Taylor was spared from answering as Merica caught sight of her mother. Crying, “Mama, Mama!” her chubby fingers clawed the air, and her tiny body fought to be free from the stroller. Juanita unhooked the restraining belt and swung her up and into her arms, giving her a big smack on both cheeks.
They all made a fuss over the baby, who wiggled and giggled, loving every minute of the attention. She was the sweetest, happiest baby, and that one sweet child made all the women happy. Taylor took her little hand and pretended to nibble on it.
“Yum, yum, yum, I could eat you up.”
Merica shoved her other hand toward Taylor’s mouth, enjoying the game.
Taylor was glad for the distraction—eager to turn the conversation away from Colt and her love-life. Or lack of.
Taylor gave the fingers a last kiss and then held up her hand. “Let me give the ladies their check and put the closed sign on the door. Have some iced tea and something to eat, Mom. Knowing you, you probably skipped lunch.”
“We had apples, and cheese and crackers. I’ve been putting weight on since I moved here, and I’ve got to stop. A woman my age doesn’t need love handles.”
Taylor and Kayla exchanged smiles, and it was still on her face as she reached the table of women. They had their credit cards ready, and within a few minutes the transaction was completed and they were ready to leave. They praised the restaurant and the food, saying they’d help spread the word.
As Taylor locked the door behind them, a flush of happiness rippled inside her. The episode with Colton was forgotten, and she proudly marched back into the kitchen and gazed at all their faces. Here was her family. These wonderful women who would support anything she did. Whether it be men, or business or babies, they would rally around her, and she for them.
Tears blurred her vision as emotions threatened to overwhelm her. Then blinking rapidly, she wiped away her tears and laughed with delight. “Woo-hoo! Great day, everyone! We did it! Yeah us!”
Kayla hugged her. “Congratulations, Taylor. Your opening was a huge success. I only heard positive things about the food, the decor. Not one complaint.”
Her mother had a slice of quiche that she shared with the baby. She gave her a spoonful, then beamed at her daughters. “It is wonderful, isn’t it, Meri?” The pet name Colt used for the baby suited her, and was easier on the tongue.
Juanita bent down to wipe some crumbs from her baby’s rosy little mouth. “Hey, little one, let’s go home and take a nap. I’m tired, and you must be too.”
“I enjoyed having her today,” Anna said. “She’s so easy to please.”
“Si. She is full of love.”
The women waited until the two of them were gone, then Anna walked to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of champagne. “It’s time for a toast.”
She uncorked the bottle, laughing as the cork flew across the kitchen. Kayla captured the spurt of champagne in a fluted glass. When all three flutes were poured, she raised a toast. “To Taylor’s Cafe at Paradise Cove. And to the women I love most in the world. You too, Brittany, wherever you are!”
“To Brittany,” they all said, and sipped as one.
“Let’s call her,” Taylor suggested and punched the number on her phone.
Brit answered on the third ring. “Hey, Taylor girl, what’s up?”
“What do you mean, what’s up? We just opened today. Taylor’s Cafe. I sent you an email invite. Remember?”
“So how did it go?”
“Awesome. Slow at the beginning, but by ten, ten thirty, we had a steady stream of customers.” Taylor glanced at her mom and Kayla, and got teary-eyed again. “We closed a few minutes ago, and we’re having champagne to celebrate. We miss you.”
“I miss you too. Why don’t you look out the front window?”
“What?” Taylor waved her hand at Kayla. “Look out the window. Hurry.”
The three women ran to the window in time to see Brittany pull up in a little red convertible. She waved at them and hopped out of the car. “Now pour me a glass, will ya?”
When Brittany waltzed in, all glammed up in a pair of pink spandex pants, an off the shoulder white top, and slinky heels, Kayla let out a whistle. She was a knockout by anyone’s standards. Standing nearly six feet tall, with dark wavy hair down to her butt, flashing brown eyes, and dancer’s legs, she turned heads everywhere she went.
“Whoa, baby. You look hot, hot, hot.” Kayla blew out a breath.
Brit grinned. “That’s because I take after my three sisters, and the prettiest mom I ever did see.”
