Nick continued his light touch along Rachel’s side, the sheen of sweat coating both partners an indication of their intense interlude. “I love you too, baby. I am sorry I didn’t call you after our beach combat session. I should have, but I needed to help Kabong and Cleaner with our room temperature cruise passengers for tomorrow. I lucked out and caught Jerry. He took the Camaro with short notice on a weekend day.”
“I know. I didn’t mean to sound like I needed an apology earlier, but apology accepted and thanks for the penance. Gus remembered we were waiting in the safe-room, so it was only an hour in the vault. Jean and Sonny of course relived every aspect of the event. Do you think they could have killed us all before you stopped them?”
“It depends,” Nick said truthfully. “Their choice of car with altered exhaust sound would have probably triggered a look and put me on alert. Because of Jean’s warning, I was able to get you armed and undercover with Quinn. That’s golden because I could focus on the bad guys.”
“You sure did that. I’m glad it was still early in the morning and the joggers weren’t all over Ocean View Blvd. Would you have called Neil if some of the weekend runners or gawkers had witnessed it?”
“Maybe. I needed to find out how deep the shit pile was that left us in the target zone on my beach. I’m not giving up Otter’s Point, even if I have to kill every ‘banger and thug from the Monterey Peninsula to Salinas.”
Rachel brushed her lips over Nick’s shoulder before hugging him. “I’m glad the kids went out like lights tonight. The day long strategy session, morning combat, and afternoon knife throwing contests wore Jean out. Sonny was dragging too when I took him home. Quinn’s been eating well so he’s finally sleeping easily. You sure put our small space of alone time to work in a pleasurable cause.”
“I enjoyed it as much as you.”
“Want me to make you something to eat? I know you didn’t have much chance to get a meal today.”
“No. I don’t feel like it.” Nick rolled over on his back.
Rachel moved atop him, stroking his cheek. “Why, what’s the matter. You should have worked up an appetite.”
“I don’t know what it is but I can’t taste anything but tuna fish right now.”
Rachel gasped, smacking Nick on the side of the head while he tried and failed to suppress amusement over his sexual innuendo. Rachel began chuckling after a moment. “Not funny!”
“You’re laughing,” Nick pointed out. “It’s funny because you know it’s not true.”
“You’d tell me if I smelled, wouldn’t you,” Rachel asked, climbing over him and pinning Nick’s shoulders. “I don’t smell like fish… do I?”
“Hell no. It was a joke, Rach. You’re wonderful in every way, baby. Don’t start obsessing.”
“Do women really… you know… smell like fish?”
“Some do.”
“I’m not trying to be na?ve but what do you think causes it?”
“Bacterial infection mostly, Rach. Don’t get into the specifics. I repeat – I was kidding.”
Rachel shook his shoulders. “Okay, but were you ever with a woman that… did smell?”
“Yep.”
“Well… what did you do?”
Nick hesitated for a moment before pantomiming uneasiness at his being with a woman exhibiting possible bacterial problems. Then his voice went into robotic bass voice as if issuing orders in his brain. “Abort… abort! Danger… Will Robinson… danger. Abort!”
Nick’s abort order solution amused Rachel to the point she rolled off of Nick and onto her back, with both hands over her mouth, stifling laughter while her feet drummed on the bed. Nick reversed positions, angling for something other than hygiene jokes. Rachel pushed on his chest, noting the reversal.
“I don’t want you to go on the cruise today. I have a bad feeling.”
“Have it in about twenty minutes.”
*
“At least we deposited the fish food early.” Gus steered The Lucky Lady toward coordinates which would bring them in sight of the Tempest but not suspiciously so. “You must have worked all night on the prep, Cleaner.”
“Johnny and Muerto helped me.” Cala watched Gus closely. He pointed out wind speed, direction, currents, and brought them into perspective with smoothing the boat’s ride. Cala was training to be his backup ship’s pilot in case they couldn’t get Issac Leon flown in on a mission because of the time frame. “We finished in the early evening after Muerto dropped the Camaro off at Jerry’s job for its rebirth.”
Gus chuckled. “Jerry’s a magician with the vehicles. I’ve seen a coupe he’s worked over. Every newer one has to have a complete work over from another at the wrecking yard so it will have a completely different electronic ID. We’ve been sailing together for a while now. How do you like driving a boat?”