by J. D. Robb
“It’s what my father wanted for me.” Grace’s tone grew pensive. “I was always sorry that I couldn’t be what he wanted.”
“We can’t always be what other people want us to be.” Josh continued holding her hand. It felt good, he realized, to be connected with someone, if only for the moment.
Was that part of the reason for his wanderlust? Was it because he’d never felt as connected to the living as he was to the dead?
Uncomfortable with the silence, Grace withdrew her hand and got to her feet. “I’d better tackle the dishes.” As she gathered the plates she smiled. “You were right.”
“About what?”
“That was every bit as good as any big city restaurant. Maybe even better. Especially the weeds.”
“Thanks.” With a grin, Josh drained his cup and leaned his head back, enjoying the warmth of the fire and puzzling over the fact that he wasn’t feeling any stress over this abrupt change in plans.
Seeing his sudden stillness, Grace called, “I’m sorry about your friend.”
He lifted a brow and turned to her.
“Your passenger.”
“Oh. She wasn’t a friend.”
She. For some strange reason, that simple word had Grace’s full attention.
Before she could ask more his tone became brisk. “In fact, I didn’t even know her name.”
Grace struggled to mentally shift gears. One moment she was thinking that his traveling companion had been someone important in his life, and the next he was telling her his passenger was a stranger. “That doesn’t make any sense.”
“It didn’t make sense to me, either. I was busy flying the plane, and the next thing I knew, she was there beside me.”
“A stowaway?”
He nodded. “Apparently. I certainly didn’t invite her along for the flight. Still, I can’t help but feel responsible. How could she vanish without a trace?”
“There was an explosion on impact. If she couldn’t get out of the plane, she would have been incinerated. Maybe when the ashes cool, you’ll find some clue.”
“Maybe.”
She saw the puzzled frown and decided to pursue another topic. “You say your friends were right behind you?”
“Yeah.” Josh ran a hand through his hair. “We were in communication until just before I went down. But even after my systems failed, they had to be close enough to see everything.”
“Maybe there were clouds shielding your plane from view.”
He shrugged. “Maybe.” But he could remember nothing except a clear, cloudless blue sky before all hell broke loose.
“If they saw the crash, they may have decided to fly back to civilization and bring help.”
“That’s what I’m thinking, too.” He fell silent, mentally willing his friends to be unharmed. He couldn’t stand to think that if their plane went down, too, they may have suffered a very different fate from his.
Her voice interrupted his thoughts. “You have to be exhausted from your ordeal. Would you like to lie down?”
Josh shook his head. “It just occurred to me that for the first time in years I have nowhere to go and nothing to do but wait until my backup crew arrives.”
It had to be the result of the crash. It was the only explanation for this strange euphoria. Ordinarily he’d be pacing like a caged tiger at the thought of all the unanswered questions. But for tonight, for whatever reason, he intended to put aside all the troubling questions and simply enjoy this unplanned freedom from his relentless schedule.
Without a word Josh tore himself from the comforting fire and got to his feet. “I’ll give you a hand.”
“You’ve done enough.” Grace removed a kettle of water from the fireplace and poured it into a basin. “I think it’s only fair, since you did the cooking, that I wash the dishes.”
“Just to satisfy your sense of fairness . . .” He crossed to her. “We’ll do them together.” He picked up a towel and began to dry. “This way, we’ll have them done in half the time.”
“Don’t you want to tackle the generator tonight?”
“I wish I could.” He glanced out the window. “But it’s already dark outside.”
“I brought along a battery-operated lantern. Feel free to use it.”
“I appreciate the offer.” He dried the first plate and set it down before reaching for the next. “But I’d hate to use up all your batteries on something that can be tackled just as easily tomorrow.”
“What about the people who are worried about you?”
“I’m sure they’ll be here by morning.” He was rewarded with a rare sense of peace. He couldn’t work up any anger at these odd circumstances. He was alive, unharmed, and in the company of a beautiful woman. Life didn’t get much better than this. And in the morning, when Marty and the others got here, he’d have a great tale to tell them.
He set aside the towel and lifted the plates. “Where did you find these?”
Grace gave a nod toward the cupboard above her. Josh reached up and opened the door before stowing them on a shelf. As he did, their bodies brushed. He glanced down at the same instant that Grace’s head came up and he knew, by the look in her eyes, that she was feeling exactly the same quick sexual tug that he’d just experienced.
He lowered his hand to her hair and trailed his fingers through the tangles. “Soft.” He didn’t even realize he was speaking aloud. “I knew it would be as soft as an angel’s wings.”
“Josh . . .” She lifted soapy hands from the basin. Before she could resist he dipped his head and his mouth covered hers.
The jolt to his system was instantaneous. At the first touch of his lips to hers, he felt his mind empty of all thought but one. He’d wanted this more than anything. Just the chance to taste her. Touch her. Hold her.
Though he hadn’t planned it, there was no way he could back off now. The feelings rocketing through him were more shattering than his plane crash.
