by Vi Keeland
Copyright © 2012 by Vi Keeland
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations and incidents are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, locales or events is entirely coincidental.
BELONG TO YOU: A COLE NOVEL
Edited by:
Cover photo: © CURAphotography - Fotolia.com
Cover art: © RomCon® - www.romcon.com
Chapter 1
“Can I get you something to drink?” Startled out of my daydream by the perky flight attendant, it took me a minute to snap out of my thoughts. I was in such a fog that I couldn’t be sure if I had just woken, and the last week was a dream, or if it was really an unforgettable memory.
“I’ll have a vodka cranberry and she’ll have a merlot. You’ll have to excuse her, she’s spent the last week fucking her brains out with a gorgeous stranger and can’t seem to snap out of it.” Sienna smiled to the appalled flight attendant, a pleasant looking mid forties woman who was wearing way too many pins on her bulging uniform. From the look on her face, I was sure the flight attendant wasn’t used to a raunchy mouth like Sienna in first class. I looked around and saw most of the other passengers looked well bred and refined, more like they were dressed for an uppity tennis match than a twelve hour flight from Honolulu to New York. Sienna would have stood out, even if she didn’t have a mouth like a truck driver.
Sienna McAllister had been my best friend since the third grade. We became kindred spirits on our first day in chorus, when we realized that we could sing in natural harmony together without as much as a beat of music. Twenty years later, our lives had taken us down very different paths, but it never dulled our bond.
Aside from being the same age, we had nothing in common on the outside anymore. Sienna looked like she just walked out of a rock band, with her wild, dark thick curly hair falling around her alabaster skin and black tight fitting clothes coupled with five inch laced up leather boots. If her voluptuous curves straining her tight clothes weren’t enough to catch an eye as she passed by, the hundred or so bracelets she wore half way up her arms actually played a sweet jingle as she moved.
I, on the other hand, had a penchant for pink and all things girly. My long, thick, blonde, straight hair was almost white after a week in the sun and stood in stark contrast to my deeply tanned skin and the wild woman sitting next to me. When I was younger, I hated my olive skin and deeply contrasting bright blonde hair. It was an unusual combination to have such tan skin and natural blonde hair and most people assumed I was a bottle blonde. My dad used to tell me that I was special because I bound together my mom’s Swedish ancestry with his Italian heritage. But, as I suspected most kids did in their teens at some point, I wanted to look like someone else. It took me until I was in my late teens to stop fighting my looks and to learn to play them up.
The flight attendant brought us our drinks and scurried away with a hesitant smile. It was obvious that she was trying to avoid hearing any more about our vacation, which Sienna would have surely divulged, if given the opportunity. Sienna enjoyed shocking uptight people with her crass mouth, watching them squirm was a sport for her.
Sienna raised her glass to me in a toast. “To the best damn honeymoon, I’ve ever been on.” I laughed and shook my head as we clinked glasses and both tipped our heads back to drink.
Chapter 2
One week earlier.
A full day of sun after we landed left me exhausted. I must not have been thinking straight when I booked a direct overnight flight from New York to Honolulu. Did I really think that I would land at 8am and feel fresh and relaxed, ready to take on the first day of my honeymoon? A two hour nap on the beach did nothing to shake off my jetlag, and by 8pm, as I was getting ready for a night out with Sienna, I had started to wonder what I got myself into.
We arrived at the resort’s Japanese restaurant and I silently reminded myself that I needed to eat, even though I was not very hungry at all. The last time I had went out drinking with Sienna without eating, Michael had to carry me up the stairs, when I passed out face down on the floor in the kitchen. Hating that thoughts of Michael still uncontrollably filled my memory, I took a deep breath and pushed all thoughts of him out of my head, determined not to let him ruin our honeymoon even more than he already had.
After we ordered, a pretty waitress wearing a traditional red kimono delivered us drinks served in coconuts with cute little purple umbrellas. “Thank you, but we didn’t order those.” I said as she started to put the drinks in front of us. The waitress smiled at me and silently pointed to the other end of the restaurant where I saw a table of a dozen men, one of which was holding up a drink and smiling.
Sienna smiled and took one of the drinks and held it up, offering cheers back to the smiling man. Even thought he was across the room, I could see he was handsome and had a damn sexy smile. My eyes scanned the table he was sitting at, and I almost gasped at what I took in. Damn, they were all handsome, one better looking than the other. They looked like they could have been traveling for a rugby tournament, or a Calvin Klein underwear photo shoot perhaps. I was grateful for my tan skin at that moment, so no one would see me blush.
Sienna clinked her glass to mine and said loud enough for the table next to us to hear “Remember, we should do lots of fucking on our honeymoon baby!” I choked on my drink before we laughed together like we were back in third grade.
Our dinner was just being served when I saw the boys club began to make their way out of the restaurant. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one to notice their departure; they seemed to have the attention of half the restaurant. The eye-catching group attracted a lot of attention by being rowdy, handsome and drinking a lot. The smiling man that had sent over our drinks stopped by our table with two of his friends on their way out. “I hope you ladies are coming down to the bon fire tonight that the resort is throwing.” His dimpled smile made his face even more handsome.
