Roxie nodded and left the study. She walked on shaky legs, but he’d have to deal with her later. For now, he took a deep breath, preparing for what he knew would be a nasty phone call.
“Hey, Preston. Thanks for calling, you’re a hard guy to get ahold of.” Drake started the conversation on a light note.
“I’ve been busy. I’m planning to build a new hotel at the beach near Rome. So what’s up?” Preston said.
“Vivian called me last week. Linda told her something and Vivian now wants me to tell you.” Drake squared his shoulders. Preston was the second oldest of his siblings, two years younger than Drake himself.
“Why didn’t Vivian just tell me, or better yet, Linda? Why send you? I don’t bite.” Preston’s voice became agitated.
“So you say, they think differently. Especially on the subject of Sandrine.”
“What about Sandrine?” Preston was all but shouting and Drake held the phone at a safe distance from his ears. “Those girls don’t like her and I don’t know why. She’s never done a thing to them.”
And that’s the problem, she’s doing things to you and we want to safe you from heartache. “Don’t shoot the messenger, okay? You’re an adult and what you do with your life is your decision, however, I can’t let what Linda overheard go without telling you.”
Preston made a sound and then asked sarcastically, “Okay, I’ll bite. What did Linda overhear that’s so damning I need to know about it?”
“Just so you know, I spoke to Linda myself to make sure I had the right of it. Anyway, she overhead Sandrine on the phone with someone and they were discussing you. Your impending marriage to be exact. Sandrine told the other person she was only marrying you for your money.”
“Bullshit!” Preston exploded. “Why is everyone in this family intent on putting their noses into my business!”
“Because we love you. Calm down for a minute,” Drake said in a desperate attempt to appease his brother. The conversation was going worse than he’d anticipated.
“The hell I will! If this family thinks they can pass judgment on Sandrine…I don’t need anyone’s permission to marry her. I can get married to her any damn time I like and I don’t even have to invite any of you to the ceremony.”
“Yes, you can certainly do that. As you say, you’re an adult and free to do with your life as you will.” Drake breathed deeply to keep his voice calm. Preston could be very impulsive and Drake in no way wanted to push him to do something rash that everyone would regret. “I’m not telling you what to do. I just wanted to pass along what Linda overheard. Do with it what you like. And if you elope and marry her without inviting any of us, just know that we’ll still love you afterwards. If you really think Sandrine is the girl for you, we’ll accept her. You know we will. We only want to see you happy. All I’m asking is that you consider what I’m telling you.”
“Am I supposed to thank you?” Preston sneered over the phone.
“Well yes, a thank you for watching your back wouldn’t be remiss, but I don’t expect it.” Drake shook his head. This was going nowhere. Hopefully his brother would calm down enough to think straight in the days to come.
“Any more gossip I need to know about?” Preston growled.
“No.”
Drake had barely finished speaking when Preston hung up the phone. Drake spent several long minutes just staring out across the city. He’d known Preston would be pissed at him, and he was. That didn’t mean he was sorry for telling his brother the truth. Sandrine was poison and if Preston chose to ignore that and marry her anyway, the family would have to be strong for him when it all fell apart and he lost everything.
Chapter 21
A few days later Drake and Roxie were on the road driving to the town of Baños, a very touristy place with hot spas and a starting point to countless adventure activities in the region.
Drake’s excitement rose with each passing mile. He just knew he’d gather plenty of useful data. The newly imposed restrictions on Cotopaxi might have been a twist of fate. Part of Drake’s research goals were to find better alarms systems to warn people who lived near active volcanoes in an effort to reduce the yearly death tolls.
He’d made remarkable progress in this area, but his approach still needed practical proof. If the Tungurahua actually was about to erupt, that could mean the breakthrough for his scientific theories.
“Look, there are smoke clouds rising from volcano,” he said to Roxie.
