Troubled Paradise (Gray Tower Book 2)

by J. M. Brister

  Trying to push that out of her mind, she carefully watched Jack as he shook hands with a man who greeted them. This man wore a light jacket and khaki pants, despite the glaring sun and warm March temperatures. Kat was already hot just wearing a pink, printed sundress. Jack, meanwhile, was wearing a white cotton t-shirt and jeans. She had a hard time not noticing the bulging muscles in his arms and his strong chest that filled out his shirt way too nicely.

  She had been avoiding him as much as possible. That made the flight over a bit of a bear. However, he had been pretty much doing the same, so it worked out. He would occasionally bark orders at her, but it wasn’t too bad.

  Kat had decided that she was done with trying to grab Jack’s attention. He obviously wasn’t interested in her. That had been clear when she had first seen him in her new look. He had appeared to be less than interested, so she had decided to push him out of her mind and focus on her career. Who cares about Jack Hunter, anyhow?

  The man who had come to greet them smiled and said, “Thank you so much for coming to Faraway Cay. My name is Mr. Wakefield. I am in charge of this island and will be overseeing your stay here. If you will come with me…”

  Kat smiled.

  The guy was older and had just a slight British accent, which reminded her of the stereotypical British butler.

  “Sure,” Jack said casually. “I’m Jack Hunter, and this is my girlfriend, Katherina.”

  It felt odd for Jack to call Kat his girlfriend. Something about the way he said it made her cringe a bit.

  They followed Mr. Wakefield along a brick pathway that appeared to separate the rest of the area from the beach itself. The sand glittered and sparkled in the sunlight, while a fresh breeze blew, cooling Kat off a bit. Palm trees were placed in strategic locations, and the whole area was smartly landscaped with tropical flowers and plants.

  This place is a paradise, Kat thought wistfully.

  It certainly beat her office in the windowless Sublevel 3 of Gray Tower HQ. That place felt like a tomb sometimes, though she had tried as hard as she could to make it her own. She was certainly looking forward to getting some sun. She glanced down at her pale skin and grimaced.

  They walked further, a silent procession, winding through more gardens, until they finally rounded to what looked like an ocean view entrance.

  The main house itself was amazing. White stone walls surrounded large arched windows. Decorative storm shutters sat open next to them, while the terracotta roof contrasted the stark whiteness of the overall building. Not only that, but the building just seemed to go on and on. One could easily open a resort here with room to spare.

  As if on cue, Mr. Wakefield said, “The island was supposed to be a private resort that never came to fruition after the economic downturn. Mr. Carr bought it and added his own flair.”

  Jack nodded while Kat looked around some more. There was a large, stone patio that sat in front of the entryway, along with steps that led down the beach. Several cabanas were strategically placed around the area. Lounge chairs were scattered about, and there was a large pool sitting off to the right, overlooking the beautiful ocean view.

  If she could just get the Gray Tower work done without issue, then this could turn into a nice little workcation.

  She frowned. Was that even a thing? Or, did she just make that up?

  Focus on the task at hand, she told herself.

  Kat’s attention went back to Mr. Wakefield as he led them into the massive building to a beautiful foyer with white marbled flooring and lavish decorations. Gold curtains in expensive fabrics lined the windows, while fancy light fixtures hung above. Plush couches in light reds and golds were placed around the large area, emphasizing conversation between others. Arches and columns were placed at the perimeter of the room, giving a glimpse to distant hallways.

  Everything was lavish, yet there was an airy, beachy feel to everything. Kat stared in awe at the beautiful room.

  “I hope that you find the place acceptable,” Mr. Wakefield said.

  Kat wasn’t quite sure whether he was being a bit facetious or was being sincere. Apparently, if you were rich enough, places like this were common.

  Jack nodded as Mr. Wakefield continued, “Mr. Carr will give you a thorough personal tour tomorrow, but I’m sure you are both tired from traveling and are in need of some rest. I will show you to your rooms.”

