by Claire Adams
"Me too. There was a taco shop a block from the hotel. I read up on some of the restaurants before we left, and that one is supposed to be the best in the city." She shrugged and turned toward the beach as I returned the bike and rejoined her.
"I love tacos, and the best in the city sounds like my kind of place." I slid my arm into hers, locking us together at the elbow as we walked back to the hotel. "Did I get burnt? It feels like it."
She glanced toward me and nodded. "Yeah, but somehow it looks good on you. I swear, I have no idea how you don't have guys crawling all over you. You have to be one of the prettiest girls I know."
I brushed the comment off and changed the subject like I always did. Casey was as jealous of my looks as I was of hers. "Can you believe graduation is coming up in two months?"
"No. I'm actually not looking forward to it at all." She ran her fingers through her hair with her free hand. "You know I went to visit my mom and them over Christmas. They were... ugh."
"Yeah. You left me to fend against my family alone. It was less than pleasant." I awarded her a look that expressed my feelings perfectly.
"Was your dad there?" She nodded toward the small building beside the hotel across the street. "There's the taco shop."
"Cool." I looked both ways before jogging across the street and pulling her a little with me. "He was there, but I think it would have been better if he wasn't."
"What happened with them? They used to be so into each other. Did you ever find out what went wrong?" Casey stopped at the door and seemed to be scanning it. "Good. We can wear our bikinis."
I pulled away from her and lifted my bag from my shoulder. "I have our t-shirts. You don't think we need them?"
Three girls walked out of the door in front of us wearing bathing suits that made ours look like full-coverage jumpsuits.
"I'd say no." She opened the door and walked in with me at her heels. The smell of tortilla chips and roasted tomatoes filled my senses, and I growled softly. I loved food more than almost anything.
"Let's order, and I'll tell you about my folks. You owe me the rest of your conversation with your mother anyway." I moved up to the counter and let my eyes scan the menu that rested above the cashier’s head. "I'll take the Taco Madness Platter."
"Damn, Viv. That's five tacos. You just want to share it?" Casey moved up beside me as I worked to get my wallet from my bag.
"Sure, but I want a bite of each of them." I turned back to the cashier. "And two cokes please?"
We moved to the side and filled up our drinks as I caught Casey chuckling over something that had to be running through her head.
"What? You know I'm going to be a food critic eventually. I always look for the meal that lets me try as much as possible." I poked her side.
"I know. I'm just laughing at the fact that you eat like a linebacker and look like a runway model. It's disturbing on so many levels."
"Hush." I popped her outer thigh and moved to get our taco platter. "Even if I wasn't going to make food a part of my career, I would still eat like this. I'm a foodie. The gym and I have become close friends over the last few years, and you know how much I hate working out. It's somehow worth it."
She grabbed some napkins and walked with me to the only available booth in the place. Several guys turned to watch us, but I assumed they were looking at Casey. She was the curvy, cheerleader type that guys seemed to like. I was tall, thin, and a ginger. Funny how having red hair seemed to matter more than it should.
I dropped down onto my side of the booth and pulled out a small notepad before unwrapping the tacos one at a time. "Tell me about your visit with your mom while I test these tacos out."
Casey leaned back and nursed her coke, her eyes moving along our meal as she spoke. "She's not happy about my decision to leave the cheerleading team at NYU."
"You did that over a year ago." I glanced up.
"I know, but I just told her about it. You know how she is about wanting me to do everything she did, and be what she is, and marry a man like she did." Casey's face contorted as if she'd eaten a lemon.
"She hates your dad."
"Right?" My best friend let out a long sigh. "I don't know. She's pissed about me changing my major a few years back. I want to help people, and counseling in the schools seemed the best plan of action. She wants me to be an accountant or lawyer or doctor."
I picked up the mango chicken taco and examined it. "That's not you at all, unless you were doing pro-bono work."
"Which would get old after a while. I'd be the only broke lawyer in the state." She gave me a cheeky grin.
A handsome, dark-skinned guy moved up to the table and pressed his hands to the top of it as he glanced between us. The smooth curves of his chest and stomach muscles were on complete display as he looked like he'd just come in from the beach as well.
"Hi girls. Just wanted to stop by and let you know that we're having ladies night at Halla every night this week." He pulled a card from his back pocket and dropped it on the table. "Hope to see you there."
"You just might," I mumbled, getting lost in the beauty of his eyes. They had to be the lightest blue I'd ever seen. He smiled and walked toward the next table as Casey picked up the card.
I took a bite of the taco and closed my eyes briefly, letting the flavors roll over my tongue as I identified the ingredients. I opened my eyes and jotted down a quick description of the taco and the experience it provided.
"My turn." Casey reached for the taco in my hand, and I gladly gave it to her.
"It's delicious, but a little hot."
"I like them hot." She wagged her eyebrows. "Like I like my men."
"Brother..." I picked up another and moved through the rest slowly, taking time to enjoy each of them. My dream of being a food critic wasn't something I could see in my near future, but I had a hard time giving up on it. I'd wanted it for far too long.
We finished our meal and cleaned up, depositing our trash by the door before walking into the cool, late afternoon weather. I wrapped my arms around myself and glanced back at Casey.
