The Only Way Out Part 9

She flinched. "Maybe we could avoid the word dead in our conversations."

He used the small brush to stroke the hairline around his face,then used a comb to darken his short hair.

"Makeyourself useful," he said, tossing her the cloth. He bent over the counter, resting his weight on his forearms. "Do my back. Don't forget my neck and behind my ears."

She stared at the vast expanse of gleaming male skin, then at the dark rag in her hands. He wanted her to touch him?

He glanced at her impatiently. "I can't reach the middle of my back."

"I understand," she said, and stroked the long muscles by his shoulder.

His skin rippled under her touch. She could feel the warmth of him, as if his body were a degree or two hotter than hers. Part of her wanted to throw the cloth down and run for cover. Part of her wanted to step nearer and snuggle against his strength. She hadn't been this close to a man since her marriage, and that had been over six years ago. Not that she was attracted to Jeff. She refused to be. She didn't know anything about him except for the fact that he thought she was almost as bad as Kray.

The dye went on easily. It had little scent, although she could still smell the maleness of Jeff himself. He stood perfectly still, apparently unaffected by what she was doing. If she was honest with herself, he hadn't once looked at her as if he knew she was female. Better for both of them, she told herself, even as she felt a slight flicker of irritation.

She shook her head. She was crazy. One minute she was frightened of him, the next she was cranky because he hadn't made a pa.s.s at her. Obviously she'd spent too much time with her young child and not enough around other adults.

She worked down his broad back, to the waistband of his shorts. He didn't ask her to go lower and she didn't offer. She dipped the cloth in the bowl again,then wrung it out.

"You'll have to bend over more," she said, trying to reach his neck.

He hunched down. "So why'd you pick law school?"

She moved around him to his other side and completed darkening his skin. "I'm done." She handed him the cloth. "I didn't want anyone to take advantage of me again."

"How did Kray take advantage of you?"

The way he asked the question made her realize what he was thinking. "Oh, not that," she said, waving her hand at him. "He didn't attack me, or anything. I was just so innocent, and unaware of what was going on around me."

He straightened and stared down at her. His mouth twisted in disbelief. "Where did you think the money came from?"

"I thought he was a businessman. I never asked any questions, and he didn't tell me otherwise. I suppose you think I should have known."

He didn't answer. He didn't have to. The momentary truce between them ended. She felt the change as he shifted away from her. There was a tangible coldness between them.

She wanted to tell him it wasn't her fault. She'd been a fool, but that was her only crime. When she glanced up at him, she couldn't say it. He wouldn't believe her. Besides, she didn't need his approval to get on with her life.

"Great Halloween costume," she said. His blue eyes looked eerie, contrasting with his brown face. She took a step back.

"It gets better. Here." He handed her a plastic jar. "Use this to get the dye off your hands."

She glanced down at her fingers. They were brown. She opened the jar and scooped out a small amount. After rubbing for a few seconds, the dye faded. She rinsed her hands,then dried them on a clean towel. Jeff worked beside her, checking his face in the mirror. It was as if the moment of hostility had never been.

How did he do that?she wondered. Did his anger fade so quickly or was he better than her at concealing his emotions? She watched as he opened a small plastic case containing brown contact lenses. After putting them in his eyes, he slipped false teeth into his mouth. Nextcame a thin black mustache. He reached for a bundle of clothing on the counter. Within minutes, he was dressed in khaki trousers, an open short-sleeved shirt and worn athletic shoes. TheCaliforniasurfer was gone and in his place stood a dark-skinned stranger.

He was the same size, but with dyed skin, the shadows fell across him differently, making his bulk look unfamiliar. The false teeth changed the shape of his face; the mustache accented the differences. She fought the urge to move away from him.

"Don't be frightened, pretty lady," he said, then grinned. The accent was perfect, the smile frightening.

Yes, Jeff could easily conceal his emotions from her. She wasn't exactly sure what he did for the government, but she suspected it required skills she couldn't begin to imagine. No wonder he thought of her with contempt.

"I won't be gone long," he said, his voice now normal. He gathered up his supplies and put them in a small black suitcase. "Four or five hours at the most."

"What if you don't come back?"

He stared down at her, his expression unreadable. "I will."

She hoped he would promise to return, or tell her not to worry, but he didn't. He took his supplies to his bedroom,then left the house without looking back.

She stood in the kitchen, listening to the sounds of the surf and fighting the fear. Jeff with-no-last-name might not like her, but she didn't care about that. He was all that stood between her and Kray. If he didn't come back, she was on her own.

Chapter 6.

Jeff had said he would be back in four or five hours. Andie tilted her wrist toward the light spilling from the living room window. She stared at the dial, not wanting to believe, not wanting to know her worst fears might, at this moment, be realized. Six hours and fifteen minutes. What would she do if he didn't come back?

