Reese Book 3 War & Piece Chronicles Read online

  I’d wanted to give Reese time to come into his own without undue pressure, and he had done well. The numbers still climbed each month, and clientele was at full capacity ninety-nine percent of the time. He had nothing to be worried about. Oh, I knew they all feared me. I had a way of being too obstinate, which earned me a reputation of being a ballbuster. I’d come down hard on Kai when I was told of his indiscretion with a client, but I had spoken to Jasper in private concerning Daisy and her husband. Not because we were both British, but because he told me things regarding the FBI and their lack of information regarding Daisy and his relationship. He had trusted me, so I valued that.

  I yawned as I finished my second drink. I was exhausted and felt the pangs of guilt. I hadn’t wanted to uproot Penne. It would have meant taking him out of school and bringing him with me to St. Willis. Frankly, I didn’t want my son exposed to everything VIP offered. Between the sex and the murders, it was definitely not the place to bring a child for a working vacation. He deserved some normalcy, and staying in England offered that. Maybe his father would mature by the time his son did. I dreamed there might come a time when I would give him another chance as far as Penne was concerned. Personally, I was done with that arsehole.

  * * *

  I coughed, noticing the drool on the pillow. This was what I got for napping in the seat instead of my bed onboard. Christ. I stretched as I yawned again. “How soon, Sally, before we arrive?”

  “Less than an hour, Ms. Wellington. You still have time to shower and freshen up.”

  I pulled the pillow from behind me and stood. Folding the blanket, I strolled toward my private loo. Once inside, I gauged myself in the mirror. I looked a fright. Mascara under my eyes, lipstick smeared, and wrinkled clothes. I quickly peeled them off and stepped into the small bathing stall. I showered and washed my hair, wondering who I was trying to impress. Just because I was forty with a child didn’t mean I should let myself go.

  Once my hair was dried, I tied it up into a tight bun and put on some cosmetics. “Sally,” I said loudly from my bedroom.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Any idea what the current weather is in the Virgin Islands?”

  “I believe it’s a quite balmy eighty degrees.”

  Oh hell, it was blasted winter when I got on the plane, and now this place had summertime temperatures. I hadn’t thought out the optics of the heat-intensified island weather. My clothes were strictly for business and cooler temperatures. According to several brochures I had, VIP had rather luxurious shopping. We were landing at the international airport on St. Thomas. I was to be picked up by some sort of boat. Maybe I would have some time to obtain some clothing better suited for the tropics.

  Once we landed, I sent Sally to secure me a few outfits as I walked to the docks. St. Thomas was a busy place and rich with tourists. Everyone was tanned and scantily clad. Sweat dripped from my forehead as the suit I was wearing stuck to my skin. It felt as though I were going to burst into flames at any moment. The shower I had finished only thirty minutes prior seemed like a week ago. I was dirty, sticky, and ill-prepared for this climate. I suddenly felt old and wretched, completely out of my element, and at the mercy of whoever would be delivering me to St. Willis.

  “Ms. Wellington. I’m Harper. I’ll be taking you over to VIP, as well as your tour guide.”

  I blinked a few times at this handsome man with mountains of muscles and a delicious tan, dressed only in shorts and a tank top. He grabbed my entire luggage and placed it onboard a beautiful yacht. It seemed like such opulent transportation, but maybe this was done for me personally. “Thank you, Harper. I wasn’t expecting such fine luxury. It’s very nice.”

  “We pick up all of our guests in this yacht. I’m sure for the amount they pay for a stay at VIP, it’s kind of expected, sort of treating them like royalty. We want you to be as celebrated as they are so you can see what we offer. After all, you are our largest investor, so we want you well taken care of.”

  I nodded as he helped me onboard. I was handed a glass of tropical island iced tea. Obviously, no one here drank tea the way it was to be drunk traditionally. “I’m waiting for some apparel to arrive. I hope it’s not a bother to stay in port until it shows up.”

