Beach Reads Boxed Set

by Marie Force

  Michael found her halfway down the long concourse twenty minutes later. She sat on the floor against a wall with her face pressed into her arms, but he remembered that shiny dark hair. He sat down next to her. “Hey.”

  Startled, she looked over at him and didn’t seem to recognize him for a second, probably because he was wearing a sweater and jeans rather than a suit. “Oh, hi,” she said, wiping tears from her face.

  “I take it things didn’t go well.” Even with her soft brown eyes swollen from crying, Michael thought she was nothing short of exotic.

  She shook her head as a fresh wave of sobs overtook her.

  Her misery touched him, and with only the slightest of hesitations he put his arm around her.

  For a few minutes she rested against him and then seemed to realize she was crying all over someone she hardly knew. She sat up. “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be. Do you want to talk about it?”

  She shrugged.

  “You might feel better unloading on a stranger you’ll never see again.”

  “That’s true.”

  “I have three sisters,” he said with a coaxing grin. “I’m a good listener.”

  She returned his grin with a weak one of her own.

  He stood up and offered her a hand. “First we have to get to the gate, or we’re going to miss our plane.”

  “Good thing you came along.” She wiped her face. “I probably would’ve still been here when it took off.”

  “Maguire to the rescue.” He pulled her up and tossed her carry-on bag over his shoulder with his own bag.

  “How was your weekend?” she asked on the way to the gate where the plane was boarding.

  He smiled. “Total disaster, but you first. What happened?”

  While they stood in line to board the plane, she told him the whole story.

  “Hmm.” He scratched at the stubble on his chin. “So what happens at the end of the three months?” Michael took her boarding pass and handed both of them to the gate agent.

  “I told him we’ll either break up for good or get married.”

  “What if he meets someone else?”

  Juliana winced.

  “Sorry.”

  “I know it’s a big gamble, but how could I marry him knowing he has all this curiosity about other women?”

  “How will you marry him without knowing if he acted on it?”

  They found seats together on the plane. “Why couldn’t I have just let it go? Why did I have to make such big deal out of it? He said if it was a choice between me and sowing his wild oats, he’d choose me.”

  “So then why’d you insist on the separation?”

  Juliana looked out the window for a moment before she answered him. “My father cheated on my mother for years. Everyone knew it. Even she knew, but she ignored it because he always came back. Then I guess he fell for one of them because we haven’t seen him in five years.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  She shrugged. “It’s old news now, but that’s not how I want to live. Just the idea of it…”

  “Then you did the right thing. At the end of the three months you’ll know where you stand with each other, and you can figure out where to go from there.”

  Her eyes sparkled with tears. “There hasn’t been a day in the last ten years that I haven’t talked to him. Not one day.”

  Michael reached for her hand. “You’ll be okay. I’ll bet you’re tougher than you think. The time will just fly by.”

  “Yeah, sure.”

  Michael kept her hand between both of his as the plane raced down the runway and took off into a sky streaked by the setting sun.

  “Thank you,” she said when they were airborne.

  “For what?”

  “Listening and offering comfort. I’ll bet you’d make a good friend.”

  “I wish there was something I could say to make you feel better.”

  “You’re helping. You got me on the plane, right?”

  He laughed. “Yes, I guess I did.”

  “Tell me about your disaster. Give me something else to think about.”

  He sighed and released her hand.

  “That bad?”

  “Thermonuclear meltdown.”

  She turned to him. “What happened?”

  “I broke off the engagement.”

  She gasped. “Oh my God! Before or after the party?”

  “During,” he said with a sheepish grin.

  “No way. You did not!”

  “I did,” he said, relaying the story of the weekend from hell.

  “Jeez,” she said when he was done. “We should’ve started with you. I don’t know what to say. Are you okay?”

  “I think I am. Maybe in a day or two when it has time to register I won’t be, but I know I did the right thing. I can’t be marching to her father’s drum my whole life. It wouldn’t have bothered me half as much if she’d tried to stop it, but she was only thinking of herself. Nothing new there.”

  “It’s always disappointing when someone turns out to be less than you thought they were.”

  He appreciated that she understood completely. “Yes, it is. But it’s my own fault. I’ve pushed aside doubts for a long time because underneath it all, I was crazy about her. I proposed to her when her parents were moving, hoping she’d stay in Maryland with me. She accepted the proposal and moved anyway. That should’ve been a sign of where her priorities were—or where they weren’t.”

  Juliana rested a comforting hand on his arm.

  The stewardess came by to offer drinks.

  “This time it’s on me,” Juliana insisted, ordering him the same kind of beer he had gotten on the first flight and a gin and tonic for herself. “Make it a double,” she added.

  He laughed. “When in pain, drink.”

  “That’s my mother’s philosophy of life. Unfortunately for us, she’s in constant pain.”

  “Ouch,” he winced. “Sorry.”

  She shrugged. “It is what it is.”

  He lifted his beer can in to toast her. “Here’s to a disastrous weekend and new friends.”

  “To new friends.”

  The plane landed at Baltimore/Washington International Airport just after nine. They walked through the terminal to catch a shuttle bus to the parking lot.