“We are.” Sienna raised her eyebrows and smiled up at the man. “And thank you for the drinks, they were delicious.” Her response was more of a purr than a statement. I had forgotten how good at flirting she was, it was second nature and she had the ability to make anything sound teasing. I was pretty sure she could ask a man walking by for the time and he would think she wanted to sleep with him.
“You’re very welcome. You know, this may sound like a bad pick up line, but you look so familiar.” His brows creased and I could see the wheels in motion, as he tried to place the face.
“Maybe we can figure out where you know me from, at the bon fire later.” Sienna raised one eyebrow provocatively.
“Sounds like a good plan to me. “ He smiled and I watched his eyes slowly drift over Sienna. But his attention was quickly called away by the rest of the boys club that were making a ruckus near the door. “I better go before the jackasses get themselves kicked out. I’ll be looking for you ladies later.”
After Sienna’s brief time as the lead singer of No Worries, people always though she looked familiar. Five years ago the band had a number one hit, then broke up due to fighting between the members, before a follow up album could be released to cement their fame. Apparently the guitarist was sleeping with the drummer’s wife and they couldn’t get passed it. Unfortunately, the group became somewhat of a one hit wonder, but people still vaguely remembered Sienna’s face. She really wasn’t the type of wom
an that people easily could forget.
Sienna and I played together in an all girl band in Boston for five years. We did a lot of local shows and had a pretty good following. It didn’t earn us enough money to survive, but we loved doing it and it worked for us for a while. By the time we decided to go our separate ways, I had already met Michael and started pursing a degree in music and began to grow content with my life. Sienna hadn’t given up on our dream of being a rock star, so we parted friends when she took off for New York at 21 to join No Worries as the lead singer.
After that, we talked on the phone twice a week and I went to New York to visit her on most of my breaks from school. There was definitely no love loss between her and Michael, and he made it clear that he disapproved of her partying lifestyle and didn’t like my frequent trips to New York. I sacrificed a lot for Michael over the years, giving up a lot of who I was, but never let him come between Sienna and me. She was supposed to have been my maid of honor at our wedding last weekend.
Sienna watched as the boys club sauntered out of the restaurant and then turned to me. “Syd, I think you need to pick one of those boys and get a rebound screw under your belt. What better place to do it then in Hawaii?”
“I told you, I don’t feel ready to start dating yet.” We had already had that conversation on the plane on the way to Hawaii, and I suspected Sienna had given up much too easily to have put the subject behind us.
“Who said anything about dating?” She smiled at me. “Just pick one out, and have a great time. Don’t think about it and don’t over analyze it. Fuck it, don’t even find out his name. Just have fun Syd. That Michael sucked the life out of my partner in crime and we are resurrecting her this week!”
I may not have been ready for a new guy, but I was definitely ready to go back to living my life and having fun. I responded to her speech with the only word that I knew would make her happy, other than agreeing with her. “Shots?”
Sienna squealed in delight and hugged me as she called the waiter over to order our tequila shots.
***
We were halfway between tipsy and drunk as we made our way down to the bonfire. It was a beautiful night and torches lit a path through the sand down to the water’s edge. A huge bonfire was burning and a Caribbean calypso band played a song on steel drums with an older gentleman singing. Waiters floated around delivering fruity cocktails and women wearing bikini tops and hoola skirts offered fresh flower leis.
I looked around and wasn’t surprised to see that most of the partygoers were couples, after all the resort was a favored honeymoon destination. It made me sad to think I was supposed to be there with Michael, relaxing after my wedding. Sienna picked up on the change in my mood and guided us to the large bar set up under the lights on the beach. “Two tequila shots please.” Sienna’s answer to every problem was always the same, tequila and a party. We drank back our shots, licked the salt off of the back of our hands and sucked our limes in unison.
“Another round for the ladies and all my friends, please.” The deep velvety voice immediately sent a shiver up my spine. I turned to trace the voice to the face and was met with the most startling green eyes I had ever seen. I wasn’t sure if it was the alcohol or the man, but I gasped and felt goose bumps break out on my arms. The eyes smiled down at me and I was momentarily unable to break the gaze. I blinked, forcing my eyes to escape the hold, and slowly looked down and realized that the captivating green eyes were attached to the most magnificent man I had ever seen, who was staring at me, watching me take him in. The corner of his perfect mouth turned up in a sexy half smile, and I knew he had just watched my body react to him. But he wasn’t going to be a gentleman and pretend he didn’t see it. Instead, he took a step closer into my personal space and I felt the heat radiate between us.
I turned back to the bartender to escape the intenseness of his glare and the bartender held out my next tequila shot. I twisted back around to thank the green-eyed god, and nearly slammed right into his chest. He had not moved out of my personal space. Instead he stood his ground and looked down at me, slightly amused. I held up my shot. “Are you joining me?”
“I’d love to.” He smiled, but had no shot in his hand. He arched an eyebrow with a sexy grin on his face and I got the feeling that he wasn’t accepting an offer to have a shot together. I laughed and shook my head before throwing back yet another shot, salt and lime. My head buzzed, and I knew I should probably stop drinking at that point, but I was thousands of miles from home with Sienna and that surely wouldn’t be happening.
