I put the hat on my head and followed him out of the room. “Have you had a relationship with a member of the opposite sex?”
He stopped so short I walked into his back. “Why?”
“I want to know what kind of woman puts up with your attitude.”
He started to walk again. “Haven’t had any complaints so far.”
It shocked me that he was admitting to romance. “You go on actual dates?”
He ignored me as he led me down to the lobby of the hotel. There was no one at the front desk. I watched as Viktor tossed the key on the counter.
He glanced at me, assessing my bag, my footwear, my hat. “Put both bag straps over your shoulders.”
“What do you care how I wear my bag?”
“It’s easier to run if both straps are on.”
“I told you. No more running.”
“Sometimes it happens.”
I frowned as I shrugged the bag onto both of my shoulders. “You know, the world that you live in sucks. You should try a different place—where people aren’t always trying to hunt you down and hurt you.”
He looked down at me with an unreadable expression. “Stick close to me. We’re going to walk alongside buildings, and we’re going to be focused when we cross the streets. You don’t meander or stop. I want you to be within arm’s reach at all times.”
I tried to imagine him walking up to some woman’s front door. Would he carry flowers? Or a case of beer and a pack of condoms? Maybe it was unfair to cast him in that light, but he was the one who claimed he knew how to do the dirty deed better than most. “Do you go on dates?”
“Did you hear anything I just said?”
“Walk close to you and buildings and don’t wander off or be slow.”
“Let’s move out.”
Viktor walked so fast that I had to hustle to keep up with him. “Are you going to answer my question?”
“What was your question?”
“I want to know if you go on dates.”
He grabbed my arm and hustled me across the street. “Stay focused, Blaire.”
“I’m not only shocked that you’ve been in a relationship, but frankly, it floors me that you find women who want to date you. Where do you find these women?”
He gave me another hard look.
“What?” I protested. “Your dating profile would be so compelling: willing to kidnap, vast knowledge of firearms and the dark underworld of crime. Strong, silent and wants his way all the time. Will put on your seat belt for you.”
He ignored me as he moved through the quiet streets, taking shortcuts between buildings and through small yards. He moved so fast I was starting to get a stitch in my side. I was also really hungry. “Any chance we could hit up a place for a coffee?”
“Your dating profile wouldn’t be much better.” He sounded grumpy.
“Oh, this I have to hear.” I was almost panting. Despite the early hour, the sun burned warm and the air was thick with humidity.
He stopped and stood under a big canopy. He was looking up across the street. “Quiet.”
The tone of his voice made me stop short. I stood there, cowering beside him before finally whispering, “What are we doing? Who’s there?”
“I didn’t see him, but I felt him. I think we lost him.”
“Who’s after us?”
“Don’t know.”
I tried to keep the skepticism out of my voice. “You didn’t see him, but you felt him?”
He grabbed my hand and yanked me across the street. “Call it my sixth sense.”
“Are you a psychic?” I didn’t even try to keep the sarcasm from my voice as I pulled my grasp from his.
He frowned as he looked back at me. “No. When I became a sniper, I learned to feel when eyes were on me. I’m never wrong.”
I stopped walking. “You were a sniper?”
He reached back and grabbed my arm so he could yank me forward. “Keep moving.”
I couldn’t keep the glee out of my voice. “This is my proof that you were in the military.”
“Come on,” he said gruffly. “Enough talk.”
We walked in silence for several more blocks. I didn’t want to think about some shadowy man stalking us. I needed a distraction.
I stared at Viktor’s straight back. “Your posture was your giveaway. All the men in law enforcement move a certain way.”
He ignored me, which made me wonder afresh what type of woman would date him. What type of women was Viktor attracted to? Was she an ultra-feminine woman who contrasted his strength and hardness? Or was she a female version of himself, a hard woman who knew her way around guns and danger?
The smell of fish hit us like a wall. Gulls sounded loudly in the sky, and I could taste the salt in the air as we approached a marina.
He led me down a dock, walking closely behind me while I staggered forward on the moving, uneven boards.
“All the way to the end.”
When we got to an ancient-looking fishing boat, a young blond man appeared on the deck. He looked at Viktor before turning his blue stare toward me.
His eyes crinkled as he smiled. “Well, hello. Welcome aboard.”
I stared up at the sun-bleached surfer man-boy. “Thank you.”
He reached down and offered me his hand. “I’ll be your captain for this trip, but if you want, you can call me Skipper.”
Viktor made a low noise in his throat, a sound which made me reach up and allow Skipper to pull me aboard.
“Thank you.” I smiled at him from beneath the brim of my hat.
“Cute hat.” He offered me a flirty arm. “Shall I give you that grand tour, mate?”
Viktor jumped onto the boat with ease and moved up so close behind me he was practically touching me.
Knowing that Viktor was breathing down our necks gave me perverse pleasure. I put my hand on the captain’s arm. “Please do.”
Skipper led me along the port side to the front of the boat. “Up here is the most comfortable place on the boat.”
Viktor towered over us like a third wheel on a date, but the Australian and I ignored him. For the first time since I’d met Viktor, I had a little taste of power in the moment, and I wasn’t going to give it away. I was enjoying that I was provoking some sort of reaction from him. I wasn’t sure what he was feeling, but he wasn’t happy.
My wide smile was genuine as I looked around the front deck of the boat. Someone had built a square frame that was covered in a tarp and bug netting and provided some shelter and shade. Beneath the frame were a table, two chairs, and a hammock. There was also a rudimentary sink and a small fridge. A net bag of fruit hung from one of the beams. Best of all, there would be fresh air and sunshine.
“This is so lovely.” I spoke truthfully.
“There are snacks and refreshments in the mini fridge. Help yourself to whatever is there.”
“So generous of you,” I told him.
Viktor half snorted from behind us.
Skipper continued to focus all his attention on me. “Tour’s not over. Although you won’t be using them—this trip will be too short—why don’t you let me show you the sleeping quarters downstairs?”
“I would appreciate that.”