Okie dokie, here is all of Chapter 17... BOOYAH!

Thankyou for the reviews for chap16!

Enjoy...

Disclaimer: I do not own the storyline for tropical kiss nor do I own the characters for South of Nowhere. They belong solely to Jan Coffey and Tom Lynch.

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They had everything back in the closet by the time Mackenzie arrived to pick Spencer up for work. Ash had called in earlier, telling someone in the office that she was running late. Ash told Spencer that she'd make up the work at the other end of the day. She wasn't worried about it.

On the way to the restaurant, Mac asked Spencer if she'd like to hangout and run a couple of errands with her tomorrow. Both of them had Friday off.

"Sure, what kind of errands?"

"I was hoping you'd help me pick out a dress."

Spencer smiled. "That's right. Tomorrow night id your big date with Aiden."

"Not big date. Its only a date," Mac corrected. "I can't build this up too much. I don't want this 'big date' to turn out to be a 'big disaster'."

"Do you know where he's taking you?"

"We're going on one of those dinner-and-dance boats. It goes out of the harbor at Oranjestad."

"That sounds like a lot of fun," Spencer said. "I'm so happy for you."

Mac beamed. "I was also wondering if you'd want to do a half day at a spa at the Radisson. My mom knows the manager, and she can get us a huge discount."

"Wow, I've never done that."

"I can try and schedule us in for tomorrow morning. You can even ask Ash if she wants to go."

"Spencer thought about that and frowned. Ash had to work tomorrow morning. "I don't know if she'll be able to go. With work and all."

"Oh. Well, that's all right. I guess she can come some other time then?"

"Sure. In fact, I think she'll be sad she didn't come this time." Spencer then stared think about the spa for tomorrow. "What do we do? Get a massage?"

"Massage, a facial, whatever. I'm definitely going to get some help with this hair. But you can get a wrap, or even a manicure of pedicure, if you want."

"Count me in." Spencer thought it would be fun, and the discount would be especially nice since she was planning to pay for it herself. This was starting to feel like it was a real vacation.

They were still hammering out the details when Mackenzie pulled into the parking lot next to the restaurant. Right away, Spencer noticed the black Jaguar with tinted windows. It was parked at the very end of the lot, close to the street. Next to it, she could see a black stretch limo. A slick-looking guy, maybe in his twenties, and two gorilla-sized men who could have been ex-football players were standing between the two cars, chatting and keeping an eye on things. The gorillas were wearing matching black shirts and pants. Probably on the same team, she thought.

As much at the limo was an attention getter, it was the Jaguar that caught Spencer's eye. She looked around and saw him just sitting down at a table outside the restaurant. Her good friend ole' porcupine butt. He was sitting by the road, at the same table she and Mac occupied yesterday. With him were two men wearing dark golfing shirts. All of them were wearing shades and looking way to serious to be tourists.

Mackenzie parked the car, but Spencer made no move to get out.

"What's the matter?"

"Him. . . The guy with the hat." Spencer pointed to him. "He was hassling me at the airport last week. He's really creepy. I really wouldn't want him to see me walking into the restaurant."

"The one with the flower shirt and bristly face?" Mackenzie asked, sounding somewhat alarmed.

"Yeah. Old Porcupine butt. Why? Do you know him?"

Mac nodded. "Yeah, he's pretty well known on the island. His name is Lorenzo. They call him 'The Chin'. He's originally from Colombia, but he now spends most of his time in Aruba. Unfortunately. Word is he's connected to a cartel of drug dealers in South America. I've also heard stories that he works with the Mafia in America."

Spencer shivered. She had been alone with this creep and she had almost run into him on the beach. "Why don't they arrest him?"

"They have once or twice, but he always gets out. He's a middle guy. According to the rumors. The deal maker. They can never tie anything to him directly. He's just the slime that sets the table for something to happen. He collects the commission and stays in the clear."

Spencer thought about that for a moment, then glanced sharply at her friend. "How do you know so much about him?"

Mac shrugged. "it's a small island. But I know him personally because he was hitting on my mother a couple of years ago."

"She's way too nice for a creep like him."

"I agree. It scared the crap outta me. But it was the perfect setup for him. Nevermind that she's good looking, but she also runs a business in the high-rent district of the island. Thank god she wouldn't have anything to do with him. She told me everything she knew about him so I'd know what was going on. "

Mackenzie planted her arms on the steering wheel and stared at the trio sitting around the table. "She's probably in the back fuming right now. He does this every now and then. Brings whoever he's setting up a deal with to the restaurant. He knows she wont kick him out."

"Why not?"

Mackenzie motioned toward the thugs by the car. "If you don't treat Lorenzo with respect, there's a price to pay. She doesn't want to have the place burned down one night. And also, she likes her face the way it is."

"He'd do that? Hurt her like that?"

"He's done worse," Mac said grimily.

"What a total creep! Who are the people with him?"

Mac shook her head. "I don't know them. Probably just in for the weekend to close some deal." She followed Spencer's gaze toward the cars.

