by Carol Caiton
Ethan said nothing. He stared at the monitor and saw Nina shiver with a violent jerk. Simon started to remove his jacket again, but she shook her head. Then she turned and walked back toward . . . where?
Simon remained where he stood. Apparently he wasn't giving up. So maybe she was headed for the cabana to use the restroom. If she stood out in the cold much longer, she'd end up sick.
"Jeremiah?"
"What?"
"Call Wardrobe. Tell them you want a warm coat—one that'll fit an R-link—and have a female guard pick it up. Tell her to sign for it per me, and have her take it over to the Moon Orchid Spa. She can tell Nina that Security happened to see her on camera without a jacket and sent it over."
The other man hesitated, then said, "Will do."
Ethan ended the call. Nothing had been resolved and he knew Jeremiah wouldn't wait much longer before taking control of the situation.
Reaching for the keyboard, he locked onto Nina's marker and, as he'd guessed, located her inside the cabana. It was late. She hadn't even made it to the food court for dinner.
I'll go to class, get something to eat, body prep, then . . . .
His hands stilled over the keyboard. Just half an hour ago she'd been stretching the kinks out of her neck.
She wouldn't.
If she thought Simon had left her aching and unfulfilled the night she ran away from him, she was in for a shock. She'd walk out of that anteroom hungry and panting and obsessed with the compulsion to find relief. And he'd be damned if he'd sit here in his office while Simon stepped up to the plate.
Backing out of the system through the same path he'd used to go in, he logged off and watched as each of the monitors went black. He removed Nina's marker from her implant, then logged out of that system as well.
He approached the spa with a deliberately casual stride, not bothering to muffle the sound of his steps. There was no need for subterfuge. It wasn't his intention to hide in the shrubbery and eavesdrop. Just the opposite. He wanted Simon, and especially Nina, to know he was there.
Simon heard his footfalls, looked over his shoulder, then turned to face him.
"Ethan. What are you doing here?"
It was a legitimate question. At one time or another each of them had stayed late or been called in after hours. But Ethan didn't plan to lie. "I'm here because of your blue link. I was worried."
"About what?"
The door that had been opened for Simon to tell him there no longer was a blue link, slammed shut. Ethan ignored the sting and said, "I gave her hell before she left the house. She called my cell . . . ." He scowled and shook his head. "She called my damned cell phone to tell me dinner was ready when she knew I was right there in the study."
"She called from the landline?"
"Yes." He dug his hands into the pockets of his jacket. "She went to the trouble of cooking dinner and I shouted at her, wanted to know what the hell was wrong with her legs."
Simon gave a short laugh. "How did you know she was here?"
"She told me. Before she hung up on me." He glanced toward the stucco wall. "She tore out of the house without a coat. It's almost December, for God's sake, so I'm having one sent over from Wardrobe."
"A coat?"
"Mmm."
"Who was it meant for?"
"I have no idea. I said I wanted something that would fit an R-link and told Jeremiah to have one of the guards sign for it. Then I headed over here."
The ease with which the words spilled out surprised him. Not once had he said anything that wasn't true, but the inference was innocent while his intent wasn't.
"Nina cooks for you?"
"It's part of the arrangement," he said off-handedly. "But no, she doesn't usually cook. Generally she heats up the housekeeper's casserole and puts together a salad. Or a vegetable dish. I think it makes her feel like she's contributing."
Simon said nothing for a few seconds. He looked up at the overhanging tree branches. A muscle ticked in his jaw. Then he met Ethan's eyes and said, "This has gone on long enough, Ethan. I want you to tell her it's time to move out."
So this was it. What had started out as a helpful gesture so that Simon could keep tabs on Nina and have her close at hand had rebounded on them both. It was now a way for Ethan to keep tabs on her and have her close at hand and Simon knew it.
"You want me to tell her to move out," Ethan repeated, grappling for a solution they could all live with.
"Yes."
"Where is she supposed to go? Your house?"
"That's right. She can have the same arrangement she has at yours—privacy and whatever time she needs to get past what she saw."
"Simon—"
"I've asked you to stay away from her and—"
"Excuse me, gentlemen," a female voice interrupted, surprisingly firm. It came from inside the Spa courtyard but it wasn't Nina's.
He and Simon both turned to find a female guard standing just inside the gate. Behind her Nina stared through the bars, warmly enveloped in a furry winter coat.
"I'm going to ask you both to step to the side of the path," the young woman said, her tone pleasant but commanding.
Ethan narrowed his eyes and took a step forward. Heads were going to roll for this, and hers would be the first. He looked at her nametag. K. Springer. He remembered her. Kathy spelled with a K.
He gestured toward Nina. "You brought the coat?"
"Yes."
"All right. Assignment completed. Now report back to the hub—and stay there."
The young woman squared her shoulders. "I can't do that, sir. Not yet. Miss Millering used the cabana house phone to call Security and asked for an escort. Female if possible. And discreet," she tacked on. "So if you'll step aside please, I'll walk with her to the mall."
"The mall?"
Instead of stepping to the side as requested, Ethan moved toward the gate. He glared down at the employee who had the audacity to oppose a direct order.
