by Debra Fisk
Chapter Seven
Finally back in her villa, Ana changed into a fresh sundress when received a text from Noah. She saw the time stamp and realized how late it was. The sun hung so high in the sky, she would have guessed it was somewhere around noon instead of a little after four o’clock.
Are you free?
One simple text from Noah and her spirits lifted.
Yes.
After the glorious massage and the amazing experience at the Eucalyptus Spa, she had eaten an uneventful lunch with a few pleasant contestants and waited for her turn with the show’s photographer. A simple photo shoot turned into a disastrous afternoon at the Golden Ticket interview session, and her enthusiasm had gone from being on top of the world to rock bottom. She had gotten tongue-tied when they asked some pretty intense questions about the manufacturing facility.
Another text from Noah broke into her contemplation.
Meet me at the side doors by the lobby.
She really needed to talk to him about her day. Maybe it hadn’t been so bad, though she’d stumbled through the interview with vague and inadequate answers, grasping for a lifeline in the sea of contestant insanity. The only part of the entire situation that had gone well was when they asked her personal questions.
With shoulders slumped, she’d left, the experience having undone every bit of the benefits from her massage. Maybe she was overreacting and being too hard on herself. Did everyone else know all the answers to these questions? Did everyone else know all the details about how to manufacture in other countries? She wanted to create jobs here in America. Was there something wrong with that?
See you in five.
Stepping out of her villa, she put on her sunglasses and a straw hat to shield her skin from the sun. The studio had warned all contestants to try not to get too much sun in case they needed to shoot a few retakes. She strolled down the path with her heart skipping quicker than her steps at the thought of being with Noah. When she approached the lobby, she could see him waiting outside and smiling as he spoke into his phone. He turned to look at her, so sexy, his golden brown hair shining in the sun. Her heart melted as she looked at him.
“Thank you, we’ll see you in a few minutes.” Noah clicked his phone off and dropped it into his pocket. Taking her hands, he drew her closer. “It’s all set.”
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“It’s a surprise.” He wrapped his arms around her and placed a kiss at the base of her neck. His lips seared her skin, and her body went from cheerful to aroused. She relaxed and sighed. Going back to the villa for a little alone time might be what she needed.
Noah released her and pulled a blindfold from his back pocket.
“What’s this all about?” she questioned as he turned her around, removed her hat, and tied the blindfold snuggly over her eyes.
“Will you relax? You’ll see when we get there.” He took her hand and led her over to a golf cart and helped her get in. “Hang on.”
After a few minutes, she felt the cart slow down.
“We’re here,” he said.
But where was here? She couldn’t see or hear anything to give her a clue as to where they were. He took her hand to help her out of the cart. She could feel the soft sand under her feet and took careful steps until he stopped and slid the blindfold off.
In front of her was a gorgeous hot air balloon. Looking at it against the clear blue sky, she could feel the color drain from her face.
She stared at the blonde waiting by the door to the basket, and then at Noah, who grinned from ear to ear like a child on Christmas morning who’d received his long-awaited gift from Santa.
But this was not how she wanted to end her day. And she did mean end, because flying high in a balloon, facing one of her biggest fears, wasn’t how she wanted to go. Her eyes locked on the large puffed mass filled with hot air. Surely she’d have a heart attack. Could anyone actually die from simply flying in a balloon?
“What’s wrong? Your face is frozen. Are you okay?” Noah placed his hand on her cheek and turned her head to look at him.
Staring into his eyes, she released the breath she’d been holding since he’d pulled the blindfold off. Her chest heaved, and she stammered, “I-I’m afraid of heights.”
The attractive blonde took a few steps toward them. “Hello, I’m Zoe Bradbury, but please call me Zoe,” she said, extending her hand. “I’m the owner, and anything you need, I’m here to help.”
What Ana needed Zoe couldn’t provide—an escape route without ruining Noah’s thoughtful evening. “I’m afraid of heights,” Ana blurted out, as her panicked heart skidded around in her chest. “I’m sorry.”
