PARADISE COVE - 3 BOOK SET: PARADISE COVE SERIES

by Patrice Wilton

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Sean left the party a few minutes after Kayla and headed over to Smooth Sailing to see if Miguel and Raul were dressed and ready to go for dinner.

  When he arrived, they were both showered and in fresh clean shirts, their clean hair slicked back from their happy faces. TV was on and they were laughing over some sitcom.

  “Looking good,” he told them with an approving glance. “We want to make a good impression so they invite us again.” He put a hand on Raul’s shoulder. “Right?”

  “Uh-huh.” Raul had his bare feet up on the chair, and was hugging his knees. “Dad, after dinner can I come back and watch TV?”

  “Raul, you will leave when we all do. This is an honor to be invited into their home.”

  Sean chimed in. “As long as you eat your dinner and remember to tell them it was good, I’m sure they will be happy. Women like compliments.”

  “Okay.” He shrugged his thin shoulders, and what he understood was anybody’s guess.

  Sean went back to his own cottage and took another shower. The humidity this time of the year made it impossible not to sweat, and watching Kayla as she fraternized with her guests around the pool hadn’t kept him cool. He wanted her in his bed, in his life. She made him feel alive again, and even more surprising was that he wanted to live.

  Kayla and Paradise Cove had given him that. It was a precious gift. He wasn’t too stubborn or too ignorant not to be grateful and yet it created more problems than he was ready to deal with. Having a reason to live, he now had to find some purpose to his life. He’d always taken that for granted, being a surgeon had fulfilled every need. Now he wasn’t sure if he could give that his best work. It was a high risk job, and until he knew with certainty that his patients would get the best of him, he needed to stay the hell away.

  After a cool shower, he shaved, and dressed in linen slacks and an open-necked short sleeved shirt. He splashed a little aftershave on his cheeks, combed his hair and was set to go. The three of them walked the lantern-lit path to Passions, and Sean could tell the Miguel and his son were uncomfortable. They didn’t know what to expect.

  “Kayla is delighted that you’ve offered to paint her cabins,” he told Miguel. “Perhaps tomorrow the three of us can go to Home Goods so Kayla can select the colors. Then we could get started on the empty cabins.”

  “I’m glad. Working will be good. Also need to see Juanita. We can visit her, ‘si’? Then pick up the paint?”

  “Sure we can.”

  “Me too?” Raul asked. “I want to paint. I’m almost a man now, and want to work too.”

  Sean glanced at the boy, wondering how his father would answer. It would be torturous work in this summer heat, especially for a boy of his age. He couldn’t imagine any kids in this country eagerly offering to help, but they had lived a much different life.

  Miguel nodded and looked at his son with pride. “Yes, Raul. It’s good to be busy, and your mom needs rest. First we must prime the old shingles. There is much work to be done.”

  When Sean knocked on the door Anna welcomed them in, and the aroma coming from the kitchen was almost as enticing as the four women themselves.

  Anna was dressed in a long flowing skirt and a white cotton peasant blouse, while Brittany was still in her short shorts. Taylor wore cool, crisp white shorts and a lime green print tee. Kayla stole the show with that barely-there black and white number. The small transparent straps holding up the dress fascinated him. With two fingers slipped underneath, he could have her naked under a minute.

  “Something smells delicious,” Sean said, handing two bottles of wine to Anna, and a bouquet of flowers to Taylor. “You have three starving men to feed. I hope the snapper was ample.”

  “If it’s not,” she said, “I also have Caribbean rice and Korean ribs, and a spinach salad with strawberries and walnuts.”

  “You’re a gem, Taylor. Going to make some lucky guy happy one day.”

  “Soon, I hope.” Anna gave him a warm smile. “Why can’t my girls settle down and give me grandbabies? I was married in my early twenties, and had Kayla by the time I was Brittany’s age. Don’t regret it either.”

  “And look at you now.” He kissed her cheek. “You look more like a sister than their mother.”

  “Oh, get out of here,” Anna said with a twinkle in her eye. “Your flattery is wasted on me.”

