Page 6 of Exposed

He sighed and leaned back in his seat, shutting his eyes until he felt the bump and jolt of their ‘smooth’ landing. Soon, they’d taxied to their gate at the small airport and passengers began to buzz around the cabin, gathering their things to disembark.

Eric helped Beth get her bag down from the overhead bin then grabbed his duffle before following her down the aisle and out onto the tarmac. No air bridge leading to a terminal here on the island, just warm breezes and blue skies as far as the eye could see.

Taking a deep breath, he felt some of his restless tension dissipate. Maybe coming here had been a good idea, even if it was all a ruse. The air smelled of warm sand and sea and the sound of palm trees rustling in the wind soothed something in him that had been restless since his injury. He didn’t deal well with vacation under normal circumstances because he got too antsy, anxious for something todo.This might be the perfect compromise—a working vacation.

“Welcome to our LoveFix Retreat,” a tanned older man with white hair and even whiter teeth said. From the information Beth had sent him last night about this place, he recognized the guy as Robert Hart, owner and founder of the company Beth was investigating. The fact she’d tensed slightly beside him wasalso a clue. Without thinking, he slid his arm around her waist and tugged her into his side while other couples crowded around them. She stiffened slightly at his touch, then relaxed against him. Hey, they were supposed to be married, right?

It was all part of their cover. That’s the excuse he was going with anyway.

The breeze blew a strand of her hair into his face, and he brushed it aside, catching a hint of her rose-scented shampoo before concentrating on Hart’s speech.

“We’re so excited to have you all here. For the next week, we’ll be getting to know each other a whole lot better, and hopefully, we’ll be able to help you and your partner return to the loving partnership you all crave. First though, let’s get you all checked in. Follow me, please.”

They walked down a path alongside the airport and around a large hanger, emerging to see a real-life Shangri-La. Four large thatched-roofed buildings stood clustered together on the ridge of a hill leading down to the clear blue waters of the sea. Private bungalows lined the beach, one for each couple, connected to land by a long boardwalk. Lush tropical foliage and flowers glistened beneath the sun in all directions and the sweet scent of jasmine perfumed the air as they walked to the registration desk inside one of the larger buildings.

So far, there wasn’t anything out of the ordinary that Eric could see, unless you counted all the signs hyping their Wi-Fi service. Seriously, you’d think the Internet had been invented on the island the way they bragged about how fast their connection speed was and how easy it was to use. If he’d been in charge, Eric would’ve bragged about the gorgeous white sand beaches, but to each his own, he supposed.

While he and Beth waited in line, Eric couldn’t help glancing around the lobby. From the soaring cathedral-like ceilings to the cool tile floors, the place screamed expensive. Rattan furniture covered with plump cushions was scattered around the space and several cages with brightly colored parrots stood against the walls. Off to one side, he noted a door standing slightly ajar.

“Honey, if you can handle our reservations, I’m going to explore a bit.” He nudged Beth with his arm and hiked his chin in that direction.

Beth’s eyes followed where he indicated. She gave a slight nod. “I’ve got this.”

He made his way over to the door, checking around him periodically to make sure no one was watching him, but the rest of the couples were too busy checking-in and getting to know one another to notice him. He slipped behind a strategically placed potted fern then peered through the opened door into the room beyond. He spotted a row of computers and thought it must be a business center…but the more he looked around, the more he questioned that conclusion. There were alotof computers, plus sizeable server banks, as if this place was set up to process massive amounts of information. But why would that be? This was a therapy retreat—not a business hub. Plus, the setup seemed very utilitarian—none of the lush elegance that he’d seen so far in all the public areas. It almost seemed as if this room wasn’t meant for the guests at all. But why would the resort need a computer center like this for the staff?

“May I help you, sir?” one of the resort staff-members said from behind him and Eric turned to find a guy who looked maybe twenty or so dressed in the requisite uniform of white polo shirt and black Bermuda shorts standing behind him. The guy’s smile was polite enough, but it didn’t reach his dark eyes.

“Oh, sorry,” Eric said, playing the part of contrite tourist. “Just checking out this place. It’s really fantastic.”

“Thank you, sir,” the guy said, gesturing for Eric to follow him back to the reception area. When they were through the door, the staffer closed and locked it. “This room is for staff only, I’m afraid,” the man continued. “Please enjoy your stay here on the island.”

Eric stared after him for a minute before turning his attention to where Beth and the other new arrivals were gathered. Other employees were smiling widely and handing out gift bags, leis, and more fruity drinks.

Eric rejoined Beth, putting his arm around her and leaning close to her ear. “Something suspicious over there,” he whispered and gave her a quick description of the equipment in the room. He smiled at a staffer who brought him a flowered lei and a fourth fruity drink. When in Rome, eh? He sipped the concoction and gazed at the other people in the room.

“That is weird,” Beth said with a glance toward the door. “Why on earth would they need that kind of setup?”

“Hmm.” He shrugged again, careful not to disturb his aching shoulder this time. “Something else to check out while we’re here.”

“We’ve arranged for private dinners in your bungalows this evening so that you can get settled and have some private time to yourselves,” Hart announced. “Feel free to explore the resort as much as you’d like, but make sure to relax and get plenty of rest tonight. The work of rebuilding your relationship starts tomorrow.”

With that, they were dismissed to their bungalows, where they found their luggage already waiting for them.

“Some place,” Eric commented to himself, standing at the door that led to a small veranda with a view of the water. The bungalow was as luxurious as everything else. The living room behind him had plush furniture and a kitchenette in one corner. Down the hall was the bedroom with a king-sized bed done up in fluffy white material. Beth was currently hanging her clothing in the closet and talking to someone on the phone.

“Checking in with your editor?” he asked when she returned to the living room.

She’d changed into a yellow sundress. It covered more of her body than the shorts, but it was definitely sexier. “Oh, no. Just a friend.”

That pulled him up short, and he raised an eyebrow, realizing that he hadn’t asked if she was unattached. He’d assumed she was, and Heath had never mentioned that his sister was involved with someone, but he didn’t know that. “Should I be jealous?” he teased.

“A girlfriend of mine. I promised to keep her updated on our trip,” Beth explained. “It’s lovely, isn’t it?” She walked around the room. “Kind of a shame that all this glamour is covering up something shady.”

“Guess so. We might as well enjoy some of what it has to offer while you investigate.”

She looked conflicted for a second, but then shrugged. “I guess you’re right. But speaking of our glamorous accommodations… we need to establish some ground rules for sharing this space.” She suddenly seemed nervous. “I think you should take the bedsince you’re still recovering from your injury. I can sleep on the couch.”

“Not happening. You take the bedroom. I’ll camp out here,” he said. “Trust me when I say it’s far nicer than lots of places that I’ve slept.”

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