The Reef Roamer (The Roamer Series Book 1) (21 page)

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

The sun was beginning to dip into the blackness of the Caribbean Ocean, casting golds and oranges across the ripples. Mark Steele stood nervously outside the door of Jayme’s condo in Marsh Harbor, his hand poised to knock. The door opened.

“Mark!” Jayme exclaimed, confused emotions swamping her. She should be angry with him for not contacting her sooner, yet she was so happy to see him her face beamed with delight.

“Oh, Jayme,” Mark murmured, stepping into the spacious room. He swept her into his arms, burying his face in her long perfumed hair. As his mouth found hers, Jayme felt all her reserves melt away. No one had ever made her feel this way, not even Donald. Her mouth clung to his, returning his kiss with unbridled passion.

Mark groaned, feeling his need rising. How could he have doubted her? He pushed his desire down, willing himself into self-control.

“I’ve missed you.” His voice was gravely with restrained desire. “May I come in?”

Jayme laughed at the absurdity, since he was already three feet into her room. She felt high, reborn with his appearance.

“I’ve missed you too,” she said, her voice deep and throaty. She reached behind him, not breaking eye contact, and pushed the door shut.

***

Hours later, Mark poured Jayme a glass of wine while they sat in the dark on the balcony of her room.

“I’m certainly glad this resort has room service.” She chuckled. “When you arrived at my door, I was on my way down for some dinner.”

“I’m glad about the room service too. I have no intention of sharing you with anyone tonight.” He touched his glass to hers and took a sip. “Oh, I have a present for you. It was one of the reasons I was late getting here.” He went over to the bag he had packed and removed a box.

Jayme opened the box with care. “Oh, my! It’s the miniature three-masted schooner tall ship!”

“Apparently all it needed was some rigging and another sail, which the craftsman finished that night,” Mark explained.

“I’m surprised it didn’t sell immediately. It’s so intricate,” Jayme commented, examining the detail.

“It did. I told him right then to save it for me.” Mark grinned.

“Ah, the island talk I heard between you two. That was sneaky,” she said.

“Jayme, I would give you anything you wanted that was in my power.”

“It’s beautiful. Thank you, I will treasure it always.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Jayme nuzzled her pillow, drawing herself up gradually from the deep erotic dream-state she had been hovering in. A smile tugged at the edges of her lips when she recalled that most of the eroticism had not been during sleep. Closer to the surface of wakefulness, she started to stretch, catlike, from her neck, down her spine, ending with her arms and legs. Rolling over on her back, she squinted at the intrusion of sunlight. She breathed deeply, remembering the past two days and most of all the past two nights. Nights filled with making love. Deeply satisfying, highly passionate love. The levels and intensities of her climaxes still amazed her, and the recollection caused a warm glow to spread between her legs. It shocked her that all she had to do was think of Mark, of his touch, of his wonderful lovemaking, to become aroused again.

It was Tuesday morning, and Jayme knew they had to talk. How was she going to prepare Mark for her son’s arrival? Alan’s flight would be landing at noon. Every time she tried to bring up the subject, they would get off on a tangent. The verbal wanderings were as natural as the long walks on the beach, and it afforded them both an excellent way to know the other more fully. Time was running out.

Jayme showered, knowing that the musky scent of sex still clung to her and that it aroused Mark. She wanted them both to have a clear head when they discussed her son.

***

She found Mark in the efficiency kitchen fixing coffee.

Mark’s face lit up when Jayme entered the room. “Good morning, sleepy head. Care for some coffee?”

She smiled, and a sensation bloomed in her chest that went beyond mere happiness.

“You bet,” she answered. “Only if it’s hot and strong though.” She sipped at her mug, her eyes hooded with contemplation. “Mark,” she said hesitantly, “we need to talk…about what’s happened here with us, about my son and his reaction to it. You know,
talk
.”

“You’re absolutely right, Jayme. We’ve spent our time these last several days getting to know each other, and we needed that. We’ve had fun, and we needed that too, but it’s time to be more serious.”

Jayme blinked and nodded. Was it going to this easy?

“I’ve been thinking,” Mark went on, “we should get married right away. I know you’ll probably want to continue being The Reef Roamer, and since my career is here, we’ll need to—”

Jayme gasped. “Wait a minute. How did you know about
The Reef Roam
er?” she demanded.

“Oh, well,” Mark looked a bit sheepish, “I overheard you while you were filming the sunset for the Thomases. I didn’t want you to think…Actually, Jayme, I’m not sure what I was afraid you would think. All I knew was that you guarded your professional identity, and I didn’t want to spoil your anonymity.”

