Eden's Dream (11 page)

Eden sank onto comfortable cushions. She winced as he gently eased her foot into position. They'd just enjoyed a simple dinner and were planning to have coffee on her back deck. Noel had put up a pot, and the smell of vanilla and hickory wafted its way outside.

“Isn't the sunset lovely?” Eden chattered as he eased into the adjoining chair. His closeness made her shift uncomfortably.

“Umm hmm.”

“Sometimes I wish I were an artist so I could capture those lovely pinks and mauves on canvas,” Eden babbled.

No answer. A scrape of his chair and he'd moved closer. Taking her hand, he searched her eyes. “Eden, I think it's important we talk.” She looked at him, waiting for him to continue. “About the other night…” He swallowed hard.

Holding her hand up like a traffic cop, she quickly interjected. “No need to say more. It should never have happened.”

Noel linked his finger through hers. “But I wanted it to happen. It's all I've been thinking of since I met you.”

What audacity, to actually admit that he'd planned on sleeping with her. She was tongue-tied.

“What I didn't plan on was for something else to happen,” Noel continued.

“Okay, spit it out. We're both adults. Why don't we admit it was a horrible mistake and move on?”

He released her hand and took her chin in his palm, forcing her to look at him. “Is that what you really believe?”

For a second, their eyes held. That couldn't be real emotion she saw there. He was master of the con. She wouldn't let him get to her. She lowered her lids quickly, ignored the fluttering in her stomach and nodded. If only he wouldn't touch her.

He released her chin and turned away, pacing the deck for what seemed an eternity. Eventually he returned to her side, and in a deceptively calm voice said, “Would you say it was a mistake to have fallen in love with you?”

Forgetting the damaged ankle, she was up in a flash.

She swayed, wincing at the pain. “Coffee's ready.”

Noel reached out, capturing her shoulders, easing her back into a seated position. “Coffee can wait.”

“No it can't.”

“Stop avoiding the issue, Eden. Whether you want to admit it or not, our lovemaking wasn't merely two animals mating. There were some real feelings there. Passionate feelings.”

“Gee, and I thought we were just two healthy, red-blooded humans going at it,” she mumbled, cutting him off.

Noel crouched beside her chair. He reached over and took her face in his hands. “Ugliness doesn't become you, Eden.” Before she could say another word he'd covered her lips with his, his tongue intruding where her mouth formed an
O
. She was tempted to bite that tongue, but her treacherous heart overruled her head, and she found herself responding.

One kiss led to another and another. When they finally surfaced for air, darkness had descended.

“Tell me again about the two red-blooded humans going at it,” Noel rasped, kissing the corner of her mouth.

“We're only…”

He cut her off with another earth-shattering kiss. Afterward he folded her into his arms and whispered, “So is it safe to say that you love me as much as I love you?”

She didn't dare answer. It was much too soon after Rod.

“
I
didn't get
all of the license plate, just the first three letters, CZY,” Noel said to the man across from him.

“And the make?”

“Late-model white Buick.”

The man scribbled the information, eventually looking up. “I think we've got enough to run a check.”

That's what Noel had been hoping. He rotated his shoulder blades, willing the tension to ease. The men seated around his kitchen table would do their best to find the Buick, of that he was sure. They were old friends and had gone through a lot together.

“So how you holding up, buddy?” the freckled man next to him asked.

Noel turned his attention to Jay. “About as well as can be expected.”

Jay brushed a wisp of shocking red hair off his face and threw him a skeptical look. “I'd say you're a little ragged around the edges. Tell me, now that your cover is blown, will you be hanging around long?”

Noel's arms reached overhead in an exaggerated stretch. The last thing he needed was the third degree. He yawned, hoping everyone would get the message and leave. “Depends.”

Ignoring Noel's signals, Carl, across from him, continued to scribble. “Does that rather vague answer have anything to do with Eden Sommers?”

Noel was careful not to visibly react. He wasn't in the mood for taunting, and that's exactly what would happen if he so much as blinked an eye. “Now where would you get that idea?” he drawled.

“Well she's not exactly a double bagger. You could do far worse.”

“Double bagger? What's that supposed to mean?”

“Requires two paper bags over the head before you take her to bed.”

Noel threw him a withering look as everyone laughed raucously.

A
day later
, Eden slammed down the receiver and glared at Noel. “Why wouldn't you let me call the police?”

Noel stroked Kahlua's fuzzy head before setting the cat down. “Because it's not necessary. I've got it under control.”

