“Oh really?” He pulled away from her, but before she could protest, he pushed her onto her back and settled on top of her, their legs tangled together and her skin touching his warm skin. “I think you have a strange effect on me.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She smiled.
He started to smile, but as his eyes raked over her, from hairline to breasts, the smile turned more serious. And then he leaned down and kissed her.
Malia kissed him back, running her foot along his leg, and her hands stroked over the rippling muscle of his shoulders. Good grief, she never wanted to leave this bed.
But right as he was starting to lean fully into her, the loud noise of a cell phone cut through the tension of the room. They both stopped, but stayed steady for a few long seconds, neither really wanting to move.
“I have to get that,” he said.
Malia nodded. “But you’re coming back, right?”
He smiled. “Nothing could keep me away.” He gave her one more quick kiss before he rolled over and pulled the phone out of his pants pockets.
Malia half expected the caller to have given up or voicemail to have kicked in because it had been ringing for so long, but it sounded as though there was someone on the other end.
“Hello?” Pause. “Hold up. Start from the beginning and tell me exactly what happened. No, don’t get on the flight. Come straight here. Do you have the address? Okay. I’ll see you when you get here.”
As he hung up, Malia sat up. “What was that?”
“It was Lindsey. She said that she got an email from the same person. They had pictures of the two of you shopping.”
Malia took a nervous swallow. “What do we do now?”
“Now we get the professionals involved.”
Robert finished sending everything he had over to his LA-based private investigator right before he heard the doorbell ring. Malia, who was, sadly, dressed at this point, started to go to the door, but Robert stood from the couch where he was working, holding up a hand. “I’ll get it. You stay there.”
He crossed to the front door and looked through the peephole, confirming that it was Lindsey on his front porch. He pulled the door open and she weakly smiled at him.
“This probably isn’t necessary.” She fingered her purse strap nervously.
“Let’s wait until we hear back from my investigator. He’ll tell us how concerned we should be.” He stepped back from the doorway to allow her inside.
“I just don’t want to be a bother, you know? I think this might be more directed at Malia than me, and I’m probably being such a drama queen.”
“It’s no trouble at all. Believe me. Isn’t your husband coming?”
Lindsey looked nervously at the ground and then back up. “I didn’t tell him what happened. Really, it was just pictures and I didn’t want to worry him.”
Robert helped her with the carry-on sized bag and motioned for her to continue into the house. “Go on and we’ll talk about everything.”
Malia was in the living room as Lindsey walked in. “Lindsey! I’m so happy to see you, but I hate the circumstance.” She gave Lindsey a quick hug.
“So when did you get the email?” asked Robert.
“At some point during the flight from Honolulu to LA. This was just my connection and I was checking my phone between flights. I told Daniel that something came up and I had to work here for a little bit. I didn’t want to worry him.”
“There might not be anything to worry about,” offered Malia.
“We don’t know that,” reminded Robert.
“I’m just saying, so far, whoever this is hasn’t made any violent moves.”
“He burned down your house.”
“But I wasn’t inside it,” she said weakly.
“That doesn’t make me feel better. Between the pictures, your house, and Jean’s hotel room, I think that this person is only escalating what they’re doing.”
Lindsey frowned. “So if Jean is your sister and Malia is your girlfriend, why am I getting involved in any of this? It seems like this is all focused around you, right? We just work together.”
That was the same thing Robert had been asking himself this entire time. Why get Lindsey involved? What did she have to do with any of this?
“I just contacted my local investigator. He was a detective for years and knows all the tricks. I gave him access to my email and he should be able to tell us something about this guy as soon as possible.”
“Guy? I thought it was a girl,” said Lindsey.
Malia frowned.
“What made you think that?” he asked.
“Well, isn’t it obvious? She’s in love with you.”
It wasn’t the first time the thought had occurred to him. In fact, when Malia had originally been suspicious of Lindsey, he’d assumed she was innocent because she was married. He supposed some sexist part of his brain just assumed that the fairer sex wasn’t capable of this kind of malice. Judging from the way Malia and Lindsey looked at him, neither of them had the same qualms.
“For now on, we won’t trust anyone. Can I see the email you got?”
Lindsey nodded as she pulled out her phone and pulled up the email. Robert took the phone and read the message first.
You think you can save her. She’s not your Cinderella. You are not a prince. How could you make me look so stupid? All of your whores will pay!
Robert tried to keep his face stoic as he pulled up the pictures which, like Lindsey had said, were of Malia and her during that shopping trip.
“Do you think your guy can determine where an email was sent from? If Lindsey got these from someone in Hawaii, that would mean that whoever is behind all this isn’t local. Which would be nice to know.”
Robert had no idea what he was willing to believe at the moment, but he didn’t want to tell Malia that. “I’m sure he’ll have something for us soon.” If they didn’t have something more concrete by tomorrow, he’d have to do something. He wasn’t the type to just sit and wait for what the cops were going to find out.
“Thank God. Though I’m not that worried about me. Everything seems more focused on you and Malia from what I can tell. Maybe I should head back home. I’m sure I’m not in any danger...”
