Safe and Coasting with Ecstasy [The Heroes of Silver Island 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Tonya Ramagos

  “Yeah. She told me that was part of the reason she left Hollywood.”

  “What was his name?” Mett asked through gritted teeth.

  Charlie shook his head. “I don’t know. She didn’t tell me, but my guess is the bastard came looking for her and now he’s found her.”

  Chapter Five

  “John, I really think Mett overreacted by bringing you into this,” Kimberly told the sheriff. “It’s probably just a prank. I bet someone who has a beef with the way we live here managed to get on the island and they’re picking this way to make their views known.”

  It wasn’t like they hadn’t dealt with protesters galore since the Winters family developed the island. In the early months, they’d had a slew of visitors who had attempted to raise hell on the island, shouting about the Bible and holy matrimony being for only monogamous heterosexual couples. After Kenneth and Marcus Winters tightened the security on the mainland, the events had become fewer and farther between, but one still managed to sneak to the island now and then.

  John Cabelly’s light-blue eyes locked with hers. “Okay. Let’s say you’re right.” He leaned back in the swivel chair behind his desk and laced his fingers over his toned stomach. “Why target you? You’re one of the single women on this island. You haven’t dated a soul since you moved here. Until now, that is,” he amended. “The textbook definition of a slut is one who has loose sexual morals. Why not target a woman who is known to be in a ménage relationship instead of one who may or may not be starting one?”

  Kimberly frowned, knowing she didn’t have an answer for that one. “Maybe I pissed someone off. There was a couple of guys that came to the island a week or so ago. They asked me out, but I wasn’t interested so I told them no thanks.”

  “Are they still on the island? Did you remember their names?”

  “No, to both questions.” She distinctly remembered waving a polite good-bye to them a few days later as they had boarded the departing excursion boat and hadn’t seen them since.

  John pursed his lips as he studied her. The man really was one handsome creature with those light blue eyes, white-blond hair, and a body hard-toned from the years he’d spent as a SEAL before leaving the Navy and taking the job as the island sheriff. He had a great voice, too, and a song to sing for almost every occasion. It had been one of the things that had attracted her to him when she’d first come to the island. No one ever knew when the man would break into a song, but they always smiled when he did. She wished he’d pick now as one of those times instead of pinning her with that knowing look he had right now.

  “I’m getting the sense there’s something you’re not telling me. You didn’t want to say it when Mett was here, but he’s gone now. Spill it.”

  Kimberly sighed and rested her forearms on her knees as she leaned forward in the guest chair. “When I lived in Hollywood, I dated this guy for a while. He turned out to be a control freak. When he figured out he couldn’t get his way with me, he tried to convince me by getting physical.”

  The sheriff’s expression went carefully blank, but she saw a muscle tick in his jaw. “He hit you?”

  She nodded. “He gave me a black eye, busted my lip, and made a few threats.”

  “What kind of threats?”

  “Stuff like, if I knew what was good for me, I would do anything he said, that I belonged to him and he could do anything he wanted to me, that a slut like me should be grateful he’d showed me any attention at all.”

  John’s brows winged up. “He called you a slut?”

  Kimberly nodded.

  “Did you report him to the police?”

  She shook her head this time. “I packed up and left town. I had already been thinking about going back home for a while anyway. I took that as a sign it was time to go. I didn’t tell anyone I was leaving, not my boss or my landlord or any of the friends I had made. My bills were paid up. I cleaned out my bank account, hopped in my car, and headed for Lucedale.”

  John picked up a pen and pulled a scratchpad closer. “What was his name?”

  Kimberly closed her eyes. “Mack Snider. He’s a lawyer, filthy rich, and condescending as hell.”

  The pen moved over the paper as John scribbled down some notes. “Do you know what law firm he worked for?”

  She grimaced. “Whitfield, Wesley, and something.”

  The sheriff glanced up at her. “I don’t suppose you have a picture of him?”

  She made a raspberry sound with her lips. “If I did, you would’ve seen it full of holes on a dartboard in my living room.”