  “Which lot are you in?” he asked.

  “Long-term A.”

  He chuckled. “Me, too.”

  “Of course you are,” she said with a smile.

  On the shuttle, Michael reached for his wallet and dug out a business card, which he handed to Juliana. “Call me if you need a friendly ear. My cell number is on there, too.”

  “Thank you. Stop by the salon if you decide to cut that mop of yours.”

  He ran a hand through his hair. “You think it needs it?”

  “Uh, yeah. Now that you’re back on the market, the ladies will think you’re hot without all that hair.”

  Flustered, he said, “You think so?”

  “Uh huh,” she said, making a scissor gesture with her fingers.

  “I just might take you up on that.”

  “I hope you do. I really am sorry about your fiancée.”

  “Thanks. Things work out the way they’re supposed to, you know?”

  “I guess I’ll find out in three months. Oh, this is where I get off.”

  He looked up with a grin. “Me, too.”

  As they were getting off the shuttle, his cell phone rang. He was relieved to see it wasn’t Paige calling again. He had been ignoring her calls all day. “I’ve got to take this,” he said reluctantly. “It’s work.”

  “Good luck with the trial. I’ll be pulling for you.”

  He gave her a quick one-armed hug and answered the phone. “Hey,” he said into the phone. “Hang on a sec.” Holding the phone aside, he turned back to Juliana. “Take care of yourself.”

  “You, too. Thanks. For listening and everything.”

  “My pleasure.”

  W
aving, she unlocked her battered Toyota Tercel and tossed her bag into the backseat.

  Chapter Nine

  On the way to his car, Michael took the call. “What’s up?”

  “We’ve got a problem in the District.” His co-worker and second chair George Samuels sounded aggravated.

  Michael stopped walking. “What kind of problem?”

  “She’s having a hissy fit. Wants to see you and only you.”

  “Oh, come on! Can’t you guys settle her down? What about her mother? Has she been there today?”

  “From what I hear, the mother’s being an even bigger pain in the ass. You’d better get down there, Michael.”

  “For Christ’s sake, I just got back from Florida.”

  “She’s been acting up since Friday, but the boss told us to leave you alone this weekend.”

  “Fine. I’ll be there in an hour.” He flipped his phone closed. “Damn it!” All he wanted was to go home, put his feet up, and catch his breath after everything that had happened. Just then he heard a clicking noise and turned to see where it was coming from.

  Juliana’s forehead rested against the steering wheel of a car that wouldn’t start.

  Michael walked over to her open window. “This day just gets better and better, huh?”

  “You said it.”

  “Can I give you a jump?”

  “I don’t think it’ll help. I was supposed to buy a new battery but never got around to it.”

  “Then let me give you a lift.”

  “Are you sure you don’t mind?”

  “Not at all, but I have to go into D.C. before I go home. Will it screw you up to get home pretty late?”

  She shook her head. “I don’t have to work tomorrow, so I’m in no rush. I came home tonight because Jeremy had to work tomorrow. I guess I can deal with this in the morning,” she said with a frustrated gesture at the old car. “Just another insult in an insulting day.”

  Grinning, he said, “Grab your bag.”

  After she locked her car, he led her to his silver Audi TT coupe.

  “Oh, is that yours?” she asked with wide-eyed admiration.

  “My one major splurge,” he confessed.

  “It’s gorgeous.”

  “Thanks.” He tossed their bags into the trunk and walked around to open the passenger door for her.

  “Why do you have to go to D.C.?”

  He leaned against the open car door. “Well, here’s the thing: I’ll tell you, but it’s imperative you don’t tell anyone you went there with me, okay? Someone’s life depends on it.”

  “Of course. I won’t tell anyone.”

  Hesitating, he realized he was about to take a woman he met on an airplane to see a witness in protective custody. But his gut told him he could trust her, and he trusted his gut.

  She looked up at him with those captivating eyes. “I won’t tell anyone, Michael. You have my word.”

  He nodded, closed her door, and walked around to get in.

  “The witness to the Benedetti shootings is fifteen years old and a handful,” he explained as they left the airport parking lot and headed south. “We have her in protective custody in D.C. She’s giving our guys some trouble, and they need me to talk to her. She has, well, how can I put this…”

  Juliana laughed at his pained expression. “She has a crush on you, does she?”

  “She seems to have a soft spot for me. That’s all I’ll admit to.”

  “I love it,” she said with a giggle.

  “I’m glad you’re entertained. She’s a pain in my ass.” Exiting the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, Michael cut down New York Avenue on the way to Interstate 395.

  “Why do you keep looking in the mirror?” Juliana asked.

  “We have to be careful we don’t lead anyone to her. There’re people who we believe would harm her to keep her from testifying.”

  “Oh.” Juliana turned around to look behind them. “I don’t see anyone.”

  “Yeah, it’s late on a Sunday. I think we’re good. Besides, they think I’m out of town.”

  “They watch you?” Juliana asked, horrified.

  “I’ve sensed a presence lately, but I haven’t actually seen anyone.”

  “God,” she sighed. “Your job is dangerous. I never would’ve thought that.”

