Flight to Paradise (Flight Trilogy, Book 1) (31 page)

In contrast, a large yacht—at least a sixty footer—maybe more—was making its way slowly through the harbor. He knew that yachts that size would be priced in excess of a million dollars.

As he admired the sleek lines and smooth curves of the luxury yacht, his eyes zeroed-in on the curves of the two busty women in their tiny bikinis perched on its bow. Then he noticed two men up in the flybridge talking. It amazed him how young the two couples appeared to be.

“You ready to go?” Rex asked, as he stepped up behind him.

“You bet.”

Lifting the tailgate, Rex grabbed the small ice chest in one hand and black bag in the other.

“Here, let me get that.” Ryan said, reaching for the bag.

“We’ll be in the thirty-foot Catalina.” Rex slammed the tailgate closed.

They walked down the steps to the dock. Ryan couldn’t help but chuckle when he noticed the name given to their boat. Written in script on the stern, it said: “Easy Come, Easy Go.”

I
can
identify
with
that
.

They loaded the boat and prepared the sails. Rex cranked the diesel while Ryan untied the rope on the bow and cast off.

Once away from the docks and in the harbor, Ryan took the helm while Rex raised the main sail. Positioned directly into the wind, the ruffling of the trailing edge of the sail let them know that the need for the diesel would be short-lived.

Next, Rex unrolled the jib and used the winch to draw it tight. With the sails made ready, Ryan turned the tiller slightly and with a pop, the stiff breeze filled the large canvas.

“Kill the engine,” Rex said.

Ryan reached down and turned the key off to the engine. The sound of water slapped against the hull as they moved gracefully under the power of the wind against their sails.

Ryan looked up at the trailing edge of the main sail and the wind indicator mounted on the top of the mast. He adjusted the tiller slightly to maximize the angle of the wind against the main sail.

Off the bow, the yacht he had seen earlier had reversed course in the harbor and was approaching on their port side. It looked much larger and more impressive up close: definitely, Italian made.

The powerful twin diesels purred, twisting the props beneath the surface of the water churning a small, white, foamy wake to its rear.

The two buxom beauties were still perched on the front deck, like hood ornaments on a fine car. The closer view confirmed Ryan’s earlier observation: they were young, probably in their late twenties.

Ryan’s lustful gaze was quickly tempered by what he knew existed behind the veil of their perfectly sculptured bodies. More than likely, it was not the men the women were after, but their money; like vultures, perched, and ready to swoop down on the dead and rotting flesh of a carcass. If given enough time, the two predators would surely mount their unsuspecting victims like road kill on some deserted highway, stripping them of the booty that was the extent of their manhood, leaving the two hormone-charged studs with little more than a painful memory.

Ryan’s attention quickly snapped to the bow of the sailboat when he noticed Rex had removed his shirt and blue shorts, standing proud, wearing nothing but a canary yellow Speedo-style swimsuit and sunglasses.

With his manhood bulging like an arched banana, Rex waved at the girls as their boat passed only feet away, totally ignoring the men. The girls waved back, giggling.

“What a pair of hotties!” Rex called out.

Ryan cringed knowing Rex’s voice had echoed off the water like a loudspeaker into the harbor. They passed close enough to have shaken hands. The men stared down angrily from their elevated tower.

“Hey, buddy!” Rex called back to Ryan. “See what I mean? We need to get us some of that!”

Ryan stood frozen at the tiller in total embarrassment. He smiled and tipped his head at the girls as the yacht powered by. He could see they were amused with Rex’s bold outburst of testosterone.

The men were also waving, or more like jabbing, with only the middle finger of their raised hand.

Rex made his way back to the cockpit. “Rex!” Ryan whispered strongly. “You’re going to get us shot.”

“Dude, calm down. There’s nothing wrong with looking,” he calmly responded. Quickly changing his tone, he said, “Did you see those two babes? They were unbelievable! Dude, don’t you just love California?”

They continued through the harbor toward the jetties, the yacht almost out of sight, moving in the opposite direction.

Based on the short time he had spent with Rex and what he had seen so far, Ryan couldn’t wait to hear what Rex had meant when he’d said, “I’ve changed.” He looked at him in that ridiculous-looking bathing suit.

