Devil in Paradise

by Joanna Mansell

  Back in her own bed again, Kate found it quite impossible to sleep. All she could seem to think about was what it would be like to be six years old, and be suddenly snatched away from your mother, your home, and everything that was familiar.

  She gave a small shiver. She supposed it was every child's nightmare to suddenly lose the love and security that had always surrounded them.

  Was Rafe right to try and snatch the child back again? She just didn't know. The whole situation was highly disturbing, and she didn't see how it could be easily resolved without a lot of people getting hurt.

  As her thoughts drifted back to Rafe, she found herself remembering the kisses he had given her earlier, and the firm, sure touch of his hands. Then she shivered all over again, but for a very different reason. It was just one more complication, and one that she could well do without right now. Perhaps it would be best to do as he had said, and go back home before this whole thing became even more disturbing.

  But you can't do that, she reminded herself. Not until you know what's going to happen to that kid. Just forget your own mixed-up feelings for a while. The only important thing is to try and make sure that the boy comes out of this all right.

  She finally managed to grab a couple of hours of sleep just before dawn. She woke up again with a small start, and for a few moments wondered why she felt so confused and unsettled. Then it hit her like a small bomb exploding inside her head. Rafe was going to kidnap a six-year-old boy! And in a moment of insanity she had offered to help him.

  Kate groaned out loud. She didn't believe any of this was really happening!

  And how about those kisses Rafe gave you last night? murmured a small voice inside her head. Were they a figment of your imagination, as well?

  Kate gave another groan as she crawled out of bed. Then she headed for the shower, turned it to cold, and forced herself to step under it. As the icy water hit her warm skin she gave a small yelp, but didn't move. More than at any other time in her life, she needed to be completely awake and with all her wits about her.

  A few minutes later, she was covered with goose-pimples, but very definitely wide awake. She had also had time to think things over and reach a couple of clear decisions. She hurriedly dried herself and got dressed, then she headed downstairs.

  Rafe was sitting out on the terrace, drinking black coffee. Kate sat herself down in front of him, and looked him straight in the eyes.

  'You can't go ahead with this, Rafe,' she told him bluntly.

  His face wore a dark expression, and he didn't look particularly pleased to see her.

  'I'm the one who'll make the final decision about it,' he growled back at her. 'And, whatever I decide, I don't want you interfering.'

  Her own gaze flashed hotly. 'You've rather changed your attitude since last night, haven't you?'

  Rafe looked even more ill-tempered. 'Last night was a mistake. All it's done is complicate matters. I shouldn't have told you about my plans—and I certainly shouldn't have touched you. I wouldn't have done if I hadn't been so damned tired. I was just operating on automatic pilot. I saw something I wanted, and I tried to grab it.' His mouth set into a grim line. 'It was a bad mistake, Kate—for both of us.'

  'I'm not worried about that right now,' she replied, although she was well aware that she wasn't being very truthful. 'All I care about is what happens to that boy. You can't mess up his life still further. It's nothing to do with you. You've got no right—'

  He suddenly sat up much straighter and caught hold of her wrist. 'Then what am I meant to do?' he demanded tersely. 'Leave that kid in a place where he's probably completely miserable and unhappy? Just walk away and forget about it?'

  'That might be best,' she argued stubbornly.

  'Best for who? Best for me, because it'll mean I'll be spared a lot of hassle and trouble? Best for his mother, who's so desperate to get her child back that she's willing to try just about anything? Yes, you're right, Kate,' he went on in a hard voice. 'It would be a lot more convenient just to drop the whole thing, but I'm not going to do it. Not yet. I want to see that boy first, and find out for myself what sort of state he's in. That's the only way I can decide what to do next—if anything.'

  Kate gave a small sigh, and a lot of the fight drained out of her. She had known all along that it would be impossible to persuade Rafe to change his mind. She had had to have a go, though. And now she had failed it was time to move on to the next decision she had made.

  'If you're determined to go ahead, then I'm going to stick around and help,' she said firmly.

  'No.' Rafe's reply was quiet, but extremely decisive.

