The Shifting Sands by kay Thorpe

Author:kay Thorpe [Thorpe, kay]
Language: nld
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, General, Contemporary, Love stories; English, Fiction
ISBN: 9780373040926
Publisher: Romance Treasury Association
Published: 2010-09-04T11:03:58.153000+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

Normally Andre had already left the villa by the time Ruth got down to breakfast, but on the following morning he was still seated at the table set out on the patio, lean and vital in pale slacks and a dark, brown shirt casually laced at the throat. He greeted her pleasantly, and pushed across the basket of rolls.

"These are still warm," he said. "But we can send for fresh, if you prefer."

"No, these will do perfectly," she assured him hurriedly. She took one and split it, spreading both halves with preserve. She wasn't hungry, and would have been satisfied with the coffee alone, but felt the necessity to put on a show of having an appetite of sorts.

At this hour the heat was not too intense. Usually she enjoyed just sitting here with her coffee in a mood of relaxation, but with Andre across from her she could not conjure up that ease of mind. She wished desperately that she were older, more capable of meeting him on an equal basis—only if she had been older she would hardly have been in this

position to start with.

"Are you going out later ?" she asked at last for something to say.

"We both are," he returned. "I thought it was time I took a day off and showed you something of our surroundings now that you're back to normal health again. Do you have any preference as to how we spend it, or will you leave it to me ?"

"I'll leave it to you." She hesitated, searching the unreadable dark features, aware that the motives behind this idea must stem from what had passed between them the previous night. "It's very thoughtful of you," she added.

His lips twisted. "And kind? You said that once before." He pressed himself to his feet with an abrupt movement. "There are some matters I must attend to before we set out. Be ready in half an hour. And bring a scarf—it may be breezy along the coast road."

Ruth watched him go with mixed feelings. A whole day with Andre. Was she going to be able to cope with it? She supposed that was almost laughable considering the fact that she had been far more alone with him during the days they had spent in the desert. Only that had been different. Circumstances had drawn them together, given them a common bond. Here there were so many other influences at work, not least among them the memory of how he and Simone had looked together last night.

She sighed, and got up to go and prepare for the day which lay ahead.

They drove west out of Algiers along the coast road, winding through bays and round promontories which jutted out into a halcyon sea. It was hot in the car, but with both windows down the breeze created by their speed was enough to keep the temperature at a bearable level. Ruth leaned an elbow on the sill and gave herself over to enjoyment of the scenery, absorbed enough to forget who was doing the driving for minutes on end.

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