The three of us walked quietly along the manicured path back to the main building. The wind had picked up, but it was still warm as the sun prepared to dip her toes into the ocean below. I couldn't believe the day was almost over. With all the excitement, I had completely lost track of time.“Are you going to the welcome banquet tonight?” Logan asked as we rounded one of the resort pools. No one was swimming, but the water rippled gently in the breeze as we passed.“Yes,” I replied hesitantly. I had already planned on going with Tyler and Maddy, but the idea of him being there made me a little queasy. Despite all Logan’s help today, I still didn't trust him. Once burned, twice shy. I wasn't about to let him ruin me again, even if he did save me from drowning.“I'll see you there, then,” he said with a grin. “Take care of her, Tyler.”Tyler nodded, tightening his grip around my arm, which was still draped over his shoulder, even though I was perfectly capable of walking on my own. “You
I checked my hair in the mirror one last time before opening the door to leave. My injury was barely visible, but I was surprised my ears weren't still red from the lecture Maddy had given me. She delivered a talking to that would have made my own mother pat her on the back for a job well done.I had followed Tyler's advice and apologized profusely, promising never to take my life jacket off again, and then hugged her. She had stared at me for a moment before hugging me back like I had just been resurrected from the dead, but that was the end of the lecture.Smoothing one last flyaway strand of dirty-blonde hair up into my loose bun, I felt pleased with my overall appearance. I wore a light blue chiffon dress with a sparkly rhinestone belt that hid a multitude of sins but still showed my curves. It was casual and elegant at the same time. Maddy had suggested that I put my hair up with this dress, and I had to admit that with the addition of some dangling earrings, I looked pretty darn
The weather report said a storm was supposed to be moving in on the island the next day, but the sky above us was cloudless and full of stars. A gentle breeze, warm and moist, danced through the greenery, ruffled the pools and ponds, and then caressed our skin like the fingertips of a lover as we walked from the main building to the dining hall. It was exactly what a tropical paradise should be.The resort boasted four restaurants, but this meet and greet banquet was being held in the main dining area. The only guests at the resort were travel agency representatives, so it was supposed to be just a laid-back, fun little get together. Since the resort wasn't officially open, and it was still technically the off season, we had the place to ourselves.From a distance, the dining facility seemed to be made of windows and light. Music spilled out into the quiet night as the elegant silhouettes of the guests floated across the windows. I wondered how many people were here. I knew there was
“I think this calls for a toast,” Noah said, motioning to the bartender in the corner. The bartender quickly hurried over carrying a tray with six champagne flutes. He handed a specific one to Tyler.“This one is sparkling cider,” the bartender explained to Maddy as she reached out to take it before Tyler could.“Could I get a cider, too? I'm not supposed to have anything alcoholic today,” I asked the bartender with a blush. He nodded, and once his tray had only the one champagne glass, hurried back to the bar to return with one filled with cider.“To Tyler, the hero of the island,” Logan announced once I had my glass.“To Tyler,” everyone echoed, raising their glasses. Tyler's grin threatened to split his face in half. This certainly was a vacation that he was never going to forget.As we sipped our champagne, a man in a white uniform and chef hat stepped into the center of the room. “Dinner is served,” he announced.Two tables rolled in behind him and were added to the buffet table
The sky was solid gray. There were no individual clouds; it was just a jelled block of achromatic gray. As we walked along the ocean's edge, the water seemed strangely calm as it lapped against the sandy beach. It was almost as if the sea was expending its energy elsewhere. It seemed possible, as according to the resort's weather report the storm was still safely north and supposed to miss the entire island completely.Up ahead, I could see a boy playing fetch with a dog, the two of them bounding through the waves and spraying water under their feet. The boy looked familiar, and as I came closer, I realized it was Tyler. I hadn't seen him since breakfast, where we had decided that neither one of us was really interested in snorkeling with the sky so dark. Without the sunshine, the colors of the fish and coral would be muted and dull. There were plenty of other things that we each wanted to do more than look at gray fish.“Tyler?” I called out to the boy as I came closer. When his head
“I have to run to the bathroom real quick,” I told Tyler as we approached the resort’s main building. “If you want, you can talk to the concierge and see if she knows a place where Spock can stay the night.”Tyler's brows pinched together slightly. He hated talking to strangers. “Okay.”I hurried across the lobby, fairly sure that he wasn't going to talk to the concierge. Tyler was incredibly shy. He had trouble answering the door for pizza, let alone talking to the hotel concierge. My sigh echoed off the marble surfaces in the bathroom. I quickly finished and washed my hands, prepping the mental speech to convince the concierge to help us find a place for Spock.When I came out of the bathroom, I didn't see Tyler or Spock in the lobby. Glancing outside, I didn’t see them there either, but the wind was picking up. I wondered if the storm was swinging further South than expected.“Are you looking for Tyler and his dog?” the concierge asked, coming up behind me. I turned quickly to see
Two years agoAfter our meeting earlier today, I couldn't stop thinking about Logan. The warm caramel swirls of his eyes. That one golden curl that I wanted to sweep off his forehead. That smile that made me purr like a cat in sunshine. Just thinking about him had me flustered in the best way. There was a connection between the two of us that wasn't just strictly business. At least, I really, really hoped there was.Especially because I had already picked out a backless black dress to wear out tonight.My phone buzzed, and I held my breath as I looked at the caller ID. It was a number I didn't recognize. Please, please, please...“Hello?” I sounded far more breathless than I had intended.“Olivia?” It was Logan. A little shiver of anticipation went down my spine. I liked the way my name sounded in his rich, masculine voice.“This is she,” I replied, trying to sound like I didn't recognize the voice. I didn't want to appear too eager.“Hi, it's Logan. From earlier today,” he said with
Two years earlierWe stepped out the back door and walked past the limo driver, who was flirting with one of the club's waitresses. He started to follow after us, but Logan waved him off. The driver shrugged and returned to smiling at the pretty girl as we hurried across the dark parking lot to the limo.Logan opened the door, tucking his free arm behind him and standing at attention as if he were escorting royalty. I giggled and slid across the leather seats into the vehicle. I had never been in a limo before, and it took me a moment to soak it all in. The seats were made of white leather and wrapped three-quarters of the limo in comfort. The fourth side was a bar, complete with champagne, glasses, and an assortment of mixers and booze. The ceiling was composed of blue lights and mirrors that cast the entire back seat in sexy shadows.Giddy butterflies danced around in my stomach. It had been a while since I had been with a man, and an even longer while since I had been this attracte