Читать книгу Submerged - Elizabeth Goddard - Страница 11

TWO

Was this some sort of dream? Nightmare?

The past few minutes washed over her. She struggled to grasp what had happened. The men stared at her, confusion on their faces. Bewildered herself, she frowned. How did she explain without sounding...well...crazy?

“What do you mean, you didn’t have a choice?” Raw concern flashed in Adam’s eyes.

That surprised her.

It had been so long since she’d seen him, been this close to him, old feelings tumbled over every other thought. She’d missed him. Shaking off the tangle of emotions, she hung her head and sighed.

“I need a minute to think.” Gather her thoughts.

Almost equally as shocking as the events of the past few moments was the fact that Adam sat next to her, wrapped in his own wool blanket. He angled to look at her, his solid form a comforting presence compared with moments ago when another man had tried to kill her.

And if she was drawing comfort from his nearness, then that just proved how befuddled and exhausted she was. He’d pulled her from the depths, saved her life. She knew that. But it didn’t make up for the past.

Adding to her anxiety, tumultuous waves rocked the trawler, much like the turmoil that tossed her mind. She tugged the blanket closer, tighter.

Adam was here with Jared, Nate and Gary, his long-time caving buddies. They’d been Brad’s friends, as well.

Jared stepped from below deck into the small galley and lobbed them each a shirt and jeans. “Found some dry things.”

Cobie stared at the clothes. Too big. She looked up at Jared.

He shrugged. “Adam is the smallest. You’ll have to wear his clothes.”

Adam slid from the booth and stood. “What’s going on, Cobie?”

After that first punch-in-the-gut glance into Adam’s face, Cobie hadn’t wanted to look at him again. Hadn’t she been thinking about him—how she needed to forgive—right before she jumped? God had some sense of humor. She lifted her gaze to meet his multicolored eyes. She’d never been able to decide if they were blue or green the way they seemed to change. All the hours she’d spent thinking about his eyes. But that was ancient history.

Finally Cobie caught her breath. Found her words.

“We need to call the police. Someone tried to kill me.” Cobie pressed her face into her hands. “And Laura and Jen are on their way to the island. They should be there any minute. We’d planned to meet at the cabin to go caving. They were running late, so I went to the cave to scout it out. If they arrive and go looking for me, they could run right into the man who tried to kill me.”

“What?” the male voices asked in unison.

She dropped her hands and stared at them, forcing urgency into her voice. “A man tried to strangle me. I ran away. I got trapped when he followed. I had no choice. I had to face him or jump.”

Adam’s strong jaw dropped along with the blanket. “Call 9-1-1.”

“Coast Guard’s all there is out here.” Nate held up his cell. “And these don’t work here at all.”

“Then call the Coast Guard,” she said. “Someone in authority needs to know.”

Adam scraped the SAT phone from the counter. “I could call Ray. I told him we were mapping the cave and he said he might try to get some time off and join us.”

“Ray?” Cobie asked.

“Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigation. He’s an agent. Investigates crimes. Drugs. Poaching. Anything illegal that happens out here.”

Had she really almost been a victim? And now she would have to give a statement. Answer questions. Cobie’s mind ran back over what had happened. Concern for her friends made her tense. If only she hadn’t been such an idiot. The number where she could reach Laura was with the phone at the cabin.

Adam kept his gaze on her. “He’s probably close. We’ll ask him what to do. Tell him what happened.”

Shivering, Cobie slipped out of the booth. “Can we go ahead and make our way to the other side of the island? Maybe we can intercept Laura and Jen. In the meantime, I’m changing into dry clothes.”

“Why didn’t you travel with your friends?” Jared leaned against the counter. “Why come alone?”

Adam cocked a brow.

“I took a seaplane. The pilot passes over these parts delivering mail and packages and people. My friends are coming by boat from the opposite direction. They were delayed, and I couldn’t change my flight.”

“Why not wait for them to arrive before exploring the cave?” Adam asked. “Why go alone?”

She was a big girl, but saying so would make it sound otherwise. “It shouldn’t have been dangerous. There shouldn’t have been someone else there—much less a man who wanted to kill me. Besides, he could have found me alone at the cabin, too.”

