Beauty and the Beach

by Diane Darcy

  “What a great idea,” said Isabelle.

  She wrote their names on a couple of tags, and pressed Adam’s to his chest. “I feel like I’m in kindergarten,” he complained.

  “Shh.” Isabelle glanced around. “Don’t be a baby. I’m terrible with names and this will be a big help.”

  Next they headed over to the buffet to stand in line. She placed Adam’s salad among the others, picked up some plates, and they helped themselves.

  Isabelle smiled. “It looks great.”

  “It does.” Salads, cold meats, fruits, and desserts adorned the table protected from the sun by an awning. But that didn’t mean Adam wasn’t wishing he was next door with Isabelle alone. He leaned down to whisper, “I think I just saw a bee.”

  Isabelle chuckled, the warm sound making him smile, and after they’d loaded up their plates they found a place to sit next to another couple at one of the round tables set around the patio. Adam didn’t know them, so he introduced himself. “I’m Adam Wilder, and this is Isabelle Kenna. We live next door.”

  “In The Castle?”

  Adam nodded and the young man smiled and held out a hand. “I’m Jared Miller, and this is my wife Stacy, and we have a little three-year-old boy, otherwise known as Hurricane Zack, but we left him home with a sitter. Our place is the blue one about five houses down.”

  Isabelle smiled. “That’s a beautiful home. It’s so nice to meet you both.”

  After the pleasantries were exchanged, another couple joined them at their table. When they were almost done with their meal, Mrs. Gilroy approached. She smiled at the group as a whole. “I hope everyone’s having fun. Would you all mind if I stole Adam away for just a moment?”

  Adam stood reluctantly.

  Izzy nodded toward the buffet. “I’m going to get some dessert. Do you want anything?”

  “Sure, maybe a few cookies.” Adam followed Mrs. Gilroy, said hello to some familiar faces, and was almost to the other side of the yard, when he realized they were headed toward Caitlyn, who stood alone. Great. An intimate conversation with Caitlyn was the last thing he needed.

  Mrs. Gilroy gestured toward her niece, “Caitlyn, didn’t you want to show Mr. Wilder your new necklace?”

  As Mrs. Gilroy left them alone, Adam immediately recognized the piece as one of his. He pasted on a smile and wondered how long it would take to get back to Izzy. He glanced at the buffet, saw her talking to another guy, and he didn’t see a wife in sight. Jealousy punched him in the gut. Apparently, he needed to hide Isabelle away in his castle. Maybe even build a tower to lock her in.

  “Adam?”

  He finally realized Caitlyn was waiting for his full attention. “I believe that’s one of mine, isn’t it?”

  She giggled, wiggled, and pressed her hand to her chest in a somewhat suggestive way. “I can’t tell you how much I admire your work. Your creativity is amazing. There’s no one quite like you.”

  “Thank you. That necklace looks like it was made for you,” he pulled out the usual compliment. “It’s especially nice to see my jewelry on such a beautiful woman.”

  Caitlyn preened and then started to talk about jewelry. Pieces she’d bought, what attracted her attention, what brands she’d purchased before finding his style was her favorite and suited her the very best. Fortunately she didn’t seem to need any responses.

  Adam glanced back at Isabelle, still talking to that guy. Now she was laughing, and slowly driving him crazy. He didn’t want her laughing with anyone but him. He saw her playing with the necklace he’d made her, and again, Adam felt a very real sense of satisfaction to see her wearing the piece. Touching it. Proclaiming she was his. He was laughing at his thoughts when Caitlyn put her hand on his arm and turned him away so he couldn’t see Isabelle anymore.

  “Adam, there’s something I’ve been wanting to talk to you about.”

  “Oh?” His phone vibrated and he checked it to see what Isabelle had written: it looks like you’re having fun with the neighbors, after all.

  He smiled and texted back: you said you had my back! Help!

  “What’s so funny?” asked Caitlyn.

  He sent the message and pocketed the phone. “Business.”

  “Oh, good. I have some business I’d like to discuss with you myself.”

