Katerina made one last attempt to reach him by dropping the straps on her already revealing top. Danny Mac responded by going to the door like a dog begging to be let out.
He tossed over his shoulder, “Set me up with your explosive guy.”
Katerina hit a buzzer by the couch with enough force to break it. The door opened, and a man received curt instructions to take Danny Mac back to his room. At one time Katerina’s very skillful efforts would have been a sore temptation indeed. No longer. She was a pathetic substitute for what he felt for Kenann.
Now that was a problem. His desire was growing stronger by the day and his restraint growing weaker. He offered up a silent prayer for God to give him renewed commitment to purity until he and Kenann could make their union official.
She had left on the light at his side of the bed. The absurdity of the situation hit Danny Mac. They were becoming like an old married couple before they could experience the honeymoon. He tried to be quiet as he finished up in the bathroom and slipped under the covers. He longed to pull her to him and hold her as they slept but he knew it wouldn’t end there. He turned out the light and tried to relax enough to drop off to sleep. He slowly became aware that Kenann wasn’t asleep but was actually lying on her side of the bed crying silently. He sat up and turned back on the light.
“Kenann, what’s the matter.”
“Nothing,” and sniffled loudly.
“Now don’t give me that. Why are you crying?”
“Girls are allowed to cry whenever they want. Didn’t anyone ever teach you that?”
“I didn’t say you weren’t allowed to cry. I’m asking you why you are crying. Now turn over here and talk to me.”
She slowly turned onto her back and then her side to face him. Her eyes were swollen, and she obviously had been at it awhile.
“There are you satisfied?”
“Are you mad at me about something?”
“No.” She sounded petulant even to herself.
“Are you sure?’
“Why were you gone so long?”
So that was it, he thought. He wasn’t sure of the best way to reassure her. Against his better judgment he pulled her to him and cradled her in his arms.
“Kenann, Katerina made her move, but I am not interested.”
“How could you not be interested in her. She is gorgeous.”
“That’s a matter of opinion.”
“Oh, get real. You’d have to be a blind Monk not to be attracted to her.”
“Or very much in love with someone else,” he pointed out.
Good answer, she thought. She looked up at him under her lashes.
“So, nothing happened?”
“Scout’s honor.”
“Were you ever a boy scout?”
“Well, no.”
“Then you can’t use their honor. Try again.” She was starting to smile.
“How about if I promise on the blood of my Native American ancestors?”
“Are they going to come and do some sort of spirit dance if I say yes?”
“Possibly.”
“Then I accept.”
“Now, there is a tradition when one accepts an oath on the blood of my ancestors.”
“Does it involve kissing?”
“No, it involves,” he paused for dramatic effect, “Tickling!” He flipped her onto her stomach and proceeded to attack her rib cage. She screamed and laughed until she couldn’t catch her breath. He finally had mercy and let her roll over and sit up.
“That wasn’t fair,” she laughed between catching her breath.
“Get used to it sweetheart. I don’t fight fair.”
Kenann got a wicked gleam in her eye he didn’t like. She turned and moved toward him on all fours. He began inching away unsure what she had in mind.
“Good, cause, neither do I.”
She kept coming toward him slowly until he was out of the bed and on his feet. He didn’t trust that slow smile on her face. She slowly stepped off the bed and continued advancing as he made a corresponding retreat.
“What are you doing, Kenann?”
“Not playing fair.”
“Well, cut it out.”
“Chicken.”
“Kenann.” He tried to sound stern, but the word caught in the dryness of his throat.
“Yes?” She had him up against the wall by this time. She didn’t touch him but came within a hair’s breath between them and stood looking up at him. He could feel the heat from her body and knew his breathing was speeding up along with his heart rate.
One part of him prayed she wouldn’t touch him, and another part was silently begging her to. She slowly splayed her fingers on his heaving chest. He stood motionless waiting for her next move. She looked at her hands on his firm chest and then moved them slowly down over his stomach. Danny Mac flattened his palms against the wall and held his breath. She grasped the bottom of the grey t-shirt he was wearing and slowly brought it up. His limbs became weak and she easily pushed his arms up, so she could pull it over his head. She dropped it to the floor beside them and running her hands over his chest and torso whispered, “You are so beautiful.”
He brought his hands down and gripped his hair. Dropping his head back against the wall he closed his eyes. Kenann brought her hands up to encircle his neck and saw the anguish on his face.
“Oh Danny, what am I doing?” She moved away from him abruptly.
He continued to maintain his rigid posture with his eyes closed. He didn’t respond.
She stepped back further and whispered, “I’m sorry.”
This brought his head up and he looked at her. “Kenann. I love you. You know that, but we can’t do this.”
“I’m sorry.” It was the only thing she knew to say. She was so embarrassed. She turned away from him and went to the barred window looking out into the night sky over the city. She sensed more than heard him come to stand behind her. He didn’t speak for several moments.
“Kenann, this is an extraordinary situation for both of us. It’s not normal in any stretch of the imagination. We’ll get through it. Let’s just be patient.”