  Kat and Jack followed him down several hallways decorated in the same style of the foyer until they finally came to a set of double doors. Mr. Wakefield opened them to reveal a large living room with coffee table and couches, a wall-mounted flat screened tv, a marble fireplace, and a set of French doors that led to a patio that overlooked the ocean.

  The styling was similar throughout the house. However, this room emphasized blues, whites, and silvers. Kat couldn’t imagine how much this place would have cost to build and decorate.

  “The bedroom is hiding to the right behind those double doors,” Wakefield said. “Your bathroom is off it as well. To the left through that door is a small study with another bath off that room. There’s also a mini bar, a wine refrigerator, miscellaneous snacks, and whatnot over to the side there.”

  Wakefield pointed to the corner, which had all their luggage neatly stacked.

  “Your luggage was moved here as soon as you docked. I’ll leave you be, unless you need anything else.”

  “We’re fine,” Jack said. “Thank you.”

  “Mr. Carr has invited you to drinks and dinner tonight,” Wakefield said. “Black tie. I will come get you when it’s time.”

  “Sure,” Jack confirmed. “Thanks again.”

  Wakefield left, closing the doors behind them and leaving Kat and Jack alone. It had been the first time they had been alone since starting this trip.

  Kat turned to Jack, suddenly nervous. When Wakefield had said “rooms,” she had been expecting two separate bedrooms, not a spacious suite. That meant very little privacy.

  She was about to say something when Jack put his finger to his lips, wanting her to be quiet. He dug into the carry-on and pulled out a small device. Walking around the room, he waved it over every nook and cranny. Then, he did the same with all the other rooms.

  When he finished, he looked at Kat and said, “We’re clear. The room is not bugged. You can relax.”

  Kat frowned.

  She hadn’t even thought about stuff like that. Apparently, that’s why Jack was called in for this kind of thing.

  She sat down her carry-on bag, which was a glorified laptop bag, and folded her arms across her chest, not knowing what exactly she should do. It was mid-afternoon, so they had a few hours before dinner.

  Jack pointed to the bedroom and said, “You take the bedroom. I’ll camp out in the study. There’s a decent sofa there. Plus, it looks like I have my own bathroom, so I guess it works out.”

  Kat’s heart sunk just a tad. She certainly hadn’t expected them to sleep in the same bed, let alone the same suite, but it still was a bit of a blow to her already deflated ego. She remembered Keira telling her about a certain motel room when she and Logan had first met. It didn’t look like Kat was going to be that lucky.

  Besides, Kat could care less about Jack, right?

  “So…what do I do now?” She asked hesitantly.

  Jack shrugged and said, “I don’t care as long as you stay out of the way and keep out of trouble.”

  Kat was both annoyed and hurt at his comment. She was still a member of this team, regardless of her inexperience. Jack didn’t have to be such an ass about his displeasure of her being there.

  She shook her head and grabbed her bags, retreating to her bedroom. Shutting the doors, she sat her luggage down and flopped on the bed.

  The room was just as opulent as the rest of the suite. The bed coverings were done in soft blues, the fabric luxuriously soft. Artsy pictures lined the walls, while a soft, plush carpet ran throughout the room. There was a large window that overlooked a picturesque view of the ocean.
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br />   This place would be so awesome if I weren’t on some secret mission, Kat thought to herself. Or, if I didn’t have to worry about this jerk I know.

  Jack the Jerk.

  She couldn’t help but giggle. It was silly, but she could use some cheer right now.

  Kat picked herself off the bed and went to explore the bathroom. When she opened the door, she gasped when she saw the huge space, complete with a huge separate shower and soaking tub as well as a double sink.

  Wait, was that a bidet by the toilet? This place was certainly fancier than anywhere she’d ever been.

  Deciding to make the most of her stay, she began the ritual of unpacking, hoping that this evening would be better than the rest of the day.

