"Maybe you should stay here tonight," I suggest as Alba cleans up. "You're going to get drenched if you try to go home in this."
"Oh, I'll be fine. My Luis will be here soon. He'll take good care of me."
We both jump when the back door bangs open, and Luis appears in head-to-toe rain gear. He looks like Captain Nemo if he'd still been on deck when the Nautilus submerged.
He slams the door behind him and stands in the back hallway, dripping onto the tiles. "Okay, so ... it's raining."
Alma laughs. "Really? We hadn't noticed. I'm almost ready to go."
"Actually, I came early to give Miss Holt some bad news." He looks at me with a regretful expression. "I was meant to pick up Mr. Quinn from the mainland an hour ago, but because of this weather, the helicopter is grounded until it passes. I'm sorry."
My heart sinks. "Have you spoken to Liam?"
"No. I tried to call, but I can't get through. As soon as the storm dies down, I'll try again. It seems we won't be able to collect him until tomorrow."
I sigh. Of course this would happen. We haven't seen each other for a quarter of a year, so it's not like I'm dying of anticipation or anything.
Goddammit.
I take a giant mouthful of wine and swallow, hard. "It's not your fault, Luis. Thanks for letting me know."
"No problem. If I find out more, I'll call you."
"Thanks."
I feel deflated. I thought I'd finally be going to bed wrapped around my gorgeous man, but it seems I'm soloing it, yet again. God, I'm so tired of sleeping alone.
After Alba and Luis leave, I grab my wine, head upstairs, and go into the obscenely large bathroom to run myself a bath. Might as well make the most of my alone time. I dig through the cabinets to find bath salts and candles, and when the tub is full, I strip off and sink beneath the bubbles. It feels so good, I moan.
As the warm water relaxes my muscles, I close my eyes and listen to the storm raging outside. Knowing my luck, this stupid weather will set in for days, leaving Liam stranded on the mainland for God knows how long.
I wish I could talk to him. He'll be just as disappointed about this as I am. Maybe more. After all, I haven't been the one filming in a frozen wasteland for months. I'm sure he's more than ready for a solid dose of sunshine.
Hearing the wind howl outside, I fear the sun may never shine again.
I'm on the verge of dozing off when there's an extra bright flash of lightning, followed by a deafening crack of thunder. Three seconds later, the lights go out.
"You have to be freaking kidding me!"
With a grunt of frustration, I swallow the rest of my wine and climb out of the tub. This is ridiculous.
Moving carefully by candlelight, I pull on one of the fluffy, white bathrobes hanging on the wall and proceed to brush my teeth so roughly, my gums bleed. Feeling sorry for myself, I take a candle, go back into the bedroom, and climb into bed.
As I sink into the luxurious mattress, I feel like I'm surrounded by emptiness. A giant empty house. A huge empty bed. Empty arms where Liam should be.
I sigh and close my eyes, and I'm horrified when the words from Annie start echoing in my brain:
The sun'll come out ... tomorrow. Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow, there'll be sun.
Stuff it, you perky ginger.
SIX
He Knows When You're Awake
I don't sleep well. Nightmares about being held down on a stone altar while Espírito Vingativo prepares to sacrifice me to the gods make me toss and turn for hours. The weather doesn't help. Even though the intensity of the storm lessens, the wind continues to howl around the house, making it sound like the island is screaming.
I don't know what time it is when I stagger to the bathroom, but the power is still out and the candles have burned down, so I try not to bump into anything in the darkness.
When I'm done, I head back into the bedroom. Just before I climb back into bed, there's movement out the corner of my eye, and as I turn, I see the outline of a man standing right in front of me.
"Jesus Christ!"
As soon as I open my mouth to scream, the shadow lunges forward and grabs me. My back hits the wall as a huge, wet hand closes over my mouth.
On instinct, I thrash against him, trying to get free, but he's tall and strong, and when he lays his weight against me, I can barely move.
"Hey, calm down. It's me. Shhh. It's just me."
His voice sends goosebumps up my spine the same instant the lightning flashes to give me a better look at his face.
As recognition hits my brain, he lets me go and stands back. "Sorry for the scare. Didn't realize the power was out."
"Oh, my God, Liam!" I throw my arms around his neck, and he pulls me into a tight hug. His hair is down to his shoulders and soaked, and I feel the roughness of his beard as he presses his face into my neck.
"How did you get here?" I ask. "I thought you were stranded until the storm passed."
He tightens his grip and says, "If you think a little bad weather is going to keep me from my woman, then you're underestimating my desperate, pathological need for you."