by Donna Hill
The thought that someone may be listening or had listened to him and Reese made him feel physically ill. His nostrils flared in fury.
“I need to get into your house in San Diego and sweep it. This office, too.”
Maxwell turned his dark eyes on Larry. He took in a long breath and expelled it as he pursed his lips and sat on the edge of the conference table. He braced his palms on the table’s edge and focused totally on Larry Templeton. “Are you going to tell me what’s really going on? What is it that I’m not supposed to tell? Don’t you realize that I may inadvertently know something and wind up saying the wrong thing without realizing it? Then what’s going to happen?”
Larry turned away from Maxwell. “I’m not free to discuss this with you, Maxwell, and you know that. And…”
Maxwell’s deep voice dropped to a threatening low. “You walk in here and tell me that my office and my house may be bugged. You tell me that Frank Murphy will do just about anything to keep me from giving Reese information that I know nothing about, and you aren’t free to discuss it! My father insisted I keep Reese close by—as a precaution, so that you could keep a watch over us. And you aren’t free to discuss it!”
Larry raised his hands in a fending-off gesture. “Max, listen to me, it’s best that you don’t know. Believe that,” he said with sincerity, thinking back to that fateful morning. He shook his head with regret. “It’s best that you don’t know.” He moved toward Maxwell’s taut frame. “My best suggestion is not to discuss anything with her that is even remotely related to your father.”
Max nodded and leaned back against the table’s edge.
“Will you let me check the office and the house now?”
“Do I have a choice?”
Larry shook his head. “I know you’re a risk taker, Max. But this is a risk you want to avoid.”
Maxwell inhaled and slowly stood. His body tensed with unspent anger. This was too close. The reality of seeing Larry brought the seriousness of their situation to the forefront. Sure he could play Mr. Macho and tell Larry to get lost. But he couldn’t let his pride stand in the way of Reese’s safety. Slowly he nodded in agreement.
Larry breathed a sigh of relief. “I’d better get started.”
Maxwell moved toward the door and stopped. He turned toward Larry. “Don’t let anything happen to her, Larry.”
He’d been under orders fifteen years ago. He’d followed them and it had cost lives. Now was his opportunity to make restitution, if he had to put his own safety on the line, he would.
“I’ll do everything in my power to see that the both of you stay safe.” He put a firm hand on Maxwell’s shoulder. “If you can leave early for Tokyo—” he paused “—I suggest that you do.”
Maxwell looked at him for a long moment, then nodded.
With all the excitement of the past few moments, Carmen had completely forgotten about the package for Maxwell. She looked at the plain manila envelope now, picked it up and headed toward Maxwell’s office.
Carmen tapped lightly on Maxwell’s door, then stepped inside.
“Oh, hello, Reese. Isn’t Max here?”
Reese looked up from her laptop and smiled vaguely. “No. I haven’t seen him since he left for his second meeting.” She closed the cover to the machine and stood, stretching her tight muscles. “Is something wrong?” she asked, noting the odd expression on Carmen’s usually even face.
“No,” she responded with a slight shake of her head. “It’s just that I saw him a few moments ago while I was covering the front desk, and I…well, never mind. I’ll just leave this for him.” She walked toward the desk and placed the envelope on top of a stack of folders. She turned to leave then stopped and faced Reese.
“Uh, Reese, has anyone, I mean anyone you don’t know, been here or tried to reach you?”
Reese frowned and the rush of adrenaline began to pump through her veins, making her heartbeat quicken its pace. She moved closer to Carmen. This time, clearly seeing the look of distress which her expressive eyes failed to mask.
“Carmen, what on earth is wrong?” She placed a hand of encouragement on Carmen’s shoulder, and instantly felt the slight tremors running through the petite body. “Sit down,” Reese instructed, “and tell me what has you so rattled—and why someone would be looking for me.”
Carmen did as she was asked, silently thankful that she could sit before her knees gave out. Reese took a seat opposite her.
