Page 16 of Forging Caine

“No, you told me to choose. And I told you we were going to decide together.”

What was her problem with making this choice? Was it because I was intending to pay for everything? She didn’t want to take the time off work?

“How about a compromise? I’ll present the list of ideas my travel agent sent me, and you can accept or decline.”

“Mm-hmm.”

“The top of the list is a brand new resort in Tahiti. We can lie around on the beach all day and—”

“Oh my god, no, that sounds like death.”

“Lying on a beach in the tropics sounds like death?”

“The lying around part. That’s what we did on our honeym…” She paused in moving the sheets around, something gnawing at her brain about her ex-husband.

“Every vacation you and I have shared was spontaneous. You showing up on my doorstep in Napoli last summer, agreeing to come to Roma with me while we were sitting in your truck outside the airport, and then your business trip to Boston, which I crashed.”

“I’m not a good planner sometimes.” This was true. Samantha was about movement and action. Quick decisions. No doubt, her issue was that traveling together was a commitment. And it reminded her of traveling with Matt to wherever they’d gone on their honeymoon, before she realized marrying him had been the wrong choice.

“How about this? I’ll show you the details she sent me. I expect there would be very little lying on the beach and doing nothing. They have scuba diving, hikes up the mountain and through jungle…”

She lowered the sheets and looked at me. “Really?”

“Maybe a couple of trips by helicopter to nearby islands, and lots of rock climbing and swimming. And did I mention enormous beds?”

“Of course they do.” She laughed, shaking her head. “You’re incorrigible.”

“And a world-class spa.”

She feigned a frown.

“Fine.” I gestured toward the envelope in her lap before she could disappear into this little mystery. “I can go to the spa and you can fiddle with those papers that I know you have no intention of returning to my father before we leave.”

She held them up again. “Focus. Fiori’s going to call soon and you still have favors to call in.”

“And you have an FBI agent to contact.” I dialed the restaurant, identified myself, and was put on hold to speak with the owner.

Chapter 6

Samantha

CharmingpeoplewasAntonio’ssuperpower. Some quick words, a few laughs, and the chef’s table was ours, exactly as he said. What I wouldn’t give to be able to deal with people so easily.

And then the jerk smirked at me.

“I know, I know…” I paired my phone with Antonio’s car instead of smacking him. “Never doubt you.”

“I was hoping for ‘You’re always right,’ but I’ll accept that,” he said with a wink.

Elliot answered after a couple of rings. “Does this mean you’re still speaking to me?”

Dad’s letter and the secrets came back. Clandestine Service. Elliot had known all along. Mom hiding things from me.

Shake it off, Sam.

“Antonio’s with me and we have news. Big news.” I took in the handsome face next to me and the amazing man who continued to follow every crazy lead I went on. “I told him about the letter.”

“That was what I expected when I reminded you to lean on him.”

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