by Tia Lewis
Do I like him because it’s wrong? An undercover “attorney” and her client? No…
The cab driver honked his horn, taking me out of my thoughts. “Oh, sorry!” I climbed into the backseat and told him the directions.
“No problem, miss.”
I’d nearly forgotten that the hotel was only a short drive away from the club. If Dustin wants to apologize, I guess he’ll know where to go. It wasn’t long before I was back in front of the huge fountain at the entrance.
I stumbled into the lobby, feeling exhausted all over. It’d been the longest day I’d had in a while. As soon as I was in my room, I threw myself onto the bed and closed my eyes, hoping to fall asleep instantly. When that failed, I turned over to see another card similar to the one I’d seen earlier. It had a different shade than the one from before, being a dark green in color.
There was no emblem this time.
“It’s probably nothing,” I said as I tossed the card into the trash bin. “God, do I need this rest.”
Dustin
“I guess this is a good way to test how much she trusts me already,” I said as I lowered the flowers a little. I’d gotten a colorful bunch of them. It wasn’t the first time the florist had seen me there, and I was certain that it wouldn’t be the last.
I knocked on the door a few times and waited. Last night hadn’t gone as planned. I’d gotten word that things were starting to quiet down about me back at home, so I thought it’d be safe to bring Bianca with me to the club. So much planned. It’d all gone to ruin.
Nothing but more wasted time. God, I hate that.
My foot tapped rapidly, prompting me to knock on the door a few more times. “Bianca, are you there?” I asked, putting my ear to the door. As soon as I felt the door pulling away from me, I straightened my posture.
“What is it, Dustin?” she asked sourly. The look on her face was a little more than a pout. I could tell she was upset with me, but it didn’t look too difficult to reverse the effects.
“Came to see ya. I’m sorry that you ended up having a bit of a rough night. Mind telling me what happened?” I raised the bouquet up to her. “These are for you, by the way.”
She looked apprehensive taking the flowers, but her acceptance showed me that she was still in my grasp. Relief washed over me as she gestured to the armchair and asked, “Come in?”
“I’d be glad to,” I replied, walking past her and sitting down on the chair. “Forgot how nice some of these rooms could be.”
Bianca kept her eyes on the flowers, seemingly refusing to look at me. “I don’t know why you’re pretending to care right now, Dustin.”
But pretending is what I do best. “What do you mean? I genuinely want to know why you couldn’t enjoy your night. I can say right now, that I’m sorry. I didn’t want to leave you like that.”
“Who were those guys, anyway?” she asked, suddenly staring me in the eyes.
“Just some work buddies. They had to talk to me about some boring shit that shouldn’t have interrupted our time together.”
She smirked a little. “You make it sound like it was a date or something.”
“You trying to say you wouldn’t want to go out with me?” I asked with a smirk in return. That’s it. You can’t stay mad at me.
“I do admit that your taste in entertainment is…different.”
“And what’s wrong with different?”
“Nothing. I think it’s kind of nice, actually. The only thing I don’t like about it is getting pressured into ‘dancing’ by lowlife creeps. Kind of kills my vibe, you know?”
Why do I feel the need to find this man and gut him like a fish? “That’s horrible. I’m sorry you had to experience that… Hey, that kind of thing only really happens at night. Most people wouldn’t dream of doing it during the day. What if I offered to take you out on the town right now to make up for last night?”
She shifted a few times uneasily, pulling on a bright white pedal. “I don’t know… After last night, I’m not sure how much I can trust you, Dustin.”
“Really? Here I was thinking I was a free man…” I looked away from her, a deep sigh leaving my lips.
“What are you talking about?”
“You’re my attorney. I thought you knew I was a good person. You said you didn’t think I could do it, right?”
“Yeah, I did…”
“Then just trust me here, too! You think I wanted to leave you to get prodded at by some creep?” I turned to Bianca and got up, taking her free hand into mine. “I’ll never do that to you ever again. You have my word as a free man.”
