Beth stared at him in surprise. “You think Eduardo is in on the piracy? I don’t understand.”
“Among Mr. Shea’s investments are a number of boatyards on the South American coast,” Keith told her. “We know that whoever is stealing luxury vessels has to be making them over somewhere. The police have investigated all the local facilities, and everyone comes up clean. It would also make more sense to get the boats far away from this country, where all of them have been registered.”
“Now I’m really confused,” Beth murmured. “I don’t understand why Sandy and Brad would risk being at the club.”
“I think that Eduardo was talking to them on the phone the other day,” Maria put in.
Beth stared at Maria.
“Eduardo was distressed. He was threatening someone. Then, he said that he’d see them at the club. I told Manny,” she explained. “Manny was very upset. He contacted Keith and said we must tell him.”
“But…that’s so…I mean, they must know that they’d be in danger of exposure at the club.”
Keith shook his head, offering her a rueful smile. “How? They don’t know the police will be there. They don’t know that Eduardo Shea’s finances have been investigated.”
“Still, it would be a ridiculous risk!”
“Hide in plain sight,” Ashley murmured, joining into the conversation at last.
“I’m sorry. I still don’t get this,” Beth said, eyes hard as she stared at Keith again. “What is your involvement? Because, according to what you’ve told me, you were never out at Calliope looking for the pirates.”
He sat back. “My involvement is personal. I happen to believe that, if they’re apprehended, Sandy and Brad can answer a lot of questions,” he said flatly.
“I still don’t understand why you need me—why you need to be out of sight,” Beth murmured.
He lowered his head for a moment, then looked up. “There are a few other dynamics I need to keep an eye on. I’m asking you—no, begging you—to trust me. And not to demand answers that I can’t give you yet. I had Manny set up the dive—and no, your brother doesn’t know that Manny arranged all this on purpose—because I hoped that if you met with Ashley and Manny and me, you would be able to have faith in me.”
“I wouldn’t go so far as to say that I have faith in you,” Beth told him. “But sure, be my guest. I still don’t understand. You can have access to all areas of the club and hide out in my office or wherever.” She stared at Ashley. “The more cops the merrier.” She felt as if her head was reeling, and she didn’t understand anything. “Commodore Berry knows the police will be at the club? And the board of directors are aware of what’s going on, as well?”
Keith nodded to her.
“Then you really didn’t need my permission for anything,” Beth said.
He stared at her. “Yes, I did.”
The tension seemed heavy. Manny and Maria remained silent. She didn’t know on exactly what level he meant his words, or if being with her had been part of his undercover work or also something personal.
She just wanted to get away.
“I think we should join the others now,” she said sharply. “The rest of the divers must be up.”
Keith stood. “I’m going. I’ll see you tomorrow, then.”
“Right,” she said stiffly.
He went topside with Manny. Ashley took his place at the table. “You’ve got to understand my position. Please, Beth,” she said. “Trust me.”
“I trust you,” Beth said, the implication that she didn’t care not to be trusted herself quite evident.
Ashley flushed.
“You really need some tea,” Maria said.
“I really need a drink,” Beth replied.
BETH WAS FINDING IT impossible to sleep. Usually, the night after a dive, she crashed immediately.
Not tonight. She was at Ashley and Jake’s place, the kids were sleeping. Ashley and Jake were sleeping. And she was tempted to join the crowd hanging out late at the restaurant.
There were sure to be cops among their number.
Then again, Brad and Sandy had apparently patronized Nick’s, as well. Still, when she went to the window and opened the drapes, she could see the docks. As late as it was, she could see several people sitting on one of the ice chests on the walk, talking, beers in hand. She craned her neck to look to her right, toward the restaurant. People were still filling the patio seats.
Restless, she dressed and stepped out, locking the door, pocketing the key Ashley had given her. She walked toward the patio and took a seat, then ordered a beer. That might help her sleep. God knew, she needed to sleep.
People at Nick’s were friendly. Several said hello. She was asked if she wanted to join in a game of darts but declined.
At last the crowd began to thin out. She rose, heading back to her friends’ house.
As she walked, she heard the sound of a chair scraping. She spun back, cursing at herself for being such a goose.
But the feeling remained with her that she was being followed. She quickened her steps, turned back and saw a form.
All she had to do was scream. People would come running. But as she looked at the shadow of the man who had just left the light of the patio area, he was joined by a young woman. She caught his hand, and, laughing, they headed down toward the dock together. She let out a sigh of relief and turned.
She froze. And saw another shadow. It wasn’t coming from the patio but from the parking lot. It shouldn’t have been there. She stared, trying to figure out whether she was imagining it, maybe seeing the shadow of a large hibiscus. Her breath caught as the shadow grew. She stayed calm. All she had to do was turn around and head back for the patio.
She did so, walking quickly, to her dismay discovering that everyone had left. The serving staff couldn’t all be gone, she told herself. Nick himself was in there somewhere.
She started to hurry after one of the waitresses, who was disappearing inside. The door closed as she reached it. She grabbed the handle and found it locked.
