Kerry felt her body clear the water, and she sucked in a breath against the painful grip of the single belt that supported her weight.

She kept one hand on the hull and tried hard not to kick out, her other hand tangled in the man's sodden shirt as they were fished up out of the sea.

When they were about halfway up, lightning crackled and the boat rolled, pitching down so far her feet hit the water again. Kerry gasped as the wave rolled back the other way, slamming her against the bow with stunning force. In reflex, she reached a hand up, feeling for the railing and hoping like h.e.l.l that didn't happen again.

Her back thumped against the hull and she felt a tingling start below where the belt was wrapped around her, the edges digging into her ribcage and almost cutting off her ability to breathe. She tried to pull up with her arms, but it didn't help, and she was on the verge of panic when suddenly hands were grabbing her arms and shirt.

The belt was released and Kerry was lifted over the railing, arms closing around her body and supporting her with a powerful strength she immediately recognized. She turned her head and buried her face against Dar's shirt, knowing now she was safe and everything would be fine.

"Got 'im!" Bud's voice broke through the rain. "Charlie! Get the h.e.l.l outta here!"

Kerry felt the boat begin to move. The rain was still pelting her.

Now that it was over, the adrenaline rushed out of her and she felt too weak to move. It was easier to just sit on the deck, wrapped in Dar's arms and half in her lap, limp as a dishrag. She could hear the man she'd rescued coughing, gagging up the seawater he'd swallowed. Her own mouth felt like she'd been sucking on caviar, and her throat was raw from yelling. "Buh."

Dar's arms tightened around her. "Let's get inside. I think my little hero here needs some hot tea."

Hero. Kerry blinked. "What?"

"He-ro," Dar whispered into her ear. "That's someone who does something stupidly brave and gets away with it."

Kerry frowned as she thought about what she'd done. Good grief. I just saved someone's life, didn't I? A tiny, incredulous smile crossed her face at the totally new sensation.

Wow.*77 HAVING RESUMED THE con, Dar shut down the engines, reaching up and pushing the rain hood off her head before she stood up. They'd outrun the storm, and now its fury was nothing but a heavy rumbling and flashes of light on the horizon. Dar exhaled, leaning against the console and trying to summon up the strength to go down the stairs. She was exhausted. Moreso, she suspected, from the intense, emotional stress than from the physical activity. Her hands were shaking, she noticed, and she had a headache that started at the nape of her neck and worked upward from there.

It was well after midnight, and heading for St. Johns tonight was out of the question. Even if the weather wasn't chancy, she didn't trust herself to pilot the boat, and so further investigation into their mysterious pirate encounter would have to wait for the morning.

Ah well. Dar shook herself. Buck up, Paladar, and git yer a.s.s moving. She walked to the ladder and slowly made her way down it, stepped onto the deck and pushed open the cabin door. Dar entered and closed the door behind her.

Inside the cabin, Kerry was curled up on the couch in her robe.

Bud and Charlie were sitting at the table, and their rescued sailboat owner was across from Kerry, swathed in a big towel.

Dar put a heavy clamp down on her immediate instincts, which were urging her to throw everyone off the boat so she could concentrate on her somewhat pale, and definitely ragged looking partner. Instead, she went to the galley and put on some water, fiddling restlessly with a spoon while she waited for it to heat.

"I was trying to get back into port," the rescued man was saying. "I don't know what happened. One minute, I was pulling in the mainsail, the next thing I knew, my engine dropped out and everything started going nuts."

"That can be scary, Bob," Kerry murmured. "I capsized in Lake Michigan once. Not fun."

"You can sure say that again!" Bob shook his head. He addressed Bud and Charlie. "You folks got a phone?"

"Nope," Bud answered. "Marine radio." He got up and walked out.

Bob blinked. "Something I said?" he asked hesitantly.

"Naw," Charlie rea.s.sured him. "Just been a long day." He cleared his throat. "Well, Mr. Gallareaux, I'm sure glad it all turned out all right. We got a spare bunk up top, if you like. You can get a run over to St. Johns tomorrow."

