Bodyguard Pursuit (5 page)

Ben had rolled onto his front and lay sprawled across both sides of the bed, his arms crossed under his cheek. The position stretched his broad shoulders and with the sheet pooled at his hips, showed off his muscular back and trim waist. Her mouth watered at the tempting display.

How she wanted to stay, but she needed to make sure Lydia was okay. She picked up the sat phone and forced herself to walk out of the room. After closing the door with a gentle snick, she strolled down the plush-carpeted cream passageway. Halogen lights beamed over vivid blue underwater ocean scenes adorning the length of the caramel-cream walls.

She wandered up the winding stairs to the second floor. Outside the open double glass lounge doors, the crystal blue water beckoned, and beyond, the resort’s white and blue striped sun umbrellas dotting the beach provided shade for families lazing on colorful towels beneath them.

For the first time in what felt like forever, the tension she’d carried in her muscles finally eased away. Ben was close, safe and well, and she could sense her sister’s closeness through their twin bond. Lydia had been on that chopper.

“Hey, you’re up and awake. Did you have a good sleep?” Dylan waved from the long oak dining table past the cozy groupings of four white leather couches. At twenty-seven, Dylan had risen through the ranks of Whitehall Shipping and earned the position of chief engineer, and as she’d learnt yesterday, he played a very analytical game of poker.

“I did. Thanks for asking.” Her rubber-soled sandals squelched as she crossed the polished pine floors. She plopped onto the padded chair beside him. “Where is everyone?”

“Liam and Nico have gone sandcastle building. Luke took his surfboard out to the where the waves are rolling in the sweetest, and Brigs is still napping. I take it Ben is too?”

“He’s completely out of it.” She set the sat phone on the table.

“How are you feeling?” He kicked out his long legs clad in beige cargo shorts and crossed them at the ankle.

“Ben’s here, so much better.” She smiled as her thoughts returned to the man who’d made love to her so passionately. “My fears have eased, and I’m not going to let them rear up again. I’m even going to take a walk. It’ll be my first out on my own in a year without a bodyguard looming over me.”

“I can come if you’d like, and I promise no looming.”

“Thanks, but I need to do this alone.” On its white lace doily, she slid the center fruit bowl closer. Bunches of purple and green grapes were nestled around juicy peaches and apricots. She plucked a grape, popped it into her mouth and moaned as its sweet juice exploded over her tongue. Delicious.

“I’ll drop that sat phone back in the control room if you’d like. I’m heading up to see the captain shortly.” Dylan selected a banana hiding on the other side of the bowl and peeled it. “Where are you headed on your walk? There’s a ton to see.”

“To the pharmacy if there is one.” It wouldn’t hurt to grab some additional protection since her hormonal injection was due again soon.

“There’s one inside the main building, tucked on the lower level next to the doctor’s clinic.”

“There’s a clinic?” Fantastic. She’d make an appointment with the doctor instead. She selected a peach then strolled to the door. “In case Ben wakes up looking for me, tell him I’ll be back before it gets dark.” Which was early in the tropics, about six. She’d have a couple of hours tops.

“You enjoy your walk.”

“I will.” She breathed deep as she crossed the deck and walked down the gangplank onto the wharf. The salty sea breeze ticked her nose and recharged her senses. Now this was life, and she was finally living it again.

“Well, look at you, Miss Independent.” Lydia, dressed in a short floral island skirt and pale pink shirt, released Tyler’s hand and bounced toward her. “Outside, and without a chaperone. I’m so proud of you.”

“I feel exhilarated, and my chaperone’s asleep. Having you and Ben back is exactly what I needed to get back to being my old self. How was your trip? All licensed up?”

“Almost. We have to return to pick up the completed paperwork in three days. They have to run checks, make sure we’re who we say we are and all that jazz. But less about me. You need to explain that strange conversation earlier, because you wouldn’t believe the thoughts going through my head.”

“Mine too.” Tyler, his dark hair newly trimmed, cocked a brow as he joined them. “I’ve known Ben since we bunked together in the barracks. I’ve never seen him date a woman, not in all this time.”

“You never asked him why?”

“I figured it was personal.”

“Men. You live by a different set of rules to us.” Such a shame he didn’t know. Some insider information on her elusive bodyguard would have been helpful.

