Chapter Fourteen

We drove in intimate silence on the way back to Honolulu, Ranger's hand resting on my bare leg through the opening in my sarong. His fingers were tracing soft lines along my inner thigh. Inching higher every few minutes. If he kept that up, I'd be in trouble. Worse still, I didn't have any intention of stopping him.

He cut his eyes to me as if he'd read my thoughts, a gentle smile pulling at his mouth. "So, are we heading home?" he asked, his fingers tracing higher still. It sent a warm tremor through my entire body.

I bit my lip. Self control has never been my strong suit. In fact, I lack control in pretty much every aspect of my life. At that moment, I wanted nothing more than to pull off the road and climb on top of him. Even if I had to have my ass on the horn again. "Not yet. Maybe we should get some lunch first."

"And then?"

"You did promise to buy me a new dress."

"Do I get to help you try it on?"

"Maybe next time."

Ranger glanced at me before he turned his eyes to the road again. "This is a long minute."

No kidding. Might have been the longest minute of my life.

Turns out lunch had been a good idea on my part. It gave us a chance for our libidos to cool. By the time we found a little dress shop on a quiet street in the middle of Honolulu, I only mostly wanted to jump Ranger in the dressing room.

I picked out a little sleeveless black dress with a low V neck and a flowing, light weight skirt. There were pretty blue and white flowers all over it. I even got a sexy pair of high stiletto heels to match. Ranger paid for them and we headed back to the resort.

I took my sweet time getting ready. Applied my makeup carefully and took the extra effort to pin up my curls. Didn't want to take the chance that things would escalate again. Because the hideous truth was, I liked being with Ranger. I liked the familiarity of living with him. Liked the closeness I felt when we were making love. And when he slid his ring back onto my finger, a part of me thrilled with all the possibilities that were never truly there.

I tried not to examine that too closely.

It was easy to delude myself this far removed from real life, surrounded by the fantasy of paradise. No matter how real it felt between us sometimes, I had to remember that this wasn't a honeymoon. There wasn't anything here that I would get to keep. It was just a moment we were passing through.

I wrapped myself in a robe and went in to where I'd laid my clothes out on the bed. Ranger came in from the kitchen, still adjusting the sleeve on his black suit coat. I doubted any of the other husbands would be dressed so formally. But then, none of them would need to cover a gun.

"I just need a few more minutes," I said, hoping he would nod and step out of the room. He didn't. I hesitated a moment before I slipped out of the robe.

It was a little awkward standing there naked in front of a fully dressed Ranger. I thought for sure that he would stalk toward me like he had last night, his brown eyes turning black with desire. But he didn't move from his spot. I chanced a look his way while I dressed and saw him leaning casually on the wall, his black eyes scanning me in a lazy, proprietary way.

If he was doing it to make me damp, he succeeded.

"Ready?" he asked when I finally stepped into my stilettos. I nodded.

I went to step past him to the living room, but Ranger caught me and pulled me against him. I think I stopped breathing for a second as he kissed me, because when he finally drew back an inch I felt a dizzy rush swirling around my head. I forced my fingers to unclench around his shirt collar.

Ranger pressed my purse into my hands and kissed me just once more. "Let's go ID us a hitman."

The beach was crowded when we got there, not just with tables and chairs and decorations, but with people. Seemed like most of the resort guests had shown up for the party. They were mingling around the tables and the open space in front of the newly erected stage. Hotel staff wove between them serving drinks. If I had to guess, this looked like a heavy drinking sort of crowd.

I got a Mai Tai and followed Ranger around the edge of the crush. There were tiki torches everywhere. Massive ice sculptures by the food tables. And at intervals around the borders, pretty women with raven hair were placing leis of orchids and plumeria around the necks of guests. One of the girls turned to me with a ring of white orchids and a Hawaiian greeting. The flowers were heavier than I thought they would be when they settled around my shoulders. They smelled wonderful. I thanked her and she turned to Ranger. He declined and led me on, his warm hand spread flat across my back. I smiled at him. "I just got leid."

Ranger shook his head a little. "Babe."

"What? Like I could come all the way to Hawaii and not make a getting leid joke. I'm pretty sure it's required by law." That made him smile. "Don't you want to get leid?"

His eyes held mine. "More than you could possibly imagine."

Yikes. Mental note. Don't play with Ranger.

I headed for the food tables. Most of the other guests were in their most festive clothes. Ranger and I were pretty bland by comparison. I wouldn't say it made me feel invisible. In fact, I saw more than a few eyes dart Ranger's way.

The woman in front of me was overly friendly. Short bleach blond hair cut into a bob, maybe late forties. She nudged my elbow. "Newlyweds, huh?"

"What makes you say that?"

"Are you kidding me, hun?" she said with a heavy southern drawl. She lowered her voice in confidence. "The way that husband of yours is watching you? That's a man who can't get enough of his woman. A man only looks at a woman like that when he's head over heels in love."

I thought that might have been oversimplifying a bit, but it didn't seem right to tell her that. She didn't seem to mind my lack of response, though. She just beamed at me.

"I love the all black, by the way," she said to Ranger. "Very Johnny Cash."

