“Autumn is twenty-two and Nicole, twenty. They are David’s from his first marriage, but we had them with us half the time. I don’t have children of my own so the girls were everything to me. Now I’m all alone. David walked out on the first of April. Four months ago.”
Jan wrote it down, as if it mattered. “How long were the two of you married before he left?”
“Thirteen and a half years.”
The scumbag, Jan wrote in her book. “So, these plants and things that you delivered to him were part of the marital assets, right?”
“Uh, yes. Of course.”
“And so, being fair, you wanted him to have his share of the personal belongings, right?” Say yes, she encouraged with a nod of the head.
“Yes, exactly.” Maddi gave an impish grin. “I went to a lot of trouble getting the property to him. All those tiny streets, and no parking.”
Jan grinned. “Mrs. Clemmons, you are absolutely right. You did go to a lot of trouble, and it was very generous of you in the light of things. I think Dr. Clemmons will have to agree.”
She clicked off her recorder. “Now, let’s hope the hand gun is not registered and we have something to negotiate with.”
While they waited for the call back, Jan broke down and ate a sandwich with the suspect. Over the tuna melt and diet Coke, she winked at Maddi.
“Now, promise me something. You can’t go around harassing your husband. You’ll leave him alone, right?”
“Certainly. I have no intention of going anywhere near him.”
Jan’s cell phone rang. “Okay, got it.” Grinning, she turned to Maddi. “Mrs. Clemmons, your husband never registered this gun. Would you dial his number, please, so I can speak with him about his weapon?”
A moment later she was connected to his dental practice and put on hold. When he picked up, Jan’s voice deepened with authority.
“Dr. Clemmons, this is Officer Turner. I’m at the home of your wife, and I’m afraid I have some distressing news. Next to the bedside is a .22 caliber handgun that your wife informs me belongs to you. It’s not registered, sir.” She gave Maddi a thumbs-up. “This could be a problem, but I’m willing to give you a couple of days, say until Monday, to take care of this little matter, if you reconsider and drop the charges against your wife.”
Jan paused, nodding at Maddi. “I thought you might see it that way. Very good, sir. You what? You want to speak to your wife? Yes, of course. One minute.”
She covered the receiver and whispered, “Charges dropped,” then handed her the phone.
Maddi listened to David’s ranting, holding the phone several inches from her ear. Jan heard her say, “What boat, David? I don’t have the foggiest notion what you are talking about. Of course I didn’t steal your boat. Don’t be silly. If I didn’t know you had one, how could I possibly steal it?”
She made a funny face at Jan. “David, the nice police officer is still here. Would you like to tell her what you told me? No, I didn’t think so. Good-bye, dear. Have a nice day.”
“You stole a boat?” Jan’s eyes narrowed.
“No, Officer Turner, I didn’t steal a boat. How could I do such a thing? Particularly since, until just a moment ago, he never told me he had one.” Her baby-blue eyes were big and round and innocent.
Jan eyed her, not saying a word. She tossed her head back and drained the can of Coke, then put it on the empty plate. “Don’t make me come calling again. Leave him be.”
She slid off the stool and headed for the door. She turned back long enough to say, “I mean it. You’ll only get yourself in trouble, and I won’t be able to help you.”
Maddi’s smile looked more like a smirk. “Don’t worry. The man has nothing but good times ahead.”
All the way back to the station that statement tugged at Jan. Somehow, she doubted it.
CHAPTER SIX
After a night like that, David thought, the day couldn’t get any worse. But it did. He’d had the root canal at nine, an implant at ten-thirty, and a crown, all before noon. In between his busy schedule, he had his receptionist checking on flights to the Caymans. It was imperative that he leave at once, before the trail got cold. He had the marina owner jumping through hoops, plus the coast guard looking, but no one seemed to know where the hell she’d taken the damn boat. A forty-two-foot Beneteau couldn’t just disappear, not even in the Bermuda triangle, he assured himself.
Shortly after noon, he poked his head into the waiting room, expecting to find it nearly empty. Instead, there was standing room only.
