Touched by Death (19 page)

She sighed. All that casual muscle and grace. Like
a lion roaming his territory. He knew how he looked, was proud of it,
and didn't need to show off to be appreciated.

"Hi." Dane stopped in front in her, a warm
welcome on his face. His eyes ran appreciatively over her.

Yeah, he was good for her self-confidence. "Hi.
You didn't tell me what we were doing or where we're going and I only
have a limited wardrobe with me, so––"

"You look great. Come on. Let's get out of here."
He put an arm over her shoulder and walked her out to his truck. "We're
heading to a place my brother told me about."

"Perfect. I haven't been anywhere here so it
will be new and different."

"Good. I like an adventurous spirit." He
opened the truck door and helped her up to the passenger seat. After
walking around to the other side, he hopped in and started the engine.

She buckled her seat belt and settled in for the drive.
"Adventure is nice. Life has been a little depressing lately."

"We can fix that. That's one thing I learned
in my time here. Every day is a gift. Haiti has been through so much
that sometimes we all need to work a little harder to find the good
in the bad."

Jade glanced at him. He drove the same as he did everything
else. Capably and with restrained power.
Sexy.

She sighed. Lord she had it bad. When she'd decided
to move on with her life, she'd done so with a vengeance.

"Problems?" He frowned, glancing over at
her quickly.

"No. I've been thinking the same thing about
Haiti. Everyone here has been through so much; it makes our lives back
home look easy in comparison. It's been good coming back here. I needed
to see the progress."

"Coming back? Were you here before?" He
turned the truck around the next corner and headed for one of the main
roads.

"I was here in the aftermath of the big earthquake.
Did a three-week stint with a mortuary team then. It was brutal. Emotionally
and physically."

He whistled softly and gunned the truck forward. "Then
let's show you some of the better sights of Haiti and replace those
more painful memories with beautiful ones. Help you to put these old
memories where they belong – in the past."

T
he quiet dignity of the small restaurant surprised
her. As if it were proud to be standing after all these years. Old,
distinguished and family run, the bulk of the seating area was under
the open sky on decks of different levels. Jade and Dane sat on an outside
edge, surrounded by brightly colored hanging lanterns. Several other
tables full of diners were discreetly placed throughout. Small screens
offered privacy while allowing almost everyone a view of the sleepy
harbor. The tang of salty ocean mixed with the heavenly smells coming
from the kitchen.

Beaches were everywhere here – gorgeous blue
water, smooth sand, with the locals working their boats from one side
of the bay to the other. Not the typical resort beach but a working,
living, breathing part-of-the-people beach.

Now that work had settled into a routine, Jade would
like to take a day off every weekend and explore. Going out on a date,
like tonight, was a wonderful way to start the new plan.

While they watched, the sky slipped through a rainbow
of colors. The sunset shifted and changed so quickly, she couldn't take
her eyes off it. "I've never seen anything so beautiful,"
she murmured. Warmth wrapped around her heart. She wasn't lying. Right
now everything felt perfect. She smiled, turned her face up to the evening
sky and closed her eyes.

"Neither have I."

Startled, she turned to face him. "Sorry?"

"I haven't seen anything so beautiful either."

Only he was staring right at her. Heat swamped her
cheeks as she blushed like a schoolgirl. "Wow, thanks," she
gave a light laugh. "I'm not used to flattery."

"And why is that?" His curious gaze studied
her face. "You're seriously gorgeous, you know."

Flustered from his sincerity, she answered with a
soft smile, "Thank you again. I haven't been out much in the last
year and I've forgotten how to accept a compliment."

"Nursing a broken heart?"

Her fingers tapped a tempo on the table as she tried
to sort out the best thing to say. "Not quite. Started that way.
Now it's a matter of not allowing my history to dictate my future. In
other words, not to see my ex and his deficits in every man."

"Ouch." He winced.

