Mister Ocean
People who spent winter in the Midwest came through it starved for sunlight and half frozen. And while spring and summer could turn the once frozen landscape into beautiful greenery, sometimes you just needed to get the hell out of Dodge.
Jack Tanner had taken that opportunity. Chicago was a great city. But Memorial Day weekend was the official summer kick off, and for some reason, this particular Memorial Day he just felt like traveling. His soon to be in-laws, who were not hurting for money, offered up their yacht, which was permanently docked near their Florida home.
After three months of freezing temperatures, thaws, and rain, Florida sounded awesome.
Jack loved his fiancée. They had flown down Thursday night and were preparing to head out on Friday. As he stood on the dock, blue water stretched as far as he could see. It was peppered with various specks of color as fellow boaters took to the sea. This was a club where experienced boaters launched. And while Jack did not consider himself that experienced, his in-laws were.
He smiled. Life really couldn’t get any better. He was getting married in a few months, loved his job, and was relatively well off. As long as things stayed the way they were right now, he would be the happiest man alive.
“Jack?” Kate’s voice brought him out of his daydream.
“Yes?” He turned to her.
“Are you all right?”
“Perfect, why do you ask?” Kate eyed him, and he realized he had frozen with one of his bags half risen to his shoulder.
“Oh, oops, that.” Jack laughed. “Must be losing my mind.”
“Well, I forgive you.” Kate kissed him. “But hurry up, we need to get moving while it’s still early.”
“Where are we heading?” Jack turned as Kate’s father joined them. Brad Garland was carrying his own weekend bag and wearing an expensive pair of sunglasses with a cheap straw hat.
“We’ll sail out past the Keys, head towards Bermuda.” Jack paused and thought for a moment.
“Awfully close to the Bermuda Triangle isn’t it?” Brad chuckled as he looked over his shoulder at his future son-in-law.
“Never knew you to be superstitious, Jack.”
“I’m not. It’s just...” Jack was beginning to get an eerie feeling. Even in the bright sunlight, something cool was beginning to tug at the back of his neck. “Isn’t that the area where that advertising girl disappeared last summer?”
Laura Hutchinson, millionaire New York advertising executive, had vanished in a boating accident last summer. The similarities were haunting. Hutchinson had been boating with her parents and fiancé last year near the Fourth of July. Her father had been a world-renown anthropologist. He had been involved in huge findings—including many of the American history projects. They were an extremely well-known family.
One evening, she’d been alone on deck and never returned to her cabin. Her fiancé had found her missing when he went to bed. The boat had been searched, the waters around the boat searched, but no trace of her had turned up. Despite the fact that there was land in the general vicinity, authorities had agreed it was too far for the woman to have made it to alive. The body had been dubbed lost at sea.
Brad laughed. And now Jack went from being nervous to being angry. It was a laugh that Robert De Niro would have given Ben Stiller in Meet the Parents. It was a typical, “I don’t like my son-in-law and I can’t believe he would have ever said something so stupid,” laugh. Suddenly, Brad’s cheap straw hat with those designer sunglasses and Sperry topsiders was the ugliest combination he had ever seen.
“Aww, don’t worry, Jack; we won’t let that happen to you.”
As Brad walked past him, Jack must have held a hostile look on his face as Kate walked over and slipped her arm around him.
“Jack, it’s all right. Does this really bother you?”
“No.” Jack shrugged. Unease was still nudging him. “It’s just kind of weird. Like going to Aruba after Natalee Holloway.” Kate patted his arm reassuringly.
“It is a little odd. But what happened to Laura Hutchinson is a rarity.”
Jack knew that. But the oddness of the situation still tugged at him. It shouldn’t have. He heard about people having accidents falling over board on cruise ships all the time. Accidents happened. That couldn’t stop him from living his life.
Forty-eight hours later, he wished that his bit of foreshadowing had stopped him from taking this particular step.
******
The sun was hot, gleaming down on him. Jack could hear the roar of the surf. Jack opened his eyes. A red haired woman was looking down at him. Jack blinked. He tried to remember how he had gotten here—and where exactly here was.
It had all gone so wrong so fast. Jack had quickly learned that Brad was not the boater he liked to claim that he was. Lake Michigan was one thing, the ocean was another. When the storm had come up, he’d asked Jack to help him. Jack had done his best, but his best wasn’t much better. Jack had never boasted himself a sailor.
Fortunately, the entire boat had stayed upright. That had been Jack’s main goal. So he guessed in that regard, he was successful.
But he remembered the boat taking one violent lurch. Jack felt himself slipping on the wet deck. His hands had gripped for the railing, but they couldn’t hold. Then the dark waters swallowed him up entirely.
Now he was here. But he didn’t know where here was.
“Are you alive?” the woman asked. Jack blinked.
“I’m not sure.” The woman pushed herself away from him.
“It appears that you are.”
Jack forced himself to sit up. He looked around him. He was laying on a white sand beach. Palm trees rimmed the edge of the land.
“Where am I?”
“Hell if I know.” The woman was tugging at the back of a faded blue and white bikini. “There’s boat traffic in the distance, but nothing ever comes close enough to see.”
Jack studied her. She was tall and extremely tan. Her long hair hung in shaggy tangles around her. Jack blinked at her.
“You’re Laura Hutchinson.” He’d seen the pictures. Laura had been incredible. She’d had super model height and the money to maintain herself in the same fashion.
“I used to be.” She sighed. “Now I’m just an inhabitant of this island.”
“Who else is here?” Jack got to his feet. He followed after her as she started into the shade of the trees.
“Do you see anyone else?” Laura called over her shoulder. Jack couldn’t believe that. Not in this day and age.
“So you’ve just…been here? All this time? People think that you’re dead.”
“Oh, I’m sure that they do.” Laura had twisted into the palms. She sat down on a rock beside a small stream. She looked at Jack with bright hazel eyes. “There’s fresh water here. Food is…scarce. But there are berries that aren’t poisonous. I guess you could try fishing—which I can’t.”
She reached up to a tree branch and pulled on a dirty white t-shirt. Jack still caught sight of a huge gash on her shoulder just before she got herself covered. He took a moment to get himself some water before he spoke.
“What happened to you?”
“I don’t know.” Laura shook her head as she sat back down. “I literally don’t remember. I know I fell, but that’s it.”
“You were boating with your family.” Jack watched her. “Just like I was.”
“I’m sorry.” She didn’t sound terribly sorry. Jack supposed that he understood that. She couldn’t have much sympathy for a person who had fallen into the same situation she had been in-for the last year.
