“A bit, but it’s pretty close if you like fruit and baleadas.”
“I do.” She giggled. “I had a baleada for lunch. They’re delicious, and cheap.”
“Main staple here. And sorry again for raising your rent . . . but have you seen Strawberry Hill Estates? The name is kind of deceptive.”
“Kind of?” Her eyes grew wide.
“The place is a magnet for the lowest degenerates on the island. There aren’t many of those, but I’m just saying.”
“I did see it. Please don’t apologize. You did me a huge favor.”
“Good. I’m glad you don’t hate me.” The intensity of the way he looked at her made her hope she wouldn’t blush, but then he looked away and released her before she did. “So you were left with a chunk of life insurance money on your hands.”
“Not a chunk. More like a morsel.” She played with her Coke bottle to distract her from thinking too hard about her loss as she explained. “I didn’t even know he had insurance. He always said he didn’t believe in it. ‘I don’t want anyone lookin’ forward to me dyin’ so they can have a party with my insurance money’.” She changed her voice to imitate her father. She laughed briefly and then looked down, trying to hide from Paul how sad she must look.
“I’m sorry for your loss. It’s hard to lose family.”
“I’m sorry. Your family’s gone too?”
“No.” His laugh sounded a little sardonic. “But I haven’t seen them in a while, and I have no plans to.” His face contorted into a frown. “Wow, I haven’t even thought about them . . . in years.” His eyes turned cold and hard, no longer the inviting blue color of the warm, tropical ocean. “I don’t dwell on the past.”
“So you ran away? Are you by chance my long lost brother who ran away from home when I was ten?”
“Gawd . . .” The serious look in his eyes changed to one of revulsion. He stared at her warily. “I hope nawt!”
If what everyone had said was true, he’d probably had a few un-sisterly thoughts about her. They locked eyes, confirming they were both thinking the same thing. A few awkward seconds passed until he finally broke into laughter making his eyes sparkle again. Rhees threw her hands over her face in an attempt to hide the blush she felt creeping in.
“If you run into trouble, money-wise, let me know. I have ways to help you earn a little extra if you get desperate.”
“What?” Rhees misinterpreted his offer.
“A loan—I’ll lend you money. You can pay me back when you return to the States, get back on your feet.” He looked desperate to clear up any misunderstanding about accusing her of being willing to prostitute herself. “Or a job, I know people. I can get you a job. You could even help out around the shop. That’s all I meant.”
“Um, thanks. I might need to take you up on that offer—the job offer. This, coming here, was probably not the most practical choice, but . . . I had to, you know? No more excuses. Bite the bullet. Pull my big-girl panties up—” Her eyes flashed up to meet his, suddenly embarrassed to say panties in front of him. She blinked a couple of times and then remembered her point, which made her sad again. “Change of scenery and all that . . . it’s hard losing everyone in your world.” She looked away to rein in the tears threatening to fill her eyes again. “Things are going to be tight enough as it is when I go back. I don’t want to have debt hanging over my head.”
Paul nodded to show he understood.
“Um . . . it’s late. I’m tired. I’m not used to this wild party life.”
“This is a wild party?” Paul smirked, obviously amused.
“It is for me.” She smiled sheepishly. “I might be a little jet-lagged too. All I’ve been able to think about for the last two hours is climbing into bed—and I would have by now, but the truth is, I can’t remember the way to Oceanside.” She squirmed uncomfortably at having to admit to being lost and unable to find her way home. “I’ll never find my way in the dark without Tracy and Regina.”
“They’ll most likely be a while. They stay out late, sleep in late. They’re supposed to be working on their dive master, but they never sign up to be on the boat in the mornings. Even when I do schedule them, they don’t make it.” His brow creased and he leaned forward as if he wanted her to listen carefully. “For future reference, before those two become a bad influence on you, you have to make the boat to earn the certification.” He sat back again and grinned after emphasizing the last few words.
“Most of my students can’t afford to take so long to earn their certifications. Once they’re finished, they can earn a little money, working with the guests—guests tip their dive masters. But those two . . . I think they’re more interested in the social life than results.”
“Really?” Rhees couldn’t imagine having enough money to stick around just because she liked living on the island. “I wish I could stay indefinitely.”
“Really?” It was his turn to sound surprised.
“I have no money, no job. I’ve been taking care of my dying parents for the last few years. Now I have no family, no home—there’s nothing to go back to. This—” She waved her hand over her surroundings and put on a regal air. “The splendor of this dingy bar called Tanked, and by that, I mean the island as a whole—” She giggled but then shrugged her shoulders and sat quietly for a second, fingering her bottle of soda. “Change of scenery.”
“You’ll figure it out,” he assured.
“Yeah, I’m sure I will.” She looked over at Tracy and Regina and giggled again. “But first, I need to figure out how to get back to my apartment.”
“You really are funny.” Paul laughed but then he leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. His mouth twitched. He seemed nervous and didn’t look up, but when he finally did, his eyes met hers—the look in his eyes . . .
