by Girard, Dara
“What else do I need to know?” Michael asked, annoyed by the subject.
“I’ll keep you posted, but there’s really not much to say. Don’t worry, this girl is a ditz. It’s going to be one of the easiest jobs you’ve ever had. Flash your usual charm and she’ll be putty in your hands and get you what I want.”
Michael looked at the face on the screen, knowing this target wouldn’t be much of a problem. “Like stealing candy from a baby.”
Chapter Three
Island of Quita
More than a week later, Michael was certain it would have been easier to tame a cobra than charm Arlene Webster. She’d coolly refused his invitations to have a drink, ignored his smiles and his attempts at flirtation and only answered him with monosyllabic replies. She’d shot down every chance he’d tried to get to know her and although he’d been on the cruise for three days, he’d gotten nowhere.
Michael took a sip of champagne and watched her from across the ballroom. The cruise had stopped on the island of Quita to host a masquerade ball at a local mansion. He didn’t pay much attention to the festivities because he’d attended many before. All that mattered was the infuriating woman dressed up like a sorceress. Even her costume had surprised him. He’d expected her to dress up like a cheerleader or a naughty nurse, not a witch. A stylish purple wig covered her curly hair and a dark blue velvet gown with wide sleeves hugged her petite, curvy form. A black velvet mask with ostrich feathers covered the upper half of her face while spiked heels, red fishnet stockings and long black gloves completed the image.
Even in costume Michael could spot her determined “don’t mess with me” walk anywhere. It didn’t make sense. He never failed with women. Never. From the moment he’d begun to talk, he’d been able to charm the fairer sex. He enjoyed women and knew what made them tick—from the shy ones to the brazen ones—but Arlene Webster was proving to be an enigma. Everything Darren had told him about her felt wrong. He didn’t sense that she was a ditz or Harris’s latest baby doll. Yes, she definitely looked like one in the skimpy dresses and cute jeans she liked to wear, but that’s where things seemed to end.
She didn’t mingle with the other guests; there was an aloof, observant air about her. Had Harris changed his type? Maybe, but even if Harris had changed his type, why wouldn’t the blasted woman even talk to him? He was not used to being ignored and he couldn’t deny that it was starting to become a personal challenge as well as a professional one. He was going to get close to Arlene—and make sure she noticed him—no matter what. He’d just have to find her weakness.
So far his usual bait hadn’t worked. She wasn’t interested in money (he’d casually displayed his Rolex watch), flattery (he’d complimented her on the color of her eyes), brains (having taken this cruise at least three times he’d told her fascinating details about the ship) or sex (his killer smile had always said plenty). He was good-looking, rich, intelligent and a little devilish, but that wasn’t enough for her. He needed to find out why.
“Still no luck?” an amused voice said beside him.
Michael didn’t have to look to see who it was. Joy Nedham, a colleague of his, was also on assignment and he knew whoever she had in mind didn’t have much of a chance. She was gorgeous and lethal. “It’s still early.”
“You usually have them drooling by the first half hour.”
“It appears that this one will require a little more strategy.”
“Maybe you’ve lost your touch.”
Michael took another sip of his drink. She was trying to goad him, but he wouldn’t let her. He hadn’t lost his touch and he was going to get Darren what he wanted. Michael Vaughn didn’t fail. He’d get under Arlene’s shield. He prided himself on being a chameleon able to assess a woman’s needs and provide her with them. He was determined to find out what Arlene wanted and make sure she felt he was the only man to give it to her. “Come on, let’s get something to eat,” he said then made his way to the buffet table.
He was the perfect hero. Or villain. Noreen watched the striking, dark figure as he moved slowly about the mansion’s elegant ballroom, trying to decide which. The masquerade ball was in full swing with hundreds of masked vacationers wearing a varied assortment of costumes, but the dark stranger had decided not to wear a mask—he didn’t need one. He wasn’t classically handsome. His square jaw was too angular, his features more rugged than refined, but he was still beautiful to look at, with his rich ebony skin, trim goatee and captivating smile.
