Trust in Us

by Altonya Washington

“I’m so sorry about before.” Alythia raised her head suddenly.

  “You’ve already apologized to me twice at least and we haven’t even known each other a full day.”

  “Oh, I’m—” Alythia appeared to be piping up to extend more apologies. Again she bowed her head. “I didn’t mean to mistake you for working here.”

  “Why?” Gage faked confusion, although he knew very well what had her so distressed. “I employ a great group of folks.” He shrugged. “It’s nice to be thought of as one of them.”

  “But I shouldn’t have assumed—”

  “Why not? I offered to take your bags, didn’t I?”

  “Yes, but—”

  “You weren’t rude to me, were you?”

  “I—” Alythia paused. “I guess not,” she said finally.

  Imprisoning her hand in both of his then, Gage squeezed again, using the gesture to tug her closer. “You weren’t. Trust me, I know what rude is.” Briefly, his liquid stare shifted left as though he were about to look across his shoulder.

  Alythia piped up once more, this time in order to champion her friends. “The trip hit us out of nowhere. I’m afraid we’re all sort of...um...discombobulated.” She pressed her lips together.

  Gage’s eyes locked on her plump bronze-glossed mouth. Silently, he commanded his focus to reside on her words, for the time being, at least.

  “Orchid’s your typical nervous bride. I guess we’re all nervous.” Alythia sounded as though she was speaking the last bit to herself.

  Gage narrowed his gaze, cocking his head inquisitively in hopes that she’d elaborate on the last. Instead, she fixed him with a dazzling smile that he admitted pleased him just as much as any clarification she might have given.

  “I just don’t want us to get off on the wrong foot. It’s important for Orchid that the trip goes well and I can’t afford to be the one that shoots it all to hell.”

  Gage felt the wicked flex of muscle along his jaw. “And why should all of that rest on you?”

  Alythia responded with a laugh that was clearly tension filled. “There are many ‘whys,’ Mr. Vincent. Among them my inability to be on time when there’s fun to be had.” She rolled her eyes. “I don’t mean to ramble. Like I said, we’re all a little nervous.”

  Nodding, Gage used the hand he still held captive to pull her arm through the crook of his. “Well, the least an aircraft employee can do is to find a way to settle a passenger’s nerves.”

  With that, he escorted Alythia from the office.

  * * *

  Two delicious mojitos later, Aly was feeling less nervous and far more amused. The dynamics emerging among the newly collected group kept a genuine smile on her face. Whether it was the group or the mojitos that deserved such credit, she couldn’t wager a guess.

  Gage had escorted her out to the main cabin and had gotten her settled into a seat somewhat removed from where the rest of the group had gathered. He’d then personally seen to filling the order for her drink.

  Alythia kept her gaze trained outside the windows on purpose. She knew Gage’s innocent act of kindness was already being rehashed by her friends.

  “How are those nerves doin’?”

  Smiling at the question, Alythia looked up at Gage while raising her third mojito, which she was only halfway through. “The nerves are much better.”

  Gage claimed a spot on one of the milk-chocolate suede swivels across from where Alythia relaxed. “And how’s the view?”

  “The view can’t at all be complained about.”

  “Hmph.”

  The response drew her stare and she studied him with a knowing intensity. “Guess this is all pretty old hat to you, huh?”

  “How often do you travel, Alythia?” he asked, angling an index finger alongside his temple while he watched her.

  She turned her attention back outside the window. “Quite a bit, but first class has nothing on this.”

  “Well, it doesn’t get old for me,” Gage shared, swiveling his chair a bit. “Every time I take a flight, take time to pull my face out of a report and take a look at the view, I’m reminded of how blessed I am.”

  “Must’ve been a hard road to get here.”

  Gage grinned. “Hard would’ve been nice. My road was about ten times beyond hard.”

  “Ha! I can relate!” Alythia laughed.

  “How so?”

  Alythia wasn’t of a mind to elaborate. “We’re talking about your hard road, not mine.”

  “I’d trade my hard-luck story for yours any day.”

