by Anne Kemp
He wiggled his eyebrows at her. “Your friend or your family? Which is worse to have a ‘visual’ of, as you say?”
Abby let out a half-scream, half-laugh. “Okay, Andrew. Time to keep you occupied. Grab a towel, let’s go.” She then flipped her hands in his direction to shoo him out the door.
As they headed down the path to the beach, Abby could not help but sneak glances at Andrew. Between his biceps and strong jawline she was mesmerized, but trying to keep her cool. Andrew looked like he was carved out of stone, and his features -- so smooth and perfect. She shuddered a little in an attempt to shake it off.
And he was staying in her cottage.
CHAPTER TEN
“You need more sunscreen.”
Abby woke up from her nap on the beach with Andrew’s body blocking her sunshine. Normally, Abby was the girl who liked to hide under the umbrella, not letting her skin see the light of day. Yet instead of fighting the bronzing that was just meant to happen when you lived in the Caribbean, she’d decided to embrace it. It was her last hurrah before permanently resorting to spray tans only.
Abby squinted her eyes against the glare of the sunlight and peeked out from behind her hand at Andrew. “Why do you think I need more sunscreen? Am I blistering?”
“Well, no, but I -- ”
“I know how to apply sunscreen and when to reapply it, Andrew. But thank you.”
Andrew was nodding in agreement. “Well, judging by the tan line that’s happening on your shoulders, next to the red skin, I would think more sunscreen would work.” He again shook the sunscreen lotion bottle at Abby.
Abby was already sitting up and looking around for the bathrooms. They had made their way out to the private beach area the resort had blocked off for guests of the plantation only. Luckily, they also had their pool, pool bar and bathrooms all in the same spot. Abby was up and heading to the bathroom to see her tan line in the mirror.
When she finally got there, she discovered that Andrew was right. She was working on a sunburn now. Not even more sunscreen lotion was going to help. She sighed to herself and headed back outside to join Andrew.
Andrew was talking to a young man in shorts and a polo shirt that was embroidered with the Coconut Palm Plantation logo. As Abby walked up, the employee was off and running to make good on whatever request Andrew had made.
“If you’re ordering drinks, I hope you thought to get me one as well,” Abby teased.
“Actually, I asked for an umbrella for you. That way you don’t have to leave just yet.” Andrew then looked over at Abby and brought out his perfect, crooked smile again.
“Thank you. That’s sweet.” Abby smiled shyly at Andrew. She felt her stomach do a tiny turn when he met her gaze.
The employee came running back over with the umbrella, staking it in the ground for Abby and Andrew. In no time, they were settled in underneath the shade, safe from the rays of the Caribbean sun. Abby had curled up on her lounge chair, ordering a rum punch “with extra ice, please,” and was flipping through a magazine. Andrew had buried himself back into his book, or so she thought.
“Is that Austen you’re reading or Shakespeare?”
“Wow.” Abby put down her People magazine. “I’ll have you know that this magazine is at least five months old. I found it at Ricky’s. It’s just for me to look at the pictures.”
Andrew laughed. “I’m sure there’s more to you than that.” He had bookmarked his page and turned his full attention to Abby.
Abby nodded, rolling on her side to give Andrew her full attention as well.
“You’re right.” She leaned in, and gestured for him to lean in as well. “Some people watch CNN for news. I watch E! Entertainment or read Perez Hilton.”
Andrew chuckled. “Very deep.”
Abby laughed out loud. “I try.” She toasted him with her drink.
“You’re going to take over my job. I’m comic relief. Or at least that’s what I want to be for Ben while I’m here.” Andrew’s face became serious suddenly. “He’s been good to me, he and his mom. They always cheered me on through school. My own mom passed away when I was young.”
Abby was floored at this sudden open book she had in front of her. Dammit all to hell. Being sensitive only made him hotter.
“My dad -- our dad -- passed away when I was young as well.” Abby let out a heavy sigh, turning over onto her back. “I wish he had been honest about what he was doing. I feel like Ben was always supposed to be around. Like we wasted so much time not knowing him.”
