Caught on Camera (19 page)

She certainly didn’t expect to find it here, either, but the romantic design of the jewelry reminded her of it so much she couldn’t help digging through the styles.

“Can I ask you something?” JP said.

“Sure.” She motioned to a gorgeous bracelet under the glass counter that had a matching ring, and the clerk pulled it out for her. She held her wrist up, and the salesman clipped it on her.

JP pointed his phone at her and snapped another picture. “Have you ever thought about being on the other side of the camera?”

Shock had her gaping at him before she caught herself and snapped her mouth shut. She shrugged, playing nonchalant. He couldn’t actually have guessed that about her. “My boss would like me to, but I’m not cut out for it.”

“He wants you to be a reporter?”

She gave a noncommittal answer as she flipped her wrist over and over, watching the blue of the stones glisten among the glittering diamonds.

“How about something like the interview you wanted to do with me? Not just getting the video, but reporting on it? Feature pieces.”

The ring was gorgeous, too, but she didn’t put it on. “I’m good at what I do. Why change?”

JP reached in front of her and caught her hand, stopping her motions. “Why do you want a new job?”

“What?” She lifted a shoulder. “I told you. Savannah is boring me. I want something bigger.”

“And it’s not because you’re not happy with what you’re doing, but just because you’re bored with Savannah?”

“And because my job is on the line. Why would you even think it was anything else?” She untwisted her hand from his and handed the ring back to the clerk. Its color was as close to her long-ago ring as she’d ever seen, but she wasn’t comfortable paying that kind of money for it, and certainly not in front of JP. Doing that would lead to even more questions she didn’t care to answer. Plus, it looked more like something to be received from a lover, not purchased for herself.

“Would you quit ignoring me for a minute and talk to me?” JP said.

Sighing, she pulled off the bracelet and, with an anguished frown, handed it back to the clerk. “Thank you for letting me try it on. It’s very lovely.”

“You nah like?”

“Oh.” She smiled at the clerk. “I
love.
Very much. But it’s not to be, I’m afraid.”

JP hadn’t quit staring at her even though she’d continued ignoring him, but he did when the clerk suddenly pointed at him. “Fuh you man get fuh you?”

Vega giggled and patted JP’s wrist at the startled look he sent between her, the jewelry, and the man. “Don’t worry,
darling
,” she purred. “I wouldn’t dream of such.”

She moved back to a much lower-priced rack of jewelry, pulling off a lovely sterling silver bracelet with a multitude of dangling charms representing the island, and JP once again followed.

“I think you do want to be in front of the camera. You’re a natural.”

She grunted. “How would you know anything about it?”

“I watched you last night. You’re not only stunning and graceful, but the few minutes all those cameras were turned on you”—he shook his head and turned her toward him—“you were in your element, Vega. Even though I knew you were uncomfortable, I couldn’t take my eyes off how perfectly you responded and held your own. You’re stunning in front of the camera.”

Calm blue eyes pried into hers as she stood there trying to figure out how to answer him. What could she say? It was her biggest dream? That she wanted it so badly she’d considered purchasing the ring she’d just admired with the hopes it held the same power as her grandmother’s and she would one day finally get her wish?

Yet another reason not to buy it.

“Tell me,” JP began, reaching out one strong finger to stroke up the inside of her arm. “Why do you refuse to try it? Does it have anything to do with your past?”

Lying had never been something she enjoyed, especially since the biggest, fattest lies had been told about her, but if ever a time called for it, this was it. She blanked her faced as she’d gotten so used to doing over the years, only then realizing she hadn’t been doing that with JP since he’d shown up at her door that morning.

Before she could come up with something he might buy, and open her mouth to recite it, JP stopped her cold.

“You’re a what-you-see-is-what-you-get kind of girl, remember?” He spoke in a low voice, his eyes, she realized, matching the expensive stones she’d admired just a few minutes earlier. “You tell it like it is, and you don’t care for people who refuse to do so. That means you can’t lie to me about this, Vega.”

But it didn’t mean she had to tell him the truth, either. She held up her arm and shook the bracelet at him. “What do you say? How about this one instead? Want to buy it for me?”

He growled with impatience. “You can be so damned stubborn. You’re not going to answer me, are you?”

She admired the bracelet on her arm again before grinning up at him with her best smile, the one that used to make men swoon. “You can’t tell me you don’t make a habit out of buying your women baubles?”

She turned back to the display to make sure nothing else caught her fancy, and JP stepped up behind her, his scent making her head swoon. He briefly skimmed the length of his body against hers as if considering wrapping around her like one of the diving suits they’d admired in a previous store.

“Fine,” he muttered, his breath heating the back of her neck. “Ignore me. For now.”

He fastened both hands to the bare skin at her waist, his thumbs pressing on either side of her spine, and touched his lips to her neck. Goose bumps lit down her arms.

He lifted his mouth to her ear. “Are you my woman, Vega?”

She shivered. Did he want her to be his woman? She glanced at him over her shoulder. “Today I’m anything you want me to be.”

JP’s eyes darkened, and she could tell he fought the urge to kiss her. He’d been the perfect gentleman all day, but she was tired of it.

“You going to buy me this bracelet?” Her voice was soft and husky, not concerned at all about the jewelry.

His body filled the remaining gap between theirs until his knees and thighs touched the backs of hers, the hair of his legs rough against her smooth skin. His chest pressed to her shoulder blades and one hand slid around to span her waist. Warmth engulfed her like a cozy summer day by the lake.

“
Mmmm
…” He nuzzled her neck. “I could, but I typically save my jewelry buying for when I let a woman know it’s time to move on.”

“When you break up with them?” She tsked. “Tacky.” She removed her sunglasses and, with a seductive pout, peered up at him. “Surely you won’t make me wait. I promise to give you a proper thank-you.”

