by Rye Hart
At least, he did when he wasn’t forgetting about me because of work.
“I don’t know about you, but I’m taking a dip in the ocean. I need it after that long ass flight,” Morgan said.
“Sure. Sounds good,” “I said mindlessly.
“Earth to Brooke. You there?”
“I answered you, didn’t I?”
“Oh, no. Put that laptop down. You’re taking a swim first.”
“Why?” I asked. “The whole point of this is for me to write.”
“No. The whole point of this is for you to get out and have fun as a single woman. The writing is just a byproduct of you releasing your pain. Now come on. Get in your damn bathing suit and swim with me,” she said.
With a massive groan, I set my laptop down and changed into my bathing suit. We could dive right into the ocean from the balcony of our hut, and I had to admit the water was refreshing. It felt like I was being baptized in the healing crystal waters of heaven. I swam underneath and felt the waves sloshing against my body, pushing me towards a side of the beach that was covered with foliage.
But when I came up for air and wiped the salted water from my eyes, I couldn’t breathe.
No. It couldn’t be.
Those sea blue eyes turned towards me and locked onto my form. His dark brown hair was soaking wet, which dripped water down his chiseled jawline. His shoulders were broad, wrapped in thick pads of muscle that trickled down his chest. His abs were dripping with the crystal waters of the island and the lines of his strength disappeared behind red and white swim trucks.
I felt everything fade into the background.
I felt my heart slamming against my chest.
Those stoic eyes. That pulsing chest. Those dexterous fingers.
Hello fuck.
Kevin Spencer is on Nassau Island with me.
“You good?” Morgan asked.
But I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t even collect my thoughts as he started walking closer. I could tell he was just as taken aback. Just as surprised to see me.
And his eyes.
The way they traveled my body.
“Brooke?” he asked. “Is that you?”
“Oh. Holy. Shit,” Morgan said.
I watched him swim over as my eyes drifted behind him. To the two kids coming down a slide together off the side of the vacation home. Perched on its own private beach and facing the beautiful horizon the sun set underneath every night. They were having a grand time. Falling into the water and splashing around.
But his voice ripped me from my trance.
“What are you doing here?” he asked.
“On vacation,” I said as my eyes raked up his body. “You?”
“Spring break with my kids.”
“You have kids,” I said.
“I do. Twins.”
“How old are they?”
“Four,” he said.
“They’re beautiful. Must get it from their mother.”
“Hardly.”
I furrowed my brow as my eyes took the children in for a second time. Kevin had kids? It was almost unfathomable. He hadn’t struck me as the kind of man to want kids. Or even tolerate kids. But there they were, giggling and laughing and splashing around on the shoreline.
The man who had broken my heart all those years ago had kids.
“I hate to cut this short,” Kevin said, “but looking at those kids, I better get them out of the sun. They played hard yesterday and are still recuperating from burns they received then.”
“Kids will be kids,” I said.
“Don’t I know it,” he said with a grin.
Oh. That beautiful grin.
I felt my knees growing weak.
“Well, you go tend to those beautiful children of yours. It was…”
It was what?
“It was wonderful seeing you again, Kevin.”
“You too, Brooke. Really.”
Our eyes connected one last time before he turned his back and walked towards the shoreline. His rippling muscles undulated with every move he made as his tanned skin stretched over his strength. I let out the breath I was holding before I looked around for Morgan. For someone who had just run into my ex with me, she had been eerily quiet.
But then I saw her back on the balcony of our hut.
With some guy.
Of course.
I dove back underneath the waves. My body was rolling beneath the water, kicking me away from the massive vacation home that sat on the edge of the beach. I tried to rebaptize myself. I tried to right my brain for the writing I wanted to do until the sun went down. But the only thing swirling around in my head was him.
Kevin.
And the water droplets that slid down the chiseled divots of his abs.
“Hey, Brooke! This is Caine. He’s a native of the island.”
“That’s great, Morgan.”
“He wants to show us around later,” she said.
“That’s great, Morgan.”
“Do you want to come with us? You could bring that hottie you just met with you.”
“I don’t think I’ll be taking Kevin anywhere,” I said.
I watched Morgan’s eyes widen before she turned her back to the guy on the porch.
“Excuse me. What?”
“Finish up what you’re doing and we’ll talk,” I said.
“Oh, we’re done.”
“At least see the man out. Don’t be a bitch,” I said.
“Oh shit. You’re not joking. Okay, give me five minutes.”
I flopped down onto the edge of my bed as Morgan ushered Caine—or whoever he was—out the front door. I raked my hand through my hair as memories bombarded my mind. Our nights of passion. The first time we met. The first time we kissed.
The first time he stood me up.
“Okay,” Morgan said as she shut the door. “Kevin Kevin? The guy from college?”
“That’s the one.”
“The guy who always stood you up?” she asked. “The one with the hot friend from that bar.”
“It’s always you and the hot ‘other guy’,” I said.
“Sorry, sorry,” she said. “But… Owen was hot.”
“I hate you.”
