She let her head fall against his chest. The wine and music combined with the heat of his touch and Liddie began to relax. When Parker’s hands began to play at the buttons of her blouse, it became obvious he wanted to do more than dance.
Excitement, or perhaps panic, gripped her. He was moving too fast. When she felt fingers slide across to pull at the hooks of her bra, Liddie stepped away.
“I should go change, Parker.” She said apologetically. “We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves.”
“Don’t we?” He smiled and took a deep breath, releasing it long and slow. “Okay, Liddie. Maybe that would be a good idea.” He grabbed the glass of brandy and emptied it. “You go ahead and get comfortable.”
****
Garrett flew the plane to a cruising altitude and then turned the controls over to Mike, whom he knew was a damn good pilot. The kid, he felt, deserved to get as many hours as possible under his belt. Many men thought they were good pilots, but when push came to shove proved to be somewhat lacking in the decisive qualities needed to properly care for a cargo of passengers. Mike, who Garrett investigated thoroughly, was smart with a good work ethic and Garrett trusted him implicitly.
He got up and walked over to look out the small window on the cockpit door. Parker was dancing with his latest doll. Garrett watched until the willowy young woman with the massive head of hair pulled away.
Any other time, Parker would have pressed it and pulled her right back into his arms. Garrett wondered why he was showing such restraint now. Parker was a narcissistic and arrogant guy. He didn’t care who else was on the plane or what might be seen. Could it be that this woman required a more subtle approach?
Garrett went back to the controls and waited. If Parker were true to form, he’d be sleeping for most of the trip. With a big glass of brandy in him, it wouldn’t take long.
After several minutes, Garrett got up a second time and stretched. He walked over to the door and looked out. The boss was sprawled out on a couch, as expected, but there was no sign of the assistant. Seeing the open suitcase, Garrett figured Liddie was in the bathroom.
Perhaps this was a good time to pay a visit and get a little more information.
He tapped Mike on the shoulder. “You going to be okay if I take a break?”
The co‑pilot was in his glory. “No problems here.”
Garrett knew there wouldn’t be. The weather was beautiful and the plane was one of the best, with the most technologically packed flight deck that Garrett had ever seen. Mike would have to be the worst pilot in the world to mess anything up.
“All right, Mike, thanks. I’ll be back soon.”
****
Liddie pulled on a pair of new jeans. The bathroom in the jet was larger than the one in her condominium and far more beautiful to boot. The wood cabinetry was varnished to highlight the grain. Every time she touched a door or drawer, Liddie couldn’t help but wipe the fingerprints to keep the surface sparkling. The place was too gorgeous to mess up.
She unbuttoned the chiffon blouse and folded it on top of her skirt. She ought to be able to have it cleaned, along with the skirt, during the layover in Dubai. If planned right, she might be able to have a continuous supply of clean and appropriate clothes for whatever pops up during the trip.
Standing in new jeans and bra, Liddie considered how eager Parker was to make love to her. No pretense between them anymore. She hadn’t, however, expected him to move so fast. Would it be awful of her to make him wait, at least until they got off the plane? She was in no hurry to join the so‑called “mile‑high” club, though Parker could probably serve as president.
Using a wet washcloth, Liddie began to freshen up. She took a quick razor to her underarms and legs. It had only been a day since she’d last shaved, but it didn’t hurt to stay silky smooth. Every day was a shave day, now that she was with Parker.
Liddie released her breasts from the bra she wore to work and placed them into the C‑cups of a lacey white, underwire push‑up. Any other time she would have passed on the hundred-dollar price tag, even if it did have panties to match. Now, with Parker footing the bill, she purchased three different colors, and was delighted with the cleavage it provided. Parker, she decided, would agree it was well worth the investment.
She bent over and let her hair fall toward the floor, brushing it for more volume. Liddie had been doing this since she was a teen, and it never failed to give a lift on top and make her overall appearance sexier. Upside‑down styling, she mused, was one of her best personal grooming tips.
