So its your job to get her safely to the altar so this blokes movie can make more millions?
Thats about it, Ryan said. How hard can it be? Five women on a tropical island.
So, will you be hiring the male stripper or are you providing those services yourself?
Its not like that, he said. Ms. Hightower wants an adventure. According to her instructions, she doesnt want to spend every minute working on her tan. I expect we wont be sipping mimosas by the pool the entire time.
So youll be doing a lot of shopping?
Definitely not on the itinerary. Perry has a man in Fiji who will help me with the arrangements. Arthur Cawaru. Hell meet up with me there.
Were splitting the fee with him?
Ryan shook his head. Nope. Like I said, the studio is paying all the bills. And this isnt a Max Adrenaline job. Im freelancing on this.
Wow, Rogan muttered. Mal isnt going to like that.
This isnt a guiding job. Im not using company equipment or money. And I dont care what the hell Mal does and doesnt like these days, Ryan muttered. Hes been so caught up in planning the Everest trip that hes not interested in anything else.
Max Quinn, their father, had died nearly twenty years before while guiding a group of climbers to the summit of Everest. Before his death, hed parlayed his considerable fame as a mountaineer into an adventure business with his Aussie friend and business partner, Roger Inniswho had taken total control of the company, and its profits, after Maxs accident.
And now, with the recent discovery of their fathers body on Everest, there had been a push for his three adventuring sons to make a pilgrimage of sorts to Max Quinns final resting place, to retrieve his effects and bury him properly. Mal, Ryans older brother, was all for the trip, along with publishing a biography that he and his fiancée, Amy Engalls, were writing about his father.
But not everyone was so enthusiastic about their expedition to Everest. Roger Innis was mounting an expedition of his own to recover their fathers effects, including his climbing journal, which Innis considered company, not personal, property. Mal suspected that Innis was afraid he might be blamed for the mistakes made that day. And Ryan and Rogan knew there were other secrets that might be exposed if their fathers journal got into the wrong hands. The secrets in that book could shatter their perfect memory of their father and destroy the family hed left behind.
Ryan drew a deep breath. We need to tell Mal about Dad and the Montgomery woman. He can still call an end to this.
Theres no stopping him, Rogan said. The trip is a go. He paused. And Im going with him. Im not going to let Roger Innis use his expedition to make himself look like the hero.
But you said it was morbid.
Yeah, Rogan said. But Ive had a change of heart. Claudia has pointed out that I cant really get on with my future until I deal with my past. Maybe this trip is what it will take for me to understand who he was. And who I am.
You know who he was, Ryan countered. He was our father. A philanderer.
Thats not all he was. Listen, someday Im going to be a father. And I wont have Dad around to talk to about it. So Id like to know him a little better. And I want the truth of why he died on that mountain.
And what if the journals not there? What if he just died there on the mountain, without anything important to say to his family? Or what if he mentions that Montgomery woman? How do you think that will make Mum feel?
Rogan drew a deep breath. I dont know. But its time we found out.
You and Mal can go right ahead.
Its something we should all do together, Rogan insisted.
Count me out. Im happy with what I know. I dont see the need to stir it all up again. It almost destroyed us once already. Ryans chest tightened and he swallowed back a wave of emotion.
His family had never really dealt with his fathers death. At the time, Ryans mother, Lydie Quinn, had been so emotionally fragile herself that she hadnt been able to help her children through the tragedy. Ryan had stood by helplessly as all the happiness had drained out of their lives.
Along the way, Ryan had learned to control his emotions, to stop caring about anything that might make him happy. Hed lived his life waiting for the next disaster to befall their family and building a high wall around his heart to protect himself from the pain.
Malcolm and Rogan had found happiness. Theyd fallen in love and were looking forward to rosy futures. But Ryan would never allow himself to be that vulnerable. He couldnt bring himself to trust that deeply.
Youre going to have to make a decision soon, Rogan said. We leave in three months.
Have a good trip, he muttered.
An uneasy silence fell over the interior of the Range Rover. As if he didnt already feel like an outsider in his own family, this didnt make things much better. He and his brothers had always agreed on most subjects, but since Amy and Claudia had come into the picture, that had all changed.