Zoe took her by the hand. “Lots of people who are afraid of heights still travel in my balloon. Let me show you inside the basket.”
Noah followed. “Ana, I’m sorry. We don’t have to go on the ride if you’re—”
Afraid! Petrified! About to have a heart attack!
Zoe hopped up, and Noah lifted Ana by the waist and then got in behind them. She temporarily forgot her fear when she saw a basket filled with champagne flutes, a chilled bottle of Dom Pérignon, chocolate-covered strawberries, and a delicious-looking fruit and cheese platter.
“Oh my.” What a sweet gesture.
“Chef Ian prepared these scrumptious refreshments for the two of you as per Noah’s instructions.” Zoe’s green eyes glowed as she looked at the two of them.
Ana turned to Noah, who remained silent.
Zoe said, “I know you’re afraid of heights.” Taking both of Ana’s hands in hers, she continued, “But at some point in our lives, we need to face our fears. Do you think you can trust me enough to give it a try?”
Ana felt her head nod yes, while her brain screamed no! But she really didn’t want to disappoint Noah, and in her heart, she really she wanted to go.
Noah’s arm circled her waist with a firm squeeze. “Don’t worry, I won’t let any harm come to you.” He spun her around and gave her a kiss.
“Are we ready to go, then?” Zoe asked while she got the balloon ready for takeoff. “Our route will depend on the wind. But it looks like I can fulfill your request, Noah, to fly over the island.”
“Why don’t I open the Dom? Have a seat, Ana, and we can begin our flight.” Noah popped the cork, poured her a glass, and handed it to her, then poured one for himself.
Within a few minutes, they were in the air, lifting higher and higher. There was a brief rocking that reminded Ana of the carnival rides at an amusement park.
“To Mimosa Key,” Noah toasted and clinked their glasses together.
Ana practically gulped down the first glass and held it out for Noah to refill. Taking a bite of a chocolate-covered strawberry, she let the comfort of the alcohol and sweets ease her nerves.
“Have either of you explored Mimosa Key yet?”
“I’ve taken a short drive around, but I haven’t had a good chance to visit the area,” Noah answered.
Ana shrugged. “I haven’t even left Casa Blanca yet.” She took another sip, the bubbles tickling her nose, and she giggled. She wondered if the balloon was stationary, because she couldn’t feel it move at all.
Noah went to look over the side. “Well, that’s changed, because you’ve been flying now for a few minutes off property.”
The very fact they were over a thousand feet in the air was enough for Ana. She didn’t think she could take it if she looked down. She might faint on the floor of the basket. Standing like Zoe or Noah, and looking down, Ana felt like she would be too exposed and could fall out at any minute.
*****
Noah studied the aerial layout of Mimosa Key. From the balloon, he could see several streets where Marco could be hiding out. He doubted he would be staying in an apartment or hotel. It would be more plausible for him to break into an abandoned house or a vacation home where the owners were away and where the neighbors might not notice anyone coming in or out late at night. A lot of the homes along
the beach were vacation rentals. Marco could easily have found an empty home and jimmied the door lock to let himself in.
Noah looked over his shoulder at Ana, who looked perfectly content eating a strawberry. He wanted to confess his involvement in Marco’s case and Marco’s connection to Rizzo’s death, but it was too risky.
The balloon ride was a small celebration, because the flash drive had contained The balloon ride was a small celebration, because Noah knew now that Ana wasn’t involved in whatever was going on with Marco. The flash drive had contained video of Rizzo’s shooting. Noah surmised that Marco had recorded it then dropped the drive in with Ana’s things for safe keeping. There was also a video clip of Marco recording a message for Ana that indicated that Ana had no idea what was going on in her brother’s life. But until Noah could confirm what he suspected, he had to maintain his silence and the ruse of Noah Donaldson, security guard, instead of being Detective Noah Donovan.
Ana’s eyes caught his. A shiver went down his spine and across his chest straight to his heart. He wanted her again, like last night. He wanted to be with her, and the intensity of the thought caught him in the chest. He sucked in a breath and pulled his attention back to Zoe.
