by Ju Ephraime
True to his words, Raymond helped her with running a bath, so she could relax a bit. He used the Crabtree & Evelyn bath salt tablets she always carried with her, and when the water was ready, he lifted her like a babe and placed her in the water. He was very gentle with her as he cleaned her. No part of her body escaped his attention.
She was trying hard not to allow any sexual thoughts to enter her head, but it was easier said than done. She could see he was sporting an erection by the bulge in his pants. When he caught her looking at it, he told her, “Just ignore it. It can’t be helped.”
“If you say so,” she replied.
Closing her eyes, she willed her body to relax, and she tried not to think of anything. She used to be good at doing this, but it was not possible with him in the room, touching her, talking to her, and breathing the air in the same space with her. The scent of him had a powerful effect on her. It made her think of all the things he’d done to her the previous night. No, this was most definitely not relaxing.
He ordered room service, and when the food came, she was surprised to see he had ordered her some hot tea and soup. He spoon-fed her the soup, which was a tasty vegetable concoction. After she had eaten the last spoonful of soup, he poured some honey into the tea and handed her the cup, which she drank in a couple gulps. She was literally falling asleep while she drank the tea.
She remembered Raymond moving her beneath the sheet and pulling it up over her, and she was asleep. She slept well into the night and didn’t awaken until the next morning, as the first rays of sunlight were streaking across the horizon. Poor Raymond; she wondered how he was doing. He too had suffered an injury, but he was more concerned about her well-being and for this, he had gone up several notches in her book.
She needed to go visit the bathroom, but she was reluctant to leave the bed. It felt so good just lying there, pretending all was well with her world. She knew she had to call Pierre back. She didn’t want him doing anything rash, like following her here. She would deal with this coat problem after she’d freshened up and had her breakfast. He’d just have to wait.
She wanted to say she was sorry she’d gotten involved in his scheme. But if she hadn’t, she would not have met Raymond, and she would always be grateful to him for showing her a great time in Martinique. It would be something to remember in her old age, to talk to her future children about, or not.
Chapter Fourteen
Pierre glanced at his watch and called Gabrielle’s cell phone once more, swearing under his breath repeatedly. He’d been searching for her for two days. Steven, her manager on St. Barth, had told him Gabrielle had gone to Martinique for a couple of days. He knew she would have to do that in order to retrieve her coat. She was supposed to go in, get her coat and get out. This could all be done in one day, two maximum, only because of flights availability.
He’d called every hotel and inn on the island, and no one would admit to having seen or heard from her since she’d left St. Barth. He was becoming frantic. How dare she? It was not like Gabrielle to behave so irresponsibly. They had a plan—get the coat and get out. It was only when he saw her walking out of this hotel with Raymond that it began to make some sort of sense—she had become involved with LaCasse.
He’d recognized Raymond because he’d sat behind him throughout the entire semester. They had three classes together. Raymond was a loner. He didn’t mingle with the other students on campus. He was either studying, working, or with his girlfriend, Ame. Raymond had graduated, and Pierre hadn’t; he had twelve credits to make up.
When he learned Raymond was returning to his home in Martinique, he’d come up with the brilliant plan of using him to get his business under way. Since he couldn’t do the dirty work himself, he had enlisted his sister, Gabrielle. Gabrielle was no blood relation, but her biological parents had adopted him when he was an infant, so they had grown up together. She was older by a couple of years, but he was always able to manipulate her. She’d do anything for him.
She was a famous model, flying all over the world, modeling for high-end companies. The fact that she had a gig in St. Barth around the same time LaCasse was leaving school and returning home worked in his favor. It had only taken him applying pressure on her to get her to coordinate her trip with LaCasse’s.
Now he was sitting in the parking lot of her hotel, waiting for her to come out. He had been frantic when he’d seen Raymond’s vehicle go over the cliff. Call him a coward, but he didn’t want la police in Martinique getting at him. They’d lock him up first before they even knew what happened, and it would be hell to get out of their prison.
This would never have happened had he not been following them so closely. He had to blame Gabrielle; she was not answering her phone. So he’d been trying to get her attention by tailgating them. He’d lost control of his vehicle and slammed into them.
When he saw the vehicle go flying over the cliff, he’d been so petrified he’d done the cowardly thing. He’d run. He didn’t think anyone saw him, but he’d been looking over his shoulder ever since.
He had been driving a rental. He had parked it and gotten another rental from a different company. Now he had two vehicles. He wouldn’t be driving that white SUV again until he drove it back to the rental company. The only reason he’d not returned it was he didn’t want them questioning the damage to the right bumper. He planned on dropping it off at the airport on his way out of Martinique. By the time they saw the damage to the vehicle, he would be long gone. The credit card he’d used was a temporary one with a fake address, so there was no means of tracking him. But you can never tell with French authority, sometime they take things to extreme. He did not want them hunting him down for a stolen vehicle, when he had bigger fish to fry.
Raymond’s family carried some weight on the island, and he knew if he remained, it wouldn’t be long before they caught him, especially the two brothers, Wolfe and Foxx. Everyone knew them; they were like celebrities. Why couldn’t Gabrielle just do what they had discussed—switch the coats and pick it up in Martinique? Why did she have to get involved with the LaCasses?
