In the Dead of the Night

by Spear, Terry

  She slipped her arm through Allan’s, then began to stroll at a slower pace this time. “So what do I get out of this arrangement? You’ll want your husbandly rights and—”

  “It’s not what you think, Jenny.”

  “What happened to honey?” Pulling him to a stop, she fisted her hands on her hips. “Exactly what am I to think?”

  “It’s for your own protection.”

  “You mean, so you can slip into my bed and keep the nightmares away? Nothing more? Marry me to keep me honorable? What?”

  “You have an inheritance. You can’t touch it unless you’re married and…”

  Jenny’s mouth dropped open, then she shut it quickly. Why couldn’t she remember a blamed thing about her past? She walked unsteadily down the beach. Chill bumps dotted her arms and her head pounded. “He wanted me for my money? That bastard was going to marry me, get the money, then kill me?”

  “Yes.” Allan wrapped his arm around her shoulder, but she shrugged it off. “If I marry you, we can transfer the money to an Agency account. When Wilson discovers he can’t get to it, he won’t bother you any further.”

  “Is that what you think? You said he kills all the women he’s been with. Wouldn’t he feel cheated and come after me still? Hell, if I ever get my memories back, maybe I could be used to testify against him. And I’m certain he wouldn’t want that.”

  “That’s another reason the Agency wants me to marry you. So that I can stick to you day and night. To ensure your safety at all times.”

  “No.” She shook her head to emphasize her answer.

  “What do you mean, no? If you don’t marry me, the Agency will send someone else. They’re not going to give up on this. There’s no way they’re going to let your money fall into this terrorist’s hands.”

  “So now it’s just the money that’s important.”

  “You’re what’s important to me, Jenny.”

  “It’s just a job, remember?” She took a deep breath, totally exasperated. How could she be forced to marry someone for the first time in her life? If it was the first time in her life. Shouldn’t she love the guy? Want it to last forever? What a nightmare. Her stomach tightened into knots. How could some government agency decide this for her? Still furious that this agency was attempting to control her life, she said, “I want to check out some of the other candidates first.”

  For an instant, she was sure she saw a glint of concern flicker in his dark brown eyes.

  He took her arm and stopped her. “All right. They’re sending Randy Stevens. He’s good looking, a real lady’s man. Should suit you fine.” He turned her around and headed back to the condo.

  “What about our walk?”

  “The next one you take can be with Randy. I have a job to do.”

  He walked so fast at first she nearly had to run to catch up, then she wondered why she was making the effort. Turning, she headed for the water instead.

  Suddenly, he was at her side again. “We were headed in, remember?”

  “You were headed in.” She pulled of her halter. His eyes bugged out. She guessed he thought she was topless underneath it. Grabbing her shorts, she yanked them off. “I’m going for a swim.” She shoved her clothes at him, then when he grabbed them, she ran into the water.

  She didn’t want to marry Randy Stevens or some terrorist, Thurman Wilson, or even Agent Allan Thompson, though he’d have been preferable to the rest. All she wanted was her memories back and her life returned to normal, whatever that had been like. She felt totally alone and vulnerable while her whole life spun out of control before her like a star shooting from the heavens, burning up in the atmosphere.

  Allan stood at the water’s edge, holding onto her clothes as Dale joined him.

  “Water’s great!” she shouted, trying to find some enthusiasm for her life the way it stood now as the warm waves licked at her waist. Dale said something privately to Allan and he responded, the whole time both keeping their eyes on her. She was certain she had never attracted this much interest in her life.

  Then Samuel ran toward the two of them. She couldn’t tell from the expression on his face what the problem was, as his brow furrowed. But her heartbeat accelerated just the same, while worry created a flight of butterflies to take off in her stomach.

  She hoped to God whatever was the matter now wasn’t more bad news.

  Chapter 9

  Allan shook his head, handed Jenny’s clothes to Dale, and headed back to the condo, his shoulders stooped in defeat. She couldn’t help the upset that slammed into her belly over seeing him so distressed.

