Sea Panther (Crimson Storm) (10 page)

A man on the adjacent dock screamed.

Kimberly jerked her gaze in that direction. A large,
tawny-colored cougar with canines bared leapt at a man holding a rifle.
Reminiscent of her nightmares, she screamed. The man with the gun, along with
the big cat, tumbled into the bay. A huge splash followed their fall.

She moved forward toward the bow of
Night Thrill
, but
Jagger grabbed an arm, stopping her mid-step. “Let me go. Someone needs to help
that man.”

Feet pounded on the dock as people ran to see what happened.
She fought against Jagger’s hold. His free arm snaked around her waist, drawing
her against a hard chest in an unbreakable grip. “Calm down and I will release
you.”

She elbowed him hard before weakening.

He swung her into the cockpit and set her on her feet, but
didn’t let go. “Get below before you are recognized.”

He pushed her toward the companionway stairs. Anger hummed
between them. In the salon, she moved away, scanning the room for a weapon.

His eyes narrowed. “Do not even think it.”

“What?” She swallowed uneasily.

“I am not going to hurt you, little fool. On the contrary, I
am here to protect you.”

“What’s going on?” Kimberly noticed her hand trembled as she
rubbed her sore elbow.

Jagger reached out. She flinched, but before she could pull
away, he brushed cold fingers across her ear. The hand he removed was stained
with blood.

Her blood?
She sank onto the settee and touched her
ear. It was sticky.

Holy shit! She was really bleeding.

Her peripheral vision fuzzed. A deep breath kept her from
fainting. She refused to allow panic to grab hold. “What happened out there?”

Jagger opened drawers and cabinets, slamming them shut, one
by one, until he found the first aid kit. When he turned, the expression in his
eyes softened. “Will you allow me to tend the wound?”

She chewed her lip and nodded consent, wondering what the
hell bit her.

Crouching in front of her, he set the first aid kit on the
settee and reached up.

The growl from the companionway stopped him mid-motion.

I
will see to
Kimberly,” Robert gritted through a clenched jaw.

Still feral from the change, he gripped the teak lip of the
companionway overhead with both hands, making his knuckles turn white. The
panther wanted to go for the jugular. Sink sharp canines into Jagger and rip
the artery from his throat. Tear the hands his enemy dared to touch Kimberly
with from his body. Rib the man to shreds.

Robert’s chest heaved from the internal battle. He could
almost taste his friend’s blood on his tongue. With effort, he forced the wild
beast down and stepped into the salon.

He scanned the tableau before him with irritation. Jagger
sat back on his haunches, arms loose at his sides, a curl to his lips as if
this disaster were humorous. Some friend. Robert wanted to smash a fist into
the grinning face. He shook off the angry thought.

Kimberly lay against the cushions, body stiff, and gaze
trained on him. Light from a lamppost on dock shined through the hatch above
her head, emphasizing her worried expression.

The sight and smell of her blood made his heart pound erratically.
The vampire pressed for release. Robert swallowed hard and pushed back against
the monsters competing for control. He refused to allow them to make the
situation worse.

Jagger moved away from Kimberly and leaned nonchalantly with
one hip against the galley counter. Robert gave the man credit for being smart
enough to get out of the way. He refocused on Kimberly, the only person on the
sailboat of importance.

“What happened out there?” Her gaze shifted to Jagger then
back to him.

Her strained frown emphasized her pale face. He feared she
might go into shock. Grabbing a wool blanket from a cabinet behind the settee,
he wrapped it around her, careful to avoid the blood clotting at the edge of
her ear. He moved away quickly, so not to lose the battle with the panther and
the vampire.

“The hit man found you.” He rubbed his forehead to ease the
emerging headache and frowned. “Dammit to hell, Kimberly, I thought I told you
to stay below, out of sight.”

“I was shot?” Her voice wobbled. She raised a hand to the
injured ear. When she pulled it back, she stared at the blood on her fingers.

“Aye.” Robert wanted to offer comfort, but couldn’t trust
himself. “I have ordered Colin to bring
Sea Panther
into port. He can
dress your wound when he arrives. I dinnae think we can chance you going to the
hospital.”

“No need.” Kimberly jumped up, dropped the blanket, and
grabbed the first aid kit. She brushed passed him and stomped to the head. With
a bang, the door closed.

Robert gritted his teeth. The lingering smell of blood
overwhelmed his senses, made his stomach clench. At least the overall scent had
changed. Good. He’d rather sense anger than fear. He retreated to the cockpit
where the salty air tainted Kimberly’s essence. There would be hell to pay if
the monsters became provoked. Jagger followed.

“Damn you,” Robert said. “Don’t ever touch her again.”

“The wound needed tending and I didn’t know how long you
would be. I never guessed she could tend to it herself. She’s a strong one. You
should be proud of her.”

