Paradise Ties: A Fortis Security Novella: Book 8.5

by Maddie Wade

  He turned when he heard someone walking towards him and saw Jace and Drew. “Thought you two were jet skiing?”

  Jace sat down in the shallow water and immediately lifted Leah in the air, making her giggle. Jace laughed as Leah grabbed his hair and pulled as she kicked her legs out. “We were, but we’re done so we thought we’d come and find the dad squad to make sure you’re all coping before we head for the pool bar.”

  Drew was standing beside them in swim shorts, his prosthetic leg not seeming to bother him like it had in the beginning. Dane knew Lauren worried, probably more than she should. Drew had shown more grit and determination since losing his leg below the knee than Dane had ever seen.

  He had developed a maturity and focus that was driving him to become better than he’d ever been before. He was walking well and training hard in the gym to rebuild his strength. He’d worked hard with the physiotherapists and prosthetists, and it was difficult to believe it had only been months since his life had been turned upside down.

  The only thing Drew seemed to struggle with was his confidence. He held no value in his abilities now, either on the team or off it. He’d closed himself off from being part of Fortis with any on-the-ground mission capacity and had only just started talking about coming back into the office to help with the technical side of things.

  Dane wondered if it was worth asking Jack if he’d get his guy Lopez to do some training with him. Perhaps they were all a little too close to the situation to be objective, and he knew Drew felt it was from pity rather than a genuine need for him to be on the team.

  He looked up at Drew. “You see any pretty young things that take your fancy?”

  Drew looked up and down the beach and shrugged. “Not sure a cripple is an attractive prospect for these girls,” he said, watching a group of young women messing around in the sea.

  “Dude, have you seen yourself in the mirror? I pretty sure they won’t be looking at your leg.” Jace snorted. “Fuck, I’d do you if I was that way inclined.”

  Drew smirked. “Yeah, you’re not really my type, Jace.”

  “What I’m saying is get out and get laid. It’s time to get back on the horse and ride.”

  Drew sat carefully on the sand, resting his elbows on his knees and letting his hands dangle. “I think the only thing I’ll be riding is a fucking horse.”

  Even though he said it as a joke, Dane saw pain there. “Come on, Drew. You had women queuing up to get in your bed before the accident, and I don’t think losing your leg has made much difference to them.”

  “Maybe not, but it’s changed me. I don’t want connectionless fucking anymore. And the ones I might want more with certainly don’t want to be saddled with this,” he said, gesturing to his leg.

  “You like someone,” Jace said with a grin as he flicked water at Aaron.

  Dane lifted his daughter to her feet, where she promptly sat back down again.

  “Doesn’t matter if I do, she doesn’t feel the same. She’s sweet and kind to everyone, so that’s that. Plus, she has a boyfriend and while I may have been a man-whore, I don’t touch women with boyfriends.”

  “Fine but there is someone out there, and you need to open your eyes to that. That’s all I’m saying.”

  “Thanks for the advice, Oprah. Now, can we go get a beer before I die of thirst?”

  Jace stood, as did Drew. “Sure, let’s go check out the pool bar and wait for the girls to be done.” Jace looked down at Dane. “You coming up?”

  “Yeah, I’ll meet you there in about an hour or so. I need to see if Dad can watch these two, and by that, I mean they’ll all take an afternoon nap.”

  Jace nodded, and Dane watched them walk away. He had a feeling if Drew opened himself up to the possibility of finding someone and stopped letting his leg define him, he’d be happier. But it was still early days, and Drew had a lot of baggage to deal with before a possible romance.

  For now, he had an evening with his friends to enjoy. Tonight was ‘boys’ night, and they were going into town to eat, get drunk, and have an impromptu stag night. It wouldn’t be messy, or so he hoped. Hangovers with little ones sucked balls, and he wasn’t in his twenties anymore.

  It was three days until he said, “I do”, and he couldn’t wait. Lauren was relaxed yet excited and enjoying this holiday immensely. He’d have a week alone with her after the wedding when his dad and Lizzie took the twins home with them. Lizzie lived in a fortress these days, and his kids would be staying at the Cunningham Estate with his dad anyway. He’d miss them, but he knew they’d be safe, and he wanted to start his married life properly with a private honeymoon. Whether they would see much apart from the cabin in the yacht he’d hired remained to be seen. Lauren in a bikini was his kryptonite, and by the time he got her alone he’d have no self-control left.

