looked tired but disgustingly dry in a rain poncho, nylon rain pants, and boots.

Leslie tried not to snarl.

“Sorry I couldn’t get here sooner,” Natalie said. “How about I give you two a

ride back to land?”

“I’ll take my own boat back,” Leslie said.

“I’m staying here with my equipment,” Dev said.

Slowly shaking her head, Natalie slid her hands through the slits in the poncho

and into her pants pockets. “Sorry, no to both of those ideas. We’re evacuating

all the campsites, so you need to pack up whatever critical items you have,

Dev.” She regarded Leslie pointedly.

“You were lucky to make it here at all, Ms. Harris. The lake is still far too rough

for your craft. You’ll be riding with me.”

Leslie didn’t like being given an ultimatum, but she needed to get back to the

mainland. She needed enough space from Dev to be able to draw a breath that

wasn’t Þ lled with need. “I want to be sure my boat is secure.”

“I’ll help you with that while Dev gets her stuff together.”

Natalie turned and walked back into the woods, leaving Leslie no choice but to

follow. When Natalie stopped on the lake bank, Leslie came up beside her and

studied her boat rocking hard in the churning water. Natalie’s larger, heavier

departmental craft was anchored nearby.

One of them would have to climb down the bank into the water to get more

lines on her boat or it was going to break free. “We’re going to get wet doing

this.”

“I’ll get extra lines from my boat.”

“I couldn’t get much wetter,” Leslie said when Natalie returned with the ropes.

“I’ll go. You stay up here to secure them.”

When Leslie started down the steep, muddy bank, Natalie wrapped an arm

around a tree that canted out over the water, leaned out as far as she could, and

held out her hand.

“Here, grab on so you don’t fall.”

“Thanks.” When Leslie took Natalie’s hand their eyes met.

Natalie’s were dark and considering.

“That was pretty risky, coming out here yesterday,” Natalie said

conversationally.

“She was out here alone,” Leslie said. “You would have done the same.”

• 164 •

WHEN DREAMS TREMBLE

“I wanted to.”

“I can imagine.”

Natalie smiled faintly. “Can you?”

“Yes,” Leslie said softly, “I can.”

• 165 •

• 166 •

WHEN DREAMS TREMBLE

CHAPTER NINETEEN

While Natalie stood at the wheel in the cockpit, her legs braced wide apart for

balance in the buffeting wind and rain, Leslie huddled on the bench across from

Dev. The sky was a muddy brown, the water an angry gray, and both suited her

mood. She hated being rescued, even though she knew it was the wisest course.

The swells were higher than she’d ever seen them on the lake, and even in the

larger, heavier park service craft, the ride was harrowing. In her boat it would

have been impossible. Conversation was impossible, too, but even if she’d

wanted to talk to Dev, Dev clearly didn’t want to talk to her. Dev sat with her

body angled forward toward Natalie, her face impassive.

Leslie wondered what she was thinking. They hadn’t had any time to talk since

Natalie showed up at the campsite, but then Leslie wasn’t sure what she would

say to her. What could she say? I’m sorry?

That hardly seemed to cover how many wrong turns she’d taken with Dev,

starting when they’d been seventeen. Last night, though, might just have been

her crowning moment. They weren’t impulsive kids anymore, but she hadn’t

been able to keep her hands to herself or her mouth shut. She’d been in the

midst of seducing Dev—Leslie cringed inwardly but there was no other word

for it—she’d told Dev she wanted to make love, for God’s sake. And then in

the next breath she’d said no.

What had she been thinking? Nothing, obviously.

When she looked back on her relationship with Dev, it was littered with regret.

The only good thing to come of the entire visit had been that she and Dev had Þ

nally talked about what had happened between them the night of the accident.

Of course, that conversation had nearly

• 167 •

RADCLY fFE

ended with them mindlessly screwing on the shore. Maybe it was better if they

didn’t talk. Leslie stared at Dev and her heart raced. No, it was better if they

weren’t anywhere near one another.

