Hook, Wine and Tinker

by Mardi Ballou

  She suspected he was trying to divert her from her stand, but she was willing to go along for a bit. “I’m assistant manager at a local travel agency. It’s kind of ironic that you’re talking about my going away somewhere with you. I’m forever arranging trips for other people. Trips to exotic places—like the Mediterranean, North Africa. I even helped put together one junket to Antarctica.”

  “You like your work?”

  “Oh, yeah.”

  “Why? Is it because you’re so into helping people?”

  “Well there is that,” she said. “But mostly, I just enjoy the idea of getting to know about the places people go. Planning wonderful vacations, finding out about life in all the exotic corners of the world. It’s almost as good as being able to go to them myself.”

  “Almost as good,” he said. He looked as if he was going to say something more, then paused. “What about your house?”

  “I have a nice little cottage I’m lucky to be able to rent.”

  “You don’t own it.”

  She shook her head. “See? That’s what I mean. You’re clueless about reality. I’m grateful I can afford to rent a cute little place like that. It has much more character than some apartment, which is all most people in my age and economic group can manage.”

  “So what are the down sides to living in this cottage you don’t own?”

  “I’m fine as long as none of the owner’s grandchildren decide they want to move in. She’s only letting me stay there on the condition that I’ll leave if they do.”

  “Oh. Doesn’t sound like a bastion of security there.”

  “I can live with that sort of uncertainty,” Gwyn said, sounding defensive.

  “Sounds to me like a bit of a double standard going there.”

  She scowled at him. “I don’t appreciate your judgments about my life.”

  “Sorry,” he said. He came over to where she was sitting and reached out to touch her. She pulled back, and he began pacing again. “Gwyn, I can promise you I’d never dump you high and dry on some island or anywhere else. I have a feeling about our being together, but I know it’s too soon for me to tell you all of it. All I can say is I want you to come with me. I promise I will always be fair and never hurt you. Can you trust me in this as you have all night with the other things we did?”

  She inhaled sharply. Talk about making an offer she couldn’t refuse. He wasn’t making any extravagant promises about forever, and he did seem sensitive to her concerns about security—as much as a fabulously rich person could. He certainly knew how to say all the words that would melt her reservations, but only she could let go of those. The decision really was hers, and that gave her power here.

  Wasn’t she the one who was always saying there are no real guarantees in life?

  What did she really have that kept her from saying yes to him? Her job—hardly unique. There were travel agencies everywhere. And, as she’d admitted to Dominic, she’d have to vacate her cute cottage at thirty days notice if any of the owner’s grandkids decided to live there.

  But then there was Pete. They hadn’t spoken about him, but Pete still hung over her life like a shadow. Nothing Dominic said came close to sounding like the safe life she’d tried to convince herself she wanted—à la Aunt Nora. The life Pete Payne had been part of. But right now, Gwyn realized she didn’t want to think about what Dominic wasn’t offering—just what he was. Despite how hard her mind was working, weighing options, she yawned. She needed to get some sleep. Maybe when she had, choices would be a lot clearer. She told Dominic that.

  “Sorry about that,” he said. He offered her the bed. “May I sleep next to you, Gwyn?”

  She believed that if she’d said no, he’d leave her to stay alone in the bed—even if he had to sleep on the floor. And that convinced her to have him next to her for this night. “Of course,” she said.

  ““Kind of warm in here,” he pointed out. “Do you want to stay dressed in those clothes?”

  She looked down at her unglamorous outfit. “It is too warm for them. But Dominic, I really need to get some sleep now.”

  “I could use some too,” he said, though he looked as wide awake as he had when she first met him.

  Gwyn brushed her teeth, cleansed the last of the makeup off her face, and got undressed. Moments after she lay down, Dominic got naked and joined her.

  He stretched out and got into position behind her, spooning Gwyn in the shelter of his arms. Sighing contentedly, she closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

  Chapter Seven

  Dawn came and went. Gwyn awoke to find herself wedged against Dominic’s morning erection, his arms around her. Images of the night before danced in front of her eyes, flooding her senses with delicious tingles. Looked like Dominic was good to go again this morning. What a great way to start any day.

