"This isn't working," she finally said. "I need you, Ross and Glenn to come here." Ross was her financial vice president and Glenn was the corporate attorney. "Bring everything you need and we'll meet at the Casa Blanca Resort and Spa in Barefoot Bay tomorrow at ten." She didn't need to tell Josie to book rooms and a meeting place. Her assistant would have everything ready, even on such short notice.
April returned to the breakfast table where Darcy sat holding her coffee cup and looking out the window.
"Good news?" she asked as April retook her seat.
"Business," she said.
"Everything going well, I trust."
"As usual," April said. "You remember all the crisis we had when we were getting started."
"Crisis?"
"It's not a crisis, just that there are always issues to resolve when you own a business."
"Don't I know it," Darcy said. "Beginning with financing. I don't know what we would have done without that huge personal loan your father gave us."
"We paid him back, with interest," April reminded her former partner.
Darcy nodded. "Ahead of schedule as I remember it. Then he came to the rescue again when you bought me out. Your dad was a true treasure."
A lump formed in April's throat. He was always there for her. After they lost her mother, when April was fifteen, he kept her with him as much as possible. His job took him away, but when he was home, they would do things together, go on trips. It was on their last trip that he died.
"He was on his way to Barefoot Bay when the accident happened," Darcy stated. "Do you know why?"
April would rather not talk about it. "We were celebrating a new acquisition. It was my first really big launch and Dad wanted to visit the Bay again. We'd come here after my mother died and he had an affinity for the place."
Nostalgia and depression were settling over her, so April changed the subject. "What time are you sailing?"
Darcy checked her watch and suddenly jumped up. "I'm late. Gotta go." Grabbing her purse and phone, she rushed out, leaving April alone. Darcy would never change, April thought with a smile.
A fresh cup of coffee appeared as if by magic. April finished her breakfast and with the emptying of her cup, it was time for her to do what she set out to do before arriving at the dining room door.
She needed to find Richard.
***
The second floor looked no different than it had twenty-four hours ago, but April felt like it had changed into a long, dark tunnel. She took a deep breath and dropped her shoulders. She walked to room six and raised her hand to knock. The door opened and she practically fell inside. Richard's strong arms caught her the same way they had on her first day back at the Eden Paradise House.
"April?"
She straightened and stepped back, outside the threshold. Looking up, she saw that Richard was dressed to go out.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I didn't see you at breakfast." She felt uncomfortable, unsure of what she intended to say.
"I went down early and brought something to my room."
She looked past him at the small table. It held the remnants of a cup of coffee and a half-eaten croissant.
"I wanted to apologize for yesterday."
He stared at her a moment as if making a decision. Finally deciding, he stepped back and allowed her access to the room. April walked to the center and turned around, deliberately presenting her back to the fireplace. Richard closed the door and looked at her, not moving from where he stood. He kept his hand on the doorknob. She felt he was already ushering her out.
"Well," she began. "I am truly sorry for mixing the rooms up last night. It was an honest mistake." She'd hoped he'd say something, but he remained mute. "I was thinking about my father. The last time I was here, we were going on vacation together." She looked own, swallowing the lump that always appeared in her throat when she thought of that last day. "He was going to meet me here, but he had an accident and. . ." April stopped.
Richard moved toward her.
"It's all right," she said, stopping him. "I plundered into this room instead of my own."
Richard still hadn't said a word. April waited a second before realizing he wasn't going to accept her apology.
"Well, I apologize again." She moved toward the door. As she got within one step of it, Richard blocked into her path. April stopped to keep from walking into his chest. He looked down at her and her eyes met his. What she saw there had her throat going dry. She tried to speak his name, but nothing came out.
"I accept your apology," he said, taking an additional step toward her. There was hardly any space separating them. April wanted to step back, but she wouldn't relinquish her ground. She'd been the one to come to him with an apology, even though he didn't know the truth of why she was in his room, her apology was as sincere as she could allow it.
"I should go," she said. "You appear to be on your way out."
"I am," he said, but didn't move to let her open the door.
Heat pooled all around April. "Are you going to let me leave?" she asked.
Slowly his head moved from side to side and his mouth came closer and closer. April leaned back. Richard's hand came out and circled her waist, pulling her close until their bodies made contact. The heat that usually accompanied his touch was suddenly a four alarm fire. April burned for him. She admitted it to herself. Even though she'd been here for one agenda, meeting Richard had changed that. She knew he was an imposter, but at this moment that fact was buried too deep in the folds of her brain and it couldn't fight its way over the hormonal messages raging to reach her core.
The air turned electric. April could practically see it snapping between her and Richard. She felt it tingle against her face, her arms, all her exposed skin. Richard stared down at her, his eyes dark as night. April couldn't look away. He held her to him, his gaze equal to that of the arms wrapped around her body. She was surrendering and felt no need to struggle against it. She wanted it, wanted to feel his arms crushing her to his, his mouth on hers.
