Besides, maybe the reason her parents treated her like a child all the time, despite her age of twenty-five, was because she persisted in acting like one. Parker McCallister wasn’t worth throwing her future away for.
Especially since he had zero interest in her romantically.
A knock sounded on the bungalow’s front door and Sierra slipped into her open-toed heels and grabbed the white clutch bag off the end of the bed. “I’m coming,” she called.
Giving herself one last look over in the full-length mirror, she had to admit that her softly curled red hair falling down around her shoulders onto the blue silk was a nice effect. Even if Neal was as gorgeous as Cece promised, he shouldn’t be too disappointed with his date’s looks.
Crossing the house to the doorway, Sierra took a deep breath before opening the door. She wasn’t certain if her parents were coming to get her so they could give her another lecture before dinner or if it would be a hired driver. Only one way to find out.
She flung open the door and sagged slightly with relief upon seeing the chauffeur’s black suit.
“Miss Burns? Are you ready to go?”
Sierra nodded and stepped out, turning to lock the door. “Where is this dinner going to be, anyway? The main restaurant?”
The man shook his head. “There’s a new pavilion on the east end of the main beach, just before the shopping center. That’s the new rage whenever the weather is nice. It sits out in the ocean and the view is wonderful. I’m sure you’ll be pleased, Miss.”
After the driver opened the car door, Sierra slipped into the back of the black Mercedes Benz sedan. Once again she was struck by the opulence of McCallister’s Paradise. Just this car alone had to cost major money—not to mention the price of having gasoline shipped here. It was an expense she couldn’t see her dad paying extra for, so the option to have a driver take them around the island had to be something the McCallisters included for their resort guests.
How could all that money still mean Parker wasn’t good enough for her parents? Well, not that it mattered since she apparently wasn’t good enough for Parker in his eyes.
It sucked, because she’d been sure he was about to kiss her. Not wanting to move things that fast, she’d spoken to stop him, but that didn’t mean she never wanted him to kiss her. Sometimes she should learn to keep her mouth shut and live in the moment. Now the chance had passed and Parker must have changed his mind. He wouldn’t even take her on a picnic with his brother.
Before long, the driver had navigated the single road on the island that ran behind the hotels and bungalows, making his way toward the shopping center. Luckily, the road took a turn toward the beach and ran next to the cluster of businesses, so Sierra wouldn’t have to trudge through the beach in her high heels.
He pulled up to a large stone and wood pavilion. After opening her door, the man stood expectantly near her elbow.
Sierra pressed a twenty into his ready hand and murmured her thanks before setting off to find her parents.
The stone pathway was busy as Sierra made her way through groups of the fabulously wealthy. She kept a pleasant smile on her face, not wanting anyone to report to her father that she’d been rude, but she avoided talking to any of the lavishly dressed patrons.
The stairs to the round structure itself started only a little before the high tide line that Sierra could clearly see in the sand. The pavilion extended out into the water, giving diners the opportunity to have an unobstructed view of the ocean, no matter which direction they looked. Small strings of white lights ran along the outer edges of the structure and wrapped around the support poles, giving it a festive feel, while beautiful flower arrangements of orchids, ginger, and several other flowers she didn’t recognize scented the air with a gentle fragrance.
It was a setting that could encourage her to find romance, even in an undesirable dinner companion. But she should be fair. Maybe Neal wouldn’t be so bad and she’d actually enjoy the evening.
As she approached a table near the back, closest to the railing separating the pavilion’s patrons from the ocean, she spotted her parents and their guests already seated at the far table. Clearing her throat delicately, she walked toward them. “Good evening, everyone. Sorry I’m a bit late.”
Her father and the two other men at the table stood, and the elder gentleman stuck his hand out. “Sierra? I haven’t seen you since you were a baby. You sure turned into a beautiful young woman.”
Sierra inclined her head and pressed her hand against his briefly. “It’s so nice to see you, Mr. Turner. My father speaks highly of his old college buddy.”
