The Marriage Promise (Billionaire Games Book 4) Page 3

  He wore a pair of blue jeans and a blue Hawaiian shirt that complemented his blond hair. John Sinclair was tall and solid. The kind of man you knew could take care of himself and those around him.

  “Ms. Ferguson,” he said, strolling toward her with an easy grace. “What a pleasant surprise.”

  Feeling a little anxious, Deidra replied, “Likewise.”

  John claimed the empty chair at Deidra’s end of the couch. “It seems we’re on the same wavelength.”

  “Yes, it would seem so.” Deidra felt an eager affection coming from John, and glanced away. “Amy. Emily. How are you today?” she asked the girls.

  They giggled and chimed in unison, “Fine.”

  John said to Deidra, “Are you flying with or without doors?”

  “Doors. Definitely doors.”

  John nodded. “As are we. Maybe we’ll even be on the same helicopter.” There was hope in his voice, too much hope for a married man.

  And yes, by the way, where was his wife?

  “Could I sit beside Miss Deidra, Daddy?” Emily asked in a soft, optimistic voice.

  “If it were up to me…sure.” He smiled. “But I think they will tell us where to sit.”

  “Who is they?” Emily asked.

  “The people who own the helicopter.”

  “Oh.” She took on a rather pensive look, and Deidra wondered what was running through her mind. It didn’t last long though. Pretty soon, Deidra’s thoughts were consumed, once again, by the same old question.

  Where was Emily’s mother?

  A middle-aged man with a clipboard came into the waiting area and began reading from a list. “John, Amy, and Emily.” He muttered out two other names but Deidra didn’t catch them. She was too busy watching John and his daughters pass through a set of double sliding doors to another waiting area outside and a black helicopter beyond. “Deidra…” the guy said to her.

  “Yes.” She looked up at him.

  “Ready?” he asked.

  She felt for her purse, then remembered she’d stuck it inside one of their lockers for safe-keeping, as passengers weren’t allowed anything but cameras on the flight.

  Deidra pushed herself up and followed the flight coordinator toward the sliding glass doors that instantly swished open. A warm wind, fueled by the black tarmac, whipped past Deidra.

  Emily squealed when she saw her. “Look, Daddy,” she said. “Miss Deidra’s coming with us.”

  “Yes, she is,” he said to Emily, then glanced up at Deidra and mouthed the words, “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay.” Deidra shook her head. “I’m just as happy to see Emily…” She glanced at Amy, who seemed to be caught on Deidra’s every word. “And Amy.” After that, it just seemed wrong to leave John out. “And you.”

  While Deidra and the Sinclair bunch chatted, the flight coordinator was busy assigning numbers, giving positions one and two to the people whose names Deidra hadn’t caught.

  “John…” the coordinator said, grabbing Deidra’s full attention, “you will be number three. Amy, number four. Emily, number five. And Deidra, you will be number six.”

  “Does this mean I get to sit next to you, Miss Deidra?” Emily whispered.

  “I think so.” Deidra glanced down at Emily, nodded and smiled.

  Emily beamed.

  They followed the coordinator’s instructions to line up according to their number just a few feet from the helicopter. Deidra was last. After a quick round of photos with the pilot—a woman—they were shuffled into the aircraft (numbers 3, 4, 5, and 6 in the back) and strapped in so tight that Deidra could hardly breathe.

  She sucked in a breath and glanced around, wondering if anyone could sense the anxiety bubbling up inside her? It’s not that Deidra had never ridden in a helicopter before. She had. It’s just that she’d never been in the presence of a man—one she presumed was married—who had her heart doing flip flops. Not even Andre de Laurent had affected her this way, and she’d had a mad crush on him.

  Silently, she ordered herself to stop thinking such thoughts about John Sinclair. Deidra didn’t know where his wife was, but she was certain the woman couldn’t be far away.

  The helicopter rose and hovered a few feet off the ground while the pilot waited for the go-ahead to take off. John was thankful for the dark shades covering his eyes. They made it easy to steal unsuspecting glances at Deidra.

  She was such a beautiful girl, and he had to wonder why she was in Hawaii alone. The idea that she had no one special in her life saddened and elated him all at the same time.