  She dipped down low in the water. Now what the hell was going on?

  Then a new man appeared on the scene, a strawberry blond with blue eyes and a killer smile. Though he spoke to Dale, he had eyes only for her. She looked back at the condo as Allan walked up the steps, then disappeared into the building.

  She dove under the water and swam for several minutes longer. Twice she looked at the glass windows filling the backside of the condo. Was Allan still watching her, hidden from view behind the dark glass? Or was he just so peeved at her for wanting to marry some other agent that he no longer cared what happened to her?

  Damn him. He’d really gotten under her skin. She couldn’t help feeling like the tide’s swift pull, drawn to join him again.

  She headed out of the water.

  Dale apologized, “I guess we should have brought a towel.”

  Grabbing her clothes from him, she smiled sweetly. The poor man was trying to smooth things over between her and Allan, she assumed. “I’ll just dry out on the chaise lounge on the patio.”

  The other agent stuck out his hand. “Randy Stevens.”

  She raised a brow. “Oh.”

  So he was what got Allan all tied in knots. The Agency’s other suitor for her. The guy was good looking she had to admit. But he was just a little too eager to make her acquaintance. She brushed past him. No more pseudo suitors.

  Maybe she felt more comfortable with Allan having known him longer, or the fact he’d saved her life. Whatever it was, she wasn’t quite ready to ditch him yet for the new guy or any other, if the A.T.A. had in mind she was going to marry one of them to keep her safe, or her money rather.

  When she reached the chaise lounges, she laid down on one and closed her eyes. The one next to hers squeaked. She didn’t look to see who sat there, but she assumed it was bridegroom choice number two.

  “So Jenny, I understand you still don’t have your memory back.”

  “Nope.” And she really didn’t wish discussing it with this perfect stranger.

  “I thought maybe we could take a stroll on the beach later tonight. Get to know one another a little better.”

  “You know, from what I understand, this marriage arrangement is strictly a business proposition.”

  “You never know what could happen between two people.”

  All of a sudden, she knew she didn’t like this guy. He was pushy, overbearing, thought he was a real ladies’ man, and had the kind of moves a womanizer would make, she imagined. Had she known one before? She thought about it, but couldn’t recall, though instinctively her skin chilled, and she didn’t trust the man in the least.

  Her thoughts shifted to Allan. She was certain he wanted her to be safe, and fought his own sexual urges to keep their fragile relationship intact. But this guy…

  He was still talking, but she hadn’t heard the rest of the conversation. Did he know about her inheritance? Sure, he had to know. Did he think when it was all over, that he might stick it out with her a while longer and get in on the winnings?

  She jumped up from her lounger, grabbed her clothes, and stopped to see Dale watching her. She smiled. Was Dale making sure Randy didn’t get fresh with her for Allan’s sake?

  “I’m hungry,” she said, grabbing Dale’s arm. “Are you a good cook?”

  “Allan does a pretty good job in the kitchen.”

  Somehow she suspected he would say that.r />
  When they stepped inside the condo, they heard Allan in the kitchen banging around.

  “I’m going to take a shower,” Jenny said to Dale. “Wash off the salt and sand.”

  “All right. I’ll tell Allan you want to see what kind of a chef he is.”

  “Hope he’s as good as you say.” She crossed the living room and entered the bedroom.

  When she shut the door, Allan looked up to see Dale step into the kitchen and scowl at him. “What the hell was that all about? You want that two-timing Stevens to marry her?”

  “She said she wanted to check out the competition. Hell, if he could get into my wife’s pants knowing the way she was with other men, I don’t even stand a chance with—” Allan glanced at the entryway to the kitchen. Jenny stood wide-eyed with her lips parted slightly, her cheeks looking like she’d applied a little too much blush.

  She swallowed and pointed toward the bedroom. “Uhm, there’s no shampoo or soap in there.”

  “I’ll run out and get some.” Dale dashed out of the kitchen nearly at a sprint.

  The front door slammed shut.

