Chapter 3
Skylar was sitting at the table beneath the open tent when the first delivery truck rolled across the drawbridge. There were one hundred items up for bid. Neither she nor the Navorones wanted delivery people traipsing in and out of their home. Nor did they want to risk photos being taken inside. The exterior was already well documented.
The simple solution was to accept the delivery in the courtyard. Once a donation arrived, the tracking number would be checked, then the package opened to validate the item with the driver present. Merchandise didn’t always make its way to the final destination.
The driver jumped out of the truck with a package in his hands. “This is the first of four. I don’t see why this delivery has to be different,” he muttered.
Silently Rio took the twelve-by-twelve box, scanned the label, placed it on a long folding table a few feet from Skylar, and opened the box with a box cutter. Removing the packing, he carefully pulled out a Baccarat crystal vase valued at twenty-five thousand dollars.
Skylar found the vase and marked it off her list. “One down and ninety-nine to go.”
“Yes.” Rio placed the rose-colored vase aside.
Skylar stared down at the screen of her iPad. At least he was talking to her.
“Here are the other three.” The driver stopped with a cart. “Who is going to sign?”
“I will.” Skylar placed the iPad on the table.
“I’ll take care of it.” Rio stepped past her and signed, giving the scanner back to the driver. He picked up the top box. “Please step over here while I open the other packages.”
“Hurry up. I got a schedule to keep,” the man snapped.
Rio had turned away but swung back so fast the driver stumbled, swallowed.
Skylar bet the man wouldn’t pop off again like that. She picked up the next box. “Shall I open it?”
Rio finally moved to place his box beside hers. One of his men placed the other one on the table. No one spoke as he opened each.
“They all check.” Skylar spoke to the nervous man. “Being courteous never goes out of style. Good-bye.”
The man went to his truck. Once there he sneered. Skylar smiled at him. “Have a wonderful day.”
The men standing with her laughed. She didn’t even have to look at Rio to know he hadn’t joined in with them. He was too serious. He needed to have some fun, and Skylar was going to be the person to show him how.
* * *
Rio personally took the four deliveries into the designated room. All the furniture had been stored so people could easily browse the collection. Skylar had even acquired locked jewelry cases. There were also stands for the expected art pieces. After placing the crystal pieces in their designated spots, he went back out. He’d gotten no more than a foot out the door before he heard the unmistakable sound of Skylar’s laughter.
No emotion showed on his face, but inside was a different matter. He shouldn’t care that she had such an easy way with his men. She was just another employee.
If only he could make himself believe that. He was actually ready to warn Henderson off when Rio caught the known womanizer and Skylar on the staircase that morning. Her tone had been light, almost flirtatious. Henderson wasn’t the type of man to let an opportunity with a beautiful woman pass.
A man with less control might have cursed at that admission. Rio continued to the tent. No woman was ever going to get the best of him. He’d mastered his body years ago, just as the Man With No Name had taught him.
“Another delivery is due in thirty minutes.” Skylar looked at her watch again. “It’s finally happening. I called Ruth while you were inside and told her about the first delivery.”
He didn’t know what to say to her. He’d never been one for small talk—with a woman or a man. She looked at him as if he were her whole world one moment or as if she wanted to crawl into his lap, then other times as if she wanted to comfort him. He didn’t need anything from her—except to stop looking at him with such innocent desire and sinful expectations.
“Everything all right on the island?” she asked.
“Yes,” he answered, hoping that would end the conversation. She was sitting in a chair with her long, shapely legs crossed. The slight breeze loosened strains of her thick, lustrous black hair from the chignon and molded the white blouse to her high, firm breasts.
“I know you wanted to be there.” She twisted toward him, revealing more of her elegant legs. “But I’m glad you’re here.”
Rio mentally shook himself. Her striking hazel eyes wistfully stared up at him, not hiding any of her desire. Didn’t she have any sense? He might ask himself the same thing. “I’ll be back before the next delivery.”
