by Krista Lakes
Except that wasn't what he wanted. All he would be working for was time to relax on the beach. He was happy with his simple life. Why sacrifice and struggle when he already had what made him happy?
Except it was Cassie that made him happy. If he stayed here, he would fall back into his business life, but he would have Cassie. He was considering it, and at the same time afraid of what it would cost him. But, it was something he was willing to do to keep Cassie in his life.
He would find a way to make his billionaire status no longer matter. He would join the business world again until he was expected and normal here. It wasn't the life he wanted, but he was willing to do it for Cassie.
He just needed to tell her he was sorry. That he was going to make things right so she could stay here and have her life. He needed to apologize for the things he'd said the night before. He'd been tired and angry. The strain of being under a microscope was hard on them both.
He set the flowers down on the coffee table and called her name. There was no answer. Wyatt frowned and began to look for her.
Except, the apartment was empty. There was no sign of Cassie.
Wyatt checked his phone but didn't see any messages. He went to the bedroom and found the bed neatly made in Maria's signature fashion.
With shaking hands, he checked the closet and found that Cassie's things were gone.
Her suitcase, her shoes, everything.
There was nothing in the bathroom. There was nothing in the bedroom. There was nothing left of her in the apartment.
She'd left him.
He stumbled slightly, his hand going to the kitchen counter to catch himself. He wanted to rip his heart out of his chest and throw it against the wall. Anger, hurt, and loss dug their talons into the center of his bones and threatened to rip him apart.
She couldn't handle the fame. She wanted her life back, and he couldn't blame her. She'd escaped from this life she didn't want. The media intrusions, the arguments, the cruel words he'd said- he couldn't blame her for leaving.
Tears flooded his eyes. He hadn't cried since he was a boy, yet he felt he would explode with tears. Everything inside him felt shattered and ready to fall apart like a house of cards.
For the first time in his life, he didn't have a plan. He'd always had a plan. Even if the plan was merely to be a beach bum bartender who did nothing but bang tourists, he'd had a plan. There was always a plan.
Except, without Cassie, he didn't have a clue what to do next.
If she couldn't handle the billionaire life but didn't want to return to the island, he was forced to face the prospect of losing her or giving her up.
He wasn't sure he knew how to do that.
Wyatt sat down hard at the kitchen table, his head in his hands and his heart in tatters.
He almost didn't see the note.
It sat on the kitchen table, written in Cassie's neat script. It was just a small white card with his name. He almost didn't want to open it. He didn't want to have his worst fears confirmed. He didn't want her leaving to be real. He didn't want to believe that he'd lost her.
But the note beckoned and taunted him.
With shaking hands, he read the small, neat words.
Dear Wyatt,
I'm sorry for last night. You didn't deserve my anger. My jealousy was something I hadn't counted on. I am not used to this life.
Wyatt's heart fell. This was how a breakup letter started. There were only a few words left, but he was having a hard time finding the strength to look at them. He didn't want to feel the heartbreak he knew was coming. He took a deep breath, telling himself just to get it done and over with. Just finish reading.
Come and find me. I'm waiting for you. I'm waiting for us to be how we should be.
-Cassie
Wyatt frowned. That wasn't a breakup at all.
An address followed that he didn't recognize.
He sat in the brightly lit kitchen, feeling like he was still in the dark. He reread the note, forcing himself to put his emotions aside and focus on her words.
...how we should be.
He stared at the note, hoping that he understood its true meaning. Hope started growing inside of him, small and fragile, yet increasing with every passing second.
… how we should be.
She wanted them to be together. That was the only explanation.
He couldn't take the thought that he might be wrong. That path led to heartbreak and madness. Without letting himself think or worry, he went to the car.
He had somewhere to be.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Cassie
Cassie hoped she was doing the right thing.
Doubts assaulted her. Had he gotten the note? Had he understood? She should have been clearer. She should have left better instructions. She should have waited at the apartment.
But she'd been afraid if she waited she would chicken out. She would change her mind or that he wouldn't want this anymore. She was afraid if she stayed at the apartment, things wouldn't work out the way she hoped.
Besides, she wanted to do this here. She needed to show him she was serious.
She paced nervously in front of the airplane hanger. Her packed suitcase sat by the entrance. She'd spent nearly all the money in her bank account. The flight left this evening. There was no return flight scheduled.
What if he didn't come?
She tried not to think about it. She tried not to think about how she was about to change her life completely. Change terrified her. She liked knowing what was going to happen, but this had two very different endings. If he came, her life would change. If he didn't, it was still going to be different. There was no going back now. She wasn't in control anymore.
Though, to be honest, her life had changed the moment she met Wyatt. Nothing could be the same after him. This was just her realizing that fact and accepting it as truth.
She'd tried to pretend that her life would go back to normal. She'd tried to pretend that she could be happy with her old life. Except she knew it wasn't true. Her old life paled in comparison to her life with Wyatt. She would never be happy unless it was with Wyatt at her side.
So now she waited to see how life would change. She waited to see what letting go would get her.
