by Joy Avery
Couldn’t Tressa have at least given her a moment to recover?
“Are you listening to me, Vi?”
“Yes. Yes, I’m listening,” she said in a less-than-enthusiastic tone.
“Then please tell me what the problem is.”
The problem had just waltzed out the front door. Instead, she said, “There is no problem.”
“Good. So...that means you’re going to call Alonso and tell him you changed your mind about the trip, right?”
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to go; it was that she wanted to go far more than she would ever admit. “I wouldn’t hold my breath.”
* * *
Several hours had passed since he’d left Vivian’s place, but the woman still lingered in his thoughts. His grandfather once told him he’d know he’d found the one when he couldn’t think about anything else but her. Alonso couldn’t say whether or not Vivian was “the one,” but she surely wasn’t giving up any real estate in his head.
He poured himself a drink, then headed to the bedroom to pack. The sound of his cell phone vibrating drew his attention away from the headstrong woman he’d forget if he could. Garth Garrison’s name flashed across the screen. The man had been blowing up his phone all day. Alonso allowed the call to roll into voice mail.
Five minutes later, Alonso’s phone rang again. This time Vivian’s name populated the screen. An unexplainable excitement filled him. This call he would take.
He lifted the device. “Hello?”
A pause lingered as if Vivian contemplated whether or not to disconnect. Finally, her sweet voice danced over the line, melting away the hint of anxiousness that he’d felt just a moment earlier. This woman made him experience all types of unwelcomed emotions.
“Hi. Were you busy?”
If he had been, the answer would have still been, “No.”
“So, I was thinking... If your invitation still stands, I’d like to tag along with you. If that’s okay.”
Alonso eased down onto his bed. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?” The line grew so still he thought she’d hung up. A hint of alarm gripped him. “Hello?”
“I’m here.”
Inwardly, he blew a sigh of relief. Good.
“It’s for a good cause, so yeah, I’m sure. When are we leaving?”
He pumped his fist into the air. “Tomorrow morning at eight. But if that’s too early...”
“Eight is fine. I guess I’ll see you in the a.m.”
“I look forward to it.”
“Good night, Alonso.”
A question lingered that he had to know the answer to. “Why did you change your mind?” It was a good cause when he was at her place.
“Because I have two hands. Good night.”
The line went dead and Alonso pulled the phone away from his ear and stared at it. It would be a good night. But it was going to be an even better morning.
Chapter 9
From the minute they’d pulled out of her driveway, Alonso had kept Vivian entertained. For such a savvy businessman, he had a playful side she adored. After listening to his childhood tales, she was surprised the man still had all of his limbs. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d laughed so hard.
Vivian couldn’t believe she’d actually allowed Tressa to talk her into taking this trip with Alonso, but she was glad she had. And she really couldn’t believe she hadn’t jumped out of the Jeep Wrangler when he’d told her they’d be staying at a friend’s beach house, instead of separate hotel rooms. She really, really couldn’t believe how much she was looking forward to spending more time with him.
Alonso hadn’t mentioned anything else about purchasing her house since their meeting at Caliente Mexicana. What was he waiting on? She knew this perfect gentleman routine was all for show. She was sure the ball would drop soon and they’d return to their buyer-seller dynamic.
“Are you comfortable?” Alonso asked.
“Yes, thank you.”
“Good. I’m glad you changed your mind. You’ll like Infinity Island. There’s no place like it on earth. Well, in my opinion. It’s majestic.”
Vivian laughed. “Really?”
Whatever lingered behind that wicked smile, he kept to himself. Admittedly, she thought the two-hour ride would be awkward. It’d been the complete opposite. “Your friend. How long has he lived on the island?”
Alonso chuckled, then tapped his thumb against the steering wheel. “About that... I have a confession.”
Confession? Uh-oh. She knew things were going too well.
“It’s not a friend’s beach house. It’s mine.”
“Yours? You lied to me?” She wanted to be upset with him, but found even when she tried to be angry at him, she couldn’t stay that way for long.
“No. I just omitted a few details.”
“Lied. Why? Am I not worthy of your truth?”
Alonso’s expression turned stern. Activating the turn signal, he pulled over onto a grassy knoll. Popping the gearshift into Park, he leaned toward her. “That’s not it at all. I just thought if I told you it was my place you’d be reluctant to come. I didn’t want you to think my motives were anything but sincere. This really is about volunteering. Nothing else.”
The nothing else bothered her more than it should have, especially since it was the exact thing she’d told herself. That this trip was not about them. “Omitting details won’t build trust.” Alonso’s brow arched in what she took as surprise.
“Is that what we’re doing, building trust?”
“Everything is built on trust, even friendship. And what better way to build trust than a road trip?” She smiled, tossing his words back at him.
Before Alonso could respond, her cell phone rang. Without even having to look at the screen she was sure it was Tressa calling to check on her.
“If I don’t answer, Tressa will assume you chopped me up into tiny pieces and scattered my remains in the ocean.”
