And that maybe he should do exactly that, walk away. “I don’t know if my father was a bad guy or not. I was too young when he died, but Rick…”
“Bad seed. Got that, too.”
“Yeah. And…”
“And…”
She shook her head. “And I should never have let you come with me.”
Once again, he glanced at the man waiting for them. “Are you trying to warn me that it could get messy? Because I already figured that part out on my own.”
It was why he’d come. That much was all over his face. “I wish I could give you an out.”
Putting his hands on her arms, he looked into her eyes. “You really think I’d walk away to let you face this on your own?”
“What I think is that you should have.”
“Yeah, well, think again.”
She nodded, swallowed hard. “You should probably know, it didn’t go so well last time I was here.”
“Yes, but you’re no longer sixteen and helpless. And you’re no longer alone.”
Amazingly enough, the truth of that helped.
So did he by just being at her side.
“Let’s do this,” he said, “and get back to the one aspect of our marriage that I can really get behind.”
“What’s that?”
“The good stuff.”
Chapter 18
Maddie laughed as Brody had clearly intended. “The good stuff?” she repeated.
“Sure. You promised to love, cherish, and do good stuff. It was all in our vows.”
“Huh.” She knew what he was doing, trying to take her mind off the dangers facing her. I must have missed that part.”
“You should have paid attention. You promised all sorts of things.”
“Like?”
He waggled his eyebrow, and if they weren’t facing imminent trouble with a capital T, she would have shivered in anticipation. “You really are crazy,” she managed.
“Which isn’t going to get you out of the vows, babe.”
She laughed again, and he smiled, looking hot and sexy and cocky.
But it was pretend.
This was all pretend. Their lives depended on it. “Let’s go,” he said, taking their bags, slinging them over his shoulder, and reaching for her hand. Everything about him shouted alpha male.
He wasn’t the only one. Moving back toward the Jeep, Maddie looked at Rick’s man. He wasn’t all that tall, but he was definitely built like a linebacker. Maddie didn’t recognize him, but she recognized his type. All hired muscle and silent servitude.
And suddenly, she didn’t have to fake the nerves Leena would have shown. Did Leena know this man? She had no way of knowing, but her sister was such a snob-a submissive snob, but a snob nevertheless-and as such, would have ignored all the hired help. Easy enough to imitate.
“Are you really married?” he asked her.
She didn’t look at Brody. “Yes.”
A smile split his mouth. “I won the pool then. Sweet.”
“You…bet on me?”
“We all did. No one could see you hitched for real, but I thought it was way too inventive a lie for you, so…” He shrugged. “I win.”
The familiarity was obvious. Leena did know this man, possibly well.
“Let’s go,” he said. “Rick hates to be kept waiting, you know that.”
Be Leena. Her sister was quiet, yes, but she definitely had an attitude, always had. “Too bad.”
The man sighed. “So getting married didn’t improve your mood any.” He gestured her into the Jeep, then eyed Brody with an expression that said, and you put up with this why?
Just grateful to have pulled off the first hurdle, Maddie slid into the Jeep.
“Given Leena’s aversion to men,” their driver said, “Rick figured it was just a bullshit excuse to be late, or to get more money out of him.”
Maddie glanced back and nearly had a heart attack. He and Brody were having a stare down. MIB’s dark lenses were over his eyes, and there was the obvious bulge of a weapon at his shoulder, but her “husband” didn’t seem overly intimidated.
Oh, not good. Not good at all. Leena would marry someone quiet like herself. Meek. Reaching out for Brody’s hand, she practically yanked him on top of her. “Baby, hurry up. It’s hot out here. My makeup’s going to run.”
He shot her a look, but some of her fear must have shown because he slipped an arm around her shoulders and said nothing.
While all that he wanted to say crackled in the silence.
MIB slid into the driver’s seat, watching them through his rearview mirror with great interest. “Trouble in paradise already? Shocking, Leena.”
She wanted to snarl, but she wasn’t supposed to be herself so she thrust her nose in the air and looked out the window in pouting silence.
Leena. She was Leena…
MIB put the Jeep in gear and drove them along the secluded beach, past the sparkling, clear azure waters, up the single hill on the island. Surrounded on both sides by the lush, colorful growth, they came out of the woods at a pair of stone and wrought-iron guarded gates that opened in silent invitation, leading to a long driveway arching up to the house.
Though house seemed far too meek a word for the 25,000-square foot complex that had cost millions to build and millions more to trick out with all the combined security and elegance Rick demanded. It was a simple yet sophisticated structure, done up in the epitome of rustic luxury. Exotic woods, glass, indigenous stone…no expense had been spared. Situated on the very top of the only hill, overlooking the secluded beach amidst coconut palms and seagrape trees, the place was admittedly breathtaking.
At the sight of it all, Brody stiffened next to her. Maddie glanced over at him, but he was facing the window, probably staring in shock at the ridiculous display of wealth the house represented. She’d admit the sight had to be impressive to someone who hadn’t seen it before, but for herself, she only saw her past. When they pulled into the graceful circular driveway surrounded by abundant, flourishing landscape, breathing became difficult, if not all but impossible.
She was back…
MIB drove to the top of the driveway and cut the engine. The front door of the house opened, and a man stepped out.
Rick.
Oh, God. Could she really do this? Could she fool him? With no choice, they got out of the Jeep and moved up the stairs, Brody just behind her, his hand on the small of her back.
Rick didn’t move. Medium height, medium build, with a small but welcoming smile, he shielded his eyes from the sun and waited as they came to him. Nothing about him suggested Evil Swindler, nothing at all. He was tanned from long days of the island sun, handsome even.
A soft, floral-scented breeze blew over Maddie, and she shivered. Nope, her uncle hadn’t changed much in the past ten years. He still looked like a grown-up beach bum with sun-streaked hair, carelessly lean muscled build, and easygoing stride, until one looked into his eyes and saw the utter lack of warmth.
Yeah. Home sweet home.
Her heart was literally ricocheting off her ribs as she repeated one fact over and over in her head. You’re Leena.
