Chance on Lovin' You

by Eboni Snoe

  Baltron remained quiet.

  “See” —he pointed— “you know I’m telling the truth. I wrecked my own son’s life to fulfill Mother’s obsession of having old money and red bone blood in this family. And that Sherry’s a cunning one, yes she is. But I vow she will not ruin Cay’s life like she ruined Wally’s—or become the mistress of Guana Manor.”

  “There’s no need to get all worked up,” Baltron said, attempting to calm Mr. Ellis.

  “I’m not worked up. I’m just certain. Cay has been the kind of young man that I wish I had been. He’s tried to live a decent life despite the burdens of this family. And I’m not going to sit back and allow Sherry to take advantage of him.”

  “Don’t you think that Cay can also see his way past Sherry?”

  “Maybe. But I don’t put it past her to go after him in ways that most women wouldn’t think of.”

  “What are you talking about?” Baltron leaned closer. “All the obeah men and women in these parts are dead now.”

  “Yes, I know that, and I don’t know that Sherry would go that route,” Mr. Ellis admitted. “All I know is she wants Cay and Guana Manor, and she will do anything she needs to do to get them. And anybody and anything that is standing in her way needs to watch out.”

  “Are you thinking about Sasha Townsend?” Baltron asked.

  “Maybe.” He paused. “But I know I’m thinking about myself,” Mr. Ellis declared.

  Chapter 23

  Sasha puffed as she climbed the stairs of the candy-striped lighthouse of Hope Town. It had been her idea to look out over the ocean from the top, but she had been wrong in assuming the lighthouse would have an elevator. “I thought we’d never make it up here,” she said breathlessly.

  “But take a look at this,” Cay replied as he walked over to a window, “and you will know every step was worth it.”

  “Oh, my God, it’s unbelievable.” She gazed out at the vast Atlantic Ocean. “There’s no end to it.”

  “It does seem that way, doesn’t it? Something right here on earth that’s endless.” Cay contemplated the view for a while, then he said softly, “Unlike life and relationships, the Atlantic Ocean goes on forever.”

  “What a discouraging thing to say,” Sasha replied.

  “Is it?” Cay looked at Sasha, then out over the water. “I guess it is, but at this point in my life it’s what I know to be true. I know of so few relationships that have stood the test of time, and death for certain is the end to life.”

  “I don’t agree,” Sasha replied stubbornly. “Yes, the relationships I’ve known haven’t survived, but that doesn’t mean I have to dwell on them. There will be others. And as far as death goes, there are many people from different religious and spiritual paths who would not agree that death is the end of life. Some actually say it is the beginning.”

  “Sasha, I’m beginning to think you are one of those fanciful believers.” One side of his mouth lifted. “If there’s good and there’s bad, let’s only see the good. If there is either reality or dreams, you’d choose the dreams.”

  “What’s wrong with that? What’s wrong with, if you have a choice, choosing what is beautiful and uplifting, a way that brings hope?” Sasha reached out to him. “If we don’t believe in a better world, Cay, we might as well die and give in to the thing we fear so much.”

  “It all sounds good. But it’s not the way it is.” Cay’s features turned hard. “Life is what it is. And it’s not all beautiful. We as human beings are plopped down here in the middle of it. We are born and then we die. All the belief in the world is not going to change that. And because I don’t know that death will be any better than life…I’ll stick with what I know.”

  “It surely won’t change if you can’t even imagine that it will.” Sasha felt restricted. “Nothing will ever be if you can’t imagine it first.”

  “I can imagine some things.” Cay stepped over and put his arms around her waist. “I can imagine us having a wonderful dinner with entertainment on Green Turtle Cay and settling down there for the night. I can also imagine what we would do after we settle in.” He drew Sasha close.

  “You’ve impressed me with your vivid, expansive imagination,” she said wryly. “I was talking about imagining a better world, and the only place your mind can conjure up is a bedroom.” Sasha stiffened within his arms.

