She raised her eyebrows. “I’m not feeling that strong, Jarrett.”
“You’re afraid I’ll insult you?”
“Let’s just say you’re not my biggest fan.”
She did have a point, he conceded. “I won’t say anything unkind.”
“Ooh, there’s a promise to make a girl’s heart beat faster.” She straightened. “Okay, but no wisecracks.” She pulled a piece of paper out of her pocket and tilted it so it faced the light from the kitchen. “I have something to do with children, but young children, not teenagers. I have no sense of dealing with them.” She grinned. “So I must be intelligent.”
He laughed. “You have a point.”
She returned her attention to the list. “I like reading. When I went through your library, I realized I’ve read a lot of the books there. I can remember the plots. I enjoy mysteries and romances, which, by the way, your library is sadly lacking.”
“So noted. Go on.”
“That’s about it. I have a sense of humor and—” She bit her lower lip and folded the paper. “That’s me. A few lines on a page and not much else. I would expect to have more to show for myself.”
Her mood had shifted like the tide. Where before she’d been accessible, moving toward him, now she retreated, pulling into herself. Her shoulders hunched forward. “I can’t believe there isn’t a single person looking for me. That feels so wrong and empty. People can’t live like that, can they? There has to be someone, somewhere.”
She shuddered and turned her back. He reached out a hand to touch her, then let it fall to the wall. He had no right to comfort her…and no comfort to offer. “We’ll find your family,” he said, feeling awkward, knowing the words weren’t enough.
“What if you can’t? What if they don’t exist?” Her voice cracked. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, and stood. “I need to be alone now.”
She headed for the water. Without thinking, Jarrett followed her. “Ariel, wait.”
She shook her head and kept walking. He caught her in three long strides. “Ariel,” he said as he took her arm and turned her toward him.
Tears flowed silently down her cheeks. Not knowing what else to do, he pulled her close and held her.
“Why are you being n-nice to me?” she asked, clinging to him and pressing her face into the crook of his neck. “You don’t even like me.”
Hot, wet tears splashed onto his shirt. “I don’t dislike you.”
Her burst of laughter turned into a strangled sob. “Be careful, Jarrett. Compliments like that will go to my head.”
“I don’t know what to believe,” he said, surprised to find it was the truth. “You’re hurting and I want to make it better. This is all I know how to do.”
She sniffed and raised her head to look at him. “You do it well.”
He kept one hand on the small of her back and wiped her face with the other. “Thanks.”
Ariel didn’t know what was worse. The confusion that was her life, or the rightness she felt in Jarrett’s arms. They had nothing in common; the best he could say about her was that he didn’t dislike her. A relationship between them would be insane. Yet for the first time since losing her memory, she wasn’t afraid. Somehow his strength chased the demons away.
She told herself that all she felt was physical attraction. That explained the heat in her body and her desire to melt into him until they became one being. But attraction didn’t explain why she felt as if this was where she belonged. What if there was someone waiting for her? What if she was already in love with someone else?
But she wasn’t. She would have bet her soul on the fact. So she willed him to keep on holding her.
The tide tickled her toes. His arms continued to make her feel safe. While they’d been talking, the moon had risen above the horizon, bathing Jarrett in an unearthly glow. He looked powerful and forbidding. And incredibly beautiful.
“You are so beautiful,” he said, stroking her cheek with the back of his hand.
She laughed. “That’s what I was thinking about you. I hate that you read my mind.”
“Is that what I do?”
Was he moving closer, or was she? Did it matter? “You do more than that,” she murmured. “You—”
The brush of his mouth against hers silenced her. They’d been moving toward this moment since he’d taken her in his arms, and still she was shocked by the pressure of his lips.
He didn’t move, didn’t push or urge. Instead he held her and touched her…as if she were precious and special and someone he’d waited his whole life to find. The sense of homecoming had her fighting tears. She clutched at his shoulders, not daring to let go in case he disappeared from her life as quickly as he’d arrived.
