Bad Karma (29 page)

She shook her head, but grinned at him. “You should stop giving me presents. I’m already getting to be so spoiled.”

Javier felt giant fingers clutch at his heart. He cleared his suddenly husky throat and fixed her with an intense gaze. “You have no idea how I’d spoil you, if you’d let me.”

Gazing into his eyes, she caught her breath.

Javier kissed her again, wishing he had both arms to hold her. He pulled away, reaching into his sling and drawing out a cell phone. “This is for you. I programmed my cell number in here and the sheriff’s emergency number.”

“
I need this so much! Thank you!” She was grinning, a rapt expression on her face as she examined the phone, its case the color of claret wine.

Javier felt a surge of pride that he could please her. “It’s nothing. I want you to be safe.”

She turned her pretty face to him, her eyes shining. “It makes me feel better to know that I can reach out and touch you, and be touched in return.”

“
Baby, if you only knew how much I want to touch you right now.” He sighed. “I’d better go before I get myself in trouble.”

Cassie walked with him to the door and kissed him again.

He slipped out, hearing her lock the door behind him. He’d just gotten into Jorge’s truck when his cell rang.

A grin spread across his face as he recognized her number. “Hi, baby.”

“
I wanted to tell you that I love you,” she said.

His voice broke. “I love you more.” He closed his phone with a snap, meeting Jorge’s grinning countenance.

“
I’m happy for you,
Primo
.” Jorge started his truck and pulled away. “I hope this girl is worth all the trouble.”

“
She’s no trouble.”

Jorge turned to give him a piercing gaze. “Javi, your girl is the meaning of the word trouble.”

“
Shut up!” Javier growled as the truck roared down the beach.

~*~

The next morning, Zach stood watch on the deck as Cassie and Sky climbed into Javier’s truck. He felt uneasy about letting Cassie drive Sky to the hospital, but Sky had insisted she felt okay about it.

Cassie was meeting Darla for breakfast at The Net on her day off to talk to her about her martial arts experiences.

Zach smiled as the huge vehicle roared to life, the tires crunching into the sand. He was glad that the Danforth women were blending in with the Bailey family.

He made sure the alarm system was engaged and all access was fortified before climbing into the Jeep. He had an errand of his own and intended to carry it out in private. He could tell the girls later, but if it wasn’t good news he’d have a heads up and be able to prepare a new battle plan.

He pulled up to the sheriff’s office and entered, nodding to Ida, the office manager and dispatcher.

“
Zach Bailey!” She reached up from her motorized wheel chair to embrace him. “You get better looking every time I see you. Go right in. Rafael’s expecting you.” She pointed to the glass door of his office.

“
Thanks, Ida.” He winked at her. “You’re my girl. Keep my sister in line.” He laughed when Ida rolled her eyes.

Rafael motioned for Zach to come into his office and take a seat.

“
Any good news?”

Rafael gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head. “My deputies are on the streets right now with pictures of Luther Franks. It’s been circulated to all the places that provide lodging, fuel and rentals of any kind.”

Zach felt a tightness in his chest. “Nothing yet, huh?”

“
It takes time, Zach. How is Skyler holding up?”

Zach raised his brows. “She’s faking it, pretending that everything is all right. She thinks I believe her, but I can see right through her little act.”

Rafael clasped his hands together on top of his desk. “Do you think it’s a good idea for her to go to work at the hospital? That’s where she’s the most vulnerable. Anyone could walk into the emergency room with a fake injury and get close to her.”

“
I’ve told her the same thing. If you’ll lend me a couple of pairs of handcuffs I might be able to keep both Sky and Cassie at home.” Zach leaned on Rafael’s desk, his face resting on his fists. “Sky thinks her presence is vital to the hospital, you know all that saving humanity stuff?”

Rafael snorted, shaking his head.

“
And Cassie is actually looking at every man she sees, in case he’s this Luther Franks. She’s itching to kick his ass. She’s very protective of Sky.”

Rafael laughed. “I may have to deputize her.”

~*~

Cassie waved when Darla walked into The Net. She’d been chatting with Sybil while she waited.

Darla looked younger in her “civvies”. She could be any young woman meeting a friend for breakfast. Her short cap of auburn curls framed a face that appeared to be golden with her light smattering of freckles. Big brown eyes with long lashes, made her appear to be such a soft, feminine girly girl.

But a girl growing up with seven brothers could hardly afford to be girly.

The two women leaned in for a hug and ordered a surprisingly hearty breakfast.

Darla grinned across the table at her. “Tell me, Cassie, what do you want to be when you grow up?”

Cassie howled in outrage, throwing a wadded up napkin at Darla.

Darla ducked, laughing. “Just kidding. My dad Googled you, so I know all about your academic honors, Miss Cum Laude.”

