September Storm (2 page)

The captain chuc
kled and cocked an eyebrow.  "I take it you've not been here before?"

"No."  Danielle shook her fuzzy head slowly.  "This is my first time."

The captain folded his arms across his chest before he spoke.  "Cars aren't allowed on Sea Horse Island, ma'am, nor telephones.  It's either bikes or electric golf carts.  Where do you need to go?"

This was it!  The final straw.  She
hiccupped again and cursed silently.  She was tired, tipsy, and lost.

At least Steven could have made some kind of arrangements for her.  The captain cleared his throat, bringing her back to the immediate problem.  Danielle fumbled nervously in her pocket and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper, which she handed to the captain.

"Six-nine-nine Sandy Lane."  The captain rubbed his chin. "James!" he shouted over his shoulder, and instantly a short man dressed in a striped shirt appeared by his side.  "How about taking one of those carts and delivering this lady to six-nine-nine Sandy Lane.  And don't be wastin' any time, 'cause we're pulling out in ten minutes."

Relief washed over Dani as she reached for the captain's hand and thanked him profusely.  How much more could go wrong with this weekend? she wondered as she stashed her things in the cart.

As they idled along at a snail's pace, she noticed how big and beautiful each home was, at least what she could see of them in the dark.  When she didn't think they could get any lovelier or bigger, the cart swung toward the most magnificent home of all.

A white two-story house stood at the end of a cul-de-sac with decks all around and a most unusual bridge that arched over the driveway, connecting the house to a gazebo filled with glass windows.  Accent lights cast multicolored lights and created shadows up into the palm trees and down on the flowers and pampas grass.

"Here you are, miss.  It's probably the grandest home on the island.  They just finished it about three months ago.  It’s call Serendipity."

"I'm impressed," Dani admitted, realizing her speech was a little slurred as she swung her legs out of the cart.  "Thanks for the lift."

"No problem, miss."

Danielle picked up her luggage for what she profoundly hoped was the last time today, then wearily climbed the two flights of stairs.  At the top, she stopped to catch her breath and listened to the whispering pampas grass.  She'd been on the go since ten o'clock this morning and it felt good to know that she had finally reached her destination.  She rang the bell.

No answer.

Now what was wrong?  She
hiccupped.  "Damn!"  Taking matters into her own hands, she turned the doorknob and found it unlocked, and stepped inside.  She entered what appeared to be the kitchen.  Maybe, Steven had gone to bed.

Well, he could just get up!

"Is anybody home?" Dani called while she deposited her luggage in a pile on the white, shiny floor.

"I'm in here," a rich male voice responded from another part of the house.  "I'd just about given up on you."

Relief washed over Danielle.  Funny.  She'd forgotten how deep Steven's voice sounded.  Still, it had been a long time.

So that's why he hadn't been at the ferry to meet her.  He thought she wasn't coming.  "I'm sorry I'm late,” she called as she kicked off her shoes.  “My plane had a two-hour delay."

"No problem.  Grab the champagne out of the fridge and join me in the bedroom."

No need to wonder what he had on his mind. Danielle smiled before an uncontrollable giggle slipped out.  And her earlier irritation at being stood up somehow vanished.  It had been so long since she’d been held.

Suddenly, she didn't feel so tired, just tipsy.  She was more than ready, but first they were going to have a long talk.

When she opened the fridge, she saw two beautiful T-bone steaks, and her mouth watered as her stomach rumbled, reminding her breakfast had been ages ago.  She reached over them and grabbed the green bottle. 

Grabbing two glasses, she walked down the hall.  The lights had been dimmed. "W-where are you?" Dani called, then hiccupped.

"I'm in the last room straight down the hall on the left."

She followed his instructions, gliding her hand down the hall as she realized the pills and booze were taking their toll.  Then she remembered she’d taken Susan’s Valium, too. Maybe that was the problem.  Woozy, she paused in the doorway, and leaned against it so she wouldn’t fall down.