“I can’t believe you came for my opening,” Taylor said, giving her a huge hug. She’d missed the work part but showed up for the champagne. So Brittany. Taylor gave her a hug. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Of course I came. I’m just sorry I’m late.”
Everyone crowded in to give her a hug. She laughed with delight, loving being the center of attention. “I planned to be here early, but then Jose dropped in as I was leaving. He’s my manager and a great dancer. Momma mia, that guy has some moves.”
Kayla laughed. “Now that’s the best excuse I’ve heard of for you missing work.”
Brittany licked her red lips and rolled her eyes. “I was dressed and ready to go, then he used some of those moves to get me back into bed. That put me behind an hour. Or two.” She sighed. “But it was worth every heavenly minute.”
“Now, now, dear.” Anna put a hand to her heart. “You know I want to hear all about it, but this is going to call for more champagne. Let’s replenish our drinks, then we can all sit down while you tell us about your dreamy man.”
Kayla poured Brittany a flute then topped the other glasses off, but not her own. They took a square table by the front window and Brittany chugalugged half her drink. She wiped her mouth and grinned.
“Share,” Taylor said. “You’ve been so busy this summer!”
“Okay. As you know, we’ve been touring for the past few months—all over the east coast. Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Boston. It’s been a blast, and with all that travel and close proximity Jose and I have gotten to know each other pretty well. He’s forty and gorgeous, as well as loaded.” She flipped her long hair over her shoulder, looking pretty pleased with herself. “He runs the dance company. Been married three times, but he says he’s in love with me. I don’t know… I mean I like him a lot, but he doesn’t have a very good track record, now does he?”
“Be careful.” Taylor envied her baby sister’s zest for life, but had always been more cautious with her heart. Of the three sisters, Brit was more like their mother in temperament.
“Some men are just for fun,” Anna said primly. “Good time Charlies.”
Kayla and Taylor exchanged a look before all of them started laughing.
Brit raised her flute in Taylor’s direction. “Enough about me. Taylor, I’m so proud of you.” She gave her a warm, genuine smile and squeezed her fingers in the palm of her hand. “Congratulations! This place is awesome.” She rose from her seat to wander around, checking everything out. “It’s so darn cute. Adorable. Did you do the decor?”
“Mostly. But Kayla and Juanita helped. We went to flea markets, and some local shops for the more interesting artwork.”
“Miguel and Colt found the fishnet and hung it from the rafters,” Anna told her. “Colt Travis was Taylor’s first customer.”
“Super cute Colt?” Brittany clarified. “With the fishing charter?”
“Yes,” Anna confirmed as Taylor finished her champagne. “He’s always there in a pinch. Yet, Taylor refuses to give him the time of day.”
Kayla shot Taylor a look—part sympathy, part warning. “Colt’s hanging in the wings, biding his time. But today a guy Taylor dated back in college showed up, out of the blue. He’s on his way to Key West, and wants to take her out when he returns. And he’s gorgeous.” Kayla tilted her head. “So? Are you going?”
“I haven’t decided, but after the way Colt reacted, I darn well think I
should.” Taylor straightened her shoulders, recalling his hip to hers, her breasts against his hard chest.
“Tell me,” Brittany said. “What happened?”
“Colt came back for lunch with Jamie and Raul just as I was giving Jack my number.” Taylor looked at her sisters, hoping for some support. “Then acted like a big jerk about it.” It wasn’t like she and Colt were dating. She’d been very careful to keep things friendly.
“Oh my!” Anna’s eyes twinkled. “How exciting. What did he do?”
Taylor’s cheeks heated. “He was angry for starters. Told me if I wanted a man that he was the guy for the job.” She tossed her head. “Really? I mean, really? What an ego!”
Anna laughed and clapped her hands. “Bravo! He’s staking his claim,” she said. “Good for him.”
“He has no right.” Taylor leaned against the table. “He dates half the women in Paradise Cove. Or at least sleeps with them. So he damn well can’t have me too!” What made everything worse was that her body had responded to Colt’s “claim”—wasn’t she stronger than that? She glanced at all three faces, with their mischievous smiles. “Matter of fact, if Jack calls, I will go out with him. He’s intelligent, interesting, and definitely eye candy.” He could also satisfy her in ways no man had been able to before. Maybe that was what she needed. A hot night under the covers.
