Although, at least if she’dbeenAmelia Earhart, she’d be a pilot too. That would have given her some semblance of control over the situation.
What scared Mia more than anything, what hadalwaysscared her, was a lack of control.
“Here we go.” Romeo’s voice was tight with concentration and barely audible over the noise of the aircraft and the brutal pounding of the storm.
When the pontoons first touched the water, Mia was thrown forward against her chest strap. The next instant, the plane was airborne again, skipping to another wave.
Or at least that’s what she assumed was happening. She refused to open her eyes to check. All she had to rely on were her ears.
There was aboomfollowed by ahissas the pontoons touched off on another wave. Then silence as they glided through the air.Boom, hiss, silence! Boom, hiss, silence!
Over and over until eventually there were no moreboomsand only one long, drawn outhissas the plane skimmed across the water.
She opened her eyes to find they were taxing through Wayfarer Island’s lagoon, headed for the safety of the beach.
The rain was so heavy she couldn’t locate the house, but she could see the long wooden dock where the Second Wind, the catamaran owned by LT’s uncle John, was tied up and rocking heavily with the wave action. When she craned her head, she located Wayfarer II, the big salvage and research vessel anchored out beyond the reef.
We made it! We’re alive!
“Breathe, Mia.” Glancing over, she found Romeo watching her closely. “You always forget to breathe.”
Do I?She blew out a ragged breath and the stars dancing in front of her eyes disappeared.I guess I do.
When the plane’s pontoons kissed the sand, he throttled up, the engine revving as he parked the aircraft on the beach. Once he was satisfied, he pulled off his headset, hooking it around a peg above his side window, and cut the engine.
There was a moment of silence. Then Mia was out of her restraints and across the cockpit. Throwing her arms around his neck, she hugged him tight.
She’d been scared plenty of times in her life. But, aside from her grandmother, she couldn’t recall having ever had someone beside her whom she could count on and trust. And now that they were safe, she realized as frightened as she’d been, it would’ve been so much worse if it had been anyone but Romeo—gentle, generous, capable Romeo—behind the wheel of the plane.
“Thank you.” Her throat was clogged with relief and gratitude. “Thank you for not getting us killed.”
“No problem.” His wide palm patted her back a bit awkwardly. When she pushed away, she found his expression ill at ease.
“Oh geez!” She frowned. “Am I crushing your arm? Sorry!”
Hastily, she retook her seat and shoved her hair out of her face. The new cut allowed a heavy lock to cover her eye if she didn’t keep it tucked behind her ear.
“I, uh…” Romeo fiddled with a knob. He seemed anxious.
Weird. Why would he be anxiousnow? They were home. They were beached. They’d survived the storm and the landing!
“I think we should talk about last night,” he finally finished.
She furrowed her brow even as an image of him lying next to her in bed flittered through her brain. In life, Romeo was animated, his facial expressions ever mobile. But when he slept, his brow softened, his well-defined lips relaxed and fell open the slightest bit, and his face cleared of all thoughts and worries.
He was a handsome man when he was awake.
He was absolutely breathtaking when he was asleep.
For a long time after she’d finished the first chapter ofIn Darkness and Dreams, she’d studied him. Studied the heavy vein that ran up the side of his neck and pulsed thickly with every heartbeat. Studied his wide, capable hands as they lay clasped over his flat stomach. Studied his thick eyelashes as they cast dark shadows on his cheeks.
Romeo, she’d thought.It fits all his dashing, romantic beauty.
She’d been tempted to trace the line of his nose, to feel the little bump that marred the perfection of the bridge. But she’d satisfied herself with simply turning onto her side and letting the sound of his heavy, even breaths lull her into the deepest sleep she’d enjoyed in ages.
“Last night?” she asked now. “What about it?”
He ran a hand through his hair and cursed beneath his breath. She couldn’t hear precisely what he said. The rain pounded on the plane’s metal body, creating a dull roar.
