Missy's Gentle Giant

by P D Miller

  “Oh yes! I have something good to tell you.” The man smiled brightly.

  “Which is?” Missy dropped tiredly on the sofa.

  “I have a check for you—ah, retribution.”

  “For what?” Missy’s eyes opened wide, but she was suspicious.

  “For what happened to you!” The man smiled widely.

  “I don’t understa—”

  “It’s a law when a person is wronged, he or she is supposed to receive retribution.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I must admit it rarely happens, but this is a government check.” He lifted the check. “And I was sent here.”

  “But it’s been three years—”

  “Yes sometimes it takes a long time.” He held out the check. “But here it is.”

  “This is for—” Missy’s eyes opened in shock.

  “Retribution ma’am and all yours.” He smiled.

  “Who’s paying it?”

  “As I said, it’s an action of the court. Sometimes the government sells off a criminal’s property, and the proceeds go to the victim.” The man held out some papers. “All I need is for you to sign these, and the money is yours.”

  “But this is a quarter of a million dollars!”

  Ricardo’s earphones had gone dead when he saw Missy come downstairs. He listened and watched the man. When Missy said a $250,000, Ricardo silently pulled himself up and went to the kitchen phone to call Gonzalo. For Missy to come by money twice seemed like too much. Gonzalo agreed and suspected Ben. He could see what Ben was trying to do. But what the hell could they do when Ben apparently didn’t want anything to do with the family now? For several minutes Gonzalo tapped his pencil on his desk; then he picked up the phone because there might be one thing left he could do.

  Chapter Eleven

  Ben was in the kitchen at three in the afternoon when the doorbell rang. At first he ignored it, then angrily he shoved his way to the door and yanked it open.

  “Mr. Ben Spinelli?”

  “Yes, what the hell—”

  “A message sir, your secretary said you were—”

  “Yes, thanks.” Ben reached in his pocket, pulled out a bill for the boy and took the envelope.

  “Thank you, SIR!”

  Ben slammed the door, touched his aching head, went back to the kitchen and dropped the envelope on the table before he reached for a cup. The four aspirin he took hadn’t helped. Slowly he poured a cup of coffee and sat at the table. He closed his eyes waiting for the coffee to cool. When he opened his eyes the envelope loomed at him. He drank down his coffee, got up for another cup and then looked at the envelope again. Hell, he might as well open it. Something serious might have happened with the construction. Or his father wondered about the sudden drain of Ben’s money and wanted to tell him he did something stupid. Ben no longer cared and slid his finger along the edge of the envelope.

  He began shaking after reading the first line. “Missy got the money, but I don’t think she’ll accept it if I tell her, whose retribution it is. Missy was coming to tell you what the doctor told her to do when she saw you with the woman. We took it wrong. Isn’t it time for peace?”

  Ben couldn’t catch his breath and dropped the letter on the table. An unexplainable rage hit him, and he threw his cup at the coffee pot. Glass shattered, coffee spilled everywhere, and Ben watched it as it ran down the cabinet into drawers, down cabinet doors and to the floor. What the hell was wrong with him? He never gave up on anything! Why should he now? He glanced at the clock, which said ten after four, grabbed the letter and raced for the phone in the library. It was well after six before Ben laid the receiver down for the last time.

  He received several packages during the next two hours and eventually went upstairs to pack two suitcases. He stopped only long enough to write out an extensive note to Mrs. Diaz about cleanup and for her to go to Missy’s house the next day; then he paced again.

  At precisely eleven that night a pickup truck silently pulled to a stop in front of Ben’s house. He was waiting outside. “Everything set?”

  “Ready and waiting.”

  Ben gave the suitcases to the man and climbed into the pickup; the guy showed a thumbs up sign and waved as Ben left. Half an hour later, the pickup pulled to a silent stop next door to the Sanchez house. Ben climbed out, closed the door halfway and reached for the ladder. Carefully he carried it and placed it against Missy’s window. Hearing every squeak, he slowly climbed up and prayed her window wouldn’t be locked. He felt the window give, slowly stole into Missy’s room, walked over to her bed and covered her mouth. He felt her stiffen. Frantically his hand sought hers.

