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Vaughn scowls, rakes his hair. I see a small smile form around MacManus’s lips. Clearly he knows his friend well and understands the level of aggravation communicated in that single gesture.
“Captain Marilee and Copilot Brent are staying as well.”
“What?” Now Vaughn doesn’t bother to hide his frustration. “You know this isn’t actually a resort yet. I can’t just pull extra lodging out of my ass.”
That smirk again. “No worries. They’ll sleep on the plane.”
“What the hell is going on, Mac?”
“Just some extra precautions. You know, nothing like success to paint a target on a man’s back.”
“Oh, come on. You’ve been successful for as long as I’ve known you. You’ve never had private security before.”
MacManus merely shrugs. Lea, I notice, keeps her gaze on the table. But there’s a set to her shoulders that tells me she’s paying attention to every word spoken. Like a lot of quiet people, she’s an excellent listener.
“How long?” Vaughn asks now. “Extra people means extra work, extra food. I need some sort of timeline.”
“I haven’t decided yet.”
“So help me God, Mac—”
“I brought extra food.”
“You know, just because we’re friends and I work for you doesn’t mean I won’t kill you.”
Both bodyguards immediately step forward.
“Oh, for Chrissake.” Now Vaughn is losing it.
MacManus holds up a hand to still his men. His smile has grown into a full grin. He’s good-looking in a privileged white guy sort of way. I can see where younger Keahi Pierson would be drawn to him. But there’s something about him that puts me on edge. And not just that I’m biased from the stories I’ve been told; he’s a little too well groomed, a little too smirky. I could know nothing at all about this man, and I still wouldn’t trust him.
Now Lea places a dainty hand over MacManus’s on the table.
“Please,” she says quietly.
“I know. It’s been a long day. Just a bit longer, then we can retreat to the lodge.”
“I can take her,” I speak up immediately.
MacManus looks over at me and frowns, as if realizing for the first time there’s waitstaff in the room. “That won’t be necessary.”
“Please,” Lea states again.
He returns his attention to her, his tone soothing. “Given the circumstances, it’s best for us to stay together.”
“Even here, at one of the most inaccessible places on earth?” Lea fingers her brow. “My head. I’d just like to rest. Please.”
In response, MacManus squeezes her hand gently. His look is surprisingly sympathetic. “Are you sure?” He splits his attention between Lea and me. She nods, I go with:
“No problem. I’ll take her straight to your lodge.”
Another moment of reluctance. Then:
“Fine. Go on ahead. I’ll be there shortly.”
Lea rises gracefully. I don’t waste a moment, leading her promptly out the back of the mess hall to the waiting UTV. She doesn’t say a word as she awkwardly climbs aboard, then smooths a hand over the skirt of her tight dress.
I can barely believe my luck in engineering an opportunity for a private conversation so quickly. My hand is fairly shaking with adrenaline as I start the engine.
