by Jill Shalvis
“Let it go.”
“I’m really sorry—”
“Jesus.” He took her hand. “What does let it go mean?”
Odd how she suddenly wanted to hug him, which would have to wait. For now, she squeezed his fingers, hoping she was imparting some comfort.
His big, warm hand closed on hers, but he said nothing, whatever he was thinking lost behind his reflective sunglasses. His hair was blowing back, his shirt billowing out, and she took a good long look, struck by what he was doing for her. Without question, he’d put himself on the line. He had doubts, lots of them, but that hadn’t stopped him from being here for her.
And she had to admit, it was a bit staggering. Suddenly, she wished she’d spent all of last night in his arms, that at the very least, she’d kissed him for longer when she’d had the chance on the charter boat.
That she hadn’t yelled at him.
Eyes on the man at the Jeep waiting for them, Brody lifted their joined hands to his mouth.
Had he read her mind and was offering genuine comfort? Or had he just begun the acting portion of the program and was simply playing her husband?
Then he turned his head, lifted his glasses, and met her gaze, his own steady and sure. “You okay?”
She swallowed the unexpected and slightly horrifying lump in her throat. “Always.”
He smiled, the one she’d seen a thousand times over the past year. The one that said he was on top of his world and knew it, the one that said that on his watch, nothing would go wrong.
He was truly there for her, and for that moment, Maddie couldn’t seem to muster up Leena’s persona, not to save her life. For that one beat, she was Maddie, just Maddie, and she could only stare at him, wanting him, caring about him, completely overcome with emotion and desperately trying to beat it back.
God, she needed a grip, a big one. “Brody?” she whispered.
“Yes?” His mouth quirked again. “Wife?”
Was it wrong that from deep, deep down came a longing and a yearning she couldn’t explain, except that for the first time in her life, she liked the sound of that W word?
Wife.
Clearly, she was losing her mind. She looked out at the water. “This island, this compound . . . it was my childhood home.”
“You’ve said.”
“It wasn’t a happy place.”
He’d been eyeing MIB at the Jeep, but met her gaze, his own solemn and surprisingly understanding. “I’m getting that loud and clear.”
She had no idea why she was going to tell him this. Maybe so he could really understand the need to pull this off, maybe because she had to explain the danger she was putting him in so that if he wanted to walk away, he could.
And that maybe he should do exactly that, walk away. “I don’t know if my father was a bad guy or not. I was too young when he died, but Rick . . .”
“Bad seed. Got that, too.”
“Yeah. And . . .”
“And . . .”
She shook her head. “And I should never have let you come with me.”
Once again, he glanced at the man waiting for them. “Are you trying to warn me that it could get messy? Because I already figured that part out on my own.”
It was why he’d come. That much was all over his face. “I wish I could give you an out.”
Putting his hands on her arms, he looked into her eyes. “You really think I’d walk away to let you face this on your own?”
“What I think is that you should have.”
“Yeah, well, think again.”
She nodded, swallowed hard. “You should probably know, it didn’t go so well last time I was here.”
“Yes, but you’re no longer sixteen and helpless. And you’re no longer alone.”
Amazingly enough, the truth of that helped.
So did he by just being at her side.
“Let’s do this,” he said, “and get back to the one aspect of our marriage that I can really get behind.”
“What’s that?”
“The good stuff.”
Chapter 18
Maddie laughed as Brody had clearly intended. “The good stuff?” she repeated.
“Sure. You promised to love, cherish, and do good stuff. It was all in our vows.”
“Huh.” She knew what he was doing, trying to take her mind off the dangers facing her. I must have missed that part.”
“You should have paid attention. You promised all sorts of things.”
“Like?”
He waggled his eyebrow, and if they weren’t facing imminent trouble with a capital T, she would have shivered in anticipation. “You really are crazy,” she managed.
“Which isn’t going to get you out of the vows, babe.”
She laughed again, and he smiled, looking hot and sexy and cocky.
But it was pretend.
This was all pretend. Their lives depended on it. “Let’s go,” he said, taking their bags, slinging them over his shoulder, and reaching for her hand. Everything about him shouted alpha male.
