If only she hadn’t sought Hardman’s next of kin we wouldn’t be here. Sin fought back the bitter recrimination.
“Buenos Dias, Senora Reasoner.” She greeted Nedra in rapidly spoken Spanish and a warm bear hug. “I haven’t been by the house yet. Are you headed back there?” Mistakenly, she assumed that the couple had spent the night under Hardman’s roof.
Before Nedra could answer her inquiry Mrs. Ruiz turned to Sin. Assessing him from head to foot in one swift motion, she gushed.
“Ooooh, Senor! You do look like the picture!”
Nedra made the introductions. “Mrs. Ruiz this is my husband, Sinclair Reasoner. Sinclair, Mrs. Rosa Ruiz.”
Sin returned her sunny smile of greeting with a rigid nod. Not only had this woman been the catalysis for their situation, but she had lied to them about Hardman. He didn’t want to like her.
Mrs. Ruiz reacted to his reserved reception immediately. Her bright expression faded to one of regret.
“I apologized to your wife when we met yesterday, Senor Reasoner, and I got to tell you I’m sorry too. Senor Hardman was very angry when he found out about the letter I sent you. He told me to call and say to you that he was dead.” She quickly made a sign of the cross as if to ward off the thought.
“Yo comprendo,” Sin told her tightly, not totally unsympathetic to her plight.
“I asked your wife why the two of you came anyway. She said that because you looked like that picture I sent, the two of you became concerned about Senor Hardman since he was an American and had no family. And I know God will truly bless you for that.” She looked at him as though he had just been ordained a saint. “I got to say that I’m glad that you came and I want you two to enjoy yourselves.”
She started telling them about the delights to be found on their island, sounding more like a tour guide than a housekeeper. Her rapid speech pattern was interspersed with occasional gales of laughter whether there was a reason for her mirth or not. The sheer exuberance of her jovial personality made it difficult for Sin to resist her.
“Did you two have breakfast before going out for your walk?” she asked. “I’m headed over to the market to get some things before going to the house.”
“Thank you for asking, but we’ve eaten already,” Nedra told her. “We’re just walking around getting a last look at the island because we’re going home today.”
Mrs. Ruiz frowned. “You’re leaving this soon? Americans usually love it here. You gotta stay long enough to go to the beach and see the baby turtles hatch and race to the sea. We islanders raid the turtle eggs and eat them. I can get some and when you come back to the house I can cook my delicious turtle egg omelet for you.”
Nedra politely declined the kind invitation. “It sounds delicious, but we want to continue our walk. After that we’ll double back to the house and say our good-byes.”
Expressing her remorse at their departure, she gave Nedra another hug and extended the same to a surprised Sin, before continuing on her way. He and Nedra resumed their stroll.
“It’s hard not to like her,” Nedra stated, with a sideward glance at her husband. She sensed his struggle to remain distant from the gregarious woman.
Sin had to admit the truth. “Yes, it is.”
“That’s good, because as I told you, Thomas thinks she may be a long lost cousin, and you ought to be ashamed that you were so rude to her.”
“You’re right. I’m properly chastised, but please, let’s not put a damper on what could be a good day,” Sin warned. “Don’t mention that man’s name to me.”
It was bad enough they might have to face him when they went back to the house to gather the rest of their things. He was certain that Nedra had left them there on purpose, but he would deal with that when it happened. Meanwhile, they were heading home today. That’s all that mattered.
The couple was in good spirits. Picking up stones they skipped them across the water and engaged in a barefoot race across the warm sand. The stretch of beach on which they frolicked was deserted except for them.
Nedra sighed contentedly. “I like this. It feels like we’re the only human beings on earth.”
“It sure does. I was walking along here yesterday and discovered something. Come on, let me show you.” Taking her hand, Sin pulled her along.
Nedra followed. She was glad to see him in such a good mood. After days of pouting and complaining he was now as animated as a child at Christmas. It wasn’t hard to guess that their plan to leave today was at the root of this metamorphosis.
