Chapter 10
The Honeymoon Phase
Thunder
She was staring at me. I could feel every inch of her gaze, but I kept my eyes shut, willing my body not to move. Did I pretend to wake up slowly? Did I reach out for her, tuck her against me, and pretend to fall back asleep? I wasn’t sure.
“You’re up, Bob…by.”
She caught me, and I couldn’t help the smile that formed as I slowly opened my eyes.
She was sitting, propped up against the pillows next to me in bed.
Her blue pajamas were a stark contrast against the white sheets, as the duvet lay across her lap.
The best part was the small smile she gave me. “Good…morning.”
“Did you sleep well?” My voice was gruff, but she didn’t shrink away from me.
If El Sombra Roja wanted to announce his presence, he had to do better than blood-red roses. If we were really in danger, I wouldn’t have brought my bride here. It was only a few days. We weren’t far, and if we needed backup, I could always call.
“Yes. Do we…have…plans?” she asked, pulling the duvet with her as she shifted.
“What are you thinking?” I let myself sink into the mattress. The bed in my room at the clubhouse was comfortable enough, but hers downstairs was a little better. Neither held a candle to this one. Maybe it wasn’t the bed. Maybe it was her.
“It’s early.” She pointed towards the French doors that led out onto the balcony.
“Do you want to watch the sunrise?” I hadn’t even finished the question before she was nodding her head. “Alright, go grab a seat, and I’ll be out there in a minute.”
She reached over, combing a piece of hair off my forehead.
“Hurry.” With that, she shuffled out of bed, leaving a cold spot where she’d been sitting.
She didn’t wear her hip brace to bed, and I watched her hobble across the room before disappearing out onto the balcony.
Rolling onto my back, my arm came across my eyes, and I let out a low groan.
I was so fucked if she ever decided our marriage was over.
The resort had advertised the view, and I’d picked a room on the east side. There were two lounge chairs with a small table between them. Her head turned in my direction as I shut the door, and I caught her shiver.
“Are you cold?”
“No.”
I didn’t want to push, so I took my seat, stretching out and crossing my legs at the ankle. This was the life, and I made a promise to always take Liz on vacation. One a year. Just us. “The only thing that would make this better is coffee.”
She laughed, the sound settling deep within my chest. “I didn’t…go downstairs.” Her head rolled on her shoulders to look at me. “You would…panic…if I left.”
I held her gaze, making sure she didn’t look away.
“You’re more than capable. I won’t be that asshole, but don’t disappear on me.
” She shrugged as if it wasn’t a big deal, and that fucking pissed me off.
“The woman I’m looking at now is pretty independent.
” She gave me a sad smile. “Don’t sell yourself short.
” I watched as her lips tipped up. It wasn’t a full smile, but it was something.
The sky was a fiery shade of orange with some pink and red mixed in. “Pretty,” she mumbled.
“Sure is.” I was looking at her.
***
Elizabeth
I sat on the bed, waiting for him to finish getting dressed before we went exploring. The muscles in his legs flexed as he leaned over, reaching into his suitcase for a change of clothes.
We grabbed coffee at the hotel’s stand in the lobby, and I tried not to notice his long fingers as he grabbed his wallet and paid.
Walking along the boardwalk, we stopped to watch a few street performers, and when he went to tip them, I pretended to study the shop awnings further down the street as I waited for him.
You could have said no at any time. No to the marriage. No to him. He would still have stood next to you. How many more times are you going to hide behind “friends”? I shut that thought down.
He let me hold onto his arm as we wandered down the boardwalk, popping into the local shops to meander. I was steady on my feet, but the sidewalk was uneven, and he’d wrapped my hand around his bicep to lend me his strength.
“Bob…by.” I pointed towards the trinket shop. “Let’s go.” I grabbed his hand, thinking nothing of it, but a shot of lightning raced up my arm. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky, and when I turned back to ask him if he’d felt it, his expression was so intense that I let it go.
We roamed around the store with other tourists, but I stopped to look at the jewelry counter in the middle. There were gemstones of all shapes and sizes, and the light reflected off the glass, making them sparkle. I was a sucker for anything shiny.
“I have a confession,” he whispered in my ear as I leaned over the counter.
The hair on the back of my neck stood up at his closeness.
It wasn’t fear but excitement, and I wasn’t sure what to do with it.
“I hate that string of pearls you wear, and every time I see them, I want to rip them from your neck.”
I stood straight, bumping into Thunder’s chest. He wrapped an arm around my waist, holding me until I righted myself. “My mother’s…p...p...pearls.”
“Don’t care. They’re a choker around your neck, and if that’s what you’re into, I’ll find something else for you to wear.”
