Piper didn’t move. Funny, she wasn’t a bit scared anymore. She realized she trusted Neil with her safety. “But I’m hungry. And a swim sounds nice. We’re already here. What’s in the rucksack?”
Neil’s jaw tensed again as he stared at her. Spinning on his heel, he scanned the area, eyes focused. “I don’t like this. It’s not a good defensive position. There’s no cover. We’re exposed from every direction. And I’m not even armed.”
He was assessing their position as if they were in a battle. She appreciated his concern, but— “Neil, this isn’t Afghanistan. It’s someone with too much time on his hands.”
He spun back to face her, his expression deadly serious. “Maybe. But the guy could also be a dangerous psychopath. I’d rather err on the side of caution.” He glanced around the stadium. “I don’t know what I was thinking choosing this place. It holds lots of good memories for me, but—” He shook his head. “I suppose we could move up to the top to eat. That way I’d spot anyone coming before they saw us.” He looked over at her. “But no swimming.”
“We’ll see.” She stood and started climbing the bleachers. This take-no-prisoners side of Neil was a huge turn-on. She smiled seductively at him over her shoulder. “Maybe I’ll change your mind.”
6
PIPER’S PLAYFUL SMILE caught Neil right in the chest. Then she had her back to him and her curvy bottom swayed at eye level. She was wearing short shorts that showed off her long, smooth legs. And the royal-blue lace blouse revealed her bra beneath. Only his extreme training allowed him to form coherent sentences around her.
This had to be lust, plain and simple, right? He’d only known the woman a few days. But whenever he was near her, feelings that had nothing to do with lust stirred in his gut. Words popped in his head like mine. And need. And protect. Hearing about those disturbing letters had made him want to lock her away behind an armored fortress.
Even thinking about some other security detail protecting her raised the hairs on the back of his neck. The only person he trusted to guard her was himself. No one else would be as invested in keeping her safe as he was. It wasn’t a rational thought, but damn it, it was true.
Once they’d reached the top of the stadium, Neil waited until Piper sat, then took a seat beside her. He dropped the backpack between his spread legs and pulled out the boxes of croissant sandwiches and containers of fresh-cut fruit from the gourmet sandwich shop.
“Oh, this looks yummy.” Eyeing him, Piper plucked a chunk of melon from the container and stuck it in her mouth. He watched her lips as she chewed, her throat as she swallowed, taking in her creamy golden skin, the plump swell of her cleavage above the lace top. He hardened. Then he noticed her twinkling eyes. Busted.
She laughed, a dusky, throaty sound. “It’s all right, you know. I’d probably be out of work if men weren’t totally obsessed with women’s breasts.”
Well, that was honest. The sophisticated seductress had vanished. She was so young, he realized. He was only thirty-four, but still, he felt old. Was he too old for her? Scratch that. Hadn’t he decided no more Mr. Nice Guy?
But she might be in danger. He couldn’t take advantage of that. Or could he?
The old Neil wouldn’t have. But look where that had gotten him.
Piper’s smile had faded, and it occurred to him that his thoughts must be written all over his face. But she didn’t seem frightened. Her light green eyes burned with embers he’d like to stir to a blaze.
Her luscious lips parted and her chest rose as she drew in a deep breath. “Neil, I—” Her cell chimed and she jumped. She heaved a large sigh and then found the cell in her purse. She touched the screen, read a text and looked up. “It’s Ragi, telling me she’s moved us to a new hotel.”
“Good. Let her know I have an idea about—” A sound he barely registered jerked him to full alert.
Piper frowned. “What?”
He put a finger to his lips, darted to the edge of the bleachers and sneaked a quick look. A lanky man in a dark T-shirt and blue jeans was sneaking around the overgrown shrubberies beside the walkway. He was holding a camera with a large zoom lens.
Glancing back, Neil motioned for Piper to stay where she was and remain quiet. It was a long way down to the ground. About fifteen feet. Neil swung over the top bleachers, lowered himself, then waited until the guy crept up the walkway next to what was left of the stadium. Neil launched himself, landing hard on top of the guy. They both hit the cracked pavement with a jarring thud.
