Stowaway (22 page)

“Keri—” he started, but she swiftly interrupted.

“Don’t Keri me in that tone. Where you go, I go. What you do, I do. It’s that way or the highway, Detective, so you’d better give me some details.”

Nick turned to face her. “It’s not like I have some secret plan. I want to take the speedboat back into the dock after dark and nose around a little. There’s no need for you to go with me.”

“Are you planning to take Brice and Gus?”

“Brice will go with me. Gus’ll stay with you.”

“How about I go with you and Brice while Gus stays here as our backup guy? I’ll keep an eye on the boat while you and Brice investigate whatever you want to investigate.”

Nick went quiet for a few long seconds, and then said, “The only way you go is if you go with a bodyguard besides me. We’ll both have backups, okay?”

“And do what? Make out in the boat so we won’t look suspicious?”

“You wanna make out with Gus?”

“I could make out with you while Brice and Gus investigate,” she argued. “We could even do that from your bedroom upstairs.”

“I’m not sending them to do my work,” he insisted stubbornly. His darkened gaze locked with hers.

She could be just as stubborn. “Then we all go.”

After heaving a frustrated sigh, Nick rose from the glider and offered her a hand. “We’ll do it your way, except for the making out with Gus bit.”

Keri took his hand and stood. “What time do we leave?”

“About the same time we left the
Adrianna
this morning. I want to see who’s snooping around the docks at that hour.”

She put her arms around his neck and pressed her body tightly against his. He slipped his hands around her waist and tugged her closer. Despite their difference of opinion, as soon as their bodies touched, the simmering passion re-ignited.

“I guess that gives us a few hours to kill,” she said, pressing her lips to his. That’s all it took to light a fire, their disagreement forgotten as desire flared. Nick held her while they watched an amazing sunset and then led her back to his bedroom.

Hours later, Keri watched him as he slept in his big, tousled bed. Despite some very strenuous sex, she couldn’t sleep. Her mind wouldn’t stop whirling and her emotions churned along with it. Moonlight filtered into the room through half-drawn drapes at the balcony doors. A cool breeze fluttered the sheers at the windows. One small lamp illuminated the wall opposite the bed.

As she looked around his childhood bedroom, she saw the signs of a happy, healthy teen growing into manhood. The bookshelves held popular teenage titles as well as true crime and college text books. Sports trophies mingled with photos of his family and friends.

Wearing only a tank top and panties, she slipped quietly out of bed and crossed the room. A picture of Nick’s family sat on the bureau. He wore a cap and gown while his parents beamed with pride. His mother looked slim, attractive and very sophisticated. His dad had a full head of thick white hair, a thickening waist and a twinkle in his eyes.

Sonia and Sophie had been in their tween years and looked alike, but she didn’t know which was which. Though she hadn’t actually slept in Maria’s bed, she recognized his oldest sister from photos in her room. Liz was shorter and more full-figured. All Nick’s siblings had inherited dark hair, eyes and complexions.

She knew from a casual conversation he wanted a big family too. Lots of little additions to the Lamanto brood, he’d said with a laugh. He just hadn’t found the right woman to be their mother. Keri thought he’d make a good father if he’d give up the police work. Getting shot at by thugs didn’t factor into the raising of children, in her opinion.

One thing she knew for certain, she had no chance of being that woman. The car wreck two years ago had crushed her abdomen and destroyed her reproductive system. She wouldn’t be conceiving, carrying or bringing anyone’s children into the world. Everyone back in Thornsbury knew about it, of course. The news had created a ten-day gossip fest back then, but she hadn’t seen a need to mention it to Nick.

Setting the photo back on the bureau, Keri wondered what his family would think of her and if she’d like them. They looked friendly and good-natured, but most people did when they posed for pictures. She wondered about his brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews. Did they all share the Italian heritage? Not that it really mattered. She wouldn’t be around long enough to meet them. They were strangers indulging in a brief affair. That’s all she and Nick meant to each other. She’d thought their differences, country girl versus city boy, would be too much of a hurdle for any relationship to survive.

