Provocative Peril (12 page)

Carolyn slowly walked over to the tank and peered down. The octopus was curled into a ball, looking innocent. "He looks different in the water," she murmured, but the attendant heard her.

"Part of that is because he's changed colors. They turn red when they're stirred up or angry. He's settling in to sleep now and will stay that mottled gray unless someone disturbs him."

"It certainly won't be me," she pointed out as she quickly stepped back.

The rest of the tour was tame. Carolyn read various charts which informed her that the constant beating of waves against the shore was slowly washing the shoreline away. She was studying various photographs taken over the past eighty years along the coastline, noting the changes, when Brad appeared beside her.

"Selena said she'd like to see the tide pool out at Yaquina Point. How about you? It has quite a few more species in it than the one I showed you." Carolyn looked up to see smiling eyes watching her with friendly interest. Brad seemed completely unaware of the undercurrents that had so occupied

Carolyn's mind. She was pleased with his uncomplicated companionship after the tension she felt around Clay. Smiling up at him, she nodded. "I'd love to go, Brad."

He took her hand and led her over to the window where Selena and Clay were watching small sharks swimming in an enclosed tank. Clay was listening to Selena with a small smile on his face when he glanced up and saw them coming toward him. The smile vanished and his eyes grew cold as his gaze fell on their locked hands.

"If you guys have seen enough here, I thought we might go get something to eat and give the tides a chance to drop a little lower," Brad offered. "There's quite an extensive tide pool out at the point that you might find interesting."

"Lead the way, my friend," Selena responded gaily as she joined them. Clay followed her more slowly, his expression grim. Once again Carolyn and Clay were in the back seat. She couldn't quite figure out how that happened. One minute she was standing by Brad, the next minute Clay was helping her into the car, then crawling in behind her.

"The octopus has some interesting mating habits," Brad said as they drove to the restaurant. "The male only makes love once, but it lasts up to twelve hours, and he dies afterward."

Clay burst out laughing. "I can certainly understand why!"

How lucky for the lady octopus, Carolyn thought grimly.

The fresh seafood dinner was delicious, and Carolyn had relaxed somewhat by the time they reached the tide pools. The day was turning cooler, and a brisk breeze stirred whitecaps on the top of the waves.

All three were soon caught up in the spell Brad was weaving with his knowledge of what happened just below the surface of the water, of the life being lived by the hermit crabs, the sea urchins and sea anemones. The two couples were soon kneeling on the rocks, completely involved in studying the tiny life forms.

Carolyn moved away from the other three, unaware of how far out on the rocks she was going. She was on her knees, peering intently at a sea anemone as it closed around an unsuspecting water insect swimming by, when an unusually large wave broke over the rock where she crouched. It knocked her off balance, and she tumbled into the water.

Strong arms were holding her before she knew what had happened, and she glanced up to see Clay's worried face as he lifted her clear of the water and into the security of his arms. "Are you all right?" he asked, his voice raspy with urgency.

Pushing streaming wet hair out of her face, Carolyn tried to sound unconcerned, but the hard shiver that ran through her betrayed her discomfort. "Oh, I'm just fine. Thought I'd see what life in a tide pool is really like." All the while she talked, Clay agilely stepped from rock to rock, moving rapidly toward the parked car.

Brad and Selena quickly joined them, both concerned.

"No, I'm all right, really. I just feel like a complete fool. I was so engrossed I forgot to keep my mind on the waves."

By the time they reached the resort, Carolyn was shaking from the cold.

"Brad, I'm going to take Carolyn back to the room. She's chilled and I don't want her to get sick. Why don't you and Selena go ahead with the day's plans. You had several other places to show us today, didn't you?"

Brad looked uncertain. "Well, sure, but there's no real schedule. We can always go some other time."

Selena spoke up. "I'd really like to go, Brad. I've got such a short time here." She glanced at Clay and winked. "I'm sure Clay will be able to look after Carolyn without our help."

Carolyn had already started for the room. Clay grinned at Selena. "I'll do my best. You two enjoy yourselves. We'll see you tonight."

He spun around and loped toward Carolyn. He was glad the sun had come back out, but there was no sense in taking any chances. Carolyn's journey to the room was punctuated with sneezes. By the time Clay caught up with her she was at the door, fumbling for her key. He quickly grabbed his and opened the door, then stepped back so she could enter.

"You didn't have to come back with me, you know," she mumbled as she held a handkerchief to her nose. "I'm used to looking after myself." She started up the stairs.

"Carolyn?"

She stopped midway and looked at him.

"Is it all right if I want to look after you, anyway?" The tender look in his eyes was almost her undoing. She had to remind herself of all the things he had done to sabotage her vacation: He'd effectively turned Ted away, had used Selena to lure Brad away and had as much as lied to her about how he made a living.

She continued up the stairs without comment.

Carolyn filled the tub with water as hot as she could stand it, quickly shed her clothes, then gratefully crawled into the steaming water. Getting chilled was no fun at all. Sliding down into the water until her chin rested on the bubbles floating on top, she contemplated what she was going to do about Clay.

While mulling over several ideas that appealed to her, all of which had him begging for mercy, the object of her thoughts walked in.

"Get out of here!" She refused to move, but her tone left him in no doubt of her mood.

"I brought you some brandy. Thought it might help."

"Did you hear me?"

"Of course I heard you. This entire ten-mile stretch of coastline heard you."

"Then get out."

"You're very hard to be nice to."

"Then don't bother."

