Elusive Dawn by Kay Hooper Page A

creamed corn, a crisp green salad, and biscuits made from a special southern recipe. She also found a can of apples and managed to make an apple pie in spite of the oven's recalcitrance.
    She was hot, tired, and smudged with flour by the time she yelled for Shane to come and get it. The expression of surprise on his face, however, made up for her weariness. But she became more than a little irritated by his unflattering astonishment when he tasted the first bite.
    "My word. She can cook!"
    "Well, you don't have to look so surprised."
    "How was I to know? You seem to be a lily of the field when it comes to everything else."
    Robyn picked up her fork and glared at him. "Can you walk on water?" she asked with deceptive mildness.
    "No," he replied, eyeing her warily.
    "Then you'd better quit while you've still got a boat underfoot."
    "Sorry." Shane bent his attention to the meal and was silent for a few moments. Soon he began murmuring, "This is terrific... I haven't eaten a meal this good in years... spices and everything... Is that an apple pie I smell?"
    Robyn finally looked up at him with laughing eyes. "All right, you can stop now! I've been suitably mollified. Besides, I didn't rave like that over your bacon and eggs."
    "Those weren't worthy of raving. This is." He grinned at her, then stood to get himself another helping of stew.
    After the pie, they shared the cleaning-up chores, which soon became a comical enterprise in the cramped quarters-particularly since George insisted on getting into the act. George retired to the cabin, however, after Shane stepped on his tail for the second time.
    By the time the last dish was washed and put away, Robyn was beginning to feel more than a little breathless at Shane's nearness. Aloud, she blamed the stuffiness of the galley and quickly climbed the steps to the deck for some air.
    She stared out over the sea, listening to the gentle slapping of water against the hull and the night sounds coming from the tiny island a few yards away. When Shane came up behind her and pulled her back against him in a gentle embrace, she didn't resist.
    He rested his chin on the top of her head. "I've enjoyed today," he murmured softly, as though reluctant to disturb the peace all around them.
    Robyn smiled into the darkness. "Even George?"
    "Even George." He pulled her a bit closer, then added whimsically, "Do you know that you have a smudge of flour on your nose?"
    "And you're just now telling me about it?"
    "I think it's cute. Adds a certain something."
    "I'm sure!" Robyn reached up to wipe the smudge away, but Shane turned her around to face him.
    "No, let me."
    Robyn looked up at him, able to see him now in the glow from the huge yellow moon rising over the horizon. She felt the tingling shock of his fingers softly brushing over her nose, and she became suddenly, painfully aware of a churning emptiness in the pit of her belly. Without conscious volition, her hand lifted to rest lightly on his chest, feeling the springy softness of curling hair exposed by the opening of his shirt.
    Shane's brushing fingers began to caress, tracing the curve of her cheek, the trembling softness of her lips, finally cupping her face warmly. His free hand lifted to her hair, raking through it gently and freeing the heavy mass from the pins she had used to keep it out of her way.
    "I want you so much," he breathed huskily.
    Robyn was sure the fingers lightly touching her throat could feel her pounding pulse, but she didn't care. "You made up the rules," she whispered. "You have all the good intentions."
    "Would you have come with me if I hadn't decided on the rules and the good intentions?" he asked roughly.
    "I... don't know," Robyn answered honestly. "But I think I would have."
    Shane's hand slid down her back abruptly, pulling her lower body against his and making her all too aware of his pulsing desire. "Robyn, you're driving me out of my mind!" he groaned hoarsely. "How can I keep my hands off you when you say