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enough.'
    'Oh, but ft isn't,' she said, and smiled. 'Now if you asked me nicely to stay—that might be different.'
    'Indeed it might,' he said drily. 'And what's my next line? Come on in—the water's fine?'
    'Thank you for the kind invitation,' she said, studiedly polite. 'But it may have escaped your attention that I haven't brought my swimsuit with me.'
    'No.' He swam in a wide circle. 'Just as I'm sure it hasn't escaped your attention that I haven't brought mine
either.' 
    Not for the world would she have admitted that it had not occurred to her.
    'Oh, but that doesn't matter,' she said with assumed nonchalance, thankful that the darkness hid her warm cheeks. 'And—and I do know what a naked man looks like, you know.'
    'In practice, or merely in theory?' The gleam of his smile mocked her. 'Janna Joins the Permissive Society, and other titles. I suppose it makes a change from the Pony Club.'
    'Very amusing,' she said calmly. 'Have you heard the one about having the last laugh? It can't be getting any warmer in that water, and I happen to be sitting on your clothes. All of them.'
    'Right on all counts,' he agreed reflectively. The situation is a little one-sided, I must admit' He swam round again, this time coming right up to the bank. 'All right, Janna, I resign. Why not join me? It's a very warm night, and I promise to turn my back like a gentleman if that's what you're waiting for.'
    She wasn't altogether certain what she was waiting for. She moistened her lips rather nervously. Dreams and imaginings were one thing; having them translated into quite such realistic terms as a moonlight bathing party for two in the nude, quite another.
    'What's the matter, Janna?' She couldn't see the expression on Rian's face, but the taunt in his tone was unmistakable. 'Chicken?'
    'Certainly not,' she said untruthfully. It—it just looks a bit cold, that's all.'
    He laughed softly. 'I'll think of a way of keeping you warm, sweet witch.'
    There had to be an answer to that, but Janna couldn't think of it for the life of her. Her mouth was suddenly dry, and she was trembling violently inside. One part of her wanted, childishly, to run, but another, more insidious voice was persuading her to remain.
    When she spoke, her voice was higher than usual and oddly breathless.
    'All right,' she said. She got up slowly, shivering a little although there was barely a hint of a breeze. The water rippled glossily as Rian swam one long, lazy stroke nearer. Her fingers, made suddenly clumsy, hesitated on the buttons of her shirt.
    'You said you'd turn your back,' she reminded him lamely.
    'If that's what you want.' There was a warm persuasive note in his voice, which made her gasp as if he had caressed her. 'Is it, lovely Janna?'
    She had taken two unwary steps towards him before she realised the trap that had been set for her. Steely fingers, cold and wet, clamped round her ankle. Off balance already, she stumbled, and within a second she was flying through the air, or so it seemed, to land in the water in an undignified and painful belly-flop. She came back to the surface, winded and choking, having swallowed half the river in her astonishment.
    On the bank, Rian was fastening the belt of his jeans and observing her flounderings with sardonic amusement . 'I don't think you'll ever make the, Olympic squad,' he observed, judicially, pulling his dark sweater over his head. 'But the local life-saving team might be glad of a volunteer. I've heard they prefer them fully dressed.'
    'You bastard!' she screamed at him.
    'Such language from one so young,' he said reprovingly. 'If it's any consolation to you, I was tempted for a while, and I'm warning you, Janna, stay in your own league from now on.' He half turned to go. 'And I meant what I said about keeping you warm. I don't know how you got here, and I don't care much. I presume you cycled, or walked, so you can get home the same way—only faster. It's a balmy enough night. You shouldn't even catch cold.'