Chapter Twelve
Leo paced his rooms while waiting for Betrys to return from her interview with Iseult. The woman was evil, and despite Betrys’s assumption that Iseult wouldn’t attack her, there was always a first time.
A tap sounded on the door, and long strides took him there. He wrenched the door open.
“It’s you,” he said to his oldest brother and glanced along the gravel path. He couldn’t see Betrys. “I thought it would be Betrys.”
“She still with Iseult?”
“Yeah.”
Saber pushed Leo back and stepped inside. “I’ve heard from Sly and Joe. They think it will be easy enough to snatch Ricci and intend to go in tonight. Sly said they’ll ring us as soon as they have Betrys’s son.”
“Good.”
“How are you feeling? You’re moving better—not so hunched over.”
“I’m fairly sure I’ll be able to shift.”
“Do it,” Saber said. “You’ll heal quicker.”
“Not until I speak with Betrys.”
“Are you playing her?”
“What? No!” His denial was an explosion of sound.
“It started out that way. You know it did. But once I learned about her son—hell—before that I started to like her. She’s done the best she could to keep her and her son alive.
I thought about her situation, and once I decided I would’ve done the same thing, some of my anger faded. ”
“Some?”
“If I come face-to-face with Iseult, I’ll be tempted to attack first and ask questions later.”
The door opened and Betrys glided into the room.
“How did it go?” Saber asked.
“She thought it was a good idea and wants me to arrange the meeting for tomorrow. She doesn’t look well.”
“Don’t feel sorry for her,” Leo snapped.
“I don’t. She told me I was here to work, not sleep with the merchandise. Then she implied I was ugly and the man who slept with me needed glasses.”
“Bitch,” Leo said.
“I’m not beautiful.” Betrys sounded neutral.
Damn. She was thinking too hard and coming up with the wrong answers. If only they’d had more privacy. He sighed. “Saber heard from the twins. They’ve reconnoitered and intend to snatch your son tonight. They’ll contact us as soon as they have him safe.”
Betrys nodded, and when he went to her and wrapped his arm around her waist, she stiffened and moved away.
“I’ll arrange five men to see Iseult and explain the circumstances,” Saber said. “Scarlett hasn’t heard back from her contact yet, so we wait.”
“I don’t need to report back to Iseult until dinner hour tonight. Can I have a list by then?”
“I’ll have it ready for you this afternoon. Leo, why don’t you take Betrys to our private beach? I’ll ask the kitchen to prepare a picnic basket for you.”
Relief shot through Leo. Time alone was what they needed. “Make sure we’re not interrupted unless it’s an emergency.”
Saber grinned, and Leo realized his big brother was doing a lot of that lately.
Mating with Eva had brought happiness to his brother’s life, and it was rubbing off on all of them.
The opportunities their people had now, due to the new businesses Eva and Casey had started, made everyone happier and more settled.
They’d even started trading with the Froggish people who lived deep in the jungle, a few days’ trek inland.
“I should stay at the resort and speak with the staff,” Betrys said.
A stubborn woman and a silly one, if she thought he intended to walk away.
He was capable of deciding on the woman he’d like as a mate, and physical appearance meant nothing to him.
People had judged him all his life on his looks instead of trying to see the man beneath the good genes.
He, better than anyone, knew appearances didn’t mean a damn.
Pretty and attractive faces didn’t make the person good.
Often, it made them selfish and self-centered, and they were qualities he refused to have in his mate.
“No, I want to—need to get out of these rooms before I go crazy. Someone should stay with me in case I have a problem.”
Saber came to his rescue by adding his support.
“Would you go with Leo, please, Betrys? I need to speak with my employees and monitor Iseult. From what we’ve learned, I think she’ll stay holed up in her room, but I intend to place a couple of guards on her bungalow.
I need to organize that too. If we hear anything further from Sly and Joe, I’ll contact you. Take your com-circle with you.”
“All right,” Betrys said after a long pause. “I’ll babysit Leo.”
Leo bit his tongue, but his big brother laughed under his breath. Betrys never registered, but Leo’s feline senses heard just fine. He shot a warning at Saber and received a wink in return.
“I’ll meet you here late afternoon,” Saber said.
“Can you give me brief details of their physical appearance too? Iseult will ask. She’s rather particular in that way.”
“What type of man does she prefer?”
Betrys glanced from Leo to Saber and back. “Tall and fit build and a pleasing appearance. Any man who looks like both of you.”
