She held her ground as he came closer, though her heartbeat seemed to accelerate with every step he took. When he came to a stop in front of her, folded arms almost brushing her chest, she felt as if she were standing on a moving boat, as if the pier under her feet were rocking with the force of her own pulse. Her eyes were on a level with his beard-stubbled chin. Gray stubble mixed with reddish brown. Hurriedly, she dropped her gaze-and saw dense, sun-bronzed skin, sun-bleached hair nestled in the deep V of a tropical-print shirt. Were there a few gray hairs mixed in? She caught a quick breath. Oh, good grief
Im going to tell you something, he said in a soft-rough growl that seemed to resonate in her very bones. And listen carefully, because Im only gonna say it once. I dont like to let it get around too much. I do have a reputation to think about. However. In my own way, I am a man of honor. There are certain rules for living that, for completely selfish reasons, I try never to break. You, sister, are a married woman. I make it a point never to mess around with other mens wives, for the same reason I make it a point never to cheat at cards. Saves me having to watch my back all the time. See, Im a live-and-let-live kind of guy. No hassles-thats my motto.
Oh-and one other thing. I am also a man of my word. I told you Id go with you to meet theseguys. We shook hands on it. I dont go back on my handshake.
Incomprehensibly rattled, Ellie sucked in a breath and retorted, Yes, well, unfortunately, I have only your word for that.
She was even more unnerved when he threw back his head and laughed. So unnerved that her gaze jerked upward and collided with his. And-oh, Lord, why did she keep forgetting how blue his eyes were? How clear and clean andhonest? And right now, bright with amusement.
I guess youre right about that, he said, still softly chuckling.
And Ellie, still in thrall of those eyes, heard herself murmur, Im sorry.
Hey-if you were my daughter, Id probably be the first one to tell you not to trust me. I think. He seemed to think about that, then shrugged it off. So, whats it gonna be? Coming or staying?
Both, Ellie said firmly, having just at that very moment made up her mind. Coming with you and staying with you. But I still have to get my stuff.
Where you gonna put it? On the roof? My cars full up, if you remember. And, he added darkly, Im not sacrificing any more paintings for you, lady. At the rate my stock is being depleted, if I hang around with you much longer Im going to be out of business. Well go and unload first, have some lunch and take a look at those directions. Check out a map. Then Ill bring you back here so you can check out of your floating hotel. Hows that?
Fine, said Ellie meekly. She was wondering what her parents would think of their nice level-headed daughter if they knew she was about to go home with a beach bum shed only just met.
Chapter 5
McCalls house was a surprise to Ellie. Shed imagined him living in a rickety beach shack with palm thatch on the roof and no glass in the windows. Instead, his house sat on a small cliff just outside of town, reached by wooden stairs that scaled the cliff in a series of short zigzags, and while it was slightly rickety and did have a thatched roof, it was much too substantial ever to be called a shack. Made of stone covered with dingy white plaster, it rather reminded Ellie of a sulky seagull squatting on a pile of rocks.
On the other hand, she thought, in a way it was just like him-scruffy and eccentric, but with a certain rakish charm.
Rakish charm? She sucked in a breath as somewhere in the back of her mind alarms began beeping a steady warning, like the monitors in an ICU. Not the ones that bring the crash cart at a dead run, more like the ones that cause the nurses on duty to glance up, maybe come over and make a few minor adjustments, then go on about their business. Nothing to worry about, not yet, the alarms said. Just be on the alert.
McCall parked the VW on a widened-out spot on the dirt road, close to the side of the cliff near the base of the steps.
Do you mind taking a load up now? he asked as he got out of the car, pocketing his keys, and began pulling canvasses out of the back seat. Saves a trip.
Sure. Already out of the car herself, Ellie folded her seat forward and began tugging on canvasses.
Here, take these. He dumped his own load into her outstretched arms. Ive got a system. Go on up-its unlocked. Ill catch up with you.
Right, said Ellie as she cast a dubious look upward.
But the steps were neither as steep nor as rickety as they looked, and she arrived at the top safely and only slightly winded. The steps ended at a flagstone pathway, flanked by bird-of-paradise and lily-of-the-Nile and some drought-resistant succulents, which led to a wide three-arched veranda. The veranda was the same stone and plaster as the house itself, with the same type of thatched roof, and a floor made of flagstone, like the path. Unexpectedly enchanted, Ellie paused in its deep shade to look out on the view of thatched roofs, palm trees, and pale aqua-blue water. Clouds were building along the horizon, where a line of ultramarine marked the beginning of deep water, like a line drawn with a dark blue Magic Marker.
