Randle's Princess (4 page)

“Women,” he stated with a chuckle.  “No one will ever understand them.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because I really don’t think they know what they want themselves.  That’s why they confuse us so much.”

“You know Randle, you just might be right.”

He shook his head and smiled then he removed his arm from around her shoulder grinning as if he knew a secret.  He stretched his left hand out to her.  She took ahold of it and stood feeling his fingers entwine around hers as he held her hand tightly.

“Come on, we’d best be getting back to our guests,” he gestured toward the house. 

They strolled back to the house hand in hand.  Lia wasn’t sure what he was thinking or what plans he had for them, but also wasn’t exactly sure she wanted to know.  Randle had a mind all his own and when he decided there was something he wanted he wasn’t the kind of man to take no for an answer. 

A couple of weeks had passed now since Lia’s birthday party.  She awoke this morning thinking of how bored she had been ever since.  She was tired of sitting around the house and shopping just wasn’t on her venue.  She climbed from her bed and walked to the window that looked out over the front yard toward the main gate.

What a beautiful day she thought as she let go of the drape and walked to her closet.  Now what to wear today?  Her eyes quickly scanned the two rows of hanging clothes, one on each side of the wall.

  You know, I think I’ll actually go for a swim instead.  That might cheer me up.  She walked back to her dresser and opened a drawer, reached in and pulled out her royal blue bikini then went into the bathroom and slipped it on then grabbed an oversized towel and back to her dresser to get her short robe.  She threw the robe over her shoulder with the towel then after slipping on a pair of casual sandals she headed for the door.

She made her way down the stairs just outside of Randle’s office door and was a bit startled when she suddenly heard voices coming from inside.  Today was Friday and Randle should have been at his downtown office by now.  Then the door opened and two strange men were now staring down at her smiling at her near naked sight.  Even through the sunglasses she knew their gaze was upon her.

Lia wasn’t embarrassed at all, she worked hard to keep that body in the shape it was in and had no qualms about showing it off.  Then Randle too emerged from behind them and after seeing her standing there he walked straight over to stand in front of her grabbing the towel from her shoulder and began wrapping it around her body.

“Uhh, this is Princess,” he introduced with slight embarrassment showing on his face as he felt her hands take over and finish tucking in the towel around herself.

She actually thought his face was turning red for a moment but it didn’t last long.  “Sorry, I was just fixing to go for a swim.   I didn’t know anyone was here.”

“It’s okay Princess, go ahead,” Randle assured as he lightly shoved her from behind toward the back door as if to hurry her out of sight.  Now she wasn’t sure if it was embarrassment or jealousy.

She went quickly to the pool and sat in one of the lounge chairs.  She opened her bottle of sunblock and began to spread it on her arms.  She could hear an engine start out front then the sound of a vehicle leaving the property.  She didn’t know if Randle had left too or not but wasn’t about to go and see.  She could tell he clearly wanted her out of the sight of these two men.

Glancing out over the water she saw a volleyball floating around thinking it would be nice to have someone else here with her.  Then she jumped to look after hearing the noise of someone moving the chair next to her.

“Beautiful day for a swim,” Jeffery stated as he now sat in the chair just beside her but clearly he wasn’t dressed for a swim wearing tight jeans with his dress shirt tucked in and jacket to cover his concealed weapon. 

“Yes it is,” she replied.  “You scared me though. Where did you come from?”

“I’m everywhere,” he laughed in reply.  “Don’t you know that by now?”

Lia now had one leg flat on the chair the other bent as she started to rub her lotion on.  “Well I’m not planning to go anywhere today so you may as well take the day off,” she muttered out rather solemnly.

“Do you get a day off when you work for Randle?” he asked as if trying to make a joke and reached over to pat her on the bare back teasingly all at the same time.

“Jeffery!” the two then heard and Lia nearly jumping out of her chair it startled her so badly.  Randle was standing just a few feet away wearing his swim trunks and sporting a towel of his own over his shoulder.

“You can go now,” he then ordered clearly speaking to his employee.

Jeffery rose quickly.  “Yes sir,” he replied.  “Just doing my job sir.”

“She doesn’t need you around as long as she’s here and you damn well know that,” Randle replied through gritted teeth.  His anger was apparent and Lia could see it.

Jeffery quickly disappeared around to the front of the house.  Lia looked up, trying to figure out why Randle had such an evil look on his face.

“He was just trying to be friendly,” she offered still rubbing her leg with both hands.

Randle wasn’t amused.  “He’s getting a bit too damn friendly.  He had better watch his step and remember who he works for.”

“What on earth made you decide to stay home today?  And go for a swim?  That’s so unlike you.”

“You looked too damn good in that bathing suit.  Why sit in a stuffy office when I can come out here and stare at you instead?”  He was smiling like a school boy.

