Suspicious Ways (21 page)

And for a horrible, sickening moment, Ali believed it.

Spluttering from a savage dump, her stinging eyes blurred by rain and sea, she couldn’t see him.

“Jack?” She cried, cold water pouring into her mouth. “Jack?” Icy dread sheared into her heart. Then the chop bottomed out and she saw him. Closer than she’d hoped. A limp body riding the waves.

She took a precious second to fix his location in her head, and then began swimming again, ignoring the heaviness of her water-logged clothes and shoes threatening to drag her tired limbs farther below the surface.

Kicking her legs with frantic desperation, she stretched out her arm, her heart exploding with hope when her numb, wet fingers snagged the neckline of Jack’s T-shirt. “Oh God, Jack,” she cried. “I’ve got you. I’ve got you.”

She pulled him towards her, despair shattering her hope when she felt how motionless he was. How lifeless.

No. No, no, no.

Ali rolled him over, fighting with the turbulent waves as she shoved the life-ring over his head and shoulders. She didn’t allow herself to think about how long he’d been facedown. It would undo her. Wrapping the lifeline around his torso, she knotted it firmly and then began dragging him back to
Wind Seeker
, her fingers gripping the life ring so tightly she wondered if she’d ever be able to let it go.

The moment she hauled Jack aboard, she knew he wasn’t breathing. Ignoring the sick sensation welling in her stomach and the sight of blood oozing from a hideous gash on his forehead, she began mouth-to-mouth.

Five seconds, five minutes—hell, five years, she really didn’t know—he started coughing, water gushing from his mouth in a sickening flood.

Biting back a sob of joy, she dragged him below, stripping his wet clothes from his body as he slurred her name over and over again. She wouldn’t let her hands tremble, as much as they wanted to. She wouldn’t let her tears come. She stripped his wet clothes from his body, placed him on the bed and covered him in blankets. “You’ll be fine, Jack.” She kept her voice soft. Calm. “Everything will be fine. I promise.”

He looked at her, his eyes horribly unfocussed. “Ali.” Her name was nothing more than a hoarse whisper. “Ali…”

Wind Seeker
picked that moment to lurch violently, throwing Ali to her knees. She pulled herself up and pressed her palm to Jack’s forehead. “I have to pull the sails down.” The words were scratchy in her raw throat. “And I’ve got to get the storm jib up.”

Jack’s eyes rolled to her, and for a second they were sharp and focused. “This wasn’t in the brochure,” he murmured, before his lids fluttered closed.

Warm relief washed through Ali and she let out a shaky chuckle. “Hold this to your head.” She pressed a cloth into his palm and wrapped his fingers around it, helping him find the bleeding wound on his temple.

He did so, mumbling something she couldn’t understand.

Standing and leaving him was the hardest thing she’d ever done. The fear of a concussion taking him away from her kept her still, but when the yacht shuddered under another dumping wave, listing violently under the weight, she knew she had to batten down the hatches. She would be no help to Jack if
Wind Seeker
capsized.

It took her longer to bring the yacht under control than she wanted. The full might of the storm’s anger had passed, but that didn’t mean the water or wind was calm. Ten minutes later, she hurried back down below, her heart a hammering force in her chest.

She stumbled through cabin, the need to get to Jack, to make sure he was still okay, a pressing urgency she couldn’t escape.

He offered no resistance when she removed his hand from his head. The only indication he knew she was there was the low mumble of her name. She brushed his lips with hers and then checked the wound on his head.

The blood had stopped flowing, which was a good thing. It meant it might not need stitches after all…something Ali’s limited First Aid skills did not provide.

“Ali?”

She slid her gaze to Jack’s face, finding his eyes still closed.

“Yes, Jack?”

“Still want…that cup of tea?”

Unable to hold it back anymore, Ali let out a choked sob of relief. She kissed him again, softer this time. Longer. “How ’bout I get it?”

He chuckled, the laugh barely a breath. “Might…be a good…idea.”

Pushing herself to her feet, she smoothed her hand over his forehead. “Don’t go anywhere, okay?”

