Finn stepped out of the changing room with her wet hair slicked back off her face to see Nigel talking to Oz and Clem. She took a seat by the pool to wait until Oz finished talking to Clem. Oz was still wearing her wet suit. The neoprene second skin hugged her backside as she walked around the edge of the pool, pointing to tanks and equipment that needed moving. Finn had never really thought of herself as a sexual person before, but all she wanted to do was run her hands across Oz’s tight ass and feel the muscles ripple beneath her fingers.
“Finn, come and join us?” Finn was shocked out of her reverie and looked up to see Oz and Nigel both smiling at her. She could feel the heat rising over her face and hoped that no one else noticed, particularly Oz. “I was just checking that Nigel here felt okay about the session today. I was also going to keep you two as buddies tomorrow. I know earlier today I said that I like to switch pairs around, but I think you two worked really well together, so for the first dive tomorrow, I was going to keep you as a team. Nigel was pretty happy with that, but I wanted to make sure you were too.” Finn could actually hear the pleading in Oz’s voice. She knew none of the others in the group wanted to take the chance that his fears would overcome him again and that he would freeze in the open water.
“No problem. I think we made a pretty good team, Nigel. I’m sure your wife would be so proud of you.”
“Thanks, Finn. I know I would’ve quit today if you hadn’t helped me. You should think about being an instructor, you know.” Oz bit back her laughter.
“I’ll think about it. I’ve been wondering what career to go into.”
“Well, I’ll see you tomorrow, Finn.” He was halfway to the door before he turned around. “Thanks again, Finn. Oh, night, Oz, see you tomorrow.”
Oz was laughing as the door closed behind him.
“That’s another one hopelessly in love with you, Supergirl.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“I’m not. It’s all over his face. He’s totally smitten. Ow, I told you I bruise easily. Don’t whack me like that.” She rubbed her shoulder gingerly. “Seriously, you did great today. Rudy reckons you’re a natural, and Carlos is more in love with you.”
“Will you stop, please, before I really have to hurt you?” Oz held up her hands in surrender and Finn laughed, liking the way Oz’s eyes crinkled at the corners when she smiled. “So did I really do okay today?”
“You have to ask?”
Finn shrugged, uncomfortable with her own need for reassurance.
“You did great. You’re a natural teacher and you have a great way with people. They trust you and have confidence in you. Nigel would have quit. I wouldn’t have gotten him into the pool today because it never would have occurred to me to literally hold his hand. I would have expected him to panic when he hit the water and try to pull me down.”
“If he did, I had a tank on my back and a regulator in my mouth. Half a dozen instructors were on hand to come to my rescue if I needed it, and there was no way you would let anything happen to me. Mrs. Richmond would never forgive you if you did. I was in good hands and I knew it. So was Nigel. He just doesn’t realize yet that the good hands we were both in were yours, not mine. He did all right after that though.”
Finn followed Oz to the seating area, trying not to stare at the gorgeous ass in front of her.
“Anyway, did you talk to Pete last night?” Oz asked.
“Yeah, he’s going to help me move in to Mrs. Richmond’s over the weekend, then stay at the hotel for another couple of weeks. My dad’s already paid for it, so he might as well use it.”
“Sounds like a good idea. Do you need any more help with the move?”
“Well, I don’t have much stuff to move, but if you’re any good with a screwdriver, I could certainly put you to good use. I hate putting together furniture.”
“Just tell me when you want me.”
Finn could feel her cheeks heating again and found it difficult to meet Oz’s eyes. “Saturday morning. I told Emmy we’d get there about ten. Is that okay for you?”
“Absolutely. I can’t wait.”
Chapter Fifteen
William Sterling threw his tie over the chair and flipped open his cell phone.
“Yes?”
“Mr. Sterling. It’s Jack.”
“What can I do for you, Jack?”
“I’m just calling to let you know that the equipment has been attended to. It will be delivered on Monday. The installation, however, will take a week or so from that point. I’ve checked, and evidently, it’s not possible to rush that part.”
“Very good.” Sterling smiled, pleased with his young apprentice’s results. He showed promise and that he could be trusted with all aspects of the business.
“Sir, do you have any preference on how I resolve this situation?”
“How many people are there involved?”
“I have two children staying in the flat.”
“How old?”
“Four and six.”
“Have they seen your face?”
“No, sir.”
“Take our dithering supplier out of the equation. I don’t feel the need to permanently have the children taken care of. At that age, they’ll be of no use to police or anyone else. Once the installation and production of the batch is completed, finish off our Mr. Machine and dump the children somewhere.” While killing was necessary at times and enjoyable at others, there was no need to kill the supplier’s children. They were just a means to an end. Just like my own daughter. She brought me her research, and in trying to win my approval, she brought me the means to make the biggest deal of my life. How close are we to the end, Daniela? He wondered if she would actually follow orders and marry the faggot, another test she had to pass to prove her worth to him. “Jack, I want an update on Daniela’s whereabouts too.”
“Yes, sir.”
Sterling disconnected from Jack and dialed again. He walked to the drinks cabinet as he waited for the call to connect.
