Escape to Paradise Read online

  “I hope you don’t mind, but I took the liberty of ordering you dinner. Airline food leaves much to be desired, and I suspect you passed on the pot roast and green salad.”

  “How did you know?”

  “Because I passed on it, too!” Santiago gave a hearty laugh. Opening the door, he greeted the lanky waiter and wheeled the food cart into the living room.

  The piquant scent filling the air incited Claudia’s hunger. “Something smells heavenly,” she said, inhaling the aroma.

  Santiago whipped off the cover with a flourish. “Since it’s late, and I wasn’t sure if you liked Mexican food, I had the chef prepare a hearty vegetarian chili with fresh pan bread. For dessert you’ll have the richest, creamiest cheesecake ever made.”

  “Thank you. You’ve been most kind.”

  “Is there anything else I can get for you before I leave?”

  “You’re not staying?” Claudia heard the disappointment in her voice and cleared her throat. “This is a lot of food, and I doubt I’ll be able to finish it all.”

  “I wish I could stay, but my mom is making a special dinner tonight and I promised her I’d be there.” Santiago gestured with his index finger to the door. “I’m at the end of the hall, in Suite 1170, so if you have any questions or concerns feel free to give me a call.”

  “Or, I could just phone the front desk.”

  “The staff here is great, but they operate on island time and—”

  “Island time? Does that mean they’re always running late?”

  “Not on purpose. The attitude in Cabo is ‘things get done when they get done,’ and no one ever feels the need to rush, especially here at the resort.”

  “That doesn’t bother me,” she told him. “I prefer to do things for myself anyway.”

  “Like carry your own luggage.”

  Claudia smothered a smile. Gazing outside the balcony window, she allowed her thoughts to drift like the tide rolling onto the shore. “Is the city center walking distance from here?”

  “Yes, but it will probably take you close to an hour.” His eyebrows drew together, creating twin peaks, but he spoke in a soft tone. “We have a gift shop and a drugstore on the main floor. I’m sure you’ll find everything you’re looking for there.”

  “This is a lovely resort, but I want to see Mexico and experience the culture firsthand. Attending cultural events and perusing the outdoor markets are on the top of my to-do list.”

  “It sounds like you have your whole trip mapped out.”

  “I’m an event planner,” she said with a shrug. “That’s what I do.”

  “We can talk more about your itinerary tomorrow during our hike.”

  “That would be great. And thanks again for everything.”

  He gave a small nod, then strode out of the suite.

  Careful not to trip over her luggage, she shot across the room and cracked open the door. I’m just making sure he’s gone, she told herself, sticking her head into the hall. Female travelers can never be too careful these days. Her gaze zeroed in on Santiago’s butt, and her knees went weak. Did the man ever have a body on him. Wide shoulders, a hard, broad chest, and arms that looked strong enough to scoop her up and carry her to his—

  Claudia struck down the thought but continued her rearview appraisal of the sexy resort manager. Santiago had perfect posture and moved with confidence, but not in a way that turned her off. Too bad, because when it came to weeding out the good guys from the jerks, she was as clueless as a nun with a vibrator.

  A brunette in a leopard-print bikini turned the corner and sashayed down the hall as if she was on the Miss Universe stage. Santiago strode past her. He didn’t stop or sneak a look as she passed by. Claudia couldn’t believe it. And neither could the brunette. Shock covered her face, and a scowl crimped her lips.

  Claudia closed her gaping mouth. There was more to this Santiago guy than met the eye, and that worried her. She wondered if what he’d told her about his plans for tonight was true. He was having dinner with his mom on a Friday night? That was hard to believe. But who cared? He was the resort manager, not her love interest. That was why she’d agreed to go hiking with him. Santiago was harmless, safe. And Claudia liked that he was a regular guy. Not a loud, arrogant executive who thought he was the salt of the earth.

