Knowing Vera (Romantic Suspense, Family Drama) (Chance for Love) (8 page)

Three days later I’m in an airplane over the Pacific Ocean in the middle seat, with Zach in the aisle seat to my left and Cliff at the window, flying nineteen hours to Australia. Their broad shoulders infringe on my space, and their elbows hog the armrests. Even though I’m barely one hundred and five pounds, I like room to spread out. The three of us stare at the seatback screens and try to ignore one another.

There’s no sense talking. Cliff claims Zach’s family is a danger to me, but won’t tell me what he supposedly knows. Zach says Cliff is a deranged ratbag who’s stalking me and preying on my emotions about finding my father. Guess he didn’t buy my little diversion about Tatay being Cliff’s supposed father. By the way,
who
is Cliff’s father?

Of course Tito Louie told me to trust Cliff, but won’t say why. Meanwhile, I lied to Mama and told her I’m taking a much-needed vacation. I didn’t even tell Maryanne, for fear she’d talk me out of going. Owen still thinks the entire hoo-ha is a jealous ex-girlfriend trying to break me up with Zach, except his theory backfired since Zach went into he-man protection mode and came with me.

The roar of the jet engines barely covers the thudding of my heart. I still don’t know who I should go with when we get to Melbourne. At least I have many, many hours to think about it. With nothing I can do until we land, I numb my feelings and pretend I’m an observer outside my body.

There I am, with two guards hemming my every move. Their clashing colognes and deodorants make my belly quiver. I almost giggle at the thought of overdosing on the testosterone floating between these two muscle-bound specimens.

Spending the entire flight in the cramped bathroom is looking mighty attractive at this stage. As soon as the seatbelt light turns off, I tap Zach’s knee and tell him I need to use the restroom. He stands in the aisle to let me pass. Cliff unsnaps his seatbelt and gets out of his seat, but Zach sits back down and blocks him from exiting.

I walk quickly toward the front of the plane. A drink cart blocks my path, so when I reach a bulkhead, I traverse to the port side, then head for the back. I look over my shoulder and see Zach a few feet behind me with Cliff trailing him. Oh goodness!

I power walk to the end of the airplane and double back to the starboard side, squeezing in between a row of seats. Zach and Cliff are forced to stand in the restroom line when an entourage of children crowds behind them. I return to the midsection and duck into an unoccupied restroom. After five minutes I figure the coast is clear, so I exit and sneak toward business class.

“Gotcha!” Zach snags my arm and guides me through the galley toward the front of the airplane. The other passengers see his exposed prosthetic leg and step aside to let us pass.

One of the restrooms between business and first class is unoccupied. Zach calmly opens the door and pulls me in with him.

“We can’t be in here together,” I protest. “What if we get arrested?”

He picks me up and places me on the edge of the small sink. “No one saw us. They look away when they see my leg.”

He’s so close his sweet, minty breath fans my face. I stare into his gorgeous blue eyes, as clear as the sea. I might as well figure out what’s up his sleeve.

“What’s the plan?” I ask.

“We ditch Cliff at the layover in Sydney and drive.”

“What about our luggage? They made us check almost everything.”

He lowers his forehead to rest against mine. “We’ll pick them up at the holding area. They have cages for the leftover bags.”

“Hmm … I don’t know. What if Cliff steals them?”

Zach’s lips feather against mine. “Let him. I have you. Advantage Zach.”

“How do you know I’m going with your program?” I squirm and wiggle in his arms. “Maybe Cliff knows who Tatay is.”

“If he did, why all the mystery? Either Tatay’s your father or he’s not. Cliff could have asked him to Skype you so you’d know for sure.”

“My dad can’t exactly come out in the open.” I back away when I realize my blooper. “I mean, he’s a recluse.”

“You sound like you already know he’s alive.” Zach’s eyebrows lower. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”

“Ah … no, it’s just a feeling I have. He would have contacted us, if he’s alive, I mean.” Whew, I hope he buys this.

“You’re starting to sound as mysterious as Cliff. Is your father on the run? Illegal alien?”

Ha, his type would always think we Asians are illegal. I poke his abdominals. “This is all hypothetical. Owen’s posted a message on my website saying I’m taking a vacation in Australia. He says to wait and see if Tatay contacts me.”

“Why do we need Cliff? I can show you around while you wait for your father, or whomever it is, to contact you.”

“But my uncle asked Cliff to escort me, for my own safety.” I added the last bit to tease him.

Zach thumbs my cheek. “You don’t seriously think I’m a danger to you.”

The temperature is rising rapidly, and my breath steams unevenly. “No. If you hurt me, it’ll be my fault.”

