Disclaimer: I do not own the storyline of Tropical kiss, nor do I own the characters of South of nowhere.

A/N: Here is Chapter 19, up and runnin'!

I'm glad you all are sticking with this story. Like I said, I know where I'm going with it and I do plan on finishing it. There's about 10 or 11 more chapters until It's completed.

I was afraid no one would want to read this story because it doesn't revolve solely around Spencer and Ashley, but moreso around Spencer herself(no worries, there will still be lots of Spashley). So I want to thank you all for staying with the story and not giving up on it. The party you all have been waiting for will be somewhere around Chapter 23. I really appreciate all the reviews you all gave me for chapter 18. Keep 'em comin'!

Enjoy...

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It was late in the afternoon when the two girls got back to Spencer's house. They'd decided to get Mac ready at the villa for her date, since she was planning to come back after the diner cruise to spend the night.

The dress they had chosen for her was gorgeous. An aqua pastel paisely print in a soft, flowery material. The knee-length skirt was flattering and perfect on her. The neckline was a crossover 'V', but the back plunged, ending in a deep slit. The dress was hot, to say the least.

Spencer thought there was no need to wear something over it. It wasn't like it would be cold on the water. Aruba had to have the most perfect weather anywhere. Besides, Mackenzie looked absolutely beautiful and incredibly sexy in the dress. Mac wasn't convinced though. Shy about all the skin showing, she'd insisted on picking up a hand-crocheted shawl of almost the identical color from her mother's house.

As Mac draped it around her shoulders, Spencer kept her comments to herself about Mackenzie still looking hot for fear of her friend deciding against the dress all together.

"I don't like your shoes with them," Spencer objected, pointing to the black sandals Mac had on. They wore the same size shoes. She offered a pair of white leather ankle strap slides. "Why don't you try these?"

Mac slipped her feet in and looked at herself in the mirror. "You're right. That looks much better."

Spencer had helped her put on a little mascara and lip gloss before donning the dress. Mac had such perfect bronze skin that anything more and Spencer thought it would take away from her natural beauty.

"And what do you think of this necklace with the dress?" Spencer moved behind her and held a double-drop necklace against Mac's throat.

"It's beautiful," Mac whispered. "But I cant take it. I'd be too afraid to lose it."

"You wont lose it. And if you do, it's no big deal," Spencer assured her. "I made it myself. I gave Ash one a couple of days ago and she loved it. I want you to keep this one."

"No way."

Spencer nodded, showing her how the cord was made of natural-colored leather and the drops were dark blue stones she'd found at the crafts fair.

"I'll be really careful."

"I'm not worried," Spencer said, clipping the necklace around her neck.

They both heard the sound of Aiden's car pulling into the driveway. Mackenzie turned to Spencer one last time, the edge of panic in her face.

"Oh my god, that's him. How do I look?"

"You look awesome." Spencer started pushing Mac to the door. "Now, don't forget. No laughing, no drinking, no kissing, no touching. . . And definitely, no having a good time." She pecked an innocent kiss on Mac's cheek as a friendly gesture. She just couldn't help it, Mac looked so adorable.

"Yes mom." Mac paused at the door. "What time is Ash getting home tonight?"

"She's going sailing after work. A couple of runs, and she thought she should be home before it got dark."

"I can't wait till you're out of that cast. I really think you'll love the sport."

"I'm definitely going to try and learn it. We'll go from there," Spencer said, following Mac out through the front door.

Aiden was waiting next to his car. All cleaned up, he looked pretty hot too. He only had eyes for Mackenzie, though, as Spencer wished both of them a great time.

As Aiden went around to get in the driver's seat, Spencer admired her friends taste. Aiden was quiet, not a ladies' man who played the field. More of the studious type. In Spencer's mind, that was another mark in his favor. Actually, the two seemed perfect for each other.

She leaned against Mackenzie's car, watching Aiden back out and start down the road. She waved and started to turn toward the villa.

She stopped and looked back down the road. A white car was parked four or five houses up. She'd lived here long enough to know that unless there is a party, no one left their cars along that stretch of the road. She didn't think anyone was living in that house they were parked in front of.

The sun cast a glare on the windshield, but she could se there were two people inside. She couldn't make out anything else.

Spencer walked back into the villa. After locking the door, she went to the window and peered out at the road. The white car had moved. It was now parked closer to the house. She stood there, watching it, prickles running down her back in fear.

"What's this all about?" she muttered.

It could have been five minutes, or fifteen-she lost track of time- but finally the passenger door of the car opened. A tall man in a flowered shirt and sunglasses stepped out. He had a crew cut and looked to be balding front. He stood there for a couple of minutes, leaning against the car and apparently talking to the driver. Spencer saw him look around and then look back at the villa.

They had seen her come back inside alone. Spencer shuddered at the thought of one of them knocking on the door. She wouldn't answer it. They could break in though. Her mind wouldn't slow down enough to think of what they might want. She just figured it had to be bad.

Looking around the villa, she tried to remember if there were any other doors or windows that might have been left unlocked. The air-conditioning was blasting, so she doubted it. She wasn't going to take any chances though., flimsy locks or not. As quickly as she could, she went around the house, making sue every door and window was locked.

Her broken leg was suddenly a huge liability. Spencer wanted her cast off. Now.

As she closed the last shade, it occurred to her that they'd probably seen her close them. It didn't matter though, they were closed now, and she wasn't answering the door.

She grabbed her phone and dialed Ash's number at work. A woman answered and told her she had left for the day. Spencer introduced herself and asked for her father next.

"I haven't seen Mr. Carlin since he left this morning."

"When was that?" she asked.

"Around eleven," the woman explained. "I don't believe he's coming back today, either."

Spencer thanked the woman and hung up.

Ash didn't like to carry a cell phone. She aid she didn't need it on Aruba, and there weren't enough people she knew on the island that shed want to get a hold of.

But she and Arthur insisted that Spencer carry hers around. Damn it, she thought.

Arthur. He carried a phone. He'd given her the number. Spencer picked up the phone and speed-dialed him. She got his voice mail.

"Unbelievable." Not much point in leaving a message, she decided, since she'd be dead.

Emergency numbers. She didn't know what they'd be in Aruba. There was a fat copy of the Aruba phone book in the kitchen. She pulled it out and checked the numbers for police and fire.

Phone in hand, she walked toward the front door and peered out.

Both men were now out of the car. The looks on the shorter one's face made him look just as intimidating as the big, buff one. The two men looked up and down the road and then started toward the villa.

Her muscles seemed to freeze, and Spence stood where she was, watching them come.

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A/N: I hate to leave you all with another cliffhanger, but that's just the way the cookie crumbles. Oh and if there were any mistakes or things you especially like, don't hesitate to tell me.

Reviews?