Someone To Watch Over Her

Their lips clung together, and Marcus felt the now familiar surge of desire that overwhelmed him whenever he touched her. He groaned in the back of his throat as she moved innocently against him, and finally broke away from her.

“Tell me what your parents said,” he said as he looked at her. He couldn’t bear to let her go just yet, so he slid his hand down her arm and took her hand in his.

She looked at him uncertainly, then nodded. “You’re right. We have to think about my predicament.”

She had managed to read his mind, and it scared the hell out of him. He didn’t want to feel this connection with any woman. After Heather, he had sworn he wouldn’t give any woman the power to control him. To hide his reaction, he turned and sat on the couch, still holding her hand. She sat next to him, and he drew in a ragged breath.

“What did your parents say?”

“They were frantic with worry, of course. They didn’t realize until close to dinner that I was missing. As soon as they saw my office, they knew something was wrong. I guess I put up more of a struggle than I realized.”

“Why am I not surprised to hear that?” he murmured.

She shot him a sharp look. “What was that supposed to mean?”

He bent and pressed a quick kiss to her lips. It was all he would allow himself. “It means I almost feel sorry for the two guys who tried to grab you. I’m sure you fought like a hellcat.” He gave her a crooked smile. “I know you already, Jessica.”

“You’re right,” she said, staring at him for a moment then looking away. He was sure he saw confusion in her eyes. “I guess I did. There was a lot of damage in my office. When my parents couldn’t find me on the island, they realized I must have been kidnapped. They’ve been up all night, waiting for a ransom call.”

“They haven’t gotten one yet?” He forced himself to concentrate on business. “No one’s called and claimed they had you? Asked for a ransom?”

“No.”

“They might, though,” he said thoughtfully, his mind flying through the possibilities. “If you don’t surface in a few days, the kidnappers might assume that you drowned while trying to swim to shore. I wouldn’t be surprised if they called your parents anyway and tried to get ransom money from them.”

“They wouldn’t succeed,” she said immediately. “My father wouldn’t be taken in that easily.”

“Parents will do a lot of things that seem irrational if they think their child is in danger,” he said gently.

She started to shake her head, then paused. “Maybe you’re right,” she said after a moment. “If I hadn’t called them and let them know what had happened, they might be willing to grasp at any straw.”

“Would your parents mind if someone put a tracer on their phone line? In case this Simon calls them?”

“I don’t think so.” She turned to face him. “But be prepared for questions. I told them you were some kind of law enforcement officer, but that wasn’t good enough for my father. He wanted to know details. And if you go to the island to install that equipment, he’s going to give you the third degree.”