“I’m sorry for the interruption, Patrick. What do you say we go get that massage?”
“Sounds absolutely wonderful. Shall we?” Patrick held out his hand to take Cat’s.
The couple made their way to the hotel’s spa for their massage. While her masseuse carefully padded the table to make Cat’s injured leg a bit more comfortable, Cat distracted herself by watching Patrick undress. He threw her a saucy wink and sexy smile before lying down on his own table, directly across from her. Cat decided that she could definitely get used to that particular view—handsome, sexy, and muscular. By the time the massage was done, they were both feeling completely relaxed.
Cat sat up on her table to let some of the blood slowly go back to her brain and limbs. As the two masseuses left the room, Patrick walked over to her and gently drew Cat into his embrace. With him kissing her passionately, Cat responded as if the two of them had been lovers for many years. Before things could get too heated in a public spa, Patrick stopped, and Cat held his gaze for a long time before the two of them decided it was time to go.
“Well, Ms. Malley, what would you like to do before we have to meet with your friend for lunch?” Patrick asked. “It seems we have about two hours to kill before then. That is, if you are not too tired of my company yet.”
“Patrick, I don’t think I could tire of your company. I enjoy being with you a great deal and will be most disappointed when this vacation must end and I have to go back to the real world. But since you asked me . . .” Cat looked a little coy. “I think I would like to explore that kiss you started in the spa and see where that may lead us. What are your thoughts on that, sir?”
“It would be enchanting indeed to see where a kiss could lead us to, Ms. Malley. Would you care to join me in my suite? I would be happy to show you my accommodations and get us a drink. They are rather nice.”
“Lead the way, Mr. Ahearn. I‘d be happy to accompany you to your suite.”
Taking her hand in his, Patrick took Cat back to his suite.
When they arrived, Cat noticed just how lovely his rooms were. “Wow! You weren’t kidding when you said that your accommodations were rather nice. They are indeed beautiful, like a lush tropical garden complete with waterfall and beautiful flowers. This is just perfect.”
“Cat, by far the most beautiful thing in this room right now is you. From the moment I first saw you, your beautiful eyes and your soft, gentle curls have captivated me. The way you move. Everything about you captures my attention, making me feel things I have not felt for a very long time, wanting to hold you. Just to be near you and touch you makes me feel alive again . . .”
“I don’t know what to say. Your words are so touching, Patrick. And though we hardly know each other, yes, it does feels as though we have been together for a long time.”
Never taking his eyes from her, Patrick walked over to where Cat was standing in his private garden. He took her into his arms and kissed her, gently at first and then gradually, as their passion consumed them, their kisses became deeper and their hands explored each other. Patrick, in one motion, lifted Cat into his arms and carried her to his bed. He gently laid her there. Looking at him, filled with a wanton desire and growing need, she reached out to draw him to her. He carefully laid beside her, making sure not to aggravate her injured leg, and pulled her close, kissing her as they both surrendered to their passion and desire, losing themselves in each other and in the moment.
A while later, remembering their lunch date with Sarah and Antonio, Cat nuzzled Patrick and told him she was headed to shower before they needed to leave. As she sat up on the bed, he reached for her hand and pulled her back into his arms, holding her there for a long moment.
“As much as I would love to stay here in your arms, we do have to go to lunch with Sarah. Please release me and I’ll shower. Better yet, just come join me and we can both be showered.”
“And are you always filled with such insight and wonderful ideas, Ms. Malley?”
“I don’t know about always, but for now it is a great idea. Come on, let’s go.” As Cat stood up, she looked back over her shoulder, her hair falling down her back, and called to Patrick, “Last one in has to tell a secret!” She ran for the shower, closely followed by Patrick, both laughing as they reach for the door almost at the same time.
Chapter Nine
Meeting Friends
Freshly showered and ready for lunch in the city with Sarah and Antonio, Patrick held the door for Cat to exit the suite. As she passed him, he stole yet one more kiss from her, capturing her lips with his while her sparkling green eyes flashed with adoration at him. He took her hand and headed to the lobby to hail a cab to town.
