Setha stood motionless after being escorted from the chopper on the small, private airstrip that had carried her and Khouri on the brief trek from Houston to Galveston.
Khouri finished his conversation with the pilot and came to take Setha to the waiting Infiniti Crossover. Setha fell in step but Khouri kept her from getting into the car when they approached.
“I’m sorry,” he said and smiled at the stunned look that crept into her vivid dark eyes. “I had no right to bully you about the security but you didn’t see what I saw the night you came barreling into me behind Rocky’s club.” He shook his head, toying with her braided ponytail. “You were terrified. Call it chauvinistic but I’m not used to not being able to help a woman in distress.”
“But you did help.” She smoothed her hands across his cheeks. She could feel the muscles flex near his jaw.
“Right.” He rolled his eyes. “Dialing 9–1–1 and letting you hide in my car. Big whoop.”
She curled her fingers into the neckline of his black polo shirt. “It was enough, trust me.”
“Will you let me finish?”
Setha folded her arms and waited.
Khouri followed her example, folding his arms over his chest. He spared a moment to observe the black Jordans peeking out from the hem of his jeans. “I’m not trying to stifle who you are, Seth.” He started to massage a bicep, and then changed his mind and reached for her hand instead.
“I’m not tryin’ to bulldoze you into going my way, either.” He focused on rubbing his thumbs across her knuckles. “I know you had enough of that growing up….”
Setha followed his every move. She wasn’t about to interrupt, especially when it seemed he was uneasy about speaking his mind.
Khouri must have sensed that he’d said too much for he cut himself off. Pressing his lips together, he grimaced over whatever he’d been about to say. “Just tell me when I’m goin’ overboard, all right?”
She eyed him skeptically. “You’re sure?”
He at first replied with a smirk. “Don’t mean you’ll change my mind,” he warned.
“You still might regret saying it.”
“We’ll see.” He opened the passenger door and waved her into the car.
* * *
Setha tried not to express disappointment when she discovered Khouri had arranged for separate rooms at the inn. They weren’t even adjoining. She wouldn’t overthink what he had said at the airstrip largely because she thought he was about to tell her that he loved her.
Was he ready to say that? Was she ready to hear it?
A knock at the door finished the thought. Setha moved past the case she was unpacking and sprinted for the door. There, she found the answer to her question.
Yes. She was definitely ready to hear it. She didn’t realize how deeply she smiled while watching him lean against the doorjamb and looking oh so adorable while he did it.
“Up for dinner?” he asked, a hint of uncertainty dwelling in his bright gaze. “Or would you rather stay in?”
Staying in would be her first choice, but she was determined to relax. “I’d love to go out.” She almost burst into laughter at the shock on his face.
After all, this was about business, right? She couldn’t let Carson Arroyo or Holloway or whatever the hell his name was, dictate her moves forever, could she?
“Maybe we can get some more ideas for the campaign.”
“Right.” The tone of his voice clearly relayed that the idea held little interest for him. “You ready?”
Setha patted her khaki capris in search for her room key. She grabbed her purse from the message desk. “Let’s do this.”
* * *
“So what do you think?” Khouri twisted his Heineken bottle on the wooden table and watched Setha bumping the mouth of her wineglass to her lips.
She seemed in awe of Kemah’s late-evening skies though she’d seen them many times before. They sat in the patio dining area of a seafood eatery not far from the inn.
“I think we should shoot the entire campaign from here,” she said as though she were dazed.
Khouri laughed, turning his stare toward the sunset. A row of palms, at varying heights, lined the beach where the water hit the surf in soft shades of oranges, reds and golds. The water itself was a vivid purplish blue that didn’t seem real.
“You think we can get Samson and Av to go for this?”
Setha sipped at the fragrant sauvignon blanc. “I believe we can get ’em to go along with it.” She closed her eyes and savored the taste of the treat on her tongue and the breeze in her face. “I think they’re both ready to put it to bed.”
Khouri’s laughter was louder then and seemed to vibrate in the night air.
“What?” Setha asked, delighted shivers coursing through her at the sound of his laughter.
“Nothing. I agree with you.” He shrugged and reached for his beer. “I think they’re both ready to…put it to bed.”
Setha was next to fall into laughter and they enjoyed the amusement at their siblings’ expenses.
She noticed him staring, the bottle poised at his mouth. “Sorry.” She cleared her throat on her laughter. “My family’s got some pretty wild laughs.”
“I like it.” He tossed back a swig. “I can tell you like doing it. I’d be very upset if you stopped.”
Humor fading, Setha topped her nails to the stem of the glass. “Hasn’t been much to laugh about lately.”
Khouri reached for her hand and toyed with her fingers. “Guess we’re gonna have to change that, right?”
She squeezed his hand. “You’re already my protector—can’t expect you to be my comedy board, as well.” She tilted her head when he frowned. “What? Did I say something wrong?”
“My sisters always call me that.” He tugged his earlobe and smirked. “They don’t mean it as a compliment.”
