What Happens in Mexico...Stays in Mexico

Chapter Three

The man was a magician. 

Sharra trotted alongside Matt as they navigated the tourist-filled streets and wondered what kind of spell he’d put her under.  She should be heading straight for the nearest courthouse to find out how to file for a divorce, but instead she was souvenir shopping with a man who wouldn’t take no for an answer.

He had succeeded in driving her crazy.

She almost tripped as he hauled her into yet another tacky shop, intent this time on buying her one of those Mexican hand-tooled bags.  The shop smelled like burned tortillas and leather, but the storekeeper was all smiles and gracious nods.

“Which one do you like, honey?”  Matt pulled down a bag that could have easily carried a small country in it.  “What about this one?  We could use it as a beach bag.”

Sharra rolled her eyes.  “It’s leather, Matt.  You don’t take leather to the beach.”

“Oh.”  He looked crestfallen.  “Are you sure?”

“Yes.”  She suddenly wanted to pat him on the head to soothe him.  Briskly, she shook herself.  “Besides, I don’t really like this type of stuff.”

“You don’t?”  Now he just looked surprised.  “I thought all women liked purses.”

“I’m not into dead animals, okay?  They are fine for others, but they just don’t do anything for me.”

Matt sighed.  “Well, if you would rather not—”

“No one said we can’t get something for you.”  Hating to see the disappointment in his eyes and wondering yet again why she couldn’t just walk away from this man, Sharra flipped through the stack of wallets sitting on the countertop.  She found one that was particularly well designed, with intricate swirls and a soft supple feel to it.  Turning back to him, she smiled.  “How about this one?  My treat.”

He stared at the wallet for a moment then reached out and took it.  “You’re buying me a gift?”

She raised an eyebrow and gestured to the shopping bags he was carrying.  “You’ve bought me things all afternoon long.  Can’t I do the same?”

“That’s…that’s different.”

“It is?”

Matt stared at her, his chest tightening with an emotion he couldn’t name.  He’d had women buy him gifts before, but for some reason this one seemed different…special.  Maybe it was because she was his wife.  No—he stopped himself quickly.  Not his wife.  Sharra was a means to an end, albeit a very attractive, interesting and enjoyable one.  He had to remember that.

It was just she had taken the marriage deception better than he’d expected.  He’d been prepared to do just about anything to keep her from running to the authorities to free herself from the mock marriage, but instead she had gone along with his plans for a day out getting to know each other.  After the way she’d first reacted to the news of them being husband and wife, he’d expected nothing short of a minor war.  To have her do the opposite had thrown him for a loop. 

And even more dangerous, her sweet compliance made him want her more than he’d ever wanted a woman before.

“Matt?”

Her curious voice brought him back to the present.  He smoothed a finger over the wallet and then smiled.  “My first gift from my wife.  Thank you, sweetheart.”

Sharra blushed.  “It’s just a wallet.  Nothing that important.”

“I guess that depends on where you’re standing.”  He watched as without even bargaining, she paid the shopkeeper.  “I’ll treasure it.”

Obviously embarrassed, she pushed by him and out of the door.  “It’s not a big deal.  Just my way of keeping you from buying those dead cows.”

Frowning, he grabbed her arm and pulled her to a stop right in the middle of the sidewalk.  “It’s a big deal to me.  Didn’t anyone ever teach you how to accept a thank you?”

She tossed her head.  “I’ve never had any complaints before.”

“I think you need a little more practice.”  His eyes took on a wicked gleam.  “Maybe it was the way I thanked you.”

“Excuse me?”

“Let’s try this again.”  Without giving her a chance to refuse, he pulled her into his arms and his mouth was on hers.

His lips were warmer than the hot Mexican sun.  Sharra’s knees went weak and again, just like he’d done earlier, he stole the will right out of her.  Her thoughts dissolved into a muddle of tangled pleasure and need that made it difficult to breathe, let alone think.  She couldn’t remember their lovemaking, but she knew his kisses.  Hard, deep and possessive, as if he had the right to put his mark on her in every way there was.

His tongue delved inside her mouth, dancing with hers before capturing it and sucking lightly.  Wetness suddenly pooled between her legs and she went limp.  God!  The man knew how to kiss.  She forgot about being in public.  She ignored the muttered comments of the passersby.  All she could focus on was Matt and the way his lips felt as they pressed firmly against her own.

