Eden's Spell by Heather Graham Read Free Book Online Page B

Jason was a great kid—polite, but very wary of strangers. But to Mike, Jason was talking nonstop, just as if he’d known the man all of his life.
    â€œTell me everything, Jason. From the time I saw you at the pool. From the time you came to me.”
    â€œWill you stop it! This is madness!” Katrina swung back around to face them, in a rage.
    Both Mike and her son stared at her with annoyance, as if it were she who was completely mad.
    Jason appeared perplexed. “Mom, it’s okay—”
    â€œCaptain Taylor, may I see you? Alone, please!” Her eyes widened to stress the last word.
    Mike and Jason exchanged a glance and a shrug, which irritated her even further. “Be right back, Jason,” Taylor promised; then he was on his feet. He bowed slightly—with definite sarcasm—to indicate that she might precede him out of the cabin.
    Katrina did so. She didn’t stop beneath the sheltered leeway, but stomped up the starboard steps to reach the deck, She didn’t look at Mike, but gripped the wooden railing—both for something on which to vent the fury and strength that ripped through her arms, and because the yacht was dipping and swaying quite precariously.
    She heard him behind her. He had sat down on the center rise that was actually the roof of Jason’s cabin.
    She didn’t turn around. She didn’t want to look at him.
    â€œYou know, Taylor, I really am trying to be calm about this whole thing. I still have no proof that you’re not a maniac. I’m giving you the benefit of the doubt because I have no choice. All right, you’re Navy, and you’re a doctor. And according to you we stumbled into your drug. But I won’t be used! Nor do I want my son used. He is not one of your laboratory rats, and I will not have him become one! You’re not going to sit there and pry and pick his mind! He’s a little boy, not—not something for you to study!”
    He didn’t answer her. Katrina was forced to turn around, and as she did, the sea suddenly swelled, making the boat keel toward the port side.
    She might as well have run to him, so cleanly was she swept from her position and catapulted into his arms.
    And he was ready. Reflexes quick and attuned to the caprices of the sea, he caught her. Arms strong and sure and steadying as she landed within them, face first, into his chest. Katrina gasped against the surprising force of the elements, and as she struggled to regain the breath wrenched from her, hot sparks danced along her spine. When he held her … when she was close … it was there again. A sense of déjà vu, as if she knew him well. The nice, nice male scent of him, the ripple of his muscle. Even the tender amusement in his eyes when she raised her head and found him watching her….
    â€œOh! Let go of me!”
    He released her, and she started to fall. Instinctively, she grasped for him again. And he smiled again, fingers curling around her arms as he led her down beside him.
    â€œI think,” he murmured, watching her, “that we’ve a bigger problem at hand at the moment.”
    â€œWhat could be—”
    He rose very steady on well-trained sea legs. Staring off into the gray horizon, he shook his head. “I don’t like this weather. Do you?”
    For the first time Katrina really gave her attention to the day. Whitecaps were forming; rain was definitely in the air. She couldn’t see the color of the clouds, because everything around her was dull gray, and darkening.
    â€œWe can’t stay out here,” she said flatly. “If this isn’t a true tropical storm, forming, it’s at least going to be one hell of a severe gale!”
    â€œI know,” he murmured a little absently. Then he was gone, back down the companionway. Katrina raced a little breathlessly after his long strides through the storage compartment, the sleeping cabin, and into the galley. He was at