Finding it impossible to get away, she tried elbowing him with her left arm, but couldn’t. His hand settled under her armpit, coddling her left breast. He hoisted her into the air, threw her face down on the bed, bringing her right arm up her back, and straddled her. She tried to roll out from under him, but his grip tightened and his hard muscular thighs squeezed around her. At one hundred twenty five pounds and five feet six inches, she couldn’t beat him off. To emphasize his strength, he squeezed her body with his thighs again.
She seethed, trying to get her breathing under control, to could calculate what to do next. For emphasis, she tried to buck him off and squirmed violently.
“Knock it off!”
“Get off me.” With all her might, she tried one more time throw him off.
“Jesus Christ, will you stop!”
“I will when you get off me.” She spat out each word.
His weight lifted up, and before she knew it, he flipped her up and around, throwing her down on the bed rendering her useless with the air knocked out of her. Yanking her body forward, he pushed her legs down over the bed and held them in place with his foot. To emphasize, he applied pressure. There was no mistake in his message, and she got it loud and clear.
“You want to tell me who the hell you are and what you’re doing here?”
“I was going to ask you the same question.”
He kept pressure on her body, but reached over and turned on the bedside lamp. She winced at the light, but still pushed herself up onto her elbows to get a good look at him.
“Well, if it isn’t Princess Sassy Face.” He dropped his foot and took a step back into the shadows.
Only one person had ever called her that, and he was now standing buck naked in front of her.
“Wyatt Earp.”
Chapter Ten
"Don’t move an inch.” He reached down and grabbed the towel off the floor. “I’m placing you under house arrest.” Jack Wyatt wrapped the towel around his hips.
“What the hell! You can’t do that.” She sat up and glared at him.
“Oh, yes I can. I can do anything I want. I’m a sworn officer of the federal government, and I’m putting you into protective custody.”
“What? Whose?”
“Mine. There’s a lot of nasty people looking for you.” He could tell she didn’t take him seriously by the sneer on her face. “After they get through with you, no plastic surgeon would be able to repair your face.” He waited a few seconds to let his message sink in. He held out his hand and pulled her off the bed. “Get some clothes on.” He followed her down the hall to the front room and eyeballed her. He didn’t remember her being so skinny, but she always had a nice butt and still did.
He flipped on the light. Only a duffel bag and a purse lay next to the old sofa, but then his eye caught something else. Jack picked up the bottle, and examined the label and contents. He cringed.
“Was this full?”
“Hardly.” Cassie held up a T-shirt and shorts. “Do you mind?”
He did mind. He didn’t trust her. “It’s not the first time I’ve seen you,” Jack said, turning his head slightly so she wouldn’t see him grinning, “half-naked.”
“Well guess what, buddy, I’ve now seen you buck naked.” She slipped on her clothes. “Besides, I was fourteen, not forty-two like you, so get over it.”
He laughed, grabbed her sleeping bag and her hand, and pulled her along. “Touché.”
“Where are we going?”
“To the bedroom.” She gasped, and he smirked. “Don’t worry I’m not going to jump your bones. I need to keep an eye on you and if it means sleeping together…”
“Right, Wyatt Earp. In your dreams.” Cassie yanked the sleeping bag out of his hand and stomped off.
He laughed. Not much had changed from her teenage years. He followed her into the bedroom and quickly pulled on his jeans and a rugby shirt.
Cassie looked at the bed. “So, what side of the bed do you want?”
“I take closest to the door, you are by the window.”
He waited until she’d crawled into the bag before checking the front room. Everything seemed in order, so he picked up her duffel, turned off the light, but then stopped and listened.
Jack was the I.C.E. guy in L.A., she was sure of it now. Had he not had his sunglasses on, she would have seen his signature steel blue eyes. Jack Wyatt, her brother’s college roommate but worse—her first and only teenage crush that lasted forever. She cringed, thinking of the antics she’d pulled trying to get his attention. Had he recognized her in Maria’s uniform?
