by Janet Woods
Patrick shrugged. ‘It will get dirty.’
‘Haven’t you ever heard of a car-wash,’ she scoffed. She walked away from him when she detected the beginnings of a sneer on his face. ‘I’ll drop in on Andrew and see if he can provide you with another set of clothes, shall I?’
‘Suit yourself.’
The least he could have done was thank her, she fumed storming from the house. How one set of parents could have produced such a contrast in sons was beyond her. Andrew and Patrick Morgan were completely different in looks and personality. It was as if their genes had divided into two definite branches.
Andrew was everything that was good, a golden haired angel with a kind gentle nature. Patrick? She snorted. Patrick was a dark-haired demon with a temper to match. She’d never despised anyone so much in her life.
At least the rain had dwindled to a fine drizzle. Ellie congratulated herself as she backed the car from the garage. She hadn’t really expected the rain spell to work. Now the drought was broken and the local farmers would be assured of good feed for their livestock in the coming summer.
Deep in thought, Ellie headed down the hill towards the valley. Absently she followed the tracks of another vehicle, avoiding the potholes as best she could. The road was really a track, narrow in part, and rarely used since the council had graded a road through to her aunt’s place. Not that they’d done it for her benefit.
The house had once been part of a dairy farm, and had been purchased by her aunt when the area had been parceled into small holdings. The farmlets hadn’t sold, and the land now belonged to a consortium of businessmen that intended to build a golf course and resort infrastructure. Her father had been involved in that. His share was presently being argued over by the two banks that had backed him in the project.
It would be a shame to spoil this part of Victoria, she though, gazing at the rolling wooded hill and distant mountains as she rounded a bend and headed into the valley. It was part of her childhood.
Each summer holiday had been spent here when she’d been growing up. She smiled as she recalled her childish excitement each time her father drove the one hundred and twenty miles from Melbourne to let her stay with her aunt and thrive in the country air.
Her reveries were brought to a sudden end when the car skewed to a sudden halt. The breath left her body as she was thrown forward against her seat-belt. A slimy substance coated the windscreen, its suddenness making her flinch.
Mud! She’d driven into a mud hole. She applied her eye to a small clear patch. She’d done more than that. Stretched in front of her was a debris-filled lake. She’d forgotten the creek curved through the valley. The whole area was flooded.
The tire tracks she’d followed? Her face screwed into a scowl. Patrick had already been down here. He’d known about this.
Slamming the car into reverse she attempted to back out, but only succeeded in coating the rear window to match the front, and sinking deeper into the mire. The damned thing wasn’t going to move.
‘That misbegotten son of a ...’ She mentally apologized to Patrick’s mother. It was at least two miles back to the house. She’d have to walk back and ask for his help.
Her second shock came when she tried to open the door. It wouldn’t budge. When she stuck her head out of the window she saw that the mud was up over the bottom on the door. The only way out was through the window. Hitching her skirt up to her thighs she extended one leg through the window. She managed to get a grip on the steering wheel with one hand then grabbed the back of the seat with the other. The other leg slid through, a bit of wiggling saw her buttocks balanced, and then she shoved. She made a perfect landing. Both of her feet touched the mud at the same time, then they sank and she fell forward.
This time she didn’t spare Patrick’s mother. ‘Son of a bitch!’
The leg made a sucking sound as her shoe was left behind, as did her next step. Concentrating on the vast expanse of mud she spat out various expletives - all aimed at Patrick Morgan, as she sludged her way to the bank. She stopped dead as a couple of wheels hove into her vision.
Patrick lounged against the Rover, his arms crossed, a smile of pure delight on his face.
‘You ... you ...?’ she spluttered. Her eyes narrowed when he chuckled. ‘You did it on purpose, didn’t you?’
‘Did what? I told you the creek was still up. It’s not my fault you chose not to listen.’ Picking up a rope coiled on the bonnet he handed her the noosed end. ‘Go and loop it over your tow bar. I’ll haul you out.’
