Creed smiled, but it wasn’t his genuine smile. It was all military and tight self-control.
“Now which one are you?” She tapped her finger on her lips. “The studly football player?”
“No. That’s Emmett.”
“Oh? Yes, Emmett’s amazing. I love watching his beautiful biceps when he stretches out to catch a football.” She smiled, hoping she was ticking him off. “So, if not the football player, then you have to be … the world-acclaimed extreme athlete. The one who surfs waves no one dares surf and jumps out of planes without a chute.”
Creed rolled his eyes. “Bridger.”
“Yes, Bridger. He’s so brave.” She bit at her lip and almost laughed at his rigid face. “Not Bridger. I can’t remember the other ones … Oh! Yes, I do. You’re the multi-billionaire who is simply brilliant and keeps getting the Most Eligible Bachelor of the Year Award. Owns half the country or something.”
Creed laughed, but she could tell he wasn’t amused. “That’s Callum.”
“Huh. I really like Callum.” It was a lie. Callum was a good guy but the least friendly of the crew. “So what do you do?” She made her eyes all big and interested. Truthfully, she thought Creed’s profession was the noblest and the bravest, but at the same time, it had robbed her of the man she loved. He deserved to think she didn’t care about him one whit for making her want him so horribly last night and then ditching her all over again.
“I’m in private security.”
“Isn’t that … exciting?” She gave him a fake smile and used body language to show a sharp drop in her interest in him. She’d practiced the drop of her shoulder and twist of her knee a hundred times for a routine in the semi-finals of Just Dance. “Hmm. Must be tough being surrounded by all those famous brothers.” One thing that had always impressed her about Creed was, even though he was fiercely competitive, he always supported and cheered for his brothers. He’d known his path would be military, and he’d taken it and excelled, but she wasn’t about to admit how impressive he was to her.
“It has its moments.”
“I bet.” She elevated her eyebrows and completed the lost interest motion—head dipped away, spin on her far heel. “You know, I think I’ll just lift on my own today, but thanks so much for the offer.”
“That’s too bad.” Creed’s gaze traveled over her slowly. “I guess you lost your chance.”
Kiera’s body chilled, and it was all she could to not slap him like she’d done last night. She turned and rushed away without looking back at him. She’d definitely lost her chance—for happiness with Creed, for success in life. Truly, she’d lost everything when he deserted her. And she knew she’d never get Creed back, which made everything else in her life lose its luster.
Chapter Eight
Creed made it through his workout, but his eyes kept straying to Kiera. He hadn’t been able to resist studying her and had finally let himself approach her. It had been almost like old times to pretend he didn’t know her and flirt, even though he knew the sugar-sweet responses were verbal daggers. Those daggers turned to bullets when she listed his brothers’ accomplishments. He was proud of his brothers and their paths, and even though they competed and wrestled, he always cheered louder than anyone else for each of their successes. Yet he wanted Kiera to think he was the best of all of them. His Kiera had always been super proud of his calling in life, his desire to protect and serve. He wasn’t sure he even knew this Kiera who was making him second guess everything he’d known about her and even though he was confused and hurt he wanted to just throw her over his shoulder and paddle her rear and then maybe run for a preacher or a Vegas wedding chapel. Knowing she’d been with another man, probably multiple men, helped him cool his desires and keep his dreams of being with her at bay.
When she left the gym, he followed, making sure she got back to her room safely. An hour later, she headed out again, wearing a white lace cover-up over a pink swimsuit. He swallowed down his desire for her and waited a few minutes to make sure she didn’t return to her room, then broke in and installed a miniscule security camera and sensors focused on the main area and the exterior door. He’d be alerted whenever she opened the door and would be able to watch what was going on. He’d found out the duke’s room number last night and had been able to install similar devices this morning while the loser was showering. Checking his watch screen, he confirmed the duke was still eating his breakfast at his suite table.