  The helicopter began to rise until John had a bird’s eye view of the airport. Off in the distance, he could see the mountains to his left, Waikiki Beach up front, and Diamond Head just beyond that. The water color varied from a bright blue to a jeweled green. He never tired of this breathtaking view.

  John glanced at Amy, then Emily, to satisfy himself they were okay. A helicopter ride could be thrilling or terrifying, dependent upon a person’s perspective. As far as he could see, both girls were enjoying it. He couldn’t see Deidra’s face, as her head was turned toward her window. She gave the appearance of a worldly woman: smartly dressed in designer clothes, nails perfectly manicured, and simple jewels that weren’t overstated, but clearly of high quality.

  She wasn’t tall. Maybe about five-three, or so. She couldn’t weigh much more than a hundred pounds soaking wet, but she had curves in all the right places.

  John gave himself a mental kick, but it did little to shake his fascination with Deidra. He forced his gaze outside his window as the helicopter approached Diamond Head. The pilot was chattering about this and that, mostly the history of the island and a few current facts about the present status of Oahu. All of it, he’d heard before, but wasn’t really paying attention at the moment and, if asked, wouldn’t be able to repeat a single word the woman said.

  He was otherwise engaged with more appealing thoughts—namely ones that included Deidra Ferguson—as he scanned the island from the bird’s eye view.

  The pilot took them out over the brilliant blue waters off the windward side and then back up toward the mountainous spines of the shield volcanoes that formed the mountain chain that ran along the eastern side of the island. The helicopter climbed high in the air to fly along the peaks of the rippling rock faces, near-vertical ridges, and steep cliffs of the lush, green mountains.

  It was a beautiful sight, but John could see how it might be a little bit scary for the girls. He looked at Amy, who seemed to be okay, then at Emily, who at that very moment reached for Deidra’s hand.

  John watched eagerly to see what Deidra would do. To his surprise, she laced her fingers around Emily’s and gave her a nod and a comforting smile. She didn’t let go. Deidra continued to hold Emily’s hand, just like her own mother would’ve done.

  John sucked in a breath. Was it right of him to compare a woman he’d met yesterday to his daughters’ mother?

  He shook his head gently. That wasn’t what he was doing. Was it? No. What Deidra did, what their mother would have done, was simply something that any decent woman would do. And if he was going to subject his children to another woman, better it was one who had a nurturing quality.

  Did that mean John was beginning to look at another woman to take the place of their mother? A dark, disturbing feeling washed over him. Of course he wasn’t trying to replace Jessica. But he was beginning to realize that both girls needed a mother figure in their life.

  The bigger question was…was John Sinclair ready to be a husband again?

  After returning to the hangar, the first thing Deidra did was head for the restroom. When she came out of the stall, Amy was just finishing up at the sink.

  With a smile, Deidra asked, “Did you enjoy the ride? I loved it.” She stepped up to a sink next to Amy and began washing her hands.

  Amy nodded and moved to the air dryer, sticking her hands inside. “It’s amazing how different the island looks from a helicopter.”


  “An incredibly beautiful, if not surprising, perspective.” It was good to see Amy excited about something, instead of the pouty girl she’d met yesterday. “I didn’t see you and your family on the shuttle this morning. Are you taking it back to Waikiki?” Deidra shook her hands over the sink, then reached for a couple of paper towels.

  Amy shook her head. “No. My dad has a car waiting for us.”

  Deidra let out a muffled laugh. “I wish I’d taken a car,” she said with a weary shrug.

  “You’re in Waikiki, right?” Amy asked.

  Deidra nodded. “The Embassy Suites.” She’d chosen the hotel because her parents were partial to it. She wasn’t sure why, but every time they’d come to Waikiki, that’s where they stayed.

  “We’re at the Trump Tower,” Amy said, stepping toward the door. “I hope we’ll see you again at the Shore Bird.” She smiled, then left the restroom.

  It’s probably just as well if they didn’t, Deidra thought.

  John Sinclair’s eldest daughter exited the restroom and headed his way.

