by Tracy March
…
Paige leaned on the railing of the catamaran’s top deck, happy to have caught up with Maple Creek’s golden boy, Trent Hawthorne. Even though she, Liza, and Trent had been friends since elementary school—he was like the brother that neither she nor Liza ever had—Paige hadn’t seen him in a year or so, not since the last time he’d come home to visit his grandmother, the Queen, and the rest of his family. Otherwise, a Caribbean resort tycoon like him would have no other reason to go anywhere near a town like Maple Creek.
“Your family’s done an amazing job with Caldera. It’s over-the-top decadent.” She smiled faintly, thinking about her night with Lane and how truly decadent it had been until his parents had shown up and she’d shot her thong into the pool. “And so romantic.”
“Or lonely.” Trent’s candid remark surprised her. The guy was a freaking tycoon—smokin’ hot and stinkin’ rich. She figured he’d have a revolving door here with countless women coming in and out, keeping it spinning like a fan turned on high.
She gazed at the lower deck where Lane—looking tall, tan, and sexy—was chatting with Sylvia. His parents were mixed in the group, talking with Cole and Liza. Paige couldn’t stay far enough away from them, at least until they were seated together, thanks to Sylvia. “Aw, I can’t believe that,” she said, trying not to sound as distracted as she was.
He leaned against the railing of the upper deck and crossed his ankles. “Believe it. I’m traveling from island to island, resort to resort, then back and forth to the States.” He squinted at the sun, which was getting closer to the horizon and would set before too long. “Not many women want a life like that.”
“If I didn’t know you better, I’d say it sounds like you’re thinking about settling down.”
He nodded with certainty. “I am. I have a place a little farther up the mountain from Caldera, and similar places on three other islands. But besides the staff, I’m usually the only one around when I’m there.” He shook his head. “What am I going to do? Pick up tourists?”
She shrugged. “Or the island girls.”
“I’ve tried those routes, but—” He leaned in close to her and whispered in her ear. “I want a wife.”
She gazed at him with wide eyes. “Oh. My. God.” She shook her head quickly, as if to settle the thought in her head. “I never thought I’d hear those words out of your mouth.” He’d been a serial casual dater since he was in kindergarten.
“Well, don’t go broadcasting them.” He grinned crookedly. “It’d make me seem desperate.”
Paige gazed down at Lane, clearly understanding Trent’s desire to have a special person in his life. “It’s not desperate. But I’ll do you a favor and keep it on the down low. And if I meet any nice, single girls while I’m here, I’ll be sure to introduce you,” she teased.
“Almost time for the sunset.” He drank the last swallow of his rum punch. “Think we’ll see the green flash?”
“I have no idea what that is, or if it’s legal.” She grinned.
He rolled his eyes. “It’s a rare optical phenomenon.”
“That was my next guess.”
“Seriously,” he said. “Some people chase sunset after sunset hoping to see it and never do.”
“Have you seen one?”
“A few. But the conditions have to be precisely right. If they are, at the last glimpse of sunset, a bright green flash shoots up into the sky. Sometimes it’s not as awesome—just a green spot over the top of the sun—but it’s still pretty cool.”
Paige couldn’t wait to tell Lane. She scanned the lower deck for him, yet didn’t see him among the group. But she’d find him. If she was going to see a green flash, she wanted to see it with him—as long as he wasn’t with his parents.
She clutched Trent’s biceps, thinking most women would love to get their hands on a man like him. “I’ve gotta dash. I’ve got someone kind of special I’d like to lose my green flash virginity to.” She winked, feeling bad for leaving a friend when he was lonely. Who would’ve guessed that the guy who had everything really didn’t?
…
Paige made her way to the lower deck as the sun dipped close to the horizon, painting the sky with a palette of impressionist red, pink, and orange. The sea was ablaze with fiery color. As much as the sun seemed to creep across the sky during the day, it set amazingly fast. She felt kind of silly, racing to find Lane in time to share the sunset, but they only had tonight and tomorrow night here in paradise—two chances to catch the elusive green flash. She had a magical-moment fantasy of him kissing her after they shared what might be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
It’s only a fling, Paige. You two are way too different. Get a grip!
