Cocksure Ace

by Webster, K.

  Ew.

  I don’t do animals.

  “Take me to Alejandro,” I demand, pulling my stare from the ugly dog to the annoying idiot in front of me.

  “Alejandro will come to us,” he says cryptically.

  Awoooga! Awoooga!

  The sound of an obnoxious horn cuts through the air, stealing my attention. A green bus bounces toward us along the airstrip. I’m in hell. Only answer for all this. The bus comes to a halt near us and a man bounces out of the bus.

  “Camilo,” Alejandro booms, holding his arms out. “La estrella.”

  “Alejandro,” CZ or Camilo says, grinning.

  They hug and then start chatting in rapid fire Spanish. I cross my arms over my chest and frown at them. Alejandro starts ushering people into the green bus. When I overhear the word “hotel,” I breathe a sigh of relief. At least there, I can gather my bearings and call Daddy.

  My head is throbbing from my fall, but I ignore it as I make my way back over to Estefania, who stands watch over my things like an Amazonian princess. God, she’s so pretty it hurts to look at her.

  “You like the pilot, no?”

  I follow her gaze over to Camilo. “No,” I grit out. “Big no. Hell no.”

  She laughs. “But he is so handsome.”

  “Not even close,” I grumble.

  Lies. He’s hot, but he knows it, which makes it all the more annoying. Plus, he’s a dick. Probably knows that too.

  “Vengan, amigos,” Alejandro calls out to us, waving us to the bus.

  Estefania waggles her brows at me, as though we’re sharing a secret about our mutual crush over some boy. Gross. No. She can have him.

  I grab my luggage and hurry over to the bus. Alejandro opens a side compartment and helps us load our things inside. When my things are safely stowed away, I climb onto the bus that reeks of body odor. Yuck. My nostrils flare in disgust as I take a seat right behind the driver’s seat. As much as I don’t want to smell him, I need to be able to ask him pertinent questions. Estefania boards next and her nose crinkles up. She eyes the seat beside me but then shakes her head, opting for the back seat instead. My eyes drift out the window and I watch as Camilo trots over to the hangar and lifts the garage bay. Captain Clynes must be the one taxiing the plane, because it slowly makes its way over to the open bay. Once it’s inside, they both exit and close the garage door.

  Ugh.

  Doris and Dale make their way onto the bus and sit behind me. Then, Damian and Kyle get on next. They choose a seat near Estefania. Alejandro trots up the stairs and hefts himself into the driver’s seat. Captain Clynes boards and has a seat across the aisle from Doris and Dale.

  “We could leave him,” I offer under my breath.

  Captain Clynes snorts out a laugh.

  Toro bounds onto the bus and barks at me before throwing himself down in the seat across the aisle from me, panting hard.

  “Welcome to Tahueca,” Camilo says as he steps onto the bus, greeting everyone. “You’re in the loveliest town of Oaxaca in Mexico. You’re in for a real treat. Soon, you will be guests of the best hotel in town.”

  “Only hotel,” Captain Clynes says with a chuckle.

  “Still the best, Carter,” Camilo argues with the captain.

  “Can we go already?” I snap. “I need to call my father.”

  The humor fades from Camilo’s face as he sits.

  Right next to me.

  “Seriously,” I growl. “Of all the places you could sit—oh!”

  The bus takes off and I’m thrown back. Camilo laughs at my shock. I want to shove him into the seat with his dumb dog. His arm stretches across the seat behind me as he leans in to look out the window. It’s too hot and sticky here to have him of all people in my space.

  “Are you always this angry?” he asks, his minty breath invading me.

  “Are you always this obnoxious?”

  “Yes,” Carter offers from nearby. The damn dog barks too.

  I smirk at Camilo.

  “Do you have plans for dinner?” Camilo asks, wiping said smirk right from my face.

  “I’d rather starve than eat with you.”

  “Oh, come on, I’m not that bad.”

  “Nope, you’re definitely worse.”

  He snorts. “Do you even have any friends because it’s hard imagining you being nice to anyone?”

  I scowl at him and then turn away to look out the window. Rude ass. I have friends. Lots of them. Daddy. And David of course. Oh, and my assistant Helen. Daddy’s assistant Mark is my friend too. David’s son, Garrett, from a previous marriage. Lots of friends.

