The Key to Love

by Callie Bardot

  “Here,” Dante said, striding toward them with his wallet in his hands. Once he stood in front of Gia, he fished out several large bills and handed them to her. “Thanks for doing the shopping.”

  “And, thank you, Daddy, for paying for the supplies,” Gia said, an evil glint to her eye.

  “Daddy? What? No,” Dante said, shaking his head. “I only…”

  Gia chuckled. “Just kidding, boss. Better your money than mine. Besides, I need some of those fancy cowboy boots they make here in Mexico. What are they called? Botas picudas mexicanas?”

  Kennedy sauntered toward them. She hooked her hand around Dante’s elbow, and said, “You mean the ones with the five-foot-long toes? Do it! And wear them at the next gig in San Francisco.” She laughed.

  “I’ll need more cash.” Gia held out her hand to Dante.

  “You get paid enough to buy the factory that makes the boots,” Dante said, scoffing. He leaned toward Kennedy, kissed her lips, and said, “See you tonight, babe.”

  “Later, sweetheart,” she said, swatting him on the backside as he walked away.

  Watching their display of obvious affection, a twisting knife sensation pulverized Mia’s heart. I’ll never have that. Not with all my rules. Maybe I should loosen up a little. She turned her head, and her gaze collided with Keys.

  He stood, several yards away, studying her with a sober, serious expression.

  A pulse of heat and energy flared between them. Then, Keys broke the connection, said something to Heat, and they both laughed.

  Mia’s cheeks flamed. Are they talking about me?

  “Ready?” Gia said, draping her arm around Mia’s shoulders.

  “Sure thing,” Mia said, too brightly.

  “Then, let’s do this. We’ve got a car with a driver at our disposal. What do you say we get out on the water on a sailboat?” Gia began guiding her away from the dining area.

  “That sounds really nice,” Mia said, thinking a day on the ocean might snap her out of her bad mood. “Let me grab my bag, and I’ll meet you in the parking area.”

  Their “sailboat” turned out to be a two-hundred and fifty-foot long superyacht called the Alesia V. A wonder in ocean-faring architecture, the yacht had fine-grained polished teak wood throughout, from the dining areas to the private lounges, Turkish rugs, king-sized beds with Egyptian linen and more. After their tour of the yacht by a handsome guy named Julio, Mia and Gia settled down on white leather deck chairs while looking out at the endless sea.

  Sipping a glass of Chardonnay, Mia’s mind kept tripping back to Keys, wondering what he was doing to entertain himself.

  Gia lifted her bottled water to her lips, took a swig, and said, “So. Has Keys been behaving?”

  Mia answered her by blushing hard enough to melt steel.

  “I guess that’s a no,” Gia said, lifting one eyebrow.

  “It’s so complicated, Gia,” Mia said. She set her wine glass in the laminated white well between the seats.

  “Nothing’s complicated with Keys, girl,” Gia sighed, stretching her long legs across the seat. “He’s a hit it and forget it kind of guy.”

  “I don’t know,” Mia said, her gut twisting into a knot at the thought of Keys with all those women. “We went snorkeling yesterday, and then we kissed. I’ve never had a kiss that hot. It was pure magic. I’m kinda into him.”

  “Come on,” Gia said. “I don’t mean to burst your bubble, but Keys has more experience than fifty exotic dancer dudes throughout a lifetime. Of course, he’s a good kisser. The guy screws women every night we’re on the road. He and Heat are man-whores. He’s been that way ever since Sarah.”

  “Who’s Sarah? Heat brought him up the other night, and Keys lost it. Dante had to cool him down with threats.” Mia picked up her sunscreen and squirted some into her palm. She spread a second coat on her legs.

  “Yeah. That’s Fearless Leader for you. He’s always putting out fires between those two.” Gia took another swig of water. She eyed Mia speculatively. “I’m not saying don’t have a romp with Keys. I’m sure he’s as good at screwing as he is at kissing. But don’t expect more than that. Sarah did a real number on him. Broke his heart, broke it some more, then stomped on it, and lit it on fire for good measure.”

  “Ouch,” Mia said, her heart twisting for Keys. “A few years ago, I went through a pretty rough breakup, too.”

