Winter Bride (9780345546197) (8 page)

“How very cautious of you. No San Miguel, no Bride?”

“I didn’t mean … I know you wouldn’t back out on your promise.”

“You don’t know anything about me,” he said harshly.

“Yes, I do. I know you’re tenacious, courageous, and determined. I also know you’re intelligent … and that you’re not as hard as you’d like the world to believe.” She smiled. “And I’m learning more all the time.”

He studied her face. “This isn’t going to be easy. We’ll be lucky if we get out of San Miguel with our necks intact.”

“It will be all right. Nothing will happen to you.”

“I’m glad you’re so certain.” He shook his head. “You seem damn happy about all this. You’re practically glowing.”

“Glowing? I feel like I’m blazing inside.” She glanced back over her shoulder at the rapidly receding island. “It’s starting, Jed!”

Ysabel gazed up at the towering hotel as she got out of the taxi. “I thought we were going directly to the cruiser as soon as we reached San Juan.”

“I have to meet someone who’s staying here at the hotel.”

“Who?”

“Ronnie Dalton, a business associate.”

“Is that who you called from the airport at Seattle?”

“Yes, we’ll leave tonight if Ronnie’s managed to lease the cruiser, but I want to make a few more arrangements.”

“Like what?”

“Getting your passport in order before we take off.” He tipped the taxi driver, took Ysabel’s elbow, and propelled her toward the entrance. “There’s no telling where we’ll end up before this is over.”

“You’re truly worried, aren’t you? You think we’ll run into trouble?”

“I always subscribe to Murphy’s Law. Then I’m never disappointed.”

“Things aren’t going to go wrong this time.” She couldn’t keep the lilt from her voice as she entered the hotel. “I
feel
it.”

“I hope you’re right.” He gazed concernedly at her radiant face. “Seven years is a long time, Ysabel. A rapine dictatorship like San Miguel’s gobbles up everything of value in sight.”

“Are you trying to protect me again?” She shot him an amused glance. “Why? You’re not—”

“It’s about time you got here.” A slender, fair-haired young woman dressed in faded jeans and a worn brown leather flight jacket was striding toward them across the lobby. Ysabel received a swift impression of wide-set green eyes, tousled golden curls, and a roses and cream complexion. The rough clothes should have made her appear boyish, but instead she looked like a slightly scruffy angel.

She stopped before Jed and jammed her hands into the pockets of her jacket. “What kept you? I’ve been waiting forever.”

“The flight was late,” Jed said. “And two hours is not forever.”

“Well, it seemed like forever. You know how I hate to wait.” The woman turned to Ysabel. “Who is she?”

“Ysabel Corbin,” Jed answered. “Ysabel, this unmannerly person is Ronnie Dalton. Camerawoman
extraordinaire
. Unfortunately, she’s significantly lacking in other areas.”

“Corbin?” Ronnie’s eyes flew to Jed’s face. “Your wife?”

“My stepmother.”

“Shades of Cinderella,” Ronnie murmured as her gaze went over Ysabel. “They’re not making them like they used to, are they?” A sudden gamin grin lit the angelic beauty of her face. “I should have know no one with any sense would have you, Jed.”

“How do you do?” Ysabel said politely.

“Much better now that something interesting is afoot.” Ronnie turned to Jed. “I rented a fifty-foot cruiser that has two cabins and stocked it with two weeks worth of supplies. When do we leave?”

“
You
stay here.
We
leave for San Miguel tonight.”

Ronnie scowled mutinously. “The hell you say. I told you I—”

“I’m not after a story,” Jed interrupted. “This trip is a purely personal indulgence and I’m not risking your neck.”

“Family business?”

“You might call it that.”

Ronnie glowered at Ysabel. “Is she going?”

Ysabel nodded. “It’s necessary I go with Jed.”

“For Lord’s sake, Jed, she looks like she’s made of whip cream,” Ronnie exploded in disgust. “If you’re not afraid of taking her, then I’m going too. I’ll shoot some new footage and well kill two birds with one stone.”

“I told you there’s no story.”

“Then we’ll find one.” Ronnie lifted her chin. “Maybe a follow-up on the one we did two years ago.” With her thumb and forefinger she drew an imaginary caption in the air. “San Miguel Today.”

“You went to San Miguel with Jed?” Ysabel asked.

“Of course, who do you think shot the film? He gets the glory, I do the work.” Ronnie grimaced. “Hell, Jed would have shot everything upside down.”

“I’m not that bad,” Jed said testily.