“Balor is almost ready for delivery.”
“Excellent news, William. I wish for delivery in New York at the warehouse we have used before.”
“Of course, Masood. Have you solidified your plans for distribution?”
“I have men working in the water purification plant. Do you have estimates of the efficacy of the bacteria yet?”
“Yes. The numbers are far higher than you wished for, Masood.”
“That is excellent news, my friend.”
“Are you ready to talk numbers?”
“Where do you wish to meet?”
“I’ll send you the details.” He disconnected the call, poured the brandy into his glass, and swallowed. His lips twisted into a smile as the liquid burned the back of his throat.
Chapter Sixteen
Finn tossed the last pair of shorts into her case before zipping it closed.
“Are you nearly ready?”
“Just about. Are you in a hurry to get rid of me?”
Pete assumed a look of mock innocence. “Me?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, I do have a date tonight, but not till late. He’s working till ten.”
“The concierge?”
“Of course.”
“Well, grab that suitcase then and we can go.” She tossed her rucksack over her shoulder and followed Pete out the door and to the car. After loading the boot, Finn climbed into the driver’s seat and waited for Pete to buckle up.
“So tell me more about this woman you’re moving in with.”
“I only have the bit of information Oz has given me, really. Her husband was the naval base commander until he retired ten years ago, and he passed away three years ago. From what I can gather, she’s a nice old lady who’s a bit lonely.”
“And it was Oz who introduced you?”
“Yeah. She’s an old family friend. It seems most of Oz’s family are in the navy, and when her dad and uncle both served under Mrs. Richmond’s husband, they all became pretty
good friends.”
“I still wish you’d have let me come with you when you went to see this place. What if she’s some kind of axe murdering granny and you’ll be found years from now under the floorboards?”
“You do know how ridiculous you sound, don’t you?”
“I do not!”
“Yes, you do. She’s a perfectly nice old lady. She’s having a birthday party tomorrow. Be nice or I won’t invite you.”
“Can I bring my concierge?”
“No! I don’t even know her yet. I’m not unleashing you on her birthday party.”
“Spoilsport.”
She pulled into the drive outside Mrs. Richmond’s house, and smiled as she waved from her porch swing. “Good morning. This is my friend Pete. I brought him along so we can use his muscles.”
Pete stuck his hand out to Mrs. Richmond. “She didn’t tell me I was slave labor though.”
“Well, how about I promise to feed you in exchange for your hard work? A ton of boxes got delivered yesterday,” Mrs. Richmond said.
“A ton? How much furniture did you order?” Pete asked.
“Not that much.”
“Don’t let her fool you. She went crazy in Walmart. I thought she’d never seen a store before.” Oz crossed the lawn, grinning broadly. She had on black shorts and a black tank top, her hair covered with a black bandana, and she had a small black toolbox in her hand. She looked good, really good, and Finn found it difficult not to stare.
“I think you have a tendency to exaggerate.” Finn returned the grin, unable to keep from staring down the long expanse of exposed leg as Oz climbed the steps to the porch.
“And you definitely have a tendency toward understatement. Hi, Pete, Mrs. R.”
“Olivia, how many times do I have to tell you to call me Emmy?”
“At least a few more.” She stooped over and kissed her cheek lightly. “Mr. Richmond would still tan my hide if he heard me calling you Emmy.”
“Yes, well. All this standing around chitchatting isn’t going to get that room sorted, is it? I’ve boxed up all of Malcolm’s things, but the boxes need to be moved to the basement or to Goodwill.” She led them off the porch and through the house. The room that had once been Malcolm’s study had a half dozen boxes stacked in the middle of the room, neat black handwriting on each one. The shelves and walls were all bare, and the room felt a little cold and unlived in. Along another wall were a dozen flat boxes that had shipping labels with bar codes on each end, and a queen-sized mattress.
“Well, the sooner we get started, the quicker you can get to your date, Pete.”
Oz grabbed a box and grinned at him. “A date? Do tell.”
“Not a lot to tell.”
“It’s the guy he abandoned me for the other day.”
Pete and Finn both followed Oz lugging boxes of their own. “This is the waiter, right?”
Pete shook his head. “Concierge. With no tan lines.”
“Oh, my. And where are you off to on your date?”
He dropped his box and started back for another. “Hopefully nowhere.”
Finn and Oz laughed at his retreating back. They all worked steadily, and soon the room looked like a bedroom. They moved the existing desk under the window next to the bookshelves. The bed and chest of drawers were against the opposite wall. Finn was hanging the last of her clothes in the closet when Mrs. Richmond shouted at them all for lunch. After washing their hands, they found her setting plates of sandwiches on the table by the pool.
“Iced tea?” She waited for them all to sit before pouring glasses. “How are you all doing in there?”
“Just finished, Emmy.” Finn took a long drink and watched Oz as she took a huge bite out of her sandwich before chasing mayonnaise off her lip with the tip of her tongue.
“That’s wonderful.” Emmy took her seat. “Now I haven’t heard anything from that rabble of yours, Olivia. Are they coming tomorrow?”