‘Me?’ She couldn’t wade through that mud again. ‘Why don’t you do it?’
‘It’s your car and you’re already dirty,’ he pointed out. ‘If you want to leave it there that’s up to you.’ He shrugged. ‘If it rains again –’
‘I get the message,’ she hissed through gritted teeth. ‘You’ve obviously got no intention of behaving like a gentleman.’
‘Got it in one.’
Ellie wished one of the black and white magpies that nested in the area would swoop down and pluck the amusement from his face. No - a giant prehistoric Pterandon would be better! It could flap away with Patrick clutched in its claws. It wouldn’t know the difference between him and a cave man anyway.
‘Well?’ His eyes narrowed as he observed her malicious smile. ‘Do you want your car towed out or not?’
Now her imagination had disposed of him Ellie felt better. Mud was supposed to be good for the skin, she thought as she plunged back into the morass. A few minutes of groping under the slime located the tow bare. Triumphantly she attached the line. ‘You can pull it out now.’
Patrick didn’t budge an inch. The impatience in her eyes made her wonder what she’d done wrong now.
‘What are you waiting for?’ she yelled.
‘If the line breaks it will take your feather-brained skull with it, darling.’ His voice became a roar. ‘Get your provocative little rump out of there.’
Arms wind-milling to keep her balance Ellie made it to the bank. How dare he shout at her like that? Who the hell did he think he was ordering her around? She was going to give him a piece of her mind - a large piece!
Trust him to get into the Rover before she could act on it. Just you wait until you’ve finished, Patrick Morgan, she seethed, folding her arms as the motor roared into life. She moved to one side to watch the proceedings.
It didn’t take long. As the Rover backed away, her car slid from the mire like a hot knife through butter.
‘No trouble at all.’ Patrick jumped down from the Rover and unhooked the rope. ‘Let’s hope she starts.’
‘If it doesn’t it will be your fault.’ She unhooked the tow-rope and threw it angrily at his feet. ‘Don’t you ever shout at me like that again. I wish I’d never set eyes on you. You’re the most arrogant male I’ve ever come across. You march into my aunt’s home, treat me like dirt, and then go out of your way to make as much trouble as possible. I wish I’d left you to drown at the creek last night.’ Sucking in a deep breath she tried to think of something else to say, and failed. She just glared at him, her green eyes smoldering with all the venom she could muster.
He smiled. ‘Hasn’t anyone taught you to say thanks?’
Where had she heard those words before? She wished she hadn’t mentioned the creek when she remembered. He wouldn’t dare!
He would dare. She didn’t struggle as he jerked her against him. What was the use? She couldn’t have broken his grip even if she’d wanted too. One of his hands had captured both of hers behind her back, the other was splayed against the back of her neck. Forced by this maneuver on to her toes, she had no balance and fell against the lean hard length of his body whilst his lips took their toll of hers.
Some punishments were sweet agony and this one fell right into that category. Half of her welcomed his kiss, the other half knew it should be fought. As soon as he relaxes his grip I’ll definitely protest ...
His tongue somehow found an opening, invited her to respond. H
e must have forced her! There must be something wrong with her own tongue to make it behave in such a fashion. Lack of oxygen . . . chemically charged mud. Her body was prickling as though electricity was running through it. Perhaps they’d been hit by lightning.
Desire hit her so quickly Ellie thought she must have died and gone to heaven. It started in her toes and spread upwards in a warm flood before centering in one sensual ache. Her stomach hollowed, her breasts nudged against the wiry warmth of his chest - and she melted.
Heavens! His kiss was dynamite, his body packaged to fulfill her most secret fantasies. He was lean, mean, and designed to possess. He stirred against her, evoking a corresponding response. He made her feel shockingly female in her urges. She reveled in the thought that he was as aroused as she. A murmur of pleasure whispered from her lips.
Patrick’s body stiffened. Suddenly his hands pushed her away. He gazed at her with an angry expression in his eyes. His voice had a harsh ragged sound to it. ‘You’re quite a tease.’
