A Stranger's Love. Laura Martin
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truth. ‘Now come with me! I suddenly find that I’m not in the mood for any more of your childish bluster. If you will insist on mooching about in this highly irregular manner then you have to be prepared to face the consequences. I told you trespassing would get you into trouble——’
‘Me? Trespassing? How can you stand there and say that? At least I’m not making a party of it!’ Bethany cried indignantly as Chad determinedly led her up the stairs. ‘I roused your interest in this place earlier this afternoon, didn’t I?’ she continued. ‘And you decided to see what it was like for yourself——’
‘What the hell is this?’
They were in the room now. Bethany glanced swiftly at Theo, who was lounging attractively on one of the cushions with an expression on her face that could have soured milk, and then looked mulishly back at Chad. ‘It’s a gun. What does it look like?’ she snapped, snatching his hand from her arm and gripping the barrel which was at her side a little more tightly.
‘And dare I ask what you thought you were doing, dressed in a coat that is at least ten sizes too big, prowling around with an air-rifle?’ Chad asked irritably. ‘Looking for bandits, perhaps?’
Bethany felt herself blush; a deep cerise travelled up from the base of her throat and engulfed her face swiftly and absolutely. ‘I saw the light. I thought...’ She hesitated.
‘You thought what?’ Chad’s stunning eyes glinted down at her. Bethany tried to avert her gaze from the broad expanse of tanned chest revealed by his partly unbuttoned shirt and failed miserably. ‘Come on, Bethany,’ he chided fiercely, ‘you’ll have to do better than that!’
‘I told you. I saw the light,’ Bethany answered tightly, ‘and then when I was at the bottom of the stairs I heard... well, I heard a noise and I thought——’
‘Oh, Chad, darling! She was coming to save me!’ Theo cut in with an affected little laugh. ‘How very bravel’
Bethany flushed a shade deeper and threw darling Theo a furious look that would have turned anyone with any sense to stone. Empty-headed bimbo! she cursed silently.
‘Is that right?’ Chad demanded, his brows drawing together into a fierce frown. ‘You weren’t really creeping around here with the idea that you could save somebody with that...that pea-shooter!’
‘Look! I saw the light from my place,’ Bethany retorted. ‘I wanted to make sure everything was all right. It could have been vandals. How was I to know it was you indulging in...in...?’ She struggled to put a description to the scene she had first witnessed. The vision of Chad, strong and masculine, lying on the floor with Theo flashed into her mind and wouldn’t go away.
‘What we were or were not doing is not the point in question and you know it!’ Chad replied tersely. He placed both hands on his hips and stood directly in front of her, the denim shirt straining tautly across his shoulders, the hard expanse of tanned chest more visible than ever. ‘The fact remains that you thought there was real danger here...’ He shook his head in frowning disbelief. ‘You’re not honestly telling me you were foolish enough to imagine that you could cope with some sort of dangerous situation!’
‘Why not?’ Bethany retorted defensively. ‘I had a gun!’
‘You had an air-rifle,’ Chad corrected. ‘It’s not quite the same thing! And besides, even if you were in possession of a twelve-bore, that doesn’t mean you can just go around the countryside taking the law into your own hands. If you were so concerned, why didn’t you phone the police?’
‘Because the nearest phone is three miles away,’ Bethany retorted, ‘that’s why!’
‘You’ve got a truck,’ Chad sighed impatiently. ‘I saw it this afternoon. Wouldn’t that have been a better idea?’
‘Possibly,’ Bethany conceded frostily, ‘if it were in working order.’
‘For goodness’ sake!’ Chad cut in savagely, his face a picture 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