“I lived in Boston while I was seeing Payton. Did I already tell you that?” She sounded mad. And he sensed another round of chatter coming.
“No,” he said, deciding to go along with it. “Who’s Payton?”
“He’s the politician I almost was stupid enough to marry. Boston is nice, but it’s so busy. And it’s full of stuck-up people. Not friendly like Mount Desert Island. It’s quaint and quiet and beautiful. I am so lucky to live there.
“There’s something about Maine I love. It’s got a lot of history and it’s woodsy and charming. My house was built in 1920. I renovated it. I painted it white and hung black shutters. I told you about the wrap-around porch with shrubs and flowers planted around it. There are planters on the railings, too. Sometimes I just sit on the porch and watch the ocean. There’s no beach, just a rocky shore, but it’s so beautiful.”
So far he could find no hidden meaning in what she was saying. But as she talked, her anger softened. He could hear the love for her home in her voice. It wasn’t the first time he’d noticed.
“My kitchen and living room are small. I was careful about the kind of furniture I bought. Nothing too big and bulky, and I wanted an old-fashioned look. It’s an old farmhouse. I am particular about antique furniture. I didn’t want it to look like I went to the flea market for furniture.” She laughed a little. “That made it a challenge to find what I liked. But it was fun. Each new piece of furniture was like a treasure I found, because I knew it was going to fit the décor I was after. It was me, you know? When I’m home, I feel like me.”
As opposed to being here, with him, where she didn’t. There was her point. “It sounds nice,” he said.
“I miss home.” The way she said it slammed him. So quietly and with so much emotion. When she returned home, she’d be away from him. Her life would be normal again and she wouldn’t have to deal with any of this. With him.
To hell with it. He couldn’t finish this night without making sure she knew just how much he wanted her.
Rolling to his side, he lifted himself up onto his elbow. Her eyes were closed and her breathing was slow and even. He watched her sleep for a while.
How had it happened that such an angel appeared in his life? Her sweetness drugged him. It tempted him. It also made him want things that would never come to be. Best that she had fallen asleep.
In the morning, she’d realize what a mistake she’d almost made. She’d remember that he was a sniper who worked outside the law. He couldn’t offer her what she was looking for. She didn’t want to settle for the wrong man again, and he didn’t want to be the wrong man again.
Elam woke to his satellite phone ringing. He reached over to the side table and answered.
“You’re not going to believe this.”
“Good morning to you, too, Odie.”
“It’s after ten at night here.”
“What have you got?”
“Jared Fenning was an arms dealer who’d been doing a good job hiding behind his shipping company.”
Elam sat up on the bed. So the man who’d threatened Farren for three million had been working with an arms dealer. Terrorists buying arms at that price definitely got his attention.
Farren stirred beside him, rolling onto her back. The nightgown had twisted around her and molded to her gorgeous breasts.
“Who was Jared getting the weapons from?”
“Marc Betts, of Betts International, an arms supplier. Cullen convinced Fenning’s lawyer to tell him about their friendship. Apparently they go way back. Betts used Fenning’s shipping company on a regular basis. Fenning had offices all over the world and frequently routed shipments through the United Arab Emirates.”
“So the shipments look legitimate.”
“Right. He complicated the supply chain that way. He probably also used forged end-user certificates to avoid getting caught violating embargo restrictions.”
“Anything else?” He doubted Odie had called just to tell him that.
“The lawyer also gave Cullen the name of Betts’s last mistress. She wasn’t real happy he let her go, so she was a fountain of information.”
“I’m not going to ask how Cullen got the lawyer to talk.”
Odie laughed briefly. “In his own convincing way. Anyway, the woman told him about a meeting Betts had with Fenning. They were talking about a deal with a man named Imaad al Rasoon. She said they discussed how to get the shipment to Fenning, who said he’d ‘take care of the sale from there.’ She said the shipment was supposed to happen the week after Fenning was killed.”
