Gentlemen Prefer Nerds (16 page)

“Anyone care for a refill?” Fabian asked.

“We’re right, thanks, mate,” Bill said. Doug and Lynne nodded agreement, holding up nearly full margarita glasses.

Fabian walked over to the bar.

“Your new husband is yummy,” Lynne sighed, watching him leave. “Is he really a lord?”

“Yes,” Maddie replied airily. “We’re flying to London after we leave here so I can meet his family.”

“I think you’re incredibly brave to marry someone on such short acquaintance,” Amanda said. “He could be a con artist. Although I have to admit, Fabian could con me out of practically anything.”

“Including your knickers,” Lynne said, sniggering.

“Maybe,” Amanda replied with an answering grin.

“Hey,” Bill said good-naturedly. “I’m hearing this.”

“So am I!” Maddie pretended to joke but she was outraged. Women drooled over Fabian wherever he went and didn’t seem to worry about a little obstacle like a wife. It would be terrible to be married to a man like that.

Doug and Bill teasingly took their women to task and soon the four were engaged in a gossip session about an acquaintance on the Gala decorating committee who was having an affair with one of the race officials.

“Here you are.” Fabian returned and set a glass in front of Maddie.

“That doesn’t look like champagne.” She picked it up and sniffed. “Scotch?”

“Single malt whiskey. A triple. Drink up.”

“But—”

Fabian clinked glasses with her and leaned in close. “It’ll give you a rasp like an Irish tinker. Try to hold it at the back of your throat.”

“Maybe I should just gargle with it.” Maddie sipped. The whiskey was smooth but fiery.

“I spotted Roland when I went to the bar,” Fabian said in a low voice next to her ear.

Maddie took another big swallow. “Where is he?”

“On my left, eight o’clock, wearing a dark blue tux. He’s alone. You should go begin your seduction of him now.”

“You bandy that term about so easily.” Trying to appear casual, Maddie glanced over Fabian’s shoulder. Roland’s fair hair glistened beneath the lights four tables away. Her nerves set up a dance beneath her skin. “What if he calls my bluff? Men don’t like a tease.” Or so she’d heard.

“Don’t worry. Surrounded by this many people he can’t harm you.” Keeping his back to Roland, Fabian nudged her hand holding the scotch. “Bottoms up.”

“I need to keep a clear head,” she protested but she drained the glass anyway. The alcohol hit her empty stomach and took an express trip straight to her brain.

Fabian rose to his feet and pulled Maddie up with him. “Off you go, there’s a good girl. I’ll head to the
Beau Sancy
and be back as soon as I can. Look for me by the exit closest to the ladies’ room.”

Maddie rose to her feet, wobbled on her heels and slung the long chain of her beaded bag over her shoulder. “Excuse me,” she said to Amanda and the rest of the group. “I see a friend. I’m going to say hello.”

Fabian walked a few steps with her then melted into the crowd in a different direction. Maddie wove through the tables toward her quarry. Two couples had sat down at Roland’s table on the far side, engaged in their own conversation. A drink at his elbow, Roland perused the awards program. At close quarters, he bore only a slight resemblance to the phony Rolf Hauzenegger. His light blue eyes and blond hair were the same but instead of Rolf’s timid air, Roland’s bearing was self-assured. Rolf’s boyish charm became overt sexuality in Roland. He was the same person, and yet not.

Like her.

He glanced up and gave her a slow smile as he looked her up and down. Maddie’s step faltered. What if, despite the dress, the scotch and the red hair, he recognized her?

Smiling nervously, she smoothed a damp hand down her hip. “Excuse me,” she said, her voice cracking all on its own. She was about to ask if the seat was taken when the lively brassy notes of the band begin their opening number. “Would you like to dance?”

“I can’t think of anything I’d like better.” With a wolfish grin he led her through the tables and onto the dance floor. Holding her loosely, he began to salsa. Or maybe it was the tango. Possibly the samba.

Good plan, Maddie. You have no idea how to do Latin dancing.