Panic was rising inside her. She lifted a hand to pound on the door.
Then she heard her name.
She turned.
Keith.
She gasped softly.
“What on earth are you doing, wandering around out here?” he demanded.
She couldn’t breathe for a moment. “I was having a beer,” she said finally. “What are you doing, wandering around out here?”
“I was going to have a beer—I guess they’ve closed,” he said. She stared at him. She still felt so distrustful.
And so hungry, even though she loathed herself for it.
“Beth,” he said.
She took a step backward. “I really don’t know you,” she said.
“Actually, you really do. And I know you.”
He lowered his head for a minute. The light caught the sun-bleached blond of his hair. He seemed very tall, a striking presence. She suddenly ached to be held, to feel as if she hadn’t somehow made a disaster of her world.
To feel as if something was real and solid…
He looked at her again. “Let me just walk you back to the door.”
She shrugged. “Tell me, Keith, what do you think you know about me?”
He looked at her, frowning. “I know I care,” he said simply. “And I know you are who I want to care about.”
He took her arms, turning her toward him. He appeared perplexed. “Please try to understand.”
“There are things I can understand, and things I can’t,” she said.
“And exactly what does that mean?”
She shook her head, turned and walked to the door, then unlocked it. The damn hibiscus still made her uneasy. Or was that really it? “There’s beer in the house,” she heard herself say.
“Are you inviting me in?”
“Apparently you have as much right to be here as I do,” she said, leaving the door open as she entered.
He stepped in behind
her. She stopped walking, knowing that his hands would fall on her shoulders, that he would sweep her hair aside, that she would feel his lips and his whisper against her neck.
He didn’t disappoint her.
But then he shocked her.
“I know that I’m falling in love with you,” he said.
The door closed behind them. She turned in his arms, then wound her own arms around him as his lips found hers. But as the fusion of their mouths grew heated, she forced herself to pull away slightly.
“The…guest…room,” she murmured. “They…have…”
“Kids. Guest room,” he agreed.
He swept her up. For the moment she forgot that she still didn’t know or trust everything about him. In the darkness, in the privacy that lay behind closed doors, she thought only of his naked flesh, the heated explorations of his tongue, the eroticism of his touch.
Miraculously, he had appeared, vital, like a fire, pulsing with life. She knew he would disappear by morning.
At the moment, all she longed for was the night.
HE STEPPED AWAY FROM the shadows at the side of the house and into the light, staring at the door. He had watched it close. Watched the two of them come together…
And it enraged him.
He’d been so close….
And what?
Dare he make a move tonight? No, no sense in it.
He stretched his fingers, knotted them back into fists. This was insane. Just too tempting. He’d had a beer at Nick’s. If anyone had seen him, so what?
Then, just when he had seen her really beginning to fear the shadows, to trust that niggling sensation at her nape, the one that sent chills down her spine and gave him such pleasure…
Keith Henson.
He swore softly.
Then he disappeared back into the shadows.
16
THE CLUB LOOKED EXQUISITE. The florists had arrived at the crack of dawn. The dining-room staff began at the same time, and soon after, electricians were out stringing the special lights. The theme was hot and tropical, and by afternoon, the place had been transformed.
Beth came at ten. She’d slept late, knowing she would wake alone. As she left the house, she glanced at the hibiscus bush.
She was tempted to ask Ashley to rip the damn thing out!
Nick’s was already buzzing. Cheerful waiters and waitresses called a good-morning to her as she hurried around to her car.
She felt silly for letting herself get so spooked the night before. And elated because she’d been with him. Because he’d said he was falling in love with her. Angry…
Because even though she’d been with him, so little had really been said.
She told herself to forget him for now and try again for a little bit of dignity and distance when she saw him again.
Beth spent the day in an uneasy fog. She ran around as she was supposed to, ensuring that the flowers were right, the tables set and the dais specially arranged for the commodore. Champagne was chilled; the correct wines arrived.
At three she went up to her office, ready to lock her door for a few minutes and collapse into her chair.
She started when she walked in and discovered that Keith was there. She stared at him accusingly.
“You didn’t lock it,” he told her.
“I don’t usually during the day, when I’m up and down. I can see now that I should have.”
He heard her tone and ignored it, speaking crisply, “You’ll need to lock it tonight, and I’ll need a key.”
At the moment he was in dock shorts and a T-shirt. There was a garment bag hanging off one of her shelves, next to her own.
“You’re here for good, then—I mean, from now till the party’s over?” she asked.
He nodded.
“I have one question for you,” she told him, trying to keep her distance.
“And what is that?”
“Why isn’t my brother in on what’s going on?”
“I’m working on a need-to-know basis here,” he said, his eyes level upon hers.
“I see. Maria needed to know all about you, but my brother shouldn’t?”
He sighed. “Beth, Maria knew from Manny.”
“So because they knew who you are, they’re in the clear?” she asked.
“No one is in the clear,” he said grimly. “Beth—”
She took a step back. “I don’t think today is really the time to get into a heavy conversation.”
“You’re right. Let it go. I’m not accusing your brother of anything. He just doesn’t need to have anything more dumped on him right now.”
