“You’re right. I think this is a new thing for them, and if I understood them correctly, there’s a large group. I think they’re associated with the mafia and have been robbing people in different ways for years. Obviously he’s always been a crook.” She studied her fingernails.
Zack swallowed hard, understanding the heartache this was causing Maddie. His own father had done awful things that he wasn’t ready to forgive. “I’m sorry,” he offered lamely.
Her head whipped up. “Don’t you be sorry. You’re taking this huge risk for me.” She shook her head. “None of this is your fault, and I really appreciate you taking me in and helping me so much.”
“My calendar was open this week.”
Maddie laughed. “Lucky me.”
Zack grinned and joined in the laughter. “I don’t think I’d want your luck right now.”
Maddie nodded. “Amen to that.”
“So how did you end up on that boat alone?”
She took a long breath. “My father made me go in the boat while he fended off Bello and the other men. I’m just grateful I ended up on your island.”
“Me, too.”
She gave him a brilliant smile. Wow, she was a beautiful girl. She stood and came right next to him, peering over his shoulder. She smelled nice, clean, and all woman. “Do you want me to drive so you can shower?”
“I knew it. You were lying when you said I didn’t stink earlier.”
“I never lie. But you said you wanted to shower.”
“That would be nice.” He stood and gestured her into the seat. “Have you ever steered a boat?”
“Yes. My father taught me this past week.”
“Good.” He pointed to the display. “Just follow the coordinates northeast, and we’ll be set.”
“Okay.” She nodded, but her eyes were wary. “What if … they come?”
He didn’t need to ask who “they” were. Gesturing out the windows at the expanse of blue, he smiled and lied; no reason to tell her the pirates probably had the best radar money could buy. It was their job to track ships. “It’s a big ocean. They don’t know where we’re going. They’re probably drinking my Arizona iced tea on the beach and then filling my swimming pool and house with sand.”
Maddie sighed. “I’m so sorry.”
“I was just teasing. It’ll be fine.” He squeezed her arm. The warmth of her flesh seared into him. He was obviously more in need of human interaction than he wanted to admit. Maddie was a beautiful and kind person, but he shouldn’t be this affected by a woman he’d just met last night.
“Thank you.” Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. “For doing all of this.”
Zack nodded and backed away. He spun on his heel and hurried downstairs to the master bedroom. It was either run or take her in his arms. Sweaty and feeling much too attracted to her were not a good combo. She’d probably slap him if he acted on his impulse to ask for a kiss of gratitude—at least if she was smart she would.
5
Maddie maneuvered the boat without paying much attention to anything besides looking behind to make sure the pirates weren’t pursuing them. Every so often she check that they were heading in the right direction. It was really too easy—if she hadn’t been so afraid of what might be coming. She needed something to distract her from thinking about her father’s death and the evil men now chasing her.
She thought of Zack. Okay, maybe not that big of a distraction. Oh, man, he was one fine-looking dude. It was amazing that he would drop everything and put himself in danger for her. He probably would’ve been in more danger if he’d stayed on the island to greet Bello, but Zack hadn’t known that. What if he’d just assumed Bello was another rich guy coming to visit? Zack was amazing. He’d believed her and jumped into action. She couldn’t think when a man had trusted her word and protected her without a thought. Her father definitely had never done either. Her last boyfriend, Robert, had expected a trophy if he opened the door as they walked into a building.
She thought of Bello, and chills raced down her arms. She glanced back for the twentieth time and, thankfully, saw nothing in the ocean behind them. Blowing out a long breath, she said a quick prayer of gratitude that they were safe and continued begging for protection. If only they could get to America. Touching the flash drive in her bra, she wished it was time to turn it over to the authorities and be done with this nightmare. Would Bello keep chasing her once they got to America?
She smelled fresh man before she heard him. Whirling, she smiled at Zack. He’d shaved, and her fingers itched to touch the masculine lines of his jaw. Yummy. “You move too quiet.”
“Runner.” He shrugged. “Have to be light on my feet. I’m going to find some food. Are you hungry?”
