by Debra Fisk
Getting excited and flustered, the blonde brushed her shiny hair back. “Well, okay—well, anyway, my idea is to have a beach tote, with a bikini, flip-flops, beach cover-up, towel, and accessories like hair bands and sunglasses, all matching for the fashion-conscious woman with little time to shop.” She grinned enthusiastically, nearly blinding Luciana with her over-bleached teeth.
Luciana felt like she’d been punched in the gut. Blondie actually had a cute idea. Teens and tweens would scarf them up in a second. Even most women under the age of thirty would love it. Once again, panic and self-doubt rose in the pit of her stomach. Bleached Blondie had an awesome idea. A real marketable concept.
“Sounds great,” Not So Like Hugh responded, feigning polite interest. The clerk handed him his coffee. He reached for the cup, paid for it, and stepped to the side next to Bubbling Blonde.
It was Bubbles’ turn to order. “Jumbo unsweetened iced tea—extra lemons, please.”
No Longer Looking Like Hugh, who refused to move on with his life, said, “Say, I have some time to kill till I board. I can get us a table over there.” He motioned with his head. “We can get to know each other a little better, if you’d like?” Then he turned his attention Luciana’s way. “I noticed you are alone. Would you like to join us?” A sly smile slid into place. “We can make it a threesome.”
This was so not happening. Please go away. Men like him screwed everything on two legs. She should know, she was engaged to one once. The lessons learned from youth and stupidity.
“Um, no, thank you. I’m on my way to meet my fiancé.” Could the clerk behind the counter move any slower to fill a glass of iced tea? She felt like she needed to bathe in Purell. Her coffee and bagel couldn’t be ordered fast enough. She needed food to settle her stomach before the flight. She also wanted to erase the mental image of Bubbles with ex-Hugh. Unfortunately, she’d see Blondie again.
Luciana went over her sportswear product line in her mind and compared it with Blondie’s idea. The high she’d felt when she first left New York sank to an all-time low. She should have protested when Crystal entered her without her consent. Clearly, Blondie’s product idea was a bull’s-eye for the Golden Ticket targeted market. Still, she knew her sportswear idea was strong. From the sweat-free fabric, to the flirty comfortable designs with bright colors and insignias, it was versatile yet feminine, and not just for those bikini bound. But could it beat Bikini in a Bag?
She struggled to shelve every one of those self-defeating thoughts and focused on Marco. Her brother’s safety should be her main goal now, not some shallow, self-satisfying Golden Ticket Contest. Technically, the contest had come first, then Marco got into trouble and somehow managed to drag her into his mess. She didn’t want to mingle her life with his, and she definitely didn’t want to blow this chance to prove she had a head for business. Her proposal was solid; she’d just have to kick it up a notch.
The blonde’s unsweetened tea was ready, finally. Luciana ordered her bagel and the latte, just thinking about it making the queasiness in her stomach subside. Her thoughts turned back to Marco’s phone call. He’d told her to be careful. Had that been a general brotherly concern or about a real life-threatening danger?
*****
“Welcome to Casa Blanca.” The animated blonde with green eyes and deep dimples smiled from behind the counter. Noah read her name badge: Courtney.
He pulled a slip of paper out of his pocket with his reservation number and handed it to the young, overly made-up woman, whom he estimated to be in her early twenties. He’d had a pleasant flight from LaGuardia to Florida this morning, leaving the brisk pace of the city and landing in eighty degrees of warmth and sunshine. The scent of the fresh air and the ocean and the lush tropical landscape helped him relax a bit. Maybe the chief had been right. He did need a vacation. A few minutes here and it felt like it had been long overdue. Maybe while he was here, he could get in a few days of deep-sea fishing, but it would have to be later…after he’d tracked down his man. He could even see about chartering a boat. For now, he wanted to explore the resort. He was on a mission.
“Thank you.” He removed his sunglasses and panned the lobby. Casa Blanca. Nice, very nice. Whoever designed the place hadn’t missed a detail.