"And them?"

"The younger guy with the two bruisers is even worse. Don't go anywhere near him. He likes to be called Tony, but I don't think that's his real name. The Chin says Tony is his nephew. I think he's lying, though. I think he just hired the goon to watch his back and do his dirty work."

It was no different in the United States. There were normal people who went about their lives, and there were the few bad eggs. She just wanted to make sure that their paths never crossed.

"So, what happens now Mac?"

"Nothing, as far as I'm concerned. My mom wont come out of the kitchen until he leaves. The Chin does his business, then leaves a ridiculously large tip on his way out."

"I don't want him to see me. I'd rather be invisible around the guy."

"I don't blame you,' Mackenzie said, starting the car again. "I'll pull up in the back. You can go through the kitchen door and hang out there with my mom. I'll come and get you when the ghost is clear."

"What. . . Do you think the two of us can just hide while you face the big bad wolf?"

Mac gave her a wink. "Hey, his tip is going to pay for my spa treatment tomorrow. It'll be worth it."

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They sat at either end of the sofa. Spencer's left foot was under Ash's butt. The brunette's hand absentmindedly caressed the blonde's thigh. The contains of leftover Chinese food had been moved to the kitchen counter during the last commercial break. The movie they were watching was one that they'd both seen at least a half dozen times.

Even if it were the first time she was seeing it, Spencer would still have a hard time focusing on the movie. Her gaze continued to drift to Ash's unbelievably hott profile. It still seemed impossible that the brunette found her attractive. That she'd chosen her over Kate. She understood Mackenzie's feelings.

Ash reached over and turned off the light on the table next to her. They'd closed the vertical blinds on the sliding glass door some time ago. The only light left on was the one in the kitchen, and the shadows stretched over them. Ash looked at her, and the blonde felt the tug low in her belly. Ash wanted her, and she wanted Ash. A commercial came on.

"I used to hate commercials." She inched toward the taller girl. "But they do have their pluses."

Taking Ash's face in her hands, she placed soft kisses on her chin, her cheeks, her adorable button nose, before rubbing their lips softly together. She could read so much in the other woman's eyes. Desire, emotion. Ash threaded her fingers into the blonde's hair, drew her close, and deepened the kiss.

Spencer was the one who had said they were moving too fast a day ago. Bu tonight, she was the instigator. As their mouths played a seductive dance, her hands moved under the other girls shirt, running all over the toned stomach muscles. She was amazing, beautiful, and the blonde couldn't remember ever being as consumed by anything or anyone as she was now.

The commercial ended. Spencer slowly drew back on the sofa. Ash caught her ankle, the one without the cast, and put the blonde's foot on her lap.

"You're driving me crazy, Spencer," Ash whispered thickly, her eyes traveling down every inch of the other girl.

She might as well have been naked the way Ash's gaze scorched her skin. Her foot moved restlessly on the brunette's lap, and she bit her lip.

"You keep on like this, and all bets are off."

"You don't scare me," she whispered back.

"I was hoping you'd say that. Ash's hand slowly slid up the inside her leg, sending shock waves up through the blonde's body. . .shock waves that immediately turned to panic at the sound of a key in the slider door. Ash immediately with drew her hand and laid a pillow casually on her lap.

Spencer sat bolt upright and glanced at the clock. 9:00A second later, Arthur pushed through the blinds. He was oblivious, of course, to his interruption of a very intimate moment.

"Hi," he said. "Watching something good?"

They both waved a greeting.

"Billy Madison," Spencer said. Her father looked totally exhausted. "Have you had dinner yet? There's plenty here."

"Sounds good. But I think I'll take a shower first."

Spencer wasn't surprised her father hadn't caught on to her and Ashley's relationship. He was never around, and if he was, most of his attention was still occupied by his work. He didn't even know she was gay, but the blonde didn't know if he knew about Ashley.

Well, she thought, if it's brought up tonight, tonight would be a good time to explain a few things to him.

"I'm gonna run, Ash told her after Arthur disappeared into his bedroom.

"You don't have to go."

"I know." She brushed a kiss on the blonde's lips and smiled. "You're totally amazing. I'd love to keep you to myself. But remember what we talked about this morning? About giving him a chance to be your father and your friend? By the looks of things, you're going to have to grab whatever time he has."

She understood.

"Plus," Ash added. "I think I need a shower, too. A long, cold one."

Spencer smiled as Ash got up to leave. As she went out, the blonde decided to leave all the windows and the slider open. The fresh air felt good, and the scent of flowers drifted in from the courtyard. Spencer went to the kitchen to make sure the food was still hot. It wasn't, so she put what was left in a large dish and suck it in the microwave. While she was sitting out a plate and silverware for Arthur, she saw him go back and forth between his bedroom and the office.

He hadn't taken a shower yet.

"Did Ash go?" he asked.

She nodded, her mind going back to what she had seen in his desk last night.

"By the way," she said. "I was wondering if I could use your computer to check my e-mail. Our PC at home died the week before I left Ohio, and it feels like forever since I've been in touch with my friends."