This was something he hadn’t counted on happening. She was not a girl who slept around. Come to think of it, he’d never known Gabrielle to have a serious boyfriend. She had a lot of friends, but a boyfriend? He couldn’t even bring one name to mind.
Now he had to try to remove her from the clutches of that man. That man would only use her and discard her. Look how he’d left Ame back in Paris to pick up the pieces. Now, because of her trying to help him, he had put Gabrielle in the same situation.
If he didn’t see her come out, he’d try going up to the front desk again. This hotel did not give out any information on their guests. He’d tried, repeatedly, on the phone and in person; they gave nothing away. He had been trying to get Gabrielle on the phone all morning, and she had not answered her phone. He hoped she wasn’t too badly injured in the accident. God, what a mess!
He had spent the entire night in the car. He wanted to catch Gabrielle when and if she left her hotel. How was he to know she would spend all her time in her room? Who did that? Now dawn was breaking over the horizon, and he had to return to his hotel to shower and get a change of clothes. This would be his second day on the island, two wasted days. The only thing he’d been successful in doing was almost getting Gabrielle and Raymond killed.
Driving out of the parking lot, he stopped to pick up a newspaper, and sure enough, there was a report of the accident on the front page. Someone had taken a picture of his vehicle fleeing the scene of the accident. It was not a very good picture. He couldn’t see the license plate. Thank God he’d had the presence of mind to park that vehicle. He should’ve known with everyone carrying around a cell phone now that the possibility of someone taking a picture of his vehicle was strong, and there it was on the front page of the paper.
Driving into his hotel parking lot, he parked his vehicle and entered the hotel, expecting to be stopped every step he took. When he made it to
the elevator without anyone stopping him, he released the breath he had been holding. He had to get some food; he was starving. When he got to his room, he ordered some breakfast before jumping into the shower. The breakfast arrived just as he got out of the shower. Pulling on a fresh pair of trousers, he went to the door to let the hotel staff in with the food. He signed the receipt so it could be added to his hotel tab, and went back to finish dressing. He had only two pairs of pants and a couple shirts. He’d have to go shopping or use the hotel laundry service to get the ones he’d worn yesterday cleaned.
He was not going back to Paris from here. He was flying to St. Barth, and he needed to be presentable when he got there. His flight was booked out of the island the next day. He had to talk with Gabrielle today. He was fast running out of options.
He was just about to sit down to breakfast when his cell phone rang. He almost tripped himself in his haste to get to it before it went to voice mail. Glancing at the screen, he saw it was Gabrielle.
“Gabby, thank God. I’ve been so worried about you. Were you able to get your coat?”
“Is that all you're concerned about, Pierre, the coat? I was involved in an automobile accident. I could have been killed.”
He made up his mind there and then not to tell her he was in Martinique because she’d put two and two together and come up with the answer. He didn’t want to chance antagonizing her until he had the coat or his stuff from the coat in his hand.
“Are you okay, then? Do you need me to come over to take care of you?”
“Stop being silly for one minute, Pierre. I told you I’d call you when I got the coat, but you’ve been blowing up my phone. Why?”
“Gabby, this is important. I want to complete my business on St. Barth and be on my way. We’d agreed you would retrieve the coat and hand it to me in St. Barth. This was all supposed to have been done in a day or two, but it’s been almost a week. This is making me frantic.”
“Stop with the drama, Pierre. I was on my way to pick up the coat, but some fool drove us off the road. So, between the hospital and feeling like crap, the coat is still with Raymond’s brother.”
“Why is the coat with Raymond’s brother, and who’s us? Were you driving with somebody?”
He felt like a heel lying to her that way, but it was either that or come clean with her, and he couldn’t risk it until he had the coat in his hand.
“I really don’t want to go into the whole thing right now. Suffice to say, I don’t have the coat yet. So, please, don’t call me again. I’ll call you, and if you don’t abide by my request, which is quite simple, I’ll leave the coat and get on the first plane back to St. Barth to continue with my assignment. I took a week off to do this for you.”
“I’m sorry, Gabby. I’ll make it up to you. Just let me know when you get the coat, all right?”
“Okay, talk with you soon, Pierre.”
Chapter Fifteen
Gabrielle was upset with Pierre, but she was even more upset with herself for getting caught up in his scheme. When she’d agreed to help him, he’d told her he had a stash of jewelry he’d won in a bet that he needed to get out of Paris in order to sell it on the black market there. Since he didn’t have any legal documentation for the jewelry, it had to be smuggled out of the country. When she’d told him she was soon leaving for St. Barth for an assignment, he had called her the next day to tell her he had the perfect plan, but he needed her help.
He had found out Raymond was returning to his home in Martinique. St. Barth is twenty minutes away and French also. If she could arrange her flight to coincide with Raymond’s, he had come up with a scheme where Raymond would unknowingly carry the jewelry through customs to Martinique. After he got the jewelry to Martinique, she, who’d now be in St. Barth on her assignment, would fly over to meet Raymond and collect the jewelry from him. She would then return to St. Barth with it, where he’d be waiting, to retrieve it from her.