“My career success isn’t threatening to you?” Jayme asked warily.

“Threatening? Heavens no. I think it’s great, although it might interfere when we start having children. Do you think your little boy would prefer a brother or a sister? Both? Both sound good to me. Having my own children means a great deal to me, but I promise to be a good father to your son too. We’d better get started on making babies soon.” He grinned widely. “We don’t want the age spread to be too great.” Mark slipped his arms around her waist, drawing her near.

Children?

Jayme was stunned. Her mind recalled Mark saying something about getting married right before he dropped the bomb that he knew she was the Reef Roamer. Now he wanted children?

“I…I don’t know what to say, Mark.” Her voice was barely above a whisper.

She loved him; she knew that now. The pain she was feeling inside, knowing they would never marry, told her that. If he needed to have his own children, then he would not want
her
. Alan was her first, her last, her only child. His birth had been too hard on her body, and she could bear no more children.

“I can’t have any more children, Mark. My uterus ruptured giving birth to my son. The doctor had to remove it.”

Mark stared at her, absorbing what she’d said. He kissed her hard, aware of her pain. “Oh,” his mind shifted gears, “don’t worry about it. I’ll watch your son grow instead of mine. You mean more to me than a houseful of children. I love you, Jayme.” He held her close, feeling her body tremble. “We’ll talk more about this tonight. I have some errands to run for the clinic that can’t wait. I’ll be back early this evening.”

“I need most of today to get some things done for this video,” she lied, needing some time with Alan. “Meet me at Mangoes for dinner at 7:00? There’s someone I want you to meet.”

“Perfect.” He kissed her again and disappeared out the door.

Jayme slumped in the nearest chair. She still hadn’t told him about Alan.

***

While Jayme stood on the tarmac waiting for Alan’s plane to taxi to a halt, Mark was walking through the crowded airport lobby. His errands for the clinics included picking up a shipment of much-needed medical supplies from the airport.

At first he didn’t see Jayme, his eyes scanning the passengers as they disembarked. A striking young man appeared in the doorway of the plane and waved. Mark’s curious eyes followed the direction and saw the wave returned.

Wait…Jayme! What was she doing here? The young man bounded down the stairs and with long, graceful strides, met Jayme halfway, scooping her up in his arms and swinging her feet off the ground in a joyous reunion. Shock, then a stab of pain pierced Mark’s heart as he watched this man kiss his Jayme. She hugged him fiercely, and then they moved toward the customs office, arms linked around each other in mutual affection.

Mark’s heart turned icy cold. His mind refused to function. She had another lover! A much younger lover. Could he, Dr. Mark Steele, thirty-eight years old, compete with such a specimen of male virility? His arms felt like lead as he lifted the supply boxes into Dr. Aubrey’s car.

***

Jayme leaned back in the chair. She and Alan had spent the better part of two hours catching up on his activities and Jayme’s newest
Roamer
project.

“The best news of all, Mom, is I’m up for a promotion,” Alan said with a grin.

“Another one already?” She was so proud of her boy.

“Apparently my computer work has caught the attention of some higher ups at MacDill. My commander has put me in for E-6 and a new MOS of Cyber Network Defender. That’s in the Military Intelligence branch and includes Cyber Warfare.”

Jayme sat up straighter. “Oh, Alan, that’s wonderful! Are you going to stay at MacDill, or will they move you?”

He’d done so much moving around during his five years in the Army. She thought of the day he decided to enlist. She was opposed to it; however, Donald had approved. Six months later, Donald was dead and she was faced with being completely alone.

“I should be staying in Tampa. Even though MacDill is an Air Force Base, it is also an Active Army outpost, with a Special Operations Command, which is where I’ll be assigned. This is a huge career step for me, Mom.”

Alan studied his mother, aware something was on her mind, and knew instinctively this was not the time to bring up his new girlfriend.

Jayme smiled at her son. “It’s about time they recognized how special you are.”

Alan laughed. “I’ve been meaning to ask how that new program is working for you. Are you running into any glitches?”

“It’s been performing perfectly. I even had an opportunity to do some simple editing and burned a DVD for someone in a very short time. Now, I want to tell you about someone I’ve met,” she said, broaching the subject of Mark.

Alan lowered his eyes and tilted his head, trying to imitate Jayme’s famed ‘look of disapproval.’ Failing, he grinned. “Well, it’s about time you found someone, Mom. I was starting to worry about you. I mean, it’s been five years since Dad died. You’re still really young, for your age, I mean.” Alan smiled warmly at his mother, turning on his boyish charms.