Elam froze inside while the implications of this news assembled in his mind. “Imaad al Rasoon is one of the men Ameen listed on the yacht charter documentation in Bodrum. He’s coming to the festival.”
“Okay, now we’re getting somewhere,” Odie said, “Imaad’s got solid ties to al Qaeda and is climbing his way into Most Wanted land from what I’ve gleaned in my research. He’s got himself a splinter cell, like we thought Ameen had, only this guy seems to have connections all over the place.”
“Farren said the man threatening her was in the United States. How’d he get there if he’s on our radar?”
“Who knows. But he must have found a way. Don’t fool yourself into thinking our borders are impenetrable.”
“I don’t.” That’s why he left the States to fight terrorism. He wanted to get them before they found a way onto American soil.
“Anyway, it’s clear enough from all this that Imaad is your man. He was working with Fenning. The deal never went through because Fenning’s wife shot him before it took place. He’s out three million and your girlfriend has all the money.”
“Yeah, but why’s he going to Marmaris?” Elam asked.
“That’s your job to find out,” Odie said, but he’d only been thinking aloud. “You need to be extra careful with this one, Elam. Your girlfriend is tit-deep in big trouble if a guy like Imaad is after her. Even if she gives him the money, he’ll probably want her dead. Take him out and all her problems will go away.”
“I’m on it,” he said.
“Your crew will be arriving this afternoon. Sit tight until then. They’ll meet you on the yacht.”
“Thanks, Odie.”
“What are you going to do in the meantime?” she asked in a leading tone.
Elam turned to see Farren’s beautiful amber eyes blink open. “I’ll give you another six months before that dinky mountain town drives you crazy,” he said into the phone, watching Farren grow more aware of him watching her.
“Going to ignore that one, huh?” Odie laughed.
Pretty much, he thought without answering.
“Is she in bed with you?” Odie pressed.
The woman was incorrigible. “There’s only one bed in the room.”
“That makes it easy for you. Does she know you’re neurotic about serious relationships?”
“I’m not neurotic.”
“You guys are all the same. That’s why I never get tangled up with any of you.”
“You’re a wise woman, Odie.”
“Be kind to her. She’s a civilian who doesn’t understand your warped mind.”
“Thanks for the advice.”
“I’ll e-mail you a photo of Imaad.” Odie disconnected.
Shaking his head, he put the phone back on the bedside table.
“Someone from TES?” Farren asked.
His sharp look must have indicated he wondered how she knew.
“Meryem told me.”
“I’ll have to be careful what I say around her from now on.”
“Did you find anything out?”
“Jared was an arms dealer. His shipping company was a front.” He came down onto his elbow, facing her.
Her gaze ran down his chest and back up into his eyes. She pulled the blankets closer to her chin.
Figures, now that she wasn’t tipsy on wine, she wanted nothing to do with him.
“Did we kiss in the elevator or was that a dr
eam?” she asked.
He smiled a little ruefully. “We kissed in the elevator.”
“I was hoping I dreamed it. You know how that is. You dream something and it seems so real but it isn’t and you can’t remember everything but it sticks with you all day and you can’t stop thinking about it even though you try and it bothers you that you can’t be sure it was real and—”
“I can assure you, it was real.”
She studied his face, especially his eyes. “You’re enjoying this.”
“I’m a guy.”
“I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”
He should be glad, but instead he wished she hadn’t said that. “I’ll leave that up to you.”
“Thank you for not taking advantage of me.”
“No need to be so polite.” First she was sorry, now she was thanking him.
“It definitely would have been a mistake.”
“A big one,” he said, keeping his disappointment to himself.
He climbed off the bed and went to boot up the laptop he’d brought with him to take a good look at Odie’s e-mail.
