Barefoot with a Stranger (Barefoot Bay Undercover #2)(32)

“Shut the hell up.” Mal’s hand fisted and drew back, his arm nearly vibrating for a fight. “It wasn’t like that.”

“No? Then what was it—”

“Stop it!” Chessie got right in between them, fury and disbelief nearly blinding her. “Both of you, just stop it. It’s done. We’re…done.” So, so done. “Let’s figure out Plan B and get to Cuba, find your son, and get out fast. I’d like this whole thing to be over as soon as possible.”


She could have sworn Mal flinched. Well, too bad. Her own puzzle pieces clicked together…comments finally making sense, subtleties in their exchange fitting into the big picture. The big ugly picture.

He’d thought she was one of the spies after him and he’d…screwed her. In every sense of the word.

“Even if you lost them before you left Atlanta, they could have followed Chessie when she left your room,” Gabe said. “Shit, they could be on the property right now.”

“They’re not,” Mal said.

“You don’t know that, but just in case, why don’t you knock on a few doors and see who you can bang some information out of?” Gabe stabbed his hand through his hair. “We’ll accelerate the schedule. Change the flights. Send you through another country and get you to Cuba by tomorrow afternoon.”

“Good thinking—”

Gabe glared at Mal, shutting him up. “I don’t need your f*cking approval, dickface. In fact, I don’t need you at all. Pack up and head out. I’ll figure something else out and—”

“Gabe.” Mal’s voice was low and harsh. “That’ll take more time. Do you really want to spend even one more day wondering about this kid? You need me, man. And Chessie needs protection. I’ll guard her with my life, I swear to God I will.”

Gabe opened his mouth to spew some more venom, but nothing came out. The fire in his eyes didn’t disappear, but his chest rose and fell with a slow breath.

Chessie fisted her hands, Mal’s promise to protect hanging in the air, along with his determination to keep Gabe from going to Cuba. That alone was a point in his favor, along with his defense of her.

“Come on, Gabe,” Mal continued. “Let me do this for you. Let me find the answers you have to have.”

Chessie’s heart warmed at the plea, which seemed genuine and was surely the right way to look at this.

And Gabe closed his eyes in silent resignation.

“You know it’s the right thing to do,” Mal finished.

Gabe inhaled and exhaled, fighting for control and common sense. “Here’s what’s going to happen,” he said. “I’m going to put you on a plane to Cuba with my sister, and you’re going to do what you have to do, keeping your paws to yourself, and then you can come back and kindly stay out of my life.” He threw a look at Chessie. “Come with me. I need to talk to you.”

Mal moved closer to her as Gabe walked away, but Chessie put her hand on his arm. “Let me hear what he has to say,” she said. “Brother to sister.”

“Chessie—”

“Please, I know what to say to him.”

“You already said plenty.”

“Maybe that’s because I’m not a spy,” she said dryly. “Even if I can pass for one.” Without waiting for some lame-ass apology, she headed to the back patio, where she found Gabe still breathing hard, staring at the listening device.

“Look, Gabe, I know I let you down, but—”

He shook his head, stopping Chessie’s speech before it started. “I acted like an *.”

“Well. The first step is admitting it,” she said in a teasing tone.

He puffed out a breath. “It just…surprised me. And, yes, you’re right. You’re a grown woman.”

The statement stunned any argument out of her. “Thank you, but you don’t have to worry about anything. The chances of it happening again are less than zero.” At his doubtful look, she added, “Please. He put the moves on me because he thought I was a spy.” The reality of it tightened her stomach into a ball of self-loathing. And Mal-loathing.

“I’m sure that’s not the only reason, Chess. Plus, ‘I went to his room’ doesn’t exactly sound like this was one-sided.”

Shit, why had she told him so much? “It doesn’t matter. Now I know why he turned on the charm. I’ll avoid…him.” On a mission to Cuba.

Gabe looked at her as if he was thinking the same thing.

“Look.” He held up the broken device. “This is why you need to avoid Mal. He’s got a target on his back, so he’s not the guy you want.”

“I’d already figured out he’s a spy.”

Both of Gabe’s brows lifted. “You didn’t find that out through some computer search.”

“No, I didn’t.” She crossed her arms and stared him down. “Just used my God-given Rossi intuition.”

He nodded slowly, impressed. “I knew you had the chops.”

“So get off my case and let me do this job,” she said. “Trust me.”

“I do, but, listen, Chess, about Mal. About a relationship with Mal.”


“There won’t be one,” she assured him.