  Her eyes slipped down his physique. Santiago Medina put the f in fine, but that didn’t mean she was interested in him. She wasn’t, only curious why such a hot guy was still on the market. Or was he? He could have a harem of baby mamas, an on-again, off-again love waiting in the wings, or a sex buddy stashed away at the resort. In light of what she’d learned about her ex in recent weeks, nothing about Santiago would surprise her.

  Feeling guilty for spying, she stepped away from the door and returned to the living room. Claudia didn’t know what to do first: eat, unpack or take a shower. But when she remembered the fiasco that had happened during check-in, she grabbed her travel bag, took out her laptop and plugged it in. Hopefully, she’d be able to access her credit card online and fix the problem. While she waited for her home page to load, she sampled the food Santiago had ordered. The vegetarian chili was rich and flavorful, and by the time she logged into her email, she’d finished the main course.

  Claudia scooped up the dessert and settled onto the couch. She had three new messages, and they all had the same subject line: My 2013 Wedding. A groan rumbled in the back of her throat. Three more weddings? That brought the grand total to twelve. Planning five summer weddings would be the death of her, but she couldn’t afford to be picky about jobs. Not when her accounts were frozen and she was strapped for cash.

  The third message was from someone named Jeanette Miller, and the tone of her email was friendly, jovial, as if they’d known each other all their lives. The name tickled her memory, but it wasn’t until she finished reading the message that she remembered the petite Atlanta native who’d served as the maid of honor at Damien and Niveah’s wedding. Now, the love-struck couple was expecting their first child, and Claudia was thrilled for them.

  Thinking about the grand, over-the-top bash she’d orchestrated last summer made Claudia smile. Over the course of her twelve-year career, she’d planned hundreds of weddings, and even a handful of silver anniversary parties, but she’d never seen a couple more in love. Their tender, impromptu kiss at the altar before exchanging vows had moved the audience to tears. It was a magical, enchanted night, one she’d labored tirelessly to achieve, and Damien had been so impressed with her work he’d hired her to plan his company’s winter charity ball. Claudia couldn’t wait to begin, and once the media storm surrounding William quieted down, she’d throw herself into the project.

  A new email popped into her inbox. Hopeful it was another job, Claudia clicked on the message. But when she read the first line, her blood ran cold.

  I’ve lost everything because of you—my job, my marriage, my house—and mark my words, Mrs. Prescott, I’m going to make you and your thieving husband pay.

  Scared the laptop would implode, she pushed it aside and leapt to her feet. The thought was ludicrous, as absurd as her decision to marry William after a brief, six-month courtship, but she backed away from the couch anyway.

  Wrapping her arms around her shoulders, she held herself tightly and concentrated on slowing her breathing. It felt like someone was holding a pillow over her face. Claudia stared outside and fixed her gaze on the vivid crescent moon. The voices in her head grew so loud she couldn’t ignore them. Who was the message from? An angry investor or that crazed, wild-eyed man who’d confronted her outside of her office?

  Closing her eyes didn’t block out the memory of last week’s chilling encounter. Instead, the darkness put her back in Richmond, back on that busy, high-traffic street. If she’d been paying attention, she would have seen the disheveled
man emerge from the alley, but she’d been lost in her own world, and by the time he snuck up on her she had nowhere to hide. He said she owed him, said that because of what William did he’d lost his life savings.

  “I’m deeply sorry about what my ex-husband did,” she began, embarrassed that they’d attracted a small crowd, “but I had absolutely nothing to do with—”

  That’s as far as she got.

  “You rich bitch!” The man dug his bony fingers into her shoulders. His rancid, onion breath burned her eyes. Bile thickened the walls of her throat, trapping her screams. Delirious with fear, Claudia felt her legs buckle and groped for something to break her fall. This can’t be happening to me! Not at my place of business!

  Terror struck, leaving her scared, dizzy and battling nausea. The man shook her with such rage, she dropped to the cold, hard pavement. Claudia felt like she was living out a scene in a gruesome slasher movie, and the worst part was, she was too scared to fight back.

