by Lea Nolan
“And so will body heat.” Jack settled behind her and pulled her close.
Against Jack’s solid body, the chill instantly left her bones. Grateful for his presence, she reached for his hand and laced their fingers together. If she’d been alone this weekend, her car would’ve been in the exact same place and suffered the same fate, but she’d have had to weather its destruction on her own.
Now, she didn’t have to. Jack had held her and told her everything would be okay.
Not that she needed it. Raven had been alone for a long time and had handled plenty of shitty situations by herself. Those times were hard. The stress could be overwhelming. She could deal with every emergency, but it would be nice to have someone share the burden once in a while. Tonight, Jack had done that for her.
“We were really lucky,” she said.
“We were,” he answered, his voice drowsy, and then he yawned.
“Are you falling asleep?”
“Just resting my eyes.” His breath grew slow and regular. A moment later, his arm twitched, a sign he was nodding off.
As the fire burned, Raven was struck by the realization that she was about to sleep with a man, and for the first time in her life, it had nothing to do with sex. They were simply going to sleep, bodies next to each other, hearts aligned.
It was surreal.
Granted, most people would probably think her lack of a relationship history was more bizarre—and they’d probably be right—but that was because they didn’t understand the reasons for her choices.
Even more surprising was the fact that Raven liked the idea of simply sleeping with Jack. The quiet comfort of having him next to her, the weight of his arm draped across her waist, the sound of his steady breath at her ear. Amid the storm raging outside, and the one that seemed determined to wreck every aspect of her life, he made her feel safe and secure.
Which wasn’t to say she’d consider seeing him past this weekend, or God forbid, having a relationship with Jack Baines. Those options weren’t even on the table. This weekend was just that. A weekend. Plain and simple.
Most definitely nothing more than that.
Monday morning, Jack awoke to a beautiful woman in his arms. The fire was mostly embers now, but he wasn’t remotely cold. He and Raven had remained close throughout the night, moving together as they shifted positions. It’d been years since he’d slept with a woman like that, not since things were still good between him and Alannah.
He liked sleeping with Raven. And he liked waking up to her even more. The fact was, he liked everything about her. Leaving her later this afternoon would be hard. But she wasn’t interested in anything more, and he’d told her the same.
Not that they could make a relationship work, even if they wanted one. They lived in separate cities, and he was likely to be traveling a lot over the next few months. Better to enjoy the time they had and not worry about tomorrow.
As Raven slept, Jack slid out from under the blanket. Brilla followed and waited patiently as he slid open the door and released the shutters so she could run outside. The sky was a glorious Capri blue, the kind of cloudless sky that’s only possible on a crisp, autumn day.
When Brilla came back inside, Jack went to a window opposite where Raven slept and opened the shutter. Brilliant sunlight streamed into the room.
Raven stirred. “Good morning.” Her voice was groggy with sleep.
He turned toward her, and his breath caught. Her smile was as dazzling as the sun. She was lovely, and so full of light, his chest swelled with happiness. “Morning.”
“Looks like we survived.”
He chuckled. “We did. And look, it’s a beautiful day.” He pointed to the window. While the sky was calm, there was plenty of chaos to contend with. Branches, leaves, deck furniture, and other debris were scattered across the lawn. Compared to what could have happened, these were minor inconveniences, easy to fix.
Raven joined him, threading her arm around his waist, and resting her head against his chest as she surveyed the damage from the window. He liked the ease with which she touched him now, and how comfortable she seemed holding him close.
“We have to go outside and check things out,” she said.
“I’m not sure it’s safe.” He stroked her back with the palm of her hand.
“That’s why we need to go. My tree can’t be the only one to fall. Other people probably need help.”
“Isn’t there a service we can call or a department that will clear away trees?”
She looked up at him, her brow lifted. “This is Heron Harbor. There’s no agency or department. There will be crews of guys with chainsaws helping people. That’s the way it works here.”
