“How long’s the flight?”
“A couple of hours. Have you ever been to Prague?” he asked. They hadn’t talked much about this trip, and he figured that living in Moscow, she’d probably been to the Czech Republic before. But if not, he’d be happy to show her the sights around the lovely old European city. Maybe instead of oil, he should have gone into tourism. Though, if that was the case, he’d probably still be chasing that elusive first mil.
“No. It was on my list of places to see, but we never made it out there.”
“It’s one of the prettiest cities in the world. You’ll love it.”
“I’m sure I will. I’m excited to meet your friend too. Do you think he’ll tell me any crazy college stories about you?”
Conner cringed. He hadn’t thought of that. Blake was one of his best friends. He knew all of Conner’s stories, and Blake always embellished.
“Yeah, probably, but if I were you, I wouldn’t believe half of them.”
“That’s what they all say. I’ll bet every one of the stories he tells me is true. Hey, can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
Her eyes danced, and she bounced her foot. Conner took a sip and waited.
“Are you part of the mile high club?”
Conner choked on his Coke.
“What? Did you really just ask me that?”
“Yeah, I did.”
“Well, no, I’m not.” He took another drink. This girl constantly surprised him.
She unbuckled her seatbelt, took his Coke out of his hand, and straddled him. She leaned down and whispered in his ear. “Would you like to be?”
Jessica was all grins and giggles when they left the airport.
They were meeting Blake for drinks at seven. Conner sent their bags on to the hotel and ordered a car for them.
“So his girlfriend isn’t here yet?” asked Jessica. She was fussing with her hair.
“No. She isn’t due until early tomorrow morning. She’s flying in from Rome.” Conner grinned. He’d never seen her act so girly before.
It was already dark, but the lights of Prague twinkled. Jessica craned her neck. Conner couldn’t wait to take her around. The cathedrals alone were going to blow her mind.
Blake was already at the restaurant. He stood and waved when they walked in.
Jessica blushed when she caught sight of Blake, and Conner gave him a hard look. He and Blake were very different. Blake was a behemoth. Seriously, the guy could have been a professional body builder or a lumberjack or something. He had bulk where Conner had definition. By the way Jessica was ogling him, he was afraid he’d misjudged her taste.
Blake gave Conner a massive hug and then headed for Jessica. He engulfed her and lifted her off her feet. He set her down and let go of her not quite fast enough for Conner’s liking.
He clapped Conner on the shoulder and looked at Jessica.
“You know how to pick them, don’t you, Conner? Well, we’ll put a stop to this. By the end of the night, you’ll be lucky if she heads back to Cairo with you. I’m telling her about all your college conquests.”
Conner rolled his eyes. Blake shouldn’t have anything that would drive off Jessica. But maybe. Especially if he stretched the truth. Blake was always the most jovial of the group. Loud as they came and larger than life.
Blake clapped his arm around Jessica’s shoulder and led her into the bar, without waiting for Conner.
After an hour, Conner was seriously concerned that Jessica was going to leave with Blake instead of him. She laughed at everything that came out of his mouth. Most of what he said concerned Conner, but still.
“I’m going to the little girl’s room. See you boys in a bit. Looks like there’s a line.” She pointed toward the bathroom, the long line stretching out the door. Moments like this made Conner very glad he was a guy.
As soon as she was out of earshot, he punched Blake on the shoulder. Which was a mistake because it was hard as a rock. But he got an “ouch” from Blake, so it was worth it.
“Dude, what was that for?”
“Stop flirting with my girlfriend.”
“She’s hot.” Blake laughed, and Conner glowered at him.
“But she’s so in love with you. She may have been laughing at me, but she can’t keep her eyes off of you. Not to mention that she takes any possible chance to touch you. On the leg, on the arm. I know you’ve got a suite, but, get a room.”
Blake pointed at the bathroom. Sure enough Jessica was staring at him. She blushed when he caught her eye, and she looked away.
“Yeah, well. I haven’t been this nuts about anyone in years, so I’m a little overprotective.”
Blake leaned back in chair and took a sip of his beer.
“I’d say the last time you acted like this was around Nour. Speaking of, Jessica looks like she could be her twin. You’re not just with her because of that, are you?”
Conner frowned. “I’ll admit that is the reason I talked to her for the first time, but Jessica’s personality is very different from Nour’s.”
Blake nodded. “True. Nour would never have laughed at my stupid jokes. Plus, Jessica could actually, you know, marry you if you wanted.”
“Too early to think about that stuff. You’ve just got wedding fever since you are about to pop the question. Speaking of, what’s the plan? What do you need Jessica and I to do?”
“Can I trust you with the ring? I don’t want to lose it, and we’re going to be all over the city tomorrow. If you could make sure it’s in place, that would be awesome.”
Blake pulled out the small box and held it out for Conner to see. Jessica walked back up at that moment.
“Oh, how cute. You two make an adorable couple. When’s the big day?”
Conner took the box from Blake and laughed. “Sit down, we’ve got big plans to make.”
Jessica woke the next morning to a loud knocking on the door. She heard the shower running so she threw on a robe and peeked out the peephole. Blake stood there with his head hung.
