Unknown (6 page)

'You'll never find it.' She felt that she had to make him give up his task. He was a stranger, after all. 'Prentice, it's hopeless!' There, she had called him by his first name, and she felt a twinge of pleasure when he looked up from his job and smiled at her. He had been formal on their first two meetings, so polite and yet so reserved—until he had lost his temper. Now, today, he seemed to have changed. Which was the real Prentice McCulloch? Did the cool veneer really hide a gentler nature than she had suspected?

'Look,' he said standing, up straight, 'you're right. It is hopeless. I'll go back through the spinney with you and across the field. If we don't find it, then I'll get hold of a metal detector and try again.'

'Oh, please don't!' Dani bit her lip. She wanted her watch back, and the thought of hurting her parents by admitting that she had lost it was an upsetting one. Yet she did not like the thought of being indebted to this man.

'Why not?' He stepped out of the stream. 'Don't you want it back?'

'Yes, of course. I just don't want to put you to a lot of trouble.' The excuse sounded weak and her voice tailed away.

'It's no trouble.' But a mask seemed to settle over his face, turning concern to bland indifference and vitality into bleak coldness. Dani was sorry. She had liked the sweet, warming smile he had given her and the casual way he had been grubbing about in a stream on her behalf. It was as if the sun had gone in and left her cold, and she resisted an impulse to wrap her arms around herself to protect her body from this man's chill.

'I appreciate all you're doing,' she said softly. 'I really do. But I know you're busy. I don't want to get in your way.'

'You already have.' He said the words stiffly, but one corner of his mouth tilted upwards into a grin. 'First you wake me up, then you lose your watch on my property. All in the space of a few hours.'

'I suppose so.' Dani felt awkward standing on the bank so close to him and watching as he took out a handkerchief and dried his hands. She did not know what to say to him; he inhibited her with the swift way he could change from starchy formality to easy friendliness so that she was never sure what effect her words would have on him. 'Can I help?' she asked, as he rubbed the sodden piece of material over his feet.

'Have you got a handkerchief?'

'Well. . .' She produced a tiny square of lace from her pocket and then joined in the sudden peal of laughter that he uttered.

'All right.' He sat on the bank and pulled his socks on, wrestling them over his wet feet and then slipping into his shoes. 'I'll walk back with you and we'll have another look. Maybe we'll find it this time.'

'Yes.'

Dani liked the idea of a metal detector, and she wondered how she could hire one. She did not want to ask Prentice. She was really not sure if he was annoyed by the trouble she was causing him, and she did not want to risk his displeasure.

Side by side they walked through the spinney, and when Prentice's shoulder brushed against her own, Dani found it a comforting pressure. She had the most extraordinary feeling, without any rhyme or reason for it, that it would be nice to be holding his hand as they searched, and that this companionable sense of a common purpose might be extended if only she could find the right words.

Dani felt her stomach tie itself into a small, painful knot as the implication of her thoughts struck home. How could she think like that, she wondered dazedly? He was a stranger with whom she had nothing in common. This sense of peace between them was transitory and without substance.

Suddenly the sun seemed hotter than ever on her head and her body felt sticky as her shirt clung to her back, but she tried to ignore the discomfort. The closeness with him that she had felt just a few seconds before now seemed foolish and constricting. How could she feel so claustrophobic in the middle of a field?

'This is impossible.' Prentice stopped suddenly and straightened his back. Immediately Dani felt guilty.

'You're right,' she agreed. 'It is impossible.'

'I haven't said that I'm giving up.' He turned to look at her, and she tipped her face up and basked in the glow of his green eyes. 'We need a metal detector. Maybe two. I'll see to it.'

'Thank you. If you'll let me know what it all costs, I'll . . .' She made the offer awkwardly and knew immediately that it had been the wrong thing to say. His face changed to bleak wintriness and immediately he became the distant stranger. She took a deep breath and tried to qualify her statement. 'It is my watch,' she reminded him. 'And my fault for losing it.'

'True. All right, my lady, I'll send you the damn bill.' Clipped words forced through his teeth as if he hated to utter them.

