CHAPTER 51

  His arrogant, dark head jerked back as though she'd hit him again, but instead of retaliating he settled himself on the sand next to her, the unusual tension in his shoulders suggesting that he was less than sure of his welcome.

  "You're extremely angry with me, and I can't blame you for that." He studied her for a moment and then reached gently for her hand and curled her slender fingers into a fist. "You can hit me again if you like."

  "It didn't make me feel any better." She pulled her hand away from his, hating herself for feeling a thrill of excitement instead of indifference. "And I'd be grateful if you'd stop looking at me like that."

  "How am I looking at you?"

  "You're sizing up the situation so that you can decide which of your slick diplomatic skills are required to talk me round."

  "I wish it were that easy." Casper lifted one broad shoulder in a resigned gesture. "Unfortunately for me, I have no previous experience of handling a situation like this."