CHAPTER TEN
Sloane
Leaning with my back against the door, I held my fingers to my pulsing lips as my mind raced.
Why did he leave me like that?
Slowly, I went to the bathroom to look in the mirror to see if something was wrong with me. I half expected to see something peeking out of my nose or a smudge or something on my face. Instead, I found my normal face, free of any faults.
“So why’d he leave?”
I put my hand in front of my mouth and breathed out to see if my breath was stinky. “It’s not that.”
Leaning in to inspect myself further, I looked into my eyes. “Maybe he just didn’t get the same sparks you did, Sloane. Let it go.”
I turned and walked out of the bathroom, knowing I wasn’t about to let it go.
We had a spark, dammit.
Traipsing into the living area, I was about to fall on the sofa when I saw a light come on in Smith’s bungalow. Hurrying to the window, I peeked out and saw that Smith and his girlfriend were leaving. I’d been wrong about them staying in for the rest of the night.
Now would be the good time to sneak into his place and see if I could get any incriminating photos. Moving quickly, I had to put the Zane business out of my mind.
Finding the wet suit in my bag in the bedroom, I pulled it out and sighed. It was a complete bitch to put on and take off, but it was a necessary evil. It was black, so it would keep me from being seen too easily. And it was waterproof if I had to slip into the water. It would also give me a place to hide my Glock, unlike any of the bathing suits I had with me.
With a bit of tugging, I got into the suit and pulled a black mask over my face. If Smith had any type of security camera set up, I wouldn’t be recognized on it. I noticed he’d left the door on the deck open. That might be because he had other ways of keeping his things safe or he might just be a dumbass. Either way, I wasn’t about to take any chances.
I grabbed my phone and gun so I’d be ready if I encountered Smith. He might have a gun too. I had to cover all my bases. Moving out onto the deck, I gave a quick glance at Zane’s place. His lights were all out. Had he already forgotten about me and fallen asleep?
Bastard.
Had our kiss meant nothing to him?
Shaking off that mess, I headed off my deck and walked down the pier to get to Smith’s. They’d left the light on in the living room, making it easy to see. But I’d be easy to see too. I had to be careful.
If I was lucky, paradise would have made Smith stupid, and he’d forgotten to lock his safe or left a suitcase of evidence open. I knew it wouldn’t be that easy, but a girl could hope. I could impress the home office with my quick actions, then go home and forget about all this.
That stopped me. Did I want to go home?
No.
But I had a job to do and putting it off wasn’t the right thing to do. I willed myself to stop thinking about leaving or staying with Zane and moved into the bedroom. It was dark in there, and I could move around more freely.
There was no sign of any security system. No cameras that were readily evident. There was one large bag, but it was empty. I took a picture anyway.
The bed was a wreck of disheveled sheets. I was thankful for the mask. At least I didn’t have to smell the sexual funk that surely filled the room. Now the open door made sense. They needed to air the place out.
And there I was, back to thinking about Zane and me. How would the bed look after he took me? How would it smell? Would our smells combine to make a pleasing aroma?
I bet they would.
I bet everything that Zane and I did would smell great, feel great, sound great.
Ugh, I had to stop.
Back to being a professional FBI agent, I carefully checked every drawer but came up empty. I checked for loose floorboards and for covert spaces in the walls, but couldn’t find anything there either.
He must have rented a locker at the airport or in the main lodge under lock and key. Up there, they had real security systems. I couldn’t search any of those areas. But if I found him getting into a safety deposit box or an airport locker and got a picture of that, then we’d have enough evidence to bring in a couple more agents to check it out.
I was merely the forerunner. If I noted anything suspicious, I’d have to stand back and let the big boys do all the really dangerous work.
The thought pissed me off. I’d like to be here when the shit went down. I’d seen it on videos but never got to participate. And man, did I want to participate.
I was an expert with my gun because I’d practiced more than most. Even though the powers that be at Quantico didn’t think I was ready for more, I knew I could hold my own if I had to. The academy was a place I loved. Anytime I was given a chance to further my knowledge, you could bet your sweet ass I did. I was the first to raise my hand, and I pushed myself hard to get what I wanted.
This was my chance to prove myself.
Just as I began to make my way out of the bedroom, I heard a high-pitched giggle.
They were back.
Adrenaline shot into my system, making me quicker, my eyes on the door. I could make it out, but I wouldn’t make it out of their line of sight, I knew.
Moving like a snake, I slithered along the wall and out the sliding door onto the deck. But they got into the house before I could get back onto the pier. Tucking my gun and phone into my wet suit, I dove smoothly into the water, turning below the surface so that I was hidden by the decking when I broke for air.
From this position, I couldn’t see, but I could hear. More giggles, then the telltale squeaking of the bed. As the first moan escaped the woman, I ducked beneath the surface and swam for the ladder.
On the second rung, I stopped and listened again. Nothing. I was hidden now, not just from the sexed up couple but from anyone who might be around to witness my escape. Taking a quick look, I saw that Zane’s lights were still out. Resting peacefully, I guessed.
Shithead. Really? Our kiss did nothing for him at all?
Most women thought of men as simpletons. Not me. I found them complex as hell. I didn’t know what any of them really wanted. I’d always thought it was sex. I guessed I was wrong. At least where Zane Boyd was concerned, I was.
Moving up the ladder, I gave one more look around as water pooled at my feet. I wanted to avoid going inside with the wet suit on, so decided to strip on the deck. With only the high moon, I wasn’t worried about being noticed.
Taking off the mask, I tossed it onto one of the chairs. The gun and phone followed before I began the process of wiggling out of the tight skin.
Shaking the excess water off the best I could, I laid it over the railing to drip dry a few more minutes before taking it inside. I didn’t want Zane to see it and ask questions.
Zane.
There he was, back in my head again.
Why did he leave?
Damn. I was tired and thinking of him was just too much. I needed a break. A nice hot bath would do the trick.
Naked aside from my flimsy underwear, I held my arms out, enjoying the breeze on my heated skin before grabbing my gear and heading inside.
Hanging up the suit in the bathroom to finish drying, I turned on the water to the huge soaking tub before going back to the tiny kitchen for the bottle of wine. Pouring a glass nearly to the brim, I rummaged through the suitcase I had yet to unpack for my pajamas and toiletries.
Back in the bathroom, I turned off the lights then lifted the blinds so that I could look out onto the water while the moon surrounded me in its silver lumens. I downed half the glass before lowering myself into the deliciously hot water.
Ah, peace at last.
Except it wasn’t as peaceful as I’d hoped. Not with the water gently lapping at my breasts, making me wish it was Zane’s tongue stroking me.
Well, hell.
Sinking lower into the water, I sighed, knowing it wouldn’t do any good to force him away. Very slowly, I opened my legs and let my mind take me where reality had forbidden.