  “My time belongs to you. Here’s an updated map and amenity brochure,” he offered.

  I swiped my hand across my hairline, gasping at the amount of perspiration. “It is quite warm,” I commented.

  Harper sat on the seat next to me. “Well, you aren’t exactly dressed for the season.”

  I nodded. “That’s why I’m currently waiting for a delivery of appropriate warm weather clothing.”

  He took my barely touched glass of tea and replaced it with a flute of champagne. “Obviously, you’re not enjoying our island tea, so I thought this might better suit you.”

  I took a rather large sip of the bubbly and nodded.

  “We do have some excellent shops in our hotel that could provide you with a far more suitable wardrobe.”

  “So you’re a fashion coordinator as well as a boat captain?” I asked with a laugh.

  “I’m actually one of the head trainers. Although, I think I was hired more for my degrees in business than actual fitness training.”

  “So you’re multifaceted. Nothing wrong with that.”

  “I train most of the high-end clientele when Kai isn’t there. The rest of the time, I help Reese where needed.”

  Just then, Sally walked up with a roller rack of covered garments, as well as four bags. “There are a few pairs of sandals and a pair of flip-flops.”

  I pursed my lips as though I’d just bitten into a tart pickle. As if I would ever wear a pair of flip-flops. It was bad enough I was going to have to endure sleeveless blouses and possibly shorts. It was unnerving that I was destined to wear something as mundane as a tropical print. What was next, a bathing suit? Even though I was hot, the sweat chilled me, prickling my skin. I had left behind my son and everything I knew. And for what, to live up to my promise of seeing how Reese was getting along? I could have done this via video chat and in the comfort of a cooler climate and professional business suits. Instead, I was reduced to sweltering heat, cold tea, and sodding flip-flops. All I could think was Reese Hunter better have gotten his shite together or there would be hell to pay.

  Chapter Three

  Reese

  “She is arriving, and there isn’t jack you can do about it. I sent Harper to pick her up. They should be back in forty minutes.”

  I looked at Kai as if he had grown three heads. “You knew the dragon lady was coming and you thought to keep that a secret? Fuck, you’re a prick.”

  “See, this is exactly why I didn’t tell you, because I knew you’d freak. Look, Reese, you have zero to worry about. You’ve handled VIP better than I ever thought you would. You’ve done an amazing job. Do not let your fear of Harriet Wellington diminish all you’ve accomplished. She’s a silent partner. She isn’t God. Quit worrying.”

  She’s the fucking devil. “She’s our largest investor. And if she doesn’t like what she sees, she could—”

  “Reese, Jasper and I thought you’d piss your pants with the arrival of her highness. You forget now that we know Jasper is Mr. Moneybags, we don’t actually need Harriet. So if she threatens you with anything, let me know.”

  I doubted I would ever go crying to Kai about Harriet the Hun. It would make me look like a sad sack, and if I could handle the business, I should be able to handle her. I was having a hard time with the fact that everyone knew she was arriving and I wasn’t kept in the loop. I knew it was because they all knew how panic-stricken I was at the mere mention of her name. She was like Jasper but with a vagina. Did she even have one? Because I could imagine her dangling brass balls.

  Kai left to meet with a potential client, and I decided to order a sandwich. I’d better eat now, because as long as Harriet Wellington was here, that cunt would cause me to lose my appetite permanently.

  I grab
bed a tie from the bathroom and put it on. I might wear a suit now, but a tie was never part of my process. I even slipped on leather loafers. My toes suddenly felt suffocated, and it was all her fault. It was as though no one could manage VIP in shorts. That wearing a suit and shoes made me more administrative. No one on St. Willis wore clothes, at least not business attire. Our employees and clients wore shorts and T-shirts. Jasper had been the only one to wear a suit, and now that mantle had been passed to me—and I hated it. I could do this job in shorts, no shirt, and sans shoes. Wearing a suit did not make the business better. It was stifling.