  “That’s because you know it’s true.” He walked to the counter. “Can I open the bottles?” He needed something to do, anything to keep himself busy, and his hands off Kayla. She stood watching him, her eyes happy and smiling, her lips inviting.

  Anna took Raul’s hand. “Come see our goldfish,” she said, leading him to a half moon shaped bubbling aquarium that sat on a table in the living area. A dozen or so brightly colored fish darted about the coral in the bottom of the tank.

  “Wow.” Raul’s eyes were big and wide. “This is so cool.”

  “Cool?” Miguel frowned at his son. “What is cool?”

  Sean laughed. “It means nice. American slang. Must have picked it up from Jack.”

  “Cool,” Miguel tried it out for size. “It’s cool to be here. In your home. Gracias.”

  “It’s cool that you came,” Anna said with a tinkling laugh. She turned to Raul. “If you like, you could come over here every morning and feed the fish. It’s a nuisance, and we’d love your help if you’re interested.”

  “Me? Feed your fish? Oh, ‘si, si’! Can I do so now?”

  Anna laughed. “Sure. Come with me. I’ll show you where we keep the food, and how much to give them each day.”

  Kayla pushed away from the kitchen counter toward Miguel. “Thank you for fixing the screen in Harmony today. I understand you want to help paint our cabins.” She glanced at her sisters, then back at Miguel. “We talked about it, and agreed to accept your very kind offer.” She smiled and touched his elbow. “Thank you.”

  Miguel’s ruddy complexion darkened and he shuffled his feet. “You come with us tomorrow. We pick out paint, then I start. Happy to be working.”

  “That’s good then. We’d be very grateful.” She smiled. “We wanted to get the cabins done before the season gets started, so whatever you can get done before the baby is born will be a great help.”

  He nodded. “Si.’ I will work hard. Get them all done.”

  “Thank you, Miguel. Now, please, come sit at the table,” she said leading him to the end chair, a seat of honor. “Raul can sit next to you, on your right.” Her eyes met Sean’s again. “I’m sitting next to Raul, and you are welcome to sit anywhere you wish.”

  Sean took the chair facing her, so he could gaze at her all night. If he couldn’t touch her, his eyes could feast.

  * * *

  Kayla felt Sean’s foot against hers, and just that simple touch made her heart light. She laughed brightly at her sister’s jokes, and drew Miguel into the conversation whenever she could. Seeing how Raul watched her eat, she took a moment to show him which fork to use, and how to properly use his knife. He beamed with pleasure at the attention the women showed him, and ate every morsel on his plate.

  “Por favor,” he said holding up his plate. “May I have more?”

  With a pleased smile, Taylor plopped more ribs on his plate, then offered the dish to Miguel. “Finish them off. I don’t want any leftovers,” she said, serving the last ounce of fish onto Sean’s clean plate.

  “The snapper was delicious,” Kayla told her sister. “Everything was. Dibs on the salad,” she said reaching for the bowl.

  “Better hold off, we still have apple pie with ice cream.” Taylor got up from the table and took the warm pie out of the oven. “I’ll make coffee and give this time to cool.”

  Sean stood up also, and began collecting plates. Kayla rinsed and stacked the dishes in the dishwasher, and when the counter was clear, Taylor sliced the pie, Brittany added the ice cream, and Kayla served them up.

  Miguel and Raul were in heaven, devouring the wonde
rful dessert as if it might be their last meal. Kayla hated to think what would happen to them when they left this place, and compensated by offering them seconds.

  Raul’s eyes widened with delight as he attacked another big slice, but Miguel rubbed his tummy and pronounced that he couldn’t eat another thing.

  Kayla pushed her half eaten pie aside, and agreed with Miguel. “Delicious, Taylor. You outdid yourself.” She smiled across the table at Sean. “This has been a very pleasant dinner party—we might have to do this again.”

  “I have a better idea,” Sean said, wiping his mouth after his last bite. “I will take you all out to dinner this week. Perhaps we could make a reservation someplace nice. I mean cool.” He grinned. “What do you say?”

  Brittany rolled her eyes. “Like where? There isn’t a lot to choose from around here.”