He wasn’t the only one. Moving back toward the Jeep, Maddie looked at Rick’s man. He wasn’t all that tall, but he was definitely built like a linebacker. Maddie didn’t recognize him, but she recognized his type. All hired muscle and silent servitude.
And suddenly, she didn’t have to fake the nerves Leena would have shown. Did Leena know this man? She had no way of knowing, but her sister was such a snob—a submissive snob, but a snob nevertheless—and as such, would have ignored all the hired help. Easy enough to imitate.
“Are you really married?” he asked her.
She didn’t look at Brody. “Yes.”
A smile split his mouth. “I won the pool then. Sweet.”
“You . . . bet on me?”
“We all did. No one could see you hitched for real, but I thought it was way too inventive a lie for you, so . . .” He shrugged. “I win.”
The familiarity was obvious. Leena did know this man, possibly well.
“Let’s go,” he said. “Rick hates to be kept waiting, you know that.”
Be Leena. Her sister was quiet, yes, but she definitely had an attitude, always had. “Too bad.”
The man sighed. “So getting married didn’t improve your mood any.” He gestured her into the Jeep, then eyed Brody with an expression that said, and you put up with this why?
Just grateful to have pulled off the first hurdle, Maddie slid into the Jeep.
“Given Leena’s aversion to men,” their driver said, “Rick figured it was just a bullshit excuse to be late, or to get more money out of him.”
Maddie glanced back and nearly had a heart attack. He and Brody were having a stare down. MIB’s dark lenses were over his eyes, and there was the obvious bulge of a weapon at his shoulder, but her “husband” didn’t seem overly intimidated.
Oh, not good. Not good at all. Leena would marry someone quiet like herself. Meek. Reaching out for Brody’s hand, she practically yanked him on top of her. “Baby, hurry up. It’s hot out here. My makeup’s going to run.”
He shot her a look, but some of her fear must have shown because he slipped an arm around her shoulders and said nothing.
While all that he wanted to say crackled in the silence.
MIB slid into the driver’s seat, watching them through his rearview mirror with great interest. “Trouble in paradise already? Shocking, Leena.”
She wanted to snarl, but she wasn’t supposed to be herself so she thrust her nose in the air and looked out the window in pouting silence.
Leena. She was Leena . . .
MIB put the Jeep in gear and drove them along the secluded beach, past the sparkling, clear azure waters, up the single hill on the island. Surrounded on both sides by the lush, colorful growth, they came out of the woods at a pair of stone and wrought-iron guarded gates that opened in silent invitation, leading to a long driveway arching up to the house.
Though house seemed far too meek a word for the 25,000-square-f
oot complex that had cost millions to build and millions more to trick out with all the combined security and elegance Rick demanded. It was a simple yet sophisticated structure, done up in the epitome of rustic luxury. Exotic woods, glass, indigenous stone . . . no expense had been spared. Situated on the very top of the only hill, overlooking the secluded beach amidst coconut palms and sea-grape trees, the place was admittedly breathtaking.
At the sight of it all, Brody stiffened next to her. Maddie glanced over at him, but he was facing the window, probably staring in shock at the ridiculous display of wealth the house represented. She’d admit the sight had to be impressive to someone who hadn’t seen it before, but for herself, she only saw her past. When they pulled into the graceful circular driveway surrounded by abundant, flourishing landscape, breathing became difficult, if not all but impossible.
She was back . . .
MIB drove to the top of the driveway and cut the engine. The front door of the house opened, and a man stepped out.
Rick.
Oh, God. Could she really do this? Could she fool him? With no choice, they got out of the Jeep and moved up the stairs, Brody just behind her, his hand on the small of her back.
Rick didn’t move. Medium height, medium build, with a small but welcoming smile, he shielded his eyes from the sun and waited as they came to him. Nothing about him suggested Evil Swindler, nothing at all. He was tanned from long days of the island sun, handsome even.
A soft, floral-scented breeze blew over Maddie, and she shivered. Nope, her uncle hadn’t changed much in the past ten years. He still looked like a grown-up beach bum with sun-streaked hair, carelessly lean muscled build, and easygoing stride, until one looked into his eyes and saw the utter lack of warmth.
Yeah. Home sweet home.
Her heart was literally ricocheting off her ribs as she repeated one fact over and over in her head. You’re Leena. You’re Leena.
Leena was always all nerves. Nerves were good.
