When they passed by the baseball stadium entrance, she asked, “Have you ever been to a game there?”
“Yeah, once with Clay and Lacey not long after it opened. I sang the national anthem to kick off the game. The Barefoot Bay Bucks is a minor league team owned by some local billionaires, I think.”
“Very cool.”
“The place we’re going isn’t much farther. The rise off to the right is Barefoot Mountain. It’s more like a hill compared to the Santa Monica Mountains,” he said with a chuckle.
She couldn’t help but like the sound of his laughter, no matter how many times she told herself not to listen.
Once they passed the rise, he veered off the road onto a dirt path and through some scrub oaks and woods.
“I can see why this is a hidden beach,” she teased.
“I believe the land is actually owned by Casa Blanca Resort. As you can see, it’s not fenced off or anything. Part of me hopes they won’t develop it.”
“Yeah. It’s nice to leave some of the natural habitat.”
The path ended where the tree line met the sand, with the water just beyond that. The waves gently lapped at the shore. “That’s the one thing about the Gulf that’s so different from other places—the water is usually so calm. In the Pacific, the waves would plow you right over, they’re so hard and forceful.”
She laughed. “And cold!”
“True. But warm is always better.” He paused a beat. “How about we eat, and afterward, we can take a swim if you want?”
“Sounds perfect.”
She followed him to the trunk as he opened it. “Let me carry something,” she said, wanting to help.
Sully handed her a thin quilted blanket covered in a swaying-palm-tree pattern while he carried the cooler the resort had prepared. They selected a spot near the water and set up their picnic.
She unpacked the cooler filled with gourmet wraps, fruit, a relish tray, and brownies for dessert. “Hmm, the resort really treats their customers well.”
“Definitely.”
Enjoying the sunshine and surf, they devoured their lunches. “How about a walk before we swim?” Sully suggested when they’d finished.
She smiled. “Great minds think alike.”
They started walking toward the Gulf. “Sometimes when I come here, I just walk around and explore. That’s how I discovered this place. I actually walked around from the resort. It’s pretty much all beach from there to here. You would just keep going around to the west.” He motioned in front of him with his arm.
She bent and picked up several beautiful shells. “When I was a kid, I had a huge shell collection. I kept them in a special box and my favorite ones I displayed on a long shelf.”
“What? No space and Star Wars stuff all over your room?”
She laughed. “No. I’ve always been into more biology-related things. Though, I have to admit, I even named my microscope. Erwin.”
“Really?”
“What about you?”
“Posters of my favorite music artists—Michael Bolton, Aerosmith, Bryan Adams.”
“Now I’m not surprised.”
He took hold of her hand and turned her to head back to the blanket. His hand felt strong…and right. For this moment in time at least.
“Where do you live now?” she asked. “You mentioned LA, but that’s a huge area.”
“Actually, I have a home in Glendale, a bit north of LA. I also have a small apartment in New York City. But I travel around so much, it doesn’t really matter where I live.”
She shook her head. “That seems like such a foreign lifestyle to me.”
“I guess it is. I plan on cutting back on the travel now. My albums are doing quite well, so all the hard work is paying off.”
“I’m glad.” She gave his hand a squeeze. “Race you to the water,” she said in a sudden change of mood. God knew she needed something to break the tension building inside her.
Sully got on board with her burst of playfulness, and they both shed their outer layers of clothes. She tossed her sundress onto the quilt; he dumped his shirt, shoes, and phone on top.
Harper flew into the water before he did. Emptying the stuff from his pockets had slowed him down. “Oh, no, you don’t,” she heard him say from behind as he caught up to her and tackled her. They both fell into the water, going under.
They both came up laughing. It seemed Sully didn’t do anything halfway. Whether it was singing to an audience, enjoying a ride with the top down in a convertible, or racing her into the water. He did things with gusto.