“What happened to you?” Laura asked. “You just slip overboard too?”
“No.” Jack shook his head. He felt like he might have been in shock. “There was a storm. My father-in-law asked me for help…he…he’s not much of a boater.”
“Apparently not.” Laura remarked. “Drink some more water. It’s the one thing we have going for us. You can’t dehydrate.”
He listened to her. Mainly because it was the only thing that he could do. His head was swimming. He had to get off of this island.
But if a woman like Laura Hutchinson was still here…how was he supposed to get off?
Laura was watching him. Her face registered indifference. Jack cupped his hands, brought himself some more water.
“So what do we do?” he finally asked.
“Try to stay alive. The heat is worst in the middle of the day.” Laura rubbed her eyes. “The nights aren’t bad. If I wasn’t stuck here, I’d think they were peaceful.”
“But how do we get off?” Now Laura looked annoyed.
“If there was a way off, do you think that I’d still be sitting here?” He knew the answer, but didn’t want to say it.
“But my fiancée…” Laura shrugged.
“I don’t know what to tell you. I lost mine too. And my parents. And my life.” She lay back in the shady sand. “I’m sorry, but this is where we are. Just sit back and be glad that you’re alive.”
Jack got up. He wasn’t ready to accept that. He turned, walking back to the beach.
Before him stretched the blue water. He would have thought the view was beautiful if he wasn’t stuck here. But he had to admit that Laura was right: he didn’t see anything…anywhere.
******
Jack spent the first two days of his time on the island sitting on the beach. He was certain that a ship would sail by and see him. Laura assured him that she’d done everything she could in those first few months to call attention to herself. Clearly it had not worked.
One thing Jack did have going for him was his past Boy Scout training. He was able to start up a fire. He appreciated the warmth in the evenings, but he couldn’t make it big enough that smoke carried. He knew at this distance it would be missed by a ship.
But he could do this—that was certain. He would get them both off of this island.
Laura seemed to have largely no interest in him. She brought them both berries. Jack found the bushes she referenced. And while he’d never seen them before, they were certainly plentiful. Laura rolled her eyes at him the first time he hesitantly ate one.
“What are you doing?”
“Well, I just…”
“What exactly do you think has kept me alive for the last year?” She folded her arms annoyed over her chest.
“Well…”
“Don’t well me.” Laura grumbled. “Just eat the damn berries. If I’d been lucky, they’d have killed me in the first serving.” He ate the berries.
His optimism held out for the entire first week. He wondered just when Laura had lost hers. He asked one day.
“I guess after the first month.” They were sitting on the beach next to the fire that he had built. In the night sky, the stars were gleaming. Jack wished this island wasn’t the most beautiful prison he had ever seen.
“I was like you.” She looked at him through the fire. “I thought I’d get to go home someday. I realize now it’s not possible.”
“But…” Jack look at her thoughtfully. Laura shook her head.
“It’s 2017, Jack. If they can’t find us now, how will they?”
He was silent for a moment. He understood her mentality. It was impossible to believe that in this age someone could be lost.
“What about the other side of the island?” he tried gently. Laura chuckled.
“I keep thinking that it will be like that episode of The Golden Girls. That I’m just missing the waterfall which dumps out into the hotel lobby. But this island isn’t that big. I’ve walked all the way around it. There’s nothing.”
He hated to admit it, but he knew that. He’d looked too. He tried to focus on her reference.
“Do you miss TV?” Laura laughed out loud at that.
“How did Downton Abbey end?” Now it was Jack’s turn to laugh.
“I never watched it.” Laura sighed.
“Ah well. I tried. Tell me something else then.”
“Donald Trump is president.” Jack shrugged. Laura sighed, collapsing back onto the sand.
“He always threatened. He finally did it.”
Jack studied her. “He’s got a lot of supporters. And a lot of people who don’t like him one bit.”
Laura didn’t respond. Maybe she was more pleased to have Jack here than she had thought. She never wanted someone else to be trapped on this island. That was a given. But she was glad to finally have some companionship. And to have a taste of home.
New York City:
“What’s leading you to take up the search again?” Keenan Gregg was heading up the US Coast Guard while the head was away for Memorial Day.
“There was another accident in the same area where we lost Laura.” Abraham Hutchinson had arrived early that morning. He was in his 70s with a thick white beard and a head of white hair. He looked the part of the research doctor that he was. “We know that there is undeveloped land within several miles of the accident site. It was believed that Laura couldn’t have traveled to one of those. But now, with two missing people, the exploration is worth the trip. Even if we just find bodies.”
“Dr. Hutchinson,” Gregg said slowly, “You’re aware that—”
“My daughter is more than likely dead? Yes, I am aware of the fact that the odds of her being safe are quite slim.”
“I just want to warn you as we resume the search.”
“I’m well aware.” Hutchinson sighed softly. “But if there is even a 1% chance that my daughter is alive out there, looking for rescue, then I am going to get to her. Resume the search.”
******
Laura woke up in the mornings sweating. After two weeks on the island, Jack did not fully understand why. He also noticed that she seemed to wince, as though in pain.
He figured out the reason for both quickly.
The mark that he had first noticed on Laura’s shoulder appeared to be a cut. It was at least three inches long, and deep. Jack hadn’t asked about it, but Laura finally caught him staring.
“I fell.” She put her hand on the cut. “It was maybe three weeks ago-before you came at least. I was trying to get up onto a rock ledge to see how far out I could see. I’m not a rock climber, I never have been. I slipped. I had a bunch of cuts and bruises, but this was the worst.”
“May I?” Jack asked hesitantly. The cut did look pretty bad.
“Sure,” Laura answered. “I wouldn’t mind having...someone…to look at it.”
She sat down on the edge of a flat rock. Jack reached up, stroking his fingers over the cut.
It was worse than he had thought. It was swollen, red, and hot to the touch. A yellow tinged bulge had filled one side. Jack flinched. The cut was clearly infected. Laura was probably to the point of needing an antibiotic. But that was obviously out of the question. If they didn’t do something soon, Jack worried that the infection would spread. In a situation like this, a seemingly minor cut could kill someone.
“It’s bad, isn’t it?” Laura looked back at him. Jack pressed his fingers against the wound. Laura flinched.
“Yes.” She nodded.
“I thought so.”
“Maybe we should go down to the water.” Jack offered. “Maybe a soak in the salt water will be good for it.”
