“So you think we’re safe.”
Ariel looked up at the canvas ceiling and swallowed. “For the time being.”
Tempest sighed as if a load had been taken off her shoulders. “I’m glad. I like it here. I think I want to stay here forever.”
“Do you think you’ll get tired of sleeping bags and canvas ceiling before it reached a hundred degrees below zero?”
“You know what I meant.” Tempest giggled. “I want us to find a safe, permanent home. Of course, if we really do stay right here, we might hav’ta build an igloo for the winter.”
Dreams of a different life, a safer life never died, and since she’d found such peace in a man’s touch other dreams had emerged, too.
“But I’d rather we settled down someplace a little warmer, like maybe where Mozart could live outdoors and I wouldn’t have to clean under his perch.” Tempest’s tone became wistful. “We could get a place with a yard big enough so I could get a dog and maybe some bunnies,” Tempest continued. “It’d be nice to get more birds and fish, too.” Her tone sounded wistful. “I love Mozart, but he doesn’t play like a kitten or puppy.”
“If we ever find a safe place to settle down, you can have as many pets as you want.”
“Anything?”
“No reptiles.”
“Sherry,” Tempest’s eyes glistened with unshed tears, “I love you, even if you can’t see beauty in fangs and scales.”
“I love you, too … even though you do have the oddest definition of beauty.” Ariel reached across the narrow space and brushed Tempest’s black spiked halo away from her face. “Do you think you’ll be able to sleep now?”
She nodded. Gradually, Tempest’s breathing slowed. The soft sound lulled Ariel. She closed her eyes allowing the calmness to soak in. Peace soothed her fears. Then the sound of stealthy footsteps retreating outside their tent brought her to full alert. She clamped her hand over her mouth to hold back her scream. Heart pounding, she listened to the guilty silence.
Had Peter found a way to follow them? He couldn’t have, could he? Her sleeping bag became clammy with sweat. Surely it had been an animal in search of a morsel, and realizing there was nothing to eat in the tent, it had moved on.
Again, she sensed movement. She clamped her jaws together so her teeth wouldn’t chatter and strained her ears.
Chapter 8
The aroma of coffee permeated the tent’s canvas walls and perfumed the air inside with the promise of a new day. Ariel wriggled out of her cozy sleeping bag and grabbed her clothes. The cool, crisp denim of her jeans brought gooseflesh to her sleep-warmed skin, feeling like one of her scary premonitions. Remembering the footsteps, she might have heard, she held the chilled cloth of her red flannel shirt to her face and hoped the frosty fabric would sooth her, but nothing quieted fears, except facing them. She shivered more from nervousness than the cold as she tied the laces of her hiking boots. Then, she jammed her arms into her navy pea coat, took a deep breath and unzipped the tent flap.
Nothing happened.
Ariel ran her fingers through her hair then peeked outside. The only difference was that the scent of coffee permeating the crisp morning air was stronger. A blue-enamel pot perked on top of a small propane stove, which resembled a yellow briefcase. Link hunched over it, inhaling deeply. Had he been the one sneaking around the camp in the middle of the night? The one who had unburied so many of her fears?
She peered at the hard ground, but saw no sign of any footprints, so she crawled out of her tent and cleared her throat. “That smells wonderful. Will it be ready soon?”
Link jerked upright and twisted to face her. His blond mane appeared to have been finger-combed, too, but she didn’t detect any guilt in his expression. Ariel hoped she looked equally tousled, instead of scary. “You’re just in time.” He moved the pot to the unlit burner and stood up.
Ariel perched on a red and white striped campstool. “You’re up early.” Link cocked a finger at her and pretended to fire it like a gun. She hid her shiver behind a chuckle. He winked, then chose two mugs, and looked at her expectantly. “I drink mine black,” Ariel said.
“I inhale mine.” Link sniffed loudly as he poured the brew, then carefully handed her a blue-enameled tin mug, which matched the pot. “Take the handle or you’ll burn your hands.”
Ariel breathed in the steam. The last time she’d smelled this blend was five years ago in London. “This reminds me of my mother.”
