by Lily Bishop
“I didn’t do something to make you want to leave early, did I?” The words came out of her mouth before she could stop them.
Ric smiled. “No, of course not. Sometimes the resort can as demanding as a jealous woman.” Lindsey lifted her eyebrows and Ric backtracked. “You know what I mean. I’m married to the job and all.”
“Then I guess that would make me the other woman,” Lindsey said, trying to make light of the issue.
“Lindsey, I just have to go back to work. It's nothing you did. I promise. I will see you soon."
#
Lindsey watched Ric pull away from her house with a lump in her throat. She would miss him. It would be six weeks before she could see him again if she waited until fall break. The idea of not seeing him for that long made her want to look at her schedule and try to find a way to fly down sooner.
Ben didn’t come home at all that day. Lindsey spent Labor Day cleaning and doing course work, wondering where Ben was.
Fox called after dinner.
“Have you been in Ben’s room lately?” he asked without much of a preamble.
“No, why?”
“When I was checking windows, I noticed certain … stuff in his room.” Fox sounded awkward.
“What do you mean stuff?”
“Pipes. Rolling papers. You name it. He had a pretty heavy green camouflage duffel bag in his closet, and it had a padlock on it. The bag reeked of pot. Are you sure he’s not dealing?”
Lindsey frowned. She couldn’t imagine Ben dealing drugs. “Are you sure? He told me he wrapped his own clove cigarettes. He said that’s what the smell was.”
“Trust me. It’s pot. I’m surprised you didn’t recognize the smell.”
“I don’t know what Laura told you about me, but I never hung out with people who did pot. I was too busy studying.”
“Or they were good at hiding it,” Fox countered. “You might want to talk to him about it. I don’t know that you want pot in your house.”
She sighed. “I will. Thanks for not telling Laura. She wouldn’t understand.”
“You’re right, but I wouldn’t let it go much longer.”
Lindsey finished cleaning up and camped out on the sofa in front of the television. She found a cooking show marathon and settled in to wait.
Lindsey jumped awake after hearing keys rattling on the other side of the door. She must have dozed off. She glanced at the clock on the television. It was after two in the morning.
She heard the keys clatter as they hit porch. Feeling sorry for him, she got up and opened the door. She saw the girl wrapped around him, giggling, and stepped back. Her sympathy faded.
“What are you doing up?” Ben asked, waltzing past her, holding the girl’s hand.
“I waited up to talk to you.”
“Oh.” He leaned into the girl. “Megan, go get us a couple of beers. I’ll be right there. I promise.”
Megan formed her thick lips into a pout. “Who is she?”
“My roommate.” When Megan turned toward the kitchen, he swatted her bottom. The girl looked over her shoulder and grinned.
Lindsey watched Ben, her eyebrows raised. In response, he sat down on the couch and kicked his legs out in front of him. “What can I do for you? You’re never up this late.”
“Usually not. I wanted to talk to you a minute, and I wasn’t sure I”d see you tomorrow.” She looked around him to point out Megan. “Does Brittany know you’re bringing a girl home?”
“Are you my mom?”
Lindsey took a deep breath. This was already not going well. “Forget it. That wasn’t what I wanted to talk to you about. Have you got drugs in your room?”
“No, why? Want me to find some?”
Lindsey stood up, irritated. “I’m serious. My sister’s fiancé said he saw drug junk in your room.”
“He was in my room?”
“Checking the windows.”
“Well, I’d be happy if you’d keep your family out of my room. I don’t go in your room when you’re not here.”
Lindsey felt guilty, but it wasn’t her fault. “I didn’t know he was going in there.”
“Come see for yourself.” He opened his door and waved her in.
The dresser and night stand was clean, carpet vacuumed, and the bed made up. Lindsey stood there for a minute, not sure what to do.
“But Fox said stuff was in plain view.” He stood there, his hands on his hips. “Is there a camouflage duffel bag?”
He opened the closet, and the floor was empty except for shoes. The top wire shelf was also empty.
“Nothing. Sorry.”
Lindsey frowned. “I guess I owe you an apology. But you know I don’t want drugs in my house.”
“I don’t either,” he said.
“All right. I guess I’m going to bed. It’s been a long day.”
The girl Megan walked past her, smirking. Lindsey watched Ben head to his room and wondered why she had never noticed the cocky hitch in his walk.
One of them had lied about the drugs, and after Ben’s defensive attitude, she didn’t think it was Fox.
Kayla had asked Lindsey about drugs that night she went to dinner with them. What was that about? Did she know he used drugs? Was that why she had asked about Lindsey? She decided to call Kayla as soon as she had some proof.
#
Sitting in his office, Ric stared at the picture of Lindsey that he had printed from his phone. He had wanted a copy for his desk.
He missed her so much his heart hurt and he worried about her all the time. He knew he shouldn’t. She was an adult used to being on her own, but he still couldn’t let it go. He felt like he should be beside her, making sure she was in at night and not staying at the library too late. Her innocence was so pervasive, he was sure that the college boys would take advantage of her.
