In The Arms of a Stranger

by Kristen Robinette

  Why not? For a thousand reasons that Luke Sutherlin couldn’t begin to fathom, that’s why. Because she would be torn apart by grief when it came time to part with him. Because she would dream of it becoming permanent, of becoming Daniel’s mother. And Dana knew from experience that those were fragile dreams, the kind that shattered before your eyes and left you alone and empty.

  “It’s just that—he’s been through so much already. And you two look like you belong together.”

  Dana swallowed hard. “I could say the same thing about you.”

  Luke laughed. “If there’s one thing I was never meant to be, it’s a father.”

  “Maybe I wasn’t meant to be a mother, either.”

  “That’s ridiculous, Dana.”

  “No, no it’s not.” Dana twisted the sheet against her bare chest, lost in thought. “You know that feeling you get when you realize you’ve made a mistake—the moment when your chest tightens and time stands still?”

  “Yeah.” Luke’s voice grew dark. “Yeah, I do.”

  She looked at Luke, blinking away memories of Michael. “Well, you can’t make mistakes with a child.”

  “You’re allowed to be happy, you know. You’re even allowed to make mistakes. You should think about it. I can’t imagine him being placed with someone else, not if you’ve been certified as a foster parent already.”

  Placed with someone else…

  Dana realized as Luke spoke the words that it was already too late for her heart, that she would die a thousand deaths to keep Daniel with her a little longer. She knew from experience that a child who was not biologically hers could be ripped away without a moment’s notice. But the dream had already begun. It started the moment she found Daniel and became possible when Luke saved their lives.

  It was simply too late to turn back now.

  Dana met Luke’s eyes. She touched his face, memorizing his high, tanned cheekbones, the flinty-blue eyes rimmed with dark lashes. She would remember this moment, this night, this man. And she would believe, if only for tonight, that dreams could come true.

  “Make love to me again, Luke,” she whispered.

  Dana watched Luke’s eyes darken with desire, his gaze fill with hunger as he pulled her against the mattress.

  Luke cracked one eye open, allowing the morning light to filter in. He’d slept like a dead man. Dana had sapped the last of his energy sometime after midnight. He smiled a lazy, contented smile. He’d slept with the peace of knowing that Gonzalez was in custody and that Dana and Daniel were safe. He rolled to his side and listened to the soft noises coming from the kitchen. He’d been aware of Dana, the baby and Sam stirring around the cabin for some time, but had simply allowed the homey sound to lull him back to sleep.

  He forced his eyes to open completely and focused on Dana. She carried the baby on one shoulder and was juggling a can of food with the other. She turned suddenly, as though she felt Luke’s gaze on her back. A broad smile split her face as their eyes met.

  She brought him a glass of murky-looking juice as he scrambled to a sitting position. “I wish it were coffee.” She wrinkled her nose. “It’s more pear juice.”

  He took a sip. “I’m glad it’s not coffee.” He pulled her to him for a quick peck on the lips, stroking the top of the baby’s head in greeting. “Because that would be too perfect and I don’t want to be dreaming.”

  Dana blushed, and Luke felt his heart squeeze, knowing that he was responsible. Her skin was devoid of makeup, yet she literally glowed. She’d obviously stoked the fire because the cabin was bathed in warmth, allowing her to putter about barefoot. She’d pulled the sweatpants back on and had added a fresh white T-shirt that Luke suspected had once belonged to one of the rangers.

  His eyes drifted lazily over her body. She might be fully clothed but in his mind’s eye he saw her as he had last night. Luke smiled, a surge of possessiveness tugging at him as he remembered their joining. He’d tasted and touched every inch of her and he still wanted more. She wasn’t wearing a bra, Luke realized. Her nipples puckered the soft fabric of the shirt and her breasts swayed in response to her movements. Last night had been incredible. Memories hardened his body, made him crave more.

  Warning bells were going off in his head like sirens, but he ignored them. Happiness had presented itself to him in the form of this one temporary indulgence and he was going to take it.

  Warning bells be damned.