  Gia nodded. “Sorry to hear that.” She lifted her gaze to the horizon and grew silent.

  Mia waited for her to speak again.

  Gia finally broke the silence by saying, “Keys was head over heels in love with Sarah. Completely gobsmacked. He even asked her to marry him.”

  A stranglehold of jealousy grasped Mia’s heart and wrung it hard.

  “But Sarah was a black widow. She could have had the world. But, no…she wanted to control and manipulate Keys. She treated him like shit.” A sneer formed on Gia’s face. “I hated Sarah. We all did. She almost ruined his friendships with the rest of the band, she was so bitchy and controlling. Finally, after a gazillion torturous breakups, she dumped him, and he never took her back. She tried, though. I think to her it was all a power game. She liked to toy with him to see how far she could push him.”

  “That sounds awful,” Mia said, thinking of her and Darion.

  “It was. We all suffered. Keys is a good guy at heart. And, talented as fuck. But, after the breakup, he lost himself with easy lays and loads of illegal substances. He’s cooled it with all the drugs, I think, but he still gets drunk. Anyway…” Both eyebrows lifted on Gia’s forehead, and she pinned Mia in place with her sharp-eyed gaze. “Don’t get attached to anything with Keys. He won’t commit. There have been so many girls who thought they were ‘the one,’ but he shoots them all down. Believe me—they’ve tried to get to him through me more times than I can count. All you get is one fun night and a shitload of heartache with that dude.”

  Mia reached for her wine, desperate to change the topic from Keys and his babe binges. “I see.” She paused for a minute. “What kind of supplies do we need for the party tonight?”

  Gia nodded as if agreeing with the topic change. “Oh, you know…top-shelf tequila.” She let out a guffaw. “That’s about it. Honestly, that’s what I would have suggested a year ago and been happy. Now, it’s water, cola, or a soda for me now that I’m sober. But, let’s see.” She tapped her forefinger against her lips. “We probably need snacks for everyone to sop up the alcohol in their guts.”

  “Why didn’t you ask one of the butlers to gather everything?” Mia said.

  “Good call. I’m sure they can come up with something good to nibble on. I’ll give them a call when we’re back to shore. They’re already handling the plates and silverware. And, they’ll have paper cups for the booze and so on—probably embossed with gold. Hidden Shores is pretty ritzy with an exclusive clientele. Oh! Have you seen Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost wandering around?” Gia’s face lit up.

  “No, really?” Mia said, sitting forward. I’ve been too obsessed with my roommate to notice anything.

  “Yes! I’m too chicken shit to say anything to them, but I saw Dante talking to them on the beach. He’ll talk to anyone. His ego is so big he levels all playing fields. No one is above him in the pecking order of the world. In fact, he probably intimidated Scarlett.” Gia laughed. “Anyway, back to supplies. Dante has this tequila that he loves. You can only get it in Mexico. Kennedy pulled me aside and asked me to get it for him as a surprise. Hence, we’ll scour the streets of Cancun to find some.”

  The day progressed with Mia’s thoughts continually returning to Keys and his battered relationship with Sarah. I know the feeling. I’m not too keen to start a relationship with anyone, either. Thoughts of him scoring with another woman continually slapped her mind. But, the surge of heat that flooded her body whenever she thought of Keys told her she wanted him, even if it ended badly. It’s been so long since I’ve been with a man I wonder if I’ve forgotten what to do.

/>   By day’s end, her mind was so wrenched with conflicted emotions that she wondered if she could even handle seeing him. She said goodbye to all the other women and exited to her room.

  She found Keys sitting on the balcony, staring out at the ocean. Plagued with uncertainty, she timidly crossed the suite and stepped down the stairs to the balcony. “Hello, Keys,” she said, perching at the edge of the wooden deck chair next to him.

  He didn’t look at her. “Hey,” he said. A different pair of sunglasses than he’d been wearing perched on his nose. He clutched a bottle of water in his hand. His long legs, covered with blond hair, ending in bare feet, were stretched out on the slats.

  “Did you have a good day?” she said, eying his sexy legs.

  “Not really. You?” He glanced at her, allowing her to take in his bruised expression for a split second.