By the time she’d made her way to the galley, her eyes stung with unshed tears. The galley’s bench offered little stability as
Wind Seeker
rolled with the waves, but Ali clung to it anyway. Lighting the gas stove was damn near impossible, but she knew it wasn’t from the yacht’s lurching movement. Her body shook, the violent trembles that had tried to claim her the second she’d climbed the ladder and pulled Jack from the water finally overwhelming her.

She dropped the spark gun, uncaring that it splashed into the ankle-deep water lapping at her feet. Gripping the bench, she sucked in a long, shaking breath.

“He’s alive, Ali,” she whispered, staring at the wet cabin floor. “It’s okay now. He’s alive.”

And he was. Wrapped in blankets on the stateroom’s bed, barely conscious and as pale as death, but alive.

Ali closed her eyes and sighed, stumbling slightly as
Wind Seeker
dipped to port, to starboard, and then to port again. Violent shudders wracked her body. Her knees shook so badly she could barely stand up. “C’mon, Ali,” She sucked in a long breath in an attempt to stave off the crippling effects of shock. “Keep it together.”

Straightening from the bench, she abandoned the idea of making herself a cup of tea. It was pointless, especially when all she wanted to do was be by Jack’s side.

Making her way deeper into the cabin, she stripped off her wet clothes and pulled a dry blanket from an overhead compartment. She would dress later, after she checked on Jack. The towel was soft against her cold, damp skin, the contact comforting. She let out a ragged sigh, standing as still as
Wind Seeker
would allow for a long second before walking to the stateroom.

She stopped at the threshold, her heart smashing into her throat. “Jack?”

Very slowly, as if it was an enormous effort, Jack opened his eyes. Misery sliced at Ali. They were unfocused, drowsy. The skin around them was a horrible blue from the ugly bruise growing from the gash on his head. She moved to the bed, sat on the edge and took his hand in hers. “How do you feel?”

A small smile pulled at his lips. “I’ve been better,” he replied, his voice hoarse and almost inaudible.

Ali smiled. “I think the storm is dying out,” she said, a second before
Wind Seeker
dipped dramatically to port.

Jack gave a weak chuckle and his eyes fluttered closed.

“We’ve lost the headsail,” she said quickly, wanting him to stay awake. He was sure to be suffering from a bad concussion, and letting him sleep was dangerous. “But I managed to get the others down before the storm did too much damage. We’ll have to limp home, but we’ll still get there.”

She knew she was prattling, but no matter how much she fought it, shock was settling in and she had to keep it at bay. God, how close she’d been to losing him.

“Ali,” Jack mumbled, squeezing her hand with gentle pressure. “Thank you.”

She looked at him, unsure what to say. “It’s okay.” She dropped her eyes from the sudden intensity of his gaze, her cheeks burning. “It’s not like I would let you drown.”

“I wouldn’t blame you if you did.” His whisper sounded weak, but his hand moved in hers until their fingers were threaded. “I’ve been a bit of a bastard.”

Ali let him see her small grin. “I wouldn’t use the word
bit
.”

Jack’s answering chuckle filled her with warmth, a warmth that blossomed into heat when he raised her hand to his mouth and pressed his lips against her palm. “Christ, I’m sorry. I have been such a stupid idiot.”

The raw emotion in his voice lifted her head and she stared at him, her heart in her throat. “Yes,” she replied, not looking away. “You have.”

His gaze held hers, his lips moving over her palm in such a way that her stomach began to squirm with hot ribbons. “Jack.” She breathed his name, trying to pull her hand away. “You almost drowned. I don’t think—”

But he didn’t let her finish. “I love you, Ali.” He pushed himself up so he could look her straight in the eye. “And I’m sorry for every moment of hurt and pain I’ve caused you.”

His whole body was in pain. His head felt like it was two seconds away from exploding and his lungs felt like they’d been put through a wringer. But the only thing Jack cared about at that very moment was how much his heart ached. He stared at Ali, desperate for her reaction. Jesus, what if her response was to get up and leave? If she turned away from him now, ignore or disregarded what he’d just said…well, he didn’t know what he would do.