Noreen frowned at the memory of that smile. The first time he’d flashed it at her, her heart raced as though she’d just completed a marathon. Then she remembered he wasn’t smiling at her, he was smiling at “Arlene” and Noreen knew that any man attracted to Arlene was bad news. She may be wearing Arlene’s clothes and doing her job, but she wasn’t picking up her men—no matter how intriguing—and this man certainly was.
Noreen had noticed that he smiled easily, but the expression seemed false, like a tactical play, and his features gave nothing away. She could not guess what he thought of the atmosphere around him—the glittering lights and the sumptuous food. She couldn’t tell whether he was pleased or bored. And that was unsettling.
Noreen’s gaze moved from his face to his costume. He wore a black hat tilted at an angle, a long black cloak with a dagger hanging from his belt, tall black boots and a dark purple shirt. His entire outfit seemed to imply he wanted to disappear into the night sky. He looked like a buccaneer or a pirate. Yes, that was it, a pirate. Not the stereotypical kind with a parrot on the shoulder or a black eye patch. He didn’t need those. Even on the ship, dressed in casual khaki trousers and a blue short-sleeve shirt, he’d had a piratical air. But whether he stole hearts or was more mercenary, she couldn’t be sure because he kept his true nature subtle.
But tonight it was evident. He projected the image of a dangerous man on the wrong side of the law. Yes, definitely a villain. And yet he was far from frightening—he was mesmerizing. No woman could keep their eyes off him. He was a man impossible to ignore. Men also noticed him more out of respect than fear, as if he were an alpha male entering a pack.
This wasn’t the first time Noreen had seen him on the cruise. On her first day aboard she’d caught him looking at her with an intensity that made goose bumps form on her arms, but she’d looked away, not wanting to invite conversation. However, that hadn’t stopped him and for the past few days he’d made several attempts to know her. He’d been kind enough to fill her in on the secret hideaways on the ship and he’d complimented her on her looks.
Be careful of pirates. Noreen remembered Arlene’s parting words and smiled. She looked at the stranger again, knowing she didn’t need any warning. She was going to stay far away from him. Whatever interest he initially had for her would disappear soon enough, because if he was looking for a cruise fling, he’d have to look elsewhere.
Noreen adjusted her gaze and focused on his new companion. It seemed that he’d already found her replacement—no surprise there. He appeared to be a man who worked fast.
The woman was dressed as a princess and looked the part to perfection. She was tall, slender and elegant, her dusky skin matching his slightly darker shade. She laughed prettily at something he said. And as Noreen watched her, she envied her. Not the man or her looks, but the costume. The masquerade ball was a preregistered event Arlene had signed up for. Early that morning, the ship had stopped on the island for the ball and had provided each guest with a coupon and instructions to go to several local shops to get costumes. Unfortunately, none of the costumes Noreen had initially wanted fit. Even more annoying, the clerk kept trying to encourage her to wear a cheerleader outfit, which she refused. Yes, Arlene would have worn it but Noreen wanted to be something completely different. So instead of becoming the princess she’d wanted to be, she’d ended up wearing a witch’s costume.
Noreen watched the couple stop at the buffet table then turned away. She’d given them—especially him—more attention t
han she wanted to. It was the writer in her, she thought, eager to explain her fascination with him. He was definitely character material. But men weren’t her priority now. She was on the cruise to relax and enjoy herself.
Unfortunately, she’d discovered that was going to be harder than she’d expected. Her sister had lied, perhaps not on purpose, but that didn’t matter. She hadn’t gotten a grand stateroom, but instead a guest room the size of a pantry with a porthole that provided a button-eye view of the sea. The decor was ordinary but at least the flowers on her dressing table had been fresh and her attendant very friendly. Thankfully, the island they’d visited had been enjoyable and back on the ship the individuals assigned to her dining table were affable and amusing—two of the men kept trying to get her cabin number—but although she was surrounded by merriment she still felt numb.
