Summer Vows

by Rochelle Alers

  His teeth shone whitely in his bearded face. “Good morning, Princess.”

  Turning her back, Ana attempted to shield her nakedness. “What the hell do you think you’re doing? Get out!”

  Jacob picked up a bar of soap. “I’m conserving water.” Lowering his head, he kissed Ana’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. Nothing’s going to happen, because you said you wouldn’t let me make love to you even if I were the last man on earth.”

  “Just because nothing’s going to happen doesn’t mean we should shower together.”

  Standing under the showerhead, Jacob soaped his neck and shoulders. “Come on, baby. You can’t be that shy. You had no problem modeling your Victoria’s Secret yesterday.”

  “They were Eres.”

  “Never heard of it.”

  “Look it up,” she snapped angrily. Ana couldn’t believe Jacob would be so gauche as to barge into the shower with her. And she was being truthful when she’d told him that her underwear concealed more than what some women wore on beaches in some Caribbean islands where topless bathing was the norm and no one was bothered by it.

  Swiping a handful of foaming shampoo off her head, Jacob rubbed it on his scalp. “I like your shampoo.” He sniffed his fingers. “It smells nice.”

  “Why don’t you use my bath gel while you’re at it?”

  “Nah. I don’t need to smell like a girl. You better finish washing your hair before the water cools.”

  “I’ll finish once you leave.”

  Jacob stared at her back, his gaze slipping lower to her tiny waist and even lower still to the roundness of her hips and slender thighs and shapely legs. Her body was incredible, her skin smooth and flawless. A slight frown formed between his eyes. “I don’t believe you, Ana. You act the innocent, then you flaunt yourself in front of me while offering to jerk me off. Who the hell are you?”

  Turning, she faced him. “You know who I am.”

  He shook his head. “No, I don’t. What you’re doing is playing a very dangerous game where you’re going to wind up as the casualty.”

  Blinking furiously, Ana tried wiping away the shampoo trickling down her forehead that had gotten into one eye. Jacob captured her wrist and cupped his free hand under the water and splashed it on her face. “Finish with your hair while we talk.”

  Not venturing to glance below his neck, she massaged her scalp. “There’s nothing to talk about.”

  Jacob continued to lather his body. “That’s where we disagree. I said some things to you because I’d believed you were mature enough to deal with it. Case in point—human sexuality. I’m not going to hide the fact that I sleep with women, and that I enjoy sleeping with them. What I don’t do is accept everything thrown at me because that has never been my way. I prefer to do the hunting instead of becoming the hunted. And, it’s never slam bam thank you ma’am.”

  Placing her hand on Jacob’s hairy chest, Ana gave him a gentle push as she turned her face upward to the flowing water. Reaching for another plastic bottle on the shower shelf, she applied a liberal amount of conditioner to the wet strands. “Why are you telling me this?”

  “Because I want you to know where I’m coming from, Princess.”

  “And that is?”

  “We have to stop playing games with each other. It’s getting more and more difficult for me to keep my hands off you.”

  More surprised than frightened, Ana stared up into the deep-set eyes that reminded her of cups of rich dark coffee. A shiver of awareness raced through her body when she digested what she’d just heard. “You haven’t touched me.”

  Jacob curved an arm around her waist, bringing them closer. “It’s not because I haven’t wanted to.”

  Large golden-brown eyes met his. “Is this about sex?”

  His expressive eyebrows lifted a fraction. “And if it is?”

  Ana closed her eyes against his intense stare. “That’s all it can be because when this is over I’ll go back to Boca Raton and you’ll return to Miami to do whatever we were doing before this living nightmare disrupted our lives.”

  Jacob’s expression changed, becoming a mask of stone. He couldn’t believe Ana could talk about allowing him to make love to her as if she were negotiating a business deal. There was no warmth, only indifference.