  'I'm not saying that I want to take part in anything illegal. And if there's a chance of any physical violence, then you can definitely count me out. But it could be useful to have me around at times,' she argued. 'If you want to see the boy, you're going to have to get into Martin Foster's villa, and he's going to be a lot less suspicious of a couple than of a single man hovering around. Think about it, Rafe. It makes a lot of sense.'

  She saw him hesitate. It was only for a moment, though.

  'I can do this on my own, Kate.'

  'I'm sure you can. I'm just saying that there are times when I could help you.'

  Rafe shook his head. 'You don't know what you're volunteering for.'

  'Of course I do,' she said rather impatiently. 'I'm not an idiot!'

  'No, you're not,' he agreed with a sudden dry smile. 'But I still can't go along with it. Thanks for the offer, Kate, and I know you mean well—'

  'Mean well?' she repeated in a furious tone. 'Let's get this straight. I'm not some do-gooder. I just want to make sure that you make the right decision about that kid. If he's really unhappy, then I suppose you've got no choice except to try and get him out of there. But if he's OK, and you still want to grab him, then I'll fight you tooth and nail over it.' She glared at him heatedly. 'Do you understand what I'm saying?'

  'I certainly do,' he replied wryly. 'By heavens, you are a Clarendon. Pushy and obstinate.' Somehow, though, he didn't make it sound like an insult.

  'So, what do you say?' she challenged him directly. 'Are you going to let me stick around for a while?'

  An unexpected look of resignation came over his face. 'It doesn't look as if I have a choice. But at the first sign of real trouble you're to clear out of here straight away,' he warned.

  Kate was more than willing to go along with those terms. She didn't want to get involved in anything that was physically dangerous.

  'Where do we begin?' she asked.

  'By making an attempt to see the boy, I suppose. But that's easier said than done.'

  'Can't we find some excuse for turning up at the villa?'

  Rafe shrugged. 'Sure. We could try one of the old favourites, such as saying our car's broken down, and asking to use the phone. There's no guarantee that we'll get to see the boy, though. All Martin Foster has to do is to keep him well out of the way until we've left again.'

  Kate's brows drew together. 'Can't we get in without an invitation?' she suggested at last.

  'A little illegal breaking and entering?' queried Rafe, with raised eyebrows. 'Certainly not! I don't want to spend the next few months in a French gaol. Anyway, you saw the security system on the gates. They've almost certainly got an equally sophisticated system covering the grounds and the villa itself. We wouldn't get any distance before we were picked up.'

  Kate was rather annoyed that he had dismissed her suggestions so quickly. 'All right, you suggest something.'

  Rafe tapped his fingers together slowly. 'The villa has its own private beach,' he said at last. 'According to his mother, the boy loves swimming. There's a good chance he goes down there at some time during the day.'

  'Can we reach the beach?' she asked with fresh eagerness.

  'There's no direct access. We'd have to go further up the coast, and then swim along to it.'

  'I'm willing to try it,' she said at once. 'I'm a good swimmer.'

  '
I know that.' He looked at her quizzically. 'You're very eager to get yourself into what could be a whole lot of trouble.'

  'The sooner we get this settled, the better it'll be for the boy. When can we try it?'

  Rafe glanced at his watch. 'It's rather late to make a start on anything today. If the boy does go swimming, it's more likely to be in the morning. By the time we get there, it'll be nearly midday. We'd better leave it until tomorrow.' He lifted his gaze and looked at her. 'That swimsuit you wore the other morning—is it the only one you've got?'

  'No,' she said, a trifle puzzled. 'I've another one that's very similar, but a different colour.'

  'Mmm.' He reached into his pocket, pulled out his wallet, and handed her a small wad of notes. 'Go into Nice this afternoon, and buy yourself a bikini. Something very brief and sexy.'

  Kate stared at him indignantly. 'What for?'

  'Because if that boy does come to the beach, I'm pretty certain he won't be on his own. My guess is that he'll have some sort of bodyguard. It might be helpful if you could somehow—distract the bodyguard's attention,' he finished tactfully.