She tried to avoid my eyes but failed, my hands holding tightly onto hers. “You really mean that, huh…?”
“Yes, I really do.” God, look at those eyes. There’s something in them… Never seen that before… The sincerity in my voice didn’t feel forced out of me for once. “Nothing’s going to harm you…”
“All right, Dustin. I’ll trust you. Just this once, okay?” she said with a smile. I released her hands and shared the smile with her. From the corner of my eye, however, I caught a glimpse of something red on her bedside table.
Curious, I walked over to it and nearly bit through my tongue. “Bianca…” I started to say, picking the red card up from the table. “What is…this…?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I think they’re from the staff or something like that. I just keep finding them in my room sometimes.” Oh, God. They know she’s here…and that she works for me.
I thought I already had enough of a mess on my hands. “Oh, okay. I was just wondering is all. Thought I’d seen the cards at a fruit stand or something.”
If things get serious, Bianca will have to worry about more than just creeps tailing her at parties. At least she’s only getting these little warning signs. They’re probably for me anyway.
“So, you know where you want to take me first?”
I set the card down slowly and then turned to face her. Clapping both of my hands together I said, “I was thinking the beach would be a great place to visit! Lots of friendly faces and fun can be had there. I will warn you though, people let their sensualities take them whenever and wherever they want in Brazil. You think you can handle it, Bianca?”
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure I can handle it,” she replied with a warm smile.
“Great! I can’t wait to show you my favorite spot.”
Bianca
I never expected a man like Dustin Baldwin to show up outside my hotel room—much less with flowers in his hands. Maybe there’s more to him than I thought… I couldn’t take my eyes off of him. His mannerisms captivated me. In the back of my mind, I knew I was supposed to keep a respectable distance from my client, but everything about him seemed to draw me in. I believed the shock of his actions had worn off. In the face of it, I hadn’t let him known how much he’d caught me off guard.
A man like him wasn’t someone I’d ever dream of seeing in such casual attire. A flower shirt, cargo shorts, with sunglasses, and a hat covering his slick hair. God, what a look. Somehow, he still managed to keep his composure. A slight smirk or wink was all he needed to make me feel needles parade across my skin. In the back of my mind, however, I couldn’t help but grow curious about him. Dustin was a man that seemed to always have an answer for everything and anything. Even though I wanted to believe he was innocent, he had an air about him that made me think he could be lying, but I’d never know.
Things were a little off, and I could tell from his hesitance to talk. Instead of taking me around town in the limo, he wanted to walk with me. “It’s a better experience this way,” he told me as we walked down the road. When I pressed to know more about the card he’d picked up, he shrugged it off with a grunt. I thought back to it as the long stretch of distance was starting to wear on me.
I hoped to find something he’d respond to. Feeling flustered I asked him, “Where are we going, again?”
“You don’t remember? I wanted to take you to the beach.”
&
nbsp; “It doesn’t look like we’re anywhere near one…” I grumbled, peering into the distance as my hand covered my eyes to shade them. “Are you sure you’re not lost or something?”
“Positive. I just decided to take a little detour. This is your first time, so, I wanted to show you what else the people here had to offer,” Dustin replied, pulling down his shades a little. He spoke in such a calm, convincing way. The look in his eyes seemed to challenge me, the icy blue hues shimmering in the sunlight.
“You sure know your way around,” I replied without thinking the thought through. “Wouldn’t a guy like you prefer to keep to yourself? Up in some fancy mansion or something.”
Dustin shrugged. “Not necessarily. It gets kind of dull to stay in all the time.”
“But you can have whatever you want. I mean, I wish I could say the same. Best I’ve got back at home is a broken air conditioner and a tabby named Stewart.”
“Stewart? That’s a strange name for a cat.” He looked back at me to smile a little. “I guess material items don’t serve much of a purpose to me. Interacting with people is just more favorable. Kind of unfortunate for someone supposed to be in hiding, right?”
