Ocean Breeze

by Laura Conway

  “I’d say so,” Andrea said as she met Carley’s sea-blue eyes.

  “Let me down easy, okay?”

  Andrea didn’t know how much of this conversation was real. This fake relationship was already feeling real, and they hadn’t even gone to the wedding yet. Carley had been there for her when she nearly had a breakdown during the thunderstorm, and Andrea was doing her best now to be there for Carley.

  “I will do my best,” Andrea said, forcing a smile. “I have a few phone calls to make. Let me know what time your flight is, okay? And let me know if you need anything,” Andrea said as she walked over to the door. “Okay?”

  “I will...”

  Andrea heard Carley close the door behind her, and she went back downstairs to talk to her mother. She needed to take her mind off whatever was or wasn’t going on between them.

  Andrea had no idea how she’d let this happen, but she was falling for Carley.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  When Carley arrived back at Malaga Airport three days after her grandmother’s funeral, she couldn’t wait to crawl into bed. The last few days had been so exhausting. Between seeing her parents again and dealing with the loss, she was completely drained. She couldn’t remember the last time she was this tired. She adjusted the straps on her backpack as she left the arrivals area to find the exit and wait for the bus to Marbella. She had about a half hour to wait, but she didn’t mind. She wanted to check her emails and look at Andrea’s schedule for tomorrow. She’d be flying back to Malaga Airport herself tomorrow morning after a short trip to London.

  Carley was so caught up in her own thoughts that she never saw Andrea waiting for her.

  “Welcome home,” Andrea said, reaching for Carley’s arm as she walked past.

  “Andrea? What are you...?”

  “I figured you’d be jet-lagged, and I thought you’d want to get home as soon as possible,” Andrea said, flashing her a warm smile.

  “But weren’t you supposed to be in London today?”

  “I re-arranged. Come on. My car’s outside.”

  Her car?

  Carley had never seen Andrea drive. She was always driven.

  Carley followed her out of the airport, looking at her properly for the first time. She’d almost been in a daze when Andrea had reached for her arm. Andrea looked amazing in skinny white jeans and a sleeveless sea green blouse that brought out the mossy flecks in her hazel-green eyes.

  Carley shook her head when she realized which car was Andrea’s. She was never into cars, but this black convertible Ferrari was slick. She had no idea what model it was, but she knew it was expensive.

  “How was your flight?” Andrea asked as she tied her hair back and started the car. The roar of the engine made Carley’s heart beat a little faster.

  “Long. I had an overnight layover in Dublin.”

  “Everything I’m doing tomorrow is local, so don’t even think about doing any work. Rest and get back on Spanish time,” Andrea said as she pulled out of the airport.

  “Thanks,” Carley said with a smile as the wind whipped through her hair.

  It was good to be back. Carley had already fallen in love with Spain, but now that she’d spent so much time in Marbella, it was starting to feel like home.

  She hated to admit it, but she missed Andrea while she was gone. They’d texted back and forth, because it was easier than calling with the time difference, and it was less personal.

  She didn’t know what Andrea was thinking, but when Andrea comforted her and told her to book a flight home, Carley felt like there was more there than a working relationship. Maybe it was just her. It was all innocent enough, nothing a friend wouldn’t do, but for Carley, it was more than that. Her stomach fluttered when Andrea’s arms were around her. Her skin tingled when they accidentally touched.

  The wedding was in six days, and Carley wasn’t sure how to feel about it. Part of her was looking forward to playing Andrea’s girlfriend. She wanted to find out what it would be like to hold Andrea’s hand or to admire her freely, without worrying about getting caught. The other part of her was dreading it. She was having enough trouble staying focused on her job after she’d kissed Andrea. What would happen after spending a weekend together where they’d more than likely kiss again?

  Carley didn’t think she’d be able to bottle her feelings up again. She knew it wasn’t about kissing Andrea either. Being able to reach for Andrea’s hand and dance with her again would be more than enough for her to get carried away.

  How did this happen?

  Carley couldn’t remember ever feeling like this about someone. It was torturous, wanting to say something, to act on her feelings, but knowing that she really shouldn’t. The wedding was going to be the only exception, and a part of her wondered if she should use it to prove that they had something. Carley kept coming back to the fact that Andrea had kissed her back that night.

  Maybe I should really go for it... Andrea wants us to look like a real couple. I can do that...

  Originally, when Andrea had asked her to pretend to be her girlfriend, Carley assumed that nothing much would happen, a kiss on the cheek or a hand on the small of her back to let her lead the way, but that was before they’d kissed.

  As Andrea drove them home with the ocean on their left and mountains on their right, Carley decided she was going for this. She had nothing to lose. Either way, after the wedding she was going to be disappointed that the fantasy was over.

  Carley knew that there were so many reasons why they wouldn’t work. Even though she was gaining confidence with every event that she went to with Andrea, she knew she was still an outsider. Carley didn’t care that Andrea was fourteen years older than her, but maybe Andrea did, and then there was the fact that they worked together. She knew how seriously Andrea took her business, and she didn’t think she’d want to cross that line. Carley would probably be out of a job if she pursued this, but it was only a job. She didn’t care about the money except for the security it provided.

