September Storm (5 page)

She had the rarest, cornflower blue eyes he'd ever seen.  "I--I can manage." 

"Fine.  I'll wait here until you're safely inside."

"You don’t have to bother," Dani said over her shoulder.

"But--"

She stopped and pinned him with her gaze. "I'm a big girl and I'll be just fine.  Goodbye."

Damn, she was a stubborn female!  Well, let her have it her way, Adrian thought after he swung the cart around.  As he drove away, he struggled to ignore the little voice in his head that said,
Don't let her go
.

Dani watched Adrian leave, feeling a bit guilty for being so rude.  He had gone out of his way to be nice to her since he'd learned of the mistake, yet she couldn't face Steven under the watchful eyes of the man she'd just slept with. She also wouldn't be likely to forget Adrian while he was anywhere around. Dani sighed. He was like no other man she'd ever met before. There was something dynamic and powerful about him that drew her.

Picking up her second bag, Dani struggled to the top of the stairs. One thing about it, if she lived around here all the time, she wouldn't need a step-machine. She wasn't quite sure why, but these bags seemed to be getting heavier every time she picked them up. When Dani reached the deck, she gladly put them down, and then rang the doorbell.

No one came.

"Doesn't anybody on this damned island ever answer the door?"  She swore and pushed the button again, tapping her foot while she waited. When she received no response, she tried the doorknob.  It was locked.

Now what?  She couldn’t just stand there, so she walked around to look into one of the windows.  The interior was dark except for the thin streams of sunlight that threw a few weak shadows into the interior.  There were definitely no signs of human life in there.

Miserable, she glanced out across the sea and wondered why life just seemed to pass her by. Would she never find the one man that was meant for her?  She'd thought it was Steven, but it was clear now that she’d been mistaken.  He came from a well-to-do family, he was nice looking, but she was having a hell of a time finding him.  Or perhaps, a little voice nagged at her, he didn't want to be found.

But why had he arranged this weekend?

The huge waves had darkened, their force intensifying as they crashed to the shore.  They appeared angry, Dani couldn’t help thinking, just like she was.  Standing here wasn’t accomplishing anything, so Dani flounced back to her bags.  With an exasperated sigh, she plopped down on the top step.

She hated men.  All men!  They were too much trouble.  They were not dependable, and you couldn't trust them for a minute.

Now, what in the hell was she supposed to do?

She had dragged her luggage on and off planes, suffered a two-hour delay, damned near starved to death, and made love to a complete stranger . . . only to end up at an empty house where the love of her life would supposedly be waiting and worrying about her.  Yeah, right!

Her friend, Susan, had been right . . . she was a fool where men were concerned.

Her eyes burned, and Dani quickly pinched the ridge of her nose to keep from crying.  She'd shed too many tears over Steven in the past.  He had proven
once and for all that he wasn’t worth it.  She wouldn't cry, she told herself.  She wouldn't.

"Steven probably never even showed up," she said to a seagull who landed with a soft swish on the deck rail, watching her with a curious tilt of his head.

Well, Steven had stood her up for the last time.  There were no Prince Charmings in real life . . . only Darth Vaders . . . and she was sick of all of them!

She blew her nose and dabbed at her eyes. "Okay, Danielle," she told herself.  "Let's get the hell off this island before anything else happens to you."

She stood up, grabbed her suitcase, drew a deep breath, then started down the thirty or so steps, the bag thumping behind her.  She silently cursed each one as she descended.  When she reached the end of the driveway, she extended the handle on her upright bag and started down the street, pulling her luggage behind her.

The wind had grown blustery.  Palm fronds clacked frantically in the swaying trees lining the yards of the beautiful homes she passed.  Then it dawned on her that she hadn't seen anyone all morning: humans, dogs, cats nothing.

She thought it strange, then again, it was September and the end of vacation season.  Maybe everyone had packed up their summer houses and gone home.

