Enigma, Maine, Bundle 2

by Iris Abbott

  A couple of minutes later, Adam lightly tapped on Amber’s hospital room door before letting himself inside. He didn’t want to wake her if she was asleep. He needn’t have worried. She was wide-awake, watching some late night show on the television. “I thought you would be passed out from exhaustion by now.”

  Amber shrugged and pulled the thin cotton sheet up to her chin. Adam suppressed a smile. “I tried, but every time I close my eyes, it’s dark like the water from the ocean. I can feel it closing in around me.” She shuddered and pulled the sheet even closer to her body.

  Adam's shoulders slumped. He rubbed his burning eyes. “I don’t have anywhere else to be and will sit here all night if it helps you sleep.” He sauntered to the edge of the bed and sat down.

  Amber stifled a yawn. There were dark circles under her reddened eyes. She looked like she could use the sleep. “Thank you. I wouldn’t have gotten rid of my sister in such a hurry if I knew what was waiting for me in the dark.”

  She wrapped her delicate fingers around his much larger hand and gently squeezed. “The bed’s small, but I think it’ll fit both of us if you want to sleep. I don’t expect you to stay up all night watching me sleep, but I need you to stay.”

  Adam suppressed a groan. Sleeping next to her would be torture, but for her, he would endure the discomfort.

  Amber dropped his hand and turned her back to him. “Thanks, Adam. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me.” She paused. “How’d you get past the nurses anyway? My sister said you were in the waiting room, but that staff wouldn’t let you in my room because visiting hours are over.”

  Adam toed off his shoes and stretched out next to Amber. “I have a friend on the hospital board. He pulled a few strings.” He rubbed her back and tried not to think about caressing other parts of her body. He closed his eyes, counted to twenty, and willed his body and mind to behave.

  “I’m sorry we never got to go on that date. We’d have been so good together,” she whispered. Her voice was husky and heavy. He could tell Amber was about to fall asleep. Her limp body rested against his.

  Adam’s heart pounded. He finally had a chance to find out why she stood him up. “What happened to you that night? Forget the fifteen minutes rule. I waited at the restaurant for over an hour.”

  He cursed himself the whole time for not getting her phone number when he asked her out. Without it, he had no idea how to get in touch with her.

  “I called your office,” she replied in a groggy voice. “It was the only way I knew to reach you.” She frowned. “I left a message. I can’t believe you didn’t get it.” Her voice softened, and Adam knew she inched closer to sleep.

  No, he hadn’t gotten a message. Then he remembered that the department secretary was fired that very same summer for incompetence. There were several complaints about how she was or more accurately wasn’t doing her job. It was possible that Amber called to cancel and he didn’t get the message.

  He moved his hand from her back to her neck and gently brushed her hair to the side. “I didn’t get your message. It would have saved me a long and boring wait at the restaurant if knew you changed your mind.”

  Amber sighed. “I didn’t change my mind. I wanted to go out with you.” A heartfelt sigh blended with other noises from the hallway.

  A jolt zinged through his body. He held his breath and waited.

  “When I got home that day, there was a voicemail from my sister. Her husband was killed while on active duty in the military. I left town immediately. My sister and nephew needed me. We’ve always been close. I couldn’t put my wants and needs above hers, not about this.”

  She sniffed. He rubbed her shoulder. “I didn’t want you to think I wasn’t interested. I called and left a message for you saying I had a family emergency and had to go out of town for an undetermined amount of time. I left my phone number,” she said in a voice that resonated with hurt.

  “I never heard from you. Decided you thought I wasn’t worth the wait, so I moved on…” Her voice trailed off until she was utterly silent. Sleep finally claimed her.

  Adam brushed his lips across the silky smooth skin of her neck. Five wasted years. At least fate brought her back into his life even if the method it used was brutally unpleasant. “Goodnight my sweet, Amber. We have a lot of catching up to do.”

