She’d freshen up with a quick shower and then have enough time to enjoy the toast and tea. Right now, that was the only thing she cared about. Her stomach was dead empty, her limbs tired and weak, and her head threatened to explode.
How much of that champagne did I drink?
****
Garrett searched the entire hotel room for Liddie’s passport. He’d gone through both Parker and Liddie’s things, but could find nothing.
When he left the resort to go back to the plane, Liddie was in a solid sleep. While it took every ounce of resolve to leave her there, it would have been far worse for them both if he’d been caught taking her away.
Back at the plane, Garrett looked in cabinets, drawers, and anything else that opened up like a compartment. No passport anywhere. Parker’s two stooges had disappeared upon landing, and he assumed it was with them. Or Parker. By taking her passport and drugging her, Parker was making sure Liddie had no opportunity to leave.
Garrett tried to come up with a plan, but there was no way to get Liddie out without giving up on his mission. Running off with Liddie would mean losing the location of the camp. Without the evidence, he’d never be able to put Parker away – or his father, or any of the other crooked cronies who called themselves collectors.
It wasn’t an option. Liddie had unwittingly placed herself in the middle of a dangerous situation, and now it was up to him to protect her. If an opportunity for her to escape comes up, he’d have to be ready for it. Until then, he’d do whatever possible to keep Parker distracted.
Garrett looked at his watch and realized that he hadn’t reset it for the time change. He quickly calculated the difference; something that frequent travel enabled him to figure out easily. It would be daylight soon.
Though it was true Parker was in a business meeting, Garrett also knew he’d try to get back and have his way with Liddie before the drug wore off.
The thought of it made Garrett angry. If Parker wasn’t enough of a bastard, now he was pouncing, vulture‑like, on a woman who trusted him. A woman who – judging by the information Garrett had been able to get in the past hour from his own investigative sources – had been a consistent and squeaky clean employee before Parker plucked her from the office pool.
From temp to temptress? Garrett didn’t think so. The more likely scenario was that Parker, attracted to Liddie from the start, could wait no longer. He had to have her, as he had to have everything he ever wanted. If that meant taking advantage of her while she was under the influence of narcotics. So be it.
Garrett recalled Liddie’s smile when he first saw her with Parker. It wasn’t the smile of a knowing woman. It was more naive than that, and who could blame her for buying into the fantasy. Wasn’t it every little girl’s dream to grow up and marry a rich prince? Wasn’t that the fairytale? Liddie was simply reaching for the brass ring.
Always the rich guys.
Garrett pulled a bottle of water from the plane refrigerator. How many women, he wondered, were ruined by rich, greedy men?
He pictured Liddie in the lingerie. Parker would ruin her, too, if Garrett didn’t do something about it. Time was passing fast, though. He had to make a move.
Garrett pulled his cell phone from a pocket and dialed his boss. It was a good four hours earlier than what they’d agreed upon.
“What the hell, Wade?”
Parker was ready to chew him out, but Garrett knew how to shut him up fast. “There are some people I don’t recognize snooping around,” he lied. “We’d better get going.”
“Shit. I’ve still got a half hour here, and then I wanted to have some time with Liddie.” Parker sighed. “Okay. Fine. I’ll be there as soon as I can. Let’s get the hell out of here.”
He’d reacted just as Garrett knew he would.
If there was one thing Parker Maxon was good at, it was running away.
****
Though he said they had time to spare, Liddie had only just finished dressing before Parker burst into the hotel room telling her they had to leave immediately.
Her heart sank. The tea and toast never came.
Hotel staff followed Parker into the room and in an organized production, started packing up their clothes. In five minutes the two of them were on the roof, being whipped around by the spinning blades of the chopper.
“But I haven’t eaten anything, Parker, and I’m getting weak.” She let him lean across her lap and buckle the belt of the helicopter seat.
“I’m sorry.” He patted her knee. “It couldn’t be helped.”
