A Man to Remember (21 page)

She gave him a sassy grin. "All in a day's work."

He pulled her close to his chest and tried to be stern. "Didn't I ask why you didn't do as I said and fly out of there?"

"I always wanted to think for myself, and this was my big chance." She shrugged. "I figured there were only two people who gave a damn if you got out of that jail. Me and James what's-his-name. And he's a thousand miles away. Anyway, I care more." She caressed his bruised face gently.

"You know you're a fool to put yourself in danger for a man like me?"

"No, I'm not. I know what I'm doing." She kissed his lips tenderly. "Hmm, not bad without the beard. It'll take some getting used to, though."

"You are an amazing woman, Alyse Skye. I should be damned angry, but . . . maybe I'm too tired right now." He kissed her cheek, then pressed her head against his chest. Oh, God, she felt good next to him. Warm, soft, safe. Yet he knew that even those feelings were false. The two of them weren't safe until they hit U.S. soil.

Alyse wrapped an arm around his middle and stood with him at the lower helm for a while. His strong, steady heartbeat was reassuring and made all their efforts seem worthwhile. Finally she sniffed the air. "Your hamburger needs turning, Jake," she whispered. "And I'm going to get you an ice pack for that eye."

"You know all the right things to do for a man," he said with a gentle lightness. "Feed his stomach, patch up his wounds."

Laughing softly, she went over to the galley and flipped the hamburger. "I feel very secure because finally I have you here with me."

"We aren't safe until we're out of Mexican waters," he said with a sigh. "And that'll be some time yet. We have quite a trip ahead of us."

She wrapped a couple of pieces of ice in a washcloth. "Here. Soothe the ravages of war." She placed the coolness gently on his bruised and battered face.

"Ah, that feels good," he said, clamping one hand over the ice pack while holding the wheel with the other. "You're an interesting lady, Alyse. Admittedly you're a bit strong-minded, but when the chips are down, you really come through."

She smiled proudly from the galley. "You say that only because we made it. If we hadn't, you'd be furious."

"Damn right I would! We'd both be rotting in that damned jail. Or worse."

"Oh, Jake, we'd just call on your friend James."

"I didn't hear anyone offering me a phone call," he growled. "Down here, there are no citizen's rights. But I'll admit, I'm impressed with your performance. You were fearless, intrepid, creative, if somewhat foolhardy."

"Is that all?" she said teasingly.

"And damn good in bed."

She threw a piece of lettuce at him and propped her fists on her hips. "I had a wonderful time with Sergeant Gomez. I was a real siren, perched on his desk. You should have seen his eyes bug out when I revealed my thighs and showed him the necklace like this." She pulled her neckline down to expose her shoulders and leaned forward with a taunting smile.

"Which necklace?"

"The one I used to bribe him."

"You gave him one of your necklaces? For me?"

She put the finishing touches on the hamburger. "I figured you were worth it."

Jake whirled around. "Don't! My God, Alyse!"

She looked at him mildly. "Don't get so upset, Jake. It isn't good for your blood pressure." She placed the hamburger on the instrument console. "Here, food for the savage beast. Eat up. You'll feel better."

"I hope you didn't lose the box I entrusted to you."

"Of course not. I did some very discrete shopping, picked out a perfect faux ruby & left it dangling from his neck, the bastard."

She could see relief flood Jake's eyes and felt her own sense of pride in her independent judgment. She disappeared into the head and returned a minute later with the box. "I told you I was trustworthy. And I think you should tell me what you're hiding in here, besides a few nice gems."

Jake grabbed her hand. "What are you getting at? How much do you know, Alyse?"

She pulled away from him and folded her arms. "I don't know anything for sure, just what I can figure out. You may prefer to keep me in the dark, but I have my own suspicions. You're hiding something, Jake, either in the jewelry or the box. Well, here it is. Inspect away."

"Alyse, I—" He fumbled with the locked box. "Those bastards took my keys."

