Sand, Salt, and Spirits--Last Chance Beach Romance

by Kathryn Hills

  She shook her head, muttering, “How the hell did I end up here, pretending to be romantically involved with Kyle Worthington? Of all people.”

  Footsteps sounded above her head, and her gaze shot to the rough pine ceiling. She took a few hesitant steps to peer up a wooden staircase, leading to a dark second floor. “Hello?” she said softly. “Is anyone up there?”

  The sounds came again, and a plethora of goosebumps spread across her arms and raced down her spine.

  “Cassie, you good?” Kat hollered, causing her to gasp. “I’m ready for your help with these tables.”

  “Coming,” she yelled, hightailing it to the front of the store.

  Together they shuffled things around to make way for two long tables designated for the bake sale to benefit a local children’s charity. Brightly colored Halloween tablecloths, fun signage, paper napkins and plates with smiling jack-o-lanterns were all laid out. Cassie even moved chairs around to make a small bistro-type setting for visitors to mingle and enjoy their sweet treats.

  “This is perfect.” Kat stood back alongside her, surveying their work when they were done. She handed Cassie a small, bottled water from the B&B’s giant donation barrel. “We make a good team. This all looks great. Thank you so much for helping.”

  “Anytime,” Cassie offered, realizing her offer was honest. She’d had fun. “I’d be happy to work the tables here tomorrow. Or do anything else that’s needed. Kyle and I drove separately, but I’m here for the weekend. I don’t have any other plans.” That part was true too.

  “You’re a keeper, Cassie Corwin,” Kat said with a grin. “I’m going to tell my little brother he’d better take good care of you, or he’ll have to answer to me.”

  Cassie choked on her water.

  “You okay?” Kat asked, looking concerned. “Look up. That’s what Gran always says.”

  She did, however, nailed up on the wall above her were a couple of rusty old road sign reading Lover’s Lane and Slow Down – Sharp Turn Ahead.

  Cassie coughed even harder.

  “Oh my God.” Kat rubbed her back.

  “Fine. I’m fine,” she managed to eke out between hacks. Though her head was spinning at the serendipitous messages.

  “Okay, then let’s go see how our boys are doing with the maze.”

  Kyle’s head snapped up the moment they exited the shop. He dropped the bale he was holding and sprinted over to Cassie. “Your face is all red. Why are you red? Are you okay?”

  “Jeez, Kyle,” Kat said with a smirk. “Chill out, little brother. A sip of water went down the wrong way, that’s all.”

  “Are you sure?” he demanded, brushing past his sister.

  “Yes, I’m fine.” Cassie held up her water bottle. “Like she said. Wrong way.”

  He released a long, ragged breath, sinking to sit on a short stack of bales.

  “Honestly, Kyle,” Kat chided in obvious surprise, “I’m beginning to think you’re turning into a worry wort. Last night in the kitchen you looked like you were about to pass out when I said I was engaged. Maybe it’s you we need to worry about.”

  His wide-eyed gaze bounced from Cassie to Kat and back again until Ben strolled up with Boomer.

  “Hey, are you going to stand around talking to all the pretty girls?” Ben joshed with a chuckle. “I could use your help. A bunch of folks need to leave to get ready for tonight.”

  Kyle rose slowly to his feet. “Yeah...I just...” He pointed to the ladies, opened his mouth, but snapped it shut again. Then he walked away, muttering to himself.

  Kat stared after him. “He is so strange this visit. I don’t know what you’ve done to him Cassie, but my brother is completely off his game.”

  CASSIE STARED INTO the antique mirror, hanging on the back of her bedroom door. “Too much?” she asked her reflection with a pouty grin. She raised her chin a few notches and turned her face from side to side. The greenish-grey mix of face paint along with the overlayed silver sheen made her skin shimmer in the soft light. Stepping back, she smoothed her tight green mini dress over her hips. Matching green stockings with silver platform boots... She’d braided her hair into a long rope, dangling down her partially bare back. The collar of the dress draped—front and back—like that of a Greek goddess. Some shiny red lipstick, and she puckered her lips. Perfection! All that was missing was her crown of Medusa snakes, waiting on the bed.