“Wyatt?” She listened for his answer but only heard silence. Pissed, Cassie flung off the bag and stormed down the dark hall. “Jesus H. Christ, Jack, if you’re coming to bed, then come to bed, damn it.” Cassie stood in the kitchen and stared at the open door leading out onto the deck. “Jack?” A shiver of panic raced through her. That door didn’t open on its own. Okay, stay calm Cass. “Jack, where are you?” She listened but only heard the echo of waves hitting the shore.
A breeze came through the door, chilling her even more. She quickly closed it and peered outside. The dark night revealed nothing. Cassie rifled through her duffel for clothes to wear, pulled on her hoodie, and then peered through the glass door one more time. What caused him to go outside? On the deck, Cassie crouched down and peeked over the rail. Her eyes had adjusted to the darkness, and she saw nothing amiss, but still her heart raced. Staying low to the ground, she sprinted across the lawn to a large tree on the edge of the property and hugged it. Something said to stay silent and listen. She stared out over the dark water, listening, but only heard the waves.
A body pinned her to the tree, knocking the wind out of her. She opened her mouth to scream, but she couldn’t breathe.
“Cassie, it’s me. Shhh.”
Her legs wobbled, but he held her tight while he now hugged the tree and her. It seemed like forever until her heart beat normal.
“Good God, Jack, what are you doing out here?” She felt his breath on the side of her face. He leaned down to answer, but she cut him off. “You scared me to death.”
“Sorry. There’s a boat out there.” Jack tapped her shoulder and pointed to the left.
Cassie started to move away from the tree to look further, but Jack held her waist and tipped her out. After a few moments, she shrugged and shook her head. He pulled her back in.
“It’s camouflaged.” He still hadn’t answered her question of what he was doing out here, but she felt his tension. “I need you to go get my shoes for me. Please.”
Cassie started to giggle, and Jack covered her mouth. Even though she couldn’t see his feet, she guessed he wiggled his toes.
“They’re freezing.”
She wanted to add that so were her legs.
“Stay low to the ground and keep the lights off until you get to the kitchen. My shoes are in the bedroom, along with my jacket and a black knit hat. Bring all of it.”
Crouched, Cassie ran across the lawn, up the deck stairs, into the house, and then to the back bedroom. Earlier, she hadn’t even noticed his things sitting there. She scooped up his shoes and grabbed his jacket with his knit hat stuffed in the pocket. Before heading back out, she stopped in the mudroom and searched for a something to wear. Large dark-colored hoodies hung from a hook, so she grabbed one. She yanked off her sleep shorts and pulled on her jeans. Next, she adjusted the hoodie over her own and pulled the strings tight around her head, covering her hair. Whatever Jack was involved in, she wasn’t going to be left alone to find out.
Just like before, Cassie sprinted across the lawn to the large tree. No Jack. His disappearance act was driving her nuts, but this time she was ready. Her eyes adjusted to the cloud covered night to distinguish a shadow moving toward her. Cassie made room for
him when he joined her. He looked her over while he put on his things.
“You’re not coming with me.”
“Oh, yes, I am.”
He muttered something under his breath, then pulled the stocking cap down low. Time had not erased Jack Wyatt’s bossiness.
“Then do exactly what I tell you. Now, take my hand.” Jack guided her to the large driftwood log that separated the beach from the grass and pulled her down to a dug out area. He cupped his hand over her ear and spoke into it. “Do you see the Zodiac on the beach?”
She wasn’t sure what a Zodiac was, but she saw a darkened form on the neighbor’s beach.
“I need to get a closer look at it. I want you to watch the deck. Look for little red lights, motion sensors, people coming out—all of it. Okay let’s go.” Before Cassie could chicken out, Jack grabbed her hand and sprinted to the next large log and into another crevice. “You stay here.”
Cassie had no argument there. Jack rolled over the log and onto his stomach where she lost sight of him.
