Above the white marble fireplace hung a gilt-framed mirror, and on the mantel stood a vase of fresh, fragrant blooms. Next to the big, high bed was a charming step stool with a needlepoint cushion. A pair of French doors led out to a veranda that was enclosed by black wrought-iron railings.
Delighted, Terra said, “Columbia, thank you. It’s wonderful.”
The chef grinned. “It’s nothing compared to my cuisine. Which reminds me, you’re invited to dinner tomorrow night by Elizabeth Jermain and her husband, Judge Cameron Bradshaw.
“Miz Elizabeth owns the hotel, although her granddaughter, Liz, runs it. And Judge is retired from the bench.” She added, “Josh is invited, too, of course.”
“We’ll look forward to it.” Terra quaked inside at the prospect of meeting Rafe’s grandmother and stepgrandfather. “What time and where?”
“At seven, in their own suite at the far end of this wing. For your other meals, there’s the main dining room, or the beach grill, or room service—as you wish.” Columbia leaned out the door and looked down the hall. “Here comes Shad with your bags. Anything else you need, give me or the concierge a holler. Joanie Griffin, she’s a whiz.”
“Will do.” Terra motioned her to go. “Don’t waste any more valuable time on us. We’ll get settled in and then go to Lalie’s.”
“If she doesn’t answer the front door, she’ll be out back in the gardens or the greenhouses. You remember the directions there?”
Terra quickly repeated them and reminded Columbia of the map. “Now, go. Get. Shoo.”
“Thanks for understanding, Terra.” The chef hastened away.
Shad came in with the luggage. He demonstrated how to work the locks, light switches and other controls, and chuckled over Josh’s fascination with the oldfashioned bathroom fixtures. Terra wanted to tip him for his service, but he politely declined.
“Add it to the little lad’s allowance,” he said. With a wink and a jaunty salute, he went out whistling and closed the door.
Terra unpacked and ran a bubble bath for Josh. “I want you nice and clean for dinner and Lalie,” she told him.
Once he was in the tub, playing with the inflatable bath toys she’d brought for him, Terra flopped on the big bed to unwind.
She wasn’t sure what to think so far, as none of her fears had materialized. No one had looked twice at Josh, except for Shad perhaps. Maybe it was all in her own mind, or maybe vivid blue eyes were as common around here as seawater.
Rafe’s eyes hadn’t seemed at all common the night she met him. It would never have happened if not for Jilly and Fallon. They had been the catalysts, Terra remembered ruefully. And she had been foolish enough to let them influence her.
Jilly used to say, “You’ve been a good soldier too long, Terra Camden. Be a rebel for a change.”
Fallon always chimed in, “Take some risks, pull out your stops, fracture a few rules.”
Their friendly, relentless ribbing got under Terra’s skin that year. They led her to question why she’d never rebelled against authority, rarely misbehaved, always lived up to expectations and got straight-A grades. What a geeky army brat!
So when spring break rolled around, she was prime for an escapade. It helped that her parents were away at a week-long chaplains’ retreat and wouldn’t know what she did. It also helped that Jilly had access to a frequent-flier account and finagled three free plane tickets. Before Terra could talk herself or her friends out of it, they’d all bleached their hair and flown to South Carolina.
She hadn’t imagined that the escapade would result in motherhood for her…
The sound of Josh’s voice brought her back from her memories. “Mommy, I’m all clean.”
Terra went to get him dried off and dressed, then changed out of her traveling clothes into twill walking shorts, a sleeveless blouse and sneakers. She packed a small tote with Josh’s nap blankie and some story-books. He took charge of the soccer ball after solemnly promising he’d only kick it outdoors.
The walk to Lalie’s house led through the village. Small and unpretentious, it had shops and services for the residents and resort guests, but no trendy boutiques. It had its own small marina and mariners’ supply, a grocery and a general store that advertised a wide selection of books. Ye Olde Sandwich Shoppe looked quaint and charming, with blue-and-white checked curtains in the windows.