  She frowned. “What happened?”

  “Nothing. Nothing happened. That’s why it wasn’t a good day,” he said, scowling.

  “What did you try to do that didn’t happen?” she said, knowing full well she fished for information.

  His jaw shifted to the side, and he gave her a vicious-looking side-eye. “What do you think I tried to do?”

  His words stabbed her heart. “I don’t know. You were with Heat,” she said, suddenly wanting to be back home in her safe apartment.

  “Hence, I was out partying all day, and I scored some pussy, is that the implication?” Keys said snidely.

  A blast of anger shot through her. “Look, you’re the one who created the reputation. Of course, I thought that. Why wouldn’t you go do whatever it is you do with Heat?” she said, waving her hands wildly. “The woman you’re rooming with isn’t putting out, so why not enjoy the day?” Tears pricked the back of her eyes.

  He turned to face her, but his shades hid his eyes. “I didn’t score with anyone. I didn’t even try. I couldn’t get you out of my mind.”

  She blinked like a moronic head-case. He couldn’t get me out of his mind?

  “I didn’t even go off-roading with the guys. I came back here after lunch. Trevor’s pissed, but that’s his problem.” He tipped his head back and drained his water. Then, he overhanded the plastic bottle into a waste-can near the tub. “Score!” he said. “At least I can do that.”

  “You’ve been here all day?” she said, her mind whirring. I could have been back here with him instead of thinking the worst all day?

  “That’s what I said.” He removed his sunglasses and tucked them in the case in his shirt pocket.

  Mia directed her attention to the sky, trying to calm her temper. The beginnings of a beautiful sunset formed along the horizon, giving the sky a look of magic.

  “Are you going to the beach party?” Keys said.

  “I don’t know. I’m not in the best mood at the moment. I’m not feeling very social.” She frowned. “I thought of hiding up here. But then Gia will hunt me down.”

  Keys snorted. “You know it. Sometimes she’s a pest.”

  “Oh, I adore her. She’s a great friend. We had some good talks today.”

  “Yeah. Now that she’s sober, she’s good to talk to,” Keys said.

  Mia nodded. “And, you should have seen the sailboat we were on. It was a two-hundred and fifty-foot-long superyacht. Next time we all vacation, we should simply stay on the yacht,” she said, forgetting her sour disposition for a minute.

  “That sounds nice,” Keys said, eying her with an expression that did all sorts of things to her insides. “I could handle a couple of weeks on a yacht with you. Then, you wouldn’t have to worry about what I might be up to. Because the only thing I’d be all up inside was you.”

  Mia inhaled sharply as the flames from this statement licked her soul. “For the record…I thought about you all day, too.” She licked her lips.

  Keys’ Adam’s apple bobbed up and down in his throat. “Did you now?” His eyes visibly changed from a broody sulk to a smoldering blaze.

  “Yes,” she said, meeting his intense green eyes.

  He reached across and brushed his knuckles against her arm. “What do you say we forget the shitty day and go have some fun on the beach?”

  “Why not? Just give me a sec to clean off the day and change my clothes,” Mia said, suddenly full of jitters.

  “Take your time,” Keys said, with his wolfish smile in place. “I’ll be out here thinking about you removing your clothes.”

  She couldn’t stop the grin that formed any more than she could stop the blush that spread up her neck. Quickly, she scurried into the bathroom to shower and shave her legs to silky smooth. That done, she wrapped a towel around her body to head out into the suite and choose something to wear tonight.

  Her steps faltered when she found Keys on the bed, propped on pillows, his legs crossed at the ankle, watching her every move.

  “I’ve got a great imagination, girl, but I’ll bet the real thing is even better than what my mind can concoct. I’ll bet you with your hands all slick with soap, caressing yourself in the shower is so fucking hot…” He let out a groan. His wicked smile sliced through any protest she might make.

  “You’ll still have to dream because I’m not letting you watch.” She sorted through her closet, selecting a gold silk dress with tiny blue flowers on it. The dress wrapped around her torso, revealing skin at the waist, leaving one arm bare and the other arm fully concealed. One of her favorite summery dresses, the garment flowed down her body, with one leg revealed and the other sheathed by ruffles.

