An Offer You Can't Refuse by Sal Bianchi (ebook reader wifi txt) 📗

smiled at her response, and I sincerely hoped she’d be up for my idea. It was kind of a risky move since the odds were high she’d either be really into the idea or really against it.

Dinner flew by in a flash. On top of being extremely pretty, Roxanne was actually really funny and laid-back as well. True to her word, she’d had a few drinks by the time we finished the meal, so it was just as well that she hadn’t driven here. I cringed internally as I paid the bill at the end of the evening.

“All right,” she declared as we left the restaurant, her speech just a little slurred. “You said you had something fun in mind, so what’s next?”

She snaked her arm around mine so she could hold on to me like an anchor and smiled up at me expectantly.

“How would you like to go to the beach?” I asked as I led her away from the restaurant and back toward where my car was parked.

“The beach?” She raised an eyebrow at me. “Weren’t we just on the beach? I could have sworn we were just staring out at the ocean while he had dinner.”

“Nah, this one’s special.” I grinned as I opened the passenger side door for her.

“I don’t like that smile,” she giggled as she ducked into the car. “What are you up to?”

“Just trust me.” I smirked before closing the door and circling the car to get in on the other side.

The destination I had in mind was only a bridge crossing away, so we were there after just a few minutes.

“The Ritz-Carlton?” Roxanne asked skeptically as we pulled into the hotel’s parking lot. “You don’t waste time, huh Nick? Not that I mind, I suppose...”

“No!” I scoffed as I turned off the ignition and stepped out of the car. “Well, yes, but no, I had something else in mind.”

“Why else would we come to an expensive hotel?” Roxanne raised an eyebrow at me.

“Because of the expensive hotel’s private beach,” I whispered conspiratorially.

“What?” Roxanne giggled as she stepped out of the car. “Why? Nick, there are so many beaches in Miami. It’s actually impossible not to eventually hit one if you just keep walking, why would come to one of the only private ones?”

“For the thrill,” I replied as I snaked my arm back around her shoulders. “Come on, you’ve never done something just because you weren’t supposed to? Just follow my lead and pretend like you have every right to be here.”

“Wait, what?” she gasped as I steered her forward, not toward the entrance of the hotel but around the back and through some palm trees set against the edge of the main building.

“Nick,” Roxanne hissed. “What are we doing right now?”

She was staring at me with a look of shock, but she was smiling.

“Just trust me.” I grinned as I led her further around the side of the building. I stopped when we arrived at a low, thick wall, about as tall as I was. “I think right here should be good.”

“Good for what?” Roxanne laughed as I kneeled on the ground.

“I’ll give you a boost.” I smiled up at her. “So hurry up and climb over before we get caught.”

“You’re out of your mind,” she giggled. Despite her words, she still took her heels off and clambered onto my back.

“Watch your step,” I whispered as I took Roxanne’s hand and helped her down. The Ritz-Carlton had its own private stretch of beach reserved exclusively for its guests, but Jase and I had discovered several years ago that we could climb a certain part of the exterior wall and onto the other side, directly onto the beach. As long as we acted like we belonged there, no one ever bothered us.

“This is crazy.” Roxanne grinned at me once we were finally on the ground. “What if someone catches us?”

“You better be ready to run,” I teased as I led her over to unbelievably soft and sandy beach. The beach here was even cleaner and prettier than in other parts of the city since relatively few people used it, and it was privately maintained by the hotel.

“Very funny,” she scoffed as she hit me lightly on the arm. “How many times have you done this? You obviously knew exactly where to go.”

“I used to do it a lot when I was younger.” I shrugged as I sat down on the sand. “I haven’t snuck in here in a while.”

“Well, don’t I feel special, then,” Roxanne cooed as she took a seat next to me in front of the water. “So you were a juvenile delinquent, then?”

“Something like that,” I replied. She was closer to the mark than she realized. I’d done a lot worse in my time with the mafia then just sneaking into a beach after dark.

“I’ve never done anything like this.” She grinned impishly.

“It’s pretty romantic, right?” I smiled at her.

“Super romantic,” she hummed. “I’ve never broken the law on a first date before.”

“I’d never have guessed,” I replied sarcastically. “You’re such a natural at it.”

“I guess I--” she started to whisper. Before she could finish whatever she was saying though, we both flinched as we were blinded by a stark white beam of light.

“Who’s there?” a loud male voice boomed from the other end of the beach.

“Crap,” I hissed as I took hold of Roxanne’s thin wrist. “We gotta run.”

I shot to my feet and pulled her with me as I ran straight for the main exit. There was no point in sneaking around now that we’d already been caught.

“Stop!” the man yelled as he chased after us.

“This way,” I hissed once we were in the main courtyard of the hotel. I pulled her sharply to the right and ducked behind a particularly large potted plant just as the light of the flashlight reached the ticket area.

Roxanne stared at me with wide eyes, and I lifted a finger to my lips slowly as the security guard rushed past us. I