“Coming right up,” he said as he went to fetch a refill.
“Thanks,” she said as he placed the glass in her hand. She took a couple of deep breaths, her breathing steadier now.
“Alec?”
He slumped onto the sofa, mere inches from her, his own breathing under control. “Yeah?”
“What was in the box?”
“What?” He looked at her as if she had lost her mind.
“What was in the pastry box?”
He shook his head. “Chocolate cannoli.”
“What a waste,” she said.
“Katie,” Alec said as he started to laugh, “you are truly one of a kind.”
They silently slumped on the sofa, each trying to collect their thoughts. After several minutes she jumped up with one hand over her mouth. “I need to use the bathroom.”
“Second door on the right.”
She hurried over and quickly shut the door. He followed her and listened to her retching. He knocked on the door. “Katie? What’s wrong?”
She didn’t hear him when he entered the room as she worshipped at the feet of the porcelain goddess. He knelt behind her and swept her hair back into a ponytail. She leaned forward again and threw up the last remains of her breakfast. A few small retches followed and she leaned backwards, collapsing into his body.
“I’m sorry. I’ll clean up the mess,” she said weakly. “I think it was the extra adrenaline that my body couldn’t absorb.”
He reached over to the sink and grabbed a facecloth. He ran it under the warm water and rang it out, all with one hand, as he held onto her with the other. He wiped her face and neck with the cloth. “You okay now?”
“I-I think so.”
He helped her stand and filled a cup with water. “Sip this, swish it around, and then spit it out. It will clear the bitter taste from your mouth.”
After rinsing her mouth she said, “I think I just need to lie down, let everything settle. Will you take me home please?”
“No,” he said as he reached down, picked her up, and carried her to his bedroom. He laid her gently on his bed then took her shoes off and her jacket. “You can lie here. I won’t disturb you. I need to go to the Institute, but I won’t leave you alone. I’ll get Willie to stay with you until you get on the jet tonight.” He drew the drapes closed, blocking out the bright sunshine that streamed in and threatened to blind her with its brilliance.
Alec grabbed a blanket from the closet and gently tucked it around her. “Sleep, Katie. Call out if you need anything.”
“Thanks,” she replied as she turned on her side.
Alec called Willie and filled him in on the kidnapping attempt. Willie agreed to come over. He stayed by Katie’s side and returned with her to her condo once she woke up.
Just before six she and Willie headed downstairs to the lobby with her gear. As she reached the front door, a black Town car pulled to a stop and a uniformed driver stepped out. Willie thoroughly checked the driver’s ID, including a quick call to his employer to verify what he looked like.
Katie picked up her bags and handed them to the driver. He stowed them in the trunk while she slid into the car and sank back into the supple leather seat, ready for the fifteen minute ride to Logan Airport. Willie climbed in beside her. She could’ve taken the water shuttle from the landing at Independence Wharf next door but she’d have to contend with getting from the airport landing to the terminal. Plus, if she was right, the Nordstrom jet would be parked in a private access area, away from the commercial terminals. She’d be hard pressed to find a shuttle bus that would drop her off there, wherever “there” was.
She jumped as the door beside her opened. The driver bent down. “We’re at the Nordstrom jet. If you would allow me to help you out,” he said as he extended his hand. Willie elbowed him out of the way and quickly scanned the area. He leaned in. “Okay, Katie, all clear,” he said as he reached for her hand. Her ears were immediately bombarded by jet engines in various stages of motion from all over the airport. The Nordstrom jet’s engines were no exception, as they emitted a high-pitched whine as they idled.
A man stepped down from the jet as she approached. “Dr. Walsh?”
“Yes,” she answered, passing him her passport for verification. She grabbed her laptop bag from the driver.
“Please follow me,” he said as he picked up her suitcase and headed up the stairs to the executive jet.
She turned to Willie and gave him a hug before she stepped aboard. Once inside, she quickly looked around. There were eight leather captain’s chairs, four on each side and two leather bench seats with three seat belts running under the windows on each side. “Hmmm, I could get used to this,” she said and smiled at the male flight attendant.
