“Oh, I think it’s the most romantic application of math I’ve ever heard.” Anna’s sigh pulled Sebastian from his thoughts. “Armand, we have to help him.”
His brother chuckled and lifted Anna’s hand to his lips, kissing her knuckles gently. “As you wish, my love.”
“Daniel, can you write up the specifics of the different theories that might attract a professor of Dr. Blake’s caliber?” Richard and Kate rose together, the two were so damn in sync. “Armand, we’ll use one of the shell companies to host the offer. Kate, darling, do you mind flying to Boston? We’ll arrange for a second, unmarked private plane to handle her transport.”
With a few sentences, his family mobilized. Within minutes, they’d all gone off to tackle various tasks and Sebastian was left with his eldest brother.
“This may not work,” Armand told him. “Are you prepared for the possibility?”
“As prepared as you were to lose Anna,” Sebastian stated. She’d thrown him with her ending their relationship with no warning and her refusals to take his calls. “But once we are face to face, we can work out our differences.”
“If she still doesn’t want you despite such remarkable effort?”
He knew Armand wasn’t deliberately provoking him, but the thought of losing Meredith for good was untenable. “Then I try again.”
Whether it took five years or fifty, he wasn’t giving up.
Meredith stared out the window as the limousine pulled into a spot next to a private dock. The past several days elapsed in a heady blur and, after nearly a day of travel covering six thousand miles, she’d almost reached her destination. Of course, the presence of the speedboat suggested maybe she wasn’t.
As soon as the car stopped, Terry exited then helped her out. Accepting his hand, she tried not to grimace as her muscles protested. “Still managing?” he asked.
“Just tired. “ She didn’t sleep on planes, not even luxuriously appointed private planes such as the one provided by Eridani Corp. After releasing his hand, she took a couple of steps and stretched. The warm breeze blowing in over the crystal blue waters was a far cry from the snowy temps of Boston. She’d stripped off the sweater she’d worn for the flight and stowed her coat with the luggage. Pushing up her sleeves, she glanced at their escort.
The enigmatic Kate Braddock served as her main point of contact since the request for her assistance on a proprietary study came in. Normally, so late in a semester, she would have turned it down flat. But when her department head approached her with the challenging proposition, it proved exactly what her beleaguered heart needed.
After contacting each of her doctoral candidates personally and making arrangements for her TA to handle her last three classes, Meredith believed she was more than ready to get away from her life, but nervous regrets plagued her on every step of the journey. She’d left behind the cell phone Bastian used to contact her and left the country without sending him any type of message.
How many times has he done the same to me over the years? I never knew where he was half the time. Only scant days since she’d broken things off, so part of her understood it was too ridiculously short a time to be over him, even if she was the one to end it, yet...
Terry touched her arm and drew her attention back to the pier. Their escort headed down to talk to the crew while a driver offloaded their meager belongings. She’d been rather proud of herself for packing only one suitcase for the trip, but it looked rather lonely with Terry’s duffle bag. At least he’d packed even lighter than her. Ms. Braddock brought an even smaller bag.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” It wasn’t the first time he’d asked since they’d set out on the journey. His choice to accompany her on the trip surprised the hell out of her. It wasn’t like before, when she’d flown off to meet Sebastian at some secluded location. Still, Terry merely shrugged. He still had a job—to protect her, and she wasn’t going halfway around the world with a woman she’d just met whether it was for a special project or not.
“I’m fine,” she assured him and summoned up a smile to hide the wilting sensation in her soul. Everything in her wanted to get back in the car, go back to the airport, fly back to Boston and get her cell phone. Stupid emotions. She’d never imagined herself as someone who would be a victim to her need for a man.
But Sebastian wasn’t just any man—she loved him. Was in love with him. She wanted more than a few sporadic days and quick phone calls at random times of the day. God help her, she wanted a fairy tale, while the analytical side of her brain shook its head. What she needed was therapy.
