AMAZING HOW FAST ONE could develop a habit. Jackson loved watching Mar sleep. With her hair splayed out against the pillow he thought again how she looked like a peaceful angel.
Hell, maybe angel wasn’t the right word for her. Wicked she-devil might be more appropriate. They’d spent the entire day in bed, napping and pleasuring one another. They’d made love two more times after the shower, and he still couldn’t get enough of her. She’d protested this evening when he insisted she eat something and rest.
When he promised strawberry pie for dessert she finally acquiesced. He’d eaten every last bite off her and then she finally went to sleep.
Slipping his arm from around her waist, he paused when she stirred. The last thing he wanted to do was wake her.
Sliding out of bed, he quickly packed his bag.
You’re a damn coward.
The idea of saying goodbye to her face-to-face was too painful. She’d try to be brave and the moment would break both of their hearts. He convinced himself this was the best way to do it.
Once she’d fallen asleep, he knew what he had to do. No longer would he give up and let Vlad or some operative working for the Company kill him. His new priority was to stay alive, if at all possible, for Mar.
If he had any chance to be with her again, he had to get ready for a war. If things didn’t go his way, then at least he’d know he’d gone down fighting.
And he did care about her. He hadn’t lied when he told her he’d leave with a heavy heart. His felt like someone had tied a six-hundred-pound anvil to it, and ripped it out of his chest.
All those songs on the radio hadn’t lied. Love hurt like hell.
Taking one last look at her, he closed the door silently behind him.
You have to move on.
The walk up the hill wasn’t so easy this time. The farther he was away from her, the more his chest tightened. His feet were leaden, and at every step his heart warned him to turn and run back to her.
Come on man, pull it together. You’re doing this so that if there is such a thing as miracles, maybe you can be together. He also had the idea that maybe he could draw Vlad’s men in a new direction as far away from Mar as possible. He’d felt so bad about deceiving her, but at least he could give her some peace. A chance to live a happy life, without worries about some goon going after her.
It wasn’t easy, but he used his mental training to focus on his next moves. First thing he had to do was find a passport guy in Bangkok. The one he’d heard about before he’d run into Mar was dead. But there had to be someone else who could do it for a price. There always was.
As he rounded the back side of the main entrance, he ducked behind a wall. Two of the thugs who’d chased them in Bangkok were checking out his bike.
His body tensed, ready to fight.
Jackson listened as they argued back and forth. One of them instructed the other to check at the desk to see what room Jackson and Mar were in.
The other one called him stupid and said this was a rich hotel. They didn’t give away room numbers. Eventually the two decided to sit in their car and wait to see if they could spot their prey.
Jackson needed a new plan.
MAR KNEW AS SOON AS Jackson shut the door that he was gone for good. She’d only pretended to be asleep, knowing that their last lovemaking session was the end. Though she had no plans to stop him, she wanted to know when he left.
Sitting up in bed, she turned on the low lamp. On his pillow Jackson had left her phone and a note.
The phone was dead and she found her charger in her purse and plugged it in. Dreading it, she opened the folded piece of paper he’d left.
Mar,
I care about you, more than I have about anyone else—ever. Sneaking out is a cowardly way to go, but I couldn’t stand to see that look in your eyes. Our last moments together should be happy ones we shared over strawberry pie.
My life is complicated and I didn’t lie. While I can’t give you details, I can tell you I’m not Mr. Thomas the detective. I sort of walked in on your case accidentally, and decided to help you out. You’re going to find all this out as soon as you turn on your phone.
I’m going to do my best to make sure you are safe by creating a diversion. Give me twenty-four hours and then head straight to the airport. Those goons can’t get through security so move fast.
Please, understand that I only did what was necessary to survive. I feel guilty as hell keeping things from you, but that’s how dire things are for me right now.
That said, I will cherish our time together. You may not believe me, but you stole my heart. I only wish I’d had the courage to tell you to your face.
Jackson
Mar folded the letter back the way it had been.
Tears stung her eyes, then the anger took over.
“Stupid man. I could have helped. Whatever trouble it is.” She ranted as she went to the bathroom and washed her face. She’d already decided she couldn’t stay here one more minute. This place reeked of Jackson and the longer she stayed the more her heart would break.
“His friggin’ life was in danger, and he couldn’t tell me.” Fists tightening by her sides she resisted the urge to smash them into the mirror.
