Deborah Mello - Hearts Afire

Maitlyn laughed. “I didn’t have much say in the matter,” she said, telling him about her divorce and explaining how she’d come to be on the ship by her lonesome.

When she was done telling her story, Zak nodded. “Well hopefully,” he said as he leaned in toward her, lifting his glass in salute, “this trip will be everything you want it to be.”

Maitlyn lifted her coffee cup. “I’m keeping my fingers crossed,” she said.

The two sat together in deep conversation for another hour. The ease of it surprised Maitlyn. She was surprised that she was enjoying his company as much as she was and also that Zak seemed genuinely interested in getting to know her.

Suddenly, they were interrupted by a woman calling Zak’s name. Both turned at the same time to see who was quickly moving toward them. The young woman was stunning, tall and sleek with skin the color of dark mahogany, eyes like saucers and a full, red-lipped pout. Moving to his feet, Zak smiled brightly as he pulled her into a deep hug.

“Zakaria Sayed!” the girl gushed. “What a surprise!”

Zak brilliant smile was as wide as the ocean. “Izabella! It’s good to see you!”

“You’re here to keep your title, I see.”

He chuckled softly, not bothering to answer.

She nodded and then shifted her eye toward Maitlyn. Her smile was curious as she introduced herself. “Hello, my name is Izabella. Zak and I are old friends.”

Maitlyn recognized the world-famous Brazilian supermodel. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Maitlyn Boudreaux. Zak and I are new friends.”

Izabella tilted her head slightly. “Are you by chance related to Kendrick and Guy Boudreaux?”

Maitlyn nodded. “You know my brothers?”

Izabella giggled, her smile widening. “Guy and I did a fashion shoot together for Giorgio Armani last year. His wife and your brother Kendrick were in Naples with him. We all had a wonderful time together!”

“It’s a small world,” Maitlyn said.

Zak gestured for Izabella to take a seat and join them. “So what brings you on this cruise, Izabella?” he asked as she slid into the seat beside him.

Izabella paused as Lourdes suddenly appeared with a refill for Zak and a glass of champagne for her. She continued once the waitress had returned to her station. “I’ve been traveling with my father. He thought this would be a nice break for the two of us. Plus, you know how much he loves the casinos. He keeps hoping he’ll strike it big at the blackjack table.” Izabella rolled her eyes. She took a breath before continuing. “I’ll be getting off in Greece, though. I have a photo shoot there, and right after that I fly to London to prep for Fashion Week.”

Maitlyn sat back as the two old friends caught up with each other. She was amazed at Izabella’s bubbly enthusiasm. The young woman talked nonstop, and her exuberance had a childlike quality. Izabella actually reminded her of her baby sister, Tarah. Maitlyn found herself curious to know more about her and Kendrick because Izabella Barros seemed very smitten with her brother’s friend Zak.

Maitlyn watched as the woman’s hands danced across Zak’s chest and caressed his arms. Her touchy-feely manner shifted Maitlyn out of the quiet ambiance she’d been enjoying with Zak and she suddenly felt like the third wheel. When it became too much for her, she feigned a yawn, drawing a palm to cover her mouth. “Excuse me,” she exclaimed, color rising to her cheeks.

Zak smiled that generous smile of his. “I imagine you’re tired. Maybe you should go get some rest?”

Maitlyn nodded. “I am, and I should,” she said as she came to her feet and extended a hand in Zak’s direction. “Thank you. I really appreciate everything you’ve done for me.”

Zak nodded. “I can walk you—”

She shook her head. “That’s not necessary, but I appreciate the offer.” She turned toward Izabella. “It was very nice to meet you.”

“Let’s plan on spending time together,” Izabella said. “I’d love to talk to you more.”

Maitlyn nodded. “Definitely! Well, enjoy the rest of your evening.”

At the entrance to the casino, Maitlyn turned back to take one last look. The room was clouded. Cigarette smoke had formed a veiled screen throughout the space. Across the way Zak and Izabella were huddled comfortably together, lost in conversation. Jealousy suddenly rippled with a vengeance as she turned and headed from the room.

* * *

Minutes later Maitlyn stood in front of her cabin’s door, looking completely lost. She couldn’t begin to remember where she’d left the key card that gained her entry. She looked down the hallway—the corridor was empty. As she pondered her options, she realized that even if she did get into her own room all her personal possessions were still in Zak’s suite. She shook her head at the conundrum.

This can’t be happening to me, Maitlyn thought, feeling completely out of control. Okay, she thought, as she reasoned what to do. It really isn’t a problem, is it? Obviously she was going to have to disturb Zak. If he was still in the casino, she could just make her way back there and ask for help. But what if he wasn’t? What if he and his old friend Izabella were together someplace else?

Maitlyn sighed deeply. She couldn’t begin to explain why it bothered her that Zak might still be with that woman. But it did, and if he was, she really didn’t want to know. Taking a deep breath, Maitlyn crossed her fingers and wished a prayer skyward. With any luck Zak was still right where she’d left him. And maybe if luck was on her side, Izabella would be gone.

Chapter 5

“You always get the best accommodations!” Izabella gushed as she explored Zak’s suite.

Zak laughed, pulling at his necktie as he dropped down onto the living room sofa. The young woman moved to his side, then stood in front of him. She leaned forward, undid his necktie completely and tossed it on the floor behind him. Standing tall, she gave him a teasing smile. Zak watched as she slowly undid the halter top of the jumpsuit she wore. The garment fell to the floor. She struck a pose in nothing but her lace G-string and her five-inch pumps. Her breasts were small, the size of tennis balls, and she was so thin that she appeared almost fragile. But she had just enough curve to her hips and ass to capture a man’s attention, and her legs were miles long.

But she didn’t have Zak’s attention, and if she had not been so self-absorbed, she would have seen it in the look he was giving her. If Izabella had been paying an ounce of attention, she would have seen that Zak was still thinking of Maitlyn; thoughts of the beautiful woman had consumed him ever since she had left his side.

“What are you doing, Izabella?” he finally asked as he leaned back in his seat and stretched his arms out across the sofa’s cushioned top.

She smiled. “Making myself comfortable,” she giggled as she stepped out of the lace fabric. She did a quick pirouette, then moved toward the stairs and headed to the second floor. “This is too sweet!” she called down to the level below.

Zak shook his head. He and Izabella had history. They’d been friends since he’d met her ten years ago when her modeling career was just beginning to take off. She’d gotten herself tangled up with an unsavory photographer, and her father had employed him to retrieve some compromising photographs of the girl.

Occasionally, when she didn’t have a boyfriend, she warmed his bed. But Izabella liked having a boyfriend, most especially one she could manipulate. She had never been able to manipulate Zak, and he appreciated that she never expected more from him than what he was willing to offer. Izabella was not a woman he could ever take seriously, and so he’d given her very little of himself. Their relationship had been purely physical, and Zak preferred it that way. It worked for the two of them even when it shouldn’t have.