Just A Kiss

by Elks, Carrie

  “Um.. yeah?” Caitie didn’t like where this was going.

  “Great. Now prove it.”

  “What?” Caitie blinked.

  “If you’re not hung up on this guy you kissed once thirteen years ago, then go on a date with Damon.” Kristi shrugged. “As you said, he’s a nice guy.”

  Caitie shifted her gaze over to the bar area. Damon was still there, talking to Trent. He really was very good looking. A little hipsterish, maybe, but Caitie didn’t mind that. And any time she’d spent with him had been kind of…nice. If nice was what floated your boat.

  “Yes!” Harper said, high-fiving Kristi. “You definitely need to go out with Damon.”

  “You want me to go out with him now?” Caitie’s eyes widened.

  Harper shook her head. “No, you should arrange a proper date. One with dinner, conversation, and maybe even some laughter.” Harper’s expression softened. “You deserve to be happy, in your love life as well as in your work.”

  “That’s so sweet,” Kristi said, raising her glass to Harper and Caitie. “You really should give him a chance. Look what happened when I agreed to date Trent against my better judgment. I thought it wouldn’t last an hour, and we’ve been together for two years.”

  “Maybe.” Caitie sighed. “It’s easier to bury myself in business. It’s fulfilling when you’re good at something, and I’m useless at dating.”

  “You should give it more time. It takes practice and perseverance. For every ten frogs you might find one prince. But when you finally find your prince, it’ll be worth it.” Kristi smiled and looked over at Trent.

  Caitie looked around the bar. “I don’t think there are many princes in Manhattan.”

  “True story. But there’s Damon, and right now he’ll have to do.” Harper grinned.

  They were right and Caitie knew they were. Building her business had taught her that if you wanted something you had to work hard at it, throw yourself all in, and not wait for success to come knocking at your door. Strange how she couldn’t transfer that belief to her personal life. For so long she’d held herself back, afraid to get hurt, and more afraid she might bare her soul to someone who didn’t treat it the way they should. If she was really honest with herself, she’d also been dreaming about Breck for too long.

  If nothing else, her trip to Angel Sands had shown her what a pipe dream it was. As friendly as he’d been, and as gorgeous as he still was, Breck had shown no interest in her as anything more than his friend’s kid sister. And he was right not to. They had nothing in common. They lived on different sides of the country. He loved everything to do with the sea, and couldn’t get his head around her aversion to it. He would end up with someone like Rachel, an outdoorsy, All-Californian type of girl, who would match him wave for wave. Then one day they’d have beautiful babies who loved to swim in the sea, and spent their time getting covered in sand.

  And he deserved it, he really did. Caitie could never give him that, not even if he did happen to show the slightest interest in her. Which he didn’t.

  “Okay,” she said, handing her empty wine glass to Harper. “Wish me luck, I’m going over to talk to him.”

  “You are?” Harper’s eyebrows were almost meeting her hairline. “Seriously?”

  “Yep.”

  “I don’t believe you.”

  “Seeing is believing. And you can watch me as I go and ask Damon out for dinner.” Caitie looked at Harper through narrowed eyes. “But if he turns me down, you’re a dead woman.”

  Harper grinned. “He won’t turn you down. That man’s got the hots for you.”

  As usual, Harper was absolutely right.

  9

  “It’s going to be magnificent.” David Miller shaded his eyes as he looked up at the crumbling façade of the Silver Sands Resort. The sprawling beachfront buildings stretched across half an acre. In its prime it had been more than magnificent. With white-stuccoed walls and red tiled roofs, the Silver Sands Resort used to attract the rich and famous, luring them south from L.A. for a week of relaxation. Now, almost a century after it was built, it was taking millions of dollars and a whole lot of manpower to restore it to its former glory. When Breck had first arrived it had been tired, abandoned, and waiting for somebody to show it some love. That’s where Miller Construction came in.

