Harm had the sudden urge to pull the woman into his arms, to hold her and make the hurt go away. But she was still grieving for her husband. It wouldnt be right for him to embrace her.
She dipped her chin. I guess I miss him more at night, when I slow down from the days activities. The past week has been particularly difficult with everything happening at once.
Harm couldnt resist. He opened his arms. Im not your husband, but I have strong arms.
She gave him a wobbly smile and stepped into his embrace. Thanks. Talia rested her hands on his chest and pressed her forehead to his breastbone. I didnt realize how much I missed having a hug.
My pleasure, he said, his tone soft, gentle, as calming as he could make it. The moment shed stepped into his arms, he realized his mistake. Hed gone a while without female companionship. Her body pressed to his made him hyperaware of that neglect.
She was the perfect height, the top of her head coming up to just beneath his chin. He rested his hands at the small of her back, amazed at how narrow her waist was in comparison to the swell of her luscious hips and breasts. His blood heated and his groin tightened automatically.
Yeah, holding this woman, who still grieved her husband, might not be his smartest move.
For a long moment, Talia stood in his arms. Eventually, she turned her head and laid her cheek against his heart.
He pressed her closer, fully cognizant of even her slightest move. Conscious of his own proximity and desires, he fought to hold himself back from making an idiot of himself.
Why are you still here at the resort? Why didnt you leave when your husband passed? he asked.
She shrugged. I loved Michael. Leaving here would have been like leaving him all over again. I thought about selling, but I just couldnt. This was his dream. He saw beauty in every living creature. For the most part, so did I. But when one of his beautiful creatures killed him, I had a hard time seeing them as purely beautiful.
Finally, he set her at arms length and brushed a strand of her dark hair off her cheek, tucking it behind her ear. Are you okay for now?
She nodded and then looked up into his eyes. Youre kind. Thank you.
For what? I should be thanking you. Its been a long time since Ive held a beautiful woman in my arms. He clasped his hands together to keep from pulling her back against him.
Look at us. All this talk about me and my lost love...what about you? Talia asked.
Harm stiffened. What about me?
You say you havent held a woman in your arms for a long time. Talia pinned him with her wide-eyed stare. Why not?
His jaw tightened. I have a job to do. Women arent part of it.
But you have to have someone to come home to.
Why? He waved his hand. Dont answer that. My job precludes relationships. Besides, unlike you, I dont believe in true love. It doesnt exist.
Oh, but it does. She touched his shoulder. Its that feeling that you cant live without that person, that your life is better for having him in it.
And when he leaves, sends you a Dear John letter, just walks out of your life or dies?
She smiled. You thank God you had him for the time you did.
But you said you couldnt live without him. Yet, here you are. He raked her with his gaze. You appear to be very much alive to me.
She chuckled. I am. And I had to learn how to live without him, but I wouldnt trade my time with Michael for anything.
If you believe in love, are you going to fall in love again? Knowing what could happen?
I dont know if love can happen for me again, but if it does, Im not going to pass it up because Im afraid of losing him. Id be stupid to walk away when there is so much happiness to be gained.
And so much sorrow... he reminded her.
Talia nodded. True, but feeling so deeply is a sign that were very much alive. If I push past the sorrow, I remember the happiness and its all worth it. She laughed. Im sorry. Youre a guest. I shouldnt be bringing you down with my troubles.
You didnt. Im just curious. If youre finally getting over the sorrow, whats keeping you up at night? When we were here a couple weeks ago, other than the poachers, I didnt get the feeling you were unhappy.
I wasnt. She stared out at the night again. Everything seemed to be getting back on track. And then...strange things started happening.
He studied her silhouette, noting the frown pulling her brow lower. Normally Harm avoided deep conversations, preferring to remain uninvolved. But Talia had been through so much, and she seemed like a genuinely nice lady. He wanted to get to the bottom of her troubles. Strange? Like strangers showing up? Or hinky strange?
She laughed. Hinky? Her smile soon faded. Actually, hinky kind of describes it.
Really?
Yes. She stepped away from him and wrapped her arms around her middle. As the locals would say, the resort has some bad juju going on.
Harm crossed to the swing and sat. He patted the space beside him. Tell me about this bad juju. If it was anything like what hed been dreaming a few minutes ago, he could understand her concern.
She hesitated before joining him. As she settled, her movement set the swing in motion, gently swaying in the dark.
Again, Harm might have been better off going into the kitchen alone.
Talias warm thigh rested against his, and with every sway of the swing, he caught a whiff of her perfume.
Yesterday, we found native paintings on the doors of the cabins.
Graffiti? Harm asked.
In a way. Only the content was threatening.
How so?
Theyd painted an owl swooping down over several people. She snorted. Stick figures, nothing too dramatic, but enough to scare away the guests whod been staying in the cabins.
Why?
I had hired new guards to protect the perimeter. They swear they saw no one sneak past them into the compound. They got to the guests before I did and spooked them by telling them about what omen the images foretold.
And what does an owl mean in the local folklore?
She stopped the swing with a foot on the board of the veranda and stood. It doesnt matter.
Harm stood and rested an arm over her shoulder, cupping her arm with his hand. You cant scare me. Im a crusty old SEAL. I dont believe in bad juju. But I do believe in bad people who like to frighten women and children.
She squared her shoulders, shrugging off his grip. Im not easily frightened, either, but when it scares my guests, it threatens me and my livelihood. She lifted her chin and faced Harm. Around here, if an owl flies close to you or a loved one, it means someone is going to die.
You dont believe that hooey, do you?
Normally I dont. She looked back over her shoulder toward him. I believe people painted the signs over the doors. But its hard to discount the omens when they happen.
What do you mean?
The night before my husband died, an owl swooped over my head. She sighed. I shrugged it off as coincidence...until they brought Michael back to the lodge the next day. Then I went through everything I could have done to keep him from dying that day.