Page 33 of Earl

But enough was enough now. They were in beautiful Cancun with wonderful beaches and white sands. They were no longer freezing their asses off because they had left the cold weather behind.

He was going to make certain she took advantage of the place, and he was going to do his best to put a smile on her face.

“How about some lunch?”

Turning her head suddenly, she stared at him as if just realizing he was there.

“What?”

“Lunch, food…?” Tamping down the impatience, he pulled a chair over to sit in front of her. “Snap out of it.”

“I don’t know what you mean. I am just tired after the long flight.”

“And you had time for a siesta, but did not take it. What the hell did he say to you? And why on earth are you taking it so much to heart?”

“I am tired…”

“Dammit Cat! Talk to me. What is going on?”

Bending her head, she pleated the fringes of the throw she had covered herself with. “I told him I was heading to Mexico for a week with a friend and he told me to have a good time.”

“So?” He gave her a puzzled look. “Isn’t that the proper thing to say?”

“It’s the way he said it. He said take care of yourself and call me when you get back… That’s it. He never indicated that I should call him while I am away, never asked what I would be doing here, nothing.”

“You think he is cooling off?”

Her dark brown eyes shimmered with tears and sent fear straight to his guts. Cathy was tough, had to be because of her circumstances.

She had faced down bullies in that awful group home they had lived in and dealt with a tremendous number of trials and difficulties. But to see the vulnerable look on her face was enough to make him want to find the son of a bitch and beat the shit out of him.

There was also guilt, the awful guilt that was churning inside him. He was the one who had insisted on her doing this online dating thing.

“It seems that way.”

“And how do you feel?”

“Like an idiot,” she laughed hoarsely. “A fool who has fallen in love with a voice over the phone.”

“Cat…”

She shook her head. “Aside from you and Teresa, I never felt so comfortable and relaxed. I never met the guy, but it feels like I have known him forever. He made me feel secure and …” She passed a hand over her forehead.

“I cannot stop thinking about him. Even when I am with Byron, I am thinking about him, things we would talk about, the way he sounds- “A smile touched her lips.

“He has this distinctive voice, deep and authoritative, sexy, the kind that sends shivers up and down my spine. He is intelligent and articulate.” Leaning her head back, she shuddered out a breath. “And I sound like an idiot. Byron likes me.”

“He does…” Trying not to sound alarmed, he reached for her hands. “This man is someone you can see; someone you can go out with. I think you should cut off communication with this Earl person and try to make it work with Byron.” He drew in a breath and let it back out.

“And I also want to ask for forgiveness.”

“Whatever for?”

“I was the one who introduced you to this online nonsense. I should have left well enough alone.”

Her tapered eyebrows lifted. “Is the mighty Justin Moncrieffe admitting to being wrong?”

He cast her a pained look. “If you are going to be this way, I am heading to the beach without you.”