Page 7 of The Restaurant on Plum Island
“Alone?” Bailey’s brows rose.
“No.” Ethan shook his head. “You know that’s not an option. Benny goes with you.”
“Seriously!” Bailey groaned in frustration. “I’m twenty-eight. I don’t need a babysitter.”
“Benny is a bodyguard,” Ethan corrected. “And he goes where you go.”
“You know you’re all ruining my life!” Bailey’s blue eyes sparked with anger.
“Bailey, you were kidnapped,” Ethan reminded her.
“I was seventeen at the time.” Bailey’s voice rose.
“Kidnappers don’t care what age you are,” Ethan pointed out. “That’s why we all have security, and it puts Dad at ease, which is better for his heart.”
“Sure. Play the ‘Dad’s got a bad heart’ card!” Bailey shook her head. “Fine. But I get to go sightseeing at least, as I’ve always wanted to go to Egypt.”
“I know,” Ethan told her. “That’s one of the reasons I’m sending you.”
“What’s the other reason?” Bailey’s eyes narrowed suspiciously.
“I think it’s time for you to start taking your place at Blackwell Productions,” Ethan told her.
“I haven’t finished my final year at college,” Bailey reminded him. “Isn’t that one of Dad’s stipulations before I take over as CEO?”
“Bails, how many more degrees do you need?” Ethan blew out a breath. “Besides, you’re on a break right now, right?”
“Yeah.” Bailey nodded. “But I’m also supposed to be studying for my finals in two months.”
“Perfect!” Ethan smiled. “You can study and get hands-on experience at the same time.”
“And you get to off-load one of your projects onto me,” Bailey said. “I take it that Alex turned the assignment down.”
“Nope.” Ethan shook his head. “Alex is on probation with Dad at the moment.”
“Again?” Bailey rolled her eyes. “What’s our brother done this time?”
“The usual.” Ethan sighed. “He dumped Monica Spiers because she was getting too serious, and our parents were hoping she’d be the one Alex would finally settle down with.” He sighed.
“Alex was seeing Monica?” Bailey looked at him in disbelief. “One of Dad’s best friends, Todd Spiers’s eldest daughter, Monica?”
“That’s the one.” Ethan nodded.
“How did they even get together?” Bailey looked amazed. “Didn’t they hate each other when they were teenagers?”
“Alex doesn’t really hate anyone.” Ethan stuck up for his younger twin brother.
“No, he just doesn’t give a hoot about anyone except his family and friends, of course,” Bailey said.
“You sound very British.” Ethan laughed.
“I’ve been here almost four years,” Bailey reminded him before returning to Alex. “How did they get together? I mean, she’s not his usual type.”
“They got together at our parents’ Halloween party last October,” Ethan told her. “Didn’t Mom tell you?”
“No.” Bailey shook her head. “When I speak to our parents, they are too busy talking over each other trying to get in what they want to say in their one-hour-a-week check-in window.”
“You were wise to set that time limit,” Ethan said.
