by Mollie Molay
He shrugged and busied himself putting his watch on his free right wrist.
“It must be something extremely valuable or it wouldn’t be handcuffed to you,” she said slowly. A frown creased her forehead as she studied the briefcase. It was as if she was trying to fit the pieces of a puzzle together.
He shrugged. “It depends on your definition of valuable.”
“I could understand if the contents were the reason for all this secrecy. What I can’t understand is how you’re able to take the handcuff off whenever you want to. And especially, why it’s so important to you.”
“It just is, Arden. Leave it alone, please!”
A rosy flush covered her face as their eyes met. “If you can take it off now, why didn’t you take it off when you were making love to me?”
Wounded by Arden’s suggestion he had used her, Luke paused. How could he tell her that from the moment he’d taken her in his arms, he’d been tempted to remove the handcuff. And that he was sorely tempted to take it off now. If only to take her back to bed and show her how much she had come to mean to him. But they had a plane to catch. And he still had to say goodbye.
“You once told me the people you were going to deliver the briefcase to were the only ones who had a key to open the handcuff,” she added slowly. “Obviously, that was another lie. Maybe everything from the time we met has been a lie.”
Arden gazed thoughtfully at Luke while he silently buttoned his overcoat. The truth, when it finally hit her was almost overwhelming. He couldn’t tell her because he intended to keep the briefcase’s contents for himself!
She’d never felt so empty, so shaken, so cold, as she digested the truth. “You never intended to deliver the briefcase to its rightful owners, did you?”
The look on his face told her she was closer to the truth than he cared for her to be.
“I may have dreamed you up, but I never thought you would turn out to be a criminal like that man Hoyt, or maybe even worse,” she told him. “Or that you would take advantage of the trust I put in you.”
Luke winced. He started to speak, then helplessly shook his head.
“No, you don’t have to answer me if you don’t want to. You don’t owe me anything. I’ve been as much to blame as you in all of this, maybe even more. After all, I took you up on your offer to warm me. I’m the one who offered herself to you. Or at least to the man I thought you were. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised’ you took me up on my offer.” Her voice broke as she added, “I must have been an easy mark.”
“Arden, don’t do this to yourself,” Luke pleaded. “I swear I never thought of you that way.”
“Did you have to tell me you were falling in love with me?” she went on as if he hadn’t spoken.
“That part wasn’t a lie, Arden,” he answered quietly. “Not from the moment you came into my arms last night to keep warm. I didn’t realize until later how much I was beginning to care for you.”
“Then why are you doing this to us?” She took a hesitant step, reached out to him. “How can you walk away as if nothing happened between us, after all we shared?”
The anguish in her eyes tore at Luke’s very soul. He forced himself to return her stricken gaze without giving his own inner turmoil away. He hadn’t been able to tell her the truth about what he’d intended to do before and he couldn’t tell her now. Let her think the worst of him, forget him.
“It’s better this way,” he replied. “More for your sake than mine. Someday you’ll realize I’m right.”
“I don’t believe it has to end like this!” Arden cried. “If you really love me, we can talk things out. If something is wrong, we could make it right, together.”
Time was running out, Luke realized as he glanced at his wristwatch. And no matter how hard he tried to distance himself, her distress weakened his resolve to leave. If there was going to be a clear way to end this, it had to be now.
“Look, Arden. I do care for you,” he answered. Torn between wanting Arden and trying to protect her, he raked his fingers through his hair. “But a guy like me has to keep moving. I told you before, I’m not the man for you.”
A look of acceptance passed over Arden’s face. Luke thought how ironic it was that if he was good at anything, it was at hiding the truth.
“Then maybe you’d better leave now,” she answered. “I want to be alone for a few minutes.” Luke knew she was too proud to ask him to go to Cancún with her or to remain once they were there.
He started to leave, hesitated. “Why don’t you come with me? At least until we get on the plane. I’d like to see you safely at the hotel in Cancún.”