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  Orson Carr sat in his office at Faraway Cay. He loved being here on the island and spent every possible moment in his little paradise. Sure, he spent much of his time at Cypherus Headquarters in California, but Faraway Cay was his true home.

  He was flipping through some company reports as he tried to relax a bit. Work seemed to always follow him, no matter where he was at, but he didn’t mind. That was the price of success. He had just turned sixty this year, and he wasn’t stopping anytime soon.

  There was a knock at his office door, and he turned from his seat on a plush couch to see his wife, Veronica, strolling in. He smiled when he saw her.

  Veronica was medium height, slender with dark brown hair and sparkling blue eyes. She was also almost ten years his junior and looked ten years younger than that. The two of them were a team and had been for twenty-five years now.

  “You look ravishing,” he commented, nodding at a long floral dress she was wearing.

  She shrugged, walking in the room and sitting down next to him.

  “What? This old thing?” She asked innocently.

  Taking her arm over his shoulder, she kissed him deeply. Even after so much time together, Veronica still made Orson feel like a teenager again.

  When they finished, she looked up at him and said, “Your guests are here and are getting settled in.”

  “You came all the way here to tell me something I already know?” He asked with a smile.

  “I came here to stop you from working yourself to death. Why don’t you come and relax for a bit?”

  Orson sighed and said, “Sure. I will. Did you get a good look at our guests?”

  “Yes. Jack Hunter seems very stern and to the point. I’d love to see what he’s like in the field. As for his girlfriend, we’ll see.”

  “Do you think she’s legit or did Bryant send Hunter with some back-up?”

  “Not sure. She looks like a blonde bimbo and doesn’t carry herself confidently. I doubt she’s a field agent, though.”

  Orson nodded.

  “We’ll see what Miles’s boy can come up with on security.”

  “Does he know about the second group coming in?”

  In three days, Orson was bringing in another company to make a counteroffer. He had asked one of Gray Tower’s rival companies, Eclipse, in to do an assessment.

  Orson chuckled and said, “No. I want to see how Gray Tower reacts to a little competition. I want the best for this place.”

  “Understandable,” Veronica said. “Now, I expect to see you at the pool in a half hour, or I’ll send Westfield after you.”

  “Yes, dear,” he confirmed.

  He just wanted to finish up one little thing before he took some time to really relax. Pulling out his laptop, he immediately began to sweat when he checked his email.

  Damn it, he thought. Why now?

  Scrolling through the message, he breathed a sigh of relief. It read:

  We no longer need your assistance on the prototype. Thank you for your assistance. This will be the last communication you see between us.

  Well, that was a good thing, right? Nothing like a brush with the past to make you nervous. In that case, Orson was right on time with a bit of extra security around his island.

  Better safe than sorry.

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  Logan Slade smiled as he watched his fiancé put a handful of dry pasta in boiling water. The smell of a tomato meat sauce wafted through the air. He couldn’t believe how lucky he was for this to now be his life. Keira looked back at him and winked playfully.

  They had just finished the work day, and she had promised him dinner that night. The two of them shared an apartment on the third floor of Gray Tower HQ and had been living in bliss after the tumultuous last couple of years that Keira had been subjected to. He was just glad that she was safe and happy in her role at Gray Tower.

  “Ten minutes and everything will be ready,” she said, stirring the sauce and then tasting it.

  “I can’t wait,” he told her. “You know I love your meat sauce.”

  She grinned.

  “I know. That’s why I keep making it for you.”

  He watched the domestic scene and took it all in. There was a time that he had thought that he’d never get to this point. Now, it was a reality. He was the luckiest man on earth.

  “I put out some more feelers on your brother,” she said. “I know the last ones didn’t pan out, but that doesn’t mean anything.”

  Logan sighed.

  Suddenly, the nice evening seemed distant as he thought about his brother, Nathan. Nate had run away from home when Logan had still been in the Army thirteen years ago and hadn’t been seen or heard from since. Well, that was until ten months ago when it appeared that Nate had made an amends to their parents for stealing money and jewelry from years ago.