“Yes, you are. Remember that gang war in the ghetto in Detroit?” Ronnie turned to go. “I’ll run up to my room and get my bag. I’m all packed.”

“No,” Jed said firmly. “Read my lips, Ronnie. You aren’t going.”

“That’s right. Use me and then throw me away,” Ronnie said flippantly as she moved across the lobby toward the elevator. “It won’t take me a minute. I’ll be right back.”

“Ronnie, dammit.” Jed hurried after her. Looking at Ysabel over his shoulder, he tossed, “Wait here. Lord, she’s stubborn. I’ll be back as soon as I drum some sense into her.”

Ysabel smothered a smile as he disappeared into the elevator with Ronnie. She settled on a nearby
couch and made herself comfortable. It might be a long wait; Ronnie seemed to be a very determined woman. It was strange to see Jed at such a disadvantage; it certainly cast an entirely new light on his character. The relationship between them was clearly of long-standing, but Ysabel had caught no hint of a sexual undertone in the exchange she had witnessed. Jed clearly regarded Ronnie with the half tolerant, half exasperated affection Ysabel guessed he would a younger sister. The knowledge filled Ysabel with an odd relief.

Five minutes later the door of the elevator slid open and a scowling Ronnie Dalton stalked out and over to Ysabel. “Dammit, he’s stubborn.”

“That’s what he said about you,” Ysabel said mildly. “I take it he won?”

“For the moment.” Ronnie smiled reluctantly. “I decided to retreat and prepare for a new foray.”

“Where did he go?”

“I gave him my room key and he went up to make a few phone calls.” Her frowned returned. “He told me to take care of you.”

“Did he?” Ysabel smiled serenely as she rose to her feet. “That’s not necessary, but you can take care of our luggage, if you like.” She turned and moved toward the entrance. “Tell Jed I’ll be back in a few hours.”

“Wait!” Ronnie hurried after her out into the street. “You can’t go anywhere. Jed told me to take care of you. He seems to think you’ll fall apart if the wind disturbs one strand of hair.”

“Hair … hmmm.” Her gaze went to Ronnie’s short curls. “I’ll have to do something about that
too.” Turning to the doorman, she said, “Taxi,
por favor
.”

“Where are you going?” Ronnie asked.

“Shopping. I brought only three pairs of boots.”

Ronnie’s eyes widened. “And I thought I traveled light.”

“They were the only useful things I had in my wardrobe.” She limpidly gazed at Ronnie. “The rest was ‘whip cream.’ ”

Ronnie looked slightly sheepish. “I was pretty rude, right?”

“Exceptionally.”

“Sorry,” she muttered. “I’m not good with people. Jed says I’m as belligerent as the devil.”

She looked like a guilty little girl caught in some mischief, Ysabel thought. “And why are you belligerent?”

“It’s my stupid face. No one takes me seriously,” Ronnie said in disgust. “I look like one of those old ads for Ivory soap or an angel on a Christmas card. I have to show people I’m more than that.”

“Jed said you’re a fine camerawoman.”

“You’re darned tooting I am. The best.”

Ysabel burst into laughter at the grimness of her tone. She found she genuinely liked her. Ronnie was refreshingly honest and blunt to the point of impudence, but beneath the bravado Ysabel caught nuances of vulnerability that touched her. “Would you like to come with me? I don’t know anything about the shops in San Juan.” She laughed joyously. “Correction, I don’t know anything about shopping, period. It’s a new experience for me.”

Ronnie’s skeptical gaze traveled over the elegance of Ysabel’s dress. “Yeah, sure.”

“No, really. I’ve always had my clothes made for me. Well, not on San Miguel but …” She shrugged. “I got them out of the welfare barrel at the mission there.”

“Welfare? You?”

“My father was a missionary.”

Ronnie’s chin lifted defiantly. “And mine was a gunrunner.”

She obviously expected the statement to shock Ysabel. “I see.” Ysabel walked toward the taxi that had drawn up at the curb. “How interesting. I’ve never met a gunrunner. Was he good at his job?”

Ronnie blinked. “Not very.”

“Well, are you coming?”

Ronnie hesitated and then hurried after her. “This town is into either tropical cruise wear or sophisticated chic. You won’t find anything like that number you’re wearing.”

“Good. Will I be able to find what you’re wearing?”

“Me?” Ronnie suddenly grinned. “Nope. I bought the jeans in a Goodwill store in Kansas City and won the jacket in a poker game in Tel Aviv.”

