Brock rubbed at a headache he hadn’t had ten minutes ago. Addressing his brothers he asked, “So, can I expect that both of you will refuse to talk to me too?”
“Hell no,” Cody said. “But you can expect we might beat the crap out of your ungrateful ass. Lauren has been working on this surprise for at least six months. Doing research of various resorts. Checking flights. Reading reviews. Think about that all day. Then come home and pack your damn bags for a vacation that you will go on and you will enjoy.”
George crossed his arms. “Ditto.”
Brock studied Cody. When had his little brother become his own man? And when had George grown up?
“We’ll talk about it tonight,” Brock growled.
Cody threw on his heavy coat, a pair of thick gloves and headed out the kitchen door with George right on his boot heels.
As the Wade family drama had played out, Hank Brown had watched, drank three cups of coffee and added nothing to the conversation.
Brock refilled his coffee mug and sat again. “You knew about this.” It wasn’t a question as much as an accusation.
Hank nodded, not cowed at all by Brock being his boss. After all, Hank and his wife had been a part of Ace in the Hole Ranch since before George was born.
“And yet you did nothing to stop this ridiculous idea?”
Hank crossed his arms on the table and leaned on them. “Nothing ridiculous about it. They’re right. You need a vacation.”
“Bullshit. I need to be here to make sure the ranch doesn’t fail. I have to make sure they have a home. I have bills to pay. Obligations. You know that.”
“What I know is that fourteen years ago your parents died and you had to grow up really fast. I know that you haven’t left your brothers or sister for even a day since. I know that you gave up college, a dating life, and all of your twenties to make sure those kids had clothes, food and a roof over their heads. You haven’t had a girlfriend in so long that Lauren actually wondered if you were gay.”
“She did not,” Brock said with a chuckle, but that quickly faded when Hank didn’t laugh along.
“Yeah, she did. Course I told her she watched too much television but then I realized that she probably hadn’t ever seen you go on what you call dates and what I call bar hook–ups.”
Brock flinched. “Doesn’t matter. I’ll get away one day. Lauren will graduate from high school this year and then–”
“And then you’ll find some other reason why you can’t leave.” Hank reached out and squeezed Brock’s shoulder. “The Missus and I talked about this and we agree with the kids. Cody is old enough to have more responsibilities around here than you give him. George too. Lauren is maturing so fast now that it won’t be long before she’ll be wanting to be more involved. You have to let them grow up. You can’t keep doing everything for them.”
Brock scraped his fingers through his hair. “I don’t know, Hank. A vacation? In the Caribbean?”
Hank laughed. “You make it sound like you’re being sent to Alcatraz.” He grew serious. “You’ll break their hearts if you don’t go. They want to do something for you. Look at it this way, they’re telling you how much they appreciate all you’ve done to keep this family together. Don’t take that away from them.”
With that Hank stood and slapped his hat back on. “It’s your decision, of course. But I have to warn you. I might have to join the boys in kicking your ass if you don’t go.” He slipped his thick coat back on. “I’ll see you at the barn.”
When Brock finally had the kitchen to himself, he pulled the papers back out to read everything. A vacation. Damnedest thing. Other than a regional rodeo or stock sale, Brock had never been on anything like a vacation.
He shook his head. Wearing shorts in December. Didn’t seem natural to him.
Well, damn. It wasn’t as if he had any choice. He was going on a vacation he didn’t want to a place he’d never heard of.
Chapter Three,
Two days later, Natalie found a seat at gate C1 at Memphis International Airport, a coffee in one hand and her digital reader in the other. However, as a diehard people–watcher, she was finding it almost impossible to read when there were so many fascinating people in the area. Such as the knockout blonde dressed in a pair of painted–on white shorts and Christmas shirt with reindeer buttons straining to stay in their holes. Natalie covertly studied the… um… colorful shirt. It was either filled with store–bought breasts or the woman was smuggling a couple of bowling balls. That must be some strong thread holding those buttons on.
