Deep Into The Night (Hartz Island Series) (7 page)

Chapter Eleven

H
e woke from a dream and knew he had a hard on. Cassie’s arm was across his chest and her head, with her massive amounts of hair, nestled in his arm. It was all way too comfortable. Here they were, mature adults, sleeping on the same bed, and he knew she was in no condition to be fucked with, generally speaking.

Jack gently moved her arm off his chest and tucked it back in the sleeping bag. He was with Mike Ryan’s kid sister. Somewhere from twelve to sixteen, when he and Mike had graduated from the University of Washington, she’d developed a nice set of tits and a cute ass. On top of that a personality well deserving of her nickname that he’d dubbed her, Princess Sassy Face. She had been extremely annoying growing up. This wasn’t the first time he’d rescued her butt.

Jack had graduated out of Officer Candidate School and was at Coronado for SEAL training when his commanding officer came and got him. “It seems,” his CO said, “you have a family emergency that needs to be dealt with.” Jack’s training kept him calm on the outside, but his mind imagined the worse, until his CO started laughing. “A Mrs. Marie Ryan has called, claiming you have a family emergency. But in speaking with Mrs. Ryan, I discovered you are not related, but she thinks of you like a son. It seems her daughter, Cassandra, and three other girlfriends have driven to Hollywood to be movie stars. She wants you to fetch them. Apparently, these young ladies were supposed to register for their freshman classes. Instead, they drove straight to Los Angeles. So, Lieutenant, I decided to dispense you and three other Marines of your choice for your first civilian mission. Your job is to escort these ladies to the airport and watch them get on the jet. Evidently, Mr. Ryan and her son Mike are on a fishing trip in Alaska and can’t be reached.”

“May I refuse this mission, sir?”

“I don’t think so. Mrs. Ryan did indicate she only trusted you. Remember, you are an officer and a gentleman, and this will be a challenge.”

He and his fellow Marines found them sitting by a pool in their bikinis, totally clueless that they were camped out at a major hooker hotel in a sleazy part of Hollywood. She wasn’t listening to reason until he pointed out that her mother threatened to take away her new sports car she received for graduation if she didn’t get her butt back to school and register. After that, it didn’t take much intimidation to move them along, but Jack still had to listen to Cassie’s bitching.

In some ways, he wished he was twenty-four escorting that eighteen year old. The lines were clear. Shit. He was operating in the gray area with her, and he didn’t like it. There was something about the all-grown-up Cassie that made him nervous.
May I refuse this mission, sir? I don’t think so, Marine.

Her stomach growled. Cassie tried to roll over to ease the pang but found her movement constrained, so she shifted to her side. She forced her eyes open to a light filled room and lay there listening, trying to get her bearings. Her stomach growled again, this time with more force. When had she last eaten, and where was she? Then she remembered. Without even looking, she knew the other side of the bed was empty; it had that feel. The comforting sounds of someone in the kitchen reached her ears. All she could think was: just ten more minutes, please.

More than anything, Cassie wanted to fall back to sleep, but her mind raced with questions concerning Jack Wyatt. Why was he here at her house? When was the last time she’d seen him? Mike’s wedding? Her parent’s funeral? She hadn’t been in any condition to remember anything that day. He was still handsome but now with a ruggedness that suited him. With age he’d put on weight, and it looked nice. His honey blond hair was now sandy brown, still short. His signature steel blue eyes were just as blue.

She’d been twelve when her brother brought home his college roommate. She never forgot the first time Cupid hit her heart. All she’d ever been to him was his friend’s pain-in-the-ass little sister. Mortified anyone would ever find out about her massive crush, Cassie had worked overtime for the title. So what now?

The sounds of a tea kettle reaching full boil pierced the air, bringing her into the present. Unzipping her sleeping bag, she swung her legs out and sat up. Immediately, she felt the chill and shivered—a reminder she was no longer in L.A. Her clothes from last night’s adventure sat in a pile where she had dropped them. She wrinkled her nose when she picked them up and immediately tossed them in the corner. With only one other pair of jeans to her name, Cassie slipped them on, found a clean shirt, grabbed her toiletries, and headed into the bathroom before facing Wyatt Earp.