“Have you always lived on the island?” he asked in a hoarse whisper, the words catching in his throat as he tamped down his emotions.
“No, but this is the only place I could ever consider home now. The people, the beauty of Mimosa Key, my friends, a life of paradise, and the resort. I have a beautiful home in Barefoot Bay and a wonderful family. Isn’t it beautiful from up here?” Zoe made Barefoot Bay sound like a magical place where dreams could come true.
“I’m going to miss this place when I leave.”
Both Zoe and Noah whipped their heads around. “Ana, you’re looking over the side?” they exclaimed in unison.
Noah moved next to Ana, taking in the sweet citrus fragrance of her hair. She looked into his eyes and placed a chocolate-laced strawberry kiss on his mouth. Champagne and sweetness, floating on air high above the clouds. Maybe Zoe was right, maybe Barefoot Bay did hold some type of magic. He didn’t want to let go, didn’t want to leave the magic he’d found here. Even if he decided to stay, Ana was going to leave, maybe even win the Golden Ticket to success. They would both return to reality and their lives.
Bringing criminals to justice was in his blood. His DNA had been reprogrammed the day his father’s first business partner embezzled every bit of the company funds. He’d emptied the bank accounts, even the escrow accounts of their clients. His father had worked night and day to restore the business and had surpassed everyone’s expectations. Noah’s brother worked in the family business, while Noah had disappointed his father by becoming a detective.
“I’m going to miss you,” he said. “The Golden Ticket is going to pick your idea, and then your schedule will be filled with all kind of commitments.”
“No one knows what the future holds,” she murmured.
Noah kissed the top of her head. “Let’s enjoy our time together now.”
*****
“OMG!” the voice on the other end of the line exclaimed as Ana answered her phone.
She looked at the time. Five a.m. What the hell? “Crystal why are you calling me so early?” Ana looked over, but Noah was gone already, probably on his morning run.
She sat up. She needed to do her morning workout and get ready for the next phase of the Golden Ticket competition.
“Haven’t you seen the social media results?” she shrieked. “You’re in the lead. Not only with the public voting, but with the judges as well.”
“What? I can’t believe it!” She bolted straight up in bed and scrambled to put on a light. “After yesterday, I thought I was a complete failure. I don’t understand how I can be in the lead.” She pushed off the covers, shoved her feet into her flip-flops, and ran over to her laptop.
“Well, all I can tell you is the judges loved your idea, and they flipped over how you want to keep jobs in the US,” Crystal answered. “It says here, ‘When asked, the judges unanimously agreed that they like the fact that Ms. Talarico balances making a profit while stimulating the economy. It’s apparent she cares about her company, product quality, and country. The judges also went on to say they love her fresh designs and positive image for women as demonstrated in her products.’”
Exhilarated by the news, she typed with trembling hands the Web address for the Golden Ticket Contest to view the results. “I can’t believe it. I thought I failed.” This gave new life to her chances. What a roller-coaster ride of emotion. The highs and the lows of the past few days were just the beginning of her journey. The real competition didn’t heat up until the second half, after most of the other applicants had been eliminated.
“Keep this up and you won’t have to go back to your old job,” Crystal declared. “I’ll quit mine and come work for you.” She could feel Crystal’s enthusiasm coming through the phone.
“Wouldn’t that be the ideal situation? I can’t wait to tell Noah too.” There was a slight tug at her heart when she mentioned his name. What would become of the two of them? Their evening riding in the hot air balloon had been a night she would never forget.
“Noah? Tell me what’s going on with the two of you, and don’t hold back. I mean it.” Crystal had a way of knowing when Ana tried to omit information. She called it a gift, but Ana found it annoying at times. “There’s really not much to tell.”
The silence on the other end was deafening as Crystal waited for more. Ana groped for the right words. “Well, Noah Donaldson is a security guard here at the hotel, and he’s overseeing security for the contest. We kinda bumped into each other. Well, I slammed into him, and we hit it off. I guess that when I leave the island, we will end whatever it is we started.”
