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What the hell. He’d make it quick. He wouldn’t sleep tonight anyway without a sedative, and he didn’t want to take one. Jason might wake up and need him.
* * *
WHEN CERTAIN JASON was asleep, Kelly slipped her hand from under his limp fingers and tiptoed toward the door where she flipped off the overhead light. A small nightlight in the shape of a green frog glowed dimly, and a bit of sun filtered in through the windows, so the room wouldn’t be totally black if he awoke.
As she eased the door shut, Kelly wondered if Jason was afraid of the dark.
Carrying a pile of thick towels, Maria waited in the hallway and offered a shy smile. “Is Jasonito asleep?” she asked.
“For now,” Kelly said, wincing at Maria’s discolored face. “You were with him when he was taken, right?”
Maria’s smile disappeared. “Yes. We were at the park. I tried to stop them, but they—” She raised her hand to her swollen eye. “I could not protect him. That must be why he is mad at me.”
“I don’t think he’s mad at you,” Kelly soothed. “He’s just a mixed-up kid right now.”
Maria glanced at the door. “He is sweet boy.”
“Yeah, he is,” Kelly said. Although damned heavy.
“Thank God he is home safe. Thank you for rescuing him.”
“Just doing my job,” Kelly said.
At those words, Maria roused herself. “Let me show you to your room.”
Following Maria down the hall, Kelly thought of her own mother, something that didn’t happen often lately. Was it the way the housekeeper moved? Kelly’s mom had worked as a maid for most of her life. When she was sober enough to hold a job, that is. But never in a grand house like this, Kelly thought bitterly. Usually fleabag motels—where she’d turn the occasional trick if the opportunity arose.
They entered a large bedroom where again the theme was mostly white, although the furnishings, including a desk, provided pleasing splashes of dark brown. A wooden frame without a curtain surrounded a huge bed overflowing with plump, carefully arranged pillows. Arching white orchids perched on bedside tables. Kelly’s gaze was drawn beyond the flowers to windows on either side of the bed and a spectacular view of blue-green water in the distance. The Atlantic Ocean.
Maria placed the towels on the bed and stepped to a closet where she slid open doors and withdrew a—of course—white terry cloth robe. Maria handed Kelly the robe, and motioned toward a door that Kelly guessed led to the bathroom. “After you shower, please come downstairs. Lunch will be waiting.”
“Thanks,” Kelly said.
Maria moved to one of the side tables, opened a door and withdrew a glass bottle.
“In case you are thirsty,” Maria said, presenting the bottle to Kelly. “Help yourself to whatever is in the refrigerator.”
“Thanks again.” Kelly twisted off the cap and took a long drink of chilled water with a refreshing lemon flavor.
“Por nada,” Maria said. “It’s nothing.”
With a slight bow, Maria exited, closing the door behind her, and Kelly released a sigh. Had she fallen down a rabbit hole today, or what? She grabbed the robe, draped it over her shoulders and stepped to a window to check out the view.
Wow. Yeah, the white-capped ocean took her breath away, but the huge pool, surrounded by towering palm trees swaying in the breeze, was equally spectacular. Swimming was her favorite form of exercise, but hard to manage with her schedule.
Yeah, right. Mr. Trey Wentworth would have no problem with her making herself right at home with a dip in his pool.
What a paradise. Wondering just how big this so-called villa was, she shook her head as she imagined the cost to maintain this palace. She couldn’t wait to tell Lana and Patrice, two of her fellow rookies, about her adventure into billionaire-land.
But first she needed to shower, warm up and get out of here. Kelly grabbed a towel from the bed and hurried into the bathroom, where the tasteful luxury made it a perfect place to dreamily soak your troubles away.
Under different circumstances. Get moving, rookie.
Kelly stepped to the shower and swiveled on the water. She placed the robe on the gleaming marble counter, removed her running shoes and socks, then stripped and stepped through a mist of steam into a strong stream of hot water. Finally. Relishing the warmth, she turned her back to the cascade and on the other wall spotted another set of nozzles. Wondering what would happen, she turned those on, too, and soon jets of delicious heat seeped into her muscles from front and rear.
