Free Beside the Brook by Paulette Rae Page A

any favours here so far.”
    “I don’t know about that,” Tyler murmured as he bent his head and let his lips graze the back of her shoulder.
    Kirsty gasped and straightened her back in shock. She turned to move away, but as she dropped her legs to the bottom of the pool Tyler grabbed them with one hand and pulled them across his lap, forcing her into his arms. Putting her off balance she instinctively grabbed his neck and held onto him. His eyes twinkled as he dropped his head and moved his mouth over hers. She moaned in surprise; let his tongue push between her lips in anticipation. He kissed her hungrily for a few moments before she dropped her hand to his chest and pushed herself away from him. She stared wildly up into his face.
    “This is not a good idea,” she said breathlessly.
    “Why not?” Tyler asked, his eyes daring her to come back for a second attempt at seduction.
    “Because, it’s not.” Kirsten dragged her legs from Tyler’s grasp. “It’s completely unprofessional.”
    Tyler leveled her with a bold stare. “That never stopped you in the past.”
    Kirsten was shocked. “What did you say?”
    “I said it doesn’t seem to have put you off with past employers.”
    Kirsten stood up. “You bastard!” Before she could stop herself she slapped Tyler across the cheek. It wasn’t hard, but a nice red mark appeared on his face and he put his own hand up to cover it.
    Kirsten was stunned. How did Tyler know about Greg Hamilton? And moreover why did he think bringing it up would only encourage her to take something up with him?
    What kind of sick game was he playing?
    “Jesus, I can’t believe you people.” She scrambled to the side of the pool, a sick feeling creeping into the pit of her stomach.
    “Kirsty, wait.” Tyler grabbed at her wrist, tried to pull her back. But she already had one leg out of the pool. With the other leg she pushed down against the molded plastic seat, but before she could do anything her foot slipped out from under her. Her weight collapsed onto the coloured concrete tiles and her hip burned with pain as she landed. She yelped and rolled onto her back, closing her eyes as a bright light blocked her sight. Tyler leapt from the pool and was at her side before she knew it.

    “Are you okay?” He took her by the shoulders and tried to lift her, but she shook him off.
    “I’m fine.” Tears filled her eyes and she sobbed.
    “You’re not fine, let me help you up.” He lifted her with his strong hands, despite her protest.
    “Get off me.” Kirsty was now sitting and she swatted his hands away. Her chest heaved in blind anger. She wanted him to stop touching her. She was so wild at him. Tyler laughed, enraging her further. He held her firmly with his large hands. Then he spoke in a sharp tone, “Kirsten, stop. You’re hurt.” He brushed a loose strand of hair away from her face and peered into her green eyes. “I’m sorry.” His look seemed genuinely remorseful and Kirsten calmed a smidgen. “I’m sorry, okay? That was uncalled for.”
    She regarded him with speculation. “Damn straight it was.” Tears escaped from the corners of her eyes, flowing out of control. The flood gates had opened and she didn’t know how to close them. “I needed you to be a friend.”
    “I’m sorry. I am, seriously. I am a friend, please.” He pulled Kirsten to her feet and she held his shoulder for balance.
    She looked up at him. “How the hell did you know about that?”
    “Hey, my job was to check you out. You don’t think my mother would have hired you without knowing anything about you, do you?”
    Kirsten shrugged. “So you went snooping into my past?”
    “Hey, when I do a job, I do it properly.”
    “What else do you know about it?”
    “Hey, you can’t blame me for something you did. I just happened to find out about it. You didn’t cover your tracks very well. Besides, most of what I found out was assumption on my part. You just confirmed it.”
    “God,