Page 50 of Risky Desires
“Nope.” She flashed a sassy grin. “I can’t wait to get your sexy ass off my boat.”
Sexy ass? That’s unexpected.
I was torn between crushing my lips to her sexy mouth and walking away.
But I couldn’t afford to get involved with another woman, not until the one who wanted me dead was either behind bars or six feet under.
CHAPTER 11
Tyler
After the guide boat pulled away, Indiana drove Rhino in front of a large decrepit vessel that was tethered to the old wharf and nudged our side to the weathered timber. I helped Old Smithy tie ropes as thick as my wrist around rusty bollards, securing us to the shore. Indiana turned off the engines, and the old boat shuddered beneath my feet.
Indiana exited the bridge and strolled toward me, scooping her long ponytail over her shoulder. She stood three feet away, with her hands on her hips and one boot up on a metal pipe.
Damn, she’s hot.
“Righty ho,” she said. “It’s been nice knowing ya, Kingsley. Now get off my boat.”
Mischief twinkled in her eye.
Heat rushed through my veins, and I hated that my damn body was reacting to her like this. “You can’t get rid of me that easily, Indiana. I still owe you a drink, remember?”
She waved her hand. “Forget it. You’re going to have your hands full with that mess.”
She nodded toward the bright lights where Chui’s yacht was being slowly transported along the wharf.
“Don’t you want to check out the wreck for yourself?” I asked, partially because I was surprised that she wasn’t interested, but also because I didn’t want her to leave. That surprised the hell out of me. Maybe my blue balls were messing with my mind.
Old Smithy strolled toward us, scratching the gray hairs on his chest. Considering the amount of alcohol I’d seen him drink, I was surprised he wasn’t passed out on the leather sofa again.
“Hell no. We just want to get out of here. Right, Dad?” Indiana lowered her leg and hooked her thumb into the side of her denim shorts.
“Yep. This place gives me the creeps.” He made a noise in his throat that seemed painful.
I offered to shake his hand. “It’s been nice meeting you, Mr. Smith.”
He scowled and squeezed my hand way too hard. “Watch your back out there, Kingsley. There’s some fucked up shit going on in this place.”
He nodded toward the rows of decrepit warehouses lined up along the wharf.
I followed his gaze. The old wharf had been abandoned about thirty years ago when the new wharf was built, and the twenty or so warehouses that had once been bustling with life were now dark and silent. It felt like a graveyard of broken dreams. I shivered as the weight of the darkness that hung over the place seemed to seep into my bones.
A lot of rotten stories had centered around this wharf. I hoped like hell that bringing Chui’s yacht here wouldn’t add to those nightmares.
Old Smithy grumbled about something and made his way back to the hut, probably to pass out for the night. Or maybe to drink some more. The man seemed as robust as an ox.
I turned to Indiana, and her expression softened.
“Dad’s right, Kingsley. Watch your back.”
I had the wife of one of Australia’s most notorious crime lords after me, so Indiana had no idea how true those words were.
I shrugged, trying to play it cool. “Always.”
She smiled, and genuine warmth crossed her face. “Well, when you want to make good on that offer of a drink, the Border Force guys always seem to know how to find me.” She turned to head away but called over her shoulder, “And don’t forget your fucking coffee machine. It’s ruining Rhino’s fung shway.”
I burst out laughing, certain she’d pronounced Feng Shui wrong on purpose.