Chantal, Jillian - Surfer Bride (BookStrand Publishing Romance)

by Jillian Chantal

  He followed the cars until they got near the docks. The Bentley stopped in front of a warehouse, and the cab went on. Finn looked at the warehouse and memorized the location and the address. He drove on and continued to follow the cab until it pulled in front of the Thyme Hotel. His prey got out and headed inside. Now that I know where she’s staying, I’m going back at dark to check out that warehouse. Maybe I can solve this case today. And then I’ll make the woman get in my car and go home with me. And get naked. He grinned. I’m Super Cop.

  * * * *

  Avery and Quincy claimed their bags from where they’d been held in the bellman’s closet. They made their way to their room. Avery unlocked the door and opened it. She gasped in pleasure at the decor. The wall paint matched the same soothing pale tan as the lobby. The beds looked lush and inviting. The beds were covered in plain white linens with six pillows apiece. There was a sleek wood desk against the wall at the foot of the beds with a table of matching wood between the beds that held a phone and an alarm clock. One chair sat in the corner with a reading lamp on a tall pole behind it. The bathroom door was behind the door that led into the room.

  Avery walked into the bathroom. “Geez, Quincy, come take a gander at this amazing tub.”

  Quincy had walked over to the window across the room. She pulled back the sheers and looked out at the Zen garden, wishing for this ordeal to be over. She wished for some peace. She knew she needed to get down there and relax alone. Touching Percy’s hand and letting him kiss her had messed up her equilibrium more than she cared to admit. Until she saw that garden and heard it calling to her soul. Since there was no ocean to float in, it was the next best thing.

  She turned from the window. “I’ve seen the tub before, Avery. You should try it out. Relax a bit. I’m going down to the garden.”

  “This tub is sunken. It’s awesome. Do you know what it’s made of?”

  Quincy stuck her head in the bathroom. “It’s some kind of white stone. Not sure what it is. But it’s a great experience with bubbles. Hop in.”

  “I love this place. Thanks for finding it.”

  “No problem. I’ll be back in a bit.”

  Quincy went downstairs to the garden at the back of the hotel. She laid in one of the slatted wood reclining chairs and soaked in the quietness of the place. Hard to believe such a place could exist in the middle of a large city. She knew she and Avery were going back to that warehouse tonight, and she needed to center herself. Steel her nerves.

  When Quincy got back to the room, she saw she’d missed two calls from Percy. She deleted the messages unread and sat on the bed she’d chosen as hers.

  Avery came out of the bathroom wrapped in a huge white towel, her hair wet. “Dang. I gotta get me one of those.”

  “Glad you liked it. You look like you got some energy back. Good thing, too, since we’re going to that warehouse later.”

  “Your phone rang a few times. I heard it from my lovely spot in the bubbles. Couldn’t make myself get out to see who it was.”

  “I know it rang. It was Percy, of course.” Quincy made a face. “Not calling him back.”

  “Did you enjoy the garden?”

  “Yeah. I did. I feel like we’re gonna find something tonight. Maybe knock this out and head home tomorrow.”

  Avery shook her head. “That’s just wishful thinking, Quincy. Percy’s not stupid. He’d not go to his secret hideaway in broad daylight. I bet there’s nothing there but furniture.”

  “Don’t disabuse me of my illusions.”

  “I think you mean delusions.”

  Quincy threw a pillow at her.

  They called for pizza to be delivered and ate it in front of the television that sat on one end of the desk. They watched old reruns of Bennie Hill. It was inane but just what they needed to decompress before their trip to the warehouse.

  Finally, Avery, back in her dirty khakis, stood. “It’s way past dark now. Let’s get this over with. I seem to recall someone promising me on the train that I could make an early night of this.”

  Quincy looked at her friend, wide-eyed. “I’m sure I never said that.”

  Avery snorted. “Selective memory is not becoming.”

  “Neither is snorting.”

  Avery tugged Quincy’s arm and pulled her to her feet. “C’mon. Let’s get to the nearest drug store and buy a flashlight and get this over with.”

  “You know they call them chemists and torches over her.”