  The maddening little voice inside Cassie’s head knew she’d dressed purposefully to entice Kyle. It didn’t make sense. In one breath, she told herself she wanted to remain alone, independent, free of any sticky, romantic attachments. Especially to a player like Kyle. Next breath, she’d chosen this costume to bring him to his masculine knees. Make him drool with longing for her. Power and pleasure, baby. Yet if that were truly the case, why do I care so much what he thinks of me?

  It’d been a sobering afternoon, sitting in lawn chairs in the shade with Kyle’s sister Kat and Gran, after all the other volunteers left. Except for Ben, who was apparently a regular fixture, there to help his “two favorite ladies.” The women relaxed alongside the two dogs. Boomer and Odin now instant BFFs, as if they were puppy siblings. Sipping sweet, iced tea, chatting in the warm, late-afternoon breeze.

  I could get used to this. Cassie thought as she gazed out at the beautiful landscape. Fluffy clouds with abundant sunshine. Beyond the dunes shimmered aqua-colored waves. Tomorrow or Sunday I’ll have to hit the beach.

  The two men continued to work hard in the heat until the maze was finished. It looked great. But Kyle looks better. Sandy-blond hair, falling across his suntanned brow. His sweaty t-shirt plastered to his body showing every bulging muscle. Dang, if that man doesn’t look fine!

  She tried to focus on their conversation, but her mind and gaze kept drifting back to Kyle. At one point, he caught her gawking. Looked straight at me and smiled. His tight expression easing into a tilted grin. Making her pulse do that little zippy thing it always did when he was near. Now, here she was dressing to impress him. Was there something to the island magic Gran so often spoke of? An aphrodisiac in the water supply, or something?

  Cassie brushed off her musing, equating her odd feelings and behavior to vacation vibrations. She was out to have a good time. If that meant some sexy fun time with the ultimate hottie playboy, then so be it. Come Monday morning, she’d be leaving. Driving back to the mainland with Odin. Home to her peaceful, boring life as a medical researcher. Living with her dog in a bug-free, one bedroom apartment with her houseplants and books.

  For some reason, none of that sounded very appealing, despite her constant craving for peace and quiet. She didn’t always like “people places.” Unless it was Halloween in Salem. She glanced around her pretty B&B room and heaved a sigh. This is the next best thing. Besides, so far, nothing and no one was too imposing when it came to the charade Kyle was attempting to pull off. Hopefully, it stayed that way.

  Positioning the crown of snakes upon her head, she gave herself one last perusal in the mirror. “One weekend. Done. Buy a postcard for the fridge and move on,” she schooled her reflection. “What’s the worst that can happen? It’s not like he’s going to fall in love with you. Or you him.”

  She chewed her ruby lip, worrying.

  Yet she startled when something moved behind her in the old, mottled glass. She spun to scan the room. Nothing. Only Odin, sprawled out on his twin bed.

  That must have been it. A shadow of Odie, rolling over.

  Cassie snatched up her small purse and roused her big lug. “Come on, Odie, it’s showtime.”

  CHAPTER 7

  Kyle slid his feet into his grandpa’s old boots. He stopped to cherish the feel of the smooth, worn leather. There was a form to these relics from his childhood. A way they’d conformed to fit the older man’s feet and calves. He fought the sudden, powerful urge to take them off. To rethink his costume for what equated to just another party. Not wanting to alter the beloved boots of the man he admired above all others.
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br />   That’s pointless. His brain told his heart. Like Gran had told him years ago when she gave him this special pair, “Wear the darn boots, Kyle. Grandpa would want you to. What good are they in some dusty old closet?”

  Still, his heart was heavy. Coming back here always made him sad.

  A soft wrap sounded at his door; the decision made for him. He stood and tucked his t-shirt into his faded jeans, then donned his long sleeve Western shirt, letting it hang open.

  Cassi—or rather a wicked, green, sultry version of the woman he thought he knew—gazed back at him with a sexy smile when he opened the door.

  “Whoa,” he exclaimed, standing back to gawk at her.

  She popped her hip, looking taller and statuesque in high-heeled, platform boots.

  “Hey there, cowboy,” she said in the low, raspy tone he’d first been drawn to and adored.