She felt a twinge of irritation coming on. “That’s a crock. You think my brother can’t be trusted.”
“Beth, do we have to do this?” he demanded.
“You asked me if you could be here, remember?”
Something hard touched his eyes. “I’ll need a key.”
“Top drawer, on the left. It’s in a compact,” she told him.
“Interesting hiding place.”
“I never needed to be all that worried about hiding it before,” she told him.
She no longer wanted to collapse into her chair. She left the office. Downstairs, she decided to grab something to eat in the kitchen. The chef asked her to taste the blackbean soup, which was delicious. She was so nervous, though, that she could only manage a few spoonfuls.
When she returned to her office, Keith was gone.
She called Ashley, who assured her that the man watching Amber had called in. Her niece would be getting out of school soon, then heading home and getting ready to come to the club with her father. Beth decided to get dressed for the evening. She headed down to the women’s lockers with her clothing.
Extra staff had been hired for the evening, and caterers were working on the patio and dockside bars and chair arrangements. All the permanent staff and extra personnel were wearing tuxedos for the evening, the men and the women. She nodded with approval as Henry waved to her.
There was a large man helping Henry. He seemed a little awkward. He noticed her watching him and came over to her. “Officer Greg Masters, MissAnderson,” he said quietly. “I just wanted you to know we’re here. Blending in.”
“Thank you,” she murmured. Blending in? She wasn’t so sure, but he was there, and that was enough.
She crossed the side patio and entered the hallway that led to the women’s lockers.
No one was in the area. In the locker room alone, she felt chills along her spine. She went through the place, looking into every bathroom stall, every shower.
She was definitely alone, but she still had the eerie feeling that she was being watched. She showered and dressed quickly, then emerged, still with the uncomfortable feeling of being watched. She wondered why she was so nervous, knowing that the police had already arrived and Keith was there, as well.
What about Lee and Matt? she wondered. They had been invited by the Masons. Were they there already, too? And exactly where was Keith at that moment, and why had he been so determined that he needed to be there so early.
She made a few last-minute checks in the kitchen, the dining room and the bar. The band arrived to set up, and then Eduardo Shea appeared, dashing in an elegant black-and-white salsa costume with ruffled sleeves. She knew she had to behave naturally, and she managed to greet him with enthusiasm. All the while, though, it seemed that her blood ran cold.
“Has Maria arrived yet?” Eduardo asked her.
“No, not yet. But, please, come say hello to Commodore Berry and his wife, and I’ll show you where your table is. The band is set up, and everything will be exactly as you requested.” She smiled and took him by the arm.
Commodore Berry was standing outside, looking totally the part in his white suit and captain’s hat. He was gazing out at the docks with pleasure. He turned to Beth, smiling. “Look, there’s a group coming in from the Belle Haven club. Rumor says this is going to be the end-of-summer party to outdo all the others.” He lowe
red his head as if he was about to whisper to her, then noticed Eduardo. “Good evening, sir. Welcome.”
Beth fled. If Commodore Berry could carry off his part so well—knowing that police were watching his party for uninvited guests—surely she could carry it off, too.
Ashley and Jake arrived, and then Ben and Amber.
“You all right?” Ashley asked.
Beth stared at her friend. “I guess you saw Keith this morning.”
“Yes,” Ashley said, flushing. “But I wasn’t referring to Keith. I was talking about this evening. But, um, of course, Keith is welcome in my home anytime. But…as to tonight…?”
“As long as you stay right on Amber every minute,” Beth told her, “I’ll be absolutely fine.”
“I’ll be with her, I promise,” Ashley assured her. She looked at Beth anxiously. “You know…nothing may happen. No one will act if they don’t see anything out of the ordinary.”
Beth nodded. “I almost wish something would happen. Something…so that I can stop feeling as if I were on pins and needles all the time.”
“It will be all right,” Ashley said, and squeezed her arm. “Everything looks fabulous, by the way.”
“Thanks,” Beth said wryly. “There’s Maria. Lord!”
Maria was in a short sequined dress that hugged the perfection of her body. Her hair was swept back, and she wore a red rose tucked behind her ear. The dress sparkled with her every movement. Beth noted that the short skirt would swirl and glitter as she danced. Maria turned, saw Beth, and nodded gravely.
“People are beginning to arrive,” Ashley said.
“Time to play hostess.”
“Have you seen Keith?”
“Hours ago. I don’t know where he is now. Excuse me.”
For the next hour Beth was insanely busy, so much so that she nearly forgot that her sparkling contribution to the yachting club social season had become a charade. Despite the insanity, she found herself anxiously looking for Amber all the time. Her niece wasn’t alone. Ashley was with her, as she had promised. Apparently Kimberly’s parents had dropped her off to enjoy the event, as well. Both girls were stunning in their fancy outfits and heels.
She caught her brother watching her, as well. He still wore a look of accusation every time his eyes turned her way. They had been so close all their lives. She felt a pain in her heart because now he felt she had betrayed him. She longed to tell him she wasn’t at fault, but she couldn’t. Not yet.
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