No, and no. “Her eyes are really stunning.”
“But she’s not like J-Lo or something. She worked in the County Clerk’s office, for fuck’s sake.”
“Shhh.” Robyn put her hand on Selena’s arm, glancing at the other, enormously pregnant, woman in the waiting room. This was a nice office, and she didn’t want to get kicked out for swearing.
“I mean it!” Selena added in a hushed whisper.
“Just be quiet.”
“Then look at her. I’m that hot, right?” Selena shook the phone a little, as if that could force Robyn to agree.
“Of course you are,” Robyn said, studying the picture to see if she could find a flaw in the woman’s face, because that would make Selena feel better and shut the hell up. “She’s just…” The words faded as her gaze fell on something in the picture.
Not the woman’s face, but the hand of a man in the crowd, curled around another woman’s shoulder.
“Holy shit,” she mumbled, grabbing the phone to pull it closer.
“I know, right? Not that pretty but—”
“Where was this taken?” Robyn sat up straight, squinting at the phone.
“I don’t know. I follow the hashtag NaughtyNate on Insta. I see everything about him.”
“Who posted it?”
Selena leaned in to look at the screen. “Somebody named CelebWhore6. Imagine that five other people wanted that handle before her.” She tried to take the phone back. “What difference does it—”
Robyn whipped the phone away, hoarding it as she peered so hard at the image it danced before her.
The letters. The letters on his knuckles. бить
Her own knuckles shook a little as she tried to zoom out and see the face attached to that hand.
“Gimme the phone,” Selena whined.
“Just a sec. Please.” Her voice cracked with desperation as she took in the whole picture. Most of his face was covered by the head of the woman he was holding, and what she could see was just a baseball cap and shades.
Was that him? Was that Alec Petrov, the trainer?
“I thought you didn’t care!” Selena gave Robyn’s shoulder a good tap.
“Stop it! Wait! This is important.” This was nine freaking thousand dollars’ worth of important. Forget that, this was the ticket back into that house. Where Cole was!
The tattoo was so small. She’d never ever have seen it if Selena hadn’t zoomed in on the woman’s face. No one would.
She started tapping madly, trying to read the comments and get more information.
“What are you doing?”
“How long ago was this picture taken?” she demanded. “And where?”
“How the fuck would I know?”
That got a vile look from the other pregnant lady, but Robyn was too worked up to apologize. “I have to know, Selena. I have to know.”
A door opened, and a young, dark-haired nurse stood, holding a clipboard. “Robyn Bickler. You can come in now.”
Now? She shoved the phone at Selena. “Can you find out where it is and when it was taken?”
“Why?”
“Miss Bickler?” The nurse’s voice grew impatient.
“Please, don’t ask. Just do this…for me.”
“I’m already doing this for you.” She gestured toward the waiting room.
“I’ll pay you,” Robyn exclaimed, desperate. “Please, Selena. I have to know.”
“Are you going there to find Nate and steal him away?” she teased.
There was no room for humor. “Just dig through your social media stuff and find out where he is in that picture. If you can do it before my appointment is done, I’ll give you”—how much could she spare?—“fifty bucks.”
Selena’s eyebrow lifted. “Deal.”
Chapter Eleven
Casa Blanca Resort & Spa took their honeymooners seriously. The minute Alec and Kate arrived at Junonia, the elegant restaurant off the main lobby of the resort, they were whisked outdoors to an expansive deck built over the sand. There, a few private tables were spread far apart, each under a canopy, all flickering in candlelight.
The hostess seated them side by side on a cushion-covered bench, facing the moon-spangled water. Completely romantic. Fake romantic, but still. More romance than Kate had experienced in a long time.
Especially since Kate didn’t feel fake at all, even all dressed up and on the arm of a man whose last name she didn’t know. She felt a little dreamy. Or maybe her brain was just mush from studying torts all day.
“Chef Ian has prepared a special dinner just for you, our honeymoon special,” the perky hostess said. “We’re so happy you chose Casa Blanca for this unforgettable time in your lives.”
As the woman held out two menus, she noticed Alec reaching for his with his left hand, his other hand under the table. Of course, that tattoo. Without thinking about it, Kate closed her hand over the one he was hiding, the gesture natural, she hoped, and protective.
“We’re delighted to be here,” she cooed, the lie rolling off her tongue.
Encouraged by the conversation, the young hostess’s eyes lit up. “Where are you guys from?” she asked.
“We’re from—”
“Chicago,” Alec said quickly. They shared a look and a smile, but the hostess laughed out loud.
“Look at that, you’re finishing each other’s sentences already.”
Because they didn’t want to contradict each other. But he was right; their ID packets from Gabe had said they were both from the Chicago area.
“But we’re in paradise now,” Kate said brightly, hoping to deflect the next question.
Looking grateful for the save, Alec put his arm around her shoulders. “Anywhere is paradise with my wife,” he added with maybe a little too much emphasis on wife.
“Awww,” the girl said, angling her head to take in their affection. “I love the newlyweds. We do a lot of weddings here, did you know that?”
