Stolen Feelings

After half an hour, though, Julie became restless. She was virtually hiding from Cameron Storm and that was stupid. Surely she could handle these emotions without betraying herself?

She emerged from the tent, and to her dismay he was out there, standing just a few yards away, not looking in her direction, seeming to be deep in thought, but as if he sensed her presence he turned, and their eyes met for a brief, tension-packed second.

‘I thought I’d take a walk into Puerto Ayora,’ she said, pasting a brilliant smile to her lips. ‘I shan’t have much time for shopping once I start work, and there are a couple of things I might need. Is it far?’

‘Too far to walk,’ he growled.

‘Then perhaps I could borrow the Jeep?’ she asked brightly.

But her smile didn’t charm him. Instead, he scowled ferociously and rasped, ‘The last thing I want is you getting lost. I’d better take you.’

It was clear he was offering out of a sense of duty, but Julie wanted to get away from him, not spend more time together. One of the reasons she had come out here was to get over a broken heart, not find herself attracted to someone else. It was a disaster waiting to happen and she had to stop it right here and now. ‘That’s not necessary,’ she protested firmly, ‘I’ll be perfectly all right by myself.’

But Cameron was insistent. ‘I happen to think it is. Come, let us go.’

His tone was sharp, and unhappily she dodged back into the tent for her bag before climbing into the Jeep beside him. To her consternation she felt his presence even more strongly than before, something invisible and intangible pulling her towards him. It caused an alien tightening in the pit of her stomach, a fractional quickening of her pulses. Even the masculine smell of him was like an aphrodisiac.

‘I don’t know what you are expecting to buy in Puerto Ayora.’ His deep voice broke the spell. ‘There are shops there, yes, but it’s not a busy cosmopolitan town.’ It was almost an accusation, as though he thought her only interest would be in expensive perfumes and designer clothes. Her fault, she supposed, for turning up in something that was far more suited to Paris then the beach.

‘I realise that,’ she said lightly, ‘but I thought I’d get some more sun-block, just in case.’ Although her hair was dark her skin was suprisingly fair. ‘I’m sure you wouldn’t like it if I got sunburnt and was unable to work.’

Her attempt at humour failed. ‘You’re absolutely right,’ he snarled.

‘And I presume there are no shops where we’re going?’

He gave a snarl of humourless laughter. ‘Vulcan is not even inhabited.’

Meaning it would be just the three of them; completely, totally alone! The thought sent a further shiver of apprehension down Julie’s spine.

The houses in Puerto Ayora were all flat-roofed and single-storeyed, well-built and painted either deep pink or white, although most of them looked as though they could do with another coat of paint. Conversely, there were the odd one or two quite pretty houses, well looked after, with lawns, and various shrubs and trees that were definitely not endemic to the islands.

There were actually all sorts of shops, far more than she had anticipated, selling everything from essential foodstuffs to cheap souvenirs. Cameron stopped outside one and picked up a straw hat which he perched on top of her head. ‘You’d better take that,’ he said drily.

Julie looked at herself in the tiny mirror provided and burst out laughing. ‘I don’t think so.’ But she tried on another, and even Cameron agreed it suited her much better.

She would have liked to linger longer, but sensed his impatience once her purchases were made, and it was really no fun in the circumstances. Why he was trailing around after her, she did not know. Why couldn’t he have stayed in the Jeep? Except that Cameron Storm did not strike her as the type of man who would sit around waiting for a woman.

Back in the vehicle, she again felt the pull of his powerful magnetism, but did not realise she was in grave danger of giving herself away until he told her to relax.

‘You’re sitting there with your hands clenched, looking as though you’re ready to do battle.’

‘I’m just not used to bumping around in a Jeep,’ she improvised quickly. He was again driving as though there were no tomorrow.

His lips twisted, as if he found her explanation less than credible, and she expected some further caustic comment. Surprisingly, though, he remained silent for the rest of the journey.

To her relief, Ian had returned in their absence. He came to meet her, pulling her into his arms, giving, she thought, a very creditable show of having greatly missed his supposed wife.

Julie squinted at Cameron over Ian’s shoulder and saw him watching them closely, a deeply disturbing frown on his face. Wasn’t Ian’s performance convincing enough? She felt a quiver of unease, and once in the tent that they were to share Julie voiced her misgivings. ‘I have a feeling he knows.’

‘How can he?’ Ian asked fiercely. ‘It’s all in your mind.’

‘He was watching us like a hawk.’

‘You’ve not said anything to make him suspicious?’

‘No. Have you? He said some mighty funny things when we first met.’

‘Of course not,’ Ian assured her. ‘What do you take me for, a fool? I want this job more than anything in the world. You’re just jumpy, that’s all. Once you’ve settled in everything will be fine.’

They were sitting facing each other on the edge of their camp-beds and she looked at him urgently. ‘Neither did he insist you bring me for the reason you thought.’

Ian frowned.

‘It’s not because he’s wary of single girls, it’s because he didn’t want to split us up for so long.’

‘Is that what he said?’ queried Ian sharply.

‘Yes.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘Of course I’m sure.’

He shook his head, mystified. ‘I don’t see how I could have made such a mistake. He quite clearly stated that he preferred a married woman in the camp.’

‘So what are we going to do?’ she asked, twisting the ring on her finger. ‘Are we going to tell him?’

Ian shook his head. ‘Most definitely not. He’s a very straight man who hates deceit. He could easily send us both home for obtaining work under false pretences. I think we should sit tight and say nothing.’

Julie was not so sure; she really did think honesty would be best policy. ‘He might not send us back,’ she said pleadingly.

‘I can’t take the risk,’ answered Ian. ‘Besides, even if he didn’t send us home I’d be worried to death about you.’

Julie frowned. ‘What do you mean?’

‘The guys here are a nice enough bunch, but I’ve heard a few moans about there being no available women. Wearing a wedding-ring will be your best protection. After Roger I don’t think you’d be happy having to fight off further advances.’

‘Perish the thought,’ she said strongly. ‘I’m off men forever.’ Which was why her reaction to Cameron was all the more amazing. It was definitely something she had to fight and she had no intention of telling her twin about it.

‘So we’ll carry on as we are?’

She nodded, and Ian leapt across and pulled her into his arms. ‘Thank you, Sis. Thank you.’ There was a bond between them that was much stronger than that between ordinary brothers and sisters, and when she thought back to all his heartache, to his months of unhappiness, and the change in him when this trip was planned, this was the least she could do.

It was such a little deceit, it couldn’t possibly hurt anyone, and if he was right about the men complaining about their enforced celibacy, then being Mrs Drummond was exactly what she needed.

‘I’m sorry to break up such a tender little reunion, but there’s work to be done out here.’ Cameron Storm’s caustic voice cut into her thoughts. Through the opening of the tent he could see them quite clearly.

Julie pulled out of her brother’s arms. ‘He’s all yours.’