She nodded and powered down the computer. He pulled her to her feet. “Go home and get some sleep. You can’t work without sleep. Believe me, I’ve tried to work on two or three hours a night. It doesn’t work.”
“Your anxiety?” she asked.
“I feel like such a jerk. A big baby. But it became so bad, I knew that I was mentally and physically falling apart. Too much stress.”
“Are you doing better here? I know it’s only been a day but do you feel your vacation has helped?”
“It’s helped.” He held out his hands. “Steady as a rock. The tremors have almost disappeared.”
“What about when you go back to work?” she asked. “I’m worried about you.”
“I have to go back to work. I’ll be fine.” He furrowed his brow. He hadn’t asked himself that question, so why had she thought of it? Since he’d been in this small sleepy town all of his symptoms disappeared. But this wasn’t the life for him.
“Come on workaholic” He chuckled and tugged her toward the front door. “I’ll walk you to your car.”
“Wait, I forgot to turn off the outside lights.”
“I noticed they were still on when I went to bed.”
She moved to the French doors. “I thought I’d leave them on in case you wanted to go out on the deck and relax. The view is so gorgeous.” She walked to the power box and flipped off the power switch bathing the deck in darkness. It left the two of them lit only by the moonlight and the flickering reflection of the blue lights on the pool.
Kyra was so beautiful in the dim light, Mateo thought his heart stopped. “What are you doing to me?” he asked, as he strode to her and pulled her into his arms. She felt good, like she fit there. Mateo buried his nose in her hair and inhaled. He wanted to remember her unique fragrance so he could try and figure out the mesmerizing pull that she had on him later. Sunshine. That was all that came to mind. Kyra smelled like sunshine.
She drew back, her pupils large and dark in the moonlight. “Kiss me again,” she said in a sexy invitation.
That wasn’t what Mateo expected to hear. When his mouth touched hers, he swore he felt sparks. He tugged her hair so her chin rose and he could deepen the kiss. He kissed her with all the pent-up sexual tension he’d felt since the moment he laid eyes on her.
Kyra ran a hand down his bare chest and then cupped him though his pajamas. Mateo let out a groan. He was hard as steel and there was no hiding the fact in the loose flannel bottoms he wore. He grinned a little sheepishly. “Sorry, but that’s what you do to me.”
“You only need to be sorry if you’re not going to make love to me right now.”
He raised an eyebrow. “You mean back in my room?”
“As I said when you first got here, there’s a problem with the mattresses. The springs squeak on your bed.” She drew her T-shirt over her head. Grabbing one of the large beach towels she flipped it over to cover the double lounge chairs delivered earlier that day. “And as you said, there’s no one around but us. There.” She pointed to the largest chair.
Mateo grabbed her and kissed her again. Hard. He was so turned on he had to remind himself not to take her while they were still standing. He dropped to his knees, undid the button on the fly of her jeans and then slid them down her legs and off her feet. He left the panties.
Mateo kissed a slow heated trail up each leg and then blew air between the apex of her thighs. He heard her breath hitch. He loved the fact that the panties were cotton and not some lace thong that she’d spent a hundred dollars on. They looked like her. Hooking his thumbs in the elastic, he slid the cotton down her thighs and off. Kyra undid her bra and dropped it to the wood deck.
Gloriously naked, she took his breath away. “You look like a mermaid with the reflection of the water on your skin,” he said.
She grinned and giggled. “I don’t know any siren songs.”
“Ahhh…but there you’re wrong. I think you know then all too well.” No one ever giggled while making love, but Kyra did. It warmed him, and he smiled up at her. Slowly, Mateo rose and kissed a blazing path up her body. He kissed each breast and then continued up to her soft inviting lips. He walked her backwards until her calves hit the lounge. When he gave her a little push, she fell onto the chaise and laughed, then hooked a finger in his direction.
When had sex been this fun?
He pulled off his pajamas and watched her eyes darken. She must have liked what she saw as much as he did. Laid out before him on the lounge, she was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. Suddenly panic hit him. “Shit,” he muttered.
“What?” Kyra asked.
Mateo looked back at his discarded bottoms.
Kyra laughed again. “I take it you are always Mister Prepared?”
“I hadn’t really expected to be making love to a beautiful woman at two o’clock in the morning in an abandoned resort when all I woke up for was a drink of water. I don’t have a condom.”
“I guess that’s something else we’d better stock in the gift shop for those unprepared moments. It’s okay. We’re all good.” She laughed. It made him laugh too. Her easy way always made him laugh.
He crawled over the top of her and cupped her face, as he gently kissed her again. “I doubt you’re a one-night stand kind of girl. I just can’t promise more. Are you sure this is what you want?”
Kyra smiled at him and stroked her hands down the skin of his bare back. “I’m a big girl. I know that. No promises. No commitments. I’m letting you off easy. I just want you for tonight. That’s all I’m asking. That’s all I expect.”
