By Sea (18 page)

Chapter 46

Brody finished docking
By Sea
and watched as the crew tied the boat to the bollards. Jason gave him the thumbs up, assuring Brody that all was secure.

Another voyage complete. He hoped his next excursion on
By Sea
wasn’t as exciting as this one.

He walked into the Main Salon where Margarita sat on one couch, and Rayna sat on the other. Both stared out into space.

“We’re here,” Brody said, his heart aching. He was glad they were out of danger, but detested saying goodbye to Rayna. There simply wasn’t another option, though. Margarita he could do without. He didn’t handle narcissism very well.

Rayna glanced up at him and gave him a sad smile. At least he wasn’t the only one who wasn’t happy.

“Let me help you with that,” he murmured as he lifted her duffel bag. Jason came in and took Margarita’s suitcases, and she followed him off the boat to the golf cart waiting to take them up to the car that would deliver them to the airport. Joe’s plane was waiting.

“I don’t know what to say,” Rayna murmured, as she looked up at him.

Brody caressed her soft cheek as he studied her face. He wanted to commit every inch of it to memory. “There’s not much to say,” Brody said.

Rayna nodded. “Please take care of yourself, okay?” she whispered.

“You do the same,” Brody said, putting his arm around her and pulling her close to him. She laid her head on his chest and wrapped her arms around his waist.

He didn’t know what came next. “Keep in touch” seemed a little ridiculous. He would never step foot on the mainland again, and it wasn’t as if she was going to vacation in the Virgin Islands on a monthly basis. Maybe they’d be lucky and see each other a couple of times a year. It wasn’t enough for him, but if that were the case, he’d take what he could get.

“If you ever decided to come back down here, will you let me know?” he asked.

“How do I do that?”

Good question. It wasn’t as if she could pick up the phone and call. He couldn’t put her in the position of knowing how to get in touch with him. If the government somehow ever put the pieces together that they knew each other, they wouldn’t stop hassling her until they got what they wanted: his hide.

“I don’t know,” he said kissing the top of her head.

“Maybe we need to get Facebook accounts,” Rayna murmured into his chest.

Brody chuckled. Social media wasn’t for him, especially if he didn’t want to be found. “I think that’s the last thing either one of us needs.”

“Agreed,” she said. “I was kidding.”

“I know.”

He tipped her chin up, and kissed her, never wanting to forget the softness of her lips, the warmth of her mouth, or the gentle caresses of her silken tongue.

“You better go,” he whispered, and she nodded, slipping on her sunglasses.

They walked off the yacht, and Brody loaded her bag into the golf cart. His chest hurt as she climbed in, the breeze picking up her green sundress and giving him a flash of thigh. He sighed as he tapped the roof, and the driver sped off. As she disappeared down the dock, she glanced over her shoulder once and gave him a small wave, but didn’t look back again.

“That was an interesting trip,” Jason said, standing next to him.

“Yes, it was,” Brody murmured as the cart took the final turn, taking Rayna and Margarita out of his sight.

“So, uh, the guy for the you-know-what downstairs is on his way,” Jason said.

Brody sighed. There wasn’t going to be time to pine for Rayna. They had another client in a week’s time—a Senator who was being blackmailed—and after the body was removed, the whole room needed to be gutted and redone.

“Okay,” Brody said. “Let’s get to work.”

They turned and headed back to
By Sea
.

“So, did you and Rayna ever—”

“Don’t even go there, Jason,” Brody ordered.

“Okay, well, it sounds like someone’s a little touchy.”

“You have no idea,” Brody said, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his shorts. Even though his heart hurt and he felt like he wanted to go to bed and sleep for a week, he grinned as he realized he still had Rayna’s underwear.

Chapter 47

Rayna sat at her desk staring at the computer screen, not really seeing the words of the report she was supposed to be reading.

She’d been back at work for a week now, and she could only describe herself as depressed, and she was unable to shake it.

