Authors: Francis Ray
He went still. His hand on his fork clenched.
Skylar couldn’t be sure, but she thought his breathing accelerated. Hers certainly
had. She was seriously considering biting his earlobe when he abruptly rose to his
feet.
His nostrils flared as if he was having trouble drawing in air. “Thanks for breakfast.
I’ll be outside.”
“I’ll be there shortly.” Rather pleased with herself, Skylar sipped her juice. Rio
didn’t run from anything or anyone, but he’d certainly made a quick exit. He wasn’t
as disinterested as he pretended.
“You can run, Rio, but you can’t hide. I’m coming after you and, what’s more, you’re
going to like it. Eventually.”
Chapter 5
Rio wasn’t having a good day. Thus far, Dakota hadn’t come up with anything on the
car. He was headed out the door on another call and would talk to Rio when he and
Skylar came in that afternoon.
The clear, husky sound of Skylar’s laughter was like a prod to Rio’s back. Arms crossed,
he kept staring toward the driveway for the next delivery. For a woman as delicate
and cultured as Skylar, her laugh was bedroom-husky. It made a man’s mind wander where
it shouldn’t.
“Skylar, you’re a mess,” Conner exclaimed, his laughter joining hers.
Rio refused to look over at the happy trio. Henderson was there with them. Skylar
had enough sense and was woman enough not to try to make him jealous. She was just
being her usual friendly self. In Tucson, she’d donated time and money to a women’s
shelter. She’d flown home last year on Christmas morning because she’d helped with
shopping and wrapping presents for the women and children staying there. The twenty-foot
fully decorated tree in the front room had been from her. She cared about people.
She’d just picked the wrong one this time
. I’ve watched you for two years. I’m
ready to do a little touching.
He’d laughed last night. He wasn’t laughing now. Skylar was proving to be more tempting
than he had anticipated.
“Rio, I see the last delivery truck. We can make our one o’clock appointment,” she
said cheerfully.
He straightened and looked at her. “I can’t make it. We’ll leave at one thirty to
go see Dakota.”
Her hazel eyes narrowed. Her chin lifted. “Of course.” She came to her feet and turned
to Conner and Henderson. “Time to get back to work, gentlemen.”
Both men saluted her. Rio walked from beneath the tent to meet the driver. Skylar
was not going to get to him.
Five minutes later he wasn’t so sure about the delivery driver. He couldn’t seem to
keep his eyes off Skylar. Usually she stayed beneath the tent and waited for Rio or
one his men to bring the packages to the unpacking table. This time she was there
when the man brought out the first box. He actually stopped in his tracks.
“Thank you.”
Seemingly oblivious to the man’s stare, she took the small box from his hands and
went to the unpacking table.
“We’d like to get this done this year,” Conner said.
The man jerked as if coming out of a trance. “Yeah. Sorry.”
Conner and Henderson loaded their dollies and wheeled them back to the table. Skylar,
ignoring Rio, unpacked the diamond-and-ruby brooch. “This is exquisite.”
Not as exquisite as you,
Rio thought, and turned to help unload the dolly. They were almost finished when
the driver approached with another box.
“This is the last one.”
“Thank you.” Skylar smiled at the man. “Would you like something to drink while we
open these?”
“I’d appreciate it.” The man looked as if he’d just won the lottery. He stepped forward
and Rio reached for the box. The man’s gaze met his. The driver’s eyes widened. He
stumbled back. The box slipped from his hands.
Rio caught the package and mentally cursed. He knew his expression was ice-cold and
dangerous. He also knew the reason he looked that way.
“Ah, sorry.” The man wiped his now sweaty face. “I think I’ll pass on the drink.”
There was absolute quiet as the packages were opened. Rio called out the items to
Skylar, and she checked them off the master list. After the driver signed, Rio gave
the man a large tip and handed him a cold bottle of water. He swallowed, took the
money and water, nodded, and rushed back to his truck.
When Rio looked around, Skylar was gone.
* * *
“Where is Ms. Dupree?”
