Stranded(13)

Her eyes popped open. No! This had to be the continuation of her nightmare. She was still asleep. Yes, that was it. Closing her eyes again, India willed herself far away from the catastrophe she found herself embroiled in, but to no avail. The men resting against her were still there and in the distance, the sound of lapping waves hitting the sand greeted her ears.

“I won’t cry. I won’t cry,” she chanted under her breath, allowing her lids to rise once again. Slowly, India eased into a sitting position, careful not to disturb the men. She ignored the tender ache in her arms and legs from sleeping on the hard ground all night. The events of the previous day hit her all at once.

She and her companions were on what appeared to be a deserted island, just like she was in some hokey movie or television program. Unlike Hollywood, however, there’d be no Professor making coconut radios, no blue lagoon, no volleyball companion, and no “Others” waiting to do God knows what with them. And most especially, there was no hope.

What did she know about surviving on an island? Hell, she’d never so much as been camping. What were they going to do and would they be rescued? India couldn’t quite wrap her head around what had happened. It seemed so surreal.

Sliding from between Rafe and Grant, she managed to stand. The light seeping into the cave beckoned her to step outside. Once she hit the beach, India took a moment to look around her. If she had seen this place in a travel brochure she would have called it paradise. Its clear aqua waters beating against bleached white sand, the exotic looking vegetation further behind her, and tall trees with their large green leaves swaying in the gentle breeze would have been anyone’s ideal getaway spot. Too bad this tropical island was now her virtual prison.

Would they die here? Remembering the body they’d buried the night before and imagining the same fate for herself sent a shiver up her spine. Just when she was ready to take charge of her life, fate stepped in and bitch-slapped her.

Wrapping her arms around her body, India fought back the tears.

“A penny for them,” a voice broke into her thoughts.

She jumped. For a brief moment, she’d had such a sense of isolation; India had forgotten her fellow survivors. Turning, she saw Grant. Though not as striking as Rafe, Grant’s blond, blue-eyed, All-American looks and tall, lean body were still quite pleasing to the eye. Her gaze slowly took in every detail of his face, committing it to memory, from the way a strand of his wavy locks fell over his forehead to his square jaw, down to the cleft in his chin. She’d always had a thing for guys with those.

Maybe he was a bit too pleasing to look at for her peace of mind. Was it only yesterday she’d decided to flirt with both men? How ironic was it for the three of them to end up here together?

India took a step back from him, putting as much space between them as possible without making it too obvious. “We’re on a deserted island, after surviving a plane crash. What do you think is on my mind?” she snapped before realizing how it must have sounded. It wasn’t his fault they were in this situation. She sighed. “I’m sorry, it’s just…”

“You’re uncertain about how the three of us will get on.”

She blinked. “Excuse me?” India blinked, wondering if she’d heard him correctly.

“How we’re going to survive.”

“Oh.” Her cheeks grew hot. For a moment she thought he’d said how the three of them would get it on. Where in the world had that thought come from? She felt like an idiot and was thankful she hadn’t said more.

Granted it had been a long time since she’d had sex, but now wasn’t the appropriate time to allow her hormones to run rampant. Looking away from him, she tried to steer the conversation to safer territory. “Is Rafe awake?”

“He was just stirring when I got up. He’s always been able to sleep like the dead, no matter where we are.”

“You seem pretty familiar with his sleeping habits. Are you two—” India broke off, wanting to kick herself. Why did she keep putting her foot in her mouth? “I’m sorry. That’s none of my business.”

Grant threw his head back and released a loud belly laugh. “It’s okay. No, we’re not gay, just best friends; actually closer, like brothers, I’d say. We’ve known each other since we were kids and we were roommates in college. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve crashed at his place and he mine for various reasons, so I guess I would be familiar with his sleeping habits.”

A faint smile touched her lips. She could very easily envy the special bond they shared. “It must be nice to have a close friend like that.”