by Cat Johnson
Through the open window that let in a warm breeze, the tub had its own killer view of sparkling water and rustling palm trees.
The sound of crashing waves was interrupted by Darci saying, “Wow.”
“You ain’t kidding.” He was in paradise with a beautiful woman in a room with a bed big enough for some pretty acrobatic sex and a tub made for two, and he was here for work.
Yup, that was about par for the course as far as Chris’s luck went.
Sighing, he turned to her. “I should call our host and go get this meeting over with. I think there’s some sort of a welcome party for the wedding guests tonight and the wedding is Saturday, but besides that, I have no idea what’s going on the rest of the time.”
“Will you be long?”
“I don’t think so. You hungry?” They’d been in the air for fives hours with only one short stop to refuel. Now that she didn’t look about to vomit, she probably was getting hungry.
She lifted one shoulder. “A little.”
“Why don’t you bust into that fruit basket I saw in the living room and relax? After I get back with the schedule, we’ll figure out the food situation.”
“Okay. I saw a bottle of champagne in an ice bucket. Am I allowed to open it?”
He laughed at her hesitation. “Sure. Go for it. Pop that baby open.”
Looking like a kid contemplating doing something she shouldn’t, she chewed on her lip for a second before saying, “Okay. I will.”
“Good. Enjoy. Just don’t guzzle it all on an empty stomach.” He wouldn’t be indulging in the champagne himself, but he didn’t see any reason why she couldn’t have some to relax.
Chris figured Darci was more of a liability nervous than she would be tipsy. Drunks at a wedding party were commonplace. Guests shaking with fear were not.
He led the way to the living room and watched her pick apart the goodies in their gift basket while he pulled the phone out of his pocket.
Hitting the number he’d programmed into his phone back home, he dialed Howard Collins, the man who was paying the bill for the champagne Darci was about to break into.
“Hello?”
“Mr. Collins. This is Chris Cassidy from Guardian Angel Protection Services.”
“Mr. Cassidy. Good to hear from you. Are you here?”
“I am. We just arrived. I’m in the room. Can we meet to discuss the security for the weekend?”
“Yes, I’d like to get that taken care of as soon as possible.”
“I understand.” Chris felt the same.
“My wife and daughter are getting massages at the moment, so I’m available now, if you are.”
“Now would be perfect. Where should I meet you?”
“How about the indoor bar by the restaurant? The outdoor bar by the pool is too damn hot for my taste.”
After having been deployed during the summer to Djibouti, Chris couldn’t imagine that poolside during February in Florida could be all that hot, but he wasn’t going to argue. “Fine. I’ll head right over and meet you there.”
Chris had just disconnected the call when he heard the pop of the champagne bottle. He glanced up and saw Darci pouring herself a bubbling glass full and smiled.
An all expenses paid weekend at a luxury waterfront resort. Mission meetings held in the bar. Babysitting drunk rich folks. Even if he wouldn’t have the scenery of a beautiful woman sipping champagne on any other assignments, if future jobs turned out to be anything nearly this sweet, working for GAPS was going to be damn nice.
CHAPTER 10
“Mr. Collins?” Chris extended his hand to the man seated at a small table in the air conditioned bar. He’d recognized him from the picture he’d found online easily enough during his research to prepare for this job.
“Yes. Mr. Cassidy, nice to meet you.” The man stood and shook Chris’s hand. “Please, sit.”
“Thanks. You can feel free to call me Chris, unless being more formal suits our cover story.”
The older man smiled. “I think it might.”
“And who am I supposed to be to you again?”
“I’d told my wife you were a business associate. Though you’re a little younger than I expected.”
Chris raised a brow at the man’s inadvertent compliment. “I’m forty.”
“Are you? I thought maybe early thirties.”
“No, sir. Just turned forty.”
“Huh. I knew you’d be in good condition, you having been a SEAL, but I guess I expected your line of work to age you, not make you look younger.”
