The Devil She Knew (A Lantana Island Romance Book 2)

by Talia Hunter

  Why had she got so angry and called him that stupid nickname anyway? She never lost her cool so quickly, but around him she felt out of control and her anger flared in defense. If she was honest, it wasn’t about the lie he’d told, or past hurts, but the way her body kept reacting to him. Was she a teenager, with hormones in overdrive? After all the bad boys she’d survived, how crazy was it that a geek could throw her into total confusion?

  She took some deep breaths. The cool breeze felt good against her bare arms and legs, but she was starting to feel silly for getting worked up and rushing out. She was an adult, for heaven’s sake, and they were stuck with each other until tomorrow. They should be able to share a meal without drama.

  A light touch on her arm made her jump. Nate spoke from behind her, but his normal assertive tone had softened. “You okay, Suzie?”

  She faced him slowly, her heart starting up again just as she’d got it calmed down. A cloud covered the moon, and he was little more than a dark shape in front of her. She forced herself to sound casual. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just needed some air.”

  “Come inside. Have something to eat. We can start over.” His tone was gentle. In the darkness he could almost be a different man.

  Good idea. If they could start again, she could keep her cool and not let herself get so rattled.

  She nodded, not sure if he could see the movement in the dark. But he turned and went back inside the yacht, and after a moment she followed.

  When she went down the stairs, Nate was back at the stove. “To answer your original question,” he said, his tone as calm as though nothing had happened. “I’ve made stew. It’s mainly from cans, because that’s all there was, but I found some spices to give it more flavor.” He pulled a couple of bowls out of the cupboard and ladled in the food.

  Suzie sat at the table and cleared her throat, determined to sound as casual as he did. “It smells good.”

  He turned with the bowls in each hand, his eyes wide and mouth open in a shocked expression so exaggerated it made her smile in spite of herself. “Was that really a compliment?”

  “I think it was.” She shrugged, playing along. “Guess I must be the bigger person.”

  He put the bowls down. “Really? In that case, I’ve been thinking how beautiful you are.”

  “Sure you were. A little competitive, are we?” Still, she felt a blush spread up her cheeks.

  “You’re as perceptive as you are lovely. And if it was a competition, I just won it.”

  “You think?” Finally, a chance to beat him at something. “Well, I want to thank you for cooking. Not only does it smell delicious, but I admire the way you put it together from what you found in the cupboards.”

  He grinned, his eyes sparkling in the light of the hurricane lantern. “Now you’re messing with my head. Stop before you freak me out.”

  She laughed, and was surprised at how good it felt. Sharing a joke had sucked the tension out of the air.

  Besides, he had the most amazing smile. It was slightly crooked, his lips quirking up higher on one side. It made his square, manly face seem almost boyish, and she saw a ghost of the small, skinny kid he’d been, the one she’d christened Milhouse. It made her heart lurch. If she could jump in a time machine and go back to her teenaged years, she’d do things differently. For a start, she would never have given him that stupid nickname.

  Nate went back into the galley. “Dalton obviously has his priorities right. There are only a few cans of food in the cupboards, but plenty of drinks. I’ve found sodas, wine, and beer. Even some apple cider. They’re all warm of course.”

  “Any white wine?”

  “Coming up.” He poured her a glass, got a beer for himself, and sat down. “Not arguing is better,” he said casually, before tasting the stew.

  “Agreed.” She took a bite as well. Then another. It tasted every bit as good as it smelled. Of course it did. Her stomach was grateful, but she couldn’t help an internal sigh. Cooking was something she did well, and if only there was something she could do that Nate couldn’t, maybe she wouldn’t always feel second best.

  “How did you learn to cook?” she asked between mouthfuls.

  He shrugged. “I live alone and don’t like takeout.”

  “In New York?”

  “That’s right.” He frowned. “I don’t remember mentioning that.”

  Her cheeks warmed. “Laura told me.” Dammit, now he knew she and Laura had discussed him.