She sat on the porch swing, curled up in the corner, waiting. A thousand images pa.s.sed through her mind. All the things that could have gone wrong. All the legitimate problems that might have delayed him. She was too tired for anything to make sense, and too worried to sleep.

She'd tried. She'd gone to bed about an hour after Jeff had left, but she'd only tossed and turned. Even the sound of Bobby's regular breathing hadn't been enough to calm her. Yes, she had her son back and she was thrilled about that. But they were still stuck on Kray's island with no way out.

She leaned her head back against the wooden slat and stared up at the palm trees beyond the porch. They were still in the warm night, their fringed fronds blocking most of the brilliant stars. The sound of the surf provided a rhythmic counterpoint to her frantic thoughts. Would he come back? What would she do if he didn't? She would have to find another way off the island. Could she wire the nearest emba.s.sy? What about- She closed her eyes and forced her thoughts to slow. She would face those questions in the morning.If Jeff didn't return. There were still several hours of darkness left.

Gradually her mind emptied until she focused on nothing but the sound of the sea and the scent of the land. Softly tropical, the fragrance was familiar. Too familiar. Her eyes opened. So much for relaxing. The last thing she wanted to do was remember her honeymoon here with Kray.

Before she could find a safer topic to occupy her mind, she heard the low rumble of a car engine. She slipped off the swing and moved into the corner shadows of the porch. Headlights swept across the pool area of the yard as the Jeep came down the dirt path and stopped next to the house.

Andie froze, not daring to breath. She waited until a tall man stepped out. Moonlight illuminated him. He'd removed his false teeth and mustache. She recognized the easy stride, even if his dark skin gave her pause. Yet she couldn't move away from the shadows. There was something about the way he walked, about his posture. The predator had returned from the kill.

Jeff paused at the porch stairs. "Everything all right?" he asked, staring right at her.

She moved toward the swing, stopping behind it. "How could you see me?"

"When you moved, the moonlight caught the white in your T-shirt."

She glanced down at the shirt, then back at him. "I wouldn't have thought of that."

He shrugged. "Dark clothes are better at night, but don't worry about it. It's not going to be on the bar exam."

"Good thing. I suspect I'll be a better lawyer than I would be a spy."

"You don't want to be a spy. Trust me on that." He lowered himself to the top step and stared out toward the ocean. "So, everything okay here?"

"Fine." She took a step closer. "Bobby's been asleep since you left."

"Why aren't you in bed?"

"I couldn't settle down. Not with you out there."

"I've made arrangements," he said, resting his forearms on his raised knees.

Relief swept over her. Thank the Lord. "That's great." She took another step toward him.

"You'll be getting out on a boat. It'll take you directly toFlorida. From there you can take a plane anywhere you'd like. And stop hovering behind me. If you want to come and sit down here, just do it."

His tone of voice didn't change so it took her a moment to figure out what he'd said. She realized she was hovering. She thought about retreating to the swing,then decided she might as well continue to be brave. The worst wasn't over by a long shot.

She lowered herself to the top step, but kept as close to the railing as she could. The stairs were wide; there was at least a foot between them.

"When do we leave?" she asked.

"Forty-eight hours." He pushed a b.u.t.ton on his watch and the dial lit up. "Make that forty-four hours from now. Just aftermidnight. I've worked with this man before. He can be trusted. He's probably one of about three people Kray doesn't own on the island."

She risked glancing at him. "I really appreciate this," she said.

"Don't thank me until you're safely away."

"Still, I'm grateful. How much is the boat going to cost?"

"Keep your money."

"I can't. Buying us T-shirts is one thing, but chartering a boat is another. That's got to be expensive."

He glanced at her. He was still wearing the contact lenses and his eyes were so dark, the irises looked black. The odd combination of familiar and unfamiliar startled her. Her heart began a funny sort of thumping in her chest and her palms were damp. It was just fear, she told herself. Fear and very natural apprehension about the future.

"Keep your money," he repeated. "I don't want it and I don't need it."

"But-"

He shifted suddenly, turning so he was facing her. "You're going to need it to stay alive once you're back in the States. Don't be a fool, Andie. Kray isn't going to let you and the kid go. We both know that. So quit worrying about how you're going to get off this island, keep your money and instead figure out how you're going to keep Bobby alive and away from his father once you're in the States."

She flinched as he spoke and clasped her hands together on her lap. He'd frightened her again. Jeff swore under his breath. He seemed able to do that without even trying. The worst of it was he might be scaring her for no reason. If he succeeded, she would be free.

He looked back at the dark ocean and the faint white froth of the waves against the sh.o.r.e. He was tired and he'd been on St. Lucas less than a week. Of course he'd been planning the mission for months, maybe even years. It had always been there in the back of his mind, he admitted to himself. He'dnever not thought about revenge.

"You're right," Andie said quietly. "Thank you."

