Page 66

In the end, he did it because he simply couldn’t give up the opportunity. Of course, he wasn’t going to make it appear like a kidnapping, but rather an unfortunate mistake that left them stranded together. He would even give her a way out, which she wouldn’t take. So now she was his, at least for nine days. Maybe more. Much, much more.
Time to deal with the fireworks. “Isn’t kidnapping overstating it?”
Her eyes flashed. “It’s the very definition of kidnapping. Get that ship back here now.”
He ignored her command. “You came at your own discretion.”
“I came on a short sea tour, not a multi-day island retreat. Now call the captain and tell him to return immediately. We’re leaving.”
“You don’t even know how long they’ll be gone. For all you know, they could be returning tonight.”
She took a deep breath. “Are they coming back tonight?”
“No.”
“Tomorrow?”
“No.”
“The next day?”
“No. And to answer your next few questions, no, no and no.” He grinned.
Her eyes blazed fire. Did she know how beautiful she was when riled up? “When are they coming back?” she gritted out.
“Well, we have to be at work next Monday.”
She gasped. “They’re not coming back for ten days?”
“Of course not. We need at least a night to prepare. They’ll be back in nine.”
She glared. “Youarekidnapping me. The plan is over, because I’m not accepting it. You call for help this instant, or I’ll have you up on charges so quick your head will spin.”
He had no intention of calling anyone back, even though he could. Of course, she didn’t know that. “Are you sure? Most people would love an all-expenses paid vacation to an island paradise.”
“Sure, to Hawaii.”
“No problem. We can do that after filming.”
She ignored him, started looking around. “I need something to throw at you.”
He laughed. “Hawaii will definitely do you some good. As will this vacation.”
“I’m not going to Hawaii with you,” she ground out, “nor am I staying on this vacation. You get on the phone and call your ship back here. Now. Got it?”
He made a dramatic sigh. Too dramatic? Probably. “Okay, but I think you’re making a mistake.” He pivoted toward the house, stopped. Time to exercise those acting chops. “Uh-oh.”
“Uh-oh?” Destiny repeated. “What do you mean uh-oh?”
“About the phones…” He let his voice trail off, even put some horror into it. Definitely Oscar worthy. “My main phone line isn’t exactly functional right now.”
Her eye twitched. “What does not exactly functional mean?”
“It doesn’t work.” That was actually true. His main phone system had gone down last week. He was still waiting for the technicians to come and repair it.
“You live on an island, and your phone doesn’t work?” She didn’t hide her incredulity – or disbelief. “You have no back-ups?”
Of course, he did – several actually. He wasn’t irresponsible enough to be on a deserted island with only a single phone system. He had multiple satellite phones, as well as other forms of communication. And, of course, there were two speed boats on the other side of the island. “Would I be acting like this if I had a backup phone system?” It wasn’t exactly lying. If she assumed it meant he didn’t have any backups, then that was really her mistake.