Rogue Diamond

by Engels, Mary Tate

  Alex moaned softly and tasted the minty warmth of his tongue. Oh, how she wanted to resist him, to shove him away, yet her body defied such action. Every feminine part of her betrayed what her mind knew was right. From the first moment she saw Nick Diamond, she'd felt attracted to him, regardless of his reputation.

  Oh, dear God, she had lost all sense of decorum with the man hired to find Jenni. She had allowed this kiss, maybe even invited it, and certainly relished it. As his lips moved sensually against hers, Alex vowed silently that this would be the last time she would allow this kind of shameless expression between them. The valley between her breasts tingled with a new sensation that spread like wildfire to the very tips of her nipples.

  Alex's arms felt weak as she clung to Nick. An embarrassing warmth flooded her lower body, making her realize that she wanted this man, wanted him more than she had ever wanted any man, wanted him to make love to her.

  But she couldn't let it happen.

  Alex pushed weakly against his chest, and to her amazement, he raised his head.

  "My God, Alex. I could take you now, you arouse me so."

  "No, Nick," she muttered shakily. "Not . . . not now. It isn't right."

  "Oh, yes, Alex. What I feel for you is just right. You feel it too."

  "No. I don't."

  "You're lying."

  She stared at him. Nick was right. She'd never been so thoroughly aroused by any man, by any kiss. But she had to resist. For both of them. Alex shook her head. Abruptly, he thrust her away.

  Alex hugged her arms and realized she still clutched the teddy bear. She would have to remember what it was like to be kissed by Nick Diamond, for this was the first, last, and only time it would happen.

  "Alex, you must know I want you. From the minute we met, you could feel it. Standing in the rain that day, you were so damned sexy with that blouse clinging to you. Don't say you didn't want me to kiss you. To touch these." His hands cupped her breasts and his thumbs rubbed across her firm nipples. "See? You can't help but respond to me."

  "No!" She took a step backward. "Nick, please. We have a job to do. A baby to find." She straightened her blouse.

  "I haven't forgotten about Jenni. You'll just have to trust me."

  "I have no other choice, do I?"

  "Of course. You always have a choice. You can send me away."

  She shook her head. "You're it, Nick Diamond."

  He shifted away from her fresh-flowered fragrance. "Let's have that coffee, Alex. And finish the list."

  She nodded, placing the teddy bear back in Jenni's crib, and allowed him to steer her out of the room. Suddenly, Alex had to exercise a great deal of restraint to keep from burying her face against Nick's strong shoulder again and sobbing her heart out. But they had a job to do. Together, they would find Jenni. Alex had to believe it, just as she had to trust this man named Nick Diamond.

  "I'd still like to go with you," she said as she poured the coffee.

  "No. Not this time."

  She gritted her teeth. Boy, he was stubborn. "What if you find her?"

  "I probably won't. I'm just looking for information."

  "Then why are you going through all this if you don't expect to find her? I want her home tonight!"

  "We have to be patient. And follow through."

  She shoved the cup of coffee toward him. "Patience is not one of my virtues. It isn't fair, Nick. It just isn't fair."

  Nick's large hands hovered around the coffee cup, as if harboring an inner rage. "No, Alex. It isn't. But give me time. We’ll find her."

  Alex looked into Nick's deep umber eyes and saw an alarming viciousness. She knew that she would hate to be the object of his wrath.

  Later, after Nick departed, Alex felt the strong urge to tell someone of her strange alliance with Nick. And yet, she didn't dare tell Rosemary. He had all but sworn her to secrecy and she didn't want to jeopardize his investigation. She reached for her computer. Carol lived in Phoenix. It would be safe to confide in her.

  Email from Hermosillo, Mexico

  To: Carol W

  From: Alex J

  Subject: Jenni

  Carol, I've met an American who has agreed to help me find Jenni. He runs a charter airplane service. It isn't much of a business—takes tourists to Mayan temples and over volcanoes. I can't decide if he's a hero or a heel. I'm told that he has contacts to do almost anything, and if he can help me find Jenni, that's all I ask.

