It had taken them all day to get here and set up camp and in another hour it would be dark. Julie could not wait to go to bed. She desperately needed to put some space between her and Cameron. His attitude was getting to her like nothing else ever had. She was amazed Ian could not see it.
‘I made a solar still the last time I was here,’ Cameron informed Ian. ‘I suggest we check and see if it’s still in good condition.’
Although they had brought fresh water with them, collecting their own potable water would be a great help in supplementing supplies, Julie realised. They would still need to use sea-water and sea-soap to bathe and wash their clothes, however, and that was something she knew she would never get used to, despite her brother’s reassurances.
In their absence, Julie explored the surrounding area and found a tempting tidal rock-pool not far away from their camp. Without stopping to think, she stripped off her loose cotton dress and immersed herself in the water, disturbing dozens of brightly coloured Sally Lightfoot crabs as she did so.
In parts it was quite deep, and she was pleasantly surprised to discover that it had been warmed by the heat of the day’s sun. In fact it was sheer bliss, and she stayed in much longer than she’d intended, so long, in fact, that the men returned in her absence and it was not Ian who came to find her, but Cameron!
There was no escape, nowhere at all to hide, and she looked at him in alarm, though she hid it with a smile of greeting.
‘So this is where you’ve got to.’ The dark glasses were gone and he looked thoroughly amused to have found her in such a compromising situation.
Julie’s heart thudded wildly. ‘I didn’t realise I’d been away so long. This pool is wonderful. If you’d just, er—’ she made a vague gesture with her hands for him to go away ‘—I’ll—’
He picked up the dress she had tossed on to the black volcanic rock. ‘There’s no place for modesty here, Julie, and least of all coming from you.’
His dig hurt, and she could not understand it, but before she could retort he held out his hand. ‘Let me help you; these rocks can be lethal.’
Against her better judgement, Julie allowed him to steady her as she climbed out, and she had almost made it when, at the last second, her foot slipped on the algae. If it had not been for Cameron’s instant reaction she would have fallen backwards into the water, might even have hurt herself on the rocks.
As they both fought to maintain their balance she was pulled hard against his disturbing male body. It was for seconds only and yet the blood surged through Julie’s veins, her heart pounding so hard it felt as though it was trying to escape from her ribcage.
Cameron swiftly wrapped the dress around her and set her away from him. ‘I don’t think it a good idea that you bathe here alone,’ he said roughly. ‘You see how easy it is to have an accident. I think you’d better wait for Ian to join you another time.’
She wanted to say that if he hadn’t been here it wouldn’t have happened, but that would perhaps give away her inner torment. It was best she remain silent.
‘Some of that rock can be razor-sharp,’ he added. ‘I shudder to think what would have happened if I hadn’t saved you.’
‘I’m grateful,’ she said demurely.
He looked at her with suspicion, having clearly expected a heated retort. ‘I think we’d best get back,’ he announced gruffly, ‘or Ian will be wondering what the hell’s going on.’
Julie was actually surprised that her twin hadn’t come looking for her. He shouldn’t give Cameron the opportunity of confirming his suspicions that their relationship wasn’t all they claimed it to be. He had said he would be more loving, so why wasn’t he being?
Her brother looked up from his notebook as they approached, his smile welcoming. ‘So you found her.’
Cameron grunted, and Ian frowned and looked questioningly at Julie. She lifted her shoulders and pulled down the corners of her mouth. ‘I’ve been bathing,’ she said needlessly.
The sun had turned the sea to molten gold and the black volcanic rocks to bronze. Even Julie’s faint sun-tan took on a healthy glow, and it would have been perfect had the situation not been so delicate.
‘I was going to come looking for you myself,’ Ian said, ‘but Cameron quite rightly said that he knew the island better than me and that he had a good idea where you were.’
And that was supposed to make her feel better, she thought as she ducked into her tent and pulled on a pair of white cotton trousers and a pink shirt, knotting it beneath her breasts. She was still vividly aware of the fact that Cameron had seen her naked and her whole body tingled at the thought of what could have happened.