“And Kevin’s still a pretty good-looking guy.”
“What the hell does that have to do with anything? And how do you know? You were over here flirting with some piece of island ass. You didn’t even know who I was talking to.”
“I didn’t need to know who it was to know he was hot,” she said with a grin.
“Of course not.”
“Come on. Tall. Brown hair. Blue eyes. Chiseled abs with water dripping down his strong chest. Swollen arms and veins protruding from his—”
“Okay, okay. I get it. Kevin’s a good-looking man.”
“And exactly your type,” she said. “I don’t know how you kept from jumping him then and there. That’s some serious self-restraint.”
“I can’t believe he’s here,” I said.
“Want me to punch him in the dick?”
“First you wanted me to talk about how hot he apparently still is, and now you want to punch him in the dick for me?”
“All I’m saying is if you decide not to fuck him someone here had better.”
“Well, you’re not fucking him.”
“Ah, so we’re possessive. Still in love with the older man who broke your heart?” she asked.
“I was never in love with him.”
“Keep on telling yourself that. But we all knew you were. What happened with you two, anyway?” she asked. “You know, besides never making you a priority and always forgetting about your dates?”
“That isn’t enough?” I asked.
“Of course it is.”
“He was too focused on that business of his. I spent more time in restaurants waiting for him to show up than anything else. I waited for phone calls that never came and dressed up for dates he never picked me up for. That man’s head was in the clouds and
he had eyes for nothing but the company he was building. He didn’t give a shit about me, unless he wanted to get laid,” I said.
“Yep. Punching him in the dick, it is!” Morgan said.
“Why did I have to run into him here?”
“Look, we’re here to get your mind off one scumbag ex, so we’ll just make it two. We’ll look hot every day in case we pass by Mr. Old Well-endowed Guy again, and we can make him drool and regret not treating you better.”
“That doesn’t make me feel any better,” I said. “I don’t know that I want to see him again.”
“Yet you swam over to him the second you recognized him,” she said.
“Well he looked right at me, I couldn’t very well be rude. He has kids now so that means he has a baby mother. I think it’s best I keep my distance,” I rationalized.
“Uh huh. Anyway, my plan is awesome so we’re going with it. So we gotta make sure we’re constantly on our A-game. Which means hiking up those tits of yours every chance we get.”
Morgan grabbed my tits and shoved them up, making me laugh.
“Get your hands off me,” I said, giggling.
“If we do our job right, you’ll be saying that to what’s-his-face, too,” Morgan said.
“You’re relentless.”
“And you need to get your mind off the last dickhead you dated. Man you really know how to pick ‘em’.”
I rolled my eyes at her, but I couldn’t necessarily disagree. “Yeah, I guess my bullshit detector needs some repairs,” I said.
“At least we can agree on that. I still don’t know what you saw in that last guy.”
“I don’t know either, honestly. I’m just glad I’m out of it.”
“Come on. I’m starving and the shops are still open,” she said. “Food and shopping always does me a world of good.”
The two of us took a small cab to the other side of the island. We ended up in a quaint little hut that sold the most amazing island food I’d ever tasted. They had whole fish roasted in leaves and all sorts of butters and spices, with fresh-made breads, and crispy vegetables. I ate until I couldn't move before Morgan and I decided to walk around and do some shopping.
Out of the blue, I heard a familiar voice that shot electricity down my spine.
“Brooke?”
I looked over at Morgan and her jaw dropped.
“No fucking way,” she said quietly. “Is that him?”
I whipped my head around and saw Kevin, walking down the road toward us with his children at his side.
Fatherhood suited him.
“Kevin,” I said. “What brings you to this side of the island?”
“Adventure,” the little boy said.
“That’s a very good reason to come,” I said with a smile.
“You’re pretty,” the little girl said.
“Not nearly as pretty as you,” I said.
“These are my kids. Daniel and Sydney,” Kevin said.
I fluttered my eyes up to his before I crouched down to their level.
“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Brooke.”
“Daddy says you’re a friend,” Sydney said.
I looked up at Kevin and found him staring down at me.
“Yes,” I said. “You could say that.”
“So can you come over and play?” Daniel asked.
Morgan snickered and I shot her a look.
“Well, I haven’t been invited,” I said.
“That can be arranged,” Kevin said.
I stood up as my eyes connected with his.
“We’ve already had dinner, but there’s coffee, wine, and cake back at my place,” Kevin said.
“Did someone say ‘wine’?” Morgan asked, coming to stand at my side.
“Kevin this is my best friend Morgan,” I said, formally introducing the two.
“I’ve heard a lot about you,” Morgan said, shaking his hand and giving him a once-over.
“I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not,” Kevin said.
“The jury’s still out.”
Kevin released Morgan’s hand with a smile that set my heart slamming in my chest.
“I deserved that,” he said.
“So?” Daniel asked.
“Will you come play?” Sydney asked.
“Yeah, we have a waterslide,” Daniel said, trying to sweeten the pot.
