by Judy Duarte
So what else was new? She might be on vacation, but her mind was back in Red Rock, at the Castleton Boots office.
“Yes, Bradley. That’s exactly what needs to happen. Can you handle that today? It can’t wait until I get back to the office on Monday morning.”
It hadn’t taken Miguel long to realize her father might have been right about one thing. Nicole seemed to be married to her work. Was that why she’d had to come to New York, asking him to be her phony husband?
It seemed hard to believe that she wasn’t dating anyone seriously. She’d also told him that Castleton Boots was her life.
Of course, Nicole had always been responsible and driven. Just look at the kind of student she was in high school. Maybe she’d just turned that drive into the family business.
It was hard to say for sure, though. While she still had some of the same traits, she wasn’t the same person she’d been ten years ago.
Of course, neither was he.
In some ways, he supposed, it was nice to have this time away—and a chance to get to know each other all over again.
When she ended the call, Miguel shot her a grin. “Congratulations. You’ve just purchased a painting sure to brighten up that new house.”
She returned his smile, her eyes lighting up, reminding him of the girl she’d once been, the fun-loving, adventurous young woman he’d once loved. “Now we just have to figure out how to get it back to the hotel.”
“That’s all taken care of.”
She cocked her head slightly. “What do you mean?”
He nodded toward the smiling artist. “Carlos here is going to have it delivered to the hotel for us.”
“You think of everything.”
Well, not everything. Their time in paradise was running out. And if he couldn’t tempt her into suggesting a romantic adventure when she was a thousand miles from Red Rock—and her corporate office—how was he going to do it once they got home?
* * *
As Nicole lay stretched out on a woven beach mat, her body covered in sunblock, a seagull swooped across the late afternoon sky, followed by several more of the big white birds.
She and Miguel had returned to Suenos del Sol after shopping in town, then donned swimsuits and headed to the beach, deciding to spend some time in the sun.
Beside her, Miguel, who’d been seated in the sand and staring off into the water, got to his feet.
“I’m ready for a mai tai,” he said. “How about you?”
“Sounds like a great idea.”
Several minutes later, he returned with two of the tropical drinks in large souvenir glasses. “I figured you could always use another memory of our trip.”
She sat up and took the pineapple-shaped glass from him. “Thanks.”
Their so-called honeymoon was drawing to an end, and while it had been a little awkward at first—and still was, at times—she could say in all honesty that she’d enjoyed the time they’d spent together.
Over the last few days, they’d finally begun to relax a little in each other’s presence. And now, as they sipped on their mai tais, they watched the horizon, where the colors of sunset had begun to stretch across the western sky.
A couple seagulls landed in the sand just a few feet from their mats, cawing and fighting over a piece of seaweed.
Down the way, another couple lay on the sand, kissing, caressing and completely oblivious to the fact that they had an audience of two.
“Remember when it used to be like that for us?” he asked, taking his seat on the mat beside her. “When sex was new, and we couldn’t keep our hands off each other?”
She remembered. “It wasn’t just experimentation on my part. I was so caught up in...”
“What?”
She didn’t answer. He knew what she meant. They’d been in love, and nothing else had mattered except being together, holding each other close, sharing their hopes and dreams, making promises....
None of which came true.
“Either way,” he said, taking a seat beside her again, “I’ll bet things would be better between us now. It’s amazing what a little experience would add.”
Speak for yourself, she was tempted to say. But she didn’t want to let him know that she hadn’t gotten that involved with anyone after him, especially when he’d...
Well, she had reason to believe he’d had plenty of conquests over the years. Besides, just look at him in those swim trunks.
She cast a glance at his body, nearly as naked as the day he was born, with that dark hair fluttering in the sea breeze, that olive coloring that made him appear tan, even in the dead of winter. Those broad shoulders, those taut abs...
And just a short reach away.
She took a sip of the mai tai, then pulled a long swallow, hoping to quench not only her thirst, but the heat pooled low in her belly, raging out of control in her veins.
Jeez. How had she managed to go this long without jumping his bones?
Because he’d been the perfect gentleman, she supposed.
“So why haven’t you settled down?” he asked. “There must have been quite a few guys who’ve interested you over the years, men who...turned you inside out.”
The only guy who’d been able to make her body yearn, to make it sing, had been Miguel. But she’d be darned if she’d let him know that he’d been her one and only.
After all, according to the Red Rock rumor mill, he was the ultimate bachelor who enjoyed traveling the country as a sales rep for a record company and who had a different woman every night.
He’d probably had hundreds of them. Thousands. And she’d only had...
Him.
She’d come close to having sex with someone else, a premed student she’d met in college. But she’d gotten cold feet somewhere between wet, slurpy kisses on the sofa and an “Oh, baby.”
It had been lights-out-party’s-over at that point.
Over the years, she’d questioned herself about that. Not her decision to refrain from going all the way with Steven, who’d already moved on to someone else the following weekend. But she’d wondered why she always seemed to back off from a relationship before anyone got too close.
