September Storm

by Brenda Jernigan

  Adrian chuckled. "I'm not disappointed. And one thing is for sure, we'll never forget how we met."

  "Yeah, every time I hear hurricane warnings, I'll think of you." Indeed, he reminded her of a hurricane, blustering into her life, sweeping all her logical, safe thoughts before him, then the deceptive calm, followed by what?

  "At least I'll be remembered." He rested his cheek on the top of her head, and Dani's traitorous heart flipped over.

  The house shook. Dani gasped and snuggled a little closer to Adrian. She hated to admit it, but she did feel safe in his arms. "Your turn. Tell me about your family."

  "I come from a big family. I've four brothers and three sisters."

  That didn't really surprise her. She could picture the big family around the dining room table filled with bowls of spaghetti and mounds of garlic bread while everyone laughed and had a good time. "Are you the oldest or youngest?"

  "Try middle. I'm one of the lost children."

  "Well, at least, nobody watched everything you did."

  "That's true. It took a lot to get noticed in my house." She liked Adrian’s easy manner; it made her relax.

  "So, what did your parents do to feed so many?"

  "We're Italians. What else--we cook. They own a couple of restaurants in Bar Harbor."

  "So you work there, too."

  "I didn't say that." He pushed up and looked at her with a raised brow. "I said, my parents are into food."

  "That's right. I forgot. You don't discuss your employment." He was amazing, she thought, he seemed to have his own set of rules, which he didn't bend. Not even for her. She wondered what it would be like to bend Adrian just a little? "I bet there's some good food served at your house."

  "You better believe it. Garlic runs deep in my veins."

  "Listen." Dani raised herself up on her elbows and listened.

  "It’s quiet." Adrian commented. "It must be the eye of the hurricane passing over."

  "That means we're only half through." Dani slumped back down and sighed. "It's going to get worse."

  "Precisely." Adrian took a blanket and threw it across them. "Listen, we need to get some sleep. We're going to need all our wits by morning. Do you think you can sleep?"

  She snuggled closer to him. At the moment, he was her tower of strength, her Prince Charming and Sir Galahad rolled into one. "Only if you hold me."

  He slipped his arm under her neck and pulled her tightly against his length. "I can do that."

  "Adrian?"

  "Hmm?"

  "Thanks.”

  Chapter Six

  A loud crash followed by a tremendous jarring jerked Danielle out of a deep sleep.

  Darkness surrounded her. She couldn’t see and her eyes burned.

  She couldn't breathe . . . And she was wet. Not only wet, but . . . . My God, she was underwater!

  With instinct born of fear, Dani flailed frantically through the water. She needed air. She must get to the surface. She couldn't hold her breath much longer.

  Just when she thought she wouldn't make it, her head broke through the surface, and she gulped in life-saving oxygen. What had happened? Coughing and sputtering, she treaded water, trying to calm her racing heart. She had to think.

  The saltwater stung her eyes like gritty grains of sand. She blinked, wishing she could cry to clear her eyes, but she was too terrified to shed tears.

  What had happened? Her body trembled with shock. In her dazed state, she couldn’t make sense of any of this.

  "Hurricane," she remembered finally. She had barely mumbled the word, but she’d swallowed a mouthful of water in the process. She coughed and brought her hand up to her lips, discovering that she had something clasped between her fingers. She couldn’t see it but she could feel that it was an orange life jacket. She struggled into it.

  The darkness obliterated everything except her fear as she floated in the chilling water with absolutely no idea where she was. She could hear the wind, but couldn't directly feel it-- which made no sense whatsoever. She wasn't sure how long she'd bobbed like a cork, but finally the early morning sunrise began to shed a little light, and Dani realized she was still in the house, shoved into an air pocket near the ceiling.

  Water . . . bedroom . . . Adrian!

  Where was he? He'd been holding her . . . and vaguely she remembered him shoving a life jacket at her. She had the only lifejacket.

  "Adrian!"

  He couldn't be dead. Couldn’t drown. Not when he'd saved her life. No. It wasn't fair. Please let him survive, she prayed just before a wave slammed her into a beam and she knew no more.

