Luck Be Delanie

by Shelli Stevens

  * * * *

  Delanie slipped on her bikini to wear beneath her clothes, her body still buzzing from that moment in the cabin. She found her shorts and pulled them on just as her phone rang.

  She glanced at it lying on the bed. Fortunately, it wasn’t Franklin’s ringtone.

  Zipping up her shorts, she grabbed it and flipped it open. “Hello?”

  “Hey, it’s Gabby.”

  “Gabby!” Delanie gave a squeal of excitement. “Hey, how’s it going?”

  “Good. I only have a few minutes before Phoebe gets back from the safe house. But I wanted to check. How’s that job prospect going?”

  Delanie bit back a sigh. She hadn’t told Phoebe about the job offer, but had confided in Gabby. Gabby had been so encouraging and had been the one to recommend holding off telling Phoebe until she’d decided whether to accept the job or not.

  But where Gabby knew about the job, she didn’t know about Grant. Only Phoebe had the scoop on that, and, unfortunately, she didn’t have time to give Gabby the full scoop.

  “The job prospect…” she hesitated. She had no idea if Grant had ever seriously intended to give it to her or if it was just a ruse to get her out here. She decided to be ambiguous. “I’m totally on the fence. We’ll see.”

  “Cool. Keep me posted. Is it pretty out there?”

  “Gorgeous. You would not believe it.” She sighed. “Hey, how’s your mom?”

  “She’s doing so good. Went to live with her cousin in Nevada. Hasn’t spoken with my dad since she left him that night.” Gabby’s voice softened. “I’m so proud of her.”

  “That’s awesome.” Delanie smiled.

  And it was. Gabby’s mother had been abused by her husband for years before finally leaving a few weeks ago with Gabby’s help.

  “Oh, hey, Justin just showed up to take me to lunch. I should go. We miss you, Delanie.”

  “I miss you too. Say hi to Justin for me.”

  “Will do. Bye, hon.”

  Delanie closed her phone and pulled on her tank top, then glanced around for her straw hat. Her stomach fluttered with anticipation of what Grant had planned for them next.

  One thing for certain was that the next time Grant touched her, she’d ensure there were no interruptions. Reaching for the phone, she turned the ringer to silent.

  * * * *

  Grant pushed aside the bottles of water in the cooler to make room for the sandwiches Roberta made for them.

  “You are too good to me.” He walked past Roberta, giving her a quick squeeze on the shoulder.

  “Oh, I’m just doing my job,” she scoffed, but her wrinkled cheeks went pink with delight. “Where’s that young lady, anyway? You know, I have yet to get an introduction.”

  “You’ll get your introduction,” he promised and shook his head. “She’s in her room packing a bag right now. We’re going to take the boat out.”

  “Oh, wonderful. Don’t forget your life vests. It gets mighty choppy out there…”

  Roberta broke off and her gaze lifted to something behind him.

  He turned around and found Delanie standing in the doorway. She’d changed into a pair of shorts, tank top, and had on a big, ugly, straw hat, and a massive overstuffed tote bag slung over her shoulder.

  He bit back an amused chuckle. She’d certainly taken to heart the warning that they’d be in the sun the rest of the day.

  “I’m set,” she announced unnecessarily.

  “I see that.”

  Knowing Roberta was itching for an introduction, and her curiosity wouldn’t be appeased until she got one, he turned to the older woman.

  “Roberta, this is Delanie Williams. She works for Second Chances, the battered women’s shelter outside of San Francisco that we’ll be donating to. Delanie, this is Roberta Smith, my chef and woman of all trades.”

  He went to the fridge to pick their fruit, and waited for the preening to begin.

  “Oh, Ms. Williams, aren’t you a lovely thing? It’s so wonderful what you do for those poor women.” Roberta hurried across the floor to grasp Delanie’s hands. Continuing on after a quick breath. “I was just thrilled when Grant told me he was going to sponsor the shelter.”

