Laura Martin - A Stranger's Love

‘That’s. enough!’ Chad’s voice was sharp, immediately silencing Theo’s sarcastic voice. ‘Bethany’s not an idiot.’

Oh, I am! Bethany thought desperately as the pieces of the puzzle began to fit themselves together. I am!

‘You own this place?’ Her voice was flat. She wondered why she hadn’t thought of it before.

‘Yes, that’s right,’ Chad replied. His mouth curled into an amused smile. The deep brown eyes glinted ominously. ‘The final arrangements came through last week. You and I are neighbours now, Bethany. How do you feel about that?’

CHAPTER THREE

‘I’LL accompany you back.’

‘There’s no need.’ Bethany turned away. Her head ached with tension; the strain of keeping herself together in front of Chad was beginning to tell badly. This man was her neighbour? ‘I’m...I’m perfectly capable of returning on my own, thank you,’ she added with a halfhearted attempt at coolness.

‘I’m sure you are,’ Chad replied curtly. ‘But it’s not a particularly hospitable night; the wind has risen badly and the path back to your place is rather too near the cliff-edge for my liking. I’m taking you back to the cabin, whether you like it or not.’

‘Oh, Chad, she’ll be all right!’ Theo interposed irritably. ‘Just look at her! She’s dressed for all weathers, isn’t she? And she was the one who ventured out in the stupid dark anyway! What’s the problem about letting her go back on her own if that’s what she wants?’

‘Be quiet, Theo!’ Chad drawled carelessly. ‘I’ll drive Bethany back in the car—it won’t take more than a few minutes. You can clear this place up. It’s time we were getting back to the hotel anyway.’

‘Getting back!’ Theo rose swiftly and came over, draping her arms around Chad’s neck. ‘But Chad, darling, we were...’ She hesitated and glanced furiously across at Bethany. ‘We were having a pretty good time until she came along and ruined it. There’s no need for either of us to go anywhere.’

‘Look, I’m tired.’ Chad kissed Theo abstractedly on the cheek and unwound her arms from his neck. ‘It’s been a long day and you told me yourself that you’ve got to get back to London early in the morning. Now just give me the keys——’

‘Like hell!’ Theo’s shrill voice held an inordinate amount of outrage as she flounced back across the room. ‘There is no way I’m staying here while——’

‘Theo, don’t start!’ Chad cut in witheringly. ‘Save your theatrical outbursts for the camera in the morning.’ He held out his hand. ‘Now, you are quite welcome to accompany Bethany and me back along the track to her cabin if you’re afraid of being left alone here——’

“Well, how incredibly gallant of you!’ Theo burst out angrily. ‘You don’t expect me to waste my time travelling to some shack on the side of a cliff-top do you—with her? What kind of a fool do you take me for?’ Her eyes narrowed with sudden suspicion. ‘You forget I know you from old, Chad Alington! It wouldn’t surprise me if you’ve already made some kind of a move on her! She’s your type, isn’t she? A leggy blonde? Haven’t you had more of those in your bed than any other——?’

‘That’s enough!’ Chad’s mouth tightened ominously. ‘You’re making a spectacle of yourself! Now, you may do as you like, Theo, stay or come with us, but either way I’m taking Bethany back home. Are you going to hand over the keys or not?’

Theo wasn’t sure what to do. Bethany, disturbed by the venomous accusations, watched in embarrassed fascination as indecision crossed her carefully painted features. ‘Damn you!’ she gritted shakily. ‘If you’re so keen to waste your time on this...this country bumpkin, then do it! But it’s my car—we elected to leave yours back at the hotel, remember?—and I’ll be damned if I’ll let you use it to transport another of your conquests about!’ She tossed her raven-black head dramatically. ‘I won’t be treated like this! I’m going back to the hotel!’

If Theo had expected some kind of emotional response, she was going to be sorely disappointed, Bethany thought. Chad’s gaze rested indifferently on Theo’s face. ‘OK, if that’s how you want it,’ he drawled, unaffected by her scowl of animosity. He shrugged and watched impassively as she marched over to the door in her impossibly high heels. ‘I’ll see you when I see you, Theo,’ he called as she thumped down the stairs. ‘Don’t drive too fast, will you?’

‘If you expect me to be in any way impressed——’ Bethany began frostily, as Chad followed her down the staircase a moment after they had heard the predictable screech of burning rubber on the lane outside. ‘You shouldn’t let her drive, she’s been drinking——’

‘No, she hasn’t.’ Chad’s voice held a hint of amusement.

‘Oh, come on!’ Bethany spun around to face him, her green eyes narrowing with dislike. ‘It’s not in the least bit funny! I saw the bottles of wine. Heard what she said. I’m not a fool, whatever you may think!’

‘Meaning, I suppose,’ Chad drawled, ‘that you think I plied dear, innocent Theo with drink just so I could get my wicked way with her!’

Bethany’s lips pursed grimly. ‘You said it!’

‘Yes, and you thought it!’ Chad shot back. ‘Your opinion of me isn’t particularly high, is it?’

Unconsciously her mind swung back to the cabin, the rug, the pressure of Chad’s mouth as it scorched her lips... the scene—a prelude to lovemaking if ever there was one—she had unwittingly stumbled upon this evening... Oh, God! What was it about this man? she thought angrily. Did every woman fall like an idiot at his feet? ‘Can you give me one good reason why it should be?’ Bethany enquired frostily. ‘And don’t remind me about saving my life!’ she added caustically, thrusting away the treacherous thoughts. ‘Because I’m honestly beginning to wonder if it wouldn’t have been better if you’d left me stranded out there on the rock! I’m sure I would have been able to get back under my own steam...eventually. Anyway,’ Bethany continued sharply, aware that her lie about saving herself hadn’t sounded the least bit convincing, ‘that’s not the point! Theo’s whole demeanour was that of someone who had been drinking and you let her walk out of here——’

‘She hadn’t touched a drop!’ Chad’s voice was sharp. ‘Will you stop ranting on about drinking and driving, Bethany! Theo’s an actress; she’s got an early call in the morning. Whatever else she may do, she takes her career very seriously indeed and alcohol is a definite no-no as far as she’s concerned, especially on the eve of a big job.’

Bethany frowned. She had supposed the reference to leggy blondes to be just a wild accusation made in a fit of alcoholic rage. If Theo had been sober...The picture of Chad in bed with any number of beautiful women sprang unasked for into her mind. ‘But she acted as though she’d had a few...’ Bethany began, thrusting away the vision, sickened by the fact that she could so nearly have joined their number.

Chad inhaled a breath and shrugged impatiently. ‘Theo’s always like that. It’s just her way. The old seductress routine maybe, I don’t know——’

‘Oh, come on!’ Bethany felt anger surge at his indifferent response. ‘You don’t expect me to believe that it was she who brought you here?’ she delivered with disbelieving venom. ‘That you were the innocent party being led astray! You upset her! You used her!’ Bethany accused wildly. The need to be perverse was overwhelming suddenly. She hated Chad Alington for causing this emotional turbulence that seemed to have risen out of nowhere. She had spent months and months trying to regain her equilibrium, trying to forget about her past life with Philip, and now here she was, here he was, stirring up her well-ordered thoughts and responses.