“Karen, what the hell are all those people doing out there?” He snapped, “We’ve only got another two appointments booked. You know I always leave early on Fridays.”
Behind him, Tami smacked her gum and whispered loud enough for him to hear. “Yeah, you promised you’d go to my first Lamaze class. You better go.”
He ignored her, knowing when the time came for him to go to the airport she’d carry on some, but he had a far more important agenda than attending a class full of big-bellied, pregnant women. Tami was only four months pregnant. She could damn well wait another month or two.
“Karen, find out if anyone has an emergency. I’ll see them if it’s an absolute necessity, otherwise I’d like you to cancel my appointments this afternoon. Tell them I’m sick or something.” He peeked at the roomful of people, some leaning against walls, others sitting on the floor. “The others, whoever they are, need to leave. See if you can schedule them in next week or next month.”
Shaking his head, he added, “They’re a sorry looking lot. I hope they have insurance, or they pay up front.”
Tami cocked her eyebrows as she peered over the glassed-in counter. “Good Lord. You’re right. They look like they haven’t had a bath in a week.” She wrinkled her tiny, upturned nose. “Probably smell like it too. Where did they come from? Not around here; this is a classy neighborhood.”
David agreed. “Karen, I’m sure they are not patients of mine. Who are they?”
“I don’t know, Doctor Clemmons,” his receptionist answered warily, “but I think it’s a little strange to say the least. They expect a free examination and cleaning. They insist the X-rays are free, too.”
“What the hell are you talking about? Nothing is free here. We’re not a damn welfare office.” Scowling, he shook his head. “Just take the ones with health insurance, or they pay up front. No exceptions. And make sure they sign all the forms, especially the one relating to known health risks.”
“Of course. But what should I say regarding the pamphlet they brought in? It clearly states they get one free X-ray, oral exam and cleaning.” She held up a pink flyer. “It’s there, in writing.”
“Give me that thing.” He grabbed the flyer and stared at it, his eyes narrowing, nostrils flaring.
NEW PATIENTS RECEIVE FREE ORAL EXAM AND X-RAY. THIS OFFER IS GOOD FOR THE MONTH OF JULY ONLY. HURRY IN NOW FOR THE BEST IN DENTAL CARE.
The flyer offered a map to his dental office and listed his home and cell phone numbers for emergency use.
“How did this get circulated? Who made this thing up?” Then he remembered that Maddi worked a couple of afternoons a week at a soup kitchen in Trenton. Trenton was a good half hour from the upscale Princeton, but about a million miles in demographics. She probably bussed them in.
He stormed across the office and yanked open the front door. Sure enough, a mini-van sat across the street, and in the driver’s seat sat Maddi. She smiled and waved, then pulled away from the curb.
He ran out to the street, waving frantically. “Maddi. Maddi! Stop the car.” He tried to throw himself in front of the moving van, but she was too quick and easily maneuvered around him.
His voice broke and he sank to the curb. “Where, oh where, is my damn boat?”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Maddi glanced in the rear-view mirror and what she saw gave her great delight. David running after her, sinking to his knees. Smiling happily, she waved and tooted her horn, then drove to a
prearranged spot to meet with Barbara and exchange cars.
As agreed, Barbara would drive back to David’s office and pick up the homeless. She’d drive them to another location where a dentist friend had offered to give them a free check-up and cleaning.
Once the car swap was made, Maddi returned home for her packed bag and dog. She dropped Napoleon at the Doggies Day Out, a retreat for dogs, and sped to the airport, with minimum time to spare.
She stood in line at the security checkpoint for fifteen minutes and just before she passed through, something, some instinct, made her turn around. David. In line, about thirty passengers behind her. She threw her carry-on bag on the moving ramp, and then hurriedly removed her shoes and coat, placing them in a basket. She shoved everything through the metal detector, avoiding the risk of being searched. Then she ran for the gate and hid out of sight until boarding time.
