Buch lesen: «Two Little Secrets»

Chapter One

People were not meant to fly.

The previous day, Ginna had been scrubbed with sea salt, waxed, exfoliated, massaged, moisturized, moussed and polished. Her skin glowed and felt smooth as silk. Thanks to her co-workers’ efforts, she was sent off to have the time of her life.

If only she didn’t have to fly to achieve it.

Ginna Walker was known to be fearless. With three brothers, she’d had to be. Over time, she’d handled snakes, lizards and even a scorpion named Ralph.

But when it came to walking into a large cylinder that a human and computers navigated through the air, she didn’t do as well. If it hadn’t been so expensive, she would have opted for a cruise.

Except the movie Titanic stayed with her much too long.

So she’d armed herself with motion-sickness medication, a couple of paperback novels and a positive attitude to get her over the Pacific Ocean.

She made her way down the aisle to her seat. She pushed her carry-on bag into the overhead compartment, then settled herself in the window seat assigned to her. She opened her book and pretended not to hear the jet engines warming up or feel the faint rumble under her feet.

“Excuse me, I’m afraid you’re sitting in my seat.”

She looked up into a pair of brown eyes that rivaled Casper’s, her German shepherd’s.

“I don’t think so.”

He didn’t move. “I do think so. You’re in my seat.”

She looked up at him, refusing to back down.

“This is seat 15C and my ticket reads 15C.” She pulled her ticket out of her bag and showed it to him.

As if not to be outdone, he brandished a ticket with the same seat number printed on it.

She glanced at his ticket and smiled. “Amazing, my ticket says the same thing. Besides, haven’t you ever heard of possession being nine-tenths of the law and all that?”

“I guess we’ll need a third party to figure this one out,” he said, pushing the call button.

The flight attendant was warm and helpful as she took both tickets to investigate. When she returned, she was equally apologetic.

“I’m very sorry, Mr. Stone, but somehow the same seat assignment was made for both of you,” she told him. “As Ms. Walker’s ticket was purchased first…” Her voice fell off. “I’m afraid we have no more window seats. In fact, we’re full except for the middle and aisle seat here.”

He nodded. “That’s fine with me.”

She handed them back their tickets and went about her duties.

“Sorry about that. I’m Zach Stone.” He held out his hand.

“Ginna Walker.” She felt his warm palm slide across hers.

Not bad at all. She judged him to be a couple of inches over six feet and nice-looking, with dark-blond hair she knew would lighten under the Hawaiian sun. It needed a good shaping, her keen hairdresser eye noticed. Soft yellow polo shirt, khaki-colored pants. A pair of glasses stuck out of his shirt pocket.

Maybe the flight won’t be so bad, after all.

All the way to the airport, Zach had busied himself with instructions for Lucie about the twins. His sister looked at him as if he’d lost his mind.

Which he had. He was leaving his precious babies with his sister and her son, a child who aspired to be number one on the FBI’s Most Wanted list.

“Nothing is going to happen to the twins,” Lucie had said firmly, steering him through the security checkpoint and toward the gate. She held on to him as if she feared he would bolt in the opposite direction. “Emma always knows when Nick is trying to con her and she keeps Trey out of trouble. You just enjoy your vacation. And remember what I told you. For the next two weeks, no mention of your kids. You’re a single man out for relaxation. That’s it. And if you get lucky—” she paused “—I packed what you’ll need in your shaving kit.”

Zach groaned. He really should have made a run for it, but he knew his bloodhound of a sister would only drag him back. The woman was relentless.

He dropped into the aisle seat and adjusted his seat belt. He wouldn’t be surprised if Lucie had stationed herself by the door, prepared to stand there until the plane left the ground. With him in it.

An exotic fragrance he couldn’t hope to name floated from his seatmate. Nothing overpowering but enough to tempt the senses. The lady was ready for her vacation in the islands in a short black knit skirt that bared a pleasant amount of leg and a blue silky top that stopped a couple of inches short of the skirt’s waistband. Brown hair that shone with gold and coppery highlights was pulled up and back in a curly ponytail that cascaded down her back. The eyes that watched him were a startling shade of blue. They were large and liquid, meant to captivate a man. Her voice held a husky note that was equally enthralling. Zach, the kid, would have stuttered his way through an introduction. Zach, the man, almost swallowed his tongue.

Maybe this vacation won’t be so bad, after all.

Since his seatmate was engrossed in her book, Zach opened the book he’d brought with him. With Lucie so insistent on his finding some romance in the islands, he wasn’t about to allow her to choose his reading material.

As they took off, he glanced out the corner of his eye and noticed her knuckles were white as she gripped the book.

“Flying’s safer than riding in a car,” he said in a low voice, in the hope of relaxing her.

“Cars remain on the ground while planes, which are infinitely heavier, go up in the air and have the chance of coming down when least expected,” she murmured.

He noticed she started to relax once the plane had leveled off, even if one leg still had a habit of jiggling up and down. Which drew his attention back to her legs, which were as nice as the rest of her.

