She was still so sorry for her behavior back then, and when she thought of what she put her family through, she felt ashamed. Lexie couldn't imagine what terror she would have gone through if any of them went missing for over a year. She wouldn't be able to function.
"I can't forget how I hurt you all, and I did that for a man who treated me so badly. He had no respect for me, and..." Lexie fumbled with her fingers and looked at the eagerness in both of them that urged her to continue. "He... used to hit me all the time and push me around. That night I left was the worst, I think he would have killed me if he caught me."
Hayley immediately sucked in a breath the minute Lexie finished and started crying. Tamar came around and sat next to Lexie, putting her arm around her and pulling her towards her chest as she cried too.
"I wanted to come home, but I was scared."
Tamar kissed the top of her head and stroked the side of her face.
Hayley was still crying, so Lexie reached out her hand to take hers.
"I'm so sorry for everything," Lexie told her.
Hayley shook her head and settled Lexie's hand on the table to cover it with both of hers. "Don't apologize," she began. "And stop feeling bad. We're all happy to have you here with us. Adam was an absolute jerk. Ed should never have happened. Just write them off, and start over. Start over Lexie."
"It's the only way to put the past behind you," Tamar added. Both she and Lexie straightened up.
Lexie nodded in complete agreement. As usual, they were right. She could either let her bad experience with Adam consume her life - which would mean he still had power over her - or. She could just wipe the slate clean.
"We think Sam's a great guy for you," Hayley noted with a small smile that made her brown eyes twinkle.
"Sam's a great guy," Lexie remarked, thinking about what he'd said to her earlier.
Tamar glanced at her watch and smiled. "You probably should get going. Be sure to text us and let us know what kind of trip this is likely to be."
"And if the sex is good," Hayley added in her usual trademark way. Tamar started to laugh.
Although they both still looked quite troubled, Lexie saw they were trying to regain the usual carefree manner they exhibited with her. They'd most likely break down again when she left. Especially Hayley. She appeared tough, but there was a softness to her that she couldn't hide.
"Hayley, I'm certain it's not that kind of trip," Lexie replied, feeling herself blushing.
"Oh please. He booked you off for the rest of the week and told you to pack a bag. Sounds like sex to me."
Everything sounded like sex to Hayley.
"Just make sure you have good lingerie," Tamar added with a sly grin.
"I do, but not for that reason." She was feeling more like herself now, definitely feeling better and more hopeful after talking to her sisters.
Time to go and see what this meeting was about. She got up and hugged them.
"Have fun Lexie." Tamar smiled lacing her fingers saucily together.
"Indeed, have fun. Remember what I said last night." Hayley cooed. "And if you don't message us we'll assume he was terrible."
Lexie shook her head as they giggled. "Thanks for taking care of me." She told them.
"What we're here for." Tamar nodded.
* * *
It took about an hour to drive down to the marina. The weather was at its usual best with the brilliant sun beaming radiantly in the clear sky. She loved the landscape around here with its fan-leaved palm trees dotting the coast and the salty smell of the sea beckoning you to adventure. Her father used to take them all here when they were little at the beginning of summer for the Tall Ships Festival, and just to go to the beach for fun. Lexie had always loved coming down here. The salty air filled her lungs as she stepped out of her car.
She'd parked in the long stay car park and set off along the marina admiring the beautiful array of boats along the dock. Sam hadn't given any instructions on where to meet once she got here so she assumed he'd be where they were the other week.
"Hey, glad you decided to show."
She stopped on hearing his voice and turned around, but didn't see him. She looked upon the deck of the nearest yacht but still couldn't find him.
"Sam." She continued to look around. "Where are you?" She smiled.
The gentle breeze lifted the ends of her ponytail and caressed her cheeks.
"Sam." She chuckled to herself as she looked over at a yellow sailboat on the other side with elegant sails that whipped out against the wind.
She was about to continue down the path when two strong arms swooped her up from behind and lifted her. She squealed and started laughing against Sam's chest.
"That's better." Sam turned her to face him and set her down, but didn't release her. She saw that he'd changed into a black Van Halen T-shirt and ripped jeans. He looked really good, and the excitement in his smile brought her focus back up to his face.
"Ready for an adventure?" he asked. His handsome face kindled with excitement and she found herself lost in the magnetism of his radiant smile.
She nodded. "Yes. Where are we going?"
"I bought a yacht."
She gasped and smiled up at him. "That's fantastic."
"We're going on a voyage. How does that sound?"
"Great." She beamed then looked down at her bag and winced. "Are we going around the world? I don't think I packed enough."
His eyes twinkled as he laughed. "I thought we'd start small with a short trip to Tijuana."
"Tijuana," she gasped, this was indeed an adventure. "Wow, that's way cool."
He looked happy with her reaction. "And..." he paused for suspense.
"And, what?" What could be better?
"They're running an outdoor cinema on the main beach. Guess what's showing tonight?'
Her smile widened. "What?"
"Maltese Falcon."
"Maltese Falcon?" She thought back to their little text conversation last week. He nodded with a satisfied smile. "Sam. That sounds amazing."
