Now available, DANGER IN PARADISE, Chapters 11 & 12. This romantic intrigue is set in Honolulu, Hawaii, and features a woman (Jessie) caught in a mystery involving her job which includes a top secret clearance. Her dear friend and former boyfriend (Nick) is an espionage writer, and she enlists him to help her find out who is stealing material from her office – that has her name on it. Jessie can only have faith that Nick is as good as the characters in his books.

DISCLAIMER: There are mature scenes in this body of work.

If you have not yet read the earlier chapters, they are still posted on this site. Just scroll down to the first chapter.

ELEVEN

Jessie could hardly wait until Nick arrived, or at least called. Although he hadn’t said so, she assumed the meeting with Todd must have been during the lunch hour. When he hadn’t contacted her by two, she sat down to watch the only soap opera she taped each day. Three rolled around, and he still hadn’t contacted her.

Now she was beginning to worry. Maybe something had happened so he couldn’t call. Maybe he’d been in an accident or gotten hit by a car. Worse yet, he could have succeeded in his plan to get Todd to show his temper. Todd could easily have beaten Nick up since he had those Golden Glove Awards. Nick could be in the hospital—or the morgue!

Wandering to the balcony, she stared down into the parking lot. Her car was nowhere in sight. Where was Nick, anyway? Why didn’t he call if he couldn’t come? The only explanation was that he was hurt and couldn’t.

She went to her bedroom. As she picked up the phone, someone knocked. Racing to the door, she pulled it open, asking frantically, “Oh, Nick! Where have …” Her eyes widened in surprise when she saw that, again, it wasn’t Nick. “Todd! What are you doing here?”

He brushed past her but said nothing until she closed the door and joined him in the living room. Facing her, he glared at her as he announced, “I have to know the truth, Jessie. Did you take my ring off?”

“Why do you ask that?” she asked.

Taking the ring from his pocket, he held it up before her eyes. “Because Ramsdale said that he did—just before he threw it in the ocean. I thought I’d never find it again. Now who took off my ring?”

Jessie stared at the diamond in amazement. So, Nick had given it to him—indirectly. Steeling herself for a drawn-out confrontation, she took a deep breath and released it slowly.

“You don’t understand, Todd,” she explained, careful of her wording. “I was in shock over what you did to me. I couldn’t believe it. When Nick took the ring off, I couldn’t react. All I knew was that I was afraid of you and needed time to think. Not seeing your ring and being reminded of our engagement every time I moved my hand gave me that time.”

“Do you want it back or not?” he demanded.

She shrugged, determined to see this through to the end. The next to the last thing she wanted was for Todd to think he could run her life. The last thing she wanted was to make him mad.

“I don’t know, Todd. I’ve got a lot going on in my life right now. I’ve really been busy at work lately, then you hurt me. Now my boss insists that I only put in half-days until my neck improves. And believe me, that was only a compromise. He wanted me to take sick leave until I’m better; I wanted to keep working. The only reason I agreed to the compromise was because I just didn’t have enough energy to argue.”

“What am I supposed to do with the ring?”

“Keep it until I’m ready to take it back,” she suggested.

Todd slipped the diamond back into his pocket with a satisfied smile. When he reached out to embrace her, she stepped away so quickly that he missed her. He stared at her in stunned disbelief.

“Don’t even try to touch me,” she warned. “It’s still too soon.”

“You are coming back to me, aren’t you?” he asked. “You’re not going to commit to Ramsdale?”

“I don’t know what I’m going to do yet,” she explained as she wandered toward the door. “I’m too confused and too busy at work to think much about it.” Opening the door, she pointed at the hallway. “Now if you don’t mind, I’d like you to leave. I want to be alone.”

Todd strode to the doorway then turned to face her. In a voice filled with bitterness, he said, “That’s funny. I got the distinct impression that you were expecting Ramsdale. You sounded worried that he wasn’t here.”

“That was before I found out that he gave you my ring back. Now good-bye.”

Jessie glimpsed Todd jumping back so as not to get hit by the door. She slammed it shut a moment before she heard him mutter something. Did he really say, “I’m going to take care of Ramsdale—the sooner the better”? But the thought left her mind almost the next moment.

Leaning back against the door, Jessie breathed through clenched teeth twice before she stopped. The tension hurt her neck too much to continue.

Nick Ramsdale had better not show up now. She would give him a serious piece of her mind if he did. Just the thought of him giving Todd the ring increased her fury. If she saw Nick in person, she would let him know exactly how she felt about what he’d done.

Where did he get off giving Todd the ring? Had he done it simply to get a reaction? Or had he done it because he wanted her for himself? From the way he’d been acting lately, the answer was easy. Both! He’d made it clear that he loved her—many times—and that meant he wanted her for himself. But he’d also emphatically stated that he was going to get Todd to show his temper in public. What better way to do it than produce her engagement ring than throw it into the ocean?