  “Please, call me Delanie.” Delanie gave the older woman a warm smile and then glanced over at him. “And yes, the offer Mr. Thompson has made is rather remarkable.”

  Their gazes locked and he winked, before slipping into the pantry to grab a couple of extra scones.

  “And you’re just so pretty,” he heard Roberta say. “Say, are you married, Delanie?”

  Delanie’s responding laugh was quiet, her answer even quieter. But he still heard it. “No, just dating someone.”

  Grant’s hand clenched around one of the scones and crumbs squeezed out the edge of the plastic wrap. She was seeing someone? His chest tightened and the sudden jealousy left a sour taste in his mouth.

  “Oh, what a pity.” Roberta sighed. “I was hoping—”

  “Thank you again for the lunch,” he interrupted, returning from the pantry. The effort it took to keep his expression placid was monstrous. “We should be back late this evening.”

  “The weather might take a turn tonight. They’re saying possible rain, so don’t head back too late,” Roberta warned, wagging her finger.

  Delanie laughed. “I don’t mind getting a little wet.”

  Grant jerked his gaze towards her. Her face flamed red and she bit down on her lip. Obviously she’d just realized the double entendre in her words. “I mean, from the rain,” she added in a rush.

  Roberta was oblivious to any of her apparent embarrassment and went about wiping down the counter.

  “All right, well, you two kids have fun, and be careful out there.”

  “Thanks for the lunch, Roberta.”

  Grant placed a hand on Delanie’s back, turning her out of the kitchen before Roberta could call her back to ask her how serious the relationship was with the man she was seeing. Then again, it was something he wouldn’t have minded finding out himself.

  How the hell could he have been stupid enough to assume that she was single? Though, she’d certainly acted like she was last night, and then again today in the cabin. If her phone hadn’t rung, they’d probably still be in the cabin right now.

  The fire that raced through his blood took on a new motive as his anger grew. How could she possibly be seeing someone else and yet let him touch her the way he had?

  Delanie cleared her throat as they stepped outside and moved towards his Jeep.

  “Roberta seems sweet. And…chipper.”

  Grant gave a tight smile. “Roberta is a gem. She’s been with the resort since I took it over from my grandfather five years ago.”

  “Five years?” she repeated as he held open the passenger door to the Jeep and let her climb in. “Wow, you sure didn’t waste time getting started after graduation.”

  “When I want something, I go after it.” He met her gaze. “Always.”

  Her eyes widened. Without waiting for her to reply, he shut her door and went around to the driver’s side of the Jeep.

  He climbed in and started the engine.

  “The resort belonged to my grandfather and he left it to me when he passed away.”

  “That’s a pretty incredible inheritance.”

  “Yes. It is.” He went silent again, not really in the mood for chitchat. Jealousy still burned hot in his gut.

  “Roberta certainly packed us a lot of food.”

  He grunted in response and hit the gas, flooring the Jeep out of the resort.

  Delanie’s loud gasp filled the car. “Do you always drive so fast?”

  Do you always fuck two men at once? His jaw clenched in an effort to avoid snarling the question at her.

  “So where are we going anyway?” she asked, sounding a little more uncertain now.

  “We’re going on a little trip.”

  “A trip?” She glanced over at him. “Are we leaving the island?”

  “
Yes.”

  “Oh. But isn’t the ferry the other way?”

  “We’re not taking the ferry.”

  She went silent, obviously trying to figure out what that meant. Or maybe she just picked up on the fact he wasn’t in the mood to talk.

  He pulled up to the private boat launch a few minutes later and parked the Jeep.

  “You have your own boat?”

  “It’s small, but it works until I get around to buying a nicer one.” He climbed down from the Jeep and opened her door.

  She tried to meet his gaze, but he turned away to grab the stuff out of the back, his irritation with her still too fresh.

  “Grab your bag and head on down to the dock, I’ll be there in a minute.”

  “Okay.” She hesitated a second and then walked away.

