Vivian smiled at the thought. There was a time she would have done the same thing for Leo.
Taking a couple of gulps from the water bottle, Vivian leaned on the counter. Memories of Leo began to flood her mind. She’d been ashamed by what she’d allowed last night.
Basking in the aftershocks of making love on the lounge chair behind the bar, Vivian had allowed herself to go back in time as Leo’s arms wrapped around her. Everything had been perfect between them for almost five years. Simply loving each other had been enough. When had that stopped being enough for her? Why couldn't she accept Leo's love without the condition of marriage? Was the piece of paper worth walking away from the man she still loved after all this time?
Confused by her wayward thoughts, she'd pushed away from Leo, slipping back into her dress before running off along the beach back to her parked car. She could hear him calling her name as he struggled to find his clothes, but it was too late.
Her heart and her mind were aligned. She refused to be in a stagnant relationship. She deserved better. She deserved a man who wanted to marry her and have a family and—
A loud thud followed by a sharp bang against a wall jolted Vivian.
Reaching down to the floor, Vivian scooped up her tank top and put it on. Her breathing ragged and rushed, she stood still listening for another sound.
Was someone upstairs in her condo? Was that why the little dog was barking like crazy? Was there a burglar in her home? Looking to her right, Vivian picked up the first heavy object she saw in the kitchen, a wooden rolling pin. Not the best weapon, but her hands were shaking hard.
What happened to the woman who'd hunted down African warlords, brandishing an AK-47 for protection, just to get a quote for her next exposé? She would never have felt this trepidation two years ago. Vivian was known for plunging into dangerous situations without thinking, much to Leo's dismay. The casual, laid-back island life had dulled her instincts and her pursuit of danger. She didn’t trust herself to wield a knife at the moment.
Heart pounding, she took a few steps, careful not to make any noise on the travertine tile floor. Maybe she was just hearing things.
Or could Amal have returned? One of the maintenance workers might have let her inside. Easing toward the staircase, Vivian stopped for a moment to steady her breathing.
Another loud thud made her heart jump into her throat.
Someone was upstairs.
Slowly ascending the staircase, Vivian reached the top of the landing faster than she wanted. She should call the cops instead of trying to play amateur sleuth, but the reporter in her was too curious not to investigate.
Staying close to the wall, she could see the den was empty, but the glass pocket doors to her balcony were opened slightly. Vivian was certain she’d closed those before leaving. Holding the rolling pin above her head, Vivian took small steps toward the edge of the wall next to the hallway separating her guest bedrooms from the study. With a quick glance around the corner, she saw a light on in one of the guest bedrooms.
But not the one Amal was staying in.
This bedroom was used for storing unpacked boxes filled with items Vivian couldn’t remember and probably didn’t need.
As she turned the corner and inched down the hallway toward the bedroom door, Vivian heard more banging and rustling inside. Blood rushed through her ears, muffling the sound, and her body shook with each step.
Wanting to make sure it wasn’t Amal, she thought of calling out to her best friend, but the words stuck in her throat.
She was too afraid.
Abandoning her original resolve, Vivian took a step backward. A figure emerged from the room dressed in all black.
Screaming, Vivian turned to run down the stairs. As she took the steps two at a time, she heard a soft feminine scream merge with her own. Pausing at the bottom of the stairs, Vivian looked behind her to see her maid, Cozette.
“Ms. Vivian, you scared me so bad!”
“Cozette! What the hell are you doing here?” Vivian asked.
“Remember, I asked if I could come clean for you this weekend instead of during the week because of my family reunion. Everybody’s coming to the island tomorrow, and I’ll be too busy with our activities …” Cozette said, a worried look on her face.
Vivian let out a sigh and leaned against the wall. “I completely forgot about that. I’m sorry, Cozette.”
“No, I’m sorry, Ms. Vivian. I should have reminded you.” Cozette gave a nervous laugh and placed her hand on the wall to steady herself. “I thought you were a burglar trying to bash my head in with that rolling pin.”
Vivian smiled with relief. “What were you doing in there?”
“I saw the box labeled exercise equipment. I was going to move it to your new workout room. I was moving the boxes to get to that one. I’m sorry I was loud, some of them were really heavy,” Cozette said.
“I understand.” The mystery was solved.
“Is it okay for me to finish cleaning?”
“Yes, of course. And, Cozette, be careful coming in next time. You left the front door ajar.”
9
Leaving the kitchen with two mugs of steaming fresh-brewed coffee, Vivian ventured upstairs to Amal’s guest room, anxious to get the salacious, sordid details about her best friend’s extended one-night stand.
Heading down the hallway, Vivian debated whether or not she would divulge the salacious, sordid details of her secret dalliance. Vivian still couldn’t believe she’d hooked up with Leo at the street circus. What had she been thinking? Well, she knew the answer to that question. She hadn’t been thinking. She’d been too wrapped up in her emotions, too caught up in Leo and the electric, mesmerizing effects he still held over
