by Krista Lakes
Cassie leaned her head against his shoulder and let out a happy sigh. For a moment, Wyatt let himself pretend this might continue, and that she didn't have her airplane ticket poking out the back of her suitcase. That she wasn't leaving in a day.
But, that would mean telling her who he was and that he'd been lying to her this whole time. Well, not really lying, but definitely omitting some significant facts. He was a billionaire. He wasn't just some beach bum with nothing to offer. He could give her a good life here.
“I still have a few hours before the wedding,” Cassie said softly, her eyes still out on the water.
“I don't know if I can go again,” he answered honestly. He was used to a lot of sex, but this much amazing sex was something he had to pace himself with. He wasn't eighteen and unstoppable anymore.
She chuckled, the sound low and sexy. “I was thinking we could go lay out by the water. I haven't just laid on the beach yet, and it sounds like a wonderful calm thing to do before a wedding.”
He smiled softly. “That sounds like the perfect thing to do today.”
He didn't tell her that he wasn't supposed to do that. That he could potentially get fired for lounging on the beach with her. He didn't tell her because he wanted to lay on the beach with her. He wanted to have a quiet moment of just the two of them enjoying the beauty of the Caribbean.
They both stood up and brushed the crumbs from the bed before heading out. She put on her adorable bikini, and for a moment he nearly forgot about the beach. He wasn't sure how her swimsuit that covered everything and wasn't skimpy turned him on so thoroughly. It was like her- cute and yet somehow sexy at the same time without meaning to be. The fact that she wasn't trying only made her hotter.
He took her to the row of lounge chairs settled in the soft white sand. Seagulls cried above in the pale blue sky as the ocean waves made a melody with iridescent blue below. They selected two lounge chairs that stood side by side. She scooted hers so that they touched and became one giant lounger rather than two separate ones.
She lay on his right, their hands entwined as they looked out at the blue water. For a moment in time, Wyatt's world was perfect. For the first time in years, he felt perfectly content. There was no need for words or action. Just laying on the beach with Cassie made his heart feel full to bursting. This was something he could do every day and never tire of.
He had come to the Caribbean to live the life he'd never had. He'd worked from the moment he could hold a calculator, and never got to experience any of the wild teenage or college years he'd heard so many stories about. He'd always been working and building his business.
He'd come here to have his heydays. To feel what it was like to take time off and just play- to have no responsibilities or deadlines. He enjoyed bartending because it was simple, yet took skill. He liked talking with people and learning their stories. No one ever opened up to Billionaire Businessman Wyatt the way they did when Bartender Wyatt poured them a drink.
Yet, something had still been missing from his life. He'd had more women than he could ever want, both as a billionaire and a bartender, yet they didn't matter. They didn't make him feel the way he did when he was with Cassie.
Cassie was the missing piece, he realized. She was what was missing all this time. It wasn't the job or the responsibilities; it wasn't the island or the relaxation, it was the friend and companion that he needed. He could see himself still working if he could have come home to Cassie every night.
But she was leaving in less than twenty-four hours. This would all be just a memory in a day's time.
“Well, well, well. Look what we have here.”
Beside him, Wyatt felt Cassie stiffen.
“Lorna. How nice to see you,” Cassie said rigidly, rising to a more seated position.
Lorna stood in a teeny tiny bikini with just a sheer scarf tied around her waist. The bikini was more string than fabric. It was meant to be sexy, but somehow Wyatt found Cassie's swimsuit far more appealing.
“I see you're still slumming it with the help,” Lorna said, pointedly ignoring Wyatt.
“It's actually none of your business,” Cassie told her.
“I thought there was a rule that the staff wasn't to be with guests,” Lorna said, tapping a finger against her chin. “At least that's what James said.”
Wyatt's blood ran cold for a moment. If James heard about this, Wyatt would be fired in an instant. While he didn't need the job for money, he liked working here. He didn't want to have to find a new resort and start over again. Hiding his identity and getting hired was tedious and something he didn't want to have to do again. Short of finding out his true identity, this was the worst thing that could happen.
