But Shiloh’s arm about her waist was drawing her possessively against his side. ‘Danni, this is Marla and Chris Damien.’
‘You didn’t mention that you were married, Shiloh, you secretive devil!’ Marla’s lip pouted, but her eyes flashed as she turned her attention to Danni. ‘You don’t look old enough to be married to anyone, let alone the dashing Shiloh O’Rourke.’
‘We’ve only been married a short time. A week, in fact,’ grinned Shiloh easily, ‘so maybe Danni hasn’t had time to look harassed.’
Marla’s eyes ran suggestively over Danni’s trim figure. ‘Rather a sudden decision?’ She turned back to Shiloh.
‘A little, perhaps,’ he replied good-naturedly. ‘You could say it was a case of love at first sight and once we’d made up our minds we couldn’t see any sense in waiting, could we, darling?’ His fingers tightened on Danni’s waist.
‘No sense at all,’ Danni smiled sweetly at Shiloh and then at Marla and her husband. ‘I thought it a good idea to get the knot safely tied,’ Danni’s blue eyes held Marla’s, ‘while he was still interested.’ She watched the stiffening of the other girl’s features.
‘Now, that’s funny. I was thinking the same thoughts about you,’ replied Shiloh, taking the conversation in his stride.
‘Congratulations anyway, mate.’ Chris Damien spoke for the first time, holding his hand out to Shiloh. ‘I hope you’ll both be very happy. And nice to meet you, Danni.’ He frowned thoughtfully. ‘I seem to think we’ve met before somewhere.’
‘We have.’ Danni smiled genuinely. ‘In Brisbane about eighteen months ago. My brother, Rick Mathieson, introduced us before a meeting at Lakeside.’
‘Rick? That’s right. Danni Mathieson. Of course, I remember now. Rick’s young sister.’ He shook his head. ‘Tragic time for us all.’ He glanced sideways at his wife. ‘You remember Rick Mathieson, dear?’ he asked guardedly.
‘So you’re the kid sister Rick always talked about,’ said Marla. ‘I somehow always got the impression that you were still at school.’ Marla’s glance implied that Danni’s appearance didn’t alter that impression at all.
‘It was my similar mistake that first had those beautiful blue eyes flashing at me.’ Shiloh planted an affectionate kiss on the end of Danni’s nose just as Jock’s head appeared around the door of the van.
The conversation flowed about Danni without any sense of reality. The only tangible thing was Shiloh’s hand resting on her waist, his strong firm muscles moving against her, setting her physically aflame, coupled with the barely disguised anger in Marla Damien’s eyes.
‘It’s just about time to get ready, Danni.’ Dallas had walked up to them and stood on the outskirts, almost an outsider, a tense frown on his face as his gaze settled on Danni and Shiloh.
Disentangling herself From Shiloh’s arm, Danni made the introductions, watching distastefully as Marla Damien’s eyes moved speculatively over Dallas. ‘Would you excuse me, I have to change for my heats.’
‘My, my, you do have hidden talents, Danni!’ purred Marla Damien.
‘And some not so hidden,’ laughed Shiloh as Danni moved thankfully over to the van.
By the time she returned only her father and Dallas were standing by the car.
‘Shiloh said he’d see you after the race,’ her father told her, his eyes moving from Danni’s figure clad in her bright safety suit to the racing car. ‘I’ll head off over to the grandstand and get a good seat. Good luck, love.’ He touched Danni on the arm and walked off towards the track.
Danni watched him anxiously, lost in thought, her heart going out to her father. Dallas had to wave his hand in front of her to get her attention.
‘Hey, Danni, snap out of it!’ He handed her her balaclava and she tucked her hair inside it before looking at him. His face was creased with a worried frown, as though he had been reading her thoughts. For those few moments she had been on the verge of withdrawing from the race and she knew by the look on Dallas’s face that he suspected as much.
