Elle James - Deadly Allure

“Oh, no, honey.” Sal rested her hands on her hips. “We figure you know all about that. But sometimes a man needs reminding about other things.”

“I’m not hearing this. Please stop talking.” He ran for the door, sloshing hot coffee on his hand.

“Have a nice day with your lady friend,” Sal called.

The echo of Olie’s chuckles followed Dave out the door.

What had gotten into those two meddling, well-meaning old people? He was happy as a confirmed bachelor.

His footsteps slowed as he approached the battered yacht that had seen better days a couple of decades before.

What did he care what his home looked like? The engine had never run smoother and he was working on the exterior as he got time. Now that the summer season was waning, he’d have more time to work on his special project. As soon as his guest moved out.

Biscuits, coffee and the boot. She couldn’t stay. He liked his peace and quiet and certainly didn’t want to get caught up in a felony looking for some people to arrest.

He still couldn’t get over the fact Gabe hadn’t arrested her, knowing she’d broken into a business and stolen confidential information.

Still shaking his head, he stepped onto the boat and descended the steps into the living area.

The couch was empty. Had she gone? His pulse quickened as he glanced around the cabin. Then he heard the water running in the bathroom and he let go of the breath he’d been holding, annoyed that he’d been strangely disappointed thinking she’d gone without saying goodbye.

As he set about the task of plugging in the coffeepot and measuring out coffee, the door to the bathroom opened.

Still wearing the shirt she’d borrowed, she now had on the black leather pants and boots and she’d pulled her hair back into a neat ponytail. Somehow, in the makeshift outfit with no makeup on her face and nothing fancy about her hairstyle, the woman still managed to look gorgeous.

He dragged his gaze away. “Coffee will be ready in a minute.”

“Don’t make any for me.”

Good, more for him, since he hadn’t slept worth a damn and Tazer would soon be leaving. Dave poured water into the device and set it on brew.

“I don’t drink coffee, but I’d love a Coke if you have one.”

“There’s one in the refrigerator, help yourself.” And, it was a can and could be taken with her. “Is there somewhere I can drop you off today?”

“I could use some clothes and a few personal items and a good computer.”

“I’m sure your friends will help you out.”

“I can’t be seen in the daylight with them. Someone could be watching them.”

He crossed his arms. “Do I look like a chauffeur?”

“No, of course not. But I can’t be seen too much in public.” Nicole smiled, her face lighting the room, her lips twisting into a wry grin as she handed him a list of items and five one-hundred-dollar bills. “I need you to pick up these items for me.”

Dave stared for a moment, clamping his jaw tight to keep his mouth from dropping. “Do you always carry that kind of money around?”

She smiled. “A girl has to have her mad money.”

“I thought mad money was limited to cab fare home.”

“Not when you’re in my business.”

“No, thanks. I’m not your gofer.” He tried to hand her the list and the money, but she backed away.

“I’m not any happier than you are, but it seems my options are limited. I’m staying here.” She glanced around the tight confines of the cabin, refusing to look him in the eye. “Surely you have a computer I can use until Thomas or Valdez can get me a faster one.”

“Why would I need a computer? I captain a charter boat.”

Her face fell and she redirected her attention to him. “You don’t have a computer?”

He fought to keep from yelling. How had he gotten roped into harboring a fugitive? He crossed to a cabinet, removed a fairly new laptop and handed it to her. “I should have run you over.”

“Actually you did.”

“You were only supposed to stay one night.”

Nicole sighed. “Didn’t you say my motorcycle was damaged?”

“I tried to start it, but it wouldn’t turn over. I think some of the wiring got messed up when you decided to run that stop sign.”

“When you hit me.”

Dave shook his head. “I’m not feeling sorry for you, if that’s your plan. Women don’t get far trying to manipulate me.”

“No? I had you pegged for a pushover.” She plopped onto the couch cushion and gave him a challenging look. “You know, the sooner I get a computer and decrypt the data, the sooner I’m out of your hair. You can either work with me or you’re stuck with me.” She shrugged. “It’s up to you. Oh, and could you leave your cell phone? I need to make some calls.”

* * *

Fifteen minutes later Dave stumbled through the door of Brigit’s Ladies Apparel store on Main Street in Cape Churn, clutching Tazer’s list in his fist. “Damned woman. I’m a confirmed bachelor, not a glorified babysitter.”

“Hi, Dave,” Brigit Summers called out from behind the counter. “What can I help you with?” She walked around and met him halfway across the small store.

He wanted to tell her he needed help getting a squatter out of his yacht. Instead he handed her the list. “I need these items in the sizes and colors listed.”

Brigit scanned the list, her brows rising. “That’s quite a list.” She relieved him of it and moved around the store, gathering panties, bras, shirts and trousers. “She must be someone special.”

“It’s for my mother,” he lied, frowning hard enough to scare an enemy fighter.

Not Brigit. She laughed. “Right. You don’t have a mother.”

“And how would you know that?”

She rolled her eyes. “Sal and Olie have been trying to set me up with you since you arrived in Cape Churn. I know your height, weight, that you like coffee and biscuits for breakfast and your favorite food is seafood chowder. Your parents live in Arizona, but you never visit. You were in the Special Forces and you got out of the army after eight years.” She stared across at him. “Did I leave anything out?”

“Just the reason why you didn’t go out with me.”

She snorted. “You never asked.” With a pointed look at the clothes in her arms, she sighed. “I suppose I should have known you had someone special already. Nice, eligible men are very hard to find.”

He wanted to tell her the clothes weren’t for his lover, damn it. “I’m eligible. The nice part could be debatable.”

Her face brightened. “Are you asking me out?”

He frowned and backed toward the door. “Look, if you could bag those things, I’ll be back in fifteen minutes to square up.”

Her face fell and she gave him a sad smile. “See? Hard to find.” She pasted a smile on her face. “At least I’ll make my sales quota for the day. I’ll have these things ready.”

Dave ducked out of the store, feeling as though he’d escaped a spider’s web. What was wrong with women? All he wanted was to be left alone.

When he got back to the boat, he’d hand over the clothing and show Tazer the door. The yacht, no matter how ratty, was his home, not hers.

* * *

Nicole spent the better part of an hour cyber-poking at the flash drive, hoping the encryption on the data was a simple fix. After trying everything she’d learned from Zip, her super-geek informant she’d met while undercover with the FBI, she knew she had to do more.

Fortunately, Dave wasn’t such a Neanderthal that he didn’t have internet service. In fact, he had a pretty good setup for the captain of a fishing charter business. Beneath the scruffy unshaved face, shaggy hair and sloppy clothes, she suspected there was more to Dave Logsdon than he let on.