A low growl rolled in his throat. “Vega…” He bumped his erection between the cheeks of her rear. “You’re killing me.”

“Why, Mr. Davenport.” She batted her eyes. “Whatever is that in your pants? I don’t believe your constituents would approve of such behavior in public.”

This time he bumped harder. “I don’t have constituents.”

Without explanation, she removed the bracelet and his hat, and replaced their original disguises. She then dragged him from the store. As she made her way, winding through the overstuffed bins, she caught sight of herself on the TV anchored high in the corner of the store. It was a clip from the auction the night before. She ducked her head, praying no one would notice who they were, and moved faster.

“Uh…Vega. I don’t think I should walk around out there right now,” JP warned, but followed anyway.

She led him into an alley between two strips of stores, and stopped in the sunken doorway of one of the shops. As she backed into the panel, she pulled him with her. She’d dragged him from the store because she was tired of merely flirting and teasing. Because she wanted a kiss. But after seeing the video, she was almost desperate for it now. She needed to block out the stupidity of letting herself get caught on camera like that. She couldn’t afford to be in the spotlight. If she was, her past would come back to haunt her, there was no doubt. There were simply too many people always willing to dig deeper than what was presented to the public.

“Kiss me,” she begged.

That was all he needed. JP cupped her face in his hands and tasted her like a man handed the first meal he’d seen in weeks. When their hats and glasses bumped, he ripped them off, tossing them to the ground at their feet. He slanted his mouth over hers, searching out her secrets until her mouth felt swollen and bruised. That still wasn’t enough.

Vega slid her palms under JP’s T-shirt and scrubbed his chest, his groan vibrating against her hands. She wanted him naked.

He must have had a similar thought. Within seconds, he had the string behind her neck untied and her breasts bared. Both hands gently cupped her, and his thumbs teased back and forth across her nipples. “You’re beautiful.”

She arched her back as his head lowered, certain she’d die if she didn’t feel his lips on her that very instant. His tongue flicked out to touch, then retreated, and she let loose an animal-like growl.

He flicked again.

This time he latched on, and her back bowed, tight as a guitar string, as she pressed into him. She bit her lip and twisted her head to the side to keep her moan from becoming a scream. His tongue was the rain in the middle of a very dry desert, and she was pretty damn certain he could do that forever and she’d be a happy lady.

He slid a muscular thigh between hers, and a burst of pleasure quivered through her every nerve ending. Bearing down, she began to ride his leg. She wanted him. Now.

“JP,” she breathed.

“Yeah?” He cupped her bottom with one hand and pulled her closer, squeezing the curve of her rear as he thrust. She literally vibrated in his arms, so close to an orgasm that her eyes crossed. This man had the power to send her over the cliff with a single touch, and she was more than happy to blindly leap.

From what she could tell, there wasn’t a reason to waste another second of their day with their clothes on. Holding on to him for fear he’d let her go, she urged, “Let’s go back to the room.”

JP jerked his head up, her breasts pouting at his departure. His eyes gleamed with desire and triumph. The predatory male who’d conquered his prey.

A sharp whistle cut through the quiet alley. “Nice tits, lady…show me more.”

The crass comment jolted them into action. JP yanked Vega’s top up to cover her at the same time they both whirled to see who was watching them.

A teenager stood twenty feet away, hooting with laughter as he shook a camera in the air. “Great shot!”

A
NGER ZAPPED IMMEDIATELY
through JP. How idiotic could he be?

“Give me that camera,” he snapped, rushing toward the kid.

“Oh, no. All fuh me now.” With a final shout, he was gone. His nimble feet were faster than JP could begin to be in his current position.

Embarrassment sickened him as he returned to Vega. She stood silent in the doorway, her top in place and her hat and glasses once again hiding her from view.

“Vega,” he began, having no idea what he could possibly say to make it better. He settled on, “I’m so sorry.”

She shook her head, smiling bravely, and held out his hat to him. “No need to fret. What’s done is done. He was probably only seeking a thrill anyway.”

JP wanted to agree, but he’d gotten a good look at the kid’s camera. It was no toy.

He shoved the sunglasses on his face. They’d been completed exposed, and he had no doubt that if the kid figured out who he was, the shot would end up in a tabloid or on a celebrity website by the end of the day.

Vega’s closed-down expression let him know she’d come to the same conclusion.

He glanced back in the direction the kid had run, frustrated anew that he had so majorly fouled up. He’d promised her a day of fun where no one would know who they were, but he’d delivered worse than he’d ever imagined. Not only getting caught together, but with her body literally exposed to the world.

No wonder she’d been hesitant about going out with him. Though it was the last thing he wanted, he said, “Maybe we should call it a day. I’ll get Michael to ready the plane.”

He had the hotel number pulled up on his phone when she spoke. “I thought we were going out to dinner.”

His thumb paused over the Send button. He turned his head to look at her.

“Isn’t that what you promised?” she asked softly.

“It is.” He lowered the phone, his heartbeat suddenly thundering. “I’d planned to take you to a very exquisite location here on the island. I guarantee it’ll compete with anything else you’ve ever tasted.” He paused as if giving her time to change her mind, then asked, “Are you sure?”

He had no idea what was going on behind those beautiful eyes of hers, but he’d gladly give her anything she wanted. Anything to keep the day from coming to an end.

She dipped her head and made a vague motion toward the bikini top and jeans shorts she wore. “I’ll need something decent to wear first.”

Their day was not yet over.

Happiness so pure it felt as if he were being cleansed from the inside out raced through him. He nodded, reached for her hand, and wrapped his fingers tightly around hers when she met him halfway. “Then allow me to buy you everything you need.”