Absolutely Crazy (Chapter Two)
Written by Imperial Fire Queen
Disclaimer: I don't own the Ronin Warriors.
"No. I think you're very far from 'all right'," he told her firmly. "You're going to need some professional help – and as soon as possible. Have you got a first aid kit in your bungalow?"
"I…I don't think so," she muttered, burying her face in her bloodstained hands for a moment.
Rowan's mouth tightened grimly. It was difficult to see anything under that damned hat. But, from what little he could see of her face, it was obvious that the woman's cheeks were deathly pale. Clearly there was no time to be lost in getting her some serious medical attention.
"Well, there's no point in hanging around here," he told her firmly, before quickly bending down and scooping her up into his arms.
"Hey – what do you think you're doing?" she shrieked in a much stronger voice, the heavy voluminous garments hampering her movements as she tried to wriggle out of his grip. "Put me down at once!"
Ignoring the frantic twisting and turning of the lightweight figure in his arms, Rowan began striding rapidly back up the beach.
"I take it you're not entirely stupid? So, don't you think it's time you started using your brain?" he demanded curtly.
When her only reply was a short, startled intake of breath, he continued grimly, "That's only a temporary bandage which I've placed around your ankle. I don't expect it will hold the bleeding for very long. And especially not if you try to walk back up the beach to your bungalow. Got the message?"
"Oh, sure, I've got the message – you bully!" she retorted with a shaky laugh, before muttering something else under her breath.
"I'm sorry…I didn't quite catch what you said."
"You weren't meant to!" She retorted. "But if you must know I was reminded myself that I'd vowed to stay well away from tall, dark-haired Englishmen. And especially ones who are clearly hard, tough and very bossy!"
He glanced down at the girl in his arms. Somewhere along the line, possibly due to her frantic struggling, she seemed to have lost her wide-brimmed hat. However, it wasn't possible to tell the color of her hair, since it was totally covered by a thick black scarf, knotted at the back of her head. Her face didn't look particularly appetizing either – her bloodstained fingers having left ugly-looking russet-brown streaks across her pale cheeks and forehead.
Only the wide green eyes, heavily fringed by dark lashes, which appeared to be glinting with some emotion – although he wasn't quite sure whether it was anger or laughter – gave any hint that there might be a lot more to this woman than appeared obvious at the moment.
"Well if it's any consolation," Rowan drawled as he mounted the steps to her veranda, "I'm normally a very polite man. In fact, I wouldn't dream of being either 'hard' or 'bossy'. Unless of course, I find myself rescuing a grumpy American lady – who's clearly determined not to listen to any of my good advice!" he added with a dry bark of sardonic laughter.
Striding swiftly into the cool, dim interior of the cottage, whose lay-out was similar to that of his own, he entered the bedroom and laid her gently down on the large four-poster bed.
"Oops! I guess that's put me well and truly in my place…huh?" she gave a heavy, almost theatrical sigh as she leaned back against the pillows. "It must be really, really great to know that whatever happens in the big bad world – you are always right."
Staring grimly down at her, Rowan had no problem thinking of several crushing remarks which would put this irritating female very firmly in her place. And then as he viewed the pale face, and the slightly trembling hands, he realized he'd been far too rough on this poor girl who was now looking a lot younger than he'd at first supposed.
"I'm sorry. I should apologize for being so rude," he said quietly. "It's just that I was worried about the wound to your ankle. Believe me, you really must have it seem to by a doctor – and as soon as possible."
"Yes, well…I guess it's my turn to apologize. I've obviously been a real pain in the neck," she admitted, gazing up in some bewilderment at the deeply tanned, hawk-like features of the tall, dark and remarkably handsome man who'd just rescued her from a nasty predicament.
"I…I can't think what's come over me," she continued in a slightly weak, breathless tone of voice. "Because I don't…I really don't usually behave like this."
"I'm sure you don't. And – although you may find it difficult to believe – neither do I!" He grinned. "So, I'm just going to ring through to the main hotel and ask them to provide some medical assistance. Once I'm satisfied that help is on the way, I promise to leave you well alone. OK?"
"No…no…please don't go," she begged, swiftly reaching up to catch hold of his hand. "Not…well, not until after I've seen the doctor."
"Relax – there's no need to worry. I'll definitely stay here for as long as you need me," he promised, before leaving the room.
Goodness knows what was about this highly disturbing girl…Rowan mused as he lifted the phone to call the main hotel. She looked the complete mess, of course. But there was something about the tone of her voice – and the soft gleam in those emerald green eyes – which was clearly having a rather odd effect on him. In fact, ridiculous as it might seem, he was definitely beginning to find her sexually attractive!
Luckily the hotel was able to arrange immediate attention. And Rowan, waiting out on the veranda, was relieved when the doctor confirmed that the patient was now well out of danger.