Jessie smiled at the thought. She could just imagine Todd searching the water with his pants legs up around his knees. Maybe Todd had even paid people to help. It wouldn’t be a bit out of character.

Curious, Jessie wandered to her bedroom and dialed Nick’s phone number. When there was no answer, not even from the answering machine, she hung up. Now she was even more concerned about his welfare. She tried his cell, which went directly to voice mail. Why hadn’t she asked Todd if he’d had an altercation with Nick? At least, she would have an idea of where to reach him. Then again, Todd could have lied to her.

Then another theory that didn’t make much sense crossed her mind. If they’d really had a fight, it would probably be on the news since both men were well known in Hawaii.

Turning on the radio/alarm beside her bed, she leaned back against the headboard to listen for the next newscast.

***

When the phone finally stopped ringing, Nick sighed in relief. So much time had passed since he’d spoken to Jessie that it had to be her. He was glad that he hadn’t turned on his answering machine to screen his calls. If he heard her voice, he would probably pick up. And he couldn’t talk to her—not yet. He didn’t know what to say.

Nick stared at the pictures on the table before him. The pain in his heart almost overwhelmed him. How could this be happening? Jessie was a beautiful, innocent woman. She couldn’t be involved in espionage.

Unfortunately, the proof was before him. Granted, it was a long-distance shot; but he recognized the dress, the hairstyle, and the woman’s car. That was Jessie. And the only way she could be involved in this was if she had a dual personality—just like she had once suggested. Either that, or she was conning him. But he doubted that.

Rising, he went into the study. After about ten minutes of searching, he found what he was looking for. Taking his old psychology textbook back to the table, he looked up the section on personality disorders. He thumbed through the pages until he came to the one he wanted.

There it was:  dissociative reaction, characterized by disturbance of memory or identity (amnesia)… individual develops two or more distinct personalities that often vary widely in character or style. Often one is inhibited and moralistic, and another personality is impulsive and fun-loving.

He swallowed hard, trying to gather the courage to read further. This sounded too much like Jessie. But no matter how hard it was, he had to finish the section if he wanted to help her. And to do that, he needed more information on the subject.

… it is as if conflict within the individual between moral and amoral forces is resolved by splitting the original personality into separate parts, … In episodes of amnesia, the loss of identity can remove the individual from intolerably stressful life situations …

There was more, but Nick couldn’t continue. He’d already read more than he could bear. Considering everything that had happened recently, Jessie needed help, and he refused to see the only woman he’d ever loved to such a depth go through the experience alone. He would stand beside her, no matter what she needed to go through to heal.

Closing the book, Nick set it aside then picked up one of the pictures. Poor Jessie. She was involved in espionage and didn’t even realize it.

Then he noticed something he’d missed before. He’d probably been too upset by the photographs in the large, manila envelope propped against his front door when he got home. There were raised, inverted letters on this picture. He turned it over. On the back was a clear message, although there was no ink. Whoever had written the note had probably used a piece of paper to write it, so it wasn’t immediately noticeable. Nick grabbed a pencil out of the cup on his telephone table and rubbed it lightly over the words. He stared at them in shock when they became obvious.

She knows exactly what she’s doing, the message said. She’s conning you.

He refused to believe it. The Jessie he knew would never do such a thing. Then again, the Jessie he knew couldn’t cook; the Jessie he knew wouldn’t so willingly give in to his desires. And the Jessie he knew certainly wouldn’t have let him take off her engagement ring.

Maybe this note was true. After all, a person could change a lot in six years. And a person could change a lot if something tragic happened in her life—something as tragic as the loss of a child.

“God damn it!” he exclaimed. “She did con me. She drew me right into her little scam and played me for the sucker she knew I would be. And she’s probably doing the same thing to Hardy.”

He turned the picture back over and studied it. Maybe with his new outlook, he could view the photograph more objectively. Damn! Everything was too far away. Going to the desk in his study, he searched until he found his seldom-used magnifying glass. Returning to the dining room, he laid all seven eight-by-ten-inch pictures on the table.

The lighting there was good. The late afternoon sun streamed through the large panes of glass in the bay windows overlooking the ocean. The only way to get better light was to take the pictures onto the patio, but he couldn’t do that, because the trade winds were too strong.

Hunching over the table, he put the magnifying glass between his face and the photograph with writing on it. From the first time he saw the pictures, he’d felt there was something odd about them, but he couldn’t figure out what. Maybe a closer look would help. And maybe that would help him clear his doubts concerning Jessie and her involvement.

The woman’s back was to the camera, so he couldn’t see her face—or her figure because of the muumuu. He had no doubt that was Jessie’s car, though. He was sure of it now that he could see the license plate number. It only followed that it had to be Jessie.

