She wanted to ask why. Actually, Rowan wanted to toss away the camera and jump on him, wrap her hands around his neck and shake until he told her exactly what he wanted from her. She held it together, though.
“That’s great. Welcome to The Bounding Storm. I hope you have a fabulous trip and accomplish everything you’re set to do.”
“Oh, don’t worry about that.” Spencer winked in such a manner it made Rowan’s blood run cold. “I think this trip is going to be fruitful.”
“SHE LOOKS CONSTIPATED,” Fred complained as he watched Rowan interact with the Phoenix Society representatives from across the lobby. “I mean ... seriously. Can’t you loosen her up or something?”
Quinn slid his friend a quelling look. “How do you suggest I do that?”
“Hey, from the way you two look at one another, I’m guessing you have mad skills when it comes to relaxing her. That’s all you two seem to talk about. Sex, sex, sex. You guys are animals.”
Paul, who was making a big show of perusing the brochures on the desk, slid his eyes to Fred and glared. “You and I are going to talk later,” he warned in a low voice. “That’s still my baby.”
Quinn glanced at the front desk clerk to make sure she wasn’t listening to the conversation — thankfully she was busy with a rush of guests — and scowled at his two comrades. “Watch what you say out in the open like this,” he warned.
“I’m not the one being inappropriate,” Paul said primly.
Fred paused. “If it makes you feel better, I didn’t know you were standing there. I wouldn’t have said it in front of you on purpose.”
“Just to Quinn, huh?” Paul didn’t look thrilled at the prospect. “Is that what you guys talk about over beers when she’s not around?”
Quinn bit back a sigh. This wasn’t the conversation he wanted to be having when the Phoenix Society — the ultimate enemy — was in the room with them. Of course, if he had his druthers, he would never have this conversation at all. “Listen ... .”
Fred ignored his friend and kept his attention on Paul. “Actually, when we’re at the bar we talk about what a gooey mess Quinn is about Rowan. All he wants to talk about is her. How cute she is ... how sweet she is ... how she can eat her weight in crab legs and still have room for dessert. It’s disgusting, and completely above board.”
Paul opened his mouth to argue and then snapped it shut. “I’m sorry,” he offered after a beat. “I didn’t mean to jump all over you. I’m just nervous.”
Fred nodded amiably. “I get it. Everything is finally coming together, and a lot faster than you envisioned. You need to settle, though. We’ve got days of this in front of us. If you melt down now, we can’t go back in time and fix it.”
“I know.” Paul slid his eyes to Quinn. “I’ll do better.”
“I know.” Quinn flashed a smile. “This is a big deal for all of us. We both love her. We both want her safe above all else. We need to work together, though. I’m not the enemy. In fact, if all goes as planned, you and I are going to be in each other’s lives for a very long time. You can’t always freak out over a few jokes.”
“Yeah, well ... we’re still going to talk, Fred,” Paul warned. “I feel it’s my duty.”
“I can live with that.” Fred was blasé as he turned back to where Spencer, Darcy, and Julia were gathering their luggage and heading toward the elevator. “I wonder what they said to her.”
“We’re going to find out,” Quinn promised. “Not until after she’s done with these photos, though. It’s not normal for me to interrupt her while she’s working. I’m not breaking form and doing it as soon as they leave ... and neither are you.”
“I think that’s probably a good idea,” Fred capitulated. “Where do you want to meet?”
“The tiki bar.” Quinn checked his watch. “She should be done in an hour and a half. We’ll meet you there.”
Sounds like a plan.
QUINN WANTED TO GATHER ROWAN to him and bury her in hugs and kisses once the check-ins were complete but that wasn’t normally how they operated — at least in such a public place — so instead he greeted her with a friendly smile as he helped her pack her camera and tablet.
“A lot of faces, huh?” he noted as she grabbed her camera bag.
“Yeah. It’s a full cruise.” She understood what he was doing. It was doubtful the Phoenix Society had anyone else on the ship they were unaware of, but they couldn’t be too careful. “I have a lot of photos to sort through later.”
“Okay.” He took the bag from her and slung it over his shoulder. “It’s a nice day. Let’s get some iced tea at the tiki bar. Nick is up there and wants to tell us about the new dive.”
“Oh, great.” Rowan brightened considerably. “That sounds like a fabulous way to take a break.”
“I thought you would like it.”
Nick, Paul, Fred, and Dave were seated at a table in the corner of the tiki bar when Quinn and Rowan entered. Quinn waved at Demarcus behind the bar and held up two fingers. “Iced tea when you get a chance,” he called out.
Demarcus nodded. “I’ll bring it over.”
Quinn put his hand to the small of Rowan’s back and prodded her forward. “Let’s get comfortable.”
Rowan took the open seat next to Fred, and Quinn settled beside her. The men made a big show of greeting each other with hearty handshakes and guffaws, a bunch of old friends saying hello after an extended period apart. Then things turned serious.
“What did they say to you?” Paul asked, focusing on Rowan. “Did they ask you anything personal?”
“They asked me a few questions,” Rowan hedged. “I can’t decide if they were really trying to dig or if I just imagined it because I’m hyper-aware of what they’re doing.” She launched into the short tale. When she was done, Quinn merely shook his head.
