Yes, her fingers itched for a piece of charcoal and a sketch pad.
The weather had cleared while she’d slept. But clear weather was a mixed blessing. It meant she had to leave.
Bully was squawking loudly when she entered the empty galley. A pot of something that smelled wonderful was simmering on the gas stove. The sun was shining brightly, and the air smelled fresh and clean. Carolina stepped out on the deck and looked around. The setting sun cast pink and purple shadows acrossthe marsh as the huge orange ball slid out of sight behind the trees. As if on command, a white egret rose from the marsh and swept regally across the river to the other side, disappearing into the tall grass.
Yes, there was something peaceful about this place, something welcoming. She wished she didn’t have to go.
Then she saw him, at the back of the boat, squatting down as he studied something intently. His body, caught by the sun’s rays, glowed in a golden hue. He was so sleek and strong, with the graceful moves of some jungle savage. The sight of him brought an odd quiver to her body, and she caught her breath. The tendons in her knees weakened and her blood seemed to stop, refusing to move through her veins. If she hadn’t leaned against the galley, she would have swayed.
She must have made a sound, because suddenly he looked up. Their gazes met, and she felt that same powerful feeling arc between them.
“Did you sleep well?”
“Yes. I’m sorry. I guess I’m not as strong as I look.”
“You don’t look very strong.”
“I know. I look dreadful.”
He decided she was wrong. She didn’t look dreadful. She looked ethereal, delicate. Even in the stiff little skirt and simple blouse, she seemed wrapped in a dreamlike quality that prickled his nerve endings.
She returned his stare for a moment, then said, “It’s stopped raining.”
“Yes. The water has already started to recede.”
“I’ll be able to leave tomorrow.”
“Perhaps, but not in your car.”
“Why?”
“You won’t be able to drive it out of the mire. It was too light to withstand the current and it got washed off the road. The same thing might have happened to my truck, if you hadn’t forced me to leave it so far back.”
Sean knew he probably could have hooked a rope to the car and pulled it back on the road with his truck. But the wet ground might not provide enough traction, and for some reason he was reluctant to try.
“There’s more bad news,” he went on.
“Oh?” She didn’t tell him, but the news that she probably couldn’t leave yet didn’t dismay her.
“You left your windows open. The flood swept right through the car and took your suitcase with it.”
“And probably my purse as well. I must have left it behind.” Carolina looked down at her skirt and blouse and frowned. “I suppose it could have been worse. At least I still have this suit.”
“I think I liked you better in my shirt.”
Sean hadn’t meant to say it, but it was true. The skirt made her a real person, not his private dream. Now there was an awkward moment of silence, of awareness, of confusion.
“So did I,” she said softly, then added more hurriedly, “What are you doing?”
“I’m preparing my bed for tonight.” He lifted the end of a heavy white corded object that looked like some giant crocheted doily. “It’s a hammock.”
“You’re going to sleep out here? Won’t the mosquitoes eat you alive?”
“Nope, I have a mosquito net.” He attached the hammock to the far mast and walked it forward tohang it on a nail on the back wall of the galley. Next he took a fine, gauzy net and set it up. Suddenly the hammock was covered by a waterfall-like tent of webbing.
“Oh, it’s wonderful,” Carolina said. “May I try it?”
“Sure, come inside.” He lifted the net and made room for her as she slipped inside. “You pull the edge of the hammock out and sit in the middle.”
But Carolina was too light and the hemp was too strong. Every
The weather had cleared while she’d slept. But clear weather was a mixed blessing. It meant she had to leave.
Bully was squawking loudly when she entered the empty galley. A pot of something that smelled wonderful was simmering on the gas stove. The sun was shining brightly, and the air smelled fresh and clean. Carolina stepped out on the deck and looked around. The setting sun cast pink and purple shadows acrossthe marsh as the huge orange ball slid out of sight behind the trees. As if on command, a white egret rose from the marsh and swept regally across the river to the other side, disappearing into the tall grass.
Yes, there was something peaceful about this place, something welcoming. She wished she didn’t have to go.
Then she saw him, at the back of the boat, squatting down as he studied something intently. His body, caught by the sun’s rays, glowed in a golden hue. He was so sleek and strong, with the graceful moves of some jungle savage. The sight of him brought an odd quiver to her body, and she caught her breath. The tendons in her knees weakened and her blood seemed to stop, refusing to move through her veins. If she hadn’t leaned against the galley, she would have swayed.
She must have made a sound, because suddenly he looked up. Their gazes met, and she felt that same powerful feeling arc between them.
“Did you sleep well?”
“Yes. I’m sorry. I guess I’m not as strong as I look.”
“You don’t look very strong.”
“I know. I look dreadful.”
He decided she was wrong. She didn’t look dreadful. She looked ethereal, delicate. Even in the stiff little skirt and simple blouse, she seemed wrapped in a dreamlike quality that prickled his nerve endings.
She returned his stare for a moment, then said, “It’s stopped raining.”
“Yes. The water has already started to recede.”
“I’ll be able to leave tomorrow.”
“Perhaps, but not in your car.”
“Why?”
“You won’t be able to drive it out of the mire. It was too light to withstand the current and it got washed off the road. The same thing might have happened to my truck, if you hadn’t forced me to leave it so far back.”
Sean knew he probably could have hooked a rope to the car and pulled it back on the road with his truck. But the wet ground might not provide enough traction, and for some reason he was reluctant to try.
“There’s more bad news,” he went on.
“Oh?” She didn’t tell him, but the news that she probably couldn’t leave yet didn’t dismay her.
“You left your windows open. The flood swept right through the car and took your suitcase with it.”
“And probably my purse as well. I must have left it behind.” Carolina looked down at her skirt and blouse and frowned. “I suppose it could have been worse. At least I still have this suit.”
“I think I liked you better in my shirt.”
Sean hadn’t meant to say it, but it was true. The skirt made her a real person, not his private dream. Now there was an awkward moment of silence, of awareness, of confusion.
“So did I,” she said softly, then added more hurriedly, “What are you doing?”
“I’m preparing my bed for tonight.” He lifted the end of a heavy white corded object that looked like some giant crocheted doily. “It’s a hammock.”
“You’re going to sleep out here? Won’t the mosquitoes eat you alive?”
“Nope, I have a mosquito net.” He attached the hammock to the far mast and walked it forward tohang it on a nail on the back wall of the galley. Next he took a fine, gauzy net and set it up. Suddenly the hammock was covered by a waterfall-like tent of webbing.
“Oh, it’s wonderful,” Carolina said. “May I try it?”
“Sure, come inside.” He lifted the net and made room for her as she slipped inside. “You pull the edge of the hammock out and sit in the middle.”
But Carolina was too light and the hemp was too strong. Every
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