by Shady Grace
Shocked that the weather could change so quickly, Jamie gathered her things and headed to the nearest hotel to order a taxi back into town.
With her hair in disarray and sand stuck between her toes, she arrived safely back at her hotel in the middle of Old Havana, just in time as the wind battered against the building. The shutters in the lobby and piano bar were closed. The lights flickered, but a few locals and hotel guests remained in the lounge, mingling and enjoying drinks as she made her way up to her room to change.
When she had first arrived at her hotel yesterday afternoon, she thought she had walked into the wrong place. The hotel had a salmon-pink exterior with Spanish colonial details and a live piano bar for a lobby. This old world city on the ocean with its numerous old buildings and narrow streets was a far cry from any place she had seen before.
She wandered the hotel before heading into her room, taking in the character with rapt fascination. She’d never been anywhere before with such historical detail. She also visited the famous suite where tourists could view the very room where Ernest Hemingway had lived for several years. The room had been left as if the famous writer might have left it during his stay in the 1930s. She’d also noticed several photographs dedicated to him in the lobby.
She had just finished a hot shower and was brushing her hair when she heard a knock at the door.
“Who is it?” She grabbed the robe provided by the hotel, slipped it on, and stepped quietly to the door to listen. She didn’t expect a visitor on her second day here.
“I have a message from the front desk,” said a muffled voice.
After checking the peephole, she unlocked and opened the door. Perhaps Monty’s friend had new orders for her and didn’t want to risk calling up to the room.
“Here you go, ma’am.” The bellhop handed her a sealed envelope. “The man requested that you read it right away.” The servant waited patiently as Jamie tore open the envelope and read the note.
Come to the lobby. There is no time to wait.
Jamie’s heart tripped and her breath hitched in her lungs as she reread the words. “Who sent this?”
The servant shook his head. “I don’t know, Miss. I was only following orders to deliver it to this room right away.”
A terrified yet exciting thrill rushed through her as she leaned out of the door and stared around the central balcony which looked down through all floors. Nobody else was in sight. Still, Jamie couldn’t manage to keep her hands from shaking or calm the savage expression on her face when she glanced back at the young man. “Did you see who it was?”
Again the servant shook his head. “No, Miss. But there was a man dressed in a business suit and carrying a briefcase at the counter when I was sent up here, if that helps.”
“Thank you.” She rushed back into the room, slamming the door behind her. In three minutes she managed to whip on a pair of jeans, a T-shirt, and grab the briefcase. Rushing like a madman, she grabbed her key card, blew out the door, and rushed down the stairs. Maybe he was still there. Maybe she could make the exchange now and be able to relax until the second and final exchange.
That note scared her half to death. She felt threatened by it, and she had nobody to turn to for advice. Besides, she couldn’t risk telling anyone why she was really here, even when she didn’t really know what she was delivering.
She blew into the lobby like a lunatic. Several people who were gathered on the couches in the lobby stared as if she had escaped an institution. She slowed her frantic pace and took a deep breath, plastered a smile on her face, and tried to appear collected. The man wearing a business suit and carrying a briefcase was nowhere to be found.
Jamie walked up to the front desk and leaned heavily against it, her heart still hammering. “Did a man just come here looking for me?”
The receptionist blinked hard. “I’m not sure who you are, Señora.”
“Jamie. Jamie Fields. I’m staying in room 312,” she said in a low voice, and quickly looked over her shoulder.
The woman checked her computer and shook her head. “I’m sorry, but there’s no record,” she said, her accent lilting with every word. “I don’t know what message was sent through the previous shift.”
Ugh. “Okay. Thank you.” Jamie walked away from the front desk. As she started back for the stairs, she paused when a scary-looking woman came to her attention. She nearly jumped back in horror when she realized it was her own reflection in a large mirror. Her hair looked like a mangrove, she hadn’t put on her bra, and when she looked down, she realized she was barefoot. No wonder everyone stared at her as if she’d lost her sanity somewhere.
