Just My Luck (50 page)

“Will our arrangements there, at this first stage, be period?” Martin asked as Cliff turned to leave. “I’d like to start acclimating myself as soon as possible.”

“Don’t worry,” Cliff answered with amusement. “You’re going to get all the authenticity you can handle soon enough. Believe me, I’ve never had anyone say, ‘I wish this was harder.’”

“We can handle hard,” Scott said confidently. “We’re ready.”

“He’d better not be on our team,” Alec muttered to Gabe as they left the room after handing their car key in to Jay as they went. “I’ll accidentally chop something off within a week, I guarantee it.”

“Which one?” Gabe asked wryly.

“Either of them.”

“Threat analysis,” Alec added as soon as their motel room door swung shut behind Gabe.

“Damn. I lose,” Gabe said, glancing at his watch.

“Huh? Lose what?”

“I thought it’d take you ten seconds to start planning strategy once we were back here.” Gabe began folding clothes and placing them into his suitcase, watching with amusement as his brother flung items willy-nilly into his own bag, tossed onto the middle of his unmade bed.

“Come on,” Alec said impatiently. “You’re at least as competitive as I am. You can’t con me with that saintly act. We’re here anyway, thanks to you. We might as well win. Biggest threats—Hank and Zara, definitely.”

“Older,” Gabe pointed out. “Presumably not as strong on the physical parts. Though they both look tough enough.”

“And the celebrity factor,” Alec said. “Don’t underestimate that. Other than them . . . maybe Stanley and Calvin. Stanley’s older too, but I’ll bet he can work. Rachel and Kevin . . . wild card. Depends how seriously they take it, especially him. She’s freaky-strong, and tough too, I’ll bet. A river raft guide? Wouldn’t want to arm-wrestle her. Yeah, they could do it.”

“You don’t think Chelsea and Melody are going to go all the way?” Gabe grinned.

“Not in the game, that’s for damn sure. With you and me? I’d bet on that. Maybe together, even,” Alec went on, holding a dirty shirt in his hand, a faraway look on his face. “You ever do it with two girls? Back before you became such an upstanding citizen, of course. In the football days?”

“I did a lot of stupid things back then,” Gabe said dismissively. “And I don’t want to hear your sordid stories either. Back to the game. Maria-Elena’s too young—for anything,” he added with a warning glance at his brother.

Alec held his hands out in a gesture of surrender. “No argument. I don’t do teenagers. And game-wise, you’re right. Not exactly a ruthless competitor—well, either of them, for that matter. Mr. and Mrs. Granola, now . . .”

“Mr. Granola and Ms. Hemp,
please,”
Gabe corrected. “Way too annoying. They’re already pissing people off. And you haven’t mentioned Mira and Scott,” he pointed out before ducking into the bathroom to retrieve toiletries.

“No threat,” Alec said positively, reaching a quick hand out to grab the bottle of shampoo Gabe tossed him.

“He looks as strong as you,” Gabe needled. “Same gym muscles. Not as strong as me, but then,” he said with a mock-satisfied sigh, “so few people are. And he already told us all how seriously
he’s
taking it.”

“He’s the guy fidgeting in line ahead of you at Starbucks, checking his iPhone and snapping at the barista for taking too long with his half-caf nonfat extra-hot latte with no foam,” Alec said. “Never going to make it out here. Not a chance. Either we’ll all kill him, or he’ll implode.”

“Bet she’ll do all right, though,” Gabe said. “A little quiet, but really sweet. And there’s something solid there.”

“Yeah, but she’s with him, for some bizarre reason. That’s her weak spot. What would you call that color of eyes?”

“Hazel,” Gabe answered shortly.

“Almost gold. Really pretty. One hell of a kissable mouth. And the way she looks up at you, a little shy . . . that’s nice. That cuddly body, too . . . She’s even got freckles on her nose. I’m a sucker for freckles. She’s really growing on me. Yeah, it’d be good to take her away from him,” Alec decided. “For all kinds of delicious reasons.”

“You’re not doing that.” Gabe was dead serious now as he looked at his brother.

“Quit trying to be my freaking conscience,” Alec said with annoyance. “I have one of my own, you know. There’s no ring on her finger. He’s not treating her right, and he doesn’t deserve her. It wouldn’t be a sin, it’d be a public service.”

“All points granted. But you’re still not doing it. You’re not pulling that stuff on her. She deserves something more than that.”

“Whoa, boy. Going after somebody who’s in a relationship? Not really up to your high moral standards, is it? And I thought you weren’t rescuing anymore.”

“She doesn’t need rescuing,” Gabe said with conviction. “She’s just with the wrong guy.”

“And I suppose you’re the right guy?”

“You never know.”

WELCOME TO PARADISE: THE KINCAIDS, BOOK ONE

Now available for the Kindle

Acknowledgments

My sincere thanks to those who aided in the research for this book:

Christchurch earthquakes and geology: Joel Bensing; Marlene Villeneuve, Ph.D., Lecturer in Engineering Geology, University of Canterbury

Fashion, merchandising, and the beauty burden: Erika Iiams

Rock climbing: James Nolting, Rick Nolting

As always, my heartfelt thanks to my awesome critique group: Barbara Buchanan, Carol Chappell, Anne Forell, and Bob Pryor.

Cover design by Robin Ludwig Design Inc.,
http://www.gobookcoverdesign.com/