The route took them beyond the village to where the estates were located along the shore. They found that Lalie’s minifarm was a sheltered strip of property between two grand estates. Her roomy stone cottage stood behind a high evergreen hedge, and as Columbia had said might happen, the doorbell went unanswered.
So they went to the back, where there were three compact greenhouses, several small plots of vegetable greens in various stages of growth and a wide lawn. Thick hedges on either side of the estate boundaries screened the little farm from the bigger homes.
The hedge on one side had a neighborly opening and Terra saw that the latticed gate was open.
She told Josh, “Maybe Lalie went next door for a minute. Let’s kick your ball around on the lawn till she comes back.”
Sure enough, Lalie came hurrying through the gate a few minutes later.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t here,” she said. “The Hamiltons next door are away on a long trip and I watch over their house when they’re gone. Air it out, take in their mail and so forth.”
“That’s okay,” Josh said, balancing the ball on his head. “We played.”
The telephone started ringing an outside bell and Lalie threw up her hands. “Wouldn’t you know I took my portable phone inside. If that’s my sister in Germany, she won’t want to talk to my message machine.” She hurried toward the house. “Keep on playing. I’ll be back.”
“Take your time,” Terra called after her.
Josh rolled the ball on the grass and they set to kicking it back and forth again. He had a strong kick for his age and size, so strong that he quickly booted it wild and it rolled through the open gate.
Chasing after it, they both paused in the gateway as the ball went down a long, gently sloping expanse of lawn on the other side. Beyond the end of the slope stood a big, beautiful, luxury home.
Josh’s ball rolled all the way down and stopped at the edge of a brick patio. A set of French doors connected the patio to the house and Terra saw that they stood partly open, lined with sheer curtains that were billowing out on the breeze.
Terra made Josh stay at the gate, then jogged down over the wide lawn to retrieve the ball. Scooping it up, she paused, tempted to cross the patio and peek in through the doorway. Not to snoop, but just steal a glimpse at how the very rich lived. Too curious to resist the opportunity, she scampered across the bricks and drew the blowing curtains aside to peer inside.
She looked into a spacious bedroom where a carvedteak bed and sitting area were the focal points. The decor carried out a dramatic nautical theme, with models and paintings of historic sailing vessels.
Looking up, she saw that the ceiling was a fresco of a blue-black night sky spangled with stars and a crescent moon—perhaps a navigational map of the heavens.
Strangely, though, the bed was unmade and looked slept in. Stranger still, she heard a shower running in what she judged to be an adjoining bathroom. She could understand why the patio doors were open, since Lalie had said she aired the house, but why was the shower turned on?
Terra stepped into the bedroom and went to the halfclosed door. A slight mist of soap-scented steam wafted out as she pushed the door all the way open and entered a spacious bathroom.
Looking around, she saw a hot-tub spa, a conventional bathtub, a separate shower with a frosted-glass door. Through the frosted door, a moving form was visible.
Shocked, she realized someone was in there. Someone tall with dark hair. Suddenly, before she could think any further, the shower spray stopped. The glass door sprang open.
A man stepped out. A man she knew!
Terra gasped and
dropped the soccer ball, astonished by who she saw. She’d recognize him anywhere, anytime, with no doubt about his identity.
Too stunned to move, she gasped, “Rafe!”
He stared back with startled blue eyes, then grabbed a towel against his loins.
“Who are you?” he demanded.
His voice made her gulp. The compelling sound was unmistakable.
“R-Rafe Jermain,” she stammered disjointedly.
“What do you want?”
She was too dumbfounded to form a reply, or even recall her own name. She couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe, couldn’t believe her own eyes.
Suddenly her head swam, her ears rang and the bathroom carpet seemed to rise like a tidal wave under her feet.
Aghast, she thought, I’m going to faint.
Then, for the first time in her life, she did.
THE NEXT THING Terra knew, she was lying faceup on the teak bed. Two faces, Lalie’s and Rafe’s, looked down at her. She felt a cool, wet cloth on her forehead, a soft, satiny bedspread beneath her body.
She reached a trembling hand to her forehead. “Wh-what happened?”