  He curled an arm around her waist and pulled her into his body. Amber let out a soft whimper but didn’t wake up. Her backside cradled Adam’s groin, and his body instantly hardened. He couldn’t do much about it tonight, but soon he Amber would be sleeping in his bed. He would make love to her until they both dropped from the exhaustion of sheer uncontrolled pleasure.

  FOUR

  Amber forced herself to stay calm and not raise her voice at the police detective. She knew he was only doing his job, but did he have to go out of his way to make her feel like she did something wrong. “Look, I told you all I know at least five times. I was on the boat because it’s my job.” She narrowed her eyes.

  “I explained it already.” Her skin tingled and sweat formed. “No, I didn’t see who my attackers were, and no I don’t know why they targeted me or the boat.”

  She stiffened her spine and tried to sit up straighter in the hospital bed. Adam was standing next to her, and he squeezed her hand in a show of silent support. It felt right having him by her side. She was grateful for his presence.

  “I am the victim here.” She stabbed her chest with a finger. “I’m the one that almost died last night. I would have drowned if it weren’t for Adam.” Her shoulders slumped at the mention of how close she actually come to death.

  “I’ve been through a very traumatic ordeal.” She glared at everyone but Adam. “I’ve been grilled by several people the past couple of hours. My head is pounding, and I’m tired. I just want to go home!”

  Amber didn’t care if she sounded whiny. She was entitled after the night she experienced. She winced a little, however, at the thought that Adam might think she was ill-tempered and petulant. She fidgeted on the bed and bit back an irritated sigh.

  The hospital room was tiny. The addition of three large males made it even smaller. The serious questions and intense demeanor of the detectives made it feel like the walls were closing in on her. It reminded Amber of how she felt when she was surrounded by the cold Atlantic with nowhere to go.

  Her heart beat faster, and her chest tightened. Her breathing became shallow and uneven. She closed her eyes and clenched her fists around the sheet on the hospital bed. She was getting ready to have a full-fledged panic attack. How embarrassing.

  ****

  Adam stood back and let Amber do what had to be done. Even if it was distressing, the authorities had to know everything she remembered if they were going to catch her attackers. He balled his hands into fists at his side and resisted the urge to punch something or someone. The line had to be drawn somewhere.

  Amber needed to rest. One detective, in particular, was much too aggressive for Adam’s liking. He could tell from the change in Amber’s breathing that something was wrong. He wanted the other men out of the room and away from her immediately.

  “I’m afraid the interrogation is over,” he announced in a grim voice laced with authority. “Ms. Swanson’s doctors stressed the need for her to rest so she can make a full and speedy recovery.” He stared down the two detectives, silently daring them to argue.

  The first officer backed down. The second one proved to be more difficult. “Ah, Mr. Landis is it? I understand you were the one who rescued Ms. Swanson.” He raised an eyebrow. “That was mighty convenient. What exactly were you doing on your boat so late at night anyway?”

  “That’s Dr. Landis.” Adam’s eyes narrowed, but that was the only sign of his mounting anger. He shoved it aside in an attempt to remain civil for Amber’s sake. “I practically live on my boat especially in the summer when my workload at the university is low. I’m sure Mike Carter over at the marina can verify that.”

  “Oh don’t w
orry,” the detective smirked. “We’ll be talking to him next. Don’t leave town, either one of you.” The two detectives left, and Adam’s tensed muscles relaxed.

  Amber shuddered. “Really,” she inquired with a raised brow. “I somehow thought the police might be a little more tactful. They were much more helpful and friendly last year when I needed them.”

  “He was rude,” Adam agreed. “But as long as they get the job done, I’m not going to lose any sleep over their bad attitude.” He frowned as the last of Amber’s words registered. “Why did you need the police last year?” Was there an ongoing threat to her life that he didn’t know about?

  “I was babysitting my nephew right before Christmas, and he tried to take my dog for a walk. Snowball got away, and Jake got lost. It was snowing, and I panicked. I somehow managed to organize a ground search with the help of the police.”

  “I remember hearing that story on the local news.” Names were left out of the report, or he would have known that Amber stilled lived in Enigma. “He was found, and all was well.”