Carmen breathed deeply and for a moment shut her eyes, remembering the urgent phone call, the man rushing in and Max claiming that he was a friend. None of that explained his near-frantic call. She shivered again.
“I’m sure it’s nothing.” Carmen flashed a smile that fell short of reaching her eyes. “You’re sure what’s nothing?” Reese pressed, annoyance and agitation building by the minute.
Carmen patted Reese’s folded hands. “Mr. Knight will handle everything. I’m sure it’s all just a misunderstanding.” She stood to leave. “Sometimes I just overreact.” She walked quickly toward the door. “I’m sorry if I upset you. It was totally inappropriate,” she apologized.
“But Carmen…” Reese called out.
Carmen opened the door and stepped across the threshold, fighting down the urge to tell Reese what happened even as she closed the door behind her. She already knew that Max would have her head for opening her big mouth in the first place and upsetting Reese on top of it all. She inhaled a shaky breath. But Maxwell was like a son to her and she’d come to care about Reese. The very thought that something could happen to them sent another chill scurrying up her spine.
Reese was up pacing the floor, her look dark and pensive when Maxwell strolled in about twenty minutes later.
He plastered a big smile on his face as he approached her. He knew he had to get her out of there as soon as possible so that Larry could do his work. And he still had to keep her away from the house long enough for Larry to check it out as well. It would take at least twenty-four to thirty-six hours to change the flight and make hotel arrangements. And he had to have a plausible reason why they were nearly a week early.
“Hey, baby. What’s with the long face? I thought you’d be happy to see me,” he grinned. He closed the distance and kissed her lightly on her pouted lips.
“Have you see Carmen?” she tossed out almost as an accusation.
Maxwell frowned. What had Carmen gone and done now? “About a half hour ago. Why?”
“She was here not too long ago and we had the most curious, uninformative conversation I’ve ever been involved in.” She stared at Max, looking for any reaction. As usual his expression remained nonplussed. But Reese already knew that meant nothing, Maxwell Knight was a master at masking his expressions.
He chortled lightly. “That sounds like Carmen.”
“No, it doesn’t” she retorted. “And you know it.” She crossed her arms beneath her breasts. “What’s going on? And don’t give me the ole ‘oh, it’s nothing honey’ routine,” she cautioned.
“Well, if you must know,” he began in a teasing tone. He put his arm around her stiff shoulders. “Our trip to Tokyo has been pushed up. We’ll have to head out sometime tomorrow or at the latest the following morning. That’s probably what has Carmen rattled. She’s such an organized person, she hates distractions. She’s had to work like a madwoman over the past hour to try and get the arrangements changed.” He peered down into her speculative gaze and smiled. “Sorry for the short notice. But all of this happened within the last hour or so.” At least that much was true.
Reese’s body slowly began to relax, but she was still wary. There was obviously something that he wasn’t telling. But she also knew that if Max had no intention of divulging anything, even the Chinese water torture couldn’t make him talk.
She let out a long breath through her nose. “Fine. Don’t talk,” she huffed, wanting him to know that she was aware of the holes in his story. “What time is the flight?” she cocked her right brow and was pl
eased to see his calm facade slightly shift.
“The confirmations aren’t all done, but I should know something by the end of the day. In the meantime,” he hurried on, wanting to stave off any further questions. “I thought we could do some shopping, have a late dinner on the beach and then turn in. How does that sound?”
She tilted her head to the side. “It sounds like you’re trying to put me off. But a short shopping spree and a romantic dinner may just soothe my wounded ego.”
Maxwell tossed his head back and laughed, both at her quick repartee and in relief. At least he’d bought himself and Larry some time. “Great, let’s get out of here.”
Reese grabbed her purse and laptop, which Maxwell promptly relieved her of and opened the door.
“Oh,” Reese stopped in midstep. “Carmen left a package for you. She put it on the desk.”
Maxwell raised his brows and went to get the envelope. Slicing it open with a letter opener, he extracted the single sheet of paper and a chill shot through him.