To their surprise when they got downstairs, they found Sarah waiting in the lobby. She explained that Antonio would be driving them to lunch in his Town Car. When the two men shook hands and began speaking in Italian, Cat started to suspect there was more going on than a mere lunch date and shot him a questioning glance.
“Hmmm, I guess the two of you already know each other. Care to let us in on what is happening here?” Cat asked.
Patrick said to the girls, “Oh, don’t look so worried, you two. We’re not gay lovers.” He smiled at both of them over the attempted levity. “Antonio and I have known each other a while. He is with Interpol, and since I am with the FBI, I occasionally assist in some of his cases as I’ll be doing here later today. Isn’t that right, my friend?” He looked at Antonio.
“Yes. Yes, it is, and a great help he always is to have around. Patrick makes my job all the easier when he is assisting me. Come, let us go and have our lunch, ladies. After you.”
After a short drive to town, they parked in front of a charming restaurant. Antonio reached for Sarah’s hand and escorted her from the car and into the restaurant. Patrick and Cat followed them in. Antonio was talking to the host, and it was obvious he had been here before; he was greeted with handshakes and smiles as their host led them to the best table in the place. No menus were presented and Antonio told the waiter something in Italian before he turned to leave.
“I hope you do not mind, I ordered for all of us. I have been here many times and the food is excellent. I have also ordered wine and appetizers for the four of us as well, which will be arriving shortly.”
Cat decided to break the silence at the table. “Well, Antonio, I am not allergic to anything and love food, so I guess with our little adventure away from home this week, we can have an adventure with our meal as well. Thank you for ordering. I am sure it will prove to be delicious.”
And with that, the wine arrived. As the waiter poured the wine, Cat couldn’t help but feel as though they were being watched and glanced around the general area. Sure enough, there was one waiter in the back corner just staring at Patrick who, for some reason, didn’t not seem to notice this fact. However, Cat did notice and it was making her increasingly uncomfortable till she couldn’t help but to lean in and whisper to Patrick about it. Afterward, there was a short conversation in Italian between Antonio and Patrick.
Patrick picked up his wine glass and offered a toast. ”To our lovely dates, Cat and Sarah, to our unexpected but wonderful chance meeting. May our time together be memorable and lasting. Cheers, ladies.”
All raised their glasses and drank their wine.
At that moment, the appetizers arrived. There was another short conversation in Italian between the two men and then Patrick turned to talk to the girls. “Ladies, it looks as though we will have to take care of our business a bit earlier than we had expected. Please enjoy your appetizers and your wine. We shall be back shortly.”
Cat sent Patrick a serious and upset glance, but he assured her that they were in no danger at all. However, when she saw Antonio pass him a badge, a gun, and several rounds under the table, she was not so sure he was telling her everything.
Both men excused themselves but not before Patrick made sure that Antonio was listening. He said, “Once we are done here, I can then fini
sh my vacation in peace.”
Antonio chuckled, and the two men turned to leave the table after kissing their respective dates.
Catching Cat looking intently at him, Patrick tried to reassure her. “Everything is fine, I swear,” he murmurs quietly into her ear. “It’s just a quick arrest, and then Antonio and his crew from Interpol will take over. They simply need an FBI agent present. Now quit worrying and eat.” Then the two of them headed off out the front door, pausing briefly at the desk to say something to the host.
Chapter Ten
The Arrest
Although the food at the restaurant is just as incredible as Antonio had told the girls it would be, Cat couldn’t help but find herself worrying. She was picking at her appetizers when the distinct sound of gunfire erupted from behind the restaurant. There was shouting and the crashing of broken dishes. Suddenly a Mexican man came running full speed through the restaurant, heading straight for their table with Patrick, Antonio, and a few other men in hot pursuit. Thinking quickly, Cat shoved their table’s empty chair right in front of the man as he came barreling past them. When he tripped and fell over it, Patrick leapt onto the man, finally subduing him. While Antonio handcuffed the suspect, Sarah just sat there with her mouth gaping open, staring at the pile of men on the restaurant floor. All the while Patrick was shaking his head, he was smiling at Cat.
