High Ground

by Madelon Smid

  “I hope you’re coming down to dinner. Jake and I want some time with you.”

  “I have nothing to wear.” Cat glommed onto the easiest excuse.

  “I guessed as much from the things in your backpack. I have some dresses for you to choose from.” Siree lifted her arm. Fabulous lengths of fabric shifted and glinted under the overhead light. “And don’t bother protesting they won’t fit. I phoned my favorite store in Toronto and had their manager pick them out. They’re your size.” She waved the shopping bag. “Shoes and undies.”

  “I can’t face Josh,” Cat murmured.

  “I never took you for a coward.” Siree dropped the dresses on the bed and stood over Cat, her hands on either side of her slender hips, with her huge baby bulge aimed right at her. “You’re the strongest, bravest woman I know, not the type to hide. No one blames you for what happened. You’ve put your life on the line again and again to save Josh. That’s all we see.”

  “I’m handing in my resignation in the morning.”

  Siree looked shocked. “You can’t. Josh needs you. We’re counting on you. He’s counting on you.”

  “They’ve eliminated a lot of the possible threats and now have clear direction in which to look. There’s no reason for the lover subterfuge anymore. My cover was breached when I took him to my island. RG will assign him a good man. Josh should be out of danger soon.”

  “He doesn’t have a clue you’re going to leave him, does he?” Siree accused.

  Cat stood up, facing her indignant friend. “I’m not leaving Josh. I’m resigning from a job, retiring from security.”

  Siree measured her determination and turned a mental 180 degrees. “All the more reason you should dress up and join us. We’ll act as buffers when you tell Josh. He’ll see you’re happy with your choice and accept a new security guard.”

  Cat mulled over Siree’s suggestions. “You’re like a crow on a corncob,” she accused. “You peck away until there’s nothing left.” She threw her hands up in a gesture of surrender. “Let me see those dresses.”

  “You’ll knock his eyes out,” Siree said with glee. “As soon as he’s free of this death threat, he’ll come looking for you.”

  Cat couldn’t explain she didn’t want Josh looking for her, or back in her life. Waiting in the cave, Josh bleeding and possibly dead any minute, had reinforced every painful lesson she’d learned. Love meant endless suffering. Finding out how much of a role she’d played in the attack had pushed her over the edge. Pain shredded her heart. She reeled under its onslaught wrapping her arms over her stomach. With Siree watching, she held back a cry and the tears threatening the banks of her control.

  She’d survived the car crash in which her parents died and her grandmother’s agonizing battle with cancer. She’d survived Afghanistan and the horrific death of her friends. She’d lost one of her principals. She remembered the agony of his wife and child when they’d heard. She wouldn’t survive Josh’s death if it was caused by her carelessness.

  Each day she’d guarded him, the knowledge had pressed on her harder, until now she felt crushed beneath the weight. She’d failed him. Josh needed a bodyguard who could remain objective. A woman obsessed with her response to him was a handicap of immense proportions. Leaving him was the best way she could keep him safe. She could barely hold off the emotions battering her on every side.

  “You’ll come down then?”

  Siree’s voice drew her back. Cat nodded.

  With a thumbs-up, Siree slipped out the door.

  Cat gasped with relief, biting down hard on her inner cheek. Grief circled, waiting to pull her under. She would not give in.

  Tonight she’d see Josh for the last time. Pride demanded she leave him with the impression of a strong woman, gorgeous and independent. She lifted the dresses, settling on one immediately. She held the dress high, seeing the perfect camouflage behind which she could hide her weak and trembling heart.

  Chapter Nine

  When she walked into the dining room an hour later, all eyes turned in her direction. There were several additions to the company. Josh stood and pulled out the empty chair between his and Jake’s. Cat glided over and stepped in front of Josh. As she sat, she heard a low growl emanate from his throat. He pushed in the chair so slowly she almost lost her balance.

  Once seated, she looked around the table. “I apologize for being late,” she addressed Siree and Jake.

  “No problem,” Jake replied for them. “Sam, do you remember Catarina Duplessis.”

