“Aren’t you excited?” Cliff says. “These tickets aren’t cheap.”
I snatch the papers from him. “Who paid for these?”
“Who else? If Louie were healthy, he’d go.” Cliff grins cockily. “He trusts me with your life. Besides, I know the area well.”
“So do I.” Now Zach steps in. “Vera, if you want go to Australia, let me take you.”
My head swivels from Zach to Cliff and back. As much as I’d love to travel with Zach, what would I do if I really find my father? Would Zach understand, or would he turn him in? I’ll have to trust my uncle on this one.
“Let’s not talk about tickets and who’s going where.” I speak calmly to diffuse the tension. “I’ll speak to Louie tomorrow, but right now, I’m going to finish my date with Zach.”
Cliff sneers and clamps his hands on his hips. “I can’t believe you’re dating a has-been white guy with an Asian fetish. Have you no pride?”
“How dare you insult us.” I glare and step away from him.
Zach moves so fast he’s a blur. He punches Cliff on the jaw. Cliff staggers but recovers his balance. He tucks his shoulder down and charges. I scream, but the two men are rolling on the ground, huffing, puffing and punching.
“Stop it, guys. Stop. Someone’s going to call the police.”
Lights turn on in the surrounding apartments. Zach has Cliff pinned, but Cliff hooks his foot behind Zach’s thigh and kicks the junction of Zach’s prosthetic leg. Zach yelps, his breath sharp between his teeth.
I yank Cliff’s shirt. “Leave, or I’m calling the police.”
“You’re coming with me. Now.” Cliff dusts himself off. “You’re in danger. That’s why your uncle wants me to protect you.”
“Oh, stop being a drama king.” I roll my eyes. One thing these guys don’t realize, I am not a hysterical woman. Never have been, never will.
Cliff draws me close and taunts me in a lowered voice, “Zach has his own reasons for hanging onto you.”
“I can handle it,” I whisper harshly. “Now go.”
I’m not going to fall for whatever melodrama Cliff has cooked up this time. Ever since I’ve known him, he’s been overly flirtatious and cloak and dagger at the same time.
Zach’s on his hands and knees, breathing hard. I help him up, and he limps to his door. I look over my shoulder. Cliff is still hanging around, walking back and forth like a caged lion.
I step through Zach’s door and bolt it after me. He stumbles to the couch and lowers his jeans without glancing my direction. Grimacing, he detaches the prosthetic leg and unrolls his liner while rubbing his thigh.
“Should I get ice?” I wring my hands, torn between wanting to help and letting him take care of it.
“He twisted it good.” Zach grunts. “There are cold packs in the freezer. Wrap one in a towel. What’s going on with you and Cliff?”
I bring the packs and towel to Zach’s side. “Nothing. My uncle has business in Australia. Guess he wants me to check up on it.”
“Thanks.” He applies the ice to his leg. “What’s that about Tatay? Is he talking about your father?”
My jaw shudders and I rub my palms, panicking. Cliff should have kept his mouth shut. Why did he put on this show in front of Zach?
“Must be Cliff’s father. My uncle must know him. Don’t worry about it.” I’m amazed at the lies I improvise as I sit at his side and peer at his leg. “Does it hurt a lot?”
Zach is examining his stump. I can’t get over the gruesome scar, raw, jagged, red and beige. I keep expecting a bone to poke through the skin and bleed.
Since he doesn’t reply, I retire to the bathroom to give him space. I’m sure he’s embarrassed that he lost the fight, although Cliff fought dirty.
After I brush my hair, I return to the living room. Zach’s wearing a pair of cut-off shorts and lying on the sofa, his hands clasped over his belly. He sits up as soon as he sees me and pats the cushion. I don’t want to ask if he’s hurting or if he’s okay. I had a good time, and I need him to know it, so I cuddle into his side as if we’d just returned from our laser tag date and nothing else had happened.
“Think he’s still out there?” Zach asks.
“Forget him.” I kiss Zach on the lips. “I enjoyed our date.”