  Allan studied Jenny, her curls dripping wet over her shoulders, and her perfectly luscious figure wrapped only in two strips of shimmering blue fabric. He shoved his hands in his pockets. “I’m sorry if I acted like a fool out there.”

  “Randy Stevens had an affair with your wife, Allan?” Her voice was soft, but incredulous and full of concern.

  She seemed to care about him, and her words touched him profoundly. “Now ex-wife.” The hurt was still there, despite his trying to tell himself it didn’t matter.

  “I’m really sorry.”

  “No need to be. He just has a way with women.” He tried to act nonchalant, but he was afraid he had failed miserably as Jenny twisted a wet lock of hair between her fingers, her eyes studying him with worry.

  “But he didn’t stay with her?”

  “No. He doesn’t stay with any of them for very long. I doubt he could ever make a commitment to one woman forever.”

  She pushed a curl of hair behind her ear. “But he said he’d be interested in staying with me.”

  Allan raised a brow. That would be the day. And then he frowned. Unless the bastard thought he could get a hold of Jenny’s money after the case was over.

  She crossed the kitchen and touched Allan’s chest, running a finger over his abdomen, making him hot all over again. “Of course I know the only reason would be he wants my money. But with you, now, you want to keep me safe, don’t you?”

  He took a deep breath. He wanted to assure her he had every intention of keeping her safe from Wilson, but would she think him sincere? “You know I do.”

  “How long would it be for?”

  “Until we catch the sick bastard.”

  “A year or more? She continued to touch his chest, sending the electricity sparking through every molecule of his body.

  Considering he was strictly her bodyguard, he was already harder than he ought to be, just with her simple strokes. “We hope to get this taken care of quickly.”

  “But what if I don’t want a divorce afterward?” Her hands moved to his waistband and she ran her fingers just inside it. “What if I don’t believe in divorce?”

  As much as he wanted to touch her back, he kept his hands firmly planted in his pockets. He wasn’t sure he could keep his raging hormones under control if he started to massage her needs, too.

  “I’ve told you already, I’ve just gotten over a divorce. Not only that, but you have no idea about your past. Would you feel the same once your memories are back? And the other thing is, my ex-wife got tired of my being away. I don’t wish that kind of life for another wife.”

  “The other guys are all married, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “Okay, so if I agree to marry you, then what?”

  “We’ll transfer the money to the Agency account.”

  “And then?”

  “Remain vigilant. We’ll let the word get out about your money being out of your control, and that you’re now married. Hopefully, he’ll give up on you. If not, we’ll be there to protect you in any event.”

  “So what to do we do now? Fly to Las Vegas?”

  “We’ll get married right here on the island.” He couldn’t resist her any further. He pulled his hands out of his pockets and placed his hands on her bare shoulders. The warmth and softness of her skin caused his heart to beat harder. “Does that mean you’ll marry me?”

  She smiled, sweetly to a degree, but with a hint of the devil. “You hadn’t asked. I mean, you just said your boss wanted you to marry me.”

  He took her hands in his. “This isn’t going to be easy for either of us. If he continues to come after you, we’ll have to always watch our backs.”

  “Yeah, well, with you beside me, I can handle it.”

  The door to the condo closed, and Dale said in warning, “Got the shampoo and soap.”

  Jenny kissed Allan on the cheek, then hurried out of the kitchen. “Thanks, Dale. What would a girl do without you?”

  Taking the items from him, she headed for the bedroom.

  Dale joined Allan in the kitchen. “Well?”

  “It’s a go.”

  “Hot damn.”

  Jenny smiled and closed the bedroom door behind her.

  It wasn’t long before she was soaping her hair and face and enjoying the feel of the warm spray slipping over her body. But when a man’s hand clasped over her mouth, she opened her eyes, instantly getting soap in them as she tried to scream.

  Her heart thundered in her chest as she got only a glimpse of Randy Steven’s face before her eyes stung with the soap, and she had to shut them.

  She clawed at his hands, but he quickly joined her in the shower and held her body firmly against the tile wall.