  There were plenty of reasons why this wouldn’t work, but if Carley’s performance at the wedding was memorable enough, she might just give Andrea something to think about and maybe then, she would stand a chance.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Andrea blinked back the tears that were threatening to fall as James read out his vows. When had she become such a sap? She was happy for James, but this reaction wasn’t her style. It usually took a lot to move her and here she was, on the verge of ruining her makeup. She didn’t even have a tissue in her clutch.

  Andrea felt Carley’s hand on her forearm. “Here,” Carley whispered, handing her a tissue, her blue eyes brighter than she’d ever seen them.

  “Thanks.”

  Andrea’s fingertips brushed across hers as she took the tissue, sending a jolt of energy through her arm.

  Pull it together.

  This was going to be a long weekend if she couldn’t keep her feelings in check. She carefully dabbed her eyes as the grooms said, ‘I do.’ They both looked incredibly handsome in their black suits and teal ties, and the location was perfect. The sun was starting to set, the clear blue sky fading into oranges and reds as the ceremony came to an end.

  There were only about fifty guests invited to the beach for the wedding ceremony, but the cheers that erupted suggested that there were hundreds present. Fists flew into air and a round of applause broke out as James and Mark walked down the red carpet, and Andrea didn’t think she’d ever seen James as happy.

  Andrea took her eyes off the newlyweds for a second to take in the woman beside her. Carley was stunning in a sea blue dress that flowed away from her body in the gentle breeze, the v neck showing just a hint of cleavage. Her blond hair was half up and half down in loose waves. She’d already introduced Carley to a few friends, but they’d yet to pass the real test: James.

  He was the only person Andrea was worried about. No one else knew Andrea as well as he did, and if anyone was going to figure out that this was
a charade, he would. Andrea had only waved at him from a distance. He’d been surrounded by people, everyone wanting to wish him well and shake his hand before the ceremony got started.

  Andrea followed Carley down the red carpet, falling into a line with the rest of the guests. The reception was only a short walk away, but first she needed to congratulate James and Mark.

  “Andrea,” James said as he wrapped his arms around her.

  “The ceremony was beautiful,” she said, giving him a warm smile as she pulled away to turn to Mark.

  “I’m so happy for you two,” James said to Carley as they embraced, and Andrea met his eyes, hoping he wasn’t going to second guess their supposed relationship. “Didn’t I tell you, Mark? I said it when I saw you two at Stephanie’s party. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Andrea so smitten,” James said, smiling at both of them, and Andrea could feel her cheeks darkening.

  They’d passed the test, but Andrea couldn’t believe what she was hearing. How had she been that obvious? She didn’t even know she was really interested in Carley back then. Andrea knew she’d been attracted to her, but it wasn’t until after the party that she realized how bad she had it. It took seeing Stephanie kiss Carley for her to really become aware of those feelings, so how did James know? What had given her away?

  They left James and Mark to chat with the other guests that were in line behind them while they headed towards the reception. Andrea glanced over at Carley as they walked, but she was giving nothing away. Did Carley know that she fancied her?

  She thought back to that night in Dublin when Carley had kissed her. Was that more than a practice run for today? Andrea had been quick to dismiss it at the time, but now she didn’t know.

  They climbed the steps to the hotel’s balcony, and Carley paused to take in the view. Andrea stood beside her, watching a cruise ship in the distance against the shades of red and orange that painted the evening sky and listening to the sounds of the waves crashing into the rocks below them.

  A waiter approached them with a tray of drinks, and Andrea didn’t think she’d ever been so happy to see alcohol. She took two champagne flutes and handed one to Carley.

  “Thanks,” she said, a few wisps of her blond hair falling across her cheek.

  Andrea met her blue eyes as they both lifted their glasses in a silent salute. She wanted to say something. James’s words were still hanging in the air, and Andrea felt like she needed to explain them, but it wasn’t really the right time. There were guests passing by them as they made their way into the reception, and what would she say, anyway? Would she deny that James had it right that she was actually interested in her?

  Andrea would just have to play along. If Carley wasn’t going to quiz her about it, maybe she didn’t care if Andrea was genuinely attracted to her, or maybe Carley thought that Andrea had been thinking about asking her to pretend to be her girlfriend back then, before she’d actually asked her.

  I could always go with that... I was already planning to ask her. I was laying the foundation for this weekend.

  Andrea brought her glass to her lips. This could turn into a disaster of a weekend. All of her friends and colleagues would think that she was in a serious relationship, but if she wasn’t careful, she could end up getting hurt. Even if this was real, and there was something between them, Carley was still leaving in four months, so it didn’t matter. Carley would go back to traveling the world, and Andrea would stay in Marbella, running her businesses.

  I just need to enjoy myself and stop worrying.

  Andrea took another sip, glancing over at Carley who had turned to face her at the same time.

  “Shall we?” Andrea asked.

  “After you,” Carley said, her free hand resting lightly on the small of Andrea’s back, and the feeling of her fingers brushing across her bare skin sent a shiver up her spine.

