Falling for a Stranger (11 page)

"Like you. It sounds like you were close."

"We were. My grandfather was my anchor. My parents didn't get along well. I'm not even sure why they got married in the first place. All I remember is them fighting. They got divorced when I was eleven. And the next year my grandfather died. That time was a little dark for me," she said, using his own words.

"But you still continued to sail after your grandfather passed."

"Yes, I joined some junior sailing clubs so I could get back on the water. No one else in the family had a boat, so that was my only option."

"And now you sail for a living. Not a bad job."

"I'm lucky to be able to do what I love. It doesn't pay a lot, but enough."

"Do you still bartend?"

"Sometimes. What about you, Drew? When did you decide to become a pilot?"

"When I was fourteen. My dad's friend took us up in his small plane, and I was hooked. The first time I took the controls, I knew that's what I wanted to do for the rest of my life."

"And did you always have your eye on flying for the Navy?"

He smiled. "My first goal was to fly the fastest planes I could find. Fighter jets seemed the best option. But once I got in the Navy, there was more of a need for helicopter pilots so I changed directions. I liked the fact that helicopters require the pilot to really fly them, and the stealth factor was appealing. I could set down in remote locations. I could go where no one else could."

"You have an adventurous spirit."

"Yeah, kind of like you."

"Did you ever get shot at?"

"Lots of times. I only had one hard landing."

She gave him a knowing smile. "Is your idea of a hard landing equal to someone else's idea of a crash?"

"Possibly," he conceded.

"When you left the Navy, did you ever consider a civilian job, maybe flying tourists around Hawaii or something? You had certainly already done your duty."

He shook his head. "Way too boring. The Coast Guard is perfect for me. And it's a family tradition to serve the community or the world. My great-grandfather started it, and just about everyone since then has taken up a career that gives back in some way."

"That sounds like a burden."

"More of a guidepost. At least that's the way I looked at it. Some of my siblings have a different take. Did you grow up with any family traditions?"

"Not really. Although my grandfather used to tell me that a pessimistic person complains about the wind, an optimist expects it to change, and the realist simply adjusts the sails. I think he stole the quote from someone, but it's the way he lived his life. And I try to live my life that way, too." She paused for a moment, giving him a long, thoughtful look. "Can I ask you something, Drew?"

"Shoot."

"Why are you so interested in me? Is it because I'm not interested in you? Do you want what you can't have? Is it the chase that makes me more exciting?"

He gazed back at her with a thoughtful expression. "First of all, I don't believe for a second that you're not interested in me. I know when a woman is attracted to me, even when she's pretending not to be."

"That's a cocky statement."

"It's true. And I don't need a chase to find you exciting, although I must admit I'm both intrigued and a little wary."

"You should be less intrigued and more wary," she said dryly. "Look, Drew, I had a great time with you on the island. But it's over. I'm not that woman anymore. And I can't be connected to you."

"Why don't you just let me help you, Ria?"

"I can't." She took a breath. "I'm not the only one involved and the secrets don't belong just to me." Glancing down at her watch, she added. "Your hour is up. Time to go back."

"We can't leave it like that."

"We have to. I know you're curious and frustrated and probably pissed off, but you have to let this go. You have to let
me
go."

A rough wave of disappointment ran through him. He wasn't ready to say goodbye yet, but she was already on her feet, adjusting the sails. "Let's see if we can find some of that speed you love so much," she said, giving him a bright smile that barely covered what looked like sadness. She might be determined to be alone and on her own, but she wasn't feeling that great about her decision. And neither was he. In fact, he was nowhere near done with her, but he'd save that statement for a later date.

The last thing he wanted her to do was run again. So he'd be patient, bide his time, and wait for his opportunity.

As they sailed back to the harbor, Ria let the boat run at full speed, and Drew reveled in the ride. All too soon, they were back at the dock.

After securing the lines, Ria held out her hand. "My necklace, please."

Drew pulled a baggie out of his pocket and handed it to her. As she took out her necklace, her eyes filled with moisture, and her hand trembled. "I never thought I'd see this again."