“Just a bit.” The sun beating down on us both was practically enough to make my skin sizzle. I gotta remember to use more sunscreen next time. Up ahead, I could finally see the semblance of a marketplace. The cluttered streets full of tourists and locals alike looked like a mass of colors and carts. “Hey… Is that…?” I asked, walking up ahead and pointing the spot out.
Wordlessly, he turned to me and nodded twice. “Stay close to me, I don’t want us to get separated in this madness.”
“Madness” was an accurate word to describe the marketplace. People shouted over each other while the market vendors attempted to be heard above the rest. Everyone was in a hurry to find the best deals for the lowest prices. Dustin kept close to my side, pushing people out of the way occasionally—not that they seemed to mind. It was an odd feeling being with Dustin here. He made me feel safe—he was protecting me.
Normally, I wasn’t able to tell much from his physique since he wore a suit when I saw him yesterday. This time, however, I could see parts of him a little clearer. His toned arms and legs stood out to me most. I couldn’t keep myself from asking, “Hey, Dustin. Do you work out?” It didn’t sound like I’d really asked him at first, but as soon as I realized it, warmth spread across my cheeks different from that of the sun’s.
Surprisingly, he chuckled at my question a little and asked, “What?” I could feel more embarrassment figuratively making me shrink next to him. “What makes you ask that?”
“I just… I noticed, uh… The way you can just push through some people it’s uh…”
He raised an eyebrow. “Well, I did do judo for a few years if that counts for anything. My father liked knowing he didn’t have to worry about me being defenseless.”
“That doesn’t sound too bad,” I replied.
He shrugged and said, “Didn’t stop the bodyguards from picking me up from school.”
Oh, now he’s deciding to talk to me. Maybe if I learn some more about him, it can help the case. “A little overprotective, huh?”
“Just a touch. Though, I will say that knowing a martial art comes in handy now and again. Don’t have to worry about someone harming a girlfriend or something such.” Before I could inquire more, he looked to me and said, “But let’s not get into that right now.”
Dustin Baldwin’s love life. I can’t say I’m not interested… “Don’t worry, I understand completely.”
“And what about you, Bianca? Did your parents wrap you up in Styrofoam and ship you off to school? I bet if mine could they’d done it.” He coughed up a dry chuckle.
I shrugged and said, “Nah, I didn’t really have those kind of parents. It’s more that they wanted me to do well in school, take up every activity that I could, and that sort of thing.”
“Oh, I get what you’re saying. Damn, that must’ve been pretty stressful, huh?”
“I’m sure you’ve dealt with worse. Besides, I guess if I never got pushed so hard I’d never gotten to be a lawyer, so I’d never gotten the chance to be here…with you.” Was I pushing the lawyer card too much?
He hesitated for a moment. “I’m sure that you have a drive in you to do what you do, Bianca. Can’t give everything up to your parents when you’re here taking on one of the biggest cases of our time.”
“Yeah, I guess so…”
“You and I aren’t too different, you know. My dad would probably say that I had a lot to owe to him, but when it comes down to it, I was the guy out there putting my ideas to work. Starting a business isn’t easy, but when you get to the top… Damn… The view sure is nice, isn’t it?”
I looked up at him and felt something stir in me. A primal urge to reach out to him and connect with him. His hand was there—just beside mine. Everything inside of me screamed for me to take it into mine, to squeeze his rough, strong hands. But somehow, I managed to resist it.
So, I walked there beside him, silently nodding. “It sure is.”
Dustin brought my attention to a cart showing off brilliant green fruits and picked one of them. “A favorite of mine. We should get a few before we head to the beach.” He picked up a few and stuffed them into his pockets. When prompted by the seller, he tossed them a shining coin, and they seemed pleased with it.
“What’s it taste like?” I asked, looking at him curiously.