  But she knew if they made love now, she’d never be able to think. And he’d challenged her. She had to make the most important decision of her life. Stay with him, sail off to an uncertain future? Could she really be that carefree? He’d said he would never abandon her in a bad situation. And last night had been all about trust. But now, in the light of morning, could she trust him on matters bigger than his treatment of a handcuffed lover?

  Or should she continue with the life she’d been planning? The predictable one she’d carefully constructed to keep safe from the disaster her mother’s life had turned out to be, the path Aunt Nora had raised her to avoid. Gwyn felt she was on really thin ice. Maybe her mother’s genes were coming out after all—and she’d duplicate that woman’s unfortunate fate.

  Following Aunt Nora’s design for her life, Gwyn had her job, her house, possibly a relationship with Pete—or with another man who was more her match than Dominic. Because Gwyn still couldn’t help feeling Dominic was so way out of her league, they were the biggest social mismatch since Cinderella and the prince. And nobody really knew how happily-ever-after those two had ended up. Gwyn couldn’t bring herself to totally believe in what Dominic proposed. Nothing he’d said had convinced her that the two of them would ever play in the same ball field—or fairy tale. Despite everything he’d shared about his life before he’d become a billionaire entrepreneur.

  Dominic rolled over so they were facing. “Good morning, Gwyn,” he said. He still looked gorgeous. Even bed hair didn’t take away from his allure. “Did you sleep well?”

  She yawned and stretched. “Very well, though not very long.”

  He grinned. “The night was taken up with other activities.” He ran his hand along her bare arm. She closed her eyes, savoring the feel of his warm skin on hers, the coziness of sharing an early morning bed with him. “You said you were going to sleep on your decision.” He was watching her carefully.

  She looked at him. He was danger with a capital D, the king of the bad boys. He might tire of her in a week or a month. Nervous as that made her, now that he was touching her and looking at her, the cliché that you only go around once began to take hold of her, pushing out her image of Aunt Nora and fears of ending up like Mom. If Gwyn said no to Dominic, she might be safe, but she’d spend the rest of her life second-guessing herself. Curiosity got to her again. Also a healthy helping of lust. She’d push the fears aside and go for the gusto. She also wasn’t going to play any games with him. “I have, Dominic.”

  “And? What, tell me.”

  “I will come with you.” She said the words, and they felt right. For the first time since he’d made his offer, she could breathe easy.

  He let out of whoop of joy that had the bed vibrating around them. Then he grabbed her in a big hug and kissed her. “Fantastic! Great! We sail tomorrow at the crack of dawn to the Caribbean. Have you ever been through the Panama Canal?”

  She grabbed her face. “Yikes! Tomorrow? Geez, Dominic. Uh, maybe I need to spend a few weeks getting organized.”

  He gripped her arms. “Come with me. I don’t want to you to miss a minute on the Bound for Pleasure. In a few weeks, I’ll be
back on terra firma, dealing with resort business full time. It might be months ‘til I can sail again.”

  “I thought you spent most of the time on the yacht.”

  “Alas, another of the media myths about me.” He grinned crookedly. “You’ll find there are many.”

  “Do you have any idea how much I have to do to get ready to go with you?” She hopped out of bed.

  He hopped out with her. “I have an idea. But Gwyn, you’ve made the big step and taken the decision. All the rest is doable in short easy bits. The job, the house. What can I do to help?” He went into executive mode, pursing his lips. “Let’s see, as far as work goes. Tell your bosses I’ll give them a special deal on Fantasia Resorts vacations—or even invite people from your agency to spend a few days at one of the resorts—all expenses paid. They can even fly on my private plane.”

  She rolled her eyes and chuckled. “That should ease their unhappiness at my just taking off with no notice. But there’s still my house, my things…”

  He was pacing. “Some of my crew can help you pack up, get things in storage—unless you want to take them with you.”

