The attendants brows pulled together. Sí.
Where is he now?
The man pointed to the waters edge a hundred yards farther along the beach.
Jenna glanced past the teenagers throwing a Frisbee, the father tossing his child in the air and the girls playing in the surf to a man standing near a WaveRunner and another slinging his leg over the seat.
Wait! Jenna cried and took off, running as fast as her legs and lungs could carry her.
Neither man turned at her shout the first time.
Wait! she cried as she got closer. This time the man standing beside the WaveRunner looked up. The one on the vehicle revved the engine and started sliding toward the water.
Giving it her all, Jenna lifted her knees and elbows, running faster than she ever had in the fifty-yard dash in high school and pounded across the wet sand, out into the surf. She flung herself onto the back of the watercraft, wrapping her arms around the man with the tattooed arms.
What the hell? Sawyer twisted in his seat to stare at his passenger. Jenna?
Go! she cried. Go fast! Get as far out as you can.
His gaze sharpened on her face, but he revved the engine. Whats wrong?
Just do it. Ill explain when you get away from the shore.
Are you serious?
Yes, she said, holding on tightly as they sped away from the beach and hit a wave full-on. Water splashed up in her face before she could close her mouth. She swallowed some and choked, spitting salt water.
He slowed. Are you okay?
Please, just go out to sea. She clung to his back, her arms wrapped tightly around his waist. Your life depends on it.
Okay. He shook his head but twisted his hand on the throttle, heading out to sea, taking them farther and farther from the beach.
When they were a good quarter of a mile out, he slowed the vehicle to a stop and half turned to face her. Now, do you mind telling me what the hell just happened?
Jenna glanced back at the shore. How far can a bullet travel?
What? Sawyer stared at her as if shed lost her mind. Not that Im not flattered, but what does that have to do with hijacking me and my WaveRunner?
She wiped the salty water from her face and bit her lip. Youre not going to believe this. Shaking her head, she tried to pull the words together in her mind before blurting them out.
Believe what? His scowl deepened. Woman, you arent making sense. And if you dont start talking, Im heading back to shore before we run out of gas or the engine decides to quit. Im pretty sure were farther out than the attendant recommended.
Jennas heart thumped against her chest and her fingers dug into his waist. Someone is going to try to kill you.
For a long moment he stared down at her. Is that your prediction? Are you a psychic or something? His lips curled in a derisive smile. Lady, Im a SEAL. I get shot at on every mission.
Jenna shook her head. How can you believe me when I barely believe what I saw? She pressed her forehead to his shoulder, grasping for the words. Then she straightened, firming her jaw. I picked up the wrong suitcase in the lobby of my hotel. When I opened it, I found what I assume were the parts to assemble a snipers rifle, complete with a scope.
Sawyer snorted. How do you know what a snipers rifle looks like? Do you even own a gun?
Her cheeks heated, and anger spiked inside her. So, I dont own a gun, and I dont know exactly what a snipers rifle looks like. But its what was with the rifle that made me assume the owner was a sniper, hit man or assassin.
With a chuckle, Sawyer ran a hand through his dark, wet hair, standing it on end. Could it be youve been watching or reading too many thrillers lately?
She smacked her palm against his arm. Damn it, Im trying to tell you that I found photographs and a note with the weapon. Your photographs. Pictures of you and a note telling the gun owner to bring you to wherever they were going to meet by nine oclock tonight. Dead or alive.
This time Sawyer sat still, his gaze pinning hers.
Jenna held steady, lifting her chin.
How do I know youre not some nutcase desperate for male companionship and will come up with any cockamamie story to get one alone?
Jenna let go of his waist and scooted back on the seat of the WaveRunner. Is that what you think? She slipped even farther back until she teetered on the edge, refusing to touch even one inch of the mans body. Do you think Im so desperate Id chase a man out into the middle of the ocean just to get him alone? She shook her head. You know, I could have taken that case to hotel security and let them handle it.
Why didnt you?
It doesnt matter. Its your life on the line. Not mine. If you want to ignore the warning Ive given you out of the sincerest desire to save your sorry carcass, you do that. Ill just get myself back to shore, because Id rather swim a mile in shark-infested waters than ride back on a WaveRunner operated by a man with an ego the size of a whale. She dived into the water before he could say anything or reach out and grab her.
Jenna struck out, headed for shore, weighed down by her beach wrap. She hadnt done much swimming since shed been on the high school swim team, and she realized almost immediately that she didnt have the strength she once had. But sheer anger should fuel her long enough to make it back to shore.
She sure as hell wasnt going to ride with an arrogant, self-centered, stupid man who could be dead by morning because he thought she was a desperate crackpot.
The WaveRunner engine fired up behind her.
Jenna continued to swim freestyle, trying to remember how to time her breathing and making smooth, steady strokes, pacing herself so that she wouldnt get too tired too quickly.
Sawyer pulled up beside her. Get on.
She ignored him, choosing to breathe rather than waste her strength arguing.
Damn the man, but he kept pace with her, bobbing beside her on the water craft.
Im sorry, Sawyer said. I shouldnt have called you a desperate nutcase.
It was a start, but he had a long way to go before she forgave him for saying all those nasty things to her. Jenna plowed through the buoyant salt water, one stroke at a time, refusing to acknowledge the man.
He sped up, pulling ahead of her.
Fine. Go back to shore.
Jenna would make it on her own. She didnt need a man to rescue her. The men in her life hadnt proven to be very reliable. Or at least her ex-fiancé hadnt. Sawyer, though not really a part of her life, wasnt much better. Shed done him a favor. Tried to save his sorry life. And what did she get in return? Grief. To hell with him. He could be shot for all she cared.
A splash ahead made her stop and tread water.
The WaveRunner seat was empty, and Sawyer was nowhere to be seen.
Chapter Three
Jennas pulse jumped and she spun in a circle, searching for him.
Had the assassin gunned him down?
She looked for the telltale sign of blood mixing with the ocean water but couldnt see any. Dragging in a deep breath, she dived beneath the surface in search of Sawyers body.