Courting Trouble (The Texas Two-Step Series, Book 3) (16 page)

Diedra wiped away a tear as they ended the call. It was truly heartening to know she had such support and love from her family.

A short time later, Alec started the engines and instructed Diedra on how to drop the lines. He even insisted she never call them ropes and instructed her in some other beginner nautical language. The kitchen was a galley. The bathroom was a head. The left was port. He'd come below to show her how to work the head, since it didn't operate on quite the same principles as regular ones.

Topside, Diedra took a seat next to Alec at the helm. Almost overhead was a wide bar that Alec explained was a radar arch. To the rear of the boat was a built-in "U" shaped seating area around a small table. Alec said the area was called the poop deck. He had to be kidding.

The engines purred as they left the marina and entered the channel. Buoys marked their way. Alec cheered when one of his gauges accurately predicted where the next buoy was located.

He planned to follow the coast line as much as possible on their way to Matamoros, Mexico. He figured that was the most likely destination for Meagan and Jeff. Enchanted Lady was much faster than the heavy yacht Jeff had rented, so she should catch up with them fairly quickly.

If Diedra had thought her hair had been whipped by the coastal breeze, she had to rethink it now. Even the convertible had been nothing compared with this. Diedra's hair took on a life of its own and minuscule beads of salt water coated her face and upper arms. It was invigorating and she'd never experienced anything like it. She could easily get used to boating.

It wasn't long before Alec was able to bring the boat up to a comfortable speed. "I figure at this rate, we should catch up with Jeff in about three hours. Probably less," Alec said. He didn't have to shout, but the engines were loud enough to make casual conversation a little difficult.

The only less than perfect note that crept into the morning was the fact that the boat had so many gadgets that could go kerfluey. Fortunately, things seemed to be going right that day, and perhaps her lack of accidents would continue.

They'd catch up with Meagan and Jeff before too long. Diedra tried to reassure herself that Meagan was fine. She couldn't really believe, way deep inside, that Jeff would hurt her. There had to be some reasonable explanation for going to New Orleans and now this trip.

To keep her mind off her worries, Diedra slipped down below again. She opened cupboards and drawers, exploring. Okay, she ruefully admitted to herself, so she was nosey. Life jackets, fishing poles and even a set of oars were among her discoveries. She tried to picture rowing Enchanted Lady but somehow it just didn't seem possible.

She opened a hatch, which looked a lot like a small sun roof with hinges, letting in a soft breeze. Calling through the hatch, she asked, "Alec, what are the oars for? Is there a little boat hidden somewhere?"

He laughed. "I think so, but I believe the paddles are Coast Guard regulation."

"Oh." Diedra went back to her rummaging. She opened the cute little refrigerator hidden under the counter. It was fully stocked with drinks and food. Unable resist playing house, she made snacks with some canned ham and crackers.

As she took a soda and the munchies to Alec, she heard a sloshing noise and turned to give the boat's interior one last look. No sign of anything wrong. Diedra shrugged and mounted the steps leading topside.

She set down the food tray on the map area near the helm. Looking at Alec, the most attractive man she'd ever met as well as the most dear, she was certain of one thing. He was the only man whose kiss she ached for.

Leaning over, she delivered a most exacting, desirous one.

* * *

Alec saw an occasional yacht in the hours he spent scanning the horizon, but none fitting the description of the boat Jeff had chartered. Maybe searching for them in such a wide expanse had been a bad idea. But what other option did he have?

He'd been operating on jangling nerves so long his stomach churned almost as much as the gulf waters. Diedra, on the other hand, seemed calm as she fed him, brought him soft drinks, and chatted about fishing.

All he could do was keep watching for Jeff's boat and obsessing. Was it really possible Jeff had kidnapped Meagan? Alec had to get his mind off that endless circle.

His gaze settled on Diedra perched on the seat beside him. She looked so perfect, so exactly right, being here with him. He couldn't imagine what it would be like without her after their chase was over.

How had she crept under his skin so completely? He knew she needed looking after, but she'd taken care of him as well. Maybe he'd been wrong in thinking he wanted a woman who wouldn't be a responsibility. Perhaps caring about each other meant you became the other's charge. The idea brought a smile to his lips.

She was special. And she trusted him. He hoped he could deserve that trust. She looked so cute sitting there, watching his every move. He wished he could take her below to discover the joys of lovemaking on water. One of these days, he promised himself, when all this was over, he'd do just that.

"Shoot, when I was down below, I meant to grab another cola. I need the caffeine."

"I'll get you one," she said and disappeared through the hatch. Almost immediately, he heard her shout.

"What's wrong?"

"Alec, did you say there's auto pilot on this boat?"

"Yeah."

"Then put it on and get the hell down here!"

"Why?"

"Don't ask stupid questions! This stupid boat is sinking!"

Alec pulled back on the throttle, and left the helm to look below. Diedra stood ankle deep in water, bending to grab handfuls of it and throw it into the galley sink.

"We're going to drown. Do you know how to swim? I know how to swim, but I don't know how long I can keep it up." Diedra didn't stop talking long enough for him to get a word in. "Yes, we'll drown. Glugglug and the deep blue sea. And I won't ever find Meagan to tell her goodbye!"

"Quit panicking, Imp," he ordered, half amused by her theatrics. It was true there was some danger, or he'd have laughed out loud. "I'm not going to let anything happen to you."

She stopped sputtering. "I never panic," she huffed.

"Right." He gave her a quick hug. "Now, where's the water coming from?"

"I don't know. I'm getting the life jackets." Diedra swung open a cupboard. "Is it on auto pilot?"

