“What am I supposed to do with this?” Gabby snatched the mirror from Julia’s hand as she glanced at her reflection. Her eyes opened wide, her face turned bright red – almost as bright as the color of her hair.
She swiftly peeled her new moustache off and without missing a beat, reached up and re-attached it to her eyelid. To Sam’s amazement, she continued talking - as if nothing had happened!
Their excitement for the evening was over and before Gabby could do anything else to further entertain the group, everyone stood up to go.
It was still too early to call it a night so she wandered over to the Monterey Club for a nightcap and hopefully listen to some live music in the lounge. When she got to the entrance, she stopped short. The lounge was half full with mostly couples. The band on stage sounded good and Sam stood there watching several of the couples as they slowly swayed to the romantic melody.
The longer she watched, the more alone she felt. Her eyes welled up with unshed tears. This isn’t helping, she scolded herself. She abruptly turned on her heel as she wiped her damp eyes with the back of her hand. It was time to call it a night.
Chapter 7
Sam woke with a start. She could hear the Cruise Director, Chris, as he made his morning announcements over the intercom about all the fun-filled activities scheduled for that day. Today’s port stop was Mexico. She had planned to take the Mayan City of Tulum tour but completely forgot to book the excursion! Her eyebrows furrowed as she glanced over at the clock on the nightstand. If she hurried, she still might be able to make it!
Thirty minutes later with ticket in hand, Sam dashed down the gangplank and quickly joined the rest of the group. Just in time. The guide was leading the group to the shuttle bus parked nearby.
Sam was at the end of the long line and one of the last to board. Her heart sank as she reached the top step and made instant eye contact with Michel. Oh no! Now what do I do?
She glanced around. The bus was almost full and there were only a couple spots left. The first empty seat was next to Michel. The other beside Lee.
She quickly weighed her options and made a beeline for Lee. She could kill two birds with one stone. Avoid Michel and make good on her vow to find out more about the good-looking mystery man that Gabby had monopolized last night.
When she reached the empty seat next to Lee, she paused. “Do you mind if I sit here?”
Lee grudgingly looked up and gave a quick shake of his head.
Sam sighed. I hope this isn’t a mistake.
It was too late to change her mind now. She settled in next to her reluctant audience of one and started making small talk.
“Have you ever been to Mexico?”
“A few times,” Lee answered almost painfully.
Not willing to give up, Sam tried again. “Are you interested in Mayan history?”
“I don’t know.”
Sam’s eyebrows went up. Well, what on earth was he doing on this tour if he didn’t even know if he was interested in the Mayans?
Before she could ask another question, Lee closed his eyes and leaned his head back on the seat. It was obvious he was in no mood to talk, especially to her!
An hour later, the bus reached the entrance to the Mayan ruins. The only new information she was able to drag out of Lee was that he was an accountant from Ohio. Hmmm, accountant my foot, she thought. His arms look like Popeye’s. They must be lifting boxes of copy paper in the accounting office to have them look like that!
Getting off the bus was slow and tedious and Sam and Lee were the last ones off. The bus was a little worn out and run down and the steps somewhat rickety. Sam hesitantly took her first step. When she got to the second step, her shoe got caught in a small hole. She lost her balance. Her arms flailing, she started to fall forward.
In the blink of an eye, Lee reached around and grabbed her by the waist as he pulled her upright. Miscalculating how light she was, he easily lifted her off her feet and into his arms, leaving the errant shoe wedged tightly in the step.
Lee’s strong, muscular arms were firmly wrapped around Sam’s petite waist. They stayed that way for a long moment. Lee looked down. She smelled so nice. She felt even better. It had been years since he’d been that close to a woman. He hadn’t noticed before how fragile she was. Lee was lost in a swirl of feelings and emotions.
Sam was dealing with her own thoughts. It had been a long time since she’d been in a man’s arms. It felt wonderful. She lifted her head and gazed up at Lee.
He suddenly realized he was still holding her very close - too close and enjoying it way too much. He abruptly set her down. Sam’s cheeks turned a bright pink. She’d enjoyed that moment as much as he had. It was more than a little unsettling.
She quickly reached over as she slipped the shoe back on her foot and made her way down the steps without further mishap.
She turned around to thank Lee but he was gone. He was already halfway down the bumpy foot path leading to the ruins.
Sam watched his retreating back as a small smile slowly spread across her face. He was as affected by her close proximity as she was his.
While Lee was heading in the opposite direction, Michel was heading right towards her. Sam warily watched as he approached. There was just something about him…something she couldn’t quite put her finger on - that made her slightly uneasy whenever he was around.
Michel didn’t waste any time. “Perhaps I can tag along with you this afternoon?” He was determined to accompany her on the tour.
Sam forced a small smile. I need to give him a chance. She pushed away her nagging doubts and nodded, giving her full attention to what Michel was saying.
The tour was everything Sam had hoped. She was particularly interested in Mayan history and a visit to Tulum had always been on her bucket list. Their guide was extremely knowledgeable and the entire tour simply fascinating. The scenery was breathtaking – a step back in time. There were no vendors hawking their wares, no skyscrapers towering above, no stoplights and honking cars or streets to navigate.
