Roses

ROSES

Karen Cino

Women’s Fiction

Mandolay Press

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A Mandolay Press Book

Women’s Fiction

ROSES

Copyright © 2012 Karen Cino

E-book ISBN: 978-1-61885-174-1

First E-book Publication: April 2012

Second E-book Publication September 2015

Cover design by Karen Cino

Edited by Katherine Tate

Proofread by Julie Reilly

All cover art copyright © 2015 by Karen Cino

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

PUBLISHER

Mandolay Press

mandolaypress@gmail.com

Dedication

In memory of my grandmother Katherine, who will always remain in my heart.

May 31, 1907 – February 1, 2000

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank my Mom and Dad, my children Michael and Nicole, my critique partner Tanya Goodwin and all my close and dear friends for believing in me and giving me the push I needed to fulfill my dream.

Chapter One

Nikki Petrino stood outside the Acapulco Princess Hotel with the heat of the sun beaming down onto her wan skin. When her cell phone rang, she let it go to voice mail. She knew her parents, her brother, and her best friend Penny wouldn’t approve of her leaving for an impromptu getaway like she did. Leaving a note hadn’t been an option. The right words just wouldn’t come out. This was exactly what she needed even if she would be working.

She sighed. Damn you Penny, stealing my journal like that. I looked for it for weeks. I can’t believe you submitted my personal thoughts to a publisher. She fingered her book. "Hmm, Detective’s Row by Nikki Petrino—New York Times Bestseller. She smiled. Penny, I can’t thank you enough."

Nikki picked up the phone and hesitated, flashing back on a moment that happened so many years ago, Vince, Penny’s husband. Her body shivered at the thought. He had hit on her from the first day she met him up until the day he married Penny. His unscrupulous manipulation of Penny made her skin crawl every time she thought about him using Penny to get back at her. Even the night before he married Penny, he stopped by to give her one last chance. That bastard.

Instead of calling Penny, she tossed her luggage on the bed. Exhausted from her whirlwind book tour, she deserved some beat time.

She slipped into her exotic black and blue jewel tone bikini and jogged to the beach. The warm sand oozed between her toes as she sank into it. Bypassing the crowded and noisy pool, she placed her beach towel on a recliner steps away from the blue ocean waves. The tranquil environment made it easier to sit peacefully, pad and pen in hand, working on her new book’s outline. She shook her head. I can’t believe my editor wants the first three chapters in two weeks. Closing her eyes she stopped writing and thought of Joey.

I wish he was here. He would have loved Acapulco.

Her heart ached. Three short years ago, two uniformed police sergeants had knocked on her door. Her Joey was dead, killed in the line of duty protecting a ten-year-old boy innocently walking into the middle of a shootout. He was gone, followed swiftly by their unborn child. She had miscarried their baby shortly after the nightmare of his death. But he lived on in her best-selling novel. The adventures he’d shared with her as a New York City cop had been her inspiration for Detective’s Row.

Nikki enjoyed a day of swimming and resting, then returned to her room to finish her outline.

She flopped onto the white bamboo framed bed. A handmade comforter and floral shams designed in pastel colors on a white background surrounded her. A small table in the far corner of the room held her laptop and a small printer. A collection of pastel abstract paintings hung on the pale pink walls giving the room a soothing feel. She opened the white fabric verticals, grateful for the ocean view. Beyond the sliding glass door another table with chairs faced the magnificent Pacific Ocean.

Nikki sat down at the table and started typing on her laptop. A knock on her door startled her. She opened it. A short gray-haired middle-aged man dressed in a three-piece suit, holding a basket of fruit and a bottle of champagne stood in the doorway.

I’m Mr. Ramos, the manager of the Acapulco Princess. Sorry for the intrusion, but this is for you, Ms. Petrino, courtesy of the hotel. I hope everything is to your liking.

Yes, everything is just perfect. I'm sorry I bothered you so many times about having a printer available.

No problem Ms. Petrino. My job is to make sure everyone is satisfied.

I really appreciate everything you've done to make my stay here flawless.

It's my pleasure. And if I can be of further assistance, don't hesitate to call.

Thank you. She smiled.

If you don't mind, when you get a chance, could you please stop by my office and autograph your book for my wife?

I sure will, she replied. When he shut the door, she closed her laptop and walked out onto her terrace. The last thing she was in the mood to do was finish outlining her book.

Acapulco was much more beautiful than she could have ever imagined. She could hear the waves breaking, birds chirping and smell the flowers and salt water. Just standing there, breathing in the fresh air, she could feel her body beginning to relax. Yes, this was exactly what she needed, a quiet vacation all alone without memories of Joey and her adoring fans surrounding her. This was going to be her time to wind down, opening her heart to new opportunities.

Back in her room, she licked her lips thinking how cool a piña colada would feel sliding down her parched throat. After showering and procrastinating for over a half-hour on what to wear, she chose a black skirt and a white high-neck blouse. She carefully French braided her long black hair, placed her two-carat diamond earrings in her ears and shut the safety lock on her diamond tennis bracelet. Looking in the mirror, she smiled. After only a day in the Mexican sun, her face had already acquired a sun kissed glow. All she needed was a brush of mascara and a little color to her lips.

Nikki turned sideways. Weight had dropped from her already petite figure after Joey's death. Unable to sleep or eat, she existed on coffee and cigarettes. It wasn't until after she passed out in her parents’ restaurant, while waiting on a customer, that she finally gave up smoking and began eating three meals a day. As her appetite returned, she managed to regain some weight back.

She dangled a pair of white heels from her hand, but glancing at her sunburned feet she decided on a pair of white flat sandals instead. She closed her hotel room door and headed to the Bamboo Bar.

The waiter led her to the perfect table beneath a bamboo roof with an ocean view. Before opening the newspaper she purchased earlier in the hotel’s gift shop, she ordered a piña colada. She was quite surprised to see a New York paper. However, when she realized it was two days old, it brought a smile to her lips.

Nikki still found it hard to believe that she’d actually picked up and left solo. She always liked to be around people and would rather not eat than to be caught alone in a restaurant. But tonight she cherished her privacy. She loved the fact that she could do whatever she wanted when she wanted. Whenever she went anywhere with her friends, their main concern was always when and what they were going to eat and what time they were going to get home. Now, there were no responsibilities, no time schedules and no one lurking over her shoulder giving her what they thought was the perfect solution for her broken heart. Yes! This was the perfect trip for her.

Just as she finished her drink, the waiter brought her another cocktail. She shook her head no and continued reading the paper. To her dismay, he left the drink on the table and walked away. Before she could call after him, he was already across the room waiting on another table.

Excuse me, miss. The interruption came from a tall muscular man built like a body builder with the word Mom tattooed on his upper arm.