Stolen Feelings

By the time the first of the men began to filter back the meal was almost ready. Ian introduced her to each one in turn, and judging by their admiring looks Julie could well understand both his and Cameron’s concern.

They were a mixed bunch, ranging in age from early twenties to mid-fifties. Cameron was the definite leader, although, to give him his due, he did not act as the big chief. He was at one with the men and they got on well together. It was easy to understand his misgivings when she had suddenly appeared in their midst.

Julie had never really thought of herself as being beautiful. She had good bone-structure, yes, but she had always considered her face pretty ordinary, her eyes a little too small, her mouth a little too wide. Her hair was her best feature. Thick and black and glossy, she wore it without a fringe, normally falling in a cascade of luxuriant waves down her back. Now, of course, it was scraped tightly and unbecomingly back and confined in a band.

As they sat down to eat she was aware of Cameron’s eyes on her. He was diagonally opposite, with Ian on her right and a blond giant of a man, who had been introduced as Jake, on her left. ‘Jake hails from Australia and he’s an expert on lichens.’ Ian informed her.

‘I’m afraid I don’t know anything about them,’ Julie apologised.

Jake laughed. ‘I guesss you’ll learn all sorts of things by the time you’ve finished typing our notes.’

‘I expect so,’ Julie acknowledged.

‘Ian’s lucky you were able to come with him.’

‘Are you married yourself?’ asked Julie. Jake was nearer forty than thirty, probably much the same age as Cameron, with a good body and blue eyes too, although they were nowhere near as deep and powerful.

She felt Cameron’s eyes on her again now, and it was almost as though he was warning her not to get too friendly, which was ridiculous. What was she supposed to do—talk to no one? Or was it her imagination? Was she imagining criticism when none was there?

‘I was,’ the man admitted with a wry smile. ‘It didn’t work out. Maggie objected to the fact that I spent so much time away. It’s wrong to marry someone who’s in a completely different job; they simply don’t understand.’

‘So no one here is married?’ she asked.

‘No, that’s not right,’ he replied. ‘Ray over there is.’ He nodded towards the oldest of the team. ‘But his wife doesn’t mind him being away. She runs her own business and has plenty to do. And Sim, he’s married. He could have brought his wife, she’s a biologist as well, but she’s working on another project, and then there’s young Andy, he’s only been married six months.’

Julie frowned. So why hadn’t Cameron suggested this boy bring his wife as well? Unless, of course, she had no skills that were necessary to their research; Cameron wouldn’t want to carry dead weight. ‘What does Andy’s wife do?’ she asked.

‘She’s a nurse, I believe,’ Jake answered, ‘working on a cruise liner. It’s where they met. They’re used to spending time apart. He reckons it’s more than worthwhile when they do get together.’

‘Do you miss not having a woman in your life?’

‘Hell, yes, sometimes.’ His eyes twinkled at her. ‘It’s going to be refreshing having you here.’

‘Don’t get any ideas,’ she warned him, though she smiled as she spoke. ‘Ian packs quite a punch.’

‘Just joshing,’ he said. ‘I wouldn’t jeopardise my job. This is an ongoing project—biologists come and go, some don’t stay long, some for years. Cameron loves the place.’

They both looked across the table as they spoke and Cameron’s eyes were upon them, narrowed and assessing, though he smiled and acknowledged Jake.

‘I was just telling Julie how much I enjoy my work here,’ said the Australian, seeing nothing wrong in Cameron’s expression.

‘It would be unprofitable if you didn’t,’ agreed Cameron drily. ‘We can only hope that Mrs Drummond enjoys her work too.’

The emphasis on her marital status this time, she decided, was a warning to Jake that she was a married woman. She turned to Ian at her other side, and he smiled warmly and touched her hand. ‘All right?’ he asked quietly.

She nodded, and tried to concentrate on her meal, but it was difficult with Cameron sitting so near. She was relieved when it was all over, when she was able to help Raul clear away and wash up.

By this time it was dark, no long twilight like in England, but a rapid descent of the sun and then total darkness. It was still only a little after seven.

