Bodyguard Pursuit (9 page)

“You have to call. Every two hours, okay?” He dragged her to him, tucked her head under his chin and held her. A long goodbye hug, and not nearly what she wanted. Gently, he pulled away. “Travel safely.”

“Sure. Enjoy Brigs’s spare bunk.”

“I will,” he grumbled and shut the door behind him.

Gone. Her heart heaved. The one man she wanted was the only one she could never have.

* * * *

Ben tossed his bag onto the top bed in Brigs’s cabin. It was a small, efficient space with two bunks bolted to a blue painted wall. White furnishings and a built-in set of drawers completed the room. “You there, Brigs?”

“Yo.” Brushing his teeth, he opened the bathroom door. “Did you get tossed out of Saria’s room already?”

“No, I bailed.” He squeezed past Brigs and slid his toiletries into the second drawer. The compact area included a shower cubicle, toilet and vanity, all in basic white. No frills like Saria’s stateroom, but he didn’t need any. “I’m ready to haul in a prize catch.”

“Are you talking about a fish or some other kind of catch?”

“A damn fish.” He stalked back into the cabin and plunked into the corner wicker chair.

“What’s put you in such a foul mood?” Wiping his face with a washcloth, Brigs followed him. “You wanna talk about it?”

“No. Yes. I opened up to Saria last night.” He slumped forward, elbows on his knees. “About my childhood.”

“You? Opened up? I don’t believe it.” Brigs let out a low whistle. “You know you can always talk to me too. I have sisters. I’m used to the whole ‘gotta talk things out stuff’ that chicks dig.”

“I’m not a chick.” Still, Brigs and Tyler were his right hand men. The three of them had been together for more years and untold scrapes than he could count. Saria hadn’t condemned him for the details surrounding his unfortunate birth, and maybe both his best mates wouldn’t either. “My father was one of the dirtiest scumbags on the planet.” The words tumbled from him. No holding back now. “At forty-five, he got out of jail after serving time for one count of rape, only to turn around two days later and rape two eighteen-year-old women. One was to be my mother.”

“Serious?” He blew out a long breath. “I’m so sorry.”

“He was convicted and imprisoned again. Then not long before I left the foster system, I received word he’d died.”

“What about your mother? Is she still alive?”

“She gave me up and never looked back. I had her searched though and sometimes check in on what she’s up to. She has a husband and a couple of teenagers. They seem to be doing all right, all four of them.”

“So you’ve never made contact?”

“No, and I never will. A nice woman like that doesn’t need her past coming back to haunt her.”

“That explains a lot, why you’re as dedicated to protecting others as you are. You had no one to protect you as a kid.”

“What?” He’d never let Brigs get away with glorifying his job like that. “So, you’re not fazed by my past at all?”

“No, but you clearly are. You’ve got to let it go, Ben.”

“Telling you is a step in the right direction.” Saria was right, and telling Brigs had helped. Except now he needed to tell Tyler the truth.

He scrubbed his face then groaned as overhead, the whop-whop of the chopper’s blades buzzed then faded out toward sea. That aircraft held the one person he wanted to keep at his side, and every instinct urged him to fight for her, to get her back and plead for her to give him some time to work through his issues. If only life really worked that way. Sure, she’d accepted his past, but that didn’t change the fact his future was set in stone. No commitment. No relationships. He was a loner, and always would be.

“She’d be good for you.” Brigs opened the door and jerked his head toward the passageway. “If you let Saria get away, I’m certain you’ll come to regret it.”

“She might be good for me, but I’ve got too much baggage for it to ever work.” He stomped past Brigs and down the corridor.

“Nothing she couldn’t handle though. She’s a tough cookie.”

“Give it up, Brigs.” He jogged upstairs and onto the deck. “We’ve a job to do. Best we both focus on that.”

“Are you calling me a job?” Tyler, leaning against the stern rail, eyed them as they approached.

“Never.” Ben clapped him on the back. “It’s distraction time. Show me the fish.”

With the sky and ocean an endless shade of blue along the horizon, Saria’s flight to Nadi should have been awe-inspiring. Instead, every mile away from Ben had her heart aching, harder and heavier. It wasn’t right, leaving him when they still had so much to talk about.

“You okay, sis?” Lydia nudged her arm. “We’re almost at the mainland and you haven’t said a word the entire trip.”