  He wasn’t so naïve, believing even if he’d met Ana under an entirely different set of circumstances they could have a relationship similar to what Diego had with Vivienne before they were married. Firstly, he and Ana came from two different worlds where he wouldn’t fit into hers and she in his. He also doubted whether she would give up or modify her career to share her future with any man.

  Having her live under his roof, even for a short time, had changed him. It was nice having someone to talk to and share meals with. With Ana he never knew what to expect from her. There were times when she appeared mature beyond her years, then she would say something that indicated she wasn’t as secure as she projected. He knew she missed her brother when she called him Jason rather than Jacob.

  He wasn’t a twin and he’d never had a brother so he was unfamiliar with the bond between siblings. His mother had miscarried several times before she had him, and he’d grown up hearing her refer to him as her “golden bead.”

  Jacob knew he was on edge from what had become a period of self-imposed celibacy, yet he didn’t want to use Ana to slake his pent-up frustration. She didn’t deserve that. He’d thought he was in control until she came prancing out of the bathroom in underwear that showed more than it concealed.

  Raising his hands, he cradled her face. “I don’t want to take advantage of you.”

  She flashed her trademark dimpled smile. “You can’t, only because I won’t let you.” Going on tiptoe, she kissed his stubble. “Why don’t we let things unfold naturally.”

  Even if they never made love Ana knew she would have wonderful memories of playing house with Jacob. He was different from the other men she’d known and she found herself looking forward to being with him. He was more complex than she’d originally thought, comparing him to a puzzle. She had to find all the pieces and put them together before the real man emerged.

  Jacob smiled. “That sounds like a plan.”

  “Now please finish showering so I can wash my body.”

  “Do you want me to wash your back?” His smile was more of a leer.

  Ana pointed to the bath brush hanging from a hook. “No, thank you. That’s why I use a brush.” She took a step back, her eyes traveling downward for the first time. Swallowing an inaudible gasp she suddenly wished she hadn’t looked. Now she knew what Eve felt in the Garden of Eden when faced with temptation. Jacob’s naked body was magnificent from head to toe. Raw desire raced throughout her body, making it difficult for her to keep her footing.

  His leer widened. “Now that I know what you look like and you know what I look like I believe I have the better view.”

  “Please, Jacob,” Ana pleaded. Her body was on fire and it had nothing to do with the water or the sunlight coming through the skylight.

  He continued to stare at her, his gaze as tender as a caress. “No more teasing, Princess.” Jacob hands went around her upper arms at the same time he angled his head and took her mouth in an explosive kiss that buckled her knees. The kiss ended as quickly as it’d begun.

  Summoning strength from somewhere she didn’t know existed, Ana was able to endure the length of time it took for Jacob to complete his shower. Her knees were still shaking when she rinsed her hair and stepped out. Smiling, she noticed he’d placed two towels within reach: one for her hair and the other for her body, aware it was to become a day of firsts. It was the first time she’d shared a bed with a man and they’d not made love. It was also the first time a man had ever showered with her.

  Wrapping the towel around her head in a turban-style, Ana stared at her reflection in the full-length mirror as she blotted beads of moisture from her body. She’d reached a point with Jacob as to where they underst
ood who they were and where they wanted to take their transient relationship.

  They would continue to live together, but not necessarily make love with each other. However, if or when they did Ana prayed she would be able to walk away unscathed. Unlike her girlfriends, she’d always loved with her heart and not her head. It was why she’d become the Wild Bunch anomaly. Maybe she would be more successful with her relationship with Jacob.

  Los Angeles

  Webb watched his brother’s approach. Raising his hand, he managed to get his attention. He knew by the expression on Basil’s face that he was less than happy. Unfortunately, he refused to let go of the fact that he hadn’t signed Justin Glover to Slow Wyne. Losing the singer to Serenity Records had made him virtually impossible to be around.

  When Basil joined him in the booth in a secluded corner of the restaurant, Webb signaled for the waitress to bring his drink order. He clapped a hand on Basil’s shoulder. “Either you lighten up or I’m going to forget you’re my big brother.”