  Grant closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Maybe this wasn’t a good idea. The minute they got on that boat and headed to the island, they’d be stuck together for at least a couple of hours.

  His initial hope that she’d come clean about the coin—maybe even return it—was dying a slow, painful death. But it wasn’t even about the coin anymore. It was about Delanie.

  How every time he looked at her, his chest tightened a bit. And when she gave that flirty little smirk, he just wanted to kiss her until that smile went slack with passion.

  When I want something, I go after it. He’d meant the words when he’d said them, and whether or not she believed them yet, she soon would. He wanted Delanie and he sure as hell intended to have her.

  He scooped up the cooler and blankets and slammed the door to his Jeep.

  *

  Delanie folded her arms across her chest and stared at Grant as he strode down the incline towards the dock. He was angry about something, but what? Things had been near perfect between them all morning. He had no right to get pissy with her.

  Unless he heard that part where you said you were dating someone.

  She hadn’t meant to let that slip. It had just come out when Roberta had started the are you single? conversation. It had been a natural response, and she’d been thankful Grant had been in the other room when she’d blurted it.

  He arrived on the dock, still not looking at her as he set the blankets and cooler into the boat.

  “You can climb on in,” he told her briskly, and went back up the hill towards the Jeep.

  Delanie made a face at him and then glanced down at the boat. It was tied to the dock and rocking back and forth on the waves.

  Jeez, had she ever been in a boat this little? Sure she’d traveled on ferries and spent more than a few hours on Franklin’s yacht, but this…this was like all wood and probably no bigger than a bed. Not to mention it looked…old.

  Go on, you nitwit. Taking a deep breath, she crouched and lowered one foot into the boat. It immediately started rocking under her weight and she went still, gripping the edge of the dock.

  “Just climb in. It’s safe.” Grant’s leather sandals slapped against the dock as he walked back towards the boat.

  Not wanting to look like a complete wimp, she swung her other leg into the boat and then gripped each side. It took a second to get her sea legs and then she sat on the bench seat in the middle.

  Grant stepped easily into the boat without holding onto anything. He untied them from the dock, and then walked to the back, sitting on the seat next to the motor.

  “There’s a life jacket under your seat, why don’t you go ahead and put it on.”

  Not even about to argue, she reached under the bench and pulled up a black and yellow life vest.

  She fumbled to put it on, trying to make sure the straps went around her body.

  “Here, let me.” He stepped forward and knelt beside her.

  Delanie froze, closing her eyes as his warm breath feathered across her face. He adjusted the belts and then clicked them into place.

  “There, you’re set.”

  She opened her eyes and found his face just inches away from hers.

  Heat flickered in his gaze, but was instantly replaced with irritation.

  “Where’s your life jacket?” she asked when he finally pulled away and went back to his seat.

  He grunted and pulled on some cord that immediately had the motor sputtering to life. “I have a floatation cushion if I need it.”

  She rolled her eyes and shook her head. He was such a guy. And that’s probably why she liked him. He was nothing like Franklin.

  Franklin followed all the rules, wore two-thousand-dollar suits, and got manicures. She knew this because his nails always looked better than hers, and she’d bugged him until he’d finally confessed to getting them done. And then she’d promptly switched to his manicurist.

  She lowered her gaze to Grant’s hands. Large and calloused, tanned from the sun. A real man’s hands. And no expensive suits or brand names on this man—though he could obviously afford them. Unless he was dressing up, like at dinner last night, Grant appeared to be a jeans and old T-shirt kind of guy. Like today, his broad shoulders filled out a plain gray shirt, the muscles bulging on his forearm.

  “Okay, hang on.” He twisted a lever that connected to the motor, and the boat jolted forward.

  Delanie took off her hat before it could fly off her head and then gripped the seat. She glanced over her shoulder to see where they were going. She could’ve turned around in the seat to sit the other way, her back to Grant, but somehow the view was so much better when he was in it.

  “So, where are we going?” she asked, twisting back so she stared off the back of the boat again. The shores of Lopez Island grew farther away with every passing second.

