Kiss My Sass (Primrose, Minnesota Book 5) Read online

  “It was really luck on my part. I know how to play but I very rarely win.”

  “Well, whatever happened made me see you in a whole different light.”

  “You’ve inspired me to try some different things.”

  “Like what?”

  She raised one eyebrow. “I have sand in parts of my body where I’ve never had it before.”

  “I’m not sorry.”

  “Me either.” She gave him a grin and laced her fingers through his. “In fact, I’ve never slept on a beach before.”

  He lifted their hands and pulled her toward him until she was tucked against his side. “First time for everything, sweetheart.”

  ***

  He knew the minute his cell phone vibrated deep in his pocket, things would get complicated fast. Reluctantly, he fished it out and checked the screen. “Damn.”

  “Dawes?”

  “Yeah.” He swiped the screen with his index finger. “Hey, boss.”

  “Bourke, you take delivery yet?”

  “No, sir.”

  “What the hell’s the hold-up? If you can’t handle the job –”

  “I can. It’s not as easy as we thought.”

  “How’s that?”

  “She’s got seven other people with her, four of them are men.”

  “Break in and take her at night.”

  “I forgot to mention one of those men is Ryker Adams. Couldn’t enter that compound with a load of dynamite.” He began to sweat. “I could take her out with a head shot. She’s been in my crosshairs a few times already.”

  “No. I want her alive. I need to find out what she knows and who she’s told.”

  “And then?”

  “You can do whatever you want to with her.”

  He allowed himself to relax. He could think of several things he wanted to do with her, or her friends. Maybe they would get lucky and get more than just the blonde.

  “I’m on my way to the island. You sure you’re up for the job?”

  “Positive. We managed to follow them a couple days ago. They’re going over to Water Island for a wedding. We’ll take her then.”

  “This is your last chance. I’m out of patience.”

  He pulled his phone from his face and looked at the blank screen. “Glad that’s over.”

  “What did he say?”

  “We have one more chance.”

  “We’ll finish the job.”

  “He said we can’t kill her, but he didn’t say anything about the rest of them.”

  Manning nodded. “Good, because those guys aren’t the type to just sit back and let us take their women.”

  Bourke cocked his gun. “Nope.”

  “What about if she’s injured?”

  “As long as she can talk, I don’t think it matters.”

  “Well then, problem solved.”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Ryker pulled into the Red Rooster while a rerun of the bad teacher dance flashed through his brain. He’d never see the bar the same way again.

  “It’s a little early for beer, don’t you think?” Jackson pushed open his door and climbed out of the cab.

  “It’s never too early.”

  Mace rounded the front of the second truck he had just parked, Jake on his heels. “You think the bartender might know something?”

  Ryker led the way up the stairs and opened the door. “Jack knows just about everything that goes on around here.”

  “Hey, Adams.” Jack grinned as they approached the bar. “Why didn’t you bring the ladies? My sales tripled the night they were here.”

  “They’re getting all dolled up for the wedding.”

  “So you guys made a break for it?”

  “Something like that,” Jake mumbled as he handed his cell phone to the man behind the bar. “Can you identify these men?”

  Jack nodded as he studied the screen. “Bourke and Manning. Rumor has it they’re working for the Dawes family.” Ryker caught the caution signal in Jack’s gaze as he returned the phone to Jake. “They’ve been in here a few times. They haven’t given me any grief, but they were very interested in your girls the other night.”

  Mace asked the one question to which they already knew the answer. “They were here that night?”

  “Yeah. What’s going down?”

  The knowledge of how close they had been put a knot in Ryker’s gut as he filled Jack in on what they knew. “Do you know where we can find them?”

  Jack folded his arms across his chest. “Not off hand, but I’ll put the word out. They can’t hide for long.”

  Ryker shook his hand. “Thanks, man.”

  “Have you talked to Mike? He might be able to help.”

  “You were our first stop. Mike’s next on my list.”