She threw herself into it anyway, making up in enthusiasm what she lacked in skill, hopping randomly, swiveling her hips and vibrating her shoulders. Roland seemed a little startled by some of her moves but he did his best to keep up with her.
This isn’t so hard. And what a great way to kill time.

Of course if Amanda and her friends were watching, they’d think she was insane and wonder where Fabian had got to, but that didn’t matter now. With any luck Maddie would never have to face them again. She glanced at Roland’s watch. Fabian had been gone a good twenty minutes; surely he’d be back soon with the Rose and they could both disappear.

Roland called uncle first. In a lull between songs he put a hand to his heart and said, “I could use a drink. What about you?”

Maddie glanced toward the exit for Fabian. Still not there. “A drink would be great.”

Back at the table with another scotch for her and a martini for him, Roland held her chair for her. “Don’t tell me a beautiful woman like you is here on your own?”

“I’m afraid so. My husband would have been here but he…uh, passed away. Last month.” Maddie went to push her glasses up her nose and remembered she wasn’t wearing them. “He would have wanted me to come anyway so I didn’t cancel.”

“I’m sorry for your loss,” Roland murmured. “Was your husband a sailing enthusiast?”

“Yes, he loved Race Week. We came every year—” Her throat dried up but it wasn’t due to pretend grief. Over Roland’s shoulder she glimpsed a pair of police officers enter the Convention Centre.

“Sorry, what were you saying?” Roland asked.

“Er, tragedy struck.” Maddie got up and moved to Roland’s other side so her back was to the police officers. “Do you mind? The light was in my eyes.”

“Was he in an accident?” Removing the olive from his martini Roland slid it off the plastic toothpick with his teeth. His glance drifted past Maddie’s shoulder. He started, swallowing the olive whole.

He must have seen the cops. “Are you okay?”

“Fine.” Roland propped an elbow on the table and shielded his face with his hand. “What were you saying about your husband?”

“He, uh, died.”

“Yes, but of what?”

Her mind went blank. Perspiration broke out along her hairline. All she could think about was what would happen if the cops found her. She blurted the first thing that popped into her brain. “Leprosy.”

“Really?” Roland frowned. “I didn’t think anyone got leprosy these days.”

“Um, he was a missionary. In Borneo.” Ouch. This was a terrible lie, unsustainable. And her late husband was supposed to be a mining magnate not a missionary of all things. She put on a brave smile and just tried to get through it. “On his deathbed he begged me not to grieve so I made a promise to live life to the fullest.” Upping the wattage on her smile to vivacious, she patted Roland’s knee. “But never mind about him. I didn’t catch your name.”

“Robert.” His gaze drifted down to her breasts—or possibly the sapphire necklace, it was hard to tell. “And you are?”

“Brittany.” Subtly, she checked on the whereabouts of the police. They were working their way through the tables, showing her photo. She scanned the rest of the room. Fabian was standing by the exit closest to the ladies’ room, as arranged. He motioned with his head for her to join him. “Excuse me, I’m just going to powder my nose.”

She hurried toward the ladies’, glancing over her shoulder to make sure Roland wasn’t watching, then ducked after Fabian through the exit door. “Have you got it? Can we leave now? I want to get out of here so badly. Roland’s a creep and the cops are circulating—”

Fabian pressed a finger to her lips to hush her. “I couldn’t find the diamond.”

“You couldn’t find it!” Maddie shrieked. “Why not?”

“I found the safe but it has a digital lock. I’d need a couple of days or a computer program to break it, neither of which I have. It’s time for Plan B.”

“We don’t have a Plan B!”

“We do now. Go back to Roland and angle for an invitation to his sailboat. Tell him you’re thinking of buying a yacht just like his, and you’d like a tour. He’s such an egotist he won’t be able to resist giving advice.”

Maddie groaned. “I hate this plan already.”

“Once you’re on board, get him talking about jewels and with luck he’ll show you the Rose. When he’s not looking, remove the stone from the pendant and replace it with the synthetic diamond. Then you give the necklace back to him and get away as fast as you can, before he notices anything’s amiss.”

