Mary-Kate wished she'd seen Dane Carmichael send Rob about his business. It was time someone put that young man in his place. And Dane had probably had no trouble. He looked strong enough and ruthless enough to do whatever he wanted. He made Rob and his friends look like little boys in comparison.
Wondering if he ever smiled, she drifted off to sleep in the hot, quiet afternoon.
Dane was heading to the cane field as soon as he changed. He donned long jeans, boots and buttoned his shirt. Grabbing a hat, he headed out, scowling as he thought of his unwanted guest.
He couldn't believe those college kids had left her behind. Just saying they had another member of the party would have delayed his dispatching them until she showed up or could have been found. Now it looked as if he'd be stuck with her for who knew how long.
He swung by Roy's house and knocked on the open door.
Bea came to the door, smiling at him.
“What's up?” she asked.
“I need a favor.”
“Sure thing. What can I do for your?
“I chased a bunch of college kids off the beach this morning, and now am stuck with a member of the party that wasn't on the beach with them. The yacht sailed without her.”
“Her?” Bea's eyes widened in surprise. “Where is she?”
“I gave her the guest room for the time being. She has no money, no clothes, is just wearing a swimsuit. Can you loan her a dress or two? I hope the blasted yacht returns for her before sundown, and will ask one of the boys to keep an eye out for it. I don't want her to miss her ride. But in the meantime, if she had a dress to wear, it would be better all around.”
“Don't want her distracting the men, right?” Bea teased.
Dane nodded. He also didn't want the distraction himself, but no need to tell her that. He'd never hear the end of it if he did. For years he'd had his life just like he wanted. No drama, no heartache. He loved the island. The peace and quiet suited him completely. He didn't need some pretty woman messing things up.
CHAPTER TWO
Mary-Kate awoke some hours later, a sense of impending doom hanging over her. She glanced at her watch, remembering everything when she saw her bare arm. She was on some unnamed island, with an unfriendly, reluctant host, stranded here by Rob Lombard and his friends.
How late was it? Good grief, it would never do to be late to dinner. She had no doubt he meant what he said—arrive late and don't eat. She sat up abruptly.
Someone had been in the room while she slept. There were several Muumuu dresses lying across the chair, their bright colors vivid against the dainty white upholstery. She glanced to the open door, out to the hall. She had not closed it; anyone could have walked in.
She wondered if Dane Carmichael had come by. What would he have thought, seeing her sprawled over the bed, scantily clothed, sound asleep? She felt vulnerable at the thought. She needed the clothes.
Closing the door, Mary-Kate held the dresses up to her. There were four, all the same style, pretty sundresses, loose fitting and casual, in all colors. There was also a set of panties in a box, obviously a gift never worn. She was touched at the generosity of the unknown woman toward herself.
Twenty minutes later Mary-Kate had showered and dressed. The hours in the sun since starting her trip had brought color to her skin, light highlights to her hair. She did what she could with the limited things at her disposal. There was no hair dryer, but a few minutes in the sun should take care of that. No makeup, but the color in her cheeks made her eyes sparkle, and she didn't need it anyway—there was no one here to impress, she told herself firmly.
Time to find her reluctant host.
Mary-Kate retraced the way to the large front room, but saw no one. Continuing through, she pushed open the screen door and stepped out onto the lanai. The trellis overhead sheltered it from the hot sun, the thick leaves of the bougainvillea making a colorful green and purple awning. The breeze from the ocean stirred the leaves, keeping the lanai cool and pleasant despite the still hot sun. Much lower on the horizon than earlier, it nonetheless was hot when she stepped into sunlight.
Mary-Kate sank into one of the chairs, enjoying the feel of the humid tropical air caressing her skin as it gently blew across the lanai. It was quite different from the sticky summers in Iowa. She scanned the sea. There was no yacht. Only the various shades of turquoise, jade and pale aqua of the ocean, the azure-blue of the sky, and the rich green of the island vegetation.
