“Jiffy, right? Got it.” Kevin nodded and backed away from the closing doors as Mr. Nutcracker waved goodbye.
“Stranger by the minute.”
The Sapphire Lounge was to his immediate left. He pushed the large, stained glass door open and walked inside. Several two-top, mahogany tables were strategically placed around the dimly lit room with enough space in between each to afford each diner or diners the privacy they desired. Booths, covered in paisley upholstery, lined the walls and he assumed, like everything else in the place, would comfortable enough but he chose one of the wrought iron stools at the bar and had a seat.
“What’ll it be?” The bartender placed a glass coaster on the marble-topped bar in front of him.
“Beer. Whatever you have on tap will be fine.”
“We have ten different brews on tap. Can you be a little more specific? Or would you like one large glass filled with an ounce or so of each? Or how about a glass of each? That’s what I’m doin’. Or how about a shot of whiskey? That’s lookin’ pretty good tonight too.”
Apparently, The Sapphire Lounge was very lenient with its employees. “I’ll just have whatever you got that’s closest to Coor’s Light. And keep em’ comin’.” He slid a hundred dollar bill across the cool surface to him.
“You got it.”
The guy, most women would find attractive, walked to the other end of the bar and drew the brew. Bringing it back to Kevin with the perfect amount of head on it, he placed it on the coaster and walked away.
“Thanks.”
Obviously, the bartender wasn’t part of the friendship guild that had greeted him upon arrival. For that, he was equally grateful and perplexed by the guy’s demeanor. It’s not like he needed to talk to anyone. He’d gone to the bar to relax, right? He really didn’t feel like exchanging pleasantries with anyone.
Finishing the first frosty glass, his eyes were drawn to the photos hanging on the wall behind the bar. Pictures of yesteryear and what he supposed were different stages of remodeling and construction at the resort, were encased in gilded frames, and proudly displayed in five vertical rows. Thirty in all, each dated and signed by someone with horrible handwriting, pride of the massive estate was evident.
“Great pictures, huh?”
A bit startled, Kevin accepted his second beer. “Yeah.”
Smirking, “Name’s Mark Willburn. Manager slash assistant manager slash bartender slash patsy and resident joke of the River Jewel.”
“Kevin. All of those jobs must keep ya’ pretty busy.”
“I know who you are. We all do. The resort has powers,” he whispered, using air quotes for emphasis. “Have you been given the Mr. Sunman treatment yet? Of course you have, Mr. Sunman.” He mimicked Maria’s birdlike voice.
Kevin cracked a smile. The guy was starting to grow on him. “Yeah. Many. Many times.” Taking another long drink, “I don’t think I’ve ever been called Mr. Sunman that much in one day. Possibly not in my entire life.”
“She’s nothing if not polite. That’s for sure. So, let me guess—you’re here looking for love?”
“Hardly. Just stopping for the night. I’ll be back on the road in the morning.”
“Where ya’ headed?” Mark tipped back a shot of whiskey before pouring another.
“No idea. I’m lookin’ for someone.”
“Lemme guess. A woman? I saw your bike when you pulled up. She’s gorgeous. Only a guy who’s single would have a machine like that. Have you named her?”
“Thanks.” Kevin nodded and slid his empty glass back to Mark. “No name. There’s never been a real name.”
“I’ll grab ya’ another, man.”
“Appreciate it.”
Kevin didn’t mind talking with the guy, but he enjoyed the moment of silence when Mark went to retrieve a beer.
“Ya’ know, this place is a damn joke. See those pictures,” he pointed, slightly sloshing the beer he held. “That’s all the manager cares about. This place. Heartless.” Mark began drinking his whiskey from the bottle, foregoing the glass.
“Really? Interesting.” Kevin wasn’t sure where the conversation was going, but he had the feeling it was about to become really awkward. He couldn’t care less about this guy’s employer issues.
“Yep.” Mark lifted the bottle again, swaying a bit as he came around the bar and sat beside Kevin on an adjacent stool. “This entire place is fucked.”
