Stolen Feelings (Island Romances)

by Margaret Mayo

  Taken by surprise, she asked sharply, ‘And what is that supposed to mean?’

  ‘I think you know.’ His blue eyes narrowed upon hers and Julie felt a quiver of unease. Another thought struck her. Surely he wasn’t aware that she already felt a faint pull of attraction? Surely she hadn’t given herself away in this short space of time? He didn’t think, he couldn’t think, that she was like this with every man she met? Could he?

  ‘If you can’t cope,’ he added crisply, ‘say so now and you and Ian can go back to England before we get started.’

  Julie deliberately misinterpreted him. ‘I have no doubt at all that I can cope with the job.’ It had taken them ages to get their permits to stay and work here; Ian would never forgive her if she fouled things up now.

  ‘And everything else?’ he persisted, and this time there was no doubt what he meant.

  ‘But of course.’ She kept her eyes steady on his.

  ‘And may I suggest that you do something with your hair.’ His eyes raked over its long length. ‘Either tie it up or get the scissors to it. It’s totally impractical in this heat.’

  She tossed her head. ‘You don’t have to tell me, I’ve already found that out. I have every intention of tying my hair back just as soon as I’ve had a shower and changed.’

  ‘Showered?’ He looked at her as though she were out of her mind. ‘There are no mod cons here.’

  Julie felt slightly foolish, but she was damned if she would show it. She lifted her chin defensively. ‘Whatever.’

  In the privacy of the tent Julie flung herself down on one of the camp-beds and wondered what she had let herself in for. Apart from the difficulty of the masquerade, she had never imagined anything like this. Had Ian known they would be sleeping under canvas? Had he deliberately misled her? Or had he thought it would be different too?

  Throughout the flight from England to Ecuador she had tried to imagine what life in the Galapagos Islands would be like. Nothing had prepared her for camping out on the beach. She actually did not like sleeping under canvas.

  When they were young, she and Ian had gone on a camping holiday with their parents and a violent thunderstorm had blown down the tent in the middle of the night. Several dozen frightened cows had come charging through their camp and frightened her even more than the storm. They had never managed to persuade her to sleep under canvas again.

  It was a pity, Julie thought now, that she and Ian had not been able to fly out here together. They’d actually had difficulty in getting flights, and in the end he had come out more than a week before her.

  She had stayed one night in Ecuador at a hotel in Quito, and had somehow expected things to be equally as civilised here. Perhaps, if she had thought about it properly, she would have realised that it wasn’t possible, that living in a tent was far more practical when it was necessary to move camp from one island to another—except that she hadn’t known they would be moving!

  It was hot inside the tent and totally airless, and it was easy to see why most of them had no sides—obviously Cameron had thought that she and Ian needed their privacy!

  Eventually she sat up and hugged her knees and looked about her. There was not exactly a lot of room and only one small area to store and hang their clothes. She had brought far too much, most of it totally impractical. When would she ever wear dresses, for instance? And high heels? She had thought they would dine out sometimes, that it wouldn’t be all work and no play. It certainly didn’t look like that now.

  She knew that Santa Cruz was the second largest island and the main tourist centre, with the Charles Darwin Research Station stituated here, but she hadn’t really understood how remote their camp was going to be. And she was afraid to imagine what it was going to be like when they went to Vulcan Island. The stress would be intolerable.

  Julie pulled off her dress and contemplated slipping into the sea as she desperately needed to cool down. Then the thought that Cameron Storm might be out there watching made her quickly change her mind. She would manage without, for the time being.

  She opened her suitcase and tugged out a T-shirt and shorts. She saw no point at all in unpacking if they would shortly be on the move. She fished her comb out of her bag and raked it through her hair, twisting its length into a knot on top of her head which she fixed securely with a few hairpins.

  When she ventured outside, Cameron, surprisingly and pleasingly, was nowhere in sight and she was able to wander through the campsite at will. She found the kitchen supplies tent and a stove that was run by Calor gas, which she supposed she was going to have to learn to use.

  Intense fury ran through her. She wasn’t the world’s best cook, and it wasn’t a task she particularly enjoyed. If Ian had deliberately let her believe she was cooking only for the three of them, if he had known all along what he was letting her in for, then he would certainly get a piece of her mind.

  ‘I’m glad you did as you were told.’