“I would never hurt you.” He touches the tip of my nose with his. “I really care about you. That’s why I came on this trip.”

The plane hits an air pocket, and the seatbelt lights flash on. Was that an omen? I reach for the exit latch, but Zach cups his hand over mine. He slides it open and puts his back against the door. “Now the stewardesses will think it’s unoccupied, and no one else will bother us because they’re supposed to be returning to their seats.”

The airplane continues to shake, the walls creaking over the drone of the jet engines. Zach wraps his arms around me and inhales the scent of my hair. “You smell so good. So tempting.”

Overcome by his nearness, I flatten my palm against his chest and run it down to his waist, admiring the firm planes of his muscles. He’s flushed and breathing faster. I pull his groin between my legs and wrap my feet around his behind. Hope he doesn’t think I’m teasing him because at this altitude, I haven’t got much oxygen in my brain, and I’m ready to throw caution out the window.

Zach lowers his head and nips from my ear to my neck. I’m wearing a backless sundress, so all he has to do is untie the spaghetti strap and my breasts pop into his hot palms. A current blazes from my titties to my crotch while Zach sucks on my neck and massages my erect nipples, setting me on fire with want. I pull his shirt from his pants and run my hands around his waistband. A moan rumbles from his chest as I brush against his erection, but he backs away and lowers his head to my chest.

“Not for me, Vera,” he grumbles incoherently, and slides his fingers under my sundress, rubbing me through my panties.

Heat zaps from between my legs, urgent and needy. Zach licks and sucks one of my breasts while working two fingers into me. I’m slamming my head against the mirror and clutching the soap dispenser. We hit an air pocket and he momentarily disengages, leaving me empty and grasping—but he dives back in quickly. His fingers flick faster and his tongue trails fire down my torso. He’s breathing heavily and must be close to exploding, but he keeps his groin away from me.

Intense, almost stinging pleasure burns between my legs as I tighten my thighs around the friction ignited by his hand. The airplane shudders and shudders to the same rhythm as my frenzied gasps. “Zach, Zach, Zach.”

I’m tingling all over, and then a rush of flames engulf me, showering me with a volcanic eruption of ecstasy. Every muscle in my body pulsates to the flashing of the seatbelt signs. Before I can let out a scream, Zach’s mouth covers my lips. His tongue wraps around mine and loves me as he gradually calms my over-excited body with deep, slow kisses.

The airplane steadies, and I float in his arms, catching my breath and kissing him over every surface of his body I can reach in the cramped bathroom. Zach straightens his shorts and pulls my dress down while I retie my sundress halter. I’m breathless and speechless. He knows my body better than I do, and he does such incredible things to me. But why didn’t he participate? Has he gone shy because of his accident?

The seatbelt lights turn off, and the captain announces that people are free to move around the cabin. Zach ruffles my hair. “I’ll go out first and be the decoy. Everyone will look away, and you can sneak back. Stay in the galley while I bribe someone to trade seats with us.”

He exits before I can respond. I catch my image in the mirror. My cheeks are flushed and my pupils dilated. A sheen of sweat dampens my nose. I look well effed. I wet a paper towel and quickly cool myself down. After finger combing my hair, I open the lavatory door and slip into the galley, feeling the eyes of every passenger on me.

Zach is talking to a large woman, his smile half-cocked. He gestures down the aisle at our seats and winks. The woman laughs with her entire chest and belly like he’s told her the most hilarious joke.

He waves me over as she moves ponderously toward Cliff, patting her hair and preening.

Cliff’s jaw drops, and his eyes pop when she climbs in. He’s shaking his head and gesturing at us, but she pinches his cheek, raises the armrest and plops herself into our combined seats.

“What did you tell her?” I snuggle up to Zach while he fastens my seatbelt.

“That he’s looking to immigrate by marrying an Aussie bride.” Zach chuckles. He taps on the seatback screen and glances at the flight map. “Now I have you to myself for the rest of the flight.”

“And when we get to Sydney? How do we get away from Cliff?”

“Debbie,” he nods toward the back, “says she’ll fall asleep and refuse to budge for the layover. Think Cliff will wet his pants?”

I’m giggling and my heart’s fluttering too fast. I cuddle into Zach’s arms. With no one else occupying the third seat in our section, we can stretch out and nestle closer. The cabin lights are dim as most of the passengers sleep.

“Zach?” My body’s still warm and fluffy from our encounter.

“Mmmm …” He jerks his good leg and inhales deeply.

“Does this count as spending the night with you?”

“You bet. Promise me many more and I’ll keep giving it to you.”

