Page 17

M addie’s legs shook beneath her and her fingers tightened on the rail.

Pain shot up her wrists, but she couldn’t tear herself away.

She’d thrown the nearest floatation device, but by the time she’d wheeled it out to sea, she’d lost him.

Her chest rose and fell. She needed to get help.

To hell with the job, she didn’t give a shit anymore.

Nate could die. She tore her hands from the cold metal and her gaze landed on Nate’s phone.

She scurried across the deck and brought the screen to life.

Her finger shook as she swiped through his text messages. She could call Ashley, but she was at the dinner. Another name jumped out at her. Dylan. That sounded familiar. She punched the phone icon and pressed the smooth glass to her ear.

Her eyes swept across the deck. Good god, if Carlos came looking for her, she’d have a hard time explaining herself. The phone rang and she stepped out of the light and pressed her back against the wall in the shadows.

C’mon, pickup, pickup.

“What the hell happened to your earpiece? You nearly blew my fucking eardrum.”

Her brow furrowed. “Uh, this is Maddie.”

Dylan’s sharp intake of breath pierced her ear. “Holy shit. Is everything okay? Where’s Nate?”

Tears prickled the backs of her eyes and her throat tightened. “H–he… went overboard.” Her voice trembled and moisture collected on her eyelashes.

“What?” He roared in her ear. “Where are you?”

She swallowed over the boulder lodged in her throat and squeezed her eyes together. Her chest ached and a sob threatened to bubble up. “I’m on the deck, at the rear of the ship.”

“Fuck,” he breathed roughly in her ear. The wind picked up and sent the bottom of her dress dancing around her legs. A shiver ran down her spine and she pressed her back closer to the wall.

She took two deep breaths through her nose while Dylan mumbled curse words.

“Okay,” he said, his voice strong and level. “Don’t worry, everything is going to be fine. I need you to get back to dinner, and hold it together. Can you do that?”

She sniffed and wiped the corner of her eye with her knuckles. “No.” A short laugh broke through the tears. “I’m a mess. I got attacked and—”

“You have to. If you’re gone much longer, people will come looking for you and find you like this anyway. And what will you tell them?”

She closed her eyes. He was right. If Carlos found her now, she’d have nothing coherent to say to him.

“Okay,” she said softly.

“It’s going to be fine. Nate was on a competitive swim team back in the day.

He’s probably doing backflips right now.

” His voice was soft and reassuring, but the strain behind it told her he was worried as hell.

“Get to the restroom and clean yourself up as best you can. I’ll have Ashley meet you in there. ”

“Can you let me know as soon as he’s safe?”

“Of course.”

“Thank you,” she said softly and disconnected.

She reached for her clutch, but it wasn’t between her arm.

She squinted through the darkness. The small, bone-colored bag lay strewn on the floor, her two phones and lipstick rested near it.

Shit. She must have dropped her purse when Tony had attacked her.

She crouched down, and her legs shook beneath the pressure.

Tears clung to her cheeks and her chin quivered uncontrollably.

Lord, she was a disaster. She got to her feet and pressed her palm against her breastbone.

Her heart thundered against her hand. She took another deep breath, but it didn’t slow.

It didn’t matter. She was out of time. Her fingers curled around the thick layer of sequins at her knees and she jogged around the deck.

She wouldn’t be able to come through the entrance she’d gone out.

She’d have to walk across the entire ballroom in order to get to the restrooms. But there was an exit on the other side of the ship that would let her in on the other side of the room.

With any luck, she’d slip past the tables and clean herself up without Carlos seeing her.

Her shoes clicked on the deck and she shoved her way into the double door. She paused at the door leading into the ballroom and peered into the small window inside it. Everyone was in their seats, scooping their soup and drinking champagne.

She located Carlos. He raised his glass and sipped. His gold watch caught the glow of the chandelier and it reflected across the room. He pulled his phone out, and then turned in his seat toward the entrance she’d exited.

The door of the kitchen swung open and a long line of waiters with trays marched out. Now was her chance. She pulled the door open and moved swiftly across the polished floor. Her gaze swept to Carlos, but his eyes were on the waiter who placed a plate under his nose and lifted the cover.

She shoved the restroom door and closed it tightly behind her. Her head dropped back against the smooth wood.

That had been close.

