He stared incredulously. “The dude that looks like a toad? You’ve got to be joking.”
Eyes slitted, she notched up her chin. “If I’m going to subject myself to someone’s mercy, I want to explore my options.”
Dragging his thumb across her pink lips, he smeared her lipstick. “Did you wear this for him?”
He didn’t give her time to reply. He sucked her bottom lip, then her top lip, removing all traces of lipstick before he swirled his tongue into her mouth.
Ellie’s breathing turned rapid. Her hands went to his chest, but her shove turned into a caress as he kissed her more deeply.
Then his cell phone rang.
Cursing, he grabbed his cell and checked the caller ID. Neville . “I need to take this.” His eyes narrowed on her. “Don’t go far.”
The second she saw an opening, Ellie bolted. She shut herself in the women’s bathroom across from the dining hall.
“Neville,” Carter answered. He went upstairs for privacy. “Anyone ever tell you, you have the worst timing?”
“I have even worse news.”
Carter tensed. “Spill it.”
“The guys invested in the Pierce acquisition won’t release your funds until you meet them in person.”
“Excuse me?”
“I believe they’re going to resort to extortion.”
“That’s not an option.” Carter paced the second-floor landing. “I need that investment liquid by Friday.”
“It’s not going to happen. I’ve done everything humanly possible.”
“Who are these people you’re dealing with?”
Neville sounded weary and depressed. “I’ve come to learn over the past few days that the Mafia is alive and well. Thriving, actually.”
Carter felt like he’d taken a punch. “I’m never going to see that money.”
“Not likely,” Neville admitted in a small voice.
Until now, Carter never heard what a grown man sounded like on the verge of tears. “Then clear your calendar for the next two days. You’re going to be busy.”
“I’ve done all I can!”
“Now you can start leveraging my other assets. We need at least two-million. I’ll meet you at my hotel in Hilton Head in three hours.”
Chapter 9
Just when Ellie thought Arnoff might be a better alternative to Carter, everything changed the day before the auction.
It was Thursday afternoon. Already , she thought, staring down at the water from the top tier of Arnoff’s ostentatious yacht. The gray skies and murky waves reflected her dismal mood.
At first, Arnoff seemed like a gentleman, if a bit socially awkward in his mannerisms and appearance. But as of that morning, when Carter was nowhere to be found for the second day in a row, Arnoff made a complete reversal. He turned into the demeaning, self-centered, arrogant jerk he’d been the first time he visited the island to assess the hotel’s potential.
Ellie should’ve refused his invitation to go sailing on his yacht. Against her instincts, she’d accepted, although she’d made the captain promise not to stray more than a mile from El Dorado’s shoreline. Now she was regretting that choice more and more as the minutes stretched into hours, and their “little jaunt” became an all-day event. She felt jittery, tense, her fears of being on the water amassing into a knot of constant anxiety.
“Did you see the dolphins yet, sweet cheeks?” Arnoff came up behind her and patted her backside.
Ellie moved a few feet away. “I’ve lived on El Dorado Island my entire life—yes, I’ve seen dolphins.”
He opened a fresh pack of sardines. Ellie experienced a wave of nausea.
“Here.” He waved them in front of her face. “I found another batch. This should get the fish’s attention.”
“Dolphins are mammals, not fish.”
“Whatever. Throw them a few. See if they come closer this time.”
“This isn’t Sea World.” Grossed out, she forced herself to take a sardine from the can with two fingertips, holding it as far away as possible. She tossed the stinky thing overboard. “There it goes.”
The waves buried the tiny silver flash instantly. “No dolphins. Oh, well.” She checked her watch. “I think it’s time to head back.”
“It feels like we just got here.” Arnoff sidled up next to her, smearing his fish-greased hands over her white sundress.
“I’m not feeling well.”
He nodded. “It’s the waves. There’s a storm brewing out there. A hurricane, they predict,” he said with a shrug. “You’ll have to get used to being on my yacht, though. I take it everywhere I go up and down the east coast.”