She handed him a bent bobby pin. "Here. This works."

"You're beginning to scare me."

"It's about time you took me seriously. I could be an operative."

He quickly opened the box and sighed audibly in relief. Sifting the jewels through his splayed fingers, he said weakly, "You did okay, Alyse."

"Why don't you tell me, Jake?"

"I. . . I can't. I can only say that this box and the jewelry must reach James Hugo. Especially this piece." His big hand dwarfed the sapphire and pearl necklace.

"Why?"

He slammed the lid down, and it clicked softly when the lock fell into place. "Don't ask any more questions, Alyse. Here. Hide it. Put it back."

"You trust me that much?"

A small grin curved his lips. "I trust you completely."

"Then why won't you tell me everything?"

"For your own safety."

"Ignorance is not a defense, Jake. Neither is it protection." She whisked the box away and placed it in a secret spot that she had learned about from Bristol Bordeaux's adventures.

Jake had eaten half the hamburger by the time she returned, and he complimented her culinary efforts lavishly. "It's great, Alyse. I didn't know you could cook so well. I think I'll take your advice and stretch out for a little while after a shower. Will you be okay with the boat while I catch a few z's?"

"Of course. I can keep it on course as long as the weather's smooth."

"You know, Alyse, I feel almost as if you're in charge here. We've switched roles," he said with a touch of wonder in his voice. "That's a real change for me."

She smiled softly. "It's a real change for me, too, Jake. I've never been completely in charge of anything in my life."

"Well, my precious operative, you've done a hell of a job so far."

"You don't mind if I'm in charge?"

"Surprisingly, I don't," he said. "Do you?"

"I love it. Feels great to be independent. I've spent a lifetime letting others direct my life." Her blue eyes cleared with self-revelation. "It's time I changed that, time I took charge of my own life."

"I can't believe you've been so willing to give in to others, Alyse. To let your family rule your life."

"It was easy and secure, and Father always took very good care of me. I work and live in the best places. Apparently you don't understand the power a family with money can have over its kids, especially a chauvinistic father and a brother to match. They have naturally assumed responsibility for me and I've always let them."

"Is this really the sassy, stubborn lady who just broke me out of jail? You have a special knack for sorting things out and solving problems. Actually I feel good in your hands."

"Well put." She chuckled. "I could say the same, you chauvinist." She stood on tiptoe and kissed his lips gently.

"Then say it," he murmured, and pulled her close.

"I do love being in your arms, Jake."

He pressed her to his chest. "This is where you belong, my adventure girl."

"Yes," she murmured, and kissed his chest at the V of his shirt. "Go ahead now. Try out the new water pump for your shower. And get some sleep. I'll take over here." She gripped the wheel and pushed him gently away.

"Keep a close watch. Let me know if anyone's following us."

"I will, Jake." She climbed back up to the boats bridge and kept their course steady and full speed. They had a long way to go before safety and she knew it.

Hours later she shook his shoulders with anxious hands. "Jake, Jake, wake up. A patrol boat is following us. A Mexican patrol boat!"

He lunged to his feet, still groggy. "Huh? What?"

"We're being approached by a Mexican patrol boat," she said, trying to keep her voice calm. But her heart was going wild. And she was plenty scared. "Of course, this could merely be a routine check. You know what sticklers they are about their papers being properly filled out and correct tariffs being paid by foreigners."

Jake ran a hand through his hair and tried to force himself to think clearly. "Okay, let's go on the assumption it's a routine stop for papers. Is the wooden box completely hidden?"

"Yes, but I'll double-check it." Alyse dashed to the head.

"Now, we're using real names because of our passports and the boat registration is in your brother's name. Get this straight. You and I are lovers on a holiday. I celebrated a little too much last night and got involved in a drunken brawl, which is why I have this shiner and I look so hung-over."

Alyse nodded, listening intently. She could hear the patrol boat growing closer.

