CHAPTER SIX
Well, fuck me.
Gen just sat and stared at the mark that just sashayed up to his table.
“You look like you lost your best friend.” Her smile grew wide.
Genaro scooted over to stand. Not quite, like losing his best friend if he had one, but he woulda lost a helluva lot more than that if she’d managed to ride this train without him knowing it. He cringed to think of the consequences of losing her on this insufferable train ride.
“No need to do stand on my account.” She sat down across from him.
She found me? He laughed aloud at the irony. Who the fuck woulda thought this shit up?
She let out a light laugh. “Well, your mood sure shifted sudden like.”
Stunned by her unexpected appearance, and that musical sound of her laughter, Gen just kept staring at her.
“What?” She tilted her head at him. “Don’t you speak?”
Content for now to simply look at her, he gave no answer. He didn’t want to start the lie, the farce, the con, just yet. He just wanted to take her in, all of her. He could smell a light scent from her, like maybe flowers? Or some shampoo that smelled like flowers?
“Oh, you’re not American?” Her eyes lit with interest, as he steadily remained silent.
Gen released an uneasy breath. So here it would start. Who he was, what was his name. The whole asinine play that he’d been hired to perform in.
“Vivian,” she announced with a cheerful lilt to her voice, stretching her hand out to him. “My name is Vivian.”
With a smile, he grasped it. Her hand was warm and firm. He felt all the nerve endings in his body react to her touch. He couldn’t figure out what it was. “Gen.” He decided to not give his full name, as he didn’t know how much she knew of the organization.
“Well, I am relieved.” She shook his hand firmly and dropped it.
“Yeah?” he asked as he felt the sudden loss of that warmth in his hand. He was just still trying to get his bearings and a sense of reality when she just popped up in front of him, like this.
“That you’re not a foreign mute!” She laughed loudly.
A nervous tickle climbed along his neck at the sound of her tinkling laugh. His body again reacted on its own. Fuck, get a hold of yourself, you dumbass!
“So, where are you headed?” She placed her hands under her chin.
Wherever you’re going, I’m sure. He shrugged an answer, and he couldn’t help thinking how she looked so dammed cute. All perched on her seat like this, her hands under her chin, her elbows on the table between them, her focus on him only with a lively interest in her intelligent gaze. He again gave no answer. Like he was fucking tongue tied? No, man, this was so not him.
“Well, there are only two real destinations, anyways.” She smiled sweetly at him.
Gen sat immobile at the effect of that dazzling smile. Yes, she was even more stunning than the image of her that was even now burning a hole in his back pocket. “Umm…two?” he asked. If he remembered correctly there was like 20 more to go.
She shook her head as if her were clueless to the joke. “Well, there’s the stop where you get on, then the one where you get off.”
He blinked again. Yeah, that was clever. For the first time, he let a genuine smile cross his lips.
“Can I get you something?” a man spoke from above them.
Vivian swung her gaze up. “Oh, yes.” Her stunning smile widened. “A pink flamingo with a little umbrella, heavy on the cherries and no chunky ice, please!” Her voice sang with the description of the unusual drink.
“Um…” The waiter blinked at her with confusion.
“I’m just kidding.” She rolled her eyes. “I thought I was at the beach already.” She laughed at his befuddled expression.
The waiter looked relieved at not having to actually get her a drink like that one.
“Just a white wine, please?” She blinked her eyes innocently at him.
Awestruck, the waiter stilled like he’d just become breathless or catatonic.
Gen stilled as the memory of his wet, hard dream came back to him. The beach? She had said she thought… Of course, she was headed to Florida, Lorenzo had informed him. So she meant that beach. “Huh-Mmm…” He cleared his throat, as he really didn’t like the way this guy was ogling her.
Slowly, the waiter swung his eyes over to him.
Yeah, dude I AM sitting here too. “I’ll have the same, please,” he added with a dry tone. This fucking guy had gall. The woman was sitting with him and he was nearly hitting on her? Gen tried to control himself. Shit. He was jealous? No fucking way. He simply didn’t like anyone butting in on his…job.
The waiter glanced back to the lively redhead and paused again to take her in. “Um––yeah, okay.” He turned and made his way down the aisle.
She giggled mischievously. Like she had some secret joke.
Damn, he just got hard in his jeans again. He stilled in shock at the girl-like giggle. He could imagine hearing it in other circumstances.
“I shouldn’t have thrown the poor guy off his game.” She shrugged. “Asking for that drink. Poor guy. It’s just that I am so ready for this vacation.” She sighed as she leaned back, her bare toes reaching out, touching his jean covered knee.
He jumped. This was the last thing he’d envisioned. He was supposed to seduce this woman, not the other way around. What the fuck was going on here? His body actually flushed at the contact. He needed to get control of this.
“Oops, sorry.” Her eyes shone bright with amusement as her cheeks reddened with full out blush. “I just bought those heels. I’m breaking them in and well, my toes ache, you know”
He swallowed heavily and tried to get a grip. A woman who actually blushes. He was mesmerized. Her reaction was entirely genuine too. He knew now she hadn’t meant it like a come-on. He felt both disappointed and relieved at this. Again, if he had to standup right now, everyone would know what he wanted. He’d never had so many hard-ons before. Before her… that is. He took in a calming breath and let it out slow before he spoke, “So, what do you do when you’re not on vacation, Vivian?” He studied her face.