  “It’s not usually. This trial has gotten a lot of attention, which has thrust me into the spotlight—against my will, I might add. I hate all the media crap that goes along with this kind of case. All I care about is keeping Rachelle safe.”

  “What happens to her after the trial?”

  “Witness protection. We’ve already put her family in the wind. Since she’s a minor, we’ve kept her mother close by until the trial, but the rest of them are gone.”

  “Wow. I just cut hair.”

  He laughed. “Right about now, I think that would be a wonderful profession.”

  “I’ll bet you do. What’s she like?”

  “Rachelle?”

  Juliana nodded.

  “She’s a great kid who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Her aunt lives in the apartment complex where the shootings went down. She was there visiting and ran out to her mother’s car to get something. She saw the whole thing.”

  “And suddenly my troubles seem so insignificant.”

  “It does have that effect, doesn’t it?” He pulled into the parking lot of a 7-11. “I’ll be right back. Do you need anything?”

  “No, I’m good. Thanks.”

  He came back a few minutes later. “Blackmail,” he said, handing her the bag so she could see that he had bought all the latest gossip magazines, a Glamour, a Cosmo, four candy bars, two packs of gum, and six scratch-off lottery tickets.

  “That’s quite a care package.”

  “I spoil her. That’s why she likes me.”

  “If that’s what you have to tell yourself.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “She thinks you’re cute,” Juliana said in a singsong voice.

  “Oh, shut up.”

  She was still laughing when he pulled up to the J.W. Marriott on the corner of Fourteenth Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. “How close are we to the White House?” she asked.

  “A few blocks that way.”

  “I don’t know why I never think to spend a day here. It’s only an hour from Baltimore.”

  Michael showed the hotel security his I.D. card, and they were waved in. “I loved living here when I was in law school. It’s my favorite city.”

  A police officer stood guard in the fifth floor hallway.

  “Hey, Michael.” The cop grimaced. “The brat’s on fire.”

  “So I hear. I’ll see what I can do to settle her down.”

  “We’d all appreciate it.” Using his key card to open the door, the cop nodded at Juliana. “Who’s she?”

  “She’s with me. It’s cool.”

  The hotel room looked like a teenager’s closet had exploded in it.

  Michael groaned at the mess. “Rachelle!”

  Through the door from the adjoining room came a tall, gorgeous girl with coffee-colored skin and a wild mass of dark curly hair. She wore skin-tight jeans and a hot pink T-shirt with sequins that spelled “Queen Bee” across her small breasts. Her face lit up when she saw Michael. “You’re here! What’d you bring me?”

  He kept the bag hidden behind his back. “Girls who can’t behave don’t get presents. And from what I hear, that’s a very appropriate shirt for you, Queen Bee.”

  Rachelle reached behind him to see what he had for her. “Give it up!”

  “Ah!” Michael held the bag out of reach. “What are you going to do for me?”

  “Who’s she?” Rachelle asked with a sullen glance at Juliana.

  “My friend, Juliana. Be polite and shake her hand.”

  “Pleased to meet you,” Juliana said.

  Rachelle did as she was told and shook Juliana’s hand. “Is she the fiancée?”

  Michael twe
aked her nose. “No, busybody, she’s not.”

  Rachelle gave him a saucy smile. “Does the fiancée know you have friends?”

  Michael sent Juliana an exasperated glance, which cracked her up.

  “Let’s focus on your behavior, not mine, okay?” Michael said.

  “I’d rather talk about yours,” Rachelle pouted.

  “Why are you giving everyone such a hard time?”

  “I’m so bored! This place sucks! I’m sick of being here. I miss my friends. I miss my family. I even miss school. It sucks.”

  He put an arm around her and brought her to sit with him on the bed. “I know. It totally sucks. But the trial starts in one more week, and I’m going to get you in there just as soon as I can, okay?”

  “I heard them talking today. It can take weeks just to pick the jury.”

  Michael swore under his breath. “They aren’t supposed to be talking about the trial where you can hear them.”

  “I hear everything. I want to see my dad and my brothers.”

  “We’ve talked about that. As soon as you testify, we’ll reunite you all. I promise.”

  She kicked at the carpet. “I wish you came to visit more often.”

  “I’ll try to get down here again this week if you promise to behave. You’re not the only one who doesn’t want to be here, okay?”

  She nodded. “I’m very sorry, and I promise to behave. So what’s in the bag?”

  He chuckled and handed it to her. “That was so sincere.”

  Reacting with glee, she examined everything he had brought her and then embarrassed him when she kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. If you win anything on the scratch-offs, I get half.”

  “Bite me. A gift’s a gift.”

  He laughed and looked up at Juliana to share the amusement.

  “You know what might be fun?” she asked.

  “What’s that?” Michael asked.

  “I could do your hair for you, Rachelle. I’m a stylist, and I’d be happy to give you a wash and blow dry if you want.”

  Rachelle’s eyes lit up. “Really? Like now?”

  Juliana glanced at Michael. “Thirty minutes?”

  With a grateful smile he gestured for her to have at it and went into the adjoining room to talk to the other cops on Rachelle’s detail.