***
Maddi was hot and sticky even before she stepped out of the cab into the mid-day sun. She’d stripped as far as she could, but the T-shirt and jeans were too tight and clingy in this humidity. What she needed was a cold shower and an ice cold beer.
Shading her eyes with her damp palm, she looked up and down the pier, trying to locate the Beneteau. Unfortunately, nearly all the sailboats were white and looked similar to her untrained eye. She could have had Harry meet her at the airport, but she was exercising her new independence, and to her surprise, liking it.
She headed down the ramp, the wheels of her over-sized suitcase making a clump, clump, clump noise along the wooden pier, while idly searching for ‘Good Times Ahead’. Coming to a stop, she took a closer look. This beautifully crafted yacht looked like hers, but there was a half naked man standing on deck and it sure wasn’t Harry.
Whoever he was, he was bending over the tackle box, his butt and his bare, glistening back in her direct line of vision. It was a good looking view, she had to admit. She took in the big, broad shoulders that tapered to a narrow waist just above that great looking ass.
As she continued to watch and admire, he stood up straight, wiping sweat from his brow with a tanned forearm. A smile formed on her moist lips as she stared at this marvelous looking man. His muscles rippled nicely in his chest as he stretched and twisted, working out some unseen kink.
He turned, giving her a full frontal. Just as she expected--great abs-a perfect rippling six pack. And after that dusty, hour long taxi ride, she had the most unquenchable thirst.
Maddi made a humming noise in her throat, tried to swallow but her mouth was bone dry. Waving her straw hat to get his attention, she managed to squeak out, “Yoo-hoo! Is Harry on board? I’m Maddi Clemmons, and this is my boat.”
He turned, and gave her a slow grin that made her knees weak. “I’ve been expecting you.” Jumping off the boat, he grabbed her bag, hauling it on board. “My dad said you’d arrive today. He had to fly home to be with Mom.” Discarding the bag, he reached for her. “Come on. Let me give you a hand up, then I’ll explain.”
Refusing the assistance she climbed aboard, squinting in his direction as his back was to the sun. She put her hands on her hips, and her eyes narrowed even further.
“Okay, what’s going on? Where’s your Dad? We have a contract, and I need him to take this boat to another destination right away.”
“I’m sorry, but Mom found a lump in her breast during a routine doctor’s visit. The biopsy came out positive. So he’s with her, and you’re stuck with me. But I’m a damn good sea-man, and I’ll take this beauty anywhere you want, for as long as you want.”
“No. This won’t do.” She crossed her arms, and stuck out her chin. “I hired your father for his qualifications and his experience. I didn’t want a kid.”
“I’m twenty-eight, Ma’am.” He scratched the day old stubble on his jaw. “And I’ve been sailing all my life.”
She turned on her heels. “Well, I don’t like it, but it looks like I have no choice. This boat has to be moved at once. You’ll have to do.”
He flashed a grin. “I will grow on you, I promise.”
She was afraid of that.
“Don’t you want to know my name?” His eyebrow cocked in a teasing, sexy way, a look that probably sent young hearts aflutter. Not hers, of course. Young girls would fall for that, not someone who’d been around the block several times and back.
“Of course.” Damn. If she didn’t stop looking at his six-pack abs, she’d get a yeast infection.
“It’s Harry.”
She chuckled. “Okay, Harry. I just hope you know what you’re doing. This isn’t some little sloop, and we aren’t in the Hamptons.”
He glanced at the cloudless sky, the vast turquoise sea twinkling in the sunlight. “No, Ma’am. It’s a whole lot better.”
Giving him a stern look, she snapped, “Let’s get one thing straight, right now. If you ever call me Ma’am again, I’ll throw you overboard. It’s Maddi, okay? I don’t want to feel like your mother.”
“Trust me.” His eyes rolled over her. “You don’t look anything like my mother.”
She bit back a smile. “Don’t you flirt with me, young man.” His only response was a grin. Unbending a little, she reached out to touch his arm. “When you speak to your dad, tell him I wish your mother the very best.”
“I will, Ma’am.”
