by Sierra Rose
“Again, Ashly, I’m sorry,” Jake said, “but I swear I’m a different person now.”
“Don’t you remember our deal? You’re not supposed to talk to me.”
“If that’s what you want, have it your way.”
The girl next to use went on and on about her designer wedding dress. My temples pounded, and I tried to rub them with my fingers, desperately trying to tune her out.
“Maybe this is exactly what we need for closure, to spend lots of time together and—”
Lots of time together? Whoa, boy! I think not! I motioned for him to stop talking, and then I flagged down the flight attendant. “Excuse me, miss, but I’m gonna need alcohol and lots of it if I’m gonna make it through this flight.”
Jake turned and met my gaze straight on. “Is this how it’s going to be the entire trip?”
“This is just the tip of the iceberg. When this plane lands, I suggest you get off of it as quick as you can. Hell hath no fury—”
“Yeah, yeah,” he said, cutting me off. “So you’re a woman scorned. Look, I know you’re still mad, but can’t you be at least civil to me?”
Civil? To you? Hell no! I’d wallowed in grief for so long that he deserved none of my pity, politeness, or manners. I stared down and swallowed hard again. “I’ll try,” I muttered.
“Good,” he said, “because I want us to be friends. I really do, Ashly.”
I felt uncomfortable and trapped onboard that plane. Sitting next to my ex only forced me to dwell on him more, and the memories weren’t pleasant ones. “I just can’t do it,” I heard over and over again, his words that had haunted me for so long. I’d gone through therapy, lots of life-changing therapy, and I’d even dated some pretty wonderful guys since my groom ran away, but none of those relationships had ever worked out, if they could even be called relationships at all. I hated Jake. I was angry and bitter, and I couldn’t stop wondering where he was on the anniversary of the day we met, our first date, and what would have been our wedding anniversary. There was no top tier for me to pull out of the freezer and enjoy because my wedding cake, like everything else about that day, had gone to waste.
I glanced over the itinerary and once again hated the fact that I had little to no control over the vacation. My lawyer, under the instruction of my departed mother, had set everything up. I was a stickler for detail and enjoyed carefully planning the agendas for every trip I went on, right down to the minute. Now, I had no involvement in how we would spend our time, and that bothered me.
To make matters worse, I was worried about the boutique and what would become of mine and Nadia’s grand plans. I had a new business I was trying to get off the ground, and I wondered if it would even be possible for me to relax.
As I tapped away on my laptop, Jake looked over at me. “Mind if I ask what you’re doing?” he asked.
“It’s none of your concern,” I said as politely as possible.
He gazed over and stared at the computer screen.
I let out a huff. “If you must know, I’m writing a long-overdue post on my fashion blog.”
“What’s the post about?”
“Um…knowing more than just fashion. It’s about how anyone in fashion design also needs to be aware of all the aspects of marketing, product design, and production. It also requires a good head for business and a good label to market a fashion line.”
“Interesting.”
“If you don’t mind, I need to get back to work.”
He nodded, put his earbuds in, and started watching some kind of adventure movie starring a swashbuckling, fedora-wearing hero who would never have left his lady abandoned at an altar.
When the plane finally set down, we took a boat over to the island, where we checked in to our lodging. Covered walkways connected the guestrooms to the reception area and private guest facilities. There was an elegant restaurant and bar, and a lounge area overlooked the shimmering pool. The little island was beautiful, just like the brochure promised, and when I walked out on the balcony and gazed around at the lush tropical rainforest, I had to be thankful for the opportunity to see it. According to the brochure, most visitors to the island would leave by three, so those of us staying at the resort would have the entire island to ourselves.
I quickly unpacked and hurried out the door to explore the spectacular isle. At one thirty, I attended a show at Marineland. I watched in awe as a crocodile was fed; I couldn’t believe that half-ton, seventeen-foot reptile was so agile, able to launch itself completely out of the water to gobble up an unsuspecting chicken. I even held a baby crocodile named Cuddles and had my portrait taken with the scaly, toothy little creature. The park was home to at least forty crocodiles, from giants to newly hatched babies.
