Liam closed the cabin door. She walked to the living room and collapsed onto his couch. Running meant she never had a moment. The seat cushion under her backside felt luxurious and comfortable enough to nap in. She closed her eyes. Perfection was possible on Valentine's weekend.
Then she felt Liam's shadow over her.
"Strip." Liam's voice was gravely but firm. Sherry held her breath. She'd not about to strip and take off any of her clothes, right now.
Joe must have agreed as he came in front of her and growled at Liam.
She opened her eyes and lifted an eyebrow as adrenaline coursed through her. "Excuse me?"
He dropped folded clothes next to her, then petted her dog.
Joe wasn't being much of a guard near Liam.
She stood and ran her hand through her hair as he said, "Put these on Sherry and take a shower. Scrub everywhere."
He checked a map on his phone and didn't even stare at her. She picked up the clothes and hugged them to her body. He had to have a reason for saying that. The air felt electrified as she gritted her teeth. "What are you talking about?"
There was a blue dot on his phone though he stared at her. His blue eyes sparkled and seem to whisper in her mind 'hero.' She pressed her lips together and would never say that. He didn't blink as he said, "I think you have a tracking device on you. We've been followed."
Since Victor died, she'd not had the chance to be in one place for an hour without something. Every cell in her body was on alert and she squirmed. Her clothes were stiff and itched her as she held her breathe. "Who would do that?"
Liam's eyes stared at her like she should have figured it out. She lifted her chin as he said, "Your fiancé."
Victor disappeared and reappeared suddenly in her life, more than once. They were in the middle of her telling him to leave her alone, forever. She had taken her ring off to give it to him, but none of that mattered. She stared blankly at Liam as she said, "I don't believe you."
"You're white as a ghost which means you do." Was she white? Probably. If anyone set her up, it would be Victor. She swallowed as Liam then said, "How else are men at every airport and likely on their way to my house right now?"
Her heart raced as she clutched the clothes like that might cushion the sudden speed. "Is that the blue dot on your phone in your hands? Are we in danger? Should we leave?"
He placed his hand on her shoulder and pointed to a door. "Wash and change, but be fast."
His not answering was an answer. They didn't have a lot of time. She hustled to the door and then as she reached for the knob, she stared at the white gold on her finger. She slipped it off and wrestled with her wrist as she told him. "Wait. Come here. Take the diamond ring on my hand and the bracelet. Victor gave them to me. Check these too."
He reached in his pocket and somehow found a plastic bag. Were all agents equipped at all times? He then held it out for her and asked, "You believe me?"
She slipped the jewelry inside. The brush of her skin on Liam's hands sent a spark through her. She jumped to get away. Then she rubbed her necklace. Victor had wanted her to take it off once she received it, but she never had. This might be a clue, but he hadn't touched it. She pressed her lips together and averted her gaze. "Yeah. I'll be fast in the bathroom. Promise not to leave me."
Liam went to the kitchen and fed her dog. Joe wagged his tail. Without one glance at her, he said, "Sherry, I'll be here for you."
She probably should tell him everything. The necklace had somehow changed how Victor came into her life, and she suspected he had wanted to use her for it the whole time. She stood at the door and lowered her face to stare at the ground. "I'm starting to believe you even if I am still mad at you."
He walked down the hall, but called out. "Toss out your clothes."
For now, she had someone to help her. She closed the door and stripped. Victor's name reverberated in her mind. He had a tendency to go too far to get what he wanted. Boundaries had been an issue.
She turned on the shower, washed her hair and let the icky feeling sink to the bottom and wash out of the drain.
Finished, she towel-dried her hair and threw on the mustard yellow shirt Liam left her. Clearly the engineering society had a limited budget. She then tugged on a pair of sweats that felt like silk against her body. She checked the brand and read Kate Sparrow. Liam's sister-in-law and the party thrower of his family. Glass shattered outside.
Her heart accelerated as her dog barked. She threw open the door and called out, "What's that sound?"
"Throw out your clothes." Liam's voice traveled down the hall as his feet shuffled. Joe reached her first as he jumped up to her waist. A second later she stared into Liam's blue eyes at the door. She could get lost in his gaze. She shook her head and turned away to pick up her clothes. Then she handed them to him as he said, "Someone is trying to breach my security measures."
