by Debra Fisk
Marco should have tried to contact her by now. He said he would get in touch, her inner voice reminded her. Her stomach cramped. How long would Marco’s mistakes haunt her? The life he led was nothing like how they’d been raised. Her parents had instilled love, honesty, and family values in her. Somehow, they were lost on Marco. He didn’t think the rules applied to him.
Noah waved his hand in front of her face. “Is something wrong? You looked a thousand miles away.” He lowered his arm and reached for a plate. “Nervous?”
It showed? “What do you mean?” Between Marco and the Golden Ticket Contest, the not knowing was tearing at her insides. She scanned his face, drinking in the warmth in his eyes. She noticed the steel gray looked like a deeper blue tonight.
“The contest. You seem distracted.”
“Oh, well, yes, of course. This is an amazing opportunity, and the contest could be life changing.” She needed her life to be changed.
He stepped in closer, a lock of his bronze hair flipped over his forehead. Her body reacted to his nearness, and heat rose in her cheeks. His lips were so close. “Can I ask what your product is?” he murmured.
Should she tell him? Could it hurt her chances? By this time tomorrow each of their ideas would no longer be a secret. In the morning, each entrant would be required to present and demonstrate their products. The social media voting platform would be opened later in the week. But if someone found out she’d told Noah about her product and it leaked out, she would be disqualified. Ana followed the rules, unlike Melonie, who’d boasted about her product at the airport. Ana couldn’t take the risk of losing it all over something foolish. She looked about the room. Many of the contestants had broken off into smaller groups. The women consisted of various ages and backgrounds.
“Tomorrow, you can ask. Until then, the terms of the GTG contract require secrecy.” She wanted to tell someone after months of silence. Sure, her parents knew, but they thought her ideas were wonderful because she was family. Maybe Noah could offer a little reassurance after seeing her sales pitch. It sounded like Melonie had a perfect product. Would she be her biggest completion?
Giggling could be heard approaching behind them, Melonie appeared out of nowhere, along with a tall brunette with large dark eyes. Melonie carried what looked like a frozen piña colada in an oversize, clear glass goblet, complete with a miniature umbrella and two cherries on top.
“Ana, I’d like you to meet Whitney. She’s from Georgia.” She took a long sip from the straw. Whitney held on to a blue martini with one hand and a small plate of coconut shrimp with the other.
Melonie sidestepped a little closer to Ana and attempted to whisper, “Who’s your friend?” She fluttered her eyelashes like she had a speck of dust in her eye. “He’s gorgeous.” She drew a few more sips of her piña colada. Was this the real Melonie or the alcohol talking?
Ana gestured with her hand. “Melonie Sparks and Whitney, this is Noah. I just realized I didn’t get your last name.”
Noah placed a hand on her elbow, and what seemed like an electric current shot through her.
“Donaldson, Noah Donaldson. It’s a pleasure meeting you, ladies. Best of luck in the contest.”
Charming too. He was going to be hard for her to resist.
Whitney placed a hand on her hip and studied him. “Are you with the Golden Ticket Contest?” she asked in a low voice.
“No, I work for the hotel.”
“You do?” all three women said in unison.
“Well, that explains everything,” Whitney joked.
“I’m in quality control. How are you ladies enjoying Casa Blanca so far?”
Whitney, not to be overshadowed by Melonie, began to ramble. “What’s not to like? A tropical location, beautiful surroundings, the weather, the sun, and surf. Delicious food and eye candy. Not to mention a chance to make our dreams come true.”
Melonie took a few steps closer to Noah, her glazed eyes looking like she’d had a bit too much to drink. “I’d say you have an eye for quality.” She placed a hand on his arm. “You’re with the best-looking women in the room.” She drew a few more long sips of her piña colada.
Wow, talk about an ego. Ana didn’t really dislike Melonie. She was bold, animated, and said what was on her mind, but maybe Melonie should censor herself once in a while. There was a little too much information.
Noah arched an eyebrow. “I’d say you’re correct in your observation, Melonie. I’m a lucky man this evening.”