The entrance to the ancient city was through one of five stone arches. When Sam crossed over, it was like entering a different world. The guide explained that each Mayan city had a specific purpose. Tulum was no exception. It was the only Mayan city built on a coast which made it an important seaport that traded precious stones - mostly turquoise and jade.
Tulum was only one of handful of Mayan cities protected by a wall. The massive limestone structure surrounded the city on three sides. At over 2,500 feet in length and almost 23 feet thick, historians believed the wall had been constructed to protect the nearly 600 priests and nobility that lived inside.
Not much else was known about the Mayans but some locals believed they were either aliens or the lost tribe of Israel, their guide informed the group.
One of the most prominent structures still remaining was the Castillo, or castle. The Castillo was the largest structure inside the protective walls. Perched on the edge of a limestone cliff, it offered breathtaking views of the Caribbean coast.
Not far from the Castillo was a set of uneven, steep steps leading down to a pristine beach where you could see people cooling off in the turquoise waters or strolling along the soft, powdery sand beach.
Just north of the Castillo was the “Temple of the Winds.” It was rumored to have served as the warning system for approaching hurricanes when strong winds would whistle through the openings in the temple. Sam shivered involuntarily. I can’t imagine being stuck in this place during a hurricane.
In front of the Castillo was one of the better-preserved buildings, the Temple of the Frescoes. Sam peered inside the temple where she could barely make out a faint mural. It was painted in three separate sections. The mural in the first section, or lowest level, represented the Mayan world of the dead. The middle section depicted the living. The third and highest piece was a painting of what the Mayans believed to be the creator of the universe and the rain gods.
Sam’s curiosit
y in Mayan history was the ending of the Mayan calendar in 2012. Although that date had long passed and the world had not come to an end - not that she ever thought it would. Only God knows when the world will end and when his Son will return to earth. One of her favorite Bible scriptures was Matthew 24: 42 – 44 ESV:
“Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
One of the frescoes inside the temple depicted a god astride a four-legged animal that historians believe was a horse. If it was a horse, it meant the Mayans still occupied Tulum in 1518 when the Spanish came ashore and it would have been the first time they had ever seen one.
The other fascinating thing about the Mayans was their disappearance. They seemed to have simply vanished without a clear explanation as to what had happened to them. Some theorized when the Spanish arrived, they brought with them sickness and disease. The Mayans immune systems, unable to fight the diseases, were eventually wiped out.
Various buildings around the site depicted what appeared to be a bird’s wings and a tail, a Mayan deity whose job it was to protect the people.
Michel and Sam spent the afternoon wandering around the ruins. He was extremely knowledgeable about a variety of topics and kept her entertained with his funny stories of growing up in both Europe and the U.S. He even shared a little about his family. His parents were extremely wealthy French investors. They owned several homes and split their time between them.
Under all the humor and adventure, Sam sensed an unspeakable sadness in Michel. Maybe his parents were so busy when he was growing up, they didn’t have a lot of time for a young boy who needed love and attention, she mused.
The afternoon flew by. Soon, it was time to board the bus for the trip back. Sam hesitated for a moment. Should she sit with Michel or finish the trip sitting next to Lee again? Fortunately, she didn’t have to make that decision as Lee was sprawled out in his seat with his eyes closed. He hadn’t left enough room for her to sit down.
The last stragglers eventually boarded the bus and made their way to their seats. As the bus driver yanked the door shut and started the engine, there was a sudden commotion outside. A masked man abruptly kicked the bus door wide open and bounded up the steps.
He paused when he reached the top. The man briefly flashed what appeared to be a gun as he spoke directly to the driver. “Estoy buscando a miguel.” The driver tightly gripped the steering wheel and slowly nodded that he understood. “Si.”
The masked man turned and slowly made his way down the aisle. He carefully studied each passenger as he shifted his gaze from one side of the bus to the other. It was obvious he was looking for someone.
By this time, Lee was sitting up, wide awake and intently watching the man’s every move.
When the gunman reached the seat she and Michel were sitting in, he paused for a long moment, his eyes narrowing as he focused directly on Michel. She didn’t dare glance over in Michel’s direction. Instead, she closed her eyes and whispered a quick prayer. By the time she opened them back up, the gunman had finally moved on.
After he reached the rear of the bus and finished inspecting every single seat and every passenger, he slowly walked back towards the front of the bus. He slowed as he passed by Michel and Sam but he didn’t stop. Thank you God, Sam thought to herself.
Once again at the front of the bus, the masked man stopped and said a few terse words to the driver. The driver vehemently shook his head as he said no over and over. After another second or two and taking another look around, he stepped off.
The driver was not about to wait for him to change his mind as he quickly slammed the door shut, shoved the bus in gear and stomped on the gas pedal. The bus roared out of the parking lot and onto the main road.
You could have heard a pin drop as everyone tried to process what had just taken place.