Now that she knew more of his background and his family’s incredible wealth, she knew they had no chance for a future. Their lifestyle differences had shifted from diverse to poles apart. When he did marry, it would probably be to a woman from his own social set. One with a perfect, unscarred, child-bearing Italian body.

She’d always wanted children, but she’d come to terms with the fact she’d never have any of her own. Still, it hurt. It made her sad to think of leaving him too, but she needed to make the break before she fell more deeply in love. Each time he smiled at her, teased her or made love to her, he stole a little more of her soul.

After turning off the small lamp, she moved back to the bed and snuggled up to his warm body. He immediately reached out and drew her close. Keri laid her head on his chest and listened to the steady beat of his heart, wondering if it was already too late to salvage her own.

Dressed in jeans and dark hooded sweatshirts, Nick and Keri met the bodyguards at the boathouse just after three a.m. They untied and boarded the family’s speedboat. She’d thought it might be crowded with all four of them, but the streamlined craft had plenty of room.

Brice drove with Gus as navigator while Nick tucked her beside him on a narrow bench. They traveled slowly through the water to avoid a strong wake or spray. The big engine hummed softly as they made their way inland.

“The air must be really clear tonight because the stars look extra bright,” said Nick.

“The moon and stars really are beautiful. I hate to think about evil goons with guns and explosives. Why is it that men aren’t satisfied unless they’re waging some kind of war?”

Nick’s reply came swiftly. “Brice can take you back to the villa.”

“No,” she responded just as swiftly and succinctly.

“Okay then.”

The wealth of resignation in his tone made her smile. She knew he wanted to protect her and keep her safe. She’d dealt with the sentiment all her life. Mostly she appreciated the caring and concern, but sometimes she thought any more would surely suffocate her. Just another reason she needed to guard her heart.

When she’d made her vacation plans, she’d never imagined how much it would complicate her life. She couldn’t regret meeting Nick and spending time with him, or getting a glimpse of the luxurious Gianovelli world. The hard part now would be figuring when and how to go home.

Home brought thoughts of the cabin, the militia and her family. Something bad had to be brewing in the mountains. Did Russ and his cohorts plan to keep their activities local or did they hope to expand? Worse yet, did they plan to attack someone or something on a grand scale? Could they really want to kill or injure masses of innocent people? What cause could possibly warrant that sort of terrorism?

“I need to get another disposable phone so I can check in with the lieutenant and you can call your dad,” said Nick as the lights of the harbor gradually changed from fairy-dust size to a sparkling crown of jewels.

“I have to decide what I’m telling my dad. He knows I’m not big on shopping, so that story won’t fly any longer.”

“Visiting old college roommates?” Nick suggested.

“Too easy to verify.”

“Didn’t you say you visited Lauderdale on spring break once? You could tell him you wanted some beach time and headed to the coast.”

“He’ll want specifics. Where are you? Who’s with you? How long will you be gone? It’s the story of my life.”

“He loves you.”

“Yeah.

“You can pretend to have really bad phone reception. Lots of static and interference.”

She’d thought of leaving a message on the home answering machine during their work shift, but they rotated weekends. Hard to tell who’d be hanging around the house on a Saturday.

“If I wait much longer, Dad’ll have an APB out for me.”

“You’re sure he knows you didn’t return to the cabin?”

“No doubt in my mind.” Between Russ and her extended family, someone would be reporting to her dad.

“Maybe just hearing from you will pacify him right now.”

Keri nodded. When he started demanding details, she’d give him her
I’m a big girl, don’t baby me
attitude. That should reassure him.

As they neared the bay, she felt Nick withdrawing both physically and mentally. He reached to the back of his waist and checked his gun, refocusing on his investigation. Yet another trait she’d lived with her whole life—the ability to concentrate on the job in exclusion of all else.

She’d once asked her mother how she could stand it. The family would attend a school or community function and her dad would zone out on them. Her mother had smiled and said his dedication made her proud, and the benefits of loving such a man outweighed minor annoyances.