When she didn’t reply, he glanced over and furrowed his brow. He’d been so busy planning his data collection, he hadn’t noticed Roxie’s fear was getting the best of her. She was pale and her knuckles white from gripping the edges of the leather seat in the 4WD Jeep.
“How you doing, sweetheart?” Drake asked, trying to take her mind off of whatever images were clouding her reason. He reached over and unclasped her left hand from the seat, moving his thumb back and forth across her palm to try and ease her stress level.
“All these clouds are smoke?” she asked, pointing to the top of the volcano.
“Not the kind you’re thinking of. Those are clouds of smoke rising from the caldera, or the crater of the volcano. I’m sorry; I should have explained more. I’m so used to living with the danger an active volcano presents, I didn’t even think about how this might look to you.”
“Is it even safe to hike up there?” Roxie asked weakly, her eyes wide open.
“We’re taking every precaution we can and I promise to take care that nothing happens to you while we’re up on the mountain. Remember you just do as I say?” Drake said to lighten the mood, but she didn’t even protest.
“You’re not scared at all?” Roxie asked after a long silence.
“No, not scared, but cautious works just as well if not better. It’s important to respect Mother Nature, because we humans are powerless against her force. But knowing this gives us an advantage.” Drake tried to explain as they reached the long descend into the valley of Baños.
“You’re really excited aren’t you?”
“Yes, it’s not every day I get to survey an actively erupting volcano. In fact, it’s pretty rare.”
He drove through streets crowded with tourists. They passed several signs, announcing enthralling nighttime volcano excursions to see pyroclastic flow and lava. Drake shrugged in annoyance, but after the umpteenth sign his irritation had given way to anger.
“This is plain stupid,” he bit out and turned into the street with the hotel where they’d spend the night.
“What is stupid?” Roxie asked.
“These people. They aren’t the slightest bit concerned about their safety, but even offer tours to the crater at night. All in a quest to offer the tourist a surge of adrenaline. A major eruption would endanger everyone up there, not to mention the damage laymen do to the lava stones, fauna, and other geological evidence by hiking around the slopes unsupervised.”
Drake stopped trying to find out whether to turn left or right. He looked at the slope directly in front of them and then pointed to a slide area. “See that area where the mountain has slid down?”
“Yes. What is that, a rock slide?”
“Not quite. It’s called a debris avalanche and is caused when people go traipsing across scree fields and cause the loose ground to slide downward. Debris avalanches are destructive and dangerous,” Drake answered and opted to turn right.
“So why haven’t the town officials cordoned off the area to keep the tourists safe?” Roxie asked. She seemed to have forgotten about her fear and her cheeks shone rosy again.
“That’s a good question.” Drake spotted the sign for the small hotel Anita had recommended and pulled into the parking lot.
“This place is cute,” Roxie commented as they exited the vehicle and walked to the registration desk.
The hotel consisted of approximately twenty small bungalows scattered across the grounds. Narrow intricate paths made of cobblestones led to the central area, complete with a pool, open
-air eating area under a straw roof and huge sandpit with a fireplace. The place was small and very basic, but exuded charm.
“I hadn’t expected to find a tropical paradise,” he murmured.
“I love the place. Look at those colorful flowers. And the hummingbirds.” Roxie beamed and leaned against him.
No doubt, Anita had sent them here with romance in mind. He wondered how long it had been since Carlos and Anita had been here. Drake chuckled and placed a kiss on Roxie’s head.
The hotel owner spoke acceptable English and minutes later Drake held a key for one of the bungalows in his hand.
“Over there. The only one with two stories. It’s my best room.” The owner instructed him and smiled.
Roxie sashayed in front of him until she stopped at the wooden door to their two-story brick building with a straw roof. He opened the padlock and then followed her inside.
“It’s so cute!” Roxie exclaimed.
