Crazy in Paradise (4 page)

“Are you staying or do I call your mother?” Doc questioned Zach.

Zach turned to me. “Can I stay?”

I nodded, trying hard not to stare at his bare chest and broad shoulders. Call me crazy, but I was looking forward to having him as a houseguest, a diversion from the sadness.

“You did a good job at the funeral getting rid of everyone,” Doc Rivers said to me, giving me the once over. “Elizabeth was proud of you. She left you a lot. Try not to screw anything up.” Doc hugged me. “Liz and I were the best of friends. Call me if you need anything. I better not have to come back here.” He glared at Zach, then left through the same gate he entered.

Now what
? I asked myself. “Zach?” I sat down again next to him on the chaise. He opened his eyes, hooked his one arm around my neck, wound his fingers in my hair, and pulled me into a kiss. Lightning shot through my body. “Zach, stop,” I murmured, though stopping was the last thing I wanted. I was thinking about what it would be like to have sex with him right here on the chaise.

“No. I’ll recover faster.”

“You can’t sleep out here on the patio,” I said between kisses. A small moan escaped my lips, embarrassing me. I pushed away slightly. “The guest room bed will be much more comfortable.”

“Can I sleep with you?”

“No, and behave yourself, or
I’ll
call your mother.”

“Good threat,” he laughed. “I’m a grown man and she still scares me sometimes. This is one of those situations she definitely wouldn’t like.”

“Sit up. We’re going to get you upstairs while you’re high on drugs. Lean against me, and I’ll help you up the stairs.”

He got up slowly off the chaise. I put my arm around his waist and guided him into the house and upstairs. “The first door on the right,” I pointed.

“Where’s your bedroom?”

“I’ll be across the hall.”

I helped him into the bedroom and, while I pulled the comforter off and the sheets down, I realized Zach was still fully dressed.

He saw me looking at him and seemed to read my thoughts. “Take my clothes off.”

“Are you out of your mind?”

“You might’ve said yes,” he said.

“Whatever.” I knelt down and removed his black boots, and pulled off his socks. “You’re on your own with the jeans. You can sleep in them for all I care.” I peeled off the pieces of what was left of his shirt. “When I go out tomorrow I’ll get you another shirt.”

“That door goes into the bathroom,” I pointed. “If you need anything, yell.”

“Damn doctor. I didn’t want the sedative, and now I can’t keep my eyes open. Thanks for letting me stay. I’ll be leaving in the morning.”

“No, you won’t. You promised Doc Rivers,” I reminded him. “You leave and I’ll tell. Besides it’ll give you plenty of time to tell me how you knew Elizabeth, and why she would’ve helped you.” I gave him a soft shove and he sat back on the bed. “Now take your pants off and get into bed,” I told him. “I’ll be right back.”

I returned with some bottled water, and a bell for Zach to use to get my attention if he was too tired to yell. His jeans were laying on the floor, and Zach was lying across the bed, naked but for black boxer briefs. Nice butt, long legs, muscled and tanned. I stood staring at him, smiling.

Chapter 4

I walked into the bedroom with a breakfast tray for Zach just as he came out of the bathroom in his black boxer briefs. I handed him the orange juice and two pills.

“I’m not taking those,” he said.

“They’re antibiotics, and you damn well will. If not, I can arrange for a shot.”

“I have things I need to get done today,” he grumbled.

“Breakfast and antibiotics won’t get in the way of your day. Stop stalling.”

“You’re pushy.”

“I’ve been called worse.”

He picked up the glass and downed his juice. He ate the muffin while drinking his coffee.

“Sit on the bed and I’ll change your bandage. Doc Rivers left a sling here if it would help.”

“Thank you. I appreciate your help.”

“Honestly, with my aunt’s death and the funeral, playing nurse for a few days is just the distraction I need.”

“I owe you one.”

“One? I want a half dozen.”

“That’s something I would expect Elizabeth to say,” he said. “Damn this time… kicked my ass more than…,” his voice trailed off and he leaned back against the pillows.

“What? How many times have you been shot?”

But he only murmured, “I’ll sleep for a few minutes, and then I’m leaving.”

“I have a few errands. Anything you want before I take off, or while I’m out?”