In three days she’d make the drop and then head home. Noreen knew she probably wouldn’t get a free cruise like this anytime soon so she was determined to squeeze out as much fun as she could before returning home to her failing story.
She needed inspiration. She needed to feel alive again, but the current environment wasn’t helping. Noreen glanced around and suddenly the ballroom seemed too loud and too crowded. She escaped out into the hallway then walked out a side door to wander a small, secluded path that wound its way around the mansion’s expansive grounds. It was a botanist’s paradise, lined with a wide variety of tropical flowers, plants and trees providing a dizzying array of color and sensuous smells.
Although it was early evening, she could still see much of the splendid foliage, which included a baby woodrose vine—a lavender-flowered vine with soft, wooly leaves. And there was the Red Flash, a bush grown as an ornamental for its attractive red powder-puff appearance. But there was one smell in particular that attracted her. It reminded her of the Lady of the Night, a unique plant with small flowers that become aromatic only at night. The aroma, which emerges seconds after sundown, stays all night long then disappears exactly at sunrise.
Her father had introduced her to the plant after bringing it home from one of his many trips to the West Indies, and she had fallen for its sweet, powerful scent. He had presented it and said, “Somehow this reminded me of you.” Noreen stood awhile and inhaled the crisp Caribbean air, as a cool breeze gently lifted up the hem of her gown and threatened to blow off the black, feathered mask she was wearing. She rested against the bark of a palm tree and stared out at the ocean. The moonlight cascaded over the dark waves, creating a blanket of shimmering diamonds.
She didn’t know how long she’d stood there before she saw the stranger again. He walked past her then down the side road. He was briefly illuminated by a streetlight then seemed to disappear, his dark clothing making him invisible in the night. She wondered where his companion was and was about to go back inside when she saw a car in the distance going too fast, its lights zigzagging down the small street.
It all seemed to happen in slow motion. And she stood paralyzed, helpless to stop the oncoming disaster. Then she saw it. The car hit him. The front hood lifted him up in the air, throwing him over the top of the car then onto the ground with a thud. Noreen wanted to scream but no sound escaped her. The screeching tires as the car sped away brought her out of her stupor. She started running toward him, but her stilettos sunk into the grass and she fell forward, tearing her stockings. Noreen stood, but her heel caught in the hem of her dress. She heard fabric rip and briefly thought that now she’d have to buy the rental dress, but she didn’t care. She tore off her shoes and ran the rest of the way barefoot. By the time she reached him, the car was a dot in the distance, and a dim light fell overhead.
“Be careful,” she said as she saw him struggle to sit up. Noreen took off her mask and fell to her knees beside him. “You’re injured,” she said gently.
He looked at her and winced. “What happened?”
“You were hit by a car. I didn’t see the driver or get a license plate, but I will report it to the police.”
“He probably didn’t see me. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have worn black at night.”
“You were walking on the pavement,” she said indignant. “He could have hit anyone. He could have hit me.”
His voice tightened. “Are you all right?”
“Yes,” she said, surprised by his question and oddly touched by his concern. “I was far away. I ran when I saw what happened. We have to get you some help and get you away from here.”
“I think I can stand,” he said, painfully rising to his feet.
“I don’t think you should,” she said, but he ignored her and stood and took a few stumbling steps forward. He would have fallen if she hadn’t grabbed him. “Lean on me.”
He did, causing her to nearly collapse under his weight. He was big and solid; there didn’t seem to be an ounce of fat on him. He was pure muscle, like a sleek animal of prey. And very heavy. Noreen shifted in order to balance herself. “Damn, I’m sorry,” he said.
“Please don’t apologize.”
