Treasure Tides Part 8

Everyone laughed while Leann had tuned everything out at will.

Clarissa, who was chatting on mobile Facebook, walked into the kitchen, "Whatcadoin'?" she asked, thumbs flying over the b.u.t.tons on her cell phone. Clarissa could text faster than most people could type.

"I'm just putting dessert in the freezer. Is anything interesting going on at school?" Becki asked.

"Nope, just the same old boring stuff. What's for desert?" Clarissa asked as her phone vibrated with a new message.

"Ice Cream," Becki answered, knowing the girls loved ice cream as much as she did. It was a genetic thing.

Looking at the new message on her phone, Clarissa exclaimed, "oops... gotta go. Talk later!"

She scooted out of the kitchen and disappeared up the stairs in the blink of an eye, as she headed toward the privacy of her bedroom.

"Ok, fine, don't mind me," Becki yelled up the steps. "I guess I'm chopped liver," Becki muttered to herself with a grin.

Royce and Sean drove into the cul-de-sac in Royce's new red Corvette 3ZR. After spending two years trapped in a box at the bottom of the ocean, he figured he deserved a little extravagance. His new baby would go from zero to sixty in 3.4 seconds and rode like a dream. Sean had been like a kid in a candy shop when they had walked into the dealership.

He parked carefully, blocking in Becki's car as Sean had suggested. Just in case.

Natie bounced out of the garage as they walked up the driveway. Royce noticed that Sean seemed a little flushed, maybe even nervous.

"What's up?" he asked Sean very quietly.

"Uh...nothing," Sean answered, seemingly unable to take his eyes off the pet.i.te blond headed their way.

"Ahhh," Royce said, "nothing. I understand."

"Hi guys," Natie said as she approached them. "Nice wheels you've got there."

Sean seemed to have trouble swallowing at the moment. Royce sensed it might have something to do with the blue-eyed blond standing before them.

"Thanks," Royce answered, "and thanks for the dinner invitation." He handed Natie the smaller of two bouquets he carried with him.

Burying her nose in the blooms, she peaked up through her lashes and admitted, "Yea, about that-- Becki doesn't exactly know you were invited."

Royce smiled.

"Don't you make me sorry I did this," Natie warned, lifting her nose from the fragrant blooms.

"You have nothing to worry about," Royce a.s.sured. "I promise you. Where is she?"

"She is in the house bugging the girls right now. Come on, I'll get you both a cool beverage and introduce you to everyone."

As Natie escorted Sean and Royce into the garage, Kurt and Landon immediately stood. Natie had explained that she had invited both men to join them for dinner.

Kurt had spoken with Ryker Senior a few hours ago, and Ry had a.s.sured him that Royce was one of the best team leaders in the history of ART. The fact that his father was the highly respected and highly decorated Aaron St. John helped to smooth any remaining doubts Kurt might have had. From what Ryker said, Royce was following very closely in his father's footsteps. Kurt had filled Landon in on the conversation just before Natie and Jonah arrived.

"Welcome," Kurt said as he extended his hand in greeting.

Royce quickly transferred the large bouquet of flowers to his left hand and shook Kurt's hand with a firm grip.

"I a.s.sume you talked with Ry?" Royce guessed.

"You bet. I look after what is mine," Kurt said with a grin, and then turned to shake Sean's hand as well.

"Kurt Rodgers," he introduced himself to the younger man, "and this is my friend Landon Smith," he continued nodding toward Landon who was standing a few feet away. "Grab a beer, and make yourselves at home."

"Thank you, Sir. It's a pleasure to meet you, Sir" Sean said as he shook Kurt's hand.

As Sean turned to greet Landon, his wrist meter began vibrating. He stiffened immediately as he turned to face Royce with wide eyes.

s.h.i.t! Kurt had forgotten about the hi-tech gadgetry ART had access to. That d.a.m.n watch had picked up on Landon's secret. He smoothly inserted himself between Sean and Landon fully aware that Natie and Jonah were watching with avid curiosity.

Making direct eye-contact with Royce, Kurt said, "Landon has been my best friend for more than twenty years. We have no secrets," he continued, "and he protects my family as if it were his own."

Kurt had effectively addressed any concerns Royce and Sean might have had while at the same time skillfully dancing around secrets that needed to be kept.

"Understood," Royce said extending his hand to Landon. "Royce St. John, we met earlier today. Nice to see you again, Sir. Sorry about that," he said softly, nodding toward Sean who was currently resetting his watch-gadget.

"No problem," Landon said.

As he noticed the huge bouquet Royce was still clutching in his left hand, Landon raised an eyebrow.

"p.i.s.sed her off, huh?" he guessed.

Royce released a heavy sigh of regret and confirmed Landon's suspicion, "Yes, Sir, in a big way."

Natie danced over to Sean and handed him a beer.

"I love this song," smiled Natie. "It's a new local artist, and she is just as beautiful as she is talented."

"You're beautiful," Sean said quietly; too quietly to be heard above the music filtering through the yard.

Unsure of how to respond, Natie sidestepped the issue by commenting, "What could Becki possibly be doing in there? I'm ready to get this show on the road."

Flashing Sean a conspiring look she called, "Royce, why don't you go let Becki know dinner is almost ready; if you go in through the back door, she should be right there in the kitchen."

Sean grinned, and said softly, "She is going to kill you."

"Nah," Natie said, and then tipped her head back to drain her gla.s.s, "Becki's bark is worse than her bite."

