Scandalous Heroes Box Set (35 page)

Chapter Nine

Urubici, a city in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil

Affrica smiled at the group of children who ran past, snow rising in puffs beneath their hurrying feet. Some of the older kids came dashing back to her.

“Take our picture! Take our picture!” they cried in Portuguese.

“Okay, okay,” she replied with a laugh in the same language. Readjusting her hold on the camera and bag in her hand, she followed them.

They walked to an open meadow with a rushing waterfall at the far end. An amazing sight with the snow and ice surrounding it. The numerous youngsters were embroiled in a serious snowball fight.

“Go play.”

As the ones who’d escorted her did, she sat on a large stump and opened her bag before uncapping the lens cover. They played, and she snapped pictures. Some of the game and many of them posing for her.

“Are you sure you must leave tomorrow?”

Affrica peered to her right and found her friend, Joao, standing there.

Getting to her feet, she ignored the brief chill which racked her. Then, she nodded with a sigh. “I’m afraid so. I have to get going to make my next stop.”

“You weren’t here long,” he said, continuing in Portuguese.

“I know, and I wish I could stay. I was down for the Campos do Jordão International Winter Festival. I spent some extra time there.”

“More exciting in São Paulo?”

“Not at all. I love it here, too.” It was true. She did have great affection for both places. São Paulo state was the richest in Brazil, and Campos do Jordão was an upscale district itself. But the festival was a huge draw and loads of fun for her. It was, after all, the largest classical music event in Latin America.

But, she loved it here in the highlands of Urubici. The wealth of cultural influences made it a wonderful place in her estimation. There existed such variety in cuisine, the arts, and architecture. She had taken numerous pictures of the Avencal Waterfall, which had one hundred meters of free fall, and some indigenous caves, which boasted rupestral engravings. Items that dated back more than four thousand years.

“I just wish to spend more time with you.”

She shouldered her bag and tugged on her gloves, grateful for their warmth. “What happened with the girl you were dating last time I was here? Mirari, I believe.”

“We’re just friends. There’s someone else I want.”

“Oh, I see.” She waved to the children who seemed to have inexhaustible energy. “Walk back with me?”

“Of course.”

She half listened to Joao as they headed back into town. In truth, however, her mind had wound its way back to a certain man named Reeve Leighton. It didn’t make sense; he could be so damn boorish, and yet, he made her smile and feel oh-so-good.

It had been a couple of months since she’d seen him. He’d called her once and apologized for his behavior. But she’d not called him back. The vibration against her hip had her shifting her bag and reaching for her phone. Could it be?

No.

Still, a grin lifted her lips as she saw the name on the caller ID screen.

“Aidrian, how are you?” she asked in Gaelige, ignoring Joao’s quizzical look.

“I’m fine, just calling to check on you.” He spoke Irish as well.

“Fine here, big brother. About to head to Africa then Scotland. What about you? Where are you? Or is it some undisclosed location.”

“Very funny. I’m in my apartment, getting ready to head to Australia.”

She stepped inside the small café, grateful for the warmth. “Back to see your cute woman?”

“Enough out of you. I called to see how you were. Is there anything I should know?”

“Know about what?” She smiled her thanks as Joao placed a mug of steaming hot chocolate before her.

“Anything. Like perhaps why you were in Virginia with that Reeve.”

That Reeve. Good Lord, she could feel Aidrian’s disgust from here. “Wow. First of all, I wasn’t there
with
him.” More’s the pity. “I was there working. Second, if I had been with him, it’s none of your concern.”

“The hell it isn’t. If you weren’t with him, what was with the plane ride?”

She fought an eye roll. “Well, I’d nae wish to swim to Virginia from Australia. Not a fan of sharks, you know.”

“Affrica,” he growled.

“Okay, you got me. I wanted wild monkey sex with him and figured that would be the only place I could get it.”

Dead silence met her statement. She could imagine his thunderous expression and burst out laughing. “Come on, Aidrian. You knew about the plane—which is very disturbing anyway—so you know Mrs. Marshall was there.”

“I don’t want him near you.”

“Aidrian, I’m not a baby.” She took a drink, nearly groaning in pleasure.

