by Anna Lowe
“The shower is right there. I brought you a fresh towel,” he murmured, suddenly very much a little boy.
She took it, wondering if that was a blush on his cheeks. God, he was cute — cute as in your-body-belongs-on-a-poster cute, and cute as in puppy-dog cute, though she couldn’t explain exactly how those two combined.
She followed his gesture. To the right side of the house stood a stone wall shaded by lush plants with big, waxy leaves. Something silver glinted, and she stepped closer. Was that really…? Wow. It really was a shower. A gorgeous outdoor shower that promised half her worries would be solved just by stepping in.
Boone mumbled something about privacy and hurried over to the beach, keeping his back turned. Nina stared for a second, biting her lip. The man was essentially a stranger. Was she really going to trust him not to turn around?
He stood facing the sea, and the hard set of his shoulders was the same as his face the night before: all promise, all protection. No fooling around.
Nina bit her lip, looking at him. Well, the shower was half hidden by foliage. And if she showered fast…
Flicking the water on and testing it with one hand, she found it warm and soft — much softer than the salt water crusted on her skin. She tugged the knot on her bikini, slipped off the bottom half, and stepped in. The shower head was huge, making the stream of water so broad, it felt like standing under a waterfall in an island paradise. And wow, did it feel good — even better than sleeping in Boone’s huge, homey bed. The light touch of her hands on her body was comforting, too, though the dirty part of her mind had all kinds of bad ideas, like inviting Boone over to do her back. Her front, too.
He could do me all over, her inner vixen said.
In the distance, Boone kicked at the sand and cleared his throat. Nina chastised herself, splashing water as she tried to trade dirty thoughts for more innocent subjects, like how lucky she was to be alive. Boone hadn’t said a thing, but the bump on her head was all the reminder she needed that someone had tried to kill her the previous night.
Bit by bit, the soap cleansed more than just her skin, and the vanilla-scented shampoo felt like liquid silk in her hair. By the time she forced herself out of the shower and wrapped herself in the fluffy towel, she felt human again. Ready to face whatever harsh trials life threw her way.
“You all set?” Boone called, still facing the beach.
“Yes.”
He turned and ambled up. “Perfect. I’ll just get you…”
His words slowed as he came closer, and his eyes locked on hers. And there it was again — the magic bubble closing in, cocooning them away from the world. His eyes glowed indigo, and though Nina knew it had to be a trick of the light, she was mesmerized. Those eyes were so deep, so honest. So desperate for something.
A drop of water slid from her hair to her chest, gliding slowly between her breasts. The heat pooled in her body, and every breath felt deeper, slower. Heavier, like a great truth was about to be revealed. A great dam of words built in her mind, though none of them made sense and she didn’t utter a sound.
“Boone?” a voice boomed from the distance, and they both snapped around. “You coming?”
Boone gave himself a little shake before calling back. “Be right there.”
Nina pulled the towel higher — right up to her chin, hiding behind it like a shy schoolgirl. A good thing, too, because it felt like she’d been seconds away from dropping the towel and inviting Boone into her embrace. God, what was wrong with her? And what was up with him? Boone was all laid-back and easygoing on the outside, but underneath, the man was pure intensity. All raw, animal power that called to her, body and soul.
“I’ll get you a shirt,” he mumbled, brushing past her, up the three stairs.
She dried quickly and slipped her bikini back on. It was all she had, and suddenly, she felt lower and lonelier than she’d ever felt before. Then Boone bounded out of the bungalow, filled with a new burst of puppy-dog energy, and held up a blue T-shirt and the Hawaiian print sarong that had been draped over the couch inside.
“What do you think?” The animal side of him had disappeared, and now he was all surfer dude with a huge grin and and mischievous eyes. “I think you’ll be more comfortable in these than in the other stuff I have. Unless you like camo shorts.” He winked, sticking a thumb in the pocket of the cargo cutoffs he wore.
“I think these are more my style,” she said, wrapping the sarong over her bikini bottom, then pulling on the T-shirt. It was three sizes too big, so she twirled a corner and tied a knot at one side.
“I think so, too,” he murmured as his eyes bounced away, then back to her, then away again, as if he really did like what he saw. And when she finger-combed her hair, he nodded as if looking at a princess or fashion queen instead of a castaway.
“Lunch time. You hungry?” he murmured, ever so softly.
Starving, her inner voice purred.
She moved her lips a few times, struggling to answer. “A little,” she said, managing to sound casual despite the heat building in her cheeks.
Boone grinned, and when she gazed into his bright blue eyes, she felt lost — and found — all over again.
Chapter Five
Nina followed as Boone led her up a winding path, past patches of neatly trimmed lawn that alternated with dense knots of vegetation. She was barefoot, and it felt nice to stride over the lush, springy grass. A stream gurgled somewhere in the distance, and a yellow butterfly fluttered over bright red flowers.
“Hibiscus,” Boone murmured, and for some reason, she blushed.
All the colors, the scents, the sounds piqued her senses, and the energy that had drained out of her the night before came trickling back in. Boone was part of that, too, making her mind come alive, bringing the smile back to her face.
