A Man to Remember (15 page)

She paused and chewed her lip. Should she be blatantly honest when he'd lied to her? But they were talking about truth tonight, and lying wasn't her style. With a little chuckle she blurted out the words. "Jake, I know this sounds crazy, given my present predicament, but I don't regret our intimacy. I'm not sorry about getting involved with you or even… going to bed with you. That part was . . . very good."

He took a deep breath. "Yes, it was. But … ?"

After a pause she answered. "But I don't feel comfortable with you now. Lying. And I don't know what's going on. Or why."

"I will tell you, Alyse. Just not tonight."

She waiting a long time before saying, "Good night, Jake."

"G'night."

Was it relief he felt? Or just a reaffirmation of his male ego? Was she setting him up to trust her again, or would she try to run at the first opportunity? Well, he wouldn't take any chances. He just wouldn't let her out of his sight. Right now, though, with the mounting tightness in his loins, he longed to take her in his arms. He lay awake for a long time thinking about her. And what they could do together.

CHAPTER TEN

"Damn it! I'm ready to move out," Jake said. He refilled their coffee cups and slumped down opposite Alyse at the galley table. "We can't wait around on these bozos forever."

"But we haven't taken on either fuel or water yet." Alyse watched Jake's agitation, wondering why he was so anxious and not particularly liking him this way.

He gestured impatiently. "The harbormaster says the man who supplies the fuel hasn't even shown up for work yet, and there are five boats ahead of us. I can't wait that long."

"Impatient, aren't you?" She clucked her tongue to her teeth softly. "What do you propose to do about it?"

"Hell, I didn't plan on staying in this little hole-in-the-wall Mexican port so long."

"A day or so by Mexican time is nothing, Jake."

"A day or so could be disaster for me. After the incident with the priest I don't see how we can hang around here all day. It might not be safe. Someone might notice us."

She wrinkled her brow. "Not safe, Jake? From what? Or whom?"

He raised his hand, palm out. "Don't ask." He could see the multitude of questions rise immediately in her eyes.

"Okay, what do you want to do, Jake?"

"Let's go on to Cabo San Lucas today. Surely we have enough fuel for that. It's just a short trip."

She rose and checked the gas gauge. "Yes, I think we could make it. But our water is almost gone, and we have practically no food. We'll have to stay in San Lucas long enough to stock up on everything. We don't dare sail out into the Pacific without them. It's far too dangerous."

"Agreed." He nodded, content with the decision. "We'll stay in Cabo San Lucas until we're all set. Let's get moving."

"You aren't going to let up and just relax, are you Jake?"

He scooted past her. "I can't, Alyse. This is too important." Our lives depend on it.

They chugged out of the tiny harbor at San Jose and set off for Cabo San Lucas, another leg on their long journey home. It was late afternoon when they arrived at the picturesque port located at the tip of the Baja peninsula. Even though they would have to wait until the next day for fuel, they felt farther along in their quest. As the dock master replenished their water, Jake and Alyse decided to go shopping for food and other supplies.

During the brief shopping spree Alyse found it difficult to believe Jake was the same suspicious character he had been for the previous day. All afternoon he was delightful and easygoing, very much like the laid-back atmosphere that surrounded them in the picturesque little resort.

But when they returned to the dock, laden with bags of essentials, the dock master greeted them with bad news: The boat's water pump was broken. And Jake proceeded to turn into an impatient, curt monster again.

"Then we'll just get a new one," he responded readily. "Do you have anyone around who can install it?"

"I can install it, señor. But that is not the problem."

Jake squinted down at the short, chubby man. "Well, señor, what is the problem?"

"We have no water pump here."

"Then I'll just go buy one somewhere in town. Where can I get one?"

"That's just it, señor. There is no water pump in this town. Perhaps they have one available to fit your boat over in San Jose. Or perhaps La Paz. But we can't find out until tomorrow. Everything is closed now."

Jake's short supply of patience was immediately taxed to its limit. "Tomorrow? Mañana! That's all you know! Damn! How can we get out of this place anyway?"

"Jake," Alyse said soothingly as she took him by the arm and led him away. "Don't cause a scene. That won't help a bit, and you know it." Her voice was firm and authoritative and served to calm him down long enough to realize that she was right. But it didn't keep him from being agitated.

Steaming over the frustration of having to wait for the ordered water pump to arrive, which could take days, Jake followed Alyse to the Skye Command and helped stow the supplies.

"What about a cup of coffee?" she asked.

"I'll take a beer," he answered.

She set a bottle out for him, fixed a cup of coffee for herself, and joined him at the table. "You know, we could make the best of this."

He ran a hand roughly over his face. "Yeah? How? Fly out? Any suggestions on how I could slip through the airport with my possessions?"

"Do your possessions have to go with us?"

"Yes. They're crucial. I can't leave without them."

"I figured as much. Actually I was going to suggest playing the role you originally suggested, that of lovers on a holiday."

His face grew tight. "That idea fell flat rather quickly, didn't it? We have to pretend we like each other."

"Well, no one knows what goes on inside the cabin. But real lovers would take advantage of the extra time. They'd go out eating and shopping and snorkeling. They'd have fun."

"You think we could have fun together, Alyse?"

She shrugged and admitted, "We did before."

He sighed. "You willing?"

"Only if you are."

His nod was barely discernible and accompanied by a low grunt. Maybe she was right. If anyone was following them, they might be fooled by a tourist act. Or he could be the fool.

"Is that a 'yes' I hear? My, my, you are enthusiastic, aren't you?"

