Read Online Danger Zone by Doreen Owens Malek - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Doreen Owens Malek
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and sighed. “‘Better drink that cuppa, Karen; this could be worse than I thought. This may indeed be love, the big one, with a capital L.”
“Oh, stop making fun of me,” Karen said impatiently, “and listen. If what you’re telling me is the truth, I can’t understand why he would deliberately let me think the worst of him.”
“Testing you, perhaps?” Linda asked.
“Maybe,” Karen replied thoughtfully. “You could be right. He’s a complex man.”
“That,” Linda said, sitting up and setting her cup in its saucer, “I gathered.”
“I get the impression he’s afraid to want things, or people, too much, because that would make him vulnerable.”
“You figured out a lot about him in one evening,” Linda observed.
“He’s not as clever as he thinks. He gives some things away if you watch for them. And I was watching. Besides, it was two evenings. I spent the night on the boat with him too.”
Linda’s green eyes widened. “So that’s where you were! And you told me you fell asleep on deck. Naughty girl.”
“I did fall asleep. When I woke up in the morning he was gone. You see what I mean? We had kind of an intense conversation, and I think it took him by surprise, made him uncomfortable. He ran from it then, but later he asked me out. He was drawn to me, but not enough to overcome his past experiences. He believes that if he remains aloof he’ll never have to let down his guard.”
“He’s right, isn’t he?”
“Sometimes you have to take that chance.”
“No, you don’t,” Linda replied simply. “You can choose to be alone.”
“That’s what he’s done,” Karen said. “Or maybe it wasn’t a choice at first. He was an orphan and raised in a home. That might be why he’s so wary. I volunteered to give him my address, something I’ve never done before, because I knew he wouldn’t ask for it. And at the same time I could tell he really liked me, but he wasn’t willing to get that involved.”
“Sounds like you might have gotten to him, too,” Linda said quietly. “That’s a pretty defensive reaction for a man who doesn’t care.”
Karen shook her head sadly. “He won’t call me. I just know it.”
Linda stood and put her cup down on the tray. “I would love to continue this fascinating conversation,” she said, “but I have to be up at a beastly hour to catch my plane.” She went to the desk in the corner of the room and picked up a blank notepad. “This is where you can reach me, both in town and at our place in Sussex. Ring up any time, or come and visit. I shall miss you. I doubt if things in Almeria will ever return to what they were so we probably won’t get together on the job again. Promise me you’ll keep in touch, now.”
“I promise,” Karen said dutifully.
Linda kissed the air next to her cheek. “I must run, good night.” She paused in the doorway to look back at Karen. “Darling, I know he’s damnably attractive, but you’d best forget him. He sounds like walking heartbreak to me.”
Karen didn’t answer.
Linda sighed. “Well, off to the wars. I’ll have to whip these people into shape early if I’m to make my flight.”
Karen smiled to herself. Linda would make her flight. With her imperious voice and “Rule Britannia” manner, she always got the staff scrambling to perform for her in hotels and restaurants. Karen, on the other hand, stood in lines, lost her luggage and could never get a sandwich sent to her room before she fell asleep waiting for it.
“Goodbye.” Linda waved and pulled the door closed behind her.
“Goodbye,” Karen murmured. It was her second farewell of the evening. She undressed slowly, thinking about Colter and her conversation with Linda.
She knew Linda was right about him but it would be difficult to put him out of her mind.
Karen climbed into bed and left a wake up message at the desk. She had thought she wouldn’t be able to sleep, but the events of the past few days caught up with her.
“Oh, stop making fun of me,” Karen said impatiently, “and listen. If what you’re telling me is the truth, I can’t understand why he would deliberately let me think the worst of him.”
“Testing you, perhaps?” Linda asked.
“Maybe,” Karen replied thoughtfully. “You could be right. He’s a complex man.”
“That,” Linda said, sitting up and setting her cup in its saucer, “I gathered.”
“I get the impression he’s afraid to want things, or people, too much, because that would make him vulnerable.”
“You figured out a lot about him in one evening,” Linda observed.
“He’s not as clever as he thinks. He gives some things away if you watch for them. And I was watching. Besides, it was two evenings. I spent the night on the boat with him too.”
Linda’s green eyes widened. “So that’s where you were! And you told me you fell asleep on deck. Naughty girl.”
“I did fall asleep. When I woke up in the morning he was gone. You see what I mean? We had kind of an intense conversation, and I think it took him by surprise, made him uncomfortable. He ran from it then, but later he asked me out. He was drawn to me, but not enough to overcome his past experiences. He believes that if he remains aloof he’ll never have to let down his guard.”
“He’s right, isn’t he?”
“Sometimes you have to take that chance.”
“No, you don’t,” Linda replied simply. “You can choose to be alone.”
“That’s what he’s done,” Karen said. “Or maybe it wasn’t a choice at first. He was an orphan and raised in a home. That might be why he’s so wary. I volunteered to give him my address, something I’ve never done before, because I knew he wouldn’t ask for it. And at the same time I could tell he really liked me, but he wasn’t willing to get that involved.”
“Sounds like you might have gotten to him, too,” Linda said quietly. “That’s a pretty defensive reaction for a man who doesn’t care.”
Karen shook her head sadly. “He won’t call me. I just know it.”
Linda stood and put her cup down on the tray. “I would love to continue this fascinating conversation,” she said, “but I have to be up at a beastly hour to catch my plane.” She went to the desk in the corner of the room and picked up a blank notepad. “This is where you can reach me, both in town and at our place in Sussex. Ring up any time, or come and visit. I shall miss you. I doubt if things in Almeria will ever return to what they were so we probably won’t get together on the job again. Promise me you’ll keep in touch, now.”
“I promise,” Karen said dutifully.
Linda kissed the air next to her cheek. “I must run, good night.” She paused in the doorway to look back at Karen. “Darling, I know he’s damnably attractive, but you’d best forget him. He sounds like walking heartbreak to me.”
Karen didn’t answer.
Linda sighed. “Well, off to the wars. I’ll have to whip these people into shape early if I’m to make my flight.”
Karen smiled to herself. Linda would make her flight. With her imperious voice and “Rule Britannia” manner, she always got the staff scrambling to perform for her in hotels and restaurants. Karen, on the other hand, stood in lines, lost her luggage and could never get a sandwich sent to her room before she fell asleep waiting for it.
“Goodbye.” Linda waved and pulled the door closed behind her.
“Goodbye,” Karen murmured. It was her second farewell of the evening. She undressed slowly, thinking about Colter and her conversation with Linda.
She knew Linda was right about him but it would be difficult to put him out of her mind.
Karen climbed into bed and left a wake up message at the desk. She had thought she wouldn’t be able to sleep, but the events of the past few days caught up with her.
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