“I take it that she made sludge.” Ariel looked at him with confusion. “You look sad,” he explained as he dropped his gaze and shifted uncomfortably. “When we get back, I’ll change brands. Coffee is supposed to make you feel better – ready to face the day.” His brows knit.
“You misunderstand. I miss my mother and this smells like her favorite brand. Remembering her is a very good thing.” Ariel took a sip. “Mmmmm and it tastes good, too.” When they got back to civilization, she would buy some.
“I understand.” Link sat down on a folding chair, blew into the mug and stared at the horizon. “When I was living at home, I couldn’t wait to move out. Be on my own. Do as I wanted, when I wanted.” He shook his head. “The longer I’m away from them, the more I miss them.”
“Big family?”
“Parents, two brothers and a sister. I miss Carmen the most, which is weird because I used to think she was the worst pest in Dallas.”
“Is that why you adopted me?”
“Probably.” He chuckled. “You have sisters and brothers?”
“One each sister and brother.” Ariel gulped her coffee. As it burned down her esophagus, tears flooded her eyes. She deserved the pain for being such a blabbermouth.
“I’m the oldest. Carmen is two years younger. Nick and Nate are identical twins, but just about as different in personality and interests as two people can be.” He smiled thinking of them. “They’re in their last year of college.”
“Miss ‘em?”
“Sometimes, but not over coffee.” Link tilted his head. Ariel took a sip, but he kept looking at her. When she realized she needed to tell him something, she admitted, “My brother is so much like my step-father that I hope I never see him again.”
“Do you mean he’s a big game hunter or a man’s man?” Stone asked from behind her.
Ariel twisted around and looked up so quickly that scalding coffee sloshed on her hand. She wiped her hand on her jeans and hoped neither Stone nor Link had noticed how disconcerted his question had been.
Stone hunkered down, poured a cup for himself, then turned to Link and explained, “The guy sure isn’t a woman’s man or a kid’s man.”
“Your step-father is an avid hunter?” Link craned to see her over Stone’s broad shoulder, his expression surprised.
Ariel nodded, and then studied the scuffed toes of her hiking boots. “He is the reason Tempest hates guns so much.” She clenched her teeth together and willed herself to shut up.
Stone settled between her and Link. His expression serious as he asked Link, “What kind of man takes his seven year old daughter on a special day, makes her think where they’re going is some sort of zoo, when it’s really a hunting blind, then kills a leopard right in front of her?”
Link choked. “Was the cat hurt?” he asked, when he recovered his breath. She shook her head. He frowned. “Attacking people?”
Had it been? She’d never thought to ask. “Not that I know of. My step-father put its head on the wall in his study and had a chair upholstered with its hide.” Gooseflesh rippled over her at the memory.
“Great guy,” Stone said. “Don’t you agree?”
“How come he didn’t take your brother?” Link said.
“He was away at boarding school.” When it looked like Link would continue with the subject, she said, “Do you mind if we talk about something else?” His mouth flattened, but he nodded. Several moments passed where the only sound was a distant bird cry or someone sipping their coffee.
“How come no one wo
ke me up?” Tousled ebony and fuchsia hair proceeded Tempest’s rumpled shirt as she crawled out of the tent. “Mmmmm, coffee.” She stood up and ineffectively tried to smooth the creases out of her faded jeans. “Is there milk and sugar?”
Link rose. “I’ll get some.”
Tempest poured herself a half-cup of coffee then snuggled next to Ariel. The campstool teetered threateningly, but didn’t collapse as she took a sip. “Ohhh, this tastes just like-“
“Your grandmother’s favorite,” Ariel interrupted. “I already told Link.”
She nodded like a dashboard puppy. “Grandma’s coffee was always the best.” Tempest tapped her hand. “You’ve got goose bumps.”
Stone sat up straighter then sandwiched her free hand between his warm ones. “Your skin is freezing.” His thumb lazily circled her palm. Heat radiated through her. The thumb continued in its slow sensual path. Warmth spread through her, centering on her core. He smiled as if he knew the effect he had on her. The short hairs on the back of her neck quivered.
