Second Chance Seduction

by Monica Richardson

  A Caribbean version of Etta James’s “At Last” began to play. Paul John grabbed Beverly’s waist and moved her toward the dance floor. He drew her close and began to dance slowly to the music. Jackson grabbed Jasmine by the hand, and the two held each other close. Samson spun Alyson and then wrapped his strong arm around her shoulder. The couples moved to the music. Edward glanced at her from across the room. He hadn’t rushed to her side as she’d expected him to. In fact, he’d been standoffish for most of the day.

  He finally made his way over to her. “Care to dance?” he asked.

  “Sure,” said Savannah as she took his hand. She turned to Chloe, who was seated at a table. “We’ll be right back, baby.”

  As they danced close, she breathed in his scent, and thoughts of their lovemaking rushed through her mind. He looked down into her eyes, and she stared into his. He wore a sensible blue tuxedo, and his goatee was perfectly trimmed. The smell of his cologne danced against her nose.

  “I thought you’d never ask,” she told him.

  “You look beautiful,” he whispered.

  She’d found the charcoal-gray after-five gown at a local bridal boutique in Palm Beach. It was a must-have and the price tag had caught her eye, marked down by 70 percent. The back revealed bare skin, and the split up the side unveiled long, sexy legs. Edward grabbed the small of her back, and she rested her face against his neck.

  “Thank you. You look very handsome.”

  He smiled. “I do my best.”

  “It’s our last night here in the Bahamas. What are we doing tonight?”

  “I think I’m going to spend the night in Governor’s Harbour, at my parents’ house,” he said. “Need to spend some time with everyone before we all part ways. No telling when I’ll see them all again.”

  “That sounds great. Do you think there’s room for Chloe and me?”

  “Um...yeah...” He was hesitant, and that caught her off guard. “I think there’s room.”

  “You sure?” she asked.

  “Yeah, I think there’s room.”

  “Good! Then we’ll come, too,” she exclaimed.

  She loved the Talbots and couldn’t wait to spend another evening with all of them.

  “Pardon me, big brother.” Edward’s younger brother Nate approached. “Can I cut in?”

  “No, you can’t cut in!” Edward teased.

  “Why not?” Nate asked. “You afraid she might think I’m a better dancer, or much better-looking?”

  “Neither of the two.”

  “Then step aside, chump.” He pushed Edward aside and grabbed Savannah by the waist. “I need a dance with this beautiful lady while the night is still young.”

  “Hello, Nate.” Savannah kissed his cheek. “So good to see you.”

  “You, too! You’re looking beautiful as always,” he said. “I didn’t believe them when they told me you were here on the island! And with Edward.”

  Edward lifted his hands in surrender and exited the dance floor.

  “He invited Chloe and me for the weekend...for your parents’ anniversary party. I’m so happy for them.”

  “Yeah, me, too. They have plenty of years in. That’s a long time to be with one person.”

  “When are you going to find that special woman to spend your life with?”

  “I don’t know if she’s out there, sis. I’ve had too much pain.”

  “Of course she’s out there! You just have to look for her.”

  “What about you? You doing okay?”

  “I am.”

  “You and my brother getting back together?”

  “I... We’re just really good friends,” Savannah stated. In her heart she felt that she and Edward might be moving toward something more than friendship, but she didn’t want to be presumptuous.

  “I want you both to be happy. So whatever that means, I’m down for that.”

  “Thanks, Nate.”

  She had grown fond of Edward’s brother Nate over the years. He’d come to live with them briefly one summer during his college days. He thought he wanted a career in politics and decided to shadow his brother. He quickly became bored with following Edward around town, and headed back to Atlanta to what he considered a much more exciting life.

  There were a number of lonely nights he’d kept Savannah in good company with games of Scrabble and watching multiple episodes of Family Feud. He’d resented his brother for making more time for his career, and not enough for his wife and newborn child—thought that Edward was a fool for squandering his marriage. He’d have given anything to have a woman like Savannah in his corner.

