His Bahamas Affair (The Albury Affairs)

by Christina OW

  * * * *

  Loraine watched her father do his signature upset pacing in Reno’s living room with her hands fisted at her side, holding tightly to her own rage. Reno stood calmly next to her, sticking with the game plan they’d formed on their way home from the docks that she’d already veered off twice. How could she possibly stay calm and explain what she wanted if her father has decided to be the impossible one?

  How would he know what she wanted? Unless she was doing something wrong or was getting stalked, he barely paid any attention to her. Where was this determination to save her from herself when she got on a plane to Paris eight years ago? Oh wait, he’d been delighted to see her go after she punched the son of one of his business associates when he’d gotten frisky the week before. She didn’t need him bullying her and telling her what to do now that she had a handle on her life, now that she had what she always wanted, a family that cherished her existence and loved her for being herself.

  She was not going to let him steal this from her!

  “Lord sire, I’m going to say this once and only once. My life is here now. I have a family who need and love me and there is no way in hell I’m going to leave them!”

  Her father stopped and turned to her with a sharp jerk of his body, his eyes bearing down at her like a raging bull. “We are going home, Loraine, on the next available flight and that’s final!” he yelled.

  That was it! She was done holding her tongue! She closed the gap between them with four determined strides, her finger in his face. Right when she was about to lay it on him, Reno pulled her back until she was standing behind him.

  “With all due respect, sir, your daughter is twenty-six years old. Old enough to make her own decisions. And what she’s decided is to stay here with my son and me and make our own family. I would like to include you and your wife in our family, but if you keep pushing, I will protect what is mine with all that I have.”

  Loraine stared at Reno’s back mouth a gape. No one had ever threatened her father and in such a cool conversational tone. She leaned to the side and caught her father’s own surprise before he masked it. Even if she tried—which she didn’t—she couldn’t hold back the chuckle that shook her body.

  “It looks like daddy dear has met his match,” she said sweetly before giving into another fit of giggles.

  “Listen to me and listen well, you riff raff! That is my daughter and I’ll do whatever I like with her and you won’t do a thing about it. As for removing her…” Loraine watched his lips curl in a sneer, his eyes shining with victory. “Jeb!”

  Loraine’s hands fisted the back of Reno’s shirt tightly. She didn’t like these odds and it scared her that Jeb would hurt Reno to do her father’s bidding.

  Jeb stepped into the house, the hard angles of his face softening when he saw her. “Miss Loraine, how are you?”

  Loraine moved to stand beside Reno, whose arm wrapped around her waist and held her against him tightly. She could feel his tension as he shifted his stance, standing at an angle by her side ready to defend her. Reno was prepared to take anyone to keep her with him and she fell a little more in love with him because of it.

  “Hi Jeb, sorry I ran out on you.”

  He shook his head with a smile that reached his eyes. “What have I always told you?”

  She chuckled. “As far as I run, you’ll always know where I am with each step I take. And you’ll be right there to save me if I need you…” She placed her fist on her hip and narrowed her eyes in mock anger. “Jeb, did you follow me here? Have you been close by the entire time?”

  His lips stretched in a grin. “With the amount of trouble you always get yourself in, how could I not?”

  Loraine took a step toward the old man, but Reno quickly pulled her back. She looked up at him. His eyes still on her father and Jeb, he gave her a short shake of his head. He was right; if she left his side they might just carry her out of here while Jeb held Reno back. Loraine took a step behind Reno but remained in view.

  “I would hug you, you meddling old man, but I can’t take the risk of being kidnapped.”

  “Kidnapped!” her father exclaimed outraged. “You are my daughter!”

  “Loraine, you need to understand your parents worry. You’ve been gone for over a month without a word to anyone,” Jeb spoke softly.

  She shrugged. “You knew where I was. If you did follow me, you also know I’ve been the happiest these past weeks than I’ve been my entire life.” Feeling desperate she begged, “Tell them to leave me alone Jeb. I’m happy and they have a chance to be happy without their troublesome daughter ruining their cherished public image.”