She felt the butterflies fluttering in her stomach and moving up into her heart. She couldn’t look away, and finally, she understood why all the other girls were so in love with him.
“I don’t usually do the asking. This is out of my comfort zone, but . . . you could stay . . . at my place tonight.” His eyes cast down to his feet. He finally did look up again—his eyes flashed hypnotically and yet uncertain, as he waited for her to respond.
Her heart skipped a beat, no, several beats, and she opened her mouth to speak but her words failed her. Rhees, breathe! She gaped.
He arched a brow at her but then he looked down again, releasing her from his spell as if he’d suddenly become self-conscious.
That’s it? I’ve been freaking out all day, waiting for a quiet, polite request? Rhees, you’re such an idiot. “Um . . . look. Tracy and Regina told me—”
“Please, don’t believe everything everyone says about me,” he interrupted her, desperate, she thought, to set her straight about what people had been telling her. She felt even worse now that she knew she’d fallen so easily into the gossip web. She always thought she did a better job of avoiding that type of thing. Disappointment welled up in her. She was no better than the others and vowed to be more careful in the future.
“It’s only ninety-eight percent true. The other two percent is complete bullshit.”
It took a second for his words to sink in, but she burst out laughing. She leaned forward and whispered to him, the way he had to her at the restaurant, “You’re funny.”
One side of his mouth hitched up, but he still seemed unable to look her in the eye, like a shy, nervous little boy. “What do you say?” he finally asked, quietly.
“Wow! Um . . . yeah, I did hear a few things . . .” She nodded and cleared her throat. “Actually, um, Regina said I shouldn’t tell you, but—”
“Someone should probably warn you about Regina. She tends to live on the paranoid side of the street. No one knows for sure what her deal is, but she sees conspiracy and intri
gue around every corner.”
“Oh. I kind of wondered. I seriously didn’t know if it was her, or just me.”
Paul smiled, making her take pause, again.
“Okay, but you see . . . you’ve been very kind and helpful. Oh my gosh, I’ve never had to do this, but I—I can’t sleep with you.” She wanted more than anything to stop stammering and just get the words out right, but they weren’t coming very easily. She’d never had to have this conversation before.
“It’s not you. You’re very good looking, and you’ve been so nice. I would—or I think I would . . . if I was normal.” She narrowed her brow, contemplating how un-normal she was. “But sometimes I think I don’t have a normal bone in my body.” She tried to giggle. “You see, I’m . . . the fact is, I can’t . . . I just don’t sleep . . . with men.”
“Oh.” He looked surprised or caught off-guard. “Oh!” he said a little louder than before as it sunk in. “I didn’t pick up on that—that you were . . . that’s why you didn’t hover . . .” He stopped and didn’t finish his sentence. He seemed thoroughly baffled. His lips twitched while he played with the idea. “Wow!”
“Yeah, I’ve been one my whole life.” She laughed at her own little joke about being a virgin. “Isn’t everyone until . . . they’re not?” She giggled again.
He tried to laugh too, but he looked confused.
“Wouldn’t it be bizarre if everyone just announced that sort of thing every time they introduced themselves? Hi! I’m Rhees and I’m a—”
“Hey!” He held his hands up, hurriedly striving to let her know he didn’t judge her. “It’s all good.” He seemed to be concentrating. “Maybe I’m not very aware of that particular thing, but I don’t think there’re many of you on the island.”
That didn’t surprise her. “Tracy and Regina were quite positive I’m the only one.” She giggled again but then they were quiet for a second. “Can you tell me which street I turn on to get to Oceanside? I should really get some sleep.”
Paul got up and grabbed a piece of chalk from a chalkboard on the wall just inside the bar and returned. He drew a map on one of the wooden planks on the floor. “This is a map of all the streets on the island—all five of them. We’re here, on the main street. If you go east on this street . . .”
“I’m sorry. Could you just say right or left? I happen to be directionally challenged, as well as all the other stuff that’s wrong with me.”
He grinned and explained his map again. When he finished, he asked, “Does that make sense?”
“Very much. I shall never get lost again, kind sir.” She giggled and felt very grateful, which she showed him with a smile. She regretted all the angst she’d felt toward him all day. Serves me right. She thought how wrong she’d been to so readily buy into all the stupid gossip about him. He’s really just a nice guy . . . an extraordinarily beautiful—with eyes that just suck you right in—kind of guy.
Paul was nothing like the moody, angry, somewhat scary and intimidating, over-sexed, ego-as-big-as-a-whale, kind of guy—the type of man who would never let himself feel anything for any woman because he was too self-centered and egotistical and in love with himself—a man who could never settle for just one woman because he could have as many women as he wanted, type of guy. No. Rhees felt proud of herself. She’d discovered, on her own, that Paul was nothing like the type of guy everyone said he was.
“I guess I’ll see you at the shop in the morning.” She stood to leave and walked away.
