She flicked her fingers at him. “I’m not talking about the...heat between us. There’s something about this assignment that has gotten under your skin. Taking down Los Santos and making sure they stay out of business—” she thumped her chest with her fist “—means something to you, now more than ever.”
He lifted his broad shoulders. “Law, order, truth, justice and the American way.”
“If you say so, SEAL.” She sucked down some more tequila.
“Are you ready to pack it up?” He leveled a finger at her half-full glass. “Or are you going to finish that?”
“They’re pretty strong. That first one did the trick, took the edge off after our mad swim to shore.” She dipped her head and scanned the ocean. She could just make out two heads bobbing close to the reef—must be the honeymoon couple. “Where do you think he went?”
“Back where he came from. My guess is that he lives here. Could just be a gun for hire, or maybe he’s on retainer with the cartels to take care of business. There’s no way Los Santos got someone to this island before we even arrived.”
“Is it just Los Santos I have to worry about?” She stood up and pulled her beach cover-up over her head. “There were two parties screwed in that deal, right? If there are missing weapons as well as drugs, the people on the receiving end of those weapons must be just as invested in finding them as Los Santos is in finding the drugs.”
“That’s true.”
She wedged a hand on her hip. “So, what are we talking about here, SEAL? Terrorists? Are you telling me I have a terrorist cell on my tail?”
He picked up her drink and downed it. “Yeah, you do. We do.”
* * *
WHEN THEY GOT back to the hotel, Josh decided to pay a visit to the harbor to inquire about boat rentals and to see if he could get a line on anyone who’d rented a small motorboat that afternoon.
He paused at the hotel door. “You’re not planning to take any more swims in the sea, are you?”
“Nope. I’m going to take a shower and sit on the balcony with my book, feet up.”
“Good. Don’t leave the room and don’t open the door. Don’t order room service or anything from housekeeping and keep the chain on.”
“You’re making me nervous.” In fact, she’d been more than nervous once Josh admitted what she’d suspected deep down all along—she had some very bad guys after her.
“That’s not a bad thing, to be nervous.” He smacked the doorjamb. “I’ll be waiting outside until I hear you lock and chain the door.”
She turned from the window and crossed the room. “I’m on it.”
Stepping into the hallway, Josh pulled the door closed behind him and Gina locked the top bolt and hooked the chain across.
She shut and locked the balcony doors for good measure, even though their room sat on the sixth floor, the top floor of the hotel. Then she grabbed her toiletry bag and headed for the bathroom.
She dropped her cover-up on the floor. She peeled off her bikini and stuck it in one of the sinks, running cool water over it. What had possessed her to pack that suit? She had a one-piece that covered a heckuva lot more, but what fun would that have been?
“Face it, girl.” She braced her hands against the vanity and leaned in for a close look at her flushed face. “You wanted that SEAL before you even knew he was a SEAL.”
She couldn’t even explain her immediate chemistry with Josh to herself. Of course, he had the dark good looks she loved in a man and a body that wouldn’t quit for days, but there had been some connection between them from the get-go.
Maybe it had to do with the fact that he was there in Colombia when her life had changed forever. What he was doing there, she still wasn’t quite sure. It was all kind of strange and mysterious.
She yanked back the semicircular curtain on the shower and walked into the huge, tiled space that sported two showerheads. Perfect for showering with someone, but Josh had made it clear that what had happened in the ocean between them wouldn’t happen again.
Sighing, she cranked on both faucets just because she could, allowing the dual jets to spray her front and back at the same time. Decadence.
She finished showering and put on a sundress—loose, modest, comfortable. She grabbed a book and padded out to the balcony with bare feet. Hanging over the railing, she watched the people at the pool, spotting the older couple from the plane but not the newlyweds. They were probably making out in one of the cabanas—lucky.
She sat in one of the chairs, her face shaded and her legs stretched out into the sunshine. Closing her eyes, she wiggled her toes.
She’d been confident her father had left something in his safe-deposit box relating to this deal, but what if she were mistaken? That’s another reason why she’d told Josh about her past and the way her father had controlled her. If they found nothing in the safe-deposit box, Josh wouldn’t suspect her of ulterior motives in suggesting the trip to Isla Perdida.
After seeing the swimsuit she’d packed, he might suspect her of other ulterior motives—and he wouldn’t be far from the mark. The guy had it all in the looks department, but he was no pretty boy. His broad shoulders looked like they could carry the worries of the world...or at least her worries. Even the scars on his body were sexy because she knew he’d gotten them in the commission of good and not evil. Although there was the scar from the bullet wound he’d claimed he’d gotten pre–active duty days. He’d probably gotten it jumping in front of someone else.
A loud knock at the door made her start, and she scrambled out of her comfortable seat and rushed across the room. She peered through the peephole at the man of her recent daydreams.
She unchained the door and opened it. “Any luck?”
“A little.” He squeezed past her and turned, holding a gun by the barrel.
Covering her mouth with one hand, she asked, “Where did you get that?”
“Remember Robbie, our taxi driver? He mentioned his cousin?”