  Knowing his kids had had enough time in the open sun, he lifted them into his arms and headed to join the others. It was time the dad squad hit the pool.

  Chapter 6

  Lauren walked out to the pool area and saw Zack and Ava in the pool with Riley and Ella, Daniel cradling Zoey in his arms, and Megan rubbing sun cream into Paige, but her eyes immediately went to Dane. Her eyes always seemed to find him no matter where they were and he looked up, as if sensing her, and smiled. One thing she would never tire of was the look he gave her whenever she walked in a room.

  Returning his smile, she crossed to him wondering where her babies were but assumed Colin had taken them for a nap. Her father-in-law adored his grandkids—all of them—and was in his element whenever he was with them. Dane said it had given him a new lease of life and she had to agree.

  Reaching him, she sat on the edge of the lounger and immediately felt his hands on her. He pulled her by her hips and kissed her soundly, the desire he evoked going straight to her nipples and making them peak.

  He pulled back but kept a hand at the nape of her neck. “You smell delicious,” he said with a grin.

  “It’s peach and papaya oil.”

  His eyes went devilish and hungry, and she felt a shiver run through her. “Now I want to taste you.”

  “Where are the kids?” she asked, wondering if Colin had taken them to his room or theirs.

  “With Dad in our suite.” She saw disappointment on his face that matched hers.

  “Maybe we can sneak away later and find a secluded beach,” she murmured.

  “No wonder I fucking love you,” he said as his mouth caught hers in a much hotter kiss. She swayed forward into him, her hand landing on the warm skin of his chest.

  “Jesus Christ, get a room you two.” Daniel was holding a hand over Paige’s eyes when she looked at him, but the smirk on his face said he was joking.

  “We have one but currently one old man and the kids are sleeping in it.” Dane stood, and she shifted into his place on the lounger. He chuckled at the way she took over his space. He smirked a sexy grin at her. “Five minutes and she’s kicked me out of bed and stolen my lounger.”

  “We can share,” she flirted, moving over a fraction. She felt free and relaxed and happy.

  “Babe, it may have escaped your notice but I’m not a teenage boy that takes up five inches of space. I am a grown-assed man.”

  “Oh, I know you’re not packing five inches, babe.”

  Dane shook his head and laughed. “Woman, you’re dangerous today.”

  “Dane, help Jace with the drinks,” Lucy demanded as she moved to sit on the end of the lounger.

  He turned to his sister. “What did your slave die of?”

  “Too much cheek,” she said.

  Dane rolled his eyes but went to help Jace with a wink that promised Lauren hours of pleasure before the boys headed out.

  “So, girlies, what’re we doing tonight if the boys are out destroying the island of Saint Kitts with their drunken ways?”

  Zack snorted as he got out of the pool and Lauren almost laughed out loud at the number of women who were openly ogling the man. Not that she blamed
them, watching the dripping wet six-foot blonde, muscled sex-god, who clearly adored his wife and kids, move to grab a towel. “There’ll be no drunken antics. It’s merely a group of friends having a few drinks.”

  “Oh hooey.” Ava chuckled. “We know you guys don’t stop until at least one of you is staggering. And honey,” she said, moving to him and putting a proprietary hand on his abs, “stop flashing the bod at the young girls. You’re giving them ideas, and I don’t want to have to go bitch slap them for eye-fucking my man.”

  Zack threw back his head and laughed as he pulled Ava close, so she was flush with his body. “Jealous, baby?”

  “Oh, please, I’m not jealous.”

  “Good, because you know I only have eyes for you,” he said before he kissed her lightly and smacked her ass, making her blush and squeal.

  Lauren was laughing at them as Dane, Jace, and Drew came back with trays of drinks for them all.

  “Hey, Drew, how was the jet ski?”

  Her brother handed her a fruity mocktail with an umbrella, and she took a sip as he settled on the sunbed next to her.

