Julie realised it was imperative now that she get everything right, that she did not draw attention to herself by wasting more paper and more time by making stupid mistakes. She made herself channel her vision on to the pieces of paper on her desk, refusing to let her eyes stray in Cameron’s direction.
Fortunately she was not facing him and it worked—for a short time. But all too soon she found herself glancing sideways in his direction. To her amazement he was watching her, his pencil tapping on a thumbnail, his eyes enigmatic. She had thought he was intent on his writing, had never dreamt that his attention had been diverted too.
She felt her heart begin a stampede all of its own, and without even acknowledging him she dragged her eyes back to her work. For the next hour she typed non-stop, until her neck and shoulders ached and every nerve in her body screamed out for mercy.
‘I think you deserve a break.’
Julie wondered how long Cameron had been watching her this time. ‘I must admit I am a bit stiff.’ She rubbed her hand across the back of her neck and rotated her head in an effort to relieve some of the tension.
He pushed himself up and moved with casual intention behind her. ‘Here, let me.’
It was totally unexpected, and the feel of his powerful hands on the back of her neck made Julie grow even more tense. Every muscle in her body locked.
‘Relax,’ he murmured soothingly.
‘Please, it doesn’t matter. I’ll be all right.’ Even to her own ears she sounded breathless. What must he be thinking?
‘No, you won’t. Goodness, you’re knotted.’ His fingers manipulated and massaged, thumbs probing, fingers sliding over the arch of her collarbone, up the sides of her neck, finding instinctively the troublesome spots.
Julie realised the futility of trying to stop him—nor could she stop the fury of feelings that exploded inside her. Although she knew it was an act of concern, something he would do for anyone in the same situation, it nevertheless triggered emotions she would far rather ignore.
‘That’s better,’ he growled, as he felt some of the stiffness ease out of her. ‘Does it feel good?’
God, how could she answer such a question intelligently? It felt like heaven. She let her head drop back on her shoulders, her eyes closed because she did not want to acknowledge that it was Cameron Storm doing this to her. It was sheer bliss. She conceded with a tiny, ‘Mmm,’ of satisfaction. ‘You certainly know what you’re doing.’
Her nerve-ends were quivering and dangerously sensitive, and Julie knew she was in grave danger of giving herself away. Her mouth had never felt so dry, and she licked her lips and swallowed hard, and all the time Cameron assaulted her senses.
He pushed the thin straps of her sun-top out of the way and she stiffened fractionally, but all he did was massage her shoulders. And just when Julie felt she could stand it no longer, when every pulse in her body screamed in protest, when her heartbeats were all out of order, he abruptly stopped. ‘I think that should do.’
His voice sounded grim, and there was a tautness to his face that had not been there before. Julie wondered in horror whether he had somehow guessed her reaction. And if that was so…She came crashing down to earth. It did not bear thinking about. ‘Thank you,’ she stammered, pushing herself to her feet. ‘I think I’ll get a drink.’ And she almost ran out of the tent.
She found herself gasping for air, her heart hammering, her breasts rising and falling, her whole body bathed in a sheen of perspiration. She poured herself a beaker of water and drank thirstily, and then another, and she was halfway through that one when Cameron joined her.
There was nothing now on his face to register that he had sensed her reaction to him. He had obviously decided to ignore it, and for this she was grateful. She gave him a weak smile. ‘Would you like some?’
The water was delivered to their camp on a regular basis, so that there was always a fresh supply for drinking and cooking purposes. Their clothes and themselves were washed in sea-water with special soap, and Ian had assured her that she would soon get used to it.
‘Yes, please.’ His tone was gruffer than normal.
Julie did not look at him as she filled another beaker, pushing it into his hand and then walking a few steps away to stare out at the turquoise waters of the Pacific Ocean. Her heartbeats had returned to normal but she was still far too aware of Cameron Storm for her own good.
‘We could go for a swim,’ came his surprising suggestion.
‘What a wonderful idea.’ It was the perfect antidote for her overheated body. Just the thought of it cheered her up. She turned to him with a sudden challenging smile. ‘I bet I’m ready before you.’