She shook her head. “I can make it by myself. I don’t want or need anyone to watch over me. Especially not you.”
“You’re sure?” Luke felt as if she’d stabbed him with a sharp knife. He’d done some things in the past that he’d come to regret, but he was going to regret losing Arden most of all. But he knew he deserved her anger. And more besides.
“I’m sure,” she answered, her face averted. “If you’re going to leave, do it now!”
“If you won’t come with me, at least lock the door behind me,” he told her reluctantly. “Don’t open it until you’re ready to leave. Not even if you hear voices. Not until you know who’s out there.”
Wordlessly she motioned him away.
“Well, good luck,” he said with a last, lingering glance. Arden had changed. She was a strong woman, stronger than she knew. Perhaps even now she was realizing that strength.
She was also the woman who’d taught him he was capable of recognizing and returning true love. Twelve years of dealing with the dark side of life had left him questioning even that part of him. It had been one of the reasons he’d decided to take the contents of the briefcase and disappear. “I hope you find what you’re looking for,” he told her. “Oh, and Merry Christmas.”
He closed the door behind him.
Arden waited until she was alone. Luke McCauley had taught her a hard lesson. Independence didn’t come automatically and, if earned, had to be used wisely. One thing was clear: she wasn’t going to give her heart away again.
She took a last look around the roomette before she opened the door. The small room might have been designed as a simple, utilitarian rest stop, but for a few hours it had been one step closer to heaven.
“There she is! I told you so!”
“Jane, leave this to me!” a familiar voice thundered. “Arden Crandall, come out of there at once!”
Arden was taken aback to find her father confronting her. He was supposed to be at home preparing his sermon for Christmas services at the church. She was even more surprised to find her mother, her aunt and uncle in a tight group behind him. And hovering dejectedly in the background, with Margo beside him, was John Travers.
“Dad! What are you doing here?”
“And where should I be if not rescuing my only child from the devil’s clutches?”
“I don’t need rescuing.” Arden frowned at her father’s choice of words. “And furthermore, Luke’s not the devil! I’m fine.”
She was surprised to find herself defending Luke after all that had happened. He may not have turned out to be the man she thought he was, but he certainly wasn’t evil. As for harming her, he’d only taken what she’d offered and unleashed the sensual woman inside of her in the process.
“That’s not what I was led to believe,” her father retorted, glowering over her shoulder at the open door of the roomette. “Jane tells me you spent the night with that man who called himself your husband! He told me over the telephone he was going to take care of you. I insist on talking to him.”
“He’s not here.” Arden met his irate gaze with one of her own. The last thing she needed right now was to hear a sermon.
She shot a disgusted look at her aunt.
Her father eyed the rumpled cot visible through the door, the blanket on the floor. “So, he’s gone and left you already? Is that how he takes care of
you?”
Arden shrugged. When her father used that tone of voice, there was no use trying to talk to him.
Out of the corner of her eye, she could see John wince. Poor man, she thought, he looked as if he’d rather have been anyplace but here. If her father thought bringing him along would change her mind, he should have known better.
Arden’s mother moaned and wrung her hands.
Aunt Jane snorted her disbelief.
Margo pushed her way to the head of the group, threw her arms around Arden and drew her aside. “Are you sure you’re going to be okay?” she whispered.
“I’ve never felt better,” Arden answered.
“Your aunt told your father all about this guy Luke. You aren’t really married to him, are you?”
“No, not really. Luke told that to Dad and Aunt Jane to get them off my case. But we did spend the night together.”
“Arden! You didn’t!”
“Yes, I did, and it was wonderful” Arden’s answer surprised even herself. “And thanks for your notes on THE GREAT AWAKENING. I found I didn’t need them after all.” She exchanged a secret smile with Margo.
Margo’s eyes widened in surprise. “Good girl! I always knew you had it in you.” She glanced back at Arden’s former fiancé. “Are you thinking of going back to John now that Luke is gone?”