Saber grinned. “Done deal.”
“Do you want to have a shower?” Leo asked once his brother had left.
“Not you too,” Betrys muttered and stomped off. Seconds later, Leo heard the sanitizer start.
“I’ll take that as a yes.” Leo thought for a second and picked up his communicator to ring Casey, his sister-in-law, and the manager of the resort boutique.
There was nothing wrong with Betrys’s figure.
Maybe if she started dressing in something other than her robe, she might start to feel better about herself.
With his call made, he stalked to the small en suite sanitizer room. The wound in his stomach was healing well, and once they arrived at the beach, he’d try shifting.
He peeled off his clothes and stepped into the cleansing unit.
“What are you doing?” She glared at him through wet hanks of hair. “Can’t a woman have some privacy?”
“I thought we’d save time,” Leo said. “Let me help you wash your hair.” He picked up a soap tab and lathered it between his palms.
Her scowl changed, shifting to wary. Maybe a trifle confused, he decided. Good, because she was kicking him off-balance too.
He lathered the cleanser, patiently massaging her skull. Warm water poured over them, the faint metallic scent indicating it came from their recycle plant. Gradually, she relaxed, her shoulders settling into a more normal posture.
He rinsed her hair, then briskly washed his own body. “My mother makes a conditioner for the ladies to rub into their hair. It smells of coconuts, and my sister says it works well.”
“What’s a coconut?”
“It’s a plant that grows on Earth. I don’t know how my mother replicated the scent, but she’s good at stuff like that. Finished? Good. Let’s dry off and hit the beach.”
Somehow, Betrys found herself organized and sitting on a private beach. She wore a black, white and red wrap with what Leo told her were turtle designs. Another Earth thing, according to Leo.
They sat under a shady thatched umbrella.
Leo was stretched out on his wrap, his body naked and relaxed, his eyes closed.
His breathing was even, and she thought he was asleep.
Her mind too full of worry about Ricci to rest, she fidgeted in her effort to find a comfortable spot.
That done, her gaze wandered Leo’s chest and came to a screeching halt at his stomach.
Her mouth fell open. Magic. It was magic.
The flesh had knitted together overnight, although the scar appeared scarlet against his tanned skin.
She hadn’t noticed earlier in the shower.
“Stop staring.”
“You look at me. I was returning the compliment.” Despite her anxiety, her longing to hug her son in person to assure herself of his safety, she couldn’t help but smile at Leo.
Even with his scars, he was a beautiful specimen.
At the thought, some of her feel-good mood packed a bag and sneaked off for a happier hangout.
When she picked the scabs off the known facts and her involvement, she came up with the only possible answer.
“Why are you paying attention to me?” She winced at her runaway tongue, then decided to continue because the subject was worrying her. “I don’t understand why we’re here at the beach. I’m sure you have better things to do.”
A frown creased Leo’s brow, and his eyes snapped open.
He propped himself up on one arm, his look intense and thoughtful.
He stared at her without saying anything, the silence stretching out until it became uncomfortable.
“Whatever you’re thinking, you’re wrong.
If I didn’t want to spend time with you, I wouldn’t. It’s as simple as that.”
“But Iseult—”
“At this moment I don’t give a flying fuck about Iseult,” Leo snapped. “Once we get Ricci back and this business with Iseult is over, what would you like to do?”
Betrys frowned. “I’ll have to find a new job. Hopefully, I can retrieve my stash of money from the mansion.” Her shoulders slumped because the chances of that weren’t good.
“That’s easy,” Leo said. “We’ll contact the twins and tell them where you’ve hidden your currency. They can collect it at the same time they retrieve Ricci.”
Hope sprang to life in her, and her gaze snapped to his face. “Really?”
“Sure. We’ll contact them now.” Leo reached for his com. “Sly,” he said, and just like that, he spoke with his younger brother and handed over his communicator for her to relay the details.
“Thank you,” she whispered, her heart full of hope. “That money will mean I can find decent lodgings in Dalcon city and give me breathing space if I’m not able to secure a job straight away.”
“Why do you want to go back to Dalcon? You could stay here. There are other kids in the village, and Ma was muttering about starting a school the other day. We need help at reception. I know that because we’re keeping Scarlett busy with other stuff.”
“No, I think it might be better if I leave. My presence will remind everyone of the bad things—”
“Bull crap,” Leo snapped. “Has it occurred to you that I want you to stay?”