Harlequin Heartwarming May 2016 Box Set (5 page)

“Will he be okay out there alone? What if he runs off?” she asked.

“He's surrounded by wildlife. Trust
me
, Tessa. He won't move more than two feet from that log unless it's to run toward this door.”

CHAPTER THREE

N
ICK
LASTED
NO
more than ten minutes and the look on his face made Mac feel like scum, but the kid had gone over the top. No wonder Tessa was begging Mac to take over. Had Brice not been supporting her in raising him? Mac understood what Nick had to be going through. Around the same age, Mac's mother had abandoned the family, and his father, left to raise his sons on his own, had always favored Allan as the son with potential. His parents may have been alive when he was a teenager, but his world had been turned upside down just the same. Mac had left the Cape long before his father, a South African air force veteran, passed away, and their last encounter had not been on the best of terms. He and Allan had become close brothers because they really could only count on each other. But as much as Mac had hated his father's overly strict and emotionally removed parenting style at the time, he knew firsthand that what Nick needed were boundaries. Without them, the kid was going to be as lost as Mac had been.

Mac exchanged looks with Tessa as they listened to Nick's fifty-percent-sincere apology—a percentage Mac figured was pretty good for a teenager.

“Apology accepted,” Tessa said...maybe a little too quickly. “Nick, you know I loved your mom. She was my sister and she trusted me to do what's best for you. I had to make this call.”

Nick simply chewed the inside of his cheek and turned away, his nostrils still flaring.

“Well, clearly these aren't the makings of a
real
holiday, so why don't we abort the rest of today and head back to discuss this,” Mac suggested. A
family discussion
. The phrase hit him from out of the blue, and he almost laughed out loud at the notion. The three of them were like three stray puzzle pieces from different boxes that would never fit together, let alone form a picture of a family.

“Yeah. I want to go back,” Nick said. “First, tell me where a guy is supposed to pee around here without a lion biting his...”

“Hey!” Mac held up a warning finger and Nick chose not to finish his sentence. Something about Nick's attitude made Mac want to keep the fact that the cottage actually had a flushable toilet to himself, but he resisted blurting the few ideas he had on where else to go pee. There were always bushes with lurking predators.

“If you ask politely, Mr. or Mrs. Lagat will show you a bathroom you can use,” Mac said.

Nick left a dust cloud in his wake. Tessa rubbed her arms.

“Can I get a ride back on wheels? I'll pay for the service,” she said.

“I'm usually the service people use to get out here. The camp does have a jeep, but it's typically used to take guests out on safari.”

“Well, I'll tell you what. You go on. We'll stay the night. But I really need to see if someone here has a charger I can borrow or a computer I can use. I have to check my emails and take care of a few things, and there's no way I'm getting back in your helicopter. Someone can fetch me tomorrow in a jeep.”

“Hate to break it to you, darling, but there's no internet out here, and do you have any idea how much longer it would take to get back by jeep?” Mac asked.

The Tessa he'd known hadn't been quite so clueless. If anything, writing for their school paper had given her a smart—albeit nerdy—image. Living with money had spoiled her. She'd had a soft heart for animals in shelters back then and always posted articles about school fund-raisers and food drives to help support them. She'd even taken home one too many herself. She told him they kept her company. Maria had been more of a social, outgoing type than Tessa and spent much of her time at school events, and their parents were often away at sea. Maria had been a lot like them. Much like Mac's brother had followed in his father's footsteps. Tessa, not so much. He'd kind of felt sorry for her.

Mac had tried reaching out to Tessa since his brother hung around her sister all the time. He'd even attempted to draw Tessa into their crowd, but she hadn't wanted anything to do with him. He made her nervous for some reason, so he'd backed off. He still was around a lot, though, because of Maria and Allan dating. He'd once overheard Tessa having an argument with her sister in her bedroom; she'd cried about wanting to be more than the latch-key daughter of adrenaline-driven parents. She was fed up with them prioritizing work over spending time at home with their daughters, and risking their lives at sea. She'd been royally ticked off at him when she opened her room door and found him lingering in the hall. Allan's plans for hanging out in their backyard were cut short when Mac told him they'd better leave before Tessa killed him.

