Treasure Tides Part 5

"He was at your house this morning!" Natie forgot to whisper.

Like a laser beam locking onto a target, Royce turned his head in their direction; his eyes zeroed in on the pair.

"Oh, h.e.l.l no," Royce muttered before clinching his teeth. He saw not one but two sets of eyes peeking out from behind one of the large oak trees scattered in the garden. He would know those chocolate eyes anywhere; they were eyes a man could get lost in.

This should have been a simple a.s.signment, a simple search and seizure operation: grab the first coin, return it to the council, move on to the next. It was, in fact, turning out to be anything but simple, more like the-mission-that-never-ends.

Of course, no one had mentioned Witches in the initial briefing; obviously there were questions that he would now demand answers to. Why were Witches interested in the coins? Royce had instructed Joanna to stay completely away from the coins at all costs. One detail that had been shared by the council was the fact that the coins could be deadly to any Witch who came into direct contact with them.

He had contacted Arimus, the Council leader, and requested a video conference first thing in the morning. Until he had answers to all of his questions and felt a.s.sured that nothing had been overlooked, he had to stay especially alert. He was dealing with unknown danger at this point.

Eyes locked onto his prey, Royce stalked toward the oak tree with angry strides. He knew beyond a shadow of a doubt, he was making a huge mistake. He, however, was unable to stop himself.

"s.h.i.t," Becki muttered, knowing she was in big trouble without having been told. It was time to make a hasty exit.

"What's up boss? Did you find it?" Sean asked as he loped over and fell in behind Royce.

Royce did not slow his pace, did not acknowledge Sean, but kept moving forward with one purpose in mind. When he was finished with her, Becki would understand. She simply had to stay away from him.

Sean had arrived a few hours ago, insisting that he could track the coin more easily if he were on location. He had continued to tweak the software each time a signal was received from one of the coins. Unfortunately, the signals were still very random and infrequent. They had set up base camp in the condo at Fort Sumter House. The last known coordinates of this particular coin were somewhere east of the gazebo. Royce had been searching the area in hopes of finding a clue to what might have happened to the coin after the Witches "zapped" him.

He felt a "zap" of an entirely different kind when saw Becki. He hadn't planned on seeing her again-- ever. If his life had been "normal" he could have--, make that would have, acted on these feelings, and found out where they would have taken him. Unfortunately, his life was far from normal. His life was downright complicated, and so were the lives of his team. They dealt with forces of good and evil, the stuff of dreams and nightmares. His world did not have room for an innocent, and her world was far too innocent to have room for him.

Royce might have mumbled, but Becki had heard him loud and clear; "h.e.l.l no". Grabbing Natie's arm, she started walking in the opposite direction as quickly as her long legs would carry her. Becki was not up to being publicly rejected. This day just kept getting better and better.

"You're hurting my arm," Natie complained.

"The only thing hurting is your nibby nose," Becki said, calling her out on the lie. "Hurry up! I promise I will explain it all, but we have to get out of here."

"Becki," Royce roared.

"Keep moving," Becki urged Natie.

"Becki, I'm calling Uncle Kurt. This guy is p.i.s.sed, and he could be crazy as well," Natie said reaching for the cell phone in the back pocket of her jeans.

"He's not crazy, but I think he is p.i.s.sed," Becki acknowledged. "Please don't call Kurt. They've already met, and I don't think they like each other."

"Becki, d.a.m.n it--" Royce had caught up with the two girls without ever altering his pace or stride.

Becki had no intention of acknowledging him; her heart was pounding with humiliation and rage. Royce reached out to catch her arm in his grasp; she jerked away from him while continuing to charge ahead, forgetting that she was still dragging Natie along behind her.

Sean caught up with Royce just in time to see one of the two stunningly beautiful women actually wrench her arm away from him. Apparently Royce had lost his touch, literally.

"Boss? Do I need to do something?" Sean asked hesitantly. Women did not generally walk away from the boss. Normally it was quite the opposite scenario, women going out of their way to attract his attention.

Royce didn't bother to respond. He stalked with great determination, closely following the retreating women.

"Do you know them?" Sean asked, keeping pace with Royce.

