Billionaire's Island Bride(45)

CHAPTER ELEVEN



Dare woke to a ray of light streaming in through a crack in the brocade drapes at the window. For the first time in weeks he’d slept through the night. He lifted his head off the pillow to look at his wife as she curled into him. She was still fast asleep and he used the opportunity to explore her body with hands, sliding it over the fullness of her breasts then letting it come to rest in the curve of her waist. She was beautiful in her pregnancy, her skin a delicate rosy hue, her body blooming with his child. What could be lovelier?

If nothing else, the hurricane had accomplished one good thing. Last night they had connected. For the first time since Erin’s arrival on the island there had been a harmony between them that he hoped would last. He would do everything in his power to maintain this newfound peace. He’d been a cad but going forward he’d show Erin he could be a loving husband.

Slowly so as not to wake her he slid out of the bed and padded over to the walk-in closet where he grabbed underwear, jeans, a T-shirt and a pair of heavy boots. All kinds of debris would be strewn around after the storm, including broken glass and loose boards with nails sticking out. The last thing he needed was a puncture wound that would send him rushing to the hospital for a tetanus shot.

A quick survey of the grounds revealed that the damage was not as bad as he had expected. Apart from the tree that had fallen onto the west wing of the house everything else was intact. Still, it was going to take a lot of work to clear the mess from the property. He’d have to get a work team on board within the next day or two.#p#分页标题#e#

His priority, though, was the resort and the guests who were in his care. A quick call to the resort manager put his mind at ease - all guests present and accounted for and only minor damage to the villas closest to the beach.

He went back to check on Erin and she was up. She’d put on his robe again and it swallowed her up, making her look like a child playing dress up in her parents’ clothes.

As soon as she saw him her face lit up and then it clouded over with a look of concern. “How do you feel today?” she asked. She hopped out of the bed and came over to rest a hand on his arm. “Any headaches? Dizziness?”

“I’m fine, nurse,” he teased then reached out and pulled her against him. “And how did you rest?”

“Never slept better,” she said with a relaxed smile and then her face went pink and he knew she was remembering their lovemaking from the night before.

And she’d soon have a lot more to grow pink about. Tonight he planned to give her even more of the same treatment. But now there was work to do. “You whip up some breakfast while I make some calls and get a work crew organized. It’s going to be a busy day.”

“Not for you it’s not,” she said, her eyes flashing. “Your first order of business is to swing by the hospital and have them check out that bump on your head.”

“But-”

“Not another word, mister. Go freshen up while I make breakfast. Then it’s off to the doctor for you.”

Dare could only stare at her in amused surprise. Now where had this bossy spirit come from? There was a lot more to Erin than met the eye.

As much as he wanted to get started on the repairs he realized the wisdom of her words. With a nod and a quick grin he yielded to his new boss and headed off to the bathroom.

Later that morning with the permission of his doctor Dare made his rounds of the resort and ensured that competent staff was on hand to cater to the guests. Then he stopped by his office to make some important phone calls after the storm. He had to connect with his relatives back in Michigan to assure them he was safe and with his insurance company to arrange for an assessment of the damage. It was a good thing he’d included flood insurance and wind damage for all his properties.

When he got back home late that afternoon Erin was nowhere to be found. He called her cell phone.

“There was an announcement on the radio that the shelter got a lot more people than they bargained for. They’ve run out of blankets so I got Carlos to take me down here to drop some off.” There was the sound of static and then her voice came back on the line but weaker than before. “It’s really bad, Dare. Lots of damage-” The call dropped, leaving him clutching the phone to his ear.

He tried calling back but only got a busy signal. Obviously the hurricane had not only affected the supply of electricity. It had messed up the phone systems, too.

He just hoped she would hurry back. She was in no condition to be traipsing all over town trying to save the world.

Within an hour Erin was back home looking flushed and eager. “They were so happy for the blankets,” she said, beaming. “We should take them some food, too. With all the people who turned up at the shelter I’m sure they’d appreciate it.”