Chapter 6
Chapter six
Roger
After landing at Key West International, I help Carter and Elijah load the luggage into our respective vehicles. We agree to space our arrivals at the resort an hour apart, with Harper and I being the first to check-in.
The Keys to Romance resort is located at the tip of Fleming Key, on the outskirts of Key West proper.
The drive is lined with palm trees and red amaryllis.
The flower reminds me of a smaller version of a poinsettia, but it’s much more conducive to tropical environments.
Not being much of a plant guy, I wouldn’t know what an amaryllis is if it weren’t for the fact that my mother often tried to get them to grow in our home in Washington.
She failed as they needed a lot of sunshine, which the Pacific Northwest is not known for.
The poor little flowers frequently met their demise and ended up in a landfill instead of our backyard.
Harper points to the palm trees. “I bet this place looks amazing lit up at night. If you pay close attention, you can make out the tiny lights wrapped around the trunks. I wonder if the resort is going with the classic white lights or multi-colored for the holidays.”
“I’m going to go with both, depending on the environment.
Colors are festive and would most likely be strung up in places such as the foyer, buffet areas, and poolside bars—basically, any place where a party atmosphere is acceptable and crowds gather for an event.
The soft glow from the white lights would look great in more private settings such as high-end restaurants and along the garden pathways for ‘mood’ lighting. ”
When we pull up to the drop-off location, valets rush to greet us and open our doors.
I frown when I see a handsome young man smiling at Harper.
He holds her hand much longer than necessary as he helps her from the vehicle.
I’m sure he’s just doing his job, but the grin is a little too flirty for my liking.
Harper is my wife, after all, and he should know it.
I use the key fob to open the trunk and then grab the bag with our sensitive equipment, leaving the rest for the valets to bring to our room after we check in.
I reach for Harper and spin her in a cute dance move that brings us chest-to-chest before placing a chaste kiss on her lips.
“Are you ready to get this honeymoon started, Angel?”
I hand the keys to the valet now that he has released Harper from his grasp. I didn’t leave him much choice with the twirl that Harper executed naturally.
Harper grins, narrowing her eyes playfully and resting her delicate fingers on my chest. If she feels how fast my heart is beating simply because she’s in my arms, she doesn’t let on. “Angel is certainly a step up from the nickname of ‘Cherub’ you used to call me.”
“Well, you aren’t the cute little girl with chubby cheeks anymore. Angel is more fitting for the beautiful woman you’ve become.”
Harper smiles shyly as she leads us into the open-air lobby with stucco pillars and white-washed wood walls.
The floor is comprised of large cream-colored tiles that surround a spiral shell mosaic made from smaller tiles of crushed-up abalone.
The surface is an iridescent work of art that is meant to be enjoyed rather than trampled on.
A perky front desk attendant wearing a black Hawaiian shirt with red hibiscus flowers, khaki shorts, and a Santa’s elf hat greets us. “Welcome to the Keys to Romance. My name is Abigail, and I’ll be assisting you today.”
“Nice to meet you, Abigail. I’m Roger Cavenaugh, and this is my wife, Harper.”
Abigail glances between the two of us and grins. “The two of you make a gorgeous couple. Are you here for a honeymoon or the couples’ retreat?”
Harper’s brows knit together for a fraction of a second, but then she relaxes her features and smiles right back at the attendant. She slides her arm around my waist and rests her head on my shoulder. “We’re newlyweds, but I’m curious as to why that matters?”
“We have plenty of activities to keep you busy, but we also have tailored classes for newlyweds or those seeking to add a little romance back into their relationship.” Abigail slides across two separate brochures across the marble counter.
“Keys to Romance operates much like a cruise ship where you can fill your day with a wide variety of activities and classes, or you can choose to do none of them at all. We find that it can be quite daunting trying to plan your schedule, so we have these handy dandy itineraries to help you out. Our goal is to provide you with the best experience possible based on your preferences. But before you can enjoy the activities, I need a copy of your marriage certificate and identification.”
Harper and I both retrieve our driver’s licenses, which she gladly accepts. “We just got married this morning. We won’t have our official marriage certificate for a few weeks,” I tell her.
I watch as Abigail types away on her computer. “Congratulations on your nuptials, and you’re in luck, Mr. Cavenaugh. It looks like your assistant faxed over a copy of the license, and we were able to validate that it has been filed with the county clerk’s office in New York City.”
Amelia must have gone straight from the church to the county courthouse to file for the marriage certificate. I was a bit skeptical when she said that she had it all under control, but I guess she was able to pull some strings to get it processed so quickly.
While Abigail finishes checking us in, I take the two brochures and put them in my bag to review in detail a little later.
Harper mentioned that Robert and Eloise were here for a couples’ retreat, and I figure that’s as good a place to start as any.
“Wow, there’s more to do here than the website boasts,” I say casually.
Abigail bobs her head animatedly. “That we do. I have you booked for one of our honeymoon cabana suites, which comes with additional perks.” She places a map in front of us and circles the location of our cabana.
“Inside your cabana, you’ll find a welcome packet with discounts toward excursions, boat and jet ski rentals, and most of the restaurants and bars in town.
Your cabana is one of three that have a small dock attached, which is useful if you want to do any fishing or swimming, as well as moor your rental while you take a break for some alone time. ”
“Speaking of alone time, what is the fastest way to get to the cabana from here?” Harper asks as she rubs her hand in flirtatious circles on my chest. I gently grasp her wrist to stop Harper because her touch is searing my skin and causing my pulse to race.
I slide my hand into hers and kiss her fingers before letting go.
She gets the hint that her actions might have been a bit too much for me.