Nice view, she said to McCall, who was just then stepping onto the flagstone pathway, canvasses tucked under both arms.
It occurred to her that in spite of being a fairly heavy smoker, he seemed to be in good physical condition. Certainly no more out of breath after that climb than she was. She told herself that was a good thing to know, given the fact that he was going to be her temporary partner in what could very well be a dangerous assignment. She told herself that was the only reason shed noticed.
Hadnt noticed, McCall grunted, in response to her comment. But he gave her a look as he passed her, and even in the verandas deep shadows she could see the bright blue gleam of irony in his eyes.
McCall held his body rigid and hoped she wouldnt hear his heart beating as he reached past her to open the heavy wooden door, then waited for her to enter his house ahead of him. He held his breath, too, but it didnt help much; it seemed her orange-blossom scent was already in his senses to stay. He wondered if hed absorbed it through his pores.
She gave him back the look as she stepped carefully around him, the same amused, sardonic one hed given her. You dont lock your door?
He followed her into his house and kicked the door shut behind him. Everybody around here knows I dont have anything worth stealing. Like I said-my needs are simple. I live a hassle-free life. At least, I used to, he added darkly, looking around for a place to stash the canvasses. Normally theyd go on the couch, but since it looked as if he was going to be needing that later on, it didnt seem like a good choice. Finally he just lowered the whole stack to the floor near the front door and leaned them against the wall. Good enough-theyd be going back out soon enough.
He devoutly hoped. If this whole smuggling mess didnt wind up getting him killed, which, given what hed seen of these people so far, seemed a distinct possibility.
And this his first Good Samaritan act since hed adopted this new care-and-hassle-free life. The irony in that made him laugh, a brief and mirthless snort.
Here-let me have those. He relieved Cinnamon of her burden-he supposed he was going to have to call her Ellie now that he knew her name, but in his mind she was always going to be Cinnamon-and added those canvasses to the stack on the floor.
Then he straightened, and was suddenly aware of the fact that for the first time in a long time there was a strange woman occupying his house. A woman he was intensely attracted to. And had no business being attracted to. Dammit. He had to resist the impulse to fidget, couldnt find any worthwhile use for his hands.
Ahokay. Thatll do for now. We can get the rest later. You, uhwant to go look at that envelope now, or you want something to eat first?
Ahokay. Thatll do for now. We can get the rest later. You, uhwant to go look at that envelope now, or you want something to eat first?
Im kind of hungry, actually. She said that absently, with her back to him as she was strolling toward the French doors that opened out onto his garden. Enclosed on two sides by stone and plaster walls and on the back by the same rock that formed the foundation of his house, it was pretty much the way hed found it-an untamed riot of bougainvillea and hibiscus and lots of other stuff hed never bothered to learn the names of.
I believe in the live-and-let-live method of gardening, he explained as he hurried to beat her there, nervous as a new mama dog with one pup, wondering what shed be thinking about it-about the garden, his househim. Wondering why in hell it mattered.
She was looking at him, smiling, eyes glowing with it. Then she sort of started and gasped, Oh-my God! when he opened the doors. But it was in pleasure, not dismay.
Meet Carmen, he said gruffly, as a raccoon trotted huffily past his feet and, pausing only to give him a scolding growl, trundled off toward the kitchen. Shes not really tame, he went on to explain, as Ellie turned her fascinated gaze on him. He felt obscurely pleased with her reaction, and awkward and self-conscious because of it. Just thinks my kitchen is part of her scavenging territory, and gets testy when I shut the door on her and she cant get to it. Actually, Im not even sure she isnt a he- he batted at a monarch butterfly that was bobbing drunkenly through the doorway just then, managed to shoo it back outside then quickly shut the doors -but it didnt seem polite to ask.
Live and let live, Ellie said, in a voice thick with suppressed laughter.
Right
Wont he-or she-need to, uh she gestured toward the closed doors.
Oh, Carmen lets me know when she wants to go- He broke off, swearing, interrupted by a racket of furious squeals and screeches. Ellie was right behind him as he dodged into the kitchen. He wasnt surprised to find the raccoon on the countertop with her paws up on the side of the refrigerator. From the top of the fridge a pair of round, wide eyes stared down at him in sleepy outrage.
McCall clapped his hands-a futile exercise, he knew, but it allowed him to maintain the illusion that he was still boss of his domain. Okay, get down from there. Thats not part of the deal. Come on-get.