Shit. He hadn’t used a power tool in years, but he’d give it a go if he had to. “Do you have a chainsaw?”
She shook her head. “No.”
Bullet dodged. “So how are you—or we—going to help?”
“Lots of ways. Plenty of people don’t have generators. The elderly might need meals or medicines. I’m sure someone is planning something in town.”
A half-hour later, Raven and Jack were ready to leave, steeled with coffee and the last of the bagels Jack had brought. This time, she’d ditched the boots for a pair of running shoes.
“You ready to see your car?” he asked before opening the front door.
She sighed. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”
They stepped out onto the porch, and Jack made a sweep for downed wires. They all seemed to be intact and attached to the poles at the end of the driveway. They’d gotten lucky.
Raven’s car had not. The BMW was crushed beneath a mass of long, soggy, weeping willow branches. The front windshield had shattered and caved in, and the interior was flooded. It was totaled, for sure.
“My baby,” Raven said wistfully as she took photos for her insurance company. She looked up at Jack. “Things can only get better from here, right? I mean, it’s not like they can get any worse.” She attempted a feeble laugh.
Jack was stunned by the extent of the damage as he, Raven, and Brilla made their way to Main Street. Trees had fallen, limbs torn from their trunks, windows cracked, and streets flooded. The island was a mess. The only saving grace was the relatively warm weather. The temperature was an almost balmy fifty-five degrees.
Raven was right about her neighbors. Everyone was out: clearing the roads, raking yards, and helping where they could. The grinding hum of chainsaws filled the air.
On Main Street, a series of pop-up tents were set up in the middle of the road as a staging center to distribute bottled water, assemble volunteers, and collect information about who needed help. Jack recognized several people from the sandbagging project the day before.
They stopped at the volunteer tent first, where Hunter was directing a small command center. He looked exhausted and probably hadn’t gotten much sleep. When Hunter finished giving orders to a handful of volunteers and deputies, he approached Jack and Raven. “Hey, you two!” Then, catching sight of Brilla, took a double-take. “Is that the same dog from the other day?”
Jack nodded. “Yeah. Sacrificed my electric trimmer to shave her.”
Hunter chuckled. “Worth it.”
“How is the library?” Raven asked.
“As far as we can tell, the sandbags held and kept out most of the water. We owe you big time,” Hunter said to Jack.
Jack waved off the compliment. “Everyone helped.”
“Sure they did. How’d you make out in the storm?” Hunter asked.
“The house is fine, but I lost that big weeping willow on the side of the house,” Raven answered. Hunter winced. “Oh, hell. That was a nice tree.”
“It fell on her car. It’s totaled,” Jack added.
“Jeez. I’m sorry. Do you have a chainsaw?” Hunter asked.
Raven shook her head. “No. Vacation rentals don’t need many power tools.”
Hunter nodded. “All right. We’ll get you added to the list of folks who need a tree c
leared.” He turned to a middle-aged woman with a clipboard and directed her to add Raven’s name to her chart.
The idea of some other dude clearing that tree off Raven’s car suddenly pissed Jack off. If anyone was going to do it, it should be him. It couldn’t be that hard to slice and dice. The damn thing was already on the ground. “I’ll go to the mainland and buy one,” Jack said.
Hunter rubbed the back of his neck. “If only. The bridge washed out last night.”
“What?” Raven and Jack ask in unison.
“Yeah, it flooded, and the sediment beneath the piers gave way. It’s a big damn mess,” Hunter said.
Jack’s mind raced. He had places to go, appointments to keep, and a new company to whip into shape. He couldn’t stay on this island forever. “How are we supposed to get off the island?”
“The mayor’s working on getting a ferry.”
“Working on” was not the same thing as getting it done. Jack’s long weekend expired this afternoon, and he’d expected to be on his way back to work.
“When do you think it’ll get here?” Jack asked.