“No,” Arden replied. “And no matter what anyone has to say, I am going to take that honeymoon I planned.”
“By yourself?”
“Yes.”
Margo studied her closely before she asked, “Then you won’t mind if I try to console John?”
“He looks as if he could use some consolation at that,” Arden answered after a quick glance at the man she’d left waiting at the altar less than twenty-four hours ago. “But are you sure you want to? He’s not very…uh, you know…”
“Honey, I’ve had a crush on the man for years,” Margo said with a broad grin. “It was just that once I realized your father had him picked out for you, I wasn’t going to do anything to get between you. And as for what he doesn’t know about ‘you know’…” She paused and glanced over her shoulder thoughtfully. “I’m more than willing to show him how to loosen up and enjoy what he’s been missing.”
“You’re sure?”
“I’m sure,” Margo answered with a little grin. “Actually, I like an older man. Who else would put up with someone like me?”
“Arden, that’s enough,” Arden’s father broke in. “Get your things together. We’re going home. I have a Christmas sermon to deliver at noon.”
“No, I can’t go with you,” Arden answered with an ache in her heart for the anguish on his face. But she’d made her decision and she was going to stand her ground.
“You’ve changed so much you’re breaking your mother’s and my heart!”
“No, Dad. I never intended to hurt you. But yes, I’ve changed. I’ve grown up. Someday you’ll be proud of the woman I’ve become.” There was a new life ahead of her with adventures to be tasted. With or without Luke. And no one was going to stop her.
“Arden, come with us now!” her father pleaded.
“Is the storm over?” Arden asked.
“Of course,” her father answered crossly, “or we wouldn’t be here.”
“In that case,” Arden answered, “I have a plane to catch.”
IT HADN’T BEEN EASY consoling her mother and breaking away from her father. Or saying goodbye to John and Margo and wishing them well. John’s face, as Margo patted him on his shoulder and murmured her encouragement, had been one of relief. Not that she blamed him. The past twenty-four hours had probably been more than a staid man like him could take. As for Margo, Arden had no doubts she’d have John ensnared in no time.
And as for the woman she’d called Aunt Jane, as far as she was concerned that relationship was over, too.
She made for the Majestic flight gate.
“Mrs. McCauley, thank goodness you made it here on time! Your husband is already on board. Now come along, we’ve delayed the flight as long as we could while I was looking for you.”
“My husband?” Arden repeated as the tour leader, Agnes Chambers, fussed over her. “Are you sure?”
“My goodness’ sakes, where else did you think the man would be at a time like this? Unless you’ve had your first argument. But don’t let that worry you. It is your honeymoon, after all.”
Arden eyed her warily as she remembered the tour documents she had in her purse. What the amiable tour leader didn’t know couldn’t hurt her. As to what she would say when she saw the name Travers on the tickets, after Luke had introduced her as his wife last night, Arden could only guess.
“Now don’t you worry,” Agnes Chambers reassured, as she urged her along. “Last night was a difficult one for all of us. Although I did hear you were lucky enough to rent a roomette. If your new husband said or did anything to upset you, it was probably just a little misunderstanding due to the stressful situation.”
Misunderstanding? That wasn’t what she called it, Arden mused as she followed the woman to the plane’s boarding door. Ill-advised, maybe. But, even with the morning’s conclusion, spending the hours making love with Luke had been an experience she would never forget. Nor would she forget Luke, either.
In her hurry to board Arden, the tour leader overlooked her documents. Grateful not to have to explain, Arden silently followed her down the plane’s single aisle.
“Here you are, Mrs. McCauley,” Agnes Chambers said hurriedly. “We saved you the seat beside your husband. Now, before the storm picks up again, I’ll go and tell the captain we’re ready. We want to make it out of here this morning while we still can!”