“The valet will give you the ticket for your vehicle and deliver your bags shortly. Feel free to explore the resort. When you’re ready to go to your lodging, a driver will escort you in a golf cart to your cabana. Enjoy your stay here at Keys to Romance.”
“Oh, we will,” Harper retorts with a wink and a wave.
I remain quiet and take in our surroundings as we ride in the back of the golf cart. I put my arm around Harper as she sits close to my side, but she also keeps silent and her head on a swivel. Once we arrive at the cabana, I hand the driver a $20 bill and thank him for the lift.
As we walk down the short path with our hands clasped together, we make a mental note of where the cameras are located.
By the time we’re finally standing at the entrance, I’ve counted three, but I’m willing to bet there are more hidden among the trees and at least one on the back landing that leads to the dock.
I set down the heavy bag loaded with our equipment and use the key card to unlock the door. As soon as the door swings open, Harper takes a step to check the place out. I block her with my arm.
“What’s the problem?” she asks, slightly perturbed by the delay. “It’s been a long day, and we’re both tired.”
I bend down and simultaneously wrap one arm around her waist and the other at the crook of her knees, scooping her up into my arms. Harper lets out a squeal and a giggle of delight.
“I’ve seen enough movies to know that I’m supposed to carry you across the threshold,” I tell her while stepping inside our suite.
I set her down and give her a quick kiss before returning to the front porch to grab my bag.
Harper closes the door behind me. In an effort to regain her composure, she whispers, “I take it that you saw the security cameras.”
I nod. “I did. Outside of this cabana, we need to be stereotypical honeymooners. Carrying you across the threshold and giving you a kiss were actions that would be expected of a newlywed couple.” I have no intention of telling Harper that I’m willing to use any excuse to have her in my arms or that I believe she belongs there.
“It’s no different than being all flirty in front of the woman at the front desk and implying that you and I will be having a ‘good time.’ That was a nice touch, by the way. ”
Harper’s eyes glint with mischief as she points to the bedroom, “Speaking of a ‘good time,’ what do you want to do about the sleeping arrangements? There’s only one bed.”
I glance toward the open doorway and then at the couch that occupies the living space.
It will be a tight fit for my 6′2″ frame, but there’s no way that I can sleep in the same bed next to the one woman whom I’ve wanted for the past seven years but know that I can’t have.
Until now, I’ve taken precautions to keep myself in check and at a distance, but just because we’re legally married doesn’t mean I can take advantage of the situation.
“I’ll sleep on the sofa. Maybe it’s one of those pull-out types in case someone ends up in the doghouse,” I joke.
She chuckles. “I’m sure that’s happened a time or two. Heck, I wouldn’t be surprised if my dad spent a night or two on the couch.” After she says the words, her smile falls as the reason we’re here comes to the forefront of her thoughts.
“We’ll find them,” I say while retrieving a device from the bag and begin scanning for bugs that may be hidden in the cabana.
I’m halfway through my sweep when there is a knock at the door.
I quickly open a drawer to stow the device while Harper checks the weapon holstered in a belly band under her loose-fitted top.
With her hand on the grip of her gun, Harper pulls back the curtain just enough to get a glimpse of who is on the other side of the door.
The tension in her shoulders dissipates, and she huffs out a small sigh.
“It’s just the valet with our luggage,” she says, opening the door to receive the delivery.
After a quick thank you and tip, Harper and I are once again left alone to finish scanning the cabana for any listening devices.
“I feel like we are wasting our time. The FBI would have found any bugs when they completed their search and collected all the evidence,” Harper says.
“You’re right, but I prefer to be thorough when your safety is on the line, Harper; not to mention this is standard protocol for our team at any location where we set up operations that isn’t in one of our safehouses.
We’ve already said too much if there is a listening device planted somewhere inside. ”
I take my time to go over every remaining inch of the cabana, and it comes up clean.
When I finish, Harper puts her hands on her hips and purses her lips.
“I don’t know why, but I get the feeling that you’re keeping something from me.
What are you not telling me, Roger? Why the extra abundance of caution? ”
Since I promised that I would never lie to her, I share my thoughts. “There’s something that’s been bothering me about this whole thing. Your father has three separate aliases for himself, Eloise, and you. Your parents always use the names Aldridge and Helen Johnson when they travel together.”
Harper nods. “I’m aware. When I go with them, I use the pseudonym of Heather Johnson.
However, the need for privacy and additional protective measures weren’t necessary until my father became the Deputy Director, which is when our family trips became few and far between.
They have one for vacations, one if they need to go into hiding, and one if either of those aliases gets burned. ”
“Then what possessed Robert to make the reservation using his real name?” I ask. “It’s been bothering me since you first came to us.”
She thinks about my question for a moment, then shrugs. “I don’t know. But what I can tell you is that my dad doesn’t do anything without a reason, Roger. You, of all people, know that about him. Am I correct in assuming that you have a theory regarding my father’s actions?”
“You are, but I want your opinion before I share it with the rest of the team.” Harper gestures for me to continue.
“I think Robert specifically chose this resort because he discovered something in one of his investigations and was following a hunch that led him here. If something nefarious is truly going on at this resort, undoubtedly, the people involved would have become nervous once they found out that your father was staying here. Nervous people make mistakes, Harper. Knowing how your father operates and the way his mind works, I’d wager he was banking on drawing them out. ”
Harper slices her hand through the air. “There’s no way my dad would endanger my mom’s life, even to follow a hunch. He would never bring her along if there was even a remote possibility that she could be harmed.”
Now it’s my turn to be confused. “What are you talking about? Why wouldn’t he bring your mother along? She’s been an agent almost as long as your father has.”