Natie could not believe they were walking away, correction running away, from not one but two of the best looking men she had seen in-well, ever. Obviously, Becki knew these men. She said one of them had been at her house this morning? Becki didn't do mornings, period. Whatever was playing out here, had Becki on the run, and that too was out of character for her sister.

"Becki, I'm warning you--" the man with dark hair said ominously.

"They are still following us," Natie needlessly pointed out, curiosity killing her. This mystery needed to be solved, right now; enough was enough. Taking a deep breath, Natie planted her feet, refusing to budge another inch.

Becki stumbled, and would have fallen if the Adonis with green eyes, raven hair, and a perfect a.s.s, hadn't caught her in his arms.

"Are you alright?" Royce asked Becki as he steadied her on her feet.

Becki glared at him with narrowed eyes, which seriously lost their hateful effect as soon as they filled with tears, "As if you give a flying fu-"

Natie watched as, in the next instant, he grabbed Becki, jerked her tightly against his body, and planted a lip-lock on her sister like she had only seen in the movies. And then, wonder of wonders, Becki was kissing him right back. Natie grinned. Something had been skipped over during their girl-talk earlier today; something along the lines of, 'Natie, I've met the most gorgeous guy. He was at my house this morning, and man-o-man is he a good kisser.' Oh, yes, something had definitely been left out of their earlier conversation.

"Hi, I'm Sean. Are you ok?" the tall one with blue eyes asked. He had accidently b.u.mped into her when she stopped so abruptly and was now bending down to look at her as if she were a little china doll. Tingles zipped over her skin where he touched her arm.

"I'm Natie, Becki's sister." Nodding toward Becki and her mystery man, Natie asked, "Who is kissing her?"

"That is my boss, Royce. They, uh, met earlier," Sean said with a grin.

"I guess so," Natie smiled up, way up, at him. He stood over six feet tall, a giant compared to her. "So," she ventured, "do you want to grab a latte? It looks like they may be a while."

CHAPTER THREE.

Royce's arms wrapped around her like steal bands. His hands trailed softly down her back, following the line of her spine.

"Don't cry," he lifted his lips long enough to whisper, and then his lips were firmly planted on hers once again. Instinctively she burrowed closer, her arms finding their way around his waist. Momentarily forgetting that they were in a public garden, he allowed one hand to venture lower as he pressed her more tightly against him.

Becki gradually surfaced. Her anger pushing its way past the pleasure of being wrapped in Royce's arms gave her the strength to wrench her lips from his.

"Stop manhandling me," she snarled. "I thought you were leaving town? Gee, I must have misunderstood what you said," she mocked, grabbing his hands to move them from her a.s.s. "I must admit though, I was somewhat surprised to see you here. I thought for a minute that--" she stopped abruptly.

Royce had allowed her to reposition his hands more appropriately at her waist, but he was not willing to let her go entirely. Not until-- well-at least not right now.

"You thought--" he prompted, continuing to nibble at her neck; trailing kisses from her ear, to her shoulder, and back. Trying to keep his hands respectably wrapped around her waist was not easy, but after all, they were standing in a public park.

"I stopped thinking at 'h.e.l.l no'."

Royce abruptly stopped his a.s.sault, and lifted his head to make eye contact with Becki. He immediately felt like a heel. This was the second time today he had been responsible for her tear-filled eyes.

"I'm sor--" Royce began.

"I've got to say," Becki jumped in, unwilling to listen to his apology, "it cleared things up pretty quickly for me."

Swiping a hand quickly across the corner of her eye, she brushed away the single tear that had dared to escape before continuing, "So now, if you will get your hands off of me, I'll be on my way," she concluded, trying to wiggle her way out of his arms.

"I didn't mean it like--" he tried again to explain.

"The h.e.l.l you didn't! This is bulls.h.i.t! At the risk of repeating myself... which I hate to do, get your hands off me you--"

"I'm getting very tired of your name-calling," Royce warned, pulling her off the pathway and into one of the garden rooms. "We will discuss this like adults."

"Whatever. I'm getting very tired of your pawing me," Becki mocked, "so why don't you just let me go." Becki pushed harder against his chest. Her heart did not want to leave, but they had already been over this once; he didn't have time for her. G.o.d, would this day ever end?

