Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters.
Sean inconspicuously checked the small taping device that was concealed in the inside pocket of his light weight sport jacket. He carefully made sure that the device was recording, as he strode toward the small plane that had just made its landing. He removed his sunglasses from another pocket on his jacket and put them on, so that he could study Carmen Santos as she exited the plane, without drawing suspicion to himself by staring.
As Carmen and Dietz stepped off the plane, Carmen noticed a very handsome stranger standing near by. The pictures she�d seen of Sean Scanton during the security and background checks had not done him justice. This was not just a good looking man - this was an exquisite specimen of masculinity. Carmen reminded herself that she was in San Cristobel for business purposes, although she secretly hoped that when their business was finished, she and Mr. Scanton might get to know each other on a more personal basis. After all, a fiery, island affair might be just what she needed to rid herself of the nightmares about the night Mick died.
Sean walked toward the man and woman who stepped off the plane. He recognized them from the pictures he�d been shown. The exotic, raven-haired woman was Carmen, and the tall, slender man, with a menacing expression was her hired hand, Dietz. This was the moment of truth, Sean told himself. If he was to be successful in this mission, the impression he was about to make on these two people was crucial. He took a deep breath, and willed himself to become Sean Scanton, the baby smuggler master of San Cristobel.
"Mrs. Santos?" Sean asked with a questioning tone.
Carmen nodded in affirmation. "I presume that you are Mr. Scanton?" She carefully looked him over, not trying to be subtle.
"Call me Sean," he answered. "And you would be?" he asked, motioning toward Dietz.
"This is Dietz," Carmen said. "My right hand man."
Sean new precisely who Dietz was, but he couldn�t let on that he�d been checking up on them. That would throw too much suspicion his way, and he could not afford that.
"Sean Scanton," Sean said, as he extended his hand to Dietz.
Dietz simply nodded toward Sean, and smiled a rather annoying smile. He did not offer to shake Sean�s hand, which did not upset Sean in the least.
"Well, I suppose we can get down to business, if you like," Sean said to Carmen. "My jeep is parked close by, and we can drive into town."
"Yes, yes, let�s go into town," Carmen said, eyeing Sean. "Perhaps we can have a drink."
Carmen�s blatant flirtation was not lost on Sean, and he knew that her attraction to him would play right into his plan. Nothing causes a cautious woman to let her guard down more than sexual attraction, and he could use that to his advantage. If he could put a little distance between her and Dietz, Sean was sure that before the night was over, Carmen Santos would be putty in his hands.
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Danny and Michelle tried in vain to sleep, restlessly tossing and turning until 2:00 a.m. Both of them were anxious to uncover what it was that Mick was using to blackmail Carmen, but they knew that if Danny were to go back to the Santos Estate, for the second time in one evening, especially so late at night, the security personnel would find it odd. Danny would go back and search the house again the following day, but that did little to ease their impatience.
Finally at 2:00 a.m., Danny reached over and turned on the lamp on the night stand. Michelle rolled over in his direction and conceded that she could not sleep either. Luckily, she did not have to work the following day, and since Danny owned "The Journal" he could take the morning off as well. For a long time, the held each other in silence, their breathing synchronized like a fine timepiece. Michelle listened intently to Danny�s heartbeat, directly beneath her cheek, as she lay peacefully on his chest.. Danny closed his eyes and drank in the feeling of her breath and the flutter of her eyelashes against his bare skin.
There was nothing they could do to speed up the time between now and the following afternoon, when Danny would return to the Santos house. But, there was something they could do to occupy those hours, and emotionally re-charge themselves at the same time.
They lost track of time, after that, as they made love in the quiet early morning hours. The sun was still hidden and the world was not yet awake, but these two lovers found solace as their bodies, their hearts, and their souls, connected in a way that was beyond human. As it had been many, many times before, their bedroom became an escape from reality, and the rest of the world simply faded away during the brief moments when Danny and Michelle were truly one.