by Jamie Begley
“I think so. Thank-you. God, what was that?” she asked, using a clean napkin to wipe her tears away.
Desmond motioned for a waiter, unperturbed as he whisked the soiled napkins away from her to set them on the empty tray. “Thank-you. Macon, please bring us some wet cloths.”
“Yes, sir.”
“To answer, Ginny, those delicacies are Allerton’s favorite. They’re chocolate-covered goat cheese.”
“I’m so embarrassed. My family has a herd of goats, and I’ve learned to make a dozen different things with their milk. Before I leave, I’ll have to give your cook my recipe for goat cheese. I could swear I tasted a hint lavender in that one.”
Ginny gave the waiter a sweet smile when he held out a silver tray with two steaming wet clothes. Taking one, she daintily wiped her hands, placing it back on the tray when the waiter held it out for Desmond to discard his as well.
“Mr. Allerton, you should try your goat cheese with fig jelly.” Ginny let her Kentucky accent come out in full force. “Save the chocolate for strawberries.”
Allerton cleared his throat. “You can write the recipe down, and I will see my chef gets it. Going back to what we were discussing before your choking incident.” Distastefully, he gave his plate to a passing waiter. “The hurricane occurred three years ago.”
Were the people in the room aware of what Allerton had done? Her mother? Her father?
“There were no survivors?”
“None.” Allerton took one of the chocolate goat cheese petit fours from a passing waiter, his face showing the enjoyment of the nasty concoction.
She wouldn’t be wasting her time to write her recipe. He could fart lavender-scented gas balls out of his uptight butt, and she wouldn’t care.
“How fortunate for you that Sherguevil Island didn’t incur the same casualties.” Ginny couldn’t hold back the snapped barb.
“Fortunate, indeed. Sherguevil did incur massive damages. All of the bungalows were destroyed, the resort had extensive damages to the roof, and the first floor flooded. Overall, it wasn’t anything that couldn’t be repaired. As the owner, I had the power to evacuate the island two days before when the hurricane had been forecasted. I took two boats and offered any of the islanders who wanted to leave Clindale free rooms in one my hotels, but they all refused. Sadly, I didn’t have the authority to force an evacuation. I still regret my inability to convince them to heed my warnings.”
“We all have our crosses to bear in life.” Her hand itched to smack the man who wouldn’t experience regret if it bit him on his ass. “Some find it an easy burden to brush off, while others carry the heavy burden for the rest of their lives.”
“You believe our decisions have religious connotations?”
“I believe we each have an internal scorecard that is marked with our triumphs and failures. Only we know what those scorecards show. Mine shows the failures and victories I’ve achieved in regard to how I’ve lived my life without hurting others.”
“Then you would be disappointed in me. I believe others are responsible for their own actions, especially if they refuse aid when it is offered. To that effect, mine would be more of a spreadsheet of the numbers of those I was able to help than those I failed.”
Ginny looked around at the agreeing expressions of those who had gravitated closer to them to listen. “You’re speaking for them?”
“I believe they feel the same,” Allerton disclosed after searching the faces of those close to him. Soleil was just one of the many nodding her acquiescence.
“Then I find that sad.”
The suite went as silent as a tomb at her derogatory comment.
“Why so?” Desmond Beck asked.
“Aren’t you all members of the same charity? I would never classify people as numbers on a spreadsheets. Spreadsheets are tools to provide an analytic data. As a charity, I assumed you would think any loss was a failure. I guess that’s the difference between a registered charity and a non-profit one.”
Desmond gave her a charming smile. “Very true, very true.” His agreement with her had dark frowns coming his way from the other guests, which he shut down with an ironic twist of his lips. “Indeed, it is our loss you haven’t been here to keep us on the straight and narrow. Gavin, you’re a lucky man. I bet Ginny keeps you on your toes.”
“I’m the lucky one.” Giving Gavin a heartfelt smile, Ginny turned back to find herself under Desmond’s perusal.
Feeling uncomfortable, Ginny gave a regretful sigh. “If Gavin and I are going to Clindale early, we should be leaving. Thank-you, Mr. Allerton, for hosting the party, and for the rest of you for attending. Soleil, I hope we have an opportunity to speak together privately in the next few days, to become reacquainted.”
Ginny barely gave Gavin enough time to dispose his plate before tugging him toward the door. They weren’t quick enough.
“Join me for breakfast in the morning,” Soleil invited. “We can eat on the patio here. The resort has a huge breakfast buffet,” Soleil went on without giving Ginny time to refuse. “Gabriel, would you join us?”
“Certainly. I usually eat around seven. Is that too early for you? I can push it back.”
“Seven, it is,” Ginny agreed. “Goodnight.”
Ginny was overjoyed at being released from the stifling atmosphere in the suite. She didn’t even care that Agent Collins looked downcast by having to accompany them out.
Conscious of Gavin’s sidelong glances, Ginny remained silent, not wanting to talk in front of the agent, afraid she would inadvertently let something slip. Ginny was curious, wondering if Allerton used as many listening devices in the rooms of his resort as he placed in their bungalow.
