Angel expelled the breath she’d been holding.
How long would his sister stay or, worse, what if she wanted to sit outside? She mentally ticked through a selection of possible scenarios, all of which ended with being found hiding on the patio.
One of the few lessons she could attribute to her father was, “The best defense is a good offense.”
And the truth be known, Trish had no idea what type of relationship Angel and Zane shared. Finding her there without him might not look unusual.
Even better, maybe Trish knew where he’d stored the canvas boat curtains.
Angel stood up, straightened her clothes and twisted all of her hair back up into a tidy knot. She flicked a look around to see if anyone watched her and tapped on the glass door, waited a minute then rapped harder the second time.
When Trish stuck her head out of the kitchen, she immediately cocked it to one side in that confused-dog look before her eyebrows shot up in recognition. A cheery smile popped into place as she hurried across the room to unlock the glass doors, chattering the whole time.
“Oh, sugar, I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you sitting out there. Did you lock yourself out?”
That works. “Yeah, I was locked out. Good to see you again.”
She hadn’t noticed Trish’s soft southern accent the first time they’d met, but caught it now.
“Come on in, sug, it’s too hot to sit out there. I don’t know how you and Zane stand the heat. The man loves his fresh air. Let’s close the door and enjoy the AC.”
Trish’s ankle-length fuchsia dress dotted with yellow squiggles blared in stark contrast to Zane’s coffee-brown and forest-green decor. The dark-haired beauty circled the sofa carrying a glass full of a cola-looking liquid, before sinking down into the soft green leather.
“Want something to drink, sugar?”
“No, I’m fine. Thanks for letting me in.”
“No problem.” Trish eyed her curiously and said, “I hadn’t even heard of you before yesterday. So, where did you meet my brother?”
A reasonable question under any other circumstance, but not one Angel had anticipated. Telling Zane’s sister he’d helped her escape armed men didn’t sound like a good idea.
“We met in North Carolina. I was in a hurry to leave, so he gave me a ride to Charleston.” Basically true.
“How did you end up in Florida? Do you live here or are you just visiting?”
Though Angel knew his sister’s intent was not to put her on the spot, it didn’t alleviate her discomfort. The fact that they’d never meet again didn’t change the way Angel felt about blatantly lying to her. Funny how honesty had gotten her where she was today. Still, she resolved to stay as close to the truth as possible, with a little creativity.
“Actually, I’m visiting. I plan to relocate in the future, but haven’t made up my mind where yet. How long have you been here?”
“I moved here three years ago when Zane did. Before that I lived in Houston, Texas. We grew up just outside the city limits. Our parents died while Zane was in the navy so he opted out early. He didn’t feel a real tie to Houston. I’d missed him terribly. When he picked Ft. Lauderdale, so did I.”
Trish’s deep brown eyes softened every time she mentioned her brother.
Angel envied the close sibling relationship. Zane’s love for his sister had been written all over his face when he’d hugged her the day before.
Before Trish could ask another question she’d have to dodge, Angel said, “Zane tells me you have a gift shop. Sounds like a fun business. Tell me about it.”
“We’ve only been open for three months. It’s doing okay. Takes awhile to get going. Like I tell Zane, the winter season is the best because the snowbirds show up.”
Trish grinned and Angel smiled back. Who could not like this woman?
“Zane’s been a tremendous help.” Trish spoke, face animated, hands moving in tandem with her excitement. “He’s amazing. I had no idea where to start, but I’m getting the hang of it. Everywhere he goes he finds the most amazing things for the shop. He takes care of all the real business and I work with the customers.”
Angel considered the “tough breaks” Zane had mentioned. What a shame that she’d been an inconvenience, a mistake in her parents’ life. Trish was bright and pleasant, obviously loved her brother and worked at her shop. Sometimes. She seemed to keep odd hours, unless someone else was covering for her when she showed up at Zane’s unannounced.
Trish waved her hand from side to side. “Yo, Angel, back to earth.”
