Cassie walked quicker the closer she got. What if he didn't show up? What if he wasn't so attractive without two glasses of wine in her? What if he realized just how boring and old she was?
What if she had said something super dumb while drunk?
Cassie tried not to think about it. She told herself not to worry. There was no real consequence here. Unlike at home where she had her job, her reputation, and her hotel's reputation all on the line. This was her chance to try something new. She didn't have to be perfect here. She could be human.
Castaway Cantina came into view. It was a small building with large open windows to let in the sea air. It was a buffet style eating area with seats both inside and outside. The atmosphere was relaxed and soft music played overhead.
Cassie checked her watch. It was ten seconds past noon.
She didn't see him in the restaurant. She didn't see him walking up the path or sitting at a chair near the entrance. He wasn't here.
She tried to tell her self that it didn't matter. She'd been drunk, and he had been kind. It wasn't a big deal. It was no huge loss.
Yet the ache in her chest and the burning in her eyes said otherwise. Deep down, his rejection hurt.
“You came.”
She turned to see him walking up the path to greet her. Today he wasn't wearing the employee outfit. Instead, he wore a pair of dark blue swim trunks and a really nice short sleeved shirt that showed off his broad shoulders and lean waist. He pushed a pair of sunglasses up into his windswept hair.
Her heart skipped a beat, and the tightness in her chest changed. Now it was nerves instead of heartbreak trying to strangle her.
“Hi.” It was probably the lamest thing she could have said, but seeing him standing there, she didn't know what else to say.
He smiled, and her heart went into overdrive.
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
Having him on this side of the bar was almost overwhelming. He had such presence that it was hard not to get drawn into his orbit. Cassie found herself unconsciously stepping toward him, wanting to touch him.
“I'm actually feeling pretty good,” she replied. “I have a feeling it's due to the water you had me drink. Thank you. I'm not usually a drinker.”
He grinned at her. “Could have fooled me.”
“No, I didn't,” she replied. “I didn't fool anyone. I'm a lightweight. And I apologize if I said or did anything inappropriate last night. I'm not used to being drunk.”
“If you're used to being drunk, that's typically a problem,” Wyatt replied. His eyes crinkled in a smile as he looked at her. “You were fine last night. A real lady.”
She scoffed. “Real ladies don't give out their room numbers.”
“The kind of ladies I like do.” Light sparkled in his green eyes, and Cassie felt her knees go wobbly. Suddenly she was thinking of screaming orgasms that had nothing to do with alcohol.
“So you like your ladies dirty?” Her voice wavered a little bit. The heat curling up around the base of her spine from the way he looked at her was affecting her vocal cords.
He grinned. “Dirty. Clean. I like them all.”
Cassie's brain drew blank. This flirting thing was hard and she wasn't sure she was doing it right. Was she dirty enough for him? Was she getting in way over her head with trying to flirt with a man like this? He had experience with women. She had corporate policies memorized.
Was she really what a man like Wyatt would want?
“Lunch?” she asked, changing the subject to something she was more comfortable with. She could handle lunch.
“I'd love to.” He offered her his arm like a knight in shining armor. She laughed, and he escorted her into the buffet.
Cassie picked out fruit and a baked fish dish. She only took one of the coconut macaroons and felt guilty about ruining her diet the entire way back to their table.
Wyatt on the other hand, chose a cheeseburger, fries, and a small side salad. He had three desserts set off to the side on a separate plate.
“You know you can eat anything you want here, right?” he said, eyeing her healthy plate.
“Vacation calories definitely do count,” she told him. “Besides, I have to fit into my bridesmaid dress in two days. After that, I can eat whatever I want.”
“I'm sure you'll look great in the dress,” he said, his eyes going over her body as she sat down. The gesture was intimate in a way that made Cassie want to blush and at the same time stick out her chest to give him a better view.
“You can't possibly eat like this every day,” Cassie said, picking up a fork.
He shook his head. “Only when I eat here,” he admitted. He took a big bite of hamburger. “So, where are you from?”
“Arizona.” She nibbled daintily at her fruit. “You?”
He shrugged. “The easiest answer is California. I was born in Kansas, raised in Utah, and went to school in California. Now, I'm here.”