“Sorry, I don’t mean to be bad company.”

In the seat opposite them, Dr. Hika stopped rummaging through his briefcase and glanced at her. “You do look pale. Is there anything I can do to help?”

“If you can fix my bodyguard that’d be great.”

“You can speak freely to me whenever you’d like to, and so can Ben. I minored in psychology, and I love a good sit-down session. I also have my mother’s nosy-nose.” He tapped said nose.

She smiled. “I’d love an outsider’s perspective on my situation, but I’m afraid I can’t go into the details of Ben’s difficult childhood, not when he told me in confidence.”

“I understand, and it’s not easy when we can see someone else needs help and they don’t.” He locked his briefcase and set it by his feet. “Maybe in time he will, or if he’s given a little push. What of yourself?”

“My world is changing. I need to start looking for a job and a place to live.” She also wanted to be there for the one man who needed her. If only he’d let her.

“Yes, you’re a nurse.” A glitter lit his eyes. “And if you’re truly after a job, maybe I can help. I have a proposition for you.”

“I love propositions. Fire away.” This certainly sounded intriguing, and she needed the distraction.

“Another reason I’m heading to the mainland, other than to collect some necessary supplies, is to search for a new nurse for the island. With over three-thousand tourists at any one time, I require additional aid.”

“What happened to your nurse?”

“She was called away a week ago. A family emergency. Which means I need to temporarily fill the position until she returns. About another four weeks.”

Excitement thrummed through her. This could be exactly what she needed, even though it meant a short time away from Lydia. Oh, and the islands. A magical place to work, even if only for a month. Her spirits lifted. “Tell me more.”

“The position comes with free accommodation at the resort as well as meals and laundry. The hours are nine to five weekdays, but you’d need to remain on-call at night and on weekends, the same as I do.”

“Keep going.” This was a dream come true.

“The patients I see are generally relaxed, and their ailments minor. If anyone requires surgery, they’re flown to the mainland, so your duties would be more similar to those required in a general practitioner’s office.”

“I can’t believe you’re offering me a job and a place to live.” She jiggled in her seat. “You’re not worried about my recent fears?”

“As far as I can see, there’re almost nonexistent. Certainly if you experience any problems, I’ll be right on hand. It’s also very rare for me to have a runaway cleaner’s trolley or a stampeding crowd in the office.” He grinned. “Would you consider the position?”

“I’d love to consider it.” She clasped Lydia’s hand. “Do you have any problem with me saying yes?”

“I think it sounds perfect, and I’ll only be a phone call away.” Lydia hugged her. “We’re not running or in hiding anymore. It’s time for us to live again.”

“Then that’s what I’ll do.” She extended her hand to the doctor. “You’ve got yourself a new nurse. When would you like me to start?”

* * * *

The wooden dinghy rocked as Ben leaned over the side and tossed his line. So far, he’d caught three massive sea slugs, a starfish and more seaweed than could possibly be floating at the bottom of all that crystalline blue. His level of frustration at having Saria so far from him had also escalated to the point where he was ready to blow.

Brigs wasn’t helping any either lying sprawled asleep across the center seat. Ben lifted his foot and tapped Brigs’s dangling leg. With his cap pulled low over his face and his springy black hair poking out from underneath, Brigs snorted but didn’t wake. How could the man snooze when the girls weren’t here?

“We should toss him overboard.” Tyler held his rod in one hand and his cell phone in the other. He stared at the device then gave it a shake as if that would make it miraculously ring.

Ben wanted to shake the phone as well. “When Lydia calls, I want to speak to Saria, and I won’t accept any more of her excuses about saying she can’t talk to me.” Every time Lydia had rung, she’d told him Saria was busy trying on one dress or another, and as yet he hadn’t spoken to her. It was almost four in the afternoon, seven horrendously long hours since she’d flown out.

“It’s crappy not being in control, right?” Tyler blew out a long breath.

“From now on, you don’t agree to any shopping excursions for those girls without my direct authorization.”

“I didn’t exactly agree. This was Lydia’s idea.”

“You agreed when you didn’t disagree.” The girls were both on their own. Without a guard. Ben should’ve ignored their request to go it alone and hopped on board the chopper with them. “I’m going to go crazy if I don’t hear from Saria soon.”