  John’s lips twitched in the hint of a smile. “It’s okay. You’ve given me enough information, I’m sure I can get one.”

  “What if it isn’t him?” She put voice to the fear coursing through her system. “What if you start digging, but it isn’t him, and he finds out and discovers where I am anyway? I mean, I didn’t go into hiding when I came to the island. I don’t even know if he ever tried to find me after I left Hollywood, but…”

  “I’ll be discreet.” John’s tone rang with reassurance. “It shouldn’t be too hard to find out if he’s in Hollywood where he belongs or if he’s taken any trips to the Gulf Coast lately.” He laid the pen on the scratchpad, propped his elbows on the desk, and steepled his fingers. “Is there anything else you haven’t told me?”

  Kimberly smiled. “Thanks.”

  That got her a wide smile in return. “Do you want to stay with me and Lara tonight?”

  “No. I’d rather be in my own cottage.” Of course, if it were an option, he would much rather have Mett and Charlie there with her. She’d seen the turmoil in Mett’s eyes when he’d left her with John. He hadn’t wanted to go. John had assured him that she would be safe. Still, Mett had hesitated for so long she’d almost thought he wouldn’t leave. She knew, if it hadn’t been for the fact that he had to be on the Coast Guard base in a few hours, he wouldn’t have. One couldn’t simply call in sick in the military as easily as they could an everyday job.

  “All right,” John conceded. “If you need anything at all tonight or if you think of anything else I should know, call the station. I’ll leave orders for the call to be forwarded directly to me.”

  She nodded again as she got to her feet. “Okay.”

  “I’ll have Letson walk you back to your cottage.”

  * * * *

  “Hey, there, handsome.”

  Kimberly’s greeting brought a wide smile to Charlie’s lips. He tucked his cell phone between his cheek and shoulder, still grinning like a loon, as he grabbed a baking pan off the counter in the kitchen of the REC Center and turned to shove it in the industrial-size oven.

  “Hey, back, beautiful.” He ignored the amused and questioning looks he got from the members of his crew and focused his attention on her. He’d tried to wait for a moment alone before he called her today, but with the Christmas Eve party being given tonight for the Coasties who weren’t going to make it home for the holiday, he hadn’t managed to find that moment alone. He’d finally given up, politely and yet firmly asking his crew to keep it down while he made a phone call. Of course, now they were all listening with radar ears set to be stunned. “How is everything?”

  “It’s another normal day in paradise. A bit chillier than it has been, but that doesn’t seem to deter anyone on this island.” He heard her hesitation through the phone waves before she said, “I take it Mett told you what happened last night?”

  Charlie leaned a shoulder against the commercial refrigerator with his back to the rest of the kitchen. Was she wondering if he knew about the note or about her sleeping with Mett? “Yeah.” He lowered his voice, deciding the simple answer worked for both questions either way.

  She sighed into the phone. “I figured he would. I really think he overreacted by insisting I take it to John, uh, the sheriff.”

  Okay, so she was talking about the note. That was good to know. “I don’t. If I’d been there, I would’ve done the same thing.”

  An
other clear hesitation met his ear. “Umm, about that,” she said slowly. “Exactly how much did Mett tell you about last night?”

  “Enough,” Charlie replied, purposely being vague. No way was he going to discuss that with her over the phone with his crew listening in. “We’ll talk about that later, baby. Don’t worry your sexy head about it.”

  Hope so palpable he could almost feel it filled her tone. “Does that mean you’re not angry with me?”

  “That’s exactly what it means. Look, baby, I’m in the kitchen of the REC Center with my crew. We’re preparing dinner for a Coasties party tonight.”

  “Ah, that’s why you’re talking without really saying anything. Tell Cramer I said hello.”

  The smile in her voice made him chuckle. “I will. Baby, did you tell the sheriff what you told me about that dude in Hollywood?”

