If she’d had any lingering doubts about the truth of Javi being an FBI agent, they’d evaporated the minute the Bahamian police had arrived on Spree. He took charge of the situation like a seasoned general, concisely telling the authorities what had gone down, speaking to them in strange forensic lingo, arranging for the air ambulance home for Joan and Deb.
Javi had accompanied the police to Gun Cay to show them the location of their fugitives, who had been taken aboard the Bahamian vessel along with backpacks stuffed with the stolen drugs. Both pirates would survive to stand trial.
Javi opened the door for her as she approached the terminal. Her cell phone was glued to his ear, as it had been continuously since they’d found it in the mess in her cabin. She supposed he was reporting in to his bosses or arranging for their transport home.
He took one look at her face, said, “Later,” and pocketed the phone.
Pulling her into a fierce embrace, he said, “They’ll be fine.”
“Will they?”
“They’re young. With time and therapy, this nightmare will become a distant memory.”
“Maybe.” Javi had been through therapy, and wasn’t particularly enthusiastic about his own shrink. Dr. Moonface, was it? He’d used so many snarky names for his therapist she couldn’t remember.
Her stomach rumbled, and she pulled away.
Javi smiled down at her. “Are you hungry? You didn’t eat a thing on Spree.”
She hadn’t been able to eat anything the pirates had touched. The last food she’d put in her belly was the conch Javi had cooked over the open fire.
“Yeah, I definitely could eat something,” she said. “Is there a restaurant in the airport?”
“I’ve rented a car,” Javi said.
Of course he had. “Are we free to go?”
“For now.”
She released a breath. “Good.”
She’d talked to the police for so long she’d gotten hoarse. At least they’d given her a cola, which helped calm her stomach and had given her a much-needed jolt of caffeine. Thank goodness the interrogation was over.
“Let’s find a restaurant,” Javi suggested. “We’ll talk there.”
“Lead on,” she said, and followed him out of the terminal.
Talk about what? She had so many questions for Javi she didn’t know where to begin.
Food would help. After she ate, all she wanted to do was lie down in a real bed with a real mattress and surrender herself to oblivion. With a good night’s sleep, surely she could tackle the logistics of getting home. There had to be direct flights between Nassau and Miami.
And after some rest, maybe she could make sense of her feelings for Javi. Although somehow she doubted that.
She shot him a look. Would he be sleeping beside her tonight? Did she want him to? Heat crept into her face as she admitted the answer to that question at least. After what she’d been through, she deserved one more night of bliss.
Would she ever see him again once they got back to Florida? Did she want to be with a man who lived with the threat of constant danger? And apparently thrived on it?
Maybe the question she should be asking was if he wanted to see her again. She had no clue as to his thoughts on that score.
Javi was right. With time, this adventure would fade into a distant nightmare. It already felt like a dream.
“Here we are.” Javi raised a key and unlocked the doors of a white compact car with a quick chirp. He opened the passenger door for her. Again a surprise. Javi, a gentleman? But she had no idea how he’d normally behave. Their time together so far had been surreal.
She murmured her thanks and slid into a seat warm from the sun.
Perhaps it was better to wait until she got home to figure everything out. So much had happened in the last few days she no longer felt like the same person.
* * *
JAVI STARED AT Cat over his almost-empty mug of beer as she took the last bite of her key lime pie. She’d been quiet all through dinner, and he was worried about what was going on inside that gorgeous head.
She was anxious about her friends. Hell, he was worried about them, too, especially Debbie, who’d retreated to some safe space inside herself.
But he suspected there was more to Cat’s mood than concern for her friends. It pissed him off that even after all they’d been through together, he still couldn’t read her. Didn’t partners usually develop some sort of affinity?
Maybe the process worked better if partners didn’t become lovers.
He hadn’t pressed her for an explanation. She needed food. They both had. Their brain cells had been crying out for fuel. So they’d found a casual café and had enjoyed a delicious fresh grouper meal.
Their bellies were now full. Decisions needed to be made. The time had come to lay out his plan.
Maybe he should find another way. Although he didn’t want to.
He pictured her rolling her eyes and saying, “Seriously? Another plan, Mr. Control Freak?”
“What?” she asked.
Startled, Javi refocused. “What?”
“You’re smiling all of a sudden. What’s funny?” She raised her coffee cup, watching him over the rim.
He met her gaze. “You.”
She lowered the cup with a harsh clank. “I’m funny?”
He shook his head. “I was fantasizing about your reaction to something.”
She leaned back in her chair, a faint flush in her cheeks. “You were fantasizing about me over a beer?”
He gave her a slow grin. “I actually fantasize about you a lot.”
Not looking away, she parted her lips and took in a quick breath.
How had he gotten so far off track?
He cleared his throat. “I need your help.”
Her huge green eyes widened even further. “You need my help?”
“Yes.”
She sat forward. “Of course I’ll help you. What do you need?”