Maddi pretended to lunge at him, and he jumped aside, laughing. “Maddi. I meant to say Maddi.”
“Good thing or you’ll be swimming with the fishes.” She fanned herself with her hat. “Harry, how about you pour us both a drink while I unpack and change. We have some business to discuss.”
***
After a lengthy discussion, reluctantly, Harry agreed to sail the Beneteau to the island of Montserrat, at a fair fee. He estimated the distance at five or six hundred nautical miles, and pushing it, the time between four to six days. It was longer than she’d expected, but the outcome would be well worth every tedious day at sea. Not that she expected this journey to be boring, with Hunk around.
The day they left was perfect sailing weather, with a light breeze and warm balmy skies. Before Harry set sail, he made sure she knew how to handle the boat and was familiar with the navigational equipment. She had thought he’d be doing all the sailing, until he pointed out the obvious fact--he couldn’t possibly sail the boat single-handedly for twenty-four hours a day. She’d have to stand watch during daylight hours, while he caught a few winks.
When at first she’d balked, saying they’d need another qualified sailor, he’d been quick to reassure her. “Don’t worry. I’ll have the radar alarm set, and this thing is so loaded with bells and whistles that if anything happens such as a sudden wind shift, an alarm will go off. All you need to do is wake me.”
She wasn’t worried about daylight hours. She’d spent enough summers with David and the girls in the Hamptons to be comfortable with sailing, although not on anything as sophisticated as the Beneteau.
The boat didn’t worry her, it was Captain Harry Junior that was a problem. He walked around half the day with barely any clothes on. Not that she wanted him clothed, but just a little less appealing to the eye.
She was also unhappy that she’d packed only prim one-piece suits, out of respect for old Harry. Not that the younger man cared what she wore, busy as he was charting his course, checking wind and weather conditions, dodging a tropical storm.
In his spare moments, he’d made it his business to discover everything he could about Montserrat and the volcano. The more he learned, the more he tried to dissuade her from continuing on to their intended destination.
“Why Montserrat?” he asked her more than once. “Of all the beautiful places in the world to want to take this baby, why a place with an active volcano?”
Just the thought of that yummy volcano brought a smile to her face. But she didn’t know Harry Junior enough to trust him. Not yet, maybe never. So she answered coolly, “You’re being paid, my dear boy, to guide the boat, not to ask questions. Trust me, I
have my reasons.”
His eyes narrowed at the “dear boy” platitude, but he didn’t say anything. Nor did she. An hour passed in cold silence.
He broke first, tossing her a look of fury. “If you don’t want me calling you “Ma’am” you better drop this “dear boy thing.” It’s really annoying.” Seeing her gloating smile, he snapped, “Fine. I’m going to my cabin. See you at dinner.”
“Don’t forget you’re cooking tonight. It’s my turn tomorrow.”
His lips curled. “Yeah. Well, it’s fried fish tonight.”
“But we had that last night,” she whined. “Can’t we have a good old fashioned hamburger, or a measly piece of chicken?”
“Our space is limited, and so is our meat supply. Fish it is. Get used to it.”
She watched him leave, sorry she’d ticked him off, but unwilling to make things right. It was better not to become overly friendly, in such close quarters. How easy it would be to enjoy his companionship, the flirtation, to forget everything and surrender.
Alone, like this, miles away from civilization, nobody in sight, sailing under perfect conditions on David’s fabulously, luxurious yacht. The fact it was David’s first love was a turn-on in itself. As much as the cute hunk of burning love downstairs in his cabin.
There was only one thing holding her back. She wasn’t ready to take a lover. It had been five months since David walked out of her life, but she still had feelings for the bastard. Love didn’t go away with a snap of the fingers; if it did it wouldn’t be worth anything.
Instead, it lingered like a malady, and like any affliction, it hurt, and made her wish for things that could never be. To be able to travel back in time, and have the chance to make everything all right. Maybe if she hadn’t wanted a baby so much, if she had loved the things he loved instead, it would have been enough.
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE TRILOGY Page 54