Creed headed down to the pool areas, hoping Kiera would be staying at the resort rather than going on a day trip. It would help his blood pressure a lot. This area was a hotbed for traffickers and crime against Americans, and no matter that he and Kiera weren’t together anymore, he could not handle the thought of anything happening to her. That gave him an unfamiliar rush of guilt. Kiera had suffered through him supposedly dying. He’d tried when he was imprisoned not to think too much about how his family or Kiera was dealing with it. A man could go insane stewing over something like that. Maybe that was why Kiera had given herself to another man. Maybe it had been too much for her. He shook his head. She’d moved on quickly enough. She obviously didn’t feel the level of love he’d felt for her.
He sauntered through the pool areas but didn’t see her anywhere. An alert on his phone sounded. He paused and glanced at it. The duke was leaving his room, dressed in a floral swimsuit. He didn’t look like he had anything but his swimsuit and flip flops. Good. The duke would stay close by, which would make Creed’s day easier. Just as long as Gunthry stayed away from Kiera.
Creed approached the last section of pools. They were infinity pools and hot tubs that overlooked the beach and ocean beyond. Kiera was floating on her back in the pool to the south. Creed sucked in a breath. Her dark hair streamed out away from her beautiful face. Her eyes were closed, and she looked so peaceful and innocent. Like the Kiera he’d planned his life around. Her deep brown skin was smooth and firm, and the pale pink suit showed off her shape to perfection.
Her eyes fluttered open. Then she stood in the chest deep water. She glanced around, and her gaze landed on him. Creed didn’t try to act like he hadn’t been gawking at her. He tilted his chin up. He should’ve smiled or waved, done something more friendly, but he was too lost in her gaze.
She stared at him for a few seconds and then dove under the water and swam away from him. She was like a beautiful siren, and he would follow her anywhere. Walking around the huge pool, he kept her in his sights. She pulled herself out of the water, and droplets glistened on her gorgeous skin.
Creed was twenty feet away, not sure that being lured in by her was smart, but how could he resist? Kiera glanced his way and gave him a sweet smile. Creed’s heartbeat increased. Maybe she wanted to be with him. He tried to hold on to his righteous anger over how she’d betrayed him, but it was getting harder and harder. Maybe if he spent the day with her, they could talk it all out, move past the hurt. He returned the smile and increased his pace.
A blond man in a floral swimsuit walked up to Kiera with a drink in hand. Creed cursed and turned away. The duke didn’t know who Creed was, but it was smarter not to get on the man’s radar if he did notice Creed keeping an eye on him at some point. His SEAL buddies claimed he was so stealthy he could track an owl and never be heard, but Sutton had told him several times not to underestimate the duke.
Creed walked behind a set of pillars and inched his way closer.
“A piña colada for the beautiful lady,” Gunthry said.
“Oh, no thank you.”
“What are your plans today?”
“I’m hoping to relax in the sun and listen to the ocean,” Kiera said.
Creed hoped that wasn’t an invitation. Of course, Gunthry took it as one, the creep. “Sounds perfect. I’ll join you.”
Creed crept out of his hiding spot and watched Kiera and Gunthry walk down the steps to the beach and settle side by side in a large cabana bed. His blood boiled. What was she thinking? He’d warned her to stay away from th
e duke, but she definitely wasn’t listening to his advice. All the anger from last night when he’d had to watch them dance resurfaced. Would Sutton think he was justified in pummeling the duke and jeopardizing the mission when the man hadn’t actually done anything besides lay on a covered mattress on the beach and smile and flirt with Creed’s girl? Doubtful.
Creed shoved a hand through his hair and pushed out a breath. He really couldn’t do this much longer. Thank heavens Sutton would be here soon. He was surprised he hadn’t received a knock on his door in the middle of the night. Sutton had his own jets, more than one, and he wanted the duke taken down badly.
His watch rang. He’d left his phone in the room. He pushed a button to answer and backed away into a shaded alcove so no one could overhear the conversation.
“Are you here?” Creed demanded of Sutton.
