The Whirlwind Rescue Read online

  Shaking her head at the memories, Natalie looked at him and felt the breath escape her in acceptance. She was here, stuck in the middle of a hurricane with a man that still made her toes curl. If this wasn’t divine intervention, she didn’t know what was!

  “You aren’t working at the station in San Antonio anymore?”

  “No. There’s an Academy near Dallas that specializes in disasters. It’s pretty prestigious. I applied to the Academy in order to help people and further my career.”

  “I’ve never known you to be so ambitious before.”

  “I’ve never had so much time alone to think before,” he countered with a soft goofy smile. “Tobin would say that I don’t think at all-and I bet you would agree with him, wouldn’t you?”

  “I might be tempted to at times.”

  “Times like today?”

  “Possibly,” she admitted, feeling herself smirk and quickly grasping at the chance to change the subject to something safe. It felt like Gavin was flirting with her and that could have a devastating effect on her, something she knew only too well. This was all so strange, to be talking nonchalantly with the man she’d adored in the middle of a hurricane.

  “How is Tobin doing?”

  “Quiet-just like usual. He’s actually at the Academy with me… well… not right now. I think he is off the coast fighting some fire on an oil rig in the middle of the ocean. I wonder if those things move like boats do? The thought of it turns my stomach.”

  “You still get motion sickness?”

  “Yeah. I don’t know why I try to fight it either. It’s not a one-off event. Remember that day at Fiesta Texas where I got sick in the trashcan, blaming it on the Frito pie? I think it was the roller coaster now. I used to joke about Tobin’s driving making me sick…”

  “You used to say my driving made you want to hurl…” she interrupted him, reminding him of the fact.

  “…Well, it wasn’t your driving,” Gavin amended with a smile. “I actually was dumb enough to go out on a boat with Tobin. I’m sure you can just picture what a bad idea that was.”

  “Was it like the cartoons, where you were hung over the boat?” Natalie asked, chuckling at the memory of him with his face buried in the public trashcan at the amusement park and mixing it with the serenity of being on the ocean.

  “Worse. I was pretty sure that ‘death by regurgitation’ was a real thing.”

  Laughing, she met Gavin’s eyes. Those invisible tenuous bonds between them were slowly weaving back together all too easily, making her smile fade away. This was the same man that had let her leave without a word. What about the heartache and rejection she’d felt? Was it all suddenly in the past? They had both moved on with their lives and within two minutes they were chatting it up like they were the best of friends?

  “So how long are we stuck here? When can we leave?” she asked flatly, trying to hide the onslaught of pain that was bubbling forth. She didn’t know if she could handle falling under his spell again only to have him toss her to the side like yesterday’s garbage.

  Gavin couldn’t believe that he was sitting here with the woman he loved. It was like fate had intervened, telling him that he was on the right path and those steps had brought him directly to Natalie.

  She hadn’t changed much. He loved that classic, timeless, subtle elegance that she had. Some women were flashy, wearing a lot of makeup or jewelry-and they were beautiful too-but Natalie had this understated glow that didn’t need those things to look pretty. She was like Grace Kelly or Natalie Wood.

  Simple, stunning, and sublime.

  Seeing her standing there had him dumbstruck at the chance encounter. There was no way that there wasn’t a higher power at work! Out of the entire state of Texas, he’d managed to find the single woman that mattered more than anyone else in the world. It was unbelievable…

  … And he was losing her already!

  He could see the almost imperceptible change in her demeanor. One moment she went from that lighthearted, enchanted laugh that haunted his dreams, to almost crestfallen, like she’d lost all hope. There was an underlying bitterness to her words as she asked when they could leave.

  “You can leave at any time,” he shrugged, “but I wouldn’t recommend it. I stepped out because I could have sworn I saw someone walking around nearby but obviously I was wrong. If they were, I hope they got some shelter too. It’s a mess outside.”

  He watched her jaw drop open in surprise at the callousness of his words and knew she was going to lose her temper. She got the cutest twitch around her nose just before she started snarling and spitting like a little kitten. He used to love to irritate her and then tickle her until she smiled. They usually ended up breathless and kissing before splitting up like two boxers in the ring. It was like a mental game of give and take between them.

  “…But if you think you can stick it out with me for a while,” he quickly interrupted as she opened her mouth to speak, “I promise I will keep you safe during the storm, and there might even be a huge hot fudge sundae in it for you after all of this is over.”

  Gavin almost patted himself on the back for that spark of genius he’d thrown out there. Natalie had a weakness for sweets that mirrored his own love of music. He almost crowed in delight as she clamped her jaw shut and sat there mulishly for a moment, glaring at him.

  “You aren’t going to cheap out on the cherries, are you? No one likes a miser when it comes to maraschino. Sundaes should have several cherries, not one or two,” she negotiated clinically.

  “Cherries, whipped cream, and nuts.”

  “Forget the hot fudge,” she amended suddenly, snapping her finger loudly and pointing at him. “Hurricanes call for Magic Shell.”

  “Breaking out the big guns, I see,” he uttered thoughtfully, holding back a smile of delight at how her mind worked. “Magic Shell it is.”

