Tropical Panther's Penance (Shifting Sands Resort 6)

“Scarlet won’t approve,” Tex warned.

“She doesn’t have to know,” Lydia said firmly. “Ally can stay in my room and never leave my courtyard. We just need a little interference.”

“It would be easy enough to smuggle in food for her,” Laura said thoughtfully. “And Scarlet doesn’t come to the spa much.”

“Not that you’d guess it by her nails,” Lydia said with a sideways smile.

“Blacksmith is bad news,” Laura said with a shake of her head. “Tony says that they are pretty close to making their move against the cartel. Maybe even before Christmas, thanks to the extra evidence Wrench was able to give them.” She sighed. “I’m in. You know it.”

Tex looked sideways at Laura. “It’s an eight-year-old damsel in distress. What’s a cowboy to do?” When he extended a hand across the bar to Wrench, Wrench shook it heartily.

“Scarlet can’t fire all of us,” Lydia said merrily. “Not right before the Christmas rush!”

Wrench wasn’t as sure, but he followed his mate as she led the way back past the pool steps and up through the garden to the staff house known as The Den.

Travis and Jenny were cuddled together at the couch, watching Graham and Breck play a first-person shooter video game on the TV screen.

Wrench would have left Graham and Breck out of the plan, but Lydia didn’t pull the others aside like he thought she would, sitting instead on the other leg of the L-shaped couch. Wrench settled awkwardly next to her and Travis and Jenny sat up to give them their attention.

“What’s up?” Travis asked.

“You’re going to LA tomorrow?” Lydia asked as an opening.

Jenny nodded, looking from one to the other. “That’s the plan,” she said. “I’ve got a few things to do in person at the law firm.”

“You know Blacksmith, the charming individual that is the reason Laura and Wrench are both here?”

“Can’t say I’ve actually met him,” Jenny said wryly. “But we do have some history.” She smirked at Wrench, who kept his expression carefully shuttered.

“He’s put Wrench’s sister in witness protection and his eight-year old niece is in danger.”

The silence that met that statement was amplified by Breck or Graham pausing their game to turn and listen more obviously.

He scowled at them indiscriminately.

“That’s terrible!” Jenny said in horror.

“What can we do?” Travis asked.

Realizing that the lynx shifter’s hand was twined with Jenny’s made Wrench aware that Lydia’s was similarly resting on his; he took a moment to marvel that it felt so natural that he hadn’t even noticed when it happened. It took all his willpower not to pull it away once he was aware of it.

“Bring her back here from LA with you,” Lydia said.

Jenny didn’t even hesitate. “Yes, of course.”

“Are you sure?” Travis said at the same time. “No kids allowed at the resort.”

“Scarlet doesn’t have to know,” Lydia said.

“Scarlet knows everything,” Breck interjected.

Graham’s growl might have been agreement.

Wrench had a feeling this was going to be a harder sell than it had been to Laura and Tex. Laura at least had an idea what Blacksmith was capable of.

Lydia’s skirt rustled as she leaned forward earnestly. “Ally is eight. She’s old enough to understand that she needs to stay out of sight. But we need to keep her off the radar of the cartel.”

Lydia was not just smart, Wrench realized. She was masterful. It was hard not stare at her beautiful profile and want her.