“Don’t be so quick to agree. What I need is a lot to ask.”
She hesitated, narrowing her eyes at him. “Why are you being so mysterious?”
Good question. Why was he delaying his request? Because he was afraid of her answer, and wasn’t sure why it was so important to him that she agree. This wasn’t like him. Put it out there, man.
He took her hand. Her fingers were ice-cold.
“I need your help to sail Spree back to Marathon.”
She blinked. “What did you say?”
“I’ve arranged to have the boat towed from Gun Cay back to Alice Town where she’ll be hauled out for repairs. My buddy Heathrow’s promised to have a prop reattached by close of business tomorrow, so we could leave early the next morning.”
“And sail through that maelstrom again?” She removed her hand from his and clutched her throat. “Oh, my God.”
“No, no. I promise the return trip will be calm. The norther has passed.”
“You’re sure?”
“I’m sure,” he said.
“Because I think I’ve had quite enough adventure for a while.”
She laughed, a nervous reaction. He needed to reassure her.
“This time the crossing will be like sailing on a lake,” he told her.
He waited as Cat nibbled on her luscious bottom lip and wrestled with the decision. It couldn’t be a matter of needing to be back for her work. They were still within the days allotted for the charter. If necessary, he could have her home right on schedule. He could even offer to sail due west across the ’Stream to Miami to save time.
He didn’t truly need her for the trip, but they worked well together and her assistance would make the sail a lot easier. He just wanted to be with her a little longer before a return to reality. He wanted more
time with her. Alone. Try to make up for a crappy vacation and show her a good time for a day or two.
“What would we do until we leave?” she asked.
“You can finally get the R & R promised in Marlin’s brochure.” He held her gaze. “I’ve reserved a room for us at the resort.”
“I see,” she said.
Javi tried and failed to read the meaning behind that terse comment. Did she object to sharing a room with him? Now that the adventure was over, she was done with him? No way. He didn’t believe that. Or was his ego making character evaluations now?
“The resort has a casino, all kinds of retail, a variety of restaurants,” he told her, thinking to sweeten the deal. “There’s a complete spa.”
She raised her eyebrows.
“But, hey, if you need to get home, I can book you on a flight in the morning. There’s nothing going out tonight, though, so you’re stuck with me.”
“Stuck with you?”
“What the hell is the matter with you tonight?”
She grinned. “When you put it like that, how can I say no?”
“You can say no.”
Her smile faded. “Not when you need my help. You saved my life, Javi, and my friends’.”
Javi sucked in a breath. Damn. He didn’t want Cat to accompany him out of some misplaced gratitude. She didn’t owe him anything. The entire disaster had been his fault.
He hoped she’d make the trip because she wanted to be with him, to get to know him better without the threat of violence looming over their heads.
But he’d take what he could get. He wanted the time with Irish. He didn’t need to analyze the reasons.
His shrink must be right about his need to control everyone.
“Then you’ll do it?” he asked. “You’ll wait and sail back with me?”
“Yes. Did you really have a doubt?”
“I wasn’t sure. I know how worried you are about Joan and Deb.”
“True,” she said with a sigh. “But what can I do for them at this point?”
“Nothing,” Javi said. “They need time to heal.”
“But isn’t that resort expensive? It’s one of those places where they provide free robes and chocolates but the amenities are all part of the price.”
“It’ll be my treat,” he said.
She remained silent for a moment. “Well, I have to say the idea of a massage sounds pretty good to me right now.”
“Does it?”
She nodded. “I’m sore in places that—well, you know.”
“Unfortunately, the spa is closed for the night.” He picked up her hand again. Watching her face, he massaged her fingers with long, sensuous strokes.
She closed her eyes. “Mmm.”
Javi raised her hand to his lips and kissed her palm. “But I’m sure we’ll be able to work something out.”
* * *
CAT WOKE UP in a dark room. With a gasp, she sat up in bed.
Blackout curtains were drawn tight, but bright light created a halo around their edges. She blinked at the unfamiliar surroundings, panic nipping at the edge of her consciousness.
Where was she? Where were Joan and Debbie?
She closed her eyes and sank into the soft, thick bedding. Her friends were safe. She was in the resort in Bimini.
With Javi.
Opening her eyes, she glanced to her right. He lay on his side facing her, breathing in a steady rhythm. A flush of heat warmed her as the rest of her memory came flooding back.
What had started as a soothing massage had culminated in the most erotic lovemaking anyone anywhere had ever experienced. Using a lavender-scented oil provided by the resort, Javi had stroked and rubbed every muscle in her body, often sliding his talented fingers to sensitive places. She hadn’t ended up relaxed exactly, but in a deliciously languid state. Receptive to anything.
She’d lost herself totally to him, given herself up completely, forgetting time and place and all that had happened to them. They’d shared intimacies that she hadn’t known partners shared. She nibbled at her lower lip. Had that really been her, timid Cat Sidran?
They’d pleasured each other in every way possible. He made her feel special. Beautiful. Treasured.
