Damn.Relationships sucked.I had to stop doing this to myself.
Chapter Nine
Ryland
The captain of the cutter shook his head, gesturing vaguely up at the sky.“Someone up there must have it in for you.A tree falls on your boat, and your lady friend’s kayak -- which isn’t anywhere near it -- gets trashed by someone or something.”
I grimaced.“Wasn’t the best day I’ve ever had.”
“You didn’t see who trashed the kayak?”The captain looked sympathetic.“It could have been the bear, you know.”
“Good point.Seems more likely than a bunch of rowdy kids bent on vandalism cruising way out here.”I relaxed, leaning on the rail of the cutter while I chatted to the crew.Kimberly had chosen to stay inside the cabin, pleading cold, and the crew had immediately dug a blanket out of somewhere for her to wrap around herself.
She’d frozen me out ever since I’d asked her not to mention the poachers.I could kick myself for the way I’d handled that.I’d been so relaxed around her, so sure of the weirdly powerful connection I thought I felt between us.I hadn’t considered she’d take it so badly.
I sucked at the romance thing.
When we docked, I’d have to call in a report to the guys and get someone else to take over surveillance of the poachers so I could straighten things out with her.I might need them to send Joker up here to deal with my arm too, if it looked like it was getting infected.
I could count on Joker to take care of it without filing any reports.He’d been a medic in my platoon when we were both in the SEALs, and compared to some of the trauma he’d had to deal with, an arrow wound on my arm would be minor.He’d moved to Georgia after he left the service, joining a bunch of other ex-SEALs in the Riptide MC.The Brotherhood called on them when we needed more muscle and less official involvement.Sometimes, vigilante justice was the only answer.
I remembered the feel of Kimberly in my arms.We’d fit together naturally, anticipating the other’s needs before they said a word.I’d never felt this way about a woman before, and I wanted to explore the relationship further.I’d never been what you’d call a romantic, but maybe there was something to the “one woman that makes you feel whole” theory.Until I found out for sure, I had no intention of letting Kimberly get away.She could deny it all she wanted, but there was something worth pursuing between the two of us.Besides, the dog liked me.That had to be a point in my favor.
My stepsister Sasha lived on acreage just outside of Port Heddy.It had been a while since I’d visited but I was sure she’d let me crash at her place while I pursued this thing between Kimberly and I.Sasha would be tickled to find out a woman had actually managed to snag my interest.
If Kimberly thought I was going to let her walk out of my life without a fight, she had a lot to learn about me.She wasn’t the only stubborn one in this relationship.
Relationship.
It sounded odd to call it that.We’d known each other for less than twenty-four hours, and if you’d asked me before today if I believed in love at first sight I would have laughed.Now, though, I wasn’t so sure.I’d never been in love before, so I didn’t know how it felt, but there was a definite attraction between the two of us, an explosive, no holds barred reaction I wanted to explore.Strike that, Ineededto explore it.
I didn’t know her address, but I knew she worked as a conservation officer out of the office in Port Heddy and volunteered at the animal rescue there.I’d find her.How many rescues could there be in one middling-sized town on the Pacific Coast?
If that failed, I could have Jacques see if he could track her down online.He was a whiz at that kind of shit, and she’d promised to send those pictures of the poachers to the guys at headquarters once we were back within cell phone range.I’d typed the address into her phone for her when we’d retrieved it.Luckily the bushes had softened the fall, and it still worked.
I’d find her, all right.
The captain wandered out on deck and came to lean on the railings beside me.“We filed a report with the local RCMP before we left to come get you, and they’re going to want to talk to you and your woman when we get back to port.It’s just a formality, really.They’ll want to see some ID so they can close out their paperwork.World runs on paperwork these days, you know.I radioed in to let them know we’d retrieved you and that in our estimation your kayak was likely sabotaged by a bear looking for a free meal.The tree falling on the boat was just bad luck.”
I nodded.“Thanks.Kimberly and I appreciate it.”
The captain gave me a speculative look.“Your lady friend doesn’t seem too happy with you right now.She blame you for getting stranded on that rock overnight?”
I winced.“No.I just said something dumb this morning and she took offense.”
“I hear you.Been married for twelve years myself.”The sympathy in the captain’s voice was nice.“Women can be a strange bunch.No telling what will set them off.”
I snorted.“You got that right.I’m sure she’ll get over it once she has a bit of time to cool off.”
The captain stood up and slapped me on the back.“Good luck with that.At least the dog still likes you.”
I laughed, reaching down to ruffle the fur behind Diego’s ears.“Dogs are a lot easier to understand than women some days.”
The ocean was calm, and the cutter made good time, chugging into the marina well before lunch time.Kimberly managed to rally herself by the time we docked, standing at my side while the crew secured the boat.To an onlooker, we would look like a couple on their way back from an unfortunate outing.Kimberly still had the blanket wrapped around her shoulders.I wondered if she was unconsciously using it as a shield against me.
I wanted to wrap my arms around her and kiss the hurt out of those gorgeous dark eyes of hers.Damn my lack of experience when it came to women.I’d never been close to one before.Sure, I’d had my share of casual flings, but the women had all known from the outset it was all about sex.There were no emotional ties, and they’d been good with that.
Kimberly was a whole different ball game.It was all about the strange emotional connection I’d felt when I regained consciousness and found her staring down at me with concern written all over her face.
