Dee was restless. She had been edgy all day and couldn't sit still. Yukio and Dominic had gone out the night before and had not yet returned.
She sighed; there was only one thing for it. Dee went to the bedroom and pulled the travel trunk from the closet. In less than fifteen minutes, she had stripped the apartment of everything personal. She took the rune-covered bottle from its little cabinet and, wrapped protectively in a towel, nestled it in her backpack. The cabinet itself folded flat, and she found a place for it in the trunk.
Dee dragged the trunk in to rest beside the front door. It was half an hour to sunset, and she was ready to go. But go where? The world had a lot of beaches; myriad rooms with a view were waiting. Lightning flickered, followed by a long slow rumble of thunder that grew until the windows rattled.
BANG!
Dee laughed nervously at the rush of adrenaline from the lightning strike. That was way too close. She peeked through the window to see if anything was on fire. No, but the sky was a black bruise of massed thunderclouds. Dee sighed; she was going to miss Florida and its spectacular lightning.
She startled again when the door burst open. Dominic and Yukio were silhouetted by another vicious stab of lightning.
Dominic smiled. "Maybe you should pack," he started, then saw her trunk.
Dee looked at Yukio, arms crossed. "So, how long has he been standing there, practicing his little speech?"
Yukio cast him an unreadable look, wondering why Dominic had even gone to the trouble.
Dee nodded in confirmation. "Worn out your welcome, haven't you?" she asked. "Let me guess, jealous husband? Or jealous wife? I know it's not because you've been sloppy hunting. RIGHT? Because I like this town, and I'd like to be able to come back someday."
"How does Mexico sound?" Dominic asked evasively, smiling as he reached for her trunk.
"Dominic!"
But Yukio took her arm and led her down the stairs, leaving Dominic to follow with her luggage.
"Your friend Dominic has too many admirers," he said, shaking his head. "I don't know how he manages it."
"Obviously, he doesn't."
The limo was at the curb, and Yukio handed her in while Dominic loaded her trunk. She sat across from them, scowling all the way to the airport. Every time Dominic tried to offer an explanation, she glared him into silence. Yukio was going to great lengths to keep from laughing at him.
The limo took them directly to the waiting jet on the tarmac, and Dee was out the door before either of them could offer assistance.
"And you're making me miss a fantastic lightning storm," she threw at them before turning and heading up the stairs into the plane. Dee kissed Dominic's waiting pilot on the cheek in greeting.
"Always a pleasure, Dee," he smiled.
Dee grinned and strapped in for take off.
"I see you've made her mad again," the pilot said to Dominic as he boarded.
"Occupational hazard," he replied, not quite subdued. "We're ready to go when you are."
Soon they were in the air and racing across the Gulf. After half an hour, Dee relented.
"So, where are we going?"
"I have a time share in Puerto Vallarta," Dominic said.
"Good view of the ocean?" she asked.
"Right out the back door. It has a private garden. And maid service, to clear away all those cups of tea you never drink."
Dee looked at Yukio. "Ever been to Mexico?"
"Cabo San Lucas," he said. "Big party place. Many delicious people there."
Dee couldn't help but laugh. "Oh yeah, you know all about it."
"It's a little quieter where we're going," Dominic said. "But I think you'll like it."
"I have no doubt," Dee said, nonetheless sounding skeptical. "Wake me when we get there." And with that, she reclined her seat, curled around her backpack and promptly fell asleep.
Dee felt rumpled and grumpy as they made their way through the airport to the waiting limo. She still hadn't decided to forgive Dominic, so the car trip was silent. She pretended to doze, not caring if he knew otherwise.
Soon, the limo was wending its way through narrow, climbing streets, only to descend in an even more circuitous manner before pulling to a stop. Dee climbed from the car, feeling a little green and ready for the bad news.
A single light beckoned through an arched portico. Dee glanced at Dominic; his expression was enigmatic. With a sigh, she hooked her backpack over one shoulder and headed for the light. Yukio and Dominic merged with the shadows as they followed.
The light was above the door of the smallest house Dee had ever seen. It didn't even qualify as a house, but looked more like an overly made up storage shed. She struggled with her anger as she reached for the latch. The door opened, and she startled.
"Ah, Senora! My apologies; the realtor said not to expect you until the morning, I am Raul DeLaGarza. Please think of me as your personal assistant. May I show you the house?" he asked, replacing the recent fax on the desk behind him.
"Pardon?" Dee blinked at the man in the doorway. He smiled, his teeth straight and very white in his tanned face. He reached behind the opened door and threw a switch.
"Welcome home, Senora."
Dee's whole world changed as lights came on everywhere. The landscaping was lush and tropical with croton, kalanchoe and ti plants, and banana and giant bird of paradise trees towered above the overflowing beds; the stone path was winding and hugged by fountains and statuary. And then there was the house.
It was palatial. White walls and columns, covered verandas, red ceramic tiles on the roof, espaliered bougainvillea rampant in planters and window boxes. The wide wooden doors were inset with beveled glass windows.
Dee felt her knees wobble, and Dominic appeared at her elbow from the shadows with Yukio.
Raul paled beneath his tan for a moment and took a half step back, then recovered himself. He turned his attention to Dominic and prepared to speak. Dee didn't see Dominic's glower, but she was immediately the center of his attention once again.
Dee smiled and followed him eagerly as he led them through the double doors and into the great room.
"The bar is fully stocked, as is the kitchen. If there is anything additional you require, please do not hesitate to ask. There is a personal chef available for your pleasure, as well as a masseuse. The maid arrives daily, and her schedule can be adjusted as you wish."
Raul gestured to the wide winding staircase, and Dee preceded him. "There are four master suites here, each with king size beds." Raul led the way into the first bedroom at the top of the stairs. The ceiling was high and arching, the four-poster bed hung with gauzy curtains. Wide sliding glass doors opened to a balcony that ran along the rear of the house. A gently curving stair led to the pool deck, surrounded by more lush plantings. The freeform horizon pool curled around a raised hot tub. The pounding throb of the surf carried on the night breeze. Another set of steps led down to the sand.
"Each of the master suites has its own shower and Jacuzzi tub," Raul said. The tub was large enough to easily accommodate half a dozen people, and the shower was equally as large. The double vanity was well lit. The toilet and bidet had their own private alcove.
Raul led them through each of the bedrooms; simply yet richly appointed, then down to the pool deck and back into the great room through more sliding glass doors.
