by Joy Redmond
“Well pardon me all over the place!” Cody said apologetically. “Then you’re a beautiful auburn-head, okay? Red, auburn, amber – whatever color it may be, I happen to think it’s beautiful.”
“I’m sorry,” Tori said. “I didn’t mean to get snippy. I guess I’m overly sensitive about it.”
He put his arm around her waist and pulled her close. “It’s okay. I know I can get a little pushy sometimes.” He looked up and down the beach. “Do you like to people-watch? People intrigue me, and they can give me a good laugh sometimes.” Before she could answer, he added, “Look at that woman over there, for instance – the one who’s about eleven months pregnant and still wearing a bikini.”
“I admire her,” Tori said. “What’s wrong in showing off nature? I think she looks beautiful.” She watched the woman waddle a few more steps, and then burst into laughter. “Well, maybe she is a little funny.”
They huddled together and giggled like two children as they people watched. They made comments about the hefty gals in their bikinis who should have been wearing Muumuus, the older women with pleated thighs, and the potbellied men who hadn’t seen their feet in years. The more they laughed, the more Tori became enchanted with Cody Baxter.
“Would you like to take a stroll on the beach with me?” Cody asked, pulling Tori up and brushing the sand off her butt. She felt tingles race through her body when he touched her. “Let’s go.”
They walked the beach hand-in-hand and Tori felt dwarfed beside Cody. He was at least two inches taller than Wes, who was six foot even. Cody bought piña coladas for them at one of the tiki huts, and Tori began to feel lightheaded. The only alcohol she’d ever consumed was the cheap bottle of wine the musketeers had split on prom night, which seemed like 100 years ago at that moment.
Tori clung to Cody’s hand, barely able to take her eyes off him. The salty air, the palm trees, the balmy breeze – it all seemed like a fantasy, and she felt as if she had stumbled into the Garden of Eden. Cody was Adam and she was Eve, the only two people in the world.
Cody looked at his watch. “It’s six o’clock and I didn’t eat lunch. Would you like to join me for dinner?” Before she could answer he said, “How about the restaurant in the Caribbean, where I’m staying?”
“You’re at the Caribbean? That’s where I’m staying, too,” Tori said.
“Oh, yeah. What room?”
“Room one-twenty-six,” she answered, a bit taken aback by Cody’s change of demeanor. Until then, he had been suave, charming, and a bit macho. She liked the child-boy qualities much better. He’s so cute!
“Well, I can’t believe it! I’m in one-twenty-eight, just two doors down,” he said, shaking his head. He regained his composure and added, “Well, as I was saying, the food at the Caribbean is good, but we can eat anywhere you like.”
Wow! For the first time in a long time, Tori felt like a princess again – and it felt good. “The Caribbean sounds fine to me.”
“You’ll be the prettiest girl there, I promise,” he said, leading her toward the hotel, eyeing her up and down as if she were a credulous-girl-woman. He gently touched Tori’s nose with his index finger. “I have to tell you, I think freckles are sexy.”
Tori looked up at him and smiled. He was what Grammy would have called a silk-tongued fool. She knew he was laying it on thick, but she was in the mood to be complemented, and she was eating it up.
They wrapped arms around each other’s waist as they walked into the back door of the hotel and down hallways until they reached room 126. Tori unzipped her change purse and took out the key.
Cody gently took the key from her hand, inserted it into the lock, and pushed open the door. He stepped inside, looked around, and said, “I don’t see any strangers lurking, so I think you’re safe.” He placed his index and middle finger to his lips, kissed them and touched them to Tori’s lips. “I’ll see you in a bit. When you’re ready, knock on my door, okay?”
He backed out the door, leaving Tori with a smile on her face and a heart that was doing flip-flops, reminding her of the day she rode the roller coaster at the county fair.
An hour later, Tori was wearing a pair of tan shorts, a green shell that was almost the color of her eyes, and tan sandals with heels just high enough to give her legs more shape. She had smeared on foundation with a makeup sponge, outlined her eyes with brown-black eyeliner, and coated enough mascara on her lashes so they resembled tarantulas. She reapplied blush trying to make her freckles completely disappear, but no luck.