Laura had never been taught any home remedies, but she did know that salt water was supposed to be good for things like that.
“Ok.” She got up. Jack followed her down to the beach. She had been sheltering in the cove of trees that she had first led him to. Jack didn’t know how it held up in the rain, but it did seem safe. He just didn’t know how she expected to be see potential rescues if she was this far off of the beach. He’d bring that up another time.
Laura went to the water’s edge. She sat down on the wet sand, sighing.
“Could you do something for me?” she called to him.
“Sure.” Jack knelt down in the sand beside her. “What is it?” Laura took a breath.
“Can you open it? If it’s open…the salt water can pull more out.” She was right. Jack really didn’t want to hurt her, but it was the best thing.
“Ok.” He placed one hand on either side of the wound. Gently, he squeezed.
For a moment, the wound didn’t want to open. Jack could simply feel something moving beneath his fingers. Then he tried again. A gush of yellow fluid broke on one side. Jack held back a reaction. Carefully, he squeezed a bit more. He used the edge of his shirt to wipe it off.
“It’s ok,” he told Laura. “It’s gross, but it’s ok. And open now.”
“Thanks.” She got up. She went deeper into the waves. She sat down with her back to them. The surf rolled into her. Laura’s head fell back. Jack stripped out of his t-shirt and went to join her.
“You look like you could do this forever.”
“Funny. Because I hate it,” Laura told him. “I swear, if I ever get off of this island…” She shook her head. “I’ll never see a beach or the ocean again.”
“I can’t say I blame you.” Jack belly-flopped into the water next to her. “Do you miss your fiancé?”
“A bit…sometimes.” Laura leaned back on her hands. “Derrick and I weren’t overly in love. But I’d known him for years. And we were good together.” She looked over at Jack. “You married because she was the love of your life, didn’t you?”
“That I did.” Jack agreed. “I loved everything about her from day one.”
“That’s sweet. Cliché, but sweet.”
“Ha.” Jack shook his head. “I like to hope she’s still looking for me.”
“For your sake, I hope she is too.” Laura turned onto her stomach, facing the shore.
“And yours.” Jack pressed lightly on the wound. Laura winced.
“Ok, that’s enough.”
“Sorry. Just trying to—”
“I get it.” Laura looked up. She raised one hand. Suddenly she sloshed it through the water, splashing him in the face. Jack had to laugh.
“Did you just splash me?”
“I guess I did.” Laura looked at him daringly. Jack had no choice: he had to retaliate.
******
That day actually felt like a beach vacation. The way they played in the waves, Jack could almost forget that they were trapped.
“Today wasn’t so bad.” Jack was laying on the opposite side of the fire.
“It was as good as we could have expected here.” Laura looked back at him through the flames.
“After they find us,” Jack began, “they’ll turn this island into a resort.”
“One I’ll never visit.” Laura turned onto her side. She wished that she had something more than a t-shirt to pillow herself on.
“I can’t fault that logic.” He couldn’t. Once he got home, he would stick to camping.
Laura winced. Getting comfortable with this injury was not easy. Jack had said it looked better—less yellow. But it was still infected; she knew that.
“Are you ok?”
“No,” she murmured.
Jack got up from where he’d been settled. He laid down on the ground beside her.
“Is it hurting?”
“Yes.”
“Ok, turn over.” Laura pushed herself up, turning over. Jack made sure his hands were clean. He rubbed around the gash lightly.
“Ouch.”
“I know.” Jack murmured. He rubbed gently. “It’s ok. Don’t worry.” Laura said nothing. Jack decided not to push it. He stayed right beside her. Laura whimpered a little. She felt pathetic. This wasn’t her. But this situation was so bad. And now this cut…
She didn’t know how she’d gotten into this mess.
Jack’s heart broke for her. He couldn’t imagine how she’d managed to get stuck into this—couldn’t believe that he had either. Gently, he turned her head to his. He leaned down, pressing his lips to hers.
Laura had not been kissed by a man in over a year. The moment shocked her. But she did not stop him. In the moment, it felt good. And right. Besides, he’d probably never see his fiancée again, right?
The kiss ended, but Jack didn’t pull away. He settled himself beside Laura and stayed there for the rest of the night.
******
Tucked just on one side of Bermuda was a small cluster of islands. It was tiny, known to be uninhabited, and passed by regularly.
Abraham Hutchinson was amazed that no one had bother to search there for his lost child. No matter. He’d handle that himself.
******
Laura had awoken not feeling well. She knew that she had to eat something. She made her way to the stream in the shade. She was drinking from the cool water when Jack appeared.
“I don’t feel well.” She looked back at him. Jack sat down beside her. She felt his fingers on her shoulder. She flinched.
“How is it?”
“Infected. Guess we’ll go back to lay in the water some more.”
Laura didn’t know what else to say or do. She supposed that she would because she had no other option.
They ate a few berries before making their way back to the beach. Laura sat in the water, staring out. Surely only a few miles away, people were vacationing. She’d seen planes overhead. They had to know that this island was there.
But if help didn’t come soon, she was going to be in trouble. Real trouble.
******
They had been on the beach all day. Laura had gone back a few times for water. Now she was laying where the water was hitting. Jack was sitting a few feet away from her. He didn’t want to admit that he was bored. So he idly dug a hole in the wet sand with his fingertips.
He looked up. The sun was just as bright as always. But something was different about the horizon. Jack stared for a few more minutes. He was seeing something. But he could not believe what he was seeing. It had to be some sort of mirage. It could not be real.
“Laura! A ship! It’s a ship!” The large boat on the horizon looked real. Maybe it really was real. Jack wasn’t entirely certain. He’d seen boats pass along the horizon before, but this one was close. Extremely close.
Laura pushed herself up. Jack could already see a smaller boat full of people approaching the shoreline. He didn’t care who they were, he just wanted them to get him off of this island.
Suddenly, Laura froze. Jack looked over at her.
“What?”
“It can’t be,” Laura mumbled. “It absolutely cannot be.” She was staring at a white-haired man who was now approaching the line of water and sand. “Dad!”
Both Jack and the man turned.
“Laura?” The white-haired man stared at her in disbelief. But Laura was already throwing herself into his arms.
“I’m alive.”
“Oh I knew it.” Abraham Hutchinson hugged her tightly. “Laura, I always knew that you were alive somewhere. You’ve been here all this time?” But he didn’t give her a chance to answer as he suddenly saw the gash on her shoulder. “You’re hurt!”