He felt the slight trembling of her lips and swallowed her little gasp of surprise. As she started to back away his arms came around her, molding her to the length of him. The thought of devouring her was nearly overpowering. The need to kiss her until she surrendered was so strong, so compelling, he wondered how he could resist. It took all his willpower to go slowly, nibbling her lips until they softened beneath his and opened. Then he was feasting on her mouth. There was such sweetness here. Such goodness.
Grace couldn’t think. Couldn’t move. Could hardly breathe. As he took the kiss deeper, she brought her wet hands to his chest. She could feel the strength in him, and she had a desperate need to cling, at least for a moment. Instead of pushing away as she’d intended, she found herself giving a shaky sigh before wrapping her arms around his waist. With his mouth on hers, there was no thought of holding back. For this one moment, she would give him everything, if he but asked.
Her simple act of surrender rocked Josh as nothing else could. He’d never known anything to compare to the feelings that spiraled through him as she offered her lips. He took them with a raw, deep hunger that startled them both. He could feel his blood heating, his heartbeat racing, as his mouth moved over hers, kissing her with a thoroughness that had them both trembling.
Grace had no defense against these strange new emotions. She could feel her body burning for his touch, her bones beginning to melt like wax. She’d never known a man’s kiss to have such a devastating effect. The floor beneath her feet seemed to shift and tilt as his mouth moved over hers. When he drew her closer, she could feel his heartbeat thundering inside her chest, its wild rhythm matching her own.
In some small corner of Josh’s mind a warning bell sounded. He knew he was very close to crossing a line. Who would have expected one simple kiss to take him to the very edge of reason? But this was far from simple. The woman in his arms had awakened a hunger, a craving that was threatening to take them both down a dark and dangerous path.
One of them had to be sensible.
Head spinning, chest heav
ing, he drew on every last ounce of willpower and managed to lift his head.
Unwilling to completely break contact, he kept his hands at her shoulders and looked down into her eyes while he waited for his heartbeat to settle. “I hope you’re not expecting an apology. The truth is, I’ve been wanting to kiss you like that since I woke earlier and saw you lying beside me.”
“I suppose I should at least thank you for your honesty.” She gave a shaky laugh, wondering if her heart would ever return to its normal rhythm. Just standing this close, his hands touching her, had her pulse thundering out of control.
“All right. Time for true confessions.” He was studying her through narrowed eyes. “I wanted to act on that impulse sooner, but I was afraid.”
“You?” She tossed her head. “Fearless world athlete? I find that hard to believe.”
“Maybe I was afraid you weren’t real. That you were a figment of my overwrought imagination. Or that you’d run away before I had a chance to know you better.”
With that glint of humor in his eyes, she couldn’t tell if he was serious or having fun with her. Either way, his smile was contagious. He was far too tempting. And too close for comfort.
She took a step back and picked up the dish towel before drying her hands. “Sorry I got your shirt wet.”
She tried to appear casual as she picked up the basin of hot water and crossed to the door before tossing the contents outside. When she returned it to the kitchen table she was aware of the way he was watching her. His gaze swept her, lingering on her lips. It was as tempting as any kiss. And had the same strange effect on her, leaving her feeling more aroused than she cared to admit.
He turned away abruptly. “I think I’d better take you up on that offer of a lantern and work on the generator.”
“Why the sudden change of heart?”
His tone was gruff. “I don’t think it’s safe for us to be together just now.”
She felt a quick flutter around her heart and realized that she’d been thinking the same thing. “No need to go on my account. Now that it’s growing dark outside, it’s time to earn my keep. I’m taking my camera to the end of the dock to watch for spirit lights.”
“Better dress in layers. I have a feeling that once the sun goes down, it’ll feel more like winter than autumn out there.”
As Grace watched Josh pick up the lantern, she struggled to keep things light. “While you wrap your mind around rusted machinery, I’ll wrap mine around my assignment.”
He paused and shot her a wicked grin as he turned toward the shed. “I’d rather just have your arms wrapped around me the way they were a minute ago.”
She managed a laugh. “It’s a good thing we both have something important to do. Too much spare time on our hands is definitely dangerous.”
As she made her way by moonlight to the end of the dock, she stared out across the darkened water and found herself desperately hoping to see a light. That was the one thing that would keep her mind off what had just happened.
But what about later tonight? How could she and Josh possibly get through the night in such close quarters?
This cabin was beginning to feel much too small for the two of them.
Five
Josh set the lantern on the floor beside the generator and switched it on. A wide beam of light illuminated the rusted machine. Spying an old army blanket folded on the end of a workbench, he shook it open, intending to spread it out on the floor. But the moment he touched it, he felt an amazing warmth flowing through his veins.
He studied the threadbare fabric. There were no markings on it. Nothing to distinguish it from any other army blanket. Still, he decided that it was too fine to be used in such a cavalier manner. Carefully folding it up, he retrieved an old drop cloth spattered with paint to use instead.
Using a wire brush, he began scrubbing years of rust and corrosion from the first metal part. When it was clean he set it on the cloth before reaching for another.
He’d always enjoyed the challenge of taking machinery apart and putting it back together. There was something so satisfying about finding that one tiny piece, that one overlooked part that would make the entire system hum. Even as a small boy he’d loved fitting pieces of a puzzle together. This chore was much the same, except that the pieces were bigger and more complex.
