Submerged
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.”
THREE
“That’s Laura’s boat.” Concern for her friends kept Cobie on edge. “We’re wasting time standing here.”
She tugged the hood of the too-big rain jacket she’d pulled over her head. She’d put on Adam’s extra pair of rain pants, too, over her borrowed clothes. Although she wore gear meant to keep out the pouring rain, she knew that eventually it would find its way in and under the protective clothing. This was a temperate rain forest, after all. Wearing rain gear was an exercise in futility.
Nate and Jared stood on one side of her, Adam on the other.
Water dripped off his hood as his blue-green eyes turned dark, watching her. “Looks empty.”
“They’re probably both on the island looking for me. We have to warn them.”
“Ray said to stay put,” Jared said. “Wait until he got here.”
“We can’t wait. My friends are in danger. We have to save them.”
“You know she’s right.” Adam climbed into the skiff they’d towed that would take them where the trawler couldn’t go.
He pulled a weapon out of a holster and checked it. Chills ran down Cobie’s spine. She was leading Adam and his friends into a potentially deadly situation, but she didn’t have a clue what else to do.
His jaw set, Adam looked up at Cobie. “You’re not going.”
“What are you talking about?” Panic and rage boiled inside. “I’m going. You can’t keep me here. I’ll swim if I have to. What difference does it make if I get wet? I’m wet already.”
At the thought of getting into that water again, a knot swelled in her throat. Adam had to know it was an idle threat on her part, which made it worthless. Ignoring Cobie, Jared and Nate climbed into the skiff. There was no room for her; it was that small. Now she was spitting mad, but that wouldn’t help her make her case. She pushed her frustration down.
“Look, I have to be with you. Laura and Jen are going to freak out when they see you. They’re going to be worried about me if I’m not at the cabin. They’re going to think you’re the bad guys.” Maybe. She wasn’t sure what they would think. If they had only just arrived on the island, they were probably still looking for Cobie without realizing anything was wrong. It was worth a shot to convince Adam to let her go along.
Jared climbed out. “She’s right, Adam.”
Cobie quickly climbed in before Jared could change his mind, giving him a quick squeeze on his arm and a thank-you. Adam’s jaw tensed. He didn’t look happy, but that wasn’t her problem. He grabbed the oars and rowed the boat to shore.
They made it to the small sandy beach, the only place they could easily get ashore, away from the rocks and coral reefs that surrounded the rest of the island. She’d been fortunate to survive her jump off the bluff.
Thank You, Lord. She’d taken a leap of faith, as it were, knowing she’d either sink or swim. She’d sunk all right.
And Adam had pulled her from certain death.
Cobie shrugged off the memory and helped Adam and Nate secure the boat.
“How do we get to the cabin?” Adam’s rigid tone set her on edge, but she knew that deep down he was only worried about her. She wondered if he’d finally learned to think about consequences—something he’d never bothered to do in the past. He’d been reckless with her brother’s life, after all.
She pointed. “It’s just there. The trail is overgrown. Not many people come here, but enough do, I guess.”
Her father had. Others before him, too. Hard to believe the cave was mostly unexplored. Uncharted and undiscovered. There were hundreds of caves in southeast Alaska that they knew of. Many more they didn’t. And plenty had yet to be explored or mapped.
Cobie trekked behind Adam and Nate up the barely visible trail that would take them to the cabin. The same trail she’d taken earlier when the pilot had dropped her off. He’d escorted her to the cabin. When he’d expressed concern about leaving her alone, she had assured him her friends would arrive soon. He had a schedule to keep and had to leave, but he promised to stop by after his deliveries to check on her. Billy seemed like a nice enough guy, and she knew people who knew him in Mountain Cove. She could trust him.
As they climbed higher, the Sitka spruce grew thicker, and the birds chirped. In the distance, sea lions barked. Cobie’s encounter with the man bent on killing her seemed surreal. To think, a couple of hours ago this island had been a peaceful refuge. Now her fear gauge inched upward by the minute. What if the man was still on the island? What if he’d hurt Laura and Jen? What if he hurt Adam and his friends because Cobie had gotten them involved?
