FOR HIS EYES ONLY

by Candace Irvin

  He jerked his gaze back to Dillon. Then again, maybe it was the same reason. Maybe Dillon had struck out with Jade—and hadn't taken it well.

  Sour grapes. That had to be it. It made a lot more sense than Jade Parker cutting herself off from men—and thus his own plans for her. That he wouldn't consider. He couldn't afford to.

  Something must have showed on his face, because Dillon leaned back and sent out a fresh blast of beer breath. "It'll never happen, Mack. I've got a hundred bucks on the table that says you won't even get to see her hair down." He barked again. "I oughta know, I haven't even seen it—and I've known her for three years."

  For some reason the revelation made him feel better, not worse. But a bet? You didn't bet over a woman—and never a woman like Jade. It went beyond crass.

  Then again, so did Dillon. All in all, the man was perfect suspect material. Now he just had to find the evidence to connect him to the crime. But not here and not now.

  Tomorrow.

  Reese slapped a bill on the counter and drained his beer. "So how 'bout it, Mike? You going to give me that tour tomorrow?"

  Dillon seemed surprised, then glanced over at Jade and laughed. "You're gonna try it anyway, aren't you?" He snickered as he stood.

  Reese wanted to cut the sound out of the guy's throat—with his bare hands.

  "Sure thing, buddy, I'll give you the grand tour tomorrow. And then you can give me all the gory details on how you ran aground tonight."

  * * *

  "Oh, my God, he's coming over!" Karin's stage whisper nearly drowned out the country music belting from the juke box across the bar.

  "For God's sake, chill out." Jade clenched her fingers around the base of her soda and ordered her heart to do the same.

  Karin's voice lowered. "How can you even say those words while looking at him? That man is hot. H-O-T, hot."

  "Evening, ladies. Jade."

  What the hell did Reese mean by that? "Hey, Macbeth, what's up? Lose your date to a prettier face?" Jade winced as Karin kicked her under the table.

  Reese grinned, his gaze sweeping them. "I was hoping he'd lost me to a pair of them."

  Jade kicked Karin back before she completed her swoon.

  "Would you like to join us, Reese?"

  Jade kicked her again, harder this time.

  Karin retaliated by showing off her dimples and scooting down the short leg of the L-shaped booth. "Jade, move over so Reese can fit in."

  Jade panicked as his grin widened to Cheshire proportions. If she did as Karin suggested, she'd be trapped between the two of them. Not bloody likely.

  She grabbed her glass and slipped out of the booth. "Take my spot, Macbeth. I need to get another drink, anyway—this one's flat."

  She could have sworn Reese winked touché as he folded his frame into the booth.

  Karin handed up her glass. "I'm running low, too. Why don't you get us all another round while you're at it?"

  Jade nodded, biting down on the inside of her mouth as she headed for the bar. What she wouldn't give to be sitting next to Karin just so she could whale on her leg again. She slapped the glasses on the counter. "A virgin daiquiri, a Coke and a Bud Light. Please."

  As she waited for the bartender, she turned back to glare across the nearly empty bar at the booth. Reese and Karin's huddle would have done the 49ers proud. Whatever they were discussing, she'd better get back soon, because it couldn't be good.

  * * *

  "Look, we don't have much time, so I'm going to give it to you straight. It's up to you to listen and follow through."

  What the hell was she talking about? For a brief moment, Reese considered asking, then thought better of it. He was curious to see where Karin would lead if he left her on her own. "Shoot."

  Karin smiled. "Good. I was afraid I'd have to bring up that rash of smoldering glances to get you to listen."

  Ouch. So much for his surveillance expertise. His partner, TJ, would get a kick out of this one. Reese grinned back. "What makes you so sure they weren't for you?"

  "Because your gaze lost about a thousand degrees when Jade left. Now, shut up and listen."

  "Yes, ma'am."

  "First of all, you're going about it all wrong—and, by the way, that's pretty disappointing. As an actor, you of all people should be able to figure it out."

  Now he was confused.

  "You really don't get it, do you?"