“No. You came here because you were scared and I’ll make sure you’re okay. You’ve been working with me for, what, five years? We’ve been through enough that you deserve all the protection you can get.”
Lindsey smiled at him and reached out, taking his hand. “You’re the sweetest boss ever.” She glanced over to Malia. “You’re so lucky.”
Malia nodded as Lindsey let go of Robert’s hand. “I can show you to the spare bedroom if you want. I’m sure you’re tired after the flight.”
Lindsey nodded. “I am exhausted. We can regroup in the morning, though, right?”
“First thing,” said Malia.
“You two head up. I’ll bring your bag up in a minute.” He started to go back to the entryway to pick up the bags when his phone rang. It was Alex. “Is everything okay?” he asked when he answered.
“You’re asking me if everything is okay? I thought Malia was going to kill you. I’m assuming you’re still in one piece after all this?”
Oh yeah. The last time Alex had seen him and Malia it was during the blowout at her mother’s. He didn’t know about what happened... afterwards. “Malia was reasonable about everything.” More so than Alex would ever know.
“That’s good to hear. So things are finally getting back to normal.”
“Not exactly. Lindsey Shaw is here right now.”
“What? She’s supposed to be flying back to the city right now.”
“She got a threatening email and I told her to come here.”
Alex was silent for a moment. “Why the hell would they threaten Lindsey? What does she have to do with any of this?”
“I barely knew Malia when whoever this is started to threaten her. I’m getting the feeling they’re
not thinking logically. That’s the part that scares me.”
“No shit they’re not thinking logically. If they actually thought any of this through, they would never go up against us. The second we find out who this is, we’re going to ruin them, Robert.”
Robert nodded, even though he knew Alex couldn’t see. So far he’d stayed far away from anything similar to what Walter would’ve done, but this would be different. Chances were, arson would be hard to prove, and stalking charges just weren’t enough. Whoever was doing this would have to pay, and the law just wouldn’t be enough to do that.
So they would have to take this into their own hands. “You’re right,” said Robert.
“People need to know that we’re a united front. No one messes with the Farrells.”
“Now we just need a name.”
“You sent the emails and a copy of the letter to our LA guy, right?”
“Yep.”
“Then it shouldn’t be long before we know who is behind this. Just sit tight for another day or two and we’ll have this all sorted out.”
Robert reached Lindsey’s luggage and bent to grab the handle. “Okay. I’ll keep you updated on any new developments. You’re flying back to the city tomorrow, right?”
“Yeah. Seven a.m. flight.”
Robert had to move the luggage tag out of the way to grab the handle, and saw the names staring back at him. Lindsey and Daniel Shaw... “Can you do me a favor?”
“What did you need?” asked Alex.
“Lindsey said she bailed on her connecting flight and her husband flew back to the city. Can you make sure he landed?”
There was a pause. “You think her husband is up to something?”
“I think that if I was traveling with Malia and she bailed on me, I wouldn’t let her go alone.”
“They could be having marriage troubles.”
And if they were having trouble in paradise and she bailed to stay with Robert, that would be plenty of reason for a jealous husband to cause shit. Except Daniel had no reason to be jealous back on the island when Robert originally got the threats.
Robert shook his head. “I don’t know what I’m trying to say... But could you have someone look into it anyway? Since she’s staying here, I don’t want her overhearing any phone conversations.”
“Don’t worry. I’m on it. Try to get some sleep. We’ll figure this out.”
“Thanks. Keep me updated.”
“Will do.” Alex hung up the phone without any long good-byes. That kind of thing wasn’t in their nature.
He picked up her carry-on sized bag, hauled it up the stairs and set it in the hallway outside the spare room he’d so recently given to Malia and then made his way down the hallway to his bedroom.
When he looked inside, there was no sign of Malia, which was a bit more of a letdown than he expected. His cock had already been hard at the idea of seeing her waiting for him.
But then the sound of his shower clicking on filled the room and he smiled. Sure enough, there Malia was, standing under the spray, which was starting to fog up the mirrors and the glass doors of the high-tech shower.
“I thought you were still with Lindsey.” He crossed his arms and leaned against the sink.
Malia threw her head back, letting the water rinse off her face, before she moved out of the stream. “She was tired and I wanted to get back here...to where we left off.”
His mouth hooked up as he pulled off his shirt. “I suppose you’ll have to be quieter now that we have a guest.”
Malia smiled back at him as he unhooked his pants. “Why do you think I turned on the shower?”
Malia swam another lap in the pool as she tried to clear her mind. She didn’t know what she expected when she gave in to staying with Robert, but it wasn’t this. Namely, the third wheel that was Lindsey.
It wasn’t the poor woman’s fault. She was nothing but cheery and helpful, but every single time Robert would look at her, Malia would feel the undeniable heat race through her body. But there was nothing they could do with the audience. But it didn’t stop Robert from whispering the delectable things he wanted to do to her in her ear when he’d pass by or the subtle way he’d touch her hand if they were close.