The elder Turner grinned, obviously pleased that his old friend had spoken of him at all. Not that Rodger actually had, but Sierra well knew what was expected of her.
Carl Turner waved his hand to indicate his wife, a pretty brunette sitting next to him. “I’m sure they also mentioned Eileen?”
Sierra turned her most brilliant smile to Eileen. “Of course. So nice to see you, Mrs. Turner.”
After another round of hand shaking, Sierra turned to the young man standing next to her. “And you must be Neal? My parents have been gushing about you all day.” She stuck her hand out for the handsome man to shake.
Instead, he turned her hand in his and bent over it, placing a lingering kiss across her knuckles. “They’ve been talking about you, too,” he said, not releasing her hand. “But they haven’t quite figured out how to adequately describe your breathtaking beauty.”
Suppressing a groan and the urge to snatch her hand away, Sierra batted her eyelashes and did her best to appear demur. “Thank you.”
Her dad let out a hearty laugh. “I knew the kids would hit it off. Now, let’s order dinner.”
“What about my opportunity to invest in your company?” Carl Turner asked, taking his seat as Neal helped Sierra into hers. “I want to own one of the racers.”
“Come on, buddy,” her dad said in the fake business voice that grated on Sierra’s nerves. “You know I never talk business before dinner.”
More like he never talked business until he’d earned an investor’s trust, but that was how the game was played. The more Carl felt like they were friends, the more money he’d throw Dad’s direction.
While they ordered, Sierra studied Neal covertly. He was a good-looking man, if a little on the slender side. His soft hands had never seen anything more onerous to run than a computer keyboard, and she was certain he wasn’t into working out. Still, his dark hair and blue eyes were attractive enough.
One thing was certain, he was nowhere near the level of sexiness Parker McCallister boasted. But then again, few men in Sierra’s world were.
Chapter 5
Parker winked at Janie Davis, despite the open glare of the woman’s date. Thankfully, the couple prepared to leave the picnic and Parker could drop the flirty act soon.
“I’ve missed your pretty face, Janie,” he said. “You haven’t been around the family much since breaking up with Brad.”
Janie shrugged her chocolate-colored shoulders, her skin sparkling in the sunlight with glints of glitter that must have been in her lotion. “Your younger brother was fun and I liked hanging out with the McCallister clan for a while, but I’m always up for more fun.”
Parker inclined his head toward Janie’s date, whose name he hadn’t bothered to remember. “And that’s why you have your man here. You crazy kids can have fun the rest of the day.” Another wink and a calculatingly sexy smile that he knew got women’s hearts racing. “It was good seeing you.”
From their position on the blanket across from him, both Quinn and Larissa had darted concerned glances at him all through the picnic. Those only intensified every time he flirted with Janie. Although Parker was glad to see her leave so he didn’t have to keep up his normal flirt-with-all-women act, he was sure he’d get a lecture as soon as she and her date disappeared down the beach. He definitely wasn’t looking forward to that.
Janie bent to give Larissa
a hug and leaned over to kiss Quinn’s cheek. “I can’t wait until the wedding. Just make sure you don’t pick an awful color for my dress.”
“How about you come over next week?” Larissa asked, squeezing Janie’s hand. “You can pick out your own dress. Just as long as you promise not to outshine me.”
Standing upright, Janie shook her black curls behind her shoulders and laughed. “That could never happen. Even when you were still bald, you were one of the most beautiful women I know.”
Janie had been Larissa’s greatest support after she found out about the breast cancer diagnosis, and continued to be her best friend from what Parker could tell.
Quinn stroked Larissa’s face tenderly, staring at his fiancée with more love than Parker had ever seen Quinn display.
“Janie’s right, you know,” Quinn said. “There will never be another bride as beautiful as mine.”
Bumping him with her shoulder, Larissa smiled. “You say that now, but what if we ever have a daughter? Daddy will be wrapped around her little finger before she can even speak.”