“Mmm … me too.” He’s playing with my hair again, running his fingers through it in a way that makes me want to purr. “The offer’s still open. If you want to go to Australia, come with me. My aunt has a bed and breakfast, and she could use some of your nursing skills in exchange for a room. She’s a diabetic who loves to bake. Gets herself into trouble, and she doesn’t monitor her blood sugar like she should.”
“I haven’t decided whether I should go or not.”
“Of course.” His eyes sweep my face and soften. “But if you do, I’m not letting you out of my sight.”
“Umm … Zach? I can take care of myself.”
“I know you can, but I worry about you getting involved in Cliff’s business.” He traces lines through my hair, then kisses my forehead. “You know what I think?”
His touch is comforting, but I can’t fall for him. Cliff could be right. Zach may want revenge once he’s fully aware of my background.
I yawn loudly. “I’m tired. Think I’ll go home. My mother’s probably worried.”
“She should be.”
“Why?”
“Because Cliff’s up to no good.”
Zach seems sincere, yet I can’t help but feel he knows more than he’s letting on. If only I knew which one to trust.
Chapter 11
Three days later I’m in an airplane over the Pacific Ocean in the middle seat, with Zach in the aisle seat to my left and Cliff at the window, flying nineteen hours to Australia. Their broad shoulders infringe on my space, and their elbows hog the armrests. Even though I’m barely one hundred and five pounds, I like room to spread out. The three of us stare at the seatback screens and try to ignore one another.
There’s no sense talking. Cliff claims Zach’s family is a danger to me, but won’t tell me what he supposedly knows. Zach says Cliff is a deranged ratbag who’s stalking me and preying on my emotions about finding my father. Guess he didn’t buy my little diversion about Tatay being Cliff’s supposed father. By the way, who is Cliff’s father?
Of course Tito Louie told me to trust Cliff, but won’t say why. Meanwhile, I lied to Mama and told her I’m taking a much-needed vacation. I didn’t even tell Maryanne, for fear she’d talk me out of going. Owen still thinks the entire hoo-ha is a jealous ex-girlfriend trying to break me up with Zach, except his theory backfired since Zach went into he-man protection mode and came with me.
The roar of the jet engines barely covers the thudding of my heart. I still don’t know who I should go with when we get to Melbourne. At least I have many, many hours to think about it. With nothing I can do until we land, I numb my feelings and pretend I’m an observer outside my body.
There I am, with two guards hemming my every move. Their clashing colognes and deodorants make my belly quiver. I almost giggle at the thought of overdosing on the testosterone floating between these two muscle-bound specimens.
Spending the entire flight in the cramped bathroom is looking mighty attractive at this stage. As soon as the seatbelt light turns off, I tap Zach’s knee and tell him I need to use the restroom. He stands in the aisle to let me pass. Cliff unsnaps his seatbelt and gets out of his seat, but Zach sits back down and blocks him from exiting.
I walk quickly toward the front of the plane. A drink cart blocks my path, so when I reach a bulkhead, I traverse to the port side, then head for the back. I look over my shoulder and see Zach a few feet behind me with Cliff trailing him. Oh goodness!
I power walk to the end of the airplane and double back to the starboard side, squeezing in between a row of seats. Zach and Cliff are forced to stand in the restroom line when an entourage of children crowds behind them. I return to the midsection and duck into an unoccupied r
estroom. After five minutes I figure the coast is clear, so I exit and sneak toward business class.
“Gotcha!” Zach snags my arm and guides me through the galley toward the front of the airplane. The other passengers see his exposed prosthetic leg and step aside to let us pass.
One of the restrooms between business and first class is unoccupied. Zach calmly opens the door and pulls me in with him.
“We can’t be in here together,” I protest. “What if we get arrested?”
He picks me up and places me on the edge of the small sink. “No one saw us. They look away when they see my leg.”
He’s so close his sweet, minty breath fans my face. I stare into his gorgeous blue eyes, as clear as the sea. I might as well figure out what’s up his sleeve.
“What’s the plan?” I ask.
“We ditch Cliff at the layover in Sydney and drive.”
“What about our luggage? They made us check almost everything.”
He lowers his forehead to rest against mine. “We’ll pick them up at the holding area. They have cages for the leftover bags.”