  It sounds crazy Carol, but I have confidence in this man. I believe he'll find her. My spirits are higher tonight than any time since the accident.

  Love,

  Alex

  CHAPTER FIVE

  "How do you Americans say it . . . squeaky clean?" Jose smiled grandly and handed Nick the folder with Alex Julian's name penciled lightly on the corner.

  Nick nodded, his eyes gleaming amber in the lamp's yellow glow. He stuffed several papers into the folder. "So are all her friends. These people have no reasons to want another kid. Although most of them need money, I'd be damn surprised if they had any connections with the disappearance of this kid."

  "You talked to all of them?"

  "Yep. Most are females who work as housekeepers, like Teresa did. I also talked with the Garzas, who are both professors at the University and close friends with Alex Julian. Sam Garza was educated at the University of Arizona in Tucson and worked there for a few years before moving back here. Rosemary is his American wife. She was present at Alex's house the night the child was born, so that part of the story is confirmed." He tapped the closed folder with the back of his large hand and pursed his lips. "Like you said, Jose, squeaky clean means no leads. How about you? Any luck with that list of witnesses?"

  Jose pressed his massive body into an overstuffed chair and scanned the sheet of paper listing names and addresses. The weak light from the lamp added golden highlights to his thick, dark hair and elaborate mustache. "Without Padre Ramon's input, we would never have found all these people. I've seen most of the vendors and about half the other witnesses. So far, no information on this little Jenni or on knowledge of a baby ring."

  "Or they're just not talking," Nick said tersely.

  "That's possible." Jose shrugged and tugged at the curly tip of his mustache.

  "Did you talk to the man who runs the fruit stand? The one who spoke to Alex that afternoon?"

  "Jorge Alvarez is streetwise. Now, he may be holding back information, but so far, nada."

  "You left your number, in case he changes his mind?"

  "Of course." He pulled out the two snapshots of the large-eyed Mexican child. "What do you think, Capitan? Any chance of finding her?"

  Nick ambled to the darkened window and looked out over the sparse lights of the city at night. "Don't know, Jose. She might be out there right now, or she might be . . . hell, anywhere!"

  Jose's brown eyes softened as he gazed at the photos. "Dios mio! She's a beautiful child."

  "Don't get soft on me, Jose," Nick growled. "You know how this search might end if we find her."

  "Si, Capitan. I know. More reason to find her, in a hurry."

  Nick paced back and forth, stopping to ponder the light-studded view again. His tall, broad-shouldered form practically blocked the entire window. "I just have a feeling this one's connected to a ring. A ring that sells babies. They happened to make the mistake of getting involved with an American woman who won't let it drop. As much as we've heard about the baby-selling businesses from Mexico into the States, this is the closest we've come to touching one. We have to pursue it."

  Jose watched the man stalking before him and saw the slow-building, seething anger behind his umber eyes. Nick Diamond was a cool character, and as calm as he now appeared on the surface, Jose had never seen him so agitated.

  "Si, Capitan. What next?"

  "You finish interviewing the witnesses. I'll check with Alex again and see if she has any new leads. There's always the possibility of a ransom. Then we'll re-evaluate the situation. Wh
at do we have going tomorrow?"

  "Nada."

  "Good. Then we can work on those witnesses."

  "But the next day, a tour of Mayan pyramids."

  "Legitimate?"

  "Si. A family from Kansas. Including the grandfather, who's seventy-eight. Then, a Thursday night pick-up—"

  "Not another bunch of coffins loaded with God-knows-what."

  "No, Capitan." Jose chuckled. "This time, it's citrus. Grapefruit, oranges, lemons, and limes. Heading for Santa Barbara."

  "Fruit, yeah." Nick heaved a sigh. "It's hard for me to get excited about a load of damned fruit when we're on the trail of this baby. And I feel we're so close too. This'll have to be overnight. It'll delay us another day."

  "Thousands of dollars for uninspected citrus, Capitan."

  "I know, and that's why we're here. Never underestimate the power of the tiny fruit fly if it threatens the U.S. economy. Hell, in the early eighties the fruit fly was the governor of California's downfall, so they say. Yeah, I know it's important. But this other thing has me distracted.”

