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“There are no cameras in the bedrooms or bathrooms or down on the beach.” Shawn gave her a perceptive smile. Now the guy thought he should find a sense of humor?
No cameras. She wanted Jagger to find her alone without a camera, and she desperately didn’t want him to at the same time.
“The fridge is stacked with plenty of options for breakfast and lunch. There are backpacks and small coolers you can pack and cash in the Jeeps to buy food, clothes, rent bikes or canoes, or whatever supplies you may need along the way. Paul will also have a satellite phone for any unforeseen emergencies, navigation, calling an Uber, frantic Google searches of ‘please, Siri, how do I escape from two elite Navy SEALs?’”
The men all cracked up at that. The stiff Viking was a comedian now, eh?
“A delivery service will bring in dinner every evening at six,” Shawn continued. “I believe that’s all. Oh, more cameras. The Jeeps all have motion-activated cameras in them. You’ll have to wear GoPros when you’re not in the Jeeps or in the house. Any questions?”
Bee had a million questions, but none that Shawn could answer. Only Jagger. And she was pretending not to know him, so she didn’t even let herself look at him. It was a proud moment.
“Mercedes sent a video she wanted me to share and then I’ll head out.” Shawn held up an iPad, pushed some buttons, and turned the screen so they could view it.
The beautiful, frail, and ashen Mercedes Belle sat in a chair behind a desk, smiling at the camera. “Hello, you incredible people.” She clapped her small hands together, her teal-blue eyes lighting up. “Bee … I hope I can call you Bee. I love that nickname.”
How did Mercedes know the nickname only Jagger called her? Her family called her Belle. She didn’t dare look at Jagger, but she could feel his gaze on her.
“Your charity is incredible—proactive, insightful, inspired. I just adore you and all you’ve done to fight hunger in Africa. I’m praying you can escape from Jag and Hays and win my money. And Paul … yay you! Captain Aiden Porter raved about you, and I’m so grateful you’d take a week off from your important security world and flying the illustrious Captain Porter around to spend your time with us. Thank you, thank you, you heroic and beautiful man.”
She leaned back into the chair as if exhausted from speaking for so long. Drawing in a breath, she murmured, “And Jag. Please forgive me. You know I only did it because of how desperately I love you.”
Belinda’s gaze whipped to Jagger at those words. As did everyone else’s. He shifted and didn’t look at anyone. Mercedes loved Jagger. Desperately. Did he love her back? Earlier, Shawn had said something about Mercedes loving Jagger too. Oh, no!
“Mwah.” Mercedes blew kisses to the camera. “Hugs and prayers and love and have the best week! I wish I could be there.”
The video froze, and Shawn solemnly covered the iPad with its cover. “Good luck, Miss Ralphs. Thank you, Lieutenant Braven.” His voice was very formal, and he seemed … sad.
Of course he was sad. The love of his life loved Jagger. Bee knew just how Shawn felt. She was sad too. Devastated.
It wasn’t as if she’d imagined Jagger had focused on his military career and never looked at another woman over the past fourteen years. But she secretly had hoped that. Of course Jagger could only fall in love with an incredible, beautiful icon like Mercedes Belle. And was she truly dying? This was too much. She wanted to cry for Mercedes and Jagger and selfishly for herself.
Her shoulders slumped. She was in pain. Lots of pain.
Shawn shook Jagger and Hays’s hands, clapping them each on the shoulder, then he loaded up in the jet and was gone. The cameraman went with him.
No cameras. Her heartbeat picked up. What would Jagger say or do? Dredge up the pain of him leaving her? It didn’t matter now as he loved Mercedes Belle. If that was true, why did he keep giving her these looks? Was he a cheating jerk? Not her Jagger. He’d been completely loyal to her. Until he’d ditched her.
The four of them turned to face each other. Jagger looked closed off and irritated.
Belinda straightened her shoulders. She couldn’t let him see how much she hurt. She should be the irritated one, but she felt too sick at the entire situation.
The silence was uneasy.
“We spent last week with Nick Jacobs,” Hays said to Paul. “Incredible man. We both enjoyed getting to know him.”
“He is top-notch,” Paul agreed.
Bee assumed they were referring to someone who worked with Paul and worked for the illustrious and famous Aiden Porter.
“We both hold Captain Porter in the highest regard,” Hays continued.
“As you should,” Paul said.
Jagger’s brows lifted at that.
“I hope we can all enjoy this week as well,” Hays said.
Ah, he was the diplomat of the twosome. Everybody knew diplomacy wasn’t Jagger’s role. Nobody said anything. Belinda had told Paul her lost love was outside the airplane, then she made a complete spectacle of herself screaming at Jagger. She could only imagine an honorable man like Paul was inclined to protect her and stick up for her.
