by Sierra Rose
James stuck one hand in his pocket and wrapped the other arm around my shoulders. A brisk draft waltzed his dark hair across his face, and there was nothing chilly about it. In fact, the temperature had nothing to do with the shivers that ran up and down my spine and everything to do with the strange, dream-like quality of the magical night.
“You know what this reminds me of?” James began quietly.
“What?”
“The first time we met.”
I twisted my head around to look at him, surprised that he was having the same flashback I was. Nevertheless, I wanted to pick his beautiful mind, so I asked, “How so?”
He glanced down at me, then looked back out to the ocean with a faint smile on his face. “That night, I felt like I could do anything. The rules that usually govern me suddenly didn’t apply, and I was just...free.”
I bit back a smile. While I was sure he wasn’t aware of it himself, James spoke a lot differently than most people, like a poet, always sharing grandiose ideas with a lyrical tongue. That, combined with his English accent, swept me off my feet every time. “With your life, I imagine you feel that way most nights,” I replied.
Again, he glanced down with a bit of surprise, then shook his head. “Hardly. It doesn’t matter how far I travel or how deep off the grid I try to go. Someone always recognizes me. Someone always pulls out a phone or a camera. Someone always knows and shouts my name and...” He broke off suddenly as a strange weariness flickered across his face. Then, just as suddenly as it clouded, it brightened into the most radiant of smiles. “It was always like that, until I met you.”
This time, it was my turn to be surprised. I stepped out of his arm and frowned at him with obvious confusion etched all over my face. “What do you mean?” Then, before he could respond, I was quick to add, “I hate to break it to you, James, but they still recognize you. They still know your name.”
He laughed quietly, burying his feet in the ivory sand. “You didn’t. For a few hours, I was just some guy you met in London. You were just a girl I... Della, I haven’t felt like that in a really long time.”
My confusion melted away, replaced with a shy smile. “And you feel like that again now? Like we’re just...normal?”
Before I knew what was happening, he answered by pressing a gentle kiss against my lips. “I feel limitless with you, absolutely, undeniably, irresistibly free,” he said when we pulled apart.
As much as I wanted to, I could think of nothing to say. Of course he made me feel the same way. Waking up with James was like lying next to my own personal sun. No matter how boring or mundane the days were, he always found a way to brighten them, to illuminate the simple, fantastical, or whimsical things I never would have noticed without him. On his worst day, James was a thousand times better than any person I’d ever met, and I had the feeling that the guy didn’t have too many bad days. He was simply incandescent, entirely unencumbered, restless, insatiable, and free. If anyone got close to him, some of that was bound to rub off, and he just made me feel shiny, inside and out.
I knew, though, that none of that had anything to do with me. If anything, I was a chain around his ankle, linking him forever to London. I didn’t understand why he thought otherwise, and I wanted to ask, but I found myself saying something else instead: “Why didn’t you kiss me then, after our first date at The Dorchester?” I was just as surprised as he was by the question, but I suddenly had to know. “I thought you were going to. You actually leaned in and everything, but then you just...stopped and told Frank to take me home. Why?”
James hesitated for a moment, as if he was considering how much he was actually willing to say, but then his face softened with a thoughtful smile. “Your necklace,” he said, “that ruby.”
My eyes flickered automatically to the pendant that hung around my neck; it had become such a habit to wear it that I forgot I’d even put it on that morning.
He reached up to touch it, and it grazed softly along my skin. “With you, I didn’t want us to follow the usual script,” he said suddenly, his fingers glossing over the crimson jewel. “Fancy dinner, sex on the first date, something ordinary, the same thing that happens all the time. I’ve never felt that way about you, Della. You are... You deserve so much more than ordinary.”
“What?” I asked breathlessly, hanging on every word.
“You are not just casual,” he said, staring deeply into my eyes as he stroked his thumb against my cheek. “When it comes to us, I feel anything but that, so much more than that.”
Then, without another word, he took off his shirt and began walking toward the sea. His pants were soon to follow, and before I knew it, he was as naked as the day he was born.
“What are you doing?” I asked incredulously, staring at the discarded clothing heaped upon the white sand. “James, it’s the middle of the night, and—”
“You said you’ve never taken an ocean swim, love,” he said over his shoulder. “Come on, Jones. Now’s your chance.”
I hesitated only long enough to smile, watching his magnificent body wade fearlessly into the waves. Then, without a second thought, I followed after him.
The water was warm, far warmer than I thought possible. It hugged my skin with a gentle caress, like an old cotton quilt, and I slowly waded out to meet him, trailing my hands along the top with a wondrous, beaming smile on my face..
“Well? What’s the verdict?”
I looked up and saw him gazing down at me with a starlit smile. The moon painted silver streaks in his dark hair and along his muscular shoulders, trailing seductively down his chest. I stared for a moment at his silvery silhouette before taking in another deep breath of that floral aroma, closing my eyes as my entire body seemed to melt into pure sensation. “It’s like a dream,” I said, “a dream-come-true.”