It had been a few weeks since his spur of the moment trip to Clemson, and he still couldn’t get Lindsey out of his mind. He knew he should call her less and give her more space. Every time he tried, his need to protect her ran over his good intentions and sucked him back in.
Lindsey saw goodness in everyone, whether they had any or not. She had traveled to Calliope with Vaughn Bruce without thinking twice about it. Somehow, the man had convinced her that he was harmless when he was anything but.
Learning that Vaughn Bruce had connections to Miguel told Ric all he needed to know. It wasn’t a question of whether the man was a criminal. He jus had to identify which of Miguel’s criminal activities that Vaughn specialized in. If Vaughn Bruce recruited women into Miguel’s slave trade, Lindsey had dodged a bullet.
He looked up to see Jacquetta coming in with paperwork. He smiled, but his heart wasn’t in it. When he set the picture frame down, she gave him the look. She hadn’t given him that look in months. Not since he had told her he was giving all employees an across-the-board ten percent raise. No, Jacquetta had her mind on profit and nothing else.
“Isn’t that the woman that you kept in the tower for three days?” she asked.
“Yes.” He didn’t add anything else.
“We are lucky she didn’t file a lawsuit for false imprisonment.”
Ric shrugged. He had known the risks. He expected his management team to bring up concerns, but he always had the final call. “I did what I had to do.”
“Rudy was hoping to see you this weekend,” Jacquetta said. “Will you be around?”
Ric grimaced when Jacquetta brought up her young son. “No, I’m afraid not. Lindsey is flying down for a long weekend. She has a semester break.”
He knew Jacquetta would be disappointed, but he continued to distance himself from her. The two of them had never dated, but he had spent time with her and her son. It was time for him to put an end to that. He could tell she was beginning to build expectations around his time. He loved her son Rudy, but the boy needed a long-term parental figure. An occasional hour of Ric’s time on the weekend wasn't enough.
“Well, have fun.”
“What do you have? Some massive security risk?”
Xavier shrugged. “Not massive. But you won’t be happy.”
“Go ahead. It can’t get much worse.”
“I called Nassau to check on the criminal cases we sent them in the past quarter. Vaughn Bruce pleaded guilty, paid a fine plus restitution, and was released. On top of that, he’s banned from traveling to the Bahamas for at least five years.”
Ric slammed his hand on the desk. “That’s it? No jail time? I thought he would at least get a few months.”
“They’re not going to give a rich American jail time unless the case involved drugs. Sometimes not even then. When they pay the fine, they are usually home the same day. You know that.”
“I don’t have to like it,” Ric growled. “Where is he now?”
“No idea.”
“Do some basic searches and see if you can find him. I want to make sure he’s not bothering Lindsey.”
Xavier paused for so long, Ric thought he had started to leave. But when he looked up, Xavier was still standing there. “You do realize that she can see who she wants, right?”
Ric narrowed his eyes at Xavier. “Yes, I just don’t want her hurt.”
“I’m just telling you, man, if you crowd her, it’s not going to end like you want.”
“Believe me, I know. Have you found out anything about her roommate?” As soon as he returned from Clemson, he had asked Xavier to find out everything he could about Ben Morton.
“Not much.”
“Well, hell. Hire a local investigator up there if you have to.”
“Can you tell me what you're looking for?” Xavier asked.
“I have a feeling he’s a drug dealer, but I need facts.”
“I’ll do my best. How much do you want to spend if I have to hire someone?”
Ric frowned. “When have I cared about money? Whatever it takes.”
Ric's plan to involve Fox and Laura hadn't worked. He told Fox about what he had found, but as far as he knew, nothing had happened. Lindsey hadn't mentioned anything about Ben. He had expected Ben to have moved out by now.
#
The girl arrives on Calliope Island Friday. Departs Tuesday.
Miguel read the text from his insider at the Castle Resort and smiled at his second in command, Javier.
“This is perfect. Ricardo will never know what hit him.”
“Send Vaughn Bruce. He wants to get even with the girl.”
Miguel waved away that idea. “Not him. By now, Ric knows Vaughn’s sentence. That five year banishment wasn’t expected but we can’t ignore it. If Ric or your brother see him, they can arrest him again. No, I want to use him in the United States. His passport lets him travel freely. You and I have to limit our US visits to only the most critical tasks. You will go. Just keep a low profile. I don’t want you to run into Xavier.”
Giada brought more wine out and then left them again. Miguel frowned at Javier.
“Are you sure about Giada? Is she loyal to you?” he asked, remembering how Javier and Xavier had fought over the girl years ago.
“Giada does what I tell her.”
“As long as you are sure. If she’s going to be the primary one taking care of the women, I want to make sure she will follow orders. How much longer until they complete the dungeon?”
Javier shrugged. “A few months maybe.”
“Push the men to finish it sooner.”
CHAPTER NINE
Island Escape
Fall break couldn’t come fast enough for Lindsey. Ric’s quick visit over Labor Day weekend had just left her wanting more. As promised, Ric sent his jet to the local airport to pick her up. She took a short nap, and by the time she woke up, the plane had landed. She walked down the jet steps in Calliope right into Ric’s waiting arms. This was the life.
