Something brushed her leg. Alexa instinctively pulled back, then realized her mistake. Turning around, she reached out and felt hair, then a head. Grabbing the baby, she kicked for the surface, fighting the pull of her waterlogged clothes, ignoring her icy fingers and choking fear. Suppose she hadn’t found him soon enough?
How long did it take for a child to drown? She didn’t know. Unlike Alexa, the baby had been sleeping. He hadn’t known to prepare by holding his breath before going underwater. He didn’t know to keep his mouth closed.
Alexa broke the surface and dragged the child to the shallow end. Cam jumped into the pool to help her. The security guards were nowhere in sight, but a vehicle tore off down the road. And she saw Julie and Leo were holding the other sleeping twin.
Had the security guards turned into Julie and Leo? No, that couldn’t be right. The guards had been men.
Too exhausted to think, too cold to move, Alexa had no idea what had happened, and now was not the time to ask. Cam took Jason from her and gently placed him on the pool deck.
The child’s face looked bluish. And he was so still that ice speared Alexa’s heart.
That Cameron was a doctor made Alexa feel only slightly better. She didn’t know how to perform CPR on a child, didn’t know if she could summon the energy if she did.
Without panic, Cam checked the boy’s neck. “His heart’s still beating.”
Cam opened Jason’s mouth, tilted back his head and with his own lips covered Jason’s nose and mouth. He blew in air. “Come on, baby. Breathe.”
Jason didn’t move.
Cameron repeated his actions. Jason’s little chest inflated and suddenly he coughed weakly. Cameron turned him onto his side so he wouldn’t choke on the water. “It’s okay, little guy. You’ll be just fine.”
Alexa still panted from her exertions, but she couldn’t seem to move. As her adrenaline-induced strength faded, she started to shake and shiver. Drowsiness stole away any desire to pick herself up and move inside.
Beside her, Cameron wrapped a sleepy Jason in his shirt. “Alexa, are you hurt? Thanks to you, Jason will be just fine.”
“What about b-brain d-damage?”
“He wasn’t under long enough.”
It had seemed like forever to her. “Maybe we should take him to the hospital—just to be sure.”
“Luckily the sleeping drug they gave him is already wearing off. He’ll be fine.” Cameron looked at Alexa who could barely keep her eyes open. “I suspect you swallowed some of the sleeping drug, too.” His gaze swung to Julie. “Is Flynn awake?”
“Barely.” Julie, her voice tight with worry, smoothed back Flynn’s black curls.
Leo led her with the baby through the sliding glass door. “We should get them out of the night air. It’s chilly.”
“Good idea.” Cameron tucked Jason close to one broad shoulder and helped Alexa to her feet with his free hand.
“I don’t feel very good.”
“Don’t fall asleep until I get you inside.”
“I won’t,” Alexa promised, wondering if she would do just that. She felt so tired, her eyelids so heavy. Her eyes closed, her head flopped onto Cameron’s shoulder, and boneless, she let him half-lead, half-carry her inside. The warmth from the fire wrapped around her like a blanket.
Somewhere in her mind, questions tried to form and make it out of her mouth. But she could no longer fight the sleepy darkness.
ALEXA AWAKENED in her room to the smell of bacon, strong coffee and hot cinnamon buns. Cameron had brought up a tray of breakfast for two, his eyes weary as if he hadn’t slept all night—their wedding night. Her cloudy thoughts suddenly cleared and last night’s events rushed back to her. “The boys?”
“Are fine. I stayed up all night just to be sure. And Jason’s lungs are clear. He suffered no ill effects from the water.”
Cameron set the tray on the floor by her sleeping bag. Alexa realized someone had removed her wet clothes, for she was naked beneath a blanket.
Cameron must have read the alarm in her eyes. “I carried you up here and helped Julie take off your shirt and slacks. She removed your wet underwear and covered you with the blanket.”
Alexa didn’t like the idea of anyone undressing her, but she’d been unconscious. Wrapping the blanket around her, she stood, picked up some clothing out of her open luggage and headed for the bathroom.
