“Great. I appreciate that.”
Tyler caught her arm, and drew her back to him. “Nico is almost five and he’ll start school after we return. Your professional abilities will only be required until the end of this trip. Nothing beyond. Does that arrangement suit?”
“Of course. That sounds perfect.” It would be impossible to have more.
With a hand at the small of her back, Tyler guided her toward the internal stairwell, and collected her bag along the way. They walked downstairs.
“Below deck are the staterooms and staff quarters, and upstairs on the third floor are Liam and Nico’s suites.”
“Okay.” She peeked at him.
“There’s a pool and spa on the top floor, and you’ll be given a full tour as soon as you’re settled.” At the bottom of the stairs, Tyler stilled. “This dinner you say we enjoyed. I want you to know, I wish I recalled it.”
“I understand about the memory loss.” Okay, enough of the non-dinner. “Oh, nice decor down here.”
It truly was. Halogen lights showcased vivid blue underwater ocean scenes adorning the length of the passageway. Caramel-cream walls and plush carpet of the same color became the sandy base for all the blue.
“Thanks.” Tyler moved her along. “The crew’s cabins are double-bunked, but as you’re the only female on board, you’ll have one to yourself.”
He directed her inside a small, efficient room with two bunks bolted to a blue wall. White furnishings and a built-in set of drawers completed the room.
“This is nice.” She grinned, for she would love the area simply because it was all hers and totally Ben-free.
“There’s a bathroom, but it connects with the cabin next door. There’s a lock on each side, although the other room’s empty.”
Inside the compact area, she shuffled around the shower cubicle, toilet and tidy vanity, all in basic white. No frills, but she didn’t need any. She met his gaze as he leaned against the doorjamb. “It’s perfect.”
“You seem happy.” He frowned. “You appeared apprehensive to start with.”
“I was nervous.” She squeezed past him and returned to her room. “First day on the job and all.”
She twirled in the center of her cabin. Ben was right. She needed this break.
Taken by the round portal window, she skipped toward it and peered outside. Another super-yacht of similar size to The Idle Dream came into berth, the name Star Gazer emblazoned along its side.
“It’s one of ours.” Tyler edged in behind her, so close.
Unable to stop, she leaned back and came up against him. Oh wow. His solid presence was like a safety blanket of warmth she’d never forget. She wanted to tip her head back, rest it on his shoulder and tell him everything, to extinguish the lie she’d told and lay out their past. Only that would never happen. Knocking that idea out of her head, she straightened. “Does Whitehall Shipping have a big fleet?”
“Twelve ships in total, but The Idle Dream was my mother’s baby. It’s reserved for family holidays each year. She passed away two years ago, and my father four. I don’t usually speak of them, but–” He slid his fingers through her long hair. “Are you sure we didn’t have more than a single date? I feel a level of comfort I can’t explain.”
Her thoughts swirled to the past, to those last moments she’d had with him a year ago. He’d been dressed all in black, shirt and jeans, and her heart had fluttered in her chest. They’d become so close over the ten days they’d been together, but now he was leaving. Tyler had dropped his bag in the trunk of his car and sauntered toward her.
She’d moved in his direction, and Jay had raced past and wrapped his arms around his legs. Tyler had hunkered down and hugged the boy. “I’m sorry buddy, but the rules are the rules. I can only do a ten-day rotation, but Brigs is here to look after you and Lee now.”
Jay’s jaw had quivered. “Could you push me on the swing one last time?”
“Sure.” Tyler was such a sucker for Jay.
“But after Lee does.” Jay shot a mischievous look her way.
Yeah, Jay would draw Tyler’s departure out, and she understood why. Jeffrey Lawntree, his busy politician father, paid him so little attention. Tyler was a breath of fresh air for Jay, and had never left their side since his arrival. Jay loved that. She did too.
She led Jay to the old oak tree where his grandfather had knotted a tire over a high, sturdy branch.
Jay wriggled into the tire and dangled his legs over the rim, ready to go. He giggled, barely sitting still. “Go, Lee, push.” Lee was his nickname for her, one she adored. Even Tyler had adopted it. Only the two of them had ever done that. So special.