It was at times like this that she regretted their subterfuge. On the other hand, if she hadn’t agreed to her brother’s risky plan, she would never have met Cameron and the situation wouldn’t have arisen. It was a vicious circle and there was no way out of it.
They sat long after it got dark, letting the stars and the waning moon be their canopy of light. The men spoke of all manner of things, mostly connected with the islands, and Julie listened to the cadences in Cameron’s voice, the soft, deep tones when he was quietly passionate, the deeper, more resonant sounds when he was excited.
‘What do you think, Julie?’
She suddenly realised that she was being spoken to and that she hadn’t heard a word that was said. She had been mesmerised by his voice, not what he was saying, and now she looked at him and gave a guilty smile. ‘I’m sorry, I wasn’t listening.’
‘We thought you might like to join us tomorrow, rather than stay here by yourself.’
Julie looked cautiously from Cameron to her brother and back again, wondering whose idea it had been. ‘I don’t think so. I think I should make a start on your book.’
‘On the contrary.’ Blue eyes pierced hers. ‘I think you should familiarise yourself with the island first. It’s not large, only two and a half square kilometres, but if you need us for any reason you’ll want to know roughly where to find us. I shall always tell you our plans for the day.’
It sounded reasonable, but Julie glanced at her twin for approval before inclining her head. ‘Whatever you say.’
Cameron gave a growl of anger, for some reason her answer displeasing him. Perhaps she hadn’t been enthusiastic enough? ‘Getting the lie of the land is pure common sense, for both of you.’ He got up from his chair and walked away, disappearing into the blackness of the night.
‘What’s got into him?’ asked Ian. ‘He’s been like a bear with a sore head ever since we got here.’
‘He’s angry with me,’ she told him sadly.
‘Whatever for?’
‘Because of Jake—again. Lord, I hate Cameron; he’s impossible. I don’t know how I’m going to get through the next few weeks.’
‘You’ll manage, Sis,’ Ian assured her.
And she knew that for his sake she would do her best, but would her best be good enough?
At nine o’clock she and Ian decided to go to bed. There was nothing to do and Cameron would probably get them up early tomorrow. Sunrise was a swift quarter of an hour affair at about six, and everyone was always awake by then. She saw no reason why Cameron would do anything different here.
Julie must have been more tired than she thought, because she dropped immediately to sleep and knew nothing more until she heard Cameron bellowing at her to wake up.
She groaned and squinted at her wristwatch. True to form, six o’clock, ‘I’m coming,’ she called.
‘Ian isn’t well,’ he announced, the second she showed her head outside the tent.
Immediately she was full of concern, frowning as she entered her brother’s tent. ‘What’s wrong?’ she asked worriedly as she saw his pale face.
He groaned. ‘It’s just a migraine, there’s no panic.’
He had been getting them on and off ever since his split-up with Julie, but none since he’d been out here. She wondered what had brought this one on now. ‘Where are your tabl
ets?’ she asked.
Guessing that this would put paid to their explorations, Julie was totally astonished after breakfast when Cameron announced that their plans were unchanged, the two of them were going without Ian.
‘I can’t leave him like this,’ she protested.
‘He says he would prefer to be left alone.’
Julie pulled a wry face. ‘He always does, but I’m not sure that out here it’s very wise.’
‘I appreciate your concern,’ said Cameron drily, ‘but I consider today’s explorations a vital and very necessary part of your education.’
Their eyes met and warred but Julie knew that she really had no choice. she was going to have to spend the whole day with Cameron whether she liked it or not.
It was with severe misgivings that Julie set off with Cameron on their tour of the island. Ian had assured her that he would be all right, that he preferred to be on his own, that he would be no company if she stayed.
‘But I would be company for you,’ she insisted.
‘I don’t want company,’ he told her wearily. ‘I just want to lie here until I feel better. Bring me a jug of water if you like, but that’s all I need.’
