Sweet Talkin Scoundrel - Tess Oliver

SWEET TALKIN’ SCOUNDREL

TESS OLIVER

SWEET TALKIN’ SCOUNDREL Copyright© 2016 by Tess Oliver Cover Model: Graham Nation Cover Photographer: Justin Forsyth Cover Image: Love N. Books

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.

All Rights are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30

Chapter 31 Epilogue Tess Oliver

CHAPTER 1 Kinley THE DRIVER LIFTED his eyes to the rearview mirror. “Are you here in King’s Beach for a vacation?” I stared out the window and wondered what person in their right mind would travel to King’s Beach for a vacation. The lopsided, weather worn buildings lining the street looked just one step above a pile of rubble. The only plant along the mile long stretch of town was a fake fern and cluster of plastic daisies someone had taken the time to dig a hole for on the bus stop corner. More than half the shops had boarded up windows and crumbling facades. One place, a nautical decor store, had made a valiant effort to look inviting and beachy by hanging a massive shell chandelier in the dusty front window. The owners had even slapped on a fresh coat of sea foam green paint to the otherwise shabby exterior to make it stand out, which wasn’t much of a feat considering how sad the rest of the storefronts looked. I caught short glimpses of the beach between the buildings. The gray sand and murky water didn’t look any more inviting than the dreary town. I looked back up at the driver’s reflection. Martin, the guy behind the wheel, was waiting for my response. “No, I’m here for a job.” He laughed. “Here? Ah, that’s why you’re having me drop you at Lottie’s Bar. She’s hired herself a new server.” “What? No. The job is on one of the private islands.” I didn’t feel the need to tell him any more. If I

was going to pull off this disappearing act, I needed to keep things to myself. “I was told Lottie’s was where I would find the interisland airline office.” “Airline office?” Another good laugh. I was providing plenty of entertainment for my driver. He stopped the car in front of a small building with dirt crusted windows that made the other dreary shops along the street look as if they belonged on Fifth Avenue. Interestingly enough, it was the only place on the street that seemed to have customers. Of course, it was a bar. And since it was the most crowded place in town at four in the afternoon, it said a great deal about the locals. I paid Martin and he hopped out and pulled my bags from the trunk. A thunderous roar of shouting and cheering rattled the windows and front door of Lottie’s Bar. Martin ignored the ruckus and placed my two bags on the cracked sidewalk. “When you get inside, ask for Dax. He’s the airline manager.” Another laugh. Martin seemed to have a lot of inside jokes to keep himself amused. “Thanks so much.” I watched him drive away as I steeled myself to walk into the noisy bar behind me. I was at the start of my new beginning, a completely new beginning, and I was nervous as hell. My nose tickled and I scrunched it. For some people, nerves showed up in a tick in the eyelid or cheek. For me, it was my nose. I’d had the nervous twitch since childhood, a childhood that by almost every single account was highly unusual. My mom and dad, who I adored, were far better at adventure and archaeology than they were at being parents. Not many kids could say they took their first real step deep inside an ancient tomb at the base of a pyramid. I turned around, bent my knees and picked up a bag in each hand. The chorus of shouting inside continued as I walked to the door. My hopes that the interior would be far more charming and inviting than the outside were dashed the second I stepped into the dimly lit room. An odd, unpleasing mixture of odors filled the air, with the two most discernible being beer and sweat. The yelling or cheering, it was hard to discern which, was concentrated in one dense circle of patrons standing in the center of the room. Tables and chairs had been hastily pushed aside to make room for some kind of spectacle or event. Whatever it was, the onlookers were extremely enthusiastic. I glanced around, looking for anything that might point me in the direction of the airline office. There was no sign, no window, nothing remotely close. The longer I

stood in the bar, the more ridiculous the notion became that the place had anything to do with an airline let alone an office. The spectators momentarily parted just enough to allow me to see a man’s fist, completely smeared in blood, fly through the air, eventually falling out of sight. The sickening sound of flesh and bone being pounded followed, helping me fill in the rest of the picture. I swallowed back the bitter taste in my throat and was once again reminded of the gross fried chicken they’d served on the plane. A woman with an impressive pile of yellow curls pinned on top of her head looked up from her task of wiping off the counter. Her eyes squinted through the bright blue frames of her glasses. Once she was able to focus, she waved me over. I took just two steps when a loud, simultaneous gasp sucked the noise from the room. Bodies jumped out of the way as one of the fighters was thrown out of the circle. I stumbled back several feet as the shirtless man, who was more ink than skin, slid across the faded tile floor and into the bags I’d left behind. He got to his knees and shook his head in what seemed like an attempt to clear away the stars. The motion caused a disgusting mix of sweat and blood to spray through the air. I lunged forward and snatched my bags back before they could be hit. With some effort, he pushed to his feet. In the midst of it all and even with a swollen lip and bloodied chin, he managed to shoot me a flirtatious wink before launching himself back into the circle of spectators. It took me a second to recover, then I hauled my bags toward the bar. The woman, Lottie, I could only assume mostly because she looked like a Lottie, motioned down at my bags. “Are you just stopping on your way through town?” She had no choice but to yell. “Sorry about the noise. It’s Fist Fight Friday. What can I get you?” She picked up a glass from behind the counter, but I waved no at it. I leaned over to avoid shouting. “I’m looking for the airline office.” She bent closer. A round pink seashell dangled from her ear as she turned it toward me to let me know she still couldn’t hear. I inched close enough to see the thick powder on her skin. Her flowery

perfume was actually strong enough to break through the heavy stench in the bar. The yells behind me morphed into a round of cheers. “The winner!” a voice called out. I sucked in a breath and shouted toward Lottie. “I’m looking for the airline.” Naturally, the entire place had fallen as silent as a morgue right in the middle of my sentence. I didn’t need to turn around to know that I’d gotten the attention of everyone in the place. Lottie spoke through her laugh. “Guess you’re looking for Dax.” “Yes, that’s the name.” I lowered my voice considerably. Lottie pointed past my shoulder. “He’s right over there.” I glanced back at the cluster of exhausted fight fans. People were slowly peeling away from the group, revealing the two contestants. One dazed man with blood pouring from his nose was being hoisted to his feet by several spectators. In the center, the man who had flown into my bags, pushed to his feet. His naked chest was a collage of sweat, blood and tattoos. He swayed like a tall tree ready to fall with one good chop of the ax. But even with some jumbled brains, a fat lip and a gash in his chin, he was wearing a smile. A slim red head jumped out of nowhere and threw her arms around his neck, nearly knocking him off his feet. Even with my scant knowledge of Fist Fight Friday, I easily deduced that he was the winner and the man being dragged to a chair, the loser. Lottie’s non-specific point across the room made it impossible to know which person was the pilot. I scanned the bar patrons. One of the spectators, a big shouldered man with graying sideburns and a thick moustache, looked like the kind of man who could fly an airplane. I looked back at Lottie. “Is that Dax?” I motioned toward the man with gray sideburns. “No, that’s Bob, the police chief. Of course, we only have a three person police force, but we call him chief just to let him know he’s important.” She bent over the counter and lowered her voice. “He’s afraid of flying.” She straightened. “Hey, Dax!” Her sudden return to high volume startled me. I followed the direction of her gaze. The red head was still clinging to the fight winner, seemingly

oblivious to the fact that blood was smearing on her green sweater. It took the winner a second to focus. “What do you want, Lottie?” “You’ve got a passenger,” Lottie called back. The sudden metallic and salty taste of the rancid air in the bar let me know that my mouth had dropped open. “God, please let him just be the ticket seller,” I muttered. Lottie laughed. “Ticket seller, plane mechanic and . . . pilot. He’s kind of a one man airport. You look as if you could use a glass of wine.” “Make it a double. If there is such a thing.” The one man airport said something to the woman wrapped around him. She pouted and hopped up to kiss him, but he pointed to his mouth, as if a swollen, bloody lip needed mentioning. She untangled her arms from around him and walked away with a nice smear of blood on her otherwise crisp green sweater. My bloodied pilot took several unsteady steps before finding his rhythm. I looked over at Lottie as she handed me the wine. “I guess I should be glad he was the winner.” “Haven’t seen him lose one yet. How do you think he keeps that pretty boy face of his so spectacular.” “Be right with you,” Dax mumbled without moving his mouth. He held his chin up as he talked, but it did nothing to keep the blood from trickling off his lip. “You’re getting blood everywhere.” Lottie shoved a towel in his hand as he stepped around to the backside of the counter. “Just what do you think the health department would say if they walked in here right now?” He pressed the towel against the cut on his chin. “Now, Lottie, you and I both know the health department wouldn’t dare take one step in this place.” She fisted him on the shoulder, and he winced in pain. “Good, I hope that hurt.”

Dax stopped at the deep sink sitting below the decorative mirrors hanging on the wall behind the bar. It was hard not to be mesmerized by the sheer width of his tattoo covered shoulders. The muscles in his arms and back contracted and stretched as he leaned down to the spigot to wash his face. He finished rinsing off the blood. As he looked up, he caught me staring at him in the mirror. Even though I could only see his eyes, I could easily imagine the cocky smile he was wearing beneath them. I felt my cheeks warm as I pulled my gaze away from his naked back. I focused on my wine and waited for the bloodied and tattered man, the man who was eventually going to take me high above the Pacific and somehow deposit me safely on a private island. I looked up as the spigot turned off. Dax turned around. Lottie was right. Aside from the overlarge lip, the gaping cut on the chin and the swelling over his eye, he was movie screen perfect. But there was no question that an inordinate amount of trouble came with that face. He was one of those men who you spotted and allowed yourself the luxury to look at and daydream about just before the rational side of your brain kicked in to say ‘run—run like hell and never look back’. I took a cold-milk-after-cookies sized swig of my wine and scrunched up my face as it burned going down. Something told me a few shots of tequila might have been a better choice. Self-preservation popped a notion into my head. I scooted down to the end of the bar where Lottie had started cutting up limes and lemons. “Where is the nearest ferry service? I’ve just had a long flight, and I don’t relish the idea of climbing back on a plane. I think I’ll go by boat to the island.” “Well, you’ll need to get a ride to the next town, Douglas Bay. They have a big marina. The ferry travels around to the islands twice a day.” She sucked on a slice of lemon and her mouth puckered from the taste. “That’s a sour one.” She dropped the rind onto a napkin. “Which island are you heading to?” I’d been in such a mindless rush since I’d gotten the job offer, I hadn’t memorized many of the details. And the island had one of those names I just couldn’t keep solidly in my head. I dug in my purse for the slip of paper with all the information.

From the corner of my eye I could see Dax walking toward us. He picked up a bottle of beer on the way and popped off the cap. My fingers brushed a piece of paper, and I pulled it out. I was just about to read the name, but I paused and looked up at Lottie. She seemed to sense why I hesitated. “Look, sweetie, you don’t need to worry about me telling anyone.” Lottie inclined her head toward Dax, who was busy guzzling the beer, which only added to my resolve to travel by boat. “Dax, too. We’ve had plenty of people pass through King’s Beach on their way to the islands in an attempt to make themselves scarce.” She winked. “If you know what I mean?” It was hard not to know what she meant since she’d made it quite clear in her statement. Lottie’s pile of blonde hair slipped back some as she lifted her face to Dax and shot him a conspiratorial wink. “See, Dax won’t say a word either.” She turned her attention back to him. “Your passenger says she’s going to take a ferry instead. She claims it has to do with the long flight here, but I think it has more to do with her not wanting to fly with a pilot who just had his head scrambled in a twenty minute fist fight.” Dax stared at me and continued his brazen assessment as he took another drink. I rubbed my nose to stop it from twitching. He finished the last drop with a big sigh and plunked the bottle down on the counter. “She can’t take the ferry.” “Why not?” I asked sharply. Lottie followed with the same. “You’re going to Wildthorne Island, aren’t you?” Lotties’ face snapped my direction. “Wildthorne Island? What’s a cute little thing like you going to do in that wretched place?” Her question and tone only added to my anxiety that I’d jumped into something without really thinking it through. Something I did often and something that had now left me with no choice except to run from my old life and find a new one far away. A job as tutor on a private island in the middle of the Pacific had seemed too good to be true, as if it had popped into existence just for me. But the look on the bar-owner’s heavily powdered face was making me double think it. “I’m not sure if that’s the island.” I opened the paper, and there it was, in my own sloppy script, Wildthorne Island. I looked up at Dax. He certainly had the smug grin thing down. It was as appealing as

it was smug . . . naturally. “How did you know?” I asked. “I was told to expect you. You’ll have to fly. Boats can’t get to the island. The shoreline is too rocky.” Dax headed around to the end of the bar and plucked a faded gray shirt off the last barstool. He groaned in pain as he pulled it over his head, streaking it with blood from the cut on his chin. He stared down at the mess and swiped at it with the palm of his hand. As he unfurled the cotton t-shirt over his tight pecs and rippling stomach, the words Pterodactyl Airlines appeared in big blue letters. Beneath the letters was a picture of a small white plane, the kind that looked more for decoration or display in a museum than actual flight. “Does that say Pterodactyl Airlines?” I could see the words clearly but was having a hard time believing they were real. Dax dropped his chin and stared down at the letters on his shirt as if it was the first time he’d seen them. Like a kid he used his finger to point to each syllable as he read them. “Ter O dac till.” He looked up with a smile that could rival any Hollywood hunk’s. “Yep, that’s what it says. I’m Dax, short for dactyl.” He pointed to the picture of the plane. “This is Tero.” Once I got past the moment of stunned silence, I quickly tried to think of another way to get to the island. “I’m a pretty good swimmer,” I suggested lamely. Dax reached behind the counter and pulled out a black fedora which he planted low on his head. The shade of the brim brought out the green in his eyes. He walked back toward me and dropped his gaze as he neared. “With those long legs, I’ll bet you are a good swimmer. But even if you made it past the hungry sharks, riptide and hypothermia that would no doubt slow your pace, you’d still end up mashed potatoes on the rocks.” He reached down and picked up my bags. “We should get a move on. I want to be back here before the beach gets swallowed by fog.” Without waiting for my response, he headed to the door with my two bags and everything I owned in the world. I tried to pay Lottie for the wine, but she waved me off. “It’s on the house. Maybe it’ll make the trip a little easier.”

I nodded unenthusiastically and followed Dax and my bags out the door. His long legs and fast stride pushed me into a near jog just to keep up. “Don’t I need a ticket?” “Mrs. Underwood already took care of it.” “Mrs. Underwood?” I asked slightly out of breath in my effort to stay even with him. He slowed down. His smooth, dark brow rose, lifting the brim of his hat. “Your new employer.” “Oh right, Mrs. Underwood. Do you know her?” “Yep, I know her.” It seemed no elaboration would follow. Dax stopped at an old, dented jeep parked next to the curb. With only a front windshield and a bruised pair of doors for protection, it seemed I could stop worrying about the flight and focus on my imminent death in the shabby jeep. He tossed my bags into the back. Since his jeep now held all my possessions, I had no choice except to climb into the passenger seat. A long strip of silver duct tape was trying its best to hold together the shredded seat. I settled my bottom over the tape mosaic and looked around for a seatbelt. “Sorry, the seatbelts stopped working a few years ago.” After three tries, a smack on the dashboard and a few choice swear words, the jeep motor turned over. Dax leaned his head back to check the mirror and pulled out onto the road. He reached up and adjusted the radio dial. “So, what are you running from?” “Excuse me?” I asked, making sure to sound plenty offended. He shrugged. “Right. None of my business. But I’m going to guess it’s some man who either treated you badly or—” He looked over at me and raked his gaze from head to toe. “Or looking at that face and that body, maybe you had to leave because some guy just didn’t want to let you go.” I wriggled uncomfortably on the seat and felt the seat shred further. “You’re right. None of your business.”

Dax reached forward to turn up the volume on the radio, and I tried not to focus on the size of his biceps or the menacing skull winking back at me from his forearm. He made no attempt to slow for any of the lake sized potholes on the road, and I found myself gripping the edge of the seat to keep from being tossed out. “So, Rabbit, just how much do you know about your new job?” he asked underneath the clatter of the heavy metal music blasting through the fuzzy speakers. For good reason, I was feeling more indignant about being called Rabbit than for the sarcastic way he pronounced the word job. “I’m sorry, but did you just call me Rabbit?’ “Yep, just popped into my head.” He turned his eyes completely away from the road and lifted his finger. The bumpy ride made it a tough task, but he managed to touch the tip of my nose. “Could be the way you’re constantly wiggling that cute button nose of yours, or if I’m honest, it might be because I’ve been imagining what you might look like in one of those Playboy bunny uniforms.” I was knocked speechless long enough for him to self-reflect. “Actually, now that I think about it, it’s a combination of both.” Again, I fidgeted my bottom on the seat, finding no other way to show that I was feeling more than a little miffed about his comment. “I don’t wiggle my nose like a rabbit. It’s, it’s allergies. And as for the stuff you’re imagining—never mind. Anyhow, my name is Kinley.” “Really? Seems kind of formal. I like Rabbit.” “I’d prefer Kinley.” We headed for a deep pothole. I clutched the seat edge and braced myself. I popped up just long enough to feel that the duct tape had now attached itself to my jeans. Once we’d made it safely out of the hole, Dax shook his head in thought. “Nope. How about Ki Ki? It’s easier to say and less snooty.” “I guess your mind is still in the Playboy mansion. Kinley is fine. You can call me that,” I said emphatically, hoping to put an end to the conversation. We turned down a road that led to an open field that was divided by a long stretch of asphalt. The

only structure was an ivory colored metal building with an oversized garage door. I could only assume it was an airplane hangar. Sitting in front of it was a sketchy looking plane that looked even less stable than the drawing on the front of Dax’s shirt. Dax stopped the jeep so suddenly, I slipped forward. His big arm shot out and stopped me from planting my face into the glove box. Then, without another word, he hopped over the side of the jeep without opening the door. It seemed he recovered quickly from fights. Other than the deep cut on his chin and the swollen lip, it would have been hard to guess he had just been crowned Fist Fight Friday’s champion. In a surprising show of chivalry, he walked to my side and opened the passenger door for me. “Thank you,” I said as I climbed out. “You can only open the door from the outside, but you’re welcome anyway, Rabbit.” He headed to the back of the jeep. “And we’re back to Rabbit,” I muttered to myself. He pulled the bags from the back and motioned for me to follow him. The closer we got to the plane, the more my nose itched and the more my pulse raced. The little four seat plane with its dents and scratches, looked as if it had spent the first ten years of its life as a rambunctious giant’s toy airplane. A rather skilled artist had drawn a picture of a pterodactyl on the side of the plane with the long menacing beak starting at the nose of the plane and its small clawed feet ending at the tail of the plane. It looked more like a carnival ride than an actual passenger transport. I stopped just short of the plane. It took Dax a few extra steps to notice that he’d left me behind. “What’s wrong?” he asked, and I wondered if he seriously didn’t understand my apprehension or if it was just part of his smug game. “There must be another plane that provides interisland transport. A bigger plane that has more wingspan.” I held out my arms to illustrate my point. “Maybe one that looks a little more airtight.” He put down the bags and headed back toward me. “Oh, you mean like the twenty-seat Cessna 120 that takes people to and from King’s beach.”

I nodded in relief. “Yes.” “You mean the one where they hand out little neck cushions for comfort and give you a warm cookie for the trip.” “Yes, that’s the one. I’ll just wait here until the next plane comes in.” “No problem,” Dax said calmly as he walked back to my bags. I hadn’t expected him to be such a good sport, but he could hardly blame me for not wanting to hop on his four man death trap. He returned to where I was standing and lowered the bags to the ground. “Have a nice trip then.” He started walking back to his jeep. A cool breeze had kicked up from the coast causing me to wrap my arms around myself. The temperature was dropping quickly. There wasn’t another person in sight, and it seemed soon I’d be standing alone in the middle of a deserted air strip, freezing my butt off while waiting for a plane to arrive. “Excuse me,” I called to him, feeling slightly panicked. “Do you know what time the Cessna 100 thing will arrive?” He stopped and turned back. He sure was a dramatically good looking man. I wondered briefly what he was doing in a shady little beach town where there didn’t seem to be much to do. He headed back toward me. “You mean the Cessna 120 with the warm cookies?” “Yes. Do you know when the next flight will land?” “It won’t be landing. I made it up, warm cookies, neck rests and all.” I blinked up at him. My emotions flashed back and forth between being very mad and very embarrassed. In the end, the conflicting emotions merged into one short rant. “You’re an ass, and it seems I’m an even bigger ass for believing anything an ass like you would say. And I want to add that that’s the most times I’ve ever used the word ass in a sentence.” Dax stopped directly in front of me. The swelling on his lip did nothing to dim the light of his smile. He reached down and again picked up my bags. “Well, Rabbit, let’s get hopping. It’s getting late and our

chances of making it safely to Wildthorne Island are directly proportional to the amount of daylight.” He lumbered back toward the plane, and I hurried to catch up to him. “At this point, I’d say we’ve got a fiftyfifty chance,” he added. We reached the plane. A wave of nausea rolled through me as I imagined spending my final minutes in the rusty death trap. “What? Fifty-fifty?” I asked weakly. Dax stopped and pushed a strand of hair off my face. “Just kidding, Rabbit. We’ll be fine. If not, you mentioned you were a good swimmer.”

CHAPTER 2 Dax I HAD NO fucking clue why I’d been teasing her so mercilessly. It might have been that incredibly sweet, prim smile she’d tossed my way after I’d nearly sprayed her bags with my blood. Or it might have been the way her little nose kept twitching. Or, to keep in line with my usual shallowness, it might have been the way she looked in her jeans. Or maybe I was just pissed off knowing that she was heading to Wildthorne Island. She wouldn’t be the first woman I’d dropped off there for a job, but something told me this time the venerable Mrs. Underwood had managed to pick the right girl. And that thought made my jaw clench like a steel trap. Still, none of it was Kinley’s fault. From the looks of her, she was completely innocent and just as completely clueless about Underwood’s real motive for hiring her. Kinley had checked her seatbelt at least a dozen times while I waited for the main tower at the local airport to give me clearance for takeoff. I pulled my attention from the dials for a second to make sure my passenger wasn’t about to jump from the plane. Her long, curly lashes fluttered as she stared out the front windshield. The wiggly nose had moved down to become a quivering bottom lip, an extremely sexy bottom lip. Her creamy skin was a few shades paler than it had been on the runway. She was right. I was an ass. Tero’s engine made it hard to communicate without talking loudly. I didn’t want to startle her by yelling. I reached over and touched her arm. She startled anyhow. I really wanted to kick myself for teasing her so badly.

I leaned closer. “If you need a barf bag, they’re under the seat.” Just the mention of the barf bag made her skin whiten more. She nodded weakly. “Kinley, I received my pilot training in the air force, and after that I spent two years flying a much older plane than this in the worst terrain in Alaska. I fly back and forth to Wildthorne Island five times a week.” I patted the control wheel. “Tero can basically find the island by instinct. I hardly need to steer.” She forced a weak smile, and a touch of color came back to her cheeks. Her big gray-blue eyes were the kind that could look right into a man’s soul. Damn if the old lady didn’t nail it this time. And it wasn’t just the perfect beauty and the utterly feminine way Kinley carried herself, there was a touch of spunk mixed with brains and humor that made me think this could be the one. Even with swollen knuckles from five rounds of fighting at Lottie’s, the thought of dropping this girl at the doorstep of the Underwood Manor made me want to throw my fist at something. Kinley didn’t relax but she managed to take some deep breaths, bringing even more color to her face. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” The noise of the engine didn’t drown out the slight waver in her voice. “I guess this job just happened so unexpectedly, and before that my life had sort of gone off the rails. I needed this job badly. I can’t believe I got so lucky. I’m not exactly the type of person luck follows around.” Earlier, she had been tight lipped but nerves had loosened those same lips. I listened and worked hard not to add any of my own opinion. This was out of my control, I reminded myself for the hundredth time. Whatever happened on that fucking island had nothing to do with me. A nervous laugh punctuated her words. “I’ve never had to submit so much paperwork and so many pictures for a job. I even had to have a full physical. Of course, knowing now that the only way on and off the island is by plane, proof of health makes perfect sense. I’m sure Mrs. Underwood doesn’t want to worry about her daughter’s tutor getting sick when there are no doctors around. It’s a rather strange existence, isn’t it? Just a woman and her daughter living alone on an island, a plane ride away from civilization.” The woman was getting extra crafty these days. “I guess Mrs. Underwood didn’t mention her son,

Marcus?” Kinley’s face snapped toward me. I was glad to see she’d regained most of the pink in her cheeks. “Her son? No. She only talked about her daughter, Rebecca.” She looked slightly stunned as she sat back against the seat. “I wonder why she didn’t mention him. Is there a Mr. Underwood? Other than the son, I mean.” I shook my head, my usual response when the topic of Jack Underwood came up. It was always easier not to talk about him. It kept all the good memories solid. The control tower gave me clearance to take off and that seemed to wipe away any worries Kinley had about her new employer. She had bigger concerns, for the time being. Of course, the short flight was going to look like a walk in the park once Kinley untangled her real reason for being hired. But what the fuck did I know, she might very well go along with the whole thing. Especially if she had taken this extreme job to get away from something or someone from her past. Kinley gripped the edge of the seat, just like she’d done in the jeep. I reached over, squeezed her wrist and winked. “It helps to take some deep breaths while we take off. Once we’re in the air, the noise in the cockpit will soften, and it’ll be semi-smooth sailing.” Her pink lips pulled tight, and her round breasts lifted and fell as she took my advice about the deep breaths. Tero rattled and shook as we raced down the runway. I glanced over at Kinley. She looked the color of snow again. “Don’t forget those deep breaths.” Once we were at the right altitude and I’d leveled out the plane, Kinley released her death grip on the seat and began to relax. A few minutes into the ride, we were out over the water. She’d relaxed enough to look out the passenger window at the blue rippling ocean below. The first few islands came into view. “Is one of those Wildthorne?” she asked. “No. Wildthorne is the farthest island in the chain. It tends to be colder and gloomier than the rest,

so I hope you brought some warm clothes.” “Mrs. Underwood warned me about the foggy weather.” “Prepare to be transported back to the eighteenth century, or at least half way back. They have a generator and propane during the day, but Katherine”—I glanced her direction—“that’s Mrs. Underwood, likes to switch to candles at night to save energy.” “I love it. Candles and the eighteenth century sound so romantic. Besides, I’ve lived in some places where we had to collect animal dung for fuel.” “Animal dung? Damn, you’re going to have to tell me that story sometime.” She looked over at me. “Trust me, burning poop isn’t all that interesting. Do you spend a lot of time on the island?” “Not unless I absolutely have to. But you’ll be expected to run errands back at the mainland. It’s part of the job. So seeing me goes with it too.” Kinley stared back out the front window. “Guess I’ll get pretty used to this plane then.” “Yep. I also bring Ryan, the handyman, to the island once a week. And then there’s Janice, the housekeeper. There used to be an old couple, the Harlans, who lived on the island as full-time help. But they retired and moved someplace warmer. No one else wanted the full-time position. Mrs. Underwood flies back to King’s Beach two days a week to work in her office and collect her mail. I’m sure you know there’s no internet access out there.” Kinley seemed to be absorbing everything I said with a bitter swallow. It was obvious she’d jumped into this without knowing all the details. I’d taken half a dozen women to Wildthorne Island for the same job, and I’d never once considered stepping in to put a kink in Katherine’s nefarious plan. But this time was different. The thought of dropping Kinley off at the island was gnawing at me like a long toothed rat. Kinley’s plump bottom lip seemed to be shifting back and forth with a moment of self-reflection and trepidation. I saw an opportunity and went for it. “As I’m sure you can imagine, cell phone use is spotty out there too. It’s sort of one of those situations where the stars have to line up just right and you have to hold your phone in just the right position to be in tune with the earth’s rotation. Then you have to stand as

still as a statue because one wrong move—” Kinley looked over at me. “Are you trying to talk me out of this or are you just back to your merciless teasing mode?” “Nope, not trying to talk you out of this. No teasing either. Just thought you should know these things. If your family or friends want to reach you, then they’ll have to wait until you’re back in King’s Beach.” “My parents are traveling along the Amazon River, so I’m pretty sure they are without technology. And as for my friends—” She stared out the window. “Maybe I’m looking forward to being out of cell phone range,” she said more to herself than to me. “I can’t wait to meet my pupil.” Her tone brightened. “Do you know Rebecca Underwood?” “Sure do. Underneath that perpetual clammy mist that shrouds Wildthorne Island there is one ray of sunshine you can count on and that’s Rebecca, or Becky, as she likes to be called. I can honestly say that she’s the one reason I keep Wildthorne on my destination list.” “Really? Great. I can’t wait to meet her. I hope she likes me. I’ve heard that I’m tutor number seven. Something tells me this position hinges more on how well they like me than how well I teach algebra.” I could have responded but decided my cynical comments were better left unsaid. I’d tried to dissuade her by making sure she understood how remote the island was, but she seemed genuinely excited to start the job. “Something tells me you’ll be a success.” The more she relaxed the more she seemed to enjoy the flight. “Guess you’ve got the best ocean view money can buy. It must give you a certain sense of freedom to have your own set of wings.” “Don’t think I’d trade in this life for all the gold, mansions and fast cars in the world.” When she smiled, two deep dimples formed on her cheeks. As if she needed anything else to be breathtaking. “I noticed you left fast women off that list.” “Women fall into a non-negotiable category. Is this your first real adventure, living on a private island? Aside from the whole animal poop for warmth episode.” She shook her head. “Nope, not at all. I’ve lived at precisely one hundred and seventy five different

sets of coordinates. Name a latitude and chances are I’ve been there.” “You’re kidding?” “I guess my small panic attack about riding on this plane makes that hard to believe.” “Small panic attack? I thought I was going to have to pry you off that seat once we landed.” “I don’t know what got into me. I’ve been here in the states for a few years, and I guess I’ve gotten soft and spoiled. My parents are archaeologists. I just happened by accident. My mom blames it on the monsoonal season in India. Apparently, I was conceived after a week stuck inside watching the streets wash away with torrential rains. They’d never planned on a baby, but that didn’t stop me from popping out. So, I traveled with them until I was old enough to tell them I was tired of moving from place to place. Then I met someone . . .” Her words trailed off and she ended with a laugh. “Oh my gosh, I think the altitude is doing something to my head. I’m just blathering on like I’m drunk.” “No, it’s interesting. If you traveled all over the map, when did you go to school?” “The world was my classroom, and whenever we were close enough to civilization, my parents would hire tutors or enroll me in the local school. It was exciting, but I can’t tell you how often I dreamt of having a couple of close friends and a pinch of normalcy, like a slumber party at a neighbor’s house with pillow fights, popcorn and ghost stories.” “Well, you might just be in luck because I know a twelve-year-old girl on that island in the distance who dreams of that stuff too.” My mention of the island caused Kinley to stretch up and look out the window. The usual crown of clouds was resting on the three highest peaks of the island. They were land formations that fell well short of mountains but that could hardly be referred to as hills. “It’s even bigger than I expected. I can see a gray roof through the thin spots on the clouds.” “That’s Underwood Manor, an original name if there ever was one.” “Manor,” she repeated. “Sounds stately and self-important.” “Just like the owner.”

