Rum Cay Island Love Read online

  Rum Cay

  Island Love

  A Romantic Novella

  by

  Hallie Collins

  Kindle Edition

  Copyright © 2013 by Hallie Collins

  Kindle Edition, License Notes

  All events and characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to actual events, is purely coincidental. All rights reserved by the author. This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another individual, please purchase an additional copy for each person. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  This work contains scenes of graphic sexual nature and it is written for adults only (18+). All characters depicted in this story are over 18 years of age.

  Rum Cay

  Island Love

  Chapter I

  There was something unmistakable about the day, a feeling that Garrett Ross could no longer ignore. Frustration had built to a point that he could no longer function. His latest client was someone that he told himself never to do business with, but here he was, in his office speaking to the one individual that he should not even give the time of day to… Geno Stagnoli. A complete ass of a man, thought Garrett, but he felt compelled, knowing that his nephew had screwed up and owed Stagnoli a huge favor. It wasn’t a debt that could be bought out unfortunately… that would be too easy for Garrett. A self-made man that built his Miami based fledgling security business into a mini-empire, protecting some of the most powerful businessmen in the area as well as high ranking dignitaries over the past 15 years. Most of the time it was a simple process, utilizing his many contacts and experience sharpened through years in the Secret Service. Garrett’s clients ranged from physical protection, which normally required many of his men and intense weaponry; to basic assistance while guarding certain profiles and business transactions from becoming too public.

  Garrett had protected and minimized damage for hundreds of clients, but never did he have to track down someone for a slime-ball like Stagnoli. The sooner he was able to bag Stagnoli’s stooge, the better, he thought. It sounded like a simple case, but also something that he did not relish doing. Unfortunately, his nephew was stuck and did not have the ability or know-how to track down anyone or collect any type of debt. So the deal was struck before Garrett could think about it any further.

  “Why exactly do you need to find this woman Mr. Stagnoli? Is she a lost relative? Or do you just like the hunt of innocent people?” asked a curious Garrett.

  Stagnoli sneers at Garrett for a moment, then sharply pulls back his chair and just laughs sarcastically at Garrett’s remarks.

  “It does not concern you Mr. Ross, but, I’ll tell you anyway since you appear to be so interested. As you know, I have a business to protect and many people count on me. Therefore, when I’m taken advantage of, I do not take it well.”

  “What do you mean by ‘taken advantage of’ Mr. Stagnoli?”

  “This woman, a woman of sensual means that would make most men jump through fire just to get a quick glance of her carnal beauty, came to me for money. A fairly large sum; to help pay for her dying sister’s medical expenses. Of course, after utilizing her sensual means, I gave it to her… how could I resist her hypnotic beauty? But I released the funds on one condition; that I would need the money back in 90 days plus 25% interest, otherwise, we would have to make alternate plans. She knew exactly what I meant of course.

  “How so?”

  “This woman is not an innocent girl Mr. Ross; that she made very clear. She replied to my offer with her hand gently stroking my inner thigh until reaching my hardened crotch; and then gave me a nice little squeeze, as if to say, there is more to come. She then whispered softly with a wet tongue circling my ear, that she will do anything for me, even after paying back the money. By the end of the evening, I was completely sold of course; she was very good at the game of seduction.”

  “I see.”

  “Unfortunately, as you can probably figure out by now, she never returned, and now I need retribution.”

  “Retribution? Sounds more like you want revenge.”

  “Revenge is a strong word Mr. Ross, but suffice it to say, I do not like being played. I’m not even sure there even is a sister to tell you the truth.”

  “So, Mr. Stagnoli, tell me, what is your end game with this woman?”

  “End game? Well, that is not your concern Mr. Ross… just let me deal with that after you locate her.”

  Garrett turned away as he got up from his seat, pouring himself a cup of coffee as he pondered what kind of trouble this girl might be in.

  “Well, Mr. Stagnoli, I guess we have ourselves a deal. I’ll require $10,000 up front and $10,000 when the girl is delivered, plus expenses. One caveat though… when you have your package, my nephew is released from all debts, physical or monetarily, do we have an understanding?”

  “You’re a good negotiator Mr. Ross. Of course; I will comply with your wishes. You do your job correctly, and your nephew can walk… remember, I’m no monster Mr. Ross. Everything that you’ve laid out is agreed to. Just make sure you find the girl soon… I am not accustomed to waiting long when large amounts of money are involved.”

  “My experience and resume should tell you something about how I operate and how quickly I get things done Mr. Stagnoli.”

  “Very good; is there a contract you need me to sign?”

  “Not at all, I know you’re good for the remainder, and if you change your mind, then the girl stays lost.”

  “When I decide on something like this Mr. Ross, I do not change my mind. Just find her!” stated Stagnoli, slamming his fist with great force on the coffee table that separated them.

  Garrett knew that there was much more to this affair than what Stagnoli had described, but he could not concern himself with any outside influences or personal conflicts that may or may not occur. This was another job like any other and that is how he needed to approach it.

