Treasured by Lexi Blake

Chapter Five

Tessa didn’t mind the heat of the day as she walked alongside David. It was way easier to deal with a little sweat than the heat that had flashed through her the minute she’d realized David Hawthorne was kind of a freak.

What if it’s not just sex, baby? What if it’s something more?

Her whole body had gone gooey when he’d leaned in and whispered those words in her ear.

She was not the girl who went gooey, damn it. She wasn’t a girl at all. She was a grown-ass woman who didn’t melt at the thought of having a man’s hands on her.

She wasn’t the woman who sighed and rested against him and let the waves rock them as they approached the ridiculously romantic island she hadn’t expected to visit today. Nor had she thought she would be walking down a dirt road toward a magnificent house in the middle of the jungle. She stopped as she got her first glance at the big house they would be staying at. “Wow.”

David stopped beside her, and she could practically feel his satisfaction at her awe. “Yeah, it’s pretty amazing. Montez designed it himself. He wanted it to seem like the whole place had risen from the jungle. Like a wave coming off it.”

It was a glorious structure made of wood and glass intertwined with vines and trees, as though the jungle was trying to reclaim its space. Or the two had found a way to live in harmony. “It’s beautiful.”

“He spent years making this place shine.” David started walking again, his big body moving with grace. “The last ten years of his life he never left here. Eddie had to bring out doctors when they realized Ricardo had cancer. Some people think Ricardo could have lived longer if he’d been willing to get treatment on the mainland, but he had no interest in leaving. He said this was the place where he’d truly learned to live, and this would be the place where he died.”

There was something lovely about that, about being able to make that choice. She moved back to his side. The bus ride had been perfectly pleasant. She’d imagined some broken-down vehicle no one with a brain would consider safe, but it had been a lovely, comfortable if older bus. The few people on it had been chatty and more than willing to talk to the professor when he introduced himself. He’d proven he could switch from Latin American Spanish to Castilian without breaking a sweat. The Spanish they spoke in Argentina was a bit more formal than what they spoke across Latin America, but David eased into it with a flair that her mother would approve of.

He was ridiculously charming. He’d sat with an older woman for a long time listening to her stories about working in this building for years. She’d gone on and on about cleaning products and how hard it was to keep the place sparkling when the owner refused to shut the windows. She’d listened in and it had been boring, but David had made that old woman feel comfortable, and he’d thanked her profusely for speaking with him.

He hadn’t flinched when a massive, kind of stinky dog had bounded onto the bus and walked right up to him as though that dog knew who the sucker was. He’d simply found some beef jerky in his backpack and petted the old thing while its owner had settled his luggage.

Then he’d talked to that guy for what felt like forever.

They’d loved him. When the bus had reached the town they were stopping at, everyone who was going on down the line shook David’s hand and wished him well. Some promised to talk to him further if he needed more information. They were all excited about his project.

He wasn’t the quiet guy who stood in the background. Not when it came to this. He was the shiny center of the universe, the benevolent scholar who made everyone feel important.

When had she learned to cling to the shadows? To hang in the background and try to go unnoticed?

Maybe there wasn’t one thing or moment that had taught her. Maybe it was simply part of who she was, and there wasn’t anything wrong with that, but being around David was a nice contrast to her normal day.

His fascination with the world around him was infectious.

How would that translate to sex?

“The whole place is powered by solar and hydro.” David had gone into teaching mode. “He was one of the first adopters of green energy.”

It should be obnoxious, but she found it oddly soothing. “Didn’t he make his money off something to do with solar?”

A brilliant smile lit his face. “Yeah. He invented some of the components that they still use on solar panels today.”

Yep, there was that gooey feeling again. She forced herself to look back at the house or she might stare into his dreamy eyes and turn into a drooling idiot. “How did he do it? I mean, if this place wasn’t inhabited before, how did he build all this stuff?”

“It wasn’t completely uninhabited. The town on the east coast was here. It was a fishing village at the time. It’s bigger and more modern now. Montez brought workers out here. He paid them, and when they were done, he offered them all the materials they would need for homes of their own and leased land to them at very little cost, locking the rent in for a hundred years. He did the same with businesses.”

“So this whole place runs on his money?” She wasn’t sure she understood how it worked.

