“Then she shouldn’t have bought one,” Carolina says, sipping her drink. “Don’t worry about it. She couldn’t have spent much. That dress looks like it’s from Zara, and I doubt those sandals are even real leather, based on the Band-Aids she’s got across her ankles.”
My gaze shifts to her ankles, and I notice the red skin poking out from under the bandages. Dammit. My fault.
Putting a hand over her mouth, Carolina starts to laugh. “And look, she’s got sweat marks on her back. Why would someone wear silk when they’re going to be rushing around in this heat?” Shaking her head, she says, “I would be embarrassed to have people see me sweating like that.”
“On the contrary, I’d say the hard work has brought some colour to her cheeks. She looks very attractive.” I watch Nora shake hands with a latecomer.
When I see who she’s greeting, my heart stills briefly, then begins to pound. It’s Paz Castillo—one of the worst human beings I’ve ever had the displeasure of knowing. “What is he doing here?”
“I assumed you knew Paz would be here,” Carolina says. “He’s one of the contestants. In fact, he’s favoured to win.”
“Of course he is,” I mutter, my gut hardening at the sight of Nora laughing at whatever it is he just said. “Markos, did you know he’d be here?”
“I assumed he would. Did you not watch the videos of last year’s competition that Carolina sent us?”
“No.”
He gives me a smug smile “Well, this is a first. I’m actually more prepared than the great Theo Rojas for once.”
“By all means, gloat about it,” I tell him, narrowing my eyes as Paz leans into Nora and brushes something off her shoulder. I’m sure there was nothing, and it was an excuse to touch her. Her eyes light up and her cheeks redden more than they already were. “Someone needs to put a stop to that.”
“To what, people talking at a mixer?” Markos asks.
“He’s not talking. He’s laying the groundwork to turn Ms. Cooper into one of his victims.”
At that exact moment, Paz glances around and spots me staring at him. Our eyes lock, and he looks slightly taken aback (as he should) before returning his attention to Nora.
“Oh, come off it, Theo,” Markos says. “Paz may have been a screw-up when he was younger, but he’s worked hard to get himself together these last few years. He’s really made a go of this whole bartending thing.”
“It’s true,” Carolina adds. “He came in second last year and got a contract to come up with a cocktail menu for some big chain of restaurants in the US.”
I open my mouth, ready to make my real objections to Paz known, but remind myself I’ve been sworn to secrecy. “I don’t care what he’s done lately. He’s not to be trusted. In fact, if we’re going to have trouble with anyone over the next few weeks, it’ll come from him.”
“You know, it wouldn’t kill you to have a little faith in humanity, Theo. People do change,” Markos says.
“I’ll believe it when I see it.”
Carolina and Markos exchange a look, then she sets her flute down on a nearby table. “I feel rude not going over to say hello.”
“I’ll come with you.” Markos follows Carolina over to the other side of the pool, leaving me alone with my thoughts—none of them worth entertaining.
Snatching a margarita off a passing tray, I pull out the tiny black straw and toss it into Carolina’s empty flute, then have a big swig. What was already a precarious situation has just gotten so much worse.
11
Is it Getting Hot Out Here?
Nora - Four Minutes Earlier…
“He’s looking at you again,”Kat says, glancing over her shoulder not-so-subtly at the Rum King.
“I really couldn’t care less,” I tell her, doing my best to look like I mean what I’m saying.
She gives me a knowing grin. “Sure you don’t.”
“Well, not for the reason you think,” I say, straightening one of the few welcome bags still waiting to be picked up. She and I are at the reception table. Behind us the mixer is almost in full swing, and I have to say it is going well. Very well indeed. There’s an air of excitement, the waitstaff are on top of everything, the decorations are festive and fun, with a hint of sophistication, and everyone has made a big fuss over the welcome bags—my idea.
All I have to do is make sure things run smoothly for two more hours, and when the party’s over I can tell Theo Rojas to suck it because I am a professional who solves problems. I won’t, but I’ll have the satisfaction of knowing I could, and it would be true.