“In that case, definitely answer it. I have a feeling I wouldn’t want to get on Tressa’s bad side.”
“You’re right. You don’t.”
Alonso veered back onto the road as she took the call. “Hi, Tress.”
“Listen to you sounding all spunky. I was calling to check on you, but by the sound of your voice you’re a-okay.”
Vivian could feel Tressa smiling over the phone. “I am. We’re about thirty minutes from the island.”
“The island? That sounds so romantic. I’m so proud of you.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re finally getting back on the horse. And you’ve picked one hell of a stallion to mount.”
Vivian cut a cautionary eye to Alonso. “Okay, I’m hanging up now.”
“Wait, wait. Make sure you use protection. I am too young to be an auntie slash godmother. Just kidding. About the auntie-slash-godmother part. Not the protection part.”
“Bye, Tressa.”
“One more thing.”
Vivian was afraid to ask. “What, silly woman?”
“I know you really like Alonso, but...if he doesn’t go down on you, he’s definitely not the one, sweetie. Love you. Have fun and many orgasms. Kisses.”
The line went dead. Vivian pulled the phone from her ear and shook her head. Vivian could assure Tressa that this trip would not entail orgasms.
“Everything okay?”
“Yes. Just Tressa being Tressa.”
“She seems like a good friend.”
“She’s the sister I never had. She’s helped me through some trying times.” Vivian refused to allow any thoughts of her ex to creep in and ruin her jovial mood. He didn’t deserve any space in her head.
“Sounds like my best friend, Roth. The guy you briefly encountered i
n my office.”
She recalled the handsome man.
“I would have introduced you, but seeing how you’d come for blood...”
“You are so dramatic. Just drive.”
They shared a laugh. Alonso cracked his window and inhaled deeply.
“You smell that?”
Vivian drew in a deep breath. “I love the smell of the ocean.”
“So do I.”
Ten minutes later, they pulled up to a small security station. A wooden sign painted blue and white hung against the small building, Welcome to Infinity Island scrolled in fancy letters across the front. Alonso lowered the window and spoke to the young man there before proceeding forward.
Alonso had been right. Vivian fell in love with Infinity Island the moment they crossed the bridge. From the ranch-style, two-story and three-level homes in hues of coral, aqua, yellow and lavender to the grass so green it looked spray painted. And butterflies—they were everywhere—in vibrant hues, adding to the bursts of colors already present.
“So many butterflies,” she said, more to herself than Alonso, absently fingering the butterfly charm on her bracelet. She thought about her father, a brief sadness washing over her.
“They’re everywhere,” he said. “Something about the island draws them.”
Vivian understood that draw. Everything in Infinity Island seemed magnified. Even the sun appeared to shine brighter here. The air seemed crisper, the sky bluer. Could this place truly be magical? What she’d experienced the mere moments she’d been here opened her mind to the possibility.
Ha. What was she thinking? It only seemed mystical because it’d been a long time since she’d ventured somewhere so beautiful.
Alonso honked and waved at numerous people as they cruised down the unmarked road. Everyone seemed eager to see him, beaming smiles as they passed by. “Do you know all of these people?”
“Everyone knows everyone on the island.”
Could be interesting. Maybe she’d learn some juicy tidbits about him. Vivian pointed to a large grass-covered lot. “What happens there?”
“Music on the Green every Saturday evening. Weather permitting. This weekend is Jazz Fest. We can go if you’d like.”
“Sounds good.”
After what felt like miles—and the end of the island—they arrived at a house that made Vivian’s jaw drop. Unlike the other homes, this house had a personality all its own. The white-and-olive-colored three-level dwelling sat elevated off the shore. Vivian noted the stairs leading from the house down to the beach. This location—secluded from the rest of the island—and the house were both impressive. She wouldn’t have expected anything less.
“I’ll grab the bags if you want to take a look around.”
“I’ll help you first. Then I’ll explore.”
He nodded. “Cool.”
The inside of the home was just as spectacular as the outside. State-of-the-art everything. The interior was decorated in neutral colors with dashes of beach blue here and there. Obviously seashells were the theme. There were seashell pictures, seashell art and actual seashells scattered about. “Did you decorate the place?”
Alonso chuckled. “No. If I had decorated, there would be a couple of lawn chairs and probably a tiki bar in the middle of the room. I hired out.”
“Good idea.”
“Hey. You got something against tiki bars?”
“Only ones adorning living rooms.”
With his head, he directed her toward the stairs. “Come on. I’ll show you to your floor.”
Vivian’s brow furrowed. “My...floor?”
“Yes. You have the entire second level to yourself. You’ll have all the privacy you need. My bedroom is on the third.”
Well, how could she argue with having her own floor? “Are there more bedrooms on the third floor, too?”
“No. Just mine.”
“Your bedroom is the entire third floor?”
He chuckled again, and led her up the stairs. “I like space.”
Apparently.