Oz swallowed quickly, wiping her mouth with her napkin. “Yeah, I thought I told you, Uncle Charlie said they’d all be there.”
“All of them?”
“Except Evan. He’s still deployed in Afghanistan at the moment.”
“Oh my. I think I might need to get more food for the barbecue.”
“No, I’ll tell my mom and Aunt Alex just to bring some stuff from their freezers. You know they will anyway.”
Finn’s curiosity was piqued. “Do you have a big family then?”
“I’m an only child, but Uncle Charlie has four boys.”
Emmy snorted. “Two marines, a Navy SEAL, and a coast guard. They aren’t boys. They are machines of mass destruction.”
Pete’s face lit up. “And they’re all coming to this pool party tomorrow? Ow. What was that for?” He bent over and rubbed his shin where Finn had kicked him.
“You were drooling.”
“I was not,” Pete said.
Oz chuckled. “Yes, they’ll be here. Except Evan.”
“And is he a marine or a SEAL?”
“Evan is a marine and so is Will. Will’s in the JAG corps though. Junior is the SEAL, and AJ is in the coast guard.”
“And you were in the navy too?”
“Yes. I was a navy diver.”
Finn watched as Oz’s face switched from the animated, friendly countenance they had seen all morning, to the dark and shuttered visage that seemed so prevalent whenever Oz thought no one was watching her. Finn wondered what caused that look. What was the darkness that hid behind those beautiful eyes? How could someone so friendly remain so guarded at the same time? The contradictions in Oz were fascinating, and she wanted to unravel them, one by one. The scientist in her longed to uncover each little fact about her, but there was more to her curiosity and she knew it. She was fun and easy to talk to, she was kind and considerate, and she was hot.
An elbow to her ribs pulled her out of her reverie. “I’m sorry, what?” She saw Oz and Mrs. Richmond heading inside.
“Looks like I’m not the only one drooling.”
“Get lost, Pete.”
“Look, I get it; she’s gorgeous and she seems really nice. I’m just looking out for you.”
“I don’t need a babysitter, Pete.”
“Hey, I’m—”
Oz came back out and sat back down. “Everything okay?”
“Fine.” Finn smiled and hoped her annoyance wasn’t showing, but from the look of concern in Oz’s eyes, she knew she was unsuccessful.
Pete excused himself to the toilet and Finn tried to relax again.
“Is something wrong?”
Finn opened her eyes and smiled a little. “Just Pete trying to wind me up. He’s very good at it.”
Oz grinned. “You don’t seem too bad at it either.”
“What? Winding myself up?”
“No, at holding up your end of the deal. Wait till you meet my cousins. They’re constantly teasing everyone.”
“And you’re still close to them?”
“Yeah, mostly Junior and AJ. Will works in Washington a lot, and Evan’s been on one deployment after another for the last five years. If he and Junior weren’t identical twins, I’d have probably forgotten what he looks like.”
“I doubt that. Something tells me you don’t forget very much at all.”
“Maybe.” Oz shrugged noncommittally.
Finn saw the shadows flitter across Oz’s face again and wished she knew what to avoid saying to keep Oz happy. Or better yet, she wanted to know how to erase those shadows when they came. She knew that every moment she spent with Oz only made her care more about her, but she knew Oz wouldn’t be interested in her. Oz wanted fast women and plenty of them. She made no secret of it and no excuses for it. Finn told herself that being Oz’s friend was a much more satisfying relationship to have with her. It certainly lasted longer and had much more meaning. I can be friends. Friends is good. Like I told Pete, you can never have too many friends. Please let that be enough.
Chapter Seventeen
Oz checked her reflection in the mirror and rubbed her fingers over the puckered scar on her belly that had long since healed. She could still feel the burning sting as the red-hot bullet ripped through her skin. The smell of seared flesh, cordite, and blood filled her nostrils again. Every move she made tore her flesh open a little more, and the pain threatened to render her unconscious.
Rudy was gripping his thigh, trying to stem the flow of blood. They needed to find cover and they needed to do it fast. She grabbed the back of his shirt and dragged him behind a bulkhead, spraying bullets behind her as she went. A simple repair mission on a cargo vessel turned deadly.
Enough! She shook her head viciously, trying to dislodge the memories and focus on the day ahead. She always enjoyed spending time with her family and Mrs. Richmond. She was inordinately fond of the meddling old woman. But that didn’t account for her nerves today, or her impatience to get to Mrs. Richmond’s and hang out for the day by the pool. It also didn’t account for her indecision about whether to wear a one-piece swimsuit or a bikini. Finn was the reason for that, and she knew it.
She sighed before tossing a towel over her shoulder and heading for Mrs. Richmond’s. Music filtered through the crisp summer air from the backyard, and she could already hear the party in full swing. Laughter and splashing water were accompanied by a small shriek as she assumed Finn had just been doused. She couldn’t help but smile as she opened the gate and saw Junior shaking water out of his eyes while Finn was pointing at him, water dripping off her and Pete holding his sides as he laughed from his lounge chair.
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