Seduction of Steel: The Complete Series (31 page)

“I do it for your own good, Jess.  You'll find out what this is all about in due time.”

“I'm just afraid that one day you're going to be arrested, put in jail, and I'm not going to know anything about it and won't be able to help you.”

“I understand.  As always, I'm asking you to trust me.  Do you trust me, Jess?”

“I do.”

“Good.  I'll do what I need to do, and I'll let you know what you need to know when you need to know it. OK?”

“OK.  But for the record, I'm not happy about it.”  She scowled at him, but could hardly be angry.  She
did
trust Ryan, and he hadn't let her down yet.  She'd just have to trust him again and hope it all worked out for the best.

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They slept in the following morning, as they were both exhausted from the trip.  They had a leisurely lunch at a local hotel restaurant.  As they ate outdoors, they noted that the weather was another typical day in the Caymans - warm, slightly breezy and beautiful.

Jessica sighed as she finished a cup of coffee and looked admiringly at the beach.

“Ryan, I know I told you that I could live in that hotel in New Orleans forever, but I really, really like it here in the Caribbean.  If I ever win the lottery or something, I might just move here.”

“Not very likely, Jess, but I guess anything could happen.”

“So what's happening today?”

“I need to take a short trip into town to take care of some business.  I need to get to that safe deposit box.  I shouldn't be gone for more than a couple of hours.”

“Can I go with you?”

“Not this time, Jess.  Like I said, I won't be gone very long.”

“OK.  I guess I'll just lie out on the beach and catch some sun.  Maybe I'll also do a bit of reading.”  She got up to change into her bathing suit as Ryan walked towards the front door.

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Ryan's trip was a fairly short one; he visited a single bank, met with someone in a private office, and shortly afterwards, retrieved a small package from a safe deposit box in the bank's vault.

His was gone just a couple of hours, and Jessica was surprised to see him back at the condo so quickly.  He found her out on the patio, reading her Kindle.

“Hi, Ryan.  That didn't take long.  Did everything go according to plan?”

“It did, Jess.  Like I said, it was all pretty straightforward.  Would you like to take a walk on the beach?”

“I'd love to.  It's a beautiful day for a walk.  Are you going to tell me what this 'mission' was all about?”

“In a little while.  Give me a few minutes to change, and I'll be ready to take that walk.”

Ryan changed into a bathing suit and met Jessica out on the patio, where she was already wearing her bikini.  

They began a leisurely stroll down the famous Seven Mile Beach, holding hands and walking in the gentle surf.

“It really is beautiful here, Ryan.  Thanks for bringing me here.”

“My pleasure, Jess.  I know how much you like the beach, and I wouldn't have come to the Caymans without you.”

They continued to stroll while making small talk about various things, including Jessica's latest book, which was already selling well.  Jessica didn't notice that they were approaching a cabana, located on the beach at one of the local hotels.

She looked up and recognized it as the cabana where she and Ryan had made love many months before while they were both working on the cruise ship.

Ryan led her inside, where there was a small table, two glasses, and a chilled bottle of champagne.  He opened the bottle, filled the glasses, and handed one to Jessica.

“Thank you,” she said, taking a sip of the bubbly beverage.  “What is this all about?”

“I haven't really been honest about why we're here.  I didn't have a work assignment here; I had personal business.”

“How so?”

“My father had quite a lot of money from his manufacturing company.  He invested it in a number of places, and had a lot of it in a bank here in the Caymans.”

“And...”

“Now that he's passed away, half of that money is mine.  I was here to handle some paperwork regarding the accounts.”

“How much money are we talking about?”

“Millions, actually.  Dad was quite the investor.”

Jessica couldn't believe what she was hearing.  “Millions?  Really?  You're a millionaire now?”

“It seems that way.  Is that OK with you?”

“Sure, I guess.  What about the safe deposit box?  Was that just something you made up?”

Ryan reached into the pocket of his bathing suit and produced a small black box. 

“No, he said.  I did have to pick something up from the vault.”

Ryan opened the box to reveal an exquisitely beautiful diamond ring.

“This was my grandmother's ring, Jess.  It's been in the family for years.”  Ryan dropped to his knee and presented the box to her.

“Jessica, I love you, and I can't imagine spending the rest of my life without you.  Will you marry me?”  The usually calm and collected Ryan sounded unusually nervous.

Jessica was completely taken by surprise.  She had no idea that this “spy mission” of Ryan's was nothing but an elaborate way to propose to her in the Caribbean.  A tear rolled down her cheek as she took Ryan's hand and helped him stand up.

“Of course I'll marry you, Ryan.  I love you so much.”  He put the ring on her finger and she responded by giving him a hug and a deep, passionate kiss.  He returned the kiss with equal passion, kissing her like she'd never been kissed before.  The cabana, the champagne, and the proposal were certainly welcome, but they were also completely unexpected.  Jessica almost became dizzy from the wave of emotions running over her. 

She was loved.  She was safe.  She was going to spend the rest of her life with the man she loved.  She again found herself wishing that she could stop time forever.

“Where are we going to live, Ryan?  Are we going to stay in Denver?  Are you going to keep working as a spy?”

Ryan laughed.  “So many questions.  We can live wherever you like, Jess, including here, if you want.  I own the condo where we're staying.”

Jessica's jaw dropped as she thought of that new, beautiful, fully furnished condominium on the beach.   “You
own it?”
 

“I do.  I bought it a month ago and had it furnished as a surprise.  And no, I don't have to work anymore.  My spying days are over.  I just want to spend my time with you, and we can spend it anywhere you like.”

Jessica's tears began to flow in earnest.   She could write her books from the beach.  She could spend her days in a beautiful place with this beautiful man who loved her. 

They each took a sip of the champagne and then walked back out on the beach.  The sun was just beginning to set over the horizon, and Jessica beamed as she held hands with the love of her life.

As they walked in the surf, the waves crashing over their bare feet, Jessica though to herself:

This would make a great ending for a book...

The End

A Letter from Laura Charles

Thank you so much for taking the time to read
Seduction of Steel: The Complete Series
.  I hope you have enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

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Thanks again for reading.  You have no idea how much it means to me.

All the best,

Laura Charles

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Seduction of Steel: The Complete Series