  A wry smile twisted Basil’s full lips. “That will never happen.”

  Webb gave him a level stare. “Yes, it can if you don’t let me take care of your problem.”

  Reaching up, Basil loosened his tie, and unbuttoned the top button on his shirt. He’d wanted to go back to his house and relax, but Webb had insisted he meet him for drinks. “You know we could’ve done this back at my place. Have you forgotten I have a fully stocked bar?”

  “No, I haven’t. There’s a reason why I wanted to meet here.” He leaned closer. “I know you’re expecting to see your pretty little secretary later on tonight.”

  The intense gray eyes darkened until they appeared black in the dimly lit restaurant. “What does this have to do with Camille?”

  “Do you know why I told you to invite her to spend the night at the Beverly Hills hotel with you instead of you going to her place?”

  “No. Why?”

  “Because the bitch has been taping everything you do and say.”

  Slumping against the leather banquette as if he’d been shot, Basil closed his eyes. “When?”

  “When I got the footage back from Omar Thornton’s place, and it was clean I knew the only other person you might trade secrets with is your so-called executive assistant.”

  “So you bugged her place without telling me.” Basil’s tone was accusatory.

  “I knew if I’d asked or told you it wouldn’t have gone down, brother.”

  “At least you could’ve warned me beforehand.”

  “There wasn’t time. Our window of opportunity was so small that my men couldn’t take the risk the maintenance staff would miss their uniforms. They had to get in and out in under half an hour. But, instead of planting bugs, we found a few. All they had to do was splice the feed and when I viewed the footage I discovered your girl has been running off at the mouth.”

  “Do you know who put her up to it?”

  Webb touched his scarred cheek. “No. It doesn’t matter because she’s done.”

  Basil sat up straight. “What do you mean?”

  “She’s going to be out of town for a while. I know you liked her, brother, but she’d become a liability.”

  Basil noticed his brother said liked not like. He held up a hand. “Don’t tell me anymore.”

  He did like Camille—a lot more than he had a woman in a very long time. She was beautiful, sexy and went out of her way to please him. He paid her well, bought her expensive gifts and gave her several hundred dollars whenever he spent the night as spending money. If Webb was being truthful, then Camille was no different from their mother—a woman who’d taught him it was dangerous to trust.

  The waitress brought their drinks, smiling at him when she met his eyes. Reaching into the pocket of his suit trousers, he took out a solid gold money clip and handed her a hundred-dollar bill. “Keep them coming.” Normally he wouldn’t have more than two drinks, but this was one time he wanted to get drunk.

  Webb gave Basil a sidelong glance. His brother had always taken care of him. Now it was time for him to take care of Basil. He knew the record mogul would drink until he wouldn’t be able to stand. That’s when Webb would call his men to assist him carrying Basil out a side entrance. He would spend the night at Basil’s Beverly Hills’ home until he sobered up. Then they would put their heads together to decide what to do next.

  Chapter 9

  Ana found Key West to be everything she’d hoped it would be—and more. The streets, restaurants and shops overflowed with locals and tourists. Brightly painted houses, some with lawns decorated with shells, beads and plastic pink flamingos were in keeping with many of the eccentric inhabitants living and working on the island.

  The festive mood and energy reminding her of Carnivale. Hundreds of passengers disembarking from several cruise ships docked in the harbor also added to the throng of humanity, causing pedestrian jams along the narrow streets and alleys. There was something about the island that reminded her of some of the towns and cities she’d visited in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Salvador da Bahia.

  Tugging on Jacob’s hand, she pulled him into a gift shop. She knew he wasn’t the least bit interested in shopping, but hadn’t said a word in protest when she stopped to window shop, or if something did spark her interest enough to venture inside, while holding the bags with her purchases. She’d bought two bathing suits, several straw hats and gifts for her nieces and nephews, which left her with less than one hundred dollars in cash.

  Jacob, attempting to shield Ana’s body from the crush of tourists crowding into the small shop, asked, “What do you want now?”