It had been so long since she’d been home to Hartz Island, she couldn’t remember who owned the neighboring properties, but obviously something wasn’t right. Mimicking Jack, Cassie lay on her stomach, crawled to the end of the log, and poked her head around. She had a clear vision of the deck and yard. She wasn’t sure what Jack needed, but she watched. At first, she didn’t see them, but then a flicker so quick she almost missed it appeared in the distance. Tiny red lights positioned on the eaves of the house and deck. Other than the waves, she heard nothing. So intent on watching the house, she never saw Jack until he joined her on the sand, sending her heart in overdrive.
“See anything?”
“Only little red lights.”
“Anyone on the deck?”
“No.”
Just when she wanted to ask how much longer they would be there, a creaking, scraping sound filled the air, and then low voices. Jack pointed to his ear. Listen—so she did. Closing her eyes, she concentrated on all the sounds. At first, it sounded like murmurs, but then she could detect actual words. How many people? Three, she decided. When she opened her eyes to tell Jack, he’d gone. With him next to her, it felt more like a game, but now she felt the familiar feeling of fear settling in her stomach. Damn it, where was he?
Cassie listened to the rhythm of the waves hitting the shore. She synchronized her movement, pushing back behind the log and tightly up against it. Her mind started imagining all sorts of things, none of them good. She kept telling herself not to worry. After all, Jack Wyatt was a descendent of Wyatt Earp, law man of the West. Trying to keep her mind off the worst-case scenario, she concentrated on what he’d asked her to do. The voices were clearer but still muffled, more so because of her position, but she didn’t dare move. At one point, she thought she heard scraping sounds of a boat being pushed across the sand and then a motor.
At this point, she’d give anything to be back in the sleeping bag, warm and definitely not damp. From what she could tell, the tide was coming in, and Cassie was certain she was in its path. Trying to figure out what to do, she felt a body drop down next to her. She opened her eyes to see Jack’s face next to hers. Relieved, she sighed.
“Where have you been? I was beginning to worry about you.” She scrunched her nose at the dank smell.
“I covered myself with seaweed and got right up by that parked Zodiac. We need to get out of here before the tide nails us.” Jack peered over the log and watched the house. “Okay, let’s go.”
He grabbed Cassie’s hand and pulled her up. Together, they sprinted back to the log in front of the Ryan’s property. Satisfied they were in the clear, he and Cassie dashed to the large tree, then up to the deck and into the house.
“Don’t turn on any lights yet,” Jack said. He pulled the drapes shut in the front, and then flipped on the kitchen sink light.
Cassie stood in the middle of the room. Relief flooded through her, but her heart still raced. Finally, her body settled down. Cassie eyed Jack; he did the same to her.
“You stink,” she said.
Jack laughed. “I was going to say the same thing about you.” He kicked off his shoes, removed his coat, and carried both items to the mudroom and hung them up. Cassie watched with interest as he stripped off his shirt, but then he stopped when he saw her watching him.
“I’m cold, tired, and wet. I’m taking a very long hot shower.” She gave him a look when she passed him on her way to the bathroom.
“Save me some hot water,” he called.
“I’ll try.”
It was comforting to know she hadn’t changed much, thought Jack. At least he knew what he was dealing with. While he waited for Cassie to finish showering, Jack used the time to key in notes to his iPad. Before he finished, the shower had stopped. Surprised, he glanced up. A few minutes later, Cassie exited the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her hair and body.
“It’s all yours, Jack. I set fresh towels out for you.” Twice in one evening she’d surprised him, once when she’d admitted to being worried about him and now.
He finished his notes, and then texted Mike Ryan in Japan, “Found her. On island @ house. Safe.” Shit, he might need to rethink the safe part with Armstrong near. Jack checked the doors, turned off all the lights, stripped down in the mudroom to his jockeys, and headed to the shower. He allowed the luxury of the hot water to warm him and ease his aching body. Not since his SEAL days had he crawled across the sand, dug a hole, and camouflaged himself. With the towel wrapped around his waist, Jack exited the bathroom and quietly entered the bedroom. He paused and listened to her rhythmic breathing—sound asleep. Her sleeping bag was zipped up to her neck. Was she worried he’d pounce her? Well, he was a guy, but she was a major pain in the ass.