“You don’t seem fine.” Terry waved off the driver and retrieved their bags. “If you want to change your mind, I can arrange transport for us back to the States. For the record? I think going home is exactly what you should be doing.”
The offer surprised her, and she studied the stern line of his profile. Retired or not, Terry was a soldier through and through. Never completely still, his attention floated, always scanning the area around them. When he’d first come to work for Sebastian—and her, ultimately—his behavior used to unnerve her. So far from home, however, she found herself oddly comforted and irritated by it in the same moment.
In fact, Terry never left her side after the incident with Sebastian’s phone call. His attitude, always protective in the past, seemed to be even more aggressive since she’d told him about the trip. Almost possessive. “Leaving aside the fact I signed a contract and a non-disclosure to do the work and I find their premise intriguing—what’s bothering you?”
Kate returned before he could answer. “We’re all set. It’s about a two hour ride to the first island. We’ll pick up a helicopter there…”
“A helicopter?” His voice deepened, and he took a step forward. The move was one he used to intimidate others, and she’d seen it work to great effect. Hell, it usually worked on her when she’d been in a bad mood over having someone ‘escort’ her.
Amazingly enough, Kate met Terry’s gaze with aplomb Meredith envied. “You don’t need to take the helicopter, Mr. O’Connor.” Even the warm breeze seemed to chill under the blanket of ice in her voice. “You’re only along because Miss Blake indicated she would be more comfortable with your presence. You don’t have to go any further.”
Tension ballooned in the air and Kate met Terry’s fierce stare without flinching. When a thread of violence seemed to ratchet up into the intervening silence, Meredith touched Terry’s arm. “Really, it’s quite all right, Miss Braddock. I’m tired, and Terry’s just worried about me.” Walking between the two on purpose, she tried to send Terry the message to cool it with her eyes. Hopefully he understood because Kate fell into step with her.
“We can take a break here, if you’re exhausted,” the woman offered, her tone considerably warmer than when she spoke to Terry.
Meredith smiled—whether because of Kate’s kindness or the gentle sway of the pier, she couldn’t quite be sure. “Truthfully, I’d rather just get to our destination and hopefully have ten to twelve hours to pass out. I’m not a very good traveler.”
“I noticed you didn’t sleep on the plane.” Kate paused as they arrived at the speedboat. The driver, a Greek man with swarthy skin and an easy smile, held a hand out to Meredith and she accepted his help to board. The tiny watercraft bobbed and he held onto her arm until she slid into one of the seats.
Kate boarded right behind her, sans any assistance, leaving Terry to board last. Taking the seat next to her, Kate adjusted her sunglasses and Meredith fished her own out. The glare was a bit bright. Settling her purse into her lap, she glanced at their escort. The woman looked at ease wherever she was, no wonder she took care of the corporation’s recruiting needs.
“I don’t actually like flying.” She was especially grateful for the boat, and a little more so due to Terry’s strange animosity. It gave her something to focus on besides the helicopter ride. She’d only ever enjoyed a handful of plane rides in her life. Each time she’d been with… Oh for
the love of God, stop thinking about him.
Kate shifted, and even with the sunglasses shading her eyes, Meredith could feel the weight of her stare. “You don’t? Why didn’t you say something?”
She laughed and it was the first real one she’d managed in days. It felt rusty even to her. “Because it’s very difficult to ask anyone to wait two or three weeks while I book passage on cruise ships. It’s a fear, and the only way to conquer fear is not to let it conquer you.”
The roar of the engine firing up drowned out Kate’s reply. Their pilot called something out and Kate responded. It was all Greek to Meredith. A fresh wave of humor bloomed inside of her, and she giggled. A glance at Terry earned her a tight-lipped smile and some of her newfound cheer diminished. He wasn’t pleased.
The boat pulled away from the dock and they raced across the waves. Meredith forgot all about Terry’s bad mood, her own discomfort at flying, and even her exhaustion. The wind pulled at her hair and she was grateful she’d pulled it all back into a ponytail. Scents of salt and water twined in the air around her, both bracing and refreshing.
