Nothing But Trouble
Chapter 15

Brent stepped into the doorway to watch Sophie walk down the narrow hallway to the bedroom. It crossed his mind that she really was afraid of the water, but he wasn’t ready to trust her.

She’d proven more resourceful than her father led him to believe, and he wasn’t about to take her for granted again. He thought about their conversation. He’d wanted to push her into anger so she’d slip up and reveal something about Lord. Well, she was angry now, and crying too if the sniffling he heard was anything to go on.

His mouth twisted into a tight grimace. He was a bastard, especially for accusing her of sleeping with him for her own gains. Waking and replaceing her gone had led him to draw his own conclusions. He’d tried to convince himself that she was just another Connie, spoiled, rotten and used to getting what she wanted, no matter whom she hurt along the way. Not averse to using her body to wear a man down.

Connie had done that, after sucking him in so deep that he hadn’t seen the signals until the damage had been done. Her seductive sophistication had clouded his judgment. She’d taken in his family too. It had been tough dumping a woman everyone loved, but that was his fault for not telling them the truth. It had been easier letting them believe he just wasn’t ready to settle down yet.

As Sophie disappeared into the bedroom Brent realized no matter how much he compared them, he knew in his gut she was different. Instincts told him she’d never sink so low as to sleep with a man to get what she wanted from him. Finding her on the phone had angered and disappointed him. He’d been too rough on her, but for a reason. A real kidnapper wouldn’t give a damn whether he hurt his victim or not.

His cellular rang, severing the silence. Brent flipped it open, brought it to his ear, and turned from the doorway. “Yeah?”

“What the hell is going on?”

Recognizing the senator’s aggravated voice caused his mouth to lift with humor. He’d been expecting his call back, and was a little surprised it had taken him this long. Senator Adams didn’t like surprises; he liked things mapped out and to go according to plan. “Everything’s under control.” He didn’t bother to elaborate.

“Is it? I almost had heart failure when I heard Sophie’s voice. How the hell did she get the phone away from you?”

Brent chose to ignore that question. “Don’t worry, she’s alive and kicking. Have any news for me?”

“Not yet. Whatever Lord has he had to dig deep. Sophie let it slip she’s on a boat somewhere. Would that be yours?”

“Yep.” Brent thought about her fear when she first realized where he’d brought her. He was beginning to hate what they were doing to her. She wasn’t exactly terrified of her situation, as she had been in the beginning, and he was very curious as to why.

“Dear God, Brent. It didn’t occur to me that you would ever take her out on your boat. Sophie’s been terrified of the water ever since she was a kid. She witnessed a shark attack on her brother…”

Brent vaguely listened to the senator, his gaze falling to the folder resting on the edge of the small table. It contained a snapshot of her, which the senator had included, in a dossier he’d given him of her scheduled whereabouts for the current week. His lips twitched when he recalled how close she’d been to replaceing out the truth. He would have been hard pressed explaining how he came to have a personal picture of her and the senator in his possession. He shook his head and forced himself to focus on what the senator was saying.

“I’ll call you again tomorrow. With a little luck I’ll have something concrete so we can put an end to this. I want Sophie home again, where she belongs.”

“Tomorrow, then.” With a quick flick of his wrist, the phone snapped closed and Brent laid it down on the counter next to him.

He took a deep breath, thinking about the lady in question. He was going to hurt Sophie, before she hurt him. After Connie, he’d made a promise to himself not to let another woman get too close. No matter how well packaged she came, or how much he wanted her. Over the years, more than one had taught him to guard his heart and watch his wallet. Hell, maybe he just got involved with the wrong women, but being burned by one he actually had feelings for, had hardened his heart and fortified his decision that other than a good romp in bed, he didn’t need them.

Something about Sophie warned him he was already too involved with her. He must be if he was worrying about her feelings. He couldn’t get the thought of making love to her out of his head, couldn’t get her warm, sensual scent off him. He glanced down, and realized he was wearing the shirt he’d given her back at the apartment. She had mistakenly grabbed the wrong one before leaving the bedroom earlier.

His mouth quirked with wry humor as he poured himself a cup of lukewarm coffee. He sipped at it, and pulled the curtain aside to glance out at the dock. It was quiet for a Saturday morning. The gray clouds gathering in the sky told him why. A storm was brewing. Brent could hear an occasional noise from the combination restaurant/bait shop located next to the pier, but it was the noise he didn’t hear coming from the bedroom that worried him the most.

He wondered what Sophie was up to, deciding he’d better check on her. He found her curled up on the bed, hugging a pillow to her breast as though it were a cherished stuffed toy.

