THE PERFECT TEN (Boxed Set)

his Swiss army knife outside.
    He opened the driver’s door on his truck to work under the dome light where he had enough time to hide what he was doing if someone walked up. Rumbling in the distance was a precursor of the weather he’d have to fly through. He made a mental note to swing by the marina and check on the boat.
    Too much stretch in the ropes and his boat would be damaged along each side where it beat against the pilings separating the boat slips.
    Pulling the laces of Angel’s running shoe very loose allowed better access. He slit an opening at the base of the tongue. The tiny tracker was a prototype that Ben had been developing, and Zane had helped him try out several of the versions a while back, carrying them with him on flights and when he went on his grueling morning runs.
    Zane tested the performance, beat the hell out of the equipment, and Ben worked out bugs.
    Ben wanted Zane to keep this one and give it a run once in a while to see if the electronics held up over time.
    If Angel took off, this gadget would get a real-world test, and the run of its life. Zane hoped not, but he was done with getting sucker punched every time she disappeared.
    With tweezers he worked the transmitter inside the padded covering, deep enough that Angel would never feel it.
    The next time she pulled a Houdini vanishing act, he would have a magic wand to make her reappear.
    Pleased with himself, he almost whistled as he went back in the door until he met Angel on the other side.
    “What are you doing with my shoes?”
    Busted. “I noticed some dirt on the bottom of one, and you’re so neat I knew you wouldn’t want to track through the apartment.”
    She inspected the shoes.
    He’d pulled the laces back as close to where she’d left them as he could. The bottoms were spotless when she turned them over, just the way he’d found them.
    She cut her eyes up at him. “Are you sure? I could swear I cleaned them last night.”
    “You probably couldn’t see well in the dark. Not a big deal. I didn’t mind doing it.”
    “Well ... thanks.”  Her appreciation was more dubious than sincere.
    “Don’t worry about it. Look, I’ve got to make a run. I hate to ask you to do anything else after last night, but I’d like to let Trish sleep some more.”
    “I don’t mind. Where are you going?”
    “Gotta help someone with a problem.”
    “When will you be back?” she asked, a slight catch in her voice.
    Would she miss him? “Not sure, maybe tonight, but it could be tomorrow. I’ll call later and let you know. Will you be here?”
    He watched her face as she juggled possible answers.
    “I’ll try to.”
    “What does that mean?” he demanded, instantly irritated. “Why would you leave? At least stay where you’re safe until I get back.”
    “Don’t worry about me, Zane. You have plenty of other things to think about.”  She shifted the shoes to her other hand.
    He loved the way she said his name. He wanted to hear it again and again. Hear it in her early morning voice, husky with sleep. Yeah, she’d moan his name as he made love to her.
    God, he was losing it. She had better be here when he returned.
    He smiled. At least he had a backup plan.
    It was time to go, but not before he did one last thing.
    Zane gathered her into his arms and kissed her like he’d never get another chance, because that’s exactly what worried him.
    The shoes hit the floor.
    She tasted like toothpaste and Angel. Her fingers drove through his hair, dragging him closer to her as if she, too, expected it to be their last.
    Ecstasy and misery flowed through him. He loved her scent, the feel of her lips, her smooth skin. But the question of her being there when he returned haunted the recesses of his mind.
    Duty called. It was close to five-thirty. He had to go. If he stayed any longer there wouldn’t be time to swing by the boat, check the bowlines and the bilge pump. Many a boat had sunk at the dock due to a faulty bilge pump or low battery.
    Zane hugged her close and pressed his lips to her forehead. “I left my cell phone number on the counter and the code to set the motion detector bypass on the alarm so you can reset it once Trish leaves. I’ll be back as soon as I can and we’ll figure out your problem together.”
    “But, Zane...”
    “Shh. We’ll talk when I get back. Just promise me you won’t take any chances.”
    She dropped her head to his chest.
    “Promise me, Angel. Please.”  He’d figured out that