Now to see if he could tell who the man was. It looked a little like Hardy, but Nick couldn’t be sure because the picture was blurred in that vicinity. He tried another picture then another, but all of them were blurred. That’s probably why he was so skeptical about the photographs. Everything was clear except the man’s face. It was almost like the man knew the picture was being taken and kept moving to avoid clear identification. Too bad he couldn’t tell what was in the manila envelope that the Jessie look-alike was handing the Hardy look-alike.

Wait a minute! If only the man was blurry and Jessie’s back was to the camera, … Someone was framing Jessie! Why else would somebody put the pictures on his doorstep? He wasn’t a cop or a G-man; he was just an author. And he couldn’t do anything about the situation unless he went to the police. Nick sighed. That was out of the question with Jessie involved—be it directly or indirectly.

His mind spun with scenarios. It was possible that the pictures were sent to him so he would distrust Jessie and stay away from her. Maybe he posed some sort of threat to the photographer. If so, it wouldn’t work. He would never desert Jessie; he would find out exactly what was going on. If she was involved and knew it, he would turn her in just like he should—no matter how deeply it hurt. But if she was involved because of a dissociative reaction, he would see that she had the best doctors available. He would help her become one person again. But since he found it difficult to believe she was involved, he needed to save her.

The first thing he should do was find out where the pictures had been taken. From the background in the photograph, it looked like someplace in the mountains. Most likely one of those tourist sites, because it overlooked Honolulu. There were other cars parked in the vicinity, too. Maybe one or more of them belonged to a worker at the site.

It was too late now, but in the morning, he would go to every tourist trap he could think of and talk to the employees. Maybe one of them had seen the pair in the photographs or, even better, the transaction.

Gathering the pictures, he slid them back into the manila envelope to put away for safekeeping.

***

Jessie stared at the front door. Six years ago, she’d left the mansion because of all the memories. Apparently, she hadn’t changed as much as she’d thought she had when she’d walked out her condo door.

She could still see Joe coming in from work every evening at six. She could feel his arms embrace her, his lips capture hers in a welcoming kiss. Unexpected tears came to her eyes. The passing of years had done nothing to alleviate the pain of her loss.

Although it wasn’t the love a woman should have for her husband, she had come to love him very deeply. Losing him to a disease like Hodgkin’s tore her heart like only two other things had—losing her child and walking away from Nick.

Jessie’s eyes widened in shock. Could that mean she loved Nick? She’d loved Joe in her own way, and she’d loved Nicky enough to name him after his father. She’d been devastated after each of their deaths and walking away from Nick had been no less devastating. What other conclusion could she come to, except that she loved him?

What was she doing? she wondered. She couldn’t even consider loving anybody until she solved her problems. If she did, she might lose that person, too, whether it was Nick or Todd. But did she love Todd? She was so confused she didn’t even know anymore.

She tried to clear her mind of past memories and future possibilities so she could concentrate on the present. Now that she and Nick were friends again, someday she would have to go back inside the home she’d shared with Joe. She may as well get the pain out of the way. Reaching out, she pushed the button.

In less than a minute, the door opened.

“Jess!” Nick exclaimed. “I didn’t think you’d come here.”

“I had to.” Her voice cracked with emotion as she wiped a tear from her cheek. “Todd came to my place this afternoon.”

“Oh, God,” Nick groaned. “You know what I did.”

Taking her hand, he gently tugged her into the marble-floored foyer. The pain in her heart increased. She could see Joe racing to her when she got back from night courses at the university. Their words echoed savagely through her memory:  I missed you, my love, he always said. And she always giggled and offered him the same teasing reply. I was only gone for a couple of hours. Then he would say, I’ll always miss you—even if you’re only gone for a couple minutes. Finally, he would sweep her into his arms and kiss her heatedly to prove his words.

The tears overflowed to stream down her cheeks. She couldn’t bear this; she had to get out of the house. Jerking her hand from Nick’s, she turned toward the door. To her horror, it slammed shut before she could run out. Desperate, she reached for the doorknob; but Nick quickly blocked her exit, as she had blocked his several nights earlier.

“Let me out!” she shrieked as he took her into his arms. “I can’t stay here. I have to go.” Her desperation turned to sorrow in his secure embrace. Her words became softer. “Please, Nick. Let me leave. It hurts too much.”

“I know, sweetheart,” he said, stroking her hair. “But you have to do it sooner or later. Let’s get it over now.”

“No,” she sobbed while she returned his embrace. “I want to go home.”

“You are home, Jess. This estate belongs to you—not me. I’m just your caretaker.” Without releasing his hold, he directed her farther into the house. “We’ll take it one step at a time. We’re just going to walk straight through the house and go down to the beach. That’s where you and I had our first happy memory. It’s where we had a lot of happy memories. That’s right, sweetheart. Just take one small step at a time.”

Before Jessie knew it, she had relaxed in Nick’s arms. She walked out the patio doors holding her head erect while he kept one arm around her shoulders. By the time they reached the private beach fifty yards from the patio, she was once again at ease on her own land.

