"Wait a minute!" Nick called out to her. "I want to go. You might just find her. Then I'd be out of a job."
Alex halted. "Don't feel obliged to follow me around."
"I don't feel obliged to do anything. I want to go with you."
The door to his office had opened during this exchange, and now a tremulous voice broke into the verbal jabbing: "But Nicky, what about our trip?"
"Another time, Lia," Nick said.
Alex turned large indigo eyes on him, then let her gaze flutter over a pouting Lia. "Don't let me interfere with your business . . . Nicky."
His eyes flickered angrily. "I will decide what is and is not interference. Now, let's go." It was a command, and his expression told her she'd better not push him further. "You don't mind, do you, Lia? This is very important business."
"I'll bet!" She sashayed past them, her three-inch heels clicking on the tile floor.
"I'll be in touch, Lia."
"Don't bother!" she flung back.
"This is probably just a waste of time," Nick fumed.
"Well, we certainly don't want you to waste your precious time. So why are you going with me?"
"Damned if I know," he said, but he was thinking more of spending time with Alex than of finding the child. And being with her wasn't wasting time. He flipped the cardboard sign so the other side was visible through the cracked glass door. Cerrado. Closed. "I'll drive you over there."
Alex considered him for a moment. "Nick, are you taking this job seriously?"
"Of course." He grinned devilishly as he locked the door. "I feel like an honest-to-God detective doing this. Why, even Jose is out questioning witnesses today. Don't I remind you of one of those detectives on TV?"
Alex rolled her eyes upward as they left the building.
"Actually, this new detective stuff has given my career an added dimension. I may include it on my door, under where it says Aircraft Service. Something like Private Investigation—We Find Anyone, Anywhere." He opened the rusty gray door of his VW van.
"Don't be in such a hurry to add that line. So far, I'm afraid I couldn't give you a recommendation."
"Why? Don't you think I've conducted our business professionally enough? If you're thinking of that one little indiscretion at your house, I can assure you it won't happen again. I intend to exercise the highest degree of restraint whenever I'm around you in the future. Anyway, you asked for that one."
She paused at the open door to the van. "What? I did not!"
"Well, I don't mean in so many words. But that look. Those eyes. Why, I just couldn't resist." He flashed her a smile then left her to mount the step-up into the van by herself while he hurried around to the driver's side.
Alex decided Nick was teasing about his reasons for the kiss, and wasn't about to argue whether she had invited it. Not only did she want his kiss that day, but a broad shoulder to cry on. "Nick, I couldn't recommend you as a detective because you haven't come up with one tiny clue. You don't have one lead or suggestion for finding my child. Why, even this trip to the hospital was my idea."
"And I'm not so sure it's a good one either." He jerked the van into gear and concentrated on the traffic.
"What if she's there?"
"Then it'll be a good idea."
"You're impossible, Nick Diamond! I'm beginning to think I'd get more help from the police."
"Please, don't compare me with them."
"But you've both come up with the same thing. Nada!"
"The police aren't willing to do this with you." He pulled to a stop in the hospital's parking lot.
"No, they aren't, Nick. And I appreciate your coming." She grew quiet as they approached the large, looming building. Her face told of the stress she felt, and the fear.
They took the elevator up to the children's floor and approached the nurse at the front desk. "I'm looking for a little girl," Alex said in Spanish. "A year and a half old. I think she was injured in an accident a few days ago."
"Her name, senorita?"
"Jenni. Well, I'm not sure." Alex groped for the right explanation. "She . . . she's my friend's child and could have been registered under another name."
The nurse looked at Alex strangely for a moment, then checked her roster. "We have two little girls of that age. Neither one is named Jenni."
"Could I . . . could we see them? Just to make sure?"
The nurse inclined her head in a reluctant nod. "If you'll follow me."
They stepped into a large room lined with beds filled with dark-eyed children of all sizes. Alex gave a slight, tiny gasp.
Nick was right behind her, his words warm against her ear. "Are you sure you're up to this, Alex?"