  Sympathetic bystanders rushed to her aid, but not before the man vowed to make her pay. Claudia could still hear the animosity in his voice, could still see the violent, angry lines wrinkling his forehead and cheeks. The man wasn’t making idle threats, and Claudia had no intention of being around when he returned to finish her off.

  That incident, plus the onslaught of media attention, were why she’d skipped town.

  To calm her nerves, Claudia drew a slow, deep breath and exhaled through her nose. She wanted to talk to someone about how she was feeling, and surprisingly, it was Santiago Medina who came to mind. Confiding in him was out of the question, but having his company would be nice. She was alone, in a foreign country, and she needed a shoulder to cry on. And Santiago had a toned, muscular set of arms that she’d love to have around her.

  Spotting her cell phone on the wet bar, she crossed the room and scooped it up. It rang, shattering the eerie silence in the suite. Claudia sighed in relief. It had to be Max. Her sister was the only person who called this late, and despite arguing earlier, she was anxious to speak to her. “Great timing, Max. I really need to talk.”

  “Hello. This is a collect call from the Richmond County Jail,” said an automated female voice. “To accept the call and all subsequent charges please press one.”

  Claudia was shaking so hard, she had to hold the phone with both hands. Her pulse throbbed in her ears, and her tongue was so slick, so heavy with fear, she couldn’t speak.

  “I am sorry, but I did not hear your response. To accept the call—”

  Claudia clicked off the phone and hurled it at the couch. Why couldn’t William leave her alone? Hadn’t he caused her enough pain?

  Her laptop beeped, and the AOL Messenger announced that she had six new messages.

  Staring at the computer, her fists clenched at her sides, she wondered if the emails were from a client, an enemy or William. Did inmates have access to computers? Claudia frowned. Did it matter? Her ex was resourceful, skilled at throwing around his weight and bullying others. Hadn’t he proved that repeatedly during their ten-year marriage?

  Resentment burned in her chest like heartburn. He’d destroyed her hopes and dreams for the future, but still had the nerve to call her collect from jail. William’s arrogance shouldn’t have surprised her. He thought the sun rose and set for his pleasure, and that she’d been put on this earth to do his bidding. He belittled her, insulted her and thought nothing of embarrassing her in public. But instead of standing up to him and demanding he treat her with respect, she took everything he dished out. Aside from her sister, William was the only family she had and Claudia had been determined to make it work, even at the expense of her pride.

  Then, she’d discovered that she was pregnant.

  And her marriage, which was already hanging on by a thread, went from bad to worse.

  Chapter 7

  “I’ve done a lot of stupid things in my life, but this takes the cake!” Claudia grumbled, hauling her aching body up the steep, winding path. The forest was inundated with the scent of poinsettias and scarlet blossoms, but the soothing fragrance did nothing to calm her. Claudia hurt in places she couldn’t reach and was staggering along the trail like a drunk after happy hour. “This is torture! I can’t take anymore!”

  Pressing her lips together to trap a groan, she cleaned the sweat off her forehead with her pink wristbands. Her sunglasses skated down her nose, and for the third time in seconds she pushed them back in place. She wanted to kick something—hard—but as she grumbled about her growing list of aches and pains, she realized she had no one to blame for her misery but herself. Hadn’t Santiago warned her not to go off alone? An image of the resort manager with the big heart and powerfully built body filled her mind. Claudia shivered and felt her heart quicken two beats. Why does that keep happening? she wondered, shaking her head and all thoughts of Santiago from her mind.

  They were supposed to meet at sunrise, but after tossing and turning all night, she’d slipped out of bed, dressed, and set off at the first light of day. That threatening email and William’s phone call from the county jail had left her spooked and had convinced her that Santiago Medina was just one more problem she didn’t need. Maybe he was, maybe he wasn’t, but her track record with the opposite sex was pitiful, and after a disastrous failed marriage, she didn’t trust her instincts. Keeping her distance from men, especially sweet guys like Santiago, was definitely the safer, smarter choice.

