The Perfect Kiss

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by Susan Hatler


  Chapter Twenty-three

  The waves pounded against the shore with rhythmic ferocity, sort of like the headache throbbing in my temples. For some reason, I’d thought this Bait Buster event would be a fun last group hurrah since the retreat was coming to an end. Looked like the joke was on me.

  Well, and Greta. She gaped openly at Scotty. I thought there was a real possibility she might faint, or crumple into a ball on the sand. Instead, she let out a wail that split through everyone’s conversations. I glanced around and all eyes—both male and female—became focused on Greta and Scotty as they stood on the beach, staring at each other.

  I reached out and grabbed Brody’s arm, ignoring Taylor’s gaze on my hand. “What is Scotty doing here?” I hissed. “Can you please get him to leave? We can arrange a time for Greta to sit down with him and talk in private, but right now is not that time.”

  “Sorry.” Brody shook his head. “No can do.”

  “Greta is going to have another breakdown,” I snapped, as a breeze off the ocean blew my red hair across my face. I pushed my hair back, marveling at how good Taylor’s settled with the windblown look. So not fair.

  “Scotty and Greta’s relationship isn’t our business and if it were, I think they should talk.” Brody crossed his arms over his chest, and I tried to ignore the sexy way his well-defined muscles bulged. “Communication can clarify false assumptions people make when they’re too scared to see what’s right in front of them,” he said, arching his brow.

  I crossed my arms. Was he hinting at me being scared? “You’re a firefighter, not a psychologist. Nor a bartender either, not that you ever told me why you were working in Scotty’s bar that night.”

  He blew out a breath. “I was doing Scotty a favor, since he was doing me a favor by loaning us his beach house for two weeks. That’s all.”

  “Now you tell me?” I asked incredulously. How infuriating that he just blurted out the reason after stringing my curiosity out for so long. Just further proof he’d never been the one for me, and that I’d been blinded by his ridiculously good looks. From the expression on Brody’s face, I could tell he felt bad about what was happening to Greta, and for a moment I felt a twinge of guilt for thinking rotten things about him. But then I glanced at Taylor, and my heart hardened. Every lesson Greta had taught us boiled up inside of me. If I’d had a phone booth, I would’ve changed into an appropriate Independent Woman suit with the super power to defeat lame guys who broke women’s hearts. “Well, if you won’t do anything about Scotty then I will,” I said, striding across the sand.

  “Greta,” I said, putting myself between Greta and Scotty who were staring at each other. I noted how the group had surrounded them in a wide circle, with some of them whispering back and forth. I slipped my arm around her waist. “Let’s get you out of here,” I said in a low voice.

  “Yes, please,” she said, glancing at me through watery eyes. “Why is he here?” Her voice broke as we started to walk away. Then she blinked, brought her brows together, and swiveled on her satin heel to face him. “Why are you here?” she said, her tone harsh.

  Was it totally wrong that I wanted to know his answer? My face tensed as I turned toward Scotty, and watched dozens of emotions flicker across his handsome features. He looked like a slightly older version of Brody, and I wondered how many years they had between them, even though this obviously wasn’t the time to be thinking about their age difference.

  Scotty took a step toward Greta then stopped, holding his arms wide in a vulnerable gesture. Finally he said in a soft voice, “I still love you.”

  Greta trembled in my arms, so I kept hold of her. I wasn’t sure if she considered Scotty’s declaration good news or bad news, though. I mean, we still had the suspicious woman on the boat to worry about. Had Brody talked to Scotty about her yet?

  “How can you say you love me?” she asked, letting out a long, aching moan.

  “Because it’s true.” He stepped closer, his gaze glued to her eyes. “I’ve read your book, Men: Who Needs Them?, dozens of times. You’ve always been that vibrant, independent woman you wrote about wanting to be. I don’t understand why you had to leave me in order to focus on your career and write that book. You would’ve had my full support.” He bent his head sideways and grimaced. “Well, perhaps with exception to the title.”