And she was right. The bungalow was small but functional. Two doors led from the small corridor into a bathroom and tiny lavatory. A king size bed with colorful woven plaids occupied almost the entire space in the sole room on the ground floor. Except for one wall to the bathrooms, the rest of the walls boasted window panes. Each window was adorned by thick drapes in different colors. Through the open drapes, it felt as if they were standing outside amidst the trees and flowers. In the middle of the room wooden stairs led to the second floor.
Roxie plopped down on the bed and lay spread eagled, stretching her arms and legs. Heat rose in Drake’s body and he wondered if it would be acceptable to close the drapes and seduce her. But he shouldn’t have worried, because Roxie had other things in mind.
“Let’s have a look upstairs. It’s all so exciting!” She jumped up the stairs and opened a trapdoor. “Wow. Drake. Come. You have to see this!”
Drake followed her and stopped in awe. The entire upper floor was an open-air terrace with a three-foot high wooden balustrade and a straw roof over their heads. On one side stood a coffee table with a bench and two chairs, overlooking the grounds. Two hammocks and a hanging chair on the other side completed the furnishings. The view from the terrace was simply amazing.
He stepped behind her and wrapped his arms around her. “A beautiful place for a beautiful woman.”
In response, her back pressed against his chest. He wanted to never let her go again.
“Did you hear that?” Roxie asked, looking down to the path winding its way through the flower beds.
“The bats, you mean?” Drake grinned.
“Bats?” Roxie spun around.
“Yes, bats.” Drake chuckled and then directed her gaze up into the dome of the straw roof. A slight tremble captured her body and she wanted to move away, but Drake held her in place.
“They won’t bother you and won’t even wake up until it gets completely dark.”
“But bats bite, don’t they?”
“No, that would be vampires.” He bared his teeth and snapped at her.
Roxie gave the straw roof one last fearful glance and then moved toward the terrace railing. “The river. Hear it?”
Drake listened and then smiled. “Yes. That’s a nice soothing sound.” He watched her for a moment and then realized he needed to get her mind off the bats or she was going to worry herself into a panic. “Let’s go unpack and find some dinner.”
Chapter 22
Roxie nodded and led the way back downstairs. They unpacked their things and then ventured out to find food. The small town was crowded with places to eat, each one more inviting than the next. They ate the meal of the day – chicken with rice – at a diner a few blocks from their hotel. Just as the sun was setting behind the mountains, they walked back to their hotel hand-in-hand.
The temperature was still in the high seventies. Baños boasted eternal Spring weather, but Drake had warned her that the mountain would be a different story. Up there, it would get chilly at night, but not cold enough for snow.
It was still early when they arrived at their bungalow and Drake suggested they go up on the terrace to enjoy the evening breeze. He produced a bottle of wine and poured them two plastic cups.
“Sorry, but I couldn’t get wine glasses,” he apologized.
“I don’t mind.” Roxie answered truthfully and leaned against him while sipping the wine. “Mmm. Not bad.”
At night, the atmosphere up there was even more romantic than during the day. The noise of the town was but a distant rumble, interrupted by the chirping of birds and leaves rustling in the wind. Roxie couldn’t think of a place she’d rather be than here, under the straw roof, in Drake’s arms.
Until a fluttering sound alarmed her.
“What was that?” she asked and sat up straight.
“The bats,” Drake answered and pointed to the apex of the straw roof. “Look. They’re waking and are now leaving their perch for the night to fly out in search of food.”
“What do they eat?” Roxie eyed them suspiciously. She wouldn’t mind if the bats stayed out until morning, or possibly forever. She instinctively leaned closer to Drake.
“Mostly bugs and fruit. They’re actually beneficial, because they prey on mosquitoes. One single bat can eat more than one thousand mosquitoes per night.”
“So now you’re an expert in zoology?” she asked jokingly.
“No, but my cousin Dean Armstrong is a professor of entomology. He loves insects. And random facts about them.” Drake chuckled.
“Do you have a sibling or cousin in every profession imaginable?” Roxie put her empty plastic cup on the coffee table and looked at him. His blue eyes glanced at her, amused.