Anna covered Taylor’s hand and squeezed. “But what about poor Colt? He’s such a dear man.” She glanced at her older, more sensible daughter. “Kayla! Help me out here. Taylor will listen to you, more than she will me.”
“I’m right here, Mother,” Taylor said crisply, pulling her hand free.
Anna ignored her and spoke again to Kayla, who had more common sense than any of them. “You know your sister as well as I do, and she’s a homebody by nature. So what do you advise her to do? Get some action with a guy who’s not from around here and won’t be staying, or open her eyes to what’s standing right in front of her?”
“Don’t discuss me like I’m not in the room.” Taylor scooted back from the table. “I know what I’m doing. I know Jack. He’s a great guy. Partner in his father’s law firm. Successful. Killer good looks. And he came on to me! I’d have to be completely nuts to turn him down. After all, there aren’t a whole lot of quality guys to date around here. Even if they outnumber the women three to one, there isn’t a big selection. Take Colt as an example. He’s a good daddy, a nice man, but he’s in debt up to his eyeballs, and has no intentions of getting into any type of relationship with anyone. He just wants a body to cuddle in bed.”
Taylor reached for her champagne glass, realized it was empty, and put it back down. “Guy should get a freakin’ dog.”
Brittany put a hand on one slim hip and tapped her heeled toe. “Taylor, Taylor, how did you ever get to be my sister? Where did your genes go wrong? Mom has more gumption than you do. Married twice, and looking for number three. You, on the other hand run scared.”
“Hey!” Anna said, pretending her feelings were hurt.
“Brittany,” Kayla warned. “Tread lightly. Everyone is different—there is no right or wrong.”
“I do not run scared! I lived with my last boyfriend for two whole years.” The only running she did, was running two full-time businesses. Any fear on her part had everything to do with failing. Not falling in love.
“Yes, and what did he use to call you? Ice. Ice, ice, baby.”
Kayla smoothed Taylor’s hair in silent comfort.
“That was my fault.” Taylor jumped to his defense, wishing she’d never shared that story with her sister. “I know it sounds awful, but I started that whole thing. After we’d been together for a year or more, he wanted to know if I was happy in bed. I told him I was, then made a lame comment about how I could have played the part of Elsa in Frozen. You know….in bed. I have a hard time reaching a climax.”
“So he was a lousy lover. You shouldn’t have taken the blame.” Brittany sat across from her. “A good guy could turn you around in an instant,” she told her, putting a hand over hers. “Now, here’s the plan. You go out with your hot guy from the city, screw his brains out. Use a condom, and don’t worry. Or give Colt the thrill of his lifetime and do him instead. But you are not a nun. Not even Catholic. And you are certainly not frozen. You’re a warm, affectionate, joyful person. All you need is to start living before it’s too late.”
Brittany took a sip of her champagne as she glanced around the table. “We of all people know that life doesn’t come with a guarantee. We have to live for the moment, or it may never come.”
She spoke a harsh truth, a lesson they’d all learned the hard way.
Taylor shook her head sadly. She wasn’t built like her sister. Her beliefs were different, and she had to be true to them. Yes, she could go out more often, but that didn’t mean she’d “enjoy” her life more.
“I know what you’re saying, Brit. But I’m not like you, and I don’t want to be.”
“Okay, enough about your love life,” Brittany said, turning to face Kayla. “How’s the bride-to-be feeling? I see you’re not drinking. Hopefully that’s good news.”
“Maybe, but I’m afraid to get too excited or optimistic. I had another false alarm a few months back.” Kayla put her hand over her flat stomach.
“Oh, no!” Anna’s eyes grew wide. “I didn’t know, honey. You never said anything.”
“Well, there was nothing to say. My period was late, that’s all.”
“I’m sure that Sean has you seeing the best doctors in the field and is keeping an eye on you,” Anna said in comfort. “But you shouldn’t be working so hard. Why don’t you sit home and watch all those cute workmen banging around your new home?”
