I'Ve Got You (7 page)

Kabe chuckled, took his cap off and rubbed his head with his fingertips, then put the cap back on, using the visor to adjust it until satisfied that it was comfortable. Belle had seen this male action countless times, but had never taken any real notice of it, until now. When Kabe did it—it looked hot. She couldn't stop the giggle that popped out.

‘Going to let me in on the joke?'

‘You wouldn't understand … It's a girl thing.'

‘Yeah?'

His cap may have shaded his eyes, that didn't mean she missed the wicked gleam in them. He looked relaxed, casual, as he rested an elbow on a raised knee, chin cupped in the palm of his hand. She hoped his thoughts about her were similar to those she had about him. Without thinking, Belle gave him a slow seductive smile. He cleared his throat, adjusted his shorts, grinned and his sexy dimple appeared.

Wow! She actually had an effect on him, it wasn't her imagination. After all this time it felt good to have the tables turned.

‘Hmm, trouble with your shorts?'

‘You don't know the half of it.' He chuckled. ‘Are you ready to head out?'

He lifted his cap high enough for her to see his eyes that held a determined expression full of delectable promises. Could it be that all her fantasies about Kabe were hers for the taking?

Ensuring her voice wouldn't falter, she cleared her throat. ‘Sure,' she said without a hint that every bone in her body had turned liquid. ‘I don't need shoes, do I? You're not wearing any,' she added, a little too brightly.

‘If it becomes a problem, I'll sling you over my shoulder.' Belle gave him a look, which he ignored. ‘You'll get hot in that though,' Kabe said, inclining his head towards the tracksuit. ‘Shame, the sheet tangled around you, was …' and he stopped right there and grinned.

‘Are you going to misbehave all day?' Belle's I'm-not-amused look contradicted the humour she couldn't keep out of her voice.

‘Depends,' Kabe casually replied.

She eyed him, hands on hips, lips pursed, head slanted, trying to look like she had sass; she soon gave up that pretence, and clambered down the steps. She struggled to the makeshift clothes line, and yanked off her damp clothes. She quickly dressed and discovered that her practical, wide legged shorts had shrunk. She couldn't close the top button, and pulling at the waistband made no difference.
‘Bugger!'
And her T-shirt had also shrunk—upwards
. ‘Bugger!
' Belle pressed her lips together otherwise she might let fly with unsuitable language and then she'd have to explain what had provoked her outburst. At least this way he might not notice. She looked down at herself. ‘Yeah right.' She gathered her shirt to one side and tied a knot in it, and slung her camera around her neck.

Belle came out on deck as if nothing were amiss.

‘Can I borrow this?' she asked, holding up a cap.

* * *

Kabe's mind floated in girlie calendar heaven, with Belle on every page. And here she was, living, breathing, stunning, just for him. He didn't notice the mast pressing against his spine. Yeah, Mr Cool in a hot daze, which he couldn't hide, not even from under the shade of his cap. She had bunched her T-shirt up exposing a lightly tanned, firm midriff. It was going to be a long, but interesting day. Was that a bellybutton ring glinting in the sun? He hadn't noticed her shorts were so loose and skimpy yesterday, but then he hadn't time to notice anything except saving her from drowning. His eyes dropped to her shapely legs then slowly drifted up her torso to her lovely face.

Belle moved closer. ‘Hey—I know you're not asleep under there—far from it. For goodness sake, anybody would think I was wearing a string bikini.'

‘You got one?' he asked hopefully, while peering up in to her sweet, fresh face.

She ignored him. ‘You haven't answered me yet—can I borrow this?' she asked again, jiggling the cap in front of him.

‘Sure,' Kabe drawled lazily, ‘I'd like nothing better than have you slip into something of mine.'

Belle raised an eyebrow. ‘I already have, twice … Forget I said that! This is a cap, can I borrow it?' she asked unable to hide her amusement.

Yeah,
Kabe thought
, you have.
With effort and a groan, he pushed himself away from the mast. ‘Sleeping on a slanting boat certainly takes it out of you.'

‘Really? I hadn't noticed.' Belle eyed him and offered her hand. ‘You must be feeling your age,' she said, hauling him to his feet.