Solar lamps, that had been sitting in the sun all day gathering energy, were switched on and the whole camp looked festive. The men sat around in groups talking and Julie found herself alone with Ian and Cameron. It had been a long day, though, and she felt tired, and after an hour listening to the two men talk shop, trying to ignore the fact that her body was responding to Cameron’s in a way that made her feel uncomfortable, she yawned and stretched, and declared that she was going to bed.

Ian dutifully gave her a kiss on the cheek. ‘You poor darling, you’ve had a tiring day. I’ll try not to wake you when I turn in.’

She smiled. ‘Goodnight, Ian.’ And then she turned to Cameron and bade him goodnight too.

Their eyes met and held briefly. ‘Goodnight, Julie.’

But she did not sleep, she was far too aware of this man who had made such an impact on her life in such a short space of time. She could only be thankful that there were no reciprocal feelings; that would have been hell. There was no way then that she could have gone on with this charade.

When Ian came to bed a couple of hours later she pretended to be asleep. Almost within minutes his breathing deepened; he was happy here, there was absolutely nothing on his conscience to keep him awake.

Julie tossed and turned and in the end decided to get some fresh air. It was noticeably cooler now and she pulled a cardigan about her shoulders. There were no lights, every tent was in darkness; she felt quite safe.

She walked down to the shore and stood listening to the lap of the waves, watching the pattern of reflections from a full, silvery moon, totally unprepared when a harsh voice came out of the darkness.

‘Mrs Drummond, what the hell do you think you are doing?’

CHAPTER THREE

JULIE had heard no movement behind her; Cameron had approached with all the stealth of a tiger. She swung around, her heart hammering unsteadily in her breast. ‘I’m not doing anything.’

‘It looks to me as though you’re asking for trouble,’ he growled.

She frowned. ‘What do you mean?’ He was still wearing the same shirt and trousers as earlier, though whether he had pulled them on again when he saw her, or whether he had not yet gone to bed, Julie had no idea. She did not even know what time it was.

Cameron’s eyes glittered. ‘I’m sure you’re not unaware that the moon shining on you renders your nightdress virtually transparent. And that knitted thing doesn’t hide much.’

Julie’s heart went into panic. How long had he stood watching her before making his presence known? And how much could he see? ‘I couldn’t sleep,’ she retorted defensively, clutching the cardigan tightly around her throat as if by so doing it gave her some form of protection.

‘It cannot have escaped your notice that most of the tents are open-sided. If any of the men are awake they will not have failed to see you out here.’

And he thought she was doing it deliberately! Her chin came up. ‘Then they will not have failed to see that you followed me. What do you think they will make of that?’ And why was his opinion of her so very, very low?

The chiselled planes of his face grew harder and more angular; his mouth tightened. ‘If they have assessed the situation correctly they will know I have come to warn you.’ His voice was dangerously low, a threatening growl that shivered across Julie’s cruelly exposed nerve-endings.

She held the neck of her cardigan with both hands, her arms pressed close to her sides,

‘You have been here less than twelve hours, Mrs Drummond,’ he went on, ‘and already you are becoming a nuisance.’

His constant formality unnerved her. Despite Ian’s confidence, she felt sure Cameron suspected all was not as it should be. He watched them too closely, too often, and always there was calculation in his eyes. Why he should be suspicious, she did not know, but she was sure he was.

He moved so that his back was to the moon instead of hers, and she imagined it was to see her face more clearly, put her at an even bigger disadvantage.

She gave a tiny laugh, recalling Ian’s plea that she try to get on with his boss. ‘Why is it that I cannot seem to do anything right?’

Brows lifted. ‘Surely it’s a matter of basic intelligence?’

‘Haven’t you ever had women working here before?’

He inclined his head. ‘Yes, we’ve had female scientists.’

‘And were you as much on their backs as you are mine?’

His mouth twisted. ‘It wasn’t necessary. For one thing they did not flaunt themselves.’

‘Flaunt?’ echoed Julie, all her good intentions fading. ‘Is that what you think I’m doing? Heavens, Mr Storm, you’re seeing things that are not there.’

‘I don’t think so,’ he answered. ‘No woman can be as subliminally unaware of what she is doing as you’re suggesting.’

