Lord of the Forest by Rachel Ford

Author:Rachel Ford
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, pdf
Tags: Romance, Fiction, General
ISBN: 9780373113682
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 1990-04-14T21:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

WHEN Cal at last returned to the plaza, a portable barbecue rack had been set up under the shade of a cotton tree and Luis was brushing oil over some enticingly fragrant kebabs and chicken portions.

'Hungry?'

He did not look up, but he sounded perfectly amiable. Well, he would, wouldn't he? she thought resentfully. He'd got his own way, which to someone like him was the only way, so it wouldn't even occur to him for a moment that her feathers might have been ruffled.

'Yes.'

She dropped the constrained monosyllable into the air between them, then sat down with her back against the tree.

There's a rug on the rear seat Sit on that—in case of ants,' he added, with a swift glance at her mutinous face, so she fetched it, along with her bag, which contained the picnic lunch she'd brought with her.

Rosa had made some small tortillas the previous evening and filled them with a spicy mixture of meat, red beans and tomatoes, which had smelled delicious at the time but which, after a night in the fridge and a morning in the broiling helicopter, now seemed rather less inviting. She was trying to summon up enough enthusiasm to take a bite when he stood over her, holding a plate piled high with kebabs and charcoal-grilled chicken.

'What the hell's that you've got?'

'My lunch,' she said coldly, and deliberately took a large bite of the limp, unappetising pancake. The next moment, he had banged down the plate, scooped the tortillas up off her lap and hurled them as far as he could towards the centre of the plaza.

She scowled up at him furiously. 'What d'you think you're playing at?'

'Giving the turkey vultures a feast It might put a shine on their feathers—or maybe not'

He squatted down on his haunches beside her and thrust the plate of meat on to her lap.

'When I offer to take a lady out for the day, I do not expect her to provide her own food.'

'I don't exactly remember you offering!' she snapped.

'Well, let's just say that I have brought you, shall we?' he retorted then fished a serviette-wrapped knife and fork out of his shirt pocket and held them out to her. 'Now, get stuck in while I fetch the rest'

He came back carrying a box from which he took several plastic containers holding a rice salad green salad with its own portion of French dressing, a pale green avocado dip, bread rolls and butter.

'Help yourself.'

As she reluctantly obeyed he sat beside her, ladled food on to his plate, then, with a glance at hers, piled more on to that.

She was halfway through her second kebab when he asked, 'You approve of my cuisine?'

'Yes,' she admitted, 'these kebabs are really delicious.'

'I told you they were—roasted.'

She stopped chewing and gaped at him in slowly dawning horror.

'You mean—' she began, in a strangled voice.

He nodded, solemn-faced. 'Of course—iguana kebabs.' But his voice trembled on the last word, and he added confidingly, 'You know, that's the first time I've ever seen freckles turn green.

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