Wild Suspicions (Romantic Suspense) (5 page)

Maybe the
two men had a deck of cards, or a book or something. She’d been so busy shopping for clothes, it hadn’t even occurred to her to pick up a magazine.

Before opening the door,
Liddie listened to hear if she might interrupt a conversation. Hearing nothing, she gave a soft knock and cautiously turned the knob.

The room wasn
’t large. Much smaller than the passenger cabin, but big enough to hold four seats and a table. The two men sat across from each other. No surprise there. It was what they had on the table between them that caused immediate shock and concern.

Her laptop.

Liddie recognized it as hers because of the tiny chart of country codes she
’d taped over the right side of the keyboard. The little reference sheet helped her fill out forms faster.

She
walked in. “What are you doing with my laptop?”

Both men looked at each other and then stood up. Jerry, the older
and somewhat dirtier of the two, began to yell. Paco joined in. Liddie didn’t recognize the language.

They moved forward,
pushing her out of the small room, and then quickly closed the door behind her.

“
What the hell is going on?”

Parker was awake
. Liddie turned to see him standing in the aisle with arms outstretched. She ran to him.

“
They’ve got my laptop, Parker,” she explained. “All I did was ask about it, and they started yelling at me.”

She wanted him to comfort her
and then push through the door to confront the men. Instead, her boss shook his head in disgust and sat down.

Liddie sat across from him.
“Aren’t you going to get it back?” The plane was hitting air pockets, bouncing them around. “I was told to keep all Maxon information confidential. And besides, there are personal items on that computer.” Liddie didn’t have another. Copies of her tax returns, bank information and personal correspondence were on that laptop as well.

Parker
sighed. “Relax, Liddie. They both work for the company. Paco maintains my computer when on the road.” He rubbed the sleep from his eyes. “I didn’t bring mine this time so we need yours to be working properly. He’s just making sure of it.”

“
You gave permission?”

“
Of course.”

Liddie
fell back into the seat. She didn’t like it. She didn’t like it at all. Paco didn’t look at all like someone from the IT department, but what could she do? Parker was still the boss. Technically, it was his computer. While she didn’t trust the two men, he did. There wasn’t much she could do about it.

“
You should have told me, Parker. I would have taken steps to keep the content protected.” While the company certainly owned the computer, it was still her responsibility and she didn’t like the thought of anyone having access to, not only her personal information, but the archives of their office business as well. “And don’t they speak English? They were yelling and pushing, and I couldn’t understand why.”

His mouth opened wide in a loud yawn.
“They pushed you?” he asked, finally showing some concern. “That’s not right. I’ll talk to them both about it. Neither one had any right to be pissed. That was uncalled for.”

Liddie nodded.
“The computer has always been my responsibility. I don’t like people taking it without permission.”

Parker laughed.
“Did you have something secretive on it?” He leaned forward, reached for her hands, and pulled Liddie from the seat and onto his lap.

“
Parker!”

“
Are you visiting naughty web sites during office hours?”

He
’d succeeded in changing the subject. Liddie felt her anger drain. As the plane hit little air pockets she jostled about on his lap and thighs. With slight embarrassment, she grabbed at his shoulder to distribute her weight gracefully.

“
Don’t fight it, Liddie,” said Parker. He pushed his lips toward her neck and pulled her in tight. “I want this to be a fun trip, don’t be so serious.”

“
You call it being serious,” she shot back, “I call it being professional.”

“
Oh.” He squeezed her waist. “Excuse me, Miss Maturity.” He kissed her neck and ran a hand up her thigh. “I like the jeans, by the way.” He licked her earlobe. “Want to take them off?”

“
Oh no. Nothing’s coming off while we’re on this plane, Parker.” After her experiences with Garrett and the other men, instinct told Liddie that this was definitely not the place to be intimate with Parker. He’d have to wait until she felt safe, although she didn’t want to have to put it to him that way.

Surprisingly, Parker didn
’t argue. Instead, he patted her legs to get up. “Then let’s get more drinks.”

