They stopped at the hotel and as usual he defeated her by being himself.
'Don't fight, baby,' he murmured softly, shocking her by his use of the endearment. She looked at him a little wildly, stunned to feel all her antagonism fading. That devilish smile was back in his eyes again, his passion controlled, and Natalie just sat looking at him when she knew perfectly well she should be getting out and storming off inside.
He trailed one long brown finger across her cheek, touching her lips gently as he reached them, his gaze fastened on their softness.
'You think I'll hurt you, don't you?'
'Yes.' She confessed it because she suddenly felt that he could and the stunned expression in her eyes had the smile reaching his lips.
'You're quite wrong,' he assured her quietly, opening the door and letting her out. She dared not look back and as she went inside she heard him pull away.
It left her in a sort of dream state. She hardly knew the face that looked back at her as she stared in the mirror. Affairs had never been her idea of how to live her life and yet when Kip touched her she seemed to forget all her own rules.
She showered and then sat looking out over the dam. She was here to work and so far she had done a lot of that in spite of her bad beginning. She collected her notes and looked at the picture that was emerging. She had a fairly comprehensive plan worked out and as far as she could see the team should now arrive. It would bring Neil and Paula and a considerable amount of heartache but it would bring safety. She telephoned her father. He was both delighted and relieved. The others would be there in two days.
She was just wondering about her photographs when Kip rang. Just the sound of his deep voice had her clutching
the telephone tightly but he was quiet, nothing but friendly.
'If I make a reservation at the hotel for tonight, will you have dinner with me?'
It was unexpected and for a second Natalie didn't answer, stunned by her own feelings. She wanted to see him. Just the sound of his voice excited her. Would she have to face another evening sitting opposite Kip and Annette Shelton? Was that what he had in mind? And what about later? Would he be content to simply say goodnight and go? Everything inside her seemed to be in a ferment as she struggled with feelings she had never faced before.
As a girl she had never seemed to go through the normal exciting encounters of her friends, in spite of her beauty. She had been too serious and, on top of that, her father had always been a rather alarmingly powerful man, scaring would-be boyfriends off with one sharp glance, even though it was mostly by accident.
Her feelings for Neil had been a calm and enduring affection that had grown. A comfortable thing. Now she was confused by her own emotions, by the fluttering inside. Kip inflamed her senses, brought to life something inside her that was altogether unnerving.
'Natalie?'
The almost gentle prompting brought her back to the present and she shook herself out of her daze.
'I'm not sure that it's a good idea.'
'Neither am I, but it's the only idea I've got. Sooner or later you and I will have to meet. Your work demands it. Wouldn't it be better to meet in a civilised place and discuss the dam?'
'Oh. Is that what we're going to do?' She suddenly remembered he had said he would have dinner with her
and diseuss the dam and the memory rather dismayed her. She had been thinking that he just wanted to see her and her cheeks flushed as she recognised her own disappointment. She was behaving like a schoolgirl.
'What else?' he mocked, giving her the nasty feeling that he had heard the dismay in her voice.
'Well, if it's business of course I can't refuse.'
'Very gracious. I'll be there at eight. I'll book the table.' He rang off, but not before she had heard the laughter in his voice. She supposed this was all very amusing to him and when she had gone he would be right back with Annette Shelton, who looked as if she would wait for him for just about a lifetime. It must be quite dull out here for a man like Kip. Any little diversion would be welcome. Well, she was not about to be a diversion.