  “Who’s your best friend?” he asks, still invading my space and mind.

  “None of your business.”

  “You don’t have one.”

  “His name is David,” I lie. While I want David and me to carry on being more, I wouldn’t say we’re best friends. I can barely get him to make time to have dinner with me.

  “Wrong.”

  “What do you mean, wrong? You don’t know me,” I hiss, refusing to look at him.

  “I know you’re lying. It’s a hunch.”

  “Screw your hunch.”

  “I could be your best friend,” he purrs, his knuckle rubbing along my bicep.

  I snap my head to look at him. Too close. My heart does a little flutter and it makes me angry. He can be sexy all damn day, but that doesn’t change the fact he’s the most obnoxious man I’ve ever met.

  “I’d rather be best friends with Toro.”

  Toro barks happily.

  Camilo’s lips curl into a wicked grin. “I’m going to have fun with you.”

  “At least one of us will be having fun,” I sneer. “Hope you don’t get too attached. I’ll be gone the second I can.”

  His eyes drop to my lips, making my stomach do a flip. “You’re not going anywhere until Rodrigo is no longer a threat.”

  “Newsflash, Camilo,” I snap. “It’s sunny. Not a raincloud in the sky. Maybe you should rethink your career.”

  His jaw clenches. “Rodrigo is coming.”

  “Kyle!” Damian calls out. “Take a picture of me with the beach behind me. It’s gorgeous.”

  Jerking my stare from Camilo, I look out the window. The water sparkles in the freaking sunshine, but the waves are choppy and the wind blows the trees lining the beach. It is beautiful, but it’s wrong. I’m not supposed to be here.

  “For the record,” Camilo says softly, “I’m right. It’s not safe to fly.”

  I ignore him until he gets up to go sit with Toro.

  Good.

  It’s better this way.

  Alone.

  Camilo

  “The. One.”

  I roll my eyes and Carter laughs.

  “I’m just saying,” he states, amusement shining in his hazel eyes.

  “I tried,” I lie. Not really. Mostly, I tried to rile her up. “She’s not interested in anyone but herself.”

  My eyes drift back over to her. Despite the rigidness in her posture, she seems defeated. It’s unnerving. A woman like her doesn’t look like the type to get knocked off her axis very often. And when she does…it destroys her. Guilt infects me. I haven’t exactly made it easy for her.

  The bus is hot as fuck, and where everyone is sweating, she seems to glisten and glow. Like the reflection of the sun off the water behind her. Sheridan Reid is beautiful, no doubt. She’s just a jagged little pill—one you can’t swallow because she’ll choke you.

  Despite having to land in Tahueca because of a damn incoming hurricane, I’m happy. I was born and raised here. Everyone I love lives here.

  So why did you leave?

  Ignoring that train of thought, I rub Toro’s head. I missed my dog. Alejandro keeps him while I’m gone, which is for longer and longer periods of time. Another pang of regret hits me right in the gut.

  The hotel comes into view and Toro must sense we’re almost there because he barks, his tail thumping hard against the seat. As soo
n as the bus stops and the door opens, Sheridan bolts. Carter thumps me in the arm.

  “Go,” he encourages.

  I roll my eyes as I stalk off the bus after her. She struggles walking in the sand and nearly rolls her ankle. There’s no stopping her, though, as she storms her way over to the front office of Hotel Zaragoza. She flings the door open and I grab it before it closes. Toro trots in after her.

  “Un minuto,” Araceli says in a monotone voice before bitching out the person on the other line. One minute.

  Sheridan is breathing heavily, fury radiating from her in the stuffy office. I lean against the counter and smirk at her.

  “Stop following me,” she huffs.

  “Not following you.”

  “You’re here.” She waves her hand up and down. “Breathing the same stagnant air in this shithole.”

  I bristle at her words. “Maybe you should complain to management about the stagnant air,” I offer coolly.

  Araceli barks something at what I’m assuming is Marco. My cousin and her baby daddy fight continuously. It’s a wonder they stopped arguing long enough to have sex and get knocked up in the first place. Araceli pats her stomach once before reaching over to grab an orange slice from a bowl. She chomps on it as she angrily listens to what he has to say.