“You should be ashamed of yourself!” she teased back then jumped from the chair and dove in the pool with Randle splashing in just behind her.  She swam over and grabbed the ball and hit it in his direction.  He took the hint and jumped to slap it back to her.

“Wow, you
do
know how to have fun huh?” 

Randle swam over to her and wrapped his arms around her back and pulled their wet bodies together.  “Well of course I do,” he replied then kissed her hard and dipped her under the water.

She pushed herself away and came to the surface laughing.  “You had better stop it!” she giggled out.  She couldn’t believe he had actually spent nearly an hour with her now.

Then Betsy showed up pool side with the cordless phone in her hand.  “Mr. Randle you have a phone call.  I really hate to bother you but the gentleman says its urgent business.”

Randle swam his way to her side of the pool and hopped up to sit on the concrete, his feet still in the water.  “Thank you Betsy.  I’ll take it.”

He reached for the phone but waited for Betsy to make her way back inside the house before answering it.

  “Hello?”

Then a slight pause as he listened intently to the caller.

“What?”

Lia saw the look of pleasure leave his face quickly as he listened to whatever the caller was telling him.

“You tell that bastard he’s gonna regret that!  No one does Randle Malcolm dirty and lives to tell about it!”  He punched the button with force and hung up the call.

“What’s wrong?” she got the nerve to ask.

Randle tossed the phone to the table next to the chairs then slipped his way back into the water so he could come to face her. 

“Nothing for you to worry your pretty little head over.  I’ll handle it.”

She didn’t like the look on his face.  He was so happy and having so much fun just a few moments before and now he had the look of rage about him.

“I’m gonna have to go out to Arizona and tend to some business,” he then stated.  “I’ll be gone a couple of days.”  He kissed her forehead.

“I wanna go with you!” she demanded.  She had blurted it out so fast she couldn’t believe herself that she had done it.  Never had she had the nerve even to ask him to take her on one of his trips nor had Randle ever offered.

“That’s not happening,” he answered as if it wasn’t debatable.

He pulled himself back up out of the pool and reached out a hand to help her out as well.

“I’m going with you!” she demanded again.

Randle grabbed her towel from the chair and playfully started roughly drying her hair with it.  “No you’re not!”

She reached up and pulled the towel back around her neck and looked directly up at him.  “Why not?  I’m tired of being stuck here while you get to travel all around the place.  It’s just not fair!”

“Look, you’re free to run around this town all you want.  Shop, go to movies whatever.  But you are
not
going to Arizona with me!”

“That stuff gets old Randle.  Well not the shopping.  But anyway, I just wanna spend more time with you and
not
Jeffery.”

“You are not going with me so drop it.”  He wasn’t exactly angry but ended the argument once and for all by turning and walking toward the house. 

Lia put on her robe and moped in behind him and retreated back to her bedroom.  She turned on the shower and heated the water just right before getting in.  I just don’t understand why I can’t go.  There’s just no good reason and I’m tired of this place already.

Freshly showered and dressed for lunch Lia knew Randle was still home and would be joining her in the dining room.  She made her way quickly down the stairs and across the ballroom and through the double sliding doors where Randle was already seated and waiting for her. The table was set with fine white china and sparkling silverware with crystal water glasses by both their place settings.  Betsy peeked in from the kitchen door. 

“I’ll get lunch right out now that Miss Lia is here,” she stated.

“Thank you Betsy,” Randle replied then turned to inspect his guest. 

Lia was wearing her tightest jeans with a snug fitting pink pullover blouse that accented every curve of her body.  It dipped down deep in the front exposing just enough of her breasts to be enticing.  Her hair was shining as it softly flowed down her back and over her right shoulder.  Randle was sitting at the end of the table so she seated herself in the chair just around the corner from him.

“It’s kind of nice having you home for once,” she then stated as she flashed her hazel eyes in his direction hoping if she did a little flirting she could work her way into going on this trip with him. 

“Oh yea?  The other day you told me to go to work already?  What gives now?” he chuckled back.

“Oh Randle, you know I didn’t mean it.  I like having you around.”

Yea?  Well it’s not gonna work.  You’re not going to Arizona with me,” he then stated firmly knowing full well what she was up too.

Lia rolled her eyes.  “You’re impossible you know that?”

Betsy appeared rolling a food cart toward the table.  She sat a huge bowl of salad in the middle of the table.  Then a huge platter of cheesy lasagna served with green bean casserole and garlic breadsticks.

Randle and Lia both shared a love for Italian food and Betsy was good at accommodating them with plenty of her homemade recipes.

“Hey Randle,” Lia started.  Will you take me to the movies tonight?  There’s a new one out I really wanna see.”

“I can’t, I’m leaving this afternoon.  You’ll have to take Jeffery with you,” he informed her.

“I don’t want him going with me I want you to take me,” she protested immediately.  So quickly Randle looked to her with surprise, his hand frozen in mid air with his fork still perched in it.