  “That’s not true,” Taylor replied. “Since I want to open a restaurant, I’ve gone around and checked out the competition. There’s some great places all within five miles. We’ve just been too busy to find them. So, thank you, Sean. I think it’s a wonderful idea.”

  “Really? Any with nightlife?” Brittany asked with a yawn. “I’m bored to tears, and miss all my friends in Philly.”

  “I haven’t been out except for lunch, but I did talk to the waitresses,” Taylor said, “and they assured me the places are hopping at night.”

  “Sean? You interested in checking it out?” Brittany asked.

  Taylor looked at her two sisters. “Why don’t the three of you go now and discover it for yourselves? Mom and I can teach Miguel and Raul how to play gin rummy.”

  Sean glanced at Kayla. “I would enjoy that. What do you say?”

  Heart thumping, Kayla leaned her head back and looked into Sean’s eyes. “Let’s do it.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  The three of them piled into Sean’s Toyota Corolla, Brittany in the back seat, and drove down the street a half mile. They turned into a huge parking lot with a sign called Lorelei’s Cabana Bar and Marina. Thumping music greeted them once they stepped out of the car and Brittany was off and running.

  Sean swept an arm around Kayla’s waist as they followed her toward the lights, the sounds of music and laughter and people and life.

  “You’ve made Brit a very happy girl.” Kayla bumped shoulders with Sean. “I’m so glad you agreed to this. I’m afraid she’s getting island fever. Hanging with her mom and sisters every night is driving her batty.”

  “Where did you all live before coming here? Did you stay in New York after losing your father?”

  “I moved to Philly, Taylor stayed in New York, and Mom and Brit were in New Jersey, about a half hour from the city. Brittany was used to a lot of action. She’d take the train in on weekends with some of her friends. They’d go partying till the wee hours of the morning.” Kayla paused. “It may have been a mistake to ask her to come to the resort.”

  When they reached the outdoor patio area, Brittany waved them over. “Someone just left,” she said when they reached her, “and I managed to grab this table.” She glanced around, smiling brightly. “Wow. This place is packed. Who knew?”

  “We would have if we weren’t working our butts off every day. We’re usually all in bed by this time.” Kayla yawned. “I’m already sleepy.”

  “Hell. We just got here. I’m going to dance the night away.” Brittany grabbed Sean’s arm. “Come on, Sean. Dance with me.”

  He looked at Kayla who nodded in agreement. “Go. Have fun. I’ll hold the table and ask the waitress for a round of beers.”

  Sean allowed himself to be dragged off to the dance floor. He returned a short time later, and sank gratefully into a white plastic chair next to hers. “Brit’s in her element,” he said. “Must have been a dozen guys waiting to cut in.”

  “She loves to dance.” While they waited for their drinks to arrive, she told Sean about Brit’s childhood dream, and that she’d resorted to giving dance classes to children. “That’s half the reason she left New Jersey and came here. She hated doing what she was doing. Once things settle down, she’s going to find a dancing studio in Miami, get a dance partner and enter competitions.”

  “Looks like she might have found one.”

  He nodded to the dance floor and Kayla’s gaze followed his. Brittany was rubbing up against some guy with a long black ponytail, black jeans, and a purple tee. His arms were heavily tattooed, and he wore a silver ring in his ear. They were doing some sexy salsa dancing, and his thigh was well inside Brit’s.

  “Oh, oh. I see trouble.”

  “Me too. There’s an angry looking woman headed her way.”

  They watched as the young woman with an angry scowl approached. She wore a red halter top that revealed a gold belly ring, skin tight jeans, and platforms with a four inch heel. Grabbing hold of Brittany’s hair, she attempted to pull her off her man. To Kayla’s horror, Brittany didn’t walk away. Instead, she flipped around and shoved the other girl, then continued to dance. The girl advanced again, and Brittany laughed in her face, then adding insult to injury, she slid her arms around the neck of her dance partner.

  He nuzzled up close, ignoring his girlfriend. Like an angry bull after a matador, the girl lowered her head and butted between Brittany and her boyfriend. The brawl started. She pulled Brittany’s hair, and Brit flailed about, trying to dodge her other fist.

