A cop who couldn’t keep his mind on his assignment usually ended up dead. And because of that inattention, his assignment would end up just as dead.
There was only one problem. He could never consider Jenna an assignment.
Chapter 6
“One of the restaurants offers terrace dining if you’d rather eat outdoors,” Riley suggested as they walked toward the main building. “Or we can eat inside if that would make you feel more comfortable. One of the indoor restaurants has an aquarium along one wall, while the terrace restaurant is surrounded by a koi pond.”
“I’m so hungry I feel as if I could eat a seven-course meal in the middle of a war zone.”
When they entered the restaurant, Jenna learned Riley had understated its charm. The dining area was limited to ten tables, which were surrounded by a pond. Diners reached their table by crossing a small bridge where they could also pause to enjoy the colorful fish. Beyond the pond was the breathtaking view of the bay and sandy beach. The setting sun laid brilliant oranges and reds onto the blue water.
“This place is incredible,” she said under her breath as they were escorted to their table.
“Sasha wanted his guests to feel as if they were in a home away from home,” Riley replied once they were seated.
“He did a wonderful job, then.”
“Ah, the lovely Jennifer.” Sasha stopped by their table. A small boy wearing dark shorts and a red T-shirt stood next to him. “I am glad to see you didn’t stay out too long in the sun. Many visitors forget how unforgivable the sun can be to those not used to it.”
“I never enjoyed looking like broiled lobster. The suffering never seemed worth it.” She smiled at Sasha then at the boy who offered a shy smile in return. “Is this your grandson?”
He nodded. “This is little Sasha.” He placed his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “His mother and father have sent him and his nanny down here to stay with me while they enjoy a second honeymoon.”
“They’re on a big boat,” the little boy piped up.
Sasha chuckled. “They are taking a cruise in the Caribbean. Luckily, little Sasha preferred to come here with me than insist on going with his parents.”
“Well, Sasha, I’d say you have a wonderful grandfather to want you to come down here and keep him company,” Jenna told the boy.
He grinned. “I like it here because Grandpa lets me go swimming every day even if I don’t eat my peas.”
“The boy is spoiled,” Sasha confided with a wry smile. “But he has eyes like his grandmother’s, so I have no choice but to give in to him.” He nodded at Jenna then Riley. “I will leave you to your dinner. I hope you will enjoy all we have to offer here.” He walked off with the boy holding on to his hand.
Riley didn’t miss the hunger in Jenna’s eyes as she watched the little boy.
Some things never changed, he told himself as he studied her profile.
Except Jenna’s life had changed so drastically that she hadn’t been able to fulfill her dream of having a child, and maybe she never would.
When she turned back to him, she had fixed her smile to be as open as if she didn’t have a care in the world.
Except Riley knew better.
“Do you want to start with an appetizer?” he asked, pretending to study the menu. “The sampler plate sounds interesting and would give us a little of everything.”
Jenna turned her attention back to the menu. She agreed with his suggestion and decided on the seafood buffet while Riley selected a steak.
“How can you choose steak when they have all this wonderful seafood available?” Jenna was incredulous after the waiter left them.
He shrugged. “What can I say? I hate fish.”
Deciding to treat this time as a vacation, Jenna ordered a planter’s punch. She wasn’t surprised that Riley asked for beer. Although he did ask for an imported label.
“So what have you been doing in Kansas City?” Riley asked, after Jenna returned to the table with her plate filled with seafood delicacies.
She applied herself to her meal. “I’m sure my file told you everything you need to know.”
“Maybe it did, but I didn’t read it. I figured anything I needed to know, I’d hear from you.”
“I’ve worked as a secretary to a grammar school principal for the past two years.” She explained. “I took courses in computer and office skills to give me a start in my new life. I guess that kind of work wouldn’t be considered exciting, but it paid the bills. And it kept me busy. I also took two night courses a semester. So far, some of my new skills involve Thai cooking, creating full meals using a Crock-Pot, calligraphy and then two ballet classes and a yoga class. I’ve also participated in some of the 5K runs the city has sponsored.”
“What about a social life?”
She could feel his keen gaze practically dissecting her, but she didn’t allow him to disconcert her.
“I don’t think that part of my life is any of your business.”
“Which means no,” he stated.
“Which means you gave up the rights to ask me personal questions three years ago.” She speared a piece of crab with her fork and brought it to her lips. She offered him a cool smile. “Just as I have no rights to question you about your personal life in regards to the past couple years.”
She hoped her expression didn’t reveal she was kicking herself for even bringing it up.
Her hopes were fruitless. Riley’s reckless grin told her that.
But then he’d always known what was going on inside her head. She remembered times when she felt he knew her better than she did. Especially during intimate moments.
She concentrated on her food.
“You work during the day, night school two nights a week. What about the other five nights? The weekends you weren’t running a 5K?” he persisted. “What did you do during all that free time?”
“I have already told you more than you need to know,” she said frostily. “So why don’t you be a good little caveman and eat your dinner?”
Riley merely chuckled, not the least bit deterred by her haughty tone, and settled back to eat his meal.
