Guilty Pleasures (53 page)

Eva, dressed in the employee uniform, worked her way through the levels, keeping her eyes peeled for an appearance of Traci, while still attempting to look busy. With a passenger load of more than two thousand and two-hundred-plus employees, it was easy to blend in.

She was about to step on the escalator when she caught a glimpse of Traci being walked down the corridor by the two men she'd swear were Suarez's bodyguards. She kept an eye on them until they turned down another hallway and were gone from her line of sight.

What is that about

She continued up the escalator. When she reached the next level, she took her PDA out of her pocket and pulled up the ship plan on the screen. She scrolled around until she found the location she needed. She turned left, went up one more level, walked down an
Employees Only
corridor, and found the master kitchen. She pushed through the swinging doors as if this was where she belonged.

The kitchen was bustling with activity. The chef blasted out orders to the cooks, steam rose from pots and gave the air a misty look, waiters darted back and forth, bringing orders and taking them out.

She quickly scanned the area until she found what she was looking for. No one paid her any attention when she pulled one of the large service carts out of the swinging doors. It was much heavier than she thought, even with wheels.

“I got it,” she said into her headset.

“Good. Come on back until we're ready,” Jake responded.

“Any word from Rita
”

“No.”

Eva didn't like that. She knew her cousin too well. She didn't like it at all.

*   *   *

“Please, make yourself comfortable,” Xavier said once they were inside his cabin. He took off his jacket and tossed it on the couch. “Can I fix you a drink
”

“That would be nice.” She followed him over to the bar, thinking of the vial in her purse. From what Eva told her, the stuff worked in about fifteen minutes. All she had to do was slip it into his drink. This could all be over shortly.

He turned to her with a drink in his hand. She took it with her thanks.

“Come, join me over here.” He walked over to the couch and sat down. Rita sat next to him.

He studied her for a moment. “What would make a woman like you interested in a man like me
”

The question caught her off guard. She stumbled for an answer. “What do you mean
”

“I can tell you are a very bright woman. And smart women see things, understand things, as do smart men.”

Her heart began to hammer in her chest.
Where is this going
She took a sip of her drink.

“I have a very strong feeling, being a smart man, that you know I am no simple businessman.”

The wine sat on the top of her stomach like a brick.

Pull yourself together. Think.
She turned her body to better face him. “I know that no simple businessman needs three bodyguards on a cruise ship, if that's what you mean.”

He chuckled. “You see, you are a smart woman. I like that.” He stroked her cheek with the tip of his finger.

“I need a smart woman. A woman who is unafraid, who is daring.”

She listened.

“If I could find that kind of woman to be by my side, I could make her very happy.”

Rita licked her lips.

“Many have tried. And I have held many auditions.” He smiled at his own joke. “And all have failed. So”—he shrugged—“I continue to search.” His eyes rested on her face. “This is your audition. If you pass … well, there will be nothing out of your reach.”

Her lungs refused to fill with air. Her breaths were short and choppy.

Xavier ran his finger from her chin, down her throat, to the top of her breasts, dipping it teasingly beneath the scoop of her sequined gown.

Rita moaned softly.

Xavier slid one strap off her right shoulder and then her left. “Stand up,” he said, his voice thick and urgent.

Rita did as she was told.

“Take it off.”

Rita slowly pushed the top of the dress down, the clingy fabric moving like silk across her body, exposing her bare flesh. She pushed the gown over her hips, let it drop to the floor. She stepped over it.

“You are as beautiful as I imagined.” His eyes licked across her naked body. Rita shivered.

He reached out and caressed the perfect dark triangle between her legs.

“Open them.”

She spread her legs and gasped with startled pleasure when his mouth sampled her offering.

Xavier eased back and looked up at her; a smile heated the fire in his eyes. Slowly he stood up. “Yes, just as I thought.” His lips met hers in a slow, seductive kiss that made her weak. His lips and tongue played with her mouth, teasing and taunting, only hinting at what it could offer until she was shaking with need.

She pulled him to her, her fingers threading through his hair.

With hands that suddenly felt like steel, he grabbed her wrists and pulled her hands away, locking them down at her sides. He shook his head slowly. “Not yet,” he murmured. “Come.” He led her into his bedroom and shut the door.

*   *   *

Eva returned to the cabin with the service cart.

“Anything
” she asked as she parked the cart in the corner.

“No, not yet,” Jake said. He shot a look in Jinx's direction then back at Eva.

Jinx was nursing a drink. He stubbed out his cigarette and stared off into space.

Eva approached Jinx. “You cool
”

He turned and looked at her. “Would you be if it was Jake and some woman you knew he had the hots for
”