Take Me If You Dare (13 page)

Once she arrived at the airport, she’d see wherever the next flight was going, and she’d buy a ticket.

Back in the bathroom, she pulled her hair up in a
ponytail, and brushed her teeth. Throwing her toiletries in her backpack as she did.

She followed with her clothes, wadding them into balls and stuffing them in. In less than five minutes she had everything ready to go, and wore her favorite jeans and a T-shirt. The only thing that wouldn’t fit was her laptop. She decided she’d have to carry it by hand to the car.

Then she realized it was gone. Jackson had taken her laptop.

And her heart.

Fine. Whatever. I’ll buy a new one. I can now add thief to the list of mysterious things about Jackson. Dammit, I never did ask about that tattoo.

Sticking her phone in her hip pocket, she walked to the door. Turning to check the room one last time, she didn’t see the intruder, who slapped a hand over her mouth as Mar screamed for her life.

S
OMEONE HAD GRABBED
Mar in the doorway and her fight-or-flight instincts kicked in. Without even thinking about it she shifted her weight, twisted and was about to bring her elbow up to the intruder’s chin when she heard, “Mar, it’s me. Sorry I startled you. I’m going to take my hand off your mouth now. No one is trying to hurt you. I didn’t want you to scream, that’s all.” Jackson moved his hand away from her mouth.

She stared at him, hard, her heart lodged in her throat. She took a deep breath, and backed away from him. “What are you doing here? I thought you left.” It didn’t make sense that Jackson stood in her doorway. For the last half hour she’d tried to convince herself that she’d never see him again.

But he was there, the handsome bastard, in his jeans and tight black T-shirt.

I despise him.

Hah. Not hardly.

Mar could take a lot, but the last thing she needed was to face him. The fury from earlier returned. “Did
you forget something? Maybe you needed to take my phone, since you already had my
computer?
”

He had the good grace to look ashamed. “I did leave, and I borrowed your computer. I have every intention of returning it to you. That’s the absolute truth. But I’m back for a very good reason. Our friends from Bangkok have arrived. I need to get you out of here and on a plane so you’ll be safe.”

Jackson pushed through the door and shut it.

Mar’s hands went to her hips. “Jackson. How do I know this isn’t another one of your games? And I’m not going anywhere until you at least tell me your name. I mean it. It pisses me off that I’ve been calling you Jackson all this time and I don’t even know if that’s your real name.”

She didn’t think it possible that she could want someone so much and at the same time be angrier than she’d ever been. To keep from throwing something at him she sat down on the bed and folded her hands on her lap.

“I’m sitting here until you answer my question.” Her chin jutted out. “My God. You stole my computer, and who knows what you did to my e-mails. And what about those messages at the front desk? How did you keep those from me?”

The shock on his face was priceless. He hadn’t expected her to fight back.

“Mar, there are two men out there who will kill us. We don’t have time for explanations.” Jackson moved toward her.

“Do not come near me. You are more than welcome to run away again. You did a good job of it an hour ago.
I don’t know why you came back or what it is you want now, but I’d prefer if you left immediately.”
Liar.

Mar turned away from him and became intensely interested in one of the paintings on the wall. Unlike Jackson, she wasn’t a very good liar, but she didn’t want him to see that even though he’d betrayed her, she was having a hard time keeping her hands off him.

Stupid jerk. That’s right. You’re supposed to hate him. He dumped you.

But…No. Don’t go there.

“I know you’re mad.” Jackson lowered his voice and that deep sexy tone was hard to resist. She kept her head turned away. “I understand why, and I’m sorry I deceived you. I promise, whatever I did, it was necessary to protect my cover.”

When she continued staring at the wall, he went on.

“My name really is Jackson. It’s after one of my mom’s favorite soap opera characters. The last name, the one my family gave me, is Walker. I don’t use it much, because of the business I’m in. I promise you if you come with me now, I will tell you as much as I can without endangering your life.”