She put down her empty beaker and ran over to her tent, changing swiftly into the cream and red bikini, but Cameron was quicker. He was waiting for her—magnificently male in a pair of brief black swimming-trunks, silky dark hair shadowing the dangerous shape of him, legs long and lean, stomach hard and flat. In one hand he held a couple of masks. ‘I thought we’d go snorkelling. Ever done it?’
The crisis was over, she thought in relief. Obviously the answer was to keep the atmosphere light. ‘No, I haven’t,’ she admitted.
‘It’s a must out here,’ he told her. ‘There is so much to see.’
And so they waded into the sea, Julie prepared this time for the lower temperature of the water, though it did not stop her shivering. ‘Why is it cold when it’s so hot on land?’ she asked.
‘Everyone asks that,’ he said with a smile. ‘It’s because of the cool Humboldt current which sweeps up from Antarctica. That’s why we have penguins. They’re normally only associated with the colder regions of the southern hemisphere, but because of this current they’re able to live here. The Galapagos penguin is the most northerly in the world.’
‘Will I see any?’ she asked, intrigued.
‘Without a doubt. They’re not on all of the islands, of course. A lot of wildlife and plantlife is peculiar to one island only. It’s what makes the whole place so fascinating.’ Again his face lit up as he spoke, and Julie could not help feeling some of his enthusiasm.
By now they were ready to strike out. They fixed their masks and snorkels in place and, swimming face down in the water, Julie was amazed at the colour and variety of sea-life; starfish and anemones put on an exotic display, and schools of brilliantly coloured fish darted beneath them. Everything was new and wonderful and totally breathtaking.
And then, unbelievably, after they had been swimming for almost twenty minutes, and Julie was on the verge of suggesting they go back because she was desperately cold, a baby sea-lion came and stared at her. It was beyond belief and Julie turned to Cameron in delight. His eyes smiled through his mask, and shortly after that they returned to shore.
Julie was shivering but happy. ‘That was, without a doubt, the most incredible experience of my life,’ she said, throwing herself down on the hot sand. ‘I’ve never seen anything like it.’
‘It’s only the tip of the iceberg,’ he told her. ‘Wildlife here is fearless of man. You will see and experience a lot more that will delight you before you go back to England. Though if you want to swim for long periods at a time I would recommend a wet suit.’
He lay down beside her and Julie felt an instant tingling of her senses. She closed her eyes to try and shut him out but it was an impossibility. Cameron Storm was larger than life; he was invading her senses, turning her world upside-down, and she did not know what she could do about it without giving away the fact that Ian was not her husband but her brother.
Already the sun had dried them. Julie was warm again, too warm, and not all of it due to the heat of the day. ‘I think you ought to put on some of your sun-block.’ Cameron’s voice came through her haze of thought. ‘Shall I fetch it for you?’
To her consternation, Julie discovered that he was watching her again. An uncomfortable prickly heat broke out on her skin. Why was he doing this? She shook her head and tried to smile. ‘I think I should
go back to work.’
Mocking brows rose. ‘A conscience? Or could it be because of me?’
‘You?’ Julie tried to make herself sound incredulous, even though panic was ready to set in. He had guessed. ‘Why should that be?’
‘Aren’t you fearful that your—er—that Ian might object to you lying here with another man?’
She gave a tiny gulp. He had been going to say husband, in that derogatory tone that spelled danger. ‘I’m sure he knows I’m safe with you,’ she said pertly.
His lips quirked. ‘Yes, of course, perfectly safe.’ And then he added quietly, ‘It’s the others you need to watch.’
He meant Jake, of course, but she was hardly listening. She was looking instead at his mouth, wondering what it would be like to be kissed by those lips, those generously moulded, sensually passionate lips. Her toes curled at the very thought.
‘It is, however,’ he said, ‘almost lunchtime. No sense in starting work again yet. I don’t know about you, but that swim has intensified my appetite.’
His words cut into her concentration and Julie came back to earth with a jolt—only to find that his eyes were exploring her mouth too!