  Julie turned quickly at the sound of Cameron’s voice. He had come up so quietly behind her that her senses triggered in faint alarm. ‘What do you mean?’ she asked with a frown.

  ‘Your hair.’

  Involuntarily she touched it, tempted to remind him again that she would have done so anyway, but deciding there was no point in provoking further antagonism. This was a very small community—and would be smaller still far too soon! It was best that they maintain some sort of halfway decent relationship.

  He looked at her appraisingly and insolently, not missing one inch of her body, starting at the tips of her toes and working his way slowly upwards, pausing to rest on the pert thrust of her breasts before finally meeting her furious hazel eyes.

  ‘You’re too damned beautiful,’ he growled, and it wasn’t a compliment. ‘I’m not sure that it was a good idea after all; you could prove an unfortunate distraction.’

  Julie knew he wasn’t talking about himself. In the short time she had spent in Cameron’s company she had got the impression that he was always in control, always in complete charge of his life, and that no woman, however attractive, would be allowed to intrude.

  ‘I’m sorry we did not meet when I was in England recently,’ he added.

  ‘Because then you wouldn’t have insisted that I accompany Ian, is that it?’ she asked crisply. ‘I think you’re being very insulting, Mr Storm, I can assure you I do not have a roving eye. I’m not interested in other men. I’m very happy as things are.’

  Before Roger she had had no steady boyfriends. After what had happened to her mother she had always sworn she would never get married. But it had happened, she had fallen in love, and had really thought she had found the ideal man—until Roger’s jealously got the better of him.

  He hadn’t been able to bear her to even talk to another man. At first she had been flattered, thought it proved how much he loved her, but when he had accused her of having an affair, when he would not listen when she’d explained that Tod Martin was a lifelong friend of the family and had taken her out for a meal because they hadn’t seen each other for over twelve months, she had ended their relationship.

  He had been very acrimonious, and their argument had hurt her deeply, causing her many sleepless nights.

  ‘Is that so?’ Cameron’s brows rose mockingly, as though he thought otherwise, as though he thought she would have a field day with twenty men to take her choice from. ‘You’re happy with Ian?’

  It was the glint in his eye that did it. Why he should have this instant damning opinion of her, she did not know. ‘I am, very much so,’ she told him furiously. ‘What have I done, Mr Storm, to deserve such offensive comments?’

  He actually looked amused. ‘You’ve done nothing—yet.’

  ‘You’re just being prepared?’

  ‘Something like that,’ he admitted, his lips quirking.

  Julie lifted her chin and glared. ‘You will find that I shall do nothing except my work—to the best of my ability. Is that good enough?’

  ‘I guess it wi
ll have to be.’ Their eyes met and challenged, and then, with a sudden, surprising change of subject, he said, ‘Ian is just the person I need to assist me. I am currently documenting the life of the fur seals. They are becoming an endangered species, as he’s probably told you?’

  ‘Actually no,’ replied Julie. ‘I’ve no idea what sort of work you do.’

  He looked suprised, and immediately launched into an explanation. ‘It’s El Niño which is the problem,’ he told her. ‘A warm current which comes at around Christmas-time. It doesn’t normally have too much effect, but once every six or seven years the flow is exceptionally large; rainfall and temperatures soar and all the fish move away. Consequently its catastrophic for life that depends on the sea.’

  ‘Such as the fur seals,’ she acknowledged.

  ‘That’s right, and seabirds and marine iguanas. Most of the young die because they can’t feed and it takes many years for things to get back to normal—if ever.’

  He was a totally different man when he was talking about his work—gone was the mockery and the hardness. It was very evident that he genuinely cared about wildlife. She relaxed and smiled. ‘You’re very passionate about your work, Mr Storm.’

  ‘It is my one and only interest in life,’ he admitted, and then, with another abrupt change of subject, ‘I was actually suprised to hear Ian had got married. I thought he was an equally earnest young man, intent only on furthering his career. When I first met him a couple of years ago there wasn’t even a girl on the scene. He mentioned to me then about coming out here.’

  Julie smiled faintly, uncomfortably. ‘It did happen rather suddenly.’

  ‘He seemed very sure that you would come with him. Did you take much persuading?’ His deep blue eyes were watchful on hers and Julie shifted uneasily. The heat was getting to her; there wasn’t even a breeze to counteract the sun’s intensity. It was high overhead and she hadn’t eaten or drunk anything since breakfast. She had flown the six hundred miles from Ecuador to the island of Baltra, and then taken the ferry here to Santa Cruz, and now she was both hungry and thirsty and didn’t really want to stand talking to Cameron Storm.