  “Oh?”

  “I was on your website the other day and I saw a necklace. The Starfire. I simply must have it and I’m planning to go to your store tomorrow to purchase it. Is there any chance you can take me for a private viewing?”

  “That particular necklace is being cleaned. It’s not available at the moment.”

  “Come on. How can a new necklace need cleaning? I’m sure it’s fine. Pretty please.” She batted her lashes. “It would mean so much if you would do this for me.”

  “Sorry. I only show top-notch jewelry. Maybe another time.”

  Caitlyn lips curved in a slightly predatory smile. “You know, Adam,” she seemed to stress his name, “We have so much in common. I’d love to go out with you sometime so we can get to know each other better. Dinner, or a movie, or both? Any chance you’ll take me?”

  Adam looked at her blankly.

  “It’s just that I’m really feeling a connection here between us.” She put her hand on his chest, right over his nametag. “Just like I did the last time we met.”

  “The last time?”

  “You know, when my aunt first introduced us?”

  “Caitlyn,” he looked around, wondering if there was a graceful way to get out of this situation. “Thank you, I’m flattered, but my girlfriend would kill me if I dated other women.”

  Caitlyn shot Isabelle a glare. “She doesn’t own you.”

  “I know. But she’s pretty possessive.”

  The annoyed look now landed on him. “I’ll tell you what. Just in case you decide you’re allowed to date other girls, why don’t I give you my phone number?”

  Adam shook his head sadly. “Izzy goes through my phone and deletes numbers from other girls.”

  Caitlyn gave him a disgusted look. “You know, when I purchased a different piece from Wilder’s the last time I was here, an older gentleman named Mr. Kenna sold me the piece. I’d expected to see him there again this week. But he doesn’t work there anymore. Is he any relation to Isabelle?”

  Adam didn’t want to answer, but suspected Caitlyn already knew. “Her father.”

  “Really? I only ask because I understand he was fired from his position at Wilder’s. Under somewhat suspicious circumstances.”

  She had his full attention now. “Who told you that?”

  “A little bird.”

  “It looks like I need to talk to my new manager.”

  Caitlyn’s eyes narrowed. “I just wanted to make sure you knew what you were doing. With Isabelle, I mean. I hate to say it, but having her at your house looks odd.”

  “It’s none of your business, Caitlyn. Stay out of it.”

  Her eyes widened. “I was simply trying to help.”

  “By nosing into something that doesn’t have anything to do with you?”

  She clutched his arm. “I’m just trying to say I’m so sorry you’re having to deal with riffraff like Isabelle and her father, that’s all.”

  Adam shook her off. “You’re not really interested in buying the Starfire at all, are you? You’re just digging for information. Look, I don’t know what you think you know, but you’re mistaken. Now mind your own business.”

  Shooting him a venomous glare, Caitlyn turned and walked away.

  With a wave, Isabelle headed down the path to the beach, and Adam took a red rose out of one of the table settings, hid it behind his back, and followed. As he caught up to her she turned, and with a bow, he handed her the rose.

  She put the flower to her nose, and glanced up at him. “You’re a romantic, you know that, right?”

  He led her down the path toward a wooden bench a few feet away. “No one’s ever accused me of that before.” He gestured for her to s
it and then sank beside her, his large body taking most of the space, his thigh pressing hers. “You must bring out the worst in me.”

  She smiled. “It’s beautiful here, isn’t it?” She looked out at the ocean. “Almost as nice as your beach.”

  “Almost.” He wanted to take her hand in his, but didn’t quite dare. He laid his arm along the back of the bench.

  “You know what would be nice?” she said softly. “If we were just meeting here for the first time. With nothing between us. Just two people, ready to start dating again, meeting randomly at a party or on the beach.”

  Fear punched Adam in the gut. Had that guy she’d been talking to brought these feelings about? Had she enjoyed chatting with someone who didn’t have a hold over her? “Izzy. Don’t forget, I asked you out before all of this happened with your father. Twice, in fact.”

  She nodded. “I remember.”