Kinley rested back. “It sounds as if Mrs. Underwood isn’t high on your most liked people list.” “Yeah? What gave it away?” “The sneering sound you make when you say her name. Kind of a dead giveaway.” I laughed. “We’re going to be landing soon, so be ready. It gets kind of rough on the descent.” The first rattle and shake caused Kinley to grip the seat again. She stayed quiet as I dropped Tero through the cloud cover and over to the west side of the island where the landing strip stretched from one end to the other. Kinley let out a small gasp as the plane touched down, jostling her around beneath the seatbelt. Waves of relief rolled off of her when we finally came to a stop. She took a deep breath. It took a few good swallows before she spoke. “I’m sure it will get much easier once it becomes part of my routine.” “With all the traveling you did as a child, you must have been on many planes, including ones like Tero.” “You’d think so. But neither of my parents were big on flying. Not so much from fear but because it didn’t give them a chance to experience the culture. We did travel by camel and burro a lot. Just took way longer.” “Wild. Sounds pretty damn amazing if you ask me.” I opened my door. “C’mon, I’m giving you the deluxe flight package. I’ll show you the way to the house. Even though it’s easy to spot in the distance, there are only a few paved paths to take you there. Otherwise, you need a machete and some overnight camping gear.” Kinley climbed out. She instantly curled her arms around herself for warmth. She squinted up to the gray mist working its hardest to block out any sun. “It must be fifteen degrees colder here.” “That’s about right.” I pulled the bags out of the back. “Did you want to look for a coat or sweatshirt?” “No, they’re buried deep. I’ll be fine,” she said with the slightest tremble of her chin.

“Wait—” I returned to the cockpit and pulled my sweatshirt out from behind the seat. I walked over to her. What I should have done after that was hand her the sweatshirt, but she looked up at me with those impossibly big eyes and her cute nose had gone pink from the cold and I couldn’t stop myself. I reached around behind her, moving close enough that her warm breath tickled my neck and the scent of her shampoo wafted up from her tawny hair. I took more than my sweet fucking time helping her into the sweatshirt. Having her in my circle of arms sent my pulse racing. It took me plenty of time to recover once the sweatshirt was on, and I had no more excuse for standing so close to her. I stepped back, reminding myself why I’d just transported the wide eyed angel to Wildthorne. Kinley held out her arms and watched the sleeves drip off the ends of her hands. The sight of the droopy sleeves made her laugh. I wasn’t sure what it was about her laugh, but it wasn’t like any other I’d ever heard. It was like a damn elixir, a tonic to wash away anything ugly in the world, leaving behind only the cool stuff, the stuff that kept you putting your feet on the floor in the morning. Kinley pushed the sleeves back so that she could use her hands to push back the caramel colored strands of hair blowing around her face. She scanned the massive clearing. Her gaze landed on the one thing that stood out in the island landscape. “Whose helicopter is that?” The decade old Eurocopter had lost most of its shiny white paint. The red stripes that’d stretched around its belly like a belt were long gone. The helicopter looked sad and lonely, but for me, it was a reminder of some of the best times in my life. “It’s just an old relic that hasn’t been fired up in a long time.” I grabbed her bags and looked at her. “Are ya ready, Rabbit?” Kinley rolled her eyes at the nickname but this time put up no argument. As insane as it sounded, the nickname had already become important to me. I led Kinley toward the sandy path that would eventually lead to the front door and to her new job. And I wondered just how the hell I was going to live with myself for bringing her here. Knowing that Becky was sure to adore her new tutor helped relieve some of the guilt. If only Becky’s education was the

real reason behind Kinley’s being hired.

CHAPTER 3 Kinley AS WE NEARED an area on the island that looked less wild and more like a place inhabited by humans, my stomach slowly started to unknot itself. The bundle of nerves that had made their home in my gut the moment I woke up this morning didn’t seem to be in any hurry to leave. The more than a little scary plane ride and the pilot that went with it hadn’t helped. I wasn’t completely sure what it was about Dax that put me in somewhat of a twist, and not necessarily a bad twist, but I was sure I’d get over it soon enough. One thing was certain, other than Rebecca Underwood, he had no big love or respect for the people living on the island. I wasn’t sure if I was imagining it or if my bad case of nerves was just making me see things that weren’t there, but he seemed inexplicably uneasy about leaving me on the island. I brushed it off as my own concern that I wouldn’t be the right person for Rebecca’s tutor, something that made me uneasy as well. I was determined to shake loose the tension and make a good impression. I took some slow, deep breaths. The scent of coastal air and lush greenery filled my lungs. It was easy to understand how Wildthorne Island got its rather gothic name. The surrounding landscape, a tangled myriad of vines and green glossy shrubs and ferns that looked as if they’d been taken right out of a prehistoric forest, grew without a plan or direction. And standing tall and picturesque in the low growing foliage were massive trees whose thorn covered trunks made them easy to recognize as silk-floss trees. Once again, I found myself having to take exaggerated steps to keep up with my long-legged tour guide who, even carrying my two bags, kept up a brisk pace. Not that I minded the view from behind too much. He was that kind of guy—appealing from every darn angle. And of course he seemed well aware that he had no bad sides.

As flustered as he’d made me when I first met him in King’s Beach, he’d made up for his terrible teasing with his comforting and reassuring words on the plane. Amusing as it seemed, he wasn’t the kind of guy I would trust with my heart, but by the end of the flight, where he proved to be a capable and confident pilot, I had learned to trust him with my life. I hurried to catch up to Dax. “I would never have expected to see silk-floss trees out here in the middle of the north Pacific. I know they thrive best in places like South America. This cold, clammy climate hardly seems ideal and yet they are massive and obviously thriving.” “In early spring this island is covered in pink and white blossoms. It’s an awesome sight from the sky. The trees were brought here by the original owners. The wife had insisted on it even though she was told they would never grow. Guess she proved them wrong. Some of the trees are more than sixty years old.” He looked over at me. “You know your trees.” “The thorns on their trunks make them easy to recognize.” We reached a part of the trail that passed through two large ferns. Dax used his hands and my bags to part the frilly branches and motioned me through with his head. I stepped through the leafy gate, and it was like stepping into another time and place. Chaotic, wild jungle growth was replaced by a well-manicured lawn and neatly trimmed boxwoods. The only reminder of the untamed landscape we’d just passed through was one tall silk-floss tree growing on the left side of a wraparound porch. The facade of the manor was made of white brick, and the windows were trimmed with thick, navy blue paint. There were multi-paned windows running along both the top and bottom floors, interrupted only by a massive double mahogany front door on the first floor and a small ornate balcony on the second. Almost the moment we stepped onto the oyster shell pathway leading to the marble front steps, the front door swung open. I hoped it would be Rebecca, but a tall, thin man, with dark hair and fair skin that looked as if it rarely saw the light of day, walked out. He stood erect with impressively perfect posture and his black jeans had been ironed with a pleat down the front. There wasn’t even a hint of beard stubble on his chin, even though it was well past five o’clock. I glanced over at Dax. In faded jeans and Pterodactyl airlines t-shirt, a shirt that looked as if it had seen more flights than the pilot himself, he stood in stark contrast to the impeccably groomed man walking

toward us. There was plenty of black stubble on Dax’s jaw, a jaw that seemed much tighter than it had just moments before. He stopped and didn’t seem inclined to go any farther. The man reached us. He was much younger than I’d expected. Something about the way he dressed and moved had made him seem older. His skin was truly pale, but it seemed that was more from lack of sun than any illness. He raised a judgmental brow at the oversized sweatshirt. I quickly removed it. Instantly, the cool air chilled me. “Brought you your mail order bride.” Dax’s cold tone and odd, unexpected words pulled my gaze his direction, but he refused to look at me. The man’s dark brows knitted together in a scowl. “Don’t you have somewhere to be?” “Anywhere but here sounds good.” Dax placed my bags on the ground. I handed him his sweatshirt as he turned to leave. His dark lashes and the brim of his hat veiled his eyes as he seemed to make a point of avoiding eye contact with me. I had no idea what was going on or why the sudden change in Dax’s demeanor, but as he walked away, I felt this unexplained tug as if he was holding an invisible tether that stretched between us. It was the oddest sensation I’d ever felt, and I couldn’t shake it. My feet turned and moved forward before I even realized I was following him. “Dax,” I called. He stopped and for a moment I was sure he wouldn’t turn back around. When he did, something happened that I hadn’t expected or prepared for. Our gazes locked and that tug I’d felt as I watched him walk away grew stronger. “Thank you.” They were the only words I could utter. My heart was racing fast enough to make my head feel light, and I couldn’t understand any of it. “Take care of yourself, Rabbit. I’ll see you soon.” I nodded and stayed a few seconds longer to watch him disappear through the ferns. I was hyperaware of the dark eyes watching me from behind. I took a deep, steadying breath and turned back to him. My odd exchange with Dax, an interaction I couldn’t even explain myself, had left the man behind me looking even more stern than before. I decided to switch on what my mom referred to as my innate charm. Although I’d always

questioned just how innate it could be if I had to actually think about turning it on. I stuck out my hand. “Hello, I’m Kinley Kennedy.” My charm fell flat on its face when he refused to shake my hand. He even went so far as to tuck his well manicured hands behind his back. “I’m Marcus Underwood,” he said with polished politeness. His face was handsome in the classical sense, straight nose and square jaw. But there was something entirely lacking in his eyes. They were void of sparkle, like the glint of light I’d caught more than once in Dax’s eyes. “My mother is waiting inside with some refreshments. I’m sure you’re tired from your trip.” “I am. Thank you.” His formal vocabulary and manners and the stately manor behind him really did make me feel as if I’d just been transported back to an earlier century. I waited for him to pick up the bags, but he turned around and headed back toward the house. Possibly not the manners of an earlier time. I picked up my belongings and followed. He’d left the front door ajar and used his foot to push it open before standing in front of it to let me pass by. Without looking directly at him, I got the feeling I was being scrutinized. I suddenly became extra self-conscious. After a long day of travel, I didn’t need a mirror to know I looked disheveled. I hoped my new employer would take that into consideration. I stepped into the cavernous entryway. The house was decorated in what I would call sparse elegance. There weren’t a lot of fixtures, but the ones that were there looked expensive and as if someone had taken painstaking care to place them in precisely the right location. The entryway itself was mostly white marble with the palest veins of pink running through it. A chandelier that spanned half the plaster ceiling hung over us like a giant glittering bird. Sconces with candles that looked well used lined the walls of the entryway. Dax had mentioned the use of candles at night to save energy. “Leave the bags here and I’ll have our housekeeper take them up to your room.” Marcus spoke clearly and with hardly an intonation. A breeze ushered inside, pushing the front door open farther. Marcus stopped it with his shoe and pushed it shut without touching it. “My mother is in the sitting room with coffee and pastries. I know she’s anxious to meet you.” He walked briskly past. I took that as my invitation to follow. We walked along a narrow hallway that was lined with sea landscapes done in oil, and while I

wasn’t an art expert, they looked original and valuable. On the right, an opened doorway revealed a formal dining room that had ceiling to floor windows running along one side, allowing a stunning view of the ocean. The artwork and furniture inside the room looked old and antique as if it had been purchased from a museum. To add to the museum look, sitting in a glass case between two windows, was a well constructed model of the U.S.S. Constitution. The one thing that was starkly apparent as we walked along a second corridor was that the house was immaculate, or hospital clean as my mom liked to joke when we traded in our tents for an actual motel room with four walls and a ceiling. It looked as if the walls and floors were scrubbed daily and dust was a completely foreign entity. The sweet smell of cinnamon made my mouth water as we stepped into a large room with a light blue sofa and chairs, again, placed methodically around a round coffee table. Oddly enough, one of the chairs was covered in plastic. I glanced around but saw no evidence of a dog or cat. The house was far too sterile looking to keep a pet, unfortunately. A big bouncing dog or fussy little cat might have added a touch of normalcy to the place. “Mother, Kinley Kennedy is here,” Marcus announced me so formally I felt as if I was stepping into a room for a regency era ball. Mrs. Underwood was in her mid to late fifties and she had the same rather severe expression as her son. Her blonde hair was combed back from her face, highlighting a flawless complexion and high cheek bones. Her only concession to makeup was a dark pink lipstick that stood out boldly from her fair skin. They were living on an island but both the Underwoods looked as if they’d never stepped outside in the sun. Mrs. Underwood was wearing an almost formal looking pantsuit with a simple gold chain around her neck. I glanced down at my own attire and felt as if I’d just fallen off a passing cargo boat. Suddenly, my jeans and sweater seemed like a terrible choice of wardrobe for first impressions. She stood from the sofa. “I’m Mrs. Underwood but you may call me Katherine.” Unlike her son, Mrs. Underwood had no aversion to shaking hands. In fact, she held on to mine for longer than a normal handshake. She brazenly surveyed me from head to toe as if she were buying a car or a horse. “You are even prettier than your pictures. Isn’t she Marcus?” Marcus nodded, and added a rather unenthusiastic ‘very pretty’. Rather than sitting in the big chair

directly behind him, he traveled across the rug to the opposite chair and sat gently down on the plastic. “Come sit next to me, Kinley, and tell us about yourself. Rebecca will be down shortly. I insisted she finish reading two chapters in her book before joining us. I think you’ll find she’s a very bright girl, but she’s highly distractible. If you can keep her focused, half your battle will be won.” Katherine was definitely friendlier and more lively than her son. I was relieved. After the unexplained coldness between Marcus and Dax, coupled with all of Marcus’s quirky mannerisms, I worried that I’d somehow ended up working for the Addams family. A stout woman with chalky gray hair and a white housekeeper uniform bustled into the room with a smile that made her cheeks look as if they were holding oranges. She was carrying a tray with a coffee pot and two cups. “I’ll bring yours right out, sir,” she said quickly to Marcus as she walked past him. “Janice, this is Kinley. She will be Rebecca’s new teacher.” Janice nodded politely. “Nice to meet you. I’ve brought both cream and sugar because I wasn’t sure how you take your coffee.” I sat forward. “Black is fine. Thank you so much. The pastries look wonderful.” I had a hard time drawing my hungry gaze away from the plate of baked goods sitting on the end of the coffee table. Katherine quickly moved the plate in front of me. “Please, eat as many as you like, but be aware that we’ll be serving dinner in an hour.” It was like a backhanded compliment only this time it was a delightful offer of pastries with a reminder not to enjoy them too much. And something told me Katherine was the kind of woman who expected you to eat all your vegetables and finish every crumb on the plate. Still, I hadn’t eaten for at least five hours and I was starved. I picked up the smallest pastry on the plate, an apple Danish with strands of creamy white glaze. It tasted as if heaven had landed in my mouth. I glanced around as I chewed as politely and slowly as I could for being ravenous. It seemed both mother and son were watching me. I swallowed and stuck the remainder of the pastry in my napkin, deciding to save it for later, when I was alone in my room. The jovial, energetic Janice returned before any more conversation could take place. This time she was wearing plastic gloves, like the kind that surgeons wear. She had a tray and a cup that was wrapped

completely in cellophane. She stopped at Marcus’s chair. “Shall I have Janice warm up your coffee, Kinley?” Mrs. Underwood asked loudly, even though I was sitting right next to her. “No, it’s fine.” It seemed she wanted more than anything to pull my attention away from Marcus, but my curious gaze was glued his direction. Janice waited patiently as Marcus picked up the cup, unwrapped it and tossed the used plastic wrap back on the tray. Steam spiraled up from the cup as he brought it to his mouth. His eyes landed on me, and it seemed he’d momentarily forgotten that they had a visitor. He turned his face away, almost as if embarrassed. I turned back to Katherine. She looked slightly disgruntled that I’d witnessed the cup unveiling. I gave her a warm smile, trying to let her know that I understood completely. It didn’t take any huge skills or knowledge to deduce that Marcus was a germophobe, a person with an extreme fear of germs. It suddenly made me like him more. It made him more pliable, more real. It had to be a struggle and a horrible burden to live with, and I was determined not to notice any of his unusual behavior. I placed my coffee and pastry filled napkin on the tray. “I noticed you have a replica of the U.S.S Constitution in the dining room.” Behind me the heavy plastic crackled, and, from the corner of my eye, I saw Marcus sit forward. I faced him. “You recognized it from the hallway?” Marcus asked with more enthusiasm than I thought him capable of. “Old Ironsides is a fairly recognizable ship. But I confess, I have more expertise than most. Although, it wasn’t planned expertise. It was sort of forced upon me by my dad. He has quite an obsession with warships.” A short laugh shot from my mouth before I could cover it with my hand. Something told me this was a house where you covered your mouth when you laughed. I turned my attention completely to Marcus because the topic had lit up his face. “We passed by the room quickly, but at some point, I’d love to take a closer look. It looked quite impressive. A lot like the real thing.”

The thick plastic squeaked with movement as Marcus sat even closer to the edge of the chair. His reaction was almost kidlike as if he was ten and a friend was telling him about his Pokémon collection. “Have you seen the real ship?” It seemed the mention of warships had cracked through an otherwise steely exterior. It seemed I’d found a small chink in his armor. “My father and I traveled to Boston about five years ago to see her in the Charleston Navy Yard. She was, quite frankly, amazing. You could almost hear the voices of the sailors who fought on her decks centuries ago and taste the ancient remnant of salty air evaporating off her sails. She fought pirates and—” I stopped and silently chided myself. “Of course, you probably know all about her.” He looked at me and for the first time, I saw a human soul behind the eyes. “I know a lot about her, but I’m always fascinated to hear from someone who has seen her in person.” “So you’ve never been to Boston to visit her?” I’d asked the question hastily, and his reaction, flat and cold, assured me I shouldn’t have asked it. I knew nothing about the man, really, except that he had an obvious fear of germs and he’d been living for some time on a remote island. Dax had given me an itinerary of his flights to the island, including transporting Katherine back and forth along with the house and groundskeepers, but he’d made no mention of Marcus. It was silly of me not to put together the pieces that were right in front of me. Marcus stayed on the island to avoid all the plagues and maladies on the mainland. A quick topic change was needed to pull me out of the mire I’d created. I wasn’t quite ready to have my bags taken back to the runway with a thank you but no thank you send off. I took a deep breath. “Talking about ships and my dad always sparks a little homesickness in me. Not that I ever had a true home to be sick about, but for me home was wherever my parents were. They are archaeologists, and they travel all around the world.” “Yes, you mentioned that on your cover letter,” Katherine piped up. “Marcus constructed that ship model on his own.” “Oh wow, I can’t imagine the skill and patience it would take to build something so intricate.” Marcus’s smile was almost awkward, unpracticed, but it was real. And it was obvious he was glad

to have someone take notice of his talent. It seemed, for now, I’d washed away the mess of my first step in the mud. Not that I wasn’t convinced more would follow. I was very good at stepping in it. I turned back to Katherine, who was wearing a satisfied grin, almost as if she’d just achieved a major accomplishment. They were both a little odd when it came to normal interactions but then they had been living on an island away from civilization. I wondered how long they’d been living on Wildthorne. An awkward silence followed. It was apparent they were both still trying hard to assess me. I decided to start a new topic. “I have to say, I’m very anxious to meet Rebecca. Do you think she’ll be down soon?” Just as I finished the question, quick light footsteps sounded in the hallway, footsteps that had to belong to a twelve-year-old. Rebecca flounced into the room wearing a bright pink t-shirt with glittering letters that said Pink Punk and wearing two long braids that she’d apparently done on her own without a mirror. She was petite and she moved like a ballerina, barely touching the floor as she floated over it in fuzzy yellow socks. An aggravated sigh ushered from her mother’s mouth. “Becky, I asked you to change out of that ridiculous shirt. And where are the shoes I left you to put on? Your new teacher will think you’re an out of control brat.” “No need to cover up the truth, Mother. Kinley would find it out for herself soon enough,” Marcus said over the rim of his cup. He spoke in a serious, wry tone but instead of looking admonished, Becky raced toward him. She stuck her finger in her mouth and then pulled it out. “Need me to stir your coffee?” Marcus covered the cup but didn’t let even his pristine white palm touch it. “Leave me alone and at least try and make a good impression. We’d like this one to stick around for awhile.” I was almost sure I caught a glimmer of a second smile, but it was so fleeting, it was hard to know for sure. “Yes, we do!” Katherine spoke up with so much enthusiasm it startled me. She winked at her son and turned back to her daughter. “Becky, this is Miss Kennedy and even if you don’t listen to me as much as you should, I expect you to listen to her one hundred percent of the time.”

“Yes, Mother.” Becky had a spray of freckles and her brown hair had streaks of blonde in it. Her skin was tanned. It seemed, unlike the rest of the household, she actually ventured outside. She was the only person in the house who looked as if she actually lived on an island. I planned to follow her lead and look the same once I settled in. Becky’s little hand shot out. Her brown eyes sparkled as much as her smile. “Come, I’ll show you my room and the classroom. But I’ll warn you, my bedroom is way more interesting than that mausoleum of a classroom.” I hopped up and took her hand. She looked up at me. “Oh my gosh, you’re pretty. Maybe sometime, you can teach me how to put on mascara.” “Dinner is at seven,” Katherine called to us. “After you show her the classroom, Becky, show Kinley to the guest room.” Becky waved to acknowledge the request and then pulled me through the hallway to the staircase.

CHAPTER 4 Dax ZOE SLID INTO the booth just as I finished my beer. The empty beer bottles clattered and fell like bowling pins as she bumped the table in her quest to climb up and straddle my lap. She wrapped her arms around my neck and settled down over me, making sure the crotch of her jeans rubbed against my cock. It might have been the eight beers or the fact that my head ached from the fist fight, but I didn’t react. My mood had been dark since I’d turned around and left Kinley standing on Wildthorne Island. I had planned on making a quick exit and reminding myself that none of it mattered to me. Whatever happened on that island was none of my business. But then something happened before I made good on my escape. Kinley had called to me and when I turned around it felt as if someone had knocked the wind from me. I had to curl my fingers into fists to keep from lunging back toward her to haul her back to the plane. Zoe planted a trail of hot kisses on my neck and still nothing. Normally, it took no more than the brush of her hand on my face or her breast rubbing against my arm and I was hard as a rock. But not tonight. Zoe sensed my lack of enthusiasm and leaned back to scowl at me. “You’re about as fun as a bad toothache tonight, Dax.” She put on her best pout. “Sorry. My head is pounding from that fight. Got my mind on other things too.” Her pout only deepened. I kissed her lips. “Rain check?” She climbed off. “Whatever. Anyhow, Kyle’s having a party. He never needs a rain check.” Zoe

hopped out of the booth and headed out of the bar. She leaned back past the open door before leaving. “Think you’re going to be sorry about this once you get back to that lonely beach house of yours.” “I’m sure you’re right. Have fun, Zoe. Catch you later.” Lottie headed over with a tray to collect the empty bottles. She smacked it down on the table and put her hands on her hips. I groaned and shook my head. “No lectures tonight, Lottie. I’m not in any fucking mood to hear all the things I need to change in my life.” “Fine.” She started putting the bottles on the tray. “If you want to waste your life sucking down my cheap beer, hanging out with women who don’t mean any more to you than a new pair of socks and talking to yourself in that rundown hovel of a beach house, then go right ahead. I just think you were born for more. Your dad thought so too.” I lifted my eyes to her. “My dad has been dead since I was three. I can’t even remember what he looked like.” One hand went to her hip again. “You know who I’m talking about. I don’t know why you’re punishing yourself like this.” “It’s not a punishment, Lottie. It’s how I prefer to live. No relationships. No responsibilities. All I need is my plane, my surfboard—” I lifted a bottle and raised it in a toast. “And your cheap beer.” “If you say so.” She finished clearing my table. “Another?” “Nope, I’m heading home. Waves should be cranking in the morning.” Lottie picked up the tray. “Did you get that woman to the island all right? She looked a little hesitant.” “She loosened up once we were in the air.” “She sure was pretty.” I nodded. “That she was.”

“Can’t imagine she’ll last long out there on that cold, gloomy island.” “Yep.” I slid out of the booth, wanting to put an end to the topic. I tossed my money on the tray and kissed her cheek. “See you later.”

CHAPTER 5 Kinley BECKY SLAMMED THE book shut. “There. And I still don’t understand why anyone in the world would need to know how to solve for X. Who cares what X is when there are so many cool things in the world?” I finished hanging the crayon resist artwork we’d created to add some color to the otherwise completely depressing room. I knew Katherine had chosen the room with its two small windows and no view because it would help Becky focus on her work. But four blank walls with only two desks and hard chairs made it look like a scene from a Dickens novel. It was hardly an environment to expand and cultivate a young mind. It was only our third day together, but Becky and I had become fast friends. She was lively and fun. Just as Dax had described, she was the constant ray of sunshine on an otherwise foggy and gray island. Katherine, while mostly serious and businesslike, seemed to be working hard at making me feel comfortable in her home. I had a cozy room, with a lot of quilts and a fireplace that was filled with wood and lit every night, just like a bedroom from an earlier century. It was perfectly wonderful and comfortable and far more posh than I was used to. I’d grown up in so many different places and I’d slept in hammocks, igloos and tents. One night, we’d even slept in a pyramid after our scatter-brained guide led us in circles. After hours of traversing the many chambers, we’d grown too tired to look for a way out. I figured then that if I could fall asleep in the cold musty tomb haunted with the ancient spirits of the pharaohs, then I could sleep anywhere. Even the austere and somewhat drafty Underwood Manor. While I was quickly getting to know Becky and her mother, the one person I hadn’t figured out yet

was Marcus. His moods changed from minute to minute, friendly and talkative one moment. Silent and grim, the next. “You promised you’d come see my collection.” Becky popped me out of my musings. “You’ve already shown me your glass animal collection and your hair band collection and your music CDs.” She hopped up from the desk, and her hand jutted out. “I have one more collection that I think you’ll really like. And then you promised to tell me the story about when the mummy cursed you in Egypt.” “I’ll tell you about the mummy’s curse after I get back from King’s Beach. Your mom is writing a shopping list for me.” I took her hand. For the hundredth time that morning I had to tamp down the rush of nerves that threatened to overwhelm me at the thought of flying back to King’s Beach. Only this time, the small, rattling plane wasn’t the reason for the jitters. This time, it was all about the pilot. Becky pushed open her bedroom door and waved me quickly inside. Aside from the early century four post bed and expensive looking rug, the room was very much ‘pre-adolescent’ girl. I was surprised but pleased to find that while the rest of the house looked rather pompous and sterile, Katherine had allowed Becky some freedom of expression and individuality in her bedroom. We walked past the doll collection, a group of porcelain beauties that were worth too much to play with, which Becky had confessed she was happy about because she ‘hated dolls’. She walked to her closet, a room that was larger and more spacious than an average apartment. The door to the closet was covered in two conflicting posters, the iconic Ramones poster and an equally iconic Spongebob Squarepants poster, proof positive that my new pupil still had one foot stuck in childhood, while the other was making its way over the fence to the teen years. I followed Becky past the hanging clothes to a set of drawers. She knelt down and reached for the brass knob, but stopped before opening it. A proud grin was etched on her face but then she looked up at me with a straight mouth and serious brows. “You can’t tell anyone about this. The only other person who knows about the stuff inside this drawer is James.” It wasn’t a name I’d heard mentioned yet. “James? Is that one of the groundskeepers?”