The aquarium boasted 100 species of sea life, from stonefish and cute clownfish to epaulette sharks, turtles, lionfish, and giant painted crayfish. I loved the bright and colorful tropical fish and the coral. At a fish-feeding, I saw even more tropical fish in an even more brilliant rainbow of fluorescent and neon colors.
After I marveled at George J. Craig’s amazing private collection of primitive ancestral artifacts and maritime relics, I took the nighttime nature walk and saw turtles resting near the shore. It was simply remarkable, an unforgettable tour. Before heading back to the resort, I stopped in the gift shop and bought some coral and gemstone jewelry, as well as a genuine shark tooth, hanging from a black cord and fashioned into a necklace.
When I returned, Jake met my gaze, and I couldn’t stop my heart from thudding hard inside my chest. He was as amazing as any animal I’d seen that day, as strong as the crocodiles, as cute as the babies, and as beautiful as the colorful fish and coral. As much as I loathed him, there was no denying how hot he was in his ivory button-down shirt, khaki shorts, and sandals. He’d left a few buttons open, and the peek-a-boo view of his chest was mesmerizing. On top of that, he smelled so good. His hair was damp, so I assumed he was fresh out of the shower.
A smile slowly curved across his mouth. “You’ve been gone all day.”
“So? I’m trying to make the most of this vacation. This place is so peaceful, so tranquil. It’s a lot different than New York.”
“Yeah,” he said, sounding unimpressed. “Where did you go?” he asked.
“I spent some time with a dangerous fella I met on the island. We even took pictures. Care to see?”
He shook his head. “So now you’re gonna flaunt other men in my face?”
I handed him the picture. “Meet my new friend. His name is Cuddles.”
He glanced down and smiled. “Oh. Cute. Sorry I jumped to conclusions.”
I rolled my eyes and snatched the photo away from him.
“In the future, it’d be nice if you’d let me know where you’re going so I don’t worry.”
“Should I let you know when I go to the bathroom too?” I asked with a smirk. “No one’s paying you to be my bodyguard, Jake…and I’m a big girl. I’ll go wherever I want, whenever I want, with whomever I want.”
He shook his head and fought a smile. “Are you hungry?” he asked.
“Ravenous.”
“Your attorney made dinner reservations for us on the beach,” he said.
I plopped down on the bed. “Funny. I don’t remember any rules stating I have to eat with you.”
“True.”
“Then if you don’t mind, I’m just gonna—”
“You don’t have to eat with me, but everything is closed now. You should’ve said your goodbyes to Cuddles a little sooner.”
I bit my lip hard as my stomach growled. I was starving and hadn’t eaten anything all day.
“So…will you do me the honor of accompanying me to dinner, Ashly Roberts?” he asked, grinning.
I slipped my shoes on. “I’ll go with you, but only to get my dinner to go so I can bring it back to the room.”
He shook his head “You can’t avoid me forever, Ashly.”
“Well, I aim to give it my best effort,” I
said. “Let’s go though. I’m starving.”
* * *
My long dress swirled around my ankles with the warm tropical breeze. I’d always found something so soft and romantic about white cotton, even with a high neck line that didn’t reveal any cleavage. I walked through the sand to the small, circular table that was already set up for us, covered with a pretty satin tablecloth and a vase full of tropical flowers in vibrant purples, oranges, and aquamarines. The chirping of birds intensified, overshadowing the rhythmical lapping of waves against the shore. I inhaled the salty scent of the ocean, with its hint of coconut. As if mirroring the bouquet centerpiece, purple, pink, and orange swirled in the glorious sky.
Jake shot me a leisurely glance. “You look beautiful,” he said. “You’re just…a vision.”
“Thank you.”
