She hesitated, then put her hand in his. The male heat and power of him shocked her, but it was too late to retreat.

With the same easy strength that Hawk did everything, he pulled Angel out of the limousine. As he released her hand, he let his fingertips glide from her wrist to the sensitive pads of her fingers, stroking her as he had stroked the gold pen. He felt the sudden surge in her pulse, saw the delicate bloom of color beneath her pale cheeks.

She looked up at him, confusion in her startled blue-green eyes.

His left eyebrow lifted in a black arc.

aIs something wrong?a he asked mildly.

Angelas flush deepened. She felt like a fool for being so physically aware of this hard stranger. With a quiet breath, she recalled serenity to herself, yet she could not help puzzling over the enigma that was Hawk.

At times it almost seems that he wants me, Angel thought, yet more often it seems that he dislikes or resents me.

Hawkas emotions were complex, quick, and very intense beneath his utterly controlled exterior. He was unlike any man Angel had ever known. She had no way to measure him. She could only respond to his searching intelligence, and to the loneliness and male sensuality she had glimpsed beneath his cold exterior.

Silently Angel looked at Hawk, nearly afraid of him.

And almost afraid of herself.

Hawk watched Angel, measuring the emotions that were conveyed so clearly on her face. With a sense of triumph, he realized that he had found Angelas weakness.

A gentle touch will unravel her.

Hawk almost smiled. Like a raptor soaring on the wind, he had caught the flash of movement, of vulnerability, far below. The prey had revealed itself. Now would come the swift darts and turns, sudden shifts of direction, a chase to heat the blood.

And then she would be his, an angel brought down by a hawk, an angel shivering and crying in his arms.

3.

Perched on the edge of a slate-gray cliff, the Ramsey house faced east, toward the Inside Pa.s.sage and its many islands. Between the indigo mainland and Vancouver Island itself, the ocean was a smooth, burning gold, a molten contrast to the nearly black, ragged rise of tiny islands.

Small boats circled favored islands, dancing on the choppy sea while fishermen trolled in search of elusive silver salmon.

To the right of the house lay the small city of Campbell River. The townas boundaries were determined by salt water and a jade-green river rolling powerfully to the sea. The late afternoon air was clear, almost surreal, as though diamond dust hung suspended in the sky, quivering with light.

Angel barely spared a glance for the magnificent view. The closer she got to the Ramsey house, the more she was afraid that Hawk hadnat told her the truth about the extent of Derryas injuries. It had taken all of her discipline not to question Hawk during the flight and the short drive from the Island Taxi terminus on Vancouver Island.

She had kept her silence, though. Some instinct warned Angel that she had already revealed too much of herself to Hawk.

The instant Hawkas powerful BMW stopped in front of the house, Angel was out of the car and running to the front door. She went into the house without calling out or knocking.

She and Derry had shared the house for three years. Initially the arrangement had been necessary; she hadnat been able to care for herself in those first months after the accident. Later she and Derry had continued to share the house during the summer, for she had sold her own familyas Campbell River vacation home in order to help Derry pay the inheritance taxes on Eagle Head.

Technically, one quarter of this house and the surrounding twelve hundred acres belonged to Angel. It was something she rarely thought about. So far as she was concerned, the Ramsey house and Eagle Head still belonged entirely to the surviving Ramseya"Derry.

aDerry?a called Angel, moving quickly through the entry and living room, searching for him. aDerry, where are you?a aBack here,a called Derry.

Hawk came in the front door just in time to see Angel run toward the back of the house, her pale blond hair rippling and lifting with each step. He stood without moving for an instant, riveted by her grace and the smooth curves of her legs.

He wondered how it would feel when she wrapped those long legs around him, holding him tightly within her.

With an impatient curse at his own thoughts, Hawk shut the door and stalked across the living room. The fair-haired Angel was getting under his skin. Hawk knew of only one way to exorcise that type of obsession.