  “Has anyone told you that when you flush, it makes your eyes look very blue?”

  That made her face even hotter, which was probably why he’d said it. She could have said something about his eyes in return. Like, when the sun hit them they were dusted with gold, but in the flickering light of the hurricane lantern, they looked almost black. Of course she’d never tell him she’d noticed. He might get the wrong idea.

  She took a big gulp of her warm Chardonnay. Just because in the years since high school he’d managed to become irresistibly hot didn’t mean she should be so attracted to him. You hear that, body?

  Trouble was, her body had always been a rebel and it wasn’t in the habit of listening to reason.

  8

  “What else did Laura say about me?” Nate mainly asked the question because the topic seemed to get Suzie flustered. Was it bad that he enjoyed watching the color rise in her cheeks?

  “Nothing,” said Suzie. “Just that you live in New York and you write software.”

  He took a sip of his beer. It wasn’t a brand he was fond of and it was warm. But better than nothing.

  “You still live in LA?” he asked. “Not in the same suburb?”

  She shook her head. “I’m not too far away, though. Near Covina.”

  “Tell me about your catering business. Have you been going long?”

  “Not really.” Her gaze dropped from his to settle on her meal, and she didn’t offer any more information. Didn’t she want to talk about her business? At least they were sharing a semi-normal conversation now, which was an improvement.

  But he had to be careful. Suzie had always been his weakness. And that was even more true now, it seemed, than when they were at school. If only she weren’t so beautiful. No, that word wasn’t enough to describe the way she looked in the light of the hurricane lamp, with the red highlights in her long hair shining. Her cupid’s bow made her mouth a work of art. She was so captivating, he could barely look away.

  He ate the last of his stew, feeling a little uneasy. It would have been better if he hadn’t seen her again.

  Then he caught himself. What was he so worried about? Just because he’d kept thinking about her over the years didn’t mean he was in danger of losing his head. His walls were strong and even Suzie couldn’t breach his defenses.

  “It must be my turn to ask a question,” she said. “You were testing some software today, right? You said it was a self-drive system?”

  “It’s meant for cars, but I think it’ll be easy to adapt it for boats. I’m trying to prove it.”

  “You went from travel software to a self-drive system? They don’t have much in common.”

  “That was the point. I wanted a totally different challenge.” He inclined his head to her. “Like going from being a travel consultant to a caterer.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “I ran out of money. If I didn’t do something fast, I would have had to move back in with my mother.”

  “But you like catering?”

  She smiled. “Actually, I do. I love cooking, and it’s the one thing I can do well.”

  Her tone was self-deprecating, like she didn’t think she was good at anything else. But last night she’d said her clients in her travel consultancy had loved her. She was probably just being modest.

  “If you like what you’re doing now, there’s no reason to be upset about my Journeyman software,” he said.

  She put her fork down. “I suppose not. But when you create something, do you think about the negative effects it might ha
ve, as well as the good things?”

  “Never.” He refused to feel bad about the things he couldn’t control. Guilt had destroyed Harrison’s life, and he’d never let himself fall into the same trap. He repeated the words he’d said many times over the last few years. “No apologies, no regrets.”

  Suzie frowned. “What’s that, a motto?”

  “More of a rule.”

  She snorted. “Just when I think you’re not so bad, you come out with something like that. I suppose it means I’ll never get an apology for lying to your brother about me.”

  So she was still angry about the lie he’d told all those years ago? Well, maybe it was time to come clean. Why hide what he’d felt back then? It wasn’t as though it still mattered.

  “Instead of apologizing, I’ll explain why I did it,” he offered.

  “I know why. You didn’t want me to go out with Harrison because you thought I wasn’t good enough for him.” She blurted it, then caught her lip between her teeth as though wishing she hadn’t.

  He shook his head, startled. How could she have come to that conclusion? “Not even close.”

  She gave him a puzzled frown. “Then why?”