Maddie was too nervous to think about food. “Not really, too scared.” She shouldn’t have admitted that. “But I should probably eat something.”
Zack squeezed her arm. Her stomach smoldered from the warmth of his touch. “I’ll see what I can find.”
She appreciated that he didn’t give empty assurances that she shouldn’t be nervous. Pirates were probably chasing them, and she knew better than he did how awful they were. Bello’s leering smile was imprinted in her memory. She swallowed hard and tried to focus on steering the boat straight.
It was an absolutely beautiful yacht. The interior was all light wood and windows with chrome and dark wood accents. The captain’s chairs and furniture were white leather, plush and comfy. The back opened up onto a magnificent deck with more seating and an outdoor table. Maddie wished they weren’t running for their lives so she could just enjoy the opulence and relaxation such a boat offered. She really wished she could go back to Zack’s island and explore and enjoy that beautiful setting and home for a week, or maybe a month.
This yacht and the island both told a story about this intriguing and handsome man. He was obviously wealthy and enjoyed beautiful things. There was a peaceful and warm feeling on this boat, just like there had been in his house. Such a contrast from the equally opulent yacht she’d been on the past week and a half. Both were absolutely beautiful, but Zack’s felt welcoming and homey. She prayed Bello and his men hadn’t damaged Zack’s spot of paradise and wouldn’t find them on his boat. If they could make it to America, hopefully she and Zack would be safe. Even though she didn’t know him well, she didn’t like the idea of leaving him once they reached safety.
Zack returned with a box of crackers, granola bars, and water bottles. “Sorry. I usually stock the boat better when I go on a trip. I’m not very prepared to take care of a lady.”
“You’re sorry?” Her voice pitched up. The nerves and worry all compounded with her gratitude to him. She would be raped and dead if he hadn’t intervened. He had absolutely no right to apologize for being so good to her. “You’ve just deserted your beautiful house to pirates and risked your life to help me, and you’re sorry.” Maddie flung herself into his arms and kissed him. His lips were full and warm. She pulled back just as quickly. “Man, oh, Pete. Now I’m sorry.”
“You’re sorry?” Zack repeated with a big grin splitting his handsome face. “You just made my month, and you’re sorry?” He pulled her back into his arms and kissed her, long and slow and passionately.
Maddie was breathing hard when he released her lips. “Nobody’s driving the boat,” she whispered.
Zack laughed. “I’ve got more important things to do than steer a boat.”
She arched an eyebrow at him as he lowered his head and took possession of her mouth once again.
They broke apart with equally large grins and shortness of breath. Zack offered her a granola bar. He took the captain’s chair while they both ate their simple breakfast. Maddie worried she’d made it more than awkward with her impulsive kiss, but Zack was smiling and relaxed and acted like women spontaneously kissed him in gratitude every day. She glanced at his handsome profile. They probably did … when he was around women.
“Why do you live all alone?” she aske
d.
Zack’s smile slipped. He took a slow drink from his water bottle, then set it in the cup holder. “Don’t like people.”
Maddie cocked her head to the side and studied him. “Liar. If that was true, you would’ve kicked me off your island instead of helping me.”
Zack grinned and splayed his hands. “I said I don’t like people. I like gorgeous brunettes.”
Maddie flushed and took a sip of water. “Would you tell me the truth?”
“About thinking you’re beautiful? I just did.”
“Thank you.” She savored the compliment for a second. He was a breathtaking man, and he was complimenting her. She finally got brave enough to ask. “Will you tell me the truth about why an Olympic athlete is living on a tropical island hundreds of miles from civilization? Did you leave because of the 2012 Olympics?” Maddie was being too pushy, but she felt like he needed to share as much as she wanted to know.
Zack’s throat bobbed as he swallowed. He studied the ocean in front of them. “That was part of it. I never liked all the recognition and fame.” He glanced at her. “Please don’t bring up the Rising Star thing. My dad conned me into doing the photo shoot.”
