“Ouch! That hurt. What the hell do you think you’re doing?” He said something foul beneath his breath but didn’t let her go. “Don’t try to play innocent with me. Everybody knows you put out for Whitfield. Now that he’s through with you, how about giving me a chance?”
“Go to hell!” Though she fought to kick him again, Darren only laughed and began trailing kisses along her shoulder.
She was furious but his cruel words burned deeper than his touch. She was about to twist free when she felt him lifted away, a look of surprise on his face. Clay had a hand on the nape of his neck and another on the seat of his pants. With a quick turn and heave, Clay tossed him into the lake.
Ellie just stood there gaping. Darren came up sputtering, water running down his face, bits of leaves and twigs in his hair, his evening clothes plastered against his body. Shouting obscenities and shaking his fists, he sloshed ashore.
“I’ll get you for this, Whitfield!” But he headed for the castle, wanting no more of Clay.
When Ellie turned, she found Clay grinning, his cheeks dimpled in the moonlight. The sight had her grinning in return. In seconds they were laughing together the way that had what seemed eons ago.
“It’s good to hear you laugh,” Clay said softly as they began to regain their composure.
“It’s been a while.”
He walked to where she stood beside the tree.
“Thank you, Clay. I guess I should have listened to your warning.”
“You couldn’t have known.” Clay reached a hand to the ponytail that had slid haphazardly to the side and pulled the band, freeing her hair. He spread the heavy curls around her shoulders. “That’s better.”
It had been so long since he’d touched her, so long since he’d looked at her with such tenderness. A lump formed in her throat.
“I never meant to hurt you,” he said.
She read the sincerity in his face. “I know.” She’d known all along, she realized. She just hadn’t been ready to accept it.
“At first it was just a game…a challenge. Then later….” He released a slow breath. “Later it became something more.” He glanced back toward the castle. “I heard what he said. I’m sorry for the grief I’ve caused you.”
She only nodded, afraid to trust her voice. He looked so dear, and she had missed him so much.
“We’d better be getting back,” he said.
Ellie shook her head. “I’m not ready yet. I’ll be all right out here for a while. Darren won’t be back.”
Clay smiled, a bit sadly, she thought. “No, I don’t suppose he will.” He watched her a moment. “I’ll see you back at the house.” Turning, he started toward the castle.
“Clay?”
He stopped and turned, his black satin lapel gleaming in the moonlight, lighting the sun streaks in his dark hair. “Yes?”
“Prissy told me what happened in Monaco. About the drugs—and the women.”
His expression tightened, turned grim, as if he were reliving a painful memory. “She gave me her word.”
“It was hard for her. She said something about being a romantic.”
“If she told you what happened, then you know what kind of man I am.”
Ellie’s throat closed-up. “I know exactly what kind of man you are,” she said softly. “It’s you who isn’t sure.”
She wondered if he understood how much he had to offer, how intelligent he was, how sensitive he could be.
“I’d better be going.” With a last soft glance, he started striding away.
Ellie’s eyes filled. She couldn’t stop the words from spilling out. “Would you do it again?”
Clay stopped and turned. “Again?”
