Chapter 11

"I like Nat and Leo," Alexis said as they stepped onto the sandy beach.

"You'd have had a different opinion of Leo if you'd met him a few years ago," Seb said, as they crossed the white sand to the water. "He was a ruthless killer, and while I'm sure his skill set hasn't changed, I'd have to agree the man has."

"He's happy." The man smiled every time he looked at Nat, and the smile grew wider as he watched his kids.

Alexis was certain he was just as lethal now as he had been when he'd worked with Seb. He had too much to lose. If he needed to protect his wife and children, he would want to be prepared.

She wouldn't be surprised if he'd picked up some fresh skills. Leo struck her as a man who would do anything to keep his wife and children safe.

Alexis stopped, kicked off her sandals, and dug her toes into the warm sand. She turned her face up to catch the last rays of sunshine. If she ignored the reason they were on the island, she would have to say she was happy.

Most of it had to do with Seb. She couldn't deny that she not only felt comfortable with him, she was attracted to the man. He was hot as sin, kind, and had a great sense of humor. And he was probably a great kisser.

They were stuck together on a semi-deserted island, but the likelihood of her finding out his kissing skills was as low as getting attacked by a shark. One in three point seven million.

For reasons Finlay had been unable to ferret out, Seb was set on a single lifestyle and short-term relationships. Alexis would have to be content with being friends.

"According to Javier, Leo has been moving away from supplying men to supplying information." Seb took her hand and intertwined his fingers with hers, leading her to the water's edge. "It's a shrewd move. His enemies have secrets. They'd hesitate to touch him or his family if they thought he'd release them to the world."

Alexis looked at the Grantham's sailboat, now moored at the island's dock. "I trust Nat and Leo, but I'm glad you moved the boat."

"It's Xenia I don't trust," Seb said as he led her onto the dock. "There was more to their conversation than her concern for the safety of the family. If we need to leave the island in a hurry, we're prepared."

Alexis agreed with Seb. She was certain there was more going on with Leo's sister than concern the location of the island had been compromised. Her behavior reminded Alexis of an animal backed into a corner. She was scared.

Seb stopped at the end of the dock. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and drew her close. They looked out beyond the cove. Time paused to paint the world in a symphony of bold reds and yellows that spilled into the tranquil waters as the sun dipped below the horizon.

"Alexis."

She turned. Her eyes met his, and she stared, as if hypnotized.

Her pulse raced as Seb bent his head. His lips touched hers, a whisper of a kiss. He pulled her close. With exquisite tenderness, his mouth moved over hers, making her moan.

Seb chuckled and nipped the top of her ear. His tongue followed its curve, and she shivered in response. He wrapped her ponytail around his hand, tilting her head back.

Goose bumps prickled her skin as Seb's calloused thumb slid her sundress strap off her shoulder. When he kissed her shoulder, desire shot through her. As he feathered kisses up the length of her neck, she moaned again.

Alexis wrapped her arms around Seb's neck. He pressed her body against his. Her toes barely touched the dock's rough wood as his lips covered hers, claiming them.

His tongue forced her lips apart, and with a lazy, sensuous movement, entered her mouth. Her body exploded at the deep, hungry exploration as her tongue entwined with his. Alexis lost herself in his embrace.

Seb slowly withdrew his lips and pressed his forehead against hers. He smiled. "We'll be late for dinner if I don't show some restraint."

He took her hand in his, and they retraced their steps. While she slipped on her sandals, he stopped and waited. Then they walked back to the house in comfortable silence.

"I contacted Javier on the satellite phone to update him," Seb said, as they crossed the landscaped area in front of the house. The children's faces pressed against the living room window, watching for them.

"Has he heard from Agent Auclair?" Alexis asked, worried that his fate had mirrored the real Agent Lane's.

"Their department is in a panic. His boss swears the order for Auclair to fly out to LA came from higher up. If it did, they covered their tracks well."

The front door burst open and the two kids, followed by Charlie, raced toward them. If Seb had more to share, it would need to wait.

The supper was delicious, and the company was wonderful, except for Xenia. Alexis redirected most of the personal questions Xenia asked into a discussion of her work and stories which she knew the children would find amusing. Seb deftly sidestepped her questions and Leo occasionally reminded his sister they were relaxing over dinner, not conducting an interrogation.

