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Her Lieutenant Protector
Lara Lacombe


A mysterious outbreak propels a doctor and a wounded warrior into escalating danger
After a traumatic incident years before, Mallory Watkins, ship’s doctor aboard the Abigail Adams, doesn’t trust easily. On her latest cruise, she’s wary of sexy security chief Everest LeBeau, but when passengers suddenly fall sick and a dead body is uncovered, Mallory must turn to the handsome veteran for help.
Wary of intimacy since suffering a life-changing injury, veteran Everest recognizes a kindred spirit in Mallory. His beautiful coworker stirs tender feelings in him he’d long forgotten. While Everest and Mallory close in on a lethal saboteur, trust is at a premium as their hearts—and their lives—are in peril.
Mallory’s panicked brain latched on to one thought: Everest.
She had to find Everest, and now. She couldn’t sit here and wait for him to arrive any longer—she had to go track him down. She was way out of her depth and needed help.
The door shushed over the carpet as it opened behind her, and she felt a wave of relief.
“Thank God you’re here—”
The blow was unexpected and came without warning. One second, she was turning to greet Everest. The next, she was on the floor, her vision blurring as spots of light danced across her eyes. The back of her head felt like it was on fire and she tried to lift her hand to touch the spot. But a wave of dizziness swamped her and she closed her eyes, sinking into the inky black depths of unconsciousness.
* * *
We hope you enjoyed a sneak peek at the latest
volume in Lara Lacombe’s exciting series,
Doctors in Danger!
Dear Reader (#u84492b52-a9b8-5540-b926-09862f87f791),
I can’t believe this is my tenth book for Harlequin! This has been an amazing and exciting journey, and I’m so thrilled to be part of the Harlequin family.
This book means a lot to me, and not just because of its milestone number. Mallory is a special character, one who has more than earned her happily-ever-after. She’s met her match in Everest, a hero with a true heart of gold.
A word of caution: Mallory is a sexual assault survivor, and some of her scenes were tough for me to write. If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, please don’t suffer in silence. Contact RAINN for support (centers.rainn.org (http://www.centers.rainn.org) or call 1-800-656-4673).
Be well,
Lara
Her Lieutenant Protector
Lara Lacombe


www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
LARA LACOMBE earned a PhD in microbiology and immunology and worked in several labs across the country before moving into the classroom. Her day job as a college science professor gives her time to pursue her other love—writing fast-paced romantic suspense with smart, nerdy heroines and dangerously attractive heroes. She loves to hear from readers! Find her on the web or contact her at laralacombewriter@gmail.com.
This book is for my friend Shayla Swift,
in honor of her work as founder and director
of Speak Truth to Sexual Violence Nebraska
Contents
Cover (#u611c423c-dc93-5d83-b937-bc56d747bc32)
Back Cover Text (#u2debffc5-0a60-5bde-9fb0-8e6d448b07a5)
Introduction (#u2b24d43a-60cc-5922-9e6e-db315be3ef45)
Dear Reader (#udd335a0a-c9bf-51e4-9a05-589a2d96aeef)
Title Page (#u08560296-ccee-592b-8a65-284f8a01bf98)
About the Author (#uff492bf4-4692-5cd1-9fde-51e777facbfc)
Dedication (#ue3bbe1b1-a466-51f2-bb8e-1321935663c0)
Prologue (#u5b3fd8a8-f704-507e-8810-b3ec9d463803)
Chapter 1 (#uf1102366-5265-5d69-864b-6e77e3a475cb)
Chapter 2 (#u3562b17c-fa21-52a9-997b-820df996632b)
Chapter 3 (#u02e7bc0a-14b8-5634-9e93-64cd9904e2ed)
Chapter 4 (#u3e7d37d2-6bf1-51e9-b7a2-834b4ee35d19)
Chapter 5 (#ucacb26c9-8e5c-5bfa-ad00-d96cdfa238fd)
Chapter 6 (#ubced4137-a75a-5184-850e-47b8b982ac70)
Chapter 7 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 8 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 9 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 10 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 11 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 12 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 13 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 14 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 15 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 16 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 17 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 18 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 19 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 20 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 21 (#litres_trial_promo)
Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
Prologue (#u84492b52-a9b8-5540-b926-09862f87f791)
Peterson Shipyard
Norfolk, Virginia
“You heading out, Cam?”
Cameron leaned back and glanced at his watch. “A little early, isn’t it?”
Frank shook his head. “Boss told us to knock off at four for the holiday weekend. Didn’t you see the announcement posted in the elevator?”
“I must have missed it.”
Frank shifted his thermos to his other hand and pushed his hard hat back off his forehead. “So are you coming, or what?”
“Yeah, just gimme a minute.” Cameron began to gather up his tools, stuffing them into the tough canvas bag that served as his carryall. He was done installing this toilet, and the others would keep for the weekend. The boss didn’t give them a break very often, so he wasn’t about to pass this one up.
Frank waited patiently while he got his tools in order, then the two of them set off, joining the steadily growing stream of workers headed for the main exit of the ship. She wasn’t a huge ship, by industry standards, but Cam had caught a glimpse of the master plans and knew she was going to be overflowing with features and amenities galore. Her beauty was already starting to take shape in the clean lines of the cabins, the elegant scrollwork adorning the walls of the common areas, and the large, open spaces scattered throughout the ship for guests to congregate and socialize. Even the toilets he was installing were top of the line. There was no way a man of his salary would ever be able to afford a voyage on this ship, but he felt a quiet pride at the knowledge he had helped build her.
Cameron and Frank chatted amiably as they walked until they reached the parking lot. Both men paused, each one searching for his respective vehicle in the lot.
“A bunch of us are getting together down at the Crow’s Nest,” Frank said. “Want to join us?”
Cameron thought of his small apartment and the frozen TV dinner waiting for him there. Not the most appealing way to spend a Friday night. “Sure thing,” he said, patting his pockets for his keys. His stomach dropped as he realized they weren’t there. “Damn,” he muttered.
“What’s wrong?”
“Left my keys inside.”
“That’s a bummer,” Frank said, shaking his head in sympathy. “Want me to wait?”
It was a nice offer, but Cameron could tell by the way Frank glanced toward his truck that he was anxious to get going. “Nah, you go on ahead. I’ll meet you there.”
“Thanks, man,” Frank said, the relief in his voice confirming Cameron’s suspicion. “I’ll save you a seat at the table.”
Cameron gave him a wave, already turning back to the gangplank that led to the ship. It didn’t take long to make his way back on board; the crowd of workers had thinned substantially, all of them eager to get home to their families or to head to the bar to unwind.
The keys were exactly where he thought they’d be, sitting on the floor next to the last toilet he’d installed. They must have slipped out of his back pocket while he was on the floor working; he really should just clip them to his belt...
He scooped them up and began to retrace his steps, heading back for the parking lot and the promise of a relaxing evening with the guys. He was halfway down the hall when the shadow of a movement caught his eye. He stopped and leaned back, glancing into the cabin he’d just passed. Was it just the dying rays of the sun shifting through the window, or perhaps something else?
At first glance the cabin appeared empty. Then he caught a glimpse of a boot dangling from the ceiling and did a double take. Who was working, and why were they in the duct above the room? As far as he knew, that work had already been completed.
Cameron stepped inside, craning his head to try to catch a glimpse of what was going on. “Hello?”
The man in the room froze, and Cameron had the sense he’d startled him. “Everything okay in here?” He glanced around, noting the absence of a ladder. How did the man get up there, and more important, how was he going to get down?
“Hello?” he repeated, stepping fully into the room. “Need any help? Your ladder seems to have wandered off.”
The man didn’t respond, which was odd. Cameron felt the fine hairs on the back of his neck rise as he glanced around the cabin. The small black box that should have been mounted near the ceiling was lying in pieces on the built-in dresser. It was the in-room hub for the ship-wide Wi-Fi network, and he hadn’t seen any electricians on board today...
Was someone trying to tamper with the ship? The thought sent a jolt through him, and he was suddenly very aware of the fact that he was alone in the room with an unidentified worker, one who probably shouldn’t be here.
He took a step back, keeping his eye on the man’s dangling leg to make sure he didn’t move. Best to get off the ship and call security, let them deal with this. He took another step, feeling his way toward the door.
The blow to his head came without warning. A flash of pain, an explosion of light. A last, desperate gasp. And then nothing.
* * *
“What did you do?”
Harvey lifted one shoulder in a dismissive shrug, his gaze locked on the floor and the body at their feet. “He was snooping. Thought he’d seen something.”
“Did you know that for sure, or was it just a guess?” Terrence didn’t bother to hide the impatience in his voice. This wasn’t the first time Harvey had caused trouble, but he couldn’t get rid of the man. Blood ran thicker than water, and since Harvey’s brother was a well-connected member of the Organization, Terrence was stuck with him.
“Couldn’t take that chance, now, could I?” He sounded a little indignant, and Terrence decided not to press the issue. Arguing with Harvey wasn’t going to change the fact that there was now a dead body to deal with, and since Terrence was in charge of this little operation, it was his problem to solve.
It wasn’t supposed to be like this. The project was simple and straightforward: go throughout the ship and “enhance” some of the black boxes, adding a few chunks of gray, putty-like material before sealing them back up. He’d been given a set of plans marked with the locations of the boxes to be altered, several bags of the mysterious substance and a bag of unmarked bills. His instructions had also included a list of suggested precautions, ominous statements that warned he shouldn’t directly touch the material or breathe in any of its dust. It was almost enough to give him pause, but then he’d counted the money and decided the risk was worth the reward.
Things had started out well. The team had come aboard in the late afternoon to familiarize themselves with the layout of the ship and the location of the target boxes. When quitting time rolled around and the crew had started to leave, they’d made themselves scarce so as not to draw attention to the fact they were staying behind. Now they were making their way through the ship, going from room to room to modify the boxes on the plan.
At least they had been, before this nosy guy had stumbled across something he wasn’t supposed to see.
“What should we do with him?” Harvey nudged the body with the toe of his boot, as if he expected the man to stand up and walk out of the room. He glanced up at the ceiling, nodding at the dark opening where Terrence had been only moments before.
Terrence answered his unspoken question. “No. There’s not enough room.” The body would also begin to stink and leak fluids soon, which meant it wouldn’t stay hidden for long. Maybe they could weigh it down, sink it in the water? But no, there was so much boat traffic in the harbor nothing stayed under for long.
Terrence glanced around the room, wishing the answer was written on the walls. Thick plastic sheeting hung from the ceiling and covered part of the floor, a protective barrier that would soon be removed as the cabins were finished. Would anyone notice if it came down a little early?
“Pull that down,” he instructed Harvey. “Lay it flat on the floor.”
“This?” Harvey tugged at the plastic tarp dubiously. “Why?”
Terrence ground his teeth together. “You’re going to wrap the body in it.”
“Oh.” Harvey wrinkled his nose. “Are you going to help?”
“Nope.” Terrence crossed his arms and stared hard at the other man. “You killed him. You get to clean it up.”
