Holding Out For A Hero: SEALs, Soldiers, Spies, Cops, FBI Agents and Rangers (118 page)

“Full day. Yoga, massages, facials, lunch, and the hydro-spa.” She wasn’t sure but he may have just shuddered.

Ric walked in front of her and slightly to the right, his hand resting on the grip of his weapon.

A little shiver of fear ran over her. “Isn’t the gun overkill?” After all, the man had only trashed her hotel room.

“I take your safety very seriously.” Ric pressed the button for the service elevator. “Behind me, out of sight when the doors open.”

She swallowed, licked her lips. “What about your safety?”

“Not important, as long as you’re safe.”

“I don’t like that.” Shelley’s stomach roiled at the thought that Ric could get hurt because of her. “At all.”

“Your feelings are insignificant.”

“Nice.”

“Shelley. We can’t have this discussion now.” Ric led her in to the service elevator that the staff used. “I don’t like this.”

They were on the fifteenth floor. Their choices were the service elevator or the stairwell. Neither was optimal. They rode the elevator to the third floor in silence. Ric pushed her behind him again, the heat from his body surrounded her, reminding her that he was putting himself in front of her.

She hated that.

“Maybe we should re-think this. I don’t want you to get hurt.” The doors slid open. Ric finished perusing the hallway and let Shelley exit the elevator.

“It would be more than fine with me if you want to go back up to the room where I know you’ll be safe.” Ric constantly scanned the hallway as they headed toward the spa. “However, don’t worry about me.”

Shelley bit her lip. “I don’t want to let Bliss down.”

“Then, in you go.”

Bliss, Jess, and Ava waited in the lobby of the Canyon Ranch SpaClub. Instrumental flute music and tinkling water fixtures were supposed be soothing to the ear but Shelley was so tense she wasn’t sure anything was going to calm her. The atmosphere was distinctly feminine, which only emphasized Ric’s stark masculinity.

Shelley introduced Ric to Ava. He nodded to Jess and Bliss, who he’d met in DC with Jack earlier in the year.

Their party was a melting pot of pretty. Bliss was half-Irish, half-Chinese with bright red hair and exotically tilted eyes. Ava was gorgeous with long dark hair and her beautiful dark eyes. And finally Jess with her multi-hued blonde hair and cool green eyes.

The receptionist was frowning at Ric. “He can’t come in unless he has an access pass.”

Ric opened his mouth to argue but before he could say a word, Shelley leaned over the desk. “Add it to my account.”

“Did you book the appointments under your name?” Ric drummed his fingertips on the check-in counter.

Shelley blinked. “Umm, yes.”

“That is a security issue.” He glanced around the reception area, empty except for their party. “I don’t like it.”

Shelley put her hand on his forearm. His muscles flexed beneath her fingertips, the zap of electricity took her off guard. As if he had a direct line to her erogenous zones, Shelley’s body heated, softened.

“This is Bliss’s bachelorette day.” Shelley didn’t want anything to ruin Bliss’s party. “Please.”

Ric calculated options for another moment. “Okay. But I need to stay with you.”

She wasn’t used to having a bodyguard. Having Ric around constantly was going to be unsettling and unnerving, but if that’s what it took to make sure Bliss had her special day, then Shelley would do it.

“Thank you.” She wanted to lean up and kiss his cheek but instead she stepped back and smiled with gratitude.

His dark gaze followed her movements and somehow she thought perhaps he had known what she wanted to do. His gaze dropped to her mouth, lingered there, before sliding to hers.

Ric’s tone was all business. “You’re welcome. You do what I say, when I say it, no arguments.”

Shelley nodded.

“Hannah will show you to the changing rooms.” The receptionist smiled tightly clearly not happy with Ric’s presence.

The girls changed into their yoga gear. Shelley and Ric waited tensely in the private exercise room that was meant to be calming with its bamboo papered walls, a fountain trickling in the corner, and rolled yoga mats sticking out of a large basket near the un-lit fireplace.

Their instructor, a woman at least twenty years older than Shelley, with silver white hair in a bun and a peaceful air floated into the room. She smiled serenely. But her glance was filled with concern as she noted Ric’s street clothes and holstered weapon. Once Bliss, Ava, and Jess were in the room, Ric nodded at Shelley and slipped outside to guard the entrance.

