Treasure Tides (The Coins) (10 page)

Becki was still not sure where things stood with them.
Sure she was
attracted to him, and she knew he was attracted to her; but honestly,
where did things go from here?
She was not interested in a fling. She
had plenty of offers for temporary company. She was not interested in a
hook-up, but was afraid to hope for something more with Royce. Her
heart could not stand being broken yet again.

Suddenly, a loud
crash
sounded just outside her window!
Becki
screamed!
Royce heard the noise immediately followed by Becki’s scream. His
feet hit the floor at a dead run with his heart in his throat. He burst into
her room without bothering to knock.
There she sat, in the middle of her bed, wearing pink frilly pajamas
with her hair pulled up high on her head, and her eyes as big as silver
dollars. Judging by the dark circles under her wide eyes, she had not had
any better luck sleeping than he.
“That sounded close! I hate storms,” Becki said with a shiver.
Gone was the “I’ll be fine” bravo of a few hours ago, replaced by the
“scared shitless wimp” she really was when faced with lightning and
thunder.
Royce didn’t need an engraved invitation. He stalked straight to the
bed and climbed in beside Becki.
He pulled her body up against his
turning her to face away from him as he scooted down into the covers
lining her head up with the soft pillow. Then he whispered, “Go to
sleep, sweetheart. I’ve got you. I’ll take care of everything. Just close
your eyes and go to sleep.”
“Ok,” she said, already half way there. She had not slept one minute
during the long night. Between thinking of Royce lying on her couch,
wondering what she could possibly have been thinking to insist he sleep
all the way out there and being afraid of the storm, she was completely
exhausted.
Snuggling
more deeply into his
arms, she
closed her eyes and
mumbled, “Goodnight Royce.” The words barely passed her lips before
she promptly dozed off.
Royce pulled the covers over her bare shoulder and tightened his hold
on her just the tiniest bit. Sleep did not come for Royce, but he was used
to sleepless nights. In his line of work, all-night surveillance was not
uncommon, and back-to-back
twenty-four-hour shifts
were more
frequent than he cared to admit.
This was more enjoyable than pulling surveillance duty though, much
more enjoyable, he thought with a smile.

Becki awoke to the smell of bacon-- bacon? Bacon equaled breakfast.
Breakfast equaled morning. She didn’t
do
mornings. Pulling a pillow
over her head, she closed her eyes and tried to convince herself that she
was dreaming.
It was working fabulously too, until a sexy, low voice
called from the doorway.

Becki forced one eye open to peek from under her pillow.
She saw
Royce leaning casually against the door frame with arms crossed and lips
curved in a sexy smile. He made her heart race, and thinking of the past
few hours spent wrapped in his arms made her tingle all over. Royce had
spent the night with her, protected her throughout the storm, and
behaved like a perfect gentleman.
Darn it!

