Carmen gave him another nod, her pulse slowing at last.
“That’s it. Good. Relax and enjoy the weekend.”
She exhaled slowly, her cheeks flushing a pretty shade of pink. “You’re right. I got this.”
“Yes, you do.” He let her go before he couldn’t, and reached for his stuff on top of the dresser. “Now, go have a nice hot bath to take the edge off. We’ll talk some more when you’re done.”
* * *
A short while later Carmen sat in the tub with bubbles up to her neck, doing her best to forget the connection sizzling between her and Zac and failing miserably.
But indulging in fantasies about the man and their one night together was pointless. They wouldn’t be repeating that here. She’d made her rules for a reason and it was high time she stuck to them.
Rules were what she lived by. Rules kept her safe.
Leaving things until the last minute and being spontaneous wasn’t her thing. She liked her life all planned out.
Back in Trinidad, she’d made budgets and schedules to keep track of everything for their household, ensuring they had enough money to last each month. When she’d been in nursing school her organization skills had come in handy as well, juggling classes and jobs and internships.
Unfortunately those skills didn’t translate well to love and emotion.
She’d tried to plan out her relationship with Steve, but he’d claimed she was too cold and calculating, always leading with her brain and not her heart.
The one time she’d tried leading with her heart had been the night of that party, with Zac, and, well...those results weren’t exactly stellar. So, yeah. Maybe she should’ve just been up-front with the owners of the California clinic and told them the truth instead of a bunch of lies.
It was all just so stressful and sordid and screwed up.
Ugh.
She reached over and hit the little button on the side of the tub to turn on the jets, then closed her eyes to shut out the world. The water hit her in all the right spots, easing the knots in the muscles of her back and shoulder blades and lulling her into a kind of half sleep.
She pictured Zac in the bedroom, standing so close to her she could see the tiny flecks of gold in his eyes, see the shadow of stubble on his jaw, hear the sharp intake of his breath as he leaned in.
Warmth spread outward from her core and moisture gathered between her legs. It had nothing to do with the bath water. She imagined his strong, capable hands taking the place of those jets. Pressure inside her built as memories of the two of them together in bed flashed into her mind. The heat of his skin beneath her fingertips, the hardness of his muscles pressed against her soft curves, the sound of his deep groans as he’d reached his ultimate pleasure...
Buzz, buzz, buzz...
The sound of her cell phone vibrating on the vanity jarred her back to reality. She shut off the jets, then quickly stood to grab a towel and wrap it around herself. Thankfully she managed to catch the caller ID and answer before they hung up.
“Carmen Sanchez,” she said, taking a seat on the edge of the tub as it drained.
While the labor and delivery nurse from Anchorage Mercy on the other end of the line went over some new complications with one of her patients, Carmen pulled on a robe from the back of the door, then walked out of the bathroom—where she found Zac lying on the bed, his shirt and shoes off. Her mouth went dry as she stopped in the doorway, staring at his sculpted, toned torso.
Distracted, she lost track of the conversation on her phone. “I’m sorry. Could you repeat that, please?”
Zac looked up from the guest directory he was reading and narrowed his gaze. “Work?”
She nodded, her wicked thoughts in the tub flooding her brain again as she stared at his sleek, chiseled perfection. His dark skin glowed beneath the bedside lamp and she clenched her hand tight around the phone to keep herself from reaching for him.
“Nurse Davis? Hang on a moment, please. I need to write this down.”
She covered the phone with one hand and hurried down the hall toward the front of the suite, praying Zac wouldn’t follow. Because if he came after her now she wasn’t sure she’d be able to resist, and resist she must. There was too much riding on this weekend to screw it up with sex and messy emotion.
* * *
Alone, Zac sank back down onto the end of the bed and scrubbed his hands over his head. What the hell had he been thinking, lounging around waiting for her to come out of the bathroom? This wasn’t a couple’s getaway. They were here to work. She was here to win the job of her dreams and he was here as her fake fiancé.
Still, when she’d come out in nothing but that robe, her mocha skin dewy and pink from her bath, her pretty eyes widening as she looked at him, he’d gotten so caught up in the moment it had been easy to forget all that other stuff.
Maybe it was the prospect of being stuck here in this suite with her for the next couple of days that made him start thinking about all the places on her he’d like to lick and suck. Places he remembered from their one-night stand that he definitely wouldn’t mind revisiting—her lovely breasts, that spot just below her belly button that made her squirm if he teased it just right with his tongue...
Dammit.
This was ridiculous. He was a grown man—not some randy teenager.
Frustrated, he pushed to his feet and grabbed the resort directory again. There was plenty to do around here to keep him busy. It seemed his father had made plenty of upgrades in the twelve years since Zac had been gone. And if he didn’t want to go out he could watch TV, order an in-room massage, check his emails and surf the internet...
Except none of those ideas appealed to him. He felt too restless to stay cooped up in here—especially with Carmen just down the hall in nothing but a robe. Besides, he wasn’t one to sit around and wait. He liked doing things, being active.