"Well, what do you expect me to do, burst into song? I'm trying to escape this place and, at the very least, keep a low profile. But what happens? You go running to a priest, who immediately suggests the solution to our problem is a quickie wedding. Then the man who provides fuel in San Jose doesn't come to work until noon. And at the next port things aren't much speedier. And to top it off, our damned water pump breaks!"

"You take disappointment so well, Jake. I must say, I admire your patience. You have the flexibility of a steel pipe!"

He heaved a sigh and turned away to stare in disgust out the porthole. She didn't – couldn't – understand his predicament. Twilight was turning to evening, and lights were flickering over the little town. "All I want to do is get out of here safely." And get you out safely, he added silently.

"And we will, Jake. I'm sure of it. In the meantime, would you do me a favor and relax just a little? Do you know how to have fun?"

He gulped the beer and glared at her, brown eyes beaming hard.

She glared back, blue eyes cold as ice.

Slowly, ever so slowly his expression changed. The sharpness of his eyes softened then it spread over his whole face. The tight muscles of his cheeks fell slack. And he smiled, slightly, but a smile nonetheless.

"Oh, hell," he mumbled. "You're right. I guess we could start by going out to eat tonight."

Alyse smiled back. She couldn't help herself. She wanted to pretend she was Jake's lover. She still cared. As long as they were in port, it couldn't be too bad, could it? Anyway, what she wanted was a chance to spend more time with Jake. More time to get to know him and what made him tick—and especially why he was running. "I'd love to go out to eat. Wonder what kind of red snapper they have?"

"Let's find out." Jake smiled genuinely this time. "You sound like a lady who knows how to have fun. Maybe it was worth all this trouble to have you along."

"Oh, you!" Playfully she pulled the yellow visor down over his eyes.

Instinctively he grabbed at her, hooking his arms around her. The warmth of his grip radiated through her instantly, powerfully, and she looked up at him. If he had decided to pull her down onto the bed at that moment, she wouldn't, couldn't have resisted.

But he didn't. He just looked at her with that dark-eyed, desire-filled expression. With a low sigh he released her.

"I'm sorry for dragging you into my mess, Alyse."

"We'll make the best of it, Jake. It'll be all right." She wished she could let him know what his touch did to her. Yet the conflict raging within her was astounding. How could she be so attracted to a man who was mixed up in something mysterious, perhaps illegal?

"The marina has a public bathhouse we can use for showers. Get ready, and I'll walk over with you."

She nodded and stumbled in her rush to get her makeup case. That night they enjoyed what Alyse called the "best ever Red Snapper" and too many margaritas.

Later, under strained conditions, they slept again in separate berths.

Jake lay awake thinking about her shapely form next to his and her long, sensual legs wound around his.

Alyse fell asleep dreaming of being in Jake's arms, feeling him warm and hard against her. Yet neither would admit those desires still smoldered.

Dawn came noisily with outgoing fishing boats and an incoming sailing regatta. Jake woke first and slipped outside to the aft cockpit to watch the harbor sights. And think about his situation.

Cabo San Lucas, long a favorite of fishermen and yachtsmen the world over, supported a strange sort of beauty. Cactus-covered desert landscape sloped right to the seashore. Barren cliffs rose majestically above the pristine sand. The languid pace was appealing to those lured there to sport fishing or sailing or simply lie in the sun and drink tequila. But Jake Bronson had no interest in any of that. He had one thing on his mind: leaving Mexico as soon as possible with his cargo.

Alyse joined him with a sleepy smile. "Want some coffee?"

He nodded, and she disappeared for a few minutes, then returned with two steaming cups.

"Thanks." He took a cup of coffee. "You'd think, with all this harbor activity, the enterprising shopkeeper would keep a supply of water pumps." Jake complained as he lounged on a bench and leaned back on the cockpit rail. "I know I would if I owned a shop here."

"The key word there is 'enterprising,' " Alyse said as she sipped the coffee. "Maybe he figures there's more money to be made keeping boats harbored here one more day or another week."

He chuckled softly. "Yeah, maybe you're right. We're stuck here, to buy another meal and spend more money."

"Lots of people would be delighted to be stuck in a beautiful place like this. Can't you relax?"

"Uh-huh. I hate doing nothing. Like now. I hate just sitting here, helpless, at the whim of others."

"I think you hate being at the whim of others most of all. You want to be in charge," she said.

"You're right." His brown eyes narrowed slightly. "I want to be running the show."

She took a sip of hot coffee. "How lucky I am to be stuck with you as my pilot."

"Copilot."

"You know, Jake, this is almost paradise. Perfect weather. The ocean is wonderful this time of year. Diving is fantastic. Fishing is great. Winter spawning home of the great gray whales; playground of the rich and famous with their colorful spinnakers billowing against the sky."

"You sound as though you'd like to stay."

She lifted her face to the breeze. "I could stay forever."

"It's hot as hell here in the summer. And I expect to be gone by tomorrow." Jake showed no enthusiasm for any of it.

They changed clothes in the forward cabin, then walked up the pier to the small shop where they hoped to obtain a water pump before the day was out. But the shopkeeper was lethargic. He made a few calls. There was nothing in San Jose.

Jake flung money down on the counter. "Then get it from La Paz."

His tone was commanding, and Alyse was embarrassed by it. She urged him to go with her for breakfast and then check back later. But later was no better.

"I'm sorry, señor."

Jake's face grew livid. "Hell, I could have walked to La Paz for the damned pump by now!"

"Yes, señor. But it would be a long, hot walk for nothing."

"You mean, in the whole town of La Paz there is no water pump?" He leaned broad arms on the counter and glared down at the humble shopkeeper. "I don't believe it!"