All through dinner he played the part of the adoring new husband. He was so perfect Jenna could easily have forgotten this was a ruse.
Jenna could find no fault with him as the perfect dinner companion. Even if she did want to hit him over the head with her plate.
She couldn’t miss the presence of carefully masked desire in the air coming from the other diners. She looked around and saw couples eating, but she felt as if some of them had merely come up for air before returning to the privacy of their bungalows. A few were less discreet, and she wondered why they just didn’t use room service.
“Amazing,” she commented, picking up her glass of wine and taking a sip.
“What is?” he asked.
“Why bother having such lovely restaurants when it’s obvious everyone here would prefer being alone,” she commented.
Riley cocked an eyebrow. “Everyone, huh? Does that mean you want me to ask the waiter to have our meal sent to the bungalow?”
There was no mistaking the wicked gleam in his eye.
She smiled at him as if he were a charming little boy who’d said something precocious. But inwardly she couldn’t help thinking about how the past few days had changed her way of seeing life: the trauma of her attack had left her feeling vulnerable at first; after a few days she’d started experiencing anger over her situation; she was now at the point where she realized that no matter how much protection she might have, she still needed to find the inner strength to take care of herself.
She knew the day would come when the man who attacked her would be caught. When that happened, she would be considered no longer in danger. She would be relocated to another city and state. Riley’s assignment would be over, and he would return to the home he’d made for himself.
After the past three years she didn’t dare hope she could find a way to convince him
to stay with her. After all, she’d been the one who’d left him so abruptly the last time. What she had come to realize was that she didn’t want to be alone any longer.
She told herself not to linger in self-pity any longer. No matter what it took she had to shore up her defenses. And she told herself she had to forget what it had been like when she and Riley had been together. She must not think about what he felt like under her fingertips. The way his skin smelled so warm and musky as her tongue outlined the ripcord muscles when they made love. The way...
She quickly snatched herself back to the present before her feelings were written on her face.
“Look at the size of some of those fish,” Riley muttered, looking over at the pond. “Do you think they eat meat? I’ve heard there’s some fish that will eat hamburger.”
She forced herself to turn her head to look at the pond. “I don’t see Jaws in there, so I guess it wouldn’t hurt for you to dive in and find out.”
Riley shot her his I-know-what-you’re-trying-to-do-and-it-won’t-work look.
Jenna smiled blandly. She pushed her plate to one side and stood up. “I’m going back for seconds.”
“If they have any more of those little rolls, would you bring me a couple?” he asked.
She nodded and walked toward the bridge.
Jenna chose her food and placed several of the warm yeasty rolls for Riley on her plate. She was adding a few slices of melon to her plate when a man picked up a plate and stood next to her as he perused the buffet table.
“If your friend does not treat you right, please call Carlo. I am in bungalow twelve,” he murmured as he walked past her.
Jenna didn’t dare look after him. But she couldn’t stop grinning as she returned to her chair.
“What did Mr. Miles of Smiles want?” Riley asked, as Jenna sat down.
She passed over a couple rolls to him then broke one of hers open, buttering it lightly.
“His name is Carlo and he’s in bungalow twelve. He’s hoping I’ll stop by. Obviously, not everyone is here on a honeymoon.” She used her fork to slice off a bite of melon. “He’s a bit intense for my taste, but I told him I could just lock you in the closet and stop by for a drink.”
“And here I thought I was your main squeeze.” He finished cutting his steak into bite-size pieces.
“Naw, I thought I’d find out if all the stories are true about Italian men,” she said lightly.
“Hey, I could have told you the truth without you having to put yourself out. They’re all lousy lovers.”
“As if I’d believe you.” She arched an eyebrow. “You were also the one who told me that the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is really gold-foil-covered chocolate coins.” The moment she said it, she wished she could take back the words. The mention of rainbows only brought back memories best stored away.
“You thought it was a good idea,” he defended himself.
Jenna thought of the night she’d come home from work feeling so tired she only wanted to sleep. Instead, Riley had surprised her with a seduction and a rainbow sun catcher. She had cried when she had to leave it behind.
To this day she wondered what had happened to the sun catcher after she left. Arrangements had been made to sell the loft. But it was the loss of the sun catcher she mourned.
To keep up appearances, she speared a shrimp with her fork. For the life of her, she couldn’t bring the succulent morsel to her lips. For the moment her appetite was gone. She finally managed to eat a few bites.
“Want to stop by the lanai bar for a while?” Riley asked her later after he’d signed the check. “We could sit there and listen to music. Maybe sip those rum drinks with colorful little paper umbrellas in the glasses.”
“Sure, why not?” She pushed back her chair and stood up.
Riley’s hand rested possessively against her lower back as they left the dining area. Jenna made sure not to make eye contact with Carlo as she walked past his table. She didn’t want to give the man any ideas.
“Why does a resort in Mexico give the pretense of being an exclusive resort you could find on any of the Pacific Islands?” she asked as Riley seated her at a table. “The wildlife fits in. Just not the decor.” She nodded toward a large cage near the bar that housed two Greenwing macaws that chattered away much to the amusement of the guests. A small monkey sat perched on the bartender’s shoulder where he also chattered away.
