Love on Trial by Diana Palmer Page A

her neck, giving it an affectionate squeeze as they walked outside the hotel behind a group of tourists into the chill night air.
    â€œWhat are you brooding about, honey?” he asked gently.
    She almost told him. It very nearly slipped out, but she caught herself just in time.
    â€œI’m just tired,” she said quickly. “Kitty and I hit every tourist shop within walking distance this afternoon.”
    â€œYou like her, don’t you?” he asked.
    She nodded and smiled. “I never had a sister, but if I could pick my own, I’d choose Kitty.”
    He was extremely quiet as the crowd of tourists moved a little ahead of them going down the side of the road while cars jammed together in a steady stream on the highway.
    â€œHow much did she tell you?” he asked suddenly, his eyes narrow and glittering as he glanced down at her.
    â€œAbout what?” she asked uneasily.
    â€œYou damned well know about what,” he growled.
    She jerked her eyes away from his to the colorful neon lights ahead. He hadn’t been back a half hour, and already he was trying to pick a fight.
    She stopped and turned toward him. “Why don’t I go back to the hotel and order my supper from room service?” she asked quietly. “At least that way we’ll both be able to enjoy what we’re eating.”
    He stared down at her long and hard. Finally, his hand came up and touched her cheek gently. “I’m being unreasonable, is that what you’re trying to tell me?”
    â€œYes,” she admitted.
    â€œOh, Siri,” he said gently, “don’t you know why? Aren’t you even that sophisticated?”
    She looked up at him, puzzled. “Trying to understand you is like trying toread Sanskrit,” she observed. “Hawke, what do you want?”
    â€œYou, damn it!” he said curtly.
    She flushed and turned away.
    â€œLet’s eat something,” he said tightly, catching her by the arm as he began to walk again. “Maybe it’ll improve my temper.”
    She felt shaken, uneasy. Was that why he’d begun to cut at her so much since they came on this trip—because of a purely physical attraction he couldn’t help or do anything about? It made sense, it really did. But what a blow it was to her pride, to be desired only for the arrangement of physical features. It was as if he couldn’t see her as a person at all. And didn’t care to.
    He led her into the seafood restaurant and seated her in one of the colorful red booths beside him. It created an intimacy that she could have done without. She couldn’t move without touching him.
    The waitress brought ice water and menus, and they studied them silently.
    â€œI’d like the scallops,” she said finally, handing him the menu as the waitress came back, “and coffee.”
    He ordered for both of them, automatically reaching for a cigarette when the waitress went away.
    â€œWill the smoke bother you?” he asked, glancing down at her.
    She shook her head. Her hands were wrapped around her water glass as if it were a life jacket, keeping her head above water.
    He caught a strand of her hair and tugged it gently, forcing her frightened eyes up to his. He read them, and smiled.
    â€œI’m not going to do anything about it,” he said softly, reading the thought in her mind. “You’re perfectly safe, little bird.”
    She looked into his eyes. “I’m sorry for what I did at the beach house,” she said in a subdued tone. “It really was therum. I’d never have done anything like that if I’d been myself.”
    His dark brows came together. “You’ve never tried to interest a man like that before?” he asked.
    â€œI haven’t and I wouldn’t,” she replied. “It’s cheap and cruel.”
    â€œIt depends on who’s doing it, and for what reason,” he said softly. “I said things to you