Undertow (40 page)

Ńei³µ

Í know you like Coke. I·l bring it out, go see your father.µ

Teal was directed past the kitchen and went through the living room, which was crowded with white wicker furniture, a tropical garden of cushions, and knickknacks
everywhere
.

Cookie·s touch. Sam favored minimalist furnishings and no tchotchkes. Teal pushed open the screened door at the back of the smal house.

She didn·t look out over the spectacular, panoramic view of the bay. Her eyes focused on the man in the chair.

God, he looked smal . He was fading away, and Teal·s heart wrenched painful y, seeing him like this. He was a shadow of the robust man he·d once been.

His blond crew cut was shorter and much grayer, and he·d aged about fifteen years with his il ness.

He sat on a lounger in the shade of a giant-sized, red canvas umbrel a; his expression, one of a man deep in thought. ´Hi.µ Her voice stuck in her dry throat, but Sam turned his head. His face changed dramatical y when he saw her.

´You·re back. How was the d³µ

´What can I do to make you like me?µ Teal blurted out as she stepped onto the grassy patio.

Shit! She should have rehearsed something.
Anything
. Asked him how he felt. Said anything.

Told him how glad she was he·d changed his mind about getting treatment. But now that she·d slammed open the door, she couldn·t stop.

She sank down beside him on the wrought iron lounger when he didn·t say anything.

´Would you like me if I dyed my hair blond aga in? Or wore girlie clothes? Makeup?

Please. Tel me what I can do.µ Oh, God. She was
crying
. She swiped her palm across her eyes.

Sam looked even more drawn than he had when she·d first come outside.

´Do? I don·t want you to
do
anything.µ

´You must!
Please
. I·l be anyone you want. I can·t bear not having some kind of relationship when you·re going to be gone. Sorry, not diplomatic. But we have no more time to make this right. Meet me halfway. Please.µ Once Sam died, she·d be alone. She·d be, she thought with just a glimmer of her usual self-deprecating humor, an
orphan
. Her heart felt as if it was breaking. And this was just part one of a two-parter as far as good-byes and heartbreak went. The knot in her chest reached critical mass.

Sam took her hand, startling her. They·d rarely touched, and then by accident.

His hand was frail and papery, but he held on tightly. Her chest hurt and she saw him through a blur of tears she refused to let fal .

´Teal, you·re talking crazy. I wasn·t taken by the blond hai r, I didn·t much like your citified clothes. I liked you with brown hair and grease under your fingernails.

That·s my girl. But I don·t care how you fix yourself up, or not.µ

Her heart slowed and she breathed in smal hiccups. Of course, it wouldn·t have been anything so superficial. ´Do I have some sort of character flaw you can·t stand? Tel me what I can do to make you love me!µ

´Baby, I loved you the second your mother phoned and told me you existed!

Why·d you think I begged her to let you come live with me for al those years?µ

´What? No³You wanted me to
live
here on Cutter Cay with you?µ

Śpent a brick-load of money trying to make it happen.µ Sam·s eyes, so much like her own, snapped with anger. Śhe didn·t tel you.µ

Teal shook her head. Śhe said you were doing your duty. Child support, the money for school³µ

Á drop in the bucket to what I offered to pay her to give me sol e custody. She wouldn·t hear it.µ

Śhe would have spent a lump sum in a weekend,µ Teal said bitterly. Sam had been her mother·s cash cow for al those years. ´Why didn·t you ever say anything when I came?µ

Śaid she·d turn you against me if I breathed a w ord. Sometimes thought she already had. I saw how much you did for her. Made me madder than hel , but you were determined and devoted. How could I break that bond? To offer you what? A life on a seven -square-mile island? No kids your own age? I would·ve had to send you away to school anyway«µ He trailed off, his fingers tightening around hers.

Í never knew.µ Her past, so fil ed with anger toward this man for not loving her enough to save her, didn·t matter as much anymore. Her mother·s story was over.

As Zane said, this was a new chapter.

´Being around you was frequently like tiptoeing through a minefield as it was.

We·re too much alike, baby. And that·s no lie. Keep it al deep inside where no one knows how bad we·re hurting. But make no mistake, Teal. I·ve
always
loved you.µ

He tugged at her hand until she leaned closer, then wrapped his arms around her, drawing her head onto his chest. Teal folded like a creampuff as her father·s arms tightened around her. She buried her face against his chest and hel d on as tightly as she dared, then cried until she was limp and drained.

