Page 84 of Austen

But he’d lost Phoenix.

He’d swum toward the dock and hung out there, watching as the fishing boat docked and officials boarded, and had turned into a prune by the time Austen and Declan left the boat under official escort.Working his way closer to shore, he’d watched as they disappeared into the immigration building.

It was during that surveillance that a hand had touched his back.He’d jerked, whirled around, and Phoenix had treaded water, her dark hair plastered to her head, her gray-green eyes shiny.

“I can’t believe you came in after me.”

He’d wanted to say, “Yeah.Yeah, I did.Because, well, you’re just crazy enough to do something that could get yourself killed.Or thrown into prison.And maybe I couldn’t bear the thought of that, although I don’t know why.”

But instead his stupid mouth had said, “Don’t get excited, honey.I just wanted to make sure you weren’t gonna betray us.”

“Oh.”Her smile had vanished as her mouth turned into a grim line.“No, Steinbeck, we’re in this together.At least until we can get off this island, right?”

Aw,she’d been nicer than he was.So he’d nodded, grunted, and given her a sitrep.They’d sat in the water and watched the immigration center while she talked through possible scenarios.Like getting to the airfield, appropriating a plane, and escaping Cuban air space.Although, he wasn’t a pilot, so he hadn’t known how she’d planned to accomplish that until she’d said, “I know how to fly.”

Which had seeded all sorts of ideas.Then she’d scanned the harbor and pointed out a couple of boats that looked capable of taking them out of the harbor and the ninety miles to Key West.

Meanwhile, a car had pulled up, and someone had gotten out and shaken Declan’s hand.Austen had seemed just fine as they’d gotten into the SUV and driven away.And that’s when he’d said, “Let’s go.”

“Where are we going?”

“Wherever that black car is going.It looks like it has embassy plates, so my guess is the US embassy.”

“Oh, perfect.Because it’s not enough that the Cuban police will find us—we’re gonna let the Americans grab hold of us too,” she’d said, looking at him.“For you, that’s not a problem.”

He’d worked his way over to a ladder in the water.“What, are you wanted in America too?”

She’d sighed.“Not exactly.But I don’t like people asking questions.And sure, I have contacts that could probably wheedle me out of custody, but...I just like to stay below the radar.”

He’d landed on the dock, and she came up behind him, still dressed in her whites, which did a great job of outlining her body.

“That should start with us getting a change of clothes,” he’d said.

“Will that do?”she’d said as she pointed to a nearby trawler.A pair of pants and a T-shirt hung from the line, small enough to fit her.

“That’ll work for you,” he’d said.

“Calm down,” she’d said.“It looks like a liveaboard.We’ll go shopping.”

His clothes plastered to his body, he’d hustled down to the trawler.It looked recently docked, so maybe the owners were inside sleeping.Or had gone ashore.She’d hopped onto the deck, walked over to the clothes, and grabbed them.Then she’d stuck her head into the cabin area, motioned to him.He’d sneaked inside too.

Small space, dark.A single bench with a table.Small kitchen.A coffeepot sitting in the sink, a stained, chipped mug next to it.Tackle and nets and fishing rods cluttering the table and bench.Clearly they’d hopped aboard a big-game fishing boat, probably in from that day’s charter.

“I found some clothes that might fit you,” Phoenix had said.She’d held up a men’s Speedo, grinned.

“Oh, you’re hilarious,” he’d said.But he’d spotted a pair of black cargo pants, held them up.“Maybe a little baggy, but they’ll do.”

He’d started to slip off his pants, but looked at Phoenix.Circled his finger in the air.

“Oh my, you’re precious.”She’d rolled her eyes, then headed into the back cabin, shut the door.

He’d changed into the pants and found a black T-shirt as well.He’d left his clothes in exchange and was scanning the harbor from the steps of the boat when she emerged.

Phoenix simply had a way of commanding the room.Sure, she could make herself invisible when she wanted to, but now that he was aware of her, he couldn’t imagine not seeing her if she entered his airspace.With her short dark hair, big gray-green eyes, she possessed a fierceness that had once prompted him to call her Mighty Mouse, and he hadn’t been wrong.She was smart, fast, tough.But she also could laugh and get under his skin, and for a second, he’d been back in Krakow, kissing her.And then again in Mariposa, only two months ago, right before she’d saved his life.Or gotten him nearly killed, depending on whose side of the story he stood on.

So yeah, she’d gotten inside him just a little bit.

But she could also betray him any second, so maybe he’d needed a good old cold shower.

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