More than amazing. It was incredible. But what felt even more incredible was the way she felt in his arms. She wanted to go back to last night, to the way they were before they ran into Ed.
"Here's what I wanted to show you last night." He released her and took hold of her hand tugging her a few paces back the way she'd come. "This is the Laura Rose." He opened his palm towards a stunning red and white polished motor yacht with magnificent white sails. Lexie had seen it when she was walking down but had been too busy trying to find Sam to admire it. It reminded her of one of those yachts you'd see on the set of a glamorous film.
"This is yours?" She couldn't hide her surprise. But then what did she expect? Sam was incredibly wealthy, and it was nothing to him to buy a yacht.
"It is. It's not the kind of boat I'd use normally for my adventures, but it'll do for now. Come aboard." He tugged her hand, beckoning her to go with him with his dazzling smile. Once they got on deck, he started showing her around. "The grand tour begins here. But forgive me if I'm rusty on what's where I only saw it once before, and then I finished the purchase, with Zane's help, this morning."
"This morning?" She didn't realize it would all be that easy.
He nodded and smiled. "I thought a trip was just the thing we needed."
"I love it."
How exciting. Lexie hadn't been this excited in forever. She looked over the glossy onyx and cherry woods that luxuriously decorated the interior. The floor was polished a lighter color that made it look all the more outstanding.
Two, very cozy looking, white leather deck chairs were positioned at the far end and had that tranquil look that invited you to do nothing but relax and sink into the comfort they seemed to offer.
When he led her into the galley, her amazement grew. It was huge, offering all the comforts of a home. A kitchen, dining area for at least eight people, a bathroom and a lounge with a forty-two-inch flat screen TV. What impressed her further we
re the three cabins with double beds and closet space. She could easily live here. Easily.
The last stop was the captain's quarters, as Sam called it, where there was all this electronic navigation stuff surrounding the room. She didn't have any idea how it all worked, but at least she recognized the steering wheel. As Sam talked about the equipment on the system, she listened intently, intrigued by him. There was so much to like about him and fascinate her, and she noticed that when he talked about sailing, in particular, his face always lit up. She could see his love for it and that it was what he enjoyed most. It made her happy to be able to share the experience with him.
Sam was so happy she was here. Finally, he had her all to himself with no distractions, and the opportunity to show her that he wanted to be with her. It would be like the other week when they spent the day together but with so much more.
After he had spoken to his mom last night, he spoke to Zane who miraculously pushed through the yacht sale, arranged cover for their work and to top it off found out about the classic film festival on the beach. It was times like these when he valued Zane. If anyone could make something amazing happen it was him.
Lexie seemed a lot more like herself, much better than this morning, but he was being really careful with her and giving her whatever time she needed to trust him.
Sam was excited about sailing, but he was more ecstatic she was here. He swore he could happily spend the day just looking at her and reveling in the fact that they were together. Just like that day when they met she enchanted him with her beauty both inside and out.
Sam leaned against the control panel and watched her looking out at the open sea, allowing his gaze to travel down the full length of her perfect body. He loved the way the sun brought out the lighter parts of her hair and made them sparkle, and the gentle curve of her waist and bronze skin. The woman was perfect.
She turned to face him and smiled as he switched on the engine.
"Let's go." He returned the smile when she nodded and fell into his arms as he slipped them around her.
* * *
Lexie could see why Sam loved sailing. Other than visiting a few amazing beaches and attending dinner parties on yachts that may have gone a mile out to sea she'd never experienced anything like this. It was like being in another world.
While the boat cruised along, she sat on the deck with him enjoying the scenery, listening to the choir of gulls, and watching the scenic mingle of gentle ripples in the prussian blue and emerald green water. The sea was calm and perfectly peaceful, and boats with billowed sails glided gracefully around them, slicing the waves as they too explored the diverse tapestry of the sea.
Although she hadn't been in a long time, it reminded her of Brazil, and the calm she felt there. Occasionally they passed interesting rock formations that jutted out, and she wondered what lay beneath. The thought of swimming out and exploring the surroundings appealed to her. Lexie used to love swimming in the sea when she was little. In recent years she hadn't allowed herself to do anything like that, or much in the way of fun. Too busy working.
She turned to face Sam and found that he was already looking at her.
"You look more relaxed," he commented, resting his elbow on the smooth leather of the seat.
They'd been gone for about two hours, but she'd mellowed right out as if she'd been on holiday for days. She also sat cross-legged in front of him slouching into the seat as if she were in her pajamas at home.
"I am, everything's so beautiful." She tucked a wayward strand of hair behind her ear as it loosened from her ponytail. "Did you ever swim around and explore on your other journeys?"
"That's one of the best parts. Normally I'd spend a few days in an area and go diving."
"That sounds like such an adventure."
He nodded and looked ahead, starring out into the open expanse of water. "Before my accident. I always went diving and exploring. It's best after a storm. You find all kinds of things down there. I went to the Caribbean once after some guys discovered remains from an old pirate ship."
"Wow." Now that was fascinating.