  “It’s Ben.” His hand flew down to hers. “I love you and want to work things out. I’ve come to kidnap you, again. Do you want me to?”

  “Ben?” Her fingers asked. “You love me?”

  “Yes, I always have; do you want me to kidnap you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes.”

  “I plan to keep you for a long time.” His fingers flew.

  “Yes, I know.”

  “I’m going to take you far away from here.”

  “All right.”

  “I love you.”

  “Yes, I know, and I love you.”

  “I want us to work this problem out.”

  “I do too.”

  “If I uncover your mouth, will you be quiet?”

  “Yes.”

  “Promise?”

  Missy nodded her head as she answered with her hand. Slowly Ben uncovered Missy’s mouth, turned her around and gently touched his lips to hers. Instantly her arms flew up to his shoulders in response. Ben tasted her lips, and she opened hers in response. His kiss deepened until he was forced to pull away for air. He licked at the salty tears rolling down her cheeks, brushed her hair back and picked her up. At the window, he exited first; then helped her down the ladder. Silently they climbed into the truck and sped away. Several blocks away, Ben stopped behind his big rig. Grinning, he climbed from the truck and carried her to the big rig.

  “Are we going somewhere in this?”

  “Just back to your house to let them know you’re all right.” Ben squeezed her hand.

  Just as Ben reached for the horn at the corner, a helicopter began to descend toward the street in front of the Sanchez house. Ben kept the horn blaring, and its noise combined with that of the chopper caused the entire neighborhood to instantly come alive. When he pulled to a stop, Ben stopped the horn. He climbed from the cab, pulled Missy into his arms and quickly ran to the chopper. It all happened so fast Gonzalo was just reaching the front door as the chopper ascended into the air.

  He put his hands on his hips and grinned from ear to ear. “Charger, dammit, you’re crazy!” He shook his head, saw the big rig was still running and went to turn it off. Inside on the seat he picked up a note telling him to keep the damn truck for their business, stay out of their marriage and leave them alone.

  “The nerve of Ben, doing it again.” Marco shook his head. “Pop says he actually used a ladder this time.”

  “Not Ben, Charger this time.” Gonzalo put his arm over his brother’s shoulder and laughed. “Marco, everything’s going to by all right.”

  Half an hour later Ben dropped Missy lightly on a bed in the suite of his father’s private jet. His smile widened when he dropped down beside her and kissed her nose.

  “Where are we going?”

  “To a private place I know about.” He kissed her nose again. “There won’t be a way of leaving or contacting anyone for at least a week. Do you mind?”

  “We’re going to work out our problem then?” She bit her lip when his large hand brushed her hair back.

  “Yep, and if it’s not solved by then, I’ll tell the pilot to come back in another week.”

  “You’re going to keep me a prisoner?”

  “Sure am.” He laughed and rose. “Get comfortable honey, while I see if I can scrape up so
mething to eat.”

  Missy wasn’t sure what she should think and was even a little afraid to look around. Ben acted different. He’d changed. Before his kisses always led to painful separations, but this time he didn’t even seem disturbed. What could have happened to settle him? Finally she sat up slowly and glanced around. She drew her legs up and pulled her nightgown down, then hugged her knees. When Ben came back carrying a tray, a bottle of wine and two glasses she smiled at him. He put everything down and sat on the side of the bed, placing the tray between them. Before opening the wine and pouring it, he popped an olive into her mouth.

  “Everything’s going to be all right, Missy.” Again he reached up and caressed her hair. “You’re so beautiful sitting there with the light shining in your hair.” Her dimples drove him wild.

  Grinning, Missy reached down and pushed an olive into Ben’s mouth. “You’re beautiful too.”

  When the plane landed five hours later, they waited in a tiny office while a jeep and their baggage was unloaded.

  “Next week this time Ben?” The pilot smiled.