Heading up the stairs, her nerves still frayed, she decided to stick with the original plan of meeting at the outdoor café tomorrow. She didn’t want to screw this up. If the guy wanted to make the exchange now, that was fine by her, as long as it was done and everything went smoothly.
“Jamie? Is that you?”
That voice. That whiskey-flavored baritone could only belong to one man.
She jerked around; a hot flush crept up her neck; her back and the briefcase collided with the stairwell. She blinked hard, completely startled and bewildered to see the handsome face that matched the riveting voice.
“Jack! Oh, my, I…. W-what are you doing here?” Her heart pounded furiously and her hand trembled as his gaze shifted from the suitcase back to her face.
“I should ask you the same,” he said, his eyes wide, mouth set in a grim line, as if he was concerned for her. “Are you okay? You seem…startled.”
“Uh, yes”—she shook her head—“I mean…no.” She sucked in a deep breath and tried to calm herself. She had no idea what to say to him. That night on the dock tore through her mind, leaving her embarrassed and thoroughly unprepared to face him. She moved away from the wall and hid the briefcase behind her.
“I just happened to be in the piano bar,” he added. “I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw your face.” His gaze traveled down, and Jamie’s cheeks burned when she realized he was staring at her braless tits. His intent stare made her nipples jerk into tight little buds. Not now, you little bastards. His gaze darted back up and he cleared his throat. “I’m blown away to see you here. Why aren’t you at the lodge?”
“Uh, well, it’s actually a long story.” She tried hard not to sound nervous, especially when his presence made her feel like an unraveled ball of yarn.
“Is everything all right? You seem a little out of it.”
“Well, I….There was some confusion with reception. I received a call to come down immediately, but apparently it was…for someone else.” She forced herself to keep eye contact.
He seemed skeptical by her answer. “Ah.” He nodded, and shoved his hands into the pockets of his slacks. “Well then. Would you care to join me for a nightcap in the piano bar?” He shifted on his feet, either uncomfortable with their odd conversation or maybe her disheveled appearance. Whatever the case, Jamie wanted to die of embarrassment. “If you’re not doing anything else?”
Should she have a drink with him? As much as it thrilled her to see him here, she wasn’t sure if it would be smart to mingle with a man when she had an important mission to carry out. But maybe a companion was exactly what she needed. He may be a stranger—a very sexy stranger—but at least she knew him enough not to feel so alone in this place far away from home. Of course, she couldn’t tell him everything, but at least she knew somebody around here. If she ran into trouble, maybe Jack could help her. She offered a smile, pushing aside her worries of tomorrow. “Okay. Sure. Can you give me a few minutes to get ready? I just got out of the shower when I was interrupted.”
He returned her smile, his gaze once again on her chest. “Absolutely. I’ll be waiting for you down here in the piano bar.” His intent stare finally returned to her eyes. “No need to rush. I must admit it’s nice to see you again.”
Jamie released the breath she’d been holding and forced a
winning smile. The way he looked at her as if it was a lot more than nice to see her, was thrilling and terrifying at the same time. “Thank you. I won’t be long.” Without waiting for another response, she turned around and rushed back up the stairs.
She spent twenty minutes getting ready.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. What were the odds that she’d bump into him here? When Valerie had said Mr. Daniels had been called away to work, she thought it was a lie. She honestly believed he’d left because of her slutty response to his kiss. Well, seeing him here now made her feel much better. Obviously he really was on business and apparently it took him all over the place. Still, the coincidence of him being here at the same place and time as she, was more than a little strange. Considering the mission, she had to be careful.
