A Man to Remember (2 page)

"I've already been as honest as I can." He shrugged. "Give me a chance at the equality piece."

"All right. How would you be fair and equal?"

"Ah, fair is another matter. All's fair in love and war, as they say." His brown eyes met her blue gaze daringly. "I'd let you make the first move. Would that be equal enough for you?"

"And what if I didn't make any move?" She chuckled throatily and shifted back on an elbow. Her position thrust one rounded breast against the red triangle, and he could see the prominence of her nipple beneath the material.

He forced his gaze away from that boob. Something inside him groaned, and he hoped it wasn't audible. "Then I'd give you time. And another chance." He straightened his leg and leaned toward her, also bracing on one elbow in the sand.

"What if I still didn't make a move?" Her sapphire eyes danced wickedly over his golden physique. Admiring. Belying her saucy response.

His gaze dropped to her breast and back to her face. He felt sure she'd make some move. She had the look of a responsive woman. "I'd ask you what you wanted in a man. Maybe I could accommodate."

"Honesty first." She looked at him curiously. "Start with your name."

"Jake Bronson."

"Jake Bronson." She repeated it slowly. "I'm Alyse Skye."

Alyse Skye ... the boat, Skye Command. It belongs to her, not the man in the bar. "Okay, so far, so good, Alyse Skye. What next?"

"You're obviously American. Where are you from?"

"El Paso. And you?"

"San Diego. What are you doing on a beach in Mexico? By yourself." Her meaning was clear: Don't you have a woman?

"Sometimes being alone is best. It has made it easy for me to watch you as much as I want. I must say, I've enjoyed every minute too. I like what I see." Jake's brown eyes raked over her with relish. Suddenly her expression tightened, and he sensed he needed to back off. Too much, too soon.

Abruptly she'd had enough of their game. Maybe she was scared of her own response to him. "Hope you enjoy yourself in Mexico, Jake Bronson. It's very beautiful here. Just remember, sometimes the beauty is deceiving."

She started to rise and he was on his feet in an instant. He touched her arm, helping her up. His hand slid down her arm so that his fingers could wrap around her wrist. He could feel her pulse racing. "Wait Alyse. Now you aren't playing fair. Don't tease and leave. You're very beautiful. Are you also deceiving?"

Her sapphire eyes met his dark gaze with a touch of trepidation. He couldn't help wondering why. Was she afraid of him? Or afraid of the magnetism between them?

"I came down here with another man. I'm sure he's waiting for me right now."

"He's in the nearest bar right now. Getting drunk." Jake lips thinned.

Her eyes widened. "How do you know?"

"Told you, I've been watching." He continued to hold her wrist loosely.

"You're crazy. Let me go."

"I don't think you really want to go back to him. You want to sit here on the beach with me, where it's safe, and talk about sunsets and the clear water and . . . equality."

"I thought you said you'd let me make the first move."

He took a shaky breath. "Maybe I lied. Patience is not one of my virtues."

"Then you're like all the rest."

His voice hardened. "I definitely am not like all the rest. Not like any of the men you know. Especially that bastard in the bar you came down here with."

"So, you're watching us both? Why?" She scoffed at him. "No patience? I do like honesty in a man."

"I have other qualities you might like, Alyse."

She made a low, whimpering sound and slowly freed herself from his grasp. She took a side step away. "I think I know enough about you, Jake."

He shook his head with a lion-like movement. "You don't know anything about me. Just this unreasonable fear that I might be dangerous. I'll admit I was too blunt. Maybe too honest. And sometimes I'm too spontaneous."

She folded her arms to hide a shudder. "What about the honesty you claimed? And fairness?"

"I tried." He shrugged.

"So did I. But it won't work, Jake. We're both… in a bad place right now. Too complex for anything."

"Maybe I could help – "

"No." She wheeled around and walked briskly across the sand.

"I'd like to see you again. Let's talk." Jake's eyes narrowed.