“You know you don’t need to put yourself in harm’s way for me to pay attention to you. I like you here on this planet, let’s keep you here a while, shall we?”
Laughing and smiling, the four of them sat down to finally eat their lunch after Antonio’s men had come and taken away the man who tripped over Cat’s chair. The rest of the afternoon was delightful. No one worried about the incident at all.
After some sightseeing and walking around town, Patrick was ready to return to the hotel. “I’m ready for a swim, Cat. What about you, want to go back to the hotel and go for a swim?” asked Patrick.
“Sure, as long as it is Jellyfish-free water we are in this time.”
They all began to laugh at her joke.
“Sarah, would you care to join me back at my villa while I finish the paperwork on today’s arrest, and then I am sure we can find something to amuse ourselves. A Jacuzzi, some wine maybe? Does that sound agreeable to you, my dear?”
“That sounds lovely, Antonio. I would love to go with you. Ummm . . . that is, if you don’t mind, Cat. I know we agreed to hang out together here and I have been gone since you got hurt, so it’s up to you. What do you think?”
“I’m just fine, Sarah. Go and have fun with Antonio. Patrick and I will go for a swim and see what happens from there. I’ll be just fine. Enjoy, it’s your vacation time too. Just be sure to check in now and again to let me know you are still okay.”
Sarah gave Cat a big hug and told her to have a good time with Patrick. Then she headed toward Antonio’s car to leave with him.
Once the two are alone again, Cat questioned Patrick. “You would tell me if you thought my friend leaving with him was a bad idea, right? I mean, Antonio is a good guy on the right side of the law and all, isn’t he?” she asked.
“Sarah will be fine. She is in good hands, hmm . . . in more ways than one, I assure you.” He laughed at the pun. Patrick hailed a cab and the two of them got in. Patrick looked at Cat. “I have been wanting to do something all afternoon.”
“And what might that be?”
“This,” Patrick said as he leaned in and put his arms around her, kissing Cat while they were driven back to the hotel.
Chapter Eleven
My Suite or Yours
Once they arrived, they stopped at the girls’ room to get Cat’s swimsuit and a change of clothes before heading off to Patrick’s suite to change and go for a swim. Once inside her room, Cat realized that the light on the hotel phone was on and there must have been a message for one of them.
“Excuse me just a moment, Patrick. I need to find out who this message is from and if it needs to be attended to.” Cat called the front desk to retrieve the room messages, and found out there were two messages: one from Sarah’s brother Brandon, asking her to call him when she had a moment, and the other one from Antonio for Patrick. “Hmm, wonder why Antonio would call for Patrick here, instead of his own room?” Cat thought. She relayed the brief message to Patrick, who picked up his cell phone, walked out on to the balcony, and called Antonio while Cat dialed Brandon at the office.
“Truvant and Associates, how may I help you?” Brandon answered the phone at the office.
“Hello, Brandon, it’s Cat. Hope you are surviving without me. I got your message and am calling as you requested. What can I do for you from here?”
“Hi, Cat. I was just wondering if you had moved the spare key to the office for some reason? I forgot mine this morning and could not find the spare keys when I got here. I had to go all the way home and get my keys.”
“No, Brandon. I have not moved or even used those keys since we had the copies made eight months ago, the day we were both locked out. Are you sure you looked where we decided to leave them under the fire extinguisher next to the side door?”
“Yes, I know. That is where I looked, and that is why I am calling you. With the break-in at your house and now the keys here missing, I’ll be changing the door locks today. Please be sure to see me at home before you return to work so you can get the new key set. You and Sarah, you two are all right? No weird men following you, no strange happenings? You’re just on vacation and having a fun right?”
