The couple stormed down the beach, their bodies turning slightly inward as they spoke what appeared to be increasingly heated words the closer they came to where Gage and Alythia dined.
Zeke and Jeena had yet to notice their friends eating a few yards away, but their voices were well within range. Alythia bowed her head, feeling the sting of the words Zeke directed at her friend as though they were being aimed at her.
“Such a joke,” he spat. “Do you know how stupid you sound talking about healthcare plans for a bunch of hookers?”
Jeena was tough to the bone. Alythia knew she’d refuse to cower or cry regardless of how deep the words cut.
“At least it’s something I built! I don’t have to sponge money off of a more successful friend to scratch out a little piece of something like that pitiful brokerage firm of yours! How many gasps of air has it taken this week?”
The lovers’ spat went back and forth. Aly, though reluctant to do so, finally sent a look over to Gage. He appeared as beleaguered as she felt.
Gage shook his head. I’m sorry, he mouthed.
Aly’s smile almost turned into a grin. It seemed that the phrase had become a staple of their brief acquaintance. Jeena’s and Zeke’s voices raised another octave then.
“I was so wrong about you!”
“Then we’re a perfect mixed match!” Zeke threw up his hands. “’Cause I was exactly right about you! Guess a person really is what they do for a living. Least I didn’t have to pay for it!”
Whatever toughness Jeena claimed dissolved. Then she was running, stumbling along the stretch of beach away from Zeke, Gage and Alythia.
“Jeena!” Aly scrambled from the table to call out to her friend. It was no good. She looked to Gage.
“I should go see about her.” She sent a regretful look toward her half-finished meal.
“Go.” Gage waved a hand.
Aly hesitated another few seconds, then backed away from the table and turned to race down the shore, kicking up tufts of sand as she went after Jeena. She’d bypassed Zeke, who was extending his hands as though he was about to plead his case.
Zeke let his hands fall to his sides in an “oh well” gesture. He turned, giving a start as though he’d just realized Gage was there.
“G!” Easy and lighthearted at once, Zeke gave an approving smile at the table. He took a seat in the chair Aly had just vacated.
“Looks good!” he raved. Sniffing at a glass, he realized it was water and tossed the liquid to the sand in order to refill the glass with the wine left chilling in the bucket near the table.
Defeated, Gage resumed his seat and rested his forehead in his palm.
* * *
“Thanks for letting me ramble on so late or so early in the morning. What time is it there?”
Marianne yawned through the phone line. “Too early to try and get my eyes to focus in on a clock.”
Aly smiled. “Thanks anyway.”
“What you pay me for, hon.”
“Not exactly.” Aly rubbed at her temple. “I don’t pay you to listen to stupid tales of drama featuring me and my friends.”
“Well...if it affects your well-being, it is my business, so it’s all good.”
“Get some rest, Mari. You’ve earned it. We’ll talk later.”
“Much later. Can you at least try and take one day for yourself?”
“I’ll try.” Aly hoped that wouldn’t turn out to be a lie and ended the call. She set aside the phone and returned her attention to the view from where she sat in one of the cushioned bamboo chairs along the balcony.
The suite was dark. She hadn’t bothered with the lights after returning from Jeena’s room. It hadn’t been easy, but she’d finally gotten her friend settled enough to get some sleep. Too wired to sleep herself, Aly had decided to call Marianne, to whom she had been venting for the past forty-five minutes.
Aly checked her mobile for the time and figured she’d best try to get a little sleep herself if she hoped to appear halfway among the land of the living when she met with Clive Weeks later that day.
On perfect cue the doorbell rang. No more. Alythia dropped her face in her palms to muffle the sound.
The bell was followed by knocking and Aly heard her name on Gage’s voice. After a second’s hesitation she left the chair and padded through the living area. Her forced smile was an appropriate match to his concerned one when she opened the door.
“You okay?” he asked.
She could only nod, a gesture that ceased when Gage moved closer to rest against the doorframe.
