A Man to Remember Read Free

the first move."
    He took a shaky breath. "Maybe I lied. Patience is not one of my virtues."
    "Then you're like all the rest."
    His voice hardened. "I definitely am not like all the rest. Not like any of the men you know. Especially that bastard in the bar you came down here with."
    "So, you're watching us both? Why?" She scoffed at him. "No patience? I do like honesty in a man."
    "I have other qualities you might like, Alyse."
    She made a low, whimpering sound and slowly freed herself from his grasp. She took a side step away. "I think I know enough about you, Jake."
    He shook his head with a lion-like movement. "You don't know anything about me. Just this unreasonable fear that I might be dangerous. I'll admit I was too blunt. Maybe too honest. And sometimes I'm too spontaneous."
    She folded her arms to hide a shudder. "What about the honesty you claimed? And fairness?"
    "I tried." He shrugged.
    "So did I. But it won't work, Jake. We're both… in a bad place right now. Too complex for anything."
    "Maybe I could help – "
    "No." She wheeled around and walked briskly across the sand.
    "I'd like to see you again. Let's talk." Jake's eyes narrowed.
    She didn't acknowledge his remark, just kept walking away from him. Tiny, glistening particles clung to her hips and the backs of her bare legs. Jake ached to brush them off. "I'll see you again, Alyse."
    He stood impotently and watched her graceful movements. He couldn't help wondering if he'd ruined the plan. He needed that yacht. Soon. And now, crazily, he wanted that woman. Alyse Skye was not someone he could forget easily, and he had no intention of letting her walk away from him. But could he honestly wait until she made the first move?
     
     
    Chapter Two
     
    Lights from the city of La Paz spread gloriously below him, reminding Jake of El Paso and the city view from his home. Glittering dots twinkled in the darkness, gathering in a C-shaped curve along the bay. At home there was no stretch of water, only the shallow Rio Grande separating the United States and Mexico. Tonight he felt a long way from reaching U.S. soil and safety.
    He lifted the binoculars to his eyes and studied the bobbing craft with a brooding expression. This was his key to escape. The Skye Command. His taut lips pursed, and his brown eyes narrowed as he studied his quarry. His face was tight over prominent cheekbones; the angular jaw-line and chin were covered with the scruffy beginnings of a beard, sprinkled with a bit of auburn. Not very stylish, but it would serve its purpose, that of camouflage. At this point the more he looked like an American tourist, the better.
    He trained the binoculars on the expensive luxury yacht. He knew she had showered about nine and wore some skimpy gown that came to her mid-thighs. His palms grew moist watching her move about the yellow-lit cabin and imagining . . .
    Around ten she had carefully chosen a book from one of the shelves crammed beneath the port window and crawled into the narrow bunk. She lay very still, apparently absorbed in her reading. She was almost out of sight, and he had to strain to make out her form outlined beneath the sheet. Jake drew a heavy breath as he imagined those long, sexy legs between cool sheets. And he thought of how they'd feel entwined with his.
     
    Jake met a local friend for a couple of soft tacos and a cold cerveza. He sat on the far corner of the patio so he could keep an eye on the yacht. And the woman.
    "Ah, amigo. Nice view, of the city, eh?"
    Jake grunted a low greeting. "Sí. I'm keeping an eye on that small cruiser in the harbor, Emilio. She may be my ticket out of here. What do you know about the Skye Command?"
    Emilio handed Jake another beer from the bar. "She is owned by a rich American from San Diego. The long-legged señorita, his daughter. Seen her here a couple times, with her family. But the man, no se. A stranger."
    Jake's hand encircled the cool bottle, and he gulped greedily. "Ah, bueno. Gracias."
    "Sí, she