“Ugh, what time is it?” Becki grumbled, allowing the pillow to fall
back down, covering her face again.
Becki felt the bed
dip
as Royce sat down beside her. He gently pried
the pillow from her fingers and away from her face. Just her luck! Sexyas-sin was right there within reach, and she had puffy eyes, messy hair,
and morning breath.
“Go away, Royce. I’m not a morning person, and I look like
something the cat dragged in,” she said attempting to turn her back to
him. As it turned out, she was unable to move as the blankets were
wrapped tightly around her, and Royce was currently sitting on one end
of them.
“You are starting to give me a complex,” he complained, “always telling
me to go away. Besides, you look beautiful,” Royce said with a smile.
“Have you had your eyes tested lately?” Becki groused.
“My eye sight is perfect, thank you. Get a move on gorgeous.
Breakfast is on the table.
I have about twenty minutes before I have to
meet Sean, Kurt, and Landon downtown.”
“Oh, I see!
They
can know all about your ‘super-secret’ business, but I
can’t,” Becki pouted.
“It’s a guy thing,” Royce teased.
He lifted her hand to his lips for a quick kiss, and then tugged gently
as he stood.
“Come on, lazybones,” he encouraged. “Have breakfast with me
before I have to go.”
“Ok, give me just a minute.”
“The clock is ticking,” he said as he tapped his watch.
I’ll be right there,” Becki promised. After all, what girl in her right
mind would rather sleep than spend time with a
hardbody
like Royce?
“I’ll make the coffee,” Royce added as he turned to make his way
back to the kitchen.
“Oh, my God!” Becki caught sight of her reflection in the mirror
hanging above her dresser.
Her hair stuck out in all directions, makeup streaks smeared her face,
and she had a deep “sleep wrinkle” in her cheek.
Rolling her eyes, she “huffed” at the unfairness of it all. She stuck her
feet in pink fuzzy slippers, slid her arms in a short pink terry-cloth robe,
and sailed to the bathroom to repair as much of the damage as she could.
Moments later, morning breath effectively scrubbed and gargled away,
hair tamed and piled in a messy bun on top of her head, Becki sashayed
to the kitchen. Sitting in the middle of her kitchen table was a complete
breakfast: a stack of golden pancakes, bacon, orange juice, and a vase of
fresh flowers.
“Whew! Someone’s been busy this morning. I’m impressed,” Becki
said as she breezed in struggling to act as if this were not
the
most
romantic thing that had ever happened to her.
Man-o-man, she could get
used to this!
Come to think of it, this was the second morning in a row
she had been surprised by Royce. Of course, yesterday he had been
wearing nothing but a miniscule towel.
“I ran to the grocery and checked on things outside,” Royce said as
he pulled out a chair for her to sit in. “A few of the surrounding houses
are missing shingles, but you seem to have pulled through with very little
damage.
The crash we heard last night was your neighbor’s carport
blowing down. It landed on the fence between your two houses. I’ll let
Ryker know when I talk to him. I’m sure it can be easily repaired.”
“Thank you, kind Sir,” Becki said batting her eyelashes playfully at
Royce.
“You are most welcome, my Lady,” Royce said with a low bow.
Straightening, he grabbed the coffee pot asking, “Black or candied?”
“I like lots of cream, tons of sugar, and whipped cream-- of course,”
Becki said innocently. As the words left her mouth, her face flamed with
color.
Royce--and whipped cream-- together? The possibilities were endless.
“Um-, never mind,” Becki amended quickly, wishing she could press a recall
button on her last comment. “I think I’m out,” she mumbled, suddenly
interested in the pancakes on her plate.
Royce cleared his throat and called her out, “You are lucky I only
have about ten minutes before I need to leave, or I would prove you a
liar.”
Becki snatched her glass of orange juice and took a big gulp, while she
tried to think of a way to change the subject.
Her plan was a dismal failure the moment Royce added, “I guarantee
you would enjoy it.”
Becki choked as orange juice went down the wrong pipe!
“I’m sorry,” Royce quickly apologized as he handed her a glass of
water.
If the sparkle in his eyes was any indication, he didn’t seem too sorry.
Thankfully, her coughing jag didn’t last long. After she settled back
down, they were able to finish breakfast without further incident.
“Sorry to leave you with the mess,” he apologized, taking a long
swallow of orange juice. “Next time you cook and I’ll clean up.”
Next time?
Becki felt butterflies in her stomach and decided against
eating that third pancake she had been eyeing.
“Mmmm that was delicious,” Becki said as she gathered her dishes
and moved to the sink.
She was rinsing the sticky syrup from her plate
when Royce reached around her to do the same. Becki’s hands began to
shake as she felt his warm breath caress the nape of her neck.
“Becki,” he whispered, his lips moving against the soft-spot just
below her ear. “I loved waking up with you in my arms. I know there is
a lot you don’t understand. There are things I can’t tell you. But I’m
asking you to trust me. I feel happier when I’m with you than I’ve ever
felt in my life.
I want to be the man who makes you happy; the man
who walks with you on the beach under the stars.” Becki heard a smile
in his voice as he added, “I want to be the one to make-out with you
under the pier, and
anything else
you can think of. I want you to be with
me…o
nly
me.”
Becki closed her eyes as she leaned her head back letting it rest on Royce’s
shoulder. “I would like that,” she admitted. “I would like that a lot.”
“Good,” Royce said grazing her ear with his teeth.
Becki caught her breath.
She was assaulted with sensation as he
followed the line of her neck with his lips.
“Perfect timing,” he said sarcastically when his cell started buzzing.
He released her to answer the call.
“I’ll call you back in a minute!”
Reaching around Becki, he turned off the water that was still running
in the sink. “I have to go. Walk me to the door, and kiss me goodbye,”
he bossed, linking his fingers with hers to pull her toward the front door.
“Thanks for staying with me. I would have been a little scared to be
here all by myself last night,” Becki admitted as she opened the front
door.
“I know,” Royce said with a smile.
Becki stuck her tongue out imitating a bratty child. “How does it feel
to always be right, O-Wise-One?” she asked.
“Good!” he joked, pulling her in close for a quick kiss. “I’ll see you
soon.”
Becki couldn’t take her eyes off him as he sauntered down the steps
and climbed into his red Corvette. That was one wicked-hot man in one
wicked-hot car. She couldn’t wait to drive it! She also couldn’t wait for
that walk on the beach he had promised!
Darn it! Why couldn’t Natie live closer?
Becki felt like stomping her foot
in frustration. She wanted to sit on her porch with her sister and talk
about the sexy man who had just driven away.
Since Natie was on her way home to Indiana this morning, a phone
conversation would have to suffice.