Is that your plane? Rogan asked.
Ryan looked up and saw a small jet appear out of the darkness. It rolled to a stop about twenty meters from the car.
Jaysus, you will be traveling in style, Rogan said, laughing softly.
Thanks for the lift, Ryan said. Ill see you in a week.
The door to the plane dropped down, and Ryan jumped out and grabbed his gear from the rear seat. Wish me luck, he said.
I dont think youll be needing any, Rogan said. Stay out of trouble.
Ryan waved and swung his bag over his shoulder, then jogged across the tarmac to the waiting plane. A young man appeared in the doorway as Ryan climbed the steps.
Mr. Quinn?
Yes, Ryan said.
Welcome aboard. Im Miles DuMont. Im the studio publicist. Its a pleasure to meet you.
Ryan shook his hand. A publicist?
Oh, dont worry, he whispered. Youll barely know Im here. Im just along to make sure we control the message. And get a few good photos.
The message? What does that mean? Ryan asked as he moved past him.
Ms. Hightower tends to find herself in the middle of a media firestorm wherever she goes. Im the one who carries the fire extinguisher.
The interior of the plane was dark and silent. Ryan stowed his gear in a locker and glanced toward the back of the plane. Theyve all had plenty to drink, Miles said. Come on back. Ill introduce you to Serena.
Ryan followed Miles down the aisle of the plane. Four passengers were curled up in the wide leather seats, sound asleep, but a reading light glowed from a seat at the rear.
Ms. Hightower?
Ryan held his breath when he got his first glimpse of the actress. She was stunning. Her long hair was pulled back from her fresh-scrubbed face, and she wore dark-rimmed glasses, which did nothing to hide her large liquid-blue eyes.
Ms. Hightower, this is Ryan Quinn, the guide.
She smiled warmly and Ryans pulse leaped. He knew he ought to say something, but he couldnt seem to put the words together. Hell, he was the last guy in the world who would be starstruck, but she was possibly the most beautiful woman hed ever met. Hello, he finally managed.
Hi, she said, sending him a coy smile. She stared at him for a long moment and Ryan wondered if she could read his thoughts. Not that his thoughts were any different from those of every other bloke who had the pleasure of meeting her. She slowly reached out her hand, and Ryan took it.
II have some interesting adventures planned for you, he said, his fingers tingling.
Good. Im looking forward to having some fun. Do you like to have fun, Quinn? Or are you like Thom Perry? Do you think I need to behave myself?
I Ryan frowned, drawing his hand away. She spoke with a distinct British accent. Hed assumed she was American, but clearly hed been wrong. What was the question?
She laughed softly. Miles, why dont you get Quinn something to eat and drink. Weve got a long flight ahead of us and Im sure hed like to settle in.
Yes, Ms. Hightower.
With that, Ryan nodded, then turned and made his way to a seat at the front of the plane. He looked back once to see Serena leaning into the aisle and watching his retreat.
Be warned, Miles said. That innocent smile hides a very naughty side. Dont be taken in.
No, of course not, Ryan murmured.
But as he sank into the soft leather seat, a strange sense of anticipation settled over him. He couldnt help but be curious. Who was Serena Hightower? And why did the simple touch of her hand startle him so?
He rubbed his hand on the faded fabric of his jeans, as if the action might banish all thoughts of Serena from his head. But it didnt work. Unless he regained a measure of control, this was going to be a very long trip.
* * *
SERENA HIGHTOWER STARED out the window of the jet, her gaze fixed on the blinking light at the end of the wing. She closed her eyes and drew a deep breath, trying to clear the chaotic thoughts from her mind.
She rubbed her hands together, wondering why the effects of the mans touch seemed to linger. Yes, Ryan Quinn was attractive...and sexy...and he had a dangerous air. And, yes, any woman would find him irresistible. But she was engaged. Engaged to be married in a few weeks! And all she could think about was some stranger shed just met.
Ryan, she murmured. Ryan Quinn.
