Stranded with the Captain

by Sharon Hartley

  “You look fabulous,” Cat said, and hurried over to hug Deb. The last time she’d seen Deb she’d been in a hospital room filled with fragrant flowers.

  “I feel great,” Debbie said. “Better than in years.”

  “Truly?” Cat asked.

  “I wouldn’t want to go through it again, but that abduction was the best thing that ever happened to me.”

  “How so?” Cat asked, taking a seat on a sofa beside Deb.

  Joan lifted the wine bottle to pour Cat a glass, but Cat said, “Just OJ, please. It’s a long drive home.”

  Joan lifted her eyebrows, but poured juice into a flute.

  “The pirates made me appreciate my life,” Debbie said. “So what if Brad dumped me for a rich cougar? I’m still alive.”

  “Hear, hear,” Joan said, lifting her glass.

  Debbie picked up her champagne. “So we’re celebrating our rebirth.”

  Deb’s phrasing made Cat wince. Her period was two days late. It was possible the trauma of the pirates had thrown her off schedule, but she was worried about a new life growing inside her. On her way to Joan’s she’d purchased a home pregnancy test from a drugstore. It was early for a reliable result, but she’d follow the instructions as soon as she got home.

  “To our new lives,” Joan said, clinking glasses all around.

  “Or appreciating our old ones,” Cat added.

  “And I have an announcement,” Deb said.

  “What?” Joan asked.

  “I’ve applied for the Master of Fine Arts Program at the University of Miami,” Debbie announced.

  “Wow,” Joanie said.

  “Good for you,” Cat said. “You were supposed to do that immediately on graduation.”

  “And instead I married Brad,” Deb said, shaking her head. “I’ve really missed my drawing.”

  “Speaking of bums, can you believe our sail-bum captain was really an FBI agent?” Joan settled back into her chair. “Did he tell you about his secret identity the night you, um, slept in his cabin?”

  “No,” Cat said. “He didn’t mention it.”

  Joan shrugged. “A man of mystery.”

  “He was so sweet on the phone,” Deb said.

  Cat choked on her OJ and placed the flute on a white wicker table. “You’ve talked to Javi?”

  “Me, too,” Joan said. “You haven’t?”

  “He left a couple of messages, but I haven’t called him back.”

  “Why not?” Deb demanded. “I thought you liked our captain.”

  “Of course I like him.”

  “Then why are you avoiding him?” Joan asked.

  “Yeah. What’s going on?” Grinning, Deb sat back with her champagne and pulled her knees under her. “Tell us.”

  Cat shrugged. “I guess I don’t want to think about what happened.”

  “What happened with the pirates or what happened between you and the captain?” Joan asked.

  “Both.” Cat grabbed her glass again and hoped that would be the end of the discussion about Javi.

  Deb leaned forward. “What did happen when you and Javi were alone on that island?”

  “We plotted how to free you guys,” Cat said. “I’ve told you all about it.”

  “I’m thinking you left out some important parts.” Deb eyed Cat over the rim of her glass. “Like more wild sex.”

  “Unprotected sex,” Cat admitted.

  “Uh-oh,” Joan said.

  “My period is two days late.” The words were out of her mouth before Cat realized it. She hadn’t intended to say a word to anyone, especially not Joan and Deb, before she knew the test results. And maybe not then. If she was pregnant, it was a private matter. A matter that needed a lot of reflection.

  Debbie’s eyes widened. “But you’re the most regular person I know.”

  “You mean the most boring,” Cat replied.

  “I didn’t say that.”

  “You didn’t have to.”

  Joan stared at Cat’s glass of OJ. “Is that why you’re not drinking wine?”

  Cat slumped against the cushion. “I could be late because of the stress of our so-called vacation.”

  “Maybe,” Deb said.

  “Maybe not,” Joan added. “No wonder you haven’t talked to Javi. What will you do?”

  “I haven’t thought about it.”

  “Well, that’s bull,” Debbie said. “I’ll bet you’ve been obsessing about it for two days.”

  “A week.” Cat sighed. “I even bought a home pregnancy test, but it’s too soon to be accurate.”

  Joan leaned forward. “What were the results?”

  Cat shook her head. “The package is in my car. I haven’t taken it yet.”

  “Take it now,” Deb said.

  “I’m not sure I want to know.” Cat closed her eyes. “Javi doesn’t want kids.”

  “He told you that?” Joan demanded.

  “Not in so many words, but—”

  “Oh, my God. You’re in love with him,” Debbie said.

  Cat met her friend’s stare and nodded.

  “Damn. That’s even bigger news than mine.”

  “I know it’s nuts,” Cat murmured.

  “You have to call him back,” Deb said.

  “I don’t want to trap him into anything.”

  “That must have been some great sex,” Joanie said. “I’m jealous.”

  “It wasn’t just the sex,” Cat protested.

  “Of course not,” Deb said. “Javi also saved our lives.”

  Cat shook her head. That wasn’t it, either. “The weird thing is he thinks the hijacking was his fault.”

  “Does he know how you feel?” Joan asked.