“There’s a fund that’s managed by Eddie’s company. The interest alone on the money Montez left for the island is incredible. But they do have some tourism on the island, and the scientific projects bring in cash. The people who live here aren’t ever going to be wildly wealthy, but they also don’t have debt, and they get to live here,” David explained. “On this small island they’ve got waterfalls and great surfing and fishing. They’ve got this glorious wilderness around them, and they’re taught from a young age to value it. It’s a slice of paradise.”

“I’m afraid I would miss high-speed internet.” She was more of a city girl these days.

“Oh, I would, too. I mean, look, I’m fascinated by this place, but I’m not longing to move here,” he admitted. “I would definitely miss being able to get anything I wanted delivered in a couple of hours. But it’s cool to get a glimpse of another world. That must be the butler.”

She glanced up ahead, and the big doors that looked like they belonged in some fantasy movie set had come open and a large man stepped out. He was dressed in khakis and a lightweight shirt that didn’t quite hide the gun on his belt. “Butler?”

“I guess he’s more of a manager. Eddie isn’t here year-round, so Mateo runs the place. It’s a big house, and the grounds need tending as well,” David explained. “I know the manager who was here when Ricardo was alive recently retired. Ricardo called him a butler, so I still do, too.”

“He’s got a gun.”

David stopped and shrugged. “It’s the jungle. There’s a population of predators out here. I suspect there are many guns.”

Yeah, but she would think a rifle would work far better than a handgun, though she would allow it wasn’t practical to carry around a rifle.

Another man stepped out, this one shorter than the big “butler.” He was in shorts and a T-shirt, sneakers on his feet. He wore a Yankees hat and waved. “Hey, Professor!”

David raised his hand in greeting. “Luis, hello!”

She had a decision to make, and though she’d had a long bus ride to make it, she’d spent all her time watching David. Actually, she’d made the decision. She’d decided to play it safe and be open and honest about why she was there. It was the best way to protect herself.

He’d surprised her when she’d laid out her plan. She’d expected him to jump on her and maybe do her on the boat before they even made it to the island. Then she would be able to think and he would be just one more guy she’d had decent sex with.

Instead he’d challenged her. Like they were playing a game and he wanted to win.

And maybe she was the prize he thought he would get at the end. He was willing to be patient, to compromise, but only so far.

He was dangerous, and putting walls between them at night would be a good idea.

“The butler guy wasn’t on Kyle’s list,” she pointed out.

David stopped at the beginning of the circular drive that led up to the house. “We’re on the island. We’re safe here. I didn’t think I had to give him a staff list. I think Eddie might be offended if I try to vet his employees.”

She thought about telling him they were leaving, like turning right around and marching back to the bus stop. “I wanted to vet everyone you come in contact with, Professor.”

“That would be hard to do.” He was frowning at her. “Tessa, Eddie’s a smart man. He lives in this world. He’s fine.”

Luis was a friendly-looking man in his mid-twenties. He was smiling widely as he jogged down the steps. “Hey, it’s so good to see you, but wow, man, where did you pick up the lady?”

David started walking toward his grad student, a hand held out. “She’s…”

It was instinct, she told herself. Something felt off. Something about the big guy still standing by the door was wrong. He didn’t look like the kind of guy who was into land management. There was something about the way his jaw was tight, as though he was waiting for trouble.

Why would he expect trouble from a college professor?

“I’m his girlfriend.” She slipped her arm around David’s waist and cuddled up to him. “Sorry about the surprise. I’m afraid I got a last-minute chance to sneak away, and I took it.”

They were alone on an island, and she had no idea who was working here and where they came from because David had convinced Kyle this was paradise.

Had the man not read the Bible because even in paradise there were snakes waiting to pounce.

She felt David go still, but then his arm wound around her shoulders and she couldn’t help but notice how perfectly they fit together. “We’re a new couple, so we’re really into each other. My brother thinks it’s gross. We are very affectionate.”

She gave him an inch, and it was obvious he’d decided to take a mile. And steal kisses.

Luis’s brows had risen in obvious shock. “I didn’t know you were dating anyone. The last time we talked, you were hung up on that woman you met at your stepdad’s restaurant.”

Score one for her. David’s skin had flushed. At least she wasn’t the only one feeling the heat. “That would be me. Tessa Santiago. I finally got some time and called him back. I think he was worried I would run again, but here I am. Don’t worry. I know he needs to work. You’ll barely know I’m around.”