Joe barked toward the living room and showed his bared teeth.
Her entire body froze. Someone was here? Then adrenaline pumped in her veins as her body went numb. It was time to run. "Should we go?"
He nodded, but he stared at her legs. She crossed them and her arms. He gazed up and nodded his head. "I want you to check your entire body for any bruise you might have."
The day Victor's body fell on her left her with a slew of bruises on her hips and legs. She was healing. She raised her eyebrow. He didn't seem lecherous. She pressed her lips together and asked, "Why?"
Liam's blue eyes sparkled like he was sorry. "I can't find the tracking devise in your bag."
"That's good."
The blue dot on his phone seemed closer to the yellow dot. She assumed they were the yellow as she glanced at his hand. "We should run."
Joe continued to growl and snap.
Liam placed the phone in his back pocket. "I think it's inside you. I want to check your skin."
She covered her lips and shook her head. "What? How does a tracker go inside me? Wouldn't I feel it?"
He shook his head though his phone made a beep. Her heart raced. They were running out of time, though he acted like they had all the time in the world. He crossed his arms and stared at her. "It's like a grain of rice that can be injected. Personally I usually like to go for someone's foot or fleshy hips."
Her skin felt electrified, but that was from his stare. She swallowed. It had to be him as she shook her head. "I don't feel anything." Then without another word she lifted the sweats off her leg and rolled it up. "I do have this bruise and another on my hip."
He knelt on the ground in the hallway and then reached for her leg. His calloused fingers on her calf sent a lightening bolt of awareness through her. She pressed her lips together as he asked, "What happened?"
She closed her eyes and tried not to think that his touch sent a rush of pleasure through her. She blinked and told herself to get a grip. "Victor fell on me as he died. He was too heavy, that's how this happened."
Then he pinched her bruise and she gasped for air. Liam held her skin firm as he unpocketed a knife. "Or he stuck you with this tracker."
His phone beeped constantly but he ignored it. She covered her lips. If she was tracked, then they weren't safe. Victor would do anything to get his way. She uncovered her lips though her chin trembled. "I was breaking up with him."
"Good, hand me the rubbing alcohol in the cabinet." She didn't say a word. Tears rushed in her eyes that she trusted the wrong person. She should have listened to her instincts. Boredom was not an excuse to date someone who would do this. She handed Liam the alcohol and some tissue. He used it to wipe the blade in his hand. Then he stared at the bruise. "We have one minute or less before they come in and shoot us. I have to get rid of this."
He didn't move. It felt like time stood still.
Finally, she licked her lips, lowered her hand, but closed her eyes. "Just do it. Hurry."
Her body jerked in pain. Blood brushed down her leg, but then she felt Liam's fingers pinch. The feeling made her eyes water and her entire body trembled. She clutched the vanity as Joe's growls became more menacing in her hearing. She felt something scrape against her and she held her instinct to kick. Her lips puckered as she sounded out his name. "Liam..."
He took a tissue and wrapped the tiny thing he pulled out of her. Then he blew air on his leg like he would a child. Her heart ticked as she stared at him. Her leg no longer screamed in pain. Then he picked up the first aid cream and applied the bandage. He stood and nodded. "Yeah?"
Unlike her bad choices, Liam had helped her. Her heart thumped and she pushed her hair out of her face. Then she nodded. "Thank you for helping me..."
His phone beeped out of control. They both ignored it. His blue eyes seemed to call to her soul that she was home again. Then he said, "We're friends."
Impossible now. She shook her head and averted her gaze. Her face heated as she said, "We were never that."
He stood at the bathroom door and took up all the room. All she saw was how alone they were. Joe barked furiously.
Her arms ached to hold Liam. Her lips trembled to kiss him. She stayed still and did nothing. Instead he blinked and asked, "What were we?"
Her hands clenched at her sides. The noise of his phone pierced through her now. It was like an arrow that cut through her. "You never liked me. That's not exactly the basis for a friendship."
He pressed his lips together and the intake of his breath left goose bumps on her arms. Then he said, "You misunderstood me."