Chris lifted a shoulder. “It must be all that exercise and fresh air we get in the Navy.”
If you could call running up a goat path in the border provinces chasing insurgents exercise and fresh air.
“Must be.” Mr. Collins nodded.
“So I’m still not clear what line of work I’m supposed to be in as your business associate. And forgive me, but I’m not sure I can pull off convincing your wife or your guests that I’m the owner of some multi-billion dollar corporation.”
Even DEVGRU’s training could only get him so far.
“I’ve already thought of that. I’ve got an old fraternity brother of mine, Richard Dean. He owns a major construction company I’m currently doing business with. Unfortunately, he couldn’t make it this weekend. All of that is true. Here’s the cover story. I’m going to say he sent you, one of his protégés, in his place last minute when he realized he couldn’t make it.”
A construction company owner’s protégé. That Chris might be able to pull off.
“Sounds good. Just give me the name of the company and the location and we’re good.” Chris reached into his back pocket and pulled out the small all-weather notebook and pencil he took with him everywhere.
“Already written down for you. They even have an office in your area.” Mr. Collins slid a piece of paper across the table to him just as a waiter approached.
“Perfect.” Having a civilian in charge of this thing had given Chris more grief than he’d admitted, but it seemed the man had a good head on his shoulders. Things might work out all right.
“I’ll have a scotch on the rocks. Something to drink, Mr. Cassidy?” Mr. Collins asked.
“Cranberry juice and soda with a lime.” When the waiter had left, Chris decided he should explain. “I don’t drink when I’m working, but that might raise suspicions. I figure this will look like a drink to anyone watching. I’ll set it up with the waiter ahead of time during the reception and tell him to keep them coming without my having to ask.”
“Good idea.” Mr. Collins looked impressed. Chris had been pretty impressed with his plan himself. “But you’re not technically working right now, are you? There’s nothing happening until the welcome party tonight.”
Chris shook his head. “As far as I’m concerned, from the moment I stepped onto this property until the time I fly out of here Sunday, I’m on the job.”
Mr. Collins nodded. “I like how you think, Mr. Cassidy.”
“Thank you, sir. Can we review the schedule of events for the wedding guests? I’m not clear on tomorrow’s activities.”
“Of course. Let’s do that now.” Mr. Collins leaned back so the waiter could set down cocktail napkins and the two glasses, and then they got down to business.
~ * ~
Half an hour later, once the meeting was over, Chris felt a little better. Now that he had the schedule, he could make a plan. He said goodbye to his boss and headed back to the room with his notebook, filled with notes on the weekend’s agenda, in his back pocket.
His gun bag, which he hadn’t been about to let out of his site until there was a place to secure it, was still in his hand. He’d taken it to the meeting with him but he’d have to investigate and see if there was a safe in the room large enough to stash the contents.
His knife and his Kimber in the holster strapped around his calf over his sock wasn’t leaving his body, but the extra ammo, his Glock 23, and the suppressor c
ould go in a room safe.
He was on the path to the room when his phone vibrated in his pocket. He fished it out, thinking it might be Darci wondering where he was. It wasn’t. He saw Jon’s name on the read-out.
Chris hit to answer the call. “Hey, boss.”
“Hey. Are you there?” Jon asked.
“I am. And I’ll tell you what, you can send me to work for this guy anytime you want.”
Jon laughed. “I take it you like the resort.”
“Hell, what’s not to like? But seriously, this guy’s not as bad as I’d feared he would be. I just met with him and judging by what I’ve seen, he actually might not make my job any harder than it has to be.”
“Unlike our command used to, you mean?”
“Exactly.” Chris laughed. “There was one thing he threw at me that I wasn’t expecting. Did you know there was a boat trip planned?”
“Uh, no. What kind of boat trip?”