She paced. She chewed on her nails. She tapped her toes, and she tried not to throw up.
Every black car that passed got her hopes up. Every dark SUV that turned the corner had her hopefully smiling and coming to the curb. Every time, she was disappointed.
Until one.
Time moved in slow motion as the black SUV slowed and finally stopped at the curb. Cassie held her breath as the car door opened and a handsome man stepped out.
He still wore the suit he'd left in that morning. His hair was messy as if he'd run his hands through it a million times. His green eyes were sharp. His shoulders held tall with confidence.
Cassie's heart stuttered and almost failed. She hoped there was someone nearby that knew CPR because there was an excellent chance she was going to need it, especially if he turned her down. If he said no, her heart would stop in her chest forever.
His steps slowed as he approached her. He looked calm and professional. She was reasonably sure that despite the fact she'd checked her hair seventeen times and fixed her clothing twenty-eight times, that she looked a mess. She felt frazzled and out of control. She just hoped she didn't look it.
“Cassie?” His voice cracked slightly, the only indication that he might be as nervous as she was. He frowned slightly. “Where are we?”
“This is a private runway,” she explained. She held out two fluttering pieces of paper. “These are tickets. For us.”
He frowned slightly, his green eyes going to the tickets. Carefully, he took them and read them over. She watched his face, waiting for a reaction.
Slowly, so slowly that her heart nearly gave out, a smile started to appear. It started with just a twitch upward on one side and gradually spread across his mouth as it f
illed and grew until he was grinning at her.
“I think we should go to the Caribbean,” she announced. “I think you're right. I think it's the place that we're supposed to be. The place that we're supposed to stay. The place that's home.”
“Really?” His beautiful eyes came to hers, searching her face. “I don't want you to regret this. I want you to be happy.”
Cassie's heart melted around her ribs. She reached out, taking his hands in hers. They were warm and steady beneath her fingers. Just touching him made her breath catch with desire and emotion.
“Wyatt, I love you.” She looked up at him, her eyes wide and smile nervous. “I love you, and I want to be with you. If you think we can be happy in Antarctica, I will go there.”
“Antarctica?” He looked bemused.
“I'd need to pack different clothes, but I'd go.”
“You love me.” He smiled as he said it as if he could barely believe his luck.
Cassie nodded. “I was stuck on my old life, but you weren't a part of my old life. You're a part of my new life. And that's not here. We need to go to where we belong.”
“You love me,” he repeated, a little bit of awe in his voice.
She couldn't help but smile. “Yeah.”
He wrapped her up in his arms, his fingers sliding into her hair as he pulled her into a kiss. He kissed her with an intensity that told her his emotions better than his words ever could. His embrace told her that he needed her as much as she needed him.
“I love you, too,” he whispered, holding her into him as if she might disappear in a puff of smoke. “So, so very much.”
Cassie's heart sang. Her body thrilled, and she felt like laughing and crying at the same time. She felt like she could fly. She wanted to dance and sing, shout and explode, jump and clap all at the same time.
She kissed him, emotion overwhelming her completely. Wyatt held her, the two of them laughing and crying.
Soon they'd be escaping to the Caribbean to start their new lives.
Epilogue
Wyatt
Wyatt stepped out onto the deck of his new boat and stretched in the morning sun.
Life had never been this good.
Wyatt couldn't imagine how he'd once thought being a bartender had ever been enough. He couldn't believe that he'd ever been happy without Cassie.
They were home here. Blue Caribbean waters were a balm to weary souls. The white sand called to them, and the warm sunshine banished worries.
Cassie and Wyatt didn't go back to the resort. Wyatt didn't have a job there anymore, and after hearing how he'd been treated, Cassie had refused to go to such an establishment. Besides, Wyatt didn't need to tend bar and live a bachelor lifestyle anymore. He didn't want that life.
So they bought a sailboat. It wasn't the biggest or flashiest boat in the world, but it was comfortable, and it got them where they wanted to go.
Today, it was taking them to a very special island.
Wyatt checked the rigging and made sure his route was plotted in the computer. The island wasn't far, but he wanted to make sure they arrived there with plenty of time left in the day. He had a surprise, and he wanted to make sure that Cassie would be able to make the most of it.
He peeked in the cabin to make sure Cassie was still asleep before going back up on deck. He pulled out his phone and dialed his assistant.
“Is everything set for our arrival?” he asked Amanda when she answered.
“All set, boss,” she assured him. “The caretaker has prepped everything, and you're good to go. The kitchen is stocked, and the grounds are ready for viewing.”
“Good.” Wyatt still felt nervous though. The last two weeks had been heaven. He wanted to make sure that they stayed in this Heaven.
“Oh, and I have news for you,” Amanda continued. He could hear the smile in her voice. “You remember that charity date you went on while in Arizona?”
As if Wyatt could forget Lorna and her terrible kiss. He was glad he knew how to disappear in the Caribbean, and that they were on a boat that no reporter knew about. It made avoiding anyone wanting answers about his supposed “fiancee” much easier.