  Andrea didn’t know how she was going to get through this weekend. It was like all of her senses were heightened when Carley was around. The simplest touch or the smell of her perfume sent her heart into palpitations. If this was what just being around Carley did to her, how were they going to share a room together for the next two nights.

  When she spoke to James last week, he told her he’d gotten her the second-best suite in the hotel with a balcony overlooking the ocean, and it was only then that it hit her. She was going to be sharing a bed with Carley this weekend. They wouldn’t have the buffer of a door separating their rooms. They only had one room tonight, and they were going to have to figure out how to sleep in the same bed. Just the thought of lying next to Carley and not being able to touch her nearly had Andrea breaking out in a sweat.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Carley let Andrea take the lead, placing her left hand on Andrea’s shoulder as her other hand seemed to fit perfectly into Andrea’s. She shouldn’t have been surprised when a Rat Pack tribute band started playing almost an hour ago. James looked like he belonged in that era with his impeccably tailored suits and clean-shaven face.

  Carley closed her eyes as they swayed to the music. They’d already been out to dance a few times, but this was the first slow song that they’d ventured out onto the floor for, and Carley couldn’t stop her heart from pounding as Andrea’s hand slid up her back until it was resting between her shoulder blades.

  They’d done this before, but the last time Carley gave into her attraction to Andrea and kissed her. She wasn’t as drunk tonight, but she wasn’t far off it. She’d had two glasses of champagne and three glasses of wine during dinner. She’d tried to pace herself but reaching for her drink was the easiest thing to do when she was nervous.

  She recognized a few of the people they’d been seated with, but anytime their relationship came up, Carley found herself taking a drink and letting Andrea explain how they met and how long they’d been together. They were her friends after all, and this was Andrea’s charade, but now that all of those introductions and explanations were out of the way, Carley was starting to relax.

  The scent of Andrea’s sweet perfume brought her back to the moment. Carley had never met anyone else who wore that fragrance, and it inevitably reminded her of every moment she’d had with Andrea in these last two months, especially that night in Dublin.

  Carley could do it. She could find Andrea’s lips and kiss her softly, right here on the dance floor, but it didn’t feel right. She could still hear the words James had said just after the ceremony.

  I don’t think I’ve ever seen Andrea so smitten.

  Carley somehow kept her composure when James had said that. Andrea had made it clear that James knew her better than anyone else, and he was going to be the one that they might have trouble convincing. Just the opposite had happened. He thought Andrea was crazy about her, and this was before Andrea had even asked her to be her date to this wedding.

  Carley kept coming back to those words. She hadn’t noticed Andrea looking at her any differently the night of the party, but then again, she’d acted weird after they’d kissed. What if it was because Andrea was actually attracted to her?

  Carley felt Andrea’s cheek brush against hers as the song ended, and Andrea pulled away. Carley opened her eyes to meet Andrea’s.

  “It’s so easy dancing with you,” Andrea breathed, and Carley stood there, in the middle of the dance floor as the next song started playing, wishing that it was just the two of them.

  Carley reached for Andrea’s hand instead, leading them towards their table. She’d accidentally found another, more secluded balcony when she was trying to find the restrooms earlier. She needed to talk to Andrea, to see what was really going on.

  As they passed their table, another guest turned, bumping into Carley. She didn’t have time to react. Before she could get out of the way, the woman’s glass of white wine was covering the front of her sea blue dress, from just below her breasts down across her stomach. The woman apologized, but Andrea was already leading her towards the bathrooms on the other side of the ballroom.


  Carley clenched her jaw. She wanted to talk to Andrea, and instead, she was going to have to try and salvage the very expensive dress she was wearing. Andrea pushed open the door, and Carley followed her inside. They both took a plush cream-colored towel from the basket on the marble counter and ran a bar of soap across it, dipping it under the tap before rubbing it against the silky fabric of Carley’s dress.

  Carley worked from the top, not wanting Andrea to get that close to her breasts. It was hard enough having her so close, one hand on Carley’s hip while the other tried to remove the stain. After a few minutes, Carley tossed her towel on the counter, leaning her back against it as Andrea finally gave up. It was the best they could do for now.

  “I hope this doesn’t take long to dry,” Carley said, glancing down at the dark blue patch across her stomach. “I can’t go back out there like this... And don’t feel like you have to keep me company,” she added. “I don’t want you to miss anything.”

  “But who will I dance with if you’re in here?” Andrea asked with a hint of a smile on her lips.

  “I’m sure you have more than one admirer out there.”

  Carley’s hands gripped the edge of the counter behind her. She didn’t trust herself. All she wanted to do right now was lean forward and kiss Andrea.

  When she saw Andrea leave her bedroom this morning in that emerald green backless dress, she knew she was going to struggle to keep it together. Playing the part of her girlfriend was one thing. Holding her hand and dancing with her had been easy. This was the hard part, keeping her hands to herself, especially after hearing what James had said earlier.

  “There’s only one woman I want to dance with,” Andrea said, her voice husky as she took a step closer.

  Carley felt Andrea’s hand on her hip, the other reaching up to cup her cheek as Andrea’s lips brushed across hers.