My phone showed the time as nine fifteen. "Think you can get him to make it earlier?"
Bones pulled his phone out and started scrolling. "For the record, I think you should call the boss now."
"Yeah. I know. But as soon as I do he'll flip out, think the whole world's conspiring against him, and call our asses back to Vegas."
"Which would be the smart thing to do since we don't know what the fuck is going on." He put his phone up to his ear and turned away.
I left him to his conversation and headed back into Markie's bathroom. Eyes closed, head leaned back, she was still relaxing in the tub and I took a moment to enjoy the view. Although I'd fucked lots of women, I'd never spent the night with one before. There was something different about Markie. I actually enjoyed being around her.
And damn, she was gorgeous! Growing up in Vegas, I'd been surrounded by beautiful women my entire life. What nature didn't perfect, doctors could, and the city fed almost as many plastic surgeons as it did casinos. Father had started taking me around town when I was seven. I'd danced with showgirls, flirted with bikini baristas, partied with pole dancers, and even dated strippers. My suits, made of the best Italian silk and tailored to fit me perfectly; my apartment, custom built with every luxury and overlooking the lights of the city; my car, designed to be the ultimate in safety and comfort... it was all shit compared to Markie.
I could stand there and stare at her forever.
"What are you doing?" she asked, her eyes half-lidded.
"I came to ask if you're hungry, but you look so damn fine you distracted me."
She cracked a smile. "Starving."
I closed the distance between us and kissed her forehead. Her hand snaked out and snagged the tie of my robe, tugging it open.
Out of instinct, I jumped back and looked down at my now exposed front.
"I like it better like that," she said with a grin.
Yep, I enjoyed being around her. An answering smile tugged at my lips. "I'm gonna go order room service and shower before I'm tempted to jump in there with you. Otherwise we'll never leave this hotel room."
"I'd be okay with that."
So would I. Which was exactly the reason I needed to get out of there.
***
After we ate breakfast and changed into our swimwear, I drove us to a boat launch not far from the hotel. Bones had been able to move Markie's surprise up sooner, so I was bound and determined to go through with it.
"What are we doing?" Markie asked, staring out at the water.
"It's a cross between snorkeling and scuba diving. You only go about twenty feet down, so you don't need to take any classes first."
Her eyes went round and a big smile spread across her face. "We're going down to look at fish?"
"Only if you want to."
She bounced on her seat as she opened the door. "Yes. Yes! Please. Ohmigod I've always wanted to go deep sea diving."
She leaped out of the Hummer and I was more than happy to watch her excitedly gesture for us to follow. She wore a different bikini than yesterday--this one was camouflage boy shorts and a black top with matching camouflage lace--and it looked fantastic against her suntanned skin.
Two instructors, Tom and John, met us on the dock, waiting in front of their twenty-foot boat. A back compartment secured oxygen tanks and other equipment.
"I'm so excited," Markie said. "Have you ever done this before?"
"Nope."
"Bones?" she asked.
He shook his head. "Nope. Always thought it would be cool though."
"Why aren't you two as stoked as I am? This is amazing!" Then she turned her attention on the two men standing in front of the boat, offering them her hand. "Hello, I'm Markie."