The sun sank into the calm turquoise waters in a spectacular display of gold and fuchsia, and at some point, Cookie brought out sodas and sandwiches, then left them alone to talk.

Í wanted one of the Cutter boys for you,µ Sam told her quietly. Ĺogan at first ³but he was much too serious for you. Nick·s a good man. But too cold. He·d kil your spirit without meaning to. Zane³Zane balances the darkness in you with his light. And you·l stabilize his wild fancies with your levelheadedness.µ

Teal let the sound of the night fil her stunned silence better than she could.

How could he know? ´Your cal to ask me to come here for you was a trick.µ

Ńot that. I wanted you to have a chance at happiness.µ

At eleven that night, when Teal and her father sat in companionable silence, looking at the velvety night sky sprinkled with bril iant stars, there was a knock at the front door. A few minutes later, Zane emerged onto the patio. Śam, how·re you doing?µ

´Best night of my life,µ her father told him. He·d looked ready for bed hours ago, but wouldn·t hear of her leaving. She·d watched him doze for a couple of hours earlier. Teal had sat there in the companionable silence, wondering how different her life might have been if she·d had Sam as her custodial parent for al those years.

Zane smiled, his teeth white in the lights from inside the bungalow. Śomehow thought it would be.µ He turned to Teal and said gently, Ŕeady to go?µ

No. But she couldn·t sit here savoring her newfound closeness with her father al night. He was a sick man. He needed to go to bed. She nodded.

Zane held out his hand, and she took it so he could pul her to her feet. She leaned over to kiss her father·s cheek, and then, bec ause it felt so damn good, leaned down and kissed him again.

He brought his hand up and touched her face. Í love you, Teal. I don·t want you to ever forget that.µ

Í love you, too.µ She·d never thought to hear those words from her father, and she·d neve r thought to be able to say them while he was alive and wil ing to hear her. Her heart brimmed to overflowing.

The fact that Zane had come to find her meant a lot, but she tried not to attach too much emotion to what was probably just a friendly gesture. He·d said things in the heat of the moment that she shouldn·t take at face value. That·s what guys said.

Especial y guys like Zane who had the world at their feet, and any woman they wanted in their arms. His magic cloak, she reminded herself firmly, was for
one
.

They strol ed down toward the marina, the path lit by moonlight. ´Where are we going?µ

Not that she cared. She was emotional y exhausted and exhilarated at the same time. They·d passed the bungalow she·d had temporary use of, and he didn·t head toward his house up the hil , either.

He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, tucking her tightly against his side.

His skin felt warm, and smel ed of soap. ´This is an official kidnapping.µ

Teal rested her head on his shoulder. Ágain?µ

´Don·t you want to know where or why?µ She heard the suppressed laughter in his voice.

Ńope. It worked out okay before.µ She·d go anywhere with him. Should she tel him?

Confronting her father with her feelings had revealed a truth worth fighting for.

Ńot even curious?µ

She managed a smal shake of her head. Ńope.µ

They arrived at the dock.
Decrepit
looked beautiful in the moonlight, but Zane led Teal past the boat and over to the Sea Ray cruiser.

Teal groaned, her hand over her bel y, which didn·t even rumble. Óut to sea?µ

Úntie that line³yeah. You know three·s a charm as far as kidnappings go.µ

He handed her on board. Í brought you a change of clothes, and the water·s hot for a shower.µ

´You have a very nice shower at your house,µ she suggested as he started the engine. The boat moved through the dark water, steered by a very sexy captain.

Ón land.µ

Ĺater.µ

Áre you going to join me?µ she asked hopeful y. Was he planning on saying good -bye when they were out in the middle of the ocean? Did he think she·d make a scene? Not likely, conceited oaf. She loved him so much her heart swel ed and her body leaned toward him, fil ed with yearning.

Śweetheart, I like nothing better than making love to you in the shower, but unfortunately, not one
this
size.µ

´There·s actual y a shower smal er than the ones we·ve been in?µ

Caught by a moonbeam, his earring glinted. Ćome up on deck when you·re ready.µ

* * *

Zane was nervous as hel . He·d never done this before. And God help him, with Teal his plans could al be shot to hel in a heartbeat. He pushed the boat to its maximum speed.

