Barefoot Bay_Come Sail Away

by Larissa Emerald

  Then the music came up, the lights came on, and the singer moved center stage. He began to sing again, and Harper turned to follow the magnificent voice. When her eyes settled on the singer, she inhaled sharply.

  Sully occupied the stage with the command and presence of a seasoned performer. Her heart fluttered and raced. My God, he was terrific—handsome, charming, and his voice could melt a girl’s heart.

  Her mind raced back to high school. He’d been talented then, but nowhere near this good. But she hadn’t really known him. She’d had a few classes with him, and yes, they had taken chorus during the same class period, but the infatuation she’d once had with him had been mere puppy love. She’d only known him from afar. And she’d been hurt and angry when he never noticed her. But why would he? He was popular. She was a geek.

  She watched him onstage now. Every note, every expression was full of passion. This was what he was meant to do.

  The selection of songs he chose was all over the place, from Bon Jovi to Elton John to old Frank Sinatra ballads. Maybe some original work because she didn’t recognize some pieces. But given the way she didn’t keep up with today’s music, she wasn’t sure.

  When the waiter brought her food, she jumped as he set it on the table. She’d been so enthralled she hadn’t even noticed the man approach. She munched on her food as she listened, grateful she hadn’t ordered anything complicated. Nothing to draw her attention from Sully.

  When she’d finished and relaxed back with a fresh martini, Sully launched into the intro of a new song. This time he traveled in her direction. As she sipped her drink, his eyes met hers over the rim of her glass. He winked. She gasped and then coughed as liquid slid down the wrong way. Her face warmed as she recovered.

  His tenor voice was rich and full as he sang a remake of an old classic, “Dream A Little Dream Of Me.”

  Suddenly, it seemed as if he sang to her…just for her. It didn’t matter if the bar area was packed or not. The timber of his voice vibrated against her chest, making her feel a way she’d never felt before. A mushy sensation settled in her stomach. It reminded her of a marshmallow toasting over a fire, all oozy and melting and sliding off the stick into the flames. That’s what her body felt like. Boneless. Hot. As if he were touching her with his hands and not just his eyes and voice. Her breaths came in quick, shallow bursts, and a flush of perspiration clung to her shirt.

  Taking slow steps, he moved closer and closer to her. His gaze mesmerized her as he held out his hand. She swallowed. Did he want her to take it?

  Hesitantly, she placed her hand in his. The words of the song washed over her as, inside, she secretly swayed like a swooning teenager.

  This was simply part of the show, she told herself. She’d seen performers engage with the audience in a similar manner before. She couldn’t explain why he’d chosen to do it with her, but the crowd seemed to be eating it up.

  She drew her hand back as if she’d been burned. He stood and moved to his left, still watching her. He took his time turning his attention to the audience as a whole.

  When he did, Harper exhaled the air from her lungs. Would she have felt this way if it had been anyone other than Sully McGlamery? Dammit, she didn’t think so.

  He sang a few more songs, and then his set was finished. The MC thanked him and proclaimed some of Sully’s accolades, announcing his upcoming performances in Las Vegas and Rockefeller Center this coming fall.

  Surprised by the list of high-end venues, Harper’s brows rose. Wow. Good for him.

  After a slight bow at his waist and a final wave to the audience, Sully ambled over and took a seat next to her. A few lovely women tracked his progress as he strolled up to her table and parked his oh-so-sexy body in the seat across from her. Harper could see the appreciation in their stares. And something more… Interest? Disappointment that he hadn’t visited their table? Maybe even resentment? Whatever the women emitted, it was new to her. Other women didn’t usually ogle the men she was with.

  A glimpse from her teenage days surfaced in her mind. Sully had been in a rock band, but it had only accounted for part of his popularity. The rest was pure Sully.

  “I’m glad you got a chance to eat,” he said.

  “What about you?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t eat when I sing.”

  “Well, you did great,” she said with a shy smile.

  “Thanks.”