While Maxwell kept Reese occupied, Larry returned to his car and retrieved his kit. On the elevator ride, he thought back to the events of the morning. He was losing his edge. Five years ago that guy would have never gotten past him. How could he have let him slip through? And where was he now?
The latter question disturbed him the most. If he made no contact with Maxwell or Reese, then why had he come?
The main thing for the moment was that both Max and Reese were safe. Security was on alert. And with any luck, this time tomorrow Max and Reese would be on their way to Tokyo.
He stepped off the elevator, checked with the security guard who had been forewarned of his return, and turned down the corridor, the guard in tow. Maxwell had promised he’d have her out of his office in fifteen minutes. Larry checked his watch. Max’s time was up. They made the turn down the corridor to his office just as Maxwell and Reese emerged. Maxwell gave him a quick look and kept walking.
Reese looked over her shoulder as they continued down the hall. “Who was that?” she asked as he escorted her to the front desk. “I don’t remember seeing him before.”
“That’s one of the part-time techs,” he said offhandedly, switching the laptop from his right to left hand.
She gave him a suspicious look. “You could have introduced me.”
“Sorry. I guess my mind is on this trip and just getting out of here.” He gave her his best smile and was thankful that Carmen was missing from her desk. His nerves were ready to pop and he wasn’t in the mood for any more of Carmen’s questions. All he wanted to hear was that their travel arrangements had been taken care of.
“I wanted to say goodbye to Carmen,” Reese said easing away from Maxwell’s hold on her upper arm.
“She probably went out to lunch.” He placed his palm at the small of her back and gently urged her forward. “You’ll see her tomorrow.”
Reese suddenly spun around and stopped dead in her tracks. Maxwell’s skill of movement from years of martial arts training was the only thing that saved him from tumbling over the unmoveable woman.
Reese glared up at him. Her amber eyes snapping with annoyance. She planted her hands firmly on her hips. “Are you going to tell me what in the devil is going on around here?” she hissed through her teeth.
Maxwell’s gaze swept the area around them. “This one time, Reese, I’m asking you… No—” he stepped closer and brought his face within a breath of hers “—I’m telling you to keep your writer’s instinct and your woman’s intuition out of the way.”
Reese’s head snapped back in a gesture of shock. She opened her mouth to lash back, but not before Maxwell issued his final directive.
“I’ll tell you if and when the time is right and not a minute before. Now, let’s go.”
Now he’d gone and done it, she thought with growing ire. She planted her feet firmly on the floor. Her scathing look screamed defiance. “I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what’s going on. If I’m involved, I deserve to know what I’m dealing with. Now, either you’re going to tell me or we’re going to miss our flight because we’ll be standing right in this hallway.”
With every word she spoke, he knew she was right. But his male ego had kicked in and the instinct to protect his woman had taken over his thoughts. Just the idea of anything happening to her pushed him too close to the edge. But he also realized that Reese was the type of woman who knew how to take care of herself. And his leaping to her rescue like a knight in shining armor would not be appreciated unless she asked for his help. For a flashing moment, he wondered if Reese Delaware would ever truly need him.
Reese sensed his temporary acquiescence by the nearly imperceptible shift in his wide shoulders and the easing of the tiny lines around his luminous eyes.
Maxwell’s gaze swept over her face and Reese was suddenly afraid, but poised for whatever he had to reveal.
Chapter 23
By the time Maxwell finished telling Reese all that transpired, she was trembling with outrage and a healthy dose of fear. Mechanically, she wound her arms around her body and pushed herself deeper into the plush leather of the Corvette’s seat. She bit down on her bottom lip, deep in thought.
Maxwell peered at her from the corner of one eye while trying to keep the other on the road. “Are you all right?”
Reese, slowly nodded. “I wanted to know,” she said in a distant voice. “Now I do.” She chuckled mirthlessly. Then she angled her head in Maxwell’s direction. Her right eyebrow lifted in an arrogant arch. “If they think I can be scared away from this story, they are sadly mistaken. This time they’re messing with the wrong one.”
