Reaper's Salvation: A Last Riders Trilogy Jamie Begley (fb2 epub reader .txt) 📖

“Seemed that way to me.”

“You’re mistaken,” she denied, turning redder as his eyebrows climbed caustically. He wasn’t buying her fib for a second. “Some habits are hard to deny,” she admitted, shamefaced.

“Nothing to be embarrassed about. I could get a hard-on for a few of those beauties myself.”

If she wasn’t embarrassed before, she was now.

“I think they’re pretty. I want to see what they look like inside, to see if they match the outside.” She tried to explain what she felt seeing the sleek, proud vessels.

“You want to get up close and personal.” His brow arched even higher.

She wasn’t dumb enough to respond to that. Giving him a cold shoulder, she pointedly ignored the boats and Gavin’s low laughter as they passed them.

“I bet you were a handful when you were a child.”

“I was an angel.”

“I think you still are.”

Unable to prevent herself, she turned back to him, expecting sarcasm. However, the sincerity she saw would have floored her if she’d been standing. Had he just said something nice to her twice in a row?

“Did you take a nice pill when I wasn’t looking?”

“I can be nice when I want to be.”

“Are you still angry with me?”

The Gavin she knew and loved reappeared. His expression once more turning grim and threatening.

“I didn’t say that.”

“Then do me a favor, if you did take a nice pill, then take the whole bottle. I have Prime; I’ll order you another.”

Chapter Nine

The Mokes continued steadily on the paved trail around the front of island, winding into a turn to the side of the island that faced Clindale. The majestic palm trees on Sherguevil provided camouflage for the large building, airport, and numerous smaller buildings from the shores of Clindale.

As the Mokes veered onto another trail, they stopped beside an outcropping of small beachfront bungalows. Guessing this was where they would be quarantined, they got out of the Moke.

Ginny frowned as she stared across the water to Clindale Island. Something was different. Frowning, she took a step forward, but was suddenly stopped.

“Mrs. James, Mr. James, you have been assigned this bungalow. The four of us will share the other three. I will be in the one closest to you. Two agents will take turns stationing themselves outside yours to ensure your safety.”

“Thank-you.”

Ginny walked beside Gavin toward the small bungalow that Agent Collins had indicted. Then any relief that she might have felt toward Agent Collins’ assurance was dispelled when he held out a hand toward Gavin.

“I need to check your duffel bag. I’ll return it to you when I bring Mrs. James’ luggage.”

Anticipating Gavin’s refusal, Ginny was surprised when he held it out without a comment. He might not have said anything, but his disparaging features had Agent Collins walking toward the other agents who had remained by the Mokes. Ginny, relieved he had restrained himself from having a no-win argument with Collins, gladly walked into the bungalow when Gavin opened the door for her.

The bungalow was larger than it appeared outside. It had a medium-sized living room with a cream and white plush sofa, matching chair, and a low glass coffee table that was half the size of the sofa; the table was engraved with birds on the legs. Two ceiling fans made the room feel airy, and with the green palm trees and colorful succulents, the scenery from outside the open window gave the impression of relaxed comfort. A tall vase filled with tropical flowers was centered on a long marble console table one the wall with a television. To the side of the room was a small kitchenette with a bistro-style table with two white cushioned chairs and there was a basket filled with a variety of fresh fruits.

Ginny remained beside the door as Gavin went to the door next to the table and opened it, seeing from where she stood that it was a bedroom. When Gavin went inside, Ginny followed.

The bedroom was lovely with a grey, thickly padded headboard. The full bed took up half the room and was covered in a subdued coral-colored bedspread. The matching curtains framed the patio doors, which had been left open allowing in fresh air. To the left of the room was an en suite bathroom with a diamond-shaped mosaic tiles, as well as a large shower the size of the entire wall. Caddy-corner with the shower sat a two-person soaking clawfoot tub that faced a window with a view of the sea. The room had an earthy, sensual appeal that had Ginny feeling uncomfortable.

Gavin was taking off his jacket to hang in the closet. Realizing she was completely alone with him, she decided to go back to the living room. She didn’t make it, as his voice stopped her cold.

“Have a seat while I check the room out.”

Nervous, Ginny went to sit on the end of the bed, watching Gavin as he took a lighter out of his jean pocket, then lifted the flame to the mirror that was over the dresser facing the bed.

“What are you doing?”

“Making sure it isn’t a two-way mirror,” Gavin explained, snapping the flame off before he went to the side of the mirror to run his hand along the frame. He removed each of the paintings on the wall, then stacked them inside the closet. He didn’t stop there. After removing the paintings, he went through the bedroom, picking up a small, artificial plant and a small clock, placing them in the closet, also. Thinking he was done, Ginny couldn’t understand what he was doing when he climbed on the bed to place a towel over the light fixture that was centered on the ceiling, giving the room a purple hue.

“Don’t you think that’s a little too much?”

Ginny really wished she kept the sarcastic thought to herself when Gavin jumped off the bed taking the comforter with him. He tucked it around the metal frame of the mirror above the dresser. Seemingly satisfied, he pulled the drapes closed over the balcony doors