“You could get even luckier,” she shot back, cementing her flirting with a wink.
Whitney widened her eyes and gasped, shrinking back behind Melonie, embarrassed by the not-so-subtle hints from her newfound friend.
Noah turned, and Ana thought she would melt from the intensity of his gaze. She fidgeted with the small plate in her hand, and air squeezed out of her lungs. Was he expecting a walk on the beach tonight? They’d just met, and besides, she had to be available for Marco’s call. Would he call? Anger began to rise in the pit of her stomach. It was just like Marco, living on the edge and adding drama, never caring that he caused their mother pain and worry. Now, somehow, she had been guilted into helping him. This was one of the reasons she’d moved away from home—to put distance between the disasters Marco created and live her life in peace.
“Lucky would be a walk on the beach in this beautiful setting,” he murmured.
Ana’s heart flopped over in her chest. Noah made her lose all sense of reality. She was here for the contest and to find out why Marco ran from New York. What was he involved in? When would he call?
Her phone vibrated, and she fumbled to reach it in time. Desperate to hear from her brother, she gripped the phone and glanced at the screen. Crystal.
She’d promised to call her best friend after she’d checked into Casa Blanca. She cringed. That made two people she’d missed. “Hey. I’m sorry,” she said into the phone as she stepped away from the group. “I really need to talk to you, but I’m in the middle of something. Can I call you later?”
“Ugh, sure, but don’t forget,” Crystal said.
The line went dead, and Ana returned to the festivities only to find that Noah had already moved on.
Chapter Four
The glowing moon was joined by a few specks of clouds and a handful of stars glittering in the sky. A cool breeze sprayed a mist of salty water into the atmosphere and reminded Noah of a scene in the movie Casablanca. He gazed into the night, trying to remember the last time he’d felt more at peace or noticed stars in the sky. He’d never paid much attention until now. The tall city buildings limited his usual view of the horizon. Besides, he was always focused on what was in front of him.
He slipped off his shoes and dug his bare feet into the cool, damp sand, wondering if Ana would take him up on his offer for a moonlit stroll. Marco wasn’t the only reason he hoped she’d show up. A big part of him wrestled with the attraction pulling him toward her. He didn’t really expect her to show, not on the first night, but he waited anyway.
Quiet waves rolled up on the shore. The peaceful sea reminded Noah of the deep-sea boating trips he’d taken with his dad. His father had taken him on his first deep-sea fishing trip off the coast of Florida at eight. He’d caught and released a sailfish taller than he was. His father was so proud, and their picture had appeared in the local paper.
On the trip home, he announced to his parents that when he grew up he’d get a boat and fish every day, and they smiled. That was before everything changed. He turned and looked back at the villas. Off in the distance, a dark figure approached. Slowly, the moonlight glimmered on her outfit. So Luciana decided to risk it after all.
Her walk was slow and unknowingly seductive. She’d changed into a pair of cutoff shorts, flip-flops, and a loose hot-pink T-shirt that hung off one shoulder. Her hair flowed, dark wisps taken by the evening breeze. Noah wanted to feel the silky strands slip through his fingers.
Her heart-shaped face glowed in the moonlight.
“Enjoying the beach?” she asked.
The scent of raspberries and lemons with a hint of vanilla sugar all rolled into one delicious, beautiful five-foot-four dessert. She stepped closer, and he looked down into her welcoming eyes, all the while fighting the urge to wrap his arms around her.
“What’s not to enjoy? For the first time in years, I’m content.”
Noah was at a loss for more words. What could he tell her? He’d just met her, and only for the sole purpose of hunting down her brother and dragging him back to New York, so he could force him to admit what he knew. He owed it to Rizzo’s wife and children. Noah had every intention of contacting the chief once he had Marco in his possession. He wasn’t about to make a mistake that would set the kid free if he was guilty. But now that he’d met Ana, he hated lying to her. His gut said she didn’t know anything about what her brother was into, but he’d learned he couldn’t trust his hunches anymore when a sexy woman looked his way.
