WindSwept Narrows: #18 Paige Andrews

by Diroll-Nichols, Karen

  “He hasn’t seen or heard from her in over five years, Paige,” Chase said quietly.

  “Evidently she wasn’t important enough for him to mention,” she returned, dropping her head forward and closing her eyes. She sounded harpy. “I’m sorry. This…stuff like this…is why this should never have happened,” she said firmly.

  Chase laughed. “You can’t tell me you’d want to cross back over that line now. I know better.”

  “I’d be lying,” she admitted softly.

  “He doesn’t know why she’s trying to reach him.”

  “Oh, please…he’s not that naïve,” Paige looked over with glare.

  “If you repeat this, I’ll deny it, but guys can be incredibly naïve at times when it comes to women we should have on the terrorist watch list,” Chase shrugged at the single brow she arched. “What can I say…”

  “Something crude and male comes to mind, but I’ll be quiet,” she sighed thickly.

  “Please…insulting our brains because of our anatomy is decidedly crude,” he said with a chuckle. “And while I’d like to disagree with you, but I can’t.”

  “It’s okay…I’ll deal with it. Busty blondes only tick me off these days,” Paige shook her head and turned back to the new folders he dropped to her desk. “Did she clean him out the first time?”

  “No. He was smart enough to have a pre-nup. But she did some…” Chase ran a hand over his neck. “She dented his self-confidence when it comes to handling focus on a goal like his business and his personal life. Guys take hits a lot harder on some things, Paige. We like to think we can balance it all, but without a partner who can help us keep that belief,” his head shook slightly. “We get lost in our own success at times. A strong partner, friend…shouts enough to make us realize how important the us is in a relationship.”

  “Thanks,” she nodded and began working, biting into the fruit left on the paper plate.

  Paige stared at the text shortly before four. A late dinner meeting. Not unusual, she mused, tapping in a number and waiting.

  “Hi…think Chase would mind if you had dinner with me and we hit the arcade? I need to vent and pound something…or shoot a lot of things,” Paige said, her own laughter mixing with Pepper’s.

  “I’ll tag him…he’s been working on stuff for a few hours, so he won’t even miss me,” Pepper told her. “Come to the resort and we’ll girl stuff.”

  “See you about half five,” Paige said, closing the phone and turning back to filing and logging.

  Paige left her jacket in the car, tucking her pack on her shoulder and dropping keys inside after making sure she had money. She caught up with Pepper outside the restaurant.

  “I was trying to decide…junk or real food…” Pepper met the wicked grin in her friend’s eyes.

  Both of them spoke at once. “Junk!”

  The arcade had been established to resemble the best game area in any amusement park or state fair grounds. That included vendor booths selling everything from hot dogs and hamburgers, to big fresh pretzels and funnel cakes swimming in powdered sugar. Paige was busy licking white powder from her fingers after the first hour of games when a friend from the programming area saw her and waved.

  “Just saw Sebastian in the restaurant,” Julia commented as she passed. “Thought you two were an item?”

  “Hmm…me too,” Paige said, glancing at Pepper and both of them heading to the restaurant with curious little frowns in place. “He did say he was having a business dinner tonight…”

  “Curious about with who?” Pepper asked casually. There’d been something on Paige’s mind since they met up.

  “I just found out this morning he was married before,” Paige said as they walked slowly along the corridor. She saw the surprise on Pepper’s face.

  “You didn’t know.”

  “Not until she gave me the, I’m not a stranger, sweetie, I’m his ex-wife,” she repeated in a sugary voice. “She wanted his private cell number.”

  “Oh.”

  “Yeah….”

  “Chase told me about the…uhh…photo…” Pepper pulled her lower lip between her teeth to keep from laughing at the sour look. “I’d’ve used the hunting knife,” she murmured, both of them giving in and laughing gaily.

  “Yeah…should have…but I don’t distrust him, Pepper,” Paige sighed. “I…if he wanted her, he wouldn’t have let her get away. He’s not shy about what he wants.” She said firmly.

  “But…”

  “I don’t like her,” Paige said flatly. “All perfect make-up…busty…curvy…perfect blonde hair…”

  “The bitch.”

  Paige laughed and hip tapped her friend. “Thanks. I needed that.” They stepped into the enormous foyer of the resort. “Wonder which restaurant…”

  “Let’s try the Italian first,” Pepper suggested, linking arms and walking toward the Mediterranean style décor. “I know the maître de here. He’ll know…”

  Paige waited while they talked, letting Pepper lead her toward the other restaurant inside the resort.

  “I suppose I should try and look casual…” She stopped a few feet inside the adjusted light of the restaurant. “He’s wearing a suit,” she said, coming to a stop and practically staring. Thick, pale red lashes narrowed coldly. “And that is not business.”

  “Hmm…no, but look at him. He’s not happy, Paige. And he keeps shoving her hand away when she tries touching him,” Pepper stayed at her side in the shadow of the marquis advertising the specials of the day.

  “The only time I’ve seen him with his hair pulled back was when we run,” Paige paced in tight, little circles. She felt Pepper’s hand on her arm.

  “He’s leaving the table.”

