by S. E. Rose
“Let’s go for a walk,” she suggests as she places her napkin on the table.
“Alright,” I say. I stand and wait for her to walk in front of me.
Then she turns to Kev and the other man. “Kev, Dave, I’m going to take a walk. You guys go ahead and stay here,” she instructs. Kev gives her a look, and she gives him one right back. I officially don’t understand what is going on.
“Come on,” she says and motions for me to come with her. We walk around the resort and then reach the beach. She removes her sandals and sits down on the rocky wall made of pumice stones and dead coral, putting her feet in the foot of water that comes lapping up against the wall. She lies back on the sandy shore and looks up at the night sky. Her blonde hair has fallen out of whatever was keeping it up, and it lies surrounding her head like a sunburst. She smiles up at me and pats the ground next to her. “Come here,” she says softly.
I take off my leather flip-flops and roll my pant legs up, so I can place my feet in the water next to her. I too lie back and gaze up at the stars. It’s only then I realize just how amazing the night view is from this little island. I can see satellites slowly making their way across the night sky. A waning crescent moon gives some light to the night sky, but otherwise the stars, billions of stars, shine brightly and the Milky Way is clearly visible.
“It’s breathtaking,” I say as I turn to her. I’m only half talking about the night sky. I study the outline of her profile. Her lashes are long and curved, her nose, small and straight, and her lips lush and calling for me to kiss them.
“Yes, it is,” she says, and she half turns her head to gaze at me. “Jesse, I think we should talk.”
I can see she is serious now. “Sure. What would you like to talk about?” I ask.
She looks into my eyes with sadness, and I wonder why. “Do I look familiar to you?” she asks softly.
I look at her. I have been wondering all day how I know her. It’s only compounded by the ease of our conversation, like two old friends. “Yes, I admit you do. Why? Do we know each other?” I ask suddenly feeling panicked. Do I know her? Should I know her? Oh God, did we fuck, and I don’t remember her?!
“Oh,” she says even more softly. She’s nervous. I reach down and find her hand and place mine over it. “I bet if I tell you my full name, you’ll know who I am,” she continues barely audible.
“Maybe,” I say suddenly very unsure about where this conversation will go.
She looks back up at the sky for a long moment, but I can’t take my eyes off her. Then slowly, she turns her head back to face me, her eyes wide with trepidation. “Vanessa Tourney,” she whispers.
I’m dumbfounded for a long moment before the wheels in my head begin to click. The singer! She’s a famous singer! Jesus, I did not see that coming.
“The singer,” I whisper back. She nods and turns back to the sky.
She lets out a sigh. “I wanted to wait, to not tell you yet, but then I could see the way you kept looking at Kev and Dave, and I knew you were wondering what the deal was. I’ve had such a good day with you, and I like you. You’re easy to talk to, and it was nice today to pretend I was just me and not famous, no baggage, just a regular girl on vacation who meets a regular guy.” She turns back to me. “But that’s not fair to you.”
I smile at her. She thinks fame will change the way I feel about her. She thinks fame will squash whatever it is that sparked between us today. I want to laugh at the absurdity of it. I’m Jesse Fucking Ryder, sweetheart. Fame doesn’t bother me, it follows me. You’re not the first famous person I’ve met, and you won’t be the last.
I can’t help myself. I look up at the sky and chuckle.
“What?” she asks, sounding slightly annoyed.
“You want to know my full name?” I ask her.
“Sure,” she says very slowly.
“Jesse Ryder,” I answer.
“Jesse Ryder,” she copies. “Jesse Ryder,” she says again rolling my name around in her mouth. I smile. She’s trying to place me, to see if she should know who I am. I know the moment when the cogs start working because she shoots straight up like a bolt of lightning.
“Wait, the Jesse Ryder, as in Ryder Enterprises?” she asks as she looks down at me. She’s hovering over my face and her eyes are wide with shock and a hint of amusement.
“Guilty,” I admit as my smile widens.
She throws herself back down on the sand and hits her head. “Owww,” she grumbles rubbing the back of her head.