She spotted a rooftop poking up behind a tall hedge — another dwelling on what seemed to be a sizable estate — and a square of cement with a big H painted in the middle. A helipad?
“You live here?” She gaped, looking around. Well, of course, he lived there. But the estate seemed too big and manicured for a man like Boone. The rustic beach bungalow suited him to a T, but the rest of the place didn’t seem to fit.
Boone laughed. “What? Don’t I seem like a millionaire playboy with my own seaside estate?”
“No,” she said without thinking then backpedaled wildly. “I mean, it’s not that…um…”
He grinned a mile wide. “Don’t worry. I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Nina found herself grinning, too, but then they turned a corner and emerged at a big, open-walled building set in the middle of a closely clipped lawn. She stopped in her tracks, mumbling. “I remember this…”
Boone nodded eagerly. “That’s good. You were here last night. Do you remember further back than that?”
She closed her eyes, willing that to be the case. But the only information her mind surrendered was frantic images of swimming for her life and memories from much further back, like sitting cuddled with her mother on a worn but cozy couch, reading Frog and Toad Are Friends. A bittersweet smile drifted over her lips.
“Nothing?” Boone coaxed her along.
“Nothing.” She shook her head a little. Why couldn’t she remember anything?
“That’s okay,” he murmured, making her feel less like a hopeless case. “It will be all right. A little lunch goes a long way, right?” He motioned ahead. “That’s our akule hale — the meeting house.”
She followed him toward the building, wishing she didn’t have to face anyone else right now. Walking barefoot beside Boone was easy and comfortable, but the thought of anyone else made her worry about her hair, her face, and — oh God — the pathetic impression she must have made the previous night.
“Will the others be there?”
Boone must have heard the anxiety in her voice because he gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “Don’t worry. Silas left early this morning, and the other guys… Well, they’re
all bark and no bite. Hiya, Hunter,” he called, stepping into the shade of the building.
A big, burly guy with brown hair and a neatly trimmed beard stood quickly — old-fashioned manners, Nina thought, warming inside — and nodded.
“How do you do?” he asked, ever so politely. Shyly, almost.
“I feel a lot better, thank you,” she said, turning to the second man as Boone made for the coffeepot.
Hunter put her immediately at ease, but the second man — not as big but lithe and corded with muscle — scowled. Cruz — that was his name. His striking yellow-green eyes pierced hers as he grumbled under his breath. “Does she remember anything?”
He said it as if she weren’t even there. As if she were a piece of flotsam that had washed up on the beach.
Nina looked at the floor. Well, it wasn’t that far from the truth. And Cruz was probably just cranky from her interrupting their evening, so it was her fault, not his.
But Boone didn’t seem as quick to forgive. He stalked over to the dark-haired man with a murderous look on his face. “Hunter, show Nina what we have while I talk to Cruz.”
Nina bit her lip. Boone’s expression sure didn’t look like talking was what he had in mind. Cruz looked as dark and dangerous as Boone had suddenly become, and she worried there would be a fight.
Hunter moved past her, faster than a man that size ought to have been able to move, and thrust himself between the two men who stood bristling and growling at each other like a couple of wild beasts.
“Sure,” Hunter said, in a voice that was both soft and powerful. “You two talk. Talk.” He emphasized the last word and shoved the two of them out into the noon sun.
Nina stood, chewing her lip, but Hunter just sighed. “Don’t worry about them. Come and eat.”
Reluctantly, with a last glance over her shoulder, she followed Hunter to the kitchen section of the expansive living space. There was a living room area with several couches, a dining area with a table big enough for ten, and a reading nook she longed to curl up in.
“Help yourself,” Hunter said, motioning toward the refrigerator while he drew a plate out of a cabinet for her.
The place seemed like one big bachelor pad, and Nina braced herself for what she might find inside the fridge. Jars of pickles and cans of beer? But the shelves were full of neatly arranged packages and fresh produce — so much, she hardly knew where to start.
Her surprise must have shown because Hunter chuckled. “Tessa made us promise to eat well while she was away.”
“Who’s Tessa?” Nina asked quickly, suddenly eager for female company.
“She’s Kai’s ma—” He stalled out on one word and finished with another. “Kai’s partner. A chef. They’re, um…honeymooning for a couple of weeks.”
She’d never thought about it before, but heck, if she lived in Hawaii, she could honeymoon at home.
Honeymoon… A dark memory raced in and out of her mind, too quickly to catch.
“Would you like me to make you a sandwich, too?” she asked, resisting the chill that swept over her mind.
Hunter nodded eagerly.
“Let me guess. Ham and cheese with mustard and a little honey,” she tried.
His jaw dropped.
“I have a knack for guessing.” The grin that came as easily as the words turned into a frown when she realized what she’d just said. How did she know what she had a knack for? Did it have to do with a hobby or what she did for a living?
“Hey,” Boone murmured, coming up behind her. “Did you find something you like?”
The sound of his voice halted the sinking feeling in her gut, pushing the what’s wrong with me worries away.
She nodded, not trusting her voice yet, and started pulling out cold cuts, condiments, and lettuce. She tried guessing what Boone would like. “Roast beef for you?”