  Paige watched Sebastian walk toward the restrooms, leaving Marietta at the table. Pepper hung back and listened, watching as Paige moved next to her and leaned in real low.

  “He’s mine now,” she said quietly. “If I find one single finger print on him…and he’s already shoved your hand away twice…I’ll come for you. And I don’t fight fair,” Paige told her in a low voice. She stood up, their eyes meeting. “Have a nice dinner.”

  “You are a gullible child,” came the words at her back, amusement heavily laced through them. “He used to have much better taste in women.”

  Paige didn’t stop and think. She lifted a large glass pitcher of iced water from a passing tray and upended it over Marietta. Waiters and waitresses came running from all sides with towels, although a few had laughter in their eyes.

  “And you…need to chill,” she set the pitcher down and turned, striding from the restaurant with Pepper and ignoring the squeals of anger behind her. “That felt good.”

  “It looked impressive,” Pepper agreed, both of them striding down the corridor to the arcade. “Feel like shooting shit?”

  “A whole lot of shit.”

  “Good. Me, too.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Paige changed and crawled into bed shortly before eleven. It did bother her that he wasn’t home yet. But she trusted him, damn it. She didn’t know when she finally dozed off but she knew without a doubt when the music began playing at six in the morning. Blurry eyes peered through the window on her side of the big bed. Lots of clouds, she thought, her hand padding over the bed before she rolled to her back and found a very cold opposite side.

  She frowned as she sat up, looking around the room. His suit jacket was thrown over the chair. Slacks and dress shoes on the floor. She must have been worn out not to hear him come in. Then where was he?

  She hit the bathroom first. She could smell coffee, so the timer had kicked in. She was still frowning as she went down the stairs, toes curling against the cool wooden floors. She stood in the entrance, staring at the man stretched out on the sofa, covered with a blanket. He had one arm bent beneath his head, pale lashes opening slowly and meeting hers.

  “Why are you sleeping down here?”

  Sebastian groaned and sat up slowly. “Becau
se I figured you were too pissed to let me into the bed.”

  She blinked twice, shook her head and turned back to the hall.

  “Jesus…men are so fricking stupid.”

  “What the hell’s that mean?” He was up and striding after her, watching the fury in the twitching behind as she climbed the stairs.

  “Which word don’t you get? Look ‘em up!” She called over her shoulder, her head shaking. “This is our bed. Ours. If we can’t fight and sleep in the same bed, then we shouldn’t be here together.”

  “Paige…what the hell am I being stupid about?” He speared two sets of fingers through the sleep tousled hair and pulled.

  “What…” Paige pulled in a long, hard breath, spinning on bare feet and facing him in the bedroom. Her hand shot behind her to the chair. “Why did you wear that last night?”

  “I…” frantic, confused eyes went from the discarded suit to her face. “Marietta doesn’t go for the casual…”

  “And you give a flying fig about what Marietta wants, why?” She demanded hotly, watching her words register in his mind.

  Sebastian took a cautious step closer, his hands going to her waist to pull her into his arms. “I should have told you.”

  “You’re damn right, you should have told me,” she shoved her palm against his bare chest solidly, satisfied at his wince.

  “I wanted to find out what she wanted…why was she calling me now.” He waited a second while she continued to glare. “I think you frighten her.”

  Pale lashes narrowed. “She’s going to sit in a public restaurant at a public table with my guy and try to put the make on him and think I’m going to let it pass when I see it? She’s lucky I didn’t do more than a pitcher of water.”

  “You’re jealous…”

  “I am not jealous,” she leaned closer but kept her mouth just off his. “I am protective because evidently you don’t have the sense to keep out of her reach,” but she saw his lips twitch and sighed, her head going against his chest. “This has to be later. You have an in office at six-forty-five and most of the day out with vendors. I want a seriously hot shower. I think me an’ Pepper played every game in the arcade last night.”

  “That’s why you were there?” He asked, letting her slip free and strip off her clothes.

  “Yep…girls night out…hot dogs, soda and funnel cakes,” she chuckled. “Then we played every shooter game in the place a couple times. Bad guys don’t stand a chance.”

  Sebastian shook his head, collected some clothes and went to the other bathroom. He was leaning against the counter with a cup of coffee when she came running down the stairs, hands busily twisting the long, damp hair into a ponytail. He quickly put the cup down, snagged her around the middle and kissed her soundly. Several times. Both of them parted barely breathing.

  “I should have told you I was married before. All I can think…”

  “It wasn’t important,” Paige finished for him. “Until she showed up at the office.”

  “Yeah…basically…” he liked the warmth inside him again. It had been a cold night. She leaned closer and kissed him again.

  “Later,” she drained the juice and dug around in the fridge for a bottle of chocolate. She noticed the chaps. “I’ll see you at the office. Be careful…it’s rainy…” she backed away, grabbing up her pack and keys with a tap at the gate release before going to her car.

  He stared after her at the door, his head shaking. There was a great deal to learn about Paige that wasn’t in any book out there, he realized, sliding into his jacket and making sure he had everything he needed. Her reaction after the pitcher of water was not what his male brain had been prepared for. He was still pondering why he wasn’t offended at her lack of sense comment, but more amused that she felt he needed protected.