That was why his career as an EMT suited him so well. Even when they didn’t have a call he could restock the truck, take inventory, prep gear and equipment. Plus, there were always other people around. Zac didn’t like to be alone. It allowed him to get in his own head too much, think about the past.
Decision made, Zac changed into jeans and a T-shirt, then pulled on socks and shoes before waving to Carmen as he passed and heading out of the room. Hoping to burn off some excess energy, he took the stairwell across the hall from the room and headed down to the lobby.
The first floor was as busy as ever when he arrived, filled with guests for the conference. That was good, because he didn’t want to risk being recognized. He stuck to the outskirts of the room as he made his way over to the concierge’s desk, scanning the crowds constantly for any sign of his parents, but thankfully finding none.
His father had used to be present for all major events at this resort, but perhaps that had changed. He probably had many more important jobs to do in his other hotels.
“How is your room, sir?” Willow asked as he approached the desk. “Anything I can assist you with?”
“Everything’s great. Thanks.” He glanced around him, then lowered his voice. “The other concierge you mentioned earlier—the one who works at night? Dustin? His last name doesn’t happen to be Lewis, does it?”
She smiled. “It does. Do you know him?”
“Maybe.”
Zac released a pent-up breath. Dustin Lewis had been a good friend to him during his teens and he felt like the only person here he could trust now.
“You said he comes on duty at eight?”
“Yes, sir. But he’s usually here early. Likes to socialize with the other staff before his shift.” Willow chuckled. “Shall I page him for you?”
“No, no. That’s fine.” Zac looked around again. “If you tell me where he might be I can find him myself. Thanks.”
“Try by the pool. He likes to sit out there and watch the sunset.
” Willow pointed to a hallway on the right. “Last door at the end.”
“Great.”
He headed out through the controlled chaos of the lobby and down a quieter corridor to the glass door at the end. The smell of chlorine stirred more memories of his childhood here. He’d learned to swim in this pool with his parents. His dad had taught him how to dive. He still remembered the joy on his father’s face when he’d completed his first lap in under two minutes.
Good times. Until everything had gone bad.
Zac pulled open the door and walked into the heated glass atrium covering the Olympic-sized swimming pool. The air was more humid here, and his sinuses opened up as he took a deep breath.
Sure enough, he located Dustin on one of the lounge chairs on the far side of the otherwise deserted pool, staring out at the sky in the distance. It was still early, not even five yet, but this far north evening came early in March.
Not wanting to startle the older man, he stopped a short distance away and cleared his throat. “Been a while, Dustin.”
“What the...?” Dustin sat forward and slowly turned, his grin widening. “Zachary Taylor—get over here and give me a hug, boy. Where have you been keeping yourself?”
Zac embraced his friend, then took a seat on the edge of the chaise across from Dustin’s. “I live in Anchorage now. Work as a paramedic.”
“A paramedic? I always knew you were smart.” Dustin nodded, his smile fading as his expression turned serious. “Your father know you’re here?”
“No.” Zac hung his head and rubbed his hand over the back of his neck. “And I’d prefer to keep it that way. Please don’t say anything to him about seeing me, okay?”
“Your secret’s safe with me. Besides, they don’t live on this property anymore. Moved to that new place he bought in Chicago about a year ago. They stay in the penthouse suite there, from what I understand,” Dustin said, narrowing his gaze on Zac as his smile returned. “So, tell me about yourself. You married? Got kids?”
“Neither.” Zac’s mind was still churning over the news that he might make it through this weekend without having to encounter his parents at all. He needed to make certain, though.
“Hmm...” The older man nodded slightly. “Too bad. About the kids, I mean. Always thought you’d make a great dad.”
“Given the role model I had, I doubt it.” Zac shrugged and peered at the darkening sky, at the streaks of gold and purple and bright red-orange fading into indigo. “How about you? How’s Martha?”
A shadow of sadness passed over the older man’s face. “My Martha passed away last year. Stroke. Took her fast, so for that I’m grateful.”
“I’m so sorry.” Zac reached over to place his hand on Dustin’s shoulder. “I didn’t know.”
“How could you? You weren’t here.” Dustin exhaled slowly. “Anyway, kids and grandkids are doing well. Added another to the fold back in January. Little girl named Zoey.”
“Congratulations.” Zac waited while his friend brought up some pictures on his phone to show him. “Wow, she’s beautiful. She’s got your eyes.”
“Yeah. Got my lungs too. Cries loud enough sometimes to be heard clear over in Siberia.”
Zac chuckled. “Nice! Man, I miss seeing you around every day.”
“Maybe you should come back more often, then.”
Dustin clicked off his phone and shoved it in his pocket. That was when Zac noticed the white gauze wrapped around the older man’s wrist, peeking out from beneath the cuff of his uniform dress shirt.
“Hurt yourself?” Zac asked.
“Huh?” Dustin frowned, then glanced at the bandage. “Oh, this. It’s nothing. Cut myself on a knife making dinner the other day. No big deal.”
From the dried blood stain on the gauze, it looked like some kind of a deal to Zac. “How’s your diabetes?” he asked.
Dustin gave a dismissive wave. “Fine, fine... You trying to be my doctor now, boy?”