  Sam chose that moment to claim seniority and jumped on the wobbly sofa bed, plopping down in Dana’s spot. “I don’t think so, old man,” Luke scolded. “She’s got you beat in more ways than I can count.”

  Sam let out a soulful moan, and Dana raised her eyebrows. “I think he’s arguing with you.”

  “No, that’s advance notice that nature is calling.” He winked at Dana as he slid from the bed and pulled on his jeans. “Me first,” he muttered. He made his way to the bathroom and paused when he caught sight of his reflection in the mirror. He didn’t look any different after last night. So why did he feel so different?

  Because he was.

  Luke ran his hand through his hair, shoving the wayward strands into some semblance of order. He was stuck in the middle of nowhere, had inadvertently shirked his duty as chief of police, and had just set himself up for a fall by making love to a woman who’d soon vanish as quickly as the snow. But he was happy. Strange as the combination was, he was genuinely happy.

  Luke walked back to the kitchen and stole up behind Dana as she rifled through the canned goods. He tugged her backside against the front of his body, nuzzling her neck. She giggled and he moaned, a jolt of desire weakening his knees. He’d intended the action to be playful, but it ended up being insanely tempting instead.

  “You are a drug,” he whispered, drawing away from her.

  Dana smiled and met his eyes, a sort of disbelief lingering in her expression. Luke understood. He felt it, too.

  Sam whined and circled at his feet, and Luke got the message loud and clear. He found his jacket on the back of the chair and pulled it over his bare chest. When he opened the back door Sam dashed headlong into the snow. Luke stepped onto the porch, closing the door behind him, and propped his hip against the railing. The morning air didn’t bite at his lungs when he breathed. In fact, there was a hint of warmth.

  Though the temperature probably still hovered around the freezing mark, the forest was bathed in sunlight and alive with the sound of melting snow. Drifts were melting into comical shapes, and miniature mounds of snow were sliding from leaves and branches, plopping to the ground in a steady cadence. Squirrels had come out in force, jumping and crashing from branch to branch, their playful actions adding to the chaos.

  A muted, foreign sound echoed in the valley below the mountain, barely discernible. Luke cocked his head, listening. The sound echoed again, louder this time, and he recognized the hum of heavy machinery. His men were clearing the road. His pulse increased with a combination of excitement and regret. He’d soon have Dana and Daniel to safety.

  And then they’d be out of his life.

  He tried to coax himself into feeling relief by mentally creating a list of creature comforts he would soon indulge in. First on the list was a long, hot bath. Luke shook his head when an image of Dana, naked and smiling, slipped into the tub.

  He changed tactics.

  Closing his eyes, he conjured up the image of a thick steak smothered in mushrooms, paired with a steaming baked potato. His mouth watered in response. While he was in the midst of the fantasy, he got himself a cold beer, chose a good movie from his DVD collection and mentally popped it in the player. Problem was that Dana was nestled on the sofa beside him and the baby lay on a quilt by her hip.

  Luke rubbed his eyes. His world had shrunk to the size of the cabin, proof that he’d been cooped up too long. Lack of sleep and nutrition weren’t helping, either.

  Not to mention the fact that he’d had the most mind-shattering sex of his life with Dana Langston.

&nbs
p; No. Luke closed his eyes. Even the thought was wrong, somehow disrespectful. They hadn’t had sex. Luke felt something inside him shift.

  They’d made love.

  He gave himself another mental shake. “Get a grip,” he muttered beneath his breath. Things would sort themselves out once they were free of the storm, and his life would soon return to normal. And at some point he’d stop thinking of Dana and Daniel.

  Luke realized with a start that Sam had returned and was circling his feet impatiently, whining to return to the warm cabin. He opened the door, and the dog blasted inside, greeting Dana and the baby as though he hadn’t seen them in ages.

  Dana rubbed Sam’s shoulders before raising her gaze to Luke. Her gleeful expression turned serious. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.” He shrugged. “Good news, actually. I can hear them clearing the road. We should be out by nightfall.”

