Duncan's Rose Read Free Page B

sleek hair and a clean-shaven face.
    People were held by a harsh glare from the black-suited men. None of the villagers dared to come closer to her or Adair.
    Were the black-suited men Mr. Wardlaw’s men? Jeez, why would a man living on an almost deserted island need guards around him? That made her wonder what he was hiding. There were at most a few hundred residents on the island, but heck, who was counting? Maybe he holds the authority on this island.
    She’d learned about Kenneth Wardlaw through the Internet, and from the research she’d done after her conversation with him on the phone. He inherited the mansion, restored the Wardlaw’s castle and resided in it for the past few years.
    One of the men was speaking on a cell phone in a respectful tone; he walked in long strides toward Adair and handed the phone to him.
    “Aye, Sir,” Adair said into the phone, stiffening as he spoke to the person on the other end of the line. His facial expressions were hard as stone. “Nay, she insisted on coming. I told her nay. It wasn’t a three-point landing, Sir, but I delivered ‘er alive.”
    “My plane? Totally destroyed. Your men are trying to put the fire out.” His voice quavered. Then, as he took a deep breath, a wide smile spread across his face. “You don’t ’ave to, Sir, but thank…” He shook his head, a shocked look on his face. He gazed at the cell as if it were a coiled snake, ready to strike at him.
    Miranda’s smoke-and water-damaged suitcase was tossed aside as the men in black suits put the fire out with the small fire extinguisher they had plus one they retrieved from the plane. The back end of the plane was destroyed. She sighed in dismay and hung tightly to her handbag, thanking God for her safety and the laptop.
    “Thank you, gentlemen, and sorry for the disturbance we caused.” She turned her gaze at one of the men. “Excuse me, can you guide me to the bed and breakfast?”
    “Ma’am, we were instructed to take you to Mr. Wardlaw’s castle,” one of the men said.
    “Oh, but I would like to check into the bed and breakfast first…”
    “He is expecting you, and your reservations in the bed and breakfast have been canceled. You’ll be staying in the castle as Mr. Wardlaw’s guest.” The man offered her half a smile and turned back to the waiting car.
    She narrowed her eyes at the man’s superior air and shook her head. A sharp demand to go to the bed and breakfast was on her lips, but she held her tongue. If she refused the reclusive business man, he might rescind her invitation for an interview. Swallowing the harsh words on her tongue, she smiled. “Thank you. It’s very nice of him to offer me lodging.” She tried to ignore the niggling voice of doubt in the back of her mind. What harm could come from staying there? It wasn’t like she was being kidnapped. She was merely being bullied.
    When she talked with Mr. Wardlaw, he never mentioned this invitation. She had even reassured him that she would not bother him for long and she would book a room in the bed and breakfast. He hadn’t argued. Why the sudden change of plans? She felt forced, kidnapped—but in a nice way. The way Adair lifted his eyebrows in surprise and the snort that escaped his belly alarmed her. Was that smug satisfaction?
    One of the men in black held her elbow gently to guide her to the black limo; the insistence of his grasp didn’t escape her. “What’s your name?” Miranda asked. If she was going with them, then at least she had to know their names. Wardlaw’s men didn’t speak much; they simply observed, wearing those unexplainable dark scowls on their faces.
    Still, he didn’t answer her. Fine, I’ll just call them the M.I.B.S
    He pushed her gently toward the back of the limo and helped her inside, following closely behind her as if she might escape if he didn’t block her way out. Her racing mind was telling her now was the time to panic. Why the stiff, stubborn urgency for her to go and see