She didn't acknowledge his remark, just kept walking away from him. Tiny, glistening particles clung to her hips and the backs of her bare legs. Jake ached to brush them off. "I'll see you again, Alyse."

He stood impotently and watched her graceful movements. He couldn't help wondering if he'd ruined the plan. He needed that yacht. Soon. And now, crazily, he wanted that woman. Alyse Skye was not someone he could forget easily, and he had no intention of letting her walk away from him. But could he honestly wait until she made the first move?

Chapter Two

Lights from the city of La Paz spread gloriously below him, reminding Jake of El Paso and the city view from his home. Glittering dots twinkled in the darkness, gathering in a C-shaped curve along the bay. At home there was no stretch of water, only the shallow Rio Grande separating the United States and Mexico. Tonight he felt a long way from reaching U.S. soil and safety.

He lifted the binoculars to his eyes and studied the bobbing craft with a brooding expression. This was his key to escape. The Skye Command. His taut lips pursed, and his brown eyes narrowed as he studied his quarry. His face was tight over prominent cheekbones; the angular jaw-line and chin were covered with the scruffy
beginnings of a beard, sprinkled with a bit of auburn. Not very stylish, but it would serve its purpose, that of camouflage. At this point the more he looked like an American tourist, the better.

He trained the binoculars on the expensive luxury yacht. He knew she had showered about nine and wore some skimpy gown that came to her mid-thighs. His palms grew moist watching her move about the yellow-lit cabin and imagining . . .

Around ten she had carefully chosen a book from one of the shelves crammed beneath the port window and crawled into the narrow bunk. She lay very still, apparently absorbed in her reading. She was almost out of sight, and he had to strain to make out her form outlined beneath the sheet. Jake drew a heavy breath as he imagined those long, sexy legs between cool sheets. And he thought of how they'd feel entwined with his.

Jake met a local friend for a couple of soft tacos and a cold cerveza. He sat on the far corner of the patio so he could keep an eye on the yacht. And the woman.

"Ah, amigo. Nice view, of the city, eh?"

Jake grunted a low greeting. "Sí. I'm keeping an eye on that small cruiser in the harbor, Emilio. She may be my ticket out of here. What do you know about the Skye Command?"

Emilio handed Jake another beer from the bar. "She is owned by a rich American from San Diego. The long-legged señorita, his daughter. Seen her here a couple times, with her family. But the man, no se. A stranger."

Jake's hand encircled the cool bottle, and he gulped greedily. "Ah, bueno. Gracias."

"Sí, she is bonita all right. You have good taste, Jake. But then, you always chose the most beautiful women."

"Just lucky, Emilio." Jake took another deep swallow.

"Luckiest man alive, mi amigo."

"Not this time, Emilio. I've made a powerful enemy and have to get out of here fast."

Emilio frowned in the darkness. "Your source left you?"

"High and dry. Too risky. My last orders were Vamos, pronto! Y buen suerte. Good luck, indeed," Jake muttered derisively.

"I wish I could help you, Jake."

"You're doing enough right now just giving me a place to hide. That's why I have to leave soon. I don't want to implicate you."

"I'm not worried about that, amigo. We have our network. We will warn you when you are being followed."

"I don't want to put you in danger, Emilio."

Abruptly Jake lifted the binoculars to his dark eyes and trained them again on the harbor. A man was approaching the small craft, stumbling clumsily along the dock. Drunk. He grasped the steel bow rail and nearly fell in the water clambering aboard. The cabin lights were suddenly switched on, and Jake could see the man clearly. He was the same one who'd left this afternoon.

Emilio squinted his eyes toward the craft. "Her lover?"

Jake only grunted and watched the two figures in the yellow glow. "Damned bastard . . ." he muttered to himself.

Jake sucked in his breath. Why was she of such interest to him? She was only a pawn. At one time he had planned to take the cruiser without her. After being with her today on the beach, though, he knew he wanted her with him.