“Brandon, you’re so sweet to be concerned for, us but I think we are just fine. We are having a great time and will be home next week. Unless, of course, you can’t live without us and need me back sooner?”
“Ummm . . . No, Cat, that’s fine. I’ll see you two next week, all rested and ready to get back to life and work. Enjoy yourself till then and give my sister a hug for me. Talk to you soon, Cat. Bye.”
“Bye, Brandon. Thanks for letting me know what is going on back home. I’ll pass on the information to Sarah, and we’ll see you soon. Hugs, Brandon.”
The two of them hung up, and Cat turned her attention back to Patrick who was now standing in the doorway of the balcony.
He had obviously finished his own phone call. “You ready to go, Cat?”
“I guess so. That was just Brandon, and although he said everything was fine, I’ve known him long enough to know that something is troubling him, and he seemed overly worried for me and Sarah here. I’m not sure what to make of that. He called to tell me that the spare set of keys to our office are missing, and he is therefore changing the locks today as well.”
“Let’s go for that swim, Cat. I am sure all will be fine and you can call and check on Brandon later if you feel you need to. The phone is always here.”
“Okay, sounds good to me. Off to swim and relax, and maybe get a margarita from Tom on the way too. What’cha think, Patrick?”
“Mmmmm, sounds good to me.”
As they leave Cat’s room, Patrick stops at the door. “Why don’t you stay the rest of the week with me in my suite? Bring your things with you. I don’t want to let you go, Cat. I want to spend every possible minute with you that I can. I want you in my arms when I fall asleep and there again when I wake up. Please say you’ll stay with me. I know this is really soon to ask that and you don’t know anything about me, but I have not felt like this about anyone in a very long time. I just want you to think about it while we go for our swim, okay? You can decide after dinner later on this evening.”
“Wow. Ummm . . . Patrick, I don’t know what to say. You’re charming and nice to me, and I love your company, you treat me wonderfully. I just can’t make that decision in an instant. Let’s go for our swim, have a drink, and see where that leads us, okay?”
“Sure, Cat. Anything you say. As long as you are here with me, I’m a happy man. You’re something very special, Cat, and I want you to feel safe and happy.”
Then the two of the
m took off to change in Patrick’s suite and then for a late afternoon swim together.
***
Back in San Francisco at the office, Brandon had the locks changed and invited Joey to come and have dinner at his place with him so the two of them could talk about the jewelry situation that now seemed to involve not only his best friend but also his office and the two women who were closest to him, Cat and his sister Sarah. Brandon was making dinner in his kitchen when there was a knock at his door.
He assumed it was his friend. “Hey, Joey. Come on in, man, the door’s not locked.”
Brandon heared the door open and then close as he walked out of the kitchen to greet his friend. He stops dead in his stride. Joey was not the one standing in his entryway but some man he had never seen before with two others standing behind him.
“Umm . . . what can I do for you, gentlemen? And who are you to just walk onto my home?”
“Someone said ‘Come in, the door is open,’ so we did.”
“Well, I was expecting company. Who are you, and what can I do for you?”
“We have an interest in your office or, rather, one of the clients you represent. A Mr. Joey Shay. He works for us and has been shirking his duties of late, so I want to have you pass on a message for me. Tell him he needs to complete his contract with us. He won’t like the consequences of leaving before his job is finished, or you either, Brandon. We tend to take things very personally when we are ignored or betrayed. It can become, shall we say, dangerous for someone to underestimate our ability and our dedication to our work endeavors. I don’t want to have to come here again . . . so please make sure he gets the message and comes back to complete his job for our company. Or the next time he sees us, he might regret it, and I am sure you like that office of yours and want to keep on working in it, am I right, Mr. Truvant?”
“Who the hell are you to come here into my home and make threats? Get out! Just leave! I’ll tell Joey you were here, all right, and then we will see just who is in danger. I don’t know who you are, but no one comes here to my home and threatens me, DO you understand? GO! Get Out!”
Catrina And The Duchess` Necklace (Catrina Series PART-1) Page 4