“Did you eat?” His gaze seemed to intensify tenfold as he peered down at her.
Aly laughed abruptly, looking bewildered, as though she couldn’t imagine where she found strength to fuel the reaction.
“I managed to convince Jeena to have some soup. I took some for myself but it was a far cry from the dinner I didn’t get to finish.”
“How’s Jeena?”
Aly could only shake her head.
Gage provided a weak smile. “I could always apologize.”
She backed away from the door as though he’d told her he had a plague. “Could we please find another phrase to put in place of ‘I apologize’ or ‘I’m sorry’?”
Gage lifted his thumb to the corner of his mouth and appeared to be debating. “How about ‘That’s too bad’?”
“Sold!” She was surprised by the honest ripple of laughter she gave.
“I think my suggestion should come with a peace offering.”
Aly saw the straps of her sandals dangling from his index and middle fingers. “Hmph, good thing I didn’t get more comfortable.”
“Mmm-hmm.” Whatever interest Gage had in talking seemed to have vanished, for he suddenly pushed off the doorframe and advanced.
Alythia had opened her mouth to thank him for returning her shoes but he never gave her the chance. For the second time that day, her body reacted to the delicious sensation of his mouth on hers. Again he began with a tentative exploration that quickly blossomed into a sensuous entwining of their tongues.
Gage withdrew from the kiss to outline the curve of her cheek, brush the sensitive skin behind her ear and trail his nose along her neck.
“Gage?”
“Mmm...”
“Do you kiss all women you know so soon after you meet them?”
He nipped at her earlobe. “Would you believe that I’ve forgotten every other woman I’ve ever met?”
“No,” she gasped, still enraptured by his touch and feeling the vibration of laughter through his body.
“You really know how to hurt a man.”
“It’s not out of habit.” Aly felt her sandals bumping her bottom when he switched them to his other hand while he held her. “So what do I have to do to get my shoes back?” she murmured against his jaw, wanting his mouth on hers.
Something in Alythia’s question, however, cooled Gage’s ardor, for he rested his forehead on her shoulder as if he was suddenly drained. He straightened.
“You don’t have to do one thing.” He glanced around the living area, grimacing slightly, as though he was displeased with himself.
“I’ll...um...I’ll let you get some rest.” He retreated to the door.
“Okay....” Her agreement was at odds with the questions and confusion clouding her mind. Had she said—done—something wrong?
Gage offered the sandals and she hoped her efforts to mask disappointment were good enough. Aly took special care not to let her fingers touch his hands when she took the shoes.
“Thanks.” She didn’t bother to show him to the door and he left without a look back.
* * *
“Is this only day two of our fantastic Caribbean getaway?” Jeena moaned, holding her head in her hands while she and Alythia took in the beach view from Jeena’s balcony later that morning.
They had ordered breakfast for Orchid and Myrna, who were on the way to join them. Aly enjoyed the breeze and shade while relaxing in one of
the lounge chairs surrounding the squat glass table that carried their breakfast fixings—fruit, biscuits, cheeses, turkey bacon and sausage, and a bowl of breakfast potatoes. Matching tea-and coffeepots were the table’s centerpieces.
“You should eat,” Alythia ordered from beneath the wide brim of a floppy straw hat. She risked taking a peek at Jeena, smiling when the woman pouted for a moment longer, then delved into the filling meal.
Aly took on greeting responsibilities when she heard the faint chime of the doorbell. She found the last two members of her crew on the other side.
“Long time no see,” Myrna drawled, tugging Aly into a hug.
Orchid had no time for such pleasantries. She’d already pushed her way past Aly and Myrna and was headed to the balcony.
“What the hell did you say to Zeke?” she demanded of Jeena.
“Dammit.” Alythia rolled her eyes toward Myrna. “I just got Jeen to calm down. This is the last thing they need to be talking about.”
“You can forget that,” Myrna countered while they speed-walked to the balcony. “Zeke was bitchin’ to Jay about it pretty much all night. Ork’s not in much of a ‘benefit of the doubt’ frame of mind.”
