Free Provocative Peril by Annette Broadrick Page B

it, they had become good friends during the months they'd been working together. Maybe that's why she'd come to mind. He'd thought her voluptuous blond beauty would provide some distraction, so that Carolyn's charms would no longer be so exaggerated in his mind. However, he had a hollow feeling somewhere inside that told him his call for help had gone out too late.

Chapter 6

    Carolyn and Brad spent the following day together studying tide pools. Brad seemed pleased with her eager questions and was a fount of information about the local marine life. He suggested that they visit the marine museum in Newport later in the week, and Carolyn eagerly agreed. When they parted, they made arrangements to meet later in the dining room.
    After a relaxing bath, Carolyn slipped into the silk Chinese robe her mother had given her for Christmas and tied the belt. The cross-over neckline plunged a little more than Carolyn was used to, but then no one else ever saw her in it. She glanced at the time and decided it was too early to put on her teal blue evening gown. Peeking over the ledge she noted that, as usual, Clay wasn't there. She decided to relax downstairs with a drink.
    Pouring a small glass of an Oregon wine she'd purchased in one of the resort's shops, Carolyn wandered over to the sofa and sat down. She savored the taste of the wine with a sigh of contentment, then rested her head on the back of the sofa as her eyes drifted closed.
    The day had been one of those sunny summer days she wished she could capture and keep in a bottle to let loose during a dismal winter day. She smiled to herself at the thought.
    "Look who's sleeping in my bed."
    Carolyn's eyes flashed open. Clay walked around the end of the sofa and stopped in front of the fireplace, his mocking grin taking in the picture she made in the soft blue silk, the neckline revealing the curve of her breasts. She sat up, careful not to spill her wine, and looked at the man before her.
    Once again he wore a well-worn pair of Levi's low on his hips; his feet were encased in moccasins. His bright red turtleneck knit shirt was the only part of his ensemble that was different from what he had been wearing the first time she'd seen him. It must have been the shirt that made him look so attractive this time. His tan emphasized the brightness of his blue eyes, and his closely clipped beard seemed to be touched with gilt.
    She lifted her glass in a lazy gesture. "You're welcome to try some of my wine if you'd like."
    One brow lifted slightly as though he wondered how much she'd tried. He'd never seen her so mellow. Moving toward the kitchen, he found the bottle and noted that less than a full glass was missing, so it wasn't the wine that had contributed to her mood. Shrugging, he poured himself a glass, then joined her on the couch.
    "Did you have a nice day?" he inquired politely.
    "Umhmmmm. The tide pools were very interesting."
    "You mean you actually went to see tide pools?"
    "Of course. I told you that's what we were doing. Brad is really very knowledgeable."
    "I don't doubt that in the slightest." He took a sip of his wine before he could say more.
    "He's offered to teach me how to play racquet-ball."
    "Somehow I see him as too musclebound for that sort of activity." He took a sip of wine and eyed her with interest, waiting for a reaction.
    It wasn't long in coming. "What a disgusting thing to say. Brad is very unpretentious about his looks, considering that he makes his living with them."
    "I just bet he does," Clay muttered as he took another drink.
    "What did you say?" she asked suspiciously.
    "Nothing. Not a thing. So did you go make up with your friend from last night—what's his name?"
    "Ted, and no, as a matter of fact, I haven't seen him."
    "What do they do, take turns?"
    "What is that supposed to mean?"
    "I mean, how do they know when it's their turn to escort you? Do you have a sign-up schedule or something?"
    Carolyn heard the slight edge to Clay's voice and looked at