  Ever since then, Logan and Keira had been working to try and find him, though that was becoming a daunting task. Nate had just disappeared off the face of the earth. There was just no record of him anywhere. For a while, Logan had assumed that his brother had died, but with what had happened ten months ago, there was renewed hope. Logan just wished that he knew why his brother had disappeared.

  Keira looked at him and crinkled her nose.

  “Did I just ruin the moment?” She asked.

  Logan shook his head and said, “It’s fine. I just need to get out of my head a bit.”

  Keira smiled and said, “I know what we can do after dinner.”

  “Oh, yeah?”

  He grinned and stepped toward her.

  “How about we get started now?”

  “But the food,” she protested.

  “Simmer the sauce. We can make new noodles later. I’m hungry for something else right now.”

  With that, Logan temporarily forgot about his family issues and took his fiancé to bed.

  Chapter 6

  Jack grumbled as he buttoned up his dress shirt and did up his tie. He hated wearing suits, but he did it when necessary. Regardless of how this worked out, Gray Tower would get a payday, so Jack was going to suck it up and do his job.

  After putting on his suit jacket, he gave himself a once-over in the mirror in the suite’s second bathroom. He cleaned up okay when he needed to, and he could certainly charm women this way, though there was only one woman who had parked herself in his mind.

  Jack left his side of the suite and moved into the main room. He froze at the sight before him.

  Kat stood there in a short gold dress, showing off her gorgeous long legs. Her shorter hairdo was done in waves. Soft make-up highlighted the right parts of her face.

  She looked stunning.

  Great, Jack thought. Just what I need.

  He had tried very hard this trip to ignore her as best as he could. She was just making it harder and harder, though. Part of him thought she was doing it on purpose. Was she trying to seduce him?

  Nah, he thought as he brushed the notion away.

  That wasn’t like Kat. More likely, Alex decided to have some fun with her looks, and this was the result.

  Still, did he want her to seduce him?

  Oh, hell yeah, he did. But he just fucking couldn’t. She wouldn’t do a one-time screw—that was for sure. K
at certainly deserved better than that. There was no way that he was going to date her either. Hell, he couldn’t imagine trying to do a workplace relationship. Logan and Keira did it, but they usually didn’t work one on one together.

  A bit of guilt crept through him when he thought about workplace dating. Just as Bryant had told the men of Gray Tower to stay away from Alex, Jack might have had a few words with some of the men in the IT department to stay away from Kat. The telecom guy was getting way too interested, and Jack had to put a stop to that.

  You’re such an ass, he thought. You don’t want to touch her, but you can’t stand the thought of anyone else touching her.

  It was shitty of him to do that. He knew that, but ever since the incident with Brenden, he had felt a special bond with her, one that he had never had with anyone else.

  Perhaps he should at least try and be nice to her? He never meant to be such an ass around her, but that was the only way he could think of to keep her at arm’s length.

  “You look…nice,” he finally said.

  Nice one, idiot.

  Kat looked like a deer in headlights as she stared at him.

  Finally, she said, “Um, you too.”

  “Thanks. I’ve never quite enjoyed the suit and tie deal, but I’ll do it when necessary, especially if it’s for a mission. Are you ready to go and schmooze for a while?”

  She fidgeted slightly and said, “I’m not sure. What does that entail?”

  “Eat, drink, talk to people. That’s about it. Stick to the script, and you’ll be fine.”

  Jack had created a fake profile for Kat—one that did not hint at her expertise in IT. He hoped that she wouldn’t get so nervous that she fumbled with her story.

  There was a sudden knock at the door, and Kat’s whole body tensed. Yeah, she was a bit jumpy.

  “It’s probably Wakefield,” Jack told her.

  She nodded but still looked nervous. Jack opened the door to reveal Wakefield in more formal attire.

  “Ah, I see that you both are ready,” Wakefield said, giving them a nod. “I’ll show you to the dining room.”