Seriously? “Sorry, man. It’s really none of my business though.”
“Sure it is. You’re here aren’t ya’? That makes it your business.”
Kevin swallowed the rest of his beer, “Mind if I get my own this time? You look like you’ve had a bad day.” Truth be told, Mark was pretty close to being shitfaced and Kevin didn’t want to see the guy fall or something stupid.
“Go ‘head. Get as many as ya’ want.” Slurring now, Mark continued to tip back the bottle. The guy was obviously trying to kill more than a horrible day at work.
“Are you sure you should be drinkin’ that much while you’re on the clock?”
“Ask me if I care. I won’t get fired. As far as I’m concerned, the boss owes me big time.”
“Alright then.”
“Yep. They can’t get rid of me. They’re as stuck with me as I am with them.” Burping, he took a big swig of the amber liquid. “If it weren’t for this place, I wouldn’t be so messed up.”
“This place? It seems great. A bit strange, but what did this place do to you?”
“It brought love to me and then it allowed that same love to walk away. What kind of fucked up place or woman who claims to help people would let that happen? A crazy one. A place full of ridiculous fantasies run by a woman who’s obviously high on a power trip. That’s exactly what happens here.”
Shit just got real. Kevin had actually been able to forget about his own lost love for a minute and then, WHAM!—this guy, some drunk in bar had to shatter the one serene moment he’d hoped to enjoy.
The next hour passed with very few words being spoken between them. They both sat, drinking and Kevin grew more resentful towards the woman from his past. After a few shots of whiskey and just as many beers, he was feeling no physical pain. Mentally, however, he was running on fumes. The more he thought about her, the worse it became.
Her kiss, the way she tasted, her skin against his were all he could think of. After another round or two of drinks, physical memories circled back to anger and sadness. Before he knew it, Mark was passed out on the bar and Kevin realized he’d been mumbling to himself.
“Hey, bud. I think you need to close up and sleep it off.” Tapping Mark on his shoulder, he moved around the other side of the bar, placing his beer mug and shot glass in the sink before capping what was left of the smooth, amber liquid.
Mark simply turned his head, saying “Don’t ever count on love. Live your life, man. Love sucks.” Before Kevin could even respond, Mark was snoring.
“Yeah, love sucks.” He walked out of the bar and followed the corridor to the side doors. Needing some fresh air, he stepped out onto a moonlit patio surrounded by an enormous garden. Marble fountains, Greek god and goddess statues adorned the path as he searched for something simple to enjoy some peace and quiet. Simple, like a river bank.
After walking with sluggish steps for a few more minutes, he found himself on a sandy beach. “You gotta’ be joking.” Kevin, still drunk and dealing with the gut-wrenching love talk he’d suffered through with Mark, a beach was not what he needed. At all.
The waves crashed against the toes of his sturdy boots and moonlight danced across the water, grains of sand on the shore caught slivers of light making the tiny flecks look like millions of tiny gems. “Must be where they got the name. River Jewel Resort, how cheesy could you be? What kind of an asshat created this place?”
Based on what Mark had told him, Kevin knew the place was more like a matchmaking hotel that catered to couples. Definitely not his type of thing. His surroundings seemed oddly familia
r and he knew that couldn’t be possible. Further down the beach, he could make out the silhouette of a cabin. He knew it hadn’t been there when he’d first set foot on the beach. Rubbing his eyes, he blinked a few times. Still there.
Shaking his head, he moved towards the cabin. The closer he got, Kevin felt a tide of emotions roll over him. His cabin. Their cabin. What kind of shit was this? How much did he drink? What was in those drinks? It was impossible! He was in Indiana. Nowhere near his cabin on the beach. Was he having a nervous breakdown? Had he finally gone over the edge? He spun around, raising his fists to the sky and let everything he’d been holding inside for twenty years, roar out of him like a caged beast being unleashed.
Chapter Four
Scarlet needed a really long break. A vacation would be nice. If only she weren’t the only one responsible for the River Jewel. Taking time off just wasn’t in the cards for her. Arguing with Mark again had taken its toll on her. She could only apologize to him so many times. Would he ever understand that these things were out of her control?