  “Jenny, listen, before we’re both killed. I’m A.T.A., but Allan and the rest of them are Thurman Wilson’s men.”

  She stopped her struggles and covered herself modestly, her eyes still closed and burning.

  He didn’t remove his hand from her mouth, but continued to speak, hurriedly, hushed, trying to explain. “Allan was the one who hit you. I was with the A.T.A. team members trying to get to you. Wilson’s afraid that you’d recognize him, so he’s having Allan pose as an agent who needs to get to the money to keep it safe. But all that’ll happen is Allan will marry you, get the money, and turn it over to Wilson.”

  He barely took a breath and continued, trying to convince her he was on the side of good. “I’m with A.T.A. and have infiltrated his organization. Your clothes and this place are bugged. There’s a change of clothes for you by the sink. Nobody will realize they aren’t bugged. Tonight you and I’ll take a walk on the beach. I’ll have some men lined up, and we’ll make our escape. All right?”

  She didn’t respond as she began to shake. Everything had turned upside down all at once. She wasn’t sure she believed Randy Stevens. But now she wasn’t sure that Allan was who he said he was either. She didn’t know who hit her in the darkened bedroom. It could have been Allan. It could have been any of the men posing as A.T.A agents.

  Then she vaguely remembered the man shouting about the A.T.A. surrounding the house, or something like that.

  “Allan hasn’t made love to you, has he?”

  Her heart sank.

  “He posed as your husband, but never had relations with you. Don’t you think it a bit odd? The thing is he couldn’t. If he had, Wilson would kill him. If you marry Allan now, he still won’t touch you.”

  Because he was a decent man, she reminded herself. Allan couldn’t because he didn’t want to hurt her.

  Randy took a deep breath. “Okay, listen. I know this is all hard to swallow. But it’s the truth. I tried to reach you in the Grand Cayman Islands, but my men were killed, and I had to follow you here. If Allan marries you and gets that money from you, you’re a dead woman. Tell him you’ll still think on it. That you want to take a walk on the be
ach with me tonight. I’ll make the other arrangements in the meantime.”

  She nodded. She had to agree to anything, so she could get this man out of her shower. So she could wash the soap out of her eyes.

  “I know this is difficult for you. But trust me, I’ve got to get you out of here before he delivers you to Wilson.”

  She nodded again. She was certain he was getting an eyeful of her naked body while he held her against the shower wall. Her whole body heated with embarrassment. When he released her, she automatically opened her eyes, but couldn’t see anything except a blur, her eyes burning. She hurried to rinse her eyes out and her hair and skin, then opened her eyes again. She shut off the water and jerked the shower curtain aside.

  Except for a puddle of water on the floor where Randy must have stood for a moment, there was no other sign of him. The bathroom window was wide open, letting in a warm, muggy breeze.

  She considered the clothes on the counter. If Randy was A.T.A., wouldn’t he have bugged them, too? But what if he was Wilson’s man? Same thing. So then his men could keep track of her. Wrapping a towel around her, she entered the bedroom.

  Allan opened the door and stopped dead in his tracks. “I’m sorry. I was just going to check on you. Lunch is in an hour. Baked chicken, potato, broccoli, okay?”

  “Yes. If you don’t mind, I’m going to lie down for a while until then.”

  “Anything wrong?”

  “Why?” She wasn’t a great actress, but she hoped she hadn’t already given herself away.

  “Your eyes are red and blurry. You look like you’ve been crying.”

  “Got soap in them.”

  She clutched the towel tightly to her body. Was Randy right about Allan? He didn’t come near her even dressed as skimpily as this. Was he truly afraid of being on the rebound, or afraid Wilson would kill him if Allan had sexual relations with her? Or was it as she thought previously, he was an honorable man? Still, she couldn’t risk it. If Wilson got hold of her money and used it for terrorist acts…she couldn’t trust anyone.

  Allan hesitated, then nodded. “All right. After lunch we’ll get married. In the meantime, Dale and I’ll be in the living room if you need anything.”