'Now look . . .' Dani took a moment to marvel at how quickly this man could bring her temper to boiling point. She never lost patience with her children, and even when they were at their most exasperating, she was able to remain calm and sunny. Yet Prentice McCulloch made her feel as if a giant hand was ruffling her feathers the wrong way.

'Look at what?' He gave her no chance to finish what she was about to say. 'I offered to help. Just a simple gesture of neighbourliness. Why the hell are you people so damn unfriendly?'

'We aren't!' Dani defended her village. 'Maybe I'm just wondering why you're suddenly so helpful. Giving the grounds over to the fete, I can understand. That's good public relations. I don't know what you hope to gain by finding my watch.' She was appalled by her own words. She could not remember ever being so rude to anyone in her life before.

'I wasn't trying to gain anything.' The disgust in his voice pierced her like a flashing dagger. 'Still, with your teacher's salary and the money Brian pays you, you should be able to afford it. Sure, I'll send you the bill.' His lips twisted and Dani hated to see the ugly way it marred his generous mouth. 'Does he pay you more for stripping?' And then, as she digested the insult. 'Doesn't your boyfriend mind? Or is Brian the lucky man?'

Stunned, shocked, Dani was awed by the way his voice rose, by the vein that suddenly stood out at his jaw, and by the furious fire in the jade eyes. She felt seared by his words and scorched by the unfairness of them.

'How dare you!' It was all she could find to say, and her hands clenched into fists in frustration at the inadequacy of her words. 'How
dare
you!'

'Come on, schoolmarm, can't you do better than that?' The words were jeered, and Dani's fists clenched tighter. 'You were quick enough with your words a few minutes ago.'

Dani stared wide-eyed at the powerful, enraged man in front of her and felt the beginnings of a flood of words trembling on her lips. Deliberately she bit them back. He might not have the self-control to hold his temper, but she did.

'You,' she said, coldly and deliberately, 'aren't worth wasting words over. I'll claim the watch off my insurance company. Goodbye.' She nodded, turned and marched away, taking with her an impression of russet hair sparked with fire as the sun caught the red tints. She wondered vaguely if that was why he had such a temper.

Dani reached the stile and suddenly became aware of a rustle of movement beside her. Resolutely she refused to turn her head and look, but as she put one foot up on to the step, he jumped the fence next to it and stood waiting for her on the other side.

'Why do you annoy me?' He asked the question as she climbed decorously over the fence. 'I hate losing my temper and you make me do it so damn easily. Have you been taking lessons?'

'No.' Dani looked info his rueful face and resisted the desire to laugh. The anger had vanished just as quickly as it had appeared, and in its place was the half smile that she found so endearing. His lips were curved and suddenly she wondered what it would be like to lean forward and lay her own mouth against them. The thought frightened her. She could not afford involvement with this man. She couldn't!

'If I really wanted to annoy you,' she said, perching sedately on the top of the fence and trying to still the sudden thump of her heart, 'I'd tell you that I think you're a man with a get-rich-quick scheme and no thought for the beauty of what you're destroying so that you can make money.'

If he could be insulting, then so could she. Somehow she sensed he would be easier to deal with as an enemy rather than as anything else. Dani refused to ask herself what else he might be.

'You. ..' He looked as if he was choking back the words he wanted to use, and Dani watched him innocently, aware that she was playing with fire and tinglingly sure that it was dangerous; that he was dangerous. Being perched on the fence above him was, she decided, giving her only the illusion of being safe.

'Yes?' She asked temptingly as his voice did not seem to want to work. Let him be the enemy, she thought recklessly. At least that way she would know where she stood.

Arms reached out for her, hands grabbing her waist in a grip like a vice. She was pulled from her perch and felt the hard leanness of his body as he swung her down against him.

'Little schoolmarms aren't supposed to talk like that.' The words were whispered against her ear. 'But you're quite right. I'm annoyed.'

'Good.' She pushed against his chest to free herself, and waves of pulsing languor swept through her body as he refused to release her, holding her tightly and laughing softly when she thrust harder.

'What's the matter?' he asked tauntingly. 'If you play with fire, my lady, you're going to get burned one day.'

