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He felt the tensing of her young body. ‘You need have no fear,’ he murmured gruffly, ‘I have no ulterior motives.’

‘I never thought you had,’ defended Taryn.

‘Then why resist me?’

‘Am I?’ Taryn injected surprise into her voice. ‘You know damn well you are,’ came the terse reply. ‘You’ve resisted me right from the beginning, and I’m getting a teeny bit tired of the situation. You can’t guess what it’s like to be condemned for something you haven’t done.’

‘I’m sorry.’ Taryn’s response surprised herself. ‘I do mean to try—it’s just that—that when I'm with you it’s like being with Mark, and then I remember what he did to me and I can’t help myself.’

‘You’ll have to get over him some time. You can’t go on like this for ever.’

‘I know, but it’s easier said than done. I keep telling myself I’m being stupid, but ’ she faltered, not knowing how to go on.

‘You see me and forget your good intentions?' His voice told her he was smiling.

‘You’re very patient. I don’t know why you don’t find someone else to do your work. I seem to make a habit of being rude to you.’

He turned his head towards her. She could see the faint gleam of his teeth. ‘You interest me,’ he said. ‘You make a refreshing change from most of the young women I employ.’

‘Meaning that you receive deferential treatment from them? Yes, sir; no, sir; three bags full, sir.’ She could imagine them—the clerks and receptionists, the waitresses and room maids, all a little in awe of the head of the Major chain of hotels and all a little in love with him.

He chuckled now. ‘Something like that. It’s very flattering but can become a little monotonous.’

‘And I relieve your monotony. Is that a compliment?’

‘Most certainly it is. I find you fascinating.’

‘Despite my bad temper?’

‘Because of it. It’s not every day I’m taken for someone else’s fiancé. It’s very intriguing.’

‘Ex-fiancé, if you don’t mind.’

‘As you wish, though I’ve a feeling you're not as much against him as you say.’

Taryn pulled away from the arm that still encircled her waist and stopped dead in her tracks. ‘How do you make that out?’ It was one thing to think along these lines herself, but another to have it thrust upon her by a complete stranger.

‘Your reactions, my dear girl. Don’t deny that your pulses race every time I touch you, that your breath tightens in your throat and you begin to wonder what’s the matter.’

Grateful for the darkness that hid her flaming cheeks, Taryn was about to deny his statement when she realised how futile it would be. If he knew so much about her he would also know that she was lying. ‘Your perception amazes me,’ she said drily. ‘How do you know it’s not fear that quickens my heartbeats?’

‘I think not,’ equally drily, ‘and I don’t flatter myself that your reaction is for me alone—so what else can I think? You still love Mark, whether you realise it or not.’

‘Like hell I do,’ retorted Taryn, but her voice lacked conviction. ‘Would you still love someone who’d made a fool of you?’

‘Love doesn’t fade easily. It’s not like a tap that can be turned on and off at will. We are the prisoners of our emotions and it takes a strong character to banish from our heart a person once loved dearly. Have you that strength, Taryn?’

He was very close to her now. The moon’s brilliance cast strong shadows across his face. The expression in his eyes was lost to her, but she could sense that he regarded this subject seriously.

‘I thought I had,’ she whispered. ‘I thought I had forgotten him—until I met you.’

‘So you'd welcome him back?’

Taryn shook her head emphatically. ‘I might still —love him, but I shall never forgive him—never.'

Luke smiled and gently ran the back of his hand down her cheek. 'I can almost see the sparks flying. I wonder if you really would be so hard.’ His hand slid round the back of her neck. ‘I don’t think so. In fact’—drawing her closer—‘I think you might’— his lips brushed her cheek—‘have no resistance at all.'

Beneath his touch Taryn felt herself go limp, felt a sudden flaring response. Unable to help herself, she returned his kisses. For a blissful moment all else was forgotten; then in an instant of blinding truth she asked herself what she was doing. Luke was a married man. How could she behave like this? He too, unless—a horrifying thought—he was experimenting again? She forced her hands up between them and pushed him away. ‘And what was that supposed to mean?’ Her breathing was uneven and her eyes wide and luminous.

‘Merely trying to prove something,' he said lightly, and then on a note of concern, ‘You’re not offended?’

Taryn’s eyes narrowed. ‘Would it matter if I was? It doesn’t seem to make much difference what I say—you still go your own way.’

‘Like staying at the cottage tonight? That wasn't my idea. I fully intended leaving before you got back.'

‘I’m not sure that I believe you.'

‘I’d like you to—it hurts to think that you mistrust me.'