“Sasha just wants it to be paradise.” Riley sat sprawled in his chair, one leg cocked with his ankle resting on his opposite knee. “Mexico’s always been known as a poor country. Some areas are so poor that they can’t even hide it from the tourists. Here you can feel as if you’re in another world.”
“Another world,” she laughed softly. “I’ve been in another world for the past three years. Not a poor one except in life, itself.” She picked up the pink paper umbrella that had come with her drink and twirled it between her fingers. “I have to say this one is much nicer.”
“Because of the beach?”
She nodded, not surprised he easily picked up on what would attract her the most. She knew just looking at the water had her recalling all the times she and Riley ran on the beach in the early morning hours and sometimes in the early evening. She always felt free when she ran on the hard-packed sand. She even felt she got some of her best ideas then.
She looked down at her injured hand that lay heavily in her lap. So far she had forced herself to ignore the cast. She made a face at the wild designs decorating it.
“I think Sassy got a little too enthusiastic with her artwork,” she commented.
“She does have her moments,” Riley agreed with a lazy smile. “They have a doctor here. I bet he could even replace the cast for you.”
“You think so?” She showed her skepticism.
“Sure. I’m sure there’s been a guest or two who’s broken a bone.” He gestured to the waitress, and after a brief conversation with her she returned with a cordless phone.
Jenna listened to him make his request. After he disconnected the call, he told her the doctor would be willing to see her in a half hour.
“I don’t believe this.” she laughed.
“I told you. This place delivers service with a smile.” He lifted his drink in a toast.
Which is what Jenna discovered when she and Riley later headed for what was termed the infirmary, but looked more like the luxurious interior of a doctor’s office in New York or Beverly Hills.
Dr. Minton was a tall, reed-slender man, who spoke with an upper-crust British accent
He led them into an examination room that looked state-of-the-art with medical equipment. With the assistance of a nurse, he easily removed the cast. He suggested that they first X-ray Jenna’s hand to see how it was. After pronouncing that the healing process was proceeding well, he informed her she wouldn’t need a cast. He used a special bandage that would do the same thing without it being as cumbersome as a cast.
“This way you won’t have to fear getting the bandages wet,” he assured her as he wrapped her hand with a firm, sure touch. “You can also come in anytime when you require a new bandage. If you experience any discomfort I can prescribe some painkillers for you.”
She shook her head. “To be honest, I haven’t had all that much pain. Just some discomfort that extrastrength aspirin has taken care of without much trouble.”
He nodded. “Well, if you do feel you require anything stronger, please feel free to call down here and I can give you something stronger.”
“A resort in Mexico with a South Pacific theme and a bonafide British doctor who looks and sounds like James Bond,” she told Riley after they’d left the infirmary. “Are you sure this isn’t some kind of hideout for spies?”
“Not that I’ve heard of, but it would make for a good movie, wouldn’t it?” He gently picked up her arm and inspected the pink bandage wrapped around her wrist and still-splinted fingers. “A very nice job. I wouldn’t be surprised if you only needed minima
l physical therapy.”
Jenna spun around and began walking backward so she could face him. She occasionally looked over her shoulder to make sure there was nothing to trip over.
“Yes, Doctor, but will I play the violin again?” she asked in a mock-haughty tone. The full skirt of her dress billowed up around her thighs as the ocean breeze picked up.
Riley reached forward and grabbed her around the waist, lifting her off her feet so she wouldn’t step on a lizard lazing on a warm stone in the walkway.
“Old joke, Smitty,” he murmured, his breath warm against her lips as he still held her against him. “But I wouldn’t worry. You’ll do whatever you want to. I know you will.”
The light in her eyes dimmed for a moment at the solemn note in his voice. She should have known she couldn’t fool him. Her fingers were still bruised and slightly swollen. She couldn’t miss the way they looked crooked. The doctor assured her they weren’t crooked, but she had trouble believing him. All she knew was if they remained crooked, she couldn’t hold a brush. And if she couldn’t hold a brush, she would never have the chance to paint again.
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep, Riley.”
Chapter 7
No matter what Jenna tried, she couldn’t sleep.
The doctor’s handling of her injured hand had been gentle and careful, but after a busy day she was experiencing just enough discomfort that sleep was beyond her. Not to mention she couldn’t find a comfortable spot to sleep. She’d swallowed a couple of aspirin before she’d gone to bed in hopes they would help.
An hour later, she wondered if the aspirin had lost its effectiveness. She rolled over and nestled her cheek against her pillow, staring at the door leading to the parlor. She had partially closed it before she went to bed. It was open just enough that she could see a light streaming in. If she turned her head a little more, she could catch a glimpse of Riley seated in a chair. A book lay in his lap, and his head was tilted back against the chair.
Because it was so quiet, she could hear the soft sounds of his snores floating in the air. She smiled as the rough snorts reached her ears. While most people found snoring annoying, she’d always found his snoring comforting.
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