Dani hoped and prayed that no one was around to witness this little scene. The struggle was becoming undignified. He was far too strong for her, and his maleness was overpowering her resistance. He really was the enemy now.

'Let me go.' She tried to make the words into a command, tried to put the kind of authority into her voice that she used at school. He released her abruptly. 'You really should . . .' She took a deep breath to stop her voice from quivering.'. . . exercise a little more self-control.'

'I appreciate the advice.' The volcanic temper was rising again. 'What is the matter with you? Been a spinster for too long? Or are you a natural shrew?'

It was so unfair! No one else roused her to these heights of anger. Dani compressed her lips into a straight line and glared at him.

'You really know how to get under my skin, don't you?' His voice was wondering. 'I don't think I need you in my life, Dani Robertson.'

'Believe me,' she flared, 'I don't need you in mine, either. Not you or your plans for the Manor. Why did you come here?'

The last part was a cry of anger against the fates that had brought this tall, arrogant, flash-fire man to her village. She felt as if he was waking her up from a long sleep, dragging her—protesting and furious—out of her womb-like, smug complacency into a world of passionate emotions that she could not understand. He scared her.

'I'm beginning to wonder myself.' White temper lines appeared near his mouth. 'Does everyone get this kind of treatment or am I just one of the lucky ones?' He swung away from her. 'We'll just have to try to keep out of one another's way,' he said over his shoulder. 'Maybe if we do that we won't end up killing one another. I never . . .' He broke off, and dropped swiftly to one knee. Dani watched him, arms crossed defensively around her body to shield herself from his contempt, and then she gasped when he got to his feet again and something fragile and golden swung from between his thumb and forefinger. 'Look what I've got,' he said softly. 'Come here, my little wild-cat schoolmarm, and see what I've found.'

It was her watch. Dani took two paces forward and held out her hand, palm upwards.

'You've got it!' She could not contain her jubilation. 'Thank goodness for that. May I have it, please?'

'Oh ...
I don't know.' The watch dangled from his fingers, swinging slightly and drawing Dani's eyes hypnotically. 'What reward do I get?'

'Reward?' She did not take her gaze from the watch.

'Mmm. Don't I get a kiss for finding it?'

Dani felt her eyes flicker wide with shock. What was he? Demon, sorcerer, or just a man determined never to lose a shouting match with anyone, especially a woman.

'Please give me my watch,' she said steadily. 'I don't want to kiss you, and you don't want to be kissed.'

'What an honest lady!' He twisted the watch so that the gold caught the sun. 'How do you know I don't want you to kiss me?'

'Because . . .' Because if ever there was to be any kissing, Prentice McCulloch would want to make the moves himself.

'Yes?' he asked, in much the same tone she had used earlier to him.

'Don't play games,' she said. 'It's obvious that we should try to keep out of one another's way from now on, but don't make things any worse than they are. Please.' It was a last-ditch attempt to persuade him to give her the watch, and a last warning that her own temper was rising, fuelled by the still-remembered insults and the slow-burning implication of his opinion of her. 'Please.'

He threw back his head and laughed. She watched him dispassionately, noting the even white teeth and the long sweep of his throat. He had resented the fact that she could anger him and could find the words to answer his taunts. Now he knew that he had the upper hand and he was enjoying himself.

'Come and get it then.' He looked at her, looked deep into her eyes, and his magnetism caught her and held her. 'Come on, schoolmarm . . . come and get your watch.'

Fury threatened to choke her. She took a step forward and he took a step back. She took another step, and again his long legs carried him away from her. Then she saw the soft, marshy bank of the pond give way a little under his weight. She closed the gap between them quickly and snatched the watch from his outstretched hand. The bank subsided even more as he tried to throw his weight towards the firmer ground, and for a moment he teetered helplessly on a see-saw of precarious balance.

One push. That was all it would take. One push in the wrong direction. Dare she?

Dani pushed him.

The
Manor looked beautiful. Dani smiled affectionately as she turned her Fiesta into the main driveway of the house and saw it lying before her, basking like a great stone cat in the heat of the summer sun. The mellow bricks seemed to be soaking up the warmth, and the windows reflected back the light and shone with a diamond-like brilliance that was dazzling.