"I couldn't leave now, Nick. I have to know." She walked stiffly behind the nurse.
They stopped beside a small, white crib. Alex moved to the side and peered into the face of a child playing with a doll. Both her legs were confined in hard white casts from toes to hips. The little girl gazed up into Alex's anxious face and immediately broke into loud sobs.
Alex backed away and gave the nurse an apologetic look.
"It isn't you. She is expecting her mother soon and cries when anyone else comes toward her," the nurse explained.
"I take it that's not her," Nick said softly, as they continued their somber journey.
"Pobrecita," Alex murmured, obviously shaken.
As they moved on, Nick took her hand. The nurse led them to another crib with white metal bars. Nick squeezed Alex's hand as she stepped closer.
The child lay inert, sleeping peacefully beneath a clear plastic oxygen tent. A young woman sat beside the bed, lovingly caressing the tiny brown hand that lay limp on the sheet.
"Pneumonia," the nurse said. "Is this your friend's child, senorita?"
Alex held Nick's hand tightly and shook her head. "No, gracias. This isn't the one, either." She shrank back, suddenly feeling weak, depressed, and saddened by the unhappy little faces she had just seen. They reminded her of Jenni. Alex shuddered and leaned against Nick. He braced her with his strength, putting his arm around her, and ushered her out of the hospital.
"Oh, God, Nick," she breathed when they were outside. "They should be out here, running and playing in the sunshine."
"I thought you said you could handle this," Nick growled.
"I lied. You were right, Nick. It was devastating. And I still didn't find my Jenni."
The sky rumbled above and the air felt still and hot.
"Alex, if you don't loosen your grip on my hand, I'm afraid I’ll be maimed for life."
"Oh, Nick. I'm sorry." She immediately let go of his hand. "I ... I want to thank you for coming here with me, Nick. You knew how awful it would be, but you came anyway. Why?"
"There was a chance she'd be here. There's always a chance."
With a gentleness seemingly uncharacteristic for a man so tough and rugged, Nick helped Alex into the beat-up van. It was a small haven, away from the sadness and disappointment she'd just seen. Perhaps, Alex considered quietly, being with Nick Diamond was the haven she needed. He climbed into the driver's seat and drove away from the hospital. Alex stared blankly out the window, lost in thought. When he stopped, they were in a part of town unfamiliar to her. They sat for a moment, listening to the rumble of thunder. She looked at him questioningly.
"El Jardin makes a great margarita. Care to join me, Alex?"
"Is this a professional courtesy?"
"I consider it my duty, senorita."
"In the line of duty, then." She nodded and smiled.
Just as they started down the street, large drops of rain began to fall. Instinctively, Nick's arm went around Alex's shoulders and they hurried into the garden restaurant. They sat under a canopy in the garden and watched rain splatter over the brick floor of the uncovered portion.
"Dos margaritas, por favor," Nick told the waiter, then turned his dark eyes on Alex. "You okay now?"
"Better." She smiled, her face fresh from the quick shower. Ag
ain, her mascara was a bit smudged at the corners of her intensely blue eyes. "Thanks for being there, Nick. And, for this. Even the rain helps. Helps me forget her for a few minutes. I can't help thinking about her all the time. I wonder if she's getting wet."
"Promise me something, Alex. That you won't go off hunting for Jenni again by yourself. That you'll call me first. What if you had gone by yourself today? I wish you'd leave this investigating to me.”
The waiter brought their drinks along with a bowl of crunchy corn chips and a very spicy salsa.
"After all," he continued. "That's what you hired me for. To find her."
Alex slid her finger and thumb along the narrow stem of her glass. "Yes, I suppose it is. Is the advice a part of your investigative service?"
Nick stiffened. Damn! She was getting to him. He was only a man, drinking in the beauty of a woman with sad blue eyes. "Strictly business, Alex. Here's to finding Jenni."
Alex tipped the salt-rimmed glass to his and sipped her margarita. Nick was only doing a job.
Accompanying her to the hospital, the drinks, maybe even the kiss were professional courtesies. And she'd better not forget it.
