by Becki Willis
“It looks as if Franks is off the phone,” Craven said, breaking into her thoughts. “After you.” He lightly touched his palm to her back in gentlemanly manner, but Kenzie felt the little buzz of awareness that zinged between them.
Too bad the tingle made her think of Travis Merka.
***
After a leisurely meal at the only four star restaurant the resort town had to offer, the limousine delivered the trio back to their cabins. Kenzie found a large gift basket waiting for her, piled high with fresh fruit, nuts, crackers and cheese, a bottle each of red and white wine, assorted hard candies, and bites of chocolate fudge. She carried fudge and wine with her into the bathroom, where she spent the next half hour in the Jacuzzi.
The night air was chilly in the mountains, so Kenzie took advantage of the radiant flooring and the gas fireplace. After slipping into her pajamas – which consisted of colorfully striped sleep pants and a pink tank top – Kenzie called Makenna to catch up on the day’s events.
“Your leg is hurting you,” Makenna said, rather than asked.
“A little,” she admitted. “I’ve been up on it all day, something I’m not used to.”
“And you haven’t been keeping it propped up, have you?”
Kenzie quickly put her left leg up on the coffee table. “Of course I have.”
Her sister laughed through the phone. “Liar.” She switched gears with sudden diligence. “Two things I have to tell you.”
“Don’t tell me you made a list!” Kenzie groaned. That was one area where the sisters differed. Makenna was all about lists and organization; Kenzie was more impulsive, tackling most tasks with a spur-of-the-moment attitude.
“I didn’t need a list for these. One, you’ll never guess who came over with Hardin tonight.”
Her heart thudded loudly in response, even before she breathed his name. “Travis?”
“Yep. He didn’t seem too pleased to know you had left town.”
In spite of herself, her heart did a little happy dance. “That’s not surprising,” she scoffed, downplaying her secret pleasure. “Nothing I do seems to please the man. The whole time he was assigned to watch us, he made it obvious he didn’t approve of much I did. My music was too loud, I talked on the phone too much, I didn’t take our situation seriously enough. And that time I didn’t know he was there and came out in my skimpy little nightie... He obviously didn’t approve of my wardrobe, either.”
“Sister, that wasn’t disapproval you saw on his face,” Makenna said with a throaty laugh.
Ignoring how her heart did another somersault, Kenzie sniffed, “So what did he have to say about my trip?”
“He seemed concerned that your leg might not be healed well enough to go on assignment just yet.”
“I bet he’s already back to work!” Kenzie accused. “And it’s been less than a month since he had his own surgery.”
“If it was up to him he would be, but Captain Ramirez has other ideas. He’s not cleared to go back on duty until mid-month.”
“Yet he thinks I’m such a weakling I need extra time. I swear, that man is so infuriating!”
“I think it’s sweet that he cares.”
“I think it’s controlling,” Kenzie snapped, refusing to be touched by his worry.
“Okay, I just thought I would let you know the man was concerned about you. Silly me, I thought you’d be thrilled to know a handsome man was worried about you and wanted to know where you were and when you would be back.”
“This isn’t just any handsome man we’re talking about. This is Mr. Stick-in-the-Mud, You’re-Doing-It-All-Wrong, I’m-the-Law we’re talking about.”
“Who, according to you, is also known as Mr. Kisses-Like-The-Devil-Himself.”
Kenzie’s indignation deflated like a balloon, leaking out on a long and weary sigh. “That would be him,” she admitted glumly. “I think he may even be the devil.” Instead of sympathizing with her, Makenna laughed. “Don’t laugh,” Kenzie admonished. “The man is messing with my head. You should see Senator Lawrence’s Chief of Staff, the man I’ll be working with during this assignment. Tall, athletic build, super good-looking – we’re talking male model material. We have a ton of things in common and he’s so easy to talk to. Yet I keep thinking ‘he’s not as tall as Travis’ and ‘that’s not something Travis would say’, or ‘at least he laughs at my jokes, unlike Travis’. A month ago, I would have thought the heavens smiled down at me, showering me with the blessing of Craven Shaw.”
“And now?”
“For some crazy reason, I feel like I need an umbrella.”
She could almost hear her sister nodding. “Because on some level, both physically and mentally, you are attracted to him. But deep down on an emotional level, you know it’s not happening.”
Instead of denying the analysis, Kenzie grunted, “You’ve been watching too many episodes of Dr. Phil.”
Makenna laughed. Much to Kenzie’s relief, she abruptly switched the subject. “Okay, so for my other piece of information. I did an internet search for images of the key. It appears to definitely open a safety deposit box. And Simmons is a company well known for making them. So I’m guessing 152 is the box number.”
“But the question is, where on earth is the bank it’s located in?”
“I have no clue. I’ve looked through everything in that box, searching for hidden pockets or sewn-in messages. There was nothing in any of my clothes or the satchel itself. And I poked all around on my doll, because in the movies that’s always where the diamonds are hidden. Short of ripping her apart, I can’t find anything inside. I have no idea of where else to look.”
“Just be careful, especially if you’re asking questions or looking up things on the internet. You never know who might be watching,” Kenzie warned.