“Apparently instead of the usual rehearsal dinner or whatever else you normally do the night before the wedding, the bride and groom are taking all of the out-of-town guests out on a yacht. It leaves tomorrow afternoon. We’re going to float around and have cocktails and food, and then come back later that night after dark.”
“All right. That doesn’t sound too bad. At least it’s a contained environment. It’s probably easier for you to keep an eye on everybody on a boat than at the hotel where they’re free to come and go.”
“Agreed.” As long as nobody got drunk and fell overboard, it would probably be a pretty uneventful evening.
“Any other surprises?”
“No. Not really. Tomorrow, up until the cruise leaves, the guests are free to do whatever they want. I figure I’ll stick close to the family in the public areas whenever I can and keep my eye out for anything strange. And then Saturday the wedding is pretty early in the afternoon. The bride and groom leave early Sunday morning for the honeymoon. The guests have a brunch, but then we’ll leave.”
“Yeah, that sounds like a tough job. My heart bleeds for you.”
Chris laughed. “Hey, don’t blame me. You sent me here. You and Ali could have come if you really wanted to.”
“I wish. Zane and I have what I hope will be our final meeting with the shipping company tomorrow.”
“Good luck. I know you’re gonna nail the presentation.”
“Thanks. I hope so. Good luck to you too.”
Chris snorted. “Not that I’m going to need it, but yeah, thanks. Talk to you later.”
“Later.”
He’d reached the door of their room, just as he disconnected the call with Jon. There was music coming from inside, and if he wasn’t mistaken, singing.
After sliding the key into the lock, he pushed the door open, slowly, quietly, so as not to disturb Darci before he got a peek at what she was doing.
She sat in one patio chair and had her bare feet kicked up onto another as she faced the ocean. She’d changed into a sundress and looked completely relaxed as she sipped champagne and sang along to the song on the room’s clock radio.
The scene was so perfect and peaceful he didn’t want to disturb anything. But it looked so inviting he couldn’t stop himself from joining her.
First, he had to handle this gun situation. He set the bag on the floor of the closet, happy to see a good-sized safe inside. It was big enough to hold a laptop plus some. He hadn’t bothered packing his laptop, but he did have the contents of his weapons bag to store safely, and it looked as if it would fit.
He took his extra weapon and ammo out of the bag, and then closed and locked the safe door before he wandered outside.
The warmth of the sun hit his face. No wonder Darci was enjoying the weather. It was a far cry from what they’d left at home.
“Hey.”
Darci swiveled her head and smiled at him. “Hey. How was your meeting?”
“It went very well, thank you.”
“Sit down with me. Ooo, but grab the basket first. There’s cheese and crackers, and chocolate and strawberries in there.”
“So I see.” There was a strawberry in her champagne glass and just a dot of chocolate on her upper lip. He reached down and, as she gazed up at him from behind sunglasses so big they reached halfway down her cheeks, swiped the fleck of chocolate away. “You had a little bit of chocolate.”
“Oh. Thanks.” She raised her hand to her lips.
Chris drew his hand back and sucked in a breath. “No problem. I think that cheese sounds pretty good. I’m as hungry as a hostage.” It wasn’t only food he was hungry for.
“Then why don’t we go get something to eat?”
“Because the damn welcome cocktail party starts in like an hour and I wanted to head down a little early to check out the layout.”
She jumped up from her chair and spun to face him, panic written clearly across her face. “Less than an hour. I have to change. What should I wear?”
“It’s poolside, so I think you’re dressed perfectly, just the way you are. I mean you might want to put on some sort of shoes, but that’s it.”
“Really?” She glanced down at the floral dress she was wearing.
It was loose, but with the ocean breeze whipping the cotton around her body, it outlined every curve. Damn.
“Really.” He turned and headed for this supposed stash of cheese and crackers. He might as well feed one hunger, since he couldn’t feed the other.
She followed him inside. “Everyone from the wedding’s going to be there? I’m not ready for that.”