The seductive scent of conch fritters frying carried on the tropical breeze. Paige could eat about a hundred of them, but the idea of sitting with Lane’s parents totally killed her appetite. Even so, she could definitely stomach another rum punch. She scored one from a passing waiter and took a long, cool swallow as she scanned the group, eager to find Lane.
Sylvia and John Sutherland were in an animated conversation with the Andersons, so at least she was free and clear of them for now. Some of Cole’s family and friends gathered in another group, and several people she didn’t know milled around the lower and upper decks. Behind Cole’s family and friends, she saw the back of Cole’s head—his blond hair was easy to spot anywhere. Lane stood next to him on one side, Liza on the other, lining the rail and facing the sunset. Paige’s pulse raced as she hurried over to join them.
“Are we gonna see the green flash?” she asked from behind them. They all turned, backed away from the rail a bit, and Cole gathered Paige in between him and Lane. Until she met Lane, she thought Cole might be the most beautiful man ever created, with his all-American blond hair, blue eyes, and athletic build. If she didn’t love Liza so much, she would’ve been insane with envy. But now, standing here with Cole and Lane, she decided Cole was the second-most-beautiful man ever. In her eyes, Lane was hotter, hands down. The angles of his face, his perpetual five-o’clock shadow, his mesmerizing eyes, the perfect feel of his hands on her… She glanced at him shyly, hoping for a sexy look with a glint of mischief. Instead, he seemed to force a cool smile and didn’t even look her in the eyes.
Paige’s stomach sank. The thing with his parents must’ve changed everything. She struggled to keep her disappointment from showing on her face.
“Where have you been?” Liza asked lightly.
“Trent had me cornered on the upper deck.”
“Who’s Trent?” Cole asked. “And what’s the green flash?’
“Trent Hawthorne,” Liza said. “Fairleigh Hawthorne’s grandson—the guy who runs Caldera and all the Hawthornes’ other resorts. Paige and I grew up with him.”
Paige nodded. “And the green flash is this rare thing that happens when the conditions are right at sunset. A bright green flash shoots into the sky at the last second when the sun sinks out of sight.” She glanced searchingly at Lane, her heart suddenly heavy. “Some people chase it all their lives and never see it.”
“I think he’s lonely,” Liza said, and Paige wasn’t sure if she meant Trent or Lane. Maybe both.
“You have no idea,” Paige replied.
“I’m thinking we’re going to get lucky tonight.” Cole raised his eyebrows and grinned at Liza as the sun nestled against the horizon.
“Whoa, dude,” Paige teased. “Save it for your wedding night. Give it twenty-four hours or so.”
“I was talking about the green flash.” Cole pulled Liza close, kissed her forehead, and winked at Paige. “And what happens in our sanctuary stays in our sanctuary.”
“Can’t say the same for yours, huh, Lane?” Liza grinned.
Heat rose in Paige’s face and she avoided looking at Lane. “You did not just go there.”
“The thong story’s a classic.” Cole grinned.
“You told him?” Paige gaped at Liza.
“That remin
ds me,” Lane said. “I’ve got your thong in my pocket.”
“Oh. My. God.” Paige considered launching herself into the sea. Not only was she mortified, she was also worried that Lane wouldn’t have brought her thong here if he wanted to spend more time with her in his sanctuary. It would’ve been the perfect ruse to lure her back there. Maybe his parents had urged him to leave her alone after the scene this morning. Was this his way of ending their fling before it really had to end—in front of Cole and Liza?
“I wondered if that’s what it was,” Paige said with fake humor, “or if you were just happy to see me.”
Liza and Cole laughed, but Lane’s mouth simply turned up at one corner. “Both,” he said.
Paige held his questioning gaze.
“Look, you guys, it’s time for the flash,” Liza said excitedly.
Paige reluctantly shifted her focus to the last shiny sliver of the setting sun, trying to make sense of Lane’s mixed signals. Just when Paige had lost hope, a brilliant green flash lit the sky where the sun had set.
