“What reason is that?”
He sat back and folded his hands over his stomach. “I’ve recently found out some disturbing information about Red Jameson. Information that could be very problematic for him if it was to be made public.”
“What kind of information?”
He sighed. “Information about his illegal activities. He could go to jail for it, possibly, and certainly public opinion would be very harsh if any of it were to come to light.”
“I don’t believe you. I don’t think Red did anything illegal.”
“Spouses rarely think the worst of their loved ones.”
“You’re going to threaten to release this information about Red if I don’t agree to go to the Caymans with you?” She shook her head in disbelief. “You’re even worse than I thought.”
Kane just looked at her. “I know you’ll be angry with me for awhile, but I feel confident we’ll get past it. And if you still hate me at the end of the trip, then…” he shrugged.
Nicole stood up. “I’m not going to even dignify this proposition with a response.”
“Nicole, don’t go,” he said.
She stopped and turned to look at him. “If you want to hurt Red, I can’t stop you by having sex with you. I’m sorry but I refuse to do that.”
Kane started to laugh. “Whoever said anything about sex?”
“I think inviting me on a trip to the Caymans is pretty much telling me you expect me to sleep with you.”
“You don’t know me, Nicole,” he said, still laughing. “Red must have truly traumatized you with his behavior if that’s what you think I’m indicating.”
“Then what are you saying?”
“I’m simply asking you to spend some time with me—a few days. Let’s get to know one another.”
“I’m still in love with Red.”
Kane’s smile died on his lips. Clearly, he was a man not accustomed to being told no. “He’s weak, Nicole. When things got difficult between the two of you, he ran away.
What sort of man is that?”
“I can’t change how I feel,” she said.
“I don’t expect you to.”
“Then what do you expect?” She asked, knowing she should just walk out, but afraid to do so.
Kane stood up and came a single step closer to her. “Think about my proposition.
A few days in the Caymans with me. I promise there will be no demands made of you, other than you spend some time with me eating wonderful food, laying on the beach, swimming in crystal clear water. Most people pay quite a lot of money for a vacation like that.”
“And if I agree, you’ll make sure that this information about Red never becomes a problem. You won’t ever release it to anybody?”
He looked her straight in the eye. “I swear I won’t ever put it out there. And it could be very bad for him if anything ever did get out. Homeland Security in particular would be very interested.”
“Would they?” she said. “Why would Homeland Security care about what Red was doing?”
“He was helping undocumented workers from Middle Eastern countries gain access to the U.S. through employment with his company.”
“Why would he do that?” Nicole asked. “That doesn’t make any sense to me.”
“You’d have to ask him why he did it,” Kane told her, turning and walking toward the window that overlooked the dance floor. “Maybe Red Jameson isn’t the man you believe him to be.”
Nicole was spinning from everything Kane had just told her. His threats and promises buzzed around in her head like a swarm of bees. “I think I should go home now,” she said.
He nodded. “Let me get Jeffrey to drive you.”
“You’ve got to be joking.”
Suddenly Kane broke into a boyish grin. “Of course I’m joking, Nicole. Besides, Jeffrey’s having some problems with his driver’s license right about now. I’ll have my personal driver take you home instead.”
Kane took his cell phone out and texted something rapid fire. Then he looked up at Nicole. “Think about my offer,” he said.
She chewed a little on her lower lip, thinking about what two or three days alone with Kane would be like. There was no way she could ever be attracted to him. In fact, she could hardly stand to be in his physical presence.
On the other hand, if he kept to his word about this trip, all she would have to do is grit her teeth and bear it. Make conversation, go swimming, eat a few meals with him.
She’d of course stay in her own room—that was a deal breaker.
And when it was over, Red would be safe again. Except that she had no idea if Kane Wright would honor the agreement.