‘It’s all right, Dallas. I’m ready.’ Before she could think she climbed into the car, strapped her safety helmet in place and adjusted her harness. Her mind was numb, so much so that she was on the track before she surfaced front the dull nothingness of her thoughts. Her hands tightened on the wheel and she could feel the perspiration breaking out on her brow. Her heartbeats quickened as a never before experienced fear washed over her in a wave of uncertainty. She’d never felt anything like this before, not even in her first race. Had she lost her nerve?
Dallas was waiting as Danni swung the Formula Ford under the tarpaulin and killed the engine. His eyes followed her every movement as she removed her helmet and balaclava and shook out her damp hair.
‘What happened? he asked eventually. ‘Was it the car?’
Danni shrugged. ‘No, it wasn’t the car. That was perfect as always. It was me. I justâI don’t know, I just couldn’t get into the action.’
Dallas shook his head. ‘You’ll be in the middle of the pack tomorrow.’
‘I know.’ Danni pulled off her gloves. ‘I’m sorry, Dallas. I have a headache. I think I’ll have a rest in the van.’
‘Aren’t you coming across to watch the rest of the races?’
‘No. No, you go. I’ll see you later.’ Danni stepped into the van and slowly peeled off her racing suit. She splashed her hot face with tepid water and climbed into a pair of jeans and a loose, sleeveless top. Lying down on one of the bunks, she closed her eyes, wishing fervently that she could close her mind as easily.
What was the matter with her anyway? So Shiloh was racing again. So what? That was his business. If he chose to kill himself thenâDanni pressed her hand to her mouth, a feeling of nausea rising within her. She couldn’t explain this crushing fear. Even when Rick was racing she hadn’t suffered more than a slight uneasiness.
She lay on the bunk, her thoughts chaotic, until her father’s voice brought the realisation that the shadows in the van had deepened.
‘Danni? You there, love?’
‘Yes, Pop, I’m here.’ She struggled off the bunk as her father opened the door and poked his head inside. ‘I must have dozed off.’
‘Pity you didn’t come over to the track. Shiloh did pretty well in his heats. He’ll be on the front line tomorrow,’ Jock said, carefully not mentioning Danni’s race. ‘Not that I agree with him going back to racing, especially the 5000s,’ he began, and broke off. ‘Yes, well, it’s none of my business, I guess.’
‘Where’s Dallas?’ Danni changed the subject.
‘He’s met up with some mates and will probably spend the evening with them. We’re going to have a slap-up dinner at the motel restaurant and if we head off now it’ll give you time to get yourself prettied up,’ he grinned.
‘I’ve only brought one dress with me, Pop,’ Danni began, ‘and it’s hardly suitable to dine in style.’
‘You’d look beautiful in a sack, love,’ laughed her father. ‘Now come on, I’ve booked a table.’
When Danni emerged from their motel room a short time later her father had gone, and her step faltered when she recognised the broad shoulders of the man standing waiting for her. As she pulled the door to, his eyes moved over her figure in the long patterned dress.
‘Where’s my father?’ she asked, trying to appear as calm as he looked.
‘Gone on over to the restaurant.’ Shiloh shoved his hands into the pockets of his dark brown dress jeans, drawing her attention to the latent strength of his muscular thighs. There was no denying his attractiveness. His cream short-sleeved polo shirt moulded the broad contours of his chest and shoulders, and the cool breeze of dusk lifted his fair hair, each strand burnished by the backlighting of the fluorescent lamps. ‘You didn’t do so well today,’ he said evenly.
‘No.’ Danni felt her hackles begin to rise and she took a steadying breat
h. ‘There’s always tomorrow.’ She tried to be offhand. Trust him to get her back up before the evening began!
He was regarding her with his tawny eyes. ‘Any troubles mechanically?’
‘None. There never is.’ Danni’s reply was terse. “Dallas is an A grade mechanic. I just wasn’t firing.’ She shrugged.
‘You shouldn’t go out on the track if you aren’t mentally and physically pitched to compete.’
‘I shouldn’t go out on the track? That’s rich!’ Danni’s body tensed. ‘And you, of course, are in perfect physical condition, I suppose?’
‘We weren’t talking about me,’ he said clippedly.