And then there was the time during Allan's senior year when Mac had tagged along to visit Maria and fire up the grill. He'd gone inside to grab a drink and ran into Tessa freaking out. Her computer crashed before she had the chance to save her English paper that was due the next morning. He insisted she use his essay, which would have no doubt been worse than hers but was better than nothing. He ended up writing a second one and turning it in after the deadline. His father gave him a lot of flak for the late penalty, but Mac figured he'd have picked on something about his grade regardless. Seeing the relief and gratitude on Tessa's face had been so worth it. And he'd obviously mistaken it for a truce. A friendship. Right now, Tessa was looking at him with the same wrenching expression as she had that night.

“No internet. For real? Not even for an hour a day or dial-up or something?”

She was obviously desperate, but Nick, who'd just returned from using the facilities and overheard her...he seemed absolutely horrified.

“We could knock you out for the flight,” Mac said, scooping up a fist-size rock and bouncing it in his hand.

Tessa glared at him.

“You're not even funny,” she said. “Why is it you think you're so funny?”

He grinned and winked at her.

“Because I am.” He tossed the rock into a nearby bush and cranked his neck. “Come on, the Tessa I knew was a survivor. I'm betting you can suck it up and manage the trip. With puke bags in hand.”

“It's not happening,” she said. “My head is still spinning.”

Mac whipped his cap off and put his hands on his hips. He needed to get back to work. This was ridiculous.

“Be reasonable.”

“I am being reasonable.”

“I'm not staying here all night, Aunt Tessa,” Nick warned. “I could get bitten by a venomous snake or something. Or get eaten alive. What happened to doing what was best for me?”

Mac had to hand it to the kid. He knew how to manipulate and guilt-trip like a pro.

“Yep, what he said,” Mac added.

“You two are ganging up on me?” Tessa asked. “I'm telling you, I'm not going back. I mean, not in that flying tin can. Nick is free to return to the lodge with you.”

“On second thought, nothing like a night out under the stars to make a man out of a boy. Camping here would be good for you, Nick. A new experience.” Mac smiled at his nephew.

Nick stormed back to the cottage. Mac was grateful that Mugi and Kesi were staying inside to give them some privacy. He'd given them a signal earlier when Nick had lost his composure. Not that Mac cared what anyone thought of him—sort of—but his friends meeting his nephew and Tessa for the first time
was
turning out to be a little embarrassing. Mac lifted his cap, scratched his head, then set it back in place.

“I tell you what,” he said, sitting back down next to Tessa. “Why don't you go inside, chat with the Lagats and check on Nick. You have some explaining to do. At least out here he won't run away. Maybe after a longer rest, you'll be ready for the flight.”

She dropped her head into her hands.

“You don't understand, Mac.”

“I could see if Kesi can brew up one of her concoctions to help with your stomach. She's very skilled with herbs.”

“I need to get back,” she said, her hands muffling her voice.

Oh man. Was she crying? He hoped not. This was why he lived alone. He silently swore, then rubbed her back. It was instinct. An act of comfort. Brother-in-law to sister-in-law. But she shivered when he made contact and he quickly pulled back.

“That would be the point,” he agreed. “Get back and clear up the Nick situation. Clearly you can see this whole idea spells disaster.” If she wanted to go back, then why was she arguing about it? Why couldn't women make sense?

“I'm messing up your scheduled flights. I'm so sorry,” she said, raising her head.

“My...oh, yes...my customers. The photographers. Right. Um, no worries. I'll radio Sue and tell her to take care of things. They won't mind rescheduling.”

“Mac, can I trust you?”

“I got you here in one piece, didn't I?”

She turned and, this time, she wrapped one of her hands around his. The sight of her slender fingers braided with his wiped out his train of thought.

“What's going on here, Tess? This isn't just about Nick, is it?”

She shook her head and licked her lips. Too close for comfort. Was Tessa Henning coming on to him?

“I may be in trouble. Possibly even in danger. Not one word to anyone, Mac, until I have a chance to figure this out. Promise me.”

He nodded because how could he not. She wasn't flirting. She was desperate again. It must be some pretty deep trouble for her to have brought Nick here. Tessa looked over her shoulder, then back at him.

“Mac, I think Brice may be involved in an ivory smuggling ring.”

