Ex on the Beach

by Kim Law

  She shot a quick glance at the other man, recognizing him from years ago, as well as from the picture she’d seen clipped to Kayla’s folder earlier in the day. Grayson McTavish had been a good guy from what Andie had been able to tell, and at the moment, she wished that good guy would drag Mark out of her bar.

  “Could you see what he …” Angie motioned to the men, not looking at them again. “What they want?”

  From the rigidity of Roni’s jaw, Andie knew that her friend had recognized Mark, as well. They’d met at dinner the night before the wedding that didn’t happen. Then it occurred to her that this had been what Roni had been trying to warn her about. Andie started sweeping the broom against the glass in haphazard strokes, but was unable to concentrate fully on the task.

  “They apparently want lunch,” Roni stated without going over to the men. She leaned in to whisper. “Did you know he would be here?”

  Andie didn’t pause in her movements. “Just read it on the list today. It’s Robert Masterson’s wedding. He was Mark’s best man.”

  Roni nodded. “That explains it.”

  But it didn’t explain how out of all the places in the world, Rob’s wedding had landed on her island.

  Andie glanced Mark’s way again, then swiveled around to Janice and George, wondering if they could tell something was wrong. When they looked from her to Mark and Grayson and then back to Roni, she had her answer. She noticed the gaggle of men that had just entered taking in the activity at the bar, as well.

  Good grief, she did not want to cause more of a scene than she already had.

  She fought the urge to drop everything to the floor and just walk away. She could hide in her room for the next two weeks, and she knew Kayla and Aunt Ginny would expertly handle everything. Truth be told, they’d probably do a better job without her. But it had been her idea to start this business to begin with. And she was a professional. She would not let this man run her off. Not again.

  Shoving her feelings aside — and furious to realize she still had any toward him, even if it was only anger — she gave Roni a tight smile. “Never mind, I’ll handle it.”

  She pushed the broom back at Roni and turned to the bar. With nothing left to do but face him, Andie picked up a towel to keep her hands busy and made her way to the far end of the counter. To Mark.

  “Grayson,” she muttered, wiping down the bar in front of him. “Mark.” She did not want to see him, did not want to deal with him. And she certainly didn’t want to see him and his perfect wife together. And that’s when she realized, she was as jealous as she was angry. He’d tossed her aside and chosen someone who fit the mold he’d been looking for.

  “It’s good to see you, Andie,” Mark said. Grayson nodded a greeting then leaned back in his seat.

  She eyed Mark. It was good to see her? That was his opening statement? You’d think a lawyer could come up with something better than that. She did give him credit for the deep, rich sound of his voice, though. It had always felt like a warm, fuzzy blanket wrapping around her.

  But he was a jerk and she hated him. She had to keep that foremost in her mind.

  “I’m afraid I can’t say the same.” She met him head-on. His eyes had always changed with his moods or the color of his clothes; right now they were dark, a deep greenish brown. So dark there was practically no definition from the iris to the outside rim.

  He had the grace to glance away at her words, possibly embarrassed, but she couldn’t imagine a Kavanaugh being embarrassed.

  “What are you doing in here, Mark?” She didn’t wait for him to say anything else, her fury suddenly taking over all other emotions churning through her. It was four years ago, and she was standing there in front of a church of two hundred, and every last one of them was looking at poor, pitiful Andie Shayne. “Shouldn’t you be at the house with your buddy?”

  She hated Mark almost as much as she did Robert. And yes, she knew it wasn’t nice to hate people. Her good Kentucky upbringing had taught her that, but some people didn’t deserve any better.

  “I’m heading over soon. Thought we’d get a bite to eat and …”

  He paused and she mimicked his earlier action, raising her eyebrows, while inside she was trembling. “And what? Start the wedding out by making sure to let me know you’re here? Don’t worry. I’m aware of who’s in this wedding. It’s my job to know.”

  She was proud of how steady her voice was coming out.