“What’s up, Becki? Is everything ok?” Natie answered her phone
with panic in her voice.
“Yes. Everything’s fine…just fine,” Becki reassured her. “I wanted
to make sure you and Jonah got started back home this morning as
planned. The storm wasn’t much of a storm, was it? How were things
downtown last night? Did you get much rain? You didn’t lose power at
the hotel, did you? What time--”
“Becki!”
Natie interrupted her sister mid-sentence.
She could always
tell when Becki was upset about something because she talked a-mile-aminute.
“What?!”
Becki fired back.
“It’s eight o’clock-
in the morning
,” Natie said as if that explained
everything.
“So? Your point?” Becki returned belligerently.
“Well, let me see…most days you are barely coherent
at noon
. Unless
I missed something, I didn’t see anything in the headlines this morning
about the end of the World, and I’m pretty sure you didn’t call me at this
hour to discuss the weather. Now,
what is going on
?”
“It’s Royce,” Becki confided in a rush. “He spent the night.”
“Alright! You go girl!” Natie applauded.
“He slept on the couch,” Becki quickly clarified.
“The
couch
? What the hell--? Are you crazy?”
“Glad I called you for the pep talk,” Becki complained.
“Sorry. I’m--forget it. And--? You were saying?” Natie prompted.
“He fixed breakfast,” Becki continued, “and then-- he asked me out
on a date,” she finished in a rush.
“That’s great!” Natie cheered. “He seems like a really nice guy, Becki.
I’m happy for you, and he’s
hot as hell
. I think you should go for it--see
where things lead. The flowers were beautiful, by the way. Didn’t you
think?”
“I just don’t know if I’m up to going through all the motions only to
get hurt again,” Becki confessed. “You know I have a hard time trusting
men. I’m not interested in getting all tied in knots over someone who
ends up being completely different than the person he seemed to be at
the beginning of the relationship.”
“Oh, Becki, just take it slow,” Natie advised. She knew, better than
anyone, how badly Becki had been hurt in the past. “Don’t over-think
this. Have some fun and see where things go.”
“I guess,” Becki said with little-or-no conviction.
“If you never take a chance on anyone, you will be alone for the rest
of your life.” Natie took the gloves off, so to speak. “Is that what you
want?” Natie asked softly.
“Of course not,” Becki answered.
“Well, then--”
“I’ll think about it,” Becki agreed. “Did you and Sean go straight
home last night?” she asked, changing the subject. “I kind of got the
feeling he was interested in spending some ‘alone time’ with you.”
“Jonah and I have been on the road for about an hour,” Natie said
quickly.
“O. K…I’ll take that as a
no
,” Becki said with a smile. The fact that
Natie had not immediately answered “yes” gave Becki hope. “You had
better call me the minute you get home,” Becki threatened. “I want the
gory details.”
“Alright. Well, our exit is just ahead so I need to go. I’ll call you
when we get home to let you know we made it safely.”
“I’ll look forward to it,” Becki laughed. “You guys be careful.”
“We will,” Natie agreed. “Just relax, ok? Enjoy the unexpected…and
keep me informed!” Natie insisted before she hung up.
Eight fifteen in the morning! Before today, Becki hadn’t even known
those particular numbers were on her clock. She might as well get in the
shower since she had promised to run downtown and pick up candy for
the girls. Clarissa, Leann, and Mandy were planning a sleepover with
friends tonight. They didn’t have school tomorrow because it was a
“teacher workday”.
Becki yawned.
Then again, maybe there was time for a quick nap before
venturing downtown
. Her shift started at six o’clock this evening, and she
didn’t expect to get off until eleven o’clock at the very earliest.
Yes,
definitely time for a quick nap
.