She had also dabbed Taboo perfume behind her ears, in the bend of her elbows, and behind her knees. She stared into the mirror. “Looking good,” she said and picked up her clutch bag.
She walked two doors down the hall and just as she raised her hand, Cody opened the door. Again, his good looks took her breath. He was dressed in khaki slacks, a Polo pullover the same shade of green as her shell, and wore sandals. His honey-blond hair was so perfect he looked as if a coiffeur had styled him for the evening, and he smelled heavenly with what had to be expensive cologne.
Cody took Tori’s hands in his and held her at arm’s length. “You look ravishing!”
Tori tucked her head and said, “Ah, shucks. I bet you say that to all the gals.” She playfully punched him on the shoulder.
“Just the redheaded ones.” He raised his hands in front of his face as if to fend off a blow, and then he laughed. “Ready to go, beautiful?”
“I’m ready, handsome.”
They walked arm-in-arm into the restaurant, and per Cody’s request, the host seated them at a table next to the window so they could watch the sunset over the ocean.
Tori made a mental note to take lots of pictures because she knew Jill would never believe that she had captivated such an amazing man. One day into her vacation and she was having the time of her life – and if Cody disappeared from earth after their dinner, she’d still cherish the memory for the rest of her life.
The host handed them menus and told them their waiter would be with them soon. Tori picked up the menu, scanned it, and didn’t have a clue as to what to order. She was so nervous that she dropped the menu twice.
Cody looked at Tori and said sweetly, “If you don’t mind, I’ll order for us. I like seafood, but steak is my favorite, so we’ll order prime rib.”
Although he was being nice about it, it was the first red flag Tori had seen. She simply didn’t like a controlling man. Then she wondered if she were being too defensive. Or maybe she’d been with Wes too long.
Cody picked up the wine list and studied it. “Do you have a favorite wine?” he asked, but he didn’t look at her to see her reaction.
Tori rested her elbows on the table. "Well, I’m not sure. What would be best with prime rib?”
“Never mind, I’ll pick one,” he said, again not looking at her. “A bottle of Chateau Petrus will go with prime rib.” He placed the list on the table as if she were a moron.
Tori’s hackles rose, but before she could give him a piece of her mind, he cradled her chin, winked, and said, “This is going to be a special night.”
Tori wasn’t comfortable with the way he had taken over: ordered her meal, selected a wine, and made her feel inadequate. She could feel her temper rising, but she kept it under control. Did he think he was some hotshot, sophisticated, know-it-all from Yale? Florida was very different from Madison, but the people there weren’t as backward as Cody seemed to think.
Tori wanted to scream, No, I’m not a wine expert! Big deal, butt-wipe!
The food finally came, and although her steak was a little too rare, she did enjoy the wine and polished off several glasses. When they finished eating, Cody picked up the bottle of wine, topped off their glasses, and then set the empty bottle on the table. “Good stuff, huh?” he said, brushing a tiny breadcrumb from Tori’s cheek with his hand.
“Uh-huh,” Tori answered, and went gaga again.
Cody reached for Tori’s hand, and gently kissed her palm. His war
m breath and tender lips gave her chills. “Would you like to take a walk on the beach, sit on the shore, and listen to the ocean in the moonlight? It’s about dark-thirty. My favorite time to be near the water.”
Tori giggled. “Dark-thirty? I haven’t heard that one before, but sure,” she said, rising from the chair a little unsteadily.
Cody signaled for the waiter. “Hold on, baby. I have to pay for the damage.”
Tori sat down and fought the urge to giggle. If the people back in Madison could see her now! She was on a date with a total stranger, a bit tipsy, and acting like she had a case of stupidities. The images that she conjured of her family in their state of despair over her un-lady-like actions made her laugh, but she quickly slapped her hand over her mouth.
“Your laughter is infectious,” Cody said, placing money on the tray the waiter put by his side. Then he took Tori’s hand and led her to the door.
Outside, they slipped off their sandals, and when Tori’s toes dug into the sand, she giggled again.