Jack was on the phone, leaning against the kitchen sink, when she entered. He pointed to the can of instant coffee and the tea kettle. She found the largest mug in the cupboard. While it brewed, she rifled through all the sweatshirts in the mudroom, looking for one to wear. She half-listened to Jack and his conversation, sorting through the various choices of outdoor clothing. Disappointed her sister-in-law hadn’t left something designer behind, Cassie settled on a zippered style hooded sweatshirt. Still listening to Jack’s conversation, Cassie sipped her coffee and stared out the front window. From the looks of things, not much had changed, but it had if Jack were rolling around in seaweed sludge, spying. She positioned her body against the wall so she could look down the beach but also sneak a few looks at Jack. Her first impression of him in Los Angeles was correct. She didn’t want to mess with him. Generally speaking, she would say he was big—all over. She smiled, remembering last night when he had her pinned to the bed and then afterward. She’d gotten a good look.

Cassie heard, “She’s up now so we’ll see you in a bit.” Jack tucked his phone in his pocket. “What are you smiling about, because it can’t be that coffee?”

“Nothing.” She shrugged.

“The way your stomach was growling early this morning, I figured you want to eat breakfast. You do eat breakfast, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Can you be ready in fifteen minutes? We’re meeting some people at Jeannie’s Place.”

“I’m ready right now.” Her answer must have surprised him because he raised his eyebrows. “Let me get my purse.”

Jack waited for her to buckle up before heading down the drive. At the end of their driveway, where it met up with Blue Heron Lane, he stopped and pulled on his stocking cap and said, “Okay, this is what I want you to do. Lean down so when we pass the second drive from here no one will see you.”

“You want to tell me what’s going on?” Cassie leaned over to touch her toes.

“Eventually.”

When they hit the road, she sat up. “Does this have anything to do with why you’re at my house? By the way, why are you at my house? And who gave you permission to be here?”

“It’s not just your house. Mike gave me permission. I.C.E. is renting it for a bit.”

“I’m not sure I want you here.”

“Too bad. I’m here. We have a contract.”

Cassie huffed loudly and looked out the window at the scenery. The island had changed, and yet it hadn’t. When they arrived in town, Jack circled around the block before parking across from the café.

“Oh, it’s the Ferry Dock. We used to come here all the time. It looks…better. I thought you said we were going to Jeannie’s Place.”

Jack stared at the two signs and shrugged. “Well, I guess it’s both. That’s what the two signs say. Ferry Dock Café and Jeannie’s Place. They’re the same, owned by Jeannie Rogers.”

Jack waited for Cassie to join him before heading across the street. All of a sudden, it felt odd being back, like she didn’t belong here. Uncertainty blanketed her, causing her to freeze in place. At the moment, she felt like she had no identity. In California, she would have made some sort of entrance.

“What are you waiting for, there’s no traffic.” Jack nudged her along. “Come on.”

He opened the door for her to enter, but she stopped when everyone turned to look at her. She sucked in her breath and glanced up at him.

“It’s okay, Cass, they’re not going to bite you.”

She swallowed several times. “I know that. It’s just…well, I haven’t been back since my parents died. And…”

Jack continued to hold the door open. “You’ll be fine. They just want to know you. Give them a chance and you’ll make some good friends.” Cassie looked up at him again, and he smiled at her. “Trust me on this one.”

Cassie recognized the woman who’d given her a ride the night before. She smiled and waved at her.

“Come on, I’ll introduce you to everyone.” Jack put his hand in the small of her back and pushed her forward.

Before Jack could start, Montana jumped off the counter stool and came forward, looping her arm through hers. “I am so glad to see you this morning.”

Surprised, Jack asked, “Have you two met?”

“Yes. I gave her a lift last night. Come sit at the counter with Jeannie and me. The guys will want to talk. Jack, why don’t you make the introductions while I get Cassie a decent cup of coffee.”

Jack started with Jeannie, next came Edwina, who poked her head out from the kitchen, and last was Kip Hendricks. Before Cassie could sit down, Edwina had come around with a tray of hot cinnamon rolls and placed them on the counter and handed her a small plate with two on them.