“Thank you for talking me through the house,” Jessie said as she sank onto the sand. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”

Sitting down beside her, he ran his hand over her bare thigh. “I love you, Jessie. There’s nothing I won’t do to help you.”

“Why did you do it, Nick?” she asked, changing the subject. “Why did you antagonize Todd? Don’t you know you could get hurt doing that? He has two Golden Glove awards.”

Nick grimaced. “I didn’t find that out until after I opened my big mouth. By then I’d already gotten myself into character and couldn’t let go of it. Besides, if I’d backed down, he would have won. As it was, I accomplished exactly what I’d planned.”

“You goaded him into a temper tantrum.”

“With a hundred or more people as witnesses. It took me a few minutes to get the response I wanted, but he finally raised his fists and threatened to tear me apart. When I threw the ring into the ocean, he threatened to kill me. That’s when I walked away. I’d accomplished what I was out for. There was no reason to hang around—other than to see if he would carry out his threat. I didn’t want the kids on the beach to see any violence, so I avoided it. Did he give you the ring back?”

Jessie drew a heart in the sand with her finger. “He asked if I wanted it, but I told him to hold it for me until I asked for it back.”

“Why?” Nick asked in surprise.

“I’m don’t want to marry a man with a violent temper. What if jealousy isn’t the only thing that will set it off? You know me. I don’t believe in divorce. I would stay with him forever.”

“Then don’t marry him.” Grasping her shoulders tenderly, Nick laid her back in the sand. “Marry me instead. I love you, Jess.” He bent over her and kissed her softly on the lips. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

“But, Nick …”

He cut her words off by covering her lips with his. This was what Jessie had been dreaming of since she’d driven onto the estate. The last time they were together here he’d made love to her, and she desperately needed the emotional release that only he could give her. Since she’d first seen Nick outside her door after six years, she knew that she wanted him again.

His tongue slithered past her lips and into her mouth, increasing her excitement the moment it touched hers. His hand cupped her breast, hardening the nipple on contact. This would be the night! She and Nick would be together again as they had the night Nicky was conceived, but this time no child would be produced. She’d made sure that would never happen again by practicing birth control—even though she had no need for it.

But there was a need that night. The heat in Nick’s kiss, the passion in his loving caresses of her body, brought her closer to the brink than she’d been the night Todd had found them together.

“Oh, Nick,” she sighed when he broke the kiss to nuzzle his way downward while he pushed her knit shirt out of his way. “I need you so much. Please. Don’t leave me wanting for more like you did the other night.”

“No, sweetheart,” he vowed. “By the time the evening ends, you’ll definitely not want for more. I love you, and I refuse to let your morality interfere in that love again.”

“It won’t, Nick, because that morality only goes so far.” When he kissed her exposed nipple, she moaned as her internal heat intensified and slid her fingers into his soft, thick hair. It felt so good to have him treat her like this again! Leaving him hadn’t been easy six years ago, because he’d been so good in bed. But coming back to him now, when there was so much going on in her life, was even more difficult. She couldn’t get involved with him now.

But his tongue was working its magic as he taunted her excited nipple. He was driving her wild with desire that only he had ever shown her, and she didn’t want it to end yet.

“Oh, Nick!” she sighed. “Please. I can’t take it anymore. Show me your love.”

Nick accommodated her. His lips bore down on hers hungrily; his tongue explored the sweet depths of her mouth. Oh, how Jessie enjoyed his kisses. How she loved the way he tenderly, methodically massaged her breast. No man had ever made her feel the way Nick did—not Joe, and certainly not Todd.

His hand slid seductively over her ribs to her waist and her rounded hip. Lower it went, to her bare thigh. The heat of his caress sent a shiver up her spine. So many years had past since she’d felt this good that she wondered if she’d been a fool to wait so long before contacting him.

Nick moved again, this time draping one of his legs between hers, so his thigh pressed securely against her covered womanhood. Excitement rose higher within her. For the first time ever, she dared some aggression and slipped her hands under his shirt to feel the soft hair covering his chest.

His stomach muscles rippled under her gentle touch, as though they’d been waiting for the caress for as long as she’d known him. His pectorals were taut from working out at a gym, and the hair on his chest was all that she remembered it to be—exciting to feel, drawing her closer to the chasm where she could find release.

Nick pulled back again. Kneeling over her, he yanked his shirt over his head. His hard torso exposed to her view, she slowly removed her own shirt. He reached down and slid his fingers into the elastic waistband of her shorts. As he pulled them from her body, he brought her bikini panties with them. Now she lay before him completely nude.

Nick scrambled out of his shorts while Jessie watched. He had a magnificent body, perfect as far as she was concerned. When he tossed his shorts and briefs aside, she reached up and tenderly grasped his upper arms, pulling him down to her.

Before their bodies touched, he covered her mouth with his again. The intimacy of naked contact drove Jessie mad with desire. Unable to wait for him to lead the way, she grasped his maleness and guided him into her body.

