Their Festive Island Escape

by Nina Singh

  Lord knew he didn’t deserve it. That he fell far short of the type of man someone like Celeste was worthy of. So now the only question was what was he going to do about it?

  He downed the rum all at once, felt the satisfying burn of the spirit travel down his throat. It did nothing to ease his inner turmoil.

  He’d called her ex a coward earlier today in the beachside cabana when he’d pulled her in there after her so-called “admission.” He had to examine whether he was the one being cowardly now. Was he going to let her walk off this island in a few short days and out of his life for good? Or was he going to be as brave as she was? The woman had fearlessly laid it all on the line by putting her feelings into words that the whole world was meant to see.

  He wasn’t worthy of such a selfless act done on his behalf. But he’d been bestowed with it nonetheless. He couldn’t walk away. He would find her, and they would determine once and for all how to move forward. Together.

  He had so much upheaval in his life right now, had no guarantee what the future held if this deal didn’t work. His father was hell-bent on bleeding the company dry. He could only hope the board saw that fact and sided with him.

  Because damned if he hadn’t just realized that he’d fallen in love with her, too. He needed to tell her so. It was only right. He needed to follow her example and be as courageous as she was. He also needed to take her into his arms and make sure she understood that he was never going to let her go.

  But first, a shower. It had been a long, grueling day that had left tension knotting in his shoulders and back.

  Reid couldn’t help the smile that tugged at his mouth as he walked to the bathroom and turned the water on. In a few short hours, if all went well and he could persuade Celeste to listen, he’d be holding her and kissing her again. That had to make him the luckiest man in the universe.

  He realized all too soon that the universe had other plans.

  Reid’s phone lit up like a Christmas tree when he left the shower fifteen minutes later. With a chest full of trepidation, he returned the call to the number that had been trying to reach him for the entire time he’d been bathing.

  One of his lawyers.

  This was not a good sign.

  The attorney answered on the first ring. “Bad news, Reid. We’re going to need to do some damage control or you run the real risk of reverting all control back to Dale.”

  “I take it my father has managed to push through a vote?”

  “You’d be right. You need to fly down to Boston first thing.”

  Reid disconnected the call and cursed the fates he’d been so sure were smiling on him just minutes before.

  He tapped out Celeste’s number on his screen but she didn’t answer. His intended message wasn’t the kind a man left on voice mail. He would have to try to get a hold of her later.

  Right now, he had a flight to book and packing to do.

  * * *

  Celeste tried to focus on the same book she’d been trying to read ever since she’d arrived on the island. She’d barely gotten through the first couple of chapters. As gripping as the plot was, she couldn’t seem to find herself immersed in the story.

  She was much too distracted wondering whether Reid had read the file yet. There seemed to be no good conclusion. If he hadn’t looked at it yet, what exactly was he waiting for? Why was he putting it off?

  And if he had read it but wasn’t reaching out to her... That scenario was the more heartbreaking possibility.

  Well, she’d done all she could. She’d laid herself bare. Both with what she’d written and everything she’d told him in the cabana earlier. There was nothing more of her to expose to the man. Regardless of his ultimate reactions, she vowed to never regret her decision to do so.

  She needed something to take her mind off him. The book wasn’t cutting it. Celeste reached for her phone and dialed her sister’s number. The gurgling, happy sounds of her baby niece would be like Uma’s balm to her injured soul.

  “Hey, Tara,” she spoke into the phone when her sister answered. “How are you?”

  “All right, putting up Nat’s first Christmas tree. She’s very confused about why there’s a tree in the house. And why I’m hanging shiny things off its branches.”

  Celeste had to laugh at that. Maybe her little niece would be enough of a reason from now on to stay in New York for the holidays in the future. “I really miss the little tyke.”

  “She misses you, too.”

  “Can you put her on the phone? I just wanna hear her make noises for a bit. Maybe get her to say CeeCee again.”

  Her sister laughed. “I think you imagined that. She is not trying to say your name already. She’s only nine months old.”

  “I heard it loud and clear that day!” she exclaimed with a laugh.

  “In any case, I’m afraid she’s down for a nap right now.”

  “Oh. That’s too bad.” Celeste wasn’t prepared for the depth of the disappointment she felt at the news. She really had missed the little girl, hadn’t realized exactly how much until now.

  Tara paused a beat before continuing. “You sound sad, sis. What is it?”

  A sensation of warmth blossomed in her chest. She and Tara had their differences...what siblings didn’t? But they somehow always knew how to read each other and tried to cheer each other up when it was called for.

  “Nothing. And everything,” she admitted.

  “Does ‘everything’ include Ma?”

  “So, you heard huh?”

  “Yeah, she called here right after you told her. She knows it’s the right thing to do. For what it’s worth, I think you did the right thing, too.”

  Celeste sat upright on the bed. “You do?”

  “Yeah. She’s gotten bad. Doesn’t pay attention to how much she’s spending or what she’s spending it on. She needs someone else to take charge of her finances. It might curb her drinking, too. Which also seems way out of hand lately.”