“Whoa!” Cole pulled Liza close. “I special-ordered that for my bride.” He kissed her as Paige and Lane stood by awkwardly.
“That was the best gift ever,” Liza said to Cole.
He gave her a sly grin. “Just wait until you get your official wedding present tomorrow.”
Paige’s heart split in half. Now she’d managed to wreck whatever temporary connection she’d had with Lane. But he had said he was happy to see her. Was that just a joke, or had he really meant it?
“Let’s eat,” Liza said, loudly enough for most everyone to hear.
Paige winced. As if it wasn’t awkward enough standing here with Lane, now she had to face his parents.
…
Lane glanced at Paige, regretting that he hadn’t just ignored his insecurity and kissed her the way Cole had kissed Liza. It was a missed opportunity he’d probably never have again, since the green flash was such a rarity. So was sailing into the tropical sunset on a kick-ass catamaran with the sexiest girl alive standing next to him, the thong he’d taken off her last night stuffed in his pocket. Who cared if she’d been cozy with a tycoon just minutes ago? He had something to offer her, too. And she’d been eager to take him up on it last night.
“We’re sitting with your parents,” Paige said, but didn’t look him in the eyes. She shrugged one bare shoulder. He wanted to reach out and smooth his hand over it and pull her close, but he didn’t. Despite his bravado, he still had some questions about her and Trent Hawthorne. “Sylvia told me when we were at the spa.”
Liza and Cole had stepped away with the group, headed toward the dining area, leaving them alone by the railing.
“That might be a little tense,” he said, “so I apologize up front.”
She nodded. How could a simple fling have gotten so complicated?
“But before we sit down,” he said, “there are two things I need to know.”
She bit her bottom lip, distracting him. She’d done the same thing last night when they’d been lying naked across the king-size bed, mosquito nets wafting lazily, making everything gauzy like a dream. He tensed with desire to replay that scene. Being away from her all day, and seeing her with Trent Hawthorne, only made him want her more—and he’d wanted her a hell of a lot already.
“All right,” she said seriously.
He loved that she could be playful and fun-loving, but she also seemed to understand that there were places and times for that.
He took a deep breath and exhaled loudly, his pulse picking up pace. “What’s going on between you and Trent Hawthorne?”
She grimaced, yet still managed to look gorgeous. “I realize what that must have looked like up there, but Trent’s just a friend. A guy Liza and I grew up with who was kind of like a brother. He’s a resort tycoon who wanted to be an astronaut. So much so that in second grade he choked himself trying to swallow a Lego astronaut because he thought it would turn him into one. How the guy’s running a resort company now, I have no idea.”
“Maybe he swallowed a Lego resort tycoon,” Lane said, deadpan.
Her laughter wrapped around his heart and squeezed it. He shook his head, reminding himself that she wasn’t Stephanie. Paige hadn’t betrayed him with lies, or with another man, or with a breach of a trust they’d established between them. That mattered to him, no matter the situation.
“He told me about the green flash, and I figured you’d think it was cool.” She gazed up at him seriously. “Know what I told him?”
Lane couldn’t even guess. With her there was no telling. “What?”
“That I had someone special I wanted to lose my green flash virginity to. So I hurried to find you before the sun set.”
Dammit. He raked his hand through his hair. How was he ever going to move forward if he always suspected the worst?
Steel-drum music wafted from the covered area of the main deck, as if it was a dinner bell.
“Guess we’d better get in there,” he said.
Paige raised her eyebrows. “What was the second thing you needed to know?”
She’d given him the reassurance he needed, so he was finished jacking around. His heart hammered as he pulled her tightly against him, remembering how right it felt to have her in his arms. He kissed her gently, tasting the sweet tang of rum punch with each wisp of his tongue.
“Mmm…” She clutched the back of his neck, pulling him even closer.
Worried that they’d lagged behind a little too long, he reluctantly broke off their kiss. “I’m glad I lost my green flash virginity to you…and Cole and Liza.”
