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Afterwards they explored the town’s shops and paused to study the illuminated outline of the castle in the darkness of the late autu to the car to drive to the hotel where they were to dine
There was no need for thee, Tom had assured Chelsea The hotel he had chosen served first-class food in an ateared to appreciation of the dishes rather than the patrons’ clothes
It was nearly seven when they reached it via a narroinding country road, and Chelsea was delighted to see that the hotel incorporated what had once been one of the Border peel towers
‘Until a few years ago it was a private house,’ Tom told her ‘It’s been extended at the back andup here for peace and quiet, and as I said, the restaurant has a very good reputation’
Despite the fact that he lived at home with his parents, To in New Zealand, and Chelsea found hi companion than many of the so-called ‘sophisticated professional’ men she knew in Melchester
The hotel restaurant was attractively designed and furnished to take the e of the natural, exposed stone walls and floor without in any way sacrificing either coe open fire at one end of the room supplied the latter, and Chelsea noticed when she was handed her menu that the choice was every bit as extensive as she would have found in a London restaurant
‘I can recommend the steak,’ Tom told her ‘It will be best Scotch beef’
Heeding his advice, Chelsea gave her order After a brief consultation with the aiter, Tom asked for her preference
During the evening the restaurant gradually filled up, and although the staff were obviously busy, Chelsea found it a pleasant change not to be hurried away so that someone else could occupy their table
Feeling pleasantlyas they eventually sauntered out to the car Somehohen she ith him she found it unnecessary to adopt the defensive tactics she used with other h it sounded, in many ways he could have been the brother she had never had; a true friend whom one could depend on… Steady, she warned herself as he unlocked the Range Rover; you’ve known hilanced sideways into his pleasant, cheerful face
‘Warh?’
‘Fine, thanks,’ she assured him ‘I’ve really enjoyed today’
‘Me too You know, it’s a real treat to take out a girl who isn’t constantly expecting compliments; who doesn’t try to turn every conversation into personal channels…’
For the first time that she could re the inevitable goodnight kiss at the end of their ride with any sense of trepidation She glanced at Tom surreptitiously He radiated a warm steadfastness, a sturdy dependability Hersoft in her old age; longing for the protective caring male—but to protect her from what? she wondered soberly That part of her nature so brutally revealed to her by Slade Ashford? Tom would never arouse her as Slade had done; she knew that instinctively and was reassured by it Slade had reminded her too acutely of Darren and how close she had coht Deep down inside her but hitherto unacknowledged was the fear that there was vulnerability in passion, in giving oneself wholly into the keeping of another hu been so vulnerable once she intended to ain With Tom she would never feel vulnerable
It had started to rain and the hypnotic sound of the windscreen wipers lulled her into drowsiness She relaxed into her seat, leaning her head back and closing her eyes Toether, and hoped it would be the forerunner of many He liked Chelsea for her honesty as h to admit that she had an untouched quality which appealed very strongly to him
The sudden cessation ofwryly as she realised that they were parked in front of the Dower House
‘How very rude ofasleep like that’
‘Urinned ‘I was rather fancying the handsome prince bit In fact…’ He bent towards her, his left arently towards him
There was ah she had no desire to do so When he did kiss her, it was a tentative gentle kiss
‘Tom…’
‘I know,’ he said ruefully, ‘it’s late and you have to be up early in the , Chelsea, and I’d like to think there’ll be others’
His , but there was a question in his eyes that couldn’t be ignored
Impulsively Chelsea nodded her head
‘Good I suppose you’d better go in before Mrs Rudge co’