"Yeah. I was about eighteen at the time, and I really believed I'd find treasure. Crazy. I got stuck in the worse storm ever, and all I found was an old boot." He laughed.
"Was it from the ship?" Lexie beamed thinking it had to still be worth something with its age.
"No, it was literally some old washed up Doc Martin's."
She started to laugh. "Did you ever find anything worthwhile?"
"Yeah, but it was stuff already discovered, and I would have gotten in some serious trouble if I got caught with it, or near it. It was a ship graveyard that had remains of ships from the thirteenth century. I couldn't tell you if they were pirate ships but the area was quarantined for its danger and historical value. It was amazing Lexie." His eyes sparkled as he spoke.
"What did it look like?"
"Unreal. There were masses of coral formations on the biggest ship and schools of fish you couldn't dream of. The colors were phenomenal."
"Wow, that sounds amazing."
"Yeah. It's good to be back on the sea. There was a time when it was my life."
She smiled. "I can see why. I'd love to say I did something like that. But I'm kind of dull compared to you."
He looked at her, and his smile brightened. "You are so far from dull Lexie. You've got a host of accomplishments Dr. Ramone."
"Thank you, but that's all work stuff."
"That chocolate hand thing you did on me was exciting." He beamed straightening up.
She narrowed her eyes at him. "That was exciting Sam?"
"For me it was." She laughed when he winked at her. "What's the story behind that?"
"My mom taught me how to do it, and my grandmother taught her. It's supposedly passed down from all the women in my family. It's a way of reading your personality, and seeing your soul." She smiled. "My dad always accused my mom of casting a spell on him when she did it to him, and she could get him to do whatever she wanted whenever she made him his special blend of hot chocolate."
Sam leaned against the seat and stared at her with deep adoration. "I can understand that completely."
"Oh, so there's a chance I could get you to do whatever I wanted with hot chocolate?" Lexie asked playfully.
"There's absolutely a chance." Sam nodded with reassurance, reaching out to touch her face. When he ran his finger along the side of her jaw and lingered at the edge of her chin, her heart warmed at the prospect of him kissing her. "The question is, would it work for me too?" He set his hand back onto the seat and gazed at her. "Would hot chocolate get you to do whatever I wanted?"
"No," she teased and laughed at him when he narrowed his eyes at her.
"Okay, mysterious girl. What do I have to do to get you to do what I want?"
"Just ask."
He inclined his head to the side and looked her over. "That's it? Just ask?"
She nodded. "Is there something you want me to do, Sam?"
A lascivious smile lifted the corners of his sensual lips. "Yes." He held her gaze and brought his hand back up to her cheek. "Kiss me."
Finally, and she would with pleasure.
Lexie returned the smile and propped herself up onto her knees. He took hold of her waist to pull her closer as she pressed her hands on the hard muscles of his chest. The minute her lips touched his she fell into oblivion.
She could have easily kissed him forever, but he slowed the kiss and moved his lips over to her jaw.
"Later." He promised on the edge of a breath.
"Later?" she asked weakly.
"Yes, because if we continue, I swear to God we won't leave this boat for anything. Ever."
"Okay." She laughed.
Lexie couldn't wait for later.
Chapter 17
They pulled into the marina of Rosarito Beach twenty minutes later. There they were completely surrounded by the vibrant atmosphere. Music filled the air and people surrounded the little huts
selling sorts of touristy things on the white sandy beach.
They explored the area enjoying it all until it was time to watch the film. Seeing the film with Sam made it even more enjoyable as it was the first time Lexie had ever seen it with someone who loved and appreciated it as much as her. After that, they indulged on a grand Mexican feast then took a romantic walk along the beach near the huts they saw earlier. The nightlife was even busier than in the daytime.
"How about a game before we go back?" Sam asked with a cunning glint in his eye. They'd watched a few couples try their luck on a silly game where you had to hit a moving alien with a ball. The prize was a giant teddy bear.
"I don't know Sam. I'm quite good at things like that. I don't want to make you look bad." Lexie joked. Actually, she was terrible at anything like that. He narrowed his eyes at her and bit the edge of his lip, trying his hardest not to laugh.
"Make me look bad? We'll see about that."
"Okay, but don't say I didn't warn you." She tried not to laugh. The crowd cleared leaving them to play. "Okay Miss 'I'm better than you," the first to score ten wins."
"That's easy." She giggled. "I may give you the bear as a present for the great day I've had."
"No, I'll give you the bear. This is our own competition, with different prizes." Mischief narrowed his eyes.
"What kind of prizes?" She smiled.
The desire that filled his eyes answered her question. "We get to pick." He held her gaze for a few seconds and only looked away when the guy running the stall came up to them.
"Ready to play?" The guy asked adjusting his long black ponytail over his shoulder as the wind picked it up. "Ten hits and you win a bear." Lexie looked over his shoulder to the range of teddy bears and other assortments of very cute stuffed animals that covered the stall. No one had won while they'd waited to play.
"Ready. Can we have ten balls each?" Sam asked.
When the man handed them the balls, Sam turned to Lexie and opened his hands to her, inviting her to go. "Ladies first."
Complete Me Page 23