He·d been working on this project al evening. He didn·t want her anywhere where she could hide. Either physical y or emotional y. The engine room was too damn smal for even her to want to stay in for any length of time. Zane grinned. For a man who loved a chal enge, he·d picked the perfect woman.

´Where are we?µ Teal came onto the bridge wearing a towel and a scowl. His smile widened. ´Perfect timing. And I must say, Wil iams, you chose my secon d favorite outfit to wear tonight.µ

Í live to serve,µ she said dryly, padding over to take the glass of wine he handed her. ´You aren·t thinking of plying me with alcohol and tossing me overboard are you? Because, buddy, I·ve spent al day kicking bad guy s· butts. I·m not afraid of y³µ

Zane pul ed her into his arms and crushed her sassy, scared mouth under his.

She tasted of toothpaste, and her lips clung to his. It was a good thing he·d already dropped anchor.

He lifted his head, gratified to see that her big brown eyes were glazed with passion, and her mouth swol en. The damp towel was a puddle around her feet on the teak deck. Holy Mother of God. She did nothing in half measures. Changing his mind, his hand ma de a U-turn to return to the prize he·d just uncovered.

´Wel , wel ,µ he managed to unglue his tongue from the roof of his mouth.

´What do we have here? Did you forget to put on your underwear, Miss Wil iams?µ

Í was too hot.µ

Á hazard in the tropics,µ he concurred soberly. Ít·s extremely unhealthy to get overheated.

As an incentive, I·m going to give
you
your heart·s desire, Wil iams.µ

´Hmm?µ She tightened her arms around his neck to nibble at his earlobe.

Í brought the Caterpil ar catalogue. You can have any damned engines you want.µ

She lifted her head, her eyes gleaming avariciously. Éven 3516s
and
the chrome package?µ

Zane laughed as he stroked his hands down her tight, gorgeous ass. ´You can chrome the
Decrepit
from prow to stern if you like.µ

Ńow see? That·s just plain extravagant. I·d be happy with a nice new paint job.µ

´Done.µ

Áre you going to get naked too?µ she asked politely, rubbing her breasts across his chest.

Her skin looked like pearl in the moonlight, making him dizzy with lust.

Í want to look at stars.µ

She gave him an incredulous look. ´Did you hit your head sometime today?µ

He wanted her to know, without a doubt, how he felt. And as much as he wanted to rush to get to the good part of the evening·s program, this was a l for her.

He pul ed the long cushion off the bench seat onto the deck. The thick, canvas -covered cushion was soft, but too narrow. It was only wide enough for one of them to stretch out comfortably. Holding her hand, he sat down, then tugged her onto his lap. As soon as she snuggled close, he maneuvered her onto his prone body. Her back to his chest. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he nuzzled the side of her neck. She smel ed intoxicatingly of coconut soap and warm woman.

Zane wanted her more than his next breath.

´Very gal ant.µ She wiggled to get comfortable, nestling her butt against his groin in a calculated move guaranteed to inflame him to madness.

Moving a strand of her dark hair out of his face, he nibbled her ear and whispered, Ísn·t that better?µ

She turned her head to whisper back, ´You·re not much softer than the deck.

You don·t make a very comfortable mattress. Why don·t we go down to the cabin«µ

´We·re the only two people in the world. How cool is that?µ

´Very,µ she murmured dryly, wiggling on top of him. ´The last two people in the world have a lovely soft bed not ten feet away. And while this position is intriguing and I·m sure with a little ingenuity,
possible
, why don·t we go for straight missionary a nd save ourselves from dislocating something important?µ

Ćooperate, woman.µ The slap of the waves against the hul served much better than music.

Zane slid his hand down her thigh. Her skin was silky smooth and warmed to his light touch. The moonlight leached the color from her skin, making her look ethereal and other -

worldly. A mermaid risen from the sea. A fantasy come true.
His
fantasy come true.

He brushed his lips up the side of her throat, and she turned her head to give him better access. She started to rol over, but Zane clamped a hand on her bare hip, then lingered in the hol ow his questing fingers discovered. Ńo. Stay.µ

Í want to touch you, too.µ