LITMIR.BIZ

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wasn’t fooled by her willingness to follow his demands. Ana was used to giving orders, not taking them, and that meant he couldn’t afford to let down his guard when interacting with her. Fortunately there was enough room in the two-story house where they wouldn’t have to bump into each other at every turn. Ana would have the run of the entire second floor because he planned to sleep in the alcove off the family room at the rear of the house. The small but cozy space also contained a half bath that was just a little more than a water closet. There was just enough space for a shower and commode. Once Jacob had decided to utilize the alcove, he’d purchased a queen-size storage bed with drawer space for linens and several changes of clothes.

      He wasn’t too concerned about break-ins because the property was monitored by surveillance cameras. And like Ana, he hoped the shooter would be caught sooner rather than later. The longer the perpetrator was on the loose the lower the odds of capturing him.

      Returning to the kitchen, Jacob stored his holstered handgun in a drawer under the island countertop, then opened the refrigerator and removed a labeled package of fish filets he’d taken out of the freezer before leaving for the airport. After he’d closed up his Miami apartment he’d driven to a local supermarket to buy enough food to stock the pantry and refrigerator for at least two weeks. He’d planned to alternate cooking for himself and dining in some of his favorite restaurants in the Keys. That was before he’d gotten the call from Diego.

      Jacob still had to decide how much he wanted to expose Ana to the public because he wanted her to keep a low profile. Confining her to the house was certain to push both of them over the edge. And if they did go out, then a hat and sunglasses for her would be the norm rather than the exception.

      A smile parted his lips when he recalled her saying she’d planned to run away from home to live in Key West. He didn’t live in Key West, but it was close enough for him to drive her there to show her some of the historic cottages and restored century-old Conch houses. With the influx of tourists mingling with the locals they were certain to blend in enough to enjoy the nightlife.

      Over the next forty minutes he busied himself uncovering the deck furniture, hosing down the deck, and then opened several umbrellas, positioning one near the table and the other two behind cushioned recliners. Jacob tried, but he was unsuccessful in erasing the image of Ana’s eyes whenever she gave him a direct stare. There was something about her eyes that reflected a boldness and wisdom that made him believe she was much older than thirty-three. Perhaps, he mused, it was the role she’d taken on as CEO of a very successful recording label. If she had been any woman other than David Cole’s daughter she never would’ve been able to achieve the business success Ana had accomplished since she’d assumed control of Serenity Records. Jacob smiled. Her father had taught her well. He checked on the large dog in the crate that lifted his head from between his paws with his approach.

      Bending slightly, he said, “Don’t worry, boy. I hope to have you out of there sometime tomorrow.”

      Jacob had removed the fish from the packaging and had placed them in a bowl of cold water when the soft chiming of the telephone garnered his attention. He punched the speaker feature on the wall phone before the third ring.

      “Hello.”

      “Jacob. It’s your mother.”

      “How are you, Mrs. Deavers?”

      There was a slight pause before Gloria Deavers’s soft voice came through the speaker. “Why are you so formal?”

      Resting a hip against the countertop, Jacob crossed his arms over his chest and stared up at the skylight in the kitchen. “You are Mrs. Deavers, aren’t you?”

      “I’ve been married to Henry for almost fifteen years, and yet you still haven’t let me forget it.”

      “Mom, I know you didn’t call me to talk about your husband.”

      “You’re right. I called because when I contacted your office they told me you were on vacation leave. Are you all right?”

      The lines of tension in Jacob’s face softened. “I’m fine. It was mandated that if I didn’t take at least half of my accrued vacation, then I would lose it.”

      “How much time is that?”

      “Eight weeks.”

      There was another pause from Gloria. “When was the last time you took a vacation?”

      Jacob shook his head although his mother couldn’t see him. “I can’t remember. It has to be more than five or six years.” He’d accrued not only vacation leave, but also compensatory time.

      “Maybe I’ll take a few days off and come down to see you.”

      Now it was Jacob’s turn to find himself at a loss for words. “When do you want to come?”

      “It probably won’t be until mid-July. That is if you don’t have anything planned for that time,” Gloria said quickly.

      He quickly calculated. It was now the second week in June and he’d hoped it wouldn’t take six weeks to catch the man who’d attempted to kill Ana. “That sounds good, Mom. However, if my plans change, then I’ll call you.”

      “I know you don’t like me asking, but I’m going to do it anyway. Are you seeing anyone?”

      “No, Mom.”

      “Why not?”

      “Because I don’t have the time. At least not right now,” he added truthfully. Even if he wanted to he couldn’t see anyone—not with Ana living with him.

      “When are you going to have time, son? Thirty is in the rearview mirror and you’re fast approaching forty and you’re still single. I would like to have a couple of grandkids before I die.”

      Exhaling an audible sigh, Jacob closed his eyes. Every time he had a conversation with his mother invariably the topic of his single status would come up. He wanted to tell her he had yet to celebrate his thirty-sixth birthday, but then she would come back with “I happen to know the year, day and hour you were born.”

      “You’ll be the first to know when I find the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with.”

      “Jacob?”

      “What is it, Mom?”

      “Nelson was picked up by the police yesterday.”

      “Picked up or arrested?”

      “He was arrested.”

      “What did he do this time?” His stepbrother couldn’t stay out of trouble if someone paid him a million dollars.

      “They claim he and some other boys stole a car and then robbed a convenience store. A cashier was shot—”

      “Stop right there, Mom,” Jacob interrupted. “I’m not getting involved with this. Nelson Deavers is trouble and the sooner you and Henry accept that fact the better you’ll sleep at night. The last time I intervened and got the police to drop the charges Nelson promised me he wouldn’t get into trouble again. Stealing cars and shooting people are not misdemeanors and that means he’s going to prison. Tell Henry I’m sorry, but his boy is on his own.” He saw movement out the side of his eye and picked up the telephone receiver when Ana walked into the kitchen. “Mom, can I call you back later?”

      “Of course you can. Please don’t forget to call me.”

      His eyes met those of the petite woman in a tank top, shorts and flip-flops before glancing at the swell of breasts in the revealing top. Jacob didn’t want to believe that an oversize T-shirt and jeans had concealed a lush, tiny, curvy, compact body. Even Ana’s legs and feet were perfect.

      “I won’t.” Jacob hung up, unaware that he’d been staring.

      Ana’s hand went to her head as she attempted to fluff up the short, wet hair clinging to her scalp. “I’m sorry to intrude.”

      “It’s all right. I was going to

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