"Or," she suggested, "I can escort her out of here through the tunnels. —Sir."
"Do you know who I am, Springer?"
"Yes sir, I do."
"Then report back to Jeremiah and tell him I've taken over your assignment. I'll see Miss Millering over to the mall."
Her eyes held his. "I'm sorry Mr. Vale, but I can't do that."
"Can't? Or won't?"
"Won't, sir."
"Your job is in jeopardy, Springer."
"Ethan!" Nina gasped.
He shot her a menacing look that ordered her to keep her mouth shut.
But K. Springer held her own. "I know my job is in jeopardy, sir." She raised one hand and tapped a finger on the radio headset she wore. "But I'm still going to escort Miss Millering to the mall and I'll call for backup if I have to." She took a breath. "But that would be awkward for everyone. —Sir."
"Are you threatening me, Springer?"
"No sir, I'm not. I'm just trying to do my job."
"And did Jeremiah allow you to think there was any future to your job?"
"As a matter of fact he did."
"Really? Enlighten me."
Her chin went up another notch. "I was told, sir, that if I was able to carry out this assignment without getting myself fired, you'd see to it I got a raise."
Son of a bitch.
Simon broke the sudden silence with a bark of laughter and damn if Ethan didn't want to do the same. He tried to recall which branch of the military K. Springer had served in and gave himself a mental pat on the back for having the good instincts to hire her. "You think you deserve a raise for this, Springer?"
She didn't hesitate. "Yes sir, I do."
He considered her for a long minute. Then he nodded once and stepped to the side of the path. "As it happens, I do too. You go ahead and walk Miss Millering to the mall and I'll see to it the board considers that raise."
She hadn't expected his capitulation. He saw it in the flash of surprise that lit her eyes.
She turned her head and looked po
intedly at Simon until he too stepped to the edge of the path. Only then did she press her palm to the biometric scanner to release the gate.
Both women crossed the threshold and out of the protected safety of the courtyard. Springer positioned herself between her charge and both men. Her smaller form would hardly be a deterrent if either one of them decided to overpower her. But the headset she wore and the cameras Jeremiah undoubtedly had fixed on them, were sufficiently effective.
"Springer," he spoke out as they began to pass.
She paused, raised a questioning brow, and stretched out an arm to stop Nina from proceeding without her.
"This assignment never happened. Do we understand each other?"
"Absolutely, Mr. Vale. I was never here."
He nodded once and turned to Nina. "How long will you be at the mall?"
She looked up, her eyes wary and full of apprehension.
That's right honey, you're in deep shit and you know it.
"I might be a while," she said. "It depends on how long I have to wait before Evolutions has an opening."
Evolutions. Evolutions Body Salon.
So she'd paid attention to his warning after all. He glanced at Springer then back to Nina. "Simon and I will be waiting to follow you home."
Let her take that however the hell she wanted because he intended to ream her ass from here to Sunday when he got her in the house. She should never have phoned Security for an escort and she knew it. If she'd been in real danger her vitals would have spiked into the red zone and Jeremiah would have had a team of guards on the scene within seconds. That's why she had a goddamned implant buried in her goddamned arm.
Staring after both women as they continued down the path, he walked over to join Simon. "I swear to God," he muttered between clenched teeth, "she'd send the devil screaming out of hell if she ever did something horrendous enough to put herself there."
Beside him Simon grunted an agreement. "Feel like a drink at The Den while we wait? It's going to be a while."
Humor and friendship had apparently been restored and Ethan felt himself begin to relax. "Sure. Sounds good."
CHAPTER 40
Any benefit she'd gained by staying out past midnight for a full body massage was short-lived. Minute by minute under the strain of dread, her muscles grew tense as she drove home. By the time she turned into Ethan's driveway and braked, she didn't even want to get out of the car.
Two sets of headlights had trailed her little Toyota out of the parking garage. Four sinister beams of light followed her every turn, reflecting four promises of doom in her rearview mirror. Her neck was taut again. Her shoulders ached and her fingers felt as though they'd have to be pried loose from the steering wheel. She was tired, she was in serious trouble, and honestly, she wanted to cry again.
Which of them would go first? They were both furious. As far as Simon was concerned, she'd probably provided a fresh firestorm of gossip. The female guard said it was Jeremiah Case who had phoned Wardrobe to request the coat she presently wore. As Security's second in command it was doubtful he'd take part in spreading rumors. But how many others had been watching the monitors? Security Central was probably equipped with a hundred of them. How many guards did it take to oversee all that surveillance? How many had seen her cowering behind a wrought-iron gate as though Simon might be an axe murderer?
And then there was Ethan. Heaven help her.
Ungluing her hands from the steering wheel, she stretched the stiffness from her fingers and turned off the engine. Prolonging the inevitable wasn't going to make it go away. Both men stood in the driveway now, their cars boxing hers in where it sat. Did they think she was going to try to drive away and escape? Where the heck would she go?
Removing her keys from the ignition, she reached for her purse and opened the door. This horrible night couldn't go on forever.
"Let's go inside," Ethan said, his tone void of emotion. He nodded toward the walkway then followed behind her, unlocking the door for her to enter.
