September Storm (6 page)

Everything about Adrian Massimino shouted danger--beware!  Then he looked at her with those mocking eyes, and she knew right then, she'd show him.  One way or the other, she'd show him.  Dani was a modern woman who could resist any man she wanted to.

"How about if I promise not to make the first move?"

She really didn't see that she had much choice.  And since he'd promised . . . she shouldn't have any problem at all because
she
sure
wasn't
going to make the first move.  However, she couldn't seem to make her mouth work.  He held her speechless with his dark brown eyes.

Angus came back to the counter with a box brimming with nails.  "Well, lass."  He picked up his pencil to take Adrian's order.  "Ye goin' tae brave the storm with us?"

"It appears so."  She glanced again out at the churning sea.

"Don't ye be worrin' none."  Nettie scooted around her husband and patted Dani's hand.  "Adrian's a big, strong lad and he can take care of ye."

That's what I'm afraid of
.  Dani wanted to shout, but again, she was struck speechless. Then she almost choked when Nettie whispered to Adrian, "I like this wee one better than the last."

No wonder they were not surprised to see him with a woman.  It was commonplace for him.  He probably had several girlfriends.  He probably brought a different woman to every hurricane.

Adrian nodded but instead of setting the little Scot straight, he smiled and whispered some nonsense in her ear.

Dani’s toes burn with indignation.  He was going to let this nice couple think that she and he were an item. She thought about telling them both the truth, but what would she say
? I never
met the man before today, and I know nothing
about him beyond the bedroom
.  She opened and shut her mouth twice.

In this case, it was better to remain mute.

Adrian stepped up to the counter.  "Let's get a couple of boxes of these nails.  And I need at least ten sheets of plywood."

"And, of course, hammers."  Dani held one up, tested the weight, then looked at Adrian with a glow in her eyes.  "This might prove useful in more ways than one."

"Really?"  He arched a brow.  "It would take more than a hammer, sweetheart," he countered.

She really didn't doubt his words.  If Adrian Massimino wanted something badly enough, she couldn't imagine anyone stopping him.  He struck her as ruthless and ambitious.  Yet, somewhere hidden, she also sensed a warm man.  She blinked and wondered when she'd become a shrink analyzing others.  She certainly hadn’t been a good judge of character so far!  Her hormones definitely reacted to his sensuous voice. Instinctively, she moved away from him, finding the safety of the counter.

"I don't believe I asked yer name, lass?"  Angus's loud, booming voice startled her.  He placed his hand over hers.  "Sorry, lass.  My, but yer a wee bit skittish."

"My father used to shout a lot," D
anielle said without thinking. “I don’t like it.” She politely stuck out her hand and said, "My name is Danielle Kapur."

"The saints be with me today."  Angus p
atted his heart.  "I've found ye."

"I beg your pardon?"

He reached behind the counter and pulled out a slip of paper. "I've a telegram for ye.  And when I took it tae the address on the paper ye wasn't there."  Angus rubbed his chin as he thought for a moment.  "Guess ye was at Adrian's.  Anyway, here."

She took the note and unfolded the yellow Western Union paper.  After scanning the words, she refolded the message, then slipped it back into her shorts pocket.

"I hope it wasn't bad news." Nettie's voice brought Dani back to the present.

"No.  Just a note from a friend," she said, trying to sound casual.  She looked at Adrian, then glanced quickly away.  "I'll take some of these things to the cart."

She heard Adrian's voice as he spoke to Angus.  "We'll take this stuff to the house, and be back to help you and Nettie.  I still need a few more things."

Dani gathered up several bags of supplies and hurried out to the cart.  The need to be by herself for just a minute made her move that much quicker.  She left the others behind.

She had to read the telegram one more time.

Chapter Four

Once Danielle settled herself in the golf cart, she pulled the telegram out of her pocket, and read the bold-face type, wondering why the contents didn't surprised her.

Sorry, Dani,

Something came up.  Can't make it.  I'll

call you later.

Love you,
Steven

Dani eyes blurred with tears.  She was a total failure when it came to love.  Were all the good men taken?  Or was she the only one who could find the losers?  The ones who could never seem to make a commitment.

Her parents had thought Steven was perfect for her, and her sister had said she was a fool for not dragging him to the altar sooner.  He still professed his love, though he sure had a funny way of showing it.

Dani stared out at nothing as she wondered what it would be like to have a man whose eyes lit up anytime she drew near, someone who only had eyes for her.  She wasn't sure she'd ever know.

A few minutes later, Adrian joined her in the cart, throwing his packages behind the seat. "I take it Steven stood you up," he commented as they drove away from the store.

"He did not," she automatically defended. She couldn't give Adrian the smug satisfaction of being right.  "Steven missed his flight and can't get another for a couple of days."

"Gee, I'm sorry I'm going to miss him."

I bet you are,
she thought, wondering why Adrian didn't seem to like someone he'd never met.  He was hard to figure out.

The rest of the ride passed in silence, and Dani decided it was probably best that Steven hadn't arrived.  Now she wouldn't have to explain anything to him about last night.  She wasn't too sure she wanted anyone to know about this whole weekend. . . ever.

When they arrived at the beach house, Adrian said, "Help me unload everything, and then we'll go back and give Nettie and Angus a hand."

"I like your friends," Dani said, climbing out of the cart.

"They're good people.  I knew them long before the house was built."

"This is yours?"

"Do you find that so surprising?"  He picked up a sheet of plywood.  "Grab the other end."

"You just don't look like you could afford it," she said as they stacked the board with the others.