He was so handsome and smelled so damn good. Dark stubble speckled his strong jaw line. His hair was wavy and thick, and the way it flew around in the wind made him look so sexy. With those dimples and that white, gleaming smile, he nearly had me breathless.
“Isn’t this the most romantic place on the planet?” he asked.
“I’d love to be here with anyone but you,” I muttered. Sure, he was gorgeous, but that didn’t give him permission to stomp all over my heart. Handsome or not, he wasn’t about to get the time of day from me. I refused to look at him and take in his reaction. At that point, I didn’t even care what he thought about me. I ordered a salad because I was sure it’d be easy to take it back to my hotel room.
A surge of guilt rolled over him once again, and he actually winced. “I know you’re having a hard time forgiving me,” he said. “I don’t blame you. What I did was selfish and—”
I met his gaze straight on and cut him off. “Despicable. What you did was just despicable.” I crossed my arms over my chest, the way I always had whenever I was upset with him.
The waiter returned and poured a glass of wine for each of us, then left the bottle.
I pasted on a fake smile. “Thanks.” I gulped down the entire glass of wine in one gulp, then poured another.
He reached for my hand. “Am I that awful to be with?”
“Please don’t touch me, Jake.”
Emotion poured from his voice. “We have a history together. We were lovers, but we were also best friends, Ashly. Can’t we just be friends now?”
I poured more wine. “A friend would’ve never stabbed me in the back the way you did.”
Ignoring my command not to touch me, he stroked my hair from my face and gazed deeply into my eyes. “What can I do to make it up to you?”
I stared at the breathtaking sunset as it unfolded. “That’s just it. There’s nothing you can do.”
The waiter set down a platter for Jake and a salad for me.
“Thank you,” Jake said.
The waiter smiled and turned to leave.
I picked up my salad. “I’ll see you back in the room.”
“I can’t believe you’d prefer to eat that in the room when you could enjoy a sunset dinner by the ocean.”
“I suppose you aren’t used to women running out on you, huh?” I sarcastically snapped. I guzzled the rest of my wine, then grabbed the bottle to take with me and stormed off. The setting sun flooded the sky with more brilliant colors, and part of me wanted to stay and watch Mother Nature’s spectacular light show, but the stubborn side of me fueled my quick departure.
* * *
After I ate my salad, I took a shower and dried off, only to realize I’d left my nightgown in the dresser. I wrapped a towel around me, peeked out, and called Jake’s name. When I got no answer, I ran to the dresser and rifled through the drawer. Just as I grabbed my black nightgown, the door clicked, and Jake walked in.
“Jake, I’m not dressed.”
He met my gaze and smiled. “I can see that.”
I bit my lip hard, unsure which of us was more shocked. “Don’t look.” When he covered his eyes, still grinning from ear to ear, I scurried back into the bathroom and slipped into my gown. “Uh…sorry about that,” I said awkwardly when I stepped out of the bathroom, dressed this time. “I’ll try to be more careful next time.”
“I’ll be sure to knock next time,” he said.
I nodded. “I’m going to bed. Um, I guess you can sleep on the floor.”
“Wonderful,” he said with a laugh.
I slipped under the covers, closed my eyes, and fell asleep.
* * *
When I felt someone gently touching me, I fluttered my eyes open and glanced at the alarm clock. It was seven a.m.
“Get up,” Jake said. “We have an appointment with our underwater photographer in an hour.”
“I can’t believe I slept this late. I’m usually such an early bird.”
He handed me a Danish and a small carton of milk. “Well, I’ve got breakfast covered. I couldn’t sleep, so I went for a run, then took a shower.”
After breakfast, I went to the bathroom to take a shower. Wet towels and clothes were strewn all over the place, and Jake had had the audacity to move my makeup so he could make room for his electric razor. Perhaps worst of all, the toilet seat was up. I could definitely tell he was used to living like a bachelor. “Jake!” I said. “This place is a mess. I’m surprised you flushed the toilet.”
“Give me some credit, would ya?”
