After what felt like about an hour, the plane made its descent. Lucy was tempted to go ask the pilot to circle around for another eight hours. Not only had she figured out how to actually like an Aggie, she’d found her favorite Aggie of all time.

Over the course of the flight, they’d rearranged seating arrangements a few times, moving closer to the window, leaning back into his arms—his rock-hard, anaconda arms—and gone back to side by side just as they’d started, but neither of them wanted any space. It wasn’t anything improper, just a comfortable closeness as they got to know each other. Even after eight hours and eighteen minutes—if the guy with the library in his carry-on knew what he was talking about—she felt like she’d only scratched the surface.

Lucy wanted more. Much more. Yeah, her parents and her paternal grandparents would freak when she introduced them to one of the icons of their rival university, but they’d have to learn to deal with it.

The purpose of the trip was to spend time with the side of her family that she hadn’t grown up with, and for the most part had never met. But in all honesty, Lucy didn’t want to leave Blue’s side. She could invite him to ditch his buddies and forego all the high-adventure activities they’d come to South America for, and right now she felt like he would come along, but that would be doing him a disservice. This relationship was still very new and they had plenty of time to get to know each other. If he spent his international adventure sitting around Abuelita’s tiny house eating common food rather than riding ATVs and hanging out in a Skylodge, Lucy would never forgive herself.

“The city’s bigger than I expected,” said Blue, startling Lucy back to the present. The sun had just barely set, and still painted the city and the surrounding mountains pink.

“It’s one of the biggest cities in the world over 10,000 feet elevation.” Using the sun, Lucy got her bearings for a second. “If we were on the other side of the plane I bet we could see the Sacsayhuaman Ruins.”

Blue took his eyes from the view to give Lucy an impressed look. “I don’t even need a tour guide with you around.”

That made Lucy smile, feeling a connection with her abuelita.

An overhead announcement explained in English and Spanish that they were making their final descent. Blue leaned over to check up and down the aisle, then whispered, “I don’t think we’re in Peru. This is some sort of trick. We’re probably in Mexico or Guatemala.”

Lucy checked the view again. The dark green, high-peaked mountains surrounding a city of close packed homes was exactly what she’d been expecting to see. “Why do you say that?”

“There’s no way we’ve been on this plane for eight hours and eighteen minutes. So either the pilot is putting us down in a different country or map makers have been lying to us our whole lives.”

Lucy grinned, so happy he felt the same way about the trip. “Crafty cartographers and pilots pulling a fast one?”

“Yep. That makes more sense than the weird time shift we just went through.”

From the seat behind them, someone said, “We must have gotten the extra time back here. Feels like about sixteen hours since we left L.A.”

It sounded like good-spirited banter, and Lucy hoped the guys didn’t resent her for taking their captain away from them. Within the hour they’d have him back.

As the plane approached the blacktop, Lucy grabbed Blue’s hand and did her own little countdown. “3-2-1…”

The tires softly made contact, back tires first then front tires.

“I can’t believe I made it,” said Lucy. “Thank you so much for making this happen.” Before she knew it, she’d turned all the way around, grabbed his surprised face, and laid a kiss on him. It sent a pleasing jolt through her body even though it was mild compared to the one he’d laid on her out of the blue at Questival.

He recovered and said, “As quick as you made the time pass, think of all the places I’ll take you now—the DMV, the lines at Disneyland, and of course any international travel.”

“Deal,” said Lucy. “And I’m going to hold you to that. Hey, you never told me what the deal was with you and Jeremy. Why he owed you one.”

“You mean why he thought he owed me one.” Blue checked over his shoulder to see if anyone was listening in. “No time to tell you now. Maybe on the flight back home.”

Lucy was getting curious about it? Was it something embarrassing? Something immoral? That didn’t seem right. Maybe he was just being humble.

Being near the back of the plane, they had some time to wait after the plane taxied up to the gate so Lucy knelt on her seat and faced Blue’s crew. All three of them looked like the stereotypical young, hot fireman. Not as buff as Blue, but handsome and fit.

“So, Stone, Nikola, and Max, right?”

“Dax,” said the guy by the window.

“Dang it. Sorry.”

“It’s okay, Luby.” Dax smiled up at her.

“He gets that all the time,” said Nikola in his hard to place accent.

Lucy asked, “Any of you been to Peru before?”

“Nope,” they answered in unison. Dax asked, “You neither, right? Even though you have family here?”