Frustrated, Eden hobbled across the room. The swelling around her ankle had gone down, but her foot was still sore. She stopped short, almost tripping over Kahlua, and placed her hands on her hips. “What's wrong with you? A person rams into your bumper and you're perfectly content to let it go. Later, the same person tries to run us down and, despite your threats, you haven't done a thing about it. Why aren't you doing something about finding these people?”

“Where did you get the idea I'm being complacent?” Noel asked, coming up behind her and kissing the nape of her neck.

Despite the fact that Eden's hormones were in overdrive, she spun around to face him. “Well, aren't you?”

He grabbed her by the shoulders, planted another wet kiss on her neck and growled, “I'm a reporter, Eden. I don't necessarily have to get the police involved to feel safe.”

Good point. Still, she would feel more secure if the authorities were informed. “Explain yourself.”

“I have people looking into the matter.”

Stony-eyed she challenged him. “People? Are you talking about those men who visit at night?”

“What people?” Fingers tucked in the loops of his jeans, he waited for her to go on.

“Don't play dumb with me. Ever since I've been here two weird characters have visited you at odd hours.” She chuckled dryly. “Course at first I thought you were dealing.” Then realizing she'd let that slip, she clapped a hand over her mouth.

“You thought I was selling drugs.”

She nodded.

Noel's eyeballs rolled to the ceiling. “Just my luck. The woman I've fallen in love with thinks I'm doing something illegal.”

Eden's hand fell to her side. He couldn't be serious. His comments were meant to divert her from the subject and that was all. Just as she'd done previously, she ignored his admission of love and put the conversation firmly on track. “Who are those men, anyway?”

“Agents.”

His answer floored her.
Agents, as in FBI? Could this be
another lie?
“Why would you have friends who are FBI agents?”

Noel wrapped a strand of Eden's hair loosely around his fingers and looked her in the eye. “I don't remember saying FBI. Even so, it's not that unusual. Friendships run the gamut in my business. Diversity's the name of the game.”

Eden slapped his hand and stepped back, forcing him to loosen his grip on her hair. She wasn't buying the story. “So what you're saying is that until your friends uncover these people's identities, we're to continue like everything's normal? We're to wait like sitting ducks till there's another attempt on our lives?”

Noel's fingertips outlined the curve of her jaw. “Did I say that?”

Eden tamped down her emotions. She needed to focus, to get a handle on the whole sordid mess. Noel's touch evoked irrational feelings and curtailed her ability to think. Despite his declarations of love, and a heart pumping like crazy, every instinct screamed he was lying. “Why is it such a big deal to get the police involved?” she managed to get out.

The tips of his fingers outlined her lips. “Because I'm quite capable of protecting you.”

He pulled her into his arms and kissed the top of her head. Over the fluttering in her stomach, she heard the beat of his heart. She would have followed him to Hades if he'd asked her.

The shrill ringing of the phone intruded on the moment. She'd had her number changed. Who could be calling?

“Want me to get it?” Noel groused.

“If you wouldn't mind.”

He took purposeful strides toward the phone, grabbed the receiver and growled. “Yeah?”

“It's for you,” he said, angling the phone in her direction.

She accepted the phone with more than a little trepidation. “Hello.” A smile replaced her puzzlement when she heard Lori Goldmuntz's cheery greeting. “One mystery solved,” Eden said after the conversation ended.

Noel quirked an eyebrow and folded his arms. “Well, are you planning on keeping me in suspense?”

Though tempted, she knew there would be no rest till she filled him in on the conversation. “I got us an answer. Some of the guys handling cargo have since been laid off. One of them told Lori's husband, Michael, that the organ was scheduled for delivery to Baylor Hospital. What's our next move?”

Noel chewed the inside of his jaw. “I think I'd like to find out who was responsible for sending it and who would have met the flight on the other end. Any hope of speaking with Michael's source?”

Eden tried to follow the way his mind worked while bits of the dream wormed its way through her thoughts. “I suppose I could ask. Do you think there was something else inside that box beside a human body part?”

“Perhaps.”

She looked at him, at the same time grappling with his response. “Does that mean you no longer think mechanical issues contributed to the crash?”

Noel stared out of the living room's floor-to-ceiling window before turning back. His words were measured. “Now did I say that? I just want to explore all the possibilities.”

Eden continued to challenge him with her gaze. “Good. Because given the number of maintenance problems that aircraft had, it seems amazing there were so few delays.”

“You've got a point. And that lead's definitely something worth pursuing, but not now.” He left his position at the counter and sauntered toward her. “What say we let this whole thing rest temporarily and go out and have fun?”

Eden tossed him a skeptical look. “You couldn't possibly mean play hooky?”

