Page 11

Chapter

Ten

Alice awoke as upset at Robbie as she’d felt going to bed. At least she’d been able to sleep and hadn’t had the nightmare.

She hated the way she felt right now. Robbie used to make her happy. Not currently.

Her mother had been unfair about Robbie back then, and it was true she was a hard woman and hadn’t liked Natalie, Ruby, Jack, or even sweet little Odie.

But she was still Alice’s mother and the only remaining family member she had.

Not everybody had the perfect and loving June Beaver-type mother like Robbie’s Mama Quincy.

Just thinking of Mama Quincy made her long for a huge welcoming hug complete with a beaming smile, chocolate chip cookies, and the line, ‘Our beautiful girl is here!”. Robbie’s mama had always made her feel like she was the most important person on earth.

Alice showered and put on a comfortable blue summer romper that she’d brought with her, bought by her mother as most of her clothing and jewelry was, and walked down to breakfast. Robbie was waiting for her, shoveling food in as usual.

He was right that he didn’t chew with his mouth open or burp.

The way he ate had always fascinated her.

That he could eat so quickly and get the quantity of food in that he did without making slurping noises or being ‘uncouth’ like her mother accused him of was a marvel. Right now, it annoyed her.

She’d skipped dinner last night, too stirred up by their attacker and then by Robbie’s attack on her mother. Now she was hungry, but she didn’t want to eat with Robbie. How would she spend the entire day with him? Not to mention the next two weeks.

He set his fork down, straightened in his chair, and studied her.

Alice flushed with heat from the simple look.

She stepped forward, planning to brush past him and grab something out of the fridge, but Robbie stood, blocking her path.

A thrill shot through her as she arched her head back to look at him.

He was large, manly, and appealing. Even if she was irritated with him and he had a bush growing out of his face.

“I’m sorry,” he said.

“About?” She folded her arms across her chest. No reason to make this easy on him.

“I shouldn’t have said those things about your mom.”

“But you believe them?”

His mouth twisted. Robbie was never one to lie.

“Your mom …” He licked his lips, rubbed at his neck, and started over.

“As a teenager, I always made an effort to be respectful and speak to adults. It was rare that an adult didn’t like me.

I made countless attempts to get on your mom’s good side, more than any other parent, because I loved you and wanted a great relationship with her.

Everything I tried backfired. I never understood why she hated me. ”

Alice studied him. He was right. He’d been nothing but respectful, even sweet, to her mother, but she had never even given him a chance.

She’d treated him worse than her staff, and her excuses were always that he was an ‘uncouth ogre’ or a ‘beastly loser’.

Neither of which was true. Her mother had always asserted Preston Lavity was the right one for her.

Before she had to admit Robbie was right, or make an excuse for her mother’s behavior, he continued.

“But she’s your family, and it’s not my right to judge her.”

Alice swallowed and nodded, not sure what to say. She couldn’t defend her mother. She was hard, extremely so, and she’d loathed Robbie with a deep passion. It was kind of him to try not to judge her.

“I also was thinking …” He looked her over, and her pulse spiked despite her desire to stay aloof from him.

Mostly for his own protection from a killer, but also because they had no future.

“Your mom raised you, and you’re the most incredible lady I’ve ever known, so there must be a lot of good in her that she passed on to you. ”

Alice was surprised by his comment. It looked to be a hard concession. “The most incredible lady? What about your mama?”

He smiled at that. The lips she used to love to tangle with were revealed in the mass of his beard. “You’re right on level with my amazing mama, Alice Marshall.”

Alice had to back away. What was he doing making comments like that? “Um … thank you,” she managed. “Let me grab some food. What’s the plan today?”

“Beaches. A whole list of beaches. We go back to the dock and a boat will take us to explore all the nearby beaches and beach towns.”

“Sounds great.”

Robbie had diffused her anger, but her mother was still very much between them.

As was the fact that Big Buddha had killed everyone she loved.

Except her mother. She could see why Robbie might suspect her mother, but no matter how miserable her mother was, Alice was the only happiness in her life.

She could never believe that her mother would physically hurt anyone and as a result make Alice miserable too.

Alice lay back on a beach chair perched on the sand at Lido di Jesolo as Robbie swam in the ocean.

The day had turned out to be fun. They’d been to Lido di Venezia, Murano, Burano, and Torcello Islands, Pellstrina, and Punta Sabbioni.

Their boat driver and guide had been great.

Curtis and Merrick had stayed back and watched for danger while Alice and Robbie had lunch on the beach.

Madelyne had apparently set everything up .

Alice was no stranger to money—her mother was a multi-millionaire—but Brandon’s level of wealth still blew her mind.

She was grateful to relax for a few minutes.

