Captain's Paradise (20 page)

Robin snuggled closer, too happy for words.
She hated good-byes, but the homecoming looked wonderful.

The week Robin had anticipated to make arrangements and take that final exam at the police academy turned out to be an optimistic estimate. She hadn’t anticipated that the academy officials would balk, insisting that she repeat the weeks-long course in its entirety. They refused to accept her assurances that she didn’t want a badge or a certification, just a final grade on a written exam. She didn’t want to join San Francisco’s finest; she didn’t want to be a cop.

They didn’t understand.

Finally, in desperation, Robin called her father, shamelessly pulling the biggest string she had, and within hours she was taking the exam under the bewildered eye of an instructor.

Still, the delay pushed her right to the limit, and it was eight days after leaving Michael when she landed in Miami, hastily stowed most of her bags in a locker at the airport, and set out for
the marina. The last thing she expected to see upon reaching the slip where the
Black Angel
was tied up was Dane.

He was dressed as she’d first seen him, all in white and formally, clean-shaven again, and bright-eyed. Half sitting on the side of the boat, he raised an eyebrow at her and said lazily, “Hello, stranger.”

“What are you doing here?” she asked blankly.

“I’m about to escort Lisa to that fancy school of hers. She wanted to go on the yacht—which I haven’t lost yet. We’re about to leave.”

“Where’s Michael?”

Dane grinned, but before he could answer, Lisa’s bright, laughing voice did.

“Out getting a ticket to San Francisco.” She climbed up from belowdeck, carrying a small bag. Her dark blond hair was caught up in a ponytail, and her blue eyes were smiling. “He started getting jumpy last night, Robin, and he was impossible by this morning. By about two hours ago I think he was convinced you’d been
spirited off by the seventh fleet, and he’d never find you again.”

“Lisa called me,” Dane picked up, “and, of course, I came to the rescue.”

Robin laughed, but said, “Lisa, please don’t leave on my account.”

“I’m not.” She grinned. “I’ve had him for a week now, and I’m ready to go back to school. It’s a short summer term, though; I’ll be back by fall.”

She was obviously suffering from no ill effect after her kidnapping, and the doctor had told Michael that was understandable. She’d been drugged virtually all the time, with no chance to become frightened by what was happening to her. In the end the drugs had been a blessing.

Dane was helping her out of the boat, and when she was beside them he looked at Robin, still smiling. “Tell me, was it a magic wand or a broomstick?”

Robin laughed softly. “I’m not telling. You’ll find out when your time comes.”

“It’d take a thief to catch me, friend,” Dane told her, utterly confident.

“Never say never,” Robin said, then hugged Lisa tightly. “Have a good trip.”

“I will. And thanks, Robin. Thanks for everything.”

“See you,” Dane offered, tucking Lisa’s hand into the crook of his arm and strolling away. He didn’t look like a bodyguard, Robin observed, but she pitied anyone who tried to touch Lisa while he was responsible for her.

Shaking the thought away, Robin climbed aboard the boat and went below. She changed quickly from her casual traveling clothes into a bathing suit, then went topside again and settled down on the padded bench to wait for Michael.

He came less than an hour later, and her position was such that he didn’t see her until he was actually aboard. And she felt her heart leap when he saw her, because his face lit up, the frown disappearing. Without hesitating he crossed the space between them and pulled her up into his arms.

“Dear Lord, I’ve missed you,” he said hoarsely when he paused in kissing her.

“I’ve missed you too,” she managed breathlessly.

His eyes were burning. “In just a minute I’m going to take you to the cabin and keep you there until neither of us can walk without help.”

She cleared her throat. “And then?”

“Then we’re going to find a preacher.”

With an effort Robin managed to make her face and voice solemn. “You don’t have to marry me, darling. I’m perfectly willing to sacrifice my morals and scruples, and live in sin with you.”

He kissed her. “I love you, and I’m going to marry you. Say yes!”

“Yes,” she said blissfully.

Halfway to the cabin, it occurred to Robin that he wasn’t going to ask if she’d passed the test. But it didn’t matter. He knew.

The demons were gone for good.

“I’
VE PULLED MY
men off,” Daniel Stuart told Hagen over the phone, his voice calm. “I owe those ladies, and I’ll be damned if I’ll keep watch over them or their husbands!”

“Daniel—”

“Sorry, Chief. Spin your webs alone.”

Hagen cradled the phone slowly and stared at it.

He began to feel just a little concerned.

Just a little.

THE BISHOP TRILOGIES
Stealing Shadows • Hiding in the Shadows • Out of the Shadows

Touching Evil • Whisper of Evil • Sense of Evil

Hunting Fear • Chill of Fear • Sleeping with Fear

Blood Dreams • Blood Sins • Blood Ties

THE QUINN NOVELS
Once a Thief • Always a Thief

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE
Amanda • After Caroline • Finding Laura • Haunting Rachel

CLASSIC FANTASY AND ROMANCE
On Wings of Magic • The Wizard of Seattle • The Delaney Christmas Carol • Golden Threads • Something Different • Pepper’s Way • C. J.’s Fate • The Haunting of Josie • Illegal Possession • If There Be Dragons • Rebel Waltz • Larger than Life • Time After Time • In Serena’s Web • Raven on the Wing • Rafferty’s Wife • Zach’s Law • The Fall of Lucas Kendrick • Unmasking Kelsey • Outlaw Derek • Shades of Gray • Captain’s Paradise