Contemporary Nights Volume One

by C. J. Ellisson

  He straightened and closed the driver’s door. She glanced at him through the window, waved, and drove down the driveway.

  She was playing with fire. This man had been around the block a few times, and she’d hardly been off the front porch.

  Chapter Five—The Prediction

  Rico held his guitar in his lap and lounged in the deck chair. The priceless 1953 Gibson, in mint condition with incomparable tone, had been a gift from Max, his best friend. Max, the man who’d stood by him through heaven and hell and the man who’d married the only woman Rico had ever truly loved. He should have hated him, hated them both, but he couldn’t.

  Rico strummed a few nonsensical bars then waited for inspiration to strike him. Nothing happened, no flash of insight, no sign from some deity, not even one mediocre verse came to mind.

  Looking up, he studied the spectacular view before him. Last night as they’d chatted over dinner, he’d tried in vain to see the splendor and magic that Mariah saw in these islands. She’d told him that centuries ago, an ancient mountain range had sunk into the sea and formed them. Mariah loved to talk about her islands, their history, and local folklore. While island history didn’t turn him on, he enjoyed listening to her melodic voice and watching her expressive face. If only a little of the woman’s enthusiasm would rub off on him, maybe he’d find the inspiration he’d been lacking for way too long.

  He hunched forward and hummed a few bars of a new song. No, that wouldn’t do. He tried again. Nope, that definitely sucked. Dissatisfied, he sat up and rested his chin in his hands, leaning his elbows on the guitar.

  He wasn’t sure what was worse: his jaded attitude or the frustration he felt every time he tried to put pen to paper. A songwriter without any songs in his soul was beyond pathetic. Make that former songwriter, he reminded himself. He was a businessman now and a somewhat successful one. He hadn’t written a marketable song in almost five years. There’d been a time when so many songs had begged to be born that he couldn’t capture them all on tape or paper. Now, he felt barren, empty, soulless, and alone. So very alone. Except when he was with Mariah; then he forgot every damn dysfunctional thing in his life and lived in the moment with her.

  Frustrated, he looked at the water in the peaceful cove below. A large piece of driftwood floated past. Was that him? Adrift and lost in a world he’d once held in the palm of his hand. A world now alien to him. And who was Rico Sanchez? Sometimes he thought he knew. Other times he hadn’t a clue.

  Rico’s eyes focused on Max’s yacht moored at the dock, really noticing it for the first time. He used to love the water and boating. There were so many things he used to love, so many things that fateful night all those years ago took from him.

  He blew out a discouraged breath.

  Maybe the water would provide a catalyst for him to find the real person buried beneath this stranger he’d become. It was worth a try. Hell, anything was worth a try, but only if he could convince Mariah to go with him. Her sexy innocence unlocked his lust. Maybe she could unlock his soul.

  *****

  The warm afternoon sun gave way to a cool evening, typical weather for late August in the San Juans. Mariah chose a soft pink sweater that hugged her body and a pair of designer jeans. She prided herself on her good taste in clothes. After all, what client would hire a designer who didn’t dress the part?

  Mariah calmed her butterflies as best she could. Tonight was worse than last night. Last night she hadn’t known what to expect. Tonight she faced the evening with a mixture of anticipation and dread. Rodrigo wanted a sexual relationship, and she was torn as to what she wanted. . She didn’t think she was the kind of woman who could have meaningless affair. It’d have to mean something to her.

  His rented SUV screeched into her driveway at exactly 7:00 P.M. Gravel flew in all directions as his wheels left skid marks extending several feet. Mariah waited on the front porch until the dust cleared. She’d been ready for almost thirty minutes. She never got ready on time, let alone early. She probably looked too eager, but she didn’t care.

  Rodrigo jumped out of the SUV and strode toward her. Stopping, he looked her up and down then whistled with appreciation. The man had a gift for making her feel as if she was the most beautiful woman in the world. She curtsied gracefully and walked down the front steps to where he stood. He bowed low with a flourish.

  “Thank you.”