Liddie slid off his lap and straightened her
top while Parker crossed the floor in his socks. She wondered if it was wise for them to drink so much, but decided against saying anything more. Parker, she decided, probably wouldn’t appreciate it.

She watched
as he poured another brandy. Should she tell him about what happened in the bathroom? Liddie wanted to, but judging by the way he shrugged off her early concerns about the pilot – along with the laptop jerks – she decided to wait. Who knows why Garrett was threatening her, but he was only the pilot. Parker was the man she’d known for three years. Once they reached their destination, she’d be free to enjoy the trip without the others interfering. At least, that was her expectation.

“
Dance with me, Liddie?”

Parker
was rocking back and forth to the music, only pausing to pour her another glass of wine.

“
Only if you promise to behave.” She looked toward the cockpit door and its small window.

“
Your wish is my command.” He handed her the wine. “Now, drink with me and dance.”

Liddie took the glass and let Parker pull her into his arms.
“Parker,” she laughed, “You’re not as light on your feet as you were before.” She took a sip of wine. “Why you so loopy?”

His free hand squeezed her side as his hips dipped into hers.
“I’m always like this when I fly,” he explained. “Makes the time go faster. You know what else would make the time go faster?” He slid his hand down to embrace her right butt cheek.

Liddie closed her eyes and smiled. It had been a long time since that part of her body had been caressed like that. It felt good. She took another sip of wine before reminding him that she meant what she
’d said. “Play nice, Parker.” She kissed him on the cheek and reached behind to pull his hand away. In the process, she thought she’d seen Garrett watching them from the small little window on the cockpit door.

“
What’s wrong?” asked Parker, feeling her body stiffen.

Liddie pulled away.
“I’m sorry. I almost spilled my wine.” She placed the glass on the bar and decided she couldn’t stay silent any longer. “What’s the deal with Wade?”

Her boss shrugged.
“I told you. He used to be a Green Beret. Now he’s my pilot.” Parker moved behind the bar and grabbed a prescription pill bottle from somewhere underneath. He popped a pill before sipping more brandy. “Saw him kick the crap out of two guys once in Brazil. We had a few drinks, and I hired him on the spot.” He laughed. “Then I found out he could fly.” He stopped and took another sip. “He’s been a big help to me.” He gave her a concerned look. “Why are you so interested in Garrett?”

Liddie
had started to wonder about the pill Parker had just taken, and then decided it wasn’t her business to ask.

“
Because your pilot is so interested in me.” She hesitated for a moment, still not sure if telling Parker was a good idea. “Wade practically assaulted me in the bathroom,” she suddenly spit out. “Actually, it probably was assault.”

Parker took his brandy and sat
back down on the plush sofa. “Assaulted you?” he asked incredulously.

Liddie nodded.
“The bathroom door was locked, Parker, I’m sure it was. He came in anyway. I don’t know how, but he got in.”

“
Did he have to go?”

No indignation, no hint of jealousy. Liddie wanted more of a response
than that. Garrett had warned her that Parker wouldn’t care, but she hadn’t believed it. Still didn’t believe it. “I was half naked, Parker. It wasn’t proper. He knew I was in there.”

“
Okay. Okay. I’ll have a talk with him, too.” He motioned for her to come sit with him on the sofa. “What the hell are you doing, anyway? You’re driving all my guys wild. At this rate I won’t have anybody working for me.”

Liddie
reached for the glass of wine and parked herself next to him. “I’m not doing anything. Maybe you should stop recruiting dirt bags from dive bars in foreign countries.”

He threw his head back and l
aughed. “You’re probably right, Liddie.” He threw an arm around her. “I will make sure they know how precious you are to me. If they want to continue getting paid, they’ll have to show my woman the proper respect.” His fingers played at her bare shoulder. “I promise you, they won’t want to lose a good paycheck.”