It wasn’t an accident he’d selected Barefoot Bay and the Casa Blanca Resort, and it had conveniently worked out. Before he left New York, he had contacted an old acquaintance, Gabriel Rossi, who put him in touch with Lucas McBain, owner of McBain Security at the resort. He would help provide Noah with the cover he needed, changing his last name to Donaldson for an added layer of protection. He’d tracked Marco, and conveniently, his sister Luciana, to the area. The two Talaricos had to be arranging to meet up. Luke even agreed to have his team keep Luciana Talarico under surveillance for when her brother surfaced. Noah eyed the resort. Luke McBain was a lucky man to be working there, like working in paradise.
Noah enjoyed the feeling that he had stepped onto the movie set of Casablanca as he waited in the Moroccan-themed lobby. Marble floors sparkled with a high-gloss finish, and one wall was covered with a huge Moroccan tapestry. Potted tropical plants with thick green leaves were placed in alcoves of the luxurious architecture.
According to the information he’d received, Marco’s sister should be checking in with the rest of the contestants in about two hours. How convenient that Luciana had entered the Golden Ticket Contest. From the picture he’d been given, it was hard to tell Luciana’s age, height, and eye color. It was such poor quality, all he could see was long dark hair and a perfect white smile.
“Excuse me?” Courtney asked as she looked up from her computer while her fingers continued moving at lightning speed over the keyboard.
He looked her square in the eye and slipped her a grin. “Sorry, just talking to myself.” Partly true. He was worn out from the last two months and must look like hell—unshaven and needing a haircut. He’d been so busy the past two weeks that the short cut he favored had grown out over his collar. But it looked kind of beachy now and suited his cover. He probably looked like he’d been up all night doing God knows what.
Courtney chuckled. “Honey, I do that all the time.” And gave him a wink.
Before Noah had left the city, the informant said Luciana would be meeting her brother in Florida on Mimosa Key. Somewhere on this island, Talarico was hiding, waiting for his sister to appear. Noah planned to get close to the sister until he could flush out Talarico. No matter how it went down, Noah wasn’t leaving until he confronted Talarico face-to-face.
He leaned on the counter, motioning with his index finger for her to come closer. “Courtney, if I want to take a tour of the island, what would be the best way to do it?”
She stopped typing and inched a little closer to him from her side of the counter. “That’s a no-brainer. A hot air balloon ride,” she said with enthusiasm.
He lowered his voice. “Do they fly the balloons over the entire island? I might be interested in buying a piece of property in Mimosa Key.” Why did I say that? “Please don’t share that with anyone. I’m trying to keep my visit here private.”
Courtney grinned from ear to ear, shrugged her shoulders, and made a motion with her fingers in front of her mouth like she was locking her lips and throwing away the key.
“Your secret’s safe with me,” she answered, then reached behind the counter and pulled out a business card. Noah glanced at it. There was a picture of a colorful hot air balloon. “Zoe Bradbury,” he read out loud.
Courtney continued, “If you decide to take a trip over Mimosa, I can always book it for you, or you can contact Zoe directly. It really is the only way to see the island.”
With a sales pitch like that, how could he turn it down? Noah made a mental note to buy a high-powered set of binoculars for the trip. It would be easier to see every possible nook and cranny Marco could be hiding in on the island.
He tapped the edge of the card on the granite counter. “Thank you, Courtney, you�
�ve been a wealth of information.” She reached over and slid a key card in front of him and gave the directions to his villa. He made arrangements for his luggage to be delivered to the room. Noah wanted to kick off his shoes and relax, but it would have to wait until after he met with Luke McBain.
“If you need anything at all, please don’t hesitate to contact me or the concierge desk.” With a smile as wide as the Grand Canyon, she added, “Enjoy your stay.”
“I know I will,” Noah assured her. He almost asked how to get to McBain Security, but thought better of it. “Do you have a map of the resort?”
Courtney blushed with embarrassment. “I apologize, Mr. Donaldson. I don’t understand how I could have forgotten.” She scrambled to grab a map and marked the path to his villa and other spots that might be of interest to him. “Would you like someone to drive you in one of the golf carts, or would you prefer to walk?”