  “No. I was careful to hide it from him.”

  “You need to tell him,” Deb said.

  “I don’t know if I can do that,” Cat said.

  “Go outside and get the damn test,” Deb said. “If it’s positive, the two of us will help you figure out what to do.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  AT HOME IN her bathroom, Cat stared at the plastic strip in her hand. According to the instructions, the color meant she wasn’t pregnant.

  This was the third test she’d taken and the results had all been the same. Negative. Not pregnant.

  If she needed further confirmation, when she woke up this morning she’d experienced a familiar crampy sensation in her abdomen. She knew her body. Her period would start sometime in the next few hours.

  She was relieved. Of course she was. She was in no way ready to raise a child alone. Her mommy days remained in the far-off future.

  Then why was she so sad? Even stranger was the need to talk to Javi. Her usual reaction to stressors was to retreat into herself, ignore the outside world and everyone in it.

  She tossed the strip in the wastebasket. Hormones. Had to be PMS.

  Had she secretly thought she could bind Javi to her with news of his coming child? Make him love her because she was having his baby? Yeah, like that ever worked for anyone.

  But that wasn’t it. She wouldn’t—couldn’t—do that to him. Before learning the test results, she’d all but made up her mind not to tell him even if she were pregnant, although both Joan and Debbie strongly disagreed with that idea. Debbie had even hinted she’d tell him herself. Cat suspected her friend might do just that.

  She smiled at the thought, and hurried into the kitchen. Fortunately, that was a decision she’d never have to make, a conversation she’d never have to have. Javi need never know she’d worried about being pregnant with his child. She need never have further contact with him.

  But she would. Oh, yeah, she definitely would.

  She’d found another me
ssage from him when she got home from Joan’s late last night. She hadn’t called him back yet, but she could talk to him now that she knew she didn’t have to either hide something from him or—worse—ruin his life with news he didn’t want to hear.

  And she’d do more than talk to him. The new and improved Cat—code name Irish—was going after the man she wanted. Her conversation with Debbie yesterday had shown her how wrong she was to sit back and pretend she wasn’t in love.

  She’d hidden in the shadows her whole life, forced even deeper into the shade after that robbery in the minimart, always afraid to risk anything. But that old Cat had been killed off by the pirates on Gun Cay. Javi had showed her how to make a plan, and the new Irish was devising one to make him fall in love with her.

  How would he react if she showed up on Spree and surprised him? He had another week or two before he reported for duty.

  She poured herself another cup of coffee, raised the mug in a toast and stepped outside into the warm spring air. It was a beautiful day and she had no time—or reason—to feel sorry for herself. She moved into the cattleya house where fans kept the air constantly moving for her plants.

  She took a deep breath and inhaled the heady perfume of blooming orchids. This was where she felt safe, but she refused to hide behind her orchids any longer. Life was meant to be lived, even if it meant sometimes being afraid.

  That’s how you know you’re alive.

  Could she persuade Joan and Debbie into chartering somewhere different? Cat shook her head. Perhaps not, but she’d already registered to take sailing lessons at the community college. She’d also agreed to speak at one of the local orchid clubs, something they’d been begging her to do for years. Her father had called her to confirm when he heard the news, delighted with her change of heart. Funny how his approval no longer meant quite as much.

  Cat dropped an apron around her neck and snapped on a pair of latex gloves. She selected an orchid growing over the side of its clay pot, placed the plant on her workbench and picked up her favorite snips. She’d work for half a day—she still had a lot of catching up to do—and then make herself gorgeous and drive to Marathon to find Javi.

  She’d talk him into taking her for a sunset sail.

  * * *

  WHEN JAVI SPOTTED the sign painted with a huge green orchid, he slowed his truck. The lettering beneath read Welcome to Green Gully Orchids, so he turned onto the long driveway that led through trees and foliage. As his tires crunched gravel, he wondered if he was wasting his time. He was taking a chance showing up on her doorstep. Cat might not even be here.

  But what else could he do when she refused to return his calls?

  He’d decided to take Marlin’s advice and find out what was going on. He knew Irish didn’t like confrontation. She was the type of person that needed time alone to lick her wounds, sort things out, which was why she hadn’t gone ashore with Joan and Deb at Gun Cay after their first night together. He understood that impulse, the necessity for private time. Hell, he was like that himself; one reason he preferred to work alone.

  But this thing with Cat was different. His longing for her ran too deep. He couldn’t forget about her. If she didn’t want anything to do with him—whatever the reason—she’d have to tell him face-to-face.

  She’d had enough time alone to figure out her feelings. He knew what his were. He was in love with her.

  A one-story bungalow-style house with a pitched roof and wraparound porch came into view. On the east side sat three structures that looked to be shade houses full of her plants. He parked in a guest space next to a new white SUV with the Green Orchid logo painted on the side. Hopefully that meant she was home.

  He exited his truck, slamming the door to give her some advance warning, which he thought was awfully considerate. Especially considering how rude she’d been to him.

  He’d never been dumped before, and he didn’t like the way it felt.

  He banged on the front door and waited. No response.