When Liddie flipped back up to check her appearance in the mirror, she expected to see a head of natural curls settle with a sexy bounce about her shoulders.
Instead, what she saw in the reflection almost made her scream.
Chapter Four
“What are you doing here?” Liddie whipped around to face the intruder.
“That’s my question,” replied Garrett.
“Where’s Parker?” Liddie stepped forward and reached around the pilot to grab the doorknob. Quicker than she could yell out, he grabbed a wrist and twisted her arm until it was behind her back. She spun around as he placed a large hand over her mouth to keep her silent.
Liddie saw the two of them reflected in the mirror. She listened, with the hope that Parker would crash through the door to save her, but heard only the sound of the airplane engine and the two of them breathing.
Garrett was holding her firm against his body. She turned her head to get her mouth out from under his hand, but he held her too tight.
“Don’t scream.” He kept his voice low. “Or I will break you immediately. Do you understand?”
Heaving with anger, Liddie contemplated her options. He was strong. Too strong. There was no way she’d be able to fight him without getting hurt. Judging by his grip, Garrett could do real damage. He held her arm tight against her back, arching her toward the bathroom vanity.
If only she could get Parker’s attention.
Liddie immediately gave it a go, fighting hard to wrap a leg around his and knock the pilot off balance.
No chance. It was like kicking a brick wall. One hand, like a mitt, held her mouth firm, while the other kept hold of her from behind. Breathing hard, she looked back in the mirror. Garrett’s face revealed a smug amusement. The attempt to escape his grasp did nothing to nudge his stance. Not by an inch.
“What altitude are you trying to reach with those breasts?”
Liddie looked down. She was about to pop out of the new bra. Mortified, she tried to adjust her body and decrease the danger of total exposure.
Garrett bent her arm back even more, causing her to instinctively arch to avoid the pain. Liddie drew a panicked breath.
“You going to be quiet?” he asked.
Defeated, Liddie tried to come up with a plan. She could either fight him with breasts unencumbered – no doubt providing even more amusement – or give in for now.
She acquiesced with a slight nod.
Garrett peeled his hand from her mouth. Liddie took a deep breath and waited until he’d let everything go before quickly adjusting the bra and grabbing a new tank top from the marble vanity.
“Where’s Parker?” she hissed, pulling the shirt over her head, desperate to cover up and confront him on equal ground. She feared the worst. Had this man hurt Parker in some way? Were they being hijacked?
Garrett leaned against the wall. “Relax. Your boyfriend, Prince Charming, is sleeping.”
“He’s not my boyfriend.” Liddie blurt out the response quicker than she could think about it.
“You’re right,” agreed Garrett. “Parker isn’t anybody’s boyfriend.”
They stood silent for a moment. Liddie, wondering if she should attempt to understand what he meant by that. Should she care what he thought? Immediately, she decided no. Garrett obviously wanted to start something, but she wasn’t going to play along.
“So what do you want?” demanded Liddie. “Did you come in here to
assault me? You think that’s going to go over well with your boss?”
Garrett laughed and ran a hand through a head of tussled hair with no defined style. His face held lines that Parker’s boyish complexion would never have. “Parker wouldn’t care, and you don’t know him very well if you think he would.”
He was baiting her. Liddie wasn’t going to bite and prolong the confrontation. The bathroom she thought was so spacious had gotten smaller and suffocating with Garrett inside.
“Again, I’m asking why you’re bothering me.” She looked around for something to hit him with if he dared touch her again.
He crossed his arms. “I want to know why you’re here, on this plane, with Parker Maxon.”
She huffed her response. “I work for him. He invited me.”
“You know what he does?”
“Of course, I know what he does.” Liddie laughed indignantly. “He’s a paper importer. His freakin’ father is a corporate czar in the paper industry.” She shook her head, realizing that he’d managed to pull some of the Jersey out of her. “Everyone knows that, and I’ve worked for him for three years. The damn company is famous. What do you think, I’m an idiot?”