The silence ended as a jeep revved up the slight incline and came into view. Dane Carmichael was driving; with him in the car were two large German shepherd dogs. He pulled up before the lanai and stopped at its edge, gravel spurting from beneath his tires.
The dogs barked and jumped down, running up to Mary-Kate. She'd been around dogs all her life, so stayed perfectly still. These had to be the dogs she'd heard earlier on the beach.
"Sit, Marco, sit, Rames." Dane's authoritative voice commanded instant response. Both dogs stopped barking, and sat, their tongues panting, eyes firmly fixed on Mary-Kate.
"They're beautiful," she said as he approached. "Will they let me pet them?"
"They're guard dogs. I don't want them spoiled."
She didn't think one pet would spoil them, but he was her host, and she needed to keep on his good side. If he even had one. So far his attitude had been anything but friendly. It was barely cordial.
"Dinner will be at seven." He continued into the house. He'd changed since the last she'd seen him. Now he wore work boots, jeans and the shirt had been buttoned. Mary-Kate had trouble keeping her eyes from following his every step until he disappeared inside.
She looked at the dogs watching her.
"As if I can tell time from the sun!" she commented to them. The dogs cocked their heads at her voice.
"He could have introduced us," she said to them, her voice soft and sweet. "I'm Mary-Kate; which of you is Marco and which Rames?"
As she said their names, their tails began to wag.
"How ferocious you are!" Mary-Kate crooned. One dog—she thought it was Marco- inched forward, soon resting his head on the arm of her chair, his eyes bright.
"Well, you are a sweetheart, aren't you?" Slowly she let him smell her hand, then reached out to pet him, scratching behind his ears, rubbing his neck. In only a minute, the other one moved forward, jostling Marco for attention. Mary-Kate laughed, and generously shared her affections with both dogs.
"Alienation of affections is against the rules." Dane's voice sounded behind her some minutes later.
She looked up guiltily. "Sorry, but they're so sweet."
"They're guard dogs; they're not supposed to be sweet! Here, I didn't know if you'd want something to drink, so I brought you a lemonade." He thrust a frosty glass into her hand, his fingers brushing hers, his eyes staring boldly into hers.
Mary-Kate almost dropped the glass; his touch was electrifying. She took a quick sip as he settled in a chair next to her, legs spread in a blatantly masculine way as he sprawled in the chair. He had recently bathed; his hair was still damp. His feet were bare; his legs long and tanned below his shorts. He wore a T-shirt, covering the tantalizing view of his chest, but now exposing the breadth of his shoulders, the smooth muscles rippling as he moved.
When she met his look, she quickly turned away, hoping he couldn't see her heart pounding in her chest. She had no reason to be staring. She'd seen good-looking, sexy men before—like Bradley Cooper, Jared Padalecki, and Channing Tatum.
But not up close and in the flesh!
"So tell me about tutoring," he said, leaning back in his chair, his eyes steady.
She sighed softly and took a deep breath. "It's been a total disaster. I ought to have known the job would be too good to be true, but I was enticed by the vision of tropical islands, of sunny days, beautiful beaches, superb weather, sailing into the sunset on a fancy yacht."
"And the reality?"
She glanced at him, but he was gazing over the expanse before
them.
"Rob needs tutoring, but would rather party. There was no support from his parents, and trying to get him to spend five minutes on mathematics was like pulling teeth. His attention is apparently one thing his parents cannot buy! But I've heard about everything else they can buy. Mr. Lombard is quite proud of his wealth."
"You're a math tutor?" Dane ran his gaze over her tanned legs, skimmed up over the short summer dress to her face.
Mary-Kate was instantly and intensely aware of the skimpy dress, and her lack of underclothing. She felt as exposed as she had in her bikini. Her blood rushed through her veins, as her skin grew warmer.
"Actually, I'm a high-school math teacher. In Ames, Iowa." She looked expectantly at him.
