Summary and disclaimer in part 1.

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Ms. Parker looked over at the tumultuous gray ocean, waiting as she did on many other mornings for the sun to rise. She had never been fond of dawn. She hated the way it blanketed her surroundings in harsh gray light, making everything around her look dead or dying. Even the stars that had accompanied her throughout the early morning hours had long ago contracted and disappeared out of her sight.

If it wasn't for the steady rise and fall of Jarod's chest, she would have sworn that he was dead, too. Fortunately, dawn was fleeting and Jarod's gray pallor was quickly infused with pink, followed by red, then yellow as the sun appeared on the horizon.

It was like watching Lazarus rise up from the dead. His body, which only minutes before resembled something that one might see in the morgue, practically oozed vitality in the golden light.

Ms. Parker blinked and shook her head, wondering what had brought on her latest train of thought. It was unusual for her to be so reflective.

She shook Jarod awake so they could go continue their expedition. They had been going around the island for the past couple of days and so far they haven't had any luck; trees and more trees seemed to be the only thing ahead of them.

The soil alongside the river, if possible, had grown progressively worse as the days passed by. Areas which only a couple of days ago proved difficult to traverse were now nearly impossible.

Ms. Parker didn't flinch when Jarod reached for her hand as they made their way past a particularly hazardous spot, a sharp contrast to her reaction to his touch only a couple of days earlier. She even smiled as he shared with her just what he planned to do after they got out of the island.

". . . and then I'd eat all my favorite foods. Pez would definitely be first, followed by some jelly donuts and Lays potato chips."

Her nose wrinkled after hearing the last item on his list. "Why Lays? There are other brands that are much better. For example, if you're buying salt and vinegar, a good brand to buy is Cape Cod since their chips are kettle cooked, giving it a fresh taste you won't find anywhere else. However, if you're thinking of buying something like sour cream and onion, your best bet would be Herrs since their blend of spices are. . ."

"I didn't realize that you were such a potato chips connoisseur," Jarod interrupted with a smile.

Ms. Parker playfully hit him in the arm, a gesture that would've surely surprised anyone who knew them. It never ceased to amaze her how well they got along without the Centre looming over their heads. "Just because I don't inhale junk food like you do doesn't mean that I know nothing about them."

"Any other secrets that you'd like to share?"

"And lose whatever remains of my mystique? No way!"

"Don't worry. I don't think I'll ever know everything about you, though I certainly plan on spending the rest of my life trying."

Her face remained expressionless while inwardly she became less than composed. Judging by the movements of his lips, she could tell that he was still talking to her, but all she could hear was the sound of her heart beating double time. Was that a proposal?

Lost in thought, Ms. Parker didn't notice the branch in front of her until she tripped over it and fell on her back, bring Jarod-whose hand still held hers-down on top of her.

They stared at each other for what felt like forever, their faces only inches apart. He didn't make any indication of moving away and she didn't try to make him. The tension between them was almost palpable.

Ms. Parker shivered as she felt Jarod's warm breath caress her cheek. She smiled as she watched him do the same while she quietly whispered "Sorry" to his ear.

She felt his mouth descend towards her. It felt like the most natural thing in the world for her to meet him halfway, their moist lips brushing, sliding against each other.

Ms. Parker let out a moan, a response no kiss with such innocence had ever elicited from her. Her fingers curled around his hair as she tried to bring him closer, wanting more contact. She couldn't get enough of him.

Jarod apparently agreed as he began to nibble along her lower lip, his hands hungrily roaming over her heated skin. He then parted her lips with his own and started to suck on her tongue, bringing forth another moan from her. God. There was nothing innocent about this kiss at all.

Ms. Parker didn't really know why she was so surprised; after all, they'd only been children the last time they've kissed. It was pretty unreasonable for her to expect that this would go the same way.

Except-she'd always assumed that their next kiss would be soft and sweet, much like the man hovering above her.

But his kiss was hard and demanding. Intense. It was like nothing she'd ever experienced before, and by God she loved every second of it.

"What do you think you're doing on private property?" a gruff, male voice growled, followed by the distinctive sound of a gun's safety being uncocked.

Ms. Parker and Jarod untangled themselves and stood up in a blink of an eye, their recent activity shrugged aside as they tried to deal with this new threat.

Both made sure not to make any sudden moves as they warily watched the newcomer point the barrel of the gun at them with ease; it wouldn't do to make the man nervous.

"We're sorry about trespassing, Sir, but I'm afraid we're lost," Ms. Parker explained with a smile, hoping to charm their way out of the sticky situation.

The stranger's eyes narrowed. "You didn't look all that worried to me."

"Well, we were!" she answered, her smile becoming strained as her patience wore thin.

"Uh, look, Sir," Jarod interrupted before Ms. Parker could make their situation worse. "We really are lost and would appreciate it if you could help us get us back to the Las Palmas Hotel."

The man gave them a look she couldn't quite decipher and said, "Fine. Follow me."

The pretender was about to thank the other man as they followed him through a nearby thicket when he realized that the man had stopped walking. Jarod opened his mouth to ask what's wrong when the stranger suddenly announced, "Here we are."

Ms. Parker and Jarod's jaw dropped in unison as they got out of the wooded area and found themselves across the street from the hotel.

"I don't believe it," she croaked through a throat that had suddenly gone dry. They had been so close. Why didn't she push him away when he kissed her?

If only she'd held herself back like she'd done countless times before. It would have allowed her to keep on ignoring their mutual attraction and go back to her life secure in the belief that nothing had changed.

Ms. Parker ran towards the hotel, leaving the two men behind. She could hear Jarod running after her but ignored him and headed towards the elevator.

'Please, God, not right now,' she silently pleaded as she waited for the metal door to open. 'I can't deal with this.'

As usual, her request went unheard and she soon felt Jarod stop right behind her. "Ms. Parker, about what happened back there. . ."

She closed her eyes and willed the elevator door to open faster. "Don't."

"But. . ."

"Just don't," she answered as she stepped into the empty elevator. "It was a mistake."

Ms. Parker looked up at him as the door closed and instantly regretted it. The look he gave her was similar to a puppy that had been kicked while it was down; she didn't like the knowledge that it had been her that caused it.

******

The first thing she noticed when she got to her room was the phone blinking, telling her that someone had left her a message. She picked it up and waited while she searched her suitcase for a fresh change of clothes.

"Room 310?" the operator on the line asked.

"Yes."

"A Dr. Sydney Greene called yesterday to inform you that the phone lines are still down for the most part. If you wish to call him, you'd have to use his temporary number. Would you like me to connect you?"

Ms. Parker wove her index finger around the telephone cord as she absorbed this piece of information. She could contact the Centre again. All it would take was one phone call from her to bring sweepers down to pick Jarod up.

His forlorn expression at the lobby suddenly came to her, unbidden, and she found herself telling the operator with more conviction than she felt, "No, that's all right. It's not important."

"You also told the desk clerk when you registered that you would like a wakeup call at five for your flight tomorrow. Is that still in effect?"

"Yes, thank you," Ms. Parker answered softly before hanging up. She then stared at the phone for a minute longer before picking up the clean clothes on the bed and heading for the shower.

End Part 6