Mary, the cook, jumped and swung around from the kitchen sink, her hand going to her
heart. Seeing it was Rio, she still looked ready to bolt.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.” He really didn’t like frightening people unless
he meant to.
Mary slowly lowered her hand. “That’s all right. I didn’t hear you come in.”
“Have you seen Ms. Dupree?” he asked again. He’d expected her to come out after she
finished her lunch. He’d gone to the men’s quarters and checked in with Blade.
“She’s gone.”
“Gone where?” he asked, barely managing to keep his voice even and non-threatening.
Mary shook her dark head. “She just said she had business in town and that I didn’t
have to cook lunch or dinner for her.”
She wouldn’t,
he thought, but he was already moving to his Jeep because he knew she would go to
meet Dakota without him. He spoke into the wrist radio. “Where’s Skylar’s car?”
“Five miles from here, headed north into town,” came the answer from the control room.
Two of his men had gone to retrieve her car last night. He hadn’t thought to tell
them not to let her leave unless he was with her. Opening the front door, he rushed
toward his Jeep. He wouldn’t underestimate her again, but neither should she underestimate
him.
* * *
Skylar followed the policeman to Dakota’s office. She would show Rio that she didn’t
need to depend on him or any other man. She’d been taught to be the perfect hostess
for her husband, but never subservient to him. The nerve of him trying to scare the
poor deliveryman half to death after ignoring her all morning. She’d show him!
“Here it is, Ms. Dupree,” the young officer said. “The chief is expecting you.”
“Thank you.” She knocked on the half-glass door.
“Come in,” said a male voice.
Skylar opened the door and saw the police chief rise from his chair behind a neat
desk. She extended her hand. “Chief, it’s—” She whirled around to see Rio leaning
against a file cabinet. “What are you doing here?”
He straightened and came to within a foot of her. “I told Dakota we’d be here.”
“I’m perfectly capable of being interviewed without you. Thank you, but you can leave.”
Rio looked at Dakota, who leaned against the front of his desk, his lips twitching.
He was glad someone found the situation amusing. “The chief might have a question
or two for me.”
This was not working out the way she’d planned. “You weren’t the one being followed.”
Anger glinted in his dark eyes. “I was the one you called.”
She knew the anger wasn’t directed at her, but at whoever had been in the SUV. “Because
I knew the police would respond quicker to you than to me.” The words were barely
out of her mouth before she realized she might have insulted the police chief. He
and Rio seemed to be on good terms. She glared at Rio for making her speak without
thinking and faced the police chief. To the man’s credit, he still wore that patient
expression he’d had on last night and when she’d just now entered his office.
“Chief Rodriquez, I didn’t mean to disparage your department,” Skylar told him. “However,
if I had called the 911 operator, he or she would have wanted to be sure I wasn’t
imagining things, ask questions about the car, the reason I might be followed, before
dispatching a police car. I was one signal light away from the last one out of town.
I made the call that would get help the fastest.”
“The right one, as it turned out.” Dakota motioned to a chair in front of his desk.
“Please have a seat.”
She looked from Rio to the door.
“Not happening,” he said flatly.
If Blade couldn’t intimidate Rio, she certainly couldn’t. She took a seat. She sensed
him moving to stand just behind her. “Have you been able to find out anything more?”
she asked.
Irritation flashed across the policeman’s face. “Unfortunately, not much. As you said,
the car went down a side street. One of my men questioned the valets at the restaurant,
and none recalls getting an SUV after you left.”
“The restaurant has cameras,” Rio said.
“The tapes should be delivered to me before five today,” the police chief answered,
“I located the man you said was the most persistent because he’d been that way with
other women that night. The manager asked him to leave. He paid with a credit card.
He drives a small compact and didn’t leave the restaurant until at least an hour after
you did.”
Skylar didn’t want to ask if he’d been able to find the other men. Rio wasn’t so hesitant.
“What about the others?”
“Another dead end with three of them.” The police chief looked at Skylar. “From your
descriptions of the men and their clothes, I was able to find them. They were still
at the bar, still betting who could pick up a woman in the shortest length of time.”
“Juvenile and crude. Women have more sense,” Skylar said.