After a short sprint into what looked like a grove of trees, Sin followed a grassy path and then came to an abrupt stop. Nedra’s eyes widened and she gasped at the sight before her. It was a lagoon, with water so clear that it sparkled like diamonds as it reflected the sun’s rays. Tropical plants and wild flowers surrounded it, as if sheltering its beauty. The fragrance was seductively alluring.
“It’s like the Garden of Eden,” Nedra said breathlessly. Mesmerized, she sauntered toward the water as though in a trance.
“I thought you’d like it.” The look of wonder on his wife’s face almost made the trip to the island worth it—almost.
Grinning, he stood watching as she drew closer to the lagoon. He was quite pleased with himself for having found this hidden treasure, that was until Nedra pulled her t-shirt over her head, tossed it over her shoulder and continued walking.
“What are you doing?” he asked, startled.
“I’m going swimming,” she hollered back at him, coming out of her bra. She tossed it aside. Sin’s mouth fell open.
“Are you serious? You don’t have a swimsuit!” He looked from side to side, making sure they were alone.
“Don’t need one!” Nedra stepped out of her shorts. She was now clad in a pair of bikini panties and nothing else! Sin started trotting toward her.
“Nedra!” His strangled cry came too late. By the time he reached the water’s edge, his wife had shed her underwear and dived smoothly into the lagoon.
Sin stood in shock staring at her nude form swimming away.
“Get out of the water!” he thundered, knowing that his demand would be ignored. “You don’t have any clothes on.”
Turning on her back, she floated leisurely, laughing gleefully. Then, reversing her position she dove under the water with the grace of a dolphin.
Sin stood rooted. This naked nymph couldn’t possibly be his wife. The woman was an ordained minister! She’d never done anything like this before.
The water parted and Nedra surfaced, issuing a challenge. “Come on in, Sinclair! Don’t be so boring.”
Sin started. Boring? “Are you serious?” Oh, hell no!
Nedra laughed, knowing that would rattle him. Her man was anything but lackluster, especially when it came to the joys of sex. He had taught her things she didn’t know were possible. By the time she looked up again, he was out of his clothes, swimming toward her. Nedra swam away.
For the next few minutes they played a spirited game of chase, with Nedra ducking and diving away from him whenever Sin got close. Their squeals of delight echoed in the stillness, drifting skyward, rousing the birds in the surrounding trees to flight.
Diving beneath the water, he caught one of her legs. Shaking him loose, she swam toward the shallow water where he caught her and picked her up. Nedra kicked and squealed with delight.
When Sin set her on her feet, she wrapped her arms around his neck and folded her long legs around his muscular frame. With gentle fingers, she traced his fine hairline, caressed the length of his sharp cheekbones. A single finger gingerly outlined his well trimmed moustache, caressed the shape of his full mouth and then settled in the hollow of the cleft in his chin.
“You’re a good looking man, Senor Reasoner,” she cooed.
“Flattery will get you everywhere, Senora Reasoner.” Slipping her errant finger into his mouth, Sin suckled.
Nedra’s hand slid beneath the water, where it encased his rock hard penis and stroked
. “What will this get me?”
“Anything you want,” he assured her.
“Show me.”
With one powerful thrust into her waiting body, Sin started to fulfill his promise. Nedra rotated her hips wildly. Sin drove his penis deeper and deeper, reining kisses down the column of her throat. He bit a distended nipple. She bucked. Her core tightened around him. Sin trembled. Their bodies were on fire as the water around them sizzled.
On shaky legs, Sin walked them out of the water, every movement increasing the intensity of their desire. They sprawled on the grassy bank surrounding the lagoon where he stroked his wife with erotic abandonment.
“Harder!” Nedra demanded. Willingly, Sin complied, losing all control.
Nedra met him stroke for stroke. His name tumbled from her lips in a strangled cry as he thrust faster and deeper, filling her completely, ready to fulfill her every need. Pants and moans of passion filled the air. Nedra’s body convulsed at the power of the orgasm surging through her, ripping a long, loud scream from the depths of her soul. A moment later, Sin shuddered in completion, his cry of rapture matching that of his wife’s.