Robert sighed and the bluster left him. Disgust tightened
his throat. “I let the man get away.”

“Obviously,” Jagger drawled.

“Too many people. It was bad enough I lost control to the
panther and bystanders saw me. I could not let the story get out that a big cat
killed a man on the Charleston docks, could I?”

“You are too close to the situation. Maybe you should let
someone else take her to Florida.”

“Like you, for instance?” Robert spat the question,
possessive fury nearly strangling him.

“Maybe.” Jagger tilted his head to the side and arched a
brow.

Robert bared his fangs.

“An innocent suggestion.” His friend raised his hands, palms
forward.

Robert closed his eyes and swallowed. He clenched his fists,
took several deep breaths, focused, forced his will and controlled the rising
aggression.

The volatile air between them calmed. He raised his eyelids
and took a step back. “I dinnae understand what has come over me of late.”

“I do. If I were you, I would—” Jagger snapped his mouth
shut.

Kimberly stepped through the companionway and joined them.
“Okay, I made a mistake. I should have stayed below. I also understand I was
shot.” She tucked a lose curl behind the damaged ear, and her hand trembled.
“What I don’t understand is what a cougar was doing on the other dock. Who was
the man it attacked?”

“Are you all right, sweetling?” Robert asked.

Kimberly’s eyes widened at the endearment. Her gaze shifted
from his face to Jagger’s amused expression, to the floor. “The bullet barely
nicked me. I don’t know why you two made such a big deal over it. It hardly
bled at all.”

“Then you are sure you are well?” Robert scanned the length
of her, searching for other injuries.

“Absolutely.”

His black heart twisted. “I am glad.”

“But you still haven’t told me what a big cat was doing on
the dock.”

“I heard in town, a circus animal escaped.” He kept his face
blank as he told the lie.

“Oh my God. It attacked the hit man, didn’t it? That was him
with the rifle, wasn’t it?”

“Lucky coincidence.” Robert shrugged. “Too bad the man got
away.”

“And the animal?” Jagger asked, a slow smile curling his
lips.

Robert shot him a scowl. “His keeper found him.”

“What do I do now?” Kimberly placed a hand on his sleeve.
“He’ll try again, won’t he?”

“Aye.” He winced, wishing he could lie to her in this. Sugarcoating
the truth wouldn’t serve any good though. She needed to comprehend the danger.

He caught the gleam of moisture in her haunted brown eyes
before she blinked and raised her chin. Jagger was right; she was a strong
lass. She’d be fine. Robert wasn’t sure he would be. Never before had he
experienced such crippling fear.

“We sail for Florida.” He brushed a strand of hair from her
eyes, and allowed his fingers to linger against her smooth cheek. “Are you sure
you are well?”

She nodded.

“Good. We need to leave before the authorities arrive,
asking questions.”

“I’m off. Call if you need me.” Jagger jumped over the side
onto the floating dock and strode away without waiting for a response.

“Thank you,” Kimberly called after him.

He turned and waved then continued on his way, disappearing
into the dockside hustle-bustle. Sirens blared in the distance. Time to leave.
Robert reached over the side and cast off a line. He would keep Kimberly close
until they reached the compound. But then what?

The question darted around in his mind, driving him mad.

* * *

Sleep filled days merged into pleasurable nights. Kimberly
nearly forgot her predicament. Who would have thought Robert would turn out to
be a fascinating conversationalist?

Stars glittered in the midnight blue sky. She held the wheel
of
Night Thrill
and marveled over what she’d learned of Robert. He could
speak on almost any subject. Business, economics, politics, music, art, though
history seemed to be his passion.

“What would you like to discuss tonight?” she asked.

“Tell me about Fast Jimmy.”

She inwardly groaned. Until now, they hadn’t discussed
anything personal, other than her current ordeal. She hated talking about her
father. But since it was Robert’s turn to choose the topic, she’d have to
oblige.

“My father was born in Scotland, near Kilmarnock in
Ayrshire. His family moved to Toronto when he was four. A couple of years
later, they moved to Cranford, New Jersey.”

“A good Scottish lad, was he?” Robert winked.

“I guess.”

“How did he start racing?”

“He became good friends with the son of the reverend from
the Episcopal church his family attended. Mr. Murray had a summer ministry on
Long Island near Huntington Harbor. Since my father’s mother worked, he spent
the summer season with the Murrays and learned to sail on the Sound. I guess
one thing led to another.”

She fell silent for a moment and watched the sea. “Your
turn,” she said, turning back to Robert, wanting to change the subject. “Tell
me about you and your sister and your family in Scotland.”

A dark expression crossed his features then cleared.
“Another time, perhaps. I will take the helm and you can go below and rest.”