“Relax, it’s not as bad as it sounds. It’s not just for the wedding party. The way Mr. Collins explained it, the resort serves cocktails and food out by the pool every afternoon. They decided it would be nice to add it to the agenda for people in early for the wedding. We’ll go and sit by ourselves. Only talk to whoever talks to us first, then you can come back here. Okay?”
“Where will you be?” Her voice rose with undisguised angst.
“I want to do a sweep of the property. Get familiar with the layout.”
“Can’t I come with you for that?”
He’d never even thought of asking her to do a sweep with him, thinking she’d rather relax in a lounge chair during her down time while he worked. “Do you want to come with me?”
“Yes.” She lifted one shoulder. “And besides, you know, it might look less suspicious. I mean if we’re taking a stroll together won’t it look better than you creeping around on your own?”
He hadn’t planned on creeping, or at least he wasn’t planning to look like that’s what he was doing, but she was right. It might look better if they were just two new arrivals taking a tour together.
“A’ight. You can come.”
“Can we go now? I’m dying to see the pool close up and everything else.”
“Okay.”
“Let me get some shoes.”
He glanced up to see her make a beeline for the bedroom, just as he’d shoved a hunk of cheese into his mouth. She came back into the room in just seconds with shoes in one hand and a small purse in the other.
This girl was like a whirlwind, changing on a dime. She was sure going to keep him on his toes and he wasn’t complaining.
He swallowed his snack, figuring she was ready to go. “Let me throw on a jacket so I look presentable.”
She nodded and he made his way toward the closet, hoping the jacket still rolled up inside his bag wouldn’t be too wrinkled.
Inside the closet, he spotted the safe. The jacket would give him the added benefit of being able to hide the Glock at his back. He unlocked the box and drew out the holster and gun.
Call him crazy, but he’d feel better knowing it was with him and not locked in a safe where he couldn’t get to it.
Happy with that plan, he kneeled down and unzipped his pack. He found his shaving bag on top of his jacket and remembered he’d most likely run into their hosts at this party. He figured he’d better shave.
With the ki
t in hand, he stood and popped his head around the closet door to say to Darci, “Give me one minute to run a razor over my face and then we can go.”
“Sure.”
“It’s early for the Welcome Party yet, but we can take a look around the property and then head to the pool.” He talked as he made his way to the bathroom.
“Sounds good.” She was sure easy to please today.
Then again, they were in paradise. What was there not to be pleased about? He could think of one thing that would make his trip a bit better, and it involved that big bed and the woman waiting on him.
Shoving that pointless thought out of his mind, he unzipped the shaving case and halted when he saw what was inside.
A strip of condoms and a note. Chris picked up the small piece of paper and read his brother’s familiar scrawl.
Just in case. Have fun.
Fucking Brody. Now Chris would never get his mind off sex.
Shoving the note and the condoms deep into his shaving bag below all the stuff he’d packed, Chris started to search for his razor. When he found it he glanced into the mirror and took a long hard look, trying to see himself as Darci did.
Why would a woman like Darci want to be with him? An older man who she’d known for years and always treated like a joker. A guy who’d had a good career once, but hadn’t done shit since retiring except kill time.
Chris sighed. He would be returning Brody’s gift on Sunday, accompanied by a nice hard punch in the gut for even putting the idea into his head that Darci would ever fall for a guy like him.
He shaved quick, only nicking himself once in his haste. Then he shook the wrinkles out of the jacket slipped it on and checked to make sure the holstered gun at his back wasn’t showing.
That was it. This was as good as he was going to get. He opened the bathroom door and found Darci sitting in a chair watching the waves outside. “Ready. We can go.”
She jumped up, a wide smile on her face. “Yay.”
He couldn’t stop from smiling at her enthusiasm.
Hell, if all it took to make this woman happy was to let her walk the property with him, he’d take her on as many walks as she wanted. It probably wouldn’t get him everything he wanted from her, but just seeing her smile was good enough.