She didn’t want to say so, but Liddie was regretting the trip again. It had been a day since she’d had a decent meal, and Parker didn’t seem very concerned about it. She rubbed at her head. The sound of the chopper blades was beginning to cut into her nerves.
“Parker,” she began. “That champagne. It really knocked me out.”
He laughed. “That’s because it’s the best. I wish I could have gotten back sooner and joined you.” He practically purred, then brought his lips under her hair to brush against her neck. “That would have been nice. But don’t worry,” he assured, “Everything will settle down soon.”
Liddie tried to focus on the view, but couldn’t.
“Have you seen my cell phone?” she asked, squirming a little uncomfortably. “I can’t find it, and I wanted to call a friend of mine. I looked all over the hotel room.” Suddenly she remembered something else. “And did you know that hotel room didn’t have a phone?”
“No phone?” he asked quickly and sat up straight. “That makes no sense, Liddie. All hotel rooms have a phone. You must have missed it.” He took her hand and kissed it. “We’ll get you a new cell phone as soon as we’re settled.” He dismissed the notion quickly by turning away and looking down at the airport.
“Okay,” Liddie conceded, knowing that for him, a cell phone was easy to replace. She would have to remind him when they reached their destination. Wherever that was. Parker still refused to say.
“Why did we have to leave so quickly? Is everything okay?”
Parker smiled, but appeared a little distracted. “All is fine,” he comforted. “All is fine.”
****
All did not seem fine to Liddie.
They’d gotten back to the plane before Jerry and Paco, and Parker was angry with them. Liddie watched from inside the cabin as he reamed the two out on the tarmac.
It infuriated her to see them back. She’d never actually considered hating someone, but those two were despicable.
Paco was carrying a briefcase and Liddie was sure it held her laptop. Could he have her cell phone, as well? Watching from the window, she waited to see if Parker would kick them off the plane, or better yet, fire them.
Garrett walked up to join the group. Liddie felt her pulse quicken in a sudden panic. His hair was combed back, giving greater definition to the hard angle of his jaw. He’d showered, shaved, and changed into clean jeans and an ironed khaki shirt. Liddie took a deep breath. While shorter than Parker, the man managed to look far more capable.
The dream, or was it a memory? Images of the night before came flooding back to her in bits and pieces. What had she done?
Liddie felt her chest tighten and crotch tingle. She could feel him, lying atop her on the hotel bed. She could taste his kiss and smell his skin. Though he was standing outside, a good twenty‑five feet from the plane, Liddie felt like she knew more about Garrett Wade right now than she did about Parker Maxon. The thought sent her reeling.
Garrett looked past the three men and up at the window. Liddie’s eyes met his and locked. Her body confirmed what her mind couldn’t be sure of. He had been in the room. He had been in her bed. What was worse, she’d wanted him there.
Liddie froze, staring into the face that had so sweetly rubbed against hers. Garrett’s eyes were dark, but he didn’t look satisfied or smug. He looked concerned.
“Where’s your passport, Liddie?” His voice, like a whisper, repeated in her mind. “Wh
ere’s your passport?” he’d asked.
Garrett dropped his gaze and walked away to do what Liddie now realized was a pilot’s check. Parker came back on the plane with his men.
“How much longer on this plane?” asked Liddie when Parker entered the cabin.
Jerry and Paco ignored her, disappearing into the back. She felt a shiver crawl through her. Liddie didn’t want them here. After what happened last night, she wasn’t too sure she should be on this trip anymore.
Parker moved to the galley and grabbed granola bars for the two of them. “About six or seven more hours in the air, and we’ll be there. I promise.”
“Another six or seven hours?” Liddie rubbed her forehead, wishing away the headache. “Parker, I hadn’t realized we’d be flying so much.”
Garrett entered the plane and secured the door with a slam. Liddie became more anxious. The pilot went straight to the cockpit with no glance back.
Liddie felt trapped. Two thugs, an unconcerned Parker, and a threatening yet protective pilot. She was confused. The trip wasn’t anything like she’d imagined it to be.