“You’re my sister.”

“Yes. But a grown one who actually dresses herself.”

“Is he with you?”

Her shoulders slumped. Something never changed. “No, I haven’t seen him since I left. And, before you ask, nor have I spoken to him.”

“Don’t be mad, Rica, I’m only looking out.”

“I know. But give me some credit, okay? I have a good head on my shoulders. Trust my judgment.”

“Like with Miles?”

Those words hurt. Deeply. And she swallowed, fighting back her tears. “Goodbye, Aidrian.”

Click
. She hung up on him. Seconds later, her phone rang again. She hit ignore and put it in her bag.

“Everything okay?” Joao touched her shoulder.

Her smile was slightly strained. “My brother.” She waved a hand. “No big deal.”

Unfortunately, it was a big deal. Even though it had happened months ago, there were nights she woke up in a sweat, panicked. To add to it, she had begun doubting her own ability to trust the right people. She had accepted Miles looked after himself, she just never figured he would betray her like he had. She struggled to keep those memories in the past and just enjoy her time with friends.

The rest of her night passed in a blur of music, dancing, and all around fun. Climbing into the bus, which would take her to her plane, she closed her eyes and drifted off with the sounds of the locals chattering around her.

At the airport, she woke enough to get inside and to her gate. However, once the plane had taken off, she was once again under the sandman’s lure. She slept for most of the flight, feeling safe up in the sky. She ate during the layover and drifted back to sleep during the reminder of the long flight.

Well-rested, she disembarked from the plane onto the tarmac. The hot African sun a complete change from the snowy landscape she’d just departed. Tipping her head up, she let the heat sink into her bones.

“Affrica! Affrica!”

She snapped her head to the left and grinned at the woman running toward her. Her hair was in beautiful rows of microbraids. She wore a white sleeveless button down and a pair of khaki shorts. Hiking boots finished off the ensemble.

“Tori,” she called out with a huge smile. “It’s so good to see you.”

The women hugged.

“You’re looking great,” Tori said. “I heard about Australia. Are you okay?”

She nodded, touched by the concern. “Fine, thanks. You’re looking good, too. What are you doing here?”

“A little buddy told me you were coming in. I just happened to have a run, which brought me here today. Thought I could drop you off wherever you’re headed.”

“I’d love that.”

Tori Vaser was a friend from the university. It had been about two years since they’d seen one another. Born of an African father and a white English mother, Tori was a beautiful combination of both parents. Her life was a privileged one, and yet, she had made her parents proud—and a bit stressed—by working so closely with those less fortunate. In fact, she had started a candy company in which all sale profits went to charities around the world, mostly ones in Africa and England, but also other places.

“What are you doing here?”

Tori’s hair flew around her as a large billow of warm wind swept around them. “I’m actually on a vacation. We are discussing opening another store, since everything has taken off so well.”

The women climbed in a Jeep and drove away. Affrica noticed many of the guards watching their departure.

“That sounds wonderful.”

“I hope so. It will at least provide more jobs in the area we open in.”

She put her boots on the dash. “You’re an angel, Tori.”

Her laughter was swept away by the wind. “Tell me,” Tori hollered. “What’s new in the continued adventures of Affrica O’Shea? You know, men, sex, all the important things.”

Arms outstretched against the wind, Affrica sighed with pleasure. Life didn’t get much better than this. A fleeting image of a tousled, slumbering Reeve flashed, and she hesitated for a moment. Okay, perhaps two, before she began catching Tori up over the past few years. Leaving nothing out, not even Reeve Leighton.

* * * *

“What the fuck did you do, Reeve?” Scott’s baritone shattered the relative quiet of his condo.

Looking up from the sandwich he currently assembled, Reeve frowned as his older brother came in, expression foreboding enough to send the devil himself into hiding.

“Hello to you, too. Why don’t you come on in? Can I get you anything?” he ensured the sarcasm wouldn’t be missed.

“Stuff it. What did you do?”

“I haven’t done anything, Scott. Why don’t we skip the crap of me guessing and you just tell me what you’re accusing me of. Goes much faster that way.” He slapped the top piece of bread on and sighed. “I answered about the dinner. I told Lex I’d be there.”

