The Bedroom Barter by Sara Craven Read Free Book Online

a hell of a lot to accept his help, and she knew it. Which made her undeniable physical reaction to him all the more inexplicable. But if she was honest she'd been conscious of it—of him—since that first moment in the club when their eyes had met. And she'd found herself unable to look away.
    When she was a small child, someone had warned her about wishing for things, in case her wish was granted in a way she did not expect. And Nanny had been quite right, she thought ruefully.
    Because only a couple of hours ago Chellie had sung about wanting 'someone to watch over her', and that was precisely what she'd got. And every instinct was warning her that, among so many others, this could be her worst mistake so far.
    The sooner I get away from him, the better, she thought, her throat muscles tightening. But that's not going to be so easy. Because I seem to have passed seamlessly from Mama Rita's clutches into his.
    Oh, God, how could I have been such a fool? And is it too late to redress the situation somehow?
    She drew a breath. 'What did you do with Manuel's keys?'
    'Threw them into an open drain.'
    'Oh.' She moistened dry lips with the tip of her tongue. 'That's—good.'
    'I thought so,' he returned with a touch of dryness.
    She looked down at the cobbles. 'This boat we're leaving on—where is it exactly?'
    'It's moored at the marina,' he said.
    'Isn't that the first place they'll look?'
    'I doubt it.'
    'Why?'
    He shrugged. 'Because they have no reason to connect me with boats.'
    'You don't seem very concerned.'
    'And you're tying yourself into knots over possibilities,' he retorted.
    Chellie subsided into silence again, biting her lip. Then she said, 'My passport—you did find it?'
    He sighed. 'I told you so.'
    "Then—could I have it, please?'
    He gave her a swift sideways glance. 'Thinking of making an independent bid for freedom, songbird?' He shook his head. 'You wouldn't get half a mile.'
    Knowing he was right did nothing to improve her temper. Or alleviate the feeling that she was cornered.
    'Besides,' he went on, 'like Mama Rita, I feel I need something to guarantee your good behaviour.'
    She gasped. 'Are you saying you don't trust me?' she demanded huskily.
    'Not as far as I could throw you with one hand, sweetheart.' He paused. 'Any more than you trust me.' He slanted a grin at her. 'Grind your teeth if you like, but I'm still your best bet for getting out of here unscathed, and you know it. And what's a little mutual suspicion between friends?'
    'I,' Chellie stated with cool clarity, 'am not your friend.'
    He shrugged again. 'Well, my Christmas card list is full anyway.'
    'However,' she went on, as if he hadn't spoken, 'I'd still like my passport back.' She paused. 'Please.'
    'My God,' he said softly. 'The authentic note of the autocrat. That didn't take long to emerge. From downtrodden victim to "she who must be obeyed" in one easy step.' His voice hardened. 'And what am I supposed to do now, darling? Turn pale and grovel? You should have tried it with Manuel. He'd have been most impressed.'
    'How dare you.' Her voice shook.
    They had stopped walking. Suddenly Chellie found herself being propelled across the quayside and into the shadows between two wooden buildings, where he faced her, his eyes glittering, his hands gripping her shoulders, immobilising her completely. Making her look back at him.
    'Oh, I dare quite easily,' he said. 'Because someone should have stopped you in your tracks a long time ago. And then perhaps you wouldn't need me to get you out of this mess now.'
    'I don't need you,' Chellie flung back at him recklessly. 'There'll be other boats. I can find a passage out of here without your questionable assistance.'
    'Yes,' he said, grimly. 'But probably not tonight. And that's only one of your problems. Because how long can you afford to wait? How long before word gets round that a girl with eyes like a cat and a bad haircut is trying to leave port and Mama Rita tracks you down?'
    He paused. 'And