To Kiss a King (Kings of California #11)(14)
Author: Maureen Child

Garrett’s gaze snapped to her in time to see her face pale a bit and her eyes take on a wary sheen.

“I’m sure I’ve just got one of ‘those’ faces,” she said, trying to make light of the guy’s statement. “You know they say we all have a double out there, wandering the world.”

“Yeah,” the artist murmured, not really listening. “But you’re different. You’re…”

“You done?” Garrett asked abruptly.

“Huh?” The guy glanced up at him and whatever he saw in Garrett’s eyes convinced him that he was indeed finished. “Sure. Let me just sign it.”

A fast scrawl with a black chalk and he was tearing the page off the easel and handing it to Alex. She looked at it and grinned, obviously pleased with the results. In fact, she was so entranced by the drawing, she didn’t notice the artist’s eyes suddenly widen and his mouth drop open in shock.

Apparently, Garrett thought grimly, he’d finally remembered where he had seen Alex before. Moving fast, Garrett caught the other man’s eye and gave him a warning glare that carried threats of retribution if he so much as said a single word.

His meaning got across with no problem. The tall, thin man with the straggly beard closed his mouth, wiped one hand across the back of his neck and nodded in silent agreement.

Garrett pulled out his wallet and handed over a wad of cash. Way more than the price of the drawing, this was also shut-the-hell-up-and-forget-you-ever-saw-her money. When the guy whistled low and long, Garrett knew the bribe was successful.

“Thank you!” Alex said and finally looked at the artist. “It’s wonderful. I know just where I’ll hang it when I get home.”

“Yeah?” The artist grinned, obviously loving the idea that one of his drawings would soon be hanging in a castle. “Well, cool. Glad you like it, Pr—” He stopped, shot a look at Garrett and finished up lamely, “Miss.”

Alex missed the man’s slipup. She reached into her purse. “How much do I owe you?”

“It’s taken care of,” Garrett said, stepping up beside her and dropping one arm around her shoulders. He shot another warning look at the artist. “Isn’t it?”

“You bet,” the guy said, nodding so hard Garrett half expected the man’s head to fly off his neck. “All square. We’re good. Thanks again.”

Garrett steered her away from the artist, and got her walking toward where he’d parked his car. Best to get out of here before the guy forgot just how threatening Garrett could be and started bragging about how he had drawn the portrait of a princess.

“You didn’t have to buy this for me, Garrett,” she said, with a quick glance up at him. “I appreciate it, but it wasn’t necessary.”

“I know that. I wanted to.”

“Well, I love it.” She turned her head to study the portrait. “Whenever I look at it, I’ll think of today and what a lovely time I had. I’ll remember the ocean, the ice cream, the tide pools, the shops…”

She came to a stop and the people on the sidewalk moved past them like water rushing around a rock in a fast moving stream. She looked at him, reached up and cupped his cheek in her palm. He felt her touch all the way to his bones.

Her blue eyes shone with the glitter of promises when she said, “And I’ll remember you most of all.”

He knew with a soul-deep certainty that he’d never forget her, either.

Five

Decker King looked more like a beach bum than a successful businessman. And that was just how he liked it.

Garrett only shook his head while Decker flirted like crazy with Alex. Decker wore board shorts, flip flops and a T-shirt that read, Do it With a King.

And in smaller letters, King’s Kustom Krafts.

The man might be annoying, but his company built the best luxury pleasure crafts in the world. His specialty was the classic, 1940s style wooden powerboats. Decker had customers all over the world sitting on waiting lists for one of his launches.

“You sure you want Garrett to take you out?” Decker was saying, giving Alex a smile meant to seduce.

“Yeah,” Garrett interrupted. “She’s sure.”

Decker glanced at him and smirked. “Okay, then. My personal boat is moored at the dock out back.” He tossed the keys to Garrett. “Don’t scratch it.”

“Thank you, Decker,” Alex said with a smile as Garrett grabbed her hand and headed for the dock.

“My pleasure, Alex,” he called back as she was hustled away. “Anytime you get tired of my dull cousin, just call me!”

“I don’t think you’re dull,” Alex said on a laugh, her hand tightening around his.

“Decker thinks anyone with a regular job is dull. He’s talented but he’s also a flake.”

“But he runs this business…”

“Yeah, like I said, talented. He’s like a savant.”

Alex laughed again as they stepped out into the sunlight, leaving the airy boat-building warehouse behind. “Oh, come on. He’s very sweet.”

“All women like Decker.” Garrett looked down at her and smiled. “None of the cousins have figured out why, yet.”

“None of you? How many cousins do you have?”

“I can’t count that high,” he said with a half laugh. “We’re all over California. Like a biblical plague.”

She laughed and Garrett let the sound ripple over him like sunlight on the water.

“Must be nice, having that much family.”

“It can be,” he admitted. “It can also be a pain in the ass from time to time.”

They stopped at the end of the dock, and Garrett helped her into the sleek boat waiting for them. He untied the rope, tossed it aside then jumped in beside her. The wood planks of the hull gleamed a dark red-brown from layers of varnish and careful polishing. The red leather bench seats were soft and the engine, when Garrett fired it up, sounded like the purr of a mighty beast.

Alex laughed in delight and Garrett couldn’t help grinning in response. In a few minutes, he was out of the harbor and headed for open water.

“I love this boat,” she shouted over the engine noise. “It’s like the ones in that Indiana Jones movie!”

“I love that you know that!” He grinned and gunned the engine harder, bringing the bow up to slap at the water as they careened across the surface.

When they were far enough out that Garrett was convinced that Alex was perfectly safe, he eased back on the throttle. The roar of the engine became a vibrating purr as the sleek powerboat shifted from a wild run into a lazy prowl.