His heart constricted at the vulnerability etched on her beautiful face. He examined her appearance, taking in the deep shadows beneath her eyes and the paleness of her skin. Her breathing was shallow, little puffs of air passing through her slightly parted lips, as she rested peacefully.

His shirt was creased badly and stained with coffee. Her hair looked like rats had been nesting in it. Then right before his eyes she reached up and combed her fingers through it, twisting her body as though looking for a more comfortable position, exposing more of her long, shapely legs to his searching eyes. He couldn’t help recalling how silky, and soft they’d felt beneath his caresses. Then her soft mewling sounds caused his gaze to shift to her mouth.

It seemed like a lifetime ago since he’d kissed that defiant mouth. The impact throwing him for a loop he still hadn’t fully recovered from. The visible softness about her belied the fact she was full of spirit. There was nothing innocent about her. Even in sleep, she managed to entice and tease his senses until he wanted to lie down beside her and hold her.

Who am I kidding? I want to make love to her until we’re both so exhausted we can’t move.

A flashback of their intense lovemaking forced him to reach for the blanket and cover her, before he turned to leave the room without a backward glance. As he made his way back toward the galley, the boat rocked wildly, a sign the storm had finally broken through. All at once the rain began pounding down on them like machine gun fire, and Brent realized it was hale. A particular loud boom of thunder was followed by a loud, frightened shriek from the bedroom.

Brent pivoted sharply, and nearly collided with Sophie. “What’s wrong?” Seeing her pale expression and wild eyes, he glanced behind her, expecting to see demons chasing her.

She halted briefly, as though undecided what to do before throwing herself at him. “I’m scared!” The boat slammed against the dock and she lost her balance and her tenuous grip on him. She bounced back and forth between the walls in the narrow passageway, before Brent drew her safely into his arms. “Are we safe here?”

“Safe enough. Come on; let’s get you off your feet. You obviously didn’t bring your sea legs with you,” he teased, guiding her toward the kitchen. Brent didn’t have any trouble with his sea legs. He balanced himself easily against the swaying boat. Only once was he caught unaware, but only because he was trying to keep them both from flying around.

“Would we be safer in bed?”

The boat tipped slightly and Brent slammed back against the wall. Since his arms were around Sophie, she slammed into him. Suddenly they were flush against each other and looking into each other’s eyes. “Is that an invitation?” he asked; his mouth slanting into a grin. God, she makes me hungry.

In the gloom, he could see the mixture of fright and mild amusement swimming in her eyes. It was obvious she was trying not to give in and smile in return. But the longer they stared at each other, the more it didn’t seem funny anymore. The swaying boat only served to make them roll against each other, heightening their growing awareness of one another. The recently banked fires sprang to life.

Building the desire.

L**t surged through Brent’s b***d. The breath hissed from his lungs. He was very much aware of Sophie’s breasts against his chest, swelling like he was against the lower half of her body. The boat sank to one side on a rolling wave and he spread his legs to steady himself against the wall. The action caused Sophie to roll further into the intimate cradle of his h**s, against the hardness pushing against his zipper. He wondered if she had any idea how badly he wanted her at that moment.

The boat continued to dance wildly, beating mercilessly against the dock. “Brent, I’m scared!” she whispered, as the storm grew fiercer.

The frightened appeal in her eyes was very real and unnerved Brent. She was beyond scared. Wide-eyed with fright, she was shaking like a wet kitten. Maybe the safest place was in bed. He swore harshly when a violent wave sent him flying to the other side of the hall. His hands braced against the wall just in time to keep from crushing her. Her cry of alarm tore at his heart. When there was a brief lull, he grabbed her and turned her toward the bedroom.

He didn’t need to tell her to get into bed. She practically fell upon it, rolling to the side to make room for him. Brent hadn’t planned on joining her, grinning. He’d been on a boat in a storm before, and knew how to handle himself. Yet the frightened look on Sophie’s pale face persuaded him to do her silent pleading.

What harm was there in offering her a little bit of comfort? He fell in next to her, and the next thing Brent knew she was curled up against him, holding on for dear life. It was then he recalled what the senator had said about her fear of the water. His arms automatically encircled her slender, trembling form, holding her tightly while wishing he could make her fears go away.

“You’re safe,” he murmured into her ear, tenderly brushing the hair back from her face. His belly did a somersault when she glanced up at him, her eyes brimming softly with gratitude, in a face the color of white chalk. “You’re not going to be sick, are you?” he asked, trying to lighten the mood.

“You’re just worried about your shirt.”

His brows rose with surprise at her humor. He wished he could focus on that, and forget about her as a woman. Having Sophie plastered against him wasn’t doing much for his self-control. The steady rocking of the boat only added to the situation, keeping them moving constantly into each other no matter how hard he tried to instill distance.

