’em playgirl like Camara wasn’t usually interested in what a woman thought, only what line was needed to get her into bed.

“There are only two reasons I can think of for you being single,”

Deo said. “Either you haven’t met her yet, or you have—and she did something stupid.”

“What makes you think I didn’t do something stupid?” Allie grabbed both Deo’s hands in hers and started walking backwards down the sandy path to the beach, swinging their joined arms between them.

She rounded a bend and the house disappeared. “Or maybe I’m single because I want to be.”

“Maybe.” Deo shrugged. “I am.” She stopped abruptly and pulled Allie toward her, causing Allie to stumble slightly and fall into her arms.

Grasping her around the waist to steady her, she kissed her lightly. “But you were thinking of someone back there, and it made you sad.”

“And there’s nobody you ever think about who makes you sad?”

Allie teased, settling her body into the curve of Deo’s. She curled her arms around Deo’s shoulders and enjoyed the heat kindled by the press of Deo’s breasts against hers. She didn’t want to talk about Ashley, and for the fi rst time in a long time, she wanted to be touched.

“No,” Deo said quickly, covering Allie’s mouth with hers, searching for the passion that obliterated everything else. Not the way you mean, anyhow.

❖

Nita sat on the steps leading from the deck to the path that snaked through the scrub and dunes to the beach. She had grown up by the ocean, but she never tired of watching the sun set over the water.

Even the brief glimpse she had of Deo and a sultry young woman disappearing hand-in-hand couldn’t obliterate her pleasure. In fact, she was happy that she had seen the last of Deo Camara and refused to analyze the brief fl icker of disappointment she’d felt upon seeing her leave the party with an attractive woman.

“I didn’t get a chance to thank you properly for taking care of Joey,” Pia said, settling next to Nita on the wooden stairs.

• 33 •

RADCLY fFE

“You’re welcome,” Nita said, “although it’s not necessary. I’m just glad his injury wasn’t worse.”

“God, so am I.” Pia sipped red wine from a plastic cup. “Sometimes I’m amazed that one of them doesn’t get hurt more often, but most of the time I try not to think about it.”

“I take it that Joey isn’t your only sibling in construction?”

“You fi gure right.” Pia smiled. “All of my family started out as fi shermen or shipbuilders, a few generations back. My father and one of my brothers still fi sh, but over the years, shipbuilding dwindled away.

The rest of the family naturally gravitated into construction.”

“Family businesses,” Nita said almost to herself.

“Yep. I’m the oddball, I guess.”

Nita wrapped her arms around one bent leg and rested her chin on her knee. Pensively, she asked, “How do they handle that?”

“Things were a bit tense when I lived in Boston, but now that I’ve moved home—well, not home home—but back in town…I’m a little too old to live with my parents,” Pia laughed, “we’ve pretty much fallen back into our old dynamic. It’s good.”

“Everyone else stayed? Your siblings?”

Pia nodded. “Amazingly enough, yes. Even the ones that went away to college came back. I guess this place is in our blood.”

“I can certainly see why. It’s beautiful. In fact, I’m buying a house myself.” Nita paused. “Torres. I don’t suppose you’re related to the real estate—”

“My mother.” Pia grinned at Nita’s surprised expression. “She’s not Portuguese, obviously. She came here on vacation one summer when she was just eighteen, met my father, and fell in love. Six kids later, the rest is history.”

“Do your siblings all resemble you?”

“Every one.”

“Amazing genes. I couldn’t believe how much you and your brother look like your cousin when I saw you all together this afternoon.”

“My father and Deo’s mother are twins.” Pia studied her wine. “I was sort of a gangly teenager, but Deo has always been gorgeous.”

Nita laughed, consciously not thinking about Pia’s gorgeous cousin. “Well you certainly caught up.”

“Thanks.” Pia grinned. “So, a house, huh? Where?”

• 34 •

Winds of Fortune

“I bought a sea captain’s house in the West End.”

“The big old rambling place with the widow’s walk? That’s a great place, although it’s been empty for quite a while.”

“I know it needs some work, but I fell in love with it.”

“When do you settle?”

“Just a couple of days. No one has lived in it for so long we had a quick closing.” Nita smiled selfconsciously. “I can’t wait to get started renovating the place.”

“Well, be sure to ask my mother about construction regulations.

The township is very strict about what you can do to those historic places. You should probably start getting bids now.”

“Thanks. I will.” Nita stood and stretched. “Joey is going to need a wound check tomorrow. If things are looking good, you can start some gentle rehab with him in a day or two.”

