Temptation Island by C.C. Soltry

trailed him down the hall as he headed for his office.
    Carm caught up with him as he stood at his desk with the phone to his ear.  Noting her look of extreme irritation Marek held up a hand to silence her and spoke into the receiver, “Yeah mon.  Can you meet us there in about a half hour?  Oui ?  Yeah we’ll probably get a hotel.  I’ll call and book us at the Sun Tropic Resort and put your room on my tab.  Great, we’ll see you there in a few, mon.  Au revoir .” 
    Marek placed the phone back in the cradle and turned.  Carm stood with her feet planted wide, her arms crossed over her chest and a look of supreme frustration.  Blocking his path, Carm growled, “I’m not budging until you tell me where you think you’re taking me and you tell me what you’ve decided.”
    Reluctant admiration swayed Marek and he sighed in defeat.  Fine, if she wanted to play it this way.  “We’re going to St. Kitts where I have a new project I want to show you.  I think it’ll help your sister and boost her business and keep her out of Mark’s reach.”
    Carm frowned at him skeptically, “So, you’ve decided to keep her on?  Wait a minute, why do you have something going on on St. Kitts, why not here?”
    Impatient to get going, Marek pointedly looked at his watch and tapped a foot.  “I don’t have time to explain right now Carmen.  We have to meet Landon at the airport in a few minutes.  I promise I’ll explain everything when we’re in the air, but right now you’re just going to have to trust me.  Let’s go.”
    Carm scoffed, “Trust you?  I wouldn’t trust you as far as I could throw you.  But if you’re going to help Kate then I’ll come.”
    “Wonderful, you honor me, cheri .”  Marek drawled with sarcasm.  Grabbing a jacket from a rack, Marek strode for the front door.
    Carm scrambled after him.  “What about your housekeeper, shouldn’t you let her know you’re leaving?  And your cat.  If we’re staying overnight shouldn’t you have someone feed it?”
    Marek shot Carm a dry look over his shoulder.  “You saw my cat, a missed meal wouldn’t kill her.  And Mrs. Carrins has already gone home for the night.  She’ll be back first thing in the morning, so stop worrying.  We’ll be back before you know it.”
    Stepping outside Carm glared at Marek and huffed.  Hiding a grin Marek gestured to his jeep.  “Climb in, sweetheart.  Landon’s not a patient man.”
    Frowning as she passed and climbed inside, Carm muttered to Marek when he joined her, “You know, you’re little nicknames are insulting and chauvinistic, so why don’t you knock if off.  You’re not flattering.”
    Marek started the engine and grinned evilly.  With a look of pure devilment Marek quipped, “Whatever you say, cupcake .”
    Carm let out a feral growl and punched him in the arm.  Laughing at her paltry attempt to hurt him, Marek gunned the engine and tore down the hill.  He couldn’t help but rip through the thick mass of foliage when Carm gripped the dash for dear life and braced her feet on the floor.  He knew it was childish, but a man had to have something, didn’t he?
    The rest of the drive went quickly and in silence.  Carm spent the time alternating between muttering under her breath and scowling at him.  Since he guessed her muttering wasn’t very flattering Marek was glad he couldn’t make it out.
    Even as they pulled into the airport and made their way to the landing pad, Carm kept quiet.  Marek knew he’d ticked her off with his little driving stunt when she asked Landon if he knew how to fly “like a responsible adult”.
    Marek couldn’t help but laugh at that.
    After they were seated, buckled and had their headphones on, Marek asked, “Have you ever flown in a chopper before?”
    Carm shook her head, her face a little pale. “No, I haven’t.  I didn’t know Landon was a pilot. He has a license right? Wasn’t he the keyboard player in your band?  Do all you guys