From Tropical Fling to Forever

by Nina Singh

  It seemed uncharacteristic. She was the last woman he would have pegged as rigid or wooden in any sense.

  It took some time, but Tori eventually seemed to loosen up.

  And then he couldn’t think at all. All he could do was stare openmouthed like some caveman at the way she began to move. Tori lifted both arms above her head and began swaying her hips in such an alluring tease, he felt his mouth go dry. Her expression went from guarded and cautious to one of near abandon. The transformation made Clay want to grab the nearest icy drink and pour it over his head to cool himself down. He tried to shift his gaze and somehow shut his mouth as she continued to move to the music. His efforts were futile. His fingers itched to reach for her, to pull her tempting, swaying hips up against him and move with her until they found a rhythm all their own.

  Perhaps jumping in the pool would be more effective.

  Two songs later, someone above must have finally taken mercy on him. The next song was blessedly slow and he took her in his arms without thinking. His relief didn’t last long, for now they were slow dancing. The touch of her soft, supple body up tight against his length was just further sweet agony.

  He tried for conversation as a distraction.

  “For someone who hasn’t danced in a while, you sure don’t seem to be at a loss for moves.”

  Her gasp was sudden and audible. She pulled back to look at him. Her eyes had grown wide with something akin to near panic. “I’m so sorry.”

  He blinked in confusion. “What in the world are you apologizing for? That was meant as a compliment.”

  “It was?”

  How could she not see that?

  She released a heavy breath. “So, I didn’t embarrass you?”

  Embarrassed? That was the last thing he’d been feeling while watching her dance.

  In fact, he was certain he’d been the envy of most of the men present. Was he missing something?

  “You most definitely didn’t embarrass me. Not in any way, shape or form.”

  Her shoulders visibly slumped with relief. “I didn’t?”

  “Of course not. Why would you even think that?”

  She chewed her bottom lip. “I’ve been told once or twice in the past that I can be a bit...unreserved at times. Particularly on the dance floor.”

  Huh. The thought wouldn’t have crossed his mind. That would certainly explain why she hadn’t been dancing in a while.

  “Who in the world told you that?”

  She looked away again. “Someone I was close to once. Not too long ago.”

  He put two and two together. “Boyfriend?”

  She swallowed then nodded slowly. “An ex.”

  Silently, he pulled her back into his arms and began swaying with her once more.

  Said ex-boyfriend had certainly done a number on her. Clay’d never had such an overwhelming rush of ire toward a faceless man he’d never met.

  A frustrating jumble of emotions had his chest cramping. Rage that anyone had ever made her feel less in any way. Bafflement at the nameless former boyfriend who clearly hadn’t appreciated what he’d had. And something else he couldn’t quite name. Something he refused to acknowledge as protectiveness. Maybe the caveman description was more accurate than not.

  Tori’s eyes had grown shiny in moonlight. He lifted her chin, struggling for the right words. “I don’t see how someone like you could ever be embarrassing, Tori. And certainly not for something as simple as enjoying yourself on the dance floor.”

  Her answer was to nestle closer against him as they continued to dance.

  The next song was a faster, hip-hop beat but Clay didn’t bother to alter his tempo. Tori made no move to, either.

  What man in his right mind would want to stop her from doing what he’d just witnessed? Or want to try to tamp her joy or exuberance in any way?

  He wanted so badly to find out.

  * * *

  Tori didn’t know how much time had passed. Or how many romantically slow songs the DJ had even played up till now. She only knew it felt right to be held by Clay Ramos, to sway slowly in his arms. Time stood still when he held her. The rest of the world seemed to disappear.

  He made her feel safe, coveted. Even as she’d told him about the uncomfortable experience she’d had with her ex-boyfriend.

  But she didn’t want to think about Drew. She didn’t want to give him the power to mar this magical night any more than he already had. In fact, she regretted having mentioned him at all.

  Clearly, she’d overreacted. But Clay’s comment about her dancing had just sent a flood of insecurities gushing through her core and the old familiar serpent of self-doubt had slithered in. How many times had she been told that she was drawing too much attention? Doubt that Drew had been right all those times—that she could be too uninhibited at the wrong moment, that she was never serious enough—had resurfaced without warning. Clearly, Tori had more work to do rediscovering herself than she might have thought.

  Until he’d explained, it hadn’t even occurred to Tori that Clay may have been actually complimenting her on something she’d been told to rein in so often in the past.

  A woman could get used to such compliments.

  The now familiar aroma of Clay’s aftershave settled around her, an enticing combination of sandalwood and mint. She might have to come up with a recipe inspired by those scents when she got back to Boston.

  Not a good idea.

  Because she’d be back in Boston soon enough. And then what? All of the magic she was experiencing right now would be nothing but a dream of memory. On second thought, the best thing for her to do once she returned to real life would be to forget about Clay altogether. His scent, his compliments, the warmth of his skin.

  She’d be better off pretending he didn’t even exist. The last thing she needed was to be reminded of the way Clay had made her feel when he’d held her on a makeshift dance floor on a warm, breezy evening in the Bahamas one fairy-tale night.