“Hey,” he called after her. She turned back to see what he wanted. “Since you’re the minority here—if you ever find yourself with unmet needs, I could help with that. You know, if you find yourself feeling tense, or desperate—if you have a good imagination.” He had a devilish grin on his face. “I could manage to—you know . . .” He stuck the tip of his tongue out and wiggled it back and forth before a huge, brilliant smile broke across his face. “It could be our little secret.”
She forced a smile and pretended to understand so she wouldn’t look stupid, but she was convinced she was. She walked away, headed home, and unsuccessfully tried to figure it out for a second or two before she grew shaky and anxious. She turned her attention to facing the ocean the next day. She had to concentrate to steady her nerves.
oOo
Paul picked up the unfinished Coke Rhees left on the table and drank it down. “Lemonade. Coke. Other team—what a shame.” He shook his head. He glanced back toward the bar and saw Tracy and Regina still deeply involved with their game.
He startled Tracy by leaning down and speaking directly in her ear. “It’s after midnight, and I don’t have a date.”
“Are you asking me?” She sounded much too hopeful.
“I could’ve had one by now if you’d given me a heads up. I wasted my whole night on Rhees.” He jabbed her with his elbow, teasing her for not warning him.
Tracy looked rejected and unsure why he blamed her for his lack of a bed partner for the night.
“You knew, and you didn’t tell me.” He waited expectantly, with a grin, but she didn’t catch on. “You should have told me Rhees is a lesbian.”
The light of understanding brightened on Tracy’s face. She seemed more than eager to set the confusion straight. She chuckled. “Rhees isn’t a lesbian. She’s a—”
Regina threw her hand over Tracy’s mouth and glared at her. “Tracy, shut up!” She pulled Tracy up without removing her hand from her mouth. Regina smiled sweetly at Paul and batted her eyes the way she always did when he caught her staring.
“Come on, Tracy. It is time to go home.” She turned and smiled at Paul again as they walked out of the bar.
It took a second for him to think it through. He smirked, but then his jaw set. He folded his arms and the muscle in his cheek twitched as he watched them walk away.
Chapter 4
The next morning, apparently Tracy and Regina preferred sleeping in over being on the boat again, as Paul had mentioned. Rhees had never been one to sleep in and didn’t like tip-toeing around the apartment trying not to wake them.
She stepped out onto the large porch and looked out over all the trees. From her third-floor apartment, the view was stunning. She could barely see any buildings at all through all the treetops, and she could even see a sliver of the ocean on the horizon. A flock of wild parrots flew overhead and landed in the jungle to her left.
“I could live here forever,” she said, nodding to herself.
The walk back to the shop didn’t seem as long as it had the first day, and she actually enjoyed taking in the sights of the island she’d be calling home for a while—she couldn’t believe she lived on an island.
There were a few creepy, not-well-cared for homes along the way before she reached the main street, but there were some cute ones too, all on stilts. She wasn’t sure why. Some were only a few feet above the ground while others were built high enough up that the owners used the area under the houses as patios.
While most of the buildings were constructed of raw wooden planks, a few were painted after all . . . painted mostly in vivid turquoise or various shades of pink. One home, her favorite, sported a bright lime green with purple trim. The blooming orange flamboyant tree in front added the final touch.
Rhees, when asked her favorite color, didn’t have just one. She’d answer, “Purple, orange and lime green.” She loved the way the three looked together, but she’d never dreamed of painting her home with them. The house made her smile. Her third day here and again, she felt herself starting to really like this island.
She decided to explore a little since she wasn’t expected at the shop until that afternoon. At this time of day, early morning, the main street seemed almost deserted. There were a few homes lining the street, but mostly businesses, mostly bars—there were a lot of bars.
There was a s
trange mix of nicely constructed, well-maintained buildings and some that were run down and unpainted—dirty. Small grocery stores, produce stands, a couple of pharmacies, beauty shops, a few souvenir shops, several bakeries, one real estate office, a small medical center, and a lot of restaurants, including snack bars—the island’s version of a fast food drive-through but more like a walk-up-to, since everyone was on foot. Again, the simplicity of it all warmed Rhees’ heart.
Even after her little exploration of Main Street, she reached the shop before anyone else. It seemed deserted. All the doors and the shutters on the windows were open, and she could hear the drone of a motor running nearby, but she didn’t see anyone. She poked her head into the office—unoccupied. She sat on the bench under the awning next to the office and pulled her diving book out to study.
“You’re late!” Paul burst from the office and walked by without stopping. “Follow me.”
“Late? For what?” She jumped up and ran after him.
She caught up, but he fiddled with something on the boat, so she waited.
“What are you doing standing around like a fucking idiot? Start bringing tanks to the boat.” He looked up and seemed annoyed by the confused look on her face. “Hurry! We’re going to have divers here in a few minutes.”
Idiot? Wow! He really is moody . . . and scary. She looked around, trying to figure out what he wanted her to do.
“I said to start bringing tanks around.”
Wet: Part 1 Page 5