She returned fully dressed to find half the breakfast gone and Cameron swallowing coffee. She helped herself to a cinnamon bun and nibbled. “Could you fill me in on what happened last night? Between the sleeping drug and the time I spent underwater, I can’t seem to make sense of it.”
“The security guards tried to kidnap the twins.”
She’d guessed that much. “Why?”
“I don’t know. They’re very wealthy little boys. Maybe someone wanted to ransom them back to us.”
“Or maybe this was another attempt to make it appear as if you aren’t a good father. Maybe the guards didn’t intend to kidnap the boys, but only to make it appear you’d lost them for a while.”
“Did you get a look at their faces?”
“It was too dark.”
“What about their getaway car?” Cameron asked.
She shook her head, realizing the guards had escaped. “I was underwater, remember? I don’t even know how Julie and Leo got there.”
“Julie forgot her backpack with her schoolbooks. She had to study for a test, so they returned to pick it up.”
Alexa recalled Leo’s flashlights. “But they came around back.”
“After you flipped on the porch lights, they saw the guards trying to take the children and rode straight to the backyard. Leo tried to catch the guards but he tripped, and both guards managed to slip away.”
“Is the bridge still out?” Alexa asked, wondering where the guards had driven. She suspected they’d ditched the car in the woods and swum across the river in the dark.
“The bridge won’t hold a car, but it’s strong enough for horses. Why?”
“Your father hired the guards from a firm in town. It shouldn’t be too hard to figure out who they are. and then press charges with the sheriff.”
WITH TYLER GUARDING the house, Cameron and Alexa left the twins under Julie’s watchful eye and rode out right after breakfast. Cameron wished he could have thought of a reason to ride with Alexa again, instead of letting her ride her own mount. Their last ride together had been incredibly sexy, and despite his worry about the upcoming custody hearing and the twins, he couldn’t help noticing Alexa.
The big bay mare she rode could stick to a calf like a burr on a sheep’s tail, but seemed to be enjoying a morning free from its usual work. The bay pranced and Alexa rode her with an easy expertise that revealed lots of riding lessons at expensive boarding schools back East.
Alexa tipped back the hat she’d insisted on borrowing to shield her face from the summer sun and took in the green pastures they rode through, with pleasure glinting in her eyes. “I can understand why your family has become so attached to this land.”
“You should see the valley from up there.” He pointed to the towering mountains that made a picture-perfect backdrop for the peaceful pastureland.
“I’d like to try and paint it.”
“I didn’t know you painted.”
“I dabble in oils.” She shrugged. “When I figured out I wasn’t good enough to sell my work, I started selling other artists’ work to galleries, collectors and museums.”
During the ride to town, she told him several amusing stories about eccentric clients, picky museum directors and her search for the perfect Dali to hang over Donald Trump’s sofa. Her voice rang with a vibrancy while her words conveyed her expertise. The bottom line was that she clearly loved her work—work she couldn’t do while she remained with him.
He reminded himself that their marriage was simply a convenient way for him to show the court he was stable. Nothing more than a piece of paper filed in a courthous
e—and this paper gave him no right to think of Alexa in any special way. Yet, how could he not be affected by her sunny smile, her bright-eyed enthusiasm and her unflagging courage?
Once again last night she’d helped him save his boys. If she hadn’t dived into the dark pool after Jason…he shuddered to think what might have happened. And she did it while drugged from some kind of sleeping tablet. Cameron had saved the remainder of her wine in a vial for the sheriff to send to be tested. And he’d wrapped the wine bottle carefully in newspaper, hoping someone had left fingerprints.
Cameron knew he owed Alexa more than he could ever repay her, and he had no right to try to convince her to stay with him and the boys. She clearly had her own life, where she was happy. It would be wrong to use the sexual attraction they felt for one another to try to change her mind about leaving. And yet, he couldn’t seem to stop himself from dwelling on how he felt.
He found her too attractive. With her face pleasantly flushed from the ride, wisps of hair escaping from her braid and curling around her face, he wanted to take her up onto his horse and kiss her.