Rio made a strategic withdrawal to the command center. Every good soldier knew there was no shame in retreating to regroup. No matter what, Skylar Dupree would not breach his defenses.
* * *
Rio was there to watch the items being unloaded as the day progressed. The deliverymen and -women cast nervous glances at him. He unpacked each box or package, carefully handling delicate crystal pieces as easily as he did sturdier items with his large hands.
Skylar remembered those hands on her and, from the sudden narrowing of his eyes when their gaze happen to meet, Rio did also. She might have rejoiced that she’d gotten another reaction out of him if her knees hadn’t been shaking.
“I’ll take that into the display room while you have the driver sign.” Glad her voice was steady, she picked up the box with the signed Waterford limited-edition vase and went inside the castle.
Five minutes later, more in control of her emotions, she came out of the room with the auction pieces and saw the house manager, Mr. Patterson. He didn’t look any happier than he had the day she’d seen him in town.
“Mr. Patterson, life can change for the better at a moment’s notice.”
If anything, his frown deepened. He stared at her in puzzlement. “What are you talking about, Ms. Dupree?”
Skylar wasn’t sure what her response should be. She didn’t want to embarrass him. “It’s just my observation. I better get back outside.”
* * *
The next morning as she left breakfast, she met Eli standing just beyond the doors of the small dining room. “Good morning, Mr. Patterson.”
“Good morning, Ms. Dupree. Would it be possible to have a word with you?”
“Of course,” she said and followed him to the library. He closed the door behind them.
The poor man looked worried. She hoped it didn’t have anything to do with what she’d said to him yesterday.
He glanced away as if unable to find the words, before finally facing her. “What you said about life changing at a moment’s notice has been bothering me all night. I had the feeling that it wasn’t just random conversation. Am I right?”
She hesitated. She should have kept her mouth shut. Especially since Rio had gone cold on her again.
“Please, I need my sleep,” he said, a slight smile on his lined face.
She knew exactly what he meant. She had tossed most of the night. “I saw you in town.”
His expression didn’t change.
“With the man outside of the bar Monday,” she rushed on when his eyes widened. “I didn’t mean to spy or anything. I was at a stoplight and I happened to glance over.”
“I see,” he said slowly.
She truly felt bad. She placed a consoling hand on his arm. “He was mean to bully you. If there is anything I can do to help, you only have to ask.”
His complexion paled. His shaky hand fluttered to his chest.
Afraid he was having a heart attack, she took his other arm. “Mr. Patterson, are you all right? Do you want to sit down?”
“No. No. I…” His hand lowered, and he glanced away for a moment. “What you saw was a private exchange. The man is an unwanted friend of a friend. I realize I have no right, but please don’t tell anyone what you saw. It…” He swallowed. “It might cause problems.”
She certainly knew about keeping secrets. She’d be mortified if it became public knowledge that she was lusting after Rio. “I didn’t see anything.”
Her cell phone rang. “I have to take this. Hello. I’ll be right out.” She ended the call. “This conversation never happened.”
“Thank you, Ms. Dupree.”
She touched his arm one last time, then rushed outside and to the tent. Rio was at the receiving table cutting open a large rectangular box. “Good morning.”
“Good morning.” He never looked her way or paused in what he was doing. Moments later he drew out a beautiful painting by Kara Simmons-Landers, a newly discovered artist.
Used to his short answers, she walked over. “Breathtaking, isn’t it?”
His dark head slowly turned. His dark eyes revealed nothing. “You mark it off the master list?”
She hadn’t. She’d been caught by the beauty of the man and the picture. “I’ll do it now.” Picking up the iPad, she entered the date and time of the painting’s arrival. Her head lifted and she saw Rio opening the other packages as the driver patiently waited. It was the same delivery service that first driver had belonged to, but she’d never seen the impatient first deliveryman again. She started to ask Rio about it, but decided to let it go. She had more important things to take up with him.