And so, reluctantly, she had gone, conscious of the fact that it was going to be a very difficult day. Cameron Storm had got under her skin to such an extent that she was too aware of him for her own good. It would be hard, if not impossible, to keep her feelings hidden for much longer. The more she saw of him the worse it became to pretend he meant nothing to her. This whole exercise had been meant to rid her mind of Roger—it had done that all right, but in so doing had added another complication to her life.
Like any other island in the archipelago, Vulcan was much drier close to shore, and because it was still a relatively new island only a few parched cacti had begun to grow and the occasional tangled, thorny scrub poked out of fissures in the rock.
‘It’s actually much greener than usual,’ Cameron told her, ‘because we had rain just before you came.’
Julie believed him but it certainly didn’t look like it; everywhere was wild and barren and most unwelcoming. She was not really sure that she was looking forward to spending any length of time here. She liked Santa Cruz much better. Or was it because there were other people there and she felt safer?
He showed her the solar still—a tarred wooden box about three feet by eight and six inches deep, lined with black polythene and filled with sea-water. ‘Ian and I replaced the polythene yesterday,’ he told her. Stretched over the box was a clear plastic roof, like a miniature greenhouse, curved under on the inside to form a trough. The whole structure was tilted slightly.
‘The idea is,’ explained Cameron, ‘that the sun’s heat is absorbed by the black polythene, thus producing vapour which condenses on the roof and runs down into the troughs. It then falls, drip by meagre drip, into these containers. Some goes back into the tank, unfortunately, but by trial and error I’ve managed to make the whole thing fairly efficient. We probably get about a gallon of water a day.’
‘I’m impressed,’ said Julie.
‘It’s primitive but it works,’ he said, ‘though I can’t take credit for the original idea. But enough time spent here—let’s get moving.’
She had plaited and coiled her hair high on her head, perching her straw hat on top. She wore a pair of loose cotton trousers and a T-shirt, and thick-soled trainers which gave her protection against the sometimes vicious edges of the solidified lava.
He took her hand as they scaled the cliffs above their camp. ‘Do I have to climb up here if I need to come looking for you or Ian?’ she asked as they paused for rest. She was slightly breathless, and hoped Cameron wouldn’t guess that it was more because of his touch than the exertion.
‘Is it too much for you?’ Blue eyes mocked her.
‘Of course not,’ she said with an airy grin. ‘I’m as fit as a fiddle. But it does seem a lengthy procedure. Isn’t there anywhere else on the island we could camp where access is easier?’
His lips curled down expressively. ‘I’m afraid not. This is one of the least accessible islands, but it has the advantage of keeping the tourists away. They’re becoming a problem, I’m afraid.’
‘Why is that?’ she asked.
‘Because,’ he explained with surprising patience, ‘there are plants on these islands that are unique; it would be catastrophic if they got trampled on and destroyed altogether. That’s why there are visitor centres on most islands, and specific trails from which you must not wander. A guide is always necessary.’
‘Is that why it’s been turned into a National Park?’
‘Absolutely,’ he told her.
The climbing was easier now, the atmosphere more humid, and the hostile prickly pear had changed to a mixture of much kinder bushes and trees.
‘I don’t know whether your beloved husband has explained,’ he went on, ‘but all of these islands are the tips of volcanoes, pushed up through the ocean when eruptions took place. These on the western side are the most newly formed and are still active.’
Ian hadn’t told her, and she looked at him now, wide-eyed. ‘Active? Is it safe?’
Cameron laughed. ‘Let’s say I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think so. Scientists these days constantly monitor the amount of activity in volcanoes.’
‘I hope you’re right,’ she murmured.
The ground levelled out a bit and Julie made sure there was more space between her and Cameron. It had become virtually impossible to breathe without drinking him in. They were faced with what looked like a field of black lava, which had cooled into fantastic shapes. Here and there mosses and ferns had started to grow and Julie was completely mesmerised by it.