Pulling both Jay and the tire, she backed up and let go when she was certain the tire would swing nice and high as Jay liked.
“It’s wet, Lee,” Jay yelled and laughed as he flew.
She clapped a hand against her mouth as water sloshed inside the rim. Oh no. She’d forgotten to check it first. It had rained the night before and she should have tipped it out.
“There’s water in Poppa’s tire and my bottom’s getting wet.” Jay sailed through the air, giggles exploding from him as his red shorts stained darker.
She laughed at his silly grin. “I’m so sorry.”
“I can’t believe you forgot.” Tyler’s blue eyes sparkled as he beckoned her to him. “Come and say goodbye to me.”
Such husky words she couldn’t ignore. “Are you finally off the clock?”
“Yes, but you’re still a client.”
“And a bodyguard doesn’t get physical with his client?”
“It goes against the rules, Lee. It obscures our point of view.”
“Rules are meant to be–” At a heavy scraping to her right, she turned. What the…
A man in green and brown camouflage gear and scraggly black hair trailing out from under his black balaclava scaled the high slatted perimeter fence. Beady black eyes sunken within yellow skin, the gaze of Johnny Taita’s murderer, drilled into her. The killer from the high profile hit-and-run she’d witnessed was back. Oh hell. No way.
“Lydia.” Tyler gripped her arms, dragged her back from her terrifying memories.
“I’m okay.”
“Where’d you go?”
She rubbed his warm hands. Tyler was here. He was alive. He had survived.
“What took you away from me?”
“Um, bad memories. It happens sometimes. Don’t you ever have those?” How could he not remember the horror of that day? It haunted her and would never leave.
“Life is too short for that sort of thing.” He caressed her back. “There’s something about you. You said the dinner was nice, but how did our date end?”
“Ah, it ended badly. You never called.” She stepped back, only she bumped into the bunks. Then he followed her, and boxed her in. “What are you doing?”
“Go out with me again.”
Go out with him for real? Could she do that?
She’d never had the chance back then, and now she was in The Program, one she wasn’t leaving anytime soon. But he wasn’t her bodyguard anymore. Well, not officially, and not that she would ever tell him.
“Say yes.”
She looked into his eyes, and his heat radiated to every inch of her. Oh boy, she was in trouble. “I’ve moved on. Haven’t you?”
Lies though. It was all she could offer him, no matter his answer.
“No. I have a feeling I’ve been waiting for you.”
Her pulse tripped over itself, her heartbeat hammering out of control.
Impossible.
2
Striding to his room, Tyler cast off his frustration. No. She’d shaken her head and said no. Now he needed to walk off this aching desire she’d stirred in him. Until the next time. He was not done with her yet.
Pushing open the door of his stateroom, he came face to face with Liam. His brother squeezed his shoulder. “We need to talk.”
“Great.”
“Un
cle Tyler, where’s Lydia?” Across the room, Nico bounced on his bed.
“Be careful.”
“I’m–” He tumbled over the edge and landed on one foot and one bent knee then picked himself up. “–fine.”
He ruffled his nephew’s soft mop of hair. “She’s in the last cabin at the bow. Go, and be nice.”
Nico pulled a face and was off, tugging up his blue shorts as he ran.
Which left Liam. His brother sat on the white leather couch at the foot of his bed, and idly crossed his ankles. “Do you want to explain your fascination with my son’s new caregiver? It was obvious above deck. I’ve not seen you even look at a woman this past year.”
Joining Liam, he sat and pressed his hands to his thighs. “She said we went out to dinner, and it would have been right before I was sent to Wellington.” His stomach churned. “She’s young, Liam. Did I ever mention a woman of around twenty back then? And say yes. I need answers.”
“No, and how can Lydia Sands be getting to you like this? One meal? And a year ago? That makes no sense.”
“Hell, I don’t know. I feel there’s more to her than what meets the eye, but I don’t know what.” He rubbed his jaw, his memory loss never more frustrating than at this moment. “Although I won’t stop questioning her until I find out.”