  Tension turned his stomach as Ryker left the bar and headed back to the trucks with his friends.

  “How in the hell did we miss them?” Mace ran a hand over the top of his head.

  “We weren’t looking.” Ryker grinned. “At them, anyway. I hate to admit it, but we were severely distracted.” He opened the driver’s door to his vehicle. “Mike is a vendor at the open-air market in Charlotte Amalie.”

  Jake palmed his keys as he and Mace headed for the second truck. “We’ll meet you there.”

  Ryker pulled out into the long line of traffic while he beat a rhythm on the steering wheel with his thumbs. He’d been all over the world in situations that he wasn’t always sure he was gonna come out of alive, but nothing scared him as much as this. Mainly because he had no idea in hell how he would get Marnie out of this mess.

  He was still trying to come up with a solution when they reached Mike’s booth.

  “Ryker Adams! Good to see you, old friend.” The vendor slapped Ryker on the back.

  “Crazy Mike! Have they hauled your ass in lately?”

  “No, man. I’m retired now. This is my job.” He waved his hands around the area. “Taking money from tourists. But I hear you’re still in the business.”

  “Private now.” He took a second to analyze his surroundings and the people within earshot. Convinced he wouldn’t be overheard, he continued. “I need some information.”

  “If I have it, you got it.”

  Quickly, Ryker explained the situation.

  Mike listened, then a grin split his lips. “Ahh. That woman has you wrapped around her finger all nice and tight, no?”

  No way would he admit that. Not even to Crazy Mike.

  “Can you help us or not?”

  The grin left his face and he suddenly became very serious. “You don’t want to be mess around with Dawes or in his business. I hear the whole Palmer family has disappeared. Don’t know if they’re dead or in hiding.”

  “We don’t have a choice.”

  Mike looked one way, then the other, and leaned in close. “I tell you this much. Dawes has a big boat. He calls it Windswept. Word is, he’s sailing it to the island soon.”

  “Thanks. I owe you.”

  “Watch out for that one. He is the devil himself.”

  Jake checked his watch. “We’ve got to go. Bri will have my hide if I’m late.”

  Ryker shook his head. “Whooped.”

  “Seems like you’ve joined that club,” Jackson teased.

  “Just for that, you can go pick up the women.” Ryker tossed him a set of keys. “We’ll meet you at the marina.”

  ***

  “Sabrina Miller! If you don’t hold still, she’ll never get done,” Dara scolded as the stylist sprayed the next sext section of her hair with hairspray and wrapped it around the curling iron.

  “I can’t help it. I fidget when I’m nervous.”

  Alex handed her a glass. “Here, this will help.”

  “What is it?”

  “Coconut rum and pineapple juice.”

  Marnie sat down in the chair next to Bri. “You’re not getting cold feet, are you?”

  Bri took a long swallow. “Oh, that’s so good.” Another sip. “No way.
Jake’s mine.”

  “This is going to be so much fun. Ryker says there’s a trailer on the beach that sells food and drinks. Maybe they’ll have Mermaid’s Tails.”

  Dara leaned over and elbowed Bri. “Did you see that dreamy look on her face when she said Ryker?”

  Bri grinned. “Oh, yeah.”

  Alex took the mirror from the bedside table and applied her lipstick. “Just do him, Marnie. We all know you want to.”

  “I did,” she said easily.

  “When?”

  “Last night.”

  “Ha!” Bri gave them a smug smile. “I win!”

  Alex lowered the mirror. “Geez Marnie, couldn’t you have waited just one more day?”

  “Alex said you’d hold out until our last night here.” Dara giggled. “But I had faith. I said the second day.”

  Marnie grinned. “Liberty was probably more sensible.”

  “No.” Bri shrugged. “She said you wouldn’t last the first night.”

  Before she could take the time to process just how well these women knew her, a solid knock rattled the door and changed the focus of the conversation.