He looked up at the mansion in the distance. “I’m not sure I can make it to the mansion or the ship,” he said then his legs buckled and he slowly sank to the ground, pulling Noreen down with him. She fell hard on her knee and bit her lip so she wouldn’t yell out in pain. She scrambled out from under his arm and looked around, wondering if she should scream for help. But she knew no one would hear her. The loud music coming from the mansion filled the air, muting any other sounds, and there wasn’t another building in sight.
Noreen helped him into a sitting position, resting his back against the wrought-iron gate that surrounded the mansion’s grand property. It took an enormous amount of effort and her body ached from the fall she’d taken earlier. But for now nothing else mattered. She didn’t care if he was a hero or a villain; whether the hard angles of his face made him handsome or not. He was a man who needed her help and for some odd reason, at that moment, it made him precious to her.
A sheen of sweat glistened on his face and she saw a gash on his forehead, where a small stream of blood slid down his face. Noreen quickly took off her torn stockings and used them to wipe the blood away. Then she noticed that his breathing was uneven. He was probably going into shock and that possibility frightened her. His eyes drooped closed. He could have a concussion. She couldn’t let him fall asleep. “Do you feel sick?” She tapped his cheek when he didn’t respond and his eyes slowly opened.
“What’s your name?” she asked. He’d probably told her before, but she hadn’t paid attention.
“Michael.”
“Okay, Michael, I need you to stay awake for me, okay?”
He flashed a brief smile, although his voice was filled with pain. “You make that sound easy.”
“I know, but it’s important. You’re going to be okay. I’m going to take care of you so don’t worry. You can trust me.”
Michael focused his eyes on her face, but she couldn’t read the expression. “Thanks.”
Don’t thank me yet, Noreen silently thought as she searched her mind on what she should do next. “I need to call for an ambulance.”
“No. I’m not that bad. I think hitting the ground hurt more than being hit by the car,” Michael said, blinking quickly.
“Do you feel dizzy?”
“No.” He adjusted his position slightly and winced.
“Stay still and let me get some help.”
“No.”
“You could have internal injuries.”
“I don’t think so.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I don’t care. I’d rather go back to the ship than to a hospital on this little island. If they have one, there’s probably only one nurse and physician’s assistant on staff, and with my luck it’s likely not open.”
Noreen bit her lip. She had to agree with him. She would need to get a taxi and get him back to the ship so a doctor could see him. After that she’d report the incident to the captain. She stood.
“You’re leaving?”
The helplessness in his voice tore at her and she knelt back down beside him. “Only for a minute. I’m going to get a taxi. I said you could trust me, remember?”
“Yes, I guess I don’t do that very easily.”
Noreen took off her diamond-and-gold ring and placed it in his hand. “This ring means a lot to me, and I’d never leave it behind with anyone, but I’m leaving it with you. It’s my promise that I’ll be back for you, okay?”
Michael stared down at the ring then gripped it in his fist and met her eyes. “Okay.”
Noreen looked down the desolate street, wishing there was someone who could stay with him, but she had no choice. She had to leave him alone. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“I know.” He lifted the hand that gripped the ring. “I have your promise.”
She kissed him on the forehead as she would a scared child. It was an impulsive act and she didn’t know why she did it but somehow it felt right. But the moment he looked at her, the simple action felt like so much more because he wasn’t a child and his steady gaze was anything but innocent. For a second her eyes dropped to his lips, which for all his ruggedness and angles were surprisingly full and soft. She awkwardly pushed to her feet, not understanding his odd affect on her. “I’ll get a taxi,” she said then turned and raced down the main road. She briefly looked back and saw him make the sign of the cross. She said her own silent prayer and ran faster.
Chapter Four
Finally, Noreen saw some lights up ahead and reached a place where a line of taxis were waiting to return the partying passengers back to the ship. She waved her arms and caught a driver’s attention.
“You want a ride?” he asked.
“Yes, but I need your help. My friend was injured and I need you to help me with him.” She was breathless and knew her appearance must be shocking, but she didn’t care about that. She had to get help for Michael. Fast.