Splashing water at him, she moved away, putting distance between her and his hard, muscular body. But he stalked her and grabbed her shoulders. She thought he might dunk her, but then she looked into his eyes. Deep-blue eyes that seemed anything but playful now. They seemed hot and full of desire.
For a long moment they froze, just staring at each other. Then he pulled her toward him, crushing her against his bare chest and wrapping his arms around her as he took her mouth in a desperate kiss.
Harper kissed him back, meeting his tongue and gently sucking his lip. It was a good thing they were in the water or else she would have been on fire.
She pulled back, breathing heavily. “Wait.” She put her hand on his wet chest—his very fine wet chest. “This is crazy. Good crazy—” she rolled her eyes and rushed on “—but let’s be clear…this isn’t going anywhere but right here, right now.”
“Sharper Harper,” he teased. “Do you have to dissect everything?”
“Yes.”
He lifted her in the buoyant water so that she had no choice but to wrap her legs around his waist. “I like that you’re smart,” he said sincerely. “And I like that you care about things.” She felt his shoulders move up and down beneath her hands as he shrugged. “Big things…like saving the world from disease.”
His grin was contagious. “I forgive you then for the name-calling.” She leaned in and kissed him. When she ended it, she rested her cheek against his. He bounced his feet in the water, jostling her. For the first time in she couldn’t recall how long, she felt playful and free.
All of a sudden, Sully jerked and jumped sharply with a yelp. His body tensed beneath her hands. “Ow,” he yelled. “Jesus!” He held her tightly. “Something bit me on the foot!” His jaw flexed, and he breathed out sharply between clenched teeth.
She scowled, hating that he was in pain. With that, her medical training kicked in. “Let’s get out, and I’ll take a look.”
He hobbled as he walked—still holding her.
“Sully,” she scolded, “put me down and let me help you.”
He obviously didn’t like doing it, but he listened to her. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“Whatever it was, it’s probably gone.”
As soon as they were in the shallow surf, she noticed the blood coming from his toe. He limped on his heel until he could sit down on the blanket. She grabbed his shirt—the nearest piece of cloth that wasn’t currently wet or underneath them—and gave it a firm shake to dispel any sand. Then she grabbed a bottle of water from the cooler, opened it, and poured the clear liquid over the injury to remove the sand from his skin. He groaned and his foot twitched.
“Try to hold still. I need to see it.” She leaned in to examine the wound. “It looks like something sliced right through your big toe. But with all the blood I can’t tell. It may even need stitches.” She repeated the process of pouring water over it and trying to get a clear look again.
“My God, it hurts! Like a hot stinging, burning sensation.”
“I think we should get you back to the hotel. They probably have some medical supplies there.”
He nodded, pressing his lips together.
Harper helped him stand, gathered their things, and headed to the car. Sully tried to take something from her to carry.
“I can manage,” she said. “You just get yourself there safely.” She gave him a no-nonsense look. “Okay if I d
rive? Since it’s your right foot, I think it would be best.”
“Fine.” He limped to the passenger door, opened it, and folded his large frame into the seat.
She glanced sideways and noticed him gnashing his teeth.
“Still hurts that bad, huh?”
“I didn’t know a big toe could hurt so much.” He tried to grin. “I’m sorry I ruined our day.”
“Oh my gosh. It’s not your fault. And it’s not ruined.” She held out her hand, palm up. “Keys.”
He dug through his things and fished them out, then handed them over. A short while later they pulled into Casa Blanca Resort & Spa.
Harper placed her hand on Sully’s arm. “Stay here and I’ll see what they have by way of supplies before we have you limping all over the place.”
To her surprise, he didn’t argue, which spoke to how much pain he must have been in.
The valet approached her immediately. The resort staff sure did a terrific job. “I need medical supplies. Do you know where I might find some?” Harper asked.
“Come inside and let’s see,” the young man said. “I’m sure we have something.”
