Breathless on the Beach

by Wendy Etherington

  He strode toward the group, knowing he couldn’t stand to the side and wait for her to forgive him, either.

  “Hi, Jared,” Emily said brightly when he reached them.

  He brushed his lips across her cheek. “You look lovely.”

  She beamed, holding out one side of her dark green skirt. Give Rose credit, she’d found a way to highlight the best of Emily’s looks. And that was saying something, with her standing beside Victoria.

  “Thank you,” she said, her cheeks flushing.

  Straightening, he sipped his champagne and found Victoria glaring daggers in his direction.

  Because he’d dared come near her, or because he’d kissed Emily?

  He smiled and toasted her. She was severely mistaken if she thought he’d been run off by one mistake and a few harsh words. They’d had fun in the last couple of days, but the truly special moments were in front of them.

  Or they could be.

  “So, hey,” he said, his gaze sweeping the group, “that necklace of Rose’s is still missing. Anybody know where it might have gotten to?”

  Emily blushed; Peter was obviously insulted; Victoria looked homicidal.

  Jared shrugged. Sorry, folks. I’ve got limited time here. We need to move this business along. “No? What a shame. I guess Richard’ll have to call the cops if it doesn’t turn up by tomorrow.”

  Peter choked on his champagne.

  While Victoria turned the same shade as her dress, Jared patted her colleague on the back. “Guilty conscience, Pete, ole buddy?”

  “Of course not,” he sputtered. “How dare you—”

  Victoria stepped between them. “He’s kidding. Too much sun. And sea air. You know how a good breeze can affect a man’s judgment.”

  A breeze? That didn’t make any sense, and why was she talking so fast about nothing? Hold on a second…

  She jerked Jared toward her with a viselike grip on his wrist. “Could I speak to you privately for a second?” Already leading him away—which was exactly what he’d wanted in the first place—she glanced back at Peter and Emily. “Sorry. See you at dinner.”

  Dragging him along, Victoria boldly stalked down the hall and into Richard’s office. “What do you think you’re doing?” she demanded, releasing Jared so suddenly he had to rock back on his boot heels to keep from stumbling.

  He quickly checked the room to make sure they were alone. Books, plaster busts and paintings surrounded him. Nothing that breathed, though. How had he gotten her to himself with so little effort?

  “You babbled,” he blurted.

  Her expression could have frozen the fires of hell. “Excuse me?”

  “To Peter and Emily. You babbled.”

  “I did not. Are you out of your mind? What if one of them took the necklace?”

  “What if they did? It’s about time we rattled this thief’s world.”

  “Maybe so, but I was trying to find out more about their financial problems. Calla’s cop buddy says—”

  Snagging her champagne glass, he set it on the desk and wrapped his arm around her. “I interrupted. Sorry. I’m sorry for a lot of things. Wanna give me a second chance?”

  Though her gaze probed his without the fury from earlier, her body was stiff. “You lied,” she reminded him.

  “I did. Lousy thing to do.”

  “Did you do it because of what Calla said?”

  He did love her directness. “Partly. I didn’t want to be like the guys in your past. Besides, people—women especially—have used me for my money in the past. Surely the same thing has happened to you. I’ve learned to protect myself.”

  “So you were protecting yourself from my greedy nature.”

  “I wanted you to like me,” he argued. “I didn’t want you to look at me like every other guy you’ve been with, then quickly dumped.” He cupped her jaw. “I want more.”

  Her perfume, faintly floral and full of elegance, ignited his senses. He was completely at her mercy, he realized. If she pushed him away, his heart was going to snap in two.

  “Me, too,” she said, her voice low as she slid her hands up his chest. “We have one more night. I don’t want to waste it.”

  “We could have more than that.”

  “How?” She looked genuinely confused. “You’ll be off to the next adventure in a matter of days. When’s your next job?”

  He winced. “I fly to Acapulco tomorrow night. There’s a restaurant at the top of La Quebrada Cliffs. I’m performing in their show for a few days. But I’ll be back in the city by the weekend.”

  “You’re going to jump off a cliff? On purpose?”

  Certain he wasn’t going to impress her when he admitted he was, he nodded anyway. “Dive, actually.”

  “And after that?”

  “I’ll stay in New York if you ask me.”

  She shook her head, regret filling her eyes. “But I won’t. How could I?”

  This couldn’t be impossible. Obviously, she didn’t want him as much as he did her. “But tonight?” he asked, not knowing where else to begin.

  “I’m all yours.” She pressed her lips to his in what she certainly intended to be a brief touch, but he clutched her against him, angling his head to deepen the kiss.

  Euphoria swam through his body, and the promise of even greater pleasures enticed him to move his hands across her bare back and down her silk-clad sides. She moaned, and he gloried in the realization that she wore literally nothing beneath the clinging gown.

  He wanted so much more than one night, but for now he’d take what she offered. How could he not?