That and his lawyer's cease and desist letters had really cut down on the annoying phone calls.
“What about it?” Wyatt asked, almost afraid of what was coming. Anything to do with Lorna spelled out trouble.
“The check bounced.”
“Wait, what?” Wyatt asked, surprised.
“The check bounced. She didn't have the funds to cover her donation,” Amanda repeated. “It's a mess. But at least she's stopped talking to the press. I have a feeling it may be due to the fact she's facing criminal charges for writing that large of a bad check.”
Wyatt nearly burst out laughing. It was only fair that her tricks come back to bite her. He knew she'd been kicked out by her family and recently one of her ex-husbands had come forward with damning information. Lorna had sown her own future with her choices.
“Make sure to up my donations to compensate,” Wyatt told Amanda. “I don't want the charity to suffer because of that woman.”
“I figured you'd say that,” Amanda replied. “I've emailed you new consents. Send them back to me whenever you get the chance.”
“Thanks, Amanda.”
“Anytime, Boss,” Amanda told him. “Enjoy the new island. Let me know whatever you need.”
Wyatt hung up the phone and grinned. The day was already going better than expected.
“Who were you talking to?” Cassie asked, coming up on deck. She wore short shorts and a thin t-shirt that didn't hide her curves. She had no idea what the sight of her body did to him. Suddenly, he lost the ability to think in cohesive sentences as he stared at her chest. She wasn't wearing a bra.
“Amanda,” he grunted.
“Tell her I say hi next time,” Cassie replied with a smile. “Where are we going today?”
She didn't seem to notice how his lower body was reacting to her as she walked across the deck. Her hips swayed with the boat, and Wyatt felt himself harden.
“It's a surprise,” he told her. “We'll get right underway after I do something first.”
Cassie turned, a slight frown on her face. “Do what?”
“You.”
And he took her in his arms and showed her what seeing her sexy body did to him.
They got to the island later than Wyatt had planned, but he didn't mind. The morning had been worth it. Every time with Cassie was worth it. Especially because now she sat humming on the deck, glowing and looking pleased.
“Look at that,” Cassie said, shading her eyes and coming to her feet. “It's beautiful.”
White sand beaches gave way to palm trees and grass before a huge white colonial looking mansion.
“That's where we're going today,” Wyatt explained, loving the grin she gave him. “The dock is just over here.”
The large white house sat near the beach. It was more mansion than house, but that suited Wyatt's plans. The house originally belonged to a media mogul. There were more rooms than Wyatt knew what to do with, three pools, a mini-golf course, miles of beach, and a professional grade kitchen.
Wyatt docked the boat and secured it. As he was finishing, a man with a broad smile walked down the dock to greet them.
“Mr. Landers, I presume?” the man called.
“Please, call me Wyatt.” Wyatt hopped off the boat to shake the man's hand. Cassie was right behind him. “This is Cassie.”
“A pleasure to meet you, miss,” the man replied. “I'm Franco. I'm the caretaker here. Let me show you to the house.”
Franco led them up a carefully tended path away from the beach. Cassie's eyes were wide with delight with every step. Wyatt's excitement grew. This place was perfect for what he had planned. It was better than the brochures promised.
The house beckoned them to enter. Cassie hurried to the doorstep.
“Wait,” Wyatt said, catching her. He bent over and swooped her into his arms
. “Let me.”
Cassie giggled but didn't fight him as he carried her over the threshold. “You're so romantic,” she told him, kissing his cheek.
The house was everything Wyatt had hoped it would be. The rooms were more spacious, the kitchen better than expected, the view to die for, and the town and airport closer than he thought.
All in all, it was perfect.
“Wyatt, this place is beautiful,” Cassie told him after Franco left them to get settled. They stood out on the master bedroom's balcony overlooking the ocean. “I feel like I should wear a corset and say I'm the governor's daughter.”
“The governor's daughter?” Wyatt asked, not following her train of thought.
“Like in a pirate movie,” she explained. “This place feels like it belongs as a set in 'Pirates of the Caribbean.' This place is a palace.”
“Do you like it?” he asked, feeling his heart start to speed up.
“I love it,” she told him. She smiled. “I could see this place being an amazing hotel. It would be small, but intimate. The town is close, and it wouldn't take too many renovations.”
“Already dreaming,” he said, watching her light up as she planned her ideal hotel.
“I can't help it. Hotels are what I know. They're what I'm good at.” She blushed a little and then pointed to the beach. “Right there would make a perfect spot for a coffee cart with comfy chairs. And there's a spot we walked past that is made for guests to relax.”
“Then this place is yours,” he said. “Turn it into a hotel.”
She turned back to him, her smile unsure. “What?”
“Turn this place into a hotel,” he told her. “That's why I bought it for you.”
Wyatt was rewarded with seeing Cassie's jaw hit the floor. “You bought it?”
“Amanda saw it and had me look at it,” he explained. “It's just like you said- a perfect hotel.”
Cassie's hand went to a wall, touching it gently and with awe. “So you bought it? For me?”