“You passed out,” Lalie said.
Terra blinked at Rafe with disbelief, then looked around for someone else. “Where is Josh?”
“Right outside,” Lalie replied. “I told him you had to use the bathroom in here.”
Hearing the ball bounce on the patio, Terra felt a bit calmer, although she couldn’t believe her eyes about Rafe.
He spoke to Lalie. “He must be wondering what’s taking so long.”
“I’ll go reassure him,” she said, squeezing Terra’s hand before slipping out through the French doors.
Meeting Rafe’s blue gaze, Terra shook her head in confusion. “You’re alive?”
“More or less,” he replied guardedly. “Sorry I gave you a scare.”
“You can’t be real.” She rubbed her eyes. “It doesn’t make sense.”
Lalie slipped in again and returned to the bed. “Josh is curious, but he’s keeping busy with his ball.” She leaned closer. “How are you feeling now?”
“Still a little faint.”
Rafe asked, “When did you last eat a square meal?”
Terra recalled skipping lunch on the plane. “Breakfast, I guess.”
“No wonder you dropped over,” Lalie said. “You must be starving.”
Glancing from Lalie to Rafe, Terra inquired uncertainly, “What’s going on? Or am I hallucinating?”
Rafe and Lalie exchanged glances and Lalie nodded her head at him. Rafe answered reluctantly, “You’re seeing straight.”
“I don’t believe it,” Terra murmured. She shut her eyes, opened them again and found that he remained visible. “It’s impossible.”
Lalie patted her hand comfortingly. “After Rafe explains, you’ll understand.”
“Explains?” he questioned, giving Lalie an incredulous look. “As if she’s going to believe me.”
Lalie gave him a stern look in return. “I believe you. And knowing Terra, I hope she will, too. Besides, what choice do you have now?”
“One,” he countered. “I get out of here, fast.”
“And go where?” Lalie inquired. “Not very far, as recognizable as you are. Besides, how long do you think your hurt knee and back will hold up if you’re on the run?”
“They might get me far enough away not to get caught.”
“What about your internal bruises?”
“I’ll tough them out.”
“No, you’ll undo all the good I’ve done healing you up these past two months.”
“Look, I’m not going to stand still and get turned over to the feds.”
Terra followed their dispute right and left, like a spectator at a tennis tournament. It was sinking in that Rafe wasn’t a trick of her mind, nor a ghostly illusion. From what she saw, he was as alive as she and Lalie were. Astoundingly alive, although leaner and paler than she remembered from before. His eyes appeared to be a deeper blue now. Or maybe not, since she had never seen him in full daylight.
He apparently didn’t recognize her, thank God. Maybe because her hair was natural brown and chin length now instead of long and surf-babe blond. Her body had matured, too, from pregnancy and nursing Josh. Aside from that, he probably had only the dimmest memory of her, if he even remembered her. To be sure, she hadn’t marked the milestone in his life that he had marked in hers.
Lalie didn’t give up quizzing him. “Who’s going to nurse your jungle fever every time it crops up?”
“One way or another, I’ll manage,” Rafe countered grimly.
“You’re only partly healed, Rafe Jermain. You’ve got healing yet to do.”
“My health won’t improve in federal custody. No one’s going to believe I was framed.”
Lalie shook her head. “Explain first and see.”
He went silent, giving Terra a sidelong, suspicious look.
Terra was finally able to trust her eyesight, but she couldn’t believe her ears. Perplexed, she questioned Rafe. “Did you say ‘framed’?”
“Absolutely.” His mouth made a cynical downturn. “But with no proof, what good is the truth?”
Lalie put in, “He’s been too sick until now to prove what he needs to. He—”
Rafe interrupted curtly; “Don’t bother explaining. It’s useless.”
“I’ll bother till I’m blue in the face,” Lalie informed him, shaking an authoritative finger for emphasis. “I’m your spiritual guardian, young man, and don’t you forget it.”
He put up his hands in defensive appeal. “I’m not forgetting. I’m just—”
“Then do me the favor of telling Terra what happened. She can decide where she stands after she hears you out.”
