September Storm Page 4

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

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

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

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

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

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

  "You need a lift?" Adrian smiled.

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

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

  "Go to hell!"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  It didn't work.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  Adrian nodded, just like it was an everyday occurrence.

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

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

  "But I don't--"

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

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

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

  "I’m not your sweetheart.”

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

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

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

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

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

  "W--what do you mean?"

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

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

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

  "Then what's the problem?"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  In this case, it was better to remain mute.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  "I beg your pardon?"

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

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

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

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

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

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

  She had to read the telegram one more time.

  Chapter Four

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

  Sorry, Dani,

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

  call you later.

  Love you, Steven

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  "This is yours?"

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

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

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

  She shrugged. "Well, no."

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

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

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

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

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

  Adrian Massimino wasn't for her.

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

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

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

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

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

  Several days locked up with Adrian.

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

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