Page 5 of Price of Paradise

“Yeah.” He tilted his glass back and forth, swirling the amber liquid, then confided, “Jake needs the money. The sale will help his business immensely. That’s what matters.”

“You’re a good brother, Gunner,” she said, the praise filling Gunner with warmth.

“If I was I would’ve seen that he was struggling. I’ve been too wrapped up in work.”

“Jake probably didn’t want you to know,” she mused. “Could’ve been embarrassing.”

He snorted. “He’s stubborn as hell.”

“Ah, now that must run in the family,” she teased.

“Jake keeps asking you out,” Gunner blurted, wondering where that had come from. “If it bothers you I can tell him to back off.”

She chuckled. “It’s fine. He’s harmless.”

Hang up, for Christ’s sake. She needs sleep.“I should let you get back to your book.”

“Thanks for checking on me,” she replied with a yawn. “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight,” he murmured. The call ended and Gunner stared at the phone. She wasn’t with a man.Yet, an annoying inner voice taunted. He shot from the chair and began to pace the room. An idea began to form. Did he dare?

Gunner headed for his home office. The stakes were high. Either his plan would blow up in his face or it would be the best decision he’d ever made.

****

Afternoon the next day…

Mae searched under the table, the bathroom, and her suitcase. She’d even shaken out the towel she’d used to dry off with. Nothing. Her wallet was gone. “What am I going to do now?” She’d already called the front desk, to no avail. No one had turned in a brown leather wallet. “Oh my God, I’m so screwed!”

A loud knock on her door yanked her out of her tizzy. Maybe it was a member of the staff with her wallet? She ran across the room and flung it wide, then froze. “Gunner?” Was she seeing things? Had she had too much sun? “What on Earth?”

He frowned. “Why does it look as if you’ve been crying?”

“Probably because I have,” she grumbled, then moved away to let him enter. He stepped inside and quietly closed the door behind him. She proceeded to ignore him and went back to searching.

“What happened?” he asked, watching as she tore through her purse, a tube of lip gloss went flying, along with a makeup compact, and her favorite pink brush. “Mae?”

She swiveled around and threw her hands in the air. “I’ve lost my wallet!”

His gaze scanned the room. “Uh, it looks as if you’ve done a thorough search.”

“I called down to the front desk. I’ve looked at the pool area. I even checked the lobby. Nothing.” She started to hyperventilate. “What am I going to do? Oh, God.”

Gunner took the room in two strides, then pulled her in for a hug. “Take it easy. It’ll be okay.”

She shoved out of his arms. “How? My driver’s license, credit cards, everything was in there.”

“Did you call and cancel your cards?”

She slapped a palm against her forehead. “No. I’ve been so frantic.”

“Do that now,” Gunner gently ordered. “I’ll check with the front desk again. Maybe someone turned it in.”

She nodded and picked up her phone. “Yeah, okay, right.” Minutes later Mae ended the call with her bank. The credit card company took too long. Lastly, she called the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles to report her lost driver’s license. When she placed her phone on the coffee table, Gunner was watching her. “No charges on either card and the BMV is issuing me a new license.”

Gunner moved closer. “No one turned in a wallet either.”

Mae dropped onto the couch. “How could I let this happen?”

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