To Deceive Is To Love (Romantic suspense) (11 page)

A small sigh slipped out as she opened her eyes to meet his. “No broken bones, just a very painful ankle.”

He smiled back at her and she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her head in his shoulder.

Carefully, David placed Chantelle across the two back seats of the plane, positioning Tony’s jacket to support her head. Exhaustion brought on by the trauma she had suffered meant sleep claimed her before they had even reached the plane, her eyelids flitting open for a second when she left his arms. He removed the leather helmet she wore, pushing the loose strands of her hair away from her temple. It was then her emerald eyes had locked onto his. The intensity of his feelings at that moment stunned him and it was a relief when she drifted off again.

Once they were airborne, Steve came on the radio. Once he was satisfied that Chantelle was okay, he asked about the plane. Hearing that it had sustained considerable damage to the nose but the rest seemed reasonably intact, he replied that he would see to the problem of getting it removed and of trying to contact Danny. He then asked if they knew the reason behind the emergency landing.

Tony looked at him and David shrugged his shoulders, confirming he didn’t. Tony had checked the fuel and some of the other instrument readings and everything seemed okay. By the little Chantelle had told them, the storm had come afterward, so until she was strong enough to answer that question, it remained unsolved. David couldn’t help thinking that his brother was going to be furious to hear his plane had crash-landed. Hopefully, he was misjudging Danny and his only concern would be for Chantelle.

The flight back to Rochester was relatively smooth; the storm had run its course, leaving a scattering of cumulous cloud they could easily avoid.

“Are you going to take her to hospital for a thorough checkup?” Tony asked as he landed the plane.

“No, she seems okay except for a graze to the head and a badly sprained ankle. If necessary, I’ll get a doctor friend to come over.”

Raising his eyebrows, a curious look crossed Tony’s face. “I take it from that answer you are going to take her back to your place.”

“I don’t think she should be left alone. Do you?” he replied defensively.

Tony nodded, his eyebrows almost meeting in mock exaggeration. “Yes, couldn’t agree more.” He turned away, but not before David caught him smiling.

Chantelle stirred only once when the cool air met her as David carried her from the plane over to his car. Strapping her securely into the front seat, he heard her murmur, “Where are you taking me?”

“My place,” he replied, but she had already drifted back to sleep, a peaceful expression on her face.

“Chantelle, wake up.” David was perched on the edge of the bed, his hand gently smoothing her hair back from her face. “The doctor’s here. He wants to check you over.”

The confusion of where she was sunk in and her eyes opened wide as her surroundings began to take shape. Wondering if she was dreaming, she squeezed her eyes tightly shut and opened them again. Magnolia walls greeted her, lit up softly by the bedside lamp. Her hands felt her body beneath the quilt cover; she was naked except for her panties.

“Where are my clothes?” The words came out like a hoarse whisper.

“All your clothes were soaked through and had to be removed. Rest assured, my sole intention was to prevent pneumonia. Your charms unfortunately went unnoticed.” He smiled and threw her a teasing wink. Standing up, he allowed a very tall, lean man with wavy, fair hair to step forward.

“Hi, I’m Simon. David tells me you’re a very lucky lady.” His hazel eyes were filled with warmth.

As he asked her one question after another about the crash, her gaze several times flickered in David’s direction, but he made no comment when she gave a brief account of it. His face was fixed in an unreadable expression as usual. Why didn’t he just come out with it and ask why a plane in perfectly good working order should suddenly develop engine failure? He was probably thinking that it was more likely the fault of the pilot. The forced landing wasn’t any better, nose down in a ditch. Remembering how scared she was, the fear of dying, and the panic, she felt her body tremble beneath the quilt.

“You’re shivering and your forehead feels like ice.” The doctor’s fingers gently examined the bruising above her temple. “David, fetch another blanket.”

“I’m fine and besides, I’m not planning to stay the night. Please find me some clothes and I’ll be on my way.” She wished she felt as strong as she sounded.

“I don’t think you should go anywhere tonight. David felt it best you stay here tonight and I tend to agree with him, you need rest and supervision. In truth, the hospital would have been the better choice, but David seems to think differently.”

Chantelle sensed an underlying tension between them. A night in a hospital was definitely out, but so was staying the night under the same roof as David. “Look, I’ll be fine.” Then, she realized she didn’t even know where David lived. “Where am I exactly?”