A particularly loud rumble of thunder drew a muffled cry from her. She buried her face against him, tightening her hands in his loose shirt. He wished he had the power to make the storm go away. Another crash followed a crack of angry lightning. “Brent!” she cried, moving against him as though willing his body to absorb hers. “Do something!”

Do something? He actually thought about it for a moment before realizing it was stupid. He tightened his arms around her before doing the only thing he could think of that might take her mind off the raging elements outside. Tangling his fingers in her hair, he pulled her head back, and slammed his mouth down on hers.

At first, she stiffened, until Brent’s k**s coaxed her into relaxing. As she opened her mouth beneath his, he purposely softened his k**s into a sensual attack, slipping his tongue inside to mate with hers. Over the thunder, he heard her low m**n of hunger. She brought her arms up to encircle his neck, straining closer to his body. His hand slowly unclenched from her hair, and glided down her throat to her breast, a growl escaping him when Sophie arched into his caress.

He shuddered with renewed arousal as her breasts swelled within the palms of his hands. In less then a heartbeat, he grew weak, willingly accepting the ruthless passion spiraling through him. Knowing it was wrong but feeling it was so right. Sophie made him want too much, too fast. She made him forget about everything but her. In a mindless moment, Brent pushed her shirt out of the way and put his mouth on her breast, rolling her turgid nipple around the tip of his tongue. Sophie arched wildly and cried out, offering him whatever he wanted. Her hands roamed over him at will.

What the hell was he doing? Brent knew he needed to replace the strength to pull away. His fingers curled around the delicate bones of her wrists and he pinned her to the bed, pulling back to look down at her. Eyes clinging, their harsh breathing echoed through the small cabin, heard well above the noise of the rain. She was thrusting against him, her need mirroring his own.

“Tell me again that you love Jonathan Lord,” he demanded softly. “A woman doesn’t k**s like that if she’s in love with another man.”

Her expression showed surprise. “Is that why you kissed me? So I’d let down my guard?” Her soft, slightly disappointed words reminded Brent of how he’d felt earlier, when he thought she’d used her body to do the same thing. “You don’t think a woman can love one man and still want to make love to another?”

Oh, it was more than possible. But he didn’t want to believe it. He narrowed his eyes on her lovely, flushed face, trying to read the truth. “Are you that kind of woman, Sophie?” She glanced away, only he wasn’t about to let her get away with that. Gripping her chin, Brent forced her to look at him. “Are you?” His tone was harsh.

“Yes.”

“You’re lying.” Brent’s instincts told him what she wouldn’t admit to. Acid churned in his gut that a man like Lord had such a strong hold on her that she was willing to sell herself.

However, it was the thought that Sophie might be telling him the truth that made a knot twist in his gut. “What has he got on you?” he demanded angrily. Maybe she would tell him what her father couldn’t get out of her.

Her eyes widened with alarm, his words obviously hitting close to home. “What d-do you me-mean?” she asked in a broken whisper. “I lo—”

“There are plenty of signs that indicate to me that you don’t love Lord. A woman in love doesn’t remove the man’s ring and leave it behind. A woman in love wouldn’t think of betraying him by making love with another man.” He had little to base that observation on except for his mother and sister. “And don’t think I didn’t notice you cringe the other night at the museum when Lord kissed your shoulder.”

“I don’t know what you mean!” Her voice was shaking, and she tried to push him away from her. “You were imagining things!”

“Don’t insult me by the innocent act. Why don’t you try telling the truth for a change?” Before he lost control and shook some sense into her, he released her and rolled off the bed.

Once he was on his feet, he swung around. He narrowed his gaze on her pale face with the thought that if he pushed her into spilling the truth, he would be able to contact Senator Adams and put an end to the whole damn mess. It was risky, but Brent decided to take it. Besides, what do I have to lose?

“Just who are you protecting, princess, yourself or your father?”

She caught her breath, her eyes widening into round saucers. All she could do was lay there and roll helplessly with the movements of the boat. “You’re crazy!” she finally replied.

“Am I?” There was no disguising the fear in her eyes, or the desperation in her tone. Brent instinctively knew he was getting close and that she knew it and was terrified of it. What the hell was she hiding? “Why are you so afraid, then?”

“Wouldn’t you be? I’ve been kid—”

“Don’t try and change the subject,” he cut in ruthlessly, even while realizing he had to be careful. If Sophie figured out he wasn’t what he appeared to be she’d have the upper hand, and he wasn’t about to let that happen.

“What kind of kidnapper are you?” she asked, her tone changing to suspicion.

Brent had to think fast. “The kind who wants to make sure he’s asking the right man for the ransom money. I don’t want to waste my time with Lord if he doesn’t love you as much as you claim to love him.”