"Thank you."  He grinned at yet another insult.  "Is there a way I'm supposed to look?"

She shrugged.  "Well, no."

"Remember, Dani.  Money can't buy you happiness, but it could buy
you
some lessons in manners."

Wondering what he meant by that, Dani eyed Adrian as he finished unloading the cart.  He hadn’t answered her question.

And what was wrong with her?  She usually wasn't so sharp-tongued.  It's just that Adrian brought out her bad side.  At the same time, she felt relaxed in his company, and she realized it was because she wasn't trying to impress him. Usually, when she was around men, she tried very hard to be perfect, saying and doing all the right things.

Can't buy you happiness
, Dani thought.  What an odd statement he'd made.  The words ran through her mind on the way back to the store.  Was she really trying to buy happiness with Steven?  Or was Adrian trying to tell her he was unhappy?  She could sense something troubling him, but she had no idea what it could be.  Maybe he was trying to warn her not to get too attached to him.

On that account, he didn't have to worry.

Adrian Massimino wasn't for her.

After they finished helping Angus and Nettie board up the windows, Adrian and Dani returned to the beach house to start the long process of battening down the hatches. Together they stood on the front deck, she holding the plywood as he hammered.

Dani glanced toward the beach.  The ocean roared, waves crashing as they slapped the shore, drenching them with misty spray.  Closer and closer the tide crept, reaching with its frothy fingers.  But the strength of the storm couldn't hold her attention like the strength of the man by her side.

Adrian's wet shirt clung to his back, allowing tanned skin to peek through the fabric.  Of course she'd never tell him that he had the body of a god.  He'd already caught her staring a couple of times, and she was glad when he insisted the weather was getting too rough for her to remain outside.

Dani had asked herself more than once today if she were dreaming.  Just what in the hell was she doing here in a strange place, with people she didn't know, preparing for one of Mother Nature's worse catastrophes?

She placed her hands on the small of her back and straightened as she glanced over the contents of the pantry.  They had plenty of canned food, matches, candles, and enough supplies and water to last several days if needed.

Several days locked up with Adrian.

Just exactly how was she going to act as if everything were fine with a man she'd made love to but didn't actually know?  This morning she thought she wouldn't have to worry about ever seeing him again, and she wouldn't have to think about these alarming feelings she had when he touched her or smiled at something she did.

She was in love with another man--or had been--so she should feel nothing for Mr. Massimino.  But she did feel something, animal attraction, lust . . . something.  She shook herself.  Her life at the moment wasn't normal, so that's why she was having all these weird thoughts, she tried to convince herself.

At least Adrian had promised to behave.  Not that he’d needed to, because she wouldn't be stupid enough to go to bed with a stranger twice. Of course, he wasn’t a stranger now, a tiny voice told her.

She picked up a roll of masking tape, turned, and went into the living room to tape up the big set of windows.  It had been a couple of hours since she'd last seen Adrian, and she wondered where he was.  She peered out through the glass and saw him busy securing loose objects and boarding up windows, but he'd evidently run out of plywood because these large windows remained to be finished.  So she decided to tape the rest and hope it held.

Dani wished she had a television set to see which way the hurricane was traveling.  And how fast Felix was moving.  Would the island take a direct hit?  Never mind!  She shut her eyes and rubbed her temples.  Maybe it was better they didn't know anything because she could become hysterical at any moment.

She ran the masking tape horizontally across the windows, peeking through the slits to watch Adrian outside, all the while telling herself she was only mildly curious at what he was doing.  While he attempted to gather the deck furniture, Adrian struggled as he moved toward the house, disappearing around the corner.

The clinking of metal drew her attention to signal flags bouncing around on the pole, straining to be free.  The rain and wind blew them almost straight out now and the whole sky appeared gray and threatening.  She sure hoped they knew what they were doing.  Danger was coming closer.

This could be her last night on earth.

Adrian reappeared and started to take down a wooden sign hanging off the deck, but the wind tore at him, making the task difficult.  Didn't he know it was time to come into the house?  His shirt had been rippe
d, and it flapped in the wind. Water ran in rivulets off his stubborn chin.

Dani’s heart twisted as she watched him struggle.  At the moment, he reminded her of a drowned puppy--not a luscious hunk.

Suddenly a gust grabbed the sign, slamming it against Adrian's forehead.  Dropping the tape, she dashed outside to help him.

The winds were stronger than she had imagined, and it seemed to take forever as she fought her way to him.  "You're hurt!  Let me help you."

He jerked around.  "Get back in the house!"

"No!"  Dani blinked against the rain, refusing to move.  "You're bleeding.  Besides, you said I had to help."  She grabbed one end of the sign, and he got the other and together they successfully maneuvered it off the hooks.  She stared at the wooden plank and laughed, releasing all her built-up tension.  The sign to the beach house read
Serendipity.

"Thanks for your help," Adrian acknowledged gruffly.  "Now go back in.  I'll be right behind you."

She didn't argue this time, but turned and ran for the house, feeling as if she were wading against the tide.  The wind wrapped around her legs each time she took a step forward, then a gust would push her backward.  The sand felt like tiny pins pricking her skin.  Finally, she made it to the front door.

Adrian had really impressed her this morning when they had helped the McLeods get ready for the hurricane.  He'd made sure they were safe and sound before ever touching their house--she meant
his
house.  No, she meant
this
house, because she still wasn’t completely sure who the house belonged to.  His abrasive attitude notwithstanding, maybe there was more to Adrian than she'd first thought.