“Damn it Luke, what aren’t you telling me now?”
“The dating service already has you set up. You fly out tomorrow.”
“Fly? As in an airplane? What the hell did you get me into? I can’t fly anywhere tomorrow, I have work to do.”
“I already talked to your secretary and told her you got called out of town for a few days. Easy peasy, you can check back in with her when you get to your location.
“Luke, you’ve done some pretty low things in the years we’ve known each other but this is downright despicable and shitty, from one friend to another.
Hunter locked his apartment door and turned off the kitchen light.
“You’re welcome to the spare room but I’m going to bed, my head hurts.”
He took a few steps into the hallway before Luke called out to him.
“Your flight leaves at one. Better pack tonight.
“Asshole.”
Hunter mumbled a few more obscenities toward his friend then the apartment went dark.
CHAPTER 2
Bree stood outside the front of the resort, taking in her surroundings. There weren’t enough words to describe how enormous and amazing the whole place was. Three different towers graced the property which the cab driver had explained to her as they drove toward the complex. She had no clue which she would be staying in but the way they looked from the outside, she couldn’t imagine it would make a difference. Stacy had made all the arrangements so she’d just briefly seen a picture via text message. Her best friend wouldn’t steer her wrong anyway so she wasn’t worried.
After collecting her luggage onto a rolling cart, Bree followed the bellhop from the resort lobby and up the elevator to the eighth floor. Even the hallways were immaculate. He unlocked the door for her and walked in first, placing her luggage on the bed. After he opened the curtains covering the patio door, he handed her the key and asked if there was anything else she might need.
“Thank you but I’m not even sure at this point. There’s so much to take in.”
“No worries Miss Watkins, my name is Anton. If you need anything at all during your stay please just call concierge and I’ll be at your beck and call.”
Bree dug in her purse and gave Anton a small wad of bills, thanking him. With a wink he left the room, closing the door softly.
“Holy shit, this is amazing.” She couldn’t help but smile. If this is what heaven felt like then she’d died and gone there for sure.
There was a fruit tray covered in transparent plastic wrap, laying on the desk with a bottle of Champaign in an ice bucket. She wasn’t quite ready to drink yet but the fruit looked fresh and amazing. She clipped the room key on a lanyard from her purse then laid everything on the desk and nabbed a large slice of pineapple before she walked out onto her balcony.
If she thought the front of the resort was amazing, the back was the Taj mahal and the sun setting over the ocean was a site she’d never forget. There were three very large pools, all connected with long narrow channels.
“I bet those are lazy rivers. I can’t wait to try that.”
There were palm trees everywhere and throughout the grassy areas she could see small pools of water that looked very much like lagoons and each looked like they had different animals in them. Next to each was a small covered pavilion she assumed might be beverages and food for the guests or maybe even to feed what was in the lagoons. Looking out past the pools was a never-ending white sandy beach littered with people watching the sun drop. Bree hadn’t ever been the type of person to plop herself on a beach where there were loads of other people but it was time to get over that fear. Besides there was no way she would know anyone in the Caymans.
Bree unzipped her suitcase and packed away all her clothes into the dresser, leaving her bathing suit and beach towel on the desk for morning. She changed in the bathroom because the modesty in her wouldn’t do it out in the open, even though there was no one else in the room and there was no way to be seen through the patio door. When she came out, she had a missed call from Stacy. She needed a good night’s sleep and it was late in the states anyway.
“She’s going to wait til I’m on the beach in the morning, then I’ll call her back.” She wanted to rub it in just a little. Bree did feel bad for her though. They started planning this trip at least nine months ago and were so excited to see each other again. She also probably needs to call her wireless carrier.
“I never thought about international calling. I bet that’s not part of my unlimited plan. I don’t want to have any surprised when I get my next bill.”
Bree was very anal about finances and the type to pay her bills in their entirety by the due date but cell phones were expensive enough, she didn’t need international roaming jacking it up. Her next thought was if it would charge Stacy overseas charges as well just for calling her phone. She could always reimburse her the costs if they got bad enough.
“I’m so dumb when it comes to being tech savvy.” Her dad was a computer programmer so she usually went to him when she needed help with something. Then her dad would remind her that what the very reason she needed a husband, but she wasn’t ready for that. She liked living alone and having her own things. It would be too weird to have someone else sleeping in her bed. Her dog did, but that was different. He jumped down whenever he got too hot and laid on the floor. A man probably wouldn’t voluntarily sleep on the hardwood, or even the couch for that matter.
“Yep, better off alone. I already know how to cook for one and I clean up after myself. I don’t leave my dirty underwear on the bathroom floor or my leftover hair after shaving in the tub.”
Bree messed with the do not disturb tab that hung on the door, made sure she had her room locked and crawled in bed.
HUNTER WAS HARD PRESSED to wake up. He’d laid awake too long last night worrying about the dumb shit his buddy was getting him into. A Caribbean island wasn’t the worst thing he could be stuck with but would he have to talk to people?