"You did well to stop the bleed in time," the elderly stout man puffed, brandishing a large white handkerchief as he wiped the perspiration from his brow. "However, the cut is not too serious. Provided that you look after your wife, and make sure that she stays in bed for the test of the day, she will be quite well enough to fly back to American tomorrow."
"What…?" Rowan gazed at him in astonishment. "I'm sorry…you clearly don't understand the situation. I can assure you that this lady is very definitely not my wife. In fact…"
"Ah, yes, I see how it is – you lucky dog!" the doctor chuckled, giving the Englishman a sharp dig in the ribs. "We are, of course, both men of the world. So, there is no need to worry. Your secret is quite sage with me," he added, with a friendly slap on the tall man's shoulders, before making his way back down the steps of the veranda. "I will leave you to look after the lovely 'lady', yes?"
"No! I mean…you've got hold of the wrong end of the stick!" he called out as the doctor disappeared from sight, leaving only the sound of a hoarse, rumbling laugh hanging heavily in the air behind him.
Rowan brushed a hand roughly through his dark hair. What in the hell was he suppose to do now?
The idea of being forced to look after that strange, weird-looking girl was hardly a tempting prospect. All the same…he could hardly walk away and leave her on her own. However, with any luck she would by now be feeling tired, and only too pleased to see the back of him. Right?
Definitely feeling in need of a stiff drink, Rowan braced his shoulders and forced himself to knock on the bedroom door.
"I'm sorry to have to say that the doctor, for some strange reason, seems to have completely the wrong idea about us," he said as he entered the room. "While I'm quite willing to do what I can, I really don't think – Good God!"
Making his way slowly across the large room, Rowan – feeling as though he'd been hit on the head by a heavy lead pipe – was having considerable difficulty in accepting the evidence of his own eyes. What on earth had happened to the blood-streaked, almost grubby-looking figure of the woman whom he'd rescued from the beach less than an hour ago…?
"I simply don't believe it!" he breathed, his stunned gaze traveling up over the long shapely legs and lightly tanned, hourglass figure, tantalizingly covered by a diaphanous chiffon wrap over a minuscule blue bikini which left virtually nothing to the imagination. In place of that hideous black scarf there was now a man of long, wavy red hair – like a fiery, brilliant sunburst on the pillow – surrounding a perfect heart-shaped face, enormously wide blue eyes, and a mouth which curved as sensually as her firm, full breasts.
Rowan stared, a thousand thoughts flying around in his mind, none all-too clean. He must've voiced some of those thoughts out because, the next thing he knew…
She gave a peal of laughter at the sound of his hoarse, strangled voice, and his stunned expression, he clutched hold of one of the bedposts and made a determined effort to clear his mind.
"I…er…I'm sorry," he muttered, his cheeks flushing slightly as he realized that he'd been behaving like a stupid idiot. "It's just that…" He gave a distracted shake of his dark head completely unable to put into words the effect she was having on his normally well-controlled self.
"Hey – relax! There's no need to apologize." The girl assured him. "I don't know why the British have a reputation for being so formal and icily polite," she added with a surprisingly breathless shaky laugh. "In my experience, you guys seem to be born with an amazing ability to make a girl feel like a million dollars!"
"I wish it were true. But I fear you are sadly mistaken." Rowan smiled ruefully down at the beautiful creature lying so elegantly stretched out on the bed. "Unfortunately, most of the time we look – and act – as if we're well and truly strangled by our old school ties!"
"Oh, really…?" She grinned. "Well, since you clearly aren't wearing a tie at the moment, how about fixing us both something to drink?"
"If the doctor gave you any medicine, you ought to avoid alcohol," he warned.
"It's OK. I haven't even taken any aspirins," she assured him. "Although I normally drink very little, I reckon that after today's misadventures I could do with a stiff dose of brandy."
"That sounds like an extremely good idea," he agreed, grateful for the opportunity, however brief, in which to make a determined effort to pull himself together. It was clearly ridiculous for a grown man, approaching forty years of age, to find himself so completely bowled over by a girl – however lovely she might be, he told himself, his lips tightening grimly as he mixed their drinks at the bar in the large sitting room.
After all, following the break-up of his marriage, he'd had plenty of glamorous, highly attractive girlfriends, none of whom had caused him to lose a wink of sleep at night, or produced even the slightest ripple in his life. So why…why should it take just one brief smile from that admittedly beautiful but troublesome American girl…and he was straight into meltdown?
In fact, if he didn't get his act together – and fast! – he was going to be in dead trouble, Rowan warned himself sternly. So he'd better get the hell out of here, as soon as possible.
