The Big O Series

by M. S. Parker

  They were both clearly waiting for my response. “You…” I stopped and scratched my head. “You’re pregnant?”

  “Yes,” they both said.

  “Stop doing that,” I told them, shaking my head. “Talking in sync like that is…creepy.”

  Michelle made a face at me while Jake just laughed.

  “You’re pregnant,” I said after a few more seconds to process it. Then I looked at Jake full-on. “Son of a bitch, you’re going to be a daddy.”

  He grinned, looking happier than I’d ever seen him. “Damn straight.”

  Getting up from my stool, I went around the island and clapped my cousin on the back, then dropped a kiss on Michelle’s cheek. She smiled at me with misty eyes and caught my hand, squeezing it. I squeezed back, looking between the two of them.

  “A daddy,” I said again, shaking my head.

  “Hard to believe, isn’t it?” Jake pulled Michelle back up against him, hugging her tight.

  “We want to get married – like soon,” Michelle said a little while later. She puffed out her cheeks and held her arms in front of her. “Like before I start showing.”

  “Any dates in mind?” I asked.

  Michelle’s mouth formed a pout, and I looked over at Jake. He slid an arm around her shoulders. “We’re having trouble finding a venue that can do, a for-real wedding in such a short time. We thought about just going to a justice of the peace, but…”

  “I want a real wedding.” Michelle gave me a wobbly smile. “It’s going to be a pretty tall order, I guess, finding a way to make this happen before I get all big with the baby.”

  “You’ll be beautiful,” Jake told her.

  She stuck her tongue out at him. “I want to be beautiful and able to fit in the dress I found.”

  While they commented back and forth, my thought strayed.

  I found myself thinking about the island where I’d been with Mila, about that day on the beach when she’d gotten the cramp.

  Then I thought about her grandmother and the offer Millie had made.

  “I might have an idea,” I said softly.

  Twenty-Six

  Mila

  Chaos was the proper way to define how the past few weeks of my life had gone.

  I was traveling back and forth between the island and New York City as I wound down my practice there. I was trying to help my current clients find new therapists that met their needs although, for some of them, I knew I’d probably continue to see them on and off for the next little while.

  That was what happened when you offered a rather niche service like what I had built my practice on. A few of them were disappointed, but upon hearing my reason, they all seemed to understand.

  When I wasn’t traveling, I was busy incorporating a form of the sessions I specialized in into the amenities offered by the resort. I wouldn’t be able to offer the kind of one-on-one sessions I’d offered in private practice, but I still felt it was something I could do that would help couples be happier together. So far, I’d come up with several various workshops.

  My first one was this afternoon, and I had two couples I’d be working with. We were talking erotic massage on this one – something nice and easy until I was used to working in a different sort of arena.

  Two couples weren’t exactly a full classroom, but since I was used to working with people one-on-one – or one-on-two – this would be a nice way to get my feet wet, so to speak.

  As the session wore on, I found myself relaxing and settling more comfortably into my new role. I was more of a teacher now than a therapist.

  As my clients – or students – switched roles, the masseuse switching to be on the receiving end, I paced back to my seat up front and grabbed a bottle of water.

  Tension at the base of my neck reminded me that I could benefit from the skills of a good masseuse, something I’d have to look into before the tension turned into a mother of a headache.

  “Okay…now. Back to the basics,” I said once I saw that everybody was ready.

  Millie came inside as the last of my couples left the bungalow I’d been given to use for my workshops.

  She looked around, taking her time as she took in the changes I’d made.

  This particular building had been used for various other functions, but it suited my needs so I planned on making this my permanent spot for workshops in the future.

  “How are things going?” Millie asked, a smile on her face as she approached me. “You’re so busy, I rarely see you, and you live here now.”

  “I’m still making adjustments,” I told her, shrugging. “And I won’t be traveling back and forth between here and the city forever. I just have to get my clients settled first. I can’t really just abandon them.”

  “Of course you can’t.” Millie shook her head in agreement. “Any regrets about your decision to come here?”

  “No.” I smiled at her, determined not to think about the one small regret I had – Liam. I hadn’t seen him in over three weeks, and I had no idea if I’d ever see him again.

  You made the right move, I told myself.

  “Do you have any other sessions set up for today?” Millie asked, unaware of my distraction.

  “No. It’s going to be a little slow as we get me acclimated to working in this sort of environment. It’s not really therapy that I’m doing anymore. It’s teaching, and we’ve got to get me into the regular schedule of events.” I made a face. “Which will be easier once I’m not traveling as much, but I hope this will only last for a few months.”

  “It’s not a concern,” Millie said, waving a hand. “You had a busy life in the city, responsibilities. I appreciate the fact that you’re trying to honor those responsibilities even as you’re helping out an old woman.”

  “Oh, hush.” I went to her and hugged her close.

  She squeezed me back, then eased away, pacing a few feet away. “We both know there’s going to be an adjustment period as you settle in here to take over. And I’ll be here until you’re ready to be without me.”