  She broke eye contact to pet Sam again, and Luke wondered if she’d experienced the same flash of regret that he had. “That’s so wonderful,” she said. “The baby is down to two bottles, maybe three if I stretch it.”

  “Stretch it, just in case,” he replied. “From the sound of the machinery, they’re almost at the accident site. I’m going to dress and hike down there. I should be back in a few hours.” He tried on a smile and hoped it looked nonchalant. “Hopefully I’ll return with a ride out of here.”

  “I wish you wouldn’t go.”

  Did she feel it, too? he wondered. Her words tugged at him, tempted him to make promises he couldn’t keep. Luke concentrated on the business at hand. It was time he did his job. Reality was waiting for all three of them.

  Whether they wanted it to or not.

  “I have to. The men will need me at the accident site. You and the baby are safe here.” He grasped her shoulders in his hands. “Gonzalez is behind bars.”

  “I know. You’re right. Just…” She forced a smile. “Be more careful this time.”

  He wanted to kiss her. It seemed the most natural thing in the world to do, but he resisted. Luke dropped his hands and forced himself to take a step backward. Dana turned away and busied herself doing nothing in the kitchen.

  It was awkward knowing they were near the end. And, if Luke were honest with himself, it was downright hard.

  He retrieved his shirt from the floor near the bed and pulled it on, doing his best to ignore the tangled sheets and the memories. He shoved on his socks and boots and slipped his jacket back on.

  Luke hesitated when he reached the door. “Lock the door behind me,” he ordered.

  Dana smiled. “But there’s no need to—”

  “Humor me,” he answered.

  Dana nodded.

  Luke drank in the sight of her, memorized it. She held the baby against her shoulder, supporting his head and back with her graceful hands. Straight blond locks brushed her shoulders, contrasting with the baby’s dark peach fuzz. She was beautiful. The most gorgeous woman he’d ever seen. Her face had been seductively beautiful last night, lit by the flames of the fire and flushed with desire. Yet she was even more beautiful right now, bathed in the morning light, dressed in cast-off clothing and looking as though she would cry.

  He knew that no matter what happened, this was the memory of Dana he’d carry with him always.

  He pulled the door shut behind him and walked away.

  Chapter 13

  Luke stood on the side of the mountain, squinting into the glare as he watched the slow progress of the crews. The sight of the yellow equipment was startling against the backdrop of the snow, as was the strip of clean black asphalt that trailed behind the road crews. Luke was tremendously relieved to see the road cleared, despite the lingering sense of loss. The road represented safety and freedom, not just for Dana and the baby, but also for countless others trapped by the storm.

  Luke’s thoughts went to his grandfather. The old man had weathered worse situations and was well stocked with food, water and firewood, thanks to Luke. But it was a relief to know that he and his men could soon get to his grandfather and the other residents of Sweetwater.

  He gingerly touched the wound at the back of his head, remembering his first attempt to reach the accident site. Hopefully, this time would be vastly different. Ben Allen was directing the effort, and Luke felt a surge of pride in the young lieutenant, as he did all his men. They didn’t know, and probably didn’t care, how much he respected them.

  He spotted several landmarks along the road—a large oak that curled away from the ledge, as if trying to escape the pull of the void below, a hairpin curve and a guardrail that had seen one too many impacts—and realized that the crews were actually beyond the accident site. But without knowing where to look and what to look for, the accident had gone undetected. Luke cupped his hands and let out a welcoming yell, waving his arms as he descended the mountain toward them.

  One of the men spotted Luke and directed the road crews to kill the equipment’s engines. Every muscle in Luke’s body was aching and his breathing was labored by the time he dragged his heavy boots through the last of the melting slush.

  “Chief!” Ben Allen and several others shook his hand and slapped him good-naturedly on the back. “Glad to see you’re okay.”

  “Not as glad as I am to see you guys.” He caught his breath. “Give me an update.”

  “Well, if the temperature continues to rise, we may be home free soon. If not, the slush will freeze again tonight and it’ll be tomorrow before we get any relief.” Ben looked over his shoulder at another officer. “Pete, get the chief some coffee. There’s a thermos full in the front seat of my cruiser.”