  “That’s not it. I didn’t even know you were here.”

  That stopped her, because he had a point. They hadn’t been in contact at all. Had he not known she lived here now? Maybe he was as shocked to see her as she was him. “You weren’t aware — ”

  He held up a hand and cut her off. “I knew you were here, on the island. I knew this was your place. It’s why I recommended it. But I didn’t know you were here at the bar.”

  She straightened, pulling herself away from the counter, and blinked. He’d recommended them? She glanced at Grayson then back to Mark. For some reason that stung. She didn’t need his pity to make her business a success.

  Or heck, maybe she did since she was going to lose everything if she didn’t get that bonus.

  Andie stared at him, wanting to reach over the counter and slap him across the face while simultaneously wanting to turn the clock back four years and ask him why he’d done that to her. Couldn’t he have just figured out that she wasn’t the woman he wanted before the morning of their wedding? Maybe faced her and talked to her himself? And why in the world had he made her be the one to address their guests all alone?

  She’d never figured out what had been so bad about her that she wasn’t afforded that simple courtesy from the man she’d loved. But maybe that had been the problem. Had he not really loved her? Clearly not as much as she’d once believed, otherwise she wouldn’t have been left with a five-tier wedding cake to eat all by herself.

  Which made her think about the woman he had married, and the fact that they would have shared their wedding cake together. Their wedding was probably how he’d learned about her and Aunt Ginny’s business. The announcement she’d seen last year had stated that he and his fiancée planned private, out-of-town nuptials in early spring. Possibly Seaglass Celebrations had been one of the places they’d run across in their planning. Any small amount of research would have turned up her picture connected to the company.

  Relief gushed through her at the realization that the two of them could have ended up there for their wedding, but thankfully had not. Talk about a nightmare. That was one job she would have vehemently turned down, no matter how the business might have suffered.

  Speaking of which… she looked around, wondering where the little woman was. From the picture she’d seen, she was blonde and petite and perfect. Unlike her. Andie glanced down at herself. Average height, freckles, nothing-special hair, and too many curves. She looked nice enough, but she’d never felt quite put together around Mark and his family. Not to mention, she wasn’t the stay-at-home, perfect-housewife type.

  “Can you just bring me whatever you have on tap and a cheeseburger?” Mark sighed, pushing the menu away. “I didn’t come here to argue with you. I’m exhausted. I just want a decent meal and a beer before I have to deal with this wedding.”

  “Sure thing.” She ground her teeth together as she spoke, then keyed in the order, taking Grayson’s, as well.

  Mark had a good point; there was no need to argue. They’d done enough of that the last six months they’d been together. As far as she was concerned, she had nothing whatsoever left to say to him.

  She drew their beers and slid them over, then placed the bill upside down on the counter. “Roni will bring out your food when it’s ready. She can also get you anything else you need.”

  Before she escaped back into kitchen, Mark raised his voice loud enough for the whole bar to hear. “Wait.”

  And for some reason she did. She peered back at him, unspeaking. Because honestly, she had no idea if sh
e could say anything else without breaking down. She needed to get away to deal with the returning emotions she’d thought were long gone.

  “Could we … ” He shrugged, lowering his voice to a more normal volume. “Talk?”

  She shook her head. “I’ve got nothing to say to you.”

  She caught Grayson’s grimace out of the corner of her eye.

  “Fine.” Mark’s voice was hard. “Then I’ll talk. You listen.”

  Andie glanced over to where Roni stood with the broom, then at George and Janice. She scanned the dining area. A waitress had taken orders and left, but every last person in the bar was fixated on her and Mark. Great. Nothing like making a spectacle of yourself.

  She stepped back to him and spoke very softly, “I can’t imagine there’s anything you could say that I’d want to hear. Eat your lunch and go. We’ll avoid each other over the next several days, and then you’ll go back to Boston. But while you’re here, just leave me alone.”

