Page 33 of Reasons Of the Heart

'That's the second time you've hit me today, lady!' Ross's voice was a purring threat. 'And that's one time too many.' He took another step forward.

'You stay where you are!' Fran squeaked, scrabbling

among the ice-cubes, half-excited, half-terrified at her

temerity, and still furious with him. She brandished a

fistful of hard, icy missiles as she backed away. 'Ross,

I'm warning you, I want you to take your things and

get out—'

'Warning, Frankie?' he asked softly, still coming. 'Or bluffing...?'

He didn't think she would do it! He thought she'd back down like a frightened rabbit just because he was bigger than she was. He thought he knew her well enough to predict her every move. He had a surprise coming!

Unfortunately the surprise didn't stop him. Fielding the raining chunks of ice, Ross caught her by the back door, ignoring her screams as he manhandled her out of the kitchen, forcing her to dump her last handful of ice-cubes on the floor, where they crunched underfoot as she wriggled helplessly in his purposeful arms.

'Let me go, you big bully!' Fran shrieked, kicking out with her dangling legs. Staggering slightly, Ross's foot came down on a stray ice-cube and skated out from under him. They both landed on the icy floor with a bone-shattering thump. Luckily Fran was on top, but when she caught her breath and tried to move she felt Ross's chest rise against her back in a thick groan.

'Ross? Are you all right?' Another groan. 'Are you hurt?' Carefully she eased herself sideways in his loosening arms and turned to face him, her hands auto­matically going over him, checking for injuries, anger forgotten in her anxiety. When she felt the rapid thud of his heart her fingers paused over the reassuring vibration.

'Don't stop...'

Her hands stiffened against his chest, but were caught and held by his. 'Ross Tarrant—' she began ac-

cusingly, but her words dried up when she tangled with his gaze: soft, blue, gentle...

'Compassion, Princess, it gets you every time, doesn't it? You'd care for the devil himself it he were hurt.'

'I think that's what I'm doing now,' she said drily, in an attempt to resist that melting tenderness.

'Not a devil, Frankie, just a man... and an exhausted one at that.' He sensed her fading anger and was careful not to smile. 'Mum'll never forgive me for leaving dinner on the table, but it suddenly occurred to me that you might take it into that muddled head of yours to run away, so I took off across the back fields. Ran all the way... in pretty good time, too!'

'You ran? In the dark? But it's miles!' Fran was both flattered and appalled. 'You could have fallen and broken your neck and lain there all night! My God, you're a menace to yourself as well as to other people.'

'You and Mum didn't leave me much choice,' he said apologetically. 'She even got Dad to hide the keys to the ride-on mower.'

Fran refused to laugh, and his loosely clasped hands at the back of her waist tightened as she stirred fretfully against his big body.

'Ah, Princess, don't look at me like that,' he sighed.

'I've already been told by Jason and Tessa and David

how grossly cruel and thoughtless it was to spring those stunts on you. Tessa said I deserved the right cross. And my mother has subjected me to a harrowing hour of silent reproach. I didn't mean to frighten you, Fran. I just got carried away. You were so obviously enjoying the flight, I just wanted to share the fantastic feeling of freedom I get rolling around the sky—'

'Yes, you get. You,' Fran said tautly, thankful that she hadn't had that drink after all. He wasn't going to find her so forgiving this time. 'Not me! You weren't trying to share, you were trying to force that feeling on me, regardless of what I wanted. I'm not like you and I don't want to be. If what I am isn't good enough for you, well, that's too bad. I'm not changing my entire personality just to accommodate your whims.' Yes, that sounded good, reasonable but firm, with just the right element of subtle accusation. Perhaps too subtle. 'Your temporary whims.'

He could hardly miss that thickly significant look and tone. The sober expression with which he had greeted her unarguable statement of independence sharpened. 'Are you implying what I think you're implying?' he asked slowly.

Fran lifted her eyebrows haughtily. 'I don't know. What do you think I'm implying?' The haughtiness backfired, for it made him grin.

'That my wanting to make love to you was just a fleeting whim. My God, woman, are you insane? Whatever gave you that stupid idea?'

A hot, sweet pang pierced Fran's body at his incredu­lous growl. 'You're the one who turned cool all of a sudden,' she retaliated defensively.

'Cool? Is that what you thought?' He gave a laughing groan. 'Frankie, if my temperature was any higher I'd spontaneously combust! I was trying to leave the next move up to you. It was obvious that you had doubts, and I thought you needed a little time to work them through.' He chuckled ruefully at the wild blush that flooded over her stunned face. 'Shame on you, my liber­ated young businesswoman! Were you only waiting for me to sweep you off your feet? I didn't think there was any mad rush. After all, we do live in the same city...'

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