Falling for the Cougar

by Terry Spear

She’d probably end up in the lobby ten minutes earlier than him too. Then he chuckled to himself as he walked into his room and shut the door. Women were notoriously late.

  She’d be late.

  Nicole hurried down the hall to her room after the incredible hunk closed his door. She hadn’t considered she’d ever seen him again. What must he have really thought of her?

  When she walked into her room, she grimaced as she peered into the mirror. Model, hmpf. For Mud Wrestling Magazine maybe. Either the guy was awfully hard up, or he really did see something in her beneath the mud and sand. Then again, maybe he was just interested in more wrestling with her, their bodies sliding over each other, only this time between the sheets.

  She pulled off her clothes. Still, a free dinner at Lawrence’s was worth something and she didn’t have any trouble telling a guy “no” to the intimate stuff afterward.

  For now, after dumping Tom, military intelligence officer, and lady-killer extraordinaire, she wasn’t about to get tangled up with another man. Even if he was a cougar.

  As the mud and sand slipped from her skin in the shower, she reminded herself that her plans as a career army officer didn’t include a husband. Joint assignments could be a problem. Kids could be a problem. Men in general could be a problem.

  Though she couldn’t deny she thought Scott looked like a male model. And he was a cougar. That couldn’t help but fascinate her.

  Some of Scott’s coconut oil clung to her body, and the heavenly fragrance wouldn’t wash off. The notion of slipping around on top of him again intrigued her. She couldn’t believe how quickly he’d become aroused, and how uncomfortable she’d made him as she squirmed around trying to get off him. Smiling, she walked out of the shower and grabbed a towel.

  He was handsome all right. Nicole figured she’d be sitting alone in the room watching rental movies every night while eating take out. Eating at Lawrence’s with a six-foot tanned, dark-haired hunk was more like it.

  Jackie would never believe it.

  Then Nicole’s thoughts turned to the boating incident. She’d imagined the whole silly thing. She was glad Scott hadn’t questioned why she wasn’t watching where she was going when she tripped over him.

  Shuddering, a trickle of warmth spread through her. Man, he was gorgeous. But didn’t he know the harmful effects of the sun on his skin? And the effect his body had on hers?

  She hurried to dry her hair, and then she thought she heard a knock at her door. Over the noise of the hair dryer, she couldn’t be certain. She turned it off. Another knock followed. She glanced at her watch. Only fifteen minutes had passed. He couldn’t expect her to be ready this soon, could he? Men.

  Before she peeked out the peephole, she paused. He didn’t know which room she stayed in. She’d made sure of that.

  With her eye to the peephole she saw it wasn’t Scott. She didn’t recognize the blond-haired man who stared vacantly at the door. He wore a neat peach-colored suit and seemed official, but she was wary of answering a door at a hotel to anybody she didn’t know.

  She ignored the stranger and grabbed her curling iron, then twisted the shoulder length sun-lightened strands of hair into curls. After finishing with her hair, she added sky blue shadow to her eyelids, face powder to reduce the shine on her face, a little blush for color, and passionate pink lip-gloss to her lips. Definitely more like model material now.

  Considering her carnation pink silk blouse, she unfastened one of the buttons to show a tad more cleavage. After tucking the blouse into her skirt, she slipped her feet into heeled sandals. She grabbed her room key and purse and headed for the door. Peeking through the peephole, she found the man in the peach suit was gone.

  She reached for the doorknob.

  Her phone rang, jarring her nerves. She gasped and dropped her room key. Hurrying to the phone, she picked it up. “Hello?”

  No answer. She glanced down at her watch. She had five more minutes before she met Scott. No way was she going to be late. Then again, she didn’t want him to know which room she stayed in either, especially if he turned out to be a heel like so many of the other guys she’d dated.

  Then she had an idea. The hotel was half empty because of the tropical storm. She’d have her room switched to another floor even. Otherwise, she was bound to run into him some time or another.

