Undercover with the Heiress

by Nan Dixon

  “Maybe this was a bad idea,” she murmured.

  “I’ll be good. I’ll be good.” Josh tugged her face so they were eye-to-eye. “Look. I’m wearing my life jacket.”

  The trouble wasn’t Josh, it was Kaden. Would he pay enough attention to keep the kids safe?

  Kaden pulled the boat around to the lower level. “Can you hold the boat steady?”

  Courtney grabbed the side. Kaden half helped, half lifted Nigel into the boat and settled him next to the driver’s seat. Courtney handed him the bags and picnic basket, and finally guided the kids from the dock into Kaden’s arms.

  Then it was her turn.

  Kaden held out his hand. Their eyes locked as he helped her into the boat. It rocked as she stepped in and she crashed into his chest. Unwanted warmth spread through her like she was sinking into a hot mud bath.

  His piney scent infused the air. A shudder racked her body and she clutched his hand.

  A man had never made her so aware before. This wasn’t the way of the world. She made men want her. Now it was Kaden who pulled her in. Kaden who made her want to stare into his steel-blue eyes. Kaden who made her breath catch.

  When had the roles in the game reversed?

  “Everything okay?” he asked.

  She jerked her hand from his and staggered away from him. “Why?”

  “You’ve got those lines between your eyebrows that mean you’re worried.”

  She slapped a hand to her forehead. “I’m fine.”

  “Not just fine.” He pulled her hand away from her face and stepped close enough to whisper in her ear. “You’re beautiful.”

  His lips brushed against her ear as he pulled away.

  She shivered. This was what she wanted. Kaden falling under her spell. But her stomach jittered in confusion.

  “Are we going fishin’ or what?” Nigel called.

  “Just getting settled.” He rubbed his thumb over her cheek.

  She stumbled over to the children. The boat rocked, knocking her onto the bench seat.

  Kaden turned the key, checked the gauges and flipped a switch. A humming filled the air.

  “Everyone seated?” Kaden asked.

  Nigel looked around. “Good to go.”

  Josh bounced a little in his seat but held on to the edge of the boat. “Yes!”

  “We’re ready,” Courtney said, tugging Issy onto her lap.

  The engine roared. Kaden backed away from the dock and headed along a path within the marshy weeds.

  “Are you sure we won’t ground?” She clutched Issy on her lap, and double-checked that Josh was holding on. Her hair whipped around their faces.

  Nigel half turned in his seat. “We’re in Turner Creek and heading to where it empties into the Wilmington.”

  Kaden grinned. “We’ve had good luck fishing there.”

  Courtney tipped her face into the wind and inhaled. A brackish aroma filled her nose. It wasn’t necessarily pleasant, but it wasn’t obnoxious. As an added bonus, it obliterated Kaden’s scent.

  Flying through the marshy water wasn’t the type of sailing Father and Gray always shared, but there was a freedom in letting her hair tangle and swirl about her head. It would be a rat’s nest by the end of the day, but who cared. She was with the kids and they were smiling. Nigel and Kaden were smiling.

  Issy smoothed out the ridges above her eyebrow.

  So why was she frowning?

  Kaden Farrell.

  * * *

  “YOU’VE GOT ONE.” Kaden caught Issy’s fishing pole as it dipped in the water. “Hang on.”

  The little girl giggled and climbed onto his lap. They held her pole together.

  Whoa. He wrapped his arms around her as if she was a live bomb. Why didn’t Issy sense he wasn’t comfortable around kids? He cuddled her close and she tucked her head under his chin. Total trust.

  He released a shaky breath. Maybe being around the kids wasn’t so bad.

  Josh stared into the water at Issy’s line. “It’s big.”

  “Go, Issy.” Courtney glanced up from the book she was reading. She’d hidden her brilliant blue eyes behind massive sunglasses. “Josh, don’t lean over so far.”