  “That will be never.” I stuck my tongue out at her.

  “Okay, until I think you’re ready to be without me. I am slowing down, though, Mila. It’s time.”

  “I understand.” And I did. I was just now starting to understand how much work went into running the resort. Even though Millie had a great staff on hand, she had wanted to keep an active role in the day-to-day functions of the resort.

  “So.” Millie clapped her hands together and spun to face me, beaming. “Sometimes when you’re running a place like this, you have to be ready to accommodate some…changes in the schedule. Some shake-ups, if you will. And I’m about to deliver your first shake-up.”

  “Uh-oh.” I eyed Millie, uncertain I trusted the gleam in her eye. “What did you do, book some sort of swingers’ party to welcome me to the island?”

  She threw back her head and laughed. “Oh, no…nothing like that. Mila, you’ll be helping me with a wedding that’s going to take place on the island. This weekend.”

  I blinked at her, but she just continued to smile at me.

  “You’re serious,” I said slowly. I calculated the time. “This weekend? Why haven’t you mentioned anything about this before now?”

  “There was nothing to mention up until a few days ago.” She waved a dismissive hand. “The wedding was just put on the schedule last week and…well, we’ve both been busy since then, haven’t we?”

  I gaped at her. “You scheduled a wedding with less than two weeks to get everything together?”

  “We learn to be flexible in this line of work,” Millie said loftily.

  “This isn’t flexible. This is…it’s…” I didn’t even know what to say. I was more than a little terrified.

  Helping Millie pull off a wedding when I’d been here just a few weeks? And what did I know about weddings?

  “You need to take a deep breath,” Millie said, shaking her head at me. “Remember, we do have an events staff on hand that w
ill handle almost everything.”

  “Then why are you telling me about this?” I demanded.

  “Because this is your island. Your resort.” Millie held out a hand. “Come on. I’ll bring you up to date on the details. The wedding party will be here shortly to start going over everything, and their guests will be joining us shortly thereafter. It’s not a large wedding, and we have the availability.”

  She continued to speak as she led me outside. I turned to lock the bungalow before looking back at her. “I can’t believe you agreed to do a wedding here in such a short period of time. Is this normal?”

  “You’re asking me about normal?” Millie threw back her head and laughed.

  I failed to see what was so amusing and was about to point that out when a form out of the corner of my eye caught my attention.

  I glanced over, then back at Millie.

  I opened my mouth to say…something. I had no idea what. The words died in my throat as I swung my head back around and found myself staring at Liam.

  He stared at me with that familiar intensity in his eyes.

  My heart skipped a few beats, and I wanted to close the distance between us, reach up and touch his face. His hair had grown out a little more, and I wanted to feel how soft it felt against my skin.

  But then, reality intervened. I’d gone to him, and he’d sent me away.

  Pride jerked my spine stiff, and I gave him a cool look before turning my attention to my grandmother. She had an innocent look on her face, but I wasn’t buying it.

  Twenty-Seven

  Liam

  I was still a little surprised at how quickly things were coming together for Jake and Michelle’s wedding.

  I’d been able to get a hold of Millie that night before I left their place, and the older woman had still been talking to Michelle when Jake walked me to the door more than an hour after I first made the phone call.

  Now, less than two weeks after finding out they wanted to get married, I was on the island where they’d have their wedding.

  The island where Mila and I had first been together.

  The island where I pulled her out of the water.

  Made love to her.

  Everywhere I looked, I saw her, and it was so much worse than when I’d been in New York City. Sure, every sexy brunette with the right kind of hair had made me pause and look and wonder.

  But now I didn’t need to see a woman who reminded me of Mila.

  Everything here reminded me of Mila, and it was enough to drive me crazy.

  Part of me wished I’d elected to come in on the day of the wedding, the way some of the guests were doing, but when Millie had extended the offer to come in a little earlier, I hadn’t been able to tell her no.

  It seemed she had something in common with her granddaughter.

  Mila…

  I cut off thoughts of her and reminded myself I was here to help Jake and Michelle however I could.

  Once the wedding was over, I’d leave Pleasure Island and never come back.

  Millie had greeted me with enthusiasm when she met me and Jake and Michelle earlier, acting like we were long lost friends rather than two people who’d only met briefly a few weeks before.

  She’d bustled away, promising to meet up with Jake and Michelle once they got settled in their rooms, then she’d patted me on the cheek.

  I’d checked into my room just a little while earlier, thinking maybe I’d nap. My body was still protesting the night shift thing, and I was dragging. But laying on the bed, all I could think about was the time I’d been here with Mila.

  So, I’d left the bungalow, thinking I’d take a walk.

  At first, I took the pathway down to the beach, but one look at the water made me think about how I’d pulled Mila from the ocean, scared I hadn’t been fast enough.

  And thoughts about that led to everything else that had happened between Mila and me since then.