  “No, thank you.” He grinned like a little boy set free at Disneyland. His clothes consisted of those now-familiar disintegrating jeans, a black leather jacket, a black t-shirt, and cowboy boots. He hadn’t shaved, and his hair hadn’t seen a comb all day. That black leather jacket, though—if it wasn’t designer quality, she’d eat her Nordstrom’s credit card.

  Rodrigo placed a hand on her back, guided her to his SUV, and opened the passenger door. Before he shut it, he leaned down to kiss her with great tenderness, leaving her gripping the dashboard. On impulse, she pried one hand from the dash and touched his cheek with her index finger, running it across his stubble and along his jaw. His chocolate eyes burned into hers. With a shake of his head, he shut the passenger door. It didn’t take an experienced woman to know the man wanted more than he’d just gotten.

  “Where to, Mariah?” he asked as he started the engine.

  Mariah looked down at her hands and twisted them in her lap. “My friends, Eva and Jamal, invited us over for a drink. We don’t have to go if you don’t want to.” She prayed he’d say no.

  Instead he winked at her and grinned. “Sounds great to me. Just tell me how to get there.” Rodrigo rammed the SUV in gear, and they were off in a cloud of flying dust and gravel.

  They drove a few minutes in silence before Mariah finally spoke. “Uh, Rigo, before we get to Eva and Jamal’s, I need to warn you about them.”

  “Why?”

  “They’re a little—um—different.” Different didn’t begin to describe those two.

  “Different?” His mocha eyes danced with mischief. “How are they different? Do they have forty-seven cats in the house, and I’ll be picking cat hair out of my mouth all night? Maybe they’ll subject us to countless hours of home videos from their Grand Canyon vacation? Or they’ve worked out a new routine on their accordions? Dios, they aren’t addicted to karaoke, are they or do they bay at a full moon?”

  Mariah doubled over with laughter. “Well, if that’s the case, you’re in luck. We just had a full moon.”

  “Do they raise geckos?” Rodrigo said with a grin as he glanced at her out of the corner of his eye.

  “Geckos?” Mariah’s eyes grew big in mock horror.

  “Yeah, you know, cute little guys. Reptiles. Long tails. Beady little eyes. Live in trees and sell insurance on the side.”

  Mariah wiped the tears from her eyes and attempted to compose herself. “No, really, none of the above. Do you know you’re goofy?”

  “Goofy? I’ve been called a lot of things, bella, but I don’t recall goofy being one of them.”

  “I guess I just bring out the best in you.” She touched his arm and stroked his rock-solid biceps. She was a sucker for those arms of his. Of course, that’s not all she was a sucker for.

  “You do bring out something in me.” He placed his hand over hers and squeezed it. “So what about these two friends of yours? Why are they different?”

  “They’re free spirits. Eccentric.” Mariah hesitated. Eva was difficult to explain. “Eva thinks she’s a mystic.”

  “A mystic?”

  “Yeah, you know, like a psychic?”

  “I know what a mystic is,” Rodrigo countered. “Do you think she has psychic powers?”

  “Mostly, I don’t. It’s rumored that she was a top-ranking executive for a Seattle software firm. She had a vision that told her to live a simpler life. She donated her money, stocks, and material possessions to charities. Her stocks were worth millions. Now she works as a masseuse at a local resort. She predicts the future, reads palms, does astrology charts, and stuff like that i
n her home. She doesn’t even own a computer or cell phone anymore.”

  “No kidding?” Admiration snuck into his voice. “It takes a lot of guts to give up everything. Especially your cell.”

  “Yeah, it does. Not that I’ve heard any of this directly from Eva, but there aren’t too many secrets on this island among the locals. Eva guards her former life with a vengeance.” Mariah shrugged. “I gravitate to people that are different. I don’t know why.”

  “Like me?”

  Mariah studied him for a minute. Oh yeah, he was different, all right. He hid his pain and fear behind a wall of false confidence and brashness. “You got that right, amigo. She’s a little disconcerting to people who don’t realize what they’re getting into when they first meet her. And there’s one more thing—”

  “And that is?” His mouth twitched with amusement.

  “She dresses like a colorblind gypsy.”

  Rodrigo glanced at her, pretending shock. “My little fashion princess hasn’t been able to reform her?”

