by Sierra Rose
I cocked my head when she paused and trailed off, wincing a bit.
“You need to take that trip with Jake. It’s the only way to save our boutique and everything we’re working so hard for.”
“What!?” I shouted. “No! No way.”
“I know he hurt you bad, but you don’t even have to talk to him. Just give him the cold shoulder and take those crazy pictures your mom demanded. Turn them into your lawyer, and you’ll have more than enough money to keep us going.”
“No, Nadia. I mean…I just…I can’t.”
“Take the damn pictures, Ashly,” she said, patting my shoulder.
“I can’t leave you alone with the boutique for all that time,” I said, making excuses.
“I can handle it, and I can hire my sister for cheap to help out. Please take that dream vacation—for the sake of our dreams.”
I glanced down at the floor, as if it could give me answers. “You have no idea what you’re asking, Nadia.”
She pondered. “I do, and I’m sorry I had to ask,” she said. “I understand if you can’t do it though,” she said, heading for the door. Over her shoulder, she sadly announced, “We gave it our best shot. That’s the important thing.”
“Nadia!” I called, but she ignored me and ran out the door. I pondered for a few minutes, then grabbed my purse and hailed a taxi. I directed the cabbie to drive to my boutique.
After he dropped me off and I paid the fare, I walked up to the display window, pressed my palm on the cold glass, and stared back at my own reflection. I looked at the mannequins, dressed in creations I’d spent countless hours designing. Then I opened the doors and switched on the lights. I spun in a slow circle and looked at all racks of clothing, trendy outfits in all sizes for less than fifty bucks. That place was my dream.
The décor in our boutique played a vital role in our success. We kept the atmosphere modern and contemporary, with a huge black dresser in the corner, its top drawer open for accessories and the jewelry Nadia designed, from crystal earrings and necklaces to beaded bracelets. We furnished the place with big, comfy chairs and lounge benches with cushions, as well as mirrors, lights, display cases, deep shelves in the wall, dressing rooms, a sitting area, and a public bathroom.
The thought of losing our business was devastating, and I knew I couldn’t let that happen as long as I had a way to prevent it. How hard can it be to take some stupid pictures with an idiot I won’t even have to talk to? I’ll just stay as far away from him as possible and only get close when we have to take photos.
I frantically dialed Nadia’s number. When she picked up on the third ring, I said, “I’ll do it.”
Ecstatic, she screamed so loud, my ears began to ring. “Awesome!” she squealed.
“I’ve got to make the arrangements and call my idiot traveling companion.”
“Look, Ashly, I know you’re taking one for the team, and I can’t thank you enough.”
“I’ll grin and bear it…but you so owe me for this.”
“Owe you? You’re gonna be rich. You’ll have twenty-five million dollars for putting up with that ass for a couple of photo sessions.”
“A couple? Try almost a dozen of them, all in different locations!”
“Don’t cop out now. We need this. Promise me you’ll put up with the ass. Think of it as a horrible, horrible job assignment. Don’t even talk to him. Just get the photos and hurry back. I’ll have a stiff drink waiting for you the second you get off the plane.”
“I’ll do my best. I just hope I can handle spending all that time with Jake.”
“If you feel like leaving, promise you’ll call me first.”
“So you can talk me out of it?”
“Absolutely!” She let out a breath. “Listen, if it hurts that bad, don’t put yourself through it. We’ll find another way. We’ll survive. We always do.”
“No, I’m gonna do it, even if it means losing half to Jake. I can’t give up all of my mother’s money, and if I don’t do this, everything will go to the lawyer, who’s already filthy rich. I like the guy, but the thought of that just makes me cringe.”
“It’s your money now, girlfriend. Go get it.”
I smiled. “I will, Jake or no Jake.”
“And listen,” she said, “you gotta promise me you’ll jump in the blue water and kiss a dolphin. No thinking about work, because I swear that’s all you live for. Don’t be designing clothes in your head while you’re ride a horse seaside or snorkeling.”
I laughed.