She could feel the bristles of his unshaven jaw tickle her cheeks and she shivered.  She had a sudden thought of how he would feel brushing up against the tender flesh of her inner thighs.  Her body clenched with a passion she’d never before felt and she pulled him against her in abandonment.  This must be why she’d thrown caution to the wind and married him.  This type of desire would make any woman go a little crazy.

Wrapping her arms around him, she smoothed her hands under his shirt and up his strong back.  Now it was he who shuddered under her touch and Sharra felt primitive female satisfaction flow through her.  His kiss grew more desperate as he molded their bodies together.  He was fully aroused and the thought she was responsible made her light in the head.  Had she ever had a man respond to her in this way?

A moan of disappointment escaped her when he pulled his mouth from hers.  But she caught her breath in a surprised gasp as he instead used those magical lips to trace down her ear and nibble on its unadorned lobe.

“Matt!” she gasped and a tremor of longing raced through her.  “I—”

Her voice was cut off by the shrill sound of a cellphone and they both went perfectly still.  After a long moment, Sharra eased out of his arms, trying to ignore the ache left behind.  “I’m sorry…I have to get that.  It’s probably—”

“Your fiancé.  Right,” Matt interrupted, suddenly sounding furious.  “I wonder what he’ll say when you tell him he interrupted you kissing your husband!”

It was as if she’d had a bucket of cold water thrown over her.  Reality returned with a slap.  Teetering between slapping Matt silly and running screaming into the crowd, she took a long, deep breath and did neither.

Instead, she turned her back on him and fished her cellphone out of her purse.  She could feel Matt’s angry eyes on her as she answered it.

“Hel-lo?”

“Sharra?  Why did it take you so long to answer?”  Frank’s fussy voice sounded wrong after hearing Matt’s deeper, more masculine tones all day long.  “I don’t have all day.”

She closed her eyes and counted to ten.  “I’m sorry, Frank.  I’m outside and it was hard to hear the phone.”

“Well…I guess that makes sense.  Have you had enough lazing around?  When are you coming home?”

Panic set in and she started chewing on a thumbnail.  “I’m…enjoying my vacation, Frank.  I told you.  I needed some time to relax.”

“This is ridiculous.”  Frank’s tone changed from fussy to aggrieved.  “Mother needs you home.  There are decisions to be made.”

Sharra narrowed her eyes and her whole body tensed.  “And I told you, everything that needed to be done has been done.  Your mother has nothing to do with it.  W-When I get back,” she glanced over at Matt to see him glaring at her, “I’ll deal with everything.”

“Not acceptable,” Frank informed her.  “Mother has made several changes.  You must come home now.”

“Your mother made changes in my wedding plans?”  Sharra’s voice went whisper-soft and her eyes flashed with temper.  “She had no right!”

“Don’t be melodramatic, Sharra.  You are too inexperienced to plan a wedding by yourself.  Mother knows what’s proper.  That’s why you need to come home.  She can help you fix your mistakes.”

Suddenly realizing that no amount of counting would help her control her temper, Sharra gave a loud growl.  It increased in volume when she caught sight of Matt’s grinning face. 

“Did you just growl?”  Frank’s voice sounded shocked.

“Tell your mother to keep her hands out of my wedding!”  Sharra had finally had enough.  Maybe this was why she’d taken the vacation.  Maybe this was why she’d wound up married to someone else.  “I mean it, Frank.  It’s my wedding.  Period.”

There was a long silence.  Then Frank sniffed arrogantly.  “Well, if that’s how you’re going to act, I’ll hang up now.”

All the temper drained out of Sharra, leaving her miserable.  She rubbed her smarting eyes.  “Tell me, Frank,” she whispered, “did you call just to complain, or are you even a bit curious as to how I am.  If I’m having a good time.”

Seeing Sharra’s defeated face, that same strange possessiveness filled Matt.  But this time it was mingled with temper.  Without hesitating, he snatched the phone out of her hand.  Her horror-struck face barely touched him as he swung away from her.

“Hello?”

There was another long pause, before a shocked male voice spoke.  “Who is this?”

