Bay Hideaway Read Free Page B

outside the bakery. Plagued by an earlier uneasiness, her level of alertness was rapidly escalating.
    Something wasn’t right! Prior to entering the store, she had taken time to momentarily scan the crowd of tourists to find the source of her apprehension. What had she seen or heard? Nothing appeared amiss throughout the contiguous sun-drenched walkways.
    Even the nearby bench had been empty when she’d glanced about—or had it? Panic made her stiffen as she glanced back at the man now sitting there. In a split second, the stranger stood resolutely to his feet, and alarm coursed through her every nerve ending. Her eyes opened wide.
    Like fast-drying concrete, her feet abruptly stopped and the three shopping bags full of boxed muffins slammed painfully against her legs. Her breath stuck solidly between her constricted lungs and throat.
    There was no mistaking the identity of the strikingly tall man as he effortlessly removed his sunglasses and spoke. “Long time, no see.” His mouth twisted determinedly. “Surprise, darlin’!”
    Nathan!
    The prickle of terror churning within rapidly turned into an outbreak of sweat droplets across her forehead. Paralyzed, she could only stare back at the pair of defiant gray eyes. She stiffened again.
Help me, Lord!
The whispered prayer barely squeaked past her lips.
    Nathan stepped forward and she began to jerk back, but her feet remained firmly planted. She couldn’t even let go of the bags clenched so tightly in her hands.
    “What?” his deep voice taunted cruelly. “You don’t recognize your own husband?”
    Judi went cold. What she wouldn’t do for a trapdoor to swallow her whole. Matter of fact, this would be a fine time to check out of the horrendous situation with an elaborate fainting spell like the heroines in those sappy novels, yet she knew even the most contrived luxury of unconsciousness would never happen for her. No, life would force her to be cognizant of every miserable second.
    Unprepared! She felt utterly unprepared. After months of readiness, her preparation for such a moment had been stymied by the calm she’d experienced on the island. His impeccable shirt and tie routine didn’t help matters. He always dressed the part when he meant business, and right now the solemn expression on his face indicated every last fiber of his being was dead serious.
    Biting back the fear, Judi cast Nathan an anxious glance. “What are you doing here?” she blurted.
    He looked stunned at her question and laughed—a heartless, unamused laugh. Then his jaw squared and his eyes turned into chipped ice. “You’re unbelievable! I come to Bay Island to find my supposedly dead wife and all you can say is ‘What are you doing here?’ ”
    “Yes!” she retorted, suddenly finding the strength to react. “It’s a perfectly good question. I don’t know how you found me, but it seems counterproductive to what you’ve always wanted.”
    “Counterproductive to what
I’ve
always wanted?” Nathan repeated with contempt. “If you’re trying to confuse me, it won’t work!” His expression, however, told a different story. Judi knew the compressed lines in his forehead verified the perplexity he felt.
    “What did you expect, Nathan?”
    His gaze traveled slowly over her. “A good story perhaps. You have no amnesia tale or kidnapping conspiracy to bombard me with? No inconsolable tears of bewilderment?” When she gave no reaction, his face inched closer. “Maybe you do surprise me.”
    Judi flushed but stood her ground. “You have no right to be here.”
    “Really!” Slowly his hand reached out and she flinched as he touched her hair. “Red hair with the blended shade of creamy milk and strawberry.” When he switched his gaze back to her face she saw anger simmering beneath his cool exterior. “But changing your hair and name does not change the fact that you’re still my wife, Mrs. Whithorne. Do you have any idea what you’ve put me through?” He shook his head