“Jack.” Ali looked back at him. He could see the confusion and doubt in her eyes. “I don’t think this is the time—”

He put his fingers on her lips. “Please. Let me talk. I need to explain.” He swung his legs around and put his feet on the floor, ignoring the giddiness making his head swim. He dragged in a breath and reached for his glasses before remembering they’d gone overboard with him. It didn’t matter—he could see Ali without them, and right now she was the only thing he wanted to see.

“Jack—” she said again, but he shook his head.

“Trudi was my big sister’s only child,” he began. “Kate and Richard had her when they were only teenagers, but she was their life. When she told them she wanted to go to university to study medicine, God, I haven’t seen anyone so proud…or upset. The farm wasn’t going well. Richard was fighting with the banks and Kate had gone back to work to make ends meet. They so much wanted their little girl to achieve her dream—she’d worked so hard at school—but they knew they couldn’t afford it. The cost of accommodation alone was beyond them. So I offered for her to live with me. Trudi was ecstatic. I’d never seen her so excited, but Kate…”

Jack sighed as he remembered his older sister’s reluctance. “Kate was worried. Trudi was a country girl. The
big smoke
was completely alien to her. Kate worried it would eat her little girl alive, but she also knew how much her daughter wanted to do it. The fact she’d been accepted into Sydney University was pretty impressive, and Kate knew she’d never forgive herself if she didn’t let Trudi go. Richard was just as unsure. He thought Trudi should go to their local college instead and study education. It wasn’t that far from the farm, they could see her most weekends and the cost of campus accommodation wasn’t that high there. Trudi called me at home, two days before the acceptance deadline. She begged me to convince her mom and dad to let her come to Sydney. She told me she would be the best housemate ever. I can still hear her laugh as she said that.”

Jack stopped and ran his hands through his hair. “Anyway, I called Kate that night. I reminded her of the time she left home, how Dad had been dead against it. She’d only been seventeen, with a baby girl and a boyfriend who had just landed his first job as a farm hand three hundred kilometers away. Dad and Kate argued for weeks, and finally she just up and left. Without his blessing. It was almost four years before they talked again, and that was in the hospital after Dad suffered his first stroke.” He paused for a moment, remembering the tearful but happy reunion of father and daughter. “Anyway, Kate finally agreed to let Trudi study in Sydney—as long as I looked after her.” He dropped his head into his hands, a wave of dizzy sickness rolling over him.

“Jack.” Ali’s voice was alarmed. “You shouldn’t—”

He straightened, looking her in the eye. “Let me finish. Please.”

She studied him for a long, silent moment, a frown creasing her forehead and her eyes concerned. Jack wanted to take her into his arms there and then, wanted to feel her heat seep into his cold, aching body. Instead, he raised his hand and touched her cheek, even that slight contact giving him strength to continue.

“Trudi moved to Sydney about four months before your father’s death. She loved it. Watching her was like watching a little kid in a toyshop. We climbed the Harbor Bridge, went to the zoo, the theatre. You name it, we did it. I’d promised her I would teach her to sail after her first-semester exams. Remember the night we all had dinner together at the yacht club? After your family left, Trudi asked me when I was going to ask you out. I told her to stop being so bloody ridiculous, that you were just the daughter of a good friend, but she laughed and rolled her eyes. That night I lay in bed, panicking that your old man was going to beat the shit out of me the next time he saw me. I mean, if my eighteen-year-old niece from the country could see how I felt about you…” He shook his head and laughed. “Anyway, the following night I took Trudi on a sail around Middle Harbor, and while we were packing up Zane Peterson stopped at our pen.” Jack stopped. Bile filled his throat. “The way he looked at Trudi…with hungry, depraved lust…I wanted to kill him.” He turned his gaze to Ali. “He looks at you the very same way.”

Ali stared at him, silent.

“I’ve never made it a secret that I think Peterson is a sleaze-bag. Most of the club knew we weren’t exactly friends, but watching the bastard size up my niece…” Jack repressed an angry shudder.