Bob looked pathetically grateful. "You all have been so nice."

He glanced over at Dar, then looked at Kerry. "How can I repay you? You saved my life." He had kind, hazel eyes and a nice face, slightly rounded with high cheekbones.

78*

A visible blush colored Kerry's skin. "I'm glad we could help."

She smiled at him.

Now it was his turn to blush to the roots of his red, curly hair.

"I feel like an idiot," he admitted. "I've been sailing since I was a kid. It's not like I'm a neo, but that storm caught me flat."

"Weather's like that down here," Charlie said placidly. "Well, let's let these ladies get some rest. It's been a busy night for 'em."

He got to his feet and limped awkwardly toward the door. "We can kick the generator back on since it's late watch."

Bob stood, removing the towel from around him. "I appreciate the offer. I'm about tapped."

"We're heading to St. Johns ourselves tomorrow," Kerry said.

"If you want a ride over, we can take you." Out of habit, her eyes flicked over to the Dar, who watched silently. "Right?"

Dar nodded. "Sure."

"Thanks," he replied simply. "Maybe I can start salvaging what I've got left there." Bob folded the towel and put it on the table, then followed Charlie. At the door, he turned and looked at them.

"I owe you." His eyes met Kerry's, then he slipped out the door and closed it behind him.

After a moment of silence, Kerry rolled her head toward Dar and let out a half groan, half sigh. "Got any Advil to go with that incredibly wonderful smelling coffee over there?"

Dar blinked. "Headache?" she asked.

"Everything-ache." Kerry was glad everyone was gone. "I feel like I was run over by a truck." She cautiously straightened, wincing as her body protested. "Ow."

Dar gladly chucked her emotional turmoil in favor of this new issue to focus on. She brought over two cups of coffee and a bottle of Advil, set them down, then took a seat next to Kerry on the couch. "Where does it hurt?"

Kerry put a hand on her belly. "That belt nearly killed me," she joked wanly.

Dar untied her robe and opened it. "Jesus." Her eyes widened at the lurid bruise circling Kerry's waist. "I bet that hurts." She touched the bruise, then gently turned Kerry over. "All across your back, too."

Kerry found herself nestled against Dar's chest. It was nice, even though she was still damp. "Honey, you need to change.

You're wet," she murmured. "You'll catch cold."

Dar examined another bruise crossing Kerry's spine. She probed carefully. "Does this hurt?"

"A little," Kerry replied. "More like an ache," she added. "I don't think anything's seriously damaged."

"Thank you for your opinion, Dr. Stuart," Dar remarked dryly.

"Did you hit your head anywhere?" She slid her fingers up into*79 Kerry's thick, blonde hair and felt for any telltale b.u.mps.

"No, I don't think so," Kerry said. "I'm just sore-that water was brutal."

Dar stroked the back of her neck and gave her a pat. "Well, that's what you get for being a hero," she told her partner. "You scared the sense out of me, you know that, right?"

Kerry rolled over and stretched out her body, putting her head in Dar's lap and looking up at her. "I scared the sense out of me, too," she replied. "I realized in mid air just what an incredibly stupid thing I was doing."

Dar's smile was fleeting.

Kerry studied Dar's face, seeing the residual tension in it. Her eyes were bloodshot and there was a deep furrow between her brows. She lifted her hand and touched Dar's cheek. "Do heroic things always seem so dumb?" Kerry asked. "I mean, when you think about what you did?"

Dar let her hand rest on Kerry's stomach, her thumb rubbing gently against the soft skin above her belly b.u.t.ton. "Um." She exhaled, letting some of the tension dissipate. "It's a lot like pitching new technology."

Kerry blinked. "Huh?"

"If it works, you're a visionary genius; if it doesn't, you're a whacko," Dar explained. "You saved that guy's life-and it took a ton of guts to do it. You took a chance, and it worked."

"Hm."

"Just like I took a chance going through those reefs, and it worked," Dar added quietly. "If it hadn't, we'd be in real trouble right now, and if the waves hadn't broken right, you could have been in real trouble when you jumped." Dar cleared her throat, then leaned over and picked up the coffee, took a sip of it.

