CHAPTER 8
DESPITE ITS BEING almost ten p.m., the souvenir shops near the harbor were still open to accommodate last-minute shoppers who were returning from their adventures on the island. Kurt and Caitlyn quickly procured a change of clothes and left their sodden outfits in a trash bin outside the marketplace.
The rain had finally let up and it was great to be dry again. Caitlynwore an oversized “St. Isidore ‘Iz’ de ting” T-shirt and flowered board shorts with beaded flip-flops. She topped her outfit with a large rain hat to help disguise her hair, a heavy braid that dripped water down the back of her neck.
To avoid attracting attention to his prosthetics, Kurt had opted for long pants. The drawstring jammers bore colorful stripes that clashed with his surf shop T-shirt.He’d borrowed a shoehorn from one of the vendors and managed to replace his dress shoes with a pair of running shoes. Topped off with a ball cap advertising the Windward Islands cricket team, he perfectly fit the part of tacky tourist.
Transformation complete, they picked up additional clothing and sunglasses, while Kurt awaited a callback from Jason Chin, one of the guys on his team with whomCaitlyn had worked briefly three years ago. The former model might be their ticket to lying low on the island until they could figure out their next step.
They ate snow cones at a snack stand as the crowds around them hurried toward their various ships’ berths.
“How did you know which cruise ships would be here?” Kurt asked, eating a scoop of the sweet ice from his cup.
“Mostly, it was an educatedguess. I try to be aware of what’s going on in the places I operate. It’s just good business to know when the tourists are likely to be around. Now that hurricane season is almost over, visits are picking up all over the islands while the rates are still low. And St. Isidore has become increasingly popular since the new terminal opened last year.”
“You spend a lot of time on St. Isidore?”
“Notreally, but I’ve been over here several times looking for Rose. I tried all the major tourist spots and hotels. I guess now I know why I never found her.”
“I’m sorry,” Kurt said, laying his hand out palm up.
She curled her fingers around his, if for no other reason than to play a happy couple on holiday so they wouldn’t stand out. She couldn’t let herself get used to how much comfort she gainedfrom his touch. Nor could she let herself think about how explosive their kisses had been. What should have been for show had turned into something much more serious in the space of a breath.
Just thinking about it made her hot.
Kurt’s burner phone chimed, a welcome distraction. Maybe they’d get some good news.
“Hey, man. What’s the word?” Kurt glanced at her with a frown. “Are you sure hewon’t mind? I don’t want to intrude.” He listened for another minute. “Okay, thank you. I appreciate your help, Jason. Will do.”
“So?” she asked.
“I have the codes for the door and the alarm. He’ll give his housekeeping and maintenance staff the week off.”
“Wow, generous.”
They had decided that if they could make it work, staying on the island made more sense. Not only was it probably safer—andunexpected—but it would give them a chance to regroup and find a way to look for Rose and some of the other people Lambert held against their will.
It didn’t hurt that they were already on Brandon Marlowe’s side of the island and that his estate wasn’t far from Lambert’s plantation.
“Now, we just need to get there,” Kurt said. “Preferably without anyone knowing where we’ve gone.” A taxi mightbe convenient, but it would leave a witness to their whereabouts.
Caitlyn had been watching a young man loading boxes into a van in the alley between marketplace buildings. “If you don’t mind handing over your money, I have an idea.”
Kurt’s forehead wrinkled but he slid his wallet across the table.
“Watch my back?” she asked, removing the bills discreetly.
His gaze flicked down her body, alook of admiration gleaming in his eyes. “Always.”
Shaking her head, she slipped the wad of money into a straw tote bag she’d purchased to hold all of their new supplies and strolled into the narrow alley. Earlier, she’d noticed the kid sitting on a scooter smoking a cigarette.
“Excuse me,” she said.
The boy turned from loading boxes. “Yeah?” He gave her a wary smile.
She smiled back. “Ourrental car broke down and the office is closed for the night. I know this is a weird request, but would you be willing to sell us your scooter and helmet?”
His smile dropped and his eyes widened as he glanced around as if to see if he was being punked. “You want my scooter?” His dark brows lowered in confusion as he gestured to the bright blue vehicle gleaming under the overhead lights.