“Ah…” Setha studied the swaying palm leaves against the breeze and considered her reply. “Little sisters don’t like to be policed—I can tell you that.”
“Hmph. Boy, didn’t I learn that the hard way.”
Setha settled back in her chair and observed the man across from her. Silently, she noted what a job it must’ve been to wrangle three rowdy sisters. That experience had most likely laid the foundation for his coolly serious demeanor—a facet to his personality which only added to the mystique itself.
“Well, if it helps,” she said as she gave a saucy toss of her head and decided to put a teasing spin on the moment, “I think all your…dealings with your sisters are one of the things that make you so successful with women.”
Khouri blinked and studied her with renewed interest. The waitress returned to the table to ask about appetizers.
“So how do you know I’m successful?” he asked once the server had left with the order.
Setha felt her lips part in surprise. Did the man even own a mirror? she wondered.
“I asked about you,” she admitted, fiddling with the long lacy cuff of her blouse. “I couldn’t help but ask given my entire female staff kept asking if you would be taking any meetings in our office.
“But they did tell me you’re something of a heartbreaker,” she added once the laughter softened between them.
“Yeah.” He nodded slowly. “I can see why they’d say that. My relationship record isn’t the best.”
“Why is that?” Setha asked, sipping her wine.
“I lose interest. Quick.”
“Mmm…more quickly than they do?”
“Usually.”
“And do you know why?”
“Avra thinks I’m not being challenged.” Khouri pinched the bridge of his nose. “With every woman in my family bein’ freakishly headstrong.”
Setha erupted into more laughter.
“Is she right?”
“I think she may have a point.” Khouri’s bright deep-set stare didn’t waver from Setha’s face.
The appetizers arrived and the couple spent several moments selecting potato skins and onion peels.
“So you said my dealings with women were only one of the things that make me so successful with women. Care to share more?”
Setha broke off a piece of one of the loaded skins. “It’s gotta be your cologne, of course.” She peeked at him through the fringe of her lashes. “What am I gonna have to do to get you to tell me what it is?”
“Ah, Miss Melendez.” He wolfed down one of the potato skins and watched her smugly as he chewed. “That list would be long and varied and very X-rated.”
Setha’s robust laughter rose again.
Chapter 14
The next morning, Setha was on the phone with Samson. She was telling him her thoughts on using Kemah for all the shots. He thought it sounded like a fine idea and was well aware of the area and its beauty.
“I still want you to take a trip down and see the spots we have in mind for this thing, Sam.”
“Hell, Set, I trust you. I’m just glad you took the reins on this thing and got some results.”
“I’m no ad person, Sam. That’s why Khouri and I want you and Avra here to take a closer look—”
“Ugg…” Sam’s deep voice sounded close to a growl.
“Sam?”
“Fine, fine. So long as we come down there at separate times.”
Setha laughed.
“I’m serious.”
“I gotta go.” The bell was chiming at her room door.
“Setha, you know I mean that.”
“Bye, Sam,” she sang into the phone before clicking it off. She was still laughing when she opened the door to Khouri.
He’d barely passed the doorway when his hand cuffed her neck and he was kissing her slow and deep.
Setha could feel her earlier amusement shift into something intense and desperate. Restlessly, she raised a bare thigh along the side of his rough denims. Khouri lifted her, kicking the door shut and carrying her to the unmade bed. She was out of the simple pink nightshirt in an instant. His big hands roamed her flawless molasses-dark skin, causing her to shiver and feel even more desperate for his touch.
“Khouri…”
He curled a fist against the small of her back and told himself not to get carried away. “I came to ask you about breakfast.” He gnawed the soft flesh of her shoulder and squeezed her buttocks relentlessly.
Setha curved her legs about his waist drawing him deeper into the tangled covers. “I love it,” she purred, purposefully misunderstanding and trailing kisses down his neck and inside his shirt.
“I meant… Jesus…” He began to thrust against her, his erection straining for release. “I meant outside, Seth…”
“Mmm…” She met his mock thrusts passionately. “I prefer it inside…”
“Seth,” he grunted and tugged her up to sit. “You’ll get it,” he promised.
“Now?” she taunted, lying back down and circling her hips in an intentionally naughty fashion. She giggled devilishly, playfully, her dark eyes sparkling as they roamed his face.
You’ve gone and done it, Khouri my man, he silently acknowledged and watched her then more intently than he realized. He’d gone and fallen in love with a woman he’d never seen coming. And he’d never been happier.
Setha took his expression to mean he was serious about breakfast. “Just give me twenty minutes, okay?” She scooted close and brushed a kiss across his jaw and then disappeared into the bathroom.
Khouri moved to the foot of the bed and covered his head with his hands. How had it happened?
Fool, he called himself. She was incredible. He’d been hooked almost from the moment he had met her. Did he dare tell her that? Would he scare her the way he was scaring himself?
