Part 12 (1/2)
”If you ask me, there's something down there that someone's trying to hide,” Landon grinned. ”d.a.m.n, we're good.”
”I see a diving trip in our near future,” Kurt said. ”I'll get the equipment together and tanks aired up. Tomorrow should be a good day to go out, but we need to keep this low key. It needs to look like we are just out enjoying the harbor. I'll bring some poles, and maybe we'll catch dinner while we're at it.”
”Sounds good,” Royce said, looking at his watch. ”Sean, what is Joanna's ETA?
”I just got a text saying she's in town and waiting for you at the market. She said she needs new shoes,” Sean grinned. ”Good luck with that.”
Royce groaned. Joanna could shop for hours. She made him crazy... picking up things to purchase, carrying them around, and then putting them back for one reason or another.
The other men shook their head in sympathy.
”Can you leave these with me, Landon?” Sean asked. ”I want to memorize the details before we go out into the harbor tomorrow.”
”Sure, I had copies made this morning, and we've actually had one permanently mounted so we can hang it in Kurt's shop.”
”Ok, we need to get started gathering enough gear for tomorrow. Let's plan to leave from Shem Creek at nine o'clock in the morning,” Kurt said as he headed toward the door.
”Kurt,” Royce said, looking rather serious, ”You may want to get the kids out of town, sooner-rather-than-later. I'd like to see Becki leave as well. It could get rough around here.”
”Agreed, I'm not sure I can get Becki to go, but I'll do my best,” Kurt a.s.sured Royce.
”Maybe we should take the decision out of her hands,” Royce suggested.
”Right, have you ever seen a tiger caught by its tail?” Landon asked. ”That's one fight none of us can win.”
Royce grimaced, ”Stubborn, woman.”
”Yes, and that's putting it mildly,” Landon agreed. ”But, she's our stubborn woman, and if you are just looking for a diversion, you need to look elsewhere,” he warned as yellow specks flashed in his eyes.
Royce got the message loud and clear.
”That's not the case, trust me,” he a.s.sured her champions.
”We are,” Kurt said. ”Make sure we don't end up regretting it.”
With that final warning, the two men took their leave.
Royce didn't blame Kurt and Landon for being cautious. In fact, he was glad Becki had the two men to watch over her. But, she was his responsibility now, and he didn't want her around with Vamps, Witches, and Werewolves converging on the City.
ART would soon wrap up their mission in Charleston. The team would then relocate to the next projected recovery site, and then the next. The missing collection was a.s.sumed to be comprised of seven coins. According to the latest intelligence reports; Rome, Las Vegas, and Kentucky were being considered as possible sites.
If Royce's team didn't get this situation under control soon, the council would be sending someone to watch over their shoulders. Royce hoped the Council would keep their distance for the time being.
Royce grabbed his shades and cell phone off the desk. It was time to go meet Joanna. d.a.m.n he had missed her. Hopefully, she had finished with her shopping because Royce definitely needed a drink.
CHAPTER SIX.
As Becki crossed the bridge into downtown Charleston, she was reminded, once again, of all the reasons why she loved this City. The water...the breeze...the bridges...the harbor; this was her ”happy place”. She had fallen in love with Charleston as a child while vacationing here with her family.
The day was perfect with beautiful blue skies, like a gift from Heaven after the storm had pa.s.sed. Sleep would not come after Royce had gone this morning. Her mind was all jumbled with thoughts.
Royce had made it clear that he wanted to be the only man in her life. He wanted to be the one to take her out to dinner, walk on the beach, and-- well other things. He had been so s.e.xy this morning, whispering those things in her ear as he had her pressed up against the kitchen counter. Whew! She had better concentrate on her driving.
The first thing on her agenda this morning was a walk through Waterfront Park. Then she would make a quick pa.s.s through the Market on her way to pick up candy for the girls from the candy shop on the corner. After that little ch.o.r.e was out of the way, she would squeeze in a quick trip to Victoria's Secret.
The girls were planning a sleep-over tonight and had given her a list of things they needed from the candy shop. Sugar, of course, was the key element to a successful sleep over. In fact, sugar was the key element to the success of any day. Becki had already decided to treat herself to a caramel apple. Her mouth watered just thinking about a great big granny smith apple smothered with caramel and crushed peanuts. Yummmm! They tasted so wonderful, they should be illegal.