  “I’ll accept that help, of course. And then there’s Pete…”

  He stopped. “Ah, yes, Payne. Your date last night.” He whirled and looked at her. “How serious was your relationship with him?”

  She shrugged, not sure how to answer. “We’ve gone out together for a while…”

  “What are your feelings for the man?” He watched her intently.

  She sighed. “In twenty words or less?”

  “As many as you need.” He folded his arms and a wary look crept into his eyes.

  “I guess his needs and mine have been out of kilter for a while,” Gwyn said slowly.

  “Impressive epiphany.” Dominic began pacing again. Even walking up and down the room in the nude, he looked powerful and in command. “Do you want me to speak to him?”

  “I think that’s my responsibility,” she said, wondering how much Pete would care when she told him they were through. “Though I appreciate your offer to take it on. To be honest, I seriously doubt Pete will get too bent out of shape by my ending our relationship, such as it was.”

  “The man is obviously a fool, not that I’m complaining,” Dominic said. “Well, his loss is my gain. I’ll forever be grateful to him for bringing you to the party last night.”

  “And to think, I really didn’t want to come.” Had it only been last night that she’d first entered Dominic’s world?

  He beamed at her. “The power of synchronicity.”

  Dominic had a business meeting set up that morning—even on a Sunday—and Gwyn had tons to do to get ready to leave with him. So they both decided it would be best for her to get started. Ned, Dominic’s assistant, would take her home and be on hand to help for whatever came up.

  With so much to do, they both agreed they’d have to skip the lovemaking they’d much rather begin the day with. Gwyn quickly showered and dressed in another pair of sweat pants and a T-shirt—no underwear. It felt a little strange putting her black silk cape over her outfit, but not as weird as tottering around on her stiletto heels.

  “Interesting ensemble,” Dominic commented, taking her in his arms. He was still gloriously nude.

  “You too,” Gwyn said.

  He laughed. Then he threw on a T-shirt and butt-hugging jeans to walk her out to the deck, where Ned was already waiting.

  “Don’t stay away too long,” he called to Gwyn as she walked down the gangplank with Ned. “Phone me as soon as you know what you need.”

  She turned around and waved, excited now that she’d be returning to the yacht and her very own Captain Hook within hours.

  * * * * *

  Dominic watched ‘til Gwyn and Ned disappeared from view. He frowned slightly. Though he believed in the power of his positive thoughts, he couldn’t ignore the vague suspicion that everything had gone too smoothly up to now. He’d met Gwyn, and so far they’d turned out to be more than compatible on the most intimate level. She evidently wasn’t emotionally involved with Peter Payne. Dominic’s dreams about finding the right woman were finally coming true.

  So why his creeping uneasiness? Rational computer scientist and businessman that he was, Dominic still had complete faith in his own intuitiveness. And something was definitely bothering him.

  Of course he’d have preferred to go to her home with her himself. Dominic smiled to himself. That was part of his needing to be in absolute control. Bloody hell, even his mother had recognized this in his nature. He trusted Ned Smithers totally, no question about that. Ned would drive Gwyn to her home in Dominic’s red Jaguar. Once Ned knew how many of her things Gwyn wanted to bring with her, he’d phone and tell Dominic to send a van or a larger truck. They could get a storage place for whatever Gwyn didn’t choose to bring aboard. And Dominic was sure Gwyn’s employers would be amenable to his offers. All that would go like clockwork.

  But Peter Payne troubled him. Dominic could never believe any man would give a woman like Gwyn up without a fight. Payne was a bit of a wild card. Dominic wouldn’t be able to relax fully ‘til he knew Gwyn had severed her ties with Payne—consigned her personal Peter Pan to his particular Never Never Land.

  Dominic went back to his cabin to shower and dress for his appointment with Laura, the rep he’d met Friday. He’d promised to complete their negotiations before he left San Diego, which he was planning to do before this time the next day—with Gwyn at his side.