She opened the door. His eyes and nose were both red. He looked awful.
“Are you okay?” she asked. He shook his head and shoved past her. He threw himself into a chair. She took the chair across from him and touched his knee.
“What happened?”
He rubbed his eyes.
“Debbie’s plane was supposed to get in an hour ago. Just before I left for the airport, she called me and told me she never got on the plane.”
“Is she okay?”
He snorted. “She’s fine and dandy. Hanging out with some guy named Lorenzo. Apparently I was moving too fast for her. She wants some space and to see other people. I’m such an idiot. I should go down there and get her back. And beat the crap out of Lorenzo.”
Each time he said the other man’s name, he did so with a fake Italian accent that tore at Jessica’s heart.
“Bad idea, man,” said Conner. Jessica turned around and saw him standing outside the bathroom with just a towel wrapped around his waist. If Blake wasn’t sitting right here, that towel would be gone in two seconds. She shook her head. Blake was in a crisis right now. She should be helping him.
She turned back to face Blake. “If she’s cheating on you, and she thinks you are moving too fast, that’s not going to change. You need to let her go and find a woman who’s willing to commit to you.”
He pinched his nose. “You’re probably right. But it hurts so badly. I would feel better if I could go down there and beat him up. Then I’ll just go home.”
“Hey, Jess, can you come here?”
Conner had disappeared into the bathroom. She stood in the doorway while he shaved.
“I hate to do this to you, but I’m going to take Blake out on my own for a little bit. He’ll do better if there aren’t any girls.”
Jessica nodded. “I get it. I can wander around the city by myself. I’ll probably go and visit the castle and do some shopping. Stay out as long as you need to.”
&n
bsp; The guys left about twenty minutes later, and Jessica took a shower and ventured out into the streets. It was an adorable town and completely walkable. She saw the castle and decided to head in that direction. She stopped in a couple of clock shops and then took a few pictures of the bridge. Her phone rang, and she answered, thinking it was Conner.
“What the hell are you doing in Prague? And how come I keep seeing pictures of this hot guy on Facebook, but you haven’t called to tell me any more?” It was Julie.
“Things have happened kind of fast,” she replied and found a bench to sit on. She’d be on the phone for a while.
“The whole story. Spill. Now.”
Jessica explained to Julie how she met Conner and the adventures they’d been on. When she finished her tale, her sister spoke.
“He sounds loads better than Rick. Speaking of. He called me yesterday.”
“What? Why?” Jessica’s heart raced.
“He fed me some sob story about how you left him for no reason, and he wanted to know what he could do to get you back.”
“What’d you say?”
“I waited until he was done babbling. Then I told him he was too late and to move on. Then I hung up because I can’t stand talking to that man.”
Jessica started laughing. She loved her sister. She should have spilled about Conner sooner.
“So when do I get to meet Conner?”
“I don’t know. You could come visit me in Cairo. I don’t have any home leave left after my transfer, so I won’t get more than a weekend for a while.”
“I can’t afford that, but maybe someday. I miss you.”
“You too.”
“Is Prague as pretty as it is in pictures?”
“Prettier.”
“I’m so jealous.”
“I know. But hey, you’re still married, so you got that going for you.”
Julie sighed. “Yes, but you were married to a psychopath and now you’re dating a perfectly lovely hot guy who wants to please you. I’d say you’re much better off not married at the moment. Listen, I have to go. Talk later?”
“Sure, love you, sis.”
“You too.”
Jessica sighed and stood up. She missed her family.
Prague Castle was breathtaking and the view over the Vltava River was absolutely stunning. Jessica took a lot of pictures. If only Conner had been with her to steal a kiss or two in all the little nooks and crannies. She must have reached for his hand a dozen times.
How strange that she was already so used to him that she automatically expected him to be there. But he was right where he needed to be. It was sweet that he was taking care of his bud, probably getting him good and drunk.
She ordered food from a street vendor and sat at another bench, this one overlooking the river. When her phone rang again. It wasn’t a number she recognized. She hoped it was Conner calling from Blake’s phone.
“Hello.” She trapped the phone between her shoulder and her ear.
“Prague was always on our list of places to visit.”
The voice sent chills down her spine.
Rick.
She looked around her for any signs of him. Dark hair or an embassy car. She didn’t see any, but now what seconds ago had appeared quaint, looked sinister and dark.
“What do you want?” she demanded.
“You need to lose the guy,” Rick spewed.
“Whatever.” It was lame as a comeback, but Jessica couldn’t find words. Could Rick see her? Was he in Prague, or was he having her followed?
“Jessica, baby, you know you made a mistake. You hate the heat. Come home to Russia. To me. Things will be different,” Rick pleaded. “I miss everything about you. Your beautiful blue eyes, your long blonde hair—”
“No.” Jessica interrupted before he could go on and list all her physical attributes that he enjoyed, but left out things like her mind, or her strength, or any of the things that really made her her. “Even if I’m not with someone, I’m not going back to you. I’m better off alone than I am with you.”
“You don’t mean that,” said Rick, his voice turning into a growl. He would start yelling at any moment. “I’m the best thing that ever happened to you. No one takes care of you better than me.”