His lips twitched. "I have heard of Ames. Is Lombard in high school? He certainly looked older."
"College. He should be graduating now, but he can't pass the basic math." She shrugged. "I can't tutor if he goes off and leaves me. And right now I don't much care. I'm pretty fed up with the way things have gone. But all my clothes are on their boat."
Dane took a long sip of lemonade before he spoke again, his eyes fixed so intently on her that it was almost as if he were touching her. "You don't need much here. It's always warm, and we don't dress up."
"Do you have a phone, some way I can call out?"
He slanted her a glance. "Who do you want to call? Boyfriend?"
"My parents. Maybe they can locate the Lombard’s and arrange for them to come back to get me. Rob probably thinks this is great—dump the teacher! Who knows what he told his parents?" She gritted her teeth in her frustration, her anger at the situation overcoming her awareness of the man beside her.
"He was ordered off in no uncertain terms. I don't want him back on the island." Dane's voice was hard, uncompromising.
Mary-Kate eyed the dogs. "I thought I heard dogs. I was asleep when the yelling and barking woke me."
"You sure sleep a lot," he murmured.
So he had seen her asleep this afternoon. It gave her an odd feeling in the pit of her stomach. She should have closed her door.
"Can I help with dinner?" She changed the subject.
"No, Nora has it almost ready."
“Who's Nora?”
“My housekeeper.”
“Is she the one who brought the dresses?”
“Nope, that was Bea.”
“So I'm not the only woman on the island.”
“Hardly.” He offered no further information.
"What do you do here, Dane?" She was proud of the easy way his name came out. Maybe he'd never know she felt as nervous as a schoolgirl around him.
"Grow pineapples."
"Sugar?"
"A few acres, but the main crop is pineapple."
"And you own all this?" she waved her hand.
He finished his drink, set the glass on the lanai beside him, and nodded.
"Would you show me around?"
"Why?" His voice was a shade harder.
Mary-Kate blinked. "I've never seen a pineapple plantation and I'm never likely to again once I get off the island."
He didn't respond immediately, and then shrugged and said, "I'll get one of the men if you're really interested. I don't have time."
"I'm a teacher, so of course I'm interested in learning new things."
"I've had experience with teachers. I know exactly how they think and what they want to learn when they come here. And it has nothing to do with pineapples."
Mary-Kate threw him an exasperated look, but before she could reply he arose smoothly and turned toward the front door, moving with a controlled fluid motion that reminded her of a large cat.
"You'll be called for dinner."
The screen door slammed behind him. Mary-Kate was alone with the dogs again, now wondering what he meant about his experience with teachers. She sipped her lemonade and speculated on her host.
Dinner was announced, some time later, by an older woman with a huge girth and snow-white hair who introduced herself as Dane's housekeeper, Nora. The bright yellow and green muumuu covering her ample body brushed the floor as she walked. Mary-Kate smiled to herself; if Nora ate her own cooking, she must be good at her job!
"There's a nice chicken salad and fresh hot rolls ready for dinner. Iced tea all right to drink?" Nora asked as she led the way into the dining room.
"Very much so." Mary-Kate's mouth watered as she smelled the fresh bread and saw the nicely set table. A lazy fan circled overhead, cooling the room. The long oak table was polished until it shone in the spotless dining room. Fresh flowers sat in the center. Her place was set with crystal, china, and silver.
Dane came in right behind her, greeting Nora politely, and waiting for Mary-Kate to sit down before he sat. His expression was more neutral than earlier, and Mary-Kate hoped dinner would be a pleasant meal.
Once Nora had served them, she left, and Mary-Kate began to eat the salad. It was delicious. She was hungry having missed lunch. The rolls were homemade and golden. Mary-Kate darted a quick glance at Dane. He was eating, his eyes fixed on her.
"If the yacht returned, would they be able to contact me?" she asked.
"I sent a couple of the boys to the beach. One to tell them where you were if they returned, the other to come get you. There are workers all over the island alerted to look for the yacht. They didn't return this afternoon."