‘It’s beautiful.’ Her voice was hushed, almost as though it were a sacred place.
Cameron made no comment and she turned to look at him; he was watching her, closely observing the light and excitement and appreciation in her eyes.
Julie’s breath caught in her throat and a tremor ran through her—her own tiny eruption! His expression was like none she had seen before. For that tiny space of time he was completely caught up in her. Their eyes met and locked and he, too, seemed to have difficulty tearing away.
The spell was broken when he spoke and it was like the fracturing of an exquisite piece of crystal, the whole moment shattered in a brilliant display of reflected sunlight. Julie could almost see the dazzling colours and she had no idea what he’d said.
‘I’m sorry,’ she whispered through parched lips, ‘I didn’t hear you.’
He gave a twisted smile. ‘I said, it is unusual to find a kindred spirit.’
‘What do you mean?’ Had he guessed how she felt? Still her breathing was erratic, her mouth so dry that swallowing became difficult. It was such a dangerous situation; she must not, could not get tangled with this man, not if she wanted to safeguard her brother’s job.
‘To some people this volcanic landscape means nothing,’ he said. ‘In fact they find it quite ugly.’
She smiled in relief. ‘I see.’ She had been worrying for nothing. It was the beauty of the scene he wanted to discuss, not themselves, not her feelings.
‘“I see”?’ he repeated quizzically. ‘Is that all you have to say?’
Her hands fluttered in a gesture of helplessness. ‘No, of course not. I—I wasn’t aware that you knew how I felt.’
‘You have an expressive face, Julie. There is nothing you can hide from me.’
A wave of trepidation washed over her, but she was grateful for the warning, and made a vow to be extra careful in future. ‘This scenery is certainly impressive,’ she said. ‘I can’t quite get over all the shapes and forms. Some of them look like faces, some like coiled ropes. It’s fascinating.’
She skipped on ahead of him, looking intently at the lavascape, giving it her full attention so that she would not have to face Cameron and the chaotic emotions churning inside her.
‘Isn’t it?’ He had moved silent
ly closer, his voice disturbing in her ear, the electric vibes of him shooting across the short distance between them.
Julie knew that to move would give the game away, disclose to Cameron exactly how she felt, even though he might mistakenly think it was hatred. But to stay put was equally as dangerous. Surely he could hear the unsteady beat of her heart? Feel the heat of her skin, which had nothing to do with the hot sun pouring down on them? She was glad she had worn her hat; she tugged at the brim now, hiding her eyes beneath it.
‘Each island is unique in its own right,’ he told her. ‘No two are the same. There are different forms of lava as well, though I won’t bore you with detail. Let us climb a little higher so that we can observe the whole island. I can then point out the sites where Ian and myself are likely to work.’
It was a release to get going again, though he didn’t move far from her side, and once or twice he held out his hand to steady her as they climbed over uneven ground. She was careful not to snatch away.
The day was turning out to be far worse than Julie had anticipated. It was impossible to ignore the galaxy of feelings and sensations that insisted on twisting her stomach into knots and running riot through her bloodstream.
At the top they looked down into the collapsed crater and also out across the island. The views were stunning. Not only could they see the whole of Vulcan, but all of the other islands as well, looking like giant cinders dropped into the Pacific Ocean from a great height.
‘I’m moved,’ she said. ‘It’s like being in another world.’
He looked pleased. ‘When I suggested Ian bring his—wife—’ a slight pause, but it could have been her imagination ‘—I did not expect someone who would enthuse over these islands as I do. Most people, and I’m not talking about scientists now, find them fascinating as far as the wildlife is concerned, because it’s different and varied and unusual, but as for the islands themselves—’ he lifted his shoulders in an expressive shrug ‘—they’re not their usual concept of an island in the Pacific.’
‘They expect something like Hawaii or Tahiti?’ she asked with a laugh. ‘I agree, but it’s because they’re different that I like them. I think the lava is beautiful—in its own way.’
Stolen Feelings (Island Romances) Page 7