  “Thanks.” Luke watched the officer lumber off to retrieve the thermos, and his mouth watered at the thought. “How are conditions in town?”

  “Clear. North to the bridge is good and south of town is passable, including the roads to Waterford.”

  Waterford was the only exclusive neighborhood in Sweetwater. His father and Camille owned the biggest house on the highest crest, surrounded by the lesser homes of junior executives employed by the factory. His father’s power was never more evident than in Waterford Crest and, in Luke’s opinion, never more repulsive.

  “Speaking of Waterford, Chief, your father called again this morning.”

  Luke felt his blood pressure rise, sensing there was more. “And?”

  Ben Allen nodded in the direction of the young officer who was bringing the coffee. “Pete Guthrie told him that you’d been snowbound with an accident victim and that we’d have you out by today. I’m sorry I didn’t intercept the call.”

  Luke bit back a curse as Pete returned. Ben’s unspoken apology was obvious, as was the fact that his strained relationship with his father and stepmother was not anyone else’s fault.

  “Is that all he told them?”

  “I relayed your orders to keep quiet about the fatality. Folks sure have been panicked.”

  “Good call,” Luke said. “Have there been any missing-person reports that fit the victim’s description?”

  “No, there haven’t. Seems strange, doesn’t it?”

  “Yeah.” Luke glanced around the remote setting. There wasn’t much north of them. Just a few rental cabins like the one Dana was headed toward and a few permanent residents like his grandfather. But beyond that the road took a winding path down the other side of the mountain and eventually ended up crossing the state line. There were definitely more direct routes. “I’d like to know where she was headed.”

  “I don’t get it, Chief. Why would someone be traipsing around these mountain roads in the middle of a blizzard?”

  Pete Guthrie returned and extended the thermos to Luke like a peace offering. He accepted with a nod of thanks. Unscrewing the lid, he allowed himself a moment to enjoy the aroma of the coffee. His stomach growled with a pang of hunger, reminding him that he normally ate more than canned pears. Luke filled the plastic lid with the steaming liquid and took a sip.

  The coffee was black, hot
and slid down his throat like a long-lost friend. The simple indulgence punctuated the isolation he’d experienced and reminded him that he still had responsibilities beyond Dana and the baby. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and surveyed the area with fresh resolve.

  “I need the road crews to continue what they’re doing.” He pointed up the mountain. “Ben, you’re in charge of overseeing their efforts. Get the access road to the ranger’s station cleared first, then have them head on up the mountain to Ashton’s Gap. Check in with my grandfather to see if he needs anything before you come back down the mountain.”

  “Yes, sir,” Ben Allen responded.

  “Radio the station and have one of the men purchase baby formula. It needs to be on hand by the time the crews get to the ranger’s station.” He paused. “He’s accustomed to the powdered kind. Get that.” Luke challenged the amusement in Ben’s eyes with a firm stare. “We’ll also need sterile water, a new bottle and a car seat. Oh—and diapers.” He recalled the growing pile of disposable diapers outside the cabin door. “The kind you throw away,” he added.

  “Sure thing.”

  “Leave Pete with me. I’m going to rappel down to the accident site, and I’ll need someone standing by.” He pointed down the mountain, toward a sharp curve in the road. “The vehicle left the road there.”

  Ben’s face registered surprise. “Damn. We worked right past it.”

  “It’s almost impossible to spot without knowing where to look.” Luke felt a wave of sadness for the baby’s mother but forced himself to remain detached. “If we’re successful in retrieving the body, it will need to be transported to the morgue. I’ll radio in a request.”

  “There’s rappelling equipment in my cruiser. I’ll leave Pete and the vehicle with you.” Ben waved his arms at the crews. “Let’s go!” he yelled. “Anything else, Chief?”

  His thoughts returned to Dana, suddenly warmed by the idea of providing her an indulgence, however small. What would she want? Luke realized that there were a million things he didn’t know about her, despite what they’d shared. A woman like Dana probably ate dainty, healthy food, he reasoned. But then again looks could be deceiving.