  She grabbed her key off the floor and returned to the door. Peeking out, she found no sign of the suited man. She left the room and ran to the elevator.

  Once she reached the lobby, she found Scott wasn’t there, so she crossed the floor to the check-in counter.

  “Excuse me.” She smiled at the suited clerk when he turned to greet her. “I would like to switch my room to one on the second floor overlooking the pool, if that’s at all possible.”

  “You have room—?”

  “Three-oh-two. But I’d really like to be able to see the pool.”

  He poked at a keyboard and stared at the computer monitor. “We have 205.”

  “That’ll be great.” She glanced back at the sitting area filled with palms and other large fronded tropical plants. The place was deader than dead, though she imagined if it hadn’t been for the threat of the storm still hanging about, the place would be filled to capacity for the summer season.

  “Is there something wrong with your room?”

  She turned back to the clerk. “Someone is harassing me. Being a single woman at a hotel can be risky.”

  “I assure you, if you have any trouble, you can call the lobby. We have a full-time security staff.”

  “Thank you. Can I move in after lunch?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  She was glad she hadn’t bothered to unpack, although she’d made a bit of a mess with her shower. She looked at her watch. She had one minute before Scott met her. “I’ll get the key when I return.”

  Then Scott walked into the lobby. His dark eyes searched for her on the peach and green floral couches. She smiled. Dressed in navy trousers and a blue and white pinstriped shirt, he looked spiffy.

  She walked across the lobby and his smile returned. “Like I said, model material.”

  She smiled. Even in the zenith of her relationship with Tom, he’d never been one to pay her compliments.

  To her surprise, Scott took her hand in his and led her across the lobby to the front glass doors. His action felt strangely possessive, and she couldn’t help loving it.

  Though his fingers were warm against her skin, which should have held her attention, her body chilled with worry when she caught sight of the blond-haired, peach-suited man.

  He stared at her like a colorful venomous snake ready to strike from behind a marble pillar near the hotel restaurant. His blue eyes narrowed into slits while his thin lips turned up slightly. Taunting her with a menacing grin, he revealed the glint of gold covering one of his front teeth. Her stomach twisted in knots.

  Why had he come to her room? And why didn’t he approach her now if he needed to get in touch with her?

  Scott pulled her outside and the gold-toothed man nodded to her as if to say he was coming for her, not now, not while she entertained a man, but later.

  When she was alone.

  Chapter 4

  For the fourth time since they started their walk toward the steakhouse, Nicole glanced over her shoulder. Scott tightened his grip on her hand.

  She looked up at him and smiled but worry reflected in her blue eyes.

  “Is something wrong?” He assumed by her behavior, she feared someone was following her. A former boyfriend maybe? A stranger who’d been bothering her?

  “No, no…nothing’s wrong.”

  He studied her expression, but he didn’t believe her. Her voice attempted sureness, but a slight tightness in it indicated otherwise. A slight tinge of fear mixed with her floral fragrance. Her eyes still had the same worried look and he had the impression she wanted to look over her shoulder one last time before they walked into the restaurant. In fact, she made a half look back, but
stopped herself.

  He glanced back too, as if her anxiety was catching. No one was following them. Man, the place sure was deserted.

  He opened the door, steered Nicole inside, then looked behind them one more time, unable to help himself.

  She noticed, but she didn’t attempt to reassure him that nothing was the matter. Which made him suspicious something was.

  She exhibited the same wariness that his former girlfriend had when her brother kept hitting her up for money for his gambling debts. He’d sneak around her place and show up unannounced at restaurants when Scott and she’d eat out. Her brother had even ended up at Scott’s house a time or two. He’d made Scott’s ex-girlfriend jumpy as hell.

  He considered Nicole as she looked around at the décor. Scott didn’t have trouble telling his old girlfriend’s brother to get lost. Certainly, he wouldn’t hesitate to help Nicole ditch whoever was bothering her either.