Aly stumbled to a halt. “How do you know that?”
“Oh, Dane and I stopped by their room before we went back to ours.”
Alythia delivered a quick prayer that the falling-out sure to occur when Dane relieved Myrna of the notion that they were a couple would wait until after things settled with Zeke and Jeena.
Or Orchid and Jeena, as it were. Aly arrived out on the balcony to find her oldest friends squared off in the middle of a shouting match.
“How can you take that jackass’s side over mine!”
“Because I’ve heard it all before! You always get upset when somebody tells you the truth about what you do for a living!”
“Orchid—”
“Passing yourself off like some kind of businesswoman.” Orchid ignored Alythia’s attempt to interrupt. “All you are is a pimp.”
Myrna gasped.
“Bitch,” Jeena spat. “I’d rather be a pimp than a slut. At least a hooker gets paid.”
Orchid winced as though the words were a physical blow. “What are you tryin’ to say?”
“You never were very bright, were you?” Jeena sneered, folding her arms over the red robe she’d thrown on over matching pjs. “Then again, you never had to be, with Aly in your corner.”
“Don’t even try it! Y’all are not drawin’ me into this!”
The women didn’t seem to notice Aly bolting from the balcony.
“Aly to make you seem smarter than you are, your family’s money to make you seem more respectable that you could ever hope to be and a parade of idiots in your bed to solidify your slut status!” Jeena wailed. The wind whipped her short hair about her face and added to the wild aura she cast.
Impossibly, the voice volume continued to heighten. In the living room, Aly could only hope the women wouldn’t come to blows. As she was on her way out, Myrna would indeed ruin her manicure trying to break them apart.
“You’re crazy, Alythia Marie Duffy, if you think you’re leavin’ me here with them fools,” Myrna hissed when she raced out into the living room behind Aly.
“It’s okay, Mur, I already called Jay to come get his fiancée.” Alythia patted a side pocket on her rust-colored shirtdress to ensure her room key was inside. “You only have to keep the peace for a few more minutes. If you get nervous, call Dane.”
“And where are you going?” Myrna propped her hands, fingers-down, on her hips.
“I have a meeting.” Alythia sighed in relief, not seeing the need to hide her motives any longer.
Myrna straightened, her cool, lovely gaze narrowing with discovery. “That’s why you came on the trip, isn’t it?”
“And it’s a good thing, too. At least I’ll get something out of it besides catfights.”
Myrna glanced in the general direction of the balcony. “Don’t you even care enough to help me calm them down?”
“Please, Mur, Jeena will see what an idiot she was to have sex with that horse’s ass thirty minutes after she met him.”
Myrna blinked. “Is that what you think about me and Dane?”
“Sweetie, you and Dane are not a couple.” Aly’s tone was full of sympathy but she wouldn’t apologize for her honesty.
“You’re wrong. We’ve been talking and we plan to keep on seeing each other when we get back.”
“I’m sure you will. He’s not ready to close off a new sex pipeline so fast.”
“You take that back!”
“Ah, Myrna, do you hear how childish you sound?” Aly clasped her hands in a pleading gesture against the front of her dress. “Y’all have been ridiculous with these guys.”
“Well, Aly, maybe me and Jeen want to find what Orchid has! Unlike you, maybe we don’t want to wind up lonely with only a bank account to show for a long life.”
“Mur.” Alythia’s expression was one of sudden suspicion. “You don’t think Dane’s gonna marry you?” She could see in Myrna’s eyes that she held on to just that hope. “Sweetie, you and Jeen are just something they wanted to play with for a while.”
Myrna was shaking her head. “Do you ever get sick of being so upstanding? So high, mighty and right all the damn time?”
“I’m sorry you think that, Mur. I don’t mean to hurt you. It’s just so clear what’s happening. I’m just sorry you guys can’t see it.”
“Go to your meeting, Aly.” Myrna smirked. “Business is the only thing you’ll probably ever get off on anyway.”