It took several minutes, punctuated by Harvey’s mumbled complaints, but eventually the body was arranged on the thick layer of plastic. “Hand me that duct tape.”
Terrence picked up the silver roll, glancing dubiously from it to the body. “Won’t he smell?” He had no idea how they were going to dispose of the man, but he did know the coming stench would only make life more difficult.
Harvey rocked back on his heels, considering the question. “Yeah. Give me a minute.”
He stood and walked out of the room before Terrence could protest. What the hell? This was not going well at all. And now the idiot had left him here with a dead body at his feet. What if someone walked in and saw? How was he going to explain the situation?
He needn’t have worried. Harvey returned a few minutes later, lugging a large bag on his shoulder. He dropped it to the floor, and Terrence read the label: Ice Melt.
“Are you kidding me?”
Harvey spared him a glance. “It’s basically salt. It will keep him from stinking.”
Terrence swallowed a surge of disgust. “How do you know that?” He immediately regretted the question. The less he knew about Harvey’s activities, the better.
Harvey merely raised one brow. “I just do.” He started tugging at the laces of the man’s boots, loosening them.
“What are you doing?”
Harvey didn’t look up as he pulled the boots off the man’s feet and set them to the side. “These are nice boots. Be a shame to waste them.”
Terrence shook his head, wondering why he’d even bothered to ask. At this point, he shouldn’t be surprised by anything Harvey did.
It didn’t take long to spread the white pellets of ice melt over and around the body. Terrence rose, dusting his hands on his pants. Harvey stayed crouched by the man’s head and began folding the plastic over the body. He stuck out his hand, silently asking for the tape.
Terrence handed it to him, then began to pace around the room while Harvey completed the gruesome task, his thoughts a tangled knot of worry and frustration. The man who had hired him would know how to get rid of a body, but Terrence didn’t want to tell him about this little hiccup. Even though Harvey had been the one to kill the interloper, Terrence knew he would be held responsible.
Harvey stood up and put his hands on his hips, eyeing his handiwork with a critical expression. “Think that’ll hold him?”
A small shudder ran through Terrence, and he closed his eyes, trying to clear the image from his brain. “I don’t know. I don’t have a lot of experience in this.”
“I say we put him in the wall.”
The sheer insanity of the statement nearly made him laugh, but he choked off the sound. “Which wall?”
Harvey pointed at the back wall of what would someday be the closet. “Why not there?”
Terrence glanced at it and shrugged. It was as good a plan as any, provided they could patch things up enough that no one would notice.
Harvey removed a section of drywall with surprising delicacy, revealing the curve of the ship’s hull. They worked quickly, maneuvering the body into the space and propping it against a steel beam. Terrence stood back while Harvey sealed the wall up again, patching the seams with some putty a worker had left behind. It was all very neat and tidy, and Terrence felt a grudging respect for Harvey as he finished disguising the cuts he’d made. Apparently the man had some skills after all.
“What do you think?” He stood back from the wall, tilting his head as he studied it.
Terrence did the same. “Looks good,” he admitted. “You really can’t tell.”
Harvey nodded. “Not bad for a quick job. Once they spray the texture on and paint it, no one will ever know.”
“Let’s get going,” Terrence said. They couldn’t stand here all night admiring Harvey’s construction work. “We’re behind schedule.”
“We’ll catch up,” Harvey said confidently.
“Only if you don’t kill anyone else.”
“I’m not making any promises.”
Chapter 1 (#u84492b52-a9b8-5540-b926-09862f87f791)
Pressure.
No, that wasn’t right. Mallory searched her brain, trying to find the right word to describe the unsettling sensation. Something pulled at her, an insistent tugging at her shoulders and hips that made it hard to focus. She tried to lift her hand to brush away the annoying feeling, but her arm wouldn’t obey her brain’s command.
Her heart kicked hard against her breastbone, panic rising in her chest as she fought against the unexpected paralysis. What was happening to her?
She tried again and managed to shift her leg to the side. It was heavy, the movement sluggish and difficult. But it was a start.
Her eyelids were twin weights trapping her in darkness. Opening her eyes proved too much of a challenge, so she tried to call for help instead. Her tongue was a thick obstruction in her mouth, but she managed to make a sound—a moan, really, but hopefully it was enough to draw attention.
The tugging stopped and a blast of cool air hit her skin. Another strangled sound escaped her throat, and suddenly there was warmth spreading across her torso.
“Shh.” The whisper was hot against her ear, an urgent command that made her catch her breath. Someone was here! They were going to help her!
A split second later a weight descended on her body, pressing her flat. Mallory tried to move away, to ease the pressure on her chest that made it hard to breathe. But the effort was like trying to swim through syrup, her limbs stiff and uncoordinated.
“Just relax. It’s okay.”
It was a nice thought, but her body refused to consider it. She thrashed around as much as she was able, trying to dislodge the crushing burden pinning her down. No matter what this voice said, something was very, very wrong.
“Stop it.” Sharp pain at her wrists cut through her confusion, and she froze. The pain eased, leaving behind a dull ache that throbbed in time with her heart.
“That’s good. Just like that. We’ll be done soon.”
The words swam in her mind, mixing and churning together until she almost lost their meaning. The fumbling started up again, a new hint of violence in the clawing and pulling. She heard the unmistakable sound of fabric ripping, and the noise made her heart stall.
She tried to move, but it was too late.
“No!” She screamed the word over and over again, but all that came out was a muffled sob...
* * *
Mallory jerked awake with a roar of protest, limbs flailing as she fought off the imaginary assailant. She blinked several times, trying to clear her vision and shake off the fog of the dream that clung to her mind like sticky cobwebs.
I’m okay. It was only a dream.
She lifted a trembling hand to brush her hair back from her face. The tendrils clung to her cheek and neck, damp with sweat. A vile, bitter taste coated her tongue, and she reached for the glass of water beside her bed, drinking deep in an effort to wash it away. She focused on the cool liquid as it filled her mouth and slid down her throat, using the visceral sensations as a lodestone to help her navigate back to reality.
Her heart fluttered like a panicked bird against her rib cage, the feeling unpleasant and troubling. Mallory took a deep breath, trying to recall the meditation techniques she’d learned over the years in therapy. Clear your mind, her therapist had said. Empty it of all thoughts and just breathe.
“Easier said than done,” she muttered to herself. She pictured a bathtub, imagined herself pulling the plug and watching the water drain. But that reminded her of the aftermath of the rape, when she’d spent what had felt like days in the tub, scrubbing and soaking in a desperate attempt to wash the stain of her violation away...
Nope, don’t go there. She shied away from the memory as if burned, searching for an image that didn’t carry so much emotional baggage.
Her gaze caught on the red numbers of her alarm clock, and she focused on the color. Red was a nice, bright, happy color. The color of apples, of roses.
Of the marks on her body, and the bloodstains on her...
Stop it!
Another deep breath, another attempt to walk back from the cliffs of panic. It was too early to call Avery and Olivia, so she shoved off the bed and began to pace. The carpet was soft under her feet, and she curled her toes into the fibers with every step. There wasn’t a lot of room—it was seven steps from one wall to the other—but she made do.
Fuzz built up under her toes, a testament to the newness of the carpet. Of everything, really. The Abigail Adams was hot off the assembly line and was the most luxurious ship to sail in recent memory. She was also the first ship to have been constructed in the United States in years, which meant she would sail under the US flag, a rarity among cruise ships. It was an honor for Mallory to have been selected to work as the ship’s doctor on the Abigail’s maiden voyage. She closed her eyes, picturing the spacious sick bay with its state-of-the-art equipment, gleaming counters and crisp, white linens. It was a wonderful facility, befitting this crown jewel of cruise ships.
She let her mind wander, reviewing supply lists, protocols, storage locations. It was always a bit of a challenge coming onto a new ship; it took her several days to get familiar with the staff and the facilities. But the people she’d met today had seemed professional and polite, and she knew they were the best of the best. With so many VIPs scheduled to come on board, the company wanted everything to be perfect.
And they picked me.
The reminder filled her with pride and banished the last vestiges of the dream. She was no longer a helpless, scared college student. She was Dr. Mallory Watkins, chief medical officer for the most exclusive ship on the seas. She had overcome the tragedy in her past to rise to the top of her field, and she wasn’t about to let an annoying dream shake her confidence now.
Another glance at the clock told her it was too late—or too early—to go back to bed. She knew from experience she wouldn’t be able to fall asleep easily again, so she might as well start her day. The gym on board was open, and it would be good to get a workout in before the day truly started and she got too busy. Not only did she have a long prelaunch checklist, but her best friends, Olivia Sandoval and Avery Thatcher, were arriving today for the cruise.
Mallory was excited to see them both and to meet the new men in their lives. She was happy her friends had found love, even though it did make her feel a little wistful. In the years since her assault, she’d worked to overcome her fears regarding men and dating, but with limited success. She’d made a few awkward attempts to connect, but it hadn’t worked out. The men she’d tried to date had started out patient and understanding, but they’d all grown tired of her issues with physical intimacy. Her therapist had told her not to stress about it, but that was easier said than done.
“Don’t force yourself to engage in sex until you’re ready,” Dr. Givens had said, her brown eyes warm and kind behind the rims of her tortoiseshell glasses. “Everyone recovers at their own pace, and you can’t judge your progress against artificial benchmarks.”
The logical part of Mallory understood and agreed with Dr. Givens, but her emotional side wondered if she would ever feel safe enough to sleep with a man again.
“Someday,” she muttered, shaking her head as she pulled a T-shirt and yoga pants from the built-in dresser. “I just haven’t met the right man yet.”
It was a juvenile fantasy, the idea that there was some kind of Prince Charming out there for her. Nevertheless, it gave her comfort to think that she wasn’t permanently broken, that she would be able to enjoy intimacy with someone out there.
Avery and Olivia seemed to have found their happily-ever-afters. Maybe it was time Mallory started looking for hers.
* * *
Everest LeBeau slowed his pace for a moment and reached for the water bottle, keeping one hand on the elliptical machine for balance while he twisted off the cap. Once upon a time he wouldn’t have had to throttle back his workout, but thanks to his war injuries those days were behind him.
He replaced the bottle and kicked things up again, gritting his teeth at the ache in his lower right leg. The prosthesis he wore just below his right knee was shifting a little, rubbing the skin of his stump with every step. It was a new prosthesis, and he knew from experience it would take a little time for calluses to build up. Until they did, he was just going to have to deal with the discomfort.
He was used to handling pain. He’d pushed himself to the limit at the army basic officer course, wanting to test his physical capabilities. His classmates had thought he was crazy—everyone knew boot camp was easier for officers, and they thought he should take advantage of the more relaxed standards. They’d laughed at him, right up until the two-week field training exercise when all his extra work had paid off. He’d passed with flying colors and had set a few new records for his efforts. Not bad for a guy from the backwaters of Louisiana. The army had shipped him off to Iraq with a pat on the back and a smile.