  “That’s not true.” Cay’s dark eyes searched hers. “I can imagine far more than that, but what good would it do me? I don’t have a crystal ball and I don’t intend to buy one. What I do have is a beautiful, sexy woman in my arms.” He closed his eyes and stroked Sasha’s back, letting his hand slide down to the curve of her hip. “One who smells of perfume.” Cay inhaled, and rubbed his face against her hair before trailing the tip of his nose down her earlobe. “And one I can taste.” His lips brushed a portion of her neck. “This is the kind of reality I choose to believe in, Sasha. The things I can see and feel. They are real. Your being here is real.”

  Sasha loved the feeling of Cay’s arms around her and the feeling of love within her. She knew it wouldn’t go away after tonight or tomorrow. For Sasha, it had the potential to go on forever.

  Cay gave a slight smile. “Are you getting hungry?”

  “Not yet,” Sasha replied. Food was the last thing on her mind.

  “Well, let’s head over to Green Turtle Cay anyway, and maybe you can buy an outfit for tonight and get that massage I talked about earlier. I’ll get on the phone and make our reservations and take care of some other business. Sound good?”

  “That sounds real good,” Sasha replied, feeling a need to flee.

  Sasha stood looking at the shiny room numbers on the hotel door. Before today, she had never known a concierge or an executive floor existed. It was the floor where the businessmen and the well-to-do stayed, she thought wryly, but tonight she would be staying there.

  Sasha had always known that the gap between the haves and the have-nots was enormous. Just like the gap between Cay Ellis III’s life and her own.

  She looked at the plastic bag draped over her arm. Inside was her new black cocktail dress. It was a prize. The shoes, bag, and jewelry she’d bought with Cay’s credit card set it off to a tee. She was going to be gorgeous tonight, probably more gorgeous than she had ever been, so why wasn’t she giddy with anticipation? It was because she was in love with Cay. In love, and not just a mellow and smooth love, but a volatile, unpredictable, and overpowering love.

  Sasha thought, perhaps if she wasn’t, she would get through the night with little thought. She would be distant but enjoy herself, chalking up the entire Bahama Islands experience as one hell of a good time. But that was impossible, because she was in love with Cay and she could feel all the hopes and dreams that came with that emotion.

  The hotel door opened suddenly, and Sasha found herself staring at a tight-faced Cay. “Where in the world have you been?” he asked. “I was about to go looking for you.”

  “I’m not late, am I?” Sasha feigned a calm that she did not feel as she walked toward him. “I thought you said you were going to set dinner for seven-thirty.”

  “That is what I said.” Cay closed the door behind them. “But you left here at two, and I assumed we would relax together before we headed over to the restaurant. It is now six-twenty.”

  “I guess it took longer than you anticipated, didn’t it?” Sasha replied, knowing all along she had planned it that way.

  Sasha had had plenty of time to think while shopping and being pampered at the spa. She had fallen for a man who wasn’t emotionally in her league, and that wasn’t smart. “I guess I better hurry,” she said, entering the bathroom and quickly closing the door behind her.

  Cay stared at the bathroom door before he went and sat down on the bed. Something was wrong. He listened to the sound of running water. “Damn her.” He looked at the clock. “Why did she do that?”

  Cay thought about what Sasha had said moments before: “I guess it took longer than you anticipat
ed, didn’t it?” One of his eyebrows arched high. Sasha had known he was waiting for her, and she knew what he wanted, but she had made it her business to stay away.

  Cay was peeved. Sasha hadn’t thought about what he might be feeling. He had begun to worry, thinking something might have happened to her. All kinds of images had crowded his mind, and in the end he had asked himself the question he feared the most: Has she been taken from me already? The uncertainty forced Cay to realize how much he cared for Sasha. He cared a hell of a lot for her, and her insensitivity angered him.

  Was he someone for her to play with? She appeared to take his feelings so lightly. Or was she holding his fortune, or the issue with the Bethel property, against him? He did not know. All Cay knew was he had never been so full for a woman.

  He looked at the king-size bed. Here they were in a hotel room together, but he wasn’t able to show her how he felt. Why? He answered the question himself…because she had planned it that way.