Sienna grabbed my hand and pulled me from the bar, oblivious to the beautiful creature standing behind me me. “Come on, let’s do one for old times sake.”
Only Sienna could talk a middle aged Calypso band singer into letting us sing at the resort’s welcome bonfire, without knowing if we could even carry a tune. The last tequila shot went straight to my head and I was feeling no pain as I followed her to where the band was set up, anxious to sing with her. It had been years since we played together and I really did miss it.
Sienna spoke to the band and we sang one of our all time favorites, Shake Your Body, by the Jackson 5. It was a 70’s boogie disco beat that people usually couldn’t help but start to dance to. When we were done, people were applauding and dancing and the band asked us to do another song. What else can follow up a classic Jackson song but the Wild Cherry 70s hit, Play That Funky Music? Of course, we did our own version of the song, but people danced and sang along nonetheless. Even though it had been years since we performed together, no one would have guessed it. We worked together effortless, and it had been that way since that very first time in third grade. By the time we were done, the tequila had hit us with its full effect and we both laughed our way back to the bar, stumbling just a slight bit.
The bartender stopped pouring drinks as we approached and clapped his hands slowly for us, to which we responded with overzealous bows and a curtsy. He gave us each another shot of tequila on the house and we did our swallow, salt, lime routine in expert tandem. The handsome guy that sent us drinks in the restaurant came over with a few of his friends.
“You ladies were amazing. That was incredible.” He was smiling and it was obvious in his face that he was being sincere and it wasn’t part of his pick up line.
“Thank you, it was so much fun!” Sienna responded and I smiled. We were both on a post show high. It had been so long since I felt the familiar rush that I almost forgot what performing could do to me. We talked for a while and found out that the boys club wasn’t actually in Hawaii for a rugby tournament or an underwear commercial shoot, they were there for a bachelor party.
“Wow, that’s some bachelor party.” I said to our new friend Tyler, the guy that bought us drinks in the restaurant.
“Yeah, the best man is loaded and is throwing the whole party. We have the penthouse for the week. Some of the guys are staying and others are going back in a few days. It’s pretty sweet.”
I actually felt, rather than saw, the green eyed man return. I was positive that he was standing right behind me, but I couldn’t bring myself to turn around and check. “Speak of the devil.” Tyler pointed behind me and I slowly turned, finding the green-eyed god standing ridiculously close to my back staring down at me.
“Hi again.” My words came out as a whisper. I could feel the heat radiating off his body and it was playing tricks on my brain that was swimming in tequila.
He looked down at me and smiled, but made no attempt to move. He was tall, probably a good eight inches taller than my 5’6 frame. His shoulders were broad and his dark green polo pulled slightly to contain his girth. His shirt fit his athletic frame as if it was made for him, and his jeans hung low on his narrow waist.
“Your voice is beautiful.” His voice was deep and he spoke to me in low controlled words, even though we stood so close, surrounded by what I assumed were his friends.
“Thank you. So are you.” Holy shit, did I just say that out loud? I was glad t
hat we were outside so that he couldn’t see my face turn red; I blushed so deeply at my words that not even my tan skin could conceal my embarrassment. I was thinking it, but I didn’t mean to say it. Another dangerous side effect of the tequila shots.
He smiled and raised his eyebrows in surprise. I turned my back to him to allow myself to catch my breath. Tyler took it as an opportunity to offer to buy me a drink. Just as I opened my mouth to respond, the green eyed man responded for me. “No thanks, I’ve got her next round.” I watched in shock as his friend took the hint and walked away smiling.
I whipped around and looked up at him, a bit unsteady on my feet from the tequila. He still hadn’t moved and was standing in my personal space. It was almost a possessive stance, the way he hovered above me and made his size known. “What if I wanted him to buy me a drink?”
“You don’t.” He said in a low voice and straight face. Was he joking or being serious?
“How do you know what I want?” I could feel the tension between us rising.
Sienna walked over oblivious and interrupted our little heated exchange. She was still giddy from our singing and her smile and happiness brought back such great memories. “What are you two chatting about all quietly over here?” She hung one arm around my neck and I was pretty sure that she was using me to maintain her balance.
“I was just telling your friend how beautiful her voice is.” He spoke to Sienna but his eyes never left me.
Sienna smiled. “Flattery will get you everywhere.” She extended her hand. “I’m Sienna.”
The green-eyed god took her hand in his and held it; I was relieved that his focus had finally left me. “Jack. Nice to meet you Sienna.” He quickly turned his eyes back to me. “And you are…”
Sienna quickly intervened, slightly slurring as she spoke. “Her name is Jill.” I looked up at her like she was crazy and then she winked at me. She made no attempt to hide her blatant lie and I wasn’t quite sure if it was because she was drunk or if she was playing a game. I knew that she was trying to subtly remind me of our earlier conversation at dinner, encouraging me to have a nameless, unattached fling. Of course, Sienna may have tried to do subtle, but her lack of experience at subtlety made her words and actions come across as glaringly direct.