In bed.

That was where the lies always showed for what they were, no matter how beautiful the lips that uttered them. Practiced pa.s.sions and movements ch.o.r.eographed by lies rather than love. Using and taking and discarding with a check and a casual wave.

Then back to the cold, transparent sky, back to circling and gliding and waiting for that flash of vulnerability far below, the instant when adrenaline raced and the chase began, making Hawk alive again.

Years ago Hawk had stopped believing that he would ever capture a woman who had no lies. He didnat even know he was looking for one.

He only knew the hunt, and the kill.

Impa.s.sively Hawk caught up to Angel as she raced through the kitchen and family room to the enormous, cantilevered cedar deck that flared like bronzed wings over the rocks and sea.

Derry was stretched out on a chaise lounge. From his left thigh to his big toe there was a swath of bright white plaster, immobilizing his normally active body.

Angel caught her breath at the paleness of Derryas skin, the purple smudges beneath his eyes, the full mouth drawn thin and bracketed by pain. Soundlessly she went to her knees beside him, cradling his head against her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. When she spoke, her voice was low, crooning, as though he were a sleepless baby.

aTake the pills, Derry,a she murmured.

She threaded her fingers through his blond curls, kneading neck and scalp muscles that had knotted against the agony that spread through him in waves with each incautious movement.

aPain has nothing new to teach you,a Angel said gently. aTake the pills for a few days. Just until you can move without feeling as though a knife is turning in your ankle.a Derry said nothing.

Angel leaned back, searching Derryas blue eyes.

aPromise me?a she asked in a husky voice.

aHey,a said Derry, his supple tenor voice at odds with the muscular breadth of his shoulders and chest. aIam all right, Angie. Really.a aThe only thing you really are is pale,a retorted Angel.

Derry smiled and hugged her close.

aIam fine,a he said. aOr I will be as soon as my back teeth stop floating.a Angel smiled despite her worry. aThat bad, is it?a aWorse.a She looked around for Derryas crutches. She spotted them, grabbed them, and put her arm around Derry, helping him into a sitting position.

aCome on, ox,a Angel muttered. aUse those muscles for something besides impressing the pretty tourists.a Belatedly Hawk understood that Angel was trying to help Derry to his feet. She looked absurdly fragile next to Derryas bulk.

Yet before Hawk could object, she began levering Derry to his feet.

Instantly Hawk moved closer, taking Derryas weight from Angelas slim shoulders.

aWhat the h.e.l.l do you think youare doing?a Hawk demanded.

aHelping Derry to the bathroom,a said Angel.

She was surprised by the harshness of Hawkas voice, and by his strength. He had literally lifted Derry off the chaise.

aThanks,a she added, smiling at Hawk. aGetting up is the hard part. The rest is just awkward.a Angel positioned Derryas crutches for him.

aReady?a she asked.

aI was ready hours ago,a Derry said sheepishly. aI just didnat feel like struggling to get up.a aYou should have called me sooner.a aOh, h.e.l.l, Angie. I can take care of myself. And I didnat want to take you away from the opening.a Derry looked at Hawk, then back at Angel.

aI still donat think I should have,a Derry said. aI know what your art means to you.a aThere will be other shows,a Angel said, firmly tucking the crutches under Derryas arms. aThereas only one you.a Hawk watched Angel with grudging admiration.

She has it all down, he thought ruefully. All the caring little gestures, the worried glances, the determined smile, the words.

A flawless performance of love.

Hawk might have begun to believe it himself, if Angel hadnat softened and flowed over him like honey at his first touch in a smoky bar. Angel didnat love Derry or anyone else.

She could play the role, though.

And so could Hawk.

It was a necessary part of the chase, of the hunt. Hawk could appear to be whatever the prey wanted him to be, until it no longer mattered.

Angel paced alongside Derry as he lurched forward, not touching him despite her need to rea.s.sure herself that he was all right.