Nick's large hand lifted a damp strand of hair from her forehead and smoothed it back. "The rain was later than usual today. Waiting on us. We seem to attract it." He gazed at her, feeling the powerful attraction between them, a charge so magnetic it was difficult to resist. "This is the second time we've had to seek refuge in a downpour."
Third time's the charm. Alex felt herself sinking, swirling, drowning in the safe haven of Nick's dark eyes. "The monsoon season is strange. You can never rely on the weather, although it's supposed to rain every afternoon. . . . What's wrong? What are you staring at?"
"Do you mind if I fix your mascara? It's smeared on your cheeks."
She laughed, grateful for something to do, and dug into her purse for a tissue. "Be my guest. I suppose I should use waterproof mascara, especially if I continue to run around in the rain."
"Do you? Plan to continue running around in the rain?" Carefully, Nick wiped at the corners of her eyes, then let the backs of his fingers caress each cheekbone and trail down one cheek. He continued to stroke her silky, soft skin. He'd like to stroke her all over like that, he mused. "There, now. I've needed to do that since we . . . since the other rain."
"Needed?" Alex murmured, somewhat staggered at the surge of warmth she felt when he was so near, his arm brushing her shoulder, his fingertips driving her crazy.
"Uh, wanted. Yes, wanted to touch you."
"Is this part of the service to clients too?" Suddenly she was dry-mouthed and hot.
"Only to you, Alex. I told you before, I've never known a woman like you, not one who takes my breath away. You're very beautiful, you know, Alex. . . ." He whispered her name again, the way he did that day in Teresa's room. "Especially in the rain."
Suddenly she wanted the solace of his cool, reassuring kiss again, wanted desperately to believe him. Then she remembered Lia, perched so alluringly on his desk, and she knew he was lying. "Did you get it all off? The mascara?"
He surveyed her eyes, touching her cheeks lightly in a mock examination. "Clean. And smooth. Very smooth."
"Would you like to order now, senor?" The waiter stood beside their table.
"They make a very good mole. Care to try it?" Nick asked.
Alex shook her head. "I don't think I could choke down a bite."
"Another margarita, then?"
"Dos margaritas mas, "Nick answered for both of them, dismissing the waiter then turning to Alex. He had to be honest with her, to warn her of the risks little Jenni faced and their chances of getting her back. "Alex—" He stopped abruptly. Her eyes revealed the confidence she held in his ability to find the lost child, and he couldn't destroy that trust. Not now. She put too much faith in him, he thought. It wasn't a good sign. Not good at all.
As they sipped the fresh margaritas, Alex figured it was a good time to find out something about this man. "How long have you been here, Nick?"
“A year.”
"Only a year? What brought you here?"
"My business went down the tubes."
She nibbled on a tortilla chip. "That's a strange reason. Not everyone flees to Mexico when their business in the States fails." Why did she use the word flee? She puzzled. It sounded like something a criminal would do.
He shrugged. "A friend of a friend offered me something here."
"So you just left everything and moved to Hermosillo, Mexico?"
"Yep."
"From where? Where was your business?"
"Nevada."
"Vegas?"
"Yep."
"And what was your business?"
"The same thing. Helicopter tours."
"Tours? What did you do? Fly people over the desert? What's to see out there but cactus and sand?"
"Mostly we'd fly over the Grand Canyon. But that was the trouble—not enough business."
Several hours and a heaping plate of chicken mole with corn tortillas later, they decided to leave El Jardin. Alex felt as though she were floating through paths of flowers, buoyed by the sweet fragrance of a thousand gardenias. The tequila had a tranquilizing effect on her and the mole was spicy and flavorful. It was all very nice, indeed.
Nick's hand nudged her back and she leaned willfully against it, enjoying the full pleasure of his nearness. They had shared childhood stories and laughed over high school embarrassments. They talked of ambitions that brought them both here in Mexico, searching for happiness but finding anguish and disappointment.
