Island for Dreams Read Online Free PDF Page B

my way? I ’ ve lived to tell the tale. ’
    ‘ What tale? There ’ s none to tell, is there? You didn ’ t even kiss and run, ’ she cried scornfully.
    ‘ Should I have done? It ’ s an idea. ’
    He reacted to the stiffness in her tone. She knew he was watching her intently, but there was nothing alarming in his scrutiny. He spoke with absolute gentleness.
    ‘ I shouldn ’ t advise you to do that. Most men are good at running after someone who takes their fancy. ’
    And you ’ ve taken mine, she thought, seeing without looking the wide forehead, hair squared at the temples balanced by a firm determined jawline, nose slightly beaked with sensitive nostrils and a mobile mouth which was in the habit of lifting at the corners. All this with the square-shouldered vigour of muscled arms had floored her as no man had.
    She said, ‘ Do you work for a living or do you just laze around? ’
    ‘ I work. Something to do with boats, ’ Juan answered laconically. ‘ What do you do? ’
    ‘ I ’ m an estate agent, among other things. ’
    He laughed softly. ‘ A care e r girl? Any good at it? ’
    ‘ I have a partner, and we ’ re doing fine, thank you. ’
    ‘ Congratulations! ’
    She shot him a swift glance. ‘ You sound disappointed? ’
    ‘ Surprised is more like it. ’ He looked lazily over her slim figure. ‘ You don ’ t look like a career girl for a start. Certainly not one of the clever ones. ’
    ‘ I didn ’ t say I was clever. ’
    ‘ You can ’ t be dumb if you ’ re making the business pay. Who ’ s your partner? Another woman? ’ he asked sardonically.
    ‘ No, a man. ’
    ‘ Good. ’ Juan was leaning forward examining the gadgets in front of him before turning his intelligent gaze around the interior of the car.
    Instantly piqued, Nora cried, ‘ What do you mean by that? ’
    ‘ By what? ’ His gaze came back to her. ‘ You mean working with a man? Make you more human. ’
    ‘ Really? You approve of that, do you? ’ Nora smiled, her composure completely restored. ‘ What have you got against girls having a career? ’
    ‘ Easy now. Blind corner ahead ,’ he warned as her eyes met his.
    Nora took it a little wide on a screech of brakes and he cringed theatrically.
    ‘ Sorry, ’ she said sweetly. ‘ I hope I haven ’ t scared you. ’
    ‘ You probably scared the car, ’ he grinned. ‘ How ’ s it going? ’
    ‘ Like a dream. Want to try it? ’
    ‘ After our stop at L axey. ’
    Laxey nestled in the foothills, a secluded little bay way down below the coast road. Nora stopped the car at Juan ’ s request by a picturesque inn at the entrance to beautiful gardens.
    ‘ We ’ ll go down to the beach another day, ’ he said, leading her to a gay canopied table for two near the door of the inn. The other tables were occupied by holidaymakers and Nora gazed about her with shining eyes.
    ‘ Nice, ’ she commented. ‘ Do you come here often? ’
    ‘ Inside, ’ he said with a grin.
    Nora gazed around her with delight at the beautiful trees leading to the gardens, presenting him with the smooth creamy curve of her cheek and the enchanting sweep of dark lashes. Sensing his eyes upon her, she turned instinctively as he captured her gaze.
    ‘ Cigarette? ’ he asked as she finished her drink.
    She shook her head, like spun gold in the rays of the sun, and her heart missed a beat from the sudden gladness which swept over her. Suddenly she knew she liked Juan, and wanted to be friends with him. It was not just physical attraction. There was something about him—a charm entirely his own. He was the kind of man who would be completely indifferent to what anyone thought about him, and yet there was a touch of arrogance about his lack of self-consciousness.
    Juan finished lighting the cigarette which he had put between his lips and, snapping shut his lighter, leaned back in his chair and pushed the skipper ’ s hat he wore to the back of rough dark curls. The cream polo-necked