The girls laughed.
Anna sniffed. “Well, that’s precisely what I would do.”
Brittany rose and kissed her mother’s cheek. “As would I. But I think my siblings have our father’s genes.”
“When I see genes,” Anna said with a twinkle in her eye, “I want a hot guy wearing them.”
CHAPTER FOUR
Colt sat back in his Captain’s chair on the upper deck as the boys trolled for fish. He kept one eye on them, and steered with his hands behind him. He was good at multi-tasking. He was good at a lot of things, but one thing he wasn’t good at was keeping his emotions locked down.
You’d think being newly divorced, he’d have no problems with that. The fighting and anger and hurt when he discovered his wife had cheated on him. Coming to terms with that. Deciding it was for the best. He wasn’t the man she wanted, and he didn’t want to be. The past year had seen plenty of emotional upheaval. It had been hard on all of them, but they were getting to a solid place now. He felt more at peace than he had in a long time.
His life was uncomplicated and he aimed to keep it that way. One thing for sure—he didn’t do emotions with the girls he dated. They came. They went. So what the hell had happened today with Taylor?
He took a long slug of water and then replaced the bottle in the holder. His eyes were trained on the lines, but instead of seeing the wake behind him, all he saw was the look of shock and distaste on Taylor’s face. He raised his cap off his head, mopped up some sweat, then shoved it back down.
He didn’t blame her. He’d been a complete idiot back at the cafe. Coming on to her the way he did. Showing her in graphic style exactly how she’d affected him. What had he been thinking? She’d be running scared now for damn sure.
Besides that, she was right. He had no say in who she dated. She’d made it loud and clear that she certainly did not want him—but that didn’t stop him from wanting her. At least physically. Of all the women he knew, she was the one he’d give his left nut to have in his bed. Problem was, he wasn’t looking for a wife and having buddy-sex with Taylor wouldn’t sit right. Not with him. Or her. And sure in hell not with the rest of her family. The women were close and protective of each other, and he respected them all too much to mess around with Taylor just for fun.
Even if she wanted it—which she didn’t. He was between a rock and a hard place. The hard place was the fact he couldn’t stop thinking about her, and laid awake many nights wondering how she’d feel under him. Sometimes he thought of her when he was with another woman. She was beginning to feel like a disease.
“How’s it going, boys?” Colt called down over the rail. He could see for himself they were having a good time, joking around, talking fish and baseball, too young to have girl problems.
They each waved up at him, then went back to scanning the clear blue water for fish. Colt popped another Tums in his mouth. The third in the past hour. Acid roiled around his stomach. Had heartburn too. Everything hurt inside and it was her damn fault. He’d been fine all morning. This sickness hadn’t started until she’d given her number to that asshole who looked like a daytime soap star. Handsome to the point of ridiculous. That thick black hair, blinding white teeth. What did she see in that guy?
She’d dated him years ago. Colt knew she’d slept with him—her eyes had danced with excitement when he’d whispered something in her ear. That prick had had her first, and that burned a hole in his gut.
But it wasn’t just about sex. It was more the fact that she’d be attracted to a man like that in the first place. Maybe she wasn’t all that different—could be he had believed it, because he’d wanted to. It was easy enough to be blinded by extreme wealth—the big house, the fancy cars, trips to anywhere in the world, first class resorts and high-end restaurants. His father had provided all that. They’d had a home in the Hamptons with a half-acre lot. Tennis court, huge pool, ocean at their doorstep. His father had kept a loft apartment in the City, on Madison Avenue, not far from the art gallery he owned.
His mother, Marjorie, had a full-time chef, a personal trainer, and never had to lift a finger except to call for one of their hired help. He and his sister Chrissy had gone to private schools. They’d had huge parties a few times a year, and Colton had been allowed sips of the best champagne from the time he was twelve. He was a connoisseur: the best caviar, the world’s finest smoked salmon, a good shot of scotch or a vintage cognac—all by the time he was sixteen. His father had wanted his son to have refined taste and be a true gentleman. What a load of crap that was.
PARADISE COVE - 3 BOOK SET: PARADISE COVE SERIES Page 26