  “Ladies.” Jackson’s deep voice boomed from the hallway. “We’re leaving in five.”

  “We’ll do our best,” Alex sang in response.

  Marnie didn’t expect him to reply. Instead, she heard a male grunt and then heavy footsteps descending the stairs.

  Alex smoothed out her knee-length, navy blue sundress that matched everyone else’s. “This is my favorite bridesmaid dress ever.”

  “Mine too,” Dara agreed. “I’ll actually wear this one again.”

  “Our dresses are beautiful.” Marnie smiled at Bri. “But yours is perfect.”

  The white, tea-length, strapless dress showcased pearls and lace scattered throughout the bodice. The straight skirt accented Bri’s petite figure with just enough taffeta to make her look like a princess. Simple and elegant.

  “Are we going to wear shoes?” Marnie wiggled her freshly-painted toes.

  Bri nodded. “Julia said not to bother, but I think we should wear a pair of flip flops to and from the beach.”

  Alex coughed as a fog of hairspray floated past. “Are we ready?”

  “Almost.” Dara glanced at the stylist. “Spray us all down one more time. It’s going to be windy.”

  Ryker stood beside the boat captain aboard the Lady Caribbean, his tongue almost dragging the floor as Marnie approached the front of the vessel. Not only did her dress accent her sexy curves, her hair had been swept up into some sort of complicated twist, exposing the creamy skin of her long slender neck. Skin that he knew from experience begged for the touch of his lips.

  Whatever the stylist used to outline her eyes had deepened the color and narrowed the corners. She reminded him of a Siamese cat, gaze narrowed, focused, waiting for sudden movement. If she were such an animal, he imagined her tail would chop the air behind her, warning him to run before she pounced. Only, he wouldn’t run.

  He extended a hand. “You look beautiful.”

  “Thank you.” Those deep blue eyes sparkled as if she were truly complimented as she stepped onto the boat and took a seat in the front.

  He shook himself free of her invisible hold and reached for Bri. “Stand here.” He pointed to a spot right next to the captain’s chair. “You can hold on to the pole and the windshield will keep the water off of you.” He glanced at Mace. “Take the seat opposite the captain.”

  “We’ll save the seats near the stern for Jackson and Jake.” He told the captain as he helped Dara and then Alex onto the boat. He pointed to the leather bench in the middle. “You girls will be comfortable here.”

  Once Jake and Jackson loaded, Ryker took the extra seat next to Marnie, pleased as punch to finally be able to share space with her again.

  “You may get a little sea spray,” the captain warned as he eased the boat back from the dock. “But it won’t be bad.”

  He accelerated slowly until they were out of the no wake zone and floated on smooth water toward Water Island. Ryker glanced at Marnie, her head resting back against her seat, eyes closed, and her sexy lips curved into a smile. He respected the hell out of her. Even in the middle of evil, she lived life at full throttle. He took her hand and braided their fingers.

  “Why are you staring at me?” she asked behind closed eyes.

  “Can’t help it. You’re just so damn gorgeous.”

  She opened one eye. “Good answer.”

  It only took a few more minutes over a few more waves before the captain slowed the motor and coasted toward the shoreline.

  Ryker turned to face the back of the boat. “Remember, we have to wade in. We can carry our shoes.” He turned back to bend and roll up his pant legs. Once the boat drifted just a few feet away from the beach, Ryker hopped over the side.

  Marnie stood and looked over the edge. “It looks a little deep.”

  “C’mere.” He waited until she stood at the edge of the boat and then lifted her over the side.

  “Thanks a lot, Adams,” Mace grumbled as he scooped up Dara.

  They waded ashore and set the women down just in time for the wedding planner to line them up for the ceremony. Ryker’s spot was last in line, giving him a great view of Marnie but he wished he weren’t so far from her.

  Hopefully this wouldn’t last long. They were completely vulnerable out in the open like this. A sniper could take her out easily. His sixth sense tingled as he scanned the area. Nothing looked suspicious. A group of seniors, some kids building sandcastles, and some college-aged kids playing beach volleyball.