The yoga class went a long way toward easing Shelley’s tension.

But as soon as they opened the doors, there was Ric. Standing guard. Standing at attention. The stress and the awkward that she’d managed to bend and twist her way out of during yoga came hurtling back.

After facials and massages, they were served lunch in the Aquavant room with the hydro-spa. Humidity simmered in the private pool room.

Ric tried to sit unobtrusively in the corner but Shelley was hyperaware of him. Her body instinctively knew where he was in each room she had been in. He exuded a sexuality that sparked her own visceral awareness of him.

It had been easier to ignore him when she’d had her eyes closed during her massage and facial. But as the women sat at the dining table in spa robes, Shelley couldn’t ignore the way her body reacted to his commanding masculine presence.

A spa staff member served their pre-ordered lunches at the small table.

Shelley picked at her salad. The greens were fresh. The tomatoes and cucumber crisp. The chicken grilled and still warm. The vinaigrette lightly seasoned. But she was so unsettled that everything seemed off and she barely ate. At this rate, she’d lose that extra five pounds that always seemed to linger on her hips.

The girls drank a light white wine while Shelley stuck to water.

After lunch, they submersed in the deliciously scented pool, relaxing in the warm salt water, while Ric continued to stand guard.

Shelley lay back against the edge of the pool, her head rested on the lip and her body floated in the warm soothing water but she couldn’t unwind. The tension of the day had manifested in her stomach and she pressed her hand to her belly wishing she could just relax.

Ric noted her movement. “You okay?”

“I’m fine.” She couldn’t even have a moment. He was that observant.

Of course, his observation skills had paid off tremendously last night. She flushed and hoped the steam from the pool would disguise the fact that she was getting slightly turned on.

From outside their private room, a woman was complaining loudly about the fact that her trip to the pool was delayed. That was thanks to them.

Oddly something about the woman’s voice, or maybe her whine, registered with Shelley. “I don’t see why some people get special treatment.”

Shelley opened her eyes and lifted her head as the door rattled.

Ric was across the room and in front of the ornate doors in a heartbeat. He had his weapon out and ready. Her body tightened. She couldn’t imagine that someone complaining about a hydro therapy bath was a threat. But what if she was? Ric was standing right in the way.

“You need to leave this room alone,” the spa employee said to whoever was on the other side of the door.

“Fine, but don’t think the manager won’t hear about this.” The voice faded as if the complainer was walking away from the room.

Everyone relaxed.

Ric didn’t return to his seat. He stood next to the door, his body ready.

Shelley let her gaze trail lightly over him. His shoulders were broad and sturdy. His stomach flat, pecs rippled beneath the simple Polo shirt. His worn jeans cupped the bulge beneath his zipper and molded to thighs as thick as the eucalyptus trunks in her yard. His biceps tested the hem of his shirt sleeves, and dark hair dusted his forearms. A wide, black tactical watch emphasized his thick wrists, and drew her gaze to his hands. Those hands had caressed and stroked every single inch of her body, taking her to heights of pleasure that she’d never experienced before.

The memory of all that man between her thighs swept over her and her entire body liquefied in remembered lust.

Ric’s gaze found hers, heated. But all he said was, “I’m going to step outside for a moment. I’ll be right back.” He nodded to all of the women.

“But we know it was a man that wrecked my hotel room.” Shelley understood caution but that was definitely a woman’s voice.

“It was too neat. He could have an accomplice. Or he could have been hired by a woman. At this point we can’t rule out any possibilities.”

Then he was gone.

“Someone’s a little hot and bothered.” Bliss’s dark gaze shifted from Shelley to where Ric had just been standing. Shelley wanted to sink under the water in total embarrassment. Hopefully the flush on her face would be attributed to the moist heat of the pool rather than being turned on.

Jess laughed softly. “She should be. I saw him naked.” She fanned her face with her fingers.

“Jess,” Shelley hissed.

“I’d ask more questions, but we’re talking about my mother-in-law-to-be.” Bliss teased.

“Cut her a break,” Ava said. “Con is freaked out by the whole thing.”

Bliss frowned. “Yeah, Jack too.” Her smile fell from her face and shadows darkened her eyes.

