by Nia Arthurs
“After you.” Finn opened the door and tilted his head.
Jewel thanked him shyly and stepped into the cool interior of the bakery. The scent of brownies hit her and she relaxed, feeling in control now that she was on her own turf.
Sky shot out of the kitchen. “Just a minute!” Her gaze landed on the handsome man dwarfing her. “Hello.” Brown eyes flitted to Jewel. She saw the question in them a moment before Sky asked, “Who is this?”
“I’m a friend of Jewel’s,” Finn said.
Jewel’s head whipped up.
He caught her glare and chuckled easily. “I mean that in the loosest sense of the word. We just met five minutes ago. Someone was trying to steal her purse and I stepped in.” He sidled to the counter. “I was told I could get a cup of sensible coffee here.”
“That’s true.” Sky’s eyes softened. “You thwarted a robbery, you said?”
“All in a day’s work, ma’am.” He tipped an imaginary cowboy hat.
Sky smirked.
Jewel rolled her eyes. Looked like Finn was weaving his charm on Sky.
And it was working.
She sighed and slid behind the counter to hide out in the kitchen.
Before she could make her escape, Sky slammed the kitchen door shut and threw her hands wide, barring her way. “Jewel, this guy just thwarted a robbery and walked you all the way back to the store.”
“I thanked him already,” Jewel whispered in annoyance.
“It’s fine.” Finn rubbed his jaw. “Honestly, I didn’t know Jewel worked here. All I wanted was some coffee.”
“I see.” Sky glanced at her and mouthed, “He’s so gorgeous!”
Jewel frowned. She’d noticed, but again, looks didn’t mean much in her books. Sure, Finn had the face and build of a rugged, Spanish warrior, but he probably had an ego to boot.
If she ever stepped out of her comfort zone for a man, it would be one of average height and looks with an average job and average dreams. Finn was anything but her type. She saw no reason to stick around.
“I’ll go check on the brownies,” Jewel mumbled.
Sky shot her a reprimanding look but nodded. “Fine.”
While Sky and Finn dove into a conversation, Jewel skidded into the kitchen and let the door bang shut behind her.
Finally. Silence.
She wilted against the counter and planted a palm on the cold surface. A stinging sensation flared in her hands and she glanced down, noting the tiny stones that had dug into her flesh. She must have scraped her hand when she fell.
Wincing, Jewel strode to the sink and let the cold water wash away the grime.
A few minutes later, Sky joined her in the kitchen.
Jewel turned around. “Is he gone?”
“Yes.” Sky moved toward her, brown eyes dancing. “He seems nice.”
“You determined that in a five-minute conversation?”
“I determined that with my instincts.” Sky tapped her temple.
Her frown deepened. Sky’s analyzation setting was dialed to ‘optimistic’. She saw the best in the worst kinds of people. Jewel didn’t trust in or subscribe to that worldview.
Sky grabbed an apron and tied it around her slim waist. “He’s here in Belize for a business venture and he doesn’t have any friends.”
“So?”
“So guess what I did.”
“What?”
“Guess!”
“Uh, you gave him a coupon?”
“No.”
Jewel’s heart twisted. She had a bad feeling about this.
“Okay, fine. I’ll tell you. I invited him to my wedding!” Sky squealed.
Jewel stiffened.
“Isn’t it great?”
“But you barely know him.”
“I know his name.” She counted off on her fingers. “That he risked his life to help you. And that means he’s the type of man who’ll step in when he sees an injustice. Isn’t that enough?”
“Sky…”
“Don’t worry. He’s just coming to the wedding. I won’t force you to talk to him.” Her boss sashayed toward the oven, a sign that the discussion was over.
Jewel wheeled away, nostrils flaring and fingers digging into the rim of the counter. She knew exactly why Sky had invited Finn to her wedding sight unseen, but it wouldn’t work.
Jewel would never open her heart to a man like Finn.