“Parker.”
He sat down beside her and reached up to tenderly push a strand of hair from her face. “You all right?”
“No, I don’t think so.” She was becoming increasingly agitated. “I don’t think I should go.” The engines started and anxiety gripped her. There was something going on here – with Parker, with Garrett, with the two men in the back. “I think I should stay in Dubai, or maybe return home. We’ll talk when you get back.”
Liddie should have gone home as soon as they’d landed, like Garrett had warned. What was she getting herself into? Fantasies were called fantasies for a reason. Sleeping Beauty didn’t have two men in her bed, and Prince Charming never stole passports.
Parker ripped open a granola bar wrapper, ignoring her request. “Here, eat this. I promise to get you some good food soon.” He jumped up and pulled a blanket and pillow out from a cabinet near the sofa. “You’ll feel better in a little bit.”
Liddie felt the plane start to move. She felt ill. Instinct was telling her to get away.
“Parker,” she asked slowly. “Do you still have my passport?”
He stood in front of her holding the pillow and blanket. She could see that he hadn’t expected the question and for a moment – a flash of a second – imagined him placing that pillow over her face.
“Of course. I hold onto everyone’s passports,” he explained nonchalantly. “It helps us get through customs faster.”
Since she had never traveled internationally before, it sounded plausible, but Liddie wasn’t sure whom to trust anymore.
Was Garrett planting doubts to undermine Parker? What had he been doing in her room last night? Liddie couldn’t even trust herself. She’d left the United States with one man, and landed in Dubai with two. The thought of it was more than a little scary, especially when she didn’t know where they were going.
The wheels left the runway and the jet hit the air. She put her head in both hands. “I wish you’d tell me where we’re going.”
Parker sat next to her, saying nothing. When the plane leveled off, he pulled Liddie out of the chair and led her over to the sofa. “Lay down,” he ordered.
Liddie placed her head on the pillow while he covered her with the blanket. She didn’t want to sleep, but if lying down kept him away from her right now, she was fine with that.
He knelt down and planted a swift kiss on her lips. “Sleep it off, Liddie. We’ll be there soon.” Parker pushed the granola bar up to her mouth. “Take a bite, honey.”
She did. It was better than nothing. He left her side for a moment, and when he returned with a glass of ginger ale, the granola bar was gone.
“Drink this,” he urged. “It’ll take away the nausea and help fill your stomach.” He watched until half the soda was gone, and then walked away.
Liddie lay there trying to remember if she’d done anything more than kiss Garrett in the hotel room. She didn’t think so, but the memory of it was coming back slowly. She was sure they hadn’t had sex, and yet there was an intimacy that couldn’t be denied.
The thought of Garrett inside her caused Liddie to grasp the blanket. His bare chest, unshaven face and work‑worn hands had rubbed against her various body parts with a curious appreciation and harnessed desire. A blush blew through her body. Then, just as suddenly, it went away.
Liddie was so tired. With lids too heavy to hold open, her eyes closed. She couldn’t understand why. Thoughts of Garrett Wade did anything but sedate her. He couldn’t have that effect on any woman. So why was she drifting away?
Liddie wanted to know, but couldn’t think clearly. This, she decided, couldn’t be jet lag.
****
Parker poured himself a scotch. The scare at the airport had put him on edge. He should have planned this trip better. There was so much at stake. For some reason, he thought Liddie would be easier to deal with. He hadn’t considered that items like the passport, laptop and cell phone would concern her so much.
His father had warned him, but Parker didn’t care. He wanted Liddie. He wanted her desperately. The only problem now was that Liddie couldn’t be distracted by luxury. That, he should have realized and planned for. Now, he was winging it with excuses, and she was smarter than that.
Already she was getting skittish. Wondering about things that other women could have cared less about. It wasn’t enough that he’d taken her halfway around the world, bought her a new wardrobe and promised a vacation to remember. No, Liddie had to think things out. Liddie had to worry.