  Paige swept through the empty office, opening windows a little. It was much warmer than yesterday, despite the rain and fog. The fog was always a little on the creepy side, she thought. Turning music on and powering up the computers. She didn’t need to look when she heard the motorcycle outside until a large cup topped with whipped crème was placed in the center of her desk.

  “Chocolate mocha frap, grande,” Sebastian continued onto his office, draping a misted jacket over the chair and running his hands through his hair before opening his case and finding the file he wanted for the vendor meeting with him this morning.

  “Okay…you get serious guy points for this one,” she said after a long draw through the straw. She walked over to his door, leaning against the jamb. “Besides playing grab hands with you, did you find out why she’s here?”

  “Uhh…let’s say communicative wasn’t an operative word after you finished with her, Paige,” he said carefully, raising a brow that was shrugged off. “How’d you know I was there?”

  “We were in the arcade and a friend came by. Said she saw you in the restaurant and thought we were an item…” Paige slipped her hands into her jeans when he came to stand in front of her. “So…we went for a peek.”

  Before she could move, he leaned in and kissed her quickly. “We can talk tonight, I promise. I don’t have anything to hide, Paige.”

  “If I believed you did…I wouldn’t be here, Sebastian,” this time she broke her own rule and kissed him. “I heard a car…either Chase or your appointment,” she turned and went back to her desk, her work and the frosty coffee drink he brought her.

  Paige caught sight of the suit and briefcase when the door opened and turned, professional and friendly. She really wanted to ask if he’d given her his private number but refrained, holding up a warning finger when he was ready to leave an hour later.

  “Office. Later…be careful,” she told him, winking and accepting that devilish grin in return, his soft whistle echoing in the morning.

  It didn’t surprise her that three o’clock in the afternoon arrived at the same time a tall, curving blonde did.

  Paige met the surprise on her face. “Can I help you?”

  Narrowed eyes shot to the closed office door. “I want to speak with Sebastian.”

  “He’s not here.”

  “You’re lying to me. Just to keep him away from me,” she said, striding purposefully to the closed door and turning the knob. The door didn’t move.

  “Not here. And it’s locked when he’s out. Private stuff, you know?” Paige leaned back in her chair. “It’s been over five years since you talked to him. Why now?”

  “This isn’t your business.” Was the immediate and stiff reply.

  “Okay,” Paige shrugged and turned back to her computer, the sound of the slamming door not a surprise. Her eyes lifted from the screen to the mirror at the thoughtful expression on Chase’s face as he came into the office.

  “I don’t see blood…”

  “Haha…she’s upset because he’s not here. And she doesn’t have his private cell number,” Paige explained with a shrug. “No clue what she wants. He doesn’t, either, though…and, surprise, she won’t share with me.”

  “Gee…wonder why…” Chase shook his head and continued to his office. He’d heard all about it from his wife the night before, making a mental note to not be in the firing line of either woman in this lifetime.

  “But I don’t think it’s personal,” Paige said, chewing thoughtfully on her lower lip and turning to her computer. “She didn’t have that look in her eyes. I wouldn’t doubt she’d use sex to get what she wanted from him, but it’s not personal. No matter…” She accepted the half dozen folders from him, humming softly to the music in one ear.

  “Paige…Bastian isn’t a promiscuous sort,” Chase said carefully, striding to the door with his briefcase.

  “I know that. But it wouldn’t stop her from offering, now would it?” She waved a palm at him.

  “Stay out of trouble, Paige…and if you get into something, I know a good bail bondsman,” Chase chuckled.

  “Haha…thanks…see you tomorrow,” she called after him, going through the folders and adding to her v
arious piles.

  Paige froze in place as she stepped into Sebastian’s house, the three people staring at one another.

  “Hello,” she said quietly, looking from the man to the woman. Older than her and a dark, caramel color, both of them broke into broad, welcoming smile that brightened the room, she thought.

  “Miss Paige! Mr. Sebastian told us to expect you!” The man and woman moved toward her, hands extended. “I am Lewis. And this is my wife, Marta. We have been looking forward to meeting you!”

  Paige listened to the sing-song Jamaican voice as she shook hands with each one of them. “Nice to meet you. I…didn’t mean to interrupt anything. I was going to change and go out for a run,” she said easily, moving toward the stairs. They both nodded.

  “It is no interruption at all. If you will give me the key to your apartment,” he smiled happily at her. “I will see things are boxed and moved for you over the next few days.”

  Paige blinked and looked at the keys dangling from her fingers. “I…move my stuff….”

  “Mr. Sebastian said to begin with the clothing and then the other things. I will label them carefully and put them in the garage for you until you want them moved,” he told her with a nod, accepting the single key she popped from the key chain. “If you need anything, please just let us know.”

  “I…thank you…very much…”

  “I will leave dinner on the stove for you,” Marta told her cheerfully. “You did a very good job stocking the kitchen, thank you.”

  “Welcome…I love shopping…I’m going to change,” she nodded and ran up the short flight of stairs, still puzzling through having people working in a house. It was that puzzled face that Sebastian came upon five minutes later, his coming up and her about to go down.