Galena and Ruslan had eaten with them. Nat considered them family, and they'd proudly told Alexis they were the children's godparents. Yuri and Layla adored the older couple.

Nat's mother was from the south of Spain and couldn't tolerate the Russian cold. She preferred to spend winter cruising the Mediterranean on their yacht. Because her father hadn't allowed Nat to accompany her, Galena and Ruslan had brought her up.

"How do you stay in touch with the outside world?" Alexis asked Leo as she sipped her second cup of coffee, deliberately ignoring Xenia.

Ruslan had declared it was his turn to put the children to bed. Nat and Galena had insisted they didn't need help with the dishes. Xenia stared at Alexis from across the table.

"An undersea cable runs close to the island. It was one reason I chose the place," he said and took a sip of his coffee. "I found a crew who used a spur off the main line to run a cable to the island."

"That must have been complicated."

And expensive. Alexis was certain he'd recruited the crew himself and paid them for their silence. Anyone who knew the line existed could locate the island.

Leo shrugged and set his cup down. "I found someone who could make it happen. I'll do anything to keep my family safe."

Alexis didn't miss the pointed look he gave Xenia. Neither did Seb.

"Is there a computer I could use? Since I left the Canary Islands, I only glanced at my emails a few times. I should make sure there isn't anything urgent." She also wanted to check Dr. Butler's website, where he posted his teaching schedule, assignments, and updates on his research. Maybe she'd learn something that would help them.

"You can use your cell phone. Give me your phone and I'll type in the Wi-Fi password." Leo stuck out his hand.

Alexis slipped the cell phone out of the sundress's pocket and handed it to him. The other pocket held the small waterproof bag she'd placed the USB drive in. She wasn't willing to leave it in their room.

"Let's go to the living room," Leo said, standing. He passed her the cell phone. "I discovered a new brandy you'll enjoy."

That would mean spending more time with Xenia. No, thank you.

"I should check and see if the ladies need help with the dishes first." Alexis stood and looked down at the slice of Key Lime on the plate beside her.

Ruslan had saved her the last piece for a bedtime snack. He'd left two forks and had told Seb he may get lucky tonight as he led the children out of the dining room.

"I'll take this with me and bring it up to our room." Seb smiled wryly as he picked up the plate and forks. He knew she was afraid Xenia would eat the pie.

"Thanks," Alexis said and quickly left the dining room. She didn't miss Xenia's smirk.

"She's a spoiled brat." Nat's voice carried into the hallway leading to the kitchen. "She's becoming more and more defiant."

Alexis stopped. They were discussing Xenia. She crept closer to the kitchen's entrance to hear more clearly.

"I'm not disagreeing, but maybe she feels she's looking out for the family," Galena said.

"Her family or her lover?" Nat's voice was strained. "I don't trust her."

"You don't know for sure she's sleeping with the man." Galena admonished her.

"She's sleeping with him," Nat said, sure of herself.

"Leo should tell them."

"He will. Once he works out a plan to get Alexis safely to Miami." Alexis heard Nat sigh. "Xenia is right. Leo's decision puts us all at risk, but we will not turn away friends. She should understand that."

Alexis's stomach twisted. They couldn't stay if she was putting Nat and her family in danger, but she couldn't question Nat without confessing to eavesdropping. She'd share what she heard with Seb, and they'd work out a way to discover why Xenia felt they'd placed the family in danger.

There was a pause in their conversation. Alexis could hear a sink filling with water. She stepped into the kitchen. "I thought I'd see if you needed any help."

"You mean you're escaping Xenia." Nat laughed and turned to her. "She is a bitch at the best of times. I should have asked you to join us. One last pot and then we'll join the men for a brandy."

"I'll pass." Alexis suppressed a yawn. "Leo gave me the Wi-Fi password. I'm going to check my emails and go to bed."

"Nat told me everything you've been through," Galena said, a motherly tone to her voice. "You're safe here. Sleep as long as you like. We'll keep the children from waking you up."

"Thank you. See you in the morning," Alexis said and left.

She heard Seb and Leo laughing as she passed the living room. She hoped Seb wouldn't spend the night drinking with his friend. They needed to discuss what she'd overheard.