  “I haven’t tried. Yet. Actually, my next reclamation project is you.” She gave him the once over, imagining a cleaned-up and well-dressed Rodrigo. Then again, women would be fainting at his feet, and she wouldn’t stand a chance.

  Rodrigo remained oddly silent, not taking the bait. She studied him for a moment.

  He ought to do something with that hair. It stuck up all over the place. And the way he dressed. How about a shave? He was still gorgeous, no matter how you looked at it. Unfortunately, that sexy stubble wouldn’t give her face any relief from whisker burns tonight.

  “Are you worried I can’t handle her?” Rodrigo tossed her a cocky, self-confident grin.

  “Well, it’s just that she acts as if she knows something about you that you don’t know. Goes for the shock value. She missed her calling, should have been a writer for one of those supermarket tabloids. It drives me crazy when she gets that mysterious ‘know-all, see-all’ attitude.”

  “Maybe she thinks she’s your spirit guide?”

  “She’s more like my spirit pain in the butt.”

  Rodrigo threw back his head and laughed. “Some people need a spirit pain in the butt to keep them on track.”

  Mariah ignored that last remark. “That’s not all. There’s Jamal. He used to be a pro football linebacker till he blew out his knee. Now he’s a bartender.”

  “Did he give all his money away, too?”

  “No, he partied it away. Blew it on women and who knows what else. He portrays this intimidating image, but he’s really a teddy bear. He’s been with Eva for years, off and on. He’s blunt and to the point.”

  “This should be an interesting night.”

  “Believe me, it will be.” If she survived it in one piece.

  *****

  Eva turned out to be everything Rico expected. Exotically beautiful with jet black hair and fair skin, her penetrating blue eyes and powerful personality dominated the room. She wore a brightly colored gypsy dress. Jewelry adorned every available space on her wrists, ankles, neck, earlobes, and fingers. When she moved, she sounded like an out-of-tune wind chime. The stuff appeared to be quite real, too; no costume jewelry for this woman. Obviously, she hadn’t given everything away when she decided to live a simpler life.

  She scrutinized him like an alley cat eyeing a fat canary. Dissecting his every weakness, insecurity, and fear, she seemed to be cataloging them for future reference. When their eyes met, Rico looked away first.

  She knows. He felt a stab of fear. Yet, something in her expression assured him that his secret would be safe with her. For now.

  Jamal, on the other hand, was her exact opposite, huge, dark, and pure muscle. He moved with a grace that belied his mammoth size. His shaved head and numerous tattoos added to the intimidation factor. The man played it to the hilt too. He towered over Rico and glared down at him. At 6’3”, Rico wasn’t accustomed to that. Knowing a guy like Jamal wouldn’t respect a man who showed any weakness, Rico met his gaze with unwavering confidence and hoped he did a passable job of faking it.

  Hopefully, the big guy didn’t read minds, too, or he was in deep shit; since he was mentally shaking in his boots. Jamal reached out, and Rico resisted the urge to duck. He received a friendly slap on the back that almost knocked him over. Jamal laughed heartily, getting a kick out of Rico’s instability.

  “Jamal likes you,” Mariah whispered as she wrapped her fingers around his arm. He smiled down at her. God, the things he did for this woman.

  They settled into the comfortable living room. Bright upholstery covered the simple furniture. Objects from around the world decorated the walls and shelves. Cascade Bay and the Moran Mansion were visible through the large picture windows. The comfortable, eclectic setting made even a stranger like him feel at home.

  Jamal served drinks then shot the first salvo. “I’ve been waiting to meet the man that has our Mariah drooling like a St. Bernard lusting over a T-bone steak. I’ve never seen her so worked up. Take my word for it. Several of my former teammates tried to score with her, instead they fumbled or threw an incomplete pass, know what I mean?” Jamal winked at him. Football wasn’t Rico’s sport, but he understood the references. Did Jamal equate everything in life to football? “Now you, Rodrigo, she’s ready to sack you or get you in the sack.”

  “Jamal!” Mariah’s mouth dropped open in horror. An attractive deep red colored her cheeks.

  Rico grinned. This was starting out pretty well after all as far as he was concerned. “Really? She sure likes to pretend otherwise.”