Liddie relaxed and cuddled closer to Parker, trying to keep herself from
checking the window of the cockpit door. Garrett, she decided, was a troublemaker. A jealous one.

“
I don’t blame them, you know, seeing such a pretty woman in a sexy top.”

“
It’s just a tank top.”

“
I know,” said Parker. “But you fill it so nicely.” He pulled at the neckline and tried to pull a strap down. Liddie stopped him.

“
Not while we’re on this plane,” she said firmly.

Parker
gave a lazy laugh and saluted. “Aye, aye, captain. But let me tell you, when we get to Dubai it’s going to be more difficult to stop me.” He started to suck on her upper arm like a teenager, snorting when his nose hit her skin.

Liddie couldn
’t help but giggle. Parker was no Garrett Wade, and that was a good thing.

Wasn
’t it?

Garrett
was feeling antsy,
which wasn’t unusual when he found himself inside for too long. He got up to stretch and check out the passenger cabin.

The man
-child of a boss was fondling his curvy assistant. This was how it always started, with drink and dancing. Parker had the creativity of a slug.

The sight of
his boss’s hand on Liddie’s butt made Garrett’s gut tighten. She didn’t look like a woman who was taking his warning to heart, though he couldn’t be sure until the plane landed. If she didn’t run then, he’d have to apply more pressure. Otherwise, it might be too late.

He watched as
Liddie scolded Parker and reached to take his hand away. In that moment, she looked up, and Garrett stepped back. Had she seen him?

“
Looks like we might hit a small storm,” said Mike.

Garrett
sat back down beside his co-pilot and made some small talk about the weather. Rain smacked at the windshield, and the only light in the cockpit came from the controls. Garrett usually appreciated the eeriness of it. He couldn’t, however, keep his mind off Liddie.

At the very least, she had enough sense to
dissuade Parker from making love to her while on a plane with four questionable men on board. A true achievement considering the pro she was up against. A flicker of possibility touched something inside him. Perhaps, thought Garrett, the imperial Parker Maxon needed to bring more than a ton of money to the table for this one.

I
f that were indeed the case, there was hope.

“You going to sleep?” Parker could feel his assistant folding at his side.

Liddie
shook her head. “No, just getting comfortable.” She placed a hand on his arm and nuzzled closer. “Maybe after the next glass of wine.”

Parker smiled. His pill was kicking in.
“You may have to get it yourself.”

“
Another nap?”

“
Well, you woke me from the last one.” He buried his nose in her hair and breathed deep. “You smell so good. But I guess I’ll have to leave you alone.”

Liddie laughed.
“I think that’s a good idea, Mr. Maxon.” She placed a hand on his leg. “At least for now,” she teased.

The playful gesture surprised him
, but it was a very good sign. She was loosening up. Be it the wine, or the altitude, it was a very good sign.

“
Mmmmm, don’t get me started, Liddie.” He grabbed her hand and kissed its soft skin.

Finally,
things were falling into place. He’d certainly had fun flirting with the love-struck assistant. No matter where he went and how much he’d put up with, Parker always enjoyed returning to the office and Liddie. Pretty, sassy Liddie.

He
’d have to smooth it over with his father when they got back. Make him understand that Liddie was a special case. That she would be the one to provide what the Maxon family needed to thrive.

With
five marriages of his own, Maxon Sr. certainly understood the need to possess a woman. Parker had discovered a few of his father’s own peccadilloes. The five marriages were a drop in the bucket. There were countless women, along with a secret villa in the Philippines. It was the one thing he and his father had in common, and Parker knew the old man would back off at some point. The decision to pick Liddie was made faster than his father expected. That’s all. If anything, he ought to be giving his son more credit for how he handled women. Unlike him, Parker didn’t marry his toys.

He casually let his hand brush the side of Liddie
’s covered breast, before resting it on her arm. It was a tiny gesture, but he knew the effect it would have on her.