  It was a miracle they hadn’t both drowned.

  Adrian held Dani's hand, willing her to open her eyes. She had a nasty bump, but surely it wasn’t that serious. He sat there holding her hand and waited. For what? He didn’t know.

  These last twenty-four hours had been sheer hell, and he was drained. So much for a nice relaxing weekend, Adrian thought ruefully. It had been anything but peaceful in more ways than one.

  Thank God Angus and Nettie's place had survived the storm intact. They had a generator, so a few things worked.

  Adrian leaned back against the hard chair and continued his vigil, waiting for Dani to come to. If he shut his eyes, he could still see the water tearing her out of his arms. He'd barely had time to put the life jacket into her hand, before the water overcame them.

  Dani moaned, and he turned his attention to her. Would there be irreparable harm? Again, he wished he'd sent Dani away where she would have been safe.

  He heard the door open behind him.

  Nettie quietly crossed the room and touched his shoulder. "How's the lass?"

  Adrian jerked around. "Still unconscious." He bent his head and massaged the back of his neck. "I thought by now she'd be awake."

  "The lass has been through aplenty. It might take a little while, but don't ye fret none. I checked her vital signs, and she's fine. My nursing ability only goes so far, however. If Danielle doesn't come to by this afternoon, we'll radio for a helicopter.

  "Don't ye want to get some rest, son? Ye've not had a bit of sleep since the hurricane hit. I'll be glad to sit with her for a little while."

  "Thanks, Nettie, but she's my responsibility. I'll stay until she opens her eyes."

  After Nettie left, Adrian cursed himself again for endangering Dani's life. How arrogant he’d been to believe that he could outwit Mother Nature. He should have sent her home, and he would as soon as she was able to travel. He closed his eyes and drew in a deep, long breath. This simple weekend away had turned out to be anything but simple.

  Adrian rubbed his thumb across the top of her hand. He'd dared her to take a chance, and look where it had left her. A pang of guilt washed over him. Laying his head down on the bed, he reluctantly closed his eyes, silently praying that Dani would wake up and not hate him.

  Somehow that was very important. Even if he wasn’t sure why.

  Adrian didn't know how long he’d slept before he felt a slight flutter of something against his hand. Immediately, his head came up, and he was wide awake. He stared into a pair of confused blue eyes, shimmering with tears. And something else he couldn't quite read.

  "How do you feel?" he asked.

  She blinked a couple of times, then touched her dry lips with the tip of her tongue. "You-you're not dead."

  "No." He smiled, saying a small prayer of thanks that she was alive. Apparently, she cared enough to worry about him. "I'm very much alive."

  Adrian reached for a glass of water from the nightstand. "Here, take a sip." He held the glass to her lips, supported her head, then watched as she managed a few sips. He couldn't remember when he'd taken care of someone, he thought as he returned the glass to the nightstand.

  "But I couldn't find you. There was so much water." Dani thrashed her head around in confusion. Adrian placed his arm across her chest, taking her hands to calm her.

  "I thought you'd drowned," she whispered when she stilled. He
r eyes focused on him. A tear trickled out of the corner of her eye, and he felt like he'd been slugged in the stomach as emotions he hadn't felt in a long time came alive.

  She cried for him. Not Steven.

  For him.

  When was the last time a woman had cried for him? His wife had had the ability to turn her tears on like a spigot when she wanted something, but there was no mistaking that Dani’s tears were genuine. Adrian hadn't realized how much his ex-wife had soured him against women until he'd met Dani.

  "What happened?" Dani asked as she struggled to sit up.

  "The hurricane paid us a little visit." Adrian grabbed a couple of pillows and placed them behind her back before he spoke. "Tomorrow I'm going back to look at the house."

  "Where are we? And how long have I been in bed?"

  "At Angus and Nettie's. And you’ve been unconscious for about twenty-four hours. Since we’re on a small island it takes longer to get help here."

  “I’ve been out that long? No wonder my head hurts.” Dani reached for his hand. "Are Angus and Net--?"

