EPILOGUE
Two months later
ACOOLHANDdrifted down Marianna’s arm. She blinked her eyes as Simon pulled the covers back and climbed into bed. And pressed his naked wet body against hers.
“You’re freezing,” she yelped.
Simon laughed and shook his wet hair, sprinkling little drops of cool water over her.
“And you’re warm.”
He moved closer, nestling against her. She shrieked and squirmed, trying to get away, but Simon just laughed again and held her firmly against him. She relented, relaxing into him as he warmed up. His hands explored her back, her rear, her breasts.
“Ah, fuck, you’re so soft, Mari,” he rasped in her ear.
His broad chest was warming now, and she brushed her lips against his neck.
“You taste like salt.” The corners of her mouth turned down a bit. “You were supposed to take me surfing with you this morning.”
“I didn’t have the heart to wake you,” he said. “You looked so peaceful, and I wanted to let you rest.”
Marianna propped herself up on one elbow. “You sure you weren’t just ditching the beginner?”
“No.” He shook his head, but his expression was serious. “You haven’t been sleeping much lately.”
“I’m trying not to worry too much about what will happen, but I can’t help it. What if the judge doesn’t let me out of the country again? What if I can’t come back here with you?”
Simon smoothed her hair back from her face. “The lawyer said there was little chance of that since we’re the ones who called the AFP. But if it happens, we’ll figure it out. I’ll be right next to you the whole time.”
She rested her hand over his and gently squeezed. Her Ruiz Imports mess was pulling Simon back to Miami again, the last place he wanted to be. The place he had tried to leave behind.
“You don’t have to stay with me the whole time, Simon,” she said. “It could take weeks. Or...more.”
Simon pulled her on top of him and shook his head. “We’ve been over this already. Now that Cameron is back, I have a lot of flexibility.”
His body was warmer now, and she closed her eyes and rested her head on his chest.
“Thank you,” she said. “I just got you back. I don’t want to be apart again.”
“Me neither.” His lips pressed into her hair, and he ran his hand up and down her side in slow strokes. “While we’re there, we can meet with the directors of the Cuban American Center. Sort out all the new funding details. They’re thrilled by how committed you are.”
“You’recommitted,” she corrected. “It’s your money.”
His chest shook as he laughed. “Yep. I’m definitely committed.”
Marianna traced the lines of muscles along his biceps. Even after two months, it was still hard to believe that she and Simon were getting another chance together. Maybe after the Ruiz Imports case was settled, it would feel more real, more permanent. She was going to lose everything, and that was definitely permanent.
Her days were filled with getting documents ready, getting her accounts in order and shutting down the business. And now that she knew what she was looking for, she found the evidence that her father had been smuggling for years. Not drugs, but plenty of other things. At least the judge seemed to believe she wasn’t involved, enough to let her return to Australia after the initial hearing.
Simon’s hands had stilled, resting on her waist. His fingers tensed against her. She wiggled off him for a better look at his expression. Lines creased his forehead, and his green eyes were guarded.
“What’s wrong, Simon?”
The lines grew deeper.
“Nothing’s wrong,” he said, but in his voice was a hint of uncertainty.
He kissed her softly and rolled out of bed. “Be right back.”
