Only Emma (5 page)

"That would be a wise approach."

"Thank you, Kirby," she said, anxious now to get off the phone.

"Don't get yourself into a dither over nothing, Lissey. If we receive reports of a kidnapping I'll call your mobile."

She began to breathe again. Let him think she was a flighty woman. At least for now, since it served her purposes. "Thank you, Kirby. Have a nice day."

"I will I'm sure," he announced and then her mobile went dead.

Ass.

She set the phone down and considered. What had she learned? Would the American FBI pursue a family kidnapping to the Caribbean? Would they care about a family feud? Not likely, they only cared about terrorists these days, Kirby had practically sworn to that. So, what had she proved? Not a thing. Well, at least Jake Wainright probably wasn't a terrorist.

Later in the afternoon when business quieted, Lissey sent her mom off to the beach for a refreshing swim. A few minutes later the family of vacationers came in for a snack. John and Francine McNulty and their quiet little daughter Frances. Lissey had read the names off their registration slip. They sailed a Linstrom 46, which was a big boat for just the three of them.

"Hi, how do you like our island?" Lissey asked as they took seats at a table.

"It's pretty dinky," John said.

"We'll have breakfast delivered to our boat tomorrow," Francine said.

Lissey suppressed a scowl. "We'll have," not "we'd like to have"? Jake Wainright and these people, what was this, her week for arrogance and snobs? "We don't normally deliver. I have no equipment to keep things warm."

John waved a hand, a cavalier gesture brushing aside her response. "Just bring us some pastries and coffee. I'm sure you can keep the coffee hot."

"We'll have breakfast at 7:30," Francine announced.

Lissey plastered a frozen smile on her face. Some people. It wasn't that she'd never delivered breakfast before. She had. Upon request. Polite request. She had a decision to make, one that did not please her. Anything to do with John and Francine McNulty did not please her at the moment. She could charge them an enormous price for the service they wanted. Or tell them to go to hell. But, business was business, they could pay. "That's my busy time in the morning. I'll have to hire a boat and a waitress. I—"

It was Francine's turn to brush her off, with a dismissive gesture. "Just have it there at 7:30."

Lissey turned away, her cheeks burning at the insult, only to find herself face to face with Mr. Jake Wainright.

He studied her expression for a moment, and then cocked an eyebrow. "Hi. Busy day today?"

"At the moment, no. What do you want?" she snapped.

A frown creased his brow, and then turned into a look of utter sadness before he spoke. "Can you recommend a babysitter?"

Startled by his tone and expression, Lissey caught her breath. The man's eyes looked quite subdued, not arrogant at all. He hadn't said a word to anger anyone this time, but she'd responded like a shrew. Again. Why was she always so grumpy with him?

She smiled, trying to make up for this latest outburst. "My mother babysits occasionally. When do you need her?"

His face brightened. "Tonight, around seven-thirty? I'll feed David first, so he'll be all set."

David again, not Emma. Lissey stumbled at the thought, then caught herself. They were playing his game of secrets at the moment, she had to remember that. "Where will you be? How late?"

"The Sea Horse Grill, until about ten o'clock?"

Lissey nodded. If he wanted to live it up he'd have to stay later. The fishermen hung out there early, but they didn't stay late after a long day on the water. The young crowd was the night owls. They only got started about ten.

"I'll let you know if my mother's interested."

"David and I will be on the beach for a while, then on the boat," Jake said.

"Oh, my mother's over there swimming. You can ask her yourself."

He grinned sheepishly. "I only met her for a moment. I'm not sure I'll recognize her."

"Look for Patti Mumford, the woman you were talking to yesterday. They'll be together."

"Thank you." He extended his hand. Lissey took it. His handshake was firm, yet gentle. Not macho at all, just solid, strong. Honest? She shivered. This man left her confused.

She watched him leave the shop. Only then did it occur to her. Where was Emma?

Lissey stood before the mirror in her bedroom, brushing out her long auburn locks. Auburn was a con, a polished up version of what it really was; brown and plain, drab and disheartening. It needed cutting and dyeing or something special, a beauty shop, but what difference would that make, she had no one to impress. Except she hadn't dressed for a party in ages.

Patti had come back from the beach all agog. Bruce was going to the Sea Horse and Patti would go too, of course. She wanted company. Obviously, she expected no competition from the likes of Lissey. Oh well, that didn't matter. Lissey's heart surged with a burst of pride. If she wanted Jake she sure as heck could go after him, and Patti would find herself in a battle. If she wanted him, oh, who was she kidding?

"You're a stick in the mud. Live it up a little," Patti said.

A protest formed in Lissey's mind but she swallowed it. What the heck, Maria and others of her friends hung out at the Sea Horse. She went in there periodically for a beer. What else was she going to do, stay at home and babysit with Mom?

So, dressed now in a flowered skirt and pink sleeveless top with a plunging neckline, a shell necklace that she loved, and her favorite white sandals, she was almost ready. A touch of lip-gloss and a dab of cologne completed her ablutions, and she said good-bye to her mother before opening the heavy carved front door. The scent of bougainvillea drifted in on a light breeze, right past Jake and Emma who were coming up the walk. Oops, Bruce and David, she had to remember to use the right names.

"Hi," he said.

"Hi," she echoed, then felt the warmth rising in her face with his approving stare. She turned quickly to call her mother to the door. Lavinia took Emma into the house.

"You're going to the Sea Horse?" Jake asked.

Lissey nodded.

He cocked an eyebrow. "We can walk together then?"

He said it as a question, asking her permission? That was sweet. She liked that, but butterflies stirring in her belly bothered her. It wouldn't do to get excited over this guy. There were too many unanswered questions about the man. No way could she dare to trust him.