  "They're fine,” he said cutting her off. Her warm fingers clasped his, and he smiled at her. “A few shingles blown off, but everything else seems intact."

  "Can I go with you tomorrow?"

  He gave her a quizzical look. "Are you sure you're up to it?"

  "Of course." Dani smiled, rubbing the lump on her forehead. "It's just a slight bump on the head." She reached up and felt the egg-sized knot opposite the cut. "I must look terrible. My head seems to have been through the mill. What did happen?"

  "Remember the two windows where we ran out of plywood?" He watched her shake her head. "The ocean decided to enter the house, and I had just enough time to get you into a life jacket. We're both lucky we weren't swept out to sea."

  "I'll say." Relief washed over her features. "Is the house still standing?"

  "Luckily. I think there is some major water damage, but the repairs to the structure itself will be fairly minor. Nothing that can’t be fixed."

  "Good. I'd like to help you clean up."

  "We'll see. It will be another day before the ferries start running, but Angus has a short-wave radio if you need to get a message to someone, or we could call for a helicopter." He hesitated, reluctant to ask the question. "Don't you want to go home?"

  No, Dani wanted to shout, but for some reason, she didn't. "I can stay another day. Helping you out is the least I can do to thank for you saving my life. And the owners of that nice house."

  "You don't owe me anything," Adrian said with a sigh. What was the matter with him? Now she wanted to stay, and he wanted her to go. Couldn’t they get this right?

  "Well, I really shouldn't travel until this lump goes down." Dani groped for excuses. "And I need to find my things. Besides, I kind of grew fond of this place," she finished. "I'd like to do something. Maybe help you clean up. Something."

  "All right,” Adrian agreed. “But don't you think you should get word to your parents that you’re okay?"

  "No. They don't know where I am, so I better not scare them now." She thought for a bit. "But I suppose I should let Susan know."

  "Your roommate?"

  "Susan Cross is my best friend and the only one I told about the trip."

  "Give me the number, and I'll take care of everything." Adrian stood. "I'll send Nettie in. Maybe she can find you something dry to wear."

  "Adrian?"

  His shirt was halfway buttoned and his hair messy when he looked at her. The stubble on his face told her he’d not shaved.

  "You look like hell.” Dani pointed out. “When's the last time you slept?"

  He grinned in such a boyish fashion that her heart fluttered. "That's my girl. Just as insulting as ever. Now I know you’re going to be fine. And I was sleeping just fine a few minutes ago until you so rudely woke me up.” With that, Adrian got up and headed for the door.

  Cheeks aglow with embarrassment or desire, Dani didn’t know which, but she felt the heat in her face long after he'd left the room. Why was she always attacking him?

  Self-preservation?

  Or was she falling in love with a man she knew absolutely nothing about? Hell, she wasn't even sure if he had a job.

  One thing she definitely knew: he was a ladies' man. It was written all over him, from his tall, muscular physique to his dark, mysterious features. His quiet manner made him all the more interesting, and Dani suspected she didn't know all there was to know about him. But then again, she wouldn't be finding out. She'd go back home and marry someone else.

  And Adrian would surely return to whatever he did before this weekend . . . the one subject he refused to discuss.

  "My goodness, you must be contemplating something important, lass," Nettie called cheerfully as she entered the room.

  Dani shook off her thoughts. "Guess I was daydreaming."

  Nettie smiled. "Daydreaming is good for the soul. I'm glad to see ye've woke up. I'm not too sure Adrian could have taken much more."

  "What do you mean?"

  "The mon refused to get any rest as long as ye didn’t wake up. I couldn't get him to leave yer side at all."

  "He's been here the whole time?"

  "He has." Nettie nodded. "I think he must care for ye."

  "We're just--" Just what? Strangers? Not anymore. "We're just friends."

  "If that's what ye want to call it, lass." Nettie chuckled. "I brought ye some clothes. My niece stayed the summer with us, and luckily she left a few things behind. She is about yer size, I’d wager, so I think they'll fit."

  "I guess all my clothes are at the other house. Thank you."

  "You and Adrian should be able to get into the house tomorrow. We're hoping to have electricity by then."