“Me too. I haven’t been here a whole day yet, but I still feel more peaceful than I can remember,” she whispered. “They’re right, you know. A change of scenery makes all the difference.” She closed her eyes, her chest rising as she took in a deep breath of fresh sea air.
He wanted to place a kiss on her lips. Instead, he raked his fingers through his hair. Then he reached for her hand, and they walked along the edge of the water. His large form protected her from the spray of water as the waves rolled along the shore.
“Where are you from?” He knew the answer, but it was all part of gaining her trust.
“I work in New York City but live in an apartment just over the state line in New Jersey. It’s large and half the cost and less taxes.”
“Do you live alone?”
She smiled, and his heart slammed against the inside of his chest.
“Are you asking me if I have a boyfriend?”
“Maybe, sorta, yes. Do you?” If the circumstances were different, this would be the perfect romantic setting. She looked beautiful, and he wanted to kiss her. Careful, don’t get too close.
She answered softly, “No.” Her response was so quiet it was almost drowned out by fizzling waves at the water’s edge. “It’s been a number of years since I was involved with anyone. My last boyfriend—Russ, that was his name—was killed in a motorcycle accident. I’ve dated here and there, but there hasn’t been anyone else serious since.”
A tinge of jealousy pricked Noah’s nerves. The sad part was that deep down he wanted someone to care about him the way Ana carried a torch for Russ. She must have really loved this guy to memorialize him for years. The detective inside him wondered if Russ was “involved” in the same type of “business” as Marco.
“I can understand why.” He brushed a strand of hair from her face. Sadness filled her eyes, and he wanted to erase her pain.
“We were young and got engaged, but Russ was wild and impulsive. If we had gotten married, it wouldn’t have lasted. Russ wasn’t able to be faithful to one woman.”
In spite of his job, Noah was straightforward, but right now he felt like a piece of scum, and no better than Russ. Cozying up to Luciana in an attempt to locate her brother pushed his dishonesty limits. He’d been burned, on the receiving end of being used for information. His nostrils flared. “Most men are fools. I shouldn’t have pried,” he mumbled.
Her expression was hidden by the dark shadow his body cast over her. “Does your family live in New Jersey too?”
“Yes and no. They’re scattered.”
*****
Ana marveled at how she could be so at ease with a man she hardly knew. She’d been working for Klein & Sons Accounting Service for eight years, squashed under the thumb of Alan Klein, Sr. on a daily basis. No matter how much she anticipated what the senior Klein needed, her work was never good enough. He also allowed his eldest son, Alan Klein, Jr., to dump piles of his work on her, while the younger son never showed up at all. She stayed for the job security, because changing jobs in a crazy, cutthroat city was a huge risk.
She handled the Kleins’ personal business and knew secrets about their out-of-office activities that their wives didn’t. Thanks to that experience, she was reluctant to trust men, yet she felt like she could tell Noah anything. Except about Marco. Racked with worry…
“Is something wrong?” Noah raised their clenched hands, giving them a gentle shake. “I’m sensing by your death grip that you’re tense.”
He joked, but she noticed he looked concerned. Her chest squeezed. Was she that transparent? She frowned. It never failed that whenever she had something good on the horizon, Marco timed a disaster or situation that would ruin it. She forced a grin and flat out lied. “I’m a little chilly.”
“I can walk you back to your villa,” he offered.
She nodded. “I have an early start tomorrow. The competition starts at eight. I want to be fresh and prepared.” She gave his hand another squeeze and smiled. “This was nice. I needed a pleasant distraction to help me take my mind off tomorrow. I’ll probably be awake all night.” If she could get an hour of sleep she would be lucky. Every part of her body tingled with excitement.
They turned in the direction of their villas, walking hand in hand. As they approached her villa, Noah turned to face her, standing between her and the door. His gaze scorched her skin everywhere he looked. He sure looked like he wanted to kiss her. Would he? Should she?