Andrew was spinning the cup that housed his rum punch, watching the ice cubes clink up against one another. His expression was intent as he stared into the cup, as if he were looking for the bottom of a well.
“You looking for answers?” Abby inquired.
“No. Counting my blessings. I guess that’s what you’d call it in the States.” He winked.
“Yes,” Abby giggled, “we are known to count our blessings.” She surveyed the patch of beach they were sitting on. “If I was to count any blessings, one would be sitting here on this beach right now. Once in a lifetime,” she dreamily said.
“I agree.” Andrew was looking around as well, still spinning the cup. Abby was focused on the water and the breeze, so she didn’t notice he was watching her. “I’ve found that when once in a lifetime comes along, you have to jump on it. Do you agree?”
Abby thought about it for only a second before responding. “Of course! I think that if you don’t take chances or go for things that are put in front of you, then you could miss out on something fantastic.” She was quiet, then decided to make it relate to herself. “Like me living here, for instance. I was laid off, and I could have been sad about it and tried to find work in a country that has the highest unemployment rate in years. Did I? Nope. This opportunity came along. Now I’m here.” Abby was smiling to herself.
Abby turned her head to find Andrew looking at her in that way she had seen Ben looking at Tracey. His gaze was strong yet layered with sweetness, and it made her feel a little awkward, but also very tingly and excited.
“You’re pretty interesting, Abby.”
Andrew’s eyes were boring into hers, as if reading her mind. Or at least attempting to guess at what was happening in there. His beautiful dark eyes. Abby could not help but feel mesmerized by them. Her tummy was doing more somersaults than ever before. So many that they were literally taking her breath away.
Abby was about to say something to break the thick energy that had settled in a little cloud around them when she heard her name being called from behind her. She rolled over to see Ben and Tracey making their way across the sand to their little piece of the beach.
“Well, about time you guys made it.” “We figured you’d be out by dinnertime at least.” Andrew and Abby were talking over each other, sitting up to tease the couple as well as to break their own spell.
Ben smiled at his sister. “Took some time to walk the grounds.” He looked around, soaking in the scene. “Pretty nice.”
Abby, seeing her chance to flee from her libido, jumped up.
“Now that you guys are here to keep an eye on Prince Charming,” she jerked her head in Andrew’s direction, “I’m off. See you guys later.”
Abby was moving so fast, she was kicking up sand in her flight. She did manage one final shy smile in Andrew’s direction, then headed back to her cottage so she could calm her raging hormones down.
#
Abby never got a chance to rest until well after dinner. When she had gotten back to her room, the maids were there turning down her bed. One had seen how sunburned Abby was and had gone to get some vinegar for her from the kitchen. She had returned with a cupful, instructing Abby to lay in a bath in order to help turn the sunburn into a tan.
So, she had done just that. Filling the tub about halfway with cool water, Abby added the vinegar and slid in to soak. The smell was terrible, but she managed to stay in the tub for the thirty minutes they had recommended. She emptied
the tub, got out and stood in the shower to rinse off. When she was done, she noticed the smell was lingering. Abby got back in and rinsed off for a bit longer, this time making sure to get her back good and soapy, even thought it hurt terribly when she was rubbing her skin.
The smell was still lingering. “Pickly. Ew.” Abby decided to try one more time. She got in, lathered up with soap, shampoo and shaving cream, all in an attempt to kill the smell. Again, the result was that Abby smelled like a bottle of vinegar. She was mortified.
Abby was lathering on some coconut lotion she had with her when she heard the front door open. Followed by, “Ohhh my GOD! What is that smell?” Abby realized Andrew must have been hit straight in the face with the odor that was her new nightmare. She wrapped up in the hotel robe and came out to face the music.
“It’s me. I smell like pickles.”
Abby had no sooner spoken than the door flew open. Ben walked in, covering his mouth and nose with his hand. “What the hell is that?”