  So, why do I feel guilty for blowing him off?

  Sunshine and fresh air was the perfect antidote for stress, but after an hour on this steep death trap Claudia was ready to quit. This course was for athletic thrill seekers, not regular people like her, and if she didn’t get down soon she’d be leaving on a stretcher.

  Short of breath and scared she was going to fall headfirst into the cacti if she took another step, Claudia rested against a tall shady tree and fanned her face. Butterflies danced around her, flapping their wings to the tranquil sounds of the forest. With views of the ocean, the rich landscape and bubbling streams, she was standing in the ideal place to admire the natural beauty of the peninsula. The sun was so luminous and bright that it didn’t look real. Large, colorful birds twittered the season’s song, crickets danced in the air and the sound of the rushing waterfall made Claudia momentarily forget the shooting pains in her lower calves.

  Down below, on a long stretch of powdery white sand, twentysomethings played Frisbee, tanned on chaise loungers and tackled giant waves on their towering boogie boards. Silver-haired guests reclined in posh, white cabanas, while waiters hustled around refreshing their drinks and serving appetizers.

  Hoping to see beyond the beach, Claudia stepped out from behind the tree. The bar came into view, and so did Santiago Medina. He was hard to miss. With his wavy hair blowing in the wind and that statue-worthy physique, he stood out from the crowd like the world’s tallest man at a little-people convention. And not just because of his looks. Most of the men swaggered around, using their puny, puffed-out chests to attract attention, but not Santiago. He was fully dressed and looked great in his navy shirt and loose-fitting white pants. Leaning against the bar, holding a glass tumbler, he looked debonair and cool without even trying. He’s wasting his talents working here, she thought, loving the privacy her location provided. He should be in movies, sharing that disarming smile with the world.

  Claudia glanced at her watch. She’d been stuck on this mountain for ninety minutes? The phone call she’d received last night left her so scattered, she’d forgotten to do her online banking, and Claudia wanted to have her credit card situation straightened out before the resort staff came looking for her.

  Though I wouldn’t mind if Santiago was the one who came knocking on my door.

  At the thought, her skin flushed with heat. Smiling ruefully, she took one last look at the bar and then stepped back onto t
he trail. Claudia came upon a clearing in the forest and spotted a female hiker descending the mountain. Dressed in candy-apple-red workout gear—complete with matching head and wristbands—the older woman looked like the Mexican version of Jane Fonda. And to keep the hiker in her sights, Claudia had to do a slow jog. The woman was obviously an experienced hiker because she was zooming up the hill like it was nobody’s business. I must be in worse shape than I thought!

  The peaceful sound of the rushing stream made Claudia feel even more lethargic. Licking the dryness from her lips, she considered stopping for a drink. Was the water safe? With her luck, she’d get sick and end up spending the rest of her vacation in the hospital. As if she could afford a hospital bill; she couldn’t even cover the cost of the incidentals in her suite!

  Staring longingly at the stream, she tried to talk herself out of dipping her face into the stream and having her fill. I’ll just have a sip, Claudia decided. One little sip won’t kill me. She’d finished her water bottle ten minutes into the hike, but if she’d known the terrain was as rugged as the Grand Canyon she would have packed the kitchen sink.

  Claudia doubled over, dropped her hands on her knees and waited for the burning sensation in her chest to subside. Her arms were on fire, her legs ached and sweat was trickling furiously down her cheeks. Claudia pictured herself back in the comfort of her luxury suite. The first thing she was going to do when she returned home was soak in a tub filled with Bengay. If that didn’t ease the knots in her back, she’d treat herself to an in-suite massage. A rubdown, from a guy with strong arms, was just what the doctor ordered.

  Santiago’s obviously a man with hidden talents, she thought, feeling the heat that was in her chest spread south. I bet he could soothe the aches in my—