He dropped the fishing pole and marched to where she was standing. “I will not risk your life or safety. It is too dangerous. You will stay here.”
She stilled and looked up at him, fear in her eyes. He had expected defiance since Tempest did not like to be told what to do. Instead, he read capitulation.
“I will remain here,” she offered quietly. “But I will still worry.”
He relaxed at her statement. “You should not need to. I have done this dozens of times since I arrived. If I keep to the same routine, there will be no concerns.”
She reached out for his hand. “Still, please be careful.”
In that moment he wanted nothing more than to kiss her, but now was not the time. “I will.”
“I shall leave you.” She then slipped away and Rhys continued fishing until he had enough to feed everyone and planned how he would gather everything he needed and how to bring it all back.
Tempest did not only pace in the hut, and on the terrasse, but all around the house as well. She had tried to sleep but each time she lay down, her mind filled with images of Rhys being captured or shot, and she finally gave up.
As dawn began to break, she finally made coffee, knowing that he would want some when he returned…if he returned.
He must because she wasn’t certain what they would do. She could not go into the town for eggs and bread, though she could learn to fish…but those were minor concerns. They needed Rhys to help protect them.
At that thought, she stopped and sank down on the steps of the terrasse.
She did need him. They all needed him, but it wasn’t just for safety, she rather liked him as well.
He had almost kissed her.
Why hadn’t he?
Oh, that was easy enough to answer. She’d been an unpleasant shrew since he arrived and found them here. She’d kicked him out of his house and took away his rum, all in the protection of her sisters when he really had done nothing that could harm them. He had actually saved them, twice, and he helped set up a place for them to hide if necessary and she had not even thanked him.
She would do that, just as soon as he returned.
Without him, they would have likely starved by now too.
Tempest stood again, too agitated to sleep.
“Oh, where is he?” she asked out to the ocean, not expecting an answer.
“Right behind you.”
Tempest whipped around, so happy to see Rhys back and uninjured that she did not pause to think about her actions and rushed forward and wrapped her arms about him. “I am so relieved that you are back.”
Rhys chuckled and pulled her close. “If I knew that this would be the reception that I would receive, I would have left days ago.”
She pulled back and looked at him. “That is not funny. I was worried and imagined the most horrible things happening to you.”
“They did not and all is well,” he assured her, his green eyes warm, and his smile calming. “And I brought eggs and bread and…
Food that they had needed and wanted. Tempest let go of him and went in search of the food.
“I rather liked what we were just doing.”
Her face heated. She’d never been impulsive with her affection. In fact, she usually did not show affection at all. It was not proper.
“Yes, well, I was overcome,” she offered as an excuse as she picked up the crate of food.
“I really have no objection,” he said.
Tempest said nothing because she was rather embarrassed, but she had liked having her arms around him, especially when he drew her close. It had been instant and automatic.
