Trust in Us Read Free Page A

barely let his thumb graze the bend of her arm.
    Alythia ordered—no, begged—the sudden and completely uncharacteristic desire to moan to cease and desist with the pressure it applied to her larynx.
    “I, um— I’m good,” she managed, and then followed up the lie with a laugh. “I was good before I got here and saw that my ride was kind enough not to leave without me.”
    He roared into laughter, the sound causing Alythia to jump at the full honesty of it. Despite the contagious effect of the reaction, she winced when he looked her way.
    “Sorry, I know I sound ungrateful,” she said.
    Curiosity intermingled with his amusement. “Why do you think you’re ungrateful?”
    “Most people dream of visiting the Caribbean.” She looked toward the jet once more. “Of those who have actually had those dreams come true, few get there on a private plane.”
    “Um, could I take that stuff for you?” he inquired of her bags again before the dumbfounded amusement on his face started to make her feel uneasy.
    “Sorry. Um...” Aly began to relinquish her bags. “Thanks for your help— Oh, wait.”
    Easing the strap of a tan duffel over his shoulder, he watched her fumble through a plump midsize purse.
    “Dammit...I knew I had a five or ten in here....”
    “Hey.” He cupped her elbow that time. “There’s no need to tip me.”
    Alythia blinked toward the plane. “I’m pretty sure you guys are way behind schedule because of me.”
    “We’ll get there.” He voiced the soft reassurance while applying a light massage to the elbow he cupped. “They aren’t gonna leave without you.” He winced a little against the sun in his eyes when he glanced at the plane. “This is a vacation. No clocks. Say it. ‘No clocks.’”
    “No clocks.” Alythia nodded in a hypnotic manner while repeating the phrase that sounded like heaven. “No clocks.” She gave in to a smile that demanded to be seen.
    Clarity surged in the liquid chocolate of Gage Vincent’s stare and he realized that the woman standing before him had no idea that the plane was his or who he was for that matter.
    He dipped his head to peer into Alythia’s eyes and observed her that way for several seconds. He nodded, evidently satisfied that her outlook was improving and more than a little captivated by the stunning shade of her gaze. He then took four of her five bags, effortlessly hoisting the straps across his shoulders and angling one at his neck.
    Alythia held on to an overnight case—the smallest of the five. Her smile brightened in approval of the button-down shirt he wore. The short sleeves revealed the flex and ripple of well-toned muscle accentuated by the flawless café noir of his skin.
    “Shall we?” He motioned her ahead with the hand secured about the handle of a boxy brown-and-beige case.
    “Do you think your boss will be a jerk about me holding up the party?” Alythia asked once they were crossing the tarmac toward the waiting plane.
    “You’re good.” He paused. “The man’s a sucker for women. Especially women who look like you.”
    “Thank you.” Her words were delivered coolly enough even though his remark had threatened to halt her stride. “Um...will you be on the flight or...?”
    “You’ll see me around.” He halted at the foot of the mobile stairway.
    “Thank you.” Aly made no secret of the fact that she was attempting to memorize his face before she headed on up the steps leading into the plane.
    Gage’s smile went from friendly to smoldering within seconds of Alythia’s exit. He thought her legs seemed to go on forever beneath the airy white skirt that flared above her knees. She wore an emerald racer-back tank that matched strappy sandals that added emphasis on trim ankles and shapely calves. Not until one of the actual baggage handlers interrupted his survey to ask for the cases did Gage look away.

Chapter 2
    G age inclined his head a fraction as though he were attempting to obtain a better view of what