  Greta pulled away from me and pressed her palms to her forehead. My heart broke for her because I knew how she felt. I’d been cheated on, too. Even with the anger and hurt, there was always that feeling of wanting an apology, or hoping the betrayal wasn’t true.

  “I didn’t break up with you to focus on my career.” She threw her arms out in a wide, frightening gesture. Everyone around her drew back at step, including me. Scotty stayed where he was, and she moved closer to him. “I saw you on your boat with that woman,” she said, her words hanging thick in the air, as a collective gasp rang out over the sound of the waves rushing against the shore.

  Scotty held his palms up, glancing around with an expression that claimed he had no idea which woman Greta was talking about. Yeah, right, buddy.

  Finally, he asked, “What woman, Greta?”

  “She was tall, blonde, and well put together.” She thrust a hand to her hip, tossing her short dark hair over her shoulder. “She also wore those four-inch designer stilettos I could never walk in properly, but that’s not the point.” She jabbed her index finger in his direction. “There was no way I could compete with her, and I wasn’t going to give you the satisfaction of knowing how you broke my heart!” Greta shouted, her anger alive and well after three years away from him.

  “Emily? She was my Realtor,” Scotty said, sounding bewildered.

  “The fact that she was your Realtor doesn’t make your affair any better,” Greta said, crossing her arms over her chest. “If you’d been a decent man, you would’ve broken up with me first, before making a late night rendezvous on your boat with your mistress.”

  My gaze darted to Scotty for his reaction.

  His eyes narrowed. “Wait a second . . . you think I cheated on you?”

  My gaze shot back to Greta, ready to hear her response.

  “Well, obviously,” she said, rolling her eyes, and propping her hand back on her hip. “I knew what was going to happen between you and that sexy woman on your boat, so I certainly wasn’t going to stick around to watch.”

  Snap! This was a totally inappropriate thought to be having right now, but if Greta included this scene in her next book, she’d have a #1 New York Times Bestseller, for sure. I had no idea how this episode with Scotty would impact the meaning of the retreat, but I knew things would be irrevocably changed.

  Greta squeezed her eyes shut, and a stray tear leaked down her cheek. “We were supposed to meet on the boat later that night, but I arrived early to surprise you,” she said, sniffling suddenly. “When I got to the marina and saw you on the boat with that woman . . .”

  “Yes, Emily, my Realtor, met me on the boat that night.” He let out a long breath, then moved closer to Greta until they were only inches apart. Everyone in the circle took a stealthy step closer as well. “Emily had the closing papers on my new beach house.” He gestured toward the mansion on the bluff, and I marveled that was his second home. “I had so much to get ready for that special night with you. I wanted to include those papers, so I asked if she’d mind meeting me on the boat with them before you arrived.” He ran a hand through his golden blond hair, rustling the ends so that strands stuck out. “I would never have cheated on you.”

  “You really wouldn’t?” Her bottom lip quivered, tears slipping down her cheeks. “Why was that night going to be special for us?”

  “If you’d stuck around, you would’ve known,” he said, but there was no accusation in his voice, only sadness. “I wanted to show you the new boat, of course, which I’d named after you.” He reached up, brushing her cheek with his fingertips. “I planned to show you the deed to the house I’d bought for us.” He reached in h
is pocket, and pulled out a small navy box.” And I was going to propose to you with this ring,” he said, opening the box.

  This time the gasps around the circle were audible. I glanced to Brody whose gaze was on me, and he gave me a slight nod. Brody knew what had happened that night on the boat. He’d talked to Scotty at lunch, which he’d tried to tell me, but I wouldn’t listen. Sigh. Pressing my lips together, I turned my attention back to Scotty and Greta.

  “My rashness has always been my Achilles Heel.” She drew in a shaky breath, covering her mouth with her hand, then shaking her head. “I’m jealous. And I’m flawed, but . . . most of all, I’m so sorry for hurting you. I ruined our relationship, which could’ve grown into something special, and for that I’m ashamed.” She glanced up at the sky, as if searching for some kind of wisdom. “I-I don’t know what to say, Scotty.”