Maxwell fought down the smile that bubbled around his mouth and tried to still the pride that made his heart fill full. He pulled the car to a stop at a quiet intersection and cut the engine. He removed his seat belt, eased closer to Reese and popped hers open as well. He cupped her face in his hands and drew her to him. He took her mouth in a long, slow, drugging kiss. Reese closed her eyes and succumbed to the rapture of his mouth.
With a long sigh, Maxwell eased away and found Reese looking into his eyes with the same fierce determination that initially drew him to her. And he knew there was nothing in heaven or in hell that would stop her from going after what she wanted.
“I’m only going to say this once,” Maxwell began, his tone low and even. “You do whatever you need to do. Dig as far as you can dig. At first I wasn’t sure I wanted to find out whatever this ‘thing’ is that no one wants uncovered.” He clenched his jaw and continued. “But I want you to find out Reese, even if it somehow implicates my father. I need to know. My own past is somehow tied into it all. Who and what I am is a direct result of the type of man my father is, what he has done, and how he’s lived his life. Maybe at the end of all of this I’ll finally find the peace within myself that’s eluded me all of these years.”
Reese felt as well as heard the pain that punctuated his every word. His own sense of worth had always been linked to outward appearances and preconceived notions. He’d spent his life doing all he could to overcome the, not always, silent prejudices. He’d struggled to be just a man and accepted for the man he’d made of himself. Yet, even with all of his accomplishments, there were still those lingering doubts, those elusive threads of his heritage that remained out of his reach. And now, a father who was becoming as much of an enigma as the mysterious Sukihara. They’d both gone through life with so many parts of it missing. Somehow, they’d surmounted the obstacles. But the restlessness, the need to know was never out of their thoughts. She reached out and stroked his firm, smooth jaw.
He took her hand and stilled it, pressing it against his face. “I also want you to know this. I’ll do everything in my power to help you. I’ll put all of my resources at your disposal. And I will do whatever I must to protect you—at any cost. And you’ve got to accept that.” He shook his head slowly. “On that issue I won’t budge.”
Reese’s heart was pounding so loud a
nd fast she swore it would leap out of her chest. Max’s declaration of protection was as close as he’d come to truly expressing the depths of his feelings for her. Was there really a chance for them after this was all over? Or was the excitement of the whole process the juice that flowed between them? She didn’t have the answers and maybe that scared her most of all.
“Can we at least agree on this one thing, Reese?”
A slow smile tugged the corners of her mouth. “It sounds like something I could live with,” she replied, her voice a husky whisper, her smile in full bloom.
In that instant they both understood that “this thing” that pulsed between them had just reached another level. And as scary as that concept was to accept, they were willing to deal with it—together.
Everything hurt. When she tried to open her eyes, blinding pain shot through the sockets and ricocheted through her body. She fought down the nausea as a wave of pain engulfed her.
“I think she’s coming around,” came a soft voice that seemed to float to her.
Lynnette took a deep breath and slowly opened her eyes, blinking rapidly against the light and stark white walls. She was obviously still dreaming, she thought in a haze. That could be the only reason why everything was so blurry.
Then someone leaned very close and their face came into focus.
“I’m Doctor Moore, Ms. Campbell.”
The deep resonance of his voice seemed to instantly soothe her. She blinked several more times, trying to make sense of what the man with the thick, black mustache was saying.
“You’re in St. Luke’s Hospital. You were in a car accident.”
Then it all came back to her in little bits and pieces until the puzzle was complete. The last thing she remembered was talking to Reese on the pay phone and heading back to the office.
“Will I live?” Lynnette croaked, thinking of her deadlines, her Quincy article and her promise to Reese.
Dr. Moore fought down a smile. “I’m afraid so, Ms. Campbell. However, you do have a concussion, a fractured rib, an assortment of cuts and bruises and a hairline fracture of the tibia.”