“Just for a little while?” Invading her personal space, he touched his finger to her lips. The same index finger now traced the curve of her bottom lip. His breath caressed her neck, and his closeness did funny things to her breathing.

“I'm thinking of taking the Zodiac out,” he said. “Join me?”

“Okay.” It was an opportunity she could hardly pass up. She'd always loved the water, and it had been years since she'd been out on the lake. Besides, she would be a liar if she didn't admit that being in the small, motorized boat with Noel held a certain appeal.

Other people were out enjoying the day, because Lake Washington was dotted with assorted small craft when they set off. Using the space and time to observe him, Eden sat on the far side of the Zodiac while Noel manned the helm. He'd told her he loved her. She just wasn't sure she believed him. He'd also been deceptive about his career. What else was he hiding?

Noel guided the boat effortlessly out to deeper water.

Eden's gaze drifted to the beautiful and expensive homes on the shores of the lake. Her fingers trailed the water, testing the temperature. Ice-cold. Logically, the lake's coolness should have provided a soothing balm to her overheated skin. Yet for some unfathomable reason she remained on edge, unable to shake the feeling they were being watched.

“Eden, see over there,” Noel said, pointing a slender finger toward the shores of Lake Washington. “That's Bill Gates' house.”

Awed, Eden stared at the opulent mansion. “My God, it's monstrous.”

“Forty-thousand square feet to be exact, and probably the equivalent in millions to build. Hey, are you okay? Are you cold?”

She shook her head to reassure him, suppressing the involuntary shiver that slithered down her spine. The day was brisk, but the sweatshirt should have warmed her, and the breeze should have felt wonderful on her face. Why then did she have the feeling someone had walked across her grave?

“I'm fine,” she lied. “It's just that I have this eerie feeling we're being watched.”

“On shore, probably half-dozen pairs of binoculars are trained on us.” He produced a Thermos of coffee. “Try not to be so paranoid.”

She shot him a withering look and gratefully accepted the Styrofoam cup he handed her. Paranoid, huh! Was that really what he thought about her?

“Try to relax and allow me to play tour guide,” Noel said, his tone softer.

Eden sipped her coffee, refusing to look him in the eye. She focused on the cleft in his chin, resisting the urge to trace the indentation. He couldn't be in love with her. She quickly looked away, her attention now on the surrounding small craft; an interesting assortment, running the gamut from jet skis to expensive power cruisers. One boat in particular seemed to be closing in on them.

Eden realized Noel, too, was concerned by the big boat's proximity. Though seated, he'd taken on the stance of a prizefighter.

“Noel, do you think it's following us?” Eden's voice was barely a whisper.

“I'm not sure.”

The speed of the Zodiac picked up as he aimed the boat toward the center of the lake. The Sea Ray Weekender followed at a more respectable distance.

Eden gulped her coffee, deciding she'd let an overactive imagination get the best of her. Most probably the Weekender held a local family out for an afternoon of pleasure cruising. It had to be coincidence that they took a similar route. She turned on the boom box Noel had laid on one of the seats, found an R & B station, and said brightly, “Don't you just love Sade?”

“Actually, she's one of my favorites.”

His response surprised her. So far they hadn't a whole lot in common, except for this unexplainable physical attraction.

The tune ended and another one began. “I'm old school. Do you feel the same way about Ashford and Simpson?”

Noel smiled a dazzling white smile, the ebony of his skin even more pronounced today. She resisted the urge to take his face between her hands and feel the coo1 texture of his skin beneath her palms. What had come over her? All she could think about was him. The Weekender behind them gunned its engine. Eden turned around. She got a glimpse of the man at the helm, dark brown hair drawn back in a ponytail, wraparound sunglasses covering his eyes. He looked vaguely familiar. The cruiser's speed picked up. No mistaking, it headed directly for them.

“Hold on, we're in for a rough ride,” Noel shouted, getting her attention.

Stomach lurching, Eden clutched the handles on the sides of the Zodiac. She closed her eyes; trying her best to ignore the boat's erratic movements as it came down hard. No way could they hope to outrun the cruiser.

Over the churning of her stomach, Eden heard Noel yell, “Get ready to swim.”

As the Weekender bore down on them, she managed a shaky nod. The bow was dangerously close now. Shiny chrome railings glinted in the sunlight. The man behind the wheel smiled, gunning the engine again. “On the count of three we're going over the side. One, two, three.”

Icy water closed over Eden's head. She felt herself sinking but summoned all her willpower and came up kicking and sputtering. She shook water from her eyes and tried to focus. Floating beside her were the remnants of the Zodiac. The speedboat was long gone, only a white trail remained. Panic set in as she realized there was no sign of Noel.