Page 2 of Singing For His Kiss

Elizabeth watched as Madeline tucked her head beneath her father’s chin. Her heart lurched at the tender sight. She dropped her gaze to her wet jeans and swiped ineffectively at the wet grains of sand stuck to the denim.

Toto jumped onto her thighs and tapped her on the chin with his nose, almost as though he was thanking her for rescuing Madeline as well. Unfortunately, the smell of wet dog wasn’t a pleasant aroma.

Elizabeth turned her head and held the creature at arm’s length. “Your dog’s wet, too.” Elizabeth wrangled the dog away from her face, and he went back to Madeline’s ready hand.

The man rose effortlessly to his feet, as though the girl weighed nothing. He adjusted Madeline and held his hand towards her. “Here. Let me help you.”

No one can help me.

She stared at his open palm for a moment before she realised he meant to help her to her feet. Hesitating for a moment, she placed her hand in his. Long, lean fingers closed around hers. His hand was smooth. Embarrassment twinged through her when she realised he’d certainly feel her own calloused skin.

“Err, thanks.” She withdrew her hand as quickly as she could once she was on her feet. He was quite a bit taller than her, the top of her head coming in line with his nose.

David Logan had been taller than her too, and he’d used it to his advantage. Unsettled, she muttered a quick thank you. The wind wrenched her wet clothes, slicing her to the bone with its chill. She shivered violently, her saturated jeans and T-shirt freezing to her skin. Her socks had somehow come off her feet, and the cold sand bit into her toes. She needed some warm clothing before she suffered from hypothermia herself.

She glanced to her backpack, a solitary item on the grassy verge a little ways away. Her clothes were in a scattered line as she’d ripped them off towards the water. Shoes. Windcheater. As she watched, a gust of wind flipped her coat through the air. A wave rose to clutch it with its foamy tips before devouring it into the ocean.

A sound of dismay fell from her lips. Elizabeth ran towards the shore. She had no hope of regaining it, but she was desperate, and hope was a tremulous thing. Her toes sank into wet sand, and a wave broke over her foot. Icy pain shot through her frozen skin. She let out a cry, stumbling back from the glacial water.

“You’re not thinking about retrieving that coat.” Disbelief coloured his words. The man came behind her, frowning.

“It’s the only one I have.” Elizabeth indicated the open ocean with a gesture of frustration. Another gust of wind blasted her, and she shuddered helplessly. God, she was going to freeze on the spot if she didn’t get dry.

“I’ll replace it.”

Her teeth started to chatter. She tried to clench her jaw to stop it but failed. “I don’t need charity.”

That was the last thing she needed. Or wanted.

“It isn’t charity. You’re freezing. You need to get warm. I have a coat you can have at home.”

Elizabeth took a moment to study him. He didn’t look like a serial killer, but she knew what happened when you judged a book by its cover. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

The man huffed. “The least I can do is offer to replace your coat so you don’t freeze to death.”

“I don’t need any thanks. I was just in the right place at the right time. Just keep a close eye on Madeline and that sea-soaked fur ball in future.” Another shiver wracked her frame. Her bones ached, and her skin felt as though it was being flayed off. She really needed to find shelter. Now.

“His name is Toto.”

A small voice captured her attention. Madeline was watching her. Something about those large blue eyes made Elizabeth smile, despite not having any feeling in her face. “Dogs might like to swim in the middle of winter, but it’s not so good for little girls.” Madeline smiled and snuggled into her father’s large chest. Elizabeth’s heart tumbled with something unnamed.

She aimed her words to the father. “You need to get her home to her mother.”

And she needed to get the hell out of here. Elizabeth walked to her backpack, scooping up her jumper and shoes along the way. She slung the bag onto her shoulder. Sand had snuck into places she didn’t want to think about between her skin and wet denim. Terrific. She hadn’t thought things could get worse, but there was always another level of shit-cake ready to sling itself at you.

“Have you just come into town?” He indicated her bag. She turned, surprised he’d followed her.

“Fresh off the bus.” She brushed past him towards the road. And stopped. She had no idea which way she should head to find the main centre of town. “Can you tell me where the hostel is?”

A pained expression crossed his face. “It’s a way down into the main town a few kilometres away. We’re pretty secluded here.” He indicated a group of buildings, perching on the peninsula in the far distance. Her heart sank. It was going to be one hell of a trek.

She glanced to the storm racing toward them. The wind was heavy with icy particles that sand-blasted her raw skin. It would be here very soon, and she was going to get a second drenching.

“But it’s closed. Won’t be open until the summer season.”

Her shoulder slumped, head falling forward. A hostel was the only place she could afford. She’d done her share of sleeping in bus shelters, but it was too cold for that. Besides, in this weather her clothes would still be wet by morning and she’d be well on her way to a case of pneumonia if she didn’t get dry. There was no way she could afford a doctor, or even medicine, if that happened.

“Great,” Elizabeth muttered to herself. She couldn’t catch a break. She thought maybe karma might have given a little because of a good deed, but it seemed she looked at Elizabeth the same way she always had. The other way.

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