Chapter Nine
As they traversed the island of Vieques, Isaac tried to push away his concerns over what Lansky might have done to Cosette. The island was over twenty miles long east to west, but only about four miles north to south. They checked out the town of Isabella nearby before cruising south in the golf cart, stopping first at El Fortín Conde de Mirasol Museum and touring it.
After they finished at the fort, they tried out Mama Mia’s Pizza. Isaac thought it was fabulous, but Cosette claimed she was still stuffed from breakfast and only managed to polish off one piece. Getting back in the golf cart, she declared she was driving again. The thing probably topped out at twenty-five miles per hour, but as she drove, she grinned like she was on an amusement ride.
They headed south and then east, driving through part of the wildlife reserve. They made a stop at Secret Beach and walked and waded in the water for a little bit. Cosette was cussing herself for not bringing a swimsuit. She teased Isaac that he didn’t need one; he could just strip his shirt off.
Cosette acted as fun and innocent as he’d remembered her as a teenager. She was impulsive—and yes, adorable—as she talked with locals and tourists alike, exploring and taking in the island sites with childlike innocence, and yet she was definitely all woman. It still confused him that she would think he didn’t know she was a grown woman. He knew she was, and he noticed far too often. Could he pursue a relationship with her while knowing she was damaged from something Lansky had done?
They finally arrived at Esperanza on the south side of the island with its beautiful bay and old pier stretching out into the crystal-blue water. They ate sandwiches at a local shop, talking the entire time with the owner, who was about their age. He’d lived in the States until he’d graduated high school; then he’d started wandering through the Caribbean islands. When he’d landed on Vieques, he’d started his shop and never looked back.
The guy flirted with Cosette, and she teased and laughed with him. Isaac knew it meant nothing, but he felt a stir of jealousy anyway. And that brought him back around to Lansky. Why wouldn’t Cosette talk to him about their relationship? Maybe it was none of his business. He and Cosette weren’t an official couple—they hadn’t even kissed—but he wanted to protect her and love her.
The sandwich shop guy told Cosette all about the great snorkeling right off the old Sugar Cane Pier, regaling her with stories of seeing eels, rays, turtles, all manner of fish, and even a shark.
“Can we snorkel?” Cosette begged him.
“Sure.” Isaac shrugged. “Do you want to go back and get suits or … Can we buy her a swimsuit close by?”
“Of course,” the sandwich guy said, pointing. “Shop right there.” He winked. “Perfect suits for the beautiful lady, and they have snorkel gear too.”
Isaac thanked him and tugged Cosette away. They got outfitted with new swimsuits, towels, and some cheap snorkel masks and tried out the snorkeling by the pier. They did see a lot of colorful fish around the algae-covered pylons, and Isaac liked holding Cosette’s hand and swimming languidly around while they studied the underwater world.
The sun was dipping toward the west as they dried off next to the pier. Cosette slipped her dress over her head, and Isaac put his shirt back on. A band was playing next to some of the outdoor restaurants by the pier. Cosette’s eyes lit up at the sound of the music. “Let’s dance.”
He couldn’t resist her. “Sure.”
They dropped their snorkeling gear and extra clothes into the back of the golf cart and headed to the small square, where the band was playing some upbeat Latin music and a few couples were dancing.
“Do you like to dance?” Isaac asked.
“Like it?” Cosette’s navy-blue eyes sparkled. “I love it.” She started to demonstrate. It was all Isaac could do to hide a laugh as she danced. She flailed around, she gyrated, she twirled her hips one way and her arms another, she threw her hair back and forth, and then she imitated a native belly dancing of sorts. It was the cutest thing he’d ever seen, and she was possibly the worst dancer he’d ever encountered—maybe because most people that danced this horribly would never do it in public.
Isaac tried to dance next to her as people were starting to stare, but finally he couldn’t take it anymore. He wrapped his arms around her and tucked her in close to his body. “C’mere,” he murmured. “Let’s dance together.”
She smiled up at him so sweetly, catching her breath from her dancing, if it could be called that. He found himself breathing more quickly as well as he held her tight in his arms. Luckily, the song changed to a slow beat at the same time. It might not have been luck; even the band had been watching Cosette’s crazy display and exchanging looks with raised eyebrows.
Cosette wrapped her arms around his lower back and laid her head on his chest. Even slow dancing, she couldn’t seem to find the beat, never swaying with the rhythm of the song. Isaac didn’t care, though; he vowed that if they ever got married, there would be no dancing at their wedding.
That thought startled him. He couldn’t get married. Sure, there were some men in his troop who were married, but it was a risky thing to go under fire and into dangerous situations like they did and leave a wife and possibly children behind. It was hard enough leaving his parents and siblings.
He pushed that aside and concentrated on the perfect way Cosette fit in his arms. Bending down close, he said, “We probably should get back. I don’t think the golf cart has lights.”
“Oh! Yeah, we’d better go.”
Isaac took her hand and led her to the golf cart. “Do you want to drive?”
“No, you can.”
He climbed in, and she snuggled close to his side. Isaac didn’t mind that at all. He pushed the golf cart to the max speed, but he still didn’t think they hit thirty miles per hour. The sun set, and their light was fading fast. They’d made the turn to head east to their house and he knew they were getting close, but complete darkness fell around them. He pulled out his phone flashlight, and Cosette held it out to light the way while they puttered down the road and eventually made it back to the house.
Once he’d parked the golf cart in the shed, they walked into the house hand in hand. Isaac thought they should definitely spend some time snuggling on the couch, talking, kissing, and seeing what happened.
Cosette smiled at him, went on tiptoes, and kissed his cheek. “Thank you. Today was perfect.”
“Thank you,” he said.
She grinned and then traipsed into the bathroom. He heard the shower start and thought it might be time for him to check the security cameras outside. This woman was exactly what he wanted, but he still hadn’t come to terms with loving her and leaving her. Truthfully, she was driving him insane.