“You played it well, sweetie.” He moved his hand to the back of her neck and attacked some of the tension building there. “You did really well.”
“I was so nervous I thought I might pee my pants,” she admitted, rueful. “I didn’t know what to do. The more they talked, though, the more annoyed I got. I used the annoyance to fuel my act. That probably sounds weird, huh?”
“No.” Quinn brushed his lips against her temple. “We all use what we can. You did amazingly well.”
“I wanted to strangle him.”
“You’re going to have to get in line for that,” Paul grumbled.
“It’s going to be a long line,” Quinn agreed. “The most important thing to do is not draw attention to ourselves. As far as they know, we’re a group of individuals interested in talking about a dive. We’ll use my history as a catalyst and make sure it’s known that I’m going to be participating in the dive because Nick is doing me a favor.”
“I have dive schematics that will pass a cursory inspection,” Nick volunteered. “From all outward appearances, it will look as if we’re doing exactly what we’re supposed to be doing.”
“I expect one or both of the women to try and bond with Rowan,” Quinn supplied. “That’s probably why he brought them. They look sweet and unassuming. One is more serious than the other. He wanted to make sure he had someone who would appeal to Rowan.”
“What do you want me to do?” Rowan was legitimately curious. “Do you want me to pretend to be friendly with them?” The idea made her sick to her stomach.
“I want you to be friendly but not too open,” he countered. “If you open your arms to welcome them, they might become suspicious. You’re not exactly known for bonding with the guests ... a few notable exceptions notwithstanding. If you make it too easy for them, they might realize that we’re the ones running the con on them.”
“How would they know I don’t bond with the guests, though?” Something occurred to her. “Oh, geez. You think they’ve had someone on the ship, watching me, before this trip. How did they manage that without us knowing?”
“Don’t freak out,” Quinn admonished her. “We don’t know they’ve done anything
of the sort. That’s just an assumption. It would make sense for them to send an investigator to check you out from a distance, someone who was ordered not to engage with you but simply watch. That way they would ensure that he was never on your radar.”
“Ugh. I hate these people.” She made a face. “I wish they would just mind their own business and go away.”
“That’s the ultimate plan here. We need to feel them out, though. For right now, I want you to take photographs like you usually would. If they try to engage you in conversation, be friendly but don’t go out of your way to spend time with them.
“Remember, you’re the only photographer on the ship,” he continued. “You don’t have time to worry about one set of customers. You have to worry about them all. Don’t be rude. Don’t hide from them. Don’t seek them out either. If I’m right, I expect them to keep close enough to watch you and attempt random engagements. I want to see how they work it before we decide on our next step.”
Rowan sighed and rubbed the tender spot between her eyebrows. “Do you remember when we were just a couple getting to know one another and falling in love without having to be spies on the side?”
He took pity on her and leaned close. “We’re going to get back there,” he reassured her. “Not the falling in love part, of course. If I fall any farther then I’ll have to be unearthed with one of those big scoop things they use to dig pools. We’re going to get back to our relaxing life, though. I promise you that.”
He was so earnest Rowan believed him. Maybe it was because she needed to. “Then I guess I should get to taking photos,” she said finally. “That’s what I would normally do, so that’s what I’ll do.”
“After your iced tea. You need to hydrate.”
“I believe I’m the one who should be nagging her about hydrating,” Paul pointed out. “That seems to fall under my job description.”
“You’re going to have to learn to share,” Quinn admonished. “We can both be nags.”
Paul grinned.
4
Four
Rowan made it through the day. It was more difficult than she initially envisioned. Quinn was right about the trio setting up shop on the deck so they could watch her work. All afternoon she could feel their eyes on her. It took everything she had not to stare them down, or stride across the deck and demand they answer the questions she had lining up for dominance in her mind. She didn’t, of course, but she really wanted to.
By the time she retreated to her room because she couldn’t take another second of being watched, she was exhausted. She took a long shower to wash away the dregs of the day and then climbed into bed with her laptop to sort the photos. She found comfort in the normalcy of the sorting, and before long, she was in the zone.
That’s where Quinn found her when he decided to track her down for dinner. He looked amused when he caught sight of her.
“Now this is what a man wants to see when he returns home after a hard day of work,” he teased, lifting the covers so he could ascertain if she was naked. Sure enough, she’d only dressed in panties before taking refuge in the bed they shared every night. Quinn had his own quarters, but they always bedded down in her room because of the equipment she needed for her job. He was working on getting them a suite moving forward — he had a lot of negotiating power because he was in high demand as a security expert — and they would most likely be upgrading their digs soon. For now, they were both comfortable and cozy.
“Wow.” He smiled appreciatively at her. “I was going to drag you away for dinner because I know you skipped lunch — you’re no good to anyone if you’re weak from lack of fuel, by the way — but now I think we should do something else first.”
Rowan arched a dubious eyebrow. “Someone is feeling playful this afternoon.”
Quinn stripped off his shirt. “Are you saying you’re not feeling playful?”