She laughed. “No, silly. James is my brother.” Being a kid, she hadn’t noticed my surprise, and she was far too excited about the contents in the drawer to elaborate. I easily concluded that James must be a family member who’d decided remote island living wasn’t for him. Becky’s face scrunched with concentration as she carefully lifted a bundle of something wrapped in an old pillowcase. She carefully unwrapped the items. Even though they appeared solid and sturdy, she treated them as if they were as fragile as eggshells. After years of traveling the world with two archaeologists, I knew instantly I was looking at old artifacts and significant ones at that. I dropped onto my knees next to her as she handed me a two inch shard of cedar wood. Weather worn as it was, the traces of red and blue paint circling a carved eye were still visible. I turned it over in my palm as Becky handed me a second shard, smaller but still vivid with blue paint and the outline of a carved beak. “Where on earth did you find these?” “On the island. That’s why you can’t tell my mom. She doesn’t like me to explore too far away from the house.” She tossed a tiny bone on my palm. “I’ve done some research in my dad’s library. He has this huge anatomy book that weighs more than me. Occasionally, I drag it from its shelf and stretch out on the floor with it. I think this is the bone of a deer. But can you see the pointed end?” “Yes. It’s been carved into some kind of sharp tool,” I noted. “You know your bones,” she said with smile. “Not so much, but I do know something about primitive tools and this is definitely a fine example of one. Given the island’s position in the north Pacific, and given the style of art, on cedar, no less, I’d say Tlingit or some similar tribe.” Her smiled broadened. “You know your ancient civilizations too. Which reminds me, what about the mummy’s curse?” “Later.” I placed the wood shards and bone back on the pillow case. “I was going to wait to tell you until after you finished writing your personal narrative”—I pointed at her as she opened her mouth to protest—“five paragraphs,” I added. She blew out a resolved sigh. It sent a ripple beneath her bangs.

“Anyhow, your mom has given us permission to have that slumber party in the television room this weekend.” “Yippee!” She shot up to her knees and threw her arms around my neck. “I’ll tell you the mummy’s curse story then, if you think you’re brave enough to hear it.” “Oh, I’m brave enough. In fact, I might just tell a good ghost story too. If you’re brave enough to hear it.” “Guess we’ll both have to bring our brave faces to the slumber party.” I helped her fold the items into the case and pushed to my feet. My gaze passed by a small school uniform. I pulled it out to look at it. “Was this yours, Becky?” She glanced up as she closed the drawer. “Yes, when I was just a little tot, as you can see by the size of it. Not sure why but Mother didn’t want me to get rid of it. Sentimental, she said. Whatever the heck that means.” “Maybe we need to beef up your vocabulary lessons.” I put the uniform back, and we headed out of the closet. “How long were you at the private school?” “Just until second grade. Three years after Daddy died. I kept getting sick with asthma and bronchitis. That’s when Mother decided I would live a healthier life on the island. Wildthorne was our family vacation spot when Daddy was alive, but now it’s our home. I do miss my friends, but there’s a lot to do here.” She pointed back to her closet. “Like finding incredible artifacts. I’ve decided I want to be just like your parents some day. How come you aren’t with them right now?” “Just got tired of moving around so much.” “I don’t think I’d ever get tired of it.” Becky stopped to look at her hair in the mirror over her vanity. She had been working hard at making something that looked like a braid but she just didn’t have it down yet. “I look like that crazy book character with the twisty red braids—Pippi Longsocks or something like that.” I picked up the brush from her vanity. “Here, let me show you how.” I started undoing her tangled braid. “It’s Pippi Longstocking, and if you haven’t read the books, you should. She’s very adventurous,

like you. And she’s strong like a superhero. I loved reading about her because she always had a lot of pets.” Becky looked at me in the mirror reflection. “Do you like animals?” “Very much.” “Do you have any pets back home?” I pulled the brush through her shiny hair, and my throat tightened as I thought about the question. “I used to.” I went for a quick topic change. “So, is your asthma better, now that you’re on the island?” “I think so. I definitely don’t get many colds anymore. That’s why Marcus stays with us, even though he’s old enough to live on his own like James. Marcus hates germs. Always has.” “I noticed. I guess he’s lucky to have an island to live on.” I finished the braid. Becky took a moment to admire it in the mirror. “Well done. You’re hired.” “Thank you. Now, while I’m gone, you need to write five paragraphs about a personal story from your past. It’s just the rough draft. Then I’ll show you how to go back through and edit it for a final copy.” “But what if I—” she began what was already her sixth attempt at avoiding the writing assignment. “Five paragraphs or no slumber party and no mummy story.” “Fine.” “I’ll see you when I get back.” I headed to my room for a sweatshirt. The shopping list was pinned to my door along with a note from Katherine to ask Marcus to walk me to the landing strip. She added that I could find him in the library, which was to the right at the bottom of the stairs. I glanced in my own mirror and wasn’t impressed. I grabbed a lipstick and brushed it over my lips and pulled my hair back in a ponytail. I wasn’t sure why I felt the need to groom for a ride in a bumpy four seat plane. I dismissed the moment as the fault of overactive self-consciousness. I felt as if my appearance had been heavily scrutinized since I’d landed in King’s Beach, and it was messing with my confidence.

That was it, I insisted. I just wanted to look presentable as I passed through the manor. I assured myself it had nothing to do with the fact that I’d be sitting in an airplane just two feet away from the pilot, a man who was stunning even with a fat lip and cut chin. I pushed the shopping list into my purse along with the money Katherine had given me for the supplies. I headed downstairs and turned right. I was fairly certain I could find my way back to the airstrip on my own. My unorthodox childhood left me with far better navigational skills than most, but if Marcus was expecting to lead me there, I didn’t want to change the plans. And it might have been a way for Katherine to get him outside into fresh air, something, it seemed, he avoided. So far, I’d only run into Marcus at the breakfast table. I’d never ventured right from the stairs and I had no idea there was a library. Of course, it made perfect sense in a stately old house like the manor. The library answered the mystery of where Marcus hid for most of the day. It seemed a lonely, overly quiet existence for a man in his twenties, but from the snippets of emotion he showed, it seemed he was satisfied with his life. The smell of old books carried me to the correct door. It was slightly ajar. I pushed it open and poked my head inside not wanting to disturb him. Marcus’s usual ramrod straight posture had lost its steely integrity some as he hunched over a large mahogany table that was covered with tiny ship model parts. The pungent smell of glue filled the room, but he hadn’t thought to open any of the windows. Marcus heard my first footfall and turned quickly around. He was wearing a white surgical mask. He yanked it down at the sight of me. It dropped around his neck. “It’s so that I don’t get high on glue fumes,” he explained hastily. “Yes, of course. I don’t blame you. I’m feeling a little lightheaded just standing here.” He pulled the mask off and dropped it onto the table as he stood from the chair. I walked closer but not too close or too fast. I sometimes worried that if I moved too abruptly or accidentally crossed into his personal space, he’d run like a frightened animal. There were so many complicated layers to Marcus’s personality. At times, he acted nervous and timid, and at other times, he seemed arrogant, almost severe and without an ounce of humor. It was a strange contradiction. I stared down at the miniature tools and parts. “So intricate and confusing. It’s like the world’s most

complicated jigsaw puzzle.” He nodded. It always took him a few seconds to find words. “It is and yet, I find it relaxing.” I smiled. “Relaxing? I’m tense just looking at all those teeny tiny parts. You must have nerves of steel and a steady hand. What ship is this?” “The HMS Victory. Mother mentioned you needed me to show you the way to the runway.” It seemed as much as he wanted to talk about the ship model, he didn’t care much for me standing in front of his work table. He was anxious for us to leave. “If you don’t mind showing me the way. I’m afraid I might get lost in the dense foliage.” “It does need to be thinned out.” I followed him to the door. He curled his foot around the edge to open it before ushering me through. I sensed his uneasiness as we passed through the entryway to the front door. The edge of a plastic glove was sticking out of his pocket, but it seemed he didn’t want to pull it out in front of me. I moved past him and reached for the door handle. “These polished brass handles are so beautiful,” I said cheerily as I opened the door. He released the breath he’d been holding. My smile seemed to catch him off guard. “I firmly believe in returning the favor every once in awhile.” I waved my arm with a flourish. “After you, sir.” He brushed past making sure that no part of his clothes touched me. I’d already discovered a weather pattern on the island. Morning was clammy and cold with a gloom that could dampen anyone’s spirits, but by midday, a sharp turquoise sky threw its jubilant brilliance over the island, washing away the morning blues. Then, an hour or two before dinner, the sky grumbled and churned until, once again, the entire landscape was cast into gray shadows. The finale was a bone chilling fog that rolled in just before candles and fireplaces were lit. A new day would start the routine all over again. “How are the lessons going? Becky can be a trial. She’s not big on academics.” My laugh caught him as off guard as my earlier smile. “You show me a twelve-year-old who enjoys

academics, and I’ll show you an elephant with wings.” My comment made his mouth turn up in what I decided was a smile. It seemed that once we’d left the clearing where the house and lawn sat, Marcus grew less and less comfortable with the surroundings. He grimaced as a rude fern slapped him in the face. I was sure he would throw up from the experience. A loud buzz overhead signaled that the plane was approaching the runway. “You know what, Marcus? I can follow the sound to the clearing at the end of this path. You go back home. I’m already feeling guilty for pulling you away from your project.” “Are you sure?” “Absolutely.” His relief was so evident, I was sure he’d take off at a run just to get out from between the plants, but he turned and walked sedately back the way we’d come. I turned back around and headed toward the sound of Tero’s engine. The screech of tires hitting the runway followed, and my stomach bubbled with nerves at the thought of seeing Dax again. By the time I’d hiked my way through the plants, the little plane had landed and circled back to the start for another takeoff. It still looked flimsy and unsteady, reminding me of a plane on a carnival ride. I reached the clearing and had to remind myself to breathe as the pilot’s door popped open. He was once again wearing that damn hat and that cocky smile and that face. That damn perfect face. He leaned against the plane and crossed his arms as he waited for me to finish my journey across the runway. I stopped just a few feet short. His pale green eyes glittered beneath the shade of his hat. Nothing in my body seemed to be working right. My heart was racing. My pulse was pounding. My knees had forgotten how to stay steady, and my tongue was tangled, leaving me speechless. Dax pushed off the plane. If smiles were given price tags, his would surely have been worth a million dollars. I finally managed a few steps toward him. “Why are you smiling like the cat who just swallowed a

big fat mouse?” “Well, I was just pondering something.” I peered up at him. The fresh scent of his soap tickled my nose. I wasn’t sure what brand he used, but it had quickly become my favorite. “Pondering? Sounds important.” “I was just pondering—is it love at first sight if it happens every time I see the girl?” Even in the cool, brisk air I could feel my face warm. I shook my head to show him I wasn’t falling for his line. I strode purposefully to the passenger door. He reached past me to open it. “Well?” He was close enough that I could feel the heat of his body behind me. “I think that’s pretty philosophical and deep, don’t you?” I climbed in and smiled down at him. “Yes. You are about as deep as a puddle after a ten second rainstorm.” His laugh could have a million dollar price tag too. “Damn, I missed ya, Rabbit. Let’s get this dinosaur in the air.” He shut the door.

CHAPTER 6 Dax I CLIMBED INTO the cockpit and looked over at Kinley. She seemed to be going through a mental pep talk about the impending flight. It was cute as hell to watch as her brows knit together and then smoothed out. I hadn’t seen her since I’d dropped her off at the island, but everything about her, from her caramel colored silky hair to her intense blue gaze and button nose had become permanent fixtures in my mind, like indelible black ink on a pristine white notepad. During the flight to the island, I’d decided I needed to steel myself by putting on my distant, noncaring attitude. It was something I’d perfected over the years to keep me from needing anyone and getting bogged down with connections and relationships. The last thing I needed was to fall for a woman and most especially one of Katherine’s recruits. But my resolve had crumbled the moment Kinley stepped clear of the ferns and shrubs. I’d leaned against Tero to watch her walk toward me and all I could think was that Kinley was one of those people you wanted in your life. She was one of those people who could make your life richer and more meaningful just by having her near. It might have been the way she carried herself with a sort of spunky grace, like an ice skater with attitude. Or it might have been the way she seemed to always be smiling to herself as if she knew things, great things about the world that no one else knew. Or it might just have been her big blue eyes that could make you forget your fucking name. Whatever it was, it made me hate all this even more. She wasn’t meant to be on that island, sitting beneath the cold shadows and the conniving, watchful eye of Katherine Underwood. Just as Kinley had on the first trip, once I got the plane leveled off, she relaxed.

“So, how do you like life with the Addams family? Is Lurch behaving himself?” Her face popped my direction. “Are you an Addams family fan?” she asked, effectively ignoring my barb against the Underwoods. “I have every episode memorized line for line.” “O.K. I do watch the show when it comes on television, but you take fandom to a whole new level.” “That boast does sound a little kooky.” She laughed. “Just like them. When I was twelve we spent a year in this little village somewhere between Hungary and Romania. Our one room cottage had an old black and white television with the rabbit ear antennas. There was a funky little media station in the next village, and the person running the station was either a huge Addams Family fan or that was the only show they had at their fingertips because every night they played three shows back to back. The only other channel that came in was with some big, red cheeked man with a heavy British accent who cooked gourmet food while completely sloshed on wine. I complained about the fuzzy picture and the lack of channels. So naturally, my parents spent an annoying amount of time telling me about how when they were young there were only a few good channels and you had to walk four miles in the snow to change the channel and all that violin worthy stuff.” “Their televisions were four miles out in the snow?” “No, I added that part for interest, but you get my point.” “I do. In fact, it sounds familiar. No wonder you memorized those shows. Wow, a village near Romania. Was it close to Transylvania?” “Yes. It’s a beautiful place, actually. No vampires wandering around. Or at least not that I noticed.” “What’s the scariest place you’ve ever been? Besides Wildthorne Island, I mean?” “Wildthorne is lovely,” she protested. “And I adore Becky.” “True, she does make the place a lot more livable. So, any place scarier than Transylvania?” She tapped her chin in thought. “Let’s see. The Edinburgh Vaults are pretty frightening.” “That’s right. There’s a whole maze of underground catacombs in Scotland. I read about them in a book.”

Kinley’s finely arched brow lifted a little. “I’m finding it hard to picture you with a book.” The airport interrupted our conversation and my attempt at looking insulted with a message about another aircraft fifty miles to the east. I picked up the radio. “Tero one here. Copy that.” “Actually, probably the scariest place I’ve been is the Whaley House in California, which considering how many pyramids, mausoleums and castles I’ve visited, that’s saying a lot. We were on a tour in the old house and something cold touched me when we were climbing the stairs. I was one creaky sound away from running out of the place.” “Yep, I think something cold touching you on the stairs would be grounds for a quick exit. California? Sounds like you didn’t always live in exotic places? You spent at least some part of your life in the states.” “I did. And as much as I love adventure, I’ve always loved being here in the states. It just feels like the ground under my feet is more solid and the air above my head is clearer. So when an opportunity arose for me to come back here, I decided it was time to venture out on my own.” Her face turned to the passenger window. She stretched her legs out and wiggled her nose. It seemed whatever she was thinking about had caused her some anxiety. Her thin shoulders lifted as she drew in a breath. “Only that opportunity turned out to be wrong for me. That’s why I’m here now.” Kinley rested back and fidgeted with the zipper on her sweatshirt. I couldn’t remember the last time anyone had looked that damn hot in a sweatshirt and jeans, but she could have been wearing a raincoat and galoshes and I’d still be looking at her. She grew quiet and stared out the window as the rest of the islands floated below us. “He’d probably hate knowing this and I’d never let on, but I feel bad for Marcus.” I hadn’t expected her to return to my initial question. There was genuine sympathy in her tone. “That might change once you get to know him.” That comment earned me a serious scowl, only a scowl on her face was pretty damn adorable. “Just be thankful then that you don’t have to live with his burden,” she said sharply. “Can you imagine how hard it would be to live on a planet that is teeming with bacteria and germs and be terrified of their very

existence?” No one had ever worded Marcus’s phobia in that way, with the empathy of a person trying to see it from his point of view. She was right. And if Marcus wasn’t always such an asshole and if I hadn’t so badly wanted Kinley to dislike him, I might just have worked up some sympathy for him. “Hey, your job on that island is none of my business.” I had to work hard not to clench my jaw when I spoke. Kinley turned slightly sideways in her seatbelt and looked at me. “It kind of seems as if life in general is none of your business.” “What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Feeling satisfied that she’d rankled me, she shifted back to stare out the front windshield. “You seem to make it your business not to give a darn about anything.” “Yep. Makes life that much fucking easier.” She crossed her arms and gazed out the side window. Our conversation had come to a brisk end. It bothered me plenty. Just like it bothered me plenty that she thought I was some shiftless guy, who, when I wasn’t hopping between islands in my crummy plane was spending my nights in a shithole bar drinking beer and getting into fist fights . . . Fucking hell, she already knew me like a damn book. The King’s Beach landing strip came into view. Kinley was still watching out the passenger window, avoiding any conversation. She reached up clumsily to rub her nose and stop the twitching. Having her mad at me, having her think badly of me made me feel as if I’d swallowed a bucket of nails. “Hey, Rabbit, I can’t get through the day thinking you hate me.” “I never hate.” She looked down at her hands. “Actually, that’s a lie. I do hate occasionally.” She finally lifted her dark lashes and looked at me. “But you’re not hate-able. You’re annoying and a bit of a cad, but I could never hate you.”

CHAPTER 7 Kinley REDMOND’S SUPER MART was the one true bastion of civilization in an otherwise vacant dead-zone along miles of coast. The massive buy-everything store was in the center of a triangle of towns, King’s Beach to the south, Green River City to the north and a larger suburb to the east. And since it was one of the only local places where you could buy whatever you might need, the parking lot was packed. I wasn’t sure exactly what type of agreement or service contract Dax had with Katherine, but it seemed that he was expected to not just drop me off at an airstrip but to drive me around for errands too. Our conversation during the flight had become somewhat strained, but we were able to move quickly past it. I decided it was silly to quarrel with or anger the man who was going to be flying me back and forth from the island. We were going to be spending a great deal of time together in the cramped cockpit of his plane and in the front seat of his jeep. It would be especially hard to endure if we didn’t like each other. Fortunately, Dax was a hard person to dislike. He just had that quality about him that made even his irritating traits appealing. He did seem to have some real anger issues when it came to the Underwood family, but to use his favorite phrase, it was none of my business. “So, let me get all your hats straight,” I said as I clutched the edge of the jeep door to keep from being ejected from my seat. Dax peered up in the mirror and straightened his fedora. “Looks straight to me.”

“Yes. Do you glue that on your head? Can’t believe it doesn’t fly off in this jeep. Anyhow, I meant metaphorically. I was talking about all the hats you wear during the day—pilot, mechanic, ticket sales, taxi driver—” My list was disrupted when two women climbed out of a convertible and blew kisses toward the jeep as Dax drove around for a parking spot. I glanced his direction. “I’m going to assume those kisses were meant for you?” Dax beeped the horn in response, which earned him two wide smiles. “There’s a hat I forgot, the town Casanova.” I sat primly back, satisfied that I’d given a thorough list. “Shit, now that I’ve heard the list out loud, I need to ask for a damn raise.” “From who? Aren’t you your own boss?” “Good point. And when it comes right down to it, I’m kind of a cheapskate.” He whipped the jeep into a parking spot. I climbed out and pulled my list from my purse. “Are you going to wait?” I glanced at the list for the first time. I shouldn’t have been surprised to see things like plastic gloves, cellophane and a gallon of antibacterial soap on the list, but I did a second take nonetheless. Dax laughed. “Guess you haven’t shopped for Lurch yet.” My shoulders sank with exasperation. “Please don’t make fun of him. He’s a lost soul. I wouldn’t wish his malady on my worst enemy.” Dax nodded once. “Right. I’ll try to be nicer . . . to my worst enemy.” I spun around quickly to let him know I was done listening to him. “You aren’t mad are ya, Rabbit?” I waved him off over my shoulder and carried my list into the store. The automatic doors slid shut behind me. I found myself standing in a gigantic warehouse where the shelves were stacked and on top of each product shelf there were layers of boxed items just waiting to fill in the vacancies. Aside from the popcorn for our slumber party, all the other items on the list had to do with cleaning and staying germ free. I was several items into my list when I heard a woman cheerily call Dax’s name across the store. I

kept a stealth position behind the bottles of chlorine and ammonia to keep an eye on the interaction without letting on that I had any interest whatsoever in what Dax was doing. Just curious, I assured myself. It had nothing to do with having a particular fondness for the man. He was the absolute last type of man I needed in my life. It was the last firm decision I made before, in my attempt to get a better look, nearly wiping out an entire pyramid of shampoo. With all the grace of a single-clawed lobster, I managed to keep the bottles from clattering to the floor. I righted the display, not to its original symmetrical glory, but to a reasonable likeness. By the time I’d finished rebuilding it, Dax had moved on to a different acquaintance. He leaned casually against the end of a check stand and carried on an animated conversation with a cashier who was wearing a black lace bra beneath her pale yellow uniform. I decided it was time to refocus on my task. I walked through the maze of aisles to the first aid items where I hoped to find the plastic gloves. A gregarious giggle pulled my attention to the checkout stands. A lull in customers checking out had allowed a small, gushing group of women to circle around Dax. The amount of direct eye contact, lash flutters and tilted smiles was more than most men probably garnered in a lifetime, but it seemed just another typical day in Dax’s life. Before I could pull my nosy stare away, his gaze floated my direction. Our eyes locked. A hint of a teasing smile crossed his face before he returned to his blushing, wide-eyed audience. I hurried to pick out the last items on the list, feeling it was my civic duty to the other customers to remove the six foot plus diversion from the checkout area. Much to my dismay, by the time I reached the register, Dax had left the store. The cashier, a young girl not more than twenty with brown eyes and a nose ring, popped her strawberry scented gum as she began to swipe the items in my basket. She took a few seconds to retrieve all the parts of the bubble gum with her tongue before speaking. “Did you find everything you needed?” “I did. Thank you.” As she continued to ring me up, my attention drifted to the parking lot. Dax was leaning against his jeep laughing with yet another woman. “Jeez, like moths to a flame,” I muttered. “Huh?” the cashier asked over her wad of gum. “Oh nothing. Sorry.”

She glanced back toward the window to see what had my attention. Another bubble emerged and disappeared. “Is Dax waiting for you?” “Yes, he’s my ride. Are you friends with him?” I asked, and quickly reminded myself that every woman in town seemed to be friends with Dax. She laughed from behind another bubble. Her talents with gum seemed to have no boundaries. “Dax? He’s such a sweet talkin’ scoundrel. What’s not to love? Never gives his heart to anyone though. Broken plenty, that’s for darn sure.” “A sweet talkin’ scoundrel. Yep, that sounds just about right.” She looked at the box of gloves and was easily thrown to another topic. “You must be the new tutor on Wildthorne Island.” “Uh—yes, I am.” “I could tell by the gloves. Not too many people buy ‘em. How long have you been out there?” “This is my first week.” Not wanting to stay for a long chat, I began boxing my items. “The last girl was gone in two.” “Well, then I’m halfway there.” I shot her a smug smile as I handed her the money. She dropped the change into my hand. I wrapped it up in the list to keep it separate in my purse. I picked up my bags and headed out to the parking lot, trying not to think about what she’d said and yet finding it impossible not to wonder why the last tutor left after two weeks. The island had its charm and its obvious drawbacks, but Becky was a wonderful kid. I just couldn’t understand what the problem was or why someone like Dax, who seemed to be the cocky-grinned toast of the town, hated the Underwoods so much. Dax was still leaning against his jeep as I walked outside. The pert little brunette who had been talking to him gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before sashaying away. He reached for the bags as I neared the jeep. I watched the woman head over to her car as Dax put the bags in the back. He turned around. I shook my head. “You’re like the only piece of candy in a town where every girl has an insatiable

sweet tooth.” “Yeah? Never thought of it like that.” Then, without warning, he stepped so close to me the tips of his work boots touched my sneakers. “What about you, Rabbit? Do you have a sweet tooth?” I fidgeted under his pale gaze for a second. A horn blasting somewhere in the parking lot snapped me out of the haze his nearness had created. “Nope. I like no nonsense vegetables. They’re much healthier. They don’t cause cavities.” I was actually having to steel myself to look up at him. He had the kind of face that you just couldn’t stop looking at. The tilted, teasing smile had faded as his gaze locked with mine. My heart did a ‘double shot of espresso’ tap dance, which caused a chain reaction that pushed a rush of oxygen through my body and right up to my head. “Rabbit, remember?” I said weakly, just before giving way to an urge that I hadn’t expected or known how to control. I hopped onto my toes and threw my arms around his neck. His mouth covered mine long before I could finish what I’d started. In one swift, barely perceptible move, he had me spun around and pressed between his hard body and his jeep. “Kinley.” His warm breath caressed my face as he uttered my name with a tone that made me want to turn to liquid right there in his indisputably solid arms. As the kiss deepened and I lost myself more and more in his scent, his touch, his warmth, an irritating thought kept poking at me, like a sharp finger. ‘What are you doing, Kinley?’ it asked. I pulled my mouth from his. Before Dax could kiss me again, I ducked out from between his body and the jeep. He pushed his fedora down low on his head and took a deep breath. “Kinley.” He reached for my hand, but I stepped out of his reach. “No, I can’t,” I said plainly as if I was just turning down a second scoop of ice cream. “I’m just trying to erase some bad choices and start a new life, and this, you—I promised myself I’d make better decisions.” I knew the words had come out all wrong the second I ended them. His face clearly showed it. “What I mean—”

He put up a hand to stop me. “It was just a kiss, Kinley.” He headed to his side of the jeep. “Don’t get so fucking worked up about it.” His harsh tone caused tears to burn my eyes. I was such an idiot. I climbed into the jeep and shut the door hard enough to rattle the front windshield. He started the jeep and cranked the radio, signaling that we were through with conversation and niceties. We drove back to the airstrip in a thick, bitter silence. I badly wanted to kick myself for losing control and kissing him. At the time, it was the only thing I could think of, kissing Dax, being in his arms. Now I was suffering the consequences of my rash decision. My hand shot forward. I turned down the music. Dax kept his indifferent expression trained on the road in front of us. The wide open jeep caused my hair to swirl around my face like long, furry tentacles. I wrapped my hand around it to hold it back, deciding I couldn’t make a point with hair whipping my face. Dax continued to stare straight ahead as if he hadn’t noticed me turn down the music. “I just want to apologize. I started the kiss. I don’t know what got into me. Just to be clear, I’m not a tease.” The sound of his dry laugh assured me I’d just made things worse with my silly declaration. He pulled his eyes from the road for the first time since we’d climbed into the jeep. “Tease? You think I’m mad because you were taunting me with those pink lips as if I’m a sixteen-year-old kid with a permanent hard on?” “Well, when you say it like that—” I released my monstrous, Medusa hair. It whipped around my face as I used my arms to hug myself against the cold wind. “Now I’m feeling extra foolish. Thank you for peeling away every layer of confidence I’ve built up since my awkward preteen years.” The jeep tires chirped as we left paved road and rolled onto the dirt lot lining the runway. His little plane waited for us in front of the hangar. Dax turned off the engine and climbed out, leaving behind a chilly silence in the air. I climbed out of the passenger side and walked to the back of the jeep. “Dax.” I decided to use his own words to make my point. I hadn’t expected it but he stopped and faced me. I nearly lost my nerve

under his direct gaze. “I couldn’t get through the day thinking you hated me.” I said it so quietly, I was sure the distant thunder of the ocean had muted it. Dax moved closer. “Unlike you, I hate plenty.” The heat rolling off his body made me lightheaded. I held my breath, certain that if I took in air, it would be a shuddering sob. Unexpectedly, he reached for my hand. He stared down at it, looking small and frail in his. He lifted his gaze to my face. “But I could never hate you, Rabbit. Never. I just wish you were in King’s Beach for a different reason. I wish you weren’t working on Wildthorne Island.” His words, his touch, the heady scent of his soap, had left me stunned and speechless. I couldn’t for the life of me puzzle out why my job at Wildthorne had him in such a twist. Before I could form a decent, logical question, he headed off toward his plane. I didn’t follow immediately, instead I watched his long legs carry him across the runway. There was less confidence and a hard edged anger in his broad shoulders. It seemed there was a lot of past history in this place, and somehow, I’d landed right in the middle of it.

