Belting out identical, ear-piercing squeals, the two girls forgot all about him and disappeared into the crowd.
Behind him, the bartender—Shawn, according to his name tag—laughed. Garrett didn’t crack a smile.
All he could think of was how vulnerable those two young women were, and how easily someone could take advantage of that…or worse. He’d seen it happen far too often.
Forget the job and focus on the fun.
Doing his best to ignore the numerous potential dangers around him, the unspoken words became his mantra for the next several minutes while he waited for Colt to return.
There wasn’t any danger to him. Just a lot of unaware partygoers oblivious to the fact that they could fall prey to the same type of bastards he and his team had recently taken down.
These people are all just here to have a good time. You promised Colt you’d do the same. Now get your head out of your ass and follow the fuck through.
Realizing this whole fun and relaxation gig was going to be harder than expected, Garrett had just taken a step in his brother’s direction when a rolling breeze carried with it a new scent he didn’t recognize but was impossible to ignore.
A mixture of coconuts and vanilla. And something else he couldn’t quite put a name to.
The sweet scent compelled him to stop. Turning in search of the source, his lungs froze inside his chest when he saw her.
It was the woman in the hat. She’d just walked up beside him, and from this angle, he could finally see her face.
Perfect, bow-shaped lips with a natural rosy tint. An adorable button nose he could imagine himself pressing his lips against. And huge, milk-chocolate eyes he knew he could get lost in…if she let him.
Goddamn, she’s beautiful.
And like his, her left ring finger was bare.
“What’ll you have?” Shawn asked over the loud music.
“I…I don’t know.” Her soft voice was like a balm to his hardened soul. “What do you suggest?”
“Depends.” The man behind the bar eyed the line that had begun to form. “What do you like?”
“Um…” The woman scanned the various bottles of liquor lining the hut’s back wall. Glancing over to the three frozen drink machines constantly stirring their contents, she bit her bottom lip as she tried to decide.
“Do you want me to come back to you?” The bartender motioned to the people behind her.
“Oh, uh…”
Sensing the woman was overwhelmed by her choices, Garrett leaned a bit closer and asked, “You like strawberries?”
Her eyes lifted to his, and Christ if he didn’t feel her gaze to the depths of his soul. One second, he was fine, and the next…he couldn’t fucking breathe.
Hell, if she’d asked his name, he wouldn’t have been able to tell her. All Garrett knew was that he was staring at the most breathtaking woman he’d ever seen.
For one, crazy moment in time, he considered asking her if she’d like to go back to his room with him.
“I do.”
Garrett blinked. Fuck, had he said those words out loud?
Strawberries, asshole.You asked if she liked strawberries.
“Oh, right.” He cleared his throat. “This is called a Miami Vice. It’s a mixture of rum, pinã colada, and strawberry margarita. It’s really good.”
Another second passed before the woman nodded. “Okay. I’ll try one of those.” She started to remove the plastic card held by the lanyard around her neck, but Garrett stopped her.
“Just put it on mine.” He quickly removed his own cruise ID and handed it to the bartender.