When she neared Adrian's cul-de-sac, she tried not to look that way, but lost the battle and sneaked a peek out of the corner of her eye.  The impressive house looked even bigger in the daylight.  It had to be 5,000-square-feet, if not larger.  The wood appeared bleached and different from the other beach houses.  Beautiful arched windows gave the place an added flourish.

She wondered who it really belonged to.  Adrian didn't dress like a wealthy man, and the owner of that house definitely had to have millions.  The cart hadn't returned, so at least Adrian wasn't there to catch her staring at the dwelling.

She walked another thirty minutes before she could make out the island's general store.  Last night when they had docked, she'd caught a glimpse of the sun-washed gray building surrounded by pylons and piers.

A loud horn sounded from somewhere behind her, and Dani jumped, then swung around to see who had been so rude.  She might have guessed.  It was
him
driving down the road.

"You need a lift?"  Adrian smiled.

"No!" she snapped, and kept on walking even though he'd now pulled up beside her and slowed down, keeping pace with her.  She didn't want to see any men at the moment.  Couldn't he take a hint?

"What's wrong?  Has Steven already thrown you out for your bad disposition?"

"Go to hell!"

"My--my, we are grumpy.  If you're going to the dock, I can save you a trip."

"I don't want to hear it.  I just want to get off this damned island and away from men."  Her voice sounded strained even to her own ears. She stopped and looked at him pointedly.  "And that includes you. 
Especially
you."

Adrian swung his right hand over his heart and jerked backward as though he’d been struck. "You wound me, Dani.  You sure can hold a grudge, sweetheart.  But suit yourself."  He shrugged.  "I'll tag along just in case you change your mind."

Two more blocks, and she'd be there.  Dani couldn't believe Adrian hadn't sped off, especially since she was doing such a good job of ignoring him.  Instead, he just cruised along beside her, whistling, "Somewhere My Love".

She gritted her teeth.  "Don't you have anything to do?"

"I'm going to have a whole lot to do in about half an hour.  Besides, I was headed back to the store anyway."  He pulled up into the parking lot and cut off the motor.  "I need some supplies."

Dani bypassed him, her back stiff, and went straight into the store.  Inside she spotted a distinguished, older man, wearing a captain's hat, standing behind the counter.

"I need a ticket for the ferry, please," Dani said, trying not to sound as desperate as she felt. She laid her purse on the counter.  The exterior door opened, letting in a swath of light, then shut again.  She didn't bother to turn around; she knew who it was.

In a few more minutes she'd never have to worry about Adrian Massimino again. As a matter of fact, she could put this whole weekend behind her.  She grabbed her wallet.  "What time does it leave?"

"Not sure," the storekeeper said, not bothering to look up.  He seemed to be making a list. . . a long list.  "How come ye still on the island, lass?"

She smiled at his Scottish burr.  What a beautiful accent, she thought.  "I'd planned to stay the whole weekend, but I've changed my mind."

"Too bad I didna know sooner, 'cause the last ferry left a good fifteen minutes ago.  Ye'll nae be gettin' another."

Dani frowned."It's early in the day.  Don't they run every two or three hours?"

"I guess ye're like Adrian here, and haven't heard a thing."  The storekeeper held his hand up to heaven as he spoke, "Don't nobody listen tae the weather reports nae more?"

"I was told there weren't any televisions on this island," Dani said irritably.  She didn't have the slightest idea what this man behind the counter was hinting at.  Or what he was getting so excited about.  And for a brief second, she thought about reaching over the counter, grabbing him by the shirt, and stressing in no uncertain terms how much she wanted to get off this damned island.  Now!  But she was going to control herself and reason with the man.

She could feel Adrian's presence even before he spoke.  "I can speak for the lady, Angus. She's been too busy to listen to the radio."