CHAPTER 8 Kinley I’D SET BECKY a task of finishing up a painting she’d begun while I carried our snack plates down to the kitchen. My gaze brushed over the museum quality art lining the hallway walls. On my first day in the manor, I’d noticed that unlike most homes there were no family pictures hanging on walls or sitting on mantles. But the stately, conservative decor just wouldn’t have worked with a bunch creatively framed casual pictures of family beach trips or school portraits. As beautiful as the manor was inside and out, it had none of the folksy, relaxed feel of a true family home. No matter where my family lived, in the Sahara Desert under a canvas tarp or in a grass hut on some faraway river, my mom managed to make it cozy. And we always had family pictures taped and pinned to the walls. Katherine Underwood’s harsh, impatient voice overflowed into the corridor as I neared the entrance to the kitchen. “At least try to make an effort to be congenial. Maybe if you pried yourself away from those damn ship models once in awhile to engage in friendly conversation, this might work.” “Stop directing my life, Mother,” Marcus barked. His heavy footsteps were heading my direction. I froze in the hallway, wondering if I should turn back. But the old wood floor in the corridor creaked loudly, announcing my presence. I took a deep breath and pretended as if I had just reached the kitchen. Marcus nearly plowed into me in his haste to get away from his mother’s lecture. His mouth opened but no words came out. I’d taken him by surprise. Since he always had trouble finding his tongue, even when I hadn’t just popped up in front of him, he had an even harder time speaking. I filled in the awkward moment. “Afternoon, Marcus. How is the HMS Victory coming along? Is she nearly ready for her first

voyage?” My moment of rambling gave him time to collect himself and his thoughts. He favored me with a rare, however faint, smile. “Considering she has no masts or ribs yet, no. I think we’ll have to delay her first voyage.” He nodded. “If you’ll excuse me, Kinley.” “Of course.” I stepped aside, even though there was plenty of room for him to pass. But I’d discovered Marcus truly hated any type of physical contact, even if it was just his shirt brushing my arm. I could only imagine what his reaction might have been if he’d actually run physically into me on his way around the corner. I continued on into the kitchen. Katherine looked up from a day planner she had open on the menu planning desk. “I heard the hallway creak and was beginning to think we had ghosts. Why were you lurking?” Her tone wasn’t accusatory, but it wasn’t exactly an airy, nonchalant tone either. She closed the planner and peered at me through reading glasses. “Were you having a conversation with Marcus?” There was an edge of hopefulness in her voice. That, coupled with what I’d caught of the conversation, in my moment of unintended eavesdropping, made it seem as if Katherine was worried about her son’s lack of a social life. She was right to be concerned. I carried the plates to the sink. “Yes, I asked Marcus about his model.” I started to rinse the dishes. “Leave those for Janice. Yes, Marcus does love those models.” She took off her glasses. “Kinley, I realize I haven’t covered enough of our safety precautions and protocols. After all, we are rather cut off from the world out here.” She walked to a tall cupboard that was painted with the same antique white as the rest of the cabinets. The kitchen of Underwood Manor was as large as some people’s houses. Long, straight counters topped with gunmetal gray granite lined two of the walls. There was a massive island in the middle topped with a striped butcher’s block and lit by two glass pendant lights. And, like the rest of the house, the kitchen was immaculate. Katherine opened the cabinet. A small chalkboard with handles, or ham radio names, written on it was hanging on the inside of the door. She was Wildthorne One and Marcus was Two. Becky and Janice took up Three and Four. Katherine picked up the chalk and wrote my name next to Wildthorne Five. “Now, it takes a little training to use this radio, but it is our only surefire form of communication from the

island.” “Actually, I won’t need training. My parents used a ham radio just like this whenever we lived too far from civilization.” Katherine’s face was generally stiff and without much emotion, but her eyes rounded as she looked at me. “My, you are full of surprises. That’s wonderful. Then I won’t need to show you anything. Naturally, in the case of an emergency, Marcus or I would be the one to make contact with the mainland. But in the event that both of us are incapacitated, then you would step in.” The heels of her always formal shoes clacked across the floor as she motioned for me to follow her to a door on the far side of the kitchen. It was easy to see she’d spent her childhood and teens in private prep schools where slouching or shuffling of any kind would have earned you a reprimand. “This is the cellar door.” She reached in and flicked on a light that illuminated a deep, rather sketchy looking staircase. “We don’t need to go down there right now. It’s dreadfully cold and dusty. But all of our emergency supplies are in clearly marked boxes, including a self-inflating dinghy.” She graced me with one of her rare, slight smiles. “Something tells me you already know how to operate one of those too.” I shrugged sheepishly. “What can I say? I had a highly unusual and adventurous upbringing.” “It seems to have given you a broad, accepting outlook on life.” She smiled inwardly at the compliment, almost as if there was some secret reasoning behind it. Her emphasis on accepting seemed to be the key to her reaction. But, as usual, I was confused by the woman. She was as difficult to read as her son. Thankfully, Becky was the complete opposite, a typical preteen always ready to tell you what was on her mind. I preferred Becky’s style. “I was told the shoreline around the island makes it too dangerous for a boat.” “That’s correct. It was one of the reasons my husband’s family bought this island. It was, in a sense, its own fort. But in an extreme emergency and with the right circumstances, a person could make it safely off shore in the dinghy.” Katherine closed the door. “I think that about covers it. Hopefully there will never be a need to use

any of the survival gear, but my husband, Jack, always liked to be prepared.” It was her first ever mention of her husband. I knew that Becky’s dad had died when she was very young, five at the most and I now knew that his name was Jack and that he had always been prepared for emergencies. But that was the extent of my knowledge about the man who owned the island. I was never someone who liked to pry, but I decided it wouldn’t be wrong to know more about the man. I was, after all, living under his roof and teaching his only daughter. “Becky mentioned to me that her father died when she was a little girl.” At first Katherine’s only response was a curt nod, sharp enough to send her smooth hair forward. She discretely pushed it back from her face. I chided myself thinking I’d just taken a big misstep and would more than likely be sent packing, but instead, a glint of emotion, an expression I couldn’t quite discern, flashed across her face. It almost looked as if the proverbial light bulb had just turned on and she’d come up with some brilliant idea. “Let’s have some tea, Kinley, and we’ll talk a bit. Unless you have to get back to the classroom.” “No, I’ve got Becky working on an art project, and to be honest, she’s less distracted if I’m not there. Otherwise, she always has something to tell me or ask me.” Katherine rolled her eyes, an expression she was masterful at. “That girl.” She shook her head, a gesture that was, of course, obligatory after an eye roll. She walked to the sink to fill the tea kettle, and I sat at the small breakfast table. Katherine brought two cups and saucers over and placed them on the table before returning to the cupboard for tea. “My husband was a shipbuilder. Actually, he was from a long line of shipbuilders. The Underwoods are well known in that world.” She returned with two tea bags and lowered them into the cups before pulling out a chair across from me. It seemed rather unreal to be sitting having a casual conversation over tea with Katherine Underwood. She just never seemed like the chit-chat type, but she continued her story. “His great grandfather started the business and family fortune. Each successive generation has followed in his footsteps. Jack’s older brother, God rest his soul, died while building a massive ocean liner. He was on tall scaffolding inspecting the workmanship when an unexpected wind

pushed him over the side. He fell to his death.” “How terrible and how ironic that he should die falling from his own ship.” “Yes, my husband was devastated by the loss. It threw him, unexpectedly, into running the company alone until his own untimely death.” The kettle released a shrill whistle jolting us from the conversation. “I’ll get it,” I said quickly and got up to retrieve the kettle. I poured the hot water into our cups and returned the kettle to the stove. She twirled the bag around in the water. Her hands were not the hands of a middle-aged woman. They were smooth and well-manicured as if she spent a great deal of time taking care of them. I could easily envision her sleeping behind a satiny eye mask with snow white gloves cradling her hands in expensive creams. “Jack died on one of his boats too.” My face popped up from the fragrant steam hovering over my cup. “It wasn’t in the shipyard like his brother. We had a lovely pleasure boat that Jack loved to take the kids out fishing on whenever he had time away from his office. Even at four, Becky would sit patiently with her fishing rod at the stern, swallowed up in her puffy life jacket.” Katherine stirred her tea and placed the bag on the saucer. “On that calamitous day, the weather station had warned of high winds and rough seas, but stubborn Jack was sure they could get a few hours out on the water before things got severe. After his brother’s death, he had so little free time, he refused to waste even a minute of it. And he loved being with the kids.” She stared out the window as she sipped her tea. “Becky mentioned James in a passing conversation.” Katherine’s face hardened at the mention of her second son, but rather than elaborate or talk about him, she went on with her conversation. “All three kids were on the boat that day. They’d gone out farther than they should’ve with the impending storm. But the real trouble started when smoke suddenly spewed out of the engine compartment. Even with the extinguishers on hand, an unnoticed fuel leak made it impossible to save the boat. Jack sent a mayday out to passing boats, but in the meantime, they had no choice except to jump ship. By that time, the sea itself had started to show the first clues of the coming

storm. Even their life jackets weren’t enough to fight the turbulent current. The waves gradually grew and as Jack held onto Becky, the boys struggled to stay afloat. An acrid black smoke had covered the water, burning their eyes and lungs. The nearest island was a good mile off. Unfortunately, it was a privately owned island that the owners rarely visited. My brave Marcus,” she hesitated as if it was hard to speak past the pride swelling in her chest. She swallowed hard, and it took her a second to get over what I was almost sure was a rush of emotion. It had to have been a nightmarish day for the family. I could only imagine the feelings it stirred. An audible sigh followed. “Marcus took Becky from Jack’s arms and swam through the rough water to the island. After he got Becky safely on shore, exhausted and cold, he returned to the wreck. Of course, Jack insisted he take James to shore first. My husband had grown up privileged”—a tender smile appeared that made her look far less severe. Pretty, even—“And a little spoiled,” she said fondly. “He liked nice things, but he always had a good heart. And his kids meant everything. Marcus helped James to shore. Then he returned to the wreck.” Her voice dropped to a near whisper. “But it was too late. Jack was dead. The doctors said it was his heart.” Katherine rested back and her face returned to its usual mannequin hardness. She touched her cup. “Now my tea is cold.” “I’ll get the kettle.” I scooted back my chair, but she shook her head. “No, I need to get ready to fly to King’s Beach. You best get back to your inattentive pupil.” And that was that. She’d told me this incredible story, fraught with danger and ending with the tragic loss of her husband, and it was as if she’d just recited a recipe for blueberry muffins. I carried our cups to the sink and left them with the other dirty dishes. “I’ll be back later this evening,” Katherine noted in her usual business-like tenor as she strode out of the room. I had a moment to myself to think about the entire interaction. It was incredible to picture Marcus doing something so selfless and brave. I hadn’t seen any characteristics in him to give me any inkling that he had that type of fortitude and courage within him. Obviously, I’d misjudged him. It certainly gave me an entirely different opinion of the man. It had to have been gut-wrenching for him to know that as hard as

he’d tried, he still couldn’t save his father. It was entirely likely that James, who for no other reason than his youth, was more fit than Jack. If Marcus had taken his father to shore first, everyone would have survived. I wondered briefly if that was the source of contention between the family and the son who had left for a life away from his island home. It seemed odd to think that would be the case. What mother wouldn’t be forever grateful that all her children made it safely home that day, even with the loss of her husband. In the distance, the now familiar rat-a-tat chirp of Tero’s engine broke the natural silence outside. Just the sound of the man’s plane sent a rush of feelings through me. I reached up to rub the tickle from my nose and headed out of the kitchen. A wry, almost laughable notion popped into my head about being a fly on the wall of Tero’s cockpit when Dax was charged with the task of flying Mrs. Underwood to King’s Beach.

CHAPTER 9 Dax MY WETSUIT SCRAPED over the sandy wax on my board as the swell blew up like a balloon beneath me. I grabbed the edge of the board and my feet popped under me to stand. I knew before I’d even straightened that I’d overshot the wave. The water that had been a semi-solid surface underneath the board sucked back down. I bailed, headfirst, into the water. My leg snapped straight as the leash held tightly to my ankle as it headed in the opposite direction of the surfboard. My shoulder smacked the sea bottom. The churning water spun me as if I was a sock in a washing machine before releasing its hold on me. I headed in the direction of sunlight. I shook the water from my ears as my head popped through the surface. “Fuck, dude, you can’t surf worth shit this morning.” Larry’s chiding words rained down on my head from above. “Yep, it seems the surf gods aren’t with me today.” I wiped the saltwater from my eyes and climbed up on my board. “I’m going to head in. I’ve got to drive out to the hangar and do some work on Tero before my first pick-up.” “Seems like something’s eatin’ ya, my friend. Now, I know it can’t be a shortage of women friends, cuz, well, cuz you’re fucking Dax. Is business bad now that summer’s long behind us?” Larry wasn’t a best friend or someone I hung out with much outside of the water, but we’d spent enough early morning hours on our boards to know each other pretty well. “Yeah, that’s it. Money’s always tight once tourist season slows down.”

Larry lowered himself down on his board and paddled over to me. “But old lady Underwood keeps you plenty busy taking people back and forth.” “I’ll manage. Catch you later.” I glanced back to watch for a swell to take me to shore. As I coasted in, I thought about the conversation I’d just had. It felt like everything in my life right now was off balance as if I’d been slammed in a fight and my world had tilted sideways with the blow. But my dark mood, my new preference for solitude over fun and willing girls like Zoe and my shitty surfing had nothing to do with business and everything to do with women. One woman in particular. There was no way I could have seen it coming. The last thing I expected was to have a five-foot-two, blue-eyed girl pop into my life like a damn explosion of dynamite. And the worst part about it was she didn’t actually pop into my life. She wasn’t here for me at all. I was just the guy in charge of taking her back and forth to Wildthorne Island. Only every time I preformed that task, my life turned sideways just a little bit more. I stood up and waded the rest of the way in with my board. At the rate I was going, after a few more weeks of transporting Kinley back and forth, having to hear her cute stories and watch that button nose wiggle, all the while knowing she was never going to be mine, I wouldn’t even be able to stand on the fucking board, let alone ride it.

CHAPTER 10 Kinley I FINISHED BRUSHING my hair and swept it up into a ponytail, a hairdo I’d found worked best on an island where an ocean breeze could kick up at anytime. It wasn’t until I put the brush down that I noticed there was more activity than usual in the normally quiet manor. I left my room and headed down for a quick breakfast. I was going through the day’s lessons in my head when a rather harried looking Janice met me at the landing. “Miss Kennedy,—” “Kinley, please,” I corrected her. Janice’s round cheeks puffed out with a polite smile. “Kinley, Mrs. Underwood needs you to run an errand this morning. She’s in the kitchen right now trying to reach Dax.” “But I have lessons prepared for this morning.” “Then you haven’t heard. Becky isn’t feeling well. Her mother has instructed her to stay in bed. And I was sure we had orange juice but there is only a thimbleful left in the carton.” “Janice, you’re losing me. Does Becky have the flu?” “No, no. But she does have a temperature.” “How high?” I asked as I was already turned and heading back up the stairs to Becky’s room. “I believe Mrs. Underwood said it was 99.3.” I stopped midway and looked back at Janice. “Did you say 99.3?” Janice tapped her chin and seemed to be rethinking the number in her head. “Yes, that was it. 99.3.”

She repeated with confidence. “And her mother insists she must drink orange juice. High pulp. You’ll want to get your coat. It’s cold outside. I think there’s a storm coming.” My heart had raced ahead at the mention of a temperature, but it slowed considerably, even with an uphill climb to the second floor. That was hardly what anyone would call a temperature. And now, it seemed, I was to be shuttled off in a rickety plane with a storm brewing on the horizon, all in pursuit of high pulp orange juice that would of course do nothing to stave off a temperature or whatever possible ailment Mrs. Underwood feared. It did, however, mean an unexpected encounter with the sweet talkin’ scoundrel. Of course, my last trip to King’s Beach, when I’d temporarily lost all reason and kissed Dax, made the prospect of seeing him again a bit terrifying. I knocked on Becky’s door. She answered in her usual, jolly, energetic voice. She was sitting in the center of her four poster bed surrounded by books, stuffed animals and pillows. A humidifier had been set up on the dresser. It was spewing a hot, menthol laden steam around the room. Becky’s cheeks were bright with healthy color, a far more natural hue than either her brother or mother. She stretched her arms up and put her hands behind her head as she leaned back. “Guess that rewrite on my personal narrative will have to wait. Darn. And I was really looking forward to it.” “Funny, funny girl. But if you are truly upset, maybe I could talk your mother into letting me bring the paper up here to work on while you convalesce.” She had the cutest face scrunch worked out whenever something confused her. “Convalesce means to recover your strength after being sick.” I sat on the edge of the bed and looked at the pile of books. There were even some colored pencils and drawing pads thrown in. “I’ve got to say, you don’t look too sick.” I reached up to her forehead. It felt perfectly cool. “Do you have a sore throat or stomach ache?” “Nope.” “Headache or earache?”

“Nope.” She clamped her mouth shut. It seemed I had no choice but to move on with our game of twenty-questions. I decided to take a different tact and ask her a question that couldn’t be answered with yes or no. “What’s bothering you enough to keep you in bed?” As she shrugged, the little kittens on her pajamas tilted their heads back and forth with the movement. “Mother says I have a fever.” I had to bite my tongue to not comment on her mother’s idea of a fever. “What prompted her to take your temperature? Surely you must have had some kind of complaint.” “No complaints at all. Although the eggs this morning were gross. Janice added in some little green things called chives.” She pursed her mouth as if she’d sucked on a bitter lemon. “But no complaints other than the yucky eggs. Mother takes my temperature every morning, rain or shine, sickness or health.” She laughed. “That sounded like wedding vows.” Her laugh, unlike her seemingly nonexistent illness, was infectious. “It would be funny if some people decided they’d only be married on rainy days. Speaking of which, I need to grab my coat. I’ve been instructed that you will need orange juice to recover from this. And it looks like rain later this afternoon.” “Wait.” She picked up a drawing of a haunted house. “Making this one for Halloween,” she declared excitedly and then tossed away the picture. It fluttered to the floor. “Of course, trick or treating, costume parties and caramel apples are only pretty pictures in my mind. Sometimes I miss the world.” “Maybe one day you can fly with me to King’s Beach for the errands.” Her face lit up like a little girl who had just been given a pink pony with a silver mane. Then the light dimmed, and she burrowed back into her plush pillow. “Mother would never allow it.” My gaze landed on the Halloween picture. She’d added in plenty of scary details. I bent down and picked it up. “I’ll hang this in the classroom.” I leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Aren’t you worried you’ll catch what I have?”

“I’ll take my chances. Get better so we don’t have to cancel the slumber party.” I fluttered the paper in my hand. “And our ghost and mummy stories.” “Oh my gosh, you’re right. I’ll drink all the orange juice. Even if those little pieces get stuck in my teeth, I’ll soldier through.” I headed out of the room, and all I could think was that Marcus’s extreme aversion to germs might just have been the result of a highly overprotective and cautious mother.

CHAPTER 11 Dax I KNEW THE weather would delay the return trip. I knew it the second I brought Tero down below the clouds and over the Wildthorne runway. Hell, I knew it by just glancing out the window on take off. The ominous clouds on the horizon couldn’t have been more clear if they’d had it spelled out across the gray sky. Just like I knew the second I saw the tiny figure below, waiting on the side of the runway, nearly guzzled up by her puffy jacket and hood, that I was glad the return trip would be delayed. The clouds were spitting a thin drizzle as Kinley walked out of the store with her cartons of orange juice. It had been a ridiculous and expensive errand, one that could only have been dreamt up by someone as wealthy and eccentric as Katherine Underwood. But today I appreciated the old lady’s constant illness paranoia. It had afforded me the unexpected pleasure of seeing Kinley. And as I watched her slim hips sway in her tight jeans, it reminded me just what a pleasure it was. I’d thought of little else other than that damn kiss since the last time I saw her. Earlier, when she’d boarded the plane, she piped right up in a cheery, casual tone about the weather and other inconsequential topics as if we were just two semi-strangers thrown together by circumstance. But I knew by the fast, almost edgy way she was talking that she was thinking about the kiss too. She might not have been thinking about it in the same way I had been, but she was thinking about it. I hopped out of the jeep and grabbed the orange juice from her hands. I put it in the back and opened her door. She peered up at the dark sky. The movement sent the deep hood of her coat back off her head, exposing her incredible face and a good portion of her long smooth neck. And that damn kiss came right

back to me. “That sky looks a little scary.” She pulled up her hood and wrinkled her nose as she looked at the jeep. “Guess there’s no cover. It’s going to be a wet ride back to the runway.” She climbed up on the seat. “We’re not going to the runway.” I shut the door and walked around to the driver’s side. “What do you mean?” I climbed inside and pushed the key into the ignition. “The high winds from the incoming storm make it too dangerous to take off. We’ll have to wait it out.” I started the jeep and backed out of the spot. “But the orange juice. I need to get it back to Becky.” I stopped and tilted a brow at her. “It’s orange juice. It’s not as if you’re transporting life-saving medicine to a sick patient.” I pushed the stick into first gear and headed for the exit. “According to Katherine Underwood, I am. If it weren’t so absurd, it would be laughable. She’s making Becky stay in bed for a 99.3 temperature. She could have gotten that just running down the stairs too fast. It does explain some of Marcus’s quirks though.” A laugh shot from my mouth before I could stop it. Not that I really wanted to stop it. A heavier rain started to fall, spotting the windshield. I turned on the wipers. They stuttered and squeaked across the glass. “Quirks? That’s a frilly little word for it.” Kinley sighed heavily and pulled her sleeves primly over her wrists for no other reason except she wanted to look miffed. And every time she looked miffed, it just made me want her more. “We’re not going to spend time gossiping about Marcus. Besides, Katherine told me the tragic story about how she lost her husband and it turns out Marcus is easy to misjudge.” “How’s that?” I asked. Kinley turned her face to look at me past the edge of her hood. “I’m surprised you don’t know. It seems you know so much about the Underwoods, although I guess you’re only focused on the negative.” She faced forward again and tightened her hood by pinching it together under her chin. “Marcus saved his

siblings from certain death when the family boat caught fire. He had to swim a long way to get each one to safety. But his father had insisted he take his brother James back first. By the time Marcus returned, his father had died.” “Is that right?” Her puffy coat rustled with indignation as she turned in the seat. “What? You don’t believe it?” I shook my head. “Hey, if that’s what she said happened, then who am I to question it. Good for Marcus. Glad to know he isn’t a complete waste of space and air.” “Oh my gosh, you are impossible.” She sat back hard against the seat and shrank down into the dry warmth of her coat. After a few minutes of brooding silence, she popped her head back up and looked around. “Where are we going?” “Back to my place.” She sat forward fast enough to cause the hood to slip back. Having full view of her face caught me off guard. I knew I was staring at her, but I couldn’t pull my gaze away. I didn’t want to pull it away. She was amazing. Kinley was that girl who walked into your homeroom on the first day of school and you knew right then you weren’t going to hear one fucking word the teacher said all semester. She was that girl you peered at over the top of your book. She was that girl you watched across the lunchroom as she laughed with friends because you knew catching a glimpse of her smile would be the only awesome thing to happen all day. “I’m not going to your place.” The rain drops fell faster. They pinged off the front of the jeep and the tops of our seats. “Suit yourself. But that’s where I’m heading. Those fat gray clouds up there mean business, and I have to get the jeep under the carport before the deluge.” I turned the corner toward the beach and onto the tattered road that led to my house. It was just a one bedroom beach cottage, or at least that’s what the rental flyer had called it. Shack would have been a far better word to use. But I didn’t mind. I had never been big on luxury, and the house sat right on the sand. Couldn’t ask for anything more than that. Although my own private landing strip would have been nice.

Kinley hadn’t figured out a good response yet. The storm looming above us gave no room for argument. There was no way to take off safely in it. “How long will the storm last?” she asked as I pulled into my short driveway and under the lopsided carport. “An hour or two. I can make some coffee.” I turned off the jeep. Kinley had her arms crossed as tightly as her plump coat would allow. “I’ll just wait here.” Her bottom lip jutted out as if she was working hard to keep her resolve. The offshore winds kicked up into sharp, brittle bites of air, spraying the shore with icy rain. The carport would keep the inside of the jeep from getting soaked, but it was hardly protection from a brutal rainstorm. “Kinley, it’s freezing out here. Your little rabbit nose is turning pink, a good look for you, by the way. Come inside.” Her big eyes darted around to survey the carport above our heads. “I’m safer here, under this structure, even though it looks as if it was built using glue and paperclips. But I wonder if it will hold.” I thought she’d changed her mind but then she squiggled on the seat as if screwing herself down tight. “No, I better not. I’ll just stay here.” “Better not?” I lifted my hands. “You can trust me. I promise not to get within three feet of you.” Of course all my mind could think about was getting not just within three feet but within three inches. “It’s not that I don’t trust you.” I laughed. “Oh really?” Just then a long, shouting wind raced through the measly shrubs running along the side of the house sending a chill through the jeep. “Then why the hell are you thinking about staying out here where you run the risk of freezing off that button nose?” She pulled her hood up higher, but it was useless. The relentless wind shooting off the beach pushed it back. “I don’t trust myself.” I stared at her profile, waiting for her explanation. She refused to face me.

“I get near you and I do stupid things like kissing you and . . . It’s just a bad idea.” “I don’t think a kiss is ever a bad idea. Pretty fucking great idea if you ask me.” I reached over and straightened her hood. “So you do like me.” “Didn’t say that. Just said I tended to stupid things in your vicinity.” Her surprising confession over, she stuck her hand out from the protection of her jacket to wave me along. “I’ll be fine. I’ve got my big pillowy coat.” “You’re stubborn, Rabbit. I’ll give you that.” I climbed out of the jeep and headed inside.

CHAPTER 12 Kinley I WAS FEELING more than just a little bit silly. I held my breath as another gust of wind shook the flimsy carport straddling the jeep on crooked legs. Warm coat or not, I was starting to get the uncontrollable chin tremble that came with a drop in body temperature. Lightning tore a blinding white gash in the slate gray sky over the ocean. There was something even more frightening about a storm over an angry black ocean. It was as if all the rambunctious elements of nature had decided to congregate in one place. My eyes darted over to the tiny beach hut. It didn’t look like much on the outside, but the inside seemed especially inviting at the moment. I had no good explanation for why I’d told Dax I couldn’t trust myself around him other than it was the honest truth. I was in King’s Beach to do a job and the last thing I needed was to get attached to the town scoundrel. He was absolutely, positively the last thing I needed. And just as I finished my highly resolute thought, I heard his deep voice coming through single paned window of the house. “Ouch, damn it, shit. Ouch, Fucking ouch.” “Dax?” I called toward the house. “Fuck, fuck. Damn it.” He was hurt. I jumped into harried helper mode. I tried to open the jeep, only to remember that it couldn’t be opened from the inside. I climbed over the stick shift onto the driver’s seat and, with some effort, got the door open. I hopped out and leaned down to avoid being pelted by the stinging rain.

As I trotted along the side of the house, I could no longer hear Dax’s voice. I couldn’t decide if that was a good or bad thing. I’d watched the man finish a violent fist fight with barely a grimace, so I couldn’t imagine what had caused him to yell out in pain. In my short dash to the front of the house, I steeled myself for a number of grisly scenes, ranging from a terrible knife gash to a big lump on his head. I climbed over a line of railroad ties that had been arranged to create a rustic border around the postage stamp sized yard on the beachside of the house. Two surfboards, one long and one short and both heavily studded with wax and sand, stood up against the back of the house. I reached the sliding glass door beneath a portico that was even less stable looking than the carport. I could see Dax’s wide shoulders hunched over as he stood near the tiny kitchen. I slid open the door just as his groan of pain floated through the room. “Oh my gosh, Dax, what’s happened?” My heart raced as I crossed the small front room to him. As I reached him, he straightened and turned around with a smile. I rolled my fist, badly wanting to smack him on the nose. “See, you do like me.” Since I knew throwing my little fist at something was about as effective as hitting someone with a Qtip, I opted for shoving him hard. My hands smacked his chest, and I pushed with all my might. It was a lot like pushing against a brick wall. “You are such an ass.” He held out his arms, apparently thinking holding his massive tattooed covered arms out in surrender would make him look innocent. “C’mon, give me some credit for ingenuity. I looked out the window and you looked like a wet, frozen little rabbit. I figured you were the type of girl who would rush to help someone in trouble. Even an ass like me.” I dripped rain on his floor as I worked hard to come up with a response. His smug grin prompted me to find one. “Just to be clear, I would have rushed in to help any person who was yelling ouch. Ouch.” I couldn’t stop an eye roll. “Should have known you weren’t the ouch type.” I shook off my tangent and went back to my original thought. “This has nothing to do with liking you.”

“Right. Why don’t you take off that helium filled coat? Do you want some coffee?” I shook my head but was glad to take off the big coat. “No coffee. I’m just going to stand right here and watch through the window. I’ll let you know the second the storm stops.” “Sounds good.” Dax walked around to the kitchen side of the counter and poured himself a cup of coffee. The aroma and curl of steam coming off the cup was tempting, but so was the man holding the cup. As promised, I stood in the same spot watching out the window. Sheets of water blurred the view and assured me the storm was still going strong. I felt a warm, lingering gaze on the side of my face. I took a breath before allowing myself to look Dax’s direction. Why the heck did he have to be so damn appealing? He could have been one of those salty ole guys with a beer gut who flew in World War something or other but he wasn’t. He was far from salty. In fact, I was standing firmly by my piece of candy analogy. “It’s still pretty bad out there,” I noted unnecessarily. He looked casually toward the window. “Yep.” I returned to my sentry position and watched as the clouds rolled over the beach like massive gray pillows. Just as I’d returned to watching the sky, it seemed that Dax had returned to his point of interest too. Me. I presented the otherwise silent room with a well-tuned, irritated sigh and looked at him. “Isn’t there something you could do to pass the time? There must be something else you could look at.” Dax took the time to sip his coffee before responding. He set the cup down and leaned casually against the counter. “Nope. I’d prefer to watch you. By the way, that blue sweater has my approval. Hugs those curves just right.” “You’re the most annoying—” I didn’t finish my sentence and spun around sharply to grab my coat from the faded couch. He grabbed hold of my wrist. “Kinley, don’t go.” “Let go of me.” I turned around to look at him. There was no smug grin or cocky glint in his eyes. It

was just Dax looking at me in a way that made my heart skip ahead as if trying to run for its life. “Please, Dax,” I said weakly. His long black lashes dropped, only adding to his appeal, and I wondered if there was any part of the man that didn’t cause wild flutters in my stomach. He stared down at the hand he held and reluctantly pulled his fingers away from my wrist. I turned back around and grabbed my coat on the way out the door. This was the right thing to do. I didn’t need this. I didn’t need heartbreak. And a man like Dax had heartbreak written all over him. The door seemed to move farther away with each step like I was caught in a weird dream where I could never reach my destination. And then, behind me, the floor creaked and everything I’d just told myself evaporated. I dropped my coat and raced toward him. He took two long steps to meet me, and I flew into his arms. Our mouths slammed together. Somewhere in the midst of the kiss, I felt my feet leave the ground as Dax carried me into his room. He kicked open the door and lowered me to the ground. He grabbed greedily for my sweater and yanked it over my head. I pinched the ends of his shirt and shoved it up above his pecs. I pushed it higher, urging him to take it off. Dax’s mouth pressed hard over mine as his hands fumbled with the button on my jeans. Even wet as they were, he had my shoes and jeans off in seconds. He swept me up and dropped me into the middle of his bed. He stood over me, gazing down at me with a look that sent a rush of heat through my body. “Fuck, Kinley, I can’t stop thinking about you. I’m going fucking nuts with wanting you.” He pushed his jeans down, just to add credence to his claim. His cock was hard and glistening with moisture. He reached into his nightstand and pulled out a condom. There was just enough pause and question in his otherwise ravenous expression that I reached up to him to assure him I wasn’t going to run. “I haven’t stopped thinking about you either, Dax. As much as I tried to talk myself out of this, I want it. I want you.” It was the only nudge he needed. Dax climbed onto the bed and settled between my legs. He leaned

up over me, shrouding me in his masculine warmth, kissing me as he rolled off my panties. “I knew you were fucking hot, baby, but—” He didn’t finish—even though I wouldn’t have minded—before he lowered his mouth to the swell of my breast. He pushed down my bra straps, exposing my breasts to the cool air in the room and his hot gaze. His tongue traced tender circles around my nipples, bringing them both to tight, pink buds. I wrapped my arms around his neck, marveling at the width and size of his shoulders, as he suckled each nipple. The tip of his erection trailed up my naked thigh as he moved his body over me, covering my body with his hot kisses. As the moist heat between my legs surged, I arched my pussy closer to his body, wanting badly for him to touch me. “Dax,” I whispered. “Please.” A low primal groan rumbled deep in his chest as he moved his hand down between my legs. “Fuck,” he growled against my skin as he slid his fingers through the slick moisture. I clutched his arms, not wanting him to let go as he explored my pussy. I moved against the heel of his hand to warm my clit as his fingers impaled me. He leaned up on an elbow and stared down at the action between my legs. His fingers moved deftly, as if he already knew every intimate thing about me. I reached up behind me and grabbed the edge of the mattress to bring my hips up higher. His fingers went deeper, penetrating me enough to coax even more cream. “Damn, baby, just finger fucking you is making me so hard, I want to come.” I reached for him. “Then take me now, Dax. Please.” In seconds, he’d rolled on the condom and lowered his body over mine. We were both crazed with need, both at the precipice of an orgasm, but he paused to take hold of my face and press a gentle kiss to my lips. A kiss with so much emotion behind it, my throat tightened as he drew his mouth away. “Can’t believe I’m holding you in my arms, Rabbit. Can’t fucking believe it.” His hand swept under me and down my back, stopping at my ass. He lifted my pussy higher and watched my face as he pushed inside of me. I bent my knees and pressed my feet against the mattress, bracing myself against his thrusts. I wanted to feel all of him, every inch of him sheathed tightly inside of me.

