Page 37 of Take Me Back
“Watch the claws! Isn’t he going to try to get me?”
Dane shakes his head. “Caribbean lobsters don’t have claws like Atlantic lobsters. He can’t get you.” He holds it out by the antennae like he expects me to take it from him.
“Are you insane?”
“Not even a little. Take it up to the restaurant, order a mimosa, and ask them to start cooking it for you for breakfast. I’ll shower and meet you there.”
His suggestion that I order a mimosa comes as a surprise. “Did you really just tell me to get a drink for breakfast?”
He nods. “You’re on vacation, so act like it.” He notices the one accessory I’m missing. “Maybe you already are. No phone. Good girl.”
I laugh. “Like it would do any good here.”
“True. I gotta go rinse. Meet you there?”
“What can I order you?”
“Scrambled eggs and bacon, if they have it. You know what I like.”
The way he says it fills me with a rush of warmth that rivals the heat of the sun beating down on us both. Like we haven’t lost the familiarity between us. It gives me hope.
“Okay.”
Dane leans in and brushes a kiss across my lips. When he backs away, he takes my fingers and wraps them around the lobster antennae. “Go see if you can shock the kitchen by bringing your own lobster. I’ll see you in a few, babe.”
He steps back to head for the cabana and I slide my flip-flops back on, holding my arm out straight as I carefully carry a freaking live lobster to the restaurant.
* * *
Eduardo laughs his ass off when I walk in, fresh catch in hand, but doesn’t have a problem asking the kitchen to prepare lobster omelets. I take a seat at the same table we chose last night, and within a few minutes, I’m sipping delicious coffee.
It’s almost like I can feel the stress melting away in waves. I’m lost in the serene setting and the peacefulness of the moment, so I don’t notice the man standing behind me until Eduardo crosses the room.
“Sir, is there anything I can do for you?”
I jerk my head around, thankful I’ve almost emptied my cup because I probably would have sloshed coffee over the side with my abrupt action.
It’s the man from last night, the one at dinner and later at our room mistakenly. His gaze stays on mine, even when he speaks to Eduardo.
“I’ll have what she’s having. It looks divine.”
“Of course, sir.”
Eduardo steps away, and the man comes around the table to stand with a hand on the back of Dane’s chair. He reaches out to me with the other.
“Vander Iman.”
The British accent I thought I detected last night is definitely there, but mixed with something else. Years of being polite to strangers in the name of business kicks in, and I extend my hand to shake his.
“Katerina Cross.” When I try to pull back, he holds on for a beat too long.
“You seem to be missing your companion this morning.”
I smile, but it feels tight and fake on my face. “He’s on his way.”
“I wouldn’t leave you alone long either. Some opportunistic gentleman might come and try to charm you away.” Vander’s tone is flirtatious and sets me on edge.
Where the hell is his girlfriend or wife or whatever?