“You got a gun from our taxi driver’s cousin?”
“Robbie mentioned he could get anything for us.”
“So, you naturally assumed that meant a weapon?”
“I read between the lines. His cousin is a go-to guy on the island—drugs, women, weapons. After today’s...excitement in the water, I figured I’d need a piece for tomorrow’s visit to the bank.”
“The bank has metal detectors. You won’t get in with that.”
“I will if I’m your bodyguard. I already checked with Fito.”
“Fito is Robbie’s cousin?”
“Yep.”
“I feel so—” she spun around with her arms outstretched “—useless. All I managed to do was take a shower and sit on the balcony, enjoying the view.”
“That’s all you needed to do.” Josh crouched in front of the hotel safe in the closet and stashed the gun inside. “I’m going to get cleaned up, and we’ll have some dinner.”
“You didn’t find out anything at the harbor about someone renting a boat?”
“No, but my new best friend, Fito, might be able to help me out there, too.”
“If this guy’s so darned helpful, maybe he helped the other guy get the boat and the weapon he used to shoot at us.” She chewed her bottom lip. “Can you trust him?”
“I can trust him as much as the next payoff. I have no illusions about him, but I’m going to use him when I can.” Josh closed the closet door and brushed his hands together. “I’m going to take a shower. You can return to the balcony and continue doing what you were doing out there.”
Thinking about Josh Elliott.
“You’ll like that shower.” She slid open the door to the balcony and closed it behind her. She didn’t need to hear that water running and imagine Josh’s perfect form getting wet under two sprays of water.
> She hung over the side of the balcony and spotted the honeymoon couple by the side of the pool, sitting across from each other at a table, not even talking. Were they sick of each other already?
She shifted her gaze from the pool to the sea beyond. She remembered those heady newlywed days. She’d been so young...and stupid. Ricky had been insistent upon starting a family immediately. She’d been touched by his enthusiasm until she realized the baby was a way to cement her to him and cement him to her father.
She didn’t regret one day of RJ’s sweet life, so she had a hard time looking back and wishing things had been different. Everything had changed anyway when the CIA decided to assassinate the leading members of Los Santos once they’d gotten in bed with a terrorist cell. That action had probably saved her life...and RJ’s.
The door slid open behind her, and Josh put his hands on her shoulders. “Doing okay? How’s the view?”
No regrets at all.
She inhaled his fresh scent and straightened up. “I’m fine, and the view is beautiful, as long as it doesn’t contain any boats bearing men with guns.”
“Pool area still crowded?”
“Plenty of people down there, including our honeymooners from the plane even though they seem to have gotten a little tired of each other.” She turned, and Josh dropped his hands from her shoulders. “Where are we having dinner? I’m starving.”
“I know there are plenty of five star restaurants on this little island, but would you mind if we just ate in the hotel restaurant? I’d prefer we keep a low profile here.”
“I don’t think the hotel’s restaurant is too shabby either, so that’s fine with me.” She gave him the once-over in his cargo shorts and light blue button-down shirt.
He tugged on the hem of his shirt. “Too casual?”
“I’m sure it’s fine. Most people at the hotel seem to wander from the beach to the pool to the restaurant without breaking their stride.”
“Then I’m ready.”
“Just need my shoes.” She walked back into the room and slipped on a pair of sandals while Josh locked the doors to the balcony.
By the time they got down to the restaurant, people were crowding the edge of the pool area to watch the sunset and had already nabbed all the tables in the dining area.
Josh scanned the packed restaurant. “Should’ve figured this would be a popular time to eat. We can come back later or maybe order room service.”
“I can’t wait.” Gina patted her stomach.
A woman popped up at one of the prime tables, outside on the patio and facing the sea, and waved. “Over here.”
“It’s the couple from the plane. I don’t think they ever went up to their room.”
“Maybe because they already knew what a madhouse it was here at sunset.” Josh touched her elbow. “Should we go over?”
A hostess dressed in a flowing pareu floated toward them. “Excuse me. The couple at the edge of the patio would like you to join them for dinner. We are fully booked, otherwise.”
Gina shrugged. “Why not? We can eat and run if they bore us.”
Josh turned to the hostess. “Yes, we’ll join them, thank you.”
The hostess guided them to the best seats in the house, and Gina and Josh greeted their newfound friends.
Gina introduced Josh to Tara and Roger, as they’d exchanged names at the airport.
Tara smiled and squeezed her husband’s arm. “We were warned about getting in early to watch the sunset.”
Gina smiled. “Thank you so much. I was about ready to faint from hunger.”
“I can imagine, since you had quite a swim in the ocean today.”
Josh nudged Gina’s toe with his foot. As if he had to warn her.
Nodding, Gina said, “Yeah, it was, uh, invigorating.”
“I’m glad I’m not the only one going casual.” Josh tipped his head at Roger, still dressed in his board shorts, although he’d topped them with a green polo shirt.
“We didn’t want to miss out on getting a table. Lucky for you we didn’t go back to our room or wander around the waterfront.”
