He chuckled. “No! It’s just that this is very much ladies first. I’m not that strong. And the way you’re squeezing me, I won’t last another minute.”
“Oh!” Shannon made a conscious effort to relax those muscles. The expression on Rick’s face went from imminent explosion to relaxed pleasure. “Better?”
“Much.”
By lifting her with his hands under her buttocks and making small movements with his powerful hips, Rick began to move deep within her. Combined with the motion of his hard, slick belly against hers and the water cascading over them both, it produced a sensation that had Shannon groaning wantonly with but a few thrusts.
She clutched wildly at his back, startled by the sheer swiftness of her own response. Her eyes fluttered shut and she leaned her head back, allowing Rick total possession of her body. And in just a few more moments, she abandoned herself to a powerful climax.
For the first time she could ever remember, she lost total control of herself, even to the point of crying out loudly, something else she had never done before. It was such a pure, liberating experience that she was left weak and limp in Rick’s arms.
Her eyes fluttered open again, and she saw the onset of his own crescendo. It, too, rapidly progressed to a peak and exploded while Shannon wrapped her legs around his back and held on for dear life. She was entirely his, to do with as he pleased, for she lacked the strength for anything else.
At last, Rick’s own prodigious strength gave out and he slipped from her. They stood beneath the restoring spray, holding each other up until they could recover.
When they did, Shannon washed him, luxuriating in the slick feel of his skin beneath her hands. Rick then returned the favor. Finally, they turned off the water and stepped out, and again took turns drying each other off.
Shannon kissed him. “Now, that is what I call fantastic morning coffee,” she exclaimed.
“Why, thank you, ma’am.” Rick winked at her. “We’ll have to try it in a pool sometime.”
“Yes, I’ll bet you’re an expert in pools,” she teased.
Though tempted to fall back into bed, they knew it was time to get moving. As it turned out, they were both morning people, which was good since this would be a busy day. After they dressed, they had a light breakfast of fruit and more coffee and then headed downtown.
Shannon had to check in with her department, and probably sort through a small mountain of paperwork. Rick, meanwhile, would use the time to make sure everything was okay at the warehouse and grab a change of clothes. As they parted company in the Lyon’s employee parking lot, their passionate kiss did not go unnoticed.
“Have a nice night?” Pop’s secretary asked, winking at Shannon suggestively as she walked by.
“Yes, thank you,” Shannon replied. She knew the smile on her glowing face said it all, and didn’t care who saw it. “Is Pop going to be in this morning, Carla?”
She paused and nodded. “I imagine he’s already here, watching the waves on TV. They’re all up and down both coasts now and moving inward.”
“The Arnies, you mean?” Rick asked.
“What else? It is sort of exciting, even if we have to give ours up. Either way, we’d better get them soon, or Pop will bust a gusset,” Carla said. “Any leads on Leo yet?”
“One,” Shannon replied. “We’re going to check it out later today.”
“Good. Oh, Pop wants a full report, by the way,” Carla said, then turned and continued walking toward the building.
“That was going to be my first stop, anyway,” Shannon told Rick. “I think Pop is in closer contact with those two kidnappers than he’s letting on.”
“Oh? What kind of contact?”
“I’m not sure. All I know is that’s the same thing Leo said on the phone last night. The kidnapper he calls Joey told him he knew about the waves. Pop and I are the only ones you told about that strategy, right?” Shannon asked.
“Yes. But like I said then, I could only tell you because it was about to become public knowledge, anyway,” Rick replied. “It’s all over the news. The kidnappers might have picked up the expression from somebody on television.”
“Maybe. But if Pop has talked to them again, it wouldn’t hurt to compare notes.”
He shrugged. “I suppose not.”
Shannon looked at him, a slight frown wrinkling her forehead. She had become so caught up in her own feelings that she had nearly forgotten about Rick’s connection to all this. He had even admitted last night that there were still things he was keeping from her. That bothered her, but there wasn’t much she could do about it.