He was surprised by the show of emotion. "That necklace must mean a lot to you."

She nodded. "My sister gave it to me a very long time ago."

His nerves tingled. "You never mentioned a sister before."

Ria stiffened, as she realized she'd given something away. "It doesn't matter. Will you help me put it on?"

He took the necklace as she turned around and lifted her hair.

As he stepped behind her, the curve of her neck, the wisp of hairs around the sweet shell of her ear called out to him. He wanted to put his mouth on that soft skin and bury his face in her hair, and pull her body up hard against his, so she could feel how much he wanted her.

"Drew," she said. "Are you having trouble with the clasp?"

He was having trouble all right, but it had nothing to do with the clasp.

He focused on getting the necklace hooked. Then he forced himself to step away. She turned to face him.

"Thanks for bringing it back, Drew."

He stared into her eyes. "I think I was meant to see you again, Ria."

"You don't believe in fate."

"Maybe I do. Do you know the odds of me being the one to find that necklace in the water? It has to be millions to one."

She licked her lips. "I'm just glad you found it."

Her cell phone rang, and she frowned, then pulled the phone out of the pocket of her jacket. Fear ran across her face as she saw the number. "Megan? Is something wrong? Where are you?" She paused. "You have to stop crying. I can't understand you." Another beat. "Okay, I'm coming right now. I'll be there as fast as I can." She hung up the phone. "I have to go."

"What's happened?" he asked, concerned by the worried light in her eyes.

"I have to go to the hospital."

He didn't like the sound of that. "I'll take you."

"No, I can get a cab," she said, as she hopped off the boat and walked briskly down the block.

"On a Sunday—in this area? It will take you a half hour. My car is in the lot."

She hesitated, her desire to get to the hospital obviously warring with her reluctance to spend any more time with him. Finally, she nodded. "All right. Thank you."

"No problem."

As they walked toward his car, he couldn't help thinking that maybe fate wasn't ready for them to say goodbye, either.

Chapter Eight

Ria tried to stay calm on the trip to the hospital. Megan was not in the hospital because of the danger that constantly surrounded them. In between sobs, she'd mentioned something about a softball hitting her in the face. So this incident was not life-threatening, nor connected to their past. It was just an accident.

Despite the mental pep talk, her heart was still beating too fast. Megan was her responsibility. She was supposed to protect her. She never should have let Megan go to the park with her friends, or at the very least she should have told her to stay in the outfield. Megan was not the most athletic kid on the planet.

But she was always saying no to her niece, so sometimes she forced herself to say yes just to avoid complete and utter rebellion.

"Do you know what happened?" Drew asked as he stopped at a light.

She shook her head.

"Is it someone in your family?"

She nodded, hoping the questions would stop there.

"Is it serious?" he asked.

"I don't think so," she said shortly. "I don't know. I just want to get there."

"We're almost there."

A few minutes later, he pulled into the circular lot by the emergency room of San Francisco General Hospital. "I'll wait for you."

"Don't," she said, her hand on the door. "It could be hours. You know how emergency rooms are. I'll get a cab." She stepped out onto the sidewalk. "Thanks," she added. Then she shut the door and hurried through double doors of the hospital.

Ria checked in with the nurse, who quickly found Megan's name on the computer and had someone take her to examination room three. When she walked into the small room, Megan was sitting up on the table, an ice pack to her face. There was blood on her shirt and jeans, but Ria didn't see any other injuries.

When Megan saw Ria, she burst into tears. She lowered the ice pack to reveal an incredibly swollen nose and two cheeks that were purple and black.

"My life is over," Megan said dramatically.

Ria put her arm around her niece's shoulders and patted her back. "It's going to be okay."

"It's not going to be okay," Megan wailed. "I look like a freak."

Ria stepped back. "It's not so bad," she said, trying to downplay the swelling. "What happened?"

"I was playing softball and the second baseman had to leave early, and they asked if I could do it. And I said yes," Megan ended her explanation with a sob. "I tried to field a grounder but it bounced off the dirt and hit me in the face. I think my nose is broken."

