Capital City of Port of Spain, Trinidad
Okay, so this wasn’t exactly how Cory Phillips envisioned her New Year to start. In fact, this was just plain ridiculous. It had been a good party until that drunken idiot had started pawing at her. But this? In the parking lot outside the hotel, all she saw was the space where her car was supposed to be parked. She stood there and argued with herself over the correct spot before going back into the hotel to get security. They walked about the car park with her but there were no signs of her car anywhere. That was when the shock finally kicked in. And that was when she called Jay.
“You just can’t be without me for a few hours, eh, Cory?” Jay asked as soon as his metallic-blue Subaru stopped outside the hotel. He’d been at another party in the city with his family, enjoying their New Year ritual.
Since Trinidad was an energy-efficient island rich in oil and natural gas, many of the world’s largest multinationals set up offices here. Cory and Jay had gone to work for Petronas de España TT on the very same day and had become close work buddies, despite their differing job duties — Cory was an assistant manager in the corporate communications department while Jay was an accountant.
“You look handsome,” Cory commented as she got in next to him. Jay’s crisp white shirt and tie complemented his fine dark chocolate skin tone and handsome features.
“Seriously, Cory! You need to find yourself a man this year, so you can leave me to get my groove on in peace,” Jay let out in one long, quick breath.
“Are you done?”
“Yeah. Well, you know I just had to say that. Happy New Year by the way.” Jay stretched his lanky frame over and gave Cory a peck on the cheek.
“Happy New Year to you, too … but it’s not happy. They stole my car, Jay,” Cory sulked. “I can’t believe this. From the hotel’s parking lot? This is madness!”
“Where’re the others?” he asked.
“Inside. Setting the dance floor on fire,” Cory said. At the last minute, she’d come to this swanky party with her girlfriends, who had brought dates. But tonight Cory had just wanted to escape the forced revelry. And now her car was missing.
“So what did the hotel say?”
“That they’re not responsible and to go and make a report at the nearest police station,” she said.
“Well, of course they’ll have a disclaimer, Cory.”
“God … if I could only see those idiots now,” Cory moaned.
When Jay reached the police station and they got out, there was a bit of commotion as some policemen were dragging in a struggling and cursing male prisoner. At any other time, this scene would have been completely hilarious to her and Jay. She didn’t see the humor at the moment.
“Cory, go in. I have to make a call first,” Jay said. He always did that, never wanting her listening in on his conversations. And Cory understood why for the most part. As she stood there, she cringed, remembering why she hated this place so much. Having to deal with the police yet again was just too much for her to handle. She took a deep breath in the yard, trying to calm herself.
One of the soldiers standing outside was quick in opening the door for her. He motioned for her to step inside.
“Good morning, ma’am,” he said to her.
Instantly, his voice intrigued Cory. It was very soft but deep. And it was different, thickly laced and heavily accented. It didn’t take a degree in linguistics to detect his American accent; the man couldn’t be a local. When their eyes connected and his inquiring ones pierced hers, she felt dazed. Okay, so gorgeous was an understatement. This man was fine as hell with his light honey-toned skin, surely the smoothest she’d ever seen on a man. He was clean shaven and sported a very low hair cut and he was looking at her intently … expectantly.
“Good morning,” Cory finally found her manners, snapping out of her daze. She felt flushed. Why was she suddenly feeling so exposed? Only then did she become self-conscious of her outfit. She was wearing a floor-length, form-fitting, low-cut back dress to make a stolen car report at a police station.
As she moved past him, her breasts ever so lightly brushed the arm he had up holding the door for her. Cory felt an instant electric jolt coursing through her entire body. It was a raw and intensely delicious heat, slowly but carefully ravaging her entire body, hardening her nipples. Outside was a bit chilly but the air between them now was just sizzling. And this man definitely noticed it, too.
“Thank you,” she hurriedly managed to say again.
“My pleasure, ma’am,” he said as he smiled down at her.
Yes, that was definitely pleasurable. Cory found he had a beautiful and sexy smile. But what had her worried was that one touch from this strange man and her body sprang to life, responding to him like that. Now, that was a totally new experience for her.
Maybe she really needed to take Jay’s advice and throw a good man in the mix. She did miss the closeness shared between a man and woman. But was there anything remotely close to a good man out there? She had had her fill of the arguments, the tears, and the broken hearts. And who had time for a relationship these days, anyway?
