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  She’d actually agreed to stay in Rocks Village until Danielle and the babies were ready to come home. Realistically, that could be another eight to ten weeks. She thought of her small apartment in Chicago. She’d need to make arrangements for her mail to be forwarded, and she’d have to cancel her upcoming photo shoots, and recommend other professionals who might be willing to take on those projects. But she could do it. She would do it.

  Oddly enough, the thought of shifting her entire life from Chicago to Whidbey Island didn’t freak her out. Instead, she felt curiously at peace with her decision, and she realized it was because she’d already made up her mind to stay.

  An hour later, having showered and feeling refreshed, she stood at the kitchen counter, making a list of all the things she needed to do if she was going to remain on Whidbey Island, whether it was for two more weeks, two more months or forever. The sheer number of details was daunting, and she’d need to make at least one trip back to Chicago to arrange for the shipment of her furniture. Most importantly, she needed to find a place to live here. She had no interest in living with Eric and Danielle, although they would probably try to change her mind. Neither did she want to live in the cottage, even if it was vacant. If she was going to do this, she needed to be completely independent and have her own apartment or house. Which meant she was going to need some steady income.

  Maggie shifted her attention to her collection of newly framed photos, spread out on the long kitchen table, and considered them thoughtfully. If she was serious about staying, she would need to get her professional photography business up and running here on the island.

  She had so much work to do, but she felt energized and ready for the challenge. The sound of a car drew her attention, and she watched through the window as Jack drove past the house and parked beside the cottage. He got out, still in his flight suit and carrying his gear in a duffel bag. Even from a distance, he looked mouthwateringly handsome, and Maggie gave an appreciative sigh as she leaned her elbows on the counter and watched him. She thought he seemed preoccupied, but as he unlocked the door to the cottage, he paused and looked toward the main house. She debated on going out onto the porch to say hello, but he stepped into the cottage and closed the door behind him.

  In the four days since their encounter in the dark room, she’d spent every night at the cottage. They had fallen into a routine, of sorts, and if she were to continue that routine, she would go down and knock on his door and he would invite her in. But there had been something about his manner tonight that gave her pause and made her reluctant to intrude on his privacy.

  Since moving into the cottage, he’d been on what he called light duty, partly because he wasn’t scheduled to arrive for at least another week, and because his copilot had only just arrived. But starting today, he would begin a full regimen of duties. She had a good idea what that meant, and knew he was likely worn out.

  As hard as it would be, she wouldn’t visit Jack tonight, and would instead concentrate on getting her own life back on track. With that thought in mind, Maggie gathered her papers together. She went into Eric’s study, where she opened his laptop and began researching the current photographers on the island. If she was going to do this, she needed to know what she was up against for competition. There were more than a dozen photography businesses, nearly all of them located in Oak Harbor, but none in Coupeville or Rocks Village.

  Maggie began adding more items to her growing list of things to do. When a sharp knock came at the back door, she was so engrossed in what she was doing that she startled. Rising to her feet, she smoothed a hand over her hair, knowing it had to be Jack. She was surprised to see the sun had set, and as she walked through the house, she flipped on lights. When she finally opened the back door, Jack stood there wearing a black, button-down shirt and a pair of dark jeans. He smiled when he saw her, but Maggie thought his eyes looked somber.

  “Hi,” she said, feeling unaccountably shy beneath his serious regard. “I wasn’t expecting you.”

  He braced one arm against the door frame and leaned in toward her, looking impossibly sexy. “I don’t know why not. I was expecting you to come down to the cottage, and when you didn’t show up, and the house looked dark, I thought I should come check on you. Everything okay?”

  “Of course.”

  He tipped his head. “Then why didn’t you come down?”

  Maggie bit her lip. “Because I knew you worked a full day at the base today, and you looked a little beat when I saw you come home tonight. I actually have a lot of work to do, so I thought I’d give you some space.”

  He straightened, his expression unreadable. “Maggie, I don’t need space.” Reaching out, he caught her by the upper arms. “I need you.”

  Maggie flushed beneath the intensity of his stare. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to be pushy. I was just trying to be considerate.”

  Jack framed her jaw in his big hands, and it was all Maggie could do not to turn her face into his palm. He looked so handsome and strong and decent that she wanted to curl herself into his masculine frame and just let him take care of her, the way he seemed to want to.

  Jack dipped his head to look directly into her eyes. “Well, don’t. If you decide not to come down to the cottage, you can bet I’m coming to you. Got it?”

  Maggie nodded, pleasure unfurling deep inside her and slowly finding its way to every part of her body. “Got it.”

  “Good. Have you eaten?”

  “No.”

  “Grab a sweater. I’m taking you out. There’s a great little pub on the way to Oak Harbor that seems pretty popular. Interested?”

  Maggie put a hand self-consciously to her hair. “Can you give me ten minutes?”

  “You look great,” he assured her, tugging a loose tendril of hair from behind her ear. “But take whatever time you need.”

  In the end, Maggie was ready to go in less than five minutes, half afraid Jack might change his mind if she dallied. She pinned her hair up at the back of her head with a large plastic clip, and decided her white jeans and turquoise T-shirt would have to do.