  “Good, I really enjoyed it. We went right beside a massive yacht crawling with armed guards. It probably belongs to some oligarch. It was cool, though.”

  “Oh, how the other half live,” Lauren said.

  “That was no oligarch. It belongs to Prince Abdul al-Kamali. He and his family rule the Isle of Eyan,” Zack said from where he sat at the edge of the pool.

  Drew looked at Zack in surprise. “I’ve not heard of them.”

  “Not surprising as his father, King Saud, is not one for the limelight. He’s a fair ruler who tends to stay out of international debates, which in itself is impressive because his family apparently has a net worth of over five trillion dollars.”

  “Jesus Christ! Does he have a daughter?” Drew joked.

  Zack nodded. “Yes, he does, and if I’m not mistaken, that’s her over there—Princess Taamira al-Kamali.” All heads turned to look at a stunningly beautiful woman wearing a long, pale green and cream abaya walk into the pool area. Her dark, almost black, hair was partially covered by a headscarf. None of it did anything to take away from the beauty of the woman. She was breath-taking in every way.

  “Oh my, she’s beautiful.”

  Zack nodded again. “She is, and quite the handful from what I hear, always breaking the rules and causing her family embarrassment.”

  “I’m surprised she doesn’t have more guards,” Drew said as they watched her move to a secluded seating area in a closed-off VIP section. Three men in expensive-looking black suits with a familiar weapon bulge at their shoulders and wearing headsets were with her.

  Zack shrugged, clearly not concerned as it wasn’t his problem. “Keeping it low-key, I suspect.”

  Dane moved to Lauren and ran his hand over her shoulder. “Well, as long as she keeps her indiscretions to herself, I don’t care. We deserve a peaceful break.” He bent down and kissed her head. “I’m just gonna have a quick swim, babe.”

  Lauren blocked the sun with her hand as she looked at him. “Okay. Let me know if you need me to rescue you from any man-hungry women.”

  “I think I’m good.” He winked, and she watched him walk away.

  Zack moved over to Ava, who was in the kiddie pool with Riley and Ella, and Lauren smiled. She loved to see everyone so relaxed.

  “I’m so happy for you guys.”

  Lauren looked at her brother as he spoke. “Thanks, Drew. You, Dane, and the kids are the greatest gifts in my life.” He took her hand and squeezed it as Lauren continued. “Marcus Preedy took a lot from me, but he also gave me you, and I’m so thankful for that. When I walk down the aisle with you in a few days it won’t be so you can give me to Dane, it’ll be so our families can unite, and that includes you, Drew.”

  “Thanks, Lauren, that means a lot. Dane is like a brother to me, and I love that my sister is rocking the relationship goals.”

  She laughed. “Relationship goals?”

  “Yeah, you guys have it all. You adore each other, any idiot can see that, and that’s what I want one day. I may only be twenty-four, but I don’t want meaningless anymore. Being around couples like you and Dane and Lucy and Jace has made me want that for myself.”

  “You’ll have it, Drew, but not until the time is right. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that you can’t force it. It’ll happen when it’s meant to.”

  “Drew!”

  Lauren and Drew both looked up to see a beautiful young woman with long, dark hair and a 50s pinup body walk towards them.

  “Mara, hey. What’re you doing here?” Drew asked.

  Lauren watched with unabashed glee as the woman sat on the end of Drew’s bed and leaned into him. She turned and motioned to a group of women behind her who were openly gawking at Drew. “I’m on holiday with some friends. We were meant to be staying at the Palm Sands but there’s a problem with our room, so they moved us here until it’s sorted.”

  “Cool.”

  “So, why are you here?”

  He motioned to Lauren. “My sister is getting married here in three days.”

  “Yes, I remember you saying she’d picked a date.” The woman smiled and nodded at Lauren. “Nice to meet you. I’m Mara,” she introduced herself.

  Lauren grinned as Drew went red. “Lauren. It’s nice to meet you too.”

  “Sorry,” Drew added, looking flustered and cute as hell.

  Mara turned her attention back to Drew. “How’s the leg? Still doing the exercises?”