Jayme gave an audible sigh of relief. “His name is Mark Steele,
Doctor
Mark Steele, and we’re meeting him for dinner at 7:00.”

“A doctor? Way cool, Mom!”

“Uh, Alan, I don’t know quite how to put this, but Mark thinks you’re about ten.”

“Should I ask for a booster chair?” Alan asked with as much sincerity as he could muster and still keep a straight face.

“Don’t tease!” Jayme couldn’t help but giggle. “I’m serious, Alan. Every time I’ve tried to tell him, he’d…we’d…I…we never got around to it.” She took a long swallow of her iced tea, trying to cool off the blaze in her face.

Alan grinned. “Way to go, Mom!”

Jayme broke out into a fresh bout of giggles, Alan joining her.

***

Jayme selected a table near the archway leading onto the wooden deck that surrounded the restaurant. Mangoes overlooked the marina at Marsh Harbor and had one of the best reputations for fresh fish in the islands.

Jayme and Alan ordered drinks in celebration: a Goombay Smash for him and a glass of white wine for her. They sipped the drinks, chatting casually.

“Mom, you look absolutely radiant in that dress. It’s new, isn’t it?” Alan asked.

“Yes, I bought it last week.” She smiled, smoothing the blue, green and purple silk.

A special dress for a special day,
she thought.

***

Mark arrived at Mangoes five minutes early, trying to augment his resolve to be civil, to give Jayme a chance to explain. He stopped one archway short of their table. The scene unfolding in front of him tore away layer after layer of protective barriers he had erected, until all that was left was raw, flaming emotion. Jayme laughed, reaching across the table to hold this glowing stranger’s hand. The picturesque young man leaned forward and blatantly kissed Jayme on the cheek. Mark seethed with anger and jealousy, his fury mounting with each passing moment until he felt he would explode.

He was tempted to turn and walk away from everything. Seeing her profile, though, Mark saw Jayme in his arms, in his bed. He was confused and deeply hurt, and he wanted to hurt her back. He couldn’t just walk away like he did with Bridget, not until she knew he was on to her deception.

As Mark approached the table, it was Alan who saw him coming. His green-flecked blue eyes met Mark’s steely gray ones, and instantly Alan knew something was wrong. There was such hate coming at him. He frowned. Jayme turned her head in time to see Mark stop beside her chair.

“Oh, there you are, Mark. I thought maybe you’d forgotten our date.” Her smile froze when Mark glared at Alan, not even looking at her. “Mark, this is Alan, my—”

“I don’t care who he is, Jayme. You really had me fooled.” His anger seethed just below the boiling point he worked hard to keep in check. “I thought you loved me, when all this time I was simply a diversion. And to think I actually proposed to you! At least you had the decency not to accept.”

Totally perplexed over Mark’s tirade, Jayme gaped. “What are you talking about?”

“Him! That’s what I’m talking about!” Mark’s voice raised an octave as he pointed at Alan. “Couldn’t you tell me about him instead of flaunting him in front of me and everyone else?”

“Okay, so I didn’t tell you! What’s the big deal?” Jayme’s Irish temper was beginning to stir.

“What’s the…? You’re incredible, you know that, lady? I have a hard time believing you could put on such a good act for such a long time. You’re really good.” The sarcasm dripped from his voice. “Just how old
are
you, boy?”

“Twenty-three,” Alan replied, his jaw clenching.

“Unbelievable,” Mark said, thinking,
She likes them
really
young
.

Jayme stared, dumbfounded, completely at a loss over Mark’s hostility and oblivious to the attention drawn to their table. The casual chatter in the restaurant had ceased; all eyes were on them.

“I have only one thing left to say to you.” Mark grabbed Jayme by both arms, pulling her to her feet, tearing one of the delicate straps on her silk dress.

She winced in pain as the stitches tore at her tender skin. Alan started rising out of his seat. With a subtle hand movement, Jayme motioned for him to stay put. Alan was well aware of his mother’s ability to handle herself, for she had taught it all to him. He lowered himself back into the hard seat, ready to spring forward if need be.

Mark kissed Jayme hard and brutally, bruising her mouth, then only inches from her face, he hissed, “Dump him!” He released her, leaving the way he came.

Jayme held the back of her hand to her battered mouth, tears skimming her lower lids.

Alan looked at her, smiling wanly. “I don’t think he likes me, Mom.”