“I’ll make sure Lydia puts her on.” Tyler shoved a hand through his hair. “Hell, even your news this morning about your sleaze of a father didn’t manage to distract me nearly long enough.” Tyler hadn’t condemned him either, not even for all the years he’d withheld the information. “Maybe you shouldn’t have ended things yet with Saria.” Tyler fiddled with his rod. “You’re clearly uncomfortable letting her go.”

“It would never work.”

“Did Saria say that?”

“No, I said that. Sleepyhead there”—he jabbed a finger at Brigs—“tried to convince me letting her go would be wrong too, but that’s what I’ve done, and I’m sticking to that decision.” He held out his hand. “Pass me that damn phone. I’ve had enough of waiting.”

Tyler handed it over and Ben punched in Lydia’s number.

“Hello, honey.” Lydia’s voice, as sweet as sugar, resonated down the line. “I still had one more minute before I had to call you.”

“It’s not your honey. It’s Ben. Put Saria on, and I don’t want to hear any more excuses. Not one.”

“I can’t put her on. She’s filling in paperwork for her new job.”

“What?” He tapped the phone. “This connection must be acting up. Did you say paperwork for a new job?”

“Yes, she got the offer this morning, but told me not to say anything until the deal was all signed and sealed. We’re at the hospital now with Dr. Hika. He wanted everything recorded formally. You know, so she’s covered for any eventuality, insurance and all. We’ve already organized a Fijian bank account for her wages.”

“What job are you talking about? Saria doesn’t have a job.” She couldn’t work here, not when she’d be too far away from him. His heart started beating out of time.

“She accepted a nursing position with Dr. Hika. She’ll be staying on at Resort Island once we’ve sailed away.”

“For how long?” He thumped his chest, got his ticker back onto the right beat.

“Only four weeks. The nurse who usually holds the position is dealing with a family illness. I’m so excited for—oh, here she is. You can talk to her now. Saria, Ben’s on the phone. He wants to talk to you.” A crackle came down the line then all went quiet. Lydia must have covered the mouthpiece.

He rapped one foot on the dinghy’s floorboards where a little water sloshed within the hull.

“What’s happening?” Tyler leaned forward, his gaze narrowed.

“Saria’s accepted a job as a nurse here at the island. A temporary one, but I don’t like it.”

“Ben, she’s too busy to talk to you right now.” Lydia was back. “Sorry, but we’ve got to catch a cab and get back to the helipad. Tell Tyler I love him. See you guys soon.” She hung up and a piercing tone buzzed in his ear.

Lydia had not just hung up on him. And Saria had certainly never been too busy to speak to him whenever he’d called. What the hell was going on?

“Well, what did Lydia say?” Tyler held out his hand for the phone and he passed it back.

“They’re catching a cab now to the helipad, and she said she loves you.” He scrubbed his face with numb fingers. “Saria can’t take a job here.”

“Why not?”

“Because I can’t reach her quick enough if she needs me.” He hauled his line in, including another bunch of useless seaweed he wanted to toss at snoring Brigs.

“Hey.” Tyler gripped his shoulder. “Calm down. She’s no longer in The Program. She shouldn’t have a need for you to get to her.”

Tyler was right, only Ben couldn’t stand he was.

They weren’t in a relationship, and never would be. That hurt almost as much as the thought of her being so far away.

* * * *

Saria jiggled in her seat as the chopper flew in over the island then settled with a gentle bump on the resort’s concrete landing pad. The blades whirred down and Lydia squeezed past her and bounded out. Tyler waited by the storage shed to the side of the tennis courts in tan shorts and a brown and white striped t-shirt. Lydia ran into Tyler’s arms and he swung her about, sending her knee-length lilac skirt flying. She adored how much Tyler loved her sister.

“I’ll get your purchases for you.” Dr. Hika hopped out then grasped the large box holding Lydia’s wedding gown and her bridesmaid dress. The shop assistant had carefully wrapped both in white tissue paper after they’d made their final selection.

“Thanks.” She climbed out onto the helipad after him. Her hair whipped around her face and she tucked it behind her ears.

The sun was close to setting, and the last couple who’d been playing tennis closed the wire gate and handed their rackets and balls to the attendant standing inside the beachside bright yellow sports kiosk.

Dr. Hika handed her the box then reached back in for his briefcase. “If you’re still after that appointment, instead of trying to make one at the pharmacy, I could see you during my lunch break tomorrow.”