“Are we going to be getting our Arnies soon?” she asked.
Rick grinned. “I’m not at liberty to discuss that.”
“Not even after all we’ve shared?” she coaxed.
Rick’s grin melted and he took her into his arms again, gazing seriously into her eyes. “It’s not that I don’t trust you, Shannon,” he assured her. “It’s more a matter of my not trusting myself, now more than ever, in fact. I have to do what I came here to do, no matter what.”
Unfortunately, Shannon thought she knew exactly what he meant. “What if we don’t find Leo by the time the Arnies arrive, Rick?”
He gave her a reassuring hug, then released her. “We’ll find him,” he said, then turned to go. “But only if we get a move on. See you in a few.”
Shannon scowled at his departing back. “You don’t have any intention of just turning those toys over to the Bayers, do you?” she shouted after him.
“Let’s cross that bridge when we come to it, Shannon,” he called back without breaking stride.
She stamped her foot in frustration, then headed into the building. When she was gone, a man emerged from behind the Dumpster he had been hiding behind for the better part of the morning and started following Rick. It wasn’t easy, because his old legs with their alcohol-impaired circulation were no match for the purposeful stride of the younger man, especially in the chill morning air. But he managed. The promise of good pay helped move him along.
Rick continued toward his destination, his mind full of all the things vying for his attention. For someone who had had next to nothing in his life just a few days ago, there was certainly a lot going on. It was impossible to concentrate on them individually, because they were so interdependent. Find Leo. Save the Arnies. Get back into Chelsea’s life. Destroy the Bayers, or, at the very least, Angela.
And then there was Shannon. Sweet, sexy, problematic Shannon. Just the thought of her gave him something he had feared he would never have again. Hope.
He had never really felt about a woman the way he did about Shannon. With Angela, it had been lust, which had quickly dissipated into apathy and, later, outright hatred. While Shannon certainly evoked his lust, it was in a different way. Just as strong, but softer, somehow. And there was more. Her needs and wants were becoming more important to him than his own. That, supposedly, was one element of love. Up until now, the only other human being he had cared about that much was Chelsea. Now it seemed there was room in his heart for two.
Therein lay the problem. Soon, whether they found Leo or not, Shannon was likely to become very unhappy with him. She would ask him to choose. But that choice was so unfair.
Rick wanted to do the right thing. That he was holding out on Shannon was already eating him up inside; getting closer to her had only made things worse. But this was his one best chance to regain some control over his daughter’s life. It was imperative that he hold on to every possible edge until the last moment, or the Bayers might squash him again. And he didn’t think he had it in him to rise above that one more time. This was it, and he had to make it work.
All he could do was continue to weave in and around the truth, and hope that when the time came, Shannon would know him well enough to understand the decisions he had made.
With some surprise, Rick looked up and realized he was standing in front of the warehouse. He cursed under his breath. His thoughts
had so carried him away that he hadn’t taken his usual circuitous route, nor been on the alert for anyone following him, now more a threat than ever before.
Rather than do something totally suspicious, though, he decided to simply take one trip around the block and try to make amends for his negligence. Since the area comprised mainly warehouses, it was a long block, probably a mile at least. Even though the sun was out and shining brightly today, his suit jacket wasn’t much of a barrier against the wind. He gritted his teeth and walked on, considering it his punishment.
The zone was quiet this morning, with few people braving the cold, and not even much traffic. Finally, near-frozen but satisfied, he slipped around the back of the warehouse and used his customary entrance, reveling in the relative warmth the building’s cavernous interior provided. As usual, it was quiet.
First, Rick went to his apartment, where he changed into more serviceable, if less elegant, attire, layering for warmth.
“She’s spoiling you already,” he told himself as he slipped into jeans.
Nothing with a patch would do now; he had chosen his newest pair, still dark blue, and a soft, tan-colored chamois-cloth shirt he usually reserved for special occasions. But in a way, he supposed, this was a special occasion. His hiking boots looked fine. Besides, he wasn’t going into the mountains wearing slick-soled loafers.