“I’ll relinquish the wheel, but I’m not tired. I’d like to
stay on deck.”

“You are a vexing lass.”

Kimberly suppressed a smile. “Tell me about your life.
Please.”

He didn’t say anything, just gripped the wheel. She thought
he wouldn’t indulge her.

After five minutes of staring out to sea, he cleared his
throat. “Raven and I were born in a castle on a sea loch on the western coast
of Scotland to loving parents who died too early. Our much older brother and
his first wife raised us. I grew into a man and became a successful merchant
and secured the small fortune Raven spends on her adventures.”

Merchant?
Sometimes his word choices seemed archaic.

“There must be more to your story.”

“Nae.”

“What was it like to live in a castle?”

“Cold.” His shoulders shook in a mock shiver.

Kimberly inhaled a deep breath of salty air and let it out
sharply. She hated when he gave one-word answers. “Tell me more.”

“Some other time.” Robert chuckled.

To her surprise, he reached across the cockpit and grasped
her hand. A companionable silence fell between them. Time passed…comfortably.
They watched the sea swell and ebb until he finally broke the silence and
released her hand.

“Tell me about your mother?”

Kimberly sighed. “Not much to say. She’s remarried and
belongs to a cult in New Mexico.”

“You must miss her.”

“No. She abandoned Sarah and me when my father died. Left us
to fend for ourselves.” Kimberly glanced away before Robert saw the pain and
anger she still felt over her mother’s desertion.

“I am sorry.”

“Don’t be. We were better off without her.” She hesitated
then continued. “That’s why I worked so hard over the years. Why I took the
stupid tip from Jason and used it to invest both my money and that of my
clients in the off-shore deal he recommended.”

Robert frowned and shook his head.

“On some level, I knew…I knew it was a mistake.” She
shrugged. “I was greedy.”

“Dinnae be so hard on yourself.”

She dropped her gaze, and he lifted her chin with the tip of
a finger.

“You did what you thought was needed to survive and take
care of your sister. Feel good about the successes. Think about all you have
achieved rather than obsess over one mistake. You are a survivor. We will work
this out together.”

“Thanks. I appreciate the help.”

They both fell quiet. The silence wasn’t awkward—a nice
surprise. Some of the weight had lifted off her shoulders.

“Tell me about your sister,” Robert said after some time
passed.

Guilt brought with it a flash of heat to her chest. Kimberly
wrapped her arms around herself. She hadn’t spoken to her sister in days.
“Sarah is a loving, free spirit who’s always there when I need her. She’s
probably frantic with worry.”

“Do you want me to have Jagger contact her?”

“No. She’ll be safer not knowing where I am. Don’t you
think?”

“Aye. There is truth in that.”

Kimberly still couldn’t believe what Robert divulged about
the newscasts. He’d kept the information secret for a couple of days, but
finally spilled the truth about the allegations against her so she’d understand
the trouble pursuing her.

Jason was a full-fledged liar. If only she’d known sooner.
Accusing her of illegal investment activities had been the last thing she
expected from her ex-fiancé. He was such a rotten jerk.

She’d been a fool for believing in him. She’d have to stop
running soon and go back to face the charges. Figure out a way to clear her
name or never work again. Gullibility and stupidity were her only crimes.

Kimberly shivered. If convicted, she’d more than likely be
sent to prison as an example, especially with the economy the way it had been
over the last couple of years. She couldn’t allow that to happen. No laws had
been broken. As soon as she felt safe, she’d go back and tell her side of the
ghastly affair.

The sky lightened on the horizon, and Kimberly took the
wheel from Robert. While he went forward to drop the canvas, she started the
iron
genny
. The engine hummed to life. After the mainsail rested neatly in the
lazy
jacks
, he returned aft and eased around the large wheel to stand behind
her.

The tips of his fingers brushed over her shoulders and
slowly slid down her arms. Delicious chills tickled the skin beneath his touch,
making her want to purr like a pampered feline. Hands over hers, he leaned in
tight. The pressure from his erection caused her sex to clench. The evidence of
her heightened desire dampened her panties, and she melted into him. “Robert,
I…”

“Shhh, sweetling. Savor the moment. ’Tis all I can give
you.”

Life was unfair. He was trying to protect her. His illness
stood between them. An unbearable sadness engulfed Kimberly. Robert hugged her
as if he understood. They stayed like that, she steering, and he holding her
tight until they reached the inlet.

He whispered directions while she navigated the sailboat
into the sleepy cove. Early morning mist drifted above the water and wrapped
around the two sailboats already secured there. Robert released her, and while
the engine idled, he dropped anchor. Without a word, he went below.

Kimberly shut off the motor. She wanted to call him back. He
would shut himself in his cabin and not come out until dusk. Tears burned her
eyes. Their situation was hopeless.