“The fifth man?” Rio asked.
“Nothing. A waiter thought he recalled a man wearing a black-and-white-checkered jacket,
but couldn’t be sure. The restaurant was very busy. We’ll look for him on the tape,”
the chief told them. “Have you thought of anything else, Ms. Dupree?”
“No, nothing.” Skylar sat back in her chair. “I told you everything last night.”
Dakota glanced over her head at Rio and leaned forward. “Any old disgruntled boyfriends?”
She did not want to answer that. It would be too much to ask Rio to step out. Then
she realized that those close to Blade had few secrets from his personal bodyguard
and chief of security at Navarone Resorts and Spas. “I haven’t dated in some time.”
Like not in the past two years, and very little before then. She had lots of male
friends, but they were just that, friends.
“I see,” Dakota said, when it was obvious he didn’t.
Skylar glanced at her watch. “If there are no further questions, I need to get back
to the castle.”
The police chief came to his feet and around the desk. “That’s all for now. Thank
you for coming.”
Skylar stood. “Thank you. I wish I could be of more help.”
“You’re safe. That’s the most important thing.”
“And you’ll stay that way,” Rio said from behind her, steel in his voice.
Despite her wish to show Rio she didn’t need him, she had a desire for the man. She
didn’t have a shred of doubt that he’d protect her with his life if necessary. The
thought of him being hurt sent a chill through her. “Let the police handle this.”
From the blank look he gave her, Rio wasn’t going to listen. “Stay in touch, Dakota.”
“Will do.”
Taking her arm, Rio headed for the door. Skylar had no intention of creating a scene
in the police station. Once she reached her car was soon enough to set Rio straight.
Luckily, once they were outside, he walked in the direction she’d parked the car.
However, when they reached the spot, instead of her black BMW there was a red Toyota.
“Someone stole the car!” she yelled, unable to believe it.
“It’s back at the castle,” Ro said calmly. “I had it picked up.”
She stared at him, then swung her purse at him. He caught it with his hand. She lifted
her foot to kick him, then stomped it instead. She might have a black belt, but she
was no match for Rio’s quick reflexes. “You should have told me.”
“You should have waited for me.” He stepped closer. His eyes blazed. “Be annoyed at
me, but be smart about it. The nut from last night could have been random or he could
know you and be waiting for you to leave the castle.”
Fear overrode the anger. “I’ve been trying to make myself believe it was random.”
“Until we know for certain, we have to assume it wasn’t. That means you don’t go anyplace
from now on without me or one of my men.” He continued down the busy street until
he reached his Jeep. “When we reach the castle, you’re getting another car.”
Rio hadn’t said so, but obviously she was changing vehicles in case the person or
persons in the SUV would recognize her last one on sight. He stopped on the passenger
side and opened the door.
“Nothing is going to happen to you.”
“Nothing better happen to you, either, or you’ll hear from me.” She faced him with
her back to the Jeep’s seat. “I mean it.” She poked his chest with her finger to make
her point. “We both stay safe.”
He caught her hand. “Little warrior.”
She was undeniably touched. “You better believe it. Now come on, let’s grab some food
and get back before the next delivery.”
His thumb grazed her hand before reluctantly releasing it. “Already taken care of.
Mary said you told her not to cook for lunch or dinner.”
She stepped closer, her arms going around his neck. “Does the invitation go for dinner
as well?”
His hands splayed on her small waist. He wasn’t sure if it was to keep her from getting
closer or to touch her. “Brandon is waiting.”
“So am I.” She didn’t move.
“Brandon doesn’t like it when people are late for their reservations.”
She cocked a brow, withdrew her arms, and reached for the door handle. He was faster,
but it also placed her slim backside against his front. She stilled. Since she was
unpredictable, he moved back.
Tossing him a grin, she climbed inside. “One day you won’t be able to or want to move
away.”
He gave her a flat look. Her grin widened. She had an easier time climbing in this
time because of her flared skirt. It slithered back on her thighs when she crossed
her long legs. He closed the door with a snap, went around, and got inside. That’s
what he was afraid of.
* * *