  He glanced over to the bar and shook his head quickly, wanting her to get to the point before Jade returned.

  Too late. Jade gathered up the drinks and headed back. "Damn, no time to explain—you're just going to have to follow my lead, okay?"

  Reese nodded, more confused than ever. Follow her lead? To where? And what? He shrugged and settled back into the booth, curious to find out.

  Jade ignored him as she thunked the triangle of drinks on the table. She hooked a boot into a nearby chair and dragged it up to the table to straddle it backward.

  That must have been the mysterious signal Karin was waiting for, because she glanced at her watch and gasped. "Oh, Lord, I almost forgot. I was supposed to stop by the base hospital for some test results after knock-off tonight." She slid her daiquiri in front of Jade as she stood, effectively pinning her down. "Here, you finish it for me. I'll catch you guys after sick call tomorrow, okay?"

  Reese grasped Karin's plan immediately, almost feeling sorry for Jade as her eyes widened to those of a snared rabbit. Perfect. He couldn't have arranged it better if he'd tried.

  He stood quickly, blocking Jade in on the other side as Karin grabbed her purse from underneath the table and slung it over her shoulder.

  He was rewarded by a smile and a filthy glare.

  "See ya!"

  He settled back into the booth, squelching a grin as he snagged the Bud Light—the same brand he'd had with Dillon. Apparently, he hadn't been the only one staring. He took it as an encouraging sign and saluted Jade with the bottle. "Thanks."

  She nodded, her gaze finally cooling to normal. "No problem. I owe you."

  "How's that?"

  "Midships."

  "Ah, that. Actually, I think I should be thanking you."

  She blinked.

  He could tell he'd stumped her. "My character? The series? I learned more about the Baddager in two hours on my hands and knees scrubbing that deck than I did sitting in the officer's and chief's lounges the last few days."

  Amazing things.

  Reese almost smiled at her surprise and decided to take another stab at honesty—as much as he could give, anyway. "Jade, I know I'm just a joke to you—some collateral duty you've got to schedule into your day—but I've got a hell of a lot riding on these six weeks. Like my job."

  She blinked again. But she didn't answer.

  Damn.

  Tomorrow was Friday, his third day aboard the Baddager and he still hadn't been able to get Jade to face the underlying issue between them.

  Trust.

  That and the fact that she simply did not want him around. Personally, he could take a hint. No matter how beautiful the package, if it wasn't interested, it wasn't worth the time and trouble it took to open. Unfortunately, Jade wasn't just another pretty package. Other than Dillon and Lieutenant Coffey, she was the only officer on the ship who could get him where he needed to go.

  So it was up to him to make her interested. He'd spent the rest of the afternoon turning the problem over in his brain until he was pretty sure he'd figured out how. It was a gamble. But he didn't have much choice, because he was running out of time.

  He was going to have to force the confrontation. He'd have to make her trust him. From there, he might be able to establish their first real connection. And since they were already together, he'd just change a few of the steps and initiate the plan sometime tonight instead.

  But for now, he'd wait. Waiting was all part of the game. Fortunately, not only was he used to it, he was an expert at it. Yeah, he'd wait. He'd wait for an opportunity when her guard was do
wn and then he'd pounce.

  "So what's with the red ball caps?"

  He could see the question had caught her off guard. His breath caught as her eyed widened. He should never have accused her of being cold. She wasn't. All her emotions were right there in those smoky eyes for anyone who took the time to notice.

  "Red," he prompted. "The ball caps? Dillon seemed surprised you'd let me wear a red one."

  Damn. He realized his miscalculation the second her gaze narrowed. He should have waited before probing her about Dillon. Well, he'd already killed the mood he'd been working toward. "What is it with you two? I know the guy's a bit of a brown-noser, but—"

  Her snort cut him off. "Brown-noser? That's an understatement. Mike's got ring around the collar."

  He had to chuckle. "Okay, I'll give you that. But, seriously, what's with you two?"