Next, Rick headed for the office to call Charlie. There were some instant coffee packets left, he noticed, but he decided he’d rather not, thinking of how he’d recently put his friend down for doing the same. This life hadn’t been so pure, after all.
He dialed the number. “Martin, Brindle and Prine,” the secretary answered. “How may I help you?”
“Charles Prine, please.”
“Who may I say is calling?”
“This is Mr. Bonner.”
Her tone turned immediately from brusque to dulcet. “Just one moment, Mr. Bonner. I’ll put you right through.”
“Hello, Mr. Bonner, sir,” Charlie said when he came on the line. “At your service, sir.”
“You play the perfect toady, Charlie,” Rick told him.
“That’s how one becomes a full partner, my friend.”
“Uh-huh. Well, can it. I’d like an update, please.”
There was the sound of a computer keyboard being poked into submission. “Okay. Detailed or general?”
“General will do.”
“Let’s see...” More tapping of keys. “West, I’m looking at a line roughly defined by Boise, Salt Lake City and your old hometown of Phoenix.”
“How are we doing there?” Rick asked curiously.
Charlie laughed. “That’s a joke, right?”
“I’ve been a little too busy to watch TV, Charlie.”
“Oh? Santa duty?” His interest was clearly piqued.
“If you’ve been a very good boy, perhaps I’ll explain in a moment. Now, just how well are things going?”
“All units thus far,” Charlie replied simply.
Rick arched his eyebrows. “All?”
“All. Our stockings are going to be very full this year.”
Rick sat down in the desk chair, suddenly feeling a bit light-headed. Until right this minute, he still hadn’t been able to make himself believe something this good could happen to him. And to think, he owed it all to being in the right place at the right time, a silly job on a toy company loading dock. A job he’d almost been too dejected to even apply for.
“Hello?” Charlie asked. “You still there?”
“Yeah. I just got a bit dizzy. Must be the altitude.”
Charlie hummed in agreement. “You should see the figures.”
“That’ll wait,” Rick said, glancing at his watch to help himself get a grip on reality. “Where are we in the East?”
“Oh, roughly Detroit, Louisville, Atlanta. Slower going, of course. More densely populated. But plenty of saturation. Speaking of which, I suppose you’ve started?”
“No.”
“Shouldn’t you? They’ll be north and south of Denver by tomorrow morning, buddy.”
“I know.”
“And all over the United States by that afternoon.”
“I know!” Rick exclaimed. That was the trouble with waves. Once started, they were difficult, if not impossible, to stop. “I’ve run into some problems here.”
“You don’t mean that Lyon kid? I thought that was some kind of publicity stunt. Morning news said the paper that ran the story printed a full retraction.”
Rick took a deep breath, then blew it out in a sigh. “I didn’t see it. But it’s an indication of how difficult this situation has become. There’s a lot of strange stuff going on here, Charlie, and until I can sort some of it out, I don’t want to risk ruining my own plans.”
“Whatever you say. You’re the man with the mission,” Charlie said. “Just don’t let it run you over while you’re busy looking at something else.”
“I won’t.”
Charlie cleared his throat. “That was a hint, pal.”
“Excuse me?”
“I have been a very good boy this year, Santa. So tell me a story about why you’re so distracted.”
“Oh.” Rick laughed, glad to ease the tension. “Let me just say that I’m wearing my best jeans, and seem to have lost my taste for coffee made with rusty tap water.”
“I thought I detected just a hint of your former, less austere manner coming through,” Charlie noted. “Since you haven’t blindsided the Bayers yet, I guess that can only mean one thing. So tell me. Is she pretty?”
Rick leaned back and put his feet up on the desk. “If you could see the smile on my face right now, Charlie, you wouldn’t have to ask. She’s gorgeous. Red hair, green eyes, a curve for every occasion.” He chuckled. “Absolutely adores Christmas.”
“Ho, ho, ho! And Father Christmas?”