  Jose watched Nick pace the floor with a glimmer in his dark eyes. “I wonder, Capitan,” he mused, “if it's the tragic situation of the missing baby, or the woman with the deep blue eyes that has you distracted?”

  Nick looked at him sharply. "That’s none of your damn business! It's getting late. You'd better head home before I –" He paused and caught Jose's eyes. "Oh hell, give my love to Yvette and the little ones. Tell her how important your work, our work, is."

  "Si, Capitan. She understands. Hasta maňana."

  Jose slipped out quickly. Nick stuffed his hands in his pockets and studied the night view from his window, but his thoughts were on a certain woman with blond hair, indigo eyes, and lips as soft as silk.

  "Your friend questioned me yesterday, Alex."

  "What are you talking about, Rosemary?"

  "The man with the scar on his cheek and the broad shoulders and wonderful mustache. The big one who breathes sex appeal! The American." Rosemary smiled knowingly and stirred her coffee. "Why didn't you tell me you had hired a private eye to find Jenni?"

  "I haven't. I mean, he isn't. He's . . . well, he's just someone who has agreed to help find her." It sounded lame, and Alex ducked her head and sipped her coffee. She had no idea that Nick would interview everyone on that list, especially her friends from the University. But if he was thorough in his investigation, it made sense.

  "Just someone you hired?" Rosemary scoffed with a grin. "Sure, Alex."

  "Now, look. I told you I was serious about finding Jenni. And the police reached a dead-end the first day. So I was forced to take matters into my own hands."

  "And you did an excellent job of it too!" Rosemary leaned forward with her elbows on the table. "Tell me about him, Alex. How did you ever find him?"

  "I ... I can't tell you. That is . . . please don't ask me because I don't know very much about him.

  "Now, tell me what's going on at the University. After being gone several days, I can tell something's brewing. I heard rumblings today but no one is willing to explain things to the professora gringa."

  Rosemary was clearly disappointed that Alex wouldn't give her more information on the intriguing American, but obliged her friend with shoptalk. "I told you things were not smooth at work."

  "But they can't cut the Early Childhood program. It's too important. We've just gotten it off the ground. What will happen to those programs out in the field?" Alarm clouded Alex's eyes as she thought of the two remote villages that depended on the University's assistance in running their child development programs.

  "I don't know what will happen. I don't even know if it's entirely true. As I said, it's a rumor. And you know how scuttlebutt flies among the staff just before budget time."

  Alex had been so preoccupied during the last few days, she had forgotten everything connected to the University: the grumbling faculty, the talk of a strike, her tenuous position as an exchange professor. Her thoughts had been riveted to the accident and finding Jenni. This new turn of events could affect everything, including her search for her godchild.

  "If they're cutting human services, who's the favored department?" Alex caught a glimmer in Rosemary's eyes. "Agriculture?"

  Rosemary pushed a wisp of brunette hair behind her ear. "Believe me, it has not made for the most pleasant home life. Realistically, though, I know how desperately that department needs to be upgraded. Why, two years ago, Sam presented a proposal to the department head. It's taken that long for action, Alex. Now it looks like they're going to supply the money he needs for more modern equipment and trained staff. They've got to catch up with the twenty-first century in agriculture. All of that takes money, lots of it, and the University has only so much to spend."

  "Sounds like you've been properly brainwashed. I understand about budgets, Rosemary. I'm just thinking about how all of this effects me." Alex sighed. "I'll be the first to go."

  "Well, I'll be soon after you. I don't have that much tenure either. And I, too, am a norteamericana." Rosemary motioned to the waiter for more coffee.

  "How can they do this? People, not plants or equipment, are involved in our programs. They're important to the future of Mexico. People—children—are the hope of the future. Not some damn machines."

  Rosemary shook her head. "I can't agree with you more, Alex. But some things are out of our control."

  "Can't we do something?"

  "The department heads are meeting with the president and board of regents at the end of this week. We'll know more after that."

