“You’d be surprised. It’s just a matter of finding the right game at the right time. The game market is incredible,” Bobby said enthusiastically.
“I guess I’m surprised you’d invest in a company that hadn’t had a hit game in five years,” Sam said.
He smiled. “I didn’t invest in Whiz Kidz. I invested in Lucas O’Brien. The top games are being designed by guys with about seven years of experience. That’s what it takes to know if you have a game that’s going to work. Lucas was at that point. Plus, he had something he was working on that interested me.”
“Really?” she said. “This game he was working on was separate from his partnership with Whiz Kidz?” She wondered if Buzz knew this.
Bobby nodded. “He wanted to do something different, something on his own.”
“He told you about the game?”
“Not a lot—just that he thought he had something. That was good enough for me. I usually go on my gut feelings with these things.” He glanced around the tennis court. “So far, it’s paid off.”
She was sure now that neither Eric nor Bebe had called to warn Bobby about her. Probably didn’t want to admit that they’d been the ones who’d told her about him.
“How did you find out about Lucas and his game, to invest in the project?” she asked.
Bobby looked surprised.
“I mean,” she continued, “it sounds like Lucas was pretty hush-hush about the game.”
He nodded and seemed to be searching for the answer. “I don’t remember. Probably a mutual friend.”
That didn’t seem likely, and they both knew it.
“You didn’t happen to lose a credit card recently, did you?” she asked.
He looked startled. “As a matter of fact, one of mine was stolen—”
She pulled the card from her purse and handed it to him. “I just happened to find it on the ground.” A whopper of a lie, but no telling where Zack—or Ralph—had picked it up.
“Thanks for returning it,” Bobby said, and laid it on the table between them. “But I’d already called it in and canceled it.”
If he was lying, he was better than she was.
She wasn’t sure how to give him the news. But his arrogance made it a little easier. “I just spoke with the police. Lucas O’Brien was found murdered. He’d been floating in the Sound since Friday when his office was broken into.”
Bobby blanched. “He’s dead?”
She nodded and waited for him to ask about the game. He didn’t.
“Lucas didn’t happen to send you a piece of the game he was working on, did he?” she asked.
“No, why?” He looked to Will.
“It’s missing,” Will said.
Bobby didn’t say anything, but he didn’t look quite as tanned as before. She and Will got to their feet. Bobby Walker seemed relieved they were leaving. Maybe he really was only upset over Lucas’s death and not worried about his investment. Or maybe he had a piece of the game and planned to get the others.
“I hope you didn’t invest too much,” she said conversationally.
Bobby smiled and shook his head as he picked up his racket. “Not all investments pay off. You have to just take the bad with the good.”
“I guess so,” she said, and she and Will left.
Behind them, inside the bubble, the bouncing balls stopped and there was loud cursing, followed by what sounded like a tennis racket shattering on a hard surface.
It wasn’t until Will was driving away that Sam remembered where she’d heard the name Bebe before. Bradley Guess, aka Buzz Zingler, had been talking to someone on the phone he called Bebe.
Chapter Thirteen
It was growing dark by the time he and Samantha caught the ferry to Vashon Island. A cold wet wind whipped the top of the water, sending spray into the air like driving rain. Will was glad they’d stayed in the pickup. The Sound seemed dark and treacherous.
Samantha looked exhausted from lack of sleep, he noticed.
When her cell phone rang, he started, suddenly struck with an irrational fear. “Don’t answer it.”
She jerked her head up in surprise. “It might be Charley.” She snapped on the phone and put it to her ear, her gaze never leaving his face, as if she didn’t know what to make of him.
He watched her eyes widen, then fill with tears. “I know” was all she said before she clicked off again.
He closed his eyes, not wanting to hear.
“It was Charley. Cassie got a court order. She’s taken custody of Zack.”
“This quickly? How is that possible?” Will demanded.
“Her father is rather influential in the state of Washington, it seems,” Sam said.
“I’m so sorry.” Sorrier than she could ever know. He felt sick inside. And mad.
“Oh, Will,” she moaned, her eyes fresh with tears. “Charley says there is nothing we can do without proof that Cassie was involved in Al’s death. And even that will take time.”
He leaned toward her, desperately wanting to take her in his arms and kiss away the hurt. He searched for words to reassure her. They were still missing two copies of Lucas’s damn game. But they had a hell of a lot of suspects. “She can’t do anything without all of the game pieces,” he said. “She still needs you to find the rest of them. And eventually, she will need the one Mercedes gave you.”
Samantha swallowed and sleeved away the tears shimmering on her lashes. “You’re right. Cassie wants the game. That’s why she’s taken Zack. She’ll take good care of him.”
Until she gets what she wants.
He brushed back a strand of hair from her face. She was so beautiful, her eyes glowing with tears and determination. Damn but he wanted to make love to her—as if that would make everything better.
His gaze moved over her face, lighting on her mouth, her luscious mouth, the memory of their kisses still fresh in his mind.
She shifted on the seat, her lips a whisper away from his. He could feel her breath, hear her sudden rapid breathing, see the pulse in her temple throbbing. Her eyes widened and darkened.