Shelley wondered at Bliss’s expression. She thought that Bliss had been unnaturally subdued today but she really didn’t know her future daughter-in-law that well. “Everything okay, honey?”

Bliss blinked furiously. “Of course. What could be wrong?”

“I don’t know. Why don’t you tell us?” Shelley said softly.

“I just….” Bliss pulled her legs in to her chest in, wrapped her arms around her calves, and rested her cheek on her knees.

They all waited, sensing that something important was coming. “Why isn’t Jack taking care of your security?”

Shelley had wondered the same thing. Did it really make sense for Ric Santana to watch her? However, she didn’t think that’s what had really upset Bliss.

“And?”

“I think he’s having second thoughts,” Bliss whispered. Her words were barely audible over the rush of the bubbles in the pool.

“What?!” Jess sat up so quickly that water splashed over the edge and onto the tile floor.

“No way.” Ava shook her head violently.

Shelley curled her arm around Bliss’s shoulders. Her body was tight with tension. “Why do you think that?”

“Because he’s been really distant and distracted since we got here.” Bliss tucked her head down hiding her face from them all. “And I just can’t help but feel like maybe he’s changed his mind.”

“He’s
loco
over you.” Ava patted Bliss’s shoulder. She pressed her lips together. “I work with him every day. I know what he’s like when you’re not around. He’s not going to change his mind.”

“Gotta agree with Ava on this one. Although you do make a good point about having Ric do mom’s security,” Jess said.

“You should just talk to him,” Shelley counseled. “Ask him what’s wrong.”

“We were apart for a really long time.” Bliss sighed. “It’s possible that he’s changed his mind. Maybe now that the initial blush of lost love is over, he’s figured out he doesn’t really want me.”

Shelley hated the catch in Bliss’s voice. She didn’t for a moment think Jack was having second thoughts. But until Bliss brought it up, she hadn’t really thought about the fact that Jack could have done her security. Of course, Shelley hadn’t argued because she really didn’t want to take over Jack’s vacation time before the wedding. But maybe it was time to have a quick talk with her oldest son.

Her stomach rolled and another wave of heat flushed through her. But this time it wasn’t from arousal.

Shelley jerked as her stomach did another slosh but this time it was more like a washing machine in spin cycle.

“You okay, mom?” Jess asked.

“I—” Her stomach protested. Suddenly, she knew if she didn’t get out of this pool, she was in trouble. She shoved out of the water and sprinted for the small garbage can in the corner.

“Ric,” Ava called out.

He burst back into the room just as Shelley lost the small amount of lunch she’d managed to force down.

“What the hell happened?” Ric barked out.

Shelley continued to puke in the small can. Bile burned in her nose and humiliation swept through her. Wonderful. Was it possible to be any more embarrassed?

Ric placed his palm on her forehead.

Clammy sweat coated her skin and slicked his warm palm. “You okay,
cariña
?”

She nodded. But then a throbbing, pounding hit her head, and Shelley dry-heaved for another thirty seconds.

“That was weird. All the sudden I felt sick.”

“I hope you aren’t coming down with something.” Bliss stroked her palm over Shelley’s back.

“How sudden?” Ric asked suspiciously.

“One second I was fine and the next I…wasn’t.”

Ric stalked to the table. “Which dish is yours?”

“The salad.” Ava pointed to Shelley’s plate.

“You didn’t eat much.”

“I wasn’t that hungry.”

“You aren’t doing some stupid thing where you don’t eat before the wedding are you?” Ric asked harshly.

She wanted to take offense but she also wanted to laugh. “No.”

“You didn’t eat dinner last night and you barely ate any breakfast,” Ric said.

Shelley flushed. But this time it was from embarrassment when all three of the girls snickered, clearly recalling why she didn’t eat dinner.

“Do we really need to discuss my eating habits right now?” Shelley ducked her head.

“Why didn’t you eat?” He wouldn’t let it go.

She shrugged. “I felt a little off so I stopped.”

Ric picked up the plate using the linen placemat to keep from touching the ceramic dish and handed it to Bliss. “I need you to have Jack get this analyzed.”

Shelley’s embarrassment fled. “What?”

“Maybe there’s a reason you felt off.” Ric curled his fingers into a fist. “I think it’s time for you to go back to the room.”

Bliss, Ava, and Jess were nodding, somber looks on their faces.