Matt smiled slowly, already looking forward to seeing her again and, he hoped, to more exceptions to their deal. He had just enough time to do some research and come up with three spot-the-gold-digger questions. And, fingers-crossed, she’d get them right.
CHAPTER 5
Brianna slept well despite having iguanas feature prominently in her dreams. Probably because the very sexy Matt Gaelen had shown up with equal frequency.
What would it be like to have a hot one-night stand with Matt? One side of her brain told her to go for it. Take it and leave it. The more practical side shouted, “Don’t even think about it.” Would she regret getting involved with him or regret playing it safe? The compromise would be to enjoy his company and island expertise and leave as friends at the end of the two weeks. It wasn’t as sexy or hot as plan A, but it was a heck of a lot safer.
And this whole discussion in her head may be a moot point, she told herself as she flung back the covers. He may not even be interested in her. She opened the shutter on the window, looked out at the calm water, and remembered their first kiss.
Possibly. But not likely.
She grinned and changed into shorts and a T-shirt. A breakfast buffet was included with her stay, but so far she’d slept through it. Today she was up in time.
She walked to the restaurant and picked up a coffee and a pastry. A family of four filled one of the tables and a couple with their heads close together sat at another, so she decided to take her breakfast back to her villa. She’d sit outside to eat, hopefully without attracting any critters. She added yogurt and fruit to the tray and walked back.
Sitting on the porch, sipping her coffee, she enjoyed the view of the ocean and the people passing by on the beach. A suntanned power walker and a man and his dog looked like locals. Off-leash, the dog trotted faithfully by the man’s side, never looking left or right. A group of three women with a young girl, who all looked strikingly similar, and an alabaster-white teenager with pink, sunburned shoulders had the aura of tourists.
A walk in the quiet surf was appealing but, for her, the hammock beckoned. She finished her coffee and then picked one of the romance novels from the bookcase in the sitting room and wandered outside.
The hammock looked sturdy enough. Made of woven rope and strung between two trees, it was in the perfect shady spot. Being low to the ground was good because her first attempt to get in ended with a quick flip, her on her hands and knees and the hammock swinging above. She scooted out and stared at it. Maybe the trick was to approach it like a canoe. Keep to the center. She tried again, holding the edge, aiming her butt toward the midline, and quickly swinging her legs up to the middle. Success. Until she realized that her book was on the ground beside her, and the slight lean to the right had the hammock swinging wildly and dumping her.
She brushed sand off her hands and knees, tucked the book in the front of her shorts, and tried again. By the time she was swaying, ready to read, she was ready for a nap.
When the sun shifted later in the morning, she decided to go for a dip in the ocean. Getting out of the hammock wasn’t any easier. In the end, she tilted herself to the left. No points for grace and beauty, she thought with chagrin, wiping sand off her clothes. She hoped it would get easier as the week wore on.
The swim was refreshing. She was in no rush to leave the gentle bobbing of the waves. She lingered in the shallow water, standing on ripples of firm sand, as the warm surf lapped against her skin. The deep azure and turquoise shimmer was mesmerizing. She stayed until the noonday sun became too hot and then toweled off.
After eating a salad for lunch, she went to visit Jerome and Maria to ask about snorkeling equipment.
Maria was behind the front desk at the reception. “Brianna, how was your dinner last night?”
“Wonderful. Thank you for introducing me to the group. I had a lot of fun.”
“You’re welcome. We have our signature curried plantain for dinner tonight. Come early so you don’t miss out.”
Brianna smiled. “Sounds delicious, but you might have to save some for me. I wanted to try snorkeling this afternoon. Do you, by any chance, rent equipment?”
“We used to, but it was easier to let Wild and Wet take care of it. They organize excursions and provide the gear.”
“Oh, actually, Matt said he would take me later this afternoon,” Brianna said reluctantly.
Maria’s eyes lit up. “Oooh, ain’t that a bit of news.” She chuckled when Brianna squirmed. “Wild and Wet will still fix you up. They’re a quick walk down the beach.”
“Thanks, Maria.”