Farren followed Elam aboard Rapture, the beautiful ninety-five-foot Astondoa he’d chartered for their voyage to Marmaris. She was still so embarrassed. Last night’s groping episode wouldn’t stop replaying in her head. What was the matter with her? Why couldn’t she stop herself from being so desperate? When she saw the name of the yacht, it was all she could do to keep her face from turning red. She could barely look at him, much less figure out how she was going to spend time with him on a boat called Rapture.
Stepping onto the aft deck, she followed him past a festive blue-and-white striped alfresco dining area on their way into the salon. An elegant pale leather seating area opened to a curving onyx-topped wet bar. Splashes of bright blue and green and muted gold were a little too much for her taste but she wasn’t complaining. It was a nice yacht. Despite the name.
A woman emerged from the galley. She was tall, probably five-eight, and slender, but very fit and strong. Her long dark hair was up in a ponytail. She wore no makeup, but her stunning deep blue eyes didn’t need any. Her direct gaze moved from Farren to Elam as she approached.
“Haley,” Elam said as he took her hand.
“Hello, Elam. I’m your cabin attendant for the voyage.” She looked at Farren and stuck out her hand. “Haley Engen.”
“Farren Gage.” Farren shook the woman’s hand.
Haley withdrew her hand and stepped back. There was something about her, something in her body language that said, Stay back, don’t even try to get close to me.
“Haley is our intelligence analyst. She can also shoot a pistol and fight better than anybody I know.”
Haley smiled at Farren. “Elam is exaggerating.”
The warmth in that smile brought one to Farren’s face.
“We have a bet going at the office,” Haley said. “Odie started it.”
“You don’t even have to tell me,” Elam said.
“Who’s Odie?” Farren asked Haley.
“Our intelligence officer. But don’t ever call her that to her face.”
“Odie has a vivid imagination,” Elam said.
What was the bet? Farren wondered, but had an idea it was about her and Elam.
A sound at the salon door made Farren look there. Two men approached, both tall and big like Elam and about the same age.
“Yes, but she’s usually right,” the first one said. His smile lit up his rugged face, but barely reached his shrewd light green eyes. He had a confident swagger she was beginning to think came with the profession. Seeing how big the second man was, she decided their size came with it, too. She felt cornered in the spacious salon. They took up so much room.
“That’s why I keep all my girlfriends a secret,” the second man said, his grin brightening his dark blue eyes.
The first man stopped beside Haley and said to Farren, “I’m Travis Todd, your captain.” He nodded to the guy next to him, “and this is Keenan McKelvers, your chef. The two of us will double as deck hands, too.”
Haley reached up and brushed the dark strands of hair that had fallen in front of the captain’s eyes. He turned his head with surprise toward her. “You don’t look like a captain,” she said, lowering her hand. “You look like a pirate.”
“Which do you prefer?” He grinned suggestively, but the wiggle of his eyebrows made it clear he was teasing.
She smiled with mock sweetness. “Neither.”
“I don’t know why the two of you don’t start dating,” Keenan said. He looked at Farren. “Travis won’t let Haley go on any missions if he isn’t there with her. They’re inseparable but neither will admit it.”
“That isn’t true. Travis doesn’t go on all my missions on purpose,” Haley protested. “Do you?”
Travis frowned in a guilty way.
Haley scoffed. “Cullen lets you get away with that?”
“I don’t go on all your missions.”
“The only ones he doesn’t go on are the ones he thinks aren’t dangerous,” Keenan said. “Like that time you did an analysis on that water treatment plant.”
Haley’s jaw dropped and she grunted. “You have been on a lot of my missions. Maybe I should have a talk with Cullen.”
“You need somebody to watch over you,” Travis said.
She put her hands on her hips and cocked one higher than the other. “And why is that?”
“You know why. You’re too full of vengeance. It makes you careless sometimes. I don’t want to see you get hurt. Or worse.”
“That’s very chivalrous of you, Travis. Except I don’t need your protection. I can probably kick your ass.”
“She probably can.” Keenan chuckled.
“Well, we’ll never know because I am never going to fight a woman.”