  “I’d hate to sour your mood for the rest of the trip, and my story would surely do that.” She sipped at a bit more of the mojito, loving the rejuvenating effects of the crisp drink.

  “What if I told you my story could have the same effect on you?”

  “All right, then.” Alythia faced him fully, her elbows propped along the arms of the chair. “Suffice it to say that my hard-luck story makes me very appreciative of every good thing that comes my way.” For effect she raised her mojito in a mock toast.

  There was a burst of feminine laughter, followed by the roar of male chortling and additional feminine giggling. The sounds drew quick smiles from both Gage and Alythia.

  “Sounds like your friends share your point of view.”

  Bewilderment sent the elegant lines of Alythia’s brows closer, though she didn’t remain stumped for long. “We’ve all weathered storms and learned from them.”

  “Is that right?” He pretended to be stunned.

  Alythia rolled her eyes playfully. “Even rich girls have storms to weather, Mr. Vincent.” She aimed a soft smile in Orchid’s direction.

  “Hey, Gage?” Myrna called from across the cabin. “Are we gonna fly above the clouds for the whole flight? I want to see the water.”

  “Appreciative of every good thing, huh?” Gage spoke the words for Alythia’s ears only and then pushed out of his chair. “Finish your drink.” He squeezed her shoulder on his way to join the group.

  * * *

  “So?”

  “Gage was popping the cap on his Samuel Adams when Dane Spears’s question reached his ear.

  “So.” Gage took a swig of the beer.

  “Don’t even try it.” Dane’s soft admonishment accompanied a playful frown. “What’s the story?” he persisted.

  “What story?” Gage leaned against the Blackwood counter space inside the bar area where his friend had cornered him.

  “Come off it, G. You obviously already picked yours.”

  Gage eased a measuring look toward his beer bottle. “I think I already had too much to drink.” He shook his head at Dane. “What the hell are you talkin’ about?”

  “Don’t take offense, G. Hell, she’s—she’s beautiful.” Dane voiced the compliment as though he was in disbelief of an absolute truth. “If she hadn’t been so late to the party, I’d have probably already staked my claim.”

  Grinning as realization hit home, Gage gave another shake of his head. “This isn’t a date.” He downed another swig of the tasty brew.

  “Who said anything about a date? I’m talkin’ about a sure thing.” Dane helped himself to one of the assortment of beers chilling in a tub of ice next to the bar. He used the bottle he’d selected to motion toward the women across the room.

  “Fine as hell and sure things, every one of ’em.”

  Gage narrowed a look toward his friend. “Every one?”

  “Well...except the bride, of course.”

  “Of course.” Gage enjoyed a few more swallows of beer and enjoyed the view across the room. The view of Alythia Duffy was one that he especially enjoyed. Whether or not he realized it, or would have admitted it if he had.

  “Have you met them before?”

  Dane settled back against the bar. His arms folded across the snug workout top meant to emphasize an already broad chest as he affixed a keener interest upon the group. “Haven’t formally met any of them, but anybody who’s watched TV or read a paper knows ’
em in one form or another. Except for your girl,” he said, referencing Alythia. “Keeps to herself. She’s a beauty but seems kinda standoffish now that I’ve met her.”

  Gage smiled, recognizing the last remark as Dane-speak for “She turned me down.” He enjoyed another gulp of the beer, silently admitting that he was as glad of that fact as he was of the appearance of Dane’s sulking.

  Alythia being relatively unknown pleased him greatly. What pleased him even more was the fact that she didn’t claim the kind of status her friends seemed to relish.

  “Quiet ones are usually the biggest freaks,” Dane chimed in as if reading Gage’s thoughts. He shrugged. “I’m just saying that it doesn’t look like we’ll have to put much work into getting a little somethin’ somethin’ above-or belowground, is all.”

  Gage poised his bottle for another swig and changed his mind. “Don’t believe everything you read,” he cautioned.

  “Oh, trust me, my friend. Everything I know about that trio, I didn’t have to read.”