The heat of the desert had been uncomfortable, but nothing he couldn’t handle. The dry, oven-like atmosphere had been a novel change from the hot and sticky weather he was used to, but as long as he stayed hydrated, things were bearable, if a mite stifling. The desert wasn’t his favorite place, but it didn’t take him long to settle into a routine with his team. He had this war thing figured out, or so he’d thought.
Until it all came crashing down on a lazy summer day seven years ago.
The IED had done its work with brutal efficiency. The explosion had thrown him clear of the Humvee, and the shock of it had kept him from feeling much of anything at first. It wasn’t until the medics arrived and began to move him that the pain had registered: a white-hot agony radiating from the stump below his right knee... Everest closed his eyes for a second and could almost smell the stale, chalky odor of the desert. He brushed sweat off his forehead, half expecting to feel the fine grit of sand under his fingertips. The stuff had been everywhere, a kind of fine, powdered sugar–like particulate that hung in the air and clung to skin and hair and clothes with ferocious tenacity. Just stepping outside was enough to make a man want a shower, but bathing was a luxury. Even then, Everest hadn’t truly felt clean until he’d been home for a while. Weeks after his return he’d still been sloughing off grains of sand, little reminders of his tour. Of course, it hadn’t helped he’d spent so much time in a hospital bed. Sponge baths were no match for all the layers of desert funk he’d accrued during his tour.
That first real shower, though? Heaven. He could still feel the warm rivulets of water cascading over his shoulders, down his chest and back. It had been so damn amazing to feel clean again, it was almost enough to make him forget about his leg. Or rather, the missing parts of his leg. The strangest part of all was that he had felt the water on the soles of his feet—both of them. In fact, if he’d kept his eyes closed, he’d been able to feel the shower spray on both legs, not just the one he still had. He mentioned it to the doctor, and the man had nodded knowingly, a small, sad smile on his face.
“It’s a phantom sensation,” he’d explained. “We don’t know why it happens, but it’s not uncommon for amputees to still feel their missing limb.”
The pain had come later, a wrenching, bone-crushing sensation that nearly took his breath away. Even now, he still wasn’t used to the intensity of the sensation, or the incongruity of it. How could the ghost of a limb cause so much agony? More important, why did his brain insist on betraying him like that?
Fortunately, the attacks of phantom pain had grown less frequent over the years. Physical therapy had helped, as had the prosthetic legs he’d used. His limb felt somewhat whole again when he wore the prosthesis, and apparently that was enough to convince his brain that things were working as they should. It had been a long, hard road to reclaim his mobility, but he wasn’t going to dwell on the past. He’d left the desert behind, and he had no desire to go back. He much preferred the beach sand he encountered now while working on a cruise ship.
The glass door of the gym swung wide, and a curvy redhead walked in, pulling up short when she saw him. She clearly hadn’t expected to find anyone here, and he noticed the brief flicker of alarm that passed over her face, there and gone in an instant. Interesting, he mused. What was she afraid of?
Everest nodded at her and tried for a friendly smile. She gave him a guarded wave and headed for the treadmill at the far end of the row. He watched from the corner of his eye as she hopped on and began to warm up, her stride graceful as she moved.
Who was she? As head of security, he made it a point to know all the staff on the ship, even if only on a superficial level. Since this was the Abigail Adams’s maiden voyage, most of the crew was new to him, which meant he had a lot of catching up to do. He would meet everyone, though. He always did.
He slowed his pace as the woman ramped up hers, her footsteps beating out a steady cadence on the tread of the machine. After a few moments of cooldown, he stepped off the elliptical and fought the urge to bend down and rub his leg. He didn’t like people to know about his injury or prosthesis.
Especially not beautiful women.
Even though she was at the opposite end of the row of equipment, Everest could feel her eyes on him as he wiped his face and gathered his water bottle and keys. She reminded him of a cat his family had owned when he’d been a kid. Mittens had spent hours lying in the windowsill, his eyes trained on the birds and squirrels that frequented the backyard feeder. He’d never once lunged or swiped at any of the critters, but he’d known where every visitor was located. Everest got the sense now that this woman was taking his measure in much the same way. He stood a little straighter, his ego demanding he put his best foot forward.
Or his real foot, as it were.
She didn’t try to hide the fact she was watching him. In his experience most women played it coy, glancing away when he met their eyes. Not this one. She kept staring at him, her expression open but with a hint of wariness, like she was trying to assess what he might do. Her eyes widened when he started walking toward her, but she didn’t miss a step.
He stopped in front of her treadmill and placed his right shoe on the engine cover, easing his weight onto his left leg. He glanced down to see if his prosthesis was exposed, but the fabric of his pants kept it hidden. Good.
“Hello.” He raised his voice, hoping it was audible above the noise of her workout.
“Hi.” She didn’t sound thrilled at his interruption, which was an understandable reaction. He’d just have to make it quick, and perhaps he’d get a chance to have a longer conversation with her another time.
“My name is Everest LeBeau. I’m the head of security on the ship, and I wanted to introduce myself, as I don’t remember meeting you.”
She relaxed as he spoke, the fine lines of strain around her eyes and mouth softening as she realized he wasn’t there to bother her. “I’m Mallory Watkins,” she offered. “Ship’s doctor.”
“Nice to meet you,” he replied. He studied her face for a moment, committing her features to memory. It wasn’t a hardship—she was a beautiful woman. Pale skin, auburn hair, dark brown eyes. Not to mention killer cheekbones, accented by the ponytail she wore now. It bounced playfully with every step she took, at odds with her serious expression. She had a kind of girl-next-door quality about her that he found appealing. In another time, she was just the kind of woman he would have wanted to date.
Now? Not a chance. Not only was he still finding his way back to himself again after the injury, but he wasn’t about to mix business with pleasure.
“I won’t bother you any longer,” he said, stepping back. “Enjoy your workout.”
“Thanks,” she replied.
He started to walk away but stopped and turned back after a few steps. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to drop by the sick bay later today. Will you be there?”
“Yes,” she said, a little breathless from her run. He could see the questions in her eyes, but she didn’t say anything else.
“Great. I’ll see you then.”
What are you doing? he chided himself as he headed for the door. He didn’t need to see her again—now that he’d met her, he’d recognize her. It wasn’t like he had any business with her.
But there was something about the way she watched him that piqued his curiosity. Even now, he felt the weight of her gaze as she tracked his movement toward the exit. It wasn’t lust that kept her eyes glued to him; there was no heat in her gaze. If he didn’t know better, he’d say she was afraid. But why? Was she trying to hide something?
Mallory Watkins was a woman who had secrets, that much was clear. And despite his better judgment, Everest wanted to know more.
Chapter 2 (#u84492b52-a9b8-5540-b926-09862f87f791)
Mallory sat at the bar, her eyes glued to the entrance in the hopes of catching sight of Avery and Olivia. They were supposed to meet here at noon, but she was so excited to see them she’d arrived a little early.
“Can I get you anything?”
She smiled absently at the offer from the bartender. Technically, she was on the clock, which meant she couldn’t drink anything stronger than tea. “Coke, please.”
He nodded, and she turned her focus to watching him select a glass and prepare her drink. Ever since the attack in college, she’d been vigilant about keeping her drinks in sight at all times, lest someone try to slip her something again. The logical part of her knew the odds of her being drugged twice were infinitesimally low, but it was a chance she didn’t want to take. Fool me once, shame on you, she thought. Fool me twice...
The bartender slid her drink across the polished wood surface with a smile. She dug in her pocket for some cash, but he held up his hand. “No charge,” he said, nodding at her ID badge.
“Thanks,” Mallory replied. She slipped a bill into his tip jar and turned back to the door, taking a sip of her soda.
The bubbles slid down her throat in a tickling cascade, the sensation pleasant and soothing. Coke was her vice; she loved everything about the sweet, fizzy drink. She knew it was bad for her, but since she had worked out this morning she figured a little indulgence wouldn’t hurt. Besides, after her encounter with the security officer, she deserved a treat.
What was his name? She frowned a bit as she tried to recall it. Something unusual... Everett? No, Everest. Like the mountain. Probably a story there, she mused. Even though she’d blanked on his name, she had no trouble recalling his face. Dark blond hair and eyebrows, a square jaw and the most piercing blue eyes she’d ever seen. He was definitely a handsome man, and the rest of him wasn’t too bad to look at either. Even though his workout clothes had been a little on the large side, she’d seen the way the fabric of his T-shirt moved as his muscles shifted underneath. His long legs had eaten up the distance between them in easy strides, his gait a little stilted but still graceful.
Her first response to his approach had been alarm. It was an instinctive reaction now, thanks to her past. She’d tried to overcome the flare of panic that sparked whenever a man drew close, but her body wouldn’t listen to her mind. And maybe that was for the best. After all, it had been her mind that had ignored the little warning signs all those years ago...
She’d gotten better at controlling her reaction, though. In the weeks following the attack, she couldn’t stand to be in the same room with a man she didn’t know. Over time, and with the help of her therapist, she’d been able to work through the initial burst of fear that came with meeting someone new. Statistically speaking, the vast majority of people were decent and had no interest in harming her. But she still kept an eye on them all the same.
Everest was just the kind of man she normally stayed away from. Tall and strong, his body was a constant reminder of her comparative physical vulnerability. But there was something about him that had put her at ease and quelled her nerves. Maybe it was his deep voice and the calm manner of his words. Or the quiet confidence in his gaze, as if he was sure he could handle anything. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but she’d been drawn to him, had felt her wariness ease as he’d stood there talking to her. She hadn’t felt so relaxed around a man in ages, and the fact that a relative stranger had had such an effect on her left her a little shaken.
Was it just a one-time thing? Or would she have the same reaction when she saw him again? She’d find out soon enough. He had mentioned stopping by sick bay today, and while he hadn’t made good on the remark yet, she was sure he would at some point. Everest didn’t seem like the type of man to forget an appointment, even one as loosely made as his earlier suggestion. A shiver of anticipation ran down her spine, and not for the first time, she wondered why he wanted to visit.
“There she is!”
The excited exclamation cut through Mallory’s thoughts, and she focused on the door to the bar. Olivia and Avery stood at the entrance flanked by two men. As soon as she made eye contact, her friends dashed forward, leaving the men behind. The guys exchanged bemused looks and stepped inside, trailing in the wake of their girlfriends.
Mallory set her empty glass on the bar and stepped forward to meet her friends, her arms raised high so she could hug them both.
“It’s so good to see you!” said Olivia.
“I’ve missed you so much!” said Avery.
Mallory closed her eyes and let their voices wash over her, happiness welling in her chest. Avery and Olivia were her best friends, her confidantes. The sisters of her heart. Thanks to their demanding careers—Olivia was a plastic surgeon in DC, and Avery worked as a disease investigator for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta—they didn’t get to see each other in person nearly as often as Mallory would like. Not for the first time, Mallory wondered if she should move from Miami to Baltimore, just to make it easier to see her friends. She missed them so much at times it was a physical ache in her chest. But they were here now, and she was determined to enjoy every minute of this trip.