Mar turned back around and took in his handsome mug. Something clicked in her brain and she knew he was some kind of intelligence officer. CIA, DEA, something. He was in work mode, and there was a different look about him. His body tensed, as if he were ready for a fight. She’d noticed it when they were at the casino and at the hotel in Bangkok.

He didn’t want to blow his cover.

Ding. Ding. Mar won the spy prize.

At the office this past year she’d had a chance to meet with several intelligence officers when the agency consulted on cases with the CIA, FBI and DEA. She knew the way they talked and acted. Even in the boardroom there was a toughness about the agents who actually did field work.

Jackson had that same quiet intensity about him. He was on a mission.

“Good. At least I know the name of the man who made love to me the last three days. So why me, Jackson?” Mar wasn’t exactly sure she wanted to hear the answer, but she had to ask. “What?”

“Why would you come here with me? If you’re so worried about blowing your
cover,
and your life is in danger, why spend so much time with me? Seems to me you should be off on some mission somewhere, not making out with a chick on a beach.”

He stepped back and leaned against the wall. “I don’t know what to tell you.” He frowned. “Our meeting was an accident, but I didn’t know that until after we arrived here. I thought you were someone else.” His arms crossed against his chest and she could tell he told the truth from the confused expression on his face.

“I can’t tell you why, but I thought I was supposed to stay close to you. When you mentioned the beach trip, well, at first I thought it was a good idea to get out of Bangkok. But by the time we drove to the resort—I…”

When his voice faltered, she warily gazed up at him. “You what?”

Jackson pushed away from the wall. “I wanted to be with you. I know you don’t believe me, but that’s the truth.” He glanced down at the floor and back up at her. “I understand why you don’t exactly feel compelled to come with me right now, but we have to go while it’s still dark. I’m telling the truth about the mob guys. I’ll take you and show you where they are if you want, but we need to get the hell out of here.”

“One more question, then I’ll go.”

“What?”

“Are you going to hurt me?” She challenged him. Needing to know exactly what his intentions were where she was concerned.

Jackson dropped the hand he’d been about to put on her shoulder, and stepped back. “Mar,” he said, his voice strained. “I would give my life for you if necessary. You—are more important to me than anyone else. I promise that all I want to do right now is make sure you are safe. Then you won’t ever have to see me again.”

Mar believed him. The expression in his eyes told her that he’d been mortified she could even think he would harm her. While she didn’t want to admit it, his line about never seeing him again sent a panic through her. She’d lived that reality ten minutes ago and she didn’t want to do it again.

The universe had given her a second chance, and she would take advantage of it.

She clicked her tongue on the top of her mouth. “Hopefully it won’t be necessary, that whole giving your life for me. Though I’m still kind of pissed at you, so if it comes up, I’m so playing that card. How do you propose we get out of here?”

Jackson stared at her, relief flooding his face when he understood that she would go with him. “Well, they’re in the parking lot watching my bike. We’re going to have to borrow a car. I’ll jack one, but I promise I’ll make sure it gets back to the rightful owner.” Jackson gave her an earnest look.

Mar rolled her eyes. “Why do you have to make everything so clandestine? How about we use the car I hired? It’s picking me up in front of the hotel…” She glanced at her watch. “Right now. Except if those bozos are watching the parking lot that might make it a little tough to get in the car without being seen.”

Jackson didn’t say anything for a moment. Then he took in her backpack, and the fact that she was already dressed. “You were leaving?”

She pushed past him, and pretended to check something in the bathroom so he couldn’t see her face. “Yes. I—I’m bored with this place, and I’ve decided to spend the rest of my vacation somewhere else. We better go. The car’s waiting and those guys are liable to get suspicious if it stays empty,” she said.

Mar didn’t care about the circumstances that had thrown them together again. She was grateful for more time with the man. She should be furious, but all the anger from before had dissipated. Jackson shouldn’t have left her behind, but he’d returned to make sure she was safe. That counted for something in her book.

“Hmm. I think I have an idea.” Mar reached for the phone.

The front desk picked up after one ring.

“Hi, I’m hoping you can help me out?”

