Intercepted (3 page)

Chapter
4:
Jake

I enter silently so I don
’
t wake
Tamara. She stirs and I still, but then she rolls over and I relax. I don
’
t think she
’
d care
that I
’
ve been out, but I don
’
t like explaining myself to anyone. Haven
’
t done that since I was eight.

I lie in bed next to her, unable to sleep. All I can see when I close my
eyes are those fierce green eyes and that untamed mane of endless black hair.
Natalia
.
She
’
s sexy as fuck and I know it will be a challenge
to be around her the next few days when I
’
m
supposed to give all my attention to Tamara. I remind myself that this is a
work week for me and I can
’
t let
distractions like Natalia fuck with work. But I close my eyes and she
’
s there, barging into my mind, pouting her mouth
in that sexy way that went straight to my dick. Her mouth is perfect. It taunts
me even in my sleep. I dream about pinning her against the Jacuzzi wall,
smothering her mouth while I fuck her.

She moans…
Christ
.

Tamara
’
s warm body pressed to mine
awakes me. Her hand finds my dick and she lets out a pleased groan because I
’
m already hard. Without opening my eyes, I roll
over on top of her, spreading her legs with mine. She giggles and grinds her
hips against mine. Natalia
’
s face
filters into my thoughts and I keep my eyes closed, holding onto the image as I
thrust into Tamara. It
’
s intense,
unusually mind-blowing and even though I don
’
t understand the hold this girl has on me I go
with it. Tamara moans and I come hard with only one image in my head.
Natalia
.

This week
’
s shaping up different than I
thought.

In the morning Tamara and I ride the chair to the top of the mountain. It
’
s not too crowded up high, so we are able to get
a few runs in. It feels good to get my blood flowing. Tamara is a good skier
and has no trouble catching up with me. Most women I go out with are barely
average, so I
’
m enjoying this part of our
trip. We have lunch at the Spyglass bar, a secluded spot overlooking the whole
valley. I recognize one of the guys from last night… Liam, I think. He nods at
me and I give him a brief nod back.

After lunch Tamara says she
’
s tired
and wants to take a nap. At the base the valet meets us to take our boots.

“Are you sure you don
’
t mind if I
go see Keira this evening?” Tamara runs her fingernails through my hair as I
pull on my after ski boots. I give her an impassive smile although I
’
m more than glad to have time alone.

“Of course not. Have fun, babe.”

She slides onto my lap and wraps her arms around my neck. “What are you
going to do on your evening off, all alone?”

“I
’
ll swim a few laps. My legs
feel tight.”

She pouts.
“You
’
ll be at the pool without me? I
don
’
t know if I like that. I saw the way those
waitresses were looking at you.”

“Tamara. You know you don
’
t need
to worry about that. This week I
’
m yours,
babe.” I kiss her and she smiles against my lips.

“That
’
s right. This week is
mine
.
Maybe you
’
ll even get a bonus if you
manage to not get distracted.”

I pull my head back. “
I don’
t get
distracted.”

She smiles and slides off my lap. I know she
’
s pleased with herself for reminding me of the
boundaries. I let her because in the end, she is nothing to me but another job.

 
Vapor hovers over the heated
pool, the surface invisible under a layer of fog. It is close to midnight and
the pool area is deserted. I shrug off my robe and stand at the edge, pausing
to take in the incredible peace that surrounds me. I lower my goggles and dive
into the water. This is the best part. Those five seconds after my body first
meets the water. The cathartic, cleansing feeling of the world washing off me.
I close my eyes and drift back to my life at the ranch with Dad and my brother
Jamie. When I was free and the minutes in my life weren
’
t paid for by someone else.

I reach the end and flip-turn into the next lap. The familiar burn
spreads through my muscles and I welcome it. I try to clear my mind, but
Natalia
’
s image haunts me. This sucks
because thinking about women is not something I spend any time doing. My life
is simple and I like it that way. But this girl, something about her lures me
in and I want to know who she is. She had an accent. Maybe Italian.
Fuck,
Jake
. I switch to butterfly to engage every single cell and drown all
thoughts of her.

Chapter 5:
Natalia
:

I plop onto the bed face down. My shift was totally shitty. I can deal
with annoying, rich customers and it
’
s all
good because the tips are great, but the drunk creeps that stay at the bar
until we close get on my nerves.

I
’
m too tired to go skiing. Maybe
the Jacuzzi. My cellphone vibrates in my pocket, startling me. Marc
’
s sleepy voice makes me smile.

“Hey.”

“Hey. Perfect timing. Just ended my shift.” I reach for a pillow and get
comfy.

“Got your pockets full of numbers from hot, single guys who want you to
call them?”

I chuckle.
“Yeah. Just sitting here deciding…”

“I miss you baby.”