Chapter Eleven
He woke from a dream and knew he had a hard on. Cassie’s arm was across his chest and her head, with her massive amounts of hair, nestled in his arm. It was all way too comfortable. Here they were, mature adults, sleeping on the same bed, and he knew she was in no condition to be fucked with, generally speaking.
Jack gently moved her arm off his chest and tucked it back in the sleeping bag. He was with Mike Ryan’s kid sister. Somewhere from twelve to sixteen, when he and Mike had graduated from the University of Washington, she’d developed a nice set of tits and a cute ass. On top of that a personality well deserving of her nickname that he’d dubbed her, Princess Sassy Face. She had been extremely annoying growing up. This wasn’t the first time he’d rescued her butt.
Jack had graduated out of Officer Candidate School and was at Coronado for SEAL training when his commanding officer came and got him. “It seems,” his CO said, “you have a family emergency that needs to be dealt with.” Jack’s training kept him calm on the outside, but his mind imagined the worse, until his CO started laughing. “A Mrs. Marie Ryan has called, claiming you have a family emergency. But in speaking with Mrs. Ryan, I discovered you are not related, but she thinks of you like a son. It seems her daughter, Cassandra, and three other girlfriends have driven to Hollywood to be movie stars. She wants you to fetch them. Apparently, these young ladies were supposed to register for their freshman classes. Instead, they drove straight to Los Angeles. So, Lieutenant, I decided to dispense you and three other Marines of your choice for your first civilian mission. Your job is to escort these ladies to the airport and watch them get on the jet. Evidently, Mr. Ryan and her son Mike are on a fishing trip in Alaska and can’t be reached.”
“May I refuse this mission, sir?”
“I don’t think so. Mrs. Ryan did indicate she only trusted you. Remember, you are an officer and a gentleman, and this will be a challenge.”
He and his fellow Marines found them sitting by a pool in their bikinis, totally clueless that they were camped out at a major hooker hotel in a sleazy part of Hollywood. She
wasn’t listening to reason until he pointed out that her mother threatened to take away her new sports car she received for graduation if she didn’t get her butt back to school and register. After that, it didn’t take much intimidation to move them along, but Jack still had to listen to Cassie’s bitching.
In some ways, he wished he was twenty-four escorting that eighteen year old. The lines were clear. Shit. He was operating in the gray area with her, and he didn’t like it. There was something about the all-grown-up Cassie that made him nervous. May I refuse this mission, sir? I don’t think so, Marine.
Her stomach growled. Cassie tried to roll over to ease the pang but found her movement constrained, so she shifted to her side. She forced her eyes open to a light filled room and lay there listening, trying to get her bearings. Her stomach growled again, this time with more force. When had she last eaten, and where was she? Then she remembered. Without even looking, she knew the other side of the bed was empty; it had that feel. The comforting sounds of someone in the kitchen reached her ears. All she could think was: just ten more minutes, please.
More than anything, Cassie wanted to fall back to sleep, but her mind raced with questions concerning Jack Wyatt. Why was he here at her house? When was the last time she’d seen him? Mike’s wedding? Her parent’s funeral? She hadn’t been in any condition to remember anything that day. He was still handsome but now with a ruggedness that suited him. With age he’d put on weight, and it looked nice. His honey blond hair was now sandy brown, still short. His signature steel blue eyes were just as blue.
She’d been twelve when her brother brought home his college roommate. She never forgot the first time Cupid hit her heart. All she’d ever been to him was his friend’s pain-in-the-ass little sister. Mortified anyone would ever find out about her massive crush, Cassie had worked overtime for the title. So what now?
Deep Into The Night (Hartz Island Series) Page 7