It was a perfect moment. The kind that occurs only a handful of times in a single life. She wasn’t sure how long they stood there like that, overcome by grace. Then he moved his mouth, teasing the corners of her lips with a whispering caress.
Her world went up in flames. The heat and desire were so unexpected, she nearly fell to her knees. As it was, she had to cling to him to stay upright. Every inch of her heated to boiling and her muscles trembled. Her breasts swelled against the suddenly unbearable confines of her bra. Her thighs quivered and refused to support her. Dear Lord, all this and he’d barely begun. How would she survive more?
She found out seconds later when his tongue touched her lips. Unable to do anything but react and feel, she parted to admit him. Lightning zapped through her, making her lean into him. She realized the hand that had been gently stroking her cheek now held her jaw in a firm grip. Not punishing, but she couldn’t have escaped. Not that she wanted to. His other hand moved restlessly up and down her back, pausing at the curve of her derriere. When he squeezed her there, she arched toward him, her belly brushing against the hard ridge of his desire.
They caught their breath in unison. Then he plunged inside her mouth, tasting, tempting, pushing her into a passionate place that had no frame of reference, no reality save wanting. What her memory might have forgotten, her body remembered. She wanted him as she’d never wanted any man before.
She wrapped her arms around him. He was hard to her soft, all straining muscle and heat. His heart thundered in his chest, matching the rapid cadence of hers. The night air surrounded them in a cocoon of tropical magic. She prayed the kiss would never end.
But it did. Eventually he pulled back and the hold on her face lessened. He tilted her chin down and chastely kissed her forehead.
“I want you,” he said. “I don’t think this is smart, but there it is.”
“I know.”
She swallowed hard, wondering if he would blame her for what had just happened. Or would he assume she was easy and take her to his bed? There was no place she would rather be. But… It wasn’t time. Not yet.
He did neither. Instead he led her back to the stone wall and urged her to sit down. Then he settled next to her and put his arm around her.
“Don’t worry about the future,” he told her. “If no one has come looking for you by Christmas, I’ll find your family.” He gave her a warm smile that belied the passion still smoldering in his dark gaze. “I promise.”
“I believe you,” she said. Only to find that she did.
Chapter Seven
“So she’s still here,” John said.
Jarrett shrugged and waited. His friend didn’t make him wait long.
“Wasn’t she supposed to return to the hotel the morning after we found her?” the doctor asked. “Weren’t you the one so anxious to get rid of her that you wanted her moved that night?”
“Your point?”
“Oh, I don’t have a point. I’m just enjoying watching you squirm.”
“You’re acting as if you caught me doing something wrong, John. The truth is, Ariel isn’t here because of me. Anna Jane didn’t want her to leave.”
“Ariel?”
Jarrett turned in his desk chair until he faced the wide windows behind him. “Ariel. Our mystery gu
est. Again, my niece is responsible for her name. It’s from a Disney movie about a mermaid.”
The morning had dawned perfectly clear, with bright skies and brighter water. Ariel and Anna Jane sat by the edge of the pool, with their backs to him. Both were dressed in swimsuits. He tried not to notice the curve of Ariel’s hips or the slender line of her neck exposed because she wore her hair piled on her head.
“Hasn’t anyone reported her missing?” John asked, coming up to stand beside Jarrett’s chair.
“No. Not here or on the other islands.”
“How strange. If I had a woman that beautiful in my life I wouldn’t let her get away.”
“No, you’d keep her around for a couple of weeks, then you’d let her go.”
John chuckled. “You’re hardly one to talk. At least I have relationships with women. You live like a monk.”
“Are we back to that?” It was a familiar line of conversation.
“It’s not healthy. I’m talking to you as your doctor. You need some female companionship. If nothing else, at least take the equipment for a test drive to see if it still works.”
“It works,” Jarrett said dryly.