The woman’s blonde hair lay in waves along her shoulder blades. Her face...well, her face could have been on the cover of Cosmopolitan or Elle. Beautiful. Tan. Make–up perfect. Eyelashes dark and curled. Lips red and full. Natalie decided on the spot she’d never stand next to this woman. Beside her she’d look like a pine tree in the middle of a forest of blooming dogwoods.
The could–have–been–a–model woman was sitting next to a short, stubby man with straight black hair tied with a brown leather band at the nape of his neck. He wore blue denim shorts and a yellow polo. His brown sandals looked cushy and comfortable and battered from extensive wear. He wasn’t what Natalie would call handsome, but his face had interesting angles and curves. The entire time he was talking with Ms. Blonde–Ample–Breasts his stare never reached above her collarbone. She didn’t seem to notice or care where his gaze landed and laughed at everything he said.
Natalie had just forced her eyes off the odd couple and onto her reader when a pair of scuffed cowboy boots passed within her eyesight. Her gaze walked its way up a pair of faded jeans over muscular thighs to a tight ass. It was only as he walked into the men’s restroom that she realized she’d twisted in her seat to keep admiring his backside. The old saying save a horse, ride a cowboy flashed into her mind. It’d been years since she’d ridden a horse, never mind a cowboy. Wouldn’t it be nice to find someone like him at the Sand Castle Resort?
Being in first class–the only kind of airline ticket her mother knew how to buy–got Natalie first dibs on boarding. There were pros and cons to first class.
Pro…early boarding. Con…other passengers looking at you as they passed.
Pro…alcohol available before departing. Con…the dadgum other passengers looking longingly at your drink.
But then the biggest pro of all walked onto the plane. Pro…seeing the hunky cowboy from the concourse walking past as he found his seat farther back in the plane. There was no con to that one.
Of course, she reminded herself, him being on the plane did not mean they were headed to the same final destination, since this plane stopped in San Juan and she had to change planes, but a girl could dream.
She lost track of her hunky cowboy in the Puerto Rico airport. The layover between flights was only thirty minutes, just enough time to hit the ladies’ room and race for the gate. The flight was loading when she finally found the right gate. She raced onto the plane and dropped into her assigned seat, 1A. The small prop plane was full at twenty passengers and she didn’t expect to know anyone else on there. She was wrong.
She did recognize someone. The woman wearing the button–busting Christmas shirt was seated next to her. As soon as the plane was airborne, the woman turned toward her.
“Hi. I’m Amanda Cummings. Everybody calls me Mandy.”
“Natalie Diamond.”
“Nice to meet you. Have you been to Sand Castle before?”
Natalie shook her head. “No. Never heard of it until my parents gave me this trip.”
“You’re going to love it. I noticed you sitting alone at the airport. You meeting someone there?”
Natalie shook her head again.
Mandy laughed quietly. “I am and is he going to be surprised.”
“He doesn’t know you’re on the way?”
“Nope. But he’ll be thrilled.”
“For some reason, I guess I thought you were with the man you were talking to in Memphis.”
; “Oh, you mean Jeff? Nah. Just someone to chat with while I waited.”
“So tell me more about the resort. What I just have to do or see while I’m there.”
For the remainder of the thirty–minute flight, Mandy clued Natalie in on the places to find the hottest guys, the best mixed drinks and freshest salads. It was, Mandy assured her, the perfect place to find romance.
While Natalie nodded in the appropriate places, she’d been planning on getting some sun and rest and going home ready for the tax season, telling herself that now was not the right time to start a new romance.
Now might not be the right time for a relationship but it was the right time to leave rigid, boring Accountant Natalie in Memphis and let the fun, anything–goes Natalie out to play.
She wouldn’t know a soul at the resort and she’d bet a million bucks she’d never see any of these people again. Go and have fun. Flirt. Drink. And if she saw a good looking guy who really hit her hot button, then she’d let her libido lead the way.