Once seated in the Moke, she despondently stared ahead. Light poles situated along the trail gave enough illumination that the driver didn’t have to turn on the headlights.
Getting out of the Moke, she made no move to go inside the bungalow.
She now understood what had bothered her when she first arrived on Sherguevil Island. There were no lights on Clindale. Even at this distance, some type of lights should have been visible.
As if understanding the enormity of feelings going through her, Gavin remained by her side.
“I thought you wanted to have an early night?” Agent Collins sarcastically reminded her.
“I do. I just had a leg cramp. It’s better. Good night.” Making the jumbled excuse, Ginny practically ran inside, barely waiting for Gavin to get inside before slamming and locking the door.
“Ginny ….”
She laid her forehead on the locked door, raising her hand for him not to speak. She desperately needed to hold in the howl of pain that was ripping her apart.
“Let’s go to bed.” Gavin took ahold of her outstretched hand, pulling her away from the door.
Letting him lead her through the darkened interior of the living room and into the bedroom, she limply let him undress her before she slipped between the covers. Curling into a ball, she heard Gavin searching around the room for bugs, then the sound of him going into the front room before coming back into the bedroom and shutting the door. Hearing the rustling of his clothes before he slid in next to her and pulled her close, she closed her eyes comforted he was here. She needed the reassurance that no matter how deprived an action an evil person committed, kindness and goodness would triumph in the end. Right now, she felt Allerton was winning all the battles.
Burrowing into his warmth, Ginny didn’t feel as if the coldness in her body would ever go away. Resting her head on the same pillow as him, she finally allowed the raw emotions she was feeling escape her.
“He killed them,” she whispered achingly. “He killed them all.”
“You don’t know that for sure.”
“I do. I could see it in his eyes.” Shaking despite how close Gavin was holding her, she was unable to hold back her tears as she began to silently cry. “I should have been the one who died … I deserve ….”
Gavin pressed
his mouth over hers. “Don’t ever say that again. The only one who deserves to die is Allerton, and that’s going to come true if he tries to hurt you,” he promised her fervently.
“Some monsters are too powerful to kill.”
“He can be taken down. He’s human.”
“I don’t think he is ….” Sobbing into his shoulder, she cried for the gentle islanders who had been so kind to her when Manny had taken her there to play. They hadn’t had much, but they always shared what they had with her. She’d fallen asleep on the same mats next to their children; they taught her to climb the coconut trees without breaking her neck, how to swim …. The few memories she had from her childhood involved them taking her under their wings and making her one of their own. In the end, it was that kindness that had destroyed them.
Ginny cried harder, feeling as if her soul was being ripped apart. “I hate him so badly.”
“I know you do.” Rubbing her back, Gavin let her cry until there were only small hiccups coming from her.
“I wanted to go to the island tomorrow to see them, and they won’t even be there.”
“You don’t think it will help you to remember?”
“No.”
“Then we won’t go.”
“We have to. I won’t let him win. It’ll buy us another day from me having to take the polygraph test.”
“Which you’ve already practically agreed to take.”
“He wanted our answer in the morning. I bought us another day.”
“One day isn’t going to make a difference.”
“I have to convince him that I don’t remember anything about that day. If I do, maybe he’ll leave me alone to go on with my life.”
“If that’s what you’re trying to do, it isn’t going to work.”
“Why not?”
“A man like Allerton doesn’t take chances. I bet he’s never gambled a day in his life. That’s why he killed the islanders. He wasn’t going to take the chance they found what you took.”
“Or that I told them I saw him kill Manny’s father, Gyi, and I assumed he killed Manny as well. I never saw him again.”
“You actually saw him kill Gyi?”
“Yes.”
“Then we’re fucked.”
“Not if I convince him I didn’t,” she reasoned, “and that I don’t remember taking the artifact. He might let us leave, and both of us can go on our merry way.”
“There’s no way you’ll pass a polygraph if he slips any questions about them into the test. The thing I don’t get is your mother being friends with the son of bitch. How did you feel about seeing her again?”
“Like finding out Santa Claus doesn’t exist.”
Gavin’s swear word was barely discernable under his breath. “I expected her to shed a tear or two at seeing you again. She was as cool as a cucumber.”
“I kinda did, too.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s all right.” Ginny began to slide out of the bed.
“Where are you going?”
“I need to brush my teeth.”
Gavin didn’t release the cover to let her slide out. “About that ….”
Ginny groaned. “What?” She could tell he was wavering about telling her something. “Just tell me.”
“When I was at the buffet, I talked to Desmond.”
Ginny frown. “I know. I saw you. So?”
“We might have had a laugh about the goat cheese.”
“He knew I ate one before and hated it?”
“Yes ….”
This day just went from bad to worse.
“Is there an Easter Bunny?”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Up at the crack of dawn, then after showering, Ginny went to sit down on the side of the bed next to Gavin. She never grew tired of watching him. While he slept, she could see the man he must have been. If she hadn’t cried out all her tears the night before, she would have started crying again now.