  “I’m embarrassed we never got around to talking about you earlier today. I didn’t realize you were a star.”

  “I’ve had some good luck.” He got to his feet. “Come on, let’s go back to the villa and away from the noise.”

  She grabbed her drink and walked alongside him. Wow, wasn’t this a one-eighty? Tonight she was the one leaving with the hunky popular guy. She promised herself not to let it go to her head. This wasn’t the real thing, just make believe due to circumstance. He couldn’t have feelings for her, or vice versa. Their lives were worlds apart. Not literally, of course—Baja wasn’t that far from Los Angeles—but they couldn’t be more different.

  As they walked to his villa, she tried to muster up some of the anger and hurt she’d felt toward him back in their high school days, just to get some distance, but even that failed. It didn’t matter any longer. She wasn’t the same deprived girl she’d been then. She was a mature, confident woman now, and she didn’t need to have a flashy boyfriend to show off.

  Actually, she’d given up on that sort of thing altogether.

  Chapter Three

  Harper dropped onto the sofa in the living area, placing her drink on the glass coffee table. Sully stopped by the bar—yes, the villa had a bar—and prepared himself a drink. A rum and coke, she thought. He joined her, taking a seat in an adjacent chair.

  “I’m glad you came to the bar,” he said. “I don’t know why, but it was special to have you there.”

  She lifted a shoulder, then let it fall. “We have history,” she said lightly.

  “Do we?”

  His voice had lowered provocatively. He must have been teasing her.

  “Sure,” she answered. “I whacked you over the head with a book, remember?”

  “How could I forget?” He raised an eyebrow at her. “But I don’t actually recall why.”

  She smiled. “We were in Mr. Randleman’s science class. You answered a question incorrectly; I didn’t. Then you called me Sharper Harper in front of the entire class. I was hurt and furious. The science book was the closest thing to a weapon I had.”

  “Oh…yeah.” He paused, looking at her. “I’m sorry I was insensitive.”

  She stared at him, lifting her chin the slightest fraction. “I got over it.”

  “That may be, but I was wrong.”

  She gave a dismissive wave. “Okay, let’s change the subject. What did you do after high school?”

  He downed half his drink. “I studied at the Tisch School of the Arts at NYU.”

  She sat straighter. “Impressive. Congratulations.”

  “Thanks. I enjoyed those years…before it was about money and gigs and contracts.”

  “Yeah, sometimes the real world sucks.”

  He chuckled. A warm sound that made her heart race faster.

  “So what happened between college and now?” she asked.

  This time he emptied his glass, leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees, and rolled the glass between his hands. “I made some recordings that were hits. I’m in the midst of putting together my fifth album. There have been some specialty guest star performances… at Carnegie Hall, Boston’s Citi Performing Arts Center, and Kennedy Center Honors. I mean, my career is going well. I come down here once or twice a year, and as a favor to Lacey and Clay, I perform. It’s not really work when I’m here, though. The place is just so relaxing. And they have a terrific security team, so the rest of the time I have to myself. It’s a win-win for all of us.”

  His humble tone touched a chord inside of her. Where was the boastful teen of their y
outh? “Sounds like life has been treating you well,” she said with a yawn, standing. She had to get out of this conversation before her heart did that melty thing again.

  “It has.”

  “I’m glad.” Her eyes held his for a long moment, again struck by his handsome good looks. Actually, his thirty-something appearance was somehow more striking than his younger self. She sighed. “Thanks for an incredible day. I’m going to bed.” She turned and headed for her bedroom before she could be drawn back in.

  “Sure,” he said quietly. “See you in the morning.”

  * * *

  Sully rested his head back against the sofa and closed his eyes. He’d enjoyed having Harper at the show. More than he should have. Perhaps it was like she said and just because they had a history whereas everyone else there was a stranger simply wanting entertainment. Though on some level, he admitted, he knew he felt something for her. A stirring.

  Thinking he was glad that he’d run into her today, he dozed off.