The big guy on the verandah had visibly relaxed. He’d been caught off guard by her appearance, but now that she was nothing more than some chick David had brought along, he chilled out.

She didn’t like that either.

“Well, that’s a surprise.” Luis shook his head. “I thought you had ghosted him.”

She had, and it made her feel guilty since he was a genuinely nice guy. Still, she had a part to play and a cover to put together really freaking fast. David hadn’t known who she was until the night before. He’d had a name and what she’d told him. Which was very little about her work. It had been a breath of fresh air that night to not talk obsessively about open cases and what was happening in the security world. Now it gave her some cover because he couldn’t tell Luis what he didn’t know. “I was working. I work at Malone Oil, and I was on a business trip. Some of our sites are pretty remote, so I didn’t have a signal for a couple of weeks. I felt bad when I got back and realized he’d actually called me. Lucky for me, I now have some time off, and I get to spend it with him.”

“I thought we were working.” Luis looked to David. “We only have a week here. And I only brought two tents. They’re not big.”

“We’ll make do.” She had no idea how she was going to convince David to share one with Luis now that she’d introduced herself as his girlfriend.

She wasn’t. She was going to let herself fall into this trap. Now that she thought about it, she worried that maybe that was precisely why she’d done it.

David was looking down at her, his lips curled up in the sexiest smile. “I suspect we will.”

Oh, she was in trouble, but she also suspected he might be in trouble too, and it was her job to make sure nothing happened to Sean Taggart’s stepson. Ian’s nephew. She needed to remember that at all times. Especially when she was in the same room with this man tonight and there was only one bed.

Had she really told him they should throw down? She’d been awfully bold in that moment. Or maybe she’d simply underestimated him.

What had he done with Betsey Ross’s sewing needles? She’d been thinking about that a whole lot, thinking about what the buttoned-up professor did when class was over.

David looked back to his research assistant. “She’s good at entertaining herself. Don’t worry about Tessa. We’ll get everything we need. Where’s Eddie?”

Luis seemed to force himself to focus. “He’s taking a nap. He hasn’t been feeling well the last couple of days. Nothing serious. He’s had some kind of bug, but he’s been better today. He promised to join us for dinner. I can show you around and get you settled in. Mateo prepared two rooms since we were expecting you to bring your brother, Dr. Hawthorne.”

“I dumped Kyle when Tessa said yes. We only need one. Like I said, we’re very affectionate.” David had the sexiest, evilest grin on his face as he dipped his head down and kissed her.

She hated that it did something for her. She could maybe resist the nice-guy professor, but meeting the pervy hottie under the tweed was like finding out not only was Clark Kent Superman, he could also find a G-spot faster than a speeding bullet.

“Well, let’s go and look around the house.” Luis seemed to find his footing. “Although I suspect Dr. Hawthorne could give this tour himself.”

David’s head was back, his eyes taking in the front of the house. “Not at all. I’ve only studied the place in pictures. It’s different being here. Everything is so vivid.”

She liked watching him, enjoyed how curious he was about the world around him and how open he was to learning. Too often lately she’d spent her days moving through like a zombie, doing the things she needed to do to get to the next one only to find herself on a loop.

Meeting David Hawthorne had tossed her off that loop and forced her to think about something beyond getting to the weekend where she could visit with her family and wonder why she didn’t feel like she belonged with those happy people.

David had walked to the edge of what seemed to be a parking circle, stepping over to the place where the jungle began.

“Be careful,” Luis cautioned. “There are snakes out here.”

She reached for David’s hand to bring him back to the house. She rather thought he might need someone to ground him at times. “I’ll be on the lookout for snakes.”

She glanced back at the man who hadn’t left his post and worried more about the predators she might find inside the mansion.

* * * *

David was astounded by the beauty of the home Ricardo Montez had built. From the big mural at the front of the house depicting the jungle and the river, to the skylights that let in sun, every detail had been thought through. Every hall he walked down, room he took in, reminded him that he was walking in the steps of giants. So many of the people he studied about had walked these halls, sat in these chairs. History had been made here.

Too often people only thought of history being made in the big spaces—the White House, Parliament, the world’s battlefields. But so much happened in the private places. In the living rooms and over dining tables, the fate of the world had been decided again and again.