If something could smell exotic, then she’d found it. Meredith leaned forward for most of the next couple of hours. She’d been on her fair share of ships, from skiffs to yachts, but the speedboat sliced across the top of the water like it rode the wind and she couldn’t get over the wild freedom it promised.
Note to self, she’d decided by the time she saw the island in the distance. I have to do this again. Maybe she could take a trip the following summer, and pilot her own speedboat. Wouldn’t that be a kick in the pants? Just wait until she told…
Meredith sighed and sank back against the seat, another layer of her good mood evaporating. Apparently, not thinking about Sebastian would take some practice.
Twenty minutes later, she stared at the helicopter where Terry stowed their gear with gut wrenching terror. It was so tiny. Well, compared to an airplane at least. The helicopter seemed designed to seat ten people, and only Kate and Terry were joining her in addition to the pilot.
“Three things to remember.” Kate came to stand next to her, sunglasses still shielding her eyes.
“And they are?” Meredith couldn’t get her racing heart to slow from a gallop. It felt like it wanted to beat right out of her chest and sweat slicked her spine. Thank God she hadn’t eaten anything since London or she might have already thrown up.
“I’m a licensed pilot. I can handle this craft. It’s rated in the top 99th percentile in safety and performance.” Okay, the information sounded a little better. “Two, we’re not flying especially high. We’ll be within a couple of hundred feet of the water. Worst case scenario, you’re going to get wet.”
Twisting, Meredith stared at Kate. Was the woman serious? “Do I dare ask what the third thing is?”
The corner of Kate’s mouth twitched. “There are no sharks in these waters.”
A giggle slipped out before Meredith could stop it and her sides actually pinched as laughter shook her. The absurd dissemination of information burst the fear spiked tension locking up her muscles. “I like you,” she volunteered.
Kate chuckled and nudged her toward the helicopter. “Ditto. Now let’s get you strapped in.”
Terry’s sour mood seemed firmly in place, but he still helped Meredith into the copter and took the seat next to her. Terry buckled her in, not Kate. The other woman took the seat opposite them, her expression unreadable as she watched. The big door closed and the rotors started to spin outside. All at once, Meredith’s stomach plummeted and her heart picked up the pace.
She was going to throw up.
“Miss Blake?” Kate called, leaning toward her. “I forgot to ask—”
“You forgot to ask what?”
“Can you swim?” The dry question lanced the fresh bubble of fear and Meredith started giggling again. When the laughter precluded her answer, Kate pulled off her sunglasses. “No, seriously, can you swim?”
Meredith laughed harder. It was all so silly, yet so fun. She was on an adventure. When she caught Terry staring at her with narrowed eyes, another fit of giggles erupted. Before she knew it, they were airborne.
Excitement coiled with anticipation, so she gripped the armrests until her knuckles turned white. Terry put a hand comfortingly over hers, and her laughter faded. Waiting a beat, she found a quick smile of thanks for him and then pulled her hands into her lap and looked out the window at the water as the island vanished.
From the corner of her eye she caught Kate looking at her. Terry’s attention was elsewhere, but Kate shifted her gaze to him and then back to Meredith, a question in her expression. Yes, Meredith didn’t care for Terry’s behavior, but no—she could handle it.
She shook her head once and Kate nodded. If nothing else, this adventure introduced her to Kate—she was something else. Maybe they’d have time to get to know each other around the assignment.
“Fifteen minutes,” a voice announced over the intercom. “And we’ve been cleared to land.”
Oh. They were almost there. Amazingly enough, the minutes passed quickly and then they landed with a bump, which made her stomach summersault, but at least it was over. Kate exited ahead of her and Terry went next. Meredith was grateful for the reprieve because her legs trembled violently and she felt shaky all over.