"Don't be shy," he said.

The bedroom was dark except for a low-burning fire in the hearth.  Wispy curtains fluttered in the breeze sweeping in through the sliding glass doors.  Her eyes searched for the man she longed to see and found him lying on a king-sized bed.  She could make out his lower body clad in shorts, but not his face, which was hidden in the shadows.

"I like the fire.  September nights can be cool," she said as she moved toward him. In the distance the ocean rolled and flung itself against the shore with a crash, sounding as if it were in the bedroom.  A cool breeze brushed her cheek.  She looked to her right and saw he'd left the sliding doors open so they could hear the ocean.

"Nice touch."  She nodded toward the doors. "I love the ocean," she told Steven as she handed him the bottle and corkscrew. “This place is beautiful.”

"I'm glad you approve."  He took the bottle, but not before his fingers glided over hers.

Her heart fluttered.  She blinked a couple of times because she was seeing double.  And, of course, she hiccupped. "I--I'm sorry.  I seem to have developed hiccups.

"So I hear.”  He chuckled.  “Evidently, you've not had champagne before"

"W--what makes you say that?"

"Champagne doesn't require a corkscrew," he said and laid it on the nightstand.

She watched his skillful hands as he maneuvered the twist wire.  He took his thumbs and pushed at the cork, but instead of the top flying across the room, he successfully managed to capture the cork in the palm of his hand.  He'd become a real pro.

Warmth spread over Dani's body as she realized that shortly his hands would be maneuvering over her.  What had she said about talking first?  They really should talk.

He filled the glasses she held, then placed the bottle on the nightstand.  For just a minute, Dani was tempted to turn on the lights so she could see his face, but since he'd gone to so much trouble to make this a romantic evening, something he’d never done before, she wouldn't spoil it.  Hope filled her.  Maybe Steven had changed.

"Welcome."  He clicked his glass with hers.  "We'll have to help you get rid of those hiccups."

"T--that would be a blessing."  She smiled, then gave a toast of her own as she felt a surge of longing so intense that she ached with it.  It had been so long.  "To a night of memories," she countered when her glass touched his.

The hell with talking.

Dani gulped the bubbly liquid, knowing she should sip, but suddenly she was nervous.  Very nervous. And getting drunker.  Something told her this wasn't the Steven she remembered.  Again she thought his voice sounded strange.  Or maybe the booze had muddled her mind.  Why hadn’t Steven taken her into his arms?  Finally, she said, "Aren't you going to kiss me?"

"I'm going to do more than that, sweetheart, but first another drink."  Adrian reached for the bottle and replenished the glasses. 

At first Adrian had been uncertain about his odd birthday present.  But now ... Adrian needed a moment to compose himself. He'd been expecting a high-class call girl, but when she'd appeared in the doorway the light from the living room had shown on her silver-blonde hair, giving her the appearance of an angel.  And when she'd paused by the candles, the soft glow on her face had taken his breath away.

Must be the booze
.

She was beautiful and poised.  And normal.  Except for the hiccups.  Nothing like he'd expected.  What a birthday present!  Of course he’d been drinking and probably wasn’t thinking his best.

For a split second he wondered if he could keep her instead of sending her away tomorrow. Maybe, just for tonight, he could reevaluate his earlier decision about women.  And he knew -- that was the liquor talking.

Adrian touched her knee.  She tensed.  Shy?  How refreshing, he thought.  Patiently, he waited for her to relax before he slid his hand along the silkiness of her leg. The over-powering desire to kiss her struck him like lightning hitting a tree.  She trembled.  God, the woman was sexy.  He took the glass from her hand and placed it next to his on the nightstand.

"Come here, sweetheart."

The minute his hand slipped under her skirt, Dani  stopped breathing.  Instantly, her hiccups were cured!

“Don’t you want to shed a few clothes?” he asked.