  Jackson leaned toward him. “You feel it too?”

  “Yeah.” He continued to scan.

  Mace leaned around Jackson. “You think they’re here?”

  “I hope not. It’s a logistical nightmare for us.”

  Jackson shook his head. “They didn’t follow us and no one other than anyone associated with the wedding knew the plan.”

  “Keep an eye open anyway.”

  The ceremony began but Ryker didn’t hear much of what the preacher said. Alex blotted at her nose with a tissue and Marnie blinked, but the tears slid down anyway. He never understood why women cried at weddings.

  “You may kiss your bride.”

  Finally. Although he wished the couple every happiness in the world, he knew they should probably leave while things were quiet. He waited until everyone else had hugged and congratulated, then he gave Bri a big bear hug.

  “That’s the only time you’re allowed to touch my wife.”

  Ryker chuckled as he released her and extended a hand to Jake. “Congratulations. You’re a lucky man.”

  “Thanks.”

  Mace raised both eyebrows. “Actually Ryker, I heard you were pretty lucky last – umph!”

  “Sshh.” Dara glared while she moved her elbow out of his stomach.

  Ryker snuck a peek at Marnie, relieved to see her checking her nails. The absolute last think they needed was interrogation about last night’s exercise.

  “Pictures! Come on everyone.”

  Ryker released a grin. Since the wedding planner spouted orders like a drill sergeant, it wouldn’t take long for the remaining formalities and then they could head back to the house. He wouldn’t relax until each and every one of them were behind the state-of-the-art security system where nothing or no one could get to them.

  Once the pictures were taken and the legal papers signed, the wedding planner, preacher and photographer headed back to St. Thomas.

  “Let’s have a drink.” Bri suggested.

  Jake glanced at him. “Think we should?”

  His first instinct was to decline, yet he knew that four women would try everything in the book to change his mind. “Sure,” he said as he snagged a free table. “A quick one.”

  “Mace and I will go,” Jackson said. “You and Jake stay with the girls.”

  While he waited for Mace and Jackson to return with the beverages, Ryker pi
cked up his binoculars and scanned the water.

  Marnie looped her arm through his. “What do you see?”

  “Just making sure they’re in position.”

  “Who’s in what position?”

  “Odane and Omario. I had them bring a couple of my boats, just in case.”

  “Let me see.” He handed her the glasses. “Hey, I see them. They’re both fishing.”

  “Looks like it, doesn’t it?”

  “They aren’t fishing?”

  “No, it’s all for show.”

  “Wow. There’s a humongous yacht out there.” Marnie handed him back the binoculars and picked up her drink.

  The hair stood on the back of his neck as he focused again on the water. Sonuvabitch. The yacht was enormous alright, and extremely out of place among the fishing boats and speed boats maneuvering on the waves. He lowered the field glasses and glanced at the trailer where the other men had gone to get drinks, relieved to see them approaching. When he’d said the drink should be a quick one, he’d never been so serious in his life.

  Marnie set her empty cup on the table and licked her lips. The weather was perfect, the wedding romantic, and the view outstanding – of the ocean and especially of the man sitting next to her. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly as Ryker took her hand, rested it on his knee, and then covered it with his own.

  Something in his touch made her wary. “What’s wrong?”

  “Not a thing.” He gave her a grin. “I’m just enjoying the company.”

  Dara stood. “I’m headed to the ladies room.”

  “I’ll go with you.” Alex scooted back her chair.

  Marnie nodded. “Me too.”

  Ryker stood and glanced at the other men. “I’ll go.”

  Marnie raised an eyebrow. “It’s called the ladies room. Besides, it’s still daylight and it’s just right there. We’ll be fine.”

  He stood there for a minute as if weighing his options. He finally nodded. “You’ve got seven minutes, then I’m coming in.”

  “You’re timing us?”