We left San Francisco Thursday evening and arrive in Sydney on Saturday morning. Freaky that I’ve lost a day of my life, but Zach points out I was born in the Philippines so I’m actually even now. This puzzles me because I wasn’t born in the Philippines, and what would make him so confident in saying this? But I don’t bother correcting him. The less he knows about my parents, the better.

The sun is rising over Sydney harbor, and glittering specks reflect off the wings of the famous Opera House. The harbor is asymmetrical with an even marine blue tone, calm, unlike the boisterous San Francisco Bay filled with whitecaps. Sunlight glitters off the spectacular skyline, and the Sydney Bridge shines like a jeweled bracelet.

The airplane circles and lands for the layover. Zach quickly retrieves our carry-ons while Cliff sleeps, his head lolling on Debbie’s ample shoulders. I snap a picture to send to my uncle. Ha! Some bodyguard he turned out to be. I have no idea how he cooked up this story to get a free plane ticket from my uncle, but I really don’t care.

Now that I think about it, it will be good to stay with Zach’s aunt. I’ll be able to investigate his mother and find out who had a motive to kill her. Zach holds my hand as we walk down the jet way into the airport. He’s so romantic and sweet, always touching me in endearing ways. After clearing customs, we turn toward ground transportation.

I’m surprised at the number of people at this hour, but Zach expertly weaves us between the kiosks and stores selling jewelry, clothing and refreshments. As soon as we step out of the terminal, I’m slammed by the heat and humidity. Of course, Zach reminds me it’s the height of summer in the southern hemisphere, and everything’s opposite. Even the driver is on the right side of the vehicle, and traffic moves on the left side of the road.

“I hope it’s not a long walk to the rental cars.” I’m tottering in uncomfortable stilettos while he’s wearing sneakers. I’m already sweating from the short walk and the high temperatures. “Glad I wore a sundress, it’s so hot here.”

Zach taps my nose which is damp and laughs. “Last year it was over forty-five degrees.”

“That’s kind of chilly, isn’t it?” I hate that I sweat mostly on my face. It’s so noticeable.

“Celsius. But for you,” he checks an app on his phone, “that’s a hundred fourteen degrees Fahrenheit.”

“Ouch!” I stare at the road signs. “Is everything here opposite? The metric system, driving on the wrong side of the road, people talking funny, I feel like I’m upside down.”

“We even sell an inverted globe here where the South Pole’s on top. Our compasses are turned around, and so are our maps,” he says this in all seriousness, but I catch the twinkle in his eye.

“Good, because you’re buying me one on the way home.” I nudge him as we stop front of the car rental. “I want a gemstone globe, a big one, upside down, like you say. Make sure the Philippine Islands are done in diamonds.”

“Whoa, you’re expensive.” Zach kisses my cheek and loops his arm around my shoulder.

I pull on my shades, trying not to look like a tourist. Zach rents a car and opens the door for me. It’s strange getting in on the left-hand side. I hope he knows how to drive this thing, because I’m sure I’ll get disoriented and turned around. He limps slightly as he crosses around the front of the car.

The attendants look at him funny because of his artificial leg, and I bite my tongue. Zach points to the gas pedal. “See? On the right, and so is the brake. Betcha thought I’d be driving with my phony foot.”

He’s so cute. What’s not to like about him?

The transmission lever is on the center console, and I’m relieved it’s an automatic. I pull my hair off my sweaty neck and twist it with a scrunchie. “Think we can get a room and a shower? I might need some clothes, too.”

“You won’t need any if you get a room with me.” Zach wiggles his eyebrows.

“Why? Mr. Spencer, are you propositioning me?”

He stops at the end of the lot and leans toward me, his breath in my ear. “Maybe I wanna get you addicted to me.”

The way his voice rasps, so hot and breathless, husky and sexy, gets my juices running. I reach to rub my cheek on his stubble when he backs away. He’s a tease, that’s what he is. A male tease. I cross my arms and change the subject. “What now?”

“A nine hour drive through the bush or we sleep in the dust with scorpions under a gum tree. Oh, and the termites. We might find shade behind a termite mound.”

My skin’s already itching and prickly. “Can you turn on the air?”

“Hope the car doesn’t overheat.” He’s definitely teasing me now.

“I knew I should have stayed with Cliff. He’s snoozing on the airplane and will get to Melbourne way before us.”

“In that case, let’s stay here. I’ll take you to the Opera House, we’ll climb the bridge, and I’ll teach you to surf. Let him go to Melbourne.”

“I’m here on a mission, not a vacation.”