  She leaned over and fished her cap from under the table. For a split second he thought she was going to leave and he panicked. But she didn't. She plopped the hat on the table instead, effectively deflecting the subject from Dillon.

  Interesting.

  She smoothed a wisp of hair into her braid and pointed to the hat. "Red is the color of the flying squad—the rapid response fire team aboard a ship, the first line of defense. My division. Everyone else on the ship wears blue. You have to earn this one."

  No wonder she looked as though she'd wanted to rip the thing from his head the first time she'd seen it. Well, she was wrong. He'd learned a long time ago not to put too much stock in symbols. It was a lousy hat—and a Navy one at that.

  But since she seemed to think it was more, he should probably offer to return it. Or at least promise not to wear it aboard the ship. He would.

  But not now.

  He'd hold on to the concession awhile longer—until the time was right. Until he found a way to use it. However, he could give her something else that belonged to her. "Jade, I really am sorry about Benson."

  Her self-deprecating chuckle caught him off guard, locking into his gut and refusing to let go. "I know. I realized that about ten minutes after I left the office. But I'd already plotted my revenge and set the plan in motion." She shrugged sheepishly. "I'm sorry I wasn't big enough to cancel it."

  That was his opening. Reese glanced over to the tiny dance floor and went for it. "Make it up to me."

  He almost laughed as she blinked. She was getting easier to read by the minute. Now, push her now. "If you're really sorry, dance with me."

  Her brows furrowed as she stared at the darkened floor, then back to him. "But … no one else is dancing."

  He tsked the challenge. "I had the feeling you weren't the type of person who waited for someone else to do something first."

  She was wavering, he could see it in her eyes.

  He pressed the advantage. "Come on, who's going to know? The only three guys left in here besides us look like they're World War II retirees."

  He counted his heartbeats as he waited.

  Thirty - seven - and - a - half later, she stood. "Why not?"

  Somehow, he beat back a grin as he took her hand and let her lead him across the carpet. Garth Brooks started crooning out a ballad as they reached the wooden floor. He steeled himself as she looped her hands behind his neck and slid effortlessly into slow two-step.

  Several beats later, he grinned down at her. "Do you lead in bed, too?"

  She faltered.

  Chuckling, he capitalized on her surprise and pulled her in close, bending his head to brush his lips across her temple. "Relax, I don't mind."

  He held himself in check as his breath drifted back, laden with her scent. Damn. Maybe dancing wasn't such a great idea after all. It was a good thing her hair wasn't down; it would have been his downfall for sure.

  The tension seeped from him as Jade pulled back slightly, surprising him as she relinquished the lead. "Maybe I just like to take turns."

  He sucked in his breath as the smoke in her voice led to a fantasy he was forced to strangle at conception.

  The means to an end, buddy, the means to an end!

  His lungs finally kicked back in, and he sent up a fervent prayer that he was able to solve this case quickly.

  Jade took a deep breath and clamped down on the disloyal tremors sneaking through her before they reached her stomach. She shoved them back into their box and slammed the lid.

  What was she doing? And what was she thinking when she'd let Reese take the lead? Apology or not, she should never have stayed when Karin left, let alone agreed to dance with Reese. But she was afraid if she didn't, he'd figure out he'd gotten to her. If he hadn't already.

  Still, even that would have been better than breaking her own rules. Hell, who was she kidding? She'd done more than break them. She'd shattered them. Her first mistake was noticing his smile, then she'd stared into his eyes. And now they were touching.

  Everywhere.

  At least it felt like everywhere. There wasn't a nerve in her body that wasn't thrumming in perfect, agonizing pitch—and it had nothing to with Garth's crooning. It did, however, have everything to do with Reese. It had to do with the iron arms he'd locked about her. The hands caressing her back through her shirt.

  The row of studs on his button-fly jeans.

  The same ones that were searing into her belly, locking heads every now and then with the brass buckle on her trousers. Each chink reverberated through her, tormenting her with the possibility that at any moment, one of them might snap free. She shuddered and shoved the image deep down into her box and drew a shaky breath.

  "Cold?"