  From experience, I know this might last all day.

  “Tres llaves, prima,” I call out. Three keys, cousin.

  Araceli notices me, smiles briefly, then reaches into the drawer. She tosses the keys my way one set at a time.

  “This is going to take a while,” I tell Sheridan. “Come on. I’ll show you to your room.”

  “My room? Are you serious? I’m not staying in this dump!”

  Araceli’s glare darts over to us and she rakes her eyes down Sheridan’s front, her nostrils flaring. Right. I’m going to have to get her out of here before she pisses off my cousin. A pissed off Araceli usually ends with her raking her nails across your face. I’ve nearly lost my eye on more than one occasion because of her.

  “This dump is your only option, abejita.” Little bee. The nickname is fitting since she likes to sting with her verbal barbs. Not waiting for her to answer, I grab her delicate wrist and haul her out of the building. As soon as we’re outside, the warm wind blows sand against us. It’s still sunny, but I can smell the storm in the air.

  “Let go of me, asshole,” she grumbles, jerking her hand from mine.

  “Do you kiss your momma with that mouth?” I taunt. I’d said it before in Spanish, but that was when she had no clue what I was saying to her. Now, I want her to hear every word.

  Her fiery features crumple for a second and then she stomps off. Okaaaay. Again, she nearly falls in her stupid heels. That’s enough of that. If she breaks her ankle, I’ll have to set it and I’m not in the mood to play doctor. I hook my arm around her waist and then toss her over my shoulder. She shrieks in surprise and then she loses her mind.

  “Let me go, you idiot! I will sue you! I will sue everyone!”

  Carter’s eyes are wide when I approach.

  “Oh boy,” he mutters as I toss him two out of three sets of keys.

  “Oh boy is right!” she screeches. “The moment I get down, I’m going to ruin everyone! By the time I’m done with you monsters, you’ll never get another job again!”

  “Suave,” Carter says, shaking his head at me. “Real suave.”

  “Dale, honey, why is that young man carrying that young lady?”

  “She’s having a tantrum, Doris. He has to set her straight.”

  “SET ME STRAIGHT?! WHAT YEAR IS THIS?!”

  “Nineteen eighty-three,” Doris says at the same time Damian says, “Twenty friggin’ twenty.”

  “It was a rhetorical question!” Sheridan yells. “Someone help me! Estefania!”

  Estefania whines, shooting me a pleading look. Poor girl is the closest thing to a friend Sheridan has around here.

  “Don’t worry,” I assure Estefania. “I’ll put her down soon. Follow me.”

  “I’m going to kill you,” Sheridan warns. “And your dog too!”

  Toro barks, trotting past us, unfazed by the threats.

  “He’s so scared,” I tell her, laughing. “Did you forget the part where he weighs more than you and the fact he’s a damn bullmastiff?”

  I toss the last set of keys to Estefania. She squeals when they hit her in the chest and then fall to the sand outside the hotel room.

  “Nice catch,” I deadpan. “This is your room. Bunk up.”

  “Sherrie-dan, we are to be roommates,” Estefania says with a squeal as she picks up the keys. “I am so excited!”

  “No,” Sheridan huffs. “Put me down. Now.”

  I slide her down my front, setting her to her feet, but don’t let go. Her face is red and her brown eyes blaze with fire. Once silky smooth chocolate-colored hair is frizzy and wild. Goddamn she’s beautiful.

  Fuck!

  She stings too.

  Her thumb and finger pinch my stomach through my shirt before she releases me. She pokes her finger into my chest, glaring at me. “If I never speak to you again, it’ll be too soon.”

  “Yes!” Estefania huffs in solidarity, choosing to poke me as well. “Sherrie-dan does not speak to handsome pilots anymore!”

  I lift my brows. “Handsome, huh?”

  “Smug bastard,” Sheridan rages, charging for me again.

  Estefania grips her arm and pulls her into the room. “The handsome pilot is not worth your anger.” Then, Estefania gives me an icy glare.

  “He’s not handsome,” Sheridan growls. “He’s an idiot.”

