Chapter 17

CHAPTER 17

J asmine

“Good morning, little koala. How did you sleep?”

“It would have been better if you’d joined me.”

Braxton approached, his nostrils flaring as he studied me. When he cupped my face as he’d done more than a few times, the warmth and instant desire was incredible. I nuzzled into his hand, drinking in the lingering aftershave, the scent of our sex, and a hint of coffee.

There couldn’t be a better combination.

“Don’t tempt me,” he growled and lowered his head, brushing his lips across mine.

I rose onto my bare feet, forcing the kiss into something more passionate. He was exactly the kind of man I’d needed.

And I’d craved.

When he swept his tongue inside, I was thrown that I was so lightheaded. He just had that kind of effect on me, the adventure with him thrilling. I was wearing only a soft terry robe provided by the hotel chain, but it was obviously too much clothing for him.

As he dominated the intimate moment, he shifted one hand between us, deftly untying the sash. I tingled all over as he rolled his hands over my shoulders, taking the thick material with him.

I shuddered when the robe hit the floor, his touch exactly what I wanted to feel every single morning. The naughty girl side breaching the surface, I fought with his belt buckle, my hunger more intense than the night before.

But he was having none of it, his need to be in control at all times taking over. He whisked me into his arms, the fire in his smile igniting mine.

“I have time for a little breakfast,” he growled as he headed to the bedroom portion of the suite.

Sighing, I rubbed my eyes, still glaring at the woman in the mirror. I’d wanted my morning to go exactly that way.

But it was like everything else in my life.

Sheer fantasy.

What had really occurred had put this plan in motion. I knew the man wanted answers. I thoroughly understood he was risking his own life to protect me.

But to act like I was the enemy after the night before or that I was helpless had sparked something deep inside of me.

Maybe a will for independence or to live.

By myself.

I’d believed for a split second there was something special between us but his gruffness this morning, his harsh commands had made me realize once and for all, this entire situation was more personal for him.

And that had nothing to do with me.

Now I was stuck in a lobby bathroom, waiting it out until the three goons finally determined I’d left the building.

Then I would.

The ugliness on his face had hurt me more than it should have but I’d almost allowed myself to fall into his trap.

“We need to talk,” Braxton said the moment I walked from the room.

“Didn’t we do that last night?” I moved closer, pressing my hands against his chest. He did everything but push me away as if I was trash.

“Yes, but some things aren’t adding up.” He kept his distance even though I’d glared at him.

Sadly, I’d felt hurt as the first emotion, which was unlike me.

The smell of coffee lured me to the Keurig machine provided to the room. “Fine. What?” We’d had a lovely late-night dinner thanks to room service, the food surprisingly good. Maybe I’d had a little too much wine, but I’d believed it deserved after the horrible experience. Maybe refusing to answer his questions hadn’t been the best thing to do but I’d been grilled and pushed more than I usually accepted. But after that, it was as if we were so close. He was at ease, answering my questions.

And the hot sex had been out of this world. My bottom still ached from the savage ass fucking. But I’d loved every minute of it.

“What things aren’t adding up? Why would three ugly men want to kidnap me?”

He waited as I prepared a cup of coffee, but I sensed his harsh gaze was locked onto me.

“There are easy to understand reasons why you could be used against your father. That’s not what I’m talking about.”

“Then what?”

The man was oppressive when he wore certain expressions. This morning, he made me feel as if I was a criminal all over again for more reasons than cheating at cards.

“Why did you pick my island?” His question was clearly accusatory.

“We went through this before.”

“Not exactly. You mentioned a friend recommended it. The girl you went to college with?”

“What don’t you know about me? Ashton isn’t a part of this. She was my lifeline while attending college.”

“I never said she was. As far as what I don’t know about you, apparently quite a bit including why of all islands you’d suddenly arrive at mine. Your father and my father weren’t exactly friends. Don’t you find that a bit of a coincidence?”

“You bastard.” I tried to turn away, but he grabbed my arm, almost forcing me to spill my coffee on the nice fluffy robe provided by the hotel. “That’s not fair. Did you think I orchestrated my own kidnapping attempt?”

“I didn’t say that. Don’t put words in my mouth.”

“Then what are you saying? That I’m some fraud, a femme fatale sent to seduce you?” His heated look locked on me and sucked away my breath stronger than hurricane winds could. “Oh, my God. That’s exactly what you’re saying.” I was saddened and disheartened at the same time, uncertain how to react or if it mattered.

“You’re overreacting,” he said, at least decent enough to soften his tone.

“I don’t think so. You don’t believe me. Well, son of a bitch, the island was recommended to me by a friend in Australia. We were chatting. I mentioned I needed to get away from everything and everyone. She suggested the Royal Players Club.”

Although even uttering the explanation caused me to pause. I was trying to remember how the conversation had come about. It wasn’t like Maggie and I had been that close. She’d worked for my father a couple of years before and we’d had lunch a couple of times. Had I been that desperate to carve out a new life? While that had nagged at me, so had the man Braxton had mentioned but the pieces were still muddled.

He pulled back physically and mentally, eyeing me for a full thirty seconds before nodding. “Fine, but we are not finished with this conversation. I have a meeting to attend. Now, in order to keep you safe, I hired some security, the leader of the group a man I’ve known for years. They will be right outside that door if anything happens. You have your phone so call me. Don’t try and run. Don’t try and enlist assistance. The best thing to do is for you to keep radio silence. We’re going to talk more later, you and I, trying to figure out this puzzle.”

Puzzle.

He really thought my father had hired me for a nefarious reason. Damn the man. Damn the family I’d been born into.

Damn everything.