  “Dad,” she said, sitting in the chair at his side. “Deidra came on the shuttle and I don’t think she liked it very much.” She paused and batted her eyes at John. She wanted something. Now that was a change. Amy hadn’t wanted anything, except to be a pain, since her mother’s death. He liked this new Amy. Soft, gentle, and agreeable. Amy asked, “Can we give her a ride?”

  The idea seeded excitement in John, and it was quickly followed by guilt. What kind of man tries to pick up a woman while he’s preparing to scatter his wife’s ashes?

  But it has been three years, entered his thoughts.

  It wouldn’t hurt to be friendly and offer her a ride. She had, after all, been a source of strength to Emily when she’d gotten a little frightened on the helicopter ride. No, offering Deidra a ride was the gentlemanly thing to do.

  He glanced up to see Deidra strolling toward them. John sucked in a breath and tried to calm the exhilaration bouncing around in his heart.

  He stood when she was no more than a few feet away. “Ms. Ferguson, did you enjoy the helicopter tour?”

  “Yes, I did.” She claimed a seat next to Emily on the small sofa. John returned to his chair, kitty-corner from Deidra. She said, “But please, call me Deidra.” Her smile made him melt.

  “Deidra it is.” But he doubted he’d hold to it. Something inside him, perhaps his guilt, was keeping him from letting it get that personal. It brought his desire for her too close to the surface.

  “It certainly puts a new perspective on things, seeing it from a helicopter.” Deidra glanced at Amy and winked.

  “The mountains were a little scary, but cool.” Emily giggled. At least she’d conquered her fear. And John wasn’t forgetting that Deidra had had a lot to do with that.

  “Daddy…” Amy whispered and gave him an elbow nudge.

  John glanced at Amy and nodded, then settled his sights back on Deidra again. “Ms…” He stopped himself, although a bit late, smiled apologetically, then added, “Deidra…we’d like to offer you a ride back to Waikiki.”

  Deidra’s eyes brightened, then the light died out. “I wouldn’t want to impose on you and your family.”

  “Believe me, it’s no imposition at all.”

  “Well, if you’re sure I won’t be intruding…” Deidra hesitated, but her voice held the slightest bit of hope. Apparently, Amy was right.

  “We’d love to have you join us.”

  “All right then.” She blew out a sigh and her shoulders seemed to relax. “I’d love a ride back to Waikiki.”

  John leaned back into his chair. Whether it was appropriate or not, he was glad she was riding back with them.

  On the way back to Waikiki, they chatted about nothing too personal, but all the while, John wanted to ask her why she was in Hawaii alone. He just couldn’t muster the courage to pry. It wasn’t polite.

  Approaching Fort DeRussy Park, John said, “We’re at Trump Tower. Where are you?”

  “Embassy Suites,” she said.

  “Drop Ms. Ferguson at the Embassy Suites first,” he said to the driver.

  Traveling down Kalakaua Avenue, the driver bypassed Saratoga (for the Trump entrance) and swung a right onto the Beach Walk and rolled to a stop at the Embassy Suites valet.

  When Deidra got out of the car, John watched her stroll up to the door and disappear inside, while wondering how he was going to orchestrate another chance meeting.

  Inside her suite, Deidra pulled the strap of her phone case over her head and was about to drop it onto the couch when her phone chimed. Carrying it into the bedroom, she opened it up to look at the display. Lecie.

  Deidra smiled, accepting the call. “Hi!” she greeted Lecie with a jubilant voice.

  Lecie was and always had been the one true constant in Deidra’s life, ever since they’d met in high school in London. Deidra had been going to school in England for years when she was befriended by the pretty French girl who was away from home for the first time.

  “How is Hawaii?” Lecie asked. “I wish I could’ve gone with you.” Deidra didn’t miss the sorrow in Lecie’s voice.

  Deidra sat down on the bed, and reminded her, “You have other responsibilities.”

  “Yes, but this isn’t something you should be doing alone.”

  “But I am alone. I have no family. There’s no one left to do this except me.”

  “You’re not alone. You have me.”

  “I don’t want you to worry about me. I’m going to be fine.” The last thing Deidra wanted was to be the cause of stress for Lecie. She had the twins to think about, after all. “As it turns out,” Deidra said, “I’m not all that alone. There are tons of tourists here, and I keep running into one in particular. Well, him and his daughters.”