When they rode over the newly reconstructed and almost completed bridge, Cam was grateful for the distraction. Bodine had a crew of about thirty men hammering planks across the surface, a concrete truck pouring bases, while extra steel bracing had been added below. Assorted backhoes, loaders, paving equipment and rollers were working on different sections of road.
Cameron pulled up his horse to speak with his foreman. “Did any vehicles try to cross the bridge last night?”
“No, Doc.” Bodine wiped the sweat off his brow. “If those security guards had tried to escape this way, they would have fallen into the river. We don’t have all the braces in yet, but it’ll hold your horses. If those men kept the car, they must have gone through the mountains.”
“I didn’t think that was possible,” Alexa said.
“A four-wheel-drive could make it to town in an hour if they drove over the train tracks,” Cameron answered.
Alexa shook her head. “Over the train tracks?”
“My brothers and I did it when we were young and—”
“—stupid?”
Cameron grinned and turned back to Bodine. “How long before you’re finished?”
“I’m hoping we’ll have it done today, sir.”
“Good,” Alexa murmured, shifting uncomfortably in her saddle. Clearly unaccustomed to riding for miles and miles, she would be sore later, and Cameron tried unsuccessfully to refrain from even thinking about rubbing her aching derriere. Alexa had terrific legs, smooth, lean, muscular. And his fingers itched to explore her ankles and calves and thighs. Just the thought of those legs brought erotic images of them wrapped around his waist.
Thoughts of what he’d like to do with her had his jeans tightening uncomfortably in places. To get his mind off making love to her, he urged his horse faster.
“Come on. Another hour and we’ll make it to town. Last one there buys lunch.”
IN SMALL TOWNS many businesses did double duty by performing two services. The local pharmacy rented bicycles to tourists, a weight loss clinic met at the health food store at night. The security agency in Highview doubled as a tourist center that offered guides. A poster on the door advertised white-water-rafting trips, four-wheel-drive vehicles for rent and camping expeditions.
As Alexa walked inside and her eyes adjusted to the dim interior, she saw mountain bikes, camping and fishing gear, wind sailing masts and boards stacked against the walls. And farther back were skis, boots and snowboards, along with the necessary clothing.
A salesclerk approached Cam with an appreciative smile that faded when she saw Alexa. “May I help you?”
“I’d like to speak to the manager, please.”
“This way, sir.” The clerk led them through a twisting aisle to the rear of the store. Cam took Alexa’s hand in a proprietary gesture that arrowed heat up her arm and into her core. Alexa wanted to pull away, but knew if she did, it would be tantamount to admitting how much he affected her.
The clerk knocked twice on a door, then opened it. “Jess, there’s some folks here who want to speak with you.”
A tall, gray-haired woman with a muscular frame, peeked over her glasses at them. She gestured to two hard-backed chairs by her desk. “Please come in. What can I do for you?”
“I’m Cameron Sutton and this is…my wife Alexa.” Jess may not have noticed the hesitation in Cam’s voice, but Alexa had. Not that she blamed him. She had trouble remembering she was married herself. But she was especially glad that Cameron was no longer holding her hand. Now that she was free of his disturbingly evocative touch, she could regain control of her reactions.
“Jess Parker.” The woman offered her hand to Cam, then Alexa. “What can I help you with?” she asked again.
“I’d like to see the employment records of the security guards my father hired from your firm.”
“I’m sorry. Employment applications are confidential. Is there a problem?”
Cameron’s eyes flashed gunmetal gray. “Two security guards tried to kidnap my children.”
Jess Parker’s jaw dropped open in horror. “What! You’re serious? I just hired two new men because your father increased security and has temporarily hired every security guard that I could find. The new men’s records are impeccable. And though they insisted on working as partners, I didn’t suspect anything.” Jess stood, walked to her file cabinet and pulled out two folders, which she handed to Cam. “You can see they came with the best recommendations.”
“Did you check these Denver references?” Alexa asked as she peered at the records while trying to ignore Cameron’s spicy scent that mixed so well with leather.