  Alex paused as the waiter refilled their cups. "Then final decisions haven't been made?"

  "No. That'll be done in a few weeks, when the proposed budget is presented and discussed. Department heads will be consulted and counter proposals submitted."

  Alex lifted her chin. "Counter proposals?"

  Rosemary seemed to have the same idea that flashed in Alex's mind. "Yes, objections can be submitted. They may not carry much influence, but it's a chance to state your department's needs and how the new budget will affect it."

  "A chance is better than nothing!" Alex said eagerly. "Why don't we work on a counter proposal, Rosemary?"

  "Well . . ."

  "Come on." Alex nodded enthusiastically. "Our jobs are at stake here, not to mention the programs out in the field. The kids need them so much. We've got nothing to lose. This is our only chance, our fighting chance to present something to the board, something that shows our belief in the worthiness of our program."

  Rosemary nodded, her enthusiasm not equal to Alex's, but she was agreeable to the idea. "We probably should do something."

  "Okay, it's settled. Each of us should make a rough plan and meet again tomorrow to discuss it. We'll combine our ideas and write a counter proposal."

  When they parted, Alex wore a smile of determination on her lips. Rosemary's expression wasn't quite so resolute.

  Later that afternoon Alex's determination had dwindled somewhat, replaced by a look of urgency when she barged into Nick's ramshackle office. "We have to find her, and fast, Nick. If my job is eliminated, I'll be forced to return to the States. And I refuse to leave without—"

  Alex stopped when she saw the shapely dark-haired woman sitting on Nick's desk. "Oh, I didn't know you were busy, Nick."

  He motioned nonchalantly to the attractive woman on his right. "We were just discussing a tour. Alex Julian, meet Lia...."

  Alex nodded curtly. “Hola.”

  Lia slid off her perch and stood enticingly close to Nick, who was still seated at the desk. His eyes, Alex noticed, were focused on Lia's curvaceous bosom. "I'm so excited because Nick's taking me to the Mayan temple of Palenque!"

  "The one where virgins were sacrificed?" Alex asked sarcastically.

  "Oh! I hadn't heard about that." She crossed her hands at her ample cleavage.

  "Well, you won't have to worry," Alex said. "That happened hundreds of years ago, and I'm sure Nick
is a very capable pilot. Well, nice to meet you Lia. I have to go."

  Alex pivoted and left the office. Nick lunged into the hallway after her. "Wait. I thought you came by for a reason."

  "It's nothing. I can see you're busy."

  "You were saying you're on the verge of losing your job."

  "I was saying that time's running out for me to find Jenni. Do you have any information on her?"

  He shook his head.

  "Then what the hell are you doing here?" She caught her tongue, knowing full well that Lia was keeping him occupied.

  "Do you have any brilliant ideas?" he countered, releasing the frustration he felt at the lack of leads on the case.

  "Yes, as a matter of fact, I do. I'm going somewhere I hope I don't find her. But I have to go."

  "Where?" He touched her arm.

  "The hospital."

  "The hospital?" His voice gentled. "She's not there, Alex."

  "How do you know? Have you been there?"

  "No, but—"

  "What if Jenni was injured that day and carried off to the hospital by someone else and has never been identified? Or is lying up there unconscious! I asked about her the day of the accident and they hadn't seen her, but maybe she's been brought in since then—" Alex stopped with an emotional hitch in her voice.

  "Well, it's possible, of course," Nick replied. "But not probable. The police would have been notified. And they would have called you."

  "Don't tell me what the police would do. They've given up on it. They don't care if I find her. Not really." She gave him an accusing look.

  "I have more important things to do this afternoon than to go off on wild goose chases looking for this kid," he said.

  "Nobody asked you to go."

  "But that's why you stopped by here."

  "I came by to see if you had any leads." She motioned impatiently. "Please go back inside and plan your Mayan temple tour. Just let me know if you discover anything important while you're sitting around on your ass. Or possibly you'll get a brilliant idea while flying over Palenque." Alex wheeled about and strode down the hall, not realizing until that very moment how absurdly jealous she was of Lia. And dammit, she had no right to be!