“Well, she took me home to meet her cats.”
“Wow.” Charlie whistled. “Serious stuff.”
Rick was nodding his head thoughtfully. “I never thought I’d say it again, but yeah. It could get that way.”
“I sense some unease in that statement,” his friend said. “Am I to assume you haven’t, shall we say, been entirely honest with this goddess yet?”
“She knows most of it, but not all,” Rick admitted. “You see, she’s very attached to Leo Lyon, and his ransom is a shipment of Arnies, so if she knew everything...” He trailed off, knowing Charlie would figure it out for himself.
He did. “My. That’s an interesting tightrope you’re about to fall off,” Charlie told him candidly.
Rick could hardly deny it. “It’s swaying. But I’m on my way now to check out a lead on the Lyon boy. Finding him will calm things down a lot.”
“Maybe. You of all people should know that deception has a long half-life.” He sighed, and his voice filled with worry. “Listen, my friend. You do what you think you have to. But I advise you to wise up. I don’t even know this woman and I like her, because I can tell that in just a couple of days, she’s started to undo all the damage you did to yourself in three years of wandering down blind alleys. In other words, don’t screw it up.”
“Believe me, I’m trying not to.” Rick sighed. “Charlie, I need a favor.” He quickly explained about Chelsea’s name change. “Find out what happened if you can.”
“Will do.”
He glanced at his watch again. “I have to go now, Charlie. Thanks for everything.”
“Take care.”
Rick hung up, then left the office and went back to his apartment. It had occurred to him that he didn’t know where he might end up tonight, so he packed a change of clothes into a blue duffel bag to take with him. He was halfway to the exit door, when he noticed it was slightly ajar. At first he felt a surge of adrenaline. But then he saw that the inner padlock was hanging on the hasp, unlocked. He’d made yet another stupid mistake.
“Three strikes and you’re out,” he muttered to himself.
As
a precaution, he checked around the warehouse, taking particular care to make sure one large crate and its smaller companion were still in the dark, dusty corner where they’d been put several weeks ago. They were undisturbed, just as he had found them upon his arrival in Denver. Or almost.
This time he made no mistake. Grabbing a coffee can that he’d filled with floor sweepings for just this purpose, he carefully sprinkled a fine layer of dust over his footprints, obliterating them. Again, that corner of the warehouse looked as if it hadn’t been used in years.
Rick then retrieved his bag from where he’d dropped it near the door and slipped out, locking the door behind him. As he rounded the corner of the warehouse, he nearly fell over the old man stretched out on the cracked and broken sidewalk.
“Hey, old-timer,” Rick said, bending down and gently shaking the man’s shoulder. “You can’t crash here. You’ll freeze.”
The man stirred and looked up at Rick. Rick didn’t know him, but he had seen those eyes before, in a dozen other cities in surroundings just like these. The man’s voice and the words he spoke communicated the same chilling message, as well.
“So I freeze. Who cares?”
“I care,” Rick replied, hauling him to his feet.
“Who do you think you are?” the old man asked with heavy, liquor-soaked sarcasm. “Santa Claus?”
Rick smiled. “As a matter of fact, I do. Now come on,” he told him, all but pulling him along. “There’s a mission down there around the corner.”
“They don’t let you in if you’re soused.”
“No, but they’ll give you a blanket and let you sleep it off in the lobby.” He kept tugging the old guy along. “If you wander back out, that’s your business. But I’m not leaving you out here on the street.”
“It doesn’t pay to be nice to bums, sonny boy. Most of us would stab you in the back for a couple of bucks.”
Rick looked at him. “I know. I’ve even got the scars to prove it. But for some reason, I keep doing it, anyway.”
Chapter Sixteen
Shannon had everything pretty much under control by the time Rick came to get her. Ironically, he found her in about the same spot as he had the day before yesterday, in the narrow passageway that led to the storeroom. But this time, when she saw him, she stepped into his arms and gave him a kiss.
The Kid Who Stole Christmas Page 14