  A hostess seated Scott and Nicole right away. Scott glanced around at the empty tables covered in white tablecloths. He hoped the storm and not the food, kept the customers away. Turning his attention to Nicole, he contemplated how to broach the subject of where she was from and how long she was staying without sounding like an interrogator or way too eager.

  Before he could speak, Nicole placed the linen napkin in her lap and looked up at him. “So, how come you risked coming here when the storm’s still plaguing the area?”

  “The weatherman said the storm was moving out.”

  She chuckled. “Typical, isn’t it?”

  “Yeah. I figured this time of year the place would be overrun with tourists. I was pleasantly surprised to find it wasn’t and the weather was holding out.” He unfolded his napkin on his lap and Nicole seemed to relax. Now, to secure some more dating time. “How long are you going to be here?”

  “Until Sunday.”

  “Me too.” He hoped his voice didn’t sound overly enthused and come on too strong. Or sound too desperate.

  She tucked a curl of blond hair behind her ear and opened her menu. “My girlfriend was supposed to have come with me but cancelled at the last minute.”

  “Sorry to hear that.” Could she tell he lied? If he played his cards right, his dream date was his for the week. “Have you been to Moody Gardens?”

  “No, but I thought I’d see it today while the weather is good.”

  “I haven’t been to Galveston Island before. Would you like to go with me?”

  Nicole traced a peach polished nail on the tablecloth, studying him with a slight smile on her lips. He’d love to have her rake her nails down his back.

  He raised a brow in anticipation of her accepting his invitation.

  Her smile broadened. “Sure, I’d love to go to the gardens with you.”

  Now, if he could convince her to rent a video in her room…or his for later that night, he’d be all set. Then again, he figured a movie at the local theater would probably be all she’d agree to as nervous as she seemed. “Maybe we could go for a cougar run late tonight.”

  She smiled, looked up the weather on her phone, and shook her head. “Storms are supposed to return here tonight with a vengeance.”

  “Maybe one of these nights then.”

  “I’d love to.”

  Twice, he looked up from his menu to see her glancing over her shoulder. Who the hell was bugging her? Was she expecting someone from where she lived? Or did she know someone locally on the island?

  “Have you been here before? The island, I mean?”

  She turned her head sharply to face him. “What?”

  Her reaction took him aback. Her voice seemed slightly on edge. “Do you come here a lot?”

  “No, I’ve never been here before.” She took a sip of her water, then frowned. “The water tastes fine.”

  “The restaurant water. They get it bottled.” He smiled, trying to put her at ease. She seemed a bit suspicious. Like someone had recently jilted her, and she remained wary of anyone’s intentions now.

  “Oh. What about you, Scott? Do you come here on your vacations?”

  “First time I’ve been here.”

  “Oh, that’s right. You said that already.”

  He couldn’t understand why she seemed to be expecting anyone if she’d never visited Galveston before and she wasn’t with anyone. “Do you know anyone here?”

  She shook her head. “No, no one.”

  Still her answers didn’t seem to ring true. “Is someone bothering you?”

  She studied him for a moment as if trying to decide whether she could divulge her secrets or not, then shook her head and looked down at her menu.

  Time to change the subject—for the moment. Where in Texas did she live? He already had it in mind to keep seeing her beyond their vacation if he could. “So where are you from?”

  “Oregon.”

  He laughed. When her brows arched, he smiled. “Sorry, I meant…oh, well, you didn’t fly all the way out here from Oregon, did you?”

  She returned her award-winning smile. “No. Sorry. I thought you meant where was I born. I live in Texas.”

  Getting answers from her was like removing a favorite chew toy from a dog, one grueling tug at a time. “I’m stationed at Fort Hood, living in Killeen.”

  She choked on her water.

  “Are you all right?” Boy, had he said the wrong thing. She looked startled. Was it that she didn’t like military guys? Maybe she’d dated one who had given her grief.

  He wished he could take his words back. Just like emailing a message, once it was sent, there was no changing it.

