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enquiringly.
The man beside her got to his feet. 'Mr Branson, how do you do? I
have been talking to your lovely wife '
'About what?' Quinn asked sharply, glancing at Stefanie.
'I am a representative of the Scripture Institute of the Pacific. We
have a special offer that I've been explaining to Mrs Branson '
'You're a salesman?'
'We bring the scriptures to the people. The king has endorsed our
organisation. This family bible '
'We don't have a family.'
Stefanie said, 'I already told Mr Harding ''Ah ' The man beamed
' but when you are newly married is a good time to buy. Then, when
you have your first child ' As he spoke, he picked up the briefcase
standing by his chair, starting to rummage inside it.
'We'll wait, thanks,' Quinn said. 'Stefanie if you've finished with
that ?'
Taking the hint, Stefanie closed the book in her lap and handed it
back to the salesman. 'Thank you,' she said. 'Maybe another time.'
'I'll leave my card,' he said, looking disappointed.
Quinn said, 'I'll see Mr Harding out.'
When he came back Stefanie had poured herself another drink and
one for him. 'You gave him short shrift,' she said.
'I didn't think they had door-to-door sales here.' Quinn dropped into
the chair and picked up his glass. 'Why did you let him in?'
'I didn't see any harm. Do you own a bible?'
'Doesn't everyone? Do you think you were wise?'
'Wise?' Stefanie looked blankly at him.
With a touch of impatience he said, 'I told you how the Busiatans are
about morality between men and women. Having a tête-à-tête with a
good-looking young man isn't very discreet behaviour for a newly
married woman.'
At his censorious tone Stefanie laughed disbelievingly. 'Have you
ever seen a Busiatan under fifty who's not good-looking? I only
offered him a cold drink while I looked at what he had to offer and
you didn't give me a chance to say if I wanted to buy or not, either.'
Quinn looked at her. 'Did you want to?'
'Probably not. But you took the decision out of my hands.'
'I'd assumed you'd have spoken up if you were interested.'
She probably would have. But she wasn't ready to let the subject go.
'When my husband had just said "No, thanks"? What would the
Busiatans make of that? Aren't they into the obedient wives thing?'
'Very likely.' Quinn smiled faintly. 'But you're not?'
'Hardly.'
'That's what I thought. Pity.' He sipped at his drink.
Stefanie gave him an eloquent look.
He returned her a teasing glance. 'You rise beautifully.'
'You asked for it.'
'True. I like seeing you take the bait. Your eyes sparkle and the way
you tilt your chin makes me want to '
'Punch it?' she suggested pugnaciously.
'No.' For an instant his smiling gaze settled on her mouth, and the air
stilled.
Then the moment passed and he settled back in his chair. 'I thought
inviting salesmen in was the ploy of desperate, lonely housewives.'
'So?' Stefanie parried.
His brows arched. 'You have a job '
'Yes, but...'
'But?'
'Oh, nothing,' she muttered discontentedly, picking up her glass.
'Tell me.'
'Why?' she demanded.
Quinn frowned slightly. 'You think I'm not interested? But I am,
Stefanie.'
'Really?' Hearing with startled shame the sharpness in her own voice,
she immediately backtracked. 'I know you're very busy. It's all right,
really. It's not as though well, as though this is a normal marriage.'
He looked at her carefully. 'Have I made you unhappy, Stefanie?'
'I'm not unhappy. But...do you think we can be friends, not just two
people living in the same house?'
'Friends,' he said. 'I thought we were. Or are you saying you want
more than that?'
'No,' she denied hastily. 'No.'
He looked away, veiling his eyes. 'I suppose you're feeling
neglected '
'I don't mean that.'
'No, you're right. I promised you a holiday. You're not only working
after all, you're bored when you're not, and it's up to me to do
something about it. I scolded you for not acting like a newly-wed.
Maybe it's time I took my own advice. I'll try to do better.'
'You don't have to keep an eye on me because I'm bored!' She didn't
want his grudging company. 'I'm not going to create another
coffee-planter scandal in reverse.'
'I wasn't suggesting you would. If you ever do get that bored, I
thought I'd made it clear that you needn't look further afield.'
'I'll keep it in mind,' she assured him with deceptive calm. 'But I doubt
I'll ever be that bored!'
It was a nasty crack, and she was relieved when after a pioment he
laughed. 'All right, I'll let you have that one. I guess I shouldn't have
brought the subject up.'
* * *
The following Saturday they took their scooters to one of the island's
well-populated coral beaches, and Quinn taught Stefanie to snorkel.
He was patient and thorough and rather aloof, and she couldn't help
noticing how scrupulous he was about not touching her unnecessarily
when he showed her how to use the mask and breathing tube, or
adjusted the fit of her rubber flippers. She couldn't help laughing as
they awkwardly approached the water, lifting their webbed flippers to
negotiate the soft sand.
Quinn grinned down at her. 'I know, it's ludicrous, but they'll help a
lot.'
Then he led her into the lagoon and they explored a silent undersea
world of brilliant coral and anemones. Sometimes he touched her arm
and pointed to a striped, iridescent fish darting by, or a particularly
striking coral formation. His fingers slipped on her wet skin. When he
grasped her hand to steer her in another direction, she followed
willingly, her fingers curling about his.
When they came out at last, pulling off their masks, Quinn bent to
remove her flippers for her. She looked down at his water-sleeked
head and resisted an urge to touch him, run her fingers along the
gleaming skin of his strong shoulders. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]