Crap.

Mac pulled his hand out of hers. Ivory smuggling? He got up and she leaped after him.

“Not a word to anyone, Mac. Not yet at least.”

He turned on her, bringing his face within an inch of hers and lowering his voice. He hadn't noticed any campers, but one never knew and voices carried around here.

“Do you have any idea what you're saying, Tess? The implication? This better not be about some marital spat or a ploy to justify uprooting Nick.”

“Is that how little you think of me? Why would you assume the worst? I came to you because I want Nick in a safe place if this turns into a legal fiasco and the media comes down on us. Or worse. And because I thought I could trust you with this. Allan used to brag about the work you've done with the Kenyan Wildlife Service, helping to catch poachers, and about how you've volunteered for animal rescues in the area. I thought maybe you'd know something. Or know who I can trust among the authorities, because don't believe for a second that Brice can't pay for silence.”

Mac pulled back a few inches. His pulse pounded in his temples. His brother had bragged about him? They were close, but Allan had always been so much like their father, critical to a fault. He played the role of big brother, but bragging about Mac was pushing it. The fact that he'd told anyone he was proud of Mac was an unexpected punch in the gut.

“You can trust me, Tessa. That's not the point. You're talking about murder here. Brutal poaching. Tessa, ivory smuggling is an illegal and deadly trade—and deaths aren't always limited to elephants. I won't lie. Brice isn't my favorite person. He's just not my type, but he's a smart businessman. Too smart to get involved in shady dealings.”

Tessa closed her eyes and shook her head.

“I know. It all sounds surreal, and I assure you I didn't come up with this overnight. I
know
it's dangerous. Why do you think I'm here with Nick and not still back at our home?” She pulled her hair back into a ponytail like she meant business. “I stole some drives from his desk before leaving. I have no idea what's on them, but I couldn't take a chance. If he's involved in something like this, I need to know.”

Yep, she meant business.

“You took his files?”

Damn it. Tessa's suspicions could turn into a full-blown disaster. If she was right.

“He thinks I'm here visiting with Nick.”

“Until he discovers what else you brought with you.”

“He's out of town for a few days. Which is why I need to find out if there's anything important on the drives as soon as possible. I can always put them back if they're clear and he's not home yet. Maybe it's nothing. Maybe I misunderstood what I overheard. It's a lot of maybes, I know. I need to find out the truth. He's my husband, Mac. I could ruin his life. If I'm wrong, I don't want him knowing that I doubted him.”

“If you find proof that backs up what you're saying, then what'll your next move be? Have you thought that far? What are you planning? To disappear? Turn him in and ask for official protection?”

She didn't answer.

“Okay, then. We're staying here tonight,” Mac said.

“What?”

“We're staying. I need to hear details, whatever you can tell me, and we're a lot less likely to be overheard by the wrong ears—and I don't mean Nick—out here than back at my office. I'll call Sue and tell her we're...somewhere else...camping out.” He didn't want Sue blurting anything to the wrong people. She was too trusting.

Mac pinched the bridge of his nose. Come to think of it, if things went south, he couldn't leave Sue at the mercy of anyone searching for them. She'd be safer visiting Anna and Jack at Busara for a while. Spending time with her grandkids. He was going to need to call Anna and Jack and make arrangements for getting her there, since he was not ready to leave Tessa and Nick alone. Not until he had a better grasp of the situation. Unfortunately, staying here also meant Air Walker Safaris would be losing business. Business he couldn't afford to lose.

“I'll ask Mugi and Kesi to keep quiet, too. If you need anything, you can trust them.”

“Mac. Thank you.”

“Don't thank me yet. Just hope Brice doesn't come home early.”

* * *

T
ESSA
HAD
TO
admit Mac was right. Lying low at Camp Jamba was a smart idea. Brice knew they were traveling to see Nick's uncle, but she had told him they were meeting Mac in Nairobi. The rest of the trip to Hodari Lodge she'd paid for in cash. Mac's office would be the first place he'd come looking for her if there was incriminating information on those drives. Still, it bought her a little time. Camp Jamba was another step removed, which meant even more of a buffer between them and Brice. But she wouldn't get any closer to confirming her suspicions out here.