He nodded, as he kissed her again. He slid inside her. God, the skin on skin contact made his head spin. As he quickened the pace, he felt her muscles clench around him. They had both been so ready this wouldn’t last long for either of them.
He cried out her name as he let himself follow her over the edge.
Slowly, he rolled to the side and tried to catch his breath. They cuddled in silence and listened to the sounds of the night engulf them. It was soothing and made all the stress of the day fade away.
Mateo lifted his arms free and started to stand.
“Where are you going?” she asked. “Though, I’m not minding the view one bit.”
“I still need a shower.”
“Oh, geesh. I promised you a shower at my apartment this morning…but then got distracted, didn’t I?”
“I think we both need a shower now.” He waggled his eyebrows.
“We?” she asked.
“Well, since there is still no running water in the sinks or showers, we need to come up with a plan B.” Mateo jumped forward and scooped her off the lounge chair. She screamed and laughed as she pounded on his bare chest. “Hold your breath,” he said as he ran toward the edge of the pool. He tossed Kyra in first and then followed her.
With a giant splash, they surfaced, laughing.
They were in shallow enough water that they touched the bottom. He came toward her and scooped her in his arms. “Skinny-dipping on company time in the resort’s pool.” He waggled a finger in her direction.
“Hey,” she protested whipping wet hair out of her eyes. “You threw me in!”
“Technicalities.” He pulled her up until she wrapped her legs around his waist. “I’ve never made love to a mermaid before.”
She wiggled her thighs and Mateo felt himself grow hard again. “I thought I was a Bond girl,” she said as she wrapped her hands behind his neck and kissed him.
“You’re both…and a lot more.”
This time when they made love it was slow and just how he’d planned it. He took his time. The desperation he felt earlier to have her had diminished slightly. It was the best sex of his life. No, this was something else. This wasn’t just sex. Making love with Kyra scared him. It was someth
ing that was winding deep down inside his heart.
When they got out of the pool, they towel dried each other. Kyra yawned. “I’d better go,” she said sleepily.
“The night’s so warm, let’s lie out here for a few minutes more.” The truth was he didn’t want to let her go. “I’ll go up to my room and get a blanket in case we get cold. When we warm up, then you can go.”
“Okay,” she agreed as she curled back up on the lounge, her eyes already half closed.
When Mateo returned a few minutes later, Kyra was fast asleep with her back turned to him. He knelt down and softly touched her bare shoulder before running a finger down her back. Her skin glowed in the moonlight. She’d sung her siren song and now he didn’t want her to leave.
Her skin was cool from the night air. Mateo took the two blankets, settled them over her, and then slid down beside her to cover them both. He wrapped his arms possessively around her, and she snuggled against him.
God, he wanted her again. He’d just made love to this woman twice and he could easily do it again, but she needed sleep.
An odd thought filled his head. How terrible would it be to live in this small town? Again, he got the image of living in a beach house with Kyra in his arms.
It wouldn’t be so bad. Mateo shook his head. Nope, she’s not in the plan. He listened to the crash of the waves as he sank into a peaceful sleep.
Chapter Six
“I like your idea for Brendon,” Kyra said as she stepped out of his car. He slid an arm around her waist and pulled her close.
“I think it will work out for everyone.” Mateo grinned and gave her a quick kiss, as they headed toward the mobile home.
It was three-thirty sharp. Brendon let them in and then sat on the worn couch. Kyra glanced from the boy to Mateo finding it difficult to imagine him as that scruffy kid. But she believed his story.
“I checked your web activity last night and everything was good. No hacking.” Mateo crossed his legs and leaned back.
Brendon nodded and cast his eyes toward the floor. “I told you I wouldn’t.”
“Before you hacked their site, did you check out the Sunset Beach Resort?” Mateo asked Brendon.
“Nope, why?”
“We are just getting it reopened,” Kyra said. “I could use some help. Tomorrow, I have stacks of a few hundred postcards and flyers that need to be handed out and put up around the town. I’d like to hire you.”
“A job?” The kid’s eyes grew wide.
“Yes, a job.” Mateo answered. “I thought you should work for free, but Kyra wants to pay you an hourly wage. You have two choices-this or jail.”
“Yes, sir,” the boy answered.
Mateo continued, “I’m going to take you into town and get your hair cut and get you a new pair of jeans and a work shirt. You need to put a good face forward. You’ll be representing Sunset Beach. ”
“Yes, sir,” Brendon replied again.
“You can start tomorrow.” Kyra fished cash out of her purse. “I’ll pay you this tomorrow and I’m also going to tell your mom and dad that you’re working for me. I don’t want people sneaking around with any questions they may have about what you’re doing.”
“What about the money I…stole?” Brendon asked, his gaze darting between the two of them.
“I was going to pay you fifteen dollars an hour, but only ten until you can save up enough to pay back Mr. Medina. He’s the one who lost the money.”
“My mom’s going to be really happy…I mean that I found a job.”