  “I stopped you from dating Harrison because I would have liked to go out with you myself. But you were a year older than I was, and you called me Milhouse. It would have been pointless to ask.”

  Her lips parted and her eyes widened. “You had a crush on me?”

  Why was it that the most beautiful women were surprised when others saw them that way? He shook his head, not quite able to believe she didn’t know her own power. How could she not realize what she did to the men around her?

  “You were almost as lovely then as you are now,” he said. “Even when you cut me down with a sharp remark, or gave me one of your killer glares.”

  Her tongue flicked out to touch her bottom lip and he wanted to put his mouth over hers. To capture that little pink tongue and subdue it. He wanted it so badly he had to look away for a moment, to control the urge.

  “So will you tell Harrison you lied?” she asked.

  “If it means that much to you, I’ll call him now.” It was about time he checked on Harrison again anyway. He pushed his empty plate away and got up from his seat to get his cellphone.

  “What? No, that’s not what I meant.”

  Where was his phone? Oh yes, he’d left it on the table in the cockpit. He grabbed it and went back into the saloon. “I’m sure Harrison would like to say hi.”

  She got to her feet, shaking her head. “No, Nate, don’t call him. He’ll think it’s stupid.”

  Nate hit the speed dial. “He won’t. You’ll see.” But as it rang, Nate felt the same twinge of concern he always got. Would his brother answer? If he did, how would he sound?

  “You’re not really calling him, are you?” She looked like she was about to make a grab for his phone.

  The line connected. “Nate? That you? Man, it’s late.”

  “Yeah, it’s me. Did I wake you?” Nate let out a relieved breath, his shoulders loosening. Harrison wasn’t slurring his words and there was no trace of the dull monotone that meant he was going through a bad patch.

  Suzie sank back into her chair, her brow furrowed.

  “It’s after midnight. I’d only just got to sleep.” Harrison yawned loudly.

  “I’m in Fiji,” said Nate. “Didn’t check the time.”

  “Oh yeah, Laura’s wedding, right? How did it go?”

  “Good. I’m here with Suzie, Laura’s sister. You remember her?”

  “Of course. How is she?”

  Nate glanced over at her. Her cheeks were tinged with red and she made frantic shushing motions. He grinned. “I want you to know I lied about her offering to sleep with me, back when we were at school.”

  Suzie groaned and sunk her head into her hands.

  “No shit? I should have guessed.” Harrison chuckled, sounding far more awake. “So you’re there together? Something going on you want to tell me about?”

  “No.”

  Suzie lifted her head and glared at him. “Jerk,” she mouthed.

  Nate felt his grin get wider. “I think she wants to say hello.”

  He handed his phone over, and Suzie took it reluctantly, glaring with enough heat to sear the flesh from his bones. Then she plastered on a fake smile. “Hey, Harrison. How are you?”

  Nate took the dishes to the galley while Suzie and his brother talked. He could only hear her side of the conversation, but Harrison must have put her at ease because her tone quickly relaxed.

  The two of them talked about their school days for a while, friends and teachers they’d had in common. Then Harrison must have said something about living in their old house because Suzie said, “Yes, I remember your place. Picket fence, right?” She laughed. “I can’t believe you’re still there. I live about an hour away now, but my mom’s in the same house. Three streets over from you, painted yellow. A gnome guards the front steps and she keeps a crystal hanging in the window.” Suzie paused. “No, she hasn’t changed at all. I guess working in the store meant you knew just about everyone in the neighborhood? Do you remember…?” And they were off again.

  Nate washed the dishes, then sat down to watch Suzie talk. Her eyes were alight, her free hand gesticulating. She was magnificent.

  “Yeah, I’d like that. Sounds great.” A pause. “Okay, I’ll grab your number and drop by next time I’m visiting Mom.” She got up, still talking. “My phone’s charging in the other room, but I can write it down. Hang on, Harrison.” She got up and grabbed a pen and notepad from beside the marine radio. “I visit Mom every other week so you might see me quite soon.” She laughed. “Yes, I promise. Okay, I’ve got a pen. Tell me.”