  “And about the necklace…”

  He nuzzled her neck, murmuring, “What necklace?”

  She paid no attention to his pretense at ignorance. “Unless somebody miraculously confesses to taking it during the party, I’m breaking into…” She shoved him back. “Hell, we’re here.”

  He glanced around at the books and stodgy decor. “Not the most romantic spot, I realize, but it’s private, so…” Catching the determined gleam in her eye, he stopped. “You didn’t search here earlier?”

  She cleared her throat, no doubt remembering he’d made her promise she wouldn’t search without backup. “Calla was supposed to be a lookout, but the room was locked, Mrs. K didn’t have a key and we couldn’t break in.”

  “Not even with a bobby pin?”

  She threw him a disgruntled look. “Not even then.”

  He spread his arms. “It’s wide-open now.”

  “Exactly.” Her gaze darted to the door. “Let’s snoop.”

  “Now? The other guests are due any minute.” Even as he said the words, the doorbell rang. “Damn. No way will Richard leave his office open during the party.”

  “Maybe I can get a key from Ruthanne,” Victoria said hopefully.

  “If she has one.”

  The sound of raised voices and laughter echoed down the hall. Think, McKenna.

  Hey, a key. He fumbled through the desk drawers until he found exactly that. A handy white tag that said Office Spare was attached to the key ring.

  When he held it up for Victoria, she braced her hands alongside his cheeks and kissed him. “Brilliant.”

  They slipped out of the office and back into the parlor. “Shall we synchronize our watches to ten-thirty?” he asked. “The fireworks should be under way by then.”

  “Sure.” She laid her hand on his jacket sleeve. “If I don’t find that necklace, I’m probably going
to lose my job. Richard’s threatening to pull his business from Coleman.”

  Of course he was.

  Knowing how much her job encompassed her whole life, Jared squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry.”

  “It wouldn’t be the end of the world, I guess.”

  Just the world she’d sacrificed for and worked so hard for. “Somebody else will hire you in a minute, and your mother will get over you not following in her footsteps.”

  “But will I?”

  “Absolutely. You can come work for me. I can always use another cliff diver.”

  Victoria laughed. “Mother would never get over that.”

  14

  AT DINNER, VICTORIA CHATTED with genuine enthusiasm, recognizing that with twenty extra people plus waitstaff in the house, it would be easy for her and Jared to sneak back to Richard’s office for the search.

  In passing, she managed to tell her friends that she and Jared had made up, so the night ahead was promising in more ways than one.

  Then, with him safely out of her system, she could go back to concentrating on her career. While at odds with him all afternoon, she’d been so busy wallowing that she’d let herself anticipate, even dread, failure. How could there be any doubt she was going to find the necklace? When she did, she was going to be busy making plans to redecorate her new office, brainstorming the new safe campaign with her ad team and relishing her mother’s praise.

  Victoria wouldn’t have time to think about a rich cowboy she’d fooled around with for a weekend.

  And why did that sound so superficial and empty?

  To distract herself from her unsettled feelings, she glanced around the room.

  The antique dining table had been moved out, replaced by several smaller ones covered in deep blue cloths and accented with candles and white flowers floating in clear glass centerpieces. Victoria was again impressed with Shelby’s ability to throw a party with style and class, as well as excellent food.

  The mix of costumes and regular clothes was a little strange, but anybody expecting Rose to be ordinary was doomed to disappointment.

  Their hostess was elegant in a sparkling gold sequined gown with ostrich feathers decorating the sleeves. Sitting next to an attentive Sal, she looked radiant.

  She didn’t appear upset in the least by her missing jewelry. Actually, now that Victoria was paying attention to something other than the steamy stares Jared had been giving her from across the room, she noticed a stunning diamond-and-ruby bracelet encircling Rose’s wrist.

  How many priceless gems did the woman own?

  “That’s a beautiful bracelet, Rose,” Victoria said as the waiters served the chicken.

  When her face lit up, it was obvious she’d been waiting for someone to comment. Which nobody had, since the last time a piece of jewelry had been discussed at dinner, it had disappeared soon after.

  “Thank you,” she said, lifting her wrist so the diamonds caught the chandelier’s light. “It’s a gift from Sal.”

  “David helped pick it out,” Sal said modestly. “He has exceptional taste.”

  Another flashy gift? Score a major point for Sal. He was one determined suitor.

  Receiving elaborate gifts from lovers always made Victoria uncomfortable. She could buy her own jewelry, after all, and the implied commitment that came with something as permanent as diamonds wasn’t a place she wanted to go with any guy.

  Though she had bought a ring that reminded her of Jared’s eyes.

  As the rest of the table gushed over Rose’s present, Victoria’s gaze was inexplicably drawn to Jared’s. The look on his face was contemplative.