  “Be right back,” she said, fluttering her fingers at him. She snatched a pair of lacy panties but no bra. This dress didn’t require a bra.

  “I’ll be waiting,” he said, his grin spreading wide.

  Her hands shook as she donned the garment in the roomy bathroom. She brushed her long hair to sleek perfection, applied some mascara, and dabbed lip gloss on her lips. Then, taking a deep breath, she sashayed out the door.

  “Fuck. Me,” Keys said, sitting upright. “You look fucking fantastic.” He threw his legs over the side of the bed and scrambled to his feet. “It’s going to be hard to adhere to your rules tonight, darlin’. You have to know that. You either want to give me a coronary and be done with me or…” He waggled his eyebrows. “Maybe you have something else in mind.”

  “We’ll just have to see which way the wind blows, won’t we?” she said, smiling sweetly.

  “As long as it keeps blowing, I’m fine with that,” he said. He took her hand and kissed it. “I’ve died, haven’t I? This is the afterlife, and I’m with an angel.”

  “I hope you haven’t died. We have a lot of living to do yet,” she said boldly.

  “We do, we do,” Keys said sagely. “Let’s get started.” He reached for her hand, laced his fingers with hers, and led her out the door.

  As Mia and Keys joined the rest of the group, an enchanting, romantic sunset filled the sky, casting golden and ruby hues. The sand gave way beneath her feet as Mia trekked across it. A full moon rose, illuminating the crashing waves.

  Mia wanted to skip along the sand, or jump for joy, or burst into song. She hadn’t felt this free in a long time…maybe ever. The night felt utterly magical.

  A pounding bass beat filled the air from hidden speakers. A bar had been set up on the beach, staffed by several Hidden Shores waiters and waitresses, wearing shorts and crisp, white shirts. They each had their hands clasped behind their backs, appearing to wait for instruction.

  Dante, Zander, and Marcos busied themselves with building the bonfire.

  Kennedy and Effie sat on a log chatting.

  Heat, Noah, Elijah, and Sam practically drooled when they looked at her.

  Keys flashed a dangerous-looking glare at all of them, and they backed away, like a pack of dogs schooled by their alpha.

  “Damn, girl! You look hot!” Gia said, wandering toward Mia and Keys. “She outshines you by a mile, you idiot,” she said to Keys. “You couldn’t change your clothes, too?”

/>   “What would be the point? I’d never come close to matching her beauty,” he said, drawing Mia close with an arm around her shoulder.

  Mia threw her arm around Keys’ waist.

  Gia’s eyebrows lifted, and she studied Mia, seeming to say, “are you sure you know what you’re in for? Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

  Mia put out her hand and waved away any concerns. All I want to do is have fun and let go into the moment.

  “Okay, ready, Marcos?” Dante said.

  “Ready.” Marcos stretched his arm out and flicked a long-necked lighter.

  A whoosh sounded as the kindling burst into flames.

  Marcos leaped backward. “Dude, how much lighter fluid did you add?” he said to Dante. He held his forearm in front of him and inspected it.

  “I might have overdone it,” Dante said sheepishly.

  “Do I still have eyebrows left?” Marcos said.

  Dante peered at him. “Yep, still there.” He slapped Marcos on the back and grinned. “Would I scorch off your eyebrows? My drummer would tan my hide.”

  “Oh, I’d be down for a hairless giant for a week or two,” Gia said, snaking her hands around Marcos’ neck. She pulled him down for a kiss.

  Dante cupped his hands around his mouth. “Who’s ready for the first shots of top-shelf tequila?”

  Mia joined the rest of the group in a cheer.

  “As long as it’s alcohol-free, I’m down,” Gia said, pumping her fist in the air.

  One of the waiters began deftly lining up tall fluted glasses side by side along the bar. He picked up one of the bottles of tequila Gia had purchased earlier, now fitted with a pouring spout, and poured the golden liquid into each flute. Then, he carefully balanced shot glasses on the rims of the tall glassware. Next, he took a stack of large beverage glasses and poured a squirt of liquid from what looked like a Jagermeister bottle into each crystal glass.