Only
Rex
.

“So, buddy, tell me about this
miraculous
change in your life.” He expected him to say something lame, like, he’d stopped dating women younger than he was, or, possibly, he no longer went to bed with a woman unless he knew her last name.

The thirty-foot Catalina glided through the calm water abeam the jetties leading to the open Pacific.

“I’m married,” Rex said.

Ryan stared at Rex, dumbfounded. The words didn’t fit. “You! Married?”

Rex smiled and said, “Dude, I told you you’d be surprised.”

“Rex Dean, married? When did this happen?” Ryan asked, his face twisted between a look of shock and amazement.

Rex glanced up briefly, then back. “Been about a year.”

Sounding slightly angry, Ryan asked, “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Rex snapped back. “Dude, I called your house and told Emily. She was quick to drop the news your mom was very sick. Her exact words were that she was “on her deathbed.” I decided you didn’t need to be bothered with my wedding. I figured you had your hands full, and from the sound of it, it didn’t sound like your mom was your only problem.”

“Yeah, you can say that again,” Ryan said under his breath. “Rex, she lied to you. My mom
is
sick, but she’s not exactly on her deathbed. She has Alzheimer’s.

“Sorry, dude. For whatever reason, she really blew off on me. If I’d only known—”

“There’s no way you could have known. That’s just one example of what my life has been like with that little twit.”

For a brief moment, Rex reflected on his conversation that day with Emily. It didn’t go exactly like he had told Ryan. For starters, Emily had called him.

She said she had been looking through some old pictures and wanted to see how things were going. Rex knew she wanted more than that; she wanted him. But for the first time in his life, he had to say no to a woman. After he told her about Keri, she acted as if she already knew. It didn’t seem to faze her that he was married.

“Hey, if it makes you feel any better, you didn’t miss much, really…no big deal. It was a small wedding,” he lied.

“What do you mean, ‘no big deal’? It’s a very big deal. This is front-page news. I can see it now,” Ryan made quotes in the air with the two fingers on each hand as he said, “confirmed bachelor, tamed.”

Rex was relieved Ryan had lightened up a bit. The news about his being married was finally out, but he knew what was next: Ryan would want a name. But he wasn’t about to go there. How would he explain that one? And the baby?

Rex looked over at him and smiled. “Well, it’s not like I said I would
never
get married. If I remember correctly, I always told you that when the right girl came along, I might give it a try.”

The sails tightened and the boat tilted as they moved clear of the jetties and into the blue Pacific. The bow cut through the rolling waves sending a salty spray into the air.

“Well, all I can say is this woman must be something special. I can’t wait to meet her.”

They exchanged a few light-hearted comments and shared funny stories about Rex and his many women. As the day progressed, Ryan seemed to grow more accepting of the idea that Rex was married. Then, it started.

“So, how did you two meet?”

“She’s a flight attendant.”

“Does she work for us?”

“Yeah.” Rex waited for him to ask for her name.

“Just one question,” Ryan asked jokingly, “what about the old Rex who always said, one woman would never be enough?”

Rex laughed. “Yeah, we were wild and crazy back then…or at least I was. This girl is different. After leaving the Navy, I started thinking I should settle down, maybe even one day have a little Rexter or Rexann.”

“Now that would really be hard to believe: Rex Dean, a daddy. I just hope it’s not a boy.”

Rex knew he couldn’t tell him about the kid. After all, he didn’t want to ruin
all
the surprises.

“Well I’m happy for you. Can’t wait to meet her. So, have you told her about all the crazy times we had together in the Navy, or are you leaving that job up to me?”

Rex stared at the Newport Coast. In a monotone voice he replied, “She knows all about us.”

“That’s good. I don’t want her thinking I was a bad influence on you.” They both laughed.

CHAPTER 57

When Keri entered her condo, she paused briefly listening to the almost eerie quietness. Then she realized the nanny had taken the baby for a stroll.

She placed the bags of groceries on the kitchen counter, wondering which one of Rex’s Navy buddies would be joining them tonight. Several names crossed her mind.