“I know she will.” Kyra smiled. “I’ve heard her talk about you. She’s very proud of you and we want to keep it that way.”
The next day after Kyra spoke to his mom and dad, Brendon came to the Sunset Beach Resort. He spent the next five hours passing out flyers around town and did everything she asked.
Kyra worked on networking and building future clientele. Mateo had a million good ideas that she was able to implement. As they worked tweaking the website, they seemed to know what the other was thinking and were always on the same wavelength with their marketing ideas.
She spent the evenings in Mateo’s arms. When they made love, Kyra told herself not to get attached. He’d told her this was all short-term, but her heart found it harder and harder not to become attached. Kyra decided she needed to take the time she had with Mateo and treat it as what it was, special. She would need to be strong to let him go.
The time went way too quickly, and when the day came for Mateo to leave, Kyra put on a strong face. He kissed her goodbye and said he’d call. The distance was too far between Sunset Beach and New York City. The relationship would never work and she knew it.
Kyra was right from the first time she met Mateo. He was a heartbreaker. She just hadn’t thought that it would be hers.
Chapter Seven
Mateo tapped his pen on the pad of blank paper in front of him. It felt like the business meeting he’d been in had lasted for hours. He tried to ignore the tremor in his hand. Grabbing his glass from the table, he sucked down the cold water, but it didn’t help.
“The Bernards are going to be great clients for the agency,” his boss said and smiled. “I know the deadline for this job is tight. But, lucky for us, Mateo doesn’t mind doing what it takes to make the company an even greater success.”
As he looked around the boardroom at his fellow employees, Mateo tried to return his boss’s smile. He knew what this new client meant, it would mean working around the clock and back to two or three hours a night sleep until the job was completed. It had been two weeks since he left the Sunset Beach Resort but his R&R had already run out. He felt exhausted again.
When he finally left the office shortly before nine o’clock, his cell phone buzzed. It was Nicole. It had been over a month since they’d hooked up for sex. He’d told her he’d call her when he got back from his vacation. Nicole had called six times. He never answered.
Nicole, the woman he’d thought was smoking hot three weeks ago, now held no interest for him.
He drove back to his condo and wandered around the empty space. The only window that opened was in his bedroom. He pushed open the pane and tried to breathe in some fresh air. The honks of taxis filled the night air and smells of curry from the Indian restaurant below wafted up from the street’s level.
Mateo roamed out into the living room, and poured himself a glass of Pinot Grigio. He’d purchased this bottle of wine yesterday. How much did it cost? Fifty dollars? Was it really that good?
He stood for a long time in one spot looking over his condo. What - changed?
Nothing had changed. Everything had changed.
Why didn’t his perfect life feel perfect any longer?
He needed to talk to someone. Mateo grabbed his cell phone and waited until his father answered.
“Hi Papa. I need your help with a big decision. I always trust your instinct and I need it now more than ever. I’m thinking about doing something, and I don’t want you and Mama to ever be disappointed in me. Let me explain what’s been happening.”
When they finished their conversation, Mateo had made his decision. He’d never thought it would be so simple.
Kyra put her feet on the front porch railing and opened the lid on her computer. She was doing a little better this week. Last week was a disaster. She’d been a mess. Everything she’d told herself before Mateo left was easier to tell herself than having to face it after he’d gone. But, when he hadn’t returned her calls after the fifth try, she gave up and knew she needed to move on.
There’s someone out there for everyone, her mother said. That was true, and she thought she’d found that man.
The resort would be open soon and there were a million things to still be done. Good, it would keep her mind busy.
Kyra opened one
of the computer files that held the database’s mailing list just as a car pulled up in the driveway. It wasn’t one of the worker’s trucks. She set the computer on a table and dropped her feet to the ground.
When Mateo stepped out of the car, her heart stopped. Lines of weariness were etched on his handsome face. She wanted to run to him, but instead waited warily until he came up on the porch to join her.
“Hey,” she said, trying to force her words to sound bright and cheery when in reality she was shocked to see him again. “What are you doing here? You can’t be ready for another vacation. It’s only been a few weeks.”
“I’m sorry.” He looked down and stuck his hands into his jean pockets.
“For what?”
“Not calling. I must have hurt you and I feel terrible. It wasn’t you, it was me. I was being an idiot.”
“You didn’t need to drive all the way from New York to say that. I told you when we were together, I knew it was a short-term thing. You don’t need to be sorry for anything. And it might have been for the best that you didn’t return my calls.”
“Why’s that?”
She looked at him, choosing her words. “It would have been better not to talk to you again. Easier.”
“You missed me?”
“Yes, I missed you. What did you expect me to say?”
I was trying to figure out what I wanted.” He sighed and drummed his fingers on the porch railing. “I needed to think through a few things and talk to my family.”
“How’s your job?”
“The same.” His laugh was dry as he moved to gaze into the distance. “I finally realized that was the problem. It was the job and many others things.”
“I thought everything back in the city was going great.”
Sunset Waves Page 4