Dani stood and began unbuttoning her silk blouse.  She tossed it on the floor; next her black bra came off, revealing her puckered nipples. She unhooked her skirt and let it slide across her stomach, teasing her sensitized thighs before hitting the floor.

He took her wrist and pulled her toward him. She wanted to taste his lips.  And she was more than ready to make up for lost time as he coaxed her down to him.

She marveled in the feel of his skin as her hands slipped across his bare chest.  The hair tickled between her fingers. He felt different.  Maybe a little more muscular than before, probably from all the hard work he'd been doing.  She caught his manly, musk fragrance just before she leaned down and brushed his lips.

His kiss was light, tantalizing, or more to the point, teasing.

And strange.

Had she forgotten everything about him?  The firm pressure of his hands drifting across her shoulders, then moving lower gave her the feeling he was holding back until she was ready.

Consideration ... she liked that.

She traced a finger along his strong jaw, taking in every detail beneath her hand.  She didn't remember his jaw being so square.  If only she could look into his eyes. 

He took her hand and placed a kiss on her open palm, then pulled her closer. He groaned as he seized her lips in a devouring kiss that sent Dani's head spinning with stormy desire and shedding her inhibitions.  She hardly noticed as his other hand clamped around her waist and pulled her over him to the other side of the bed.  Just that quickly they had switched positions.  He was on top and in command with his lips moving insistently on hers.

A long dormant desire surged through her, and somewhere in the back of Dani's mind a voice told her Steven had changed.  She had never felt like this before.  Something about him seemed so manly, so strong, so unique.  Whatever doubts she had, she pushed aside.

He kissed her now with such tenderness that she clung to him as a hungry, urgent passion crept across her body.  He parted her lips.  She moaned with pleasure as she touched her tongue to his.  A delicious shiver slid down her spine.

He pulled back for just a moment, then crushed her to him again, taking her mouth with urgent hunger.  He brushed his hand down the length of her back until it came to rest on her hips.

Adrian was hot ... hard ... and ready.  This young woman beneath him was slowly driving him to the edge of insanity.  She wasn't aggressive or bold, but when she arched her body into his, his body trembled with burning desire.

She touched him almost shyly and clung to him as if she were afraid he'd leave her ....  Leave her?  Hell, a million dollars couldn't get him out of this bed.

She was good.  Damn good!

Bracing his arms, he reluctantly pulled away from her tempting lips.  He noticed her puffy mouth and black, sooty lashes lying on the shadows of her cheeks.  "You're beautiful," he whispered, thinking again that she looked like an angel.

Her eyelids fluttered open.  "Thank you," she said, wishing she could see his face clearly.  But the pills had taken their toll and blurred her vision.  Right this minute, Dani loved him more than she ever had, and didn't hesitate as she raised her hand to his cheek, feeling his smooth skin beneath her fingers.  "I want you," she told him.

She didn’t have to ask twice.  He spread her thighs so he could fulfill both their longings.  Her arms wrapped around him as he slipped his hands beneath her hips, lifting her slightly to meet his need.  And then ... Nothing . . . .

Adrian couldn’t believe it.  He glanced down at her.  Damned if she hadn't passed out!

The woman had passed out in the heat of passion!

Damn!  He must be losing his touch.

Adrian eased himself to the side with a chuckle.  This most certainly had never happened to him before.  "I want a refund," he murmured, but as he watched the glorious angel beside him, he decided it was probably for the best.  He pulled her next to him and wrapped his arms around her glad for the company.

Tomorrow he'd send her on her way.

The next morning, Dani had barely opened her eyes, before she winced at the pain.  Boy, did her head hurt!  A hangover.  Her first.  And definitely her last.  How did anyone get drunk more than once?

She longed to sleep some more, but the pounding in her temples prevented any possibility of that.  Reluctantly, she opened her eyes and saw a mass of black hair on a well built chest.  It took a few minutes for her to realize she was with Steven.