‘No, you weren’t. But I am. You failed to mention your intention to continue motor racing so soon. I had to find out from Dallas this afternoon.’ Danni’s anger blazed. ‘How do you think I felt, having to pretend I knew all about it?’
‘Don’t tell me you cared?’ Sarcasm put an edge to his voice. ‘I just might be led to believe that you’ve reconsidered your childishâ’
‘Childish?’ Danni cut him off. ‘Oh, what’s the use?’ She went to swing away from him but his hand grasped her wrist, forcing her back to face him. Her eyes met his and alarm overrode her anger at the fierceness of his expression. Their eyes locked and duelled, Danni knowing instinctively he would always have the upper hand. A flash of fear had her drawing back from him and with a muffled curse he pulled her against him, crushing her lips beneath his.
Danni tried to free herself from him, escape the havoc he was wreaking upon her, knowing how easily she could be seduced by his assault upon her senses. Her hand on his chest registered the racing of his heart as it pounded his arousal.
Eventually Shiloh dragged his lips from hers and his breathing was as irregular as her own. ‘Danni, Iâ’ He shook his head, part in anger, part in exasperation. ‘God! I can’t take much more of this. As you said, “What’s the bloody use?” Let’s go and have dinner.’
The restaurant was relatively crowded and Jock welcomed them without noticing the unleashed charge of electricity which still sparked between them. The meal was delicious, so her father said, and Danni made a pretence of enjoying it, although every mouthful tasted like ashes. The men didn’t appear to notice that she added little to the conversation, wrapped as they were in their own discussion of the day’s heats and tomorrow’s races. Any antagonism between herself and Shiloh seemed to have been shelved for the evening.
They were drinking a cup of coffee after their meal when Jock’s words brought Danni’s head up in shock. Passing the key to their motel room across to Shiloh, he casually said, ‘You may as well stay here with Danni. I’ll bunk down in the van with Dallas.’
‘Pop, you can’t!’ Danni exclaimed in dismay. ‘You and I were going to share the motel room, and besides, the van’s far too cramped for you and Dallas,’ she added lamely.
‘Rubbish!’ said Jock. ‘I’ve slept in tighter spots,’ he grinned.
‘Butâ’ She appealed to Shiloh with her eyes as he sat back smiling a trifle tensely.
‘Very thoughtful of you, Jock. We’ll take you up on that,’ he replied easily. ‘It saves me trying to convince Danni she should come down to my tent at the track.’ He winked at his father-in-law. ‘This is a much better arrangement.’
Jock laughed and set his empty cup on its saucer. ‘Well, I’ll leave you to it. You can bring Danni back in your car in the morning, okay?’ He bent to kiss Danni lightly on the forehead. ‘See you tomorrow, love.’
‘Thanks, Jock.’ Shiloh smiled with general bonhomie.
Danni fixed her gaze on the dregs in the coffee cup she clenched in her hand, refusing to look at Shiloh.
After a moment he stood up and walked around to the back of her chair. ‘Come on, Danni. I want to get an early night tonight.’
Danni stood up stiffly. ‘If you thinkâ’ she began.
‘Save it, Danni,’ he bit off between clenched teeth, ‘unless you want to make a scene right here in the middle of the restaurant.’
His fingers firmly held her upper arm as they walked out of the restaurant and across to their room. Unlocking the door, he all but shoved Danni inside and flicked on the lights.
As motel rooms went it passed muster, although at that moment Danni was totally unaware of the decor. To one side was a double bed and on the other a narrow single divan with matching olive green quilts. There was the usual bench for suitcases, a television set and a small refrigerator. A door led off to the small bathroom and toilet.
Danni swung around as Shiloh slammed the door and leant back against it with his arms folded, and her eyes flashed darkly with suppressed anger. ‘I’m not staying here with you and that’s final,’ she stated, with more conviction than she actually felt.
‘Quit playing the outraged maiden, Danni,’ he said flatly, moving towards her as he pulled off his shirt.
Danni drew back instinctively, but he was heading for the bathroom.