She’d seen the control in his eyes, knew he was one snapped nerve away from recklessness. Men like him didn’t hear the word ‘no’ often. When they did, it was a challenge, not a rejection.
Jewel had seen his kind before, had been branded by that selfishness.
Beautiful but dangerous.
A man like Finn had ruined her.
5
Finn jogged back to his car. Sweat dotted his temples and sucked his shirt to his chest. The heat in Belize was oppressive. He had no idea how Jewel survived wearing sweatshirts. The woman was flirting with heatstroke.
A horn honked in the distance. Finn waited for a pickup truck to pass and skimmed the street. Sweet Treats sat across from a gas station. A few blocks over, a sprawling trade school perched behind thick, concrete gates.
Belize City reminded him of a small town. There were no skyscrapers, everything was within walking distance, and the people were friendly.
Well, most of the people.
Not Jewel.
But that would change.
He hiked around a corner and kept going until he spotted his car parked on the sidewalk. A man stood beside it, suspicious and jittery. He recognized the hoodie and a scowl twisted his lips.
The stranger heard him coming, spun and looked up expectantly. Finn gave the kid a cursory sweep—dark skin, wide eyes, blunt nose, thick lips. He’d screamed ‘derelict’ which was the only reason Finn had given him a shot.
It was a choice he regretted.
Finn dipped his fingers into his jacket pocket and slammed a white envelope against the guy’s chest. “Here.”
“Thanks, man. I really needed this.”
Finn said nothing, just tipped his chin to the side. The kid interpreted the unspoken command and skittered away from his car. Finn pressed the alarm fob. His glossy rental chirped and the door popped open.
“I didn’t catch your name,” the kid said, offering his hand for a shake.
Finn ignored it and climbed in. His fingers settled around the premium leather steering wheel, tightening, clenching. An image of Jewel’s face slamming the sidewalk made him grit his teeth.
Instead of this steering wheel, he should wring that guy’s neck.
Fight it, Finn. This guy isn’t the one you came for.
He sucked in a deep breath and dropped his hand to the stick shift, preparing to reverse.
Someone rapped against his window.
He paused, slowly moving his head around to peer in the direction of the sound. Instead of a face, Finn saw the length of a white envelope—the one he’d just given away—plastered to the glass.
“Wait, man!” Dark skin glistening, the kid croaked, “This is only half of what you promised.”
Finn sneered. His arm wrenched the stick shift and he tempered his foot on the gas pedal. The kid ran to the front of his car and crouched before the bumper. “We had a deal!”
Annoyed, Finn rolled his window down. “You’re lucky you’re getting anything at all.”
“This isn’t what we agreed.”
“You hurt her,” Finn snapped. “Pushing the girl wasn’t part of our agreement. Now take your pay and go before I change my mind and run you over.”
The man trembled and backed away, cursing a blue streak. His voice got louder and his threats more violent the farther he ran.
Coward.
Finn smacked his hand against the steering wheel, nostrils flaring. He shouldn’t have picked the first suspicious character that had walked by today. It was his fault for being rash.
He wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.
/> Jewel was a means to an end, but he had no plans of harming her. Until he determined where her loyalty was, he’d assume she was a victim. Just like Courtney. In the future, he’d be more careful.
Finn was done collecting regrets.
6
The moment Finn settled into his room at the guesthouse, his phone rang.
It was Nolan.
Again.
The man was more nagging than a wife.
Finn grabbed the phone and smacked it to his ear. “What?”
“You found her yet?”
“You’re the hacker. You should know.”
“I prefer the term information surveyor.” Exasperation rang from Nolan’s voice. “And stop dodging me. You promised to keep me up to date on this mission. That’s the only reason I gave you the tip.”
Finn sighed and tugged his boots off, setting it neatly under the bed. “I’ve been busy.”
“Doing what?”
Finn paused. “Observing.”
“You’re stalking her?”
“That’s another word for it.”
“Finn, I don’t have to tell you how creepy that is. You think Jewel will share anything with a guy who’s staring at her through windows and following her into dark alleys?”
