kissed him, her lips softening into his, heating his blood.
It was like lighting the fuse on a dynamite keg. Colt swept her hard against him and deepened the kiss, reached for her orange T-shirt and stripped it off over her head. The rest of her clothes quickly followed. As soon as both of them were naked, he lifted her, wrapped her long, pretty legs around his waist, and strode out of the living room, figuring the bedroom was somewhere down the hall.
The sex was mind-blowing. Just as before, their intimacy was profoundly satisfying, touching him in some unexpected way. He told himself it was just the newness of the relationship, but he had trouble convincing himself.
He knew women, had enjoyed more than his share. This was different. She was different.
Sated and relaxed, he curled her against his side and closed his eyes. Exhausted from worrying about the boy and his lack of sleep last night, he drifted away.
It was six o’clock when he awoke. Leaving Lissa asleep, Colt grabbed one of the white terry robes their host had provided and went into the living room. An ivory linen suit and short-sleeved blue-flowered shirt draped over the sofa. Next to it, an embroidered yellow sundress with a full gathered skirt had been laid out for Lissa.
Someone had entered the casita and left the garments. He grinned to think of the passionate sounds they must have heard seeping through the walls of the bedroom.
Lissa appeared beside him. “They brought us clothes for tonight?”
“Alex said they dress up for supper. It’s a nice tradition.”
Lissa smiled up at him. “If I’m going to wear a pretty dress, I need a shower.” One of her blond eyebrows arched in challenge. “Would you care to join me?”
That comment didn’t even warrant a reply. He took her hand. “Let’s go.”
* * *
STANDING ON A covered terrace overlooking the city, Lissa took a sip of the lime mango margarita Lupita had insisted she try. It was frosty and delicious, the salt on the rim crunchy and tangy on her tongue.
As they enjoyed cocktails before supper, the men drifted off in one direction while Lissa chatted with their hostess. Unfortunately, feeling restless and edgy and worried about Timmy, it was hard to concentrate.
She sipped her margarita, hoping it would settle her nerves. Earlier, Colt had tried to ease her fears by reminding her that Tim was with his father, and though there was no question the boy was in danger, they had to believe the man wouldn’t harm his own son.
“There’s no use worrying,” he’d said. “Cortez has the information we need, and until we have it, there’s nothing we can do.”
He was right, of course. And the first step was to hear what Señor Cortez had to say.
“You are worried about the boy.” Lupita’s voice broke into Lissa’s thoughts. Señora Cortez was exquisitely beautiful; a woman in her late twenties, tall and slender, with black eyes that tilted up at the corners, giving her an almost Middle Eastern look. She was wearing an ankle-length white gauze off-the-shoulder summer dress, tied with a colorful red sash. Dangling red-beaded earrings hung from her ears, and her feet were encased in red open-toed sandals. She also seemed very sweet and very much in love with her husband.
“His mother is my best friend. She’s sick with fear for her son.”
“My husband will do everything he can to help.” Lupita glanced over to where Cortez spoke with Alex and Colt. “You see, Benito was married before. He lost a son to the drug cartels. His oldest boy, Miguel, craved independence. He began to associate with the wrong people. Benito tried to warn him, but Miguel wouldn’t listen. You know how young men can be. He was killed during a fight between rival cartels.”
“I’m sorry.”
Lupita sipped her drink. “Benito’s first wife, Maria, never recovered from the loss. She was sick with grief and eventually passed away. Benito understands the love of a mother for her son.”
“Is he acquainted with Ray Spearman, the man they call El Puñal?”
She shook her head, shifting long black hair across her back. “Only by reputation. It is what El Puñal stands for that Benito disapproves of,” Lupita said. “The misery he causes as he does the cartel’s bidding. The man is known to be ruthless in the extreme.”
A shiver slid down Lissa’s spine. “We need to get Timmy out of there.”
“Si, yes, and Benito knows this. As I said, he will do all he can to help.” She glanced