“Shouldn’t we call out for them?” Cobie glanced up, searched the trees above. Small animals scuttled across the branches. “They could be anywhere on the island.”
They could be in trouble.
“True enough, but until we know what we’re up against, I’d prefer to take the stealth approach.” As soon as he’d said the words, Adam stopped.
Nate did the same behind him, as did Cobie.
“I can see the cabin up ahead in the clearing,” Adam said.
“Let’s go.” She tried to hurry past him.
He held his arm out, clutching her waist, holding her back. “We don’t know if it’s safe.”
“Then you’d better be prepared to use that weapon.” Cobie shrugged free and ran toward the cabin. “Laura! Jen!”
* * *
Adam held back a few choice words. But what he’d said to Cobie came back to bite him.
We don’t know if it’s safe.
Those were the same exact words Brad had said to him when he’d tried to persuade his best friend to go down deeper into the cave they were exploring. Adam hadn’t heeded Brad then, and Brad had been the one to die. Life certainly wasn’t fair. Didn’t pick the person who deserved to live over the person who deserved to die.
The guilt was crushing, except Cobie wouldn’t give him a chance to stop and catch his breath. Gather his thoughts. That was the only good going on here. He rushed after her, but she was already out in the open, out of the protective cover of the trees, and yelling at the top of her lungs. Whoever was in the cabin had to know they had company by now.
With his gun in hand, he readied himself to defend them if it came to that.
“Cobie, wait!”
Adam caught up to her, grabbed her arm, pulled her back behind him. “At least let me go first. Let me protect you.”
Cobie opened her mouth to argue when the door to the cabin opened. Adam’s heart jumped to his throat. He threw himself in front of Cobie.
A tall brunette stepped out of the cabin and pointed her weapon at Adam. “Let her go.”
“Laura! Wait. This is my friend Adam.” Cobie stepped out from behind Adam.
Laura frowned and lowered her weapon. “I thought...”
Cobie ran to Laura. They hugged. Another woman, dirty-blond hair, short and sturdy like an athlete, joined the hug fest. Adam stood in the rain watching, the rapid beat of his heart keeping time with the drops. He dragged in a few breaths. That had been too close. Two friends trying to protect a mutual friend had nearly gotten one of them killed.
“Come inside.” Cobie and Laura pulled Adam and Nate into the cabin.
Cobie made the introductions. Laura cocked a brow when she recognized either Adam or his name—he wasn’t sure. He might have seen her with Cobie years ago, now that he thought about it. But she’d changed something. Lost weight. Dyed her hair. And the other woman, Jen, didn’t look happy to see him.
“We thought something had happened to you,” Jen said. “We went to the cave looking for you. You didn’t tell me you were bringing other friends, Cobie. Guy friends.”
“No, wait. You don’t understand.” Cobie started to explain but then stopped. “What’s...what’s all this?”
Laura and Jen moved out of Adam’s line of sight so he could see gear was strewn across the floor. Bags ripped. Junk tossed.
“I don’t know. We found it like this. And you were gone.” Laura flashed a suspicious look at Adam. “That’s why we were so worried.”
Cobie covered her mouth and glanced at Adam. Her eyes said everything she couldn’t say. This guy had tried to kill her. Had rummaged through her things. Why? Adam wanted to hug her to him. He thought about that brief moment on the trawler when she’d been in his arms. He wanted to comfort her like that again. Protect her. But he wasn’t the man for that.
“What’s going on, Cobie?” Laura asked, looking from Adam to Cobie. Nate didn’t merit a glance.
Cobie told them about the man who had tried to strangle her to death at the cave. About the jump off the bluff. And about how she’d almost drowned before Adam pulled her out.
Jen leaned against the wall and slid down. “Gotta sit down. My legs are shaking.”
“Mine, too.” Cobie joined her on the floor. Laura was next.
Tears welled in all three women’s eyes. Adam looked away. He couldn’t take watching them cry. It wasn’t that he had a hard heart. No. It was the exact opposite. He was too softhearted for his own good, and that had always gotten him into trouble. He had to work hard to protect himself. At least Cobie’s friends were here to comfort her. Adam wanted to join them in their efforts, but he couldn’t afford to let his heart grow soft again when it came to Cobie.
