Chapter 4

They waited until later that night, after all the staff went to their living quarters. He handed her one of the flashlights.

“Are you sure you want to go down there?”

“I’m sure. Let’s go.”

They headed down. There were many steps before they reached the bottom of the basement. He looked around for another door. Finding it, he struggled to open it.

Here they turned on their flashlights and went down more steps.

“Oh God, it really smells bad down here,” she said, holding her nose. She moved her flashlight over the room they were in. There were lots of boxes and broken furniture, among other things.

“I wonder what’s in those boxes. I can’t see my father putting anything down here.”

He looked over at her. “Maybe it belonged to whoever owned this place before your father bought it. Come on. Let’s keep looking for the secret door.”

“Are you sure there’s one?”

“I looked at the plans over and over again. There is. We just have to find it.”

He turned the flashlight on her when she screamed. “What?” he snapped, wishing now he hadn’t brought her with him.

“I walked through a spider web. Oh, gross. Check and make sure I don’t have any spiders on me,” she said, panicking as she started hopping around.

He chuckled as he inspected her. “You’re clear. And just so you know, they’re more scared of you than you are of them.”

When she almost tripped over something, he automatically took hold of her hand and held it as they moved down the hallway. He liked how soft her hand was, and he felt his heart racing.

He could have let go, but he convinced himself it was to keep her from falling.

When they got to another door, he opened it, and they saw another set of stairs. He kept holding her hand as they made their way down.

At the bottom was another door, so he pulled it open, and a gush of wind hit their faces. With his free hand, he moved some branches away, and they stepped outside.

“What the hell is this?” she asked, looking around her. All she could see were trees and darkness. “Where are we?”

“We’re outside of your father’s mansion. It appears we went through a hidden tunnel, one that leads into the forest.”

“My father never told me about this.”

“He probably didn’t know. And whoever built the place is most likely dead by now. I do have to wonder if anyone else knows.

“This would be a great way to get inside the mansion, so I’m going to have to make sure no one ever will.”

He could see she was getting cold. “We better go back now.”

“Do we have to go back the way we came?”

He nodded his head. “Yes, unless you want to walk all the way around, which should take a couple of hours.”

He moved the branches aside for her to walk in and followed behind her.

He took her hand again, and they went back in the way they came. He started putting some boards up against the door.

“Why are you doing that?”

“So that no one else can get in. Tomorrow I’ll come back and put locks on all these doors.”

“I could use a cold drink. How about you?” she asked when they got back into the house. Without waiting for an answer, she headed toward the kitchen.

She knew he was following her by the sound of his breathing. She opened the fridge and took out a bottle of water. She turned to look at him.

“What would you like? We have water, juice, or beer, if you prefer.”

“Water is fine,” he said, moving over to her and taking it from her hand. He took off the cap and took a drink, looking over the rim at her.

She looked back at him, into his eyes. “I feel so dirty.”

“What?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Blushing, she looked away. “Being downstairs with all that dust and dirt. Not to mention those creepy spiders. I need a nice hot shower.”

“Yeah, me too. And you do have some dirt on your face.”

“I do?” she asked.

He reached over and, placing his hand on her cheek, used his thumb to wipe the dirt away. He saw her eyes closing and her chest rising and falling faster than normal.

Her head tilted into the palm of his hand. Knowing this was wrong, and before it could go any further, he removed his hand and took a step back.

She liked the feel of his hand on her skin, but when he let go, she opened her eyes. She swallowed the lump that was lodged in her throat.

“Well, goodnight. I’ll see you in the morning,” she said and walked away, feeling his eyes following her.

She stripped down and stepped into the shower. She couldn’t stop thinking about how he touched her.

It was just a simple gesture, wiping the dirt away, but it was how his hand lingered that made it feel like it was more than that. She shook her head, thinking it was just her imagination.

After all, they only just met the day before. But why had he continued to hold her hand when he didn’t have to?

***

The next morning he went down to the dining room, expecting to find Roxie there.

But she wasn’t, so when the maid brought out his breakfast, he asked her, “Do you know if Miss Greene is coming down for breakfast?”

“She has already eaten, sir, and she’s in her father’s office.”

“Thank you,” he said and started eating his food. When he’d finished his meal, he poured himself another cup of coffee and headed to Mr. Greene’s office.

He knocked once and waited for her to tell him to enter.

“Sorry I was late for breakfast.”

She looked up at him and smiled. “You weren’t late. I was early.”

“What are you working on?” he asked, seeing she had a sketch pad in front of her. He walked over and looked over her shoulder.

“I’m working on some new designs for next year’s fall collection.”

“I didn’t know you were an artist. They’re really good.”

She giggled. “I’m not an artist. I can’t draw people, landscapes, or even fruit. But I can draw gowns and other clothing.” She turned her head to look at him. “You really think these are good?”

“I sure do,” he said, picking up a sketch of an evening dress. “I really like this one. So sexy and yet elegant.”

“That’s something special I’m working on, just for me.” When she saw the confused look on his face, she explained what she meant.

“I’ve designed this dress for me to wear to a party my father is hosting next month. He is making a special announcement, and I have to look my best.”

