Alex pulled her into his arms and stroked her back.
“They’re all lying about my father.” She pressed her face against his shoulder. “He wouldn’t steal money, and he wasn’t skipping the country because he wouldn’t have left without me. He was nothing like they say he was.”
Finally, she became conscious of his warm, naked chest touching her breasts. He must have realized it, too, for he abruptly released her and stepped back.
She dried the tears in her eyes with her fingers. “I have to get back. If I can save the company and repay all the clients, I can clear my father’s name, at least somewhat, and appease whoever wants to kill me.”
He ran his fingers through his hair, a gesture becoming familiar to her. “You’ve taken all this responsibility on yourself?”
“Not by myself. Robert oversees the business as Trustee. I inherit partial control on my twenty-fifth birthday, coming up in August.”
“Is this why you’re marrying him?”
“Of course not.” She whirled around, giving him her back. “I’ve known Robert for years. Do you know how many women would love to be in my place?”
“Hillyard likes controlling the company, doesn’t he?” Alex asked, over her shoulder. “And I’ve heard he’s ruthless in business.”
She turned toward him. “You don’t know him. He’s the kindest man.”
Alex raised a skeptical eyebrow.
She hugged herself. “You don’t understand. I don’t have any money. He’s aware of that more than anyone. If anything it’s a burden to him, but he does watches over the company as a friend. He and my father were raised practically like brothers as his mother worked for my grandparents for years.”
She refrained from telling Alex she owed the largest sum of money to Robert. On top of the seven million dollar loan, before they left, Robert had further propped up the company with another two million dollars.
Alex stepped toward her, and she didn’t like the accusation in his eyes.
“So, Alex, you’re implying Robert doesn’t love me and only wants the company?”
“He wants you, which I can understand.” Alex cupped her chin. “Don’t get upset. It’s your business if you want to marry him. I’m just trying to figure you two out.” When he dropped his hand from her face, she sighed, because she had liked it there too much. “Why not let the company dissolve and start over?”
“It’s complicated. Too many people have lost their money and need to be repaid. The employees would lose their livelihood, and I have to salvage my father’s ruined reputation. Not to mention, Mister X has sworn to kill me if I don’t pay.”
“Mister X?”
“I call him that because I don’t know who is sending the letters, but he might be one of the men who attacked the boat. Will I always be looking over my shoulder wondering if I, or worse, someone I love . . . ? Oh, my God, what if he goes after Aunt Kaye now? She could pay the ultimate price.”
“Bloody hell, Kelly. A lot of people have already paid the price.”
Tears trickled down her cheeks. She nodded. “And you could have been one of them.” She put a hand up to her wet face. “If I had gone with those men, then they wouldn’t have shot at the boat. I don’t deserve to be the one alive.”
She whirled and hurried from the camp.
* * *
Alex ran after Kelly, caught her arm and gently shook her.
“Don’t blame yourself. You had nothing to do with those killers.” With his thumbs, he dabbed away the hot moisture from beneath her eyes. “You’ve been through hell, while I’ve done nothing but goad you from the moment I met you. Truce?”
She considered him for a moment. “Truce.”
He lowered his gaze to her full, red lips. He wanted to take her mouth with his in an almost violent action. An image flitted through his mind of her lying beneath him on the grass, his hips between her thighs. He nearly groaned. As pretty and alluring as she was, she wasn’t worth the complication.
He dropped his hand from her arm and backed away as if she were one of those hot rocks in the pit. “Don’t distress yourself about it. It’s late. Let’s talk about this tomorrow. You stay here and sleep. I’m going for a walk on the beach.”
She nodded. “Goodnight.”
His gaze lingered on the soft sway of her hips as she walked toward the hut. He’d love to go with her. It would be heavenly to sleep with her in his arms again, but bloody hell, he couldn’t think of one excuse to do so tonight—except to comfort her. No, he couldn’t do it.
Exhaling a deep breath, he turned in the direction of the beach.
His thoughts turned to his obsession to sleep with Kelly––especially now. But knowing all she’d gone through, he vowed he wouldn’t add to her pain. He had thought his life had been a nightmare, but it was nothing compared to what she had experienced, and what the two of them were going through now. Tomorrow, he’d begin building a privacy partition in the hut. Until then, he’d sleep on the tarp outside.
He headed back to the hut, trying to think of something negative or very cold to squash his desire for her––something other than his career being ruined by Hillyard. Pregnancy. There was no birth control out here. The thought cooled him considerably. His hormones had gotten him into trouble before. He wouldn’t be a fool again.
Chapter Eight
Two days later, Kelly dusted sand from her palms after the exhausting morning’s work of lugging rocks with Alex. Every muscle in her back throbbed, but the words Help and SOS now lay spelled out on the beach. Swiping the sweat from her brow, she studied the blue sky. Maybe one day soon a plane would fly over and see their plea for help.
Leaving Alex finishing up the last letter, she hurried to sneak a private bath at the lagoon.