“A little sweet and a little bitter. The mix of flavors really speaks to me. Reminds me of something…” His voice deepened as he reached into his pocket and pulled out one of the fruits, peeling its skin.
“What’s that?” I asked.
“Home.”
Bianca
Just when I thought I’d seen everything Brazil had to offer, Dustin took me down a pathway deeper into the exotic country. We finally moved on from the marketplace and away from the chaotic crowds and hectic atmosphere to a more relaxed place. It was so nice to be able to hear my own thoughts again and have Dustin all to myself.
The expansive beach lay under the searing heat of the sun and sky—hardly a cloud in sight. I stood before pearly white sand, playfully lapped at by the sea every so often. A few children skirted past the shore, chasing each other in wild abandon. Their giggles put a smile on my face, and I felt myself let out a sigh of relief. For the first time on my trip here, I felt truly at ease. I felt as though I could enjoy myself here.
The carefree nature of it all invited me to explore more. Across the scape, tourists tried to capture its feel and wanted to understand it. They all laid on the beach, applying sunscreen to themselves and laying in the sun. A few of them slept on their beach towels, while others searched for seashells along the shore. Maybe I should come back here someday… Could I be like them? As nice as it is, I can’t really relax with this case on my mind.
Dustin came up behind me and caught my attention with a tap on my shoulder. He directed me to a few people over by the snack shack. “Just another thing I love about this place,” he announced.
There was a small group of men all wearing flowery shirts the same as Dustin’s. The group was fairly diverse, them all being slightly tanned but the one tallest of them was darker than the rest. He had a charming smile—a smile that reminded me of the man I’d seen at the park when I’d first came here. It got me a little flustered as I remembered it, but I didn’t dwell on it long.
The group was entertaining a pair of familiars. A quiet, young couple that I’d seen out of the corner of my eye the night Dustin took me out to dinner. I didn’t think anything of it, at first, but as I looked closer, I could tell that the tallest man had his eye on the woman there. She giggled a little bit at his advances, covering her mouth a little. Meanwhile, the man with her looked on with distaste. Hmm… Are they actually together? I wondered briefly.
From a distance, I couldn’t tell what all was going on. As far as I could tell, they were danc
ing to the beat of music that, as I got closer to, I could feel in my bones. It was indescribable in rhythm, but it made me want to move. Without realizing it, I started tapping my foot in the sand, but Dustin caught on and said, “Let’s go join them.”
Reluctantly, I gave in and replied, “All right. But don’t expect me to be any good…”
“Don’t worry, I think everyone can dance in Brazil if they try. Just let the music take you, and you’ll be moving in perfect sync with everyone else!” He said as he threw his hands up in a playful manner, swaying his hips from side to side.
Seeing him act this way made my heart flutter for some reason. I was so used to the idea of him being uptight and controlling, that I’d forgotten that he was the same as me. In some way, we were both similar people. He just had control of his life. Maybe he can help me get a grip on mine…
Before I knew it, he was leading me to the group of people. I shared a few awkward smiles between them all before I got into the groove of it. Dustin crossed his arms, slightly swaying his hips as I danced beside the couple. Just as I was starting to really lose myself in the beat, the music started to quiet down.
When I looked over at the group, two of the men were talking amongst themselves while the tallest of them came over to the couple and me. What’s going on? I wondered.
“Bianca.” I looked to my side to see Dustin pulling out his cell phone. “I’ll be back in a second,” he said, wandering off toward the shack.
The instant he told me he was leaving, I wanted to reach out to him and stop him. Despite this initial reaction, I restrained myself. “I’ve seen a lot of flowers here, but you are by far the prettiest,” said the tall man, taking the woman’s hand in his.
He kissed it softly, and her long, auburn hair bounced as she giggled. The man behind her, hands in his pockets and scowl on his face looked as though he was ready to go at him at any given moment. His hair was slightly white at the sides—a bleached look, with dark brown hair in the middle. He was handsome—as handsome as someone should be, being with the woman he was.
