blond giant of a man, who had been introduced as Jake, on her left. ‘Jake hails from Australia and he’s an expert on lichens.’ Ian informed her.
‘I’m afraid I don’t know anything about them,’ Julie apologised.
Jake laughed. ‘I guesss you’ll learn all sorts of things by the time you’ve finished typing our notes.’
‘I expect so,’ Julie acknowledged.
‘Ian’s lucky you were able to come with him.’
‘Are you married yourself?’ asked Julie. Jake was nearer forty than thirty, probably much the same age as Cameron, with a good body and blue eyes too, although they were nowhere near as deep and powerful.
She felt Cameron’s eyes on her again now, and it was almost as though he was warning her not to get too friendly, which was ridiculous. What was she supposed to do—talk to no one? Or was it her imagination? Was she imagining criticism when none was there?
‘I was,’ the man admitted with a wry smile. ‘It didn’t work out. Maggie objected to the fact that I spent so much time away. It’s wrong to marry someone who’s in a completely different job; they simply don’t understand.’
‘So no one here is married?’ she asked.
‘No, that’s not right,’ he replied. ‘Ray over there is.’ He nodded towards the oldest of the team. ‘But his wife doesn’t mind him being away. She runs her own business and has plenty to do. And Sim, he’s married. He could have brought his wife, she’s a biologist as well, but she’s working on another project, and then there’s young Andy, he’s only been married six months.’
Julie frowned. So why hadn’t Cameron suggested this boy bring his wife as well? Unless, of course, she had no skills that were necessary to their research; Cameron wouldn’t want to carry dead weight. ‘What does Andy’s wife do?’ she asked.
‘She’s a nurse, I believe,’ Jake answered, ‘working on a cruise liner. It’s where they met. They’re used to spending time apart. He reckons it’s more than worthwhile when they do get together.’
‘Do you miss not having a woman in your life?’
‘Hell, yes, sometimes.’ His eyes twinkled at her. ‘It’s going to be refreshing having you here.’
‘Don’t get any ideas,’ she warned him, though she smiled as she spoke. ‘Ian packs quite a punch.’
‘Just joshing,’ he said. ‘I wouldn’t jeopardise my job. This is an ongoing project—biologists come and go, some don’t stay long, some for years. Cameron loves the place.’
They both looked across the table as they spoke and Cameron’s eyes were upon them, narrowed and assessing, though he smiled and acknowledged Jake.
‘I was just telling Julie how much I enjoy my work here,’ said the Australian, seeing nothing wrong in Cameron’s expression.
‘It would be unprofitable if you didn’t,’ agreed Cameron drily.