“Yes, I did. We may not be a large operation, but we pride ourselves on our personnel. That’s why the Senator uses my services. In all the years we’ve operated, nothing like this has ever happened. Are your children all right?”
“They’re safe now.” Cam read the applications and frowned, his bottom lip puckering, and Alexa had the sudden thought of nipping at it until he relaxed. “Stephen Rayes and James Philbin. They shared a residence. Ms. Parker, would you mind making copies of this address, their social security numbers and references for the sheriff?”
“Not at all. I’m very sorry you had trouble. You’ll receive a full refund, of course. And if there’s anything else I can do, please let me know.”
Alexa forced her thoughts away from comforting Cam or distracting him with a series of kisses. “You wouldn’t have any pictures of the men, would you?”
“Their pictures are on their security licenses, and a copy is attached to the back of each man’s file.”
Alexa’s hopes soared. If they had pictures of the men, they could show them around town and ask questions. They could take the pictures to the police, banks and the phone company. It was a tremendous break to have pictures of the men who’d tried to abduct Cam’s children.
Cameron turned over both files, his big hands sure and agile. Neither picture remained.
CAMERON AND ALEXA left their horses in the sheriff’s stable, where Noel Demory picked them up. Cam handed the sheriff the bottle of wine he’d saved and the files. After noting the addresses in the files, the sheriff swung a right and headed east toward an apartment complex west of Highview.
Alexa wanted to go straight to the security guards’ apartment, but the sheriff insisted they check in with the apartment manager first. And once again, Cameron took her hand as they walked toward the site’s office. She wondered if he was deliberately trying to throw her off balance by this constant touching. Or was he just being polite? Surely holding her hand couldn’t mean as little to him as it appeared or he wouldn’t keep doing it.
Maybe he thought married couples, newlyweds, should always be touching. If so, she found the idea sweet, but she still wished he wouldn’t. His touch made her think of him as a man, an attractive man who enjoyed her touch.
A curvy redhead wit
h big hair and a surly smile greeted them in a tiny office. She shoved fingernail polish into a drawer and fanned her wet nails to air-dry.
“I’m looking for Stephen Rayes and James Philbin, ma’am,” the sheriff said.
“They were in apartment 313.”
“Were?” Cam asked, his voice even but edged with steel. His fingers tightened around Alexa’s.
“Moved out in the middle of the night.” The redhead looked at Alexa and Cameron. “They’d already paid up for the month. I can give you a deal if you want to move in…”
“I’d like to look at the apartment, please,” Alexa said, hoping that maybe their suspects had left some clues, but it seemed as if the would-be kidnappers were two steps ahead of them. She could almost feel Cam’s disappointment adding to her own.
The redhead dug out a key and the sheriff asked for the guards’ apartment application. Alexa didn’t see new clues on this form. Just the same information again.
While she, Cameron and the sheriff walked to the apartment, the sheriff called in the social-security numbers on the radio. A few minutes later, an officer called back. “Noel, the social-security numbers don’t match the names. And Stephen Rayes is a seventy-four-year-old black male who reported his wallet stolen in Denver last month.”
Cameron rubbed his brow with his free hand as he walked beside Alexa and spoke to Noel. “Does that mean the names were fake?”
“Yep. I’d be willing to bet the references don’t check out, either, Doc.”
Alexa sighed with disappointment. “So we have no idea who those two men really were.”
“Or who may have hired them to kidnap the twins.” Cam seemed thoughtful—and worried. And Alexa couldn’t blame him. Whoever was after the twins could make another attempt. Until they figured out who was behind the scheme, they couldn’t be sure of the twins’ safety.
The sheriff put the key in the lock and opened the front door. One look and Alexa’s hopes vanished. The apartment was completely empty. The two kidnappers hadn’t left behind so much as a dirty ashtray. Disappointment flooded her. All these questions, all the searching, and they seemed no closer to figuring out what was going on than before they started investigating. Frustrated, she turned to Cam, hugged him and looked into his steady gray eyes. “Now what?”
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