Jessica hung up the phone and shoved it in her pocket. Her cheeks burned and tears threatened to spill over. Her first instinct was to call Conner, but no, she could handle this. Blake needed him, and Jessica had to learn to deal with Rick’s hatefulness on her own.
It took every ounce of strength she had, but she stood up. Threw away her trash and walked, not ran, but walked back to her hotel. She might hide under the blankets while there, but if Rick was watching now, he’d see that he didn’t shake her.
Conner let himself back into the hotel room just before midnight. He was hoping Jessica was still up, but when he opened the door, she was breathing deep.
He’d have to wake her again.
“Hey.” He put his hand on her foot and gave her a little shake. She squealed and sat bolt upright. The bedside light flipped on.
“You scared the crap out of me.” She gasped.
“Sorry.” He grinned. “Get dressed and come with me.”
“Not again, Conner. It’s late.” She groaned.
“You like my nighttime outings.” He attempted to wink at her.
“Are you drunk?” She folded her arms over her chest.
Uh oh. Was she mad that he’d abandoned her all day?
“A bit tipsy, more like hungover-ish.”
“Blake?”
“Oh, he’s dead drunk. Passed out, but I quit drinking long before he did.”
“I don’t want to go out.” She pulled the blankets up.
“Come on.” He leaned in and kissed her. She tasted salty. He sat back. Her eyes were a bit puffy. “Have you been crying?”
“No,” she said, but ducked her head down. He put his finger under her chin and drew her gaze back up to his. Her eyes were as bloodshot as he imagined his must be.
“You have been. Are you upset with me for being gone?”
She shook her head. Her hair was tied back in a knot.
“What happened?” he asked, growing more sober by the moment. “Did someone bother you?” He’d have expected that more at home than he would have here. However, a pretty girl alone was sadly rarely safe.
She threw her arms around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder.
“Did someone touch you?” he demanded.
“Nothing happened. I had a perfectly lovely walk up to the castle,” she said.
“Then what has upset you if it’s not me and someone wasn’t inappropriate?” He hugged her tight.
“Rick.”
His alcohol-addled brain was slow on the uptake. “How?”
“He called.”
“Did he threaten you?”
“Not particularly,” she said into his shoulder. “But he knows where we are and that I’m with you. It scared me. I don’t want to get you wrapped up in anything complicated.”
Complicated. He snorted. If she only knew the half of it. Nour was complicated. Rick was just a jerk.
“Don’t worry about me,” he said. “Or Rick. I’ll take care of it once we get home. For now though, get dressed. Prague at night is magic, and I want to show you. I’m not letting that guy stop me.”
Fifteen minutes later, they were walking up a cobblestone lane. It had rained earlier so everything had a shimmer to it. From the streets to the trees. The moon was full, and the clouds had started to drift off. The effect was incredible, leaving a haze in the air that truly was magical. Jessica was jumpy at first, the atmosphere not helping. Eventually though, she relaxed and threaded her arm through his.
He led them around to the old gothic Tyn Church with the spires rising up into the clouds. The moon was perfectly framed between the two towers.
“It is enchanting,” Jessica sighed wistfully.
“Another successful midnight adventure
.” Conner grinned, and she laughed. It was good to hear.
“They do appear to be your specialty.”
She leaned up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. He wanted more though. He circled his arm around her waist and pulled her tight against him.
“I like doing special things for you,” he whispered before taking her lips in a deep kiss. She slid her fingers through his hair, which was damp from the mist, and gripped the back of his neck.
They were going to have to go back to the hotel soon if she kept pressing against him like she was.
“I missed you today.” He broke away for some air.
“Your friend needed you.”
“I promise we’ll come back soon, and I’ll show you all the things not in the guide book.” He kissed the tip of her nose. She scrunched it at him, and he kissed it again. It was the most adorable thing ever when she crinkled her nose up at him like that.
“We have to go someplace you’ve never been. So we can discover something together,” she said.
He released her and took her hand.
“That’s tough. I’ve been around a lot.”
“Where’s your favorite?”
“You’ll laugh.” He tugged her along. He wanted to walk over the Charles Bridge and see the moon reflected in the river.
“No tell me.”
“A couple of my frat brothers are from Mackinac Island, Michigan.”
“Michigan.” She did laugh. “You’ve been all over the world, and yet Michigan is your favorite.”
“Make fun all you want.” He dipped his head at another couple out on a midnight stroll. “But the world is so crazy, hustle bustle, and most of the time I love the pace of it. But Mackinac is like stepping back in time. No cars. Few electronics. Everything slows down, and Lukas makes killer fudge.”
“Sounds wonderful.”
“It is.”
They were crossing the Charles Bridge when he stopped and dug quarters out of his pocket. The moon was high in the sky, and more clouds had rolled in. He wasn’t getting the light he wanted, but it would do.
“This is so American, but we have to make wishes.” He handed her a quarter. She giggled.
She held hers tight in her hand, eyes closed, and then tossed it in the water. Conner thought for a second. Then he did the same.
Pyramids and Promises (Omega Mu Alpha Brothers Book 2) Page 12