  She glanced up at him over her shoulder, trying to read his stoic expression. They’d left the house without eating breakfast, and it was now after two in the afternoon and he’d mentioned stopping to eat, but Ana had wanted to finish shopping.

  “I saw a couple of toe rings I want to try on.”

  He stared down at her bare toes in a pair of leather sandals. “You don’t even wear rings on your fingers, yet you want to put them on your feet?”

  Ana followed his gaze, looking at her toes. There was a tiny chip on the big toe of her right foot and that meant she had to either find a salon for a mani/pedi or do it herself. A slight frown appeared between her eyes. For the first time since she’d come into her trust she was faced with a financial dilemma. Even when attending college and law school money was never a problem because her father paid her tuition, room and board, and deposited money into her checking account each month. Attending college and law school in D.C. had its advantages, because taxis and public transit had become her choice of transportation.

  “What’s wrong with toe rings?”

  “Nothing,” he said much too quickly. “I just didn’t figure you would wear one.”

  Moving closer to Jacob, Ana kissed his stubble. “I’m trying to tap into my bohemian inner child.” A pair of gold hoops had replaced the diamond studs, and today she’d worn a white poet’s blouse, faded jeans and blue-and-white-striped espadrilles.

  Splaying his fingers at the small of her back, Jacob steered Ana over to the showcase with an assortment of rings. After a brief wait, a saleswoman with a friendly smile came over to help them. He stared at the name tag pinned to the pocket of her blouse. Bernice’s deeply tanned weathered face reminded him of the fishermen who plied the waters for revenue or sport.

  “My girlfriend would like to see some toe rings,” he said, smiling.

  “Gold or silver?” the woman asked.

  “We’d like to see both,” he said before Ana answered.

  Ana squeezed his fingers, garnering his attention when Bernice opened the showcase to take out two trays of rings. “I don’t have enough cash to buy the gold ones,” she whispered.

  He winked at her. “Don’t worry about it, baby. I’ve got this.”

  Perched on a high stool, Jacob slipped tiny gold and silver rings off and on Ana’s middle toes. In a moment of madness he imagined slipping
another type of ring on her hand: an engagement ring. He banished the thought as soon as it entered his head.

  Marrying Ana Cole wasn’t even a remote possibility. They were complete opposites who’d come from different worlds. She may have temporarily altered her lifestyle but it was just that—temporary. Once she returned to Boca Raton everything they’d shared would be relegated to her past.

  Staring up at her, Jacob asked, “Which ones do you like?”

  Ana, who’d perched her sunglasses on the top of her head, met his eyes. “I don’t know. Which do you like?”

  “I think the gold one with the diamond is cute.”

  She wiggled her toes. Blue-white sparks reflected off the minute stone from an overhead light. “I like it, too.”

  Turning around, Jacob said, “We’ll take these.”

  Bernice pressed her palms together. “They’re the perfect fit for her feet.”

  Ana wound her arms around Jacob’s waist after he’d given the saleswoman his credit card. “Thank you, sweetheart.”

  Cupping her chin, he lowered his head and kissed her. It was more of a caress than an actual kiss, her lips parting under his tender sensual assault. The kiss, similar to the one in the shower earlier that morning, ended as quickly as it’d begun.

  Jacob stared into the large eyes filled with an emotion he could only interpret as trust. He’d become familiar with the look when assigned to witness protection. He gave her a tender smile. “You’re more than welcome, Princess. Where are we going next?”

  Ana allowed Jacob to help her down off the stool. She slipped on her sunglasses. “Let’s eat.”

  He cupped his ear. “I believe I hear a choir singing hallelujah.”

  Grinning, she swatted at him. “Very funny.”

  Jacob signed the receipt, and then pocketed it. He slipped on his sunglasses, grasped Ana’s hand and led her out of the shop that was becoming more crowded with each passing moment. He knew where he wanted to eat. The restaurant was the perfect place to begin the day and end the night.