“A dating service to boot, that is so not cool.”
He’d dug out his duffle bag from the top of the closet in his bedroom and started to throw a few things in it, socks and underwear mostly. He wasn’t even sure he owned a pair of swim trunks anymore. He couldn’t even remember the last time he went swimming.
“Hey buddy, what’s up?”
Hunter ignored Luke and went to digging through his drawers for clothes to wear in a hot climate. He’d probably have to buy a pair of flip flops when he got there because dress shoes probably wouldn’t be the best thing to wear in the sand. Those and tennis shoes were all he owned.
“Getting all packed?”
“I’m really not in the mood to talk to you right now, at least while I feel the urge to punch you.”
“Such hostility.” His friend laughed but backed away from the door a little. Apparently, Luke knew when he meant business.
“I am a little surprised you didn’t expect it. Do you realize what you did to me without even asking? It’s my personal life, not yours. Did you ever stop to consider I might be happy with the way things are in my life?”
“No, you’re not. I see you every day and every one of those days you walk around the office like a zombie. Even when Mr. Stevens hottie secretary hits on you, you don’t react. How can you turn down her luscious ass?”
“Because I’m not a man whore like you.”
Hunter walked out of his bedroom, smacking Luke in the shoulder as he passed him.
“You used to be one.
“Well I’m not anymore, get over it. I’m tired of one night stands and maybe copping a feel from a girl was great when I was fifteen but I grew out of that a long time ago. You should too. And don’t forget, our birthdays are only nine months apart. It’s not like I’ve got ten years on you.”
Hunter stuffed his deodorant and tooth brushing stuff in the side compartment. He briefly wondered if it was too big for security at the airport. He hadn’t flown since they started cracking down on the rules
and what you were or weren’t allowed to take.
“No way, I’ll never grow out of that and I really thought you were a few years older than me at least.”
“No, we’re not, unless you’re talking about maturity, then I’ve got you beat by about fifteen. Wait, what age did you put on that online dating thing?”
“Actually, I don’t remember.”
“Great, I’m going to get paired with some fifty-year-old, I know it.”
“I don’t really think it’s a pre-arranged thing. I think they just do a few mixers and everybody gets to mingle and hook up from there.”
“Yeah cause that’s any better. I really don’t want to do this.”
Hunter zipped his suitcase closed and set it by the door. He stuffed his wallet in his back pocket along with his plane ticket and then his miscellaneous change and knife in his front pocket and reached for his car keys.
“Hey, you can’t take that knife.”
“Damn it, really?”
“No way, they’ll confiscate it.”
“Great. Makes me feel not so good about the other stuff I’m taking. I don’t really want to have to buy everything when I get there. You’re also damn lucky I have a passport.”
“Yeah, I knew you did, I asked your secretary.”
She would know, she bugged me for almost two weeks to go pick it up.
“Do I need to drop you off at the terminal?
“No thanks, I’m taking my car. I’ll just park in long term and pay the fee. I want to be able to drive myself home just in case I decide to bail out early.”
“I guess you could but you already paid for it so that’d be a waste of money.”
“I paid for it?”
Luke only shook his head.
“Damn you, how’d you get my credit card? No wait, my secretary, again right?”
“Yep she was all too happy to help. She agreed you needed to get away and she even booked your flight for me.”
Think it’s about time to crack down at work. I can’t have my secretary plotting against me whenever she feels like I need a vacation. She was normally a good one though so I won’t be too hard on her.
“Well you two have planned your last scheme together. First thing when I get back, I’m cracking down on her and requesting a new credit card number. Then I’m going to start making all my own arrangements for anything I need.”
Hunter shooed his best friend out of his bedroom, grabbed his sweatshirt and suitcase and headed toward the living room.
“I’m locking the doors and telling the front desk down stairs that no one is allowed upstairs so don’t even try to befriend them. They won’t let you in. Don’t force me have to install an alarm on my apartment door just to keep you out because I will.”
Luke looked hurt but Hunter could see an underlying smirk there as well.
Once they were out in the parking garage, Luke wished him safe travels.
“Make sure you let me know when you land so that I know the plane didn’t crash.”
“Nice. Where is it that I’m going again?”
“I didn’t tell you? You’re going to a 5-star resort in the Cayman Islands. I was told once you check in, they will have a packet for you.”
“What’s the name of the place? And how the hell am I supposed to get there?
“Oh yeah, when you get out of the airport, there will be a driver waiting for you. He’ll know where to take you.”
“Christ Luke, is there anything else you haven’t told me? Nothing like waiting til the last minute.”
“If I think of anything, I’ll call you. You better get going so you don’t miss your flight. Have a wonderful time.”
Luke waved and ran through the garage to the elevator to get to his own car.
“I swear that guy is going to be the death of me.”
CHAPTER 3
“ Oh Stacy, this place is amazing. You did a fantastic job picking it. I only wish you were here with me.”