“Hello,” Rick said in his quiet voice, the one that screamed I’m-in-charge.
“Rick.”
He gestured to Brody. “So. What have you done?”
“I told you. I got married.”
“Quickly, it would seem.”
“Yes.”
Rick nodded, and she took a breath. He’d bought her as Leena. He held out his hand to Brody, who was still bowled over by the surroundings or he’d realized quiet and meek was the only way to pull this off, because he didn’t say a word as he shook Rick’s hand.
The only sound was a hum of insects in the flowers and the distant call of an exotic bird.
“Thought you didn’t like the islands,” Rick finally said to Brody.
“No. But the wife does.”
Rick looked at “the wife.” “You’ve not been gone very long. The last time you were here, you were still claiming you’d never marry, that you’d never settle down with one man.”
“Things change.”
Not looking convinced, Rick nodded again, still watching them both very carefully, and Maddie realized that she and Brody were standing several feet apart, not touching at all, giving off vibes that did not exactly say newlyweds. Damn it. Rick knew Leena, unfortunately well. Leena had always held a healthy fear of men, especially big, badass-looking men like Brody. This was never going to work unless Maddie could convince Rick that Brody was really just a pussycat. Scooting closer, she slipped her arm around her “husband,” feeling buckets of tension in that big badass body. “We’re very happy.”
But Brody didn’t look happy. He looked the opposite of happy, and Maddie slid her hand down from the small of his back to his butt, which she pinched hard.
Brody turned his head and slid her a look.
She forced her sweetest smile, making up a story on the spot. “Brody was my dentist.” She hugged him while he just looked down at her, silent. “He fixed my crown, and the rest is history.”
“You married your dentist,” Rick said slowly.
“His business is booming. Everyone needs a dentist, of course, and good ones are hard to find.”
“You married your dentist,” Rick repeated. “A dentist. ”
“Well, he only works one day a week since his trust fund kicked in.”
“Ah.” Rick’s tone suggested that he finally understood. “Trust fund.”
“Oh, no, it was his kindness, his sensitivity that got to me,” she gushed, setting her head on Brody’s chest with a dreamy little sigh. “Not his bank account.”
“Sure.” Rick nodded, looking amused. “And his bank account had nothing to do with it.”
“Of course not. He’s sensitive and compassionate.” Wow, listen to her gush. “We’re going to have babies.”
Brody’s eyebrows nearly leapt off his face at that one, and Maddie couldn’t even look at him anymore. “The point is,” she said after controlling herself by biting her tongue hard, “I don’t have to work.”
“So you mentioned.” Rick’s voice stayed even, but his eyes hardened. “Except that you and I have an agreement. You will continue to fulfill your end of this agreement, designing and creating for me as needed.” He shot another look in Brody’s direction. “Confidentially.”
The morning was warm, hot even, especially in the island sun, but Maddie’s blood ran cold. His meaning was clear. He must not be made to feel a need to divest himself of her husband. “Brody isn’t into jewelry,” she said, hoping she didn’t sound as desperate as she suddenly felt. “Not at all.”
“I see.”
“He’s really not.” Hopefully, he believed that, which led her to the next problem. Rick wanted her to do a job, probably create an item from a design and then set a gem for it. Only it’d been ten years since she’d even watched Leena do such a thing. She had no idea if she could pull it off.
No idea, and no choice.
“Was your sister at your wedding?” Rick finally asked.
Oh, God. “M-Maddie?”
“You have another sister I don’t know about?”
“Of course not. I just . . . ” Mind whirling, she smiled sadly. “We haven’t been in touch.”
Rick just looked at her.
“We’re no longer that close.” She struggled not to fidget, to continue looking him right in the eyes, but man, it was really hard to do that and lie through her teeth. “So no, there’s been no contact.”
Another long, uncomfortable beat. The tension was thick, so much so that she could hardly breathe through it. Rick didn’t seem bothered by that fact in the least. She was. Silence from Rick had always bothered her, and this one went on so long she nearly waved her hand to make sure he was awake.
But he was awake; he was just waiting for her to crack. Leena cracked, and cracked often. It was what she did. “Okay, there’s been the occasional contact,” she admitted.
“So you lied to me?” He asked this in the same quiet tone that