“Sorry, what were you saying?”
“I asked you where Zane is.”
Hmm. “He didn’t tell me where he was going, but he’ll probably be back before you know it.” Good answer.
“He doesn’t even have an answering machine. Can you believe that? He grouches that ours doesn’t always work, but that’s because my friend Heidi turns it off so she doesn’t miss any calls when she’s home then forgets to hit the button on her way out.”
Trish downed a slug of her drink. “Doesn’t want me to call his cell unless it’s an emergency. I called earlier to see what his plans were but missed him,” Trish said, jiggling her glass. “So anyhow, I jumped the bus and took a chance he was here. Just as well. I’m getting to know you. Can’t say that I’ve met any female friends of Zane’s since he moved here.”
That’s interesting. “Why not?” Angel asked.
Trish’s thick black lashes met when she smiled. She shoved her shoulders up in a shrug. “He’s never had a problem meeting women. They fall all over him, but a girl in Texas burned him years ago. They were intense for two months, until he found out she was engaged to be married.”
Zane’s sister continued swishing the cubes around in her glass and rambled on. “I don’t think he ever got over it. He sees everything in black and white, right or wrong. If there’s one thing my brother hates it’s being deceived. Personally, I was glad to see the gold digger gone. My brother’s generous to a fault and I can’t stand anyone taking advantage of him.”
In spite of all Trish’s flighty mannerisms, she exhibited core strength where Zane’s welfare was concerned. A strength that maybe even her brother didn’t realize.
The smile of a charming young woman replaced Trish’s vexed reaction over the gold digger. She glanced at her jangling bracelet watch.
“I can’t stay long. Heidi is picking me up after she gets off work.” Trish bounced up, holding her glass out for examination. “Looks like I’m empty. Hang on. I’ll be right back. You need water or a drink or anything?”
It wasn’t bad enough she was becoming attached to a man she’d never see again, but Angel wanted to get to know his sister better. Some people fantasized about winning the lottery and living a life of leisure.
She fantasized about having a respectable job, a real home, though not elaborate, with a man who loved her who would give her children. Now that she’d met Trish, she wished she’d had a sister as well. Not much of an imagination, but the odds of having her dreams fulfilled were more obscure than winning a lottery.
In the less-than-ideal household Angel grew up in, she kept few friends. She never brought guests home to be around her mother’s drinking. It took a long time after her mother died to start making friends. She built a few running friendships, looked forward to a new life once she left for college.
Once news of her arrest hit the papers, everyone deserted her. Angel eschewed all female relationships after the year she’d spent in a cell trying to survive among women who’d trade a life for a pack of cigarettes.
She must have been born under a dark star to have such lousy timing.
After years of bitter disappointments, she’d met a man dreams were made of, with a sister she was beginning to genuinely care about. Creating space in her life for either one was an indulgence she couldn’t afford.
Life continued to wave her heart’s desire in front of her then snatch it away when her fingers touched the brass ring
.
Trish hummed as she passed in front of Angel’s chair until she bumped the coffee table and lost her balance. Angel leaped up to grab Trish’s drink before it hit the glass surface. When the now-full drink hit the floor, ice and cola splattered across the carpet.
“Hang on, I’ll get some towels.”
Snagging a rag from the laundry room, Angel scrubbed the sandstone-shade rug. She sniffed a sweet whiskey scent but kept her thoughts to herself. Once the ice was picked up, the damp area was hardly noticeable. Amazingly, the drink had left no stain.
“Hey, thanks,” Trish said, rubbing her eyes with the heel of her hand. “You should move here. Maybe Zane would stay home more often.”
“That would be nice, but I’ve got a small problem I need to take care of before I can figure out where to live.” If she was here, Angel might be able to help Trish, reach out to the young woman where no one had offered help to her mother.
Alcohol could numb the pain for only so long before it got out of hand.
