“I don’t need coffee.” The moment the words fall out of her mouth, a massive yawn takes over. She glances up at me, sheepishly. “Okay, maybe a cup or two.”
We wander into a small coffee shop. Immediately, the rich aroma of coffee floods my senses. I take in a deep inhale. Damn, that never gets old. Just the scent of coffee is like a shot of adrenaline in my veins. I’m invigorated and ready to face the day.
The shop’s sparsely populated. It’s too early in the morning for the tourists to be up and about. There are plenty of tables, but I angle Maria toward a table stuck in a small alcove. I can put my back to the wall and keep the entrance and exits in sight. I settle Maria at a small table and step up to the counter to order two cups of the steaming brew. That done, I return to the small table.
I love coffee shops, even if I don’t enjoy coffee all that much. The tantalizing aroma of fresh coffee percolating in the air is a welcome blanket on the senses. I could spend my entire day inside a coffee shop doing nothing other than breathing in the savory aroma.
Maria’s gaze darts around the small shop, looking for threats that aren’t there. The closer we get to the Belvedere, the higher her alert level grows.
“I have something for you.” I pull out a small velvet pouch from my pocket. “Here.”
“What is it?” Maria takes the pouch with a bit of hesitation.
“Look inside, silly. That’s the best way to know what’s it is.”
She gives me a look, opens the silk drawstring, then reaches in and pulls out a stunning diamond and sapphire tennis bracelet.
“Wow.” She stares at the bracelet, mouth agape and eyes wide. “I feel like I should say You shouldn’t have, but I have a feeling this came from the Guardians?”
“You got it. Give me your wrist and I’ll help you put it on.”
The bracelet is nothing short of spectacular. Sapphires and diamonds alternate with one another along the length of the tennis bracelet. Like her ring, the stones are generous in size, and they’re a perfect match to Maria’s incredible eyes.
“A ring and a bracelet?” Maria admires her new jewelry. “Should I expect a tiara next?”
“Ha-ha, very funny, princess.”
“It’s very pretty. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, but that’s more than a pretty, shiny thing.”
“Huh?”
“That bracelet holds a tracking device. If anything were to happen to you …” I hate saying it like that because it makes it sound ominous, but there’s no way around it.
“I get it.” Her brows tug together. “It’s for my protection.”
I arch a brow, waiting for her to say something more. When she doesn’t, I continue. “It’s intrusive. I know. You’re trading one protective detail for another, but I hope—”
“It’s okay. I understand.”
Following Mitzy’s rule of one to find and one to hide, the tennis bracelet is the obvious place for suspicious individuals to locate a tracking device. Once they find that, if they find it, there’s another device embedded in Maria’s ring.
Actually, it wouldn’t be such a bad thing for Maria’s uncle to discover that tracking device. I want him to know what kind of over-protective asshole I can be. It’s the easiest way to get him to relinquish his hold on his niece.
The barista calls out my name. I leave Maria with her thoughts and get our drinks. When I return to the table, a wistful expression fills her face as she admires both the tennis bracelet around her wrist and the diamond adorning her left ring finger.
One to find and one to hide.
I pray we never get in such a situation, but being over-prepared is our motto at Guardian HRS.
“Here you go.” I place her coffee in front of her.
She wraps her fingers around the cup and leans forward to inhale the aromatic beverage.
“Coffee was a good call, and my feet thank you for the break.”
I knew it.
“When we get to your place, I’ll treat you to a special foot rub.”
“Now that sounds wonderful.”
She opens up several packets of sugar and dumps them into her coffee. Enough creamer follows to turn the dark liquid a light tan. Her eyes close as she brings the cup to her mouth.
“Perfection in a cup. That’s what coffee is.” Maria opens her eyes and glances at my untouched drink. “Aren’t you going to have some?”
“Coffee isn’t my favorite. You’re welcome to it, if you want a second cup.”
“I might take you up on that, but the coffee might do you some good.” She takes another sip. Her eyes close like she’s found heaven, then open again when she sets her drink down. “We didn’t exactly come here for coffee, did we?”
“No. I wanted to get our stories nailed down tight.” I already mentioned some of it. Hopefully, she remembers what I said. I’m also waiting for backup. There’s no way I’m taking Maria back inside the Belvedere alone.
Over the next twenty minutes, we sip coffee and build our backstory until I’m satisfied she’s got it locked down.
“Your friends are here.” I glance outside the bistro at two men who loiter outside. They don’t enter the coffee shop. I assume that’s because they don’t want to bother Maria.
“My friends?” Her spine stiffens, and I watch the battle she wages with herself not to spin around and look. “How many?”
“Two.”
“I’m surprised they didn’t show up at the club.”
“Someone was at the club.” I never saw a face, but we were being watched.
“Maybe they’re getting sloppy?”
“You mentioned they never interfered with you and Sybil when you ducked out before. Maybe that’s all it is?”
“Maybe.” Maria doesn’t look convinced.
I’m not either. I take her hands in mine. “This is probably a good time for a little of that PDA you dislike.”
“Holding hands is far different from grinding on the dance floor.”
“You know, you said you’re a horrible dancer, but you held up pretty well.”
“Thanks to a fabulous partner. You’ve got some moves.”
“If you liked those moves, I have others.” I squeeze her hands. “I’m still intensely curious about what’s on that list of yours.”
Her cheeks turn the prettiest shade of pink.
“I bet you are.”
She lifts out of her seat and leans across the table. Her blouse gapes, giving me an amazing view of her cleavage. I’m almost too distracted by her tits to realize she’s leaning over the table to kiss me, but I get it together for the kiss she plants on my lips.
She tastes like sugar and coffee, a delectable treat. Maria’s kisses are nothing like mine.
I go all in.
She hesitates.
But the girl knows how to get a rise out of me. Her tongue slips between my lips, tentative and unsure, but far bolder than when we started this night.
Her kiss is also much shorter than one of mine. Before I know it, the kiss is over. Maria releases my hands, but only to lift her hand to admire the diamond glittering on her finger.
“Are they watching?” She cups her coffee with both hands, enjoying the heat of her drink.