  'And that's all you want me for?' she said indignantly. 'To prance around half naked so the bodyguard will look at me and forget to watch the boy?'

  'You did offer to help in any way you could,' Rafe reminded her.

  She gave a faint scowl. So she had. Then she stared at Rafe suspiciously.

  'Are you doing this on purpose? To try and make me back out?'

  'I wish you would back out,' he said with some feeling. 'I'd like to see you go straight back to England, and keep your nose well out of this. You're not going to do it, though, are you?'

  'Definitely not,' she confirmed.

  'Then you'd better get used to taking orders. As far as this operation is concerned, what I say goes. If I tell you to strip off completely, I expect you to do it. And without any arguments. Is that understood?'

  'I suppose so,' Kate agreed, although there was a faintly rebellious note in her voice.

  'I want a straight "yes", or I'll call the whole thing off.' Rafe's gaze held hers relentlessly. 'I'm waiting to hear it, Kate.'

  'Yes,' she muttered.

  He seemed satisfied with that. 'Then get yourself off to Nice and buy that bikini. And I want it to be a real eye-catcher,' he warned. 'Forget about modesty. Just go for the sexiest thing you can find.'

  Kate picked up the money, and then went to collect her car keys. She was just heading out of the front entrance, automatically obeying Rafe's orders, when she suddenly stopped dead.

  What on earth was she getting herself into? At the very least, they were going to trespass on someone's private property. No, not just someone. A man called Martin Foster, who apparently had enough power and influence to make life very uncomfortable for her and Rafe if they were caught. And why? Because of a six-year-old boy whom she didn't even know—hadn't even seen.

  Crazy, crazy, crazy! And it was all Rafe's fault. He was the one who had got her mixed up in this. She had come here for a quiet holiday, and with vague ideas about writing a novel. Now, she was mixed up with a kidnapping, and heaven knew where it would all end.

  How had she got mixed up in it? Why had she ever volunteered? Was it just because of the boy? Or because her world had somehow changed rather dramatically at the moment when Rafe had kissed her?

  Kate decided that she didn't even want to think about that. 'It's because of the boy,' she muttered to herself firmly, as she walked out of the door. And she kept repeating that to herself all the way to Nice.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  The next morning, Kate was up very early. As she paced restlessly around the villa, she tried to convince herself that she didn't feel nervous.

  'There's still time to back out,' she told herself several times. 'Rafe would understand. In fact, he'd probably be pleased!'

  She turned round, to find that Rafe had silently appeared in the doorway.

  'How long have you been standing there, watching me?' she demanded.

  'Only a few seconds,' he said easily. He came a little further into the room. 'You look pretty edgy. Want to change your mind? You don't have to come.'

  She instantly responded to the note of challenge in his voice. 'I'm fine, and I'm coming along,' she announced firmly. 'You're not getting rid of me that easily!'

  'I'm beginning to wonder if I'm ever going to get rid of you at all,' he said, in an unexpectedly reflective tone. Then his voice became brisker again. 'Are you wearing the bikini?'

  'I've got it on under my dress.'

  'OK, then let's go.'

  The sun was shining so brightly that Kate couldn't understand why she was feeling cold. Then she realised that it was because of nerves. Agreeing to do something like this was one thing. Actually going through with it was something else again!

  They got into Rafe's car, and then drove briskly away from the villa. Since it was still quite early, the traffic was fairly light. Rafe headed along the coast, finally turning off down a side road which led to a tiny bay.

  No one else was around. Rafe ran the car almost down to the beach, and then parked it on a strip of grass. 'Martin Foster's villa is about half a mile along the coast,' he told her. 'We'll have to swim from here. Can you make it that far?'

  'Easily,' she replied, confident about her own abilities in the water. Although, at that moment, that was about the only thing she was confident of!

  Rafe got out of the car, and then began to strip off. Kate undressed rather more slowly. Finally, though, she stood there in just the bikini she had bought in Nice.

  It was fuchsia-pink and very brief. Rafe's gaze slid over it and she saw his eyes darken appreciatively.