“Welcome aboard, Dr. Walsh. My name is George and I’ll be your flight attendant tonight. We’ve been cleared for take-off at seven. Flying time should be a bit under six hours.” He walked to a door at the rear of the main cabin and opened it. “There is a bed, if you’d care to rest anytime during the flight except takeoff and landing. May I get you something to drink before we leave? I’ll be serving dinner later.”
“A vodka tonic, please, and George, please call me Katie.”
He shook his head. “Sorry, but we’ve been instructed to address all personnel by their titles.”
She shrugged. “What stuffed shirt decided that?”
“I believe it was Dr. Samuel Austin.”
She swallowed. “Dr. Walsh it is.”
He returned with her drink. “May I get you anything else?”
She shook her head. “Later perhaps, but for now, no.”
Her eyes swept around the cabin. She chose one of the chairs on the right side of the plane, facing the back. She looked out the window, watching the lights of Boston come to life and the boats moving through the sunset-speckled waters of Boston Harbor. She sighed and murmured, “Yes, I could definitely get used to this.”
****
Robert was waiting in his car in front of the condo. Alec sprinted out, opened the rear door, tossed his suitcase in, and slammed the door shut, shaking the car. He sank into the front passenger seat. “You’re late. Let’s get going,” Alec barked as he looked at his watch, 6:22 p.m.
“Relax. She’s safe. She went directly to the airport. Willie watched her board the plane and the security was tight at the access gate. George, the attendant on the jet, confirmed her arrival. Willie’s still there, watching the plane, ready to take on any trouble.”
Alec’s jaw tensed. “I found out from the receptionist today that Katie received an envelope by bike messenger yesterday. And before you ask, no, she didn’t open it in front of Diane. She slipped it into her laptop bag.”
“So no idea what it was or who sent it?”
Alec shook his head. “No, Diane didn’t note the messenger service, probably some freelancer. I understand that type of business is very fluid. The bikers pick up work on an as-needed basis.”
“Just ask her what was in the package,” Robert said. “She’ll probably only scratch you a few times for invading her privacy.”
Alec chuckled and shook his head. “She is a handful, very independent, and extremely bright. I can almost see the wheels in her brain turning in overdrive when I talk to her as she tries to stay at least one step ahead of me.” He smiled. “But I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m just worried that something bad is going to happen to her. I have this feeling… first that letter and now the envelope.” He rubbed his hands over his face. “What the hell can I do? This is all on me. I brought this into her life.”
Robert sighed, his shoulders sagged and his hands tightened on the steering wheel before he turned his head for quick moment. “Well, for starters, you stay with her, little brother. We at least owe it to her to keep her safe until this is over. We’ll deal with any fallout later.
They continued in silence, arriving at 6:39 p.m. Robert waited for clearance to the tarmac.
Alec could see
the navigation lights on the jet flashing. The stairway was still extended to the ground. “Come on, come on,” he urged, striking the dashboard.
Robert punched his arm. “Hey, this is my car. Respect it.”
The gate opened and Robert drove to the foot of the extended stairs. Alec jumped out of the car and retrieved his bag from the back. He looked over at Robert. “Thanks. I’ll be in touch. And tell Willie to be available.”
Robert smirked. “That’s assuming you survive the wrath of Katie. You do know she’s not going to be pleased when she sees you.”
“Yeah, I get it. I’m going to be caged up with the little wildcat for the next six hours.”
“Hey,” Robert called as he headed for the jet.
“What?”
Robert laughed. “Maybe she’ll slap you on the other side of your face. Give you a matching hand imprint.”
“Screw you,” Alec mouthed as he headed up the stairs, absently rubbing his face where she’d slapped him early that morning.
“Welcome aboard, Dr. MacGowan. Please strap yourself in. We’ll be taking off in a few minutes. After that I’ll be back to take your drink order.” The flight attendant left to secure the exit door, sealing them in for the next six hours.
