I'Ve Got You (3 page)

Kabe cut the engines back to less than half. ‘You're doing great,' he assured her. ‘I'll move to the bow and see where we're at.'

Peering at her surroundings, but unable to make out the terrain, Belle gave a troubled nod.

He slipped a hand under her chin and lifted her face to meet his eyes. ‘We made it,' he said enthusiastically, and then he kissed her cheek, lingering longer than necessary. Without thinking, Belle inclined her head for easier access. His lips on her skin felt better than she'd ever imagined. Stunned at his spontaneous affection,
and
at her reaction, she leant back and slowly blinked at him.

‘Back in a minute,' he murmured in her ear and, with a grin, he hurried to the bow carrying a large waterproof torch.

Right,
she thought dreamily,
Kabe's happy because he found us safe refuge
. And she should get a grip. No—no, it was more than that … she was sure of it … or was she wishful thinking?

He shone the light ahead, but its powerful beam reflected off the silvery rain. Beyond that, an inky blackness, the kind you could almost touch, surrounded them. Where the light shone down from the mast, rain glistened silver as it splattered and danced across the water.

‘Cut the engine―cut the engine!' he shouted.

Belle's heart leapt at his urgency. She peered down at the controls and quickly pulled the throttle back to neutral.

Panic filled her because the engine continued to burble. She sent a questioning look to Kabe who was making his hurried way back to the cockpit.

With a shudder, the yacht's keel hit a sand bar.

Belle braced herself, but couldn't stop her chest from slamming into the helm.

Kabe hit the deck.

The torch flew out of his hand, bounced across the deck several times before flying overboard into the black, swirling sea. It bobbed about casting its beam of light in all directions. All Belle could see was a grey wall of rain.

He scrambled up. ‘Damn, we've hit a sand bar. Are you right?' Kabe asked anxiously, peering at her with his broad hand resting on her shoulder.

Clutching her chest, Belle managed to suck air into her lungs, but it took a while before she could speak. ‘I'm … okay … You?'

‘Fine—fine,' he said, concerned. ‘I don't get it. I could have sworn we weren't that far into the inlet. Sorry, the tide's stronger than I thought. Okay, let's try and get her off.'

Kabe shifted the throttle to reverse and increased engine speed.

Belle peered over the stern, calling out encouragement, ‘Come on!' and watched the churning water below, hoping for a miracle.

After another try, Kabe sighed and switched off the engine. ‘We may have a slight problem.' He gave her a sheepish smile. ‘This is high tide and we're stuck.'

Belle's stomach dropped.

‘So what you're really saying is, high tide won't get us out of trouble.' Gripping the wheel she waited for an answer.

He paused and gave her a look. ‘No need to panic,' he finally said, rain splattering on his head, running down his face.

Belle forced a brave smile. ‘Who's panicking? Not me!'

‘Good, because help is never far away. Besides, we're safer here than out there,' he said, with a backward nod towards the storm raging on the other side of the island. ‘We can spend a comfortable night in the cabin and see what tomorrow brings.'

Damn, she was stuck on a yacht with Kabe and he didn't seem to find any of it a problem.

Silence pressed in on Belle as the wind stilled and rain eased. To take the pressure off wondering how much Kabe remembered, she took a huge step and asked, ‘So you remember me?'

‘Yeah, how could I forget sweet little Belle Fabrini?' he said, grinning and holding out his hand for her to shake.

Heat rose to her cheeks. She took his extended hand and wondered how sweet and how annoying had she been. ‘I hope I wasn't a pain in your arse.'

‘No, never a pain. Memorable, yes. I just hope you remember a few redeeming and unforgettable qualities about me.'

Oh sure, Belle had plenty of those, but she wasn't about to share how much she had agonised over him. She decided to stay on neutral territory. ‘You were a couple of grades ahead. I guess the strongest memory was when Luna Bay High beat Port Douglas High football team.' That was a blatant lie and she could tell by his quirky lopsided grin and laughing eyes that he knew it.

‘Okay, I had an enormous crush on you in high school,' she blurted, eyeing his broad shoulders, deep chest, narrow hips and muscles roping his entire beautiful physique. Then she snapped her eyes back to his amused ones. ‘You've grown,' she told him matter-of-factly.