After stripping off her bikini, she waded in and let the cool water refresh her hot skin. Under the waterfall, she scrubbed her hair with the last piece of soap she’d had in her bag. A flicker of apprehension coursed through her that while she’d always been irregular, she couldn’t ignore the cramps she’d had all morning. Her period would begin soon, and she didn’t have any idea how she was going to handle that.
She’d just splashed out of the water and slipped on the bottom half of her bathing suit when Alex strolled through the trees. Fumbling with the ties of her top, she whirled, giving him her back.
He chuckled. “Need my assistance?”
“No. Done,” she said in a shaky voice. She turned to face him. They had made an unspoken agreement to keep their distance, but the huskiness in his voice caused warm sensations in the pit of her stomach.
“A bath with soap sounds great. Do you have any?” His gaze dropped to her bag lying on the bank.
Deciding to be fair, she pulled the soap from the bag. “Here you go.”
“You seem to have quite a few things in your bag?”
“Yeah, I have some things, but this is getting way too personal. We barely know each other, and it’s as if we’ve been thrown together in this instant marriage. In all ways except for . . . ” She winced.
“Sex?”
Not wanting to go there, she shrugged. “I’ve shared my toothpaste and now my soap. You’re lucky we found an extra toothbrush in another bag, or you’d be out of luck.”
He frowned. “What’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing.” She whirled and rubbed the towel through the strands of her hair. Her stomach cramped again, making her bitterly aware how easy men had it. What did Alex have to worry about? Nothing. “Well, if you must know, I have issues I’m worried about. Being a woman out here in the wilderness has its problems. I need, uh, certain things . . . ”
“What problems? What things? Tell me.”
Her face warmed. “You know, women things. Things I have to figure out on my own.”
“Ah, I think I get it. If there’s anything I can do for you, you’ll tell me?”
“Yeah.”
“Kelly, do you have a razor by any chance?”
She
retrieved the bag and pulled out the razor. When he took it, he caught her gaze. “Thanks. I won’t use it every day.”
After all he’d done for her, she’d be a bitch to refuse to share everything she had with him. “Here take the bag. Feel free to use whatever you’d like.”
A short time later, he returned to camp with his face clean-shaven, his perfect features more evident. Kelly’s heart did a flip-flop. He looked like a handsome model from GQ or some other magazine, yet he seemed unaware of how beautiful he was.
Kelly blew out a deep breath. For her own self-preservation, she should fling the razor into the ocean.
* * *
Perhaps stress caused her to skip her monthly flow, but Kelly was greatly relieved. She hoped to be rescued before she had to deal with that issue again.
With every day that passed, they became more accustomed to their wild environment. Alex repaired the hut and built a partition to provide a space for him and a space for her. She’d woven pallets for them to sleep on.
Today, on a makeshift table left by the natives, Kelly placed chopped papaya into split coconut shells they used for bowls. She had not given up hope someone would find them and had shoved her worries about Cochran Investments to the back of her mind––the need to find food outweighed everything.
During the next two weeks, when darkness descended, her link with Alex became closer and more desperate. If they could keep an ember burning in the pit from dinner, they’d have a campfire. Otherwise, they couldn’t waste their precious matches or lighter. They spent some nights in total darkness, beneath the stars, talking about their hopes and dreams, and of a future for each of them off the island.
She learned he had several older sisters, who had spoiled him, and a younger brother. His mother was somewhat of a socialite. She’d been shocked when he decided to become an actor as it wasn’t something done in their family. His responsibility as the oldest son was to pick a more ‘worthy’ profession.
Kelly told him about her family’s ranch in California, how much she loved horses, her 4-H honors, and her life with her mom and dad.
Although the search for food was a priority, they had some leisure time. With an excellent singing voice, Alex performed a few parts from his days in the theater, revealing his tremendous talent. When he sang love songs, and her heartbeat increased, she reminded herself not to take the words personally. Sometimes she sang along with him. He coached her with voice lessons, and she was amazed by her improvement. At other times, he instructed her in dramatic techniques. When they recited the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet, her heart beat at a rapid tempo.
Although he said she had a pretty voice, he teased her about her lack of acting talent. “Good thing you have a business degree, love. But we’ll keep working on it.”
Now, Kelly looked out over the waves again as she prepared their food. Would they be here forever? Did she really mind spending the rest of her life with him? She was afraid of her answer. Although it was urgent that she return home for the company, she enjoyed Alex’s company more than she ever thought possible and found herself far too content in the island home they shared.
Watching his attempts to make a chair, she smiled. Dear Alex was an inventor at heart. He sang while he worked, twining a vine around some pieces of bamboo.
When finished, he sat. The chair swayed and collapsed. He sprawled on the ground, but gave her a cocky grin. Brushing off the dirt, he went back to work, retying the vines. She smiled proudly when he made a slight modification, and the chair held his weight.
At the evening meal, he waved her toward the chair. “You may have the honor first.”
Warmth flowed through her as she laughed. “I see I’m the guinea pig . . . but thank you. There was a time when I thought you were frivolous because you’re an actor. I’ve changed my mind.”
“Oh?”
She didn’t elaborate and glanced away from the unsettling glimmer in his eyes. It was hard to remain coherent when he held a warm look like that, for her, but being affected by that gaze would only lead her into trouble. She was merely a second away from stepping into his arms. What would he think or say if he knew she cared for him more than she should?
