Part 13 (2/2)

Stupid jerk. That's right. You're supposed to hate him. He dumped you.

But...No. Don't go there.

”I know you're mad.” Jackson lowered his voice and that deep s.e.xy tone was hard to resist. She kept her head turned away. ”I understand why, and I'm sorry I deceived you. I promise, whatever I did, it was necessary to protect my cover.”

When she continued staring at the wall, he went on.

”My name really is Jackson. It's after one of my mom's favorite soap opera characters. The last name, the one my family gave me, is Walker. I don't use it much, because of the business I'm in. I promise you if you come with me now, I will tell you as much as I can without endangering your life.”

Mar turned back around and took in his handsome mug. Something clicked in her brain and she knew he was some kind of intelligence officer. CIA, DEA, something. He was in work mode, and there was a different look about him. His body tensed, as if he were ready for a fight. She'd noticed it when they were at the casino and at the hotel in Bangkok.

He didn't want to blow his cover.

Ding. Ding. Mar won the spy prize.

At the office this past year she'd had a chance to meet with several intelligence officers when the agency consulted on cases with the CIA, FBI and DEA. She knew the way they talked and acted. Even in the boardroom there was a toughness about the agents who actually did field work.

Jackson had that same quiet intensity about him. He was on a mission.

”Good. At least I know the name of the man who made love to me the last three days. So why me, Jackson?” Mar wasn't exactly sure she wanted to hear the answer, but she had to ask. ”What?”

”Why would you come here with me? If you're so worried about blowing your cover, and your life is in danger, why spend so much time with me? Seems to me you should be off on some mission somewhere, not making out with a chick on a beach.”

He stepped back and leaned against the wall. ”I don't know what to tell you.” He frowned. ”Our meeting was an accident, but I didn't know that until after we arrived here. I thought you were someone else.” His arms crossed against his chest and she could tell he told the truth from the confused expression on his face.

”I can't tell you why, but I thought I was supposed to stay close to you. When you mentioned the beach trip, well, at first I thought it was a good idea to get out of Bangkok. But by the time we drove to the resort-I...”

When his voice faltered, she warily gazed up at him. ”You what?”

Jackson pushed away from the wall. ”I wanted to be with you. I know you don't believe me, but that's the truth.” He glanced down at the floor and back up at her. ”I understand why you don't exactly feel compelled to come with me right now, but we have to go while it's still dark. I'm telling the truth about the mob guys. I'll take you and show you where they are if you want, but we need to get the h.e.l.l out of here.”

”One more question, then I'll go.”

”What?”

”Are you going to hurt me?” She challenged him. Needing to know exactly what his intentions were where she was concerned.

Jackson dropped the hand he'd been about to put on her shoulder, and stepped back. ”Mar,” he said, his voice strained. ”I would give my life for you if necessary. You-are more important to me than anyone else. I promise that all I want to do right now is make sure you are safe. Then you won't ever have to see me again.”

Mar believed him. The expression in his eyes told her that he'd been mortified she could even think he would harm her. While she didn't want to admit it, his line about never seeing him again sent a panic through her. She'd lived that reality ten minutes ago and she didn't want to do it again.

The universe had given her a second chance, and she would take advantage of it.

She clicked her tongue on the top of her mouth. ”Hopefully it won't be necessary, that whole giving your life for me. Though I'm still kind of p.i.s.sed at you, so if it comes up, I'm so playing that card. How do you propose we get out of here?”

Jackson stared at her, relief flooding his face when he understood that she would go with him. ”Well, they're in the parking lot watching my bike. We're going to have to borrow a car. I'll jack one, but I promise I'll make sure it gets back to the rightful owner.” Jackson gave her an earnest look.

Mar rolled her eyes. ”Why do you have to make everything so clandestine? How about we use the car I hired? It's picking me up in front of the hotel...” She glanced at her watch. ”Right now. Except if those bozos are watching the parking lot that might make it a little tough to get in the car without being seen.”

Jackson didn't say anything for a moment. Then he took in her backpack, and the fact that she was already dressed. ”You were leaving?”

She pushed past him, and pretended to check something in the bathroom so he couldn't see her face. ”Yes. I-I'm bored with this place, and I've decided to spend the rest of my vacation somewhere else. We better go. The car's waiting and those guys are liable to get suspicious if it stays empty,” she said.

Mar didn't care about the circ.u.mstances that had thrown them together again. She was grateful for more time with the man. She should be furious, but all the anger from before had dissipated. Jackson shouldn't have left her behind, but he'd returned to make sure she was safe. That counted for something in her book.

”Hmm. I think I have an idea.” Mar reached for the phone.

The front desk picked up after one ring.

”Hi, I'm hoping you can help me out?”

”We are here to serve, Ms. Stonegate.” The gentleman had a French accent.

”Excellent. Listen, my friend noticed some guys who might be paparazzi sitting out in the parking lot. They were checking out his bike and then went back to sit in their car. We're leaving in a few minutes and I would prefer not having my picture flashed all over the tabloids. Um, you know, with my friend.”

She knew the resort prided itself on being a place where people of certain means could come without worrying about things like paparazzi. The clerk was duly horrified at the prospect of his hotel being invaded by cameras.

”I'll send our security staff immediately to handle the situation. Might I suggest that you meet the car outside the gates? There's an easy path up the beach and through the trees. That way you won't need to worry about them following your car.”

Mar explained to Jackson what the clerk had said.

”You never fail to surprise me,” he said. ”Speaking of that, was that a Krav Manga move you threw at me when I grabbed you in the doorway?”

Mar's right eyebrow lifted. ”I keep telling you I can take care of myself. You don't have a former CIA agent for a mother and not pick up a few things here and there. So don't worry. If the bad guys come after you, I've got your back.”

Jackson smiled. ”I believe you do.”

18.

THE PLAN WORKED PERFECTLY and Jackson and Mar were in the car on the way to Bangkok with no problems.

Jackson kept an eye on the road behind them. The guys at the hotel weren't stupid. If they'd seen the car pull up and then out again without any guests, they'd get suspicious. Though so far he hadn't seen any sign of them.

Mar's flowery scent teased him. His body urged him to scoop her up in his arms and hold her. Maybe even beg for forgiveness. He couldn't stand the fact that she hated him.

When she asked if he meant her harm, he'd almost come unglued. If he hadn't been worried about her life he would have showed her how much she meant to him right then and there.

He couldn't blame her for being angry about his deception. There was no excuse for what he'd done. He'd taken the coward's way out.

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