Winnifred stood on the beach next to Aiden, the strange, handsome man who had come out of nowhere, and stared at the boat as it drifted into the distance. She couldn't believe she'd missed it. There wouldn't be another boat for a week!

"Oh, wow,” she said.

"Maybe they'll notice we aren’t aboard and come back for us," Aiden said.

"I sure hope so."

The sun was starting to dip toward the horizon and a chill was rising in the air.

“What if they don't notice?" she said, sitting down on the driftwood log on the beach. She took out her cellphone and lifted it overhead, checking for a signal. “There’s no cell service out here. What are we going to do?”

"I don't know," he said sitting beside her.

She had wanted to spend some time in nature, but this was just ridiculous. She had a few protein bars in her backpack, half a bottle of water, and her painting supplies. She pulled her jacket from around her waist and slung it around her shoulders.

"I hate when I lose track of time like that. Makes me feel so stupid."

“We’re going to be okay," he said, looking around. "We should try to find some shelter. I think I saw something while I was hiking around."

"Shouldn’t we stay here in case the ship comes back?"

"It's going to get dark soon. We should find somewhere to stay out of the elements. If they come back, they’ll come looking for us.”

"I guess you're right,” she said, standing from the log.

“Let's find somewhere to hunker down for the night.”

He carried her backpack, and she followed him down the trail. To her utter surprise, they found a cabin surrounded by a grove of cypresses.

"Wow, we’re lucky this is here."

They walked to the front door and she tried it, but it was locked. She groaned.

"Let me try it,” Aiden said.

“I’ll get some firewood.”

Aiden knelt in front of the lock. She put her things down on the porch and shrugged. Walking into the forest, she began to pick up dry branches. When she turned back around, he swung the door open. Her mouth dropped as she carried the branches up to the porch.

"Did you seriously just pick that lock?" she asked.

"It's one of my many varied skills," he said with a laugh.

She shook her head. “I hope we don't get in trouble for this."

"What choice do we have? The shuttle left us here. We could sue them.”

"Yeah, we should."

She chuckled, walking into the cabin. Inside was a living room, dining room/kitchen area and through the doors she saw a bathroom and a bedroom.

"This isn't too bad,” she said.

She switched on the lights and nothing happened.

“Scientists or park service people probably stay here,” Aiden said.

“That makes sense.”

“I think I saw a generator out back.”

Aiden disappeared outside and a moment later the lights above her flickered on.

“We have electricity!" she cheered as he walked through the door, giving her a hot look.

He came to sit beside her on the couch with his guitar. She couldn't help feeling like he was checking her out. A nervous sensation ran down her spine. She hoped he wasn’t some kind of weirdo. As handsome as he was, there was something about him that made her nervous. But it also attracted her to him like crazy. She bit her lip, thinking there was something wrong with her. She always chose the worst guys. Aiden had that dark, brooding quality she always found so attractive. But that inevitably meant he had a pile of skeletons in his closet. Maybe even literally, for all she knew. She'd only met the guy for two seconds. And now here they were, staying in a cabin that they’d broken into on a deserted island.

He started to strum his guitar. As he lifted his elbow, it brushed against her. The contact sent a spark through her body that left her both aroused and afraid. She sucked a breath through her teeth and stood.

"I'll check the kitchen," she said.

She started to search the cabinets to see if there was anything inside. She found coffee, tea, chocolate, cans of beans and corn, and pancake mix. When she turned on the tap, water spurted out. Winnie squealed with delight and filled a kettle. She put it on the stove and dropped some teabags into two coffee mugs.

"You want some tea?" she asked.

"I'd love some,” he said, strumming his guitar.

He really was a good guitarist, and the sight of him playing on the couch with his dragon tattoos on his arms made her quiver with excitement. She bit her lip as she turned the water on to boil. Always going after the bad boys, she thought to herself. When would she ever learn? Aiden was not only as sexy as a rock star, he was also strangely mysterious and gentlemanly in the most surprising way. That was something new and different she hadn't experienced in a long time. Maybe ever.

Then she thought about her job. She wouldn’t show up in the morning or be able to call in sick.

"Oh great, I'm going to get fired,” she said at the sudden realization.

"Fired?" he said, looking up from his guitar.

"If I don't show up to work tomorrow, I know I’ll get fired. I've seen it happen before.”

"How can they fire you? You're stranded on an island?”

"It’s a lame excuse. I doubt they’ll believe me. You know how hard it is to get a job these days? There are a million other applicants for my position.”

"I'm sure it will be all right,” he said. “How long have you been working there?"

"Over two years."

"You’d think after two years, that they would at least give you a break."

"Maybe. I doubt it." She shivered. “It’s starting to get cold.”

He set down his guitar and began building a fire in the stone hearth.

"I'll make us some dinner out of the cans of food,” she said, finding the can opener in one of the drawers.

She opened the cans of chili and corn and emptied them into a pot. The water boiled, and she fixed their cups. When it was brewed, she handed him his tea. Aiden drank it as he stoked the fire, filling the cabin with warmth.

"I haven't been camping in a long time,” she said. "It's kinda different when you don't have any choice."

"This place isn't so bad," he said. “I've slept in worse situations."

He didn't elaborate, and she wondered what he meant. She’d slept in worse situations too, around far sketchier people than Aiden. That had been her life after running away from home. Something about the look in his eyes told her he had seen some rough things in life too. There was something dark and primal about him.

“So, what do you do for a living?"

"I work in security," he said. “Before that, I was in the military, in a manner of speaking."

That was not what she was expecting. The chili began to bubble, and she poured it into two bowls. He sat across from her at the table in the kitchen, and they ate and chatted about their lives. He wasn't particularly open about his work, but she supposed that came with the territory.

"You like working in the café?" he asked.

"I suppose it's okay," she said. “I'd much rather be painting.”

"So, losing your job may be a blessing in disguise."

"Maybe," she said. “Might be the extra push I need to finally make it happen.”

He looked at her like he wanted to say something, but he held his tongue.

"I must sound like an indecisive kid," she said.

"Not at all. These are major life choices. It's understandable to be apprehensive. I wish I could help you."

"You're sweet. But you just met me. You don't have any obligations to me.”

He said something under his breath that she didn't quite catch. But she almost thought he said, “Yes, I do."

She brushed it off and continued eating her meal. For old canned chili, it wasn't too bad. She was happy to have a full stomach after a day like today. When they were done, she rinsed out the bowls. Putting them away, she saw something in the back of the cabinet. She reached up on her tiptoes and clutched it, bringing it out into the light.

"Whew, look what I found,” she said, showing Aiden the bottle of whiskey. “Looks like we’re going to have fun tonight."

She knew she probably shouldn’t get drunk with a stranger on a deserted island. But she knew she needed to live a little. When was the last time she’d even been with a guy? She couldn’t remember. Oh right, a few months before she’d started her senior thesis. Had it been that long? Uh. It had… Looking over at Aiden, with his dark brooding eyes cast hungrily on her, she decided she could definitely break her fast with him.