What John didn’t know, and what Jarrett wasn’t likely to tell him, was that there had been women. Not many and not often, but sometimes when he took business trips, he found a lady to accompany him. He picked someone who understood his rule of no emotional entanglements. For those few days he allowed himself to experience the pleasures of physical intimacy. But only for a short period of time and never on the island.
Until last night. Until a stranger had touched him both physically and emotionally.
Without wanting to, he remembered kissing Ariel. She’d been soft and willing in his arms, giving as passionately as he. They’d created fire, and the heat had nearly overwhelmed him. Looking back, he wondered where he’d found the strength to turn away. All he’d wanted to do was pull her down onto the sand and make love with her. But he hadn’t. Because he wasn’t willing to risk caring, and until he was sure he could completely control his emotions, he was determined to keep his physical distance. Ariel got under his skin and that frightened the hell out of him.
Life would be a lot easier if he knew the truth about her.
If only he could prove her guilt or innocence. While he wanted to believe her story, a part of him held back.
“We’re about to be invaded,” John said.
Jarrett followed his gaze and saw that Anna Jane had spotted them. She waved, then headed for the back door. Seconds later her footsteps sounded in the foyer and she appeared in the office.
“Dr. John, Dr. John, did you come to see Ariel?” she asked, flinging herself at the man.
John bent and hugged her back. “No. I didn’t know she was still here. But I’m glad she’s doing well.”
Anna Jane smiled. “She’s all better, except for her memory. But I like that she can’t remember. She’s staying for Christmas.”
He brushed her bangs from her face. “Aren’t you lucky.”
Anna Jane nodded vigorously. “We’re going horseback riding this afternoon. Come with us, please.”
“You know there’s nothing I would like better, but I have to work this afternoon. It’s my clinic afternoon for hotel employees.”
“Okay. But you have to come with us next time.”
He nodded solemnly. “I promise.”
Jarrett watched his friend with the child. Even John found it easy to be with Anna Jane. Jarrett was learning, but it was slow. What was it Ariel had said Anna Jane needed from him? Love and stability. They sounded simple in theory, but in practice—he wasn’t so sure he had it in him.
Anna Jane turned to look at him. “Are you still going away on business?” she asked.
“Yes. Sorry.”
“But horses are more fun than business.”
“You’re very smart,” John said, and winked. “But I’m not sure your uncle Jarrett would agree. He loves business and I suspects he only tolerates horses.”
Anna Jane’s eyes widened. “Don’t you like horses, Uncle Jarrett?”
He glared at his friend. “I like them fine. If I didn’t already have a commitment, I would be happy to come with you. Even though I was your second choice.”
She frowned for a second, then her face brightened. “You mean because I asked Dr. John first?”
John grinned. “Can I help it if the ladies prefer me?”
Anna Jane walked over and stood in front of Jarrett. Her small fingers caught at him. “Dr. John is very nice,” she said, her tone serious. “But you’re my uncle Jarrett and I love you very much.”
Jarrett felt as if he’d been sucker punched. He squatted down in front of the child and cupped her cheek. He wanted to tell her he loved her, too, but he’d never said the words in his life. He wasn’t sure he knew how. “Thank you,” he said. “I feel very special. Now, go have a good time and I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Anna Jane gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and scurried from the room. “I’ll tell Ariel you said goodbye to her, too,” she called as she left.
He watched her go. His life had been turned upside down by the arrival of one little girl. When combined with his mystery guest, he wondered if he would ever be the same. He turned to the window and watched as Anna Jane skipped into view. She had an animated conversation with Ariel and they both laughed.
God knows he wanted to be able to trust the woman. He was nearly willing to believe in her. But— Always a “but” to hold him back. He wanted to be sure.
John said something, but Jarrett wasn’t listening. A plan appeared fully formed, a brilliant idea that would help him know if Ariel was really who she appeared to be or simply a fabulous actress hoping to get lucky.