  “The water went down the wrong way.” She coughed again, then cleared her throat.

  He had to think of another subject quickly, but her eyes riveted to the entrance of the restaurant again. She definitely was looking for somebody. Had she lied to him about not knowing anyone here? Or was some stranger harassing her?

  He still didn’t even know where she was from in Texas and she didn’t seem intent on saying. Maybe she was afraid to reveal too much about herself to a stranger.

  The waitress brought their salads and rolls. When she left them alone, he ran his fingers over his napkin. “Do you have any hobbies?”

  Nicole had already turned her head and was looking for the phantom again.

  “Nicole?”

  She faced him. “Yes?”

  He’d never been with a woman in his life who was so easily distracted. Did he not appeal to her? Or was he just a free meal ticket? He hoped that wasn’t it. “Is something bothering you?” He hated to ask in the event she said yes, and he was the one who unsettled her. He suspected he wasn’t the problem though.

  “I’m sorry, no.” She picked up her fork and poked at the tomatoes in her salad. A worry wrinkle etched across her forehead.

  He asked again, “Is somebody bothering you?”

  Her blue eyes met his with such haste he assumed he’d found the answer to his question. Someone was harassing her.

  She shook her head but looked down at the table again.

  He knew she wasn’t telling the truth. She’d make a very bad poker player. Reaching out, he touched her hand. She looked back at him.

  “Do you have any hobbies?” he asked, trying to distract her from her troubles. If he had a chance, he’d show whoever was pestering her, she already had a guy, so bug off.

  “No. Well, no real hobbies, but I love to read mysteries and thrillers, snorkel, water ski, snow ski, when I get the chance.”

  “Sounds like me. I play a lot of computer games too.”

  “I guess you probably like the simulations. Most guys do. I like the role-playing, adventure games.”

  “I like them too.” He buttered a roll, grateful her tightly wound nerves were finally loosening up a bit. His own stomach settled when he got her mind off the stalker, if that was what distracted her. “Have you ever played Oblivion?”

  She smiled. “Yeah, one of the older games. I loved it. And anything to do with time travel and s
olving mysteries. But you know,” she said leaning forward, her eyes sparkling, “they’re totally addictive.”

  He smiled. Totally addictive, just like she was. “Yeah, they sure are.”

  She pulled a potato roll out of the basket. “I hate it when I have to search for clues on the cheats and hints websites when I get stumped, though.”

  He smiled. Totally animated, she gestured with her hands, waving her roll around. Her lips couldn’t have stretched any further into a sunshiny grin. The sun filtering through the wooden blinds shown off her golden hair making it fairly sparkle.

  Encouraged by his smile, she continued talking. “Sometimes the games can be a disappointment though. I was working on one about a mystery in an automated toy factory, but when I reached a locked cabinet and used the appropriate key on it, the scene froze up. I tried downloading a patch and everything, but—”

  Nicole quit speaking as the man in the peach suit slipped into the restroom. She’d hoped it was just her vivid imagination from reading too many mysteries. Was he really following her? Or had he come to eat here just like Scott and her? She still wasn’t totally convinced the man with the gold tooth was dangerous, but she felt uneasy whenever she saw him.

  He hadn’t even acted like he’d seen her and yet, she couldn’t help but feel he was following her, keeping his distance. Letting her know he was still around to further her disquiet, waiting until he could get her alone.

  Scott touched her hand. “The patch didn’t work on the game?”

  She shook her head. The man was just another customer. Nothing to get so addled about. Though she almost told Scott what she suspected. But what did she suspect? Some men tried to run over her in the Gulf or had they tried to rescue a swimmer they thought was in distress? And then tried to shoot her on the beach? Or were they just observing her through a telescope?

  Scott would think she was crazy.

  And now? A man wearing a peach-colored suit had knocked on her hotel door and had just arrived at the same restaurant? Really criminal.

  “No, no patches. Really aggravating. I couldn’t finish the game.”