“Let’s talk about our plans,” Elam interrupted. “When we get to Marmaris, the three of you will play the crew and Farren and I will be the happy couple going to a yacht festival.”
Alarm prickled Farren.
“Aboard Rapture.” Keenan chuckled again and looked pointedly at Elam. “You arrange that on purpose?”
“I’m not that creative,” Elam quipped.
“Wait a minute,” Farren said. “Nobody said anything about role-playing.”
“It’s just for appearances,” Haley said.
Farren looked at Elam, but he kept his expression blank.
“I didn’t think you were serious when I heard you on the phone,” she said.
“We can’t have anyone finding out why we’re here,” Travis explained. “Even if Ameen got word to his friends that Elam was chasing him, they still won’t know who he is or who he’s working for.”
Farren looked from one waiting face to the next and despaired.
“You don’t have to do anything you aren’t comfortable doing,” Haley said. “As long as you keep up the appearance of being a couple, that’s enough. Our biggest worry is keeping the team secret. We have to protect the team.”
Farren moved her gaze back to Elam. She couldn’t tell what he was thinking. His face was as deadpan as the rest of them, except his pale blue eyes were more familiar to her.
“You have to agree to this or it won’t work,” Travis pushed.
“All right,” Farren reluctantly said. “I’ll do it.”
“Good. Let’s get this boat moving.” He glanced at the splashes of blue and gold around him. “Could it be any gaudier?”
“Dinner will be ready at seven,” Keenan said.
“I’ll keep Keenan company in the galley,” Haley chimed in.
“I’ll be on deck,” Elam said. “I want to make sure no one follows us.”
“Good idea. I’ll help you from the flybridge,” Travis said.
Farren’s plans were far less strategic. “Maybe I’ll start playing my role and act like this is a vacation. Read for a while.” She checked her fingernails. “Change the color of my nails.” She looked up at Elam and the
rest of them and smiled. “Have a margarita later.”
“There’s something better than that,” Haley said, still smiling. “There’s a Jacuzzi in the master suite. Come on. Before I help Keenan I’ll show you around and bring you whatever you need. I am the cabin attendant, after all.”
In the master suite, Haley led her into the bathroom and started to show her how to run the Jacuzzi. Farren wasn’t paying attention.
“What’s with Odie’s bet?” she asked.
Haley straightened and took a minute before she said anything. “She just likes to tease Elam. He’s sort of got a reputation.” Her eyes surveyed Farren. “For dating women who are tougher than you appear to be.”
“Tougher?”
“Just…like…military women.”
“Elam’s dated military women?”
“A few here and there.”
Of course, how would he have time for more than that? “Were you in the military?”
“Army.” Her voice was clipped. Farren wondered if that was a subject that was off-limits.
“Did you date Elam?”
She laughed briefly and without humor. “No.”
“Did he want to date you?”
“He asks every woman out on a date who he thinks is tough enough for him.”
“What do you mean?”
Haley seemed to debate how much to say. “Elam’s wife was a lot like you.”
“Not tough?” Should she be insulted?
“No. I don’t mean it like that. What I mean is you’re…” She twirled her hands as she took in Farren’s small-print floral sundress. “So feminine.”
“Feminine?”
“Yeah. Ever since his wife left him, he’s made a point to avoid women like her.” She paused. “Do you know about his wife?”
Farren nodded and looked down at her carefully manicured fingernails. No wonder he thought it would have been such a big mistake to have sex with her. He didn’t want to fall for another woman like his wife. Didn’t he know that not all women were the same? Just because she was feminine didn’t mean she wasn’t strong enough to handle his line of work.
Catching herself wanting to prove him wrong, she gave herself a mental shake. She refused to risk another rejection on the hope that he’d feel enough for her to change his mind. But the situation with Elam was unlike the ones with the men in her past. She’d thought the men she’d almost married wanted her. With Elam, there was no doubt he didn’t. Not long-term anyway.
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