  She shook her head, not realizing until then that she had goose bumps. That was strange. As hot as it was, her skin should be having the opposite reaction.

  She felt more than heard Reese's chuckle. "Me, neither. In fact, I suspect it's cooler in the Sahara right about now."

  She pulled back. "Does that always work?"

  "Does what work?"

  "Humor. I've seen Karin use it to diffuse a situation, too." And she'd always envied her for it.

  Reese trailed a finger down her cheek and smiled. "Oh, is that what's smoldering here between us—a situation?"

  "Can you be serious for one minute?"

  For a moment, his smile deepened, egging her closer to the edge. And then suddenly, it disappeared. "Sure, I can be serious. Can you be honest?"

  "What?"

  "Why don't you like me?"

  Where had that come from?

  "Come on, we both know it's true." He guided them back to the center of the darkened floor. "You haven't liked me since the moment I stepped aboard the Baddager—maybe even earlier."

  For a split second, Jade suspected Karin had opened her mouth, then immediately felt guilty. Karin would never do something like that. So how—

  "It doesn't take a genius to figure it out, Jade. You've been avoiding me like the plague. At first I thought it was because you were busy—God knows, you are. But sometime this afternoon, I realized it was more." His tone was light, almost teasing—but his hands were tense on her back.

  She was definitely baffled. "Reese, I never—"

  He stopped dancing and released her, folding his arms across his chest. "Yes, you did. Let's face it, I'm the great Unwashed. And you? Why, you're the Master. Only I get the distinct impression you'd rather let me rot in hell than lower yourself to save me."

  "That's not true!"

  "It is true. I've been busting my butt for days right along with your guys. Did it help? No." He jerked his head back toward the booth. "Instead, you imply I'm not good enough to wear your precious red cover. Well, guess what, lady? I don't want it. You can have it back in the morning. I also think it's best if I see the Captain about a new running mate." With that, he turned around and calmly walked off the dance floor.

  She stood there, alone in the middle of the floor, razed by his cool words as he approached the bar. He glanced back as he reached the cash register. She sucked in her breath as his steady stare skewered i
nto her, impaling her with the truth.

  Reese was right.

  And so was Karin.

  She hadn't been fair to him. Hell, she hadn't even given him a chance. Not since the moment she'd discovered he was coming aboard. Yeah, he was right about that. She'd been so certain he was nothing more than a life-size Ken doll, she hadn't offered him an opportunity to prove otherwise.

  Worse yet, she'd ignored the growing proof that there was more to Mack Reese than his perfect blond exterior.

  She wrapped her arms about her stomach as the full force of her crime socked into her. She'd been treating Reese the same way men like Dillon had been treating her for years. It was no use telling herself she should be ashamed.

  Because she already was.

  Reese tamped down his regret, repeating his mantra yet again as he turned from Jade back to the bar. He passed a twenty to the bartender to cover the tab and then headed out the door. He had no intention of giving her a chance to recover while he was here. Let her sleep on it. It certainly couldn't hurt.

  He sighed as he crossed the lobby and headed out to his car. He wasn't particularly proud of the way he'd just manipulated Jade. Unfortunately, it was an opportunity he couldn't afford to pass up. Especially if tomorrow's excursion into Lieutenant Dillon and Lieutenant Coffey's domain didn't pan out. Nope, despite his hopes, that wasn't likely. He seriously doubted either lieutenant would be eager to lead him arm in arm to the real reason he was aboard the USS Baddager.

  Her nice, lethal stash of heroin.

  * * *

  Chapter 4

  « ^ »

  Jade shoved open the heavy watertight door to her office and stopped short. There it was. Right there, perched on top the wedge of papers crowding her in-box.

  Reese's cover.

  The scarlet ball cap taunted her as she stepped over the lip and entered the space. It flung accusation after accusation into her face as she approached it, practically screaming at her when she finally reached out to pick it up.

  It was still warm.

  No, that had to be her imagination—maybe even her guilt. Reese wasn't anywhere near her office. She'd seen him heading in the opposite direction shortly before she'd come down here.