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.Then, for just a second, she hada crystal-clear image of Dev, and the intensity in Dev s eyes was sosharp she gasped. Help you, ma am?Leslie jerked and stared at the young man behind the counter,thankful for the diversion. Yes.Large coffee.And a tea." 110 "WHEN DREAMS TREMBLE Sure.Anything else?A little dose of reality would be good, Leslie thought.She smiledfaintly. No.Thanks.I m fine.She seemed to be saying that a lot lately, but she was starting towonder.She glanced at her watch.Unfortunately, she d still have timefor the tests she d scheduled.At least if she had them, she d be one stepcloser to getting back to Manhattan and getting her life back.That wasreason enough to keep the appointment." 111 "" 112 "WHEN DREAMS TREMBLECHAPTER THIRTEENr.Weber?D Dev glanced up from the microscope toward the youngredhead who stood in the doorway of her lab. Hi, Susan.What s up? There s a visitor downstairs for you.A Ms.Evans.Do you wantme to bring her up? No, that s okay.I ll go down.Thanks.Dev stored the specimens she d been examining in the refrigerator,tossed her lab coat over a swivel chair behind her desk, and walkeddown the wide, brightly lit hallway to the stairwell.Her summer officeat the Marine Life Institute was on the fourth floor, and it only took hera moment to reach the atrium lobby.Floor-to-ceiling windows offereda picturesque view of the lake.Natalie, looking fresh and relaxed incivilian clothes, stood gazing out.Her pale yellow blouse and coffee-colored shorts complemented her subtle tan.She turned and smiled atDev s approach. Am I interrupting? Natalie asked. Nothing that won t keep.Day off?Natalie nodded. With the Fourth coming up in a little over aweek, the holiday visitors will arrive in force starting tomorrow.I can tcount on time off again for a while.Besides, I wanted to see you beforeyou head out to the islands. I have to postpone that for a couple of days, Dev said. Howabout we grab lunch and I ll explain. How about we pick up sandwiches and take my boat out for afew hours.I keep it moored at the station.One of the perks of thejob.Dev checked her watch. I have to be back in by six." 113 "RADCLYfFENatalie threaded her arm through Dev s. Don t worry.I ll get youhome by curfew.Laughing, Dev let Natalie lead her from the building into thebright sunshine.On the way to the ranger station, she explained aboutPaul Harris. So you re filling in at the lodge? Natalie asked, eyeing Devcuriously.She pulled into the station lot and parked close to the boatdocks. A bit. Nice of you. Natalie climbed out and pointed to a cooler on thebackseat of her car. Can you grab that? Sure.Dev wondered at Natalie s sudden silence while they checkedgear and cast off, but once they were underway, Natalie seemed herselfagain chatting casually about events at the station and pointing outher favorite spots on the lake.Twenty minutes later, they dropped anchorin a small cove on the far side of a smaller island in the Glen IslandGroup.Other than boats passing by within sight but not shoutingdistance they were alone. This is some boat, Dev said.Natalie s twenty-three-footfiberglass SeaCraft had a cuddy cabin, an enclosed area in the front ofthe boat with sleeping and lavatory facilities, and a spacious rear deckfor fishing or recreational activities. Do you sleep out on her much? Now and then. Natalie grinned. It comes in handy forimpromptu getaways. I ll bet. Dev spread her arms out along the back of the built-inbench and tilted her face up to the sky.She couldn t remember the lasttime she d actually relaxed. You re going to roast in jeans and a T-shirt out here.I canprobably find a suit for you in the locker, Natalie said as she pulledtwo St.Pauli Girls from the cooler. Beer?Dev turned her head and smiled lazily. Sure.Do you have anyobjection to underwear?Natalie froze with her arm extended, the beer in her hand. I guessit depends.Are we talking on or off? And just what kind ofunderwear? The utilitarian kind, I m afraid. Dev stood, unzipped her jeans,and pushed them down.She wore navy stretch boxers underneath that" 114 "WHEN DREAMS TREMBLEreached to mid-thigh.She unlaced her boots, shucked her pants, andstripped off her T-shirt to reveal a black sports bra. I guess you meant on, Natalie said, swallowing hard.Dev s bodylooked exactly as she d anticipated from the glimpse she d had in Dev scabin a few days before.Her shoulders and chest were nicely muscled,her breasts neither small nor large, her abdomen smooth and stronglooking.The scars on her leg were more prominent in the sunlight.Shehanded Dev her beer and sat down next to her, their thighs separatedby a few inches of air that seemed to undulate with heat. Good thingyou re keeping your assets covered.Dev raised a brow. Too much water traffic to risk going au naturel. It s great out here, Dev said as she took the beer. Thanks. Believe me, it s my pleasure.Dev grinned.When she noticed Natalie glance at her leg for thesecond time, she said,  Motorcycle accident.Youthful misadventure.Natalie regarded her seriously. It must have been a hell of anaccident.I m sorry if it s a sensitive topic. That s okay. Dev rested the beer bottle on her hip and regardedthe scars pensively.Sunlight filtered through the green glass andcreated slashes of color across her thigh.Until the last week, she drarely thought about those times.Now she seemed to be practicallyimmersed in the memories [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]