As if Luke cared. He was standing taking lazy inventory, with his massive fists planted on his taut naked hips. The only thing she had to be grateful about was the fact that the sea at night provided them both with a modesty curtain. He dodged the spray as she shrieked a war cry and launched herself at him.
‘Two can play at that game,’ Luke confirmed.
Unfortunately it was yet another game at which Luke excelled.
‘Okay, I give up,’ she conceded, raising her hands in the air. ‘You win!’ she exclaimed, her voice shaking with tension as Luke towered over her.
‘Do I?’ he said, taking a firm grip of her arms. ‘What’s my prize?’
If she could draw breath to speak she might come up with something, but with the entire length of Luke’s hot, magnificent body pressed up against hers it was hard to think, let alone speak.
‘Warm now?’ he murmured, dragging her closer still.
There was too much information bombarding her brain for her to spare breath for an answer. But feeling more of Luke than was safe, she pulled away.
‘You still don’t trust me?’
Her answer was to place her hands flat against his chest in an involuntary defensive action.
‘Dry yourself, Lucia. Get dressed and then we’ll talk,’ Luke said crisply as he turned to stalk back through the waves to the shore. Having snatched up his jeans and stepped into them, he strode away in the direction of the guest house. ‘You were right about this place,’ he called back. ‘There’s nothing here but sea and rock and sand.’
‘Luke, wait.’ Tying her shirt in a knot around her waist and wearing her jeans like a shawl, she chased after him. Managing finally to catch up, she grabbed hold of his arm. ‘Don’t let me spoil things for you. I was in a dark place tonight—it’s nothing, just a phase.’
‘Take care it doesn’t become a way of life,’ he said, shaking her off.
Luke was frighteningly right with that remark, Lucia realised, gritting her teeth as she ran after him. ‘Margaret’s out late with her friend, the farmer from across the road,’ she explained, skipping backwards as she spoke. She was desperate for a return to normality between them. How would she work with Luke otherwise?
‘So?’ he demanded, still striding on, refusing to look at her.
It was a relief when he walked past the car. ‘So come to the house,’ she said. ‘Take a shower—put some dry clothes on. We can have something hot to drink. We’ll soon warm up.’
He stopped so abruptly she almost can
noned into him. ‘How long are you going to pretend that this is all about whether you’re cold or I’m cold, or if there are ghosts on the beach, Lucia? You must know I had to find out what happened in London. You must know I couldn’t leave it without knowing what you were running away from.’
She flinched at his choice of words. ‘What are you saying?’ Ice washed through her. She couldn’t read Luke’s expression. She only knew he was saying horribly hurtful things she had been doing her best to avoid—true things—events she couldn’t face any more than she could face the cold expression in Luke’s eyes.
‘I’m saying that I found out for myself what you didn’t trust me enough to tell me, Lucia.’
‘Luke—’
‘I’ll make a bargain with you, and my bargain is this,’ he said, speaking over her. ‘We talk about the past. We don’t hide things from each other. And you don’t hide your tears from me. Stop,’ he added grimly when she tried to protest. ‘I don’t want to hear your jokes or your excuses. What happened to you in London is too serious for that.’
‘I know. I told the police.’
‘So you told the police but you couldn’t tell me?’
‘I told them as soon as Margaret told me you were in London, but I guess you got there first.’
‘I guess I did,’ Luke agreed. ‘What, Lucia?’ he demanded fiercely, grabbing hold of her. ‘How could you imagine I would think any less of you because of what happened in London? I only wish you’d told me.’
‘I …’ She couldn’t find the words as she stared up into Luke’s complex expression. There was anger in his eyes—hurt too—but most of all there was the strength she should have remembered was always there.
‘Those were great days on this beach, Lucia. There’s no shame in remembering them with laughter, and even with tears. I don’t see how either of us can come here without feeling something, and I don’t want you to shut me out. The past belongs to both of us. Can’t you see that?’
She heaved a great shuddering breath, knowing she must find the strength to tell Luke exactly what had happened in London. He was right that the past had to be faced up to and dealt with.
‘Do you remember that barbecue?’ he murmured, so softly she barely heard him.