to say that I have faith in you,” Beth told him. “But sure, be my guest. I still don’t understand. You can have access to all areas of the club and hide out in my office or wherever.” She stared at Ashley. “The more cops the merrier.” She felt as if her head was reeling, and she didn’t understand anything. “Commodore Berry knows the police will be at the club? And the board of directors are aware of what’s going on, as well?”
Keith nodded to her.
“Then you really didn’t need my permission for anything,” Beth said.
He stared at her. “Yes, I did.”
The tension seemed heavy. Manny and Maria remained silent. She didn’t know on exactly what level he meant his words, or if being with her had been part of his undercover work or also something personal.
She just wanted to get away.
“I think we should join the others now,” she said sharply. “The rest of the divers must be up.”
Keith stood. “I’m going. I’ll see you tomorrow, then.”
“Right,” she said stiffly.
He went topside with Manny. Ashley took his place at the table. “You’ve got to understand my position. Please, Beth,” she said. “Trust me.”
“I trust you,” Beth said, the implication that she didn’t care not to be trusted herself quite evident.
Ashley flushed.
“You really need some tea,” Maria said.
“I really need a drink,” Beth replied.
BETH WAS FINDING IT impossible to sleep. Usually, the night after a dive, she crashed immediately.
Not tonight. She was at Ashley and Jake’s place, the kids were sleeping. Ashley and Jake were sleeping. And she was tempted to join the crowd hanging out late at the restaurant.
There were sure to be cops among their number.
Then again, Brad and Sandy had apparently patronized Nick’s, as well. Still, when she went to the window and opened the drapes, she could see the docks. As late as it was, she could see several people sitting on one of the ice chests on the walk, talking, beers in hand. She craned her neck to look to her right, toward the restaurant. People were still filling the patio seats.
Restless, she dressed and stepped out, locking the door, pocketing the key Ashley had given her. She walked toward the patio and took a seat, then ordered a beer. That might help her sleep. God knew, she needed to sleep.
People at Nick’s were friendly. Several said hello. She was asked if she wanted to join in a game of darts but declined.
At last the crowd began to thin out. She rose, heading back to her friends’ house.
As she walked, she heard the sound of a chair scraping. She spun back, cursing at herself for being such a goose.
But the feeling remained with her that she was being followed. She quickened her steps, turned back and saw a form.
All she had to do was scream. People would come running. But as she looked at the shadow of the man who had just left the light of the patio area, he was joined by a young woman. She caught his hand, and, laughing, they headed down toward the dock together. She let out a sigh of relief and turned.
She froze. And saw another shadow. It wasn’t coming from the patio but from the parking lot. It shouldn’t have been there. She stared, trying to figure out whether she was imagining it, maybe seeing the shadow of a large hibiscus. Her breath caught as the shadow grew. She stayed calm. All she had to do was turn around and head back for the patio.
She did so, walking quickly, to her dismay discovering that everyone had left. The serving staff couldn’t all be gone, she told herself. Nick himself was in there somewhere.
She started to hurry after one of the waitresses, who was disappearing inside. The door closed as she reached it. She grabbed the handle and found it locked.
Panic was rising inside her. She lifted a hand to pound on the door.
Then she heard her name.
She turned.
Keith.
She gasped softly.
“What on earth are you doing, wandering around out here?” he demanded.
She couldn’t breathe for a moment. “I was having a beer,” she said finally. “What are you doing, wandering around out here?”
“I was going to have a beer—I guess they’ve closed,” he said. She stared at him. She still felt so distrustful.
And so hungry, even though she loathed herself for it.
“Beth,” he said.
She took a step backward. “I really don’t know you,” she said.
“Actually, you really do. And I know you.”
He lowered his head for a minute. The light caught the sun-bleached blond of his hair. He seemed very tall, a striking presence. She suddenly ached to be held, to feel as if she hadn’t somehow made a disaster of her world.
To feel as if something was real and solid…
He looked at her again. “Let me just walk you back to the door.”
She shrugged. “Tell me, Keith, what do you think you know about me?”
He looked at her, frowning. “I know I care,” he said simply. “And I know you are who I want to care about.”
He took her arms, turning her toward him. He appeared perplexed. “Please try to understand.”
“There are things I can understand, and things I can’t,” she said.
“And exactly what does that mean?”
She shook her head, turned and walked to the door, then unlocked it. The damn hibiscus still made her uneasy. Or was that really it? “There’s beer in the house,” she heard herself say.
“Are you inviting me in?”
“Apparently you have as much right to be here as I do,” she said, leaving the door open as she entered.
He stepped in behind her. She stopped walking, knowing that his hands would fall on her shoulders, that he would sweep her hair aside, that she would feel his lips and his whisper against her neck.
He didn’t disappoint her.
But then he shocked her.
“I know that I’m falling in love with you,” he said.
The door closed behind them. She turned in his arms, then wound her own arms around him as his lips found hers. But as the fusion of their mouths grew heated, she forced herself to pull away slightly.
“The…guest…room,” she murmured. “They…have…”
“Kids. Guest room,” he agreed.
He swept her up. For the moment she forgot that she still didn’t know or trust everything about him. In the darkness, in the privacy that lay behind closed doors, she thought only of his naked flesh, the heated explorations of his tongue, the eroticism of his touch.
Miraculously, he had appeared, vital, like a fire, pulsing with life. She knew he would disappear by morning.
At the moment, all she longed for was the night.
HE STEPPED AWAY FROM the shadows at the side of the house and into the light, staring at the door. He had watched it close. Watched the two of them come together…
And it enraged him.
He’d been so close….
And what?
Dare