When he stopped laughing, he said, ‘Not long after you left, I had a growth spurt.'

Wow … He remembers when I left.

Perhaps she shouldn't have said anything about having a crush. She never went to high school reunions, but she'd heard stories. Her grandfather, Mario, always kept her up-to-date with all the local goings-on. She quickly changed the subject. ‘You take tourists around the islands.' He still had a firm grip on her hand. She liked the feel of his strong hands, the cushions tough from hauling sails and taking care of rigging. Before she could stop herself, a nervous giggle escaped. ‘I used to have the biggest crush on you.' Oh shit, she'd already said that.

‘Yeah, I know. Word got around fast at school; hey, word gets around fast anywhere these days. How could I forget someone like you?' His free hand came up to wrap hers in both of his. ‘I've heard stories about you.' He looked at her, blue eyes soft, head slanted to the side.

‘Shit—really?'

‘Relax, nothing bad, Mario is very proud of you and your sister Lexie. Your grandfather is a terrific bloke
and
he spins a good yarn. We've spent times together fishing and sitting around the campfire. He told me stories about his great grandfather, settlers in the gold rush days.'

‘That's right.' She had to admit it felt good to share with Kabe. ‘They managed to find enough gold to buy Butterfly Island, and they've hung onto it all this time. Pop is the best. Lexie and I love him.'

The wind picked up and whipped through trees they could hear but couldn't see in the inky darkness.

Without warning, lightning crackled above them, directly followed by a boat-shuddering clap of thunder. Belle ducked and Kabe covered her with his body as the prolonged flash lit up the soaring terrain immediately to their left. Palms, hoop pines, scrub and ferns were lit with a blue, silvery light and Belle realised how close they were to the bank.

Kabe straightened, but held Belle to his side. Smiling, she let herself enjoy the moment.

A patter of fat heavy drops heralded what was to come. Moments later, she heard a roar. Drenching tropical rain was about to descend on them.

Another flash and she could see a grey wall edging closer. Before she could react, it was upon them in an unrelenting deluge, splattering noisily on the water, timber deck
and
her head.

‘Looks like we made it just in time.' Kabe spluttered as rain flattened his hair, ran into his mouth, and down his muscular body.

Belle
, she cautioned herself,
take your eyes off his abs
.

‘Get below!' he yelled. ‘Have to secure the boat.'

‘I'll help!' Belle made a move to go with him.

‘No! Get below and stay there,' he demanded. ‘You'll only be in the way,'

Damn he's pushy
. Belle raised her hands. ‘Okay—okay, I'm going.'

Once below, Belle struggled out of her life jacket and raincoat, relieved to have freedom of movement again.

She listened to his footfalls up and down the deck, and thumping noises that sounded hollow against the hull. Then all fell quiet.

Moments passed and except for the loud drumming of the rain, there was still silence. Belle waited for him to come through the hatch and down the short companionway. She flinched when a thump and then a heavy splash rocked the yacht. She couldn't stand the suspense any longer. What if the last thump was his head hitting the deck before he fell overboard, unconscious? He could be drowning right this minute while she obeyed his order to stay below.

Damn his stupid order
.

She hurriedly shrugged back into the raincoat, put the hood up over her head and then climbed the stairs. She came out under a canopy that he must have erected to protect the hatch and cabin below from the downpour. With fear in her heart, she peered through the rain. He wasn't anywhere astern. The torch was back on deck and a long pole with a net attached to its end lay nearby.
So that's what he was doing, chasing the torch, but for God's sake, where is he now?

Belle turned towards the bow and gasped. She slapped a hand over her mouth in case the shock of what she saw made her cry out. Eyes wide, she stared, taking it all in. The image before her would forever be indelibly burned in her mind. Unforgettable. The mast lamp shone down over Kabe's head, arms and shoulders, casting shadows and light on the flexing bands of muscle. Like a bronzed Michelangelo sculpture, his masculine form was a work of art all the way down to his beautiful arse, magnificent thighs, shapely calves and strong, manly feet.

Kabe stood with his back to her in the steady downpour.

Naked
.

Oh my, he is perfect
.