“I’ll walk.” Right to McBain Security. He turned and headed toward the exit. “Thanks,” he called over his shoulder. Time to get this show on the road.
Chapter Two
The late-afternoon sun floated high enough over Barefoot Bay so the white sand sparkled like glitter. The picture-perfect turquoise water frothed with a rich creamy foam, washing up onto the golden shore speckled with small clusters of seashells. Noah dug his feet into the cool, damp sand, and his body relaxed for the first time in forever.
The city had a way of “beating you down,” as the saying went. Noah never considered himself beaten, just busy. He inhaled the salty air and allowed it to refresh his soul for a few moments. He really should make more of an effort to take the time and breathe in life once in a while.
He caught a glimpse of his watch—four forty-five. Luciana Talarico should be arriving in about thirty minutes. He still had time before heading over to the lobby to wait for her to check in. He checked his phone for the tracking software and smiled. Miss Talarico would have no idea he knew her every move.
He looked out at the horizon and watched a seagull dive into the ocean then pop back up with a fish. Before he left this paradise, he would go fishing, like he had when he was a young boy. Definitely. Maybe he had been pushing himself too hard. After seven years in homicide without a real vacation—an ordinary man would have been burned-out by now, but Noah handled the pressure. In fact, he thrived while living on the edge. It kept his mind off the one woman who shattered his heart eons ago.
What a fool he had been. A sucker for a hot-bodied blonde with a gorgeous face. Claudia. Big blues framed with black lashes that made his heart melt whenever they looked his way. Don’t go there.
He ran his fingers through his hair. Show time. He’d flick on the boyish charm and catch Luciana Talarico off guard. He was grateful Luke had set him up with the perfect cover, and with any luck, Luciana would lead him to her brother. Then Noah would catch him, because Marco was bound to slip up.
Earlier, Luke had introduced Noah to his staff as the newest of the plainclothes security on the island. Gushing, Courtney at the front desk had practically handed him directions to her beach bungalow. Grabbing his arm and attaching herself to him like a new appendage, she’d squealed, “I’m so excited we’ll be working together.”
There was no way he’d ever mix work and a relationship ever again. How could he not have known Claudia Marino had been working for the very crime family the department was trying to take down? It still rubbed his nerves raw when he thought about it.
Afterward, the department had hailed him a hero for exposing the mole they’d been searching for for months, but secretly he’d felt like a heel and hated the lovesick puppy he’d been. When it came to his heart, he always considered himself a good judge of women. But after his experience with Claudia, he would never again let the brick wall surrounding his heart be broken. He’d work, retire, and go fishing.
He followed the stone path back to the lobby. Behind the check-in counter, Courtney’s head snapped up as if her built-in radar picked up a red alert. He’d have to turn on the charm without causing suspicion. He walked over, giving her his player smile.
Courtney checked him out with a quick scan. Her eyes lingered over his arms and chest, and she licked her hot pink lips like he was an afternoon snack. “How do you like your villa, Mr. Donaldson?” She dipped her head closer, which allowed her overbearing perfume to assault his senses.
He was definitely not a fan of heavy florals. They had a tendency to make his eyes burn. Instinctively, he pulled back. “Very nice, thank you.”
“Is your bed comfortable?” She slid her index finger along the counter until she reached his arm. He pretended not to notice and instead made small talk. “Busy afternoon with check-ins?” He already knew the answer from his meeting with Luke earlier. Once the Golden Ticket Contest began, occupancy would reach almost one hundred percent.
“The usual. I’m waiting for the final guests from the GTG group to check in.” She batted her eyelashes. “Then I’m off for the day.” Hint, hint.
Oh, he got it all right. GTG was the acronym for Golden Ticket Group, and he was aware two women hadn’t arrived yet due to a flight delay.
“What are your plans?” Courtney asked coyly.
It was obvious she liked fishing too, but he wasn’t taking the bait. “I have a few meetings, getting settled, and I need to study the floor plans.” He shrugged. “You know, the usual. I also have to tour the property.”