  “What the hell ever. I don’t care. Let’s get to a store already.”

  “God, you’re testy when you’re tired.”

  “And when I’m nervous. Don’t forget nervous.”

  “Got it. Me, too.”

  They left the hotel, got the flashlight, and caught a cab back to the warehouse. When they got there, they got out and stood on the sidewalk in the dark. It dawned on them both that they had no plan on how to get inside. Avery was the first to laugh, then Quincy.

  “You’re a master criminal, my friend.”

  “Yeah. I planned to catch a criminal, and I can’t even think like one. What are we going to do now?”

  Avery said, “Let’s walk around back and see if we can find a broken window or something.”

  Quincy shrugged. “Worth a try.”

  They made their way to the back of the building, stepping around broken beer bottles and trash. The alley reeked of old garbage. It smelled like someone had vomited, too.

  Avery held her hand over her nose. “Geez. This is gross. I sure hope we find a way in soon.” As soon as the words left her mouth, Quincy grabbed her arm, and Avery squealed.

  “Shush. Look.” Quincy pointed to an open window. It was one of those panes that roll inward into the building. A screen covered it. “I bet we could pry that off and get in.”

  “What if there’s an alarm?”

  “We’ll hear it and run.”

  “And if it’s silent?”

  Quincy put her hands on her hips. “Look, I didn’t come this far to give up. You stay here. I’m going in. The hell with alarms.”

  “Sheesh. I’m coming. Dang. Get a grip.” Avery bent over and popped the screen off the window. She handed the screen to Quincy and slid into the building.

  Quincy sat the screen on the ground and followed Avery. They walked around the whole place, and all that was in there was some furniture and knick-knacks. Stuff left over from auctions from the look of it. They were tagged with numbers and names of sales. All the dates had passed.

  “Well, crap. Looks like you were right, Avery. It’s just furniture. Next time I’ll listen to you.”

  “But it could have been more. We had to check it out. And, he was here for a reason today. Maybe he was meeting a buyer. You know, of his guns.”

  “Maybe so. Guess we’ll have to get Craig and Mark to follow him when they get here tomorrow. Since he doesn’t know them, they can follow him easier than we can. They can see if he meets anyone that looks suspicious.”

  “How does suspicious look?”

  “Oh, shut up.” Quincy walked over to the window and slid back through it. “C’mon. Let’s go get some sleep.”

  Avery was right behind her. “Amen, sister.” She crawled out of the window.

  Quincy replaced the screen. They made their way through the nasty alley and back to the front of the building where they hailed a cab.

  When they got back to the room, they both took a shower to get the stench of the alley out of their hair. Quincy put their clothes in a bag on the door of the room for the maid to wash. They were too rancid to keep in the room.

  Quincy and Avery both fell into a deep sleep and didn’t move until the next day.

  Chapter Thirteen

  “Love does not claim possession, but gives freedom”

  Rabindranath Tagore (Indian Poet, 1861-1941)

  The next morning while Avery took her third bath in the white tub, Quincy braced herself to call Percy back. She knew she was courting disaster if she didn’t. She di
aled his mobile number, and he picked up on the second ring.

  “Hullo, darling. Why didn’t you ring me last night?”

  “I told you. I wanted an early night.”

  “I rang you before the dinner hour. I’m quite sure you didn’t go to bed that early. Although, if you’d been with me, we’d have been in bed by then. We’d have been in bed before luncheon, if you’d let me have my way.”

  “Percy, you’re incorrigible.”

  “No, I’m not. I’m just in love with my lady.”

  She tried not to gag. Some love. “I know. I’ll see you tonight. I can’t wait.”

  “I was hoping you’d say that. I want to take you to luncheon, too. Just you and me. I know we have dinner planned tonight with Avery, but I want to take you to lunch alone. So we can talk about the honeymoon. I have great plans and want to show you some of the details.”

  “I don’t know. I have Avery with me.” How can I get out of this? Damn, he’s persistent.

  “She’s a big girl. Send her shopping or something. I’m sure she can amuse herself for an hour or two. Hell, she can even use my expense account at Harrods. Buy herself something new to wear tonight.”