"The reason we were in Mexico, besides to have a little fun, was to purchase these paintings for an art shop. I do have receipts for them. They aren't worth as much as I claimed at the hacienda and should pass under the export limits." Jake gave her an apologetic glance and shrugged. "But mostly we're just a couple of lovers on vacation. Okay?"

She took a shaky breath. "Anything else I should know?"

Jake's mouth grew tight. "They must not find that little jewelry box or the gun. It's crucial to our health and well-being. And I'll show them a couple of the canvas paintings if necessary, but let me do the choosing."

"The canvases are a real part of this too?" Her voice was almost a wail. "I thought they were just decoys. Oh, God, Jake. What else?"

The patrol boat pulled alongside, and they heard the captain calling.

"That's it, precious." Jake kissed her quickly. "You'll do fine. Remember, just like real lovers." He disappeared up the companionway ladder and greeted the unwelcome guests in a boisterous voice, "Hola, amigos!"

Alyse could hear the men talking and took a moment for several deep, calming breaths before appearing on the aft cockpit beside Jake.

With a rowdy laugh Jake drew her into the circle of his arm and proclaimed loudly, "And this is my li'l sweetie, Alyse Skye. The boat belongs to her. Well, actually to her brother, who's off somewhere in Europe right now. Probably signing some big business deals somewhere around the world. The guy's loaded, if you know what I mean."

The officer looked skeptically from Jake to Alyse. "We are coming aboard, sir."

"Why, sure!" Jake said enthusiastically with a definite Texas drawl. "Be our guests, señores. Get the papers for the gentlemen, sweetie." He popped Alyse on the bottom and received a slant-eyed glance from her. But it was all an act, and she knew she'd better calm down and get with it.

Two patrol officers boarded the Skye Command. One checked the boat's registration papers while the other looked at passports.

"And this bad eye, señor? Where did you get it?"

Jake shuffled his feet. "Aw, you know how it is, officers. I did a little too much celebrating in San Lucas last night. Also drank a little too much. Had a little fight with some bastard who took to my sweetie."

"A little too much?" Alyse spoke up, obvious disgust written on her lovely features. "You had way too much tequila, Jake. I kept telling him, officers that we had a trip ahead of us, but he wouldn't listen. But then that's nothing new. He never does. Why I remember one time in Cancun —"

"Excuse, señorita. We would like to check this vessel completely, por favor. Can we look in the cabin?"

Her blue eyes widened. "Well ... "

"Of course, sweetie. Don't be such a stickler. It'll be all right. They don't care if the place is a little messy and the bed isn't made. Come on, fellas. Can I get you a beer or something?" Jake led the way down the companionway.

Alyse watched miserably, wondering if they would find fault with anything they saw. Or if they would find the wooden box. Or if they already knew about Jake and were just prolonging the agony. She figured, though, that Jake was right. The two of them had to pretend to be a carefree couple for as long as possible. As long as it worked.

She followed them into the cabin. The men were poking into each drawer and under each mattress. When one officer lifted the ends of the largest mattress, then crawled to the far corners, Alyse gave Jake a quick, furtive I-knew-it glance. He turned away.

"What are you guys looking for? Aliens?" Jake laughed aloud, and tried again. "No, I'll bet you fellas are looking for drugs. Lots of smuggling these days, so I hear. Well, you won't find anything like that here. Cerveza is the strongest thing I drink, especially after last night. And I wouldn't fool with any of that drug stuff. 'Fraid it'll mess up my brain, you know? All I have to take back are these paintings."

His last comment drew the interest of the officers, and they turned their attention to the rolled canvases. "Do you have a purchase receipt for these, señor?"

"Yep, sure do." Jake handed over several slips of paper. "Let me just show you one of these little beauties, fellas. Why, folks in the states just love this kind of native art. Love it, I tell you!" He lifted one of the canvases and stretched it out with both arms. "See? Nice, huh?"