  ‘I didn’t actually jump at it,’ she admitted. But that had only been because of the deception. Otherwise it had come at a perfect time.

  ‘Because you didn’t want to give up your job?’

  Julie shook her head. ‘Actually, I’m between jobs; I was made redundant a few months ago.’

  ‘So it was loyalty to your husband?’ There was a cynical tone to his voice now.

  ‘Of course,’ she snapped.

  ‘But you don’t share his interest in ecology?’

  ‘No. Does it matter?’

  His mouth twisted. ‘Not so long as you don’t whinge all the time. This is hardly the place for someone who…’

  Julie heard no more. His words receded and were lost as the heat pounded in her head. Everything began to spin, round and round, faster and faster, until finally she lost her balance.

  CHAPTER TWO

  JULIE felt herself being held against a hard, masculine body by arms that were strong and supportive, and yet surprisingly gentle. She was led to a canvas chair in the shade and a glass of water pushed into her hand.

  She took a long, much needed drink and immediately her glass was refilled. ‘I shouldn’t have kept you out in the sun,’ Cameron said. ‘I’m used to it; I forget. It is easy to become dehydrated. You must drink plenty of liquids and take salt tablets if necessary. We always keep a supply.’

  ‘Thank you,’ said Julie.

  ‘Are you hungry also? When did you last eat?’

  ‘Not since my breakfast at seven, as a matter of fact,’ she told him, ‘but I can easily get myself something. I’m feeling much better now.’ In fact she felt normal again and stood up.

  But Cameron pushed her back down, and with a wry twist of his lips said, ‘I’d advise you to make the most of it. After this you’ll get no help from anyone.’

  He disappeared into the tent and came back with a bread roll, a chunk of cheese and an apple, and a glass of orange juice. Julie ate ravenously, though she wasn’t too pleased with the fact that Cameron sat watching her.

  ‘When did you say you expect Ian back?’ she asked, taking a bite from the rosy apple.

  He lifted his broad shoulders in an easy shrug. ‘Some time today, as soon as he’s fixed the engine, unless it’s not as simple as he first thought and I have to send out an engineer.’

  ‘And this man, Raul, will he do the cooking?’

  ‘Tonight, yes.’ His blue eyes were level on hers. ‘Also tomorrow, and then he’s taking a break.’

  She felt better now she had eaten, not half so prickly, and she grinned. ‘I hope you’ve all got cast-iron stomachs, because I’m not promising anything.’

  ‘Have I been landed with a woman who cannot cook?’ he growled suspiciously.

  ‘Oh, yes, I can cook,’ she said, still smiling, ‘but I’ve never done it for the multitudes before. It’s the quantities that are worrying me. You’ll probably have either too little or too much until I get into the swing of it.’

  He did not look amused, and as soon as she had finished eating he took her to the tent where all the records were kept. There were a couple of desks, a portable typewriter sitting on one of them, filing cabinets and an odd assortment of cupboards. ‘This is where you’ll be working for the time being.’

  Julie looked at everything critically.

  ‘We’re way behind with the notes already,’ he told her. ‘They’re all here, handwritten, but I’d like them typed out. You can start whenever you like.’

  She half suspected that he meant now. ‘Has your typist taken a break as well?’ she asked impishly.

  He allowed himself a faint, dry smile. ‘We all try to do our own, but it can be a bit chaotic. We need someone to restore order. I trust you’re capable?’

  ‘I guess I can manage,’ she said. For six years she had been secretary to the managing director of a large manufacturing Company—until they had been taken over and her services were no longer required. She had always been praised for her efficiency.

  ‘I want things brought up to date before we leave for Vulcan,’ he announced, his tone crisp and businesslike.

  It sounded as thought he had a lot of hard work lined up for her, thought Julie. ‘I’ll begin tomorrow,’ she said. ‘I’d like to rest now, if you don’t mind.’

  The truth was she needed to get away from him. He was the most physical man she had ever met. Despite his less than welcoming attitude, he still somehow managed to excite her. Even with Roger she had not felt this instant attraction. It was unreal—and fatal!

  He inclined his head. ‘Very well.’

  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.