  “That’s generous of you, but I’m sure she’ll refuse.”

  He laughed. “I don’t know about that. Offer a woman a frock and she’s putty in your hands.”

  “Do you really think women are so cheap?”

  “I didn’t say a cheap frock, Quincy.”

  “Whatever.” She shrugged. “I’ll ask her.”

  “I’ll send the car for you around one.”

  “Just tell me where to meet you. I’ll go to Harrods with Avery and then meet you.”

  “I really am getting angry about you not wanting to ride in my Bentley.”

  “Good God, Percy. It’s just a damn car. Get over it.”

  “When you’re my wife, there’ll be no more cabs.”

  “Percy, like you said about Avery, I’m also a big girl, and I’ll take a cab anywhere I damn well please.” She paused to let her words sink in. “Now, where are we going for lunch?”

  “San Sebastian’s. How’s that sound?”

  “Fine. See you there a little after one.” She disconnected the call.

  Avery stood in front of her, toweling off her hair. “What’s up?”

  “Going to meet Percy for lunch.”

  “Both of us?”

  Quincy shook her head. “Just me.”

  “Not good. I don’t like it.” Avery sat on her bed across from her friend.

  “Me either. But I can’t avoid him forever. We have the dinner tonight and the rehearsal dinner tomorrow evening. We’ve got to move fast on this. I don’t want to end up married to the creep just to get the goods on him.” She tittered. Nervous. “I’m going to meet him for lunch. You can meet the guys when they get here and then, when we leave the restaurant, I’m gonna ask Percy to let me go to the auction house and look at the newest stuff up for sale. Hopefully, he’ll go to one of his ‘meetings’ and you guys can follow him.”

  “What if he tries to get you to go with him to his apartment?”

  “I don’t think he will. The last time I visited him here, he was very serious about being involved at work all day. He’s a bit of a workaholic. He took part of yesterday off. I think he’ll work all day today to make up for that. I had no clue he was obsessive about his work because he’s a gun dealer. I was just naive enough to think the man loved valuable antiques and paintings. It seemed like a very British thing to me.”

  Avery giggled. “He’s got a very British name but not a very British occupation.”

  “Yeah, unfortunately for me. He’s one really bad dude. I can’t stop thinking about that little boy in Bali who tried to warn me. I truly believe he took his life in his hands to try to make me not go to that plane. I bet his people were the ones that were supposed to receive the guns. If they know he tried to warn me, he’s probably dead. A big, huge dude came and dragged him away from me when he tried to tell me not to get on Percy’s Lear.”

  Avery was aghast. “Surely not. Surely they didn’t kill a little boy. Besides, what would a little kid know about it?”

  “They use kids over there to rob people. This one little dude I met, his name is Setiawan, he was sent to rob me, I’m convinced of it. I gave him food and a little bit of cash. I think that’s why he helped me. I wish I could find out how he is. I asked Marta to see if she could find out, but I’m pretty sure she won’t be able to.”

  “Can you get the embassy man to check on him?”

  “I’m persona non grata over there, so no. I would think not. Hell, might even make it worse.” Quincy slapped her thighs. “Better get dressed. We’re going to Harrods to spend some of Percy’s money and then to a lunch from hell.”

  “Huh?”

  Quincy grinned. “Seems Mr. Hicks believes the way to a woman’s heart is an expense account and the most costly frock in the place. So, let’s go prove the man right.”

  “Sounds great.” Avery combed her hair and headed to the closet to grab an outfit.

  Quincy went to the shower.

  * * * *

  Once they were dressed, Avery in casual black slacks and a button up white shirt and Quincy more dressed up in a black jersey knit dress with a mandarin collar, they headed down to the street to hail a cab to Harrods. The ride was short and before they knew it, they arrived at the store. They went to the fanciest section where they were plied with wine. They had a blast trying on dresses and soon Quincy had to leave for her lunch date. She’d chosen a lavender dress for that evening and arranged for it to be delivered to the hotel.