Simon gave a short laugh. “Not a very good question from someone who claims to be fine.”

“That’s not fair. I know this must be David’s house.” She raised her eyebrows questioningly. “Just where is it situated?”

David stepped forward with a blanket and placed it on the bed. “It makes no difference; you are not going anywhere tonight. Now, I’ll leave the room while the doctor here carries out a thorough examination. I’ll look back in on you later.”

Simon pulled the quilt away from her ankles and placed the tender one in both palms, feeling it gently with his fingers. “David’s right, you know, though I hate to admit it. You have suffered quite a shock and a good night’s sleep is what you need.” Taking a bandage out of his doctor’s bag, he began wrapping her ankle. “That should do the trick. It should ease up in a couple of days, although I suggest you refrain from putting any pressure on it for a while.” Placing her ankle down and slipping it back under the cover, he stared at her as if waiting for further protests.

Chantelle let out a small sigh and snuggled farther under the duvet, her answer given.

Securing his medical bag, Simon looked down at her curiously. “Tell me, have you known David long?”

“No, so what can you tell me about him besides his stubbornness?”

“I’m his doctor, remember, professional confidentiality and all that.” He smiled. “You are right about one thing, pigheaded he certainly is. Now, sleep and get that ankle x-rayed if it doesn’t get better over the next day or so.”

****

David met up with Simon at the foot of the stairs. “Is she going to be all right?”

“Yes, fine. Just watch a fever doesn’t set in from the exposure and shock. I’ve left some medication which might help to offset it and that ankle needs checking.” Simon paused before adding, “She’ll be all right, David, which brings me around to the subject of you. How’s that shoulder of yours?”

“Can I fix you a drink or do you need to get back to that beautiful wife?”

“No, to the drink and yes, I have to get back, but first answer my question.”

“Doing great, Doc. I have the occasional twinge, but you did a fine job of fixing me up.”

“Well, you were damn lucky, that was some shooting accident.” Simon quirked an eyebrow. “First I ever heard of animals firing back.”

“Those rabbits know how to equip themselves now.” David gave a small smirk, recognizing Simon’s frustration at never getting a straight answer.

“Look, I know you pay me pretty well to keep my mouth shut and take care of you. Friend you might be, but from now on, if you plan to get your body more messed up, find another doctor. I only came this time because it was a genuine accident involving someone else. And I might add, what’s a beautiful, innocent young woman like that doing under your roof? Knight in shining armor you’re not, so what’s the story?”

“No story and if it makes you sleep easier at night, I’m retiring to Canada in a fortnight. There will be no more midnight calls from me, you can count on that.”

“Good. I can’t say you’ll be missed; the money, yes.” He laughed as he held out his hand. “Good to see you’ve finally come to your senses. Canada, you say? Great place. Drop me a line sometime -- as a friend, I might add, not your doctor.”

Taking the handshake, David pulled Simon to him, the two men embracing. On more than one occasion, Simon had saved his life. David owed him a lot, especially for the loyalty he had always given, no questions asked.

David returned to the guest room to find Chantelle still awake and sitting up with the covers held against her chin.

“I’ve got to make a phone call. Otherwise, he’ll scream the place down.”

“Who’s he?” David stared back in confusion.

“Chat, of course. He expects regular meals and gets upset if left alone. Paul always looks in on him when I’m not there. Besides, Paul will worry if I don’t call. He knew I was taking a plane up.”

“I’ll go and fetch the phone.” Leaving the room, David went down to the kitchen first to fix a warm drink for Chantelle. Then, picking up his mobile phone off the hall table, he placed it on the tray next to the drink and returned to find Chantelle had snuggled back under the covers. He stood for a moment undecided. If he left her undisturbed, then come morning, she was likely to be distraught at learning her cat had been left all night, especially if news hadn’t reached her neighbor that she had been found. He remembered her crazy panic when the cat had been stuck on the roof.

Gently, he began to shake her awake. It wasn’t easy; she resisted and turned her head into the pillow. Crouching down, he gently forced his hands into the pillow’s softness and brought her face around to meet his. Speaking her name softly, he smoothed back her hair. Beautiful feathery lashes flicked open only slightly as a soft murmur came from yielding lips.

