Right Man/ Wrong Groom: Paradise Cove Series - Destination Wedding Book 1

by Patrice Wilton

  “No. I came bearing gifts.” She opened the plastic bag and let him peek in. “It tastes even better than it looks.”

  “So do you,” he answered, drawing her in and giving her a kiss on her neck.

  “Down, Romeo.” She pushed out of his arms. “I dropped croissants off at your daughter’s and talked her and the girls into going to Key West for the day. I’ll drive them and be back here by noon, hopefully before. The guys are out fishing. Shouldn’t be back before possibly one or two. So that means you and me can have a little alone time.”

  “I could drive down with you,” he said hopefully.

  “No.” She tilted her head to look at him. “I don’t want your daughter to pick up on our vibes. Got a feeling that we’d be a dead giveaway. I’ll just come here when I’m done. Gives you a few hours to take in the sights. Go for your run or walk, or take a look at some of the nearby shops.”

  “You should have been a sales person,” he said, and pulled her into his arms. “Okay, one kiss and then you can go.”

  “Just one, or I won’t want to go.”

  He kissed her long and hard and made her knees weak.

  “Oh, Kevin. I want to tie you up in bed and have my way with you.”

  “You say the most romantic things.”

  She laughed and backed out of the room, a naughty look on her face. When she got to the office, she listened to the message from Nadine and grinned. She really was a good sales person, not that the idea of a half day in Key West was a hard sale—especially chauffeured there and back. She’d have enjoyed the change of scenery herself, if she didn’t have such a good thing waiting for her right here at Harmony.

  She returned a few calls, completed some chores and then Kayla dropped off her two-year-old Shauna while she went to help out Taylor at the Café.

  Kayla was in her early thirties, taller than Anna by at least half a foot. She had long dark wavy hair and the same olive skin. Anna’s mother had been born and raised south of Athens, the port town of Piraeus. She’d married an American sailor and moved to Boston at the age of nineteen.

  “Hi, baby,” she picked up her favorite—and only—grandchild and kissed her sweet cheeks, and nibbled on her tiny fingers. “You get bigger everyday,” she told her. “Soon you’ll be carrying me around.”

  The blonde-haired little beauty wiggled out of her grasp, and put her arms around her mother’s legs. “Nana, you ate my fingers.” She looked at her hand, then held one behind her back, her face buried in her mom’s skirt.

  Kayla patted her daughter’s head, and said to Anna, “Nana, you must stop that. I told you to stop eating my little girl, no matter how yummy she is.” She bent over and smiled at the love of her life. “You be good with Nana, and I’ll be at Auntie Tay’s for the next few hours. Love you.”

  “Love you too, Mommy.” Shauna clung for another moment then toddled over to the play station and grabbed her favorite doll.

  Because the office connected to the cottage in the back, Kayla and Juanita didn’t need daycare. Anna had loved taking care of the babies while both women worked. She’d set up a little area in the back corner with a small table for the girls to play arts and crafts. Play-Doh was a big hit, and they liked to finger-paint, but since it was all washable Anna didn’t mind.

  The resort was small and family oriented with just twelve efficiency cottages, a pool, swings, and bikes for the kids, plus the beach. Most of the guests were out during the day and only popped in for brief moments during the day, so the system worked.

  Carole had taken over a lot of the office work, and she loved the girls as much as Anna did. When they were all busy, Carole’s mother Joan would baby-sit and use the cottage where Anna had everything set up, including beds for the girls in the second bedroom.

  Kayla was just walking out the screen door when Carole arrived. “Call me if she gives you any trouble,” Kayla said in passing.

  “You know I will,” Carole answered in a teasing voice. They both knew that once Kayla was out of sight, she was quickly forgotten. Especially when Juanita dropped off Meri. This would be the last summer the girls would have together, because in the fall Meri would start preschool.

  “I’m going to drive Nadine and her friends to Key West,” Anna told Carole, “and I have a few things to take care of when I get back. If you get busy, maybe your mom can watch the girls?”