Ariel yanked her hand free. “I’m fine.”
He arched a brow at her and grinned. How dare he play with her emotions, like she was some sort of toy!
“It just hurts to remember Grandma,” Tempest announced. “She died in a terrible accident.” As if realizing she’d said too much and now they might need to embellish a lie, Tempest bounced to her feet and handed her mug to Link, who was placing creamer, sugar and eggs on top of the cooler.
Ariel took a quick swallow of coffee. The heat tingled on her tongue, but she swallowed reflexively. The liquid burned all the way to her stomach, where it expanded into a burning ball. Ariel breathed through her mouth and hoped Stone didn’t suspect the depth of his effect on her.
“You sure you’re okay?” Stone studied her, as if he knew exactly how unsettling his attention was.
“Of course I am,” she said stiffly. Stone chuckled, while his thumb caressed the mug’s smooth enamel. Ariel turned to Tempest. “Why don’t you go find our sandwich maker and the bread and pie filling?”
With a whoop of excitement, Tempest dashed toward the plane.
“It must be rough being a single parent,” Stone said. “Even rougher when you don’t have family to help.”
Ariel shrugged, took another sip of burning coffee and willed herself not to notice his tantalizing maleness or remember the tenderness of his touch.
“I can’t find the can opener,” Tempest wailed as she jogged back.
Stone retrieved a tiny object from his pocket. He flipped it like a coin, then caught it in his palm. “We can use this.”
Dubiously, Tempest handed him the can of cherry pie filling. Stone rocked the odd bit of metal around the top of the can. “Haven’t seen a P-38 before, have you?” Tempest shook her head. Stone handed her the half-open can. “You put the cutting blade over the rim and rock it up and down like so.” His big hand covered Tempest’s smaller one for a moment, while she started, then he let her finish.
“It’s working! This is neat,” Tempest said. She handed Ariel the open can, then studied the simple object.
Link picked up Tempest’s cup, filling it the rest of the way with milk, then stirred in a big spoonful of sugar. He handed it to Tempest. “This is the way I liked my coffee when I was your age.”
She took a tentative sip, quickly followed by a big gulp. “This is so good! Thank you.”
Ariel prepared the picnic pies while Link made scrambled eggs. Every time she looked up, she caught Stone watching her. What did he want? Was he playing some sick part in one of Peter’s mind games? It took every ounce of self-discipline to pretend she didn’t notice his attention.
After breakfast, Link said, “Who wants to go exploring?”
“Me!” Tempest jumped up, waving both hands. “I do.”
Stone raised his hand.
“You three go on,” Ariel said. “I’ll clean up then do some sketching.”
Link and Tempest didn’t need a second invitation, but Stone was slower to follow through. “I really should take a look at the altimeter and see if there’s a bad ground or something,” Stone said.
Check the altimeter or keep an eye on her? Ariel turned her back to him and picked up the frying pan. Her hand tightened on the handle as she tested its weight. Link shouldered his rifle. She pretended a calm she didn’t feel and started cleaning her makeshift weapon. When she finished everything, she got her sketchpad, then avoiding the plane, where Stone had torn out the instrument panel, she headed toward an interesting clump of vegetation. She hunkered next to a six-inch tall pussy willow, and began a charcoal sketch of the perfect little bush. As she was finishing, a shadow touched a catkin, she looked up and found Stone gazing at her. She inhaled sharply. “Do you always sneak up on people?” she demanded before she thought better of taunting him.
He grinned. “I like watching you draw. You’re really good.”
She wet her lips and forced a smile. “Thank you.”
His grin widened. Dear Lord, either he thought she was the stupidest woman alive or he suspected that she suspected he worked for Peter.
She cleared her throat. “How was the plane? Everything all right?”
“I found a loose screw under the console. When I tightened it, it popped back out.” He shrugged. “It’s probably stripped, but that’s no biggie. I think I’ve got it fixed, at least for now.”
Probably fixed so only he or Link could use the radio. It’s what Peter would have done. “How,” she asked, “if the screw is bad?” Hopefully he would believe she accepted his story.
“I twisted a bit of aluminum foil around the screw’s shank.”