Makenna’s voice faltered as she said, “It’s scary, isn’t it?”
“We’ll figure it out,” she promised. “Okay, so go get some rest. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“Goodnight, love you.”
“Love you, too, Sis. ‘Night.”
The mysterious key bothered Kenzie more than she pretended. She knew it protected something the mafia wanted, but what was it? Money? Jewels? Secrets? Dozens of scenarios popped into her head.
Pouring another glass of wine, Kenzie slipped on her favorite pair of fuzzy green and pink slippers and padded out onto her deck. A light stirring of breeze sent a chill over her bare arms and she thought about turning back, but the river was pulling at her, whispering her name. A bench rested along the riverbank, mere feet from her cabin, and her feet moved toward it of their own accord.
The night was dark and peaceful. Kenzie pulled her slippered feet up onto the bench with her, hugging them to her body as she studied the moon’s reflection on the rippling waters. The river was more like a stream, wider than it was deep, and lined with rocks that looked too uniformed to be completely the work of Mother Nature. Still, the effect was beautiful and serene. Kenzie soaked up the solitude of the night, sipping on her wine and loving the crisp mountain air.
A half hour passed before she heard the rustling sound of someone behind her. Perhaps because of the bodyguard, perhaps because the setting was too peaceful to be threatening, Kenzie felt no fear at the sound. She simply turned to watch Craven Shaw approach in the darkness.
“Mind if I join you?” he asked. He was wearing dark athletic shorts and a light colored t-shirt, the exact colors indistinguishable in the night.
“Not at all.” She unfolded her legs and moved to one side of the small bench, making room for his large frame.
“I come bearing gifts,” he smiled, holding out a plaid blanket. “I thought you might be chilly, sitting out here by the water.” He dropped the blanket around her shoulders, immediately enveloping her in warmth. His hands lingered for the briefest of moments.
“Mmm, feels all warm and toasty,” she sighed in appreciation, snuggling into the warmth.
“I pre-heated it by the fire
place,” he told her as he came around the bench and took a seat.
“How sweet.”
“Now wait a minute,” he said in mock seriousness. “We cannot let word get out on Capitol Hill that Craven Shaw is a sweetheart. I have a reputation to uphold as a hard-nosed political aide.”
“It will be our little secret,” Kenzie promised. She glanced back toward his cabin, where all the lights were out. “Where’s Franks?” She had taken to calling the man by his last name, the way Craven did.
“He’s been asleep for hours.”
“What time is it anyway?”
“Almost midnight.”
Kenzie groaned. “I’ll be tired tomorrow.”
“Couldn’t sleep?”
“No. I have a lot going through my mind right now. You?”
“I was finishing up some work on the computer and saw you out here. Thought I’d soak up a little moonlight and unwind before hitting the sheets.”
“It is relaxing.” Kenzie looked back toward the water, which twinkled beneath the moonbeams. “So what is the plan for tomorrow?”
“We have a breakfast meeting with the mayor and some of the city council members. They want to tell us about clean-up efforts here in the city limits and show us how the federal money has been spent. We’ll take a tour of the town after a luncheon with the tourist association.”
“So basically we’ll be eating all day. Sounds great so far,” Kenzie grinned.
Craven chuckled, a sound that was pleasant and soothing. Kenzie tried to recall if she had ever heard Travis laugh.
“You said Senator Lawrence may join us?”
“Possibly on Tuesday, when we tour the canyon. That’s where most of the destruction was, and the area that is still in need of aid.”
“I remember hearing about the flood when it happened, and thinking how terrible it was. But then the media moved on to something else and, to be honest, I never gave it another thought,” Kenzie admitted.
Craven sighed. “That’s the way it usually happens. And that’s why the Senator wanted to do this interview, to re-focus attention on all the problems that still exist. He was very impressed with your latest work and the photos you took in New Hampshire. You did an excellent job capturing the essence of the story about green energy, a topic that is near and dear to Senator Lawrence’s heart.”
Kenzie squirmed, feeling uncomfortable with the praise for work she did not do. She steered the topic off herself by responding with a question. “Isn’t the Senator on one of the committees for green energy expansion?”
“Yes. As I said, he feels very strongly about preserving our natural resources and is very focused on making a minimal impact on nature while expanding our horizons.” Craven looked over at her and saw the smile playing upon her lips. “What is that look for, may I ask?”
“Nothing, nothing. Just that we’re sitting out here in the middle of the night, wearing our pajamas, no one to hear us but that little bunny rabbit over there, and you sound like you’re in a press conference, with a dozen reporters gathered around,” Kenzie teased.
He was gracious enough to look contrite. “Occupational hazard. Can’t always turn the job off.”
“I admire your dedication and your loyalty to your boss, but you don’t have to sing his praises to me tonight. I’m off the clock.” She held up her wine glass as proof.
“Sorry. I don’t mean to sound like an election campaign.”
“Is it true? Does the Senator plan to run for President?”
“He’s considering it. Early polls suggest voters would be in favor, but there are many factors to consider.”
“And I’m sure he needs the full support of his own state, and not just the parts of it that have recovered from the flood.”