"I can see why people love that place. It was delicious, fresh and authentically unique."
"You have such a way with words." She slid her arm back into mine. "Tell me about your folks. How are Linda and Mark?"
"Same as the last time I visited. They're still living together, but I can't imagine either of them going on like they are for much longer. It's so weird too..." I paused, trying to get a hold of myself. I didn't want to be emotional. Our day had been too fun to ruin it with tears. "They used to be the epitome of a love story, you know?"
"Yeah. I remember thinking your dad was dreamy, and that if I could just have what your parents had, I'd be set." Casey released me as we walked into the lobby of the hotel. "What happened? Any clue?"
"No. I don't know. I haven't asked my mom about it, and she hasn't offered any information. Everything changed earlier this year though. I would assume one of them cheated on the other, but it's a thought I just can't entertain." I shrugged and turned, stopping dead in my tracks as Easton walked off the elevator and our eyes met.
"That's because you're going through something like that now. I'd not wish that on anyone. I just can't imagine Mark hurting Linda." Casey stopped a little ahead of me and turned around. "You coming? What's up?"
"Fate, I think," I whispered under my breath, not quite sure how I felt about the handsome businessman being a part of my day once more so soon.
"Vivian. Casey." He stopped beside Casey and smiled. "Sorry I haven't called yet. It's been crazy and I'm working all week while I'm here. Looks like you guys found the beach by the burn you’re both sporting."
His smile was warm and sexy, though he probably had no idea. His dark hair a little disheveled and his green eyes only for me.
"We did. It's beautiful out there." I glanced around. "Don't tell me you're staying here with us. I'm going to label you as a stalker soon."
He chuckled. "I was going to say the
same thing."
"We're going to change and then have a drink in the lobby. You wanna join us?" Casey asked him.
"I'd love to, but really, I have a hundred things to do in the next few days and almost every minute is filled with something." He glanced at Casey for only a moment before turning his gaze back to me. I hadn't been in the dating game much over the last few years, namely due to being with Jackson since junior high, but something told me that Easton was stretching the truth in order to not hang out with us.
"No worries. Have fun where you can this week. Hope you get all of your stuff done." I moved toward Casey and tugged her with me. "Come on. Shower, change, and liquor."
"And boys," she mumbled, her head turning back toward him. She was ballsy and wanted him to know that she found him attractive.
I, on the other hand, would have melted into a puddle of embarrassment had he known just how tight my stomach was thanks to his presence alone.
"Damn," Casey grumbled as the elevator doors closed behind us. "He's perfect for you, and yet I can't help wanting him for myself."
"Have him. I'm not interested in chasing a man, and he's obviously not interested in me." I shrugged and leaned back against the wall, closing my eyes and letting the image of him steal my thoughts. "He is beautiful though, right?"
"Insanely so," she whispered all dreamy-like.
Chapter 8
Easton
I was almost too tired to meet with Brian, La Mage's hospitality manager, but if I shifted my schedule even a little, I wouldn't get in all of the meetings I had booked that week. The idea of having a little bit of fun was still very much on my radar, but it would have to be later. The beautiful girl that I'd once again bumped into out in the lobby was exactly the type of woman I wanted that fun to happen with. Her beautiful skin was lightly dusted with sand, and her slight sunburn only accentuated the radiance of her crimson locks and blue eyes.
My heart raced as I watched her go, but it was best for me to leave things be. We would run into each other over the course of the week, no doubt. Maybe by Thursday I would let my guard down a little. If she kept presenting herself in tiny bikinis it would be sooner than later. It took me twenty seconds of splashing cold water on my face in the bathroom to calm my libido down. It'd been a little too long since I'd taken a woman to my bed. It never worked out well for me to have a one-night stand. Either I wanted more, or they did, but never both of us at the same time.
"You must be Mr. Parks." A tall gangly guy extended his hand to me as I walked into the conference room to my left.
"Call me Easton, please. I assume you're Brian?" I shook the man's hand and took the seat he offered me.
"I am. I've heard a lot about you. We're glad to have you back with us. I've kept up with most of your articles. You have quite a way with words. Ever thought about being a novelist instead of a resort critic?" He sat back in his chair and clasped his hands over his stomach.
"Not really. I love finding the good and bad in places and people. I don't believe that anything is black or white. It's the gray I'm searching for." I pulled a pad of paper from my briefcase and opened the list of questions I'd prepared back in New York for the meeting.
"I like it."
"Thanks. Tell me about the models at the door. Why are they there and when were they implemented?" I focused on my interviewee, though my mind continued to move far from the room. I could appear to be attentive over the next few minutes with Brian, but then I needed an hour to myself. Something about the fact that I kept running into Vivian was bugging me. Was I supposed to ask her out for a drink? Was she supposed to be part of my future?
We wrapped up the meeting, and I shook the hospitality manager's hand once more before walking out the door and turning to make a beeline for the elevator.
"East," Kevin called to me, and I turned, not surprised at all that the portly bastard had two drinks in his hands and three girls around him, giggling about something.
"Hey buddy." I didn't move toward him, but gave him my attention. "Day go good?"