“Yes,” said Lucy almost in a squeal. “My cousin is picking me up at the hotel and I’m going to spend most of my days with them. I wouldn’t even take up a hotel room, but my uncle just lost his job so he moved his family in with Abuelita last month. They have people sleeping on foam pads on the floor.”

“You’re not taking up a room,” said Nikola.

“Yeah,” said Dax with a sly grin. “Only half a room.”

Nikola turned to Dax and continued the conversation between them. “Funny how that worked out for our captain, huh?”

“Funny like a fish that’s been dead for a week.”

Stone was looking out the window, avoiding the topic and judging by his red neck and ears, he appeared to be avoiding the conversation on purpose.

Were they saying …? Did Blue expect …? Had she given him any reason to think they’d be shacking up for the week? Had she given any reason to think they wouldn’t? Oh no. Now that they were a million miles from home what would he do when he found out she was not looking for a South American tryst? Just because they were south of the equator, didn’t mean there would be anything happening in each other’s southern hemispheres.

“You two settle down back there,” said Blue coming up beside her. He didn’t fit very well into the space between the top of the seat and the overhead compartments, but he was trying. He told Lucy, “Those three are going to share a room for sure. I’ll move in with them if you are uncomfortable sharing a room with two beds.”

Uncomfortable? That might not be the right word. She’d love to have a reason to be close to him, but she really didn’t know any of these guys enough to know for sure that nothing intimate would be expected.

Blue was being sincere, right? Two beds and no fraternizing? Or had he brought her all this way so that she would owe him one just like Jeremy did?

She did owe this trip to these guys, and while that wasn’t enough for her to lower her morals, she couldn’t force them to cram into a single room while she had a whole room to herself.

“Can I trust you?” she asked, looking into his deep blue eyes. Shoot, could she trust herself?

“You can,” said Blue.

She nudged him with her elbow. “Of course you’d say that.” She turned back to the guys and picked the quiet one. “Stone? Can I trust him to be a complete gentleman?”

Stone nodded. “He’ll be such a gentleman you’ll think you have cooties.”

“Good,” said Lucy with a laugh, “because if my abuelita got wind of any sort of hanky-panky, she’d make you forget how teeny and old she is, no matter how big and tough you think you are.”

“I’ll behave,” said Blue. “Abuelita and you have nothing to worry about from me.”

Lucy wondered if that was really true, because she was worried for herself around this guy. Not that he was lying, but they’d been pretty friendly on a crowded plane, what would happen behind the closed doors of a hotel room?

Nothing. Nothing would happen. Lucy would make sure.

The line out of the plane started moving so Blue grabbed his carry-on as well as hers then stepped into the aisle just behind their row to allow Lucy to go first. The carry-on she’d packed was pushing the weight limit, but he handled it like it was empty. His shirt wasn’t skin-tight, but when he lifted the bags to fit in the aisle the fabric went tight over bulging, cut muscles. Forget getting out of the plane, she just wanted to stay put and admire his physique.

From behind, someone whispered, “Take your time. Enjoy the view.”

It jolted Lucy and she turned to see Nikola laughing.

Lucy put her face down and moved toward the front of the plane. The airport hadn’t been updated for a couple of decades and it was small but serviceable. It didn’t take long to claim their luggage and claim the rental car included with the guys’ winning prize pack. The car was clean but wasn’t brand new like the rentals she’d used in the US. It was also compact.

All of the guys were big, but since Blue was the biggest, he rode shotgun. Nikola was the one who normally drove the fire engine, so by default he was the driver. Lucy ended up wedged in between Stone and Dax, who both had to hold luggage on their lap. Without traffic on the streets, it only took about 15 minutes to get to the hotel. The little that Lucy could see from her obstructed view was mostly houses and tightly packed, non-descript buildings. There was a sense of the old world and Lucy was anxious to get out the next day to really see the city.

At the hotel, they dumped their luggage in their rooms—Lucy by her bed and Blue on the other side of the room by his.

He said, “We’re going to check out the night life. You in?”

“As much as I’d love to see if those big muscles of yours are any good for a salsa or samba,” Lucy didn’t actually know what kinds of dance were prevalent here, “Abuelita is waiting for me to call. She’s going to send my cousin to pick me up.”

“Let us drop you off.”

“No, you guys go. I’ll have Chato give me a little tour as we go, that way, when we all go out together I’ll look like a genius.”

“Chato? Your cousin?”

“Yeah,” said Lucy with a grin. “It’s a nickname. It means ‘short’ I think.”

