Page 53 of Wicked Games
“Hey,” Lucien said. “I thought you only used that line on me.”
“Sorry,” I said, smiling up at him. The other dog decided he wanted his ears scratched too and closed the distance. I gave him a good rubbing too then rose to my feet. “They’re gorgeous animals.”
“Loyal, loving, and fierce,” Carmen said. “Too bad I can’t find those attributes in a man.” She turned around and headed deeper into the home. “Follow me.”
Lucien reached for my hand, and we quickly followed behind Carmen. I glanced around the rooms we passed through and noted the elegant white furnishings and cobalt blue accents. A huge watercolor painting of the ocean caught my eye, but it wasn’t the right time to ask for a better look at it.
Carmen stepped through an open French door onto a patio. It was smaller than I expected but packed a punch. She had a rectangular infinity pool front and center and an inground hot tub off to the right. The water in both features was a dark greenish-blue color, which made me think they’d used teal-colored tiles to accomplish the effect since the underwater lighting was subdued and romantic. The view to the ocean was unrestricted because the perimeter fencing consisted of glass panels supported by metal rails on the top and bottom. How amazing would it be to float in the pool or relax in the hot tub while staring out into the ocean?
Lucien squeezed my hand to get my attention. I wasn’t even aware I’d stopped and gawked at the sight before me.
“Wait until you see the sunrise,” Carmen said. “Talk about heaven on earth.”
“We won’t be here to see the sunrise,” Lucien said firmly. “If Draco won’t drive us back to our hotel, then we’ll walk to the gate and hire a Lyft.”
“You think?” Carmen asked. She walked to the table where a cobalt blue ceramic bowl overloaded with fruit sat in the center. Carmen picked up a grape and lobbed it at the glass fence around the perimeter. The grape hit the top rail and exploded. “Think bug zapper for humans,” she said. “Until I’m ready to turn off the perimeter fences, you won’t make it out of here alive.”
Lucien stiffened, and his hand tightened around mine. “What do you want from me, Carmen?”
“I don’t want anything from you, Lucky. You’re here because I like you, and I want to save your life.” She pulled out a chair and gestured for us to join her. “I mean no harm to either of you. I have the solutions to both your problems, and I’m extending a guest room to you as a courtesy and sign of respect. Do you think I invite just anybody to my home?”
“I suppose not,” Lucien said, softening. “I already have someone making demands and telling me what I will and will not do. I don’t need another one, Carmen.”
“Don’t look at me,” I said when she turned a raised brow to me. “You know the source of his problems.”
“I do, just as I know yours.”
“Up until recently, I thought Lucien was the source of my problems,” I told Carmen.
She blessed us with another throaty laugh. “Keep him this time, Lucien. We’re not given many chances at happiness.”
“No, we’re not,” he agreed.
“Drinks before we begin, or do you want me to give it to you straight?”
“Straight,” we both answered at the same time. Then we looked at each other and laughed.
“It’s not often I request a straight version of anything,” I teased.
“I like my drinks straight up sometimes,” Lucien countered.
“My parents spent a lot of money on braces so I could acquire straight teeth. I’m quite partial to them,” I admitted.
“I like your teeth a lot too.” Lucien’s gravelly voice let me know he was thinking about the marks I left on his body.
Carmen cleared her throat to gain our attention.
“Oops,” Lucien said. “I forgot where I was.”
“Sorry,” I added.
Carmen placed her elbows on the glass tabletop and steepled her fingers. “Tomorrow morning, FBI agents Kiphart and Marshall will receive an anonymous package containing the evidence they need to arrest the person responsible for stealing the fanyi ritual wine vessel from the Cincinnati Art Museum.”
“Okay, maybe I do need a drink,” I told her, earning another laugh.
“Lucky wants a Scotch on the rocks, but what’s your poison?”
“Vodka martini, please. Extra dirty.”