Liddie, he
had to remind himself, was a treat to be taken slowly. She was like a lollipop he’d been licking and licking for years. He would continue to lick for a little while longer, per her request. At some point, however, that pretty blush would be released from the cage she kept it in. It would be done, Parker decided, in the jungle. Where she could scream like the wild animal he knew her to be.

Once they got to the camp
, away from the distractions of society, Parker planned to play Tarzan to Liddie’s Jane. A fantasy he’d had ever since spending his first night in the rainforests of Malaysia. The sounds of the jungle, the sweat, the humidity, and the regular rinse of rain. He loved it. An unknown place where money was made and women were conquered. No muss or fuss or hotel concierge. Just skin, dirt, and lust.

Parker breathed deep. I
f Liddie thought a playful slap would keep him at bay, well, let her try. There’d be no place to hide and nowhere to run.

H
er body wiggled against him, and he bit his bottom lip. “How long till we land?” she asked.

Parker glanced at his watch.
“About four hours. You comfortable?”

“
I’m all right, thanks.” She pulled slightly at his shirt. “Are you hungry?”

Parker
closed his eyes and waited for the pills to take away the craving. “Very. But I can wait.”

Parker was snoring. Liddie gave her boss a playful nudge, but he didn’t budge. She got up from the sofa and moved to sit in one of the passenger seats by a window.

Already
, the private-plane experience had grown old for her. It was just as boring as flying any other way, except for more space and less people. Perhaps, if someone had thought to bring food – something more substantial than granola bars – her attitude might be better.

There was nothing but darkness outside the
little windows now. No shape-shifting clouds to kindle her imagination. She knew they were out there somewhere, though, hidden with the moon.

Liddie sighed.
Endless black space with no heaven, earth, or light in sight. She probably should have passed on this trip. If she had waited, maybe Parker would have taken her out on a few dinner dates. They could have worked up to this. There were so many great restaurants in the city. It could have been just as romantic to sit across from him, eating a good meal and talking about their lives and dreams.

Unfortunately
, he’d never offered that. Not even a lunch out. He’d only offered this “business” trip. A whirlwind of a first date, it was very much in line with his cut-to-the-chase personality.

A sudden concern washed over her. What if she wasn
’t as compatible with Parker as she thought? Maybe her desire to be with him was clouding her ability to judge.

Liddie heard
a doorknob rattle at the back of the cabin. She turned to see Jerry enter the room and make his way past her to get to the bar. She ignored him, turning to stare out into the abyss.

Clumsily kicking the bar baseboard, he
grabbed a beer from the fridge and stood there, taking a gulp from the bottle every minute or so. Liddie stayed in her seat, keeping him in her peripheral vision. He’d stand and look at her every few minutes, then return his attention to the bottle.

She nervously picked at the stitching of the leather seating.
Her heart was beating faster, and she didn’t like the feel of it. Jerry was not a clean man. The khaki pants he wore were stiff and spotted with dated dirt. His shirt was nothing like the crisp, pocketed one that Garrett wore. Though the pilot’s was frayed in places, Jerry’s shirt was stained and torn, with sleeves sloppily chopped off at the elbows.

Why, Liddie wondered,
would a corporate peacock like Parker put up with it?

She
wished he would wake up. Whatever pill Parker took – and why he felt the need to take it – she may never know. Nevertheless, it annoyed her now. This trip was supposed to bring them closer together, yet he’d left her alone with four strangers. All of whom were wide awake.

Jerry
drained one beer bottle and then grabbed another. This time he didn’t stay at the bar to drink it. He began to walk back.

Liddie was relieved. She wanted him out of the cabin.
Unlike Paco, this man didn’t try to hide his interest in her – or rather her body. His eyes never settled above her breasts. Not until she asked for the laptop, and that kind of attention was no better.

She
focused on the window, waiting for him to pass. Instead, he plopped down in the seat opposite her. Liddie hid her horror.

“
Nice to fly this way, isn’t it?” asked Jerry, pushing his greasy black hair back into the headrest. “Could get used to it, no?”