That wasn’t the word she would use to describe her mood. “I’m sorry I had to leave the deck,” she offered lamely. “I just couldn’t take being stared at.”
Quinn dropped his shorts and climbed in next to her. “Do you think I’m angry?”
“No. You rarely get angry at me.”
“That’s true. Do you know why?”
“Because you know I’ll be mad if you raise your voice.”
“Actually, that’s not why. I don’t ever get angry with you because you’re perfect and you never do anything wrong.”
Rowan rolled her eyes so hard it was a marvel she didn’t fall off the bed. “Oh, that was just ridiculous.”
He chuckled. “Over the top?”
“And then some.”
“Well, here’s the thing ... it might be over the top, but it’s mostly true. The only time I ever get angry with you is when I feel as if you’ve put yourself in danger for no good reason. You didn’t do that today. You know your limits and you realized you were at them. It’s better for you to retreat than to blow up. Besides, they can’t possibly know how long you would spend on the deck. You might’ve needed to recharge your camera or answer an email. You’re fine.”
Rowan hadn’t considered that. “I took a long shower and then spent the afternoon in bed going over photos.”
“Any omens?”
Rowan had been expecting the question. They were obviously worried about the same thing. If she saw a death omen in a photo, she would be propelled to act. That wouldn’t be smart given the fact that she was being watched.
“No, and you have no idea how relieved I am,” she admitted. “I went through them twice just to be sure. None of the other omens are popping up either. We’re free and clear for this trip.”
“That’s good.” He rolled so he could kiss her cheek. “Do you know what else is good?”
“Hmm?”
“Getting a workout in before dinner.”
She furrowed her brow as she regarded him. “You really are feeling randy, huh? I thought maybe you were just playing it up to make me feel better.”
That was part of it, Quinn silently admitted. Only a small part, though. He felt the need to be close to her. The reality of their situation was starting to hit home and every second spent with her was precious.
“We’re eating dinner alone tonight. We thought it would be best if we didn’t eat every meal together. We talked it out. I know you would rather have meals with Nick and Paul, but we want to be responsible about this. I hope you’re not upset.”
The conversational shift threw her. “Why would I be upset? I understand that.”
“Good. If I want to make you feel better about anything, it’s that. I just want to spend time with you. If we lay here for thirty minutes and do nothing but hold one another, I’m fine with that, too.”
It was a sweet sentiment. “You’re full of it,” Rowan challenged on a laugh after studying his face. “You want to play mermaid games and you know it.”
“Only if you’re the mermaid ... and I can’t help it. It’s not every day that I come back to this room and find you naked in bed. It does things to my head.”
Rowan filed away the tidbit for later. “Then I guess we should work up an appetite, huh? I’m betting you’re going to watch me like a hawk to make sure I eat.”
“Yup.”
“Workout it is.” She moved the laptop to the nightstand and rolled to face him. “Show me what you’ve got.”
“I thought you’d never ask.”
THEY WERE LATE TO DINNER. Nick’s crew was almost completely finished before they arrived. Quinn made eye contact with Fred across the room and then pointed Rowan toward the buffet line. They were keeping things separate this evening, which was the smart way to go.
“Spencer and his girls are over there.” Rowan inclined her chin to the far corner as she grabbed two plates. “They’re already watching us.”
“Don’t stare,” Quinn warned.
“I’m not going to stare. I just happened to glance up and found them watching us. It was ... weird.”
“I’m sure
it was. Don’t look back, though. Act like I’m the most interesting man in the room.”
“You are the most interesting man in the room.”
“I know that. I wasn’t sure if you did.”
Amused, she playfully elbowed him in the stomach. “Are you somehow unconvinced of your appeal after what we just did?”
“Maybe.” He leaned close and rested his forehead against hers. “I’m well aware of your appeal, though.”
“Geez,” she shook her head, genuinely amused. “You’re feeling it all over today, aren’t you?”
“I really am. I can’t explain it.”
“Well, since we’re supposed to be acting normal, how about we eat enough crab legs to make us want to unbutton our pants for breathing room and then head out to the deck for a romantic walk?”
“That right there is the plan of the night.”
Rowan wasn’t lying about filling her plate with crab legs. By the time she and Quinn settled at their usual table, her plate was overflowing. She also stocked up on scallops, shrimp, and mussels.
“Did you get anything to go with all that seafood?” Quinn asked as he settled across from her. “I mean ... I don’t see any vegetables.”
Rowan’s gaze was withering. “I’ve reached a stage of evolution that means I don’t have to eat vegetables.”
Delight sparked in the depths of Quinn’s eyes. “Really? How did you reach this state?”
She wiggled her fingers. “Magic.”
He chuckled as he shifted the bowl of mixed vegetables he secured from the line so it was between the two of them. “I figured you would forget the importance of eating something other than crab so I took the liberty of getting enough for both of us.”
Rowan made a face. “You know I hate cooked carrots.”
“The carrots are for me. The cauliflower, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts are for you.”
She sighed. “You really are a nag.”
“And I will be for the rest of our lives. Get used to that.”
AN HOUR LATER, ROWAN FELT as if she might explode.
Farewell Seas Page 42