It took a while for their satiated bodies to recover from their fiery interlude and even longer for the power of speech to return.
“We’ll be the talk of the island if somebody stumbles in here and sees us,” she chuckled.
Sin lifted a brow. “We’re probably being talked about anyway. I’m sure they heard you screaming all the way to the village.” He laughed as she took a swat at him and missed when he rolled away.
“Okay, Mr. Smart Aleck. Let’s get dressed before we become bug bait.” Sin agreed.
As she slipped into her clothing, Nedra felt giddy. Her core was still throbbing. Her nipples still stood erect. She glanced at her husband. What a man! She recalled Thomas’ words.
“You know, someone told me recently that when a man finds his soul mate he will love her for a life time. What do you think?”
Sin could only guess who that “someone” was who made the comment, but as his eyes swept his wife’s lovely face and the force of what he felt for her flowed through him all he could say in reply was, “Maybe he was right.”
They took their time dressing, reluctant to leave their Garden of Eden. Hand in hand, they strolled slowly back down the beach.
“This day has been perfect,” Nedra mused dreamily.
“I can’t disagree, but I guess we’ll have to face the inevitable.” Sin didn’t want to break the mood, but they had to return to Hardman’s house and pick up their things before leaving for home.
Nedra was about to reply when she looked up to see a small boy racing toward them calling their names.
“We’re the Reasoners,” Sin assured him when he reached them. He bent down to the child’s eye level. “¿Qué pasa?”
“My grandmother told me to find you and tell you to come to Senor Hardman’s house, pronto!”
The urgency in the boy’s voice made it clear that something was wrong.
CHAPTER 23
"His fever is much too high.” There was fear in Mrs. Ruiz’s voice. She was standing outside of Hardman’s bedroom whispering frantically to Nedra and Sin. “He’s so weak that he can hardly sit up. He told me to prop him up on his pillows. I don’t know how I’m going to get him to go to the clinic. That’s why I sent my grandson, Gustavo, to get you.”
“What do you want us to do?” Nedra shot her husband a glance to gage his reaction to what Mrs. Ruiz was saying. He registered no emotion, but he was listening.
“If you stay here with him, I’ll go over to the clinic and talk to the doctor. He can give me some medicine for him.”
“How many doctors are at the clinic?” Sin asked.
“One, but there are three nurses,” Mrs. Ruiz answered as though the numbers were huge.
“Isn’t the clinic where they have the internet service?” Nedra wanted to know.
“Yes,” Mrs. Ruiz started for the front door. Nedra was on her heels.
“Where are you going?” Sin demanded.
“With her to the clinic.” She ignored the startled look on his face.
“Why?”
“Since the cell phone reception is so lousy around here, maybe they’ll let me email Ray so I can let him know that we’re heading home today. I’ll be back soon.”
Before Sin could stop her, she was out the door behind Mrs. Ruiz, leaving him alone in the house with Hardman. He started to call after her, but knew it wouldn’t make any difference. She wasn’t going to return.
Walking back to Hardman’s bedroom, he stood quietly listening for any sound coming from behind the closed door. There was none.
Cautiously, he peeked inside. The shutters covering the windows were closed and the room was dim. The hum of the ceiling fan was making a monotonous sound. As Mrs. Ruiz said, Hardman was propped against some pillows. He looked as though he was asleep, until he opened his eyes. But that wasn’t what drew Sin’s attention. His face hardened.
“I see you recognize it.” Hardman’s voice was feeble.
Sin knew that he was referring to the headboard that was an exact duplicate of the one owned by his sister. Why Hardman had a replica, Sin didn’t want to know. He remained silent.
From the doorway, he watched as the man pulled the covers off his body and struggled to get out of the bed. He moved slowly, as though his limbs were made of lead. His first effort was unsuccessful and he fell back against the pillows. He tried a second time, with the same result.