A giggle escaped. She clapped a hand over her mouth,
staring at him in astonishment. He gave a shout of laughter. When her
merriment calmed, she said, "Sorry, I was trying to be honest,
only maybe that was too honest. I'm not judging you, and if I were,
you've already got him beat by a mile. So, let's change the subject;
this evening is too nice to ruin."

Deep blue eyes gazed into hers. He reached across
the table and clasped her hand in his. "Nicely put. And you're
right. It is too nice an evening for such conversation. However, I am
sorry about the bad experiences."

"Everyone has them." She smiled down at
their hands. His so rough and strong, working man's hands. Hers so soft
and small – she lived in surgical gloves. Yet, their hands fit together
like interlocking puzzle pieces. She stroked the long line of his thumb,
loving the instant response as her hand was captured between both of
his.

"I don't know… My life hasn't been filled with
drama or heartache."

His tone held no suggestion of anything dark in his
history. No censorship either. She searched his gaze. "No bad breakups?"

Dane frowned and stared down at his plate, his fingers
clenching automatically.

Her fingers, of their own volition, squeezed back.
She didn't want him to be alone with bad memories. Like she had been.
"Yeah. That's what I mean."

He looked at her in surprise. Then understanding lit
the depths of his gaze. "Not me. My brother. He's the reason for
whatever you were assuming. He's been through some seriously bad periods
in his life. I thought he'd found better times."

"John?"

Dane nodded. "There're just the two of us left,
so I tend to keep an eye on him, although he's an adult." Dane
shrugged self-consciously. "Family. You can't let them wallow."

Jade laughed, a warm smile blooming across her face.
"Isn't that the truth? You sound just like my brother Duncan. I'm
here because of him. He convinced me to come back."

"It was
that
bad?" Dane searched her face. "John won't talk
about it much."

"It's not easy. Duncan wanted me to spew everything
too. Only talking about it actually made it all come alive again. I
had to relive stuff I'd rather not see again."

He leaned back, though his index finger gently stroked
the back of her hand. "I'm sorry. Sorry that so many people suffered.
I never considered the impact on volunteers and rescuers." He stared
off at the sunset. From the look on his face, Jade didn't think he was
enjoying Mother Nature's artwork. "John has slipped back to someone
I barely recognize. The things he's doing or, rather, not doing..."
He shook his head. "It's hard to stand by and let life happen to
those you love."

"Duncan basically said the same thing."
She studied their interlocking fingers. That felt right somehow. She
hadn't expected to feel anything in Haiti except pain and anguish. She'd
been wrong and Duncan had been right. She'd have to remember to tell
him that. "I'll call my brother tomorrow and tell him that he's
the best brother anyone could have."

Dane chuckled. "See, that's the difference between
having a little sister versus a little brother. John would die before
saying something like that."

"That's a guy thing. Duncan pushed and prodded
me for months now. He deserves to know that I'm healing."

"Absolutely. What does he do?"

She gave him a quick rundown, turning the conversation
to more general issues. Several hours later, after they'd worked through
many topics, dinner and dessert, Dane looked at her and asked, "Are
you wanting to go back to the hotel now or would you like to walk down
by the water?" He pointed out a path that led to the beach via
the side of the restaurant.

"Oh perfect. I'd love to go for a walk. I'm in
no hurry to return."

She waited by the path as he took care of the bill.
When he walked over, he slipped an arm around her shoulders, and led
her down to the water's edge.

Tonight was about magic. About possibilities. About
the future.

They spent a sensual hour in the moonlight, with water
lapping at the shore as they walked close together, discussing anything
that came up. By the time they came to a small wooden bench, Jade realized
how much she'd learned about Dane and his character. The more she learned,
the more she liked and respected the man. He reminded her of Duncan.

She sat down on the bench, tugging him down beside
him. "I'm having a wonderful evening tonight. I know we have to
leave soon, but this is truly special."

He grinned. "Glad you've enjoyed it. Maybe we
can do it again."

"Absolutely." She'd love to repeat this
evening – several times if possible.