“Hmm … I don’t know. What if Cliff steals them?”
Zach’s lips feather against mine. “Let him. I have you. Advantage Zach.”
“How do you know I’m going with your program?” I squirm and wiggle in his arms. “Maybe Cliff knows who Tatay is.”
“If he did, why all the mystery? Either Tatay’s your father or he’s not. Cliff could have asked him to Skype you so you’d know for sure.”
“My dad can’t exactly come out in the open.” I back away when I realize my blooper. “I mean, he’s a recluse.”
“You sound like you already know he’s alive.” Zach’s eyebrows lower. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”
“Ah … no, it’s just a feeling I have. He would have contacted us, if he’s alive, I mean.” Whew, I hope he buys this.
“You’re starting to sound as mysterious as Cliff. Is your father on the run? Illegal alien?”
Ha, his type would always think we Asians are illegal. I poke his abdominals. “This is all hypothetical. Owen’s posted a message on my website saying I’m taking a vacation in Australia. He says to wait and see if Tatay contacts me.”
“Why do we need Cliff? I can show you around while you wait for your father, or whomever it is, to contact you.”
“But my uncle asked Cliff to escort me, for my own safety.” I added the last bit to tease him.
Zach thumbs my cheek. “You don’t seriously think I’m a danger to you.”
The temperature is rising rapidly, and my breath steams unevenly. “No. If you hurt me, it’ll be my fault.”
“I would never hurt you.” He touches the tip of my nose with his. “I really care about you. That’s why I came on this trip.”
The plane hits an air pocket, and the seatbelt lights flash on. Was that an omen? I reach for the exit latch, but Zach cups his hand over mine. He slides it open and puts his back against the door. “Now the stewardesses will think it’s unoccupied, and no one else will bother us because they’re supposed to be returning to their seats.”
The airplane continues to shake, the walls creaking over the drone of the jet engines. Zach wraps his arms around me and inhales the scent of my hair. “You smell so good. So tempting.”
Overcome by his nearness, I flatten my palm against his chest and run it down to his waist, admiring the firm planes of his muscles. He’s flushed and breathing faster. I pull his groin between my legs and wrap my feet around his behind. Hope he doesn’t think I’m teasing him because at this altitude, I haven’t got much oxygen in my brain, and I’m ready to throw caution out the window.
Zach lowers his head and nips from my ear to my neck. I’m wearing a backless sundress, so all he has to do is untie the spaghetti strap and my breasts pop into his hot palms. A current blazes from my titties to my crotch while Zach sucks on my neck and massages my erect nipples, setting me on fire with want. I pull his shirt from his pants and run my hands around his waistband. A moan rumbles from his chest as I brush against his erection, but he backs away and lowers his head to my chest.
“Not for me, Vera,” he grumbles incoherently, and slides his fingers under my sundress, rubbing me through my panties.
Heat zaps from between my legs, urgent and needy. Zach licks and sucks one of my breasts while working two fingers into me. I’m slamming my head against the mirror and clutching the soap dispenser. We hit an air pocket and he momentarily disengages, leaving me empty and grasping—but he dives back in quickly. His fingers flick faster and his tongue trails fire down my torso. He’s breathing heavily and must be close to exploding, but he keeps his groin away from me.
Intense, almost stinging pleasure burns between my legs as I tighten my thighs around the friction ignited by his hand. The airplane shudders and shudders to the same rhythm as my frenzied gasps. “Zach, Zach, Zach.”
I’m tingling all over, and then a rush of flames engulf me, showering me with a volcanic eruption of ecstasy. Every muscle in my body pulsates to the flashing of the seatbelt signs. Before I can let out a scream, Zach’s mouth covers my lips. His tongue wraps around mine and loves me as he gradually calms my over-excited body with deep, slow kisses.
The airplane steadies, and I float in his arms, catching my breath and kissing him over every surface of his body I can reach in the cramped bathroom. Zach straightens his shorts and pulls my dress down while I retie my sundress halter. I’m breathless and speechless. He knows my body better than I do, and he does such incredible things to me. But why didn’t he participate? Has he gone shy because of his accident?