The large overhead globe diffused its soft glow over the foyer. He always left it on for her when she went out. After tonight he might throw her out and never have to turn it on again.
He disabled the alarm as she walked into the living room. Sliding the strap of her purse down her arm, she set it on the sofa then sat down beside it in the semi-darkness.
A second later Ethan flipped the wall switch that turned on both lamps, one at each end table, placing her in the spotlight. Then he and Simon sat down on two adjacent chairs and stared directly at her.
Ethan took the first shot, his eyes boring into hers. "Do you have any idea how much damage you caused tonight? How many jobs you put in jeopardy?"
Jobs? Were people actually going to lose their livelihoods because of something she'd done?
"Do you know what it takes to run an operation like RUSH? To live in the public eye? Do you know how many people will speculate on Simon's character because you barricaded yourself behind that gate?"
Don't cry, she told herself. Don't. Don't. Don't.
"Then you followed that up by phoning Security for an escort. For what? Protection? From a man you have a blue link with?"
He was like a tightly coiled snake, ready to whip out and snap. "Do you know how many employees questioned my judgment while I tried to untangle the spectacle you created? Do you have any idea what it takes to maintain the confidence of people who rely on your leadership . . . what it takes to intimidate an employee and in the next breath allow her to disobey a direct order because you know she's right? And then to back down without compromising your authority and—hopefully—that employee's respect? Do you comprehend the position you put me in? The position you've put Simon in?"
Don't cry!
She swallowed. Swallowed again. It took several seconds to work her voice past the guilt he'd heaped at her feet. "I know my apology won't change anything," she began, accepting the full brunt of censure in Ethan's eyes. "But I'm very sorry. I didn't consider the consequences before making the choices I made and I should have. Because I do know what it's like to live in the public eye. I've been living in it since the day I moved to RUSH."
She had to stop and swallow when her voice cracked. Then she turned to Simon. "I deeply apologize for any damage I've caused your reputation. I was only thinking of myself and you don't deserve what happened." She shifted her eyes between both men. "I don't know how to fix it. I don't know how to save someone's job and I don't know if there's anything at all I can do." She lifted her hand in a helpless gesture then let it fall back to her lap. "But I'm not thinking very clearly right now, so if you can suggest anything, please tell me."
Both men stared back at her for long quiet seconds. Finally Simon leaned forward. He rested both elbows on his knees, hands loosely clasped between them, and considered her. "There is something you can do," he said at length.
A tear slid down her cheek and she swiped it away. Surprisingly, the anger she expected from him wasn't there, not in his eyes or in the tone of his voice.
"You can stop the gossip before it has a chance to start if you move in with me."
She went still.
"You can choose whichever room you want and we'll try to start over. I won't put any pressure on you and we'll take things one step at a time. But it would go a long way toward restoring things to normal, for me at least, if we spent as much time together as possible while on property. Tonight's fiasco would look like a lover's quarrel, that's all, and the gossip would resolve itself."
She couldn't move. She could hardly breathe. As a solution, everything he said made sense. Once he—or she—let it slip out, word that she was living with him would spread throughout RUSH by the end of the week. Everything would all fall into place exactly as he predicted.
Jerking her eyes to Ethan, she saw that he'd gone still as well. After the horrible calamity she'd caused tonight would he welcome the chance to be rid of her?
Simon looked at Ethan as well and she held her
breath.
She'd heard them talking in front of the Moon Orchid Spa. She'd heard the steel in Simon's voice when he said this living arrangement had gone on long enough. And now a shining opportunity had fallen right into Ethan's lap. The timing was perfect for him to tell her Simon's suggestion would be best for everyone.
But Ethan only stared back at her and an unbearable silence stretched to every corner of the room.
Finally, he turned to face Simon. Two pairs of eyes locked and Ethan drew a breath. "I'm sorry," he said. And that was all. Just two words.
But they were two words that carried a message so momentous Nina began to shake.
Joy . . . horror . . . relief . . . dread . . . . She couldn't grab onto one emotion long enough to sort through all she was feeling.
Long, horrible seconds passed while both men stared at one another. She watched Simon's eyes grow hard and knew Ethan's refusal to throw her out had altered the course of their friendship.
Simon straightened. Then he rose to his feet. He looked once at her, then he turned and without a word, walked across the room, through the foyer, and out the front door.
Silence stretched like an abyss.
She stared at the empty chair he'd occupied, stricken by the multitude of sins piling up at her feet. The tears she'd been holding back burned her eyes and poured down her cheeks.
"Ethan, no. Call him back. Tell him you've changed your mind."
"Why? Have you changed your mind?" Flinty eyes stared back at her. "Do you want to move in with him?"
"No! You know I don't. But I will. It won't be for long." She swiped at her tears. "I have an appointment tomorrow to look at an apartment. A room, I mean. I might be able to move into it next weekend."
"Affordable?"
"Yes."
"In a good neighborhood?"
"I think so."
He gave a snort of derision. "Then you and a hundred other people have an appointment to look at it. What happens if you don't get it? Weeks could pass before something else comes up."