Just then a small lady with graying brown hair and a sweet apple pie face came out of the back.  "I dinna ken what's all the ruckus about," she mumbled, then set a large box on the counter.  "Haven't I told you, mon,
ye'll wake the dead one day?" Upon seeing Dani her smile widened.  "I see we've some company, Angus, so ye needn't be a shoutin'.  She'll be thinkin' yer a grumpy old goat."

"I wasn't shoutin', Nettie girl, I was merely gettin' me point across."  Angus narrowed his eyes at Adrian and asked, "Now how would
ye be knowin' that the little lass was tae busy?"

Dani caught herself gasping, but she remained quiet. 
He wouldn't dare
.  He couldn't possibly be so crass.  She cut her eyes at Adrian, daring him to speak.

It didn't work.

"I'm afraid I was keeping the lady pretty busy," Adrian chuckled.  "Work never stops," he managed to add lamely.  "I'm afraid I didn't have the radio on so neither of us heard the hurricane warnings."

Her first instinct was to scratch his eyes out, but the word
hurricane
blocked everything else out.  "Hurricane!"  She swung around to look at Adrian and then back to Angus.  "As in strong winds?  High water?"  She leaned across the counter and looked dead into Angus' surprised eyes.  "And God knows what else?"

"Yep, lass.  Seems hurricane Felix decided tae bless our coast 'stead of stayin' out tae sea as 'twas predicted."

"Hurricane!"  Dani's mouth fell open as she tried to gather her wits.  My God, she was going to die, and the bad thing was no one would ever know because she was among strangers.

"Shouldn't we be leaving--getting out of here?  Now?"

"Most everyone has,” Angus said. “'cept Nettie and me.  We're goin' tae ride this one out. Been through four big ones, and fared just fine.  I was just tellin' Adrian, here, it's time tae batten down the hatches."

She looked at Adrian.  "You're going to stay, too?"

Adrian nodded, just like it was an everyday occurrence.

"Are you all crazy?"  Danielle looked frantically from one to the other.

"Probably just a little," Adrian admitted.  "I need to do some things to the house, and then I'm going to give Angus and Nettie a hand with the store.  I suggest you grab a hammer and pitch in."

"But I don't--"

Adrian took her wrist and pulled her to his side.  "Look, sweetheart, I don't like this anymore than you do.  There is no way out for us now.  We missed the final evacuation this morning.

“However, if you're a good girl and help, you can stay with me.  And at least you'll be out of the wind and rain."

Thank goodness Angus and Nettie had gone into the back room leaving them alone.

"I’m not your sweetheart.”

“Granted,
sweet
is probably the wrong term where you are concerned.”

“But I don't want to stay with you," Danielle admitted truthfully--for more reasons than one. "How would it look?"  She stammered, then realized there was no one here to even notice.

"Then you can swim."  All the good will had left Adrian’s voice as he let go of her arm and turned to move away from her.

"Wait!"  She grabbed at his shirt, her fingers catching the shirttail.  "Perhaps, I've been a bit hasty."  She absolutely hated the fact that she was going to have
to rely on him for everything. Yet she couldn't stay with Angus and Nettie because she didn't know them.  Of course, she didn't really know Adrian, but--God, she was getting a headache.

"Oh?"  He raised a brow, and immediately she felt trapped.  And worse off, he knew it.  She saw his expression grow serious as he leaned down and whispered so only she could hear him.  "What's wrong, Dani?  Are you afraid to take a chance?  Afraid to live a little?"

"W--what do you mean?"

"If you stay with me, you're afraid you won't be able to keep your hands off me."  His eyes held a dare.

Of all the conceited, arrogant men she'd ever met, this one had to take the cheese . . . she meant cake . . . she never could get her sayings right.

"I am not," she informed him with a bravado she really didn't feel.  Deep down she knew he was right.  She didn't trust herself to be in the same room with Adrian Massimino, much less living with him in close quarters.

"Then what's the problem?"

Her face burned.  But she couldn't say a thing because he knew
—somehow, damn him, he knew.  He manipulated her much too easily, and she should hate the very ground he walked on.