* * *
The utter beauty and sun-kissed atmosphere of the boardwalk had Setha marveling again. She and Khouri strolled arm in arm in the midst of other couples, kids and vendors.
Khouri felt her hand tighten on his arm. He didn’t need to ask what was wrong once he spied the set look on her dark face.
Setha blinked, and then shook her head and sent him a quick smile when she felt him staring.
“Don’t even try it.” He tugged her arm and drew her over to stand with him along the railing. “Did you see him?”
“No. I swear it.” She tugged the hem of the throwback Cowboys’ jersey he wore. “I promise, Khouri.”
He didn’t look all that convinced, but drew her hand threw the crook of his arm and continued their stroll. “When did you know he was following you?”
Setha leaned back her head while working to recall it. “Not long after he came to my office. I was last to leave one day and I saw a car just sitting…” She squeezed Khouri’s bicep reassured by the unyielding muscle. “I wasn’t sure it was him at first but I know that car wasn’t empty.”
“Son of a b…” Khouri murmured.
“There’s the roller coaster,” she pointed out. “And the Ferris wheel. Lord, that’s a big one….”
“When did you know he wanted you dead?”
“Wasn’t hard to figure out after that day.” The question had drained her interest in the sights, as well. “Every time I looked up, he was there. He didn’t do anything—not until that night at your sister’s club.”
“Son of a b.” The phrase came through much louder that time.
“Look, a fragrance shop.” Setha left Khouri’s side and waltzed across the boardwalk before he could say anything.
* * *
“Mornin’, miss!”
The proprietor of the shop was a darkly tanned, gregarious-looking man with a long salt-and-pepper beard and laughing green eyes. He greeted Setha with a double wave in addition to the words.
“Now what’s a pretty lil thing like you in the market for?”
“Do you sell men’s cologne?” Setha asked, a sly smile coming to the full curve of her mouth.
“Ah, miss! We have an extraordinary selection of fragrances for all the sexes!”
Setha cocked a brow. “All?”
“Why, yes. Male, female and undecided!”
She laughed. “Well, the cologne I’m looking for—a friend wears it and he wears it very well.”
“And the name of the scent, ma’am?”
“Well…that’s the problem. He won’t tell me what it is.”
“Well—” The man caught sight of Khouri before he could ask more. “Well, well…”
“What’s goin’ on, Jim,” Khouri greeted the man with laughter and a hearty handshake. “Jim Beaumont, Ms. Setha Melendez.” He made the introduction.
“This is where you got the cologne?” she asked Khouri after shaking hands with Jim. “Well, what’s it called?” She shifted her gaze between the two men.
“It’s not in my nature to refuse a beautiful woman, but I’d be taking my life in my own hands if I revealed that choice bit of info.”
Khouri shook his head in response to Setha’s inquisitive expression. “Jim means I’ve threatened to kill him if he ever tells the name of that cologne to anyone I know.”
“Quite protective of his cologne, isn’t he?” Setha sent a sideways glance toward Jim, who shrugged.
“Most of my clients wear one-of-a-kind fragrances which I create right here on these premises.”
“Well, that’s impressive.” Setha propped her elbows to the countertop. “I’d love to talk with you more about that.”
“Setha…” Khouri warned.
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She waved him off. “I’m interested in having something made for myself.” She pulled a card from her black quilted tote bag.
“Right.” Khouri drew her close and extended his hand to shake with Jim.
“Stop by before you leave town.” Jim winked. “You’re a lucky man, Ross.” He smiled approvingly at Setha.
* * *
Danilo Melendez looked up from the crop reports he was studying and smirked when his long-time associate Luke Anton walked into his office.
“Isn’t it a little early to be frowning so, amigo?” Dan inquired.
Luke dropped a newspaper to the desk and waited. After a moment, he pointed to the story he’d come to discuss.
MURDER VICS MELENDEZ EMPLOYEES
“You know it’s only a matter of time before other newspapers release this.” Luke folded his arms over the vest he wore and watched Danilo scan the write-up. “Everyone’s not as accommodating as Basil Ross,” he added.
“Calm down, Luke—”
“I am calm.” Luke pointed to the paper. “Now, however, is definitely the time for you to get out in front of this thing. Next, they’ll be accusing us of killing our own workers to save money or some other trumped-up mess.”
Dan pushed the paper to the side. “There’s no reason for the police to suspect we’re involved with murdering our own people. The mere idea of it is ludicrous.”
“It would be were it not for certain skeletons in many of our closets, Dan.”
Dan blinked, the words having stirred his attention. “You may leave before you say too much.” He stood behind the desk.
“Get out in front of this, Dan.”
“And say what?” Dan eased both hands into the pockets of his pin-striped trousers. “Exactly what will getting out in front of it accomplish?”
“It could save a lot of embarrassment should one of those skeletons start to speak.”
“Are you threatening me, Luke?” Dan stood back on his long legs and regarded his associate with a cool, black stare.
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