She sighed into his mouth as he slid into her, slowly, languidly, as though he wanted to savor the moment. But she didn’t want to savor anything. She wanted to make wild, passionate love in the hot sand beneath them.

Grabbing his buttocks, she drove him into her and moved frantically. He responded in kind, filling her with such desire that she could no longer restrain herself. Within minutes, Nick took her down the path to the abyss of total commitment and joy.

After she was satisfied, he released the animal within him, satisfying her a second time before he, too, plunged over the brink. Then he lay on his back and cradled her head on his shoulder. The tension of lost top-secret documents and confrontations with Todd disappeared for now. Later would be soon enough to discuss the day’s events.

Soon the sound of the waves lapping at the shore, the tender caress of Nick’s large hand on her upper arm lulled her into a deep, peaceful sleep.

TWELVE

The first thing Jessie noticed was that the sun had turned into an orange ball on the horizon. The green foliage and many palm trees on the estate looked almost brown in the sunset.

When her stomach rumbled with hunger, she giggled. That was probably what woke her up. In fact, the growl was so loud that she was surprised it didn’t wake Nick up, too.

She’d never been happier, not even after the first time she’d made love with Nick. Her entire body felt alive and tingly. She felt as though she could conquer anybody who got in her way—including whoever had stolen those documents.

Sighing contentedly, she snuggled closer to Nick. His arm tightened around her shoulders, and she kissed his chest then toyed with the hair covering it. He was in awfully good shape for a man pushing forty. His hand stroked her hair.

“Your hair really turns fiery in the sunset, Jess,” he said softly. “It looks sensational.”

“Well, you are sensational,” she returned in a throaty whisper. “You make me feel absolutely and totally alive again.”

“That’s called love.”

Nervousness attacked her serenity, and she sat up to gaze at him. “I can’t say that it’s love, Nick, because I’m not sure what love’s supposed to feel like. But I do know one thing. I’ve never been happier in my life.”

“I was wrong,” he teased as he tweaked her nipples gently. “That’s true love—the same kind of love I have for you. Tell Hardy to take a flying leap off Diamond Head and move in here with me.”

Skepticism controlled her. “Do you really think that’s a good idea, Nick?” Dusting the sand off her back with her discarded shirt, she cleaned off a bit before she slid back into it. “I mean, with everything that’s been going on at work, …”

Nick rose and brushed the sand off his body then stepped into his underwear and shorts. “It’s the only idea with everything that’s been going on. For God’s sake, Jessie. You’re not safe at your apartment. What better place for you to stay than twenty-eight miles out of town on a security-controlled estate?”

As she dressed, she watched while he picked up his shirt and draped it over his broad shoulder. When he stood before her again, she grinned and said, “It wasn’t very secure today. I didn’t even have to call you to open the gate.”

“That’s because I thought I was leaving just a few minutes after I got here. I only came home to change clothes, but …”  He paused as though he wanted to cover up something he’d almost said. “There was a package in the mail that I got involved in.” Jessie’s stomach growled again, and he grinned as he draped his arm around her shoulders. “Let’s go back to the house and quiet your stomach. I’ll whip up a couple of my famous western omelets.”

“And I’ll help,” she added, sliding her arm around his back. “In the past six years, I even learned how to chop an onion.”

“Wow!” he exclaimed. “I’m impressed. The next thing you’ll be telling me is that you took a gourmet cooking class.”

“Actually,” she returned, “I took two of them—beginner and advanced. Unlike when we first started dating, I can now cook you a meal you wouldn’t believe.”

“Tell you what. We’ll hit the grocery store later, and tomorrow you can make me a believer right here in your super-modern country kitchen.”

Despite their light conversation, Jessie was nervous about going back into the house. She didn’t want to lose the happiness that had finally come over her, and that could happen if she went inside. There were just too many memories of Joe.

But when she stepped through the patio doors leading to the family room, Joe’s ghost didn’t rush to her. Instead, she saw him lying on the sofa in the late stages of his illness. She heard him speak words he’d never said to her. I knew Nick would make you happy, my love. I just couldn’t tell you, because he was married. Now that you’re together, I can rest peacefully. Nick loves you more than I ever could have—and I loved you a lot. Good-bye, my love. Be happy.

Joe’s image disappeared as though it had never been there. Of course, it hadn’t been there. She’d imagined it. But it had seemed so real! And instead of being upset at having envisioned his ghost, she was overcome with a sense of peace.

“Are you all right, Jess?” Nick asked in concern.

She looked up at him as they stood in the doorway. “Yes, Nick. I’m just fine.”

“You don’t look it,” he observed, pushing her gently toward the kitchen to their right. “You look like you just saw Joe’s ghost or something.”

“I did.” When she glanced at him and saw his expression of astonishment, she giggled. “Don’t get upset about me seeing things, either, because he’s gone—for good. He says he can rest peacefully now that we’re together. It wasn’t like when I first came in.”