  Instead of drinking from the bottle, Gage pressed it to his forehead, needing the cool to breach his skin. “Don’t do this,” he sighed. “It’s not the time for conspiracies.”

  “That much I know.” Dane seemed to sober. “Already gave it my best shot and Jay’s still over the moon for this one.”

  Gage finally pinned his friend with an expression that harbored no trace of amusement. “What’d you do?”

  “Felt Jay had a right to know the word on the street about her.” Dane shrugged, downed a bit of the Budweiser he’d selected. “That fool tends to dwell in his own world, you know?”

  “Yeah, minding his own business, finding a woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with... Lotta men would love living in that world.”

  “Don’t even try it, G.” Dane used his bottle to point in Gage’s direction. “Hookin’ up with the wrong chick can turn a beautiful life into hell on earth.”

  “Where’s all this comin’ from, man?”

  “Coming from one friend to another.”

  “Jay might not see it that way.” Gage went back to girl watching and nursing his beer.

  “We usually don’t see it that way when being told something for our own good.”

  “Right.” Gage left Dane’s counter-remark unchallenged and pushed away from the bar. “Guys, we can take this stairway down to find our lunch!” he called out to the rest of the group.

  Gage waited for Alythia, offering her his arm when she broke away from her friends.

  “Thanks.” She leaned into him a little. “Those mojitos were no joke.”

  “There’s more where they came from.”

  Alythia tilted back her head. “That’s good to know. Being around my girls for ten days will definitely put me in the mood for more.”

  Gage slanted a look toward Dane, who responded with a mock toast of his beer bottle. “I know what you mean,” he said.

  Chapter 3

  It went without saying that the lower deck of the jet made quite an impression on Gage Vincent’s guests. Myrna and Orchid were very vocal in their appreciation of the sumptuous layout of the combination dining room and sitting room. Myrna oohed and aahed while breaking into a light sprint down the wide aisle. She trailed her fingers across the silk-covered beige sofas and chairs with embroidered finishes. Even Orchid, who had seen her fair share of private jets, seemed impressed by the understated decor of the grand space. She didn’t let too much of it show, preferring instead to use the opportunity to school her fiancé. Simply put, if Jayson was confused about what to look for when he bought his jet, use this for an example.

  Jeena was equally as impressed. She was busy trying to get Gage to agree to a time when they might chat.

  “I know neither of us are in the mood to discuss business, but you’re so busy every time I call,” Jeena rambled while tapping furiously at her mobile as she scrolled through the calendar there. “I’m pretty sure your assistant is sick and tired of talking to me while we try to work on a good time to meet. But I’m flexible with whatever we can...”

  While Jeena talked, Gage only half listened. It was of no consequence. If need be, he could have recited her spiel verbatim. A good thing, too, because taking a more avid interest in the woman’s rambling wasn’t a top priority just then.

  Gage kept his gait to a leisurely stroll.

  So much the better for Jeena. She hoped she might be on the verge of nailing down a meeting with the elusive entrepreneur. Aside from her, the one thing Jeena’s...clients all had in common was Gage Vincent. They were either in business with the man or they wanted to be. Jeena hoped to be on the in business with Gage Vincent side of things. Having him on her side to smooth the way regarding certain ventures would be a coup indeed. But Jeena didn’t realize that she was pretty much carrying the conversation alone, with only Gage’s intermittent “mmm-hmms” to punctuate the discussion.

  “I’ll have my assistant get in touch with you,” he managed just as they rounded the corner into the dining area. He didn’t spare Jeena a glance. His stirring gaze was set on Alythia as he and Jeena walked into the room, among the last to arrive.

  Gage saw the smile enhancing Alythia’s profile when she angled her head to look up at the recessed lighting that added a golden glow to the cream, beige and cocoa color scheme. The space was devoid of windows, and woodgrain-based lamps had been added to provide warm illumination. Gage dipped his head, hoping to shield the smile that emerged as he studied her reaction.

  “And here I thought the bottom of a plane was only for storing luggage,” Aly teased. Turning just as Gage looked up, she favored him with a smile across her shoulder.