  “It’s good and yes, still doing them every day. I actually just started training at the gym again.” Mara smiled, and it went all the way to her blue-grey eyes. Drew turned to Lauren. “Mara is the paediatric physio at the rehab centre. Her sessions always seemed to be at the same time as mine.” Drew chuckled. “Luckily my physio isn’t such a slave driver though.”

  “I might be hard, but I’m happy to be a bitch if it gets them walking again.”

  “Who’s a bitch?” Lucy asked, leaning towards them with interest.

  “Mara, this is Lucy. Lucy, Mara is a friend of mine,” Drew said.

  “Nice to meet you.” Lucy reached to shake Mara’s hand.

  “Mara’s a paediatric physio and definitely not a bitch.”

  “Wow, a physio, that’s great. It must be so rewarding working with kids.”

  “It is, I love it.”

  “Mara!”

  The young woman turned to her calling friends and waved. “I should get back. We should grab a drink before you leave,” she suggested to Drew.

  “Yeah, absolutely.”

  Lauren tried to control her excitement as Mara dropped her eyes and then smiled at Drew before walking away. It wasn’t lost on either Lauren or Lucy that Drew watched her the entire time. Or that she looked back to see if he was watching before offering a small wave.

  She gaped at Drew as he sipped his drink. “Really, Drew, nothing to say?”

  “What?” he said, surprised.

  “Oh my God, she likes you!”

  Drew recoiled and his expression closed. “No, she’s just friendly.”

  Lauren knocked him on the head with her knuckles. “Are you crazy, that girl has it bad.”

  Drew rolled his eyes, but Lauren caught the interest he couldn’t hide. “No, she doesn’t, she’s just nice.”

  “Who’s the hot chick all over Drew?” Jace asked, settling into the seat beside Lucy.

  “Mara. She’s a physio at the rehab centre. But Drew thinks she’s just being nice and it’s not like that.”

  Jace barked out a laugh. “Trust me, dude, it’s definitely like that.”

  “Well it doesn’t matter, she has a boyfriend,” Drew said with finality.

  “Shit, she’s the one you were talking about, isn’t she?”

  “What, who?” Lauren asked.

  Drew cast her a ‘mind your own business’ look. “Doesn’t matter, she’s off-limits.”

 
Lauren let it go and so did Jace, sensing Drew wasn’t ready to hear it. She watched as he stood and walked back to the bar where Kanan and Roz had just sat with their girls. Maybe she’d have a little word with Mara. Invite her to the wedding, perhaps.

  “What’re you plotting?” Dane sat down on Drew’s sunbed and regarded her with suspicion.

  “Who, me?” she asked innocently.

  “Yeah, you, Little Miss Naughty.”

  “Why, I don’t know what you mean.”

  Dane laughed and rolled his eyes. “Poor sap has no clue you’re about to poke your nose in, does he?”

  “I’m merely helping love on its way.”

  She knew he didn’t agree with her, but he didn’t say anything. Dane was man enough to know when to back off and when she was on a tear about something. With Drew, it was time for her to step up and be the sister he needed, even if he didn’t know it yet.

  Chapter 7

  “Look, all I’m saying is if the manager was serious about winning the league this season, he’d be looking to sign a striker,” Daniel repeated as he handed Dane another glass of beer causing Jace to roll his eyes.

  They’d decided at the last minute not to go into town and instead all went to Kanan’s beach shack for a barbecue and a few beers. They’d invited the girls, but Lauren and Lucy wanted to have a hen’s party of their own. Kanan had organised two barrels of beer and a boatload of meat for the grill.

  “Yes, but not everyone has the budget you assholes do,” Dane complained.

  Jace laughed at them. From the minute he’d met Dane and Daniel, their passion for their preferred football teams and equal dislike of the other’s had been a given discussion point. Jace found it somewhat comforting, if a little annoying. He was a rugby man himself but could appreciate a good game of footie. He let discussion roll over him as he gazed at the vast expanse of calm sea from where he sat on the beach, knees bent, arms relaxed as they leaned on his knees. The water was smooth, the sunset almost blinding in its beauty and he wished he was here with Lucy. He loved his friends, but a view like this was wasted on them. It was meant for lovers to share.