CHAPTER FOUR
JULIE swallowed hard and knew she dared not look into Cameron’s eyes. What sort of appetite was he talking about, for heaven’s sake? ‘Lunch sounds a perfect idea,’ she agreed, and jumped to her feet, her heart throbbing fit to burst.
She knew that any sort of fleeting desires Cameron had were perfectly normal in a healthy red-blooded male who hadn’t been with a woman in months—years, maybe. He had advised her to be careful of the other men in his team, especially Jake, suggesting that he himself was above that sort of thing, that he had an iron will. He very clearly hadn’t counted on the fact that they would be spending fairly lengthy amounts of time in close proximity, and that these things happened whether you wanted them to or not.
Or was she doing him an injustice? Had she misinterpreted that look? Had it been, perhaps, wishful thinking on her part? By this time he had risen too, and there was nothing on his face to suggest that he found her in any way remotely desirable.
She returned to her tent and pulled a baggy T-shirt over her bikini and they sat in the shade to eat the sandwiches she had prepared earlier. Cameron, to her relief, began talking about his work.
‘Ecology has always been a passionate interest of mine. I was forever querying why one plant thrived in a different place from another, why this animal did this and that one something else. So much so that my parents sometimes got exasperated with me because they could never answer all of my questions.’
‘I bet they’re proud of you now.’
His mouth twisted and a shadow darkened his eyes. “They’re divorced.’ It was said succinctly, and it was obvious it troubled him deeply. ‘My father lives in New Zealand—-he’s married again—and my mother lives alone in London. I don’t see either of them very often, unfortunately.’
‘I’m sorry.’
He shook his head. ‘Don’t be; it happened a long time ago.’
‘Was there someone else involved?’ It was a highly personal question, and perhaps she ought not to have asked, but it was too much like what had happened to her own parents for her to let it pass without comment.
‘Unfortunately, yes,’ he admitted. ‘My father used to be away on business a lot, much as I am now. My mother didn’t mind at first, but his trips seemed to take longer and longer and she grew lonelier and lonelier.’ His tone became bitter, and Julie could see that he did not enjoy casting his mind back into the past. ‘She got herself a part-time job and her employer was a philandering widower and—well, I don’t think I need go into the rest.’
She looked at him compassionately. ‘That’s why you’ve never married?’
‘Not altogether, but you must agree my sort of lifestyle doesn’t lend itself happily to marriage. I couldn’t condemn a woman to a life of waiting and loneliness, and I couldn’t give up what I do either. So—’ he gave a tiny shrug of his broad shoulders ‘—I prefer to remain single.’
He was still wearing his black trunks, and although Julie kept her mind on what he was saying she could not stop her eyes roving over his deeply tanned body. There was not one ounce of superfluous fat on him, he was in perfect physical shape and condition, and just looking at those powerful thighs was enough to send tremors of awareness through every vein.
She understood Cameron’s sentiments entirely, but was not sure that she thought it a good thing for him never to get married. He did not strike her as the type of man who would be content to live into old age without a woman at his side. ‘What’s to stop you bringing a wife along with you?’
His laughter was highly sceptical, his blue eyes derisive. ‘It might work in theory, but not practice. I’ve seen it. All too soon a woman craves a proper home, a proper base, a family. It’s in her genes, Julie. You must know that. Would you stay out here permanently with Ian? Would you live in a tent indefinitely? For years, perhaps?’
‘If I was interested in the same sort of thing I could see it working’ she said thoughtfully, surprised how passionate he was about love and marriage.
Again he shrugged. ‘There are women biologists, yes, who do come out in the field, but sooner or later they want to settle down in a happy little home with a happy little family.’
‘My parents are divorced too.’ The words popped out and Julie wondered why she had said them. What possible interest could it be to Cameron? Was she subconsciously hoping that it could form some sort of bond between them? Something to draw them closer together?
His eyes narrowed and he looked at her thoughtfully. ‘It happens all too often, doesn’t it, Julie? What happened in their case?’