Maddie’s eyes widened. She’d forgotten. “That was you?” Of course it was. She brought a hand to her lips and couldn’t help the small giggle that escaped. Had she really just kissed the Most Beautiful Man in America for 2012? He’d been on the front cover of the Rising Star magazine. All those pictures of him shirtless or in tailored suits. How could she have forgotten? She and every female student at MSU had drooled over that article. Her friends would die of jealousy, especially her closest friend, Abby, who had been obsessed with Zack for a while. “Wait. You had hair then.”
“Yes.” He rubbed at his head, and his lower lip protruded a little bit. “You’re seriously laughing at my misfortune?”
“Misfortune to be the Most Beautiful Man in America? Oh, wow, somebody is overconfident. That must’ve been really hard on you.”
“You have no idea.” His hand resting on the steering wheel became a vice grip as he stared out the window.
“Honestly.” She stopped laughing at him. “It was hard on you?”
He gave her a partial smile. “Before that, I was just a wealthy athlete, and the attention was manageable. After that, it was disgusting. Women throwing themselves at me. My niece being exposed to slimy women who wanted to get to me through her. Even her preschool teachers tried to take advantage of her.”
That did sound awful. She felt like a snake for laughing at him. “You have a niece?”
“Yeah, she’s my favorite person in the world.”
But his face looked so sad when he said it. Probably because his sister was gone. Maddie’s heart broke for him. “How old is she?”
“Four.”
“That’s a fun age.”
He nodded. “Wish I could see her more.” He cleared his throat and shook out the hand that had been gripping the steering wheel.
Maddie wanted to ask more about his niece. It was obviously his choice he didn’t live by her and see her more, but maybe that wasn’t the smartest thing to point out to her handsome rescuer. She decided to redirect. “So all these women start throwing themselves at you, then the, um, thing happened at the Olympics.”
“Me tripping and losing my status as America’s hope.”
“Yeah, that.” Oh, how she empathized with him. She’d worked really hard to cure her klutziness—dance classes, learning how to slalom ski, standing on one foot for what seemed like hours—but she still tripped occasionally. Okay, more than occasionally. “So did that cure the women coming after you?”
“Oh, no. They just changed their ploys to act like it was out of sympathy.”
Maddie knew the chagrined look on his face wasn’t fake. He really did hate the attention. “Most men would be thrilled to have women throwing themselves at them.”
He shook his head. “They should try it for a while. It’s never the type of women you want throwing themselves at you. The nice, natural beauties, like you, aren’t lining up to proposition someone because he’s famous.”
Maddie’s cheeks warmed. He thought she was nice and a natural beauty? Should she thank him?
He continued before she could say anything. “Sorry. I’m probably sounding so cocky, and I’m really not. Well, I hope I’m not.”
“No, I shouldn’t have said you’re overconfident. I didn’t realize what something like that would do to somebody’s life. I’m sorry.”
“Thanks.”
“So living in exclusion was all about getting away from women, and then I showed up. Did you think I was some crazed fan coming to find you?” She’d thrown herself at him every which way. Landing on his island. Hugging him in the dark last night. Kissing him a few minutes ago. Her face burned with embarrassment.
Zack laughed. “I never thought of that. Are you?”
“I wish. Sadly, my story is true.”
Zack arched an eyebrow. “Yeah. I’ve seen the proof of that.”
They both fell silent at the remembrance of what they left on the island. Maddie needed to break the heaviness of the moment. “But I’m happy to be with the Most Beautiful Man in America now.”
“Even better that you got to kiss him. You can tell all your friends.”
The moment went slow and sticky as their eyes locked, and Maddie wanted to kiss him again. Bragging to her friends wasn’t even in the top five reasons of why she wanted to kiss him. “For a tipsy girl, I’m a lucky schmuck.”
Zack grunted out a surprised laugh. “You’re a tipsy girl? Do you drink a lot?”
“Don’t need to drink. Natural clumsiness. That’s why I fell off the dock last night.” She really needed to curb her tongue. Here he was the Most Beautiful Man in America, and she was a clumsy little girl who threw herself at him.