She owed her friend so much for talking her into the trip in the first place. She had a super crazy job at the ER in the suburb of New York where she lived and it was hard to get away or coordinate with another doctor to take her shifts. She couldn’t discount what Stacy did either, because hospice was demanding as well. No way would Bree ever want to do her friends job. Her grandparents passing when she was younger after a prolonged stay in nursing homes and it broke her heart to visit them every weekend.
Bree was sad that Stacy couldn’t experience this place with her in person. They’d been looking forward to this vacation for a long time.
“Just make sure you have fun for the both of us.”
“I will, I promise.”
“Well I’ll be checking in on you often because I know how much fun you have in your life. If I had that much excitement, I’d die of boredom.”
“Thank you so very much for that exaggeration.”
“Bree, we both know you never go out, you don’t have people over and your takeout is always for one. I bet this very moment you are sitting on a lounge chair you pulled away from all the others to an area with there was no one.”
“How do you do that?”
“You’re drinking a water right now too, instead of an adult beverage, am I right?”
“You can stop any time. Can you just be proud of me for not backing out when I found out you couldn’t come?”
“Awe hon, you know I’m so proud of you. I know this is a big step for you. Just consider it practice for the next time when I will be joining you.”
“I’m holding you to that. I promise I’ll order a drink as soon as I see one of those beach waiters come close.”
“So, was I right about the chair?”
“Shut up.”
Bree’s friend laughed out loud over the phone. The frustrating part for Bree was that Stacy was right about everything. The moment her friend said she had to back out, Bree fought the urge to run right to the check-in counter and change her ticket to a return flight home.
“Don’t you have a sponge bath to give or a bed pan to clean out?”
“Hey now, that’s not nice. Remember I’m living vicariously through you. Please tell me everything, all the gory details. What are you doing right now?”
“Oh, you mean you want the particulars about the cabana boy I just blew in the hammock before I pulled my chaise lounge over to a secure location?”
“Ahh now that’s what I’m talking about, oh shit I gotta go, can I call you right back?”
“Yes, you go, I’ll be ordering my sex on the beach momentarily.”
Her friend was giggling as she disconnected the call. They teased about that stuff a lot but Bree’s friend knew her way better than that. She wasn’t a forward person when it came to guys, especially sex. It was hard enough for her to talk to them. During work was different but she avoided social settings like the plague.
Bree adjusted the backrest on the lounge, draping her beach towel over the lower slats. She then dug out sunscreen from her bag. She’d meant to buy a tanning package last month so she wouldn’t have to intentionally burn herself in the Caribbean sun but getting away from work during tanning hours was next to impossible. As she finished coating her legs, a member of the resort wait staff stopped and asked if she’d like a cocktail. She didn’t usually drink so had no clue what she was supposed to order.
“Sorry to play dumb but could you maybe tell me what’s good?”
The young man rattled off several different fruity drinks and Bree picked the one that sounded the friendliest. Then her phone rang again.
“I tell ya, things are sure getting hot here.”
“You really don’t need to rub it in.”
“Hey, you’re the one that wanted details.”
“Fine, what’s going on now?”
“So, since we know I’m not really a people person, I did relocate my chair to the far side of the beach where the boat docks are. You know, so I didn’t have to deal with any little kids throwing sand or
building sand castles and blocking my view.”
“You’re watching boats dock? Really?”
“Well not boats plural but there is one very large speed boat coming toward the pier right now. Looks like it has a couple three guys on it.”
“Sweet, can they see you? And you have your bikini on, right?”
“Yes, to both but trust me, I’ll not be looking at them.”
“But you need to. The chances of you running in to someone there that you know is nil so it’s perfect. You can have a tropical tryst and go home to your regular life afterward. What happens there, stays there kind of thing right?”
“No way, that’s you no me.”
“I know, I’m trying to break you out of your shell.”
“Don’t bother. So, the boat docked and I do have to admit that one of the guys is kind of cute.”
“Ooh yay, is he wearing a ring?”
“I can’t see that far. They all just got out of the boat and they’re walking down the dock. Looks like just one tourist, the other two guys have the same shirts on advertising a charger company. Oh my god the cute guy just took a step and his leg fell through the pier. That’s not good, looks like his leg is stuck. The other two guys are trying to help him. They shouldn’t pull him out like that though.”
“Does he need help Bree? You are a doctor.”
“I’m not licensed here Stacy, legally I shouldn’t help.”
“But you’re a doctor regardless, you’re not performing heart surgery. Just go.”
“Damn it, okay, I’ll call you later.” She ended the call, threw her phone onto the lounge and ran down to the dock.”
“MR. DUVALL, go on ahead up the dock, we’ll grab your catch of the day.”
For not wanting to have gone on this trip at all, at least the weather was beautiful and the people so far had been pleasant. He hadn’t had to lift a finger since he got off the plane in Grand Cayman. He’d arrived late the night before so made quick work of arranging a fishing trip before he got railroaded into something the dating service had planned. He wouldn’t be at all surprised if Luke had signed him up for every event they were having.
Tropical Tryst: 25 All New and Exclusive Sexy Reads Page 134