  “What?” Her mother spoke for the first time, standing slowly from the couch. Since she’d walked in, she looked absent, her eyes void mechanically speaking and moving. But now, she actually looked like she had life in her though she looked like she was in pain.

  “What did you say?”

  Loraine chewed on the insides of her lips, the urge to cry consuming her. But she wouldn’t do that. She wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of seeing her loneliness her desperation to be loved unconditionally again. She would give herself that. She had Reno and Tyler to give her that, and she didn’t need it from them anymore. The years of taking the scrapes they offered were over!

  “Come on, mom. Ever since you let them turn you into this,” her hand pointed from her mother’s meticulously styled hair to her low pumps, “you haven’t showed me a morsel of genuine affection.” She turned to her father. “And you, ever since grandmother and grandfather told you loving your wife and child was so not done in high society, you haven’t had the time of day for me.”

  “It didn’t seem that way when you spent my money on frivolous things!” her father countered.

  Loraine shook her head. “So I love designer labels. Isn’t that what you’ve been trying to turn me into my whole life? A spoiled brat whose only skill is to shop and once I get addicted to that magical plastic; you’d have something to use to make me tow the line. Well, mom sabotaged that plan; I couldn’t spend more than a thousand dollars a month and that was bumped up when I went to college. If I wanted to spend frivolously, I had to work for it.” Loraine laughed at the shock on her father’s face. “Yes, I worked, catering to your kind of people. And each time I went to those events, I saw the people I didn’t want to be. The people you’ve turned my mother into.”

  Loraine took a deep breath to keep her tears at bay. “That isn’t my life and I love myself more than I do you, so I’m not going to be as subservient as mom and live in misery for the rest of my life. It’s my life and I’m taking a stand and it’s here with Reno and Tyler. Now, if that’s all, I have a huge family I need to make dinner for, are you going to join us or not?”

  Her father chocked on his laugh. “You cook?”

  “There are no servants in this house. It’s my home, my family and I cook and clean for them.” With hands on her hips she took a step toward her father, her chin lifted defiantly. “And you know what? I love it. I love waking up early in the morning because Tyler is usually up by six and Reno and Ruiz by five thirty. Damn annoying but I love it because I get to make them breakfast and start the morning with them. I love the idea of making sure that Reno is ready to get to work when he’s supposed to with everything he needs and have a great day and why? Because I made sure he had a great start from the moment he woke up! I love doing ten folds of laundry each day ‘cause that kid goes through three pairs of clothes each day, and that’s only when he’s inside the house! I love cleaning my home, knowing as much time as I was taking getting the place in order, Tyler will be there in the next second to take it all apart. I love making something quick and easy for lunch and planning for dinner for a toddler who’s always hungry and because at the end of the day, three adults who come home exhausted, wanting to be fed, and then go up to clean rooms and fresh beds to sleep. I love putting my son to bed then coming back down to clean my kitchen—yes, my kitchen—, when the nig
ht is quiet and ready for the morning before I go to bed and sleep next to the man I love.” She shrugged. “And if he wants sex, I’m down for that too because this is my new life and I’m proud of it and myself.”

  After a lengthy silence of surprise Reno spoke. “She’s a great cook. You can find out for yourselves if you stay for dinner. If you do, you are going to be pleasant or you might as well leave my home this minute. Same goes for you, Jeb.”

  “I’ll help.” Her mother’s whispered response drew the attention of the entire room. She slowly wiped her cheeks dry and gave Loraine a wobbly smile. “I haven’t seen the inside of a kitchen in twenty years but I’m sure it’s just like riding a bike, right?”

  Loraine’s vision blurred with tears, her jaws tightly clenched shut. She wasn’t going to do this to herself again. Hope just because a little of the mother she knew peeked out of the cell she was held in, only to have it shuttered. It hurt too much.

  “I’m sure she would like that, won’t you Lori?”