With a sigh, Leslie closed her eyes. Her father was home from the hospital and

headed toward recovery, her mother had hired a temporary cook and part-time

handyman, and she had even gotten the medical tests she was supposed to

have. God knew, she’d certainly had enough rest and relaxation. Any more, and

she would lose her mind. She’d stay to help her mother with the July Fourth

bash, and then she was going back to Manhattan. Back to the orderly, satisfying

life she had chosen, the one that suited her.

“You okay?” Dev shouted over the wind.

Leslie opened her eyes, her pulse racing when her eyes met Dev’s.

“Yes! You?”

Dev grinned ruefully and shrugged.

Even though relieved at the imminent prospect of heading back toward sanity,

Leslie couldn’t ignore the pang at knowing she wouldn’t see Dev again. And

with the heat of Dev’s body still alive in her mind, Leslie feared it would take

more than distance to extinguish the memory.

When the sound of the motor revving down caught Leslie’s attention, she

looked away from Dev with both sorrow and relief.

Natalie was guiding the boat up to the wide, rain-slicked dock alongside

Lakeview’s boathouse. It was deserted, as were the grounds.

Many of the cars that had been in the parking lot were gone, and Leslie

expected that a fair number of people had cut short their vacations when the

weather turned bad. In a way, that wasn’t such a bad thing, because it would

give her mother a break before the inß ux of new guests for the long weekend.

Natalie throttled down, eased the boat against the side of the dock, and called

over her shoulder, “Someone want to climb out and grab the lines?”

Leslie was closer to the dock side and hurriedly clambered out, dragging the

stern line with her. She pulled the craft against the cushioned bumpers attached

to the side of the dock and wrapped a line around a cleat while Natalie jumped

from the bow and did the same.

“Thanks,” Natalie called, hunching her shoulders in the wind.

“No problem.” Out of the corner of her eye, Leslie saw Dev stumble as she

climbed from the boat onto the dock, a grimace of pain on her face. “Dev!”

• 168 •

WHEN DREAMS TREMBLE

Leslie lunged for her, but Natalie was closer.

“Hey there,” Natalie cried, grasping Dev around the waist and steadying her so

she didn’t fall. Her face concerned, she smoothed her free hand over Dev’s

chest. “Your leg’s taking a pretty good hit in this weather, isn’t it?”

“Some,” Dev said tightly, wrapping her arm around Natalie’s shoulders for

balance.

Leslie pulled up short, recognizing that her help wasn’t needed and also aware

that although smaller, Natalie was holding Dev up. It was also obvious that

Natalie knew about the old injury to Dev’s leg.

Clearly, Dev had told her about the accident, and Leslie wondered how much

else Natalie knew about that night. Not that it mattered.

“Come on, let’s get the both of you up to the lodge and dried out.”

Natalie kept her arm around Dev as the three of them negotiated the wet slope

up to the lodge. Once on the porch, Natalie said, “I’ll let you know when you

can go back out to the island for your gear, Dev. I don’t imagine you’ll be taking

any more samples for a while.”

“Not until the effects of the storm settle down. Probably a week or so.” Dev

eased out of Natalie’s grasp and carefully put weight on her leg. “Thanks.”

“My pleasure.” Natalie smiled softly at Dev. “I may be busy all day, but I’ll talk

to you later.” She turned to Leslie. “I’ll give you a ride out to your boat

tomorrow if the weather breaks.”

“I appreciate it,” Leslie said, trying to inject some warmth into her voice.

“Okay then. Take care. Get dry,” Natalie said.

When Natalie turned to go back down the stairs to the path, Leslie stopped her

with a hand on her arm. The woman had just motored over two hours in ugly

weather to bring them home. “Come inside for coffee.

I imagine you’re going to have a long day.”

Natalie’s eyes ß ickered with surprise, then she nodded. “Thanks.

Maybe your mother made some of those biscuits again.”

Leslie smiled, Þ nding it hard not to like her. And after all, there was no reason

not to. So Natalie was involved with Dev and didn’t bother to hide it. Why

should she? Dev was…well, Dev was Dev, and what woman wouldn’t be

attracted to her? Leslie clenched her jaws, angry at herself for even thinking

about whatever was going on between Dev and Natalie. She turned and walked

resolutely inside.

They took their rain gear off and hung it on hooks by the door.