Garrett studied her with obvious suspicion and Liddie got angrier.
“Look, maybe you’re trying to protect Parker, and that’s fine. As a matter of fact,” she explained, “as one who cares for him, I appreciate that. But who the hell are you to go about it in this way?” She walked toward the door, daring him to stop her. “Don’t question my loyalty to Parker, Mr. Wade. And don’t ever touch me again.”
The order had barely passed her lips when Garrett grabbed her arm, stopping Liddie in her tracks. Her confidence took a nose-dive.
“Parker Maxon doesn’t play games, Miss Nichols, and neither do I,” he warned. “You may want to reconsider this fantasy vacation. It may not be costing you money, but it will certainly cost you more than you think.”
Liddie tried to pull herself from the pilot’s grasp, but he tugged hard until she fell against him. The stubble of his unshaven face rubbed up against her cheek. She breathed deep. No store‑bought cologne mixed with the scent of this man.
“You can stay and be Parker’s whore,” he whispered, “or you can disappear and never be bothered again.” His hand moved down to her wrist. His lips turned to her cheek.
Liddie felt her legs grow weak and willed herself not to wilt.
“If you leave,” Garrett continued, “I can guarantee you will never regret it.” His lips moved over her skin as he spoke, his voice low and firm. “Stay, and you will suffer the consequences.”
Liddie tried to remain still and silent, but couldn’t suppress a shiver.
“And I assure you, Miss Nichols, there will be consequences.”
Another silence. His steady breath warmed the blush of her cheek. Liddie remained still until Garrett finally let go.
“Let me know what you decide,” he ordered, before leaving the bathroom.
****
Parker was still sleeping, as Garrett knew he would be. The rotten bastard couldn’t care less about his vulnerable employee. Making his way toward the cockpit, Garrett paused at the door and waited.
He’d heard the bathroom door lock as soon as he’d stepped out. She was no doubt getting herself together and deciding what to do. Would she tell Parker? Garrett couldn’t be sure, but even if she did, he wasn’t lying when he said it didn’t worry him. Guys like Parker didn’t care about women. They didn’t care about anything but money.
Liddie didn’t know that though, and Garrett had to figure out why. If she was anything like the other women Parker traveled with, she could be any, or all, of three things: easy, ignorant, or greedy.
A sudden spike of guilt stabbed at his conscience. What if he was wrong? She didn’t come across as trampy in any way. The full blush, the grab for her tank top – no, those weren’t the moves of a sexually confident woman.
Ignorant? He didn’t think so. She was smart enough to figure out that Garrett might be acting like a bodyguard. She was also smart enough to remain in the bathroom and consider what was said.
Greedy? That was still an option. Garrett glanced toward the pile of empty shopping bags. There have been plenty of women who’ve done more for less.
What troubled him most was a fourth possibility. What if Lydia Nichols was actually clueless? What if he’d threatened an innocent woman? The thought of it was too disturbing to ponder for long. Yet, if he could hope for anything, it would be that.
Garrett had to admit to an attraction for the woman. There was a brain behind those beautiful brown eyes. Could there be a conscience, as well?
It didn’t happen often, but the sight of her hair cascading past creamy shoulders and the grip of her fingers on his skin, provoked a desire. Just the thought of Liddie’s breasts hoisted high for the taking, made Garrett’s body respond with a throb.
Parker, that no good piece of garbage, had found himself a gem of a woman, and Garrett, for the first time ever, was envious of the little jerk.
He pushed the thought away. It was too much of a leap of faith to think Liddie wasn’t involved. While Garrett would have liked to believe otherwise, the odds of Liddie’s innocence were long. The woman kept records for Parker. She kept his office running. How could she not know what he was doing?
She should be grateful, he decided, grateful that he was giving her the chance to run. If she were truly smart, she’d get the first plane back to the U.S. as soon as they hit the ground.
