by S J Crabb
I savour the feeling of his hard-toned body holding me carefully against him as he lifts me with ease. Rachel catches my eye and grins as I wink at her. She rolls her eyes and giggles. She knows me so well.
Luke and I head off towards the bar holding hands. A brief fling, or a lifetime together? I don’t care because at this moment I am the happiest girl on the planet.
~*~*~*~*~
Chapter 30
I think that Lonely Beach is my favourite place in the world. We’ve had a marvellous day. After our trip to the bar where we sipped cocktails and ate a nice lunch, we headed back to the death trap hammocks for a siesta.
Then we spent a nice hour playing volleyball and messing around in the sea. The guys were all great company and I don’t think I’ve laughed so much - ever!
By the time we sink down in the seats of our taxi ride home, I have placed all thoughts of the inevitable out of my mind.
It’s only when we return to the hotel that I realise Marcus wasn’t with us. I notice that Elvis is working and looking strangely moody, so I head over to him.
“Hey, Elvis. Do you know where Marcus is?”
Shaking his head, he looks upset.
“He went to meet someone and I haven’t seen him all day.”
I look at him in surprise.
“Who did he meet?”
He shrugs, looking annoyed.
“He met a gentleman in Los Romanticos last night. They were getting quite friendly, and he told me to leave without him. I tried to tell him that I would wait for him but he said he was spending the night with this man and would see me this morning.”
An icy hand grips my heart as I share a worried look with Luke.
“Haven’t you seen him since?”
Elvis shakes his head miserably.
“No, but I’m worried about him, Becca. I asked my Cousin, Enrique, who works there if he saw him leave and he said they left about 4 am. He doesn’t know where they went because he has never seen the man before.”
He looks at me with a stricken expression.
“Do you think I should call the police?”
Now I’m really worried. How did I not notice that Marcus was missing? Today would have been his dream come true, and I was so wrapped up in my own despair that I completely took my eye off the ball.
I look at Luke with worry in my eyes.
“This doesn’t seem right. What should we do?”
Luke takes charge like an officer of the Armed forces would.
“Elvis, call your contacts from the other hotels in the area. If this guy is a tourist they may have gone to his hotel. Then get housekeeping to check his room, you never know they may have returned here, and you just missed him. Once that is all done we can decide where to go from here. We may need to file a missing person report and should cover all possibilities first if we want to be taken seriously. While you’re at it, think about anyone you know who was there last night and phone them. You never know, they may have some information.”
He smiles as he sees our stricken expressions.
“Don’t worry. I’m sure Marcus is fine. He can take care of himself and is probably sleeping off the effects of a wild night out.”
From the look on Elvis’s face, he’s not convinced. I don’t think I am either. Marcus should know better than to go off with a stranger from a bar, especially in a foreign land. This spells trouble on every level.
Luke and I head out to the pool and decide to wait it out there. As we reach the sunbeds, I notice that Jenny is stretched out with Flynn beside her. They appear to be fast asleep and I smile. They look such a cute couple. I’m so glad that Jenny found him.
We spread out our towels next to them and Jenny sits up looking sleepy.
“Hey, guys. How was the beach?”
Smiling broadly, I tell her every last delicious detail. Then I remember Marcus and tell her what I know.
She looks worried. “Oh no, do you think he’s ok? I’ve heard of terrible things happening to Brits abroad. What if this guy is a murderer or has Marcus bound and gagged in a dungeon somewhere?”
Pushing the thought away that Marcus would probably be having the time of his life if that was the case, I return her worried look.
“Elvis is ringing around. I’m sure he’ll be fine. Marcus is a big boy, he can look after himself.”
Flynn sits up and looks at us with a worried look.
“I’ll ask around. I know quite a few people who may have seen something. If they’ve been to the beach today, we’ll soon know about it.”
I look at him gratefully as he springs into action. Jenny looks at him gratefully.
“Thanks, honey. Do you want me to come with you?”
Flynn’s eyes soften, and he kisses her gently on the lips.
“No, you stay here, possum. You’ve worked so hard you deserve the rest. I won’t be long, anyway.”
As she watches him go, Jenny sighs.
“I can’t believe I met Flynn. I think my mum must have sent him to me from heaven because he is everything I ever wanted.”
I smile at her.
“Yes, we’ve been very lucky this week, haven’t we?”
Jenny looks at Luke and grins.
“What about you two? What are your plans when you get home?”
I think I’m holding my breath as Luke smiles at me adoringly. He takes my hand and kissing it gently says, “I’m not letting this one out of my sight until I have to leave again. I’m kidnapping Becca and taking her to Somerset to meet my parents. Then we will spend what’s left of our time together locked in my room and she will only be allowed out to eat.”
Jenny laughs and says with interest.
“How long will you be away?”
I find that I’m holding my breath as Jenny unknowingly asks the questions I lack the courage to ask.
“Luke’s face clouds over and he says despondently.
“Three months this time. Unfortunately, I used up my leave allowance for my brother’s wedding. It will be back to work with a vengeance and may be some time before I can get more time off. I don’t want to leave Becca though.”
