Silver Linings

down roughly on hers.
    Hugh's kiss was everything Mattie remembered, disconcertingly intense, just like the man himself.
    No subtlety, no finesse, but dear heaven, it felt wonderful. For a moment Mattie surrendered to Hugh's kiss, losing herself in it. But as the lingering terror was pushed aside by this kindling passion, reality crept stealthily back between the cracks.
    Mattie tore her mouth free. She was trembling again, but not from the memory of old anxiety dreams this time.
    “You okay now, babe?” Hugh massaged her shoulders with strong, reassuring movements. His gray eyes were full of concern.
    “Yes. Yes, I'm okay.” Mattie was furious with herself for the loss of control. She pulled away from Hugh and turned to gaze around the large cavern as if she had found some extremely interesting modern art sketched on the walls. “What a wretched place.”
    Hugh released her reluctantly, his narrowed eyes automatically following her gaze. He played the flashlight over the scene. “Well, shit.”
    “What's wrong?” Mattie glanced around anxiously, following the beam of light.
    “The boat's gone.”
    Mattie very nearly did scream then. She realized just how much she had been counting on the reality of Cormier's escape boat. She fought back the urge with every ounce of willpower at her command.
    The beam of light in Hugh's hand told the story. There was a large, natural pool in the middle of the cavern. It was filled with black seawater that lapped against the rocky ledge. At the far end of the pool was a narrow opening that revealed a passageway in the cliff wall that was just large enough for a small boat. A narrow ledge ran along the mouth of the opening like a lip. The rain-spangled sea lay beyond.
    “Now what?” She was amazed at the cool tone of her voice. Perhaps she was beyond anxiety now and was well into a state of numbed terror. Except that she was not truly terrified, she realized vaguely. Not with Hugh standing beside her looking so thoroughly annoyed.
    Hugh glanced at her, his eyes narrowed consideringly. “We'll figure out something. Don't go hysterical on me now.”
    “Don't worry, I won't. A good case of hysterics takes energy, and frankly, I'm exhausted. Are you going to tell me we have to turn around and go back out through those awful corridors? Because if so, I think you had better knock me unconscious first. I'm not up to a return trip.”
    “Relax, babe. This cavern is as good a place to hide as any until we can liberate another boat. There are plenty around. On an island like this nearly everyone has a boat of some kind.”
    “I don't think I can manage a night in this place,” Mattie said honestly.
    “It's a big place, Mattie, with fresh air coming in from the sea. When the storm is over we might even get some moonlight in through that opening.”
    Mattie sighed. “I suppose there's no real alternative, is there?”
    “Nope.” He reached out and ruffled her wet hair in a bracingly affectionate fashion. “Come on, babe, cheer up. We'll camp over there near the boat entrance. You'll be able to see out. It will be just like looking at Elliott Bay through your apartment window.”
    Mattie remembered the night he had stood with her in her apartment and looked out at the bay, and how, when morning had come, she had been standing alone in front of that window. She shuddered. “What about the, uh, sanitary facilities?”
    He grinned briefly. “Just walk out along that ledge that borders the entrance. Outside there's a few square yards of jungle growing on a sort of natural veranda on either side of the opening. You can use that.”
    “What about the tide? Is this cavern going to fill up with more seawater later on?”
    “No. This is high tide now. Cormier said the water never gets above that mark on the wall over there. I expect it can get a little exciting in here during a major storm, but other than that, no problem.”
    “I see. What do you think happened to Cormier's boat?”
    “Beats me,” Hugh said philosophically.
    “Perhaps someone already found this cavern and took the boat. Maybe this isn't such a safe place after all,” Mattie said nervously.
    “I don't think anyone else knows about this place. But even if someone does, we're staying put.”
    “Why?”
    Hugh was unlacing one of the string bags. “Out in the open jungle we'd be too vulnerable, especially with you clomping around making a lot of racket. No offense.”
    “None taken,” she retorted.
    “This