“It’ll be at least a day, maybe two. Everything all right?”
“What?” Creed exploded. He couldn’t sit around and watch Kiera flirt with Gunthry for another minute, let alone another day or two. What would he do if Gunthry kissed her. Argh! He couldn’t even let himself think it.
“Corbin’s got a situation and needs all of us right now. Is Gunthry a flight risk?”
“I highly doubt it.” Creed scowled as Gunthry ran his fingers up Kiera’s arm and she smiled sweetly at him. Flight risk. Gunthry appeared to be going nowhere but to Kiera’s suite. Creed’s fists clenched.
“Okay. Keep an eye on him. I’m going to send River and a few of my security team to England in my Airbus to pick up the MI6 guys and come apprehend Gunthry. They’ll try to hurry, but plan on it taking River at least until tomorrow night to get there with travel time and getting all the necessary clearance to apprehend Gunthry in Mexico. Hopefully, I’ll be able to fly straight there as soon as I take care of this situation with Corbin.”
Creed cursed under his breath. So best case, he was spending the next day and a half watching Kiera flirt with the duke? He’d explode. “Is that our best course of action?”
“Meaning?”
“Why don’t I just put a bullet between the duke’s eyes right now, and we’ll be done with him?”
Sutton chuckled. “Believe me, I love that idea and wish I could be the one placing that bullet, but his escape is too well-known. I’m not willing to risk my operation being shut down by Interpol for the sake of taking revenge on Gunthry.”
Sutton was incredibly impressive to Creed. If Kiera had been through what Liz and Ally had with the duke, Creed would’ve killed him long ago.
“We go through the proper authorities, and Gunthry rots in prison. I’m sure they’ll watch him and their guards more closely the next time they do a prison transfer.”
Creed could only grunt in response. He hated this Gunthry guy, and he hardly knew him.
“But I wouldn’t complain if a stray bullet landed between his eyes in the skirmish,” Sutton said.
Creed laughed, thankful Sutton was human.
“If I didn’t have so much faith in you, we’d run this differently. But it’s worth putting all the pressure I can on Corbin’s case until it’s settled. Keep an eye on him, and we’ll be there soon.”
“All right sir.” How else could he respond? He appreciated Sutton’s faith in him, but how was he going to do nothing do but wait and watch the love of his life flirt with a murderer? Creed was too far away to hear them, but he could see them clearly. Gunthry had rolled onto his stomach, and Kiera was rubbing sunscreen into his back. No, no, no. Creed could not hack this.
“Is Kiera all right?” Sutton asked, and Creed wondered if the man truly was more than human. He had psychic powers.
“Depends on your version of all right,” Creed grunted out.
“What does that mean?”
“Well currently she’s rubbing sunscreen into Gunthry’s back. So maybe she thinks she’s all right but she’s not going to be when I get my hands on her.”
Sutton’s silence was stony. “You need to warn her to stay away from him.”
“I did.” Creed forced the words out from a clamped jaw.
“Warn her again.”
“I think my warnings have pushed her the other way. She’s not exactly my biggest fan right now.” Which ticked him off almost as much as her touching Gunthry. Creed wasn’t the one who had betrayed their love. Why was she acting like him leaving to work for Sutton rather than sit around and watch her with another man was the bigger transgression?
“Blimey, Creed. You know how sadistic he is. Get her away from him.”
“Even if it compromises the mission?”
Creed could feel Sutton’s angst over the phone. “An innocent woman’s safety is more important than the mission.”
Sadly, Kiera wasn’t as innocent as she used to be, but Creed appreciated more than he could explain that Sutton cared about Kiera’s safety over recapturing the man who had ruined so many years of his life and tortured the woman he loved.
“Keep an eye on both of them, keep an eye out for Gunthry’s men, and above all else protect Kiera. If you have to choose, choose to keep her safe.”
“Thank you, sir.” Even though Creed wanted to have some serious words with Kiera right now, and the sight of her touching Gunthry made him physically ill, he knew he’d protect her. “Heart of a warrior.”