She pushed away from the door and stepped farther in the bathroom.

Slick black and white marble lined the floors and halfway up the wall.

Two cream-colored leather chairs sat next to the gas fireplace, and a flat-screened TV hung above it.

Eight stalls and four sinks took up the rest of the enormous space.

She leaned over and scanned the floor of the stalls.

She was alone. Her hands rested on the white quartz counter and she stared into the mirror.

Her hair fell in loose loops from the pins at the back of her head.

Mascara lined beneath her eyes and her lipstick smeared down her chin.

She blew out a breath, set her clutch on the counter, and got to work on her makeup.

She mopped up the mascara and dusted her pressed powder to cover the shadows that only coconut oil would remove.

Her lipstick was another story. Thank god, she habitually stuck to soft, natural tones. If she’d been a red lipstick wearer, she’d need steel wool to fix this mess. She wet a paper towel and scrubbed at the smear. Her face was as white as a sheet, her eyes wild and strained.

Nate’s contorted face seared her brain and she squeezed her eyelids against another wave of tears. He would be okay. He had to be.

The door creaked open and Ashley strode in. Her dark gown moved across the sleek pattern at her feet, and her hands grasped Maddie’s shoulders, turning her away from the mirror.

“My god, are you okay? Dylan told me everything.” She pulled Maddie into a hug.

Her shoulders trembled and her lips trembled. She couldn’t fall apart. Not now. She straightened away from Ashley.

Her big, warm brown eyes searched Maddie’s face. Kindness softened the lines around her eyes. “Hell, all you’ve been through and you still look better than me at my best.”

Maddie chuckled and turned back to the mirror. Ashley was gorgeous, so the comment was made to make her laugh.

“Let me fix your hair. Your date is looking pretty antsy.” She pulled a brush from her purse and began to scoop the wayward strands at Maddie’s head.

“Thank you,” she said softly. It was odd having this conversation with someone she’d never met, but was bound to by circumstance.

She began working and a few minutes later stood back. “There, as good as new.” She flashed a smile at Maddie in the mirror. “Think you’re up to facing everyone?”

Maddie lifted a shoulder. “I don’t have much choice.”

“You’ll be fine.” Ashley’s hand rubbed up and down Maddie’s arm. “Besides, I don’t think he’s the sharpest crayon in the box if you know what I mean.” She winked and Maddie laughed.

“Thank you for your help, Ashley. Can you let me know when Nate’s safe?” She’d already asked Dylan, but if she didn’t hear something soon, she’d go crazy.

“You bet. Now get out there.”

Maddie nodded, picked up her clutch, and turned to the door. She lifted her chin, pulled her shoulders back, and sauntered into the ballroom.

Her heart beat rapidly in her chest, and her hand trembled at her side.

The waiters had cleared out, and everyone was eagerly digging into their entrée.

Carlos’s eyes lifted and met hers. Dark, onyx coals bore into her, and his brow creased.

She swallowed and swung her hips gently as she approached the table.

He rested against the back of his chair and moved her seat out.

She slid in next to him and cupped her hand over his thigh.

“Darling, I’m so sorry,” she said softy, her voice hushed so as not to disturb the other diners around their table. Her gaze flicked around at the other three couples, all engrossed in the political debate.

The cold air conditioning from the vent above blasted over her already chilled skin. Carlos’s hand rested on the small of her back. Despite the heat he radiated, her skin crawled.

“I was starting to get worried. Is everything okay?” He stabbed his fork into a green bean and slurped it through his lips.

She chewed the side of her tongue. She couldn’t act like everything was fine, that would be even more suspicious. She lowered her gaze to the smooth black tablecloth beneath her hand and shook her head. “No.”

His eyebrows bounced up and he stopped chewing. “What’s wrong?”

She inched closer in her chair and his arm slid further around her back. “It was my sister calling. My mom had a heart attack.” Her chin quivered.

Had they gotten Nate on board yet? With every minute that ticked by, the risk of her never seeing him again increased. “She might not make it through the night.” Moisture collected behind her eyelids, but she held the tears at bay.

“Oh, my god. Baby, I’m so sorry.” His hand moved up and down her back and sympathy brought his thick, dark eyebrows together. “Do you want to go up to the room? I’d hate to have you miss dinner.”