  Was he hoping dinner would end soon, so they could begin their search? Was he thinking Rose was crazy for tempting the thief? Or was he wondering if the chicken had come from a free-range farm?

  Hold on. A new temptation for the thief. Why hadn’t she thought of that?

  If Rose locked this valuable in the safe, and it went missing during the night…

  Then they’d have to call the police, and Victoria’s contract hopes would disappear just as rapidly and bizarrely as the jewelry had.

  However, if she could catch the thief in the act…

  So in between hot kisses, you’re going to peek into the hall to see what’s what?

  This was why she didn’t mix business and romance. Emotional questions that battled against time commitments were more complicated than any media strategy.

  Shelby stopped by as the dessert plates were being cleared. “Enjoy that hunky man instead of obsessing about the missing necklace and the crappy construction of Richard’s precious safe.”

  “Later.”

  “We’re serving after-dinner drinks on the porch during the fireworks.”

  Victoria glanced at her watch. Ten-twenty. Perfect. “Cover for us.”

  “Will do,” Shelby whispered as she moved to the next table.

  When the first shower of sparks rained over the backyard, Victoria ducked into the house and headed for Richard’s office. As she stepped out of her shoes and crept around the room, lit only by the moon’s glow through the window, she wondered if she really was in a historical time warp.

  She paused, considering the lack of significance this party, the jewels and fireworks must have in the grand scheme of things. Even her ambitions failed in comparison.

  And that was saying something.

  Still, her life was on hold, waiting for the next act. And the beauty of celestial bodies wasn’t going to change anything. She needed to get through this weekend, find that necklace and save Richard’s reputation.

  By the time Jared slipped into the office, she was already knocking on the bookcases behind Richard’s desk.

  “So, no luck yet?” he whispered.

  “Hey, I think I hear a hollow sound.” She continued to move books, then knock. After a few minutes, she realized she looked and felt like an idiot. She spun to face him. “Could Rose be a kleptomaniac?”

  “Ah…no.”

  “She doesn’t need the money, but she certainly needs attention.” And to Victoria, the idea of an inside job wouldn’t die. “I keep coming back to the safe. How did the thief get in? I tried getting inside it today. Richard changed the combination and has kept it locked since Friday night to protect the rest of Rose’s jewelry. No one’s gotten inside. Including me.”

  “And you’re an expert safe cracker, huh?”

  “I’m as intelligent as anyone here.”

  He nodded. “More. But as much as Rose enjoys drama and the spotlight, she’s not delusional.”

  Victoria sagged against the edge of the desk. “I guess you’re right.” She resumed her search of the bookcases. “You work on that side,” she said, pointing to her left.

  “I’ve got a better idea.” He embraced her from behind, kissing her neck, sending sparks of need through her veins.

  She rested against him, her needs and her goals never more at odds. “You’re distracting me.”

  “What do you have on underneath this dress?”

  She laid her hands over his, which was currently roaming her body. “You tell me.”

  “Nothing I can feel.”

  “Because nothing’s there.”

  Twirling her, he pressed her against the bookcase. He lifted her dress, exposing her legs, which he wrapped around his waist. His pants slid against her inner thighs. “All I need to do is draw down my zipper, and I could be inside you,” he murmured again
st her ear.

  He was amazing. How would she ever let him go? “Search first, play later.”

  “When I find this idiot thief, I’m going to wring his neck.”

  She pressed a lingering kiss to Jared’s jaw. “I’ll help.”

  Though clearly not thrilled with her proposed agenda, he set her on her feet again and smoothed down her dress.

  After a few minutes of pressing and knocking on the bookcase in various places, Victoria felt the far panel on the right side move. “It’s here,” she said, relieved and excited. “Help me push.”

  With Jared’s added strength, they were able to shove the panel open, revealing the secret room. “After you, milady,” he said, extending his arm and bowing.

  “These costumes are getting to everybody,” Victoria muttered.

  The room was very small; Jared had to turn sideways to get in, and his head nearly touched the ceiling. Jammed inside was a filing cabinet and a small table holding stacks of paper.

  Seeing little choice, they began sorting through the collection.

  They found tax records, insurance papers and a stack of suggestive love letters from a woman named Christie.

  Girl, Victoria corrected, noting the hearts instead of dots over the Is.

  Secrets, maybe, but not the one she was after.

  “This looks interesting,” Jared said, holding an open file in front of her.

  It held drawings of different types of machines. Most of them looked like alien doodles, but some were recognizable.

  “That’s obviously a fence,” Victoria said.

  “And this is a numbered panel,” Jared added.

  “Like the one the safe has,” she remarked slowly.

  Excited with the possibility, she thumbed through the stack, and suddenly, there were the schematics for Rose’s safe. A note had been scribbled in a corner: “Possible electronic fingerprint compromise.”

  “What the devil does that mean?” Victoria asked Jared.

  “No idea, but it sounds like a definite flaw in the design.”