Lorna saw him react and she smiled. She knew his weakness now.
“It really is none of your business,” Cassie repeated. “Keep walking, and I'll see you at the wedding.”
Cassie lay back down, pushing her sunglasses firmly onto her face, and forcing herself to relax. Wyatt could feel the tension radiating off of her, but he tried to do the same.
Lorna scoffed, flipping her hair over her shoulder and walking away. She looked back once and smiled when she saw Wyatt looking. It made Wyatt blush and tense at the same time. She kept walking, but she swung her hips so much Wyatt was half afraid she was going to pop her femurs out of her hip sockets.
The woman had an attractive body, but that was where the beauty ended. Lorna was walking trouble and strife.
“You okay?” Wyatt asked Cassie once Lorna was out of earshot.
Cassie glanced down the beach and sighed. “Yeah.”
“She sure knows how to kill the mood,” Wyatt remarked.
Cassie chuckled and then turned and smiled at him. “I should probably go get ready anyway. It's just about time.”
He leaned over and surprised her with a kiss.
When he pulled back, her eyes fluttered, and she drew her lower lip into her mouth. “Wow.”
It was a nice boost to his ego that he could do that to her with just a kiss.
She looked up at him, her big brown eyes swallowing him whole. “You're still coming to the wedding, right? As my guest?”
He nodded. “Of course.”
She grinned. “Okay. I'll see you in two hours.”
She got up and started walking away before turning to look at him one last time. She grinned and winked, then sashayed her hips like Lorna had done. Only, Cassie made it look sexy as hell.
He watched her go until he couldn't see her anymore. Then he sighed and left the chair. It wasn't a good idea for him to just lounge on company property. He walked along the beach, thinking about what he should wear to the wedding.
He was hesitating on what to wear. Lorna had noticed his designer shirt. He didn't want a repeat of that or really anything that would out him as someone more than a simple man. Unfortunately, that meant he needed to purchase a new shirt. He only had work shirts, beach shirts, and expensive shirts.
The gift shop near the beach sold clothing. He knew there were shirts that the resort sold to tourists who had forgotten or lost their clothing. It had bright Hawaiian style prints as well as subdued linen shirts appropriate for a wedding. He'd sent many a guest with lost luggage to buy their shirts there.
Now it was his turn. He wandered into the shop and began to browse. He skipped the colorful prints and decided on a simple light gray linen shirt. It would look nice with a pair of his work slacks. He would fit in with the wedding crowd.
“Do you want to use your employee discount?” the shop clerk asked him. He looked up in surprise and realized that it was Bree, the store manager. Someone must have called in sick for her to have to work the checkout line. She usually worked in an office near the lobby bar.
“Um, sure.” He fumbled with his wallet, wondering when the last time he'd ever used an employee discount was. He could have bought the whole store without even hurting one of his bank accounts, but it didn't hurt to keep up appearances.
“
Have a nice day,” Bree said, handing him a bag. She looked behind him, and her face soured. “Look out. Here comes the boss.”
Wyatt looked over in time to see James heading for the front door. Wyatt didn't particularly feel like talking with the man today, so he ducked behind a row of sunscreen. He couldn't make it to the door from here, but at least he wouldn't be seen.
“Bree, did you do as I asked?” James sauntered through the door, his nose held high and proud.
“Yes. I fired her,” Bree replied. “I still don't think that--”
“It is against the rules,” James cut her off. “We can't have sales clerks ending up in guest's rooms. It's unseemly.”
“It was her first offense,” Bree told him, crossing her arms angrily.
“It sends a message,” James replied. “I will not have hotel staff interacting inappropriately with guests. If I see it happening, the offender will be fired. There are no exceptions.”
Bree sighed. Technically, James was her supervisor, so she had to do as he said. It was evident that she didn't like firing her employee, though.
