trouble.â His gaze slid to hers, and for an insane moment he thought he read more than anger in her stare. But that was crazy. As far as he knew, she hated him, thought he was a traitor to Daddyâs precious company. She looked away, but not before he recognized female interest for what it was.
âOkay, letâs do it.â She released the anchor, and the boat settled, rolling with the tide but no longer listing.
Adam, still wondering about her reaction, worked on the inflatable life raft and loaded it with supplies.
âGet your things,â he ordered when the raft was pumped up.
While she climbed to the lower cabin, he hurried back to the bridge and made a quick call to the Coast Guard. Sheâd be furious with him, but so be it, he thought, as he loaded his pockets with matches, flares and a first-aid kit he found in a cupboard beneath the radio.
Within minutes they were both in the life raft. Leaning his back into the oars, Adam rowed for shore. Marnie reached for the second set of oars, but he shook his head. The air was still cold, the wind still gusting, and he felt an unlikely sense of chivalry. âI can handle this. Relax.â
âNo reason,â she said, her back stiffening as she threw her weight into the task.
Adam didnât argue with her. If she thought she was helping, fine. He wasnât up to another argument. Rowing backward, he watched her arms strain, the muscles of her back move fluidly. She wasnât a wimp by any stretch of the imagination, and he grudgingly admired her gameness. The Marnie Lee, lights blazing, was stark against the dark sky. They rowed without speaking; only the sound of the waves and the occasional burst of wind disturbed the silence as they approached the beach.
Adam dropped his oars, climbed over the side and slid into the chest-deep icy water. Towing the raft inland, he said, âI radioed the Coast Guard.â
She snapped her head around. âYou did what? â
âI didnât think youâd want your father to worry, and the Guard needs to know about the Marnie Lee. â
âYou had no right!â she cried, outraged.
âProbably not. And itâs not that I care a lick about yourdad. I just thought, from the looks of things, you wouldnât want him sending the cavalry after you. Heyâstopâyou donât have toââ
But Marnie slid into the frigid sea and together they pulled the raft onto the beach.
âAnyone ever call you stubborn?â
She laughed a little, even though she was shivering.
Adam sized her up and realized heâd never really known her in the few years theyâd worked together. âWhat is it with you, anyway, Montgomery? Youâve got a helluva chip on your shoulder.â
âIsnât that a little like the pot calling the kettle black?â she threw back, her teeth chattering, as the two of them dragged the raft high onto the sand, away from the tide.
âYeah, but I didnât grow up in the lap of luxury.â
âWell, I did!â she replied, tossing her wet hair out of her eyes and reaching for her bags. âAnd thatâs the problem. Look, Iâm not going to argue with you anymore. Thereâs a lodge where Iâm going to camp out for the night, and if you want to come along, fine. If not, I donât really care. Itâs about a two- or three-hour hike into town. That wayââ She pointed the beam of her flashlight south. âYour choice.â With that she grabbed the bags and started, with the aid of a flashlight, north along the beach.
Adam didnât ask any more questions. He didnât really give a damn. He was only interested in Marnie to further his cause. Period. Whether Miss Montgomery knew it or not, she was going to help him find out what happened to the missing half million dollars.
CHAPTER FOUR
S WEARING UNDER HIS breath, Victor Montgomery slammed down the phone in his suite. Damn Marnie and
Victoria Alexander
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