  She grinned. “No thanks to me. My sister and Steve swooped in on a helicopter and saved the day. Jake was safe, and Hannah and Steve discovered they loved each other. There was a happy ending to that near tragedy.”

  His constricted chest loosened up, and he breathed easier. “I’m glad your nephew was okay.” He sat down on the edge of the bed and took Amber’s hand in his own. “The doctor is going to release you in a few minutes, and I want you to come back to my house.”

  Amber smiled at him, but she shook her head no. “I can’t. I have to go back to my apartment. Snowball is waiting for me. Hannah took care of her last night, but I can’t expect my sister or brother-in-law to stop by my apartment two or three times a day, not with their busy schedule.”

  Adam never had a pet, but he loved animals. Bringing Amber’s dog into his house would not be a problem, not as long as she was there too. “We have to stop by your apartment anyway to get your things. We’ll just pick up Snowball while we’re there.”

  She ran a hand through her already messy hair. “I don’t know. Snowball is an Alaskan Malamute, so we’re not talking about a small dog. And she’s well mannered but stubborn. If she doesn’t take to you, there’s gonna be problems.”

  Adam shrugged to feign nonchalance. He wasn’t budging, however. Amber might not be safe in her apartment. And now that she was back in his life, he wasn’t willing to take any chances with her wellbeing.

  “I live on the outskirts of Enigma, and I have a large yard. It’s five acres, so there are plenty of places for Snowball to explore. And the backyard is surrounded by an eight-foot wooden fence.” Privacy was important to him.

  Adam didn’t want to scare her, but he was going to have his way. “Until we know who tried to kill you and why we don’t know if you’re safe. I value my privacy. I always have. It will be much harder for your attackers to track you to my house. And if they did manage to find you there, I have a state of the art security system to keep them out.”

  He watched several emotions flit across her face. His reasoning made sense, he just needed her to see it. It wasn’t as if he was a complete stranger who happened to save her life. She saw him three times a week for four months. And she liked him enough to agree to a date before life got in the way and took her away from him.

  “I don’t want to be a bother. You’ve already done more than enough to help me,” she finally admitted.

  Adam bent down and brushed his lips across hers. “I want to be here for you, Amber. I was looking forward to getting to know you better. Now we have a second chance. I don’t think we should waste any time, do you?”

  “Umm, no.” She slowly shook her head. “Reconnecting with you is the one bright spot of this horrid ordeal. She reached up with both hands and pulled his face closer until their lips were just about touching. “You’re right. We shouldn’t waste a single second.”

  Adam couldn’t resist the sweet invitation she issued with her body and words. He closed the distance between them, and this time he kissed her with all the pent-up passion of a starving man.

  Amber’s arms slid from his face to his neck. She entwined them together and forced him nearer to her. He didn’t resist. Closer to her was where he wanted to be.

  He felt the charge of physical attraction between them. It was sharp and strong enough to be tangible. Adam’s tongue flicked the corner of her mouth, and she opened for him. His tongue entered and dueled with hers in a hidden dance of teasing seduction and possession. He never experienced a passion so strong before, and he was lightheaded enough he was in danger of falling.

  He was close enough to feel her racing heart. The heat inside him unfurled as slow as a flower on a crisp spring morning before it exploded hotter than the fireworks at an Independence Day celebration. His body tingled everywhere except where they touched. That part didn’t prickle. It sizzled. A low soft moan escaped her lips, and he fought for control of his body.

  He was taut with desire, and his growing erection pressed against the fly of his pants. He had to get Amber out of this hospital before he did something to embarrass them. He’d love nothing more than to spread her out on the tiny hospital bed and finally lay claim to her. The sexy little moan was going to be his downfall if they didn’t stop now!

  A woman cleared her throat. Adam slowly moved away from Amber.

  “Well, now, this wasn’t what I was expecting.” She walked further into the room and held out a hand toward Adam. “I’m Hannah Rivers, Amber’s sister. You must be Adam Landis.”