The man yelled in pain and then cursed.
Neil got to his feet, caught the guy by the front of his shirt and hauled him up. “Who are you? What are you doing here?” He shook the guy until he had his hands up, his head snapped back.
“Are you crazy? Jumping down on me like that. You could’ve killed me! You just got yourself a lawsuit, buddy.”
“After you’re arrested for stalking.”
“Stalking? Hey, I got rights. Freedom of the press and Piper’s a public figure.” The guy struggled out of Neil’s grasp and bent to grab up the camera. “If you broke this, you’re buying me a new one.” He fiddled with the lens, then raised it to Neil’s face and snapped a picture.
“Oh, is it broken? Let me see.” Neil snatched the camera out of the moron’s hand.
“Hey!” The guy protested as Neil opened the battery compartment, removed the battery and memory card, and then pitched them into the water.
“Now it’s broken.” He handed back the camera. “You send any more threatening letters to Piper and I’ll break more than your camera, you got that?”
The guy’s face screwed up in confusion. “Huh? What letters?”
Neil analyzed the guy. Either he was a talented actor or he wasn’t the author of the letters. Still... Neil leaned in close and got in the guy’s face. “Don’t come near Piper again.” He gave him a menacing glare and the reporter hesitated for only a second before wisely deciding to run.
Taking a deep breath to calm his temper, Neil headed back to Piper, who was now at the bottom of the bleachers holding a can of pepper spray in one curled fist. “Was that him?”
“Not likely. Probably just your run-of-the-mill opportunistic scumbag.”
“Are you daft? Neil! You could’ve been killed!”
He glanced down at her weapon. “Were you planning on coming to my rescue?” He gave her a friendly smile to let her know he was impressed rather than sarcastic.
She clicked her tongue, stuffed the can of pepper spray into a pocket and again folded her arms across her chest. “He must’ve followed the taxi. Just paparazzi, then?”
This time. What if it had been the crazed letter writer? Neil’s blood chilled. “Piper.” She moved to retrieve the rucksack. He stepped close, clasped her shoulders and turned her to face him. “I want to protect you while you’re here.”
* * *
THE GRIM DETERMINATION glinting in Neil’s eyes made Piper shiver.
She knew he wanted her. She’d caught him staring at her breasts. She knew that look. But he also made her feel as if she was a good person. He didn’t treat her as if she was some empty-headed beauty. When she looked into his gaze she saw genuine respect there.
But he’d just demonstrated he would risk his life to keep her safe. If something happened to him because of her...
She should hire someone else to protect her.
And it wasn’t as if he was going to quit the navy and guard her full-time. She’d have to get someone once she got back to London anyway. Or maybe not. Maybe once she wasn’t with Neil anymore, the threats would stop. If the jerk who wrote the letters was even truly dangerous. She might be worrying for nothing.
For a moment she was paralyzed with indecision. In the end, it boiled down to one thing. No matter how badly she wanted to be with Neil Barrow, the risk wasn�
��t worth it. He didn’t need to get mixed up in her manic, unpredictable life. First thing tomorrow she was heading back to London.
But that was tomorrow. “What do you propose?”
He grinned. “I know this guy.”
* * *
“PULL OVER HERE,” Neil ordered the cabbie. He’d directed the taxi driver to take so many turns and double-backs that Piper could’ve been in another state for all she knew. Admittedly, she couldn’t even name all the American states, but still...
Neil paid the cab fare, and then sprung out, reaching back for her hand. As Piper climbed out, she caught a whiff of cumin, chili powder and smoking meat in the humid air. The smells reminded her a little of India. Brightly colored graffiti covered the stucco buildings and the sidewalks teemed with tourists and vendors. Mostly older cars inched along the street.
“Where are we?”