  Before she left to meet Percy, Quincy whispered to Avery, “Buy the most expensive one. Hell, buy two and then go to the shoe department and get shoes for each dress. Get it all delivered to the hotel and be outside the restaurant in an hour. It’s just down the street about three blocks. You can’t miss it. There will be an array of expensive cars outside.”

  “Should I call Craig?”

  “Yeah. Tell him to rent a nondescript car and be ready to follow Percy.”

  “I’ll do it.”

  * * * *

  Percy sat in the restaurant waiting for Quincy. He couldn’t stand being left cooling his heels. Where the hell is she? She’s late. He looked down at his Rolex and drummed his fingers on the table top. For every minute that passed, his anger ratcheted a little higher.

  Quincy came in the door. Finally. As she walked toward him, he sighed in appreciation. Yes, she definitely was an asset. He wasn’t sure he liked the haircut, but she could have that styled to look more sophisticated. Her athlete’s body was striking and the slit in the dress that exposed her thigh, made him hard as he looked at her. I must get her back in my bed. Soon. Not after we marry, but straight away. A man like me shouldn’t be teased by a woman. She needs to come off it. Tonight. For sure. All that rot about no sex until we marry is just that. Rot.

  He stood as she got to the table. He stood and reached over to kiss her. If she turns her head again, I might have to spank her later. Ooh, spanking might be interesting. I’ll have to ponder that.

  She let him kiss her on the lips, and she smiled. They sat, and she said, “Sorry I was a bit late. I had to arrange for my new frock to be delivered. The saleswoman was slow.”

  “Who was she? I’ll see that she’s fired.”

  Quincy laughed. “You’re so funny.”

  He frowned. “I’m not trying to be witty, Quincy. I’m serious. I don’t like to be kept waiting. It doesn’t look good for me to be sitting here alone. It makes me look pitiful, a man like me eating alone.”

  “Let’s order, darling. I’m starved.” She picked up her menu and read it.

  “I ordered a bottle of champagne to be brought when you got here. To make a toast our wedding. Mother can’t wait to see you tomorrow at the rehearsal.”

  “Why don’t you ask her to come with us all tonight? I’d like to see her, too.”

 
; “No. I think we’ll make tonight a dinner and dancing evening. No mother tagging along. If you aren’t going to let me make love to you, I can at least hold you in my arms on the dance floor.” And hopefully, when you feel how much I want you, you’ll spread your legs for me in a dark alley in the back seat of my Bentley.

  She smiled. “That sounds lovely. I haven’t been dancing in ages.”

  The waiter came and poured the champagne. Percy ordered for them. He chose a mushroom omelet for her and a house salad for himself. He smiled at her and held his glass aloft. “Here’s to us, darling.”

  She clinked her glass against his. “To us. And thanks for remembering that the omelet is my favorite here.”

  “Darling, I remember everything about you.” He took a sip of his drink and swallowed. He leaned forward and added, “I even remember how you like me to lick the back of your knees. How it drives you wild. I dreamed about it last night.”

  She took a large gulp of her drink and looked at him blankly, a smile pasted on her face. She sat her glass down and fiddled with the stem as it sat on the table.

  What the hell is wrong with her? She’s acting very strange. She’s being almost as odd as she was at the airport in Los Angeles. She almost seems scared of me. Why is she here if she’s scared of me?”

  Percy reached over and took her free hand. “Want to hear about the honeymoon?”

  “Sure. That’d be great.” She nodded.

  “I’m taking you to the North Sea, the part in Norway.”

  “The North Sea? Why?” Her eyebrows arched upward. “Doesn’t sound very honeymoon like to me.”

  He shrugged. “I figure you’ve surfed all the warm spots of the globe and most of the cold ones, too. I decided to take you up there to check out the fjords and cliffs. I wanted to take you somewhere you hadn’t been.”

  “I always thought I’d spend my honeymoon on a warm beach somewhere. Just because I’ve been to a lot of them doesn’t mean I wouldn’t want to go back.”

  “But, darling, my thoughts about honeymoons are that they’re to be spent making love. In a cold climate, there’s nothing else to do. We can sit by the fire and make love on a bear skin rug. I figure we need the time to catch up on all we’ve missed with living on separate continents.”