He sent her a sharp look, not fooled by her innocent look of nonchalance. With a grin, he offered a resigned shrug. “You know how the system works.”
Seeing him rub his hands along his bare knees, she realized he had to be cold. She pulled the blanket from her shoulders and settled it over her lap, offering one edge to him. “Here, I’ll share.”
“Now your shoulders will be cold.” He glanced at the chill bumps that immediately popped up on her bared skin, before his gaze slipped along the low cut of her tank top. When his smoky blue eyes rose to meet hers, they held open admiration, but he kept a respectable distance beneath the blanket.
Kenzie’s first reaction was to stiffen. She wasn’t sure she wanted his attention, even though Craven Shaw was an extremely handsome and likable man. As ridiculous as it sounded, she felt like she was betraying the Texas Ranger who had kissed her, even though their relationship consisted solely of that one kiss.
Which, of course, was not true, her mind argued. Their relationship was so much more complicated that than. She had helped to save the man’s life. That was a relationship within itself. And there was more than the kiss; there were all these crazy feelings swirling around in her heart and in her head, and the very fact that she was sitting alone in the moonlight with one handsome man, while thinking about another.
Kenzie gradually relaxed as Craven told her random facts about Colorado. Before she knew it, another hour slipped past as they sat talking in the night. The earlier sexual undercurrents that hummed beneath the surface faded into the gentle murmur of two casual friends, lost in easy conversation. By the time she finally crawled into bed, she was oblivious to mysterious keys and tall, broody Texas Rangers, and she immediately fell asleep.
Chapter Five
Daylight came early to the Rocky Mountains, streaming through the windows and prying beneath Kenzie’s eyelids, scant hours after she closed them. She ignored the sunny rays as long as possible, yet found herself on her second cup of coffee by the time her alarm went off.
The day went exactly as Craven had outlined, offering more informational background than actual photo ops. Kenzie took several shots of the city of Estes Park and the brisk tourist trade already underway for the season. She photographed specific areas pointed out by local officials as repaired and fully operational, sat in on two meetings that did not necessarily pertain to her, wandered around town with her camera while Craven and Franks attended a third, and managed to do a little shopping in the charming boutiques that lined the downtown streets. Making a full day of it, the trio went out for dinner before returning to their cabins.
Kenzie was looking forward to the next day, when she knew the bulk of her story would be captured on film. She went to bed early that night, foregoing the temptation of lingering by the riverside, so that she would be refreshed for her next outing.
Without meetings to attend, Kenzie dressed more casually Tuesday morning, slipping into a pair of blue jeans and a blue tank top. She topped it with a floral print button up shirt and pulled her dark curls back with an elastic band to control the unruly mop. Stuffing her feet into her favorite pair of cowboy boots, her first time since breaking her leg, she welcomed the snug fit around her ankle. With any luck, her leg would not swell too badly today, nor would she slide on too many rocky ledges.
Kenzie did not miss the appreciation in Craven’s eyes as his gaze flickered over her, but he was the perfect gentleman and treated her with nothing less than total professionalism. He announced that the Senator would be joining them shortly after breakfast, but that his tour with them would be brief.
Senator Harry Lawrence arrived with an entourage of two men, one woman, and much fanfare. The city made a grand production of his arrival, so Kenzie felt obligated to snap several photos of her own.
She studied him from behind the lens as she snapped the shots, taking an immediate dislike to the man. She guessed him to be in his early sixties, even though it was difficult to judge by his physique. He was in excellent physical condition and made for a tall, imposing figure. His perfectly coiffed hair was edged with distinguished silver tips, his teeth shone white and straight from his tanned face, his eyes were a cool and accessing gray, and his smile was undeniably charming. Handsome
and dignified with a pleasant speaking voice, Harry Lawrence made the perfect politician. It was that perfection that alerted Kenzie to his insincerity; no one could be as faultless as this man appeared to be.
Even though the limousine was large enough for the entire party, the Senator insisted on taking a second vehicle. He motioned for three of them to join him in his own limo. Kenzie reluctantly followed Craven and the other woman to the luxurious all-white interior.
“It is a pleasure to finally meet the infamous Kenzie Reese,” the Senator said, even though they had been introduced a half hour earlier. This time there were no additional media or politicians to interpret their conversation.
“Thank you, Senator, and likewise. I’ve heard quite a bit about you, sir.”
“All good, I hope.” His wide smile suggested there could only be one answer.
“I should hope,” she answered, her own smile smooth and noncommittal.
The Senator laughed aloud, enjoying their sparring match. “I like you, Kenzie Reese. We’re going to work splendidly together.” Despite his declaration, the smile on his lips never quite reached his cool gray eyes. “I have been following your career. I was very impressed with the images you took at that orphanage in Mexico, and the ones after the California earthquake and the Oklahoma tornadoes. And of course, I was impressed with your latest coverage on NorthWind Energy. You have a unique way of getting to the heart of the matter.”
“Thank you, sir, I appreciate that.” She had to admit, she was surprised he knew so much about her career, but a quick internet search could have provided the information he touted.
“After that piece in New Hampshire, I knew you were the one for this job. How did you like the Granite State, young lady?”