Hunter shrugged. “Can’t say. We’re not the only island in trouble. The whole seaboard got smashed.” A commotion drew Hunter’s attention. A group of older women was attempting to navigate a wheelbarrow filled with firewood. “Oh, ladies, let me find someone to help you with that,” Hunter called, then turned back to Jack and Raven. “I’ll catch you two later.” Then he darted off.
Fuck. The vein at Jack’s temple throbbed. He wanted that ferry here yesterday, but he wasn’t at work where people jumped when he snapped his fingers. No, the storm had ensured he wouldn’t be getting back home tonight, tomorrow, or God knew when.
Habit nearly led him to issue a wild demand to force the ferry to Heron Harbor. Thankfully, reason took hold, and he managed to keep his big mouth shut. Jack didn’t want to be the entitled dick who required special treatment because he was rich and powerful, at least not in front of Raven. She still didn’t know how shitty he could be.
When she looked at him and smiled, he saw a better version of himself reflected in her eyes. That was the man he wanted to be, at least in her mind.
Raven grasped his arm. “It’ll be okay. At least we’re stuck here together.” The weight of her touch calmed him.
She was right. The situation sucked, but it was temporary. He’d be off this island before he knew it, and he and Raven would never see each other again.
He laid his palm on the back of her hand and squeezed her fingers. “You’re the only thing that makes this situation bearable. I need to make a call.”
Chapter 14
As Raven waited for Jack to return to the tent, her cell rang with a call from Wren.
“Rae? Are you there?” Wren’s voice was panicked.
“I’m here! How are you? How’s the trip going?” Raven cast a glance at Jack, who was in the midst of his own intense phone conversation, oblivious to Brilla winding her leash around his legs.
Wren yanked her attention back. “Who cares about that! I’ve been trying to reach you since yesterday afternoon.”
“The cell service was out. It was a terrible storm. The bridge washed out,” Raven explained.
“I just heard. We spoke to Juan and Brittany from Harbor’s Edge. How’s the house?”
“It’s fine, but the weeping willow fell on my BMW. It’s totaled.” Even now, Raven found it hard to say the words out loud.
Wren gasped. “Oh, Rae. I’m so sorry. I know how much you love that car.”
“It’s only a car, right?” She laughed weakly.
“There’s nothing only about it. You worked hard for it. And on top of everything that happened with your job, this has to be the worst week ever. I wouldn’t blame you for losing your mind. I wish I were there to hug you.”
A lump welled in Raven’s throat. Wren knew exactly how she was feeling and what to say. Wren was the softer sister, less sarcastic, brash, and outspoken. Whenever things hadn’t gone Wren’s way, Raven was quick to engage in good-natured ribbing. But now that Raven was the vulnerable one, she was grateful for Wren’s caring, warm touch. She made a mental note to remember that for the future.
“Thanks. I just keep telling myself there’s nowhere to go but up.” If she kept saying it, maybe it’d be true.
“So, how are things going with Superman?”
Raven shot another glance at Jack to make sure he was still out of earshot. Now Brilla was dutifully perched at his feet. “Pretty super, actually.”
“You totally boinked him, didn’t you?”
“Um . . . ” She couldn’t fight the smile curling her lips.
“You did!”
“I mean, we’re two consenting adults in the same house over a weekend. It just sort of happened.”
“Accidentally adding bleach to a dark laundry load ‘just sort of happens.’ Putting orange juice in your cereal instead of milk ‘just sort of happens.’ Taking your clothes off and having sex with a dude doesn’t ‘just sort of happen.’”
Raven laughed. “Okay, I really wanted to sleep with him, so I did. Does that make you happy?”
“It does.” Wren sounded way too pleased with herself.
“Why?”
“Because I can’t remember you spending an entire weekend with any guy, ever. So . . . ”
“So what?” Raven said, a little too defensively.
“You must like him. A lot.”
“He’s nice. And hot. Like, really, really hot. And pretty spectacular in bed. But that’s as far as it goes.” She was sure of that. Mostly.
“Raven, this is obviously not your typical one-night stand. It’s okay to bend your stupid rules. You might actually like dating him.”