  As she wrote down his phone number, a warm feeling spread through Nate’s chest. If Harrison wanted Suzie to visit, he must not be feeling too bad. He’d been shut away for far too long. Could this mean he was finally getting better?

  “That would be fantastic. Hey, it was good to talk to you.” She paused. “I definitely will. I’d love to catch up some more, so I’ll see you soon, okay?”

  When she hung up, she wrinkled her nose at Nate. “If you were trying to embarrass me, it didn’t work because your brother’s so nice. He wants me to come over, so we can talk about old times.”

  “Please do. Harrison doesn’t leave the house much, and I don’t get there as often as I’d like. It’d be good for him to be more social.”

  “Why? What’s wrong with him?”

  Nate shrugged. “He hasn’t had an easy time. A visitor would do him good.”

  He wasn’t about to tell her about Harrison’s daughter and drag up the pain they’d both suffered. The grief and shock of Yasmina’s death had left Harrison suicidal. Even if Nate didn’t want to keep those wounds well covered, telling anyone about it would betray his brother’s trust.

  She gazed at him thoughtfully, as though she was trying to puzzle out the things he wasn’t saying.

  “Then I will,” she said. “And while we’re on the subject of clearing up past wrongs, I had no idea what Troy did to you. I didn’t know about him robbing your store or hitting you with an iron bar.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “And the cigarettes?”

  She blushed. “Oh, I smoked them. And I was an idiot not to ask where they’d come from. I suspected he was breaking the law, but I never thought he’d hurt anyone.”

  “Why did you go out with a guy like Troy?” He asked it casually, but it was something he’d wondered a lot back then. He’d dreamed about striding up to her to demand she ditch the loser and go out with him instead. And if he hadn’t been a skinny fifteen-year-old with coke-bottle glasses, he might have done it.

  “It’s going to sound crazy, but I dated him for his reputation.” She hesitated, toying with the stem of her wine glass. “Because of Laura, I guess. She was so perfect, and I was the disappointing sister. The one who didn’t do well in school and never won any certificates.
Laura papered her walls with awards, but no matter what I did, I couldn’t measure up.”

  “So you rebelled?”

  “Stupid, I know. It was a way to show I didn’t care, and I never wanted to be like Laura anyway.”

  “That’s not stupid. It’s understandable.”

  “Except it backfired. If I’d been less of a rebel, the entire school might not have been so quick to believe your lie.” She sighed. “I wanted everyone to think I was wild and crazy. But not that wild.”

  “I didn’t realize the rumor had spread. My mother died right after that. Harrison and I were both off school for a while, before we moved to Florida.”

  “It doesn’t matter now. That rumor’s probably long forgotten by anyone who knew me.”

  Nate couldn’t resist. “Did you want to go out with Harrison for the same reason as Troy? Because he had a shaved head and piercings?”

  “That’s the look I was into.” Suzie nodded and drained what was left of her wine.

  In that case, Nate was the opposite of the men she normally went for. Well, not quite the opposite. He lived in a rough pair of jeans and a T-shirt, even turning up for business meetings that way. But denim and stubble hardly made him her type.

  Why should he care?

  Nate tightened his jaw. Now they were settling their differences, he was enjoying their conversation more than he would have expected. He liked the way she challenged him, and the straightforward way she answered his questions. More than anything, he loved her smile. The way her eyes tilted, and that irresistible cupid’s bow… she was stunning enough to suck the air from his lungs.

  He wanted to do more than talk. And why not? Judging by last night’s kiss, their chemistry was all kinds of explosive. Besides, they were about to go their separate ways – her to LA, him to New York – and they’d probably never see each other again.

  Being able to spend only a single night together meant there’d be no chance of complications. Would she be interested in sharing a bed for the night with no strings attached?

  He got up and went to the galley to get another beer. “More wine?” he asked.