J. Robb - Bump in The Night

Her voice grew sultry. „Maybe you’d like to show me just how talented those hands are.“

For the space of a heartbeat he stilled his movements. She could feel the warmth of his breath on the back of her neck. Could sense the way he was watching her while weighing her words.

When he finally spoke his words were clipped. „That’s a very tempting invitation, and one that’s hard to resist. But you’re exhausted. And you’ve just suffered a shock to the mind and soul. What you really need is sleep.“

She turned toward him. „I don’t sleep well alone. Maybe if I had company…“

„Lie here and I’ll cover you.“ He lifted the army blanket from the back of the sofa and unfolded it.

His rejection was more shocking than a slap. „You want me to sleep alone?“

He winked. „Doctor’s orders.“

With a sigh of annoyance she turned away, but not before he saw the look of pain in her eyes.

Very deliberately he drew the cover over her, allowing his hands to linger a fraction. Then he stood and crossed to the fireplace, where he set another log in place.

Wiping his hands on his pants, Josh stared into the fire and watched as flames began to lick along the bark until it erupted into a blaze.

He turned to glance at the figure on the sofa. Grace’s eyes were already closed; her breathing slow and easy.

It hadn’t been easy to refuse what she was offering. But it had been necessary. He’d recognized her need and would have been only too happy to pleasure her and himself. But he’d also sensed her vulnerability. Right now she was too devastated to think clearly. Quick, mindless sex might be enough to hold the pain at bay through the night, but in the morning, her heart would still be broken, her soul still shattered.

The heart and soul of Grace Marin didn’t need a bandage. What they needed was a miracle. And though he was beginning to care deeply about this haunted, lonely woman, he was fresh out of miracles.

Josh stood at the end of the dock, staring at the sky. It seemed almost colorless, neither blue nor gray, a total absence of clouds, as though an artist had stopped painting before the picture could be completed. Though the sun wouldn’t set for hours, the horizon was already beginning to pale and blur into the surrounding forest.

He studied the lake for any sign of a dancing light, but all he could see under the leaden sky was dark water.

What secrets did it hide?

In some small corner of his mind, the question nagged. What was happening here? Had he really seen a ghost, or had he allowed his imagination to make a fool of him? And what about Marty and the crew in the second plane? What could possibly take them this long to bring help? What of his mysterious passenger? Why had she chosen his plane? Why was there no sign of her remains? And now Wyatt Eagle and those letters from Grace’s mother. There were too many events to be considered mere coincidence. There was something eerie going on here, and he couldn’t seem to unravel the mystery. Still, he had to admit that he didn’t feel threatened in any way. In fact, he’d never felt so peaceful. In this place, in this simple, almost primitive cabin, he had the strangest sense that he’d come home.

Hearing a sound behind him he turned to see the big yellow dog trotting along the dock. Josh looked beyond him, but there was no trace of Wyatt.

He knelt down and scratched behind the dog’s ears. „Hello, Barnaby. Where’s your master?“

The dog’s tail thumped against the wooden dock.

„Don’t tell me you ran away.“ Standing, Josh peered across the space separating the cabin from the forest, expecting at any moment to see the old man stepping into the clearing.

When Wyatt didn’t appear, Josh turned toward the cabin. „Okay. I guess you just went for a stroll through the woods. Come on. Let’s see what there is to eat. You hungry, boy?“

As if in understanding the dog bounded ahead and stood waiting until Josh opened the door. Once inside Barnaby trotted over to the sofa and began licking Grace’s hand.

She awoke slowly. When she spied the dog, she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his neck. „Hello. You’re back.“ She sat up, shoving hair from her eyes. „I’m so glad, because I have so many questions…“

When she realized that Wyatt wasn’t there, her words trailed off.

She glanced at Josh. „I don’t understand. Why is Barnaby here without Wyatt?“

„My guess is that his dog just wanted a little adventure. I’m sure, after so much time in this forest, Wyatt doesn’t have any problem with Barnaby wandering off. He knows how to find his way home.“

She nodded. „I’m sure you’re right.“ She got to her feet. „I can’t believe I slept so soundly. I haven’t had this much sleep in a year.“ Seeing the way he was searching the cupboards she grinned. „Hungry? Again?“

„Yeah. But I thought I’d feed Barnaby first. I figure he must have worked up quite an appetite.“

„Why not give him the last of the fish, and then we’ll catch more for our supper.“

„Great idea.“ He heaped a bowl with the remains of their breakfast and set it on the floor.

At once the dog pounced on the food and devoured it. When he’d had his fill, Josh started toward the door. „Guess it’s time to drop our lines in the lake and see what we’ll catch for our own supper.“

„I’ll help.“ Grace pulled on a jacket and followed him.

When they stepped outside, the first thing they noticed was the change in temperature.

Josh grinned. „A few minutes ago, it was freezing out here. Now it’s positively balmy.“

„Another good thing about this place. If you don’t like the weather, stick around. It’s bound to change.“ Grace tossed aside her jacket and kicked off her boots before picking up one of the poles. For some unexplained reason, she felt as happy-go-lucky as a kid when school was out. It had to be that nap. She couldn’t recall the last time she’d felt this rested and relaxed. Whatever pain and humiliation she’d been feeling before was pushed aside. „Race you to the dock.“

Laughing, Josh hopped on one foot, then the other, disposing of his boots before snatching up the second pole and chasing after her. Barnaby joined in the fun, barking and running around them in circles. When they reached the end of the dock and cast their lines, the dog trotted up holding a stick in his mouth. He dropped it beside Josh.

„Oh, you want to play, do you?“ Josh picked up the stick and tossed it into the lake. At once Barnaby dove in and paddled furiously until he managed to retrieve the stick. Then he scrambled to shore, shook himself, and trotted the length of the dock to drop the stick beside Josh.

For nearly an hour they played the game. Each time, Josh would toss the stick as far as he could manage. Each time, Bamaby retrieved it and raced along the dock to play again. Finally, panting from his efforts, the dog lay beside Grace and began chewing on the stick.

Sweating, Josh tossed aside his shirt. „When I was a kid, I always wanted a dog like Barnaby. In my mind, I could see myself playing just that way.“

Trying not to stare at the ripple of muscle that sculpted his arms and shoulders, Grace nodded toward the bucket of water, where several fish were swimming. „At least one of us managed to bring home the bacon, or at least the fish, while you two were having all that fun.“

„Barnaby and I are in your debt. Now about all that work you’ve been doing…“ Without warning Josh scooped her up and strode to the very end of the dock. „What do you think, Barnaby? Should we let our lady have a turn at all that fun?“

In reply the dog’s tail thumped a steady tattoo on the dock.