“You saw him then, too?”

“Of course.” She stepped in front of him and stopped, laying her hands on his bare chest. Gazing up at him, she spoke in a smooth, calm tone. “Joe and I spent our life together in this house. There are a lot of memories of him here. But I also have memories of what you and I did.”

“That’s what I tried to tell you six years ago,” he declared in a hurt tone.

Smiling, she nodded her head. “I know, but six years ago I couldn’t hear it. Joe’s laughter and my anguish drowned out your words.”

“Jessie, …”

She laid two fingers on his lips to silence him. “No, let me finish. In the kitchen? You and I laughed because I couldn’t even core a tomato.” Pointing to the sliding patio doors, she said, “Over there is where you kissed me for the first time. I thought I would die on the spot I was so overwhelmed by new feelings! And over here.” Jessie led him by the hand to the wet bar in the family room. “Here is where you asked to make love to me. What you don’t know is that I almost agreed. So, you see, Nick? Joe’s gone; he’s finally just part of my past. The memories I have now pertain to you, and you’re my present.”

“And your future?” he asked, his tone filled with hope.

Determined to keep his expectations to a minimum, she replied, “That remains to be seen. I don’t want to think about it until we solve my problems at work. I just want to think about the present, where I’m completely happy being with you.”

“I understand. So, what else do you remember about our times in this house?”

“In the library, where you really kissed me for the first time. I almost asked you to make love to me that time. And I remember the look on your face when we were in the study. That’s where I showed you my diamond before Joe and I announced our engagement at a party. If you’d had false teeth, they would have fallen on the floor your mouth dropped open so fast. That was the first time in this house that you told me you loved me. And when your next words were that you wished us all the best, I knew that you were a true friend—one that I would have for the rest of my life.”

“And you do, sweetheart,” he agreed, caressing her shoulders.

“As long as I’m throwing my memories at you, there’s one more you should hear. It was in the living room, and we were sitting there with glasses of wine—you, Joe, Cathy and me. All of a sudden, you played Pearl Harbor and dropped the biggest bomb in our history. You and Cathy were getting married.”

Nick laughed. “And you had a look in your eyes that could have sunk her as fast as the Japanese sank the U.S.S. Arizona. Until that moment, I didn’t think you had a jealous bone in your body.”

Jessie’s face heated in embarrassment. “Okay, I admit it. I wanted to claw those big, batting blue eyes right out of their sockets. But I didn’t know it was jealousy until years later.”

“How many years?”

With a grimace, she bowed her head. How could she possibly get out of answering? Nick grasped her head and tilted it up gently so as not to hurt her neck any worse. Now she had no choice but to return his direct gaze with a deep blush. Then he laughed again.

“That’s what I thought,” he said, shaking his head. “You didn’t know that’s what it was until I put a name on it just now. My God, Jess! You are still innocent, and I love you for it.”

His mouth covered hers again. It wasn’t a passionate kiss like the one on the beach, not a kiss designed to excite her. But it was a firm one that showed her he meant his words.

When he released her a moment later, her stomach growled again. He patted it playfully then steered her into the kitchen, where they spent about a half an hour getting dinner. They began eating in silence, but Jessie broke it after several minutes.

“You know, Nick,” she worded, “I believe that God had a Divine Plan behind Joe being gone on business when we started dating. He knew that our lives would be entwined like they are; He knew that we would always be friends. He also knew that I would marry Joe and Joe would die. That’s why most of our first months of friendship were here—so I would have those very pleasant memories when I needed them most.”

“Do you know what I believe, Jessie?”

“What?”

“I believe that He wants us to spend the rest of our lives like this.”

Suspicious of his meaning, she studied him as he rushed through his explanation.

“Okay, so I’m not the most God-fearing man on earth. Does that preclude me from believing in destiny? And what’s destiny if not what you call God’s Divine Plan?” Laying his fork on his plate, he reached across the table and did the same with hers. Holding both of her hands, he rubbed the backs with his thumbs. “I also believe that Nicky was part of that Divine Plan. He was part of both of us, Jessie. When we created him, he created a bond that neither of us are willing to break.”

“Nick,” she started to say.

“Can you honestly deny it, Jess? Can you deny a bond? Can you look me straight in the eye and tell me that you’re willing to break it?”

Tears came to Jessie’s eyes. This was a side of Nick that she hadn’t known existed. It was a part of him, the romantic part, that he’d never let people see—not even her. To avoid answering his questions, she asked one of her own. “Do you think Gary is involved with the missing documents?”

“You won’t get out of this so easily, Jessie,” he said. “I want you to face your feelings—tonight.”

“No, Nick. It’s still too soon.”

He released her hands and picked up his fork again. “Damn it, anyway, Jess. Why the hell can’t you stop denying things? Why do you do that to me?”

“I’m not denying anything this time, Nick. I just don’t have the strength to face it right now. Too much is happening in my life.”