“Honey, you’re just a slip of a thing. We need to get some meat on those bones of yours. Jack, here’s your plate. Eat up, there’s plenty more for everyone.”

“I thank you, Winnie, how did you know?” Jack heaped butter on his rolls and joined Kip at a table by the window.

“That was our Winnie who thinks we all need to eat.” Jeannie laughed. “Truth be told, I guess I do, too. If there’s a crisis, we eat. If we’re happy, we eat. What can I say? Here’s a menu for something a bit more substantial.”

Cassie couldn’t remember when something smelled so good. She pulled apart the roll and stuffed pieces in her mouth, washing it down with coffee, then stuffed more. Nearly choking, she said, “These are heavenly.” For one moment, she hesitated and worried someone would see what she was eating. But it didn’t matter here.

“Let’s get your breakfast orders into Winnie. Jack,” Jeannie called, “the usual?” Jeannie smiled at Cassie. “How does a crab omelet sound?”

Cassie nodded with her mouth full.

Within minutes, Winnie slid two plates through the opening. Jeannie delivered them and Montana refreshed everyone’s coffee.

“So, Cassie, what’s on your agenda today?” Montana asked.

Her fork, full with omelet, stopped mid-air. “I don’t really know other than getting settled.”

“Settled is good.”

Cassie devoured her food, and the two women talked away. It had been over a week ago at Morro Bay that she’d had a full breakfast. Each time she filled the gas tank, she worried about her money. Driving up the coastal roads, she’d slept in the truck and bought food at grocery stores, sticking with lower calorie foods like nonfat yogurt. Her only indulgence was hot coffee—and lots of it.

Jack and Kip joined them at the counter.

“Montana, what are you doing today?” Jack asked.

“Not much. Last night, I had the new moon ritual, but today I’m free. It’s a shame you couldn’t have joined us last night, you would have enjoyed it.”

Cassie almost choked looking at Jack’s face and then Kip’s. Jeannie was laughing.

“Well, then again, maybe not, from the looks on your face.” Montana chuckled. “So what’s up?”

“I need your help as an incognito snooper. Rob Armstrong is back.”

“Really?” Her eyes lit up. “We haven’t seen him in town, but now that you mention it, we haven’t seen Margery Anne either. I would love to. What about you, Jeannie?”

“No way, not this time. Café calls. Besides, this is up your alley, not mine. I’m officially retired. Nor more decoy of the destiny roles for me. I had my fill last spring and never quite recouped.”

“If you say so. Will this be like spying?” Montana grinned.

“If you want to call it that, sure,” Jack said.

“This is going to be fun. Will we need disguises?” Montana grinned at Cassie. “What about you, Cassie?”

She wasn’t so sure about the fun part after last night. “Are you going to be there, Jack?”

“Yeah, I’ll be there.”

“If you’re going to be there, then sure, I guess I can.”

A picture fell from the file Jack held and landed on the counter. Cassie picked it up and looked at the photo. “I saw him.”

Kip and Jack stopped talking.

She held up the picture to give it back to Jack. “This guy was on the ferry yesterday.”

“Are you sure?” Jack asked.

“Yes. We were getting off together. Everything was so different, so I asked him a question and he was very rude. I remembered everyone being nice on the island, so I was surprised.”

“Was anyone with him?”

Cassie closed her eyes and pictured exiting the ferry. “There might have been, but I couldn’t swear to it.”

Jack handed her another photo.

“Yep, he was on the ferry too, walking off. We were all walk-offs.”

“That confirms how they got there yesterday,” said Kip. “Montana makes a good point about disguises. With the house so close, you don’t want him recognizing any of you.”

“Oh, my God,” Montana said. “I have all the stuff we need.” Everyone stared at her. “Well, when I worked as a couples’ therapist, I used play-acting to improve communication and sometimes to retrain intimacy by using fantasy rituals. I just found it easier for the couples to role play with disguises and costumes. I have the perfect items…trust me.”

“We do!” The guys laughed.