"I'm joining Patti on the way."

He nodded, smiling. "Fair enough."

"Bye Mom," she called and shut the door behind her. He stepped aside, letting her go first.

"Have you had dinner yet?" he asked as they started up the road.

"Yes."

"Would you like to have a snack with me?"

An invitation, he wasn't wasting any time. "You haven't eaten?”

He shook his head. "I thought I'd try someone else's cooking tonight."

A flash of bravado caught her by the heart. What the heck, it was only a meal, part of one anyway. "Maybe I'll have a salad then."

He went silent for a moment, then asked, "Where do we snag Patti?"

"She lives close to the Sea Horse about half a mile from here."

"Good. You two are good friends?"

"Yes." A little white lie wouldn't hurt the pie, she thought and then almost giggled. That made no sense at all but it rhymed, so what the heck.

Jake cocked his head and gazed at her, his expression contemplative. "Were you born on the island?"

"No."

"Ever want to leave?"

Lissey frowned. Want to leave? Just a few zillion times lately. He couldn't read her mind, could he? Whatever, that was none of his bloody business. "A few times."

"Did you ever?"

"Ever what?" Where was he going with this? Uneasiness and excitement vied for her attention.

"Leave this island."

"No."

He let out a soft sigh. "Is it me or are you by nature a sphinx?"

"What?" she said, startled.

"You're talking in monosyllables."

Lissey hesitated. Did she want to make a good impression? Did she care a whit what he thought? A transient, and a sly one at that. Oh damn there was that attitude again. "Where was Emma this afternoon?"

"What?"

"When you came to the shop looking for a babysitter. Where did you leave her?"

He grunted, obviously not thrilled with the question. "She was playing on the dock."

"You are a horrible father, you know that? One of these days she's going to get killed or badly hurt, the way you let her run loose."

"Damn it woman, get off my back. First of all she's a very wise child. She knows what her limits are and doesn't take silly chances. Secondly, she's learned a lot, living the way we do. And finally—she was fishing with your friend Louis while I was in with you. He agreed to keep an eye on her."

His face was red with fierce emotion, enough to make her pause. Was she over reacting? Too protective? No, damn him, she was not. If Caroline had lived she'd never be so casual with her.

The thought of Caroline brought a catch in her breath. Pain she still struggled to push aside caught her by surprise, an ache in her heart she'd tried very hard to suppress over the last five years.

"What's wrong?" he asked. "You look as though I smacked you in the mouth."

Did her face reveal her every thought, oh God. It didn't matter, she was not getting into her personal life with him. Besides which it was too hard to think about Caroline. "Never mind, I'm fine. I think your daughter needs a mother."

He blinked. "You are as changeable as a chameleon."

"Don't deny it."

"What?"

"That Emma needs a mother."

He chuckled. "You'll get no argument from me. Got anyone in mind for the job?"

"Don't be flippant. I'm serious."

"I am too. It's hard to find a wife willing to mother someone else's child when you're at sea in a small boat."

Lissey drew a deep breath. He was serious? All he wanted was a mother for Emma? Not a wife for himself though? A marriage of convenience, a woman to serve as a nanny for his daughter. That was all he cared about, only Emma. "You're horrible."

He groaned. "Any other complaints you'd like to register? I don't get it. You hate me because I'd like to marry again?"

"You don't care what kind of a marriage you get as long as you get a babysitter."

His eyes burned into her. "I had my chance. You don't get a second one."

"What does that mean?"

"The love of my life died two years ago," he murmured.

He spoke softly but with obvious emotion. Lissey half expected him to burst into tears again. She had no idea how to respond except to say she was sorry, but somehow, after the exchange they'd had those words seemed remarkably inadequate.

They had just about reached Patti's house. She stood waiting on the crumbling blacktop of the road, waving as they approached. Lissey bit her lip, choosing silence as the best way to acknowledge Jake's grief. Her own emotions bubbled in confusion, sympathy for his obvious anguish crashing head on with frustration and anger that seemed to overwhelm her at every turn. He pushed her buttons with his casual treatment of his daughter, the secret life he lead, and now with this display of feeling for his dead wife. Why did she give a damn about him at all?

"Hi guys," Patti said cheerfully as they reached her. "Ready for a wild time tonight?"

Lissey hesitated, giving Jake a chance to reply first. He stared off down the road, offering nothing but silence. "At Henri's? You mean you're going to get drunk?" she finally said.

Patti slipped her arm inside of Jake's and laughed. "Whatever wild way you want to go, Lis. I have my own ideas."

Jake's face worked and finally settled into a mirthless smile. "Hey Patti, how's it going?"

"Wonderful, I'm having a wonderful day."

With Patti clinging to Jake, Lissey followed them into The Sea Horse Grill. Alcoves cut into faded whitewashed walls held electric candles garnished with sprigs of flowers. Simple wooden chairs with padded seats circled a dozen tables of various shapes and sizes, and a massive bar occupied the far end of the room. Three men leaned against the bar indulging in loud conversation and bottles of beer.

Terra cotta pots overflowing with hibiscus flowers scattered about among the tables gave color to an otherwise tired looking room. Two arched doorways opened to an outdoor dance floor where a drummer was setting up and a guitar player held forth beneath strings of colored lights. The soft chords of the guitar drifted into the dining room, lending a certain atmosphere to the room.

The McNulty family occupied one table, the others remained empty. Patti dragged Jake to a round table for four and drew out a chair for herself. Lissey took a seat.

"Hey Lissey, going formal tonight?" a rather rotund Henri Dermont called from behind the bar.