“So what is this special announcement?” he asked, his heart melting when he saw the happiness on her face.

“I don’t know for sure, but I think my father is going to make me a partner in his company. It’s something I’ve dreamed of my whole life. That, and becoming a famous designer.

“I’m sorry. I don’t want to be rude, but I’m really busy right now.”

He gave her a smile. “So you want me to leave?”

“Yes. Thank you.”

“Okay, I’ll go. I want to board up that secret door anyways.”

“Dexter. May I call you that?”

“Yes, Miss Greene. You can.”

“Good, and please call me Roxie. I do have to go to work on Monday. Are you planning on going with me?”

“It’s my job to do so.”

“All right, but please keep your gun hidden, out of sight. If you find yourself getting bored, I can always find work for you to do. We can always use a handyman.”

“That won’t be a problem. I’ve been trained to withstand hours of staying in one position, so this will be a breeze. I’ll see you later. For lunch, I gather.”

He left then, remembering the hours he spent in the jungle, waist-deep in the water with the others, waiting for his team to attack. So standing for a few hours would be no problem.

That night, over dinner, she thought it was time that she got to know more about him. “So, Dexter, where are you from?”

“Here, in New York.”

“No, I mean where were you from before you moved here?”

“A small town in Nebraska is where I grew up and lived until I joined the Navy SEALs. When I left the SEALs, I came here and took a job as a bodyguard.”

“Why didn’t you go back home?”

“You sure do ask a lot of personal questions.” He didn’t like talking about his life, and he also didn’t think it was any of her business.

She looked up at him. She felt like he was hiding something.

“I’m just curious. Don’t you have family there, or a girlfriend? Or do you have a girlfriend here? And if so, what does she think about you moving in here to protect another woman?”

He leaned his elbows on the table. With his fingers intertwined, he rested his chin on them.

“My parents still live there, and no, I don’t have a girlfriend. Do not ask me any more personal questions, because I’m not going to answer them.”

She raised an eyebrow. She’d noticed how when she mentioned him having a girlfriend he became agitated and a tad rude.

“I was just trying to get to know you better.”

“Miss Greene—I mean Roxie—there’s no reason for you to know anything about me. I’m only here to make sure you are kept safe. That’s all you need to know.”

He sat back in his chair and picked up his cup of coffee. “What about you, why don’t you tell me about your boyfriend?”

“I don’t have one, and even if I did, it’s none of your business.”

“Oh, but it is. I’m sure your father has told you I need to know everything about you. That includes anyone you might be involved with.”

“Well, there is no one,” she snapped.

“What about Joseph Metcalf? I know you two have been seeing each other. You don’t have to look so shocked. You’ve been seen together at parties. Is it serious?”

She felt the anger building up inside her.

“He’s not anything to me. I don’t even like him that way, but my father wants me to marry him. I’m not going to, no matter how much my father and Joseph want me to.”

“Why would your father want you to marry a man you don’t love?”

Hearing him ask this made her feel sad, and not wanting to cry in front of him, she got up and walked out of the room.

Needing fresh air, she went out onto the patio. She leaned against the post and stared up at the night sky. She heard footsteps and knew it was Dexter.

“My father is a rich man with a thriving business. He’s known all over for his fashion line, but the only place he hasn’t been able to break into is Paris, where Joseph lives.

“He told my father if I were to marry him he would get his designs into every store over there.”

“Your father is already one of the richest men around. Why would he need help breaking into Paris?”

“It’s a very hard business, fashion. There are so many famous designers over there that fight to keep outsiders away.

“Dad isn’t just into fashion. He also dabbles in construction and the stock market.

“It would be nice to get into Paris, and if I were to marry Joseph, I would have my own store and take my designs on the runway.”

Dexter moved closer to her. He wasn’t liking the way she was talking. “You said you would never marry him, but now it sounds like you’re changing your mind.”

“I don’t know. Maybe I should. It’s not like I believe in the whole fairytale of marriage.”

“What are you talking about?”

She turned to look at him. “Nowadays people marry for money, for fame, and not for love. No one stays faithful, so isn’t it better to marry someone you don’t love?

“At least that way they can’t break your heart.”

He reached over and took a strand of her hair in his fingers. He couldn’t help thinking how beautiful she looked.

“I think it would be a big mistake to marry someone you don’t love, especially a man like Metcalf.

“A man like that will destroy you, take away your independence, and force you to do whatever he wants. Don’t marry him.”

“What’s it to you? You don’t even know me, and you don’t know Joseph. Maybe he will turn out to be a good husband. He’s wealthy, good-looking, and has always treated me with respect.”

“You said yourself you can’t stand him.”

“No, I said I didn’t like him, not that I couldn’t stand him.”

“It’s the same damn thing,” he snapped back at her. Damn, he didn’t know why he was getting so worked up over the idea of her being with a thug like Metcalf.

“Marry him and you will regret it for the rest of your life.”

She stepped away from him, not liking how her heart would beat faster whenever he got close to her.

“I won’t talk about this with you. I’m going to bed. Good night.”