  After studying all the information left by Stagnoli, Garrett drew up a detailed plan and briefed a couple of his men on how he was to proceed. From the dossier that Stagnoli provided, it looked like the woman visited the Caribbean islands regularly throughout the years. But there was one particular place she visited quite frequently for the past few years… the island of Rum Cay. That is where he would make his retreat, if he were in her shoes. That is where he would find her, he thought… she was all too predictable.

  The day was unseasonably hot, as Garrett and his men pulled his 70 foot yacht into the local harbor that day. The immensity of the ship always received a great deal of interest from locals that are used to much smaller, much more modest vessels. But Garrett never did anything that would be described as undersized or modest when approaching the way he conducted business. Over the previous 24 hours, since his meeting with Stagnoli, Garrett had received strong intel that this woman, Liliana Washburn, had done exactly what Garrett had surmised she would do… retreat to her favorite spot on earth where she could just fade into the background or possibly come up with a plan to extricate herself from a very bad situation. Garrett decided to leave his men to stand guard on the ship, while he settled into a private cottage near the resort where she was recently spotted.

  With so much at stake, Garrett had decided to approach this case with care, and therefore, before making any bold moves, reviewed the bio of the seductress that Stagnoli was so taken with, in great detail. He studied her look, background and tendencies for many nights… so well in fact, that he felt like he already knew everything about her. Once spotting her for the first time, it would be obvious to him that there was
something different about her. No matter the time of day, she always came across as a strikingly beautiful and sensual woman, just as Stagnoli had described, making it very clear why he wanted her picked up and delivered back to him. She had an almost exotic look to her that could draw in any man. Garrett knew he would have to be on guard to not allow his desires or any personal interests get in the way of completing a job. This arrangement was too important, he thought; his nephew depended on him, and of course, there was his reputation to consider in a world that does not take kindly to failure or deceit.

  Garrett initially spent his time on the island talking to the locals about the woman he sought, hoping to get a better understanding of who she was and how to approach her. After coming up mostly empty the first two nights based on information received from a few regulars of the highly frequented hot spots, Garrett visited a lesser known hang-out that seemed to fit the needs of a woman looking to disappear into the night. This time, his intuition paid off, as he walked into the dimly lit nightclub. It was late in the evening, the first time he saw her, watching intently as she stared off into space. Garrett became entranced by her glistening skin and perfectly shaped body draped over the bar as she sipped seductively on her Mai Tai, lips softly touching the glass in an almost sensual manner while her back arched, as if she ached for someone to caress her, someone to deliver her from the darkness of another lonely night. But that was not what he was there to do… he could not afford that type of weakness, no matter the intense lust that began to grow inside of him.

  Day after day, Garrett began to follow the woman with an almost stalking presence, as he fought off the intense feelings that began to torture his lustful soul. After multiple nights of watching her every move, undressing her with his eyes and gauging her eccentricities carefully, he knew that this was the evening; the time had come to gain her confidence and finish the job. Garrett watched the woman who had taken a seat in the same place at the bar for the third night in a row. It was a bit unusual, simply because this wasn’t the most well-known bar on Rum Cay. In fact, this particular island was one of the lesser visited of the Bahamas’ Islands, which made it so perfect for her. It was a small but lovely piece of land that people typically traveled to when they wanted to truly get away from life. Garrett understood that much, because strangely enough, he felt that was a major reason why he was there, right now, enjoying the diversion more than he probably should be. There was so much pressure on him in his day to day life that Rum Cay seemed to be the perfect place for him to escape and gather his thoughts. No one could bother Garrett here and he was grateful for the opportunity that brought him to this island… to a woman like Liliana.

  However, this entrancing woman that he professionally tracked for the past week and was inexplicably drawn to, intrigued him beyond the obvious. She was so beautiful with long, thick, black hair that reached the middle of her back, except when she wore it up to fight off the heat. It didn’t matter which style she wore it in though, her beauty was very natural and any style would flatter her. She had very sexy, but oddly light greenish-grey eyes fringed by long dark lashes. Her lips were full without being the result of anything artificial. High cheek bones and red blushed smooth olive skin complemented her striking oval-shaped face.

  The entrancing woman was tall but not awkwardly by any means. He wasn’t sure exactly how tall but he could tell that she was taller than the average woman. But then, who was he kidding? There was nothing average about this woman. The thing that had caught and kept his attention, though, was the absolutely haunted look she wore. There was a genuine sadness in her eyes that he couldn’t ignore. Yet, he somehow sensed that she would resent his intrusion if he were to approach her. Then again, he had to find a way to gain her confidence and bring her back to the mainland for Stagnoli’s pleasure… something that disgusted him, but something that must be done.