“I’m serious. All work and no play makes Ashly a dull girl. While you’re gone, I’ll handle everything. No worries. And I still have that extra key, so I’ll be happy to stop by and feed Tiger.”
“Thanks, Nadia.”
“You can even take one of the bikinis from the Reflection Collection.”
“They’re so gorgeous.”
She laughed. “Of course they are. I designed them. You’ll look fantastic. We’ve been going to that workout class for a long time, and you have the flattest abs. Just flaunt that bod in Jake’s face and show him what he missed out on.”
“Thanks, Nadia.”
“I’m serious, girlfriend.”
After we said our goodbyes, I hung up and pondered, Can I really put up with Jake without killing him on this vacation? The truth was, I wasn’t so sure.
Chapter 5
Three weeks later…
On the way to Australia, our first stop, I sat back and folded my hands across my lap. I knew I needed to keep myself busy so Jake wouldn’t try to talk to me. I picked up a magazine and started thumbing through it, pretending to be totally engrossed.
Next to me, Jake buckled his seatbelt. He leafed through the literature given to him by my lawyer, then started Googling the resort. “I got their website,” he said, then went on to read it to me. “Green Island Resort, on the Great Barrier Reef, is one of the most unique and memorable destinations in Tropical North Queensland. A coral cay, a luxury resort, a natural wonderland unlike any other…Indulgence, romance, and adventure await on this tropical island paradise.”
“Sounds wonderful, except for the romance part.”
Utterly silenced, he swallowed hard and looked away.
My gaze drifted over to a young woman who was babbling away about her upcoming wedding, flipping through the pages of a popular bridal magazine. As all the painful memories of my own destroyed nuptial bliss flooded back, I glanced down at the floor and let out a long breath. The first Thanksgiving, the first Christmas, the first New Year’s, and the first birthday without him had been absolutely unbearable. I couldn’t help but let out another huff as the girl kept chatting away.
“Again, Ashly, I’m sorry,” Jake said, “but I swear I’m a different person now.”
“Don’t you remember our deal? You’re not supposed to talk to me.”
“If that’s what you want, have it your way.”
The girl next to us went on and on about her designer wedding dress. My temples pounded, and I tried to rub them with my fingers, desperately trying to tune her out.
“Maybe this is exactly what we need for closure, to spend lots of time together and—”
Lots of time together? Whoa, boy! I think not! I motioned for him to stop talking, and then I flagged down the flight attendant. “Excuse me, miss, but I’m gonna need alcohol, and lots of it, if I’m gonna make it through this flight.”
Jake turned and met my gaze straight on. “Is this how it’s going to be the entire trip?”
“This is just the tip of the iceberg. When this plane lands, I suggest you get off of it as quick as you can. Hell hath no fury—”
“Yeah, yeah,” he said, cutting me off. “So you’re a woman scorned. Look, I know you’re still mad, but can’t you be at least civil to me?”
Civil? To you? Hell no! I’d wallowed in grief for so long that he deserved none of my pity, politeness, or manners. I stared down and swallowed hard again. “I’ll try,” I muttered.
&nbs
p; “Good,” he said, “because I want us to be friends. I really do, Ashly.”
I felt uncomfortable and trapped onboard that plane. Sitting next to my ex only forced me to dwell on him more, and the memories weren’t pleasant ones. “I just can’t do it,” I heard over and over again, his words that had haunted me for so long. I’d gone through therapy, lots of life-changing therapy, and I’d even dated some pretty wonderful guys since my groom ran away, but none of those relationships had ever worked out, if they could even be called relationships at all. I hated Jake. I was angry and bitter, and I couldn’t stop wondering where he was on the anniversary of the day we met, our first date, and what would have been our wedding anniversary. There was no top tier for me to pull out of the freezer and enjoy because my wedding cake, like everything else about that day, had gone to waste.
I glanced over the itinerary and once again hated the fact that I had little to no control over the vacation. My lawyer, under the instruction of my departed mother, had set everything up. I was a stickler for detail and enjoyed carefully planning the agendas for every trip I went on, right down to the minute. Now, I had no involvement in how we would spend our time, and that bothered me.
