She awakened fully as she recognized his voice. Better than any dream. He was the real thing. And he smelled like bacon.
“Morning,” she mumbled, her word lost on a yawn. “Am I needed on balcony duty?”
“Nope, Wednesday, remember. Moreno does the books today,” Chris answered and she finally pried her eyes open. He stood near the bed, a tray in his hands. A plate of food, coffee and a single rose rested on it. This was different. He’d been remote the last few days except when they were in public. Ever since she’d stumbled upon his nightmare.
She pushed herself into a sitting position looking dubiously at the bed tray as Chris settled it around her legs. “Okay, what’d you do?”
Confusion crossed his face. “What do you mean what’d I do? I brought you breakfast in bed.”
Her eyebrows rose. “So you must have done something I wouldn’t like if you’re treating me to this. Oh, God, you didn’t throw me into the pot last night when you were playing cards, did you? I already owe Moreno way too much. I can’t do anything else.”
He sat next to her as she cautiously picked up a piece of toast spread with blueberry jam, her favorite. The look on his face warmed her insides. What was he up to?
“It’s your birthday today,” he reminded her. Meg blushed. She hadn’t actually forgotten but she didn’t imagine anyone else would know. She’d spent last year sitting on the beach alone then serving drinks for the entire night.
“Thanks, I didn’t think anyone would…” she trailed off feeling ridiculous. Of course he knew when her birthday was. He probably had a whole case file on her. He’d run her fingerprints after all to find out who she was before he asked her to help him.
He snitched a piece of fruit, smiling at her. “I didn’t make a cake like we did last week for your mom. I don’t have the touch for baking either. But I can do breakfast and I’ve got a few other things planned, so eat up.”
Shoveling the food into her mouth, she looked up appreciatively. “It’s good.”
“I try. The bacon’s crisp, eggs not runny, coffee with extra cream and extra sugar. Just the way you like it.”
She chuckled as she took a sip of the sweet liquid. “Maybe you’ve been cooking me breakfast too long, huh? Or I might need to add to my repertoire.”
“No, no need to change,” he assured her. “I like you the way you are. Now finish up so we can go.”
He left the room and she thought of what he’d said. ‘I like you the way you are’. Did he mean that? And in what capacity did he like her? As a friend? As someone to work with? As a potential lover? She wished she knew where she stood with him but their relationship was one of pretense. It wasn’t real. Well, except their desire to put Moreno in prison for a very long time.
She enjoyed her birthday breakfast wondering what else he had in mind. No hanging out by the pool listening in on Moreno’s conversations. But what? She quickly cleaned up, dressed in her nicest shorts and a pretty summer top then went looking for Chris.
He led her to the car and as they drove she peppered him with questions.
“Where are we going? What are we doing? Am I going to like it?”
Laughing he said, “You’ll see where we’re going in a few minutes. You’ll seewhatwe’re doing when we get there and I’m hoping you’ll like it. I only have one request for today.”
“What’s that?”
“No talking about the club or Moreno or anything work related,” he told her. “It’s going to be ahappybirthday.”
“I like it already,” she said settling back to enjoy the ride.
When they pulled up to a fancy spa, Meg’s eyes popped out of her head. “Is this where we’re going?”
“This is our first stop,” he said cryptically, but wouldn’t divulge any more no matter how much she bugged him.
Within minutes though, she didn’t even care. She was whisked away for a full body massage then facial, manicure and pedicure, and even had her hair deep cleansed and conditioned to remove all the chlorine build up from the pool.
Chris disappeared during this time. Now as she sat with her hair being styled and her toenails being polished, she could see him through the large front windows. He stood across the road talking to a street vendor, chewing on a hot dog.
Damn, was he handsome. He wore a pair of khaki pants and an untucked navy blue t-shirt, maybe the one she’d cried on last week. At least she hadn’t ruined it. It sure did fit him nicely. But then he wore everything nicely. The man had a physique that women drooled over. Broad shoulders, trim waist, slim hips, long muscular legs. Her temperature soared thinking about all the times she’d snuggled with him while he’d been in a bathing suit.
Enough. He’d said no thinking about work. Their undercover roles were considered work, right? So did that mean today they were truly friends? She’d have to wait and see.
When her hair had been brushed to a silky sheen and her fingernails and toenails decorated, she found Chris standing in the doorway waiting for her.
“Here she is, Mr. Martin,” the proprietress practically cooed at Chris as Meg was led forward. “All primped, pampered and completely beautiful.”