  He awoke several times during the night. With one of those times, he moved to his bed. He rose before sunrise, showered, and made coffee. Even on the nights he did performances, he got up early the following day. He liked mornings.

  Grabbing the paper the resort provided him, he took his mug out onto the patio that overlooked the beach. The sound of the surf was a peaceful backdrop, making him feel as though no matter what was happening in the world, everything was right with him.

  Except his picture glared from the page, where he was featured in the social section, with a cluster of young women hounding him for autographs. It was last years’ news. So why did the reporter have to go there? Thank goodness most of the time he hung close to the resort. As long as he remained on Casa Blanca Resort & Spa premises, McBain’s security team did a spot-on job at keeping paparazzi out.

  He heard Harper emerge from her bedroom about two hours later. By then, he had already finished reading and moved on to dealing with e-mails and correspondence on his computer. “Good morning,” he said when she appeared on the patio. “Did you find the coffee?”

  “Yes, thanks.”

  Now that she was up, he flipped to the resort window on his computer. “Feel like some breakfast?” he asked. “Even though the rooms have a complete kitchen, I usually order food. The chef here is superb.”

  She held her cup of coffee with both hands, smiled and took a sip. A look of pleasure lit her lovely hazel eyes, as her eyelids dipped with a drowsy sweep and came back up to stare at him. “Sounds terrific.”

  He placed an online order, requesting an array of food—hotcakes, eggs, bacon, fruit, and juice. They sat in silence, just drinking their coffee and enjoying the ocean breeze until their food arrived. As they ate, neither of them seemed to feel the need to chat. It was nice. Refreshing.

  They’d just finished up when her phone rang. It was the marina, he thought. He waited to find out the news.

  She ended the call. “They said it was a bad alternator. The part will have to be ordered if they don’t have one in Fort Myers. It may take until tomorrow to get it fixed.”

  He nodded. “I’ll be here till Saturday. You’re welcome to stay.”

  She hesitated for a moment, nibbling her lip, before saying, “I’ll take you up on that offer. Casa Blanca is a beautiful resort.”

  “The island is almost as charming. You mentioned you wanted seclusion. I know of the perfect beach. If you like, I’ll show you.” For some reason, he wanted to give her whatever she wanted, just to make her happy, to see her smile.

  Harper set her coffee mug aside. “I’d like that. Give me a few minutes to get ready.”

  He watched the sway of her hips as she retreated to her room, and his mouth went dry. He took a swig of coffee, now cold and unappealing. He scrunched his nose.

  Don’t get too attached, he reminded himself. They’d be returning to their normal lives before they knew it.

  * * *

  “I discovered Mimosa Key about five years ago, shortly after Casa Blanca had been built,” Sully said as they drove south from the resort along Center Street. “I can’t believe how much the place has grown. I’ll show you around the island first, and then the lovely, secluded beach I discovered.”

  “Okay by me.”

  The top was down on the car again and a breeze rolled over her as they drove. Across the street was a quaint Fourway Motel, yet up the street she could make out newer area.

  “I need to make a quick stop,” Sully announced, steering into the Super Min. He got out of the car, filled the tank and headed inside the small station shop. Harper joined him. The pace of Mimosa Key seemed slow and easy, from the 25-mph speed limit to the speed of the people at the gas pumps, but that suited Harper just fine.

  Stopping for gas struck her as a regular-guy kind of task, so different from the star image she’d had of him last night. But as soon as they stepped inside the store, that changed. A pretty red-head gave an excited squeal, “Sully McGlamery!”

  All eyes shot to them, or more specifically, to Sully.

  “Can I have your autograph?” A brunette thrust a paper Mimosa Key flyer at him.

  Sully flashed a bone-melting smile. “Sure.”

  Immediately, other women closed in, following suit. Most of them were late teens to college age, probably visiting the island on break, she thought.

  An elbow caught Harper’s arm as she was crowded out of the way. She stepped back and watched with amazement as Sully signed a dozen or so autographs. He graciously spoke to every fan.