  “It will,” Breck agreed. “In fact it already is.” The redevelopment had been difficult. Each stage of the rebuild was being closely monitored by the Angel Sands Historical Society, as Miller Construction and the zoning committee had agreed. Though Breck was good with people – and was an expert at managing stakeholders – it still felt uncomfortable to be doing this job with half the town breathing down his back.

  “It’s not only about the result though, is it? It’s about the process. About enjoying every moment and seeing the changes come through our hard work. I bet you’ll miss this place when it’s done.”

  His father wasn’t wrong. “Yeah, well they’re all our babies, aren’t they? It’s hard to hand them back to their owners, yet there’s something fantastic about it, too. We’re not rebuilding memorials here, we’re creating futures. Somewhere for people to work, and enjoy themselves. Somewhere we can all look at and say this is a job well done.”

  David smiled. Breck knew his father got it, too. From the age of seventeen, he’d spent a lot of time with his dad at sites, watching him work his magic. At first, he’d gone under sufferance, bristling at being treated like a kid. Protesting he’d rather be at home than working on a site every weekend or school break. But as time passed, he’d realized exactly why his dad had made him go. They’d spent a lot of time together, got to know each other, and developed a shared passion. It was no different than going with a parent to a game, or enjoying golf together. They weren’t just rebuilding hotels, they were rebuilding their relationship.

  Pulling on their hard hats, they walked onto the site. Before construction had begun, Breck had arranged for safety notices to go up throughout the area. Protective equipment was to be worn at all times, and they weren’t exempt from that, even if there was no construction going on right now.

  “How are you managing being back here in Angel Sands?” David asked. “It must be strange after all these years.” He looked over at the ocean. “It’s strange enough for me, and I barely lived here. God only knows the memories it’s bringing back for you.” His voice dropped as he looked at Breck with concern.

  Breck pulled a piece of loose stucco away from the wall, holding the orange-painted rubble in his hand. It was one of the last bungalows left to renovate. Next week they’d be taking all the drywall off, piece by piece, to check the framework beneath. “It’s not too bad. At first I felt like another tourist, here to visit. But as the weeks have passed I’ve fallen into the rhythm of things. Met up with old friends, spent time surfing. It’s been good.”

  David smiled sadly. “The kind of teenage years you should’ve had.”

  They sat down on an old bench, overlooking the private beach. The sand was covered with weeds and driftwood, unused for years. The beach would be the last part of the resort to be restored. For now it held a wild beauty. Over the years everything had returned to its natural state.

  His father was only here for a quick visit, checking out the site and having meetings with the owners. Tomorrow he’d be back in Boston, but he’d already promised to be back in California for Thanksgiving.

  “I don’t resent not living here after Mom died,” Breck said, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his thighs. “Not any more. I know I was a jackass back then, but really, I would’ve been an asshole here, too. I was angry at the world, not just Boston.”

  “And understandably so. You’d recently lost your mom, and you were taking care of your brother. Then in comes this guy saying he wants to be your dad and move you two thousand miles east. I completely understood why you acted out so much. To be honest, I felt like I deserved it.”

  Breck frowned. “You did?”

  “Of
course I did. After your mom and I divorced, and I moved to Boston, I hardly saw you. I know I was busy building the business, and you refused to fly out there, but I could’ve come here to visit you. But I didn’t, because I was afraid. At least in Boston I could say there were reasons for not seeing you. If I’d come to Angel Sands and you’d rejected me, all those excuses would disappear. I’d become just another dad whose kids didn’t want him.”

  “That’s all ancient history now.”

  “It is,” David agreed. “But I also want you to know why I worked so hard to repair our relationship. As awful as your mom’s death was, it was my chance to step up, to really be a father to you and Daniel. For the first time in my life I realized it wasn’t too late to try again.”

  “I’m glad you did.”

  “So am I.” His dad smiled warmly at him.

  Breck could feel his throat getting scratchy, as though he had a cough that wouldn’t come out. He rubbed his neck, feeling the stubble beneath his hand. “Did I tell you I’ve been hanging out with Lucas Russell? You remember the Russells? They’re the ones who took us in after Mom…” he trailed off, staring at the beach.