Even though she did have to work.
“I’m so glad you could both come,” Mallory said, leaning back so she could look at her friends. They both looked good. Olivia’s dark eyes practically glowed, and there was a spark in Avery’s blue gaze Mallory hadn’t seen before. She glanced beyond her friends to the men standing a few feet away. They must be the reason for her friends’ newfound joy.
“Hello,” she said, nodding to them both.
“Hi,” said the man on the left. He stepped closer to Olivia and put his hand on her shoulder. “I’m Logan.”
“Nice to meet you,” Mallory replied with a nod. Both Olivia and Avery held her hands, so she couldn’t offer to shake his. They were protecting her, giving her a socially acceptable excuse for not touching the men. They knew how much she dreaded physical contact, and she felt a flash of gratitude for their efforts.
Logan looked nice enough. He was tall, with dark brown hair and angled eyebrows over intelligent green eyes. He smiled, revealing twin dimples that made him look a little boyish, in a charming sort of way.
“So you’re the one who saved Olivia in Colombia,” Mallory said, referring to Olivia’s misadventures on her last medical charity trip.
Logan snorted. “I think it was the other way around,” he said, giving Olivia’s shoulder a squeeze. She lifted her free hand to cover his and looked up at him, love shining in her eyes.
“I’m just glad you got home safely,” Mallory said. “Both of you.”
She turned to the other man who was standing next to Avery. “And you must be Grant.”
He offered her a quick smile. “Guilty as charged.”
Mallory nodded, taking in his slightly curly hair and hazel eyes. There was a humorous slant to his mouth, and she could tell by the fine lines at the corners of his eyes that Grant was a man who laughed a lot.
“Have you thawed out from your stint in Antarctica yet?”
He wrinkled his nose. “Oh, yeah. Atlanta gets downright steamy in the summer.”
“Told you,” Avery said softly.
Grant put his arm around Avery’s shoulders and drew her close. “It’s a small price to pay to be with you,” he said, pressing a soft kiss to her temple.
Mallory couldn’t help but smile at her friends and their partners. Olivia and Avery had both chosen well, it seemed. They’d both been through a lot, and it was good to see them so happy.
“Let’s grab a table,” she suggested. People were starting to trickle in, wanting before-meal drinks. It wouldn’t take long before the bar was packed.
“Do you have time?” Olivia asked. “I know you’re on the clock.”
Mallory glanced at her watch. “I said I’d be back by five, so we’re good. Besides, they can page me if they need me.” She led them to a round table in the corner, away from the growing bustle of the room.
The women sat down while the men remained standing. “Ladies, what can we get you to drink?” asked Grant.
Olivia and Avery both requested a fruity cocktail. Grant nodded, then looked expectantly at Mallory.
She hesitated only a second. “Water for me, please.”
Olivia and Avery exchanged a shocked look, but if Grant noticed it, he didn’t react. “Sure thing,” he said.
Avery waited until Grant and Logan were out of earshot. “Okay, now I know you must like them,” she said, leaning forward with a smile. “That’s the first time I’ve seen you order a drink from someone who wasn’t me or Olivia.”
Olivia nodded in agreement, her expression hopeful. “She’s right. Does that mean they get your seal of approval?”
Mallory smiled and shook her head. “You guys don’t need me to tell you they’re great.”
“Yeah.” Avery leaned back, a dreamy smile drifting across her face. “We’re really lucky.”
“Tell me about the new house,” Mallory prompted. Avery and Grant had recently bought a house and moved in together. She’d seen a few pictures, but it would be good to hear about the details firsthand.
“Oh! It’s fabulous!” Avery dug in her purse and pulled out her phone, talking excitedly as she pulled up photos.
The men came back just as she handed her phone to Mallory. Olivia leaned over to view the images, as well.
“Is she showing you pictures of the house?” Grant asked. “Did she tell you about the table she wouldn’t let me bring inside?”
Avery rolled her eyes, but it was clear from the look on her face she wasn’t upset. “I told you, baby. That thing is hideous.” She leaned forward and addressed Olivia and Mallory. “A bottle-cap tabletop, can you believe it? He thought it would make a good coffee table.”
Grant shrugged and looked at Logan. “The guys and I made it in college. It’s still got a lot of life left.”
Logan nodded and took a swig from his bottle. “Sounds legit to me.”
Olivia glanced at him in horror, and Mallory couldn’t help but laugh. “Where is this table now?”
“The garage,” Grant and Avery said in unison.
“Seems like a fair compromise,” she said.
“For now,” Grant replied. He leaned forward, a conspiratorial glint in his hazel eyes. “I’m just biding my time until we move to a bigger house and I can have a man cave. Then I’m bringing it inside.”
“As long as I don’t have to look at it,” Avery remarked.
Mallory held up her glass of water, capturing the attention of the table. “A toast,” she said. “To new beginnings.”
“And to friendships,” Olivia added. “Old and new.”
“Hear, hear.”
Their glasses touched with a delicate clink, and everyone took a sip. Then the conversation started up again, an easy back and forth between them all. Mallory relaxed into the flow, enjoying the comforting push-pull of talking with her friends. She felt revitalized by their company, and the knowledge that she could let her guard down and speak freely about anything; Olivia and Avery were her support system, and she knew they wouldn’t judge her. They all managed to stay in touch via the phone or the computer, but seeing them in person was a huge boost to her mood.
She had just started to tell them about her last cruise when the pager on her belt began to vibrate. “Sorry, guys,” she said, pulling it free to examine the display. Crap. It was an emergency. Her heart sank as she stood to take her leave. “I have to go. I’ll catch up with you later.”
The group called out a chorus of goodbyes, but she was already headed for the door. Adrenaline thrummed through her system as she raced back to sick bay. What could possibly be going on? The ship had launched a few hours ago, and so far the sailing had been smooth. Still, it did usually take time for the passengers to adjust to walking around on a moving vessel. Had someone fallen and injured themselves?
She rounded the corner just in time to hear an eruption of voices from sick bay. Mallory broke into a run, covering the remaining distance in a few seconds. The voices grew louder as she approached, and she skidded to a stop in front of the door. Whoever was inside sounded angry and scared, a bad combination. She took a deep breath to regain her composure, then pushed open the door and walked into the chaos.
* * *
Everest clenched his jaw and tightened his grip on his temper. The two young men in the sick bay were loud and obnoxious, and he could tell by their body language they were on the verge of getting physical. It was his job to make sure that didn’t happen, but the men weren’t interested in listening to reason right now.
“You don’t understand! The walls are melting—we have to get off the ship!”
The other man eyed the porthole window at the far end of the room. “Why is the sun in here?” He shuddered and took a step back, running into a gurney. “We’re going to burn up!”
They began to talk over each other, their exclamations growing more and more agitated. One of them began to pace, his steps jerky and uncoordinated. He came dangerously close to crashing into one of the nurses, and Everest held up a hand, trying to stop him. He jerked away with an incoherent yell.
Before Everest could respond, a new voice cut through the fray. “What is happening here?”
Everyone turned to view the new arrival, and Everest felt a surge of relief when he saw Dr. Watkins standing in the doorway. These men were obviously psychologically disturbed, and if anyone could help them, it was her.
The men stared at her in silence, jaws gaping. A nurse stepped forward and spoke in low tones. “They were brought in a few minutes ago, ranting and raving. We haven’t been able to examine them, so I don’t know their vitals yet. They might be having a psychotic break of some kind.”
Mallory’s gaze drifted over her two patients while the nurse gave her report. She nodded once, then walked forward until she was only a step away from one of the men. Everest moved to stand next to her, wanting to be close just in case the guy became violent.
Mallory stared up into her patient’s eyes. “I’m Dr. Watkins. Can you tell me your name?”
“Jeff.”
She nodded. “Okay, Jeff. What’s going on with you today?”
“The walls are melting.” His voice had calmed compared with his earlier distress, and now he sounded almost earnest. “Don’t you see it?”
“Which walls?” Mallory asked. Her voice was soothing as she used a penlight to examine the man’s eyes.
The second man drifted closer, apparently drawn in by her calm presence. Everest shifted a bit, using his body to make sure the doctor had some space. She seemed to be making progress with the men, and he didn’t want to break the spell she’d cast on them.
“All of them!”
“And the sun,” said the second man. He stood in Everest’s shadow, cowering behind him. “The sun is in the room right now!” He pointed at the porthole and glanced quickly away, squeezing his eyes shut as if in pain.
“Okay,” Mallory said, nodding as if this was the most natural observation in the world. “I need you both to get on the gurneys. It’s the only way to protect you from the walls and the sun.”
The men scrambled to comply, both of them leaping onto the exam beds with more enthusiasm than grace. Mallory walked over to the nearest bed and began to fasten Velcro straps around the man’s ankles and wrists. “I’m just going to make sure you’re attached, so you don’t float away.” She nodded at one of the nurses, who hurried over to do the same to the other man.
Everest watched her quietly, his respect for her growing by the minute. She’d walked into a chaotic mess and hadn’t hesitated to act. But rather than adding to the confusion, she’d taken charge and applied a calm, cool response that had served to de-escalate a volatile situation. It was a mark of her leadership, a skill he knew not everyone possessed; his time in the army had taught him that much.
“Have you taken anything today?” she asked, glancing at each man in turn.
“No,” said Jeff.
Mallory merely raised one eyebrow and stared him down. He squirmed a bit, his cheeks going pink under her scrutiny. “I mean,” he amended, “maybe I did. I can’t remember.”
“Uh-huh,” she replied. “I can’t help you if you don’t tell me the truth.”
Jeff closed his eyes with a sigh, and his head lolled back. “Special K.” He stretched the words out like taffy, grinning like a loon.
Mallory nodded, his answer plainly confirming her suspicion. She turned to the nurses and began issuing orders. “Start an IV and give two milligrams Versed to each, please.”
The women nodded and left the room, ostensibly to gather supplies. Mallory caught Everest’s eye and angled her head, silently asking him to join her.
She walked over to the corner of the room, and he met her there, careful to angle his body so he could keep an eye on both men. They were quiet now, but that could change in an instant.
Mallory gestured for him to lean forward, clearly wanting to keep their conversation private. Everest dipped his head and caught a whiff of her shampoo. It was a light, floral scent that made him think of spring. She tilted her head up to meet his gaze, and he noticed her dark brown irises were shot through with flecks of gold. It was the kind of observation he hadn’t made in a long time, and he shouldn’t have noticed it now. Keep it professional.
“I’d like to post a guard here, if you don’t mind,” he said. “Just to make sure these two don’t cause any trouble for you or your staff.”
She nodded. “I appreciate it. The sedative should take effect quickly, but it will be nice to have someone here in case they get agitated again.”
Everest pulled the walkie-talkie from his belt and called up Wesley, his right-hand man. He relayed the request for a security officer and glanced at the men as he clipped the handset back into place. Jeff was talking to himself, muttering and shaking his head. His friend still had his eyes closed, as if he was afraid to open them. “How long until the drug is out of their system?”