Scarlet knew Mark was in a lot of emotional pain and it was understandable. However, until Sydney Blake had arrived at the hotel a few months ago, Mark had been a vacant vessel of sex and disappointment for anyone he chose. Women fell at his feet. But Sydney was the one. Sydney would return. Scarlet knew it. Their fate was sealed, but Sydney needed time to heal from the horrible things her ex-husband Roger had done to her. She needed to find herself before she could truly give her all to another man.
Mark was being immature and selfish. His outbursts and drinking were becoming a problem and one she couldn’t tolerate much longer. She’d never fire him, but it might be time to hold an intervention. He’d said horrible, horrible things when she’d gone down to the bar and helped him back to his suite. “You’re such a coldhearted bitch sometimes, ya’ know? Do you know what a hypocrite you are? All of this love shit is bullshit. You’ve never even loved anyone. You never date. Never have sex. Maybe that’s what you need. I hope you find someone and they do to you what Sydney has done to me. I hope he leaves you.” Slurring his words and stumbling like a common drunk, Scarlet could do nothing other than be there for him.
After getting Mark tucked in, she stepped outside his door and let the tears flow. She’d never allow anyone to see her weak. Everything she’d done, she’d done for other people and if Mark couldn’t understand that, so be it. One day she knew he’d wake up and see what a despicable drunk he’d been and of course, Scarlet would forgive him. He was like family to her. The entire staff was her family and she’d go through anything for them. Even if it meant getting hurt in the process.
Mark didn’t know everything about her, but at the same time, he was right. She didn’t date. She hadn’t had sex in so long she should be considered ‘Closed for Business’. Harsh words from a man who’d been hurt were nothing more than that. Words. Her life was none of his business.
Wiping away more silent tears, Scarlet walked outside to her favorite place at the resort. Her beach. There she could drift back to the past and pretend she’d returned to her lover all of those years ago. He’d see her and throw his arms around her before whisking her into their cabin where they’d spent hours making love again. With a thought, she could turn the entire shore into the one where her life had been changed forever and she did so frequently. The sand where she’d kissed her soulmate and felt happier than she’d ever been before or since glittered like diamonds, the moonlight giving it a mystical, magical feel.
As the salty ocean breeze pressed her silk dress against her skin, Scarlet closed her eyes, grateful for her own secret place to escape to when things became too much to bear. Their place. Just over the outcropping of rocks was the small tidal pool where they’d dipped their toes and watched the ships glide across the horizon. Holding hands, they shared their hopes and dreams, making plans for their future together. With the memories, came unavoidable feelings of longing and loss. They were more than emotions, but she buried them deep enough when need be.
In all honesty, a part of her preferred this illusion to all of the ‘what might’ve been’ moments that ran through her mind daily. There was no going back. There were no guarantees that he’d been the man she was supposed to be with. Maybe her visions had been wrong. It’d serve her right. Using her powers for personal gain and the karmic kickback that followed was the most painful punishment she could have imagined. If she’d gone back to him, maybe the universe would’ve taken him from her, too. Leaving had been the best thing for everyone.
“Do you think this is funny? What kind of sick, twisted fuck are you?”
What? Who was yelling? How could anyone be here? In her illusion? Her fantasy? It wasn’t possible. No one else knew she was here. She followed the faceless voice, tiptoeing over the sand until she reached the cabin. A man stood there, waving his arms, flipping off the sky and screaming at the stars.
“How can you be so cruel? Do you know how much she meant to me? She was my soulmate and you took her! Now, you brought me here? To this cabin? This beach! What kind of god are you? Twenty years. Twenty fucking years I’ve been searching and you know it!”
Scarlet couldn’t believe her ears or her eyes. It couldn’t be. How did he get there? Why was he there? She could hear him sobbing, swearing under his breath as he dropped to his knees on the shore. Doubling over, he cried “What do you want from me? I can’t do this anymore.”