“What brought you to the Caribbean?” Cassie asked, genuinely curious. She placed him in his mid-to-late forties, but incredibly fit. Something about him spoke to education and life experience that didn't fit with his current job description. He wasn't just a beach-bum bartender. There was too much age around his eyes.
“This is where I want to be,” he told her. “I spent enough time in offices and sales meetings to last a lifetime. I hated it. I wanted to be here every second instead. So when I got the chance, I ditched my modern, high-stress job and ran away to the beach.”
Cassie had often imagined running away. She'd wanted to open a small hotel that was all her own. The big chain was so corporate and demanding. They wanted her to always be presentable and ready. There were rules for everything. She lived and breathed rules at work. It was a big part of why her friends wanted her to relax this week. When she let herself, she'd daydreamed of running away from it all just like Wyatt said he did.
"Do you regret it at all?" she asked, her fork hovering over her plate.
His green eyes met hers and held.
“Never for a second. Best decision of my life.”
Something inside her trembled. A possibility was forming in her mind, but she didn't dare let it grow. Just because he escaped his life didn't mean she could.
“What do you do now?” She didn't look away from him. She couldn't look away from him. “Just serve drinks at the resort?”
One side of his mouth curved into a smile. “I do whatever I want,” he replied. “Right now, that's serving drinks. Tomorrow, it might be teaching surfing. I've been considering expanding my horizons. Maybe even deep sea fishing.”
“That sounds wonderful.” Cassie sighed.
“What do you do?” He finished off his burger and leaned back in his chair.
“You mean when I'm not getting drunk at hotel bars?”
Wyatt laughed, and Cassie felt a little pride. She was getting better at this flirting thing.
“I run a hotel. A StarTree in Phoenix.” She shrugged and picked at her fruit.
“Do you like it?” Wyatt asked. She felt his emerald eyes on her, even as she stared at her fruit.
“Sometimes,” she admitted honestly. “I like the hotel part. I like setting things up and making sure everything runs smoothly. I'm always busy. For the most part, I like the customers. I like interacting with them and fixing things, so their trip is better.”
“And you don't like?”
Cassie sighed. “It's corporate. There's no flexibility or freedom. I have to present the StarTree image at all times. I have to live, think, and breathe StarTree rules. It's a little stifling.”
She was surprised she was admitting to that. Especially without alcohol in her system. It had to be Wyatt. He was the reason she was spilling her guts. He probably had bartender magic. Everyone spilled their secrets to the bartender.
She cleared her throat. “Anyway, thank you for taking care of me last night. I'm really sorry about getting so drunk.”
He let her change the subject. “It was a pleasure last night,” he assured her. “I wouldn't have asked for lunch if it wasn't.”
Warmth filled her chest, and Cassie smiled. “So, what would happen if I gave you my hotel number now?”
The corners of Wyatt's mouth turned into a confident smile. “I'd teach you how to make a screaming orgasm.”
Cassie's heart pitter-pattered out of control. Her girl parts reacted in ways she wasn't used to. Her nipples went hard. “Wow. Okay.”
Wyatt chuckled. “I don't think you're ready.”
“I'm very ready,” Cassie protested. “I'm beyond ready.”
“And that's why you're blushing?” He tipped his chin and waved to someone behind Cassie. “By the way, you have someone watching you.”
For a moment, Cassie thought it might be Lorna. Lorna would be the worst person to see her while talking to a hot man. Lorna would tease Cassie. She would mock her. She would then attempt to steal Wyatt away just because she could.
Cassie turned, bracing herself for the worst. Luckily, it was just Janessa. Relief flooded Cassie. She waved, and Janessa gave her two big thumbs up.
“Friend of yours?” Wyatt asked, chuckling softly.
“Yeah. The bride.”
“When's the wedding?” Wyatt asked as Cassie turned back around.
“Tonight's the bachelorette party, tomorrow is the rehearsal. Saturday is the big day,” Cassie replied, going through the schedule in her head. Corporate rule number three: always know the schedule and stick to it.
“So, are you free until the party?”