“Heart of a warrior.”
Kiera cast one more glance back at Creed, catching his dark gaze. He was obviously frustrated with her being with William, but William was a lot safer than Creed for her at the moment. She laid down on the beach bed underneath the cabana and closed her eyes, trying to ignore William and not think about Creed. William was the blond English guy that Creed had warned her about. He’d strutted up to her as she almost made the mistake of walking right into Creed’s beautiful arms. William had saved her from letting down her guard with Creed, but then the man had acted like she’d invited him along to the beach, telling her his name and all about his successful investment business. He’d asked her to rub sunscreen on his back, which she’d tried to do quickly. He had an odd vibe and was too old for her, despite the obvious plastic surgery that made him look thirty.
William ran his fingers along her forearm. “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about the mesmerizing way you dance. Would you accompany me tonight to go dancing?”
Dancing was definitely her language, but she wasn’t going anywhere with this noob. “I’ll have to see what the resort needs me to do tonight.”
“I checked with the manager. He assured me you’re free for the next three nights.” He smiled silkily at her.
Kiera arched an eyebrow, not appreciating him checking her schedule. “You could’ve asked me.”
“I just did.”
Kiera forced a smile. “Excuse me. I need to use the ladies’ room.”
He stood as she did, and she appreciated his manners, but she didn’t like the look in his too green eyes. “I’ll see you soon?”
She nodded, uneasy and not sure why. She had a lot of men hitting on her, especially since her fame with Just Dance and all her performances since then, but she wasn’t getting great feelings from this guy.
Sliding a white lace cover-up over her pink one-piece and picking up her flip-flops, she sauntered along the beach, squishing the soft sand between her toes. Walking up the first set of stairs, she dropped her flip-flops on the concrete and slipped into them before entering the nearest women’s restroom. It was an excuse to get away from William, not that he could see her this far away.
She glanced around but couldn’t see Creed anywhere. She wondered where he was then cursed herself for caring and for remembering how fabulous he’d looked in only swim trunks. Nothing had changed since he’d ditched her two months ago. He was obviously here for some job, and all he did was infuriate her, mostly because of her body’s response to him. Well, her body could forget about it. Those bridges had collapsed under the weight of his lack of love for her.
She used the restroom and was washing
her hands when the door slid open. She glanced in the mirror at the very large man walking into a women’s restroom. The bright sunshine made it hard to discern the person’s face. Whirling around, her heart rate doubled, until Creed’s irresistible face came into view. Then it quadrupled.
“Kiera,” he said all warm and loving, as if they were them again. His eyes darkened to a smolder that made it hard to resist throwing herself at him.
Kiera pulled in a breath, shaky and off-balance with him looking at her like that. “What are you doing in the women’s bathroom?”
Creed crossed the short distance until he was right in front of her, inches from her actually. She couldn’t resist looking over the lovely muscles of his chest as he was in nothing but teal blue swim trunks.
“You like it.” He arched an eyebrow and flexed a bicep, all cocky and flirtatious.
“What are you doing?” she asked again, to avoid responding and revealing exactly how much she liked to look at him.
His brow furrowed, and his cocky grin disappeared. He leaned even closer, and Kiera could smell his sensual cologne and feel his warm breath on her forehead. She glanced up so she didn’t keep focusing on his chest, but that was a mistake. His face was more appealing than his body, and she had nowhere to go, backed up against the bathroom counter.
“You’ve got to listen to me and stay away from the d—the blond guy.”
Kiera pushed out a huffy breath and folded her arms across her chest to try to create some distance from him. That was another mistake as her arms brushed the taut muscles and firm skin of his chest, and heat flushed her face.
“What do you care?”
“Believe me, I care.”
Kiera tried not to internalize that, but she wanted him to care far too much.
“If you cared, why did you leave last night?” She couldn’t go into their past. Why he’d left her, and why, when he could’ve returned to her, he didn’t care enough to find her.
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