Mallory lifted one shoulder. “No idea. It depends on how much they took, and that’s not something they’re likely to know. The street pills don’t exactly come with dosage instructions.”
“You think it was a pill?” Everest knew that ketamine, their drug of choice, could be ingested, injected or inhaled. He hadn’t smelled any smoke on the men, but they may have used a needle.
“I didn’t see any injection marks on their arms, but they could have used another site. Regardless of how they took it, it might take a while for them to come down. They’re experiencing some pretty powerful hallucinations, so they likely took the drug fairly recently.” She shifted to glance at them, then looked back at Everest. “I want to keep them here for observation until they’re back to normal.”
Everest frowned at the suggestion. Even though Mallory had displayed a no-nonsense, take-charge attitude, there was something almost fragile about her that made Everest want to shield her from the likes of these two party boys. He knew the likelihood of them causing more trouble was low, especially since he was going to station a guard here. But he just didn’t like the idea of Mallory being around them for long; he’d feel much better if he could transfer them to the room that served as a makeshift jail cell on the ship.
His reticence must have shown on his face because she let out a small sigh. “This is the best place for them. They’re restrained, and they’re about to be sedated.”
“I suppose,” Everest said, conceding the point. “But I want you to page me if they so much as look at you funny.”
She nodded. “Will do. Where are you going?”
He felt the barest hint of flattery at her interest in his plans but brushed it aside. She probably just wants to know if I’ll be nearby in case there’s any trouble, he told himself. “I’m going up to the bridge to inform the captain of this development,” he said. “And to call the police in Jacksonville so they can take custody of these two when we make port in the morning.”
Mallory nodded thoughtfully. Jeff chose that moment to let out a yelp, and Everest glanced over in time to see one of the nurses taping the IV in place on his hand. “If it’s all the same to you,” Mallory said, her voice drawing his attention back to her, “I’m not going to tell them what’s in store when we dock in Jacksonville.”
“Good thinking,” Everest said. He didn’t imagine these two would take kindly to the news their vacation was about to be cut short, and in such dramatic fashion.
“Thanks for your help,” she said softly.
His stomach did a little flip, and he shook his head. “I didn’t do much. It was all you.”
She smiled, and his heart thumped hard against his breastbone. When was the last time he’d noticed a woman’s smile?
“I’m glad you were here, though. Just in case.” A shadow crossed her eyes, there and gone in a blink. That’s interesting, he thought. Maybe she wasn’t as calm as she’d appeared to be. But was it just the stress of the situation bothering her, or was something else going on?
“Hey, man,” Jeff called out.
Everest glanced over and met his eyes. “Are you talking to me?”
Jeff nodded. “Yeah. Are you the police or something?”
“Or something,” Everest said easily. “Why?”
Jeff sat up as much as the restraints would allow, trying to get closer to him. “There’s a problem with my room. You’ve gotta fix it.”
“Oh?” This ought to be good, Everest thought. What kind of issue had Jeff’s drug-addled brain concocted? “What’s wrong?”
Jeff met his gaze, his eyes serious even as he struggled to focus. “The body,” he whispered, real fear in his voice. “There’s a body in my room.”
Chapter 3 (#u84492b52-a9b8-5540-b926-09862f87f791)
The exam room fell silent in the wake of Jeff’s announcement. After a second, every head in the room swiveled to face Mallory, each person looking to her for guidance. The two nurses wore identical quizzical expressions, clearly wanting to know how they should respond to the patient’s latest delusion. Jeff and his friend looked at her imploringly, wanting her to acknowledge the legitimacy of their claim. And Everest? He looked astounded, confusion and disbelief warring for dominance over his features.
Under any other circumstances, his expression would make her laugh. Even though she had just met him his morning, Mallory got the impression Everest was a sober, composed man. To see him so flabbergasted now struck her as funny, and she bit her lip to keep from smiling.
“A body?” she said, keeping her tone neutral. “What kind of body?”
Jeff frowned at her, apparently taken aback by her question. “A dead body. Is there any other kind?”
Mallory sighed. “Okay, fair enough. But what type of animal was it?”
The young man shook his head vigorously, his eyes wide. “Not an animal. A person.” He nearly whispered the last word, as if he was afraid of summoning a ghost.
Everest shot her a questioning look, and Mallory subtly shook her head. Jeff and his buddy must have gotten their hands on some pretty potent stuff to be experiencing such vivid hallucinations. She might need to up the dose of sedative to get them through the next several hours...
“Okay,” she said soothingly. “Everest will take care of it.”
“That’s good,” Jeff said. He rested his head against the pillow, his voice growing dull as the drugs took effect. “Have him patch the walls, too.” He kept talking, but it was the jumbled nonsense of intoxication, a last-ditch effort before he succumbed to sleep.
Mallory waited until both men were unconscious before she turned to Everest. He regarded her with a bemused expression. “So...” he began. “Is this something I need to take seriously?”
She shrugged. “I doubt it. I think it’s just another effect of the ketamine—the drug is known for triggering hallucinations, and some of them can be quite disturbing.”
“That’s true,” he said. “Still, I should probably have one of my men check it out. Just to be on the safe side.”
It was the responsible thing to do, and Mallory couldn’t help but approve. Most people would have been content to dismiss Jeff’s words as the unhinged ramblings of a man under the influence, but she liked that Everest was going to dot all the i’s and cross all the t’s. It was the kind of thing she herself would do, and she appreciated the fact he seemed to share her sense of duty.
The sick bay door opened and two men stepped inside. Both wore the dark slacks and pale blue polo shirts sported by ship security officers, and Everest nodded approvingly. “Dr. Watkins, allow me to introduce two members of my team. This is Wesley Tatum, my right-hand man.” He gestured to the stocky, dark-haired man on the right, who acknowledged her with a nod. “If you ever need anything and you can’t get me, Wesley is your man.” Everest then turned to the second man, a tall redhead with kind brown eyes. “And this is Taylor Higgins, one of the newest members of my team.”
Taylor smiled and offered his hand. Mallory’s stomach turned over, and she hesitated. He was only being polite, but she couldn’t bring herself to touch him.
“Ah, I’d better not,” she said, shaking her head. “I haven’t washed my hands yet. Don’t want to spread anything around.” It was a weak excuse, but it was the best she could do. She glanced over to find Everest watching her, the look in his eyes far too knowing. Did the man miss anything?
If he was curious about her refusal to shake Taylor’s hand, he didn’t mention it. Instead, Everest turned back to his men and briefed them on the situation. “Wesley, I need you to go check out the room. I’m sure it’s probably nothing, but I want to be able to assure the captain we’ve followed up on everything.”
Wesley nodded, apparently unfazed by the order to search a guest’s cabin for a dead body trapped in the wall. Maybe it wasn’t the strangest thing he’d ever done in his line of work. Mallory certainly understood there were some odd things that happened on cruise ships. Or maybe Wesley’s immediate acceptance of Everest’s order came more from his respect for his boss. She studied Everest as he spoke to his team, noting the way he laid out a clear, concise plan and made it sound like he had every confidence his employees would succeed. It was no wonder he was the head of security for the ship—his manner seemed to inspire loyalty and trust, and even though he wasn’t asking these men to do anything terribly difficult or dangerous, Mallory had no doubt their reaction would have been the same if he’d proposed they storm a bunker carrying only water pistols for protection.
“Taylor, I’d like you to stay here and keep an eye on these two. Make sure they don’t cause any more trouble for the medical staff.”
The young man nodded eagerly, clearly excited for his first assignment on the ship. He reminded Mallory of a puppy, and she glanced discreetly at the seat of his pants, half expecting to find a wagging tail protruding from his slacks.
“And you, sir?” asked Wesley.
“I’m going to brief the captain. Any questions or issues, you can reach me on channel three.”
The men nodded, and Wesley walked over to Jeff’s side, where he proceeded to search the man’s pockets, presumably for his room key. Taylor took up a post between the two beds and assumed a parade rest stance. Mallory wondered if he planned to stand all night, or if he’d relax enough to sit down.
Everest’s voice cut into her musings. “You have my pager number?”
“I think so—we have a form by the phone with contact information listed for various people.” Mallory waved a hand in the direction of the wall-mounted unit where she’d seen the information sheet posted. She hadn’t checked lately, but she was willing to bet Everest’s number was on it.
Everest frowned. “Let me give you my personal cell number, as well.” He pulled a business card from his pocket and snagged a pen off the table. “If anything comes up, don’t hesitate to call me.” He passed her the card, and Mallory tucked it away. The paper was still warm from his body, and she felt the heat of it through the cotton of her pants. It was an odd sensation, this almost-contact between them.
“I think we’re in for a quiet night now, but I’ll let you know if that changes.”
He nodded and turned to go. For some reason, Mallory was reluctant to see him leave, and she called out before she could think twice about it. “Hey.”
He turned back, one eyebrow lifted in silent question.
Great, now what? “Um,” she stalled, her self-consciousness threatening to swamp her. “I want to thank you. For being here.”
The corner of his mouth curved up in a smile. “I didn’t do anything. You had things well under control.”
Mallory felt her cheeks heat and hoped her blush wasn’t too obvious. “Well, I still appreciate your backing me up.”
“It was my pleasure,” he said. A spark of heat flared in his blue eyes, and Mallory was shocked to feel an answering tingle in her stomach. “Like I said, call me anytime.”
Was there a hint of innuendo in his voice? Mallory dismissed the possibility almost instantly; Everest seemed far too professional for that. Even so, she felt a little wistful at the thought that he might flirt with her. She was quite out of practice as far as dating went, but the idea of spending more time with Everest was...appealing.
“I will,” she replied. God, did he hear the quaver in her voice? Get it together! She was turning into a mess, and all because the man in front of her had somehow slipped past her defenses. But there wasn’t time for her to worry about that now. She’d think about it later, when she was in the privacy of her own room.
Everest turned and walked out of the sick bay, closing the door quietly behind him. The room seemed to deflate with his exit, another sign that he’d gotten under her skin.
Part of her wanted to celebrate; this was the first time in years she’d felt any kind of attraction to a man. She was curious to see how it would develop. Of course, there was no guarantee he had noticed her in that way, and perhaps that was for the best. If her attraction was one-sided, she could indulge in a little crush without having to worry about getting hurt. This might turn out to be a great opportunity to shake the dust off her emotions and finally put the rape behind her, once and for all. If she could see herself with Everest, she was one step closer to having a real relationship someday.
But the small, scared girl inside wanted to slam the door on any kind of attraction. It wasn’t worth the risk. He was a physically powerful man—tall, broad-shouldered, his hands large enough to wrap around her arm in a painful grip. And she’d seen the evidence of his muscles earlier in the gym and knew he was in excellent shape. If he decided to hurt her, she wouldn’t stand a chance.
“Dr. Watkins?”
She shook her head slightly and focused on the nurse in front of her, grateful for the distraction. “Yes?”
