Flawless Danger (The Spencer & Sione Series Book 1) Page 14
“To even call him a father would be a stretch,” Sione said. “A gross miscarriage of justice.”
She giggled a little, reaching for the shot glass again. “A gross miscarriage of justice?”
“My cousin, Truman, is always saying that,” he explained. “He’s a lawyer.”
Ms. Edwards looked at the half-empty shot glass and then asked, “Why aren’t you close to your father?”
“Uh …” He looked away, caught off guard. “I wish I knew.”
“Why don’t you know?” she asked. “He wasn’t around a lot when you were a kid?”
He looked away, wishing he didn’t have to lie. But the relationship with Richard was too complex, too volatile, too violent. Trying to explain why he and Richard would never be father and son, despite their biological ties, would be damn near impossible, and he didn’t think she would understand.
He’d have to resurrect old memories he’d buried long ago, and he wanted his past to stay in the grave. Any conversation about Richard Tuiali’i was tricky and risky. He couldn’t tell the complete, unabridged truth, not unless he wanted Ms. Edwards to shrink away from him, repulsed and revolted.
He would have to skip some parts and embellish others. Trying to rewrite history was dangerous, like walking on the edge of a knife. He was bound to slip, cut himself to pieces.
“When I was sixteen, I left Belize to go and live with my uncle.” Sione sighed. “My dad wasn’t too happy about that, and it caused a rift between us. We just kept growing apart and then, I don’t know.”
Ms. Edwards cleared her throat, sat up a bit. “You have brothers or sisters?”
“Uh, yeah.” He looked toward the front door. “Unfortunately.”
“Unfortunately?”
Pissed at himself, he said, “I shouldn’t have said that.”
“Why did you?”
“When I was younger, my parents weren’t getting along, and my dad was getting involved with other women. One of his girlfriends got pregnant, and I wasn’t happy about that, especially since it led to my parents’ divorce,” he said, not sure why he was being so open with her. “Anyway, I liked being the only child, so my dad having another kid kinda pissed me off. And then his other girlfriend got pregnant, and there was another kid, and this pattern continued, and now I’ve got half-brothers and half-sisters that I haven’t even met.”
“I know what you mean,” she said. “I have two half-sisters. We all have the same deadbeat dad. Anyway, I was sixteen when I found out they existed, and I wasn’t thrilled to meet them.”
“Are you closer to them now?”
“Very close. I wouldn’t make it without them,” she said, gazing at the coffee table, her eyes a bit glazed, as though she were remembering something she wanted to forget. “I’m grateful they’re in my life now, but I wish I had grown up with them because …”
“Because …” he prompted, wondering why she’d trailed off.
“When I was a little girl,” she started, clasping her hands together, staring down at her intertwined fingers. “I really needed them, especially when my mother …”
She stopped talking abruptly and then looked at him. There was tension in her face, a passive consternation, as though she was wrestling with some internal debate, maybe brought about by thoughts of the mother she’d lost at such a young age.
He put his shot glass down and moved a bit closer to her. “I think I understand.”
She frowned, a bit of suspicion in her luminous, heavy-lidded brown gaze.
Compelled to move even closer, wanting to comfort her, he said, “You needed your sisters when your mother passed away.”
chapter 33
San Ignacio, Belize
Belizean Banyan Resort - Honeymoon Casita
Kiss him.
The thought slipped into Spencer’s mind, sly and sensuous and stupid. She couldn’t just kiss him, out of the blue, with no provocation. It wouldn’t make any sense. She had to do something. She had to get away from the subject of her mother, which she never should have mentioned. She didn’t know why she had. Maybe she was drunk. Maybe the Blue Label had her making foolish decisions, revealing things she didn’t even like to admit to herself.
And now Sione “John” Tuiali’i, the gorgeous resort owner, was waiting for her to confirm that she’d needed her sisters’ support after her mother had died, but she couldn’t do it. It wasn’t true.