Cassie frowned. “Not so loud. I haven’t figured out how to tell Javier. He thinks I’m just the delivery girl here at The Net.”

“
Why not? He should be proud to be dating someone so smart and accomplished.”

Cassie shook her head. “Javier is not the kind of guy to point out a girl and say, ‘I’ll bet her IQ is over one-sixty’. He admitted that his initial attraction to me was purely physical. Only nerds are attracted to other nerds and aren’t intimidated by brainiacs. Javier did not fall in love with me because I’m smart.”

Darla guffawed indelicately. “I’m sure he didn’t. But he’s in love with you now. You can tell him the awful truth.”

Cassie shredded another paper napkin. “I will, when the time is right. I don’t want him to run screaming away.”

“
Warren and Woodrow are going to be so disappointed. They both want to win your heart. The Bailey boys are not intimidated by brainy, strong women.”

Cassie balled up the shredded napkin and tossed it on the table beside the mini-jukebox. “Apparently not. Look at Zach and Sky. He treats her like every word that drips from her lips is pure platinum.”

“
I’m loving it!” Darla said. “My little brother has never really gone totally over the edge for a female before. My mom has her fingers crossed. I think she said a rosary for them.”

“
Your little brother is a such moose, especially compared to you.”

“
They all are. Have you seen Calvin? He was almost ten pounds at birth. It’s a wonder Mom let Dad get near her after that.”

Cassie laughed. “Ouch! He’s the one with the tattooed arms and the pony tail?”

Darla nodded. He’s the oldest. I guess he had lots of practice being big brother to the whole mess of us.”

“
He looks like he could handle himself.”

“
He owns the Bait Camp with the bar near the jetties. There are the occasional drunken shrimpers or rowdy college kids on vacation, but he usually takes care of any trouble himself. We get an occasional call to come pick someone up, but by that time, they’re already very subdued. You do not start a fight in the Bait Camp.”

Sybil brought their plates piled with eggs, bacon, hash browns and biscuits with gravy on the side. “You girls enjoy, now.”

They dug into the feast.

Cassie took a big bite and made a moaning sound. “This is so good. Zach is into healthy food, so there’s granola and yogurt and fruit until I could puke. Are you sure he’s related to you?”

“
He’s always been like that. And he’s a nature nut. Wants to save the planet, protect the environment, save our resources.”

“
I like that about him. We share a lot of the same interests.”

Darla wrinkled her freckled nose and giggled. “I figured as much since you’re taking over Dad’s classes.”

“
So, if Zach was a nerdy brainiac, I guess he was too big to get picked on in school.”

Darla made a guttural noise in the back of her throat. “Ask him someday about Randall Richardson. He was the school bully. Calvin protected all the younger Baileys, but when he graduated, Randall made Zach’s life a living hell.”

“
What happened?”

Darla sopped up the gravy with the last of her biscuit. “Ask Zach. I’m sure he’ll tell you.”

Cassie waved at Sybil who came over with more coffee. “You might as well leave the check, Sybil.”

“
No way, girls. Your breakfast is on the house. Phil is so glad you’re coming back to work, he’s beside himself.”

Cassie grinned and raised her eyebrows at Darla. “If we’d known that we could have ordered the caviar.”

Darla frowned at her. “When are you going to begin making deliveries again?”

“
Today. I’ll start at ten-thirty. I need to make some of my own money.”

“
Is that a good idea with the stalker still out there?”

Cassie held up one finger. “First of all, he’s not my stalker. He got me by accident when he thought I was Sky.” Cassie held up two fingers. “And second, we only deliver to businesses. It’s not like I’m going out to someone’s isolated home.” She held up three fingers. “Third, if he ever tackled me face-to-face, he’d really be sorry he tried.”

Darla was still frowning. “Impressive. What if he has a gun?”

“
I know how to take down an armed adversary.”

Darla grinned. “Dang, girl! You could have been me.”

Cassie felt a flush of pleasure. This was a compliment in her book.

Darla’s big brown eyes shone with admiration. “Tell me about your martial arts experiences.”

Cassie shrugged. “I’m into karate and tae kwan do. I’ve studied Krav Maga. That’s the art of close quarters combat. It was developed by the Israeli military.”

Darla leaned forward conspiratorially. “When you say you’re into them, what does that mean?”

Cassie reached for her juice glass and drained it before setting it on the table. “You know, black belts and all.”

“
So you could take down a really big guy?”

Cassie snorted. “I could take down a couple of them at once.”

Darla’s eyes grew wide. “What about if they were armed?”

“
I told you that I know how to take down an armed assailant.”

Darla grinned at Cassie. “Do you think you could teach me a few things?”

Cassie tilted her head. “You want to learn from me?”