I let the topic drop, but I'd already decided that my best shot at Roger and Phil was to stick close to Carlos. Didn't need them trying to change his mind about giving me my share of the booty.
We left the car with the valet and made our way to Mark's suite. The room was dark except for a few dimmed wall sconces. I could hear the sound of the ocean through the gently blowing curtains. I kicked off my shoes and walked out onto the balcony.
"It's perfect," I said softly.
"Yes." Mark came up behind and started kissing my neck.
I leaned back against him with a sigh.
"You must be exhausted," he murmured.
I yawned and nodded. "And I probably stink. It feels like days since this morning. But don't stop." I pressed back against him.
"You make it sound so tempting," he chuckled against my neck. His breath sent shivers up my back and curled my toes.
"There's a Jacuzzi on the patio," he pointed out.
"How about I jump in the shower and then meet you there." I turned towards him. He groaned as I rubbed against him. "Unless you're too tired, of course," I teased.
His lips met mine in answer.
Twenty minutes later, I was feeling refreshed and relaxed as I walked out onto the patio to join him. I'd decided against washing my hair in favor of getting naked with him before one of us fell asleep. But I'd brushed my teeth and piled my hair on top of my head in what I thought was an artful arrangement. I doubted his eyes would be on my hair anyway when I dropped my towel.
Mark was sitting in the Jacuzzi facing the ocean. His head was tilted up, star gazing. I came up behind him quietly and bent over to kiss his forehead.
"Are you trying to be sneaky?" he asked, looking up at me.
"I was testing your secret agent skills."
His hand whipped out and snatched my towel from me. I stared in surprise as he flung it across the patio.
"How's that for skill?" he asked, grabbing me around the waist and pulling me down into the water with him. No easy feat given my gangly size.
I gasped as the warm water enveloped me. His lips touched mine, and his tongue flicked into my mouth. I pulled away trying to gain my balance in the tub. He pulled me back, settling me on his lap.
"I've finally got you naked and alone." He gave me a wolfish grin.
"You do," I agreed. "What are you going to do with me?"
"Whatever I want," he whispered against my lips. He kissed me, his hands finding my slick breasts and squeezing gently. I moaned, biting at his lips. The breeze ruffled the strands of hair framing my face.
I slid around, turning so I faced him. He adjusted himself and grabbed me around the waist pulling me down against all of him. All systems go, except for the location. This wasn't my first rodeo. Sex in a hot tub wasn't as fun as it sounded.
He surprised me by locking his arms around my legs and standing up in Jacuzzi. "Ready for the bed?" he asked.
Evidently not his first rodeo either. I nodded and slid down his body. Our breath came fast and furious as he pulled me towards him. I rubbed wickedly against him, my tongue tracing the outline of his lips. The sexual tension was mounting with each passing second.
I stepped out of the tub and onto the cool concrete of the patio. Water pooled at my feet as Mark draped a thick towel around my shoulders and rubbed me down, stopping at all the good parts.
"You look like The Goddess Diana with your hair like that," he mused.
"I've actually heard that before," I replied with a grin.
"I'm sure you've heard all the lines." He grabbed me around the waist and pulled me against him.
Warmth spread throughout my body as my nipples brushed his chest. "A few, but I'm open to more," I teased.
"Sure you're not too tired," he asked, kissing his way up my body.
I gasped when he reached just the right spot. "No. Are you?"
He pressed himself against me.
"Looks like you're wide awake to me."
He led me back to the beautiful, giant, comfy bed. I sighed contentedly as I sunk down into its downy sheets. "Finally," I murmured.
"Finally what?" he asked, slipping in next to me.
"I'm finally getting to try out your big bed," I laughed.
"Just interested in my bed, huh?" He ran his hands down my body.
I groaned and wiggled closer to him. My lips found his. "Maybe not just the bed."
Suddenly, he flipped me over so I was straddling him. His hands grasped my breasts, and he pulled me down closer. I rubbed tentatively against him and he groaned.
I answered by arching my body and sliding down to meet his.