Jenny looks at us with sympathy but I listen to Luke’s words on repeat in my brain. Maybe he’s setting me up for the inevitable fall. Maybe Kate and Samantha were right and he’s using his ‘get out of potential relationship with a neurotic woman’ jail free card. I will be used and abused and left pining for what could have been.
Luke looks as miserable as I feel and Jenny laughs nervously.
“Well, I’m sure you will work something out. I mean, look at me. Who would have thought my life would change so dramatically in such a short space of time? I’m hoping to return here after I hand in my notice. I only have to give a month so it shouldn’t be too long to wait. I’m also going to see if I can swap with someone who is on the next trip out here. Even if I have to pay them, it would be worth it. So, you see, with a little manoeuvring you can make your dreams come true.”
She settles back on her sunbed and looks extremely satisfied. Luke and I share a look and if it’s any consolation, he looks as devastated as I am.
~*~*~*~*~
Chapter 31
By the time we meet up for pre-dinner drinks Marcus is still not back. There was no answer from his room which was annoying because he still hosts the crew party room. Instead, we congregate in the bar and I fill the others in on what happened. Pete looks worried.
“I think I should contact the police. This isn’t right, and it’s my duty to look out for my crew. Leave it with me and I’ll ask reception to contact the police.”
He heads off with a worried looking Jo and Rachel looks at us with concern. “What do you think happened?”
Flynn shrugs.
“I asked around at the beach and nobody could tell me anything. It’s as if he has vanished into thin air.”
I can see Elvis across the polished marble floor in reception looking miserable and my heart sinks. Poor Elvis. They struck up quite t
he friendship, and he is obviously as worried about Marcus as we are. I nod towards him and Luke and I head over to see what he knows.
As he sees us coming, his face falls even further, if that’s possible.
I whisper, “Hey, Elvis, have you heard anything?”
Shaking his head, he lowers his voice.
“No, nobody knows who this man is. He is a stranger that only appeared in the bar last night. He doesn’t appear to be staying in any of the hotels around here and yet they didn’t get a taxi because my cousin Romero runs the local taxi company.”
Fleetingly, I wonder if Elvis has a relation in every establishment in Acapulco. Shaking my head, I look at Luke with a worried expression.
“This isn’t like Marcus. He’s wild but not irresponsible. What do you think happened?”
Luke shakes his head.
“I’m not sure, but if I know Marcus he’ll be fine. He’s probably having the time of his life and completely unaware of this storm brewing.”
After making Elvis promise to let us know if he finds anything out we head back to the bar.
While we wait for Pete and Jo I decide to question Rachel on her developing friendship with Mark. Luke heads off to order us some drinks so I waste no time.
“So, madam, what’s the story with Mark?”
I don’t miss the light that sparkles in her eyes as she sighs heavily.
“He’s amazing isn’t he, Becca? If I wasn’t a married woman I would be in there like a shot.”
I feel myself relax at her words. Thank goodness for one worry resolved. I smile gently.
“Have you thought any more about Lorenzo and your situation?”
She shakes her head looking sad again.
“I called him when I got back from the beach. It was like talking to a stranger. He was cold and abrupt and the conversation was stilted.”
Reaching out, I grab her hand and squeeze it gently.
“How did you leave it?”
She shakes her head sadly.
“It was so awkward. It was as though we were strangers. Neither of us said much and I think he just wanted to go. There were no declarations of love and I didn’t feel like making them myself. I wanted to see if the sound of his voice would push away my worries and concerns. Unfortunately, they only magnified them. Just before he hung up he said in a cold voice that we would talk when I returned. There was much to discuss and if this marriage was going to work sacrifices were going to have to be made. Then somebody called him and he said he had to go. He hung up, and it left me with an empty feeling.”
She looks upset and says brokenly.
“It was as if we were strangers, not lovers. How did it get to this?”
I have no words left to comfort her. Whatever I say will seem empty. The only way this will be resolved is when she returns home and talks it through with her husband. Poor Rachel, like me she must be dreading returning home.
For the first time since we arrived, dinner is a sombre affair. Even the usual shots of tequila do nothing to lift our morale and as the hours tick by with no sight or sound of Marcus our worry increases. Where is he?
We eat with the crew in a lovely local restaurant, fairly near to the English bar. After listening to Jo speak incessantly about the wedding all night, I am decidedly in the mood to get wasted in the bar afterwards.
As we head inside it appears to be Karaoke night, as the dulcet tones of a man in a Union Jack t-shirt greets us as we head inside.
We are all subdued as we sit contemplating the situation.
However, after several tequilas, we are soon hogging the microphone.
Jenny and Flynn sing the Jason and Kylie duet and have us in stitches. They look so adorable together, despite the huge tattoos of their own stupidity glaring out at us. I hope she doesn’t live to regret that very rash decision.
Then Jo and I head up and sing Mama Mia. My life appears to be dominated by Abba tracks. Luke jumps up and does a rendition of Mustang Sally and then Rachel sings, Love Me Like You do, by Ellie Goulding. I try to shake off the knowledge that she stares at Mark sexily the whole time as she sings it. This trip is proving to be one big anxiety filled nightmare in so many ways. Maybe I should seek out the Great Ernesto and get myself hypnotised. It worked so well for Jenny. I think her anxious ways were transferred over to me instead.