“I don’t know if they have Goodwill stores in San Juan and I’ve never learned how to play poker. Is there a place here I can find a reasonable facsimile?”

Ronnie thought for a moment and then turned to the doorman. “Send those bags sitting just
inside the door up to room two thirteen.” She opened the door of the cab. “Let’s go.”

“Where are we going?” Ysabel asked as she got into the taxi.

“To see if we can find a Banana Republic store in this burg.”

Jed was waiting in the lobby with a distinctly displeased expression when they walked in four hours later. “Where the hell have you been? Didn’t it ever occur to you it would be courteous to—good God.” His gaze wandered over Ysabel, starting from her white tennis shoes and moving to her fitted acid-washed jeans and crisp white chambray shirt. “You don’t look like the same woman.”

“I’m not the same woman.” She put down the two shopping bags she carried. “That woman on Winter Island wasn’t real. This is me. Ysabel.”

He turned to Ronnie. “I suppose this is your doing?”

She shook her head. “I just went along for the ride, but I like the change. No more whip cream.”

“I’m sorry if you don’t approve,” Ysabel said quietly.

“I didn’t say I didn’t like it. I haven’t made up my mind. The metamorphosis just came as a shock.”
His gaze went to the long thick single braid nestling against her breast. “At least you didn’t cut your hair.”

“I was tempted, but I didn’t know how manageable my hair would be short. I decided it would be easier to care for in a braid.” Ysabel turned to Ronnie. “May I use your room to pack all these things?”

“Sure,” Ronnie said. “I won’t be using it. I’m going down to the beach for a while.”

“I thought you said beaches were boring,” Jed said.

“Maybe I’m getting used to them.” She met his gaze. “I don’t suppose you’ve changed your mind about me going with you?”

“I have not.”

“See you.” She turned and started toward the door.

“We’ll be leaving for the boat in about an hour. Will I see you before we leave?”

“Maybe,” she answered over her shoulder.

“Ronnie, blast it, it’s for the best.”

“Sure.”

“Wait a minute. You know—” He broke off as the glass door swung shut behind her. “What the devil is wrong with her?”

“Perhaps she’s disappointed.”

“Ronnie digs in and slugs it out, she doesn’t sulk.”

“She doesn’t appear to be sulking to me.” Ysabel’s gaze followed Ronnie as she strolled down the street. “I like her very much.” Her eyes shifted to Jed. “And I think you do too.”

“If you can like a hair shirt.” Jed picked up
Ysabel’s two shopping bags. “I guess I’m used to the scamp.”

She followed him into an elevator. “You’ve been together a long time?”

“Six years. We met in Nicaragua. She had just shot some footage of a rebel attack and came to my hotel to offer it to me in exchange for a job.” He pushed the button, the doors slid closed and the cubicle started upward. “I said no. She was only an eighteen-year-old kid and some of the places my team goes aren’t exactly safe.”

That was an understatement, Ysabel thought with a shiver. But this time Jed would be safe in San Miguel. She would make sure nothing happened to him. “But you changed your mind?”

“She went out and managed to get to the frontlines and shot some dynamite footage. She also got herself shot in the arm while doing it. She came staggering into the hotel dining room, dripping blood, and put the tape on the table in front of me.” He grimaced. “And promptly fainted dead away.”

“And you gave her the job.”

“No, not until she swore she’d follow me around the world and do the same thing until she had a story I couldn’t refuse.” He shrugged. “What could I do? It was better having her where I could keep an eye on her.”

She chuckled. “Oh dear.”

He frowned. “You seem to be enjoying this.”

“I’m seeing another side of you. I never dreamed you could be this soft.” The elevator door opened and she preceded him out into the hall. “Since I met you, I’ve always been the vulnerable one.”

His lips tightened. “And I’ve always been cast as the cruel, heartless villain.”

“I didn’t say that. You were never cruel to me. I don’t think you could be cruel.”

“Don’t be too sure.”

His voice sounded oddly thick and she glanced at him over her shoulder. “I’m sure. You’re hard and you can be ruthless, but you’re fair and without malice. I know about—” She stopped as she saw his expression. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” He tore his gaze from her lower body. “I’ve made up my mind about the jeans. I think I like the new Ysabel.”

She felt heat flood her cheeks. “How … nice.” He unlocked the door to her room and followed her inside. She nodded at the suitcase on the floor. “Will you put that on the bed for me? It won’t take me long to pack and then we can get going.”

He did as she asked. “There’s no hurry.”