  Loraine turned to Reno who had moved back to stand between her and her father and Jeb. He smiled tenderly at her, giving her an encouraging nod. Her right knee danced under her as she allowed a lone tear to escape. The man was her rock. He made her feel stronger with just a smile and a nod.

  Loraine held out her hand. “Come on, mom, we can decide on the menu while Reno gets Riana, Melody and Amy from the resort. They can do the foot work as we order them around and drink wine. Reno, would you have them here in an hour?”

  It took fifteen minutes there and back, it would have been even less if he’d had one of the resort drivers bring them. But Loraine wanted a few minutes with her mother while she was still herself before the house filled up with people and she would be forced to revert to the character she’d been playing for twenty years.

  He nodded, “On my way.”

  Her mother smiled taking Loraine’s hand, her first sincere smile in years and it made Loraine’s heart swell. “Is it okay if I change into something more appropriate first?”

  Please let it not be another pants suit! “Sure. Come on mom.”

  * * * *

  Reno watched as Loraine led her mother upstairs. He had been shocked when the woman spoke for the first time, though it had been only one word. When they’d met at the resort, she’d been polite but distant. The only emotion he’d seen in her was when she hugged her daughter, thankful that she was safe. It made him wonder why they thought she was safe with him until her father revealed they had no idea where she was. His invitation had solved that, and Reno wondered if Loraine had even wanted them to know where she was.

  Well, it couldn’t be helped at this point and with Robert Larson’s immediate attack, he’d had to delay his surprise. He was forced to push it to tomorrow, which maybe was better considering what he had planned then, if Jake and Gil got here in time.

  Reno looked at his watch. They were two hours late. On top of Loraine’s father, he couldn’t afford any more huddles. After her father’s reaction, it was a good thing he hadn’t invited her extended family. He couldn’t imagine what her grandparents would have done, though it would have most definitely been worse.

  He’d been alarmed when Robert had demanded that Loraine get into the car and leave for the airport with them. She’d smiled sweetly at him, hugged her mother, told Tyler to stay and play with his cousin and proceeded to Reno’s Jeep without another word. Relieved, Reno had gotten into the Jeep and driven home with a grumbling Loraine, the Larson’s limo following closely behind. When they got to the house, Loraine jumped out of the vehicle, and stormed in. He found her standing in a battle stance in the living room, a few feet from the door like she was determined to not let them enter any further into the house than necessary. The necessary part, he realized, was the convenience of throwing them out with them close to the door.

  He moved to stand next to her, telling her they should handle her parents calmly, but the moment they’d walked in, she’d welcomed them with a threat. Reno noticed the amused glint in her mother’s eyes, her lips pressed tightly shut as if to hide a smile. He was surprised by it. Loraine hadn’t noticed, even when she shepherded her mother to the couch before she moved back to blocking her father’s path.

  He’d paced the floor like an enraged bull and it wasn’t long before he started throwing his weight around, which didn’t impress Reno one bit. He’d quietly watched the exchange, taking in everyone’s emotions. He had to hold himself back so many times when he noticed the hitch in Loraine’s voice and the threatening tears in her eyes.

  How could her father not notice the pain his daughter was in? Was he that cold? Then he realized that Tyler would have been just like Loraine in twenty years if she hadn’t forced Reno to see what he was throwing away.

  He then turned to her mother, wondering what she thought of the shouting match. The woman’s attention was taken by his view of the ocean through his ceiling to floor window. She looked at it longingly, her hands fisted on her lap like she was holding herself back. A few times, she would close her eyes, tip her chin up slightly and breathe in the sweet air, her lips spreading in a beautiful smile that resembled Loraine’s when she was at her happiest. Susan Larson resembled a white seraph porcelain doll needing a mall push to release the colorful caged cherub inside. Reno was tempted to do the pushing.