“I don’t care.” She didn’t. She just wanted to go back to society—real society with medicine and everything.
Her father didn’t respond. He finally turned, guiding her in his direction.
“Laura, look.”
“Derrick.”
Jack turned to look where Laura had just reacted. Standing behind her father was a dark-haired man in a pair of khaki shorts and a polo shirt. It seemed to be odd attire for an island exploration.
“Oh, Laura.” The man reached for her. Jack had never seen quite a lack of emotion. It was incredibly strange for a man who had just found the presumably dead love of his life.
Abraham seemed to suddenly notice Jack. He held out his hand.
“My apologies. You’re Jack Tanner, I assume? The man who went missing a few weeks ago?”
“That’s right.” Jack shook the outstretched hand.
“Well, let’s get you both back on the boat and home.” Derrick seemed to be looking Jack over. It made him uncomfortable.
They settled back into the small motorboat. Another man was piloting it back to the larger boat. Jack could see now that it was a yacht—a very fancy one. In fact, it was the biggest one that he had ever seen. He should have guessed it would have been to manage the smaller boat. He knew that Laura had money, but her parents also had their own fair share. It was evident in this moment.
The small boat was brought up part way to meet a ladder. Abraham climbed up. Jack heard a woman’s voice immediately.
“Abraham! Did you find anything?”
“Wait till you see.” Abraham’s hand reached down to help Laura up onto the deck.
“Laura!” Jack could see the woman now. She had red hair like Laura’s with skin that had been apparently cared for with anti-aging products.
“Mom!” Laura rushed to the woman. The woman wrapped her arms around her.
“Oh, my darling,” she whispered against her. “We thought you were dead.”
“I thought I was dead,” Laura whispered back. She stepped back, turning to Jack who had made his way onto the deck. “This is Jack Tanner. Jack, this is my mother, Audrey.”
“Oh! You’re the young man who got lost a few weeks ago!” Audrey gave his hand a polite squeeze.
“That’s me.” Jack felt awkward, looking at the woman in her chinos and sleeveless blouse.
“Well, we’ll get you home.” Audrey turned back to her daughter.
“That we will.” Abraham slipped his arm around Laura. “But right now, I think they both need some food and rest. And Laura, I’ll have Grant look at that shoulder.”
“Grant?” Laura reached up to cover the wound on her shoulder. Abraham nodded.
“We didn’t know what condition we’d find you in, so we wanted someone close that we trusted. If you were seriously hurt, getting you to safety would have taken too much time.” Abraham looked over at Jack. “What about you, Mr. Tanner? Are you hurt?”
“No, I’m fine.” He realized now that he was tired—so tired. “I wouldn’t mind laying down though.”
“I’ll get you both downstairs.” Audrey took Laura’s hand. “Come on.”
Jack followed them downstairs. Audrey paused beside a door.
“Here you are, Mr. Tanner. You can have this room.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Hutchinson.” Jack gave her a quick smile. “I’ll see you both later.”
Audrey waited until he was inside, and then led Laura down the hallway.
“Here you go.” She pushed the door open. Laura stepped into the room. Instant relief settled over her. Laura leaned against the opposite doorway. “Go ahead and get your shower, darling. I’ll bring Grant back in a little while to check on that shoulder.”
“Thanks, Mom.” Laura embraced her once more. Audrey smiled.
“Oh, my baby. I’m so incredibly glad to see you.”
“You have no idea.” Laura had never thought that she could miss someone so much—for that matter, a life so much.
As soon as Audrey had left, Laura let herself into the bathroom. She stripped out of the bikini that she was wearing. She would burn it when they got back to land. She never wanted to see it again.
Stepping into the shower, she turned the water up as hot as she could stand it. Laura leaned back against the wall as the water rushed over her. She’d never felt so good in her entire life.
******
Dinner was held at six in the ship’s galley. Jack had found it awkward. Derrick still didn’t seem overly thrilled at the prospect of having Laura home. He had spent most of the meal grilling Jack on his career, and then insisting that he get in touch with Kate right after dinner. Jack had consented. He’d used the Hutchinsons’ satellite phone to call her. Kate had heard the news of Jack and Kate’s recovery, but she was thrilled to hear from him. By the time that had ended, most of the party had departed the dining room. Only Abraham remained.
“Well, Jack. How was the future Mrs.?”
“Extremely glad to know that I’m all right.” Abraham chuckled.
“I’m certain she is. Can I get you a drink?”
“Just some water, please.” Jack did not think he was up to alcohol—not yet. He’d seen Laura pass on it as well. He couldn’t imagine how she felt finally eating real food after so much time.
Abraham complied, handing over a glass of water. He was drinking something in a smaller glass that was brown in color. Jack couldn’t tell if it was brandy, rum, or whiskey.
“So, you never gave up on Laura.” He smiled as he sipped his water. “That’s true dedication.”
“A father never gives up on his child.” Abraham smiled back, but he didn’t look entirely pleased.
“I’m sorry.” Jack had to back down at the sudden change of approach. “Is something wrong?” Abraham shrugged. He set his glass down on the table.
“To be honest with you, Mr. Tanner? I didn’t arrange this for Laura. Derrick wanted to find her.”
“Derrick?” That surprised him. Derrick had not expressed one true bit of interest in Laura’s return. Through dinner, he’d put his hands on her mechanically, as though he’d been preprogrammed. He never once looked at her in a joyful fashion, or clung to her as though he’d never let go of her again.
Abraham nodded. He glanced around to secure that they were alone.
“Please, do not mention this to Laura.”
“Of course.” Jack was too curious to let this slip past.
“I had heard rumors of the islands in this area. You’ve no doubt heard of them yourself.” He shook his head. “We always thought that if something had happened to Laura, any remains had washed up here. Derrick wanted to look for…closure.”
Abraham did not seem truly honest. Jack raised a brow.
“Is that it?” Abraham heaved out a heavy sigh.
“No, that’s not it. He wanted to have Laura declared dead in event…”
“In event?” Jack wasn’t sure that he did want to hear the rest of this.
“Laura had finalized her estate paperwork just before she disappeared.” Jack knew now that he didn’t want to hear the rest of this…but he had to. “In the event of her death, I inherited everything. But advertising isn’t my project—I’m not a businessman, you see. So I had made an agreement with Derrick that…if anything happened to Laura…he could have the advertising company.”
Jack was silent. Abraham seemed to want him to say something, but Jack had no words.
