Part 11 (2/2)

Bobby swung and missed again. He didn't let the boy get frustrated; instead he moved closer and showed him how to swing the bat.

Andie recognized the feeling that swept over her. Admiration for the man and his courage. If only they'd met under other circ.u.mstances. If only he didn't dislike her quite so much.

Bobby swung again and missed. ”That's three,” he said and set the bat down. ”Mommy, are you going to hit?”

”Sure.” Andie moved toward the towel that marked home plate. She turned toward Jeff. He stared at her for a long time.

”Why don't you pitch to your mom?” he said, handing Bobby the ball.

Her son grinned and took his place. Jeff moved to the outfield. Andie pushed her gla.s.ses up her nose,then picked up the bat.

”Come on, Bobby,” she called. ”Over the plate. Gimme a good one and I'll hit it clear to the other side of the island.”

The first pitch was solow, it hit her in the ankle. She jumped,then chased the ball toward the palm trees by the surf. When she grabbed it, she threw it back to Bobby.

The warm sun felt good on her back. She dug her toes into the sand and bent over the plate. In the background she could hear the humming of insects and the faint call of birds. The pounding of the waves added rhythm to the noises. Bobby pitched again.

This time the plastic ball came directly toward her. She swung and hit it, sending it over her son's head toward their imaginary outfield. Jeff took off after the ball. Andie dropped the bat and started for first base.

”Run, Mom,” Bobby yelled, jumping up and down. ”Run fast.”

She reached the base, then tried to judge the distance to second. Jeff had already collected the ball and was heading toward her. But there was no one for him to throw the ball to. She started running.

He picked up his pace and angled toward her. They were both aiming for the faded red towel lying in the pale sand. She laughed out loud, wondering how long it had been since she'd just plain had fun.

”Run, Mom. Catch her, Jeff!”

Andie stuck her tongue out at her son. ”Make up your mindwho you're rooting for.”

Bobby grinned back.

Jeff was gaining. He raced toward her, the ball held in his right hand. She thought about diving for the base,then slowed suddenly when Jeff's expression changed. He stopped running, as if giving her the chance to get to the base first. She didn't understand why. Then she saw his eyes and the fire flaring there. She became conscious of wearing only a T-s.h.i.+rt over her bathing suit. Her legs were exposed to his hungry gaze. An answering need flickered inside of her.

His mouth twisted with disgust. She didn't know if it was at him orherself and she didn't want to know. The only thing that was clear was that he didn't want to touch her if he could avoid it.

”Tag her, Jeff,” Bobby said.

Jeff took a step toward her, then reached out and brushed her forearm with the ball. She looked down and saw his arousal straining at the front of his shorts. He wanted her. Her thighs quivered with antic.i.p.ation. She wanted him, too.

”Jeff?” she whispered.

”No.” His voice was a low growl. He dropped the ball on the sand. ”The last one in the pool has to clean up after dinner.”

He raced toward the pool, tearing off his T-s.h.i.+rt as he went. Bobby ran after him and jumped in. Her son's laughter filled the afternoon. She watched them wrestle and play for a while,then went inside. Her body still hummed with awareness. Her skin was hypersensitive, her movements restless. But she would gladly ignore the pa.s.sion, she thought as she sat in the house alone. The bigger need was for someone to talk to. She wasmore lonely than she was aroused. She would trade all the desire, even their kiss from the night before, if only Jeff would like her half as much as he wanted her.

Clouds rolled in through the early evening. By the time the sun set, they obscured the colors on the horizon. Jeff sat on the porch railing, staring out into the darkness. There would be no stars tonight. According to the weather report, the squall would be over quickly. Good news because they would need the light of the moon and the stars tomorrow when they went to meet the boat.

In just a little over twenty-four hours, Andie and Bobby would be gone. He would be free to get on with his mission. He'd survived worse than this for much longer. He would endure her presence while she was here.

Through the open windows he could hear m.u.f.fled conversation,then the faintclick as the bedroom door closed. Bobby had been sleepy during dinner, exhausted from his day spent in the pool and playing baseball. Andie walked into the living room, but didn't join him on the porch. He was grateful. He needed his time in the shadows. Often he dreaded night, knowing the ghosts would join him, but this evening he welcomed their company. He needed them to help him remember.

He closed his eyes to recall his wife's face. He could see J.J. laughing, playing,struggling over a big word in the books he was just beginning to read. His son still lived. But Jeanne was gone.

He thought about their wedding day and how she'd looked in her beautiful long white dress. He could see the shape, but her individual features blurred. He called on other memories their honeymoon, the time they spent three weeks inLondon. Buildings, other people, half bits of conversation came into focus, but not her. He'd lost her by betraying her memory. After he'd spent five solitary years mourning her, she was gone.

He stared at the ocean, comforting himself with the thought that if he survived, he would go home and see her pictures. Then he would remember. He hadn't brought any with him; he couldn't risk it. He had no ID, nothing to link him with his real ident.i.ty. Safer for him if he was caught.

He grimaced. If he was caught after he killed Kray, he would be shot on the spot and no one would give a d.a.m.n about who he was. If he was caught before taking care of his enemy, Kray would recognize him instantly and the game would be up. Still, the precautions made him feel better. As if he had a chance.

”Mommy, I want a gla.s.s of water.”

He heard Andie's bare feet slap against the wooden floor. ”Bobby, it's late. Go to sleep.”

”But I want Jeff to tell me a story about Echo. I didn't dream about him last night and I want to. Can we get a bird when we go home?”

She laughed softly. ”What on earth would you do with a bird?”

”Teach him to talk.”

”I think you talk enough for yourself and any three pets. Come on back to bed and I'll tell you one more story, but that's all.”

Their voices faded as they walked down the hallway. Andie Cochran wasn't anything he'd expected. The flashy bimbo with an eye for wealth didn't exist. In her place was an intelligent, brave woman who loved her child with all her heart. Despite her fear, she was doing everything she could to bring her kid up safely, without letting the trauma damage him. She had guts. He would give her that. If only she didn't turn him on.

He listened to the faint whispers of her story about Echo. Bobby's questions became fewer, his voice slurred as he drifted off to sleep. Andie returned to the living room. She walked to the front door and paused.

”Is he asleep?” he asked.

She stepped outside. ”Finally. I don't know how he can be so tired and still keep on going. I guess he's afraid of missing something. This is all an exciting adventure to him.”

”Now that he's with you.”

She settled on the swing. He heard the creak of the wooden slats, then the faint brush of her foot on the porch as she pushed off. ”Yes, being with me makes a difference.” She sighed. ”He won't talk about what happened with his father. I'm afraid to push him.”

”Is he acting normal?”

”Pretty much. I'm hoping all he's suffered from is homesickness and being scared about being away from me.”

”Kray's an animal, but he wouldn't hurt his heir.”

”I hope you're right,” Andie said.

Jeff s.h.i.+fted on the railing. The porch swing was behind him on his left. If he turned, he would be able to see her. The light from the living room spilled out the windows and would illuminate her face. But he didn't want to see her. Looking at her would make him think about touching her and being close to her. He would remember last night and their kiss. He would want to apologize for being a jerk. She would touch him then, and he would lose even more of his past. The pain and the memories were all he had left.

He shouldn't have kissed her. He shouldn't have thought about the kiss today when they'd been playing ball. He hadn't been able to help himself. There was something about her that drew him. He'd never experienced that reaction before. Of course he'd wanted women before, but never to the exclusion of everything else. Never to the point of endangering his sanity and putting the mission in jeopardy. He'd been a faithful husband, if not an especially loving one. Why did this have to be happening now?

”It looks like it might rain,” she said.

<script>