Liam let out a low whistle. “Keep in mind Ben sent her to us. And we all know Ben. He never does anything without good reason.”
“I can’t explain what went through me when I first saw her, but there’s a connection, and it’s undeniable.” No woman had ever gripped him at first sight like she had. This year he’d lived each day with the niggling doubt something more than his memory was missing. Now he’d met Lydia, and that niggle became her.
His brother stared out the long pane of darkened glass, looking lost. It wasn’t unusual for Liam to seek his company, for them to chat, and then for him to sit and not utter a word for some time. Gabriella had been his world. It would be her he thought of as they prepared to depart.
Pressing his palms together, he waited.
“It will be good for Nico to have a female’s influence during this trip, right?” Liam’s words were solemn as he turned back to him.
His mother and Gabriella’s car accident was a senseless tragedy, but the pain of all they’d lost, including their father from a heart attack two years before them would always be there. Now though, the ache had eased and the good recollections surfaced and dominated over the bad. “Nico already seeks her out. You made the right choice.”
His brothers and Nico were family.
Liam knocked his shoulder against his. “So many memories…”
“Yeah.” He rocked forward on the couch. “And we’ll make a ton more.”
Nico’s chatter travelled down the hallway, and they rose to their feet.
“This is Uncle Tyler’s room.” Nico yanked a wide-eyed Lydia inside.
He smiled. Ah, maybe he had an ally in his nephew.
“Daddy, can I take Lydia to Cam’s control room? She needs to see my wheel, the one Grandma made me.”
Lydia dipped her head, curiously inspecting his room. He breathed deep. She was stunning, her high cheekbones flushed red, her lips full and a sweet shade of pink. He glanced at his bed, and then her.
“Sure you can, Nico. That’s a great idea. Ensure she gets a full tour and after you’ve visited Cam, come to the deck. That’s where I’ll be with your uncles,” Liam answered him.
Tyler crossed to the one woman snagging his full attention. “Did you have a chance to unpack before Nico arrived?” He kept his voice low, his words only to her.
Inquisitive brown eyes lifted to his. “No. You have a very nice room.”
“My mother decorated the entire ship. She had a flair for choosing the right fabrics and colors. Every piece of art on the walls was handpicked by her.”
“I’ve noticed how wonderful they are.”
“There’s also a montage of yesteryear prints on the upstairs walls of children playing in the surf. They are restored images of my brothers and me from our earliest vacations. Everywhere I look I’m reminded of her.”
“You said this ship was her baby. You miss her?” Her gaze was soft, full of compassion.
“Always.”
“Yay, Uncle Dylan.” Nico raced to the door in an excited blur.
Damn, there were too many people in his room when he wanted only Lydia.
“Hey, there’s my sprite.” Dylan caught Nico as he bounded into his arms.
At twenty-seven Dylan had risen through the ranks of Whitehall Shipping, earning the position of chief engineer. Tyler’s younger brother was dedicated to family and firm.
Dylan swung Nico around his back then set him on his feet. Nico wobbled. “Me dizzy. Do that again, Uncle Dylan.”
“Later, sprite.” Dylan’s gaze landed on Lydia and he let out a low hmm. “Luke said we had a woman on board, but I had to see it to believe it. Welcome.”
Tyler stepped in front of her and eyed his brother. “She’s here to care for Nico, and Nico alone. Eyes up, in fact, eyes out.”
“Bro.” He chuckled. “What’s with the attitude?”
Lydia slipped her hand around his arm as she nodded at Dylan. No other contact could have calmed him more. Heck. Why did she feel so good at his side?
Dylan’s gaze dropped to where she held on, and then rose back to his. “Did I miss something? Are you and her–” He dipped his finger between the two of them. “–together?”
“We met a year ago, during the haze.” It’s what he called it. “And no, we’re not.” But he’d sure like to change that.
Nico pressed between them, tugged on Lydia’s arm and pulled her away. Argh, perhaps his nephew wouldn’t be such an ally after all.