  “We could use some help here.” Kaden swung the fish over the edge of the boat toward Courtney, dangling it above her lap. The woman needed some messing up. Although there wasn’t much to mess up right now. Not clothes, at least.

  She’d stripped off her shirt and shorts and exposed a bikini that showed every luscious curve on her body. He’d probably drooled as she’d stroked sunscreen over her skin.

  He wanted to touch her. Wanted to do more than touch. Ever since he’d blurted to Roger that he should date her, he couldn’t help but think about ways they could stay connected, most of them in bed. Against the wall or in the shower would be fine, too. Having her fall into him as she’d stepped into the boat had been both pleasure and pain. And he hadn’t been able to resist running his lips along the edge of her ear.

  “Can you take the fish off her hook, Courtney?” Kaden teased.

  Granddad snorted, tucked his hat lower over his face and went back to sleep.

  “No.” Courtney tipped down her sunglasses and stared at him. “Unless it’s sushi, ceviche or cooked, I don’t touch fish.”

  She twisted away and turned the page, pretending to ignore them. But she kept a watchful eye on both kids. And him.

  Kaden unhooked the fish and tossed it in the bucket. The boat got quiet. He and the kids fished, Granddad napped and Courtney read.

  “Time to reapply sunscreen,” Courtney called a half hour later.

  Josh complained, but handed his pole to Kaden. Issy did the same—no complaints.

  Courtney had been right. Not that he wanted to admit that. He shouldn’t have let Josh walk on the edge of the boat without a life jacket. Hell, he should have lowered the boat first. But when he’d come to live with his grandfather, he’d loved being up that high.

  At seven, he’d always worn a life jacket on the dock. He’d had to be strong enough to tackle the salt marsh currents before he was allowed on the dock without one.

  He pulled another black drum fish off Issy’s hook and tossed it in the bucket. “That’s a nice fish.”

  Issy held her bare hook up and he baited it. Courtney hadn’t bothered to respond the last few times he’d joked about her helping.

  “I’m supposed to catch the biggest fish.” Josh pouted.

  “You need to be quiet and not bob your line up and down.” Kaden kept his voice low.

  “It’s boring when they’re not biting.” Josh frowned, but turned back to his own line.

  Courtney pulled out a notebook and began writing.

  “What are you working on?” Kaden asked.

  Her head popped up hard enough to shake the hair she’d clipped to the top of her head. “Just some notes.”

  “Our story?” Josh asked.

  She reached over and chucked his chin. “Yes.”

  “What’s next?” Josh asked.

  “I’m working on that.” Her cheeks brightened in a blush.

  Why was she embarrassed about working on a story for the kids?

  “More,” Issy said.

  Courtney bit her lip. “Maybe if you behave for our entire adventure day.”

  “Just...tell us what their next adventure will be,” Josh persisted.

  “Next adventure?” Kaden asked.

  “They have adventure days just like us.” Josh bounced a little. “They found a puppy and saved it, ’cuz it was starvin’.”

  “They made cookies—” Issy said.

  “And took them to a sad man,” Josh said.

  “Josh.” Courtney raised her eyebrows. “You promised not to f
inish Issy’s sentences.”

  Josh heaved out a sigh. “And they met twins.”

  Courtney amazed him. How could someone so focused on herself be so good with kids?

  “What’s next?” Josh asked.

  “They go to the zoo.” She chewed on her pen.

  “Lions escape!” Josh yelled.

  “The fish won’t bite if you’re loud,” Kaden reminded him.

  “I’ve never been to the zoo.” Issy moved her fishing pole up and down from Kaden’s lap.

  Courtney leaned forward. “Is there a zoo in Savannah?”

  Kaden shook his head. “But I went to a marine zoo when I was a kid.”

  “That would be fun.” She slid back in her seat. “We’ll have to figure something out.”

  “You’re not going to keep running around with the kids, are you?” He wanted her locked down at the B and B.