  “I’ll be out in a minute,” Sasha called. “All I have to do is put on my clothes.”

  Cay began to visualize a nude Sasha dressing in front of the bathroom mirror. It was more than he could take. He found himself opening the bathroom door.

  “What are you doing?” Sasha asked, her eyes wide.

  “Like you, I’m doing just what I want to do. Since you deliberately avoided giving me the pleasure of being with you, I’ll gain my pleasure another way.” His eyes gleamed as he looked at Sasha standing nude in front of the mirror, her new lace lingerie in her hands. “I want to watch you dress.”

  “You must be kidding,” she retorted.

  “Do I look like I’m kidding?” His voice was as cool as steel. “You knew I was waiting for you. I made that quite plain before you left, but you decided to stay away to tease me. So tease me, Sasha. I give you my permission.”

  “Give me permission? I don’t think I like this,” Sasha said cautiously.

  “No one said you had to like it. Believe me, I’ll enjoy it enough for the two of us. The way I see it, it shouldn’t be a problem for you. You forgot I was here waiting for you so now all you have to do is forget that I am here watching you.”

  Sasha felt goose bumps rising all over her body as she looked down at the tiny, lacy articles in her hands. Cay knew she had avoided making love to him. This was his way of letting her know he didn’t appreciate it and that he wanted something in exchange for what he did not get.

  Sasha’s heartbeat accelerated along with her anger. “I am not going along with this.” She went to close the door.

  “I wouldn’t close that door if I were you, Sasha.” Cay’s voice was low. “Not unless you want me to dress you. And believe me, in the end, if I have to be the one to do it, we will be late for dinner, if we make it there at all.”

  Their gazes met as Sasha held the door. She could see an ember in Cay’s eyes that could quickly turn into a blaze.

  “So, what’s it going to be?” He gazed at her breasts before he stopped at the curly triangle between her legs.

  Sasha gave him a defiant look before she let go of the door and walked back inside the bathroom. Stiffly, she looked in the mirror and laid the lingerie on the counter. The face that gazed back at her was made up to perfection. The stylist had piled her natural, twisted hair on top of her head, creating a full crown of tiny, spongy coils. It did not look like the face of a woman who could be subdued. The cosmetologist had turned it into the face of a seductress.

  Sasha could feel obstinacy rising within her. So he wants to watch me dress, does he? Sexily, she cut her eyes at him. I’m accustomed to giving a man what he wants. I can do the same for you, Cay, Sasha thought vengefully. And I dare you to touch me afterward.

  Sasha reached for one of the plush towels and slowly spread it out on the large bathroom counter. She willed herself not to look at Cay, cutting him out of her world and entering one of fantasy. Sasha willed herself to be the ultimate enchantress, beguiling to all men, and her body reflected her thoughts.

  He had wanted Sasha to feel shamed by his request. Actually, he’d wanted her to feel ashamed for discounting his feelings, but shamed was not what she appeared to be. It was as if she had erected an invisible barrier between them, a one-way mirror. Sasha appeared empowered as she turned her back toward it.

  Gracefully, she lifted herself onto the counter and sat back with her back pressed against the mirror, her eyes closed. With style, Sasha lifted her arms and smelled the perfume on her wrists, then held herself, creating a deep cleavage between her breasts. She sighed. I will give him what he wants, but I will do it my way.

  Cay’s dark eyes turned into slits as he watched her. Sasha was not trembling with meekness and submission. She was glowing with a pure female energy, in a place that he could peer into but had not been invited to share.

  Cay had not expected such a display of feminine sensuousness. He had told her to tease him, but he had not known how adeptly she could carry out the task.

  Sasha placed her palms on the counter and slid one pointed foot, and then the other, into the tiny underwear. She leaned against the mirror and arched her back, again closing her eyes, before slowly pulling the garment up around her body and settling it about her hips. Sighing, Sasha reached for her bra, but it wasn’t there. Her eyes flew open, and there was Cay standing a couple of feet away with it dangling from his fingertips.