“Sean, where are we supposed to meet Kurt and Landon this
morning?” Royce asked as he crested the top of the Cooper River
Bridge.
He had not called back immediately.
After leaving Becki this
morning, he needed a few minutes to let his mind clear before talking
with Sean. Holding her while she slept had felt like coming home after a
long journey: comfortable, natural, wonderful.

“Hi boss, I’ve been calling you for the last hour. I was starting to
think you were going to be a no-show,” Sean teased.
“Bullshit, you know better--where and when?” Royce asked.
“Since they are meeting us here, I ran out and grabbed some
doughnuts this morning.
Kurt just called though and said he and
Landon were running late. They wanted to stop somewhere to pick up
some old maps of Charleston Harbor. We are going to compare the
paper copies with the digital copies I have. From what they were telling
me last night, we suspect the digital copies have been altered.
Uh, how
was Becki this morning?” Sean bravely asked.
“None of your damn business,” Royce said effectively shutting down
the conversation before it began.
“Got it,” Sean backed off immediately but a grin covered his face.
“Have you heard from Joanna?” Royce asked. “She is supposed to be
in this afternoon, right?”
His sister was going to have to remove the spell currently cloaking the
coin if they wanted to get this mission wrapped up anytime soon. If
what Sean said was true, the digital maps they had been using might have
been previously altered. That could indicate someone had gone to great
lengths to hide something. Sean’s computers and other techno gadgetry
were vital to their mission, but sometimes you just couldn’t beat plain old
paper and pencil.
Entering the condo a few minutes later, Royce announced, “I’m
gonna hit the shower before Kurt and Landon get here. I need you to
find that sister of mine,” he called to Sean as he crossed the living room,
moving toward his bedroom.
“I’ll see what I can do, Boss. Kurt and London should be here in
forty-five minutes,” Sean reminded Royce as he reached for his laptop.
With a few keystrokes, Sean activated Joanna’s microchip. Each team
member had agreed to the implant for their safety as well as that of their
team members. Sean could monitor their individual locations and route
help quickly if a mission became compromised, or one of them needed
assistance.
The system had proved invaluable when coordinating the
movement of team members during critical situations. He was always
careful not to impose in personal space, so the chips were deactivated
unless they were on a mission. The chip hadn’t seemed to work well if
the host, or team member, was submerged underwater.
Who would have
thought?
The tracking system obviously needed some modifications.
However, Sean didn’t have time to work on that right now. The first
item on his agenda was finding that coin!
Sean found himself thinking about Natie and her poor-excuse-for-aboy-friend. Jonah didn’t deserve her. Natie was the kind of girl most
guys would kill for. Sean certainly would. He had instinctively pulled
her close when she began crying on the way home, and she hadn’t pulled
away. Natie had stayed right where she landed: at his side, their thighs
touching and hands linked together like teenagers on their first date. He
had been in Heaven.
They had discovered a quaint coffee shop where they enjoyed lattes
and laughed about Royce and Becki, the cousins, Natie’s job, and her
idiot boyfriend.
Who would mess around on someone like Natie?
If she
belonged to Sean, he would appreciate her and spoil her as she deserved
to be spoiled.
Sean was certain that Jonah had not been in their hotel room last
night when he deposited Natie.
He had escorted her to the door of
her hotel room.
With every step he took, he hated the fact that he
had to walk away and leave her.
He wanted nothing more than to
wrap her in his arms and--, but he couldn’t. So he had settled for
brushing a silky strand of blond hair from her face and gently tucking
it behind her ear.
Letting his fingers glide across her face as he withdrew, he whispered,
“Take care of yourself, Natie Stephens. Don’t settle for less than you
deserve.”
Natie nodded and then whispered, “I’d better go. I still have to pack
tonight and try not to wake Jonah in the process. Thank you.
Thank
you for the latte and the conversation
and
for cheering me up.”
Looking deeply into her beautiful blue eyes he said, “You have my
number. I’m just a phone call away if you ever want to talk.”
She sighed heavily then leaned forward to brush her lips across his
cheek. “It was nice to meet you, Sean Jones.”
Natie placed her hand flat on his chest over his heart for a brief
moment. Heaving another sigh, she turned and slipped into the room
closing the door quietly behind her.
Sean had stood for a moment with his head leaning against the door
feeling as if it had just closed on his heart. He heard a door slam inside
the room and knew that Jonah hadn’t rushed home after all.