Alyse struggled awake when the sudden light glared in her face. She heard Evan's raving, angry voice and knew it was him. Him, and she dreaded this encounter. "Evan? Is that you? Did you have to wake me up?"

"We've got to talk, Alyse. I'm not through with this."

"I'm sleepy and it's late. Let's discuss it tomorrow." She rolled to turn her back to him, trying to block out the light.

"Dammit, Alyse! Turn over here and face me!" He grabbed her shoulder and roughly jerked her around.

Alyse felt a stab of pain in her shoulder and wrenched against the pillow. She tried to keep her face from showing the fear that suddenly overwhelmed her. He was drunk. He was like a stranger, a madman, waving his arms and yelling. She'd never seen him so very wild, and it was frightening.

So this was the real Evan Wheeler, her father's bright and trusted new administrator? A man she considered marrying. . . but no longer.

"Evan, you've been drinking too much. Let's get some sleep and discuss this rationally in the morning."

"To hell with sleep! To hell with the morning!" Evan's arms waved loosely in the air. "I want to know why you won't talk to your old man on my behalf! What's a little more money to him? He's so damned rich, he'd never miss it!"

"That isn't the point, Evan. I don't like being used to advance your career."

He leaned forward and teetered. For a moment Alyse thought he might go over on his nose. Then, amazingly, he straightened. "Oh, hell, Alyse. You're just being silly and stubborn. What's wrong with throwing a little business my way? After all, we're engaged!"

"Not quite." Alyse drew a shaky breath. Now was hardly the time to tell him that she found him repulsive. Hiring the man and suggesting he might be ripe husband material had been her father's idea. Just like everything else in her life, Raymond Skye wanted control. He had decided that at twenty-six Alyse was past ready for marriage. Everyone was convinced except Alyse. "I—I just don't like the idea, Evan."

"People do it all the time. Whatsa matter, baby?" He slurred his words, grasping both her forearms and trying to draw her to him. "You want to help me, don't you? I thought that's why we took your brother's fancy little boat all the way down here to Mexico."

Alyse's blue-eyed gaze grew sharp. "You thought wrong, Evan."

"Oh, come on, baby blue eyes. You know you like me. You want me." He pulled her closer, and she could smell his fetid liquor breath.

She tried to twist free of his grasp. In his drunken stupor Evan had super strength. He held her firmly to him. Alyse felt a moment of panic when she knew she couldn't escape him.

Evan lowered his lips to hers, murmuring, "Jus' a li'l kiss, baby. Maybe it'll lead to somethin' else. A li'l fun 'n' games."

She twisted her head, and his lips smeared moisture across her cheek. Uncontrollably she shuddered. "No, Evan—"

But he was unrelenting, and after a brief struggle his mouth closed tightly on hers.

A bitter repulsion rose in her throat. He reeked of stale beer and tequila, and his touch filled Alyse with loathing. Frantically she pushed at him, rolling her head back and forth to free her lips from his nauseating kiss.

Eventually he lifted his head, gasping for air, but continued to foul her with his filthy breath. One hand gripped her chin and held her firmly. "So far there haven't been many benefits from sleeping with the boss's daughter." His other hand dropped down to fondle her breast. "There hasn't even been sleeping with the little darling at all. Maybe she doesn't like real men."

Alyse wrenched away from him, her agility being her only weapon at the moment. Evan spun around, his drunkenness causing him to stagger to regain his footing. When he looked up, he saw that she had taken a defensive stance. She held the small cabin fire extinguisher in her arms, pointing the hose directly at him.

"Put that down before someone gets hurt, Alyse." He giggled. "Me!"

"Get out of here, Evan. Don't you touch me again or I'll blast you."

"Damn you Alyse! That thing's filled with chemicals. It's dangerous!"

"Then so am I. Get out!" She felt as though she were channeling her favorite heroine, Bristol Bordeaux. Bristol would never let herself be used. Bristol was strong.