“Welcome to Little Havana.” Neil smiled and tugged her to a storefront with a sign written in Spanish. As they entered, the enticing scents made her stomach growl.
“Welcome to Casa Abuelas. Two for dinner, senor?” a young man asked.
Neil swiped off his ball cap and glasses, and then launched into Spanish.
The host’s face lit up and he wrapped Neil in a hug. When the kid called to someone in the kitchen, shouts preceded a crowd of people flowing into the dining room to greet Neil, everyone hugging him and speaking rapidly in Spanish.
Neil conversed fluently in return, finally singling out an older man, perhaps the owner of the restaurant.
Neil lowered his voice and gestured toward Piper. The gray-haired man’s dark eyes cut to her as he nodded. “Si! Por supuesto!” He pointed outside as he spoke and Neil agreed.
“Muchas gracias, mi amigo.” Neil hugged the older man and called, “Adios,” to them all. Then he returned to Piper and directed her back out to the sidewalk. But before they’d taken three steps, the host shouted out to Neil.
The older man caught up to them and shoved a brown paper bag into Piper’s hands. “For you, senorita. Ropa vieja.”
Piper returned his smile. “Gracias, senor.”
He smiled shyly, gave a firm but quick nod of his chin to Neil and retreated inside the restaurant.
The bag was warm and Piper inhaled. “Mmm, smells wonderful.”
“Ropa vieja is a popular Cuban dish. Have you had it before?”
She shook her head. “I take it you’re a regular?”
“Known the family my whole life. My grandparents brought me here as a kid. Their older son, Ramón, served with my uncle.” Pain flickered in his eyes before he shook it off. “I’m sorry I didn’t introduce you, but the mission here is anonymity.”
“It’s quite all right. But what was that all about? You didn’t come here for the food, did you?” They still had most of their picnic lunch in his rucksack.
“I was asking Senor Perez about secondhand shops. The meal was his idea.”
“Secondhand?”
Neil flashed that cheeky grin. “You’ll see.” Taking her elbow, he weaved through the crowded streets, turning a corner or two. If Piper hadn’t been hopelessly lost before, she certainly was now. But she wasn’t afraid. Quite the contrary.
Down a tree-lined street, children were playing some sort of game on the sidewalk, chattering and shouting. They were so innocent, so oblivious to all the despicable things this world had to offer. Suddenly Nandan’s face swam before her. Playing outside their house, complaining that he was hungry.
She must’ve slowed her pace. Neil stopped and stared at her.
She smiled at him, but he didn’t return the gesture. He merely reached for her hand, clasped it and squeezed. The emotion reached her throat and a prickly sensation burned in her nose and behind her eyes.
He couldn’t possibly know about her brother. No one knew except for the private investigators who were looking for him. So why did Neil seem to understand her pain? And his hand felt so comforting wrapped around hers.
She forced herself to bury the sentimentality. It only made her weak. Besides, he probably just thought she was upset about the creepy letter. She pulled her hand away. “Are we headed somewhere or just sightseeing?”
“Ouch.” He winked and pretended to wince. “Draw in your claws, we’re almost there.”
After walking a couple more blocks he read a sign on a store door—also in Spanish—and then pulled her inside.
It looked like a clothing store, but the garments were crammed on the racks, obviously not new. Again, he spoke Spanish to the employee and within minutes Neil was handing her what looked like a maid’s uniform, complete with apron. “Try this on.”
Piper put her hands on her hips and stepped back. “Seriously?”
“You’ve moved to a new hotel, right? We go in through the employees’ entrance.” He shrugged. “People don’t notice maids.”
Piper heaved a sigh, snatched the dress from him and stalked into the dressing room.
It was two sizes too big, but it was the only one they had, so she left her clothes on underneath and tied the apron tight around her waist. Not a bad disguise, but she still wasn’t convinced it would work. She yanked back the dressing room curtain and stepped out. “I think I’ll still be recognized.”
Neil rubbed his cheek as he studied her, and when his eyes met hers, they smoldered. “What are we going to do with you?”