Not wanting to say more, or hear a lecture, Cobie scuttled down the small stairway below deck. She didn’t have to explain her actions to them. Adam said something to his friends, but she couldn’t make out his words, then he followed her down.

“I’ll show you where to go.”

The quarters were tight. Hard to get lost on a boat this size. She could find her own way without his help, but she kept her thoughts to herself. He showed her the master cabin with its walk-around queen bed and then took her through the private guest cabin. Beyond that, berth to port, was a large guest room. Then to starboard, Adam showed her the shower with the private door back to the master cabin where they’d started. The former fishing boat had been refurbished into a near-luxurious recreational boat.

Clinging to the clothes she meant to change into, probably getting them wet as she did, Cobie hung back, near the door to the master cabin. “I thought you were calling your forest service friend.”

“Jared is calling so I can change clothes, too. Gary will contact the Coast Guard. He’s heading to the lagoon where your friends will probably anchor.” The small space forced their proximity, and Adam stared down at her. “I...I’m glad you’re okay, Cobie.” He scraped his hand through his wet hair and looked away, then back at her. “It’s good to see you.”

She didn’t miss the pain in his eyes.

“Thanks...thanks for saving me today.” She wanted to tell him that it was good to see him, too, but she couldn’t find the words. She’d never wanted to see him again.

His clothes were still wet, like hers, and must be cold, but there was a heat emanating from him. The way he looked at her now made that heat wrap around her. She didn’t want to feel that from him, even though she was chilled to her bones.

He cleared his throat. “You can use this room to change.”

“Okay, thanks.” Cobie waited for him to leave.

He lifted a hand. Scratched the back of his head as if he was unsure what else to say. As if he wanted to say more.

Cobie knew she had more to say, too, and to a man she’d never wanted to see or speak to again. Could the day get any stranger? “I’ll be right out.”

He nodded. “Don’t worry, Cobie. We’ll find your friends and warn them.”

“I hope so.” Once she slipped inside and shut the door behind her, she quickly changed into the dry clothes she carried, though they’d grown damp from her clinging. They smelled like Adam. Musky and masculine and outdoorsy. The smells made more images rush back at her.

She pressed her face into the blue-and-gray-plaid sleeve and breathed in the scent. Made her dizzy. Memories of how she used to feel about the guy surged. But that’s all those feelings were now. Memories.

Weird that he’d never even known.

Tears threatened behind her eyes. She dropped onto the bed to gather her composure before she faced Adam again.

She let her thoughts turn to the way he had looked at her. He seemed different somehow. Changed by that day as much as she had been. Especially five years later. Weird how a tragedy, added to a few years of separation, could change a person. And yet even though Adam was different now, plenty about him remained the same. He was...well...he could have been the next all-American hero to star in a Marvel movie, with those broad shoulders and lean, muscular biceps. And he was handsome enough to make plenty of girls swoon. But not Cobie. Not anymore.

At least that’s what she tried to convince herself of, but it wasn’t working because being next to Adam made her float like it had before Brad’s death.

Cobie shoved herself to her feet. She was grateful that Adam had saved her today. Grateful for the spare too-big shirt and pants she wore now. But in spite of the few good memories that taunted her, she could never forget that Adam was to blame for her brother’s death.

* * *

Adam stumbled around in the guest cabin, trying desperately to clear his thoughts. Cobie was here on this boat.

And someone had tried to kill her.

Thank You, Lord, for saving her.

Adam reminded himself that while he’d pulled her from the water, God had been the one to save her. Bittersweet, considering Adam hadn’t been able to pull her brother from the water that day. Some things in life he’d never understand. He grabbed a towel and dried his hair. Pulled in a few calming breaths.

It took a lot for Adam to be in the same room with Cobie. He hadn’t realized just how much. Funny how five years hadn’t diminished how she affected him. At one time, she’d been the girl of his dreams. Now she was the girl he could never have. Even if he could have her, he couldn’t want her or anyone. But none of that mattered. All that mattered was that he’d make sure she was safe.

He sucked in another breath. Opened the door.

Heading back to join the rest, he passed the master cabin. Was she still inside? Maybe he’d wait for her. He had a few questions before she talked to the authorities. Leaning against the wall, he noticed the boat rocked less. Gary must have made it to smoother waters.

The door whipped open.

Cobie’s eyes widened. “You waited on me?”