Alex soberly considered that Nick might be involved in more serious trouble than she ever imagined; like gambling, or the Mafia in Vegas. It would be easy to get in trouble with the law in Vegas. Or, worse yet, the underworld. And the perfect solution could be to escape to Mexico for a few years until things quieted down. Oh, who had she gotten herself mixed up with? Who was this El Capitan?
Knowing all this, she didn’t understand why she was so drawn to him. Why did she want to linger near him, clinging to his hand as they stood at her door in the darkness. The rain left the air smelling fresh and her attraction to Nick was stronger than ever. She could hear his heavy sigh and felt the power of his maleness, his rugged dominance over everything he touched, including her. "Would you like to come in, Nick? I could fix us some coffee. . . ." She needed coffee to clear her head.
Nick hesitated before answering. If he went in her house, he would stay. He would spend the night in Alex's bed and in her arms. There'd be no stopping him. He knew it as surely as he knew his name. His response came in definitive spurts. "I'm supposed to meet Jose on business. I left everything. . ."
"Could we . . . could we meet tomorrow and discuss the investigation? I want to know what the witnesses had to say."
"No, I have a tour to the pyramids. It'll take all day."
Alex thought of the voluptuous Lia and wondered if the tour included her. Or some other woman. "Then what about tomorrow night when you get back? I could fix you a bite to eat."
"Not tomorrow night either. I'll be out of town."
"Oh." Her heart fell. Obviously he had other plans, quite likely with a woman. She couldn't expect him not to.
"Business. Overnight."
"It's okay, Nick. What you're doing isn't any of my concern. Just don't forget about finding Jenni."
"I won't forget her, or you. She's foremost on my mind. It's just that I have these other things to do that are very important, too. Look, Alex, don't ask questions. Please Alex, don't press me about things I can't tell you."
Alex inhaled sharply. She was pressing. And he was resisting. "Sure, I have no right." She pressed two fingers to his lips. "Nick? Nick, are we going to find her?"
"I won't lie to you, Alex. I won't make promises I can't keep."
She could feel the emotional frustration swelling within her, threatening to explode. "Tell me yes! Please, tell me a lie!"
"The truth is—"
/>
"Damn the truth, Nick!"
"Alex, take it easy!" He gripped her shoulders forcefully. "One promise, Alex. I'll stick with you. I'll be here beside you, no matter what happens."
Her hands rested naturally on his chest and she drew a deep breath. This was what she wanted. To touch him, to absorb his strength, to lean on him. She swayed toward him, relying on Nick to keep her upright. "Thank you, Nick." Slowly, quite logically, her hands climbed up his chest. "I'm glad you're here. I need someone calm, someone strong. I trust you'll find her if anyone can. . . ." She moved closer and placed a gentle kiss of appreciation on his lips.
"Alex ... oh, God, Alex don’t ..." Nick breathed her name raggedly before he abandoned all resistance and covered her lips savagely with his. He hauled her against him and molded her entire length to his body. His strong arms slid around her back, engulfing her in his power, barely giving her space to gasp for air. He wanted her, wanted to make love to her until she forgot her fears and her fruitless search for this baby. He wanted to hear her cry his name as they made love.
Alex gave herself up to him, unable to avoid the passion that surged through her at his touch. She allowed the kiss to deepen and drank eagerly of his intoxicating lips. Mindlessly, she swirled in the splendor of his arms.
Nick held her tightly, crushing her breasts to his chest, pressing his hard thighs against her unsteady legs. His lips forced hers open and his tongue dipped into the savory crevasse of her mouth. She moaned softly and met his strength with a teasing probe of her own.
Alex was filled with desire for this man who whipped her into a frenzy with only one look, only one kiss. If he wanted to, she would take him inside, to her bedroom. If he resisted, she would persuade him with every female wile she knew.
With an audible gasp, she caught herself. What was she thinking? All those margaritas must have worn down her inhibitions. Here she was, ready and willing to fall into bed with a man who she barely knew, who might possibly be a criminal!
Alex forced tiny space between their lips. "No, Nick—"
"Alex ..." His voice was ragged and low. "Let's go inside."
Rogue Diamond Page 7