Marnie had once suggested, since Miguel had been her first love and because of the promises they’d made each other, that Nicole somehow felt married to him in her heart. And that being with another guy would be cheating on him.
There could be something to that, Nicole supposed. But it was just as likely that the one she’d really be cheating was herself. After all, how disappointing would it be to learn that no one else would ever make her feel the way Miguel had when they’d been young lovers, stretched out in the backseat of his brother’s car?
But enough of that, she told herself.
She took another drink of her mai tai before her musing turned into a mental blur of psychobabble. Then she sipped again and swallowed it down, feeling a warm buzz.
Unable to help herself, she stole another look at Miguel, who continued to watch the waves break on the sand.
A lock of hair had fallen across his brow, and without a conscious thought, she reached over and brushed it aside, just as if she still had every right to do so.
At her touch, he turned to face her. When their gazes met, something sparked deep inside her, igniting the heat that had been simmering under the surface since the day she’d seen Miguel at his office in New York.
Before she could give it a moment’s thought, she leaned toward him, knowing instinctively he wouldn’t move away. As their lips touched, she wrapped her arms around his neck, and the next thing she knew they were laying on the sand, necking as if they might never stop.
Their sunblock-scented bodies pressed together, their hands stroking, caressing, exploring.
Later she might b
lame her boldness on the tropical setting, on the rum in her drink, on the roar of the ocean urging something inside of her to rise up, to take what was rightfully hers. But for this one sweet moment, she wasn’t going to think or analyze anything. She only wanted to feel what she’d been missing for the past ten years.
As if reading her mind, Miguel slid a hand along the curve of her back and down the bikini-clad slope of her hips, setting her memories soaring—while making a new one.
He pulled his lips from hers long enough to say, “There’s a copse of trees just a few feet away. Let’s take our towels over there. Or better yet, let’s go back to the room, where we can be alone.”
His fingers slid under the fabric string of her bathing suit, and a surge of desire shot right through her. She gave him one last kiss before moving, arching forward as she did, pressing her breasts against his chest, revealing her need, her desire.
As an “I love you” formed in her throat, she choked it back. No, she didn’t love him. She couldn’t. Not again.
Apprehension rose up inside. If they made love, she might fall for Miguel all over again—if she hadn’t already. And then what?
He’d eventually go back to his bachelor life, just as she’d promised him he could do when the company was signed over to her. Only that life wouldn’t be in New York, where she’d never have a chance to see him again, never risk running into him when he was out on a date, another woman on his arm.
Instead, he’d be in Red Rock, where she might run into him at any given time. And then where would that leave her?
Nicole placed her hands against his chest, pushing away from him, ending the kiss she’d just started.
“I can’t do this.”
“I know that. This is crazy. We don’t need to make a scene out here. Let’s go back to the room.”
“No, I can’t do it there, either.”
His brow furrowed, and something shadowed the passion that had once glazed his eyes. “Why not?”
The question ricocheted inside her mind, begging for an answer and finding only one to use in place of what she really feared.
“We’re planning a divorce,” she said, struggling to catch her breath, “and it will be a lot easier if the marriage isn’t consummated.”
It was a lame excuse, she realized. But it was the only one she could come up with when her mind had been scattered by lust.
“You have to be kidding.” He sat upright.
She didn’t dare try to explain herself. Not when her thoughts were a hodgepodge of old memories and new fears.
“I think it’s time to go back into the room,” she said, “but not to make love.” She gathered up her towel, leaving him to get his own, then headed for the path that led to bungalow number twelve.
While they’d been necking on the beach like a couple of hormonal, love-struck teens, the sun had nearly dropped from sight, and the tiki lights came on to light her way.
When she entered the room, she went straight for the shower, washing all signs of sunblock, the sand and...Miguel from her body. But she doubted she’d ever be rid of his memory.
When she finally came out into the living area, he was seated on the sofa, staring at her as though she’d gone stark raving mad.
And maybe she had.
What crazy woman turned her back on the chance to have hot sex with Miguel Mendoza?
One who was smart enough to know when she’d get burned.
“I’m sorry,” she said, as if that made it all better.
“Me, too.” He stood, then nodded toward the bathroom. “I’m going to take a shower now.”
She suspected it would be a cold one, and she was sorry about that, as well. More sorry than she’d been when sending Steven home.
“You take the bed tonight,” she told Miguel, as if that might somehow make things better. “I’ll sleep on the sofa.”
She wasn’t sure, but she thought she’d heard him mutter a curse as he shut the bathroom door.
Either way, she pulled out the pillow, a sheet and a blanket, then she made her bed.
As she lay there in the fading twilight, as far from sleep as she’d ever been in her life, she thought about the last time she’d given a man reason to think that she wanted to make love, then changed her mind. There was an odd similarity.
She hadn’t wanted to have sex with Steven because she had feared he’d never compare to Miguel.
And now?
Not only was she afraid of falling in love and losing him, she also feared that she’d never be able to compete with the sexually experienced women he’d dated.