“We are here to serve, Ms. Stonegate.” The gentleman had a French accent.

“Excellent. Listen, my friend noticed some guys who might be paparazzi sitting out in the parking lot. They were checking out his bike and then went back to sit in their car. We’re leaving in a few minutes and I would prefer not having my picture flashed all over the tabloids. Um, you know, with my
friend.
”

She knew the resort prided itself on being a place where people of certain means could come without worrying about things like paparazzi. The clerk was duly horrified at the prospect of his hotel being invaded by cameras.

“I’ll send our security staff immediately to handle the situation. Might I suggest that you meet the car outside the gates? There’s an easy path up the beach and through the trees. That way you won’t need to worry about them following your car.”

Mar explained to Jackson what the clerk had said.

“You never fail to surprise me,” he said. “Speaking of that, was that a Krav Manga move you threw at me when I grabbed you in the doorway?”

Mar’s right eyebrow lifted. “I keep telling you I can take care of myself. You don’t have a former CIA agent for a mother and not pick up a few things here and there. So don’t worry. If the bad guys come after you, I’ve got your back.”

Jackson smiled. “I believe you do.”

T
HE PLAN WORKED PERFECTLY
and Jackson and Mar were in the car on the way to Bangkok with no problems.

Jackson kept an eye on the road behind them. The guys at the hotel weren’t stupid. If they’d seen the car pull up and then out again without any guests, they’d get suspicious. Though so far he hadn’t seen any sign of them.

Mar’s flowery scent teased him. His body urged him to scoop her up in his arms and hold her. Maybe even beg for forgiveness. He couldn’t stand the fact that she hated him.

When she asked if he meant her harm, he’d almost come unglued. If he hadn’t been worried about her life he would have showed her how much she meant to him right then and there.

He couldn’t blame her for being angry about his deception. There was no excuse for what he’d done. He’d taken the coward’s way out.

No matter how mad she might be, though, he wouldn’t trade those days of heaven with her for anything.

Jackson sensed her movement, and glanced over.

She leaned over to whisper in his ear. “So are you CIA or what?”

Jackson coughed, and studiously ignored her by gazing out the window.
Where the hell had that come from, and how could she possibly know?
Maybe he really was losing his touch.

“No way. You promised me answers.” She turned to face him and put her hand on his knee.

Jackson stared down at her fingers. Long and beautiful. Then it dawned on him that she’d touched him. His heart warmed.

“I know you can’t tell me everything, but give me the basics,” she continued. “You have to work for some government agency. You talked about a cover.”

Which was a big slip on his part. That’s what had sent her off on this new direction. He knew she wouldn’t give up her quest, but it was safer for her if he kept his mouth shut.

“I don’t know why I didn’t see it before. The way you walk, how careful you are about everything.” She eyed him up and down. “Jeez, the way you fold clothes should have told me you were military something. You guys are so precise about everything. Oh, and all those scars on your body. Hello? Big clue.”

The scars were a part of his job, so much so that he didn’t even see them any more.

“We worked with the DEA on this kidnapping case last summer and those guys, well, they were awesome when it counted, but not the easiest to converse with, if you know what I mean,” she said. “And I know you’re
in trouble. Could you at least tell me the nature of the trouble?”

He chanced a glimpse at her face and wished he hadn’t. She seemed so hopeful. After everything he’d done, she still wanted whatever it was between them to work. Jackson didn’t have the heart to tell her that it could never happen. There had been weak moments earlier in the evening when he’d believed that he might be able to have a real life with her at some point, but those mob guys reminded him that his life, whatever he had left of it, wouldn’t be easy.

Finally he took her hand.

“Mar, I can tell you this. I care about you, and I won’t let anything happen to you. Do you understand that? I don’t know how long I have to live, but even if it’s the last thing I do I’m going to make sure you’re safe.”

M
AR STARED DUMBFOUNDED
at Jackson. “How much trouble are you in? What did you do, Jackson?”

Still, he didn’t speak. She’d had quite enough of this spy crap. There was a very good chance she could help him, and she wasn’t about to give up now.