Alythia watched Myrna head back into the argument on the balcony. Her fingers ached with the need to pull the woman back, hug her and try to work it out. She resisted, for the first time feeling that a permanent line was being marked between her and her dearest friends.
Chapter 7
The Weeks’ Resort Outlet Lane had all the quaint charm of a Mediterranean village. The cobblestone streets and stone structures seemed right at home amid the tropical loveliness of Anegada. Partially hidden by the lush palm tree leaves, the area gave its visitors the revitalizing feel of stepping into a world long past.
Alythia judged from the number of resort guests she saw inside and along the streets of the shopping village that such an effect was most probably quite successful in opening wallets and purses.
“I could see it,” she announced to no one in particular, and heard soft chuckling afterward. Turning, she saw that Clive Weeks was the culprit.
“May I take your reaction to mean that we’ll be doing business?” she asked.
“Only if your business manager agrees.”
“She’s fired if she doesn’t.”
They shared a laugh.
“She’ll agree based on the location alone.” Aly sobered a little and took closer inventory of her surroundings. “That way she can delude herself into believing her workaholic client is at least a little distracted from business.”
Clive pretended to be crestfallen. “So the place would only distract you a little?”
“Well, I wouldn’t want her to think I was completely falling down on the job.” Her shrug was as playful as her smile.
“Well, you already know what my business manager thinks.” Clive folded his arms over the pale blue shirt he wore and relaxed against the framing along the glass doors at the back of the proposed retail space for the boutique.
Alythia continued to walk in slow circles, assessing the area and conjuring promotional ideas. “And what about you? Do you really believe a clothing store would fare well here?”
“Are you kidding? I’m surprised I didn’t have the idea sooner.”
“Well, maybe the right idea hadn’t come along yet.”
“Yeah...” Clive’s playfully crestfallen look returned. “Now I’ve got the right idea—and a woman after my own heart, if only my friend hadn’t met you first.”
Alythia took no offense to the teasing g
ibe, though a curious element crept over her expression. “Your interest in the boutique now wouldn’t all be part of a favor you’re doing for that friend, would it?”
Clive moved from the doorframe, a wave of seriousness having claimed him, as well. “The idea appealed to me so much I wasn’t sure whether to trust it, so I asked Gage for his opinion.” His guileless grin returned. “I’m happy he agreed, otherwise I’d have had to go against one of the best minds in business.”
“You won’t be sorry about this, Clive.”
“I know.” He rubbed his hands together and looked around the snug, sunny space. “I think I’ll give you time alone to get acclimated to the place.”
“Sounds good.” She took both his hands and shook them as enthusiastically as he did hers. “Thanks, Clive.”
He left her with a wink and a nod. Alythia waited for him to disappear down an overgrown side road and, after making sure there were no other prying eyes, broke into a carefree dance around the space. She stopped short then, recalling her talk with Myrna earlier that morning. Business wasn’t all she could get off on, but it would have to do for a while longer.
Though smaller than her other two locations, the Anegada space boasted large picture windows to the front and rear of the main floor. There would be perfect natural lighting during the day and a lovely view of twinkling lights from the resort at night. Alythia made a note to return one evening to see the effect for herself.
Beyond the double glass doors, the rear exit opened out into a small courtyard and offered a striking view of the beach. Dropping down to one of the lounges, Alythia envisioned daily fashion shows in the space to entice patrons inside for a closer look.
Aly pressed her head back into the navy-and-gray lounge cushions and commanded her brain to take a break. Her business was pretty much concluded, then, and it was time for a retreat from all things dramatic and confusing.
Gage Vincent came to mind then. Confusing? No, he was pretty much laying it all on the line about what he wanted. Wasn’t he? She thought about his behavior when he’d come to check on her after Jeena’s battle with Zeke. Maybe he’d decided to call it quits before anything really got started between the two of them. She certainly couldn’t blame him in light of the drama he had been witness to courtesy of her friends.
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