“I’m mad at myself for falling for a guy I didn’t even know.” And she had jumped off that cliff and dived in headfirst. “Damn you, Jackson. You made me care again. Then I find out the entire time you were with me was a lie.”
Her head ached and her jaw tightened.
Picking up her phone, she saw there were so many messages in her voice mail it could no longer accept more. Rubbing her temples, she sat down on the side of the bed and listened to the first few.
“Mar. Dammit. I’ve called you five times in the last two hours. Answer your phone,” Chi demanded in frustration. “When you get this, you need to get away from that guy you’re with because he isn’t who he says he is. In fact, he told Mr. Thomas that he was your assistant, so God only knows. He could be an axe murderer. If you don’t call me back I’m calling the authorities.”
Hitting the button, she skipped through to the end of the messages. It was Chi again. “Thanks for sending the text message. We’re glad to know you’re alive. I honestly almost called the police and you’re going to have several messages at the hotel desk. Can’t wait to hear what the deal is with your vacation mate. Call me soon.”
Mariska hadn’t sent a text message. She scrolled through her outgoing texts. “Oh, my God. The man knows no bounds. How could he do that?” And where were the messages from the front desk? Had he taken care of those, too?
She resisted the urge to toss the phone across the room. Chewing on her lip, she refused to cry.
“Okay. Breathe. You had a fling with a stranger. You knew that going in. A hot guy with a complicated life, and he was evidently being honest about that part.”
Mar thought back to their initial meeting, to what he’d actually said. He’d said he worked all over the world, and that he’d been here researching a few cases. The man had a gift for languages, and he certainly knew how to evade those mob guys in Bangkok.
And he’d solved her case. The anger dissipated a little. He didn’t have to help her, but he did. Even put his life in danger to keep her safe.
There was no way she could have found Gladstone on her own. She hadn’t even known where to begin searching.
“He knew what he was doing every step of the way. And he helped me. Honestly, he helped me. It’s really hard to hate you when I know you’re a decent person. Jerk.”
And I’m sitting on the bed talking to myself out loud and trying not to cry.
She needed to make sense of it all. If she took her feelings out of it—they’d both been in it for the pleasure. At least that’s why she had originally run off with a man she didn’t know.
“But why would he come with me?” That was a question she wasn’t sure she could answer. He found her attractive. Though he had called her beautiful several times, it went beyond words. She’d seen it in his eyes. There were moments during their time together that she also saw vulnerability in his face, especially when they delved too close to the past.
Whoever Jackson was, he was a good man. She knew that at least.
Mar stared up at the ceiling. As much as she wanted to hate him, she couldn’t. Jackson, if that was his name, had given her some of the best days of her life. She’d had fun, and she’d found an intimacy with him that she’d never experienced before.
The phone rang and she nearly fell off the bed, she was so jumpy. “Hello?”
“Mar, what’s going on?”
“Hey, Chi, what are you talking about?”
“It’s not only me, Makala and Katie are here, too. You’re on speaker.”
Mar sighed. Katie was a former NYPD detective and had a B.S. detector like no other, and Makala was an FBI profiler and their resident shrink.
“Great. What time is it there? Because you know it’s like four in the morning here, right?”
“It’s the only time we figured we could reach you. We’ll let you get back to bed as soon as you tell us about this new man of yours,” Katie insisted. “We demand details. In fact, what kind of guy lies about who he is to get in your pants, and still gets to hang around?”
Blowing out a breath, she thought carefully about what she was about to say. While she doubted she’d ever see him again, she couldn’t bring herself to bitch about him. Even though she had every right after what he’d pulled.
“Is he there?” Chi asked. “Go in the bathroom so you can talk to us.”
Mar gave a forced chuckle. “No, he’s not here. We’ve parted ways. So he’s no longer my man.” She sniffled. Damn, I won’t cry.
“Oh, Mar, tell us, hon. What’s wrong?” The concern in Makala’s voice was almost her undoing. A tear slid down her cheek, but Mar held it together.
“I’m tired. You know. I had some fun with a mysterious guy. It was the best sex of my life, but he had to leave. End of story.”
There was silence on the other end of the phone.