Serena groaned. How had she allowed this engagement to get so far? When shed accepted Bens proposal, shed never really believed it would result in a wedding. Shed been infatuated, giddy with the romance of being in love. But the realities of their situation had soon begun to emerge. They hadnt dated very long, and Serena had soon realized that she didnt really know Ben. Though they were both actors with high-profile careers and permanent places in the gossip magazines, they had very different ideas about a commited relationship, especially when it came to fidelity.
Serena had spent a lifetime watching her parents make a hash of their multiple marriages. Living life as the only child of a celebrity couple should have opened her eyes to the realities of love, especially the fact that actors had so many temptations to stray.
When theyd first gotten involved, Serena hadnt cared that Ben Thayer had a reputation as a playershed just taken it as a reality of the biz. Besides, she hadnt been concerned about getting hurt, because she was going into the marriage with her eyes wide open.
So how had she lost control of this?
For some reason shed assumed that the media would be happy to report the engagement and then move on to more interesting stories. But theyd immediately pressed her to set a wedding date. Shed just tossed a date out, figuring she could always change her mind. Unfortunately, her team had taken the date as gospel and had begun to plan, clearing her schedule, searching for wedding venues, hiring a wedding planner.
While shed been away shooting a movie, her entire wedding had been planned for her, and shed passed the point of no return before shed even had a chance to scream Stop! Breaking her engagement now would bring a riot of bad press at a time when her career and her reputation as an actress hung in the balance.
Serena had always wanted to be taken seriously as an actress. Yet most of her career to date had been built on popular and not critically acclaimed films. But her most recent film was different. It was her chance to show she was a capable actress.
She would no longer be the child of Will Sheridan and Cassandra Hightower-Fellowes, or the fiancée of Ben Thayer, or the beautiful face that graced the pages of fashion magazines. She wouldnt be famous for being famous. Once this movie was released, shed be Serena Hightower, a serious actress.
And then shed finally be satisfied, finally be happy with her life. This had to be it. Shed tried everything elsemeditation, yoga, Kabbalah, juicingwhatever trend had come along, Serena had tried it, hoping that shed find the answers to her questions. One question, actually. With everything shed achieved in life, everything she possessed, why couldnt she be happy?
It was a simple question, yet one that seemed to plague her mind. There had to be something more to life than this. She had money. She had fame. She had every possession she could ever wish for. And if she went ahead with the wedding, shed have a marriage.
Serena reached out and poured herself a glass of warm champagne. Theyd opened the bottles hours ago as a celebration of the adventure they were about to have. But now, the taste of the flat champagne mirrored her feelings.
She pushed out of her seat and wandered to the front of the jet. Her four bridesmaids were sound asleep, exhausted from the excitement of the trip and too much champagne. Miles had his nose buried in his laptop. She glanced over at the passenger theyd taken aboard in Auckland.
Serena plopped down beside him. Cant sleep?
He turned away from the window and met her gaze. I never sleep on planes.
The urge to touch him again was overwhelming. She wanted to reach out and run her fingers through his thick dark hair. Why did she find him so fascinating? Shed known her share of handsome men. But Ryan Quinn wore his good looks like he wore his clothes, casually and comfortably. This was a man who never worried over wrinkles and Botox and the effect aging would have on his career. This was a real man.
So, youre the nanny Thom has sent along to watch over us, Serena said, settling back into the leather seat and tucking her feet up under her.
Nanny?
What do you prefer to be called? she asked.
Quinn, he said. You can call me Quinn.
She fixed him with her most charming gaze. What did he tell you, Quinn? Are you meant to keep us out of trouble?
Im supposed to facilitate your travel and activities, he said.
If thats your story, she said with a shrug. But you dont have to pretend. I know why he sent you. He wants to make sure Im safely delivered to the altar after Christmas.
Is that expected to be a problem?
Serena sighed. No. Of course not. Im ready to get married.
And yet even when she said the words out loud, Serena couldnt make herself finish the thoughtready to get married to Ben. Was she really ready to marry him? Was she even in love with him? If she was, why was she trying to tease this handsome stranger into conversation when she ought to just go back to her seat and sleep?
How did you get talked into taking this job? she asked.