  She made a sound that might have been a half-laugh, but held a hint of disbelief. Or maybe that was apprehension he was hearing. He wasn’t quite sure. “Boy, Mett really did tell you enough, huh? Yes, I told John about Mack Snider after he left. Mett talked to me about your mother last night. He told me about the things the man that provided the sperm that made him did to her. After that, when we found the note, I just couldn’t bring myself to tell him about Mack.”

  “I figured. Mett was madder than I’ve ever seen him when I told him some guy had put his hands on you.”

  “Yeah, he didn’t sound too happy when he called me in the middle of the night wanting to know why I hadn’t told him, either. He didn’t yell at me, but I think he might have wanted to.”

  Charlie scoffed. “Mett would never raise his voice or any other part of him to a woman. Well, with the exception of his—”

  “Let’s not go there, okay.”

  Charlie barked a laugh at the shock in her voice as she quickly bulldozed over him. “I like you way you put that, by the way. You know, the part about his father.”

  “Actually, that’s the way he put it. He doesn’t think of him as his dad. He thinks of your dad that way.”

  “That’s because we have the same dad.” They had grown up believing it to be the truth until the day they’d found the evidence against it anyway. In Charlie’s mind, that evidence hadn’t changed a damn thing. “His name is Charles and, from what I hear, you’ll be meeting him tomorrow.”

  The smile returned to her voice. “I’m looking forward to it. I’m a little nervous.” She made a raspberry sound with her lips and corrected herself. “Who the hell am I kidding? I’m a lot nervous and I’m afraid it might be kind of weird being with both of you tomorrow.”

  “It’s what you want, isn’t it?” Charlie dared to ask, already knowing the answer.

  More hesitation met his ear before she finally said, “Guilty as charged.”

  And that, in a nutshell, was one of the many reasons why he was falling in love with the woman. She didn’t hold back. She gave it to him straight, no matter the question, answer, or consequence.

  Wait. Falling in love with her? What the hell was he thinking?

  The truth. It was the only answer in his head and his heart. So what if he’d only known her a few days. He knew damn well he was already falling Coast Guard Bears cap over spit-shined shoes in love with the woman.

  Charlie started to tell her that three of them needed to sit down and talk before he thought better of it. He knew the guys were still listening in. They’d heard him mention Mett more than once already. He figured they’d also guessed he was talking to Kimberly. They knew he’d met Kimberly on Silver Island, the one part of the United States that was widely known for catering to ménage relationships. His crew was smart enough to put two and two together. Or, in this case, smart enough to know one plus one plus one equaled three.

  “Things will work out,” he said instead and hoped he was right. “And you’ll have a great time tomorrow. I promise.” That much he could be certain of.

  “I’m sure I will.”

  Smooching sounds followed her words, accompanied by a female giggle that was decidedly not hers. Her laughter came next and she apparently pulled the phone away from her mouth because her next words were muffled. “Cut it out, Arie. I’m sorry.” Her voice came through clearly once more. “That was Arianrhod joking around. Don’t ask me how she knows I’m on the phone with you. Anyway, you probably need to get back to your crew and I’m just about at the Welcome Center. I’m covering the podium for the last excursion that’s coming in today. Can you believe people are still coming to the island on freaking Christmas Eve? It’s insane! There’s a huge party going on at the resort tonight for all the island guests.”

  “Are you going?” he asked when she finally paused for a breath.

  “No. I had my fun at the party for the islanders the other night.”

  Yeah, he’d witnessed part of the fun she’d had when she’d been on the sidewalk outside Island Hall with Mett. Funny how the more he thought about the more his anger and jealousy over the kiss he’d seen them share had started to weaken. Of course, he knew damn well they had done far more together last night than simply kiss. He probably should’ve still been seething with anger over that, but oddly enough, that had started to dim, too.

  “Maybe you should go,” he suggested. “It might be safer to stay surrounded by people right now. If I could make it to the island tonight, I would, but with this party and all…”

  “I’ll be fine, Charlie. Mett already has John watching me like a hawk and John’s got his deputies doing it when he can’t. Jeez, your brother can be vicious when he’s pissed, you know that?”