“I’m betting the bump on your head and the stress of the night didn’t help.”
She appreciated his understanding. “I guess that could’ve been a factor.”
“Is your head better?”
“Yes. Thanks. It hardly bled.” She touched it. “Just a little tender.” She couldn’t hold his warm gaze much longer without throwing herself into his arms again. She didn’t blame all those women who threw themselves at him, not one bit. Though, she did hate the idea of anyone but her kissing those full, yummy lips.
Gathering up their wrappers and the boxes of granola bars and crackers, she walked back to the kitchen area, threw the garbage away, and set the boxes on the counter. She walked slowly through the beautiful main area and out onto the back patio. The ocean stretched out behind them and was thankfully empty of any other boats.
Settling onto a plush couch, she leaned back and soaked in the sun on her face. The wind softly blew around her, and she closed her eyes. A few minutes without staring at Zack would be the only way she could keep herself in check right now.
6
Zack watched Maddie go until she settled onto one of the outdoor couches. He liked talking with her, but didn’t mind the break. If she hadn’t made the quip about her landing on his island and being a tipsy girl, he might’ve revealed the main reason he’d run from America. He didn’t know her very well, yet he was telling all his secrets and kissing her. He smiled. That kiss had been more than worth any discomfort it may have caused. Maybe before they parted ways, he’d get another kiss of gratitude.
He couldn’t believe he’d brought up the article and the women. What an idiot. She probably did think he was a cocky jerk. No starry-eyed, fake women making passes at him was definitely a bonus of his living alone, but his favorite thing was not working with his dad. Sadly, he actually liked the work. He liked being in the business world clashing brains with some of the smartest people he knew, and working out solutions. Yet he hated being his father’s puppet. After he failed at the Olympics, and it was herded toward to taking his rightful place with Tyndale Enterprises, he’d run.
He’d started working for
his father at age fourteen and had been extremely smart with the money he’d earned. His father had paid him on commission to make him work harder. Big mistake on his father’s part. Zack took the large sums of money he earned and learned everything he could about investing. By the time he graduated from NYU, he’d amassed a very nice nest egg and had quit working for his father. Throughout the years of training for the Olympics, he’d mostly let his money grow. He’d taken a big chunk when he left the States and bought his island and the yacht. He could live comfortably for the rest of his life without working another day. Yet, he had to admit that he missed the business world and the energy and challenge of interacting with other people.
After making sure the boat was on course, he grabbed a fresh bottle of water out of the fridge and went to check on Maddie. She was sleeping peacefully, stretched out on the couch in the sunlight. Man, she was beautiful. Without a stitch of makeup and wearing his sister’s too-big dress, she was one of the most breathtaking women he’d ever seen. The dress showed off her shapely shoulders and legs.
Forcing himself to stop staring, he turned to go back inside. A glint of white caught his eye. He squinted, then ran for the binoculars. Returning within seconds, he pressed the binoculars to his eyes and cursed. It was a white yacht, big enough to be the men who chased them. They must have top-of-the-line radar. Zack’s heart rate bumped up.
“Maddie.” He shook her shoulder.
“Yeah?” She stretched and sat up. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to ditch you and then fall asleep. This couch is just so comfy.”
“It’s okay.” He rushed the words out and handed her the binoculars. “Is that your father’s boat?”
Maddie’s eyes widened. She jumped to her feet and stared through the lenses. “Yes,” she whispered.
Zack sprinted back to the captain’s seat and jammed the throttle forward. They were going just under forty knots, but he could kick it up to almost fifty. The other yacht shouldn’t be as fast because it was so much bigger. His was built for speed, but he couldn’t maintain this pace all the way to Key West. And, with their radar equipment, they could follow him and Maddie anywhere. He glanced at the beautiful woman who seemed to trust that he would protect her. What were they going to do? He couldn’t physically run from the pirates, and he didn’t think his business negotiation skills were going to be effective.
Caribbean Rescue (Destination Billionaire Romance) Page 5