“I’m glad you’re having fun. Let it go. I love it!” Cody said.
They strolled across the beach, stuck their bare feet into the water, and watched the moon dance across the Gulf of Mexico. It was the most romantic night of Tori’s life, and she could feel Wes’ memory being overshadowed by the electrifying presence of Cody Baxter.
As they sat huddled together in the sand, Cody tilted her chin and lightly kissed her lips. “What do you say we go to my room and have a night cap?” he said, his eyes burning into her soul and turning her innards into quivering gelatin.
“Okay,” she said, as if in a trance.
Cody pulled Tori from the sand and she rested her head on his strong arm as they strolled back to the hotel. She could barely feel her feet touch the floor as they walked down the hall. He opened the door and stood back as she entered. Tori hurried into the bathroom. After she’d finished peeing, she looked at her reflection in the bathroom mirror. She didn’t feel like herself. Probably too much wine.
Tori came out of the bathroom, and saw Cody sitting on the side of the bed. She was nervous being in his room, but she slowly walked toward him. What does this Greek god have in mind?
Cody stood and held his arms out. Tori fell into his embrace, pressed her body close to his, and felt the warmth from his body. She wanted to melt into his flesh. Sex appeal oozed from every pore of his being, but her instincts told her to kiss him goodnight, thank him for the fun day, and hightail it to her own room.
Then he kissed her, and she had never felt such passion. Her entire body tingled, but fear gripped her at the same time. She gently pushed back. “I think I need to go to my room. But thank you for such a great day.”
Cody didn’t reply. He scooped Tori into his arms, threw her onto the bed, and pounced on top of her like a playful puppy.
“Hey, get off me!” Tori yelled. “Didn’t you hear me say I want to go to my room? I’m not ready for this!”
Cody climbed off Tori and said with a strange look in his eyes, “Sorry. I thought you wanted to spend the night with me.”
“I’m sorry if I gave you the wrong idea. I thought we were just going to have a nightcap,” she said, looking around the room.
He laughed. “That’s just an expression,” he said as if she were as green as a gourd.
“Oh.” Feeling like a fool, she straightened her rumpled clothes. “I really want to go to my room.”
“Okay,” he said matter-of-factly. He took her hand and pulled her to her feet. “I’ll walk you to your room. I hope I see you again tomorrow, though.”
Tori blushed. “I’ll be on the beach. I think you’ll be able to find me.”
“Good.” He picked up her clutch bag and held out his right arm like an usher at a wedding.
Tori could feel her feet touch the floor as they walked to her room. The spell had been broken, and she was relieved. Cody opened her bag, took out the key, unlocked the door, and although he pushed it open, he didn’t step inside. “See you tomorrow.” He smiled and turned to walk away.
“Yeah, see you tomorrow.” Tori shut the door and slid the chain lock into place. She fumbled for a switch, flipped it, and a lamp on the bedside table came on. She walked toward the bed, dropped the key on the nightstand, and sat on the bed, rubbing her throbbing temples.
She felt as hollow as a drum, and she wasn’t sure if she actually wanted to see Cody again. She did like him. He was fun – but he also made her vaguely uneasy. Maybe it was just because she was out of her element here in Florida. She came to find adventure and broaden her horizon – and Cody Baxter was the perfect person to help her do both. “I’m a dumb country girl who doesn’t know crap from crackers,” she mumbled.
She undressed, slipped on her gown, brushed her teeth, and then crawled into the king-size bed. She had a brief but strong urge to jump out of bed, run down the hall, fall into Cody’s arms, and let him hold her all night, but she was too tired to act on it – and she figured that was probably just as well.
A moment later, Tori sat up in bed and slapped her forehead. “Crapola! I forgot to call Jill.” She glanced at the clock on the nightstand and saw it was after midnight in Madison – too late. She pulled the covers over her, promising herself she’d call Jill the first thing in the morning.
The next thing Tori knew, it was morning and the sun was shining brightly outside her window. She hurried to the bathroom, showered, smeared suntan lotion over her body and slipped into her bikini. Ready to hit the beach. But first, she had to call Jill.