  “You can answer me this . . .” He gave her a brief nod, then dropped down on one knee. He removed the ring from its spot in the velvet, and held the piece toward her, the diamond sparkling in the sunlight. “Greta von Strand, bestselling author, woman who broke my heart . . .” His voice trailed off, and I saw a glistening tear in his eye. “You’re the only woman I’ve ever loved, the only woman I will ever love, and I know you don’t need a man. But, if you’ll have me, I’d like to spend the rest of my life supporting the amazing, independent woman you are . . .” His eyes widened as he took a breath. “Will you marry me?”

  “Oh, Scotty . . .” Greta’s hands were on her cheeks as she gazed down at him. “I still love you, too. So, yes, of course I’ll marry you.”

  Scotty’s mouth broke into a huge grin as he slipped the ring on Greta’s finger, and stood. Then, she leapt into his arms like something out of a fairy-tale and pressed her mouth to his in what must’ve been the most long-awaited kiss of a lifetime.

  Through teary eyes, I clapped my hands together, then clapping erupted around the circle as Scotty lifted Greta off the ground, and spun her around and around. The joy on their faces felt contagious, only when my gaze latched onto Brody’s, his mouth was set in a tight line. He was looking at me, but he didn’t look pleased.

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Rough waves continued to pound against the beach, sending salty white foam spraying into the air. Menacing gray clouds bunched low on the horizon, and I knew there was a storm approaching. Greta and Scotty smiled and waved at everyone. Then, the two of them made their way across the sand, hand in hand, toward the stairs leading up to his mansion.

  Brody stood no more than fifteen feet away, watching me with a look I couldn’t decipher, but my mind flitted to all of the things he’d said about me not listening to him. I was all too aware that the lack of communication between Greta and Scotty had been their undoing.

  The difference between Greta and Scotty, and Brody and me, was that they’d had a whole history before their break-up. Brody and I’d only had a brief flirtation, and one date. One amazing date with hours-long kissing, but still. And, okay, we’d had some amazing moments during the retreat. But our blossoming relationship couldn’t possibly be strong enough to surmount my mistrust, which I now realized had nothing to do with Brody and everything to do with my own insecurities.

  Plus, I’d abandoned Brody the night before when we were supposed to meet up. He’d said something was important, too. I still didn’t know what had been important to him since I hadn’t listened to him earlier when he’d tried to talk to me. Not good, Olivia. Not good. And, yeah, the Taylor thing looked bad. But deep down I knew there had to be a good explanation.

  Watching Greta and Scotty hiking the stairs, I felt a host of conflicting emotions. I was happy for them—truly happy—but, at the same time I couldn’t help but wonder what their reconciliation meant for the rest of the retreat. All of the women were standing in small clumps trying hard not to be obvious about watching Greta and Scotty. After their spectacular make up, none of us seemed to know how to proceed.

  With blood pounding against my temples, I needed to do something—coming first to mind was apologizing to Brody for icing him out after I saw him with Taylor. I needed to admit he was right about my penchant to assume the worst. Even if I’d blown our relationship, and he really would rather be with Taylor, I still needed to be honest with him. My gaze connected with Brody’s, and my heart leapt into my throat.

  I started toward him, ready to apologize for all I’d done wrong. Whether or not he forgave me would be his choice. I hadn’t walked five feet before Janine appeared in front of me, blocking my path, and waving her arms.

  “We need to save The Date Escape.” Her eyes widened and she bounced on her heels. “This is supposed to be an independent women’s retreat, and the hostess just got engaged!”

  I glanced at Janine, who seemed on the verge of hysteria, then gripped her shaking shoulders. “Deep breaths, Janine. We’ll figure this out. Okay?”

  I turned toward Brody in time to see him shake his head, then turn and walk away. My stomach coiled. This was my moment, the one that would define my priorities in life. I could feel the weight of the choice, like my soul would rip in half one way or the other. I could either choose my beloved career, or I could choose the man who held my heart.

