Something to Believe In

by Kimberly Van Meter

  Heath frowned, unhappy with her solution. “That’s not going to work. Celly is like family. Just go apologize for messing up her desk and she’ll come back. Her feathers are just ruffled.”

  “Apologize?” Lora repeated, her ire returning. “Why should I apologize to a staff member for trying to keep a workstation tidy? That doesn’t even make sense.”

  “She’s more than an employee, Lora. That’s your problem right there. She’s family to everyone here, except you. You need to make this right or there’s going to be hell to pay. Lilah is very close to Celly and so is Pops. She does a lot to keep Larimar running smoothly.”

  “I’m not going to apologize,” Lora said stiffly. She didn’t care how much Celly coddled Pops. Seemed ever since Lora moved back to St. John everyone and their uncle had been telling her to apologize for one thing or another. Well, she was finished apologizing.

  Heath saw the set of her jaw and shook his head in disappointment. “You’re making a huge mistake.”

  “Says you.” She sent a hard stare at Heath, irritated and hurt that he wasn’t immediately on her side. Wasn’t that part of the deal when you loved someone? They had to be on your side. She was pretty sure that was an unwritten rule. “Well, I have phone calls to make so that puts you on reception duty. Perhaps you could persuade Celly to come back. In the meantime, I’m going to go through applications.”

  * * *

  “SO WHERE ARE WE GOING?” Justin asked with a smugly triumphant smile that should’ve been a put-off but admittedly he wore it well enough for her to forgive him.

  “Well, I thought we’d take a drive to Coral Bay. It’s a scenic drive and there’s some cool history along the way.”

  “A history lesson? Is it boring?”

  “Would you like to walk?” she asked sweetly.

  He chuckled. “I’m all ears as long as there isn’t a test later,” he said on a yawn. “Sorry, I didn’t sleep very well last night.”

  “Something wrong with the room?” Lilah asked, concerned.

  “No, the room is perfect. My mind wouldn’t let go of a certain someone...”

  She blushed but kept her eyes on the road as she said airily, “I slept like a baby. More relaxed than I’ve been in a long time.” She cast him a mildly coy look as she added, “Thank you for that.”

  “That’s me,” Justin said. “Helping women find a good night’s rest since 2001.”

  Lilah laughed and smiled into the sun streaming into the Jeep, loving the warm kiss on her cheeks. She caught Justin staring and she became self-conscious. “Something wrong?”

  “Nope,” he answered. “Just wondering how I got so lucky.”

  “You mean you were wondering if you were going to get lucky again,” Lilah teased.

  A grin broke out on his lips. “Well, there is that.”

  “You’re impossible.” Laughter bubbled up inside her. It felt uncommonly good to joke and smile and tease with someone who knew nothing about her past. The freedom was intoxicating. “Okay, first part of the history lesson starts now. You see that broken masonry that’s crumbling to dust.” She pointed off road. “That’s what’s left of a sugar plantation. Back in the 1700s St. John was known for its sugar production. Slaves were taken to St. Thomas where plantation owners would purchase them for their plantation workforce.”

  “So I take it that when slavery was abolished it really took a bite out of the local economy,” Justin remarked wryly to which she nodded. “It’s hard to say that sucks because slavery is wrong but I imagine a lot of people lost their livelihoods when they couldn’t farm the sugarcane any longer.”

  “Yeah, actually St. John has quite a bloody history. At one time the slaves outnumbered the freemen and a brutal revolt ‘turned the waters red’ as the old-timers say.”

  “Every place inhabited by humans has its dirty secrets,” he said with a grim smile. “Even places as beautiful as St. John I suppose.”

  She nodded in agreement. “With such a brutal past, it’s easy to see why the Caribbean people are so superstitious. The island is overrun with stories of vengeful or sad jumbie floating around.”

  “Tell me a jumbie story,” he prompted with a big grin. “I love spooky stories.”

  She laughed. “I don’t have any good ones. Heath said he saw the ghost of Maunie Dalmida on the Reef Bay Trail but I’ve never actually seen any ghosts.”

  “And who is Maunie Dalmida?”

  “A young boy who was killed in a sugar mill accident. The stories are that Maunie roams the trail.”

  “Creepy.”

  “Yeah, but like I said, I’ve been all over this island and never seen anything like that. I wish I had. I used to hope that something otherworldly would happen to me but it never did.” Well, except dying, she thought but kept that little tidbit to herself. “Anyway, anything like that happen to you in New York?”

  He paused to think for a minute, the dappled sunlight playing with the lighter brown strands in his dark hair, and then said, “Well, the boarding school I attended was pretty old and there were rumors that the ghost of a young girl haunted the cafeteria. I never saw anything but my best buddy, Keenan, swore to all that was holy he saw her standing over the mashed potato tray one afternoon. No one but Keenan saw her but he looked pretty freaked out. I believed him. He also never ate the mashed potatoes again.”

  “I don’t think Heath has ever hiked the Reef Bay Trail again, either,” she said, laughing. They settled into an easy silence as she drove, but then she remembered a small snippet of shared information and decided to comment on it. “Boarding school, huh? So...something tells me you weren’t ever a free lunch recipient at school?”