The woman launched into a question regarding drug dosages for Jeff and his friend, and a sense of calm descended as Mallory turned her thoughts back to work. Medicine was her refuge, and no matter how upset or emotional she felt, tending to patients was a surefire way to push the reset button on her inner turmoil.
For now, anyway.
* * *
Wesley slipped into the room and was immediately assaulted with the stale, slightly sweet stench of weed. Apparently, Jeff and his buddy hadn’t limited themselves to only one drug tonight...
Sure enough, two fat stubs lay discarded on top of the built-in dresser amid a scatter of pills. He poked at the display with his fingertip, searching for any marks that would indicate what the different-colored pills were. The blue ones were easy enough—the star shape stamped onto the surface made it clear he was looking at ecstasy. But the oblong white pills and the yellow tablets sported no such identifiers. He scooped a few into an empty plastic baggie and tucked it into his pocket. Maybe the doctor could figure out what these were. If not, the police in Jacksonville would probably know.
He glanced around, a sense of disgust rising in his chest as he took in the mess. Two open suitcases sat on the desk, vomiting clothes onto the floor. Towels sat in damp piles on the bed and the recliner, and empty beer cans littered almost every horizontal surface.
Wesley shook his head. The Abigail Adams was a premier ship, and what she lacked in size, she made up for in luxury. How had these two classless idiots gotten on board?
Mommy and Daddy, he thought, taking in the expensive watches lying on the bedside table, the designer sunglasses tossed on the floor, and the roll of cash peeking out from one of the suitcases. All telltale signs of the “easy come, easy go” attitude exhibited by spoiled rich kids.
“I wonder if Daddy can buy you out of this mess,” he said softly to himself, smiling as he imagined the fate in store for these two. They’d dock in Jacksonville in the morning, and it wouldn’t take long for the police to come aboard and take them into custody. Given the amount of drugs on display here, Jeff and his friend were looking at some very serious charges.
“I hope the high was worth it.” Wesley gave the room a final glance. Despite the mess, he saw no signs of any kind of body. But they had said it was in the wall...
With a sigh, he turned his attention to the walls. Everything looked fine as far as he could tell—nothing was out of place. Perhaps they had mistaken a shadow in the room for a body? He checked the bathroom with no results. Finally, he opened the door to the closet.
He saw the hole first, a foot-sized punch through the drywall about twelve inches above the floor. One of the guys had probably kicked the wall for God only knew what reason. Was this the source of the problem?
Wesley crouched down to peer inside the dark hollow and caught a glimpse of something shiny inside. Holding his phone up for light, he discovered he was looking at some kind of thick plastic. Remnants from the construction of the ship, maybe?
He leaned closer to get a better look and realized the plastic was wrapped around something that looked an awful lot like... But it couldn’t be...
Realization hit him like a slap to the face, and he jerked back, his stomach churning. The plastic was wrapped around a human foot.
He sat on the floor for a moment, his mind racing. This certainly complicated things, to say the least. If word got out that there was a body in the wall of this room, the response would be immediate. The police and possibly the FBI would swarm the ship, turning her inside out in their search for evidence.
And he knew they’d find more than what they bargained for.
He couldn’t let that happen. His mission was clear: he was to ensure that the Abigail Adams did not deviate from her planned itinerary. It was imperative that she arrive in New York Harbor in time for the Fourth of July celebrations. After all, she had a starring role in the show, and it was his job to make sure she did not disappoint.
He felt a small pang at the thought of destroying such a beautiful ship, but he dismissed it quickly. The Abigail had a greater purpose to serve, and if he was successful, the Organization would reward him handsomely for his efforts. It would all be worth it in the end.
But for now, he had to deal with this unexpected wrinkle.
Gritting his teeth, he gingerly stuck his hand inside the hole and pushed against the plastic. The foot underneath was firm and unyielding, and he nearly threw up as he felt it through the artificial shroud. Whoever this was, the person had been in here awhile.
Moving carefully, Wesley maneuvered the macabre bundle so that it was no longer easily visible to anyone looking through the hole. Then he stood, wiping his hands on his slacks and eyeing his handiwork critically. It would do for now, but he was going to have to patch things up soon, before housekeeping caught sight of the problem. The last thing he needed was someone else making this gruesome discovery.
First things first, though. He pulled his walkie-talkie from his belt and called up Everest.
“Go ahead.”
“I’m in the guest room. No sign of anything unusual.”
“That’s what I figured,” Everest said with a sigh. “Thanks for checking.”
“No problem. Over and out.”
Wesley carefully shut the closet door, then turned and walked through the room. He paused by the desk, the open suitcases gaping up at him. With a shrug, he reached down and plucked a wad of bills free from a tangle of clothes and slipped it into his pocket. Jeff would have no need of money where he was going, and it would be a shame for it to wind up in a police evidence locker.
With that, Wesley stepped into the hall and set off for the maintenance supply room. He’d rig up a patch for the wall, and that would be the end of it. No one, especially not any member of the Organization, need ever know how close two spoiled addicts had come to wrecking everything.
Chapter 4 (#u84492b52-a9b8-5540-b926-09862f87f791)
The night passed without incident. The sedatives kept Jeff and his friend quiet, and they slept off their high in the relative comfort of the sick bay. The two men woke, groggy and hungry, but no worse for wear.
Until the police showed up.
Everest nodded a greeting to Mallory as he led the officers into her clinic. “Dr. Watkins, these gentlemen are from Jacksonville PD. They’re here to escort our guests off the ship.”
She smiled at the uniformed men, but before she could say anything, Jeff started shouting.
“I’m not going with them! You can’t make me leave!”
The noise stirred his friend into action, and soon the two men were hollering their displeasure at a volume that made Mallory’s ears ache.
Everest tried to talk over the men, but they merely shouted louder. The two policemen exchanged a look and started forward, but Mallory held up a hand to stall them.
“That’s enough,” she said, glaring at Jeff. When he continued to yell, she raised her own voice. “I said, that’s enough!”
Jeff and his friend stared at her, apparently shocked into silence by the temper in her voice. “Calm down, both of you. I won’t tolerate this kind of behavior in my sick bay.”
“But Doc, you can’t let them take us! We didn’t do anything!”
She aimed a level stare at the men, and Jeff squirmed a bit under her regard. “You confessed to using ketamine last night. And when a security officer entered your room to investigate your claims of seeing a body in the walls, he found pills scattered around the room.”
“You can’t search our stuff without a warrant!”
“You gave the man probable cause,” she shot back. She cast a quick look at Everest to verify she was correct, and he nodded subtly. Warmth shone from his eyes and a small smile played at the corners of his mouth as he watched her. He’s enjoying this. The realization made her feel a little self-conscious, but she shook off the sensation and returned her focus to the job at hand.
“C’mon, we were just having a little fun,” Jeff whined. “There’s no need to involve the cops.”
Everest stepped forward. “You’ve both proved to be a danger to yourselves and possibly the other passengers on board. Your cruise ends here. If I were you, I’d go with these officers quietly. Wouldn’t want to add resisting arrest to your list of problems.”
The two policemen stepped forward, one walking to Jeff’s side and the other to his friend. Their voices were low but clear as they arrested the men and recited their rights.
Everest drifted closer, coming to stand near her. Mallory felt herself leaning toward him, pulled as if by some invisible force. “Almost done,” he murmured, nodding at the scene unfolding before them. “Hopefully this is the most exciting thing we’ll have to deal with on this cruise.”
Mallory nodded in agreement. She always had mixed feelings about her job. She loved helping people and taking care of them, but at the same time, she hoped no one would need her services. Her patients were people on their honeymoon or on vacation, enjoying a trip they had planned and anticipated for months, if not longer. No one ever wanted to be sick, but to fall ill or get injured while on a cruise seemed to make things even worse somehow.
“It’s strange,” Everest said conversationally. “I love what I do, but I wake up every morning and wish for a boring day.”
Was the man a mind reader? Or were her thoughts that transparent? “I know exactly what you mean,” she said.
“I have yet to make it through a cruise without some kind of incident. I was hoping this would be the one, but then these two showed up.” He tilted his head in the direction of the men, whom the officers were now helping to stand.
Mallory stepped back to give the procession space to walk to the door. Jeff shot her a nasty glare as he moved past. “This isn’t over,” he warned. “Do you have any idea who my father is?” He lurched forward, and her heart shot into her throat. Logically, she knew he couldn’t do anything with his wrists in cuffs—he was simply trying to intimidate her. Even though her mind refused to cower, her body reacted. She forced herself to stay put, but her legs began to tremble involuntarily.
The next thing she knew, Mallory was staring at a wall of blue. She blinked, taken aback by the sudden change to her vision. Then she realized what had happened—Everest had stepped in front of her, placing his body between her and Jeff. “No one cares about your daddy.” He spoke calmly, but there was a sharp edge to his voice that sent a shiver down Mallory’s spine. She didn’t know the head of security all that well, but it was clear he was not a man to mess with.
She peered around his body to see that apparently, Jeff realized it, too. His eyes widened and a stunned look crossed his face. Clearly, he hadn’t expected Everest’s reaction to his threat. Then he was gone, the officer urging him out the door.
Everest waited until both men had left the room. Once the door shut behind them, he turned and offered her an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry about that,” he said.
Mallory’s heart began to slow, and she shrugged off the young man’s actions. “Not your fault.”
Everest studied her a moment, his bright blue eyes seeming to see right through her. “I’m going to follow the officers, make sure they don’t need me for anything after they escort our guests off the ship. After that, would you like to grab a bite to eat?”
His invitation flustered her, and Mallory’s thoughts jumbled together as she searched for a response. “Um, that sounds nice. But I’m supposed to meet my friends for breakfast. They’re on board, and I’m trying to spend as much time with them as I can.” It was the truth, but it was also a convenient excuse.
Everest nodded, but she caught a glint of what might have been disappointment flash in his eyes. “Sure thing,” he said easily. “Another time, maybe.”
“You could join us,” she blurted. As soon as the words left her mouth, Mallory wondered what she was thinking. She didn’t know this man. And she didn’t strike up friendships with men. She had no business socializing with him.
But there was something about him that made her curious to know more. And really, what could it hurt? Olivia and Avery would be there, along with Logan and Grant. She’d have a table full of buffers to keep Everest from getting too close. Maybe it would be good to learn more about him. Hopefully, she wouldn’t need his help again, but anything was possible.
“Yeah? You don’t think they’d mind?” He sounded a little hopeful, and Mallory was surprised to find she actually wanted him to come. She was happy for her friends and their newfound loves, but having Everest at the table would keep her from feeling like a fifth wheel.
“Not at all,” she assured him. “I’m meeting them in the Yorktown dining room. I’ll save you a seat.”
“Thanks,” he said. “I’ll try not to take too long.”
Mallory watched him leave, her gaze drawn to his legs and the subtle hitch in his gait as he walked away. For the first time in a long time, she actually felt safe around a man. Maybe it was his quiet, calm manner. He seemed to see everything in the room, and she had the sense that no matter what happened, he could handle it.
As evidenced by the way he’d physically intervened to keep Jeff from getting closer to her.