“Oh, no, this is not a good plan. This is a very bad plan.” Maddie curled her arms around her waist and bent double, trying to breathe. Bad enough she had to go aboard the boat, but to switch diamonds under Roland’s nose— “Wait a minute! What am I supposed to put in the Rose’s place?”

From his jacket pocket Fabian removed a small plastic bag with a ziplock seal and placed it in her palm. In the light of the security lamp over the door, a pink heart-shaped diamond sparkled. It was the synthetic replica.

Maddie almost choked. “Where did you get that?”

“Your friend, the detective.”

Her mind whirled back to the minutes surrounding her “escape” from Detective Sergeant Billson’s clutches. Fabian’s swift approach from behind, Billson’s sudden stumble and drop to the ground. “You used the death grip on him and picked his pocket!”

“We’ll put the stone to better use than he can,” Fabian said, not the least bit apologetic. “Will you be able to remove the Rose and set this stone?”

Maddie took the diamond out of the bag and hefted it in her palm. It was a beauty, easily worth a million dollars or more. “Why didn’t you tell me you had this?”

“You didn’t need to know. Can you change the stones?”

“It would be easier with a prong lifter and a pair of flat-nosed pliers, but I suppose I could make do with a pencil or even your lockpick thingy. If I get the opportunity, that is.” She put the diamond back in the bag and placed it in her purse. “The police are inside, going from table to table.”

“Then you’d better hurry.” Fabian opened the door for her. “I’ll wait here to make sure you get away, then I’ll go back to the boat and hide belowdeck. If anything goes wrong, I’ll be right there.”

Maddie took a deep breath. “Okay, here goes.”

She paused in the doorway. The police were still working the far side of the room but they were making their way steadily toward Amanda’s table. Roland was keeping his back to them. As quickly and inconspicuously as she could, she slunk between the tables back to her seat next to Roland. She picked up her glass and downed two fingers of scotch in one gulp.

“Are you okay?” Roland asked.

“Fine!”
Think, Maddie. You need a cover story.
“But, um, I have a confession to make. I didn’t just happen to walk by your table earlier. I had an ulterior motive in asking you to dance.”

“Oh?” Roland raised an eyebrow and took a sip of his drink. “What are you after?”

“I’m looking to buy a boat and someone pointed you out as the owner of
Beau Sancy.
I noticed her down at the marina. She’s exactly the type of yacht I’m looking for.”

“Here I thought my charm and good looks had attracted you. I hate to disappoint you, but
Beau Sancy
isn’t for sale.”

Maddie crossed her legs, letting the side slit reveal an expanse of smooth faux-tanned thigh. Roland’s gaze obligingly slid south. If she had to go to bed with him, would the tan rub off on the sheets? She should have asked Amanda while she had the chance.

“I didn’t mean I wanted to buy your boat. I was hoping you could tell me what she’s like to sail.”

“I haven’t had her long but so far I’m pleased with her performance.” Roland lightly stroked his fingertips over Maddie’s hand. “She’s oceangoing and she’s fast.”

“Like me.” Maddie gave a tinkling laugh. Turning her palm to his she nudged his calf with her toe. “I’d love a tour.”

Roland’s eyes flicked sideways to the cops and he circled her palm with this thumb. “I’d be happy to take you aboard. How about tonight?”

“Wonderful,” she purred. The police officers were now only two tables away from Amanda’s. “Would you mind very much if we missed the awards presentation?”

“Not at all. Let’s go before they get started on the speeches.” Roland drained his drink, clearly eager to leave the building.

How convenient that they had the same agenda. Maddie gathered up her purse and rose. “I’ll freshen up. Meet you out front in ten minutes?”

Roland smiled but his eyes were tense. “Make it five.”

Maddie walked quickly toward the ladies’ room. Her heart thumping, she forced herself not to break into a run. She glanced behind her. Roland was halfway to the main door, walking swiftly. The police officers had stopped at Amanda’s table and the beautician was studying the photograph. Amanda pointed to the empty chair she’d occupied only moments ago at Roland’s table. Maddie darted through the exit into the heat and humidity of the tropical night.