  “Sure, no problem.” She went over to Shauna and cooed over her toy doll. “She looks just like you with her pretty blonde hair,” she told her. “I’ll set up the Play-Doh for you and Meri. She’ll be here any sec.”

  Juanita rushed in. “Good morning!” She handed Meri over to Anna. “So much to do. Exciting day, no?”

  “Si,” Anna agreed, knowing that by mid-afternoon all the guests would be here, except for Kevin’s son, Cameron. He would arrive tomorrow, which meant that today was her last hope for sex with Kevin. She wasn’t the sort to let an opportunity go to waste.

  “I’ll be available late this afternoon to help. I can do airport pick up or just be around to greet our guests and make them welcome.” Anna grabbed her handbag and keys. “We have a lot going on. Let’s book the girls a ride back. Can you handle it, Carole?”

  “Of course.”

  Juanita nodded. “Si. The cabins will be ready. Most of them are all set to go,” Juanita told her. Then she gave both girls a kiss and hug. “Have fun playing, my sweet peas.” Juanita, recently from Cuba, enjoyed using American slang.

  Anna followed her out, got into her SUV and put the air-conditioning on high. She wanted the car comfortable for the long drive ahead. It would be over a three-hour return trip and she didn’t want to show up at Kevin’s cabin like a wilted rose.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Nadine met her friends outside the office where Anna waited for them. They all piled into the SUV, Nadine in front with Anna while the three girls shared the back.

  “So how did your night go?” Melody asked with a teasing smile. “You were really a good sport last night when Mike threw you in the pool.”

  “He does things like that.” Nadine shifted in the seat so she could talk to her friends. “He’s got a weird sense of humor. But I’m getting used to it.”

  “Just as well since you’re marrying him in two days.” Melody twisted a lock of auburn hair around her finger.

  Ashley studied her best friend as if trying to gauge her mood. But Nadine’s anger with Michael had melted with his first kiss.

  “I can’t wait!” She released a happy laugh. “I’ve been engaged to him for six months and that’s long enough. I want the whole world to know that he’s married to me—that he’s my man.”

  Jordan hooted. “That’s right.”

  Nadine cringed a little, realizing she’d sounded unsure of herself, unsure of him. She knew a wedding band wouldn’t keep adoring female fans from kissing her husband in a moment of celebration. But of course he’d be faithful. Why would he have asked her to marry him if he had any desire to go to bed with someone else?

  Although, she might have brought the idea of marriage up first. They were always apart and she’d mentioned once or twice that it would be nice if they could be together more—that’s when she’d given him his own key to her apartment. He hadn’t reciprocated, but since he kept a room at his parent’s place, that wasn’t a big surprise. She’d asked him how he felt about marriage, but he’d changed the subject, so she’d let it slide figuring that he preferred things casual. And then around Christmas, when they were out buying a tree for their apartment, he’d turned to her and said, “You should marry me.”

  She’d nearly fallen on the ice, but he’d grabbed her in time and swung her around as snowflakes hit her face. “I mean it. Let’s do it. Let’s get married.” Christmas morning, while she was making him eggs Benedict for breakfast, he’d slipped a box on her plate, surprising her with a beautiful diamond engagement ring. It had been the first Christmas without her mother and a vulnerable time. Had Michael intuitively known that
?

  He could be a very sensitive and thoughtful man. Generous and kind hearted. She put the ring to her lips and kissed the diamond, making herself a promise. They would make their marriage work, be happy, and she’d do him proud. With that affirmation, she sat back to enjoy the view from the passenger window. The water was a bright and shiny blue, the sand white, and to add more beauty the beach was broken up by palm trees, bougainvillea, and mangrove bushes. On the far side of the road were businesses and strip malls, as well as restaurants and shops. It was a sweet place for a holiday, but she couldn’t imagine living in Paradise forever. Too remote from everything.

  “Anna, it’s beautiful here, but do you ever get bored?”

  “Not at all, dear. Running the cottages keeps me very busy, and I have my daughters here too.”