“Yep.” Feeling like an idiot, he shoved his hands in his pockets. He looked her up and down. She wore his clothes now. His shirt hung off her—jeans, too. He wouldn’t be able to wear those again without thinking of her.

Reacting to his scrutiny, she looked down, held out her arms. “What? You don’t like my new duds?”

Adam smiled. Good she could find some humor. It made things bearable.

“How are you doing?” He had to go and shoot down her smile.

Her brows scrunched. “How do you think?”

His pulse jumped when he caught sight of her throat. Adam reached over and tipped her chin up. At the bruise on her neck, anger boiled in his gut. He seriously wanted to hurt the man who did this to her. Glancing at her eyes, he saw everything inside her laid bare.

Then she was in his arms. He wasn’t sure how—if he’d made the move or she had—but she was in them. And he held her tight. He couldn’t lose her, too. He’d lost his best friend, her brother.

God, I can’t lose her, too.

She didn’t sob into his shirt. Not like the day Brad had died. But he thought maybe she wanted to. Maybe he wanted to sob over all that had happened to keep them apart. Over his role in Brad’s death. And over what had happened to her today.

“Cobie,” he whispered into her soft, still wet hair. How long had he wanted to tangle his fingers in that thick mane?

She stiffened.

Cobie stepped away from him. That’s right. Keep up that wall. That would keep them both in line. He couldn’t believe he’d slipped. Let himself think about how she felt in his arms for even a second.

“Why would someone try to kill you?” he asked.

“You think I know?” She shoved by him.

That had been the wrong thing to say. But how could he get answers without questions? He followed her into the galley, where Jared and Nate both looked up.

“Ray called back after I left a message,” Jared said. “I told him everything.”

“What’d he say?” Adam smelled coffee brewing. He was glad someone had thought to put some on.

“He’s on his way. Will meet us near the beach.”

“How long?”

“An hour, maybe more.”

“He asked if Cobie was injured.” Nate studied Cobie. “If you needed medical attention. I told him I thought you were okay for now. Was I wrong?”

She shrugged. “I’ll be good when I know Laura and Jen are safe.”

Adam shared a look with Nate. She needed to have a doctor check her out all the same, with her throat bruised that way.

“We’ll do our best, Cobie.” Jared poured her coffee and handed her a steaming mug.

Adam left Cobie in good hands. She didn’t want to see him anyway. He made his way to the outside bridge up top where Gary steered the trawler. Since there was a steering station inside, he could have stayed in the galley with the rest of them where it was nice and warm, but Gary preferred to experience the full effect of being on the water. Wanted to feel the weather and smell the ocean. And maybe Gary wanted to step away from the drama they’d all just endured, Cobie most especially.

The island, one of many in southeast Alaska, loomed large ahead of them—steep bedrock and limestone exposures looked as though they’d been pushed up and out of the ocean by something ancient. The view of the greenery topping the rock of an island made Adam’s breath catch. Also made him second-guess his decision to explore the world outside the panhandle of Alaska—to get away from Mountain Cove and all the reminders of his failures. Since his business had burned down not two months ago he had this chance, this one chance, to do something different with his life.

But the beauty of the region tugged at him now, tightening the grip on his heart.

With the rain and fog and mist, lakes and rivers everywhere, fjords and glaciers, what more could he want? What more did a man need? Except Adam wanted and needed something he couldn’t put his finger on. After this expedition to map a cave, he already had the next three months planned out, and he wouldn’t be spending them in Alaska.

His sister, Heidi, had extracted one promise from him— be home by Christmas. As if it mattered if he was there or not. She and his brothers had lives of their own now. Families of their own. Adam was the odd man out. He wasn’t sure they would miss him if he didn’t show for Christmas. But he hadn’t even left yet and he was at a crossroad. Cobie suddenly turning up in his life again made for more indecision.

Yep. A serious fork in a road he had yet to travel.

“Looks like we’re almost there,” Adam said.

“There’s another boat anchored near the shore.” Gary gestured. “See? Just through there. Could be Cobie’s friends.”

“I hope they’re not already on the island,” Adam said. “They need to be warned about Cobie’s attacker. Did you see any other boats coming or going?”

“No.” Gary eyed Adam. “He must have left before we got here.”

“Or...he’s still on the island.”