'Beth, open the door.'
She scrambled out of bed and shot across the room to turn the key in the lock. The door swung open and she had to jump back as Dex marched in carrying a tray in one hand bearing a coffee pot and cup plus fresh bread rolls and various jams.
Mindful of her decision last night, Beth looked up at him, a tentative smile curving the corners of her wide mouth. This morning he was casually dressed, in well- worn blue jeans and a white sweater that contrasted starkly with his dark good looks. Tearing her eyes away from his powerful body, she looked at the tray he carried. 'For me? Thank you,' she said softly. 'But you needn't have bothered. I. . .' She'd been going to say she could have eaten downstairs, but didn't get the chance.
'Yes, I did. My housekeeper has already called you once and she is far too old to be running up and down stairs for the likes of you.' His grey eyes scrutinised her slender form with a contempt that made her feel she was naked, lingering on the thrust of her breasts and then down to where her nightie ended mid-thigh before he strolled over to the bedside table and slammed the tray down.
'I'm sorry. I didn't realise.' Beth was trying to stay calm, but his obvious black mood was not helping.
'So you should be.' Dex swung back and walked towards the door. 'You certainly have a penchant for oversleeping. Obviously you're not bothered by a conscience.'
'Now wait a minute!' Beth exclaimed, her small chin jutting belligerently. She might have been prepared to swallow her pride last night, but she was fast going off the idea as she stared at Dex's frowning face.
'You don't have a minute. It is ten o'clock.'
Beth's eyes widened in horror. 'Oh, my God!' Her plane departed from Naples at twelve forty-five.
'Exactly. I want you out of here in twenty minutes.' And he slammed out of the room.
Beth paused for a moment, her head bowed and her long auburn hair falling like a curtain on either side of her face. So much for Bob's idea that Dex might care for her. He couldn't wait to get her out of his house and out of his country.
Her lips tightened in disgust with herself. What a fool she was. Brushing the hair from her face, she stalked over to the bed, poured herself a cup of coffee and drank it, and then determinedly set about getting ready. She would show the arrogant pig just how fast she could be!
In a matter of minutes she was washed and dressed in jeans, sweater and jacket, thanking the foresight that had made her pack her case last night. She scraped her hair back and tied it with a scarf, flung her shoulder bag over her shoulder picked up her case and walked downstairs. All in the space of ten minutes.
Dex appeared from the drawing room door. His steely eyes swept over her and his lips curved in a grimace. 'You're ready. Good. I'll go and collect your luggage. Wait here.'
'This is my luggage,' she said curtly, indicating her one small weekend case.
His dark brows rose in astonishment. 'Amazing—a woman who travels light.' Striding over to her, he took the case from her nerveless fingers and headed for the door. 'Come on, we have no time to waste.'
She followed him out of the house and stopped, looking along the drive. 'Where is the car?' Beth demanded.
The sunshine of the past two days had given way to grey, overcast skies, with black clouds rumbling along the horizon. She shivered as a cold wind whistled along the headland, and she fastened her jacket.
Dex was halfway across the broad expanse of grass, heading towards the terrace. He gave her a backward glance over his shoulder. 'No car. We are going in my launch.'
'But I came on the ferry.'
Dex stopped and turned around to face her. 'I know. But if Anna had seen fit to inform me you were coming I would have arranged for the launch to collect you.'
'Big deal,' Beth muttered under her breath.
'Hurry up.'
Still muttering, Beth followed Dex down the row upon row of terraces until they reached the jetty. Then she stared. It was not the yacht of yesterday but a twenty- foot speed boat, with a small cabin and wheelhouse, tied up against the dock. The blue sea was almost black, the waves lashing the boat against the side of the wooden structure.
Dex had already jumped on board, but Beth eyed the boat and the sea with dismay. 'Are you sure you know what you're doing?' she demanded flatly.
Dex turned back and, reaching a long arm over the side of the boat, caught her hand in his. 'For heaven's sake, woman, get on the boat and let's go.' He was almost dragging her up the short gangplank.
'The sea looks a bit rough,' she ventured.
'It wasn't an hour ago,' Dex snapped.
Even the weather was her fault now, Beth thought, thoroughly fed up. Stepping into the bottom of the boat, she pulled her hand free from his. 'Well, it is now,' she snapped back, glaring up at him.
His dark brows drew together in a frown of irritation. 'For once in your life will you stop arguing and do as I tell you? I am going to go up and start the engine—' he gestured with his hand to the wheelhouse '—and when I cry "cast off' all you have to do is slip that rope off that cleat. Understand?' He pointed to where a rope from a capstan on the jetty stretched out to an iron thing on the boat.