Beauty from Pain (21 page)

It’s ridiculous to go to bed when there’s
nothing wrong with me, but I do it because he asks me to. I hear
the shower cut on and consider getting up to step inside with him,
but I know that won’t go over well.

Why am I so eager to please this
man?

When he finishes getting ready, he comes out
of the bathroom and sits next to me on the bed. He strokes his
fingers over my forehead and pushes my hair away from my face. He
takes my phone from the nightstand and puts it on the bed for easy
accessibility. “I’ll be gone a couple of hours, but I’ll have my
phone with me if you need anything. Don’t hesitate to call.” He
leans down and kisses my forehead. “Feel better.”

I could argue that nothing is wrong with me,
but I don’t. “Sure thing, boss.”

When he’s gone, I reach for my phone and
scroll through the pictures we took last night. He has the
seminudes on his phone. I have the sweet ones where he’s kissing my
face, my mouth, and my neck. I come across one where he’s looking
at me like he adores me. He makes it so easy to forget about our
agreement, but then I remember that there’s a very logical reason
for why. He’s good at this game because he’s played it before. On
twelve prior occasions to be exact.

I put the phone down and close my eyes. When I
open them again, Lachlan is sitting on the bed next to me. I lift
my head to see the clock. Shit, it’s almost ten o’clock—I must’ve
dozed off.

He passes a glass of orange juice to me. “Are
you feeling better?”

He’s so thoughtful.
I sit up and take a drink. “Yes. Can I get out of
bed now, Dr. Henry?”

“
I suppose you may, but I happen
to like you in my bed.”

“
I like it too, but it’s no fun in
here without you.”

He grins and kisses the top of my head. “Let
me prepare you some breakfast. Would you care for a bagel with
cream cheese or some cream cheese on a bagel?”

“
Hmm … I think I’ll take the bagel
with cream cheese.”

“
Good choice. Come into the
kitchen after you get ready and I’ll have it in the toaster waiting
for you.”

I didn’t ask Lachlan what we were doing today,
so I shower and then dress in denim shorts, a tank, and
flip-flops.

I go into the kitchen and as promised, there’s
a bagel in the toaster. Lachlan sees me walk into the kitchen and
pops it down.

“
Now, that’s what I call service.”
I walk over to where he’s standing and put my arms around his
waist. “Am I dressed okay?”

“
For what?”

“
For whatever we’re doing
today?”

He slips his arms around my waist and squeezes
me. “I’m going to be busy the next few days. I thought we might
hang out here and take it easy. Do you mind?”

“
No. Not at all.” But I know why
he doesn’t want to get out and about. He’s concerned about what
happened morning. About me. I’m fine, but I don’t think I’ll
convince him of that. It’s really too bad I’ll be forced to lie
around with him all day. Not.

24

Jack McLachlan

I sit on the edge of the bed and look at
Laurelyn lying on her stomach. I don’t want to wake her, but I
won’t leave without saying goodbye.

I lean over and kiss the bare skin on her back
and she stirs. I do it again and she makes a seductive moaning
sound. It makes my dick twitch, but I don’t have time to satisfy
his needs this morning. I have to get on the road.

I kiss her shoulder. “Baby, I’m
leaving.”

She rolls over and smiles. “Don’t go. Stay
with me.”

“
I would if I had a choice, but
I’d like to keep my job, so I have to go.”

“
Give me one minute.” She hops up
and I hear the water running in the bathroom. I’m sure she’s
brushing her teeth so she can give me a goodbye kiss I won’t forget
anytime soon.

She comes out, still naked, and pushes me back
against the bed until I’m sitting. She climbs up and straddles me.
She must love doing that. I know I do. “At least kiss me before you
go.”

Her lips touch mine and I know this isn’t good
for my dick. How am I going to get out of here without rolling her
onto her back and burying myself in her?

I keep it short, but not because it’s what I
want. “Baby, I have to go.”

“
I know. Call me when you
can.”

I give her one last peck on the mouth. “I
will. Daniel will be here around ten, but stay as long as you
like.”

–––––

I get in my car and start my drive to Lovedale
so I can take care of the problems at Marguerite Vineyard. While
I’m there, I have other business I need to tend. It’s personal, and
its name is Audrey Bagshaw.

I use voice command to call the one person I
can trust with this issue. “Call Jim Callaghan.”

There are several rings before he answers.
“Callaghan Investigations.”

“
Jim, Jack McLachlan here.” We
politely greet each other, but we both know I’m not calling about
his well-being, so I cut the shit. “I have a job for you. I
understand it’s short notice, but I need you to find someone for me
fast.”

“
Of course, Mr. McLachlan. You
know I’m always glad to help you in any way I can.”

He means he is always willing to be paid a
generous sum, but I don’t mind his motive. He gets the fast results
I like and always keeps the work he does for me on the down-low.
“Perfect. Her name is Audrey Bagshaw and she lives in Lovedale.
That’s where I’ll be for the next three days and I want to see her
while I’m in town. There’s an extra thousand in it for you if you
can have her located for me by tonight.”

I fill him in on the information I have and he
gives me reassurance that I will be reunited with companion number
three within the next twelve hours if he finds her still living in
Lovedale.

It’s late afternoon when I arrive
at
Margu
erite,
and everything appears to be business as usual, but I know this
isn’t the case at all. There is evil fuckery afoot here.

First, there was the attempt to
burn the crops at
C
halice and now someone has poisoned a section of
Margu
erite. The damage
at both vineyards has been minimal, but the intent behind the act
is what disturbs me. Is someone trying to ruin me or draw me away
from
A
valon?

My head man, Alfredo, greets me in the drive.
He’s a plump, round Italian with a talent for the vine that only
rivals that of my father.