There were two humongous bedrooms on the second level, one outfitted in a crab theme, the other nets and starfishes. She chose the latter. Mainly for its panoramic window that gave her an unobstructed view of the ocean. Alonso pressed a button and the glass retracted into the wall. Yeah, she was going to like it here.
Outside her window, blue water stretched for miles, kissing the burned-orange horizon. There was no sound like that of the ocean making a mad dash toward the shoreline. Huge waves that dissolved into tiny ripples lapped at the creamy white sand below. Vivian inhaled a lungful of the crisp, salty ocean air, then closed her eyes and enjoyed the melody of gawking seabirds.
It’d been a long time since she’d felt this at peace. A gentle breeze caressed her skin, and a moan of contentment slipped past her lips.
“Do you need some privacy?”
Opening her eyes, she flashed a half smile. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be. It was a beautiful sound.”
The heated look in his gaze made Vivian lose her train of thought. A warm sensation blossomed in her cheeks and traveled to the space between her legs. How could a simple look wreak so much havoc on her body?
Then it hit her.
There was nothing simple about his look. Primal. Confident. Hazardous, even. But nothing simple. The look he anchored to her was complex, daunting, foretelling. She yanked her attention away from him and placed it back on the ocean. “Can I ask you something, Alonso?”
“Sure.”
“Why so much space? It seems like a lot for just one man.”
Alonso folded his arms across his chest. The navy-colored fabric stretched under the strain of his bulging biceps. The image of being wrapped in his protective embrace danced in her head. Stop it, Vivian. Just stop it.
“Maybe one day it won’t be enough.”
Did that mean he wanted a family? A huge one if he intended to fill this place. There was something endearing about the declaration. Maybe because she wanted the same.
His hard stare burned a hole through her, but she didn’t turn away. Couldn’t turn away. Their connection tore through her like a raging beast vying for dominance. Powerful. Potent. Perilous.
They eyed one another for a long time, neither willing to take the loss that would result from turning away. But when his eyes lowered to her mouth, he gained an unfair advantage. A wave of fear crashed over her. The empowered woman she’d been mere seconds ago faded into a vulnerable damsel in distress who wanted to be saved. Needed to be saved. And only Alonso’s kisses could do the trick.
But what if he did kiss her? What would she do? What could she? From prior experience, she knew that once his lips crushed down on hers, she’d be incapable of doing anything other than kiss him back.
This was hell. Hot. Damning. And the result of bad choices.
The phrase home sweet home played in her head. At home, she could escape. Here, where in the hell could she run?
“We should probably make a move to get lunch. After that, I’m sure you want to rest up and relax, as your vacation plans were to sleep. We have a big day tomorrow,” Alonso said.
Maybe this wasn’t hell, after all. The devil certainly would not have freed her so easily. In that heated, intense, all-consuming moment they’d shared, something became abundantly clear. She was fighting a battle. One she had little hope of winning.
But she would continue to fight the good fight for as long as she could.
Chapter 10
Alonso moved about the kitchen the following morning. Although he wasn’t a fan of coffee, he could certainly use a big mug of it now. It’d been a restless night, because all night he’d dreamed about Vivian. Touching her, teasing her, kissing her, making love to her. At one point, he awakened
so hard he thought his dick would snap off. Damn that woman for putting his mind, body and soul through such torture.
He’d chosen to remain a perfect gentleman and not kiss her in the bedroom the day before, but now he was kicking himself for not taking the opportunity to taste her mouth. Even if it’d only been for a few seconds. If it hadn’t been for the look he saw flash in her brown eyes, maybe he would have.
Fear.
Was that what he’d seen in her eyes? If not fear, definitely uncertainty. Whatever it was had stopped him dead in his tracks. When Vivian came to him—and she would come to him and for him—he wanted her to do it willingly. Not from any kind of heat-of-the-moment action she would regret later.
“Morning.”
Vivian’s delicate voice struck him with a jolt of awareness. Damn, this woman did ridiculous things to his body. “Morning,” he said, removing the breakfast casserole he’d prepared from the oven.
She slid onto one of the wood-and-leather barstools situated around the stone island. He wanted to ignore the way her hardened nipples pushed against the nightshirt she wore, but man, did they call to his lips. “Shit.” He yanked his hand away from the hot dish he’d touched.
Alarm lit Vivian’s face. She came off the stool and neared him. “Are you okay?”
Alonso shook his hand to remove the sting. “Yeah. Just a klutz. It’s not serious. I’ll just put some butter on it.”
She led him to the sink. “Butter doesn’t work for burns. That’s an old wives’ tale. In fact, it could do more damage. It could contain bacteria that could get into your wound.”
Attractive and a wealth of knowledge.
“Plus, butter retains heat. You want to cool the burn down, which is why we need to run it under cool water for about five minutes. It will help soothe the pain.”
Alonso’s eyes raked over Vivian’s features as she nursed him...again. If he hadn’t known any better, he’d have thought he was subconsciously injuring himself just to get close to her. But then he remembered the paper cut hadn’t been his fault.