‘Very well.' The words were drawn begrudgingly from her. ‘I know Gammy can be very insistent.' She began walking towards her brother’s house. Her aunt would soon be wondering what was keeping them.

Luke caught her up and held out his hand, ‘Friends?’.

She couldn’t help laughing at his woebegone expression and slid her hand into his, ‘Okay, friends.'

Robert’s wife, Marjorie, came to the door; she smiled when she saw Taryn. ‘Hello, Rory’s been telling us what a wonderful day he’s had. Oh—you’re not alone?’ suddenly observing Luke standing behind her. ‘Mr Major! How nice to meet you again. Do come in.'

Robert held a pyjama-clad Rory on his lap, but at the sight of their visitors the small boy jumped down, a wide grin on his face. ‘Hello, Mr Helicopter man. Aunt Taryn didn’t tell me you were here.'

‘She didn’t know,’ responded Luke in a stage whisper. ‘It was a surprise visit.'

‘So you’re Mr Major.’ Robert stood up and held out his hand. ‘I’m glad to meet you at last. What with young Rory and Taryn I feel I know you already.'

‘Luke, please, and I trust you’ve heard only good about me?’

‘From Rory, yes, he talks of nothing else but his ride in your chopper. He’s the envy of all the kids at school.'

‘But Taryn’s story was different, eh?’ Luke raised his brows comically. ‘Don’t worry, I know all about my resemblance to Mark. What do you think about it. Am I like him?’

Robert shook his head. ‘Never met him. It was a whirlwind romance in Italy and the first we knew of it was when Taryn wrote to say she was engaged.’

Rory, who had been listening to this conversation with interest, darted to the sideboard and pulled open a drawer. After searching for a few seconds he found what he wanted. ‘Here’s a photograph of Uncle Mark,’ he announced triumphantly, pushing the thin card into Luke’s hand. ‘He does look like you, doesn’t he?’

Marjorie pounced on the child. ‘Rory, I think it’s time you were in bed. That was very naughty of you. Aunty Taryn might not want Mr Major to see that picture.’

‘It’s all right,’ smiled Taryn. ‘By the way, before you settle Rory down, can we borrow your camp bed? Gammy’s invited Luke to stay for the night.'

‘Gee, does that mean you’ll be here tomorrow?’ cut in Rory. ‘Can I have another ride?’

‘Well now, young man,’ said Luke, dropping to one knee beside the boy, ‘I reckon we’ll have to see about that. I can’t possibly take any passengers who are too tired to concentrate. Flying’s a serious business. You need your full quota of sleep.’

‘I’m going right now,’ Rory enthused, darting for the door.

‘Then I guess we might manage another short trip tomorrow,’ laughed Luke. ‘Goodnight.’

Robert followed his son. ‘I’ll get that bed while I’m up.’

Luke still held the photograph. He glanced at it again now and across to Taryn. ‘It’s like looking in a mirror. You certainly weren’t kidding when you said we were alike.’

‘Perhaps now you’ll appreciate how I feel,’ said Taryn drily.

‘I already do, surprising as it may seem.'

Marjorie, sensing the friction between them, suggested they might like a cup of tea.

‘Thanks, but no,’ smiled Luke. ‘We mustn’t stay long. Gammy’s waiting for us,’ and as Robert came down with the bed they said goodbye and returned to Honeysuckle Cottage.

 

Taryn sat up, startled into sudden wakefulness by a sound that had filled the cottage. She listened again, but all was silent, then a healthy curse in a man’s deep voice reached her ears. Luke! What was he doing? Reaching for her dressing gown, she tiptoed down the stairs. The room was in darkness, but a telltale glimmer from beneath the kitchen door gave just enough light for her to see that the camp bed was empty, the blankets tossed into an untidy heap on the floor.

The sound of broken glass being swept up caused her to investigate further. She pushed open the door. Luke was on his hands and knees trying ineffectively to sweep milk and the shattered fragments of a bottle into the dustpan, one hand covered in a handkerchief through which blood was already oozing. He stood up when he saw Taryn. ‘Sorry, did I wake you? I couldn’t sleep and thought I’d make myself a drink.’

He frowned as she began to giggle.

‘So I see,’ and she burst into peals of laughter.

Luke looked surprised and then, suddenly realising what was the cause of her amusement, embarrassed. ‘Oh, damn,’ he said, ‘I’d forgotten I was wearing this.’ He looked down at the bright pink candlewick dressing gown lent to him by an insistent Gammy. ‘It was quicker than dressing, though I wish I had, then I wouldn’t have dropped the milk. How can you stand these things flapping round your ankles?’