That too warm, blushing feeling washed over Cassie again when he looked at her. He wanted to spend time with her. It made her light-headed and giddy.
“Yeah. I am. You said I'm not ready to bring you up to my room, but maybe we can go to your place.”
“Slow down, tiger,” he said gently.
Cassie felt her cheeks heat. She was pushing this too hard. She needed to slow down and enjoy herself. The point was to have fun this week. Not just to get laid. She was supposed to let loose and be a little wild, not sleep with anything that showed the slightest interest. She didn't have to be like her ex.
“Right. Um, an activity then? Outdoors, so I can't tempt you,” Cassie replied. “Or you tempt me.”
“You ever go jet-skiing?”
Cassie shook her head. “I'm not even a hundred percent sure what that is,” she admitted.
Wyatt grinned. “I'm guessing you're not wearing a swimming suit under that dress.” He eyed the dress appreciatively, and Cassie felt that familiar heat creep up again. “Meet me by the dock in fifteen minutes with your suit on. You can swim, right?”
“Of course I can swim,” Cassie replied indignantly, crossing her arms.
Wyatt grinned and stood from the table. “I'll see you in fifteen then.”
He winked and walked away, leaving her at the table. She sat there blinking for a moment, still trying to figure out what was happening.
Was this really happening? Had she managed to flirt herself into a date? Was this even a real date? She wasn't sure, but she wasn't about to waste the opportunity.
There was too much at stake. She might actually have fun.
WyattWyatt couldn't believe he'd turned her down. Again. She'd offered him another chance in her bed, and he'd said no. That he wanted to wait.He was an idiot.His body wanted her. He'd been glad that the table hid his obvious attraction to her. She was made for loving with her soft curves and warm smile. Today's dress was worse for his self-control than yesterday's dress. The dress was practically see-through, and he kept staring, hoping that he'd catch a glance of something.It was a beautiful kind of torture.And then she'd offered herself to him — screaming orgasms in her room.Usually, after a suggestion like that, he would be the one dragging the girl up the stairs to her room. But those dates always ended with him leaving before she fell asleep. He didn't remember their names. They blurred together. While fun, they went quickly. They didn't mean anything to him.He didn't want Cassie to blur. He wanted her to remain crisp and perfect in his memory. He wanted to take his time.
WyattHer lips pressed together, and her eyes were full of nervousness as she waited for him to respond. He could tell she wasn't used to being the one to initiate. If anything, the fact that she would do something so far out of her comfort level made it clear how much she liked him.She swallowed hard, still waiting for his reaction.“I think we have more time than that,” he said, reaching a hand out and cupping his fingers around the back of her neck. Slowly, he pulled her to him, giving her a real kiss this time.Her lips tasted of the drink and her own blend of sweetness. He teased her closed lips with his tongue, and slowly she opened to him. Her soft moan sent shivers of desire down his spine that had him wishing they had a bed and not just a sandy beach with a towel.He pulled back to see her sitting in the sand with her eyes closed. Her cheeks flushed such a pretty shade of pink, and her chest heaved up and down.Slowly, her eyes fluttered open, and she looked at him with thos
WyattThe jet-ski guy was not pleased with Wyatt for being so late. Luckily, it was nothing that couldn't be fixed with a little bit of money and a promise to never do it again. It was a false promise, and they both knew it. Wyatt always did it again.Wyatt headed back down the path through the pool area toward the employee locker room. There, he would change into his dark polo shirt and khaki slacks work outfit and head to the bar for his upcoming shift.His phone chirped in his pocket, and he pulled it out to see a message from his boss.Scheduling change. See the front desk.Wyatt groaned. Scheduling changes were never good. It usually meant he had to change to the pool bar. He liked working at the tiki bar or the lobby. He didn't like working the pool bar nearly as much because all his tips came back wet. He didn't need the tips, but carrying wet money around was never pleasant.He veered from his course, changing direction to head to the front desk rather than the employee area.
