Another quake? Monica’s missing? Jessie tossed back the covers and climbed out of bed. She found her purse next to her dressing table and removed her cell phone from the front pocket. She punched in Monica’s number and listened to it ring. “C’mon, Mo. Pick up.”

It went to voice mail, Monica’s chipper voice telling the caller to leave a message. “Monica? Dammit, Mo where are you? Call me the second you get this. You hear me? Mo?” Her hand shook as she ended the call.

Jack approached her from behind and cradled her shoulders in his hands.

“What happened? Where is she?”

Jack shook his head. “That was one of the doctors. She went to Trent’s house to sleep shortly after I left. Was due back at the clinic eight hours ago. When she didn’t show up the nurse at the clinic left a message for the team leader at the hospital.”

“Did they check Trent’s house?”

“They’re not there. A friend of his said they left midafternoon and haven’t been seen since. With all the commotion after the aftershock, no one thought to search them out until nearly midnight.”

“Monica wouldn’t just leave. She’s too responsible. Oh God, Jack. We need to find her.”

“We’ll find her. Shhh, it’s OK.”

Only it wasn’t all right. Call it sisterly intuition, but she knew her sister and Monica would have to be half dead before she even called in sick for work. To not show up… not call?

Jack pulled out of her embrace. “You get dressed. I’ll call the pilot and the family.”

Jessie nodded, went into her closet, and grabbed the first thing she saw.

Monica moaned in her sleep but didn’t wake. Trent’s eyes had fluttered shut for only a few minutes at a time. He kept his ear tuned to the outside noises coming from above their heads. At first light, he planned on exploring the cave a little more. Maybe the quake opened up another passage, one with an exit. The cool air was coming from somewhere, and it wasn’t from above their heads. In fact, the only warm air came from above the cave. The constant drip coming from the foliage above and into the pool was its own torture device. It was as if each second was ticking away on their clock of survival. Trent might have been able to deliver the little white lies Monica needed, but his own mind kept a constant ticker tape of doom.

As he saw it, his Jeep was parked off the main road. The lagoon and cave were secluded with few visitors. Reynard wasn’t the one who showed him this little slice of paradise and Trent had no idea if his friend knew of its existence. Trent pictured the area from the air. The soft top of his Jeep wouldn’t reflect in the sun, and the black color might not stand out enough to be seen. The beach outside the cave would look untouched. They hadn’t even left a colorful towel to flag any would-be rescuers.

What the f**k was he thinking when he brought her here?

Sex. That’s what he’d been thinking about. Horizontal alone time with his blonde angel.

He glanced down at her sleeping form. Well, we’re horizontal and alone. He’d laugh if the situation weren’t so dire.

Monica moaned in her sleep again, this time jolting awake. “Oh, God!”

“Shhh,” he tried to soothe her fears.

Her body tensed as she woke. Trent couldn’t see her face and was grateful not to have his own fears seen in her eyes.

“Not a dream,” she uttered.

“Shhh, it should be light soon.” The darkness was one more obstacle to overcome.

She was quiet for a few minutes, then her shoulders started to shake and a whimper escaped her lips.

Something inside him twisted and threatened to undo any resolve left.

“What is it?” What wasn’t it was probably a better question.

“I-I have to pee,” she choked out.

“Oh.” To have her so torn up over something so simple made him realize her vulnerability. Up until now, he hadn’t really seen that side of her.

He sat up, and helped Monica to a sitting position before turning on his cell phone to use the ambient light of the display screen to fill the cavern. When he shed the light on her, she turned away. “Hey.” He placed a finger under her chin and met her gaze. “It’s all right.”

“It’s embarrassing.”

“This from a nurse who helps others every day?”

“I don’t like being the patient.”

He chuckled, trying to lighten the dark expression on her face. “Well role-play with me, won’t you? How should we do this?”

She looked around the cave. “We have to assume we’ll be here for a little while longer.” She pointed to a dark corner. “I can hold on to the wall.”

Trent scouted the area she considered, and dug into the sand with his shoe. He’d never been more happy to be a man than at that point. He returned to Monica’s side and handed her his cell. “You light the way.”

He lifted her as carefully as he could.

She still whimpered.

“Are you OK?”

She nodded, but even her nod lied.

Every step was carefully placed until he’d crossed the room and helped her stand on one leg. She kept the damaged one suspended.

“What can I do now?”

“I’ve got it.” She braced a hand on the wall and handed him his phone.

Uncertain if he should stay and hold her up, or if she could actually accomplish the task without him, he hesitated in releasing her.

“You can let go. Unlike guys, peeing is a solo thing for girls.”