He couldn’t stop himself. His mouth gently brushed against those lips, then returned as her lips parted, meeting his with an awakening desire. Her arms left the confines of the quilt to wrap around his neck. The tip of his tongue darted into her mouth, meeting hers and the sensation and wanting spread fire into his loins.

It took a great deal of willpower to break away. Avoiding her eyes, he pushed the phone into her hand and quickly moved away from the bed. “I’m sorry, I would have rung your neighbor myself, but I don’t know his surname.”

Any faster and he could be accused of running from that room as he closed the door and leaned against the doorframe, a sigh escaping his lips.

****

The sound of wind and rain lashing against the window woke Chantelle. A glance at her watch revealed she had slept through the whole night and part of the morning. Daylight streamed through the lilac curtains in what was definitely a guestroom. It wouldn’t surprise her if Catherine marched through the door carrying a breakfast tray.

David was full of surprises, like coming to her rescue like some blasted hero. Hadn’t he done enough damage without her now feeling she owed him some sort of gratitude? It was much better to think of him as a heartless bastard. If that wasn’t bad enough, she still remembered being woken by his lips upon hers, proof he still desired her, but not in the way she was willing to accept.

Throwing off the quilt, she stood up a little too quickly. A dull throb struck her temple, her ankle causing her to take a sharp intake of breath as she fell back onto the bed. Her eyes squeezed tightly shut, waiting for the pain to ease up. When she stood up again, it was a gradual movement, allowing her body to adjust, her toes touching the floor lightly to retain her balance.

A blue dressing gown was draped over the end of the bed. Putting it on, the size confirmed it was David’s. Without realizing, her hands had brought the collar up, her nose burying into it as if expecting to smell him. It smelled fresh and she chastised herself for the weakness.

Hobbling into the en-suite bathroom, she proceeded to freshen up, the bruise on her forehead startling her as she felt its tenderness. Luckily, her rucksack had been retrieved from the plane and left by the dressing gown. No change of clothing, but at least she had a brush and some makeup.

Leaving the bedroom, she made small hops across the hallway; it wasn’t easy, one bare foot trying to take most of her weight. It was when she came to the staircase that the real difficulty arose. She had to take one step at a time on her behind, praying silently that David wouldn’t choose this moment to make an appearance. Finally at the bottom, she stood up.

The house had the atmosphere of a mausoleum, the silence making her wonder if she had been deserted. Chantelle stared undecided over which of the three heavy oak doors she should try. One at the far end of the hall she guessed led to the kitchen. Feeling the strain on her ankle, she decided to go for the one directly facing her. It led into a very spacious lounge, the stark bareness of the room hitting her. Even the striking original Inglenook fireplace failed to give it a homely feel, the empty grate showing it hadn’t been used in a very long time.

She shivered slightly. The house was cold and the room itself highlighted this with its impersonal appearance, the only furniture being a dark brown leather couch. Obviously, he had started moving his furniture out, unless he preferred to live like this. It certainly seemed an unsettling extension of his character.

Limping across the maroon deep pile carpet, her toes welcomed the change from cold wooden floors. The patio doors were slightly steamed up and she made a large circle on the pane with her arm so she could look out. Autumn leaves were being carried across the beautiful lawn, others tossed about in the air like dancers caught up in one last whirlwind, a frantic finale. Turning away, she crossed the room, closing the door silently behind her, and approached another door.

The moment she stepped in, her body froze. Stretched out in a large reclining leather chair was David, his feet crossed and resting on the desk. His shirt was unbuttoned to the waist and he was unshaven. His raven hair was tousled, making her guess he had spent the night and most of the morning in this room. There were papers sprawled all over the desk and some on the floor. Suddenly, the phone rang and David grabbed it automatically as his eyes slowly opened. He didn’t seem to notice her as he listened intently to the caller.

When he did speak, his voice sounded tired. “Tell him I’ll pay the damn cost of it, just make sure you take that engine apart and let me know what you find.”

He must have sensed her presence, because his head turned in her direction. Swiveling the chair around, his legs came off the desk and their eyes met. The startled stare was replaced by a heavy frown as he focused on her bare feet, the bandaged one awkwardly supported by her toes. The phone wavered in his hand. Finally, he spoke into the mouthpiece. “I’ll call you later.” Slowly replacing the receiver, he leaned back in the chair. “How long have you been standing there?”