Derry moved awkwardly at first, then with more confidence.

aYou havenat been on these crutches much, have you?a she asked.

Derry shook his head, not wanting to talk. He knew that the pain that was sweeping up in waves from his ankle would change the quality of his voice, telling Angel just how much his ankle hurt.

aWhere are the pain pills,a Angel said flatly.

Derry drew a deep breath.

aYou didnat take them three years ago,a he said.

aI did at first,a Angel retorted. aToo many and too often. This is different, Derry. Youare different than I was. Try one pill. Please. Iall stay right by you. If you get groggy and forget which year it is, Iall be there.a Angel looked up at Derry with wide, haunted eyes. He started to protest, then sagged against the crutches, unable to argue with the dark memories in her eyes.

aHow did you know what I was afraid of?a Derry asked.

aIave been there,a Angel said simply.

She stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. Derry closed his eyes and smiled.

aItas good to have you home again,a he said softly. aThe pills are on the kitchen counter.a aDo you need any help in the bathroom?a asked Angel as she turned away to get the pills.

aIf I get stuck, Iall holler for you,a said Derry, grinning crookedly. aAlmost like old times, huh?a Angel laughed sadly and shook her head.

aSome homecoming,a she said.

Smiling, Derry swung his body between the crutches, heading for the downstairs bathroom.

aWatch the loose tile in the hall,a Angel called after him.

aI know, I know. Iave lived here longer than you, remember?a Hawk walked closer as Angel went to the kitchen cupboard and got a gla.s.s. She filled it with water and turned around.

Hawk was so close that he startled her.

aYou live with Derry?a Hawk asked, his voice bland.

aOnly in the summers,a said Angel.

She set aside the gla.s.s in order to wrestle with the cap on the pill bottle.

aThe rest of the year I live in Seattle,a she continued. aI come up whenever I can, though. Especially on Christmas.a Angelas hands paused as she remembered the first Christmas without her family. Without Grant. Christmas was the worst time for memories and regret and rage.

She and Derry spent the Christmas season together, knowing that the other would understand if tears rather than smiles came in response to carols and presents.

But Angel wouldnat think about that now. Tears couldnat bring back the dead.

Beneath Angelas white-knuckled grip, the cap popped off the bottle and fell to the floor.

Hawk retrieved the cap with a smooth, rapid motion. He had seen both the sadness and the . . . courage . . . in Angelas face. He wondered what thoughts had caused her such deep unhappiness.

Or is Angel simply pretending to feel sadness and determination? Hawk asked himself. Has she found my Achilles heel where other women have failed?

Has she somehow sensed that there is nothing on earth I respect except the guts it takes to climb out of the deep holes life drops you into?

aThank you,a said Angel, her voice tight as she took the cap from Hawkas lean fingers.

aHave you lived with Derry long?a he asked.

aThree years,a Angel said.

She shook a pill out into her palm.

aDuring summers and holidays,a Hawk said, his tone almost neutral.

Something in the tone of Hawkas voice brought up Angelas head sharply. Drifts of pale, soft hair curled around her b.r.e.a.s.t.s in sensual contrast to black silk.

aDidnat Derry tell you?a Angel asked. aWe were all but raised together.a aYes, he told me. Very convenient.a Angel shrugged. aOur families lived next door to each other during the summers, and our fathers were brothers in all but blood.a aYet you live in Seattle most of the time?a aIam a U.S. citizen.a aWhen you marry him, that will change.a aMarry who?a asked Angel, startled.

aDerry,a said Hawk, watching her with cold brown eyes.

Angelas response was just what Hawk had expected, a denial of involvement with Derry.

As Angel moved her head in a reflexive, negative gesture, a subtle fragrance drifted up from her hair to Hawkas nostrils. They flared, drinking her scent. Desire ripped through him, but Hawk did not show it. A man who showed need to a woman was a fool.

Hawk hadnat been a fool since his eighteenth birthday.