Dancing away from Sharra’s outstretched hand, Matt narrowed his eyes.  “My name is Matt and I’m afraid I’ll have to ask you not to call again.”

“I beg your pardon?”

Matt ducked as Sharra took a swing at him.  Passersby grinned and chuckled as they took in the scene.  She swore aloud.  “Give me my phone!”

Ignoring her, he turned away again.  “I said don’t call Sharra any more.  I don’t like it.”

Irritation replaced shock as Frank answered.  “Just who do you think you are?  I’ll call her anytime I feel like it.  She is my fiancé.”

“Well, I say you won’t and what I am trumps you.”

“And what is that?” Frank asked snidely.

“I’m her husband.”

Matt almost laughed at the strangled sounds that next emanated from the phone.  It was as if a duck was being strangled by a wet puppy.  Then his breath was knocked out of him by a solid right punch to the gut.

“Give me my phone!” Sharra shrieked.  Her eyes were furious and her teeth were bared.  Suddenly, she looked a hell of a lot more dangerous than any drug lord’s people.  “Now, Matt!  I mean it!”

He knew if he did, it might be all over for him.  Instead, he grabbed her arm and with a neat twist of his body, had her tucked up close against him, unable to get away.  He squeezed hard as she fought him, knowing there wasn’t anything meaner than a pissed off woman.  Between her and the irate fiancé on the phone, he had his hands full.

“Husband!” Frank was finally able to speak.  “What do you mean…husband?  She can’t be married to you.  We’re engaged!”

“Couldn’t prove it by me,” Matt rejoined, taking an elbow in the stomach in payment for his mocking words.  He sucked in a pained breath.  “Look.  Frank, is it?  Sorry, you found out this way, but them’s the facts.  Sharra and I got married last night and we’re celebrating.  So I’d appreciate it if you’d just leave us alone.  She’ll not be taking any more of your calls.”

“MATT!” Sharra wailed, struggling even harder.  “Stop it!  You’re going to ruin everything.”

“How dare you!” Frank gasped at the same time.  “Let me talk to Sharra immediately.”

“Can’t do that.”  Ignoring both of their demands, Matt just smiled.  “See, unlike some men, I take care of what belongs to me.  And Sharra’s mine.  I’ve got a ring on my finger to prove it.”

With that last sally, Matt snapped shut the phone.  Then, with a quick flick of his wrist, he tossed it in a nearby fountain.  The dolphins decorating it looked down at him with approving toothy grins.

“What have you done!”  Sharra’s screech almost numbed his ear.  He finally let her go, and then had to duck as she took another swing at him.

“Easy, honey,” he soothed.  “I was just taking care of business.”

Sharra was so angry, tears of fury burned in her eyes.  “You told him we were married!  How could you?”

“I told him the truth.  You weren’t going to do it.”

She shook her head.  “You said we’d get to know each other and I could make up my mind if I wanted this marriage or not.  Damn it!  If I’d decided to end it, I wouldn’t have had to tell him about what I’d done.”

His eyes narrowed.  “You would lie to him about us being married?  Wow…had you pegged for the truthful type.  Guess I was wrong.”

Guilt filled her.  Cornered, she could only shake her head.  “I don’t know what I would have done, but I would have handled it a hell of a lot better than you did.  He must feel terrible.  I can’t believe you did that to him.  How would you feel if your fiancé suddenly upped and married someone else while she was on vacation?”

Her mouth went dry when Matt grabbed her and jerked her close to him.  He wound his hand in her long hair and held her while he leaned down until they were nose to nose.  His hot angry eyes met hers.  “That scenario would never happen with me, sweetheart.  See, I’d treat my fiancé a little different.  She wouldn’t be going on any vacation without me.  She’d sure as hell never sleep alone.”  He dropped a hard, punishing kiss on her surprised mouth.

“Bottom line?  I’d never let the woman I loved out of my sight!”

END OF CHAPTER THREE

* Chapter One * Chapter Two * Chapter Three * Chapter Four * Chapter Five * Chapter Six *

* Chapter Seven * Chapter Eight *  Chapter Nine *  Chapter Ten * Chapter Eleven *

* Chapter Twelve * Chapter Thirteen * Chapter Fourteen * Chapter Fifteen * Chapter Sixteen *

* Chapter Seventeen * Epilogue *