  Grant didn’t answer right away, but seemed to check something on the motor. “To a smaller island nearby.”

  “Oh. What’s over there?”

  “Nothing yet, really. I own it.”

  The air stranded in her lungs and she blinked. He owned an island? Was it even possible for someone to own an island?

  “How do you afford all this? A nice resort? An entire island? The San Juans aren’t exactly bargain realty.”

  His gaze met hers. “Like I said, the resort was initially owned by my grandfather. My family and I do rather well financially.”

  “So why did you buy…an island?”

  “The island is small. It’s not even on most maps. I’m building an expansion of the resort there. What will eventually become the ultimate retreat for those who come to stay at Athena’s Oasis.”

  He twisted the handle on the motor again and the boat picked up speed.

  “I see.” But she didn’t really. Athena’s Oasis was already an impressive upscale resort as it was. People traveled from all over the world to stay there.

  And yet he’d bought an entire island to extend the resort? The ultimate retreat. Possibilities of what that could mean filled her head.

  The wooden boat slapped against the waves as they sliced through the water. The sound alone sent shivers of unease through her. She half expected the old boat to split in half each time it connected with the surface.

  She gripped the edge of her seat, holding on for all she was worth. Lopez Island had become just a blur of trees and rock, they were too far out to even see the resort anymore.

  “How far away is the island?”

  “About another fifteen minutes. The motor’s small on this boat, so it takes a little while.”

  She closed her eyes, letting her body move with the up and down motion. The cool salty air of the Pacific coated her lungs and filled her chest, energizing her more than any cup of coffee could.

  She drew in a couple of deep breaths, feeling the tension in her body ease. The wind teased at her bangs, whipping them around her forehead.

  When she opened her eyes again, Grant was watching her. His blue eyes had darkened and she didn’t miss the heat flickering in his intense gaze.

  Her cheeks warmed under his scrutiny and she ran her tongue over her lips, tasting the salt from the air. With what happened betwee
n them at the cabin still fresh in her head, a heavy ache started between her legs and her nipples tightened under the thin tank top.

  Maybe he was taking her out to this island for a little bit of romance. Did Grant think like that? Was he plotting this big, romantic, back-in-bed-together reunion? The idea did seem—

  “So, who’s the boyfriend?”

  His words made her stomach drop and all her ridiculous notions evaporate. So he had overheard her and Roberta back at the resort.

  “You don’t know him,” she murmured. Chances were he’d probably heard of him, but having the my boyfriend is a senator talk wasn’t one she wanted to delve into right now.

  “No, I probably don’t.” She wasn’t deceived by his casual shrug. “But speaking as another guy, I know he wouldn’t be too happy if he found out you were screwing around with someone else.”

  He slowed the boat and she looked over the edge to see several groups of rocks protruding under the water.

  “If he found out?” she repeated, annoyance pricking. “Is that some kind of threat?”

  “No.” He met her gaze, his expression not so heated anymore. “The only accountability you have is to your own conscience. I have no guilt for what happened between us, though I’m not sure you can say the same.”

  Her nostrils flared. “What gives you the right to judge me? You have no idea what kind of relationship I have with him.”

  The boat jolted as he put them ashore. He stood up and killed the motor, stepping towards her.

  “No. I don’t. So why don’t you enlighten me?”

  She opened her mouth to reply, but he stepped past her. He grabbed the blankets and cooler, and climbed out of the boat.

  Scrambling up from the bench seat, she put her hat back on and jumped out of the boat after him. The rocky beach crunched under her sandaled feet as she ran to catch up.

  “Why don’t you stick around for a second so I can?” she yelled. “Besides, it’s not like we actually had sex. We just fooled around.”

  She winced. Now there was an illogical teenager defense if she’d ever heard one. She didn’t blame Grant one bit when he turned around with a look of complete disbelief.

  “I could have had you in the cabin, Lanie. You would have been getting your brains fucked out and liking it right about now if your phone hadn’t rung.”