His voice barely clears his throat. “Are you pinning all your hopes on finding your father?”

I don’t answer. It sounds crazy, a fantasy. But a girl never gives up, especially if she’s Daddy’s little girl. I turn my face toward the window and watch the airplanes rise into the clouds.

We exit the airport and the terrain doesn’t look any different than California—sparse trees, sunny skies and the usual congestion. After passing a golf course, we drive into a straight tunnel that seems to go on forever. I’m starting to get claustrophobic and dizzy. The light colored walls zoom by, and there’s only a single strip of overhead lights on the grey ceiling.

Suddenly the car swerves into the next lane. My eyes widen in alarm. “Zach? Did you get enough sleep?”

He chuckles and rolls his eyes. “How can I sleep when you snore as loud as a backhoe?”

“I don’t snore.” I tickle his knee. “You always bugged me to sleep with you. I knew you wouldn’t respect me in the morning.”

“I would if you didn’t snore.” He cups my hand to stop the tickling. “So how do you like my country?”

“We’re stuck in a tunnel, what’s there to say?” I yawn loudly. “Are the bugs bigger here?”

“Oh, yeah. Flies the size of bumblebees, swarms of mozzies, that’s mosquitoes to you, so thick they’d suck a kangaroo dry in two minutes, and …” His voice drones, but I’m already tuning it out, and my eyelids are too heavy to enjoy the monotonous tunnel view.

***

I’m jerked awake and spinning. “Zach, what are you doing?” I scream, flapping my hands.

Flashes of yellow grass swirl outside the windshield. We bounce. One. Two. Three. And pow! The airbag socks my face. I see stars and hear a zinging noise as I bat it from me.

Zach bounces off his airbag and reaches for me. “Vera, you okay?”

“Sure, sure, I’m still alive.” My eyes sting from the acrid airbag powder, and my ears are ringing. Sunlight glares through the windshield while traffic zooms by on both sides.

“What happened?” I grab my purse and jump out of the car. We’ve spun out onto the grassy median of a divided highway, and the front end of the car is stuck in a drainage ditch.

“Some SUV cut me off, sorry.” Zach stoops awkwardly on one knee to examine the underside of the car.

I wave at the passing traffic for help. Minutes later, a dark silver Range Rover rolls to a stop, and three guys jump out. Two Asians and … Cliff?

They swagger toward me, and I’m standing there trying not to look flustered. I mean, my hair’s rumpled, I’m sweating and dizzy, but this is unreal, like a movie scene.

Cliff slowly removes his shades and whistles, shaking his head. “Looks like he can’t drive.”

One of the Asian guys says, “And they say
we
can’t drive?”

The other one ambles to where Zach is bending over and says, “Hey, mate, need a hand? Er, a foot?”

The three of them laugh while Zach pushes himself up from the ground. His face is red, and he’s probably in pain since he’s been wearing his prosthesis for more than twenty-four hours. I brush Cliff’s hand from my shoulder and walk to Zach’s side, but Cliff sticks to me and parks himself between us.

“You endangered Vera’s life,” Cliff says. “Hand me her bags. I’m taking over.”

Zach doesn’t back down. In fact, he stands straighter. “No can do. Vera’s with me.”

Cliff’s two sidekicks swarm over, their biceps bulging under fierce tattoos. It’s starting to look like a standoff but a horn blares, and a police car slows and comes to a stop.

Two officers get out of the cruiser and come toward us. I’m worried about Zach, but surely we can get a tow or exchange the car and be on our way again.

“What happened here?” one of the officers asks.

“Bloke lost control of his car.” Cliff points at Zach. “Not sure he’s supposed to be driving with that gimp leg.”

The other officer calls from where he’s examining the rental. “You’ll need a tow. The front tires are busted, airbags out. We’ll need to see your insurance and license,” he says to Zach.

Zach hobbles back to the rental and digs in the glove.

I’m feeling faint and hot. The grass swirls at my feet, and I see black and white patches. I try to walk toward Zach, but my knees are wobbly.

“We’ll be going, right?” Cliff claps an arm around my shoulder.

The officer replies, “Sure, thanks for calling it in.”

Cliff sweeps me into his arms and carries me to the SUV.

“Wait, but what about Zach?”

“What about him?” Cliff says. “Your uncle told you to travel with me. Why did you run off?”

Because he’s so hot and I’m falling for him?
No, that’s my hormones talking. Either that, or my blood sugar has dropped and I’m not thinking straight.

My pulse swishes behind my ears, and my head is expanding and contracting while my heart feels hollow and flipped inside out. A vasovagal episode, my nurse’s brain says right before I see nothing.