In her confused state a painful thought came to her. What if they were experiencing some bizarre form of Stockholm Syndrome and he realized he did not love her once they were out of this mess. The thought left her even more embarrassed by her brazen behavior. How could he really know how he felt? He was under too much strain to be thinking clearly about such an emotional issue. She needed to get a major grip on herself before she made a complete fool of herself. She drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly to steel her resolve. She turned and smiled.
“You’re right. I’m sorry I got so carried away. Let’s get some sleep now. We’ll probably have another long day tomorrow.”
She moved past Danny Mac and got into her side of the bed. The shutters over her heart had closed with an almost audible sound. He wanted to say something but didn’t know what, so he let the silence hang between them. He got into his side of the bed and turned off the light. It was a long time before either of them slept.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Angelo sat glued to the video monitor. He knew the others were laughing at him behind his back. They thought he was hoping to catch some skin action with the little lion, but how could he tell them he was actually watching Danny Boy. There was something different about him. He had lost that hungry look he had carried all those years ago. He occasionally saw a flash of the danger in him that he remembered, but there was definitely a change in him. He observed the heat between him and the girl, but yet they did nothing. This was also not like Danny Boy. He had been well liked among the ladies even after he and Katerina had become lovers. He had fed that hunger with lots of women and none of them complained. He says his God has made him different now. Could it be true? He heard the things he had told the little lion about having faith and God listening to their prayers. He pondered these things and continued to watch and wonder.
* * *
/> Kenann was the first up the next morning and into the bathroom. As she showered and dressed for the day, she steeled her resolve from the night before. She had gotten completely out of control but was thankful she had come to her senses before she made a fool of herself. She was in control now and planned to stay that way. Who was to say how Danny Mac would really feel once this was all over? She took a good hard look at the situation and realized there was no way someone like Danny Mac could be in love with her. He was a red-blooded male and just thought he was in love when actually he felt sorry for her. She couldn’t be upset at him. He was an honorable man and apparently had not been with a woman for a very long time. Of course, he would get the two confused. She would deal with it when this was all over.
She hoped that day would be soon. This Pierre guy was starting to give her the creeps. Reincarnation or not, he had designs on her that were by no means holy. She wasn’t the most experienced gal around, but she knew enough to know this guy was on the make and she was the prey. She planned to take Danny Mac’s advice and pop him in the family jewels if it came to that. Her plan was to keep dancing around this guy and not give him any chances. Might as well get going. She put on her best smile and came out of the bathroom.
Danny Mac was not sure how she would feel this morning but took his cue from her and smiled back. Something was off. Her eye contact was short and to the point. She’s pulling back, he thought. He decided that might not be a bad idea under the present circumstances but even as the thought congealed in his mind, he was missing the genuine warmth of her smile. He offered a silent prayer for God to lead them in their growing relationship and a special one for Kenann that she would know in her heart how much he loved her, even though he had to hold himself back for the sake of purity.
They both went through the clothing provided for them and found bathing suits as Pierre had requested. Kenann held up a tiny scrap of material and muttered. “They’ve got to be kidding. I’ve worn band aids bigger than this.”
Danny Mac laughed until he opened the package containing his speedo. He groaned. It was Kenann’s turn to laugh. “When in Rome, as they say.”
Danny Mac’s face sobered suddenly, “Kenann are you sure you can keep playing this charade?”
“Well, do I have much choice?”
“I could find a way out of it somehow.”
“No. I’m fine so far. This guy seems all frill and polish on the surface, but I get the feeling he’s a real stinker underneath. Oh, believe me, I’ll be screaming bloody murder if I feel the need. I still haven’t figured out what his game is with me except maybe a roll in the sheets.”
“Which we will not be accommodating.”
“No worries. So, how soon do we ice this guy?” Her look of wicked merriment was incongruent with her statement.
“As you so delicately put it, it will occur as soon as I have all the details ironed out in my head and not until. You are as bad as Katerina”
“You wound me unfairly.”
They smiled at each other in an unspoken truce. Things were off between them but there was enough genuine warmth and affection to let it ride until a better time to deal with it. The sound of the key turning the lock in their door suddenly filled Kenann with a sense of dread. It must have shown on her face because Danny Mac took her hand.
“What’s wrong, baby?”
Kenann felt a warmth fill her at his endearment but couldn’t shake the feeling of panic. She had been rolling with the punches throughout this whole ordeal, but her courage was quickly abandoning her. She knew Danny Mac well enough to know he would endanger himself to protect her. Pierre was too dangerous to have Danny Mac challenging him as this point. She forced a smile and shook her head.
“I’m fine. I’m just worrying about that bikini.” Danny smiled back but didn’t buy it for a minute. He planned to keep her within arm’s reach all day.
They were escorted to Katerina’s room where they waited for her to emerge and accompany them to the lobby. Once again, she took great delight in linking her arm through Danny Mac’s and pressing herself to him. She whispered to him that their demolition man was flying in that afternoon. He stared straight ahead with a look of complete disinterest until the elevator doors opened onto the lobby. His face was transformed by a smile (albeit forced) and he assumed the attitude of a man looking forward to a day in the sun.
