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‘Your little adventure seems to have temporarily rendered you speechless,’ he observed sardonically. ‘I think you’d better come out to the boat with me…dry off and get warm before you go into shock. I’ve got a dinghy moored just behind those rocks. You can have a hot shower…put on some dry clothes.’
He might have recovered, but she had some way to go. And it wasn’t the close brush with drowning that was driving a battering ram through her composure.
‘Come on,’ he insisted. ‘Before you catch a chill. The breeze is fierce tonight. That’s one of the reasons you got into difficulties.’
Annalisa almost smiled. If only all her difficulties had been tied in to the weather she wouldn’t be feeling half so worried. ‘I’d rather go home,’ she managed sensibly.
‘That’s not an option,’ Ramon countered firmly. ‘In your present state.’
‘No, really. I’d rather.’
‘And I’d rather you came with me,’ he said decisively. ‘I have plenty of towelling robes on board.’
‘No. I’m sorry, but—’
‘You will be.’ Having put up with as much as he intended to, Ramon yanked her to her feet. ‘You are proving to be a very troublesome neighbour, Annalisa Wilson.’
‘And an expensive one,’ she said, laughing nervously as his warmth stole through her.
‘Have you eaten tonight?’
‘No…’ she admitted hesitantly.
‘Then I’ll see to that at the same time.’
‘Oh, no… I—’
‘I might as well finish the job.’
She knew from experience that it would be better to give in gracefully…to the offer of a meal and some dry clothes at least. She glanced up through lashes clotted with seawater. ‘You saved my life… How can I ever—?’
He cut brusquely through the commendation. ‘You can thank me by never taking risks like that again.’
‘I’ve never swum so late before,’ she admitted.
‘You could have been killed! Madre de Dios!’ Ramon exclaimed, frightening her with his vehemence.
‘I’m sorry. I can’t understand what—’
‘Neither can I understand,’ Ramon broke in passionately, ‘how the Annalisa Wilson I hear about in the village could do something like this!’
So they were talking about her in the village…and, worse still, Ramon was aware of the rumours. ‘What have you heard about me?’ she asked, dreading the answer. Her skills as a fruit-grower wouldn’t bear much scrutiny.
‘Señorita Wilson’s self-sufficiency, her intelligence, her common sense… Common sense?’ he exploded. ‘For goodness’ sake!’
It was a few moments before she realised he was teasing her. And, despite her misgivings, she liked the feeling. She liked it a lot.
Without warning he grabbed hold of her. ‘Are you acting in this crazy fashion because of me?’
‘Don’t be so ridiculous!’ she protested, trying to ignore the fact that they were both practically naked.
He let the silence hang between them for a while, and then released her. ‘You’re shivering. Hardly surprising after the shock you’ve had. We’d better go.’
Back in her own bed, Annalisa sat hugging her knees. Fudge lay across her feet and she could hear the cats patrolling outside the door.
This was not the finale anyone else might have expected to Ramon’s dramatic rescue…and anyone else might have been more successful than she had been in getting answers to the questions buzzing around her head. Questions that Ramon could have answered for her after her shower on his boat…or during the meal that had followed.
But after what had happened she had been subdued and he had been… She frowned as she hunted for the right words. Very considerate? Very considerate should have suited her down to the ground. At least she only had a serious case of embarrassment to deal with along with another item of clothing—this time a bathrobe to add to her growing collection of booty from the Crianza Perez household. But the more she saw Ramon, the more…
The telephone was almost a welcome interruption on the route her thoughts were taking. But she sucked in a breath fast when she heard his voice.
‘I’m just calling to make sure you’re all right.’
Maybe it was just a casual enquiry, but she could hear more than concern. There was warmth…and a smile.
‘I’m really sorry about what happened tonight,’ she said frankly, trying to corral the conversation into a safe area. ‘Thank you for everything you’ve done for me…and for telephoning.’