I miss him, too. I close my eyes and imagine he is lying next to me.

“I want to see you. When can you come?” I yawn.

“A week from Friday.”

I frown. “I thought maybe you
’
d come
this weekend.”

“Baby, I can
’
t. I
’
m going to have to work all weekend for a pitch
Monday.”

“Okay.” I let out an exasperated sigh.

Our conversation doesn
’
t last long
because we are both tired and frankly, I am getting frustrated that we are
apart. Our long distance relationship is getting harder and harder to endure. I
hate that he lives so far away. He
’
s been
flying down to Buenos Aires pretty much once a month, thanks to his generous
income as a creative director in advertising. I
’
m a brat for complaining, but it
’
s still frustrating.

I kick off my shoes and chat with a friend on Facebook for a while, then
she says she has to leave for the movies and I
’
m left solo again. Our room is small and I don
’
t want to hang out here. Dani is out with Zack
having drinks in someone
’
s room and I
could join them, but I need a break from everyone at work. I get my butt off
the bed and decide to pay the Jacuzzi a visit.

The gelid night air hits me as I walk out the side door leading to the
pool. It
’
s deserted except for a lane
where a guy is swimming laps. I pull the collar of my robe around me to block
the chill. It still smells like Marc and I smile. I remember telling him I was
stealing it because I wanted his scent on me every morning. Dipping my head, I
meander in the direction of the hot tub. I
’
m still a good distance away when my eyes pause
on the swimmer. There is something beautiful, almost poetic about the way his
body flows with the water. It
’
s also
magnetic because I can
’
t look away.
As I move closer I notice he
’
s in really
good shape. He
’
s swimming in a rhythmic
butterfly stroke. His back bobs in and out of the water and I fixate on the
outline of every muscle. He stops at the end and turns, leaning on the edge as
he takes a break.

I skid to a halt.
Shit
.

Jake.

He slides his goggles up and meets my surely blanched expression with a
grin.
Dammit
. I give him a half wave and set off in the direction I was
heading before he short circuited my thoughts.

He lifts himself off with astonishing ease then sits on the edge, letting
his legs dangle into the water. It
’
s like
the laws of gravity don
’
t apply
because he did it in one seamless movement. He
’
s still smiling and looks as if he
’
s about to say something.
Crap
. I don’
t want to engage in a conversation with him.
Something about him makes me uneasy. I am also trying to avoid looking at his
body because… well, because it
’
s
fucking perfect, that
’
s why.

“Couldn
’
t
sleep?
” His voice is low and sort of
raspy. I don
’
t want to think about his
voice.

“Yeah.” I shrug, trying to look non-committal. Maybe if he thinks I
’
m boring he will leave me alone. “Just heading
for the hot tub.”

He nods and I think I
’
m off the
hook, but his eyes are still on me. I try to shake it off and turn toward the
Jacuzzi area behind him. If he makes a move I will keep walking and go to my
room because the fact that we are the only two people here is making me
uncomfortable. He dives back into the pool and I relax.

In the Jacuzzi, I close my eyes and let my body melt into the enveloping
heat of the water, welcoming the contrast with the nipping air over the
surface. It
’
s not long before my face is
beaded with sweat. I lower my head all the way into the water to wash it off.
When I come up Jake is standing at the edge of the hot tub.

Fuckdammit
.

My heart ninja kicks my chest. I push myself back and grip the edge
behind me.

“Sorry,” he chuckles, and it
’
s so
addictive I can
’
t think straight. “I didn
’
t mean to startle you. Mind if I hop in? I just
need to wind down.”

I shake my head no, still unable to formulate a coherent sentence. Up
this close he looks like something Michelangelo took a decade to sculpt. It
hurts to swallow because my mouth is completely dry.

“Long shift?” He smiles briefly as he eases himself into the Jacuzzi
letting out a pleased groan that hits a forgotten spot inside me.

“Yes, long.”

He studies me and says nothing. His eyelashes are endless and still wet,
and… I want to leave. He
’
s freaking
hot and it is bugging me how aware I am of it. I have a fiancé
e for fuck
’
s sake.

“I
’
m beat.” He sighs and runs a
hand through his long, straight hair. It was sandy brown yesterday, but I can
’
t help noticing how good it looks now, darker
because it
’
s wet. His eyes are liquid
caramel. Every part of him is well taken care of and it makes me automatically
assume he
’
s probably full of himself.

“How does it feel?” The words are out of my mouth and I frown, like they
’
ve betrayed me.

He tilts his head to the side. “How does what feel?”

I curse myself inwardly, but now it
’s done.
“Swimming.”

He angles his head a bit more and looks at me like I just spoke in
another language. I shrug.