* * *
The next morning, neither Miguel nor Nicole spoke of the night before. Instead, they moved about the bungalow, packing for the flight back to Red Rock. Once they checked out of the hotel, they told Miguel’s uncle goodbye, thanking him for all he’d done to make sure their “honeymoon” was everything they’d hoped it would be and more. Then after warm embraces, they boarded the woodie wagon and rode back to the airport.
A couple times Nicole had opened her mouth to apologize or to explain, but she had stopped herself. After all, what was there to say?
She’d led him on, giving him every reason to believe that they would make love until dawn, then she’d backed out.
Did he think she was a tease? She certainly hadn’t meant to be.
Once they arrived at Santa Inez International, Nicole expected to find Laurel Redmond waiting to fly them home. Instead, they were greeted by Laurel’s brother, Tanner.
While they’d both been friendly with the pilot on the flight, Nicole wondered if it was obvious to Tanner that things were strained between the so-called newlyweds. If so, he didn’t let on that he knew.
Instead of taking them directly back to Red Rock, Tanner landed the plane first in San Antonio, where Miguel and Nicole could go through U.S. customs. Then they made the short, up-and-down hop back to Red Rock.
They’d no more than climbed down the steps and started toward the terminal, their bags and Nicole’s painting in hand, when they spotted a woman with a darling, chubby-cheeked baby boy riding on her hip.
“Looks like you have company,” Miguel told Tanner.
When the pilot glanced at the window and spotted the woman, he broke into a big grin.
Nicole lowered her voice and asked Miguel, “Who is it?”
“That’s Jordana, Wendy’s sister and Tanner’s wife. The baby is their son, Jack. And the woman standing next to Jordana is Victoria Scarlett Fortune, Sawyer’s sister. Well, you’d better scratch the Fortune. Victoria is married to Garrett Stone now.”
As they entered the terminal, Jordana pointed at Tanner. “Look, Jack. There’s Daddy.”
The sweet little boy wriggled in his mother’s arms, clearly thrilled to see his father, who greeted his wife with a kiss, then took the child in his arms.
Nicole had never been prone to fantasies about home and hearth, yet for a moment, she wondered what it would be like to have her own son or daughter someday.
“I haven’t had a chance to meet your wife,” Victoria Scarlett told Miguel. “Wendy mentioned that you had a small, intimate wedding last week. And that you flew to an island paradise for your honeymoon.”
“This is Nicole Castleton....” Miguel paused for a beat before adding, “At least, she used to be. She’s a Mendoza now.”
Nicole set her bag on the floor, while still holding the painting, then reached out to greet each of the women. “It’s nice to meet you. And I’m sorry that we weren’t able to invite all of our family and friends to the wedding. It was such short notice that we thought it would be best to keep it small.”
“That’s what Wendy said. She also mentioned that Marcos is going to take her to that resort someday.” Jordana shuffled little Jack to her other hip. “So t
ell me, how was your trip?”
“It was wonderful,” Nicole said, afraid to glance at Miguel, afraid to see any sign of disagreement.
“It’s so nice to see so many people getting married in Red Rock,” Victoria said. “Two of my brothers are engaged, and my cousin Michael just got married.”
Miguel reached for the bag Nicole had set on the ground. “We’d like to hang out here and talk more, but we’re both exhausted and eager to get home.”
Home. Was Miguel still planning to go to her house?
Nicole didn’t think she could bear another night of being in the same room with Miguel again and not act on her impulses.
“Honey?” he said. “We’d better get out of here. Sawyer is probably waiting at the curb.”
“Yes, of course. It was nice meeting you. We’ll have to get together sometime soon.”
“We’d like that,” Jordana said.
After heading for the main entrance of the terminal, Nicole shielded her eyes from the sun. She might be tired, since she got very little sleep last night, but she wasn’t the least bit eager to get home—or to have a discussion about what went on at Suenos del Sol—or more specifically, what hadn’t gone on.
Avoiding confrontations came easily to her, especially after growing up with her father. So maybe she’d duck out on her own and give Miguel some time to unwind. Or even to hang out with his friend.
She blew out a sigh as she scanned the road, looking for her red Lexus, which Sawyer would be driving. “I know you mentioned being tired, Miguel, but if you don’t mind, after Sawyer picks us up, I’d like to ask him to drop me off at the office. I can catch a ride home with a coworker. And that way, if you two want some time to...you know, grab a beer or something, you can do that.”
“You want to go to the office on a Friday afternoon? I thought you weren’t going in until Monday.”
“I’ve been gone a long time. There are a lot of things I really need to take care of.”
“Whatever you say. But why don’t you drop us off wherever Sawyer left his Jag. Then you’ll have your car.”
“Okay, that would work.”
But would it? Oh, no. Her heart cramped at the thought of what she’d just suggested. She could see Miguel and Sawyer now, two of the best-looking bachelors in Red Rock, having a beer and checking out single women. Not that she expected Miguel to do something like that until after their arrangement had ended. But who knew when that would be? After what happened on the beach...
