Ultimate Romance Collection. Rebecca Winters
naval intelligence deliberately setting Swan up as the traitor? If so, why?
“You weren’t able to find out anything about him?”
There was a husky chuckle. “I didn’t say that. There are ways to find out anything you want when you know how to do it.”
And Nick knew how to do it. He’d been an amazing SEAL, but as far as Flipper was concerned, Nick’s natural investigative talents were better served at Homeland Security. “When will you let me know something?”
“Give me a couple of days. In the meantime, don’t say anything to anyone about my suspicions about Duggers.”
“Not even the CO and admiral?”
“Not even them for now. You mentioned Swan had a third godfather who was someone high up at naval intelligence. Was his identity revealed to you?”
“No, it wasn’t but then I didn’t ask,” Flipper said.
“It wasn’t hard to find out,” Nick replied. “All you have to do is find out who Andrew Jamison’s SEAL teammates were at the time he died and do a little research to determine where they are now.”
“I take it you’ve done that.”
“Yes, and would you believe Swan Jamison’s third godfather is Director of Naval Intelligence Samuel Levart?”
Flipper would not have considered Director Levart in a million years, but it all made sense now. In order for someone to have delayed making formal charges against Swan, that person would have to be someone in power. The admiral had alluded to as much. “Swan doesn’t know how favored she is to have three powerful men in her corner.”
“Yes, but we both know it wouldn’t matter if one of her godfathers was the President. If naval intelligence believes they have enough evidence to prosecute her, they will,” Nick said.
Flipper knew that to be true. Now more than ever he had to find the person intent on framing Swan. To him, it was beginning to look like an inside job.
“So what else do you have for me to check out?” Nick asked, reclaiming Flipper’s attention.
“It’s about something Swan told me.” He then shared with Nick the information about Rafe Duggers’s association with some huge distributor in California. “I need you to check that out.”
“I will. I know time is of the essence so I’ll get back to you soon, Flipper.”
“Thanks, I appreciate it.”
* * *
“If you’re so concerned about me, then why not return to the Keys and keep an eye on me, Candy?” Swan asked. She moved around her bedroom getting dressed while talking to her friend on speakerphone.
“You know why I won’t return, just yet. But I did hear something that’s interesting.”
“What?” Swan asked as she shimmied into her skirt.
“I talked to Francola the other day and she said Marshall mentioned to her that Don is thinking about moving away from the island.”
Swan paused. Francola and her husband, Marshall, had been close friends of Don and Candy’s while they were married. The two couples often did things together. Personally, Swan didn’t care much for Francola because the woman had been aware Don was cheating on Candy but hadn’t told her friend. “I would take anything Francola says with a grain of salt these days,” Swan said as she continued dressing.
“I know you still fault her for not telling me about Don and I admit I was angry with her, too, but now I understand her not doing so.”
“Do you?”
“Yes. Her relationship with me is not like our relationship, Swan. You and I have been best friends since grade school and we have no secrets. You would have told me about Don had you suspected anything.”
“Darn right.”
“Well, Francola and I didn’t have that kind of relationship. We only met through our husbands, who worked together. Besides, I’m not sure I would have believed her even had she told me. I would have been in denial.” Candy paused. “Now, enough about me. Tell me more about this David Holloway.”
Swan smiled while putting hoop earrings into her ears. “He’s a real nice guy. Thoughtful. Considerate. Handsome as sin.” She glanced over at her made-up bed. Although there were no signs of anyone sleeping in it last night, it didn’t take much for her to remember all the wild action she and David had shared under the sheets. “And he’s great in bed. More than great. He’s fantastic.”
“Just be careful, Swan. Protect your heart.”
Swan slipped her feet into her sandals. “My heart? It’s not like I’m falling for the guy, Candy.”
“Aren’t you? I can hear it in your voice. You like him a lot.”
Yes, she did like him a lot. “It won’t go beyond me liking him,” she said, trying to convince herself of that more so than Candy.
“Can you honestly say that?”
“Yes, because I can’t let it. His work brought him to the island and he’ll be leaving soon. In less than thirty days.”
“Doesn’t matter.”
Swan knew for her it did matter. She only wanted short-term. The last thing she wanted was to do long-term with any man.
“I enjoyed my time with you today, Swan,” Flipper said, looking down at her.
They’d had brunch at Summer Moon before heading to the senior living complex where they spent the next four hours. She assisted the staff by reading to groups of people and even taking a few of the seniors for walks around the complex. Some, she’d explained, had family who rarely visited so she had become like their surrogate granddaughter.
On the flip side, considering what she’d missed out having in her life, he couldn’t help but wonder if they had become her surrogate grandparents.
From the moment she walked into the facility, everyone brightened up when they saw her. It was amazing to him. She knew just what to say to elicit a smile or to get them to engage in more conversation. The majority of the seniors knew her by name and he couldn’t help noticing a number of the women wearing what looked like necklaces she’d made.
When he inquired about the necklaces Swan confirmed they were her designs but she had taught the women to make them from stones she’d given them. It had taken longer than normal since a lot of the older women’s hands weren’t as nimble as they used to be.
After leaving the nursing home, they’d grabbed lunch at a sidewalk café before returning to her house where they’d spent the rest of the day on the beach. Later, after ordering takeout for dinner from Arness, they were back at her place.
No matter how tempting Swan was making it for him to stay longer at her place, he would leave when it got dark. The information about Rafe Duggers’s sealed records bothered him and he’d decided to poke around in the tattoo parlor later that night to see what he could find.
He glanced over at Swan as she sat across the table from him eating dinner. Earlier today, when he had returned to take her to breakfast, she had opened the door looking fresh and perky and dressed simply in a pair of shorts and a tank top. Seeing her dressed that way reminded him of just what a gorgeous pair of legs she had, as well as how those same legs had wrapped around him while they’d made love that morning and the night before.
When they had gone swimming, she’d worn one of the sexiest two-piece bathing suits he’d ever seen. He had totally and completely enjoyed his day with her. They would be attending the Memorial Day festivities together tomorrow in town, which included a parade.