This was probably the most sexually charged day of her entire life, and the houseguest was a serious barrier to Malia jumping Robert every chance she got.
So she was going to swim until her body wasn’t capable of doing anything else. At least that would be some way of putting her traitorous muscles to use.
Lindsey sat on a lounge chair in a black bikini that matched her hair. She had been tanning, but now that the sun had gone down over the horizon, she must just be relaxing.
“Are you going to swim all night?” she called out, letting Malia know she wasn’t sleeping like she’d suspected.
Malia stopped mid-stroke and started to tread water. “Just until I can’t move anymore. Back home, I’m active all day, so it’s strange for me to be so...still.” There. That excuse sounded more plausible than the truth. That she was so horny she needed some outlet.
“I’m exhausted just listening to you.” Lindsey sat up and took off her now useless sunglasses. “I suppose that’s what I get for sitting behind a desk all day.”
Malia thought back to the days she was so exhausted when she got home that it was all she could do to crawl to her bed and crawl in, shoes on and all. “There are some perks to a desk job.”
“I suppose. But you’re here in paradise. Take the chance to relax. Enjoy yourself. Not everyone gets invited to Robert’s home, you know.”
Not everyone was invited, and she had to be forced to come. Didn’t she feel special... “I’m not really good at relaxing,” she admitted. “There’s always something that needs to be done in the back of my mind, you know?” And it wasn’t as though she had a really relaxing childhood. Once they left New York, the few times she had a steady roof over her head, it normally wasn’t in the kind of neighborhood she felt safe in. No...relaxing wasn’t in her nature.
“Don’t worry. It’s a skill you can still perfect. I’ll teach you someday.”
Malia smiled but tried to keep her discomfort from showing. She liked Lindsey, she really did, but didn’t imagine them hanging out together. Lindsey lived in New York and that was one place Malia didn’t see herself spending a lot of time in.
Except...that’s where Robert lived. Good grief, the past few days had been such a whirlwind that she’d forgotten. Robert lived in New York and she was dating him now. Dating? That sounded too casual and formal at the same time. They were definitely doing more than just fucking, but she didn’t think she could really call him her boyfriend.
Whatever he was, he lived in a place that she never wanted to go back to. How had she never thought of this before? What was she supposed to do when he went back home? To his real home and not his gorgeous LA property. She was comfortable here. This was tropical enough that it almost felt like home.
New York was filled with too many bad memories.
Instead of letting herself think about it, she went back to swimming laps, this time putting all her muscle into it. Forcing herself to go faster and harder. She’d have to deal with her problems with Robert later, but for now she was going to push herself until she didn’t have to deal with these crazy thoughts any longer.
Finally, Malia’s body was about to give out and she crawled out of the pool. “I’m going to dry off and then we can find something to eat for dinner.” She wrapped a white towel around herself and dabbed at her hair until she wouldn’t be dripping all over Robert’s beautiful home. Once she was dry enough, she went inside. Robert wasn’t around, but he’d been in his home office working most of the day. Instead, she went to the kitchen where her phone had been charging. She turned the screen on, hoping for some text or missed call from her mother, but there was nothing.
“Damn,” she muttered. She unplugged the mostly charged phone and went down the main hallway of the lower level until
she reached the downstairs office.
Robert must’ve heard her walking, because before she said anything, he spoke. “I thought you were never getting out of that pool.”
“Just getting a good workout in.”
He turned around in his chair and his eyes raked over her body. “Well, I guess I can’t complain about that.”
She bit her lip as a playful streak she didn’t know she had hit her. Without allowing herself to overthink it, she grabbed the edges of the towel and held them open so he could see her still wet white bikini. The room was freezing, but it was totally worth it to see the suddenly serious expression on Robert’s face as he took in the view.
“You are—”
Her phone beeped in her hand, cutting off whatever he was going to say, leaving Malia to imagine how the scenario would’ve ended. She looked down at the screen and frowned. “It’s an email.” Normally emails didn’t bother her because her inbox filled up with mostly spam, but this address was too familiar. “It’s from you know who.”
Robert jumped up and took the phone from her. “Shit.” Before he said anything else, he ran out of the office and back to the living room. Malia twisted around to watch him go and then looked back to her phone. “Oh no...” There was no text this time. It was just a picture.
The image was of her in the pool while Lindsey lounged at the side. Except it was still sunny, so it had been taken at least half an hour or longer ago. But whoever was behind this was here and was watching them.
Malia ran into the living room where Robert was double-checking that all the windows were locked.
“Malia, I want you to call 911 right now.” He continued to check the windows.
Lindsey was inside, looking uneasy as she wrapped her arms around herself. “There’s a lot of glass.”
Malia took a nervous swallow. There was a lot of glass. If someone was watching, they could see from almost every side. Police. She was going to call the police. She turned on her phone and started to dial when she realized there were no bars. That wasn’t right. She’d always had signal here before.
Reckless (Fractured Farrells: A Damaged Billionaire Series Book 2) Page 15