  "Was there much damage?"

  "Not too bad. We lost a couple of houses but, thankfully, the eye hit between us and Myrtle Beach. Could have been much worse." Nettie turned to leave. "Come on out after ye get dressed. Ye know, you're much friendlier than Adrian's wife."

  Wife? Dani mouthed to the closed door as she stared after Nettie in shock. Adrian had said he wasn't married. Now that she thought about it, he really didn’t say anything when she’d asked him.

  She removed the gown slowly, her muscles screaming in protest. She pulled on a rose-colored gauze dress and straightened the hem.

  Wife. Why did Dani suddenly feel sick?

  After she'd gone to the bathroom to wash her face and brush her teeth with the toothbrush Nettie had left her, Dani combed the tangles from her hair. She sure could use a bath, but that would probably have to wait until they had running water again. What water they had would be contaminated after the hurricane. Come to think of it, a bath was only a minor discomfort. Her real discomfort was finding that she slept with a married man who had so conveniently forgotten to mention his wife. The bastard was no better than Steven.

  When Dani joined the rest of the group, they were putting cans back on the shelves. They stopped when she entered the room, and Angus smiled at her. "Ye still look a little peaked, lass, but no worse for the wear. Ye had us all a wee bit scared, I must admit," he said in his beautiful Scottish burr.

  "I'm fine, thank you. I'm glad to see you didn't have much damage."

  "Nay, that wind's got to blow mighty powerful to chase me and Nettie girl away."

  "If you ask me, those winds were plenty strong."

  "Ye did get bashed 'round a bit, lass."

  She cut her eyes to Adrian, who had stopped putting cans on the shelf to stare at her.

  "Do you really think you should be up?" Adrian asked.

  She looked at him. Wife? That's what she wanted to blurt out, but she knew her questions would have to wait until they were alone. "I'm fine. A little bump isn't going to stop me,” she answered coldly, then turned to Angus. “Can I help?”

  "We have it under control out here, but I did hear Nettie say something about eating. Maybe she can use a hand fixing a meal.”

  Good. Dani really d
idn't want to be around Adrian until they could talk in privacy. "Which way?"

  Angus gestured with his hand toward the hall, then he returned to stacking cans. "Down the hall, to the right."

  Dani found her way to the back where she spotted Nettie setting up a portable gas stove. The older woman looked up as Dani entered.

  " 'Tis like camping indoors," she chuckled as she struck a match and lit the stove.

  "Can I help?"

  "Sure ye can. I need some bottled water from over there and a few paper plates will do."

  It wasn't long before they sat down to a spaghetti supper. Dani tried to keep up her end of the conversation, nodding at all the right questions. But speaking to Adrian privately was utmost on her mind.

  Wife? He had a wife? The words kept tumbling through her mind.

  After she helped clean up, Dani went in search of Adrian and found him in the front of the store, idly chatting with Angus while the older man whittled.

  Dani stood in the shadowed doorway watching Adrian. He appeared so relaxed in his loose-fitting oxford shirt, and the dim lighting made his hair look just that much darker. She really wished she could say the man didn't have any effect on her, but she knew she'd be lying.

  She had to keep reminding herself that he’d been dishonest with her. What other secrets had he kept inside?

  All Dani’s reasoning power told her she couldn't possibly love a man she'd only known a few days. It had to be infatuation, because it would never work out. They didn't even live near each other.

  Maybe what she felt would be like the flu, and would go away in a couple of days. That was it. She had a case of temporary insanity!

  Dani moved into the room a little farther and waited for Adrian to look at her."Can we go for a walk?" she asked, struggling hard to keep her agitation from showing.

  "Isn't safe, Lass, with so many power lines down," Angus volunteered.

  "I see."

  "I'd like some fresh air myself." Adrian stood and took her hand. "It will probably be safe on the pier."

  They walked along the pier toward an arbor at the end. "The sea has a very strong smell," Dani commented.

  "Probably because it's been churned up. To look at the water now, you'd never think about how violent the sea can get." He leaned against the rail, folded his arms, and looked at Dani. "I'm happy you're not hurt."