CHAPTER TWO
Marilisa’s life was a series of puzzle pieces that didn’t fit. No matter how hard she tried, no matter what she did, nothing made sense.
As a child, she seemed to devour books and understand complex mathematical problems, solving things using engineering skills that a child shouldn’t possess. Her parents seemed incapable of managing her and her exceptional skills and, more often than not, ignored her. Or at least that’s what she remembered.
She seemed to have a memory of being a child and dropped off at a ‘special’ school that turned out to be an agency training and farm school for highly intelligent children. It never made sense that her parents had been average people. Her mother worked at a grocery store. Her father was a carpenter. Or at least that’s what she remembered. How could she end up with a superior IQ?
She probably would never know the answer to that question. Like the others, her head was filled with formulas, numbers, scientific equations, and other things she couldn’t explain. But it was her head. Her gift. Her blessing. Her curse. And no matter what, she was attempting to make the best of it with the help of those around her.
Sometimes, late at night, she would wake up with things racing through her head, and she’d immediately write them down.
Now, at twenty-two, she was already a PhD in weapons engineering, with a master’s in weapons chemistry. Working at G.R.I.P. was the greatest achievement of her life and one of the great joys of her life. Montana and the others were all geniuses in their own right and took her beneath their wings, giving her advice, direction, and parental guidance that she’d missed until she came to Belle Fleur.
Shy and withdrawn when she’d arrived at Belle Fleur, the team and family made her feel welcomed almost immediately. More than that, they made her feel normal. She wasn’t Marilisa the genius, strange child. She was just Marilisa, the beautiful teenage girl, shy but happy.
Adopted by Trevor and Ashley Banks, she learned that her new father was a former Navy SEAL, and her mother was a psychologist specializing in trauma. Her calm, sweet personality helped Marilisa to find her voice and know what she wanted to become in this world.
Everyone made sure she knew that she was special.
Everyone except the man who mattered most to her. It seemed he couldn’t fathom the idea of a relationship with a woman ten years his junior. Marilisa found it ridiculous, considering her special abilities and considering that there were dozens of couples who were at least ten years apart in age.
It also seemed ridiculous considering the life experiences that she’d been exposed to, maturing her beyond her years.
“Why won’t he even look at me?” she whispered, sitting at lunch one day.
“Because he’s scared, honey,” said Ashley.
“I agree,” said Alice. “He’s like his father. He’s hard-headed and terrified of what could happen if he allows himself to truly feel something.”
“That doesn’t really help me,” she frowned, pushing her salad around on the plate. “I kissed him a few nights ago, and he ran like a little schoolboy.”
Ashley and Alice laughed, shaking their heads.
“Is that funny?” asked Stephanie.
“Not funny. Just typical for Saint. He’s not a player, Marilisa. Saint is a young man who has never had a steady girlfriend in his life. He’s dated, I think,” said his mother, “but never anyone serious enough to bring them home. At his core, he’s shy and very much a gentleman.”
“Well, not to sound terrible, but I’d really love it if he were a little less gentlemanly. Right now, he doesn’t even notice me.”
“Oh, he notices you. And he will show you when he’s ready, honey. He will.”
That night, she went to The Well with a few others and returned to find Saint on his front porch this time.
His feet were propped up on the banister. He was leaning back in the chair, rocking back and forth, just thinking. No, that wasn’t true. He was stewing. Not thinking. He was pissed off and didn’t know what to do about it.
“If you’d just go out to The Well, you could see her,” said Grip, staring at the young man.
“She’s a kid.”
“She’s not a kid, Saint. Ask any man there who has danced with her,” he smirked. Saint stared at him, shaking his head.
“Don’t say that!”
“Face the facts, kid. She’s a grown woman, and other men are noticing as well. I’d suggest you get on board, or you’re going to be miserable for a very long time.”
Grip drifted away, disappearing into the evening darkness, leaving Saint in the misery of his own thoughts.
He did have feelings for Marilisa, but the idea of her being a little kid coming to Belle Fleur, afraid of everything, so small and frail, he couldn’t get out of his head.
Yes, he understood she was a PhD. Yes, he understood she was an adult. But there was something keeping him from seeing her as a woman.
Suddenly, that all disappeared. He stood on the porch looking down the path as several of their young people were walking toward him, laughing and singing. They’d been to The Well and obviously had a good time.
Marilisa was dressed in a small little cotton skirt and short top that hugged her curves, fitting her full bosoms perfectly. She was wearing cowboy boots, and although she was petite, they made her legs look like they went on forever.
“Hey, Saint,” said Ulani.
“Hey.”
“Hi, Saint,” said Marilisa with a frown. “Goodnight.”
He watched until she’d disappeared into her own cottage. Then he took his seat once again and shook his head.
“Fuck.”
A few days later, he made a critical mistake that might have cost him any chance of having a relationship with Marilisa.
While the seniors were at the animal sanctuary trying to stop terrorists, Marilisa and the other geniuses, along with all the women and children, were at the Sugar Lodge. For days now, they’d been feeling something strange, like someone attempting to make a call to them.
Marilisa couldn’t ignore it any longer.
Placing herself in danger, being held hostage, she’d nearly lost her life. But someone, something, had saved her, pulling her to safety. When Saint arrived, he acted without thinking.
“You’re one of us,” whispered Marilisa to her savior. The group all turned, staring at the girl. “They’re like us. Different but like us.”
“I think we need to meet about this. With Mama and Pops,” said Gaspar. Gabriel walked toward the group and smiled, reaching out to shake their hands.
“They mean no harm, Gaspar. Marilisa is right. They are like our little geniuses only different in some ways. There are a lot of you.”
“There are,” nodded Kane. “This is my wife, Aislinn. That’s Flip and his wife, Nat. Dr. Adam Thorn and his wife, Fiona.”
“Him,” said Marilisa, pointing to a man walking toward her. The man smiled at her, nodding. “He was the one sending the message. How?”
“Why don’t I tell you everything later,” said Kane. “I’m just asking for a safe place to lay our heads and maybe some food, Ghost. We’ve been on the run for a while now, and there are men chasing us. If what the girl says is right, and she’s like us, they’ll be after her as well.”
“Let’s go,” nodded Ghost. “I’m sure we can round up some food for everyone, showers, and places to live.” Gaspar looked at Gabe, who was smiling ear to ear.
“The thirty extra cabins on the island. Know anything about that, Gabe?”
“Maybe,” he laughed. “It’s always fun getting the best of you, mon frére.”
“Asshole. Let’s go, people. We need some answers to what we just witnessed. On a property where the unusual happens all the time, you just blew my fucking mind.”
As they walked toward the docks and the boats waiting there, the team from VG was standing on the land bridge. Saint pushed through, glaring at Marilisa.
“Saint, I…”
“Don’t. Fucking stupid, childish move. Stupid!” he said, yelling into her face. Saint never saw it coming. She reared back her hand and slapped him so hard he fell backwards into the arms of Brax.
“One day, you will realize I am neither stupid nor childish, Saint. I only hope I’m still here when you do.”