Pierre was talking rapidly to a man near the door. He ushered him away when he saw them approach. He too adopted a benign expression that belied his intent. These men would engage in a battle of wills and Kenann’s life would hang in the balance.
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
Kenann glanced over as she came down the steps of the hotel and was drawn to a little boy playing in the rubble near the curb. And something in the hand movement of the Egyptian woman approaching the boy made her pause. As they were being driven out of town, Kenann tried to adopt her own casual attitude. She laughed and said to no one in particular, “I must have had too much sun. I keep thinking I see people from home.”
Pierre laughed too and pledged to erect a cabana on their beach to protect her from the offending rays.
Kenann smiled and then a thought struck her. She looked to Danny Mac and could see he had had the same thought. Oh, they wouldn’t. How could they? But the more she tried to rationalize the idea away, she knew it was useless. They were here. Somehow, someway they had found them, and they were here! She forced herself to look away from Danny Mac and focus her attention on what Pierre was telling her. Katerina was watching Danny with a wary eye. Within minutes, they arrived at a small villa overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The colors were beyond description. The blue of the sky competed with the turquoise of the water for brilliance. The white plaster facade of the villa with its red tile roof was a stunning contrast. When they stepped from the car, the breeze caressed them and Kenann stood transfixed by the loveliness. She was completely unaware of the picture she made poised and gazing out over the parapet. Katerina was the last to emerge from the car and when she saw the two men watching Kenann, she hurried to break the spell.
“Let’s go in, shall we?”
Pierre ushered them into the foyer. It alone was magnificent with its terra cotta flooring and mosaic walls. Kenann was anxious to see the rest of the - dare she call it a house. She was not disappointed. They were treated to a tasty brunch in a room straight out of lifestyles of the rich and famous and shown to dressing rooms to don their bathing suits.
Kenann didn’t know about Danny Mac, but she was more than thankful for her cover up. Unless they put a gun to her head that thing wasn’t coming off. When everyone was ready, they met back in the foyer and Pierre escorted them onto a terrace overlooking the Mediterranean. It was breathtaking and, not for the first time, Kenann couldn’t believe her good fortune to be seeing these sights again. She would soon be changing her mind. They made their way to the beach by a series of terraces built into the hillside. It was not a taxing decent and shouldn’t prove to be a bad climb back to the villa. Danny Mac’s eyes took in everything. He found himself on high alert. He noticed the conspicuous absence of Pierre’s ever-present staff of bodyguards. That was odd. His gaze scanned up and down the beach. There was not a soul in sight. The hair on the back of his neck began to prickle. True to his word Pierre had seen that a small cabana was erected on the sand several feet back from the water. Pierre stripped off his outer garment and dashed to the water with shouts of encouragement for them to follow. If the situation had been different Danny Mac would have laughed. Kenann looked absolutely sick. She heaved a sigh of resignation and began unbuttoning her wrap. Katerina had no qualms about taking her clothes off. She had probably done it many times, Kenann thought peevishly. Danny Mac was not overly body conscious but seeing Kenann’s discomfort made him feel uncomfortable for her. For once Katerina’s attempts at distraction were welcome. She took his hand and drew him toward the water. He walked with Katerina allowing Kenann to finish disrobing and follow behind them.
Kenann was extremely grateful. She had no qualms about going about in a bathing suit, but this was a couple of strings and a few scraps of cloth for goodness sake. Now all she could think was to get into the water as fast as she could. It felt deliciously cool to her heated body. Pierre approached her through the bobbing surf with a look not unlike a shark on the hunt. Kenann turned her eyes to Danny Mac. He saw the fear she was trying to hide. Danny Mac had just kicked off to swim to her side when he felt the piercing pain in his side. His last coherent thought was a prayer for Kenann.
* * *
Kenann saw Danny Mac convulse in the water and go under. She screamed his name and began running through the water to him. Her first thought was a shark, but in her panic, she was still able to process that there was no blood. She reached him in time to pull his head out of the water. Katerina helped her pull him onto the beach. He had a pulse, but he wasn’t breathing. Kenann opened his airway to begin rescue breaths but the manipulation of his head and neck forced water from his lungs and he began coughing. She turned him on his side and was relieved to see his breathing even out. She was suddenly surrounded by people. It was disorienting. Pierre was standing back issuing orders to his bodyguards who had literally come out of nowhere. Danny Mac was picked up by these men and they began carrying him up the terraced steps. Kenann whirled around. Katarina looked away. Kenann went to Pierre.
“What happened?”
“It appears he was stung by something in the sea. I have instructed my men to call the physician as soon as they get to the villa.”
Kenann ran to where her wrapper lay over a chair in the cabana and grabbing it up, ran to the stairs while putting her arms through her cover up. As soon as she was out of earshot Katerina looked at Pierre. She knew he had pulled his own scam on them and she felt powerless to combat him. She waited for him to show his hand.
“Katerina, you may return to the city.”
“But I should not leave Danny and Kenann. I am responsible for them.”
“Your only responsibility now is to handle any inquiries that come in about them. If any of their family try to reach them, you are to assure them that they have gone on a little side holiday and allay any concerns. Do you understand?”
Once, a Long Time Ago Page 14