“What on earth do you think that was all about?” It was hard to read the expression on Michel’s face. She couldn’t tell if he was rattled or ticked off.
She glanced over at Lee. His expression was about the same as Michel’s.
“I have no idea.” Michel quietly replied. “But I’m glad that we’re out of there.”
Lee got out of his seat and walked to the front of the bus to talk with the driver. He was speaking to him in Spanish and you could tell he was asking a question. The driver just kept shaking his head. It was apparent the driver had no idea who the masked man might be.
On his way back to his seat, Lee glanced over at Sam.
She couldn’t resist. “What did he say?”
Lee shrugged his shoulders. “He doesn’t have any idea who that person was – only that he was looking for someone named Miguel.”
They arrived back at the port without further incident. Sam gathered her belongings and shuffled off the bus, careful not to get tripped up on the steps again.
It didn’t take long for Michel to quickly catch up with her. “Can I take you to dinner tonight?” Sam glanced over at Michel, her eyebrows went up as she started to laugh - dinner was included in the cruise.
Michel immediately realized what she thinking. “No, I mean to one of the nice, upscale restaurants – not the main dining room.”
Sam stopped in her tracks. There was no real reason to tell him no. “That would be nice,” she admitted. “What time?”
Well, at least Lee won’t have to worry about me prying into his life at dinner tonight she thought. Now where did that come from? She wasn’t the least bit interested in Lee. She was only trying to be nice – at least that’s what she tried to convince herself.
Sam turned her attention back to Michel. They arranged to meet outside the Positano Grille at 7:00 p.m.
Michel was right on time. Samantha had spent more time than she cared to admit picking out the dress to wear. She finally settled on one of her favorites. A Sapphire blue cocktail-length dress with tiny pearls adorning the scalloped neckline. She nervously tugged on the hem as she watched Michel approach. She wondered nervously what it would be like to have dinner alone with an attractive man after not having been on a date in years.
Michel noticed her discomfort and quickly put her at ease. “You look stunning!” He leaned over and gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek as he squeezed her hand reassuringly.
Sam turned a light shade of pink, not knowing how to reply. “Thanks. You look pretty good yourself.” Michel was also dressed to the nines. He looked very European in a black, double-breasted silk suit that was the perfect cut for his frame. His tie was cobalt blue - the exact color of his eyes.
The dining room was filled with overstuffed, high back chairs. The hostess quickly seated them at a corner table. The tables were covered with fine linen cloths and small candles gave the room a romantic glow. The meal was delicious, the wine paired perfectly to their selections and before she knew it, they were sipping coffee and talking as if they had known each other for years.
The conversation drifted to the events on the bus earlier in the day as they wondered who the masked gunman had been looking for. “I’m just glad it wasn’t one of us.”
Michel face clouded over as he nodded in agreement. “I feel sorry for whoever it is – if this guy ever finds that person.”
After leaving the restaurant, Sam and Michel stepped outdoors and onto the deck. The sun had set hours ago. The cool evening air brushed against Sam’s bare arms, causing her to shiver.
They made their way over to the railing. The moon was just coming up and cast a romantic glow across the dark, vast ocean.
Sam shivered again. Michel pulled her close as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders in an attempt to warm her. He looked down. His gaze wandered to her lips and lingered there for a long moment. She stared up at him, wondering
what it would feel like to have him kiss her.
“Don’t miss out on our spectacular, one-of-a-kind Chocolate Buffet now open in our Grand View café!” The cruise director’s booming voice rang out over the loudspeaker directly overhead. Startled, Sam jumped back, breaking free from Michel’s embrace. “We better get inside. It’s getting chilly out here.” The spell was broken.
They slowly made their way back to the main part of the ship. Considering what had nearly taken place just now, Sam thought it would not be wise to let Michel walk her to her cabin. When they reached the atrium, she turned to look up at him. “Thank you for a lovely evening.”
Michel reached over and grabbed her hand. He hesitated before raising it to his lips and giving it a gentle kiss. “My pleasure.”
As he released her hand, she looked at him questioningly. “Perhaps I’ll see you tomorrow, then?”
A small smile played across his lips as he answered. “Absolutely!”
On the way back to her room, Sam passed the dining room where she had eaten with Lee and the others the night before. As luck would have it, dinner was ending and she ran into the entire group as they exited the restaurant. Bringing up the rear was Lee.
The group stood in a tight circle as they made small talk about the day. “We missed you at dinner tonight…” Vivian looked over at Sam questioningly.
Sam glanced at the floor and then looked back up at everyone before she answered. “I had dinner in the Positano Grille with a new friend.”
Beth and Emily nodded knowingly. Beth replied, “We saw you with the tall, handsome gentleman from earlier today.” Lee frowned and did not say a word.
Well! Thought Sam. You barely said five words to me today so I have no idea how this could possibly bother you. Sam was irritated when she realized Lee put a damper on her good mood and he shouldn’t have.
Waves of Deception (Samantha Rite Series Book 1) Page 4