His hands wrapped around mine under the water, and he pulled me a step closer. The sand swirled around our feet as the water lapped in gentle waves against our chests. Not a single sound could be heard from the island, and even the birds had gone to sleep. For miles, there was only the lullaby of the sea that stretched into the endless horizon beneath the moon.
“A dream,” he murmured, trailing his wet fingers up my arms and across my collarbone, then to the base of my neck, till they came to rest again on the pendant. “A good dream or a bad one?”
With a mischievous grin, I splashed him lightly in the chest. “Can’t it be a wet dream?”
He flashed a pearly smile as his hands disappeared once again beneath the water. Just a second later, they wrapped around my thighs, and he lifted me off my feet and floated me toward him. I wound my arms around his neck and wrapped my legs around his waist at the same time, then gasped slightly as he pushed inside me beneath the flowing dress. His hips pulsed against mine in a gentle rhythm, moving in time with the waves, and the soft sting of tears prickled at the corners of my eyes as I combed my fingers through his ebony hair.
“I’m really glad I met you, James Lysander Cross.”
There was a pause in his rhythm as he cupped my face and kissed me beneath the stars. “And I’ve fallen completely in love with you, Delilah Katherine Jones.”
Chapter 18
JAMES AND I CAME DOWN the stairs and saw Granny. We made small talk with her when she suddenly made a startling announcement.
“I also brought somebody else to the island,” Granny said.
James pondered, then spoke. “I swear, if you brought one of my exes...”
“Not an ex, an old friend.”
His eyes lit up. “Who?”
“Charlie.”
Excitement flooded through him. “Charlie’s here? Seriously? That’s awesome! Why is he here?”
“I have my reasons.”
“Who is Charlie?” I asked James.
“A buddy of mine. Nick and I hung out with him for a few years.”
Granny looked at me. “Believe it or not, he was worse than James and Nick when it came to the ‘love ‘em and leave ‘em
motto.”
“Really?” I said with a chuckle.
Granny smiled. “Looks like the Three Musketeers are back together once again.”
Just then, Nick stuck his head in the doorway. “James, come to the beach! You won’t believe who is here!”
James grabbed my hand and led me out to the door and to the beach. A handsome man with dark hair greeted us with a huge smile. James ran out to greet him, giving him a huge bear hug. Abby and I looked at each other and laughed.
“How the hell are you?” James asked.
The three of them smiled, laughed, and joked like reunited frat boys. It was quite the reunion.
“Della,” James said, “this is Charlie. And Charlie, this is Della, my girlfriend.”
I grinned. “Nice to meet you.”
“It’s a pleasure.”
The guys went inside to get some chairs so we could all hang out by the ocean.
“I heard these three used to have quite the adventure,” Abby said. “I just hope Charlie knows that Nick is married now.”
I smirked. “Charlie’s pretty hot.”
“Yeah. These three hotties used to travel the world together, picking up women all over the place. The press dubbed them, Playboy Bachelor number one, two, and three.”
“So I take it he’s super rich too? Another billionaire?”
“Nope. He’s from some small town in New York. He left to travel the world and see what life had to offer. He was poor as a church mouse when he met our guys in Greece at a party. Nick was drunk and jumped into the ocean to go swimming. When a massive wave came, he went under the water and started to drown. Charlie dove in and saved his life. When he pulled him out, he wasn’t breathing so Charlie gave him CPR and resuscitated him. Nick felt like he owed him a debt. So he took him under his wing. Gave him rent, food, and stuff. And Charlie fit right in because he loved to party and chase women. I guess they all clicked. They hung out for years until Charlie stayed behind because he was dating some woman. Well, Nick and James wanted to move on to the next party, the next country. So they went their separate ways on good terms.”
“Is he still with the woman?”
“Nope. I guess they broke up and Charlie continued his adventure on his own. The guys all met up a few times over the years, but they never hung out the way they used to. You know how it is. Everyone drifts apart and goes their separate ways.”
We set up the chairs on the beach and sipped on drinks.
“So what brought you to the island?” James asked Charlie. “Were you kidnapped and drugged too?”
“Hell no! Were you?”
“Nick and me.”
“Tell me you’re not serious.”
“I’m totally serious! My granny is crazy. What made you come here on your own?”
“Granny asked me. And I wanted to see you guys. She offered to pay for all my expenses and gave me a $10,000 bonus if I showed up. I don’t know what she’s up too, but I thought it would be fun to catch up.”
“Not sure what plan she’s hatching up,” Nick said. “I’m just glad you’re here. It’s been such a long time.”
“So how is married life?”
He gripped Abby’s hand and smiled. “Fantastic.”
Charlie let out a long whistle. “Wow! You’re the last one I ever expected to get hitched.”
He nodded. “I know. But what can I say? This beautiful woman captivated my heart.”
“Awwww,” I said as he placed a kiss on Abby’s cheek.
Charlie looked at me. “And I heard James call you his girlfriend. Now that’s a first. And pretty special if you ask me.”
James squeezed my hand. “What can I say? This stunning woman also captivated my heart.”
“So I’m the only one on the prowl?”
“I’m afraid so.”
“Damn! I’m the last man standing.”
We all laughed.
“So what are your plans after this?” James asked.