I lean over and lift her head slightly to look at it.
“You OK?” I ask her. She winces and nods as I run my thumb over the back of her skull. I leave it there for a minute and feel a small bump form.
“That’s going to hurt like hell tomorrow,” I say. “Perhaps we should wait a day or so to do that diving trip.”
She sighs. “I’m a mess,” she announces as she lets her head go slack against my hand so I’m cradling her head. I can’t help myself any longer. I lean over so my face is only an inch or two away from hers.
“Messes can be fun,” I whisper against her lips.
She rolls her eyes. “The Jesse Ryder I’ve read about would know a thing or two about messes,” she says. Shit, my reputation precedes me.
“Oh, would he?” I ask, raising an eyebrow. Well, well, Ms. Tourney is sassy. Although she has a good point, until a few years ago I was a mess. I worked hard, built my empire, and partied even harder. I’d rent whole islands for my friends and me and spend a week getting shitfaced only to have photos somehow emerge on all the gossip sites. I struggled between trying to be the father my niece and nephew had lost in a car crash and trying to be the man I was still working on becoming. My life was a complicated mess, but now things were simpler. My sister had found a new beau and my niece and nephew were grown. Hell, my niece has three kids! I only have to worry about myself now and my work. The last few years, I’ve thrown myself wholeheartedly into my company. I created an empire, a kingdom, and crowned myself the ruler. But my bad boy image still haunts me. But shit, don’t all our pasts haunt us?
I look down into her eyes, searching them. We just met, fucker, take it slow! I yell in my head. I slowly release her head and pull away. “So, does that mean you don’t want to hang out with me this week?” I ask her.
She sits up slowly, rubbing her head, and watches her feet in the water. “Of course not,” she says. “It does make this all the more ironic though,” she laughs with bitterness.
“Why are you here?” I ask her, knowing she’s running from something.
“A few reasons,” she says. “I have a stalker and the police are trying to find him, and I broke up with Nat Richards about two months ago. I needed to get away from the fucking pap onslaught.”
I nod. “A stalker?” I ask, more concerned about that than Nat Richards, who is a total fucking prick. I have never met him, but through the chain, I’d heard about him. He’s a movie star, who thinks his shit doesn’t stink. I’m actually surprised Vanessa dated him, as her reputation is squeaky clean.
“Yeah, three months ago I started getting these letters, and then I was followed. That’s part of the reason Nat and I broke up, he thought I was making a mountain out of a mole hill,” she sighs. Fucking asshole! “Anyhow, someone got into my Malibu home two weeks ago. Kev is the head of my security, and Dave’s my manager. They’ve been with me since I got famous, and they both talked me into coming here and lying low for a few weeks. I don’t have to be back in LA for another two weeks, so I just decided to spend the whole time here relaxing,” she explains. “Honestly, I sort of needed the decompression time, you know?”
I nod and smile. “I know exactly what you mean. I was supposed to be in Sidney right now giving a keynote address at a conference, and then I was going to take a long weekend and hike a canyon on Kauai with some friends, because I needed to get away for a few days.”
“Oh?” she asks.
“Yeah, been a little busy with my company l
ately,” I say.
“So that’s why you haven’t been in the limelight lately?” she asks, but I know that’s meant more as a rhetorical question.
“Something like that,” I answer.
She yawns. “I’m sorry to be a party pooper, but I’m actually kind of tired. Snorkeling all day really makes me sleepy,” she says with a contented smile.
“Agreed,” I say and stand. I give her my hands and help her up. We both pick up our sandals and head toward our bungalows. We don’t speak much on the way there. I stop outside of hers.
“Thanks for inviting me to dinner,” I say.
“Thanks for coming,” she says, looking down at her feet. I find it ironic that she’s so shy, when I know she’s a powerhouse on the stage. She’s performed at the Emmy’s for crying out loud. I study her face again. It’s probably the no makeup, messy natural hair, and sun-kissed skin that kept me from being able to identify who she was earlier. It’s almost like seeing a secret part of her that her fans aren’t allowed to glimpse, that the world isn’t allowed to glimpse, and I have to say it’s an addictive part of her.