“I know how bad it sounds,” Abraham offered. “But please, don’t let this give you a bad taste. Derrick loves Laura very much. They were one of the most talked about couples in New York.”
Jack knew that. He’d seen all of the pictures of Laura and Derrick after her disappearance. He knew how they were loved. But were they in love? Jack didn’t believe that.
******
Derrick had walked up to the deck with Laura. She’d allowed her hand in his. Being back with Derrick felt traditional. That was not necessarily a good thing.
She and Derrick had simply been pretty. Magazines had adored them. He’d had his work and she’d had hers. They had worked their relationship like a business. Their marriage would be the final merger.
“You’ll want to get into the spa as soon as we get back to the mainland.” Derrick was rubbing his thumb against her hand. “That hair. Your skin.”
“I know.” Laura had twisted her too long hair up into a messy bun. She’d considered cutting it herself. The frayed ends resembled a cat’s tail. It was horrible.
“Don’t worry. We’ll slather you down in age reversing skin cream. That’ll cure that year in that awful sun.” She shot him a sideways glance. She wondered why they were doing this. Derrick’s concern was that Laura’s beautiful debutant body was damaged. She figured he’d be running around on her by September.
“You’ve lost weight,” Derrick observed. His hand left hers to stroke her ribs. “Poor thing, so thin.”
“I’ll gain it back.” Laura stopped, turning to face him. But she knew it. Her black maxi dress hung unflatteringly on her. She was already planning a return to pizza and bagels—perhaps together—upon her return to New York.
“We’ll see to that.” Derrick smiled at her. He reached for both of her hands, taking them into his. “Maybe I’ll book us some dinner reservations. I’ll find you somewhere with some cheesecake…maybe in chocolate?”
Laura had to laugh. She wondered if she imagined all of the horrors of Derrick. She supposed they did have their moments, like most business partners.
“I’d like that.” She met his eyes. Derrick kissed her knuckles.
“Oh, you lost your ring.” Laura had forgotten about that. She looked down at her hand.
“I suppose I did.” She nodded.
“Well, we’ll get you another one. You pick the store and I’ll buy it as soon as we get back.”
“I’ll browse online tonight,” Laura assured him.
“How is your shoulder feeling?” Derrick raised one hand to brush against the bandage on her shoulder.
“Better.” Laura nodded. It was. Grant had washed it with iodine, slathered it with ointment and covered it with a bandage. He’d also given her an antibiotic to take until they got back to land. She’d have to have it looked at again once they made it to land to make sure that the infection wasn’t spreading. Derrick leaned down to kiss her.
“Poor thing. Trapped on that island for so long.” Laura thought briefly of Jack as Derrick’s lips found hers again. She thought of the kiss that they had shared. “I missed you, Laura.”
“I…missed you.” She kissed him once more. Derrick held her tightly to him for a moment. Finally, he stepped back.
“Why don’t we take a walk downstairs, hmm?”
******
The sex with Derrick had always been good. They’d had a lot of it over the years. They made love occasionally, and other times they were simply rough. Laura always enjoyed the New Year’s Eves and Valentines when they staggered in drunk on champagne only to fuck against a wall. Tonight was no different—minus the intoxication.
Derrick shoved her back upon the bed. He stood back from her to pull off his clothing. Laura tugged the maxi dress over her head. She wore nothing beneath it. It had been freeing to be rid of anything that felt like a bikini.
“Did you miss this?” Derrick climbed on top of her. His hand pushed her thighs apart. It immediately began to stroke the wetness he’d discovered between them. Laura’s hips raised against him as he pushed two fingers into her. “Just like this?” he whispered into her ear, his fingers fucking roughly into her. “Do you want it like this?”
“Yes…hell, Derrick…fuck me.” She tugged his head back to hers, his mouth back to hers. “Fuck me like you used to.”
He did not need the encouragement. He pulled his fingers out of her. Laura bit her lip to stifle a moan as he pushed his thick cock the entire way into her.
“Fuck, Laura…you feel good.” He was already pounding into her. His fingers were rubbing fiercely on her clit. Laura was clawing at the bed with one hand and at his back with the other.
“Derrick…mmm…yesss,” she hissed in pleasure as her first orgasm shook through her.
Derrick’s fingers left her so that he could hold himself on both hands above her. His hips did not stop thrusting into her. Laura watched his face. It was contorted into a mask of pleasure. Maybe she was wrong. Maybe Derrick did want her. Maybe they could be happy. Maybe life would be good again.
Her second climax was building. Laura moved Derrick’s hand to squeeze her breast. He pinched one nipple hard, making her scream her climax. Derrick thrust hard into her once more. His eyes never left hers as she felt him shaking inside of her.
“Hell…Derrick.”
“Mmhmm.” He dropped a kiss to her forehead. “That’s who we are, Laura.”
“Absolutely.” Laura pulled him down to relax against her. She and Derrick were not known for their intimacy, but she did not mind holding him on her now. He stayed inside of her. She did not push him away. For the moment, she needed him here.
******
Jack had taken his coffee to the deck the next morning. In the last twelve hours, it was the best thing he had tasted so far.
“You know, after we get back to land, I will never go near water again.” Jack turned. Laura stood behind him, dressed in a pair of yoga pants and a tank top. She held her own mug in her hand.
“I’m inclined to agree.” Jack shook his head. “How did you sleep?”
“All right.” Laura came closer to him, but stayed several feet back from the railing. “I thought that if I was ever rescued, I’d crawl into a real bed and sleep for days. Last night I kept waking up.”
Even after the release sex, Laura had not been tired enough to sleep.
“What about you?” she finally asked.
Jack had not slept well himself. But he knew exactly why. It was the nagging conversation with Abraham.
“Not…well.” Jack let out his breath. “Laura,” he cut her off as she started to open her mouth to speak, “I really need to tell you something.”
“What?” Laura held her breath as to what it might be. She thought about last night with Derrick. Since then, she’d made up her mind: there could be no one else for her but Derrick. They weren’t perfect, but they had a good thing going for them.
“Do you know anything about...any deals before you went missing?”
“Deals?” Laura echoed. “You mean like with my company?” Jack picked his words carefully.
“I mean more like with your father. Or Derrick.” Laura gave him a confused look.
“What do you mean?”
“I had a conversation with your father after dinner.” He needed to come clean with her. He couldn’t let her not know. “He...told me you’d done your will.”
“Of course I did.” Laura didn’t know where he was going with this conversation. “Derrick and I were engaged. I wanted to make sure everything was in place.”