She felt a wave of disappointment and frustration as she buttered one of the rolls. She had expected better of the older Lombard’s. Seems like they were no better than their son. Or had she not been missed yet.
"Where did you come from; why did you come here?" Dane asked.
"They had the yacht sailed here from Los Angeles. I met them in Los Angeles and we flew to Suva. We've been sailing around the different islands for a month now, stopping here and there to see whatever Mrs. Lombard takes a fancy to. We spent a few days in Suva. I think she was trying to buy out the stores there, but she finally stopped because of lack of space on the boat."
"How long was the trip to last?"
"Another two weeks. Then I was going to fly to Honolulu before flying home. School starts in September so I still have plenty of time."
"This will delay your plans a little. The supply ship won't be here for maybe three weeks."
She shrugged. "I'm hoping the Lombard’s will come back."
"I'm surprised they're not more concerned for one of their passengers."
"If you knew them, you wouldn't be. All Mr. Lombard thinks of is his money, and I don't think Mrs. Lombard thinks at all! As for Rob, he is the most self-centered creature I've met. Knowing that money can buy almost anything, it will never occur to them that I could have any problems. It wouldn't occur to them that I have no money, for that matter."
"Back to that."
"I don't want anything more from you," she snapped, immediately knowing where his thoughts were going. "I appreciate your letting me wait here this afternoon. And if there is any work to be done to repay you for your hospitality, let me know. Maybe I should head for the village.”
“No place to stay in the village. This island isn't on the normal tourist routes. The people who live here rarely have visitors from off island. This is your best bet until they return—or they don't and the supply ship arrives. It goes to the bigger islands where you'll be able to find transportation to Suva and then home.”
“I can't stay here for three weeks!” Mary-Kate was horrified at the idea.
A slight smile tugged at his lips. "I think I can squeak by feeding you."
“There has to be some way to communicate with the outside world. I can't believe you'd be totally cut off from the rest of the world. What if there's an emergency?”
There are places in the village to go. We can communicate in situations like that. I hardly think you're being stranded here counts as the same kind of emergency.”
“That's because it's not you stranded here,” she muttered. “After we eat, can you take me to the villa
ge?”
“I can ask Bea to, once her family is finished with dinner. Don't believe me?”
She didn't want to offend, but she had to find a way off the island. “It's not that, just, I'd like to see for myself.”
He nodded. “I'll talk to Bea when we're finished.”
The remainder of the meal was eaten in silence. Mary-Kate had nothing to say. She knew she owed a lot to this man, but impatiently she just wanted to get off the island and head for home if the Lombard’s weren't returning for her.
“They have my passport,” she said in sudden realization.
He looked at her. “We'll give them a day to remember you, and if they don't we can contact the authorities.
Dane placed his napkin on the table and pushed back his chair. "If you will excuse me now, I have work to catch up on." He nodded and moved to the door.
Disappointed that he'd left, Mary-Kate slowly continued her dinner. She was almost finished when Nora bustled back in the room, two large strawberry shortcakes in her hands.
"Humph! Gone already, is he? He works too hard, that one. He should ease up some. The place does all right. A little relaxation wouldn't hurt. Though I guess it's more than a body can expect."
"Why is that?" Mary-Kate sat eying the dessert--one of her favorites.
"Him with a broken heart and all." Nora put both dishes down, then reached over to grab the pitcher of tea and poured some more iced tea into Mary-Kate's glass.
Mary-Kate sat back, fascinated. She shouldn't pry--but how intriguing was that? The man had not struck her as brokenhearted. In fact, the thought had crossed her mind that he didn't even have a heart.
"Oh?" Surely that was innocuous enough? She hoped Nora would tell her more.
"Umm. Miss Melissa and her fancy ways. This place wasn't good enough for her. She always wanted San Francisco or Honolulu. They were engaged, but she broke it off."
Destination Romance Page 18