Not Even for Love(43)

“I think they were expecting us,” Reeves laughed as he crossed the room, rubbing his hands together. He knelt down to inspect the stove. “There’s even some wood here,” he said excitedly.

Jordan laughed, happy to be safe inside the shelter and not still roaming aimlessly through the storm. She took the blanket off her head and shook her hair free. She spread the blanket over the tools, hoping it would dry out. The wet smell of wool mingled with the close, musty smell of the tool shed, but to her, at that moment, the enclosure seemed like paradise.

Reeves stood up and brushed his hands clean of the soot he had picked up from the stove. For long moments they stood there, staring at each other over the expanse of rough plank flooring. They had come through a harrowing experience and survived it. And as tragedy does to those who have shared it—even to strangers—it cemented their relationship.

She took one shaky step toward him and then he was there, clasping her in his arms as if he’d never let her go. He buried his face in her hair, murmuring incoherent words that were clear enough to her, for it was the emotion they conveyed that was important. Her arms wrapped around his waist and she pressed herself as close to him as she could. Tears streamed down her cheeks and she blotted them with the soft knit of his sweater.

“What is this?” he asked gently as he tilted her head up. “Tears? Don’t you like the idea of being marooned with me? Hm?” He smiled tenderly.

“I was scared, Reeves.”

“Didn’t I tell you I’d take care of you? Don’t you trust me?”

“Yes, but I —”

“It’s all right,” he comforted as he smoothed her hair back from her pale, troubled face. “I was scared too for a while. But I was confident that something would turn up and it did. Now I’ve repaid you for saving me during the thunderstorm.”

She nestled close to him again, savoring his strength, which flowed into her, warming her. “You were no trouble.” Then a mischievous sparkle came into her blue-ringed gray eyes as she looked up at him. “I’d have done the same for anyone.”

He pushed her away from him, though he kept his hands tight on her arms. “Do you want me to kick your little fanny out in the snow again?” he asked, scowling at her menacingly.

“Would you?” she asked, swaying toward him slightly and reaching for him provocatively.

He broke into another wide grin and crushed her against him. “Hell, no. You know I wouldn’t.” Demanding lips came down on hers like a scorching brand. His hands were bold as they moved over her body, touching her, claiming her. Jordan was breathless, but his mouth was ruthless and didn’t settle for less than total abdication. When at last he pulled away, she sagged against him.

“I surrender,” she sighed.

He chuckled. “Now we’re even. Just remember that if we’re ever shipwrecked on a desert island, it’s your turn again to rescue me.” He kissed her quickly. “Now we’d better scout around here and see what we can see. You bring in the things from outside and I’ll try to start a fire in this stove. I hope nothing has clogged the chimney,” he mused aloud as he inspected the joints of the metal chimney.

She brought in her backpack, the picnic basket, and his camera from where they had left them under the narrow overhang of the roof. While he crouched in front of the stove, arranging the wood and striking the matches someone had obligingly left on a shelf, she cautiously explored among the tools. Behind them she found two tarps that were moldy and dusty, but would help insulate the floor. She spread them out near the stove, where Reeves had been successful in starting a fire.

“We have enough wood for a while, if we don’t splurge on it. I’ll see if some is stored outside. If my guess is right, this shed has served this purpose before. That bucket looks like the kind one would use to haul water. I’ll bet there’s a stream close by. I’m going to try to find it.”

“No,” Jordan cried in a high, tense voice. “Reeves, please don’t go out again.”

“I’ll be all right. I’ll keep the shed in sight. I need to try to find us some water before dark.”

“What time is it?” she asked. It was already gloomy outside.

“After seven o’clock. How did I manage to sleep so long out there?” he asked.

“You were relaxed.”

His brows hooded his eyes as he looked at her devilishly. “Well, some parts of me were relaxed, while other parts—”

“Reeves!” she rebuked him softly.

He was laughing as he took the bucket from the peg on the wall. “I’ll be right back. You stay inside no matter how long I’m gone.”