Free A Man to Remember by Mary Tate Engels Page B

was a terse bark. "Quien es?"
    "Jake! Es Emilio. Sorry to interrupt at this unfortunate moment, but this is an emergency. I have news you should know. Can we talk briefly?"
    "Yeah, sure. Hold on." Jake moved across the room, ignoring Alyse, and began roughly pulling on his jeans.
    Outside lights from around the compound reflected on his trim, hard body as he slid his legs into the jeans. She'd felt those legs on hers only moments ago, and she was still weak from the sensation.
    "Jake, what is it? What's going on? And why do you have that gun?" Alyse watched anxiously as he tucked the pistol into the waist of his jeans. When he looked as if he would leave without explaining anything, she pleaded again. "Jake, please talk to me."
    He looked at her, then caught himself short. Damn, he couldn't just leave her like this. With a heavy sigh he moved to her side. "I'll be back as soon as I can, Alyse. It hurts me more than I can say to leave you right now. But I must." His lips crushed hers in a swift, hard kiss.
    "Could it be your aunt?"
    He looked at her strangely for a moment. "Yeah. Yeah, I guess so. It's probably my aunt."
    "Can I help?"
    "No!" he answered sharply, then gathered control of the situation by issuing orders in a commanding tone. "No, you stay right here, Alyse. I'll be back soon and let you know what's going on." His hand lingered to caress her face. Then he was gone.
    Alyse sat there for a moment, rehashing what had transpired in the last few minutes. Her head swam with the confusion caused by the strange events and unanswered questions. She was frustrated that Jake would leave her so abruptly, and somewhat angry that he would abandon her at this particular moment. After all, they had been quite intimately engaged. Nearly there. So this must be damned important – or it had better be.
    She was overwhelmed with curiosity as she listened to the two men's low voices receding down the hall. Soon there was no sound at all as they moved completely out of earshot.
    So now she was supposed to sit here in bed, like a good girl, and wait for her man to return? Wondering what was happening all around her? Knowing Jake had taken the gun!
    It was too much for Alyse Skye, who had never been very good at following orders or with patience. Bristol Bordeaux, her personal heroine, would never huddle in bed after her lover bolted. She would make sure it was damned necessary or maybe she'd do some damage… to someone.
    Alyse slipped out of bed, determined to find out what was happening. Where were her shorts and blouse? Damned if she would let something exciting happen tonight, right here under her nose, and not be a part of it. She couldn't figure why Jake would take that gun. And why he would need it if the problem was with his sick aunt. If she was the actual problem.
    Alyse heard men's voices again. She halted in mid-step. They were beneath her balcony. She tiptoed over to the half-open window. Ignoring the minor technicality that she was totally nude, she stepped out onto the balcony so she could hear them better. She recognized Jake's voice right away and figured the other was Emilio's.
    "Where?"
    "The man just came from Guaymas, straight across the Sea of Cortes. He says the army is looking for a deserter."
    "How does he know?"
    "He says they are relentless in their searching. They have questioned everyone who might know. They have turned the city inside out looking for this . . . this perpetrator."
    "Do they have a description?"
    "Si. Tall and blond. No beard, though. Maybe that funny color will save you, mi amigo. Who would ever suspect you would have a red beard?"
    "Damn! How close are they? What do you think, Emilio?"
    "They have traced this unknown deserter as far as Guaymas. He says they are sure of it. Presently they are searching along the coast. No stone unturned, as you say."
    "I'd like to talk to him."
    "Si, I thought so. He is in La Paz, a bar located near the waterfront. ..."
    The two men moved out of Alyse's