“Fine. Then we’ll play a guessing game.” She patted his knee as if he were a child. “You can tell me if I’m warm or cold.”

Mar chewed on her lip for a couple of minutes. Then she had an idea. “Let’s see. My guess is that you were working on a case and something went wrong. You were probably deep under cover, and it was blown. That’s usually what happens in the movies. What I can’t figure out is if you’re hiding out from the bad guys or your bosses.”

When he didn’t even acknowledge her, she snapped her fingers. “Or both.”

His jaw flinched slightly.

Ding. Ding. Ding.

“Goodness, I am getting really good at this deducing stuff. Okay. Well, I know you’re a good guy. Though I’m not sure you think so. Hmm. This is a little tougher.” She tucked her tongue into her cheek. “So either someone is framing you or you upset the wrong people and they’re out to get you.”

At this he swung his head around.

Mar smiled. “Well, what do you know? I seem to have struck a chord. You really need to practice your spy pouting, Jackson. If little ole me can get you to squirm, imagine what those bad guys could do.”

She gave him a wicked wink.

Jackson grunted. “They don’t have the kind of power over me that you do. I thought you said you were new to the world of investigation. I know operatives who have been in the field for more than twenty years who don’t have the deductive reasoning skills you do.”

She smiled at that, and the fact that he’d said
operatives
proved her correct.

He held up a hand in surrender. “Damn, if I had a white flag I’d wave it. You’re a tough one. Yes. You’re on the right path, but I’m not going to give you any more specifics. So please save your psychological torture for someone else.”

Mar shrugged. “I’m new to doing it as a job, but like I said before, you don’t grow up with a mother like mine without picking up a few things. I also have a Ph.D. in clinical psychology. I may not be as observant as you,
but I know human nature. You
are
one of the white hats.”

Jackson shook his head. “There’s absolutely no way you could know that, Mariska. I’m a dangerous man. I do dangerous work. I lied to you for several days so I could sleep with you. That should say something about the kind of man I am.” He scowled.

She made her hands tremble as if she were afraid. “Oohhh, he’s the big bad scary Jackson. I’m so frightened.” Mar couldn’t keep from making fun. “Are you going to show me your scary spy gun, or torture me?”

He harrumphed and turned toward the window again.

She refused to let him think that he was the only one who took advantage of the situation. “And for your information, I used you, too. We were both lonely and needed companionship. We had a wonderful couple of days together. Maybe I didn’t know exactly who you were, but I had a good sense of the kind of man you were. Oh, and I read the note. And for the record, I care about you, too.”

“Are you finished?” he asked, still facing the window.

“No. I have another question for you. Was it my last name that interested you when we first met?”

He glanced down at the floorboard and then back at her.

Ah. She had hit upon something, though the connection was fuzzy. “You can tell me that much. Did you think I could help you because of my mother?”

He shrugged. “It made me curious. I guess. My
contact told me he had sent help. At the time you seemed to fit the equation, though I couldn’t figure out exactly, other than your resources at the office, what it was you were supposed to do for me.”

That was part of the reason he’d helped her with Gladstone; he probably thought he was supposed to. Their meeting had been nothing but a lucky coincidence. Mar wasn’t complaining.

“I didn’t know your mom,” Jackson interrupted her thoughts, “but I knew of her. I did use your computer a couple of times. Your IP is untraceable and that’s something I desperately needed. That’s why I took it with me.”

Knowing that he used her for her computer didn’t really bother her like it should. He’d been in a desperate situation. She might have done the same in his shoes.

“Huh. Okay. So you sent superspy messages out, and you were hiding away with me until you received answers. So, someone must have finally contacted you. And that’s why you left.”

“Mariska,” he said her name sharply. “I can’t answer your questions. I’m sorry, but that’s the way it is. I’m taking you straight to the airport and then we’re done. Do you understand?”

“Oh, sure, Jackson. But I can tell you right now being an ass isn’t going to work with me. While I’m not exactly over you being so deceptive, I have this great capacity for understanding why.”