  He glanced toward the orchid area. In the closest structure, huge ventilation fans spun near the ceiling and lights burned. He strode in that direction. Maybe she was in there working.

  He pushed open a creaky door and found her immediately. Twenty feet away, wearing a full-length apron, she stood at a workbench, her brow furrowed, her gloved hands wrestling with a giant plant. The plant appeared to be winning.

  Happy to see her, he smiled and leaned against the doorjamb to watch. High overhead, whirling fans droned. A sweet fragrance drifted toward him from blooming flowers.

  Not yet noticing him, she bit her lip and, using shears, cut the orchid into two halves. She cocked her head and, apparently satisfied with the result, nodded and wiped her hands on the apron.

  Turning toward a shelf full of clean clay pots, she saw him and froze, her cheeks flushing a delightful pink.

  “Javi.” Her gloved hand fluttered toward her chest.

  “Cat.” She was even more beautiful than he remembered.

  “What are you doing here?”

  He paused. Not exactly a friendly welcome. “You don’t sound happy to see me.”

  She reached out and grasped her workbench. “No. I mean, yes. I am glad to see you. I’m just surprised.”

  “You didn’t return my calls,” he said, moving toward her. He needed to touch her.

  “I’m sorry. I’ve been so busy that—”

  “That’s lame, and you know it.”

  She nodded, but didn’t look away. “Yeah, I know,” she said softly.

  “What’s going on? Why didn’t you call me back?”

  She shrugged. “I didn’t know what to say to you.”

  “About what?”

  She shot him a frustrated look. “About anything.”

  “Anything? Let me see if I can help. There’s always the tried and true ‘How are you doing, Javi?’”

  “How are you, Javi?” she asked with a slight smile.

  “Lonely,” he said, deciding to just put it out there.

  “Lonely?”

  He took a step closer. “I miss you.”

  She swallowed, but didn’t back away. She snapped off her gloves and said, “I’ve missed you, too.”

  “Then why duck my calls? If I were the sensitive type, I’d think you didn’t want to see me again.”

  She looked at the floor, biting her lip.

  Unable to support her own weight any longer, Cat leaned against her workbench. Was that vulnerability she heard in Javi’s voice? Uncertainty? Her thoughts scattered in a thousand directions. At least her heart no longer pounded like an insane giant woodpecker had been caged inside her chest.

  Why was he here? He’d obviously tracked her down. Had Debbie told him about the pregnancy scare?

  Cat released a sigh. She thought she’d have the whole day to plan out what to say to him. She’d definitely intended to look a little better for their reunion, but the new Cat had to learn to go with the flow. Her best response was the truth.

  “You scare me to death,” she blurted.

  He raised his brows. “Worse than pirates?”

  “Not like that. My feelings for you scare me.”

  A long, slow smile softened his mouth. He reached for her hand and intertwined their fingers. “Maybe you should explain what your feelings are for me.”

  His hand was warm, reassuring. She wanted to tell him how she felt, but hesitated. So much for the new Cat.

  Without saying anything else, he pulled her into an embrace. She went willingly, breathing in his familiar scent.

  “Tell me you like me,” he said.

  “You know I like you.”

  “Then why didn’t you stay with me on Spree?”

  “Because I like you too much.”

  “Too much soun
ds like love,” he whispered into her ear.

  She swallowed. “I wanted more than a week.”

  “Who said it had to be only a week?”

  She pulled back, wrapping her arms around her middle. “And that’s where I got truly frightened. I’d just gone through the most terrorizing days of my life, but to you what happened was all part of the job, another challenge.”

  “You think what we went through on Gun Cay happens every day?”

  “Well, no, probably not every day. But your job is dangerous. You could get shot. You were already shot once.”

  “I wasn’t on duty when I was shot. That was a random unlucky event.”

  Of course. He always had an answer for everything.

  Javi reached out and stroked her cheek. “Let me make sure I understand. You’re afraid to be with me because my job is dangerous, yet I find you with a sharp cutting instrument hacking away at a defenseless orchid?”

  She fought a smile. “The orchid can’t cut back.”

  He tipped up her chin up to meet his gaze. He took a deep breath and said, “I’m in love with you, Cat.”

  Lost in his intense dark eyes, she couldn’t formulate a response. He’s in love with me? A soft glow spread through her belly. He’s in love with me.

  “And I don’t mind if you’re a knife-wielding maniac.”

  “I love you, too,” she said on an exhale.

  He grinned. “Now we’re getting somewhere.”

  She shook her head again. She had to tell him the truth. “I ran away because I thought how I felt wasn’t real.”

  “All we needed was time to figure that out.”

  “I didn’t think I was strong enough to worry about you every time you left for work.”

  “Not strong enough? Seriously?”

  “You know what a wimp I am.”

  “You don’t give yourself enough credit, Irish. You’re the bravest woman I’ve ever met.”

  She blinked. “I am?”

  “Courage is the ability to act even when you’re afraid. You need to be alone at times,” he said with a nod. “That’s your personality, and I get that. But I don’t know anyone else who could have handled what you did on Gun Cay. You were amazing.”