  'Is it all right?' she enquired edgily. 'Do you like it?'

  'There's very little of it to like,' he replied drily. 'You could make the whole thing out of a small handkerchief!'

  'Well, I think it looks fine!' Kate snapped back defensively. 'In fact, I feel very good in it.'

  'Move too fast, and you'll look good out of it,' Rafe commented. 'What the hell's holding it up?'

  'Me!' she said, with some annoyance, 'I'm holding it up. I'm not exactly flat-chested!'

  'I'd noticed.' His mouth relaxed into the first smile of the day. 'Let's get into the water before I start noticing a few more things.'

  The sea struck cool against her warm skin, but Kate was glad of that. Perhaps it would chase away the flush that had started to spread over her face!

  Rafe swam smoothly and not too fast, so that she could easily keep pace with him. They kept some distance from the shore, but Kate could still see the luxurious villas that were tucked away behind the trees. This was definitely millionaires' row. They made Great-Uncle Henry's villa look like a small cottage by comparison!

  After they had been swimming for a while, Rafe stopped altogether and began to tread water.

  'What is it?' she asked.

  'See that outcrop of rocks ahead?'

  An irregular line of rocks jutted out into the sea about a hundred yards ahead of them. 'Have we got to swim round it?' asked Kate.

  'Not yet. On the other side is the stretch of private beach that belongs to Martin Foster's villa.'

  Kate felt a sudden quiver of nervousness deep in her stomach. 'What are we going to do?' she asked, a trifle apprehensively.

  'We'll head for the rocks, and take a breather,' Rafe decided. 'Then we'll take it from there.'

  They reached the rocks without any problems, and clambered out on to one that was flat and low. Kate stretched her slightly tired limbs, and then looked at Rafe. 'What now?' she asked.

  'Let's take a look at Martin Foster's beach.'

  Rafe climbed confidently over the rocks, while Kate followed rather more cautiously behind. In a couple of minutes, they were at the top of the outcrop, and looking down at the beach beyond.

  From here, they had a perfect view. The strip of sand ran round in a wide semi-circle, backed by trees and flowering shrubs. Kate could just glim
pse the villa itself, a little higher on the hillside, and she swallowed nervously.

  Rafe must have seen her reaction. 'Wishing you hadn't come?' he asked perceptively.

  'I've never trespassed before,' she admitted.

  'We're not trespassing yet,' he told her. 'Not until we actually set foot on that beach. And we're not going to do that for a while.'

  Kate relaxed a fraction. 'Then what are we going to do?' she asked. 'Just sit here?'

  'Why not? This is a perfect vantage-point. There are marvellous views—in all directions,' he added with a grin, looking rather pointedly at the fuchsia-pink bikini.

  'Just keep your mind on the matter in hand,' Kate instructed a little primly. 'This isn't the time for thinking about things like that!'

  'It's rather difficult not to,' he admitted. 'In fact, I might have to take a dip now and then—just to cool down!'

  'If I'd known you were going to get over-excited, I'd have put some bromide in your coffee this morning,' she retorted.

  'Bromide?' he queried, shooting an amused glance at her.

  'Isn't that what you're meant to take when you're feeling over-stimulated?' Kate enquired .in a slightly acid tone.

  'I believe it is,' he agreed comfortably. 'But don't worry. I'm not going to get completely out of control and jump on you. I certainly enjoy sex, but I can live without it for a while if I have to. All I'm getting is a perfectly natural reaction to being close to a gorgeous near-naked girl.'

  He was making it sound as if any pretty female wouldn't have much trouble in turning him on. For some reason, Kate didn't like that.

  'I thought you were meant to be very professional in your work,' she commented pointedly. 'I don't think you can be a very good private detective if you're distracted this easily!'

  'But I usually work on my own,' Rafe reminded her. 'I hardly ever work with a partner—and never with a female one.'

  'I don't see why that should make any difference.'

  His dark eyes gleamed. 'Don't you? Then you've a lot still to learn, Kate.'