“And Abuelita? You said that means ‘grandmother’, right?”

Lucy nodded. “Close enough. Literally it’s little grandmother.”

“So you’re all over the español?”

“Sí,” answered Lucy. “At least I think I am. Enough to get by.” She would find out soon whether the Spanish her parents had taught her growing up that she pretty much only used anymore in bi-annual conversations with Abuelita was enough to get by. “Let me give them a call and tell them I’m here.”

Blue nodded and opened his suitcase as Lucy dialed the number. As the phone rang, Blue pulled out a black button up shirt. Without giving Lucy any warning so she could steady herself, Blue pulled the shirt he’d traveled in over his head.

There was no way Blue was flesh and bone. Either he’d been carved by a master sculptor or he was some kind of cyborg created to be the perfect specimen, like a Terminator sent from the future. Those arms, that chest, those abs. Lucy wasn’t one to drool over hot guys everywhere she went, but she’d spent eight hours and eighteen minutes getting inside his head and she knew he was caring and brave and funny and …

Blue slid his arms into the sleeves of the black shirt, hiding most of what she’d seen, but framing his six-pack perfectly. In a way it was even more alluring to get only a glimpse, rather than seeing everything laid out in front of her.

“Aló?” Someone was talking right into Lucy’s ear and sounded frustrated. “Aló!”

Oh! Her phone! Lucy turned away from Blue and said, “Abuelita?”

“Lucía! Ay bendito! Estás en Cuzco por fin? Donde estás? Yo te mando Chato.”

Lucy told her that she was at the Palacio Del Inka and Abuelita hung up without saying goodbye.

Blue had buttoned up his shirt and was looking at her out of the corner of his eye like he knew exactly what he’d done to her by shedding his shirt.

“That was not nice,” she told him.

“What? I had to get out of my travel shirt.”

Lucy wasn’t buying it. “You can’t be doing that without warning if we are going to share this room for five days.”

“Or what?” he told her with a tilt of his chin.

“Or what?” That was a good question. She couldn’t exactly stop him.

“Yeah. What are you going to do about it?”

Lucy was not about to let this Aggie push her around. The mood was definitely playful but she didn’t want him thinking he could just undress without warning. “Okay, turnaround is fair play.”

“Wait. You’re threatening to take your t-shirt off?” He folded his arms and grinned at her. “Oh please, oh please don’t punish me.”

Oh no, would he really call her bluff? “First of all, it’s a top, not a t-shirt.” Lucy crossed her arms, each hand grabbing the bottom of the shirt. “Don’t think I won’t do it.” She started to pull her shirt up slowly.

Blue’s grin widened. “You won’t do it.”

She continued to inch her shirt up, feeling fresh air on her midriff. He wouldn’t really let her do it, would he? Please, Blue, don’t be that kind of guy. They really didn’t know each other that well apparently. Who knew, maybe he’d let her do it, then start taking his pants off, hoping for even more turnaround.

Hoping she had a good poker face, Lucy pulled her shirt up to the bottom of her ribcage. It was approaching the moment of truth for one of them—no, for both of them. For the two of them together anyway. She wasn’t interested in a guy who was into women who undressed in front of them so casually.

Her hands made contact with the bottom of her bra. She wouldn’t go any further, but did he know that? Or was he really hoping that she would? Maybe the phone would ring or a knock at the door would save them.

Lucy realized she was holding her breath. Could he see that? Was he reading her and only calling her bluff because he knew it was a bluff? With a resigned voice, she said, “Okay, you asked for it.” She lifted her elbows without pulling the shirt up any further, hoping it looked like she was pulling her shirt up more.

Blue broke. Closing his eyes and lowering his head, he turned his back to her and raised his arms. “I give! You win.”

Lucy sighed audibly and let her top fall back into place over her midriff. She was breathing fast and felt sweat beading on her temples.

“I, uh, I’ll wait in the hallway,” said Blue, walking toward the door.

Lucy hustled to get in front of him before he reached the door. “I wasn’t going to do it,” she said.

Blue’s eyes were wide and she could see a glisten on his forehead as well. He just looked at her.

“I wasn’t,” she insisted, realizing that she’d won a battle that she wasn’t proud to win. Her face went red and she really felt hot. “Oops.”

Oops? That was entirely insufficient to express her mortification.

“Sorry I pushed it,” said Blue. He really did look sorry and that only made Lucy feel worse.