He couldn’t help but wonder if his own personal history would be decided here, too.

“That mural was beautiful,” Tessa said. She’d been great during the tour, asking lots of questions and getting a lay of the land. “I’m glad I got pictures.”

He was fairly certain she’d gotten pictures of everything so she could study the layout and prepare for whatever threat might come their way. But she’d seemed like a happy tourist.

“And this is the room you’ve definitely been waiting for. I saved the best for last.” Luis had walked the halls like a long-time tour guide. “The library.”

David stepped inside and stared for a moment. Books lined every wall, going all the way up to the ceiling, and he was comforted by the smell. Bibliosmia. It was the technical term for that woodsy, earthy smell old books had. The smell actually came from the compounds in paper breaking down over time, but he’d long ago dismissed the obvious metaphor. Some things didn’t need to have a deeper meaning.

He’d always loved libraries. They were his happy place. From the time he was a child, he’d felt safe in these spaces where books and knowledge were supreme.

“Are you going to break into song?” Tessa whispered.

She seemed determined to drag him back to reality. He looked down at her. “Why would I do that?”

Her lips quirked up and she tucked a long strand of raven hair behind her ear. “It’s what Belle did in Beauty and the Beast. Her eyes got as wide as yours just did and she burst into song.”

Such a brat. She also seemed determined to make him smile. “I guess that makes you the beast.”

Instead of getting offended, her grin amped up. “Don’t you forget it.”

She stepped away, strolling around the circular library, her graceful hands skimming along the spines of the books. He’d been surprised at how she’d handled the tour. She’d held his hand through most of it, and instead of asking Luis questions, she’d looked to David. When that woman focused on him, he felt like the world was a softer, warmer place.

And a place where his dick suddenly wanted to take over for his brain.

“I have to admit I was surprised you showed up with a girl.” Luis moved close to him, keeping his voice down.

“She’s a woman, and I didn’t expect it either. It happened pretty fast.”

Luis glanced his way, his jaw tight. “What do you know about her? I mean, I know you met her one night and then she seemed to disappear.”

They’d gone over this. Tessa had been quick with the perfectly reasonable explanation. It made him wonder exactly how long she’d been thinking about it. She’d seemed torn over how to handle their situation on the boat, and then on the bus, she’d been quiet. She’d sat in the back watching him as he’d talked to the other travelers. The walk had been perfectly pleasant but pointed to the fact that she was right. His brain was more on her than the work he was supposed to do. He’d wanted to make sure she was comfortable, content.

But he was pretty sure she was wrong. He was almost certain sleeping with her would do nothing but amplify his preoccupation. He imagined seeing her naked now. Even as she walked around the library and the sunlight hit her skin, he was wondering how it would caress her body in the early morning, how she was practically glowing like the goddess she was.

Knowing exactly how gorgeous she was wouldn’t make him stop fantasizing about her.

“Professor?”

How long had he been thinking about her? The woman was playing hell with his concentration. He shook it off and looked back to Luis. “I’m sorry. I got distracted. What were you saying?”

Luis looked at him like he’d grown an extra head. “I was asking how much you knew about her.”

“A lot. Why?” He knew the important things. He knew he was crazy about her and she was crazy skittish about him. That was a problem he was working on.

“She said she worked for an oil company?”

She’d said that. It had been a good call. If she needed to, she could likely get her former fiancé’s family to back up her cover. And it gave her an excuse to have not called him that didn’t include her being a scaredy cat. “Malone Oil.”

“And you know that for a fact?” Luis asked.

He wasn’t sure what was going on in his grad student’s head. “What’s this about?”

Luis looked over as though to ensure Tessa couldn’t be listening to them. “You’re close to starting your plan. Have you thought about that? You’re going to write the History Journal article when we get back, right?”

He had a publishing plan. It was a strategy he’d put together with the help of some of his colleagues. He would write a couple of shorter articles for professional journals, try to get some magazines interested, and then he would write the actual biography. It was a good way to keep his name out there and build some word of mouth for the book. “Yes. I’ve already got most of the first two articles ready. Coming here and writing about the trip will give the articles some personal experience.”

He’d written the historical aspects. It wouldn’t take him long to layer in his personal thoughts and how coming here had impacted him. He was targeting a journal that specialized in “lost” late-twentieth-century history.

There was a journal for everything.