  Mariah turned the full force of her murderous gaze on Rico, but he just smiled sweetly at her.

  “Our near-virgin pretends she’s immune to physical attractions. Fate has brought you together to work out your karma.” Eva’s hooded gaze seemed a ploy to appear more mysterious.

  “Near virgin, huh?” Rico leaned forward. This was getting more interesting by the second.

  Eva paused to point at Mariah whose annoyance grew exponentially by the minute. “Beware. She was royalty in another life. In fact, I believe her nickname among her sorority sisters in college was Princess Rye.”

  “Plenty of guys on the Island have tried to hustle Mariah, too, but she’s eluded them so far,” Jamal added.

  “Your meeting is no coincidence.” Eva surveyed Rico boldly up and down. “She needs the right man to help release the woman trapped inside.”

  “I’d like to think that I’m up to that.” Rico couldn’t stop the grin spreading across his face.

  Mariah rolled her eyes. “Someone have mercy on me and put me out of my misery, please. What was I thinking to bring you here?”

  “I’m enjoying Eva’s insights. You should listen to her. She gives good advice.”

  “You would say that.”

  Rico put his arm around Mariah and pulled her closer to him while she pouted. She’d make him pay later. He had no doubt about that.

  “Rodrigo, don’t fall for her sweet, amenable personality. Underneath it all is an ambitious, strong-willed woman. She’s a Gemini. You never know which twin you’re going to get, but it does make life interesting for man who is easily bored.”

  Rico blinked a few times, his turn to be caught off-balance. He hadn’t realized he was so transparent. Perhaps, she just remembered things she’d read about him.

  “You’re a Leo.”

  Rico concealed his surprise. “Uh, yes, I am.”

  “It’s obvious. You’ll be a good match.”

  “I think so,” Rico said.

  “Would all of you quit talking about me like I’m not here?”

  “Believe me, I’m very aware that you’re here.” Rico focused his full attention on her. She turned her head to look at him, and his breathing stalled for a brief moment while his heart stumbled a few beats.

  This woman did things to him. Things he’d never thought he’d feel again after Carmen dive-bombed his heart. Mariah entertained him and excited him. Her sassiness kept him o
n his toes. Weak women never held his interest for long, no matter how beautiful they were. Women who gave into his every whim bored him. He’d much rather watch Mariah’s eyes cast green daggers at him when he pushed her buttons. She was damned attractive when she was mad.

  *****

  Three hours later and in a definite deja vu moment, Mariah held on tight as the SUV careened down the winding road toward her farm. “You missed the turn to take me home.”

  “I know.” Rodrigo gripped the steering wheel, his handsome face tense with concentration.

  “Where are we going?”

  “I don’t know.” He offered a one-shoulder shrug.

  Mariah stared at him. She certainly didn’t know where they were going either; on the road or in their relationship, if you could even call it a relationship at this stage.

  “Do you want to go home?” Rodrigo reached for her hand and pried it off the dashboard.

  “No. It’s still early unless you’re tired. Eva and Jamal wear a person out.”

  “I’m not tired, not at all.”

  “How about a walk? Rosario has some great walking trails.”

  “Okay.” Rodrigo whipped the SUV around in the middle of the road and stepped on it.

  “Do you always drive like this?” Mariah croaked, gripping her seat.

  Rodrigo grinned recklessly. “No, I’m trying to keep it tame so I don’t scare you.”

  Mariah leaned her head against the leather seat. “Thanks for small favors, Rigo.”

  “Hey, I aim to please.”

  Rodrigo parked by the marina. They strolled hand-in-hand down a dimly lit path that skirted the edge of a man-made pond shaped like a figure eight. A small overgrown island sat in the center of each half. Low stone walls prevented guests from accidentally taking a dip and doubled as flower planters. Back in the 1920’s, lovers rowed their sweethearts around the pond in canoes. No longer used, the murky waters and overgrown vegetation stood as a silent testament to a simpler era.

  They walked in silence, each lost in his or her own thoughts. His hand felt warm and strong in hers. She remembered Eva’s words regarding what she would regret the most. Rodrigo said he’d be on the island a month. Was a month with this man worth a broken heart? The alternative was not seeing him. That didn’t appeal to her at all.