"Great. I love this place. Go change and meet me down here for a drink?"
The blonde on his left waved at me playfully as her brunette friend stepped out of the small crowd. "Yeah, come down and have a drink with us. You're cute."
"There's plenty to share." Kevin lifted his eyebrows at me.
"Right. I'll think about it." I turned and pressed the button on the elevator, ignoring the girls grumbling about my lackadaisical response. If I wasn't spending the night across a table with Vivian, I sure as hell wasn't doing it with some giggling stranger.
She's a stranger. Right. Why doesn't it feel like it?
I got off on the top floor and pressed the code to the penthouse, inserted my key, and kicked off my shoes the minute I was inside. Why was I being so stiff about having a drink with her? I liked her company for sure, and was rather disappointed when she went to sleep on the plane instead of talking with me.
"Your career comes first. This never works out for you." I moved to the balcony and glanced out at the city as the sun started to make its way behind the clouds.
The remembrance of seeing her in her tiny bikini rolled over me and my body responded violently. The delicious swell of her breasts above the black triangles that covered her was only outdone by her curves as she walked away from me.
I brushed my hand down the front of my pants and groaned, closing my eyes and pressing my head to the glass in front of me. "One night. Would she give me one night?"
Somehow I figured the answer might be yes, but a huge part of me knew that I'd be a bastard for asking for it, and one or both of us might end up scarred by it.
I shook off my need and changed into a pair of jeans, boots, and a soft cotton button down before checking my hair and making my way back down to the bar.
Kevin was thankfully alone as I approached him.
"Where's your posse?" I slid onto the barstool beside him and gave him a cocky grin.
"Fuck you, Easton. You have it easy with your good looks and youth. At my age, I gotta work for attention from women."
"You need to get married and have some kids." I gave him a sideways glance before turning to the bartender and ordering a beer. "Is that not something you want for yourself?"
"Yeah, but with all this traveling, it's not exactly easy. I'll be forty soon, and I really thought I would have found someone by now, you know?"
A pretty woman with short black hair moved up on the other side of me and pressed her forearms to the bar top as she glanced over at me. "Hi handsome. Me and my friend noticed that you didn't have a girl beside you. Want one? Or two?"
Kevin scoffed as I shook my head. "My girl's back home, but thanks for the offer. Hope you find someone worth your beauty tonight."
She gave me a cute frown and walked away as Kevin made a sound of disgust.
"See? I swear it's your dark hair and tan. Girls go wild over that." He ran his hand over his bald head and took a long drink of his beer as I turned to watch him.
"I think it's more about the way you carry yourself. You act like you're owed something, and you're not." I took a drink of my beer and turned to scan the room, praying like hell that Vivian would show up. Fate was playing games with us, and though I knew it wasn't at all something I should desire, I wanted to dare it a little where the bombshell was concerned.
"You know that our position comes with an air of authority and confidence. People love our work; they praise us and beckon to us. It's hard not to let that power go to your head." He sat his beer down and let out a sigh. "Especially when it's all you got."
"I guess, but maybe you should start looking for other things to fill up your life. A hobby, a friend, your faith...something."
"Maybe, but for now, I'm just going to stick to good food and beautiful women. Take your sense of reason and shove it." He glanced at me before getting off of his barstool. "I'm going to mingle. Care to come?"
"Nope, and don't bring anyone over here either.
I'm not interested." I pinned him with a warning stare before pulling out my phone.
He chuckled sardonically. "And you're giving me relationship advice. Please."
I ignored him and stared at Viv's number, trying to think through the future as if I had a crystal ball. I couldn't offer the girl any more than a few fun nights and maybe an afternoon of playing on the beach together. While it sounded like bliss to indulge in just those few moments, I knew myself far too well to press the send button and call her.
I'd fall in love like I always did, and wake up quite disappointed a few months later when my lifestyle had effectively pushed the pretty girl away from me.
"No thanks," I mumbled. It had been three years since I'd had a girlfriend, and the last one was just a passing bit of fun in college. Nothing had developed between me and the girls I dated post-college other than a bit of hot, sweaty passion.
I took another long drink of my beer and shook away the need to over-analyze the situation. We were both grown adults. If I invited her down for a beer and we ended up making love, then it would be consensual. Or maybe we could just talk the night away.
"Dangerous," I mumbled and glanced up as the old bartender eyed me. "Talking to myself. Sorry."
"It's alright, son. We all do it." He moved in front of me and wiped the bar-top down. "About a woman, no doubt?"
"Yeah. I bumped into a pretty girl at the airport today, literally, then she ended up being in the seat right next to me on the flight."
His eyes widened a little. "Oh, that's interesting."
"Then I saw her in the lobby here a few hours ago. She's just so beautiful, but I'm not ready for another relationship. Women are too damn complex and I don't have time to hand-hold someone through my life." I shrugged, realizing how fucking cynical I was becoming.
"Three times in one day?" His eyebrow lifted. "Sounds like something is brewing in the background whether you want it to or not."
"I'm thinking you're right." I lifted my phone and glanced down at it. "Now I'm just trying to talk myself out of calling her to come down here. Nothing good can come of it."