"Actually, there's just a small fracture," the doctor said as he came into the room holding an x-ray. He gave Megan an encouraging smile. "There's no displacement, so while your nose will be painful and swollen for a few days, I expect you to make a full recovery."

Ria felt an enormous rush of relief. "That's good news. Can I take her home?"

"Yes. The nurse will be in soon with the discharge papers. I gave Megan some pain medication, so she should take it easy for the rest of the day."

"I'll make sure of that," Ria promised.

He paused at the door and glanced back at Megan. "Maybe stick to the outfield in the future."

"I'm never playing again," Megan vowed as the doctor left the room.

"See, it's going to be all right," Ria said.

There was nothing but disbelief in Megan's eyes. "By next Saturday night? There's no way Eric is going to want to take me to the prom looking like a hideous monster."

"You are not a monster, and you'll look a lot better by then," she said, hoping that was the truth.

"I hate my life," Megan wailed.

Ria wasn't too thrilled with their lives, either, but at least the injury wasn't serious.

The nurse came in a moment later. Ria signed the appropriate forms, knowing with each signature that she was creating a paper trail, but that trail was tied to their new identities, so hopefully it wouldn't be an issue.

"Let's get you home," she said after the nurse left.

"I can't get on the bus like this. Everyone will look at me."

"We'll take a cab," she said. But as they walked out of the examining room into the waiting room, she saw Drew standing by the door. Her step faltered. She'd hoped he'd gone home.

Drew came forward, concern in his eyes.

"Everything okay?" he asked, his glance moving from her to Megan. "Hi," he said. "I'm Drew Callaway. I'm a friend of—Tory's," he said, stumbling over her name.

Ria appreciated the effort, even though the last thing she wanted to do was introduce him to Megan.

Megan shot him a suspicious look, and why wouldn't she? Megan knew better than anyone that Ria didn't have any friends.

"He is a friend," she told Megan. "This is my sister, Megan, Drew."

"Who's this?" Megan asked, a suspicious note in her voice.

"Your sister?" Drew echoed in surprise, shooting her a quick look. "The one who gave you the necklace?"

"No," she said quickly. "I need to get Megan home."

"That's why I waited. I thought you might need a ride." He glanced at Megan. "It's nice to meet you."

"Is it?" Megan asked grumpily. "I look like a freak."

"Can I ask what happened?" he questioned tentatively.

"Megan took a softball off her nose," Ria explained.

An understanding gleam entered his eyes. "I've been there. I took a hardball off my face in the tenth grade. Last time I was put at shortstop." He cocked his head to the right as he considered her injury. "Yours doesn't look so bad."

"How long did it take for the swelling to go down when you got hit?" Megan asked.

"About three days. I had a shiner for a while though."

"Great, that's just great," Megan said with a sigh.

"My car is not too far away," Drew said. "Shall I bring it around or—"

"We can walk," Ria said, wanting to get away from the hospital and home as quickly as possible.

She got into the front seat of Drew's SUV while Megan climbed into the back. When Drew asked for her address, Ria had another small panic attack. She would have preferred that he not know where they lived, but that was impossible now. She gave him the address and Drew started the engine.

"So you're a softball player, huh?" Drew asked Megan as he drove out of the parking lot.

"Not really. This was only my second time. Last time I was in the outfield. I should have stayed there," Megan said. "But Shari had to leave early and there was no one else who wanted to take her spot. I thought I could do it. Mom used to play softball, and she was really good."

Ria stiffened at the reference to Megan's mother. So far, Megan hadn't given away anything, but who knew what was coming next? The doctor had given her niece painkillers that had obviously loosened her already loose tongue. "Just rest," she told Megan. "Talking won't help the swelling."

Drew shot her a sideways glance that told her he knew exactly why she didn't want Megan to talk any more.

She ignored him and glanced out the window. It was after six now, and dusk had settled over the city, a beautiful purple pink glow along the skyline. It would be pretty out on the water now, the stillness of twilight.