So instead, she sat on the chair and ate her food in silence, pondering how their relationship had slowly changed. She’d like to think that they’d become friends, but there was something more. It was surprising, that in this place, he soothed her aching loneliness as no one had before.
* * *
The next morning, Kelly slipped the second wriggling fish from the net into the cooler. “Hey, the net I wove worked, I think we have enough for dinner in half the time.” She closed the lid, trying to think of a new recipe to try.
“Are you making fun of my spearing techniques again?” Alex said with a wry smile. “You know, I haven’t caught anything today.”
“Yeah, but I need to be better than you at something. I won’t even try for those lobsters you’re so good at getting from the rocks on the beach.”
When she stepped back, her foot faltered on the bank. Her arms flailed and she landed with a soft whoosh in the squishy, deep mud.
As he waited to spear a fish a short distance away, Alex’s laughter rang out.
She struggled to stand, flinging the mud from her hands. “I’m glad you find this funny.” When she tried to walk, her feet made sucking sounds. She swiped the black muck from the back of her hair.
“You’re not hurt, are you?” He came to her rescue and stood above her on the bank. He crouched down and extended his hand.
“The only thing bruised is my pride.”
“Good.” Still, he had that smirk on his face as if he tried hard not to laugh.
She narrowed her eyes. “I’m so glad you thing this is funny.” She grasped his hand, a little too firmly perhaps, for they both lost their balance and tumbled back into the soft mud. When he fell on top of her, the force almost knocked the wind out of her, though the mud cushioned their fall.
He rose on his forearms and scrutinized her. “Are you all right?”
At the concern on his face, she giggled. “Yes. But it was worth it to see the surprise on your face.”
His eyes narrowed. “You did that intentionally?”
“No, I . . . Well maybe.” They both laughed.
He shifted his weight on top of her. “You could’ve been hurt.”
“I’m fine.” She drew in her breath, suddenly aware how intimately he pressed against her.
A smile played at the corner of his lips. “You do seem to find ways to get yourself into trouble.”
She silently agreed, because she tingled everywhere his body met hers. Her palm resting on his bare chest, she detected his racing heart. It took a moment for her to find her voice. “You must think I’m so clumsy.”
His grin was irresistibly devastating. “No, but this time you’ll pay a price for getting us into this predicament.” The blue in his eyes suddenly darkened.
Breathlessly, she watched his mouth descend on hers. Their lips touched. His kiss, warm and gentle, sent spirals of ecstasy swirling through her.
He resettled his hard body between her parting thighs. She almost protested, but when he deepened the kiss, all she could concentrate on were the sensations he evoked.
His breathing heavy, he brushed feathery kisses down her throat. “I’ve wanted to kiss you again since the first time, but that’s as far as I can go unless . . . you’re ready to take a bath with me.”
Did he say ‘bath?’ All she could think was ‘kiss me again.’
Not waiting for an answer, he scooped her up in his arms and waded into the clear water. He swished them around and washed away most of the mud. Then, still holding her, he brought his mouth down on her lips with a toe-curling kiss that sent waves of longing flooding through her. With a moan, she looped her arms around his neck, pressing her breasts to his chest, unable to get close enough.
He raised his lips from hers. With an intense gaze, he set her on her
feet. He cupped her face between his hands and lowered his lips to hers––this kiss was more demanding. The sensual feel of his tongue exploring her mouth sent passion exploding through her. Not until his palm slid under her bathing suit top and kneaded her bare breast, and his other hand on her backside pulled her tightly against his hard erection, did she jolt to awareness as to where this would all lead.
She pushed out of his embrace. “I’m sorry. It’s my fault. We can’t do this. You’re still married.”
With a pained expression on his face, he groaned. “Kelly—”
“Alex, I have to respect your marriage vows, even if you don’t. And I can’t be your temporary lover. I just can’t.” She hurried from the lagoon.
* * *
Using a walking stick, Alex plodded down the hill, away from their camp and on toward the side of the island where they’d first landed. Scowling, he admitted he was like a moth flying closer to a flame. After kissing Kelly at the lagoon, things between them had become strained, so he had come to a decision. He’d get the raft ready so they could leave because he’d go mad if he stayed here with her any longer.
This past week, he’d found he had to tear himself away from their camp at every opportunity he could—while all he wanted was the barest glimpse of her—but he had to stay away. At night, he returned to sleep outside the hut because he couldn’t leave her unprotected. However, sometimes he wondered if he wasn’t the biggest threat she faced.
If they didn’t leave soon, he would make love to her. Despite her holding out, it was only a matter of time. She had been far too receptive to his advances, and he’d lost any willpower he possessed.
And if they should become lovers?
At the thought of a serious involvement, a shudder rippled through him. Emotionally empty, he could never give Kelly more than a casual love affair. He would hurt her. And as much as he disliked the idea, she had everything to gain by marrying Hillyard, who was rich enough to keep her safe from her father’s enemies. Maybe she did deserve someone like Hillyard.
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