“It appears Mr. Wolfe is requesting a guest join him and Miss Rosenthal.”
“Requesting?”
Carol cleared he throat. “He is returning from Key West with a Mr. Ryder Gerard. The two of them are en route now. Captain Stephan is waiting for your orders.”
There had been times when his guests had “unexpected” additions to their party . . . and yes, more than one would pick up a stray in Key West. But Michael Wolfe? And with the pictures showing up daily in his in-box?
Val moved his gaze to Margaret, heard her laugh at something Jim was saying. What did she know about this Ryder Gerard? How could she have eaten lunch with him and his family and say nothing of the new arrival?
“Run a quick check . . . find out where the man lives.”
“I’m already working on it.”
“Tell Stephan to circle the island until I know this man isn’t a plant.”
“Yes, sir.”
Val hung up the phone and approached his family.
Margaret met his gaze and her laughter faded. Michael wasn’t sleeping off an evening of drink. He was wandering off island. Suspicion of the woman and the man made Val’s blood boil. So much for trust and depending on her.
“Someone doesn’t look very happy.”
Val ignored his sister’s comment and directed his attention to Margaret. “Can I have a word with you?”
Margaret pushed away from the table and walked to his side.
On instinct, he took hold of Margaret’s elbow and led her away from anyone who might overhear them.
“Why do I feel like I’m being led to the principal’s office?” she asked.
Val found no humor in her voice. “Who is Ryder Gerard?” he asked without any prompt.
“Excuse me?”
He stopped walking, turned toward her.
Margaret pulled out of his grip, making him realize that he held her a little too tight.
“Seems your friend with benefits is requesting another guest join your party.”
She blinked a few times until his words sank in. “He is?”
“Don’t play coy with me, Margaret. Michael isn’t sleeping anything off in your rooms.”
She crossed her arms over her chest, her eyes sharp points of accusation. “I don’t play, Mr. Masini. Michael was in our villa when I left to join you here. If he left once I was gone, that’s news to me. It’s not like he can send me a text to tell me where he is.”
“I suppose next you’re going to tell me that Mr. Wolfe said nothing to you about bringing a friend to join you.”
She lifted her chin. “Seems you’ve already accused me of lying, Mr. Masini. To serve what purpose? I’m the one who arranged our stay here. Michael knows you have a background check for every guest. He understands why better than most of the people here. If he is asking for someone to join us, my guess is he has a good reason and that person is as trustworthy as your mother.”
“Don’t bring my mother into this conversation.”
“You know, Masini, your people skills could use some work. I’m not your enemy.”
“The privacy of my guests is paramount.”
“As if I don’t know that.”
“I don’t care for surprises.”
She glared with her lips in a straight line. “Must be a bitch for your family around your birthday.”
“Who is Ryder Gerard?”
“I couldn’t tell you.”
Val twisted his hands into small knots and shoved them in his pockets.
For a brief moment, Margaret simply stared him down. It was a visual game of chicken and Val had a sneaking suspicion that he was about to lose.
She blew out a long breath. “Listen, Val. I honestly don’t know who Michael wants to bring to the island. But I do know Michael. The man seldom has a vacation or even a meal without hordes of fans wanting a piece of him. My guess is he feels safe here. I don’t think there has been any media watching us since we’ve arrived and maybe Michael wanted to have an old friend join us. I’m sure whoever Mr. Gerard is, he’s perfectly safe.”
Val hated how sincere she sounded. How innocent her eyes were.
“You’re not upset someone is interrupting your vacation?” Why had he asked that?
A slight lift to Margaret’s lips made him eat his words. “Michael and I are friends.”
“With benefits.”
She lifted her left brow, paused. “Right.”
Was Margaret a better actor than her companion? Was she playing him? Val hated that he didn’t know her well enough to trust her.
“All right, Margaret. So long as Mr. Gerard isn’t a known felon or working for any media cooperation, I’ll honor Michael’s request.”
She smiled.
Her grin was contagious and he felt his lips smiling back.
“How old was Gabi when your father passed?”
He found the question off his radar and answered without thinking. “Fourteen.”
“So all her dates had to go through you?”
“I was the man of the house.”
“What a bitch that had to be.”
Val shook his head. “It was.”
“For her. What a bitch for her. No offense, Masini, but you’d be the worst high school principal ever.”
“Didn’t your brothers look out for you?”
“I’m an only child, Masini. A fact you might have known if you’d actually done your background check a little better. Even I know where you were born, what college you went to, and what your major was.”