“I’m not arguing with you.”
“I robbed your husband of that first time with you.”
“It was my choice, Nick. Don’t forget that. I want you so badly. If this is all there is, so be it.”
He’d run out of arguments. He kissed her with a passion that seemed to grow greater the more he made love to her. He didn’t want to think about what that could mean.
Chapter 15
El Paso, Texas
Saturday, January 2
Nick woke up abruptly. Once he became aware of where he was, he relaxed and looked over at Ashley, curled up beside him asleep. He glanced at his watch. It should be getting light soon and they needed to be on their way.
From looking at the maps he’d picked up, it was a thousand miles from El Paso to New Orleans. Traffic in west Texas would be next to nothing. Once they reached San Antonio, they would lose some time. Houston would slow them down even more. He still thought they could make it in eighteen hours or so.
He went in to shower and while standing under the invigorating spray recalled the dream that had awakened him. He’d dreamed about Susan last night for the first time in several years. After they had called off their engagement, he’d dreamed about her for months. In his dreams, he was getting his revenge for what she had done. Last night’s dream had been different.
He’d dreamed that Susan was demanding to know why he had betrayed her with Ashley. He’d tried to explain. She hadn’t understood. She’d kept telling him that he had betrayed her until he woke up.
What was he thinking of, anyway, sleeping with Ashley Sullivan? He’d taken a hell of a chance making love with her without protection. He’d also betrayed his position of trust to watch over her. Once the dust cleared, he’d probably lose his badge over his behavior this trip. Not only was he not reporting all the information he had to his superiors, he was taking advantage of a young woman’s vulnerable state.
He had trouble looking himself in the eye when he shaved.
Ashley was equally quiet when she woke up. She disappeared into the bathroom with no more than a nod at him while he shaved. He heard the shower come on. By the time he searched through his clothes and dressed, she came out of the bathroom dressed, her hair pulled high on her head.
They loaded the car in silence. The sky had lightened but the sun hadn’t appeared.
Nick closed the trunk and looked at her. “I thought we’d have breakfast before we leave town. There aren’t all that many towns between here and San Antonio. Are you still willing to help with the driving?”
She nodded. “Whatever I can do to help. I just want to find my parents.”
Over breakfast she asked, “How do you intend to look for my family once we get to New Orleans?”
“Sam gave me the name of the tanker they’re supposedly on. If his information is correct, they should be anchored at the shipping docks.”
“And if they aren’t there?”
“We’ll watch for them for a few days. If they don’t show up, I intend to take you back to Washington.”
“Are you going to be in trouble for coming down here?”
“It will depend on what happens once we get to New Orleans. If I have unnecessarily endangered you, then of course I’ll be in trouble.”
“Is that why you’ve been so quiet this morning?”
He pushed his plate away. “Ashley, even if I haven’t endangered you physically, I’ve taken some unnecessary risks. We had no protection last night.”
She met his gaze without blinking. “I’m aware of that.”
“It was careless behavior on my part.”
“There were two of us involved, remember? I never gave it a thought, either.”
“Are you prepared to face the consequences?”
She smiled. “The consequences being…having your baby?” Her smile grew wider. “I can think of worse things.”
“You mean, you’d go through with the pregnancy?”
“Absolutely. The timing might be a little awkward, but I can’t think of anything more rewarding to me than to have your child.”
He shook his head. “You don’t know me well enough to say that. I’m not husband and father material. I’ve tried to explain that.”
“Oh, I’ve heard those explanations, Agent Logan, and the truth is you’re scared to death of the idea of marriage and fatherhood.”
He bristled. “I’m not afraid. I’m—”
“‘Scared to death’ was the phrase I used and I’m sticking with it. It takes a brave man to commit to a relationship, to stay with it through whatever life throws your way. Don’t worry. I don’t intend to force you into something you aren’t ready for.”
He took a deep breath in an effort to gain control of his temper. “You think I’d just walk away and let you deal with this?”
She shrugged. “Why don’t we wait and see what happens? We don’t know anything at the moment. Weren’t you the one who agreed we live in the present? Well, you’re certainly jumping into the future with both feet.” She glanced around them and said, “I’ll meet you at the car. I’m going to the restroom.”
Nick paid for their meal and waited in the lobby for her to appear. When she did, he didn’t give her an opportunity to speak. “I’m going to do my job,” he said in a low voice, then took her arm and escorted her out to the car.
“Oh, yes. I forgot about your dedication to duty.” She took the keys from him and got into the car. He took the passenger seat.
They’d been on the road more than an hour when Nick said, “What did I do or say to cause you to be angry with me?”
She didn’t answer right away. “Did I ever tell you about my first big crush?” she finally asked.
“You know you didn’t.”
“I was a late bloomer, I guess. I never understood what all the whispering and giggling was about among the girls my age. Maybe it was having a couple of younger brothers, but I never saw anything particularly mysterious about the opposite sex. However, during my senior year in high school, I started dating an older man.” She glanced at him and grinned. “Three years older and already in college. I’d known who he was for some time and never thought he’d notice me. When he did, I was ecstatic.” She shook her head in wonder. “Talk about a crush! I had all the symptoms.”