“Don’t worry, I won’t start screaming or anything,” Ginna said. “I couldn’t sleep last night, so I turned on the TV. Big mistake. I think every disaster movie ever made was on. I channel-surfed from crashed planes to earthquakes to tornadoes to sinking ships. You watch enough of those and anyone with normal intelligence would be afraid to leave the house.”

“I guess that could get a person thinking,” Zach admitted, silently amused by her candor. A logical man to the core, he couldn’t imagine that watching a few disaster movies would keep him off a plane.

Ginna leaned over. “If I’d seen one more movie showing a plane crash, I wouldn’t be here,” she confided in a low voice. “I’m not a good flyer. When my mother was six months pregnant with me, she was on a plane that developed engine trouble and could have crashed. Which is why I usually spend my vacations at places you can drive to.”

“That could limit your options,” Zach commented.

Ginna shrugged. “I live in Newport Beach a short drive from the beach, a little over an hour’s drive from the mountains, maybe a couple of hours from the desert. I think I have most of the bases covered if I want to get to one of those places. Anything else, I plan for a longer drive.”

“Yet you’re flying five hours to a Pacific island.”

“I got a great deal from a client who’s a travel agent,” she said, then went on to clarify, “I’m a hairdresser.”

“Funny, I got a great deal from my sister, who happens to be a travel agent,” Zach said dryly.

Ginna raised her plastic glass of diet soda. “To travel agents who know where the deals are.”

Zach tapped his glass against hers. “The plastic clink isn’t as satisfying as crystal goblets, but we know the sentiment is there,” he said.

She nodded. “Exactly. The thought is there. So what do you do, Zach?”

“I write a magazine column,” he replied, figuring it was close enough to the truth.

“Really? Let me guess. A travel column. How to fly and arrive in one piece.”

“Are you sure you don’t write fiction in between haircuts?” he joked, relieved she’d answered her own question.

She shrugged. “I’ve been told I have an overactive imagination, but I can’t even write a decent letter. I guess when someone says they write a magazine column, I tend to automatically think of the wilder side of the business. Someone who’s free and easy, able to pick up and go when they please. And you seem to be a good flier.”

“I was in Florida not all that long ago.” He figured that was the truth without adding that his trip involved Disney World from a four-year-old’s point of view.

“My parents took us there years ago. Did the Disney World thing. They had just as much fun as we did.”

“We?”

She nodded. “I have three brothers and one sister. Keeping tabs on all of us wasn’t easy. Mom once said if she could have, she would have hooked transponders on us so she’d know where we were at all times. Dad said if they lost one of us, it would just be one less mouth to feed. We figured he meant it.”

“Close-knit family, then?”

“We’re all pretty close in age and I guess we’d qualify as a gang. Makes family gatherings interesting,” she said candidly.

“I just have the one sister,” he said. “There’re times when I feel as if she’s three people in one.”

As the flight progressed, Zach found himself enjoying this time with Ginna. He couldn’t remember meeting such an open and honest person. The last lovely woman he’d talked to was the kids’ pediatrician. He was relieved he could carry on a conversation with a woman without discussing eating habits and how best to handle a child’s fears at night.

They made jokes about the airplane food served to them and discussed movies, books and even touched on current events. Zach was definitely enjoying himself.

So why is she looking at me the way a surgeon looks at a critically ill patient?

THIS IS EXACTLY what I need. Time away from work and the attention of an attractive man.

Ginna gave a start when she was positive the plane lurched in a way it shouldn’t have. She relaxed when the pilot’s voice came on and announced they would be landing soon. She was looking forward to planting her feet on solid ground again.

At the same time, she was reluctant to leave this small space with Zach.

She breathed another sigh of relief when the jet’s wheels touched ground with barely a bump. They soon stood up and slowly filed down the aisle.

The moment they stepped onto the jetway she could feel the difference in the air and atmosphere. Zach walked by her side as they headed for the luggage carousel. He took her carry-on bag for her.

“I understand the hotel has a shuttle bus,” he said, after learning they were staying at the same hotel.

“That’s what I was told also,” she replied.

“Why don’t you call the hotel and request the shuttle to pick us up? I can watch out for the luggage if you tell me what yours looks like,” he suggested.

“My nieces offered to let me use their Barbie suitcases, but I explained I needed something a lot larger.” She laughed. “It’s a large teal soft side with a hot-pink band around it.”

“I’m sure that will stand out.”

Ginna found the phone and board listing the hotels. She made the call and was assured a van would pick them up in about forty minutes. When she returned to the luggage carousel, she found her suitcase at Zach’s feet. He was occupied grabbing a black suitcase from the carousel and setting it down by his side. He looked up when she reached him.

“They’ll be here in about forty minutes,” she told him. “They pick up by the hotel shuttle sign, which is right outside.”

Luckily the shuttle bus was prompt in picking them up and transporting them to the hotel.

“This is just what I needed,” Ginna breathed, looking around the lobby with avid interest.

She was smiling and bubbly during check-in procedures. In no time, she was given her room information.

Ginna turned away to follow the bellman when Zach touched her shoulder and spoke her name.

“Have dinner with me tonight,” he coaxed.

She tipped her head to one side as if considering his invitation.

“Nothing in small trays or plastic cups? I can have a drink with an umbrella in it?” she quipped.