  Justin shifted just a little as if caught and said, “My childhood was comfortable,” he admitted. “I guess you could say privileged. You’re not going to hold that against me are you?”

  “Of course not,” she said. “I never hold someone’s past against them, particularly their childhood. I choose to judge people on their actions.”

  “Good to know,” he said, looking as if he were vastly relieved, which made her wonder what other little truths he didn’t want to be judged on. She’d meant what she said. She was the last person to pass judgment on someone else but, unfortunately, she found herself itching to know more details about him. Not only a bad idea but hypocritical, she chastised herself. Focus on the road, not the distracting cuteness.

  Which, she could tell, was going to be impossible.

  It’d be a miracle if they didn’t end up in a ravine.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  JUSTIN INHALED THE SWEET scent of green things and enjoyed his stroke of luck. He was spending the day with Lilah on an island paradise. Things couldn’t have worked out better if he’d planned them.

  He couldn’t quite put his finger on why he was so taken with Lilah but he didn’t need to dissect his feelings to simply enjoy them. She made him feel alive, as if someone had flicked a switch inside his brain and suddenly everything was illuminated for the first time. He chuckled privately at how ridiculous he was being but he was smiling from the inside out and that was a fact. He didn’t mind that they seemed to be driving to the moon with enough switchbacks to make a person sick to their stomach. He didn’t even mind the history lesson. If Keenan could see him right now, he’d assume there’d been some sort of head injury to make him act like this. Almost lovesick if there was a thing. But hey, whatever it was, it was fun and that’s what Justin was all about with t
his trip.

  Just the mere brush of reality threatened to sour his mood so he ruthlessly kicked it away. He’d almost blown it by admitting he’d attended a boarding school—who aside from rich kids attended boarding school?—but she’d been cool about it. She hadn’t even pestered him for details, for which he’d been grateful but mildly disappointed. Most women already knew everything about him, but wanted to know more. Lilah knew nothing about him and seemed content with surface details yet he wanted to tell her things that he ought to keep private. Such as the fact that his prick of a father was strong-arming him into a political career he didn’t want. Yeah, great conversation starter. Talk about a surefire way to kill a mood.

  Soon, however, they drove into a sleepy little cove town that he assumed was Coral Bay and he was astounded by the number of donkeys milling about, both on the side of the road and on the road. One mangy-looking beast eyed him with zero fear and remained stationed dead center in the middle of road as if he owned it. Lilah honked the horn but the donkey merely flicked one long ear at the intrusive sound and continued to stare balefully, as if they were in the wrong spot instead of him.

  “One of the main annoyances of Coral Bay,” Lilah admitted. “The wild donkeys.”

  “Boy, he thinks he owns the road, doesn’t he?”

  “Yeah, they all do,” Lilah agreed, honking the horn again. “All right, you stubborn ass. I guess I’ll have to go around.”

  Justin laughed as Lilah eased the Jeep around the donkey and they continued on their way.

  “So this is Coral Bay?” Justin observed, wondering if he was missing something as he took in the rustic environment and almost forgotten ambiance. “Is this the place time forgot? Seems lost in the ’60s.”

  An old gas station, rusted and crumbling into orange-flecked dust, was near an equally old corner store. He wasn’t sure if anyone actually lived here aside from the donkeys.

  “Well, it used to be a thriving town for artisans and a few still call this place home but it’s true there’s not much to draw the tourists anymore.”

  “Seems a good place for a serial killer to hang out. You know they make movies in towns like this,” he joked, although there was a grain of truth to his ribbing. It probably had its charm for some people, but it was a little too...earthy for his tastes. He glanced at Lilah. “Does this conclude the tour? Or is there more?”

  “You don’t like it?” She pulled off onto a secluded side street, though there was zero traffic and even fewer humans milling about, the sound of the Jeep idling seemed unnaturally loud against the drowsy quiet of the town.

  “It’s... Yeah, I’m not going to lie...not my cup of tea. Let me guess, you love this place.”

  Lilah smiled. “Well, I love all of St. John. It’s easy to love Cruz Bay—it’s where the cool shops and restaurants are, which is why it fares well with tourists, but it takes someone who truly loves the island to appreciate the value of Coral. You’re right, it’s not flashy and pretty. There are donkeys everywhere and there’s only two good places to eat, but there’s a beauty beyond the surface stuff here. I like the quiet rhythm of life here. It’s soothing. Sometimes when I’m overwhelmed I take a drive here and by the time I’m done, I don’t feel suffocated by whatever was bothering me.”

  Justin quieted at her frank admission. Lilah radiated love and acceptance as her gaze roamed the jungle depths and the cove dotted with boats. In that moment he saw through her eyes what was so special about something seemingly ordinary; the diamond in the rough. He thought of New York and how he’d stopped seeing the beauty of the city a long time ago and simply roamed the streets with blinders to the wonder and patriotic heritage of one of the States’ proudest cities. He’d love to see New York through Lilah’s eyes, watch her discover all the things about the city that made it great, like “dirty water dogs” from a street vendor in Times Square or walking Central Park in the spring, not to mention the museums and art galleries. Damn, he’d stopped noticing all those things so long ago.