Richard's head bowed toward her. Hers came up to meet him.
She felt his breath, felt the need that danced between them, wrapped around them and tightened with every inhale and exhale. Her eyes fluttered close as Richard's mouth touched hers. Pent up emotion burst through a dam and she swayed into him, her arms surrounding his neck and her body pressing so close that air couldn't get between them.
He lifted his head and repositioned it several times, tasting her as if checking to see that one side of her mouth was as sweet as the other. April felt her breasts grow heavy. Her legs grew weak and without Richard's arms, she would have fallen to the floor.
Was this possible? Could anything feel this good? How could this man turn her into Jell-O?
Richard's mouth worked magic on hers, teasing and taunting as he brushed his lips over hers. The gentle torture only increased the need within her.
She heard him moan and his kiss deepened. His mouth devoured hers. Their hands roved over each other as if they were fighting flash fires. April went up on her toes, trying to get closer to him. How could she feel like this, like her very soul was being laid open to Richard? How could his mouth make her want to stop time so she could keep the sensations running through her go on for another millennia?
April had no answers and gave up trying to concoct them while Richard held her captive in his embrace. She only wanted to think about the genius of his ability to be master over her feelings. She gave up even thinking about that, allowing only her feelings, her sensations and emotions to find their way to the surface to provide the wild ride she and Richard were experiencing.
An eternity passed before Richard's mouth slid from hers and the two stood holding each other, both for support and to keep from collapsing onto the bare floor.
***
There were many ways to begin a day, Richard thought. Today had been one of the better ways. He usually started by consulting his calendar or to-do list or just remembering what
needed to be tackled when he opened his eyes. But finding April at his door after breakfast was a treat he couldn't deny.
He wished he could have stayed, holding her until the sun set and rose again, but he had to get to an appointment and he couldn't take her with him. This time when he left his room, his files and computer were securely stored in a portable safe that the desk clerk found and had brought to his room, pointing out that it hadn't been used in years. Richard checked the combination and locking mechanisms several times before leaving his files in it.
He remembered the photo of April that lay at the back of the folder. Had the young girl grown into a cat burglar? Richard was angry with her for trying to search his room. He was convinced that was her purpose, despite what she said. But the feel of her in his arms, the way her body fit his, the way her mouth angled to just the right tilt, was more than he could contend with. He wanted her mouth on his and he wouldn't be denied. Of course, the kiss developed into something he hadn't anticipated. She could well be a criminal or at least morally loose, but none of that mattered when she turned her liquid brown eyes on him and apologized for her actions.
Richard heard her words, but they fell on deaf ears. His concentration was on her hair, the way the sun turned the highlights a coppery color, the way her mouth seemed to have a lift to it even when she was seriously asking for his forgiveness. He couldn't deny her. Even though his mind told him one thing, his heart was somewhere else. He wanted to believe her. He wanted to look into those eyes, see her smile and laugh the way she had when she was five hundred feet above the water and sailing through the air.
And he wanted to kiss those lips again.
Chapter 5
The beach was white and sandy and April got a strong signal on her cell phone. She spent most of the day on the phone with various departments back in New York. The work was keeping her mind off Richard and how to get back in his room. She was unsure where he was and couldn't take the chance of trying to get inside again so soon. He could find her there – again. This time she would have no explanation for her presence. The nail falling out of her door and changing the number, plus her previous visit was a convenient lie, but it was a lie.
April still wondered if she'd convinced Richard to believe her. She was usually so sure of herself, so positive in her decisions, but with him it was like her logic deserted her.
And that kiss.
How could she let him kiss her like that? How could she kiss him like that? How could she let an imposter take such control over her body and emotions? But he had and she had. April turned from her pacing and looked at the sky, as if the heavens could answer her chaotic thoughts. The truth was, no one could do anything. The kiss happened. It was a fact. They'd both participated in it. She couldn't recuse her feelings. She couldn't deny that what she felt in Richard matched the riotous emotions in herself.
"April, are you listening?" Josie spoke through the ear buds April wore.
"Yes, I'm listening." She paused. "I don't have any other comments. I'll see you in the morning."
The two rang off. April pulled the earbuds out and frowned. She'd had them in so long, removing them hurt. So did her shoulders. She was wearing a sun dress and now that she was no longer concentrating on the call and trying not to allow thoughts of Richard and that devastating kiss to distract her, she realized her shoulders and arms were burning. She'd been in the sun too long.
Again she frowned, then gathered her belongings and started back to the Eden Paradise House.
April was lathering suntan lotion on her shoulders when she noticed something out of place. In the bathroom mirror, she could see part of the room behind her. April stopped and went to the door. Did she leave her dresser drawer open? It wasn't like her to do that. She was very careful with furniture, especially this furniture that was old enough to be antiques, but not maintained as well.