Whatever it was had his brother seriously pissed off.

“And because of that, Godric won’t.”

He shook his head. Godric wouldn’t attend because he was? “I—”

“Care to explain to me why I have to tell my daughter both her uncles won’t be attending her birthday?” He shifted his large body. “My
daughter
, Reeve. My baby girl.”

“Scott, I don’t know what to tell you. I haven’t spoken to Godric in,” he paused, brows converging with thought, “since the day after Mom and Dad’s anniversary. So…ohh…”

His brother placed his hands on the counter, and Reeve stared at the numerous scars he had on the backs of them.

“I’m waiting.”

Reeve drank some Coke and sighed. “We had a disagreement but I didn’t expect him to take it so damn personally.”

Scott stared unblinkingly at him. Reeve reallocated his weight. Even though he was well used to the “look” he received from his United States Navy SEAL brother, it never failed to get to him.

“Fine, you want to know it all. I accused him of sleeping with Affrica. And I wasn’t nice about it.”

“What goes on in that head of yours, Reeve?”

“She answered the door and said he was in the shower,” he replied defensively.

“You are such an ass. She’s not his type, and you really need to think before you speak.”

“Like I’m going to believe that. I’ve seen how he watches her.”

Scott opened his mouth, only to snap it shut. The anger was overtaken by a look of understanding. “She means that much to you?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“Pretend you have it in you to be honest and truthful.”

He bristled. “What gives you the right to barge in here and act all holier than thou?”

The understanding vanished. “The fact my younger brother can’t get his head out of his ass. You act like Affrica means something so why are you being like this?” He held up his hands and shook his head. “You know what, I don’t want to know.”

Reeve hated the disappointment on his brother’s face. He also disliked feeling lower than shit.

“Just one more thing, Reeve. Not all women will cheat. And, of course, Godric isn’t interested in her. He’s gay. Don’t bother coming tonight, Reeve. I’ll make your excuses.”

On that note, Scott left. Reeve stood there in shock. Gay? Godric?

“You’re kidding, right, Scott?” Nothing. “Scott?”

No answer, and he realized his brother had left as silently as he’d entered. He sank to the stool and shook his head in bewilderment.

Godric? A gay man? Reeve rubbed his eyes. Surely, he would have known, right?

He stared at his thick ham sandwich, only to swear and shove it away. What a day. Two calls from past women he’d dated, news about Godric—which he still didn’t quite believe—and he’d been disinvited to his niece’s birthday celebration.

Reaching for his phone, he placed a call to his brother. It didn’t surprise him when he couldn’t reach him—cell, home, or at work. Godric and he had been in fights before.

“But nothing to where he refused to be in the same room with me.”

Scott was right. Godric had been right. Reeve had begun to lose himself. Sure, he talked about changing but had he
really
changed at all? Frustration with himself mounted as he ate his food. Once finished, he headed out for an engagement he could now attend.

Little over an hour later, he sat at a table with other friends. Whiskey beside him and mostly naked women wandered about.

“Didn’t think you were coming,” Thomas said.

Don’t bother coming tonight, Reeve. I’ll make your excuses.
His brother’s words rang loud and clear.

He scowled. “That changed.” Tossing down two cards, he took the replacements and slid them in his hand.

Thomas gave him an odd look but quickly put his attention on the five cards in his own hand.

“Hiya, Reeve,” a svelte redhead said with a brush of her lips along his cheek.

“Stella,” he said, keeping his cards face down. “How are you?”

The vibrant woman wore a tight black skirt with a pale blue and silver halter top, normal wear for The Four Aces. “I’m fine. Where have you been hiding yourself? I had begun to worry.”

Affrica’s image flashed before him. That followed by the disappointed glances from his brothers had him shifting uncomfortably.

“Just a bit busy, darling. That’s all.”

Another brush of soft lips brought a whiff of cloying sweetness. Like she’d bathed in the overly pungent floral perfume. His eyes burned before she finally moved away giving him fresher air to breathe. Although full of smoke, it still bothered him less than her perfume.