A Man to Remember (6 page)

When they reached the seals' habitat, Jake cut the motor and steered them slowly and quietly around the small rock island. A colony of seals romped and played and sunned themselves while floating in the water on their backs waving their flippers in the air. It was a special moment, this close intrusion of humans into the world of wild, free sea creatures.

"I feel like one of those TV cameramen on the wildlife specials," Alyse whispered as they motored away. "Getting so close is a thrill. They're really adorable creatures, you know?"

"Yeah." Jake could only think of one adorable thing right now.

She smiled and hugged the shirt to her body as they searched out cove after cove, each with glittering white sand and crystal-clear water. Finally, Jake was satisfied and drove all the way into one cove and beached the small boat. They were alone.

Alyse clambered ashore, wading knee-deep in the gorgeous aquamarine waters. Jake hopped out, trying to keep his jeans dry. But they were wet to the knees. He pulled the boat ashore and propped a stone on the rope. He unsnapped his jeans and looked around to see if she were watching.

She was.

He lowered the zipper slowly and shrugged his legs out of the wet jeans. Beneath the jeans he wore a tight black swimsuit. He looked back at her. She gave him a thumbs-up and waited while he spread his jeans on the boat in the sun to dry. "How about this?"

"Paradise."

He grabbed the small cooler and joined her, walking along the beach.

"Beautiful, Jake."

"It's called Balandra Beach. One of the prettiest on this coast."

"Peaceful. Quiet. I love it here."

"I like it because it's private."

"Um-hum. That's why you brought me here."

"I just wanted to share a beautiful part of Mexico with you," he lied.

"It's so private here, no one would ever know what we did."

"Something like that." Jake motioned over the small bay. "That's why the pirates liked this area so much. Can't you just see a four-rigger anchored out there while the crew gathers around a campfire on this beach gambling with gold coins?"

"Or trading for beautiful native women?" Alyse pushed her hair back. "Is this where they found pearls on the beach?"

He grinned and swept one arm around them. "I'm sure they showered the ladies with jewels."

"Before turning them into sex slaves." Alyse kicked up a spray of sand and jogged away from him.

Jake caught up with her and took her arm. "Hey, we can't change history, we can only make our own." He pulled her close for a kiss while his hand closed over her breast. Tweaking the nipple, he murmured, "Speaking of pearls on the beach…"

Alyse faced him and drew on her bravado. As much as her aroused body wanted this, she knew it was too risky. She had to stop things while she could.  "Lousy pickup line, Jake. We won't be making our history that way. If you were thinking about a quick romp on the beach, forget it."

He spread both arms and took a step away from her electric body. "Okay. You're in charge. I thought I saw a little seduction in your body language."

She folded her arms and looked away. What did she want? Did she know?

"Hey Alyse, let's talk. I need a beer. Maybe you, too." He found a shady spot, opened up the cooler and spread a blanket that was folded inside.

By the time she joined him, he was downing a beer and she had cooled a bit. He handed her a beer.

She placed the frosty bottle next to her cheek. "I think we were both under misconceptions before coming here."

"Not me. I only want the use of your boat. I'm willing to pay. That's it." He didn't even look at her as he spoke. And damned if he'd touch her again. The risks for him were too great. He needed her boat more than he needed her. He couldn't mess this up now for a piece of ass.

Alyse looked at him. Hell yeah, he was hot and bothered. And aroused. So was she. And she'd just thrown cold water on both their desires. She dug her toes in the sand and thought ironically of Bristol Bordeaux, badass babe. What would she do? Alyse knew well that she'd have this man if she wanted him.

Jake started talking and she listened quietly while she drank her beer. "My dad was in the Army, and we lived everywhere, from South Carolina to Oregon. Finally, we ended up in El Paso, where I went to college. I took a few business courses, but have always been a hands-on kind of guy. Dad wanted me to go Army, but I preferred the Navy and ultimately joined the Seals. A knee injury sent me home where I took a job in a little boot shop run by a Hispanic man. Lorenzo taught me the trade. And I fell in love with leather. When I started my own business, I hired him. And his sons. I am not a rich man, but I can make my own way."

Alyse took a drink of her beer and tried to skirt financial details of her family. But wealthy is wealthy, and that's all she knew. "My only brother, Greg, and I grew up in San Diego. Our mother died when we were young, and for convenience, under the guise of a better education, our father sent us to private schools. We hated it, but that was our life. After graduating college, both my brother and I came back to California and started working for father. I've been everything from interior decorator to concierge. Right now I'm a sort of troubleshooter and travel from hotel to hotel, making sure the standards are high, which means the places are beautiful and meeting every wish of the customers. Greg has a more important job, that of chief operations officer."

"Hotels, as in plural?"

"Father has a few in California."

"And you're divorced? No kids?"

"Nope. Divorced from a man hand-picked by my father. Should have learned from that one. But Father insisted that Evan was different and had a brilliant business mind." She paused to laugh. "Not! We were down here to look over some property, maybe find something good for another hotel. But Evan only wanted one thing – to hop in my bunk. When I said no, he lost interest in the business prospects."

Jake shifted and looked away from her. "I'm not most men. And I'm definitely not looking for a rich father-in-law."

"You're divorced? What about the kids?"

"Their mother and I share custody. That's why I have to get back as soon as possible." He opened the cooler and pulled out a couple of plastic containers and forks. "Care for some fabulous ceviche?"

She grinned. "So this is your Mexican picnic?"

"Yep. But gotta have chips and salsa." He popped open a bag of chips and spread it all out on the blanket. "This is just the appetizer for those shrimp tacos I promised."