  Despite my hard work on this retreat, I knew what my choice would be. I’d connected with someone who completed me by being my equal, and I wasn’t about to let him go without a fight. I knew if I lost him, there would be a hole in my life I could never fill.

  “Brody, wait!” My voice was absorbed by the gust of wind and the crash of waves against the shore. If he’d heard me, he didn’t stop and whirl around. He just kept walking toward the stairs. With an urgency I felt vibrating through every nerve in my body, I turned back to Janine. “You’re going to have to run things here for now. I have something I have to do.”

  “But, I can’t,” Janine spluttered, clasping her hands together in prayer position. “Honestly, I haven’t been to my therapist in weeks and I kind of downplayed those breakdowns I thought Wendy had told you about. You’re the mastermind behind this retreat, and Greta is . . . busy. I don’t know what I’m doing. This is too much pressure for me. I can’t handle the stress.”

  “Yes, you can.” I held Janine’s arms gently, and looked straight into her eyes. My mind swirled with thoughts of Brody and why he’d left, but I paused, focusing on my friend. “You’re a strong, indepdent woman. You will not fall apart,” I said firmly. “You’re going to run this retreat while I step out for awhile. Offer everyone snacks and drinks up at the house, and if anyone’s feeling upset, encourage them to talk with each other about how they feel. Group bonding, then journaling time. Got it?”

  Janine’s face crumpled. “I really don’t think I can. I mean, if Greta isn’t really an independent woman, how can I be?”

  A ripple rolled through me, making everything suddenly clear.

  “Greta is just a woman, like you or me.” I gave her a warm smile, then reached for her hand. “She wrote an amazing book, and made a name for herself as a self-help author. She commanded respect, and her confidence made others believe in her message.” I squeezed her hand. “You have that same confidence inside you. I know you can handle this, because I believe in you. You just need to believe in youself, too.”

  She shook her head slowly, but her expresssion was calmer. Meanwhile, the farther the distance grew between me and Brody, my body zinged with the urge to spring after him. But I was a leader. Leaders had to lead.

  “Think about all the things you’ve learned since we arrived. Like how you changed a tire and ‘brought forth fire’,” I used Greta’s commanding voice, then giggled. “You’re an independent woman, Janine. You can do anything you set your mind to do. I promise. You’ve got this.”

  “But this retreat meant more to me that just a job. At first it was just for the work, but I broke things off with my boyfriend before I moved here and this retreat has been really healing for me. But now Greta . . . ” she asked.

  The tremor i
n her voice made me pause for just a second. “You work hard under pressure,” I said, reminding her. “You’ve proven that over and over. I couldn’t have done any of this without you. I’ll be back as soon as I can. Okay?”

  She smiled, nodding her agreement, before I set off running.

  I’d never been overly athletic, but I was pleased by the force with which my desperation propelled me forward. Sprinting across the sand felt like an eternity, and by the time I got to the stairs, there was no sign of Brody. I groaned inwardly, but I wouldn’t let his head start stop me.

  As I clattered up the rough wooden steps, I realized one of the things I’d learned on this retreat was when mistakes were made, they could still be fixed. Wasn’t that what Greta and Scotty had just shown all of us?

  “Olivia! Hey, wait up.”

  Through my hazy thoughts, I heard someone call my name, so I slowed and stopped on the stairs. Turning, I was shocked to see Taylor running up to me. She reached me in record time, barely breathing hard at all. I, on the other hand, was huffing.

  “Are you going after Brody, too?” I asked, staring her in the eye.

  Taylor held up her hands in a gesture of surrender. “I probably deserve that greeting,” she said, the corners of her mouth turning downward. The way she was looking at me made my head spin with confusion. She jogged up a few more stairs so she stood directly in front of me, blocking my way. If she was going after Brody, how should I respond to that?

  “Look,” Taylor said. “I know what you must think of me. But I’d never go after a guy if I knew he was taken. I’m here to apologize.”

  “Apologize?” I repeated. The word had a funny taste in my mouth. My mind immediately flashed to when she’d kissed him, and my stomach curled.

 

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