'I share your abhorrence,’ smiled Taryn, indicating her own very short nylon coat.

He followed her gaze and seemed to forget his self-consciousness, for his eyes twinkled. ‘I see I was right.’

‘About what?’

‘Your legs,’ he nodded appreciatively.

It was Taryn’s turn now to feel uncomfortable, but she hid her confusion by grabbing the brush and proceeding to dispose efficiently of the pieces of glass. A mop next soon cleaned up the milk.

‘Don’t you think you’d better do something about your hand?’ She looking at the spreading stain on his handkerchief.

‘Lord, I’d forgotten all about it.' He pulled the linen away and held the offending finger under the tap. Blood still flowed freely.

‘I’ll get the first aid box.’ Taryn filled a basin with water into which she tipped antiseptic and stood it on the table beside him.

‘Would you mind?’ Luke held out his hand. ‘I’m no good with my left.'

Hesitantly Taryn dabbed at the wounded finger, stopping when he winced. ‘Glass! ’ she said after inspecting the cut more closely. ‘It should come out with plenty of water. I’ll try not to hurt.’ She hoped he would not notice her hands trembling or the fact that her colour had risen. It was difficult to understand why he had this effect on her, but he did, and there was little she could do about it, except try to ignore her emotions and act as though nothing was wrong.

At last, satisfied that the wound was clean, Taryn dried and taped the finger, moving away from his disturbing influence as soon as she could. ‘I’ll make the drink this time,’ she said primly. ‘What would you like—tea, coffee, chocolate?’

‘Chocolate, please.’ He perched himself on the edge of the table and watched as she deftly arranged cups on a tray and filled a saucepan with milk.

Aware of his interest, Taryn grew hotter and hotter and wished she had stopped to pull on trousers and sweater. Luke himself now seemed unconcerned by his own incongruous appearance. His arms were folded against his chest, one bare leg swung to and fro through the opening of the gown. He looks like a proud chieftain, she thought.

‘Mark’s a very lucky man,’ he remarked suddenly. Taryn eyed him warily. ‘Because he found out in time I wouldn’t make a suitable wife?’

‘Hardly,’ laughed Luke. ‘Trust you to get hold of the wrong end of the stick! I mean the fact that you still love him after all he’s done. It’s a special kind of woman who will love her man through thick and thin.’

‘I wish you wouldn’t insist that I love him. I— I’m not certain how I feel, but I’m darn sure that if he walked into the room right now I wouldn’t exactly greet him with open arms.’

‘Yet you kissed me, imagining I was Mark—how do you make that out?’

‘I didn’t,’ she retorted hotly. ‘I mean—I don’t know what came over me, but I can assure you it won’t happen again.’ Then she saw the twinkle in his eye. ‘Oh, stop it, you’re insufferable! ’ and she poured the milk unsteadily into the cups.

‘But you do like me?’

She nodded reluctantly.

‘Enough to let me take you out tomorrow, or should I say today?’ looking at the wall clock which showed half past two.

‘Oh, I couldn’t—I mean, I’d like to,' she did not want to sound rude, ‘but under the circumstances it would hardly seem right.’ In point of fact the idea of spending a day with Luke was far more tempting than she cared to admit—but he was married! This made all the difference in the world so far as Taryn was concerned.

‘Are you worried about convention?’ she scoffed. ‘Enjoy yourself, Taryn. Forget other people. You’ve worked hard this week, you deserve a break—and I must admit I could do with one myself.’

‘We—ll, I suppose it will be all right.’

‘You don’t sound very enthusiastic.’

‘It’s not because of you, don’t get me wrong. I know you’ll make sure I enjoy myself.’

‘Then you have no excuse. I won’t take no for an answer. Where shall we go?’

Realising she had lost her battle, Taryn smiled and said, ‘Seacombe. It’s our nearest seaside—very small and very quiet—unless you’d prefer somewhere With more life? ’

‘No, no. It will suit me fine. I see enough fast living. Do you think Gammy will pack us a lunch?’

‘I’ll do it myself, though if we don’t go back to bed soon I’ll never be up to go anywhere.’

They finished their drink in silence. Luke rinsed the cups and left them on the draining board. ‘Goodnight, Taryn. I won’t disturb you again.’

But it was a long time before she slept. Her vision was disturbed by the man lying downstairs. Of the face she had once tried to forget and which had now come back into her life. In some strange terrifying way it was as though fate was trying to get its revenge. Destiny wanted her to fall in love with this man, regardless of who he was or where he came from.

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