Margarita had returned to Mexico to a very upset father. Thankfully, Margarita’s little fling hadn’t resulted in a war between the cartels, and her father had actually sat down with José DiMarco and they agreed on peace. Her father had said that there might be some business deals in the future, but didn’t clue her in on what those might be.

Before Rayna left for the Virgin Islands, she was certain that she wanted to be part of the CIA. Now, as she remembered Brody, the boat and the rest of the crew, a nasty taste settled in her mouth each time she set foot in the building. Oddly enough, she didn’t have any guilt about killing Heidi, either. She’d done exactly what her father had asked of her: she protected her sister. Perhaps she had more of her father in her than she realized.

Glancing at the clock, she noticed she’d been staring at her computer screen for an hour. She never used to leave before six, but she stood, grabbed her coat, and headed for the door even though it was only 4:30 p.m.

The winter air bit at her face. How she longed to be back in the tropical waters of the Virgin Islands. Yes, it was beautiful, and she missed Brody more than she ever imagined she would, but being in the Caribbean brought out a new side of her that she wasn’t very familiar with, a side she liked. Down there, away from the suits, the traffic, her desire to climb the ladder, and her empty condo, she felt relaxed and comfortable. Actually, it was more than that: she felt alive, like she was exactly where she was supposed to be.

After an hour of traffic, she pulled into the garage and shut the door, her mood beyond vile. Tears stung her eyes as she imagined Brody’s arms around her, and she slammed the car door. For a few days, she’d been really happy. She hadn’t been trapped behind a desk reading endless reports; she’d been in motion, always on the go.

All her life she had tried to live the straight and narrow as her father wanted her to do, but she had found herself most comfortable in the shadows, and that bothered her. If she wanted excitement and intrigue, as she had experienced on the boat, maybe she should just head down to Mexico and work for her father.

After shutting off the alarm, she set down her bag on the counter, opened the refrigerator door and pulled out a bottle of Chardonnay. She poured a large glass, then sat down on the couch and looked out the sliding glass door at her small, bare patio she never used.

She missed Brody—there wasn’t any doubt about it. He was the first thing she thought of when she woke, and his face haunted her dreams. Even if she wanted to reach out to him, she didn’t know how. Shutting her eyes, she relived their gentle caresses, the kisses, the moments she saw his supernatural ability up close.

And again, she couldn’t help but feel that Brody belonged in her life. Being with him allowed her freedom, as there were no secrets between them. He knew hers, and she was aware of his. Never had she told another being who her father was or what he did. They were open books to each other.

She downed the wine and walked to the kitchen to get more. The tears tracked down her cheeks, and one spilled in her glass as she poured.

“Ms. Lopez, may I have a minute of your time?”

Rayna spun around, her heart pounding. A man in a wheelchair was in the space between the kitchen and couch, another man in a tracksuit standing to his left.

“Who are you?” she asked, reaching for the gun on top of the cupboard.

The man in the wheelchair smiled. “I’m not here to hurt you, Ms. Lopez. I’m a friend of Brody’s. My name’s Joe Smith.”

“How did you get in here?” she asked. The gun was gone.

“I have my ways, Ms. Lopez. I removed some of the more obvious weapons,” Joe said. “I hope you don’t mind, but I wanted to ensure my own safety. I haven’t revealed myself to you since you’ve been home because I wanted to make sure you weren’t expecting anyone in the near future. All I ask for is five minutes of your time.”

“How did you get in with the alarm on? What do you want?” she asked.

“Like I said, I’m a friend of Brody’s. Actually, Brody works for me,” he said, bypassing her questions.

Rayna’s heart pounded, but curiosity overrode her fear, and she stared at him. Then recognition set in: it was the man she’d seen talking to Brody that first time she’d met him in Corpus Christi.

“I’m sorry your voyage on
By Sea
ended so horribly, although I do appreciate you keeping the rest of the crew safe from Heidi.”