  “Sure. We danced at your wedding. I never forget a beautiful woman, but throw in a superb dancer and it goes in the vault.”

  “Hi, Sam.” Cat smiled across at him. “I remember you, too. Mountains and motorcycles, houseboats and birthday parties.”

  “That’s me. Always a good time.”

  “Well, I always have fun with you.” Siree grinned. “Remember when I brought my suitcase to your houseboat and you thought I planned an overnighter. You just about went into cardiac arrest.”

  “The code,” Sam choked out.

  Siree’s laughter prodded smiles from the group. “You still break into a sweat, when the subject comes up.”

  “And it better stay that way.” Jake frowned from his end of the table. “I count on my friends to keep the code.”

  Sam’s hands rose above his head. “I didn’t touch her. But she sure scared the poop out of me.”

  “After riding behind Sam on his big bike, he probably thought she preferred him,” Cat teased in turn. “I remember travelling to Seattle with her. She was in a real hurry, desperate for time with Sam, and made me stay outside while she visited him.”

  “I’m not buying.” Jake’s eyes blazed with confidence as he sought out his wife’s. “After that bike ride with Sam, she definitely preferred me.”

  Siree met his eyes, her own bright with love. “I certainly did.” A blush climbed her cheekbones.

  Cat flinched. Did she look like that when she focused on Josh?

  “Speaking of climbing…” Sam cleared his throat, “…is Mt. McKenzie still a go?”

  “Jake’s still going,” Siree answered Sam. “I insist this little darling will only keep one of us off the mountains this year.” She patted her tummy, leaning back as the housekeeper placed a bowl of soup in front of her. “Hilda, this looks delicious. How did you know I was craving your famous squash with roasted peppers soup?”

  The housekeeper shook her head. “I can pretty much cook anything now and you’ll be craving it. The young master in there is going to be a real gourmand.”

  Jake’s laugh rolled down the table.

  Siree puffed out bottom lip and squinted at him. “Any more cracks about the pregnant lady and your soup bowl will become your hat,” she warned.

  “Josh, you’re still going on the climb, aren’t you?” Sam asked.

  “Yes.” The words he didn’t say—“If I’m alive”—filled a span of silence. “Cat allowed me a little time on the wall, and the self-defense she taught me has kept me in shape,” he said, getting their minds off his possible death.

  “Wrestling with a beautiful woman. Now there’s a hardship I could get behind.” Sam spooned soup into his mouth with relish, yelped, and directed an aggrieved look at Siree. “Why didn’t you tell me the soup was boiling?”

  “We’re trying to teach you to think before you leap.” Jake answered for her, his voice dry. “One of these days your impetuous nature will kick you in the butt.”

  “Slap you up the side of your head,” Siree added.

  “Knock you on your backside,” RG warned.

  “All right, I get the message.” Sam drank from his water glass.

  “Cause you to leap for something you can’t catch.” Josh’s quiet words silenced the group. His serious warning contrasted with the teasing.

  “So, the climb is on,” Sam came back at them. “Because after lengthy consideration, considerable training, and the efficient clearing of my calendar, I too will be
able to go.”

  “Here, here.” Siree raised her glass. “To our intrepid mountain men making the summit.”

  “To the summit.” Glasses clinked as they reached across the table, toasting each other.

  Cat leaned forward to tap glasses with RG and Sam, and felt Josh’s fingers whisper down the bare skin of her back. She’d picked the dress on purpose, for he’d often commented on the perfection of her skin and the beauty of her back. Pale gold, the dress flowed to her ankles in silken folds, held up by a halter neckline. It cupped her breasts lovingly on either side of a plunging décolleté; the back ended at her waist, where a wide cummerbund fastened with jeweled buttons. The dress did not allow her to wear a bra, so a great deal of her flesh was on show.

  She leaned back, trapping his hand at her waist. Turning her head, she gave him a wicked smile and absorbed his soft groan with pleasure. Josh spread his hand, his fingers creeping under the edge of the fabric covering her breasts. She gasped, leaned forward. He withdrew his hand. His devilish smile warned two could play the game.