Even though her sane side demanded she move, Belle was spellbound, unable to do anything but watch. Her breasts swelled and nipples hardened, pushing against clothes that smelled like him, making the sweet spot between her thighs throb. Her gaze followed his masculine hands as they slicked over his skin and through his hair, washing the salt off his perfect, athletic physique.

Every inch of him … ripped … solid … beautiful.

Kabe turned his head and looked straight at her.

Their eyes locked and an understanding passed between them. She wasn't sure what it meant but knew it was profound. And then he smiled and it went all the way to his eyes. It pulled her out of her daze. Mortified, her hands flew up to cover her face. A wave of heat flashed through her body.

‘Oh, I'm so sorry, I—I didn't know!' Belle squeaked, turning away. It was only a brief moment, a mere glimpse. Okay, if she was honest, she had lingered, he was too impressive not to.

Kabe laughed. ‘Want to join me?'

Crikey, Belle
really
,
really
wanted to. ‘Um …' She was lost for words, and when she found her voice, she stuttered, ‘Oh hell … um no?'

Kabe stopped what he was doing. ‘You're not sure?'

‘Yes—yes, I'm sure.' She waved for him to stop asking.

‘Well, you've seen me now,' he teased, ‘so I guess it'd be pointless to get me a towel, for modesty's sake.'

‘No it wouldn't!' she said, eager to move away. ‘I'll go get one,' Belle insisted.

Even as her mind hollered,
Go,
she turned to peek over her shoulder. She met his eyes and he grinned at her while he grabbed his shorts off the deck. What was the matter with her? She should never have done that.

Oh God, his front was even more impressive than his back.

Bare feet slapped on the wet deck as he came towards her. ‘It's okay,' he said, amused, ‘I'm decent. You can turn around now.'

But Belle didn't dare. Gripping the helm, she stared out past the stern, into the blackness.

‘Ahh
—that was great,' he said. ‘There's nothing like rinsing off crusty sea salt under a downpour of sweet rain.' He paused. ‘You should do the same before you turn in … for comfort's sake.'

‘Another time perhaps,' Belle managed to say.

‘Suit yourself. Excuse me.'

Belle held her breath as Kabe squeezed past; his body brushed against her back and bottom, then his large frame eased through the hatch. His hands squeaked as they slid down the railing then his feet thumped on the deck below, and she let go a heavy, relieved sigh.

He called up from below, ‘You can turn around now,' the humour in his voice unmistakable.

She stood on the deck wondering what to do with herself. As if reading her mind, he called up, ‘There's a shower down here if you need privacy! But hey, you're safe, I'm no Peeping Tom, honest.'

Ooh, that wasn't … I wasn't …
Belle thought, then yelled back down the open hatch. ‘Neither am I, if that's what you're implying. You didn't warn me! I came up to see that you weren't lying face down in the water turning an unattractive shade of blue! And …' the image renewed itself in her mind, ‘there you were!' She sighed, silently adding,
and I couldn't take my eyes off you.

Belle heard him laugh, even over the rain.

‘I'm sorry I took longer than expected, didn't mean to worry you,' he said. ‘Look, please yourself. I'm going to rustle up some food, I'm starving.'

‘Yes,' Belle muttered to herself, ‘I
was
worried about you.'

She was sweaty and itchy under the plastic raincoat.
Oh what the heck, this is horrible. Get naked and get wet.

She fumbled and struggled to get his borrowed clothes off, while keeping the yellow raincoat draped over her shoulders, then called down to him, ‘Excuse me!'

* * *

Knife in one hand, carrot in the other, Kabe stepped away from the galley and looked up through the hatch. ‘Yeah?' he said.

Belle stooped over to look down at him, clutching the raincoat tightly around her. He held back on a chuckle, and then she called out, ‘Catch,' and threw him the borrowed clothes.

‘Oh I see,' he said, then mumbled, ‘That's a first, a woman throwing clothes at me.' He stared at the bundle sitting in a puddle of water at the bottom of the steps. ‘Okay, naked under the raincoat,' popped out of his mouth. ‘Shit,' he grated and glanced up to see if she was still there and had heard him.
Not there, good.
He turned back to his cooking. ‘Do not freak the girl out,' he told himself.