Wavy black hair framed Trish’s perfect complexion. She checked her watch. “Heidi’s running late. Better go catch the next bus before I miss it.” She stood then checked her watch again and sat down.
“Got another minute or two,” she explained. “I hope you two keep seeing each other. I really like you, and my brother’s the best. We’re a lot alike, you know.”
Angel decided to sit back and see what Trish could tell her about Zane. “I’ll admit you two can’t deny being brother and sister. Not with all that black hair and dark brown eyes.”
“Well, yeah, that too, but he’s restless like me,” Trish noted.
“Really? What do you mean?”
Trish warmed to the new topic. “He never does the same thing for long. Jokes that he’s a jack-of-all-trades but a master of none. I think he just gets bored. I call him the mystery man.”
Before Angel could ask what she meant there was a knock at the door. Trish rocketed up from her chair. She rushed to the door and swung it wide open with no consideration of who stood on the other side.
Angel had leaped to her feet as well, heart slugging her chest bone. It wasn’t Zane. She’d have heard the rumble of his diesel engine.
Two arms decorated in bangles and rings wrapped around Trish’s back. A head of spiked blond hair hugged over her shoulder. Trish turned to Angel.
“This is my friend Heidi. Heidi, this is my friend Angel. Zane’s, too.”
“Nice to meet you.” Angel let out a choked breath of relief and walked over to shake hands.
“Same here. Wow, you’re taller than Trish. I think I’m living in the land of giants.”
An understandable observation from someone who only reached Angel’s shoulder.
Trish’s uninhibited grin radiated happiness.
Angel swallowed back a lump of jealousy over the noticeably close friendship. No brother, no sister, no girlfriend, no man in her life. Angel’s fantasy dropped to a lower notch.
One. Why couldn’t she be cared for by at least one person? Was she destined to spend her life alone?
“Tell Zane I had to go, but I’ll see him later.” Trish gave Angel a big hug and whispered, “Thanks. I owe you for cleaning up my mess.” In a flurry of chattering, Trish snatched her purse from the kitchen and closed the door behind them as she followed Heidi out.
Angel smiled, wishing she didn’t have to leave. Wishing she could be like any other normal person with an average life. She wanted to stay in Ft. Lauderdale, wake up tomorrow morning with no criminal record and no Mason. But staying would only jeopardize Zane and Trish. Once she found the coins, she’d never see them again.
She smacked her head. “Stupid, stupid, stupid. I cannot believe I didn’t ask her about the damn boat curtains. Next time, I need to keep my nose stuck in my own business,” she complained to the empty room. She sank into the dark green leather chair. What had Trish meant by mystery man? Angel assumed he’d always been a pilot.
Zane was definitely a mystery man. The biggest mystery Angel found with him was his hair-trigger mood that ran from sizzle to chilly in the blink of an eye. One minute he couldn’t keep his hands off her, and the next he kept her at a polite distance.
What did she expect, turning up in the least likely place every time the man saw her?
There was also the small problem she’d told Trish about. A small problem would be if no one showed up in a week to pay her rent. Staying away from Mason and locating the gold coins ranked as huge obstacles.
What few worldly possessions she owned would soon be set on the street, including a used racing bike and her acceptance notice to compete in the Tamarind Triathlon.
All the hard work she’d invested to compete in the high-profile event had gone down the drain. Her one opportunity to redeem her name in the athletic community had been thoroughly crushed.
What name? If she didn’t figure a way out of this mess and Mason didn’t kill her first, she faced a stretch in prison to add to her illustrious reputation. Or a life on the run.
Zane might be a mystery to his sister, but he’d been nothing short of a lifesaver since Angel had met him. As if it hadn’t been enough to rescue her the night she escaped, he’d shown up in the abandoned gas station out of thin air after someone had taken a shot at her.
Questionable, yes, but she’d been damn glad to see him.
Mysterious or not, he was a godsend. Zane’s caring and protective attentions chiseled at the icy barrier she’d built around her emotions. His first kiss had surprised her, but his hands had awakened needs she shouldn’t even acknowledge.