Sprawled naked on the bed with the covers twisted off, she was given access to his masculine beauty, unfettered by his normal garb of jeans and a T-shirt. Last night, seeing him dressed in the expensive suit, she wanted to stoke him like a big cat … until he opened his mouth.
Gavin had a jealous streak a mile long. Had he been jealous with Taylor?
Debating if there was anyone she could ask without making her come across as being the jealous one, she ran her fingertips teasingly over his chest and smiled when he reached out to swat her away.
“Time to get up, lazybones.” Pressing a sweet kiss on the corner of his mouth, she started to raise up, only to find his hand in her hair, holding her still.
“Don’t wake me with that little girl kiss,” he said groggily.
“What type of kiss do you want?”
“Like this.” He caught her mouth in a passionate kiss that parted her lips and had him thrusting his tongue inside in a soul-melting embrace. Wrapping his arms around her, he used his body to twist her over his until she was laying on the bed beneath him. Lifting his mouth, he then stared down at her before he unknotted the bath towel she had wrapped around herself.
“I don’t need to relax.” Raising her hand, she drew his hair back behind his ear so she could see his face.
“I do.” Gavin rubbed his stiff dick along her waistline.
Ginny parted her thighs, giving him enough space to lay between them, giving in to him immediately.
Placing each of his forearms on the pillow beneath her head, Gavin braced his upper body over hers. “We’ll be late,” he warned.
“Who cares?” She impishly raised her head off the pillow to kiss the side of his neck.
Gavin pulled his neck away to stare down at her with an expression she had trouble deciphering. “Ginny …?”
“Hmm …?” Wrapping her thighs around his, she raised her eyes to his, surrendering her whole being to him.
“Don’t do that.”
“Do what?” Confused, she started to slide her legs away, but he caught one leg behind her knee and pulled it back to his hip.
“Love me so much.”
She gave him a tender smile. “I’m afraid I can’t help that.”
“I don’t want you hurt.”
She wrapped her arms around his shoulders. “Then don’t hurt me,” she said simply.
Gavin closed his eyes as if he were in terrible pain.
“Hey, wild man.” She directed his attention back to her, not knowing what was going on in his head. “Where’d you go?” Ginny kissed his chin when he opened his eyes.
“I’m here.”
“I don’t think you are.”
“I’m here.”
“I don’t think you are. I think you went back to that basement. I think a part of you is still locked inside.”
“Stop.” Gavin tried to pull off her, but she tightened her legs around him, refusing to let go.
“It’s okay, wild man. My heart is open whenever you’re ready to walk through that door.”
“What if I never can?”
“My love doesn’t have time limits. It’s everlasting.”
Ginny could see the toxic train of thoughts that held him.
“Nothing lasts forever.”
“My love will.”
“You say that now, but what if I piss you off or—”
“Or we get separated?” Ginny finished for him, seeing the fear that her big, tough man would never admit to in a quadrillion years.
“I’ll stay true to you forever,” she promised, running her hand down his spine and feeling him arch under her touch like a big cat. “My love will,” she vowed, giving him the assurance he didn’t even know he was asking for. “Forever and a day, my love will be endless.”
“People make that promise at least a thousand times a day. I’ve been promised that before. Promises are meaningless.”
“Maybe so, but those promises weren’t made by me. I don’t forget my promises just because the person isn’t there to see me keep
track of them.” Ginny shifted slightly under him to place her hand over his heart. “Mine is engraved in gold … right here. You don’t even have to lock it inside; it will always be there for you. Only for you. It will never tarnish or go cold, even when we’re no longer on this Earth. My love for you isn’t fool’s gold; it’s real and true and will never end.”
“You don’t know what the future holds. I’m the first man you loved. Time changes a person. Ten years from now, you could be saying the same thing to another man.”
“I won’t.”
“You don’t know th—”
“I do. Wild man … there’s only one Gavin James. There was only one key made for my heart.”
Gavin crushed her mouth in a kiss that stole her breath at the intensity, as if he was having an inner struggle to believe her.
Returning his kiss, she ferociously battled back, parting her lips to give him what he needed. The mental struggle between them had them passionately wiggling and writhing on the bed as their bodies took over, drowning them in a haze of desire where time stood still and the only sounds in the room were sighs and moans. Ginny held him close when she felt him shuddering over her, surrendering every ounce of her being to him. Giving him a butterfly kiss on the curve of his neck, she wiggled out from under him to tug at him.
“Come on … up. You’ve relaxed enough.” Seeing what she was doing was useless, she picked up a pillow, whomping him over the head, then hastily running toward the bathroom at his growl.
She was merrily singing “Wrecking Ball” by Miley Cyrus in the shower when Gavin stepped inside. She impishly gave him a sultry look before she stepped out, closing the door behind her.
“Get back in here!”
Pressing her naked breasts against the glass, she seductively teased him. “Nuh-uh … Next time, be quicker. I’m already done.”
Gavin moved to press his body on the opposite side. “Come back in here. I have something to give you.”
“Like I’m going to fall for that,” she taunted, looking back over her shoulder as she reached for the towel to wrap herself.
“You’re lucky I used most of my strength fucking you, or I’d come after you.”