Sean caught his breath when twin dimples broke out as Natie grinned up at him.

Becki was seated on the couch between Mandy and Leann as they played games on their respective laptops.

"Ohh, get that one, Mandy," she suggested as she pointed to a funny looking creature floating across the computer screen.

"Good job!" She cheered, as "Welcome To Level 10" flashed on Mandy's screen.

Becki gave the girls a hug before standing up to make her way to the kitchen.

"I'm so pumped about Frogmore Stew tonight! I think I'll whip up some brownies to go with the ice cream."

As she stretched to reach for the mixing bowl on the top shelf of the pantry, the back door opened.

"I'll be right there, Natie. I'm just goanna throw in some brownies super quick. Believe me, I need a chocolate fix after the eff'ed up day I've had," she confided.

Suddenly a large body sandwiched her against the pantry shelves from behind. An arm extended over her head to grasp the mixing bowl she had been reaching for.

"Let me help you with that," a familiar voice whispered in her ear.

Becki let out a bloodcurdling scream as she spun around to face Royce.

Because of their height difference, her nose was buried in his chest, and OMG did he smell good. Becki closed her eyes, and could not stop herself from inhaling his masculine scent.

Never one to waste an opportunity, Royce dropped his lips to her ear and began nibbling.

She gasped and pushed against him, successfully dislodging his lips, but not his arms, which were currently wrapped around her waist.

"s.h.i.t, Royce! What are you doing here?" Becki sputtered.

"Language!" Leann reminded.

Becki rolled her eyes. Leann didn't pay attention when you wanted her attention but never failed to hear every word of something you didn't want her to hear.

"Yes! Language," Mandy piped up adding her two-cents.

"Sorry," Becki apologized to the girls.

"What are you doing here?" she asked again, taking care to watch her language and speak more softly this time.

"I needed to see you," Royce answered honestly.

"Oh for G.o.d's sake," Becki responded angrily, rubbing one palm over her forehead, "I'm so over this. Really, I'm not having this conversation with you."

"I needed to see you because--" Royce began.

"Suddenly you need to see me?" Becki interrupted with heavy sarcasm and a rapidly paling face.

Fury settled over her and she began tossing his own words, his own excuses, back in his face.

"You didn't have any desire to see me earlier today!" she reminded.

"Do the words 'h.e.l.l no' ring any bells for you? What about; 'I can't get involved.' Do you remember saying that? 'I can't, get involved,' you said. You gave me some bulls.h.i.t about secrets, and treasure hunting, and danger. Remember? Do you remember all that? No? Well I remember," she concluded.

Becki struggled to free herself from his embrace. She had become more and more upset as she hurled excuses at him as if they were daggers.

Mad did not even begin to cover the emotion she felt boiling over, the emotion currently threatening to spill from her tear-filled eyes. Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself. She was absolutely not going to do this...not here, not now, not in this lifetime.

With one mighty push, she broke free.

"Leave me alone, Royce," she hissed through gritted teeth. "Seriously, just go away and leave me alone."

a.s.suming he would do as she asked and leave, she spun toward the refrigerator and began pulling out b.u.t.ter and eggs, only to slam them down on the cabinet.

"Becki, do I need to go get Dad?" Leann asked looking concerned. She stood poised ready to race out the back door for help.

Becki took a calming breath and turned to rea.s.sured her. "No, honey; I'm fine, just mad at this a.s.sho--, uh--, oaf right now," she said looking directly at Royce for the first time.

"Royce, meet my cousin Leann. Her sisters Mandy and Clarissa are around here somewhere."

Royce picked up the bouquet of flowers he had laid on the counter and immediately crouched down to Leann's level.

"Becki is mad at me because I said some stupid things earlier today. I'm trying to talk her into forgiving me," he said with sad eyes. "I brought flowers hoping that would help, but I don't seem to be doing very well. Do you have any ideas?" he asked quietly.

"Good luck with that," Leann said with brutal honesty. "When Becki gets mad, she stays mad for days. One time, her other boyfriend, the one who was not kid-friendly," Leann felt compelled to clarify, "didn't--"

"That's enough, Leann," Becki quickly interrupted, putting an end to what was sure to be an embarra.s.sing recounting of one of the many times she had been disappointed in the past.

"Go find your sisters and tell them dinner is almost ready," Becki instructed, hoping to distract both Leann and Royce. It was hard to predict where that conversation might have gone.

"Just sayin..." Leann shouted over her shoulder as she ran toward the stairs.

"Brat! Whose side are you on anyway?" Becki protested.

Royce chuckled as he stood.

"Hm," he said, glancing in the direction of stairs Leann had taken, "I think I'll follow up on that a little later."

"Don't even think about it," Becki threatened with narrowed eyes.

He didn't utter another word as he began moving slowly toward Becki.

As he advanced, she retreated in a futile attempt to keep him from getting closer to her, or worse yet, touching her. She couldn't think when he touched her, and she needed to think. She needed to keep her guard firmly in place.

b.u.mp. She felt the kitchen counter at her back. "Royce," she managed to croak through her suddenly paralyzed vocal chords.

He did not hesitate or slow his advance one iota. He continued to move steadily toward her not stopping until his body was plastered against hers from head to toe.

"I'm so very sorry, Becki," he whispered looking deeply into her dark chocolate eyes. "I'm sorrier than you know."

"I don't think this is a good idea, Royce. I don't think I can--"

"I was wrong," he interjected without giving her a chance to continue with that train of thought. "Please forgive me."