“I’m going back home to Blue Ride, New York, my hometown.”
“For a visit?”
“To go find a wife.”
Nick spit out his drink. “What the hell did you just say?”
James laughed. “You’re on the hunt for a wife?”
“Yeah. What’s so funny about that?”
“Because you’re not husband material.”
“And like you are?”
They all laughed.
“So you want a wife?” Nick asked.
“A fake one.”
He cocked a brow. “A temporary wife? What? Why?”
“I have to get married to get my inheritance.”
“Wait. Your dad died?”
Tears welled up in his eyes. “Yes, and it’s heartbreaking.”
“I’m so sorry for your loss. Your dad was a great man. I know how much you loved him.”
We all offered our condolences. I could see how torn up he was about his father’s death.
“He didn’t want me globetrotting around the world,” Charlie said. “But I didn’t want to stay in that small town. I just needed to breathe, be free, and go explore. My life needs adventure and I needed to leave. It always killed my dad that I didn’t there and make a life for myself.”
“You have to follow your heart,” I said. “Or you’ll be miserable.”
He slowly nodded. “He didn’t want a funeral or anything. My uncle had him cremated and spread his ashes in the lake. I wish he would’ve waited for me, but he didn’t, so now, there’s no reason to rush home. But I have to go back if I hope to collect my inheritance.”
“So you have to marry someone? Because I know a girl who will do it,” Nick said. “She’s a nice girl. Just a bit of a gold digger. But if you need a wife for a while, she’ll do.”
Abby gently slugged him. “Don’t pimp out Melinda like that!”
“But you know she’d do it!”
She laughed. “Yeah, she would. But that’s not the point. Maybe he could go to Las Vegas and wake up accidentally married.”
“That won’t work. If there’s no agreement, she could take him to the cleaners and take every dime during the divorce proceedings.”
“I was joking, okay?”
“But he could possibly find a taker in Vegas.”
“That’s the problem,” Charlie said. “My dad said the wife has to live in my hometown.”
“Shit.”
“Yeah, tell me about it.” Charlie sipped his drink. “My grand plan is to sweep into town, pick up a fake bride, get my inheritance, and leave like the wind after a quickie divorce in Caribbean paradise, untying the knot fast enough to cause whiplash.”
“Ha ha,” James said.
“What about that Jaime girl you grew up with? The blonde in all your childhood pics. The one you always talked about.”
“She hates me. My dad cut me off and I borrowed money from her and a bunch of her friends. I never paid them back. Hell, she’ll probably lead the mob to lynch me from the nearest tree.”
“You have $10,000 from Granny. Pay Jaime back!”
“Then propose?”
“Make things right and pay them back,” Nick said. “It’s only right.”
“I intend to pay back every debt. I promise I will make a mend, and make everything right. But no matter what I do, Jaime is only going to see red. She’s mad I left in the first place. And I never contacted her either.”
“Are there any other possible candidates?” I asked.
“I dated all the girls there. Needless to say, none of those relationships worked out in the least. I’m probably on their most wanted hitlist. They are probably thinking of ways to pay me back for all the awful things I did. How the hell am I supposed to go into a small town full of spiteful women who want me dead, and then propose to one of them on one knee?”
James laughed. “Do you need the inheritance that bad?”
“Yes, it’s my dad’s mansion and his millions. If I don’t take it, then it goes to his money hungry law
yers. And the contract is ironclad. My dad worked his ass off for everything he has. He spent his entire life making his fortune. How can I let it all go to those sharks? I don’t know why my dad didn’t give it to his brother.”
“Because he knew you’d react this way. You’d do what he wanted because you wouldn’t want to see all his hard work go to the lawyers.”
“He’s manipulating me from the grave.”
“Try the blonde,” Nick said. “Jaime. Split the money with her. No matter how much she hates you, she won’t say no. Especially since it’s fake. Just marry her for a year, then divorce. It’s a provocative proposal.”
“She’ll slam the door on my face.”
“It’s worth a try. Tell her it’s a business arrangement, one that will make you both rich. And if she doesn’t care about money, then be brutally honest. Tell her, without her, the money will go to the shark lawyers. She won’t want that. She knows your dad. And you guys were best friends. If she has a heart, she’ll want to help you. Unless she’s married by now.”
“I’m here for a couple of days, then I’m off to tie the knot with...well...someone. I just don’t know who yet. Can you believe I’m taking the plunge? I’ll be married before James!”
James laughed. “Ha ha. I guess you’ll be testing the marital waters.”
“I know I’ll be married soon, I just don’t know who to,” Charlie said.
James held up his drink. “Then let’s have a toast. To Charlie’s future wife, whoever the hell she will be.”
“And please invite us to the wedding!” Abby said.
“Fake wedding,” Charlie clarified.
We all clanked our glasses.
“Cheers,” I said.
WHILE THE OTHERS TALKED, James and I went back inside to get some snacks to bring out.
Granny walked into the room. “Did you have a nice visit?”
“Yes. But I’m just wondering why you would bring Charlie here. What’s your angle?”
She peered at him. “Oh, darling grandson, you know me so well. I wanted to show two different lives, by two different friends.”