  Charlie chuckled. “Of course I know that. I grew up with him, remember. The dude even changed my freaking diapers.”

  She giggled. “He couldn’t have. He was barely out of diapers himself.”

  “Mett’s a mommy’s boy, always has been. Whatever mommy did, Mett did. That’s how he learned to cook the way he does.”

  “Uh ah. I seem to know another Doyle brother who cooks like a dream. Are you trying to tell me he’s not a mommy’s boy?”

  “Nope, can’t do it. She’s had us both wrapped around her pinky from the day we were born.” He heard one of his crew say his name behind him and pushed off the fridge. “Listen, baby, the crew needs me. I lo—” He damn near told her he loved her before he stopped himself. Shit, he was in deeper than he’d realized. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning, okay?”

  “Okay. Merry Christmas Eve.”

  Charlie smiled. “You, too, baby.”

  * * * *

  “Charlie is the chef, right?” Arianrhod asked as Kimberly punched the end call button on her phone and shoved it in her pocket. “The one I caught watching you while we were setting up for the Christmas party?”

  “Food Service Specialist,” Kimberly corrected as they turned the corner of the last building on the main drag and the Welcome Center came into view.

  “And his brother is?”

  “Mett. He’s a rescue swimmer.” She made a face. “They can both cook up the most scrumptious things I’ve ever tasted.”

  Arianrhod waggled her brows. “I bet.”

  Kimberly threw back her head and laughed, surprised when she actually felt a little heat rise to her cheeks. She bumped Arianrhod’s shoulder with her own. “That’s not what I meant and you know it. I’m not sure why Mett didn’t become a Food Service Specialist, too. I’ve been meaning to ask.”

  “So you’ll do it tomorrow over Christmas dinner with their parents.”

  Kimberly stopped a few feet from the podium, noted the excursion boat was still several miles out, and turned to face Arianrhod. “I’m not so sure about tomorrow,” she admitted. “I’m attracted to both of them. It was almost instantaneous.” She bowed her head and groaned. “Hell, who am I kidding. It was instantaneous.”

  “You’re falling in love with both of them,” Arianrhod said with a knowing inflection in her tone. “As you should be. They’re meant for you.”

  Kimberly shook her head as she l
ifted it. “They don’t want to be. At least not together. Mett’s already told me he can’t give me what I really want. Ergo, he’s not going to do a ménage relationship. Charlie doesn’t skate around things like Mett does. He just comes out and says it. Like just now on the phone. He knows what I want, too, and all he said was that things would work out.”

  “And they will.”

  Kimberly studied Arianrhod, wondering how the woman could sound so certain. “Maybe.” She sighed. “I’m just afraid of exactly how things are going to work out. I don’t want to lose either of them, Arie, but I can’t figure out how to keep them both.”

  “You will.” Arianrhod dragged a comforting hand down Kimberly’s shoulder. “There’s a path for you to take set before you. There’s a fork in it up ahead. Don’t take the way that will lead you to giving them an ultimatum,” she warned. “That path will not end well for either of you.”

  “No, it wouldn’t,” Kimberly agreed. “I know both of them well enough to get that.”

  “Listen to your heart and your mind. Destiny will do the rest.”

  Kimberly pursed her lips, turned, and took the last few steps to the podium to prepare to greet the incoming visitors. “I sure hope you’re right.”

  She bent behind the stand to retrieve the clipboard with the list of visitors’ names who would be arriving on the boat. It was a system Kenneth Winters had put into action a few months back when a madman who had been stalking Lara Hampton Cabelly had managed to get onto the island. Even though the man had gotten onto the island via a private boat, it was still a precaution the Winters brother insisted they start taking.

  Her heart skipped a beat and a chill of warning brought goose pebbles to the surface of her flesh when she spotted a small box wrapped in cheerful Christmas paper sitting on top of the clipboard. She straightened with the box in her hands and shot Arianrhod an uneasy look.

  “Someone put a present in the podium. It has a gift tag with my name on it.”