  “You’ll always be my sister-in-law, no matter what,” Nate said. “My brother’s a fool if he doesn’t get you back in his life. And I’ll tell him that to his face.”

  Denny tapped Nate on the shoulder. “My turn, bro.”

  “I’m still dancing,” Nate protested. “Go dance with Jazzy or Alyson.”

  “I don’t want to dance with them. I want to dance with Savannah.”

  “Where’s your little GI Jane?”

  “She went back to the US. She got all pissed off about Sage.”

  “Well, what did you expect? A parade?” Nate asked, and then continued to dance with Savannah. “You have a lot to learn about women.”

  “This from someone who doesn’t have a woman.” Denny grabbed Savannah by the hand.

  Nate sighed, and then worked his way outside to the cabana, where Edward had gone just moments before. After dancing with Denny, Savannah made her way back to the table where Chloe waited patiently.

  “Hey, baby, are you okay?”

  “Yes, Mommy,” said Chloe.

  “Hey, Savannah.” Edward’s sister Whitney approached. Whitney wore her natural hair in an up-style. She wore a short evening gown that boasted her curvy figure and long lean legs. Her brown skin was like her mother’s, and her smile lit up the darkest of rooms. Though she was an elementary school teacher, she looked nothing like the stereotype. “How are you?”

  “Whitney!” Savannah exclaimed. “Great seeing you.”

  “You, too. They told me you were here.” Whitney smiled. “You look good.”

  “So do you.”

  “My flight just arrived about an hour ago. So I am exhausted! Jet lag is a beast,” Whitney said. “Is this Chloe?”

  “Yes.”

  “Hello, beautiful,” she said to Chloe.

  “Hello.”

  “Isn’t she gorgeous?” Jasmine asked as she walked up. “Come on, sweetie. Let’s go get punch and cake. Lots of sugar!”

  “This is what she does,” said Whitney. “She fills your children up with sugar and then sends them home with you. I can’t wait until she has kids of her own.”

  “Well, you might not have to wait long for that.” Jasmine gently touched her stomach.

  Whitney stared at her sister with an open mouth. “What are you saying, Jasmine Talbot?”

  “Yeah, what are you saying?” Savannah asked.

  “Well...” She smiled shyly. “I don’t know for sure, but I’m late.”

  “What?”

  “I have an appointment on Monday. And I’ll know for sure then.”

  Whitney grabbed her sister in a strong embrace. “I’m so excited.”

  Savannah glanced across the room at Jasmine’s husband, Jackson. He looked at the trio speculatively. Wondered what the excitement was about.

  “Shh. Jackson doesn’t know yet. Nobody knows, except for you two. And I want to keep it that way until I know for sure.”

  “My lips are sealed,” said Whitney.

  They both looked at Savannah.

  “Mine, too.”

  “No revealing anything to Edward,” Jasmine warned.

&n
bsp; Savannah made the motion of zipping her lips. “Mum’s the word.”

  “Where is my big brother anyway?” Whitney asked.

  “I think I saw him at the bar,” said Jasmine. “Chloe and I are going for cake and punch. Chloe, my lady.”

  Chloe hopped up from her chair, locked arms with Jasmine and followed her across the room.

  “I should go say hello to my parents first,” Whitney said. She gave Savannah a hug. “It was great seeing you.”

  “You, too.”

  Savannah made her way out to the cabana bar to find Edward. Stood next to him. “Care if I join you?” she asked.

  He motioned for her to take a seat next to his. “Where’s Chloe?”

  “With Jazzy, of course.”

  “Those two are joined at the hip. They’ve grown quite fond of each other. Can’t wait until Jazzy has kids of her own.” He chuckled.

  Savannah laughed at the thought, too.

  “What are you drinking?” Edward asked.

  “Sky juice.”

  Edward gave her a sideways look. “Sky juice, huh?”

  “It’s grown on me.”

  “You and my mother,” said Edward. “Deuce, give the lady a sky juice.”