One eye opened mischievously, “How about a kiss?”

“I won’t be gone long,” I said, ignoring his question. But I left the room with a stupid smile on my face.

* * *

I came in the front door with my arms full of groceries to find Zach lying on the couch, barefoot, wearing black jeans and no shirt.

“How about a turkey sandwich? I stopped at The Bakery Café and picked up lunch. You must be feeling better. You made your way downstairs.”

Zach glared. “Where are my keys?” he demanded.

“In my purse.”

“I want them.”

“You’re not in any shape to drive. You look like crap.”

“Gee, thanks.”

“Stop fighting yourself. It’s only for a day or two. What do you want to drink with your sandwich?”

“Any beer?” he asked.

“Drink this instead.” I tossed him a bottle of water and handed him two pills.

He stared at the pills and then back at me.

I rolled my eyes. “Let me guess, more drama about pill taking.”

He washed them down with water. “Are those the same pills I took this morning?”

“No, I just picked up this prescription.”

His eyes went from deep blue to almost black. “You drugged me, didn’t you? No wonder all I want to do is sleep.” His face took on a hard look; he was definitely not a man to be crossed.

“Go take a nap.”

“Didn’t you?” he yelled.

“Didn’t I what? Drug you? Yes.”

“I
trusted
you.”

I dug his keys out of my purse, and threw them at him. “If you want to leave so badly, get up and go.”

“I can’t drive in my condition.”

“Doc Rivers left the numbers of two people I can call to come pick you up. Do you have a preference?”

“Fine,” he said crushing the water bottle, throwing it on the floor.

“Then here are the ground rules. Stop whining, you stay till the weekend, and you take your medication.”

“Okay.”

“No, I want to hear ‘I promise, word of honor, and I won’t whine’.”

“I promise, word of honor, and I’ll try not to do the other.”

My cell phone rang from the kitchen. I checked the caller ID and it was Mother. Unless I answered, she’d keep calling back. “Hi Mother, how was your trip?”

“Say ‘hi’ to mom for me,” Zach whispered loudly.

I put my fingers to my lips.

“What are you doing?” Mother asked.

“Unpacking my suitcases. When I finish, I plan to take a book out by the pool and go for a swim.”

“Then I’ll let you get back to work. Just wanted to hear your voice.”

I barely heard her and don’t remember hanging up the phone. It was hard to take my eyes off my half-naked houseguest.

“Nothing new here?” Zach shook his head. “My mother hates to be lied to, even on the phone.”

“Okay, smart guy, what should I’ve said? That I came home after the funeral, and a hot guy was lying on a chaise by the pool, bleeding from a gunshot wound? Oh, and wait, the best part is that he’s still here lying half-naked on my couch.” I rolled my eyes. What had I just confessed?

He smiled. “You think I’m hot?”

“I bought you a couple of tee shirts,” I said. When I turned to walk back into the kitchen, I could hear him laughing.

“What is
that
?” he asked.

Jazz, my twenty-pound, longhaired black cat had jumped onto the couch, in territorial mode, and was sniffing Zach.

“Go ahead, pee on him. Meet Jazz. He thinks he’s a dog, and he’s definitely king of the house.”

“How old is he?”

“Fifteen. I found him in a parking lot while I was on vacation in Colorado. He was just a kitten. He came home with us, eating McDonald’s all the way,” I said, smiling at the memory. “I’ll move him.”

“That’s okay. I like having something soft and purring beside me.”

I laughed and walked upstairs to change into my bathing suit.

* * *

With Zach and Jazz asleep on the couch, I took my aunt’s letter and settled into a chaise by the pool. I sat staring at the white envelope for a long time. I was anxious to read what she wrote because I wanted to feel connected to her. But I kept putting it off because I knew once I did, it would make her death seem final.

Instead, I lay back against the cushions and thought about Zach. So many intriguing people in Elizabeth’s life, none of whom she’d ever mentioned. I wondered why. And, what was her relationship with Zach? I replayed his kisses over and over in my mind, fantasizing about taking advantage of him while he was drugged. I laughed at the absurdity of anyone taking advantage of him no matter what state he was in.

“What are you doing out here?” Zach appeared in the doorway.