“Yes, but you and I don’t live by those rules.” Lydia nudged her. “Spill.”

“Not much to spill. Ben’s definitely not into relationships, so we’ve agreed to some fun.” The wind blew her hair across her face and she tucked it behind her ears.

“Fun is good.” Lydia nodded. “And Ben couldn’t be more trustworthy. So where are you off to?”

“The doctor’s office. Thought I’d get a quick checkup.”

“Did you want me to come?”

“I want to take a walk on my own and finish tossing those unnecessary fears of mine aside.”

“Great, then go forth, demolish and destroy.”

“Tyler is rubbing off on you. I’ll catch you later.” She chuckled and bit into her peach.

Foamy waves rolled in and beat against the thick round pillar posts as she walked on, a soothing swish that further settled her. Seagulls squawked overhead as they circled for fish and the delighted squeals of children playing in the surf rang in her ears. Her fears continued to settle. Yes, the Hyena brothers who’d been after her and Lydia had both been caught. Mia Taita, the orchestrator behind the contract to take Lydia out, was behind bars with them. This was a regular day, without any killers or maniacs in sight. Justice was being served. She and her sister were finally free to live again.

After marching up the beach, she followed the winding coral sandstone path through the resort’s tropical gardens. Dozens of holidaymakers swam in the three sprawling pools while others relaxed on the surrounding white canvas loungers.

Staff behind the pool bar counter served colorful drinks with cute little umbrellas, and a DJ played music from a nearby coconut frond-roofed shack. Perfect, and so relaxing. She tossed her peach pip into the waste bin then wandered toward the main four-story building ahead.

She trod across a bridged walkway spanning a pond of floating lily pads and croaking frogs. A boy, maybe six or seven, tossed scraps of bread into the water and a swarm of orange and yellow goldfish darted to the surface and gobbled the food.

Three girls darted past to watch the fish feeding and knocked her against the side rail in their haste. She clutched the wooden balustrade.

“Watch out.” A uniformed cleaner pushing a trolley of towels and mops ran into her from behind.

“Ouch.” She grabbed her ankle and hopped on one foot.

“Miss, I’m so sorry.” The woman raced around and gasped, one hand over her mouth. “Oh, you’re bleeding.”

“It’s okay.” And nothing close to having a murderer chasing her. Although her ankle stung along the jagged edge of the inch long cut. “Do you have a first aid kit?”

“Right here somewhere.” Tossing starched white linens, she foraged through her trolley.

“Are you all right? I’m Dr. Hika.” A middle-aged dark-skinned man in a crisp cream shirt and tailored beige shorts stopped and hunkered down to inspect her wound. His black springy hair flopped forward over his brow.

“I’m Saria Sands, and I’ll be fine once this gets covered up.” Great. Her first trip out and she’d gotten jittery and hurt herself.

“Here it is.” The cleaner pulled a small red plastic container out of her trolley and passed it to the doctor. “My first aid kit. This is all my fault.”

“No, it’s mine too,” she assured the woman. “It’s not like you were able to stop your cart in time. I’m a nurse. I can handle a little blood.”

“Don’t you worry. I’ll sort this.” The doctor nodded at the cleaner then caught Saria’s elbow. “Are you okay to walk to that bench over there? We need to clear the bridge so others can get by, then I can see to your injury.”

“Yes, and thank you.” Trying not to drip blood on the wooden planks, she hopped with his aid across to a slatted seat beside the pond and sat.

“Sorry, we do try not to harm the tourists visiting our fair land. I particularly don’t like seeing nurses in distress. Are you hurt anywhere else other than your ankle?” The doctor popped the lid on the kit, selected a cotton ball and smeared it with antiseptic cream. He wiped the wound then applied a thick plaster. “You were holding your hip.”

“I knocked into the railing.” She rubbed her side. “It’s fine. No harm done there.”

“You seem a little pale.”

“It’s my first time out in a while. The cleaner gave me a fright. That’s all. I was on my way to make an appointment with you.”

“Sorry, I have no idea when my next opening is. My nurse is currently away and the receptionist at the pharmacy now takes my bookings. In the meantime, let’s make sure you can walk without any issue.” He took her elbow and helped her up. “There’s a meadow close by, and I can guarantee it’s free of any wayward trolleys. This way.”