  Deuce nodded, and Savannah followed Edward’s gaze to the mounted television.

  “Soccer.” she smiled.

  She fondly remembered Edward insisting that their local cable company carry the Bahamian channels so that he could watch soccer on the weekends. They never did, and he never recovered.

  “I have to come to the Bahamas to see it.”

  “I remember the letter that you wrote to the corporate offices of Time Warner that year.”

  “I wanted them to know that I was serious!” Edward laughed. “American men have Monday Night Football. There are more Bahamian men in Florida than people realize. Why couldn’t we have a soccer channel?”

  “You’re great at fighting for causes. You should’ve taken it further.”

  “It was a lost cause.” He sipped on his Bahamian beer. “Just like a lot of other causes that I fight for.”

  She felt there was an underlying message in his statement, but she chose to ignore it. Deuce slid the glass of gin with coconut water in front of her, and she took a long sip.

  “Mmm. That’s good,” she said.

  “Edward Talbot!” The voice was loud. Whitney shook her hips as she headed their way. “Hey, big brother.”

  Edward smiled and shook his head. “Can you be any louder?”

  “Are you hungover?” Whitney smiled.

  “No, I’m not hungover.” Edward stood and gave his sister a strong hug.

  “I see that you and Savannah are hanging out again. What does that mean?” She sang the last few words.

  “It means that she’s here...enjoying the Bahamas. And our parents’ anniversary party.”

  “With you.” Whitney smiled. “Are we reconciling?”

  “No.” Savannah and Edward said it at the same time.

  “Okay. We’ll see,” said Whitney. “My brother’s a good man, Savannah. You should give him a second chance. And just so you know, Edward hasn’t brought any other woman here to the Bahamas...since you two...you, know. Split. I don’t think he’s even had any...”

  “Enough!” Edward exclaimed.

  Savannah and Whitney giggled.

  “Okay, I’m leaving,” said Whitney. “But you think about what I said, Savannah Talbot. Is your name still Talbot? Or did you go back to your maiden name?”

  “Goodbye, Whitney,” said Edward.

  “I’m leaving.” Whitney laughed. “But I need a drink first. Deuce, give me a glass of Merlot, please. And put it on my brother’s tab.”

  Deuce nodded and poured Whitney a glass of wine. She grabbed it and bid the couple a good night, walked back inside.

  “I’m ready to head over to Governor’s Harbour,” Edward said. “Do you need to pack a bag or something for you and Chloe?”

  “Yes, I’ll go up and do that now.” Savannah slid from her bar stool. She grabbed her drink. “I’ll be back shortly.”

  “I’ll be right here waiting.”

  She sashayed toward the Grand Room, hoped that Edward was watching her walk away. She turned around to see. He was.

  Chapter 14

  Edward decided that he wouldn’t spend the last night of his trip stewing over the text message he had run across on Savannah’s phone. He’d let it go, just for the night. He’d address it with her the moment they were back in Florida, though. But for the night, he would enjoy his family.

  George Symonette’s voice filled the house, along with the smell of johnnycakes and fresh seafood. Bottles of wine were lined up on the coffee table, and Edward’s mother and father danced in the middle of the floor. Edward removed his Calvin Klein loafers from his feet and leaned back on the sofa. Chloe hopped onto his lap. He sipped on a Bahamian beer and watched as his family enjoyed their time together.

  “Where’s Samson and his guitar?” Beverly Talbot asked. “I want him to play something.”

  “Yes, that would be great,” said Jackson.

  “Jackson should sing,” Edward insisted.

  “Alyson, go tell your hubby that Mom wants a selection,” said Whitney.

  “Go tell him yourself.” Alyson waved her hand in the air and leaned back in her father’s easy chair. “He’s out on the front porch sulking. We had a fight in the cab on the way over.”

  Whitney huffed and headed for the porch. “I don’t know how he puts up with you.”