Abby rolled her eyes. “It’s me! I took a bath in vinegar -- the maids told me it would help my sunburn. It took the sting away, but now I smell. And I smell really bad.”
“At least you’re aware of the scent you have around you, Pigpen,” Ben said. Abby took a playful swat at him.
“Shut up. I can’t go to dinner with you guys like this. Every table will smell me.”
“I don’t think I could even enjoy a meal with the smell of cleaning products so close to me,” Andrew said, speaking as if to Ben but sending the zinger to Abby.
“Great.” She sighed and sat down on the bed. “I’ll stay here while you guys go to dinner. There’s no point in me going anywhere.”
Ben and Andrew both pooh-poohed the idea. “No way,” Ben said. “This place is known for their food. They are offering a special dinner menu with low prices for students as well.” He puffed his chest out like a chicken and did a happy dance for their enjoyment.
“He’s right, you know. Let’s all do dinner together,” Andrew said, laughing at his friend. “We can go early, then you can come back here, and we’ll hose you down or something. I’m sure if we throw some chlorine on you from the pool . . . ”
Abby shook her head, acting as if she was disgusted. “Chlorine. Whatever.” She looked at the back of the door where she had hung the dress she was wearing to dinner. “Okay, fine. I’ll do dinner. One condition.”
The guys both nodded.
“If I still smell bad after dinner, I’m coming back to the room to just go to sleep. Okay?”
“Trust me, Abby,” Ben said, “if you still smell after dinner, I will find a way to lose you.”
“Ha!” Abby retorted. She grabbed the dress off the door and headed into the bathroom. “When’s dinner?”
The boys looked at their watches. “Meet in the dining room at six?”
Abby nodded and headed back in the bathroom. She was about to close the door when she realized Andrew was there and he wanted to get ready. I’m so selfish, she thought, chastising herself.
As she went back out to the porch, she could hear Ben talking to Andrew, now in planner mode. “Grab your things, and we’ll go back to my room so you can get ready, cool?”
Abby didn’t hear Andrew’s reply, so she popped her head around the door so she could assess the situation. “Hey, Andrew, did you need -- ”
“I’m a day ahead of ya, Abs. I got him from here. Don’t want him in your hair more than he already is.”
Abby took a quick peek out of the corner of her eye only to see that Andrew was staring at her, waiting for her to react somehow. Not sure why, Abby decided to play it cool. Cooler than she had been.
“No, we don’t. Thanks, Ben.” She then stood there, awkwardly. “Okay, then. See you two at dinner.” And with that she closed the door to the bedroom and went back about her business.
But not before registering the way Andrew’s face had fallen, not much, but enough.
#
The restaurant was buzzing even as early as six in the evening, when they had arrived. Since the majority of the property was rented out to students for the semester break, it seemed only fitting that the five-star restaurant was overtaken by nothing but vet students. All of them were out having fun, and some were already a little drunk.
All during dinner, people kept stopping by the table to say hello to Ben or Tracey. A few of them knew Andrew from all of his visits out to see Ben. Abby held her own for a few conversations, but inevitably, the other people would get a whiff of her new vinegar perfume and would end up excusing themselves to go back to their table or to the bathroom. They usually never returned.
One of the visits was from a girl in Ben’s class named Adrienne. It didn’t take long to guess that she was very popular with the boys at the school. Tracey leaned over to tell Abby that she rose in popularity because she was a “total ho. Slept with a professor and at least ten students I can think of off the top of my head,” Tracey explained. Abby feigned some disbelief, but the short-shorts and tank top that barely covered the girl’s chest clued her in that Adrienne was looking for more than a restful weekend.
To the chagrin of the table, Adrienne pulled a chair right up next to Andrew, starting a conversation with him. Andrew, who had been in the sun all day and was a few whiskey drinks in with Ben, was loving the attention. She smiled, touching his arm and using her fingers to suggestively touch her décolletage as she laughed at everything he said. Including “Pass the pepper.” Abby was disgusted. Not just for the girl, but with Andrew as well.