“Thanks for your unsolicited opinion, but I’m not interested. If there’s nothing else, I’ve got an island to clean up. Bye.” She pulled the phone from her ear and aimed her index finger at the red cancel button.
“Wait! Don’t hang up,” Wren’s voice cried, tinny.
Wren hit the speaker button. “What?”
“I need your help. Actually, Smith does.”
That was the problem with having a sister who was a lawyer. She didn’t hesitate to play dirty. Wren knew Raven would never take her anger out on Smith.
Raven heaved an impatient sigh. “Help with what?”
As Jack and Raven approached Harbor’s Edge, Jack asked, “You’re sure they don’t want us to cook? Because I can’t handle anything more than a meal kit.”
“Wren said the sous chefs who live on the island would take care of that. We’re just supposed to serve people who show up at the store and box meals for deliveries.”
Smith wanted free meals sent to every house-bound elderly person and anyone else who needed them. It was just one more reason to love Smith, aside from the fact that he was so good to Wren.
“It’s very generous of them to give it all away. That food’s got to be worth thousands of dollars,” Jack said.
“Smith’s a generous guy. Besides, this is his home. He can’t let his community suffer. I’m sure he hates not being here to cook for everyone himself.”
A tent was set up in front of the restaurant, along with a large grill. Juan Esposito, the manager and Smith’s right-hand man, was busy organizing a row of serving stations under the tent.
Raven walked up to him. “Hi Juan, I don’t know if you remember me. I’m Raven—”
“Wren’s sister, of course! Thank God you’re here. She said she’d send you over.” He pulled Raven in for a quick hug then took notice of Jack, pausing to drink him in from head-to-toe. “And who are you?”
“I’m Jack Baines, and this is Brilla.” He offered his hand. Brilla barked her own greeting.
Juan shook it, and his smile broadened. “Welcome, Jack and Brilla. I hope you don’t mind me putting you to work. We can use those muscles of yours.”
Jack flexed his biceps. “I’m at your disposal.”
A thrill zipped up Rav
en’s spine at the sight of his muscles.
“Excellent.” Juan’s eyes lingered on Jack.
Brittany Ashford, Harbor’s Edge’s bartender, kicked open the restaurant’s front door, her arms laden with stacks of to-go boxes and cups that were piled so high, they threatened to spill onto the ground.
Jack sprinted to help her. “Here, let me,” he said, unburdening her of a tower of paper cups.
“Thanks,” she said, then seemed to register his face. His height. His body. His overall Jackness. “Thanks a lot.” This time Brittany’s voice was higher and breathier. She sashayed toward an empty table under the tent with Jack in tow, swishing her hips back and forth like a pendulum.
Brilla growled at Brittney, then padded over to Raven’s side.
“Good dog,” Raven said under her breath. She’d known Brittany since she was a kid. Back then, Brittany was one of the cool girls who hung out on the beach in their bikinis, trying to attract bad boys who drove fast, loud cars, and drank cheap, stinky beer. Some of the girls put a lot of effort into catching the boys’ eyes. Brittany never had to. Her superpower was magnetic attraction. Once a man laid eyes on her, she emitted some kind of pheromonal sex bomb, and he was a goner. Even Smith had fallen for her charms once upon a time, long before Wren had entered his life. There was no way Jack would be impervious to her appeal.
When they set down their loads, Juan brought Brittany up to speed on why Raven and Jack were there.
“I’ll be about as useful as the two of you. I’m a bartender. I don’t work the foodservice end of things.” Brittany twirled her ponytail.
Juan hitched his brow. “Then it’s a good thing you don’t need any expertise to put food on to-go trays. Make yourself useful and sort the plastic knives, forks, and spoons.”
Brittany shot him a glare but did as he asked.
Raven stifled a laugh. “How can we help?”
“The kitchen is ready to serve some of the dishes. We need to set up these hot stations and get the grill going, and then we’ll be ready for people to walk up and get fed.”