Jamie decided to stick with something comfortable yet sexy for their nightcap. She stood in front of the mirror after walking into a cloud of perfume, then applied a small amount of makeup and tinted her lips peach. Studying the woman staring back at her didn’t settle her nerves at all. She’d always thought that her forehead was too high and her nose too wide, although she had to admit that her lips were full and she had nice green eyes. But her boobs didn’t sit where they should, her ass could use some tightening, and she hated the chub on her belly. Knowing that Jack had stared at her while she was braless had been more than a little disturbing. No woman with less-than-perky tits wanted a handsome stranger seeing them hanging there like overripe melons.
She sighed, and turned away from the mirror. It’s just a nightcap, not a marriage proposal.
For tonight, she chose a pair of black leggings and a loose-fitting purple tunic with slits on the forearms and shoulders, and a pair of sandals. Her only accessories were silver earrings and her favorite silver watch. Simple and chic, but most importantly, comfortable. And if he hits on you again, the outfit will come off easily….
As she descended the last set of stairs and walked past the lobby and into the piano bar, Jamie couldn’t help thinking about that kiss on the dock less than a week ago. She had almost lost control, and if she were to take a good guess, so did he. The chemistry between them was electric. The way he looked at her as if he wanted to eat her, made her come undone like a spool of thread…on fire.
Jack Daniels was sitting at a private table in the corner with cocktails already waiting. The wind beating against the shutters didn’t take away from the romantic ambiance of the room, or of the crisp white linen shirt and dress pants he wore. A heat wave that had nothing to do with the weather in Havana washed over her as Jack stood and pulled a chair out next to him. God, he was handsome. Even more so when he’d trimmed his beard.
Jamie blushed as his smile widened, hinting at that gold tooth again. What makes a man want a gold tooth? “You’re stunning,” he said, his rapt gaze taking her in from toes to eyes. “But I must say, I enjoyed the sight earlier, too.”
She chuckled and brushed a few loose strands of hair behind her ear—a nervous habit she’d had since she was eight. “When I was half-dressed and confused?”
His eyes hinted at mischief. “I’ll take the half-dressed part any day of the year. But you did seem a little out of it. Everything okay now?”
Jamie sipped the sweet cocktail and nodded. “I’m okay. I must be jetlagged, is all. I only just arrived and already reception is confusing me with someone else.” Yes, perfect answer. “And you? How was your evening?”
“Boring, actually. But as much as I wasn’t thrilled to be called away from that lodge, I’m glad to see you here. I was tempted to leave my number for you before I left.”
Fighting another blush, Jamie nodded and took her seat before he realized just how much his presence affected her. “I remember Valerie saying something about your retail business being very lucrative.”
He chuckled and took his seat next to her, his thigh only an inch away from hers. “I don’t remember telling her what I do for a living.”
His sex-inducing scent swirled like a drug through her head. She cleared her throat. “What do you do for a living?”
Jack lifted a brow and gave her a sharp glance. “If I told you, my dear, well then I’d—”
“Have to kill me?” Jamie giggled, and took another sip of her cocktail. She was just about to ask where he was staying when a phone rang between them.
After several rings Jack gave her an odd look. “Aren’t you going to answer that?”
“Oh, shit.” Jamie grabbed her clutch, having forgotten about the cell phone Monty had given her for communication. “Sorry. Excuse me.” She got up from her seat and found a quiet spot across the spacious room to answer the call.
“Hello?”
“Did you make it in okay?” Monty asked.
Jamie glanced over at Jack and returned his smile. “Yes. Everything is good, and I even bumped into somebody we know.”
His voice hardened. “Who?”
“That sexy guy from the lodge.”
“Ah.” His gruff tone shifted to one of amusement. “Does he have a big dick?”
“I”—she cleared her throat and forced a straight face as she glanced back at Jack again—“I don’t know.” She turned her back to her unexpected date and whispered into the phone, “Apparently he got called away from the lodge on business, and now he’s here. He called out my name in the lobby and asked me to join him for a nightcap.”
Monty chuckled. “Then I suggest you get busy and clear those cobwebs in your panties.” There was a short pause before he spoke again. “I don’t see why you can’t have any fun on your trip, as long as there aren’t any hiccups tomorrow. You deserve a good time, twit. I’ll let the boss know we’re still good for tomorrow.”