  A muscle in his jaw did an odd little spasm thing, and she almost smiled, knowing it irritated him when he didn’t get his way.

  “We’re having a conversation, Andie. You might as well deal with it.”

  “I don’t have time to — ”

  “Then make time. It’s four years past due, as it is. We’re having a conversation.”

  Her chest rose and fell with her breath. She’d really thought it didn’t matter anymore. That she was over it. Hmph! What a ball of baloney. She was just as upset today as she’d been the day he hadn’t shown up at their sham of a wedding.

  She set her jaw to keep it from trembling and looked away from him, almost wishing his wife would show up at that moment so she’d have something else to focus on.

  When she finally felt she was under control enough to face him, she decided to use that exact point to back him off. “And what would your wife think, Mark?” she whispered. “Would she be okay with you hunting up your ex to ‘have a talk’? To hash out old hurts?” She shook her head, ignoring the shock in his eyes. He hadn’t guessed she’d known about his marriage, then.

  “I doubt it,” she continued. “Most women wouldn’t go for that. In fact, you might want to consider not even letting her in on the fact that you suggested Seaglass in the first place. I’m assuming the two of you are still in your ‘honeymoon’ phase. Knowing you brought everyone down here so you could have a chat with your ex might put a damper on things. Now I’m finished with you. Eat your lunch and go away.”

  Without another word, she whirled around and marched through the kitchen, ignoring the faces of her employees as she made her way to the back office. Thank goodness the manager wasn’t in so Andie had the room to herself.

  The sound of the broom and dustpan being put away outside the office pulled her attention. “I’m so sorry, Roni. I had no idea …”

  But it wasn’t Roni. It was Mark. She couldn’t believe her friend had allowed him back there.

  “I didn’t get a chance to reply, so I told her I’d bring this stuff back.” He stepped into the room, and without asking or even seeming to consider it a question, closed the door.

  When he took a long step toward her, her breath hitched, and he pulled himself up short.

  “Well hell, Andie. I’m not going to hurt you.”

  “I didn’t think you were,” she spat out. Her breath had caught purely at the idea of having him that close, but she wasn’t about to tell him that. He was a big man, over six feet, and it looked as if he hadn’t lost any of the taut muscles she’d once become so familiar with. Finding herself face-to-face with him was much different from having a bar and a few feet between them.

  And furious with him or not, there was still a pull she’d never been able to ignore. Being in a small, confined room with only the two of them snarling at each other did nothing to dim it.

  Plus, he was seriously hot when he was angry. Always had been.

  A flash of some of the best angry sex she’d ever had popped through her mind, and she felt her cheeks begin to heat. This time, not because of her anger.

  His eyes sharpened as he watched her. They lingered on her warm cheeks then flicked quickly over her body as if aware of exactly what she was remembering. When he returned, his gaze landed directly on hers.

  “Say whatever it is and leave, Mark. I’m too busy for games.” And far too busy for the testosterone in the room.

  He crossed his arms over his chest and his jaw did that spasming thing again. “Good, because I’m not here to play games.”

  She edged her chin up, not feeling nearly as in control as she’d like him to believe. “Then what are you here for?”

  The phone rang. They both glanced at it, but she ignored it. Roni or one of the employees would get it when she didn’t. She made a rolling motion with her hand for him to get to it. She didn’t have all day.

  He took a half step closer and lowered his hands to his side. His tone warmed. “Are you doing okay, Andie? I mean, really okay?”

  She glared at him. Seriously?

  He sighed. “Fine. I just …” He lifted his hands palms up. “I was worried about you at first. Afraid you would think …” He shook his head instead of finishing the sentence. “And then you wouldn’t even talk to me.”

  She couldn’t help herself. She pressed her hands to the desk in front of her and leaned in, putting herself much closer to him than was smart. “What?” Her tone was not pretty. “Afraid I would think that there was something wrong with me because you sent your friend to our wedding instead of coming yourself? Nah … nothing to worry about there. Every girl gets left at the altar at least once in her life, didn’t you know? It’s pretty much a ritual. We learn about it in the sixth grade.”

