Guilty Passion by Laurey Bright Page B

around to care for you.”
    â€œCare for me!” A flash of sarcasm lit her eyes.
    â€œLook on that episode yesterday as an aberration. It won’t happen again.” “But you think that I—”
    â€œForget it,” he said shortly. “I lashed out without taking time to consider what I was saying. I want you fit, before I. . . before we talk about it again. I owe it to Alec to look after you. Just stay until you’re back to normal, okay?”
    The familiar lethargy was creeping over her again. She didn’t want to think about the terrible things he had suggested. It was tempting to relegate the whole episode to the back of her mind and pretend it had never happened. Especially when Ethan was being so persuasive, his voice quiet and reasonable. Her brain felt muzzy, and she wasn’t up to arguing, let alone making arrangements for the flight back and someplace to live and the myriad other decisions that would be needed if she left. She knew it was weak and spineless, but the very prospect of having to do all that both frightened and exhausted her. “All right,” she agreed, stifling the warning voice at the back of her mind. “I’ll stay.”
    He said, “Good.” Then he left her, to return later with two plates of salad. “Think you can get this down?” he asked.
    â€œIt looks delicious.” She wasn’t hungry but, somewhat to her shame, she was grateful for his determination to take care of her.
    â€œOutside?” he suggested. “I’ve got a sun umbrella up now.”
    She had not noticed, even though she had spent the last five minutes staring out at the patio and beyond it to the sea.
    While they ate they spoke little, but gradually Celeste was aware of the slackening tension, and as they sipped coffee afterwards, Ethan said, “Did you go down to the beach yesterday morning?”
    Celeste shook her head. “I saw the path. Is it safe?”
    â€œPerfectly.” He cast her a sharp glance, and she knew that he was thinking of how Alec had died, smashing onto the wave-swept rocks at the bottom of a cliff. He said, almost too casually, “If you’re nervous I’ll take you down the first time.”
    Celeste said, “No, I’ll be all right on my own. I’m sure you have things to do.”
    â€œSome. Work has a habit of piling up when I’m away. If you’re thinking of going there now, perhaps you shouldn’t be alone, though.”
    â€œI feel fine,” she lied. “And I’d like to see the beach.” She didn’t feel fine, but she wasn’t dizzy or sick anymore. She was quite capable of walking a few hundred yards.
    â€œDon’t be surprised if you see a naked body or two. Only locals use the beach, and it’s accepted that nude swimming and sunbathing are okay.”
    â€œThanks for warning me. It’s safe for swimming, then?”
    â€œUnless a storm blows up. But I think you should wait until you feel stronger before swimming on your own.”
    â€œI don’t really feel like swimming today, anyway.” They were talking like strangers, politely but with no warmth. “I’ll do the dishes before I go,” she offered.
    â€œDon’t bother. It’ll only take a minute. You’re the invalid.” He gathered up the plates and got to his feet.
    â€œI’m not,” she said. “I mean, it’s just. . .” Her voice trailed off. She didn’t know what it was, but it seemed an age since she had felt truly alive.
    â€œDepression, the doctor said,” Ethan told her.
    â€œYes, but he thought. . .”
    â€œThought what?” His gaze had sharpened.
    â€œIt doesn’t matter,” she said listlessly. The doctor had obviously assumed that Alec’s death was the cause, and she had not told him that this lack of energy and even of interest had begun long before that, only intensifying to unmanageable