That’s the reality of the way the morning had begun. His tone remaining terse, accusatory to the point I’d been caught in a fog after he’d left. He’d told me little about what my father said and in truth, I hadn’t wanted to ask. I knew exactly how my father had likely reacted, acting as if I was nothing but an impetuous child.

Maybe I was.

I hated my life.

It was something I hadn’t wanted to admit, including to myself, but that was the truth. I was stuck in a twilight zone that I couldn’t seem to get out of. The only bright spot had been meeting Braxton, although he was a complicated and infuriating man. Still, the time spent had been some of the most exciting and satisfying that I’d had in as long as I could remember.

Maybe ever.

But all good things needed to come to an end.

He was controlling as fuck.

Determined to keep me wrapped in rules.

Acting as if he knew better about my life and everything in it.

Okay, he was sexy and debonair, providing me with a glimpse at something other than puppy love, but I was through with being treated like a child.

The fact he’d left three bodyguards outside had angered me to the point I’d almost broken things inside the suite. Did he not trust me?

I had to laugh. He was right not to.

When I’d discovered he’d taken my keys, all the delicious time we’d spent together went poof in my mind. I had to get the fuck out of here.

So, I devised a plan, a good one in my mind. I was no longer a child and knew that what I was doing was reckless, but if I stayed with Ashton even for a few days, I could figure out what I needed to do. Maybe.

When room service came, it had only taken offering the three men coffee and donuts for me to get away. Honestly, it had been far too easy to do so. Yes, I was a very bad girl and loved every minute of being that way.

I’d purchased a baseball cap in the giftshop, shoving almost all my hair underneath. At least I would be slightly incognito as I made my escape attempt. Thankfully, the rain was barely a drizzle, but the ugly day didn’t improve my mood any. I’d been so stupid, something I’d sworn I would never do again.

Sadly, I’d been hovering in this very restroom for a solid forty-five minutes. I only hoped I hadn’t been turned in for loitering. What it had allowed me to do was study the layout of the floor that had been conveniently placed on the back of the door. I’d rethought my crazy idea more than once but the one thing I knew about myself was that in order to make any decent decisions, I needed to make them on my own, and I needed some time without pressure to do so.

There wasn’t a chance in hell I could do that around a man like Braxton. Plus, I had a terrible feeling that while protecting me, he’d keep me on a tight, short leash, which I’d never be able to tolerate.

Very cautiously, I opened the door, peering into the well-lit, beautifully decorated, and very empty hallway. Breathing a sigh of relief, I tugged the cap down further before heading into the corridor. Without hesitation, I moved quickly to the set of doors that should be at the end. When I noticed the bright light from outside, I breathed a sigh of relief. This was the right thing to do.

Or so I tried to convince myself.

The street was busy as usual, which easily helped me blend in.

However, I continuously glanced over my shoulder as I walked, certain I was being followed. I could see huge men in black SUVs almost everywhere, which was ridiculous of course. I pulled out my phone, hurriedly dialing Ashton.

Thankfully, she answered quickly. As soon as I did, I moved against one of the buildings, thankful he’d selected a hotel in Georgetown and not directly in the city. I was shivering from the breeze but more because of fear.

“Oh, God. Why haven’t you called me back?” Ashton chastised.

“I’ve been a little busy.”

“What is going on?”

“It’s a long story and I’ll tell you all the gory details, but I need your help.” The creepy crawlies remained, covering every inch of my body.

“You’re scaring me. What?”

A solid horn followed by a series of screams coming from the street forced me to jump.

“Where are you?” my bestie demanded.

“Georgetown. We stayed at the Four Seasons.”

“Wow. With that hot, mysterious man?”

“Dangerous man. Yes. I know this is a lot to ask, but I need a ride and a place to stay for a couple days.”

“O-kay. Sure. Do your parents know?”

“As if they care. It’s too dangerous to be there.”

“Jesus Christ, Jazzie. I don’t like this.”

“Just tell me somewhere to go and I’ll wait for you.”

Sighing, she grumbled into the phone. “Let me think. Oh, yeah. There’s a new quaint coffee shop I know of. Will that do?”

“That will be fine.” As she told me the name and where it was located, I realized I’d never felt so alone in my life. Running hadn’t been a great idea, but I wasn’t entirely certain I could trust Braxton. And I definitely couldn’t call my dad. I had no doubt he was the actual target. Even if I called to warn him, he’d barely listen, demanding I come home immediately.

Except I doubted the colonial-style house could ever feel like home.

“How long?” I asked, scanning the street as if aliens were preparing an invasion. In my entire life, I’d never been this jittery despite all the warnings my father had provided over the years. I’d done nothing but roll my eyes, acting as if the man was paranoid. Here I was behaving the same way.

Well, duh. That’s what happens after almost being kidnapped.

“Thirty minutes. Maybe a little longer. I need to get dressed. Just hang tight, bestie. I’ll be there. Then you and I are going to talk.”

Ashton’s voice was full of concern. In all the years we’d known each other, she’d called me fun and sometimes reckless, eager to experience anything and everything. Now I’d been reduced to nothing more than a scaredy cat. I did have a fairly good reason, including I’d known for years dear old Daddy was hiding a dark secret or five.

But just who was Braxton in all of this? “See you then.” As I ended the call, shifting to my GPS to try to figure out where the hell I was going, I thought about the pseudo friend who’d mentioned the Royal Players Club.

Why had I listened to her?

Had her suggestion been planned, a lure to get me to the island? Now I was working on conspiracy theories. It would seem the rational side of me had just been tossed into the trash.

Perfect.

What the hell was I supposed to do from here?