A flicker of movement caught her eye as Alexis reached the top of the stairs. She froze. The door across from her room wasn't closed completely. Nat had said it was another guest bedroom. She hadn't mentioned there were other guests.

Alexis continued down the hall to their room. Feeling foolish, she pressed her eye against the crack between the door and the jamb. Nat had warned her the door had shifted and Leo had yet to get around to repairing or replacing the door. Alexis was glad he hadn't. She inhaled quiet, shallow breaths, not willing to give herself away.

She didn't have to wait long before the door opened and Xenia exited the room. Alexis turned and walked to the duffle bag she'd set on the floor beside the bed. It only took a glance to see Xenia had gone through it.

Alexis walked over to the dresser along one wall. She kneeled and slid her arm between the back of the dresser and the wall.

"In my professional opinion, that's not the best place to hide things," Seb said, as he walked into the bedroom.

Alexis bumped her head against the wall. "Ouch. You startled me."

"Don't move," Seb said as he strode toward her and pulled the dresser away from the wall.

"It's a good thing Xenia didn't know that," Alexis said as she withdrew the dry bag with the algae sample from its hiding place.

"This explains why she passed up the brandy and a chance to grill me more," Seb said, as he helped her up.

"She was as subtle about going through our things as she was interrogating us at the supper table." Alexis dropped the dry bag in her pocket with the USB drive. She pulled out her cell phone and opened up her emails. "Xenia's a problem. I overheard Nat and Galena talking about her in the kitchen."

Alexis checked her emails as she filled Seb in. When she finished, he sent a quick text to Javier.

"We have another problem." Alexis said as she scrolled down Dr. Butler's website's homepage. A big problem. "He's speaking at a conference in France five days from today. I wonder if he's delivering a new sample?"

"I'll have Javier check out his travel plans." Seb was already tapping on his cell phone. He placed the phone on the dresser and plucked her cell phone out of her hands.

"Hey." Alexis reached out to grab it, but he held it over his head.

"We need sleep. We'll work out a plan tomorrow." He set the phone beside his and grabbed a pillow off the bed. "I'll take the floor."

"That's ridiculous," Alexis said, snatching up the pillow, throwing it back on the bed. "We both need sleep. The bed is enormous. We'll share."

There was no way Alexis was going to let Seb sleep on the floor. He needed rest as much as she did. Picking up the duffle bag, she set it on her side of the bed while she dug through it.

Alexis looked up.

"Problem?" Seb asked. He'd stripped down to a pair of boxers.

"That's what you wear to bed?"

"No." He grinned as he slid the duffle bag to his side of the bed. "I usually wear nothing."

He dug through the duffle bag and pulled out a lacey, sheer nightgown. "I'd always pegged Daphney as a practical woman."

Alexis's cheeks burned as she stared at the nightgown. She was not wearing that to bed. She didn't even own anything like that. Other than the pair of flannel pajamas with frolicking penguins her mother had given her for Christmas, her bedtime wardrobe consisted of sweats and tank tops.

Seb laughed and set the bag on the bench at the foot of the bed. He dug into it and pulled out a t-shirt.

"You might find this more comfortable." The t-shirt dangled off a finger.

"Thank you," Alexis said, grabbing the t-shirt.

Turning her back to him, she untied the sundress straps before slipping the t-shirt over her head. She tugged the dress down and stepped out of the puddled fabric before turning to face him.

Seb was already in bed.

"You're enjoying this," Alexis said as she hung the dress in the closet.

"Immensely," he replied and pulled back the bedsheets on her side of the bed.

She slipped into bed and lay on her side, close to the bed's edge. Seb turned off the lamp on the night table.

Alexis lay still, painfully aware of Seb in nothing but his boxers beside her.

Count sheep. By the time she got to one hundred, she'd be fast asleep. Godzilla could be lying beside her and she'd never know it.

"Alexis."

"Yes," she said. Seb flipped her onto her stomach.

"Relax and go to sleep," he whispered into her ear.

A shiver ran through her as Seb's fingers skimmed the nape of her neck, pushing her hair off her shoulders. His thumbs kneaded the tight muscles. It was ecstasy, and Alexis sank further into the bed. She felt herself drift off.