As we drive out to the area where the crop is
stunted and crinkled, Alfredo briefs me on the problems. He stops
the ATV in front of an injured vine and walks toward it. He takes
the leaves in his hand. “I tell you, it’s glyphosate poisoning, Mr.
McLachlan.”

I don’t have to inspect any further because
he’s correct. I’ve seen it before. “You’re right,
Alfredo.”

“
We don’t use glyphosate here.
This was brought in and done on purpose.”

“
Yes, I agree.”

“
I don’t know who would do it, Mr.
McLachlan. None of the help has a grievance with you.”

He appears nervous, as though I
might blame him since he is overseer of the vineyard, but I know
he’s not responsible. “This wasn’t your fault, Alfredo. It’s
sabotage, but I don’t think it’s by anyone at
Margu
erite. There’s another party
involved and I intend on finding out who it is and what they hope
to accomplish.”

He drives me around so we can inspect the
damaged vines. It’s a much larger area than I expected and I wonder
if there’s damage we don’t see yet. By no means is it a ruined
crop, but this is a serious attempt at ruining my livelihood. With
this second sabotage, I’ll be forced to put the other vineyards on
alert. I’ll need additional staff to watch and patrol all of them
until harvest time. The extra staff through March will be a huge
expense. The responsible party might not have accomplished what
they set out to do, but they achieved plenty by targeting my
pockets.

When I finish inspecting the fields, Alfredo
takes me back to the house. It feels lonely. I don’t have Daniel or
Mrs. Porcelli with me this trip since I’m only staying a few days,
but that’s not who I’m missing. I’ve already become accustomed to
having Laurelyn with me.

I couldn’t ask her to come since I’m planning
a visit with Audrey. Despite the terms regarding our relationship,
I wouldn’t expect her to respond well to being left at the house
alone while I’m with a previous companion.

I haven’t been to the
Margu
erite vineyard in
months, so the house has been vacant and I find the kitchen empty.
I don’t see a point in a trip to the market since I don’t have Mrs.
Porcelli here to cook, so I’m reduced to eating out alone, which I
despise.

Lovedale restaurants aren’t formal, but I
decide to change for dinner. All I find in the closet are trousers
and dress shirts. No jeans or T-shirts. That’s the problem with not
having a permanent home. I never know what I need where.

I go to my favorite restaurant in Lovedale and
I’m escorted toward the back of the restaurant. I’m seated at one
of the tables I’ve shared with Audrey many times during our
month-long relationship over three years ago. I’m scanning the wine
selection when my phone rings. It’s Jim. Perfect. I hope he has
good news for me.

“
Jack McLachlan.”

“
Mr. McLachlan, I’m calling you
with some good news. It appears that Miss Bagshaw is still living
in Lovedale. I have her current address and phone number. Would you
like me to email those to you?”

“
Email the address but call off
her number to me now.”

“
55-7031-3210.”

“
Great work. You’ll have your
money, along with the extra thousand, in your account
tonight.”

“
Thank you, Mr. McLachlan. As
always, it’s been a pleasure doing business with you.”

Yes, it’s been a five-thousand-dollar
pleasure.

I immediately dial Audrey’s number and it goes
to voicemail. I was Drake Connelly to her three years ago, but she
discovered my true identity so there’s no reason in pretending to
be anyone but myself. “Audrey, it’s Jack McLachlan. I need to see
you as soon as possible. Please, call me at this
number.”

I order a merlot and the lasagna and I’m
finishing when my phone rings. I see Audrey’s number and I’m happy
she has returned my call so soon. Maybe she’ll agree to meet me
tonight. “Hello, Audrey.”

“
Hello, Jack. Long time, no see.
How have you been?”

“
I’m very good. And
you?”

“
I’ve been better, but I think you
know that already.”

“
I want to see you.”

“
Oh, so now you want to see me. Am
I supposed to come running because the great and all-mighty Jack
McLachlan has changed his mind?”

I tell her huskily, “Don’t be that way,
Audrey.”

She hesitates but we both already know she’ll
agree. “Okay. Where do you want to meet?”

“
The usual place. I’ll text you
the room number.”

“
How long?”

I’m not far from the hotel, but I want to
finish dinner. I’m not that anxious to see her. “An
hour.”

After I end the call, I flag my server. “I’ll
need another merlot.” And then probably another for what I’m about
to do.

Three glasses of wine later, I check into the
Hotel Armand and text Audrey with the room number. I’m there less
than ten minutes when I hear her knock on the door.

I open the door and she’s wearing a black
trench coat with extremely high heels. She has traded her long,
fiery hair for a medium-length cut with blunt bangs. I hate
it.

“
Hello, Jack.”

“
Hello, Audrey.” I open the door
wider. “Please, come in.”

“
Thank you.”

She grazes her finger across my chest as she
walks through the door.

“
Please, have a seat.” I walk over
to the wet bar. “Would you care for a drink? A bourbon, perhaps?
Seems like I recall that being your favorite.”

“
You remember well.”

I pour her drink and then take it to her where
she is sitting on the bed. She holds it up to me. “A
toast?”

“
What should we toast
to?”

“
To reunions.”

I sit next to her and tip the edge of my glass
to hers. “To reunions.”

We sip the bourbon and then she gets up and
places her glass on the table. She unties the waist of her coat and
opens it to reveal her naked body underneath. She walks over and
stands between my knees. “I’ve missed you so much,
Jack.”

She leans forward to kiss me and I stop her by
placing a finger over her lips. “I didn’t ask you here for
that.”

She tries to climb onto the bed to straddle me
and I catch her by her waist. “I can change your mind, Jack. You
know I can.”