“I'm glad to hear you did what was necessary,” James said. He glanced around and sniffed. “You really should organize better in here.”
And then he turned on his heel and walked back out into the tropical sunshine.
“I wish I could fire that man,” Bree mumbled as Wyatt came out from behind the sunscreen aisle.
“What happened?” Wyatt asked as they both watched James' figure slowly disappear.
Bree sighed. “One of my cashiers. She got a little friendly with a guest and ended up in his room. They were both single, consenting adults. James found out about it and made me fire her.”
Wyatt's mouth dried. He'd done more than just end up in a guest's room, and he was about to go to a guest's wedding.
But it was for Cassie. He wasn't about to back out now. He'd take the risk because making Cassie happy was worth it. She wanted him there, so he was going to be there, even if it cost him his favorite job.
“You fired her?” Wyatt repeated.
Bree shrugged. “James has a stick up his butt about looking proper,” she explained. “He's overzealous, but there's not much I can do about it.”
Wyatt nodded slowly.
He had a feeling this wedding was going to cost him his job, but he was willing to risk it. Sure, he could ask James for permission, but he had a feeling it would be better to beg for forgiveness than ask permission in this situation. There was a chance he could keep his job if he begged. Asking would only get him fired faster.
“You okay?” Bree asked. “You look like you swallowed something bitter.”
Wyatt forced a smile. “I'm fine. Just thinking about changing things up.”
Bree nodded and smiled as if she understood.
Wyatt thanked her and left, his thoughts on Cassie. He was actually rather excited to see her. Now that he'd made the decision, he wasn't nervous about it anymore. It was just a job. But Cassie- she was something worth keeping.
Now, it was a game to see if he could dodge his boss long enough to keep his job.
Chapter Sixteen
Cassie
Cassie didn't see Wyatt as she walked down the aisle. She looked for him, but she couldn't find him amid the crowd. Her heart sunk. What if he hadn't come? What if he'd changed his mind? What if his boss had found out and he was fired? What if he hadn't attended in order to save his job?
She couldn't blame him if he did stay away, but she still felt a little sick. She'd been looking forward to spending time with him.
She turned at the end of the aisle and split from Chad to take her position lining the altar. That's when she saw him.
Wyatt sat toward the back, but he was looking at her like she was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen. The small, impressed smile as he looked her over made her feel more stunning than any compliment ever could. He didn't even look away when the bride walked past him.
He was looking only at her.
Her heart sped to a million miles per hour, and her smile turned into something that glowed. He had come. He was risking his job to be with her. He was here.
The ceremony went by in a blur. Janessa was stunning in her white gown, and Kyle looked like the happiest man in the world. Katy cried tears of joy. Cassie had a hard time paying attention at times since she kept sneaking glances at Wyatt in the audience. It wasn't that the wedding wasn't beautiful or love-filled, it was just that he filled her thoughts.
For a moment, Cassie let herself imagine her and Wyatt up on this beach altar. Would Wyatt smile like Kyle did when he slid the ring onto a finger? Would she cry tears of joy like Janessa did reading her vows?
It was a beautiful fantasy. Even though it felt right to imagine him with her, Cassie knew that it was just pretend. He was a bartender on a Caribbean island. She managed a hotel in Arizona. They were two very different worlds that just happened to collide for a short time. The collision was beautiful, but it couldn't last.
She blinked away surprise tears at the thought of leaving. She was going to miss Wyatt terribly when she left tomorrow. Cassie dabbed at her eyes, hoping that everyone would just think she was happy for her friend. This had been the best week of her life, and after tonight, she'd have to go back to her old life.
She decided that instead of being bitter about it ending, she was going to enjoy every moment. She couldn't stop time, but she could focus on remembering every second of it. She glanced over at Wyatt again, determined to have the best night ever.
The wedding ended, and everyone cheered. Chad held Cassie's arm as they walked back down the sandy aisle and headed toward the picture area for photos. Cassie wished she could just head straight to the reception area to see Wyatt, but her duties were to the bride and her new husband.