  The conversation flowed around her. The men discussed the climb. They talked dates, travel arrangements, training schedules, weather. They all but pulled maps out on the dining room table.

  When Hilda removed the soup bowls and served up a standing rib roast with Yorkshire pudding, RG expressed his approval.

  “Where’s Finchley,” Cat asked Jake. “I’ve hardly ever seen you without her hovering nearby.

  “I left her in Toronto.” Jake gave her a smug look.

  “Finchley gets so wound up when she sees me and thinks about Jake’s baby, she can’t focus on her work,” Siree explained.

  RG’s lips tilted minutely at the corners. His eyes softened from granite to sandstone. “The woman is baby nuts.” He turned his attention back to his roast. The rest of them sat, forks elevated at varying degrees between their plate and their mouths, as the shock of RG smiling hit them like a stun gun.

  Hilda served sticky pudding for dessert, apologizing for tacking such a rich finish onto an already filling meal.

  “Blame it on me.” Siree stifled a yawn. “Our little gourmand here wanted sticky pudding tonight.”

  The men dug into the steamed pudding with brandy sauce. Cat toyed with her helping. Josh left most of his in his dish. Sam reached across, snagged it, and finished it off.

  “Calories for climbing.” He wiped his mouth with his napkin and patted his flat belly.

  “Josh tells me you’re an excellent researcher.” He addressed Cat. “My company can always use good computer researchers.”

  “Sam turned his software ability for designing treasure hunting games into the real thing and works for police departments around the world. He finds lost items and people.” Jake sounded like a proud father, rather than best friend.

  “What kind of things?” Cat asked, her interest piqued.

  “I’m tracking a stolen Monet for a client in France right now. One of my staff is researching a Spanish ship that went down off the east coast of Florida in the 1500s. And sadly, the police in San Diego have me searching for a seven-year-old boy, abducted out of his home weeks ago.” The light conversation turned serious.

  “Oh, Sam. That poor little boy.” Siree laid her hand over his. “Poor you, having that on your mind.”

  “If we remember Sam’s company has an eighty-eight percent success rate for finding what he seeks, we can believe he’ll find him.” Josh’s calm voice steadied Siree, chased the worry from her face.

  “It’s really worthwhile work. You’re making a difference, putting good energy back into the world,” Cat told him. “And you can do your work without a gun in your hand and rocket launchers blowing your home to pieces.” A wistful expression crossed her face.

  RG looked at her intently, as did Sam.

  “Sounds like some of Josh’s philosophy brushed off on you,” Sam replied. “As I said, I’m always in need of good researchers. If you ever quit working for RG here, and who wouldn’t want to…” He elbow-butted RG. “…give me a call. I’ll hire you on the spot, just from Josh’s recommendation alone.”

  Cat turned to RG. “Why didn’t you hire Sam to find Maddox?”

  “I considered Sam’s input in the beginning, but decided against the idea.” Josh answered for him, but didn’t elaborate further. Cat guessed he didn’t want Sam involved in an already dangerous situation.

  “Since then, I’ve been investigating myself. I’d already eliminated most of the theories we started with. I believe we can scratch agencies hiding secrets from me, rogue operatives, and someone attempting to stop me from testifying at the Senate hearing or trial. My input wouldn’t change the outcome. When I backtracked on Maddox, then read the emails on the computer the FBI seized, I switched my focus, searching for someone who wanted into the security so they could plant content rather than remove damaging evidence. With me dead, they could manipulate software and create false evidence for any number of scenarios.”

  “They could topple the administration.” Jake nodded. “A plausible theory. And as you say, we’ve eliminated most of the others.”

  Cat’s skin tightened over her bones at the thought of Josh’s brilliant mind extinguished forever. With damning evidence inserted into his software, he could be tried and hung for treason.

  Jake rose from the table. “Sorry to cut our evening short, but Siree needs her bed. She tires easily these days.” He rounded the table, pulled back his wife’s chair, and scooped her into his arms.

  Cat took in the picture. Jake, stunning, completely masculine cradling his golden-haired wife. Rather than struggle, demand he put her down, Siree, one of the most independent women Cat knew, snuggled closer. Wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing his cheek.