“Have fun.”
The Wild and Wet shop was a small shack with very sandy floors. Brianna waited her turn. The shirtless young man who served her wore his dreadlocks in a ponytail and had an infectious grin. “How can I help you?”
“I’m looking for snorkeling equipment.”
He nodded. “Rent used or buy new?”
“It’s just for the week, so I’d prefer to rent.”
“Gotcha.” He handed her a worn pair of fins and a faded scratched snorkel. The mask was in decent shape, but part of the rubber seal was dried and cracked.
Brianna brushed sand from the foot pocket of the fins and had visions of plantar warts and open sores harboring staphylococcus aureus. The mouthpiece of the snorkel was partly chewed. That was not going in her mouth. Big, disgusting ew.
“How much for a new set?”
He named a sum that put her teeth on edge. She’d have to use them every day for the next three months to justify the expense. She took a deep breath and handed over cash before she talked herself out of it.
She walked back to her villa with the new equipment in a handy tote bag, which was pleasantly economical, and focused on the scenery instead of the money she’d just spent. Huge palm trees were everywhere. She passed a garden filled with vibrant orange and purple bird-of-paradise flowers and snapped a few pictures for Maisy. They’d be a little bit of the tropics to break up the winter chill.
The rest of the afternoon went by quickly, and close to three o’clock she changed into her bikini and covered up with a sunscreen shirt. It’d keep her warmer in the water and protect her torso, but it was a little tighter than she remembered. She smeared a moisturizing, shimmering sunscreen over the rest of her body, added lip gloss, and waited for Matt to arrive.
BETWEEN PATIENTS, Matt researched how to spot a gold digger and came up with some useful, if dubious, information.
First of all, gold diggers tended to spend a lot of time on their personal appearance. Beauty in exchange for money. Great. So how odd would it be to ask about that? What portion of your day was spent getting ready to go out with me? He shook his head. She hadn’t been wearing a lot of make-up the day before. And she certainly didn’t need it. Her skin was smooth and flawless, and she’d had him hooked with one look into her sea-green eyes. He grunted. Maybe he shouldn’t scoff at the allure of appearances.
Next, apparently opportunists liked fine clothes, cars, and furniture, lived beyond their means, and often “forgot” their wallet. They liked to call the shots, and asked questions about investments, goals, and ambitions, but deflected the conversation away from themselves…and were often good in bed. Hard to count that last one as a flaw. The rest, however, seemed straightforward.
All he had to do was arrive on a bicycle and see how she reacted. If she was looking for the fancy car, she’d be disappointed. With charm and nonchalance, he’d ask about how she’d financed the trip and then get her talking about stuff she owned. After snorkeling, he’d invite her out to dinner, something low-key and casual, as a test. If she was coy and turned him down or insisted on a fancier place, the arrow would point to gold digger. If she accepted his invitation, it would be okay, but – and this was a big but – he’d be spending more money on her, which was her whole goal. Hmm, double-edged sword. So how would he know?
If she offered to pay for dinner, she’d be in the clear.
So,
in order to make sure she wasn’t after his money, he had to make himself look ungentlemanly and cheap and hope that she’d turn down his invitation to spend more time with him. Great. Sounded like a fun time.
It was a little late to cancel now, but he could. Better yet, he could forget about this ridiculous scheme and have a little faith. Not all relationships were fake and forced, and he was past due for something sincere and solid.
With more resolve, he went to see the last patient of the day. A young woman, in short shorts and a low-cut top smiled at him when he walked into the examining room and introduced himself.
“Well, hello, Doctor Delicious. I’m Lawny. So very pleased to meet you.” Her breasts seemed to get a little closer to him.
Matt, ultra-politely, picked the chair that was farthest away from her and sat down. “How can I help you today?”
“I need a little favor,” she said primly. “If you could have a little look-see and make sure that,” – her face scrunched in distaste – “the clap is gone, I’ll be out of your hair lickety split.”
“You had gonorrhea? How was it diagnosed?”