To make matters worse, I was worried about the boutique and what would become of mine and Nadia’s grand plans. I had a new business I was trying to get off the ground, and I wondered if it would even be possible for me to relax.
As I tapped away on my laptop, Jake looked over at me. “Mind if I ask what you’re doing?” he asked.
“It’s none of your concern,” I said as politely as possible.
He gazed over and stared at the computer screen.
I let out a huff. “If you must know, I’m writing a long-overdue post on my fashion blog.”
“What’s the post about?”
“Um…knowing more than just fashion. It’s about how anyone in fashion design also needs to be aware of all the aspects of marketing, product design, and production. It also requires a good head for business and a good label to market a fashion line.”
“Interesting.”
“If you don’t mind, I need to get back to work.”
He nodded, put his earbuds in, and started watching some kind of adventure movie starring a swashbuckling, fedora-wearing hero who would never have left his lady abandoned at an altar.
When the plane finally set down, we took a boat over to the island, where we checked into our lodging. Covered walkways connected the guestrooms to the reception area and private guest facilities. There was an elegant restaurant and bar, and a lounge area overlooked the shimmering pool. The little island was beautiful, just like the brochure promised, and when I walked out on the balcony and gazed around at the lush tropical rainforest, I had to be thankful for the opportunity to see it. According to the brochure, most visitors to the island would leave by three, so those of us staying at the resort would have the entire island to ourselves.
I quickly unpacked and hurried out the door to explore the spectacular isle. At one-thirty, I attended a show at Marineland. I watched in awe as a crocodile was fed; I couldn’t believe that half-ton, seventeen-foot reptile was so agile, able to launch itself completely out of the water to gobble up an unsuspecting chicken. I even held a baby crocodile named Cuddles and had my portrait taken with the scaly, toothy little creature. The park was home to at least forty crocodiles, from giants to newly hatched babies.
The aquarium boasted 100 species of sea life, from stonefish and cute clownfish to epaulette sharks, turtles, lionfish, and giant painted crayfish. I loved the bright and colorful tropical fish and the coral. At a fish-feeding, I saw even more tropical fish in an even more brilliant rainbow of fluorescent and neon colors.
After I marveled at George J. Craig’s amazing private collection of primitive ancestral artifacts and maritime relics, I took the nighttime nature walk and saw turtles resting near the shore. It was simply remarkable, an unforgettable tour. Before heading back to the resort, I stopped in the gift shop and bought some coral and gemstone jewelry, as well as a genuine shark tooth, hanging from a black cord and fashioned into a necklace.
When I returned, Jake met my gaze, and I couldn’t stop my heart from thudding hard inside my chest. He was as amazing as any animal I’d seen that day, as strong as the crocodiles, as cute as the babies, and as beautiful as the colorful fish and coral. As much as I loathed him, there was no denying how hot he was in his ivory button-down shirt, khaki shorts, and sandals. He’d left a few buttons open, and the peek-a-boo view of his chest was mesmerizing. On top of that, he smelled so good. His hair was damp, so I assumed he was fresh out of the shower.
A smile slowly curved across his mouth. “You’ve been gone all day.”
“So? I’m trying to make the most of this vacation. This place is so peaceful, so tranquil. It’s a lot different than New York.”
“Yeah,” he said, sounding unimpressed. “Where did you go?” he asked.
“I spent some time with a dangerous fella I met on the island. We even took pictures. Care to see?”
He shook his head. “So now you’re gonna flaunt other men in my face?”
I handed him the picture. “Meet my new friend. His name is Cuddles.”
He glanced down and smiled. “Oh. Cute. Sorry I jumped to conclusions.”
I rolled my eyes and snatched the photo away from him.
“In the future, it’d be nice if you’d let me know where you’re going so I don’t worry.”