Even as she had the thought, the memory of that tight–assed cowboy crossed her mind. Now, that was what she was talking about. Too bad she hadn’t seen him board this plane.
Yep. She was letting Fun Natalie out to play. Heavens knows she hadn’t seen hide nor hair of Fun Natalie since college.
The plane landed with a smooth bump. Natalie followed Mandy down the stairs, since the woman appeared to be familiar with the routine. After collecting her checked bag from the plane’s belly, she hopped into the back seat of an electric car that’d been built to look like a stretch Hummer. The car could carry six passengers, including the driver.
Their driver was an attractive man who appeared to be close to Natalie in age. Late twenties, sun–kissed blond hair, with jade–green eyes, he had heartbreaker written all over him. He wore a pair of khaki shorts, a polo shirt embroidered with Sand Castle Resort and a picture of a castle. His name tag read “Thomas.”
“Welcome the Sand Castle Resort,” Thomas said, his bright–white smile lighting up his face. “I see some familiar faces and some new ones. Don’t hesitate to find me if you have any questions or need something while you’re here.”
A couple of younger girls in front of Natalie giggled and nudged each other. She chuckled, thinking of all the needs those two girls might have for Thomas.
After about a ten–minute ride, the electric car pulled to a stop in front of a plaza that showcased a large three–tiered water fountain. Around the edges of the fountain were all variety of blooming flowers and green ferns that swayed in the salty ocean breeze. Across the plaza stood the Sand Castle Resort. Buff–colored, with towers and a rounded roof, the building left the impression it had risen from the sand on which it sat. To enter the castle, visitors had to walk across a drawbridge.
When Natalie turned to exit the car, Thomas was there, holding out his hand to assist her out. She smiled and let him help her exit gracefully.
“Impressive,” she said, barely able to take her eyes off the building.
“That it is,” he agreed. “I don’t believe you’ve visited the Sand Castle before, have you?”
She tilted her head. “It is my first time. Do I have that much of a rube look?”
He chuckled. “No, but I never forget a beautiful woman. I would remember you.”
Flattered but not buying his line, she glanced at the castle and back to him. “Have you been here long?”
He shrugged. “About seven years, I guess. The resort was still new when I started.”
Noticing that the other passengers were headed through the door into the lobby and she was the last passenger still standing, she said her goodbyes and headed toward the building she was dying to explore. She made her way across the plaza, stopping for a moment to admire the incredible fountain and flora before starting across the bridge. True to its origin, the drawbridge spanned the castle moat. However, this castle needed no protection.
The moat was a moving whirl of water pushing laughing couples on inner tubes around the corner and out of sight. Obviously part of the water attractions at the resort.
Stepping inside, her gaze seemed to want to scan everywhere at once. A sweeping grand staircase dominated the lobby. Its brass and tropical woods gleamed under the lighting. A convenience store was tucked under one side of the staircase and, from what she could observe from the hall, was stocked with the usual forgotten items such as toothpaste, magazines, suntan supplies and a display of condoms that didn’t even begin to look subtle.
There was a line at the registration desk and she felt no driving force to stand in a line. Instead she wandered over to the clothing store, aptly named Sand and Surf. Inside were racks of brightly colored tropical shirts, shorts, bikinis, flip–flops and any other attire one might need while visiting.
A florescent orange bikini drew her. She lifted it from the rack.
“Lovely, isn’t it? We just got that in this morning.”
Natalie turned toward the sexy female voice. A beautiful woman with blonde hair cut into a shoulder–length bob smiled at her. The woman wore a white sleeveless blouse with The Sand Castle embroidered across her rather ample left breast. The shirt tied at the waist, where a pink and orange sarong circled a cut–in waist and wrapped around slender hips. On her feet, she wore matching sandals.
“It is. Very.” Natalie moved to the floor length mirror and held the suit up.
“It would look wonderful with your coloring. Is that your size? I’m afraid it’s the only one like that we have.”
Natalie checkeda the size. It was perfect. Even the price was reasonable, given the shop’s locale.