  After my lunch arrived, I sat in my chair and chastised myself for acting like a child. I’d taken this position even though it could have been given to Harper. My father was excited when I’d told him I was now a business executive in charge of VIP. I got the feeling he’d always thought personal training was beneath me. He had begged me to use one of my business degrees and come work in one of his many companies. Once I had spoken to Kai and Jasper, I knew that Virgin Islands Personal Fitness was the place for me. I needed to break away from my dad. As much as I loved him, I knew I’d spend my life trying to live up to his expectations.

  Every bite of my sandwich was tasteless. I finally gave up and tossed it in the trash. I opened the mini fridge and took out a bottle of cold beer. What I actually needed was a shot or two of bourbon, but I had to meet Harriet with a clear mind.

  Jesus, why did this bitch make me so nervous? Now that I knew Jasper could buy her out and become the primary investor, what did I have to worry about? With my feet propped up on my desk, I finished the beer. I was twenty-eight years old—a man, a successful one. I wasn’t some snot-nosed kid who would allow her to reprimand me like a child.

  Then quit acting like one.

  * * *

  I decided to greet Harriet at the dock. Of course, in my mind, I wanted to jump off the pier. Or better yet, the yacht could capsize and she would drown.

  Fuck, it was hot, this tie was strangling me, and these shoes were causing blisters. Next time, I’d wear socks. I finally couldn’t take it any longer and took off the jacket, rolling up the sleeves of my dress shirt.

  Ten minutes later, Harper drove up in the yacht. My stomach bottomed out as I forced a smile. Harriet Wellington appeared frazzled. I swallowed an internal laugh because she looked like a fish out of water—literally. Her perfect bun was leaning, the makeup she wore had not weathered the humidity, and her clothing was totally unsuitable for the island. She looked miserable, like a drowned rat, which made me happy as hell.

  I extended my hand to help her down the ramp. “So we finally meet, Ms. Wellington. I’m sure you’re exhausted from the long flight. You’ll be staying in the penthouse. If you need anything, just call down to guest services. We’ll have someone bring up your entourage of luggage right away. Harper will walk you to the hotel. I’ll be in my office if you need to get ahold of me.” I swear I almost bowed after my words. “Harper, please make sure Ms. Wellington is comfortable before you see your next client.”

  “I’m sure I can find my own way. I have a map, you see, so, Harper, you can go on your way. No need for me to keep you. I’m sure Mr. Hunter can spare a few moments for someone who has traveled as far as I have just to see this place and him.” Her heels clicked as she walked past me.

  Evidently, Harper had been dismissed, which was sad because it meant I was stuck with the shrew.

  “Shall we?” she asked as she looked back at me.

  I was surprised the bitch hadn’t snapped her fingers. I walked past her and guided her to the hotel.

  “Very lovely. The photographs don’t do it justice,” she commented as I watched her peruse the hotel.

  “Yes, we have quite a few amenities, as you can see in the brochure. If you’re ready, I can take you up to the penthouse. You have two elevators. One leads directly into the penthouse and the other the front door.” I noticed a few porters bringing in her suitcases, along with a large rolling rack and several shopping bags. Fuck me, how long is she planning to stay—months, years? “That’s a lot of luggage you have there,” I observed as I noticed it took three people to take care of it, making the one elevator full to capacity.

  “I hadn’t realized it would be so warm, so I had to procure some better-suited clothing for the island. I mean, it is January. I expected winter temperatures.”

  Isn’t the devil used to this kind of weather? “Yes, it does get hot here. Hopefully, you found clothing that will keep you from sweltering in the heat.” I’d assumed her broom flew all over the world and she’d been everywhere.

  When the one elevator came back down, we took it up to the penthouse. The housekeepers had opened up the patio doors in each room. Harriet looked around as though she were an inspector. I expected a white glove to come out of that hideous purse she donned.

  “It’s extremely lavish. While I appreciate it, I would have been fine with a standard suite. No need to treat me as though I’m glass.”