“So you had sex with a guy you’d only known a couple of days?” Chi’s statement was one more of admiration than admonishment. “I have to say, I’m kind of proud of you right now. I mean, when you decide to let go, you do it in a big way. But I’m super glad he didn’t turn out to be an axe murderer.”
Me, too. “I may not be the best detective in the world, you guys, but I do have good sense when it comes to judging people. I still don’t know a damn thing about the guy, but my heart tells me he was a good man. Even though he left in the middle of the night and didn’t say goodbye.”
Again there was silence.
“What? No lectures?” The words came out snappish, but she couldn’t help feeling defensive. “You guys are the ones who find fault with every man I meet.”
“Did you have a good time?” That was Makala again, but there was no judgment in her voice.
“Uh, you know I did. I can honestly say it was the time of my life. I was happier than I’ve ever been.”
“Well, good for you,” Makala said. “There’s nothing wrong with stepping out of your comfort zone. You’ve been through hell this last year and a half. It’s okay that you acted out and did something a little wild. We’ve all been so worried about you.”
Mar started giggling. “So you’re saying it’s a good thing I had sex with a stranger at a remote island resort, even though I’m not sure I know his name? Have you guys been replaced by pod people?”
They laughed, too.
“Yes, that’s what we’re saying,” Katie teased. “Makala’s right. You’ve been so tied up in knots trying to learn the business, and doing a damn fine job I might add, and you haven’t even taken the time to process what happened with your mom.
“You took care of your dad and set up his house so that it runs like clockwork. You arranged it so that someone was there to make sure he ate, and that he had clean shirts. By the way, Mrs. Hopkins has been calling with daily updates, and your dad’s doing fine. I went over there to make sure, and she made chocolate chip pancakes. The best ones I’ve ever had. That woman should have a show on the Food Network.”
Mrs. Hopkins had been a godsend. Mar’s dad was a successful businessman, but he’d taken her mother’s death hard. Since Mar was busy trying to keep SIA afloat, she’d hired Mrs. H. to help with the domestic side of things.
Thinking about her dad brought another tear to her eye. What’s with all the crying? It was like she’d been saving up or something. She reached for a tissue. “Thanks for checking on him. I appreciate it.”
“No worries,” Katie said. “And Mar, we don’t say it enough, but you’ve kept this place running, too. You’re here eighteen hours a day handling research and coordinating who does what. We’ve all had front row seats to the awesomeness that is you.”
This time Mar snorted. “I think I need that T-shirt.”
“I’ll get you one made,” Chi said. And she probably would. “So since your dream man is gone, are you coming home?”
Mar chewed on her lip again. “I’m thinking about it. I have to leave here. It feels weird now, but I’m not ready to come home yet. I promise wherever I go, I’ll let you know. And from now on I’ll keep my phone close by.”
“Good girl,” Chi said. “Take your time. You don’t need to be back until the end of the month.”
She was really lucky to have such amazing friends. “Thanks. I heart you guys, you know that, right?”
“Right back at you, chickie,” Chi said. “Don’t forget to call and let us know where you land.”
“I won’t,” Mar promised.
They said their goodbyes.
“They’re right. I needed this. I had a good time, and I met a terrific guy. He lied. A lot. But was fun. So definitely no regrets.”
Determined to be strong, she called to arrange for a car to take her back to Bangkok. There was still the danger of the mob guys, so she’d have the driver take her straight to the airport. The shopping would have to wait for another time. The hotel in Bangkok would ship her clothing back to Austin. That way she could travel light, and pick things up as she went.
Once she arrived at the airport, she’d see wherever the next flight was going, and she’d buy a ticket.
Back in the bathroom, she pulled her hair up in a ponytail, and brushed her teeth. Throwing her toiletries in her backpack as she did.
She followed with her clothes, wadding them into balls and stuffing them in. In less than five minutes she had everything ready to go, and wore her favorite jeans and a T-shirt. The only thing that wouldn’t fit was her laptop. She decided she’d have to carry it by hand to the car.
Then she realized it was gone. Jackson had taken her laptop.
And her heart.
Fine. Whatever. I’ll buy a new one. I can now add thief to the list of mysterious things about Jackson. Dammit, I never did ask about that tattoo.
Sticking her phone in her hip pocket, she walked to the door. Turning to check the room one last time, she didn’t see the intruder, who slapped a hand over her mouth as Mar screamed for her life.