“I was thinking of chartering a boat tomorrow,” I announce. “Care to join me?”
She hesitates. “Uh, I’d have to bring Kev with us. Is that OK?”
“Sure, but let me talk to him first,” I say. Little does Kev know that I am martial arts trained, raised by a police officer father and did JROTC in high school. I can fire a weapon, although I don’t have one with me, but I can also take a man his size down with no problems.
She looks at me with curiosity and nods. “I’ll see you at breakfast at seven tomorrow morning,” I say.
“OK,” she says. She puts a hand on my shoulder and pulls herself up to give me a kiss on the cheek. “Thanks, Jesse, for everything,” she adds as she pulls away, her face still looking down. I put a hand under her chin and raise it, so she has to look at me.
“You’re welcome, Vanessa. It was my pleasure,” I say as I smile and release her chin. “Goodnight,” I add as I walk back toward my bungalow.
“Goodnight,” she calls, and I hear her door shut.
Chapter 3
Jesse’s Playlist: “Mystify” by INXS
I wake to the gentle sounds of the ocean. It takes me a moment to remember where I am and then remembering the night before, I smile. Something about Vanessa makes me smile, which is saying something. I remember my texts from the night before and I smile again. I look down to see if Rick has confirmed everything that I asked for and my grin widens.
Rick: It’s all set. Have fun!
Jesse: Thanks. I’ll remember this when bonus time comes up. ;)
Rick: You better. ;)
I laugh. Rick’s not just a great PA, he’s a good friend. Some people have warned me to separate my business associates and friends, but damn it, I built my company, and I like that we are like a family. I have found people work harder for a boss they respect and trust. You take care of employees, and they will take care of you. So far, that philosophy and good intuition on my hires has served me well.
I get ready and head to breakfast. I see Vanessa sitting at a back table reading a book, an actual book, no tablet, no cell phone. Something about that intrigues me. I grab a plate and pile on ceviche and head toward her table. As I walk toward her, I can’t help wondering how she chose this hotel. It’s not the poshest hotel on the island. Hell, they have a buffet breakfast. It is the most secluded, and I suppose that has its draws; it certainly has me sucked into its beauty.
“Good morning,” I say jovially as I walk up to her table. She looks up from her book and smiles.
“Good morning, Mr. Ryder,” she says as she sets her book down on the table.
“Mind if I join you, Ms. Tourney?” I ask. She shrugs and motions for me to take a seat.
She takes a sip of some type of tropical juice, but her eyes never leave mine. She’s surveying me, sizing me up because I’m not sure she knows what to make of me yet. And I guess I can’t blame her. I’m probably an enigma.
“I was curious if you made other plans for today, or if you’d still be up for hanging out with me?” I ask taking a bite of breakfast.
“No plans.” She sighs and rubs her head. “I decided to take your advice and wait a day or two. I bumped it pretty good last night.” She sighs again.
“You OK today? You’re not dizzy or nauseous, are you?” I ask, suddenly concerned.
She smiles and shakes her head. “No, no. It’s not a concussion. I’ve had one of those before. It’s just tender where I knocked it.”
I nod. “Try an Advil and some ice.”
“I have. I’m sure it’ll feel better tomorrow,” she says.
I clear my throat and take a sip of coffee. “So, I was hoping you didn’t have plans today because I’m looking for an accomplice.”
She raises an eyebrow. “That sounds dangerous,” she goads.
“Well, maybe. Would you be available perhaps in,” I pause and look at my diving watch, “forty-seven minutes?”
“Wow, that is very specific,” she laughs. “I suppose. What shall I wear?”
“What you have on is fine,” I say looking at her sundress with a bikini under it.
“Alright, I’ll talk with Kev,” she says. I hold up a hand.
“No need, I’ll speak with him.”
She eyes me with curiosity as I finish the last bite of my ceviche and stand. “I’ll meet you by the dock,” I say motioning toward a boat dock by the beach. She nods.