  Tightness tiptoed up Harper’s spine. All the attention was too much for her. A tall blonde, wearing a skimpy bikini top and a wrap-around skirt sidled up to Sully as she handed off her phone to the person next to her, asking them to take a picture. The woman struck a pose, all smiles.

  Harper sighed. He was probably used to women fawning over him and requesting autographs, and snapping pictures. A queasiness settled in her stomach. Of course he could get any woman he wanted.

  But not her… she tried valiantly to chase the thought out of her head before it completely formulated. Even still, she wasn’t quite successful and old doubts crept in despite her mental efforts.

  “Can you grab us a couple drinks?” he asked Harper, with an apologetic lift of his brow.

  Her head snapped up when she realized he was speaking to her, then she nodded. When she was ready with a large fountain drink in each hand, she waited by the door.

  Sully politely extricated himself from the last stragglers, quickly making his way to her and guiding her out of the door.

  At the car, she held out a drink to him. “Soda?”

  “Oh yes, thanks.” He took a long pull on the straw as he opened the car door for her, and then hustled to the driver’s side and climbed in, setting his drink in the cup holder. “Sorry about that craziness,” he said, starting the Camaro and driving out of the lot.

  Harper pressed her back into the seat, watching him. “Do you get that a lot?”

  He shrugged. “Yeah. It comes with the job.”

  She imagined so, but good heavens; she couldn’t deal with the total invasion of privacy. “Better you than me.”

  Sully gave a haphazard grin. “I guess I’ve become immune to it.”

  “I had the resort pack us lunches while you were getting ready, but I forgot about extra drinks.”

  “Mmm, a picnic sounds perfect.”

  A twinkle lit his eyes. “I thought so, too.”

  Those silly butterflies fluttered in her tummy again. She forced her attention to the scenery as they drove. The island was a mixture of classy old town and elegant high-end buildings.

  They drove on, and he pointed out the sights. They passed a very upscale residential area, much like they’d both grown up in, with gorgeous waterfront properties.

  “Do you get home often?” she asked.

  “I try to visit a couple times a year,” he said. “How about you?”

  She shook her head. “Nah. I should. Bu
t my mom and I don’t get along. She’s still into trying to turn me into a younger version of herself. All vogue and social butterfly and stuff.”

  When they came to a place called Pleasure Point, Sully pulled into the parking area overlooking the Gulf and put the car in neutral. “This is another pretty spot.”

  She looked out over the water. “It really is… Know anything about its name?”

  “No, but I can imagine.” His lips spread into an infectious smile as he reached over and took her hand.

  She wet her lips and smiled back a little nervously. Something fluttered inside her.

  He smoothed his thumb over her ring finger. “You’re not married?”

  “No. Only to my work.”

  He nodded. “I know what that’s like.”

  She tore her gaze from his and focused on the boats coming in and out of the harbor in the distance. “I suppose you do. But there have to be a lot of people in your life given your business, going on tour and all.”

  “I guess there are. But I haven’t met ‘the one.’”

  Harper wondered what kind of girl would win Sully McGlamery’s heart. She felt a pang in the pit of her stomach at the thought of him with someone else. And with it came an unreasonable yearning to find the right person, too. What would life be like with him?

  Oh psh. Now she was entering fantasyland.

  He lifted her hand and kissed the back of it, then let it go. “I’m getting hungry, and our lunch spot is back at the other end of the island.”

  As he put the car in gear, she placed her left hand in her right, touching where his lips had lingered. It probably meant nothing to him, but for her… It had set her on fire.

  “I’m getting somewhat hungry myself,” she said. Only he didn’t know her hunger was for him, not food.

  No, no, no. Not high school all over again, she scolded herself.

  As they drove, she watched the same lovely places fly by and tried to take more interest in the scenery outside the car than inside it. Geez, she’d never, ever imagined she’d be alone for two days with Sully McGlamery.