Her expression suddenly changed as her smile slipped. “Call me Vi, okay? I think Vivian just sounds…” Her voice faded away as she casually leaned back again. Her expression had sobered a bit.
Just sounds like what? It wasn’t her real name of course. Maybe that was it? He tried to steady himself and focus on the prize here. He also wanted her to be at ease like before so he needed to keep up with the getting acquainted stage. Make her feel better. He caught himself again. Like it was his job to make this woman happy? God dammit, this was a clusterfuck mess.
“Trinkets,” she added.
“What?” He’d certainly lost track of this conversation.
“Old stuff.” She shrugged. “I’m a buyer.”
Oh, what she did for a living. Man, he wasn’t keeping up here. Lagging behind and acting like a fucking retard.
The waiter set their drinks down on napkins in front of them.
“Thanks.” She beamed at him.
Halting, the young server froze at the smile and grinned at her with his eyes roaming over her.
She picked up her glass and sipped her wine. Apparently unaware of the man at all.
Reluctantly, the waiter turned away.
“I think he’s smitten,” Gen teased while trying to keep his voice light when really he wanted to put his fist through the guy’s face. Knocking that grin the hell off.
“Uh?” She seemed oblivious to the attraction the waiter had so obviously felt.
“Never mind.” He took a sip and set his glass down. He needed to keep this light hearted engagement up, not get all violent with some kid waiter. “So, about these trinkets?” He wondered if that was what this whole deal was about? She had something Lorenzo wanted? He paused, she sure as hell had something he himself wanted and it wasn’t some dammed trinket either.
“Yeah, what about them?” She raised a suspicious brow.
“I’m just curious.” He sipped at his wine. Staying casual.
Vi leaned in close. “It’s really a wonderful job. I get to go all over the world to look at the rarest pieces, and decide if they’re authentic.”
“It sounds great.” He set his glass down. It didn’t at all answer any of his questions, but he needed to just roll with this and not push.
“And sometimes…” she whispered, her tone secretive as she leaned in with a conspirator type action. Like she had some huge secret.
He paused. Fuck yeah, she had one. It was a huge one apparently. Wirth at least 200k in his estimation for what he would get for this job. More than curious, Gen leaned a little closer to hear. He caught that scent again and tried not to inhale too deeply so she wouldn’t realize he was reveling in it. Maybe he should try to keep a distance or his attraction would get the better of him.
“…sometimes, I even get to actually buy something!” Her voice filled with an excited hush as she winked a green eye at him.
He studied her animated expression. Man, no wonder the poor waiter just fell under her bus. That smile! At the sight of her playful expression, he felt a strong resolve rise up in him. I will enjoy seeing this very look on her face while she is bare beneath me as I play with her. He then caught himself. Focus Gen. He was losing track of what was the prize here. Getting her to trust him and taking her back to face… His gut tightened at the real danger she was in. Didn’t she know she was in danger? She sure as hell acted carefree and unworried.
“You’ve gone all serious, again.” She frowned at him.
“I’m just distracted.” By you, when I should be thinking about my job.
“So, you’re out on business and not pleasure?” She took another sip of her wine.
“A little of both.” Truth enough there. His eyes locked with hers. The pleasure of chasing you and the business of catching you. He almost winced at the thought. He was beginning to realize it wasn’t the job, it was a conquest?
“Well, I for one am leaving business on the train tracks.” Downing the rest of her wine, she stood from the cubby table.
“You’re leaving?” Dammit, you can’t let her leave. You can’t just let her disappear!
Vi nodded and lowered her head to reach for her shoes under the table. Slowly slipping one shoe on at a time, she grinned at him. “Yep.” Then she shook her head. “But I’ll still be around. I mean it isn’t as if I can just hop off the train that is going at what… eighty miles an hour?”
“Well…” He stood up and stared at her. She had a point and he couldn’t act too pushy. Too overeager. It would blow his cover for sure.
Vi reached out and grasped his hand. “I’ll see you again, K?” Her eyes focused on him. “I’m traveling alone…” Her voice faded away like she’d regretted admitting this fact and she abruptly dropped his hand like she hadn’t realized she grabbed it. “So, like having a friend would be great. I mean well, until one of us gets off, that is.” Now she looked flustered for the first time during this meeting. Like she regretted it.
He blinked at her. Yeah, he intended to get off all right, he squashed this thought. Dammit, he was thinking with the wrong brain here. She’s choosing me to be her train friend? He almost let out the stunned laughter he felt percolating in his chest. Choosing the man who is after you to take you back to the mob to face the firing squad? “Well, I’d like that. How about dinner, here later?” Don’t push too hard Genaro.
Tilting her head, she looked him over.
Man, was that heat and interest in those green eyes? He dared to hope.
“OK. I supposed its safe enough?” She looked around at the dining car and for the first time, she did look scared.
Safe? He took a deep breath. Woman, with me, that is the last thing you will ever be. Though he refused to pause and think over this thought, as he didn’t know if it was because he wanted her in the worst way or if it was because he truly wasn’t her friend at all…in the grimmest sense of the word.