She glanced away, her fingers clenching into the covers beneath her to keep from rolling. “He wants me,” she said softly.

Didn’t she realize what she just revealed? “I want you too, but let’s not confuse l**t with love.” Brent looked at her long and hard. Who am I kidding? I’m already half in love with her.

In spite of all his misgivings and sour experiences with the opposite s*x, he knew Sophie was different. His gut told him when she loved someone she would do anything for them, including protecting them by sacrificing herself.

The sadness in her gaze tore at his heartstrings. He wanted to take her into his arms and tell her everything would be all right. That he would make it all right. Yet how can I do that if I don’t know what to protect her from? He hoped to hell that the senator was having better luck at his end. Brent wasn’t sure how much longer he could keep up the lie. His cellular began to ring, putting an end to any further discussion. As he reached to retrieve it from his back pocket, Sophie quickly slipped beneath the blanket.

“Yeah?” His stare remained on her, holding her gaze.

“It’s me! We have a problem!” Tom’s excited tone was hushed as if he was afraid someone would overhear him. “Get out of there! Senator Adams’ lines have a tap on them. Our…”

“What?” Brent barked into the receiver with disbelief.

“We don’t know when but a tap was placed on his line to monitor all incoming calls, in case the kidnapper contacted him instead of Lord. I just received a call from the senator’s office. He wasn’t even aware of it.”

Of course, he wasn’t aware of it. Why would he knowingly agree to put a tap on his phone when he already knew his daughter was safe with me? It had to be Lord, the bastard! I underestimated the man. All at once, Brent realized Tom was talking a mile a minute and he hadn’t heard a single word.

“…from the boat?”

“Repeat,” Brent said between his teeth, in a tone that left little doubt to anyone who heard it that he was furious. Sophie looked ready to bolt, if the alarm filling her eyes was any indication.

“I asked if you made any calls from the boat.”

He hadn’t but Sophie had. “Damn it!” he stormed, his lips thinning with anger. The force of his seething reply caused Sophie to jump. If Tom asked him that, then he obviously knew the answer, which also meant Lord was on to him.

“What’s the plan now?” Tom questioned. “I say it’s over! We let Miss Adams go and return to the office, and pretend nothing’s happened.”

Tom’s plan of surrender didn’t surprise Brent. He probably thought it would be as easy as that, too. “The plan is we’re getting the hell off this boat,” Brent grated with exasperation.

“I’ll contact you later with the details.”

He flipped the phone shut and crammed it in his back pocket. He estimated a good hour had gone by since she’d called her father, and he knew the only thing saving them from being overtaken by the cops was Lord’s ego. He was the kind of man who would want to handle things his own way, with his own people. Which probably means I’m a dead man. Hell! His mouth thinned with displeasure. What a mess!

“Come on, princess, we have to get the hell off this boat before lover boy shows up with the cavalry.” The last thing he wanted was for her to be caught up in any gunfire.

Her eyes rounded as she took in the news. “The police are on their way?” She had no choice but to let him pull her off the bed. “How…”

“It appears when you phoned daddy, the call was traced.” Brent caught her when the boat suddenly swayed. In the blink of an eye her light fragrance, her soft body and a need so strong it threatened to consume him, engulfed his already weakened senses. That sharp, unwelcome sensation was almost enough to make him into throw caution to the wind and toss her back upon the bed. He took a moment to gain control of his wits, pretending to steady her before setting her away from him.

“Hurry up and get dressed.”

He didn’t bother looking around for anything that might give his identity away. He figured it was too late for that. By now, Lord knew who he was, and where to replace them. A sense of urgency made the adrenaline rush through his b***d like a torrid river. While Sophie dressed, he went topside to see what, if anything, was going on. Mostly anglers used the dock on weekends and in this kind of weather, it was deserted. However, that didn’t mean that someone would not be returning from a fishing trip cut short.

As soon as he stepped on deck, he was drenched in the downpour. It looked like early evening, although it was the afternoon. The skyline was dark, and the clouds overhead resembled dirty snow banks. As Brent’s gaze took in the area, he whistled a sound of relief that no one was around.

Hoping his luck continued, he turned to go back below, surprised to replace Sophie patiently waiting for him at the bottom of the steps. For as long as he lived, he would never forget the look of regret in those sapphire eyes.

She was wringing her hands. “I can’t…” He could barely make out her softly spoken words. She seemed frozen in place, and Brent doubted there was anything he could do about it.

He knew her fear was going to cost them valuable time. “Sure you can, princess, just put one foot before the other and climb,” he coaxed gently. He could see she was already shaking her head no. “Trust me, sweetheart,” he added softly.