"Stop squirming or you're going to be embarra.s.sed when I throw you over my shoulder and escort you to my room," he growled.

All movement abruptly ceased. As she stood perfectly still, focusing somewhere over his left shoulder, Becki said wearily, "You are going to have to make up your mind, Royce. I can't keep up. I thought you were "behind schedule" and couldn't possibly fit me in. You were supposed to be leaving town, or did I misunderstand something?" Becki heaved a sigh before suddenly pinning him with her gaze, "You know what? It doesn't really matter," she announced.

Feeling as if he had been sucker-punched, he slowly allowed his arms to drop to his sides, giving her the freedom she wanted.

Becki stood against him a moment longer, and then forced herself to step away. She turned and squared her shoulders as her mother's words echoed through her ears: "True character is measured by the grace in which a person handles life's disappointments." This is certainly turning out to be a big disappointment, Momma.

"I am leaving town, but I have to find something first," Royce admitted. "Can we take a walk?" he asked, reaching out to grasp her hand.

"My turn to say h.e.l.l no," Becki answered as she slid her hand easily out of his grasp. "I don't want to walk with you. I don't want to talk with you," Becki elaborated. "h.e.l.l, I don't want to be in the same time zone as you right now." Sorry Momma, she mentally apologized.

"I've been pretty understanding about all this secrecy bulls.h.i.t, Royce. I didn't call the police this morning when you traipsed through my living room wearing a hand towel. I bit my tongue even when I wanted more than anything to pressure you for information. You broke into my house, used my washer and dryer, drank my coffee, and took a shower, for-G.o.dsake. I had to think about that the whole time I was in there getting ready this morning. Then to top it all off, you kissed me like--"

She was on a roll now and prayed to make to the end without tearing up again. "You kissed me and then walked away without a backward glance. I've known you less than twenty-four hours, and you've managed to insult me more than anyone I've ever known. So you see, I don't want to deal with you or your precious "time schedule"; and speaking of which, you shouldn't waste any more of your oh-so-valuable time with me. Goodbye, Royce. Have a great life."

Whew, she made it. Now, she just needed to get the h.e.l.l out of here, so she could have a well-deserved melt-down in private. G.o.d, he got under her skin like no other. She should be glad to know she would never see him again, the arrogant b.a.s.t.a.r.d.

"Please?" Royce took the wind out of her sails with one softly spoken word.

Her brain screamed, Run--don't walk, as far away as you can. Her heart whispered, Just a little while longer. With Lucifer sitting on one shoulder and an angel sitting on the other, her brain and heart battled it out.

Her heart won. "Ok," Becki relented, "but I need to find Natie first."

Royce recaptured her hand and tugged her in the direction of the sea wall that protected The Battery. A walkway, just inside the sea wall, provided a perfect place to stroll, hand-in-hand, while absorbing the beauty and splendor of Charleston. The water in the harbor was a little choppy today, and the occasional gust of wind blew through, but the wind and water always seemed to carry one's troubles far, far away.

"Oh, the girl you were dragging around like a rag doll?"

"Very funny," Becki frowned, as she continued to scan the gardens for her sister.

"Don't worry, she is with Sean, he will take good care of her."

"Who is Sean?"

"Sean is one of my--, uh--, employees. He is also a good friend."

"See, that is just what I mean; the 'uh--', like you have to think everything through before you speak. That does not inspire trust, Royce," Becki complained.

"Ok, let me try again. Sean is an employee, but also my friend. I would trust him with my life," Royce said rea.s.suringly.

"I'm so not able to keep up," Becki said with a sigh. "You wear me out Royce. You beat me up, and then tear me down. I don't know what to expect, and about the time I think I have it figured out, you throw a curve ball. I don't know why I'm here with you now; I should stay as far away as possible, out of self-preservation if nothing else, and yet--" Becki turned to face him looking deeply into his beautiful eyes, and quietly admitted, "and yet, I can't seem to help myself. How crazy is that?"

"It's not crazy," Royce responded hollowly.

Becki rolled her eyes before clarifying, "That was another rhetorical question."