When he’d come up with the shoulder pads of her coat as the perfect hiding place, she went along with him to help him. She had not seen the jewelry and had taken his word for it. She didn’t know Raymond, so far as she was concerned, he was just one of his classmates—just a name. But from the moment she shared the taxi with him, he’d made an impression on her. When she’d met him again at the airport to switch coats, she was definitely interested. He had an effect on her that she’d never experienced before. She’d never been in love. She’d had a couple brief relationships, but that was all they’d been, brief and nothing more. Nothing like the way she felt about Raymond.
She liked Raymond a lot. As a matter of fact, if she was honest with herself, she’d admit to having feelings for him that went beyond liking. Now this thing with Pierre and this coat was preventing her from being totally honest with Raymond, and it was taking a toll on her.
He did call to let her know he would be busy signing the paperwork for his new car, as well as meeting with his insurance company. But that didn’t make it any easier not seeing him. To her disappointment, it was almost midday before she saw Raymond again. She didn’t know how, but somehow, he had managed to enter her bloodstream like a drug. She was addicted to him. If that was love, then she had it bad. She didn’t want him to know the way she felt about him. That would make her too vulnerable, seeing the situation she now found herself in.
She spent the entire morning in bed, only getting up to take a shower and order room service. She was done with breakfast and needed to vacate the suite so that the housekeeping staff could work their magic.
She changed into a pair of jeans and a butter-colored sun top that she knew made her look like a teenager. She didn’t like being mistaken for a teenager; she attracted teenage boys. Oh well, it couldn’t be helped. She didn’t have a wide selection to pick from. Her wardrobe was very limited.
She just wanted a quiet place to pass the time while she waited for Raymond. Walking into the covered patio by the pool, she put on her sunglasses, pulled up one of the lounge chairs, and opened her book, pretending to read. This was a sure signal telling everyone to stay away. She had just settled in a comfortable spot when the young man she had met in the lounge two days ago walked in. He appeared to be looking for someone, and she prayed to God, it was not her. But her prayers went unanswered.
The moment he spotted her, his face lit up, and he came over, almost at a run. She ignored him and continued reading her book as if she didn’t have a care in the world. After being ignored for a couple of moments, he cleared his throat. She steadfastly ignored him. He did it several times more, but she continued to ignore him.
Seeing he wasn’t having much luck with his approach, he used a more direct approach and addressed her by name.
“Gabrielle, I’ve been coming out here every day in the hopes of seeing you again.”
“Why, hello, tell me your name again. I’ve forgotten it. My memory is not very good with names.”
“Ah, so you say, Jean Paul.”
“Oui, yes, Jean Paul. How could I forget such a popular name? How have you been?”
“Better, now that I’ve seen you.”
“Why is that? I wouldn’t have thought I’d have such an effect on a stranger.”
“That’s how much you know. Can I sit with you?”
But he was already pulling up a lounge chair before she could answer, telling her he would sit next to her whether she gave him permission or not. She wanted to be left alone. She was in no mood for small-talk. Why wouldn’t he just bugger off? But, based on the way he was stretched out beside her, it looked as though her alone- time was over—ruined.
She wondered, for the umpteenth time, where was Raymond. Sighing, she lowered her book. It was no use. This man was going to talk her to death. He was asking her a question again.
“Excuse me? I didn’t hear what you were just asking me.”
“I asked if you would like to have dinner with me tonight.”
This was beginning to irritate her. She counted to ten, and just as
she opened her mouth to tell him to bugger off, she saw him.
As Raymond came striding toward her, she couldn’t help admiring the striking figure he made. She was never so happy to see anyone. The relief almost had her gasping.
He halted, midstride. “I went up to your room. Housekeeping was in there, but you were not. Are you ready to leave?” He reached out and took her extended hand to help her off the chair, and into his arms for a deep, sensual kiss. She was so happy to see him that she made no effort to hide the way she felt about him.
Turning around, as if an after-thought, he greeted Jean Paul, with a wolfish grin, extending his hand, “Raymond LaCasse,” Jean Paul didn’t appear intimidated as he shook his extended hand, “Jean Paul, nice to meet you.” Raymond nodded, turning his attention back to Gabrielle.
Seeing him standing next to Raymond, she was surprised to realize Jean Paul was equally tall, albeit leaner. But next to Raymond he appeared insignificant. He lacked the sex appeal that seemed a natural part of the LaCasses.
Taking her leave of him, she gave Raymond her undivided attention, as they walked away.
*****
Raymond had not expected to see Gabrielle with another man. This appeared to be the same individual who had been sitting at her table along with the other couple. What the hell were they doing together? He was in no mood to be civil to anyone, so her friend had better make himself scarce. He didn’t appreciate anyone stepping on his turf—making a play for his woman.
He didn’t even question that he thought of her as his woman. To him, it was a natural transition from where they had been to where they were. He thought of her all the time. Every plan he made, was made with Gabrielle in mind, as he’d been doing now. He’d had a hectic day and was looking forward to spending some quality time with her.
“Guess what, sweetheart,” he told her, as he took her hand in his and they walked away from the pool area and back into the hotel.