Dax pushed to his hands and moved inside of me in long, deep strokes. I reached down and gripped his ass, holding him against me as we moved in perfect rhythm together. “Yes, please, yes,” I pleaded as he found an incredible sweet spot deep inside of me, a spot that he teased mercilessly with his cock until my entire body splintered into an orgasm. Still aching with pleasure, I wrapped my legs around him and clung to him as he rocked hard and fast inside of me, renewing some of the same incredible sensations with each thrust. His grip on me tightened and he held me as if he would never let go. “Fuck yeah.” His body tightened, and he groaned as he came. He collapsed down next to me on the bed and pulled me into his arms. With our heartbeats and ragged breathing slowing, the room quieted. Outside, the rain and wind had stopped. The sky would clear enough for flight. Dax squeezed his arms around me and kissed my forehead. “Ignore the silence outside, Rabbit. I’m not ready to let you go yet.” Soon, I’d be back on Wildthorne Island. But after this nothing else would be the same.

CHAPTER 13 Dax KINLEY WAS QUIET, too quiet, as she tucked herself into her big coat like a cute turtle withdrawing into a puffy shell. I waited until Tero had quieted into a low buzz and we were well into the flight before talking to her. “This wasn’t just some conquest or notch on my belt if that’s what you’re thinking.” It was all I could come up with, even though I regretted it the second I said it. She stared out the side window. “I didn’t think it was until just now when you brought it up. Now I’m thinking it was exactly that.” She faced me. “Was it?” “No, it wasn’t. At all. Damnit, Kinley, I wake up thinking about you. I go to bed thinking about you. Fuck. Just say the word and I’ll spin Tero around and take you back to King’s Beach. You can stay with me. You don’t need to go back to Wildthorne. Just say the damn word.” In the short silence that followed, I waited for her to answer. I waited anxiously for her to say take me home, Dax. Even knowing damn well she wouldn’t say it, my hands gripped the control wheel hard enough to crush it as I waited to hear the words. “I was in a bad relationship before this,” she said quietly, but I heard every word. “The whole thing started as a rash decision. I dove into it without giving it any thought. A man—” she dropped her face, and half of it disappeared under the collar of her coat. “Brian,” she added a name to the imaginary face I already wanted to pound. “After college in the states, I felt homesick for my parents. They were living in a village in Kenya at the time. I met Brian, a real estate developer, while he was traveling through on an adventure vacation tour.”

“An adventure vacation?” I laughed. “Is that one of those tours for rich people where they set up linen, crystal glasses and silverware for a lunch in the tall savannah grasslands?” I glanced over and found I’d earned a well-deserved scowl. “Sorry but I already hate the guy. Go ahead. I’ll try to keep my comments in my head.” Kinley stopped her story and turned her attention to the window. A light sniffling sound followed. I wanted to kick myself. “Hey, Rabbit, I’m sorry. Tell me, did the guy hurt you?” I couldn’t fucking believe how badly I already wanted to hit the asshole. She shook her head. “Only mentally. Although, at the time, I was so heartbroken, it felt physical.” Kinley was heartbroken over the guy. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt a solid thump in the gut from being jealous. But this time it was a Hulk-sized fist that had nailed me. “Do you still miss him?” I braced for her answer. Her blue eyes were glassy with tears as she looked at me. “Who?” “Brian, the guy who broke your heart.” “He broke my heart, but not in the way you think.” Turbulence gave Tero a sharp shake. Kinley gasped and grabbed my arm. She released me the second the movement stopped, but I was still stoked that her first instinct had been to reach for me. I wanted more than anything to be that person she reached for or called to when she was afraid or worried or happy. “I know you took a job on Wildthorne to avoid something or someone.” Kinley stared down at her hands as she fidgeted with the zipper on her coat. “I did something terrible, and I needed to go into hiding.” “Shit, did not see that coming. Come on, how bad could it be? I mean look at you. You’re fucking adorable with that twitchy little nose and everything. You even have sympathy for Marcus Underwood. I mean you’re like the closest thing to an angel on earth.”

“Stop. I’m not adorable. It was terrible, and I’m not proud of what I did.” She turned to look out the window again. I could see a tiny smile in her reflection in the window. “Well, maybe a little proud.” “Now you have to tell me, otherwise I’m going to be imagining all kinds of weird things.” The storm clouds had moved on, leaving behind only a few stragglers, and most of those hovered over Wildthorne Island. Only the tall brick chimney on the west side of the house was visible from our vantage point. Kinley caught a glimpse of the chimney. Her mouth turned down. “That was such a short flight.” “See, you’re going to miss me when you’re down there on Creepy Mc Freakshow Island.” “Stop.” “Right. Sorry. I want to hear what my badass little Rabbit did that caused her to go into hiding on Creepy Mc—” I clamped my mouth shut. “You’ll probably never want to see me again after I tell you. You’ll definitely think twice before kissing me or—well, you know.” “Fucking?” Her cheeks darkened. “Yes, that. Thanks for providing the exact word.” The coat rustled as she shifted in her seat. “I had a cat named Yowlie. He liked to yowl, so it seemed appropriate.” “Makes sense to me.” “Anyhow, I’d found him behind a dumpster as a little kitten. I had to beg Brian to let me keep him. That should have been my first clue. I can’t tell you how often I wanted to jump back in time to the night I brought Yowlie home. He was this sweet little pile of gray fur who couldn’t stop purring when I held him.” “Yep, purring makes sense to me too.” She arched her brow at me and continued. “I had to plead with Brian to let me keep the cat. But instead of begging, I should have just packed up my kitten and my clothes and left. But I didn’t. I’ll live with that regret forever. Anyhow, Yowlie was no problem at all. He grew up big and fat and still purring

every time I held him. I loved that cat.” “Uh oh. This sounds like it’s going to get ugly.” “Very. Brian never warmed up to the idea of having a pet. Another friggin’ clue if there ever was one.” She looked over at me with a question on her lips. I read her mind. “I love pets. If you come stay with me, you can have all the dogs and cats we can fit in the house.” “So . . . two?” “Yeah, that’s probably the max. I’m serious though, Kinley. I can get a bigger place.” “Maybe you should hear the end of my story first.” “All right, but I’m telling you unless this story ends in some bloody way with you wielding a chainsaw, I’m not withdrawing my offer.” “No chainsaws. Only credit cards. I came home from work one day, and Yowlie was gone. Brian pretended as if he had no idea what happened to the cat, but I knew he’d taken him somewhere. I called all the local shelters, but it was no use. I was done with Brian. When he was at work, I snuck into his office and pulled out the ridiculous stash of credit cards he kept in his desk. I went online and donated fifteen thousand dollars of his money to animal charities. Then I packed my bags and ran.” She sat back with a satisfied smile. I sat for a second, absorbing the story and thinking about how much it fit her. A laugh shot from my mouth. “That is fucking classic. All this time I’m thinking there’s some shady part of your past you’re hiding from and—” I laughed again. This time she joined me. “I fucking adore you, Rabbit.” I brought Tero down to the runway with a smile plastered on my face. I pulled the plane around for takeoff. I badly wanted to just keep going and head straight back to King’s Beach with Kinley. Our afternoon together had sealed one thing in my mind, I wasn’t giving her up without a fight. Kinley clutched the carton of orange juice in one hand while taking hold of my hand with the other. She climbed down from the plane and did a little jump to nail the landing. I took full advantage and caught

her in my arms. The carton of juice wedged between our bodies as I kissed her. It took all my willpower to stop the kiss. I rested my forehead against hers. “I don’t want to let you go. Come back with me. Leave this place behind and fly back with me.” She reached up and touched the side of my face. I took hold of her wrist and held her palm against my cheek. “You don’t belong here. You ran from your scurrilous past.” I couldn’t stop the smile. “And as far as I’m concerned, you ran right here to these arms.” “I need this job, Dax. And I like it. I like Becky and even Marcus isn’t so bad once you look past the —” I shook my head. “Don’t say quirks.” “Anyhow, I came back to the states and stuck myself directly into a relationship, a bad one at that. I’m loving my independence for a change. Don’t ask me to give that up.” “Fine. You’re right. It’s just that—I just hate leaving you.” “I’m only a plane flight away.” She kissed me and headed back to the house.

CHAPTER 14 Kinley IT WAS SATURDAY but Katherine insisted that Becky have at least two hours of studying. Normally, it was the pupil who was distracted, but today it was the teacher. I’d done it to myself. I knew darn well that starting something with Dax was the last thing I needed. But he was so darn irresistible. Becky sat at her desk finishing some questions about Ancient Egypt. She was so excited about my mummy’s curse story, she’d insisted we skip the Ancient China chapter and go straight to Egypt. I sat at my desk with a red pen, prepared to draw marks all over Becky’s personal narrative, but, surprisingly, there were few mistakes. She was truly a bright student. I’d asked her to choose any memorable story from her life and added that it should be something that evoked a lot of emotion. So it was no big surprise she chose the terrible day her dad died. She was only five at the time, but it was amazing how many details she remembered. She’d even told the story from the point of view of her fiveyear-old self. She was a much better storyteller than her mother. Halfway through the paper, I found myself so wrapped up in the story, I forgot I was supposed to be grading it. “This is incredibly well written, Becky. Nice work.” “Thank you,” she piped up from behind her book. I read on and some confusion followed. I reread the fourth paragraph again to make sure I comprehended it correctly. “Becky, I think you mixed up some details in your story.” Becky tapped her pencil against her chin. “Hmm, you’re right. I think I caught two fish instead of

three. Might have added that just to make it sound more interesting.” I got up and carried the paper to her desk. “Actually, it’s a little more significant than the fish count. It says that James carried you and Marcus to the island. But your mother told me Marcus had been the one to save you and your brother.” She lifted her brows and laughed. “Marcus? No way. It was James. Marcus and I waited on the island, but James didn’t return. The rescue boat finally arrived, and they had to pull James away from Dad. He wouldn’t let him go. Even though Daddy wasn’t breathing anymore, James wouldn’t let him go.” I stared down at the paper. “But why would your mother tell me Marcus had saved you?” Becky picked up her pencil. “Not sure. Maybe because she never liked James.” Her eyes lit up with a different topic. “Are we still going out to play volleyball?” “Just as soon as you finish that paper.” “Woohoo. I’m on the last question.” She leaned over her book and paper and got back to work. I returned to my desk and read the rest of the story, where Becky went into detail about the coast guard not being able to get James to release his dad. It made my throat tighten to think about a young man who had just rescued his siblings. He was no doubt freezing and exhausted but not enough to leave his dead father alone in the water. If the story was true the way Becky told it, and with the way she spoke so confidently about it there was no reason not to think so, then why the heck had Katherine told me a false version? And why the heck would a mom hate her own child, especially one who’d risked his life to save his brother and sister?

CHAPTER 15 Kinley IT WAS THAT pristine time of the day when the sun provided the perfect amount of warmth and the on-shore breezes had crept away for the afternoon. Becky and I had dragged two potted plants off the porch to create an invisible net for a game of volleyball. Although our skills, or lack thereof, had turned it more into a game of chase the ball. I thumped the ball with my fist, and it arched over to Becky’s side. She cupped her hands together and dove for it. It flew straight into the hedges. Becky watched it disappear, yet again, into the shrubs and dropped to her knees. “Oh my gosh, can I be any more lame?” I headed toward her. She lifted her hands up. “At least I have red wrists to prove I’ve been playing volleyball. Even if the ball never actually made it to the other side.” “That’s the spirit.” I offered her my hand and pulled her to her feet. “Why don’t you go find the ball. I’ll go inside and get some water and a few of those grapes.” “Ooh yeah, except bring me a banana instead of the grapes.” “Right, one banana, coming up.” I walked into the house and met Marcus on his way out of the library. Katherine had been in King’s Beach all day catching up on work. The house was, somehow, more casual without her presence. The atmosphere was far more relaxed. Marcus smiled shyly before having the courage to speak. “I saw your rousing game of volleyball.

What Becky lacks in coordination, she makes up in smiles and laughter. You’re very good for her. I can see that.” “Thank you.” Compliments and words of praise were rare in Underwood Manor, and they were nice to hear. “How is the model coming along?” “Very well. Do you have a moment to come see the progress?” I looked out the front window. Becky was busying herself with a series of somersaults across the lawn, an activity Katherine would probably have frowned upon. I’d noticed immediately that Becky took full advantage of her freedom when her mother was off the island. “Absolutely. I’m just on a banana mission for Becky, but she looks occupied at the moment.” He turned and led me down the hall to the library. Before we reached the room, I heard Tero’s familiar engine in the distance, a sound that sent my heart racing. Apparently Katherine was on her way back to the island. I badly wished I had an excuse to walk over to the runway. It was frustrating to know that Dax was going to be on the island, just a quarter mile away, and I wasn’t able to see him. My thoughts about Dax had taken me out of the moment. Marcus called my name loudly, assuring me it wasn’t the first time he’d said it. He was in the library motioning me inside. “I seem to have caught you in a daydream.” “No, uh yes. Sorry. I heard the plane coming in, and there are a few things I need to ask your mother about the slumber party.” It wasn’t a complete lie. I did have a few things to ask her. “Yes, the slumber party. Becky has mentioned it to me about a thousand times. And that is no exaggeration.” He stopped at the table and stared down at his work. The hull of the ship was nearly complete and some of the masts were ready to go. The pungent smell of glue hovered over the table in a toxic cloud. I waved my hand in front of my face to clear the air. “Would you like a mask?” Marcus reached for the box. “No, I’ll only be here a few minutes. But I do wonder how you don’t end up with a constant

headache from the fumes.” “I think I’ve grown immune to the smell.” I gazed down at the model. “It’s beautiful. Museum quality, Marcus. Well done.” The small curl of a lip that I’d determined to be his default smile was the only way I could tell he appreciated the compliment. “You probably think it’s strange for a grown man to sit and build model ships all day.” It was the first time he’d started a conversation about his habits. I wasn’t sure exactly how to respond. A step in any direction could be the wrong one. “Strange? No, not at all. It takes a great deal of patience and skill to build something of this quality. I do wonder, occasionally, if you aren’t sometimes bored with the solitude of living on an island.” I took the fact that he didn’t shoo me immediately from the room as a sign that he wasn’t too upset with my question. The screech of airplane wheels squeaking along the runway diverted his attention to the window. “Mother’s back.” He stared down at his model for a moment and then looked up at me. “There are times when I wish that—” he glanced down at his overly clean hands. He never tried to deny his phobia of germs, but he rarely spoke openly about it or called it by name. “Anyhow, I’ve found that I don’t mind living here. Who needs the trial and aggravation of being around people? And then there’s traffic and noise.” The one thing he left off was germs. “But then there are visits to ship museums and amazing sights like the Grand Canyon.” His mouth turned down in a frown. “Yes, I miss out on a lot. I know I’ve created a prison for myself here, but I see no other way. It keeps me sane. Or reasonably sane,” he added with a small laugh. The laugh took me by surprise, but it was nice to hear. “Well, I better get that banana for Becky. Thank you again for showing me the model.” “You’re welcome.” I hurried down the hallway in hopes that I could get in and out of the kitchen before running into

Katherine. I was sure I’d have to give her an entire rundown of the morning. Through the kitchen window, I caught a glimpse of Katherine stepping onto the lawn. “Darn it, forgot to put the plants back,” I said to myself as I caught her frowning at them. I plucked off a banana, grabbed a glass of water and then hurried out the side door. I could no longer here Tero’s engine, and I wondered if in my haste to get to the kitchen, I’d missed the takeoff. Katherine was talking to Becky when I circled around the house. She saw the water in my hand. “Oh good. I was just telling Becky she needed to hydrate.” I handed Becky the banana and water. “Later you can fill me in on how the morning lessons went.” She lifted her briefcase. “I’ve got work to finish.” “Absolutely.” I’d been debating all morning on whether or not to bring up the details of Becky’s story, to get to the bottom of the confusion. My conversation with Marcus put an end to the debate. It was clear Katherine wanted to build up Marcus’s character. Not that any of it made a difference to me. If he was happy with the way he lived his life then, who was I to judge. Katherine headed into the house but stopped just short of going inside. “Kinley, don’t forget to put those plants back.” “Right.” Becky sat on the porch with her banana, and I scurried down to the lawn. I picked up one of the potted plants, a rubber plant with thick glossy leaves, and carried it up the steps. I leaned down and used the faint water ring it had left behind to place it in the exact location. Behind me, Becky’s shoes clattered down the front steps. “James!” I was startled to hear the name. How strange that Katherine hadn’t mentioned that James had flown in with her. Satisfied that the plant was in precisely the right spot, I straightened and, using the porch railing, decided to catch a surreptitious peek at the elusive James Underwood. Becky’s pink high top sneakers flew up behind her as she raced across the lawn. The glare of the sun

obstructed the view of the pathway, but the plants parted and a figure stepped out, a figure that sent my heart racing. Dax stepped into the clearing. I waited to see who followed only to be stunned breathless as Becky jumped into Dax’s arms. I could hear her giggling about something, but couldn’t make out the words. As he answered her, Dax’s deep, soothing voice rolled across the lawn and over me like a cozy caress. His gaze circled the yard, and he managed to find me hiding in the shadows of the porch. I walked down the steps and met them halfway across the lawn. Dax was holding back a sly grin. He reached across and discretely touched my arm without Becky noticing. “Dax has to stay and work on Tero. Can you take me for a ride later?” Becky asked. “Ask your mom first. But I’m pretty sure what the answer will be.” For the first time since Dax had walked into the clearing, Becky rocked her heels back and planted her feet down on the ground. Her bottom lip pouted out. “She’ll say no. I don’t even have to waste my breath. Do you have any more passengers today? Can you stay the night?” Dax had a hard time keeping his gaze off of me while he answered Becky’s questions. Every time his green eyes landed on me, I felt a warm flush cover my skin. “I’m through for the day, but I don’t know if I’ll stick around, Beck.” “Oh, come on. You never stay. Mother will be fine with it. You have to. Kinley and I are going to have a slumber party. She’s going to tell me about the time when a mummy cursed her. You can stay for the story. We’ll let you have some popcorn too. But then you have to leave. It’s a girls’ slumber party.” Dax’s dark brows rounded as he smiled at me. “A mummy’s curse? Don’t know if I can miss that.” He stopped Becky just before she jumped up for a cheer. “Maybe. No promises.” “I’ll take that maybe as a possible yes. Sounds better like that. I’ve got to go clean my room before tonight.” She hugged him again and ran toward the house. I was left alone on the lawn with Dax. It felt strange to be standing with him in front of the house. I

gave him a questioning look. He dropped his gaze and kicked at a weed in the grass. “You’re James Underwood.” “Guess so.” He looked up, but there wasn’t much change in his expression. “How come you never told me?” “You never asked.” “That’s just stupid. Why would I have asked? Other than Becky, you’ve never said one nice thing about the Underwoods.” “Yep, and I stand by my record on that.” He headed toward the second plant. I followed him. “But Katherine—she—” I wasn’t sure how to word it, but Dax filled in the blanks. “Hates me?” “Well, hate is a strong word.” I tagged along with him as he carried the plant back to the porch. “Not for her. And Katherine isn’t really my mom. Not in the natural sense, anyhow. Not really in any sense if I think about it.” I trailed along behind him across the porch and glanced into the windows we passed to make sure Katherine wasn’t close enough to hear. Dax placed the plant down in the circle it had left behind. Then he swung around and pulled me into his arms. He kissed me before I could protest, but I quickly pushed him away. “Someone will see us.” He laughed. “Guess you don’t want to be seen fraternizing with the enemy.” I stared up at him. “I don’t understand. If she’s not your mom—” “I need to get some tools. Might need some assistance.” He grabbed my hand and led me down the steps and across the lawn. I had to practically run to keep up with his long, purposeful stride. “Do you use regular tools, like hammers and wrenches, to fix your airplane?”

“Yep, I just pop open Tero’s top and start clinkering away inside, hoping it will fix things.” He smiled at me. “The passenger seat is squeaking. Something needs tightening.” We headed in the direction of the two outbuildings. One was a garage that Becky had mentioned was used for storage of furniture. The other looked like a smaller version of the manner, a matching guest house that was never used ‘because of the lack of guests’, as Becky had comically noted. Dax stopped at the first building. While the landscape around the house was neatly trimmed and well cared for, the plants and grass around the outbuildings had been mostly ignored. Weeds grew everywhere and the boxwood shrubs were no more than tufts of green leaves growing in every direction. “It seems strange to have a garage on an island where there are obviously no cars.” Dax had to use all his strength to slide open the heavy door. “It’s actually a carriage house. Just as useless, but from what Jack had told me, the original nineteenth century architect insisted a manor had to have a carriage house no matter the location.” I followed Dax inside, waving my arms instinctively to keep away the sticky cobwebs dangling from every corner. As Becky had mentioned, the building was stacked with furniture that had been neatly wrapped in plastic. Some of it looked incredibly valuable, at least with historic value, yet, there it was, languishing in a windowless carriage house. Dax led me to the back of the building to a hidden corner that was lined with shelves of tools. “You called him Jack. So he wasn’t your dad either?” He turned around and leaned against the shelf. “My mom was Jack’s younger sister. My own dad died when I was little. My mom followed him to the grave two years later. Drug overdose. I was left an orphan, so Jack adopted me. He was a great surrogate dad. I loved him far more than my own parents, and he loved me. Katherine never liked me. And I never liked her. Mutual dislike right from the start. Marcus always follows his mother’s lead on everything. So he hates me too.” Dax took hold of my hand and pulled me against him. His hand pushed under my sweater. “Now let’s switch topics to something else.” His touch and his nearness made it easy to forget the rather tangled topic of the Underwood family. I

melted against him, relishing in the feel of his hard body against mine. “What topic would you like to switch to?” I asked as I fingered the black stubble on his jaw. “Hmm, for starters, what color bra are you wearing?” He lifted my sweater, and the chilled, musty air of the building swept across my bare skin. “Pink. I like Pink.” He pushed the bra down exposing my breast. His tongue drew a delicious circle around my nipple as his hand got to work on the fly of my jeans. “What if someone comes out here?” “No one ever comes to this building except me and the gardener. And he’s not on the island today.” He lifted his mouth to mine and kissed me. “I haven’t thought of anything else but you since you left my bed yesterday. You know what fucking torture it is to still breathe in your scent on my sheets and not have you there to touch.” His hand trailed along my belly. “To kiss.” He moved his hot mouth down my neck. I gripped his arms, slowly losing my ability to stand straight. He lifted his mouth to my ear. “To fuck.” Dax turned me around so that I was facing the shelf. He pushed my hair away from my neck and continued the kisses. A tingling sensation trailed down my back and seemingly found its way to my pussy. He dragged his tongue around my earlobe. “Do you want me right now, Rabbit?” As he spoke, he took hold of my hands and pressed them against the shelf to brace myself. “Say it. You know what I want to hear.” “I want you, Dax. Right now. Please.” He yanked my jeans and panties down to my ankles and stopped to kiss and nibble my naked bottom on the way back up. “I knew this ass was bitable.” I pushed against his mouth, wanting more. “You like that, huh, baby?” His teeth lightly bit my naked bottom while his hand circled around in front of me. He slipped it between my legs. My jeans made it hard to part my legs but I made up for it by pushing my bottom out farther. “That’s it, baby. I knew you were wild. I knew you loved to fuck. And I

knew you’d taste this sweet.” My gasp echoed in the building as he flicked his tongue between the folds of my pussy. He teased my clit with his thumb as he impaled me with his tongue. My head felt light as if his touch alone had made me intoxicated. I gripped the shelf, working hard not to melt to the floor. “Dax, yes.” The words floated from my mouth as I felt my body roll toward the edge of an orgasm. “Not yet, baby. Not yet. I want to be buried inside of you. I want to feel your pussy tighten like a fucking clamp around my cock.” His dirty talk only brought me closer to climax. “Hurry, Dax,” I pleaded. He groaned as he pushed to his feet. I was weak with wanting him as I heard him push down his jeans and put on a condom. A cry shot from my mouth as he took hold of my hips. He pulled my ass out farther. My pussy nearly convulsed with wanting him to fill me. He plunged into me, and I pushed against the shelf as he pumped his cock inside of me. My body writhed in his grip as I silently pleaded for him to go deeper. His deep groan rolled down over my shoulders, and the sound of his pleasure sent me over the cliff. Worried that someone might hear, I turned my face to muffle my cries on my shoulder. “You belong with me, Kinley. You fucking belong with me,” he growled as he rocked hard against me. A sweet ache filled my pussy with each thrust. His movements grew more urgent and his fingers dug into my hips as he held me steady. And all I could think was that I did belong with him. I couldn’t imagine anyone else’s hands holding me after being held by Dax. “Fuck yeah, baby.” A deep, guttural sound came from his chest as he came. His breathing was still fast and shallow as he wrapped his arms around me and kissed my neck. “With me, Rabbit. That’s where you belong.”