  Alythia’s comment closed off whatever attention Gage had been paying to Jeena.

  “So when should I expect your assistant’s...call?” Jeena finished disapprovingly when she saw Gage walk on ahead to catch up with her friend.

  Jeena’s cool, unreadable smile mimicked the one Zeke Shepard wore when he rounded out the group arriving in the dining space. He’d taken a deep interest in the sight of his old friend leaving one beauty to catch up with another.

  “My friend has a one-track mind sometimes,” Zeke noted to the petite woman Gage had left behind.

  Jeena ceased working at her phone. “One-track?” she queried of the slender dark man next to her.

  “One reason Gage agreed to this trip is because all of Orchid’s friends are dimes.” Zeke grinned.

  “That’s cold,” Jeena chided, though lightly. She pulled a stylus pen from her bag and blandly regarded the man in question. “I’d like to think he really wanted to do something special for his friend.”

  “Well...that, too.” Zeke gave a little shrug. “But being surrounded by four beautiful women won’t be a hardship.”

  “Hmph.” Jeena tapped a finger to her cheek and slowed her pace a bit. “Are you saying that he plans to sleep with all of us?”

  “Nah.” Zeke’s response was softer, reassuring then. “My man’s already made his selection.”

  Jeena stroked the soft hair tapered into a V at her nape while studying Gage and Alythia. The two stood discussing an oil canvas that was on display inside a cozy alcove a ways down from the dining room. She gave a sideways glance up at Zeke.

  “And what about you? Have you made your selection, as well?”

  “Not much point in making a selection if your choice is otherwise occupied, is there?” He gave a pointed look toward Jeena’s phone.

  “Oh, this?” Shrugging, Jeena dipped into a sultrier mode. “It’ll do until something better comes along.” She used one hand to tuck the phone into the back pocket of her coral linen capris; the other she linked through the crook of Zeke’s arm.

  * * *

  “You live very well,” Alythia told Gage once he had finished the story of how he’d acquired the piece adorning the alcove wall.

  “Thanks.” He gave her a gracious nod. “It’s not without a lot of hard work.”

  “Just don’
t work too hard,” Alythia advised with a playful gleam in her light eyes.

  “Don’t work too hard without having anything interesting to show for it.” Gage edited the advice and then smiled encouragingly. “Would you agree?”

  Aly regarded the vibrant hues that seemed to shimmer within the canvas and draw the observer’s eye to the brilliant meshing of colors. “I’d definitely agree.” She sighed as though imagining herself in the seascape depicted in the painting. “I might get around to living that truth if I ever get past the ‘working hard’ phase.”

  Gage turned his attention back toward the canvas. “This trip’s a good place to start.”

  “It was supposed to be.” Alythia couldn’t resist sending an uncertain glance across her shoulder.

  “What’s that look for?”

  It wasn’t in her nature to confide so easily, but the man possessed the most coaxing voice. Aly wondered if he knew that and how often the attribute worked to his advantage. Her guess was quite often.

  “The only reason I agreed to come along on this getaway was because there’s a chance for me to get some real business handled.”

  “Real business, huh? In the Caribbean?” Gage’s rich, dark brows rose.

  The soothing depths of the man’s voice notwithstanding, Alythia had been bursting to share her news. Silently, she reasoned that she could at least count on Gage not to blab to her girls if she told him.

  “I happened upon a business opportunity while I was trying to find a little more info on where we were heading for this trip. I hope to own a chain of boutiques one day.” She shrugged. “Right now there’s only two, but I’m looking to expand. Turns out our resort owner has a shopping village that he’s hoping to cultivate. I’ve convinced him to at least consider giving my shop a chance.”

  Gage put in a fantastic effort to school his expression.

  “We should go check out the place when we land, all right?”

  Alythia was already shaking her head no to Gage’s suggestion. “It’s not necessary and I don’t want to mention it to my friends. They’re still getting over the shock that I agreed to come along.” She folded her arms across the emerald tank that hugged her breasts adoringly.