Enchanted (The Accidental Billionaires #4)(16)

“Are you afraid you’re going to get kidnapped?” I said jokingly.

He speared me with a look. “No. I’m more worried about you.”

His comment was so troubled that any humor I’d been experiencing flew out the window.

I looked around. “It’s different here,” I explained. “The hotel zone caters to tourists. Most of Mexico’s security is military. So they’re just there to keep tourists safe. It just so happens that the popular military guns are automatic weapons. Don’t let that bother you too much when you’re at the resort. Here, we’re mostly among the Mexican people. It’s safe enough.”

I understood that the area did look rough at first glance when compared to the hotel zone, where everything was sparkling sea, white-sand beaches, and luxurious resorts.

“I guess I thought the country was being taken over by the drug cartels,” he said thoughtfully.

I nodded. “Unfortunately, some of the places that used to be tourist spots years ago aren’t accessible anymore because of that. But Cancún is one of the safest cities in the country. We have much worse places we could go back in the US. All travel requires some common sense.” I stood up and put the water bottles back in my bag. “Let’s move on to dessert. I told Diego we’d meet up with him there.”

Noah got to his feet, and I had to hold back a sigh as I surveyed his appearance. God, he was gorgeous. I’d convinced him to shed the suit and tie, and he looked so much more relaxed in a pair of jeans and a T-shirt.

Okay, maybe he still looked a bit uptight and out of sorts, but he did look a little more at ease.

Baby steps.

While I was hopeful that Noah would eventually have an epiphany and realize that nothing bad would happen if he stopped working, he wasn’t going to change his habits or his attitude overnight.

“Where are we headed?” he questioned warily.

“El Parque de las Palapas,” I explained. “It’s not all that far. We can walk it. It has tons of food carts in the evening, and they have amazing churros.”

He raised a brow as he fell into step with me down the darkened street. “Is the street food safe?”

“Just don’t drink the water,” I teased. “I’ve eaten a whole meal there plenty of times, and I’ve never gotten sick.”

“I’m starting to think you have a cast-iron stomach,” he muttered.

“I do,” I agreed readily. “But I’m not stupid when it comes to foreign eats. I stay away from the water here. I got food poisoning in India, and I swore I’d never let it happen again. I was miserable.”

“Were you all alone?” He didn’t sound happy about that.

“Yes. I spent several days in hell. But I survived it. Which is why I’m determined not to let it happen again. I believe in minimal risk when I’m eating in a foreign country.”

“It’s not really safe for you to be traveling alone, Andie.”

I didn’t take offense since he sounded nothing but concerned. “It’s part of my job, and I’m cautious.” I wasn’t about to tell him I’d made some stupid mistakes in the beginning. I was a seasoned traveler now, and I’d learned not to take dumb risks anymore.

Conversely, I wasn’t willing to live scared, either.

Life was all about balance for me.

We walked quietly, side by side, until we reached Las Palapas. I sensed he had more to say on the subject of my solo travel, but was keeping it to himself.

The park was bright, lively, noisy with mariachi performers, and lined with street vendors selling everything from cheap souvenirs to vegetables.

I veered straight toward the churros.

Noah stopped short as a little electric car zoomed in front of him. “What are they doing?” he asked curiously as he caught up with me again.

“The kids can ride in an electric car for cheap here. Most of the adults can’t afford to buy one themselves, but their kids can still get that experience,” I explained. “Las Palapas is mostly locals. You’ll see some tourists here, but not a lot.”

I paid the vendor and handed Noah a bag of churros before I grabbed my own.

As we walked on, we both started munching on the cinnamon-and-sugar treat.

I closed my eyes for a second to savor the sweet, doughy confection as it hit my taste buds.

“They’re hot,” he said, sounding surprised.

I opened my eyes. “Good, right?”

He swallowed. “Fantastic, actually.”

I scanned his face with a sideways glance, and I didn’t miss the fact that he looked more relaxed. In fact, he almost looked like a boy as he devoured the generous order of churros.

“Go on a tour with me tomorrow,” I blurted out without thinking about it. “I’m going to check out a huge cenote and tour Chichén Itzá.”

I’d checked out a bunch of cenotes in Mexico, which were simply sinkholes filled in with groundwater, but I’d never been to this one. I’d never ventured out enough to see the Mayan ruins of Chichén Itzá, either.

Even though Noah hadn’t exactly loosened up completely, I realized that I desperately wanted him to come with me. I wanted him to see some of the amazing sights that Mexico had to offer.

That fact had nothing to do with my promise to Owen, and everything to do with just wanting Noah’s company.