  Including the last day – when I’d been a rude son of a bitch and sent her away.

  I still thought about calling her.

  I still thought about going to her place and trying to apologize.

  “And you’re still brooding over it instead of doing anything,” I told myself as I headed away from the beach, back up to the main part of the resort.

  I saw Millie duck into a bungalow ahead of me, and I lingered outside, thinking to tell her thanks. What she was doing meant the world to Michelle and Jake, so it mattered to me too.

  When she didn’t come out after a couple of minutes, I turned to go.

  But just as I did, I heard her voice – and another one that was achingly familiar.

  Spinning around, I saw Mila and Millie walking out of the bungalow together, their heads close as they spoke.

  I stared at Mila, hungry for the sight of her.

  What was she doing here?

  This was one thing I hadn’t been prepared for – seeing Mila here. She should be back in New York. It was the middle of the week. She’d have clients.

  But that was her, walking right next to her grandmother.

  Just looking at her brought back all the shit I’d been trying to make myself forget – unsuccessfully.

  It brought back the sight of that teasing, warm smile.

  The way she tasted.

  The way she sighed against me when we lay together, her hand coming up to rest on my chest.

  Something clued her into my presence, because she glanced my way, then back at her grandmother.

  Not even a second later, her head swung around, and she stared at me in shock as recognition hit.

  Our gazes locked, and I felt the impact of that connection straight to my soul.

  Say something, dumbass.

  But all I could do was…stare.

  She wore a long denim skirt and a tank top that revealed her sleek, toned arms and hugged her breasts.

  Her mouth parted on a startled breath.

  Slowly, I took a step toward her.

  Mila turned on her heel and marched away, the denim skirt swishing around her feet with each step.

  Deflating, I closed my eyes.

  “You should go after her,” a soft, kind voice said.

  I looked over at Millie and shook my head. “She just took off running like she couldn’t get away from me fast enough. I don’t think she wants me coming after her.”

  “Well…” Millie heaved out a sigh. “Sometimes we don’t know what we want. But I saw the way you two looked at each other. Again, Liam…go after her. Especially if you want her like I think you do.”

  I cast a look at Mila’s quickly retreating form.

  Did I want her?

  Hell, yes.

  “Go,” Millie said again.

  I went.

  Twenty-Eight

  Mila

  Coward, a sly voice in my head whispered as I hurried down the path.

  I wasn’t being a coward, I insisted. I just had…things to do.

  And I did. I always had things to do here, and with Millie turning the place over to me, I had so much I still had to learn and figure out. I didn’t have time to stand around with Liam while he…

  While he did what, I wondered.

  Why was he here?

  I shoved the thought away.

  It didn’t matter why he was here.

  It had nothing to do with me, did it?

  After all, if he wanted to talk to me, he could have called me anytime in the last three weeks.

  He hadn’t.

  He hadn’t called, hadn’t texted, hadn’t come by to see me. Nothing.

  Whatever he was doing here now had nothing to do with me.

  I heard him behind me and put extra speed into my steps as I rounded the next corner in the path.

  I was walking so fast, I almost ended up crashing into the couple veering off the path that led to their private bungalow.

  “Oh…I’m sorry.” I brushed my hair out of my eyes, giving them a polite smile. “Excuse me.”

  “No
problem.” The guy, a tall, leanly built blond, gave me an easy smile while the woman with him, a cute redhead, nodded.

  I was a second away from making my escape when the redhead asked, “Do you know where we can get some food?”

  Mentally, I wanted to scream, but I was no longer just here as my grandmother’s guest. In a very short time, this island would be mine, and I needed to remember the resort guests were my guests.

  “Just get to the island?” I asked, forcing a smile.

  “Yes.” The redhead nodded and glanced up at the man with her. She leaned against him, a smile curling her lips. “We’re getting married here this weekend.”

  “Oh!” This was the couple Millie had been telling me about. “Congratulations…and welcome to Pleasure Island.”

  I was keenly aware of the fact that Liam had been jogging after me, and now, as he came to a stop a few paces away, I determinedly ignored him as I gestured up the path and offered directions to the main part of the lodge.

  “There’s always food, so don’t worry about that,” I finished with a smile.

  Liam continued to hover.

  “Hey, Liam, we’re going to get something to eat. Do you want to come? Michelle is starving.”

  I swiveled my head between the blond guy and Liam, understanding starting to dawn.

  Shit. They were all here because of the wedding.

  The redhead poked her guy in the side and muttered, “You said you were starving.”

  I barely noticed the interaction.

  No, I only had eyes for Liam, who, at the mention of his name, had come closer. “I’m not hungry, Jake. But you two go on.”

  Great. That was just great.

  “Mila!” my grandmother called out from behind me. “I see you’ve met our soon to be newlyweds!”

  I bit back a grimace as I heard Millie drawing closer. I eyed the path, tried to figure out how to politely make my getaway.

  Liam had moved closer to me as if he was sensing my thoughts.