“My size.” She smiled at the woman in the mirror. “I think I have to have this.”
The woman returned the smile. “Excellent.” She turned to head toward the counter and stopped. She snapped her fingers. “I’ve got the perfect sarong to go with that. Hold on.”
She disappeared behind a curtain. Natalie could hear boxes and paper rattling and then the woman popped back out. “Here it is,” she said, holding up a sarong made of a floral print. The flowers in the design were a match to the suit. “I remembered ordering this and hoped it might be in today’s deliveries. I hadn’t even unpacked it.”
“I love it,” Natalie said. “You knew I’d buy it, didn’t you?”
The woman laughed. “How could you not?” She stepped behind the counter to ring up Natalie’s purchases. “Do you want to charge this to your room?”
“I haven’t even checked in yet,” Natalie said with a laugh. “This store just kind of sucked me in.” She pulled her VISA from her wallet and handed it over. “I’m loving this place,” she said. “Never seen anything like it.”
“Thank you. We work hard to make sure our guests have a good time. Do you know about the bonfire tonight? What am I saying? Of course you don’t. You haven’t checked in yet. Tonight we are having a little welcome party down at the Beachfront Bar. Bonfire. Live music. Dancing. Some light food. Discount drinks. You should come. It’d be a great way to start your vacation.”
“Sounds wonderful. I’ll make sure I do. What time do all the activities start?”
The woman handed Natalie her purchases in a sack. “Music starts at eight. Usually runs to about eleven or midnight. Kind of depends on the crowd.”
“Appreciate it.” Natalie started to leave then turned back. “I know there has to be a spa here. I really need a mani–pedi if I want to get this vacation off on the right foot.”
“Gotcha. Hold on and I’ll call.” She lifted a receiver from under the counter and pushed a couple of buttons. “Manuel. This is Scarlett. I’ve got…” She paused to look at the charge ticket. “Natalie Diamond checking in today. She really needs a mani–pedi.” Scarlett winked. “Let me ask her.” She covered the receiver with her palm. “In two hours?”
“Yes. Thank you.”
“Right. She’ll see you in two hours.”
By the time Natalie got back to the lobby to check in, there was
only one person in line. As she got into the line, the cowboy from the airport turned from the registration desk. Their gazes met. Natalie’s stomach did a little loop–de–loop as goose bumps popped up on her arms. He smiled, touched the brim of his hat, and walked out.
“Next.”
Natalie jerked her face forward and saw one of the desk clerks waving at her. She hurried over.
“Sorry. I got a little distracted.”
The clerk grinned. “Yes, I saw your distraction. Fine looking man.”
“I noticed.”
After all the paperwork was done, the clerk laid a resort map on the counter. “We are here,” she said, drawing a circle around the castle icon. “Your cabin is number twenty–three. It’s here.” She circled a small building with the number twenty–three on it. “It’s one of our more private cabanas. Very quiet. Very nice. You go through the doors there.” She pointed toward a different exit than the one Natalie had used to enter. She turned away, pulled a key off the board behind her and turned back. “You’ve been assigned car number ten. Once you get outside, look for a red cart that looks like a Hummer. It’ll have the number ten on the rear fender.”
“Wait. What? A car?”
The clerk smiled. “The only transportation on the island are electric cars and bikes. Your cabana comes with a car. I think you’ll enjoy it. Your luggage is already loaded. Someone there will explain how the car operates. Have a wonderful time.”
“Thank you,” Natalie muttered, still thrown off–guard by the red Hummer car comment. When she got outside, as the clerk had said, her luggage was loaded onto the back end of a small golf cart designed to look like a Hummer. Another handsome guy dressed in the Sand Castle Resort uniform hurried up to her.
“Ms. Diamond?”
“Yes.”
“I have your car ready to go. Are you familiar with how to charge these?”
Actually, she was. Her parents had one in Florida and she’d charged it.
“I am. Where is the charger located?”
Brought to His Knees-Tough Guys Laid Low By Love Page 32