She looked at her clothing again and found all the socks she could. There weren't many. Lorri began to pray for calm, even as she panicked more and told G.o.d she couldn't do it. Lionel had been beyond kind to her, but not in a million years could she tell that man the exact reason she needed more socks.

"You must have been praying," Click teased the lieutenant a little.

Rigg couldn't stop his smile. They were having engine trouble again but were also within an hour of a small island where they'd stopped before.

"Find Quinn," he ordered, not feeling it necessary to tell his radio man that he had been praying; he prayed all the time.

5151.

As was becoming a pattern, Lorri found herself waking from yet another nap, this time to find the boat rocking gently, no throb of the engine. Trying to wipe the cobs from her brain, she stood and walked to the door and looked into the pa.s.sage. All was very quiet. She slipped into the head long enough to see that things were still manageable. With a prayer of thanks, she exited back into the pa.s.sage and stood thinking.

She wasn't supposed to be topside without a life jacket, she remembered that much, but no one was about as she decidedto go up the stairs. Figuring they would have a life jacket for her when she got up there, she headed out into the sunlight.

She was frozen with surprise to see that they had come to another island. There was no need to anchor out from sh.o.r.e, they were "parked" next to the beach, which held an impressive stretch of white sand.

"Miss Archer." A sailor had approached from behind her.

Lorri turned, a little startled.

"I'm Jack. Lieutenant Riggs and some men have gone ash.o.r.e. He said that I could escort you ash.o.r.e if you wish.

"Oh. Thank you."

"Can you manage the ladder?"

"Yes."

She was on the beach a short minute later, looking arouBd at the trees and the sand. She turned and finally saw men working 'on the "boat. She a.s.sumed the others were patrolling to see if the island was safe.

She watched the men work for a time, taking note of thefact ; that the sailor a.s.signed to her was staying close by but not speak*ing. Lorri thought about walking up the beach and was about to

52.

Lori Wick do so when she saw Rigg heading from the trees and coming her way. She waited for him to approach.

"How are you?" he asked.

"I'm fine. Are we broken?"

"A little. It shouldn't take long to fix."

Lorri nodded.

"Stay close."

Lorri was about to agree when her eyes caught sight of the PT boat's name. She'd not seen it before.

"Every Storm?" she questioned before the lieutenant could move away. "Why Every Storm?"

Rigg's mouth quirked a bit.

"Because every storm in the Pacific finds this little boat. We seem to draw them like magnets."

Lorri's eyes had grown a little with this statement, but Rigg did not take time to rea.s.sure her. Someone called his name, and he turned away to go toward the working men.

Lorri began to walk slowly, hoping the sailor would stay put, but soon seeing that he was going to be on her heels. She felt bad about being a bother, but the thought did not have long to linger. As if waiting for her to be in a place of inconvenience, she suddenly felt as if the floodgates of her body opened wide. Without warning, she began to flow heavily. At the same moment, her eyes clapped onto the ocean. She moved that way, ignoring the man behind her.

"Miss Archer," she heard Jack say.

"I'm going to take a little swim," she said over her shoulder, not stopping or slowing in the least, barely even pausing as she kicked her shoes from her bare feet "I don't think that's such a good idea."

53.

53.

But Lorri was desperate. At the moment she'd forgotten that ; didn't want to be any trouble. She didn't consider how weak ; might be, or how taxing swimming could be on the body. Right r she was desperate to stop the flow, if only for a few minutes, jack could hardly believe his eyes. One moment she was walk; along the beach, the next she was in the ocean. He didn't go tafter her but stood on the beach and tried to reason with her. "I need you to come out, Miss Archer." "I'll just be a moment," she called to him, moving around a

itj and trying not to think about sharks. "I'd rather you came now."

"All right," she agreed, but made no move for the sh.o.r.e. She

Vas already tired but willing to buy every moment she could

tnanage.

"Miss Archer."

The voice had changed. Lorri looked to see Rigg on the beach, l^fck headed back to the boat.

"h.e.l.lo, Lieutenant," Lorri called, able to see his anger from the Iwater.

"I need you to come from the water," Rigg said, his tone meas-H^ired. "I need to speak with you."

Lorri couldn't take her eyes from him. He was livid, and his Hanger propelled her from the sea. She found her footing and grudged out of the surf and up onto the sand, her clothes cling-H ktg frorn. neck to ankle. She tried to pull the wet shirt away from her shrunken chest but looked up to see that Rigg only had eyes for her face. Furious eyes.

"What are you doing?" he asked. "I took a little swim." "Why?"

54.

Lori Wick Lorri licked her lips, tasting salt and sea.

"I'm waiting for an answer."

"I just needed to swim for a moment."

Rigg's brows rose to an amazing height, and he looked as if he was going to blast her with his anger. Lorri disarmed him by showing someanger of her own.

"Are you married?" she snapped.

Rigg actually started over the question.

"No," he said quietly, his voice calming as he realized she had lost all reason.

"Are any of your men married?" she said, her anger now fully showing in the lowering of her brows and the stubborn tilt of her chin. j "Several/'

"Well, maybe one of them can explain1it to you!"

With that curt word of advice, she moved around the man in charge, picked up her shoes, and made for the boat. Not looking at any of the men she pa.s.sed, she made for the ladder and took herself onboard.

The men hadn't missed a thing, but not a word was spoken, especially when the lieutenant came behind her not five minutes later and followed her on board.

Lorri came from the head where she had changed her clothes to find Rigg in the cabin. She was already ashamed of the way she'd acted, but he gave her no time to apologize.

"Have a seat." He directed her to the desk chair, shutting the door as soon as she was inside.

55.

55.

Lorri did as she was told.

"I don't have time for embarra.s.sment and blushing, I just need to know right now what you're using to take care of your needs."

Lorri couldn't look at him. He might command that she not blush, but it wasn't that simple.

"Tell me now."

His voice was all business but not unkind. Lorri didn't look at him to answer.

"Socks."

If Lorri had been looking at Rigg, she would have laughed. His mouth had opened a little, and for a moment he was surprised speechless. Lorri missed all of this. She heard him move just before he placed several pairs of socks in her lap.

Surprise brought her eyes to his.

"If you need more, tell me."

Lorri just looked at him.

"Do you understand?"

Lorri managed a nod.

Rigg exited without another word.

56 n u>& "What do you mean she stood up to the lieutenant? What did she say?"

"I couldn't hear; they were down the beach. But she went swimming and he got mad. It looked as though she put him in his place."

"But you didn't hear it?"

"No."

"Did she sing again?"

"Not that I've heard."

The men were silent until the guy in the top bunk wanted more.

"What'd she wear swimming?"

"Her clothes."

"Did you see her wet?"

"Yep." The word was said with pride.

"You dog."