“What if she’s…you know…” Luis had an expectant expression on his face.

“No, I do not know.” He was interested in whatever Luis said next because he was lost as to what this conversation was truly about. Luis was always so practical, so easy going, but he seemed nervous about one woman.

“What if she’s from another college?”

He laughed out loud at that. Luis’s anxiety became crystal clear, and David found nothing but humor in it.

Tessa’s head turned. “You okay, Haw…David?”

Getting her to start calling him by his first name was a definite plus. “Luis thinks you’re an academic spy and you’re going to steal my ideas and claim them for your own in a ruthless attempt to get tenure at your own university.”

She frowned. “And you think that’s funny why?” The frown disappeared like she couldn’t quite keep it up, and a sunny grin hit her face. “Okay, it’s pretty funny. I fall asleep writing a grocery list much less some academic paper. Your work is safe with me.”

Luis had flushed slightly. “Sorry. She shows up out of nowhere, and I have to worry. You can be naïve about the more ruthless parts of our business.”

David felt bad about putting Luis in this position without any warning. “Tessa’s not here to steal anything.”

Anything but sex, and he was going to make sure she didn’t get away with it. A little thief could get caught in a trap.

“Ruthless parts?” Tessa sank down to the brown chesterfield sofa in the middle of the room. “Is this that publish or perish stuff?”

“Both your parents were teachers,” he chided. “You should know this.”

She shook her head. “A high school teacher and a community college freshman bio teacher. The only thing they published were quizzes. Though my dad was often featured in the letters to the editor section of the Morning News. He believed in the power of a sternly worded letter.”

Oh, he liked it when she relaxed. When she decided to lower those walls of hers they clicked, and he could feel the energy between them. “See, Luis, she has no designs on my work.”

Her expression softened. “Though I do admit I find all of this interesting. This man you’re writing about lived a fascinating life.”

“Don’t I know it?” a familiar voice said. “David, it is so good to see you again. You look so much older, and I have no idea how you managed to convince this beautiful creature to even stand in the same room with you. Mi ángel, me dejás sin aliento.”

A brow rose over Tessa’s eyes. She got to her feet and strode over, though when he thought she would hold a hand out to Eduardo Montez, she moved to David, slipping her hand in his. “I take it this is our celebrated host?”

Eddie looked more and more like his father the older he got, which was a good thing since Ricardo Montez had been considered an attractive man. He’d always had a way with the ladies, and his affairs were legendary. Eddie was busy following in his father’s footsteps by playing as much of the field as he possibly could.

He wouldn’t be playing with Tessa, though, since she’d made her choice when she’d taken his hand in hers. “Yes, baby, this is Eduardo Montez, and he’s what they like to call in these parts un chamuyero.”

She looked up at him, obviously confused. “A what?”

Tessa might speak exquisite Spanish, but she hadn’t spent a lot of time in Buenos Aires where they had their own language of the streets. Lunfardo. Not that he and Eddie had spent time on the streets either, but he found it fascinating. “It means he’s a smooth talker.”

“I am, pretty lady.” Eddie gave her a high-wattage smile. His eyes were on Tessa, but he leaned toward David. “When Mateo told me you showed up with a woman, I assumed you’d brought another grad student with you. I thought she would look like the female version of Luis.”

“I only have one grad student. I was lucky to get him.” His concentration wasn’t the most popular. The professors who taught American and European history typically had several.

Eddie smiled Tessa’s way. “You are so much better.”

“I’m not that bad,” Luis complained. “I get some action. Sometimes.”

Eddie sighed and looked her over again. “Entonces ella no es mi regalo de cumpleaños?”

Like he would hand over Tessa as a birthday present. “Vos faltás seis meses para que cumplís años. Ella es mía.”

“Hey, you promised to speak English around me, babe.” Tessa had a frown on her face.

Another surprise. She didn’t want them to know she spoke Spanish? “Sorry. We can speak English.”

“Of course we can, though she should know everyone here will be surprised that such a beauty can’t speak the language of her ancestors. Where are you from, pretty girl?” Eddie asked.

“Dallas,” came Tessa’s even reply. She was excellent at playing a part. “Though my parents immigrated from Mexico, if that’s what you’re asking. I was born in the States, and my parents wanted me to fit in. I used to speak a little, but not anymore.”