* * *
For the rest of that day and all the next, Rio was even more distant. By the end of the working day on Thursday, Skylar had had enough. She patiently waited until the last delivery truck left at six thirteen. Two of Rio’s men took in the framed pictures with a personal letter from famous individuals donating dinner or time with them.
Skylar didn’t speak until the two men were out of hearing range. She went to Rio, who was putting the paper and boxes in a recycling bin. She gazed at his prime rear for a couple of seconds, then shook herself. “Rio?”
Slowly he straightened and turned. “Yes?”
“Why don’t we drive into town for dinner? My treat.”
“I’m busy,” came his flat answer.
She barely kept the smile on her face. “I didn’t tell you the time.”
“Doesn’t matter,” he returned, not missing a beat.
All right, perhaps she had to spell it out for him. “I’d like for us to get to know each other better,” she said, thinking what a horrible line that was, but it was the truth.
He crossed his arms as if bored. His flat expression never changed. “You were vetted and cleared by me before you were hired. I doubt if there is anything more to learn about you. As for my life, it’s boring.” His arms dropped to his sides. “If you’ll excuse me.”
“Fat chance,” she snapped.
He simply stared at her, which angered Skylar even more. “I’ve tried. I really have tried to understand you, but you’re impossible.”
“Ms. Du—”
“All of your men call me Skylar, why can’t you? It isn’t that difficult to pronounce.” She didn’t give him a chance to answer. She jabbed her finger into his broad chest and had the brief satisfaction of seeing his eyes widen in surprise. “I won’t wait around forever for you to figure out what you’re missing.” She turned, then quickly wheeled back. “And for your information there might be some things about me that you don’t know that would blow your mind!”
Her nose in the air, Skylar stalked to her room, giving her hips a little something extra. Today was the final straw. She was not about to twiddle her thumbs and let Rio keep ignoring her.
She took a long bath, lotioned and sprayed her body with V, the most expensive perfume in the world, and applied her makeup. She slipped on a red backless mini dress, stepped into five-inch stilettos, put on silver chandelier earrings encrusted with diamonds and a matching necklace and bracelet. Snagging her red clutch, she was out the door. She was not waiting on Rio a second longer.
Downstairs, she went in search of the house manager. She’d already told Mary at lunch that she had plans for dinner. She found Eli in the kitchen drinking coffee.
When he saw her, he sat the cup down, stood, and shoved the chair back under the table.
Sad to say, he didn’t look any more at ease to Skylar. She knew how he felt. Some problems just wouldn’t go away.
“Good evening, Mr. Patterson. I have dinner reservations at El Matador. I’m not sure what time I’ll be home.”
“Very well. Are you going alone?”
Her chin came up a fraction. “Yes.”
He stared at her a bit strangely. “Drive carefully.”
“Thank you. I will.” She started for the garage, hoping that she’d see Rio. She’d show him.
Luck was on her side. He was still outside talking to one of his men. Her head high, she passed him without a glance. She got into her SUV, then backed out of the garage and drove past him, wishing she could see his face. She wasn’t sure if she looked in the mirror he’d see her looking back.
Waving to the guards at the guardhouse, she headed to town. She’d show him!
* * *
Hands on his hips, Rio stared at the back of the SUV. He could shake Skylar until her perfect white teeth rattled. They both knew she wasn’t the type of woman to pick up men, but that didn’t mean men wouldn’t try once they saw her, or that she wouldn’t consider trusting one.
A mad woman was a dangerous woman.
He turned to go inside to the command center and saw one of his men still staring at the SUV with a rapt expression. Rio wanted to dunk him in the lake. “Finish here. I’m going inside.”
Rio went straight to his personal computer in the command center and brought up the location of the SUV. All of the cars had tracking devices on them. He could find her. He started to rise, but sat back down.
He wasn’t running after any woman.