Fabian’s arms closed around her from behind. “That was close.”

“Too close.” The solid strength of his chest, the beat of his heart and the warmth of his body were more welcome than she could say. “I can’t stay. Roland took the bait. I’m meeting him around the front.”

“How did that go?”

“Piece of cake,” she said flippantly. “Men are ruled by their dick.”

“Don’t underestimate him. He’s a womanizer but he’s not stupid. Are you going to his boat?”

“Yes.” She didn’t want to think about that, not yet.

“Give me a few minutes to get there first and hide out below.” Fabian took her by the shoulders and searched her face. “He didn’t see you with me, did he?”

“I don’t think so. Why, what would it matter? He wouldn’t know you.”

“Roland’s a man on the run even if he doesn’t act like it. Anything out of the ordinary, such as seeing you with another man, then coming on to him, might make him suspicious.”

“He wasn’t suspicious of a strange woman inviting herself to his boat at night.”

“That’s not unusual for him.”

Maddie squinted at Fabian. Maybe it was the angle of his jaw or the harsh security light, but for a second there he looked like—she shook her head. No way.

He stepped backward into the shadow. “You’d better go. Now that Amanda’s identified you, the police will search the building. When they don’t find you, they’ll start looking elsewhere.”

“I wish we didn’t have to split up.” She shivered again.

“I’ll be close by even if you can’t see me. Once you’ve switched the diamonds, get off the boat as soon as you can. Wait for me back at the villa.” Fabian rubbed her goose-bumpy arms. “It’ll all be over soon.”

“Thank God. My life will seem very tame after this.”

Good grief, was that a wistful note in her voice? Fabian had kissed her twice. Was it the glamorous makeup, the sexy dress, the fabulous hair that turned him on? Or could he possibly feel some smidgen of desire for the real Maddie Maloney?

Fabian’s hands stilled on her shoulders. “Isn’t that what you want, for this all to be over?”

No. Maybe.
“Yes, of course.”

“You don’t have to go back to being a nerd,” he said softly. “You can be anything you want—wear sexy clothes, look beautiful, be desirable. You can have any man you want.”

She didn’t want just any man; she wanted Fabian. She wanted him to find her beautiful and desirable. Oh, sure, he’d told her she was sexy in this dress, and back at the villa he’d responded to her physically. But it wasn’t just sex she wanted from him. Could he ever love her? Or did he simply view her as a project, a Pygmalion he could transform, an instrument to get the job done? Was she truly no more than a…a prong lifter to him?

But he’d helped her discover her inner glamazon and for that she was grateful. Maddie rose on tiptoe and slid her arms around his neck to kiss him. She wasn’t channeling anyone but herself as she held nothing back of the warm feelings coursing through her, or the sharp urgency of her desire. For this moment he was hers simply because she wanted him. It was a heady feeling, more amazing than she could ever have imagined.

“Now I know how soldiers feel when they’re about to go behind enemy lines,” she said with a breathless laugh. “Maybe we should make love in case it’s my last night on earth.”

Fabian’s face was shadowed except for a blade of light across his sharply angled jaw and lower lip. “Whatever happens tonight, I want you to know I’m far from immune to you.”

Maddie’s heart thudded. This was what she’d wanted to hear. She started to reach for him again. Twenty yards to their right a door opened. Light and music spilled out.

Fabian’s hands slid away from her waist. Without a word he melted into the darker shadows behind the shrubbery.

Roland stepped outside, into the light.

Maddie sucked in a deep breath and walked toward him.

Showtime.

* * *

The marina glittered with the masthead lights of hundreds of sailboats. Moonlight shed a sparkling path across the dark water. Maddie stepped onto the steep ramp leading down to the pontoon and immediately tripped in her high heels.

She grabbed Roland’s arm and turned the stumble to her advantage by clutching his jacket lapel with her other hand. “It must be the full moon. It’s making me crazy for you.”