He had no idea what she was doing. Half their conversation the night they’d met had been in Spanish. He enjoyed going back and forth, but if she was lying about her skills then she probably had a reason. He was going to let her lead, and they would talk about it when they were alone.

“Well, then we shall have to speak in English from now on around you,” Eddie offered. “First, let me apologize for not being awake to greet you. I had a long night and overslept. I’ve been excited about seeing my friend again after all these years. Now I see that he’s changed since he’s somehow managed to convince a woman to put up with him. You’ll have to tell me how you did it. I am sadly alone.”

“He’s rarely alone for long,” David retorted. “He likes the ladies. Sometimes two or three at a time.”

Tessa looked between the two of them. “And you were close friends in college?”

“Opposites attract,” David reminded her. “And maybe I was different in college. Maybe I was a player.”

She tilted her head up, and her words came out soft. “No, you weren’t.”

There was approval in that denial, an affection for him he hadn’t expected. She didn’t mind his good-guy side.

He hoped she liked his big bad Dom. She would find that while he could get nasty, he still wasn’t a player in the common definition of the word. She would be the only one he played with if she let him.

“Oh, I can tell you so many stories.” Eddie moved to the bar. Naturally there was a bar. He pulled a bottle of champagne from the small wine fridge and opened it with an expert hand. “You should have seen the poor kid from Texas trying to find his way around São Paulo. He spoke perfect Spanish and bad Portuguese. I felt sorry for him. And then he was amusing.”

“I’m glad I could keep you entertained,” David said, leading Tessa back to the sofa.

“Well, my friend, I can pay back the favor.” Eddie poured the champagne with a flourish, handing them each an elegant glass. “I told you I’d found some of my father’s notes.”

Yes, it had been one of the reasons he’d been so excited about coming. “You said the cleaning staff had found a bunch of notebooks up in the attic.”

Tessa clinked glasses with Eddie. “Sounds like something my David would get excited about.”

He liked the sound of my David. “I’ve always thought Ricardo had more work than what we’ve seen. He made notes on everything he ever wrote, but we’ve only seen a small percentage of them.”

“Why would you want to see his notes?” Tessa asked, taking a sip. “Isn’t it better to read the actual work itself?”

“Ah, but the notes often tell us what the writer was thinking.” Luis had refused the champagne, but that wasn’t surprising. He’d never seen his grad student drink. “Sometimes what gets left out tells us about the thought process and what the writer values. It can also tell us what he did or didn’t want the audience to know.”

“And sometimes my father liked to invent puzzles.” Eddie downed his entire glass and poured himself another. “My childhood was all about being tested. He would give me these stupid treasure hunts.”

“I always thought they sounded like fun,” David said.

Eddie finally sat down across from them. “I suppose they were. He liked to hide presents for me around the house, and I would have to decode the clues he would leave. I wasn’t good at it. I still wonder how many gifts are hiding in this place because my old man wouldn’t give in. I had to find the treasure or it couldn’t be mine. And that is another reason why I’m happy you’re here, my friend.”

He couldn’t wait to get his hands on those notes. “I’d love to study anything new you have.”

The door to the library came open, and a woman strode in with a big tray in her hands.

Eddie looked up and nodded. “Marta, thank you. Please bring it here.” He looked back to his guest. “I thought we would have an afternoon snack. We keep Argentine hours here, so dinner will be late. This is Marta, and she runs the kitchen.”

Marta set the big charcuterie board down on the table in the sitting area of the library. It was loaded with meats and cheeses, nuts and local fruits. He glanced over to see if any of it seemed tempting to Tessa, but she wasn’t looking at the food. She was watching Marta.

“Professor Hawthorne, welcome to Montez House,” Marta said with a nod. She was a stern-looking woman. She wore all black, with seemingly no allowances for the heat of the jungle. He would guess her age around fifty from the beginnings of lines around her eyes to the steel gray that streaked her dark hair. “Dinner will be served at precisely nine.”

“Like in PM?” Tessa asked, and suddenly she seemed more interested in the food on the table.

“That’s actually pretty early in this part of the world,” David replied. He hadn’t thought about this when it had been Kyle who was coming with him. Kyle started to whine around five thirty, and if there wasn’t a plate of food in front of him by seven he started looking like Hamilton on the hunt.