“Why’d you move my stuff? I had everything all laid out for easy access.”
“You were hogging the counter space. Where was I supposed to put my stuff?”
“Tell me you didn’t use my toothbrush,” I said. I slammed the door with a huff and jumped into the hot shower. Boy, this is gonna be a long trip, I thought as the warm water beat down on me.
After getting ready for the day, I opened my laptop to check my messages before we left.
“We’re gonna miss our appointment,” Jake said. “Can’t that wait?”
“It’s work, so no, it can’t.”
“We’ve gotta go right now, Ashly.”
“Fine!” I said, shutting my computer.
* * *
Our photographer shut off the boat engine, and waves gently rocked the vessel. “We’re here,” he said.
The sun shone on my face from its place in the blue, clear, gorgeous sky. I stood at the railing and leaned over, glancing down at the turquoise water of the Coral Sea. I smiled as streaks of yellow, red, and blue swarmed around the boat.
Jake inched closer, and his hot breath brushed my cheek like a tropical draft. “Are you ready? Let’s jump in!”
His sapphire-blue eyes sparkled, and his brown hair whipped around in the wind as he met my gaze and smiled. I brushed my hair behind my ear and smiled back at him. When he removed his shirt, I couldn’t help but stare at his massive body and all those thick, rippling muscles; he was even more gorgeous than the last time I’d seen him without a shirt. His beautiful body was so ripped that I was practically drooling over him, and I was sure he’d spent hours at the gym every day.
Without hesitation, Jake jumped into the pristine water with a loud splash that caused our photographer to laugh.
“Your boyfriend is quite the daredevil,” the photographer said. “I haven’t even checked for sharks.”
“He’s not my boyfriend,” I said politely. “Is it okay to go in now?”
He looked through his binoculars in every direction. “Looks good.”
“Ooh, the water’s wonderful!” Jake shouted. “Come on, Ashly!”
I leaned over the railing. “Forget something?” I asked.
He grinned. “Guess so. Can you throw it down?”
“Sure.” I took off my long, colorful wrap and adjusted my red and purple one-piece. I put on my mask, snorkel, and fins, then grabbed Jake’s gear and jumped in. I couldn’t fathom that I was actually floating above the actual Great Barrier Reef. After I handed Jake his gear, I took a long, deep breath and ducked my head under the water.
A school of yellow fish swirled around us, an
d the underwater photograph began snapping away. “They look good,” the photographer said. “I’ll have the CD and eight-by-tens delivered to your hotel room when we get back.”
“Thanks,” I said.
He grinned and climbed back into his boat. “For now, though, I’ll give you lovebirds some time to be alone,” he said, ignoring my earlier claim that there was nothing between us.
“We’re just friends,” I said.
“The way you were staring at him?” He laughed. “I don’t think so. You were lookin’ at that boy like a crocodile looks at a chicken!”
Jake began to laugh.
My cheeks burned. “I was not!”
Jake’s grin grew even wider.
“I wasn’t,” I retorted.
Our photographer held up his binoculars. “Enjoy yourselves. I’ll keep an eye out for any company of the fin and toothy variety.”
I swallowed hard. “Why does that make me a little nervous?”
“We’ll be fine,” Jake said, grinning. “C’mon. Let’s have some fun. It’s not every day you get to splash around in Jaws’s back yard.”
When he clasped his hand around mine, my skin began to tingle. His warm, soft fingers rubbed against the back of my hand lightly as he pulled me toward the reef, and I softly tugged my hand away; Jake had no right to hold my hand like we were lovers on some excursion.
I dived deeper, to a point where the visibility was awesome. The reef was beautifully decorated in a kaleidoscope of marine life, from clusters of colorful anemones to large sponges, coral, and starfish. Thick carpets of strawberry anemones covered the bottom, and Jurassic-sized sea fans swayed in the current like branches in the wind. I noticed every light and shadow and thought about how wonderful they would be to capture with my own camera.
