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He blinked in surprise. “Excuse me? When I have the disk, I clear my name and put some major scumbags in prison. You, sweetheart, get to keep breathing.”
“I told you not to call me sweetheart.” She felt his gaze go to the front of her wet T-shirt. More specifically to her breasts poking against the thin fabric of her bra and the wet fabric.
She crossed her arms over her chest and he had the good grace to look sheepish as he raised his eyes to her face again.
“I’m sorry. What did you say?” he asked, eyes hooded.
She glared at him, knowing darn well he’d heard her.
“So where are your paintings?” he asked.
She gave him a like-I’m-just-going-to-tell-you look.
“Fine. Want to take your chances without me, sweetheart? Up to you. I’ll track down your paintings without you since I’m betting you’ll be swimming with the sharks by midnight.”
“Stop calling me sweetheart and I’ll consider your offer.”
He raised a brow. “My offer?”
It was simple enough. Even if he was lying, he would keep her alive until they found the disk. If he was telling the truth, once she knew which painting Simon Renton had hid the disk in all she had to do was find it first and get it to the police….
His gaze lazily caressed her face, a grin tugging at his lips. He had a pretty great mouth on him, too, she noticed. “First, let’s discuss my cover. I’m your boyfriend.”
“No way.”
He didn’t seem to hear her. “I got a ride out to t
he island to meet you here.” He reached into the boat and brought out a duffel bag reminding her of Blossom’s duffel. “We’re lovers just having a nice vacation.”
His grin made her stomach flip-flop. “I told you the painting isn’t on the island.”
“I’d like to make sure myself. I’m from Missouri, you know, the Show Me State?”
So that’s why they were going back to the villa. “Whatever. Don’t believe me. What about the person who wants me dead?”
“I’ll take care of that, as well.”
She eyed him. “Like you did Zeke?” She saw at once that she’d hit a sore spot.
“Zeke was my friend. I don’t know what the hell happened, what made him do what he did.” Landry’s eyes darkened. “But do me a favor, don’t bring him up unless you want to make me mad, okay, sweet—” He caught himself. “Okay?”
She nodded.
They stood glaring at each other for a long moment, the water rising around them. Then he said, “Can we go meet your island mates now, darlin’?” Before she could protest, he added, “I can’t call you Willa. I have to call you something and we are lovers.” That wicked grin again.
She wanted to wipe it off his face. But instead, she stalked past him. He grabbed her arm and spun her around to face him.
“You should let me go first. Just in case we run into one of your neighbors, the one with the gun,” he said with a lift of his brow. “If that’s all right with you, darlin’.”
CHAPTER NINE
Willa groaned as she stared at his arrogant backside. She was sure she heard him chuckle and hated him all the more as she followed him through the trees and underbrush.
It was cool in the trees. She felt flushed. From the sun. From being around this impossible man. But if this stupid disk would get her life back, she would find it. What choice did she have but let Landry Jones accompany her? He knew which painting the disk was hidden in. She didn’t. At least not yet.
The quiet in the trees unnerved her. Was the person who’d shot at her waiting nearby, planning to finish the job this time? More to the point, would Landry Jones save her again?
“Are you really?” she asked as she quickened her step so she was right behind his broad back.
