Final Target(88)

Lord, she wished it were only sad. She was so near a great abyss that she had to move very carefully. “ I suppose you could use that word.” She changed the subject. “ What’s next? We’ve lost the only lead we had. Do you think Deschamps—”

He exploded. “Christ, you almost got killed last night chasing after Deschamps. Why can’t you leave it alone? And dammit, don’t close up.” He took her shoulders and shook her. “ You listen to me.”

“ I am listening.”

“ But you’re not hearing. You’re running away from me.”

“ I’m not running away.” She met his gaze. “Do you want to go back to the bedroom and make love again?”

“ No, I do not. Oh, shit, of course I do. But I’m not going to let you use me to— What the hell am I saying?”

“ I didn’t use you. I only shared joy. Didn’t I?”

He stared at her and then he slowly nodded. “Jesus, what kind of woman are you, Melissa?”

A woman who might love you.

Oh, God, she wished that answer hadn’t popped into her head. But there were all kinds of love just as there were all kinds of commitment. She could deal with this. She forced a smile. “ You should know by now. I’m pretty transparent.”

“ The hell you are.”

She turned to go back in the house. “Compared to you, I’m clear as glass. I’m hungry. Do you want breakfast?”

“ No, I’m going for a walk. I’ll see you later.”

She watched him walk toward Galen. He was upset. Well, she couldn’t do anything about that. She’d been as honest with him as she could. She couldn’t forget about Deschamps, and she wasn’t going to lie to Travis.

Galen and Travis were talking. Fast. Intensely.

About Deschamps? Probably. If they were making plans, they were leaving her out again. She couldn’t allow that to happen. Dammit, Travis was even more protective than before. Last night could have been a mistake.

No, joy was never a mistake. She’d just have to work out the problems.

Galen was coming back to the cottage. He smiled as he walked up the porch steps. “ Travis says you’re hungry. What do you want for breakfast?”

“ I can fix it.”

“ Nah, it’s all in the package.” He opened the screen door. “And I imagine you could use an easy time after last night.”

She blinked.

He laughed. “Oops. No, I meant the knock on the head.”

She looked at Travis, who was still on the beach. “ Is he coming?”

“ Not right now. He said he needed some time to himself. Pancakes? Ham and eggs?”

She watched Travis start off down the beach. She could tell by the wary, contained way he was moving how tense he was. Maybe she could talk to him when he came back. Or maybe it was better to let him cool down.

She turned back to Galen. “ Pancakes. I’ll set the table.”

Travis glanced back at the porch and watched Melissa go inside. Christ, she was stubborn.

And strong and bold and giving. And so bright and beautiful that she made him feel . . .

Scared to death.

She wouldn’t stop. If last night hadn’t discouraged her, nothing would. It was only a matter of time until she found out that Deschamps might be in that boat in the cove. If she hadn’t been so upset last night, she would have probably already figured out Deschamps would follow them. There was no doubt in his mind that Deschamps would target her again. She had interfered and she was now a witness.

It made him sick to his stomach.

He couldn’t let it happen.

“ Want to play poker?” Galen asked. “ I’m getting tired of solitaire.”

Melissa turned away from the window where she’d been watching Travis on the beach. “ No, thanks.”

“ Your loss.” He played a queen on a king. “ I’m known as the worst player on the Continent. It could be a great ego boost for you.”

Maybe she could use an ego boost. Travis had been avoiding her all day. Except for dinner, he’d stayed out on the beach. She supposed it was natural. Besides her refusal to back off on Deschamps, she’d been frank with him about her intention to stay in his life. Travis was probably feeling uneasy.

Well, let him get used to it. He could stay on that beach all night. She wasn’t going to wait around for him. “ I’m going to bed. Good night, Galen.”

He didn’t look up. “Good night.”

Cassie was asleep and Melissa moved quietly into the bathroom to brush her teeth and wash her face. But the little girl woke when she slipped into bed next to her.

“Melissa?”

“Shh. Go back to sleep.”