The Tycoon's Proposition

Was Ben friends with one of the bellboys?

Since she was the person who was supposed to be taking care of him, she decided she’d better follow his suggestion and eat so she wouldn’t run out of energy.

The cold French toast and ham didn’t taste half bad. After swallowing her milk, she rushed over to the phone and made a quick call to her mom, telling her about the change in plans. Promising to phone her later in the day with the details, she rang off and hurried into the bathroom to brush her teeth.

When she returned, she packed her cosmetic kit in the suitcase sitting on the bed.

“I’m ready,” she announced to Ben who stood at the door with a deeply tanned Hispanic man. He wore a khaki shirt with the Herrick logo on the pocket. With a head of gleaming black hair and moustache, he was attractive in his own way.

“Mrs. Jeppson? This is Carlos Rivera, my office manager at the site. I couldn’t function without him.”

“How do you do, Mr. Rivera. I’m going to be his nurse for a while.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. Call me Carlos.”

While he reached for her suitcase, she found her purse on the dresser. By tacit agreement the three of them left the room for the elevator.

“Carlos?” she said when they’d arrived at the foyer. “I have to check out. Since Mr. Herrick barely left his hospital bed, why don’t you two wait for me in the car?”

“I was going to suggest it.”

“Good. One more thing—he shouldn’t be using his voice at all. If he does, gag him!”

Carlos laughed uninhibitedly before saying something to Ben in Spanish she couldn’t follow.

Out of the corner of her eye she saw a smile curve Ben’s compelling mouth. With her heart skidding in reaction to his devastating male appeal, she rushed across the tiles to the front desk to pay her bill. The receptionist said the Herrick company had already taken care of it.

Martha Shaw had already told her they would, but Terri felt she had to try. It didn’t seem right they paid for everything.

Five minutes later she emerged from the hotel. Carlos stood next to the same kind of Land Rover that Parker had driven. As soon as he saw her, he opened the rear passenger door to help her inside.

After she’d thanked him and they’d merged with the morning traffic, she had an idea.

“Carlos? Mr. Herrick is on a special diet. When we come to a good supermarket, will you stop so I can buy the items he needs?”

“Of course.”

She leaned forward and whispered in his ear. “Do you know if he has a video machine?” The other man nodded. “Then can you please drive us to a video shop, too. There are a couple of films I’d like to get.”

“It’s impolite to pretend I’m not here,” Ben whispered.

“As far as I’m concerned, you’re still the invisible man!”

As it had done the other day, his body shook with laughter.

“Mr. Herrick almost died in the accident and isn’t supposed to be talking yet, Carlos. I suggest we ignore him.”

“She’s right, Ben. You let us take care of everything.”

“Good grief. What have I done?” Even though he could only whisper, he’d said it in a mocking tone.

His question went unanswered as Terri sat back, picking out some of the landmarks that were becoming familiar to her on this third trip south. They’d driven about ten miles when Carlos stopped near a shopping center.

He looked over his shoulder. “I’ll go in with you.”

“Good.”

Terri got out of the back seat. Ben’s window had been lowered. “Is there anything else you want from the store besides food, Mr. Herrick? Don’t speak. Just nod or shake your head.”