He nodded, helping her set up. Cruz, she noticed, kept his distance, eyeing her from the perimeter of the space like a lion from a cage. There was something decidedly feline about the way he paced — all power, all masculine, all pent-up frustration. She looked away quickly. Why did she have the feeling every man here had a hidden, feral side? That and a past filled with pain and regret, for all that each covered it up. Even quiet Hunter, the biggest and quietest of the group, carried a hint of sadness about him.
She slabbed mustard on the bread Boone handed her in heavy strokes and added several slices of salami.
“What happened to roast beef?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
She pointed to the second sandwich — the one with extra tomato. “That’s yours. That one is for Hunter, and this one is for him. Cruz, right?” She called his name cheerily. Whatever had happened between Cruz and Boone was her fault, and she wanted to extend a peace offering. “Do you like salami?”
Cruz glowered at her from the shadows, then gave a curt nod.
“Perfect,” she murmured brightly, pretending he’d lavished her with praise. Some guys were just cranky, and little gestures went a long way, even if the man didn’t let on right away. How she knew that, she wasn’t sure. But somehow, she knew it was true.
She, Boone, and the others all clustered around the bar that extended from the kitchen — even Cruz, who perched on a barstool at the far end — and chowed down on their lunches. Nina relished every bite of her turkey sandwich and soaked in the happy sound of munching all around. She’d been famished, and the men looked like it, too.
“You guys eat like a pack of wolves,” she joked.
Boone choked on his sandwich, and Hunter thumped his back, flashing her a huge grin. “You could say that.”
“Great sandwich,” Boone said, covering up whatever had thrown him.
Even Cruz appeared to hide a little chuckle, and she wondered what she’d just said. Whatever it was, the tension in the room continued to ease, and that felt good. She stood for the coffeepot and made a round of everyone’s mug.
“Refill?” she asked Hunter.
“Sure. Thanks.”
She pushed the sugar and cream his way. “Pass the cream to Boone when you’re done.”
“Whoa,” Boone murmured, putting his hand over his mug.
“No more for you?”
“I do want more, but how did you know I take milk and no sugar?”
She shrugged, making her shoulder ache. “I saw you make it before. Hunter takes both, you take milk, and Cruz drinks his black. Right?”
They all stared at her for a second before Boone cracked into a smile. “I’ve been living with these morons for years, and they still don’t remember how I take my coffee.”
“As if you remember how I take mine,” Hunter sighed.
They chuckled, though Nina winced a little at the word remember. “I guess you just have to pay attention to the little things.”
Boone saved her plummeting mood with a broad smile and a wink. “Come to think of it, I can’t even remember these guys’ birthdays.”
Nina smiled and sat quietly, hoping her own birthday might pop into her mind. But three different dates floated around in that foggy haze, and none felt exactly right. But at least there was that — the blank area was slowly filling with blurry shapes, sounds, and emotions. Maybe if she gave herself a few more days, her memory would return.
She looked around. Did she even have a couple of days? Would they let her stay? Wouldn’t her family miss her while she was gone?
She downed the last of her sandwich with a long gulp of coffee, trying to swallow the vague sense that she didn’t have anyone who might miss her.
“So, what next?” she murmured, looking at Boone.
He grinned. “Next? Cruz does the dishes—”
Cruz muttered something under his breath, but Boone just laughed.
“—and you and I go to town to investigate what’s going on.”
“Whoa,” Hunter said. “Silas didn’t say investigate. He said to go to the police.”
Boone stood, tugging Nina’s hand gently. “Someone tried to ki
ll her. Someone who probably thinks she’s dead. And dead is safer than alive, don’t you think?”
Nina didn’t know what to think — only that an icy chill crept down her spine. Someone did try to kill her. Had she done something awful to deserve it or was it all a terrible mistake?
Hunter seemed dubious, but Boone just tugged her along. “We will go to the police — eventually. But it won’t hurt to look around first. Right?”
The first part of Boone’s question was aimed at Hunter, but the second was aimed squarely at Nina, and she managed a nod. “Right.”
“Hang on. Where are you going to start?” Hunter said. “You need a plan.”
“Such a bea—” Boone started, then coughed.
Bear? Nina chuckled. Hunter definitely was a bear of a man.
Hunter shot Boone a look of warning, but the smile he gave Nina was genuine. Caring. “What do you remember?”
Nina bit her lip. The man was sweet, putting it that way instead of emphasizing what she couldn’t remember. Which was a lot. She stammered and did her best to reply, but her mind kept serving up blanks, and her tongue kept getting stuck on how exactly to put the blur into words.
“Can you ID the men who pushed you off the boat?” Boone asked.
She closed her eyes and caught a brief flash of a strangely familiar face. One moment it was there, sneering in her memory, and the next, the face of her would-be killer was gone.
She shook her head. “No. I don’t think I can.”
“What about the boat? Was it a runabout? A cruiser? A sport fishing boat?”
The men looked at her expectantly, but heck. She couldn’t tell one end of a boat from the other. How could she describe a boat she only remembered in snippets?
“It’s okay,” Boone murmured. “I’m sure you’ll remember when you have something to spark your memory. We’ll start at the marina.”