“No.” Zac had caught the irritation in the older man’s voice and he decided to keep the peace and let the matter drop—after one last thing. “But I am a trained medical caregiver. I’m just concerned about you, that’s all. If you want me to take a look at that cut, let me know. Things heal slower because of your diabetes, remember?”
“I do. And I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself. Been doing it long enough.”
Zac shook his head and chuckled, leaning back in his chair to gaze out the window as Dustin had been doing before. The sun had set now, and the first few stars were glimmering.
I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself...
The fact that Carmen had said nearly those exact words to him wasn’t lost on him. Neither was the fact that he needed to get back to the suite and get changed for the welcome reception soon.
“So, my parents aren’t here at all this weekend, then?”
“Didn’t say that. Only that they don’t live here permanently anymore.” Dustin reclined again in his own lounge chair and gave Zac a side-glance. “You know how your father is—doesn’t like to leave anything to chance. With that big conference here this weekend, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he flies in for at least part of it. Why’d you come back, though, if not to see him and make amends? Your mother misses you terribly. Never talks about it, but I can tell.”
Zac’s heart nosedived a little at that. He missed his mother too. “I’m helping out a friend.”
“Hmm... You always were thinking of others.” Dustin shrugged. “Well, if you’re trying to avoid your dad, I’d keep an eye out. Don’t know his schedule, but he likes to lurk at big events.”
Hopefully, with all the other attendees at the conference, he and Carmen would be able to blend into the crowd.
“How is she?” he asked.
“Your mother? Fine. They’re both fine, far as I can tell. Not much changes around here, Zac—you know that.” Dustin pointed out the window. “Same mountains, same snow, same glorious landscape. It’s what I love about the place. Comforting to think that all places remain, regardless of what we do, constant and unchanging. Helps me not feel so lonely.”
“Yeah...” Zac said, feeling a similar pang of yearning inside himself.
His self-reliance might come in handy on the job, but in his personal life it tended to isolate him. Hook-ups were easy to come by. Real intimacy that required trust and true vulnerability...? Not so much.
“Look, boy. Is this still about what happened with your father all those years ago? I know you were disappointed in him when he ran around with that other woman. I get it. I do. He’s your dad. You idolized him. He made a mistake. But then we all have. He’s human, Zac. Just like me. Just like you. Maybe you should—”
“I need to go.”
Zac pushed to his feet, frowning down at Dustin. He loved his old friend, but the last thing he needed right now was a lecture on forgiving his father’s past sins.
“I’ve got a reception tonight to get ready for.”
“I’ll come with you,” Dustin said, getting up himself, ignoring Zac’s offer of help.
Back in the day, the older man had used to tower over Zac. Now they were the same height, Dustin’s proud shoulders bent by age.
“My shift starts soon,” he said.
They walked back toward the entrance to the pool. Thankfully, Dustin let the matter of Zac’s relationship with his dad drop. He held the door for Dustin, then followed him out into the hallway.
“If you change your mind about that cut, my friend and I are staying in the Yupik Suite. Come up anytime and I’ll clean and dress it for you.”
“Will do.” Dustin shuffled along beside him on the plush carpeted floor. “And don’t be a stranger this weekend. If you do run into your father let those old wounds heal, son. Life’s too short. My Martha taught me that.”
“Some wounds are too
deep to heal,” Zac said, stopping outside the door to the stairwell.
“Perhaps we just don’t give them enough of a chance to get better. Things aren’t always what they seem. Remember that. Nobody’s perfect. Not even you, boy.”
The older man looked at him a moment, before continuing on down the hall toward the lobby, speaking to Zac over his shoulder.
“See you around. Try and stay out of trouble while you’re here.”
“No point,” he said, more to himself than anyone else, and then headed back to the room.
The truth was, Zac knew trouble had already come, right in the minute he’d agreed to come on this trip with Carmen. In hindsight, it would’ve been wiser to say no. But then he’d not exactly been thinking with the correct part of his anatomy when she’d asked him. Come to think of it, that happened most times when she was around.
Now they were here, and he was in too far to get out.
All he could do was keep moving forward until the weekend was done.
CHAPTER FIVE
ELLEN LANDON, SIXTY years old and the owner of the clinic in Big Sur, California, sat between Carmen and Priya at the welcome reception that night at their table for six.
Carmen had only seen photos of the woman online, and she’d always reminded her of a stately Dame Judi Dench. Despite approaching what some would consider retirement age, Ellen Landon showed no signs of slowing down. She kept as active and vibrant as many people twenty years younger, and showed no signs of selling her practice anytime soon.
Across from Ellen at the white-linen-covered table, between Zac and Lance, was Ellen’s wife—an OB-GYN physician named Elizabeth Nguyen. Their progressive practice had helped pave the way for the future of midwifery in the state of California.
To work with two such pioneers in the field would be an honor—not to mention that mentorship from Ellen and her team alone would be worth more than gold. Of course the bump in pay and the promotion to clinic supervisor would be nice as well...
A Weekend with Her Fake Fiancé Page 7