He waited, but she didn’t say any more. Finally he prompted, “So what happened?”
Her voice flattened. “What happened was, he got tired of trying to date me with a gaggle of Secret-Service men following us everywhere. He couldn’t even kiss me good-night without an audience. He finally told me that he couldn’t take the fishbowl routine. He wished me well, said he’d like to continue our friendship and went on his way.”
“I’m sorry,” was all he could think of to say.
“Well, I can’t say my heart was actually broken, but it certainly carried a few dents after that.”
“Did you remain friends?”
“Of course. We just went skiing together last week.”
“Are you saying that you and…” He thought of the three men who were with them.
“Joe. It was Joe who helped me understand that even if a man was interested in me, he was definitely influenced by who my father was.” She looked at him and said, “As are you. If I had been anyone else on this trip with you, you wouldn’t be backing away from me so rapidly now. We would be enjoying getting to know each other, wondering if the relationship would develop into something other than a couple of nights in bed together. I might be wondering if I would ever meet your parents, while you might be wondering the same thing. You see, Joe was right. I live in a fishbowl. It’s the only life I’ve ever known. I understand your wariness much better than you think. If it will soothe your conscience, I’ve enjoyed the few days we’ve been together, just the two of us. They have been a real novelty in my life. During these past few days I’ve been more frightened than I’ve ever been in my life. I’ve also experienced pleasure that I never knew existed. I’ve also had t
o face the fact that I may never see my family again.” She looked over at him. “I’m willing to deal with Everything that has happened to me, Nick. Everything. I accept the consequences of the choices I made. I suggest you do the same, rather than trying to take on all the blame.”
Nick settled back into his seat and closed his eyes. He needed to rest in order to take over driving when Ashley grew tired. He also wanted to think about what she had said.
She wasn’t holding him responsible for what had happened between them. She was right that he blamed himself, because he kept thinking of her as an innocent child. She was not a child. She was taking on a heavy burden by attempting to help him find her parents.
Nick realized how much respect he had for the woman who had struck him as a spoiled brat just a few days ago. He’d misread her aversion to the lack of privacy her life offered her to a childish refusal to cooperate with the rules and regulations set by government agencies.
This wasn’t a life that she had chosen. It had been chosen for her, and she was attempting to find a way to deal with it. She was a strong woman, much stronger than he had given her credit for.
She was also right about his behavior toward her. The fact was that he was falling in love with her. Hard. And it did scare him because he didn’t like feeling vulnerable. She’d read him right.
He almost smiled. Was there anything more frightening to a man than a woman who understood him too well?
They reached San Antonio about four in the afternoon.
It was considerably warmer than Colorado had been. Each of them looked in their bags for something a little cooler to wear. Nick discarded his sweater and wore a short-sleeved pullover. Ashley wore a cotton turtle neck that she’d brought to wear beneath her sweaters.
After a quick meal they got on the road again, continuing east. Nick drove.
“How far are we from New Orleans?” she asked once they left San Antonio.
“According to the maps, its another eight to ten hours of hard driving.”
“We’ll make it tonight, then.”
“Late, but yes, we can make it.”
“Good,” Ashley said.
Nick had the same sense of urgency. He was thankful that Ashley had taken the wheel earlier. Now he was fresh and eager to make time. They were in Houston a little before eight that night. He filled up with gas. Once he crossed the Louisiana border, Nick knew swamps and bayous would be the order of the day.
It was after two in the morning when they finally reached New Orleans. Ashley awoke when they stopped for gas and a city map. Once he located the shipping area, he drove to that part of town, while Ashley studied the streets as they passed.
“What do we do now?”
“Find a place to stay. I’m going to wait for daylight to see if I can spot the tanker I’m looking for.”
Ashley could feel her adrenaline pumping. Now that they were here, she wanted to do something. But they’d been on the road for more than seventeen hours. They both needed rest before searching for her family.
Nick found a motel and checked them in. Neither of them paid much attention to the room or the beds. Instead, they each took a quick shower to get rid of the sticky feeling caused by the Louisiana humidity and were asleep within minutes of crawling into their beds.
His wrist alarm went off much too soon, but Nick was up and in the shower as soon as he heard the beeping sounds. Ashley continued to sleep. He hurried through his shower and got dressed, being as quiet as possible. Then he wrote her a note and slipped out the door.
Once outside, he went to the car and drove back to the docks. There was more activity there now, and he knew he could use that to hide his presence. He drove a few blocks away and parked the car, then returned on foot, hoping to blend in. He’d worn his jeans and a sweatshirt, which looked similar to the work clothes on the men he saw laboring in the area.
He spotted the tanker bearing the name Sam had mentioned and felt his first sense of relief in several days. It looked as though Sam had given him straight information, after all.
There was nothing about the tanker to draw the eye. It was one of several waiting to unload its liquid cargo.