  “When all this came about with your dad, it was bad enough to begin with, but for him to end up being your father? Believe me, that was incredibly bad news for me.”

  “So, what you’re saying is, you feel the same way I do?”

  “That I wish we’d gotten together in different circumstances?” He looked down at his hands. “I guess I do. I wish you’d said yes to my initial request for a date. That we’d started dating with nothing negative between us.”

  Isabelle nodded. “If the necklace is found, maybe I’ll ask you out next time, okay?”

  He leaned forward so he could see her expression. “And if it isn’t found?”

  Isabelle looked down and shrugged. “Then we’ll start paying you back.”

  And she wouldn’t want to date her debtor. She didn’t say it, but he felt it was implied.

  He studied her bent head, watched her fingers play with the rose, and wondered how everything had gone so wrong for them.

  He’d wanted her from the moment he’d seen her and hadn’t been able to get her out of his mind. And it was like a malevolent fairy had sprinkled their lives and their chances with bad luck.

  Was there something he could have done differently? Maybe having her move in with him had been a bad idea. He still wasn’t even sure how it had happened. Regardless, he probably should never have agreed to it.

  He knew her dad had simply borrowed the necklace. If she’d been an ugly hag, would he have played the good guy and just said, ‘hey, let’s give it a week?’

  He sighed. Actually, he knew what he would’ve done. If not for Isabelle, her father would probably be in jail right this moment. “Shall we go back to the party?”

  She nodded once, stood, and walked back up the hill. He followed slowly, wishing he knew what to do to untangle this situation and still get Izzy in the end.

  Chapter Ten

  THE NEXT NIGHT ISABELLE ARRIVED at The Castle after a Sunday of visiting her family and watching movies. She couldn’t find Adam anywhere and, after searching the house, headed out back to find him swimming laps in the twilight with the fairy lights reflecting off the pool.

  She’d missed him.

  He spotted her and swam to the edge. “Hi.” He swiped his short hair and droplets sprang off it like water from a duck’s back, leaving his dark hair spiky on top. His eyelashes were damp, accentuating their length.

  “Hi, yourself.”

  “Why don’t you come join me? I just barely got in.”

  It was a warm night and she looked around at the pretty lights attached to the back of the house, halfway up two palm trees, and over the wooden trellis shielding a table. She had to admit she was tempted. Her apartment complex had a pool, but she couldn’t remember the last time she’d gone swimming. It looked fun, and, yes, Adam was a big part of the draw. Unfortunately, she had nothing to wear. “I don’t have a swimsuit with me. Maybe I’ll pick one up from my dad’s place tomorrow.”

  He grinned. “I’ll take mine off if it’ll make you more comfortable.”

  She could barely make out his red mid-thigh trunks. “Nice try, exhibitionist.”

  He laughed. “I can dream, can’t I?”

  She could feel her cheeks heating, but his good mood was drawing her in. “Maybe I’ll just sit on the side of the pool and dangle my feet.”

  “My sister stays in the bedroom across the hall from you. She bought five or so the last time she was here. Some of them still have the tags on and I doubt she even tried them on. Why don’t you go pick one?”

  Again, she was tempted. “Do you think she’d mind?”

  “She won’t even know. She buys more clothes than she ever uses or remembers. Besides, she used my credit card, so technically they’re mine.”

  “In that case, I’d hate to take your swimsuits,” she teased. “What if you want to wear them sometime?”

  “Ha, ha.”

  She hesitated. The way he was looking at her, flirting with her, she really shouldn’t. She glanced at the sparkling water, the shining lights, and the man she was starting to crush on. What could it hurt? “Okay. I’ll go see if anything fits.”

  He pushed off from the edge. “I’ll be right here.”

  Upstairs, she looked around the bedroom for a moment, and finally found the swimsuits in the top dresser drawer. The two bikinis still had tags on. They weren’t particularly immodest, but still. After a moment’s hesitation, she took them back to her room. The pink one fit best and, after one last look in the mirror, she wrapped a towel around herself, and headed out to the pool.