‘Okay—okay,' he said, hands up in submission. ‘I walked right into that one, but then I wasn't the one crying out for a neck and back massage. You ready?' he asked, sliding down the deck.

‘You … I didn't … you just came up behind me and …' She joined him, fiddling with her T-shirt, trying to pull it down past her lovely navel … and bellybutton ring.

Thoughts of his mouth doing things to her navel invaded his thoughts until …

‘Belle?'

Startled by his deadly serious tone, she stared at him, wide eyed. ‘You're not going to tell me that an enormous hairy spider drifted down from the trees and is now right next to my
bare
leg—are you?' she whispered, rubbing at her upper arms. ‘I'm getting goose bumps just thinking about it.'

‘No spiders. Did I do this—?' he asked, tenderly circling his fingers around her wrist, lifting her arm up for a closer inspection of the angry bruises on her forearm.

‘Oh is that all?' He watched her sag with relief. ‘It's not like you did it on purpose. It was either that, or watch me drown.' She peered down at his fingers. ‘If I didn't have these marks, I wouldn't be here. I might get them tattooed on, you know, as a permanent reminder.'

His mind flashed back reliving the moment, when all that was between her and certain drowning was his grip and sheer determination. Thinking about it made his chest hurt. ‘You're right, but neither one of us would be here. I would
never
have let you go it alone.' His tone carried the weight of his words. ‘And there'll be no tattoos of my fingerprints on your beautiful skin.' Eyes capturing hers, he kissed her arm and grinned. ‘Unless it's on your arse.'

‘Well actually I have … never mind.' The twinkle in her eyes gave her away.

‘You have a tat on your arse?' He grinned until his face ached; he probably looked like a guy who'd just had all his fantasies presented to him in a very delectable package.

He barked out a laugh and it felt great. Everything about Belle Fabrini felt great. She was addictive. He'd bet anything she hadn't a clue how much she'd
always
affected him. And he would find out what she had on her cute round arse.

An overwhelming need to keep touching her silky skin spread through him, tightening his chest, his gut. He fought against a raging hard-on.

‘You're something else,' he finally managed to say whilst gently stroking the marks on her skin as if he could make them disappear.

A flush rose to her cheeks, which made him smile.

Christ,
Kabe thought. He let go of her arm and quickly moved away to get below and fill a backpack with snacks. Back in the cockpit, he grabbed a water flask from a locker under the bench. ‘Let's go,' he ordered, strapping the flask to his hips.

* * *

Belle watched Kabe climb down the rope ladder, determined to follow with as much poise as possible. He dropped into the water and looked up. ‘Come on, what are you waiting for?'

‘Um … oh, I don't know …' Her smart mouth seemed to have deserted her. She pulled her gaze away from his glistening broad, round shoulders, muttering, ‘Don't make a fool of yourself, and keep your camera dry.' She wobbled down every rung, held her camera to her chest and jumped the last couple of feet. She hit the shallow water and steeply sloping sand, which yielded under her feet, threatening to throw her off balance. Kabe's arm slipped around her waist to hold her steady. His firm grasp sent a flutter into her chest and Belle felt the urge to laugh out loud at the absurdity of it all. She should just jump him and get it over with.

He gave her a squeeze and a quirky smile, and said, ‘Take my hand.'

She took it, and dragging behind, watched him push through the water with a seesawing shoulder action that Belle found mesmerising as she bounce-skipped along in his wake.

They waded out of the shallows and, with a sigh of regret, Belle released his hand. They hit the warm sand; it felt good to stand on solid ground and not a moving deck or one that sloped. She took a few photos of
The Ondine
and as she turned saw Kabe enter the rainforest where it met the beach. Somewhere behind the greenery there was the rush and tinkle of a waterfall cascading over rocks.

Belle caught up to Kabe. ‘I've always loved this place,' she whispered, lifting her face. ‘Feel the mist against your skin, so cooling.'

‘Yeah, a little downpour and hey, fresh water … the perfect place for a …' he trailed off, kneeling on a rock to rinse and fill the water flask.

Straightening, he attached the flask to his belt, took a step forward and cupped his hands under the rushing waterfall. About to take a drink, he hesitated, then turned to face her. ‘Drink?' he offered.