As much as she wanted to confide in Monty about the mix-up this evening, she decided against it. She didn’t want him to worry that something was already amuck, even though she was fairly certain it was only a mistake with reception.
Although receiving the note scared the shit out of her, nothing actually happened from it. Maybe reception confused her with somebody else, or the guy in the suit thought she was another person. After all, her name wasn’t listed on the note. Maybe someone was meeting up with the person renting the room before her. Reception had no record of the message and there was no mention of her bringing the briefcase. Maybe I’m just frazzled. Breathe. Just breathe. Still, her nerves were frayed over the edge of reason.
“So far so good, Monty.” Jamie closed her eyes and breathed deep. “You can count on me.” She glanced over her shoulder, eyeing Jack very slowly from dress shoes to eyeballs. God, he looked good. “I might have to listen to your words of wisdom and bring him to my room.”
Monty released a sharp bark of laughter. “Good girl. Let me know how it goes. In the meantime, just be careful.”
“I will. Talk to you soon.” She shut off the phone and slipped it back into her clutch before making her way back to the table.
Jack stood and held her seat as she sat back down. “Sorry about that. Apparently Valerie can’t manage without me.”
“Ah.” Jack took his seat. “I know the feeling. Sometimes it seems like the phone never stops ringing.” Jack took a sip of his cocktail, all the while, watching her attentively. “So what makes a woman decide to be a housekeeper? I can’t imagine it being a very rewarding job.”
Her sudden snort made the corner of his mouth tip up. “It’s definitely not rewarding, but I actually like to clean.” She shrugged. “I don’t really know how to describe it, but…I guess it’s kinda like an artist looking at their finished painting. I look at a room and I’m satisfied that I made it look awesome. That sounds pathetic, I know.”
Jack shook his head. “Not really. Without housekeepers, hotels and resorts wouldn’t exist. We all have a job to do.” His direct stare made her breath hitch. “Dealing with the people in my profession isn’t very rewarding either, especially when deals go south.” At Jamie’s curt nod, he leaned forward, his gaze intent and
packing heat. “Let’s talk about something more rewarding. What are you looking to do during your stay in Havana?”
You. Jamie leaned back at a safe distance and shrugged. She didn’t want him to think her too eager, despite nearly throwing herself on him at the lodge. “I’ve heard the nightlife is pretty spectacular. That’s number one on my to-do list.”
“And number two?” His left eyebrow arched.
Jamie couldn’t help her nervous laugh. “Check out the sights, I guess.”
“That’s it? No essential oil massage, or eucalyptus bath? A naked snorkel along the coral reefs midday?”
She raised a brow as her active imagination conjured up strong hands rubbing warm oil all over her back and ass. “No. The most I’ll venture into the water is to my ankles.” At his bizarre expression, she added, “I’ve watched too many shark attack documentaries. With my luck, I’d be the next casualty.”
“Ah.” He leaned back in his chair. “So you’re not an adventurer?”
She shook her head. “Not really. I live a pretty lame life.”
His gold-toothed grin made her stomach flip over. “Can I ask you a personal question?”
Her cheeks heated. He obviously wasn’t a shy man, with all these questions. “Sure.”
“Are you single?”
Her hand gripping the glass paused mid lift. Her gaze widened. “Are you?”
“I am.”
Jamie cleared her throat and took a deep drink of her cocktail. When she set her glass down, she asked the server loudly, “Can I have a couple shots of Fireball, please?” The waiter looked at her funny. Disappointed, she slunk back in her seat as a heavy heat settled in her stomach. Apparently she would have to deal with Jack and his questions while sober. “Yes, I’m single. Why do you ask?”
Jack leaned forward, his gaze sharp, the meaning in his look unmistakable. “Because I’d like to continue what we started on that dock…unless you’ve changed your mind?”