“Nothing like jumping right into a foursome,” she teased.
He chuckled. “No doubt. But I’m kinda focused on a twosome right now.” He traced his finger down the smooth curve of her neck and along the vee neckline of her dress until he came to the tempting swell of her cleavage. “The other thing was…wanna go to your sanctuary after we get back ashore? That way maybe breakfast in bed tomorrow won’t get interrupted.”
Paige furrowed her brow—not the reaction he’d hoped for. “Let’s see how things go with your parents first.”
His stomach sank. “Seriously?”
She flashed him a sexy smile. “No, not really. Tomorrow morning it’s you, me, a king-size bed, and an omelet.”
Chapter Seventeen
Too bad Sylvia hadn’t been joking with Paige about the seating arrangement the way Liza had about the orange bridesmaid dress. The only two seats left available in the dining area were at the Andersons’ table, reserved for Paige and Lane.
Paige took a second to appreciate the beautiful setting as she braced herself for further humiliation with Lane’s parents. Tasteful party lights illuminated the open-air dining area. Beyond, the sea sparkled in the twilight. There was little need for decorating the sleek catamaran with its teak accents and contemporary tables and chairs. Steel-drum music lilted on the tropical breeze as the boat glided through the water.
“Hi, again,” Paige said lightly to the Andersons when they reached their table. Her pulse pounded out of control. If Lane had any idea how fast her heart was racing, he’d probably start mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Now there was an idea…
They joined his parents at the table, simply set with a candle flickering in a blue sea-glass holder, and a spray of white orchids at its base. Don and Karen nodded politely, making her feel a little less mortified than she had when she’d left them this morning. Karen looked lovely in a casual butter-yellow sheath dress. Don’s short-sleeved, light-green shirt had a pinstripe the same color, and he wore a nice pair of taupe shorts.
“I barely recognized you without the sheet,” Karen said to Paige with biting humor.
“White’s really not my color, anyway,” Paige said, hoping red was. No doubt her face was five shades of it right now. “If it’s a color at all.” She shrugged, unable to stop her brain from auto-dispensing words out of her mouth. “I think there’s some debate about that.”
Shut up, Paige!
A waiter arrived, setting bowls of soup at each place just as Cole and Liza stood up in front of everyone and the music stopped. “Liza and I are so glad all y’all could make it here to celebrate with us.” Cole gazed at Liza proudly.
Liza looked lovingly at Cole, and seemed to hang on every word he said. No matter how awkward this was for Paige, she was thrilled that it was exactly what Liza and Cole had hoped for—nice and simple, with family and a few close friends.
“Tomorrow’s the big day,” Cole said grinning. “Finally.”
Everyone laughed, since he and Liza had only been engaged for a couple of months.
“Because our time here is short, we thought it’d be cool to give you a taste of St. Lucia tonight,” Cole said. “So we’re having callaloo soup, conch fritters, lobster…” He furrowed his brow as if he’d forgotten the rest of the menu.
“And lots of other delicious surprises.” Liza rolled her eyes, smiling. “He helped pick out the menu, I swear.”
“I just can’t think of much else but saying ‘I do,’” Cole teased. “Can’t come soon enough for me.”
The group murmured a collective “Aw” as Cole kissed Liza sweetly.
Paige’s eyes welled with tears as she watched them. Liza deserved an awesome guy like Cole, and Paige’s heart ached for a man to love her like that. She glanced at Lane, surprised to find his attention focused on her, but he quickly looked away.
Cole picked up his glass of rum punch from a nearby table. “I’d like to take a second to make a couple of toasts. First, to my dad, Frank. It took us a while to get together, but I’m thankful that we did. Here’s to your love, and your support.” His voice started to waver and he paused to collect himself. “I’m proud to have you as my best man.” He raised his glass to the group.
Frank, who was nearly as hulking as Cole, went up and gave Cole a man-hug.
“One more,” Cole said, lifting his glass again. “To love in St. Lucia, and everywhere else. Dig in and enjoy.”