"Well, now…" he drawled some minutes later, sipping his brandy as he leaned casually against one of the tall, wooden posts at the end of the bed. "I'm hoping you can solve the mystery of why, for the past few days, you've been dressed like an old bag lady? Why cover yourself from head to toe in thick layers of gauze? Not to mention the reason for wearing that quite dreadful hat!"
"There's no mystery. I was just being very careful not to get sunburned." The ravishingly lovely girl grinned up at him, before holding a lock of her fiery red hair. "Unfortunately, with my kind of skin, if I sit in the sun for even ten minutes I turn a bright shade of lobster. And if you want to spend some time in the water, wearing total block isn't always the answer, either."
"But you've got a wonderful tan," he protested, attempting to keep his gaze well away from her luscious figure.
She shrugged. "Well, I'm sorry to have to tell you that like everything else in show business it's false. Just an illusion."
"I know nothing about 'show business,' as you call it." Rowan shrugged, before walking through into the other room to fix them both another drink. "In fact, I can't recall the last time I went to see a play or a film. And I'm not exactly keen on the ballet either," he added, returning to place a glass in her hand.
"Oh, Lord…!" he continued his hooded blue eyes gleaming with amusement as he stood looking down at her. "I hope I haven't said the wrong thing? Are you a dancer?"
"No, I most certainly am not!" she laughed. "Anyway, who cares about what either of us does for a living? I'm far more interested in the fact that I don't even know your name."
"Yes, I suppose we ought to introduce ourselves. So…"
"Just a minute," she winced, struggling to adjust eh pillows behind her head. "I seem to be getting a real crick in my neck, staring up at you like this. How about taking the weight off your feet? She added, patting the bed beside her.
Maybe it had been a great mistake to pour them both a second drink. Because when thinking about the episode, much later, Rowan would totally fail to understand why he'd chosen to ignore the loud warning bells ringing so urgently in his head as he slowly lowered himself down on the soft mattress.
"That's much better," she sighed, raising a hand to rub the back of her neck. "So, how about if I kick off by saying that, as far as Christian names are concerned, my parents chose to call me Maillaine."
"Well Maillaine…" he began, suddenly uncomfortably aware of the effect that the close proximity of this amazingly sexy girl was having on his body. "I…er…I regret to have to tell you that I am one of those very boring members of society – a lawyer. And, even wore, at my christening I was burdened with the truly awful names of Ruwonanth Doran Harsby!"
"I'm not sure that 'awful' is exactly the right word," she murmured, clearly trying not to laugh. I'd be more inclined to call it downright cruel. Because I'm afraid that there is nothing in the least romantic about the name Ruwonanth."
He nodded in agreement, desperately fighting a totally crazy, insane urge to make mad, passionate –
"Which is why, from my earliest years, I've insisted on being called by the name, Rowan." He said, taking a huge gulp from the glass in his hand.
"Hmm…that's a lot better," she agreed, the warm gleam in her wide green eyes causing his pulse to begin racing out of control. "Yes, I think that Rowan is just about the perfect name for a guy like you,"
There was a long silence as they gazed at one another, the smily slowly dying rom her lips, her cheeks reddening slightly under his steady gaze.
"I could be very wrong, of course," he said slowly, "But I have the distinct impression that there's –,"
She held up a hand, signifying 'no more'. "It's absolutely crazy of course," She replied in a soft voice.
"Absolutely crazy," he agreed softly, his blue eyes darkening momentarily as she nervously moistened her dry lips with her tongue.
"And we hardly know each other!" She added with a helpless shrug, closing her eyes for a moment as a deep crimson flush spread over her face. "I'm feeling a bit funny, I think I may have lost too much blood," She offered pathetically.
"You're not the only one…" Rowan muttered under his breath. A small tendril had escaped her ear and was now playfully dangling over a cheek. DON'T TOUCH THE HAIR! FIGHT THE URGE! He gave himself a mental smack and jumped up abruptly. "I should really get going,"
She arched a dark eyebrow. "Maybe you should sit down a bit, you look a bit flushed…you probably had too much alcohol to drink." She tugged at her neckline, knowing that her face was still red. "Let the alcohol run through your system first before you leave. Besides, I've been in want of company ever since I came to this island."
Rowan averted his gaze, the tugging action of hers revealing a lot more skin that he had expected. However, he sat back down on the bed anyways, and drank even more from the glass in his hand.
"Rowan…" She murmured softly.
He looked up and bit back a groan.
Damn his hormones to the nine pits of hell.
Owari of Chapter Two
Author's Notes: I am very aware of the fact that Rowan is not English but rather Japanese. I am also aware that Mia is half-French and half-Japanese. However, for the purposes of this story, they are who/what they are. Yeah, yeah…Maillaine and Ruwonanth are truly terrible names. It's (the names) only mentioned there because that scene demanded it. Hope you enjoyed…reviews are very much welcomed.