‘There are two beds. I’m taking the double, so you can have your choice.’ He tossed his shirt on the bed. ‘Has Jock left his shaving gear here? Ah, yes.’ He rubbed his hand over his jaw as he picked up the electric shaver. ‘I could use a shave and a shower.’
He disappeared into the bathroom while Danni’s eyes followed him, watching the play of light on his broad muscular shoulders which had grown tanned in the few weeks since they had swum together at his parents’ home. Was it only weeks ago? It seemed an age.
Danni glanced towards the outer door and had taken a few steps towards it before she realised the futility of it. Where could she go? With the motor races being held this weekend all the accommodation nearby would be taken. Sighing, she walked across and removed her cotton nightdress and robe from her overnight case and sat down wearily on the single bed.
When Shiloh appeared he had a towel wrapped loosely around him, hanging low on his narrow hips, and Danni’s eyes moved over his body, almost hypnotised by its firmness, glistening with dampness. But he barely glanced in her direction, simply folding his slacks over a hanger and stowing them in a cupboard.
‘The shower’s free,’ he said without turning around.
Danni stood up and walked towards the door.
‘You might as well take this towel in with you,’ he said as she passed him and, to her consternation, he unwrapped it from his waist and put it into her hands.
Danni flushed scarlet, turning quickly from his naked body, and his teasing chuckle followed her into the bathroom until she closed the door on the taunting sound. She spent a considerable time under the shower, trying to relax her tension-stretched muscles and, somewhat reluctantly, in some trepidation she slowly opened the door.
To her surprise the room was in semi-darkness. Only the small lamp by the television set emitted a subdued glow and Shiloh’s still form was spread out on the double bed, his face to the wall, the bottom half of his body covered by the light cream sheet. She listened intently to his relaxed breathing, realising he was already asleep. Moving quietly so as not to disturb him, she crossed to the single divan and turned down the covers before switching off the lamp and slipping between the sheets.
She lay tense and stiff staring into the darkness, her hearing tuned to Shiloh’s even breathing, knowing she was far too alert to even contemplate sleep. Unbidden came the thought that she could very well have slipped into the bed beside Shiloh. In fact, part of her wished she could do just that, wished she had the nerve to get up from the confines of this narrow uncomfortable divan and feel the length of his body alongside hers. No doubt, given the chance, Marla Damien would have had no hesitation in doing so. For all Danni knew she could already have done so. There had been a certain knowingness in the looks Marla was giving Shiloh. They obviously had some history.
A pain somewhere in the vicinity of her heart made her close her eyes at the realisation that she was burnin
gly jealous of the other girl’s relationship with Shiloh. She shut her mind to Marla Damien, tried to blot out that photograph in the newspaper. She had no proof that Shiloh was in any way involved with her. Besides, Marla was married to the very nice, very rich Chris Damien.
Eventually Danni must have slipped into a troubled sleep, although it seemed to be only a few minutes before she stirred. Something, some noise, had woken her. Danni stared into the gloom, the darkness broken intermittently by the pale glow of a flashing neon sign.
When the babble of incoherent words broke the quietness Danni almost jumped out of her skin. Her fingers clutched the sheets, her heart pounding loudly in her ears. She realised the sound was coming from the double bed and she sat up as Shiloh began to toss about, his voice rising a shade higher.
Was he ill? Without thinking she was out of bed and had padded across the room, flicking on the reading lamp over his bed and standing looking down at him. He began muttering again, a jumble of words, none of which she could catch. He must be dreaming, not pleasantly, judging by the agitated way he was thrashing about.
Danni’s hand went out to wake him when he began moving about with more violence, throwing his arms up to protect his face, and then his hands went to move agitatedly over his legs. He began talking again and this time his words were painfully clear. ‘I’m caught. Can’t move. Have to get out. Get me out!’ His voice rose.
Kneeling on the side of the bed, Danni tried to wake him as gently as she could, and his skin was damp to touch. In the light from the reading lamp she could see beads of perspiration on his brow. He surfaced slowly from the depths of obvious terror into which his subconscious had lured him while he slept. His eyes opened and he took some time to focus on her worried face.
Race For Revenge (Lynsey Stevens Romance) Page 14