Since she had returned to work, there had been little time in her busy schedule for socializing. Tonight, she looked forward to relaxing, maybe having a glass or two of wine. The baby should be asleep by dinnertime, and the nanny would be there to watch him.

She pulled the steaks from the plastic grocery bag and placed them on the counter. Her eyes glanced into the den and caught the blinking red light on the answering machine. After putting the steaks in the refrigerator, she rounded the corner into the den and pressed the play button on the recorder.

She didn’t recognize the man’s voice.

“Keri, this is Philip Darby, your father’s lawyer. Please give me a call at your earliest convenience…”

Hearing the words “your father” sent a rush of blood to her face. Anything to do with her father could wait. Probably one of his tricks to make contact with her. It wasn’t the first time he had tried to call since their last conversation over a year ago.

She replayed the message, jotting down the number and the name, Darby, and left it on a scratch pad by the phone. She would have to call him later; the boys would be home soon and she wanted everything to be ready.

CHAPTER 58

It was four thirty when they returned to the dock. They secured the boat, loaded the car, and Rex signed out with the young girl in the front office.

The afternoon sun was dropping toward the horizon as they headed south on the coast highway. Rex steered the conversation away from his marriage and to Ryan’s plans. Ryan updated him on his mother’s condition; the scare he had when he discovered how Emily had tried to ruin him; and his excitement about moving to California and starting over.

Minutes from the condo, Rex thought he’d made it, until Ryan asked, “Do you remember my old girlfriend, Keri Hart?”

“Ah…yeah,” Rex mumbled.

“If you remember, she’s the one that ran off with some guy named, Bill. Actually, I think she ended up marrying the guy.”

Rex goosed the accelerator, hoping to shorten the few miles that remained. He couldn’t tell him now, he could only brace for the impact, letting the cards fall where they may. Give it a few days, weeks, months, whatever, and hopefully it would all be history. Ryan would accept it, and life could return to normal. Or would he?

Rex needed a stiff drink—or two, or three—if he was going to make it through this night.

“I was hoping I could look her up, you know, just as a friend.”

Rex pressed harder on the accelerator and remained quiet, only offering an occasional grunt. Ryan seemed to be happy talking to himself.

“I called her house in Buckhead, but the maid told me her mom had passed away and her dad was laid up in the hospital from a recent heart attack. Can’t say I was too broken up about her mom…she was a real piece of work, if you know what I mean.”

“Yeah, dude. Believe me, I know what you mean,” he said.

“But her dad was my hero. I always admired that man.”

Rex perked up.

…
her
dad
…
hospital
…
heart
attack
.

“Dude, when did you call her house?”

“A few days before I called you…maybe a week ago. Why?”

The wheels started turning. The old man was finally going to kick it. Rex smiled. Keri was the only surviving relative, and he was her husband.

Awesome
!

“What are you smiling about?” Ryan asked.

“Oh nothing.” He hid the smile. “Here we are. I hope you’re hungry.”

* * *

Rex parked the Cherokee, promptly exited and headed for the front door. Ryan followed closely behind.

With one hand on the doorknob, Rex paused and turned to Ryan. “Let’s surprise her.”

“You never told me her name,” Ryan whispered.

Rex ignored him, twisting the knob slowly and very carefully easing the door open.

Once inside, Ryan sensed a warm, inviting atmosphere: soft background music, candles flickered on the mantle above the fireplace, the aroma of food—possibly bread baking.

Through the cutout separating the kitchen from the dining room, he could see the back of a woman. She stood about five six, her shoulder-length brunette hair pulled back into a ponytail. She wore a red tank top.

They tiptoed closer passing a table set with three bright yellow place mats and matching linen napkins. A cut glass vase filled with fresh flowers stood in the center of the table.

Rex turned, lifting his finger to his lips, “Shhhh.” Slightly crouched, he crept slowly toward the kitchen.

As more of the woman came into view, Ryan could see her tight white shorts and softly-bronzed skin. Apron strings tied off at the mid of her back, hung loose. He’d imagined a taller woman, possibly blond.

Rex eased up behind her, slipped his arms around her waist, hugged her, and kissed her on the neck. Then he stepped aside.