Katie’s head snapped up when she heard George greet him. She started to rise, forgetting her seat belt. The drink in her hand tipped into her lap. “Damn,” she swore softly, reaching down to release the belt. Freed from her restraint, she rose and spun to face him.
“Dr. Walsh, how thoughtful that you included me on your research jaunt.”
She glared at him. “You have no right to be here. You are absolutely stalking me. Please get off the plane now.”
“I have every right to be here. I am your boss. I am accompanying you and will be assisting you with your research. It’s all been arranged and approved by Dr. Austin.”
Alec placed his hands on her shoulders and gently pushed her into her seat. “Sit. You can change after we reach cruising altitude,” he said, looking down at her wet pants.
She fell into the chair. He reached down to secure her seat belt. She swatted his hand. “I can do it. Now back off,” she snapped.
****
Conversation through takeoff was sparse. After she’d changed her pants, Katie had plugged in her MP3 player to listen to an audio book as she waited for dinner. She huffed as she rewound the first chapter for the third time. She just couldn’t concentrate with Alec that close. His nearness threatened to overwhelm her senses and her sensibility. Since he’d shown up, she felt her control slipping away, bit by bit, like an ice cube slowly melting. And she didn’t like it. She was uncomfortable, in foreign territory with no beacons to help her navigate along this voyage into the unknown.
She needed to decipher those damn runes and then she’d be able to put some distance between them. She shifted slightly in her chair, still restrained by the safety belt, and stole a look at him. He was reading a book and he wore glasses, reading glasses that perched about midway down his nose. She shook her head slightly. They only added to his appeal, making him look even more intelligent than she guessed him to be and sexy as hell. “I didn’t know you wore glasses.”
Alec looked up and over the glasses at her. “I need them for reading and close-up work.” He turned to face her. “I wear contacts for most of the day, but by night time I like to take them out, give my eyes a chance to breathe and relax.”
She shivered. “I just can’t stand the thought of poking myself in the eyes. So,” she said, “I’m stuck with these.” She lifted her hand to push her glasses back up her nose, but he reached over and slid them back up before she had a chance.
“They add to your charm, KitKat. Though I do think you got shortchanged on your nose.”
She pursed her lips. “My nose is just fine, thank you. I have my mother’s nose.” And then she couldn’t help herself. “At least I don’t have to worry about having my nose enter a room before I do.” A picture of Lucy Millar flashed before her. But then she relented. It wasn’t nice and it wasn’t true.
He laughed. “Are you referring to anyone in particular?”
She smiled and shook her head.
“I like it when you smile. Your eyes almost glow sort of a golden green. You should do it more often.”
She deliberately screwed up her face, wrinkling her nose. “Are you saying that I look mean, grumpy most times?”
Alec sighed. “No. But you can come across as stand-offish at times.”
Katie relaxed her expression. She remembered what Dr. Austin had said to her a few days ago. She shrugged. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. It’s just that people don’t take me seriously. I think a lot of times people look at my lack of height and just don’t consider me grown up.”
“I think you may be on to something. I’ve noticed that before when I’ve worked with other short people. It’s an odd thing, but I’ve seen many instances when taller people, and pardon the pun, but they talk down as if you’re incapable of understanding adult conversation.”
Katie nodded, amazed that he’d even notice something like that. “I know it’s not deliberate. It just seems to happen. So I build up my armor and set the tone right at the start that I’m someone to be taken seriously.” She sighed. “And then people think I’m tough when…”
“When you really just want to be yourself, a warm, soft woman. I see it when you interact with Laura and Willie.”
“They don’t judge me. They accept the real me. I’m relaxed around them. I have no walls with them.”
“I know. And I can see they care deeply for you.” Alec reached over and grasped her hand in his. “Do you think you can drop the walls around me?”
