Part 23 (1/2)

Andie tried to catch her breath. She felt as if she'd been running for hours. It was nerves. Her stomach fluttered and her palms were damp. They were really getting out of here.

She supposed she should be happy. Once they were inFlorida, they had a chance of escaping Kray. Yet she didn't want to go. It wasn't just because she was going to miss Jeff. Of course she was; he'd become a big part of her life. But the worst part of leaving was what he was going to do when she was gone. Whether Kray's men killed him instantly or he found his way back to the States, he was dead to her. The man she loved, the man she'd spent the night with, would be gone forever.

She wanted to sit down and cry, but there was no time for tears. Besides, she didn't want to scare Bobby.

As Jeff walked down the dock, she placed her hand on her son's shoulder. Bobby glanced up at her. His face was solemn. She gave him a half smile. ”It's going to be okay.”

He nodded. ”Jeff told me I have to be brave for you, Mommy.”

”You're very brave. I'm proud of you.”

She squeezed his shoulder, then bent down and took his hand. When Jeff turned back toward her and waved for them to come toward him, she bent down and pulled Bobby against her, then started toward the boat.

The morning was steamy. As she hurried along the wooden dock she felt perspiration break out on her forehead and back. Jeff moved toward her and met her halfway. He took Bobby from her and led the way to the boat. The closer they got to the vessel, the larger it appeared. It had to be at least forty feet long.

Jeff stepped into the boat and set Bobby down, then turned and a.s.sisted her. The deck s.h.i.+fted beneath her feet. She had to hold on to him to keep her balance. Jeff wrapped his arm around her waist.

A man stepped onto the deck from below. Andie stared at him. He was tall and muscled like Jeff, with blond hair. But the stranger's hair was more golden and hung just past the collar of his polo s.h.i.+rt.

”You'll get your sea legs soon enough,” the man said,then grinned. He was handsome, although not as good-looking as Jeff. His eyes were brown instead of blue and there was a scar on his face, from the corner of his mouth down across his chin. ”I'mCort .” He held out his hand.

”Andie.” She glanced at Jeff. When he nodded she shook the other man's hand. ”This is my son, Bobby.”

Cortsquatted down in front of the boy. ”Hey, kid, how's it going?”

Bobby straightened. ”I'm brave.”

”Good for you.” He glanced at the bag the child held. ”Are those your toys?”

Bobby nodded.

”Why don't I show you where to store them, then we'll leave. Okay?”

He was asking the question of Bobby, but looking at Jeff.

Bobby hesitated.

”It's all right, honey,” Andie said. ”Go explore the boat, then come back and tell me what it's like. We're going to be on board for a couple of days.”

Cortstood up and took the bag, then led the way down to the main cabin. Andie could see through the open door and the large windows flanking either side. There were two small sofas in the salon, a television and even a narrow coffee table. Beyond that, she saw part of a kitchen.

”Cort'sa good man,” Jeff said. ”You'll be safe with him. The boat is large enough to be comfortable.”

She didn't want to hear about being comfortable. She stared into his familiar face,then leaned against him. Instantly his arms wrapped around her. ”Don't go,” she pleaded. She touched his shoulders, his back, his sides, then felt the pistol tucked in the waistband of his shorts. ”Come with us.”

”I can't.”

”You won't.” She pushed away from him and folded her arms over her chest. ”There's a difference.” His blue eyes met hers unflinchingly. ”Why do you have to be the one to do this?” she asked.

”There's no one else.”

”Entire governments are looking for Kray. They'll catch him. Don't you see? If you kill him, he wins. He'll make a mistake eventually. He has to. Everybody runs out of luck. Don't destroy your life over this. Don't destroy us. Or me.”

He touched her face. She wanted to duck away, but she couldn't. His fingers stroked her cheek. ”I know how hard this is for you.”

”You don't know anything about what I'm feeling. I've spent the last six years living in h.e.l.l. I finally find a little peace and comfort and you want to destroy it.” The anger gave her strength and she did step back then. ”I won't wait for you. If you get away, if your government forgives you, don't bother coming to find me. What you're going to do is wrong and once you do it, you won't be a man I can love anymore.”

He didn't move, but she saw his muscles tense at her words. A flash of pain lit his eyes; then he blinked and all emotion was gone. ”I understand.”

She flew at him and started hitting his chest. ”Don't understand, d.a.m.n you. Get angry, change your mind,stay with me.”

He grabbed her wrists and held them to her side. ”I can't do that. If there's anything else, anything, I'll do it or say it. Just tell me what it is.”

He wouldn't be swayed. She hadn't thought he would, but a small part of her had continued to hope. If only she could make him see what the price would be. Yet he knew the price. He was willing to pay it. He would do what he felt he had to do,then face the consequences. He would risk everything, even her.

She tried to think of some last words to convince him. Instead she blurted out, ”Tell me you love me.”

He stared at her.

She flushed. ”I know you don't. You're still in love with Jeanne, and you can't forget who I was married to. I know it's not true, but please, say the words. Just once.”

She needed to hear them. They would keep her strong. He stared at her for solong, she started to tug to free her wrists. Then he let her go. Before she could turn away, he hauled her up against him and kissed her.

His mouth was hot and hungry. His lips pressed hard against hers, his tongue invaded, demanding her surrender. They clung to each other as if they would never see each other again.

They never would.

At last he released her. She had to fight back the tears. ”I love you,” he said, then took her hand in his and kissed her palm.

Before she could answer,Cort came out from the salon. ”Bobby is having some juice and a graham cracker,” he said. ”We're ready to go. You sure you don't want to come with us, boss?”

”Thanks, but I've got to take care of business.”

Andie didn't care about being strong. She grabbed his arm. ”Don't do this. Don't throw everything away.”

He bent down and kissed her cheek. ”Take care of yourself, Andie. Don't hate me forever.”

”I don't hate you at all. I love you.”

He stepped away from her,then vaulted over the side of the boat onto the deck. Her chest felt as if someone were ripping out her heart.

”I can't do this,” she whispered.

”You have to be strong for your son,”Cort said.

She looked up at him and saw compa.s.sion in his oddly flecked brown eyes. ”I know. It's hard.”