• • •
As Adrian Mendez smiled down into the island goddess’s perplexed face, he knew there was a God. Adrian had surely seen a lot for his thirty-two years on this planet, but this just now, never in his lifetime! Just a few minutes ago he had chased, caught, and felt like mercilessly pulverizing that young gang-banger. He had been on edge all day long. He even had doubts about his purpose for being on this island. Now he felt like he’d finally gotten a sign from the heavens that made his extremely long shift all worth it.
Adrian just wasn’t prepared for these huge eyes with the longest eyelashes he believed he’d ever seen and which most definitely looked real enough to him. Elegantly arched eyebrows and seductive lips perfected this goddess’s face. Now as she walked through the door, the view of her more-than-ample behind riveted his attention.
Adrian’s eyes had been fixed on her since she’d gotten out the car and as she walked closer her beauty literally took his breath away. The sexy dress hugged her every curve, swaying and moving to the rhythm of her voluptuous hips. A very low and breathless sound unexpectedly escaped his lips as she moved past him. She made her way to the counter to speak to an officer and the very male-friendly, feminine curves of her body screamed out his name. Suddenly, Adrian felt so thirsty. He made his way inside to the water fountain. There, pure male instinct directed his eyes to slowly rove all over her again.
Adrian wondered who this woman was. Was she a victim of some sort of crime? It would really be a shame if she was. But she just looked so out of place here. Women like her certainly rarely ever showed up here for whatever reason. Then again, why would they? This area was plagued with drugs, gang wars, and any other criminal element you could name. And this station was known for its high levels of corruption and its location was in one of the most depressed areas of the country.
Adrian stared at the wild, crazy curls of her hair. They fell to the middle of her back and made her even more alluring to him. And that form-fitting black dress hugged what seemed to be the most perfect derriere and Adrian was so tempted to reach out and touch that. And for the life of him, all his thoughts now lingered on what type of underwear she was wearing under that lovely dress. If any?
Was it the lacy kind or a thong? Was it black just like her dress? Adrian found himself instantly turned on by this woman. What was it about this job that heightened your sexual appetite? Apparently, you were always horny. Probably the adrenaline rush caused by the stress, Adrian figured. He had to admit, nothing relaxed him better than some good action between the sheets. Now he needed some more water after that thought.
Stupidly, he was trying in vain to press the button on the fountain for the water to come up, all the while still paying homage to her luscious form. It was hopeless, he knew, but he just couldn’t take his eyes off her. Not even when the cold water splashed all over his face and some even got up his nose, did Adrian’s eyes move. The coldness shocked him but he welcomed it. He needed to mind his own business.
Then just like that, the man she’d driven up with came up to her in his too-tight-fitting (for Adrian’s tastes) shirt and pants and protectively covered her shoulders with his jacket. Oh, so now he wanted to cover her up, Adrian inwardly fumed. Why didn’t the jerk do that in the first place instead of letting her walk into a police station all by herself and exposed like that at this hour? But Adrian figured whoever the guy was talking to on his cell phone was obviously more important to him than the woman was. He knew if she were his woman, he’d never take his eyes off her.
• • •
When Cory was finished giving her report to the officer for the tenth time, she and Jay quickly headed out the door.
“You had an admirer back there,” Jay announced when they were safely outside.
“Oh, yeah. Who?” Cory asked.
“One heavily armed and pissed off-looking soldier.”
“Oh! The cute one with the American accent?” Cory asked with an unmistakably urgent interest in her voice.
“I don’t know. He didn’t speak to me. But it looked like he was having a very serious conversation with your ass because his eyes never moved from there.”
Despite her depressed mood, Cory burst out laughing. “He was looking at my ass? Seriously? Hmm, little does he know?”
“Seriously, Cory, you need a man, okay?” was Jay’s response to that.
“Only one? You think?” Cory asked in mock exaggeration. “With my drought, I probably need more like four.”
“And I already feel sorry for all of them,” Jay winced.
When they settled back into the car only then did he ask her, “So you’ll be okay, right Ri-Ri?” Jay was the only person who called her by that name and only when he was in his rare brotherly moment.
“When I get my car back, I’ll be.”
“Well then, you better start praying hard, Miss Nice Ass.”