“I went to my doctor.” She held her hand to the side of her mouth. “He’s not nearly as good-lookin’ as you, sugar. Any-hoo, he took swabs, jabbed me with a needle, and called me two days later to tell me the test was positive. No sex for seven days, he says. Seven days, can you imagine? She’s gonna shrivel from lack of attention.” She shook her head and wrinkled her nose. “But here I am. Day seven and ready for the re-check.”
“Have you noticed any more symptoms?”
“All’s good down there now. Clear and wet like a rainy day,” she said proudly.
Matt worked to keep his expression neutral. He stood up and set a drape on the examining table. “If you’d like to get undressed below the waist, I’ll step out and ask the nurse to join us.”
“Don’t go making it a party on my account.”
“It’s our normal procedure.”
“I usually dread this exam, but,” – she eyed him – “I don’t think it’ll be so bad today.”
Matt smiled weakly and left the room.
He returned shortly with Becky Jerman, his nurse. He examined Lawny and took the appropriate swab. He adjusted the drape, stood, and removed his gloves. “We have an excellent lab on Grand Cayman and should have the result back in twenty-four hours.”
Lawny sat up. “Peachy. My little love bun doesn’t know anything about it, and I’d like to keep it that way. Twenty-four hours is doable.” She waved her hands. “The last thing I need to hear on our little vacay in paradise is how his wife would freak out.” She made a face. “The man is so paranoid, you would not believe it.”
“Really,” Matt said dryly. Leave it be. “If you’d like to drop by early Friday morning, the result should be back.”
“A rendezvous with Doctor Delicious,” she said with a coy look. “I’ll look forward to it.”
Matt struggled to keep his tone even. “We’re all done here. I’ll leave you to get dressed.”
He left the room with his nurse. “Don’t say a word.”
Becky suppressed a laugh. “Wouldn’t dream of it, Doctor Delicious.”
Matt rolled his eyes and went to write up the note. Lawny’s little “love bun” should’ve been contacted by public health and offered screening and treatment. So either she’d lied about her sexual partners or they were both keeping it secret from each other. Either way, it didn’t say much about their relationship.
Matt sighed as he filled out the paperwork for the laboratory. Was that the norm? Was it wishful thinking to hope that he wouldn’t get caught up in something like that? He was already halfway lost with Brianna. Before he fell the whole way, he needed to be sure his money wasn’t the biggest draw. He had to do something to safeguard his heart.
He called Bayshore Bicycles and had them deliver two hybrid bicycles to the Sunshine Villas. Let the fun begin.
CHAPTER 6
M att had time to go home, change into board shorts, and grab his gear. Close to three o’clock, he walked over to the Sunshine Villas. He saw the bikes leaning against the reception building and continued to Brianna’s villa. She was sitting on the porch waiting for him.
Her eyes lit up when she spotted him. He was just as happy to see her.
“Hi, how was your morning?” Brianna asked.
“Productive and busy. How about yours?”
“Neither of those,” she said with a laugh. “But wonderful nonetheless.”
He nodded. Was she wearing lipstick? Her lips were moist and shiny. Eminently kissable. He pushed the thought away. Her skin looked different, too. What had she done? Red flag number one.
“Would you like a drink? Did you have a chance to grab a bite to eat?” Brianna asked.
Thoughtful. Considerate. Check. “Thanks, but I’m fine. Are you ready to go?”
She popped up, picked up a bag at her feet, and slung it over her shoulder. “All set. Can we walk there?”
“We could, but it’s a bit far. I rented some bikes and helmets for us.”
She grinned. “Awesome. I love cycling.”
He grinned back at her. Red flag crushed. Excellent. “They’re around the side of the building.”
He adjusted the height of the seat for her and then hooked his backpack over his shoulders. They cycled along a path adjacent to the main road. It was quiet and wide enough to cycle side by side.
“I love the smooth ride of this bike. It’s a lot like the one I have at home.”
Matt frowned. “Really?” They were high-end bicycles, probably worth more than the average monthly salary.
“Yeah, except mine is pink and black. I like the hybrids. The wider tires are great for off-road riding.”