“I
’
m wondering, because you swim
really well and I… well, I can
’
t swim
at all. So watching someone in the water like that sort of blows me away.”
Shit
.
That just sounded like I was flirting. I look at my watch to feign disinterest.

He doesn
’
t speak right away and now I
really want to leave because his silence reassures me he thinks that was a
pickup line.

“It feels incredible,” he finally says. “Like you leave everything behind
and nothing can touch you.”

A pang of envy flicks in my chest. I ignore it and nod. “Where did you
learn?”

“I played water polo in college, then professionally for a few years
after.”

I hate that I think what he just said is super cool. It adds up. The
ripped back, the aerodynamic fusion between his body and the water. I stretch
my legs and swirl my toes so I am not looking at him so much.

“Not anymore?” I ask, pretending my toes are more interesting.

“Not anymore.” He doesn
’
t say
anything else and it makes me look straight at him. A flash of regret crosses
his eyes, but it
’
s gone almost immediately. His
eyes scan the landscape behind me, then meet mine full force.

“So what
’
s your story, Natalia?”

I open my mouth and close it. I am trying to stop the craze caused to my
vitals when he said my name. I hate how great he made sound the word I
’
ve heard every day since I can remember. I look
away, gathering my wits.

“Um…there
’
s not much to tell. I live in
Buenos Aires, I just graduated from college and I come here in the summer…well,
winter for you, and work the season.” That
’
s all I say because I am not interested in making
a new friend. Especially a hot one that looks at me the way he
’
s looking at me right now. Those eyes are
seriously flirting with my pulse and I cannot let that happen.

“I think there is much more to tell than you let on,” he says in that
same hoarse, low tone. “I learned it in that poker game last night. You took
every penny I had.”

That makes me grin. I am not beyond pride when it comes to my poker
abilities.

“Do you want to go out one night?”

WTF?
My jaw drops. I know
he knows I saw him with that middle-aged Barbie. I narrow my eyes.

“Your girlfriend doesn
’
t mind you
asking other girls out on dates?” My tone is caustic and I think it takes him
off guard. Then realization crosses his eyes and he relaxes.

“Tamara is not my girlfriend. And she is leaving tomorrow.”

I shake my head. These rich guys are all the same. Women are just tools
to them.

“Thank you, Jake. But I am not interested. And even if I was, I am sure
my fiancée would not be happy with that. I gotta go.” I start to stand up, but
his hand catches mine and stops me. I stare at him, ignoring the head-to-toe
chills caused by the skin to skin contact, and pull my hand away.

“I
’
m sorry. I didn
’
t mean to offend you. Stay.”

I give him a long look. I should probably go back to my room, but my body
is on strike with my mind and refuses to move. Besides, the warm water feels so
damn good. I look away abandoning the impulse to leave. I assure myself Jake
has nothing to do with my decision.

 
I slip back into the water
and keep a safe distance from him. But the fact that we are here alone makes
this feel more intimate than I am comfortable with. I stay mainly quiet as he
tells me about his life at a ranch in Santa Barbara, where he grew up. It kind
of bugs me he is so easy to talk to. Something about him coerces all of my
attention as he slowly thins down my guard. He speaks as if we
’
ve known each other for a lifetime, laughing out
loud as he recalls the memories he
’
s
sharing with me. He talks about his younger brother and his dad and the horses.
He doesn
’
t mention his mom and I don
’
t ask. Not because I
’
m not curious, my interest is piqued, but I hate
it when people ask me about my mom. An image of her braiding my hair flashes in
my mind and the bitterness of losing her to cancer so early unfurls and
surfaces.
I couldn
’
t save her
. I smother the memory. When I look up Jake has
stopped talking and is watching me with an amused expression.

“Where
’
d you go?

“What?” I frown.

He tilts his head and smiles. I now realize this is a habit of his.
Tilting his head to the side as a corner of his mouth pulls up.
Dammit
.
I
’
m staring at his mouth again. His smile widens
and suddenly I
’
m blushing beet red and I
cannot get out of this Jacuzzi fast enough. What the hell am I doing here with
this guy?

“You
’
re leaving?” He sounds
disappointed and it makes me smile because it
’s just
… well.
Damn hot
.

“Yeah. I
’
m spent. I
’
ll see you around, I guess.”

He gives me a brief nod, a ghost of a smug smile playing on his lips.
“See you around,
Natalia
.”

I close my eyes for a second, glad he can
’
t see me because my back is turned, and let the sound
of my name trickle through me. I don
’
t know
what it is that sounds different when he says it. Maybe it
’
s the fact that he lingers on the “t” a tad too
long, his tongue
tsks
behind his teeth, making it sound almost… Italian.
Or maybe it
’
s my fucking girl hormones
telling me it
’
s been way too long since I
last saw Marc.