She sat on the side of the bed, lifted the receiver, but just as the desk clerk answered, there was a knock on her door.
Anna’s Note
June 2, 1976
I haven’t slept a night since I learned that Tori took off. I can’t believe she didn’t tell me about her plans. I can’t believe she actually divorced Wes. Tori is a hot head, but she has never done anything this crazy. Wes is her soul mate. I’ve known that since the first day they met. I hope she comes to her senses and realizes she has made the biggest mistake of her life.
I pray that she will call me soon. Or send me a post card. The whole family is about to have a nervous breakdown – and Jill. I pray for a vision, one that will show me Tori is still alive. My spirit guide hasn’t told me that she has departed from this earth, but my strong vibes tell me she is in grave danger. And just as I thought I could rest in peace after she survived the accident. This is not like Tori.
Anna West-Morgan
Chapter Eleven
When Tori heard the knock she knew who it was – any thoughts of Jill instantly left her mind. She set the receiver down and hurried to the door. When she removed the chain from the door, she saw Cody was leaning against the doorframe, smiling broadly, his right hand on his hip.
“Morning, beautiful! Ready to start the day?” His blue eyes gazed over Tori from head to toe. “Wow! You look beautiful.”
“Morning to you, too. Hold on, let me get my beach bag,” Tori said, and her heart began beating like a Tom-Tom. As she stepped into the hallway, Cody dropped the key into her bag. They held hands as they hurried outside, where the blinding sun reminded Tori that she’d forgotten her sunglasses. “Oh, crap! I left my sunglasses in my room. Hold on, I’ll be right back.”
Cody took her arm and said, “Just shield your eyes and hold on to me. There’s a gift shop across the street. I’ll get you another pair. You can’t have too many pairs of sunglasses. I lose a pair a day!”
They walked into the gift shop and it took a second for Tori’s vision to adjust. By the time it had, Cody was picking a pair of sunglasses off a rack, saying, “Here, try these on. They’ll be perfect.”
Tori slipped them on, then stood on her tiptoes, trying to see herself in the tiny mirror at the top of the sand. “I can’t really see them in this little mirror.”
“Trust me, you look great! Just keep them on and I’ll go pay for them,” Cody said, turning to walk toward the cashier before Tori could
reply.
“Well, whatever you say, big boy,” Tori mumbled to herself.
They walked along the beach, ate hotdogs, fed the seagulls, and drank several Piña Coladas. Before Tori realized it, she was light headed and had a bad case of the giggles, and the more she laughed, the more Cody laughed – like two kids on a playground.
By late afternoon Tori had developed a splitting headache. Rubbing her temples, she said, “I think I need to lie down for a few minutes.” She also felt a bit sick at her stomach but she didn’t mention it.
“Come to my room, baby,” Cody said. “I’ve got something that will help your headache. Then we can watch the sunset from the balcony.”
In Cody’s room, he opened the sliding glass door and stepped out on the balcony. “Come and see this. It’s gorgeous.”
Tori walked outside and stood beside him as he wrapped his strong arms around her. They basked in the golden glow of the sunset and then he pulled her close and kissed her neck, slowly working his way to her lips.
Tori felt as if she were orbiting around the moon, sun, and all nine planets. It was the most wonderful kiss she had ever experienced.
Cody lifted his lips from Tori’s, pushed back and held her at arm’s length. “How is that headache now?”
She smiled. “Well, I’ll have to admit I feel quite a bit better.”
“I’m glad,” he said, as if his sensual lips could cure her aches and pains.
Tori studied his handsome face for a few seconds, and then asked, “How old are you, if you don’t mind me asking?”
He laughed. “I’m not a goofy woman. I don’t mind to tell my age. I’m twenty-eight.”
Tori gasped. “Twenty-eight!”
Cody laughed again. “Hey, I’m not over the hill. I’m old enough to know how to make a woman feel special. I’m a man, baby. A real man!”
Well, aren’t you a smug little devil? “No, you’re diffidently not over the hill. I guess I thought you were closer to my age.”
“And how old are you, little darlin’?” he asked, patting her bottom playfully.