Josh kicked her under the table, and Gina slid a quick sidelong look at him. Did he think she was going to tell Roger about the taxi driver’s cousin and the gun?
“Yep, lucky for us. Thanks again for asking us to join you. Have you ordered yet?”
“Just drinks.” Tara picked up the menu. “But the waiter told us about the specials.”
A waiter arrived with a tray bearing two margaritas.
“Those look good. I think we’ll have a couple of those.”
“That tequila sunrise I had on the beach was pretty good.”
Josh kicked her again and chuckled. “But now it’s sunset. In fact, we’ll have a pitcher, please.”
If he didn’t stop kicking her, he’d get a glass of water in his face. Why was he so set on margaritas and an entire pitcher of them?
They exchanged more small talk about the island until the waiter returned with two more glasses and a pitcher of icy margaritas. The waiter poured drinks for Gina and Josh, and then took their orders.
After another fifteen minutes of chitchat, Josh grabbed the handle of the pitcher and held it up. “Top those off for you?”
Before Tara or Roger could answer, Josh was tipping the pitcher over their glasses, filling them to the top. “We’ve had a stressful day. I need this right now.”
Josh wrapped a hand around his glass and gestured in the air as half his drink sloshed over his hand. “Salud.”
Now it was her turn to kick him under the table. Why was he telling good old Tara and Roger about their stressful day? Did he want them to start prying?
Tara eyed him over the wide rim of her glass. “I thought Isla Perdida was paradise? You mean you actually experienced stress here?”
Josh sputtered and clamped a napkin to his mouth. “Gina told you we were combining a little business with our pleasure? Well, it’s the business part that’s stressing us out.”
“We wouldn’t know about that, would we, Tara? It’s strictly pleasure for us.” Roger kissed his wife’s hand.
“Then drink up.”
Gina had no idea what game Josh was playing, but he ordered another pitcher and poured another round of drinks for everyone. Tara and Roger seemed reluctant to imbibe any more, but didn’t want to offend Josh so they kept sipping away.
She didn’t blame the honeymooners. She’d tossed the contents of at least one glass into the bushes to her left, but pretended to be drinking along with the rest of them.
The food arrived and Josh continued to get louder and louder. He liberally sampled food from the other couple’s plates and ordered a third pitcher of margaritas.
Tara had indicated that they were from New York and without ever revealing his own connection to the state, Josh asked Roger questions about it as if he were planning on taking a vacation there.
Gina giggled along with his antics, while casting apologetic looks toward Tara. Roger didn’t seem to mind at all. While Tara’s heavy lids drooped over her eyes, Roger’s speech began to slur and he had trouble retrieving his napkin from the ground.
“I have an idea.” Josh snapped his fingers for the waiter. “Let’s hit one of those cabanas on the beach and finish the night with a few cocktails in the sand.”
Tara waved her napkin as if waving a white flag. “I’m really tired.”
Roger shot his new wife a very unnewlywed glance. “We’d be happy to, mate.”
Josh scribbled on the check. “This one’s on us.”
“Very generous of you.” Roger had to help his wife out of her chair.
Josh stumbled for good measure, but Gina didn’t think for one minute he was drunk. She grabbed his arm and the four of them tripped out to the
sand.
Josh kept prodding them on to the last cabana on the beach, even though it seemed as if Tara and now Roger could barely lift their feet from the sand to take their next step.
When they reached the tent, Josh helped Roger into a chaise longue and then poured Tara into hers. Within minutes, the two newlyweds were passed out cold.
Gina turned on Josh and, in a harsh whisper, asked, “Why in the world did you get those two drunk, and what are the odds that they’d both pass out?”
“Shh.” Josh crouched beside Roger and transferred some items from the comatose man’s pockets to his pockets. Then he plunged his hand in Tara’s purse.
“What are you doing, robbing them?”
Josh held up a key card. “Let’s hurry. We’ll have a couple of hours to search their room.”
“S-search their room?” Her eyes widened as her gaze shifted from one passed-out person to the other.
“What did you think was going on in the restaurant, Gina? These two are the enemy.”
Chapter Twelve
Gina’s feet felt rooted in the sand, and her jaw dropped open. The handsy newlywed couple, the enemy?
“What did you do to them?”
“Slipped a little something in their margaritas.”
“You’re a regular walking pharmaceutical repository. People are just dropping in your wake.”
Completely sober, he took her arm. “I’ll explain on the way to their room. Tara conveniently left her key card in the little envelope with their room number. She’s no pro.”
When they reached the hotel, Josh took her hand and they skirted the restaurant. No sense in having anyone wonder where the other drunken couple went.
As they raced through the lobby and into the elevator, Gina asked, “How did you know?”
“Tara let it slip that they were from New York. When she did, Roger shot her a look that could kill. Seemed odd, so I brought up something about New York later and it was clear they’d never lived there. Something you said earlier struck me as odd, too. A honeymooning couple that stays at the pool all day, and then the beach and then back at the pool where you said they hardly spoke to each other, let alone kissed?
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