“As much as I hate to admit it, you’re probably right. So why do you ask about your boss?”

“Because he really got mad when he found out I was talking to you on the phone today. He practically insisted that I not associate with you. And he called you a womanizer.”

“Oh, God,” he groaned, picking up his plate.

Jessie watched as he took his food into the kitchen and dumped it into the garbage disposal. She hadn’t believed Gary, but obviously the article had been true. Why hadn’t she questioned him about it further? Why had she been swept into romance by Nick? Still, she didn’t want to come right out and ask if the article was true. She wanted him to tell her about it.

To keep from arousing his suspicions that she understood what he was thinking, she taunted him. “What’s the matter, Nick? Cat got your tongue for a change?”

“You know what the hell’s the matter,” he shot back as he spun to face her. “Okay, you want the truth? Well, you’re going to get it—all of it. The truth is I never expected that damned article to make it to you. The truth is that I was always very careful about what I said. The truth is that I never gave out personal information, because I was scared to death it would get back to you. That’s why nobody knew if I was single or married. That’s why my divorce was never published.”

Laying his hands on the peninsula between the kitchen and the breakfast room where she sat, he bowed his head in shame. “Why do I have to be such a popular writer? Why couldn’t I be one of the many who can live their lives without being hounded by the press?”

“Because you’re too handsome,” she said with a playful grin. “Women all over the country love to read your books. I know, because I’ve talked to women all over the country about you. They all loved hearing about your personal life, too. You’ve never seen so many impressed ladies as the ones I told that I’m a friend of yours!”

“The hell I haven’t!” he exclaimed, his mood not changing. “They’ve been all over me for years. My first book came out shortly after you left, you know, and my picture was splattered all over the back, with an itsy-bitsy blurb about my credentials. Can you believe that? My publisher sold my face instead of my words.”

“Why are you so bitter about it? That’s what got you started.”

“If I’d wanted to be a star, Jess, I would have gone into show business. I sure as hell didn’t expect that I’d have to go to such extremes to protect my privacy as a writer.” He paused to sit beside her at the table. “And do you know what it’s like for a writer living in Hawaii? I’ve been inundated by hundreds—maybe even thousands—of tourists over the past six years. I can’t even walk through a damned supermarket without being stopped by somebody. But, unlike you, I can’t move. I have too many happy memories here.”

“Then how did that article get out?”

“There was a time in my life, about a year after you left.” Again, he grasped her hands, this time a firmness that she sensed was instinctive—like he was desperate for her to understand. “It wasn’t easy for me when you left, Jessie. I went into a real mourning period. My way of coping was to work until I was so exhausted I dropped. And believe me, two espionage books in one year that were completely different was not an easy task.”

When he paused, Jessie smiled and laid her hand on his cheek. “Don’t be nervous about explaining, Nick. I’m not going anywhere.”

He flashed her a brief smile. “I missed you, Jess. Desperately. But you know me and my male pride. I couldn’t go running after you and beg you to come back. I’d already done more begging than I ever had in my life before you left, and it didn’t do any good. Anyway, one year to the day after our night together I went out and got smashed. To this day, I don’t know how I got home. When I woke up the next morning, I was in your bed—where I’d never slept before—with some woman I couldn’t even remember meeting. I felt so guilty that I ignored my hangover, tore your bed apart, and called the Salvation Army. I put everything outside and bought a new bedroom set for you.”

Stunned, Jessie froze. He’d disposed of the bed where they’d first made love. He’d taken something very precious to her and given it away without so much as a note to warn her. If only it hadn’t been a king-sized bed! Then she would have taken it with her to Washington when she left. Instead, she’d taken the one in the guest room.

Her chest tightened, and her voice cracked with suppressed emotion. “How could you have done that? Didn’t you know what it meant to me?”

“I’m sorry, Jess. Please. You have to understand. I didn’t know what I was doing. I was more drunk than I’ve ever been—before or since.”

Emotional pain ripped through her; tears seeped from her eyes, and she accused him irately. “You gave it away! My bed. The one where we made love for the first time. The one where we conceived our son. How could you do such a thing? Did that night mean so little to you?”

“My God!” he exclaimed in shock. “You’re more upset about the damned bed than the woman. And here I was worried that you’d walk out the door because of her. Maybe I can finish my story a little quicker now. There were other women, too, Jess. Most of them were just dates, but there were a lot. And every once in a while, … Well, let’s just say I missed you so much that I couldn’t help myself. I kept looking for what I had with you, but I couldn’t find it. As soon as that article hit the local magazine, I called a moratorium on chasing skirts. I’d been followed and photographed with seven different women in four months. What that reporter didn’t know was that I hadn’t slept with a single one of them.”

Now sympathy raged through her. It was as though she couldn’t control her feelings. Drying her tears on her napkin, she said, “It’s okay, Nick.”

“And another thing. Not one woman has slept in that new bed. I’m reserving it for a special occasion.”

