“Yes. Since I don’t have much time because I have to be somewhere when the sun sets, I will take your advice and get right to the point.”
Josh watched her bite her lip, lean over and place her mouth on the straw and take a deep drink. She closed her eyes for a moment, embracing the taste. He swallowed.
“Joshua?”
“What?”
“I lost my brother, or he’s missing. There’s something wrong here.”
“What makes you think he’s lost?”
She shrugged. “He’s my twin and we’re very close. He expected me on this flight and he promised to meet me at the airport, but he never showed.”
Josh shrugged. “Perhaps he got held up somewhere.”
She shook her head. “No, we spoke right before I got on the plane. I planned to stay at his place until I found an apartment. He would’ve been there.” She pointed to her folded piece of paper.
“What’s that?” He stretched his neck to see the paper.
“This is my itinerary.”
Josh laughed. “Itinerary! We’re in the Keys, there’s no such thing here.”
“I have a whole list of things that I planned to do while here. My brother was taking some time off work to help me get through my list.” She smiled, her sweetness drawing him in. He was in big trouble.
“Do whatever you want, but after you’re here awhile, you’ll understand.”
She took another sip of her drink. “Noted,” she told him. “Back to my brother. I waited at the airport for four hours this morning and he never showed. I got a cab and went to his apartment. He didn’t leave me a key or a note. So I get a text saying he’s sorry, his job sent him out of town and I should get a hotel room until he returns. He said not to call him on his phone, he’d contact me. He would never do this to me, I know something isn’t right. I called anyway, but his cell goes right into voice mail. Now, here I am stuck on the streets of Key West and there’s no rooms available anywhere on the island. I’ve called them all.”
Josh nodded. “This is a busy week because of the festival. You won’t find any rooms available.”
“I can’t fly back home. I gave up everything to come here.” For a moment he saw a flash of uncertainty cross her face. Slim fingers tapped on the glass of the rum runner. Her sandal touched his foot again as she swung it back and forth.
He was here to relax, to unwind, not start an investigation into the disappearance of someone’s sibling. But he heard himself say, “Perhaps I can help. What’s your brother’s name?”
“Morgan Kelley.”
Josh sat back. Morgan worked for the agency. No doubt he got called away and couldn’t contact her. “What type of work does he do?” Josh asked, careful not to show any emotion. Her answer would tell him if she realized what her brother did for a living.
“Oh, he’s a computer geek. He works for a big New York City firm that relocated here. I haven’t a clue how he does it, moving from place to place. He said he’ll be here for a few years and that’s why I decided to come too.”
That’s what Josh thought. What she wasn’t aware of is at any given time the government may need the help of Morgan’s top team of agents.
“What? Do you know Morgan?”
Her voice, now high pitched, shook Josh back into reality. “No,” he lied. Was he slipping? He masked his emotions like any expert in the field. How did she see right through him?
“Are you sure? There for a moment it seemed to me like you recognized the name.” She shook herself. “Perhaps not, I’m sorry. I’m so desperate I guess I’m grasping at straws.”
Josh sat back. Everything changed from this point on now that she was Morgan’s sister. Even though he may be almost retired from the business, he’d never be out of the game. “I’m staying at a nice, clean B&B right down the street. I can check if they have any rooms open.” Morgan’s assignment must have been an extreme emergency for him to run off without any warning, knowing he was expecting family, Josh thought.
Sarah smiled, looking in to his eyes, her blue orbs searing his soul. He pushed back the chair, needing fresh air. “I’m going outside to make a call.”
He hit the send button and held the cell at his ear. “Jake? Hey man, where are you?”
“Looking right at you, bud.” Josh looked across the street to the Irish bar. Maggie and Jake stood out front, holding hands and smiling. He flipped the phone shut and hurried across the street to join them, leaving Sara alone inside. He turned back and held up his hand to tell her he’d be right back, but she was staring down at her itinerary. It made him chuckle.
“Look at you,” Jake said, holding out his hand. “This is unusual, seeing a smile on your face.”
Josh grinned. “It’s good to see you.”
“Bull! You never smile.”
“When did you guys get here?” Josh asked, changing the subject. Jake and Maggie lived on No Name Key, about twenty miles away. The bed and breakfast belonged to Jake, a big time contractor. When Josh told him he’s heading to relax in Key West for a spell, Jake left the bed and breakfast at his disposal.
“Today. Seems our manager ran off with the housekeeper, who was the other housekeeper’s lover. I had three people leave their position. I hired two more housekeepers, but the managers position is not so easy to fill.”
“Does it come with a room?” Josh had an idea.
“What do you have in mind?” Jake said.
“There’s someone who needs a place to stay, more so than a job.” He told Jake and Maggie about the woman across the street.
Jake groaned. “I never hired someone from the streets.”
“This one you can. Her brother is an agent, a respected friend. I don’t think you have any worries. Besides, I’ll be there to keep an eye on things.”
Jake and Maggie looked at each other. “Bring her over to meet us in about an hour. Maggie wants to shop before we head back home. If this works out, I’ll thank you. This B&B is becoming more trouble than I expected it to be.”
Josh nodded, then shook Jake’s hand. “Thanks. I doubt you’ll regret hiring her. Let’s hope she says yes.” He headed back across the street to tell Sara the good news. As he walked in the bar, she was in deep conversation with a few ladies standing at their table.
Josh headed to the bar to order another drink. He overheard the conversation. “Go to my website on the card I gave you and you’ll be able to get started from there. Email me if you have questions, as I promise you will.” He ordered another drink for Sara too. Picking up the two glasses, he strolled over to the table as the others left. When he set her drink down, he noticed she already ordered her second two for one drink.
“Thanks. May as well get wasted and sleep in a homeless shelter tonight,” she joked. “It’s on my list.”