She limped along the meandering garden path that veered away toward the rear where the jungle rose thick and lush beyond the resort. Bright red and pink flowering hibiscus bushes dotted the gardens surrounding the grassy meadow. Across the far side, several children played a game of tag while a uniformed caregiver in the resort’s yellow skirt and polo supervised.

Two teens in shorts and t-shirts volleyed a ball between them. One kicked it so hard it sailed over her head and clunked into something metal within the bushes, an abandoned gardening shed by the looks.

“Sorry,” the boy called out to her as he scrambled through the brush. He grabbed his ball out of the ivy trailing over the shed’s door then tossed it back to his friend.

“This is lovely.” She could handle a flying ball, and her ankle might have taken a knock, but she could walk with only a pinch of pain. “It’s good for me to be out and around others. I’ve had a rather secluded year of late, and it’s caused a few fears to rise.”

“Nothing too debilitating I hope.”

“I get a big jumpy if someone comes up behind me. The cleaner truly wouldn’t have run into me if I hadn’t jumped in her path first, and now my bodyguard has arrived, I’m hoping my fears will soon be well and truly done with.” She plucked a yellow buttercup at her feet and twirled it between two fingers. “This island is certainly the perfect place to begin healing.”

“You need a bodyguard?”

“Not anymore I don’t.”

“Well, at least you’re walking without any issue. I’d hate to get on the wrong side of your bodyguard, whether you need him or not.”

“The plaster’s working a real treat.”

He grinned. “Yes, the old plaster fixes all.”

“Hey, Saria.” Luke jostled through a tight beachside path barely noticeable with its thick hedge either side. He jogged toward her in red swim trunks, his surfboard tucked under one arm. He shook his dark head and sent water flying. “I caught a glimpse of you as I came out of the water. I was about to head back to the ship.” He propped his board beside him, and its long shadow fell across the doctor’s face.

“You’ve got great eyesight.” Only a peek of the ocean was viewable, although the crashing of the waves reached her easily on the breeze. “Meet Dr. Hika. He rescued me from a trolley and bandaged me up. Dr. Hika, this is Luke Whitehall. Luke’s family, or he will be soon. We’re here for my twin sister and his brother’s wedding.”

“Nice to meet you, Luke.” The doctor extended his hand and Luke shook it. “How are the waves today?”

“Sweet, although I don’t know how you concentrate on getting any work done when you have all this in your backyard.” Luke patted his surfboard’s bright blue swirling ocean design.

“Trust me. It’s difficult.” The doctor’s cell phone buzzed and he checked the display. “Sorry. It appears my free time is up. My next appointment beckons.” He glanced at her. “Saria, you’ll find the pharmacy on the first floor when you go to make your appointment. Enjoy your day.” He waved as he walked away.

“Do you want to explain a trolley on the run?” Luke eyed her ankle. “I see the bandage.”

“Plaster, and the doctor’s appointment isn’t for this minor injury. Do you want to walk me back to the ship though? I think I’ve had enough sightseeing for one day.” Making an appointment could wait.

“Of course I will.” He slotted his surfboard back under his arm and guided her toward the gap in the trees.

She shuffled through the overgrown path and gasped as they made the beach. Only one lone sunbather was sprawled on a towel catching the last of the day’s rays. “This is nice and private.”

“Yeah, it’s one of my favorite places.”

“How often do you sail this way?” They strolled down the beach.

“Three or four times a year. After we lost Mum, and Liam and Nico lost Gabriella, it became even more important for us to connect as a family.” He led the way onto the wharf. “Liam loves taking Nico sandcastle building. It reminds him of how Gabriella adored doing the same when Nico was a toddler.”

“That’s a beautiful way to keep the memories alive, for both of them.” Her heart ached for Liam and Nico’s loss.

Next to their yacht, another of a similar length and four-level height, had berthed. Ben raced past it toward them, his blue gaze fixed on her. Outfitted in black shorts and a shirt, his blond hair whipped about his shoulders in the breeze. She grinned. “You’re up.”

“And you should have woken me when you decided to come outside.” He stopped in front of her, hands on his hips.

“You were out of it.” She linked her arm through the crook in his.

“Dylan said you were taking a look around.”

“I didn’t get very far.” She stepped on board, wandered downstairs and into her room.

“Why is your foot bandaged?” He shut the door.

“It’s my ankle, and it’s a plaster.”