“But…you didn’t leave it to Derrick…did you?” Jack looked at her. Laura shook her head.
“No, no I didn’t.” Laura shrugged helplessly. “Jack, I’m not a young woman. I’m well established. I have a business. I need to make sure it goes to someone I trust. Derrick has his own business too. If we had children, I’d want my children guaranteed the Hutchinson fortune, plus the Rayburn. Leaving it with my dad was safer.”
Jack didn’t want to say anything. He didn’t want to put an idea into her head. But she was staring at him.
“You know something else.” Jack lowered his head.
“Who do you think started this trip?”
“Well my father, of…” Laura’s voice broke off. “Derrick. It was Derrick.”
“I don’t mean to imply…” Jack mumbled. “But Laura, what happened the night that you fell?”
“I told you, I don’t remember.” Laura shrugged. “It was dark. It was late. I slipped. The next thing I remember is water, and coming to on the island. I can’t say anymore.”
She couldn’t. But she had a suspicion of what Jack was implying. She tried to tell herself that it wasn’t possible. Derrick wouldn’t have done anything to her. He loved her.
Well, that wasn’t entirely true. Derrick had an affection for her, but he loved her body and her money much more. Laura’s personality just came along for the ride.
Would Derrick have tried something simply to get her company? Laura found herself realizing that yes, yes he would.
******
They were only about another day from land. It amazed Laura. It was like the movies. She had been stranded in the middle of nowhere with no escape, but yet she had been only a few hours boat ride to safety.
She spent the day alone in her cabin. This afternoon she was tired. She napped for most of it. She was grateful to be alone. She couldn’t speak to Derrick. She didn’t want to speak to her father. But she couldn’t avoid them forever. At four, Derrick let himself into the room.
“Are you feeling better?” He sat down on the bed beside her. Laura studied him. She shrugged.
“I’m all right.”
“We’ll get you to a real doctor as soon as we get back to New York. You probably picked up some kind of parasite in addition to that nasty infection.” Laura made a face.
“Derrick, I do not have a parasite. That’s disgusting.” Derrick chuckled. He kissed her cheek softly.
“Some bloodwork will not hurt you, Laura.”
“Probably not,” Laura said. “Derrick?”
“Yes?” He pushed her hair out of her face.
“You had a deal with my father.” Laura met his eyes. “If I died, he was going to give you my company.” Derrick licked his lips. Finally, he leaned in to press his lips onto her forehead.
“Well yes, yes I did. Why does that matter?”
“It matters because I didn’t leave it to you. I left it to him.” Laura stared at Derrick. “If I’d wanted you to have it, I’d have given it to you.”
“Laura,” Derrick pulled back, “that’s unfair. Your father is getting older. You know that he couldn’t possibly handle your business and his research. Not to mention that he has no head for advertising. Now I, on the other hand—”
“Derrick, seriously, stop,” Laura got to her feet. “I don’t want to discuss this with you. What matters is that I’m alive-and you don’t get it.”
She and Derrick simply stared at each other for a long moment. She wondered just what he would say, but he didn’t fold down. Finally, he simply got up.
“We’ll talk about this when we get back to land.” He put his hand on her cheek. “You’re understandably stressed right now. You’re not thinking like yourself.” He kissed her cheek quickly and then headed off.
Laura stood in the room, shaking her head. Derrick had been right about one thing: she did want to get to land. She was tired of the water. She would never get in so much as a hot tub again.
******
Dinner was quiet that night. Audrey kept up the conversation, seeming not to notice that Laura and Derrick were only glancing at each other. As soon as Laura finished, she got up. Derrick left a bit later. But Jack noticed Derrick alone in the hallway as he was leaving, so he went to Laura’s door. He knocked softly.
“What?” she snapped from the other side.
“Just me.” Jack eased the door open. “Can I come in?”
“Sure.” She looked at him from across the room. Jack did. He pushed the door shut behind him.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything this morning.”
“It’s not your fault.” It wasn’t. Laura had been thinking all day. She wondered if she and Derrick weren’t going to work. Maybe this wasn’t a good idea. Maybe she needed to be away from him. “Is Kate coming to Florida to meet us?”
“Yeah, she is.” Jack leaned against the door. “She sounded happy when we talked.”
“I bet she was.” Laura didn’t get the same happiness from him. She wondered why. He’d spoken so highly of Kate when he’d first arrived on the island.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.” She left her thoughts to look back at him.
“When we kissed on the island—” Laura held up her hand.
“I hadn’t kissed a man in a year.”
“So it was nothing?” He waited for her answer. Laura studied him. Suddenly, she leaned in to him. Jack felt her lips on his once more.
It escalated so rapidly that he was shocked. His hand suddenly moved to her waist as hers fell on his face.
Jack stripped the shirt over Laura’s head. She wasn’t wearing a bra beneath it. He pulled back, watching her face as he squeezed her breasts. They felt as good as he had hoped. He’d admired them for so long against her faded bikini top. Now he wanted them—badly.
Laura fell back on the bed as he kissed her chest. She took a moment to pull his shirt over his head. He pressed his erection into the V of her thighs. Laura ground herself against him.
His pace was already so different from the one she had kept with Derrick. Jack took his time kissing over her breasts. He licked and sucked along her nipples. Laura merely whimpered on the bed beneath him.
Jack’s hands pulled the yoga pants she was wearing down her hips. He pushed her thighs apart, lowering himself between them. But Laura caught him, shaking her head no.
“Don’t,” she whispered.
“Why not?” Jack lifted himself back up her body. Laura reached out to unfasten the jeans he was wearing. She figured them to be a crew members. Derrick never would have let someone else have his expensive jeans.
“Because…I…” She wasn’t ready for that type of intimacy. She didn’t want anyone to be that close to her after so much time on the island.
“I understand,” Jack whispered. He pulled himself back up her body. Laura adjusted herself so that she could pull the garments down.
“They thought of everything.” She smiled faintly as she traced her hands over his boxers. Jack chuckled.
“What can I say? Your parents are generous people.” He guided himself to her.
Jack was inching himself into her. It had been a long time since she’d had it like that. She was accustomed to Derrick and his fierce thrusts. But Jack…he was so incredibly different. She knew that he would be.
Jack dropped himself down to meet her lips once more. Laura pushed her hips up to him. She was enjoying the feeling of their joined bodies entirely too much. When Jack began to move inside of her, she simply closed her eyes.
It was incredible really. He was thrusting into her in a slow motion, which made her whimper with every movement. She met his hips with the same enthusiasm.