She popped up and straightened her back, excited like the birthday girl about to open the first present. “I can show you a few points of interest.”
The thought had never crossed his mind. He planned to accidentally bump into Luciana Talarico, get close to her, and gain her trust. He hoped she didn’t arrive too tired and retire to her room. He wanted to establish a connection with her immediately, and he didn’t need Courtney getting in the way.
“You look like the type of woman who knows everything there is to know about Casa Blanca. Tell me, how is the fishing here?”
“I wouldn’t know.” She pouted. “I hear it’s wonderful, but I have to warn you, I get seasick.” She wasn’t going to take a turndown easily.
Placing his hand over his heart, he said, “Too bad. It’s my favorite pastime.” He emphasized favorite, but didn’t think she’d give up, and then he noticed out of the corner of his eye a silver Dodge Charger pull up out front.
Courtney perked up. “Looks like one of the final check-ins is here.” Her voice sounded hopeful. “Maybe we could go for a drink in a few minutes.” She gave him that wink again.
He turned and waited to see who stepped out of the car. What he saw didn’t disappoint his libido: a tall, leggy woman with dark chestnut hair pulled into a ponytail. Bug-eyed sunglasses set on high cheekbones shielded her eyes. Full, round, perfectly kissable, rose-colored lips smiled as one of the staff helped her remove her luggage from the trunk, while the valet took her keys and pulled her car away. She was dressed in tight low-rider capri jeans, sneakers without socks, and a black scoop-neck T-shirt.
Noah decided his job just got a whole lot easier if this was his target. He could have been stuck with someone more like Courtney. Not that Courtney was a bad choice, just not his type. This woman approaching was his type—all night long. She walked through the door held open by the doorman and flipped her glasses on top of her head. She looked around the lobby, eyes wide and her lips slightly parted. Noah wondered if her reaction mirrored his the first time he entered the lobby.
Slowly, she approached the desk, her pale gray eyes a striking contrast against her olive skin tone. “Good afternoon. I have a reservation under Talarico—Luciana Talarico,” she corrected.
Noah stepped off to the side and acted like he was distracted by a text message while keeping her in sight. Actually, he’d texted Luke to ask him to upgrade her reservation to the villa right next door to his.
Luciana Talarico surprised him. She wasn’t anything like he’d expected considering her brothers record. As she turned wha
t he could only describe as pale pools of illuminated smoke on him, he flinched as if she’d touched his soul. If there was one thing he’d learned from all his years in homicide, anyone given the right circumstances could do something desperate, even commit murder.
It was one of the main reasons he never allowed another woman to get close to him. There’s a saying: “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me,” and those words were his mantra. Although in his case, it was more like “fool me once and never again.” He’d maintained it too and had avoided all romantic relationships for the past seven years. He didn’t even have any close friends. How could he trust anyone?
She didn’t even try to hid her real identity. Why? Was she trying to flush out her brother’s trackers? He had to play it cool. Natural contact. He just planned on interjecting himself into the daily activities of the Golden Ticket events.
Courtney pasted on her well-rehearsed smile. “Welcome to Casa Blanca, Ms. Talarico. We’re thrilled you’re staying with us.” Noah had already heard the check-in script several times today. “Oh, I see you’ve been upgraded to one of our villas.”
“Really? How is that possible? Wow, thank you.”
Courtney placed a few slips of paper in front of Luciana to sign.
“We like to have a contact number to keep on file. May I get your phone number?”
While Luciana rattled it off, Noah tapped it into his phone. He stood close enough so that his phone could connect with hers and activate the tracking software. The software also cloned her phone. Now he would have access to every person in her contacts, every text message and email she sent and received, and every activity marked in her calendar.
“Your room—excuse me—villa is ready. I just need to run your credit card for incidentals.” From behind the counter, Courtney pulled out a Casa Blanca tote bag filled with items Noah couldn’t see. “Oh, and we’d like to welcome you with a bag of goodies, compliments of Casa Blanca. It’s a gift from the resort to all of the Golden Ticket Group, or GTG for short.”