They’d walked a lot of beaches and beach towns today.

Robbie had been itching to get into the ocean and the guide had promised Lido di Jesolo was a fabulous swimming beach and a great way to end the day.

The sun was sinking toward the west. It had to be after five.

It was odd not to have her phone to check.

Robbie swam sure strokes parallel to where she reclined.

She watched him slice through the ocean.

He moved well, especially for such a large man.

Interesting that he’d been a Ranger and not a Navy SEAL with how much he loved the ocean, swimming, and scuba diving.

She’d asked him about his choice years ago and he’d told her he wasn’t a ‘squid’.

Some kind of slang against the Navy. He’d been teasing and admitted it was more about his grandfather being in the Army, and though his best friend Chase liked to swim, he hadn’t had the swim lessons and opportunities to swim in the ocean like Robbie had and probably wouldn’t make it through the intense training SEALs had in the water.

She suspected the entwined dog tags on his chest were his grandfather’s and his own, but they might have been his and Chase’s.

After about half an hour, he turned and angled into shore.

The waves were mellow, lapping against the beach.

The spot the guide had brought them to was quiet.

There was currently only another couple walking down the beach and a young family playing in the sand at least a football field length away.

It was nice to have quiet and peace after the stress of the man pulling a gun on them yesterday and Robbie chasing after him.

Robbie reached the shallow water and stood.

She gaped at him as he pushed through the soft waves.

He did look like Jason Momoa coming out of the water.

She thought Robbie was more handsome than the movie star.

Sun glistened off his muscular chest, shoulders, and arms. His hair and beard were plastered to his head, and he looked more like the Robbie she remembered.

He noticed her staring and grinned, his blue eyes twinkling. That radiant smile was the sun coming out from behind the dark clouds of the past fifteen years.

Alice sucked in a quick breath. How could she stay immune to him?

He reached the beach and strode confidently to her.

“H-how was the swim?”

“Fabulous.” He pushed his hand through his hair, engaging his arm and shoulder muscles.

Her mouth went dry. She swallowed and had to look away.

“You all right?”

“Dry mouth,” she muttered, grabbing a nearby water bottle and taking a drink.

When she looked back at him, he was smirking. “You are looking entirely too dry.”

“Excuse me?” She blinked at him, not sure what that meant.

“Dry mouth, dry hair, dry swimsuit.” Robbie grinned, bent low, and scooped her off the lounge chair.

“Robbie,” she cried out in surprise, wrapping her arms tight around his neck. Robbie held her against his chest, and every part of Alice soared. “What are you doing?”

“Sweeping you off your feet.” He winked, and she was reminded of the many times he had swept her off her feet. What had followed was heaven on earth.

Would he kiss her? She had no idea how she’d respond if he tried. She yearned to kiss him again, but that was no way to keep him safe from Big Buddha and keep her heart safe when he left her again.

“And remedying your too-dry problem,” he said.

He turned and strode through the sand and into the shallow water with her clinging to him.

“Robbie, no,” she cried out, but she tellingly didn’t fight him. She held tight to him and savored the feel of his muscular body surrounding her and soaring through the air.

He threw back his head and laughed. Alice couldn’t help but join him. She was young, carefree, desirable, and happy in Robbie’s arms. None of the past fifteen years of loneliness mattered.

He pushed through the water until he was chest deep. Then he dipped down underwater, holding her close. Alice closed her eyes and mouth. The water was lukewarm and felt great after sunbathing.

They surfaced, and she blinked water out of her eyes.

“Did we fix your too-dry problem?” he asked, laughter in his voice and crinkling the skin around his eyes.

“Definitely.” Alice loved being close to him and messing around like this.

“Do you have any other problems I can help you fix?”

She stared at him. She wanted to tell him his kiss could solve her every problem. Her gaze dropped to his mouth, then lifted to his eyes. His startling blue eyes lit a fire within her.

“Yes, ma’am,” he murmured.

“I didn’t ask for anything,” she shot back even as her stomach hopped with anticipation.

He grinned confidently. “You didn’t have to.”

“Oh, you,” she protested, even as she arched up and he leaned down.

“ Ellos se besan ,” a child cried out, giggling.

“Not yet, mi amigo ,” Robbie whispered, his breath against her lips warm and enticing. “We’d better continue this later. Little ones looking on.”

Alice looked around to see two children pointing and laughing from the beach. Their parents were rushing to them and scolding them in rapid Spanish. They must be tourists, likely from nearby Spain.

The moment was ruined—or maybe saved—by the children. She shouldn’t allow herself to lose her heart to Robbie again.

She pushed away from his chest. “Let’s swim.”

“All right.” He looked disappointed.

She felt terribly disappointed too, but it was for the best.