From his father he’d inherited a sense of curiosity; from his mother, patience. The two traits had held him in good stead through the years.
It was one thing to take things apart and see what made them tick. But as the minutes turned into hours, and the work showed no end in sight, though his persistence never wavered, his concentration shifted and he found his thoughts drifting to Grace Marin and that kiss.
He couldn’t recall the last time he’d been so rocked by a simple kiss. Of course, there’d been nothing simple about it. The moment his mouth touched hers, he’d felt as if some unseen force had taken over his control.
He supposed, if he had to fall this hard, it may as well be with someone not only easy to look at, but easy to be with, as well.
She was a puzzle. A fascinating, complex woman. But there was a sadness he could see in her eyes in unguarded moments. Who was she? What had happened in her past to make her so sad? Looking back over their meal, he realized that, though she’d been a good listener, she’d revealed almost nothing about herself. He figured he would patiently work out the puzzle of Grace, just as he did everything else, given enough time.
Time. There’d been so little of it in recent years. Now he seemed to have more than he needed. Funny how life could change in the space of a minute.
Sitting back on his heels, he studied the generator. As far as he could determine, once it was properly cleaned and oiled, it ought to work. He unscrewed a protective plate and set it aside before tackling the rusted parts underneath. He was looking forward to communicating with the outside world by morning. Not that he expected to need this outdated piece of equipment for that. He had no doubt that the plane carrying the crew would arrive long before he could get this generator up and running. Still, he needed to be prepared in case they were delayed further.
What was keeping them? Had the same sudden atmospheric change that had caused his crash, forced them to land somewhere nearby? He refused to blame the crash on anything else. He knew it hadn’t been pilot error. Though he’d been distracted by his unexpected passenger, he hadn’t done anything to bring about the accident.
He thought about the debris that had once been his plane. If the crew following him had suffered a similar crash, would any of them have survived? He wouldn’t allow himself to think about that. It was simply unimaginable.
And what about his mysterious passenger? Why had there been no sign of her after the crash? He shuddered at the thought that she had perished, her body incinerated beyond recognition. What a cruel injustice, when she’d probably stowed away as a lark. Or maybe, having learned about the proposed television special, had hoped to find a measure of fame.
And then there was Marty’s unease about this place and its reputation. Were there really planes and boats that vanished forever, without a trace?
Unhappy with the direction of his thoughts, he returned his full attention to the generator.
Grace sat at the end of the dock, staring across the darkened water. In a tree by the water’s edge an owl hooted, and nearby, its mate answered. Waves lapped gently against the shore in a steady drumbeat. Wind stirred the leaves of the trees, causing them to rustle softly.
She loved the nighttime best. She’d always considered it her special time. As a child, she’d used that time to forget, at least for a little while, the need to please her stern, unyielding father. For that brief period before sleep overtook her, she could stop pushing herself to be perfect. For a little while she could simply allow her mind to drift. To wonder where her mother had gone and why. To allow herself to hope that her mother might give a thought to the daughter she’d abandoned, and wonder what Grace had made of her l
ife. It had been pleasant to imagine what her mother looked like. Throughout the years, her curiosity about the woman who had given her life had never dimmed. If anything, her unanswered questions nagged the edges of her mind at the strangest times. They were especially strong when daylight faded, and darkness covered the land.
Was that why, even now that she was an adult, the night remained her special time? Night was the time to rid herself of any unpleasant thoughts. Anything that might rob her of precious sleep.
Sleep. Grace yawned and stretched and realized that her muscles were stiff and cramped. She’d been sitting on the cold dock for hours without seeing a trace of light anywhere on the water. If the so-called spirit was going to stir, it would have done so by now.
The thought of a warm cabin and a soft bed were far too tempting.
Getting to her feet Grace gathered up her camera equipment, stowing them in her backpack, and made her way along the dock. The grass brushing her ankles was cold and damp with dew as she took the distance to the cabin at a run.
Inside, the rush of air caused a glowing ember on the hearth to pop, sending up a spray of neon red sparks. Grace crossed the room and added a log and kindling. In no time a fire blazed, and she eagerly held out her hands to the warmth.
Too tired to do more than kick off her boots, she draped the afghan around her shoulders, stretched out on the sofa, and was soon asleep.
Josh paused in his work and stared at the generator parts that he’d managed to clean so far, neatly arranged on the drop cloth, and ready for assembly. He decided to finish the rest in the morning. For now, hot, sweaty and covered with grime, he decided to take a quick dip in the lake to wash away the residue of this project. He wondered if Grace would still be watching for her spirit light, camera in hand. Without his watch to tell him the time, he calculated that it was well past midnight.
After carefully closing the door of the shed, Josh dashed through the darkness, following the trail of moonlight that illuminated the dock. Seeing that it was deserted, he paused only long enough to strip off his clothes and boots and set them atop the folded army blanket before diving into the gold-tipped waves. After the initial shock of cold water against heated flesh, he dove deep before rising to the surface and, like a great shaggy dog, shook droplets from his hair.