  “Good night all.” She stifled another yawn. “See you in the morning.”

  The picture scanned itself onto Cat’s retinas, stored itself in her brain. It felt like unyielding hands strangled her heart squeezing out the last drop of blood. She could never have that, never give herself fully into Josh’s keeping. On that path lay pain for them both. But she could give him pleasure. He’d never hidden his desire. She could share hers with him before she left.

  The men rose when Jake did. With a quick goodnight, RG and Sam headed for Jake’s study and the maps of Mount McKenzie.

  “Shall we?” Josh pulled back her chair so she could move away from the table.

  “It’s been a long day.” She stepped around the chair.

  “Gun shots at dawn, explosions, and bullet wounds. We’ve travelled from the Florida Keys to Jake’s estate. Add in doctors and dinner, and I think you could say we packed a lot in.”

  She noted he’d left out the discovery of the listening device. “And we didn’t get any sleep the night before,” Cat murmured, letting her Creole accent warm her voice.

  His eyes widened, searched her face. “A memorable night indeed.”

  She smiled. “A night worth repeating.” She tucked her hand in his arm.

  “Let me escort you to your room.” He led her out of the dining room and up the grand staircase.

  “Your back has been driving me crazy all night. I think you did it on purpose.” He narrowed his eyes, studying her reaction.

  She shrugged, a temptress aware of her power. “You like my dress?”

  He rested his hand against her bare back. “Cat, you can weaken me with a look.” Following her into her room, he closed the door with quiet deliberation. The lock snicked into place. “You know I want you, love you.”

  She drew back, her heartbeat that of an animal in a trap.

  “Love isn’t a weapon I would ever use against you.” His words calmed her. “Besides I’m wounded, what could I do?” He waggled his brows and shrugged to allay her fears.

  “Right. You’re too weak to punish me?” She relaxed against the door.

  “But not too weak to pleasure you.” He flipped her so her breasts felt the cool, smoothness of the dark wood. Clasping both
of her hands, he raised them inch by inch until they stretched above her head.

  “Leave them there,” he husked. His lips whispered down the side of her elongated neck, stretched by the pull on her arms as he held them overhead. Teeth scraped down the tight cord from jawline to shoulder. She shivered, twisted her head, hungering for his mouth.

  “No, my dear. You’re going to wait like you made me wait.” His lips traced down the center of her naked back. “You have the most elegant, beautiful back I’ve ever seen. Even covered, it traps my attention. Bare, it wreaks havoc with my control.” His lips skimmed back up, pressed kisses to her shoulder blades, sucked softly at her skin. “You taste like sweet cream and peaches. I could nibble on you all day.”

  Her knees sagged. Only his hand, clasped around her two wrists, kept her on her feet. He pressed her fingers around the top of the door sill. “Hold on,” he growled. “I’m not done with you yet.”

  She felt the clasp at the nape of her neck loosen, and the silk of her dress whispered down her breasts, then lower, catching at her waist. His hands caressed her bared flesh. He paused, kissing along the top of her shoulders, nipping at her neck. She moaned, needing the feel of his calloused palms against her nipples. “Josh, don’t tease.”

  “Don’t talk to me about teasing,” he growled. His hands closed over her breasts. She moaned and sagged into his arms. “Not yet. I still have plans for you.”

  His pelvis pressed her bottom, holding her in place, while his fingers worked open the jewelled buttons and invisible zipper at her waist. Gold satin slid down her legs, pooling on the floor. His body followed, his lips whispered along the line of her thong, hip to hip. He slipped his fingers under the elastic, eased the silky strip down the length of her legs. His lips followed down the back of her thigh. He sucked the delicate skin behind her knee.”

  “Josh, I can’t…can’t hold on.” Her fingers turned white on the narrow ledge.

  “Just a few more seconds,” he crooned. Sliding his hand around her ankle, he slid off one shoe, the other, stroked across the bottom of her foot. Her toes curled. Inch by inch, he removed the silk stockings clinging to her thighs with stretchy lace.