Superb And Sexy

Chapter 24

Leena and Ben were instructed to buckle into their seats. “This is ridiculous,” she said to Rick’s men. “You can’t take me as a prisoner to my own home.”

“Stone Cay isn’t your home anymore.” This from Ed in the shotgun seat. “Hasn’t been in years.”

Crap. In her panic, she’d nearly forgotten they thought she was Maddie. “Well, you can’t take Ben there against his will. You’re kidnapping an innocent man.”

Saul buckled himself in. “He chose to come. That’s not kidnapping.”

“He changed his mind!”

Saul looked at Ben.

Ben looked back coolly. Calmly. And with just enough attitude that Leena felt terrified for him.

“Look, he’s crazy,” she said. “Don’t listen to him. We’re not even together.” She was desperate for them to let him go. Shaking with it. But she had to be Maddie, and Maddie didn’t shake. Maddie wouldn’t show her fear. She’d kick ass. “I demand that you let us both go.”

Ed rolled his eyes in Saul’s direction before turning back to Leena. “Rick wants to see you.”

“For what?”

“He needs to talk to you. See, he thought maybe you were interfering with Leena’s interest in her job.”

“What?” Oh, God. “I’m not!”

Ed and Saul just shrugged.

“Please. Let him go.” Leena turned to Ben. “Tell them. Tell the truth, and they’ll let you go. There’s no reason for you to have to go to Stone Cay.” No reason at all…

Ben looked at her for the longest moment, into her eyes, his touching each of her features before he slowly, unbelievably shook his head. “I’m not going to lie for you, Maddie.”

Oh, my God. What the hell was he doing?

Leena and Ben were taken out of the Jeep and led through the house that for nearly all of her life, had been the only home she’d ever known. They passed through the large living room, surrounded by the wealth and elegance and sophistication that Rick’s dealings had purchased, and she wondered how she’d ever enjoyed it here. It was as if her eyes had been shut for years, but they were open now.

This wasn’t her home, and it never had been.

They were taken to Maddie’s old bedroom, and the minute they were left alone, she whirled on Ben. “Why did you do this?” She knew that all of the house was under camera surveillance except the bedrooms and bathrooms, but she didn’t trust Rick. She knew she needed to be careful what she said, but she couldn’t help herself. “They might have let you go if you’d only agreed with me.”

“You think I should have just let them take you all by yourself?”

“Yes!”

His gaze on hers, he shook his head. “Then I wouldn’t have known what happened to you.”

“What do you care? You would have been free!”

He didn’t answer that. Frustrated, petrified, she paced the floor. “It makes no sense. Taking you makes no sense.”

Ben didn’t say anything to that, either. He just looked out the window into the black night. His jeans were loose on his body and still splattered with paint. His T-shirt was vintage and fit him in a way that would have made her want to touch…if she hadn’t been preoccupied with being so absolutely terrified for him.

In some deep recess of her mind, she recognized that this man made her feel things that no other did. Not that it mattered at the moment. Not that it would ever matter if she didn’t manage to get him out of here safely. She glanced at him. “I’m sorry I got you into this mess,” she said to his strong, solid back. “So damn sorry.”

He stood there, shoulders broad and strong, hands in his pockets, giving nothing away of his thoughts, not even a hint. “I don’t need you to be sorry.”

She wondered what he did need, but didn’t have the nerve to ask.

“And taking me makes perfect sense, really.”

“How’s that?”

“More leverage with which to manipulate you. The only problem will be, of course, once Rick sees me. He’ll take one look and realize I’m no stranger, not to him and not to Leena.” He turned to face her. “But unfortunately, to Maddie I would be.”

She stared at him as the truth sank in. And it no longer mattered if they were being watched or not because he was right. “You met Rick in person? When? He rarely meets clients in person.”

“And yet I met you in person.”

“Yes, but that was only because…” She broke off, blushed. She’d flown to him under the guise of needing to talk to her client, an excuse that had worked with Rick at the time but had been nothing but a big, fat lie. “Never mind.”

The truth was, she’d flown to New Orleans to meet with Ben because she’d been attracted to him from the very start, to his voice, to the way he strung his words together, to how he seemed so laid-back and easygoing, so intelligent and yet utterly approachable.

And genuine. Kind and warm and genuine.