He slid his arms around her, his hands splaying over her butt. “I like a woman who goes after what she wants.”

She was just playing a part, she reminded herself, just until she got the Rose. “That’s me,” she growled huskily. “A tigress.”

He kissed her with finesse worthy of an international playboy. She tried to respond with the enthusiasm befitting a redhead in a hot dress. Somehow it wasn’t working. In her practice session with Fabian she’d gone into meltdown, forgetting everything, even the Rose. With Roland all she wanted to do was get his hands off her body so she could get on with finding the diamond.

Maddie wriggled free of his embrace and playfully stroked a finger down his jaw. “I prefer to do this in privacy. On the
Beau Sancy.”

Roland slipped an arm around her waist. “If it was daytime I’d take you for a sail, show you how she moves.”

“What a pity.” Not.

At the end of the pontoon, the
Beau Sancy
’s hull glowed softly white. Her tall stainless steel mast swayed in the slight breeze, wire stays softly clanking. Like a ghost ship, Maddie thought with an involuntary shiver.

Her high heels clipped hollowly as she negotiated the boxes, ropes and sailing gear littering the pontoon. Someone had returned from fishing and left their rods lying around. A bucket of squid used as bait had tipped on its side, spilling its slimy contents. Roland tightened his grip to lead her through the maze, pressing his hand against the small of her back. Maddie chafed at his attempt at guidance; it would be easier to pick her own way around the obstacles. Then he slid his hand down to her butt cheek—and squeezed.

With her nerves already twanging like overstrung wires, she jerked sideways, away from Roland’s groping hand. Her spike heel came down on a squid and she slipped. Trying to right herself, she stumbled over the bucket.

After that, it was like a comedy of errors in slow motion. Roland reached out but couldn’t catch her. Maddie’s arms flailed as she fell heavily, her head and shoulders hanging over the side of the pontoon. The chain strap of her purse slid down her arm, the weight of the synthetic diamond swinging the purse wide and speeding it on its way. Before she could close her hand around the strap, the purse dropped off and landed in the water.

“Nooooooo!” Her desperate wail carried across the marina.

Maddie’s ankle was twisted, her shin scraped where she’d collided with the bucket, and her hip bruised from the fall. None of these things mattered. Rolling onto her stomach in the stink of squid and fish guts, she flattened herself on the pontoon and stretched her hand out in a vain attempt to grasp the pouch of beaded satin. If it had contained only her room key and a lipstick it might have floated long enough for her to grab it, but the diamond made it sink. Before her disbelieving eyes the purse disappeared below the surface of the water. She stared at the spreading ripples, unable to comprehend or accept that it was really gone.

Roland peered over the side. “What did you have in there, an iron anvil?”

A sound that was half sob, half-hysterical laughter bubbled out of her. “I have to get it back.”

“You can get a replacement key card from the resort. Let me help you up.”

Maddie ignored his proffered hand. “How deep is the water here?”

“Eight or ten feet, maybe. Was there anything valuable in the purse?”

Only a synthetic diamond that was worth a cool million and crucial to retrieving the Rose.
Ohgodohgodohgod.
She was going to be sick. The smell of rotting squid smeared all over her dress wasn’t helping. Of all the obstacles and problems she’d imagined encountering tonight, not once had she imagined dropping the freaking diamond in the harbor.

“Seriously, did you lose anything really important?” Roland asked.

“My credit cards, driver’s license…” She racked her brain for something invaluable, something she couldn’t do without, that would necessitate Roland doing the gentlemanly thing and going over the side for her. “I think I can see the chain glinting on the bottom. There, where it sank.” She pointed. “Do you see it?”

“Why don’t you stay aboard my boat tonight?” he suggested calmly and reasonably. “Tomorrow we’ll get the fellow who cleans hulls to put on his snorkel gear and recover your purse. If he can’t find it you can call the credit card companies.”

“I have to get my purse tonight,” Maddie insisted.

“No one is going to take it from the bottom of the harbor,” Roland said. “Come on, Brittany, let’s get you cleaned up.”