He escorted her through the massive front doors. A woman with strawberry-blond hair and freckles stood near a beautiful tapestry of a white-walled Moroccan resort. Harper guessed the picture was the resort’s namesake. The valet made a beeline in that direction. “Mrs. Walker,” the valet said, and the woman turned a friendly smile their way.
Lacey Walker, she recalled. The resort owner.
“Hi,” Harper said, taking charge. “I’m a friend of Sully’s. We were wading in the Gulf and he injured his foot. Something might have bit him. Do you have any first aid supplies, or can you tell me where to get some?”
“Oh, no. Let me see what I can do.” Lacey turned to the valet, instructing him to go to the front desk and retrieve the medical kit. She faced Harper. “Where’s Sully?”
“I left him in the car so he didn’t have to walk unnecessarily,” Harper replied.
“Okay,” Lacy started walking the direction of the front entrance.
When they arrived at the Camaro, Sully was sitting with his body facing out the door, his injured foot propped across his other thigh. “Hey, Lacey,” he said as they approached. “I feel so ridiculous injuring my toe. But geez, it’s killing me.”
“Let’s doctor you up,” Lacey said, opening the medical kit.
Harper immediately reached in and withdrew gauze, and bandages. She doused the wound with plenty of water and gently blotted it.
“You seem to know what you’re doing,” Lacey commented.
“I have medical training,” Harper replied. “But this I’m not sure about. It appears like something sliced his toe.”
Lacey scrunched up her face as she looked over Harper’s shoulder. “It could be he encountered a stingray. We get these injuries every so often. Did you know it’s a good idea to shuffle your feet when you walk to scare them away?”
“Thanks for telling me,” Sully ground out.
“I think you need to go get it x-rayed. It’s the best way to make certain a barb isn’t in the wound.” Lacey reached over and patted his shoulder. “I don’t think you’ll be singing tonight.”
“We’ll see,” he said with determination.
Harper tried to hold back a laugh. Now there was the stubborn Sully she remembered.
Chapter Four
Sully buttoned the front of his shirt and rolled up the sleeves the way he liked them. Harper had been absolutely amazing today. She’d been so attentive and caring, taking him to the hospital in Fort Myers and hanging out there for three hours while he was treated. She’d watched the doctor’s and nurse’s every move to make sure all was just right. She had picked up his medication and waited on him all afternoon.
It turned out Lacey had pegged it: the injury had been caused by a stingray. He was fortunate that there hadn’t been any barbs lodged in his flesh because that would have meant minor surgery to remove them. The doctor had soaked the injury in hot water, and as soon as his foot had been submerged, the pain had lessened. Evidently, the warm water drew out the poison.
He looked up to find Harper watching him, her brow furrowed. “Are you sure you feel well enough to sing?”
“Yes. I’ll just use a stool tonight. It’ll be fine.” He came to her and wrapped his arms around her. “Thank you for all your help today.” He lightly kissed her lips. “You’re the best nurse I’ve ever had.”
“You’ve had many nurses?” she asked.
“No. But—”
She pressed her lips to his—a pleasant interruption—grabbing his face and threading her fingers into his hair. “I’m glad you’re feeling better.”
He smiled and winked. “Me too.”
As he walked to the door, he had only the slightest of limps. The hot water and pain medicine had worked wonders. Even the long stroll to the Junonia dining room didn’t bother him, and further to a spacious lanai, featuring the Casablanca theme where he’d be part of the live entertainment for the evening. He slipped his arm around Harper’s waist as he spotted Luke McBain, head of Casa Blanca Resort security, speaking to a duo of young women at the bar.
Harper followed his gaze. “Hey, aren’t those two of the girls from your autographing session earlier today.”
“I think you’re right.” He felt her tense, wondering why that seemed to bother her. “Luke McBain from security is chatting with them.”
“Maybe checking their IDs,” she speculated, chuckling.
“They do look kinda young, huh?”
“I think they’re following you,” she whispered.