  “I’m not sure where Michael and I will live once we get married. He thinks we should keep things as they are. My place in Baltimore when he’s not touring, and his parent’s during the winter months. Eventually, we might end up buying a place in Orlando so he can golf all year round.”

  “That would be nice. Lots to do there.”

  “I guess, although I wouldn’t be near Dad, or my friends.” She shot a look at Ashley and Jordon. “I’d miss you both.”

  “We’d miss you too,” Ashley said, “but we’d come and visit you no matter where you live.”

  Anna shot Nadine a glance. “Where you are doesn’t matter, if you’re with the right man.” She smiled and added, “I’m sure you’ll both be very happy.”

  “I’m sure we will,” she said, willing it to be true. She wasn’t on the top of Michael’s priorities, but she could live with that.

  “If you’re not, pass him along to me,” Melody said with a laugh. “You’re the luckiest woman in the world. Marrying super-hot Michael, not having to work anymore. Soon he’ll be winning all that prize money and endorsements will come his way. You’ll be living the high life, girl.”

  “I guess you’re right,” she told them, “but I would marry him without all that. I’m afraid that this fame and fortune will just get in the way.” All she wanted was a space for the two of them to be together.

  “Are you crazy? You’ll be able to buy a mansion someplace, maybe several! And hire maids to clean up after you.” Melody sighed. “Damn, that would be fun.”

  Jordon tugged Nadine’s hair with a soft laugh. “You’ll be able to quit work and travel with him. That’s what you want, right?”

  “Yes, but…”

  “But what?” Melody gave her a light smack on the back of her head. “You’ll get to go to all the hotspots. Be on TV when he wins the next tournament,” she said, her green eyes shining.

  “He doesn’t want me to quit.” Her gut churned. Saying it out loud made it hurt even worse. “Not yet. He says my paycheck is our job security. In case something happens.” Like what, she didn’t know…

  Ashley leaned over and squeezed her shoulder. “That’s understandable. He’s new on tour. So maybe you can’t quit right away, but after a little while he’ll want you with him. Otherwise you two will hardly see each other.”

  Jordon agreed. “Listen, if you get pregnant right away he’ll insist you quit your job. Then you can be with him. Or stay in your mansion with all your maids,” she said laughing, “until Junior pops out. Then you can bring him or her to the matches and everyone will make a big fuss of the two of you.”

  “You guys are crazy, but I love you. I guess I have no reason to be worried—I know everything will work out. It’s just that we hardly see each other now, and I imagine the more successful he becomes, the tighter his schedule, and the less we will be together. Can’t imagine how I’ll get pregnant with all that.” She folded her arms in her lap and looked out the window. Her friends made it all sound so easy, like a fantasy world. Nadine was too realistic to let herself believe their schedules would change with a snap of her fingers. But a baby would be so nice. And it would help cement their relationship too.

  Anna reached across the console to pat Nadine’s arm. “Nadine, why wait? If you really love him and want him forever, I agree with your friends. You might even get lucky on your honeymoon—or sooner,” she said with a girlish laugh. “Paradise Cove is a special place to unite couples, and hopefully your wedding night will be very special indeed.”

  This fantasy picture everyone was painting for her slipped past her defenses. If a girl couldn’t dream big before her wedding, when the heck could she? Reality could damn well wait.

  “Sure. Why not?” She closed her eyes for a second and then grinned wide. “In that case, we better do some serious drinking, bridesmaids. I won’t be able to once I’m pregnant.”

  “Yeah!” Melody showed her the list of places she’d pulled up on her iPhone. “I’ve been doing some research—these are the hot spots.”

  When they finally arrived at Duval Street, Anna pulled to the curb, and the girls hopped out. “Don’t worry about picking us up,” Nadine told her. “You’ve done so much already. We’ll Uber it back.”

  “Carole’s making arrangements to have you picked up here. How is three o’clock? Does that give you enough time?”

  “Sure. We’ll take in as much as we can. Thanks Anna.”

  Key West was known as the best party town in the country so they didn’t waste time, starting at Sloppy Joe’s for a round of beers and a plate of nachos, then they continued down Duval to Margaritaville. They sang along to Jimmy Buffet music and drank their signature drinks and munched on shrimp tacos.

