Whirlwind. Nancy Martin

enormous difficulty, Cliff said, “You don’t understand.”

      “About what?”

      “About me. And this place.” He tried to dig into his brain to find the words, but it was hard. He’d never been able to verbalize his trouble—never had to. That was why he’d come here in the first place. So he wouldn’t have to talk. He said, “It’s...I need to be here.”

      She waited expectantly, and when he couldn’t say more, she prompted, “Okay, so what’s the big deal?”

      “I have to be alone.”

      “Oh, nonsense!” She laughed again—beautiful and innocent and naive.

      “It’s true,” Cliff argued, aware that he had started to sweat. “I can’t...I can’t be around people.”

      “Why not? It’s not like you’re pug ugly or something. I mean, women would fall all over themselves in Chicago if you walked into town. Listen, Forrester—”

      “No, you listen,” he retorted, his voice rising unevenly. “I can’t do it. You can’t bring more people. You can’t—”

      “Oh, yes, I can,” said Liza, smiling like a naughty angel. “And you’re going to help me, Forrester.”

      “Like hell!”

      “Oh, come on. You’re not going to let a little inconvenient sexual attraction get in the way, are you?”

      “What sexual attraction?”

      She grinned. “Do you deny it?”

      “My God—”

      “’Fess up, Forrester! You think I’m the sexiest little tidbit who ever knocked your socks off, right? Take it easy. We’ll have a good time and still get the work done. You’ll see.”

      Cliff escaped before he caved in and did some real damage. He stormed into the lodge and left the silly little bitch humming happily on the porch.

       CHAPTER FOUR

      THOUGHTFULLY, Liza watched Cliff stride off the porch. What was he so churned up about? She couldn’t imagine.