Kate let out a little sigh of frustration that only Alec could have heard.
“I’m sure you do, uh, Melissa,” he said. “Now, could we get—”
“Nate Ivory is getting married here this spring!” she exclaimed. “He was just here the other day. Did you hear?”
“We saw him,” Alec confirmed, then leaned forward and looked directly at the girl. “Can you bring us a bottle of champagne?”
God bless the man.
“Absolutely, Mr.—”
“As soon as you can.” He threw a playful look at Kate. “She’s been talking about it all day.”
The hostess laughed, finally getting the hint that they wanted to be alone.
“Thanks,” Kate whispered. “And that wasn’t a lie. At least I’ve been thinking about a drink today.”
“You earned it with all that studying,” he said. “But don’t get too soused and blow our cover,” he teased.
“No worries.” She leaned back, relaxing for a moment to drink in the absolute gorgeousness of the setting.
A quarter moon rested on its side like a drawing in a children’s book, so big and beautiful it was hard to believe it wasn’t painted in the sky. Around them, a slight breeze rustled the palm trees, the waves lapped over the sand, and music in the distance added to the magic of the moment.
Kate took in a deep, salt-tinged breath of tropical air and let it out on a sigh.
“That didn’t sound too happy,” Alec said softly.
She glanced at him, wondering if the comment was an invitation to open up or a reminder that she was an actress on a stage right now. “I’m just wondering…”
“About?”
“Everything,” she admitted. “I’m wondering about you, about our fake past, about how long we could go in this confined situation and not share…anything.” Or everything.
She swallowed that last thought, having already said too much.
“There’s nothing so interesting about me,” he said. “As far as our, uh, history, Gabe told us to make one up
a while ago. And…” He clenched his jaw and looked straight ahead, as if looking at her for too long was impossible. “We’ll go as long as we have to, and we’ll share…nothing.”
“Too late. I already know a lot about you.”
“Against my will,” he murmured, both of them barely whispering the conversation.
“I want to know why you think you’re the worst person to protect me.” The confession had haunted her all day, tearing her attention from the books and forcing her imagination into overdrive.
He threw her a look, then almost instantly averted his eyes, like he always did.
“Nuh-uh.” She put a warning hand on his arm, pressing to make her point and feeling the muscle tighten under her touch. “You can avoid eye contact with me in the villa. But not out here, honey.”
He barely reacted to the endearment, but he did steal another look and held her gaze. “It’s not easy.”
“Looking at me?” She couldn’t help the note of disappointment that slipped into the question, hating herself for it, but starting to feel pretty damn dissed by this man.
He gave a quick, dry, sarcastic laugh. “If you think that, you should look in the mirror.”
“Careful.” She leaned into him, using the cover as an excuse to press her bare arm against the warmth of his arm and shoulder. “That was almost a compliment, Benjamin Carlson.”
“I’m sure you don’t lack for those.”
Actually, she did. She lacked for a lot of things that men might offer, but since they came with such a heavy price tag, she’d managed to live without them.
A waiter approached the table, champagne in one hand, a bucket of ice in the other.
“Game time,” she said under her breath.
“Let’s sell this,” he whispered, taking her hand and making a show of holding it on top of the table. His blue eyes narrowed slightly, as if he were mustering up whatever it would take to play this game.
“Tilly,” he said, the name slipping off his tongue as though he used it daily. “There’s no one I’d rather be with than you on this…this adventure.”
Kate felt her jaw drop a little, the words hitting with the same force she imagined he landed a punch. He sounded sincere, even a little emotional. He was selling it, all right. If she hadn’t known better, she’d have bought it.
And, worse, she’d have liked it.
“Thanks,” she said. “You know I feel the same.”
He cocked his head ever so slightly, a move that could have been interpreted as a question or a tease or an acknowledgment. They stared at each other for a few heartbeats, maybe more than a few, giving Kate a chance to openly study his every feature, that crooked nose and tough jaw, his soft lips parted just enough that she could see his teeth.
And his eyes. As blue as the sky that afternoon and crystal—
The champagne popped like a gunshot, and Kate let out a soft shriek, startled.
Alec gave her a squeeze. “You weren’t expecting that.”
She wasn’t expecting this. She wasn’t expecting to get lost in his eyes or drunk on the idea of his mouth…on her. She wasn’t expecting to be so attracted.
“Here you go, Mrs. Carlson.” The waiter handed her a crystal champagne flute, golden and bubbly in the candlelight, and Kate took it, cursing the slight unsteadiness in her hand.
At least she understood now. Understood the way her heart was always in high gear and her throat was bone dry and her stomach fluttered like butterflies had moved in. She wanted him.
But everything in his behavior told her that was absolutely not mutual.
The waiter took his time putting the bottle on ice, still smiling at them, no doubt taking notes to report back to the gossipy staff. She and Alec shared another look, and this time she could see the challenge in his eyes.
Let’s put those rumors to bed, he seemed to say.
Alec tapped her glass with his. “To my bride, the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known.”