  Feeling the effects of the drinks the girls paid their bill and left the building. They slipped in and out of some of the shops and bought a few cute items, t-shirts, bags, and some fun beachy jewelry. Nadine, being the practical one, insisted they’d better see Hemingway’s House before they left. Unfortunately there was a line and time was limited.

  “Crap. I really wanted to see that,” she complained, “not sure when I’ll get back here again.”

  Ashley linked an arm with hers. “Not to worry. There’s always a next time.”

  “I’m only getting married once,” Nadine said. “Doubt if I’ll get back this way again.”

  “You and Michael can come back,” Jordan suggested. “Have a second honeymoon. It’d be so romantic.”

  “Unless Hemingway has a golf course inside his house, I doubt Michael would be bothered.” It wasn’t that he was purposely inattentive, he truly was oblivious.

  “It’s part of the deal, Nadine,” Melody said. “God, I’m hot and thirsty—and I need a rest room.”

  “Me too.” Ashley pointed. “Hey girls, we’re in luck. On the corner.”

  The walk had been brutally hot, and they did need to use the facilities before a long drive back to the resort. They took refuge at the bar on the corner, The Green Parrot, ordering one last round of drinks. Nadine thought about Melody’s comment. Michael’s life would revolve around golf, but she’d reap the benefits too. It was all part of the package.

  * * *

  Anna drove straight to Kevin’s cabin and arrived at Harmony just before noon. As soon as she knocked on the door, he pulled her inside and took her into his arms. He’d pulled all the shades down but the cottage was not completely dark as a little light came through the cracks. She could see him well enough and that was all that mattered.

  Their kiss said it all. They were hungry for each other and anything else that needed to be said could wait. He held her hand and walked her into his bedroom. The cover was pulled down, the pale blue sheets enticing. She saw a bottle of white wine chilling in an ice bucket next to two wine glasses.

  “A drink?” Kevin asked.

  Anna nodded, kicking off her shoes. “That would be nice. It was a long, thirsty drive.”

  He smiled. “Thanks for doing that. It was very nice of you, and I’m sure the girls will have a great time.”

  “They will, and so will we.” While he poured the drinks, she slid out of her skirt and pulled the Paradise Cove t-shirt over her
head. She faced him wearing a lacy white bra and undies. Although sixty, she was not ashamed of her body, and proud of her own sexuality.

  His eyes ran over her, and he licked his lips, making her hot.

  “You are beautiful, Anna. And sexy as hell.”

  She took the glass from his hand and clinked it with his. “Show me.”

  They swiftly drank the first glass, and he put both glasses down, then kissed her long and hard. His hands were on her butt, pulling her up against him. She felt the hard ridge of his erection against her center, and nudged up against it. She was already wet and didn’t need any foreplay. Knowing the fishermen would be back soon, made this stolen hour a little more rushed than she’d liked, but no less exciting.

  Still, they had to be careful not to get caught. She’d left her car just down the lane, between her cottage and his.

  “Hurry, Kev. We don’t have a whole lot of time.”

  He didn’t need anymore convincing. He stripped off his clothes and tossed them on a chair. Then he pushed her down on the bed and straddled her. He kissed her nipple over the lacy material and sucked hard. When she whimpered he pulled the bra down and cupped her breast, licking and sucking her nipples into hardened peaks.

  “Take it off,” she demanded, “and get rid of my panties too.”

  He did as she instructed, and she stroked him in reward.

  His penis was erect, big, pink and swollen, and she bent her head to take him in her mouth. He allowed her to taste him, then he pulled her head back and kissed her hungrily. He spread her legs and, still kissing her, drove himself in deep. She wrapped her legs around his back.

  Moaning her pleasure, she raised her hips to take him all the way, and he pulled in and out, in and out, going further with every entry. She all but cried.

  She dug her nails into his back and wouldn’t let go. “Give it to me now.”

  His fingers slid down between them and he found her clit and touched her as his hard cock frantically thrust inside of her, bringing them both over the edge and back.