CHAPTER 16 Dax WHEN SHE WAS in my line of sight, nothing could pull my attention from her. The earth could open up and release an army of glowing aliens and I’d still be looking at Kinley. It was nearly impossible to think that in such a short amount of time, she’d wrapped herself completely around my heart. Even though it was technically my home, I rarely stayed on the island. Even though Katherine had given her usual grudging, twisted mouth, response of ‘yes, James can stay, this is his home too’ in front of Becky and Kinley, I knew I was about as welcome as a swarm of locusts. As much as I enjoyed seeing Becky, I wouldn’t have even considered staying the night if being near Kinley hadn’t come along with the invite. Becky and Kinley had set up an impressive pile of pillows on the floor in the television room. It seemed Katherine was allowing a lot more freedom these days. Normally, she liked everything to be in its proper place, and pillows on the floor was definitely not in the rules. She’d even allowed the generator to stay on later so they could watch a movie. I could only reason that Katherine liked Kinley and didn’t want to do anything to mess up her little plan. Of course, that meant that Marcus was equally pleased with the new tutor because if he wasn’t, Katherine would have sent her packing like all the others. None of it surprised me. Kinley was the kind of person who could charm her way into even the most impenetrable heart. The one part of Katherine’s scheme that she hadn’t planned for was me falling for Kinley too. But I’d never given my cynical stepmother any reason to think that I would. I’d never given my heart to anyone. As far as Katherine was concerned, I was incapable of love. That had always given her

peace of mind. My perpetual playboy status guaranteed that I would never interfere with her greed. Becky handed me a bowl of popcorn. “Extra butter, the way you like it. But don’t get greasy fingerprints on anything.” “On anything?” I shot a secret wink at Kinley. She pulled her face away pretending not to catch my meaning, but her cheeks darkened. Becky settled on a pillow next to Kinley, and I sat on the floor across from them with the couch to lean against. I was directly across from Kinley, who was having a hell of a time trying to avoid my gaze. And I was having a hell of a time teasing her with it. “Wait!” Becky hopped up from the pillow and went to the bag she’d packed for the night. She pulled out three flashlights and raced over to turn out the lights. She flicked on a flashlight, scurried back and plopped down on the pillow. She handed each of us a flashlight. “Don’t tell Mother. I took them from the emergency kit. Thought they’d add to the slumber party atmosphere.” I flicked on my light. While Becky busied herself getting comfortable on the pillows, I drew the light along Kinley’s body from her feet up to her breasts. She fidgeted and tried hard to keep certain intimate parts out of the spotlight. “Should we start, Becky?” Kinley asked sounding slightly flustered. “It’s getting late, especially if you still want to see the movie.” The door to the room opened, and the lights splashed back on. Becky shoved her flashlight under the pillow. Kinley and I followed her lead. Katherine’s self-important steps snapped sharply across the floor. She looked down at me. Her mouth pulled in a grim line, like it always did when she saw me. “James, I hadn’t realized you’d still be in here.” “I was invited to hear the mummy’s curse story.” I looked up at her with the disaffected expression I’d perfected just for her. I decided long ago that when dealing with Katherine Underwood it was easier for me to stay cold and neutral. Anger only served to make her hate me more, and I didn’t want to lose the

ability to see Becky. Of course, Katherine would never be able to find another interisland pilot as easy to reach and as flexible with hours. Becky cleared her throat. “Mother, we are just about to hear the story. You’re ruining the mood.” “Fine then, I’ll leave you to it. Are you staying in the manor, James? I didn’t have your room made up for a visit.” I leaned back and stared up at her. I couldn’t count how many times as a kid I’d tried to make the woman see me as someone other than a thorn in her life. But she’d never wanted me in her family, and there wasn’t a damn thing I could have done about it. If it hadn’t been for Jack, I would have run away. But he had been the one person in my life I could trust. “I’m staying out in the guest house.” She damn well knew that’s where I’d be staying, but it seemed she didn’t want to appear too callous in front of Kinley. It was a pretty transparent effort on her part to seem motherly. I was sure Kinley saw right through it. Katherine walked out of the room, and the tension in the air melted instantly. She was the only person I knew with the supernatural ability to change the atmosphere in a room just by entering it. Becky jumped up with a frustrated sigh and repeated her trip to the lights. The room went dark. I took the seconds before Becky’s return to rub my foot against Kinley’s leg. The hot moments in the carriage house had left me wanting more. Not only was I thinking about Kinley all the time, I was physically craving her to the point that it hurt. The vision of her braced against the shelf waiting for me to fuck her was permanent in my head, reminding me just how badly I wanted her. Just how badly I needed her to be with me. Becky returned and we pulled out the flashlights. “Ready,” she proclaimed. Kinley shined the light beneath her chin in an attempt to look spooky, but all it did for me was highlight her lips, her eyes, her face and remind me how badly I wanted to be alone with her. “It all started when my parents were studying the Pyramid of Khafre in Giza. He was a 4th dynasty Egyptian king. I was eleven at the time, just a little younger than you.” Becky’s eyes were round with interest as she listened.

“I was hanging back in one of the long corridors, kicking some of the sand around with my shoe just to let my parents know I was bored and that I wanted to go above and eat. But they were completely absorbed in their exploration and didn’t notice my quiet little tantrum or the dust that I’d kicked up along the way. And trust me, ancient dust makes your eyes burn. I’d stopped to wipe my eyes with my shirt, and when I lowered it, my parents were gone.” Kinley was a good storyteller, knowing just when to put the right emphasis on a word, and she had Becky’s full attention. She had mine too, but for entirely different reasons. Kinley lowered the flashlight and continued. “I hurried through the dust cloud I’d created as I called for my parents, but only my own voice echoed back at me.” Becky grabbed her arm. “Oh my gosh, did the mummy get them?” Kinley smiled. “No, they turned a corner when I wasn’t looking.” “And apparently they weren’t watching you either,” Becky added with the judgmental tone she’d learned from her mom. “That was sort of my mom and dad’s style. They let me take care of myself a lot.” “I wish my mother would let me take care of myself more. Except I don’t want to get lost in a mummy’s house.” “A pyramid is a tomb,” Kinley corrected her. “So glad you were paying close attention to your lessons.” Kinley’s blue gaze flitted across the way and locked with mine for a second. It rendered me temporarily breathless. “Anyhow, as I was scurrying through the narrow passages looking for my parents, my hands trailed the walls, helping me find my way to the corners. I entered one passage and my finger flew off something smooth in the otherwise rough, dusty walls.” “What was it?” Becky nearly climbed into her lap with the question. “I leaned as close as I could to the wall and saw that it was a smooth blue stone. It was the only one I could find, so I figured it had been placed there when the pyramid was being built. Then I did what any self-respecting eleven-year-old with a love of shiny things would do—I dug it out of the wall and put it in

my pocket to take home.” Becky shrugged. “A souvenir.” Kinley pointed at her. “See, that’s what I told myself too. The only problem was that after I put that shiny stone in my pocket, all kinds of bad luck followed.” The door opened behind us breaking us all from the story. Katherine’s shoes marched across the floor again. I was pretty sure about the reason for her visit. “James, could you meet me in the kitchen? I need your help with something.” Kinley’s brows knitted together as she looked at me. I tossed her back a weak grin and pushed to my feet. “Mother, you said he could stay and hear the story,” Becky protested. “Well, I need his help,” Katherine snapped back before marching out of the room. Kinley peered up at me and her lips parted. It seemed she wanted to question what was happening but knew not to bring it up in front of Becky. “Well, Beck, you’ll have to tell me all about the curse next time I see you.” I moved my attention back to Kinley. “Guess after I help with the urgent problem, I’ll head out to the guest house, the little building way out there in the back of the property where I’ll be completely alone.” “Good thing Kinley hasn’t gotten to the scary parts yet, otherwise you might have a hard time sleeping,” Becky teased. “I will definitely have a hard time sleeping.” I winked at Kinley before leaving the room. As I turned into the hallway, I saw Marcus slinking out of the kitchen where he’d just been having a terse conversation with his mom. I was just as glad not to have to talk to him. Katherine looked up from her cup of tea and day planner as I walked into the kitchen. She opened her mouth to start a lecture, but I put up a hand to stop her. “Don’t bother, I already know what you’re going to say.” I headed to the refrigerator and pulled out

a piece of cold chicken and a half empty bottle of wine. Katherine wasn’t the type to be stopped from a lecture. “It’s just not appropriate. They are sitting on pillows and ready to have a girls’ slumber party.” I didn’t acknowledge her or look back as I headed with my food and drink out the back door.

CHAPTER 17 Dax THE WARM GLOW of the kerosene lamps provided just enough light and some warmth against the chill in the room. I’d taken off my shirt and shoes and stretched out on the single mattress bed of the guest house to finish off the wine. It was no substitute for beer, but Katherine never bought beer. It wasn’t up to her standards. Very little was up to her standards. From what I could tell, the woman had been born snooty, came right out of the womb with her tight lips and haughty chin lift. I was sure that even as a little girl she’d walked around with her prep school posture and pursed mouth, disapproving of everything. And she sure as hell always disapproved of me. Katherine and Marcus were a perfect team of stone-faced statues. Marcus, whose germ phobia and insecurities only grew worse after Jack’s death, had latched onto his mother and never let go. Becky had been lucky enough to inherit her dad’s personality and sense of humor. I wasn’t the least bit surprised that Katherine had pulled me from the fun in the television room. She always worked hard to make sure I never fit in with anything happening in their life. After Jack’s death, she did all she could to make me feel out of place. I eventually enlisted in the air force and was thrilled to get out on my own and out from under her permanent scowl. It was well past midnight, and I’d given up any hope that Kinley would consider sneaking out of the house to see me. She seemed content enough with her job not to put it in jeopardy. And tonight’s short, stealth meeting between Katherine and Marcus followed by my quick removal from the slumber party assured me they were pleased with their choice of tutor. I wasn’t sure how long I could stay out of their scheme this time around, especially because this time my heart had been thrown into the mix.

I heard the slightest shuffling sound outside and tamped down my excitement, reminding myself it was probably a critter looking for food. Just as I’d pushed away the idea that Kinley was outside, a light knock landed on the door. I strode the three steps to the door and pulled it open. She was hugging herself against the cold mist shrouding the island. Her cheeks were pink from the journey. “Becky decided to sleep in her own bed. I think my story might have—” I reached for her arm, pulled her inside and ended her sentence with my kiss. I lifted my mouth from hers and pushed a strand of hair from her face. “Didn’t think you would come.” “Trust me, I was halfway to the door four times before I finally talked myself into leaving the house.” I slid my hand under her sweater and smoothed my palm along her back. “And, are you glad you took the risk?” “Guess that depends on the reward.” “Well then . . .” I reached for the hem of her sweater and pulled it off. I opened the clasp on her bra and her beautiful breasts sprang free, her nipples hardening beneath my intense scrutiny. “I think my new favorite hobby is undressing you.” I grabbed the belt loop on her jeans and yanked her against me. “If that’s the case, do you want me to put the sweater on so you can take it off again?” “Funny little Rabbit. Push off your shoes.” Kinley switched from foot to foot and kicked off her shoes. She pressed her soft lips against my chest as I went to work on her jeans. I pushed them down, taking the panties off at the same time. She threw her arms around my neck. Her nipples rubbed against my chest and my already hard cock pushed against my fly, wanting to be set free. She stopped her kiss. Her lush lips turned down at the sides. “Dax, I’m sorry Katherine didn’t let you stay.”

“No, don’t even say her name. I’ve only got you alone for a short time, and I don’t want to waste one second of it talking about her. Besides, this was my end goal for staying on the island tonight.” I stepped back and took hold of her wrists. I held her arms out to her sides and took my time gazing at every inch of her. “God, you are fucking beautiful, baby.” She took a quick visual tour of the room as I led her to the bed. “It’s fairly primitive compared to the manor. It’s even lit with hurricane lamps.” “Sorry I couldn’t offer you better accommodations.” “On the contrary”—she settled back on the bed—“I love it.” I stood over the bed, staring down at her naked body as I took off my jeans. She peered up at me with a sweet, innocent blink of her lashes. Then she licked her bottom lip and bent her knees. She pressed her feet on the bed and let her knees fall open. I shoved my jeans the rest of the way off. She squealed as I jumped onto the bed. I grabbed her ankles and spread them even farther apart. I lowered myself down to my stomach and settled my face right at her pussy. “Can I just say the way you mix wild and hot in with sweet and innocent makes me permanently fucking hard.” “Didn’t even realize I was doing that, so good for me . . . I guess.” She giggled as I lowered my mouth to her pussy. But as my tongue stroked her, finding her tight, hot clit, her laughter softened to a sexy mewling sound that made me groan in response. I slipped one hand beneath her ass and lifted her pussy higher to my mouth. She moved her hips back and forth as I penetrated her with my tongue, taking time in between to nibble teasingly at her clit. I gazed up at her as I brought her closer to climax. She had her arms stretched above her head, holding onto the edge the mattress and using it to brace against the pressure of my mouth. Her flawless skin glowed golden in the flickering lantern light, and her dark lashes cast curly shadows on her cheeks. Her pink lips, slightly swollen from my kisses, parted as she released a soft, appreciative moan, a sound that sent my pulse racing. Everything about her made my fucking head spin and my cock ache with need. I couldn’t ever remember wanting any woman as badly as I wanted Kinley.

The urgent whimper coming from her lips assured me she was close to coming. She arched her body, pushing her pussy harder against my mouth. “Oh, Dax, yes, Dax.” I lathed my tongue over her clit as I impaled her with my fingers. She arched her body up higher, curling her legs around my shoulders. My fingers were slick with her cream as I pushed them deep inside. “Yes, Dax!” she cried out. Her body trembled as she came against my mouth. As the shuddering waves in her body slowed, she reached down for me. “I need you now, Dax. Please.” I rose up on my hands and quickly put on the condom I had placed next to the bed. I leaned over her and gazed down at her. The pink flush of an orgasm still covered her skin, and it sent heat surging through my body. “You are something else, Rabbit. You’re worth fighting for.” The words were meant for my head, but I was out of my mind with the need to fuck her and I’d spoken them aloud. Kinley’s dimples creased her cheeks as she reached up and curled her hand around my neck. “You won’t have too many opponents in that fight. I’m as unattached as a girl can be. Or at least used to be.” “Damn right, you’re attached now, baby.” She sucked in a breath as I pushed inside of her. “Your pussy feels so good. Never going to leave it.” I rocked inside of her, slow and measured at first. But she had me so hard, I couldn’t hold back. Kinley’s hands smoothed over my shoulders and down my back. She wrapped her legs around me, and I drove myself deeper. It felt as if the entire carriage house was creaking and swaying with our rhythm. “Harder,” she sighed. “I want more of you.” I reached under her ass to hold her firmly in my grasp. Her pussy milked me close to coming, but I didn’t want it to end. “I want you to come again,” I groaned in her ear. “Come for me.” I dropped to the mattress and pulled her around with me so she was on top, straddling me, still holding my cock deep inside. Her eyes drifted shut as she braced her hands against my chest and writhed

over me, pushing back to take in more of me. All the while she pressed her pussy and clit against me. Her soft, erotic moans rained down on me as I shoved my cock up to meet her each time. Her head lolled back as she absorbed every inch of me. I gritted my teeth to keep from coming. “Oh, Dax.” I reached down and gripped her ass, helping to keep the rhythm tight and hard. Her fingers dug into my skin as she cried out in ecstasy. She was still deep in the throes of an orgasm, hardly able to sit upright, but I pulsed my hips, rubbing the full length of my cock against her clenched pussy. My grip on her ass tightened, and she stared down at me as I came inside of her. Kinley lowered her body over mine and curled up against me. My arms tightened around her and our hearts tapped against each other as our bodies cooled down to the temperature in the room. “So was it worth the risk?” She wriggled down to my side and cradled her head against my shoulder. “Yes, you are totally worth the risk. Damnit,” she added as an afterthought. “Not sure if that’s good or bad but since damnit rarely goes with anything good.” Her tawny hair brushed over my arm as she lifted her head to look at me. “You were the last thing I need in my life, Dax but . . . damnit . . . I wouldn’t have changed a thing. Well, maybe a nicer airplane with the neck rests and warm cookies. But the pilot—” She lowered her mouth and kissed me. “I wouldn’t switch pilots for all the warm cookies in the world. Even white chocolate macadamia nut, my personal favorite and dessert downfall.” She glanced around the room. “If you’re looking for a clock, I don’t have one.” “I should—.” I pulled her into my arms. “No, don’t say it.” “Really, I should—” I interrupted her with a kiss. Her laugh stopped it short.

“I’m supposed to be sleeping on the floor of Becky’s room. What will she think if she wakes up and finds an empty blanket?” “See, I can throw cold water on that reasoning right now. My little sister doesn’t wake for anything. One time when we were young, Becky came running into my room because of a thunderstorm. She crawled into bed and slept like a stone all night, even with the storm raging outside. She snored right through my cussing when her little knuckles landed hard on my nose in the middle of one of her dreams. She sleeps solidly. So, I figure you can stay until dawn when Katherine rises from her crypt to put on her face.” Kinley sat up. I knew what the tilt of her lips meant. “So, you’re leaving me out here alone? You didn’t tell me how the mummy’s curse story ended.” “I’ll give you the quick version. After a stubbed toe, a scorpion under my bed and a bad case of hives from something I ate, I insisted my dad take me back to the pyramid to return the stone. Which he did. Then, on the way out, he told me it wasn’t an ancient stone at all but a piece of glass someone must have stuck in the wall to fool a tourist. I felt extra silly. But the bad stuff stopped and here I am.” “I’ll bet Becky had a good laugh about the ending.” “She did. Although I think she was sort of disappointed I didn’t have to actually fight off a mummy to get rid of the curse.” Kinley looked out the window. The only part of the manor that was visible from the guest house was the massive portico that jutted out over the porch. “I do worry that she’s missing out on a lot being stuck here on this island.” “You mean you think being stuck here with Katherine and Marcus and without normal people and kids is a problem? I’ve had a lot of arguments with Katherine about this, but you know how she is. In fact, knowing I’m against it probably only strengthens her resolve to imprison Becky here.” “Well, Becky is happy and well-adjusted so maybe we’re over-thinking it.” She climbed off the bed. I sat up on my elbow and watched her get dressed. “I prefer the opposite,” I noted. “You getting naked. How the hell am I supposed to get through the night knowing you are right across the lawn?” I sat up, wrapped my hands around her waist and pulled her

toward me. I placed a kiss on each breast before she pulled on her bra. “You could conjure up some dirty dreams,” she suggested. “Maybe gets some ideas for the next time we meet.” “Fuck, now that’s a homework assignment I can finish with enthusiasm.” I picked up my jeans. “I’ll walk you across the lawn.” “No,” she said abruptly. “What if someone sees us?” “Then we’ll wave and I’ll pull you into my arms and plant a kiss right on those amazing fucking lips.” Kinley’s head tilted and a cute frown rounded down her lips. “Dax, I’ll be fine. I’m on a private island. I don’t think I’ll get mugged on the way back to the house.” She walked closer and pressed herself into my arms for a good-bye kiss. “Until next time. And don’t forget to do your homework.”

CHAPTER 18 Kinley “DO YOU HAVE the list?” Katherine asked me for the fifth time that morning. Although, with my head spinning from the notion of seeing Dax, it was probably a good thing she kept reminding me. I pulled it out of my coat pocket. The distant sound of the plane coming in for a landing caused the paper to slip from my fingers and flutter to the ground. I stooped down to pick it up and caught a tiny, annoyed tap of Katherine’s shoe on my way up. She seemed in an especially uptight mood, which, considering her usual demeanor, was really saying something. “Sorry,” I blurted as I showed her I had a tighter grip on the list. I stuck it in my pocket. Katherine picked up her coffee cup and carried it to the sink. “Becky hasn’t stopped talking about Saturday’s slumber party and, in particular, the mummy’s curse. By the way, I realized this morning that you haven’t had a day off. Why don’t you modify tomorrow’s lessons and give Becky some independent assignments. Ryan is coming in the morning to mow lawns and trim hedges. You can catch a ride back to King’s Beach. Maybe do some shopping or see a movie. Then Dax can bring you to the island in the afternoon when he comes back to pick up Ryan.” Her tone was much more convivial than usual. Her light and cheery tone, coupled with the offer of a free day, made it feel as if I was being buttered up for something. “That sounds great,” I said, hesitantly. I hadn’t expected a day off, but it sounded pretty darn wonderful. Of course my mind went right to Dax and the thought of spending all day in King’s Beach with him.

Katherine walked back to the table where I was finishing a muffin. Even though she’d finished her coffee, she sat down across from me. She laced her fingers and placed them in her lap. I swallowed hard to get the last piece of muffin down. It seemed, the other shoe was going to drop. I thought the first part of our little visit was just a bit too peaches and cream. From her expression, which was neither cheery nor dark, it was impossible to predict which direction she was headed. But then, I could rarely predict what Katherine was going to say or do. “So, it seems, you’ve been all over the world, but you never truly had a home.” The topic had come out of nowhere. It was the first time she’d asked me about my childhood since the job interview. “I had a home. It was wherever my parents were.” The answer stopped her short. It was obvious she hadn’t expected it. As she came up with the next conversation piece, I had trouble keeping my mind at the kitchen table. It was desperately trying to race out the front door and down to the runway. “But wouldn’t you enjoy having a wonderful home?” She lifted her hands. “Like the manor? A grand house with a big enough budget to fill it and everything you could ever want.” I knew I was wearing my stunned deer expression, but she’d caught me completely off guard. “I’m sure never having money problems makes life a lot simpler, but I think everyone has a different definition of wealth. I’m not sure a grand home would make me happy.” Katherine’s mouth pursed and then untwisted. She wasn’t the least bit impressed with my answer. This was my second week on the island. Even though the first week had been what I considered a success, I wondered if I’d already overstayed my welcome. I was not getting good vibes from the boss. After a chilly moment of silence, Katherine released a sigh and pushed up from the chair. “I guess we’ll have to work on that then. You should head out to the runway. I think James has landed.” I was like a kid being told by the principal that detention was over. I jumped out of the chair so fast it scraped the floor and earned an admonishing glower from the principal. “Kinley.” I’d almost made good on my escape when Katherine’s sharp tone sent my shoulders up around my ears.

I stopped and turned back to her, knowing that she always expected complete attention. “Yes?” “James possesses that charm and appeal that many women find hard to resist.” My heart was slowly sinking to my knees as I waited for what I was sure would be my verbal pink slip. As hard as I’d worked to hide it, she’d somehow figured out what was going on. Or, maybe it was because Dax always ended up sleeping with the tutor. Maybe it was a game of his. That heartbreaking possibility made my eyes ache with the threat of tears. Not wanting Katherine to see me cry, I blinked them away. “I suppose he is charming in a rakish sort of way,” I said, trying hard to sound indifferent. “Exactly. I take comfort in knowing that you are far too high-minded to get lured in by him. He sees so many different women, and he never thinks twice about breaking a heart.” I stared at her with a hundred responses I was dying to hurl at her, but every one of them would have gotten me fired. I smiled politely and headed out the door. Once I got to the lawn, I picked up my pace. During the morning’s lessons, I’d been giddy with the idea of seeing Dax. Errands had, by far, become the best part of the job. But as I hiked the path to the runway, my stomach ached and my feet felt heavy. Dax flashed me a white smile as he waited for me by the plane. I walked fast and purposeful hoping my pace would keep the tears back. But the second his smile faded and worry crossed his face, I broke into sobs and a full run. My first instinct was to jump into the comfort of his arms, but I needed to know. Even though his arms circled me, I braced my hands against his chest to keep him back. “What’s wrong?” “I just need to know something and answer honestly because I’ll know if you’re lying.” I stopped. “That’s a lie. I’m not good at reading people, especially if there’s something there I don’t want to read because it will hurt like hell to read it.”

“Whoa there, Rabbit. You’re not making a lick of sense. Just ask me.” He pushed the brim of his hat back. The sun lit up his handsome face making my task even harder. “Is this a game for you? Sleep with the tutor and see how quickly you can get her kicked off the island?” He stared at me as if I’d grown a third eye in the middle of my forehead. “What the hell are you talking about? Wait. I know. My wonderful step-monster got to you.” I swallowed back the ache in my throat. His response, his shock at my question, helped put me a little more at ease. “She had some less than flattering things to say about you, but I don’t care about that. I just need to know I’m not being used as a pawn to fuel the fire between you. I just need to know—” He kissed me before I could finish. Even as I told myself I should pull away and get a solid answer, I felt myself melting into his arms. His kiss was tender and deep. It seemed he was trying to convince me that he cared using his kisses instead of his words. And it was working. I was in a dreamy haze by the time he lifted his mouth from mine. I opened my eyes and peered up into his face. His eyes were deep green with an intensity that made my chest feel as if a weight pressed down on it. “Kinley, you’re not a pawn or part of a game. Not for me. I’ve had nothing to do with Becky’s teachers getting fired. That’s all Katherine and Marcus’s doing.” He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “Does Katherine know about us?” “I haven’t said anything. I acted very casual during our conversation this morning. I don’t want to lose this job.” I added before he could ask me to leave the island. He sighed in surrender. “I know. Doesn’t make me happy, but I understand.” We walked to the passenger side of the plane. Before I climbed inside, he pulled me toward him and kissed me again. “I never stop thinking about you, Kinley. It’s not a game. I would never hurt you.” His words and the way he looked at me as he spoke made my eyes burn with tears. Dax leaned forward and kissed my nose as it started to twitch. “I love the way this nose wiggles. I love the way you make me laugh. I love the way you find good in everybody.” He leaned his head to the side and glanced down at my body. “I love the way your ass looks in jeans.”

My eyes smiled through the tears. He shrugged. “Just keeping things honest.” He took hold of my face and kissed me lightly on the lips. “Mostly, I love that you walked into my life. You’re making me rethink my whole philosophy. All this time, I was convinced I was happy. I had everything I needed, a business, my own place, time to surf and —” He stopped at the last part of the list. “And women?” I finished for him. “Yes, but not the right woman. Now she’s here, and she’s turned the whole fucking list upside down.” He wrapped his hand around mine. “Kinley, don’t let Katherine into your head. She’ll turn you against me.” “Why would she do that?” Dax glanced in the direction of the manor. The massive chimney was the only part of the house visible from the runway. “It’s complicated. Mostly, it’s because she hates me. Just promise me you won’t let her turn you against me. I do not want to lose you.” “I promise.”

CHAPTER 19 Dax KINLEY BUNCHED UP her shoulders and pulled her coat tighter. “It figures my day off would be a clammy, ugly day.” I lowered Tero through the clouds only to coast through a fog that was nearly as opaque as the clouds. The King’s Beach runway was a black stripe, splitting the landscape neatly in half. Kinley had spent most of the flight telling me about a village she’d lived in where the neighbors had a pet orangutan that would walk with her to the local school. He even liked to carry her books on his head. The experiences she’d had in her short life had been numerous and varied. Yet she was still grounded and not the least bit jaded. I loved that about her. She’d been all over the world and seen four of the seven wonders, but she still got excited about my mention of a small, rundown bakery at the end of King’s Beach that served great cinnamon rolls. She was different. It was a good different. “I don’t want to be presumptuous,” she spoke over the rumble of the engine, “but I was hoping you’d have a spare hour or two in your day to hang out.” “Jeez, Rabbit, I’d love to hang with you, but I’ve got a full schedule today.” She slouched down lower in her seat. “Oh. I see. No problem. I’ll find plenty to keep me busy.” Her bottom lip stuck out just a little farther than usual. “See, you do like me,” I said. “Oh shut up. I’m just disappointed. But who knows, maybe I’ll find someone else to talk to while I’m in King’s Beach. Where do your surfer friends hang out? Surfers are always hot.”

“Is that right?” “Yep. Sun-bleached hair. Suntanned skin. That white cream they wear on their noses. All hot stuff.” “Then I guess I better clear my schedule and smear some Bullfrog on my nose.” She popped up higher in her seat. “You’d do that for me?” “Already did.” “You did? When?” “Yesterday, after you told me you had the day off.” “Great.” She sat back with a satisfied smile. “Guess you sort of like me too.” Swirls of fog rolled off Tero’s windshield as we flew down the runway and brought Tero to a crawl. I turned the nose of the plane around, and we rolled back to the hangar. I walked around to the passenger side of the plane, opened the door and Kinley dropped into my arms. I kissed her. “I need to write some things in my logbook, then we can decide how to spend the day.” I led her toward the hangar and used my key to get in the side door. “Does Tero sleep in here at night?” “Yep, this is his bedroom.” I switched on the light in the small office I’d set up for myself and began filling out my logbook. Kinley wandered out into the hangar to explore. “Helloo!” she called out and waited for her voice to echo back. She popped her head into the room. “I expected a better echo.” “Sorry to disappoint. There are too many gaps between the panels.” I finished logging the hours and headed into the hangar. Kinley was strolling down the long workbench running along the side of the building. She stopped at the picture I had nailed to the wall above my workbench. I walked up behind and wrapped my arms around her, resting my chin on her head. She pointed up at the photo. “Is that you in front of the helicopter?” “What gave it away? The roguish grin? I was about the same age Becky is now.” I stared up at the

photo. It was one of those pictures that had captured the moment so perfectly, it felt as if I was reliving that day every time I looked at it. “So the man next to you is Jack, your adopted dad? Becky’s father?” “Yep. That abandoned helicopter on Wildthorne’s runway was his favorite toy. He taught me to fly the thing when I was only ten. I think that’s where I got the itch to become a pilot.” “He was handsome. But then I can’t imagine Katherine with anyone who wasn’t tall and posture perfect.” She leaned farther over the bench, seemingly not realizing that as she did, her bottom pushed against me. My cock reacted instantly. “You know he has a bit of a mischievous grin just like you. I can see a resemblance.” She spun around. I lowered my arms, hoping it would help relieve the ache that had started by touching her. I peered up at the picture. I’d never really noticed it before, but Kinley was right. There was a family resemblance. “Jack had a dry sense of humor. He loved to play pranks on people. When I was fifteen, I’d somehow decided it was cool to smoke cigarettes like some of the high school kids. Of course, Katherine was always watching me with her eagle eye to make sure I wasn’t breaking any of her rules, so I had to sneak off to the other side of the island to light up. There was this massive boulder that’s concave from erosion. It’s almost a shallow cave. That was where I’d sit to puff on my smokes and try to convince myself I was enjoying it. It wasn’t working, by the way.” “Yeah, tried it once and threw up.” “So, I’m sitting there puffing away, and Jack jumps out from behind the rock in this creepy gorilla mask. Practically swallowed the cigarette. But it worked. Didn’t light up again.” Kinley covered her laugh with her hand. “Wish someone had filmed that.” She glanced back at the picture. “What an odd couple they must have made, Katherine and Jack, that is.” “Definitely a mismatch. I think it was arranged between the two families. Katherine came from some important east coast family with big ties to politicians and every other person of power. Jack sort of bit the bullet and married her for the family’s status in society. I never saw much love between them. Mostly because Katherine is devoid of that particular emotion. Let’s change topics. It’s your day off. What do you

want to do?” Kinley walked next to the bench, running her fingers along the edge of it. She spun around with a lopsided smile. “What has you grinning like that, Rabbit?” I reached her, and, as usual, I had to touch her. It was an unbreakable habit that I had no intention of ever breaking. I took hold of her hand. She looked around before answering. “I was just thinking that I’ve never had sex in an airplane hangar.” “Is that right?” She leaned back against the bench and crossed her arms. “Uh, I think the proper response here would have been—‘gee whiz, me neither’.” I shook my head. “Never used the phrase gee whiz in my life.” “How about the ‘me neither’ part? Wait,” she continued. “Never mind. I don’t want to know.” “That’s probably for the best. But in my defense, I’ve spent thousands of hours inside an airplane hangar. Whereas you have probably only spent—” I waited for her to fill in the blank. She cast a quick glance at the clock on the wall. “Ten minutes?” “I think I’ve made my case.” I unzipped her coat. “Now let’s make sure the next time you’re asked, you can proudly boast that you have had sex in an airplane hangar.” I pushed the coat off her shoulders. A shiver pulsed through her that I would have loved to take credit for. But I was sure it was from the cold. “Probably should just get these jeans off and leave the sweater on.” Kinley sat on an oil drum and took off her boots. “Think my big socks are staying too.” She pushed down her jeans but left on her lavender panties. They were no more than a tiny triangle of fabric held up with two thin straps. She pretended to be shy as she lifted her sweater up just enough to expose them completely. “Holy shit, those panties are going to keep me up at night.”