Clay stood there for a moment, staring at her. The steam had put color back in her face, thank God, and her skin shone like satin. If he'd had any doubt about how well he was winning a place for himself in her affections, her angry eyes told him. He sank onto the vanity bench with a sigh. Well, what the hell, he thpught, it can't get any worse.

"I love you, Carolyn."

The words drifted and eddied with the steam, floating free above their heads, circling into swirls to drop around Carolyn. She'd obviously misunderstood him. He'd been speaking softly, anyway. She frantically searched for something he could have said that sounded like "I love you, Carolyn," but couldn't think of a thing. In fact, her mind had suddenly slipped a cog and was spinning madly around inside her head.

He watched the expressions darting across her face . . . bewilderment, suspicion, dismay. Not exactly the emotions he'd hoped to provoke.

"I didn't mean to embarrass you."

Now that she could certainly understand. She smiled gently at him. "Then would you please get out of here? That would immediately relieve my embarrassment."

"I meant by telling you I love you. Just because you're only the third woman I've ever said that to, I don't want you to feel obligated or anything."

"The third woman? I'm impressed. No, really. The infamous Kenneth Clay—" Carolyn stopped, the words finally penetrating as she whispered "loves me?" She sat up, causing heavy waves in the large tub, dislodging the camouflage of bubbles and causing Clay to take an unexpected breath.

Unaware of her suddenly revealing position, she leaned toward him in bewilderment.

"Are you aware of what you just said?" she asked with evident astonishment.

He thought back for a few moments, then nodded. "Yes. You are only the third woman I've ever said that to in my entire life." His gaze kept returning to the water level.

"Not that. Were you serious about loving me?" He swallowed, tried to speak, had to stop and clear his throat, then nodded.

Panic seemed to engulf her at the same time as an exhilarating shock of pleasure coursed through her. He loves me! Is that what I'm feeling?

She was scared. She'd never felt like this before. To her, love was a warm, tender feeling, such as she'd felt toward Mitch—a caring, a sharing of mutual interests. Clay stirred such overwhelming feelings within her. Could that be love?

He watched as her eyes softened and sparkled like the midnight sky when first touched by moonlight. Then he realized what she was doing. She climbed out of the tub and, holding a towel in front of her, approached him, stopping when she stood between his knees. The towel was an adequate cover, held in front of her like that. Clay idly wondered if she knew the mirrors behind her faithfully reflected her image. Never had he seen a more beautiful form.

"Oh, Clay," she breathed, then she kissed him.

Clay prided himself on his ability to take command of any situation. He'd been with women in various situations, all for the sake of authentic research for Derringer Drake, of course, and had always conducted himself in a sophisticated manner. Why, then, on this most important occasion in his life, did he suddenly feel like a boy in junior high with his first crush.

His hands shook, but when they touched the smooth skin of her back, they seemed to know what to do without further signals from his brain, which must have turned to mush sometime in the previous few minutes.

He stood up, the towel still between them, and deepened the kiss. Carolyn's arms slipped around his neck, the towel forgotten, as Clay swung her into his arms and carried her to the king-sized bed.

"Clay?"

"Yes, love," he murmured as he leaned over and placed her on the bed, where he had carefully turned back the covers.

"Are you going to make love to me?"

She looked at him shyly and his heart turned over in his chest. He pulled the covers to her chin, then sat down beside her.

"I certainly hope so," he said fervently, "just as soon as you're feeling better." He leaned over and placed a soft kiss against her trembling lips, then sat up with a smile.

She still looked uncertain. Her gaze wandered over his face, and a sudden yearning within her grew until she felt she would burst. She sat up in bed. Hesitantly placing her arms around his neck, she said, "I feel fine."

Clay could feel the blood rush through him, his heart pounding in his chest like a jackhammer. "I think there's something you'd better understand, Carolyn." He paused, trying to get a grip on his emotions. "Once I make love to you, you'll belong to me. I won't let you go."

She grinned, the impish grin that had been his downfall. "Is that supposed to discourage me? If so, it didn't work."

"I know what your vacation plans are, and I don't intend to be one of the scalps you're collecting."

"Is that what you think of me?"

"Carolyn, I've watched you for over two weeks now and I recognize that what you've been looking for is a vacation fling." His jaw tightened. "I won't be a romantic interlude for you."

"Are you afraid I won't respect you afterward?" she asked with laughter in her voice. "Would it help if I told you that I greatly admire your mind?"

"Dammit, Carolyn!" Clay jumped up, striding across the room. "You may find this a big joke, but it's more serious than that to me!"

"Of course it is! That's why you invited your lover up to spend the weekend and told her I was your cousin!"

"I told her you were my cousin so you wouldn't be embarrassed about staying with me . . . and she isn't my lover!"

Carolyn sniffed. "Only because she slept with me last night."

Clay stalked back to the edge of the bed. "I have never slept with Selena," he told her evenly.

Her eyes rounded with innocence. "I can well believe that. I doubt that either one of you ever got much sleep!"

Contempt filled his eyes and Carolyn's bravado evaporated. "You really shouldn't judge everyone by your own morals." He stomped down the stairs. Carolyn heard the door slam, and she lay there in silence, thinking about what had just happened.

What had gone wrong? He'd told her he loved her. He'd admitted he wanted to make love to her. Then he ended up accusing her of being promiscuous. None of it made any sense!

She flounced over in the bed in disgust, and her sneezes periodically punctuated the silence in the room.