My cheeks heated, and I scanned the rest of the people in the shop, wondering who’d heard him. I’d heard the brothers make raunchy comments at each other, to the club girls, and anyone who was within earshot, but this was the first time someone had ever said something directly to me.
“I…I…”
He kissed my temple and let go of me, sidling off to somewhere else in the store.
It didn’t matter. He’d planted the seed, although I desperately tried to shut it down.
As I stared at the string of pearls in the glass display, my body felt feverish, my mind became frazzled, and I didn’t know how to forget it.
“Those pearls would look pretty on you,” one saleswoman said, standing on the other side of the counter.
I stared at her in horror, replaying Thunder’s comment. “Oh… Oh. No.”
“Is something wrong? Not every woman can wear pearls, but you have one of those necks.” I stood there, frozen, but it gave the saleswoman the wrong impression. She quickly covered her mouth. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” She started tripping over her words.
“You’re fine.” Thunder appeared again at my side. “My wife already has a pair of pearls, but maybe you can show her something blue. That’s her favorite.”
“I can do that.” The woman took over, pulling my attention this way and that. Thunder’s laughter followed us around. It wasn’t until she landed on a simple sapphire necklace that I stopped. It had two diamonds at the top, hanging from a silver chain. I didn’t know why I was so drawn to it.
“That…one.” The saleswoman pulled it out of the case for me to look at. “Yes.” I smiled at her. I hadn’t meant to embarrass her, but Thunder had pushed me, causing a chain reaction. Now, I could breathe, making my own decisions, even though I ignored where he stood watching. “I’ll…take…it.”
Thunder paid for my purchase, handed me the bag, and we slowly exited the store. I wrapped my arm around his again. “Thank—“
“Don’t say it.” He leaned over, pretending we were the only two people around. “I wanted to.”
“Thank…you.” I smiled. “Hungry?”
“I could eat.” There was a little cafe a few blocks down, and we grabbed sandwiches before sitting at one of the outdoor tables. “I don’t want to go back.”
I set my sandwich down, wiping my lips with a napkin. My brow furrowed, and I wasn’t sure what to say to that. I wasn’t ready to go back either. I’d had such a good time. I didn’t want it to end, but I wondered if we’d do this again.
“We can.” I hadn’t asked, but he’d answered. “Every now and again, we’ll run.”
We let the silence settle around us as we ate, watching the people.
There were kids playing in the sand, as their parents lay on beach towels nearby.
Couples quietly talking as they walked past us.
Some wondered what to do next. Others tried to decide what to eat.
The waves crashed along the beach, providing ambiance.
I sat back in my chair, people-watching, when I noticed a man near the trinket shop.
I probably wouldn’t have thought much of it, but it was clear he was watching us.
He stood out among the tourists, wearing an expensive suit with shiny dress shoes.
Tucking his hands into his pockets, he pushed the flaps up—revealing the gun at his waistband.
“Bob…by.” I caught his attention, and he leaned forward in his chair. “Man…” I slowly tilted my head in that direction. “Suit.”
He must have understood enough because he let his napkin drop to the ground.
Pretending to stretch his back, Thunder leaned down, finding the man in the crowd as he picked it up.
“Do you recognize him?” He leaned in, whispering in my ear.
Thunder had a volume problem, and this was the only way he wouldn’t draw more scrutiny to us. I shook my head.
Thunder pushed a piece of hair behind my ear before he pulled back and opened his phone. He typed out a quick message before he dialled a number and hit call. “Did you get my text?” he asked, not bothering to say hello. There weren’t enough words to determine who was on the other end of the line.
“What the fuck?” he bellowed, holding his hand out for the gift bag sitting on the table next to me. I passed it to him, scanning his face for any clues.
“That was convenient for them.” He tucked the phone against his ear, pulling the gift box out of the bag. “Okay, what am I looking for?” I was confused, but I didn’t dare interrupt.
Thunder opened the box, letting the lid snap into place before he flipped the stone over, running his finger up the back and over the diamonds where they connected to the chain.
He stopped, pressing his thumb forward and back over the connection.
“I’m going to send you a picture and call you back.
I think I got it.” He hung up. Reaching for my hand, he kissed my knuckles.
“It’s alright. Let me do my thing, and I’ll explain soon.
” All I could do was nod my head. I was confused, but Thunder would let nothing happen to me.
He called whoever it was. “Did you get it?” His tongue stuck out of the side of his mouth as he listened. “That’s it, isn’t it?” His eyes rolled up to the sky. “I’m leaving it here.” He waited another beat before agreeing and hanging up the phone. “We need to go.”