Josh sat down at the table. “That’s on your list?”
She nodded her head and pointed. “Yes, right here, third one. Do the Duval crawl.” She smiled up at him, her cheeks a bit flushed.
“Do you even know what that is?” Josh didn’t know anyone who ever finished the famed Duval crawl.
“I did research it for a second or two. Seems that you start at one end of the street and drink in each bar until you reach the other end.” She propped her hand on her chin and leaned forward. “Now that I see the famous street in person, it sure would be an enormous task. There are bars everywhere! I bet it would take weeks to finish.”
“Perhaps you should scratch that from your itinerary.” Josh leaned back and watched her. Her eyes lit up, there was a flash of excitement running across her face.
“Oh no, I’m doing the Duval crawl. It’ll just take me longer than planned.”
He laughed. “Good luck with that. I see you made a few friends already.” He nodded toward the two ladies.
“Yes, interesting girls. They came down on vacation and the second day here, got a call from their employer that the company they work for closed its doors.”
“Just like that?”
“Yes, seems it happens a lot. It’s sad. I explained to them how I built an on-line career within two years. Of course, I directed them to my website for some ideas for their own business.”
Josh grunted. “Make money on-line? I must be from the backwoods, because I just don’t get all that computer stuff.” Of course, he lived on the streets for the last ten years on assignment. He had a lot to learn about modern day living.
Sara’s eyes lit up as she reached out and touched his wrist. The warmth from her skin made him take a deep breath. “Your reaction is not lost on me. Most people laugh when I say I make my living on-line. Trust me, I have one company that pays me six figures and I wouldn't tell just anyone that information. You seem honest and a strait shooter, but, if you try anything, I’m warning you, I’m armed.” She patted the side of her hip as if she had a gun hidden.
Josh burst out laughing. “I checked you out and I’m certain you’re not armed.” She began to laugh too, ending it with that adorable soft giggle and a tiny catch in her throat.
She teased, “Well, you didn’t see it because the gun is in my purse.” Sara tilted her head and then reached for another sip of her drink.
“What’s the name of your company?” he asked, eyes never leaving her lips as they moved back and forth on the straw.
“My Cashmere Life. I started out blogging about how I planned to make money on-line. Turns out others were following my steps and my numbers rose when I published how much money it made me month after month. After about two years of hits and misses and making lots of mistakes, I hit pay dirt. So now I help other women do the same thing.”
“That’s interesting. I’m not much of a computer person.”
“Maybe I can teach you.”
“Maybe.” He gazed at his watch. “We gotta go. I didn’t realize we were here almost an hour. Jake and Maggie are expecting us.”
“Go? What are you talking about?”
“You said you needed a place to stay until your brother gets back. I spoke with Jake, the owner of the B&B where I’m staying. He has a proposition for you and a room. Interested?”
She shot up off the chair. “Let’s roll.” Josh watched in amusement as she leaned over and gathered up her things from under the edge of the table. She flung the tote over her shoulder and looked at him. Sara patted her purse as if to remind him of her gun.. Then she pulled the oversized piece of luggage behind her and was out the front door waiting on the side walk before Josh had a chance to leave a tip.
He shook his head and headed towards the beautiful creature waiting for him. His simple dream was peace, quiet and a great shot of whiskey. All of a sudden he wanted more. In the form of a blonde bombshell with an assumed on-line income that smiled at him like he was her world.
<>
“Here, let me get that for you,” Joshua offered. He took the handle of the leather suitcase from her and pulled it along behind. She knew it wasn’t light, because she tried to pack everything she’d need in the suitcase.
Sara stopped in her tracks, watching him, amused as he strolled down the side walk toting a feminine blue and white striped name-brand suitcase. He was so muscular and tall. His body from head to toe was rock solid and he walked with a confidence that spoke volumes to the woman in her. She didn’t mean to stare. All of a sudden he looked back. “Something wrong?” he asked, oblivious to how he looked as he carted the chic aquatic suitcase with wheels.
“Not at all,” Sara said, shaking her head. He was one self-assured man, she thought, noting that self confidence was high on her list of must haves in any future dates. She hurried to catch up to Josh, bumping into her own luggage, causing her to take a few awkward steps in her wedge sandals. She needed to learn how to walk right with her new shoes. His hand shot out to steady her. His touch was electrifying, and she felt his warmth even after he let her go.
“Steady now. We’re almost there.”
“I don’t make it a habit to follow strangers down the street. I hope you realize this.”
“No worries there. Maggie and Jake will treat you like family. You won’t be a stranger for long.”
“I was talking about you.”
He turned his head and grinned. “Don’t worry, you’re safe with me.”
“Josh!” A man yelled over the buzz of the busy street.
Sara swung towards the deep voice. A man stood on the porch of an older two story house holding open the door for a beautiful woman who followed him. He had dark hair and wore well-fitting jeans and a tight t-shirt. Turning towards the woman, he planted a swift kiss on her mouth. Sara watched the exchange as the dark-haired woman reached up and touched the side of his face. They both turned at once to welcome their visitors.
Sarah followed Josh through the white painted gate and up a few steps to the large wooden porch. A plaque, attached by long chains hung down from the covered roof. It read, Welcome to The Inn With No Name.
“Interesting sign, isn’t it,” the woman said. “I’m Maggie, nice to meet you,” she greeted. “You must must be Sara Kelley.”
Sara nodded.
“Well, let’s get you inside and I’ll show you around.”
Sara glanced over to where the two men were talking. They were so deep in conversation that she doubted Josh would even realize she left the porch.
Maggie got right to the point. “I understand you came to Key West to stay with your brother, who is not home.” Sara liked Maggie, who seemed to be a no frills, get the job done woman, just like she was. She nodded.