The world disappeared. All that mattered was them. She reached out her hand and brushed it against his. "I don't see how."
He opened his palm and took her fingers in his. His touch was like a magnet that pulled her to him. The smell of pinecones overtook her. "Can we be friends now?"
"Yes." No. Friend was too tame. His gravelly voice was like a match. She closed her eyes and prepared for a kiss.
Then a huge bang rang outside the cabin. She opened her eyes as he tugged her out of the bathroom and down the hall. Joe hooted and jumped in the air. She hustled as he said, "Stay with me. We have to get to the door in the kitchen. I have a boat in the bay that's ready to sail."
She fled into the kitchen, and he waited at the kitchen door. Joe ran at her heels. Liam's hand pressed against her back as she passed him. Then the front door, near where the bathroom, blew open in a blast.
Her heart raced and she reached out to drag Liam out with her. Instead he turned and pummeled toward the door. Joe jumped to join him. The room felt heavy.
She didn't move, but then noticed a kitchen knife. She grabbed it and prayed that the attacker didn't have a gun.
Liam was hit in the face as Joe jumped on the guy and gnawed at his leg. She cringed and then she ran into the house to help him.
The man kicked him in the groin, and Liam tumbled. He then tried to kick off Joe, but Joe's teeth marred into his skin. Her mind screamed she'd not let Liam or Joe fall dead on top of her too. She pushed her hands on his back as he steadied himself.
The man tried to jump around him to get to her.
Liam stood and took the knife out of her hands. She curled her fists into balls the moment she lost the weapon. Then Liam regrouped and tackled the man's waist. Joe jumped on him and the huge man tumbled.
The small hall worked to his advantage and Liam twisted him around. Joe worked like Liam and he had trained together.
Sherry refused to stand here. Adrenaline coursed through her now and she surprised them both and kicked the man's neck.
A second later, Liam grabbed the attackers' neck and squeezed. She pressed her hand on his back because she had to touch Liam to know if he was safe. A moment later the man's body fell to the ground. Last time Liam said the person wasn't dead. Right now, she didn't care.
"Hurry." Sherry pressed her hand into his shoulder and motioned for him to get up. "I think someone else is here."
"Likely." He squeezed her hand and stood. "He's alive. He'll wake up from this." Without a blink, he jumped up and placed his hand on her waist. "Run."
No kidding. The ice in her spine told her they had no time. As they made it to the kitchen door; a shot rang out.
Screams rang out behind them but Joe was with them still. They were good.
Liam took her hand and rushed her toward his yacht. She didn't think about anything else other than one foot in front of the other. At the dock, she leapt over the side onto the yacht. Liam followed and Joe jumped like he was trying out for the doggie Olympics. Liam untied one rope and she rushed to the front to untie the other rope.
Her hands were raw, but she finished fast.
Closer, she knew how to ensure the engine worked, so she ran toward the command deck. Another shot rang in the air. Joe began to growl and bark. She cringed. Liam wasn't here. She prayed he was alive as she turned the engines on and tugged the lever to ensure they motored away.
A moment later, Liam stood in front of the glass window. Someone cocked a gun at him from the shore and held his finger on the trigger.
"Times up, Liam."
She had to do something. She refused to let him die. She jerked the wheel and ensured the boat tossed. The door flew open. She could hear Liam shout, "What are you doing here?"
He knew the man. Her heart beat grew in her ear. She paced closer to the door as the man answered, "Ensuring you get your girlfriend back to Langley. Did you forget you're quitting?"
Langley meant the CIA. He must have been after her. She crossed her arms. She should never have trusted him. No one could know about her.
Liam then said, "If you are not on the take we'll meet you in Boston at the wharf in two days."
Her stomach knotted. There was no way she'd meet that man, ever. Liam was out of his mind. She returned to command and increased the sped of the yacht.
The ship went up and down with the heavy waves, but she stayed on course. Liam joined her a few minutes later. Her body shivered and she couldn't look at him.
"Who was he?"
"No one I trust." Liam said.
Her mind replayed that. She didn't trust anyone anymore either, including Liam. If he was a spy, then who knows what he might do. It was better if she lost them all.