“Twins that finish each other’s thoughts. Can you get any darn cuter?” Morgan asked.
I looked down at the two kids holding Kevin’s hands as my mind swirled around. This wasn't a good idea. I wasn’t going to deny the obvious hold Kevin still had on me; how my body rose to attention when he was around and how his eyes still drew me in. I tried to pretend I didn’t remember how good his soft lips and strong hands had felt on my body. I closed my eyes and drew in a deep breath as everyone stared at me. But it was Morgan who jumped in.
“I’m down for wine and cake. We’ll be there,” she said.
“Yeah!” both kids squealed in unison.
“We’re the vacation house on the other side of the island,” he said.
“I remember,” Morgan said. “The one with the waterslide.”
“You can come down it too,” Daniel said.
The look on his adorable face was too much to say no to.
“Thank you for the invitation,” I said with a smile.
“But you have to wear floaties,” Sydney said.
“Then I’ll make sure to bring them,” I said, giggling.
“Would you guys like to come over around eight?” Kevin asked.
“But that’s bedtime,” Daniel said, pouting.
“We wanna play, too,” Sydney said, her bottom lip sticking out to match her brother’s.
“I’ll let you guys stay up late. How does that sound?” Kevin asked.
“Yeah!” his kids said.
“See you then,” Morgan said.
Then she dragged me away as I stumbled over my own two feet.
“What the hell was that?” I asked. “Cake and wine? Are you insane?”
“Look, if you want to make him drool then this is a prime opportunity,” Morgan said. “We’re gonna get dressed up, go eat his food and drink his alcohol, he can stare some more, then he can watch you walk away. Over and over again. Like you had to watch him. Besides, you’ve been complaining about writer’s block. Maybe a change of pace will help you finally get your creative juices going again.”
“But—” I started before Morgan cut me off. “Woman, I want wine and cake. And since you won’t stop gawking at him, I think I did you a favor,” she said.
“So, wait. Do you want me to stick it to him or do you want me to sleep with him?”
“Which gets me to wine faster?” she asked.
“If you want wine, I can buy us wine.”
“But he’s rich. Did you see that vacation house? He’s got the good wine.”
“You’re absurd, you know that?”
“And you still have some writing to do. Come on. We’ve got a couple of hours to burn,” she said.
We headed back across the island and walked down the pier to our private hut. It had taken all the money we had saved up while at college, but this trip was worth it. Not only was I going to rid myself of my cheating ex, but I was going to get my creative juices flowing again. I had a book I wanted to write and market to publishers, but I’d hit a mental block that wouldn’t let up ever since my ex and I had started having relationship issues.
I sat down at the small desk in my room that overlooked the ocean. I was hoping this vacation would prove to inspire me after my broken heart and ugly break up. I stared at the blinking cursor in front of me, hoping that the words would flow from my fingers. There was a time in college where I could write an entire manuscript in under a month. Where I could sit down at my laptop with just coffee and my glasses, whittling away until an entire world was in front of me.
But even the beautiful sea surging in front of me didn’t inspire me past the fir
st line of text.
Her fate was determined the moment she arrived on the island.
I scoffed and shook my head before I closed my laptop.
I got up from my chair and began to get ready for the evening. I rifled through my clothes, trying to find something decent. Unfortunately, I hadn’t packed for this trip to socialize. I’d packed a bag that would allow me to do two things: swim and write.
Which meant I had nothing to wear that would impress anyone, let alone a guy like Kevin.
I settled on a pair of faded jeans and a flowing blouse. My shoulder-length brown hair was tousled with the salt of the sea and the humidity pouring in from the horizon. I splashed on a bit of waterproof makeup so it wouldn’t run with the dampness of the Caribbean night, then I met Morgan outside.
“Really? Jeans and a shirt?”
“I don’t have anything else,” I said. “I didn’t pack to impress anyone.”
“At least the jeans are tight around your ass. Come on. Let’s go,” she said.
Then my best friend dragged me down to the end of the pier and we started walking all the way over to the private beach with the decadent vacation home that sat on the shore.
Yep. It looked like all that work he put in during our relationship had paid off.
Too bad he couldn’t spare some of that attention on us.
CHAPTER 3
KEVIN
It had been just a few days back that I found myself wishing to see Brooke again, and here I was preparing to host her and her friend for the evening.
Don’t screw this up.
DON’T screw this up.
The five-star chef I had hired to whip us up some drinks and desserts was rushing around my kitchen. The kids were bouncing off the walls, excited for a visit from ‘Daddy’s first friend.’ I rolled my eyes at them as they ran around, trying to keep them from bothering the chef.
My nerves had me on edge waiting for the girls to come by.
I wanted the evening to go perfectly. They were both on vacation and my kids were jumping down their throats. I had the ability to entertain them, so I figured some quality drinks and desserts would go a long way in trying to smooth things over between Brooke and I.
We didn’t have the best past, but I’d give anything for a chance to prove what she meant to me even after all these years.
No one compared to Brook. She was one of a kind. A diamond. My kids could even see it.