  “They need to learn about their city,” Courtney said. “And we love our adventure days.”

  Damn. He needed to keep getting himself invited on their outings. Between the B and B, his grandfather and reviewing task force material, he was running out of hours in the day. And Courtney was suspicious. Of him.

  He would have to get even closer. Forget all the little touches he’d started. Time to take this attraction to the next level. He exhaled. For the job. To capture Bole.

  Courtney bent over her notes. Her skimpy blue bikini fired up fantasies of him tearing it off with his teeth.

  The first week he’d met Courtney, the idea of getting close to her would have been offensive. Now it sounded like a dream come true.

  * * *

  COURTNEY UNLATCHED ISSY’S seat belt and scooped up the sleeping girl. Turning to Kaden, she whispered, “Thanks for taking the kids fishing.”

  “I had fun. When I dropped Granddad off at the rehab center, he said he enjoyed it, too.” Kaden helped Josh with the bags and poles as they climbed the stairs to the Foresters’ apartment. He whispered, “I wouldn’t mind joining your next adventure day.”

  His breath on the back of her neck sent shivers through her body. “How can you get away from work?”

  He shrugged. She was his work. “I’ll manage.”

  At the top of the stairs, she unlocked the apartment door. “Thanks for hauling everything up here.”

  She moved to the bedroom and set Issy on her bunk. The little girl didn’t always take a nap, but she was tired.

  Josh turned on the shower. She walked back to the living room, expecting it to be empty, but there was Kaden.

  He glanced up. “I mean it. I like being with the kids—and you.”

  “I don’t get it. You despise me.”

  “I don’t despise you.” He closed the distance between them. “Trust me on that.”

  Trust him? Trust was such a foreign concept.

  With his finger, he tipped up her chin and stared down at her.

  She hated looking up at people. Especially men who tried to intimidate her with their height. But this wasn’t intimidation. Kaden’s stare had her quivering. She’d never been breathless around a man.

  “I have a hard time getting to know people.” His hand slipped down and cupped her shoulder. “I think it comes from being taken from my parents when I was a kid.”

  Taken from his parents? “I’m sorry.”

  “I’m not. I got to live with my granddad.” His right hand cupped her other shoulder. He tugged her close, his hands stroking down her back.

  She was burning up. Had the air-conditioning quit working? Each breath came faster and dragged in the scents of marsh, sunscreen and pine that lingered whenever Kaden was around.

  He’s going to kiss me.

  She should stop him. But he was reeling her in.

  She slapped a hand on his chest. “What are you doing?”

  “If I have to explain—” his half smile was just this side of cocky “—I’m losing my touch.”

  His hand covered her fingers and a final step put his body flush with hers.

  Her breath caught in her chest and her fingers clenched his hand like it was a lifeline. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d actually let a man kiss her. It wasn’t part of her game. Her gaze locked on his pulse fluttering in his neck.

  With his palm he angled her head.

  She wanted to stare at the floor, at the wall, at anything but his eyes. They seared her like the blue flames of a gas fire—too hot to touch, but oh, so pretty to look at. “Maybe we—”

  His mouth covered hers. Firm lips possessed her mouth, controlled it. His tongue stroked hers. Sweet. Strong. Heaven.

  Everything hard of Kaden was pressed against everything soft of her. She cupped his magnificent butt and groaned. He pulled up her leg and wrapped it around his hip. OMG. His hand stroked a fire up and down her back.

  “Yeah,” he whispered, his breath hot in her ear.

  “What are we doing now?” Josh called as he exited the bathroom.

  She stumbled away from Kaden. What was she doing? She was responsible for the kids.

  “Don’t shout.” She touched her swollen lips. “Issy’s asleep.”

  Her swimsuit cover-up was rucked up to her waist. She tugged it down, slipping farther away from Kaden. Her legs wobbled and she sank onto the sofa. She’d never had a kiss that...amazing.