Cold water couldn’t have been a more effective catharsis. Dismayed by her own vulnerability she went into the attack.
‘Don’t you ever take responsibility for your own actions? I don’t recall inviting you to kiss me, nor do I welcome your cave-man approach.’ Burning with indignation she ignore the warning in his eyes. ‘A gorilla with halitosis would have given me more pleasure. What’s more ...’ She caught sight of Todd gazing at her and lowered her voice to a whisper. ‘What’s more - I never tease.’
‘Is that so?” His mouth slid into its ironic grin as his eyes insolently raked her body. ‘I’ve got something to look forward to then.’
‘You’re much too sure of yourself, Patrick Morgan,’ she spat out, watching him turn to climb into the Land Rover. ‘Where are you going?’
‘Back to the house, bossy boots.’
Ellie had the satisfaction of seeing him almost as muddy as she was now.
‘What if my car doesn’t start?’
‘Then you’ll have to hoof it, lady.’
‘No wonder your wife left you,’ she taunted when he started the engine. ‘Jack the Ripper pales into insignificance when you’re around.’
Abruptly the engine died. Leaping from the Rover he strode to where she stood and gripped her by the shoulders. ‘Don’t push me too far, Eloise. I don’t want you to mention her again. Got it?’
Ellie’s mouth dried up as Patrick’s cold eyes bored into hers. He’d spelled it out loud and clear. At the same time he’d aroused a spark of curiosity in her.
‘Why?’ She asked it so softly that Patrick looked as though he couldn’t believe he’d heard it. There was an uncertainty in his expression that told her he wasn’t used to being questioned. She took advantage of his apparent confusion. ‘You seem to have some sort of prejudice towards me because of her.’
‘Don’t push it.’
‘I won’t pay the price for something she did.’ Ellie saw her opportunity slipping away as his jaw tightened. ‘I’ll fight you every inch of the way.’
‘You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that.’ His slid his hands from her shoulders and shrugged. ‘Perhaps I am being unfairly judgmental. Todd’s mother and I were never married. She abandoned us both when the going got tough and married one of her own kind.’ His voice was still curt, but the rigidity had left his body. Making an abrupt turn towards the Rover. ‘See if your car starts. I’ll wait.’
It did after a few false starts. Whilst she followed Patrick back up the track Ellie realized that Patrick wasn’t as tough as he made out. Not only was he capable of being hurt, he buried that hurt deep inside him. She reminded him of his lost love, that’s why he lashed out at her.
He would have to learn he wasn’t the only one who’d been hurt. She didn’t go around feeling sorry for herself or taking her failed love affair out on everyone else. When David Lessingham had gone she’d considered herself lucky they hadn’t been married. Patrick should do the same. Any woman who abandoned her child didn’t deserve a second thought in Ellie’s book ... or any man come to that.
It surprised her that Todd didn’t seem to be damaged by the loss of his mother. He didn’t show any signs of the aggressive or withdrawn behavior that a majority of the kids she looked after did. Todd was polite, with just enough cheekiness to endear himself to her. He must have a very close relationship with his father to have escaped the trauma of his loss.
Glancing at the two heads in the larger vehicle, she lifted her hand in a wave when Todd turned and gaze at her. Attention distracted, she failed to see the deep pothole. She instinctively ducked as the steering wheel jerked from her hand and a tree loomed menacingly in front of her.
What had he called her ... a jinx? The screech of tortured metal and breaking glass made her wince, even as the airbag exploded suffocatingly into her face.
‘You must carry the same jinx as ...’ Who had he been referring to - Todd’s mother? Himself?
As far as Ellie was concerned Patrick was the jinx. As the bag deflated around her she wondered if the book of spells had a formula to remove it. It was worth a try.
* * * *
Tension was making her head ache. As she heard the Rover squeal to a stop she knew Patrick was going to be furious with her. She couldn’t stand being shouted at again.
‘Ellie?’
His voice sounded incensed, the thud of his footfall very near and very menacing. Patrick was a man who didn’t suffer fools gladly, and she’d been an absolute idiot.