  “I set up an annuity for her,” Celeste explained. “She’ll get a certain amount every month as spending money. But I’ll be the one in charge of her expenditures. And she has to agree to register for an addiction counseling service.”

  “I think that’s wise.” Tara hesitated before continuing. “Along those same lines, I’ve also been meaning to thank you. For setting up that trust for the baby. You know I appreciate it, right? And she will, too.”

  “I know, Tara.”

  This conversation was getting way too heavy. Celeste decided to change the subject. Though the next topic wasn’t such a light one either. “How’s the job search going?” she asked, knowing there couldn’t be much of one.

  Tara audibly sobbed into the phone. “Tara? Are you crying?” Not Tara, too! What was it with her family and all the waterworks today?

  She heard a sniffle. “Maybe.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I just can’t take it, sis. Those office buildings, sitting in those cubicles. It’s not me. I feel stifled and caged. But office work is the only thing I’m qualified for.”

  Oh, dear. Celeste had no idea her sister felt that way. How had she never thought to ask? What kind of big sister did that make her?

  None of which had anything to do with you.

  Reid’s words echoed in her head. He’d been right. This was about Tara, not about herself. She needed to find a way to separate herself from the needs of her family.

  “What do you want to be qualified for?”

  Another sniffle. “I don’t know. But remember all those pictures I used to take before that camera Uncle Zed got us finally broke?”

  The question invoked a vague memory in her mind. But apparently, the camera had meant a great deal to her sister. “Yes.”

  “I really enjoyed taking those pictures.”

  “You did?”

 
“Yeah, I did. And I was good at it, too. But you know how Ma is. She told me we didn’t have the money to replace the camera. And that it was a stupid waste of time anyway.”

  That certainly sounded like their mother. Celeste had been so focused on her own treatment at her mother’s hands, she’d completely missed the negativity that Tara had grown up with.

  The answer came to her without question. “Then it’s about time we replaced that camera, Tara.” She told her sister. “And maybe we can find you a class that can show you how to take even better photos.”

  Her sister’s gratitude came through loud and clear in her cheer of delight. “That’s always been a dream of mine,” Tara squealed into the phone. Again, Celeste had to wonder why she was first hearing this now.

  “Careful,” Celeste warned. “You’ll wake up the baby.”

  Tara laughed. “I should probably go check on her. But just one more thing, sis.”

  “What’s that?”

  “I don’t know why you sound so sad, you’re on vacation in paradise, after all. But you deserve to have your dreams happen, too.”

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  YOU DESERVE TO have your dreams happen, too.

  Tara’s voice still echoed in her mind the following morning. Celeste showered quickly then quickly got dressed and threw on her sandals. She fled out the door before she could change her mind. Step one in pursuing a dream was to have the courage to ask for what you wanted.

  She wanted Reid.

  Unlike the previous days since her arrival, this morning’s sky was cloudy and gray. The air was thick with muggy moisture. She would guess a rainstorm was headed their way soon. Hopefully, the weather wasn’t any kind of ominous sign regarding what she was about to do. When she reached the concierge level, she made a beeline straight to Reid’s door. She had to do this before she lost her nerve.

  Her knock went unanswered. She tried again with the same result. A pleasant male voice sounded behind her. “Can I help you with something, Celeste?”

  She turned to face Reid’s smiling, handsome business partner, Alex.

  “I, um, was looking for Reid.”

  “Maybe I can help you.”

  She quickly shook her head. “I don’t think so. I did some work for him, I just wanted to get his feedback on it.” She had to tell the lie. She couldn’t exactly divulge to Alex the real reason she was here. Kind eyes or not.

  “Ah, right.”

  She shifted awkwardly. “Do you happen to know when he’ll be in today?” she asked, knowing she sounded anxious and impatient but unable to help it.

  “I’m afraid he won’t be in at all today. I actually don’t know when he’ll be back. He flew out to Boston earlier this morning.”

  Celeste would have sunk into the floor if she didn’t have an audience. Reid had left. Without so much as a goodbye. He hadn’t even tried to find her first.

  Alex continued to speak. She barely heard him over the pounding in her ears. “But I know he’s read your file,” he told her. “I’m sure he’ll email you his comments in due time.”

  Celeste felt as if the wind had been knocked out of her lungs. Reid was going to email his comments. She’d laid her heart out on those pages. And he didn’t think enough of that to so much as try to talk to her about it. He’d run off. Just like Jack had done on the day of their wedding.

  Ridiculous as it sounded, Reid’s betrayal felt like the bigger one by far. She’d recovered from Jack’s desertion. She knew the same wasn’t going to be possible this time.

  She did her best to summon a smile for Reid’s friend. “Thank you. I’ll look for it in my inbox.”

  She could do so on her way to the airport. Looked like she would be cutting her trip short. She no longer had any desire to stay.

  Or to ever come back again.

  * * *

  In his anxiousness and relief to be back in Jamaica, Reid exited the town car almost before the vehicle had come to a complete stop in the circular driveway of the Baja Majestic.