  Ben glanced at Missy for signs of fear, saw none and nodded. “And if we’re not here at the office just leave supplies and take off for another week.”

  “Will do.” The pilot smiled and waved as he walked away.

  Quietly they watched the plane take off before Ben helped Missy into the jeep.

  “Just a little bit more and we’ll be there.”

  “Where’s there?” Missy was tired. Even though she’d dozed some on the plane, it wasn’t a relaxing sleep. It worried her not to even know where they were.

  “It’s small private island in the Pacific.”

  “Who owns it?”

  “My father.”

  “Does he know we’re here?”

  “Yes, I called him.”

  “He owns the whole thing?”

  “Yep.” Used to come down here just to get away from the world when business bogged him down. I spent a summer alone here after coming back from Iraq. I needed the time to think and decide what to do with my life. Spent another couple of months here recovering from an injury once.”

  “One of your scars?”

  “Yes, the one on my thigh.”

  “But I thought it was just a cut.” Missy glanced at him with questioning eyes.

  With his attention apparently on driving, Ben said nothing and turned the jeep into a circular driveway. He pulled to a stop in front of a beautiful sprawling glass house. “This is it.” He smiled. “Feel free to wander and do what you like while I get the jeep unpacked.” He opened the front door and dropped a box inside.

  Still wondering why Ben didn’t say more about getting the scar, Missy wandered inside amazed. Windows stretched from the floor to the ceilings, even in the kitchen. Ben took their suitcases to the bedroom first, then brought boxes in the kitchen.

  She stole her way down the hall and stepped into the most beautiful bedroom she’d ever seen. Again the windows went to the ceiling; the bed was circular, covered in red satin and was so large all her brothers would fit on it. She went to the bed, sat on it and sank.

  “Pretty neat, huh?” Ben stood in the doorway.

  “I’ve never seen anything like it.” Missy felt her cheeks burn with color.

  “Sleeping will be a different experience too.” He smiled.

  “Oh?”

  “It’s a waterbed.”

  “Oh!” Missy jumped up. “Is that why I sank so far?”

  “Yep. Everything’s here for one to relax, even a sauna in the bathroom you can try. Change if you like.” He pointed to her nightgown and chuckled. “Unless you’re planning on wearing your nightgown all week.”

  “Oh, I forgot.” Again her cheeks colored.

  “Well, I think everything you’ll need is in the blue suitcase. I’ll be in the kitchen putting things away.”

  “But I can’t undress here.” Missy raised her hands in the air and her face colored again. “There are windows everywhere and no curtains! Even the bathroom is wide open.”

  “Suit yourself, but there’s no one to see you but me.” Ben shrugged and walked off. When he got to the kitchen he was smiling. Wait until she opened the suitcase! Quickly he emptied boxes and put food away. He started a fire in the barbecue and was watching it when he heard Missy shriek. Well, she looked in the luggage. Grinning broadly he went for their steaks. Before he started the salad, he went back to the bedroom. Missy was sitting on the bed and wringing her hands.

  “Decided to stay in your nightgown, I see.” He went to one of his suitcases and pulled out some cut-offs.

  “I thought you said the blue suitcase was for me.” Missy didn’t look up.

  “I did.” Ben gave her a questioning look. “Something wrong?” Quickly he pulled off his shirt and reached for his belt. Missy’s face colored again.

  “I—I—can’t wear things like those. The clothes aren’t even mine.”

  “Oh?” Ben stepped out of his slacks, walked over to the closet wearing only boxers and hung them.

  “They’re clothes for—for—ladies of the evening—things—” She turned away and swallowed hard when she saw Ben in bikini briefs.

  “Can’t imagine how it happened.” He pulled on his cut-offs. “You’re welcome to try anything of mine. Of course I imagine they’ll be too big.” His zipper going up grated against her nerve endings. He walked over to her, leaned forward and kissed her on the nose. “Honey, you’d look sexy in anything. Dinner will be ready in half an hour.”