  He hid a smile at learning that her sister knew who he was. Amber must have mentioned him. The thought made him stand a little taller. He took the hand offered and gave it a friendly shake. “Yes, I’m Adam. It’s nice to finally meet you.”

  Hannah winked at her sister. “Good looking and well-mannered, he’s quite a catch.” She laid a small overnight bag on the edge of the bed next to Amber. “I brought you a change of clothes. I’m sure you’ll be more comfortable in your own things.”

  Amber’s mouth opened, but the words were slow in coming. Finally, after an awkward pause, she spoke. “Thanks for the clothes. I definitely owe you.”

  She looked behind her sister and out into the empty hallway. “Where’s Jacob? Seeing my nephew would certainly cheer me up.”

  “He’s at home with Steve. You’ll have plenty of time to visit when you come home with me.”

  “Umm, home with you?” Amber lightly bit down on her bottom lip. Adam resisted the urge to kiss her again.

  “Obviously, you shouldn’t be on your own at least not for a few days anyway.”

  “Well, I…”

  Adam saw the pink flush that stained Amber’s cheeks and decided to take over. “What Amber’s trying to say is that I’ve invited her to stay with me for a few days. And she accepted,” he smugly added.

  “That’s right,” she quickly agreed. “Adam and I want to spend time together and reconnect.” Like Adam, she must have noticed her sister’s worried frown. “He has a security system and everything. I’ll be perfectly safe,” she promised.

  Adam knew how important Amber’s family was to her, so he wanted to set her sister’s mind at ease. He grabbed the small pad and pen from the nightstand and jotted down pertinent information. He held the white slip of paper out to Hannah. “This is my address and home phone number. Feel free to stop by and visit with Amber anytime.”

  Hannah took the piece of paper, glanced at it, and slipped it into her purse. “Don’t think I won’t,” she warned. She turned back to her sister, bent down, and gave her a big hug. “It looks like you’re in capable hands. I’m going back home.”

  She gave Adam a measured look before turning back to Amber. “Make sure you call me once you’re settled. I’ll just worry if you don’t.” Her gaze darted from him to Amber. “I won’t hesitate to drop by unannounced if I don’t hear from you.”

  “I’ll call, I promise,” Amber replied. “Go home
and enjoy your day off.”

  Adam saw Amber fidget as if she might jump out of her skin any second. He hoped she wasn’t having second thoughts. It would kill him to watch her walk away again. “I’ll check on the discharge papers. Go ahead and change into the clothes your sister brought. The sooner we can get out of here the better.”

  ****

  Amber grinned. “Agreed.”

  Adam closed the door and disappeared.

  Amber scrambled from the bed and into the bathroom with the overnight bag. She didn’t know who’d tried to kill her or why, but she knew she wanted Adam Landis. She wasn’t going to let a severe case of nerves or a group of boat thieves get in her way.

  She finished dressing and sat on the edge of the bed to wait. Someone knocked on the door. “Come in, I’m done,” she called out thinking it was Adam. The door opened, and Tom Smith rushed inside. Amber felt letdown at the sight of someone other than Adam.

  “Amber, I can’t believe what happened to you.” He rubbed the back of his neck and rushed over to her with short, jerky movements.

  He was close enough to invade her space. Amber tried to slide further down the bed without being obvious. “I’ll be fine. And I’m sorry about your boat. I feel horrible that it was stolen on my watch.”

  The man paced in front of Amber. “Don’t worry about the boat. I have insurance. The company will be getting in touch with you soon. I’ve already filed a claim.” He ran a hand through his hair several times. His pacing changed to erratic wandering.

  His behavior made Amber nervous. She hadn’t had any dealings with Mr. Smith since the initial interview and the signing of the work contract. She didn’t remember him being so strung out. The loss of his boat must have really gotten to him, Amber decided. He acted strange enough that she let out a sigh of relief when Adam walked into the room.

  “Everything’s ready,” he assured her in a firm voice that soothed her frayed nerves. He picked up her overnight bag and reached out his free hand to help her rise from the bed. Once she was standing, he pulled her to his side. His body was stationed between her and the visitor.