Heather Graham Bundle: The Island / Ghost Walk / Killing Kelly / The Vision

In the night, she imagined that she was hearing all kinds of things.

At last, with a sigh, she untangled herself from her sleeping bag and carefully stuck her head out through the opening of her tent.

There was nothing around. No one to see. The night was silent.

She crawled out of the tent to stretch, then froze.

She wasn’t alone.

Looking down the beach, she realized that what had appeared to be a shadow against a tree was a man.

The realization sent a flurry of fear snaking along her spine. She stood still, staring.

The shadow lifted a hand. Said, “Hey.”

“Hey,” she responded automatically.

It was Keith.

Barefoot, in her oversize T-shirt, she walked down the length of the beach to him. The night wasn’t especially dark. In fact, it was beautiful. The moon was out, along with dozens of stars. The breeze was gentle, and it wasn’t too humid.

“Enjoying the weather?” she asked.

“It is nice, isn’t it?” he asked. He sat down and patted the sand by his side. “Join me?”

She hesitated, then sat. “What are you doing?” she asked him.

“Enjoying the weather, just like you said.”

“It’s the middle of the night.”

“I have strange sleeping habits.”

“I’ll bet you do,” she murmured.

He smiled, handsome face rueful. “Is there a hidden meaning behind that?” he asked.

She shook her head and looked away.

“You just don’t trust me.”

“No, I don’t.” She let out a sigh.

He laughed. “By the way, what happened to your brother’s friends?”

“Pardon?”

“The guys who were supposed to be joining you. You know, the great big lugs who can open beer bottles with their teeth.”

She stared at him with a deep frown, having no idea what he was talking about at first. Then she remembered what she’d said when they met.

“I guess they got…sidetracked. They’re not coming.”

“And they never were.”

“Okay, so I don’t trust you much now and I certainly didn’t trust you at all when we first met.”

He looked forward again and spoke softly. “Well, we’re not pirates, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

“I didn’t suggest you were pirates. Pirates belong in ghost stories.”

He shook his head, looking her way again. “No. Modern-day pirates are very real. Ask your brother. Sail in the wrong direction and you’re asking for trouble. Think about it—the sea is vast. You can be close to civilization, but on the water, far, far from help. Don’t ever think of pirates as being something from the past!”

She frowned, surprised that he had spoken with such passion.

“Pirates, because of the drug trade?” she asked him.

He shrugged. “Pirates because some men will always covet what other men have.” He watched her intently, then turned away again. “And pirates because sometimes what another man has is knowledge that’s worth its weight in gold.”

The way he spoke sent shivers down her spine. She was sitting close to him, not touching, and she wasn’t sure if she wanted to stumble quickly to her feet and say good-night, or move closer into the aura of his warmth. He was definitely a compelling man, built like rock and steel, with his strange easy smile and chiseled features. And chemistry.

She knew she should be drawing back just because she wanted to move so close. She realized in shock that she was envisioning sex with the man.

Not a good thing when she didn’t trust him at all, much less what was happening here on the island.

He seemed to be warning her again.

“Go back to your life tomorrow. Forget anything you might have thought while you were here. And for God’s sake, don’t talk about it,” he said softly.

She shook her head. “You’re very scary, you know.”

“Am I?” He looked away again. “I don’t mean to be. It’s just a good thing not to get involved.”

“A good thing how? And involved with what, exactly?”

He let out a sound of impatience, flicking at a few grains of sand from his knee. “You’re trying to make a mountain out of a molehill,” he said, shrugging. “Just leave it alone. When you dig for one thing, you may find something else that you don’t expect—or want.”

The breeze seemed to grow chilly. She was silent for a moment. “Just what is it that you know, or at least suspect? Why were you so determined that Brad and Sandy shouldn’t see us today?”

He groaned. “There you go. I don’t know or suspect anything. Hey, I’m a diver, remember? I like the sea, the sand, the wind…going down deep where it’s peaceful and calm and the world doesn’t intrude. I like fishing, islands, Jimmy Buffett and the easy life. So I keep out of things that don’t concern me. And that’s what I’m strongly advising you do, too.”

She stared back at him, shaking her head. “You’re talking in circles, and the strangest thing is, no matter what you say, I don’t believe you.”

“Oh?” He arched a brow, features slightly tense, then easing as he offered her a rueful grin. “Is that a challenge? Or an accusation?”

“Neither. I’m just saying that I don’t trust you.”

“How amazing. I never would have realized—especially since we’ve just discussed that fact.”