Forgiving Paris: A Novel(51)

The driver did a U-turn and weaved through traffic until he was a few cars behind the yellow one. Jack held his breath. They had to do this. Taking risks was necessary in an operation like this. Risks brought down trafficking rings. Without taking chances, there would be no victory to celebrate later.

So why did everything seem different this time? Instead of nerves of steel, all Jack could feel was his arm around Eliza in the backseat of the car. The touch of her skin beneath his fingers. Twice he had risked his life to save hers. And now… now they were both rushing into danger. What if they never returned to Atlantis?

Stop, he told himself. Get the job done, Jack. He leaned forward, allowing space between him and Eliza for the first time in hours. There. Now he could think. “I thought they lived up this way.”

“Exactly.” Eliza played along. She sounded excited. “I can’t believe we spotted them.”

Down one narrow street and then another, the yellow car led the way.

“I can’t keep up.” Their driver scowled in the rearview mirror. “Last thing I need is a ticket.”

“Right. Don’t break the law.” Jack was glad the traffickers were speeding. Otherwise the cabbie would be right on their tail. And that would almost certainly give them away. Jack felt for his gun in his waistband.

He hoped he wouldn’t need it.

A few blocks up, Jack saw the yellow car pull into the driveway of a two-story white brick home. “You know what.” He leaned up and patted their driver on his shoulder. “Wrong guys.”

“Really?” Eliza sounded disappointed. “They looked so familiar.”

“Nope.” Jack leaned back. “The guys we know live by the big church. Remember?”

“Aww. That’s right.” Eliza sighed. “I guess you can take us back to the beach.”

“Back to Atlantis, actually.” Jack put his arm around Eliza and drew her close. “I’ve had enough sun today.” He winked at her.

“Me, too.” She turned to him and looked at him for a long moment. Then she took his face and did the thing she was never supposed to do. She kissed him… on the lips. Slow and sensual, until he put his hand on her shoulder and pulled back. He kept his tone playful. “Honey. Not here!”

Now if the man driving the cab actually did work for the goons on the beach, he couldn’t possibly think Jack and Eliza were anything other than typical honeymooning tourists. Jack didn’t say another word until they were behind the main door to their suite at the Reef.

“I asked you.” He dropped his backpack and searched her eyes. “Please… don’t kiss me like that.”

“We’re supposed to be married.” She sounded hurt. She set her bag down and moved closer to him. “I felt unsafe. So I kissed you.”

Jack had known the rigors of mission work in a hundred different ways. But never had he worked so hard as in this single moment not to take her in his arms and tell her how he really felt. He gathered his determination. “It’s my job to decide what’s safe… and what’s unsafe.” He worked to control his breathing. Then he stepped back and held up one hand. “Eliza… please… don’t do that again. That’s all I’m asking.”

“Fine.” She turned and used her key to enter her room. The door shut with a loud thud.

Jack grabbed his backpack, opened his door and stepped inside. He didn’t exhale until he heard the latch close behind him. Almost. He dropped to the sofa. He had almost kissed her. No one would’ve seen. No one would ever know.

Thank You, he thought. Keep me from doing something stupid, God. Please. The next hour was his, before he had to see her again. Jack stood and walked out onto the balcony. How had he gotten into this situation? Why had he agreed to do a mission with Eliza? His attraction had been there from the first time he saw her.

Jack gripped the rail with both hands. It took a minute for him to catch his breath. God, I need Your help. If she kisses me again…

He didn’t finish the silent prayer. God—if He was listening—had to know the trouble Jack was in. He and Eliza still had twenty-four hours together on Paradise Island. If Jack could survive without breaking down, without giving in and kissing her every chance he had, it would be a miracle. And he had to survive, because this was his job and lives were at stake. He didn’t dare break orders. But one thing was certain. When he got back to San Antonio he would have a talk with Oliver Layton.

Because he could never, ever take a mission like this with Eliza again.





CHAPTER SEVENTEEN


May all who want to take my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace.

—Psalm 40:14



They were back in San Antonio, and Eliza still hadn’t forgiven Jack for the way he’d treated her. Yes, he had been kind. He had listened to her and comforted her and shared his past with her.

But he had also rejected her. Not just as a woman but as an informant. Insisting he alone could decide when they should and shouldn’t kiss. She had tried kissing him again when they visited the underground Dig Aquarium and when they bodysurfed on the public beach. If ever there was a place where a newly married couple would kiss, it would be in the shallow breakers of a Caribbean shoreline.

The kiss in the waves had been the only time Jack didn’t fight her, the single incident where he didn’t step back or push her away. Instead he had drawn her into his arms and returned the kiss. And for the single sweetest moment in Eliza’s life she allowed herself to believe Jack Ryder really loved her.