The seatbelt lights turn off, and the captain announces that people are free to move around the cabin. Zach ruffles my hair. “I’ll go out first and be the decoy. Everyone will look away, and you can sneak back. Stay in the galley while I bribe someone to trade seats with us.”
He exits before I can respond. I catch my image in the mirror. My cheeks are flushed and my pupils dilated. A sheen of sweat dampens my nose. I look well effed. I wet a paper towel and quickly cool myself down. After finger combing my hair, I open the lavatory door and slip into the galley, feeling the eyes of every passenger on me.
Zach is talking to a large woman, his smile half-cocked. He gestures down the aisle at our seats and winks. The woman laughs with her entire chest and belly like he’s told her the most hilarious joke.
He waves me over as she moves ponderously toward Cliff, patting her hair and preening.
Cliff’s jaw drops, and his eyes pop when she climbs in. He’s shaking his head and gesturing at us, but she pinches his cheek, raises the armrest and plops herself into our combined seats.
“What did you tell her?” I snuggle up to Zach while he fastens my seatbelt.
“That he’s looking to immigrate by marrying an Aussie bride.” Zach chuckles. He taps on the seatback screen and glances at the flight map. “Now I have you to myself for the rest of the flight.”
“And when we get to Sydney? How do we get away from Cliff?”
“Debbie,” he nods toward the back, “says she’ll fall asleep and refuse to budge for the layover. Think Cliff will wet his pants?”
I’m giggling and my heart’s fluttering too fast. I cuddle into Zach’s arms. With no one else occupying the third seat in our section, we can stretch out and nestle closer. The cabin lights are dim as most of the passengers sleep.
“Zach?” My body’s still warm and fluffy from our encounter.
“Mmmm …” He jerks his good leg and inhales deeply.
“Does this count as spending the night with you?”
“You bet. Promise me many more and I’ll keep giving it to you.”
Chapter 12
We left San Francisco Thursday evening and arrive in Sydney on Saturday morning. Freaky that I’ve lost a day of my life, but Zach points out I was born in the Philippines so I’m actually even now. This puzzles me because I wasn’t born in the Philippines, an
d what would make him so confident in saying this? But I don’t bother correcting him. The less he knows about my parents, the better.
The sun is rising over Sydney harbor, and glittering specks reflect off the wings of the famous Opera House. The harbor is asymmetrical with an even marine blue tone, calm, unlike the boisterous San Francisco Bay filled with whitecaps. Sunlight glitters off the spectacular skyline, and the Sydney Bridge shines like a jeweled bracelet.
The airplane circles and lands for the layover. Zach quickly retrieves our carry-ons while Cliff sleeps, his head lolling on Debbie’s ample shoulders. I snap a picture to send to my uncle. Ha! Some bodyguard he turned out to be. I have no idea how he cooked up this story to get a free plane ticket from my uncle, but I really don’t care.
Now that I think about it, it will be good to stay with Zach’s aunt. I’ll be able to investigate his mother and find out who had a motive to kill her. Zach holds my hand as we walk down the jet way into the airport. He’s so romantic and sweet, always touching me in endearing ways. After clearing customs, we turn toward ground transportation.
I’m surprised at the number of people at this hour, but Zach expertly weaves us between the kiosks and stores selling jewelry, clothing and refreshments. As soon as we step out of the terminal, I’m slammed by the heat and humidity. Of course, Zach reminds me it’s the height of summer in the southern hemisphere, and everything’s opposite. Even the driver is on the right side of the vehicle, and traffic moves on the left side of the road.
“I hope it’s not a long walk to the rental cars.” I’m tottering in uncomfortable stilettos while he’s wearing sneakers. I’m already sweating from the short walk and the high temperatures. “Glad I wore a sundress, it’s so hot here.”
Zach taps my nose which is damp and laughs. “Last year it was over forty-five degrees.”
“That’s kind of chilly, isn’t it?” I hate that I sweat mostly on my face. It’s so noticeable.
“Celsius. But for you,” he checks an app on his phone, “that’s a hundred fourteen degrees Fahrenheit.”
Knowing Vera (Romantic Suspense, Family Drama) (Chance for Love) Page 8