He nodded absently. So she liked fine things and had expensive tastes. Red flag number two.
They cycled for fifteen minutes and then turned off a side road and followed it to the water. A long pier jutted out from a sandy beach. “Let’s cycle onto the pier,” he suggested. “If we leave the bikes halfway, we can walk to the end and snorkel back to shore.”
They locked the bikes and helmets together and left their shoes in the backpack tucked away behind the bikes. Matt unpacked two inflatable life jackets. “Even if you’re a strong swimmer, it helps to have a flotation device. Plus, it’s safer.”
They walked to the end of the pier and stopped to don their gear.
Brianna pulled out flashy new fins, mask, and snorkel. Matt raised his eyebrows at the quality. “Nice.” No expense spared there.
Big spender. Disappointing.
Brianna looked away, a blush rising on her cheeks, and fiddled with the strap of the mask. “I ended up having to buy it. Jerome and Maria didn’t have any to borrow.”
He lifted his own high-end mask out of the backpack and chided himself. There’s the pot calling the kettle black. He showed her how to adjust the strap and thread the snorkel through. When she licked her lips and asked him to repeat what he’d said, the urge to touch her skin and hold her close became overwhelming. Instead, he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and moved imperceptibly closer, drawn by the sweet scent of her skin. Her rash guard clung to her curves, and he imagined the smooth skin underneath. When his body stirred, he cleared his throat and stepped back to gain control.
“If you spit in the mask, it helps prevent it from fogging up.”
She made a face. “That doesn’t seem very hygienic.”
He smiled. “No, it’s not. But it works.” He spit in his and smeared it around, and then bent down and scooped water in it to wash it away. He fit it over his nose and mouth and adjusted the snorkel. Brianna shrugged and followed his lead.
Stairs descended into the water. Matt walked sideways in his fins and stopped after the third step. Brianna looked at him with wide eyes, and he held out his hand. “You’ll enjoy it. Trust me.”
She walked in tentatively until the water reached her thighs. “Oh, the water’s warm
.”
“It’s only about twenty feet deep. And no waves today, so we’re lucky.”
They jumped off the last step and treaded water while Brianna tested her mask and practiced breathing through the snorkel. “No leaks. Wow, look at that coral.”
Matt smiled. It was hard to stay anxious when there was so much to see. He stayed by Brianna’s side, pointing out colorful fish and stopping to show her a camouflaged flounder. When a stingray glided close to them, Brianna grasped his hand and brushed up against him. He put his arm around her and signaled with a thumbs-up to reassure her, and they floated together until it moved out of sight.
They swam with a school of snappers and watched a blue tang playing in the coral. The water was a crystal-clear aquamarine, and the colors looked brilliant in the sunshine. As the current gently pulled them back to shore, they meandered back and forth and saw starfish, trigger fish, and a spotted drum.
Back on the beach, Brianna pulled off her snorkel and mask. “That was amazing. Like swimming through a tropical fish tank at the store.” Matt smiled. “Only better. Did you see that stingray?” Her eyes shone. “I could’ve reached out and touched it.”
“They get used to us swimming among them. They’re pretty tame.”
“Absolutely stunning close up. I hadn’t realized how big they are.”
They rinsed off at one of the outdoor showers and then headed to the pier to collect their bikes. Matt listened to Brianna with half an ear. Her eyes were sparkling, and she had a huge grin on her face. She gestured with her hands, almost dancing as she walked beside him, asking the names of the fish, recalling everything they’d seen, and quizzing him about the coral reef. Her pleasure was infectious. She was so natural, so genuine. It seemed so unlikely that she was after his money – unless, of course, she didn’t know about it.
“…do that again. I’m so glad you suggested it,” Brianna said.
Matt tuned in again. “I’m glad you had fun. I never get tired of it.” He unlocked the bicycles, pulled her shoes out of his backpack, and handed them to her. They packed away their gear and started pedaling home. Along the quiet road, when they could ride side by side, he asked, “Would you like to have dinner with me?”
Tropical Tryst: 25 All New and Exclusive Sexy Reads Page 41