“Can we go, Lydia?” Nico bounced about. “I want to show you everything.”
Tweaking Nico’s chin, she grinned. “And I want to see it all. Lead the way.” She looked at Tyler. “Take it easy, okay?” Pulling Nico through, she squeezed past Dylan in the doorway.
Dylan’s lips twitched as he poked his head into the hallway and peered after her. “Yeah, I never thought I’d see that.”
“See what?” At this precise moment, he hated exactly how observant his brothers could be.
Dylan ducked back in. “You, reacting this way with a girl. Look at that scowl on your face. It doesn’t appear I can even look at her. Who is she? And where is my usually calm brother?”
It seemed one lone woman truly could shake a man up. Not good. Or at least not good for him, and that was his predominant thought over the next hour as he fidgeted on one of the outdoor couches on the second floor.
Liam lay on a padded lounger across from him, his shoes kicked off and a can of beer in his hand. Beside Liam, Dylan and Luke relaxed in the same way.
Tyler half-listened to their chatter. What was taking Nico and Lydia so long? Squeezing his beer can and crackling the tin, he let out a deep breath. This was crazy. He should just go get her. He didn’t care for her being out of his sight, and he still had a multitude of questions buzzing in his mind.
“Here they are,” Nico called as he burst through the doors and jumped between Luke and Dylan. Luke squeezed Nico’s cheeks and Dylan lifted Nico’s feet, capturing him sideways. They mercilessly tickled him.
Giggling, Nico squealed, the noise flying out over the churning water.
“Hey.” Lydia plopped onto the couch beside him. “What a tour. Your ship’s huge.”
“Did Nico introduce you to everyone? To all the crew?”
“About half of them. You’re still here.” Sliding closer, she created a level of privacy he more than desired.
“Of course I am. Were you worried I’d jump ship?” He kept his tone low since she had.
“No.” She smiled cheekily. “The last thing you’d ever do is that.”
“That’s right.” He rolled his shoulders, relaxing like he should have done hours ago.
“Your nephew is
full of energy. You told me he was a year ago, and I believe it’s true.”
“It’s a brave caregiver who’ll take him on. He’s like a lightning bolt, and tough to keep up with.”
“Like you.” She grinned.
Flexing his fingers, he resisted their itch to grab her and drag her into his lap. Damn, he had to control these urges.
“Excuse me, sir.”
“Henry, I didn’t see you.”
“It’s not often one can sneak up where you’re concerned.” The older man was one of the full-time wait staff on board. He placed a bucket of ice with fresh cans of beer on the side table. “Would Nico and Miss Lydia care for a drink?”
“They’ll have iced lemonade. Ah–” He scratched his head. “Or at least I think they will. Sorry, Lydia, I usually ask. You’d like that wouldn’t you?”
“Absolutely.” Her cheeks flushed, and she ducked her head.
So intriguing. Now, how had he known she’d like that?
* * * *
Iced lemonade? Lydia recalled those afternoons in Wellington as she and Jay had played outside in the acre-wide sprawling garden. Near the oak tree, a white latticework table and chairs were set, and Tyler would pour their iced lemonade as he watched them. No matter what she did, he was never more than a single step away.
“Do you want some?” she’d asked, although his answer was always the same.
“No, I can’t stand how sweet it tastes.” He’d glanced at Jay whose feet dangled a foot from the ground where he sat next to her. “But it’s perfect for boys. It grows strong muscles.”
“It does not.” She propped her elbows on the table. “Jay believes everything you say, so take care.”
“Well it might, although you’ll never get me to drink it, but by all means, keep trying.”
With a sigh she eased back and stared down the driveway. Brigs would be here soon for the rotation change, and Tyler would be gone, having done his stint. Ten days, and Tyler had weaved his way into their hearts. “I think we’ll miss you.”
He cupped her cheek. “Hey, you’ve met Brigs, and he’s used to being around children because of his large Polynesian family. Another five to seven days, and hopefully your requirement for a guard will lift.”
Witness Pursuit Page 2