Liddie
gave a nod, but kept her eyes glued to the window. The lights were low in the cabin, creating a sepia-colored tableau, though she could still see him reflected clearly in the glass.

Jerry took another swig of beer, keeping his eyes on her. Liddie
remained still, confident that in a moment or so, he’d grow tired of the game and move on.

I
f he didn’t leave, she’d call for Parker.

“
He won’t wake up, you know,” said Jerry, as if reading her mind. He leaned forward, the bottle of beer clutched tightly between dirty fingers. “I could drag you into that back room, rip off all your clothes and eat you with a spoon. He wouldn’t even flinch.” He laughed. “Even if he did wake up, the boss never ruins a good time.”

“
Get out of here,” demanded Liddie. “Get out before I call him.” She heard the back door open again and watched as Jerry nodded to Paco. He put the beer bottle down on the small table between their two seats.

“
You want your computer?” asked Paco, walking up to stand behind her seat. When Liddie didn’t answer, he looked over at Jerry. “Did you tell her she could have it?”

Jerry
laughed. “I most certainly did.”

Liddie turned from Paco to Jerry. She
was now afraid to take her eyes off either one of them. “You both had better leave me alone.” She straightened up and called out. “Parker!”

Nothing.

“Parker!”

Jerry laughed and Liddie felt Paco
’s fingers touch her hair. She grabbed at her head and flung around to face him. “Stop it!”

In that instan
t Jerry got up. Liddie felt a calloused hand grab her upper arm. She pulled it loose, but Paco grabbed the other and tried to pull her off the seat. She saw Jerry begin to hoist himself up to help.

Panic ripped through
her. She picked up the bottle of beer and tried to hit Jerry. He blocked her arm and stretched to grab it. Liddie pulled her arm back and whipped the bottle hard toward the front of the cabin. It exploded at the door of the cockpit with a smash.

“
Why you rotten bitch,” Jerry grabbed her other arm. Liddie began to fight harder. Paco was pulling her out into the aisle. Jerry let go with a grunt when she kicked him in the gut.

Paco
quickly grabbed both her arms and pulled them back, wrapping his legs in front of hers to keep Liddie from kicking. Jerry recovered and raised a fist to punch her. Liddie screamed.

The cockpit door flung
open.

“
Get the hell away from her!”

Paco released Liddie and took a step back. She pushed past Jerry and ran to
take refuge behind Garrett.

The fuming pilot
made a beeline for Jerry. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” He pushed Jerry, who stumbled back, grabbing a seat to keep from hitting the floor. “You want to get thrown off this plane?”

“
Just playin’, Wade,” responded Jerry with no apology. He rubbed his shoulder. Paco was already at the back of the cabin and Jerry began to retreat as well. “No big deal.” He nodded toward Liddie. “We didn’t know you were so interested.”

Garrett
kicked the nearest armrest and the loud crack of wood startled Liddie, who’d run for cover behind the bar.

“
Get in the back and stay there,” he ordered, and then waited until the door closed behind the unscrupulous pair.

“
You all right?” Garrett approached her quickly, his attitude demanding an immediate answer.

Liddie nodded
. “Yes. Thank you.”

Garrett
put his hands on his hips, took a deep breath and shook his head. He studied her, searching for signs of distress.

“
I’m all right, really.”

The pilot came around the bar and reached for the fridge. Liddie flinched.

“Oh yeah, you’re just fine.” He opened the door and grabbed a bottle of seltzer. “You see why you shouldn’t be here.”

Liddie
’s shoulders dropped. Was he actually going to blame this on her? She squeezed past him to escape the bar area. Their hips touched and Garrett moved over to let her pass.

“
I’m just saying,” he nodded toward Parker. “You may want to think about booking a way to get home from Dubai.”

Liddie moved toward the cockpit. She wasn
’t sure how to respond to that. Instead, she started picking up the shards of glass that were now strewn across the Berber carpet. Garrett grabbed some paper towels and crouched down beside her to soak up the beer.