  “I remember them. They’re good people. Tell them I said hi.”

  Breck nodded, a smile ghosting at his lips.

  “And how about the California girls? Are they as good as the Beach Boys keep telling me?”

  He wanted to laugh at his father’s change of subject, but he was relieved at it, too. There was only so much emotion the two men could take. “They’re good.”

  “So you met anybody special?”

  “No, not really.” He reached up, stroking his chin. “There isn’t much time between work and hanging out with the guys.” No need to tell his father he wasn’t looking for that kind of relationship. His old man didn’t need any more burdens.

  “There’s always time for girls,” his dad pointed out.

  “Says the perpetual bachelor.”

  David’s cheeks reddened. “Yeah, well...” he trailed off.

  Breck stared at him. “What does that mean?”

  “It means, ‘yeah, well’.” David shrugged.

  “You don’t think you’re a perpetual bachelor?” Breck pressed. “I remember you going out on an occasional date, but you never introduced any of them to us.”

  “Maria’s different.”

  “Maria? You’ve got a girlfriend?” Breck’s eyes widened at his father’s admission. “When did that happen?”

  David laughed. “I think I’m too old to have a girlfriend. I have a friend who just happens to be a woman.”

  “You’re not that old.” And he really didn’t look it. For a fifty-eight year old guy, David Miller was still pretty good looking and in amazing shape. Wearing a white button down shirt, and grey pants, he looked distinguished, and far younger than his years. “But tell me more. Who’s Maria, and where did you meet her?”

  * * *

  “Did you know Dad has a girlfriend?” Breck asked his brother later as they video-conferenced. The Wi-Fi speed had slowed down, and Daniel’s face was blurry, each movement leaving a cloud of pixels behind him.

  “Maria? Yeah, sure, she’s nice,” his brother said.

  “You’ve met her?”

  “Yep. We went out to dinner last Thursday. I like her. She doesn’t take his shit, and he laughs a lot more when she’s around.”

  “I’ve only been gone for a few months, and everything’s changed,” Breck protested. “I thought you both were going to fall apart without me. But look at you, living and stuff.”

  Daniel grinned. “Yeah, we really miss you, bro.”

  “Sounds like it.”

  “So anyway, how’s it going in Angel Sands? Dad said the project’s going well.”

  “It’s great. You’ll be able to see for yourself when you come for Thanksgiving.” Breck tapped his fingers on the table. “Hey, should I invite Maria?”

  “She’s spending Thanksgiving with her kids in Florida,” Daniel told him. “So we’re still good to come. Anyway, no woman gets between the Miller Men and their need for Thanksgiving football. She’d probably hate every moment.”

  “I’m glad he’s finally got somebody.”

  “Me, too. But I’m also glad we’re spending Thanksgiving with you. I can’t wait to see the old place. Has much changed?”

  “Not as much as you’d think.”

  “And the people? Are they the same?” Daniel asked him.

  Breck shrugged. “I’ve seen a lot of Lucas Russell. Do you remember him? And Griff and Jack, too.”

  “I remember the Russells,” Daniel said, grinning on the laptop screen. “How are they doing? How’s Caitie? Do you remember that Christmas when she gave me her iPod? I still have it somewhere. You told me it was her own gift after we’d left for Boston. I felt bad for taking it from her.”

  Breck closed his eyes. He’d forgotten about the iPod. That was back in the days before smart phones and music streaming. When Breck and Daniel had needed a place to stay that Christmas, they’d had no gifts at all. Their mom had been too ill to buy any before she died, and Breck had forgotten to get some since she couldn’t. Breck had been almost seventeen – old enough not to care about gifts – but Daniel had been an eleven-year-old kid. Bereft at his mom’s death, but also sad because he had nothing to open. Breck had felt like an asshole for not thinking about his little brother.

  Then Caitie ran upstairs. It had taken her a while to come back, but when she did, she handed a gift to Daniel. Breck remembered his face as he’d torn the paper off, along with the way it lit up when he saw the box inside.

