Page 24 of A Real Good Bad Thing

Somehow, I managed to untangle myself. We were both breathless, and her eyes were glossy with desire. My hair had to be a wild mess from her hands in it, and I liked it.

I exhaled deeply and rubbed a hand across my jaw, trying to reset my mind. “So now that I’ve nearly ripped off your clothes, and made you come by a beach, maybe you could tell me your real name.”

“You don’t think it’s Ariel?” she asked as she bent down for her dress and tugged it on over her head. Funny thing. I still wanted her just as badly.

But I was done withthisgame. “I don’t. But I’d love to know what to call you…in bed.”

Ha. There. If she wanted to play dirty games, I would too.

“Well, since you put it that way,” she said, grinning, “I guess I can finally share it with you since you’ve passed enough tests now to earn it.”

“So you have been testing me?”

Her smile burned off, replaced by a toughness, a strength. One that said she didn’t feel bad at all for giving me a fake name. “I’m a thirty-two-year-old woman living in a world where anyone can be burned online. You’re a man with one name only who I just met. So, no, I’m not Ariel, but my business is Ariel’s Island Eco-Adventure Tours.”

Why did that sound familiar? Ah, of course. That was the name on the poster I’d spied the night before.

“I studied marine biology in college so I could lead dives and snorkel trips,” she continued. “I live in Miami, but I’ve been rebuilding my business here and in other places—in fact, I have a tour here next week. I’m Ruby Ashley, and it is a pleasure to officially meet you.”

Somehow, I didn’t react to the terribly familiar name. I was stony-faced, but oh hell, did I know who she was. My file on Eli contained the names of all his close associates and his family, including his stepchildren. Ruby—that was who she was to him.

As I processed this, she was looking at me, clearly waiting for me to do the same and spill my bio. “Your turn,” she prompted.

“Jake Hawkins. Former Army intelligence. Now I run a recovery business in Key Largo.”

Her lips curved up curiously, perhaps a touch intrigued that we were both Floridians. “You’re not far away from me.”

“No. I’m not at all,” I said crisply. I didn’t want to get into the implications of hometown proximity. “Let’s get you lunch.”

“What’s a recovery business?” she asked as we crossed the sand to the winding path along the beach. “Like data recovery?”

“Sort of.” I always tried to stay as close to the truth as possible.

“Are we talkingIT CrowdorMission: Impossible?”

I laughed at the question, despite how far we were in the danger zone. “Definitely the first one.” That was definitely a lie, but besides being safer, it was more plausible, and she nodded.

“Tell me more about marine biology,” I continued. “Are we talkingFlipperor—”

“Please don’t sayJaws. That movie was so unfair to the great white.”

“You rooted for the shark, didn’t you?”

She held up her thumb and forefinger an inch apart. “Maybe a little bit.”

I felt guilty for enjoying her company so much. Because this lunch date wasn’t a date. It was a mission.

If I was going to infiltrate Eli Thompson’s life, his stepdaughter might be the entry I needed.

12

THE SECRET INGREDIENT

Ruby

A handful of gulls hovered over the patio of The Coconut Iguana, squawking for our leftovers.

They were out of luck at our table. Jake had devoured his tacos. He pointed to the empty plate as I returned from the ladies’ room. “Best I’ve ever had.”

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