The man at Kambala (21 page)

`Go away,' she said thickly. 'Just go away and leave me alone.'

`After getting this far?' He was behind her, turning her, holding her relentlessly there in front of him. `What makes you think it's Diane I want?'

Sara stared back at him blankly, her mind refusing to take in the implications. 'It's ... obvious,' she managed.

`Not to me it isn't. How could I think about her with you driving me half round the bend?' His voice was forceful. 'You've got me so that I can't even concentrate on my work any more. That's why I turned back this morning, to sort things out between us. When Ted found your letter I didn't stop to think at all, just jumped in the car and came after you. You're not going to England, Sara. Not until we can both go together.'

A curious light-headedness had come over her. 'I'm not?'

`No. You're going to stay on at Kambala and get to know me better. I'm aware that you're only on the verge of what I feel about you, but I can do something about that.' His gaze kindled suddenly as he looked down into her stunned blue eyes. 'Starting now. Like this.'

Sara came back to life as his mouth touched hers, and this time there was no holding back. When he finally held her away from him she was glowing and breathless and at last beginning to believe what she meant to him.

`Why didn't you tell me before?' she asked. 'You've been so . . . so cruel these last few days.'

`I should think so too !' He was still holding her in his arms, searching her face with an odd expression. 'I couldn't fathom you any more, couldn't tell what you were thinking or feeling. I tried everything I 'knew to get through that skin you'd acquired while you were in Nairobi and find the real Sara again, but I couldn't seem to hit the right spark.' He paused. 'Maybe I've been using the wrong tactics all along the line. Maybe I could have saved us both a lot of trouble if I'd used a more physical approach on Friday night. Sara, what I said just now about you only just beginning to feel something for me...'

`You were wrong about that too,' she said softly. `I'm just as capable as you of experiencing emotions. I love you, Steve, and I do know what it means. I've known for at least a week. So you'd better stop thinking of me as young Sara from now on and start treating me like a real woman for a change.

`I stopped thinking of you as young Sara the night I came to the club with Diane and saw you with Don,' he answered on a slightly rough note. 'You looked anything but a kid right then.'

`Is that when you began . . . well, feeling the way you do about me now?'

He laughed softly. 'That's when I began admitting it. You've always been the most tantalizing, infuriating, impossible-to-ignore female I ever came across, only I wouldn't let myself see beyond the fact that you were only Jill's age, and had missed out on so much. I suppose that should still
concern me, but I'm not going
to let it. How do you feel about marrying a tyrant yourself?'

`I think I could learn to handle it,' she said demurely. 'When?'

`As soon as we can arrange it.' He looked into her upturned face
and made a sound like a groan. F
or God's sake don't look at me like that or I'll not be answerable for the consequences! Just remember that repression is bad for the health, and try not to put too much temptation my way this next few days, will you?' He kissed her again once, then put her firmly from him. `Let's get on the way. I'll send a couple of the boys out for your car.'

Between them they transferred both suitcase and fawn to the back of the other Land-Rover, then got into the cabin themselves. Sara turned her head to look at the vital features of the man sitting beside her in the driving seat, met the smiling grey regard and felt her heart turn over in pure, exhilarating happiness. Steve was taking her home again. And this time it was for good.