His fingers worked between her thighs, finding her clit. Laura made a faint squeal of pleasure. She sighed against him. This was good. So good.
The passion was building between them. Laura heard herself crying his name over and over again as she drew close. When the sensations finally erupted in her body, they lingered in aftershocks that she hadn’t felt in years. Because Jack Tanner was making her feel a way that she hadn’t felt in years.
Jack came soon after her. He dropped down onto her, holding her against him.
“Laura.”
“Jack.” She wrapped her arms around him. For the moment, she wanted nothing but to stay here in his arms.
******
They dressed in silence. Laura’s unkempt hair had worked from its messy bun. She tugged it back up into a ponytail, frowning at herself.
She and Jack both looked at each other for a long moment.
“That was amazing,” Jack murmured, reaching out for her hand.
“Yes, it was.” He drew her to him for one more soft kiss. Laura smiled faintly.
“Come on. Let’s go find a drink of some sort.” She wasn’t quite sure that she was ready for alcohol yet.
Turning to the door, she saw that it was open a crack.
“I can’t believe we left the door open.” She shook her head.
“No,” Jack frowned. “I closed that.” Laura didn’t argue with him. Perhaps he’d forgotten.
“This boat is practically a maze,” Jack remarked. “Like a miniature Titanic here.” Laura chuckled.
“Well I wouldn’t quite say that. But my parents did spend a fortune on it. They wanted something where they could entertain family and friends.”
“That’s exactly what they did.” Laura glanced up. Derrick stood at the top of the stairs. Laura and Jack both froze.
“Finished so soon?” Derrick called as he walked the rest of the way to the deck. Laura frowned her annoyance.
“Excuse me?” She followed him to the top of the stairs.
“Please.” Laura now saw that Derrick was drawing on a cigar. He took another hit before tossing it overboard. “I saw what was going on in there.”
Laura did and did not feel bad. She had never imagined Derrick remaining faithful to her. So what did it hurt him if she wasn’t?
“Spying on me?” She moved fully onto the deck, crossing to meet him.
“That’s the least of your worries.” Derrick turned to face her. Laura immediately did not like the look on his face. A sense of danger rose inside of her.
“Do you know what I have in my luggage, Laura?”
“What?”
“A copy of your dental records so that Grant could identify the corpse.” He smiled. “But sadly, the corpse can identify itself.”
“I know you expected to find me dead.” She did. She’d never expected to be rescued herself.
“Do you know what else, Laura?” His tone was cold.
“What?” Laura challenged, not entirely certain that she wanted to know.
“My heart sank that day on the beach.” Laura took a step away from him. “Because you couldn’t be bothered to die, I lost out on ten million dollars.”
“It was you,” Laura muttered. “You planned this all.”
“Very good. It’s a shame you didn’t figure that out on your own.” Derrick smiled at her. “I had the perfect plan. It would be a terrible accident. You’d slip overboard and it would be so dark, we’d never find you. At the speed we were going, we were to be long gone from the accident scene before we even knew you were missing. And the current that night? You’d never survive that. But you did Laura. You did survive it. You made it right over to that island, which simply isn’t fair.”
“Derrick,” Laura tried softly. But what did you say to a man who just confessed to wanting you dead?
“Fortunately, this time,” Derrick reached into the back pocket of his slacks to remove a small handgun, “we won’t have any error.”
“That won’t work.” Laura’s eyes were glued to the gun. “If you shoot me, they’ll know it wasn’t an accident. You’ll get nothing.”
“Now, Laura,” Derrick was moving towards her, the gun trained on her face. “Do you really think that I could plan one brilliant ‘accident’ and ruin it all tonight? No. Tonight, you’re going to commit suicide.”
Derrick reached out to grab her arm, hauling her back to the railing with him. Laura could see the dark waters below. Already her panic was rising.
“This will never—”
“Never work? Please. You already wrote the suicide note. It’s in my room. You were so distraught at the idea of returning to your life, you threw yourself overboard. How could you, Laura? How could you do that to your parents?”
“Don’t!” Jack was standing behind him. Laura took the chance to grab the railing with both hands. There would not be an accident this time. She would not let it happen.
“I’m thrilled that you heard everything.” Derrick clicked the gun against her skull. “Now I can add in the part where you threw yourself overboard after her.” He yanked her back to him. Laura’s fingers strained their hold on the railing. “I don’t want to shoot her, but I will if you come any closer.”
“Don’t hurt her.” Jack held up his hands. “Please, Derrick, you don’t need to do this.”
“Trust me.” Derrick shook his head. “She won’t feel a thing. If it’ll make you feel better, I’ll even stun her with a good blow to the head first.”
He raised the gun over her head. Jack looked for a weapon. He saw a fire axe in a glass case beside him. Grabbing a deck chair, he brought it against the glass and hoped that it brought others.
“Stop!” He yanked the axe out. Derrick merely rolled his eyes at him. He cocked the gun. Jack wasted no time.
He ran at Derrick with the axe. Laura twisted in Derrick’s grasp. She drove her shoulder into his chin. Derrick reacted from the pain. The gun in his hand slipped to the deck, sliding into the darkness.
“Bitch!” Derrick forgot about Jack. He grabbed Laura, swinging her against the railing. He pushed her back. Laura felt panic sweep over her as her footing began to give way. If she became unsteady, she would slip back into the water. “I’ll miss you, my love.”
“Let her go.” A voice spoke from behind him. Derrick glanced back to see the gun barrel right behind him. Jack had given up the axe to retrieve the gun.
“I’d give my life to drown her.” Derrick hissed. He tensed his muscles to push Laura backwards.
“Don’t do it, Derrick,” another voice spoke. Derrick did fully turn this time. Abraham and several crew members had been brought by the sounds of breaking glass and arguing. Two of the crew members now held guns on Derrick—in addition to the one Tanner held. Derrick sighed. Even if he did throw Laura in, he’d gain nothing. He dropped her to the deck, turning to face the others.
Jack dropped the gun he held. He fell to his knees, pulling Laura into his arms. She clung to him, burying her face into his t-shirt.
“Are you all right?”
“Yes,” Laura whispered. Jack listened to the crewmen as they called for the coast guard. Derrick would not get away this time.
“Come on.” Jack got up. “Let’s get you inside.”
******
The next morning, Jack stood on the deck watching the mainland grow closer. It had been a long night full of little sleep after the incident with Derrick.