He hadn’t hesitated to act, and looking back on it, Mallory was impressed by how smoothly he’d handled the situation. Everest could have simply ignored Jeff—after all, the man was in handcuffs and being escorted by a police officer. Objectively, he didn’t pose much of a threat to anyone. But rather than let the arresting officer handle the situation, Everest had quickly and calmly placed himself in a position to make sure nothing happened. Mallory had never experienced such a gesture of protection before, and she had to admit, it felt...nice.
“Don’t read anything into it,” she muttered to herself. Everest had likely acted on instinct; he would have done the same thing if Jeff had lunged at one of the nurses, or anyone else, really. His action was simply that of a professional who worked in the security field. It was his job to keep the ship’s passengers and staff safe. That was all.
She glanced at her watch. It was time to head to the dining room so she wouldn’t be late for breakfast. Hopefully she would be able to explain the situation to Avery and Olivia before Everest joined them.
Assuming she was able to figure things out for herself first.
* * *
It didn’t take long to escort the troublemakers off the ship. The Jacksonville officers were quick and competent, and Everest had already emailed the relevant reports to the police department before the ship had docked this morning. All that was left was for him to walk with the group as they made their way down the gangplank and onto shore. Even though the Jacksonville police had already arrested the men, Everest still felt like they were his responsibility as long as they remained on board. Once their feet hit the dock, he could wash his hands of them.
“Thanks for your help today,” he told one of the officers. “It’s appreciated.”
“This isn’t over,” Jeff said. It was clear he wanted to say more, but his jaw snapped shut as the cop escorting him gave his arm a rough-looking tug and pulled him toward the waiting police cruiser.
The other officer rolled his eyes and sent Everest a knowing nod. “Our pleasure. Hope the rest of the voyage is quiet.”
“You and me both.”
He stood there for a moment, not sorry to see them go. He’d dealt with some crazy incidents while working on cruise ships, but for some reason, last night’s shenanigans had worried him more than he was used to. And as much as he hated to admit it, he knew why.
Mallory.
There was something about the ship’s doctor that intrigued him and made him want to get to know her better, both personally and professionally. It was an unfamiliar urge, and the intensity of it was surprising. It had been a few years since he’d had any kind of interest in a woman. His ex-fiancée had done a number on his confidence, and so he’d thrown his efforts into building a career outside the military. There simply hadn’t been time for romantic entanglements. But more important, he hadn’t felt up to dealing with all the rejections.
Leah had tried to be supportive after he’d been shipped home, battered and bruised. But as the weeks had dragged on, it had become apparent to both of them that he was missing more than just part of his leg. The IED had ripped through his group, killing two of his men and shattering any illusion that he’d had about his ability to keep his team safe. He’d been plagued by survivor’s guilt, and the grueling challenge of learning to walk again had very nearly pushed him over the edge. He had changed, and not in a good way.
Looking back, he couldn’t really blame Leah for leaving. Working through his grief and pain had been a long, messy process. And as the days had passed and her smile had grown more forced, he’d felt her slipping away. So he’d released her from her promise.
“You don’t have to stay.” He focused on the end of the bed, on the small bump his one remaining foot made under the thin hospital blanket. Maybe if he stared at it long enough, he’d get used to the visual reminder of his loss.
“I don’t mind,” she said. She pushed a tendril of honey-blond hair behind her ear and shifted in the chair. “Your physical therapy appointment isn’t for another hour.”
Everest winced at the thought of the upcoming torture session. He knew it was for his own good, but the exercises were downright painful. To make matters worse, the physical therapist was an unnaturally cheerful person who seemed to revel in his suffering like a born sadist. He just wanted to be left alone so he could cry in peace, but Scott refused to let him wallow in self-pity. It was annoying, to say the least.
“That’s not what I meant.”
Leah didn’t respond right away. When she spoke, she sounded hesitant, as if she was afraid of saying the wrong thing. “I don’t understand.”
Everest sighed and met her eyes for the first time. “We both know you didn’t sign up for this.” He gestured at the bed, his hand sweeping down to indicate his missing limb. “I can tell you don’t want to be here. Not really. You should go. Find someone whole. Someone who can make you happy.”
“You don’t mean that.” But there was doubt in her voice, along with something else. Hope.
In that moment, he knew he was doing the right thing. Leah was nothing if not loyal. She’d stick with him; that much he knew. But she would hate it. And eventually, she’d grow to resent him for it. He didn’t want that kind of life, that kind of marriage. Better for her to leave now, before the cement of these new circumstances hardened around them.
“I do. I want you to leave.” It was the truth. The war had changed him, and she was no longer the woman for him. It wasn’t her fault—it wasn’t anyone’s fault. In the weeks since he’d been back, he’d tried to find the man he’d used to be inside the man he was now. But that wasn’t going to happen, and it was time to end things so Leah could move on with her life. God knew he wanted to do the same.
She shook her head. “I can’t do that.”
He was going to have to push her, then. Fine. He could do that. “Why? Because you don’t want to be the girl who dumped a cripple?”
She flinched but didn’t respond. Ah, he’d hit the nail on the head.
“Don’t worry about it,” he said. “Just tell everyone I walked out on you. I still have my good leg, after all.”
It was a bad joke, and she didn’t laugh. “Are you sure?” she said softly.
Everest felt a little jolt at the realization she wasn’t going to put up much of a fight. Wasn’t their relationship worth more than a moment’s deliberation? But he quickly pushed the hurt aside. He was giving her an out. He couldn’t be angry with her for taking it, especially when it was what he wanted her to do.
“I’m positive. I want you to be happy.” And he did. He’d once thought they would grow old together, but now he knew their time had ended. It was just as well. He’d rather be alone than be faced with the evidence of her growing unhappiness. And the last thing he wanted was to be a burden to the people in his life.
Leah was never going to look at him the same way again. She tried to hide it, but he could tell that every time she saw him, she compared him with a memory of when he was whole and uninjured. He couldn’t live up to the ghost of his former self, and he didn’t want to spend the rest of his life trying.
“I don’t know what to say.” Her eyes glimmered with unshed tears—of happiness? Or was she truly sorry about the way things had worked out? Hopefully the latter. He liked to think the woman he’d planned his life with would at least mourn the death of their future. But maybe she simply felt relieved.
“You don’t have to say anything,” he told her gently. “Goodbye is traditional, but not required.”
“Why are you doing this?” She frowned at him, her features twisting in confusion. “I don’t understand.”
Everest ran a hand over his head, distracted by the feel of his hair against his palm. He hadn’t had a haircut in weeks. One of the perks of being in the hospital, he supposed.
“Do you want to stay?”
Leah blinked at him, as if he’d asked the question in a foreign language. “What?”
“Do you actually want to stay here?” he repeated. “Do you really want to deal with my recovery and all that it entails? It’s going to be a long, drawn-out process. And we both know I’m not the same man I was before, mentally speaking.” He paused, letting his words sink in. “The war changed me, Leah. I’m still figuring out how. I just don’t think we’re the right people for each other anymore.”
She sighed, her shoulders slumping as the breath left her body. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered. “I thought I could handle it...” She trailed off, shaking her head. “But it’s too hard. I don’t think I can do it.”
“You don’t have to.”
“How can you be so nice about it? Why aren’t you angry with me?”
Everest searched his heart for an answer that would make sense, but came up empty. “I don’t think I have the energy for that right now.”
She stared at him, her blue eyes wide as she digested his response. Finally, she nodded. “Okay.”
He tried to smile, but his mouth wouldn’t cooperate. Leah stood and gathered her sweater and purse. She twisted the ring off her finger and held it out to him. He hesitated a moment, then took it from her and placed it in the drawer of his bedside table. “I guess this is goodbye?” she asked.
“Looks like it,” he confirmed.
Leah leaned over his bed and pressed a chaste kiss to his cheek. “Promise me you’ll take care of yourself?”
Everest felt like he was having an out-of-body experience. This situation was so strange—they were breaking up, and yet he still cared about her and she still cared about him. Maybe this is how adults end things, he mused. All his previous experiences had been full of hurt feelings and a few tears. It was a novelty for him to end a relationship on such a positive note.
“I’ll be fine,” he assured her. He didn’t know if it was the truth, but he knew that’s what she needed to hear right now.
She straightened and tucked her hair behind her ear again. It was a nervous gesture, something she did when she was feeling uncertain or uncomfortable.
She didn’t know how to leave, he realized. And he didn’t know what to tell her to ease the way.
He was saved by the entrance of Scott, his physical therapist. The man charged in wearing a big grin, but stopped short when he saw Leah standing by the bed. “Oh, excuse me,” Scott said, taking a step back. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“You didn’t,” Everest said. “It’s okay.”
“I was just leaving,” Leah said. She gave Everest a small smile and squeezed his hand. “Have a good session,” she said.
He nodded, and she turned to go, nodding at Scott as she slipped past him and out the door.
Scott was silent for a few seconds after she left. “Please tell me I did not see what I think I just saw.”
“Depends,” Everest said lightly. “What do you think you saw?”
Scott rocked back and forth on his heels, clearly uncomfortable. “I know this is none of my business,” he began, “but did you two just break up?”
“How’d you guess?”
Scott’s face fell. “Oh, man. I’m so sorry.” He walked to the bed and perched on the side of the mattress. “Do you, uh, want to talk about it? I can get a psychologist or something if you don’t want to talk to me.”
Everest shook his head, touched at the other man’s concern. “I’m okay. But thanks.”
Scott looked at him dubiously, clearly doubting his words. “Really. It’s fine,” Everest assured him. “It’s for the best. She wasn’t happy. I wasn’t happy. It was time to end things.”
Scott snorted. “No one is happy to be here.”
“Except you,” Everest said slyly. He appreciated Scott’s efforts to help, but he didn’t want to wallow in the aftermath of Leah’s departure. He’d thought now that he was back in the States the war couldn’t take any more from him. But he was wrong. It was time to move forward, to reclaim some control over his life.
The physical therapist grinned. “Well, yeah. But that’s because I get to give you a hard time.” He stood and placed his hands on his hips. “Do you want to push your session back a bit, in light of what just happened?”
Everest shook his head. “Nope. Let’s get to it.” The pain would be a welcome distraction and would keep him from dwelling on Leah.
“I’ll get your chair,” Scott said. “We can have a light day.”
“No,” Everest said. “Taking a break isn’t going to help me walk again. I can’t stay in this bed forever.”
Scott nodded at him, a glint of respect in his eyes. “That’s the spirit, man. We’ll have you back on your feet in no time.”
“You mean foot.”
Scott arched a brow. “They don’t pay me enough to laugh at your bad jokes.”
“I thought that one was pretty good,” Everest said.
Scott shook his head. “You’ve got a long way to go before you’re funny.”
Everest smiled at the memory of Scott’s words. The image of Leah faded back into the recesses of his mind as he focused fully on the present. It was funny he’d thought of her now, when his mind was so preoccupied by Mallory. The two women were nothing alike, physically speaking. Leah was petite and blonde, her hair always styled, her makeup always perfect. Mallory was tall and had a no-nonsense quality to her appearance he found appealing. Both were beautiful women, but he found himself drawn to Mallory.