"If you don't have any plans for tomorrow, maybe
we can go for coffee or take a walk. Something simple."

She smiled. "That would be lovely."

Parked outside her hotel twenty minutes later, Dane
studied her fine-boned features, the delicate blush of color. She didn't
have the same suntan that most of the other team members sported. He
loved the relaxed peacefulness he read on her face tonight.

Jade often looked like life was a serious business…that
reaped few rewards. He wanted to show her how much fun life could be.
How good relationships could be. How good the two of them could be.
If she gave them…
him
, a chance.

But he didn't want to scare her off.

Somewhere in all of this he needed her to feel comfortable
with him. For her to move at her own pace. For her to be in control.

He leaned back, turned slightly to face her and opened
his arms, waiting to see what she would do.

When she smiled shyly, it made his heart melt.

She slid across the bench seat and snuggled close.
She grasped both sides of his face then stretched up, slowly oh so slowly
and put her lips against his. In a kiss so gentle, so special, it almost
broke his heart. Gently stroking her arms with one hand, the other moved
soothingly down and across her back and tucked her closer against his
chest.

He felt a shiver slide down her back so drew her in
closer, warming her slowly beneath his caressing hands. He wanted her.
Had wanted her since he first laid eyes on her. And a little cuddling
in the truck was a great prelude, except he was no untried kid. He wanted
so much more. And not in the truck like two crazed teenagers. She deserved
a soft bed and all the trappings that were possible for their first
night together. And him? Well he deserved time. Time to savor her, to
explore, to enjoy. He moaned softly against her lips.

She pulled back slightly and smiled at him. "That's
your good night's kiss."

He smiled slowly, wickedly. "Good, then here's
your
good
night's kiss," he whispered, caressing her lips with his breath.
His warm hands slid up her back to comb through her silky hair, anchoring
her in place. Then he lowered his head. He didn't ravish; he didn't
take. He coaxed, soothed and enticed. When she sagged against him, he
pulled back slightly, dropping his forehead against hers. "If you're
going in alone, you need to go now."

She smiled and nuzzled against his face and chin.
"And if I don't?"

"Then you'll be going in with company. And I
don't want to cheat either of us by rushing you at this stage. If you
need time, I'm happy to move slowly, well as slowly as we can go when
we're short on time." He laughed self consciously.

She laughed, a soft joyous sound that enchanted even
as he questioned it.

"What part was funny?"

"Slightly slow is good, but I'm finding I'm much
less affected than I thought I was." She dropped a kiss on his
chin.

His breath caught.
Damn.
Images ripped through his mind. He almost groaned aloud.
"Meaning?"

"I might be okay with quick, but there is this
voice of reason telling me to slow down slightly." She retreated,
a regretful smile on her face. "Have to say, I'm not comfortable
with sex on the first date. No matter how tempting.

He kissed the tip of her nose before she retreated
out of reach. "Tempting? So how about dinner tomorrow? The next
day? The day after?

Her gaze widened.

He rushed into speech. "I want to spend as much
time with you as I can. To find out what we have. So think about me.
About there being an us. And if a weekend away appeals, give me some
dates that work and I'll set it up."

She laughed. "So I get to decide?"

"Absolutely. I can get away any weekend. Your
schedule is a little different. I'm serious about seeing you after we
return to the U.S. too, but I'd like to spend as much time as we can
together here."

Dane's cell rang, interrupting the intimate moment.
Jade slid back slightly to give him room. She'd been snuggled tightly
against him and he hated the immediate coolness that drifted into the
space. He wanted to tug her back, but the moment was lost.

He pulled his phone out, wondered at the number on
display and answered it.

Dane twisted on the front seat of his truck and clicked
a button on his phone. "I've just put it on speaker. It's Bruce.
Something's wrong."

Jade's eyes widened and she cast a glance out her
window toward the hotel. "Bruce, what's up?"

"Have you seen or heard from Dr. Mike?"