It was probably exhaustion coupled with hunger. A shower, some food, and a good night’s sleep and she would be ready to tackle the Return Times challenge. Some of her relish for the project returned. Unfortunately, she couldn’t avoid Terry’s hand as he helped her down. She mouthed thanks and pulled her hand free, ducking even though the blades were much higher than her head—they were still spinning.
Slowing, she lifted her head to take in their surroundings. It was a lush paradise with deep green grass and trees on one side of a thin ribbon of a road and beautiful white sand beaches and azure water on the other. A car waited for them and Kate was on her way to it.
Following, Meredith tried to quell the tremors rocking through her. Then the backdoor of the car opened and he stepped out. She felt stripped to her soul. Ice cooled her skin even as heat burned in her blood. The oxygen seemed to get knocked out of her lungs as the most handsome man she’d ever known stood, waiting for her.
The wind tousled his black hair and a lock of it fell down on his forehead. She knew his eyes would be the shade of onyx, so dark she wouldn’t know where the pupil ended and the iris began. He wore a white shirt, with no tie or jacket and white slacks. They highlighted the deep bronze of his skin, and he looked like a god come to life. Even the shadow of scruff darkening his jaw added to the raw sensuality of the man.
She couldn’t breathe.
Bastian…
That son of a bitch.
Chapter Four
Sebastian tried to keep his lust under control, but the tight leash he’d forced over his reactions since Meredith’s fateful phone call slipped and need bucked all convention. A ray of sunlight framed her perfectly. Meredith never hid behind layers of couture, coifing and cosmetics like a plastic doll come to life. She’d always been more. Softness, heat, and utterly feminine—she’d kindled a wild possessiveness and desperate need to claim her from the first moment they’d met.
The familiar fire exploded to life and surged in his blood. Question filled her features and her mouth fell open for the length of a heartbeat before she snapped it shut. Fury replaced shock, but before he could respond to any of it, Kate stepped into his line of sight.
“You really should have waited at the house,” the former bodyguard murmured. “I don’t think she’s ready to see you, and we need to talk—”
“No,” Meredith’s voice rang out from the tarmac, and she turned to get back in the helicopter.
Cutting around Kate, Sebastian strode toward her. He was not letting her leave, not before they talked. “Meredith—”
He didn’t make it a half-dozen steps before O’Connor stepped into his path and body blocked him. “You ne
ed to back off.”
A moment later, Vidal drove O’Connor back, inserting himself between the prince and the guard. Violence thrummed in the air and Sebastian’s gaze hardened as he pinned a glare at the bodyguard tasked with Meredith’s safety. The same man who’d been having dinner with her, whose touch lingered on Meredith’s hand and arm longer than necessary.
“Stand down,” Vidal ordered in a cold, cutting tone, but the command had little effect on O’Connor.
“You tell him to keep his distance. She doesn’t want to see him and he doesn’t get to use his position to force the issue.” He shook off Vidal and shifted his weight. The two were squared off and Vidal didn’t retreat a step. The rest of Sebastian’s detail surged up around him. O’Connor’s hand shifted and, for a fraction of an instant, Sebastian thought he might actually go for his gun.
Switching his attention to Meredith, Sebastian’s heart stopped when she rushed forward and put a hand on O’Connor’s arm. “Terry.”
She was too damned close to him and the man adjusted his angle to put her behind him. Too damn close. “Meredith, come here.” Sebastian issued the directive and—although he was fairly certain O’Connor wouldn’t harm her—he refused to take any chances with her safety.
“You stay where you are.” O’Connor countered with his own order. Tension crackled in the air.
Bracketed by two more of Sebastian’s detail, Vidal invaded O’Connor’s space. “I told you, stand down.“
“Meredith, get away from him. Right now.” Sebastian wanted her out of the rapidly escalating showdown. She hesitated, glancing from O’Connor to him and then pulled her hand from the man. When O’Connor intercepted her step away, the violence exploded.
Some Like it Secret (Going Royal Book 4) Page 5