“No. It’s from that guy.” Her thumbs started dancing over her phone. “The one I met online.”
Jared stared at the jumping fountains on the far side of the lounge chairs. The leaping water feature had been installed for children. Leaving the fountain on all night made about as much sense as a fire in Florida.
He glanced over at her and fought the desire to pluck the phone from her hands. She was messaging him dammit. He wanted to read her reply. If she craved wild, handcuffed . . . hell, he’d deliver.
“Do you feel like getting wet?” he asked.
She looked up from her phone. Her thumbs hovered over the screen. “What?” she whispered, heat rising in her cheeks.
He nodded to the jumping water. “In the fountain, Lucy. What are you writing to this guy you’ve never met?”
“Nothing.” She returned to her screen. “And I’m not playing in the fountains with you. We can’t go back in there soaking wet. Finn would—”
“Finn would what?” her brother’s voice cut through the dark.
Jared turned his back to the fountains. He would have settled for a barefoot walk on the beach instead of causing a scene in the leaping water. He wanted Lucy to himself—no interruptions from the gala,
her brother, or the imaginary Mr. Ryder.
“You would stop taking me to these events,” Lucy said without looking up.
“I thought you wanted me to find a date for these things,” Finn challenged.
She glanced up. “They’re not so bad. I’ve met potential clients here.” She tapped the screen one more time and then slipped her phone into her purse. “Which is what I should be doing right now.” She waved to him, and the cell in Jared’s pocket vibrated. “It’s Finn’s turn to protect you.”
When the door closed behind her, Jared reached for his cell.
“Protect you from what?” Finn demanded.
“Lou Tennyson.”
“I talked to him earlier,” Finn said. “The meat packing plant isn’t a bad idea. No one else is looking at the business. It’s too small for most big players. But if we brought in new management and tripled the value, we could sell it for a substantial profit. Unless Lou is bullshitting us.”
Jared nodded. Then he blocked out the rest of his friend’s argument about potential numbers as he read Lucy’s message.
Dear Philip,
I need to leave the handcuffs on the desk. I like knowing they are waiting for the right time. But I’ll be honest with you. I need to start with trust. A few months ago, the man I loved, the man I planned to marry—he left me. I watched my plans shatter. I spent the first month grieving and angry. But then I realized my ex hadn’t walked away with my dreams. I still wanted the same things. Only now, I know that I need to find that happiness with a man I can love and trust.
You should know that it might take a while for me to trust you. I might even agree to test out the handcuffs before I’m ready to fully believe in a future with you. I hope I haven’t sent you running for the hills (not that we have any in Florida) because I want to take a chance on you.
Your bondage virgin,
Lucy
P.S. I never realized how little a face matters. I haven’t seen yours yet. But I’m realizing your words matter more.
“Fuck. While I was standing here, picturing Lucy dripping wet from the fountain, she was pouring out her heart to Philip Ryder. She’s never even met the guy.” Jared glanced up from his phone and gave Finn a hard look. “You need to talk some sense into your sister.”
“The fountain, huh?” Finn sounded too damn amused.
“What if Nicole was right?” Jared challenged. “What if this guy was an axe murderer who liked to handcuff his victims to his bed?”
“I hadn’t considered the handcuffs, but similar scenarios had crossed my mind.” Finn raised his right hand and jabbed his index finger in Jared direction. “That’s why she’s meeting you tomorrow night. On your date, she’ll realize that the guy who listened when she opened up about her feelings, the guy who said the right thing in response, is the guy who was right in front of her the entire time.”
“What the hell is the right response?” Jared demanded.
“She told you her feelings. Now it’s your turn to share yours. You have to let her in. Give her something. If she’s letting you, or hell, Philip, in, you need to do the same.” Finn turned and headed for the door. “I’ll talk meat with Mr. Tennyson while you figure it out. You know Lucy. You know what she wants. Don’t mess this up now.”