Page 42 of A Bewitching Compulsion

'Didn't he want any dinner?' Clare asked tentatively. Hardly any sleep after hours of worry, and then to be tricked into an icy bath! If he was ill, it would be her fault.

'I think Shari was bringing him something. He was still on the phone when I left. Efrem had a cancellation or something, and there's a chance that Dad could go to Russia. If he does, he said I could go too, even if it's term time, 'cause I shouldn't have to wait as long as he did to visit the place where most of my ancestors lived.'

Russia! A whole world away. But then, David was that anyway. Clare could no more prevent herself visiting his room later than she could prevent herself loving him. She had to know that he was really all right.

The excuse seemed a trifle thin when the door opened to her knock and Shari stood there with a tray of dirty dishes. Clare felt herself blush and Shari grinned.

'He's not here.'

'Oh.' Or was he just avoiding her?

'He's been rushed off to hospital with triple-pneumonia.'

It was such a vivid pronouncement of her exaggerated fears that Clare missed the significance of Shari's dancing eyes. 'What?'

'Hey, Clare, I was only kidding,' said Shari hastily. 'He's fine, he just went off for a swim.'

'A swim?'

'A devil for punishment, huh?' Shari's grin reappeared. Clare had the feeling that she was going to get more ribbing from the episode than ever David would. Talk about the biter bit! 'No, he said he wanted to try out the pool. Actually, he said that parts of him still weren't properly thawed yet.' She waggled her eyebrows suggestively. 'I wonder which parts he was talking about. Want me to keep an eye on Tim for you?'

'He's showing Tamara a new game on the computer,' murmured Clare before pulling herself together. 'Why would I want you to keep an eye on him?'

'No reason,' said Shari innocently, hitching up the tray as she closed the door behind her. 'I just thought you might like a bit of free time…'

Clare was appalled to think she was so transparent. 'Shari—'

'He did say to tell you if you asked where he was, so maybe he's sort of expecting you. That was a pretty rotten thing you did. He is a guest, you know...' She trailed off in a giggle. 'If he put the hard word on Miles, who knows, you could get fired for insubordination.'

'David wouldn't be that petty,' said Clare stoutly.

'No, I suppose he is rather a great guy,' Shari agreed.

'Shari!'

'Clare!' Shari imitated her exasperation. 'What I Want to know is… what did he do that made you want to cool him off?'

Clare blushed again and Shari laughed. 'You do what you want to do, Clare…I'll keep an eye on Tim anyway. And just in case, I'll post an out-of-bounds sign on the track…'

'What took you so long?'

A few minutes later Clare was staring down at the man drifting lazily towards her across the semi-circular pool which was almost entirely enclosed by the rocky shoreline, spilling out through a narrow channel into the lake proper. The water was wreathed in steam and the moonlight filtered through it to cast a ghostly glow on the pale figure in the water. Was he wearing anything? Clare couldn't see, and from the mocking smile on his face David had detected her flush even in the dark moon-shadows cast by the trees overhanging the track.

There was mockery also in the drawling voice, and Clare toyed with the idea of acting surprised, of pretending she was just out for a stroll. But her towel gave her away.

What am I doing here? she asked herself in momentary panic. If I'm not back in half an hour Shari will know… and by osmosis all the rest of them will know... Know what? That she was chasing David? So what? He was very chaseable! And very sure of himself, too, by the look of him. Goodness knew why he had manoeuvred her into this situation, but Clare was determined that he was going to get more than he'd bargained for. This morning had given her a taste of freedom… the pleasure of acting unpredictably, on impulse, and to hell with responsibility and common sense. Whatever else she couldn't have… she could have this. Clare took a deep breath and began to unbutton her thick, hand-knitted jacket.

'I couldn't decide whether I wanted to come or not,' she said truthfully. 'I thought it might be a trick.'

He was at the side of the pool now, not far from her booted feet, leaning against the side with his chin on steamy folded arms.

'You thought I might be lurking in the bush somewhere, ready to leap out and push you in the lake?' he asked, midnight eyes watching the progress of her fumbling fingers. I'm going to watch you undress for me, was their silent message, and Clare knew that he was deliberately trying to make her feel self-conscious and embarrassed.

'The thought did cross my mind,' she admitted.

'My methods are much more subtle.' The sensuous half-smile confirmed her theory. Clare hoped he couldn't see how her hands shook as she folded the jacket neatly and placed it at a safe distance fr

om the pool. 'You're not going to apologise, are you?' he realised as she ignored his provocation and took off her boots.

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