Alyse dug into the ceviche with the appropriate sounds of yummy appreciation. The food and beer lightened the mood between them. He probably knew it would. And the little family backgrounds gave them a base for understanding each other. Okay, he probably knew that, too. But Alyse didn't care if his every act was intentional. She couldn't take her eyes off him. He was so damn hot! But now, he was definitely different, more distant, after being rebuffed. What the hell did she expect?

Her whole body tensed as she watched him. His chest was broad and visible beneath the loose knit sweater. When her gaze lowered to the black swimsuit he wore, her imagination took over where line of sight failed.

"Take it off."

He straightened. "Huh?"

"Take it off," she repeated. "Your sweater."

He glared at her, untrusting. She almost laughed at his expression.

"I just want to get a good look. You don't mind, do you?"

He took a deep breath. Agonizing. But he complied. With a quick, easy motion, he crossed his arms and skinned that sweater over his head, exposing his tanned, muscular chest and very pronounced six-pack. He was sleek except for a fine golden hairline that disappeared erotically beneath the waistband of his swimsuit.

She nodded. Why the hell did I say that? This man's too hot to handle and I can't be trusted any longer.

He flexed his muscles, including the pecs. "Do I pass? "

She swallowed hard. "Uh, yeah. Navy Seal strong, I'd say. Aren't you going to ask me to do the same?"

He grinned and leaned his head back to empty his beer bottle. "Nope. I can see all I need from here."

"Well, you know Jake… out here, it's like we're all alone in the world. No one can see us… "

He dug into the cooler for another beer. "Yep. There's no one here but us. No one knows where we are. And you are so very hard to resist. But I will."

"But why? Where there's a will, there's a way." She leaned over and ran her palm over his ripped belly.

He sucked in his breath at her touch. "Are you showing me the way?"

"Maybe. Is this the way?" She ran her hand lower, down to his crotch.

He shifted, but remained un-aroused. Such control, she thought. Unless he couldn't…

He moved and quickly had her in his grasp, his lips close to hers. "Don't tease me, Alyse. It doesn't work this way, little rich girl. I choose. And I want you willing, not screaming about assault."

"You said I could make the first move." She tried to move her head, but he held her firmly, nose to nose, lips to lips, belly to belly.

"I don't like rules, especially yours." His lips closed over hers and he pressed his tongue deeply into her mouth. It was a hard and fast motion, not romantic and tender but furious and rugged. And he didn't let go until he was ready, in spite of her futile protests when his hand slid beneath her bikini to massage one breast.

He released her just enough to mutter, "I know you want me. And you know where I stand. But not now. Not here. Under my rules."

Her heart pounded against his chest and her breath came in jagged spurts. She wanted him to fulfill both their wishes right here and now. She knew it was crazy, but she wanted him now, more than ever. But for whatever sun-crazed reason, she believed him. Not here and now. His hand left her breast and she burned for more of his touch.

"What… what are your rules?" she managed.

His lips were thin and his voice tight. "Both of us willing and eager. The only off and on games I want are off shore and on the boat. In route."

"But what if I..."

"You won't." He pushed her from him and stood towering over her. With one hand, he reached down and jerked her shirt off, tearing a part of the neck. His dark eyes were hooded as they flickered over her. Then he pulled her to her feet. "If I'd wanted to overpower you, I could have done it long before now. And I didn't need to bring you to this deserted cove to do it."

She tried to free herself from his grasp. "I'm not scared of you. Why did you bring me here?"

He grunted. "To show you I'm a nice guy.  Why did you come along with me?"

She pouted her lips. "Maybe to show you my worse side, because that's what I've done."

"That goes for both of us." He released her. "We need to cool off. In the water."

For the next two hours they dived and played in the crystalline waters. He helped her with the mask and snorkel, and they watched schools of yellow fish with black stripes and iridescent blue fish dance among the varied shapes of underwater lava rocks and coral. Later they drank more beer and relaxed on the beach.

"What's the Texas appeal, Jake? Why have you stayed there?"

He folded his arms under his unruly hair. "Oh God, it's big and roomy, gives you the feeling that the sky's the limit."

Alyse closed her eyes. "Houston's the home base of my favorite fictional character. Sometimes the story takes place on a cattle ranch or a seaside resort or a Mexican village or a big metropolitan city. Which one is the real Texas?"

"All of it. Texas has just about everything."

"So does California."

"But Mexico is different. Traditional in many ways. Exotic. Wild. Beautiful. A place to play and forget everything."

"Do you have a lot to forget, Jake?"

"Oh yeah."

"What?"

He was quiet a long minute. "Not now. Maybe some other time."

"You have one thing on your mind."

"Yep. With you or without."

"Don't you want to know my rules to this game you're playing?"

He shrugged. "Doesn't matter."

"It's my boat. That makes it matter. I want your assurance to get us there with the boat in good shape. And I want… " She paused and almost said, You, Jake Bronson! I want you in my bunk. But she didn't.

He pretended to ignore her so-called rules. "How about those fish tacos I promised you? The sunset is beautiful on Pichilinque Bay. We can both relax."

"I want… to meet your aunt."

He jerked his head upright. "You don't trust me?"

"No."

"I don't know if that's possible."

She shrugged and climbed aboard the small motorboat, pretending not to care about his answer. They rode in near silence back along the coast, past pelican and seal islands until they reached the public beach and ferry crossing that marked Pichilinque.

The scene was romantic and exotic with the sun setting behind them, spreading gold, red, and purple arms across the sky. Their table was close to the water's edge, on the sandy beach. Tiny waves curled over the sand near their bare feet. Alyse touched his hand. "Why are you doing all this, Jake?"