Now Parker was worried. Had he gone too far with the drugs? Was she becoming suspicious?
It’s very possible that Liddie could become a dead weight, or worse yet, a big‑mouthed danger. It was too soon to tell. It’s also possible that she’ll get on board and fall in easily with the Maxon family plan. That was still his hope. She’d understand the precautions he’s had to take once she knew the deal.
He looked back. Soft hair flowed over the side of the sofa and he pictured himself nuzzled up against the pretty assistant, pulling her head back and kissing her hard.
Liddie was such a sweetie in the office. Her clumsy flirtations and wardrobe choices left him physically hard and wanting for days. It didn’t matter if he was with someone or not. It was always fun to get back to the office and have a flirt with her.
Maybe that old saying was true. You always want what you can’t have, or something to that effect.
Parker finished the whiskey with a snort. He hoped she’d get on board. It would make things so much more pleasant. One thing was certain, though, with or without the pills, he would have her.
****
Three taps on the cockpit door.
Garrett closed his eyes and sighed. Three knocks meant Parker wanted to talk. He turned control of the plane over to Mike and joined Parker at the bar.
The whiskey was already poured into two shot glasses. Parker handed one to Garrett.
“Cheers,” he pronounced, before downing the booze in one gulp.
Garrett did the same, and Parker poured another.
“So what do you think?” he asked nodding toward Liddie.
Garrett grunted. “I think she’s hot. What the hell do you think I think?” Garrett watched him closely. This could be a trap to get him off the plane. Immediately he wondered if Liddie had mentioned anything.
If she did, all was lost.
Parker laughed. “You don’t have to tell me she’s hot. But do you think she’s going to be a problem?”
Garrett shrugged. “She’s got it bad for you. If she figures it all out, buy her something nice.”
Parker pursed his lips in thought. “I don’t think that’s going to work with her.”
“Are you kidding me?” asked Garrett. “Did you see her with all those shopping bags? Now that she’s had a taste of that, do you really think she’d turn on a dime and give it all up?” He drank anoth
er shot, knowing Mike was fit to fly even if he wasn’t. “I don’t think she’ll be a problem.”
“I do have big plans for her.”
As soon as the words left Maxon’s mouth, Garrett felt his blood burn hot.
“What kind of plans?’ he asked. “I mean, aside from the usual.”
“Well, a guy like me has to think of the future,” he let the sentence end there and then laughed. He gave Garrett a playful punch on the arm. “So what were you doing with my girl in the bathroom?”
The bathroom. A gust of relief blew through Garrett. That excuse was one he could handle.
“What the hell do you think?” He laughed. “Don’t worry though, she doesn’t want me.”
Parker giggled like a little boy.
“You go ahead and laugh,” said Garrett, teasing Parker like a high school friend. “But I’ve seen those breasts.”
Parker slapped the bar with mock indignation. “You bastard!” He grabbed the bottle and poured himself another shot. “She’s a beauty, though, isn’t she?” He breathed deep and glanced back at Liddie. “I mean, I’ve been holding back for years.”
Garrett gave him a playful slap on the back. “You gotta get points for that.”
Parker nodded. “Can’t tell you how many times I almost bent her over the desk at work. Thought about it every day.”
He mimicked the movement, and Garrett put the shot glass down for another. “You’re a better man than I,” he replied with a smirk, “though you risk the chance of scaring her away.” He pointed a finger at Parker. “I wouldn’t push her too hard. She doesn’t forgive easily.”
Parker nodded quickly. “Agreed. I’ve got to lay off the pills, too.” He shook his head. “But it makes them so much more relaxed, if you know what I mean.”
“Did you ever… in the office?”
“Well, I had to test them on her,” explained Parker. “Just a couple of times, so she wouldn’t notice, or go to sleep.” He flung his head back with a laugh. “I had her picking things up off the floor. In a little skirt and heels, too.” He rubbed his chin with the memory. “She even popped a few buttons. It was classic.”
Wild Suspicions (Romantic Suspense) Page 9