“Should I let you know when I go to the bathroom, too?” I asked with a smirk. “No one’s paying you to be my bodyguard, Jake…and I’m a big girl. I’ll go wherever I want, whenever I want, with whomever I want.”
He shook his head and fought a smile. “Are you hungry?” he asked.
“Ravenous.”
“Your attorney made dinner reservations for us on the beach,” he said.
I plopped down on the bed. “Funny. I don’t remember any rules stating I have to eat with you.”
“True.”
“Then if you don’t mind, I’m just gonna—”
“You don’t have to eat with me, but everything is closed now. You should’ve said your goodbyes to Cuddles a little sooner.”
I bit my lip hard as my stomach growled. I was starving and hadn’t eaten anything all day.
“So…will you do me the honor of accompanying me to dinner, Ashly Roberts?” he asked, grinning.
I slipped my shoes on. “I’ll go with you, but only to get my dinner to go so I can bring it back to the room.”
He shook his head “You can’t avoid me forever, Ashly.”
“Well, I aim to give it my best effort,” I said. “Let’s go, though. I’m starving.”
* * *
My long dress swirled around my ankles with the warm tropical breeze. I’d always found something so soft and romantic about white cotton, even with a high neckline that didn’t reveal any cleavage. I walked through the sand to the small, circular table that was already set up for us, covered with a pretty satin tablecloth and a vase full of tropical flowers in vibrant purples, oranges, and aquamarines. The chirping of birds intensified, overshadowing the rhythmical lapping of waves against the shore. I inhaled the salty scent of the ocean, with its hint of coconut. As if mirroring the bouquet centerpiece, purple, pink, and orange swirled in the glorious sky.
Jake shot me a leisurely glance. “You look beautiful,” he said. “You’re just…a vision.”
“Thank you.”
He was so handsome and smelled so damn good. Dark stubble speckled his strong jawline. His hair was wavy and thick, and the way it flew around in the wind made him look so sexy. With those dimples and that white, gleaming smile, he nearly had me breathless.
“Isn’t this the most romantic place on the planet?” he asked.
“I’d love to be here with anyone but you,” I muttered. Sure, he was gorgeous, but that didn’t give him permission to stomp all over my heart. Handsome or not, he wasn’t about to get t
he time of day from me. I refused to look at him and take in his reaction. At that point, I didn’t even care what he thought about me. I ordered a salad because I was sure it’d be easy to take it back to my hotel room.
A surge of guilt rolled over him once again, and he actually winced. “I know you’re having a hard time forgiving me,” he said. “I don’t blame you. What I did was selfish and—”
I met his gaze straight on and cut him off. “Despicable. What you did was just despicable.” I crossed my arms over my chest, the way I always had whenever I was upset with him.
The waiter returned and poured a glass of wine for each of us, then left the bottle.
I pasted on a fake smile. “Thanks.” I gulped down the entire glass of wine in one gulp, then poured another.
He reached for my hand. “Am I that awful to be with?”
“Please don’t touch me, Jake.”
Emotion poured from his voice. “We have a history together. We were lovers, but we were also best friends, Ashly. Can’t we just be friends now?”
I poured more wine. “A friend would’ve never stabbed me in the back the way you did.”
Ignoring my command not to touch me, he stroked my hair from my face and gazed deeply into my eyes. “What can I do to make it up to you?”
I stared at the breathtaking sunset as it unfolded. “That’s just it. There’s nothing you can do.”
The waiter set down a platter for Jake and a salad for me.
“Thank you,” Jake said.
The waiter smiled and turned to leave.
I picked up my salad. “I’ll see you back in the room.”
“I can’t believe you’d prefer to eat that in the room when you could enjoy a sunset dinner by the ocean.”
“I suppose you aren’t used to women running out on you, huh?” I sarcastically snapped. I guzzled the rest of my wine, then grabbed the bottle to take with me and stormed off. The setting sun flooded the sky with more brilliant colors, and part of me wanted to stay and watch Mother Nature’s spectacular light show, but the stubborn side of me fueled my quick departure.
* * *