  “Medusa,” he murmured, letting his stare travel the lovely length of her. Heck, yeah, she can turn men to stone! “Almost ready. Just gotta grab my hat.”

  “No cheesy vest?” Cassie teased, as she lingered in his doorway, never actually stepping across the threshold into his room. Yet her eyes wandered everywhere, as if feasting on his private space.

  “Na, I like the shirt better. Plus, it’s hot and humid as hell out tonight,” he said, pulling tags from the Halloween hat. “Feels like a thunderstorm is brewing.”

  “Maybe the weather will break, and it will be cooler tomorrow,” she reasoned. “That would be nice for the festival.”

  “Indeed, it would.” He grabbed his wallet, phone, and keys from the bedside table, turned off the lights, and closed his door.

  Odin was waiting in the hallway like a good boy.

  “You ready for a night of soap operas and cookies, big guy,” he said to the black dog that looked eternally disinterested in everything.

  Cassie led the way down the hallway, followed by Odin, and then Kyle.

  Mr. Kirby opened his door as they passed. “Well, looky here, it’s a trick or treat parade. Love the costumes, kids. Have fun at the dance tonight.”

  Kyle smiled his thanks. “We will. Are you sure you don’t want to come along? We can whip you up some sort of costume.”

  “No, thank you, son. I’m going down to watch TV with Haddie and the two puppers soon. I already heard Boomer’s bark.” He patted Odin’s big head. “Your grandma promised me popcorn and chocolate bars. How could I resist?”

  “Alright, sounds like a solid plan.” Kyle chuckled.

  “Thanks again for acting so quickly to swap out that AC today. I appreciate it.”

  “Anytime,” he said, welcoming the sentiment, especially because of the warmth it kindled in Cassie’s stare. “Y’all have a good night then.”

  They said goodnight to Gran after a complete fashion show, filled with countless oo’s and ah’s. They took a couple of pics of her, setting up camp on the couch, flanked by two fur-babies and tasty treats. Then they exited together into the unusually muggy air of the October night.

  Cassie paused to look at the post-sunset sky. Blood-red and stained by purple clouds. In the distance, the rumble of thunder followed a flash of lightning.

  Kyle hesitated with his hand on her doorhandle. She looked amazing against the backdrop of that dramatic sky. Otherworldly. Unique. That was Cassie. Since the moment he discovered her, fiddling with an uncooperative teabag. They were in the cafeteria, surrounded by the heavy luncheon crowd. Yet she stood out. Willowy, with her jet-black ponytail. A stark contrast against a white lab coat.

  “Ready?” she asked with just a hind of a nervous smile. He shook off the memory.

  Popping the door, he waited until she got in. Both chuckling when her crown of wiggly snakes wouldn’t fit and had to be removed.

  “I’m excited,” she admitted when he finally slid in beside her. “I haven’t been to a Halloween party in years.”

  Heat rush to his face. What is it about this woman, that has me so thrown off center? I’m never like this around women. “Then my work here is done,” he murmured. “Let’s go have some fun together, shall we?”

  CASSIE COULD FEEL THE base of the Halloween-themed music, reverberating through her body, from the parking lot of The Ocean Pearl Resort. Excitement zipped through her. Their spooky night extravaganza was just beginning. Kicking off great, including thunder and a show of lightning. Wicked!

  They stood side by side in a line to enter the event behind a goofy looking monster and a yellow winged fairy.

  “Is that you, Kyle Worthington?” the sunny sprite asked when she turned around to eyeball them for the fifth time.

  “Tilly Bentley?” he replied with an uncertain look.

  “That’s me. I haven’t seen you since your grandpa’s—” Tilly snapped her mouth shut and shook her head. “Not for a while.”

  Kyle’s smile fell away. He leaned close to Cassie, so she could hear him over the loud music and crowd noise. “Tilly owns the Playing Hooky Café, it’s a popular coffee shop on Main Street. She’s also an old friend of Gran.”

  “That’s great,” Cassie said to Tilly and her monster sidekick. A man she assumed was the woman’s boyfriend or husband. Based on the fact he was holding her hand in a vice-like grip.