  Kaden stared out the window, his fists leaning on the sill.

  Josh hopped up next to her. “Can I finish watching my movie?”

  She checked the time, relieved she didn’t have to think of an activity when all she could think about was Kaden’s lips and hands. “Thirty minutes.”

  Josh clicked the remote buttons faster than she could follow. “Can you watch with me, Mr. Kaden?”

  “I’d better check if they...need anything at the B and B.” Kaden hurried to the door.

  That was it? He was going to kiss and run?

  This was why she stayed in control. This was why she treated men as a game.

  At the door he turned. His eyes were glazed and his mouth hung open. He gave a small shake of his head, like he was clearing away fog. “I’ll—I’ll call you tonight.”

  She heaved a sigh, cuddled Josh and settled in to watch Nemo be found.

  Maybe Kaden had been affected by what just happened. Thank goodness. She would hate to be the only one confused.

  * * *

  WHAT THE HELL was that?

  Kaden headed down the steps, inhaling, but he couldn’t clear away Courtney’s sinful scent.

  When his lips had touched hers, he’d forgotten there were kids in the apartment. Forgotten he was here to capture Bole. He’d only wanted to kiss Courtney deeper, touch more of her skin and hear her sexy sigh.

  He’d lost control. He never lost control.

  When she’d stumbled away from him, his damn knees had gone weak. It was all he could do not to reach out and haul her back.

  To help find his focus, he recited the FBI oath of office—

  I, Kaden Farrell, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.

  He had a job to do—capture Bole. That mission demanded he stay close to Issy. If being with Courtney helped him accomplish that, he would do what was necessary to bring Heather Bole to justice and keep the little girl safe.

  Had Courtney been as blown away by their kiss?

  Probably not. Toying with guys was what she did.

  He stumbled, grabbing the railing. Courtney had rocked his wo
rld.

  His phone rang. He cleared his throat and answered, “Hey, Roger.”

  “Local police shut down a meth house. There were a couple of fingerprints that were flagged—one of Salvez’s cousins and Bole’s. I need you to head to Claxton. Check out the scene.”

  “Will do.” Less than an hour from Savannah.

  Courtney and the kids were safe right now, but with Bole circling the area, he couldn’t let Courtney wander around without him keeping watch. Now that they’d kissed, hopefully she wouldn’t question if he came with her and the kids on their outings. Guilt weighed on his shoulders. He told her she could trust him.

  He’d lied.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  “YOU’RE COURTNEY, RIGHT?” A woman with curly brown hair stopped next to her table.

  “Yes.” Courtney slipped a bookmark in her book and let her feet drop from the courtyard chair she’d propped them on. It was one of her days off. When she looked up at the woman, she couldn’t help but scan the area for Kaden.

  Ever since the kiss, Kaden had vanished. No phone call. No sightings.

  What a jerk.

  Maybe if she took the kids off the property, he’d finally show up.

  “I’m Maggie. I don’t think we’ve met.” The woman shook Courtney’s hand. “I’m on the housekeeping staff. I usually work at Carleton House.”

  “Sure.” The brunette looked familiar. Sort of. She was a little older than Courtney and could use a facial—but Courtney couldn’t judge. It had been weeks since she’d seen the inside of a spa.

  “May I?” Maggie asked.

  She nodded. Maggie was the first person who’d actually sought her out.

  Maggie pulled out a chair, the metal scraping against the stone terrace. “I—I understand you’ve been taking care of Cheryl’s kids.”

  Courtney couldn’t help smiling. “Yes.”

  Maggie bit her lip. “Could you take on one more?”

  “More?”

  “My daughter. She’s six, the same as Josh.” Maggie leaned forward, her words rushing out. “My mother usually watches her, but my sister’s having twins. My mom will head to Charleston to help her out. Could you watch Daria for the three or four weeks my mother is gone?” Maggie touched her arm. “She’s in school, so it won’t be a ton of hours.”