Garrett would keep his promise and never bother her again. No matter what she knew, or what’s she’s done to help Parker. Then he’d forget all about Liddie. He had no desire to hurt her, even if she had no heart.
The bathroom door opened and Liddie stepped out. She looked up at him and stopped. Garrett swallowed hard. Did she fear him now? It was an uncomfortable thought. He gave a firm nod and slipped back into the cockpit.
****
Parker was snoring. Liddie wanted to grab a pillow off the perfectly upholstered sofa and throw it at him, but she didn’t. It wasn’t like they could kick Garrett off the plane. Not yet.
What was she to do? Tell Parker about Garrett and how he’d assaulted her in the bathroom? What if there was something about Parker she didn’t know?
The whole episode had her on edge. Liddie went to the bar and picked up the glass of wine. She opened a few cabinets and found several boxes of granola bars. Surprisingly, that was all the food there was. She grabbed a banana nut crunch, no longer caring to wait for Parker. If it didn’t quench the hunger pains, she’d eat another, or drink some more wine. Anything that took away the stress of the bathroom encounter was going into her mouth.
Liddie sat down and watched the clouds float by the oval window. The sound of Parker’s snoring accompanied the continuous play of jazz, though quieter than before. Light shone through the window and hit her face, as if urging her to come out and play in the sky. She pictured herself jumping from cloud to cloud without a care in the world.
The daydream lasted a minute or two, before ending with a misstep between clouds and falling frightfully to Earth, with arms and legs flailing wildly out of control.
Liddie loosened the barrette she’d placed back in her hair. Before leaving the bathroom she’d pulled her hair tight, away from her face and off the shoulders. Now her head hurt, though she doubted the barrette had much to do with it.
Parker’s whore. The insult still burned. What would have given him such an idea? Sure, she was dressing a bit sexy, but so were many women. It was called “fashion.”
Then he said Parker could care less about her. In reality, Liddie reasoned, Parker’s been a gentleman compared to Garrett. If anyone has treated her disrespectfully it’s been Garrett Wade.
Her heart skipped a beat, recalling how he’d grabbed her and pushed their bodies up against the bathroom vanity. The expression on his face was taut – and curiously concerned. His eyes had been piercing, but not cr
uel, while his grip had been firm, but not hurtful.
He wanted her to leave, or else face the consequences. Was that a threat, or a warning?
In her mind, she saw the reflection of the two of them together, her body held securely against his. Garrett Wade felt different than Parker Maxon. While Parker was long and athletic, Garrett was stouter and no doubt stronger, with muscles that weren’t acquired in any gym. A momentary lapse of attraction surprised Liddie and she quickly slapped it back.
How sick was that? The man could have hurt her, and may still want to hurt her. He was insulting as well. Liddie took a quick sip of wine, but it wasn’t helping. There was no way she’d be able to nap peacefully now.
Liddie looked around the cabin. There had to be something to keep her busy while Parker slept. She considered curling up on the sofa beside him, but her courage hadn’t reached that point yet. She’d continue to follow his lead, rather than the other way around.
The door at the front of the cabin, past the bar, led to the cockpit. Parker’s men, Jerry and Paco, had disappeared into the door at the back. Liddie decided to explore and see what was back there.
Maybe the two men had a deck of cards, or a book or something. She’d been so busy shopping for clothes, it hadn’t even occurred to her to pick up a magazine.
Before opening the door, Liddie listened to hear if she might interrupt a conversation. Hearing nothing, she gave a soft knock and cautiously turned the knob.
The room wasn’t large. Much smaller than the passenger cabin, but big enough to hold four seats and a table. The two men sat across from each other. No surprise there. It was what they had on the table between them that caused immediate shock and concern.
Her laptop.
Liddie recognized it as hers because of the tiny chart of country codes she’d taped over the right side of the keyboard. The little reference sheet helped her fill out forms faster.
Wild Suspicions (Romantic Suspense) Page 4