Sometimes, she wished she’d grown up with Rae and Shady, but only because her childhood had been gut-wrenchingly lonely, not because she’d lost her mom. She couldn’t tell him the truth—it was difficult to explain. And so, she had to kiss him.
“Ms. Edwards,” he said. “I know you probably—”
Panicked, Spencer climbed onto his lap. Seconds later, her mouth was pressed against his, a bit reluctant at first, and she hesitated, wondering if she’d made a mistake, if he would push her away.
But another second later, she felt his fingers sink between the strands of her hair, cradling her skull, and the kiss deepened as their lips parted and his tongue slid into her mouth, slowly down the length of hers, swirling languidly.
Moaning softly, Spencer wrapped her arms around his neck. Kissing the resort owner was a mistake. Ben had told her to get close, but not too close—just close enough. But she wasn’t really kissing him to get close to him. The kiss had nothing to do with the favor Ben was making her do. She was kissing him to get away from the topic of her mother.
He pulled back and stared at her. “Um … did you mean to do that?”
Breathless, Spencer shook her head, gazing at his full lips. “Not really.”
“You wanna stop?” He slid his finger along her bottom lip, slowly, gently.
“I’ll let you know in a minute.” Spencer wrapped her arms around his shoulders, and when their mouths met again, there was no hesitation, no restraint as their tongues twirled and danced in a wild, desperate frenzy.
The kiss intensified, and for Spencer, it was as if they were kissing to save their lives. Abruptly, he lay back on the couch, pulling her with him, and the kiss continued, unbroken. They moved onto their sides, pressed against each other, and as Spencer hooked a leg over his waist, he rolled them to the right.
They tumbled over the side of the couch.
Spencer squealed, and the next moment, they were on the floor between the couch and the coffee table.
Laughing, he looked at her. “This might be a little more comfortable in the bedroom.”
“The bedroom.” Spencer gasped, trying to catch her breath as she raised up and moved away from him, scurrying back up onto the couch.
What the hell was her damn problem? She’d told herself not to kiss him. She’d known it would be a mistake, and now she was trying to deal with her dumb decision, trying to tame the out of control desire pulling her toward him, those lustful feelings demanding to be appeased.
“Well, I just thought.” He sat up, eyes full of concern and uncertainty.
“Listen, I should, um … ” Spencer stammered, jumping up from the couch. “I should probably go.”
The resort owner stood. “You don’t have to.”
Spencer looked around the living room for her purse. “Yes, um, actually, I do.”
“Ms. Edwards, we’re in your casita.”
“Oh, yeah. Right.” Heart hammering, Spencer dropped down onto the couch, rubbing her hands over her head, gathering her hair to wind it back into the bun. “Well, then you should probably go.”
“Are you sure?”
No, she wasn’t sure. Or, rather, she was sure. Sure that she wanted him to stay. She jumped up, rushed to the door, and opened it. “I’m absolutely sure.”
He stared at her, and she could tell he was disappointed, reluctant to leave, but she couldn’t give in, no matter how much she wanted to. And she really wanted to give in. She wanted to grab the gorgeous, sexy resort owner and drag him into the bedroom. Pushing the thoughts away, she said, “Goodnight, John.”
&
nbsp; chapter 34
San Ignacio, Belize
Belizean Banyan Resort – Jaguar Café
“Here you are, ma’am.” The waitress placed a ceramic mug filled with steaming coffee and a small cup of cream in front of Spencer.
“Thank you,” Spencer said.
Seven in the morning, and the resort restaurant was bustling with tourists, excited and happy, eager to stuff themselves with carbs and protein so they could get on to the next adventure. As she poured a bit of cream into the dark liquid, she heard snatches of conversation from the tables around her. Someone had gone to the Mayan ruins, someone else had dealt with a golf cart that wouldn’t start in San Pedro, and another person had seen a shark while on a snorkeling trip.