What would he do with her? Heat built in her belly and spread lower to her core, like a fever. She had to look away.
“Maybe if you put your hair up?” He closed the distance between them and drew his fingers through the strands at her nape and lifted them on top of her head. He arranged her hair into a loose bun, his lips so close to her own that she wanted to rise up on her toes and place a kiss on them.
Especially when he paused and closed his eyes.
“What is it?”
“You smell so good.”
The longing in his voice unraveled her resistance.
He dropped his hands, letting her hair fall back over her shoulders, and opened his eyes. She was caught in his gaze.
Slowly, he lowered his head to hers, taking her lips in a gentle kiss.
It was sweet, tender and testing. And short. He drew back and looked at her, then kissed her again, his lips opened, lingering.
He tasted of mint and citrus. She threaded her fingers through his hair, angled her mouth and deepened the kiss.
A low moan escaped his throat as his arms came around her and his hands slid down her spine. The feel of his muscled arms, of his hard length pressed against her stomach, turned her desire up to molten lava. But it was more than physical need. It felt...like an ache in her heart.
Still kissing him madly, she walked backward toward the dressing room and he followed, his hands cupping her bottom.
“You want the costume, then?” the clerk asked.
Cold air hit Piper’s body as Neil jerked away from her and spun to face the woman.
The clerk was eyeing them with distaste, arms folded across her chest. “You need to pay for it before you—” She raised her brows and glared pointedly between them and the dressing room.
Piper’s blood turned to ice. The woman made it clear she thought Piper was playing the role of naughty chambermaid for her lover.
Neil cleared his throat and reached into his back pocket to pull out a wallet. “Sure. We’ll ta—”
Piper assumed her haughtiest expression. “I’ll need work shoes, too. Black. Size seven.” She returned the clerk’s disapproving glare and raised one brow for good measure. If the woman hadn’t scurried off, Piper would’ve shooed her away with a wave of her fingers.
Neil swung around again to face her. “Remind me not to get on your bad side.” One corner of his mouth quirked up.
He wasn’t disapproving, but still Piper narrowed her eyes at him. “You’re assuming I have a good one. See if they have black stockings, tall.” She flung the dressing-room curtain aside and sauntered in before Neil noticed her face was hot and her breathing was uneven.
“One pair of black stockings coming up.” He gave her legs a smoldering look, then saluted her and disappeared into the back of the store.
She pressed her palms to her cheeks.
If that woman hadn’t interrupted them, Piper’s thong would be down around her ankles and Neil would probably be thrusting inside her, taking her against the wall... She closed her eyes and sat on the chair. The past four months she’d had no trouble remaining celibate. Now she’d almost done it with Neil in a public dressing room? What had happened to her vow to be good?
Good was a relative thing, it seemed, when it came to Neil Barrow.
* * *
ONCE THEY REACHED her new hotel, Neil instructed the cab driver to pull into the parking garage and drive all the way to the back. Past a row of large metal dumpsters was a door with a sign that read Hotel Employees Only.
As she exited the cab, Piper grabbed the bag of cooled Cuban food. Hopefully the room had a microwave. If she couldn’t have Neil—and she shouldn’t—she intended to eat every bite of the ropa vieja.
But Neil got out, as well. At her questioning look, he gestured for her to precede him. “I’ll see you to the elevator.”
A security guard waiting by the employees’ door let them in and greeted Neil. Did he know everyone in Miami? The guard’s leather gun holster squeaked as he led them down a narrow corridor to a lift twice the size of a regular hotel elevator. When they stepped on, the guard remained behind, but shook Neil’s hand with a silent nod. The doors swished closed and they were alone. She could feel his gaze on her, but she couldn’t look at him right now. Her emotions were all tangled and confused.
Undeterred, he brushed the hair off her shoulder and touched his lips to the sensitive spot on her neck. “Piper.”
She shivered and closed her eyes as he softly nibbled his way to her lobe.
Fevered Nights Page 6