Rafe appraised the woman who had innocently stumbled across him, who now had the power to expose him. She was beautiful—a slim, fine-figured, brown-eyed brunette—and he’d far rather just look his fill at her than waste breath on a true story she wouldn’t believe. Shrewd judge of character that he was, he’d already decided she looked much too honest and lawabiding to give a known traitor any benefit of the doubt.
Nevertheless, he couldn’t reject his godmother’s impassioned appeal. She loved him as she loved her own family, and hadn’t hesitated to harbor him when he’d dragged himself to her back door, half-drowned.
So, okay, he’d tell Terra Camden the facts. It wouldn’t matter what she did or didn’t believe because he knew she’d ultimately do what was best for her little boy. Now that she was an eyewitness to a federal crime—conspiracy—she’d call the feds. If she didn’t, she’d risk being arrested and prosecuted. She’d never want the boy to have a mom in prison.
Lalie obviously hadn’t considered the maternal angle yet. As always, her stouthearted belief was that truth would triumph, justice would prevail, faith and hope and love would conquer all.
Well, Rafe knew the world of covert operations didn’t work that way. Only out of respect to Lalie would he tell Terra the truth as he knew it. Then, he’d get out and make damn sure his trail didn’t lead back to his godmother.
He leveled a couldn’t-care-less gaze on Terra. “If you’ll listen, fine. If not, fine.”
She gave his offer some long moments of grave thought, and during that time he assessed her again. He thought of how long it had been since he’d had a woman. Not since the night before he sailed out of Charleston Harbor five years ago. He’d never forget the woman or the night of passion he’d spent with her on his sailboat.
Unlike Terra, she had been blond, with wavy long hair that reached to her waist. Her eyes had been the softest, sexiest brown, a lot like Terra’s. Or maybe not a lot, since he’d never seen his blond lover in daylight. There had only been that one night, so long ago.
Too long ago, which was one explanation for the painful, avid, sexual interest he’d taken in Terra from the moment she first gasped his name. He couldn’t help but imagine himself alone with her in the bed wher
e she lay.
Her softly rouged lips looked inviting, her feminine curves alluring, and it was all he could do not to stare at her like what he was—a man who hadn’t had sex for years.
At the same time, though, there was something else about her that captured more than his sexual interest. He couldn’t identify exactly what, but it made him feel protective, even romantic, and surprised at himself for feeling that way about a woman he didn’t know.
Finally, Terra spoke, with a reluctance he could see and hear.
“All right,” she said slowly. “I’ll come back after dinner. Whatever you have to say, I’ll listen.”
Rafe couldn’t hide his surprise that Terra had agreed to hear him out. Waste of my good breath, he told himself again.
Lalie beamed. “Bless you, Terra. I’ll go tell Josh you won’t be much longer in here.” She hurried out the door.
Rafe took one of Terra’s hands to help her off the bed. “Take it easy, now,” he advised as she moved to sit up on the edge of the mattress.
“Thank you,” she murmured.
But then, as if wary of accepting his help, she tugged her hand out of his clasp and avoided his eyes. On her own, she came to her feet and adjusted her clothes.
“Are you sure you’re feeling okay?”
“I’m over the initial shock,” she replied, “but that’s all I’m sure of.” She moved to the door. “If you’re here when I come back, I’ll see you then.”
Rafe didn’t say anything as she slipped out the door, because he wasn’t certain he’d be there when she returned. If she returned.
Trusting anyone other than Lalie might be the biggest mistake he could make. One he couldn’t afford.
4
TERRA GLANCED BACK at Rafe’s luxury hideaway as she walked across the lawn with Lalie and Josh. She had a sense that Rafe was watching through the sheer curtains, although she couldn’t see whether he was actually there behind them. Rafe Jermain, Josh’s father—alive!
“You took a long time,” Josh complained.
She strove to seem casual, as if the unthinkable hadn’t happened. “Thank you for being patient while I was inside.”
Stranger In The Night Page 5