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
Red lights flashed obscenely in the darkened room.
Startled, I jumped off of Mark, jabbing him with my elbow in the process.
"What the hell!" he swore. "Not again!"
I grabbed a bathrobe and slipped on the complimentary terry cloth slippers. "Come on. It's a fire!"
Mark rolled his eyes. "Probably just some drunk pulled the alarm." He sat up on one elbow and looked around.
I walked out onto the balcony to have a look. Uh-oh! Flames were shooting out of one of the lower rooms. Black smoke was billowing through the air. This was not a drill. "It's a real fire! Hurry!"
Mark was by my side in an instant. It took me a second to realize he was still naked and a couple of seconds to take my eyes off of him once I noticed.
He shook his head in disbelief. "Come on. Let's get dressed and get outta here."
It took about two minutes to gather our essentials and make it down the stairs. It appeared that most of the guests had just rolled out of bed and run outside. It was almost one. I was going on twenty-four hours without sleep. I leaned against Mark's shoulder as we watched the fire trucks descend upon the scene.
"If I thought we'd have a chance, I'd try to talk you into getting in the back seat of the rental car with me," he whispered against my ear. "But I'm sure a tsunami or some other freak of nature would strike the second I got you naked."
I nodded in agreement. This was getting ridiculous.
"Maybe it'll be over soon," I said as yet another fire truck pulled up.
He shook his head. "Not a chance. We'll be lucky if we get back in tonight," he said, kicking at some rocks.
"Want to go for a walk on the beach?" I asked, slipping my hand into his.
He smiled. "Sure. That's something we haven't done together yet."
"Unfortunately, it does involve being clothed."
"We'll see," he replied, leading me towards the beach.
* * *
Mark's phone blared Patsy Kline's 'Crazy,' jolting me awake. I sat up and peered out at the ocean with one bleary eye. Sand was caked to the back of my legs, and I could feel it shifting around in my undies. Yuck.
I glanced over at Mark. He was already deep in conversation. "By nine?" he asked. "It'll take me two hours to get there if I leave now."
I caught his eye, and he gave me a quick smile. I'd been hoping for another shower and some morning naked time with him. Didn't look like that was on the agenda.
Our walk on the beach last night had quickly turned into a make-out session in the sand. However, I apparently fell asleep early on, and Mark had snuggled up beside me to catch a few hours of sleep.
It was a little before seven according to my phone. I had a text from Andre asking if I wanted to ride up to Aguadilla at eleven.
Mark hung up abruptly. "That was Charles," he said with a grimace. "He wants to meet at the Aguadilla airport this morning to make the exchange. I'll call Marcie so she can give a heads up to David. I also need to get the San Juan police to notify the authorities in Aguadilla, and I have to pick up the money Ed wired through San Juan National Bank on my way." He ran a hand though his hair distractedly. "I need to leave now. I'm sorry."
I rubbed my eye and promptly got sand in it. Trying to sleep on the beach was a lot like trying to have sex in a hot tub. Always sounds good at the time, but
it never turns out well.
"No problem. I'll get a shower and hitch a ride with Carlos. They're leaving at eleven. Unless, of course, you'd like some help with Charles."
"Not a chance. I don't want you involved," Mark said adamantly.
"Geez, you didn't even think about."
"Nothing to think about," he replied, kissing me on the forehead. "I think I'll check out here and book us a place in Rincon. Maybe buy us a little well-deserved alone time." He helped me to my feet.
We spent the next couple of minutes dusting sand off of each other and giggling like teenagers. Without warning, he pulled me to him and gave me a kiss with The Works.
As I was gasping for breath, he said, "Promise me no plans tonight. Just you and me and a big bed."
I nodded.
"And no hickeys! I mean to check all your nooks and crannies," he teased.
"I'm looking forward to that." Boy was I ever!
CHAPTER SEVEN
A few more kisses and gropes, and Mark was gone.