Under the circumstances, Ellie took the only sensible course she could think of. She decided to faint.
Chapter Three
‘Is Ellie going to wake up?’
If she didn’t it would be all Patrick’s fault. After a cursory check of her pulse and a more personal exploration of her limbs that was necessary, he’d simply pulled her from her car, hung her over his shoulder and dumped her on the back seat of the Rover.
It had been an effort not to sink her talons into the twin mounds of his buttocks as her dangling fingers brushed against them. A greater effort was to stay limp when the Rover seemed to bounce through every pothole in the track.
Now she was lying on the couch Patrick used as a bed, wondering if it was safe to wake up. Never having experienced a faint Ellie wasn’t sure how long it should last.
‘Don’t worry Todd, she’s a tough as they come.’
How could he sound so casual? She might have a broken back for all he knew. Thanks for the sympathy, Patrick. I love you too, she thought.
‘A pity about her face.’ Patrick’s fingers plucked something from her hair. It made a pinging sound as he dropped in on to a metallic surface. ‘Let’s hope she knows of a good plastic surgeon.’
Plastic surgery! That was glass he’d taken from her hair. Both hands shot to her face at the same time. Patrick chuckled as she gazed with horror through her fingers at him. ‘What’s wrong with it?’
‘Nothing. It’s the most flawless face I’ve ever seen.’
Ellie was unprepared for the warmth of Patrick’s laughter. He didn’t seem in the least annoyed at the moment. Maybe - just maybe - she’d over-reacted to him initially. Interest came into her eyes and her mouth twitched into a grin. ‘How did you know I was faking it?’
‘By the reaction of your body when I examined you for broken limbs.’
‘Some of the places you examined didn’t have limbs,’ she muttered, coloring at the intimacy of his smile.
His second chuckle bathed her in warmth. ‘I had to be thorough. Would you mind telling me why you felt you had to go to such lengths?’
‘I was scared you’d have a piece of me.’
‘You were scared. Todd nearly had hysterics when you hit that tree. You’re a walking disaster area, Eloise.’
Ellie took Todd’s hand and kissed it in comfort. Patrick needed no such reassurance. Already his eyes were mirroring impatience. His hand rasped over his day old beard as if it annoyed him as much as she did. Added to his already
battered face, the whiskers gave him a disreputable air.
‘I’m ... sorry.’ Much as she begrudged the fact, she did owe him an apology.
‘Am I such a tartar, Ellie?’
Of course he was. He’d thrown down the gauntlet in his hostile manner of asking. She itched to remind him of the fact, but prudently avoided provoking another battle.
‘Your appearance is a little bit intimidating at the moment.’ Todd edged on to the couch and leaned against her arm. Instinct brought Ellie’s arm around him, her lips to the top of his head in a kiss. He snuggled against her with a grin on his face.
Patrick’s brown furrowed as his hand rasped over his chin again. ‘I’m hardly in any position to do anything about it.’
‘I have some disposable razors,’ she suggested.
‘They’re better than nothing, I suppose.’ A grin nudged at his mouth as he rose to his feet. ‘Do you have any aftershave in your kit?’
‘I’m afraid not.’ She ignored the mockery in his eyes. ‘There’s cologne in the bathroom cupboard if you want to try that.’
‘As long as it’s not one of your concoctions, I was one big itch last night.’
She colored again when his glance washed over her in suspicion. Trust him to remind her of that. Ellie watched him move, loose-hipped towards the door. He’d recovered hadn’t he? Was it her fault the book didn’t cover the possibility of side effects?
The book! Panic gripped her when she realized she’d left it on the coffee table in this very room. Her eyes darted to the table and she froze for a second. Then she saw its cover sticking out from under a cushion and sighed with relief. If Patrick found out his hives were the result of some magical mayhem he’d make her life a misery.
Misery came in different forms it seemed. No sooner was lunch over than Patrick rose to his feet. ‘Let’s go.’