He’d filled her so completely she’d thought she’d pass out from the sheer euphoria of what was happening to her. To them.
And it had been lovemaking, not purely sex. She was certain of that. For both of them. She’d never felt so connected to anybody or anything before.
She rolled onto her side so they lay face-to-face, resisting the urge to touch him. Amazing that he could appear so peaceful while sleeping.
Because peace wasn’t in his DNA.
He was a man who loved danger, lived for the thrill of a challenge. His job was all about chasing down menace, trying to stop threats.
She needed the peace and quiet of her orchid house where the most exciting event was beholding the beauty of a new hybrid blossom she’d created. Where the biggest threat was a new fungus or insect resistant to the usual remedies.
Right now it was all fun and games as they relived their perilous roller-coaster ride, celebrating the defeat of the pirates, glorying in their success together. Who better to share it with than each other?
But the thrill would quickly fade. Glory days never lasted. She’d go back to her orchids. He’d move on to the next operation, the next puzzle, the next victim to save. Put the next substitute for his brother’s murderers in prison.
Be careful what you wish for.
Well, she’d gotten her adventure, and a hell of a lot more.
Javi was so the wrong man for her. Careful not to wake him, she slid out of bed and slipped on the terry-cloth robe she’d discarded before her massage. She padded into the bathroom for a drink of water, cinching the robe around her waist. She needed to think.
She stared at herself in the giant bathroom mirror. She didn’t look different, although those dark circles under her eyes were new. Why did she feel so...changed?
Her blessedly clean hair hung loose to her shoulders. She’d luxuriated in a long, hot shower, but the water had caused her bullet wound to sting. Lowering the robe off one shoulder, she examined the injury on her upper arm. The paramedics had checked her out on Spree. They’d applied antibiotic cream, bandaged the area and told her she was good to go. She shrugged the robe back on.
Was she good to go? She didn’t feel that way.
Javi needed her help on the sail back to Florida. She suspected he could manage without her, but she liked being needed by him, even if it was only to man the helm while he relieved himself.
Well, if he could make a plan, so could she. She’d use the next few days together to remember who she was, force herself to accept her feelings weren’t the real deal, that this couldn’t be the kind of love that lasted. What she felt was intense emotion originating from desperation and relief. She was confused. She’d known him a week. When she got home, she’d come back to her senses.
So she’d enjoy his company during the time they had left, have a good time and say goodbye. On the crossing, they’d be busy sailing the boat. There’d be no time for anything else.
If her feelings weren’t real, they ought to be easy to hide. She raised her chin. Piece of cake considering she’d vanquished a pair of pirates.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
JAVI DRIFTED AWAKE and reached across the bed, expecting to touch Cat’s warmth.
He jerked to alert consciousness. She was gone.
He glanced to the bedside clock. Just after 9:00 a.m.
Her duffel bag remained on the chair where he’d dropped it last night. Of course it did. Why would she leave? She had nowhere to go.
The bathroom door was closed, but the light was on. He rela
xed back in the bed, knowing that’s where she had to be. She’d join him soon, and they’d pick up where they’d left off last night.
When Javi woke again, the clock read ten fifteen. Cat still wasn’t in bed.
Alarmed, he flicked on a light and put his feet on the soft carpet.
The bathroom door stood wide open, no light. Her duffel lay open, too, and her white robe lay beside it. She’d gotten dressed.
Had she gone down for breakfast without him? Why hadn’t she woken him? He’d thought they’d order in room service. Maybe she’d craved caffeine, but every room came equipped with a gourmet coffee station.
Perhaps she hadn’t wanted to disturb him with the brewing process. That sounded like his sweet Irish.
Scratching his head, he rambled toward the bathroom, his thigh aching only a little.
Like him, she was a bit of a loner, needed downtime alone to destress. Although he didn’t like the idea of her needing to get away from him, maybe that’s why she’d left.
Or had he done something to upset her?
He flicked on the light. His time with Cat last night had been the most erotic of his life. She’d given herself to him as no other woman ever had, her openness a gift he’d value forever.
There were layers to Irish that definitely required more exploration, and he was just the man to accomplish such an investigation. He washed his hands, hopefully washing away the sudden spurt of jealousy he felt as he pictured Cat with other men before him. Where had that come from?
The electronic lock on the room door released, saving him from following up on his train of thought. The events of the previous week had obviously warped his brain.
From the entrance to the bathroom, he watched Cat stealthily close the door in an attempt to make as little noise as possible. So he’d been correct in his assumption that she hadn’t wanted to disturb him. She wore a T-shirt, shorts and jogging shoes, her long hair pulled back into a ponytail. She likely woke up and decided to go for a walk on the beach.
Too bad she didn’t wake him. He would have liked to go with her.
“Hey,” he said, moving in her direction.
She whirled, startled, one hand to her chest. The other hand contained a cardboard cup. She’d brought him hot coffee.
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