Julie shook her head violently, her hair, which she had taken out of its pins when she went to bed, falling forward over her face. ‘What’s the point in trying to defend myself,’ she asked crossly, ‘when you’ll believe only what you want to believe? I’m going back to bed.’

But before she had even turned he reached out, and to her utter amazement began stroking back the hair from her face. ‘Your hair looks blue in the moonlight,’ he muttered. ‘It has the gloss of a raven’s wing.’

So had his, she thought. It was odd that her hair should be the same colour as Cameron’s, whereas her twin’s was so much lighter. He seemed mesmerised by it, and when his fingers accidentally brushed her cheek Julie felt as though a thousand volts of electricity had shot through her.

At exactly the same instant Cameron withdrew, as though he had felt her reaction—or as though he had been testing her! Was this what it was all about? Was this why he had joined her, why he had touched her? Was he checking her loyalty to Ian?

Julie’s heart thudded fit to burst and she looked into his eyes with something approaching panic, praying with all her heart that he hadn’t sensed her reaction. It seemed forever that they held each other’s gaze, even though it could have been for no more than a fraction of a second. Then with a cry like a startled bird Julie raced back to her tent.

‘Julie!’ Cameron’s low voice came to her in the velvety softness of the night, but she ignored it. Whatever he had to say could only be to her shame, to her detriment. She had been in very grave danger of giving herself away, of putting Ian’s job at risk.

Upon reaching the tent, she dived inside and threw herself down on the bed. Her heart pounded so loudly that it echoed in her ears, her pulses raced and every limb trembled. And all because of one man! All because Cameron Storm had touched her! It didn’t bear thinking about.

‘Where have you been?’ Ian’s gruff, sleepy voice startled her.

‘Did I wake you? I’m sorry. I—I couldn’t sleep so I went for a walk.’ She tried desperately to control her breathing.

‘Oh.’ He seemed satisfied, turned over, and was asleep again within seconds.

It seemed an aeon before Julie finally drifted into sleep, her mind tormented, her very sanity threatened. She must never let herself get into such a volatile situation again. She even began to wonder whether it had been her imagination. that Cameron had touched her and sparked off this reaction. Whatever, he was a dangerous man, and she had to steer clear of him.

Ian was awake and dressed before Julie even stirred. He touched her shoulder. ‘Time to get up, Sis.’

Her eyes shot wide instantly.

‘You’re supposed to be helping with cooking breakfast, and there are packed lunches to be put up. If you don’t want to incur Cameron’s wrath again you’d better get moving.’

Mention of her protagonist’s name was enough to galvanise Julie into action, and by the time the rest of the team put in an appearance the trestle-tables were laid, sausages and eggs cooked, bread sliced, tea and coffee made. All with Raul’s help, of course. His indefatigable cheerfulness had helped restore her equilibrium.

She did not sit down with them this morning, instead remaining in the kitchen making sandwiches. The sides of the tent, which were rolled down when it wasn’t in use because, she had been told, mocking-birds or even sea-lions came to steal food, were up out of the way and she could see Cameron sitting at the table with the other men.

Jake came across to wish her a cheerful good morning. ‘You sure are a sight for sore eyes.’

She gave him a warm smile. ‘Thank you, kind sir.’ His friendliness was like balm to her unsettled thoughts.

‘I hear you’ll be leaving for Vulcan soon, that’s a pity. I shall miss you. You’re the best thing that’s happened to us for a long time.’

‘You’re an old flatterer,’ she said, but she appreciated his compliment all the same.

He stayed talking for several more minutes before going to his seat and Julie was taken completely by surprise when Cameron suddenly appeared at her side. ‘Are you encouraging Jake?’ he asked harshly.

The question was so unexpected that her mouth fell open. ‘Of course not.’

‘He seems mighty friendly.’

‘And why shouldn’t he be?’ she asked. ‘Am I supposed to speak to no one but you and Ian?’

‘I don’t want you giving them the wrong impression.’

She frowned. ‘And that is?’

‘That the bit of gold on your finger makes no difference.’

‘How dare you?’ Julie was sorely tempted to raise her hand to his cheek, except that it would have the unfortunate effect of attracting everyone’s attention, and she wanted to avoid that at all costs. This battle between her and Cameron was personal.