The fire had been contained to several rooms near the kitchens, a clerk told me on my way back to the room. Everything appeared to be business as usual in the hotel, which allowed me to enjoy the sumptuous suite; I had planned a leisurely morning of showering, dressing, and packing. I ordered room service before hitting the shower. My phone rang as I was pulling my hair into a pony tail in front of the double marble vanity.
It was Carol, my boss at Greene's Staffing Services.
"Hi!" I said brightly.
"Hi yourself," she snipped.
"What's wrong with you?"
"Your vampire is driving me nuts!" she replied. "He ran two temps off yesterday and has called me every hour on the hour with complaints."
I shrugged. That sounded like The Count. I had been working for the cape-wearing Mr. Vann Pyres for a couple of weeks. In that time, I had managed to type up about two hundred pages of spindly hand-written notes for his book on medieval husbandry and was helping him find love online. Not bad if I did say so myself.
"He's bugging me to check his dating accounts," she continued. "He says he and Betty have an open relationship. He's ready to 'explore all his options.'" I pictured her face scrunched up in disgust.
"Well, he was your vampire first," I reminded her.
She snorted. "Well, he's yours now."
"So are you still thinking about taking Ed up on his offer?" I asked, changing the subject. Ed wanted to retire and sell the staffing agency to Carol. I thought she'd be a perfect fit, but she seemed overwhelmed by the prospect of being a business owner.
"I'm still thinking about it. I have enough trouble managing the agency. I can't imagine how many more headaches I'd have as the owner. Besides, I'm not exactly rolling in money."
"Ed knows all that. I'm sure he'll work out a deal for you."
"I'm not sure I want a big loan hanging over my head. I'm going to meet with the accountant this week and take a hard look at the numbers. I'll keep you posted," she said with a sigh. "So how's it going down there?"
"I'm by myself in a beautiful suite. I've already destroyed an expensive guitar, almost been arrested, almost been kidnapped, and performed a duet with a pirate," I said, ticking off the last twenty-four hours. "Oh, yeah, there was a fire last night at the hotel, and we ended up sleeping on the beach."
"That sounds romantic at least." You could always count on Carol to put a good spin on things.
"Yeah, you'd think." I sighed. "But all I got was sand in my underwear."
Carol laughed. "Yuck! Any luck tracking down David?"
I brought her up to date on all the new developments and promised to check The Count's online accounts and send her an email update. I spent the next hour nibbling at my breakfast, catching up on email, and trolling for Mr. Pyres' online dates.
As I glanced at the profile for yet another cleavage heaving, twenty-something looking for a sugar daddy, I thought about how nice it was not to be on the dating scene. Now if only Mark and I could finally get to the good parts…
* * *
The limo arrived promptly at eleven. I was waiting on the curb with my bags and guitar case, dressed comfortably for the long ride in cargo shorts, flip flops, and a light cotton T-shirt.
Andre stepped out and opened the door for me. For once he wasn't wearing his expensive suit and white shirt. He was wearing shorts and a polo.
He gave me a big smile. "Carlos hasn't stopped talking about you since last night. It's going to be an interesting day."
Carlos greeted me with, "Ahoy, matey!"
As my eyes adjusted to the darkened interior, I noticed he was bare-chested and wearing a pair of swimming trunks. Those six-pack abs were impressive.
"I'm suddenly feeling over-dressed." I looked back at Andre.
"No worries, m'lady. We're going to take a wee detour on our way to Aguadilla."
"Detour?"
"Carlos wants to take us to the secret waterfall in San Sebastian." Andre looked resigned.
This was news. "What secret waterfall?"
Carlos leaned in like he was about to tell us the location of his pirate hideout.
"Only the locals know how to get to the secret waterfall," he said mysteriously. "I haven't been there for years. When I was a child, I made a pirate's map so I would always know my way back."
He pulled a dirty scrap of lined notebook paper from his pocket and handed it to me. I opened it up. A map drawn and illustrated in childish writing detailed the path down to the secret waterfall of San Sebastian. A big black X marked the spot.