  Pulling himself to the present, he face the two men, both staring at him with murderous intent in their eyes. He’d expected it from Loraine’s father but not Jeb. What happened to the sweet old man that was all smiles when Loraine was present? Now he looked exactly what he was meant to be; an intimidating bodyguard with numerous fancy fight training, ready to break Reno’s bones at the command of his master. If the old man wanted a fight, fine. Reno got his training from the streets and there was no better place to learn how to fight.

  Reno spread his legs and crossed his arms over his chest, meeting both their gazes head on. “My invitation stands, but don’t think for a second I’ll let you ruin this dinner for Loraine. One negative word and I’ll throw you out on your asses!”

  Robert sneered. “As if you could.”

  “He’d need an army,” Jeb added with his own sneer.

  Reno shrugged nonchalantly. “If I need back up I have Allan, Matthew and my brother Ruiz. And if we don’t want to get our hands dirty, I’d just have to borrow Allan’s army. He came with one big enough to protect the entire island. My brother-in-law is a nut about protecting my sister.”

  Robert stepped forward, getting into his face. “I want my daughter home where I can protect her!”

  “I can protect her just fine!” Reno countered.

  Robert shook his head with a sad laughing as he moved back. “Not from this nut. Has she told you about Pierre?”

  Reno felt his entire body go rigid as his arms dropped to his side. Jeb saw his reaction and smiled smugly. The old man was close to getting punched!

  “Yes, but she didn’t say anything about him being a threat.”

  “Well he is. Do you want to put yourself so at risk to entertain Loraine’s current way of rebellion.”

  “Rebellion?” Reno echoed shocked. The man didn’t know his daughter at all. “This isn’t a rebellion. Loraine and I are building a life together here, with my son Tyler and more children in the future if she wants that. We are getting married tomorrow and that is the only reason I reached out to you. Though I wish I’d waited until she told me about you before I did such a stupid thing.”

  Robert’s face fell. “What exactly did my daughter tell you about me?”

  Reno heard the strain in his voice and sighed. Hitting him when he was low would be a dick move, so he said, “It’s a surprise. And as much as you are trying to ruin our lives, I know Loraine would want you present. Everyone else she loves will be there. Don’t tell her a thing about it. Now I need you to leave.”

  “What about my wife?”

  “She’s safe here. Allan’s people have already been dispersed around the house and the
resort. A word to the wise Mr. Larson, your wife and daughter need you, not the public figure. Loraine is still holding on, but soon she’ll let go of her little girl dreams of having the parents she used to have and cut all ties from you when something better comes along. I know, I’ve been there, and it was the easiest decision I’ve ever made, though it hurt as hell. Your wife, she’s going to reach her limit and I’ll have both your ladies under my roof because we’ll welcome her with open arms.”

  He sneered again like Reno was nothing better than the spec of dirt on his shoe, but Reno didn’t care. He may be nothing compared to the powerful Robert Larson but he had him beat in the most important way—he had a happy and loving family.

  Reno pointed to the view behind him. “Your wife actually looked happy staring out of that window. For the first time since I met her, I saw life in her eyes and it made me wonder what you’re doing to her to make her so unhappy.”

  Robert’s face fell again and he quickly turned around and rushed out the open door, jumping into his limousine. Reno turned to the man left in his living room catching a glint in his black eyes that he quickly covered. Reno felt a sudden chill run down his spin.

  “Even with the threat of Pierre, you are willing to keep Loraine, to put your entire family at risk?”

  He nodded. “I protect my family with all I have, Jeb. Pierre will have to kill me to get to her.”

  Jeb’s lips spread in a lazy lopsided grin, his black eyes shining in that glint that was present moments before. Popular belief is a person could tell in someone was a sociopath by how he smiled or the look in his eyes. Reno wasn’t sure how true that was but Jeb was looking like a sociopath at the moment.

  As he walked away he said, “Sleep with one eye open Reno Albury. Locked doors and windows won’t stop him.”

  Reno thought he heard him laugh as the door swung closed behind him. And judging by the chill it gave him, there was nothing normal about it.