“I guess you dozed off. I’ll get you a chair,” I said, starting to get up.

“This is a double chaise. There’s plenty of room for me,” he pointed out.

“What are you up to?”

“Sitting next to you, so we could talk,” he smiled.

“Talk? What man wants to talk?”

“I want to know more than a woman’s name before we have sweaty sex.”

I tried to maintain eye contact, but it was hard. “I’m playing nurse, that’s all.” The mental image of rolling around naked with him made me hot all over.

His finger traced my cheek. “At least give me a chance to change your mind.”

I pushed his hand away. “You’ve wanted to leave since you got here. Get your stuff.”

“No, I’ll stay till the weekend. Doctor’s orders.” He was pleased with himself. “Besides, Elizabeth would never throw me out.”

Playing the Elizabeth card was a good move on his part but, truthfully, I didn’t want him to leave. My cheeks burned as I pictured him naked. Talk about jumping into the frying pan. I’d made that choice before, and surely I’d learned something. Yes, I learned that hot, nasty sex could be amazing, but there was always a price.

“What are you thinking about?”

I changed the subject. “I have good news and bad news. I’ll start with the good.”

“The good is you can stay. The bad, but not
so
bad, is I want my IOU’s in writing.”

“In writing? Sounds like you don’t trust me.” He sounded more than just a little offended. “Elizabeth never asked for hers in writing.”

“What was your relationship with my aunt?”

“She hired me to handle a problem for her.”

“What kind of problem?”

“One of her girlfriends got involved with a swindling playboy. When their romance ended, he helped himself to several pieces of expensive jewelry. Elizabeth and I got to know one another during the investigation and became friends. Then there was a time or two she saved my butt.”

“How did she do that?”

“Long stories. Elizabeth was a woman you wanted in your back-up arsenal; she never said no to helping me. I wish I’d gotten to talk to her one last time.”

“You don’t get off that easy.”

“Another time. Over dinner?” He smiled at me.

I was learning things about my aunt that I never knew. I had drifted away from our relationship during my marriage. It was hard being married to someone no one liked.

“Elizabeth told me you were coming for the summer. I know she had plans to talk to you about staying in The Cove. She was also going to introduce you to all of the crazies around town, myself included.”

I sighed and, with a tinge of sadness in my voice, said, “We were close my entire life. She was an amazing aunt and we got to be best friends when I was in college. I loved her so much. We drifted apart over the last few years and that was my fault.”

“Elizabeth wanted you to take control of The Cottages.”

“I’m looking forward to it,” I told him. “Mostly because no one expects me to step up and do the job. I’ve changed a lot. The new me likes to act and then think about it later. I’m trying to remember that doesn’t always work out so well. I want to think carefully about the decisions I make.”

“What would your family be most surprised about?” he asked.

“Probably that I enjoy a certain amount of crazy, and living on the edge.” I could see my answer surprised him.

“You seem like a straight arrow; a by-the-rules kind of girl.” He reached out, pulling on one of my red curls.

“A by-the-rules girl doesn’t take in a complete stranger with a gunshot wound,” I said. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m well aware of where the line is. I just want to kick it around. What about you?”

“I’m thirty-eight years old, six feet tall, and one hundred and eighty five pounds. Italian on my mother’s side, and Portuguese from my father. I’m the oldest of two sisters and one brother and, as the oldest, it was my responsibility to make sure they all stayed out of trouble. After a year of college, I got bored and left. I joined the Navy and became a Seal. I’m very good at being a tough guy.”

His fingers were all tangled up in my hair. “You said you met Elizabeth when she hired you. Did she find you in the yellow pages?”

“We knew some of the same low-lifes. One of them recommended me. I’m the owner of AZL Securities; a private investigation firm that specializes in security for large and small companies.”

He began massaging the back of my neck and head with his fingers. I wanted to close my eyes and concentrate on how amazing it felt. “Does everyone call you Zach?”

“My parents call me Anthony and so do the people I grew up with, friends from childhood. When I’m in trouble, my mom calls me Antonio, usually followed by ‘
now
’. She’s not a woman to ignore, especially when she’s mad,” he laughed. “My mother rules the family. My father lives to make her happy. If you seriously want to piss off my father, upset my mother.”