Abby stayed long enough to watch them flirt, to the point that she was absolutely grossed out. When the check arrived, she threw her money down and stood up so abruptly it jarred everyone sitting at the table.
“I’m heading back to my room. Have fun, good night.” She started to leave, then as an afterthought she added, “Oh, Andrew? Huge favor. Please just be quiet when you come in, okay?” She then threw a tight smile his way and turned to leave.
“Abby, I thought you were going to hang out with us tonight?” Tracey asked, sounding genuinely sad by the fact that she was leaving them so soon.
“I’m going to head back and relax. Maybe get this smell off of me. Thank you, though.” She then blew Tracey a kiss and hurried back to her cottage.
As soon as she opened the door, the tears flooded. Where the hell is this coming from? She thought as she leaned against the door. Just because some hot girl in her twenties was flirting with the guy I secretly have a crush on? Like I care about that. Him or her. Oh, who am I kidding? I’d be pissed no matter what her age was. UGH!!!
It had to be something else. Maybe it was PMS. Abby honestly wasn’t sure where it was coming from, all she knew was that she didn’t like the feeling she had. She was sifting through her tears when her cell phone rang.
She hadn’t even said hello when the familiar voice started in. “I’m in Miami. Should be to you guys by tomorrow afternoon. How’s everything there?”
Abby sighed to herself when she heard Leigh’s voice and subconsciously sat up a little straighter.
“Um, hi, Leigh? What do you mean you’re on your way down?”
Leigh was quiet on the other end of the phone. “My, someone is in a somber mood tonight. What’s your problem?”
Abby took a minute before replying to her sister. She could hear that she was agitated. Leigh’s voice would shake slightly when she was looking for an argument, and she could hear a low rumble tonight.
“Well, Leigh, I was actually going to call you tomorrow or Monday. There are a few things going on down here that I need to clear the air with you about.”
“I’m going to be there in less than twenty-four hours. The real estate agent sent me an email saying someone was there that would be making an offer and Maria has been reporting that the repairs are going well. Is that true?”
Abby was stunned at the news. “Well, I know there have been potential buyers in and out, but when I left this morning -- ” Abby didn’t g
et a chance to finish, because Leigh cut her off.
“What do you mean, when you left? Where the hell are you? I thought your sole purpose for being on St. Kitts was to help me, Abby.”
But I have been! Abby fought the urge to scream.
“I decided to take a little break for a night with Ben and a few of his friends. We’re on Nevis. Now, like I was telling you about -- ”
“You’re on Nevis? With Ben? Abby! I get word that someone is almost ready to make an offer and you’re not even there? What about all of the repairs, Abby? How are you being so irresponsible right now? I asked you to help with one thing and you take off?”
Abby was starting to feel her patience with Leigh break.
“Maria told me just yesterday that it was more than fine for me to take a few days. I think we both know I’m not going to leave her in the lurch!” Abby was pissed. “As for the repairs, everything has been flowing along quite smoothly; in fact, I’d venture to say I’m ahead of schedule. The inn might even be in better shape than when you first purchased it.” The last part Abby threw in more for effect, but she was truly proud of how much attention she was paying to all the small details around the inn. She had hoped Leigh would be happy as well, but wasn’t sure any longer in light of the current conversation.
The other end of the line was silent. Dead silent. When Leigh did speak, Abby could tell she was putting on a show to choose her words carefully.
“Abby, I sent you down there to help me get this house taken care of. How the hell can you do anything I need you to do if you’re off screwing around on an island with the tenant and his buddies, while Maria and Ziggy are doing all the work?” Leigh sighed heavily. “This truly feels quite typical of you, Abby. I ask for help, you blow it off. Have you really done anything to the inn or am I facing a huge mess?”
Oh, no she didn’t.
“How can I screw around, Leigh? Did you seriously just ask how I could be so bold as to screw around when my dear sister so desperately needed me to do something for her? I ask myself the same thing every day. Especially when she neglects to give me all the information necessary.”