She stepped into the room. Crossing to the dresser, she slowly pulled the drawer open. Her clothes, that had been folded neatly, were slightly out of place. One shirt was caught between the top of the drawer and the top of the dresser. The other items had been shifted to one side.
She jumped back from the dresser as if it could bite her. Someone had been in her room. April looked around. There were subtle differences. The end of the bedspread near the wall was pulled sideways, causing a wrinkle. She knew the maid had straightened it to the point of perfection. In the closet, one of her shoes lay on its side. She'd straightened them this morning to reach the sandals she had on her feet.
"Damn," she cursed. Her eyes darted from the bed to the wall that separated her room from Richard's.
He'd searched her room!
***
April was waiting for Richard when he returned to the guest house. It was the middle of the day, and she'd had time to transition from seething to mildly angry. As she spied Richard getting out of his car, she met him in the parking lot.
"We need to talk," she said and kept moving toward the beach.
"About what?" he asked, catching up with her.
When they were out of earshot of anyone, she turned to face him. "You didn't believe me, did you?"
"What? Believe you about what?"
"About your room."
"My room?"
"Stop repeating what I say. You've been in my room."
He stepped back as if she'd hit him.
"You think I've been in your room?"
"Who else?" She glared at him. "You decided that since you'd found me in your room, you would retaliate and go through my things. Did it satisfy you?"
"April, I have not been in your room. I've never even been to the third floor."
"Third floor?" The words reverberated in April's head. "My room isn't on the third floor as you well know."
"Last night the clerk–"
"The room had mold in it. I was moved to room twelve on the second floor."
His eyes widened as if he was truly surprised. April didn't believe him for a minute. He had to be a good actor and if he realized she would find out, he'd certainly have a cover story ready. Hadn't she had one when he discovered her in his room?
"I promise you, I was never there."
"Then if it wasn't you, who would have reason to go in my room?"
"Are you certain it wasn't just the maids cleaning up?"
The maids was only one maid. She'd done the entire house as far as April could tell. "She's never left my room that way before. Everything from my clothes in the dresser drawers to the bedspread had small differences that weren't there when I left. So I ask, did you find what you were looking for?"
"I wasn't looking for anything. And I wasn't in your room. I was under the impression that you were above me–on another floor."
April stared at him. His voice sounded truthful. She wondered if it was just that she wanted to believe him. But how could she? He hadn't told her the truth from the very beginning. He was not Richard Steele. That she knew for a fact.
"Well, if you did, there was nothing for you to find. But I guess you know that now."
April turned to leave. Richard grasped her arm and turned her back to him. His hand was hot on her sensitive skin. Still she jerked it away unmindful of the pain her sunburn produced.
"Aren't you blowing this a little out of proportion?" Richard asked. "Was anything taken?"
She'd found nothing missing, only that someone had touched her things, violated her space. "That's not the point."
"It isn't," he agreed. "The point is that someone came into your room without your permission and looked through your things. Doesn't that sound familiar?" He looked at her pointedly.
"I explained that. And I never looked through your things."
"But your explanation isn't the point," he shouted, his anger evident even in his stance.
April stared at him with no comeback. After a moment, she said, "I think the best thing we can do is to stay clear of each other for the rest of our lives."
"That's a long time," he said
. "Shall I also wipe my memory of ever meeting you too, like the memory of you wrapped in my arms?"
April gave him a withering look and turned away. She was practically running when she got to her room. Slamming the door shut, she leaned about the rough wood and forced herself to keep from crying. This trip was a mistake, but one she had to take. Everything in her life was riding on her finding that case and destroying its contents. Who knew she'd encounter someone like Richard Steele or whatever his real name was? And who knew he'd be able to manipulate her emotions to the point that she'd forget everything except the strength of arms that held her as if she was the most precious thing on the planet?
***
Room twelve. The information processed in Richard's brain like a nuclear explosion. Room twelve was next to his room. The numbering system for guest quarters baffled him, but he didn't delve into them when he was researching the Eden Paradise House. The knowledge that April was no longer across the hall from him, but only a wall away shot heat through him as had holding her and kissing her until he could barely stand.
He'd watched her walk away, refusing to follow her. If he did, they'd surely end up on the floor never mind the bed in his room. She was angry. He was angry. And anger could fuel more than a dislike for another person. He knew it could spark the best make-up sex in the world. And he'd already experienced enough of the taste of her to want more.
A lot more.
Turning away from the guest house, he walked several feet, pulled out his cell phone and dialed. Agent Tanner Farland answered on the second ring.
"I didn't expect to hear from you so soon," Tanner said in lieu of a standard greeting. The two of them had met only an hour ago.
"I just had a talk with April Quinn," Richard told him. He left out that she did most of the talking and it wasn't a discussion, but more an accusatory speech.
"Has something happened?" Tanner's voice went from friendly to all business. Every bit of the happy opening was erased from his tone.
Barefoot Bay: Counterfeit Treasure (Kindle Worlds Novella) Page 5