Cassie and the other bridesmaids dutifully took the wedding photos that would soon grace Janessa and Kyle's walls. Lorna managed to mostly behave herself, and only pushed to the front of the picture once or twice. Cassie genuinely smiled for her friend but was glad when the photographer released the rest of the wedding party to the reception while she finished taking portraits of just the happy couple.
Once free, Cassie and the other bridesmaids hurried to the reception area. Fairy lights twinkled in the eaves of the gazebo over the tables and chairs. Guests mingled on the outdoor dance floor and walked through the garden area as they waited for dinner to be served. A small band played soft jazz.
Cassie chewed on her lower lip as she looked for Wyatt. She wanted to find him before Lorna did. Her eyes darted around the guests, looking for his tall frame and easy smile.
“You look beautiful,” a deep voice said from her side. She grinned as she turned to face him.
He wore his work slacks and a nice button up shirt. He could make a brown paper bag look good, so the dressy shirt looked terrific on him. He'd brushed his hair back with just a touch of gel, and he had shaved. He looked movie-star handsome.
“Thank you,” she told him. “You look pretty nice yourself.”
He grinned in return, his eyes soft and sparkling.
“I found our table,” he told her, offering his arm. She took it with a smile as he led her to a large table adjacent to the bride and groom's center seats.
Two glasses of wine sat waiting for them. She grinned at Wyatt and together they sat, sipping on the wine. Cassie glanced around the reception, taking it all in. Everything was outdoors in the Caribbean evening breeze. Fairy lights lent a magical glow to every structure, and beautiful people chatted and laughed as they waited for the bride and groom to arrive.
Lorna glared at Cassie. The slim woman sat at the opposite table and luckily nowhere near Cassie and Wyatt. Cassie sent a silent thank you to Janessa for the seating arrangement. The look on Lorna's face was sour as she crossed her arms. Cassie tried not to worry about it. She wasn't about to let Lorna ruin her evening.
She turned to face Wyatt, pushing Lorna from her mind.
“C
heers,” she said, lifting her glass to his.
“Cheers,” he repeated, clinking their glasses. “This is a very nice wedding.”
“I think so too,” Cassie agreed. She smiled softly at him.“Thank you for coming.”
“I wouldn't miss it,” he replied taking a sip of his wine. He took a deep breath and relaxed into his chair as he looked out at the wedding guests. “Do you have any more trips planned when you get home?”
Cassie wondered if it was a sneaky way of asking if she could come back to the island. “Unfortunately, this used up most of my time off,” she said, only a little bitterness creeping into her voice. “I don't get very many vacation days.”
Wyatt nodded, smiling softly as he looked over at her. “That's too bad.”
“What about you?” she asked, setting her glass down. “Any big plans coming up?”
He looked out at the crowd for a moment before answering. “I might be changing islands,” he said after a moment. “I feel a change in the wind.”
“Where will you go?” The idea of him not being here scared her. Even though she had no real way of getting back to the island, she liked the idea that she could find him here again. She had this fantasy in her mind that she would come back, and he would run across the beach to meet her, sweeping her up in his arms. She knew it wasn't really a possibility, but the loss of the fantasy hurt.
Wyatt shrugged. “There are a few islands nearby that have resorts I can work at,” he said. “I have contacts in other places. Maybe I'll teach surfing or help run a booze cruise.”
She tried to smile like he'd made a funny joke, but she had a hard time. She knew it didn't really matter. She was going home tomorrow. He wasn't a part of her life. Yet, the idea of him not being here or knowing where he was, bothered her greatly.
Before she could say anything, the bride and groom arrived. Janessa and Kyle were greeted to applause and whistles as they made their way to the head table under the gazebo. Then, there were speeches, food, and toasts.
Cassie sat next to Wyatt and just enjoyed his presence. They didn't need to speak. Just having him near her was a balm to her soul. They clapped and cheered at the various speeches and toasts, raising their glasses with smiles.