We head back to the hotel and decide to call it a night. We leave Pete and Jo to talk to the hotel receptionist about filing a missing person’s report and Luke and I head back to our Love Palace.
The roses are off the scale tonight and the only consolation is so are the little chocolate love hearts. We sit in the bath, like we did on that first night and eat chocolates and drink champagne as we watch the stars twinkling all around the bay.
Luke kisses the top of my head as I sit with his arm around me and my head on his shoulder. He whispers,
“We’ll work something out, Becca. Now that I’ve found you I don’t want to let my job get in our way. If you’ll have me that is. You may be sick of the sight of me already for all I know.”
I lift my head and look into those sexy eyes and smile.
“I may be mad, Luke, but I’m not stupid. How will I ever get tired of having you in my life?”
Then we kiss so sweetly and then so passionately that any worries I have disappear into the air with the champagne bubbles. This is where I want to be, with Luke’s arms around me and his lips on mine. The rest can wait. I’ll deal with that when it happens.
~*~*~*~*~
Chapter 32
Our last day!
I wake up next to Luke for the last full day of our trip. My heart feels heavy and I wonder what will happen when this bubble bursts.
I feel him stir beside me and look into the love mirror and savour the sight of his body next to mine. That view will never get old and I need to imprint it on my memory just in case my worst fears come true. This may be the last time I see such a love god squashed beside me.
Luke stirs and pulls me close, nuzzling my neck in sleepy satisfaction.
“Hm, my favourite way to start the day - you.”
My heart beats rapidly as I try to push the doubts from my mind. We have one more day of his brother’s honeymoon to enjoy and I don’t want to waste a minute.
By the time we finally surface from the love bed we are famished. I think we devour every item of the complimentary breakfast which we eat decadently in bed. I no longer care about the crumbs situation. I have even got used to the ever-present rose petals. It has been very difficult to stop myself from gathering them up to take home and make a Luke scented pot-pourri out of them. I know it’s all about diffusers these days but I wouldn’t want to lie on one of those sticks all night. No, rose petals are now my friend. I intend on gathering as many of them as possible to inhale at every opportune moment when I’m back in my spinster flat for one and a potted plant.
As I shower and change, Luke leans against the tiled, Borgia inspired, wall of the bathroom and watches me. He seems preoccupied and my anxiety levels increase. Maybe he has sobered up and is seeing me in my real state. State being the operative word. Perhaps I should have ordered a tequila chaser for our croissant to keep the fantasy alive.
Feeling self-conscious, I smile nervously.
“Ae you ok, Luke? You seem to have something on your mind.”
He nods and moves across the room and pulls me into his arms. He holds me close and says softly.
“Spend the day alone with me, Becca. There is a trip we could take to Taxco. They make silver jewellery there - in fact, they are famous for it. We could take in the true sights of Mexico and soak up the culture. Maybe even grab some lunch and make a lovely memory of our trip.
My heart leaps and I look at him with excitement. “I would love that. I love shopping. In fact, I have been seriously deprived of it out here. It would be good to indulge in some retail therapy before we take to the skies once again. What a lovely idea.”
Luke just grins as I fin
ish getting ready. I feel like singing a little tune of happiness but stop myself just in time. Luke has heard more than enough of my singing voice; I don’t want to leave him with that as a lasting impression.
It doesn’t take long and once we have told the others of our plan and Elvis arranged for a taxi, we are soon pulling into the little Mexican Town. I sat holding Luke’s hand for the whole journey and pretended we were married.
Soon we are walking around like true tourists and I am loving every minute.
The town is absolutely beautiful. There are little mosaic fountains to admire and beautiful old buildings. The town is bigger than I thought and appears to be centred around a beautiful old church - The Santa Prisca de Taxco.
Luke and I walk hand in hand and pose for many a photograph.
As we walk down the narrow streets, we look in many shop windows. One catches our eye and Luke drags me inside. We look around at the sweet little shop and I gasp at the beautiful jewellery on display. The assistant smiles and speaks in broken English.
“Welcome to Taxco. Are you looking for something special to take home with you?”
I smile and shake my head.
“Just looking. They are all beautiful though.”
He nods and pulls out a lovely tray of necklaces. “We only use the finest silver here and our designs are famous around the world. If you like silver then you are in the best place.”
I nod in agreement. “I can see that. These necklaces are beautiful.”
Luke grins. “Try one on, Becca. You may as well, you won’t get another chance.”
I look at the necklaces and choose one that catches my eye. It is a delicate silver cross. It’s plain and simple and not ostentatious like some of the designs. As I place it around my neck, I admire my reflection in the nearby mirror.
“This is lovely. How much is it?”
The assistant looks at a list by the cash register.
“That one is 800 Pesos.”
I think about it and weigh up the purchase in my head. Not a bad price and surely priceless as it comes with the memory of who was with me when I bought it.