He wondered if whoever had kid napped the Sullivans had already taken them off the ship? He needed to get on board as soon as possible, but he didn’t dare during daylight hours. There was too much activity going on around the docks.
He needed to find a location that would be inconspicuous where he could watch the area for the day.
Nick turned away, careful not to call attention to himself. He retraced his steps to the car, stopped for beignets and the strong chicory coffee served in the city and returned to the motel.
When he slipped back inside the room, he was relieved to find Ashley still sound asleep. He set his offerings on the table, then eased himself down on her side of the bed.
There were faint shadows beneath her eyes that hadn’t been there a week ago. The past few days had definitely taken their toll. He leaned down and placed a light kiss on her forehead, then one on each eyelid. They fluttered open and she looked at him in surprise.
“You did it again,” she murmured, sounding more asleep than awake. “You’re already dressed.” She reached up and pulled him down to her, giving him a leisurely kiss. He wanted nothing more than to strip off his clothes and crawl into bed with her.
He couldn’t let himself do that.
“Uh-huh,” he said, pulling away from her, ignoring his racing pulse. “And I’ve also been out and brought back breakfast.”
She stretched, then pushed herself up on one elbow. He brushed her hair away from her face as an excuse to touch her. “Want some coffee?”
Her eyes opened a little more. “Sounds good. Is that what I smell?”
“Mmm-hmm. If you’ve never tried New Orleans-style coffee, you’re in for a treat.”
He waited while she showered and dressed, then set out their breakfast at the small table by the window.
As soon as she joined him, she asked, “Have you been to the docks?”
“Yes.”
“Did you see the ship you’re looking for?”
“It’s there. I need to watch it today, see who’s getting on and off. I’ll wait until tonight to attempt to board her.”
“I want to go with you.”
“Not yet. I need to know more before we can make our move.”
She was quiet for moment. “All right,” she finally said.
He looked at her in patent disbelief. “You’re agreeing with me?”
She nodded, then smiled. “I know. Uncharacteristic of me, isn’t it?”
“Absolutely, but I appreciate it very much. I’m going to need you later on, once I’ve located them.” He could only hope they were all alive and able to leave the tanker unaided.
That night Nick left the room dressed in black. He carried a woolen ski mask to cover his face once he was on the water. He left the car at the motel and proceeded to the docks on foot.
The weather was cooperating with a heavy threatening sky. Rain had been forecast and it looked as though the predictions were going to be correct. There was still work being done along the docks.
He continued past the area and followed the river, hoping against hope he would find a skiff that he could “borrow” without the owner missing it.
When the rainstorm hit, it hit with explosive force. Nick found cover and watched as people scurried home. While he waited, several small boats came ashore. He kept his fingers crossed that one would be left unwatched.
His wishes were granted. An older man pulled his boat out of the water, clumsily turned it over, camouflaged it with a tarpaulin, then ran through the rain down a side street and disappeared into a bar.
Nick had learned patience early in his career. He waited another half hour before venturing toward the boat. The rain now fell in a steady downpour. It was not a good night to be out on the water.
So much the better for him.
He slipped on the
ski mask so that his face wouldn’t reflect light.
Within minutes he had the skiff in the water and had jumped inside. He had the oars ready and began a steady rhythm to get him away from the shoreline.
The current caught him, which he’d counted on, as it now moved him toward the tanker. He drifted along its river side until he reached the anchor chain. Then he grabbed the chain and quickly tied up the skiff.
He’d been on tankers before and knew that the crew’s quarters were in the nose, the officers’ quarters and mess in the stern. If the president and his family were on board, they’d be in the rear. With that in mind, he climbed hand over hand up the anchor chain until he reached the side of the ship.
He paused in the shadows, watching for any crew members who might be stirring. Again the weather was working in his favor. Now came the tricky part—to find out who was on board without being seen. He slipped over the side and crouched in the shadows. There was a porthole across the deck from him but since there was no light inside, it would do him no good to get closer. Instead, he decided to search for an entry to the upper decks.
He stayed in the shadows and slowly worked his way around the deck until he found a hatchway leading inside. He eased it open, slipped inside and found himself in a long companionway that was empty at the moment. He started along the length of it, checking each wardroom he passed. These were part of the living quarters.
Nick opened the first two and found them empty. The third had a sleeping crew member. In the next one he hit pay dirt. The President of the United States sat on the side of the lower bunk. He had several days’ growth of beard. His eyes were bloodshot. He had on wrinkled slacks and a pullover short-sleeved shirt that had gone through some hard use. Most significant from Nick’s point of view was the ankle iron he wore attached to an eight-to ten-foot chain shackled to the wall.
When Nick stepped inside and closed the door, Sullivan barely glanced up from studying his hands.
Nick slipped off his mask and moved to the president.
When he knelt the president looked at him. His eyes widened slightly, then he shook his head in disgust. “I played right into your hands when I asked you to guard my daughter, didn’t I, Logan?”
The President's Daughter Page 18