Ranger leaned into me when she wandered away. He was warm and solid against my back. "She didn't think I looked like a contract killer," he said in my ear.

"That's because she doesn't know you."

I felt him laugh.

We were near enough that I could smell the roast pig. My stomach growled and my mouth started to water. There were three buffet tables lined up in front of the central bar, ice sculptures standing on either end of each one. The one next to us was an eight foot tall tiki. The creases of his face glowed in the torchlight.

I caught a glimpse of Tootie Ruguzzi through the crush. She was heading our way. And right beside her was a man in a lightweight cream colored straw fedora. He was saying something to Tootie, and then he looked up. It was The Rug. And he was walking right toward us.

I felt Ranger's arm wrap around my waist and the next thing I knew, we were behind the ice tiki. I was pressed up against his chest, the ice radiating cold into the back of my neck. "What are you—" I tried to say, but he shushed me. Then I heard why. Someone else had come to stand just beyond the ice, away from the flowing crowds. They were whispering. Trying not to be overheard.

"I don't know why you have to bring that thing with us everywhere," Tootie said. "It's so unnecessary. Who are you going to need to shoot?"

"You were the one who said you were being followed."

"I said it felt like I was being followed. When I looked, it was just those newlyweds who can't keep their hands off each other."

Ranger's body was very warm compared to the ice at my back. His black coat had parted when he pulled me into him, nestling me close with nothing but the thin cotton of his dress shirt between us. My hands were flat on his ribs inside his jacket. His dark eyes holding mine.

Simon murmured something I couldn't quite hear. But Ranger didn't look like he was listening anymore. There was only one thing on his mind. And it wasn't The Rug. Whatever Simon said, Tootie scoffed. I heard it when she stormed away.

"I think they're gone," I breathed. Even in a whisper, my voice was unsteady. The air had gotten thick around us. Heavy with the mingled scents of orchids and pheromones and Bulgari Green mixed with Ranger. It felt incredible just to breath.

His eyes dropped down to my lips as he lowered his mouth toward mine. It was going to be a shattering kiss. I could already feel it. Every inch of my body was alert. Too aware of every inch of him that was pressed against me.

The ice was burning my back, soaking into my clothes as it melted. I tried to move away, not paying any attention to where I was going, and one of my stiletto heels sank into the grass. I stumbled and knocked right into the tiki torches. One of them flipped over and caught the tablecloth on fire. Shouts of confusion and alarm rolled through the crowd as people tried to put it out. A few tossed their drinks on it, but it only flared brighter.

I was suddenly very warm. Something bit my ass. God, I was on fire! Ranger snatched my hand out of the air and yanked me toward him, beating at my skirt with his suit coat. The second I was out he whisked me away, leaving the chaos behind us.

He half carried me back to our cottage so that I wouldn't slow him down. I was only vaguely aware of what he was doing. I was in shock. The second he set me on my feet in the living room I felt the back of my dress. There was very little of the lightweight skirt behind me. The bodice had survived better. It was still soaked with ice water. That had probably been what saved my skin.

"Does it hurt?" Ranger asked.

I shook my head. "I don't think I got burned."

Ranger pulled at the skirt and I felt the fabric rip halfway up my back. He looked me over with gentle fingers. "Could have been worse. I don't see any real damage."

"Except the dress."

Ranger laughed a little in concession. "Another one bites the dust."

"It's not funny."

Ranger smiled anyway, turning me to face him. "Babe. This is the second time today I thought you might be seriously hurt. The fact that you're fine and your dress got torched is defiantly a little funny."

"Are you going to offer to buy me another one?"

"Sure. But given the progression of events, the next one's going to be made of Kevlar."

"Ha ha."

Ranger leaned down and kissed my cheek, lingering there for a second. "With any luck, no one will even realize you were there. I don't figure it would work out well for us if you were blamed for burning down the resort."

"It was only one table. And it wasn't my fault."

"It was a little you're fault." I frowned at him, but Ranger seemed to be amused anyway. He kissed my pouting lower lip. "It's alright, Babe. I still love you. And we accomplished our goal. Got eyes on The Rug. That should make you happy. Now we can order room service, get cozy, and plan our takedown."

Okay, that did sound pretty good. I left Ranger to call in for some dinner while I went to change into something that wasn't still smoldering. When I came back to the living room in a comfortable t-shirt and a pair of pajama shorts, Ranger was on his cell. He disconnected and turned to me.

"I have to head out to tie a few loose ends from this morning. Do you want to ride with me?"

"No. I'm wiped. Being set on fire really takes it out of a person."

Ranger was thinking about smiling. "It's understandable. I put your .45 in your purse. You should keep it with you at all times. I doubt anything will happen, but it'll make me feel better all the same."

I didn't like it, but I nodded anyway.

There was a knock on the door and Ranger kept one hand on the gun at his back until he was sure it was room service. He let the hotel employee bring in the tray and tipped him before he closed the door. "I should only be gone an hour or two. Keep this door bolted until I get back."

I nodded again. "Tell Noah and Rico I said hi."

