Ryan leaned sideways on the sofa. “So you’ve told me a time or two, but don’t tell me you’re about to fall asleep.”
“It’s your fault.” She yawned and pulled herself upright.
“Hmmm. What are we doing for dinner anyway?”
She tipped her head back on the cushion. “Are you for real? After that lunch, I couldn’t eat anything more if I tried.”
As he chuckled, Aziza ran her fingers along his leg. “I can’t believe our time is over already.”
He pulled her hair together and secured it with an elastic band. Then he helped her to sit on his lap and stared into her eyes. “Yes, the days went by so quickly.”
Aziza trailed a finger across his chin. “You make a great host.”
She hesitated over her next words.
After a gentle peck to her lips, he said, “Speak.”
“Have you figured out how what we’re doing will work?”
A slow smile curved his lips as he thought about the 18-karat gold diamond ring that grabbed his attention in one of the jewelry stores on the property. Aziza deserved that and more. Next time they were together, he’d ask her if she’d put up with him for the rest of her life and slip it on her finger.
“Everything will fall into place when the time is right,” he said. “I have a few things I want to tie down, and you need to finish your contract period in Durabia. Next?”
She sighed and brushed his chin with her lips. “You make it sound so easy.”
“Babe, it is. As you well know, this isn’t a random, feel-good, love-on-vacation deal. We’ve known each other too long to end up wasting our time.” The assessing light in her eyes made him pause. Then he went all in. “Aziza Hampton, I won’t rest until we’re in the same place working on all our tomorrows.”
She cupped his head between her hands and eased his lips open with hers. Their tongues mated in a slow, sensual dance. Aziza held him close as if hungry for him and as though this was the last time they’d be together so she needed as much of him as she could get.
As his body responded, Ryan relaxed against the seat and let her take the lead. She had his shirt halfway up his chest before she whispered, “Let’s take this to the bedroom.”
After setting Aziza on her feet, Ryan also stood. “I thought we’d never get there.”
Later, they would decide where they saw each other in the flesh next. Now, their bodies cried out for the intimate connection they couldn’t do without.
Her phone rang, and she sighed against his chest. “I have to get that.”
With both hands resting on her hips, he groaned.
Aziza giggled, then kissed his chin. “It’ll only take a few minutes. Most likely, it’s Mom checking in with me.”
She lifted the cellular off the chair arm and swiped the screen, keeping a hand on his wrist. “Hey, Mom. Why are you … ”
He gripped her butt and kissed the tiny frown that marked her forehead.
Aziza’s gaze cut to his and concern filled her amber-colored eyes that shifted according to her mood. “What happened to Drake?”
Ryan sat and pulled her down next to him. Her expression went from concerned to frightened as she rubbed one side of her face. As if the air had gone out of her, Aziza slumped when the call ended.
“What’s up, Zee?” He slid an arm around her shoulder and drew her close.
She sniffled, then met his gaze. “It’s Mom. Drake is in the hospital. His wife isn’t sure what happened, but they’re running some tests.”
“D’you want me to get you a flight out tonight?”
She shook her head. “Mom says he’s in good spirits, and he’s not in too much pain. No sense shelling out money to change my flight when I’m leaving early tomorrow anyway. You’ve been so generous already.”
The joy of having her with him for two weeks meant he hadn’t thought twice about flying her to the island. And he’d be willing to spend more for her peace of mind.
“Let’s hope you get some rest tonight,” he said, smoothing the frown line on her forehead.
“I’ll be fine. They’ll let me speak with him when they finish the tests.” She snuggled into Ryan’s side. “As long as we’re together, I can deal with anything. Plus, we don’t know when we’ll be in the same place again.”
“As long as you’re sure, I want what you want.”
She laid her head on his chest. “After we hear from Drake, we’ll make some more memories.”
Ryan turned her hand over and kissed her palm. “I’ll take every moment with you I can get.”
The image of that shark coming toward them flashed in his mind, and a weight settled in his stomach. As he caressed the skin on her arm, he sensed that something other than her brother’s health issue was on the horizon.
Chapter Two
“Did you say someone’s missing in Durabia?” Ryan walked around the desk and settled into the leather executive chair, moving his phone from one ear to the other. “I’m in the office now and switching over to the chat.”
“What are you doing at work on a Sunday morning?” his cousin, Shaz, asked.
“The same reason you’re sitting in your office until Camilla drags you away from that desk.” He opened the laptop, and Shaz’s face appeared on the screen.
“Are you putting on weight or something, cuz? What’s Camilla feeding you?”
Shaz snorted. “You’re the one who looks like you gained about ten pounds since we last spoke.”
“Whatever, man.” Ryan snickered because the entire family knew Shaz could eat everybody else under the table. And that meant e-very-bod-y.
“So, back to business,” Shaz said. “Aziza is missing.”
“Wait a minute, did you say Aziza?”
“You getting hard of hearing, man?” Shaz sounded testy.
Ryan’s chest tightened painfully, and he had to clear his throat to speak. “That’s not possible.”
On Thursday, he spent over two hours on a video chat with Aziza. They ended the call when she started falling asleep over the laptop. The two of them had