“Why would you end it?”
“I don’t think a long-distance relationship could work. If I win, things get complicated. If I lose, I need to return to the office and keep working toward my dream.”
“Don’t even say a word about losing. Don’t put that energy out there, only positive thoughts,” Crystal warned, totally believing in her karma and energy theory circulating throughout the universe. “Tell me the rest of it.”
“Last night he surprised me with a romantic hot air balloon ride.” Her voice sounded like a long sigh as she spoke.
“You went on a hot air balloon? You? Miss ‘I’m afraid to ride the escalator at Macy’s because I’m afraid of heights and steep inclines’?” Crystal practically screeched through the phone.
“I know, I hated to disappoint him and Zoe, the owner of the balloon company. Noah went through so much trouble, and I would have felt guilty backing out. I mean, no one has ever really gone out of their way for me like that before, not even my own family.” She filled Crystal in on the rest of the night with Noah and meeting Jocelyn at the spa and their talk about Marco.
She was about to end the call when Crystal asked, “So what’s going on with the Marco situation?”
“Good question. I have no idea. He’s contacted me a few times with nothing but a bunch of cryptic craziness. I want to try to hunt for him, but I can’t take Noah, and I’ve had a full schedule with the contest.” How would she be able to slip away?
“Let me know if there is anything I can do from up here. I can always fly down, you know. Hint, hint.”
“Looking for an excuse to fly to a tropical resort,” Ana snarked. “You know you’re welcome, but I’m bound by the contest rules not to have friends or family staying with me. They could disqualify me.”
“Well, I wouldn’t want that to happen just because I need a quick getaway,” Crystal said with a yawn. “I’m sorry, it’s too early. I’m going back to bed. Talk to you soon.”
“Have a nice rest now that I’m wide awake,” Ana joked. Maybe she’d text Noah to see if he’d like to meet at the beach to watch the sunrise. She wanted to tell him about the social media results and explain about Marco. Even though
there was no need to bring her brother up, she wanted Noah’s opinion on the subject.
She shot him a text and hoped he didn’t have to be on call early at the resort. In her heart, she knew Noah cared for her, but how much? Would he be willing to have a long-distance relationship? Would she be able to trust him while she was away? She knew of people who had successful long-distance relationships, and something deep inside told her they could make it work.
She made a cup of coffee in the comfortable kitchen and gazed outside at the darkness, on a high from the contest results. Everything was going her way for once in her life. She had plans for the future and a way to escape her day-to-day job. If she could win one even one of the consolation prizes, she might be able to leave that job and start her own business, maybe even here in Mimosa Key with Noah.
Even as she thought it, she knew that wouldn’t be the case. The Golden Ticket Contest corporate offices were in the tristate area, and she would be committed to work from there.
She changed into one of the running outfits she’d designed. Colorful, lightweight, and sexy, it complimented her toned, athletic build. Ana waited a few more minutes to see if Noah was going to text back before going down to the beach to look for him.
Ana switched her phone to silent, plugged in her earbuds, pressed play, and slipped it into her pocket. Getting lost in her motivational workout music, she began her warmup before starting the run on the beach.
Seagulls flew overhead as the sun peered over the horizon, signaling the new day. She closed her eyes, letting the fresh salty air and music relax the pent-up energy while pride swelled in her chest. The day hadn’t even started yet, and she was feeling so accomplished. Her self-esteem raised to new heights, while her attraction to Noah grew into something more.
She’d created a style and product line that the contest judges and America loved. One-of-a-kind soft, breathable fabric in coordinating feminine designs. It looked like her vision was about to become a reality. Did she dare to hope?
The only dark cloud looming over her life was Marco. As her thoughts began to sway down the path of uncertainty, she regained control by concentrating on the techniques Jocelyn had taught her during her visit to the spa. She began her jog along the water’s edge, earbuds firmly in place, the music downing out every sound. A text coming in paused the music, but then it continued. Turning off the music, she looked around for Noah as she stopped to read the text. She didn’t recognize the number.