“Sooner,” Quinn agreed. “First ultrasound picture, at the latest.”
Parker turned from them to stare at the waves lapping against the shore. He was glad his brother had found happiness, but it was sure hard watching how in love Quinn and Larissa were when all Parker could think about was a certain redhead who he couldn’t even invite on a friendly picnic.
He wondered what Sierra did after he left. Maybe she called someone who worked on the island to ask about job opportunities. He clenched his hands and shoved them beneath his thighs so no one would notice his frustration. It wasn’t fair of him to spoil Quinn and Larissa’s happiness with his foul mood, but he couldn’t stop his jealousy of their love.
As Janie said a final goodbye and dragged her date away from the circle of rocks beneath Quinn’s hotel room, Parker took in a deep breath, preparing himself for what was to come. One look at Quinn’s face told him he was right about the pending lecture.
“Look,” he said, holding his hand up in a stop motion to stave off anything the couple might say. “I know I was supposed to bring a date, but I just couldn’t find anyone I wanted to come with. It’s no big deal. You don’t need to worry about me.”
Larissa’s thin eyebrows rose slightly, but she looked at Quinn, clearly waiting for him to take the lead.
“But we are worried about you, Parker,” Quinn said. “I’ve never seen you lacking for female company, even after Vanessa left. What’s changed? Is it because you admitted that Vanessa hurt you?”
Parker looked down, studiously examining the different fibers of the black and red stripped blanket as though his life depended on finding out what material it contained. He didn’t want to admit to them it was because of Sierra.
“Is it that girl?” Larissa asked softly, as though reading his mind. “The one on the horse?”
It wasn’t like he could keep it a secret from them. They already knew he liked her. Parker met each of their eyes and then shrugged. “It’s stupid. I thought I could be friends with her during her stay. Once she wasn’t a guest anymore then I could maybe...”
Larissa’s eyes misted over and she murmured sympathetically.
Quinn was a different story. He leaned forward, crowding into Parker’s personal space. “Stay away from her, Parker. This is madness. You don’t even know the lady. You’re infatuated, which is dangerous. I’ve never seen you in that state before.”
Parker backed away and shrugged, trying to play things cool.
“Besides,” Quinn continued, “I looked up their account before coming here, because I had a feeling you would go see her again. Her family has vacationed on the island for ten years, and they stay a month each time. They spend big money here.”
“Which means,” Parker said, drawing the inevitable conclusion, “if I screw this up and piss off the Burns, I’m costing the business and our family a great client.”
“So stay away from her,” Quinn concluded with a nod, then his expression softened. “I don’t want something to hurt you again like Vanessa obviously did. You have to leave the Burns family alone.”
Parker uncrossed his legs and stood, the warm sand covering his bare feet but doing nothing to warm the ache in his chest. “Here’s some good news for you, Quinn. Sierra doesn’t want anything romantic with me. She just wants someone to talk to about getting a real job. I guess she’s wanting to know how normal people live or something like that. Maybe bored of being the pretty socialite. She wondered what she’d be qualified to do.”
Larissa’s green-blue eyes lit up. “That could be a good thing. Maybe she could get a job here, and then she wouldn’t be off lim—”
“Stop right there, beautiful,” Quinn all but growled. “Don’t put that thought in his head. She’s a Burns of the,” he made quote marks, “‘New York Burns.’ Her family won’t let her stay on some island to work for a living, nor will they allow her to date a man who does.” Quinn turned his attention to Parker. “Let it go, brother, please. For all our sakes, but especially for yours.”
Parker stooped to pick up the basket of leftovers. “It’s already over. I told you, she’s not interested in me. You guys are the ones making a big deal about things.”
“Fine.” Quinn stood, reaching down to help Larissa to her feet and then pulling her into his embrace as he brushed a kiss against her lips. He then turned back to Parker. “Let’s not argue about this. You need some fun, because this picnic did not relax the tension jumping off you anytime Sierra’s mentioned. I think we could all use a cocktail.”