  “Do tell?” Lecie giggled. “You said daughters. Is he divorced?”

  “I don’t know. I didn’t ask.”

  “Is he cute?”

  “Very.”

  “You need to invite them to dinner or something.”

  “I need to know where his wife is before I do something like that.”

  “Well…” Lecie paused. Deidra imagined a shrug accompanying her silence. “Just ask.”

  Oh, sure. Just ask. How awkward would that be? “Pardon me, John, but where is your wife?”

  Deidra wasn’t afraid of the question so much as the answer.

  CHAPTER 4

  MID-MORNING ON TUESDAY, Deidra decided to hit the beach across the street from her hotel. It wasn’t the center point of Waikiki Beach, and therefore didn’t get quite as crowded—which suited her just fine.

  After putting on her swim suit, Deidra wrapped a blue and yellow sarong around her waist. She slid her feet into her pale-blue leather sandals, grabbed her beach bag, and headed out.

  Outside, she cut through the Outrigger Reef and headed back toward the Shore Bird. Instead of going into the restaurant, she paused at the steps leading down to the sand. She glanced up and down the beach. As she’d hoped, it wasn’t crowded.

  “Care for an umbrella and chair?” the beachside attendant asked.

  “Sure,” she decided, reaching for the wallet-like phone case inside her beach bag. It was a nifty little gadget made specifically for her cell phone, with slots for an ID and a couple of credit cards. It came with a shoulder strap that made it useful when she didn’t want to carry a purse or a bag. “How much?”

  “For a pretty lady such as yourself…” He paused. Deidra glanced up at him. He had a beaming smile that she figured was probably just a ploy to sell umbrella rentals. He shrugged. “Thirty-five dollars for the day.”

  “Sold,” she said, pulling out a couple of twenties she’d stuffed behind her ID.

  Mr. Personality set up the umbrella with two chairs next to a couple Deidra figured for their mid-fifties. Once he was done, she slipped him a couple of bucks for his trouble. He smiled, thanked her, and stuffed the money inside his pocket as he backed away.

  Al
most immediately, he began setting up another two-chair umbrella not more than a foot to her right. She sat down on her beach chair and waited for him to finish. When he did, she said, “Pardon me.” She waited until he looked at her, then asked, “May I rent that one as well?”

  “Suit yourself.”

  She fished more money out of her wallet and handed it to him. “Keep the change.”

  “Aloha!” he said with a smile.

  She probably came off as eccentric, but Deidra intended to isolate herself as much as possible. The couple to her left seemed to be interested in quiet solitude, just like her. Deidra might not be so lucky with her future neighbors to her right, though. The last thing she wanted was some lonely tourist sitting beside her all day, asking questions she’d rather not hear.

  She rummaged through her bag and came out with her iPod and ear buds. She tuned in to the book she’d been listening to, stuffed the bag behind her head and settled in for some relaxation.

  “But, Dad…” Amy walked backward as she, John, and Emily headed for the beach by strolling along the sidewalk between Ft. DeRussy Park and the Waikiki Shore Hotel. “I want to ride a water trike.”

  “I’m sorry, Amy. Some other time.” He readjusted the beach bag on his shoulder. They’d picked it up from the concierge desk at the hotel. Fresh beach towels, chilled water bottles, sunscreen, and fruit. A complimentary and convenient service from Trump.

  “Dad….” Amy whined.

  “I can hardly leave your sister alone on the beach.”

  “I can ride the trike by myself.”

  “No you can’t,” he said firmly.

  “I can ride it just as easily as I can ride a bicycle.”

  John stopped, sucked in a breath, then said, “Okay, let me rephrase it.” He glared at Amy, hoping it would do some good. “You are not going to ride the trike by yourself.”

  “Look!” Emily squealed and pointed up ahead of them. “It’s Miss Deidra.”

  “Good. Maybe she’ll ride the trike with me,” Amy stated.

  “As I recall, Deidra said she can’t swim.” John tried to subdue the smile he felt tipping the corners of his mouth over the thought of seeing Deidra again. Amy might mistake his sudden joy as being overtly happy that she wasn’t going to get to ride the water trike.