So this guy knew she killed someone, and now she was frightened again. Would he haul her in for murder? Her breathing quickened and sweat trickled down her back.

“I see that upsets you,” Joe said. “That wasn’t my intention, Ms. Lopez. I’m sorry.”

Rayna stared at Joe and his lap dog. Who were these people, and why was he talking about Brody? Whatever was going on, she was in no condition to deal with it. She needed these people gone. “I want you out of my house!” she yelled.

“Even if Brody sent me?” he asked.

“Get out! Now!” she screamed, and reached behind the coffee maker, pulling the gun strapped to the back. She leveled it at them, her hand steady. “I said now,” she hissed. “Get out of my house.”

“You should have caught that one, Thomas,” Joe murmured, and Thomas grunted as he stepped in front of Joe.

“Ms. Lopez, please. If you will just give me five minutes of your time, I believe I have a proposition for you that is a win-win for both of us.”

Rayna didn’t answer.

“Thomas, please move out of the way,” Joe said, looking around the man. Thomas stepped aside and Joe met her gaze again.

“Five minutes, Ms. Lopez. If I’m not gone in six minutes, I give you permission to shoot me. I think you’ll be very interested in what I have to say.”

He knew Brody, and he hadn’t said anything about arresting her for killing Heidi. In fact, he had thanked her.

Curiosity won, and she brought the gun back down to her side. “Five minutes,” she said. “Then I
will
start shooting.”

“I have no doubt,” Joe said with a smile. “Now, here’s my proposition to you.”

Chapter 48

“Goodbye, Senator,” Brody said with a smile, although what he really wanted to do was punch the guy in the veneers.

He hated politicians, and decided this one was almost as bad as Margarita with his narcissistic personality and barely-contained ego.

“Thanks for everything, Captain,” the Senator said. “I appreciate it.”

Brody turned as the man sat down in the golf cart. The Senator had been blackmailed by a woman who had pictures of the Senator tied to a bed, naked and blindfolded. A man and woman stood on each side of him, also naked with black masks on, both carrying tasseled whips. Joe had sent him the picture a couple of days ago, and Brody wished he hadn’t. He hadn’t been able to look the Senator in the eye for very long the rest of the trip.

He’d talked to Joe last night, and they had a few days off. Brody boarded the boat and sat down in the Main Salon, putting his feet up on the coffee table. Leaning back, he closed his eyes and Rayna’s face immediately came to mind.

The week had been difficult at best, and it wasn’t just because of the Senator. He missed Rayna.

Jason, Danny, and Katie came in, and Brody looked up at them.

“We’re going to take off for a couple of days,” Jason announced.

Brody was about to argue. They should prepare the boat for sailing, but he was so tired and so miserable, maybe he just needed some time alone to try to get himself straightened out. “Okay,” he said. “Today’s Saturday. Why don’t you guys come back here on Monday?”

“I hope you’re in a better mood by then, Brody, or I may take you downstairs and put a bullet in your head myself,” Katie said.

Brody looked at the usually good-natured woman and judging by her stern gaze and sly grin, he couldn’t tell if she was serious or kidding.

“Then we’d have to have the room decorated again,” Jason said.

“Maybe we should just get it done in reds, and then it wouldn’t be an issue,” Katie quipped.

“All right, let’s go, people,” Danny said with a laugh. “Brody, we’ll see you in a couple of days.”

Brody nodded and watched them file out the door. He leaned his head back again and let his thoughts drift. His cock pressed against his zipper as he remembered Rayna’s soft breath against his cheek while they made love in the cave, and he grinned as he recalled her battle with the paddleboard and her amazement as the dolphins introduced themselves to her.

In a nutshell, he was miserable without her, and he didn’t understand how knowing someone for such a short time could result in such strong feelings. Maybe it was because their time together had been so intense. It wasn’t exactly popcorn and a movie; it had been life or death, fun and excitement all rolled into a few short days.