  Missy went to Ben’s suitcase and saw nothing to fit her. She went into the kitchen half an hour later still wearing her nightgown. Ben shrugged and shook his head. So she had a huge hang-up about someone seeing her body? This may take more than a week. Oh well, one thing Ben hated to do was quit in the middle of a project. If he could survive all the hell he’d gone through in Iraq, drug busts with the DEA, and fighting her nine brothers three times, he should be able to win Missy. He pretended not to notice she was still in her nightgown when he placed their plates on the table, got the wine and sat down.

  “Ben, where did you learn to cook?” Missy popped some salad into her mouth totally self-conscious and trying to avoid looks at his bare chest.

  “Used to follow the cook at home.” He smiled. “I like to cook. She used to get furious because I’d go on a baking binge and leave the kitchen a mess.”

  “You bake too?” Ben? Charger, the warrior? She shook her head and smiled. Oh, he was beautiful.

  “Nothing spectacular, just enough to fill a sweet tooth.” He reached over and touched her nose. “I also can’t specialize with foreign food much, just the steak and potatoes variety. Good old down to earth food.”

  “But it’s delicious!” Missy sipped at her wine. “Do you always like wine with your meals too?” Her eyes strayed over him again. Why was looking at Ben so different from looking at her brothers? She was used to seeing bare chests.

  “Not always, but it has a relaxing effect when a person’s nerves are wound up.” He smiled and filled her glass again.

  “Are you trying to get me drunk?” Her voice shook a little, and she looked out at the beach.

  “No, just trying to help you relax. We’ve got a long week ahead of us.” He leaned back and smiled. “One thing about this place, with no television or telephone, a person has to look within oneself. I’ve always done a lot of thinking when I’ve stayed out here.”

  “And your father?” Her face colored.

  “The huge round bed in there should tell you what he used this place for.” Ben smiled.

  “It doesn’t bother you?” She sipped more wine.

  “When I was younger, it did.” Ben rose from the table and started clearing it.

  Missy picked up the salad bowl and the spice carry-all.

  “For a while I even followed in his footsteps.” Ben smiled. “My mother ran around a lot too, so I had two great examples to follow.”

  “And what changed things for you?
”

  “You did.” Ben snapped the dishwasher shut and glanced up.

  “Oh.” Missy’s cheeks colored.

  Ben poured more wine and handed Missy her glass, “I didn’t bring you here for a fling, Missy. What I want between us has to be permanent. I chose this place so we could be totally alone and work things out with no interference. My business doesn’t know where I am; your family doesn’t know. It won’t be right unless we can be one.”

  “I—I know.” She gulped her wine and stared at the floor.

  “Come on, let’s walk on the beach.” Ben reached for her hand. She started to put her glass down, but he stopped her. “Bring your glass.” He reached for another bottle.

  For over two hours Ben walked Missy around the beach. Several times he pointed toward the house having so many windows and no curtains. For over two hours he teased her, held her hand, poured wine in her glass, chased her and laughed with her until he was sure she was totally exhausted and relaxed. She even noticed he drank two glasses of wine to her one as if he were trying to make sure she didn’t get drunk.

  When they neared the house, Ben reached for her hand and dropped to the sand. Missy dropped down beside him. For several moments neither said a word. Ben seemed to be a million miles away as he gazed toward the sea. Missy drew up her legs, hugged them and watched him.

  “Ben, Gonzalo says they called you Charger because you always took chances. Why?”

  “You mean in Iraq?” He glanced up at her.

  “Yes, and even the DEA. Why did you take so many chances?”

  Ben looked down at the sand and shrugged. “Don’t know. I guess it seemed like something had to be done, and I had less to lose than the others.”

  “Aren’t you going to miss that kind of life?”

  “No, I won’t miss it.”

  “Why?”

  “I’ve got too much to lose to want to take chances now.” He smiled widely.

  “Oh.” Missy shifted uncomfortably.

  “Honey, this right here with you is my last chance.” Ben chuckled and sat up.

  “I want things to work out, I really do.”

  “Gonzalo told me you went to the doctor.”