“I really was bluffing,” she told him. “I know it’s hard to just take my word for it though.”

“I was too,” he said. “Obviously.”

She couldn’t tell if he believed her or not. But there was nothing she could do now to convince him. “I should head out to meet Chato.”

“Yeah,” said Blue, “we’re taking off too. I’ll wait with you until he gets here.”

Lucy went to her bag to grab a sweater, a few small gifts, and some things her dad had sent for the family. “You don’t need to do that.”

“I don’t mind.” He opened the door and held it open for her. “I don’t get much time with you this week. I’ll take it when I can get it.”

That really touched Lucy and she got the feeling that he believed that she’d been bluffing. On her way out the door she stopped in front of him and put her hand lightly on his shoulder. “Thanks, Blue.” She planted a very chaste kiss on his cheek. “Thanks for not being that kind of guy.”

She led the way into the hallway and Blue said, “I’m glad you’re not that kind of a girl.”

Hopefully he really knew that. It was like back in her Lobo Lucy days—put the mask on and all inhibitions and fears go out the window. It was the same way she felt around him. Like she was safe and confident and exciting. For one small second she’d wondered if she’d been wrong, but Blue had truly won the battle by losing and she was so grateful to him for that.

They stopped at the next door and a cloud of cologne or body spray enveloped them when the door opened. Stone was in the doorway.

“Whoa, take it easy in there!” Lucy waved her hand in front of her face.

“Is it too much?” asked Stone. He was the quietest of the bunch, but if he hung with these guys he had to be able to take a little teasing, right?

“Not if your plan is to make girls pass out from the fumes.”

Blue laughed. “Leave them alone for five minutes and they turn into clueless teenagers. Hey, fellas, I’m going to wait out front with Lucy for a few minutes. Meet me up there.”

“Cool,” said Stone, still trying to waft air up past his nose to get a scent of himself.

“You guys have fun!” said Lucy. “And don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

“Thanks, Mom,” called Jeremy.

“Anything you wouldn’t do?” teased Blue as they walked toward the lobby. “Like take off your clothes in front of strange men?”

“Oh great, you’re going to use that against me forever, aren’t you?” She elbowed him in the ribs, but she doubted he even felt it. Lucy would hurt her elbow long before this guy complained. “You did it first.”

They reached the lobby and he held the door for her. It was cool out so Lucy slid into her sweater. The city smelled … historic. Maybe she was imagining it. She inhaled deeper and caught a whiff of cooking oil and an herb she couldn’t identify.

“I’m starving!” she said, having just realized how much she was craving some real food.

“Need to grab something before you go to Abuelita’s?” asked Blue. “We passed a couple of fast food places on the way in.”

“No way, no how,” said Lucy. “Abuelita has been waiting my whole life to feed me, and to be honest I can’t wait to get some authentic food in my belly.”

“That does sound good,” said Blue.

“You should come!” She said it without thinking, forgetting her earlier decision to let him experience Peru and not be stuck with the Avila family.

“I’d eat them out of house and home,” he objected.

“Oh no you wouldn’t. There is going to be more food than your whole crew could eat.” Would it be okay to invite them all? No, she needed to let them have their amazing vacation.

“It’s tempting,” said Blue. “Authentic Peruvian food and getting to meet the famous Abuelita. Think Chato would mind if I came along?”

A scooter approached and pulled right up in front of them and a short man stepped off, removing his helmet.

“Chato?” she asked.

“Lucía!” He gave her a hug then shook Blue’s hand and said, “Mucho gusto.”

“He says it’s nice to meet you,” Lucy translated.

Blue repeated, “Mucho gusto.” He looked at the scooter then at Lucy, obviously wondering if she was okay with the arrangement.

Lucy climbed on the tiny rear seat of the scooter without hesitation. If it was good enough for her family it was good enough for her. “Have fun tonight, Blue. Don’t wait up.”

Chato handed her his helmet and Lucy pulled it on.

It all happened too fast for Blue to object or offer to drive her. He did smile and say, “Guess there’s no room for me. See you later tonight.”

Chato climbed on and started the scooter up again. Lucy was no mechanic but it didn’t exactly sound healthy.

Blue put a hand on Chato’s shoulder. Over the noise of the scooter he said, “Hey man, be careful. Please.”

Lucy translated and Chato gave Blue a thumbs-up as he pulled away from the hotel steering the rickety scooter with one hand.

The look on Blue’s face was priceless as she held on to Chato and rumbled down the stone street.