The night air chilled her bare arms. She wanted him to draw her close, wanted to feel his mouth crush hers in a passionate kiss. The moon cast just enough light to see his eyes, which were filled with intensity. Passion. Lust. Attraction. He bent his head, his lips close to hers, so close that when he spoke, she could feel his breath on her skin.
“Can I give you a good-luck kiss?”
Yes! She didn’t mind at all, but this was crazy. She hardly knew him. She never kissed a guy on the first date, and this wasn’t even a date. This was an accidental meeting that turned into attraction. She didn’t want to be another notch in a guy’s belt. A kiss was the first step, but the way she was drawn to him, could she say no?
At that moment, she wondered if she could say no to anything he asked. Her head swirled with emotions. She remained frozen, and he apparently took her lack of reaction as permission.
His kiss was slow—deliberate and sexy. She melted into him and wrapped her arms around his neck. He pressed into her, and she lost herself in the masculine scent of salty air with a hint of musk. The fire grew into a hunger, a need. It had been so long since she’d felt desirable. She wanted him to kiss away her pain and disappointment.
Ana was no longer an account assistant, daughter, or sibling. She was a woman he seemed to desire, and the attraction was mutual.
He slowed the kiss and tenderly pulled away. “Good luck tomorrow. I know you’ll have the judges in the palm of your hand by the end of the day.”
She was starting to believe he was right. Maybe her luck had changed. If meeting Noah Donaldson was a sign, then yes, her life was about to improve dramatically. “Thank you. I’d better get inside.” She’d reluctantly moved around him when he placed a hand on her arm to stop her.
“Text me when you’re through tomorrow?” He rattled off his number.
She smiled. “Will do.” She closed the door and pressed her body against it and blew out a long breath. For the first time in a long time, things might be going her way.
Ana savored a few more moments of peace with her head in the clouds while she changed for bed before making the dreaded phone calls to her mother and Crystal. She didn’t want either of them to ruin the weightless feeling of hope she felt at the moment. Her mother lived in a constant state of worry or fear of the unknown what-if, while Crystal would drain Ana with a thousand questions she couldn’t answer.
It was later than she’d thought. She pressed the key pad and made the conversations brief, promising to call again tomorrow. With that task over, her thoughts went back to Noah. Instinctively, she pressed her hand
against her lips. They were still swollen from his kiss. With a sigh, she set her alarm to wake her up at dawn. A morning run on the beach and a little yoga would get her ready for tomorrow’s events. Her heart fluttered with the possibility of seeing Noah again.
She rolled over and looked at the ceiling, unable to sleep. Endless product ideas floated through her head. Just as she closed her eyes, about to drift off to sleep, thoughts of Marco invaded her dreams. Tomorrow afternoon she would try to locate him.
*****
The sun peeked over the ocean, reflecting a bold golden hue on the water. A ball of fiery orange streaks cast a glow as it rose through the deep plum and pink sky, casting a luminance of rainbow colors on the scattered cloud puffs. Noah hadn’t watched a sunrise in years. Nor had he experienced an incredible one like this.
Flocks of seagulls dived into the water, looking for their breakfast. Tiny old vessels were off in the distance, fishermen clinging to their poles. The quiet morning almost made him forget why he was there—almost. He picked up his phone, opened his spy app, and looked at Ana’s schedule.
Her alarm had gone off ten minutes ago. She had sent a text to her friend Crystal that she’d call her after a run on the beach. Noah had been up at least an hour before Ana, waiting to see her next move. He’d changed into his swim trunks and grabbed a towel when he’d read her text about leaving for the beach. Sooner or later, Marco would surface. Noah sensed it would be today. If Noah were in Marco’s shoes, he would have been waiting and watching before making his move. If Marco was smart, that’s what he was doing. He’d want to be sure the situation was safe and that he wouldn’t be putting Ana or himself in danger.
Noah suspected Marco cared more about himself than his sister. Someone who caused his family this much trouble and kept repeating bad mistakes without a hint of remorse couldn’t be too concerned with anyone but himself.