“I’ll come by when he has his appointment with you. Okay?”

“That’s great. I think I’m ready to call it a night. We’ve still got another day left of the holiday weekend, and if it’s anything like today was, the clinic’s going to be busy tomorrow.” Nita glanced down toward the beach. The entire time they had been talking, she’d half expected to see Deo return. She was glad she hadn’t. “Well, good night.”

“See you tomorrow,” Pia called.

❖

“Everything okay?” Reese inquired, leaning against the door in Reggie’s bedroom. The last bit of the fading sunset fi ltered through the white curtains, and as Tory bent over the crib, she looked timelessly beautiful framed in the golden glow. So beautiful that Reese ached. She had imagined this scene a thousand times in the weeks that she’d been away. When everything around her had been senseless chaos, when the sky turned to fi re and death rained down from the heavens and exploded from the earth, she had clung to the only thing that kept her sane. She had been shocked when her determination to fulfi ll the mission she had trained for all her life failed to sustain her and when only the memory of her wife and child kept her going. Leading her marines into battle and in some cases to their deaths while secretly questioning her purpose had shaken the foundation of her world. She had built her life on her belief

• 35 •

RADCLY fFE

in her duty and responsibility, and she had come home doubting both.

She had come home no longer certain of who she was.

Smiling, Tory turned from the crib, her fi nger to her lips. After switching on the nightlight on the bright blue dresser by the door, she joined Reese. Once outside in the hall, she said, “She might not have known what the party was for, but she defi nitely had a good time. I think she sat on everyone’s lap at least once.”

“She didn’t have dinner.”

“We’ll feed her later when she wakes up.” Tory grasped Reese’s hand. “How about you? Did you eat something?”

“Yeah, I’m fi ne.”

“That’s not exactly what I asked,” Tory said quietly.

Reese stopped at the top of the stairs and pulled Tory close. She nuzzled her hair, then kissed her neck. Some of the doubts that plagued her receded. Tory was real. Tory was alive. “I’m fi ne. Stop worrying.”

“Comes with the territory, Sheriff.” Tory stroked Reese’s cheek.

“Besides, I enjoy looking after you.”

“You’ll get no argument from me.” Reese wasn’t hungry for food, but she still felt empty. Nothing fi lled her up except Tory. In the recesses of her mind she heard the thunder and felt death coming. She hesitated, uncertain for the fi rst time in her life of how to face it. She gasped, “Tory.”

“What, sweetheart?”

In her mind, Reese saw Tory silhouetted in the moonlight, saw her shimmering in the bright light of day. Tory knew her. Tory touched her inside, beyond the fear and doubt. Tory was all that kept her from the dark. Reese pressed Tory into the shadows, maneuvering her back against the wall. Gripping her shoulders, she kissed her neck again, then her mouth. Pinning her with the weight of her body, she slid one hand under the lower edge of Tory’s T-shirt. Tory’s breasts weren’t as full as they had been when she was breast-feeding, but they were still fi rm and hot under her thin satin bra. Reese cupped her, squeezing until Tory’s nipple tightened in her grasp. Groaning, she kissed her way down Tory’s neck and fumbled to push Tory’s shirt up with her free hand.

“Reese, honey, we have people in the house,” Tory warned.

Aching, echoing with emptiness, Reese worked her hand into Tory’s bra and lifted her breast free. She bunched Tory’s cotton T in her fi st and caught a nipple in her mouth.

• 36 •

Winds of Fortune

“Reese. ” Tory sank her fi ngers into Reese’s hair and pulled her mouth from her breast. She cradled Reese’s face against her throat, not wanting to push her away. Reese had only been home a few weeks, but it had only taken a few days for Tory to realize that something was wrong. Something had changed. Reese had always been passionate—

sometimes gentle, sometimes urgent—but always always exquisitely present. Now, her need rose with the fury of an unexpected storm that broke over the horizon and lashed everything in its wake. Sometimes Tory wasn’t certain Reese was even aware of what she was doing.

“Sweetheart. We can’t.”

“Sorry. Jesus. I’m sorry.” Drenched with sweat, Reese broke Tory’s hold and jerked her head away. “Tory, I’m sorry.”

Reese was trembling, and that nearly broke Tory’s heart. “It’s all right, darling. It’s all right.”

“No it isn’t,” Reese said sharply, backing away another step. She held up her hands to ward Tory off when Tory reached for her. “My need. Not yours. I’m sorry.”