Her legs went numb and she was rooted to the spot, watching from afar like some crazy lady. He’d been searching for her all of this time? She’d done this to him. The only man she’d ever loved had been suffering for two decades and it was all her fault. Would the consequences never end? He didn’t deserve this kind of emotional pain. No one did. It was inhumane.
She covered her mouth with her hands, watching as he broke down over and over again. He cried as though his soul were splitting apart and shattering into a million pieces as heartache poured from his body with every breath. Pounding the sand with his fists a final time, he stood and turned toward where she was standing. If she remained perfectly still, perhaps he wouldn’t notice her there in the shadows.
Don’t blink. Don’t move. Don’t even breathe.
He began walking up the beach. Maybe she should turn and walk the other way. He’d never know who she was. She could simply go inside and fins safety in her suite. He couldn’t see her. He had to stay away. He just had to! Closer and closer. There was no time to turn now. His eyes narrow slits as he approached.
“It’s you. You’re really here. My god, where have you been all of these years?”
Don’t speak. Just turn and go back to your room. You know you can never be with him. Just go!
Before she could move, he grabbed Scarlet’s arms, pulling against his chest. Lips, smelling of strong liquor and tasting of saline, pressed against hers. “Mine,” he murmured.
She pushed him away. Turning, she ran as fast as her feet could take her, making it to the other side of the dune. With a thought, she was instantly back in her own room, her heart breaking for him, for her and for all they’d both lost because of her own selfishness. Confusion, guilt, pain and anger came at her in waves.
How had he gotten into the resort without her knowing? It was her resort! She knew about things before anyone else did. Each client was brought here by her influence. How had she missed the signs or whatever was responsible for this? What kind of cruel joke was this? Hadn’t she paid enough for her impulsive nature? Obviously there was some ethereal influence who enjoyed being a sadistic asshole! Alone, she cried and cursed the universe waiting for the morning to come. Checking the client registration on her laptop, he was only staying for the night. With any luck, he would be gone at first light. She’d stay in her room until he was on the road and far. Far away from the River Jewel and her.
****
What had he done last night? This was an all-new low for him. Accosting and molesting a stranger? How could he put his hands on someone like he
had? Kevin sat at the immaculate dining table in his room, wondering what the hell we was going to do. Where had the woman gone last night? He’d tried to find her, searching the grounds for hours so he could apologize. Though his behavior was inexcusable, he needed to make amends somehow.
Presumably, the beautiful woman had gone to the manager right away to report him. He’d be lucky if the cops weren’t beating down his door any moment. If word of this hit the newspapers, he’d be finished and his charity would have a nasty mark on its reputation because of his drunken antics. For fuck’s sake, he was forty years old. He should know better than to drink so much and act like a crazed lunatic.
The coffee in his mug was good and strong, just what he needed to chase away the brick that was currently lodged in his brain. Another reason he’d given up social drinking years ago. The day after was always the worst. Luckily, he’d found a completely stocked medicine cabinet in one of the bathrooms and had a nice breakfast of coffee with an ibuprofen chaser.
With daylight, came an epiphany for Kevin. He was done with the search. Over the years, he’d said it many times, but he could no longer hold onto the denial of his reality. Loading up his bag and heading back home would be the best thing he could for himself. It was time to let go and move on with what was left of his life. He could find someone, settle down and have his own family. He needed that. After so many years and an insane amount of money spent on something unattainable leading to the incident the evening before, Kevin felt like a total failure. His efforts should’ve been focused towards his charity and the veterans who needed help instead of traipsing around the country as if he were on some godforsaken romance hunt.
“Time to get moving.” Grabbing his duffel, he checked to be sure the door locked behind him and he took the stairs, steering clear of the nutcracker in the elevator, he took the stairs to the lobby.
“Good morning, Mr. Sunman.”
Hearing Maria address him so formally only made him feel worse. He’d been rude with her when he’d checked in and now, he felt unworthy of carrying his grandfather’s surname. “Morning, Maria.”
River Jewel Resort Box Set Books 1-4 BOOK BUNDLE Page 17