There had not been enough of that in her life, and she’d homed in on it like a bee to honey. Meeting him had only deepened her crush, and it had been a crush. A deep, heart-yanking crush. In person, he’d been even more dynamic than she’d expected, and her visceral reaction had shocked her.

She wanted him. Mind, spirit, and even more shocking, physically.

He’d been completely clueless, of course, and one-hundred-percent professional. Together, they’d pored over her design, talking for hours and hours.

And then he’d taken her to dinner. And over sushi and candlelight, over laughter and more easy talking, she’d done the unthinkable. She’d fallen.

Hard.

And then she’d had to go back to Stone Cay to make his design a reality and screw him over.

That she’d done so was her own personal humiliation and shame, and she’d take that to her grave.

But Ben would not be taking anything to his grave, not if she had anything to do about it.

He was regarding her from unfathomably deep eyes. “I contacted him after I discovered the swindle,” he said.

Her mouth fell open. “You what?”

“Did you think I wouldn’t? That I would just let it go and not care about the fact that I was robbed?”

“Most do,” she admitted. “All do. Because his clients are all of questionable wealth to begin with. So far no one’s wanted to admit they were a victim.”

“I was referred to him by a relative,” Ben said quietly, “of questionable wealth. I don’t know what came over me to actually use an acquaintance of his, and believe me, I’m extremely sorry I did, but I won’t be a victim for anyone.”

Certainly not for her.

The message was loud and clear.

“The problem is, of course,” Ben said, almost thoughtfully, “I’m now an expendable complication.”

Leena swallowed. She was afraid he was right, but the thought of Rick doing anything to Ben did something to her. It revealed her backbone, and she pointed at Ben now, stabbing a finger into his chest, which was hard and ungiving.

How the hell did a rich artist get so damned buff? “Nothing’s going to happen to you. Do you hear me?”

“Hard to miss. You’re shouting.” He rubbed his chest. “And ouch.”

“I mean it. You’re going to be okay.”

He let out a low laugh at that. “Sweetheart, look around. I’ve been taken and brought to what is for all intents and purposes a deserted island. I’m already pretty far from okay, and I have a feeling it’s not going to be the last of it.”

Oh, God. He was right. What could she do?

If only Maddie really was here. She could think incredibly quickly on her feet, but thinking quickly had never been a particularly strong suit of Leena’s.

At the knock on the door, her heart thumped hard against her ribs, and she glanced at Ben.

He lifted a shoulder.

They were pretty much helpless, and he knew it.

Before she could make a move, the door simply opened and Rick stood there.

He smiled at her, but it wasn’t a very nice smile. In fact, it curdled her blood, and she took a slight step in front of Ben.

The gesture was not missed, not by Rick and especially not by Ben, who stepped out from behind her with a fulminating don’t-you-dare look on his face.

But he had no idea what they were up against. Not really.

Unfortunately, she did.

“Greetings,” Rick said.

“Rick-”

He held up his hand to silence her, his sharp gaze locking on Ben. “Ah,” he said. “Interesting. Hope you’re enjoying your visit to Stone Cay, Mr. Kingman.”

“Considerate of you to ask.” Ben’s eyes flashed fury. “Considering that first, you insult me by swindling me out of a family heirloom, which I want back, by the way. And now you bring me here against my will.”

“Sorry about that second part. A most unfortunate accident. You will be returned to your gallery soon enough.”

Ben’s eyes narrowed. He didn’t believe it.

Neither did Leena.

Rick pulled out a two-way radio and spoke into it. “Have Ed and Saul sent to my office. They’ve managed to bring me the wrong sister. Which means it was Maddie we had here the first time. Explains the security cameras breach, yes?” Then he turned to Leena. “You’re going to call your sister. Tell her we’re having a family reunion, and her presence is required. Again.”

Leena shook her head.

“No? Then tell her you need her help.”

“But I don’t.”

“Actually, you do, but that’s neither here nor there at the moment.”

“You should have just let us go!” she cried. “It would have been smarter to just let us go!”

At that, his eyes cooled, nearly freezing her skin on the spot. “Call Maddie, Leena.”

When she hesitated again, he calmly pulled out a gun and pointed it at Ben.

She immediately opened her cell phone. Maddie’s cell phone.

“Atta girl,” Rick said approvingly.