A smile pulled at his mouth. He pulled me toward him and kissed me. "Be safe." And then he left.

I locked the door behind him and slid the bolt into place. I wouldn't really need to let him back in. Ranger had a special way with locks. He could get through deadbolts and security chains like they weren't even there. Sometimes I wondered if he was a ghost, passing through the walls as if by magic.

That would actually explain a lot.

I went to the room service tray and made myself a plate, ate it standing up in the kitchen. When I was done I migrated to the bedroom and flipped on the television. I burrowed down into the covers.

I was on the edge of dozing when I heard the door open again and Ranger came back in. I didn't so much hear him as I did sense the change in air pressure, the scent of Bulgari Green easing over me. I had a moment to decide if I wanted to let him know I was awake. Pull him down on the bed and give myself over to what we both desperately wanted.

The mattress dipped when he sat on the bed. He leaned over me, brushing my curls back from my face so that he could lay a kiss beside my ear. "Babe."

I didn't respond. Chickenshit that I am, I let him think I was still sleeping. His gentle touch slid down my arm and wrapped around my hand, taking the remote. The television clicked off and the room went black. I felt the covers lift when Ranger slid in next to me, wrapping around my body. I listened until the smooth, even rhythm of his breathing slowed and I was sure he was asleep.

I woke up with a warm presence at my back, Ranger's strong arms still wrapped around me. One hand cradled my breast. I thought for a moment that he might still be sleeping, but the second I stirred the hand caressed me. He kissed my shoulder.

I had to think about that for a second. An excited Ranger was one of my favorite things. His hand was already slipping under the edge of my t-shirt and up my bare skin. The other one was moving down. And of course I knew that he would be deliciously naked. Ranger always slept naked. It was so tempting to let him keep going. Stupid conscience.

"Um. I think I still need that minute."

"You think?" he asked, nuzzling my neck.

"I know."

"Any way I can change your mind?" he asked in my ear, doing some very nice things to me.

"Probably, but you're too noble to do that."

A grin lifted his face. "I'm not that noble."

Neither was I. If he kept stroking me like that I wasn't going to be able to resist much longer. I tried to wriggle away to get out of the bed and Ranger caught me with a sigh. He rolled me toward him and tucked me into his side, my head on his shoulder. "You were more fun before."

That was an undeniable fact. But the fun seemed to come with a price. At least for me. Part of me wished I could just let go. Leave behind all the structure and expectations of my traditional upbringing. I mean, Ranger was an incredible lover. He was gentle and caring. And I trusted him.

With my life and my body, anyway.

I relaxed in his arms, letting him cradle me to his strong chest. I traced his hand. Lingered over the place his wedding ring would have sat. He laced his fingers with mine. "Do you think we'll ever get a chance to see where something between us might go?" I asked quietly.

Ranger let out another silent breath and kissed my head. "I can't predict the future, Babe. It's not one of my superpowers."

"So is that a maybe?"

His chest rocked beneath my cheek in a soft laugh. "How about we jump off that bridge when we come to it."

I guess that was as good an answer as I could hope for, considering who I was talking to. I let out a contented sigh and snuggled into Ranger's neck. It was nice. And not just in a sexy kind of way. It was comfortable, too. Safe. How scary is that?

I felt it when Ranger smiled. "If this dry spell goes on too long this is going to start feeling like a real marriage."

"I doubt a real marriage between us would ever see a dry spell."

That earned me another grin.

Ranger's phone started to ring on the bedside table. He reached for it. The voice on the other end was too faint for me to understand, but I could tell that Ranger didn't like what he heard. He disconnected. "Terron just checked out."

I shot up in the bed. "What? When?"

"Ten minutes ago. Silvio's tracking his credit card, but so far there hasn't been any activity. No flights booked. No alternate hotels. Could be he got spooked and ditched the identities. Or he could be making a run for it."

"Shit!" I sprang out of the bed and snatched up a pair of jean shorts from my open suitcase. Ranger was dressed by the time I found my other shoe. "Where are we headed, the airport?"

"It's not the only way off the island, but it's the most likely. We'll head there soon. First I want to see if Ruguzzi left anything behind before maid service gets to his room."

When we got to the other side of the resort, Ranger put a casual arm around my waist and strolled with purpose right up the beach to the backdoor on 6. Breaking and entering rule number one. Look like you belong. He got the door open and stepped into the bedroom. "I'll start here. Search the bathroom."

There wasn't much to find in there. Dirty towels on the floor. Smudges on the counter where someone had been sloppy with their makeup. They'd taken the hotel soaps. I moved to the living room the same time as Ranger. All we found was an envelope with a lousy tip.

"Doesn't look as though they cleared out in a hurry," I pointed out.

"I agree. I don't see someone who's going underground leaving a tip."

"Especially a tip so bad. What an asshole."

Ranger almost smiled. "Babe."

The Ruguzzis only had a half hour lead on us by the time we got to the airport. The check-in lines were long. That didn't mean they hadn't made it through security yet, but chances were good that we hadn't missed them. We waited around for hours. Nothing. Ranger called the office. They'd come up empty too. The Rug had vanished.