However, he needed to get over that. Standing, he walked across the Salon, stopping at the bar to grab a beer before climbing the stairs to the Bridge. He popped off the top and tossed it toward the garbage, missing by a good foot.

He sat down on the bench and opened his logbook, ready to make notes on the Senators’ voyage.

There was a soft tapping downstairs, and Brody decided to ignore it. Oftentimes when they were docked, people had the audacity to want a tour of the yacht. If he disregarded them, hopefully they’d just go away. He was in no mood to be nice to anyone.

The tapping sounded again, and Brody threw the logbook across the Bridge, watching it land in a heap against the far wall. Grabbing his beer, he headed downstairs, ready to rip whomever it was a new one. He stopped in his tracks as he saw Rayna on the other side of the glass door. Setting down his beer on the dining room table, he rubbed his eyes, certain he was hallucinating.

She smiled tentatively and waved.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, opening the door.

Pushing her sunglasses on top of her head, she said, “It’s nice to see you, too.”

Brody heard the hesitation in her voice. “I’m sorry. I’m-I’m really happy to see you. Come in.”

Rayna stepped in and looked around, her bottom lip between her teeth. She wore a pair of denim shorts and a blue tank top, and looked amazing. However, his physical desire was temporarily doused by the curiosity and worry of why she was here.

“Are you in trouble?” he asked as they sat down on the couch.

Rayna shook her head. “No. Joe came to see me with an offer I couldn’t refuse.”

Brody’s heart thudded in his chest, his confusion at all time high levels. What did Joe want with Rayna?

He gripped her hands in his, the contact sending bolts of energy throughout his body. “What’s that?”

“Well, in a nutshell, he said that since I killed one of his crew members, the boat was down one.”

Brody smiled. That Joe was a crafty fucker. He’d told Brody he was working on a new recruit, but hadn’t given Brody any indication of who it was.

“So, he said the job was mine, if I wanted it. I told him I had to talk to you first, but I didn’t know how to get ahold of you, and he wouldn’t tell me. Instead, he put me on a plane here. I don’t want you to feel like I’m invading your space or anything. If you don’t want me here—”

Brody pounced on her, pushing her down to the couch. He crushed his mouth over hers, his heart racing with absolute happiness. Rayna would be with him always, right next to him.

Rayna broke the kiss and laughed. “I take it that you are okay with Joe’s proposal.”

“I’m so okay with it,” Brody murmured. “I don’t think I’ve ever been more okay with anything in my life.”

He kissed her again, their mouths meeting in slow, languid exploration as she traced her fingers up his arms and threaded her fingers through his hair. Brody’s body lit up, his cock ready to burst through his zipper. The only thing on his mind was getting her out of her damn clothes.

Standing, he pulled her to her feet. “You know, if you’re going to work on this boat, you need to become thoroughly familiar with it.”

Rayna smiled. “Yes, sir, Captain.”

He took her hand and led her to the Main Stateroom. “And the first place I’m going to show you is the shower in the forward cabin. Then there’s a whole list of other places on this boat you need to become intimately acquainted with.”

A few minutes later, Brody’s soapy hands ran down Rayna’s torso and over the swell of her slight hips as water gently sprayed at them from all five faucets. He slowly caressed her legs and squeezed her buttocks, her flesh perfectly filling his hands.

As they stood under the spray, skin-to-skin, their mouths engaged in unhurried exploration, they heard the chattering of the dolphins outside, and Rayna smiled.

“It sounds like they’re cheering you on,” she whispered.

Brody grinned and lifted Rayna, her legs wrapping around his waist as he sunk deep within her tight core. “Well, I certainly don’t want to let them down,” he murmured.

As he moved within her, Brody knew he had found his place in life. He was with the woman he loved, one he trusted with his secrets. His life was on the ocean, and his home was
By Sea
.