“Windows are fair game and she doesn’t use alleys. She keeps to the main roads and rarely goes anywhere except work and home.”
“Now you’re starting to freak me out.”
“Says the guy who can peek on anyone through their webcam,” Finn muttered.
“Hey, that’s a line I don’t cross unless I have to.”
Finn put the phone on speaker and tossed the device on the bed. He pulled off his shirt and trekked to his open suitcase with clothes spilling out of it. Sorting through the mess, he found a cotton tank top and pulled it on.
Nolan’s voice filled the room. “So what’s your plan? You’ve stalked—”
“Observed.”
“Fine. You’ve observed her for three days. When do you make your move?”
“I already have.”
“You did?” Nolan squawked. “What did she say? Has she seen Kross yet? Has he contacted her? Did you set up a meeting point?”
“We didn’t get a chance to talk that deeply and even if we had, she didn’t seem inclined to share.”
“You scowled at her, didn’t you?” Nolan moaned in frustration. “You always do that. You’ve got to stop glaring at everything and smile more. Use the face God gave you for some good.”
“It’s not just me. She goes quiet around men in general.” He stared at the wall, recalling all he’d seen of Jewel’s habits. “At first I thought she was just shy, but she doesn’t seem to have a problem with women. Her boss and these two other ladies visit almost everyday and she opens up to them.”
“So you’re doomed.”
“Not really. The men her friends are dating get a warmer response. I’m confident she’s not as timid when she’s around a male she trusts.”
“So you’ve just got to gain her trust.”
“Exactly.” Finn nodded.
“Poor thing. Can you imagine being afraid of half the world population? Mr. Scope must have wrecked her up,” Nolan muttered.
“Mr. Scope?”
“It’s what I’m calling Kross. From what I can tell, he has a condition similar to scopophilia. It’s a disorder where people find intense sexual pleasure in looking at nude bodies or x-rated photos. Except he’s the reverse. He likes making love to different women while his muse watches.”
A hot brand seared Finn’s heart.
Courtney hadn’t been the criminal’s muse.
She’d been his victim.
Finn still remembered identifying her body, watching the finger-shaped bruises around her neck. He hadn’t cried, hadn’t mourned. He wouldn’t allow himself the luxury until her murderer was behind bars or dead.
Nolan cleared his throat. “If Jewel is this fragile, there’s no telling what she’ll do if she finds out you were only using her to get to the perp. You sure this is a good idea?”
“It’s the only one I’ve got.” Finn grunted.
“I guess there’s no harm in trying. You’ll have to get close to her before you can even think of betraying her and we both know how rusty your people skills are. I don’t know how Tiff puts up with you and your sulky behind.”
Finn ignored the rib about Tiffany and said, “Her boss is getting married tomorrow and she invited me. Jewel should be there. I’m planning on talking to her then.”
“Good luck.”
“Yeah.” Finn ended the call and plunked his phone on the nightstand. After setting the alarm to wake him up early the next morning, he grabbed the bottle of pills and shoved two down his throat, chasing it back with a bottle of water.
Silence crept into the room as he lowered himself into bed and stared at the ceiling, reviewing all he’d learned of Jewel today.
She was even more stunning up close than she’d appeared from a distance. He mentally traced the shape of her oval face, wide brown eyes, slim nose and perfectly plump lips. No wonder a psychotic killer was obsessed with her. She was a goddess.
Despite her beauty, he’d seen the brokenness in her eyes. It had called to him, to that place inside that was so dark not even his demons wanted anything to do with it.
They were two worn-out dolls on a shelf, which was why watching Jewel get kicked to the curb pissed him off so much. There was a thin line between justice and revenge. Finn was willing to cross it, but he wasn’t ready yet.
Jewel could be innocent.
She could also be in cahoots with… Scope.
No matter what, his end goal remained. As soon as Jewel gave him what he wanted, he’d chase his man down and give Courtney the justice she deserved.
