A Reluctant Attraction by Valerie Parv

Author:Valerie Parv
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2011-06-10T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

THE subject and title of Steed’s documentary was The Return of the Crocodile and he particularly wanted to visit an isolated waterfall along the Prince Regent River. The journey involved threading their way by boat among the hundreds of islands which formed the Buccaneer Archipelago.

The serrated coastline added many kilometres to the journey but provided endless large and small bays to explore. If Steed expected Linden to show signs of boredom he was in for a surprise. She might be here under duress but she was determined to make the most of it.

His boat, Dreamtime, was a sleek twenty-metrelong white-hulled cruiser with every modern device for comfort and safety including a desalination plant to produce fresh water. Linden had her own cabin and tiny bathroom. If not for Steed’s cabin being right next door, she could have convinced herself that she was a tourist on a cruise, instead of his reluctant hostage.

As it was it required a determined effort to block out the sounds of his occupancy which penetrated the thin cabin walls. It was hardest late at night when the slightest sound was magnified. She fancied she could even hear his breathing in the stillness.

At least he didn’t know how he affected her, she consoled herself. Since they’d set off he had kept his distance in a way which should have pleased her, but instead left her feeling slightly neglected. It was due to Jason’s presence, she felt sure, and couldn’t decide whether she was glad or sorry.

For some reason she was particularly aware of him today as they left the cruiser riding at anchor in St George Basin and set off in the tender downriver towards the cascades. Even watching Steed winch the small boat down to lie against the larger boat’s hull had been a turn-on. His muscles gleamed with exertion in the humid morning air.

As the blue swells of the Indian Ocean gave way to the milky inland waterway, she found her eyes straying to Steed again and again as he steered the boat, alert for ripples marking snags. He was half standing, one hand controlling the outboard motor. How much in command he looked, relaxed yet watchful, his dark eyes narrowed against the sun.

Her heart picked up speed and she looked away, concentrating on the parrots which flew in bright flashes overhead. At the hornet buzz of the motor, rock wallabies came upright, their ears erect, before bounding off from ledge to ledge.

Jason was so excited he could barely contain himself. ‘Did you know a lady was eaten by a crocodile at the cascades?’

She shuddered. ‘No, I didn’t.’ No doubt it was the reason for Steed’s interest in that particular spot.

‘Well, she was. You’re not supposed to swim there and she did and—’

‘Jason, that’s enough.’ Steed’s sharp injunction came as he saw Linden turn white.

She gave him a shaky laugh. ‘I hope the crocodile isn’t still there.’

He looked grim. ‘There are plenty more.’

She suppressed a shiver. It was hard to reconcile the beauty of

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.