Entwined with You(100)

Was Angus having a good time somewhere? Or was he stuck standing outside the door to our suite?


“Where’s Angus?” I asked.


“Around.”


“Is Raúl here, too?”


“No. He’s in New York working out how Nathan’s bracelet ended up where it did.”


“Oh.” I suddenly lost my appetite. Picking up my napkin, I wiped my fingers. “Should I be worried?”


It was a rhetorical question, since I’d never stopped worrying. The mystery of who was responsible for sending the police in another direction was always there, niggling at the back of my mind.


“Someone handed me a get-out-of-jail-free card,” he said evenly, licking his lower lip. “I expected that was going to cost me something, but no one’s approached me yet. So, I’ll approach them.”


“Once you find them.”


“Oh, I’ll find them,” he murmured darkly. “Then we’ll know why.”


Beneath the table, I wrapped my legs around his and held on.


WE danced on the beach by the light of the moon. The lush humidity was sensuous at night, and we reveled in it. Gideon shared my bed that night, even though I could tell how difficult it was for him to take the risk. I couldn’t imagine sleeping alone on my wedding night and trusted that his prescription combined with the previous night’s lack of sleep would help him sleep deeply. It did.


Sunday, he gave me the choice of going to a fabulous waterfall or taking the resort’s catamaran out to sea or rafting down a jungle river. I smiled and told him next time, and then I had my wicked way with him.


We lazed around all day, skinny-dipping in the private pool and napping when the mood struck us. It was after midnight when we left, and I was sorry to go. The weekend had been far too short.


“We’ve got a lifetime of weekends,” he murmured as we drove back to the airport, reading my mind.


“I’m selfish with you. I want you all to myself.”


When we boarded the jet, the clothes we’d had at our disposal at the resort came with us. It made me smile, thinking of how little we’d worn over the two days.


I took the cosmetic case into the bedroom so I could brush my teeth before sleeping the duration of the flight home. That was when I saw the patent leather and brass luggage tag attached to it, engraved with Eva Cross.


Gideon slipped into the lavatory behind me and kissed my shoulder. “Let’s crash, angel. We need some sleep before work.”


Pointing at the luggage tag, I said, “Was my saying yes really that much of a foregone conclusion?”


“I was prepared to hold you hostage until you did.”


I didn’t doubt him. “I’m flattered.”


“You’re married.” He smacked me on the ass. “Now hurry up, Mrs. Cross.”


I hurried and slipped into the bed beside him. He immediately spooned behind me, tucking me close.


“Sweet dreams, baby,” I whispered, wrapping my arms over his around my middle.


His mouth curved against my neck. “My dreams already came true.”


20


IT WAS WEIRD going to work on Monday morning and having no one realize my life was profoundly different. Who knew how much saying a few words and slipping on a ring of metal could change a person’s perception of themselves?


I wasn’t just Eva, the New York newbie trying to make it on her own in the big city with her best friend. I was a mogul’s wife. I had a whole new set of responsibilities and expectations. Just thinking about it intimidated me.


Megumi stood as she buzzed me through the security doors at Waters Field & Leaman. She was dressed with unusual sedateness in a black sleeveless dress with an asymmetrical hemline and bright fuchsia heels. “Wow. You’ve got an amazing tan! I’m so jealous.”


“Thanks. How’d your weekend go?”


“Same old, same old. Michael stopped calling.” Her nose wrinkled. “I miss the harassment. Made me feel wanted.”


I shook my head at her. “You’re nuts.”


“I know. So tell me where you went. And did you go with the rock star or Cross?”


“My lips are sealed.” Although I was tempted to reveal everything. The only thing that held me back was that I hadn’t told Cary yet and he needed to come first.


“No way!” Her dark eyes narrowed. “Are you seriously not going to tell me?”


“Of course I will.” I winked. “Just not right now.”


“I know where you work, you know,” she called after me as I headed down the hallway to my cubicle.


When I reached my desk, I got ready to type a quick text to Cary and discovered that he’d sent me a few over the weekend that hadn’t come through until later. They certainly hadn’t been there when I’d placed my usual Saturday call to my dad.


Wanna have lunch? I texted.


When I didn’t get a reply right away, I silenced my phone and set it in my top drawer.


“Where did you spend the weekend?” Mark asked me as he came in to work. “You’ve got a great tan.”