September Storm by Brenda Jernigan Page A

started looking around to see what needed to be done and what could be saved.  There was so much to do, and it was hard to know where to start.
    Dani took her luggage out on the deck -- what was left of it anyway--so the sun could dry it out.  She suggested moving the furniture, but Adrian told her that would have to wait for the insurance adjusters to arrive.  So, needing to do something productive, she pretended to pick up small things, though all she was doing was moving things around.  She wanted to cry every time she looked at the damage.
    At lunchtime, they returned to the store.  Adrian disappeared while she made herself a sandwich.
    She decided to be nice and make one for Adrian, too.  She had the funniest suspicion that he was up to something, but couldn't put her finger on the exact feeling.
    She'd wandered out on the pier with her lunch and was enjoying the sunshine when Adrian found her.
    "Thanks for the sandwich."  He took a bite and propped his leg and hip on the rail.
    "What have you been doing?"
    "I just booked your flight," he told her before taking a sip of his soft drink.
    "Just like that.  But how?"
    "I used Angus' portable phone."
    "But I thought no phones were allowed."
    "It's a short-wave radio There are no permanent phones allowed on the island. There aren’t any cell towers on the island.  However, I choose to leave the world behind me when I come here, and a cell phone is the last thing I wanted around me."
    "So when does my plane leave?"
    "This afternoon at five."
    "But it's one now,” Dani protested.  “And I thought the ferry wasn't going to start back up again until tomorrow.”  Had he made special arrangements for that, too?  She wondered.
    "I checked, and they're going to make two afternoon runs.  The Power Company needs to get another power crew out here.  It seems many of the residents want to come see their homes."
    His business-like tone got the facts across with little emotion, and Dani had the impression he couldn't wait to get rid of her.  Staring at him, not knowing what to say, she thought, this is it!
    The whole wacky weekend was coming to an end.  She'd known it would.  But now, instead of being happy to go home, she felt completely numb inside.
    "I guess I'd better go and pack."  She managed a fake laugh. "Oops, I guess there's nothing to pack.  I forgot, I lost everything, too.  I'll get my suitcase, and say goodbye to Angus and Nettie."
    Was it her imagination, or had the air suddenly turned much cooler?
    "Dani."

 
    C hapter Seven
     
     
    Dani turned to look at Adrian.
    It took all her will power not to cry.
    Adrian didn't say anything, his gaze moving with frank masculine appreciation over her face.
    Dani would give anything to know his thoughts.  Would he ask her to stay?  Would she throw caution to the wind and say yes?  The silence lengthened until she heard nothing but the waves slapping the shore.
    Unable to stand the silence any longer, she opened her mouth but Adrian spoke first.
    "Never mind,” he said.  “It wasn't important." Turning away from her, he added, "I'll wait for you out here."
    Dani stared at his rigid back for a long moment.  Well, what had she expected?  Words of undying love?  She couldn't deny the evidence any longer as she turned and entered the store.  Seeing it through a haze of tear-blurred vision, all she could think was that Adrian didn’t care for her.
    What had she hoped for after three days?
    Even telling Angus and Ne ttie goodbye was more difficult than Dani had imagined.  What was wrong with her today?  She usually didn't cry so easily.  Now she couldn't keep the tears from sliding down her cheeks.
    The couple seemed surprised she was leaving so soon, but made her promise to come back and visit them.  Dani did promise, though she knew she would never visit this island again because if she did she would always wonder what if?
    It was time to go.
    She wheeled her luggage down to the end of the dock where