The redhead glanced over and waved her fingers. Beside him, Harper emitted a barely perceptible groan. Sully suppressed a knowing smile. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d dated a woman who wasn’t keen about the attention he garnered. He abruptly hesitated in his thoughts. Did this count as a date? Well, with the powerful desire he felt toward her, he realized he’d subconsciously put her into a girlfriend category. He tugged her in closer to his side.
He gave Luke a casual salute and guided Harper to a table near the stage. She ordered a glass of merlot tonight. He would have loved to have some, too, but he stuck with a soda because of the pain meds. He didn’t want to mess up his set.
Disquiet rolled through his chest as he studied Harper sipping her wine. How could he let her go tomorrow when her boat was fixed?
He didn’t want to. Not at all. Yet with their busy schedules, not to mention not living in the same place, there didn’t seem to be any hope for him to get to know her better, to explore these new, intense feelings.
“Is something wrong?” she asked. “Is your foot hurting too much?”
“No, I’m fine,” he lied before changing the subject. “What’s the latest on your boat?”
“Oh, right… It will be ready in the morning. Max is coming down to drive the boat back to his place. I told him he didn’t have to, but he insisted.”
Sully nodded and swallowed. “Maybe he could drive it back and you could stay another day… “
“That’s so tempting, believe me. I have to admit, my stay here has been lovely. Better than I imagined.” She gave him a shy smile. “But I have a plane to catch and work to get back to. And so do you.”
Harper, ever the practical one.
An unfamiliar ache settled in his chest. He wasn’t going to beg her, though.
He stood and made his way to center stage where the mic and stool were prepared. Inhaling a deep breath, he signaled to the accompaniment musician to begin. The opening introduction played, and Sully turned to the one thing that had always sustained him, that had always given meaning to his life: his music.
* * *
Good heavens, it had hurt to turn down his offer. How could she have these feelings, these yearnings, in a mere two days? This was not love at first sight. She’d known Sully since they were teens. This was…impossible.
They were as alike a
s apples and oranges. The infatuation she felt couldn’t be sustainable.
Sully was on his third song when she came out of her thoughts. A couple ambled in, taking a seat at a table that appeared to have been reserved. She recognized the woman as Lacey Walker. The handsome man at her side leaned in to whisper in Lacy’s ear, his honey-colored, shaggy hair fell back exposing the glint of an ear ring. They both smiled before he kissed her cheek and sat back. Lacy’s husband, Clay, she thought. A pang of jealousy wound through her as she realized how much she longed for that sort of long-term relationship, secure, loving, sharing, and happily-ever-after. Her gaze shot to Sully. Famous people rarely had permanent relationships. She sighed, a dull ache inside.
Harper ordered another glass of wine. In between songs, Sully took a moment to chat with Lacey and Clay. The couple left a short time later.
For some reason, she was gripped by the memory of being on the outside of the group looking in, the way she was during those turbulent high school years. She shook her head.
The next thing she realized, Sully had abandoned his stool and had moved closer to her as he performed.
Then she saw only him. Heard only him.
It wasn’t fair. She had no defenses against his alluring voice, his charming smile, his seductive eyes. And no matter what anyone in the room thought, tonight, she knew without a doubt, that he was singing to her.
He broke into Michael Bolton’s “Now That I Found You.” Her pulse raced faster. His mood seemed to change instantly and he was light and playful as he sang Michael Bublé’s “Everything.” He finished with “When A Man Loves A Woman.” If she hadn’t been sitting, her knees would have buckled. It was almost more than her heart could bear.
* * *
They didn’t pass a soul on the way back to his villa, which was surprising because it was only ten o’clock. Harper didn’t say much as they walked, only seemed tense and distant.
He held the door open for her when they arrived, inhaling her floral scent as she crossed in front of him. He grabbed her hand and turned her to face him. “Are you okay?” he asked.
Barefoot Bay_Come Sail Away Page 4