“Thought they might. I’ve sort of been saving them for just this kind of occasion.” “You mean sex in an airplane hangar?” “Well, I was thinking a day off with you, but yep, the hangar thing works too.” She started to roll off the panties. “Leave them on.” Her mouth tilted up on one side, revealing only one deep dimple. My pulse pounded as she looked coyly up at me through her lashes and then, in complete contrast to her dimples and shy smile, she turned around to show me the thin lavender string of the thong. The sight of her amazing ass split into two perfect white ass cheeks by the line of purple sent me across the cement floor. I stood behind her back and wrapped my arms around her, digging my hands under her sweater to touch her bare skin. I kissed her ear. “Rabbit, everything about you is fucking intoxicating.” I spun her in my arms and kissed her as I carried her to my work table. I didn’t pull my mouth from hers as I swept my arm across the table, sending my tools into a disheveled pile at the end. I took hold of her waist and hoisted her onto the table. A chirp of surprise popped from her lips as her bottom hit the cold surface. She leaned her hands back to brace herself. Her blue eyes swept over me from head to toe as she bent her knees and lifted her feet up to the table’s edge. I pushed off my shoes and pants while she gave me an erotic fucking show, dropping her knees wide open and then closing them just to open them again. I picked up my jeans and fished for the condom. She sat up, looking a little disappointed. “Aren’t you going to take off your shirt?” “You still have yours on.” “That’s because it’s cold in here, but—” She motioned her finger up and down telling me to take it off. “If you’re going to stand between my legs, I want you naked.” She leaned back again and parted her knees. “It makes my most important parts very hot.” “Well, in the interest of heating things up . . .” I took off my shirt and held out my arms. My cock was like a compass pointing north. “Will this do?”

“Oh yes, that will do.” I pushed myself between her legs and reached around her ass to scoot her forward. She wrapped her long legs around me and leaned back on her hands. “Oh Dax,” she said on a whisper that floated straight into my heart. I moved aside the tiny lavender triangle and pushed inside of her.

CHAPTER 20 Kinley THE SUN WAS lower in the sky, a reminder that my day off was coming to an end. I walked out onto the back stoop and joined Dax. The house he lived in was cramped and shabby, but it had a breathtaking view of the ocean. I sat on the step below him and leaned back against him. He wrapped his arms around me. “I love this time in the afternoon when the sun throws that light on the white caps. Makes the sea foam look like snow.” “You do have an incredible view.” “You could have it too.” “Your persistence is admirable, but you hardly know me. What if I move in and you can’t stand my habits? Besides, my nervous nose twitch—” “Which I already love so count that off the list.” “You are weird.” I wriggled out from his arms and moved to sit next to him on the step. “I have this terrible habit of squeezing the toothpaste tube from the top. I fluff my pillow a dozen times before I sleep. And I hum television theme songs while I’m washing dishes.” “Shit, you’re right. Forget it. No way I can fall for a woman with those kinds of habits. Except wait. I already have.” He hopped up. “Let’s walk on the beach and you can tell me the rest of the list. Although, I’ve got to tell you, you lost me at the toothpaste issue.”

We hiked through the piles of dry sand to the wet packed ground running along the shore. King’s Beach was a primitive, unexplored section of coast. I’d been unimpressed by it when I’d first arrived, but more and more, I’d come to appreciate its simple, undisturbed beauty. The strip of sand running in front of the houses was littered with the debris of nature, broken driftwood, clumps of dried seaweed and broken rocks. There was no easy public access, which left the stretch of beach mostly undisturbed. Our footprints disappeared like ghost steps as the water washed them away. We headed toward an outcropping of slate black rocks. “Do you surf out here?” “No, too many rocks and the waves don’t break right out here. There’s a place up the coast I drive to most mornings. I meet up with a few other regulars. We sit and bullshit while we’re waiting for the perfect wave, which comes less often than you might expect.” “I tried surfing once when I was in South Africa. Complete disaster. Maybe you could teach me someday.” He took hold of my hand. “I could do that.” “Dax, I know we don’t get to see each other more than once or twice a week, but let’s just keep things like this for now. Maybe eventually, I can let Katherine know—” “You can’t.” He stopped walking and tugged me around to face him. He paused to push a strand of hair off my face. “You can’t tell her,” he repeated in a calmer tone. “Surely, she can’t hate you that much. Besides, it’s none of her business who I see as long as I’m doing my job.” Dax shook his head and stared out at the water as if he was trying to gather the right words. His Adam’s apple moved with a hard swallow before he faced me again. “If you tell her we’re seeing each other, you’ll lose your job.” I peered up at him, not sure how to respond. I knew Katherine was the type of person who liked to keep control, but this seemed too far of a reach even for her. “It’s my personal life.”

“You aren’t just on that island to teach Becky. Katherine is looking for a wife for Marcus.” I hadn’t meant to laugh but it shot out before I could stop it with my hand. “A wife? I’ve only known the man a short time, but I’m fairly certain he’s not really the marrying type. If my arm accidentally brushes his sleeve, he just about jumps out of his skin. I’m pretty sure I’m off the list of potential brides.” Daylight was fading, and it was time for us to head back. We turned and started walking toward to the house. “I kind of figured you wouldn’t believe me. It has to do with the inheritance. It’s complicated.” I stopped abruptly. “Well, try me. I’m not that thick.” “I know you’re not thick. In fact, I’m less worried now about you being on that island and falling prey to their schemes because I know you’re too smart to be pulled in. Just believe me when I tell you that you shouldn’t tell Katherine about us.” He reached for my hands and pulled me to him. “Like you said, let’s keep things the way they are for now. Becky loves you. I haven’t seen her this happy in a long time. I would never want to get in the way of that. But know this, Kinley, I want you in my life. If you want me in yours, then I’ll be waiting.” He took hold of my face and kissed me.

CHAPTER 21 Kinley BECKY LIFTED HER hand and held out her palm. The tiny shell rolled back and forth on it. “Ta da, first whole one of the morning.” We’d been given the rare permission to hike to the beach and look for shells. I’d walked a few of the island’s edges on my own, but this was the first time Becky was allowed to join me. I’d convinced Katherine it was a hands-on science field trip. She just couldn’t find a reason to stop it. Although she gave it a good try. Becky dropped the shell in the bucket. “James says it’s because of the rocky shoreline. There is no smooth, easy path off this lump of sand.” She lifted her head and glanced around as if there were eyes and ears in the surrounding trees. “But I do know of a spot where there is a break in the rocks,” she whispered. “I found it when I was exploring for artifacts. In fact, I think that the tribe that once lived here long ago cleared the rocks to leave a big enough space for their canoe. That’s what they used to fish and travel to other islands. Canoes made from cedar.” “My gosh, Becky, I’m the student today. What a fascinating conclusion you came to all on your own. That is deductive reasoning, and it’s considered a higher level thinking skill. Well done, you.” “Well, I did have a little help from James.” She lifted her fingers to show just how little. It was always hard to keep my focus when she brought up James. Sometimes, because of the name and strained connection, it still felt as if she was talking about some stranger, a member of the family who I’d never met. “So James knows about the canoe path?” Becky looked quickly around. “Shh, my mother can never know I wandered that far.”

“Unless she has some superhero hearing, I don’t think your mom can hear us out here.” “You’d be surprised,” she countered. “I’ve been all the way at my bedroom door, muttering about the gross broccoli she forced me to eat. She heard me all the way from the dining room.” I laughed as I pushed up to my feet. I dusted the sand off my pants and looked around. “The tribes from this area used cedar for canoes but I don’t see any cedar trees.” Becky adjusted the cap she was wearing to make sure her nose didn’t get sunburned. Her mother had given her a stern warning not to get burned. We’d spent a good half hour slathering her up with suntan lotion only to discover that it stung her eyes too much to wear. The hat was her only real protection. “Dad said there used to be a whole bunch of cedar trees on Wildthorne, but the people who built the manor had them chopped down to make room for those thorny monsters lining all the paths.” “You don’t like the silk-floss trees?” “They’re all right when they’re blooming, but I can’t count how many balls I’ve popped on those things. Kick balls, soccer balls, beach balls, they’ve all come to an untimely death on the backside of a silk-floss tree.” “I guess that’s why you don’t see those trees on school playgrounds. I’d love to see the canoe path someday when there’s time.” She hopped to her feet and plucked up her bucket. “Let’s go. See those two trees where the tallest one sort of leans out over the water?” She pointed to some trees a few thousand yards away. “I see them.” “The canoe path is right between those trees. Let’s go.” “Another day. We need to get back to the house. Since you couldn’t handle the sunblock near your eyes, I promised your mother we wouldn’t be out here more than an hour.” “Oh yeah, darn it. Next time. And I’ll show you where I found some of the artifacts.” “That’d be great.” We headed along the path that had been lined with smooth stones to show the way to the beach.

“I’m thirsty.” Becky swung her bucket back and forth and the shell pieces clinkered inside. “I’ll go to the kitchen and get us some iced tea while you head upstairs and change out of your sandy clothes. Then I’ll meet you in the classroom for math.” “Ugh, how about we just pretend that I did math today?” “Don’t think there’s such a thing as pretend math.” “There should be.” Becky took off at a run and I headed inside and straight into the kitchen. Aside from the noises coming from Becky’s room, the house was quiet. Marcus was, no doubt, hunched over his work table in the library, and Katherine was, more than likely, working in her office, a finely furnished room with oak cabinetry and tall windows. I grabbed two glasses and opened the refrigerator. A vibration behind me pulled my attention to the ham radio cabinet. A red light flashed just below the cabinet, signaling that someone was trying to reach the island. I leaned my head out into the hallway but didn’t see Katherine or anyone else, for that matter. I walked back to the cabinet deciding I could answer and tell the person to hold while I went to fetch Katherine. As I opened the cabinet, Dax’s voice rumbled out. Even through the gritty speakers of the radio, the low, deep sound of it made my heart skip a beat. “Wildthorne One this is Tero One. Over.” I took hold of the speaker and pressed the button. “Tero One this is Wildthorne Five. Over.” I released the button. A long pause followed. It seemed I’d stunned the message receiver. “Wildthorne Five, good to hear your voice. Uh, who else is with you? Over.” I shot a puzzled glance around the room. “No one. Over.” “Then I would like to request for ham radio sex talk. Over.” My face warmed. I peeked around again just to make sure we were alone. I leaned into the cabinet. “Wildthorne Five has denied that request. Over.” “Tero One would like to know on what grounds. Over.”

“Uh, on grounds that anyone on this frequency can listen in. Over.” “Tero One would like to point out to Wildthorne Five that wild is part of your handle. Over.” “Yes, it is and yet Wildthorne Five is still saying a big fat negative to the request. Over.” “Fine. Wildthorne Five is party pooper. Over.” “That’s affirmative. Is there any message to be relayed? Over.” “Yes, let Wildthorne One know that Ryan has cancelled. He’s sick with the flu. Over.” “Right. Will let her know. Over.” “One more thing, Wildthorne Five. Over.” “Yes, go ahead.” “Tero One would like to inquire what color panties you are wearing? Over.” “Tero One will have to leave that inquiry to his imagination. Over.” There was a long pause, then Dax’s voice came through in a hushed, less formal tone. “Miss you and want you here with me right now. Over and out.” I smiled down at the microphone in my hand for a second before putting it away. Footsteps sounded on the kitchen floor as I closed the cabinet. Katherine’s face was smooth as stone except for a tiny tick of movement in her cheek. “Who was that?” she asked sharply. I felt like a child just about to be scolded. “I’m sorry, should I not have answered? It was Dax—uh—Tero One,” I added quickly, thinking I could easily remedy the awkwardness by giving her the message. “He said Ryan is sick and won’t be coming to the island today.” Katherine nodded. Her cheeks sucked in, making her sharp cheek bones even more prominent. This was a new stern expression I’d never seen, and I wasn’t feeling good about it. Her shoes struck the hard floor with angry clarity as she walked to the coffee pot. I took her sudden interest in pouring herself a cup as my chance for a quick getaway.

“It’s just that it seemed an overlong conversation for one short message.” She heard me leaving but pretended I was standing right behind her. I froze in the doorway and a rush of nerves went through me as I quickly decided how to explain the length of the conversation. It was hard to know just what she’d heard. Then Becky’s mention of her mother’s incredible hearing flashed through my mind, and I felt suddenly sick to my stomach. I pointed in the general direction of the radio cabinet. “That was my fault. It’s been a long time since I used a two way radio. I was being clumsy with the button and talking at the wrong time.” I said the lie with such confidence, I actually felt a twinge of guilt at how easily it had come to me. Katherine’s cold expression tossed quick shade over my confidence. “That’s fine,” she said abruptly. “Next time call Marcus or me to the radio.” “Right.” Feeling sufficiently scolded, I slinked quickly out of the kitchen and out from under her suspicious glower. But my intuition told me she’d heard too much and that this wasn’t going to end with just a quick admonishment.

CHAPTER 22 Dax I’D LANDED TERO and pulled the plane around. Kinley was usually waiting for me by the time I touched down, but there was no sign of her yet. I climbed out of the plane and decided to head toward the house to meet her. I hadn’t seen her in four days, and I was going out of my mind thinking about her. Our short talk on the radio three days earlier was the only thing that had gotten me through the week. I pushed past the first layer of shrubs and met up with Kinley just as she was looking back over her shoulder. She turned forward and gasped when she saw me standing right in front of her. “Hey, Rabbit, you look as if the big bad wolf is chasing you. And let me say, you’re looking the wrong direction because he’s right here.” I pointed at my chest with my thumbs. Normally, she laughed or at least smiled at my jokes, but I’d really missed the mark with my humor this time. Kinley looked back again. Her button nose was doing its usual hula dance when she turned back to me. “What’s wrong?” She pushed an envelope into my hand. “Can you put this in the mailbox? It’s for my parents. I’m not going with you today.” She spurted out the words fast. “Wait, what? Kinley, what’s going on?” She took my hand and led me away from the pathway and in the direction of the beach. “The letter isn’t anything important, just a few words about my new job, but I needed it as an excuse in case Katherine saw me out here.”

“Katherine? Why doesn’t she want you out here?” I took hold of her arm and pushed through the shrubs to a small opening in the branches. It was out of view of the runway and the house. “Shit, Kinley, you’re shaking.” My confusion was quickly replaced by rage. “What the hell has she done to you?” I pushed aside a branch. “I’m going to go talk to her.” Kinley grabbed my hand. “No, don’t. She hasn’t done anything, but circumstances have definitely changed. I think she might have heard us talking on the radio.” “So what?” I quickly amended my reaction with a string of cuss words when I remembered the content of the conversation. “God, I’m sorry, Kinley. I was just messing around.” On the other side of a tall, dense row of plants, we could hear Katherine walking along the path to the runway. Kinley dropped her voice really low. “She told me she’d decided to run the errands today and that I was to stay home with Becky.” She blinked hard to keep back the glassy tears in her eyes. “I think her only motive was to keep us apart.” I reached for her but she shook her head. “Stick that letter in your pocket. I’m going to head this way toward the beach to hide while you take off.” “But, Rabbit—” She spun around but then returned two steps, hopped up on her toes and kissed me before disappearing into the plants. I stepped out from the shrubs and landed right in Katherine’s harsh, questioning glare. “What on earth were you doing in there?” “I was taking a piss.” I knew my crude response would silence her and it did. “Let’s get going. I have a lot to do today,” she snarled. I headed toward Tero, making sure to take fast, extra long steps. She had to scoot on her high heels to keep up. I shot Katherine a cold, sideways glance. “How did I earn the displeasure of your company today?” Her mouth pulled so tight, it nearly stretched from one side of her face to the other. It seemed she

wasn’t going to answer my impolite question, which was probably for the best. I hated to get worked up in a lather when I was just about to sit behind the control wheel. It was probably Katherine’s motive for not responding too. We had always rubbed each other like nails on a chalkboard. We sat in our usual cold silence for half the trip until she decided to throw her usual venom at me. “Just what the hell are you up to, James?” “Uh, right now? About eight thousand feet.” “And I want none of your usual smart ass answers.” “I’m not a fucking kid anymore, Katherine, so let’s just stop talking before I decide to press the passenger seat eject button.” I could feel her harsh gaze on the side of my face, but I stayed focused on my controls. “I know there is something going on between you and Kinley. I want it to stop.” How badly I wanted to let her know the truth, for no other reason except it would make her crazed with anger. But I’d promised Kinley I wouldn’t get in the way of her job. She obviously considered it an important step for moving on from her last relationship. I didn’t want to ruin that. I was going to wait patiently on the sidelines for as long as it took. Katherine straightened her coat and her already uptight posture, which meant more poison was on its way. “Well, whatever tawdry thing you’ve started with her, it’s going to come to an abrupt end.” She was baiting me. Fortunately, I knew exactly how she worked, so I didn’t bite. “I’ll be running errands from now on.” She pulled her coat shut against the chilled air in the cabin. All I could think was—how could the most frigid woman in the world ever be cold? I sat in steely silence, wondering if I should just put both of us out of our misery and head nose down into the ocean. Only I didn’t want Katherine’s face to be the last one I saw before a watery grave, even if it would be white with terror. “So you’re keeping Becky’s tutor prisoner on the island until you can talk her into being Frankenstein’s bride?”

The icy air swirling around her now glowed with the heat of rage. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her swivel under her seatbelt. I wondered if she was going to throw a punch. She kept her fists to herself. I was sure that had more to do with the fact that I was in control of the plane than her not wanting to hit me. “I warned Jack, from the moment you walked in with your suitcase and that angry little scowl that you’d be nothing but trouble.” “Ever think that maybe it’s that black ice heart of yours that’s the problem? I was five fucking years old. I’d lost my dad and my mom and I was completely alone. Don’t you think maybe I had a right to be just a little bit angry at the world?” “You hardly knew your parents, and God knows your mother—” “Don’t—” I pointed at her, a habit she hated. Just like the cussing, which I was giving her an extra dose of just for fun. “Not a fucking word about my mom. And you’re fucking delusional if you think your plan is going to work. Kinley won’t have any part of it.” “Ah ha, I guess that answers my earlier question about your relationship with Kinley.” “What the fuck are you talking about? I just know your creepy little schemes. Kinley seems far too smart and worldly to be taken in. No matter how much money comes with it.” “Everyone has need for money. Even you, it seems, as much as you pretend you don’t.” “I live day to day, and I’m just fine with that.” “Right.” She settled back in her seat and flipped the collar of her coat up to shield her face some. Which was just fine with me. If only she could have sunk down into that fucking coat and disappeared for good.

CHAPTER 23 Kinley “YOU PROMISED AFTER math we’d look through my dad’s atlas. You were going to show me exactly where the Pyramid of Kharfre and the mummy’s curse is located.” Becky laughed. “Even though it really wasn’t a mummy’s curse but just a string of rotten luck.” She handed me her assignment. “Today is the perfect day because Marcus will be in bed all day with that headache.” She ended the sentence with an eye roll, and frankly, I had one going in my mind as well. Marcus had woken with a headache, and Katherine mentioned that he’d be nursing his health in bed all day. Apparently he was convinced he’d contracted some dreaded disease. I was fairly certain all he’d contracted was a major buzz from the glue. It was right after Katherine’s conversation about Marcus’s headache when she dropped the news that she’d be running the errands today. She’d added that it would give me more time for lessons and that shopping for toiletries and health aids was a waste of valuable time when I could be spending it with Becky. At first, I’d taken the news with just profound disappointment. I’d spent the morning daydreaming about my time with Dax. Finding out that I wasn’t going to see him had brought me close to tears. As I walked away from my conversation with Katherine, each step grew heavier with worry that she knew about Dax and me. Obviously, she’d overheard us flirting on the ham radio, and it seemed she was determined to put an end to it. I’d devised the plan to write a letter to my parents, something I’d been needing to do anyhow. The letter was my chance to see Dax. It was the perfect excuse for me to walk out to the runway. I was sure seeing him for at least a few minutes would lift some of the gray from my mood, but all it did was make me miss him more. I realized then that I wanted to be with Dax. I loved my job teaching Becky. I loved my independence. I even loved living in the stately old manor on the remote island. But if my new job and life

meant having to leave Dax out of it, the balance had tipped in his direction. None of it would matter without Dax. Becky and I straightened up the classroom and headed down to the library. The glue smell had permeated the wood paneling and the stacks of books. I doubted the odor would ever leave. The man fretted over every germ and then spent his entire day in a cloud of toxic fumes. “We won’t be able to stay in here long, Becky. I’m worried this glue smell will give us both a headache.” Becky waved her hand in front of her face to fan the smell away, but it was useless. “Stupid Marcus. I used to love to come in here and hang around with my dad.” She walked over to a shelf that was lined with colorful kids’ books. “He even gave me my own shelf, so I could read with him.” “He sounded like a great dad.” “He was and best of all, he loved to play jokes, especially on Mother. She’d get all puffy and red in the face, and he’d tell her, ‘Katherine, sometimes you just need to enjoy life and a good laugh for a change’,” Becky said in her deep man voice. “But she never laughs. Especially after his last joke. That one made her the most red faced of all.” The kid was like a busy bee, and before I could find out more about the last joke, she shot across the carpet. I followed her as she headed toward a set of shelves designed for oversized books. On the way, we passed Marcus’s work table. He’d made great progress on the model. Becky stopped at the table, wearing a mischievous grin as she shot a quick glance at the door. Then she moved two of his tools to the other side of the model. “What are you doing? I’m sure your brother won’t like you touching his things.” “Sometimes I just like to mess with him. He’s just so aggravating.” She continued on her journey to the oversized books. “But Marcus doesn’t really get in your way. Why does he bother you so much?” “He’s just so picky about everything. He has to use certain plates and silverware and he only eats certain foods. He’s like a three-year-old. And then he gets to be picky about my tutors. If he doesn’t like

them, then off they go. Just when I start getting used to someone, they pack up and leave.” She grabbed hold of my arm. “That’s why I’m so glad he likes you because if he didn’t I already decided I was going to chain myself to you. So you’d have to take me with you if you leave.” For the first time I felt truly sorry for Becky. I hugged her. “You have my permission to chain yourself to me anytime.” I helped her lift the heavy, leather bound atlas from the shelf. It was a gorgeous collector’s edition, but the maps inside would be completely obsolete in today’s world. But it would be easy enough to find Giza. As we settled on the rug in the corner, I made an attempt to get information from Becky. She usually only stuck on a topic if it interested her, and her family was not high on that list. Becky stretched out on her stomach. I sat down next to her on the rug. “Becky, I’m curious, why does Marcus get to decide whether or not a tutor stays? He has so little to do with your education.” She began flipping through the book and landed at a place where she’d stuck a lady bug shaped bookmark. It was a picture of Yosemite. “This is the first place I’ll go once I’m old enough to leave the island.” She flipped through some more pages. “It all has to do with Daddy’s last will test. I think that’s what it’s called.” I helped her page through to the maps of Egypt. “He had a test? I don’t understand.” And then it came to me. “You mean his last will and testament?” “Yeah, that’s it. It made Mother so mad she spent a week pacing around the front room with steam coming from her ears. Literally,” she added proudly. “Yes, we still need to work on those vocabulary words. I think you mean metaphorically unless she actually had steam coming from her ears.” “Just about. Anyhow, I think it had to do with Marcus not getting money until he married and had a baby.” She waved it off and returned her attention to the book. I sat there staring absently at the pictures she was pointing out, trying to process it all in my head. James had warned me. He’d told me what Katherine was up to, but I laughed it off, thinking it couldn’t

possibly be true. Becky grinned up at me as if waiting for a response, only I hadn’t heard her question. My heart broke at the thought of leaving her behind, but this new revelation assured me I needed to leave my position. I wasn’t going to be a bought and paid for bride, and I sure as heck wasn’t going to stay on this island forever with Marcus. It was strange to think that Jack, a seemingly loving dad, would have put a stipulation like marriage in his will when he knew that his son had so many issues that would keep him from a normal relationship. Unless, of course, that was his main purpose for doing it. Perhaps Jack thought a fortune might be enough incentive to make Marcus deal with his problems. Obviously, the man had underestimated the extent of Marcus’s phobia. “Let me guess, is this Giza?” Becky’s voice popped me out of my thoughts. I looked down at the map. “No, you’re on the wrong continent.” I flipped the pages. With it being an old leather bound book, the pages ran through my fingers and stopped at the back cover. An extra piece of heavy vellum paper had been glued to the inside of the cover. It bulged with what looked like a stack of papers stuck inside. “Becky, what’s this?” She laughed. “I forgot about that. That was Daddy’s shh pocket.” She placed her finger next to her lips to add a visual. “He used to hide stuff in there that he didn’t want Mother to see. I’m the only person who knows about it.” She flipped the pages back to the middle. “We should probably hurry up. The smell in this room is making my eyes hurt.” “Then we’d better finish this and get out of the library.”

CHAPTER 24 Dax I HAD TWO hours before my next flight, taking Katherine back to Wildthorne. I’d forced myself to sit in the hangar office and do paperwork. My mind wasn’t on business though. It was on Kinley. Katherine had figured out everything, and she was determined to make sure I stayed away from Kinley. Only that wasn’t going to happen. I hadn’t figured everything out yet, but I’d have it solid in my head long before Tero’s wheels touched down on the runway. A job was one thing, but I was sure Kinley wouldn’t stay if she knew the full scope of Katherine’s plans. I finished logging flight hours and got up to grab a soda from the refrigerator. My phone rang, bringing me back to my desk. It was Katherine. “Yeah?” “Great telephone skills,” she scoffed. “Are you done early?” The background noise wasn’t normal. There was an announcement over a loudspeaker, and I was sure I heard plane engines. “Actually, I won’t be needing your services anymore today.” It took me a second to decipher what she was saying. “You’re not flying back to the island?” “Oh, I am. You’re not. I’ve hired a private helicopter service. I’m leaving King’s Beach in a few minutes. The helicopter pilot is extremely attentive, and he has a much steadier machine than that ridiculous thing you call an airplane. He’s a bit more expensive, and I’ll have to cut down on some of the

flights to King’s Beach, but I think this will be for the best.” I wondered if it was humanly possible to crush a cell phone in a bare hand. I was so close to destroying mine, I was sure I heard it creak and groan as I squeezed it. “You can’t keep me from visiting Wildthorne.” “Sure I can. It’s my property.” “What happened to James always being welcome in his home? Oh wait, that’s right. That was just an act to give Kinley and Becky the impression that you’re human inside instead of robot.” The phone went dead. She’d hung up. But I didn’t give a fuck. Earlier, when we’d landed in King’s Beach, Katherine had recorded a reminder on her phone to buy aspirin for Marcus, which meant he was probably in bed. He spent at least one day a week in bed trying to stave off some imaginary disease. I decided to take a chance and radio the house. It was Janice’s day off, so only Becky and Kinley were around to answer. They spent most of their time in rooms far away from the kitchen, but it was worth a try. I needed to talk to Kinley. I needed to tell her that things had changed for the worse. I needed to convince her to leave the island. I knew that her attachment to Becky was going to make that a tough argument, but I had to try. I walked to my radio. “Tero One to Wildthorne Five, do you read me?” I released the button and waited. Nothing. “Tero One to Wildthorne Five, do you read me?” Katherine had taken this to a whole new low, banishing me from the island. She must have spent her entire afternoon searching for a reliable air service willing to fly back and forth to Wildthorne. “Tero One to Wildthorne Five, do you read me?” Just as I was about to rip the fucking speaker from the radio, I heard a voice that made my chest tighten. “Dax? I mean Tero One.” As she spoke her voice crumbled closer and closer to sobs. “This is Wildthorne Five, I read you, over.” A sniffle followed, and I wanted to jump through the damn radio and take her into my arms. I was in no mood for radio speak. “You need to get out of there, Kinley. She’s planning to trap you there. Over.” “I know.” Her voice was faint, but it wasn’t because of the radio. She was upset. All the pieces had

come together for her. It seemed she was starting to realize teaching Becky was the only perk that came with the job. “Dax, I don’t know what to do. I need you.” “I’m on my way.”

CHAPTER 25 Kinley I SHOULD HAVE known it was all too good to be true. From the start, I’d found it hard to warm up to Katherine. Otherwise, the job had been perfect. Or at least it had seemed perfect. I was naive to think everything would go so smoothly. My life rarely went smoothly. Still, never in a million years would I have imagined myself caught up in some weird marriage scheme. Dax had been right. It was a little like living with the Addams Family, with one exception—Becky. It would break my heart to leave her, but I saw no way to stay. Becky had gone down to the television room to watch movies. I decided to head up to my room and pack my things. I needed the time alone to work up the courage to tell Becky. It wasn’t going to be easy. As I stood at the dresser in my bedroom, my eyes flitted up to the framed art on the wall. It was an intricately drawn picture of a sailing ship. I stared at it for a second and decided it was time to talk to Marcus. I needed to find out just what the heck was going on. I had every right to know just how badly I’d been duped. I marched down the hallway with the confidence of a seasoned warrior but shrank into a trembling pile of cowardice by the time I reached his door. I took a deep breath and knocked. “Yes?” Marcus called back. I wondered what he knew or if he knew anything that was going on outside the germfree bubble he’d created for himself. “Marcus, it’s Kinley. I wonder if I could have a word with you.” Blankets shuffled and the bed creaked as he seemed to be readying himself for a visitor.