  How had he forgotten that memory?

  “She was a sweet girl,” Breck said, a lump forming in his throat.

  “And what’s she like now?” Daniel asked. “God, she must be in her twenties. I can’t even imagine.”

  “She’s good,” Breck said. “She lives in New York now, and runs her own business, but she came to town for a short visit a couple of weeks ago.” He didn’t mention how he’d taken her to the hotel, or that he’d thought about her every day since she’d gone back to New York. Any hint of that and his brother would be on his back like a monkey. He needed that like he needed a hole in the head.

  “I’d love to see her again, to say thanks for all she did,” Daniel said. “Do you think she’ll be there at Thanksgiving?”

  Breck frowned. The last time he’d seen her – when he dropped her at home after their trip to Chateau Des Tournesols – she hadn’t mentioned when she’d be back.

  “I don’t know,” he admitted. “Lucas hasn’t mentioned it.”

  “I think about the Russells a lot,” Daniel told him. “As messed up as it is, I keep thinking about that Christmas and how kind they were to us.”

  “Yeah, I think about it, too.” He looked away from the webcam, not wanting his brother to see the telltale glint in his eyes.

  “So could you call her?” Daniel asked. “Find out if she’s coming for Thanksgiving. It would be really good to see her again.” He grinned. “Kind of like closure.”

  Breck thought about the number in his phone that had been burning a hole in his pocket for weeks. Ever since Caitie had left Angel Sands and headed back to New York. He’d wanted to find an excuse to call her, but there had been nothing. Until now…

  “Sure,” he said softly, smiling at his brother. “I’ve got her number. I’ll give her a call tonight.”

  10

  “So, Trent tells me your work is going well.” Damon poured them both another glass of wine, sliding Caitie’s glass toward her. “Do you enjoy it?”

  She nodded. “Yeah, it’s good.” This was the third topic of conversation they’d gotten to. None of them were sparking. It all felt so stilted and forced, as though she was being interviewed for a job, and not trying to get to know the man. If Harper was right, and dating was like learning to ride a bike, Caitie needed to up her game.

  “How about you?” she asked, turning the conversation on
Damon. “How’s your work going?”

  “It’s boring,” Damon said. “I thought graphic design was going to be all glamor and glitz, but it turns out I only get to design logos for gardening companies.”

  She couldn’t even think of a reply to that. Instead, she stabbed a piece of steak and stuffed it in her mouth, chewing on it while she wracked her brain for another question.

  Was it really supposed to be like this?

  Ten minutes later, after the waiter had cleared their plates, she grabbed her bag and shot Damon a smile. “I, uh, need to use the bathroom. I’ll be right back.”

  “Sure. I’ll grab us some dessert menus. And I can order us some coffee, too?”

  “Great.” She shot him a smile and ran into the bathroom, pulling the door closed behind her, and sliding the lock. Grabbing her phone, she tapped rapidly on the keyboard, watching as the words formed on the screen, sending the message to Harper.

  Caitie - Get me out of here!

  Harper - It’s going well then?

  She could practically see Harper’s grin as she replied.

  Caitie - It’s awful. It’s as though he made a list of questions and is determined to ask me all of them. Each time I do… crickets.

  Harper - I told you, you have to kiss a lot of frogs. Just think, this is one Kermit closer to Mr. Right.

  Caitie tapped furiously.

  Caitie - Do you know where I want to shove your frogs right now? I’ll give you a clue – the sun doesn’t shine there.

  Harper - Not California then.

  Caitie - Funny.

  Harper - Look, C, you got to finish the date and then you can come home. Chalk it up to experience. Be glad you got a meal out of it. Then put yourself out there and try again next week. Mr. Right’s out there somewhere.

  Caitie - What if I don’t want to find him?

  Harper - Of course you want to find him. You’re a romantic. Now go finish your meal and come home. I’ll put some wine in the freezer. We can drink ourselves silly and cry over lost loves.