Now Keri understood a little better. She appreciated Nick’s commitment to get to the truth. This case had impacted him personally and professionally. He’d taken a bullet and lost a home. Not small sacrifices.

Despite the early morning hour, lights sparkled on the water and illuminated the bay. Keri watched as Brice expertly maneuvered the boat through the inlet to reach Miamarina. A thick haze rose from the water, shrouding the row of slips along the dock. She felt Nick tense as they approached the burned out shell of the
Adrianna.

When they eased closer, he handed her a pair of binoculars. Lifting them to her face, she got her first experience with night-vision. The glasses cut through the fog and darkness to bring the
Adrianna
into clear focus.

Not that she could see much. Yellow police tape draped the carcass, giving it a ghoulish appearance. Most everything above water had burned or melted. An empty hull gently bobbed on the waves of their wake.

They didn’t linger near the destroyed cabin cruiser. No more than any other curiosity seeker might do. Keri shifted her gaze from the destruction to the parking lot above it. She quickly zoomed in on a vehicle that looked just like hers, only undamaged.

“Is that my SUV?”

Nick swung his glasses in the same direction. “Yeah, Gus arranged for it to be repaired, repainted and brought back to the lot. We took the liberty of giving it Florida tags so your out-of-state ones wouldn’t draw attention. The Tennessee tags are under the backseat.”

“How in the world did he get all that accomplished in one day? On a weekend, no less.”

He didn’t immediately respond, but the answer came to Keri as soon as she’d posed the question. “I guess the Gianovelli name gets results where others wouldn’t have a hope.”

“That’s about the size of it.”

He didn’t sound too happy about it. She wondered why. Maybe for the same reason she’d always used her family’s name and reputation with reluctance. She didn’t approve of nepotism. She’d always wanted to make her own way, but circumstances sometimes warranted extra influence.

“Thanks.”

Nick shot a quick glance at her as if he didn’t trust his hearing. His voice softened in his reply. “You’re welcome. I’m sorry it got messed up in the first place.”

“I know,” she said. “Whose Florida tags are on it? They can’t be traced to your family, can they?”

His tone hardened. “The tags are from a rental agency the police department uses on occasion. I’ve never involved my family in any traceable fashion. They’re not even listed as next of kin on my personnel files.”

Until now and for her. He didn’t say the words but they hung between them. She couldn’t bear to think he’d endangered his family by trying to protect her. They’d all be safer when she went home.

Brice slowly guided the speedboat past a dozen or so slips and then eased them into the Gianovelli family spot they’d vacated yesterday. Nick jumped to the dock to secure the ropes as the engine rumbled to a halt.

Keri grasped the edge of her seat to steady herself and rose to her feet. She kept the binoculars trained on the parking lot and dock. Two men with fishing poles and tackle boxes walked toward a boat close to the marina. Farther down the dock, at a fueling station, an employee appeared to be opening the door of the business.

“See anything suspicious?” Nick asked as he rejoined her, lifting his glasses to his face.

She’d agreed to stay with Gus, but they’d have his back from a distance. A lot of good that would do if someone decided to shoot at him again.

“Just the same things I saw yesterday morning.”

“Brice and I are going to look around the
Adrianna
first. Then we’ll try to find the night watchman who patrols this time of day. Maybe he saw something after we left yesterday. We won’t be long. I want to head back to the island before it gets too busy here.”

“Okay,” she said, lowering the glasses long enough to accept the kiss he aimed at her mouth.

The boat rocked as they disembarked. Keri steadied herself and Gus came to stand near her. He put a hand under her arm for support but quickly dropped it once she’d found her legs. Then he picked up Nick’s binoculars and they both watched the dock.

She got briefly distracted when her gaze drifted to Nick’s retreating form. The man had gorgeous written all over him from the front, side and the rear. In his tight, well-worn jeans, he oozed sex appeal. It wouldn’t be easy to walk away when the time came.

In a matter of minutes, the two men had walked halfway to the marina. When they grew too small in her magnified vision, she secured the binoculars around her neck and jumped from the boat to the dock.

“Miss!” Gus hissed and quickly followed.