  Adam was on the far end when she arrived, so she quickly shucked the towel, climbed down the three stairs, and sank into the warm water.

  He swam toward her. “Hey.”

  “Hey, yourself. I expected it to be colder.”

  “I get too many complaints when I keep it cold.” He reached over the side and snagged four floating noodles and slid two across the water toward her.

  Grateful for something to hang onto she quickly put them under her arms and floated, her feet still touching the ground. He did the same.

  “So, what’d you do at your dad’s today?”

  “We watched a couple of 80’s romance movies.”

  “Oh, yeah? What did you watch?” He held up a hand. “Wait, let me guess.” He pushed off the bottom and floated a little closer to her. “Romances…80’s romances…hmm…one with Meg Ryan?”

  She smiled. In the dusk, his green eyes alight, he looked so handsome with his dark hair slightly spiked, and his strong, stubbled jawline. His broad, tanned shoulders flexed and tightened with his movements as he churned the water with his hands, making her want to touch.

  She forced herself to look away. “Nope,” she said. “Not Meg.”

  “One with Molly Ringwald?”

  She twirled in a circle. “Uh, uh.”

  “Give me a hint. Name one of the actors.”

  “Christopher Reeves.”

  “Superman?”

  She arched a brow at him. “That’s not a romance.”

  “What? Are you kidding me? When he flies Lois Lane around Metropolis being all strong and awesome, you didn’t find that romantic?”

  She shot him an amused glance as she pushed off into the water, away from him. “Apparently you did?”

  He followed. “Yeah. He was awesome.”

  “Is this a man crush? In a romance, I think the guy is supposed to fall in love with the girl.”

  He laughed. “What can I say? I related to the big, strong superhero.”

  She giggled, admiring his shoulders once more. “I don’t doubt that for a second. Are you done guessing?”

  “No way. Did you watch The Blue Lagoon?”

  “Never again in this lifetime. Personally, I didn’t find that movie very romantic. It was weird. And the main characters died in the end. That’s always a zero on the romance meter.”

  “Come on, Brooke Shields running around in scraps left a definite impression on me and my friends when we watched it in Isaac Beckman’s basement in junior high.”

  She laughed. “I bet. Still a no.
Try again.”

  “Dirty Dancing?”

  “Nope.”

  “Flashdance?”

  “I’m sensing a pattern here. And I’m actually surprised you’ve watched all these old movies.”

  “Hey, I have a mom and a sister. What choice did I have?”

  She smiled. “I like your mom and sister already.”

  “They’ll like you, too. Okay, Innerspace.”

  She shot him a look. He’d sounded like he thought she was going to meet his family. “I already said Meg Ryan wasn’t in it, and I don’t remember Christopher Reeve being in any of those movies, either.”

  “Oh, yeah, him. Okay, I give up. What did you watch?”

  “Somewhere in Time.”

  He groaned. “How could I have forgotten that movie? My mom loves it.”

  “It’s incredibly romantic.”

  “I guess. But there’s not a lot of action. Wait a minute, didn’t he die in the end?”

  “He did. But it didn’t count because they were reunited right when he died.”

  “And the lovers in The Blue Lagoon weren’t?”

  “If it didn’t show it, it didn’t happen.”

  He shook his head. “That’s illogical, but moving on. Name the main actress in the other movie you watched.”

  “Robin Wright.”

  “Romancing the Stone?”

  “Nope, that’s Kathleen Turner. But I really like that one.”

  “Me, too. So we’re in agreement on something? Do you want to watch it sometime?”

  She glanced at him, warmth blooming within her. “Sure.”

  He smiled. “Top Gun.”

  “I’m pretty sure that was Kelly McGillis.”

  “Sleepless in Seattle.”

  “Meg Ryan. And that was in the 90’s.”

  He grabbed her noodles and pulled her closer. “Okay, I give up. Tell me.”

  Their bodies weren’t touching, but they were close enough she could lean forward and kiss him if she were so inclined. Her heart started to pound and she gulped. “The Princess Bride.”

  “I actually liked that one,” he said, his voice low.