Falling for Jack (Falling In Love) - By Christina Carlisle Page 0,6
bit of a clean but that won’t take you long. Just flap a duster around, or whatever you women do, and it’ll look beautiful, I’m sure. While you’re doing that, I’ll start up the generator so we can have some light and use the fridge. Then I’ll catch us a couple of fish for supper.”
He turned away but Lara caught his arm. “Just a minute. Do you really expect me to clean the mess in here?” she asked, aware as she was speaking of the hard, rippling muscles flexing beneath her hand.
He faced her with a polite, but puzzled look. “Well, it’s not usually this messy, but I haven’t been here for a while,” he explained in a matter-of-fact kind of way. “But, it comes up well with a bit of spit and polish.”
She watched as he wiped a loving hand over the dusty headboard. Was this man mad or what? She hesitated realizing she had really got herself into a jam. After her big, brave statement to her mother about wanting time alone without being protected by detectives and companions, the first thing she had done was to trap herself on an island with a mad man, or even worse, a rapist and murderer.
But she wasn’t going to show she was afraid—that was the worst thing she could do. She decided attack was the best form of defense. Lifting her chin, she put on what she considered to be her most haughty and fierce expression.
“Now listen, Jack. I do not intend to clean your dirty house or do any of the other chores you may like to allocate to me. I shall sleep on the beach tonight, and if you as much as come within ten yards of me then I’ll…I’ll kill you.” She held up a bunched fist in the most aggressive pose she could remember from her self-defense classes.
“Does this mean you won’t want any supper?”
She snorted in a very unlady like fashion. This guy was crazy.
“Of course, if I can’t get Jezebel started, we could be here tomorrow night as well, and even the next night, so I could do with your help. Just to cook and clean up, you know, while I work on the boat. Not much to ask really,” he continued.
Lara stiffened as she saw his mouth twitch with amusement. “The people at the resort will be expecting me and when I don’t turn up, they will send out a search party.” Her stance was even more defiant.
“No. They won’t.”
“What do you mean? Of course they will.”
“When Jezebel broke down, I radioed a mate and he’s going to contact the resort and explain what’s happened.”
“What? But you said the radio had broken.” For the first time a shiver of fear ran through her.
“It has. It broke just after I’d sent the message but it’s okay—they know you’re safe with me.”
~ * ~
He touched her arm in what was meant to be a comforting gesture but she jumped back. I’ve taken this joke too far, he thought. Idiot. He decided to move into damage control—quickly.
“You don’t need to be nervous. I won’t hurt you.”
“How do I know that?”
“Look, you stay in the house tonight and I’ll sleep on Jezebel. I promise you will be safe.”
“No. How do I know you won’t get that stupid boat going and drive away leaving me shipwrecked here…forever?”
Jack, once again, contained his amusement. “You sail a boat, not drive,” he automatically corrected her. “And you haven’t been shipwrecked.”
She shoved a fist into his chest and his heart pounded as he controlled the desire to hold and caress that small hand.
“It’s a ship and as far as I can see, it’s a wreck.” Her voice rose. “And I am still sleeping on the beach.”
“It could get cold in the night. You had better take a couple of blankets with you.” He reached into a drawer and pulled out two rugs making the mistake of patting them which caused a cloud of dust to billow and envelop them both.
“Oh,” Lara exploded with exasperation as she made her way to the door, case in hand. “You are impossible.”
“Lara?” He opened another of the drawers. “There’s an old lavatory at the back of the house. If you have to go, you will need this.” He tossed a toilet roll through the air, which she managed to catch with her free hand.
“And if you want a shower, there’s one outside. It’s a bit primitive, I’m afraid.” He tried to sound apologetic. “Only cold water.”