Becki zipped into an open parking s.p.a.ce and headed out to enjoy a short walk through Waterfront Park. Children were already splas.h.i.+ng in the fountain. She wished she could join them for a minute, but it was impossible today. She and the cousins would have to plan a girlsday-out soon. They could play in the water, hang out on the swings at the pier, and watch the dolphins in the harbor.
Becki enjoyed the sea breeze as she made her way toward Savannah's Candy Kitchen via the Market, of course. Charleston City Market had changed over the years; initially it had been the domain of vegetable, fish and meat vendors. Now it was filled with unique shops, a must see for tourists. The Market had survived several generations of vendors and was still the best place to buy sweet gra.s.s baskets.
Becki loved to watch the weavers scattered throughout the market as they worked on their baskets; many of them personally harvested their gra.s.s in the Lowcountry marshes. There was no way she would want that job considering snakes and other critters lurked out in the marsh.
During the past few years, the Market had undergone extensive renovation. Among the many changes, the most notable were the public restrooms and air conditioned areas that had been added. Although it was nice to escape the sometimes oppressive summer heat, a part of her hated to see it modernized to such a degree. In some ways it seemed to over commercialize a historic landmark.
Becki meandered from one section of the market to another browsing through jewelry, gla.s.sware, and art. She spotted a framed photograph that would fit perfectly in her living room. The artist had captured the Cooper River Bridge at sunset. The elegant lines of symmetry formed by ma.s.sive cables as they stood against a background of color were breathtaking. As she moved nearer to the masterpiece, she heard a voice nearby shout a familiar name.
”Royce!” Joanna squealed and as she spotted her big brother, her hero, her larger-than-life champion. Boy, was he in trouble for getting himself captured.
Royce smiled and threw his arms wide open as she ran towards him. He stood watching, waiting for her to jump into his arms the way she had been doing ever since she was a child. There was nothing child-like about the woman running toward him. He wondered where the time had gone. His baby sister had somehow morphed into this beautiful woman.
Becki scanned the crowd and felt her heart drop to her knees. Royce... her Royce! She was unable to tear her eyes away as he threw his arms open wide, only to wrap them tightly around the raven-haired b.i.t.c.h who had launched herself solidly into his arms. Not only did he catch her mid-air, he hugged her tightly spinning her around in circles!
Becki could not believe her eyes. This was the same man who had apologized for being a jerk and had brought her flowers? The kind and considerate man who had stayed with her through the storm and acted like a perfect gentlemen? The one who had cooked her breakfast and told her that he didn't want her to be with anyone else? The jacka.s.s twirling in circles with a death-grip on some big-busted bimbo was the man she had thought was different...trustworthy? Becki wanted to flee from the scene before her, but she seemed to be rooted to the spot.
Maybe she should march right up to the happy couple and introduce herself as the woman Royce had spent the night with! She wondered how the b.i.t.c.h in zebra-print, peep-toe pumps would feel about that little tidbit of information. Clearly, Royce was a far cry from the white knight she had thought him to be.
Becki tried to ignore the burning pain in her heart. She was determined not to shed one more tear- ever again- on white knights that turned out to be nothing but dark lords in disguise.
Das.h.i.+ng a tear from her eye, she concentrated on breathing slow and steady. In and out, keep your head up. In and out, you will survive this. In and out, you should have known better!
Becki kept her distance, ducking behind vendor cases when necessary, and continued to watch Royce with his woman. They were touching each other constantly as if they couldn't keep their hands off of one another. His girlfriend must have been out of town, which would explain why he had time to spend with her over the last few days. She didn't dare get close enough to the couple to hear what they were saying, but she couldn't seem to tear herself away from the scene unfolding in front of her eyes.
”So, have I missed anything, brat?” Royce asked with a grin. He kept an arm wrapped around his little sister as they strolled through the market. It was so good to see her.
”Not much really,” Joanna answered. ”But we're not going to talk about me right now.”
Here it comes. Royce braced himself for Joanna's wrath.
”What the h.e.l.l happened out there Royce? I couldn't believe it when you disappeared! Dad kept insisting you would surface soon. He forbade Mom or me to use our magic to find you. He said it wasn't worth the risk. He was afraid that we might give away your position and put you in greater danger. Needless to say, Mom wasn't too happy with that decision.”
”I can imagine,” Royce commiserated.
Joanna's eyes sparkled with mirth as she added, ”He had to buy her a new condo and let her totally redecorate it to keep her occupied.”
Royce laughed, ”He'll probably send me the bill.”