Cassie“Not bad,” Brianna said, looking around the bar. “Not bad at all.”Cassie had to agree. The Oceanside bar was nice. They had a private table off to the side of the room with the bar to themselves. There was a window with seating looking out over the ocean and a small dance floor off to the side. It wasn't much, but it would be a fun place to dance later. There was a karaoke machine as well, but Cassie was hoping they didn't bring it out tonight.“I wish we could have gotten the private table at the Platinum Club, but they were all booked,” Janessa said, looking around with just a hint of disappointment. “This will work though. This will be fun.”“Damn straight,” Brianna replied. “We're going to have a blast.”Cassie nodded in agreement, raising her glass of water to clink with Janessa's fruity cocktail. It was then that Brianna crowned Janessa with a crown made of penises.“Is it 'penises' or 'pensisi'? Or maybe 'penii'?” Janessa wondered, sipping on her second drink. She had a
CassieAunt Suzette sang in a key generally reserved for cats in heat.The bar sang along, belting out the warbles and key changes along with Whitney Houston. Cassie would never hear “I Will Always Love You” the same way ever again. The song would forever be about tonight.Cassie was having a blast.The music was loud, the drinks strong, and the people fun. Everyone was singing and dancing under the glittering disco lights of the karaoke bar. Color and laughter filled the room.“Time for blow-jobs!” Wyatt yelled from the bar. The women all turned and grinned.Wyatt had eight shot glasses filled with liquor and topped with a healthy dose of whipped cream. He'd been calling out dirty shots all night. So far they'd had sex on the beach, banana “dick”uiri, buttery nipples, and a pink climax.Every one of them had been delicious, but Cassie was careful only to take half the shot. She was still embarrassed by the last time she'd had too much to drink.“So, the rule here is no hands,” Wyatt
CassieWyatt pinned her in the elevator and kissed her hard enough to make her dizzy with lust. The bell dinged her floor and they staggered out into the empty hallway. He kissed her as they stumbled down the hallway to her room and it was pure skill that she opened her hotel room door without needing to look.The room was dark as they tumbled inside, mouths pressed together. She wanted to rip his shirt off and if there were a way to be instantly naked, she would have done it.“Here's my room,” she whispered, feeling like she should say something now that they were here.Wyatt just chuckled, the sound low and throaty, before kissing her again.The back of the bed bumped against her legs and Cassie looked up into Wyatt's green eyes, her breathing coming hard and fast. He looked back at her with lust and desire. He wanted her. It was the biggest ego boost Cassie had ever felt. This stud muffin of a man, with his beachy hair and beautiful body, wanted her.She swallowed hard, and the cor
WyattWyatt woke with the morning sun like he usually did. The early morning light flickered through the windows and stopped his dreams. Just like every morning, he wished he'd closed the curtains better. He sat up and glared at the offending light.Except, he wasn't in his bungalow. He wasn't home. He was in bed with Cassie.He blinked twice, looking around the room and remembering where he was. He'd slept so well he'd assumed he was home. The sleep had been deep and restful. Even though it was just after dawn, he felt ready to take on the day.Cassie shifted in her sleep beside him. She was so beautiful in the morning light. Her dark hair splashed against the crisp white linen, and she looked utterly kissable. He knew she was still completely naked under the sheet, and despite the fact they'd gone twice last night, he already felt like he could go for a third.She was just that attractive to him. She made him feel twenty years younger.But, he didn't want to wake her either. She loo
CassieFor the second time this week, Cassie was late to an event.This time, Brianna just stood there grinning at her as Cassie jogged up to the meeting place five minutes late and out of breath. Luckily, Cassie wasn't the last one to arrive.“Wyatt?” Brianna asked as Cassie joined them on the edge of the beach and the resort. “You're never late.”“Maybe.” Cassie tried an indifferent shrug.“Right. That's why your positively glowing and can't stop smiling,” Brianna said with a chuckle. “And you have sex hair.”Cassie's hands flew to her head, and Brianna laughed again. Her hair was fine. It was still smoothed neatly back into a ponytail. Brianna was messing with her. Cassie glared at her, but Brianna just grinned.“Is Julia here?” Cassie asked Brianna. “I haven't seen her yet.”“That's because you haven't left your room all day,” Brianna teased. She grinned at Cassie. “Julia just got here a little while ago. She should be here soon. She wanted to change out of her airplane clothes.”