Page 69 of Tryst
I felt like an idiot. As much as the old me would have enjoyed teasing him in my new swimsuits, I no longer cared. He was probably balls-deep in the model my mom brought, anyway. I’m sure they were sharing a suite. Swallowing hard, I changed into the white and turquoise string bikini.
Marching to the bathroom, I grabbed one of the white beach towels and slipped on my sandals before exiting the room. I could’ve gone swimming in the private pool just outside, but I wanted to explore the resort and watch people. There were several pools around the property; the main pool in the center of the resort with a swim-up bar, a wet spa where no alcohol was allowed, and several other smaller pools with swim-up bars.
I found myself in the middle of the resort at the main pool. I opened the gate, ignoring the cat calls as I passed by. Finally, I located an empty lounge chair and set my towel and phone down. I examined the area. Guests relaxed under palm huts, some played in the pool, others drank at the bar in the middle of the water. Like several others, I just wanted to relax in one of the recliners on the shallow, sunning shelf.Shit. I forgot to grab my sunscreen.
“Ugh!” Groaning, I picked up my things and hiked back to the suite, annoyed with myself. I scanned my wristband, unlocked the door, and stepped inside. “OH MY GOD!” I gasped at the familiar silhouette standing against the sliding glass door. My eyes had not adjusted to the light inside yet, but I would have recognized him anywhere.
“You know, princess, you should really lock the patio door when you leave the room.”
“Vinny,” I exhaled, “why are you in here?” Reluctantly, I plodded toward him, laying my towel and phone on the edge of the jacuzzi.
He took several strides closer and stopped next to the bed, sliding his hands in his pockets.
It was then, my eyes lowered to the mattress. Red rose petals were sprinkled over the blanket with a silver tray in the middle. A bottle of champagne and two glasses sat in the center.
“What’s this?” I arched a brow, trying my best to hold back tears once again. Being in his presence was both peaceful and suffocating. He offered me a sense of tranquility and I wanted nothing more than to run into his giant arms and be held by him forever, but I was still hurt by what happened in Florida.
“Lizzie,” he took another step toward me, wrapping his fingers around my arms, “I haven’t been able to get you out of my head. I don’t care what you do,” he stroked his palms up and down my skin, “if you put guys like me away, okay? We’ll deal with it.” He smirked. “I should hate you for the way you make me feel about you, but I don’t hate you. I can’t get over you. I want to go out there and do illegal shit but come home and have a woman by my side who’s going to love me and be the person who balances me. I’ve never been one to chase a woman. In fact, it was beneath me, until whatever this is, started between us. I didn’t think I deserved you and maybe I don’t but—”
I couldn’t take another second. The dam broke, and my tears spilled out. Throwing my arms around his neck, I crashed my lips into his. He cupped my rear, picking me up. My ankles locked behind him, and I broke the kiss. My heart was pounding, and I felt myself becoming lightheaded. Every ounce of my hurt and anger were gone. I just wanted to be with him no matter what and didn’t care how weak it made me. I squeezed my legs together around his waist as he swiped his thumbs under my eyes, wiping away my tears.
“Don’t cry, princess.”
“I love y—”
“We need to talk.” A deep, but alarmingly calm voice resonated from the entrance.
Startled, I gasped at the sound of my father’s presence. “Oh shit!” I forgot the doors here didn’t automatically close.
“Jamie.” Vincenzo stood me on the floor, taking several steps to the side. “We—”
My father lifted his hand. I’d never known Vincenzo to allow anyone to silence him, but my father was also his oldest and closest friend and looked as if he were ready to fight. Mouth still agape, he shook his head, running his fingers through his hair. “You know,” he wandered past us into the sitting room before he spun around to face us, bobbing his head. “I wanted to talk to you both about this, actually.”
“I—”
“Elizabeth, I suggest you not say one damn word right now.”
Shit. I snapped my mouth closed, ready to die.
“You two are not as slick as you think you are. I have been putting all the pieces of this fucked up puzzle together ever since you started working for him.”
“What pieces?”
He let out an exasperated laugh. “Well, the first clue was that necklace you’re wearing.” He jerked his head at my neck.
I clutched the birthday present Vincenzo had gotten me, scared any second now, my father would rip it from me.
“That necklace belonged to his mother.”
“What?!” I snapped my gaze to Vincenzo.
“Yes, that’s right.” My father scoffed. “He gave you a family heirloom he’s cherished since she passed.” He shook his head. “At first, I thought it was just a sweet gesture and wasn’t that suspicious. Well, I was a bit, but talked myself out of it.” He glared at Vincenzo. “But then the day I went over to your house to talk about the Nick Bernardi situation, you hadn’t had coffee yet.” He shook his finger, smirking though he was anything but amused. “However, you were both supposedly just at breakfast, and I know how you’ve always been about coffee.” He closed his eyes, swallowing hard before lifting his gaze. “Then—”
“Let me stop you right there,” Vincenzo flashed my dad his palm, “because I know where this is going.”
My father’s jaw clenched, and he balled his fists at his side. “I don’t give a fuck who you are right now. I just walked in on my best friend making out with my daughter and we can fight all you want after I’m done talking, but I will finish what I have to say!” He raised his voice, “THEN,” He lowered it back down to his low, infuriated yet composed tone, “it wasn’t until I left that I realized the thing that fell out of your pocket was a piece of her bikini.”
“Oh geez,” I gasped.