  “Are you looking for this?”

  “Yes, I am.” Sasha took the lacy object.

  Cay did not move.

  “You said as long as I dressed myself in front of you, I’d have no trouble out of you.” She managed to fasten the garment and pull the straps up on her shoulders.

  “That was before I knew how skillful you were at dressing yourself,” he replied.

  “So now that you do know” —Sasha climbed off the counter— “you also know I don’t need your help.”

  “No, you don’t.” He leaned over and sniffed her perfume before he drew back slowly and looked at his watch.

  “I assume we can make it on time, that is, if I finish dressing now,” Sasha said, her eyes steady.

  “Yes.” Cay appeared to be trying to size her up. “Yes, we can.” Then he said, “You know, I’m beginning to realize how much I don’t know about you.”

  “Are you?” Sasha picked up her hose. “You know we all come with a past. And I’m discovering things about you that I never imagined,” she replied.

  “Well, this will be a night of great explorations, won’t it?”

  Fear and excitement erupted inside Sasha, but on the outside she remained calm. “Are you planning to go on a safari?”

  A slight smile touched Cay’s lips. “It could be as wild as that since I don’t know my game as well as I thought I did. It could be a real wild time.”

  Sasha stepped into her strapless, thigh-high dress. “Would you zip me up, please?” She offered him her back.

  Cay studied the expanse of brown skin before he eased the zipper upward. The dress tightened around Sasha’s waist and hips. His fingers lingered on the metallic object before he brushed them lightly across the width of her back.

  “Un-un-un.” Sasha turned and looked into his eyes. “No touching unless you’re invited.”

  Sasha recognized a hint of a smile. “We’ll see about that,” Cay replied.

  Chapter 24

  “Right this way.” The host bowed slightly, then proceeded before Sasha and Cay. They maneuvered between a number of tables covered with white linen. “This is the table we reserved for you, Mr. Ellis. Is it satisfactory?”

  Cay looked through the window at the lights across the water. “Sasha, do you like the view?”

  Sasha admired the twinkling lights that appeared to be suspended in the darkness. “It’s beautiful,” she replied.

  “That’s what I wanted to hear. This will do just fine,” he told the host.

  “I’m glad you like it, ma’am,” the host said, pulling out a chair for Sasha. “I’ll have
your waiter bring you a wine list right away.” He bowed again and left.

  Sasha glanced around the restaurant, then settled her gaze on the table. There was an array of dishes and silverware, and a floating candle glowed in the middle of a small floral arrangement. Everything was simply beautiful, and she felt good as a result. Tentatively, she looked up at Cay. He had been very silent on the way to the restaurant. She noticed how handsome he appeared in a shimmering gold summer-knit sweater beneath a black sports coat. She wanted to tell him, but he was watching her like a hawk, as he had done during the horse and buggy ride over to the restaurant.

  “Why are you looking at me like that?” Sasha asked, exasperated.

  “You are some kind of woman. Do you know that? I can never tell what you will do. One moment you’re shy and coy, the next you’re an enticing woman who knows exactly what she’s doing. I just want to be prepared for whoever shows up next.”

  “I’ve been a single woman for a long time, Cay. I’m far from innocent. If that’s what you are looking for, you’re definitely barking up the wrong tree.” She glanced at two couples being led through the room by the maître d’.

  One of the men did a double take. “Cay Ellis. Well, hello-o. Fancy meeting you here.”

  Sasha thought she could see all thirty-two of his teeth.

  “Mr. Ashford. Nice to see you again,” Cay replied, distracted by the greeting.

  “Why, honey,” Mr. Ashford said, pulling his wife forward by her waist, “this is Mr. Ellis, the gentleman you’ve heard so much about.”

  “Hello, Mr. Ellis.” She offered her hand.

  Cay stood up. “Mrs. Ashford.”

  “It is truly a pleasure meeting you.” She clasped his hand in both of hers. “I want to take this opportunity to thank you for what you did.”

  Sasha noticed that Cay looked a bit uncomfortable. She had never seen him embarrassed before.