  This had to be the quickest trip he’d ever taken to Boston and back. He usually booked at least one night at the Evanson Premier Boston Harbor hotel before taking a morning flight the next day. But he’d had no intention of sticking around the city this time. Once the confrontation with his father was over, he was more than ready to fly back to the Caribbean. Back to the resort he’d called home for weeks now. Back to Celeste. They had quite a bit to work out between them.

  Though confrontation wasn’t exactly the correct term for the meeting he’d had with Dale. Reid had arrived at Evanson Properties headquarters just in time to head off a vote of the board of directors. The clear relief on the expressions of the twelve executives told him the vote could have gone either way.

  After that, he’d made sure to finally have the one-to-one with his father that he’d been avoiding for so long. It had taken Celeste to help him discover his avoidance had been more personal than business. He had yet to thank her for that.

  In the end, Dale had seen reason and agreed to a limited role as a company president. Another weight lifted off Reid’s shoulders, though he and his father had a long way to go before their personal relationship could begin to mend.

  All in due time.

  Nodding to the doorman, he passed through the sliding doors into the Baja Majestic lobby, gratified that several guests were milling about, ready to check in. So far, the holiday season could officially be called a success. Celeste’s marketing plan would only help once it was implemented. Yet another thank-you she was due.

  He stopped at the counter and removed his sunglasses. “Sanya, please deliver a cart with our finest champagne and a variety of desserts to Room B717.”

  The woman behind the counter smiled and started clicking at the computer keyboard in front of her. “Right away, sir.” Her smile suddenly flattened with confusion. “Is that the correct room, Mr. Evanson?”

  “Yes. Is there a problem?”

  She returned her gaze to the monitor screen. “Our system says the room is empty, housekeeping is in there now. The guest has already checked out.”

  Reid felt all the excitement he’d experienced only moments before extinguish like a blown-out flame, replaced with a pounding sense of disappointment and hurt.

  She was gone.

  * * *

  If she kept busy enough, and took on enough projects, she could almost push Reid Evanson out of her mind for several minutes at a time. The only problem was, the days between Christmas and New Year’s didn’t exactly bring in a lot of business activity. Still, Celeste made it a point to go into her Upper East Side office in every morning to find ways to keep herself busy. Never mind that she was one of only a few people there. Most of the other employees were out preparing to celebrate New Year’s Eve.

  So far, she’d gone over all her deliverables for the new year, and then she’d gone over them again. She’d studied past successful campaigns to analyze what had worked and why.

  She’d even cleared out her inbox and organized her paper files via a new method. Today she figured she might tackle cleaning out the break room.

  Despite the relatively empty floor, a flurry of noise drew her attention from outside her door. What was that all about?

  The commotion drew closer to her door. “Ho-ho-ho!”

  She stood from her desk and opened her door. Someone dressed as Santa appeared to be approaching her office. Celeste rubbed at her temples. How had this guy gotten past Security? There were no children’s daycares or anything of the sort on this floor. Not to mention Christmas was already over, thankfully.

  “I think you’re lost, Santa,” she addressed St. Nick, her phone in her hand ready to call Security if need be.

  His response was to reach for his jaw and pull down the pretend beard and mustache—to reveal the face she’d been dreaming of since she’d left Jamaica all thos
e days ago.

  “Reid?”

  “Hi, sweetheart.”

  Celeste had to brace herself against the wall at her back. She couldn’t be seeing or hearing any of this. She must be having some kind of A Christmas Carol hallucination or dream. Tiny Tim would pop out any minute now.

  She blinked and rubbed her eyes. But Reid still stood there. As real as the hammering of her heart.

  “What are you doing here?” she stammered out.

  “I had an emergency business trip to make right before the holiday. As soon as I successfully wrapped it up, I realized I didn’t get a chance to wish my lady a Merry Christmas.”

  His lady?

  “You flew out here just to wish me a Merry Christmas?”

  They’d drawn the attention of the few other people who’d come into work. Her colleagues were staring at them in astonishment. Two of the women looked like they were dabbing at their eyes.

  “I did,” Reid answered her, walking closer until he stood mere inches away. How did the man manage to look sexy in a bulky Santa suit, for heaven’s sake? It took all her will not to throw her arms around him and nuzzle her face into his neck. She’d missed him so much, still couldn’t believe this wasn’t some fantasy or dream she’d be waking up from any minute now.

  “Oh, I also wanted to give your Christmas present. Didn’t get a chance to do that, either.”

  He reached inside the pocket of his red fleece pants. Then shocked her to her core by pulling out a velvet box and dropping to one knee.

  Flipping the top over, he revealed a sparkling diamond ring surrounded by dazzling ruby red stones. He’d been thinking of the black-and-red dress she’d worn the night of the dinner cruise. There was no doubt in her mind.

  Celeste had to remind herself to breathe.

  “Celeste Frajedi. You’re unlike anyone else I’ve ever known.”

  Her voice shook as she tried to answer. “I am?”

  “Without a doubt. I would call you the most generous person I’ve ever met. And I’d like to call you my wife.” He took her shaking hand in his. “Will you marry me?”