  As soon as the door slams in my face, I shake my head and take off walking down the path. This place causes a storm of emotions inside me. While I love seeing Mamá and the rest of my friends and family, it feels haunted. Empty. Missing the heart of what made this place the joy of my childhood.

  It’s missing mi papá.

  And it’s all my fault.

  Bitterness sours my stomach, reminding me of my hunger. Rather than hitting my villa, I follow my nose. As much as I want to hate Eduardo, it’s hard to hate someone who loves your mother. Even if he is a mindless idiot most days. Regardless, the man can cook.

  With the hurricane on its way, many of the hotel workers are out doing what we always do when this happens. Putting away anything that might blow away. Hammering plywood over glass windows and doors. Sandbagging low-lying areas. But not Eduardo. Nah, that big boy will be in the kitchen slaving away to feed the crew hard at work.

  I look around for Mamá, but she’s nowhere to be found. This woman lives for this hotel. At one time, I thought she loved it more than me, but like any good mother, she set me straight a long time ago when I bitched about such things.

  Siempre eres mi estrella brillante en el cielo, mijo. You’re always my bright star in the sky, son.

  The restaurant and bar—affectionately called Eddie’s—is already boarded up, but the front door is standing wide-open. It sits on the highest area of the hotel property and seems to be the soundest structure, so if a hurricane really does hit, Eddie’s is the safest place to be. It’s also the most entertaining. Food, drinks, and a rickety old piano that Eduardo claims Elton John used to own. I know he’s probably fucking with me, but I like to pretend it’s true.

  “Cuervo!” a deep voice booms from the kitchen when I enter the restaurant.

  I wave to Linda—who doesn’t speak and never has since coming to work here—before heading back to the kitchen. Eduardo is sweating like a goddamn pig as he chops tomatoes. He’s singing along to something I’ve never heard of and moving his hips like he’s a fucking professional dancer. Sometimes I cannot grasp how my mother is attracted to this man.

  “There he is!” Eduardo greets, a wide grin on his face. His mustache is longer than last time, curling out at the ends. Looks like a cartoon character. “You take to the sky for too long, Cuervo. We all miss you, especially my Rosita.”

  I try not
to bristle at his claim on my mother.

  I’m long past blaming Eduardo for loving my mother when my father wasn’t there to.

  “My schedule’s been packed,” I tell him, peeking under a lid that smells heavenly. “Where’s Mamá?

  “Con tu abuela, er, she is with your grandmother.” He winces and guilt tugs inside me. Fuck, I really have been an asshole to him. I distinctly remember being sixteen and yelling at him on a visit back from Dad’s in the States telling him he could speak English if he wanted to talk to me. Back then, Eduardo didn’t know English. Since, he’s learned how to speak it, just so he can communicate with me. The guy’s been trying so hard ever since.

  “Is everything okay?” I ask, frowning.

  “Your grandmother is good,” he says. “Don’t worry. They’re arguing over what color to paint the spa.”

  I snort and he chuckles. “We’re calling it the spa now, huh?”

  “You know how they are.” He shrugs. “Are you hungry? Most of this won’t be ready until supper, but I can make you a plate.”

  “I’m good for now. Need help pulling out the cots?”

  “Linda has enough for the staff, but we can grab one for you too.”

  “I brought guests,” I tell him. “Seven more.”

  “¡Siete!” He whistles. “Your mother is going to lose her mind.” He taps the side of his head. “We never have that many guests at once.”

  At one time, when Dad was here with her, this hotel was a hoppin’ little hotspot. It was always filled to the brim with guests. But when Dad left, and me with him, it’s like we took the heart and soul from the place. Now it’s just bones that my mother is trying desperately to hold together.

  “I’ll break the news to her. Maybe she’ll freak out less because she’ll be overcome with joy at seeing me,” I joke as I watch Eduardo toss some shredded beef into a tortilla. My stomach grumbles when he fills it to the brim with cheese, pico, veggies, and slathers it in sour cream. He rolls it up in a sheet of foil and then tosses it at me.

  “This will keep my boy fed until supper. Give your mother kisses from me.”

  I chuckle as I unwrap the taco and take a bite. It isn’t until I’m nearly out of the kitchen that I realize I didn’t get angry about what he called me.