She swallowed. “I-I don’t know.” She released her seat belt with her free hand and turned to face him. She wanted to drop her guard with him, but something was stopping her. “I can try. I want to, Alec. It’s just not that easy for me. In case you haven’t noticed, I don’t have a lot of close friends.” She looked away and continued, “But that’s okay because I know I can trust them with my life if I ever need to.”
Alec lifted her chin and turned her face back to his. He leaned over, his eyes sweeping down her face, stopping at her lips. She wet her lips. He dropped his hands to her waist and pulled her into his lap. His mouth lowered onto hers and closed over her lips, sealing them under his.
Katie didn’t resist. She couldn’t even if her brain told her to. Her body craved his touch, craved him. She wound her fingers into his hair, gently tugging the lush, almost black strands. She opened her mouth to invite, greet his tongue as he entered.
****
Alec swept his tongue over hers, exploring her, tasting her, remembering her. His hands moved upward from her waist until his palms rested against her ribs. He pulled her closer as he deepened the kiss. His hands drifted up her chest, brushing the sides of her breasts. He felt a low moan rumble through her sweet mouth as her tongue… her tongue was responding to his but instead of fighting him, she was totally submitting to him, letting him take control.
Katie moaned when his hands teased her breasts. She nestled her chest against him. She draped her hands in the hollow behind each ear, gently massaging that sensuous spot with her thumbs. Her curls fell around them as she leaned tighter into him. Her breath was ragged, thready, as if she’d just run a few laps. His tongue had taken over and she seemed as if she were relishing the control she’d given him. Katie flicked her tongue against the roof of his mouth, letting it slowly drift back and forth. He felt her body rise and fall with his breathing as she leaned into him.
Alec cupped the bottom of her breasts, letting their weight rest in his palms. They filled his hands with their natural shape. He stroked her nipples with his thumbs, feeling them stiffen under his touch. He lightly pinched them through the thin material of her T-shirt. She squirmed in his lap in response.
“Ahem, excuse me.”
Alec opened his eyes, locating the source of the voice. It w
as the flight attendant. He was standing behind Katie. Alec released her mouth. He placed his hands on her shoulders and gently pushed her away from him. She whimpered. Her breathing was noticeably uneven. Her eyes slowly opened, dazed and questioning.
“Yes, George?”
“I’ll be serving dinner now.”
****
Katie slid off Alec’s lap and stood looking at the floor. Her face was flushed and her lips teasingly full. He wanted to keep kissing them. Alec watched her as she crossed her arms, trying to shield herself from view. She wouldn’t lift her gaze to meet his.
She turned and raced to the sleeping quarters, shutting the door behind her. He followed. He wasn’t about to let her hide.
Alec knocked. “Katie? May I come in?” When she didn’t answer, he opened the door.
Katie looked so lost sitting on the edge of the bed with her head bent forward. Alec was surprised how quickly she responded to him, surrendered herself. He was a fool for letting it go too far. He put her reputation at risk, but he couldn’t stop himself. For five years he’d thought of her, kicking himself for agreeing to her no-names rule. Five frigging years of missing her, her touch, her scent, and now he’d probably screwed it up big time. His plan was simple. Get the job and get the runes translated. Once he had them, he planned on leaving. Then he’d bring the murder out in the open. It should’ve worked. Yet since the moment he saw her at the conference, the plan had taken on a life of its own. He still needed the translation and he still needed to leave, but he didn’t want to now. She was back in his life, not exactly like he wanted, but she was here. Only now, he felt like he’d hung a flashing neon sign over her head. She didn’t deserve this, didn’t ask to be used the way he was manipulating her. Robert was right. She deserved to be told the truth, deserved to make the decision to help him, not be forced because he was her boss. Like it or not, the stakes had risen.
“We need to talk.”
She didn’t lift her head. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what happened. I got carried away. It won’t happen again.”
He stood in front of her and cupped her chin with his hand. He urged her head up until she looked at him. “There’s something I need to tell you, but not here. When we get to Willowton. And then…” He exhaled. “And then you’re going to make the decision as to what happens next.”
Trove (The Katie Walsh Mysteries) Page 13