Belle dipped her head and drank; the cool water slid down her throat. Her eyes focused on his large masculine hands, the same hands that had saved her life were so close she could kiss them.
Damn!
She came up for air and wiped her mouth. ‘Thank you.' Her voice barely a whisper, her mind and the mellow place below her navel in a whirl. She had to hold herself in check or she might hug this incredible man.

As a distraction, she wriggled her red-lacquered toenails in the rubble of sand, shells and fallen leaves.

‘How are the feet?' Kabe asked, peering down.

She followed his gaze and flexed her toes. ‘Fine.'

‘Uh-huh,' he replied dreamily.

It didn't take a rocket scientist to know there was something going on. She turned to see he was still staring at her feet
. ‘Hello!'

His head snapped up, revealing a grin and eyes betraying red-hot signs of desire looking back at her. Kabe rubbed his face before continuing. ‘I think it's time we moved on.'

She walked ahead, taking a path that led up to a lookout. She pushed past shrubs and ferns, relieved when a cool breeze greeted them as they came out of the rainforest. A few steps up and they were on a large, warm, flat boulder. The panoramic view from there was magnificent. Like emeralds, tropical islands floated on the deep, sapphire-blue sea; it amazed her every time she came up here.

Kabe moved in close beside her, his shoulder touching hers.

Ni-i-ice … very nice,
Belle thought, savouring the moment.

He leant in, and mouth near her ear, he pointed out, ‘That's North Molle and South Molle Islands.'

Belle nodded, ‘I know … you
are
speaking to a local.' She forced her mind on something other than how close he was, how good he smelled, fresh with the scent of sea air. ‘I'm glad I brought my camera, not that photos would do it justice,' she said. Sitting down cross-legged on the sun-warmed boulder, she put the camera to her face.

The silence stretched, and Belle relaxed, taking in the stunning vista surrounding them. She listened to countless chirping birds and appreciated the cool breeze against her skin; all of it lulled her into a peaceful, meditative state.

Kabe broke the silence. ‘Back in high school … I always admired you,' he said, gazing out at the view while shredding a blade of grass.

There was something almost sad, compelling in his tone.

Her heart pounded, constricting her chest.

Chapter 5

‘Wha—what?' Belle stammered as she swung around. ‘You never … the way you behaved, I would've thought the opposite was true.'

‘The way I behaved doesn't count. With all the shit happening during those fucked-up months, I cut myself off, but you were the only one who could make me smile—laugh.'

She would never forget the image of Kabe as a teenager, keeping to himself, brooding, moody.

‘Had you said something, I could've helped you,' Belle told him.

‘Why would I burden anyone with that shit? It's history—done—no going back.' With a shake of his shoulders, Kabe's pensive mood eased. He stood, laid his big hand on her head and ruffled her hair. ‘Time we made a move.'

‘You take my breath away sometimes,' she muttered.
And then he ruffles my hair as if I'm still the kid he knew, and that makes what he said about admiring me … in a tone that made my heart ache … all right?

She uncurled herself ready to stand. Kabe held out his hand and helped her up, while giving her a soul-stirring look. ‘Thanks,' she mumbled. Not knowing what else to do at this point, she dropped his hand and headed off the rock. She felt Kabe's presence like a feather tickling her back as he followed her down the path that would take them over the other side of the spit to Mario's.

Half an hour later, they came out to a white sandy beach. Belle saw a tiny figure up ahead: her grandfather. She waved and called out to him. He pulled off his cap and waved back. She took a couple of quick shots with her camera, then holding it steady jogged along the hard sand with Kabe by her side. He placed a hand on the small of her back, which, unrealistic or not, gave her the feeling she belonged with him, was part of him. Euphoria flashed through her like a rush of adrenaline. She stumbled. Kabe's hand shot around her waist. They slowed to a walk, but he didn't let her go and held her close to his side.
Wow!

On reaching her grandfather, Kabe let her go. ‘Hi, Pop,' Belle said and threw her arms around his sun-wrinkled neck. She cupped his grizzled, smiling face and studied his bright brown eyes. Satisfied that he appeared to be happy and healthy, she kissed his leathery cheeks.