  No, far better for her to remind herself that this had just been some fantasy she may very well have made up. Then she could move on with her life, pretend none of it had ever really happened.

  For the sake of her heart.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  TWO HOURS AFTER his first song, the DJ bade everyone a good night and started packing up. The activities over, the guests slowly started to disperse.

  Tori felt a pang of disappointment. She didn’t want the evening to end just yet. Though maybe it was a good thing. She hadn’t intended to reveal quite so much of herself to Clay. On the dance floor, no less. In her defense, she found him easy to confide in, someone who listened without judgment. Aside from her sister, whom she’d only just found, Tori couldn’t think of anyone else who had ever made her feel so understood when it came to her insecurities. Shawna was a dear friend, but often she could be too quick to try to offer advice or solutions when simply offering a shoulder to lean on would do.

  Slowly, Clay released his hold around her and reluctantly she stepped away.

  “Looks like the party’s over.” His voice sounded gravelly, forced. Would it be wishful thinking to imagine he wanted the night to continue, as well?

  Tori couldn’t remember a time she’d been so tempted by a man. And that said a lot about her previous relationship.

  Stop it.

  She really had no business comparing the two men. Clay and Drew didn’t have a thing in common. In fact, she couldn’t really compare Clay to anyone. He really was a special kind of man. Gentle, kind, a good listener. Not to mention his professional success and his devotion to his sisters.

  Almost too good to be true.

  And perhaps he was. Tori couldn’t discount the role that the sheer novelty of the situation might be playing on her perceptions overall. A tropical island, the romantic setting of a wedding, the way they kept being thrown
together... It all made for a heady combination.

  “Don’t forget your trophy.” He pointed to the wine bottle that sat at the nearest table. “I’ll walk you back to your room.”

  “You don’t need to bother.”

  “It’s not a bother, Tori. In fact, it would be my pleasure.”

  Spoken like a true gentleman. Something she’d forgotten existed. It would take some getting used to. “In that case, I’d appreciate the company.”

  She picked up the wine bottle on their way toward the residence area.

  “Do you mind if we walk along the beach? It’s such a beautiful night,” he asked, surprising her with the question.

  She couldn’t agree more. The moon had floated gradually higher above the clouds, casting a silvery glow on the white sand. In the distance, the water looked like an ocean of black ink. The horizon was the color of rich regal velvet. It would be a shame to head indoors now on such a night as this. Plus, she was all for prolonging the evening a little longer.

  When they reached the water, she took her sandals off and gripped them in her free hand. He reached for them immediately. “Here, I’ll carry those. You have enough of a load with that wine.”

  A gentleman in more ways than one. No wonder the ladies seemed to adore him, even the little ones. “Your niece is adorable, by the way,” she said, recalling the little girl and how thrilled she’d seemed at the attention of her uncle.

  His face visibly brightened at the mention of the little girl. “Thanks, it’s been good to see Lilly again. It’s been a while.”

  “Oh? Why’s that?”

  His smile faltered. “Adria and I have hit a bit of a rough patch due to a...disagreement, so to speak.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that. And at such a joyous time.”

  Tori wished she could soothe him somehow, just as he had managed to soothe her when she’d confided so much of herself as they’d danced.

  The sheer dismay in his voice tugged at her heart. Whatever had happened between him and his sister, it was affecting him on a deep level.

  He released a heavy sigh. “We’ll get past it. It’s just going to take some time.”

  A relatively high wave splashed at her shins, soaking the bottom of her dress. Tucking the bottle under her arm, she fashioned a makeshift knot of the wet fabric to keep the dampness off her skin. “Do you want to talk about it?” she asked, straightening.

  The muscles around his jaw grew taut. “It was just a disagreement about the guest list.” He paused then added, “More or less.”

  Tori had the impression it was probably more the former. “I thought you said you weren’t really involved in who was invited.”

  He shrugged. “I wasn’t, really. I just have a strong opinion about one guest in particular. I didn’t want her to have any part of this wedding celebration. Adria disagreed.” He sounded utterly perplexed by the fact.

  She wondered if he was speaking of an ex. Her guess would be that he’d dated someone his sister was friends with and it hadn’t ended well. Jealousy prickled along her skin at the thought. But the theory made sense, didn’t it? That would explain why he was here solo, why he’d bickered with his sister about one guest in particular.

  “Wouldn’t Gemma have the ultimate say?” she ventured. “It is her wedding, after all.”

  He shook his head. “She wanted nothing to do with the disagreement, and I can’t blame her for wanting to stay out of it. She ordered Adria and me to work it out between us.”

  That clearly hadn’t happened. Tori wondered if Adria had won out, if there was an ex-girlfriend of Clay’s on the island. Perhaps Tori had even walked by her without having a clue as to who she was or what she might have meant to him before they’d broken up. The jealousy she didn’t want to acknowledge ratcheted up several notches.

  She wasn’t going to ask him, refused to pry. Even though her curiosity was so strong, she could almost taste it in the back of her throat.

