Iris Johansen - Blue Velvet

Dear Reader,

Smugglers, love, daring rescues.

It sounds like a swashbuckler, doesnt it? Actually thats the kind of story I wanted to create when I wrote Blue Velvet. Its a modern-day swashbuckler with dashing characters that I hope you like and want to accompany until they sail off into the sunset. This book is pure take-me-away escapism. I had just written White Satin, which concerned Olympic ice skating, and I suppose I was leaning toward getting away from the ice and cold.

So I have taken Beau Lantry to the tropics where he encounters Kate Gilbert, who is a bit of a swashbuckler herself and a woman like no other. The tropics become even sultrier when they fall in love. When danger explodes with hurricane-like force it only makes their passion stronger as theyre drawn into the vortex.

And so the adventure begins.

Iris Johansen

White Satin One Touch of Topaz EverlastingThe Treasure Touch the HorizonThe Golden Valkyrie Capture the RainbowA Summer Smile Stormy Vows/Tempest at SeaStalemate An Unexpected Song Killer DreamsOn the Run Countdown Blind Alley FirestormFatal Tide Dead Aim No One to TrustBody of Lies Final Target The SearchThe Killing Game The Face of DeceptionAnd Then You Die Long After MidnightThe Ugly Duckling Lions Bride Dark RiderMidnight Warrior The Beloved ScoundrelThe Magnificent Rogue The Tiger PrinceLast Bridge Home The Golden BarbarianReap the Wind Storm Winds The Wind Dancer

Blue Velvet is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

2011 Bantam Books Mass Market Edition

Copyright 1985 by Iris Johansen

All rights reserved.

Published in the United States by Bantam Books,
an imprint of The Random House Publishing Group,
a division of Random House, Inc., New York.

B ANTAM B OOKS and the rooster colophon are
registered trademarks of Random House, Inc.

Originally published in paperback in the United States
by Bantam Books, an imprint of The Random House Publishing
Group, a division of Random House, Inc., in 1985.

eISBN: 978-0-345-52811-7

Cover design: Eileen Carey

www.bantamdell.com

v3.1

For Dad,
For all the songs he sang me
For all the love he gave me.

W HAT OTHER CHOICE do we have? Kate argued, running her hand distractedly through her riot of short curls. Her eyes were fixed gloomily on the entrance to the waterfront tavern across the street. Were caught between Scylla and Charybdis.

Scylla and Charybdis? Julio asked blankly.

You know, the she monster of the sea and the whirlpool, Kate said, her gaze still on the door to Alvarezs Bar.

He didnt know, but then Kate was always referring to things he knew nothing about. What Jeffrey calls between a rock and a hard place?

Kate nodded. If we dont go into that tavern and get Jeffrey, hes going to end up in the cockpit of the plane with a knife at his throat. Or theyll get him so drunk hell tell them the location of the Cessna.

If he doesnt pass out first, Julio suggested hopefully. According to the bartender, he was pretty close to that point a few minutes ago.

Then theyll wake him up and start all over, Kate said. She shook her head. No, weve got to go in after him. Once we have him out of Ralph Despards clutches well worry about getting him off Castellano.

And how do we do that? Julio asked, his lips curving in a skeptical smile. Despard is alone at the table with Jeffrey now, but Simmons and a few of the other men are in one of the back rooms. If we make any move, theyll pour out of there and be all over us.

Kate bit her lower lip. We cant make any obvious moves. I dont want them to realize that youre a part of Jeffreys crew. Youve always been away guarding the plane when Despard has visited Jeffrey at the cottage. As long as he doesnt know you exist, youll be safe. Ill go in by myself.

No, I will not permit it, Julio said firmly. He should have known how shed react. Kate was as protective as a lioness with her cub about anyone she cared about and she cared about Jeffrey Brenden. Perhaps too much for her own good. In the four years hed been with the two of them, hed watched her nurse Brenden through hangovers, tease him into cheerfulness when he was depressed, and pull him out of scrapes. It never occurred to her to ask anything in return. Kate always gave with both hands. He couldnt criticize Jeffrey for taking from her; he himself had accepted her loving generosity and devoted affection on many occasions. However, he couldnt swallow the idea of her walking into that bar alone. If it must be done, well do it together.

No, I think Ive come up with a way. Her brow was wrinkled in thought. Did you check the location of the power box as I asked?

He nodded. Its outside and in the back.

Good. She checked her wristwatch; it was just past midnight. In ten minutes I want you to be at the power box. Give an on and off flicker as a warning for me. Everyone will think its just a power surge. Then a minute later turn off the lights altogether and remove the fuse. Okay?

And what will you be doing while Im playing with the fuse box?

Ill be at the table distracting Despard and trying to find a way to ease him out of the picture.

Distracting? Julio frowned. I hope you dont mean what I think you mean. You wouldnt know how to handle a man like Despard.

Oh, Julio, I said distract, not seduce! It shouldnt be all that difficult to divert the man for ten minutes. Hes made a pass at me almost every time hes been at the cottage. She made a face. Not that Im anything special. He probably makes a pass at every woman under eighty.

But she was something special, Julio thought. Warm and loving with a clear bell-like honesty that hed never known in any other woman. The idea of Despard so much as laying a hand on her made him a little sick. I dont like it. You shouldnt even be in a bar like that.

Ive been in that bar plenty of times, as you know very well. And I can take care of myself, she added. Heaven knows, Ive had plenty of practice. That was certainly true, she thought ironically. Jeffrey was a dreamer, always chasing fantasies, and she trailed along behind trying to hold his feet on the ground and keep him from being too badly hurt. And this is no exception. Ill be fine, Julio.

I think I should

No, Julio, she said with gentle firmness. Well do it the way I said. As soon as the lights go out, you dash around to the front door and come inside. Ill need help getting Jeffrey out of there. Until then, I want you to be as invisible as possible. She grinned impishly as her gaze traveled over his massive shoulders and intimidating bulk. That should be enough of a challenge for you.

Kate, its too

Its the only plan weve got, she interrupted. She looked at her watch again. Ten minutes, remember. She started across the street without giving him a backward glance. Julio would keep her out here all night arguing and it would only end the same way. As shed told him before, they were caught between Scylla and Charybdis.