Someone moved past the pickup. She jerked back. “Sorry,” she whispered.
Not half as sorry as he was. He took a breath and let it out slowly. “Yeah,” he said, and cracked his window a little. It felt too hot in the pickup, her nearness unnerving, his body on overload. He’d hoped in the days he’d spent with her that the attraction would lessen. It hadn’t. If anything, he wanted her more with each passing hour. His body ached with a need he knew only she could satisfy. He wanted her in his arms. To feel the warmth of her body pressed against his. To touch his lips to the throbbing pulse at her temple. To cup her cheek in his hand. To kiss her and taste her and ultimately make love to her, slowly and gently—
“Will?”
He fought off the image of Samantha naked in his arms and sat up straighter. “Yeah?”
“It sounds like we’re almost there,” she said. “I’ll be right back. I just need a little fresh air.”
He wanted to warn her to be careful, but she was already out of the pickup and gone. As if he had to warn her.
He sat for a moment, cursing to himself. How had he let himself get into such an impossible situation? If Sam were anything but a private investigator— He got out of the pickup and went after her.
SHE STUMBLED up to the deck, needing the air and the cold and darkness to hide her tears, to sort out her thoughts. She’d almost kissed him. Again. Only this time would have been different. This time there would have been no holding back. Her heart raced with the thought of being in his arms.
You know it would only be temporary.
I know. But I don’t care. I want him. I need him.
I thought you weren’t going to let yourself need any man after Lucas?
The ferry slowed. Ahead, the lights of the island glittered like jewels along the shoreline. She worked her way to the back where the deck was empty. Standing at the railing, she looked out across the water. Mist rolled
up out of the darkness and a breeze whipped the inky surface of the water. Will. Her mind wrapped about his name the way she wanted to wrap her arms around him; her body ached for him with a desire like none she had ever known.
Even for Lucas. Not like this.
She’d become accustomed to the sound of Will’s voice, to his smile, to the way he took off his glasses and cleaned them when he was thinking. Just the mere brush of his fingers against her skin—
She shivered and hugged herself against the cold night and the thought of never knowing Will’s touch the way she wanted to.
I’ve fallen in love with him!
Dumb move.
No kidding.
She was destined to lose both Will and Zack. What had she been thinking, letting either of them get so close? Worse, she’d found herself daydreaming about giving Zack the home he so desperately needed, and she’d seen Will in that perfect little family photo. What had she been thinking? To even let herself dream that dream again—
She saw something move, and thought it had to be Will. He’d come up on deck after her. Her heart leapt. But only for an instant. Instead of Will’s handsome face, she caught a glimpse of blond hair sticking out of a dark hood. The next moment she felt hands grab her and push hard.
She slammed into the railing, losing her balance and her footing on the wet deck. She felt the hands again. Strong hands. Grabbing her purse. Forcing her overboard!
WILL MADE HIS WAY UP to the deck, the night air wet and cold against his face. They were almost to shore. Where was she? He’d gone from feeling foolish and angry with himself to feeling anxious about Sam. He’d come along on this ride to watch over her. Now he’d let her take off into the night, alone and hurt. And he’d been the one to hurt her.
But he couldn’t give her what she wanted. And they both knew it. He couldn’t be married to a private investigator. He couldn’t live each day knowing she might be jeopardizing her life. Worse, he couldn’t have the family he desperately wanted. Now more than ever. Zack and Samantha had shown him how much he wanted children and a wife. Not a P.I.
But tell that to his heart. To his aching body that right now only wanted to hold Samantha against him and breathe in the scent of her. Right now, he’d have promised her anything, just to feel her safe in his arms.
He had started toward the back of the ferry and was working his way along the railing when he saw her—and the cloaked figure trying to push her overboard!
He called out and ran down the deck. But he could see that Samantha had been taken by surprise. She was off balance, slipping on the wet deck, the figure overpowering her.
“No!” he cried.
But it was too late. Samantha went over the rail and dropped out of sight.
The hooded figure had heard him, and, without turning, raced up the other side of the deck, disappearing behind the passenger cabin.
He heard Sam’s cry as she fell, then the splash as she hit the water. He reached the edge of the deck, shrugging out of his jacket as he climbed the railing and dove into the dark water after her.
LATER SHE WOULDN’T REMEMBER anything but the cold and darkness. And the shock. Falling through the black. Then the icy water. Hitting hard, going under and under. The fear.
At first she’d thought she’d only dreamed Will’s arms dragging her to the surface. Powerful arms. His body the only warmth. His reassuring words as he pulled her with him to safety.
It wasn’t until much later, wrapped in a blanket, sitting in the front of the pickup, that she understood what had happened. She’d been pushed overboard. Her purse with Mercedes’s game piece had been stolen. Cassie had stolen the CD and pushed her.
That’s when the shaking had started, her body convulsing from it, and not even Will’s strong arms could stop the trembling.
“You saved my life,” she said, her teeth chattering as he lifted her into his arms. “Again.”
“Don’t think about it,” he whispered back.
Where was he taking her? Not to Charley’s. Too far, he’d said. A motel cottage on the beach.
