Read Online His Bahamas Affair (The Albury Affairs) by Christina OW - Free Book Online

up to stop Reno from speaking as he took a deep
calming breath. “Look. It doesn’t matter. I have my awesome big brother, a
beautiful little sister, a job and a home and that’s all I care about. Come on,
let’s go speak to the lovely ladies.” He wiggled his eyebrows with a wolfish
grin making Reno laugh.
    “Careful, Allan has the
means to make you disappear without a trace.”
    “I’ll take my chances.”
He turned to where the girls stood. “You know Reno, you could have just told me
you wanted her for yourself, instead of telling me she’s crazy.”
    Reno turned to look at
Loraine. She was smiling at Melody’s animated gestures as she pointed around.
“Well, I should have taken my own advice.”
    “So you’ve noticed
too?” Ruiz asked quietly in a somber tone.
    Reno turned to face his
brother and caught the solemn look on his face and then he nodded his answer,
clenching his jaw tight.
    “I’ll give Melody a
tour; see if you can find out what’s wrong with her.”
    “Why me?”
    Ruiz smiled leaning his
head slightly to the side. “Because big brother, if there is anyone who can
make her feel safe and strong again, it’s you. That’s just what you do. And because
you like her and I get the feeling she likes you too. Who better to help her?”
    Reno wished that was
true but he wasn’t so sure about helping her get past her problems. It wasn’t
an easy one to solve.
    Ruiz punched his
shoulder lightly then jogged off to join the girls. He spoke to Loraine,
pointing back at Reno, and then spoke to Melody taking her hand and leading her
back to the resort.
    He watched as Loraine
watched the two leave and disappear into the wooden shack that was the beach
entrance to the resort before she turned to look at him. They stared at each
other for a long time before she took her first step toward him.
    Reno forced himself to
relax when his body tightened with anticipation. “Here we go,” he whispered to
himself then lifted his lips in a lopsided grin when she stopped a few feet
away from him. “Crazy Lori, what brings you to my neck of the woods?”

 
    * * * *

 
    Loraine wasn’t sure
exactly what kind of reception she would receive from Reno. More than disgust,
she dreaded being pitied and it truly surprised her when he spoke to her like
that night never happened. She was speechless, watching that come hither smile
play on his lips like they were back to their seductive banter.
    The man should have
been an actor, not even his eyes gave him away.
    “Ah, Melody has some
business with you and I thought I’d tag along for a free vacation.”
    Reno nodded, looking
behind her for a moment before his eyes settled on her again. “Did she tell you
why she’s here?”
    Loraine wasn’t sure how
Melody wanted to handle brokering the subject with Reno so she thought best to
keep that information to herself and be as vague as possible.
    She shrugged.
“Something about a business proposition for you.”
    He nodded. “You want to
take a walk with me?”
    Loraine blink a few
times, a little confused at what was going on. “ Ahh ,
sure?”
    He pointed to her feet
with his chin. “Take you sandals off.”
    “Why?”
    His brow rose. “Do you
always have to argue? Just do it.”
    Loraine fought the urge
to stick her tongue out at him and slid off her sandals. “Fine.”
    “Now, come closer to
the water—don’t you dare ask me why or I’ll dunk you!”
    Loraine would have
asked why just to annoy him but the look in his eyes told her he was serious
about his threat. She stepped closer to the water and closer to him with a
patronizing smile. “Is this close enough?”
    He chuckled, shaking
his head and began walking away, leaving her behind. “Do you need me to tell
you to follow too?”
    “No!” she yelled,
jogging to catch up with him. “I can take the hint.”
    “Yeah, you’re just slow
in processing it.”
    She punched his
shoulder as hard as she could and yelped at the pain from the