Somehow that didn’t sound either believable or safe. But it did sound like one of the lame excuses Peter came up with when he played dumb.
“Last night,” Stone said, “I thought I heard something, so I went out to check.” He cleared his throat. “Tempest was whispering something to you and she sounded terrified… Who was the man you were talking about? Your ex?”
Ariel tried to breathe, but air wouldn’t come. “You were eavesdropping?”
Chapter 9
Stone straightened his spine. “Not intentionally.” Damn, but the woman was testy. He shrugged and told her the truth. “Like I said, I thought I heard something.”
“And?” When she started walking toward their campsite, he fell into step beside her.
What did she want? “While I was trying to find out what woke me, I overheard Tempest.” Ariel’s expression snapped with anger as she motioned for him to continue. “Yes, I stopped to listen, I think anyone would have. She sounded terrified and I thought perhaps whatever had passed through the camp had gotten into your tent.”
Ariel folded her arms across the sketchbook and pressed it into her stomach while she stared at the toes of her shoes. “She had a bad dream.”
Why wouldn’t she look at him? Did she feel guilty for some reason? Stone kneaded the taunt muscles at the back of his neck. “I found a bear’s tracks near the Cessna.” Ariel blanched and her head jerked up to look at him fast enough to give herself whiplash. “I’m glad it just passed through.” He smiled reassuringly, but it didn’t seem like anything he said or did penetrated Ariel’s distrust for any length of time. “What was Tempest’s nightmare about?”
“Her father.” Ariel’s expression equated the man with week-old-roadkill.
Strange how two people could initially believe they were so in love, then so quickly fall into hatred. Remembering Marishka made him feel similar things to the unspoken message Ariel’s muscles were sending. Too bad he had never known the real Marishka until it was almost too late. He suspected Ariel felt the same way, but would clam up if he asked a question that personal. “Does she often have nightmares?”
“Not as often as she once did.” Ariel closed her eyes, then when she opened them, she looked directly at him. “While we were wandering around Deadhorse, we saw a fisherman that looked and moved like him.” The tip of her tongue t
raced her lips in an unconsciously sexy way.
Stone focused on her eyes. “When’s the last time you saw him?”
“Years … unless that really was him, yesterday.”
The abhorrence in her tone made him want to smile. Stone didn’t stop to analyze why Ariel’s obvious hatred for her ex husband pleased him, but it did. He said, “So he doesn’t have visitation rights?”
“No!” Her eyes widened and she took a deep breath. “Sorry. It’s just that I hope I never have to have anything to do with that man again.”
“Except for the alimony and child support checks.” Sarcasm burned in his tone, as he relived the judge’s unfair ruling.
“Excuse me?” She glared at him. “You think I’d accept his money?” Her mouth thinned and fire snapped in her eyes. “I’d rather starve than accept a penny from him. That’d just make him think he had the right to run my life.”
Damn, he should have bit his tongue, instead of take his hostility toward Marishka’s five blood-sucking-years of alimony out on Ariel. He made an apologetic gesture. “Forget I said that. You have a kid, so you deserve it.”
“For your information,” her voice rose and anger snapped in her gaze. “Tempest and I literally walked out with only the clothes on our backs and I’d do it, again.” She glared at him at enunciating each word, “Anything we have is what I earned. Me. By myself. And if you think I ever intend to trust another man for anything, you’re wrong.”
Stone held up his hands for a truce. “I believe you. It’s just that when the subject of divorce comes up, I always think of Marishka and the lies she concocted-” He gritted his teeth against the bitter memories.
“You’re divorced?”
He gave a sharp nod.
“I’m sorry it didn’t work out.”
Stone opened his mouth to answer, but didn’t know what to say, so he snapped it closed, again. One thing was certain, he didn’t want to continue talking about Marishka’s deceit. Narrowing his eyes, he focused on the woman who’d pried too much. Perhaps she needed a bit of probing in return. “Didn’t your divorce decree stipulate child support?” Ariel shook her head. He frowned with confusion. “A father should be responsible for his children.”
Fatal Attractions Page 12