She was a study in contrasts, he mused as he headed back into the depths of the ship. Mallory’s looks made her seem very approachable, but she had a do-not-disturb manner about her that he was certain she used to keep people at arm’s length.
“Why is that?” he murmured to himself. What had happened to the good doctor to leave her so skittish around people? She had a story, he was sure of it.
And he wanted to hear it.
Chapter 5 (#u84492b52-a9b8-5540-b926-09862f87f791)
Breakfast was going surprisingly well, all things considered.
Mallory hadn’t known how her friends would react to Everest’s presence. She hadn’t had more than a minute to announce he would be joining them before he walked over to the table, which meant she hadn’t been able to explain her invitation to Olivia and Avery. The women had taken his presence in stride, though, and Logan and Grant had welcomed Everest with enthusiasm. They sat at one end of the table now, talking about football. Or maybe it was basketball. Some kind of sport or team, she thought, smiling a little as the men laughed in unison.
Whatever the topic, it was clear the guys were getting along well. Which created a small degree of privacy for the conversation at Mallory’s end of the table.
And Olivia and Avery weren’t wasting any time.
“Spill,” Avery ordered, her voice low so as not to break the conversational spell the men were under.
“I don’t know what you mean,” Mallory tried, but Olivia shook her head.
“Nice try, but you know what she’s asking. Is there something going on between you and him?” Olivia nodded ever so slightly at Everest, who was currently telling Logan and Grant some kind of story that had the other two men listening quietly. Mallory wondered what he was saying, but she didn’t want to appear to be paying too much attention to the man. It would undermine what she was about to say to her friends.
“We work together,” she said. “That’s all.”
Avery leaned back in her chair. “Sure.” Her voice was heavy with doubt. “If you say so.”
Olivia offered her a small smile. “This is the first time you’ve ever invited a man to join us,” she said. “You can see why we’re curious.”
Her friend made a good point. Avery and Olivia both knew about the assault she’d suffered as a college senior, and in all the time they’d known each other, the two women had never pushed her when it came to men. They had respected her boundaries and supported her as she’d struggled to overcome the aftereffects of the trauma. She felt like she’d made good progress, but there was still work to be done, as evidenced by her recent nightmare.
Given her past history, Mallory had known inviting Everest to breakfast would send a signal to her friends. But she had hoped to have a little more time to figure out how to explain her interest in him.
The problem was, she couldn’t explain it to herself.
She was definitely attracted to him. But it wasn’t just his looks that appealed to her, though they were nice enough to study. No, it was the glimmers of personality she’d seen that made her want to stay close, to get to know him better. She liked the way he carried himself and the way he responded when tensions were running high. He seemed like a dependable man, someone who would be good both in a crisis and in calm times. Exactly the kind of man she would want by her side, if she could handle being so close to him.
Normally, just the idea of being in close physical proximity to a man was enough to make her break out into a sweat. But the thought of being around Everest didn’t bother her. In fact, she found it rather appealing.
Which made her wonder—was she truly attracted to Everest, or did she just like the way he made her feel almost normal again?
“It’s complicated,” she admitted to her friends. “I’m not quite sure what’s going on.”
Avery leaned forward and laid her hand over Mallory’s. “That’s okay. Just take your time. We’re here if you need to talk things out.”
Mallory smiled, tears pricking her eyes. “Thanks, guys. I appreciate it.”
A sudden silence descended over the other end of the table, and Mallory, Avery and Olivia looked down to find the men watching them, the three of them wearing identical expressions of concern.
“Everything all right?” Grant asked.
Olivia nodded while Mallory dabbed at her eyes. “We’re fine,” she said.
“Girl talk,” Avery said.
Grant and Logan nodded and returned to their conversation, but Everest wasn’t so quick to look away. His gaze lingered on Mallory, concern shining in his bright blue eyes. Only after she gave him a nod of reassurance did he rejoin the men’s conversation.
“Oh, my,” Olivia murmured. “Did you see that?”
“I sure did,” Avery said quietly. “Mal, you might be confused, but I’d say your friend knows exactly how he feels.”
“You might be right,” Mallory admitted. Everest’s obvious concern made her stomach flutter pleasantly, and for a second, she wished she was alone with Everest.
She watched him talking with Grant and Logan, admiring the easy way he interacted with her friends’ partners. He seemed very relaxed, with a quick smile and a ready laugh that only heightened his appeal.
Would it be so bad to indulge in her attraction for Everest? This was the first time since her rape she had been drawn to a man. Why shouldn’t she explore these feelings more and find out where they led? The timing really couldn’t be better—with Avery and Olivia on board, she’d have her friends close if she needed them. But she didn’t think Everest would give her a reason to cry on their shoulders. From everything she’d seen, Everest was a calm and patient man. He didn’t seem like the type to try to pressure her into moving too fast or doing anything that made her feel uncomfortable.
And if the worst should happen? If she put herself out there and Everest rejected her? They would simply part ways once the cruise was over. Even if they were assigned to the same ship in the future, it would be easy to limit their interactions to professional concerns.
Everest glanced over, apparently feeling the weight of her gaze on him. Mallory met his eyes and held them, then smiled. Her flirting skills had atrophied from years of disuse, but Everest’s answering smile told her that her message had been received.
She turned back to her friends in time to see Avery and Olivia exchange a knowing glance. “She doesn’t look so confused anymore,” Avery said, amusement lacing her words.
“No,” Olivia agreed, smiling as she took a sip of her mimosa. “I’d say she’s made up her mind.”
* * *
Mallory was paged just as she popped the last bite of pancakes into her mouth. She glanced at the number, not surprised to see it was the clinic calling. But rather than the emergency number the nurse had used yesterday to notify her of the situation with Jeff and his friend, this time it was the routine code that flashed on the screen.
“Time for me to go,” she said, taking one final swig of juice. She dabbed at her mouth with the napkin and shot her friends an apologetic smile. “Sorry to run like this. Again.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Avery said. “We all know what it’s like to be on call.”
Olivia and Grant nodded, and Logan shot her a sympathetic smile. “Hopefully we can meet up with you again soon.”
“I hope so,” she said. She placed her napkin on her plate and stood.
Everest’s chair scraped back a second after her own. “I’ll walk you back,” he said easily. He nodded at her friends. “It was nice to meet you all. Thank you for letting me join you.”
“Our pleasure,” Olivia said.
“Come back anytime,” Grant added.
Mallory smiled, happy to see her friends had enjoyed Everest’s company. She knew it had been a risk inviting him to breakfast, but fortunately, the meal hadn’t been awkward at all.
With a final wave at the table, she and Everest set off. He fell into step beside her, as if they had been walking together like this for ages.
“Thanks for the escort,” she said. It was nice to have his company, if only for a few minutes.
“My pleasure,” he said. “You know, we didn’t really get a chance to talk at breakfast. At the risk of making a pest out of myself, would you like to meet for lunch?”
“That would be nice,” Mallory said. “Provided I don’t have any patients at the time.”
“I’ll keep my fingers crossed,” Everest said. “Hopefully the rest of your cases will be easy compared to last night.”
“No kidding,” she replied. They arrived at the clinic and stepped inside. The curtains were drawn around three of the gurneys, giving a modicum of privacy to their occupants.
A nurse approached, holding several charts. She nodded at Everest, then looked at Mallory. “Dr. Watkins, we have three cases of acute GI upset.”
Mallory’s stomach sank at the news. Everest took a step back. “Sounds like you have your hands full here,” he said. “I’ll get out of your way.”
“Thanks,” Mallory said. “I’ll page you later.”
He nodded and turned to leave, and Mallory returned her focus to the nurse. “What are their symptoms?”
The nurse rattled off the usual symptoms of a gastrointestinal illness, and Mallory nodded grimly. “Any fever?” she asked. The nurse shook her head, confirming her suspicions.
Mallory sighed and ran a hand through her hair. “Sounds like norovirus,” she said, naming a common scourge of cruise ships. The highly contagious virus could sweep through the passengers in a matter of days. It didn’t discriminate between staff and vacationers, so if it got out of hand it could affect the crew’s ability to safely operate the ship. She’d heard of ships that had been forced to cut voyages short because of the overwhelming number of patients on board, and the possibility of the Abigail Adams being affected to such an extent was one of the things that kept her up late at night.
She performed a quick exam of the patients, to confirm for herself what the nurse had told her. All three passengers reported identical symptoms, which wasn’t surprising since they shared a cabin. There wasn’t anything she could give them to treat the virus, but she prescribed some medication that would make them feel better while the sickness ran its course.
“And don’t forget the sunscreen,” she said, gesturing to one woman’s sunburned neck.
“I know,” she replied. “The thing is, I haven’t been in the sun that much. I’ve mostly stayed inside, shopping and watching the shows.”
Mallory nodded. “I understand. But it doesn’t take long to get burned, especially if you’re not used to being outside.”
She drew the curtain around the woman’s bed and stepped into her small office, where she reached for the phone. She dialed the bridge and asked to speak to the captain. It took only a second for him to come on the line.
“What can I do for you, Dr. Watkins?”
“I’ve got three patients in the clinic presenting with signs of norovirus.”
The man swore softly, recognizing the seriousness of her words. “Do you need me to start decontamination procedures?”
“I think that’s best,” she said. “If we move fast enough, we might be able to get on top of this before it becomes a shipwide outbreak.”
“Roger that,” the captain said. “I’ll alert the crew and get the ball rolling.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Keep me posted,” he said. “Let’s hope you don’t see any more cases.”
Mallory hung up and reached for her cell phone. She hesitated only a moment before texting Avery and Olivia.
Possible noro on board. Be careful.
Technically, she shouldn’t talk about her concerns with any of the passengers. But Avery and Olivia were both doctors, and she knew they wouldn’t panic unnecessarily. She just wanted her friends to stay healthy so they could enjoy their vacation—she knew they didn’t get much time off, and she would feel terrible if they spent the cruise sick in their cabins.
Oh no, Olivia texted back. Sorry to hear that!
Yuck, Avery replied. Thanks for heads-up.
Mallory tucked the phone back into her pocket and logged into her computer to update her records. With a mental sigh, she realized she was probably going to miss lunch with Everest. Now that she had possible cases of norovirus on board the ship, her schedule had gotten a lot more crowded. Maybe he’d let her take a rain check on lunch. If the virus didn’t spread, she’d have time to eat with him later.
That’s a big if, she thought. But it was important to stay positive. She’d dealt with this illness before; anyone who worked in the cruising industry had experience with it. None of the ships she’d sailed on in the past had suffered from large outbreaks, and she was determined the Abigail Adams wasn’t going to be the first. She would keep this bug at bay, no matter how hard she had to work to do it.
Chapter 6 (#u84492b52-a9b8-5540-b926-09862f87f791)
The pager on Danny’s belt buzzed to life. He propped his mop against the wall and glanced down at the display.

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