Kate studied the two crystal rims, thinking of all the things that would impress the waiter, but right then, she wanted only to speak to Alec. Honestly. “To my husband,” she whispered. “Who makes me lose control.”
His eyes warmed. “And I know just how much you love that.” They never unlocked their gazes as they put the glasses to their lips.
“And on that note, I will most certainly leave you lovebirds alone.” The waiter made a slight bow and walked away, probably off to the kitchen to quell any talk of the Carlsons being unhappy.
Kate took another deep drink, nearly draining the glass to let the sweet liquid spark on her tongue. “Now you owe me some honesty.”
He set down his own glass, barely having taken a sip. “I don’t recall making any deals like that.”
“Come on. Just a few questions that can’t possibly incriminate you.”
He huffed a soft breath. “Like what?”
“Have you ever been married?”
“Not until this week.”
“No one serious?” She regarded him closely, using the excuse of the intimate interrogation to drink in each feature. Had she really thought him unattractive when she’d first met him? Those eyes were impossibly blue, and his mouth… Lord, his mouth. Perfect lips, just perfect.
“No one serious but you, Tilly.” He added an edge to her name, likely to remind her why they were there and what they were supposed to be talking about. “You know it was love at first sight.”
“And we’re playing again.” She sipped the champagne, surprised at how disappointed she was. “Okay, then, let’s invent our romance. Where did it start?” she asked.
“Across the algebra classroom.” He didn’t miss a beat with that answer.
“High school?” She raised surprised brows. “You want it to be that long a courtship?”
“Well, there were all those years we didn’t see each other when you left…Illinois to live in…China,” he said.
She gave a soft chuckle at the sheer creativity of that one. “Oh, yes. The Beijing years. And you were…” She thought for a long time, still studying his face far too closely. “Working as…”
“I can’t wait to hear this,” he mumbled, averting his eyes.
“An actor.”
He snorted. “An actor?”
“You got the chops. I just witnessed it.” She shrugged. “So dream big for your fake life.”
“Being married to you would be a big enough dream.”
She froze mid-sip, frowning, not quite getting that comment. “What do you mean?”
“I think it’s pretty obvious, Ka…Tilly.”
She eyed him over her glass, not sure if he was angry or…squirming. “Not to me, it isn’t.”
“Look at me.”
As if she needed an invitation. She’d all but devoured him with her eyes since they’d been seated.
“And then, as I said, look in the mirror.”
“You don’t think…we’re…” What was he saying? “Complementary? Compatible? Sympatico?”
He looked up at the sky, fighting another laugh. “It’s like you swallowed a thesaurus.”
“Alec—” He fried her with a look, making her bite her lip and purposely put down the glass of champagne. “Come on. What do you mean it would be a big enough dream?”
“Not that I have ever given a crap about how many times my nose has been broken, or this scar that makes my one eye smaller than the other…” He tapped one of his eyebrows. “Or this.” He patted the side of his jaw. “A punching bag that’s been hit a hundred times. But…” He shook his head, words eluding him.
“You think you’re not good-looking?” Well, she hadn’t at first. But that sure didn’t last long.
He chuckled as if the answer were obvious. “Just saying that we’re in different leagues, which only makes this, uh, cover more difficult.”
“I don’t see you that way,” she admitted.
He looked a little surprised, but the hostess breezed by and threw them a friendly sm
ile, reminding Kate how out in the open they were, which was likely why Alec got a little closer.
“Let’s get back to what we’re supposed to be discussing,” he said.
They should, but it was frustrating. She was much more interested in Real Alec, not Pretend Benjamin. Still, she nodded and picked up the champagne glass. “Where were we?”
“The Beijing years,” he reminded her.
“Ah, yes. And while I was there, you were…” She gave him a questioning look. “If you bagged that acting career, what did you do?”
“I was on a fishing boat in the Bering Sea.”
She laughed. “Well, that sounds cold. And did we talk during those years apart?”
“No,” he said. “But I stalked you on Facebook and found you at our ten-year high school reunion.”
That made her smile. “Sweet.”
He tipped his chin toward her empty glass. “Can you be trusted with another?”
“I’ll just drink yours since it’s obvious you’re not drinking.”
“Not while I’m protecting you.”
“No such constraints for me.” She winked and picked up his glass, but she didn’t drink. The first glass was just settling into her bloodstream, taking the edge off, leaving a nice, relaxing warmth. “But it would be easy, wouldn’t it?” she mused.
“To drink all my champagne?”
She shook her head, looking out to the water. “To just make up a history and not have to have lived it.”
“I guess. None of the good stuff, but then, none of the bad.”
No bad marriages to bad men who made her feel bad about herself. “None of the bad,” she agreed. How different would she be if she hadn’t had Steven bearing down on her life for five years? If her father hadn’t been so protective? If she’d—
“Hello!” A woman approached the table, reddish-blond curls cascading over her shoulders and a warm smile breaking across a lightly freckled face. “I understand you are the newlyweds staying in Caralluma.”
Alec stood immediately, making it appear he was being courteous, but stiffly enough that Kate suspected he either didn’t welcome or trust the intrusion.