  Glass can break and cut you. With my luck, I’d bleed to death. “We reserve the penthouse strictly for special clients. Kai lived here for years before he got married. We wanted you comfortable and able to test out our leisure in paradise. We wish you to have the full experience of what VIP offers.”

  She tugged on her collar, then reached up to pat down a stray hair. Harriet had to be dying in that wool outfit. Oh, please die. I’d just bet she couldn’t wait for me to leave so she could kick off her shoes and remove that suit. I suddenly felt the urge to vomit at the thought of seeing her naked.

  Extending my hand to shake hers, I said, “I suppose I’ll get back to work. As before, if you need anything, just ring the front desk. You can also order food. I’m not sure we have much British faire, but Jasper survived.” I chuckled dryly. “And once again, Harriet, it’s so nice to finally meet you. I am only a phone call away.” Bile was burning my throat.

  “My friends call me Harry,” she said as she gripped my hand firmly and shook.

  Just so we’re clear. We’ll never be friends, Harriet.

  Chapter Four

  Harriet

  Oh good God, I needed to get out of these clothes and take a shower. I stripped quickly and stepped into the hotel’s version of a loo. The bathroom was large, impeccably decorated, and had a showerhead to die for. I turned on the water and assembled towels, then snuck a peek at myself in the mirror. Hideous. Absolutely frightful. It was a wonder Reese hadn’t run away in horror.

  Did I really care what Mr. Hunter thought?

  I padded back into the living room and dumped out the contents of my toiletry bag. Once I found my soap and shampoo, I walked back into the loo and stepped under the decadent spray. I ran my soap-filled sponge along my tired shoulders and then proceeded to wash my breasts, following the path down my stomach.

  Reese was a good-looking man. He towered over my petite frame of five feet four. He looked different than his past photo. He had transformed from a long-haired youth to a corporate businessperson. Now his brown hair was shorn short, which allowed his beautiful jewel-green eyes to stand out and accented a few freckles across his nose over bow-shaped lips. The attire he wore didn’t seem to fit him. The man disliked the suit; I could tell. Even with his tie loosened and his sleeves rolled up to reveal muscled forearms and strong hands, he appeared to be having a war with his wardrobe. No wonder he was less than congenial. Jasper’s leaving had forced him into an administrative position. The man most likely despised me.

  I wonder how he’d look naked.

  What the hell was wrong with me? I never had thoughts this outlandish. I knew I should have had a tumble before I’d left. It wasn’t as though I didn’t have men for this kind of thing. I had many who serviced me when I asked. But Reese, he had those innocent, soulful eyes.

  You are acting crazy, Harry. You can’t have sex with a partner. I was here to work, but hadn’t Godwin told me to get in some relaxation time? How better to get R&R: Reese and relaxation? r />
  No. Then I was no better than Kai or Jasper, men that couldn’t keep their pricks in their pants. Besides, he was too young. I prided myself on bedding older men. I sensed less-mature men were too much trouble.

  I dropped the sponge and allowed my fingers to separate my vulva. I rubbed my clit back and forth slowly, then picked up the tempo as I thought of Reese. I knew I was being emotional and a little bit insane, but maybe an orgasm of my own creation would take off the edge. I needed to get some much-needed sexual relief before I did something stupid. Like throw myself into the arms of a man that obviously loathed me, one who would rather strangle me than have sex. I held on to one of the shower bars as my release rocked my body. Then I sagged against the door until my breathing quieted.

  Suddenly embarrassed, I stepped out of the stall and wrapped a towel around me. I swiped my hand across the clouded mirror. The water had been hot, but now my nipples puckered from a chill. I needed to dry my hair and put on a fresh face. I dumped my remaining luggage on the king-size bed and retrieved brushes, a blow-dryer, and cosmetics. I strolled out to the patio and inhaled the salt air. Even this high up, the location was stunning. The tranquility of the landscape suppressed my internal dilemmas, and I was suddenly much less stressed.