His Stolen Bride

“My wedding guests?”

“Technically, I would say they were Vern’s wedding guests. They seemed to know him, and they were joking about his relationship with Gracie. I realized I couldn’t in good conscience let you marry him, so I took the opportunity and grabbed you.”

She was silent for a moment. “So this isn’t so much crime as altruism.”

“Yes. The easiest thing for me would have been to walk away.”

“You can still walk away.”

“We’re on a boat.”

“Swim away, then. Or drop me off onshore and drive away—motor away? Float away? What do you call it?”

“Navigate away. And no, I’m not dropping you off onshore.” He made a show of looking her up and down, enjoying the view far too much. “You’re not dressed, for one thing.”

“I’ll put my wedding dress back on. It might be uncomfortable, but it’s better than staying here.”

“I’d get thrown in jail,” he said.

“Darn right. But that’s going to happen anyway.”

“Not for a few hours.” And hopefully not ever, although Jackson’s worry factor was steadily rising.

“How long until we get there?” she asked.

“Get where?”

“To the secret location, wherever it is you’re taking me. How long until we stop navigating?”

“Why?”

“Because I’m hungry.”

“Oh, now you’re hungry. Well, you’re going to have to wait.”

“I can eat while you navigate.”

“I’m not letting go of you.”

“I’m not going to jump.”

“That’s what I thought last time.”

“We’re way too far from shore.”

“Yeah, but I’m sure you’ve got another brilliant plan in mind already. Sabotage the engine, harpoon me from behind.”

“You have harpoons on board?”

“Give me strength,” he muttered.

She leaned close to him. “Am I annoying you? Frustrating you?”

“Yes on both counts.”

Her argumentative nature was annoying, but his frustration came from a whole other place. She was stimulating and exciting. She was a beautiful, feisty, apparently complex and intelligent woman, and he was battling hard against his sexual attraction to her. He didn’t want to be rushing from a crime scene with her as his captive, contemplating the best way to stay out of jail. He wanted to be on a date with her, somewhere great in the city, contemplating how best to get her into his bed.

“There’s a simple solution,” she told him.

It took a second for him to get his brain back on track. “Let you go?” he guessed.

“Bingo.”

“Not until we meet up with Mac tomorrow.”

“You’ll let me go then?”

He knew he was being cornered, but there really was no choice. He could only hope Mac could come up with definitive proof by morning.

“Yes,” said Jackson.

Crista’s mouth curved into a dazzling smile. They hit a swell, and she pressed against him. Her curves were soft, and her scent was fresh. For a moment the risk of jail seemed almost worth it.

* * *

When Crista awoke, she was disoriented. It took a few seconds to realize the warm body beside her wasn’t Vern. She was in bed with someone bigger, harder, with a deeper breathing pattern and an earthier scent. And the bed was moving beneath them.

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