“Anything you want,” he said, meaning it.

“I’ll meet you down here at seven,” she replied with a smile that seemed to shoot right through his heart. She turned away again and followed the bellman.

When Zach turned back to the desk, the clerk looked at him with something akin to awe.

“Have a nice stay, Mr. Stone,” he finally said as he handed the key card to the bellman.

He smiled. “I’m sure I will.”

The minute Zach was alone in his room, he pulled out his cell phone and tapped out a familiar number.

“Donner residence. Come on over and we’ll eat you for dinner!” a voice blasted.

Zach groaned. “Not funny, Nick. Where’s your mom?”

“She’s cooking dinner.” The boy laughed uproariously.

“Let me talk to her.”

“Honestly, Nick, you know your uncle doesn’t have a sense of humor,” he heard his sister saying in the background. Then she was on the phone. “Hey there, big brother. Is it as gorgeous there as they say?”

He walked over to the sliding glass door and pushed it open. The sound of waves crashing on sand and rocks was the first thing he heard.

“More so. How’re the kids?”

“What? You think I locked them in a closet the second you were gone?” She chuckled. “They’re fine. Emma’s helping me make a salad and Trey’s feeding Luther.” Luther was the twenty-five-pound family cat that Zach estimated was older than dirt.

“Just make sure it’s not the other way around.” Zach was all too familiar with the cat’s insatiable appetite.

“Zach! Listen to what you’re saying. You need to relax. Now I know this vacation is the best thing for you.”

“Luce, I can’t just forget I’m a father,” he protested.

“Of course you can’t.” She lowered her voice. “But there’re times when you need to remember you’re also a man. This is your chance, for a short time, to forget you’re Emma and Trey’s dad. Just be Zach Stone, freewheeling single guy. Spend time on the beach, get a boogie board and ride the waves. And if you meet someone in the process, even better.”

“You know what? I never want to know about any of the times you take off for one of your recharging weekends,” he told her.

“I go to a spa,” she said with a virtuous sniff.

“Yeah, that’s what you tell me, but now I wonder if that’s really what you do.” He shifted the phone against his ear. “Can I talk to the kids?”

“Emma! Trey! It’s your dad!” she called out.

“Daddy!” Zach flinched as his daughter’s excited squeal assaulted his eardrum. “Aunt Lucie’s lettin’ me cook. But not on the stove,” she assured him as if she knew his instinctive response to that announcement. “I get to tear up lettuce for our salad. Don’t worry, Aunt Lucie made me wash my hands first.”

“That’s great, sweetheart.” He found himself having to force the enthusiasm. He should be happy she wasn’t pining away for the major man in her life. That she was enjoying herself. He talked to her a few more minutes before Trey had his turn.

“Luther makes really gross smells,” he informed his dad, then went on to describe Nick’s latest escapade.

“Okay, enough,” Lucie interjected, obviously snatching up the phone. “All that happened was that Nick picked up the wrong can of cat food at the grocery store.”

“So they’re doing fine,” Zach said, sounding almost morose.

“Yes, they’re doing fine. You know what you need to do? Shower off the trip, go downstairs and find a beautiful woman to take to dinner.”

Zach opened his mouth with the intention of telling her he was going to do just that, but stopped himself. He knew his sister well enough to know that if he confided in her about Ginna, she’d insist on all the details.

“I’ll see what I can do,” he said. “Luce?” He paused. “Thanks.”

“Anytime, big brother. After all, you’ve always been there for me,” she said softly. “I couldn’t have gotten through it all if it hadn’t been for you.” Her tone suddenly turned brisk. “So get out there and relive those wild times of your youth. And don’t worry about the twins!” She hung up before he could say another word.

“Goodbye to you, too,” he murmured, grinning.

Zach unpacked his clothing, put away his shaving gear and decided he had enough time for a quick swim before he needed to get ready for his dinner date with Ginna.

GINNA DIDN’T WASTE any time unpacking and hanging up her clothing. She made a trip to the vending machine and ice machine and fixed herself a glass of diet soda. With that in one hand and her cell phone and address book in the other, she walked out onto the balcony. She dropped onto one of the chairs and looked out over the ocean.

For several moments, she was content just to sit there and enjoy the serene setting.

“Oh, yes,” she murmured. “Denny, this is the absolute best thing you ever did for me, you scum-sucking bottom feeder.”

She switched on the phone and tapped out a series of numbers.

“Hello?” A woman’s voice answered.

“Hey there, travel agent to the rich and famous,” Ginna said cheerfully.

“I wish!” The woman chuckled. “So how’s it going? Did I do good?”

“You did better than good,” Ginna replied. “You are talking to one very satisfied client, and all I’ve seen so far is the lobby and my room. I braced myself for what I thought would be a flight from hell and, instead, met this great guy who took my mind off my fears. Let me tell you he was better than any over-the-counter medication. And he’s invited me out to dinner tonight. Luce, you are a miracle worker.”

Lucie Donner laughed along with her. She didn’t need to be psychic to know her plan had worked. Both her brother and her friend sounded happy, which meant their meeting had gone well. Now she could only pray the rest of their vacation would be just as rewarding.