“Jack?” He turned. Laura was approaching him. She wore a navy sundress with a bright floral print on it. A silver bracelet gleamed on one wrist. Her hair was secured into the bun on top of her head.
“How are you?” He held out one hand to her.
“I’m ok.” Laura would not approach the railing. “I never thanked you for last night.”
“Well, you’re welcome.” Jack smiled. Laura took a slow breath.
“I’m sorry that you had to get caught in the middle of all this. But we’re almost home. You can meet Kate and get back to Chicago.”
“Just like that?” Jack asked carefully. “After everything? It’s just goodbye?”
“It’s just goodbye.” Laura nodded. “We’ll be docking soon, and I don’t want to be up here when we do. Goodbye, Jack.”
With that, she disappeared down the stairs below decks.
******
“Jack!” Kate was pushing through the crowd to reach him. Jack held out his arms, taking her in.
“I thought you were gone,” she whispered as she clung to him. “I can’t believe you’re here. I’m so glad to see you.”
“I’m ok,” Jack said. But he was looking past her. Laura was slipping into a waiting limo with her parents. They would probably fly back to New York that night. He’d never see her again. Laura was gone. For good.
Three Weeks Later
Jack was suffering. It had been the longest three weeks of his life.
Kate had dived back into their lives as though nothing had happened. She wanted to up the wedding plans so they were ‘official’ sooner. Her parents had even thrown them a re-engagement party. Jack was horrified.
He couldn’t keep up with the family, or the excitement. He was lost in the middle of everything. Worst of all, he missed Laura.
He did not think that it was possible to miss someone that you had known such a short time. But he did.
He wondered what life was like for her in New York. He wondered if she was ok. He wondered how the transition had been.
She was just so damn beautiful. And enchanting.
The re-engagement party had been a disaster. Jack had spent much of his time on the back deck by himself. He just didn’t feel like socializing. He’d expressed this to Kate that he just couldn’t, but she’d wanted it so he’d gone along. By the end of the night, everyone knew that Jack was not himself.
“Jack?” Kate had put down the morning paper. She was looking at him. “Can we talk?”
“Yeah.” Jack put down his own section of the paper. He figured he was about to get a lecture on his behavior last night. “About what?”
“You were really…” Her voice trailed off. “Well, something wasn’t right with you at the party last night. It wasn’t the first time I’d noticed it either. Do you want to talk about it?”
Jack sighed. He did want to talk about it, but he didn’t really know what to say.
“Kate, I just…” He shook his head. “It’s not just what happened to me. It’s what happened to Laura and I. When I got to the island, she’d been there a year. She was lonely, and broken from being there alone. I just…I don’t know, Kate. She and I bonded. And then when I found out what Derrick was doing…I had to protect her. I just…”
“You’re a good man,” Kate assured him. “A very good man.” She took a deep breath. “You fell in love with Laura, did’t you?”
“Yes,” Jack admitted. “And I doubt that she feels the same way, but I really need to go talk to her.”
Kate got up from her place at the table. Leaning over, she pressed her lips to his cheek.
“It kills me to say goodbye to you—really, it does. But I can’t live my life being second place to another woman. If this is what you need to do, go. Go do it.”
“Really?” Jack met her eyes. Kate nodded.
“If you love something, let it go,” she said with tears streaming down her cheeks. Jack got up and hugged her tightly, kissing her forehead.
******
The formerly presumed dead Laura Hutchinson was lounging on the fuzzy, white sofa in her New York penthouse. A stock report was open on her lap. She was dressed in a pair of black yoga pants with a white band at the waist and a black tank top. Her red hair had been freshly cut to her shoulders, but was still drawn into a ponytail atop her head.
Her ears had been pierced, and her sun-dried skin treated with lotion. A pink scar from her cut marked her shoulder. Her nails were manicured once more, as were her toes, which were adorned with a silver toe ring. A cross-eyed Siamese was napping on her feet.
Something buzzed in the apartment. Laura glanced at the cell phone laying on the coffee table.
“Intercom. Right.” She still wasn’t completely used to her life back in civilization. Tossing her report onto the coffee table, she got up.
“What is it, Rick?” She held down the button on the intercom.
“Someone is down here to see you.” The doorman’s voice filled the apartment. Laura frowned.
“Not tonight, Rick. I’ve got a meeting at 7 tomorrow morning.”
“Are you sure? His name is Jack.”
“Jack?” Laura was suddenly intrigued. “Send him up.”
Laura took a few seconds to clean up the rest of the files that she had spread out. There was nothing she could do about her appearance. But Jack had seen her worse, right?
The doorbell rang, and Laura rushed to open it.
“Hi.” He looked good. Laura had to smile.
“Hi.” She stepped back. “You clean up nice.”
“Thanks. So do you.” He crossed into the apartment. “Wow, Laura. This is really something.”
“Something good, I hope?” Laura chuckled nervously. Jack nodded. He took in the white furniture and the white carpet.
“It’s very white. I like it. Whoa.” He looked down at the couch where the Siamese was glaring up at him. “Cat there.”
“That’s Simon.” Laura reached over to rub the cat’s head before shooing him away. “Don’t mind him.”
“Laura, we need to talk.” Jack finally said.
“My lawyer said he’d been in touch.” Laura looked at him. “Derrick pleaded guilty. There wasn’t much that he could do. There won’t be a trial. My father has a reward for you as well.”
“Laura—”
“It’ll come in handy, what with a new wife and all.”
“Laura.” Jack shook his head. “I’m not getting married.”
“What?” That surprised her. “Really? But you couldn’t wait to get back to her.”
“That was then.” Jack reached for her hand. “Laura, hell. I had this whole speech prepared but now I can’t say it. The moral of the story is that I love you. There isn’t anyone else that I want. I just want you. That’s all.”
Laura could only stare at him for a moment. Jack reached for her hand.
“Laura, say something. Say you love me. Say you hate me. Whatever. Just…say something.”
“I do love you.” She did. That was one hundred percent true. He was all she had been able to think about. “But I don’t want you to do anything that you’ll regret.”
“I won’t,” Jack murmured. He brought one hand up to stroke her cheek. “Laura, trust me. After what we went through, you’re all that I could ever want.”
Laura smiled faintly. She reached for him, pulling him to her. This was wonderful…and perfect. And all that she could want.
“Why don’t you stay with me for a few days?” Laura ran her fingers down his face. “See if you still feel that way?”
“I’ll still feel that way.” Jack dropped his lips to hers. “I love you, Laura.”
“I love you too, Jack.”
*****