“Then come back in here and motivate me some more.”
She tsked him with the click of her tongue. “You’ve been motivated enough for today. I’ll give you some more tonight.” With a sassy grin, Ginny went into the bedroom to dress.
Putting on a thin pair of blue cotton crop pants and a white linen top, she was putting on her sneakers when Gavin came back in to get dressed. Brushing her hair, she put her hair in a ponytail, then turned to see Gavin putting his shoes on.
“Ready?” he asked as he stood to look at her questioningly.
Finding herself unable to speak, she had to blink back the sudden tears in her eyes.
Gavin walked to her to enclose her in his arms. “We don’t have to go.”
Shaking her head, she stepped out of his arms. “I’m ready.” She gave him a strained smile. “Just in time.”
Hearing the knock from the other room, they went to answer the door. Agent Collins was waiting and, without pleasantries, hurried them to the Moke.
The short ride was over too soon for Ginny. She regretted not coming up with a spur-of-the-moment refusal for the meeting with Allerton and her mother for breakfast.
Escorted to the first-floor restaurant, they were led through a private doorway that had a different buffet area than the one in the other room. Bypassing the buffet, they headed toward a balcony doorway then to a large patio that faced the ocean. The area had six tables and each one was occupied by guests. Allerton and a woman sat at the largest table, waiting for them. They were already eating and looked up when Gavin and Ginny took their seats.
“Good morning. I hope you both slept well,” Allerton greeted them.
“We did. Thank-you,” Ginny answered, placing the linen square on her lap.
“Soleil was hungry. I assured her you wouldn’t mind if we didn’t wait.”
“Not at all.” Glancing around the table, she did a double-take of the guests, recognizing several she had seen in the media.
A waiter appeared by Allerton’s side. “What would you like to drink?”
Both she and Gavin ordered orange juice.
“Would you like the waiter to fix you a selection, or would you prefer to make your own plate?” Allerton asked.
“I’ll just take the juice.”
“I’ll take some eggs, bacon, and toast,” Gavin ordered.
“You have a long day ahead of you. I had the kitchen fix you a lunch for when you get hungry on the island.”
“Thank-you.”
Once their drinks arrived, Ginny didn’t touch her drink until Gavin gave her a subtle nod.
It gave Ginny the creeps the way Allerton studied Gavin. She didn’t like it, and despite Gavin ignoring the perusal, her protective instincts screamed at a fever pitch.
Underneath the tablecloth, she felt Gavin place a warning hand on her thigh.
“You sure I can’t tempt you to try something off the buffet? You didn’t eat much last night. Is something wrong with the food?”
“No. I’ve never been much of a morning person.”
Angry as she was with Allerton, Ginny attempted a conversation with her mother.
“Did you sleep well?”
“Yes, thank-you. Would you like a mimosa?” Spreading a dot of orange marmalade on a slice of toast, Soleil then gave the toast to Allerton. “You should try one. The bartender rims the glass with brown sugar.”
Was Soleil silently indicting that she and Allerton were in a relationship? Ginny was sickened at the thought.
“No, thank-you. I’ll stick with the plain juice.”
A barely audible sound came from Gavin, and Ginny turned her head, giving him a questioning glance. He had stopped eating and was looking at Allerton. Her eyes went to him, too, see him staring at Gavin as he ate his toast. The confusing byplay between the two men had Ginny ready to leave the table. Her protective instincts were going off the rail. Whatever Allerton had done, it had upset Gavin, and she wasn’t having it.
“Perhaps we should skip breakfast and go ahead to Clindale?” Ginny placed her cloth napkin back on the table, preparing to leave.
“Your husband hasn’t finished his breakfast yet. Is there a problem?” Allerton finished his toast and poured himself a cup of tea from a small silver teapot.
“Actually, yes.”
“Ginny ….” Gavin’s voice was so indistinct that she barely heard him.
Turning her head, she looked at him. He was staring meaningfully and, at first, she didn’t get what he was trying to tell her. Then it hit her like a ton of bricks.
Gavin was warning her that Allerton had no intention of them leaving alive. No person as high profile as he was would ever allow his association with the guests on the balcony made public.
“Ah … then it’s the company you’re displeased with. Has Soleil or I offended you or Gavin in some way?”
Ginny felt like her head was on the guillotine each time she talked to him. Every word had to be examined, and it was grueling. He was counting on her slipping up.