Page 11 of Fearless
“Speaking ofalonetime, what is the fastest way to get to the cabana from here?” Harper asks as she rubs her hand in flirtatious circles on my chest. I gently grasp her wrist to stop Harper because her touch is searing my skin and causing my pulse to race. I slide my hand into hers and kiss her fingers before letting go. She gets the hint that her actions might have been a bit too much for me.
“The valet will give you the ticket for your vehicle and deliver your bags shortly. Feel free to explore the resort. When you’re ready to go to your lodging, a driver will escort you in a golf cart to your cabana. Enjoy your stay here at Keys to Romance.”
“Oh, we will,” Harper retorts with a wink and a wave.
I remain quiet and take in our surroundings as we ride in the back of the golf cart. I put my arm around Harper as she sits close to my side, but she also keeps silent and her head on a swivel. Once we arrive at the cabana, I hand the driver a $20 bill and thank him for the lift.
As we walk down the short path with our hands clasped together, we make a mental note of where the cameras are located. By the time we’re finally standing at the entrance, I’ve counted three, but I’m willing to bet there are more hidden among the trees and at least one on the back landing that leads to the dock.
I set down the heavy bag loaded with our equipment and use the key card to unlock the door. As soon as the door swings open, Harper takes a step to check the place out. I block her with my arm.
“What’s the problem?” she asks, slightly perturbed by the delay.“It’s been a long day, and we’re both tired.”
I bend down and simultaneously wrap one arm around her waist and the other at the crook of her knees, scooping her up into my arms. Harper lets out a squeal and a giggle of delight. “I’ve seen enough movies to know that I’m supposed to carry you across the threshold,” I tell her while stepping inside our suite. I set her down and give her a quick kiss before returning to the front porch to grab my bag.
Harper closes the door behind me. In an effort to regain her composure, she whispers,“I take it that you saw the security cameras.”
I nod. “I did. Outside of this cabana, we need to bestereotypical honeymooners. Carrying you across the threshold and giving you a kiss were actions that would be expected of a newlywed couple.” I have no intention of telling Harper that I’m willing to use any excuse to have her in my arms or that I believe she belongs there. “It’s no different than being all flirty in front of the woman at the front desk and implying that you and I will be having a ‘good time.’ That was a nice touch, by the way.”
Harper’s eyes glint with mischief as she points to the bedroom, “Speaking of a ‘good time,’ what do you want to do about the sleeping arrangements? There’s only one bed.”
I glance toward the open doorway and then at the couch that occupies the living space. It will be a tight fit for my 6′2″ frame, but there’s no way that I can sleep in the same bed next to the one womanwhomI’ve wanted for the past seven years but know that I can’t have.Until now, I’ve taken precautions to keep myself in check and at a distance, but just because we’re legally married doesn’t mean I can take advantage of the situation. “I’ll sleep on the sofa. Maybe it’s one of those pull-out types in case someone ends up in the doghouse,” I joke.
She chuckles. “I’m sure that’s happened a time or two. Heck, I wouldn’t be surprised if my dad spent a night or two on the couch.” After she says the words, her smile falls as the reason we’re here comes to the forefront of her thoughts.
“We’ll find them,” I say while retrieving a device from the bag and begin scanning for bugs that may be hidden in the cabana. I’m halfway through my sweep when there is a knock at the door. I quickly open a drawer to stow the device while Harper checks the weapon holstered in a belly band under her loose-fitted top.
With her hand on the grip of her gun, Harper pulls back the curtain just enough to get a glimpse of who is on the other side of the door. The tension in her shoulders dissipates, and she huffs out a small sigh. “It’s just the valet with our luggage,” she says, opening the door to receive the delivery. After a quick thank you and tip, Harper and I are once again left alone to finish scanning the cabana for any listening devices.
“I feel like we are wasting our time. The FBI would have found any bugs when they completed their search and collected all the evidence,” Harper says.
“You’re right, but I prefer to be thorough when your safety is on the line, Harper; not to mention this is standard protocol for our team at any location where we set up operations that isn’t in one of our safehouses. We’ve already said too much if there is a listening device planted somewhere inside.”
I take my time to go over every remaining inch of the cabana, and it comes up clean. When I finish, Harper puts her hands on her hips and purses her lips. “I don’t know why, but I get the feeling that you’re keeping something from me. What are younottelling me, Roger? Why the extra abundance of caution?”
Since I promised that I would never lie to her, I share mythoughts. “There’s something that’s been bothering me about this whole thing. Your father has three separate aliases for himself, Eloise, and you. Your parents always use the names Aldridge and Helen Johnson when they travel together.”
Harper nods. “I’m aware. When I go with them, I use the pseudonym of Heather Johnson. However, the need for privacy and additional protective measures weren’t necessary until my father became the Deputy Director, which is when our family trips became few and far between. They have one for vacations, one if they need to go into hiding, and one if either of those aliases gets burned.”
“Then what possessed Robert to make the reservation using his real name?” I ask. “It’s been bothering me since you first came to us.”
She thinks about my question for a moment, then shrugs. “I don’t know. But what I can tell you is that my dad doesn’t do anything without a reason, Roger. You, of all people, know that about him. Am I correct in assuming that you have a theory regarding my father’s actions?”
“You are, but I want your opinion before I share it with the rest of the team.” Harper gestures for me to continue. “I think Robert specifically chose this resort because he discovered something in one of his investigations and was following a hunch that led him here. If something nefarious is truly going on at this resort, undoubtedly, the people involved would have become nervous once they found out that your father was staying here. Nervous people make mistakes, Harper. Knowing how your father operates and the way his mind works, I’d wager he was banking on drawing them out.”
Harper slices her hand through the air. “There’s no way my dad would endanger my mom’s life, even to follow a hunch. He would never bring her along if there was even a remote possibility that she could be harmed.”
Now it’s my turn to be confused. “What are you talking about? Why wouldn’t he bring your mother along? She’s been an agent almost as long as your father has.”
Chapter seven
Harper
The words,“She’s been an agent almost as long as your father has,”ring in my ears long after I’ve shaken my head to clear them from my mind. My mom and dad have taken plenty of trips together over the years while leaving me home with a nanny, but that doesn’t mean she secretly worked for the FBI.Does it?
I frown in consternation. “I don’t believe it. My mother has always been a ‘stay-at-home’ mom for as long as I can remember. Being an agent requires continuous training and conditioning, long hours, and time away from family. She’s always been there for me and my dad, keeping the household running, not off chasing criminals.”
Roger takes a seat on the couch and pats the spot next to him, inviting me to sit beside him. When I do, he reaches over and laces his fingers with mine. “Just because you don’t believe it doesn’t make it any less true, Harper. Your mother and father have always been a team, but after you were born, your mother left the agency and became a contractor who was utilized as anasset only when needed. Trust me, she’s been keeping up with her training.”
