Page 7 of Tropical Inferno

“Exactly. He was fine with it until we started showing him the brochures and stuff—he was probably afraid she’d meet someone interesting once she got on a beach.”

“He’s not interesting?” he asked, arching his brows.

She made a face. “He would be fine if he didn’t whine. I mean, like, all the time. Monique…smoochy…” Her voice got high and nasal as she mimicked Monique’s boyfriend, Alan. “Can you get my socks? My feet are so cold with the air conditioning on… And where are my glasses? You know I can’t wear my contacts after eight hours. Love kitten, did you take your pills? We don’t want a little baby smooch before we’re ready…”

“He called it a little baby smooch?!” He was laughing and she started to snicker.

She covered her mouth with her hand as she giggled. “He’s such a little whiner.”

“What does she see in him?”

She sighed. “Monique was with her high school boyfriend for years…from grade nine until two years ago. She got home one day from wedding dress shopping and caught him in bed with one of his cousins.”

“His cousin? Like a first cousin?!”

She wrinkled her nose. “Yeah. It’s been ugly. We’re actually from Kingston, Ontario—about two hours east of Toronto—but after that she had to get out of there and we both started job-hunting in Toronto. It didn’t take long so we got an apartment together and she just dove into work—she’s a nurse. She didn’t date anyone for over a year and then she met Alan, who to be fair, is also a nurse and a really good one. But he’s the complete opposite of her ex, small and nerdy and kind of clingy… I guess she likes having all the power or something. I don’t know. I’d kill him if he was my boyfriend.”

“So…you’re single?”

She squinted up at him. “As a matter of fact, I am. How about you? You have a girl back in California that likes motorcycle grease under a guy’s nails?”

He glanced down at his hands, which were decidedly free of grease at the moment, and shrugged. “No one special in my life right now. Like I said, a lot going on.” He opted not to mention he didn’t live in California anymore. He actually lived and played in Ottawa, not too far from her hometown of Kingston, but he couldn’t mention that either.

“That means we can flirt.” Her eyes twinkled.

“We can.” He gave her a little nod, though she couldn’t quite read the look in his eyes. “I guess you’re in vacation mode now, huh?”

She made a strange face. “Monique told me just over a week ago that she wasn’t coming with me—the last day we could cancel the reservation here without paying a fee. At that point, I went straight into stress mode, trying to figure out if I could afford it. Since I couldn’t get a refund on my flight, and I desperately wanted to be on a beach, I talked myself into coming alone. I had to find a more affordable hotel, which I did, although we know how that ended. Then I downgraded the car rental from a convertible to the little budget thing I had, which was lame. I took care of everything but the reality is that I’m not a great solo traveler. I mean, I’m fine with the logistics of finding my way around and all that, but it isn’t fun. Sitting on the plane, I kept turning to tell Monique something I was excited about and she wasn’t there. By the time I landed I was in a funk, and the lost suitcase just added to it. When I got to that motel and saw what a dump it was, I knew I was screwed but didn’t know what else to do.”

“Couldn’t you call home…your family or whatever? Ask for help?”

She lowered her eyes. “I’m kind of the black sheep of the family, even though no one would actually say that. My older brother is…super successful, makes a lot of money, started a charitable organization—he’s amazing. My younger brother has been working his way up the corporate ladder since he graduated from college and is doing well too. They’re both in solid, wonderful relationships and have interesting, mostly fulfilling lives. Me? I’m a glorified secretary. Can’t find the right guy, boring job, no plan for the future—there’s nothing special about Maddie.”

He cocked his head, squinting in the bright sun. “I think there’s plenty special about Maddie,” he said slowly. “You’re beautiful, smart and resourceful. What happened this morning wasn’t your fault. You’re probably a nice girl from a nice family who grew up in a suburban neighborhood, right? You ever stumble onto an armed robbery before?”

She shook her head vehemently. “No!”

“Exactly. So what happened this morning had nothing to do with you, and I don’t even put that into the equation when I look at you. Okay, you have a mediocre job that doesn’t thrill you, but what’s wrong with that? Not everyone can be at the top of the corporate ladder or super wealthy. We still need secretaries and teachers—and mechanics. Being a regular person doesn’t make you a black sheep, and not having met the right guy certainly doesn’t! My sister isn’t married either—and she’s 30! How old are you?”

“Twenty-seven.”

“I’m thirty-two and not involved with anyone. Not even dating. I’m kind of an asshole, to be honest. I don’t mean to be, it just sort of happens.”

His confession showed a vulnerability she hadn’t been expecting and she wondered if he was playing a game with her.

“You’re really good-looking,” she responded, as if that explained everything.

“So are you,” he countered. “What does that have to do with it? Being attractive automatically means you’re an asshole?”

“No, but…” She hesitated. “It’s different with guys. I don’t know why. Maybe that’s a sexist thing to say, but that’s been my experience. The better-looking they are, the worse they behave.” She smiled. “Except my brother and brother-in-law.”

4

Hawk forced himself not to react. “Your brother and brother-in-law?”

She met his eyes. “My brother is married to a man.”

“Oh. Uh, cool.” Shit. This was absolutely not a conversation he wanted to have with her.

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