  “Thanks for bringing me here,” he said with a slow smile. “It’s beautiful.”

  Her eyes warmed with sweet joy and she blushed just a little. “No problem,” she said. “I’m glad I could show you.”

  She looked so soft and lovely, almost ethereal as the sunlight slanted through the open top of the Jeep, bathing her in a golden glow, that he didn’t stop to think, he just leaned forward and gently took her mouth. Her soft lips yielded to him without reservation and their tongues met in a gentle yet sensual dance. His heartbeat kicked up as heat and lust kindled between them like a dangerous spark in a banked fire pit that drifted on a warm breeze in search of something to burn. Lilah’s moan pushed him deeper into the void where only their bodies and the need to touch existed. His hand gripped the back of her head, slanting his mouth over hers in a raw need to possess this unique creature who captivated him in a way that astounded his rational mind. But there was nothing rational about the way they both tore at their clothes, eager to feel skin on skin. The Jeep was small but Lilah fit perfectly in his lap as she straddled his thighs and closed her delicate hand around the straining, desperate length of him.

  He felt fevered, perilously close to losing control and embarrassing himself. “You’re the most amazing woman I’ve ever known,” he said, tipping his head back on a groan as Lilah’s hot core enveloped him in liquid pleasure. “Oh, God, Lilah...”

  Her answering moan as she braced herself and rocked her pelvis against his erection buried deep inside her, touched off another wave of insane pleasure as sweat beaded their bodies and the sound of their harsh breathing filled the cab and drifted into the quiet jungle. “Anyone can see us.” He bit off a warning growl but truly, he didn’t much care at that moment if they had a popcorn-munching audience. He was losing himself in Lilah’s heat and gladly burning alive. She clamped her muscles around him and his eyes rolled back in his head as she panted with her own pleasure. “Lilah,” he gasped, gripping her hips and helping her ride him as he pumped against her, grinding against her until she squealed and moaned and shuddered as she found her release.

  He had two seconds to be relieved that he’d lasted long enough before his own release shot out of him, clenching every muscle in a powerful spasm that he felt deep within his body, hurtling jets of fluid from him and into her. “God, Lilah! Ahhh!” he groaned, his fingers curling into the soft flesh of her lean hips as he filled her. He could feel her body spasming around him still, milking every last wave and shudder, and then she leaned forward and rested her head on his shoulder as she caught her breath.

  “Oh, God...that was...magnificent,” she admitted with a shaky laugh and he couldn’t agree more. She pulled forward and bit her lip in a vulnerable manner as she started to lift herself off but he tightened his grip on her hips. “Where you going?” he asked. He liked the feel of her hot body on his, even as his spent manhood slipped from her sheath.

  She laughed, the sound soft and playful. “I can’t stay here like this all day.”

  “And why not?”

  She blushed. “Because I need to clean up.”

  He supposed that was a valid reason, but privately he liked the idea of his seed on her. It was primal and entirely caveman mentality but the need to possess her in some way was frighteningly strong. Geesh, he thought shakily, as he helped her return to her seat and find her bikini bottoms. What was happening to him? He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt so out of control with a woman. A thought occurred to him, albeit
a bit late, and he asked with desperate hope in his voice, “Are you...protected?”

  She laughed. “Of course. I’m on the Pill, silly. Although, we probably should’ve worn a condom, right?”

  “Yeah,” he agreed, but he rushed to assure her, saying, “I’m totally clean. I get checked every three months. You can never be too careful, you know?”

  She laughed. “Excellent. Well, glad that conversation’s been covered. Are you hungry?” she asked, settling into her seat and adjusting her top. “There’s a little place just around the corner that has pretty good food.”

  “I could eat,” Justin agreed, suddenly ravenous. “Hey, what are your plans tonight?”

  “I don’t know, probably stay in. Why?”

  His hope dimmed when she didn’t immediately offer to spend time with him but he didn’t let it show. “I thought we could check out what band is playing at the Rush Tide and hang out.”

  “Sorry, I can’t tonight,” she said, twisting her hair up in a messy bun before putting the Jeep in gear and rumbling back onto the deserted and pocked roadway. “But you should go. Rush Tide always has great bands. And the best drinks. Definitely. Have fun.”

  “Why don’t you want to go together? What’s happening back at the resort that you’d rather do than spend time with me?” he tried sounding playful but even to his own ears he sounded defensive, which was fair seeing as he was deeply disappointed and feeling a bit like a leper. He was good enough to sleep with but not spend any real time with? Good God, he truly was turning into a woman. “I mean, yeah, it’s cool. I just like hanging out with you. I think the feeling’s mutual, right?” he asked, fishing just a little. Maybe he was way off base here. Maybe... Ah hell, he hated this guessing game.

  She smiled as she made a quick turn into a tiny eatery, so tiny in fact, Justin would’ve missed it because it looked like someone’s house, not a restaurant. “Justin, I thought we went over this. Of course I like spending time with you.” She lowered her gaze and blushed just a little. “I mean, I don’t have casual sex with just anyone. I like you a lot, but that’s sort of the problem. My life—”