  “Name brand, too. No cheap stuff or knock-offs, either.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Gavin agreed, holding up two fingers like a boy scout. “On my honor, no cheap knock-offs… and no squelching on the cherries. I might even splurge for bourbon-soaked cherries for us. Hurricanes require a double upgrade, don’t you agree? Our nerves will be shot by the time the day is over but I promise you-we’ll be safe.”

  They smiled at each other and grew quiet.

  “This is nuts,” she whispered under her breath.

  Natalie looked away from him again and this time, Gavin felt himself looking away too. It was so easy to love her with all her smiles, quirks, and witty ideas. Who else would ‘upgrade’ their sundae due to a hurricane? It was like the idea of life was a celebration to her soul and he missed the joy she brought to his world.

  It would kill him to say goodbye again.

  Chapter 5

  “I’m going to go change. I’m soaked,” Natalie announced and got up from the floor where she’d been sitting for two reasons. One, the tile floor was starting to make her tailbone ache… and two, they were out of things to talk about, it seemed. They had both retreated into silence, unsure what to say or discuss. It wasn’t an easy camaraderie.

  Well…it was and it wasn’t.

  Talking with Gavin came naturally. He was such a likeable fellow with such endearing qualities that it immediately put her into protective mode. She was afraid of getting hurt once again, making her retreat in her shell.

  As she stood, she saw the storm was blowing rain heavily in through the broken window. The flooring, her couch, and the small sofa table by the front door where she threw her keys in a dish, were all covered in water. The curtains were being flung around, whipping rain droplets all around the room. Thankfully, nothing else had broken any of the other windows yet.

  “Go on and I’ll get it taken care of. Do you have a hammer and some nails nearby?” Gavin offered.

  “Let me get right on that while I find you some wood too,” she snapped, tenderly touching her cheek that now had crusted blood on the cut. It was awfully sore.

  “Is
it bothering you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Where’s your medicine cabinet?”

  “With my elusive hammer,” she sassed and sighed at his pointed look of frustration as he rolled his eyes.

  “You are full of vinegar this afternoon, aren’t you? I’m just trying to help. I figured that if I covered the window with something it might make you feel a little safer. It’s probably a good idea that you get comfortable while you can.”

  Walking to the end of the galley kitchen, Natalie opened a drawer and pulled out a tiny hammer with a hot pink rubber grip. Without a word, she held it out to Gavin, who took it with a smirk.

  “Still love pink, huh?”

  “People change. Their favorite colors don’t.”

  “Is there a pink box of Band-Aids somewhere too?”

  “No.”

  “No Band-Aids… or no pink ones?”

  “They are Sesame Street.”

  This time, Gavin’s face lit up wholly as the smile he gave her split his face. Gosh he was beautiful when he was happy and it amazed her that he could be so laidback at the most inopportune times. It was another reminder of why they had split up in the first place. She jerked the box of Band-Aids out of the junk drawer where the hammer had been, ignoring the plethora of paperclips, loose batteries, and other odds-and-ends crammed in there haphazardly.

  “Your sense of what is funny, and the timing of it, is way off. We are in the middle of a natural disaster and you are laughing at my choice of Band-Aids?”

  “No, I’m looking for the silver lining and remembering just how carefree you truly are deep down inside. I always liked that about you.”

  Natalie wasn’t sure what to say and any words she might have uttered escaped her as he opened the box and immediately put the bright red and yellow Band-Aid on her cheek ingloriously.

  Nothing sexier than a Band-Aid, right? she thought to herself and grimaced. It ran from her temple down to almost the middle of her face. Attracting Gavin’s attention should be the last thing on her mind and she wished it was. Everything in her was wanting to step right back into their relationship and pick up where they’d left off, even if her mind was screaming ‘no’ silently.

  “Couldn’t you have picked a smaller Band-Aid?”

  “It’s a pretty large cut.”

  “Mister medical man, shouldn’t I have some antibiotics or something on it? Oh, I don’t know-wash the wound-or something better than just slapping Elmo over it?”

  “You’ll live, I promise you,” he admitted with a half-smile. “I’ll doctor you up once we get back with the others. Right now, I’ve got a window to block off and you should probably see if there’s anything cold you want to eat before it all goes bad. How long has the power been out?”

  “A few hours.”

  “Okay. If we keep the fridge shut, it will last a while.”

  “Are you hungry?”

  “Are you offering to feed your poor lonely rescuer?”

  “Last I checked I was still trapped and riding out a hurricane.”

  “Oh, I like a salty woman,” he said feistily, leaning past her to grab a box of nails that was in the drawer and coming precariously close to her. He was within her personal space and it thrilled her. The fact that he was winking at her before heading towards the offending window was a double bonus! Just as she was about to say something smart, she hesitated. Gavin was taking a throw off the wet sofa and nailing the wet fabric over the window.

  “People usually use wood for that, don’t they?”

  “Did you have some hidden away for me to use?”

  “The coffee table is made of wood.”

  “Then you must have longer nails for me to use since you have all the answers at your fingertips, right? ‘Cause I don’t think these little things are going to go through the coffee table and I prefer not to have it airborne any time soon. At least with the soggy blanket over the window it might keep any glass or small debris out. It’s already wet anyhow, so what’s a little more water sloshed about?”