He didn't bother replying. Instead, he wished she would goinside, or at least move far enough away so that he didn't have to inhale the sweet scent of her body. The fragrance was subtle, blending with the tropical breeze and the heady perfume of the night. It made him wonder what she would feel like in his arms and how she would taste if he kissed her He shook his head. He didn't want to think about that. Not now; not with her. She was Kray's wife. That made her the enemy. He searched for his anger and hatred, but couldn't find either. Maybe it was because he was beginning to see her as a person. Maybe it was because her strength made him respect her.

There had been rumors about Kray's wife. He'd a.s.sumed they all were true, but now he wondered. Andie had the good looks of a model, but she didn't strike him as the party-girl type. She cared too much about her kid for one thing. For another, she wasn't that dumb.

He shifted on the hard porch. He hoped she was smart enough to keep clear of Kray. If that madman got a hold of her- Jeff didn't want to think about it. Andie had to know the danger she was in. She'd lived withKray, she knew what he was capable of.

"What are you thinking?" she asked.

He searched for the closest thing to the truth he was willing to risk. "How did you meet Kray?" he asked, glancing at her.

She rolled her eyes. "Please. Give me some credit."

"What do you mean?"

"You've been wasting your time thinking about me and wondering how I met Kray? I don't think so. If you've thought about me at all, it's probably been ten different ways to get me as far away from you as possible."

Jeff stared at her. She didn't blink or look away. "You're some gutsy lady, you know that?"

"Yeah, I've got more courage than sense. Don't rub it in." She sighed. "It's okay that you don't like me, Jeff. Just get Bobby safely away from his father. That's all I care about."

It was the first time she'd used his name instead of "Rambo." That was surprising, but not nearly as startling as the realization that she could read his emotions. Either she was a h.e.l.l of lot more insightful than he'd given her credit for, or his five years behind a desk had left him dangerously vulnerable. He had a bad feeling it was a combination of the two. Or maybe, he thought, being completely honest with himself, he'd been acting like a macho jerk from the moment he met her. He wasn't usually like that. Of course he didn't usually run into his enemy's ex-wife in the middle of a tropical jungle.

"I still want to know how you met Kray," he said.

"How did a small-town girl from Nowhere U.S.A. get involved with a notorious crime lord?"

"Uh-huh."

She pulled her knees close to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. "It's a long, boring story."

"Neither of usseem to be sleepy."

"I guess you're right." She sighed again.

The sound came to him, like a whisper of the wind. In the faint light of the moon and the glow from the windows, her long hair gleamed like pale gold. She was too far away for him to feel the heat of her body, but he knew she was there. Just out of reach. A temptation.

He hadn't been with a woman since Jeanne died. Sometimes that surprised him, if he bothered to think about it at all. He hadn't set out to avoid women, it just sort of happened. The invitations that came his way hadn't been intriguing enough to make him forget the pain and guilt. Now, without warning, he wanted again. His mind might hate Andie forwho and what she was, but his body didn't give a d.a.m.n about anything but being with her.

The h.e.l.l of it was, despite the erection straining against the fly of his trousers, this wasn't all about s.e.x. Sure he wanted to bury himself inside of her and get lost in the pa.s.sion, but it was more than that. He wanted to hold and be held, to whisper in the middle of the night, to sleep in a sweet tangle of arms and legs. He missed more than the s.e.x. He missed the closeness of living with someone. He missed being married.

He studied Andie's profile, but instead of seeing her as she sat next to him, he saw the photographs taken with telephoto lenses, blown up until everything was grainy. He remembered her in short tight dresses and cropped red hair. He remembered her clinging to Kray's arm and laughing.

Even while his body ached for her, even while he felt guilty for being a jerk and judging her, even while he acknowledged she was brave and smart, with a strong sense of survival, he hated her. Not for marrying Kray, but for being alive when Jeanne wasn't.

"Once upon a time there was a tall gangling fifteen-year-old, with big eyes and skinny legs." Andie glanced at him. "I was not popular in high school."

"I'm surprised."

"No, you're not." She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and continued. "We lived in a small town in centralCalifornia. You wouldn't have heard of it. Anyway, one weekend my mom took me to the mall. There was a big model search. We didn't know anything about it until we got inside. There were all these really beautiful girls there. I'd never seen so many. I was standing there watching when one of the photographers saw me. He wanted to take my picture."

She smiled at the memory. "I don't know who was more surprised. Me or my mom. I let him take a bunch of photos,then I gave him my name. Three weeks later I got a call from an agency inNew York. They wanted me to come see them. If I looked anything like the photos, they were going to send me toEuropeto do some print work and model for the spring collection. I thought it was a joke."

"Did you go?"

She shook her head. "I was only fifteen. The farthest I'd been from home was the weekend I went with my parents toSan Francisco. I was going to finish high school and become a veterinary a.s.sistant." Her smile faded. "Such lofty goals."

"What happened?"