Parker shrugged. He didn’t have any snorkeling sessions scheduled until tomorrow afternoon. A cocktail or two couldn’t hurt anything and might be fun—now that he wasn’t worrying about Quinn’s disapproval. At least lecture time was finished. “Do you want to go see Shane?”
Their youngest brother ran the posh restaurant on the island. Shane would take care of them with cocktails and a fancy dessert.
To his surprise, Quinn shook his head. “There’s that new place, The Pavilion. It just opened earlier this week. I know I’m not technically working at running the island anymore, but I still help out sometimes. Dad asked if I’d check it out and make sure their service is up to our standards.”
“Besides,” Larissa said, smiling broadly. “I hear they have some of the prettiest waitresses around. You might find someone who isn’t off limits.”
“I’m down for that,” Parker readily agreed. “Let’s check it out.”
* * *
Sierra murmured nonsense in what she hoped was an interested manner as Neal Turner droned on and on about his position in his father’s company. Not that she’d actually heard much of what he said after determining he was a remarkably dull person. Making doe eyes at him and saying “Oh really?” at various intervals seemed to be enough.
Thankfully, everyone was finishing the main course of dinner. Once dessert was gone, she’d be able to escape to her bungalow.
“Sierra?” Her mom’s artificially soft voice caught her attention.
With a feeling of trepidation, Sierra turned a brilliant smile across the table in her parents’ direction. “Yes?”
“I know you and Neal have been deep in conversation over there, so you might not have heard your father. We’re going golfing tomorrow, the four of us.” Cece indicated herself and Rodger as well as Mr. and Mrs. Turner. “Do you think you could keep Neal occupied for the afternoon?”
Sure. No problem. She and Mr. Dullsville could catch some excitement talking about his position as a collection agent in his father’s pest control firm. Sounded like a dream date.
Clearing her throat, Sierra tried to affect a pleased expression. “I’m sure we could find something to do.” She leaned into Neal and patted his arm. “I’ve heard all about your work. Now tell me, what do you like to do for fun?”
Neal blinked and then wrinkled his nose. “Fun?”
Sierra narrowed her eyes, but caught Cec
e’s firm shake of the head, warning Sierra she’d better play nice.
“Yes, fun,” Sierra cooed, being as syrupy sweet as her mother could wish. “Do you ride horses?”
He shook his head. “I’m terrified of the filthy beasts. Won’t catch me on one.”
The man became less and less attractive every time he opened his mouth. Who didn’t like horses? They were the means of her family’s wealth, besides being magnificent animals.
“Okay, well, what about going on one of the hiking paths?” she asked. “I’ve heard stories about a waterfall somewhere on the island, but all the years we’ve visited, I’ve never been able to find it.”
Clearly, from the horror on Neal’s contorted face, he had a problem with hiking.
“What about bugs and wild animals?” he asked. “I don’t think that sounds like fun.”
Sierra let out an exasperated sigh, nearly at the end of her patience. “Racket ball? Tennis? A round of golf of our own? Or how about going for a spa day or visiting the quaint little shops and getting you a souvenir? What do you like to do?”
Cece cleared her throat, warning Sierra that her act of a well-mannered society girl had slipped with the barrage of options. Not that she cared. Her parents couldn’t really expect her to date Neal for longer than tomorrow, could they?
She shuddered, thinking how he was exactly the kind of man they wanted her to marry. Dull and boring with none of her same interests—someone who would consign her to a lifetime of unhappiness.
Making an effort, she put her smile back into place and raised an eyebrow in inquiry. “What sounds like fun to you? I’m game for anything, as long as we’re together.”
Neal beamed with pleasure, clearly buying her act. “We could just go for a walk along the beach. Maybe have a picnic or something? Or better yet, I hear they have a five-star restaurant available. I like to eat.”
Laughter from a few tables away caught Sierra’s attention as a waitress skittered away from it, face flushed and happy.
Diving Into Love (McCallister's Paradise Book 2) Page 4