Looking around, there was a pathway that led to a lovely Tuscan style house that spread out along the highest point on the island. The house was surrounded by lush vegetation, interspersed with jutting, white rock and a gorgeous hilltop off to the left that probably offered stunning views of the surrounding ocean. From where she stood, she could see smaller houses down a narrow street, although she could only see the rooftops of them, a church spire on the other end of the island, and long ribbon of beach surrounded by an enormous amount of ocean.
As the man came closer, her shaking increased. There was no one else around, no one to hear her if she called out for help. In the past, the fear had always been that someone would try and kidnap her as she was coming or going from a party or nightclub so she’d worked in extra precautions to guard against that kind of threat. But what was she supposed to do when it wasn’t the arrival or departure from a party, but the lack of a party completely that was the threat?
“My apologies for not being here to meet you as you landed,” the man’s deep, only slightly accented voice said as he came closer, extending his hand to shake hers. “Welcome to my home.”
Darcy extended her hand automatically and her freezing cold fingers were enveloped by warm, very strong hands that held hers for a bit longer than she was comfortable with. And she really didn’t like the way this man was staring at her. Or the heat that was creeping up her arms from his hands. Or the blush that stole over her cheeks as he stared at her.
“Am I early for the festivities?” she asked carefully.
The tall man smiled politely and tucked her hand into his elbow, guiding her down the rock pathway. “I’m afraid there is not going to be a party this weekend, my dear.”
His words, spoken so softly, were the beginning of every woman’s nightmare. “Excuse me? Can you explain why I’m here then?”
“You have interfered with the affections of someone I love. Therefore, you must be removed from the situation until it is resolved. A simple matter I expect to be cleared up in only a few days,” he explained.
Darcy could feel the terror welling up inside her chest. She was being led deeper and deeper into the vegetation which enclosed them even overhead so she could no longer see the house, nor the helipad. She heard something in the underbrush and jumped, then jumped away as she realized that she was moving closer to the man she now suspected was going to kill her.
“I’m sorry if I’ve done something to anger you, sir. But I assure you if you would tell me what’s happened, I’d be more than happy to assist you in resolving the problem.” Where she gained the courage to speak so politely, so civilly, she had no idea.
A few more steps on the pathway and the house reappeared. The man led her into a stunningly gorgeous living room with massive Palladian windows that gave a spectacular view of the ocean on the opposite side of the island.
“If only it were so simple, I would appreciate your offer. But you see, you’ve created this situation from your own selfish actions, and therefore, I don’t trust you to resolve it to my satisfaction.”
Once in the room, he released her hand and walked more brusquely over to a bar. “Wine?” he asked.
Darcy hesitated. She had an image to project and she didn’t feel safe in any way. Her bar tender definitely was not here so she couldn’t have her “martinis” fixed properly. She could accept the wine and continue with the façade of her nightclub life, or she could drop the façade.
Since she had no idea who this man was, she didn’t feel safe enough to let him know the real self behind the mask. “Wine would be lovely,” she replied instead of asking for a lemonade or something equally benign. “Thank you for the offer.” Was this her last meal? Was he lulling her into a false sense of security only to torture her later?
“Can you explain what’s going on?”
He poured himself a glass of amber liquid, then carried both glasses in her direction, handing her the wine glass.
“It’s very simple. My sister’s fiancé has proclaimed to be in love with you. Since my sister wants him back, I am obliged to find the weasel and bring her back to her side. You, my dear, must be out of the picture for that to happen.”
She swallowed painfully, ignoring the glass of wine in her freezing hands and looked up at the man’s cold, brown eyes. “Are you going to kill me?” she whispered, saying the words that her mind was chanting, desperate to know her fate.
Sergei looked down at the woman who was painfully thin but strikingly lovely with her lush brown hair and porcelain skin, her fascinating sage green eyes staring up at him with terror shining from their lovely depths. He couldn’t help but laugh when she asked that question because it had never occurred to him that this whole scene might be perceived in that light. His only response was to throw back his head and laugh deeply, enjoying the release of tension the laughter generated. He laughed so hard, he actually had to lean over the chair to hold himself up, doubled over with the amusement.
When he was finally able to regain his composure, he straightened and looked down at the beauty, amusement still shimmering in his eyes. “No, my dear. I don’t plan on killing you, raping you or torturing you. In fact, you are here as my guests so please enjoy the house at your leisure for as long as it takes to resolve this issue.”
Darcy’s breath came out in a whoosh and she couldn’t believe how relieved she was. Her legs were actually weak from the release of fear and she leaned back against the arm of the sofa behind her. “Goodness, sir, that was a horrible thing to do.”
“Well, perhaps you watch a few too many crime shows on television?” he teased.
Darcy chuckled and shook her head. “Mystery novels,” she replied.
“Ah, I stand corrected. And those might be a bit worse, don’t you think?” he asked, still amused by the idea of what had been going through her mind. “Authors don’t have the same censorship rules by which television studios are hindered.”
“You’re correct. Maybe a few romance novels and poetry is in my future,” she replied, laughing a bit herself now. “But regardless, I’m afraid that I can’t stay here until you’ve resolved the situation. If you’ll just recall the helicopter, I’d like to be on my way. The money from the contract will be returned as soon as I make the call to my agent.”