He ignored her.

Frustrated, she threw up her hands. “Do you have any idea what it is I see in you? Really? You gave me some of the happiest days of my life. And made love
to me so many times I lost count. It wasn’t just sex. I know the difference, and so do you.” She tugged on his sleeve to get his attention.

“Then there’s that letter. You came out and said it. You care about me. You’ve said it a dozen times in the last hour. Was that a lie? Can you at least tell me that much?”

Jackson gawked at her as if she were insane. “No.”

“No what, Jackson?”

He crossed his arms and she knew it was one of his defenses. He had a hard time keeping his hands off her, even though he was perturbed with her. “No, it wasn’t a lie.”

That was all she needed to hear.

Mar grabbed both of his hands in hers. She saw the flicker of need in his eyes when she touched him. He really was like a wild mustang who needed taming, but she needed the right approach.

“Do you understand how much I care about you? That I would do anything for you, Jackson?”

He crossed his arms against his chest. “You don’t know me. You know parts of me, Mariska, but you don’t know what I’m capable of and you can’t help me.”

Mar kissed him. At first he kept his mouth tight, until she used her teeth to nip at his lips. His mouth opened and he kissed her back.

She really could lose herself in the man.

He groaned as he lifted his head away from her. He gently pushed her back to her side of the car. “We can’t do this. The people who are after me are more dangerous than those guys back at the hotel,” he warned her. “I’d
given up before I met you. I can tell you this. I would give anything to be with you, but it isn’t possible.”

That was all she needed to hear. He wanted to be with her. What Jackson didn’t know is that she was the grand facilitator of problem fixing. The past year, she’d discovered that she could tackle most anything if she broke it down into small steps.

What Jackson needed was a way out of his trouble. She would do whatever it took to make that happen.

“Come with me now, Jackson. We’ll get on a plane and be back in the States tomorrow. I know how this sounds, but I know people, Jackson. We can help you.”

“Mar, I can’t jump on a commercial flight. Interpol will be all over me. Once that happens I’ll disappear. That’s what happens to people like me. It’s one of the reasons they call us ghosts. One minute we’re there, the next we’re gone, and no one cares.”

“I care.” Mar tapped her finger on his thigh as she thought. “If we can get you home to the States can you clear up the problem with your bosses?”

Jackson put his hand on hers to stop the tapping. “Please. Let me do this my way. Go to the airport and get on a plane. If I know you’re safe, it’ll make everything so much easier.”

Mariska had a network of family and friends that could make almost anything possible. And if that didn’t work there were always Chi’s friends. Something snapped in Mar’s tired brain and she realized Chi was the answer.

Mar held up a hand. “You’re really cute when you’re worried. Hold that thought.”

She picked up her phone and remembered the battery was almost dead. She didn’t have enough juice to make one call. “Hey, do you have a phone I can borrow? I need to call home and let them know I’m coming.”

Jackson handed her his phone. It was one of those you bought on the street with a certain amount of minutes. Then you tossed it when you were done.

“That’s so Jason Bourne.”

“What?” He was thoroughly perplexed.

“You know, in the movies he always has these phones so they can’t be traced?” She tried to explain.

“I have no idea who you are talking about. Are they recent movies?”

Jackson acted like he didn’t know who Jason Bourne was? “Are you kidding me, you haven’t seen those movies? My God, Jackson, what kind of hole do they keep you in?” She waved her hand. “Don’t answer that. Anyway, it’s funny that you’re like this superspy guy because when I first saw you I thought you were Matt Damon, and he plays that role.”

“Sorry. I’ve never heard of him,” Jackson said as he shrugged. “I don’t have much time to get out and see movies.”

“Whatever.” Mariska grinned. The guy must have been a real twenty-four-hour-a-day spy not to have gone to the movies in the last ten years. Feeling sorry for him, she decided she’d have to fix that at the first opportunity.

Well, he wasn’t the only one who had tricks up his sleeve. Picking up the phone, she dialed Chi’s number.