"Catching cold already?" Kerry teased, hearing the hoa.r.s.e note in Dar's usually mellow tone.

"No." Dar put the cup down. "I was screaming your name so loud I lost my voice for a while." She sighed, her shoulders unlocking and slumping a little. She lifted a hand and rubbed her temples. "I think I'll have some of those Advil, too."

"Tell you what." Kerry heaved herself up off the couch. She tied her robe closed again, then took her cup of coffee and gulped down a mouthful. "Instead of drugs, how about we get you out of those wet clothes, and get us both into that nice, dry, soft bed."

"Yeah," Dar agreed. "That sounds great." She stood up and stretched, wincing at the pops as her back and shoulders released their wound up tension. "Hope that storm bypa.s.ses us."

"G.o.d, me too." Kerry stifled a yawn. "I want a nice, peaceful night's cuddle with you before we have to figure out what the heck is going on around here."

80*

"Cuddle," Dar mused. "Yeah. I think I need a cuddle," she admitted. "I feel sandblasted."

Kerry captured Dar's hand and led her toward the bedroom.

Inside, she turned and unbuckled the belt holding up Dar's shorts, unb.u.t.toned them, and let them drop to the cabin floor. The dim light in the room threw Dar's face into shadows, but Kerry could hear her still-tense exhalation as she stripped off her short-sleeved denim shirt and tossed it onto the dresser.

Kerry removed her robe as Dar slipped out of her swimsuit.

She set the robe down as Dar sat down on the bed and moved over to give Kerry s.p.a.ce to climb in next to her.

It was dark with the hatches shut, and very quiet. The boat was rocking gently, its violent pitching just a fading memory as Kerry carefully lowered herself onto the soft surface. She reached for Dar, and found open arms waiting as they slid together into a tangled embrace. They both sighed, then chuckled.

"What a day," Dar said with a yawn.

"Mm." With her ear pressed against Dar's chest, Kerry could hear her heart beat. As she listened, one hand idly stroking Dar's side, the beats slowed and the tense body beside her relaxed, as did her own. "Hey, Dar?" she asked after a little while.

"Hm?" Dar's low murmur answered.

"Do you think those guys were just looking for a quick score?"

Kerry asked, her mind still churning despite her exhaustion. "The pirates? Maybe they just saw an expensive boat, out at night, all alone."

Dar was quiet for a bit, apparently thinking. "Maybe," she replied eventually. "Boat this size, out this far...could be."

Kerry yawned again, her eyes closing against her will. "But you don't think so, do ya?"

"Given that their yacht could financially eat this one for breakfast?" Dar snorted softly. "Let you know tomorrow once I get a database run on 'em," she replied, rubbing Kerry's back lightly.

It was quiet again for a while. Kerry kept her eyes closed, but sleep was kept at bay by recent memories of the night. "Dar?" she whispered.

"Yes?" Dar seemed wide-awake.

"I didn't jump into the water to be a hero or anything stupid like that."

"I know." Dar stroked Kerry's cheek. "I didn't think you did,"

she replied. "Something had to be done, you were there, and you did it."

"Yeah." A pause. "Is that how it is with you, when you do stuff like this?"

"Stuff like what?"

"Heroic stuff. Like that time you stopped those carjackers and*81 saved me; that kind of stuff." Kerry said. "Or what you told me you did for that lady in that bar when you were younger."

"Ah..." Dar cleared her throat. "Yeah." She sounded vaguely sheepish. "Yeah, I guess it is."

"Mmph." Kerry drew in a breath, then released it with a contented grunt.

The boat rocked. Thunder rumbled softly in the distance. Peace draped at last over two sorely tested souls.

Chapter.

Nine.

LESSON ONE. KERRY regarded her reflection in the mirror with critical eyes. Heroism hurts. She put her hands on her hips and shook her head at the truly spectacular purple, green and red mark right across her stomach. "Glad I never went for the bikini look,"