Tessa grabbed one of the small plates. “Well, then I thank you for the afternoon snack. This is all lovely, Marta.”

Marta nodded. “Mr. Montez, don’t forget that we have a staff meeting in an hour.”

Eddie blinked and then nodded. “Of course. Thank you for reminding me.”

Marta gave him a tight smile and nodded. “Let me know if you require anything else.”

“Staff meeting? With your actual staff? How many are there?” He was curious on several levels. He wanted to know how the house ran. He was also interested in how Eddie handled things since he’d thought Eddie wouldn’t handle anything at all. He was a hands-off kind of guy. But then it had been a few years since they’d gotten together in person, so perhaps he took things more seriously now.

Eddie watched Marta leave, a frown on his face that disappeared a moment later as he went back into charming-host mode. “We’ve had a few recent additions, and they need guidance. It’s important to keep this place up, you know. The jungle is always trying to take it back. But that’s nothing for you to worry about. I would like for you to take a look at this.” Eddie pulled a slip of paper out of his pocket. “I’d lost the actual card he’d given me. This was a puzzle he made for my fifteenth birthday.”

“You didn’t get birthday presents unless you could solve the puzzle?” Tessa sounded the tiniest bit outraged. She’d made a plate of cheese and crackers and fruit.

Eddie shook his head. “No. These weren’t for major items. He would have these big parties for me and he would give me gifts, but this was something private between us. The gifts were more personal. My father would never have told me there was a bike hidden in the house and then not give it to me. No, these were things like books he thought I would like, or trinkets he would bring home from his travels. My father was a complex man, but he was kind. I wish we’d had more time together.”

There was the Eddie he knew, the one that was buried under all his charm and bravado. “Did you find his notes on the puzzles he created?”

“Several notebooks’ worth, but I wanted you to look at this one.” He handed the paper over to David.

Oh, this was a treat he hadn’t expected. He tried to play it cool. Tessa was watching him, and he probably shouldn’t geek out over some code written by a guy who’d died years before.

“Go on,” Tessa said with a shake of her head. She stood up and glanced around the library again. “He’s going to be useless to me for hours now. I suppose all of these are in Spanish and none of them have murders in them.”

Luis huffed. “There are books in English, in many languages. Ricardo Montez spoke five, but he certainly didn’t read anything so inconsequential as murder mysteries.”

That got Eddie laughing. “Oh, he did, but they aren’t in this library. He loved thrillers, but he didn’t talk about them outside of a few close friends. He had a reputation to protect.”

Tessa’s eyes rolled. “Well, I don’t. And lucky for me I have an e-reader. I’m going to take this to our room and enjoy my champagne and snacks with a nice side of murder that will be solved by a badass chick who also gets the guy. I’ll be quiet about it because my guy here gets distracted by me.”

“I do not.” He totally did.

She winked his way. “Do too. I’ll see you later this afternoon. If you need me, I’ll be in our room reading or maybe taking a nap.”

He didn’t think she would do either of those things. Something was going on with his bodyguard, but he couldn’t ask her about it now. He had to trust that she knew what she was doing and that whatever she was doing was for the right reasons.

Oddly, that wasn’t a hard thing for him to do.

He caught her hand as she started to move past him. “You know I’m going to get caught up in all of this and I’ll likely forget to eat.”

“I’ll remind you,” she promised. “You do what you need to and I’ll see you at dinner, okay?”

She was giving him permission to get lost in his work, to not tend to her needs the way he probably should. Or maybe she was simply playing a role, and he was reading way too much into it. “Okay. I’ll be here if you need anything.”

She dipped her head down and brushed her lips against his in a kiss that seemed to linger a bit longer than it had to.

It was an innocent kiss, the kind two people in a relationship had every day. Casual and loving, and it knocked him on his ass because he wanted so much more from her.

He watched as she walked out of the room.

“Damn, my friend. You have it bad,” Eddie said and then immediately switched to Spanish and started explaining the notes and how this particular one had him flummoxed. He was sure this was the first draft of a puzzle he’d been given on his fifteenth birthday and lost when he’d given up on it.

It was a series of numbers, but something about them was familiar.

He started on the problem but didn’t miss the way Luis had also watched Tessa leave.

His assistant still didn’t trust her, and he hoped that wouldn’t cause trouble.

Then the puzzle took over, and he wasn’t thinking about anything but how to solve it.