  * * * * *

  Gwyn had never ridden in a Jaguar before. Though she usually didn’t pay much attention to cars, the sleek lines of Dominic’s thrilled her newly heightened senses. She ran her fingers over the glossy finish before she got in. Ned was holding the door for her. She’d also never before been driven by a chauffeur. Ned wasn’t wearing one of those hats, but for all intents and purposes, he was her chauffeur today.

  Gwyn leaned back in the caramel leather seat and closed her eyes, soaking up the atmosphere. The car smelled new. Soft jazz issued forth from the CD player. Gwyn couldn’t believe the contrast between how she’d left home for the party less than twenty-four hours before and how she was now returning there. She felt like she was living some fairy tale movie script. Part of her hoped she wouldn’t wake up any time soon.

  “Is this your street, miss?” Ned asked. Like Dominic, he spoke with a British accent.

  “Yes. My house is in the middle of the block,” she said.

  Funny, she didn’t know nearly as much about Dominic as she’d have expected to know of a man she was about to leave home with. Though he’d told her he was from the North of England, she didn’t have any more specific information—like what town or city he’d grown up in or what life up there was like. He’d told her he was the oldest from a large family, but had the Laredos been happy together or dysfunctional? Gwyn’s rational self warned that her ignorance might come back soon and bite her on the tush.

  Her reverie came to an abrupt end when they pulled up to her cottage. Sprawled there on the small patch of lawn like the leftovers from a wild party was a pile of what looked like sleeping bodies. Gwyn groaned. Pete’s Jeep was parked at the curb. Peter Pan, Spiderman, and the Hulk were stretched out on the grass. Gwyn felt like she’d been transported from Cinderella at the ball to Saturday morning cartoons.

  Ned helped her out of the car and nodded to the group . “Do you know who those men are, miss?”

  Gwyn straightened up. “Unfortunately, I do.”

  “Do you want me to call the authorities to have them removed?”

  Gwyn shook her head. “No, thank you. I’ll take care of it. Why don’t you just wait here in the car.”

  “Very well,” he said, getting back behind the wheel. He didn’t look too happy with her instructions.

  Gwyn, her heels sinking into the grass, walked over to the rhythmically snoring trio. She squatted next to Pete and began to shake him. “Wake up,” she repeated until he finally began to stir. Th
e other two continued snoring in disharmony.

  Pete began to yawn, scratch, and look around, disoriented. Then his eyes opened wide as he figured out where he was, and he sprang up. His cap was totally askew, but otherwise his outfit looked remarkably the way it had last night. Gwyn rose with him. He put his hands on her shoulders and looked her up and down, frowning. “Where have you been?” he asked, nearly bowling her over with morning-after party breath. “Are you just getting home from Laredo’s yacht now?” He looked accusingly at her.

  Gwyn, feeling assaulted, stepped back. “Good morning to you too, Pete Payne,” she said.

  “When did you get home?” he asked, scowling.

  “How long have you been here?” she asked right back.

  Pete rasped his hand across his morning scratchy beard. “Me and the guys came here straight from the party,” he spat out. “I wanted to be here when you arrived.”

  “Why?”

  “What do you mean, why?” He looked wounded. “Wanted to make sure you were safe. Realized I shouldn’t have left you with Dominic Laredo. Guy’s too dangerous around women.”

  Gwyn wanted to laugh. Pete didn’t know the half of it.

  “I appreciate your concern,” she said, “but it really wasn’t necessary. As you can see, I’m fine.”

  He looked her up and down again. “Why are you wearing sweats and not your Tinkerbell outfit?”

  “I’m more comfortable in this.”

  “We could have won that contest, but you pooped out,” he accused. “The people who did win didn’t look half as good as us.”

  She didn’t want to get in this discussion with him now. She just wanted to get moving with all she had to accomplish. “This is no good, Pete. Why don’t you tell your friends to go home? Come in. We need to talk.”

  He shrugged. “Ah, let them sleep it off. They’ll get up on their own soon anyway. Your lawn’s not ideal for sleeping.”

  “Come inside then. I’ll make us breakfast.” She glanced over to the curb and saw Ned still sitting in the driver’s seat, watching her and Pete. “Go ahead. I’ll be right there.”