* * *
Ariel pulled on a pair of jeans and fastened them. The fit wasn’t perfect, but they would do for an afternoon on horseback. It wasn’t as if she had to make a fashion statement. She was looking forward to her outing. Not only would she be able to explore the island and see if anything sparked her memory, she would find out if she knew how to ride. When she’d said she wasn’t sure whether she’d ever been on a horse, Anna Jane had promised a very gentle mount. Ariel hoped the girl knew what she was talking about.
When someone knocked on her door, she called, “Come in.”
But instead of Anna Jane or Leona, Jarrett walked into her room. Her breath caught in her throat and her chest tightened.
He was stunning.
Instead of his usual trousers and polo shirt, or even jeans, he wore a gray suit, complete with a crisp white shirt and silk tie. He’d recently showered and shaved, and he looked as if he’d stepped from the pages of a men’s magazine.
She wanted to touch his face and feel his smooth, warm skin. She wanted to inhale the scent of him, to be held by him and know his strength again. Although she’d done her best to forget the kiss they’d shared the previous night, she hadn’t been able to. Now, seeing him again brought it all back. Her body ached with the passion he’d aroused in her. Fire raced up her thighs, while flames heated her breasts.
She wanted him, which was understandable under the circumstances. He’d kissed her in a way that had left her shaken and hungry with needs she had forgotten existed. But what was more frightening was that she was finally ready to admit she liked him. Last night, when she’d been vulnerable and hurting, he’d held her close and comforted her. Despite his concerns that she was faking her memory loss and was potentially a horrible person, he was kind and gentle. And she admired how he was trying to make a home for his niece.
Liking and wanting were a deadly combination. Even without the benefit of her memory and past experiences, she knew she was in trouble. Jarrett held himself apart from the world. She didn’t know what his secrets were, but sensed they were as much a part of him as the color of his eyes. He would never be what she needed a man to be. Yet that didn’t stop her heart from thundering as he leaned one shoulder against the door frame
and gave her a lazy smile.
“How committed are you to this horseback-riding trip?” he asked.
The low, sultry tones of his voice slipped down her spine like liquid satin. Her mind didn’t understand what he was asking, but her body didn’t care. “I, um, want to go.”
“Too bad. My business to St. Thomas is going to keep me there overnight. I thought you might care to join me. I would be busy this afternoon, but we could have dinner together tonight.”
Alone. He didn’t say the word—he didn’t have to. She heard it loud and clear. A night alone with Jarrett. She tried to swallow but couldn’t. Her gaze met his and she read the passion there. Passion and something else. Something dark. Then he blinked and only the desire remained.
Alone with Jarrett on a tropical island paradise. Just the two of them and the night. Every cell in her body rippled in anticipation. How could she refuse? How could she risk saying yes? Things would happen if they went away together. Things that she wasn’t ready to deal with. Besides, she’d made a promise to Anna Jane.
“I can’t,” she said regretfully. “I would like to, but it’s just not going to work out.”
One dark eyebrow rosé slightly. “You’re not tempted?”
“More than you know,” she blurted out.
“Then what’s the problem? If nothing else, the free afternoon would give you time to explore the city. You might recognize something.”
She hadn’t thought of that. “I would like to, but I’ll have to pass. I told Anna Jane that we’d go horseback riding and I don’t want to disappoint her.”
His posture didn’t shift, but she could have sworn his body tightened. “She’ll get over it.”
She shook her head. “I gave her my word. Besides, I don’t want to leave her alone.”
“Leona and Frank will be here.”
There was something else going on, something she didn’t understand. Ariel was sure of it. “Right now Anna Jane needs to be with people who keep their promises. She’s been abandoned enough for one lifetime. I’m not going to do anything that might hurt her.”
Jarrett stared at her for a long time. Then he took a step closer, leaned toward her and kissed her cheek. “Thank you,” he murmured, and was gone.
The Mysterious Stranger (Triple Trouble) Page 9