  As they drove to Oak Harbor, Jack switched the radio to an upbeat station, reached across the center console and laced his fingers with Maggie’s.

  “How was your day?” he asked, glancing at her.

  “I had a call from Eric,” she said. “His wife is having problems with her pregnancy, and the doctors won’t let her travel until after the twins are born.”

  He snapped his attention to her. “What does that mean for you?”

  She tried to keep her tone light, not sure how he would feel about the news that she could be on Whidbey Island for another two months or so, and still not wanting to appear pushy. She certainly wouldn’t tell him that she was considering relocating to the island on a more permanent basis.

  “You met Carly, who works in the shop with Eric,” she began. “She’s leaving for Portland right after the arts-and-crafts festival, which means Eric doesn’t have anyone to run the shop for him. He didn’t ask me to stay, but I offered.”

  “For two months?” Jack’s tone betrayed his astonishment.

  “For however long he needs me.”

  She wasn’t ready to tell Jack that she’d decided to stay on Whidbey Island even after Eric returned with his family. Her insides were churning with emotions, and although Jack was a huge reason why she wasn’t returning to Chicago, she didn’t want to give him that power. She’d changed the course of her life once for a guy, and she wasn’t quite ready to do it again.

  Jack squeezed her hand, before raising it up to his lips and pressing a kiss against her fingers. “I’m sorry Danielle is having problems, but I’m glad you’re staying, Mags.”

  “Me, too,” Maggie said softly. “Although Eric was pretty surprised when I told him you’d already arrived. He didn’t think you were coming for at least
another week or two.”

  “What did you tell him?”

  “Only that you seemed satisfied with the services of your de facto landlady.”

  Jack slid her a disgruntled look. “Well, not completely satisfied.”

  Maggie arched an eyebrow. “Oh, no?”

  “Nope. If I was completely satisfied, you and I would have already spent a couple of hours at my cottage, and then headed out for dinner.”

  “Maybe we can save that for dessert,” Maggie suggested.

  Even by the dim lights of the dashboard, she could see his eyes grow heated, but was unprepared when he wrenched the wheel hard and pulled the big SUV to the side of the road in a spray of gravel and dirt. Outside of Maggie’s window, the wooded embankment fell steeply away, and through the trees she could just make out the glittering waters of Penn Cove. Unfastening his seat belt, Jack leaned across the center console, keeping his eyes on Maggie’s face as his fingers released her restraint.

  “I’ve been trying to behave myself,” he admitted with a wry smile, “but I decided to hell with it. I don’t want to drive another mile without tasting you.”

  Maggie’s breath hitched as he slid a hand to the nape of her neck and slowly drew her toward him. She fastened her gaze on his mouth. “I always was a dessert-before-dinner kind of girl,” she murmured softly, and felt him smile against her mouth, just before he kissed her.

  * * *

  THE RESTAURANT, appropriately called Flyers, was doing a brisk business as they pulled into the parking lot. Jack found a space and then turned off the engine, turning to look at Maggie. He’d pulled her hair down from the clip and now it tumbled softly around her face and shoulders. He noted with satisfaction that she still looked a little disoriented from when he’d kissed her and her mouth was swollen and red.

  He hadn’t been able to help himself. She’d looked so distracted and disheveled when she’d answered the door, and when her appearance was combined with the dark house and the fact that she hadn’t come to see him, he’d momentarily wondered if he’d interrupted something he’d rather not know about. In the next instant, he’d realized she’d been so engrossed in her task that she’d completely lost track of time. She’d had the look of someone who had just wakened from a dream.

  He’d wanted to take her to bed right then and there. Commander Craig’s words were still fresh in his head, and he’d had an almost overwhelming need to show Maggie that he wasn’t like that other guy—the one who’d ditched her. He’d felt fiercely protective of her and oddly possessive, in a way he’d never felt about any woman before. He’d been able to keep his raging need for her subdued until she’d made the comment about dessert, and he knew he had to finally kiss her. There was no way he’d have been able to sit through a meal and be sociable without first slaking his need for her.

  The kiss had quickly turned molten, and she hadn’t protested when he’d pushed her shirt up and her bra down, and had kissed and sucked her breasts. If she hadn’t brought him to his senses, he might have taken her, right there in the vehicle. But the oncoming headlights of another car had made her push him away. Even then, he’d considered turning around, heading back to the cottage and not leaving for a week.

  “Hey, you okay?” he asked, reaching over to run a knuckle along her cheek.

  “Yes.” She gave him a meaningful look. “But that really wasn’t fair. Now I’ll only be able to think about one thing while I’m in that restaurant.”

  “Oh, yeah? What’s that?”

  “You. Naked.”

  With a soft groan, Jack leaned toward her again, his body responding instantly. To his dismay, she laughed and put both hands against his shoulders, pushing him back.

  “Oh, no, you don’t,” she said, smiling. “You already had part of your dessert before dinner. You’re going to have to wait for the rest, if you haven’t already ruined your appetite.”

