Safe Without You by H. Ward Read Free Book Online Page A

with controlled misgivings.  He wondered why Amber playing some not very funny game.
                  “Cal’s been in kind of a bad mood today, that’s why I went to get the rum.”  She held up the bottle.  “We just need some coconuts.”
                  Denes saw a vendor down the beach and waved at him, holding up four fingers.  The man came with four coconuts and a machete and hacked holes in each one on the spot.  The coconut vendor stuck straws in while Denes produced money from some tiny pocket in his skimpy swimsuit.  Amber uncapped the rum and poured generous shots into each coconut.               
                  “Here Cal,” she said as she handed one to him, “Maybe this will loosen you up.”
                  Cal took the coconut and dutifully sucked at the rum, but he thought Amber was acting childish considering he’d just told her about his dad.  Clearly, he thought, she was fixated on what she perceived as him being possessive, and she was making her point about it very clear.
                  The Hungarian brothers flopped down on the sand.  Denes sat cross-legged, while Tomás pulled Amber back between his legs so that she leaned against his chest.
                  “So what do you do?” Tomás asked Cal, trying to be friendly.
                  “I work for the DEA,” Cal said, laughing harshly.
                  “DEA?” Denes asked, “What’s that?”
                  Amber pressed her lips together and gave Cal a piercing look.  “It stands for Drug Enforcement Agency.  But he’s just making a joke.” 
                  “Oh,” Denes said politely.  “I see.”
                  “Cal’s a pilot,” Amber said as she rested her arm on Tomás’ muscled leg.  “Small plane charters,” she added.  Silently she thought: or so he claims.
                  Tomás looked impressed.  “Flying must be very interesting.  I just teach high school biology.”
                  “But the birds and bees are pretty fascinating, don’t you think?” Amber commented, knowing that Tomás wouldn’t catch the implication.
                  “Oh yes, flora and fauna are very interesting, I love zoology and botany very much.  But you know, I have to teach about cells and eco-systems and all that too.”  Tomás played with Amber’s hair with one hand and it was starting to make Cal crazy, along with Tomás’ accent— Cal kept feeling like Count Dracula was hitting on his woman.
                  “How long are you staying in Panama?” Cal asked, assessing the threat level.
                  We’ve been here two weeks already, and Denes has to fly back day after tomorrow, but I’m staying two more weeks,” Tomás said.
                  “Tomás was also planning on going to the National Park, so now you don’t have to worry about me, I can go to Darien with him.”  Amber’s lips pursed slightly as she gauged Cal’s response. 
                  Cal stood up, shoving his coconut at Amber.  “I think I’ve had too much sun and I need to get some work done.  I’m going to go now.”  His voice softened and there was a hint of a question as he looked at Amber.  “I’ll see you…later?”  Amber’s eyes followed as Cal strode off.
                  “Your brother seems…out of sorts,” Denes said. 
                  “Yes, that’s a good way of putting it, ” Amber replied, her sea of doubt only amplified by the fact that the emotion in Cal’s voice felt real.
     
    ###
     
                  It was late when Tomás and Denes walked Amber back to Cal’s bungalow.  Amber was more than tipsy, although her pair of escorts seemed little impaired.  The trio had stayed on the beach drinking rum, and then gone to the inn