She noticed his slight hesitation, but he recovered quickly. "Sure. You can bring it out here, if you want."

"No. I'd rather be sitting at you desk, actually. It'd be easier on my leg."

"In that case, let me boot it up for you."

She came around the counter. " I know how to do it."

"I have a security system that you need to get pass. I'll do it."

Spencer followed him into his office. The briefcase was back and sitting next to the desk. There was a green folder open that he quickly closed and tucked under one arm. He opened the laptop and switched it on.

She looked around the room, turned on a couple of lights, including the one on the desk. Everything looked so neat and clean and almost sterile, like the rest of the house. She thought about what Ash had mentioned this morning to her- about Arthur's project, whatever it was. She wondered how he would celebrate when he was done. There was nothing exciting to come back to here, that's for sure. Absolutely nothing exciting. . . Like his life.

Spencer looked at her father and the weariness she saw in him tugged at her heart. "Why don't you have a girlfriend?"

His blue gaze lifted off the screen and met hers. Surprise quickly turned to amusement, wrinkling the corner of his eyes. "A girlfriend?"

"Oh. Maybe you have one and just don't want to introduce me to her."

"No. No girlfriend at present."

"And why is that?"

"Wait a minute. This isn't the way this discussion is suppose to go. I'm suppose to be asking you these kinds of questions."

"Well, I am your daughter. I think I have the right to know."

"Really?" He raised a hand over his face. "To be honest, this was the discussion that I really wanted to have with you. I want to know about your relationships."

"Mine is very simple, and you can start patting yourself on the back for setting it up." She sat in one of the chairs. "I'm gay. Ash is gay. We're going out. Girlfriends. Having a relationship as you put it."

His eyes went wide. He sat back in his chair. "When did this start?"

Spencer didn't clearly know if he meant when she became gay, or her relationship with Ash. She took a wild guess. "Our infatuation began when I was two and she was five, or six. I've been carrying a torch for her ever since."

He stared at her for a couple of seconds, gauging her seriousness. She smiled, and he seemed relieved. "I see. A long-term relationship. And how serious is this?"

Very, but he wasn't going to tell him that.

"Is there any problem with me going out with her?" she asked instead, feeling a bit defensive.

"None whatsoever," he quickly replied. "Although, I am quite curious as to how you and Ash developed this. . . Connection. Did you ever have a boyfriend?"

"Well, I only had one boyfriend in high school, and he happened to have much. . . much greater expectations than Ash does." She almost laughed to see him grow immediately tense.

"What did he want?" he asked.

"Sex."

He cleared his throat. His face looked a little flushed. "What did you do?"

"I told him no."

"What happened?"

" He found out I was gay. He broke up with me."

"That miserable little. . ." He bit back whatever he was going to say.

"Yeah. It was kind of hard at first. Paula and Ben found out. But they soon accepted it. . .me. And of course my best friend Madison and her boyfriend Sean were cool about it."

That part of her life had been tough. Admitting she was gay, and getting her leg broke on top of it. She had shed all the tears she was going to. Of course, there were other reasons for the tears, reasons she couldn't explain to Paula. Her mother's marriage to Ben marked the end of an era. Spencer felt she was losing the only parent she was ever able to rely on. She wouldn't be Paula's best friend anymore. Never again would she be the center of her mother's attention. Once she had gotten her cast, the doctors gave it six weeks to heal. She'd given herself the same length of time to get over her mother's marriage and everything else that was changing in her life.

To Spencer's relief, the six weeks had been extended to eight. She doubted that would be enough time to straighten out things with her father.

Arthur stared at a spot just beyond her right shoulder for a long time. Finally, he spoke.

"I'm sorry, Spencer. I wish I could have been there for you, too."

Shit. Spencer felt her armor slipping, the emotion rising through the cracks in the crust of her defenses. She blinked a couple of times and tried to focus on the pattern on the rug.

"I have no problem with your relationship with Ash," he said, after a minute. Although he wanted his daughter to be interested in boys, he knew she'd been through a horrible experience in the past. Besides, Ash was a wonderful person. And he figured they would be good for each other.

She looked up and nodded. She still didn't trust her voice.

This is ready for you," he said, motioning to the laptop. He got up from the chair and came around the desk. "I think I'll go take that shower now."

Spencer at and watched him leave the office. He seemed as shaken up as she was. She didn't know why, but his words had come as a surprise. It was a totally weird feeling. What he was saying was that he really wanted to be apart of her life. The good part and the bad parts too.

And she believed him.

The shower water began to run in the master bathroom. Spencer came around the desk and tested the drawer that had been opened last night. The entire desk was locked up.

Trust him. The words echoed in her head. She wanted to. She had to.

Spencer sat behind the desk and logged into her myspace, of which she referred to as e-mail. She read upon messages from the people she missed in Cincinnati, a world she left behind almost a million years ago.

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Thanks to all of you who responded to my A/N question earlier. I don't feel as lost now... YaY!

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