Nate shifted around the cabin, drawing Adam’s attention. He moved closer to his friend, away from the women who huddled next to Cobie, talking among themselves.
“The guy could still be here,” Nate said under his breath. “We need to keep our guard up.”
“Yep. Wish Ray would get here.”
Adam looked around at Cobie’s things all over the floor. Man, she’d brought a lot of stuff. How long had she been planning to stay? But then she’d need fresh clothing after she explored the cave, and maybe after she stepped outside, too. This could have gotten awkward real fast, considering he and his friends had planned to use this cabin while they mapped the cave. Had Cobie made a reservation, too? Or had someone overbooked the cabin?
“Cobie, you missing anything?”
“I don’t know. What could I have that anyone would want?”
Someone knocked on the door. The women against the wall yelped. Laura stood, pressed her hand against her gun. Adam frowned. “You might be good with your weapon, but I don’t need you shooting a hole in my friend.”
She scowled. “How do you know it’s him?”
“Is Cobie’s attacker going to knock?”
“Stranger things have happened.” Jen was on her feet, pulling Cobie up with her.
Adam’s gut churned. What if? He pressed his hand against the sidearm in his shoulder holster. Approached the door.
“Nate? Adam? You in there? It’s Ray.”
Relief flooded Adam and he opened the door to his stern-faced friend.
“I told you to stay put.”
Adam shrugged and swung the door wider. “Might as well come in.”
Ray stepped inside the cabin followed by another shorter man, about ten years older—probably the friend Ray had mentioned he’d invited to explore the cave. “Ladies, this is Ray Hamburg,” Adam said. “He’s a special agent with the Law Enforcement and Investigation division of the Forest Service.”
Ray didn’t give Adam his usual warm grin; he kept his authoritative expression in place. He’d been a park ranger before moving over to LEI. Maybe he would solve this quickly. “And this is Mel Timbrook. Also LEI. Looks like we have an investigation to get behind us. I headed off the Coast Guard. We’re usually not the first to respond, but I’m already here and this is my region.”
Mel and Ray looked around the room. Then Ray spoke again. “Looks like the cave-mapping expedition has turned into something much different. Someone want to tell me what’s going on?”
Face pale, Cobie stepped forward. “I... Someone tried to kill me.”
Adam didn’t miss Ray’s attention on Cobie’s neck or the anger that he worked to suppress as she told him how a man had tried to strangle her to death. Adam experienced the same rage after the initial shock of pulling Cobie from the water. That someone could do that to anyone. That someone could do that to Cobie MacBride.
Her voice shook as she relayed the facts, and Adam relived every terrifying detail with her. He remembered the moment when he’d seen someone jump from the bluff. The image of her underneath the water before he was able to grab her—her face pale, the terror of certain death in her eyes. And that moment when he realized the jumper was Cobie hit him like a blunt object.
The big adventure he’d planned away from Alaska over the next few months had been an attempt to escape the past he shared with this woman. Instead he was getting sucked right back in. But he had to keep her safe. Find this guy before he succeeded in killing her.
How could he protect Cobie? How could he be part of her life again and get his life back at the same time? Because there was no way he wanted to get wrapped up in her world again. If he had to, in order to protect her, in order to find this guy, then how could he possibly protect his heart?
FOUR
She thought Ray’s questions would never end.
Cobie leaned against the wall on the far side of the small log cabin as though that would give them privacy. Mel hung back and listened. Outside, the wind gusted, bringing more rain and blowing the wet weather through the island. Though a couple of portable lamps burned in the corners, the cabin grew darker with the storm. Nate started a fire in the fireplace that sent shadows dancing along the walls. She’d taken off her rain gear and, though she was still layered in Adam’s flannel shirt over a T-shirt, she grew chilled, in body and spirit.
To his credit, Ray was attentive and concerned while he took notes, never showing any skepticism, although the story Cobie told sounded implausible, even to her own ears. Still, Adam and his friends had seen her jump. And her neck revealed evidence that someone had assaulted her. Had the villain stood at the top of the bluff and looked down just to make sure she didn’t resurface? She certainly hadn’t looked back to check, and Adam and his friends had been focused on her. Did her would-be killer know she was still alive?