It suddenly occurred to her that Ian could have already told him, that he could actually be testing her. She really ought to learn to keep her mouth shut. ‘The usual,’ she said, lifting her shoulders and trying to sound nonchalant. ‘Another woman involved.’
‘How old were you?’
No getting out of it now. ‘Eleven,’ she told him, and to her relief there was no sign on his face that he had heard the story before.
‘Too young,’ he agreed. ‘You need a sound home-life at that age. Are you an only child?’
Julie’s muscles tensed. ‘No, I have a brother.’
‘A brother?’ he remarked thoughtfully. ‘Is he older or younger?’
‘Older.’ At least that was the truth—even though by only half an hour—and she was able to say it with conviction.
He smiled, almost as though he could read her thoughts. ‘I imagine it brought you closer together?’ And the white of his teeth glinted in a very predatory way.
She swallowed hard. ‘Yes.’
‘Very close, in fact?’ There was a sudden questioning lift to his brow. ‘So close that you’re virtually inseparable?’ He moved closer towards her. ‘So close that you go everywhere together, do everything together? As close as husband and wife, in fact?’
Please God, he was only guessing. Her fingers went automatically to the wedding-ring. ‘We were always close,’ she said huskily, ‘and I think it’s time I went back to work.’
She sprang to her feet and rushed over to her tent to change back into the top and skirt she had worn earlier, but once inside she took her time, needing to calm her ragged breathing and restore her mind to some sort of order. This was awful, far worse than she had ever imagined. Cameron must know—why else would he say such things? And yet, because of Ian, she had to keep her silence; she had to carry on the pretence.
It was a vain hope that he wouldn’t join her again and Julie found it impossible to concentrate. Trying to type with this highly physical man sitting less than six feet away was sheer hell. Each hour dragged interminably and it was a relief when Raul came to begin preparations for the evening meal.
She began to tidy her desk.
‘What are you doing?’ asked Cameron sharply.
She looked
at him in surprise. ‘I’m going to help Raul, of course.’
He shook his head. ‘That won’t be necessary; I’ve changed my mind.’
‘What do you mean?’ she asked, frowning now.
‘It has occurred to me,’ he said, ‘that if you do the cooking as well it will hold things up here. I had not realised how much typing there was. I want it brought up to date quickly, so that once we’re on Vulcan you can give my book your full attention. Raul can stay on.’
‘But don’t you think Raul might have plans of his own?’ she asked. Did he always ride roughshod over people’s arrangements? Did he always think that he only had to click his fingers to get what he wanted?
Cameron shook his head decisively. ‘I doubt it. Raul’s never been anywhere in his life. He’s never left these islands. He was grateful for the job. It was my suggestion he had some time off. I’m sure he won’t mind.’ He made it sound as though he was doing Raul a favour. ‘You look disappointed. I thought you didn’t fancy cooking for the multitudes, as you so drolly put it.’
‘It will make a change,’ she said. ‘It will give me a break.’ And it would take her out of the tent at this particular moment, give her breathing space. She had been closeted with him for almost the whole day and it was beginning to tell on her nerves.
‘My mind is made up,’ he announced firmly. ‘I need you here more. Have you any idea how long all this will take?’ There was a different atmosphere between them now. Since that heartstopping moment on the beach he had given no indication of being attracted to her. Maybe she had imagined it.
‘I would say just a couple of days if I have no interruptions,’ she answered. And if she could stand the pace in this heat! Already her neck was aching again, though this time she had no intention of letting Cameron know. His touch would be more than she could stand; she would be in very grave danger of giving herself away.
‘That is good,’ he said, ‘because I am anxious to get to Vulcan as soon as possible.’
Julie, personally, was not looking forward to it. There would be no escape—from Cameron, from her thoughts, from her emotions, from anything. And on top of that would be the increasing pressure of trying to keep up appearances. And how they were going to do that when he was even now highly suspicious, she did not know. Ian would feel it too, she felt sure. She heaved a sigh. Two days and one night she had been here, and already the implications of their deception were tremendous.
Stolen Feelings (Island Romances) Page 5