  Man, she wanted him out of there. If he didn’t leave, she feared she would step around the desk and get right up in his face. That had always been the point where she could make him snap. Once there, he was as likely to kiss her as yell at her. And for some reason, she had the feeling that either one might do it for her at the moment.

  What the hell was wrong with her? She hadn’t seen this man since he hadn’t shown up at their wedding, and she was practically ready to jump his bones. And he was married!

  “I’m …” he paused again, then put his hands on his hips and took a step back. He slowly pulled in a long breath then let it out. When he opened his mouth, he came out with the last thing she expected to hear.

  “I’m not married.”

  EPISODE TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  Not married?” Andie choked out a laugh. That was bull. “Come off it. I saw the announcement. You two were perfect for each other.”

  Mark nodded, his jaw working back and forth. “Yeah, perfect. But then …” He looked away and snapped his teeth together. He was still running on fumes. “Doesn’t matter. We didn’t get married.” He licked his lips and gave an unconcerned shrug. “She dumped me.”

  That was not what she’d been expecting to hear. Nor was the rapid kick start in her chest something she’d ever wanted to feel in the vicinity of him ever again. “Good,” she muttered. “A taste of your own medicine. Hope she left you at the altar, too.”

  He laughed, a weary chuckle that she felt all the way to her toes, and dragged his hand down over his face. “No, actually. Not at the altar. But yes, it did give me a taste of my own medicine.”

  The anger in the room suddenly evaporated, and they stood there quietly staring at each other. Andie had no idea what he was thinking, but she was fighting the very real urge to cry. She had once loved him so very much.

  The outer corners of his hazel eyes drooped slightly with his long sigh, and a sad look came over his face. “Andie, I really am — ”

  The door burst open. “Andie, we need you at the house.”

  Kayla stood at the door, with Roni on her tiptoes behind her peeking over her shoulder.

  “I’m sorry,” Roni mouthed. “She wouldn’t wait.”

  Kayla’s eyes widened at the sight of Mark
in the room. “I apologize for interrupting, Ms. Shayne. Mr. Kavanaugh.” She gave a quick nod to Mark, apparently recognizing him from the photo in her files, then looked back at Andie. “You’re needed at the house.”

  Escape! Though Kayla wouldn’t have sought her out if it wasn’t important.

  “I’m sorry, Mr. Kavanaugh, but since we were finished anyway …” Andie rose. “Your meal should be coming up any minute. If you’ll return to the bar, Roni will take care of you and Mr. McTavish.” She eyed Roni, making it clear that she had some explaining to do for letting Mark in the back of the restaurant in the first place.

  Before Mark could stop her, Andie walked out of the room and didn’t look back. Only then did she notice that her hands were shaking.

  She so had not been ready for him. And certainly not for an apology after all this time. She had little doubt that was what the man had been about to do, though. The sudden look of shame he’d sported had been a good indication.

  Of course, he should be ashamed, but after four years, she would’ve guessed his past actions never crossed his mind.

  And the fact that he wasn’t married? A shiver wracked her body. She certainly hadn’t expected that. Him being married was what she’d been counting on since she’d read his name on the list that morning — to not let it matter. To not let him matter. She’d put that tidbit of information at the forefront of her mind, and it was supposed to keep her from thinking about anything concerning “them.” Because she did not need to think about “them.”

  Heck, she didn’t need to think about him.

  But as she hurried along the path to the inn, little else crossed her mind. He had looked really good.

  And he’d smelled even better.

  She closed her eyes with the memory but almost tripped, so opened them again and glanced at Kayla. “What’s the problem at the house?”

  Kayla averted her gaze. “Mr. and Mrs. Jordan had barely checked in when their bathroom floor flooded. The toilet ran over.”