Free Then Came Love by Mona Ingram Page B

clothes.”
    Amanda started to shake as she watched them walk away. She wrapped her arms around her middle. “He could have drowned,” she said between chattering teeth.
    “You’re coming down from an adrenalin high.” Jackson had picked up her discarded clothes and was guiding her into the boathouse. “Let’s step in here for a moment.”
    They went inside and he took her into his arms. It was as natural as if they’d been together for years. She began to cry, sobbing silently into his shoulder.
    “It’s okay,” he murmured, smoothing her wet hair. “Let it go.”
    It felt so good to be held by him. The solid warmth of his body, the feel of his bare skin, the scent of his after-shave. She sighed contentedly. “I’d like to stay here forever,” she said and pulled back, looked into his eyes.
    He kissed her, slowly at first and then the kiss deepened. Desire raged through her body and she could feel her resolve slipping.
    “Jackson,” she said breathlessly...
    “Amanda!”
    They broke apart. It was Carlos, and he was right outside the door. Jackson pointed to the pile of clothes that he’d tossed carelessly onto the floor and guided her behind the door where she couldn’t be seen.
    “Just a sec” he called, and opened the door. “Amanda is just changing.”
    Carlos grinned. “I heard she took off her clothes. Sorry I missed that.”
    The scowl on Jackson’s face silenced him.
    “Sorry. Please tell Amanda there’s a call for her in Kathy’s office. He’s waiting on the line.”
    Amanda’s hands trembled as she tried to do up her jeans. “I heard him” she said when Carlos came back into the boathouse. “I’ll never forgive myself if something has happened to Gran.” She took off Jackson’s shirt and pulled her T-shirt over her head. Then she slipped her feet back into her shoes and ran to Kathy’s office.
    “Line two.” Kathy nudged the office phone across the desk as she rose. “I’ll be outside.”
    “Hello?”
    “Amanda, what are you playing at?”
    “Vince?”
    “Who else would it be?” He was shouting. “I go away for a few days and when I have to come back early to take care of some business my wife is gone.”
    “You’re at home?”
    “I just said that, didn’t I?”
    “How did you find me?” The moment the words were out of her mouth she regretted them.
    “Why, are you hiding?”
    “No, it’s just that...” She didn’t know what she wanted to say.
    “The garage called me about the car. Seems they’ve been trying to get in touch with you since last night but you weren’t available, so they called me.”
    “They called you?”
    “My name’s on the registration papers. Jeez, Amanda has your brain gone to mush? And what are you doing there, anyway?”
    “It’s a long story, Vince.”
    “Well you can tell me on the way home.”
    “The way home?”
    “Will you stop repeating everything I say? Yes, I’m coming up to get you.”
    “What about the Range Rover?”
    “They can’t get the part they need for a week. They’ll have it delivered back to Vancouver when it’s ready.”
    Everything was moving too quickly. She couldn’t think straight. “When are you coming?” She glanced at the clock on the wall. Was it really only nine thirty? So much had happened already this morning.
    “I’ll be there around two, two-thirty. We’ll drive back tonight.”
    “Oh.”
    “Well don’t sound so enthusiastic.”
    “It’s just that...” she let her voice trail off. He wouldn’t care that she wanted to ensure that Carlos was properly trained. Besides, that wasn’t really what was on her mind. “All right. I’ll see you this afternoon.”
    “Just be ready.”
    She stood staring at the handset. She didn’t want to go home; didn’t want to leave Jackson. She looked up, startled when Kathy came back into the room. “I didn’t know you were here.”
    “I wasn’t. I just got back from a quick trip into town. The phone was ringing when I stepped inside the