  “Are you kidding? I don’t think I’ll ever get enough.” Seeing the determination in her expression, he eased back and held up both hands in surrender. “Fine. Let’s go, although I’m sorry now that I ever suggested we go out. When I think what we could be doing instead...”

  Inside the restaurant, the atmosphere was noisy and crowded, and Jack immediately recognized several guys from his squadron. He pulled Maggie close with one arm around her shoulders.

  “Do you want to have a quiet meal, just the two of us, or go join some of the guys from the base?” He had to bend his head to her ear and raise his voice to be heard, and Maggie gave him a tolerant look.

  “I don’t think there is any such thing as a quiet meal here tonight,” she replied. “Besides, it looks like we might have to wait for a table. Why don’t you put our name in, and we can join your friends until a table frees up?”

  Jack nodded, and when he had given his name to the hostess, they carefully threaded their way through the crowded bar area to where several men had a table in the corner. It was moderately quieter there, and they greeted Jack with good-natured ribbing and raised fist-bumps.

  “Hey, everyone,” Jack said, pulling Maggie forward. “I’d like you to meet Maggie Copeland.”

  Jack sensed how uncomfortable Maggie was, but she smiled as they raised their glasses in greeting or reached out to shake her hand.

  “Here,” he said, dragging a free stool up to the edge of the table. “Have a seat. I’m going to get us a couple of drinks, but I’ll be right back.”

  She swiveled to look up at him, and he could see the anxiety in her eyes at the thought of being left alone with the other men. “Can’t I come with you?”

  “I’ll only be a minute,” he said, squeezing her shoulders. “You’ll be fine.”

  But he sensed how her gaze clung briefly to him as he headed toward the bar. Once he’d ordered drinks for both of them, he turned and watched her from a distance. The guys had engaged her in conversation, and if she really was nervous, she did a great job hiding it. That was just part of the reason he liked her so much. He got the sense that during her life, she’d done a lot of jumping without looking first. Most of the time, she’d landed on her feet. But a couple of times, like when she’d gotten engaged, she’d ended up getting hurt.

  Her spontaneity was just one of the things he admired about her, and he intended that the next time she leaped, he’d be there to catch her. He was fiercely glad she’d agreed to stay in Rocks Village until Eric and Danielle came home. While they hadn’t talked much about their future, Jack was more certain with each passing day that Maggie was the one for him. Being out in public together made him feel as if they were a real couple, and the fact that he’d introduced her to his buddies only solidified the feeling.

  By the time he returned to the table, Maggie seemed more relaxed, and he knew the guys had gone to extra lengths to make her feel comfortable. He appreciated the gesture, but just in case any of them had the wrong idea, he handed Maggie her glass of wine, and then leaned in to plant a kiss on her mouth. When he pulled away, warm color rode high in her cheeks, and she rolled her lips inward, as if savoring the taste of him.

  “Maggie told us she’s into photography,” said Mitch Lawrence, a young pilot whose duties also included being the public affairs officer for the base.

  “That’s right,” Jack said, leaning his forearms on the table and bumping shoulders with Maggie. “You should see some of her work. It’s pretty impressive.”

  “We have an opening for a reporter in our public affairs office,” Mitch continued. “The job is a civilian position, and involves writing news and feature stories for our monthly magazine, as well as taking photos. If you’re interested, I can set something up.”

  “Like an interview?” Maggie asked.

  Mitch shrugged. “Why not?”

  Jack looked over at Maggie, trying to read her expression, but she smiled and shook her head. “Thanks,
but I’m not much of a writer. I can handle photography, but I’d be hopeless at writing news stories.”

  The conversation turned toward the different places each of them had been assigned over their time with the navy, and although Maggie didn’t contribute much in the way of conversation, Jack watched as she followed the discussion. He loved watching her; she had one of the most expressive faces he’d ever seen, and everything she felt was right there in her eyes. As if sensing his perusal, she glanced over at him, and their eyes locked. Slowly, she smiled at him, and something tightened painfully in Jack’s chest. He knew then that he was totally and completely head over heels for this woman.

  At that moment, the hostess approached them, indicating their table was ready. Jack scooped up their drinks and after saying good-night to the others, followed Maggie through the bar area and into the restaurant. As they approached their table, Jack became aware of a couple sitting near the windows. They were probably Jack’s age, and based on the man’s haircut and bearing, Jack guessed he was in the military. He probably wouldn’t have given them a second look, except that the man was staring at Maggie. He couldn’t blame the guy for looking—Maggie was a beautiful woman—but where most men would have looked away by now, this one continued to watch her.

  Deliberately seating Maggie with her back to the couple, Jack held out her chair for her. As he did, the man stood up and came over to their table. Every cell in Jack’s body was on high alert, yet the man seemed almost hesitant to intrude.

  “Excuse me,” he said to Jack, but his attention was on Maggie.

  Maggie looked up expectantly, but there was no recognition in her eyes, only polite interest. Jack felt himself relax fractionally. As crazy as it seemed, for one instant, he’d wondered if the guy was her ex-fiancé. Now the man shifted his weight and laughed a little uncomfortably.