Spencer had hoped eavesdropping on other tourists would take her mind off last night, when she’d kissed Sione “John” Tuiali’i. She’d obsessed about their impromptu make-out session on the couch all night, and she was still thinking about it. She was taking care to focus more on the kiss than on the reason why she’d jumped in his lap and pressed her mouth against his—to avoid the topic of her mother, a topic she always tried to avoid. Spencer brought the mug of coffee to her lips.
When she wasn’t thinking about the kiss, she was remembering the time they’d spent together, meandering through the town, enjoying the bright, blue sky and the gentle breeze wafting from the calm, blue-green waters. Her memories weren’t complete without a reflection of her crazy idea to help him avoid an awkward situation with the girl he hadn’t called back.
As a result of that silly attempt, Spencer now thought of him more as “John” than Sione Tuiali’i, the resort owner. She wasn’t sure why, but when she thought of him as “John,” he became to her more approachable, more attainable. Someone she might be able to laugh with and maybe share a few secrets. Sione Tuiali’i, the resort owner, was someone she had to get close to but not too close.
She was being forced to trick Sione Tuiali’i with seductive manipulation, and she hoped her deception would entice him to ask her out to dinner. She had to pray she was pretty enough to fool him into thinking she was worth his time and effort. She wanted to think she could get as close to “John” as she wanted. She could be vulnerable with him, and kiss him like there was no tomorrow, and she didn’t have to play the part of a sexpot, trying to scam him into wanting her. “John” would think she was beautiful, but her looks wouldn’t be the reason for his interest.
“Got something for you.”
Jolted, Spencer looked up.
The sweaty, lecherous cab driver pulled out the chair across from her, taking a seat she hadn’t offered.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Spencer put the mug on the table. “I finished the damn side ventures.”
“Ain’t here about the side ventures.” He leered at her, swiping fingers beneath his bulbous nose. “Got something to help you with Step Three.” The cab driver delved a hand inside his dusty, denim jacket, pulled out a small, square box, and pushed it across the table toward her.
Apprehensive, Spencer stared at the box, pulse racing, and her mind swirled with questions. Why was Ben giving her something to help her with Step Three? She hadn’t even completed Step Two. She was still working on getting John to invite her to dinner and back to his casita.
“What is this?”
“Mr. Chang will contact you,” he said, his words like a threat.
“When?” she asked.
Saying nothing, the cab driver got up from the table, turned his back to her, and lumbered away. Spencer stared at the small box again, reluctant to touch it, let alone open it and find out what was inside. She didn’t want to know, but she forced herself to lift the lid.
Seconds later, Spencer stared at the contents, trembling, feeling as though a bomb had gone off inside her, rocking her to her very foundations. She didn’t want to believe what she saw. She knew what it meant, and she knew why Ben had sent it to her. Taking a deep breath, Spencer tried not to scream.
chapter 35
San Ignacio, Belize
Belizean Banyan Resort - Honeymoon Casita
Pacing across the bedroom in her casita, Spencer pressed the burner phone to her ear, spewing a string of vicious curses at Ben.
“You damn liar, you said I wouldn’t have to do anything criminal!”
An hour had passed since she’d received Ben’s little box from the sweaty cab driver. Something to help her with Step Three. Spencer wasn’t sure how long she’d sat at the table, paralyzed, but eventually, she’d managed to compose herself enough to pay her bill, stand up, and walk out of the restaurant without collapsing.
Once she’d seen what was inside the small, square box, she’d known Ben had lied to her. And she wasn’t surprised. All his promises about not making her do anything criminal had been bullshit! Bastard! Always making snide remarks about her leaving him to die on the floor. Right now, she wished he had died. She wished she had plunged that knife into his heart.
“Sweet girl, please calm down,” Ben said, his tone patronizing. “Let me explain what I need you to do.”
“I know what you want me to do!” She paced to the wardrobe, then turned, and stomped toward the dresser. “You want me to drug the resort owner and steal something from him!”