* * *
Halfway through what should have been a marvelous dining experience, tired of telling men she didn’t need their company, Skylar accepted that her ultimatum to Rio hadn’t worked. She’d gambled and lost.
“Check, please.”
“Certainly.” The attentive waiter handed her the bill. “Would you like anything boxed?”
“No, thank you.” She gave him the black folder and waited for him to return with the receipt so she could sign and go back to the castle. She’d accomplished nothing except making herself look foolish or, worse, desperate.
“Hello, gorgeous.” The man braced his manicured hands on the chair across from hers. “You sure I can’t buy you a drink? Last chance.”
Skylar simply looked at the man, who had been the most persistent of them all tonight. He’d tried to pick her up shortly after her arrival. When that hadn’t worked, he’d sent over a glass of champagne, which she refused. Now he was back again.
“And this is your last chance. If you bother me again, I’ll alert management and call my boyfriend, who can bench-press two hundred pounds and not break a sweat.”
The man jerked upright, the easy smile gone. “I was just—”
“Not another word or I’m making a phone call you aren’t going to like.”
The man beat a hasty retreat to his table.
“Here you are.” The waiter handed her the bill holder. “I took the liberty of telling the valet to have your car ready.”
She placed the receipt in her purse. “How? I have my claim ticket.”
“Some guests are memorable. Have a good night.”
To some men, perhaps. Rio wasn’t among them. The waiter held the chair as Skylar rose to her feet. “Thank you and good night.”
Outside, her SUV waited for her. Tipping the attendant, she saw two couples still waiting for their cars. At least someone had noticed her. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the right person.
Fastening her seat belt, she pulled out of the restaurant and headed back to the castle. She glanced at the clock. Eight thirty-eight. It was too early to return. He’d know she had a crappy night. However, she wasn’t about to hang out someplace to make him think otherwise.
She flicked on her signal and passed a car going ten miles below the speed limit. At the best of times, she’d never been able to drive slowly. Her father said she had a lead foot, just like her mother.
Skylar smiled. She loved her parents and missed them, but she loved her job and was happy. Well, relatively happy. She stopped at the signal light and glanced into her rearview mirror. An SUV was behind her with its high beams on.
She detested drivers who drove with their high beams on in good weather. She pulled off and changed lanes. So did the driver behind her, cutting off a car to do so.
She frowned. Some people shouldn’t have driver’s licenses. Her thoughts returned to her parents. It was difficult to believe they’d been divorced for three years. Sure, they’d argued at times, but they made a habit of never leaving the house or going to bed unless it was settled.
Until that last time they’d argued bitterly. Her father hadn’t been able to say anything to keep her mother from filing for divorce.
Skylar thought they’d always be together, just like her maternal grandparents who lived in Boston, and her paternal grandparents in New Orleans. She was learning that love was hard to find and harder to keep.
Skylar eased her foot off the gas. All the slow cars must be out tonight. Signaling, she passed a creeping Impala and got into the far lane, the lane she’d use to turn onto the road leading to the castle. She didn’t like changing lanes because the potential for an accident was higher.
She glanced into her rearview mirror and frowned. The SUV with the high beams had changed lanes as well and was behind her. Strange.
She wasn’t the paranoid type, but her uncle had hammered it into her head that paranoia was a good thing and could save your butt. Skylar changed lanes. The SUV changed with her.
Her heart rate kicked up. She remembered stories of men following women home and assaulting them. Wouldn’t they be in for a surprise once she reached the castle? If she made it there. Before she reached the castle, she had to drive through a lonely five- or seven-mile stretch of road.
She glanced in the mirror again. The beams were so high, all she could detect was that it was some kind of dark SUV. Perhaps she was overreacting. They could have changed lanes for the same reason she had. One way to find out.
She slowed down until she was ten, then fifteen miles under the speed limit. The car behind her matched her speed. She couldn’t deny it any longer.
She was being followed.