With a sidelong look at Luke, Arden sank into the aisle seat beside him and fastened her seat belt. His head was thrown back, his eyes were closed, but a faint smile hovered on his lips. He may have been pretending to be asleep, but he was very aware of what was going on.
For that matter, asleep or awake, it was going to be difficult to ignore him on the more-than-five-hour plane trip. All she could think of was his smile and the thoughts that must be going through his mind. And what he would do when he “awakened.” She stirred restlessly and looked around for an available empty seat.
She heard the engine start and saw the Seat Belt sign light up. It was too late to move or to ask Agnes Chambers for another seat. With the way her luck was going, she would probably have to listen to a lecture from the tour leader on togetherness and how to make a marriage work.
As far as she was concerned, her sixteen-hour “marriage” to Luke had been all the togetherness she could handle. One broken heart was enough.
Luke felt sorry for Arden’s obvious discomfiture. If he’d had his druthers, he would have stayed as far away from her as he could get. For her sake, not his. He’d spent the past half hour thinking of the choices confronting him, only to conclude there was no choice at all. Not if he wanted Arden. She was worth more than the contents of the briefcase.
He glanced at her white fingers that tightly grasped the armrest during take off, and grinned. Things weren’t as bad as they seemed if she was still wearing the bubble-gum-machine wedding ring.
“Decided to come along with me after all?” he asked.
“Just for the plane ride,” she answered coolly, looking down at the briefcase in his lap. “After all, you made yourself very clear.” She frowned. “What are you doing here, anyway?”
“I couldn’t get a seat on another plane.”
“So sit somewhere else.”
“No,” he answered, reaching for her hand. “I want to be with you.”
“Then I’ll move!”
“Give it up, Arden,” Luke said, holding her hand in his firm grip. “Just give me a few minutes. I want to talk to you.”
“Have you changed your plans?”
“Maybe.” He smiled as everything fell into place. “Just maybe.”
THE SUN BEAT DOWN on the white sands of the private beach in
front of the Majestic Hotel. Palm and breadfruit trees swayed in the gentle breeze that came off the water. The sounds of steel drums and tropical music wafted through the air.
Arden sighed happily. “What a great place for a honeymoon!”
Luke murmured his agreement as he turned his full attention to Arden.
“You weren’t really going to abscond with whatever was in the briefcase you were carrying, were you?”
“You want me to be honest?”
“Of course.”
He turned his face into Arden’s bare waist that pillowed his head above the warm, white sand. His lips brushed her sun-drenched, golden skin. His body stirred at the soft gasp she always gave when pleasure became too strong.
“What do you think, love?” he asked as he turned over on his stomach and bent to his task.
“I don’t know.” She clutched his sable hair and stirred restlessly under his kisses. Her stomach muscles clenched under his searching tongue. “I never can think clearly when you do that.”
“Do what?” he teased, feigning innocence. “This?” He reached under her soft middle and brought her beloved body to his lips.
“Yes, that!” she gasped, twining her fingers in his hair. “You have to stop now. We’re in plain view of anyone who comes along!”
“This is a honeymoon hotel, sweetheart. And the beach is almost empty. Looks as if everyone went inside for an afternoon siesta.” Dark eyes sparkling, Luke winked.
“Luke!” Arden colored at the suggestive tone in his voice and at the sultry expression in his eyes.
“Don’t worry, love. If anyone does come along, I’m sure they’ll figure I’m a man doing what a man does on his honeymoon.”
He kissed her through her bikini bra until he heard that tiny gasp he loved to hear. Not satisfied, he buried his head in the hollow of her throat and groaned his frustration.
“Come on, let’s go in the water,” he coaxed. “At least there’s some measure of privacy out there.”
Arden gazed over his head at the still waters. She was tempted, but, by nature, cautious. They’d explored and made love in many unusual places in the past few days, but never out in the open in broad daylight. And certainly not in the clear, warm waters of the Caribbean.