‘Just make sure that you watch what you’re doing,’ he growled. ‘And why aren’t you eating with the rest of us?’

‘Because I need to finish the lunches,’ she said quietly.

He frowned as he looked at the shadows beneath her eyes. ‘If you refrained from midnight walks you might be able to get up in time to organise yourself.’

Julie felt the reproof was unfounded. ‘I only walked because I couldn’t sleep, but you need never fear that my work will suffer because of it.’

‘It had better not.’

His tone seemed unnecessarily sharp and she guessed that it was really because of Jake. They had laughed a lot and he must have compared it with their own, often aggressive relationship. No other man had ever stirred her like this, and she could only suppose it was fear of being found out that put her on the defensive—and also the very real emotions he managed to evoke in her.

After breakfast, Ian asked what Cameron had said. ‘I thought he looked a bit uptight.’

She shrugged. ‘He was checking that I can cope, that’s all.’ Best not to tell her brother about their unfortunate meeting last night, or his accusations regarding Jake.

Ian’s frown changed to a smile. ‘He’s a real nice guy when you get to know him. He’s always concerned about his fellow men.’

Julie’s smile was much weaker than her twin’s. ‘I’ll reserve judgement.’

‘You’ll learn to like him,’ said Ian confidently. ‘Everyone does. No one’s ever said a bad word against him.’

The men began to drift away, until finally there was only Cameron left. A dreadful feeling began to settle in the pit of Julie’s stomach. Even Raul had gone back to his village; she was completely alone, completely at his mercy. ‘Aren’t you joining your men?’ she asked, trying to keep her tone light and cheerful.

‘There are things I need to explain.’

‘Typing out notes doesn’t need any explanations.’ She felt sure he was using this as an excuse to antagonise her further.

‘There are other matters.’

He had already opened the sides of the tent until there was no more than a roof and they stepped beneath it now and Julie sat down at the desk. Regardless of its open sides, Cameron still seemed to fill the area with his presence, her awareness of him so powerful that she knew it would be impossible to concentrate on any single task until he left her alone.

He indicated an untidy pile of handwritten notes—a huge pile! “These all belong to the various members of the team; I trust you’ll be able to read their writing.’

Julie said nothing.

‘And this, here, is my work. I’ve kept my own field-study notes reasonably up to date, as you can see. But I seem to have got way behind with the book I am writing.’

‘Book?’ This did surprise Julie. Nothing had been said about a book.

‘Perhaps I forgot to mention it,’ he announced lazily.

Or perhaps it had been deliberate! Perhaps he hadn’t wanted her to know exactly how much work was involved; perhaps he had thought it would scare her away! And he desperately needed a typist, that much was very evident. ‘What is it about?’ she asked curiously.

‘What else but these islands?’ Again his whole demeanour changed, his eyes lighting with pleasure in the work he was doing. ‘There have been dozens of books written about the unique wildlife found here—I’ve written several myself, each one specialising in a different subject. This one is dedicated to my dear friends, the fur seals.’

‘It’s just about them, nothing else?’ she asked in amazement. How much could be written about such animals?

‘Just the fur seals,’ he agreed, the harsh angles of his face softened by a caring smile.

Julie wondered what it would feel like to have him smile at her like that? Best not to know. It could be devastating.

‘Apart from the catastrophic effects of El Niño,’ he continued, ‘they were brought dangerously nearly to extinction in the eighteen hundreds. One fur seal hunter boasted of killing five thousand seals in two months. Can you believe that?’ There was anger now, fury at the thoughtless acts of these men.

He showed her drawings too, and Julie looked at them in amazement. “These are good. Did you do them?’

He inclined his head in acknowledgement.

‘You’re very talented.’

He lifted his shoulders modestly. ‘As you can see, there is a lot of typing to be done; everything is behind, and I have a five-week deadline for my book. I still have the last chapter to finish, but that won’t take long.’

‘You certainly intend to keep me busy.’

Well-marked brows rose. ‘Isn’t that what you’re here for?’

‘Well, yes,’ he said, ‘but I did think I’d have some time to myself.’ And how she wished that she had not been so eager to sit down—it put her at a definite disadvantage.

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