The Export by J.K. Kelly (read along books txt) 📕

CHAPTER TWENTY

The rooftop was still a party but the crowd hadn’t known when they arrived they might be attending a prize fight. A man stepped past Matt, excusing himself as he bumped or squeezed through the crowd until he came face to face with the troublemaker. He undoubtedly had done so many times before. As quickly as it had begun, within minutes, the entire confrontation was defused. Matt recognized the newcomer immediately as the owner of a prominent F1 team, a powerful and very wealthy industrialist that had transplanted his family years ago from the volatile Middle East to safer Canadian soil.

Turning to Eve, the father spoke in a sincere and subdued tone. “My dear, my son continues to embarrass me and our adopted country,” he stated. “I am sure his vulgar mouth or his wandering eyes and hands may have insulted you or invaded your space, and for that, I most sincerely apologize.”

Turning to look at his son, he slapped him with an open hand across the face. The son’s alpha friend stepped forward and appeared ready to challenge the father. Matt smiled and took a step back. He didn’t have a dog in this fight and most certainly didn’t want any additional or unnecessary attention north of the border.

When he looked to Eve and then Vicki as they walked away from the confrontation, he saw that their expressions had changed. They were both laughing – a reaction not lost on Matt or the son and his crew. Catching up to the ladies, Matt suggested it might be time to leave before things flared up again.

“I need to take a wee,” Eve said with a laugh as she headed for the restrooms, ignoring Matt’s suggestion.

Frustrated, he stopped and turned to see where the father, son, and their minions were. Vicki put her hand on his shoulder.

“You don’t know her well enough to think she’d ever leave a fight, especially one that is still to be fought,” Vicki told him.

Matt nodded but expressed his desire to avoid a fight like this one. “We’re outnumbered, and I know men like the ones you two are pushing,” he said, looking back again to see where they were. “At least two of them can be trouble. And now that the father has embarrassed his son in front of his friends, the punk will have even more venom in him. He’ll want to bite.”

Vicki smiled and patted Matt’s back. “There’s a lot more to you than meets the eye. I’ve seen men like you before, too.”

He laughed.

“I was watching you back there, and all weekend, for that matter. I don’t know who you really are, but you’re not a travel writer,” she said. “Who are you? I can keep a secret.”

Just then, Eve returned to them and put both of her hands on Matt’s cheeks. “I appreciate the chivalry, my dear, but we really can handle knuckleheads like those,” she said. “There are plenty of them walking the planet.”

Matt put his hands on hers. “I hope you washed your hands!” he said with a laugh. “Say it again for me, just once. I love it when you say big words with that beautiful, sexy French accent.”

“Knucklehead?” she asked.

He grinned from ear to ear. “Oui. Now can we please get out of here and head back to the Sheraton? I’ll bet the bar has seats waiting for us.”

Eve and Vicki looked at each other and nodded.

“Okay, okay. Make love, not war,” Vicki said and led the couple to the elevator. Matt didn’t let his guard down until they were in a taxi. Once they had all piled onto the bench seat of a white mini-van with Canada Cab written on the sides and hood of the vehicle, he finally let out a sigh of relief.

Vicki noticed it and smiled at him, but Eve appeared to be preoccupied.

“I don’t feel so good,” she said, rubbing her abdomen.

Five minutes later – as Matt paid the fare, slid the side door back, and climbed out – Eve gave him a look from inside the cab that let him know their night was over. He ducked his head back inside to study her with concern. But it was at that moment his suspicions were confirmed. It didn’t take his professional training to tell she had other plans.

“Abdomen, my ass,” he said to her in a somber tone. “You girls are going back there for a fight. I can tell.”

Still making no move to leave the cab, Eve stared at him, shaking her head in disagreement.

“You’re ready for a fight, I can see it in your eyes,” he said. “Please come inside with me, the both of you.” He leaned further in to make eye contact with Vicki, but she had her head turned away from him, seeming to watch the Saturday night city traffic as it inched past them.

“Don’t worry about us, my dear,” Eve whispered as she pulled him close. “We can take care of ourselves.” She then put her hand on his shoulder and pulled him closer for a long kiss goodbye. As he stepped back from the cab and began to reach for the door handle, Eve smiled and blew him another kiss.

“Next time I’m anywhere near D.C., I will be sure to call you,” she said.

Matt closed the door and watched as the cab pulled away. He had a choice. He could go back to the party. If the girls did indeed return there, he could be there in case he was needed. Instead, he turned, walked into the Sheraton, and headed straight for the lobby bar.

Highlights of the day’s F1 qualifying laps were being broadcast on the flat-screen behind the bar. As Matt drank down his first and then second cold beer, his thoughts were of the lady in the gold dress. Hope to see you again soon, he whispered as he held his beer glass up. Those around him must have thought he was toasting the pole winner