  “This handsome monster here is my friend, John.” Tilly eased closer to speak directly to Cassie. “I love your costume, sweetie. If I were still young and skinny, I’d be wearing that green dress, snakes and all. May I ask...where’d you get it?” the woman skillfully snuck in.

  Cassie chuckled, realizing she was in the presence of a first-rate busybody. “Salem, Mass. A friend of mine owns a magic shop there.”

  “Lordy, how exciting. You’re far from home.” Tilly focused on Kyle again, despite them moving forward with the waiting line. “Aren’t you going to introduce this pretty lady?”

  Kyle startled to attention in his cute cowboy duds, and he removed his hat like an old-time western gentleman. “Tilly and John...this is Cassie Corwin, my...um...friend. She’s a friend.”

  One of the woman’s pencil-thin brows arched all the way to her hairline. Cassie could smell the smoke of her thoughts. Before she could convince herself not to, she reached down, laced her fingers with Kyle’s, and raised their hands for everyone to see. “Nice to meet you both,” she said, beaming at the couple and the stunned man by her side.

  A few seconds later, they were through the entrance. Kyle handed off two tickets, they said their farewells to Tilly and John, and scattered.

  “What was that?” Kyle rushed to ask when they bolted for the Diamond Ballroom.

  Cassie shrugged as she hurried alongside him. “I felt bad. Tilly is obviously the town crier. If she’s also your grandmother’s friend, then you’d be outed.”

  Kyle slammed to a halt, and she nearly fell off her sky-high boots. “You were protecting me?”

  She grinned at him. “Yeah...I guess I was.”

  The anxious expression on his face eased, and he murmured, “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. Now you owe me a drink, cowboy.”

  “HOW CAN YOU DANCE SO well, and so long, in those crazy-ass shoes,” Kyle asked Cassie two hours into their night together. “We’ve mashed, time warped, been thrilled out of our Halloween minds...I’m sweating bullets over here, and these boots are killing me.”

  “That’s because they’re not broken in by your feet yet,” she remarked casually, looking completely magnificent, and totally unphased after all their exertion on the dancefloor. She licked the salted rim of her classic Margarita and gave a contented signed.

  “And how would you know Miss Smarty-pants?” he countered, trying to ignore the ache of longing she stirred in him.

  Cassie slurped up some of her drink, set the glass aside, and faced him. “Because I’ve shopped at thrift stores my entire life. These boots are from a thrift store. I shopped in one two days ago. It’s all I know. So, trust me, I do know how to break in other people’s boots and repair hand-me-downs.”

>   Understanding dawned on Kyle, as he considered Cassie’s stoic profile in the flashing lights of the ballroom. She bobbed her head to the festive music yet wouldn’t look at him again. She’d grown up poor. So what? His grandparents had struggled to make ends meet. Did it matter? Yet, here he sat, whining like a spoiled brat with his expensive car, designer jeans, and privileged upbringing.

  As if reading his mind, she grumbled, “I bet your jeans cost more than any I’ve ever owned.”

  Kyle looked away, feeling unmasked. Exposed for the messed-up fraud he knew he was, despite his father’s wealth and influence. Despite his overbearing mother, or well-meaning older sister.

  Cassie gave him a playful shove. “Don’t go looking like that.”

  “Like what?” he said sadly.

  She gave him a sexy little side-eye and smirk. “All pouty, bad boy. I might feel sorry for you and like you more.”

  “You like my jeans?” he tossed back. “Here, you can have ’em. I’ll take them off right here.” He went straight for his fly.

  “No,” she cried, laughing hard, and slapping away his hands. “Your ass looks great in them. Keep them, please.”

  Kyle laughed, but inside he was struggling to make sense of what she just said. He couldn’t believe the hairpin turns their awkward conversation—over cocktails—had taken.

  Cassie had safeguarded his reputation tonight. More important, she’d revealed some of her private side to him. Offering a scant, few details about her personal life. Yet these revelations had blindsided him. And only made him like her more.

  Kat and Ben rushed up to them, all smiles and gasping for breath, as two zombies fresh off the dancefloor.

  “Woo, that was so much fun,” Kat said to them. “I love this annual dance.”

  Ben snaked his arms around Kat’s waist and kissed her head. They were the perfect example of a loving couple. Whereas Cassie and Kyle were across from one another.