“Just because Dean’s an entomologist?” He kissed her nose and Roxie had difficulties concentrating. The whole day she’d been fantasizing about hitting the sheets with him and her libido had reached unknown heights.
“No. Your cousin Evan. He’s an Olympic ski racer.”
Drake stopped placing soft kisses on her cheeks and down her neck to look at her. “Evan? You know him?”
“Yes, my best friend Charlene is his fiancée.” Roxie gasped when Drake’s mouth continued his journey along her shoulders and her collarbone.
“Really? So, we were connected before we even met?” he murmured, breathing hot air against her sensitive skin.
“It seems so.” She wished he would stop talking and do more kissing, but no such luck. Drake held her at arms length, raking his eyes over her.
“It’s a small world. Have you ever heard of the six degrees of separation?” he asked, pouring them another cup of wine.
“No, what’s that?”
“It’s a concept that originated back in the sixties. Scientists conducted an experiment where they tracked the chain of acquaintances in the States. Packages were sent to random people living in the city of Omaha, Nebraska.”
“Really?” Roxie asked, snuggling back against him.
“Yeah. The people were then asked to forward that same package to a friend or acquaintance who they thought would be able to bring the package a step closer to the final individual. A stockbroker who lived in Boston, Massachusetts.”
“Did these people know this stockbroker?” she asked, intrigued by his story.
“No. They had rules to follow. They had to mail the package together with the instructions to do the same to someone they personally knew on a first-name basis. The goal was to find someone down the chain who knew the target recipient.”
“I guess I’m missing something.”
“The man conducting the experiment had a tracer on each package as it moved around the country which allowed him to track its progress.”
“Did the packages ever reach the stockbroker?”
“Yes. In some cases, in just two mailings.”
“Wow! That was just a coincidence though, right?” she asked.
Drake shook his head. “The same experiment was conducted several times and the median number of mailings was five. When you consider the or
iginal sender and the final recipient, you get the six degrees of separation.”
“That’s pretty amazing,” she said and looked out into the vast emptiness beyond the confines of their hotel. Out there was only cloud forest, pasture and rocks. Would this experiment work in a less connected community like Ecuador as well?
“Yes, but not nearly as amazing as you are.” He pulled her up and walked her over to the hammock. His eyes had become dark with desire as he settled in the hammock and pulled her down.
Roxie came to sit in the hammock, opposite of him, her legs around his hips. His passionate kiss kindled the simmering heat in her body and every cell in her body burnt for Drake’s touch.
“Touch me,” she murmured.
Drake didn’t wait for a second invitation, but placed his big hands around her waist and slid them under her shirt, moving up and down her back. Exhilarating shivers ran through her and she squirmed under his touch. He chuckled and intensified his assault, placing little kisses down her neck.
Roxie moaned when he reached her earlobes and nibbled on them. She focused on the tantalizing feeling his soft lips raised in her and barely noticed that his hands had opened her bra. But when his hands cupped both of her breasts, a deep moan escaped her throat. The loud noise surprised her – and catapulted her back into reality.
“Drake, people can see us,” she whispered, nervous because just a thin wooden fence with huge cracks separated them from their surroundings.
He didn’t stop teasing her nipples between his fingers for even a moment and chuckled into her ear. “We’re too far up; nobody can see us. Besides, it’s dark already. I thought you were the woman ripe for an adventure. Nothing boring or predictable for you.”
“But they might hear us,” she protested, trying to keep her cool while his hands fondled her breasts and her stomach. His tongue drew lazy circles on the sensitive skin of her neck. Spine-tingling circles. Another moan escaped her throat and he caught it in his mouth.
“Only if you keep making those sexy sounds.” His lips had moved again to do that nibbling thing on her ears and neck.
Burning for Love: Los Angeles Armstrongs 2 (The Armstrongs Book 8) Page 12