Surprisingly, I felt my long-forgotten girlhood fascination with Nancy Drew reignite. A hidden waterfall and a treasure map? Now you're talking. And, hey, it wasn't any weirder than my ex-CIA boyfriend out chasing bad guys.
"That sounds like fun, but don't we have to get to the airport?" Wondering, not for the first time, how Mark was making out with his negotiations.
Carlos swept his hand dismissively. "We have plenty of time. We must see the waterfall."
I nodded. What the hell, might as well do something vacation-like on this vacation. "How many years has it been since you've seen the waterfall?"
"Five," Carlos replied.
"Not to be gloom and doom here, Carlos, but a lot could've changed. It might not be the pirate's paradise that you remember," I warned. I had a life-size picture in my mind of funnel cake stands and corn dog vendors lining the way down to the waterfall.
Carlos smiled. "This is Puerto Rico," he said rolling his "r." "Things move more slowly here."
A car passed us on the shoulder and careened into oncoming traffic for a few seconds before zipping off down the road. I could hear our limo driver cursing in Spanish.
"Except for the traffic, of course," Carlos amended.
* * *
Forty-five minutes later, Carlos directed the driver off a main road and onto what looked like a residential street.
"There should be a chain across a dirt road to the left in about a mile," he said.
A mile later there was the chain; hanging from it was a sign that read KEEP OUT.
When I pointed this out to Carlos, he waved it off. "For the tourists. The locals pay no attention."
I looked over at Andre. "Told you it was going to be an interesting day," he said, opening the door and offering me a hand out.
"This is the place!" exclaimed Carlos, leaping out of the limo. "But I wonder where all the other cars are? Usually this street is lined with local cars."
I grabbed my beach bag from the trunk and ducked back into the limo to put my bathing suit on under my shorts and tee shirt. When I emerged, Andre was waiting with an oversized backpack.
"Towels and lunch," he explained.
Well, at least we weren't going to go hungry, I thought. Maybe he had some beer tucked away in there too.
We set off down an overgrown path. It didn't look like anybody had been this way in awhile. I swatted at giant bugs and dodged palm leaves as we trekked through the knee hi
gh grass. Suddenly, the trees opened up into a large grassy field.
Carlos looked around uncertain as to which way to go.
"Try the map," I suggested.
Carlos gave me a big smile and pulled it out.
He studied it for a few seconds, looking left and right. He snapped his fingers and pointed. "Straight ahead."
Andre and I followed. Carlos looked back at us. "I didn't say anything before so as not to cause a mutiny," he grinned. "But when I was a kid this field had the meanest, biggest bull you'd ever seen."
Andre raised an eyebrow. "Like that one?" he asked pointing off to our left.
I gasped. A giant bull was munching on grass and watching us out of the corner of his eye.
Carlos looked over. "Aye, mate. But I expect that one's bigger."
"Let's just keep moving." Andre gave me a little prod in my lower back. "Slowly," he added.
We took about five steps, and a cow and a calf appeared to our right. The bull's head came up suddenly. He snorted a warning. We froze in mid-step.
"What should we do?" I whispered.
"Just stay still and be quiet," Andre whispered back.
The piercing screech of my ring tone broke the silence with a wail. The bull started to trot towards us.
"Shut that thing up," Andre whispered furiously.
I pulled the phone out of my pocket. I fumbled with the buttons trying to silence it.
"Hello! That you, Queenie Baby?" Granddaddy Hacker called through the speaker of my phone.
"I've got to call you back, Granddaddy," I whispered, trying to turn off the speaker.
"Can't hear you, girl!" he shouted. "Dagnabit! My gol' darn hearing aid must be out again. I want you to bring me back some wacky weed and a bottle of rum, but don't tell The Parents."
The bull's ears perked up at the sound of Granddaddy's voice, and he stopped his trot over to us.
"Have him say something else," Andre suggested.
"Granddaddy, I'm in a field, and there's a giant bull staring us down," I whispered into my cell phone.
Now at this point anyone else would have asked about twenty questions. But not Granddaddy.
2 Queenie Baby - Out of Office Page 6
