Shell Game (21 page)

And how the hell did she know that?

“Don’t look at me that way.”

“Nana. You didn’t.”

“Had I known you were going to be in danger, baby, I wouldn’t have.”

“Oh, Nana.”

Luke stepped aside and let the two women love on each other.

Lagging behind as the passengers and his fellow officers made their way to the front door, Frenchy turned and moved next to Luke. “I see you’re still playing hero.”

Though spoken with the same even tone as after the fire incident earlier on the cruise, this time, to Luke, the words rang cold and sharp. He barely shook his head.

“Once again”—Frenchy gave a single dip of his chin. The slightest of nods—“thank you, Lieutenant.” Then walked away.

The deference to Luke’s rank gave him no pleasure. This was no game. Not the kind he wanted to play. Not anymore. Silently watching Sophia and Sharla apologize to each other for everything from not understanding to not thinking, Luke made some fast choices.

“You done good.” Herbie moved beside him, legs apart at parade rest, arms crossed.

Luke didn’t say anything.

“You know, there are more people like us. Everywhere.”

This time Luke dragged his gaze away from the woman he knew beyond a doubt he didn’t want to live without to look at Herbie. “Us?”

“Well, not exactly us. But people getting taken in one way or another. Some by professionals, some by spouses, businessmen, even their children.”

He’d been thinking almost the exact same thing. Bad guys were bad guys. And with the right people, he could help a lot of the good guys without putting his life on the line every day. “Yeah,” he agreed. “There are. You want in?”

The ends of Herbie’s mouth curled up in a Cheshire grin.

Apparently Luke wasn’t the only one ready for a change. All he had to do now was sell the idea to Sharla.

Chapter Twenty-One

Federal agents and local port authorities were all over the Baileys’ cabin like ants on sugar. Earlier Luke had stood by Sharla while his FBI buddy had questioned her and her grandmother. Very thankful to the guy for keeping it short and sweet, and for agreeing to wait until after they returned to port stateside to obtain any additional information from the family. After all they both knew nothing from here on would be done quickly.

Once on board, Herbie hadn’t wanted to leave Sophia’s side, and neither Sophia nor Luke had wanted to relinquish custody of Sharla. In the end, the four wound up on the promenade deck, leaning against the railing, an adult beverage in hand, watching the agents leave the ship with the Baileys’ belongings.

Making a tsk-tsk sound, Sophia slowly shook her head. “What are the odds in the few hours they had to process their room that the chain of evidence didn’t get totally screwed up?”

“You don’t know that,” Herbie said.

“We’ll see. In the meantime, good thing I got these.” Sophia pulled out her phone and looked to Luke. “I should have thought to send you this earlier, but, when I heard about Sharla, everything else slipped away. Give me your cell number.”

In only a few seconds, photos of passports, along with bank deposit slips in the name of Gloria Montanaccio and Thelma Brisbane popped up in his in-box. No wonder Antonio had failed at everything until he became George Bailey. If Gloria had control of all the money, she probably had control of everything else too. Or, as Sophia had said earlier, was setting up Good Old George for the fleecing of his life.

Sophia pointed at her phone. “Maybe you can use some of your connections to make sure the money in those bank accounts doesn’t disappear.”

Without a word Luke immediately forwarded the data to Kate. If there was any way to jump the gun on freezing funds, she’d know how to do it. Sophia had done good. He had to admire the old broad, even if she had put her granddaughter at risk. Sharla simply didn’t have the instincts to make a good con artist.

Luke put away his phone and took a sip of his bourbon. Over the rim of the glass, his gaze remained level with Sophia. “Do I even want to know how you got into her room?”

Sophia shrugged. “I’d noticed where Gloria put the card after we left the ship. Had several chances. But the perfume parlor was irresistible. She’d leaned forward on the counter shoving her bag out of the way. Even an apprentice could have lifted the thing undetected.”

“I can see we’re going to have to have a long talk about your skill sets.” Herbie’s words held the tone of a parent reproving a daredevil toddler, but the warmth in his eyes dispelled any concern. Those two were going to make one heck of a pair.

The ship’s horn tooted and slowly the island-sized craft began to move.

“Shall we watch from upstairs?” Luke extended his hand to Sharla.

“Good idea.”

“We’ll stay here.” Sophia raised her glass. “I wouldn’t mind another drink. You two run along and have fun.”

He escorted Sharla away from the throngs of passengers leaning over the top deck rail to view the dockside activity and stopped at an isolated spot aft on the big ship. Neither spoke as their floating hotel slowly pulled away, the island of St. Thomas growing smaller with every passing minute. He couldn’t decide what to do or say.

Biding his time was something he was very good at. Timing was everything in the military. A sailor didn’t have to have the training of a SEAL to understand that basic concept. But the detailed planning of a mission in enemy territory suddenly seemed to be a cakewalk compared to when and how to address what was on his mind. And heart.

Taking the first step, he moved his hand to cover hers and was delighted to have her immediately thread her fingers with his.

“I’ve been thinking,” tumbled from each of them.

Raw fear caught in his throat. He had to go first. Had to tell her about his plans before she could tell him good-bye. He had to. When she politely smiled and said, “You go first,” relief washed over him as quickly as panic had only moments before.

“It doesn’t look like George and Gloria are going to be scamming anyone else for a good long while,” he said. Not heart-winning prose, but a start.

“Thank heavens for that.”

“For years I’ve focused on the global picture of protecting my country. Never thought a man of my training could do much good here at home.”

Sharla’s lips tightened, and her grip on his hand lightened, ready to slip away. “I understand.”