I walk over to Kev who is several tables away talking to Dave. I motion for him to follow me and he does, surprisingly, but only to the edge of the restaurant. “Kev, I’d like to surprise Vanessa and take her on a day cruise around the island for some snorkeling and relaxation. I’ve chartered a private boat. I’d like to go solo. I’m a licensed captain, I’m also a black belt in Taekwondo, and I’ve more recently been practicing Krav Maga. I nearly went the military route but ended up in the IT world by happenstance. In any case, I can take care of her. I know she won’t go with me alone, unless you tell her it’s alright,” I add and stop so I can take a look at his reaction. He seems slightly taken aback and surprised with this data dump I’ve given him. I’m not nearly as tall or wide as him, but I’m close in height.
“Mr. Ryder, I really shouldn’t leave her…” He trails off and looks over at Vanessa who is intently watching us.
“I know, you have a job to do. I’m giving you a day off, enjoy it. I’ve got this,” I assure him. “Plus, the weather is great, and we are in the middle of nowhere, literally.” I look down and see a phone in his hand. “May I?” I ask him. He hands it to me tentatively. I go to a location-sharing app and add myself. “There, now you can stay on the job if you like.” He gives me a small smile.
“OK, man, I’ll talk to her, but she’s the boss, so it’s up to her.” He shrugs and walks away.
I smile and am curious what will happen, but for now, I have preparations to make.
Forty-one minutes later, I am standing at the dock. A small boat is pulled up alongside it and a larger catamaran sits just outside the reef. It’s perfect, exactly what I wanted. I’ve been sailing my whole life and our family has always had boats. I bought my first one when I was in high school and slowly upgraded over the years. This one isn’t quite as nice as my sailboat back home, but it’ll do.
I hear footsteps behind me, and I whirl around to see Vanessa sans Kev. I can’t help my shit-eating grin. “So, you’ve come solo have you?” I ask her.
She slows her pace and looks up at me. “I’m taking a walk on the wild side,” she muses. “Don’t make me regret it,” she adds pushing a finger into my chest.
“Aye, aye, captain,” I reply as I take her hand and lower her into the small dinghy.
I sit in the back and start the motor, and we move through the reef out to open water. She watches me with curiosity but doesn’t ask any questions. Her eyes widen slightly as we approach our vessel.
I
tie us up and pull myself up to the platform on the stern of the boat. I reach down and hold out my hand to help her up, and she complies. I can see her searching for crew members.
“Where’s the crew, the captain?” she asks as she sets the one small bag she has brought on a built-in lounge chair.
I smirk at her. “You’re looking at them?” I answer.
Her eyes further widen, and she steps back in disbelief and then smirks at me. “Very funny, seriously, where are they?”
I point to myself. “I am your captain. And we don’t need crew for what I have planned for today.”
I can see she’s now a bit nervous. I decide I need to switch tactics. I open my phone and show her my location app and show her that Kev is watching us from afar. “Have a seat,” I say to her.
I sit down next to her and place a hand over the ones she has in her lap. My single hand covers both of hers, and I have to force myself to concentrate as I feel the heat and silkiness of her skin. “I have my captain’s license. I own a boat slightly larger than this one, and I’ve grown up on boats. The weather is fine, and we won’t be going far. I’m a certified diver, certified in first aid, black belted in martial arts, and I also bartended in college, so I’m pretty sure I can handle the little adventure I have planned for us today.”
She eyes me with skepticism. “Are you trying to impress me, Mr. Ryder?”
“Am I impressing you, Ms. Tourney?” I ask her.
She grins. “Maybe, a little.”
“Well, then I have my work cut out for me, don’t I?” I say and head over to the wheel. She follows me, and I show her how it can be wind-powered or powered with a motor. It’s best to use the sails when you have more than one person aboard. Not that I couldn’t do it, but I want to enjoy myself, so I explain that today we are going to be motorized. She nods, and as we head out of the channel, I start explaining the boat to her. To my surprise, I find she’s an excellent student. I follow the edge of the reef and head out toward a small island I’ve charted this morning. I’ve had a picnic lunch packed for us and there’s snorkel equipment on board.