She licked her lips remembering his taste.
Years of debilitating setbacks had hardened her soul. As a woman with a jaded past, she’d long since given up on ever believing someone decent would care for her or that she’d ever want anything from a man but a job.
She knew better than to trust a man with her life, but trusting one with her heart?
Now, that was a stretch.
Her throat tightened. Dreams were for other women. She didn’t have a future and not a chance of one with a man like Zane. Even if she found a way out of this mess, nice guys didn’t want a convicted criminal for a girlfriend.
Nothing could change the past.
Angel never indulged in self-pity, but a tear managed to slip down her cheek. She was falling in love with Zane. It must be her lot in life to want only what she couldn’t have.
Another tear trickled down the side of her nose.
Of all the things she’d lost in her life, losing him would be the hardest.
C.K. pushed the long thin blade across the cool whetstone, enjoying how the smooth stainless steel ground to a fine edge under the pressure of his forefinger. He wondered if the blade would split a hair. Hadn’t someone once told him a perfectly sharpened knife would split a hair?
Silky, auburn hair would be a good test.
His cell phone vibrated. Right on time. “Speak.”
“Joe, here. No sign of her yet. Got a tail on the pilot. He’s driving around, stopping at places and leaving right away like he’s looking for her, too. But we found his apartment.”
Some jobs were simpler than others, but C.K. didn’t care. Diligence always paid off. He’d get her.
“Double the coverage,” C.K. instructed.
“Will do, boss.”
Chapter 11
Zane dialed Ben’s lab number while he whipped his truck around the marina parking lot to head for the exit.
After ten rings he hung up and dialed his lab technician’s cell number.
“Hello, this is Ben.”
“Hey, bud, it’s Zane. Where are you?”
“I’m at the hospital. Kerry went into labor about two hours ago.”
Zane was torn between being thrilled for Ben and disheartened he couldn’t ask his friend to run the prints.
“What’s up, Zane?”
“It’ll wait.”
“Don’t tell me you finally got prints?” Ben
razzed.
“Yeah. I’ve got some data to run, too.”
“You don’t sound too thrilled. Why do I get the impression something’s not right?” Ben asked, no longer in a teasing mode.
“You could say things have gotten more involved,” Zane said.
“I don’t like the sound of that. Why don’t you turn this over to somebody else? You’re way too close to moving up the ladder in the task force after this bust, and getting off the streets, to take an unnecessary risk right now.”
Ben was right. With the High Vision ring broken, he’d be offered a rank that came with a normal life. If Zane had any hope of helping Trish, he had to be home more often.
Worse, if it turned out he’d been hiding a criminal, more than a promotion would go down the drain.
But he couldn’t walk away until he knew for sure. That’s why he trusted no one but Ben to check out the prints without stirring up problems. He could only follow his gut feelings. Turning his back on Angel at this point would be no easier than abandoning his sister.
Angel needed him. She was too stubborn to accept his help. Too bad. She was getting it anyhow.
“It’s complicated, Ben. I’m not going to drop the ball with the High Vision case, but I have to find out this woman’s background,” Zane admitted.
“What if she’s a criminal?”
“Then I’ll deal with it,” Zane stated emphatically.
“You may be getting in over your head on this one, bud,” Ben warned.
“Maybe, but I’m past the point of no return.”
“Oh, buddy, this doesn’t sound like business anymore, but I’m not going to pry. Drop off everything you’ve got. I’ll run the fingerprint through as soon as I get back to the lab, but I’m telling you I won’t sugarcoat the truth.”
“Thanks, Ben. Give my love to Kerry.”
Two more turns before Zane reached his apartment.
Streetlights flickered on along the highway in the dusky early-evening glow. The western tree line swallowed a tangerine sun. Three hours had passed since Angel vanished.
Sick disappointment settled in his chest.
Worth Every Risk Page 13