“Come in, Kinley.” I stepped inside the room. He pointed to a line on the floor made with tape. “If you don’t mind, please stay back behind the line. I don’t want you to catch whatever I have . . . and vice versa.” I made sure to stop at the tape. Marcus looked even more pale than usual but then he’d spent the entire day in a dark room. He had propped himself up against pillows. He was a young man in his twenties, but with the life he’d made for himself, he might as well have been in his eighties. I didn’t have a chance to speak. “Guess you’ve figured out why Mother hired you.” I nodded. “I’m sorry. It’s really all my dad’s fault. He took pleasure in upsetting her, and at the same time, he was thoroughly disappointed and embarrassed by me. The will was meant to teach both of us a lesson.” A dry, terse laugh followed. “He had it set in his mind that I was doing this for some kind of attention. He could never understand it, and I couldn’t explain it. But he had James. James was the son he wanted. Tough as nails. Athletic. Courageous. He loved James more.” “You don’t know that.” “Yes, I do. And it’s all right. I accepted it long ago. I hate James for it, which is terrible because it’s not his fault. He is who he is.” He adjusted the blankets on his bed. “Since Dad never gave his lawyer the real will, we’re stuck in this situation. I don’t mind. I have everything I need here, but Mother will do anything to get her hands on that fortune.” I accidentally took a step over the tape and backed up quickly. “What do you mean the real will?” “The first one was meant as a joke to scare my mother. Which it did. Only Dad didn’t expect to die out on the water. He told his lawyer he’d drawn up his real will, the one he was supposed to read after the ugly, little joke. The lawyer never received it. So, the first will stands.” “That’s terrible. I’m sorry, Marcus.”

“You and James?” he asked with a brow lift. “Yes.” “I knew the first time I saw you that you were going to be different. You were the first woman Mother hired that I thought—hmm, maybe I could get past my problems. You’re the first one who would have been worth the effort. Can’t blame James at all.” Tears filled my eyes, and my throat was too tight to speak. “Have you told Becky?” I shook my head. “Not yet.” I swallowed hard and got the rest of the words out. “And, Marcus, you would have been worth the effort too.” I turned and walked out of the room and stopped halfway down the hall to break down in tears.

CHAPTER 26 Dax I WAS HALF expecting a barrage of land to air missiles as I came through the dark clouds hovering over the runway. I was sure if Katherine could have arranged it, she would have. I’d heard through the radio that the transport helicopter had already left Wildthorne, so I knew the runway was clear. Tero was great at announcing our arrival, no matter where we landed. By the time the tires hit the runway, everyone in the house would know I was on the island. But that didn’t matter. The only thing that mattered was Kinley. It wouldn’t be long before Becky understood that her mother had banned me from the island and that Katherine and Marcus had once again scared off another teacher. I jumped down from the cockpit and headed toward the house. The storm darkened sky above the island fit my grim mood perfectly. It was still dusk, but the clouds made it seem as if it was the middle of the night. A bitter, cold wind was starting to gain strength as it blew in off the choppy water. The entire scene reminded me of the day that the boat caught fire, the day when I knew my life on Wildthorne had changed forever. I picked up my pace. I had to hurry and find Kinley so we could get back to the plane and back to King’s Beach before the storm broke. I hadn’t really thought about what I’d say to Katherine, but at this point, it just didn’t matter. I was taking Kinley, and there wasn’t a fucking thing my stepmother could do to stop me. A light went on in the kitchen as I crossed the lawn. I saw Katherine peer out. She’d heard Tero and was waiting to pounce. I was ready for whatever she had to throw at me.

I walked inside. “Kinley!” I called as I hurried through the entryway. There was no answer. I headed down the hallway to the kitchen. I was going to have to face Katherine, and I decided to get it over with. Kinley was standing in the kitchen with her bags in her hands. Her eyes and nose were red from crying. I shot a rage-filled glare at Katherine. “This is over. I’m taking Kinley now. Tell Becky I’ll see her when you let me back on the island.” I pointed at her. “You make fucking sure she knows this is on you.” “Tell her yourself,” Katherine snapped. “She’s upstairs in her room, hysterical because you are taking Kinley away from her.” “No, I’m leaving on my own free will. Don’t blame Dax,” Kinley said weakly. Her thin shoulders vibrated as she took a deep breath. “You weren’t honest about anything, Katherine. I can’t stay knowing you only brought me here to get access to your inheritance. I’m sure you can find another woman willing to give up her life, so you can continue living in luxury.” Kinley turned to me. “I’m ready to go.” Katherine’s sharp, angry laugh startled her as she walked toward me. “Are you going to tell her, James, or should I?” Katherine barked. I stared at the woman, trying to figure out which way her devious mind was heading this time. Then it sank in. “There’s nothing to tell her. My motives are real. I love Kinley.” Kinley hurried to my side. “James probably forgot to mention that he was part of Jack’s wretched little joke,” Katherine spoke quickly. “Let’s go, Kinley.” I reached for her bags, but she backed up a step. Her lips parted in question. “That’s right. The first one of Jack’s sons to marry,” Katherine sneered at me, “gets the bulk of the Underwood fortune. You’re being played from both sides, my dear.”

Kinley’s face paled. She looked at me with an expression that was both disbelief and heartbreak. I stepped toward her, but she stumbled back. “I don’t give a damn about the money, and she knows it, Kinley.” A streak of lightning lit up the yard and pulled everyone’s attention to the window for a second. When I turned back, Kinley was running from the room. I raced after her. “Kinley, I love you. I don’t give a damn about the money. It’s you I want.” She dropped her bags and raced up the stairs without looking back. Her bedroom door snapped shut behind her. I turned around. Katherine was standing behind me wearing that super villain grin she’d perfected. “Guess we both lose out this round.” With that she turned sharply on her pointed heels and walked back into the kitchen. Another streak of light lit up the entry, and a brutal gust of wind kicked at the house. A torrent of rain followed, spraying the windows and pounding the roof. The storm had rushed in faster than I’d expected. I wasn’t going anywhere now. Not that I had any intention of leaving the island without Kinley. The wind pushed the door open wider as I walked outside. I yanked it shut, lowered my head and ran for the guest house.

CHAPTER 27 Kinley THE ELECTRICITY HAD been turned off, and the room was bathed in darkness. I reached for the flashlight next to my bed and turned it on. My head throbbed from crying as I placed my feet on the floor. How could everything have gone this bad, this quickly? The pain I felt in my head was nothing compared to the heavy thud of despair I felt in my chest. I’d felt heartbreak before but never like this, never to the point that I couldn’t think straight or catch a decent breath. I walked to the window and jumped back as a shower of raindrops sprayed the glass. The yard was once again being littered with debris from the storm. I peered up at the sky. It was pillowed with black clouds. They seemed to have settled over the island for good. I really was in a prison, a prison from which there was no escape. And enemies seemed to be surrounding me on all sides. My mind went back to Dax, and immediately, my stomach clenched in on itself again. Using the flashlight, I navigated my way to the bathroom, turned on the sink and splashed cold water on my face to stop the nausea. The icy water brought me some clarity. I turned off the faucet and peered up at my reflection in the glow of the flashlight. My eyes were puffy and my nose was red enough to lead Santa’s sleigh. How could I have been so silly to have fallen for Dax’s charms? Unfortunately, that question was easy to answer. His charms were hard to resist. He’d seemed so sincere about his feelings for me. There had been those few moments when I’d considered the possibility that Dax had flirted and slept with all of Becky’s teachers, but his response had made me push aside that notion. Now it all seemed entirely possible. Dax might have been working to sabotage Katherine’s plans all along, either to anger her or to stop Marcus from getting the family fortune. Only there was nothing in Dax’s character that could lead me to think that he was greedy for money. He lived so simply that it seemed he never thought twice about

material things. No. I had to shut down my mind. I had to stop defending him. He’d played me badly, and I’d let him. I wasn’t sure if I was more angry at him or at myself. I stepped back into the bedroom. Even though the black sky gave no indication the storm was over, there was a quiet lull outside. The resulting quiet assured me the entire household was sleeping. I stuck my head out into the hallway to be sure. I doubted that Dax had been foolish enough to take off in the storm. I could only assume he was in the guest house. I never wanted to talk to any of them again. If I’d taken a regular job in a city, I could have just slipped out, grabbed my bags and hopped on a bus or train. But I’d gotten myself stuck in an impossible situation. Or had I? I closed the door to my bedroom and sat down on the bed to reason out my plan. There was one small path to escape. It was a crazy and dangerous path, especially with the storm raging outside, but I’d been in some scary scenarios with my parents. They’d taught me that a good plan coupled with a heaping dose of courage could get you out of any mess. I picked up the flashlight, hopped off the bed and grabbed my coat. I had to try.

CHAPTER 28 Kinley FORTUNATELY FOR ME, Katherine was compulsively organized. Every box in the cellar was labeled, making it easy to find the self inflating raft. It was neatly contained in a box that looked somewhat like a briefcase, handle and all. I grabbed several more flashlights and a flare, just in case. I carried my haul up the stairs and didn’t waste any time. The storm outside had quieted almost as if it was inviting me to take the risk. I hadn’t needed the invite. Once I’d thought of the plan, I hadn’t second guessed myself once. If I had, then I might have started listing the possible risks and lost my courage. But I had to leave. I worried that if I faced Dax again, my resolve would crumble just like my heart. I reached the top of the basement stairs and glanced into the kitchen. The house was still quiet, with only a few candle sconces burning in the hallway. Just as I shut the door behind me, light footsteps landed in the hallway. I shot toward the back door, but the circular light of a flashlight surrounded me. I turned slowly around. Becky’s face reminded me of my own reflection in the bathroom mirror, puffy eyes and a red nose. Her eyes rounded as she noticed the supplies in my hand. I raced over to her and knelt in front of her. Tears ran down her cheeks as I hugged her. My heart was pounding. I was sure Katherine and her bionic ears would hear us. “You can’t leave, Kinley. This is Marcus’s fault, isn’t it? I hate him.” Each word grew louder, and I was sure I would be discovered. “It’s not Marcus’s fault,” I whispered. “But I need to leave. I will miss you, Becky. You have to know that. You are an amazing person, and I’ll never forget you. But I have to go. Please promise me you won’t tell your mom.”

She used the sleeve of her pajamas to wipe her eyes. “I promise. But it’s stormy out on the water. You might die. You might die like Daddy did.” Her shoulders shook with sobs, and I hugged her again. “The raft will keep me safe. I’ll be fine. I’ve survived a mummy’s curse. I can survive anything.” “But it wasn’t a mummy’s curse. It was just bad luck,” she argued. I took a deep breath. “True. And it seems putting the stone back didn’t stop the run of bad luck after all.” I kissed the top of her head. “Work hard and make sure you get into college. It’s your surest way to see the rest of the world.” I picked up the handle on the raft case. Becky’s sniffles followed me as I slipped out the back door.

CHAPTER 29 Dax I’D PACED THE small guest house like a caged animal, nearly wearing a hole in the wood floor. I wanted badly to just storm the house and find Kinley. I needed her to know that none of this was for money. But I needed to find her alone, without Katherine lurking between us like a dangerous snake. I’d spent hours in the guest house, waiting for everyone to fall asleep trying to cool my head and come up with my defense. And I had one. I could have married a hundred times already if I’d wanted the money. Katherine knew it because it was the plain, honest truth. I’d never fallen in love until I met Kinley. The storm outside had quieted some, but the clouds were still hanging overhead, as if they weren’t quite empty yet. I had no real plan except to sneak into the house and up to Kinley’s room. All I could hope for was that she answered my knock and didn’t slam the door in my face before I could get my words out. I grabbed my coat and pulled it on. The air was brisk and heavy with moisture as I strode across the yard to the house. One of the perks of living on an island that was surrounded by rocks was never having to lock doors. But tonight was different. Katherine knew I was just a few hundred yards away in the guest house. I reached the back door. It was unlocked. The woman must have been getting sloppy in her quest to be evil. I crept through the kitchen and down the hallway. Only a few candles had been left on for the night. They made my shadow flick back and forth across the floor. My rebellious teen years had required me to chart the perfect path up and down the stairs to avoid squeaky floorboards. I flew up the steps and made it to the top without a sound. I headed down the hallway with my heart beating loud enough to wake the dead. Fortunately, the living slept right through it. I reached Kinley’s door and took a deep breath. I knocked lightly hoping it

would be loud enough to wake Kinley but quiet enough to leave the rest of the house sleeping. There was no answer. I tried again and again. My heart turned to stone a little more with each knock. I’d lost her. I’d lost Kinley for good. She wanted nothing more to do with me. As I knocked one last time, a flashlight illuminated the hallway behind me. I shaded my eyes and squinted into the light. Becky scurried toward me, pushed open Kinley’s door and motioned me inside with the light. Kinley’s bed was empty. Becky’s face was a mix of pink and white, both from crying and from what looked like grave concern. “You have to go to the canoe clearing. She’s trying to leave the island, only she has a raft and not a canoe. You have to bring her back to me, James.” Hiccoughs and sniffles muddled her words. “Go—go get her.” I grabbed a tissue off the dresser and handed it to Becky. “You’re not making sense. What about the canoe path? Where is Kinley?” As Becky smeared the tissue over her face and tried to catch her breath, pieces of what she’d said were coming together to form a picture. I knelt down in front of her. “Becky, is Kinley taking a life raft off the island?” “Yes, hurry.” I shot out the door and my feet pounded the floor. I didn’t give a damn anymore who heard me. What the hell had made Kinley do something so dangerous? Did she hate me so much now, she’d decided to risk her life just to get away from me and my freaky family? My feet pounded as loudly as my pulse as I raced toward the section of beach where the rocks had been cleared by early island inhabitants. They might have used the narrow stretch of sand successfully, but they had sturdy canoes and the skills needed to navigate the dangerous coastline. Not to mention, the early tribes probably never shoved off during a raging storm or in the dark of night. The dense foliage was like a wet maze of leaves and branches. There was no moon or stars to light my way. I had to use my innate sense of direction to find the shortest path to the canoe launch. The heavy rain had left behind puddles that acted like quicksand, and my shoes got sucked under with each step. One extra deep sinkhole yanked me down to my ankle. I used all my strength to pull my foot free. As my shoe popped to the surface, I fell back against the gnarly trunk of a silk-floss tree.

“Fuck!” I pushed off the thorns and immediately felt warm blood dripping down my back. I kept moving. I’d flown out of the house so fast, I hadn’t thought to ask Becky how long Kinley had been gone. She could’ve been well out on the water by now. If she’d made it past the rocks. That terrifying thought shot more adrenaline through me, and I charged ahead. I pushed into the clearing that lay just above the primitive canoe launch. “Kinley!” I yelled at the top of my lungs, but the ocean was in a loud frenzy from the storm. It slapped the rocky shoreline as rough waves pounded the island. There just wasn’t any way a raft could make it safely past the rocky reef. Not with the storm surge raging below. “Kinley!” I raced down to the water’s edge. Salt water sprayed my eyes, and I wiped them to clear my vision. That was when I saw it, the ripped remnants of a self-inflating raft. It clung to the rocks like a deflated balloon. My heart pounded against my ribs, and I choked back the bitter taste in my throat. I waded into the water, fighting the angry tide as it forced its way onto the beach. “Kinley!” A wave picked me up and tossed me back toward the sand. I pulled my arms through it as if I was working to catch the best wave of the day. All the while I had to reassure myself that she was still alive. She fucking had to be alive. The next wave sent me barreling toward the rocks bordering the canoe path. I stuck my feet out, hoping to keep myself from being splattered on the rocks. My feet jammed painfully against the craggy edges, but before my body could follow, I was being dragged back out by the tide. I swam farther out and had to work to keep my head above water. Just before I got pulled under for the fifth time, a flash of light lit up the rocks. I used all my strength to tread water as I watched for another light. Three short lights. Three longer lights. Three short. She was spelling SOS with a flashlight. I took the first wave back to shore and left the water at a run. I circled around to the place on the beach that led out over the ledge of rocks. The storm surge had begun to shrink back, and a few of the clouds had parted enough to shine some moonlight over the slick layers of slate. I hopped up onto the first ledge and headed in the direction of the light. “Kinley!” The light flickered on and off. I followed it. The rocks were hard enough to cross on a dry, sunny day, but on a dark, stormy night, especially when there was no time for caution, they were like sharp jaws just waiting to snap an ankle or break a leg. I fell painfully to my knees once but managed to get my feet

back under me. The light flicked on and off again. This time a soft cry followed it. The sound reached right in and grabbed my heart. “Kinley!” “Over here,” she replied in a thin, reedy voice. I reached the highest point on the rocks. My gaze swept to the bottom layer. The flashlight flickered on. I could only see her silhouette as she hugged a rock to keep from being pulled into the tide. I trotted down as fast as I could and jumped across several deep, wide crevices to land on the rock next to her. Kinley was soaked and shivering uncontrollably as my hands wrapped around her arms. The flashlight that’d saved her clattered down the rocks and disappeared into the waves as I lifted her into my arms. “Fucking hell, Rabbit, I thought I lost you.” Her entire body was shaking as she lifted her head and looked at me. “Tell me this is real, Dax. Tell me you are real. Please.” Her chin vibrated as she spoke. “I’m real, baby. I love you. I don’t want a fucking penny of Jack’s money. I just want you.”

CHAPTER 30 Kinley I WAS STILL in Dax’s arms. Right where I wanted to be. It took him no effort at all to carry me back to the house. The way he held me, as if he never intended to let me go, warmed me on the inside. But the rest of me was chilled to the bone. My face stung from the brisk air. Even though Dax’s shirt was soaked, I closed my eyes and huddled against him, hoping to steal his body heat. The last thirty minutes were mostly a nightmarish blur now. I’d inflated the raft and pulled it into the raging water. A current grabbed the raft and pulled me away from the beach. I was sure I’d made it clear of the dangerous rocks when a wave lifted me up and tossed me back toward the treacherous reef. The raft had cushioned me against injury, but the impact tore a gash in the canvas. Seconds later I was climbing free of the ruptured canvas. I couldn’t get much farther than the bottom layer of rocks. I found a secure perch and huddled there. Waves pounded me and worked hard to dislodge me, but somehow I managed to hold on. Then, in the midst of my nightmare, I heard Dax calling me. The clouds had cleared completely, leaving behind a chilly night. Dax’s feet stomped the ground hard as he hurried toward the house. “I’m sorry, Dax. I deserve a royal kick in the ass for this.” “Not a kick. A spanking, maybe. You don’t need to apologize. I don’t blame you for trying to run.” He climbed the steps to the house and the front door flew open. Katherine’s usual smooth as marble expression had crinkled to one I’d never seen before. I was almost convinced it was worry. “James, take her straight up to her room for a hot shower. I’ll make hot tea.” Katherine sounded almost motherly.

We swept by Becky, who looked exhausted from crying. I reached out my hand, and she touched it as Dax carried me past. “I can walk up the stairs, Dax.” “Not ready to let go of you yet. In fact, I might never let you out of my arms again.” He easily climbed the stairs, and I realized as we passed through the hallway that the lights had been turned back on. I peered up at him. “Was it my imagination or was Katherine—” “Acting human? I noticed it too. Weird.” He carried me into my bedroom. “Not that I’m in any hurry to leave this marvelous pair of arms, but you can let me down.” He hesitated before lowering my feet to the ground. Some of the trembling had subsided but my skin was still clammy, and I felt lightheaded from the chill. Or it might just have been the incredible looking man standing in front of me, soaked with saltwater and looking more than slightly relieved. “Thank you. You risked your life out there.” I took a steadying breath to stop my voice from wobbling. “It was a stupid stunt, and I’ll never forgive myself. It’s just that I didn’t know where to go or who to trust and—” Dax took hold of my arms and pulled me closer. “You can trust me, Rabbit. If I’d wanted that inheritance, I could have gotten married long ago.” His cocky half smile was a dream to see after the horrid night. “As you’ve noted, I’m like a piece of candy in a town full of sweet tooths.” “Yes, you are. Only now you are my piece of candy, so the other women are out of luck.” I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him.

CHAPTER 31 Dax KATHERINE WAS ALMOST civil as I sat in the kitchen drinking hot coffee to warm up. It seemed she did have some empathy and worry in her steely heart. Either that or she was buttering me up for something. Or perhaps she was just taking pleasure in secretly plotting my death. Marcus stepped into the kitchen looking as if he’d just risen from his grave. His bizarre lifestyle was robbing him of his youth and any happiness. The grim set of his mouth assured me he’d fallen for Kinley, or at least fallen in his sense of the word. “So she’s all right?” “Yes, Marcus,” Katherine spoke firmly, “come sit. I’m brewing tea for you.” Marcus walked into the kitchen and shot me a glance that was almost friendly as he sat down in his specially sanitized chair at the far end of the table. He’d barely settled when he hopped up again to stand for Kinley as she stepped into the room. The pink was back in her cheeks, and the usual sparkle had returned to her blue eyes. She stopped just short of the table and wrung her hands together. “I apologize for causing so much chaos tonight. And, Katherine, I will replace the raft and the flares.” “Don’t worry about it. We are well stocked. All that matters is that you’re safe. Have some tea.” Katherine set a cup of tea at the table several seats away from me. Then she settled herself on a chair in between. We were only allowed a few quiet sips before Katherine got right down to business. “Obviously, James, I need to know what your intentions are. If you plan to marry Kinley—”

That statement caused Kinley to suck in her sip of tea. She covered her mouth to stifle the cough. Katherine waited for her to recover and continued with a questioning look my direction. “As you can see by Kinley’s reaction, Katherine, the topic of marriage might be a little premature. We are staying together though, and as far as I’m concerned, when Kinley’s ready we can set a date.” Kinley peered across the table at me with those big blue eyes that I thought about day and night. She smiled faintly and went back to her tea. I leaned back in the chair. “Katherine, if I got the money, I sure as hell wouldn’t keep it for myself. I know you never loved me, but you allowed me into your home. I won’t ever forget that.” My words caused the slightest flicker of emotion in her face. It was fleeting, but I was sure I saw it. Marcus picked up his tea. “Well, I for one am glad this is over. Besides, it’s not fair to Becky.” He turned to Kinley. “I hope you consider staying on for Becky’s sake. She’ll be devastated if you leave.” Kinley had no response. She glanced around the table at each of us. “I love being her teacher but only if it doesn’t cause problems.” Katherine sighed. “You’re not the problem, Kinley. It’s my late husband, I’m afraid. He’s caused us a lot of grief with his practical joke. If he’d taken care to make sure his real will had gotten to his lawyer none of this would have happened.” “Have you looked for the will?” Kinley asked. “Maybe it’s somewhere in the house.” “We have looked everywhere,” Katherine sighed. “It’s in some secret place that none of us know about.” Kinley nodded and lifted her cup but slapped it back down on the table hard enough to slosh tea over the side. “Wait. A secret place? I know where it is.” She hopped up from the chair. We sat stunned and speechless as we watched her head to the door. “Hurry up. It’s in the library.” Katherine, Marcus and I followed her through the hallway, past the stairs and to the library. “But I spend all my waking hours in the library,” Marcus protested as we stepped into the room. “I would have seen it.”

Kinley hadn’t spoken since she’d told us to follow her to the library. She was concentrating on her mission to find the secret hiding place, and she seemed pretty damn confident about it. I stepped forward to help her pull Jack’s oversized atlas from the shelf. It was an expensive, professionally bound book that Becky loved to look at. We carried it to Marcus’s work table. His mouth pulled tight with tension as we placed it on the one empty corner. “Becky wanted me to show her where the pyramids were located, so we pulled this book out the other day.” She opened the book, flipped it to the back cover and flashed us all her perfect smile. “And that’s when I noticed this.” We moved in closer. A large piece of thick paper had been affixed to the back cover. It seemed to be concealing paperwork of some kind. “Becky told me that her dad liked to hide important papers here.” She paused and dropped her gaze. “Papers he didn’t want Katherine to see.” She lifted her face again. “Maybe I shouldn’t have shown you this.” “Nonsense. Jack’s gone.” Katherine stepped forward. She stared down at the book a second and hesitated long enough that I thought she might have changed her mind. Then her long, white fingers grabbed the corner of the paper and she ripped it free from the book. Kinley had been right. It was the final will and testament of Jack Underwood. After years of wondering, Katherine wasted no time flipping through it. Her hand flew to her mouth, but it was impossible to tell whether she was happy or horrified. Then tears filled her eyes. I couldn’t remember ever seeing tears in her eyes. Even when Jack died, she’d kept her emotions so restrained none of us ever saw her cry. “Everyone will have what they need for the rest of their lives.” She looked up at Marcus. “Your father didn’t hate me, after all.” She sobbed once into her hand. Marcus put his arm around her. I decided to let Katherine and Marcus have some alone time. I motioned to Kinley, and she followed me out of the room. “Do you think all this time, her biggest worry was how Jack felt about her?” Kinley asked. “Kind of makes sense when you think about it. When your husband leaves a will that basically hands

his fortune to one of his sons, then it’s kind of a slap in the face.” I shook my head. “That Jack. What a scoundrel.” Kinley stopped and turned into my arms. “Guess I know who you get it from.” I tugged her closer and kissed her.

EPILOGUE Six months later “UGH, I HATE algebra,” Becky complained as she tossed her pencil across the desk. “I’m not sure if I could hate anything as much as I hate algebra. Strike that. Liver and onions. I hate that more. Can I be done soon? I’ve got to plan my outfit for Jill’s party. I still can’t believe I’m going to a party in King’s Beach. Can’t wait.” I started cleaning up the classroom. “So, you said Jill was a school friend?” “Right. During those few glorious years when I was in school, Jill and I did everything together. I couldn’t believe it when Mother said she ran into Jill’s mom and they actually talked. Can’t even imagine my mother just chatting it up with another mom. Weird. She sure is different now.” Becky walked over and helped me pick up the watercolor supplies we’d been using for art. “And I haven’t told you the big news.” She stopped and her mouth knitted together as if she wasn’t sure she should tell me. “What is it? I like to hear big news.” “Mother is considering letting me go to junior high in King’s Beach.” “Oh my gosh, Becky, that’s wonderful.” I quickly realized why she didn’t want to tell me. I hugged her. “I’ll still be around. I just won’t be the one hounding you to finish your algebra. We’ll leave that chore to your math teacher.” “So you won’t be mad at me?” I kissed her forehead. “I could never be mad at you.”

The smooth roar of an airplane dropping down over the island carried our attention to the window. “They’re back.” Becky raced to the window. I followed and stood behind her. We both watched as the shiny blue and white plane poked its nose through the clouds and headed down toward the runway. Becky looked back at me. “Dax’s new plane is so pretty. But I do miss Tero. Dax said Tero loves his retirement.” She turned back to face the window. I placed my hands on her shoulders. We stared out the window. Below us, Katherine was walking across the lawn toward the runway. Becky’s shoulders rose and fell beneath my hands. I knew she was experiencing the same nervous stomach flutters as me. “How do you think he did?” she asked quietly. I had no response. “Should we go down to the runway and meet him? I’m sure he’ll be happy to see us.” Becky didn’t bother to answer. She grabbed my hand and dragged me out of the classroom. We reached the lawn and decided to race. We were both laughing hysterically and breathing hard by the time we reached the path leading to the runway. It helped relieve the case of nerves we’d both been experiencing throughout the morning. Those worries and flutters were all but vanquished as we stepped through the plants and into the clearing near the runway. Marcus had already climbed down from the passenger side of the plane. Even behind his sterile mask, it was easy to see that he was smiling. After a great deal of consideration and waffling back and forth about it, Marcus had finally agreed to get some help. Of course, getting help meant him leaving the island. The doctor he found prescribed him medicine to help make it possible for him to leave his germ free world. Today had been his first trip off the island in more than five years. Katherine was already at the plane as Becky and I grasped hands and headed across the runway. Dax stepped around from his side, and my heart did its usual hop, skip and jump at the sight of him. “How was it?” I asked as we reached Marcus.

Marcus lowered the mask. “It went well. Very well. And it helps that the transport plane is no longer held together with just glue and prayers.” He shot Dax a grin. Once things had been settled with the estate, it had opened up a dialogue between the two brothers. Slowly, they were learning to be friends, and it warmed my heart to see. Katherine’s too. Or at least as much as her heart could be warmed. She, too, had started to come around to the notion that James was an important part of the family. The love and good cheers weren’t flowing like a river yet, but things were definitely more amicable. “I left the tea kettle on,” Katherine told Marcus. “Let’s go inside. Then you can tell me everything the doctor said.” “Dax is going to give me a ride in the new plane,” Becky stated. “Can we go now?” “Come eat lunch and leave James alone for now,” Katherine called over her shoulder. “Darn it.” Becky pointed a finger at Dax. “Later today. Right?” “Right.” Becky skipped off to catch up to her mom and brother. Dax wasted no time. He took hold of my hand. “I don’t believe I’ve shown you the backseat in this plane.” He led me to the door and gave me a hand up. “It’s really comfortable and spacious, with plenty of room to do activities that aren’t normally done in a plane. Well, at least not in small planes.” I climbed into the back row of seats and waited for him to join me. “What kinds of activities are we talking about? I Spy? A game of poker?” He dropped onto the seat next to me and started unbuttoning my jeans. “I definitely want to spy some things and I might try my hand at something, not sure if it’ll deal with cards though.” Dax reached over and pulled me into his lap. I wrapped my arm around his shoulder and settled in cozily agaisnt him. I ran my fingers along his jaw. “Happy?” “I’m over the fucking moon, Rabbit. Over the fucking moon.” He lifted his mouth to mine and kissed me.

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