Free Miami Spice by Deborah Merrell

the
morning.”
    “Do you take your dates here very often?”
    “Let’s just say I reserve Beach Bum Bob for
ladies I feel comfortable with, and with whom I share a
connection.”
    Erica hoped she didn’t fall into this
category of Gianni’s preferred conquests. Did Maritza? Somehow she
didn’t think so.
    “I’m sure your dates thank you for it.”
Throughout their lunch, she had the opportunity to observe her host
without the sunglasses, though Gianni’s hooded eyes seemed bereft
of any hidden subterfuge or sneaky agendas.
    Now the investment broker switched to a more
serious mode. “Erica, I don’t know what I’ve done to make you look
and think of me with disdain. Oh, I know you don’t like the fact
I’m seeing your sister, but I don’t think I’m such a terrible
guy.”
    She tilted her head and tried to regard him
with a less prejudicial eye. “I’m sure you’re very charming when
you want to be. I don’t know. It’s hard for me to take a man
seriously when he doesn’t take his relationships very seriously.
You use and discard women faster than I do my dental floss.”
    “What if I tell you that you’re making
flashpoint assumptions without giving me the benefit of the doubt?”
As he spoke, Gianni drummed his fingers along the table’s
distressed wood. “You certainly view me based on skewed and
misguided information about my love life.”
    “Heater vents don’t lie,” she countered
succinctly, “and bad guys always wear black.” With that, she rose
to use the ladies room. “Now, if you’ll please excuse me.”
    “Certainly.”
    Before she left, Erica tried to read his
mood. Bemused? Upset? Anxious to prove he wasn’t such a bad guy
after all by showing her his white underwear? Yet his face remained
a blank. Gianni certainly didn’t give anything away; while in
contrast, his twin, Adriano Sloan, offered his feelings with
genuine and generous pleasure. Nico... just the recollection of his
warm touch made her long to have the better brother here with her
now.
    Five minutes later, Erica returned to the
dining room, but found their table cleared of their dishes and the
seat where Gianni sat now vacant. Perhaps he’d gone to the restroom
as well, or now waited for her in the car. Walking out to the
porch, she surveyed the parking lot and spied every make and model
of vehicle except a sleek, dark, topless Jag. Could Gianni be so
miffed with her that he simply abandoned her at Beach Bum Bob’s
Grass Shack? Leaning against the porch rail, Erica fumbled for her
cell phone and searched for Maritza’s number.
    Her sister finally answered after the fifth
ring, and Erica launched into her request. Since she decided to
take on Gianni’s decorating job, she needed to get a hold of the
investment broker to clear up a few details. After a pause, Mari
recited the number, and Erica quickly thanked her. She made a point
to program his number in her phone, but when she dialed, she
received Gianni’s recorded message with a vengeance:
    “Hey baby, you’ve reached lover boy. I’m probably
oiling my naked body in preparation for your visit right now, but
leave a message anyway. Until we meet again: Kiss, kiss, love,
love.”
    Ooh, brother! Anger quickly replaced
her panic. After all, Erica wasn’t stranded on a deserted island,
and her poor ears would soon recover after hearing the smarmy
bastard’s ridiculously egotistical and noisome message.
    She was just about to call Tai and ask if
someone could drive out and fetch her when a Jeep Cherokee came
around the corner. As he slowed in the parking lot, the driver
honked and waved. Erica quickly brightened when she recognized Nico
behind the wheel. After last night, she couldn’t possibly mistake
that head of soft waves and his finely honed features. Her hero!
Had she actually communicated her thoughts to this wonderful man,
her handsome knight in shining armor, or in this case a silver
jeep?
    As Nico approached, Erica had an opportunity
to appreciate