Moving closer to the sea wall, she leaned out to look at the barnacles collecting on the lower portion of the wall before confiding, "I don't really know you; I don't really know anything about you. I do know you are keeping secrets, and you must be involved in something dangerous if the tat is at all significant. You never did explain why you have one so similar to Kurt's."

Royce shoved his hands in his front pockets, trying to figure out how to respond to everything she had just said without lying to her again. While he was still formulating, Becki whispered a confession that shot an arrow straight through his heart.

"I'm a little afraid of you," she said softly, staring intently at Fort Sumter in the distance.

Becki felt his hands descend on her shoulders, and gently turned her to face him. He bent his knees slightly, bringing his face down to meet hers at eye level.

"You don't ever have to be afraid of me," he managed. "I told you this morning that I would not hurt you. I won't," he promised again. "You have my word."

Realizing that he had misunderstood her words, she cupped his face in both hands and explained, "I don't mean that I'm afraid of you physically. I know you are an honorable man, Royce; that much I do know. But there are so many things I don't know." Sliding her hands to rest flat on his chest, she continued, "Important things; like...who are you, really? And don't give me that 'home security' story. I'm not buying it," she warned. "How did you get here? What is it that you have to find?" Eventually she got to the heart of the matter, "Do you have a wife waiting for you somewhere, a girlfriend? Those are the things I am afraid of, Royce, the things that could potentially hurt me."

"You are precious," he said, dropping a quick buzz on her nose. He plucked one of her hands from his chest, and began walking again, leaving her no choice but to move with him.

"I direct and manage a team of recovery experts, a division of ART Security. There was a collection of artifacts, coins, stolen quite some time ago. The coin collection was eventually divided and then scattered around the world. One piece of the collection was last seen here, in Charleston. I'm trying to locate and return it to the rightful owners. Then my team will move on to recover the next, and then the next, until we have recovered them all," Royce explained, sticking to the truth, but not the whole truth.

Becki stopped short and turned to face him. "Seriously, Royce? You are just looking for a bunch of old coins? That's it? That's the secret?" she played him, batting her eyes like the idiot he seemed to think she was.

"I can help you find them, Royce; I'm good at treasure hunting. I have a knack for finding things. Just yesterday, I found the coolest crate while Jonah and I were hunting sharks' teeth."

Obviously, she was not going let it go easily, so Royce presented one more detail, "The collection is worth a lot of money, Becki."

"Do you realize you have never shown any interest in the crate that was stolen from my back yard?" Becki pressed suddenly. "Kurt acted really funny about that, Royce, and I thought at the time he was being overprotective. I've thought about your conversation with him, and the fact that I had to leave my own deck so you could talk privately. Something is not adding up, Royce. Are you really here just to look for some coins that a collector hired you to find?"

"I am," Royce answered in all honesty.

"Great, then I can help." Pulling out her cell phone, she opened messaging and looked at Royce with an expectant expression, "Explain what you are looking for, and I can get some of my friends..."

"No."

"No?" Becki repeated.

"No," Royce repeated firmly.

Becki's phone beeped at that moment and flashed message from Natie; Catch ya this pm 6 at Kurt's"

As he watched Becki respond to the text message, he thought about his current predicament. Finding this coin was proving to be more difficult than he had initially antic.i.p.ated. The Council thought they were getting close to being able to lift the cloaks currently surrounding each coin. Sean was here hoping to use the new software and receptors he had developed to pick up a trail of digital bread crumbs that should have been left behind by the coins. He was not certain how long the digital trail might last or how close to the trail the receptors had to be in order to pick it up. The software was still in the final stages of development, but if Sean could collect enough data at this location, he might be able to better use the technology to locate the remaining coins.

Joanna would be arriving in the morning to work the magic angle; together, hopefully, they could peek through the cloaking spells.

Coins and spells. Grim reminders to Royce that he could not allow himself to be become emotionally entwined with someone like Becki. Someone good, someone blissfully unaware of all things immortal, someone unaware of the reality that things do go b.u.mp in the night, someone sweet and innocent.

"That was Natie," Becki announced. "Come to think of it, she could help too. Now, back to my original question: What is it exactly that we should be looking for?"