“No.” He squeezed tighter. Unwilling to lose the small connection. “I don’t think you do. I had fun. Except for the part where I thought I could lose you forever. Herbie and I enjoyed every step of taking down those snakes. It’s a real adrenaline kick knowing some other group of senior citizens won’t lose their life savings to George and Gloria down the road.”

Head slightly tipped to one side, deep creases formed between her brows, Sharla studied him like a scientist analyzing long-awaited test results.

Results that made no sense to her. Or perhaps results she didn’t like. The latter heightened the nerves already tangling in his gut. “I think I can make a difference. A real difference in people’s lives. So does Herbie.”

The frown deepened. “I don’t understand.”

Tugging on their linked hands, he pulled her closer. Close enough that he could feel the light brush of her breath against his chin, the rise of her chest as she sucked in air, then held it.

“It’s time for a change. Time to let the younger guys save the world.”

Her deep long-held breath whooshed out, and she blinked. Hope shining in her eyes. “What kind of change?”

“It’s time
home
meant more than a mailing address. Someplace close to my brother so he can remember what I look like. And someplace close to you.”

Her brows shot up; her mouth fell open, and, if he’d been sure that surprised look was because she was pleased and not one of
oh, shit
, he would have laughed.

“I, I don’t think… I mean—”

“We haven’t had very much time together, and we still have a lot more to learn about each other. But I’d like the chance.” A strand of hair blew into her face, and he carefully brushed it away, tucking it behind her ear. “I wanted to break the asshole in the Panama hat’s neck with my own two hands for even daring to touch you. The idea of never having another day with you screwed with my head.”
And heart
. “I want to get to know you better. And when I think I know all there is to know, I want to learn more. I’d like a chance at forever.”

The feel of Luke’s fingers lightly brushing against Sharla’s cheek left a trail of tingles down her spine all the way to her toes. Everything in her wanted to scream yes, yes, yes! But some small part of her brain scrambled to interpret everything he’d said. Starting with how he and Herbie could make a real difference.

Luke ran the back of his hand along her jaw. “I can’t promise you that I won’t get hit by a bus or become some medical statistic, but I
can
promise that you won’t have to worry about where I go to work every day. I’ll never be wheels up again.”

“Wheels up?”

His hand dropped in search of hers. Fingers woven together, his thumb gently swirled across the already hypersensitive underside of her wrist. “
Wheels up
is when a team gets called on a mission. We’d have hours to report for duty and be gone. It’s hard on a marriage. Wives don’t know where their husbands are going or when they’ll be back.”

“Or if they’ll be back.” Her voice came out low and scratchy.

“You work in the ER, right?”

She nodded.

“How many families have you seen torn up at the sudden death of a loved one? Car accident. Heart attack. Whatever.”

“Too many.”

“Any of them teachers? Accountants? Maybe a plumber?” His gaze bore into her with an intensity she’d only seen once before, when he had come flying through the café door searching for her.

“Probably.” She knew where he was going with this. But it was different. Not the same thing… Or was it? She was an ordinary nurse who, only a few hours ago, had almost gotten her head blown off by a crazed crook. “What exactly do you and Herbie have in mind?”

Luke knew he’d made progress when the deep furrow between Sharla’s brows gave way to a smooth surface. All he had to do was pitch the last bit and pray for a smile. “For starters Herbie has a friend who just moved to a nursing home. Herbie has some suspicions about the quality of care. There’s also a resident who wants to know what her son is doing with all the money he keeps asking her for.”

“Seems pretty tame work for a big bad SEAL.”

“There’s more.”

“More?”

“Sophia thinks you need a better security system.”

“Me?” The word came out just above a whisper.

He tucked that rogue strand of hair behind her ear again and leaned close enough to hear her breath catch. “She thinks your current alarm system is outdated.”

“She does?” Her gaze darted from his eyes to his lips and back.

“She seems to think you need something more encompassing, newer, stronger.”

“Stronger?”

“A security system that can chase away the bad guys. And the ghosts.” He didn’t give her another chance to respond. Pulling her tightly against him, he let his mouth find hers. And, dear Lord, she tasted like heaven and hope. And home.

If they hadn’t been in public in broad daylight, he would have continued a path down her neck. Lingered on the pulse point calling his name before moving on to her shoulder, her breast and not stopping until he’d reached the spot just below her hip that made her shiver beneath him. But this isolated spot aboard ship wasn’t isolated enough. Even lost in a tide of need and want, he could still hear the sound of approaching footsteps. A pair. Judging by the casual pace, another couple seeking a little privacy to enjoy the departing view—and each other.

Grudgingly he pulled away, his forehead dropping slowly to hers, his breath ragged, and the blood in his veins still rushing south. “What do you say we finish this conversation in my room?”

“That depends.”

“On?” He lifted his head to read her expression.

The longing in her dark eyes slid away, giving place to an amused sparkle. “Is this a test run of my new security system?”

“Yes, ma’am. Installation is free. And I come with a lifetime warranty.”

* * *

“There’s no way around this. I need a bigger suitcase.” Sharla dropped her hands to her hips and shook her head.

From behind her, Luke’s arms wound around her waist. “Pack the souvenirs, leave the clothes.” He nuzzled her neck. “You won’t need them anyway.”

“Has anyone mentioned you have a one-track mind?”

“Yes, ma’am.” He spun her around and captured her mouth in a breath-stealing kiss.

Pulling away and smacking him lightly on the arm, she held back a smile. “You promised not to distract me if I let you help me pack. Just for your information, that’s distracting.”

“I certainly hope so.”

With a quick peck on the tip of his nose, Sharla turned to stare at the overflowing luggage. “This is just going to have to wait. Nana and Herbie are expecting us to meet them for trivia.”