Reaching over, she caressed his neck, ran her tongue over her straight, white teeth, and asked, “For a special occasion like tonight? After all, you promised you wouldn’t leave me wanting for more.”

“If that’s what you want, sweetheart, …”

She interrupted with a mischievous grin. “I have this uncontrollable urge to find out what that new bedroom set looks like.”

She dashed toward the bedroom with Nick hurrying after her. He didn’t stop moving until he scooped her into his arms and gently lowered her to the bed. For the first time in their relationship, Jessie took charge. She wanted their lovemaking to be something so special that Nick would never even consider getting rid of the bed.

But she didn’t want to take her time, either. She wanted to love him again—to lie in his arms and have him smother her in kisses. Grabbing the hem of his shirt, she pulled it upward until he bent over for her to remove it. Then she unbuttoned and unzipped his shorts to take them and his briefs off him, as well.

While he watched, his desire growing as rapidly as her actions, she scrambled out of her own clothes as she lay sideways across the bed. He bent over and kissed her. She grabbed his head, pressing it firmly against her face to intensify the caress.

Her tongue explored his mouth, clashing against his. Even the lingering taste of onion and green pepper didn’t stifle her desire to consume him.

Using all her strength, she pushed him back then covered him with her body. Her hands scouted the way down his torso for several minutes before her mouth followed suit, over his chest and across his stomach—to his excitement dancing so enticingly before her.

She kissed him then slid her body over him until her lips reunited with his in an impassioned embrace unlike any she’d ever given a man. Finally, she straddled him and let her womanhood devour him.

Nick caressed her breasts, and he pushed her up so she sat on his pelvis. When he did, they inhaled sharply, simultaneously, enjoying the increased arousal his action caused.

Throwing her head back, Jessie let her mind go blank. All she wanted to do now was feel. And she could feel Nick so well as his hands methodically massaged her breasts, his thumbs taunting the nipples into arousal, that she exploded in a climax unlike any she’d ever had.

Moments later, he groaned as he also escaped in the throes of rapture. Several minutes after she rolled off him, he grasped her hands and pulled her to her feet. After pulling down the covers, he helped her to lie down on the bed then lay down beside her, drawing the covers over them.

“Ain’t no way I’m gettin’ rid of this bed,” he vowed. “I didn’t know you had that kind of passion in you.”

“Neither did I,” she admitted as she ran her fingertips through the hair on his chest. “I love doing this.”

“I love you doing it.” He paused to kiss the top of her head. “There are still dishes all over the kitchen and breakfast room.”

“I read something about this wonderful new invention called a dishwasher. It’s supposed to get all the dried-on food off without you even getting your hands wet. You’re the one who said we had a super-modern kitchen. I just assumed that meant even new-fangled gadgets like dishwashers.”

Nick laughed. “I get your point, and I’m here for the duration. In fact, you may have trouble getting rid of me.”

“It’s a good thing that’s not the kind of trouble I’m looking for. Now I have another sudden, uncontrollable urge.”

“Too soon, lady,” he joked.

She punched him lightly in the stomach. “I’m talking about a beach party. Saturday night. Are you game?”

“Not only am I game, I was thinking about the same thing. I got an idea a few minutes ago.”

“You shouldn’t have been getting ideas, buster,” she teased. “You should have been paying attention to what was happening.”

“Believe me, I was! The idea was just a flash. I need to meet everybody you work with, and I can’t exactly wander into your office. The best way to meet them is to have a party, and not just any kind of party. We need a luau, with the pig in the pit and all the trimmings.”

“My thoughts exactly. But I’m not cooking, because I want to enjoy it. We’ll have it catered.”

“Perfect, except for one thing.”

“What’s that?”

“The guest list. It will have to include Hardy.”

“Why?”

“You’re engaged to the man, and I want to see how he reacts around your co-workers.”

“I’m not engaged to him anymore. You indirectly gave him back my ring.”

“Does that mean what I think it does?” he asked, his voice again filled with hope.

“If you think it means that I’m engaged to you, no. If you think it means exactly what I said, yes. I no longer consider myself engaged to Todd Hardy. As far as I’m concerned, he made a mistake he can never rectify. I will never marry him.”

“Hallelujah!” Nick shouted as he hugged her. “I thought I’d never hear you say that. Now maybe I have a fighting chance.”

“The way I feel right now, Nick,” she admitted, “it won’t be much of a fight. I’m still basking in the glow of your lovemaking, but now isn’t exactly the time to make a commitment.”

“That’s okay. All I want right now is the chance. I’ve loved you and waited for you for so long that a few more days isn’t going to kill me.” Reaching over her, he picked up a pad of paper and pen by the phone and began to write on it. “We need to start with a guest list so the caterers will know how much food we’re going to need.”

As they discussed plans for their party, Jessie had a nagging feeling. Something in her heart told her that a few more days might do exactly what he had proclaimed it wouldn’t—kill him!