Sin had to give him credit. He was determined. “Why are you trying to get up?” He was more curious than concerned.
“I’m going to the bathroom,” Hardman said gruffly, agitated not only by the illness sapping his strength, but also by the fact that Sinclair Reasoner was there to witness his weakness. He made a third attempt to get up.
Sin continued to watch him, offering no assistance, trying hard to ignore Nedra’s voice in his head telling him to help the man. He gave a mental groan. Why did I have to fall in love with a damn do gooder?
Entering the room, he went to the bed and reached out to assist him. Hardman pushed his hand away.
“I don’t need your help.”
Sin backed away, stumbling over something behind him. He looked down. It was an empty bed pan. That should solve the problem. He reached for it.
“No!” Hardman barked. “I won’t use that!” Once again, he tried unsuccessfully to get out of the bed.
Sin stood watching his efforts. Nedra’s voice echoed: Sinclair! Help him!
Emitting a resigned sigh, he tried again. Hardman continued to resist.
“Get away from me! Go Away!”
“I plan to soon.” Forcing the older man’s arm around his neck, Sin wrapped his own arm around his torso as he lifted him off the mattress. Hardman tried to pull away.
Ignoring his feeble efforts, Sin found it hard to overlook the heat emanating from Hardman’s body. He was sweating profusely. The cotton pajamas he was wearing clung to his body like a second skin.
Half walking and half dragging him down the hall, Hardman’s legs were so unsteady that Sin wondered whether the man could use the toilet on his own. Once inside the bathroom, Hardman grabbed the sink to steady himself.
“I can do the rest myself,” he rasped. “You can go now.”
Sin complied, closing the door behind him. Not wanting to linger, he went into the living room. As much as he disliked him, Sin understood the indignity that Hardman felt having to depend on anyone for such a personal matter.
It was Sin’s guess that before his illness, the guy must have taken good care of himself. Physically he appeared to be in good shape. There was no middle age spread around his narrow waist. His abs were hard and his arms were muscular, but his illness was taking its toll.
Normally, Sin admired anyone who made an effort to stay fit, but not in this case. Hardman deserved nothing but his contempt. As he waited, Sin forced himself to feel nothing about having
had his arms around a man who neither acknowledged nor denied that he had fathered him. Sin wouldn’t, he couldn’t feel a thing about him.
Impatiently, he checked the wall clock for the time. Hardman was taking too long doing his business. Walking back to the bathroom, he rapped on the door.
“Is everything okay in there?”
A reed thin “yes” came from the other side, and then a loud thump. Sin tried to open the door, but something was blocking it. Peeking through the crack he could see Hardman’s body lying on the floor.
CHAPTER 24
Ray was confused by the email that he received from Nedra. She made a request that he charter a private plane for Sin and her and have it waiting in Puerto Escondido, Mexico. She wanted it no later than tomorrow morning. The plane would be taking them to Los Angeles, not to the Monterey Peninsula. She gave no explanation as to why.
He wanted to email her back with questions, but she was using someone else’s computer and her time on it was limited. She could receive no reply from him. But, she did ask that he tell no one when they arrived back in the United States, and she promised to call him when that happened.
Ray was puzzled. Why the secrecy? Had they uncovered something despicable about the late Thomas Hardman, aka Colton Cameron? Maybe they were simply extending their vacation. Yet, if that was the case, why would they want to fly to L.A.? He had a lot of questions, but he did as Nedra requested to assist their return to the United States.
For the next hour, he made the arrangements. Since he spent two to three days a week in his L.A. law office, he knew that he would be in the city when they flew in. After learning their estimated time of arrival, he made plans to greet them at the airport. He wanted to know what happened in Mexico. After that Colton Cameron could be buried for good.
****
Nedra was sitting in a front office with Mrs. Ruiz talking to a nurse when two young men burst through the clinic doors carrying Thomas Hardman on an improvised stretcher. Sin walked in behind them.
Shadows of Love Page 12