  Sean moved quickly and pulled the two women apart. He took a few good punches before he was able to extricate Brittany and lead her away.

  By this time Kayla was on her feet. Appalled, she put a twenty dollar bill on the table, and without a word she took her sister by the arm, marching her out of there. “What were you thinking?” she asked. “Really, Brit. There were plenty of other men. Why didn’t you simply walk away?”

  “He asked me to dance, not the other way around. Besides, she was just a jealous bitch.” Brit stomped off, but when she reached the car, she slumped against it and burst into tears. “I hate it here. I was just out to have a little fun, and then that stupid girl ruined everything.”

  “Oh, honey. I know you’re unhappy.” Kayla wrapped an arm around her, giving her a brief hug. However, her baby sister wasn’t five anymore. “But that was a pretty ugly display back there.” She glanced at Sean. “I’m sorry you had to witness that.”

  He held the back door open for Brittany and she stumbled in, still sobbing.

  Kayla took her seat in the front, and spoke in hushed tones to Sean. “She’s never like that.” She didn’t want Sean to think of her sister in bad terms. “Brit can be a little high strung, but I’ve never seen her so confrontational.”

  “That girl was a bitch,” Brittany snapped. “She came after me.”

  Kayla reached a hand behind the seat to pat her sister’s knee. “We’ll talk about this tomorrow. All of us. Mom needs to know what’s going on.”

  “You’re not going to tell her about the fight, are you?” Tears slid down Brittany’s cheeks and Kayla’s eyes welled in empathy.

  “No, but it’s not fair for us to keep you here if you are so unhappy, honey. We will discuss this together, as a family.”

  She swiped at her eyes and sniffed. “I’m not unhappy—it’s just that I wish I had a boyfriend and could do fun stuff with friends. Happy hour is like the biggest moment of our day. Not exactly exciting, ya know?”

  “Yeah, I know. I don’t think of it that way, but I can understand why you do.” Kayla darted a glance at Sean, but he was looking straight ahead and she couldn’t read his expression.

  She focused on her sister, who needed her support right now. “There is no reason you and Taylor couldn’t come out to the bars for dancing a few nights a week. You have the car and are free to do whatever you like. You’ve been a great help driving our guests around, and organizing their excursions. And you always take your turn manning the office. You don’t have to stay cooped up with us every night. You need a life too.”

  “You don’t seem to mind,” Brit
said. “Neither does Tay.”

  “I’m always so exhausted by the end of the day that I’m happy relaxing around the place. And Tay? She’s not much into socializing. I see her one day, married with a brood of happy kids. Don’t you?”

  “Crap. That sounds about as exciting as watching paint dry.” She sniffled, and wiped her cheeks with a tissue that Kayla handed her. “That place seemed like a lot of fun,” she whispered. “I should have walked away. Someone else might have danced with me.”

  Kayla laughed softly. “You were the most beautiful girl there. Of course they would have.”

  “I heard someone talk about Robbie’s. It’s supposed to be a happening place. Live music.”

  “There you go. We could even come with you.” She glanced at Sean again. “If you’d like to, of course.”

  “We’ll see,” Sean said. “Tomorrow I want to check on Juanita, and you should pick out some paint.” His jaw was set, and Kayla wished they were alone so she could ask him what was wrong.

  “So what’s going on with you two, anyway?” Brittany asked. “You guys together?”

  Sean shot Kayla a look, almost apologetic. “We’re friends, Brit. I’m not ready for anything more.”

  He turned off the highway and drove down the dirt road to their cottages. He pulled up in front of Passions to let the women out. “See you in the morning. What time do you want to leave?”

  Kayla opened her door. Obviously she was being dismissed. Was she being punished for Brittany’s actions? She felt a flash of anger, fueled by pain. “Whatever works for you. You’re fishing at six with Tom and Drew. Right?”

  “Yeah. We’ll be done by eight or half past.” His eyes held hers for a second longer, but she couldn’t read them. “I’ll pick you up around nine,” he said. “Will that give you time to get your chores done?”