“How was your flight?” he asked, looking down at her in the circle of his arms.
“So good, I barely remember it.”
“Well, let’s see if we can make it more memorable now that you’re here.” His lips hovered near hers.
Lindsey stretched up and brushed her lips against his. He smiled beneath her lips, letting her lead the way.
“Yes, let’s,” she said. “I’m yours for the weekend.”
She didn’t realize how much she had missed Ric until she saw him in person again. The video-chats and hour-long phone calls weren’t enough. Ric had a charisma that had seeped into her soul, and she had missed having him near. How was that even possible, since they hadn’t been together for more than a long weekend? She didn’t know why, but she knew her heart arched towards his, no matter where he was.
“Xavier, it’s good to see you.” She smiled at the burly security chief that had stayed with her almost the whole time on her first visit. She knew Xavier was a sweetheart. He didn’t speak much, but he and Ric had been friends since childhood.
“And you, Miss Lindsey.”
“Just Lindsey, remember?”
Xavier smiled and hefted her bag into the back of the golf cart. She and Ric took the back bench, and she snuggled next to him. The golf cart lurched and Xavier took off in the opposite direction from the resort.
“Where are we headed?” she asked Ric.
“You wanted to see my villa, remember?”
“Ooh, can’t wait. I get to see more of the real Ric, not the guy who has to be nice to the guests all the time.”
“Well, this is about as real as it gets. No maid service, no chef. Real Ric, at your disposal. And no take-out, either. You’ll be begging me to send you back home.”
Lindsey laughed and squeezed him in a fierce hug that surprised even her. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily.”
Ric looked nervous as Xavier pulled up to the front of his villa. Lindsey felt a rush of affection so strong it almost knocked her over.
“Well, this is it,” he said, hopping down and offering his hand to help her.
Lindsey laughed and squeezed him in a fierce hug that surprised even her. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily.”
Ric looked nervous as Xavier pulled up to the front of his villa. Lindsey felt a rush of affection so strong it almost knocked her over.
“Well, this is it,” he said, hopping down and offering his hand to help her.
“It’s beautiful,” she said. Flowering bushes and trees surrounded the white brick exterior.
“Not as beautiful as you.” From anyone else, the words would have seemed hokie.
She grazed his shoulder with a teasing blow. “Stop it. You know I’m not beautiful. I left the wig at home, remember?”
“You still have it? You don’t need that wig. I promise. And you’re wrong.”
“What?” she asked. He had sounded so serious.
“You are beautiful.”
Lindsey beamed, pleased that he found her at least attractive. She had never felt beautiful, not growing up with Laura, the blonde with the tight curls. She had always been the afterthought, the girl with the mousy brown hair who was good at math. “You don’t have to, but thank you for saying it.”
He shook his head. “At some point, you are going to realize how much you have to offer.”
“You’re sweet. Come on. Show me your casa.”
“Mi casa es tu casa.” He led the way, his hand reaching out to take hers.
He opened the front door and stepped back to let her enter. Lindsey gasped at the beauty in the room. Three arches delineated a separate sun room.
He walked her through a sleek, ultra-modern kitchen. The den sported a U-shaped sectional and large flat-screen television. A colorful rug tied everything together.
The master bedroom featured a large king-sized bed draped with white filmy curtains.
“I love that bed frame,” she said.
“The last storm felled some old mahogany. I hired a woodworker to make some furniture and racks for my sword room. He also made this bed.”
“Beautiful.” She touched soft, sheer fabric, surprised that he had decorated everything on his own. Not sure where to put her hands, she turned back to him.
“Here’s the other two bedrooms." He walked her through the other two spaces. Xavier had left her suitcase in the larger of the two rooms. Lindsey wanted to ask why her suitcase was there and not in his room, but she hesitated.
“Through here is my training area.” He led her through an open breezeway and through French doors. They entered a wide open space larger than her house. A spongy material covered half of the floor and stone tile covered the rest. Two treadmills and other exercise equipment took up one end.
“Wow. You weren’t kidding. Is all this equipment yours?” She glanced at the different swords—foils, épées, and sabers. One area appeared to hold antique swords.
“It is. We will have to have a match later. When you’re rested.”
She winked at him. “Right. When I’m rested. Like that’s going to matter.”
He shrugged. “It’s good to keep in practice, regardless of who wins, don’t you think?”
“What is this sword?” She pointed to the antique basket hilt sword that held the position of honor on the rack’s high shelf.
He lifted it down and presented it to her, his hands holding it parallel to the ground.
“Wow. I’ve never seen anything like this. Is it real?”
“Yes. I bought it at auction a few years ago. This belonged to a Venezuelan Naval Officer during the time of the great blockade.”
Lindsey had to admit she was weak on Venezuelan history. “What was that?”
“Britain, Germany, and France blockaded Venezuelan ports in 1902 and 1903. They withdrew after arbitration, but the Venezuelan Navy didn’t fare as well. My great-grandfather carried a similar sword, but my family's sword is missing. I bought this one at auction."
Her fingers traced the fine engraving on the steel blade. “It’s beautiful. May I?”
