Leslie wondered why.
What came to mind was the way the lake gleamed in the dawn light, and the
crisp pine-scented air that blew through the windows of her cabin at night, and
the way Dev had gazed at her that morning—
as if she’d really seen her. She remembered asking Dev why she was being so
kind.
• 109 •
RADCLY fFE
Because I used to be in love with you.
Leslie shook her head. Past tense. Past dreams. Past mistakes. All behind her
now. And that was where she was determined it all would stay.
“I’m going down the street to the Starbucks for coffee. Want one?”
“Tea, I think. Thanks.”
“Be right back.” As soon as Leslie exited the hospital, she pressed Rachel’s cell
number on the speed dial. To her surprise, Rachel answered. “Hi, Rach, it’s
me.”
“Hello, darling. I’ve just got a minute, but I saw it was you and I was going to
call you anyhow. Can you get down to the city this weekend? There’s a
fundraiser Saturday night we should go to.”
“I can’t. My father’s had an accident—a broken leg. He’s in surgery right now.”
“Damn. I really need to put in an appearance at this thing.” There was silence for
a few seconds. “Maybe I can come up for a few hours on Sunday.”
“Thanks, but you don’t need to. I just can’t get away right now.”
“I’m so sorry, darling. Are you sure?”
“Yes. Really. There’s nothing to be done, but I can’t leave my mother with
everything at the lodge right now.”
Rachel’s tone was cautious. “I suppose that means you’ll be staying a bit
longer?”
“At least another week or so.” Leslie hesitated. “Maybe you can come up over
the Fourth of July recess.”
“I suppose that’s a possibility. Look, we’ll talk more later.”
“All right. Call me.”
“I will. Love you, darling. Bye.”
“Goodbye,” Leslie said, and slipped her BlackBerry into her purse. As she
stepped into line at the coffee counter, she tried to bring Rachel’s face into
focus. When she couldn’t, she told herself that was completely normal and
meant nothing. Then, for just a second, she had a crystal-clear image of Dev,
and the intensity in Dev’s eyes was so sharp she gasped.
“Help you, ma’am?”
Leslie jerked and stared at the young man behind the counter, thankful for the
diversion. “Yes. Large coffee. And a tea.”
• 110 •
WHEN DREAMS TREMBLE
“Sure. Anything else?”
A little dose of reality would be good, Leslie thought. She smiled faintly. “No.
Thanks. I’m ? ne.”
She seemed to be saying that a lot lately, but she was starting to wonder. She
glanced at her watch. Unfortunately, she’d still have time for the tests she’d
scheduled. At least if she had them, she’d be one step closer to getting back to
Manhattan and getting her life back. That was reason enough to keep the
appointment.
• 111 •
• 112 •
WHEN DREAMS TREMBLE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Dr. Weber?”
Dev glanced up from the microscope toward the young redhead who stood in
the doorway of her lab. “Hi, Susan. What’s up?”
“There’s a visitor downstairs for you. A Ms. Evans. Do you want me to bring
her up?”
“No, that’s okay. I’ll go down. Thanks.”
Dev stored the specimens she’d been examining in the refrigerator, tossed her
lab coat over a swivel chair behind her desk, and walked down the wide,
brightly lit hallway to the stairwell. Her summer of? ce at the Marine Life
Institute was on the fourth ? oor, and it only took her a moment to reach the
atrium lobby. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a picturesque view of the lake.
Natalie, looking fresh and relaxed in civilian clothes, stood gazing out. Her pale
yellow blouse and coffee-colored shorts complemented her subtle tan. She
turned and smiled at Dev’s approach.
“Am I interrupting?” Natalie asked.
“Nothing that won’t keep. Day off?”
Natalie nodded. “With the Fourth coming up in a little over a week, the holiday
visitors will arrive in force starting tomorrow. I can’t count on time off again for
a while. Besides, I wanted to see you before you head out to the islands.”
“I have to postpone that for a couple of days,” Dev said. “How about we grab
lunch and I’ll explain.”
“How about we pick up sandwiches and take my boat out for a few hours. I
keep it moored at the station. One of the perks of the job.”
Dev checked her watch. “I have to be back in by six.”
• 113 •
RADCLY fFE
Natalie threaded her arm through Dev’s. “Don’t worry. I’ll get you home by
curfew.”
Laughing, Dev let Natalie lead her from the building into the bright sunshine. On
the way to the ranger station, she explained about Paul Harris.
“So you’re ? lling in at the lodge?” Natalie asked, eyeing Dev curiously. She
pulled into the station lot and parked close to the boat docks.
“A bit.”
“Nice of you.” Natalie climbed out and pointed to a cooler on the backseat of
her car. “Can you grab that?”
“Sure.”
Dev wondered at Natalie’s sudden silence while they checked gear and cast off,
but once they were underway, Natalie seemed herself again—chatting casually
about events at the station and pointing out her favorite spots on the lake.
Twenty minutes later, they dropped anchor in a small cove on the far side of a
smaller island in the Glen Island Group. Other than boats passing by within sight
—but not shouting distance—they were alone.
“This is some boat,” Dev said. Natalie’s twenty-three-foot ? berglass SeaCraft
had a cuddy cabin, an enclosed area in the front of the boat with sleeping and