  Turned out she didn’t need to.

  Clay huffed out a long sigh. “Adria wanted someone to attend who I no longer want to have any interaction with in this lifetime.” Every muscle in Clay’s body seemed to vibrate with tension and anger. Whoever he was referring to had clearly hurt him deeply and in a way that had left a lasting mark.

  Tori held her breath, willing him to say more while at the same time afraid to hear there might be another woman on this very island who apparently had meant a great deal to him at some point in time.

  He waited a beat before finally adding, “Our mother.”

  Tori bit back her gasp of surprise. Her guess hadn’t even been close.

  All this time, Tori had just figured Clay and his sisters had lost their parents. After all, there hadn’t been a mother of the bride in attendance at any of the cake design or tasting visits for either Adria’s or Gemma’s wedding.

  “My mother has been estranged from all of us for several years now,” Clay explained, shedding some light on the mystery. “Adria suddenly wanted to see if she could change that. I don’t.”

  “I see.”

  A slight chill had settled in the breezy air, though the water at her feet still felt balmy and warm. “What about your father?” Tori asked.

  Clay’s shoulders visibly slumped. “We lost him years ago. I was twelve.”

  Judging by the way the mere mention of his father completely deflated him, Tori had no doubt the two had been close. She couldn’t imagine life without either of her parents. Even as an adult, the loss of her mother or father would completely shatter her. Her heart was breaking for the boy Clay must have been, trying to cope with so much grief at such a tender age. Just as he was about to enter the formative and angst-filled teen years. Heaven knew, her own teenage experience had held more drama than she would have cared for. But she’d had it easy compared to Clay and his sisters.

  Nothing could parallel the loss of a beloved parent. “I’m so sorry, Clay.”

  “Thank you for saying that.”

  “Life can be so cruel and unfair sometimes.”

  He nodded and looked off into the horizon. “In a way, we lost my mother then, too. She became a completely different woman.”

  “People can be withdrawn or unavailable while dealing with their own grief.” She recalled when her maternal grandmother had passed away. Her mom had rushed to Sicily to be by her side. Marissa had been a grief-stricken, unrecognizable version of herself upon her return and in the months that had followed.

  “It was more than that,” Clay continued. “Her entire personality changed.”

  Not for the better, it was clear. And from what she knew of Clay, Tori had no doubt he must have become the father figure in his younger sisters’ lives. For a twelve-year-old to carry such a burden was sad enough in itself. To know that the remaining parent had somehow let them down, as well, just shattered her heart.

  “As if my father was the sole source of the good within her.” He added, “And with her sudden unexpected transformation, she brought an immeasurable amount of ugliness into our lives. Everything turned dark.” He exhaled a ragged breath. “I just don’t see how Adria can forget any of that. Or pretend it never happened.”

  Tori’s curiosity was nearly palpable. What did he mean by brought ugliness and darkness into their lives? Had it been deliberate? If so, how could a mother do that to her children? But he clearly wasn’t going to elaborate any further. Not yet, anyway. And she wasn’t going to ask him to. He would tell her what he felt comfortable divulging.

  Without giving herself a chance to think, she laid her hand on his forearm and leaned into his side. His response was to wrap his arm around her shoulders.

  Wordlessly, they walked further along the beach. Tori searched for words of comfort, anything to tell him how much she felt for the child he must have been. But none came to mind. She couldn’t pretend to understand. Thou
gh she’d always felt that there was something in her life just out of range, her childhood had been happy and full of love. She wasn’t equipped with the words of understanding she so badly wanted to offer him.

  “That’s your building, isn’t it?” Clay asked after several moments, awkwardly dropping his arm from around her shoulders. The loss of warmth where his skin had touched hers was downright striking. Somehow, over the span of such a short time, she’d grown used to his touch. Heaven help her.

  Tori nodded and let him turn her away from the water, toward the path that led to the residences. Within moments, they were standing in front of the glass doors of her building.

  A battle warred within her chest. She wanted to learn more about him and the boy he had been, to ask him to come upstairs.

  But was asking him to join her the smart thing to do? He’d almost kissed her twice already. They’d never actually been alone in a room together. Was she prepared for how far things could potentially go when it was just the two of them within four walls?

  No matter what she was beginning to feel for Clay, she was here as a professional. He was technically her boss. She couldn’t act like some hormonal teenager unable to rein in her desires or her emotions.

  Not to mention, she was still a mess emotionally from the disastrous breakup with Drew. She wasn’t exactly sharply tuned to the opposite sex, completely unskilled in the laws of attraction and the methods of flirtation. There was a distinct possibility she was misreading things between them.

  It was all so wrong. But, somehow, nothing had ever felt more right.

  Some sympathetic spirit above must have taken pity on her to help her make a decision; a low rumble of thunder grumbled through the air. Almost immediately, fat raindrops began falling from the sky.

  Clay looked up at the layer of clouds that had appeared above. “Great timing, I’d say. We got you here just in time.”

  “No so much for you. Aren’t you on the other side of the resort?”