  “It’s fabric,” she said, following him, intending to dart into her bedroom to change quickly. For a moment, she almost laughed at the idea of putting on her slinky silver gown that he loved so much, but if things got really bad and she had to tread water, it wouldn’t be a smart idea. No, she would need something comfortable, easy to move in, and preferably bright colored so she could be spotted if things got bad enough. It was strange how the mind worked and how priorities changed when necessary.

  “Was this your favorite wittle blankie?” he teased, making pouty lips.

  “Hush, and keep nailing,” she quipped and turned away just so he couldn’t see her smile. Oh yes, she missed him entirely too much and seeing his teasing face made her heart ache. Stepping out of the room, she closed her bedroom door and quickly changed into a bright orange Disney t-shirt and some leggings. She grabbed a light sweater to ward off the chill in her bones from being soaked for so long.

  Hesitating, she saw that Gavin’s concert shirt was still hanging in her closet. She’d taken it when they split up and on really bad nights, she found herself sleeping in it for comfort. Grabbing the shirt off the hanger, she ignored the pang in her heart at giving up her last link to the man. He probably also needed something a little warmer than what he had on. He’d been drenched too.

  Returning to the living room, she ignored the sounds of hammering and realized that the whistling had become a muffled sound through the wet material. It sounded more like a creature wheezing painfully.

  “That sounds almost as awful, like the hurricane is alive and gasping for breath,” she grimaced, making a face.

  “Want me to yank it down?”

  “No, leave it.”

  Looking around at the soggy mess of the living room, Natalie tried not to think about her ruined things. It was hard not to wonder how the other little cottages were holding up or to think of the staggering amount of insurance claims that were sure to tie up the system for a while. Her own deductible was high and if she had to pay it right now, it would be painful.

  Remembering the shirt wadded up in her hands, she held it out.

  “What’s that?”

  “I thought you might like to dry off a little bit,” she offered carefully, not meeting his eyes. This was embarrassing; to be caught with his favorite concert shirt red-handed. She just hoped that he didn’t pry or ask too many questions about it.

  “That’s nice of you, but we are built a little differently,” he said with a wink, not accepting the black, wadded up t-shirt that she held outstretched.

  “It will fit,” she said flatly and pushed it into his hand, before walking past Gavin into the kitchen, where she’d been sitting before his sudden appearance. She felt safest there with the newel post and fewest amount of windows nearby. Hearing his breath catch, she busied herself, fishing out two cans of soda from the refrigerator.

  “My Duran Duran t-shirt? You had it all this time?”

  “It must have been forgotten or something. I found it.”

  “Forgotten where? We never lived together or anything. I’m pretty sure I never left it at your apartment.”

  “Look,” she said evasively, looking away. “Does it matter how it got here or what it is? It’s a t-shirt that will fit yo…your shoulders. Its dry and that’s all that should be concerning you right about now.”

  Natalie winced as she stammered. She’d always been a fan of broad shoulders and liked the way Gavin’s seemed to be just perfect. She hoped he didn’t pick up on that and would let the subject drop. Glancing up, she saw him removing his wet, bright red FEMA jacket casually and yanking up his wet t-shirt. Natalie whirled around, placing her hands over her eyes nervously, trying not to remember what his lean, tanned waist looked like.

  “Do you have to do that here?”

  “Sorry.”

  “Somehow I don’t think you really are.”

  “I don’t remember your being so shy, either. You’ve seen my chest befor
e when I played basketball outside with your brother last summer.”

  “It’s not the same.”

  “I promise it looks the same,” he said wryly and she could hear the laughter in his voice, “don’t suppose you have a pair of my jeans stashed away somewhere too?”

  “Even if I did, I probably wouldn’t give them to you now.”

  “Because I changed in front of you?”

  “Because you are making fun of me and I’m just trying to be nice. Coke?”

  “Yes, please.”

  Holding out her hand to the side of her, she felt him accept the can as she covered her eyes still. She could see his boots and the soggy ankles of his pants in her line of vision; knowing he was standing close by.

  “I promise I’m decent now,” he chuckled, “you can uncover your eyes.”

  Natalie didn’t say a word, instead picking up her own Coke can and reclaiming her seat in the kitchen. She’d been huddled there for hours; there wasn’t any place dry to sit in the living room, and the massive windows near the kitchen table weren’t exactly the safest place to be if something broke through the glass once again.

  Sitting opposite her, Gavin popped open the can loudly.

  Natalie winced.

  She couldn’t help it. Her nerves were shot and the storm didn’t seem to be decreasing in intensity any time soon. Glancing at him, she felt her heart flip over in her chest as she stared at him. The black coloring of his concert shirt looked so good against his tan, making the scruff on his chin only appear darker in color. He looked so good with a shadow of growth that made her want to scratch it just to feel the prickliness of his beard.

  “I never realized you were such an auditory person.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Some people like visual stimulation, like looking at art. Others like doing things with their hands… and then there’s people like us.”

  “You and your music?”

  “And you with your noises. I remember you always turned down the TV or liked classical music.”