7
After the running around she’d been doing this morning, Jewel deserved a break. She rubbed the back of her neck and draped her body into the nearest padded chair.
“Whose stupid idea was it to get married at a Mayan site again?” Sky grumbled, storming past her and collapsing on the edge of the massive hotel bed in a ball of white satin and fluff.
“Jo’s!” Carrie yelled, limping to the chair next to Jewel’s.
“It was. A. Joke.” Joana dropped like a rock at Jewel’s feet and leaned her back against the chair leg. “Joon Gi’s the one who ran with it.”
“You think they’ll get here in time?” Sky moaned.
Jewel checked her watch. “They’ll be here.”
“My wedding’s in thirty minutes and my groom is stranded in the middle of nowhere.” Sky slugged an arm over her face. “All the guests are probably at the site waiting for us. I’m doomed.”
“On the bright side, you and Joon kept the guest list small so you don’t have to worry about too many people complaining.” Carrie patted Sky’s knee.
Jewel heard a car door slam. She inched forward and used the heel of her strappy silver sandals to pull the curtain back and spy out the sliding door. Through the glass, she saw a sleek blue car in the parking lot.
Another guest arrived.
She was just about to drop the curtain when the driver hopped out. Jewel did a double take. Broad shoulders. Sturdy legs like a tree-trunk. Chiseled jaw.
Her heart pounded against her chest.
Finn?
“What are you gasping at?” Jo crawled to the sliding door to peek outside.
Carrie joined them. “I want to see too.”
Jo squealed, pointing to her boyfriend who’d emerged from the backseat of Finn’s car. “Sun Gi!”
“Benson’s here too,” Carrie said, her voice climbing in both pitch and excitement. “They must have gotten a ride.”
Sky shot off the bed. “Is Joon…?”
“Yes,” Jewel said, noticing the tall, pale-skinned man climbing out of the passenger seat. “He’s there.”
Sky dashed off the bed and joined the ladies who were pressing their noses against the glass door. “I
t looks like Finn was the hero again today.”
“Who’s Finn?” Jo arched an eyebrow. “That the hunk in the navy blue suit?”
“That’s Jewel’s date,” Sky said, mischief glinting in her eyes.
Jewel frowned. “He’s not my date.”
“Sorry. I meant he’s my last groomsman.”
Jewel whirled around. “What? You said nothing about me walking up with someone!”
“Did I forget to mention that? Finn and I talked about it that day at the bakery. I could have sworn I told you…”
Jewel started hyperventilating.
“Please don’t freak out.” Sky pushed out her lips and blinked her thick black eyelashes. A makeup artist had done just enough to enhance her natural beauty and she looked even more stunning than usual.
Jewel squirmed. “You know I can’t handle… touching.”
“I don’t expect you to link arms,” Sky begged. “It’s only to walk up beside him. You can ignore him for the rest of the day or hide out in the hotel room if that makes you more comfortable.”
Tears sprang to Jewel’s eyes. She could feel sweat beading on her forehead and glanced down so the other ladies wouldn’t be able to see her full distress.
The thought of any man putting his hands on her…
“Don’t worry. We won’t link arms either. That way it won’t look weird.” Carrie rubbed her back encouragingly.
“Linking arms is tacky anyway.” Jo smiled, making her cheeks bunch and her eyes collapse into slits.
“Okay.” Jewel released a shuddering breath. “I’ll do it.”
“Thank you.” Sky smiled with relief.
Carrie strode to the door. “Let’s find out what happened.”
“Tell Joon I love him, would you?” Sky bit down on her lower lip, eyes glistening. “Tell him I can’t wait to say my vows to him and I’m barely surviving until I see him again.”
Carrie arched an eyebrow. “Do I look like a carrier pigeon to you? Just send him a text.”
“She’ll tell him,” Jewel said, giving Carrie a scolding look.
“No, I won’t.”
“Forget it.” Sky grabbed the material of her full skirt and hauled it up so she could move unencumbered. “I’ll just go down there and talk to Joon myself.”