Even now, her heart almost stopped when she remembered how shocked she’d been after she opened the box and saw the small vial of liquid. She’d known it could only be one thing. The elixir of oblivion, as Rae liked to refer to it. GHB.
“Don’t get ahead of yourself, sweet girl,” Ben said. “Don’t assume that you know what I want you to do.”
“I’m not going to drug Sione,” Spencer said, pacing toward the foot of the bed. “So forget about me pouring the contents of that vial into his wine.”
“Sweet girl, don’t tell me what you’re not going to do,” Ben said. “I will tell you what you are going to do, understand?”
Weary and remorseful, Spencer sank down on the bed, hands trembling as she held the phone to her ear, listening.
“And once I tell you,” he said. “I will accept no argument, I will entertain no alternatives from you, do you understand?”
“Yeah,” she said, squeezing her eyes shut, willing herself not to cry. “I understand.”
“Now, listen carefully,” he said. “The GHB is for Step Three. But you will not receive instructions for Step Three until you complete Step Two, which, to date, you have not done.”
“I’m working on it.”
“I believe you are, sweet girl. You certainly seemed to be working on it when Sione accompanied you on the last side venture in San Pedro,” Ben said. “The two of you seemed very close as you strolled along the beach.”
“We weren’t as close as we seemed,” she snipped, disturbed but not surprised he’d been watching her.
“That was clever, sweet girl, but risky,” Ben said.
“Don’t worry, he has no clue why I was really there,” Spencer said.
“Well, I’m not surprised. Tricking men is your specialty.”
Spencer rolled her eyes at his insult.
Ben continued, “So, I’m sure you’ll get him to ask you to dinner. Once that happens, and it should happen sooner rather than later, call me, and I’ll have further instructions for you.”
chapter 36
San Ignacio, Belize
Belizean Banyan Resort - Owner’s Office
“Tell me this,” D.J. said, closing the door behind him after he walked into Sione’s office. “Why the hell did you go to San Pedro with Spencer Edwards without telling me? I’m supposed to be following her, remember? I’m supposed to be trying to find out what the hell she’s up to.”
Leaning back in his chair, Sione asked, “How do you know I went to San Pedro with her?”
“Your whole staff is talking about it,” D.J. said.
Sione sighed and asked, “What are they saying?”
“Ask Marie,” D.J. said. “Now, tell me what happened in San Pedro.”
“Relax, okay,” Sione said. “She didn’t do anything suspicious.”
“Are you sure?” D.J. walked to the chair in front of the desk and took a seat.
Sione shrugged. “She just went shopping. She didn’t swap bags with anybody either. She took a white beach bag to San Pedro, and she had the same white beach bag with her when we came back to the resort.”
“And then what happened?”
“What do you mean?”
“You know what I mean,” D.J. said, scowling. “What happened when you went back to the honeymoon casita with her?”
“Don’t tell me.” Sione shook his head. “The staff is talking about that, too?”
Nodding, D.J. said, “So, what happened.”
Sione shrugged. “Nothing much.”
That perturbed him, especially when he remembered walking into her dressing room at the boutique and finding her half-dressed. Her body was luscious and exquisite, just as he’d imagined it would be beneath the skimpy, clingy clothes she wore.
“Nothing much?” D.J. gave him a skeptical frown. “You expect me to believe that you were alone with a gorgeous, sexy girl like her and nothing much happened.”
“Believe it or not, but we just talked,” he said, ignoring his cousin’s dubious looks.
He wasn’t about to tell D.J. that Ms. Edwards had kicked him out after she had jumped on his lap and kissed him. He wasn’t about to tell him how he’d stood on the porch in the dark, still hard as a brick, feeling like a fool, confused and wondering what the hell he had done wrong. He certainly was not going to tell his cousin the kiss had kept him up most of the night, and even now, he couldn’t stop thinking about how soft her lips felt and couldn’t stop wishing they had gone further.
D.J. would never let him hear the end of it.
“You know, she might have changed her M.O.,” D.J. said.