  Garrett summoned the bartender and told him to put the woman’s next drink on his tab. Then he watched as she finished her cocktail quickly and asked for another one. The bartender set it in front of her and refused payment. Garrett knew that the bartender was telling her that the drink had been paid for by him, waiting to see her glance in his direction. As she turned her head slowly toward him, there was an air of self-importance about her at first. But then, as she finally met eyes with Garrett, she did more than glance at him. Instead, she gave him a direct and penetrating stare. At first, he thought she was going to refuse to let him pay for the drink, but instead she simply nodded her head in thanks, and as she did, he held up his drink and politely nodded back.

  Garrett decided to bide his time and not immediately make a bold move to join her. It was obvious that this was a woman who was used to attention from men. It would be best if he could seem a bit different than most. So, he continued to sit sullenly without expression and enjoy the intense ambiance of the moment. He wasn’t going to pretend that he wasn’t thinking about this incredible creature at the end of the bar. That would be foolish and non-productive, both of which he had ceased being many years ago.

  Liliana knew that the man was still watching her, feeling deeply his eyes piercing right through her, even though he was pretending otherwise. She had to give him credit for not using her acceptance of his drink as an excuse to try to join her. So many men tended to do that, but not this one. This particular gentleman was extremely attractive in a rather odd sort of way, she thought. At first, most women probably wouldn’t find him so, because he wasn’t handsome in the classic sense of the word. But the more she studied him with her glancing stares, the more she found herself drawn to his rugged stylish looks.

  His hair was dark, though not quite as dark as her own; and he wore it in a longish European style that wasn’t necessarily in current fashion. But it suited him. His eyes were perhaps the most arresting part of his appearance. They were a mix of blue and green that seemed to have a strong shining spark behind them. Deeply set and surrounded by long lashes, they seemed to see right through her when their eyes would suddenly meet. He had an incongruous, rather sardonic sexy smile that caused her to feel a few butterflies and give that pleasant shiver up and down her long shapely legs.

  However, even though he was definitely a man that she would have loved to get to know better, that just wasn’t possible right now. It might not ever be possible. Knowing what she knew, Liliana felt the excitement begin to wane, sighing as she drained the remaining swirl from her glass, quickly leaving the bar without another thought.

  Garrett looked up in the direction of the woman again, only to see that she wasn’t there any longer. He exhaled out of frustration and mentally chastised himself for allowing such a distraction to take place. Garrett could not allow himself to be caught up personally, but here he was, involving his feelings when he shouldn’t. He needed to focus. If something more was meant to be, then it would have happened. Leaving a generous tip for the bartender, having decided to call it a night, Garrett gave one last look around the bar in case she had simply relocated. However, the woman he sought was nowhere to be seen.

  The next evening, Garrett went back to the same bar in hopes of spotting his target, trusting he had not spooked her to escape the island confines. As Garrett had surmised, the entrancing woman he needed to gain the confidence of was sitting in wait once again. This time, and against his best judgment, he had decided that he would approach this beautiful creature and speak to her to show his increasing interest, even if that approach was just like all the other men. If she blew him off, so be it, she was well worth the possible humiliation. And then at least, he could shift his mind back to professional intentions only.

  As luck would have it, he needn’t have concerned himself with all the paranoid thoughts and concern. When he entered the bar, the young woman was there waiting for him. And as he noticed her sitting there elegantly, legs crossed in her tight short skirt, showing her incredibly smooth athletic legs, stretched out for miles it seemed, she gave him a smile that was so dazzling, it nearly knocked him
to the ground.

  As Garrett approached with his shadowy casual demeanor, Liliana immediately took the opportunity to strike up a conversation. “I’m so sorry for my terrible manners last night,” she said. “I never even thanked you for the drink you sent over. Please allow me to repay the favor.”

  “Well, thank you. That’s a very nice gesture, but it’s not necessary,” replied Garrett.

  “Oh, but it is necessary… and I want to. I just hope you have the time to accept my offer.” Garrett already knew this was a pleasant argument that could have gone on for a very long time, so he thought the best thing to do was relent and give in to her proposition.

  “Alright then, but only if you join me. I find it unpleasant, to say the least, to drink alone.”

  “I’d be delighted,” said Liliana as she sat down next to him. “My name is Liliana.”

  “Very good to meet you Liliana, I’m Garrett,” he replied.

  “Garrett, of course… I knew you had to have a strong name like that to go with that intensely masculine look of yours.”

  “Yes, well, thank you for the nice compliment… at least I think it was a compliment.”

  “Of course it was… you obviously possess a special confidence about you, almost as if you already know everything about me.”

  Liliana had a sixth sense about her that made Garrett a little uncomfortable at first, but also drew him to her even more. She was unlike anyone he had ever met before, he thought.

  “I have to say, that you certainly possess qualities that transcend most island beauties around here,” said Garrett charmingly.

  “Wow, I’m not sure if I’m more impressed with what you said or how you said it. Obviously you’re quite the smooth talking ladies’ man with that suave sophisticated presence of yours that I’m sure all the ladies fall head over heels for,” said Liliana, dipping her head slightly as she looked up to Garrett with a half-smile.