  “I don’t know how I put up with him.” Alyson tossed her hair. “And I don’t know where he’s sleeping tonight, because he’s certainly not sleeping with me.”

  “Sweetheart, he has to sleep with you. We’re limited on space. And since Edward and Savannah can’t sleep together, we need all the room we can get.” Beverly Talbot smiled at Savannah and Edward. “Sorry, babies, but we’re Baptists, and you’re not married anymore, and we can’t have you sleeping in the same bed. Now, if you decide to remarry...”

  “Mother, it’s okay,” Edward interjected as every eye in the house landed on him. “We’re good.”

  Savannah smiled sweetly, embarrassment written on her face.

  They were both relieved when Samson came into the house with his guitar.

  “What would you like to hear, Mother?” he asked.

  “Oh, I don’t know. Something sweet. A love song,” said Beverly.

  “Something a little more contemporary than George Symonette,” Nate suggested. “No offense, Mother and Pop.”

  “None taken,” said Paul John.

  Beverly rolled her eyes at her son. “Fine. Something a little more contemporary.”

  “Something by Beres Hammond,” Jasmine suggested.

  “These American boys don’t know anything about Beres,” Nate teased.

  Jackson turned to Samson. “Let’s show them what these American boys do know.”

  Samson sat on the edge of the sofa. His acoustic guitar rested on his leg, and his fingertips began to fret the strings. He began to play the tune of Beres Hammond’s “I Feel Good.” Jackson started to sing the lyrics. Samson closed his eyes. He didn’t see that Alyson’s demeanor had changed, and she was hanging on to every word of the song. When he opened his eyes, he smiled at her. Edward bobbed his head and looked over at Savannah, who was consumed by the lyrics as well. He gave her a warm smile.

  The duo began to play “Stranger in Town.”

  “Isn’t that your song, Edward?” Nate asked. “Yours and Savannah’s?”

  “Yes! Get up, you two, and dance!” Whitney insisted.

  “Not right now,” said Edward.

  “As good a time as any,” Jasmine said.<
br />
  “Oh, come on.” Beverly Talbot grabbed Chloe in her arms and pulled her son up from the sofa.

  Edward and Savannah began to dance. She moved her hips to the music.

  “She moves like she’s Bahamian!” Jasmine said. “Work those hips, girl.”

  Jasmine and Denny danced together, and Whitney pulled Alyson up from her chair and the pair danced. Alyson’s bad attitude slowly dissipated as the music resonated through her body. She smiled at her husband as he played his guitar and as Jackson sang the lyrics of the Bahamian love song.

  It was these times that Edward loved and missed most about home. Times like this gave him life—wrongs were righted during these visits home. He gave Savannah a slow spin and then pulled her close. He looked into her eyes and wanted to kiss her lips at that moment. Had to remember where he was. He didn’t realize that the entire family was watching him as he watched her.

  * * *

  After the women were settled in their beds, the men sat on the front porch, a bottle of Bahamian beer in each one’s hand as they told lies and laughed about the good things and complained about the bad. Caribbean music played lightly on an old radio. The moon was brightly situated in the corner of the dark sky, stars played hide-and-seek, and the smell of the ocean swept along with the wind every time it decided to blow.

  “Sir, you and Mrs. Talbot have been married for longer than I’ve been on this earth,” said Samson. “How did you do it?”

  “Forget it,” Nate said. “You’re married to Alyson. There’s no hope for you, boy.”

  Laughter filled the porch.

  “It’s not easy, son, but there is hope,” Paul John said. “You put up with things that you don’t always want to put up with. You love them when they’re unlovable. You smile when you’re hurting inside. You agree when you don’t want to. You make it work.”

  “And you don’t bail when things get tough,” Nate said, and then glanced at Edward.

  “Are you speaking to me?” Edward asked.

  “Just in general,” Nate said. “When you have a good woman, you don’t bail on her.”

  “Why don’t you just say it, Nate? Whatever it is that you need to say. Obviously you have something you need to get off your chest,” said Edward.