"No. If you're sure you're okay now, I'll take care of it and come help bail."

Diedra nodded. "I'm fine. Go."

He set the boat on a course toward shore, punched in the coordinates to hold that heading and dashed back below. Diedra was scooping up water with a garish orange pitcher and throwing it out one of the port side windows.

"We've got to figure out where it's coming from."

"Fine," she replied. She stopped shoveling water and grabbed a life jacket off the berth. "Put this on first."

Alec donned the jacket as he ran for the aft cockpit. He threw open the engine compartment. It was beautifully laid out with an engine set-up he could have spent hours drooling over, but the water was even deeper there. The bilge pump seemed to be working overtime on water that looked as though it was coming in from some other location.

The engine chose that moment to sputter and die.

Great. Just great. Well, he'd worry about that when he found the leak.

He felt around in the cold water, checking the air conditioner and engine lines. No luck. Where the hell was the water coming from?

He hopped out of the engine compartment and glanced around the aft deck. Nothing wrong there either. Scanning the horizon, he saw they weren't close enough to swim to shore. He couldn't see any other boats, either.

He thought back over their trip thus far, but it didn't seem possible he'd hit something without realizing it. He headed for the boat's bow. Lying down, he looked over the side for any signs of damage. Again, nothing.

That left the interior of the boat. He went back down, finding Diedra was soaked to the skin, even wetter than she'd been after the rainstorm the day before.

She stood in the middle of the galley, tossing out pitcher after pitcher of water.

"It's got to be coming from down here."

She continued bailing.

Alec checked the cupboard below the galley sink. It was dry. Turning, he searched the rest of the area for a possible source of water. His eyes focused on the door to the head.

He leaned forward and grabbed the door knob. As he turned it, the door shot open. Gallons of water spilled out over his legs. "Hell!"

Then he saw the head. Small. Oval. Spewing buckets of water, like a big, powerful fountain.

Diedra.

The word blinked like a neon sign. Diedra. She'd done this. He'd been so tied up in knots over Jeff and Meagan, he'd forgotten how accident prone she was.

"Diedra!"

She appeared at the door instantly, pitcher still in hand. Alec kissed her firmly on the mouth.

He turned to watch the head. Water continued to swirl. It hadn't worked.

He grabbed her again, this time intent on kissing her mindless. He caressed her shoulders, deepening his kiss, wanting to make it count. But he had to keep his mind on the business at hand, too.

Both of them were panting when he pulled back to check again. The water continued gushing. "Dammit, Diedra, this has got to work. Take off your clothes and meet me in the V-berth."

She looked at him as though he'd lost his mind. Maybe he had. They had to do something before the damn boat sank.

"Alec. There's one problem here you're not considering."

"What's that?"

"I haven't been near the head except when you gave me lessons."

"What?" He cursed and then cursed some more. "The head is a damn fountain. It has to be you."

She shook her head. "I haven't been in here. You used it last. Look! You even left the seat up like a typical male."

She hadn't been in here? Just because he'd left the seat up didn't mean he had anything to do with the flood. Reaching over, he pressed the macerator button. He pressed the flush button. Neither stopped the flow of water. He looked for the tube that fed in water, but it was hidden by the boat's design. How was he going to stop the inflow of water?

"I'll go disconnect the battery. That should stop the pump."

Diedra stepped back, allowing him to pass. He ran for the engine compartment and climbed back into it. It took a few minutes but at last the batteries were disconnected. The boat was dead in the water now. Unfortunately, so was the bilge pump.

He shouted, "That should do it, Diedra. Has the water stopped?"

"A little, but not by much."

Dammit. What could he do next? Take apart the boat? He quickly reconnected the batteries so the bilge pump could operate. He grabbed the tool box that had been stowed in the engine compartment and rejoined her.

"You've got to do something. We've got to do something." She clutched his arm. "I'm scared."

He ran his free hand through his hair, willing himself to stay in control. "Do you know how to use a marine radio? A VHF?"

"I have no clue what that is."

It only took a few minutes to give her instructions. "Wait, toss me that pitcher and I'll bail."

As Diedra radioed for help, he opened the porthole in the head and tried to get rid of some water. The pitcher was too large to fit through the tiny opening. He ran for the galley and grabbed a plastic cup that looked as though it would do the trick.

He filled cup after cup of water. If he could keep up it up, he had a chance to stave off their sinking at least until help arrived.

But how long could he keep it up? He was already close to mental as well as physical exhaustion from the hours of chasing after Jeff.

Diedra came back, her face ashen.

"Did you have any luck?"

"Yes and no. The Coast Guard said they couldn't reach us for a couple of hours." Diedra rubbed her arms. "Alec, are we going to sink?"

"The boat might, but we'll be fine. There's an inflatable raft in the swim platform. I'd just rather not lose my deposit. Do you know what a boat like this costs?"

"No."

"You don't want to know, either. But I'll need some very meaty clients if I have to pay this puppy off."

"I can't believe you're thinking about money. What about Jeff and Meagan?"

"Jeff can hang as far as I care at this moment."

Diedra's voice rose. "And just where does that leave Meagan?"

It had been his turn to panic. Alec slumped but pulled himself together. "On dry land?"

He reached out a hand to touch her, but she knocked it away. She ran back to the galley for another pitcher. Resuming her bailing, she trembled with anger and fear.

Would it always be like this with him? She'd been trying to think they might make a go of it. But it was becoming clear that, when anything went wrong, he'd blame her.

She hadn't been responsible for the head acting up. She knew she hadn't. When he'd been in the head, he must have done something wrong. Perhaps he hadn't known as much about how it worked as he'd let on. It was the only reasonable explanation.