“She tried to kill me.” Sam hadn’t seen her face. Just a glimpse of the blond hair. “Cassie tried to kill me.”
Will carried her into the cottage and kicked the door closed behind them, Sam still wrapped in the blanket he’d gotten from someone on the ferry. He didn’t turn on the lights, didn’t stop at the bed—just carried her straight to the shower and turned it on.
She was crying now, burying her face against his neck, aware of his wet clothing, aware that he’d jumped into the water after her. This incredible man whom she’d once thought was predictable. “Will,” she whispered, and pressed her body as close as the blanket and their clothing would allow. “Will.”
He leaned her against the shower wall as he stripped off her wet clothing. Then, still clothed, he stepped into the warm spray with her. She leaned against him, her mouth seeking his, his kisses wet and warm and openmouthed.
“Will,” she whispered against his mouth. “Will.”
He must have heard the plea in her voice, felt the insistence of her kisses, of her naked body against his. “Sam, I don’t think—”
She covered his mouth with her own, swallowing his words. “Don’t think,” she whispered, turning her face up to his, the spray catching in her lashes, the water making her slick and pink and delectable. “Not now.”
HE COULD FEEL the heat coming back into her body, and the strength returning. She leaned up to take his mouth again, her kiss demanding. He held her to him, afraid to let her go, still shocked by what had happened. What could have happened if he hadn’t gotten to her when he did.
But she was safe. Safe. He closed his eyes and ran his hands over her slick, smooth curves. Don’t do this. You can’t give her what she wants. What she needs.
But he could no more let go of her than he could imagine waking up tomorrow and not seeing her, not hearing her voice, not smelling her intoxicating scent.
“Will.”
He opened his eyes.
She gazed up at him, the darkness gone from the blue-green, her body no longer trembling from the cold or fear, but from desire. It flashed in her eyes like sunlight on a tropical sea.
“Make love to me,” she whispered.
He swore softly, all the fight gone out of him. He knew it was wrong; he knew they’d both regret it in the morning. Especially Sam. But he covered her mouth with his, deepening the kiss, needing her as much as she thought she needed him.
She stripped off his wet clothing, kissing the cool flesh beneath, leaving behind a hot, sensuous trail with her lips until he was as naked as she was.
They clung to each other, their bodies slippery and wet and warm from the water and desire. Steam rose in the shower, cloaking them in a surreal mist that made his head swim and his body weak with the need to be inside her.
He turned off the water just before it grew cold, and swung her up into his arms. In two strides, he carried her to the bed. For a moment, he looked down at her, his eyes trailing over her naked skin slowly, lovingly. His gaze met hers, and a current sparked between them as hot and bright as flames.
“God, you’re beautiful,” he whispered.
Samantha felt herself flush, the heat racing through her veins, making her throb with a need for him. She reached up and touched his cheek, cupping it in her hand. Slowly she pulled him down.
He covered one hard, ripe nipple with his mouth, gently sucking it to an aching point. She groaned with pleasure, arching her body to the warm wetness of his wonderful mouth. He drew the other nipple in and taunted it to a hard peak with his tongue, sending a hot wave to her center.
She ran her hands over his muscled chest, across the hard contours of his back and shoulders, her fingers memorizing every inch with her touch. She knew she couldn’t have Will Sheridan. Not the way she wanted him—forever. But she could have him tonight. And that was enough.
He explored her body, finding every erotic spot as if with a sixth sense
. She surrendered to him, giving herself in a way she never had before. And never would again.
His touch made her implode deep inside with shudders that sent goose bumps racing across her bare skin. Then he took her in his arms and kissed her crazy before he slowly, tenderly, filled her, fulfilled her.
She rocked with their rhythm, like a boat in the waves, their lovemaking a music that drifted on the night breeze as waves lapped at the shore. She cried out his name again and again, until finally he filled her with heat and contentment and collapsed in her arms. She held him to her, feeling the weight of him, the wonderful weight of him.
Then he lay next to her, holding her as if he thought she might break. If she thought about tomorrow, she knew she might.
Instead, she didn’t think. Not about Will. Not about Zack. She only felt, losing herself in the heat of this incredible man, as the night slipped away like a thief.
Chapter Fourteen
Samantha wasn’t sure at first what had awakened her. She dragged herself up from an exhausted, contented sleep to find that she was curled in Will’s strong arms, warm and secure. She smiled, warmed by the memory of their lovemaking, and closed her eyes as she snuggled against him.
But her thoughts wouldn’t let her fall back to sleep. She opened her eyes, not sure at first what it was that was bothering her.
It was the case.
She eased out of Will’s arms, pulled on her dry clothing and padded across the floor into the adjoining room, not wanting to disturb him. Moonlight streamed through the window. She moved to it, trying to fit the pieces together, something bothering her, something she couldn’t put her finger on.
Outside the window, waves beat the shore, the moonlight silver on the water.
Five pieces of a game. Cassie had one, Eric, Bradley “Buzz” Guess and Mercedes had all received one of the CDs in the mail. Now Cassie had hers and Mercedes’s. How did Cassie intend to get the others?
Mystery Bride Page 16